It was inevitable, as smartphones become more and more popular, that sooner or later Google would get in on the act. They?ve recently released the Google Nexus, but how does it stand up against the competition? Well, it?s built by HTC who are known for their good quality, so that?s a plus. The phone also looks lovely and boasts a 3.7inch display. It?s also streamline and light, meaning it easily holds its own in that department against the iPhone and others.

The display is also stunning and the touchscreen is widely seen as being as good as or better than other phones with similar capabilities. It has a high resolution (480 x 800), although given the size of the screen, you would expect this to be slightly higher. This isn?t a big issue but you do notice the difference on some apps such as Gmail, where it has a slight detrimental effect. The main issue with the display, though, is that some of the colors are massively oversaturated.

The camera tends to be an area of weakness on smartphones, but the Google Nexus? camera is surprisingly good. It has a 5 megapixel lens, a good flash, and Google have worked to increase the speed of the camera app (although this could still be improved). The camera takes good, detailed pictures and most of the issues associated with other HTC models have been eradicated. The lens focuses really quickly and generally the pictures come out as you hope they will.

In terms of the call capabilities of the phone, the earpiece is pretty much standard when compared with other phones. It?s reasonably clear and loud when you?re speaking to someone, but it could be more even. The quality of the loudspeaker could definitely be better as it currently sounds quite tinny, so don?t go planning any conference calls with it. The Nexus seems to have similar connectivity issues as the iPhone, meaning that the signal drops out where other phones continue working.

The software on the Google Nexus is similar to that on most other Droid operated phones, but it benefits from some upgrades. The biggest upgrade is the simplification of homescreen navigation, which is a massive improvement on previous versions of Android phones. It also comes with good graphics and a great gallery option that?s fantastic for storing photos. The keyboard, however, is quite clumsy and while this is overall a good phone, there are some issues that will hopefully be sorted out for the next model.

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The smart phone market is increasingly saturated with offerings from all the big technology giants, including Apple, Blackberry and various Android devices. Microsoft has recently got in on the act too, releasing 10 new phones, all of which run the Windows Phone 7 operating system, and they?re manufactured by a variety of companies. There are offerings from LG, Samsung and Dell, plus 5 by Android specialists HTC. We take you through some of the best Windows phones, their advantages, disadvantages and key features.

One of the most eagerly anticipated Windows Phone 7 phones is the HTC HD7. This phone is generally very good. It has a decent sized screen of 4.3inches, and it?s also a touchscreen. There are good apps available, including Photo Enhancer and Notes. It also has up to 16GB storage capacity, a 5 megapixel camera and HD video recording capabilities. A couple of flaws include the below par display quality and comparatively low number of pixels, plus a slightly low build quality.

The HTC Mozart is thought to be the most successful of the Microsoft phones and it certainly has the spec to suggest that this is the case: it boasts an 8 megapixel camera with Xenon flash and generally excellent picture quality. The apps are as good as they are on other HTC phones and the appearance of the phone, plus the 8GB storage capacity, are also attractive. The 3.7inch touchscreen makes it a good pocket phone and the build quality is definitely excellent.

The Omnia 7 is the Windows phone produced by Samsung. The best feature of this is the brilliant high contrast AMOLED screen, which is easily better than any other LCD offerings. It has a good 5 megapixel camera, although the focusing capabilities could be improved. It has a good loudspeaker that streams sound with only minimal distortion. One area where it?s lacking is in the number of apps available from Samsung. Also, the power button is in an odd place but overall the layout and phone appearance are good.

LG have also produced a Windows Phone 7 phone known as the Optimus 7Q. Overall, it?s a good phone that has good connectivity and 8GB storage capacity. The 3.5inch screen and 480 x 800 pixel resolution, plus the 5 megapixel camera are all excellent. It?s also currently the only Windows Phone 7 phone to come with both a touchscreen and a QWERTY keyboard. Largely, the keyboard is a good thing but it?s a little uncomfortable to use and also adds considerable bulk to the phone, which weighs it down.

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August 2010 saw the release of the long awaited Blackberry Torch. Upon its initial release, Blackberry called it the best ever Blackberry, a moniker handed down from the previous 9700 series; but with such a bold claim made by the 5th largest mobile phone company in the world; is it really justifiable? Plus, how does their best ever compare to the likes of the massively popular iPhone 4G?

In terms of its specifications, the Torch can quite easily say it is the best ever Blackberry, as it offers many more features than all previous models. The Torch comes with 4 gigabytes internal storage capacity with a 4 gigabyte MicroSD included in the box, a 3.2 inch LCD touchscreen display, a full QWERTY keyboard, a 5 megapixel camera and WiFi capability; all engineered to work on the brand new 6th generation Blackberry OS.

The Torch is meant to demonstrate a new direction for Research in Motion, with the target audience being the average consumer. Though with competition from the likes of the Galaxy S and iPhone 4G, it is a tough market. It is fair to say that the Torch is a great Blackberry, possibly not the best relative to technological advances, but certainly great. The slide function reveals a full QWERTY keyboard that most have said is the best available on the market today; it may not be as big as on previous Blackberries, but then they were not slide phones. The new operating system is unfortunately not a completely revamped system; more of a majorly updated 5th generation OS, but that does not mean it is not good. In fact, the new OS is probably the best improvement on the handset, as for the old target consumers, multitasking was one of the most important functions, and the Torch can do this better than most.

Although the Torch has the features, and the 6th Gen OS is better, it is simply not as good as the competition at most other functions. The processor that is used in the Torch is strangely the same unit from the 9700 model, but modified slightly; meaning that its 600Mhz clock speed is way down on the competition and can seem sluggish compared to the Google Nexus One and Apple iPhone.

The Blackberry Torch will always be a hit with certain die hard fans, even with its shortcomings; though the market has now become quite competitive and although there are some phones that can do more, they can not necessarily do it better. With the Apple iPhone being the benchmark of the last few years, and the 4G model only solidifying that fact, it is going to be a difficult task for RIM to wrench the trophy from Apple’s grasp. Unfortunately, although the Torch is a decent phone, and certainly the best Blackberry, it can not get near the reigning champion.

Now Try - Blackberry Torch

Microsoft has made an impressive effort to become the dominant smartphone operating system with its introduction of the Windows Phone 7 OS, which replaces the beaten and battered Windows Mobile, which has been effectively removed from the smartphone market. Several other operating systems have taken the limelight from Microsoft in this very competitive market. Several high quality smartphones now employ Windows Phone 7, making this operating system very desirable. Three smartphones that run Windows Phone 7 are discussed below.

HTC HD7 - HTC introduced this model to replace the HD2, which ran the Windows Mobile operating system. The HTC HD7 utilizes a 4.3 inch LCD screen with a cool little kick-stand built in for easy viewing of movies at a table or desk. The battery is a 3.7V 1,230 mAh, which is only rated for 6.5 hours of talk time; less time than many in its class. There is 16 GB of built in storage on this unit, and the camera is a 5 mega-pixel auto-focus camera designed for either still pictures or 720p HD video.

Samsung Omnia 7 - The Omnia 7 was introduced by Samsung as their Windows Phone 7 offering. This unit boasts a 4 inch AMOLED touch-screen display with 800 x 480 pixel resolution, which is a standard on all of the Windows Phone 7 units. This phone has the good solid feel of a substantial piece of smartphone hardware due to its metallic body and solid design. A 1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 8250 chipset runs this phone and its connectivity options include GPS, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. This phone also has a popular FM radio and its autofocus camera is of the 5 mega-pixel persuasion.

LG Optimus 7 - The LG Optimus 7 comes with all of the standard Windows Phone 7 features such as GPS, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, and a 5 mega-pixel autofocus camera. The phone runs a 1 GHz Snapdragon chipset just like the Samsung Omnia 7. The AMOLED screen is a bit smaller however at 3.8 inches. This phone body is not entirely of metal like the Omnia 7 however, as only the back plate is metallic. This still gives the phone a good feel in the hand and the slim design is great for pockets.

Since Windows Phone 7 smartphones are required to have certain features as standard, manufacturers will have a difficult time differentiating themselves and will have to rely heavily on aesthetics and design to win customers. With so many great smartphones available to run Windows Phone 7, it should not take long for Microsoft to become one of the strongest operating systems on the market.

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In 2008, cell phone manufacturer Sony Ericsson entered the smartphone market by introducing the Xperia X1. This manufacturer, known primarily to market to those with a heavy interest in music, then rolled out 7 other phone options to become a major player in the smartphone game, which has become increasingly competitive. There are many options available to those interested in becoming a Sony Ericsson customer, and a summary of those options is described below.

The Xperia X10 as mentioned was Sony Ericsson?s first entry into the smartphone market, and this phone entered with a bang being the first to introduce a large 4? touch-screen. The phone appeals to those interested in social networking through their smartphones by utilizing their trademark Timescape UI, which allows users to participate on all of their social networks from one spot ? their smartphone. A powerful 1 GHz processor runs Android version 2.1 OS. This phone has a nice 8 mega-pixel camera, which can be used for still photos or for 720p HD video.

The Xperia X10 Mini / Mini Pro are both Siblings of the Xperia X10 and some might say they are a chip off the old block. Both are very similar to the X10 save for a slide out keyboard and removable battery. The screen for the X10 Mini is a 2.55-inch capacitive touch-screen. The Mini runs a 600 MHz processor and the Android 2.1 operating system. The popular social networking interface, Timescape UI, is also included on the X10 Mini. The Mini is equipped with a 5 mega-pixel camera for still pictures or for 720p HD video.

For the price conscious Sony Ericsson has rolled out the Xperia X8 model, which is a less expensive version of the X10. This is a slightly smaller version of the X10 (although slightly thicker), which packs a lot of similar features. The screen is a bit smaller at 3.0 inches, but it remains a capacitive touch-screen. The display quality is not quite on par with that of the X10, a sacrifice to lower price no doubt. The X8 is loaded with the Android 1.6 OS, which can be upgraded to Android 2.1 OS. This phone is equipped with GPS, 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity just like the X10.

Sony Ericsson has grabbed a large chunk of the smartphone market with the Xperia line of phones. With Android OS loaded and a bevy of standard features like GPS, 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity the options should be enough to satisfy just about any smartphone consumer.

Now Try - Xperia Deals

Once upon a time, cell phones were built pretty much just to make calls and send an occasional text message. Now, calling and texting are just two of a seemingly infinite number of functions that cell phones perform. They can film and download video, run a whole host of apps and games, and surf the internet with the best PC. The HTC Mozart 7 is a phone that delivers a total media experience and doesn?t forget the latest technology.

Although multiple functions are important concerning smartphones, the display is equally important. The HTC Mozart 7 sports a 3.7? screen complete with 480 x 800 WVGA resolution and the seemingly requisite pinch to zoom touch screen capability. Even with a fairly large display, the phone measures only 60.2mm x 11.9mm x 119mm, making it a comfortable fit in the pocket. And it won?t bog someone down while tucked away, as it weighs in at 130g with the battery attached.

Making the HTC Mozart 7 go is Windows Phone OS 7 and the CPU buzzes along at 1GHz of speed. The Mozart 7?s OS is customized, but it will not be foreign to those with previous Windows Phone OS 7 experience; the features are the same. The speed is assisted by 512 MB of ROM and 576 MB of RAM. 8GB of internal storage provides room for the storage of photos, movies, and music. Mozart 7 supports Bluetooth v. 2.1 with Enhanced Data Rate as well as AVRCP, HFP, HSP, and PBAP profiles. Customers browse the web on a 3G network moving at 7.2 Mbps download speed and up to 2 Mbps upload speed.

The HTC Mozart 7 was designed with media in mind, and it was therefore installed with HTC Hub. Hub provides easy access to weather forecasts, stocks, and offers a photo enhancer and a sound enhancer. With Pictures hub, users can take a peek at photos from their Facebook and Windows Live accounts. Along with viewing, users can share on Facebook and Windows Live SkyDrive. The Mozart 7 acts like a mini radio by pulling in stations or allowing users to download tunes by using Zune. The handset delivers sound with Dolby Mobile and SRS surround sound.

The HTC Mozart 7 smartphone enables total connectivity for those who like a little bit of every media. It works on a quick OS and competently handles everything from browsing to supporting email clients. The Mozart 7 is a great choice for those who want to stay in the loop.