Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 review: first look

Thursday, September 1st, 2011

With Samsung revealing its original 7in Galaxy tab in IFA 2010, it’s only fitting that IFA 2011 sees the arrival of the all-new Galaxy Tab 7.7.

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Apple: IP protectors or patent trolls?

Wednesday, August 31st, 2011

Apple’s recent behaviour has been understandably overshadowed by Steve Jobs’ resignation, but it’s been on the warpath over the past few weeks – with Samsung in Cupertino’s crosshairs.

Apple’s already tried, and failed, to have the Galaxy Tab 10.1 banned, and new documents reveal that Apple’s now gone through the Dutch courts to get the rest of Samsung’s Galaxy family pulled from the shelves.

The problem? Patents. Apple already has one that seemingly prohibits competitors from producing rectangular computers, and its latest IP claim is just as vague, concerning the mere act of scrolling through pictures on touchscreens. It’s so vague, in fact, that Apple has been accused of manipulating images to make Samsung’s devices appear more like Cupertino’s kit than they really are. (more…)

Samsung Series 7 700T tablet review: first look

Wednesday, August 31st, 2011

We can understand if the mere thought of a Windows 7 tablet is enough to set alarm bells ringing, but Samsung’s Series 7 700T marks the company’s first attempt to revitalise the genre.

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Samsung Series 7 review: first look

Wednesday, August 31st, 2011

The super-slim Series 9 laptop drew many an admiring glance, and Samsung’s Series 7 range looks likely to repeat the trick. In a meeting room at PC Pro, we were given an exclusive first glimpse of the 15.6in Samsung 700Z.

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Smartphone crapware: worse than laptops?

Monday, August 22nd, 2011

A couple of years ago I holed myself up in the PC Pro Labs with some new laptops to see what impact their pre-installed software — known as crapware, bloatware and shovelware — had on performance.

The results proved shocking but, when it comes down to it, that software is pretty easy to deal with – it’s just a matter of uninstalling everything and, if you’re really particular, running an app like CCleaner to get your Registry back to its fighting weight.

Not so with smartphones. On Friday, I eased the Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini Pro from its box, turned it on, and was greeted with a message urging me to set up McAfee WaveSecure before I’d even set up the phone with my Google account. (more…)

Is HTC losing its magic touch?

Thursday, June 9th, 2011

Android had an inauspicious start in life but, when Google’s open source OS began to gather steam, HTC was first onto the bandwagon with a series of superb phones.

Handsets like the Magic and the Hero – which was my first smartphone – were followed up by phones like the Desire and the Legend, with the former providing the slickest Android experience we’d yet seen and the latter boasting some of HTC’s most experimental design.

However, HTC’s firm grip on the Android scene has been shaken by an influx of eager competitors as Android itself has risen to prominence. Samsung has led the charge with its Galaxy S and Galaxy S II handsets, but other manufacturers have also made waves: we’re fans of Sony Ericsson’s Xperia Arc and Play, and the LG Optimus 2X. Motorola’s Atrix is also garnering plenty of attention.

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Will Apple grab Samsung’s game-changing display?

Friday, May 13th, 2011

The news that Samsung is readying production of a 10.1in display for tablets, running at a resolution of 2560×1600 pixels, is a game changer. This is 300dpi on a near A4-sized display device.

Without question, this changes the rules for display of information.

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Samsung Galaxy SII review: first look

Monday, February 14th, 2011

Samsung’s Galaxy S has been a rip-roaring success in the past year, so it was no surprise to see Samsung capitalise at Mobile World Congress this year. Its successor, dubbed the Samsung Galaxy SII, sees a number of key changes and upgrades, and we managed to get our mitts on one at the launch event.

Read the full review of the Samsung Galaxy S II here

The first thing that strikes you about the new Galaxy is how thin the thing is. At a mere 8.49mm from front to back it’s a real Posh Spice of a phone, so slender it even out-diets the iPhone 4. It’s light too, at 116g, although the down side to this is it feels a little plasticky and cheap. Still, that didn’t hit sales Galaxy S sales too badly, and it feels pretty well put together otherwise.

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Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 review: first look

Sunday, February 13th, 2011

When it first launched, the Samsung Galaxy Tab was received with mixed reviews. It was, and remains, one of the best Android tablets to be released to date, but it wasn’t perfect. The firm’s second attempt – just announced here at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona – looks to be a much more coherent offering, if our first impressions of it at the launch event are anything to go by.

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The Samsung camera that backs up your photos

Saturday, January 8th, 2011

Samsung has announced a swathe of cameras at CES, but one in particular caught my eye. Not the Samsung NX11, with its intelligent lenses that allow you to adjust settings on the lens itself; not the WB700 with its astounding/ridiculous 18x optical zoom; but the SH100, which can back up photos wirelessly simply by being close to your PC.

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