LG Optimus L7 Review

Introduction:
Coming with the latest Android Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box, the LG Optimus L7 is the top shelf representative of the company's new line of affordable handsets with supposedly more appealing L-Style design.
Top shelf in the L line doesn't mean much in terms of specs, as the Optimus L7 still rocks single-core processor, WVGA screen resolution and 5MP camera, but it won't break the bank either.
Now LG promised to introduce a new design paradigm with the new L series at rock-bottom prices, but did it succeed in achieving that goal with the Optimus L7? Read on to find out...
In the box: Travel chargermicroUSB cableIn-ear stereo headphonesSleep Mode, Car Mode and Office Mode NFC tagsWarranty and information leaflets
Design:
Despite LG's ruminations on the new L-Style design for the handsets of this series, the chassis of the Optimus L7 seems like your regular rectangular slab of black plastic. Still, all of the five elements that  LG envisioned for this design are here: "Modern Square Style for a comfortable grip, Floating Mass Technology for a slimmer look, Seamless Layout for a more intuitive arrangement of keys, Harmonized Design Contrast utilizing metallic accents and Sensuous Slim Shape that naturally draws one’s attention".


You can compare the LG Optimus L7 with many other phones using our Size Visualization Tool.
“Modern Square Style”? Check – the phone is rectangular and with sharp edges, but that is fairly neutral for holding it more comfortably. “Floating Mass” and “Sensuous Slim Shape”? Well, the handset is indeed very thin at 8.7mm, but those sub-10mm slim profiles are not sight unseen nowadays, even on flagship handsets. The “Seamless Layout” of the keys is an acquired taste – the power/lock key at the top requires moving your finger from the side to the top, whereas if it was on the right under your thumb it would have been more “intuitive”.
We can agree on the “Harmonized Design Contrast” part, as there are indeed some metallic elements in the design, like the lock key and the 5MP camera module plate on the back, but the rest of it is really just black plastic. The plastic is at least patterned on the back for better grip and a slightly more interesting look.
We found the volume rocker on the left and the power key too small and flush with the surface to be comfortable for finding and pressing, and with a shallow travel to boot. The home key underneath the display is well-positioned, for that matter, and very comfortable to press. The phone feels solid overall, and it is fairly easy to operate it with one hand, especially if you have larger palms.
Display: The “Floating Mass” technology for the 4.3” IPS-LCD “NOVA” display that LG utilizes in the Optimus L7, means that the screen is closer to the protective glass, allowing for a slimmer device and a brighter display. Still, it comes with 480x800 pixels of resolution, and 217ppi pixel density is about the bare minimum we expect from this screen size now.
The display sports decent viewing angles and vivid colors, plus its brightness is above average at 450 nits, so outside visibility is decent. Of notable absence is an ambient light sensor to adjust the brightness automatically, so you'll have to make do with the handy toggle in the notification bar.

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LG Nitro HD gets a leaked build of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich

When 720p displays are no longer deemed as unique, we sometimes forget that the LG Nitro HD was actually the first AT&T smartphone to offer one – then again, it’s still sporting Gingerbread. So yeah, some people have probably tried looking at other things to quench their thirst for the latest and greatest Android build.
Well, if you’re still in possession of the LG Nitro HD and fancy having Ice Cream Sandwich running on your device, you’ll be interested to know that a leaked build of it is now available. Sure, it’s an early build and might not be one-hundred percent, but for the most part, people are reporting that it’s stable enough to warrant checking out – according to the responses over at xda-developers.
In fact, it seems as though a bunch of the handset’s variants were tested to ensure things would be smooth – like the ones from AT&T, Bell, and Fido. Although some have reported the IMEI going missing with the leaked build, others have mentioned no change whatsoever with it. Nevertheless, since this is a leaked build we’re talking about, you might want to exercise some caution before proceeding to operate with your own device.
source: RootzWiki via xda-developers & Android Central

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Winning a Windows Phone is a piece of cake

A new contest makes winning a Windows Phone a piece of cake-literally. The rules are brief. Simply bake a cake inspired by Windows Phone (how about a slice of Metro UI?) and submit it to the official Facebook page of the contest which is Windows Phone Cake Contest. Then you sit back and let the voters judge which cake wins. Pictures can be submitted through May 30th and voting runs through June 6th. The top three vote-getting bakers will win a new Windows Phone.
Microsoft's Michael Stroh said that The Windows Phone Blog had been receiving so many cakes that they decided to turn it into a contest. Sweet. As for which Windows Phone model will be awarded as the prize, the blog said that they would work with the winners to give them a model based on each winner's current carrier. The beauty of a cake contest like this is that taste doesn't count, so even if you can't compete with Betty Crocker, you still might be able to whip up a new Windows Phone.
source: WindowsPhoneBlog, WindowsPhoneCakeContest

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Bid hello to updated eBay app for Android

Thanks to the mobile eBay app, there are many users of the site who are not handcuffed to a desk to make sure that they have the highest bid on an item that they really, really want. But that doesn't mean that eBay can't make some improvements to the software, which it has done for its Android application. For those who elect not to have their apps update automatically, you can head over to the Google Play Store (no need to get dressed, of course) and download the latest version of eBay for Android.
Ready to hear the changes? Here we go. The updated eBay for Android app brings notification of the Best Offer and Best Offers. In My eBay, you will now have access to Wish and Custom lists. In the U.S. you can list, relist and revise Parts and Accessories items while in Canada, France and India you can list, relist and revise items. The mobile eBay app will now allow you to connect to your social network as you can now share items on Facebook, Twitter or via text messages. The design for item Views has been changed, and there are some other various little updates that bring a better user experience to mobile eBay.
source: eBay via AndroidCentral


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Samsung Galaxy Appeal is coming to Walmart as a prepaid GoPhone for $149.99

Are you considering trudging the prepaid path as opposed to the traditional postpaid one? Well, there’s a brand new member in AT&T’s GoPhone family that you might want to consider, as it boasts all of the wonderful functionality of a modern smartphone – while packing an ever useful QWERTY keyboard.
Frankly, it’s going to raise some eyebrows since it bears the beloved Galaxy branding, but the recently announced Samsung Galaxy Appeal for AT&T’s prepaid GoPhone lineup is nothing more than an entry-level Android handset. Still, when it’s compared to some other prepaid offerings, it’s sure to stand out – though, we still can’t get yesterday’s Palm Pixi Plus deal out of our head.
Some of its features include a 3.2” HVGA display, 800MHz single-core processor, 3-megapixel camera, video recording, 1,300 mAh battery, microSD card slot, and Android 2.3 Gingerbread. Naturally, its 4-row landscape style QWERTY keyboard is its other main attraction, as it no doubt caters to those who prefer a tactile feel when composing messages.
As it currently stand, the Samsung Galaxy Appeal is set to arrive in Walmart stores nationwide starting on June 5th for the no-contract price of $149.99. Later on July 15th, AT&T stores will begin selling it as well.
source: AT&T via Mobileburn


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Amazon Prime Instant Video is set to gain Paramount Pictures content

Good news to any Amazon Kindle Fire owners out there, that’s because Amazon’s Prime Instant Video service will be adding some lovable content in the near future to make good use out of the Kindle Fire.
Netflix might be the undisputed indomitable king right now when it comes to video streaming services, but retailing giant Amazon isn’t backing down whatsoever, as they announced a partnership to bring forth Paramount Pictures content to its service. Essentially, Amazon Prime members will now have access to the huge library of Paramount Pictures movies – such as Mission Impossible 3, Braveheart, Forrest Gump, Mean Girls, Nacho Libre, Clueless, and much more.
If you’re not an Amazon Prime subscriber, you’re in luck right now because there’s a one month free trial for the service – and honestly, it’s a wonderful way to check it all out. Right now, it’s only Amazon’s Kindle Fire that can stream content from the service, but as an alternative, you can obviously go on your computer.
“We are continuing to invest in building a vast selection for Prime Instant Video and are excited to bring Prime customers some of the most renowned and popular films in cinema history under this new agreement with Paramount,” said Brad Beale, director of digital video content acquisition for Amazon. “This deal will bring Prime Instant Video customers hundreds of new movies to enjoy on their Kindle Fire or any device connected to Amazon Instant Video, including titles such as Star Trek, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Top Gun, The Italian Job and The Truman Show, and we will remain committed to adding even more great movies and TV shows to Prime Instant Video in the future.”
source: Amazon via Android Central

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Assurance Wireless customers are now given free text messaging

You’ve probably seen their commercials on TV, but Assurance Wireless customers are being given yet another wonderful feature that some people simply take for granted. Today, Assurance Wireless announced the availability of text messaging with its various plan offerings.
First and foremost, customers who are on the carrier’s existing free 250 minute plan will now be graced with 250 text messages each month – all for the wonderful no-contract price of free of course. Simply, that’s one of the great advantageous of Assurance Wireless, as they provide telecommunications services to qualified low-income consumers at affordable rates.
Additionally, those on the $5 per month 500 minutes plan are given an accompanying 500 text messages per month. Lastly, for those customers that require a little more meat with their plan, they can still choose the carrier’s $20 per month plan, which allots 1,000 voice minutes and 1,000 text messages each month.
Grace Boehm, director of strategy and business planning, said in a statement, “During these tough economic times customers have to make difficult decisions about how to spend their money, but wireless communications have become a necessity for people for a variety of reasons. We want to help consumers by continuing to improve on the basic offer.”
source: Assurance Wireless & Business Wire via Phonescoop

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Nielsen report shows US smartphone user has 9 more apps than last year

Research firm Nielsen Group surveyed US smartphone users and found that this year the average smartphone user has 41 apps installed on their smart phone, up from 32 last year. That's a 28% increase in just one year. The study went on to cite the smartphone adoption rate had increased significantly year over year as well. Last year they found that 38 percent of mobile phone users had a smartphone, and that number skyrocketed to 50 percent this year.
We hear it all the time on TV, the radio, and in print media, "there's an app for that." It seems year after year, people are grabbing more and more apps. While it's no surprise the number of apps installed continues to rise as the number of available apps rises, it's interesting to see the rapid movement of users from a traditional mobile phone up to a smart phone.
How many apps do you have? Have you seen the number of apps you have installed increase over the last year?
source: TheNextWeb

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Microsoft Launches So.cl, A ‘Social Search Experiment’ And Social Network [Updates]

Microsoft has just launched So.cl, their own version of a social network, but it is a little different from what you typically see from social networks. Generally, a social network is a place to share status updates, locations, photos and general information about what is going on with your life. Microsoft’s social spot is all about sharing web searches.
The idea behind so.cl is that sharing searches on the web will lead to interesting discussion and conversation with your friends about the things you find. Are you looking for information about the life of Doc Holliday? Well you may have a friend who is an expert on the matter and could offer some interesting ideas. This could lead to a valuable exchange of information. In theory, this could lead to more meaningful conversations than those about what you had for dinner or how some guy cut you off driving down the road.
When you share a search you can filter out results that are not up to par. So if you searched for Doc Holliday, and only three of the websites were worthwhile, you can cut out the others and only share the useful ones.

Like all social networks, users will have profiles and be able to follow other users. The obvious difference is the type of posts you follow. The general backbone of So.cl should feel familial to anyone who uses any other popular social network.
Users can sign up for this new service with a Windows Live ID or Facebook. If you sign in through Facebook, So.cl will show you any of your Facebook friends who are on the service so you can follow some people you already know.

Clearly, they are not trying to compete with Facebook, as they allow you to sign in through them, but could this be a service that actually takes off? Would you be interested in sharing the interesting things you find on the web with So.cl?
Source: Wired

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Angry Birds Friends Launches On Facebook [Updates]

Rovio has taken its hugely popular pig-popping game to the next social level by launching Angry Birds Friends on Facebook. Players can now compete against their Facebook friends in weekly tournaments, earning new trophies and power-ups as they play.
The game launches with four new levels already available, with more due to be added on a weekly basis. Competitions run from Monday to Sunday and players with the highest scores can earn gold, silver and bronze trophies which are saved to their accounts forever.
Players can also earn even more power-ups for every level they attempt in tournament mode, in addition to daily rewards for just playing the game. If you’re a dedicated pig-popper then you’ll undoubtedly love the chance to prove it to your friends, especially now that you can send challenges straight to your worthy adversaries.
Rovio’s Angry Birds franchise continues to expand on an almost monthly basis, with the recently announced Angry Birds: Heikki racing game launching next month. We’ll make sure we keep you posted!
Play: Angry Birds Friends @ Facebook
Have you played Angry Birds Friends? What do you think? Do you play Facebook games? Add your thoughts in the comments!
Source: Rovio

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HTC Titan and Titan II are both out of stock on AT&T's web site

Could it be that the Nokia Lumia 900 has opened the flood gates for all Windows Phones? Well, who knows for sure exactly, but two new Windows Phone on AT&T’s web site are now currently out of stock – possibly indicating that people are taking notice of Windows Phones in general.
Taking a quick look at the carrier’s offerings online, both the HTC Titan and Titan II are not available for purchase right now, since the two are out of stock. Naturally, it shouldn’t be surprising to see it with the original HTC Titan, since you know, its predecessor has been out for some time now.  Nevertheless, we’re flabbergasted as to why the new model is also out of stock.
Even though the two are sold out online, AT&T stores and other third party vendors might still have them in stock, but it makes you wonder if someone simply forgot to place orders for additional shipments. Also, it could be due to other issues such as component shortages or manufacturing problems.
Above all, it seems that Windows Phones in general have surely been getting more notoriety thanks to some recent devices like the HTC Titan II, which so happens to have the highest count megapixel camera on the market right now.
source: AT&T (1 & 2) via WP Central

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Better iPhone Video: Shoot, Process & Edit Video Like A Pro With These Apps [iPhone]

Shooting a film on an iPhone might not seem like the smartest idea, but for many it’s a viable option for capturing decent HD quality video on the move. Monday’s Stuff to Watch featured a number of productions created using the iPhone, a few specialised apps and some extras which can really make the difference.
Today we’ll be exploring the iPhone filmmakers’ toolbox, more specifically the apps that can help you get the most of your phone’s capabilities as a video recorder, processor and editor. Tomorrow we’ll be taking a closer look at accessories, DIY kit and techniques for producing top-notch video on your smartphone, so be sure to check back.
The iPhone 4S, being the latest and greatest, will provide a superior video experience than the iPhone 4. Just so we’re straight, the iPhone 4 shoots decent raw 720p video, while the iPhone 4S can capture 1080p video. The iPhone 4S also has an inbuilt image stabiliser to reduce hand shake, and low light performance is noticeably better than its predecessor.
That said the iPhone 4 still provides good 720p HD video, and the lack of an image stabiliser won’t make too much of a difference with the right tools at your disposal. If you are considering using an iPhone to shoot your short, film, documentary or music video, then battery life and storage space are going to be of utmost concern. It goes without saying that you should probably dump existing footage and pictures to your Mac or PC, for the maximum shooting time possible.

If you’re expecting to be out in the field for a while it might be worth investing in a powered iPhone case, for example the Mophie Juicepack Air which will provide more power for more shooting. The best way to overcome battery issues is to use multiple devices, so if you’ve got a couple of iPhones amongst your crew; you should be set for a day of filming.
Camera, your phone’s default capturing app, is remarkably basic. You can set exposure and focus (though not independently) by tapping and holding on an area in the viewfinder, but that’s about it. If you’re going to get serious about filming, you’ll probably want to check a few of these out.
Probably the most fully-featured iPhone video app, FiLMiC Pro lets you customise a myriad of options from a thumb-optimised interface for the best video possible. In addition to three separate modes for focus and exposure (including the ability to expose for one area and focus on another), FiLMiC Pro allows you to specify your own frame rate, including 24p (US) and 25p (European) film standards and user-defined video bitrate for unsurpassed authenticity.
The app also provides control over the resolution of the resulting video and framing guide overlays in 4:3, 16:9 and 2:35.1. An on-screen audio meter ensures you can see whether your sound is too loud or quiet and color bars and a film-style clapper finish off this motion picture masterpiece.
It’s not perfect, the iPhone drops frames occasionally (especially in low light situations) and 24p might end up at around 18 frames at times, but then again it offers such a leap in functionality over the plain old Camera app that the $3.99 seems almost too cheap considering the resulting footage. Check out the demo (in HD), below.
This is a good alternative to FiLMiC Pro, though it does lack a few features which is reflected in the slightly cheaper price tag. The app lets you specify video quality, set focus and aperture settings and lock white balance. It also provides grid overlays for framing and the option to force constant flash.
It doesn’t contain an option for 24p video (no custom frame rates at all in fact) or high bitrate recording, two features which FiLMiC Pro handles with ease. Unlike the previous app, however, almost DSLR doubles as a still camera which might provide further functionality outside of your movie making habit.
Red Giant make software that colour grades video footage for Hollywood productions for use with professional-level desktop editing software. Known as Magic Bullet Looks, the software usually retails for $399 and has been used extensively in the movie industry since 2001. Now there’s an iPhone version that provides similar results for a measly $2.
Put simply, it’s awesome. By downloading this you’re buying into the best processing app for the iPhone bar none. In addition to multi-layer colour grading, the app renders remarkably quickly and allows good control over the strength of each effect. One limitation is that videos must be under 5 minutes in length to be imported, but you can always trim your larger clips down to size and re-edit them later. Results below!
If you have an iPhone 4S then you’ll be delighted to know that you can shoot video at 60 frames per second, double that of the iPhone 4. Why is this so cool? Thanks to a free-to-try app called SloPro, you can then play these videos at half-speed for some silky smooth slow motion footage.
The app is free to download and try, but if you’d like to export your video to Camera Roll and beyond you will need to pay the $1.99 in-app purchase fee to upgrade to the professional version. Again, this won’t work too well on an iPhone 4 or below (unless you’re fond of 15fps video) but on an iPhone 4S it might add that final rush of cinematic goodness to your production. Process your results with Movie Looks HD for colour graded, slow motion awesomeness.
Apple’s own home movie editing app has been around for a while now, and initial reviews weren’t too favourable. A couple of updates later, however, and iMovie seems to have improved as a basic editing tool. It’s not for everyone – if you’re making a music video, feature-length production or documentary style film you will probably want to use a desktop app. For short films and productions though, iMovie is a remarkably fast way of editing together your footage.

The ability to export your project to iMovie for Mac is awesome, allowing you to play around with footage on the go and then pick it up when you get home. There are also a plethora of effects, sound effects, musical scores and the ability to build cinematic trailers from your footage too.
Armed with these apps you’ll find your abilities as an iPhoneographer (I still hate that word) are improved, though sound quality and camera shake still leave a lot to be desired. That’s what tomorrow’s article is all about – steadying your shots and getting the most from your audio.
Have you used any of these apps? What did you think? Any advice or alternatives? Have your say in our comments, below.

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Two versions of the Apple iPhone being tested says report, both with 3.999 inch screen

According to 9to5Mac, at Apple HQ, testing is taking place on a couple of prototype handsets, one of which will probably become the next Apple iPhone 5. The prototypes are disguised by being put in thick black shells which are designed to hide the true identity of the phone inside. Two of the models being tested have larger screens than the current 3.5 inches that used to be considered generously sized when the first Apple iPhone was launched in 2007. Since then, we have seen the envelope widen from the 4.3 inches that seemed so large on the HTC HD2 to the 5.3 inches on the Samsung GALAXY Note. The two Apple iPhone prototypes with the larger screen are internally called the iPhone 5,1 and the iPhone 5,2. Both the iPhone 5,1 and the iPhone 5,2 are in the PreEVT stage of testing and go by the code names N41AP  and N42AP respectively. The pair both sport a 3.999 inch screen, measured diagonally. Besides increasing the size of the display, Apple is also adding pixels to the screen as the new models have a resolution of 640 x 1136. That's an extra 176 pixels added down. The width of the screen will remain 1.9632 but will now be 3.484 inches tall and the aspect ratio will be close to 16:9.

There is also speculation that Apple will be working to maximize the extra real estate on iOS 6 by adding a fifth row of icons (not including the stationary icons, of course) and this is where the extra pixels come in to keep the screen a Retina display. Both of these models are said to have a home button and a smaller dock connector. The new dock connector is said to be a smaller version of the current 30-pin one and is said to be in between a micro USB connector and a mini one.

Considering that the last two Apple iPhone models ended up on the floor of a bar, we would imagine that the Cupertino based firm has tightened up security in terms of who can test a unit off-campus and who gets to take a prototype home.

source: 9to5Mac via Forbes

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Microsoft Office said to be coming to Android and iOS in November

Remember the leaked images of Microsoft Office for the iPad we saw a few months ago? The ones that Microsoft claimed were fakes? We were suspicious about their denials at the time, and it turns out the only “fakers” may have been Microsoft’s PR team. According to “a reliable source” speaking to BGR, Microsoft will be releasing tablet versions of Microsoft Office not just for the iPad, but for Android as well this November.

The November date presumably lines up with the launch of Windows 8 – Microsoft most likely plans to release tablet versions of its nearly ubiquitous office suite at a time when it ships for Windows 8 tablets (aka Windows RT). Frankly, this is a smart move all around. With tablets and smartphones rapidly eating into computer sales, Microsoft needs to transition Office (which has been a money cow for them for years) to the new mobile platforms, and they don’t have the luxury of placing all of their software eggs into one OS-basket this time around. At the same time, they don’t want to completely undercut Windows tablets before they can ship, so holding off on a release until the fall is a good strategic call.

BGR’s source has reportedly seen the iOS version of Office first hand, and indicates that it is identical to the original leaked images, suggesting that those were the Real McCoy after all. The source also indicated that the loading screen said “Office for iOS” rather than “Office for iPad”, raising the question of whether the suite will be made available on phones and iPod Touch devices as well as tablets.

Unfortunately we may have to wait until November to learn that. Or at least until the next leak…

source: BGR

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T-Mobile Prism can now be snagged at T-Mobile stores and online for $20

Sure it’s not the highest regarded Android smartphone on the scene, but nevertheless, the T-Mobile Prism has finally made its way to the carrier’s retail stores and online – albeit, it’s been made available since early May at places like Best Buy and Walmart.

You heard that right people, the T-Mobile Prism can now be purchased at your local T-Mobile store, which is something a bit different seeing carrier own stores normally get first dibs on new devices. Then again, exclusive deals can make other things happen in the process.

Surely, its $19.99 on-contract price point is more than affordable on any budget, but strangely enough, it’s sporting a $219.99 no-contract price as opposed to the initial $149.99 mentioned in its official press release a few weeks  back. Doing the math, that’s a $70 difference, which is pretty substantial when you think about it. Nonetheless, the contract route might be the better option at this point.

Quickly jolting your mind, the Huawei manufactured  T-Mobile Prism features a 3.5” HVGA display, single-core processor, 3.2-megapixel rear camera, 1,400 mAh battery, microSD card slot, Bluetooth 2.1 with EDR, aGPS, Wi-Fi, and Android 2.3 Gingerbread.

source: T-Mobile via TmoNews

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9 Fun Shooting Games Not Blocked by Most School Firewalls [MUO Gaming]

Let’s face it, shooting games are really fun. Kids love them! I wouldn’t say that kids like them so much necessarily because of the violence. I think it’s more about the whole “tag-you’re-it” mentality. From when kids are very small, they start playing tag. Once kids get into playing online games, “tag-you’re-it” turns into “bang-you’re-dead”.  Morbid, I know, but still…follow along with my logic here.
From two or three generations back, kids have played shooting games. At different points in time, it was cowboys and indians (politically incorrect now, I know), cops and robbers, or war. Of course, with the advent of the Internet, there’s less need to imagine – the images and sounds are provided. Good or bad, that’s just the way it is now.
If you’re one of those kids and you’re addicted to shooting games, then you know that during those breaks in school when the teacher lets you chill on the computer and play games, there isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell that you’re going to play a game like Medal of Honor or Call of Duty in the classroom.
Of course, that doesn’t mean you can’t get your fix. There are actually some shooting games out there that don’t involve gruesome deaths, shooting living things, or other nasty things that get parents and teachers all upset.
So you’ve finished your homework, and your teacher has allowed you some computer time. There’s Internet access, and you’re even allowed to play games (within reason). You’re dying to play a shooting game, but you know most of the gruesome ones you play at home are either blocked by the school firewall, or if the teacher caught you playing them, you’d get in trouble. What’s a gamer to do?
Well, let’s just say that you can probably still get your shooting fix, but you’re going to have to settle. The first online game I wanted to mention is probably one that rides at the very edge of what a teacher might consider acceptable, only because of the copious amounts of blood that squirt out of the zombies that are coming after you in Boxhead 2Play Rooms.

As you work through each level, more and more of the zombies keep coming after you. Make creative use of the exploding fuel drums, pick up weapons and ammunition in the boxes, and do whatever else you have to do to keep these horrifying and grisly beasts off of you. So, why wouldn’t the teacher have a problem with it? Well, they’re only lego characters – seriously, how gruesome can it be?
Another fun shooting game is a sort of spy-themed game called Mouse and Guns. The main goal of this game is a lot like the one above – just stay alive. First a flying cheese craft hovers overhead (surely the source of all of the problems), and then attack dogs start coming. Eventually hopping creatures on pogo sticks…and it’s only the beginning.

You are the mouse – you’ll do flips, cartwheels, and blast away all of the creatures coming after you. Yes, it’s all the shooting mayhem your little heart desires.
If it’s a different sort of shooting game you want, then you have to check out Gunball. This game features a little gunball (you), proving his worth to the larger gunballs that you’ll face at the end of the game.

Finally, another really fun shooting game that combines the sort of Duck Hunt action with target practice is Carnival Showdown. This game starts out with shooting at paper targets, then moving ducks, and finally at pop-up figures of cowboys aiming guns at you.

Not only is it non-gruesome, you aren’t killing anyone or anything in the game at all – you get your shooting game fix, and all of the adults in your life stay happy and content.
At the very least, it’s a fun way to pass the time and get your “shooting” fix in a way that no one will have a problem with. Give some of these games a try, and let us know what other ones you like in the comments section below.
Image Credit: Human Target via Shutterstock

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Apple, Samsung CEO-level talks fail to produce any agreements

When Judge Lucy Koh of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California ordered that Samsung and Apple sit down to negotiate a settlement of their patent war, she might have held some hope that getting the CEO's of both firms together would result in some give and take. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. An unnamed Samsung executive told the Korea Times that during the talks, both sides held firm to their arguments. Apple says that Korean based Samsung copied its designs while Samsung feels that Apple should license its wireless patents. On both Monday and Tuesday, both Apple CEO Tim Cook and Samsung CEO  sat down along with U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph C. Spero.  The two sides met on Monday and Tuesday and Judge Spero filed the minutes of the meetings with the court. Monday's filing had noted the meeting for Tuesday but yesterday's minutes made no mention of further talks.

What happens now? It's back to court. On June 7th, the court will hear Apple's request for a preliminary injunction against the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. If both sides can't reach an agreement on the patent issues, a trial will start June 27th . Ironically, Apple CEO Cook has said that he hates litigation. Samsung's mobile chief J.K. Shin, who accompanied Gee-Sung to the talks, had told reporters Sunday at Gimpo Inmternational Airoport that Apple's claims were "preposterous". And while Samsung had previously said that it was not interested in cross-licensing deals with Apple, Shin did bring it up as one solution to the legal mess that both companies find themselves in.

Frankly, we would like to see both Samsung and Apple go in front of Judge Judy. That would probably solve the whole patent issue in 15 minutes.

source: KoreaTimes, via FOSSPatents

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What Do You Do With Old or Outdated Hardware? [You Told Us]

Technology ages at an alarming rate. There is always something new and shiny on the horizon, meaning that at some point the device you were once excited about getting your hands on is no longer fit for purpose. At this point everyone has to make a choice.
There are a multitude of different things that can be done with old or outdated hardware. From simply dumping it in the trash, giving it away to a good cause, selling it on for a fair price, or changing its use entirely. Inspired by seeing people turning old technology into musical instruments, we wanted to find out what option you all chose.

We asked, What Do You Do With Old or Outdated Hardware? The response was very good, with dozens of MakeUseOf readers revealing what they do with their old computers and associated hardware when they find they no longer have a use for it. Most of those who responded don’t just trash the hardware, dumping in the garbage for someone else to deal with.
Some commenters detailed using old computers for single-use activities such as storing files, converting video, or servers. Many people install Linux on an old machine in order to carry on using it. Others give hardware away, via Freecycle, or not-for-profit organizations who will endeavor to match unwanted machines up with needy people.
Even those who bin it try to have it properly recycled rather than added to the landfill. Which suggests MakeUseOf readers are a responsible bunch.
Comment of the week goes to Kamal Tanawr, who gets nothing but my admiration and respect (which is surely more than anyone needs) for:

I usually donate it to an orphanage. I had an old desktop with intel P4 and another one with core2duo. Didn’t know what to do with them as I was going to buy a new one. The next day i was donating some clothes and food to an orphanage and it just clicked me why not computers? Anyways i would have either sold it @ garbage price or modified to rarely use it.
So i went to this orphanage and donated. I also taught some kids how to use it. It was fun.I purposely didn’t uninstall some games and softwares.But they don’t let them play games. It is mostly used for education purpose. I’m an avid gamer and i like to encourage people to play games. Hence, i donate my psp and nintendo too.
It really feels good when you see those kids playing. They are so excited and happy.

This comment not only revealed the way Kamal disposes of his old and outdated hardware, and a way we could all do the same, but also how going that extra mile can help change the lives of people less fortunate than ourselves. By teaching the kids how to use the technology a real difference can be made. Not bad for old hardware that has outlived the usefulness it had in its original form.
We will be asking a new question tomorrow, so please join us then. ‘We Ask You’ is a weekly column dedicated to finding out the opinions of MakeUseOf readers. We ask you a question and you tell us what you think. The question is open-ended and is usually open to debate. Some questions will be purely opinion-based, while others will see you sharing tips and advice, or advocating tools and apps for your fellow MakeUseOf Readers. This column is nothing without you, as MakeUseOf is nothing without you.
Image Credit: Thomas Claveirole

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Samsung Galaxy S III is Vodafone's most pre-ordered Android phone ever

Not that this is a surprise, but Vodafone has announced that the Samsung Galaxy S III is the most pre-ordered Android phone in the history of the carrier. Vodafone didn't mention any specific number, but considering that the phone is the fastest selling gadget of all-time with 9 million units pre-ordered (and that obviously doesn't include the U.S.), it would make sense for Vodafone to be ringing up some impressive numbers for the handset. Vodafone customers can actually get the 16GB Samsung Galaxy S III for free with monthly plans as low as 41 GBP a month ($64 USD). That plan gives customers 2GB of data, 900 UK minutes, unlimited texts and 100 free music tracks. You will need to sign up for 2 years of this plan to get the free 16GB Samsung Galaxy S III which Vodafone hopes to deliver by the end of this month. By the way, you do get to choose between two colors, white or blue.

Vodafone also has limited exclusivity in the U.K. for the 32GB model of the Samsung Galaxy S III. To get that version of the phone for free, you need to sign up for, at the least, Vodafone's 46 GBP a month plan ($72 USD). This is the same as the 41GBP plan except that it offers 300 more UK minutes for a total of 1200. To pre-order the phone, click on the sourcelink.

source: Vodafone via UnwiredView

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3 Ways The Portable Apps Platform Will Make Your Life Easier

Portable apps have a huge place in my geeky heart simply because they are quite numerous (if you don’t believe me, check out the Best Portable Apps here). They don’t modify the registry, and can be used in different Windows machines (though there are portable apps for Linux as well). Up until recently though, maintaining portable apps was not pleasant for me. I’d have to go into Windows Explorer and click on the executable to launch the program every time, and if there was an update to the program, I’d have to download the program and “install” it all over again. Sound familiar?
If your answer is yes, you should probably take a look at the Portable Apps Platform, currently on version 10.0, available from the same site that offers portable versions of popular programs. You can download the Platform from this link (which leads to download links from Sourceforge). Why would this trump the current way you’re maintaining your portable apps? I thought you’d never ask.
If you have quite a few portable apps (even our suggestions from our Best Portable Apps reach 50+), having a way to access them is probably optimal. I used to create a toolbar in the Windows taskbar, but as the list of portable apps grew and grew, the toolbar would take its sweet time loading, which means it would freeze all the time. The Portable Apps Platform is a great way to launch one of your portable programs without any such hassle.
You can select for the Platform to sort your programs by category, by alphabetical order, or either with favorites and recent apps displayed first, something that the program calls “Smart” organizing.

Other options include themes and other preferential settings, e.g. whether to display only open-source applications, whether to disable the scrollbar, etc.

Portable applications are usually in heavy development, and you probably don’t want to miss important updates on the applications you love. If you don’t want to check for updates on a program manually and have to do this 50+ time for all of your portable applications, the Portable Apps Platform will also be a big time-saver. You can select to update on Platform startup and even update to the beta (less stable) versions of your preferred programs.

Since I have checked the option for the Platform to check for updates on startup, it notifies me of updates every time I click on the Portable Apps Platform in my taskbar.

As you can see, the Platform displays information about the download file size as well as a brief description of the app in case you have forgotten. If you simply do not want in on a specific update, you can simply click Cancel and be well on your way to seeing the Platform start menu.
Another neat feature from the Platform is that you can browse through the portable offerings of the mother site, PortableApps.com, without even needing a web browser. Simply click on Apps from the start menu, and you’ll see several options, from which you will want to click on Get More Apps.

Then you will see a neat list with all the portable apps from the site’s Directory, along with descriptions, download file size and installation space needed.

Since the list is quite extensive, it’s times like this that you will find our Best Portable Apps page (updated recently by the way) handy.
If you use portable apps frequently, you’ll find the Portable Apps Platform quite useful. It’s definitely something you should have in your portable app arsenal!
Can’t get enough of portable apps? Check out some awesome portable games, cool portable app launchers, our editor’s favorite portable apps, check out other portable app suites or learn how to create your own portable apps! Let us know your favorite portable apps in the comments below!

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RIM wants to help you convince your IT manager to buy new BlackBerry 7 OS phones

"Dear IT manager,

I’m ready to upgrade to a BlackBerry® 7 smartphone, with features that are designed to help boost my productivity and help me manage my day more efficiently:

Apps that will help make me more productive and connected, like BlackBerry Mobile Conferencing, BlackBerry® Traffic™ and BlackBerry® Travel™. A unified inbox, so I can stay on top of all my emails, texts and phone calls. BlackBerry Tag on NFC devices — so I can share contacts and files with my colleagues with a simple tap.HD video recording and playback, so I can capture and share high res video content instantly.Tight integration with the business applications on the BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet, such as Docs to Go (by the way—I’d love a BlackBerry PlayBook too!).The proven and reliable BlackBerry platform, designed with security at the core.

Along with its great features, BlackBerry devices come with world-class technical support, and centralized and simplified solution management.

And it looks like there’s a great promotion going on right now: For a limited time, the BlackBerry Upgrade Program offers up to $100 for every new BlackBerry 7 purchased. Contact your RIM Account Manager for details.

Will you upgrade me to a BlackBerry 7 smartphone? Check them out at http://us.blackberry.com/smartphones/.

Thank you for your time,
<"-pre-written letter supplied by RIM to send to your IT manager

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Yahoo launches Axis, it's new mobile browser that is also a search tool

Yahoo is entering the crowded and competitive world of mobile browsing on Wednesday night when it launches Yahoo Axis on the Apple App Store. The browser can also be used as a plug-in for IE, Safari, Chrome and Firefox. Obviously, with the Yahoo name, search is a major function and instead of  a list in blue print you get visual responses to a query. For example, search for a web site and you will get a visual representation of the site. Yahoo says it has images representing 85% of all web sites. Bing will still be used for algorithmic search, but Yahoo will present results based on its long database of user history.

While searching with the browser, users will be able to see what's trending, answers and thumbnails of the top search results. Click on one of the thumbnails and Axis becomes a browser. Swipe from the top and you're back in search mode using what Yahoo calls "elastic refresh" to navigate results pages. Searches, recently visited sites and bookmarks stay constant across multiple platforms. Yahoo Axis will be part of a toolbar bundling deal with Firefox and Internet Explorer which resulted in the company shipping more than 80 million browsers last year

Yahoo will not look to make money with this, at least at first, with paid listing showing up in search results eventually. Built on HTML5, Yahoo Axis does not do Flash, nor will it show inline video although the latter is expected to change. Versions for Android and Windows Phone are expected and BlackBerry users will be shut out. Yahoo is also working on a Metro version, possibly for Windows Phone 8. The search engine can do basic web searches and image searches. And those who use social networks will be happy to know that Yahoo Axis has a tool for easily sharing web pages via Twitter, email or Pinterest (no Facebook, for some reason).

Again, Yahoo Axis will be available for free from the Apple App Store later Wednesday night. In the meantime, check out the three ads Yahoo produced, one each for the Apple iPhone, Apple iPad and for desktop users.

source: Yahoo via Forbes

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Nokia's Israeli distributor first Nokia related person to confirm Windows Phone 8 launch

israeli publication Techit.co.il reported that a European distributor for Nokia has confirmed that Windows Phone 8 OS powered Nokia Lumia handsets will be available by the end of the year. The distributor distributes (what else would a distributor do?) the Nokia line in Israeli and stated that Eurocom Nokia will offer the Nokia Lumia series in Israel once the phones are loaded with Windows Phone 8, which supports Hebrew.

Windows Phone brass obviously are familiar with the Apollo update as Windows Phone manager Joe Belfiore had produced a video that we showed you which was meant to be viewed by Nokia personnel only. Still, those in the know at the Finnish based manufacturer did an admirable job of keeping quiet except for a strange tweet from Nokia Saudi Arabia last month that mentioned that a Windows Phone 8 version of the Nokia Lumia 900 will come to the Middle East. With its disclosure that this variant of the Nokia Lumia 900 would suport Arabic, the tweet seems to dovetail perfectly with the distributor's comment.






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SmokedbyWindowsPhone takes over the city of Toronto

One of the most interesting promotions in the mobile phone industry, #SmokedbyWindowsPhone, went on the road to the city most often used by the motion picture industry to portray the Big Apple. We are talking about Toronto, of course. The current prize for beating Windows Phone is $100 and most walked away without the prize and either a new found respect for Microsoft's mobile OS, or else a feeling that someone cheated.

Check out the video below of a young man named Corey putting up his Apple iPhone 4S against a Nokia Lumia 900. The task was to find a list of local GTA eateries and the Nokia Lumia 900 handled it faster by coming up with a listing of a Tim Hortons restaurant before Corey even had opened his map application. Microsoft originally gave out new Windows Phone handsets to the losers until it was discovered that some were losing on purpose in order to snag a free phone. 

According to Mobile Syrup, the crowd consisted mostly of BlackBerry users (it WAS Canada, after all), Apple iPhone owners and those clutching their Android handsets. The site noted that very few in the crowd had heard of Windows Phone and an even fewer number were carrying one around. Can a promotion like this one garner enough word of mouth for Windows Phone to help it become a stronger competitor?

One interesting note. The video of the contest that you can view below was taken on an Android powered HTC One X.




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5 accessories to connect a smartphone or tablet to your TV

We've all been there, lounging on the couch with our phone or tablet and wishing we could stream videos from the internal storage, Netflix, YouTube and so on to the largest screen in the house right in front of us. 

It is not a seamless task, as there are no universal standards yet, both for doing it with a cable or wirelessly, but there are some accessories out there that make it possible.

Wireless streaming is, of course, preferable for our lazy ways, but we don't mind the occasional cable snake if the mobile device can be hooked that way for cheap, or if the wireless sees too many interruptions, as is often the case. 

There are DLNA streaming boxes for the wireless part, in case you don't have a DLNA-capable TV, and adapters for almost any kind of port for the wired way, so check out a few of them in our slideshow below to know what you are in for when considering a TV hookup on the cheap.

5 accessories to connect a smartphone or tablet to your TV

1. LG ST600 Smart TV Upgrader ($50)

The LG ST600 Smart TV Upgrader connects to the HDMI port on your TV, recognizes DLNA-capable phones or tablets, which are a lot these days, and allows you to stream their content directly to the big screen TV, including MKV and DivX files, no cable hassles needed.

It also offers web browsing, some LG apps, and streams Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon, Vudu, Cinema Now, MLB, MOG, Napster, Pandora, NHL, YouTube plus some more with the latest firmware upgrade.

The best part is that unlike HTC's Media Link offerings, it seems to work with any streaming device, and is just around $50 to boot. LG said it will issue a new version this year, with this one being discontinued, so we'll keep our eyes peeled for the improvements, and enjoy the low price in the meantime.

2. Apple TV ($99)

Apple TV's "hockey puck" needs no introduction as this is the way of choice for iPhone and iPad owners to stream content to their TVs. This year's edition supports 1080p content, so all is fine and dandy. If you are already invested in the Apple ecosystem, you can't beat using AirPlay for $99 with Apple TV.

3. Apple Digital AV Adapter ($40)

If you can live without the random errors and interruptions of wireless streaming that very often occur, the good ol' cable connection via HDMI is the way to go.

Apple's own Digital AV Adapter is the missing link between your iPhone or iPad, and the HDMI cable that leads to your TV. It supports 1080p and, unlike the cheaper $20 alternatives, allows you to charge and sync the device as well, which might be important during a presentation.

4. Samsung MHL to HDMI adapter ($10)

If your phone has the combined MHL port that has both microUSB and HDMI in the same place, as most Samsung and HTC phones of late do, you'll need one of these adapters for hooking it up to the HDMI cable that leads to your TV and mirror the phone's screen.

Granted, it still requires the cable snake, but you can't beat hooking up your Galaxy S II or S III, HTC One Xor One S, etc., to the largest screen in the house for 10 bucks. Of course, if your phone has an HDMI port, like a lot of Sony and LG handsets, you can just buy a cheapo microHDMI-to-HDMI cable for $5 and call it a day.

5. ViewHD Two Input HDMI to RGB Component YPbPr / VGA 2x1 Switch Converter Support 5.1CH Surround Sound ($80)

All these connections before require an HDMI port on your TV, but what if you don't have one? The ViewHD converter is on the pricey side, but it's one of your very few options that supports both 480p and 480i output for your old school TV set.

Touted by the manufacturer as "The World Most Powerful HDCP Deciphering Converter Ever, Supports Older None HDCP Compliant TVs", the ViewHD converter box also works with Apple TV 2, making streaming from your iOS device to your aging but trusty TV unit a possibility.

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Locks, relationships, and our smartphones - how they all intertwine with one another

Every day, we report on some of the intense news surrounding the always unpredictable mobile world, as we should no doubt since it’s in our veins to do so. However, with this piece, we’re taking a different spin on the usual geeky news that we’re so fond of reporting. Frankly, we can talk about some cool new innovation that’s about to hit the mainstream on a smartphone, or get all giddy about the next big thing to come out, but instead, we’re hitting it straight to the heart with a piece that’s more personal to some people.

As we look back at the CTIA keynote that we covered last week, we weren’t initially as concerned hearing about Sprint CEO Dan Hessetalking about security and privacy in the mobile landscape, and instead, we kept on gravitating towards the need for more spectrum from Dan Mead of Verizon. However, the more we thought about it, Dan Hesse clearly had a point regarding mobile security. For most people, the first line of defense is nothing more than a simple lock of some sort on their device.

We’re not sure how some of you deal with your smartphones, but seeing that we’re constantly sending important messages, emails, and other content, it’s crucial for us to have some kind of lock on our device – even more when the unfortunate situation of losing our phone happens. However, if you’re starting a relationship with someone, it might throw off an alarm of some kind with your significant other. In our always connected digital world consisting of text messaging, email, and social networking, it’s easy for anyone to question one’s trustfulness.

Losing a phone contributes to the need for a phone lock

So why do we have locks on our devices? Obviously, there are a host of reasons that we can go through, but for argument’s sake, we’ll simply talk about the ones that cater around relationships. First and foremost, it might simply be none other than a natural inclination for people, as they’ve been accustomed to having it – due to either losing a phone in the past or being a victim of identity theft. In that rare event that your device is lost, or worse, stolen by someone, they can seemingly have a field day going through all of your personal stuff. From photos, messages, to contact information, your stolen phone could undoubtedly prove to be a headache in more ways than none – hence why some people opt to put on a lock afterwards.

"It's because of my job"

Secondly, people have passwords/locks becausethey’re required by their job to have them. To tell you the truth, it’s almost unfathomable in this day and age to find a business oriented user to not have a low level lock in place. Of course, it’s a valid argument to have a lock in this case scenario, as work email is regarded as a highly sensitive and private thing with all companies that employ some kind of enterprise service with its business devices. So yeah, it’s really a no-brainer for people to complain why there are passwords with these things.

Nevertheless, we, as human beings, are curious entities that have this undying urge to find out what’s behind closed doors. Sure, we’ve heard about those stories about some person hiding their secret love affair from their significant other thanks to a lock, but in the end, enough persistence and sleuthing from the other person can always unravel it all. People say it’s a matter of trust, which all relationships require in order to survive. Then again, there are just some people out there that can be bit overbearing or nagging when it comes to asking why one actually needs to have a lock on their smartphone.

Compromise, compromise, compromise

In that scenario where someone is understanding enough to either remove the lock or provide the password, the significant other will naturally be pleased by the receptive gesture – and of course, that’s what relationships are all about, which is to make compromises in life. Just when you think it’s enough to make the other person happy, they might want even more to fully ease their thoughts. Seriously, we’re not sure how some of you deal with that, but when is enough really enough? Think about for a moment, but what happens if your significant other wants more – like the passwords to your email, or how about your Facebook or Twitter accounts?

As we’ve mentioned, we’re able to connect with people through a myriad of portals, but when someone isn’t happy with knowing the lock code to your phone, would you willfully provide them with whatever they want? In the end, it’s all going to come down to trust, that one invisible bond between two individuals that keeps things stable. Looking forward to the future, it’s almost a crazy thought to find someone using a smartphone without a lock – even when mobile payments are expected to make a boom. Using your phone to make a purchase, we’re certain that a password or lock will be in place no matter what. So with that in mind, we ask you, our readers, do you have a lock on your device? And if you have any other reasons why you have one, please don't be afraid to share them with us.








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If you're wondering where the delay is for Android updates, Verizon has the answer

Everyone loves to complain about how slow Android updates can be, and more than that, everyone loves to play the blame game, which mostly means saying that Google should be acting more like Apple and locking down control over the ecosystem. Of course, no one bothers to really think through that option, because following that logic would destroy many of the things we love about Android. Still, it's becoming more and more clear where the major delays are coming from when in regards to Android updates. 

It has come to our attention that the Verizon Galaxy Nexus was released 5 months ago today. And, the Verizon Galaxy Nexus is still running the same version of Android it shipped with, despite a number of rumors about updates to Android 4.0.4 or 4.0.5., and even a leaked version of 4.0.4coming out for the device. This is a Nexus device, meaning there is no manufacturer UI to worry about. Admittedly, the Verizon Galaxy Nexus is not supported as a developer device by Google because of the proprietary keys needed for the CDMA radio, but that shouldn't cause any real delays. 

Still, what we're seeing is that there is an update available for Verizon Galaxy Nexus users. It has leaked, it has even reportedly gone out over-the-air to some users, but it hasn't been officially released. There is literally no other reason to point to here aside from carrier delays. The GSM Galaxy Nexus has been updated all the way to 4.0.5. The Sprint Galaxy Nexus (which theoretically would need the same proprietary CDMA keys as Verizon) has been updated with a fix straight from Sprint to fix connectivity issues. The only holdout is with Verizon. We have known for a while that carrier testing adds time to the release of software updates, but the leaked version of Android 4.0.4 for the Verizon Galaxy Nexus came out over three months ago, but we still haven't seen a widespread release of the update. 

For unlocked devices, there will be delays with updates depending on a few factors: the complexity of the manufacturer customizations, how much the manufacturer has contributed to the Android source, and the willingness of the manufacturer to bother building the update. We've seen that manufacturers contributing back to the Android source trunk will speed up update releases quite a bit as seen with Sony's fast turnaround on a number of Xperia devices. And, we know that having just light customizations also makes updates extremely fast, as is the case with Asus tablets. 

Unfortunately, the two biggest culprits are manufacturer apathy - the LG Optimux 2X ran stock Android, but still hasn't seen the ICS update - and carrier delays. And, aside from consumers banding together to complain or boycott those companies, there isn't a lot that can be done to speed up those issues. But, that means there are options. If you're a Verizon Galaxy Nexus user, just get in touch with Verizon Wireless support and let them know you mean business. Maybe we can force some movement. 

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Switching from Android to Windows Phone Part 1: initial impressions and missing features

Reminder: this is not intended to be a review of Windows Phone. This is intended as something of a running diary showing the process of an Android user getting to know and use Windows Phone.**

Making a change or choosing a new mobile platform can be a big step. Our mobile devices are more and more important in our daily lives, so the choice we make for our hardware and software dictates a lot of how we interact on a daily basis. iOS has become more closely tied with Twitter, not to mention its integration with iCloud and other Apple devices/products. Android, not surprisingly, is closely integrated with Google's products like Google+, Docs, Gmail, Maps, etc. Windows Phone is integrated with Micrsoft's Windows Live, and Bing, but also with Facebook to a larger degree. Often, we let the software we use dictate the platform we choose. However, in an effort to understand all aspects of the mobile ecosystem, it can be a useful test to try something new and give it a real workout, and not rely on just a short time or a platform's design philosophy to form an opinion. 

Windows Phone is not yet exactly a major player given that it has yet to pass 2% of the market share in America, but it has made a bit of a push in some regions like Norway and France. As we talked about recently, the Windows Phone ecosystem is in a tenuous position right now. It hasn't built much traction with consumers, and frustration with carriers and manufacturers could be dangerous if Microsoft and Nokia's partnership leads to manufacturers abandoning the platform rather than upping their game to compete with Nokia. Still, Microsoft has deep pockets, Nokia makes quality handsets, and the Windows Phone platform is designed extremely well, even if it can feel incomplete for someone moving over from Android, especially Android 4.0.

With that in mind, it's time to venture into the relative newcomer of Windows Phone. This is the next step in a 4 year journey through the mobile ecosystem which began with the iPhone 3G, moved to the Nexus One, then the Galaxy Nexus and an iPad 2. Sprinkle in regular use of a BlackBerry, and that covers most of the major players in the US smartphone market. So, Windows Phone was the obvious next choice. We'll get into the transition more deeply, but the overall impression from the first weekend of the switch is that Windows Phone has a lot of potential, but still feels a work in progress. 

For this experiement, which should last for the next 6 weeks or so, we are switching from a Galaxy Nexus, which we have been using since December, to an HTC Radar 4G. We would have loved to use a Nokia Lumia 900, since it is the best WP device available, but the lack of T-Mobile support killed that idea. Still, aside from hardware design, screen size, camera quality, battery life, and maybe some specific apps, there shouldn't be too much difference between Windows Phone devices. It's not like the Android ecosystem where there are dozens of factors to be aware of when choosing a device. With Android, you have to understand the CPU specs, screen size, screen resolution, manufacturer, OS version, type of custom UI, radio type, camera quality, plans for OS update and more. With Windows Phone many of those choices don't exist, and that's exactly how Microsoft wants it right now. 

Initial impressions on design

Obviously, the first thing you'd notice with a switch from the Galaxy Nexus or many other high end Android phones released in the past few months is the screen. The Radar screen is almost an inch smaller (3.7" compared to 4.6") and the resolution is much lower as well (480x800 compared to 720x1280). Because Microsoft has kept pretty tight control over what hardware can be used with Windows Phone, there hasn't been a lot of variation until just recently where there has been the introduction of 4"+ screens. This is a conscious effort by Microsoft in order to assure compatibility and consistent performance, so we obviously can't fault HTC for the screen, and really it was only an issue in specific situations like text on a web page while zoomed out. 

Despite the screen difference, Windows Phone looks lovely. The UI is striking and iconic, and it features all of the subtle little touches that Google didn't understand were important until it hired Matias Duarte. The small touches are what make the system feel more mature than it actually is, like the WP lockscreen bouncing up to let you know how to unlock the device, or the way list items squeeze together when you hit the bottom of the list, or how the all of the Tiles flip away leaving just the item you selected before launching, or even the rolling text animation when the voice command is figuring out what you've asked. Windows Phone is also designed to be minimalist, so the screen never feels crowded. The system bar at the top will hide everything except for the clock when entering an app, and a quick swipe will bring up other icons like data connection, WiFi, Bluetooth icons, etc.

As Google learned from Matias Duarte and his work on Android 4.0 and the Holo theme, consistent gestures and continuity in UI from system to apps are important. But, Microsoft obviously already knew this because the Metro UI is built on the left-to-right swiping through pages, and the UI is consistent even within apps. Similarly, Google needed Matias Duarte to come in, explain the need for quality typography, and lead the project which created the Roboto font for Android 4.0, but the entire Metro UI in Windows Phone is driven by the typography, specifically the Segoe WP font. This means that even though Windows Phone devices are all WVGA resolution, text is almost always crisp and easy to read. The icons for Windows Phone are simple and bold, which can be a very welcome sight compared to Android or iOS where app icons are becoming increasingly complex or cartoony. The overall simplicity of WP icons helps to add a sense of cohesion that can be lacking in Android. So, not just the apps, but the WP icons also feel like they are all part of the same whole because of the design. 

Windows Phone is most definitely a design oriented platform, which can be quite a nice transition for users coming from Android 2.x. It certainly doesn't look like anything else on the market, and that's a very good thing. We've never been much of a fan of iOS's static grid of icons. Android got a lot better with Ice Cream Sandwich, but there was a reason why HTC and Samsung felt the need to make Android look prettier in the days of 2.x. When done right, Live Tiles can be delightful, and the Metro UI is easy to navigate for the most part. 

nconsistency

The trouble is in those qualifiers in that last sentence. Overall, Windows Phone feels inconsistent to a certain extent. When done well, like the People Tile or Xbox Live Tile, the animation adds another dimension which is exciting and lively. However, many of the third party apps don't take advantage of Live Tiles nearly as well and use bland graphics that don't change much. This is likely something that will change as developers put more time and effort into the platform, but it's not helping anything right now when the platform needs to gain traction in the market.

One thing that any new user has to keep in mind is that the name Windows Phone 7.5 is a very misleading name, because this is really only the second version of this system. Microsoft did a complete reboot from Windows Mobile 6 to Windows Phone 7, so it's not surprising that certain features that would seem basic don't exist. Other features are there, but either don't work the same way consistently, or are triggered in strange ways. For example, there is universal copy/paste in Windows Phone, but selecting a word will only be triggered if you do something of a medium-length tap. A quick tap won't work, which seems reasonable, but if you hold too long on a word it also won't trigger, so you have to find the right timing in order to get the feature to work. Then, once you have highlighted something, using the end-points to change the highlighted phrase doesn't always register accurately. 

Similarly, while the Metro UI is generally intuitive, there are still too many times where the option you may want or some explanation of what is happening may be lacking. This is apparent right from the first time you boot up your new Windows Phone device. When you first login to your Windows Live account, the device will automatically install the base apps, so you are guaranteed to have the newest version of each right away. This is a great idea, but unless you've ready the manual or quick start guide that comes with your device (and let's face it, no one ever reads those things), you won't actually know that this is happening. All you'll see is that the phone is taking a disturbingly long time to sign in for the first time, which may lead you to think that something has gone wrong, especially if you aren't on WiFi and have to wait for slower mobile data to get everything installed. Additionally, just like how Google has been pushing the Holo theme in Ice Cream Sandwich as a way to uncover important features of an app that may be buried in menu items, Microsoft could do with bringing forward some features out of menu lists.

It's also very nice that almost all apps can be uninstalled right away. The only apps that are baked in and can't be uninstalled are the core apps from Microsoft like Phone, People (aka contacts), Messaging, Office, etc. Any manufacturer or carrier additions can be uninstalled. So, if you don't want T-Mobile TV, HTC Watch or HTC Hub, they can be easily uninstalled. Of course, not everything can be uninstalled, and even worse, some features you may expect just don't exist yet, and if they do, they can be somewhat inconsistent. 

Missing features 

A potentially large sticking point for an Android user moving to Windows Phone is with text input. There is voice command available for search and performing certain actions, and it works pretty well, but there is no dictation option, nor are there alternative keyboards (a mainstay for the Android user), so unless you'll have to get comfortable with touch typing very quickly. The stock keyboard on Windows Phone is quite good, although with most devices like the Radar, it would be best to make landscape orientation your default for typing, because otherwise it is a bit cramped. It seems likely that dictation is coming, but definitely the biggest switch from Android to WP is in giving up gesture keyboards, and that doesn't seem to be on the Windows Phone update roadmap. Even so, text input works well with the virtual keyboard, although autocorrect doesn't work consistently. While we've found autocorrect to work well in the Email app, it doesn't always do its job in the Messaging app.

One small, but important missing, or at least hidden feature is with the battery meter. There is the icon battery meter in the top right as you'd expect, but getting more information on the battery is buried far too deeply. There is no option for changing the system bar icon to a percentage readout, or timer of estimated battery life remaining, and no option for a Live Tile with this info. The only way to get it is to drill into the settings and the Battery Saver settings. Given the way we kill devices, battery life is something that's always a trouble, this is very disappointing. There are apps to give you this kind of info if you are willing to developer unlock your Windows Phone, but that shouldn't be a requirement. 

The last major issue we found right away was in the limitation of background processes on 3G. There are obviously size limits for app downloads on mobile connections, as would be expected, but those limits aren't extended to things like podcasts. Rather, downloading a podcast over mobile data cannot be done through the Marketplace at all. There are 3rd party options for downloading podcasts, but if you're on mobile it can't be done in the background, meaning you have to plan your downloads to when you won't need to use your phone. A big addition of Windows Phone 7.5 was in allowing apps to run in the background, but we found that this was not reliable when you need an Internet connection, like for an IM app, and more often than not apps would lose connection when exited. 

Conclusion

Obviously, there are nits that can be picked, especially when making as big a shift as the move from Android to Windows Phone. Android is in its 7th major version, while Windows Phone is on its 2nd, so there are bound to be features that Android has that WP doesn't. Not having as robust of a Share menu will likely turn off some users, but we can't fault Windows Phone for things like that, because for all we know, that could be a feature that is coming later on, and it isn't something that will make or break the user experience. It's simply something to get used to like transitioning into using Bing and Bing Maps more often. 

Our initial impression is that Windows Phone definitely has the potential to become the third pillar of the mobile ecosystem, but it does have some growing to do. The system is incredibly well designed, and has many of the features one may want like Internet sharing (depending on your device), a unified Inbox, a quality Marketplace, and more. And, those are going to be some of the topics we hit in the next installment of this series. Today was all about overall impressions and usability. Next time we'll dive into the apps and the big question of transferring from a Google-centric life to a Microsoft-centric life

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