LG Android phone

 I'm not an Android groupie but I think I'm getting there. This is not because I believe everything Google does is gold (I think Wave was a puddle) but because, most of the time, their technology just works. And if you don't believe me, check out LG's GW620. Yes, it uses the Android platform (albeit the older 1.5 v.) and it's honestly one of the easiest no-fuss phones I've used in a while.

  Messaging on this is a breeze with the slide-out physical QWERTY keyboard and its predictive text offers an accurate list of suggestions. Unlike other phones, it won't automatically finish the word for you but rather waits until you choose the option you want. It might seem like more work but I didn't find it a pain in the least. It neatly arranges all your text messages under different contacts (most recent first) which means you don't need to frantically scroll down a mess of texts to find that one with the info you needed.

Menu options are available on three different screens which are accessible with the slide of your finger. But you'll always have the contacts, call log, messaging and main menu icons on the home screen, and there are no menu customisation options.

It has a decent 3-inch resistive touchscreen display and handy SNS Manager (Social Networking Service) that makes sure you're connected to your favourites on Facebook, Twitter and MySpace.

I've had to force quit apps three times in my two weeks of using the phone. Most of the time I recall that happened when I tried to overload it with having several apps open at once, while another time it froze when a colleague tried to get on to Google Maps.

There is a 5 megapixel camera with flash, a microSD slot, a standard 3.5mm headphone jack and a useful power button on top that also serves a quick lock option so you don't end up dialling Ali when you carry it in your pocket.

At AED 1,999,  it's not as pricey as most new smartphones but you do get the feeling that it should be more than what it is. Yes, it has the wonderful ensemble of Google apps and you can get more Android goodies from the market, but the user interface feels a bit basic (or too cutesy depending on the home theme selected!) and the design isn't inspiring. But maybe it's because I've seen a fair bit of bells, whistles and flashing lights from other phones in recent months?

LG's focus was obviously on functionality with this model - and there's nothing wrong with that.

Verizon Gives a First Look at the Motorola Droid 4

 Although Verizon has yet to officially announce the Motorola Droid 4, that's not stopping the carrier from giving the world a sneak peek at this upcoming high-end Android smartphone.

No specifications were revealed, but the images confirm earlier reports that this device will include a sliding five-row keyboard, and a relatively slim shape that resembles the Motorola Droid RAZR.

 The fact that Verizon is showing off this handset, in even a limited manner, is a strong indication that it is indeed going to launch next week, on Dec. 8, as has been rumored.

Leaked Specifications

Verizon is still keeping quiet about the details of the Droid 4, but that hasn't stopped virtually all of its specifications from leaking out. According to unconfirmed reports, this device will debut with Google's Android OS 2.3 running on a 1.2GHz dual-core processor with 1GB RAM and 16GB of built-in storage.

The LTE-enabled phone will supposedly have a 4-inch qHD (960 x 540) display and will pack an 8MP rear camera with 1080p video capture and an “HD” front-facing webcam. It will also allegedly be equipped with a 1785 mAh battery, a micro HDMI-out port, a micro-USB port, a micro SIM and a microSD slot. The device will also come with DLNA, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0.

Panasonic Lumix FP3 digital camera

 Panasonic's new Lumix camera costs AED 999 in the United Arab Emirates

There's not much you can do to a camera these days that hasn't been done before, so I admire Panasonic Lumix FP3's nuances.

For example, aside from the boring on/off button you can slide down the front lens cover to switch the camera on. It has a generous 3" touchscreen panel that can automatically detect the light around you and change the LCD brightness accordingly. Perfect for when you're outdoors. 

 Perhaps the most useful FP3 feature is the dedicated Intelligent Auto (IA) mode button. Panasonic's IA tech automatically selects settings that match the environment you're trying to capture. It's an all-in-one mode that combines image stabilisation, light sensitivity, face and scene detection and auto focus...and it really works. Even the most novice user will have no problem taking above average shots with IA on the FP3.

But it's the camera's twenty five ‘scene' modes that had me clicking away for hours. There's one for pretty much every situation imaginable - party, food, candlelight, beach, sports... including one specifically for when you want to take aerial shots and one that best suits taking photos of your pet.

Film grain and transform are my favourites scene modes though. Once set on film grain, the camera captures a black and white image but with a traditional grainy twist. It really is quite gorgeous when taking portraits. The transform mode is fun, with you choosing to either ‘stretch' or ‘slim' photo subjects. The results aren't perfect since you have no control over just how much the image is stretched, but the transformation is more than evident.

The FP3 is also capable of HD movie recording, which I found to be good. I tried fast action shots, noticing the same sharp results when I kept the camera steady as well as when I moved the unit around quickly.

What I am not too thrilled about is the colour pickup - I've seen more intensity on cameras from competing brands. And the user interface is great if you're pushing 50 and need the clunky fonts and icons. I expect a classier UI on a camera like this.

Carrier IQ Spyware Found in Numerous Smartphones, Tracking Your Every Move

A new video posted by a security researcher has the Internet in a frenzy, as it details hidden software installed on smartphones that logs numerous details about the users’ activities. It is not the creation of a hacker, but has apparently been pre-installed either by wireless carriers or by device makers.

The software, known as Carrier IQ, was discovered by Trevor Eckhart, who uploaded a 17-minute video on YouTube displaying the program, which logs every text message, Google search and phone number typed on a variety of smartphones and then reports them to the mobile carrier. Currently the list of devices equipped with this application includes phones made by Apple, HTC, BlackBerry and Nokia, among others.

Carrier IQ also logs the URL of websites searched on the phone, despite users employing an encrypted "HTTPS" URL, according to Eckhart. The researcher refers to the application as a "rootkit" or spyware program, which runs in the background without a user’s knowledge. According to Eckhart, the software always runs when the Android operating system is running and users are unable to stop it. 

Millions Affected

References to the software have reportedly been discovered on numerous smartphones from a variety of vendors and carriers, though only a few companies have stepped forward to acknowledge the finding. Nokia has publicly denied the allegations that Carrier IQ is present in its Symbian smartphones, while Verizon Wireless has confirmed that none of its handsets feature the software.

Carrier IQ is also said to be included on all iPhones running iOS 5 and lower, yet reports claim iOS 5 users may be able to disable the application by turning off “Diagnostics and Usage” in their Settings. However, it appears older versions of the OS may send back information instead of disabling the software.

Eckhart currently estimates the number of handsets installed with Carrier IQ’s software to be more than 141 million. As the story is still developing, there is sure to be more from Eckhart, Carrier IQ and the alleged manufacturers and carriers involved. Brighthand will be sure to keep you posted as more details surface. Check out Eckhart's video below to learn more about Carrier IQ.

Apple App Store Now Offers More Than 500,000 Apps

 Today Apple announced that the App Store now has more than 500,000 apps, as customers continue to download more than 1 billion apps per month.

Apple revolutionized the app industry with the App Store, which now has more than 500,000 apps and where customers have downloaded more than 18 billion apps and continue to download more than 1 billion apps per month, as stated in Apple's press release touting its announcement.

 The Cupertino company also announced that over 100 million apps have been downloaded from the Mac App Store in less than one year.

With thousands of free and paid apps availble, the iPhone has become a best seller thanks to its content-rich features. So what are some of the best apps to have? We compiled a list of the 10 Must-Have Types of Apps this year for the iPhone, with social networking programs, such as Facebook and Twitter, topping the list. Be sure to check out the full list before you pay for an app that you could have downloaded for free!