Dell gets its Inspiron with Mini 10

Inspiron Mini 10 netbook is now in stores across the UAE for AED1,299

Dell's new Inspiron Mini 10 netbook is now available in stores across the country for AED 1,299...but is it worth your time?

To be honest, most netbooks these days all tend to come with the same specs but what sets it apart is its usability, design and whether it's the right ‘fit' for all that you need.

The Inspiron Mini 10 has Intel's new speedy Pine Trail processor and comes with Windows 7 Starter Edition - all the latest and best. But surprisingly, it did let me down in the beginning when I found it took approximately ten minutes just to get it set up for first time use.  Still, once loaded, I forgot about that little hiccup and instead found myself admiring the Dell Dock application on the 10.1"display.

When you think of dock style panels, you invariably end up comparing it to the MacDaddy, but I honestly think this is a great addition to Windows 7. It's customisable so you can drag and drop your favourite programmes, and easily delete the ones you don't use as often.

The keyboard is comfortable to use but the trackpad can get annoying since Dell has embedded the right and left buttons directly into it, so you'll have to press down on the trackpad area for those functions.

The netbook comes in spunky colours and I love the fact that fingerprints aren't that obvious on the cover. The textured palm rest is also a nice touch but the netbook's design mainly stands out because the entire unit is sloped (the base being bigger than the front) with the screen not sitting behind the unit but instead having it fitted on top. It might look a little odd but actually comes in handy when holding the netbook (once open) with one hand. It's one of those things you don't think you need until you see it - and then it just makes SO much sense!

The battery life doesn't quite get to 10 hours but you can easily do nine with just basic applications running so it definitely earns its travel companion badge.

Overall though, the two standout features for me have to be the Dell Dock app and the Inspiron Mini 10 cover that still manages to retain its looks regardless of how many times I obsessively trace circles on it with my fingers....

Not loving HTC's HD2

 The big-screen HD2 is available in the UAE for AED 3,299

You expect a lot from a phone that starts up with the message ‘quietly brilliant'. Or atleast I did.

HTC's HD2 is a remarkable piece of hardware and the most obvious feature is its more than generous 4.3" screen with a row of useful little buttons at the bottom. That, coupled with capacitive touch technology, means that playing with multimedia on this beast is a pleasant experience. And the battery life isn't as bad considering what it packs in.

 The 5 megapixel camera took crisp photographs in natural light, but less than stellar ones at night, even with a flash.  There isn't even a dedicated camera button on this device. Or a lens cover.

The HD2 operates Windows Mobile 6.5 and HTC's Sense user interface with big icons and classy visuals reflects the best of it. Navigation isn't quite as easy as you'd expect, with different menus and options to sift through before you can find what you're looking for. There is a customisable homescreen option so it's not like you'll have to keep looking for preferred applications, but I just feel there's no need for it be so complicated.

In fact, none of it made Sense to me in the end. For example, I had issues with network connectivity as well as basic SMS on the device: I couldn't send or receive messages. I initially thought it could be blamed on my SIM but I tried using it on another phone and it seemed fine. I tried fiddling with the Message Setting options and had other colleagues try their luck as well, but I gave up in the end. Maybe the issue has a quick-fix but that's not the point - it just shouldn't happen.

 I'd blame it on the software to be honest because I really believe HTC tried with this one. Maybe a little too hard even. Yes, it's fast and big and perhaps one of the most ambitious hardware designs I've seen in a while. But it's just not good.

Apple to Launch a 4-inch iPhone, Claims New Report

 A new report of a 4-inch iPhone 5 has surfaced, rekindling flames of past rumors pegging an upcoming Apple smartphone with a larger screen.

With Hitachi and Sony tipped to have already begun shipping 4-inch LCD panels for a new Apple iOS device, it appears a larger iPhone could be on the horizon, though the unconfirmed report did not specifically state that the 4-inch display is for that rumored iPhone 5.  

 This new finding contradicts an earlier report that claimed a 4-inch iPhone model was cancelled due to former CEO, Steve Jobs’, fear of fragmenting the iOS market. With apps currently able to support two resolutions – 960 x 260 for smartphones and 1024 x 768 for the iPad – Apple would be forced to include a third resolution, as a larger screen would mean a higher resolution. According to this report, Jobs pulled the device a few months before the launch.

Yet, with a new CEO, Apple could be working past these issues and may soon offer a 4-inch smartphone. Previous rumors claim the device will be about 8mm longer than the current iPhone and will sport a metal casing, though not the distinctive teardrop-shaped profile that had people talking months ago. The phone is also said to be LTE-enabled and will feature a 10MP camera, which would be an upgrade to the 8MP shooter currently on the iPhone 4S. With optimists believing the company will introduce the sixth generation iPhone in June 2012, we could be seeing more of this device sometime soon.