The smartphones which have already been launched in the year made headlines around the globe. Let’s quickly review these new releases:

1. Samsung Galaxy S4 – Samsung Galaxy S4 is the much anticipated successor to the hugely popular Samsung Galaxy SIII. The smartphone comes with a 5-inch super AMOLED display with a higher resolution than S3. The processor is also upgraded to 1.9GHz quad-core or 1.6GHz octa-core and the phone ships with a 13-megapixel camera. As an added advantage, the battery life is longer and S4 also boasts of a thinner build than its predecessor. Apart from the specs, the Samsung Galaxy S4 also comes with some cool features like Air View, Smart Pause and Smart Scroll. While Air View allows you to control the touch screen without actually touching it, Smart Pause and Smart Scroll features will pause a video or scroll the screen according to your eyeball movements. All in all, the Samsung Galaxy S4 takes the concept of being user-friendly to a different level altogether. It might not be groundbreaking but it does take significant steps towards a fuller experience of using smartphones.

2. HTC One – The most obviously impressive feature of the HTC One is the design which is crafted exclusively of premium metals. HTC has invested a lot of effort in creating a suave design to compete with the likes of S4 and iPhone 5. On the technical front, the phone comes with a 4.7-inch screen with 1080p resolution, 1.7GHz quad-core processor, 32/64GB internal memory and 2GB RAM. The camera comes with a unique Ultra-Pixel sensor which can capture more details due to its larger size. All of these features, along with Android Jelly Bean, make for a powerful smartphone, one that can be compared with the other giants in the league.

3. Blackberry Z10 – If you have been a loyal customer of Blackberry, this phone will definitely delight you. The flagship model, which was being touted as a do-or-die attempt by Blackberry, has received largely positive reviews. While it hasn’t swept them off their feet, it has managed to impress them with its features. The Blackberry Z10 comes with 4.2-inch LCD display, Blackberry 10 OS, an 8-megapixel camera, 1.5GHz dual-core processor and 2GB RAM. Sure enough, the OS needs a little getting used to, but once you are accustomed to it, it works like a charm.

Besides these phones, you can also check out Sony Xperia Z or LG Optimus G if you are looking for a new smartphone.

If you look beyond iPhone 5, you would be surprised to see a range of smartphones, launched in the latter part of 2012, which have the potential to challenge the iPhone 5. Here is a list of some of the best smartphones minus the iPhone 5:

1. HTC Droid DNA – The HTC Droid DNA is easily one of the best phones ever produced by HTC. It ships with a 1.5 GHz quad core processor, 2GB RAM, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and 16GB internal memory. Additionally, it boasts of an 8-megapixel primary camera and a 2-megapixel front facing camera. The 5-inch Super LCD 3 Screen is absolutely brilliant and the phone offers 4G connectivity as well. The stunning design is the final icing on the cake. To sum things up, the HTC Droid DNA is a gem of a smartphone, one that can give the iPhone 5 a run for its money.

2. Nokia Lumia 920 – In terms of smartphones, Nokia has been lagging far behind the likes of Samsung and HTC. With the release of Nokia Lumia 920, the company is hoping for a major turnaround. The Lumia 920 runs on Windows Phone 8, a relatively new OS for smartphones. The 8.7-megapixel camera employs the much-talked about PureView feature, making way for high quality pictures. Overall, the phone is heavier and bulkier than a regular smartphone, but it has a lot to offer, including an all new OS.

3. Motorola Droid Razr Maxx – The USP of Motorola Droid Razr is its strong battery, thanks to which, the phone comes with unbelievable battery life. The phone ships with Android 4.0 ICS, a 5.2-inch AMOLED HD screen and an 8-megapixel primary camera. The design is flawless and the phones functions smoothly without any glitches.

4. LG Google Nexus 4 – One can’t deny that the LG Google Nexus 4 has it’s share of flaws, but it also has other features to make up for them. To begin with, the phone boasts of a 1.4GHz Qualcomm quad core processor and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. The 8-megapixel camera is impressive and the overall design is sleek enough for a smartphone. However, it lacks 4G connectivity along with the oomph factor. The LG Google Nexus 4 might not be extraordinarily brilliant, but it still offers quite a lot for anyone looking for a topnotch smartphone.

So, if your resolution was losing weight or making more money or getting things organized or managing time efficiently, the following gadgets can help you immensely. Let’s quickly run through some of these:

1. Samsung Chromebook – The Samsung Chromebook is one step further in the drive towards a web-based, Cloud centric OS. As opposed to traditional operating systems which run on installed software, the Chromebook operates on a web-based software. It comes with a dual core Cortex A15 processor and 2GB memory. The Chromebook is thin and lightweight, and the best part is that it is priced at just $249. While it is definitely not meant for users who want to use multiple applications at once, it is ideal for travellers on the go. Unlike a tablet, it has more functionality and flexibility, which means that you can save both time and money without compromising on the efficiency aspect. Sounds like a win-win situation.

2. Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 – 2012 was definitely the year of hybrids, it was the year when giant strides were made in resolving the tablet v/s laptop dilemna. The Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 is one of the many hybrids that were launched this year. More importantly, it was one of the better hybrids that we saw in the past year. This hybrid comes with Windows 8, one of the many features which sets it apart from others. It comes with a 1.7GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB memory and 500GB hard drive. Finally, it manages to preserve the best of both the worlds i.e. it functions equally well as a laptop and a tablet. So, if you have resolved to declutter your life and make it more organized, this might be the place to start.

3. iPhone 5 – Any recap of 2012 is incomplete without the mention of the iPhone 5. It was, by a huge margin, the gadget of 2012. It had everything that you could ask for, a faster A6 processor, 4G and a bigger screen. So, how can you use an iPhone to stick to your resolutions. For starters, it is almost like a mini organizer. You can design your daily schedules, set reminders and check your progress. Additionally, there are thousands of apps for everything you can think of, right from losing weight to acquiring new skills.

Besides these gadgets, there were others like the Samsung Galaxy Note II, iPad Mini, Windows Surface and Nokia Lumia 920 which created quite a stir in the gadget world. It is time to explore these gadgets and get creative with their applications. You will be pleasantly surprised by what your discover!

In desperate times, you can’t really put a lot of thought or effort into gifts. Instead, you should follow a reliable template i.e. pick gifts which are safe and time-tested. Here is a list of some such gifts:

1. Logitech T650 Touchpad – The Logitech T650 is a rechargable, standalone touchpad which works extremely well with Windows 8. The new OS from Windows supports a variety of enhanced touch features and hence, this glass topped touchpad makes for a wonderful gift. It will be extremely functional in the near future, promising to provide a high quality, Mac-like experience. The surface area is quite large and it is topped with glass, while the sleek and suave look is quite like the final icing on the cake.

2. iPad Mini – The iPad Mini was one of the most sought-after gadgets this year. The USP of this tablet is the size, the 7.9-inch display is considerably smaller than the regular iPad. If you were one of the people who had an issue with the size of regular tablets(and there were quite a lot of them), the iPad Mini might just do the trick for you. It is light enough to be held in one hand and it is equally competent with the Ipad in many ways. Even though it is more expensive than its competitors like the Google Nexus 7, it is an Apple product after all. Need we say more?

3. Otterbox Defender iPhone 5 Cases – Every year, thousands of people lose their iPhone to physical or liquid damage. A case is the best way to protect your phone against any form of damage whatsoever. So, if one of your friends has recently bought a new iPhone 5, you can get them an Otterbox Defender Case. Otterbox is a well-known name in this field and the Defender series cases are strong and sturdy. Even if its not a fancy gift, it will definitely be useful for your friends.

4. Samsung Galaxy S III - If you are willing to splurge on a special loved one, get him or her a Samsung Galaxy S III. In the world of smartphones, this model from Samsung is among the very best, next to only Apple iPhone 5. Among other things, it comes with a dual core processor, Android 4.0 ICS and an 8-megapixel camera. Besides its price, nothing should deter you from buying the Samsung Galaxy S III this holiday season.

Then came camera phones which changed things quite a bit. However, in the initial stages, the cameras weren’t all that great and people usually preferred to use a traditional camera instead. Over the years, the quality and specifications of in built phone cameras have improved radically, so much so that some of them are as good as point and shoot cameras.

Here is a list of the best camera phones available in the market as of now:

1. Apple iPhone 5- Soon after the Apple iPhone 5 was launched, people were already calling it the best smartphone around. The Apple iPhone 5 is certainly a complete phone as it offers excellence in every department including its camera. It comes with an 8 megapixel camera and a new sapphire crystal lens. The new iPhone also features dynamic lighting and image stabilization, making way for better quality photos. Significantly, the quality of photos doesn’t depreciate too much in low lighting and you can also click photos while shooting in video mode.

2. Nokia Pure View 808- If we were to consider just the camera and nothing else, the Nokia Pure View 808 with the much talked about 41 megapixel camera would be the best investment. The great part about the camera is that it lives up to its hype. The photos are sharp and the precision of detail is impeccable. The phone’s camera has an extra large sensor which lets more light in and captures more detail in a photo. This is backed by an equally efficient software to process the photos. On the flip side, the phone has some major problems like the Symbian OS is largely outdated, the outer body is bulky and the price is extremely high.

3. HTC One S- In the recent past, HTC has produced some excellent camera phones including HTC One X, One  S and HTC Amaze 4G. HTC One S has an 8 megapixel autofocus camera with a 28mm wide lens. The camera produces high quality, razor sharp photos both indoors and outdoors and just like iPhone 5, it allows you to take photos in the video shooting mode as well.

4. Samsung Galaxy SIII- Samsung Galaxy SIII is another big player in the smartphone world. The 8 megapixel camera is endowed with backlit sensor and LED flash.  The colors of the photos taken with this camera are bright and well defined. Additionally, the shutter lag is next to zero which means that the photos are processed almost instantly. Even the front facing camera manages to produce some very decent photos.

Today, we are going to take a look at some of the best cases for the most popular smartphones and tablets.

1. iPhone 5- If you stood outside the Apple store for hours to buy an iPhone 5, you might as well get a decent case for it. After all, you don’t want to see some nasty scratches on your brand new iPhone 5. Since iPhone 5 is the most popular smartphone out there, the variety of cases available is unbelievable.  Otterbox produces several cases for iPhone including the Defender Series and the iPhone 5 Commuter Case. The latter comes with double layers of protection and an adhesive screen guard. The case is sleek yet durable at the same time. It is available in a number of exciting shades like Avon Pink, Aqua Blue and Violet Pop. If you are looking for something more eccentric, you can check out the Icon Bronx which features a cool graphic design. Case Mate remains the most timeless choice with suave black leather cases.

2. Samsung Galaxy S III- If there is any smartphone which can give some serious competition to iPhone 5, it just has to be Samsung Galaxy S III. While looking for cases for Samsung Galaxy S III, you will be pleasantly surprised by the sheer variety of cases ranging from the very basic to extremely elegant. The Incipio Silicrylic cases belong to the former category as they are lined with silicon on the inside with a hard shell exterior. On the other hand, the Candy Shell series by Speck is known for its quirky design and colors.

3. iPad 3- People have gotten quite used to carrying tablets wherever they go. After all, portability is the USP of tablets. When you start carrying them around, you will need a case to safeguard your tablet against any form of damage. When it comes to Apple iPad 3, there is always the Apple Smart Cover. It is efficient, resilient and elegant. However, if you are looking for more options, the Acme Infinite Angle Case is quite similar to Apple Smart Cover as it allows you to align the iPad at many angles. Alternatively, you can check out the Belkin Cinema Folio which follows the flip model and is made of high quality leather.

4. Google Nexus 7- To begin with Google has released an official Nexus 7 case which comes with a grey matte finish and a flap of plastic which covers the screen. Having said that, it can’t hurt to look for more options. Cases produced by i-Blason are built of leather with built in stand feature in both portrait and landscape modes. Focalcase specializes in providing keyboard cases using which you can almost transform your tablet into a full blown laptop.

At alaTest, we are going to do a comparative analysis of these newly launched gadgets with their predecessors just to give you an idea of what exactly has or hasn’t changed. After all, if you are going to spend some extra dollars on the fancy new gadgets, you must know what you are paying for. Alternatively, if you are having second thoughts about getting an upgrade, this analysis might come as a huge relief. Let’s begin with the smartphone that currently dominates its respective niche i.e. iPhone.

1. iPhone 5 vs iPhone 4S

To begin with, iPhone 5 is larger, lighter and it comes with a bigger display. The iPhone 4S came with a 3.5 inch display and weighed 4.9 ounces whereas its successor has a 4 inch display and weighs 3.95 ounces. Let’s get down to more technical stuff. Apple iPhone 5 has a faster A6 processor as opposed to the A5 processor in the 4S model. Besides that, the latest iPhone has a longer battery life and a better front facing camera. Even the camera at the back comes with the all new ‘panorama’ feature which will allows you to click photos even while recording videos. Broadly speaking, these are the major distinctions between the two models. In terms of price, iPhone 5 is priced at $199 for the 16 GB model over a two year contract. Interestingly, when iPhone 4S was launched, it carried the same price tag but now it is available at a discounted price of $99 with a two year contract.

2. Nokia Lumia 920 vs Nokia Lumia 900

The announcement of the Nokia Lumia 920 was the second most prominent release of the last week. The latest association between Microsoft and Nokia is being dubbed as a do or die attempt for the ailing Finnish giant. Therefore, the announcement of Nokia Lumia 920 was more anticipated in some senses since the future of the company might rest on its success. That being said, Nokia has put everything into this new phone which is powered by Windows Phone 8 as opposed to Windows Phone 7.5 in Nokia Lumia 900. As a matter of fact, Lumia 920 comes with several upgrades- the processor is dual core 1.5 GHz compared to the single core processor in its predecessor. Additionally, the RAM stands at 1 GB (as opposed to 512 MB in Lumia 900) and storage at 32 GB, an upgrade from 16 GB. The latest offering from Nokia also has the much talked about Pure View camera feature.

3. Kindle Fire HD vs Kindle Fire

Kindle recently announced two versions of the new tablet, one with a 7 inch display and another with 8.9 inch display. Both of these boast of faster processors- 1.2 Ghz dual core and 1.5 Ghz dual core as opposed to 1 GHz dual core in Kindle Fire. At the same time, the OS is 4.0 Android as against 2.3 Gingerbread in the earlier model. It might not be enough to compete with the likes of the Apple iPad, but it does put Kindle right up in there in the competition.

We are giving you a list of the best laptop alternatives for working on the go:

1. Samsung Galaxy Note- Commonly known as a phablet, the Samsung Galaxy Note remains a class apart in terms of features and performance. Now, if you are looking to do some serious typing, this might not be the ideal laptop alternative for you. However, if you simply want to read something or a watch a movie or browse the internet, the Galaxy Note can be a perfect little replacement for a heavy, bulky laptop. It comes with a 5.3 inch HD screen, a Stylus pen and is powered by Android 2.3 Gingerbread. The large screen coupled with the pen feature ensures that you navigate things smoothly.

2. Apple iPad 3- We could have chosen any other tablet but we are going for the finesse offered by the iOS. Quite clearly, in terms of a laptop alternative, the iPad has more functional value as compared to a smartphone. It comes with a larger screen, a more powerful operating system and a wider range of features. Again, a lot depends on what you are looking to achieve with your laptop alternative. Having said that, the Apple iPad 3 will not disappoint you as long as your expectations are not extremely hard core.

3. Acer Aspire S5- The crucial difference between an ultrabook and a laptop is the weight. An ultrabook is significantly lighter than a laptop even as it offers similar performance. The Acer Aspire S5 is even lighter and thinner than the MacBook Air which is often considered the pioneer of this category. This promising ultrabook is power packed with Intel Core i7 1.9 GHz processor and 4GB memory. The only problem is the slightly high price.

4. Toshiba NB550D- Finally, if you are looking for something even smaller than an ultrabook, a netbook might be ideal for you. The reduced size comes at a price though as the configurations are not comparable to an ultrabook. The Toshiba NB550D comes with a 1 GHz processor and 250 GB hard drive. Normally, netbooks don’t boast of quality video or audio output even as they have a pretty impressive battery life. However, this Toshiba netbook has managed to go past these shortcomings. For a netbook, it delivers quite incredibly.

What to look for in a gaming smartphone?

When it comes to gaming smartphones, priorities undergo some major changes. For instance, the first thing you should look for is the kind of graphic card and how it performs in the smartphone. Additionally, the screen resolution becomes crucial along with the audio performance. Once you have checked these features, you can move on to the more traditional ones like the processor, OS and battery life. More often than not, the batter life takes a major hit in gaming smartphones. So, you might need to compromise on that aspect.

Best gaming smartphones as of now

As has been mentioned earlier, there is a long way to go before we witness a flawless, high quality gaming smartphone. Having said that, there have been many encouraging signs in the form of some promising gaming smartphones. Let’s have a quick look at them.

1. Sony Ericsson Xperia Play- The Sony Ericsson Xperia Play was the first major smartphone for gaming enthusiasts. It was Sony’s attempt at creating a hybrid device which would match the performance of gaming consoles and double up as a smartphone. In a lot of ways, the company managed to do so quite successfully. In technical terms, this smartphone comes with Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS, 1 GHz Snapdragon processor and a 4- inch touchscreen display. The USP of this device is the gaming pad which bears a striking resemblance to a PS3. It’s performance both as a gaming device and a smartphone should satisfy most people. Recently, Sony also released a 4G version of the Xperia Play.

2. Motorola Atrix 2- The Motorola Atrix 2 is one of the most highly acclaimed smartphones produced by Motorola. What makes it so ideal for gaming is its solid technical configuration- it comes with a dual core 1 GHz processor, Android 2.3 Gingerbread and a 4.3 inch qHD display. The touch screen is decently responsive and the dual core processor ensures that there are no time lags whatsoever. All in all, a great phone if you are crazy about gaming.

3. HTC Titan- Unlike the other two phones, HTC Titan is powered by Windows Phone 7.5 Mango, 1.5 Qualcomm processor and a larger touch screen. As with all phones which run on Windows Phone OS, there is directly connectivity to Xbox and that precisely is the USP of HTC Titan. Besides these smartphones, others like Motorola Defy, Sony Xperia Ray and Sony Xperia S have also been acclaimed by hardcore gaming fans.

As of now, smartphones powered by Windows Phone 7.5 Mango are doing exceedingly well in the market. As a matter of fact, the OS has come as a much needed breath of fresh air with its clean interface, Live Tiles, integration with Facebook etc. To sum things up, Windows 7.5 Mango has managed to impress one and all with the simplicty of design and techinical efficiency. So, if you are looking for a new smartphone, you might want to check out the range of Windows smartphones.

1. Nokia Lumia 900- We are not surprised that Nokia Lumia 900 was the flagship model of Nokia when it came out with its range of Windows smartphones. Truth be told, Nokia outdid itself with the stunning design, clever interface and impressive performance. The Nokia Lumia 900 comes with a 4.3 inch touchscreen, AMOLED display, 1.4 GHz processor and Windows 7.5 Mango processor. Even as the phone has its problem areas in the form of non-expandable 16 GB memory storage and a not-so-impressive camera, it is definitely groundbreaking for a phone powered by a first generation OS.

2. Nokia Lumia 800- The Nokia Lumia 8oo has much in common with the above mentioned smartphone- both of these have AMOLED display, 1.4 GHz Snapdragon processor and of course, Windows 7.5 Mango. However, the screen size of the Lumia 800 is smaller and the physical built quite resembles that of Nokia N9. In terms of user experience, the Lumia 800 is just as impressive as its higher model.

Clearly then, Nokia has established has a sort of monopoly in the domain of high performing Windows smartphones. Having said that, other companies have also forayed into this new and exciting territory yielding some very satisfactory results. HTC, for instance, came out with HTC Radar and HTC Titan II, both of which use the Windows OS. In the same vein, Samsung also produced the Samsung Focus Flash and Samsung Focus 2. These Windows smartphones are rated among the best ones available in the market as of now. If you are looking for something that departs from the iOS and Android without compromising on the quality and performance, Windows 7.5 Mango is the ideal choice for you. Except that there is one tiny glitch.

So, what exactly is the problem?

Luckily, the problem with buying a Windows smartphone is temporary. A couple of months ago, Windows announced a new upgrade, the Windows Phone 8, which will be released in the market later this year. This upgraded version will have multi-core processor support, NFC wireless sharing, bigger screen and the much talked about Wallet feature which will allow you to make payments through your cell phone. So far, so good. However, Microsoft also announced that this upgrade will not be available for phones running on Windows 7.5 Mango. Instead, these phones will be upgraded to an intermediary Windows 7.8 version which will have some new features. Honestly, this just sounds like a feeble image of what the Windows 8 promises to be. To  make matters worse, apps which would be built for Windows 8 will not be compatible with Windows 7.5. And this precisely is the problem. As of now, it simply doesn’t make sense to invest in a phone running on Mango 7.5 when a better version will be available in a few months. In spite of this, Windows Phone has the makings of a great smartphone OS, one that should be able to challenge the like of Apple iPhone and Samsung Galaxy S3 in the future.