Apple’s New iPad (aka iPad 3)

If you’re an iPhone owner, you’ll know exactly what to expect from an iPad – they’re almost identical except for the larger screen. The new iPad’s greatest strength is its “Retina” display. At 2048×1536, the display really is unrivaled, though 1080p displays of the competition do offer many of the same perks. The new iPad is also one of the faster tablets on the market, though even older tablets, such as the iPad 2 can still keep up.

Another huge perk the new iPad has to offer is its cellular options. It’s one of the few tablets that offers LTE 4G connectivity and has options for both Verizon and AT&T. If you think you might want to have a data plan with your tablet, the new iPad is definitely one of the best choices.

Asus Transformer Pad Infinity

Asus’ entire Transformer line is by far the least compromising tablets on the market, primarily thanks to the optional keyboard dock. While the keyboard dock is a bit pricey, it gives you nearly all of the benefits of a laptop and even improves on battery life.

The Transformer Pad Infinity, in particular, is an excellent alternative to the new iPad. It’s 1920×1200 resolution display, while not quite as luxurious as Apple’s, is well suited for just about any task, and its 1.6GHz Tegra 3 processor is arguably the fastest on the market.

Google’s Nexus 7

Up until recently, any worthwhile tablet started around $500, and although there were more affordable options, they all sacrificed so much in terms of features and performance that they simply weren’t worth it. That all started to change when Amazon launched the Kindle Fire at just $200, and Google took that a step further.

Where the Kindle Fire dropped things like the cameras and GPS to keep costs down, the Nexus 7 has all of that plus NFC, a higher resolution display, and a blazing fast quad-core Tegra 3 processor. It’s also the very first device with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, and as part of the Nexus line, it will continue to be among the first devices to receive Android updates. If you’re in the market for a 7-inch tablet (or just something on the more affordable side), the Nexus 7 is absolutely the best choice.

Samsung Galaxy Note

While it’s not actually a tablet, the Galaxy Note is a rather large smartphone that definitely reaches into the tablet realm. Unlike all of the other tablets, the Galaxy Note can be used as your primary cell phone, which means you don’t need a separate data plan. Its 5-inch screen isn’t quite as roomy as the 7-inch Nexus 7, and it does miss out on some of the tablet-specific features. It does offer an excellent middle ground, though, and is available on AT&T and Sprint (soon on T-Mobile as well). It also might be worth your while to keep an eye out for the Galaxy Note 2, expected in a month or two.

Downloadable Video Games

Any avid PC gamers knows of the wonderful world that is Cloud-based gaming. Traditionally, when you buy a PC game, you’d go to the store (or order online) and come home with a disc and CD-key. Cloud-based game purchases are a bit different. You buy the game online, and instead of a physical copy, the game is associated with a user account and available for download any time you like. It’s all handled electronically, so you could purchase a game, even on Christmas, and download it instantly.

There are a handful of online stores that allow instant downloads for many titles, including www.Newegg.com and www.Amazon.com, but none do it quite as well as Steam. With a Steam account, you can purchase games from the massive Steam library either for yourself or as a gift which you can send to any other Steam users (or e-mail address, though the recipient will need to create a Steam account before activating the gift). What’s better is that Steam is having a giant holiday sale that will be going on through the New Year. Here are a few popular Steam titles:

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – The sequel to the popular game Oblivion, Skyrim is one of the hottest titles this year.

Batman: Arkham City – For those who prefer action packed story-based game play, Arkham City definitely hits the spot.

Modern Warfare 3 – The Call of Duty series is one of the most popular online FPS out there, and Modern Warfare 3 is its latest installment.

Portal 2 – Somewhat of a casual puzzle game, Portal 2 is an FPS that thinks outside of the box. Be prepared for some quick witted humor and addictive game play in both single and multi player modes.

Not shopping for a PC gamer? The Xbox, PS3, and Wii all have online stores, though they are a bit more limited. The Xbox Marketplace has a decent game library, but transferring gifts can be difficult, and you will need a Windows Live account. The PlayStation Network has an equally impressive library, but many of its games cannot be downloaded. The Wii Shopping Channel (accessed on the Wii itself) is actually the most limited of the three. It generally only has indie titles and previous console classics available for download, not that there’s anything wrong with the classics.

Other Downloadables

Games aren’t the only thing you can download. Apple iTunes, Amazon MP3 (complete with the Music Gift Store), and Google Music all have just about every song/album you can imagine, all for sale, and all available instantly.

Shopping for someone who has a tablet or e-reader? Why not get them an E-Book? Amazon has a lofty E-Book store, and Google’s is certainly filling its shelves quickly. And don’t forget iTunes.

Movie purchases, unfortunately, haven’t really moved into the realm of instantly downloadable purchases; however, online rental subscriptions can be purchased in the blink of an eye. Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Blockbuster Total Access offer movies delivered to your mailbox or streaming over the internet.

Gift Cards

Yes, gift cards start getting into the realm of impersonal gifts, but they still work well in a pinch. Not only do many stores, restaurants, and establishments offer gift card purchases online, you can also run down to the local supermarket (most of them anyway) and select from a handful of popular choices, like Best Buy, Starbucks, iTunes, and nearby restaurants.

Windows Phone 7

Key Features: Enterprise Integration, Document Management, Ease of Use

Windows Phone 7 is primarily intended for enterprise environments, especially those running Microsoft Exchange. Its focus is to keep you connected with your workplace as much as possible; however, in order to keep competitive, Microsoft has added some iPhone-like features, such as Facebook integration, Zune Media Sync (for MP3 and video playback), and its very own Windows Phone Marketplace.

WP7 is best suited for someone who needs to stay connected to the office without actually being there, but also wants to use his smartphone for a bit of fun on the side. The HD7S is a great place to start.

BlackBerry

Key Features: Simple E-mail and Messaging, Battery Life, Contact Management

In the business world, BlackBerry devices are very popular. They offer great E-mail capabilities, and the widespread use of its specialized BlackBerry Instant Messenger is a great asset. It doesn’t pack quite as much power as its competitors, making it a bit light for things like videos and rich document processing, but it does feature great battery life. Like Microsoft, RIM has been adding social features onto the BlackBerry platform as well.

When work comes before all else, and the ability to respond to E-mails and messages quickly are key, a BlackBerry is the best choice. Check out the Torch 9800.

The iPhone

Key Features: Ease of Use, Huge App Store, “Trendy”

The iPhone changed the smartphone arena when it came out, sparking a shift from corporate use to mass adoption. It features great browsing, media playback, and socializing capabilities, and through its App Store, nearly nothing is off limits. The latest model, the iPhone 4, is quite powerful (despite its hardware being a bit dated) and most importantly very simple to use.

It’s an excellent choice for people who might be afraid of the complexity of a smartphone or rely on many Apple products already (iTunes, iPod, etc).

Android

Key Features: Massive App Store, Extensive Media Playback Options, Lots of Devices to Choose From

Android was Google response to Apple’s raging success with the iPhone. It’s a little rough around the edges, requiring a bit of customization, and generally appealing more to those more technologically savvy, but it’s very similar to the iPhone with many social features, media options, and excellent web browsing. One of the key differences between Android and the iPhone is the fact that the Android platform has a wide array of devices to choose from.

It’s a common misconception that the iPhone offers the latest and fastest mobile technology, but it’s actually Android phones that hold the crown. The latest Galaxy S II is even expected to be faster than Apple’s upcoming iPhone 5.

Android phones are great for anyone looking for an iPhone-like experience for cheap. It’s also a great choice for those who like the latest, fastest technology at their fingertips. HTC Sensation 4G anyone?

Summary

In short, WP7 and BlackBerry are for working hard, while Android and the iPhone are for playing hard. If you’re in the market for an iPhone, it’s a good idea to check out Android phones as well, and visa-versa. The same goes for WP7 and BlackBerry, of course.

The Need for Change

While Windows Mobile offered a lot of pure functionality, it was very rough and unappealing to the general user. It lacked integrated social features, such as Facebook or Twitter; it didn’t have a quick, streamlined interface; and perhaps most importantly, it didn’t include the app-centric experience that people have begun associating with smartphones. Microsoft knew it was time for a change, and thus Windows Phone 7 was born.

Windows Phone 7 (amicably referred to as WP7) took the typical “Windows Look” associated with Windows Mobile and tossed it aside, creating the new “Metro” UI, which features  widget-like panels for launching services and providing on-the-spot information, all wrapped up in a sleek, smooth experience.

Microsoft has also switched to an App-Driven ecosystem with WP7, much like the model used for Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android. Independent third-party developers can create apps for WP7 to be hosted on the Windows Phone Marketplace for end users to purchase and download; however, at just over 27,000 apps, the Windows Phone Marketplace can’t quite compare to either Android’s approximate 420,000 or iOS’s half-million.

What Sets WP7 Apart from the Crowd

With Android and Apple heavily dominating the smartphone market, WP7 has a very steep climb ahead of it, but it still has some redeeming qualities giving it a fair chance. Both Android and iOS take extreme sides with their development model. Android tries to keep a completely “open platform,” allowing anyone to develop and create an Android device. Apple, on the other hand, holds a firmly clenched fist of proprietary reign as the sole manufacturer of iOS devices.

WP7 comes in the middle, using proprietary and uncustomizable software (ala Apple’s iOS) and licensing it to a multitude of manufacturers to create new devices (ala Android). The approach will allow for a secure operating system with uniform and timely updates (something Android has trouble with) while keeping devices fresh and competitive (something Apple is currently struggling with).

In the end, WP7 is yet another player volleying for a share in the general user smartphone market, but unlike its competitors, it comes from enterprise based roots, which some argue hurts general appeal, but bolsters professional functionality. The HTC HD7 and Samsung Omnia 7 are both already off to a fairly strong start, and top smartphone manufacturer Nokia should be entering the mix soon.

Clearing up the Confusion

Android has often been referred to as the “Google Phone,” but there really is no such thing. Google produces Android as software only; however, Google does have its Nexus line (currently featuring the Nexus One and Nexus S) which are devices that Google contracts other manufacturers to build and feature 100% pure versions of Android. Because of Android’s openness, many manufacturers customize their Android devices with different levels of functionality. The Nexus line as well as Android phones featuring the “Google Experience” designation run Android exactly as Google envisioned it.

Some other confusion stems from Verizon’s naming techniques, giving all of its Android devices a name beginning with “Droid.” This has led many people to think that all Android phones are Verizon Droid devices, and therefore, only available on Verizon. The truth is that the “Droid” name is no more than Verizon’s branding for Android devices. Other Android phones exist on just about every major cellular carrier around the world.

  The Short Version In a nutshell, Android is a smartphone operating system created by Google, available on hundreds of different smartphones and tablet devices. You can think of them all as little Google versions of Apple’s iPhone and iPad.     Have any Android questions? Let us know in the comments, and we’ll be happy to help.

Smartphone usage typically falls into two categories: light/moderate and heavy. Light and moderate users will use their smartphone occasionally throughout the day, perhaps sending several text messages, making a few calls, and looking up a restaurant or getting directions; the phone generally sits in their pocket, coming out when necessary. Heavy users are almost always on their phone, playing games, constantly replying to E-mails, or perhaps watching YouTube clips; they’re actively using their phone several hours per day.

One smartphone may provide several days of light or moderate use but struggle to achieve a few hours of heavy usage; alternatively, another smartphone may last a full day even with heavy use but fail to last much longer under light use. You need a phone that caters appropriately to the way you intend to use it, and we have a list of a few of the longest lasting smartphones we could find.

1: HTC Sensation

The HTC Sensation is the current top dog. With the latest mobile processor technology, it’s not only one of the longest lasting phones on the market, but also one of the fastest. The Sensation is also very well balance for both moderate and heavy usage. Keep in mind that 4G takes a heavy toll on battery life and consider turning that feature off.

Light/Moderate Use: Up to 36 hours

Heavy Use: 12-14 hours

2: Apple iPhone 4

Apple’s iPhone 4 is considerably underpowered compared to current smartphones, but its iOS still provides a fast feeling experience. Because of its lower performance hardware, the iPhone 4 offers great battery life, best for heavy use, but still manageable for the light and moderate users.

Light/Moderate Use: Approximately 24 hours

Heavy Use: Up to 16 hours

3: Google Nexus S

The Nexus S runs hardware that is very similar to the iPhone 4, though slightly faster, but due to its power-saving AMOLED display and clean version of the Android operating system, it gets a very different result in terms of battery life. For moderate use, the Nexus S is excellent, but under heavy use, its faster hardware gobbles up more power than is ideal.

Light/Moderate Use: Up to 48 hours

Heavy Use: Approximately 12 hours

4: Motorola Atrix 4G

The Atrix 4G uses Nvidia’s dual-core Tegra 2 processor, which is among the fastest mobile processors currently available. As a dual-core device, it can split heavy loads between the two cores, reducing power consumption. This results in admirable battery life under heavy usage, but because of its high-spec processor, it continues to draw a lot of power even while under moderate use.

Light/Moderate Use: Up to 24 hours

Heavy Use: Approximately 14 hours

5: BlackBerry Bold 9780

BlackBerries get some of the best battery life among all of the smartphones; however, they lack much of the functionality and performance found in those listed above. The Bold 9780 is great for light to moderate use, but its small screen and low-power design don’t really allow for heavy use as we’ve defined it.

Light/Moderate Use: Up to 48+ hours

Heavy Use: N/A

Picture and Sound Quality

Before getting into the real showdown between the competing internet platforms, let’s talk briefly about the picture and sound quality of the Vizio VIA line. For starters, the sound is about what you’d expect from your average HDTV, essentially comparable to Sony and Samsung TVs. It certainly won’t hold up to the standards of a die-hard audiophile, but anyone caring about sound quality that much should have a standalone sound system.

Picture quality is a bit of a different story since it actually varies considerably amongst the VIA line. At the lower end of the spectrum are the standard LCD models. Despite suffering from some slightly lower contrast ratios, the overall image quality is quite good, and their affordable price make them the cheapest internet capable HDTVs by far. The next step up is the Edge-Lit LED models.

They offer nearly identical picture quality to Sony’s NSX Google TV models at a much cheaper price. A 42-inch Edge-Lit VIA can be found for less than $800, compared to the $999 price tag of a 40-inch Sony NSX, though the addition of Google TV may be worth the additional $200 (but more on that later). At the top of the VIA totem pole (not counting the 3D TVs) are the TruLED models, which have a full LED backlight for excellent contrast ratios, resulting in vibrant colors and deep blacks. Vizio’s TruLED TVs offer nearly unrivaled picture quality, but they also step out of Vizio’s usual price range, with prices starting around $1200 for a 42-inch screen.

Internet Apps: Which Platform Holds Supreme

There are a handful of major players when it comes to internet enabled TVs: Vizio’s VIA, Samsung’s Internet@TV, Sony’s Bravia Apps, and Google TV. Oddly enough, Samsung and Vizio’s app engines are almost identical, and because Sony offers TVs with Google TV built in, its Bravia Apps are basically redundant. This leaves the battle between VIA and Google TV.

Built on the Android operating system, Google TV is superior in just about every way. Unlike VIA, Google TV is truly integrated with the internet, allowing things like full web browsing and internet downloads. VIA only offers a handful of applications, like Netflix streaming, Facebook, TV Guides, Weather, and etc, while Google TV has access potentially to the entire Android Marketplace, which has over 200,000 apps. To top it off, Google TV has dedicated hardware for running the platform, making it significantly more responsive than VIA. The only point for VIA is its price, considerably cheaper than Google TV solutions.

It’s also worth noting that Google TV is available in standalone devices, like the Logitech Revue and Sony’s Internet TV Blu-Ray player, which allow you to add internet applications to any television you own; however, if purchasing a new TV, it will generally be more cost effective to go with Sony’s NSX line rather than a TV/Google TV combo.

Great Expectations Yield Great Disappointment

When rumor of the Nexus S first hit the internet, speculation was all over the place. There were “confirmed” specifications claiming it had Samsung’s dual-core Orion processor along with 1080p video recording capabilities, some 6-billion Megapixel camera, and an integrated teleporter. Ok, I may have exaggerated on those last two, but needless to say, people were expecting an awful lot.

When it finally launched, it was revealed that the Nexus S wasn’t much more than a Galaxy S (a six month old device) with an LED flash and front facing camera. To make matters worse, the Nexus S has no microSD slot (relying on just 16GB of internal memory), and it can’t even record in 720p. The immense let down resulted in boycotts and bad mouthing in forums and reviews all over the internet.

People were so angered by its apparent lack in progress that they failed to realize that, despite being based on a six month old platform, the Nexus S is arguably the most powerful Android Smartphone available. Its CPU may be slightly outclassed by HTC’s Desire HD, but its video processing core is currently the pinnacle of the Smartphone world.

What the Nexus S has to Offer

The Nexus S has all of the features you’d expect from an Android Smartphone; like full-fledged web browsing (with Flash 10.1), over 250 thousand apps, and fully customizable experience. Despite all of the mudslinging, the Nexus S has plenty to offer. As Google’s latest development platform, would you expect anything less?

Hummingbird Processor – Samsung’s Hummingbird processor may be six months old, but it still offers the most powerful combination of general and graphics processing. In fact, it has the fastest video processor currently on the market.

“Pure Google” – No slow custom interfaces or carrier restrictions, and get your updates directly from Google. The Nexus S is Google’s new development platform, so Android is optimized specifically for it, giving it the potential to outperform even those fancy Dual-Core phones coming out later this year.

Android 2.3 Gingerbread – Gingerbread is the latest version of Android, complete with integrated internet calling, improved keyboard, smoother UI, and tons of optimized code for an overall faster device.

4-inch Super AMOLED Screen – One of the best screens on the market with vivid colors and advanced power saving, and 4 inches is an excellent size; not too big, not too small.

Front Facing Camera – Video chat with friends and family on or off of Wi-Fi.

5MP Camera with Flash – Even at only 5MP, the Nexus S’ camera takes quality photos and works exceptionally well in low light conditions for a cell phone camera.

16GB Internal Storage – The Nexus S’ internal storage is significantly faster than an external SD card.

Factory Unlocked – It works on any GSM network, though limited to 2G speeds on some, such as AT&T.

What the Nexus S is Lacking

While a lot of the negative commentary about the new Nexus S was exaggerated conjecture, a few actually had some merit.

No Dual-Core CPU – Even though dual core CPUs are not yet available on the Smartphone market, it didn’t stop people from complaining that the Nexus S has a single core Hummingbird processor.

No 4G – Many people were hoping for at least HSPA+ compatibility with 21Mbps data rates, but the Nexus S is HSPA only, topping out at 7.2Mbps.

No MicroSD Slot – Hard to believe, and Android device with no expandable memory, but it’s true. You’re limited to the built-in 16GB of storage. On the plus side, it is much faster than microSD.

No 720p Recording – It seems to be another step in the wrong direction, but the Nexus S can only record at 480p resolutions, at least for now. An update could potentially change that.

The Bottom Line

There’s no question that the Nexus S is among the most powerful Android Smartphones on the market, but as a single core device lacking 4G capabilities and expandable memory, it really comes down to just how future proof it is. The Nexus S will definitely keep up with all of the new devices up until the end of 2011, but if you’re considering a two-year contract, you might find it just a bit underwhelming for that second year.