The alaTest Blog

Windows Mobile was always a very popular smartphone operating system, from its beginnings as Pocket PC 2000, back in the year 2000, up until version 6.5 running late into 2009. When it was created, smartphone users were a very select crowd, comprised almost entirely of enterprise users, so it was no surprise that Windows Mobile focused almost entirely on enterprise solutions. It wasn’t until smartphones started becoming popular amongst general users (coinciding with the success of the Apple iPhone) that Windows Mobile started losing ground. Over the last few years of its life, Windows Mobile lost a hefty portion of its market share, leading to a complete system overhaul and introduction of Windows Phone 7. Read the rest of this entry »

Battery life is one of the most important factors of a smartphone. A phone could be the most elegant device ever created, five times faster than anything on the market, and none of it would matter if you couldn’t rely on it to last throughout the day. It’s important to find a smartphone that offers a balance of performance and battery life, and even more important to find one that suits your style of use. Read the rest of this entry »

It seems we can’t even go a week without hearing about a new Android phone coming to the market. Just the other day, the Nexus S 4G was released on Sprint. Shortly before that, the Droid Charge hit Verizon Wireless.T-Mobile got in on the action with the G2x prior to that, and AT&T had the Atrix 4G and Inspire 4G to compete with Verizon’s Thunderbolt released right around the same time. The Droid Incredible 2 came out somewhere between all of that too. Well, as you’d expect, more Android phones are due to hit the market soon, and we have a list of some of the most anticipated.
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There is a huge convenience in condensing two devices down into one. Still, you can’t help but wonder whether or not your Smartphone really does make a better MP3 player than a dedicated device. Smartphones offer one significant advantage over MP3 players: a mobile data connection. You can download and stream music, so you’re not limited to the songs you can fit on your device. The iPhone and Android phones also have the advantage of well stocked App stores for all sorts of multimedia, productivity, and gaming applications (something only a few MP3 players offer).

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The internet has penetrated nearly every aspect of our lives, so it’s only fitting that televisions start featuring internet connectivity. Vizio got its start offering the latest HDTV features at a much more appealing price than its competitors, while still delivering a quality product. It’s no surprise that with Samsung introducing the Internet@TV models and Sony now shipping the first Google TV products, Vizio has been quick to create its VIA brand, standing for Vizio Internet Applications. Still, we have to wonder, does the VIA platform hold up against the competition?

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Whether we like it or not, tablet computers are going to start dominating the mobile market this year. Our ever-growing thirst for data connectivity everywhere we go is quickly outpacing the capabilities of our Smartphones. We want bigger screens to watch our HD videos and browse the web, more powerful hardware for extra productivity, and the battery life to make it through the day. Tablets meet these demands, and that is why there will be nearly hundreds to choose from by the end of the year. But in case you don’t want to wait, there are tablets available today; however, can they hold up against the new tablets of tomorrow?
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