New Toshiba Portégé R830 - a powerful ultraportable netbook

Toshiba has launched recently the new Portégé R830 along with the Tecra R840 and Tecra R850, an ultra-thin and lightweight notebook that offers incredible performance thanks to Intel’s Sandy Bridge processor equipped with Intel’s HyperThreading technology.

The Portégé R803 has been designed to give its user the opportunity to work for a longer time, while reducing any issues on the cooling system. The notebook also offers protection and sustainability through its design that is designed to absorb shock, thus providing maximum protection. The Portégé R830 is equipped with Impact Sensor Hard Drive that protects data stored on its hard-drive in case of damage from a fall, the notebook keyboard is designed to resist water spillage as well.

Hardware options include Intel’s 2nd generation Core i3/i5/i7 processor, this of course is the new lineup which boasts the new Sandy Bridge tech, the notebook also integrates the Intel HyperThreading technology which allows each core to work on two separate tasks simultaneously. Connectivity wise you’re not short of the newest and fanciest, the R830 will come with WiFi, USB 3.0, HDMI, USB Sleep and Charge while Bluetooth 3.0 and WiMax are optional.

The Toshiba Portégé R830 notebook is available to order at a starting price of $889 for the base model.

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Next Sony Ericsson XPERIA is expected with Android 2.0

Another Android smartphone is leaked, but unfortunately we can't say that it is going to start its sales any time soon. This time it's Sony Ericsson who fancy Android for its top range mobile phone, for next XPERIA division model to be precise. Parallels with HTC Hero here are possible, of course, but I fear they would be untimely because Rachel, so is its codename, sports some interesting features that make it stand out a bit.

There is not much to say about the next Sony Ericsson XPERIA, but we already know that it might whop Hero's nose. First of all, SE is preparing an 8 megapixel camera with autofocus. Nothing with more humble pixel density was expected for the XPERIA because guys at Sony Ericsson were always taken up with cameras. Which probably explains an over 12 megapixel phone from them by the end of the year.

Now, there is more. HTC Hero comes with 528MHz processor. The XPERIA in turn is expected to be fitted with a latest 1GHz processor. That of course would make a difference no matter what the phone will be used for.

The last thing so far is the OS. SE Rachel is rumored to be one of the first devices out there with Android 2.0. This fact arises questions like whether it will have something at least remotely like Sense UI? Or one which is even more actual: how long to wait for it? All we know is that Android 2.0 comes in autumn, hopefully Rachel also.

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HTC Touch HD vs iPhone 3G vs SonyEricsson XPERIA X1

As you might see, touchscreen phone interface is strongly making its way as the main control scheme in the majority of smartphones and even regular cell phones. While it was used in mobiles prior to iPhone, Apple showed the world that touchscreen interface can be used as an easy and original alternative to regular buttons. Even if you are an anti-Apple fanatic, it is hard to disagree that iPhone, with all its flaws, was a big step forward in user interface - with many other companies now adopting the same control scheme as iPhone's thumb control. The idea of using stylus as a needed part of interaction between user and his gadget becomes more and more outdated nowadays, with devices like iPhone approving that touchscreen can be controlled by only your thumbs, with no stylus at all.

Looking as Apple making step after step to dominate the market with its upgraded iPhone 3G, companies like HTC and SonyEricsson decided to renew their device lineup and to produce some interesting iPhone rivals. And while HTC already made many attempts to compete with iPhone with its Touch lineup, many of them don’t came even close to the iPhone. They lacked iPhone's sleek user interface, its big and bright screen and many more. Now, both HTC and SonyEricsson understood that to make a powerful iPhone rival they must focus on multimedia side of their devices. So, recent products from these companies, HTC Touch HD and SonyEricsson XPERIA X1, were made with all those things in mind. And in this comparison we would like to describe and compare all of those three touchscreen smartphones: iPhone 3G vs. HTC Touch HD vs. SonyEricsson XPERIA X1.

Appearence

Design is a very questionable point of comparison, but at least we can describe the exterior looks of these devices. All three phones were made in black colors, with iPhone you can choose between black and white back panels though. Sizes are almost completely the same, with X1 being the thickest (16.7 mm), iPhone 3G - tallest (115.5 mm) and Touch HD - widest (62.8 mm). HTC Touch HD is heaviest than others (146.4 g). Complete specifications are:

Touch HD - 115 x 62.8 x 12 mm; 146.4 g
XPERIA X1 - 110 x 53 x 16.7 mm; 145 g
iPhone 3G - 115.5 x 62.1 x 12.3 mm; 133 g

Unlike iPhone and HTC Touch, XPERIA X1 is a slider, with full QWERTY keyboard hidden under the screen. It is slightly curved when opened, no idea if this is only a design move or somehow improves usability. iPhone traditionally lacks any navigational buttons, so does the Touch HD. However, SonyEricsson devise has a full set of front buttons, which are shaped in triangles (somehow resembling Nokia Prism) - two soft keys, dial / reject, button for opening Start menu, Ok / close and navigational button in center.
Overall, all three smartphones look stylish and interesting, so it is only a matter of taste which one has better design.

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