So You’ve decided you want a new Smartphone. And you’ve considered the usual contenders, such as : various Android phones, an iPhone 3GS, or perhaps a sexy new Motorola Cliq. But you’ve settled on having trusty RIM provide you with your next device, only one problem though, you can’t decide which Device is right for you.

RIM has a vast offering of devices  that can meet various needs and wallets. There are numerous devices, but for the purposes of this post I’m gonna look at  just 4 devices, at least one of which should appeal to everyone(if not, go get yourself something running Google’s sexy new Donut )

So these 4 RIM Devices are the  Gemini, Tour, Javelin and Storm . (No complaints about the “Bold 2″, or “Storm 2″ being missing, I’m working with officially available models here-my post, my rules)

Now I’m gonna break this down pretty simply, detailed reviews are readily available but for the layman the decision usually comes down to  a few key features and of course Price. So below is a breakdown of the availability of those key features as well as the price of the Device.

Gemini (8520) – GPS: No , Wifi: Yes 3g : NO , Camera : 2.0MP(No Flash) —Cost : as low as  $339

Tour :                      GPS: Yes, Wifi : No, 3G :Yes   , Camera : 3.2MP               —Cost :  as low as $415

Javelin (8900) :   GPS:  Yes, Wifi: Yes, 3G No, Camera : 3.2MP                  —Cost :  as low as $325

Storm :                    GPS:  Yes, Wifi:  No,  3G : Yes , Camera : 3.2 MP              —Cost :as low as  $315

*all prices are taken from www.negrielectronics.com

Check Out Pics of the Devices after the Break Read the rest of this entry »

Mobilecrunch has confirmed the existance of a dell mobile device to be named mini3i. The mini3i is reported a specific type of android device known as an OPhone. Lenovo and HTC will also be developing a OPhone platform. According to Mobilecrunch:

All Ophones will support TD-SCDMA (Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access), a China-only 3G standard, which means it will be hard to get the Dell Ophone to work outside China.

Image courtesy of Gizmodo

The Blackberry Tour is RIM’s latest handset which is made to replace the Blackberry 8830 World Edition. The Tour is very similar to the Bold in terms of interface and has some hardware traits of the Storm. Overall, I am very impressed with the phone, as I upgraded from an 8703e.


Screen

The screen on the Tour is very vibrant, bright, and crisp displaying colors. The screen fades in and out when you wake the device from the sleep state and adjusts to the room brightness with an ambient light sensor. The screen seems very close to the front plastic and may be liable to damage if dropped or a decent amount of pressure is applied to it.

Keyboard

Compared to the 8703e keyboard, it is a bit softer feeling. The keys don’t feel as hard when you push them. The size of the keys is just right as well as the texture. While Moving your fingers across the keyboard, it is easy to identify a new key and where you are on the keyboard. The soft feeling of pushing the buttons will take a little bit of getting used to, but this is most likely because the form factor of the phone is thinner than most blackberries. I believe the keyboard is similar to the Curve in terms of the amount of pressure needed to press the key.

Buttons

Additional buttons on the phone include Send Call, Blackberry Button, Previous, End Call, Voice Command, Volume, Camera, Lock and Slient. All of the buttons, with the exception of the Lock and Slient buttons are in locations you would expect. The Lock and Silent buttons are at the top of the phone. While both of them are very useful, they aren’t reachable when your hand is at the keyboard. An interesting location, but it works. You probably would be pushing these buttons as you holster or put the phone away.

Voice Calls

Voice Calls are very clear coming through while holding the phone to your ear. They are loud and crisp. The speaker phone also sounds good and loud. It is not the loudest speakerphone I’ve ever heard, but it is sufficient.

Pearl/Mouse

The Pearl/Mouse on the Tour is the same at first glace as the Curve, with the exception of it’s black color. The pearl is great for navigating, but this may be the end of life for the pearl as RIM may be replacing it with a Mini touch pad.

Conclusions

From lightly using the Tour for a week as a business phone, I am very pleased compared to my previous Blackberry. It’s not as clunky of a device and has been designed to conform to todays standards. From a pure hardware perspective, the Blackberry Tour is an impressive mobile device.

Comparison Photos

I was discussing some mobile devices and the methods which they display pages with a colleague and came up with an interesting conundrum. Web developers are trying to specificly create a version of their website for a mobile device. This site usually makes it easier to navigate and find what you’re looking for by adjusting the screen size and simplifying the amount information on the screen. What I find interesting is mobile browsers are being developed to replicate what you see when you open up the page in a desktop browser.

In essence, we have two groups trying to solve a problem in two completely different ways. Some websites have accounted for these issues by adding a ‘view full site’ link, while others have not. What would you rather have, a mobile version of a page, the ability from your mobile browser to view full developed pages, or even something completely different? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!

In my last post, I mentioned I was thinking about upgrading to a Blackberry Tour. In the meantime, friends of mine have suggested the Nokia N97 and after having researched both, I find myself in a bit of a dilemma.

My very first cellular phone was a Nokia so I have good experience with this brand; however, my Blackberry Bold has not caused me any problems. In fact, I have never found it so easy to connect to the internet.

Therefore, I would appreciate comments if anyone has experience with either phone to help me decide which one to get. That way I can get it ordered from the ever reliable Negri Electronics.

After using an iPhone 3G since release date last year, I was originally hesitant to upgrade to the 3GS. It originally seemed like only a marginal upgrade. Here are some of the impressive features which should encourage you to upgrade or switch to a 3GS:

-Faster Processor (600 mhz)
-More RAM (256 MB)
-Internal Compass (great for Google Maps)
-Voice Commands

The most substantial upgrade I’ve found is the processing power and RAM upgrades; it is the prime reason I decided to upgrade. I ran into issues on the 3G with delay in opening text message threads, the camera, and Safari. After jailbreaking my 3G I’ve discovered the issue is usually an amount of available ram of 5-10MB causing the slugishness. Additionally, the 3G has great resale value and can defer some of the cost of the new 3GS. Be sure to check out Negri’s Upgrade Up program to trade in your old electronics for cash.

Keep an eye out for some comparison videos and a full review of the iPhone 3GS as well as Blackberry Tour unboxing photos.

So as we still await the HTC Hero all we can do is speculate on how well this device will perform, I am assuming very well. The HTC Hero, which is expected to rival the iPhone, supports the newest Android OS that has been modified slightly by HTC. The Hero, unlike the iPhone, is completely customizable to you. This device introduces the new profile feature called “Scenes” which allows you to customize specific themes with various widgets to fit your daily needs. The OS on this device is simply amazing.

The Android OS is not the only thing surprising about this device. It also features a 3.2 inch capacitive touch-screen, 5 megapixel camera, 528 MHz Qualcomm processor, 228MB RAM, as well as both Wi-Fi and GPS. Oh and it’s the first mobile device ever to be Teflon coated. The Hero looks to be the best device I have seen from HTC, and its very reasonably priced. I would highly recommend anyone in the market for a new smartphone device to consider the Hero.

According to Wired.com, Apple may be prepping to update it’s line of the iPod Touch. Rumors state Chinese hardware manufacturers are manufacturing hardware with a built in microphone and camera.

Some speculate this could be a move to market the phone as a VOIP phone and possibly cut the AT&T artery which has tied the iPhone to the carrier since it’s inception. Rumors state the updated iPods could hit the market in the next 2-3 months.

My name is Brandon Stein and I’m from Chicago, Illinois in the US. I’m a Database Specialist for Non-Profit Foundation. My technical background includes a BS degree in Human Computer Interaction and an MS in Information Systems from DePaul University.

As a gadget addict, I’m excited to be blogging with Negri Electronics. In terms of devices, I personally use a Apple IPhone 3G (soon to be 3GS next week) for personal use and a Blackberry (soon to be Blackberry Tour) for work, so expect to see some reviews coming from me in the near future.

I also have had my fair share of laptops, including, but not limited to, a Sony Vaio UMPC, many Dell XPS systems, a bunch of custom made PCs, and am currently using a Lenovo X200 Tablet (which I love but wish it had true multitouch). I’m also an avid gamer…mostly with sports games on the PS3 and Xbox360.

Once again, it’s a pleasure to be blogging for Negri…I hope you plan to visit the blog often.

Brando

Apple iPhone 3GS Unlocked

The new Apple iPhone 3GS is out, and has some major improvements. Though the device looks identical to the iPhone 3G, Operating System improvements have made this device much faster. Some of the improvements to be noticed are:

- The first thing you’ll notice about iPhone 3GS is how quickly you can launch applications. Web pages render in a fraction of the time, and you can view email attachments faster. Improved performance and updated 3D graphics deliver an incredible gaming experience, too. In fact, everything you do on iPhone 3GS is up to 2x faster and more responsive than iPhone 3G.

- Now you can shoot video, edit it, and share it — all on your iPhone 3GS. Shoot high-quality VGA video in portrait or landscape. Trim your footage by adjusting start and end points. Then share your video in an email, post it to your MobileMe gallery, publish it on YouTube, or sync it back to your Mac or PC using iTunes.

- The new 3-megapixel camera takes great still photos, too, thanks to built-in autofocus and a handy new feature that lets you tap the display to focus on anything (or anyone) you want. Voice Control recognizes the names in your Contacts and knows the music on your iPod. So if you want to place a call or play a song, all you have to do is ask.

- With a built-in digital compass, iPhone 3GS can point the way. Use the new Compass app, or watch as it automatically reorients maps to match the direction you’re facing.

- Cut, copy, and paste words and photos, even between applications. Copy and paste images and content from the web, too.

All in all, the new iPhone is an excellent device and runs like a champ. We are offering Carrier and Factory Unlocked versions of the 3GS iPhones. For information on how to purchase this device, check out the link after the jump.

“http://tinyurl.com/3GSiPhoneNE”

This information is Copyrighted and Property of Apple.