Alexis Philippides

Email: alexis@stuff-review.com

Profile: Alexis is the founder of Stuff-Review and the primary editor. He's a blogger, an engineer and a web entrepreneur. Alexis has been building and managing websites for over 12 years. An eternal sufferer from gadget lust, he tries to keep his passion in check by writing overly lengthy pieces on technology and consumer electronics. Soft spots include digital cameras, high-end audio separates and portable devices. At times, his electrical engineering background peers out in technically convoluted articles, but otherwise he provides down-to-earth reporting.

Latest posts by Alexis Philippides:

HTC confirms Vivid, Sensation, Rezound, EVO 3D and others to get Android Ice Cream Sandwich upgrades in early 2012

News

November 7, 2011 at 6:13 am

Aren’t software upgrades a wonderful thing? One day your smartphone is sporting a lowly Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system, and the next, it receives a free update to the shiny, new, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS). If you don’t know why you would want ICS on your phone, check out our Android basics column, and our complete guide of all the new features and improvements in ICS.

With all that on the table, it’s pretty normal that any current Android user, would want to get the Android 4.0 update, while HTC had been quiet on its update schedule since ICS was revealed.

Well, the company has now confirmed its upgrade plans on the company’s Facebook page. Obviously HTC’s latest handsets will be getting the upgrade, with the HTC Vivid, HTC Rezound and the HTC Sensation, Sensation XL and Sensation XE all getting Ice Cream Sandwich in early 2012. The HTC EVO 3D, HTC EVO Design 4G and HTC Amaze 4G are also getting ICS. HTC will continue to assess its current line for upgradability, so don’t despair if your device isn’t included in this first wave of upgrades.

There is also no mention of any of the company’s tablets, like the Flyer or the Jetsream yet.

You can find HTC’s statement after the break.
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Panasonic Lumix GX1 Micro Four Thirds camera and LVF2 EVF announced: new 16MP sensor, December release date (specs, pictures, video)

News

November 7, 2011 at 5:20 am

The Panasonic Lumix GX1 Micro Four Thirds (MFT) mirrorless interchangeable lens camera (MILC) has been officially announced. We first saw the true successor of the venerable GF1 in October, while yesterday we managed to catch a good look of the high-end compact GX1 in Panasonic’s presentation video. Specifications are exactly as we had initially reported.

The Lumix GX1 has a 16-megapixel Live MOS sensor, the same that can be found in the Panasonic G3. This would mean more detail but less high ISO noise than the 12-megapixel sensor found in the GF3 (and of course the much older GF1). On the back ,you’ll find a 3-inch 460k dot touchscreen LCD; similar to other Panasonic offerings, you can touch-focus using the screen. You can also control the Lumix X Power Zoom lenses with the touchscreen. The camera uses contrast autofocus, with Panasonic claiming its as fast as 0.09 seconds. The GX1 can shoot up to ISO 12,800 and supports 1080p video in MP4 (20Mbps) and 1080i60 in AVCHD (17Mbps). We’re glad to see that it includes a stereo microphone and an accessory shoe which can host an electronic viewfinder or external flash.

Together with the camera, Panasonic announced the DMW-LVF2, a new 1,440k dot, 90 degree tilting, electronic viewfinder (EVF). The LVF2 offers more than seven times the effective pixels of the older LVF1 (with 202k dots). Unfortunately the LVF2 will not be compatible with any of the current GF-line cameras, (GF3, GF2, GF1); the LVF2 has a different set of connector which are essential in order to support the higher data transfer rate necessary for its higher resolution.

The GX1 is housed in an aluminium body, similar to the GF1, has metal buttons and a substantial textured handgrip. In terms of controls you have a typical Panasonic arrangement with two physical customizable function buttons, a mode dial, while it’s only missing the drive mode selector from the GF1. Though, remember, you can control aspects of the camera using the touchscreen as well, if you so choose. Panasonic has, for the first time, included a horizontal and vertical angle level gauge which will be displayed both in portrait and vertical use.
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Active noise cancelling vs. passive sound isolating headphones, a primer in noise control

Guides

November 6, 2011 at 10:57 am

I’ve always been into audio technology of any kind, from high-end Hi-Fi separates to portable audio. Some years back I was introduced to noise isolating and noise cancelling headphones/earphones, since then I never looked back. It’s not until you cut out external noise from your listening that you will appreciate how much ambient noise there is, especially if you travel by and means of pubic transport.

This is a primer in the technology behind passive and active noise control, which will hopefully introduce you to the theory, benefits and caveats of these technologies.
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Steve Jobs 1990 interview, talking about the past and the future of computing

News

November 6, 2011 at 4:50 am

Steve Jobs was rather camera shy, so only a handful of interviews with the technology visionary remain. One of these interviews was part of WGBH’s The Machine That Changed the World series, while the name of the episode is ‘the Paperback Computer’.

The interview was done in 1990, the year when NeXT released the NeXTcube, which Jobs touted as the first “interpersonal” computer that would replace the personal computer. The interview is an uncut version, so you get a peek at Jobs during all the outtakes.

There are a lot of interesting insights on personal computing and software. Jobs talks about how the success of a platform system is measured by the number of application software written for it. He discusses how the ‘hobbyist’ or as we would say today the ‘developer’ or ‘hacking’ community was one step ahead of the companies in realizing the true potential of hardware technology.

He also talks about how communication is the future of computing, while there are tons of references on the history of personal computers. You can find the entire 50 minute interview after the break.

Steve Jobs had left Apple in 1985 and founded NeXT that same year. Apple acquired NeXT in 1997 and Jobs returned to the company he co-founded, with the NeXTSTEP operating system finally evolving into Mac OS X.
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Panasonic Lumix GX1 Micro Four Thirds camera teased in official videos

News

November 6, 2011 at 3:29 am

Panasonic has just released a number of teaser videos for its upcoming GF1 successor, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Micro Four Thirds digital camera. We first broke the news of the GX1 in October and the company’s, now official promotional video, confirms our initial specifications.

The Panasonic GX1 will have a 16-megapixel sensor, probably the same as the Panasonic G3, and a new Venus engine. It will offer a super fast 0.09 second contrast auto-focus. The main screen is a 3-inch LCD with a 460k pixel resolution, and as we guessed, it will be a touchscreen for touch autofocus, similar to other recent Panasonic offerings.

There will be a new external electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 1,440k dots (against a paltry 202k of the original LVF1) and it will be offered in silver and black. While we weren’t too excited when we first saw the all black boxy design of the GX1, it looks way sexier in the official video with the silver metal body and oversized black handgrip.

In the video, which you’ll find after the break, the GX1 is paired with the new X series lens, the collapsible power zoom LUMIX G X VARIO PZ 14-42mm. There is also another video after the break showing a movie shot using the GX1 with a new miniature / time lapse effect, similar to the Panasonic LX5‘s miniature effect.
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Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc HD (a.k.a. Nozomi) LT26i images leaked: 720p display and 1.5GHz dual-core processor

News

November 5, 2011 at 4:13 pm

Although information is still sketchy, images of a new Android smartphone, the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc HD (a.k.a. Nozomi), pegged as the Xperia Arc successor, have leaked over at iAndroid. The smartphone with model number LT26i, is sporting a 1280×720 (720p) resolution with a retina worthy 320dpi (dots-per-inch) pixel density, similar to the just announced HTC Rezound, with a 4.3-inch display.

The Nozomi or Xperia Arc HD is rumored to run on a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor with 1GB of RAM. The Quadrant benchmark score in the pictures is 1,840; this is relatively low for such a processor, but would show how tasking it is for the GPU to drive the 720p resolution. Besides that, from the images we can see front and rear cameras and Xperia branding, while there is a white LED row at the back of the phone.

As with all current Android smartphones, this one is running Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread, though Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich might catch up with the Xperia Arc HD before it is finally released, making it the first smartphone by Sony Ericsson to run the latest and greatest version of Android. Besides, remember that 720p is the native resolution for Android 4.0.

More pictures after the break.
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How to: Convert the HTC Sensation or Sensation 4G to a Sensation XE

Guides

November 5, 2011 at 2:14 pm

You’ve recently got a shiny new HTC Sensation or Sensation 4G and there goes HTC tweaking it and releasing the Sensation XE. Well, you can actually convert the Sensation (4G) to a Sensation XE by investing half an hour of your time, and flexing your rooting skills. The hardware in the two handsets is essentially the same, as we’ve seen in our initial coverage, the XE simply has the same dual-core processor running at its default 1.5GHz speed (against 1.2GHz for the original), includes a custom Beats by Dr. Dre sound profile and a bigger battery.

You can get the improvements by installing a custom ROM, Android Revolution HD, for the Sensation, which among other things, allows the processor to run at 1.51GHz as a default, includes the Beats audio profile and a tweaked Adreno 200 graphics configuration to boot. Only thing missing is the bigger battery, but you can grab a tried and test 1900mAh Anker one from Amazon US or Amazon UK.

A word to the wise here, rooting your smartphone is risky, you could end up with a dead device and/or invalidate your warranty. Use the instructions below at your own risk.

Upgrading your Sensation or Sensation 4G to a Sensation XE involves, three steps. First, you must unlock the bootloader (from S-ON to S-OFF) so that you can install custom ROMs. Then, you have to install ClockworkMod recovery, which you will use to install custom ROMs, and finally, flash the Android Revolution HD ROM. Charge your Sensation and head after the break for the full instructions.
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Nook Color price to drop to $199, getting update with Hulu Plus and more music services

News

November 4, 2011 at 5:34 pm

Yesterday we brought you the news on Barnes & Noble’s upcoming tablet, the Nook Tablet, which will retail for $249. It only makes sense that the previous generation Nook Color, which currently retails for the same price, will see a price drop. B&N is planning to cut the Nook Color’s price by $50 to $199. It will also be getting a software update, version 1.4, with Hulu Plus and additional music streaming services from Rhapsody, MOG and Grooveshark with free trials — Pandora is already included with the NC.

We are still doubtful that it will have much success even at the discounted price, since the Amazon Kindle Fire will also retail for $199, while the more capable Nook Tablet is only $50 more. You can check out our Nook Tablet vs. Kindle Fire and the original Nook Color vs. Kindle Fire comparisons. In any case, it’s good news for existing Nook Color owners who will be getting more from their e-Reader/tablet soon. Even better, you can grab yourself a Nook Color for free, just by entering our simple giveaway.
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Sony starts selling its ‘magical’ OLED panels, coming to a camera EVF or head-mounted display near you — hopefully

News

November 4, 2011 at 12:42 pm

Sony has just reminded us of its recent accomplishments in organic EL display technology and, well, just how awesome its duo of small OLED displays is. Sony had announced its pair of high resolution OLED panels back in late August, which have since found their way into the company’s latest digital cameras and 3D head mounted display.

First you have the 0.5-inch ECX331A XGA (1024×768) panel, which has taken its place in electronic viewfinders (EVFs) and is one of the major selling points of the Sony A77 and A65 DSLT cameras and the NEX-7 mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera. The slightly larger, 0.7-inch ECX322A 720p HD (1280×720) can be found in the equally exciting Sony HMZ-T1 OLED 3D head-mounted display.

What’s so special about these OLED panels? Well, they offer a wide color gamut (90% of NTSC), high 10,000:1 contrast ratio, and fast 0.01ms response time, with 200 cd/m2 brightness. More importantly they pack an insane amount of pixels in a small area.

To put things into perspective, the 0.5″ ECX331A with a resolution of 1024×768 (RGB) has a pixel pitch of just 9.9μm. In comparison, the iPhone 4S with a 3.5″ 960×640 resolution retina display has a pixel pitch of 77.1μm. In layman terms, pixel pitch measures the size of a pixel; the smaller it is the harder it will be for your eyes to distinguish between them and the sharper and more lifelike the image. That means that each individual pixel (made up of three subpixels, Red, Green and Blue) on Sony’s OLED panel is almost 8 times smaller than that of the iPhone 4S display. This makes them ideal for applications where you need a compact design and you would put your eyes very close to the display, such as EVFs and head-mounted displays.
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B&N Nook Tablet vs. Amazon Kindle Fire comparison

News

November 3, 2011 at 7:13 pm

Barnes & Noble is preparing its own 7-inch budget and book/magazine-centric Nook Tablet to rival the Amazon Kindle Fire. Where the Nook Color was lacking, the Nook Tablet has more than made up for it. On one hand, the Nook Tablet, has a faster processor than the Kindle fire, it’s lighter, has double the RAM and on-board storage and can take microSD cards. On the other hand Amazon has a huge cloud presence and a bigger library in terms of content — books, music, movies. The Amazon Appstore also has a bigger selection of apps. Confused? Well, we’ve got all the details for both devices for you in a handy comparison chart, which you’ll find after the break. You might also want to check our initial Kindle Fire vs. Nook Color comparison.
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Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet leaked; Nook Color successor to take on the Kindle Fire

News

November 3, 2011 at 6:52 pm

So, remember the event that Barnes & Noble has scheduled for this coming Monday the 7th? Remember, when we were talking about a Nook Color successor to take on the Amazon Kindle Fire? Well, information on B&N’s new tablet/e-Reader has leaked ahead of the event, and we have it here for you.

The new device from B&N will simply be called the ‘Nook Tablet’. As you can see, it’s very similar in appearance to the Nook Color; but what you can’t see is that it’s thinner, at 0.48 inches (from 0.5 inches for the NC) and lighter at 14.1 oz (from 15.8 ounces). The Nook Tablet is getting a much needed processor upgrade, with a new 1.2GHz dual-core OMAP 4 processor, 1GB of RAM (double that of the Kindle Fire) and 16GB of built-in storage (again double the Fire’s capacity). You will be able to expand storage through the microSD card slot, something the Fire is missing.
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Android heroes: Samsung Galaxy Nexus vs. HTC Rezound vs. Motorola Droid RAZR

News

November 3, 2011 at 6:10 pm

Three major Android manufacturers, Samsung, HTC and Motorola, have all recently announced their big-screened flagship handsets, just in time for the holiday season. Now that everybody’s cards are on the table, we take another look, comparing the 4.65-inch Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich bearing Samsung Galaxy Nexus, the rugged and super-slim 4.3-inch Motorola Droid RAZR and the Beats Audio sporting and retina busting 720p 4.3-inch HTC Rezound. If you are an Android fan, it’s never been harder to choose a new smartphone, hopefully our handy comparison, which is after the break, will help you make up your mind.
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Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus tablet uses Exynos SoC, is now shipping from Amazon

News

November 3, 2011 at 4:23 pm

Android handheld devices with dual-core processors are a dime a dozen (or so to speak) nowadays. But not many run on Samsung’s Exynos system on a chip (SoC). There’s the Samsung Galaxy S II smartphone and well now there’s the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus tablet. So what’s so special about Exynos? Well, pitted against the competing dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S3, NVIDIA Tegra 2 and TI OMAP 4 SoCs, the Samsung Exynos comes out as king. It’s got both serious processing and graphics chopping jaws, as was clearly demonstrated by some serious benchmark performance from the SGS II.

The Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus packs a dual-core 1.2GHz Exynos processor, a 7-inch 1024×600 resolution display (unfortunately it’s not AMOLED) with a 3-megapixel rear and 2-megapixel front cameras. The tablet runs Android 3.2 Honeycomb and was supposed to appear on U.S. retail channels on November 13th. Well Amazon US seems to have jumped the gun a bit and is already shipping the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus for the advertised price of $400. You are well warned now, if you were looking to grab yourself a skinny little performing tab.
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HTC Rezound 4.3-inch 720p HD screen Android smartphone announced for Verizon Wireless 4G LTE (pictures, specs, video)

News

November 3, 2011 at 3:12 pm

The HTC Rezound (a.k.a. HTC Vigor) is finally official. HTC has announced its new flagship Android smartphone, heading to Verizon Wireless’ speedy 4G LTE network, at a press event in New York. As it was previously rumored, the Rezound sports a 4.3-inch screen at a 1280×720 HD resolution, that’s a retina display worthy pixel density. It will run on a 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm MSM8660 processor with 1GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. It’s a Beats branded device, and comes with a matching set of Beats by Dr. Dre earbuds and a Beats sound profile that will make you music sound oh-so sweet.

The device will obviously come with Android 2.3 Gingerbread and HTC’s Sense 3.5 at launch, with an Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update coming early next year. The HTC Rezound will be offered coming Novermber 14th for $299.99 on a two-year commitment.

The Rezound comes with an 8-megapixel f/2.2 28mm wide-angle lens back camera with dual LED flash and a 2-megapixel front camera and will be capable of shooting 1080p video. You will also be able to charge the 1620mAh battery (oh why doesn’t HTC include bigger batteries) wirelessly on the optional dock. The HTC Rezound measures 129 x 65.5 x 13.65 mm.

You might want to check out how the Rezound holds up to the rest of the Android heroes, the Motorola RAZR and the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, in our concise comparison.

More pictures and full specs after the break.
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