Galaxy Nexus

The new Galaxy Nexus is an aesthetically pleasing handset, with a sleek curved design. It’s slightly thicker and larger than the Galaxy S 2, but still feels nice in the hand. The toughened, scratch-proof glass is very resistant to scrapes and knocks, and would definitely manage to survive in pockets with keys and other items which tend to damage phone screens. Just take a look at Dom’s scratch test to prove it - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyLC61JxsJQ

With the new Ice Cream Sandwich operating system and speedy processor, there is no doubt that the Nexus can perform quickly, but the stock OS seems bland compared to previous handsets which included Samsung Touch wiz. The menu layouts are easy to understand, though, but just seem to lack some of the lustre found on Samsung’s other Galaxy range of handsets. This could be down to the change in OS, or the fact that the device is a beta model.

For a handset like this at the top of the market, it is disappointing to see only a 5mp camera. I have not been able to properly test this feature, due to some unsightly green marks all across the camera, which prevent the taking of pictures – this is undoubtedly due to the fact that my particular device is a beta, pre-release version.

The screen quality is another slightly disappointing feature of this handset. The difference between the Nexus and the Galaxy S 2 is clear, with the S2 having a far crisper, sharper display. The Nexus screen appears dull, even when on full brightness, and pages appear grey instead of white.

The integration with Google+ is great, as this allows not only Gmail to be linked to the handset, but also Google messenger and your G+ account. The task manager also looks great, but after a weekend of use, I still haven’t managed to figure out how to actually close apps!

The integration of a notification light on the Galaxy Nexus is a definite plus, as it was one feature lacking in the flagship Galaxy S and S2. This does come in extremely handy. However, the Nexus does not have a MicroSD slot, which I personally think is a bit of a let-down – the SD slot allows data to be transferred between handsets, and easily removed without having to connect to PCs to back everything up. This is probably down to Google beginning to move into the Cloud, but it may annoy many consumers, who feel that a card slot is necessary on any handset.

All in all, I was expecting great things from the Galaxy Nexus, but it seems like a step backwards from the Galaxy S 2 instead of a step forwards. Hopefully this will change when I have a chance to see a final retail version, but for now, I think I’ll stick to the GS2.

Samsung Galaxy Note - First Look

Upon opening the box of my new Samsung Galaxy Note, my first thought was ‘wow, it’s huge!’ With a 5.3 inch screen, it’s bigger than any handset currently on the market, but is very thin and light in comparison to the screen size - At only 178 grams, the Note is lighter than many other smartphone devices out there. Although many people have noted that it is difficult to use with one hand, this is probably not something to worry about, as many people tend to use one hand to hold the device and the other to enter text – at least that’s the way I always do it!

As soon as the Note is powered on, the effects of the Super AMOLED screen are clear – a crisp, bright display with sharp colours. As usual, Samsung’s Touchwiz interface makes the layout familiar and easy to use – anyone who has ever used a Samsung Android device will be able to pick this up and use it straight away. With Android 2.3, the OS is slick, and, even better, this device will be getting the latest Ice Cream Sandwich OS very soon! As this is not quite the same size as a tablet, applications can run smoothly and look just as good as they do on a smaller screen like the GSII.

The Galaxy Note packs a speedy 1.4GHz processor, which allows for seamless multitasking without compromising on the speed of the device in any way. This also ensures that applications run without lag, helping to improve the overall user experience. The Note also includes Flash support, allowing for a variety of web based games and videos to be played, which look stunning on the large screen.

The 8mp camera (complete with flash) has a similar quality to that of the Galaxy S II. Photos are clear and sharp, with the ability to edit images as desired. Again, the HD video recording is of good quality, and the front facing 2mp camera allows for video calling or mirror type applications.

However, the coolest feature of the Note has got to be the S –Pen. This allows the Note to be used almost like the PDAs of old – typing and tapping with the pen. However, the difference between this and old-style PDAs is that the Note can also be used by tapping with fingers, like a normal phone handset. The S-Memo feature allows the user to capture screen images, and use the pen to make notes on these, highlight important areas or just draw. I’ve spent so much time this weekend since unboxing the handset just doodling – it’s so easy to use, anyone can produce stunning pieces of art. The S-Pen also makes the larger screen easier to manage, removing the need for awkward figure gesturing on the screen, and it tucks away neatly inside the Note when you’re finished, so no annoying dangly attachments or fear of losing it.

Although the Note may not fit perfectly into my pockets (being a small person, I have small pockets!) it certainly fits in my handbag! Yes, it may be large, but for someone like myself who tends to text and browse more than I make calls, this is not a problem. Web pages look more natural on the 5.3 inch screen, compared to a smaller screen like those found in most other smartphone devices, and are much easier to read and navigate. However, if you are someone who is looking for a phone to make calls, I would stick to the Galaxy S II – I will be keeping mine close by for the few calls I make. All in all, the Galaxy Note is a very attractive device, and although the size may put some people off, the benefits are far greater than any other device I have encountered thus far. Personally I think I will keep this device close by for use in meetings, general doodling and internet browsing, but for calling, I think I’ll stick to something that doesn’t look so ostentatious when sat against my ear!