I'm usually the first to be on the since for new technology
and gadgets, but the DL600 Android phone has eluded me for quite some time.
Anyhow we had to pull some strings to get this high demand device in office for
a review. So without further ado here is the full review of Digicel's
Smartphone DL600.
Let's fist start off by highlighting the strengths and
weaknesses of the DL600.
Strong Points
- Device comes with a 4 GB micro SD card already installed.
- The TFT LCD display on this device is vivid.
- Device is running Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) smoothly without struggling.
- The case and build quality of the DL600 is splendid compared to other low end Smart phones in its price range.
- The DL600 supports Digicel's 4G and provides remarkable download and upload speeds.
- This Device can also be used as a mobile internet Wi-Fi hotspot for other devices.
Weak Points
- The camera on this device takes pitiable photos.
- The DL600 only has 512MB of RAM which means not all of multitasking can be done.
- The three main menu buttons for Android (Back, Home and Recent Apps) are not back lit. So finding them in the dark is a challenge for new users.
Is This For You?
I
have money in my pocket but I just can't get no love Android... The money I'm talking about is
less than $10,000, and with that amount of money person usually thought a Smartphone
would be unattainable. But thanks to Digicel and their DL600 that dream is achievable.
So who is it for? I would certainly say everyone that wants more out of their
phone. This phone gives you all that the Android OS has to offer with just few
limitations due to the memory constraint. To put most readers minds at ease I
listed below a few well know apps that run without any problems on this device.
- What's App
- FaceBook (Built-In App)
- Twitter (Built-In App)
- Live Wallpapers (Built-In App)
- Video Wallpapers (Built-In App)
- Fruit Ninja
- Temple Run
- Dead Trigger
- Candy Crush Saga
To
be honest, I have yet to find an app that this little bundle of joy couldn't
run.
Final Thoughts
Given
the price (which is around 10,000 dollars) of the DL600, I can safely say that
it's a budget Smartphone that is better than all blackberries out there and I
say that with a smile knowing that BBM (BlackBerry Messenger) is going to be
released to Android and iOS any day now, and this little phone will be able to
run it as well. Although, if persons are looking for something more enticing on
a specification sheet then I would recommend the Samsung Galaxy S4 or S3, but
deeeep pockets are recommended if you are going that route. The product
mentioned in this article was provided courtesy of Digicel.
There is a common perception that video games are for kids
and grownups are not welcome to enjoy the pleasures that these current gaming
consoles have to offer. This perception is so wrong that its laughable; games
these days are focused on getting as much adults on board as possible because
of the mere fact that teens and adults are the ones willing to spend on games
and game services. This week I give to you five (5) games that defines mature
gaming this year.
#5
Tomb Raider (Review
Score: 9 out of 10)
Tomb Raider becoming a mature game; I never saw that one
coming at all. The new and improved Tomb Raider is one of the few games that I
enjoyed playing from start to finish.
The puzzles are well designed, graphics are solid and beautiful, lots of
collectibles to be found, and a well written story line. But the key mature factor
in this game is the pain and suffering that the main character has to endure to
the end. This is why this game has a mature rating and is number 5 on the list.
#4
Gears Of War Judgment
(Review Score: 8.7 out of 10)
Fighting 
#3
God Of War Ascension
(Review Score: 9 out of 10)
Kratos is back, again... Although he die in God Of War 3...
He is back to star in his latest game God Of War Ascension. Apart from the
addition of a multiplayer component; nothing much has changed in this
franchise. Kratos is still as brutal as ever and the game still looks amazing
and polished. Obviously the mature factor in this game is Kratos... the most
manliest man in world that runs around in a skirt doing brutal stuff to his
enemies.
#2
The Last Of Us
(Review Score: 9.7 out of 10)
The game that put the
Playstation 3 back on the map this year is The Last Of US, and I must confess
that it's a really really good game. The creators of the Uncharted games put
their heads together and came up with this post apocalyptic horror game. It has
an amazing story and in-depth game play that you can't experience in any other
game out now. If the story doesn't draw you in, then the jaw dropping graphics
will. The mature factor of this game is the atmosphere and the brutal nature in
which the main character has to survive. Nothing can prepare you for The Last
Of Us. 
#1
Far Cry 3 (9.5 out of
10)
Far Cry 3 is one of the most exciting, pulse pounding,
mature game I have ever played. Persons who own the game can tell you that
there isn't a single word that can describe far cry 3. As a first person
shooter this game will blow your mind with the attention to detail and
character movement through the jungle habitat that you explore in the game. Not
to mention the smiles you'll get hearing Skrillex
Feat Damian Marley - Make It Bun Them song being played while burning down
a "herbal" farm. The mature factor in this game is
"everything", and I do mean everything. This game makes grand theft auto
look like a sonic the hedgehog game with no rings. This is pure mature fun at
its finest.
Final Thoughts
They are many games that didn't make the list, but that
doesn't mean that they weren't good enough. In fact, I might have to continue
the list a next time to give them the recognition they need, but for now these
will certainly do for the mature gamers out there looking for something to
play. Don't let age dictate what you do for fun. The products mentioned in this
article were provided courtesy of Royale
Computers and Accessories telephone#: 906-1067,
906-1068, and 754-5048.
This week I have with me a Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 to
review and must say that white is a very attractive color for it. Anyway, let's
start out by highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the device.
Strong Points
·
The speakers on the Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 produce excellent
sound for a tablet. Highs and mids are well balanced and even some bass is
present in the audio.
·
The LCD display on this device is bright and can
be easily viewed in most lighting condition.
·
The touch screen is also without a doubt very accurate
up to the edges of the device.
·
The warranty period is 24 months and
is valid in any country that sells the Galaxy Tab 3 7.0.
·
The case and build quality of the Samsung Tab 3
7.0 is a major improvement over its predecessor.
Weak Points
·
The camera on this device is less than desire
able and takes poor photos.
·
Most GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) intense games
or programs function choppy and glitch frequently.
Who is it ideal for?
The
Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 may have a long
name for a tablet but it those come with a short price tag. This tablet would
be perfect for someone who wants an android tablet for work related tasks like
checking emails and quick document creation and viewing. Plus the fact that
it's light and is a 7 inch tablet makes it ideal for the traveling workaholic.
Final Thoughts
Given
the price(which is around 30,000 dollars) of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 it's
safe to say that it's a budget tablet and not targeting the hardcore tech
happy persons out there. If persons are looking
for something more enticing on a specification sheet then I would recommend
persons to look at the Google Nexus 7 line either the first or the second
generation. The product mentioned in this article was provided courtesy of Royale Computers and Accessories
telephone#: 906-1067, 906-1068, and
754-5048.I'm very anxious to get my hands on
the Quantum 7 (7" inch tablet)
which is the mid range tabletThis week we will find out if it's a worthy investment of $12,000.00 (JMD).
Design and Built
Quality
The first thing that usually jumps out at a consumers
looking to purchase a item is how attractive the device is and how it feels in
the hand. The Quantum 7 certainly
doesn't have that wow factor at first glance because of its bland black
designed, but it's definitely not an eye sore to look at like some 7" inch
tablets in its price range. The build quality for the test unit that we had in
the office seemed to have every port and memory card slot in place except for
the USB OTG (On The Go) cable that seemed
to be assembled by a blind person and looked a bit deformed but it still works
like a charm.
Display
The 7" inch
display on the Quantum 7 looks
slightly better than most low end tablets on the market, but at a resolution of
800 x 480 this display should not be
called HD (High Definition).
Although the resolution is a bit on the low end it still shows 720p and 1080p videos with clarity and decent color reproduction.
Hardware and Sound
The first thing you will notice is that this tablet has no
Bluetooth connectivity. So, those of you who love sharing files and photos with
friends via Bluetooth will be severely hampered owning this tablet, but there
is hope. The Quantum 7 is one of the
few tablets I have seen that comes with a USB
OTG cable in the box. A USB OTG
cable allows user to connect any USB
device to their tablet which simply means that the tablet can be used with USB keyboards, mouse, flash drives,
hard drives, and even USB Xbox 360
controllers for games. A USB OTG
cable is the greatest thing since slice bread or mobile Mother's patty dealers. The 0.3 megapixel camera on the front of
the device is the only way of capturing images and they are not of a high
standard, but you will be able to recognize yourself in the photos. The
speakers and sound output was the only aspect of the Quantum 7 that we were totally satisfied with. Speakers on the
device were loud and offer crystal clear sound on every volume level.
Final Thoughts
Although we found things we didn't liked with the Quantum 7 the fact still remains that the retail price for this gadget is around $12,000.00 (JMD). With a price like that I can forgive the Quantum 7 for all its short comings and get one....... P.S. for the kids.
Have you ever used Windows on anything else but a
computer/laptop? Well, for me the answer was no until a week ago and now my
ignorance is no more. What I have found will change the views of the masses.
This week I bring to you a look at Windows has a operating system for Tablets
and Phones.
Windows on Tablets
This part of the review will focus on Windows as a tablet
Operating System (OS) first and foremost. To figure out how good Windows on a
tablet would be we had to take the Lenovo
ThinkPad Tablet 2 on a test run. Just for the record this tablet comes with
all the bells and whistles that most devices would dream of having and here is
some key features to show it.
- 10.1″ IPS Display (1366×768)
- Dual-core Intel Atom (Z2760 1.80GHz) w/ 4 threads
- PowerVR SGX545 graphics
- 2GB / 800MHz LPDDR2 RAM
- Windows 8 Pro 32-bit
- 64GB Flash Memory
- ThinkPad 11a/b/g/n + Bluetooth 4.0 combo chip, GPS
- Mini-HDMI, 3.5mm Audio In / Microphone Jack combo
- USB 2.0, micro-SD
What's The Verdict?
Speaking as an avid Windows 8 user I can safely say that the
experience and resources you have at your disposal on a windows 8 desktop or
laptop is exactly the same on a Windows 8 tablet. Windows tablets offer
something that Android and iOS cannot give a user and that is a fully
functionally PC experience on your tablet. That simply means you don't have to
go through the headache of finding an App to replace your favorite desktop
programs. All you need to do is install the desktop version of the program on
your tablet.
Conclusion
Windows tablets are certainly the best solution for persons
thinking of ditching their laptop or desktop for a more portable solution. It
also helps to know that most windows tablet have USB ports built-in for file
transfer or integration with USB devices.
Windows on Phones
This part of the review will focus on Windows as a Smartphone
OS first and foremost. This part of
the review was done with the help of a Nokia
Lumia 620 running the new Windows 8 Phone
OS. The Lumia 620 isn't the best that Nokia has to offer but it is a well
rounded mid-range Windows phone.
Here are some of the key features for the Lumia
620.- 1GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 CPU
- 512MB RAM
- 3.8-inch 480 x 800 pixel ClearBlack LCD screen
- Windows Phone 8 OS
- 8GB internal memory
- 5-megapixel camera with LED flash
What's The Verdict?
The Lumia 620 is
a great mid-range Smartphone at a respectable mid-range price from Digicel. The only problem I find is
that Windows as a Smartphone OS
isn't as mature as Android or iOS. So, at the moment Windows App Store isn't very diverse
and populated as the other market leaders. Also, the learning curve is a bit on
the steep side for persons coming from Android and iOS, but maybe much easier
to someone just entering the realms of Smartphone's.
Conclusion
The Nokia Lumia 620 is a very capable mid-range Smartphone that has a rich and vibrant display and a unique design. I would certainly recommended it to new comers to the world of Smartphone's because of it stability, but Windows Phone 8 has a lot of ground to cover to become a serious alternative for Android or iOS. Products mention in this article were provided by Microsoft Of Jamaica.
