The legend goes on, 2011: Samsung I9100 Galaxy S II (www.drmobiles.co.nz) "Galaxy unlock"

It looks like the point where it all ends. A galaxy outgrowing its own limits. An explosion of energy and speed. An overdose of smartphone power. A phone that makes you love the smell of Android in the morning.

Samsung Galaxy S II official photos

The likes of Samsung I9100 Galaxy S II make it easy to get carried away. But wait a minute. There’s nothing quite like the Galaxy II. The brightest stars on the smartphone scene have graced our homepage, but this one is trying to eclipse them all. The Samsung I9100 Galaxy S II is in no mood to share – the spoils or the spotlight.

Samsung Galaxy S II official photos

With a spec sheet like that, it’s a beast of a droid. Even in today’s viciously competitive market, the Galaxy S II has so many firsts to be proud of. Samsung’s very own Exynos chipset, the unmatched Super AMOLED Plus screen and the ultra-slim body only begin to tell the story.

Key features

• Quad-band GSM and quad-band 3G support
• 21 Mbps HSDPA and 5.76 Mbps HSUPA support
• 4.3" 16M-color Super AMOLED Plus capacitive touchscreen of WVGA (480 x 800 pixel) resolution
• Android OS v2.3.3 with TouchWiz 4 launcher
• 1.2 GHz dual-core Cortex-A9 CPU, Mali-400MP GPU, Exynos chipset, 1GB of RAM
• 8 MP wide-angle lens autofocus camera with LED flash, face, smile and blink detection
• 1080p HD video recording at 30fps
• Dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 b, g and n support
• GPS with A-GPS connectivity; Digital compass
• 16/32GB internal storage, microSD slot
• Accelerometer, gyroscope and proximity sensor
• Standard 3.5 mm audio jack
• Charging MHL microUSB port with USB host and TV-out (1080p) support
• Stereo Bluetooth v3.0
• FM radio with RDS
• Great audio quality
• Extremely slim waistline at only 8.5mm and low weight (116g)
• 2MP secondary video-call camera
• Full Flash support and GPU-acceleration for the web browser permit 1080p flash video playback
• NFC support (optional, not without a software update)
• Document editor
• File manager comes preinstalled
• The richest video format support we have seen

Main disadvantages

• All-plastic body
• No dedicated camera key
• Super slim body has poor grip when taking pictures
• Non-hot-swappable microSD card

With manufacturers busy making facelifts and sequels to get our hard-earned cash, we are often wondering if an upgrade is worth it. Well this time, it takes but a glance at the specs to tell that the answer is yes.

You’ve got a problem with the PenTile matrix of the original Galaxy S – the Galaxy S II is here to fix that. Or was it the laggy RFS file system bothering you? Well, be our gest and enjoy it the EXT4 way. The GPS issues or the lack of flash for the camera too much for you to handle – they’ve got it all fixed here.

The Samsung I9100 Galaxy S II at ours

But fixes are just the beginning and they come to show that Samsung has listened to the customers. The key selling points of the Galaxy S II will most certainly be the impressive 1080p video recording, better still photos and, probably most important of all, the new Exynos chipset that powers the whole thing.

You get an extra core, higher clock speed and the new Mali-400 GPU that’s supposed to blow everything we know out of the water. Not to mention the sweet gig of RAM to make sure that multitasking is a walk in the park for the Galaxy S II.

At 125.3 x 66.1 x 8.5 mm, the Samsung I9100 Galaxy S II is a phone to be taken seriously. A massive screen in a body so slim, the new Galaxy beats the predecessor on every count: bigger, slimmer, sharper. And the handling is even better, despite gaining 0.3” in display diagonal.

Unboxing: a few more accessories would have made a good box perfect

Samsung has managed to fit the I9100 Galaxy S II in a pretty compact box. To an extent that you’ll be unprepared for the actual size of the phone inside.

The Samsung I9100 Galaxy S II retail package

The bundle includes a charger, a one-piece headset, a microUSB cable and a quick start guide. That’s all the basics covered, considering that the device offers ample storage out of the box. However, Samsung will still ship its flagship with an 8GB card in some markets taking the initial storage to either 24GB or 40GB. Not bad.

Unfortunately, the USB host adapter and the MHL adapter are purchased separately

The bad news is that the MHL adapter required for HD TV-out and the USB adapter enabling the USB host functionality aren’t included. It’s a real pity – both work pretty well but many users will probably not bother purchasing them and won’t get a chance to try them.

Design and display

With a hint of a chin at the back, and a hardware menu key flanked by a couple of touch-sensitive buttons the Galaxy S II does bear resemblance to its predecessor. However the slimmer bezel around an even more impressive screen does take looks a level up.

The weight is also kept impressively low – at the mere 116g, the Galaxy S II is 3 grams lighter than the original Galaxy S.

The Galaxy S II sized up against the original Galaxy S and the iPhone 4

The back has also been improved with the glossy blue-dotted plastic replaced by the finely textured surface we’ve come to know from the Samsung S5830 Galaxy Ace. This particular finish is practically immune to fingerprints and quite pleasant – and secure – to hold.

Some metal on the body might’ve suited the flagship but, since it would’ve upped the weight, we are willing to live with the second best option.

Besides, no matter what finish the design team would have come up with, all eyes would always be focused on the 4.3” Super AMOLED Plus screen anyway. It retains the WVGA resolution of its predecessor, but uses a conventional matrix with three-subpixels per pixel instead of the PenTile matrix of the first-gen Super AMOLED displays.

PenTile screens were often criticized for lacking in sharpness, due to the lower number of total subpixels, but the truth is that the change is hard to notice. Of course, if you look close enough you’d be able to tell the two apart, but in everyday usage the difference is subtle at best.

Samsung I9100 Galaxy S II screen compared to the Galaxy S display

However the added screen estate does make a big difference: an already impressive display has become superb. Just place the two Galaxy phones side by side and you will clearly see what you are gaining with the new one.

You can now enjoy the deepest blacks on the market on a surface over 15% larger. Contrary to Samsung claims though, the brightness doesn’t seem to have improved – an observation that our display test confirmed.

Display test	50% brightness			100% brightness
	Black, cd/m2	White, cd/m2	Contrast ratio	Black, cd/m2	White, cd/m2	Contrast ratio
LG Optimus Black P970	0.27	332	1228	0.65	749	1161
LG Optimus 2X	0.23	228	982	0.35	347	1001
Sony Ericsson XPERIA Arc	0.03	34	1078	0.33	394	1207
Samsung I9000 Galaxy S	0	263	∞	0	395	∞
Samsung I9100 Galaxy S II	0	231	∞	0	362	∞
HTC Incredible S	0.18	162	908	0.31	275	880
Apple iPhone 4	0.14	189	1341	0.39	483	1242
Motorola Atrix 4G	0.48	314	652	0.60	598	991

It doesn’t matter all that much though – the Samsung I9100 Galaxy S II screen remains perfectly visible in all lighting conditions. Bright sun or not – you will always be able to read the display without losing too much color either.

The AMOLED screens are known for wide viewing angles with no loss of contrast or color distortion well into near extremes. There isn’t much to say about screen sensitivity either – Samsung sure knows how to make a good capacitive unit.

Samsung I9000 Galaxy S (left), LG Optimus Black P970 (middle) and Samsung I9100 Galaxy S II (right) screens side-by-side

We are pleased to report that the green tint that was a common complaint on the original Galaxy S is gone in its successor. Now colors still aren’t perfectly accurate, but are more than good enough for most practical purposes.

Another criticism against the first Super AMOLED screens was color saturation. There didn’t seem to be a general consensus on that matter – some loved it while others thought it was too much. Well, Samsung obviously paid attention and did the best that could be done in the situation – they gave users a choice.

The Samsung I9100 Galaxy S II has a new screen setting called Background Effect. It lets you adjust saturation with three available modes: dynamic, standard and movie in descending order of color intensity.

The final key asset of the Super AMOLED Plus display is its power efficiency. Being able to turn individual pixels off, those screens don’t need all the backlighting all the time and thus consume less energy, especially when darker themes are used.

All in all, Super AMOLED Plus screens and mobile phones are really meant for each other. It’s a perfect match that reveals all the strengths (unrivaled image quality, perfect viewing angles, energy efficiency and great sunlight legibility), without suffering the traditional OLED weaknesses (higher production costs for larger units and shorter life).

We really can’t see any other screen on the market that could come close to the brilliance of the Galaxy S II unit, save for Samsung’s own Infuse 4G, which packs an even larger (4.5”) Super AMOLED Plus screen.

This post is sponsored by:
Dr Mobiles Limited
1 Huron Street, Takapuna, North Shore 0622
Tel: (09) 551-5344 and Mob: (021) 264-0000
Web - Map - Email - Posterous - Twitter - Blogger - Flickr
Please note that Dr Mobiles Limited is the only professional phone repair laboratory who DOES NOT charge inspection fee for looking at your damage phone. It is simply if we can fix your damage phone or not. No point of adding burden to our clients!
Besides that, we are able to repair your Apple iPhone 4, 3G, 3GS while you wait at our laboratory! Just call (09) 551-5344 for booking.

Google Android Smartphone ReView 2011: Motorola Atrix 4G (www.drmobiles.co.nz) "Android phone repair"

It was the alliance with Android that put Motorola out of the woods. Like every partnership, it’s been a series of peaks and dips but every now and then the relationship between Motorola and Android goes beyond a mere marriage of convenience and well into a simmering love affair.

They did it with the MILESTONEs and the DROID X, the BACKFLIP and the DEFY. With the ATRIX 4G, Moto says it has no plans to live in the shadows of other big makers.

Motorola ATRIX 4G official photos

The Motorola ATRIX 4G is the first dual-core smartphone in the Motorola line-up. It’s also the first to flaunt a qHD touchscreen. That’s as solid as credentials get. Add the fact it’s the first handset for Motorola to support the fast HSDPA+ network (hence the 4G moniker) and you’ve got yourself a Droid that’s not afraid of what comes next.

Dual core is certainly the next big thing in mobile phones and the Motorola ATRIX deserves credit for being among the first – our bad really, this review isn’t exactly on time.

But there are other bold decisions that Motorola had to make. The HD and laptop docks for one – though the concept is not exactly original, Motorola is trying to make it mainstream. The added fingerprint scanner is not new either but well forgotten old does just as well. Plus, it will satisfy the privacy freak in all of us.

Anyway, the standard package is what we’re interested in and this is what our review will focus on. The optional extras can wait. The ATRIX is more important to us a phone (a dual-core smartphone, to be precise) than a wannabe laptop or a potential entertainment dock. Let’s waste no more time and take a glimpse of the ATRIX 4G’s key features.

Key features

• Quad-band GSM and dual-band 3G with HSDPA and HSUPA
• 4" 16M-color capacitive touchscreen of qHD (960 x 540 pixels) resolution, scratch-resistant Gorilla glass
• Dual-core 1GHz ARM Cortex-A9 proccessor, ULP GeForce GPU, Tegra 2 chipset; 1GB of RAM
• Android OS v2.2; MOTOBLUR UI (update to Gingerbread planned)
• Web browser with Adobe Flash 10.1 support
• 5 MP autofocus camera with dual-LED flash; face detection, geotagging
• 720p video recording @ 30fps (to be upgraded to 1080p Full-HD )
• Wi-Fi ab/g/n; Wi-Fi hotspot functionality; DLNA
• GPS with A-GPS; Digital compass
• Fingerprint scanner that doubles as a power key
• 16GB storage; expandable via a microSD slot
• Accelerometer and proximity sensor
• Standard 3.5 mm audio jack
• microUSB port (charging) and stereo Bluetooth v2.1 with A2DP
• standard microHDMI port
• Smart and voice dialing
• Office document editor
• Active noise cancellation with a dedicated secondary mic
• DivX/XviD video support
• Lapdock and HD Dock versatility
• Web browser with Adobe Flash 10.2 support

Main disadvantages

• Not the latest Android version
• No FM radio
• Screen image is pixelated upon closer inspection
• Questionable placement of the Power/Lock button
• Poor pinch zoom implementation in the gallery
• No dedicated shutter key
• Doesn’t operate without a SIM card inside

The ATRIX 4G is certainly the most powerful phone Motorola has made so far. With a 1GHz dual-core processor, 1GB worth of RAM and the ultra low power GeForce GPU under its hood, the ATRIX 4G is set to win the hearts and minds of power users.

Motorola ATRIX 4G live photos

Garnish all this premium hardware with a 5MP camera with dual LED flash and a 4-inch capacitive touchscreen of qHD resolution of 540x960 pixels, and the ATRIX 4G is more than ready to play with the other dual-core kids.

The Motorola ATRIX 4G retail package

Let’s start with a peek at what the ATRIX 4G has in the way of standard accessories. Along with the handset itself, you will find the two-piece charger-data cable.

Motorola ATRIX 4G accessories

A great addition to the otherwise routine accessory pack is the HDMI cable, which should save users some cash. Unfortunately, there is no microSD card, nor stereo headphones. Needless to say, the other big accessories – the HD multimedia dock, the laptop dock and the standard dock – are all sold separately.

Motorola ATRIX 4G 360-degree spin

Measuring 117.8 x 63.5 x 11 mm, the Motorola ATRIX 4G is quite compact for a 4” handset. It feels very comfortable to hold in hand and the big 4” screen doesn’t preclude single-hand operation.

Display test

The front of the handset is mainly occupied by the massive 4.0” qHD display with a resolution of 560 x 940 pixels. The capacitive touchscreen has great response with crisp and vibrant colors indoors.

Unfortunately, despite the higher resolution, the ATRIX 4G renders the Android graphics (icons, text and such) rather pixelated when looking up close.

Of course, that's an exxaggerrated view but believe us you can tell the difference. The HTC Desire S screen definitely looks smoother even though it's got a lower pixel density than the Atrix.

The Motorola ATRIX 4G display compared to other phones

Judging from our display test, the brightness of the screen is one of the best we’ve seen. Contrast levels are okay for an LCD, but not as good as a Super AMOLED. You can find more information on your display test here.

Display test	50% brightness			100% brightness
	Black, cd/m2	White, cd/m2	Contrast ratio	Black, cd/m2	White, cd/m2	Contrast ratio
Sony Ericsson XPERIA Arc	0.03	34	1078	0.33	394	1207
HTC Incredible S	0.18	162	908	0.31	275	880
iPhone 4	0.14	189	1341	0.39	483	1242
Motorola Atrix 4G	0.48	314	652	0.60	598	991
Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo	0.05	68	1324	0.10	134	1295
Samsung Galaxy Ace	0.23	160	701	0.34	234	683
LG Optimus 2X	0.23	228	982	0.35	347	1001

This post is sponsored by:
Dr Mobiles Limited
1 Huron Street, Takapuna, North Shore 0622
Tel: (09) 551-5344 and Mob: (021) 264-0000
Web - Map - Email - Posterous - Twitter - Blogger - Flickr
Please note that Dr Mobiles Limited is the only professional phone repair laboratory who DOES NOT charge inspection fee for looking at your damage phone. It is simply if we can fix your damage phone or not. No point of adding burden to our clients!
Besides that, we are able to repair your Apple iPhone 4, 3G, 3GS while you wait at our laboratory! Just call (09) 551-5344 for booking.

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It's June again, time for Apple to make headlines. The WWDC is over and the iOS 5 and the iCloud are now official. It won't be before the fall though that the iOS 5 will officially launch.

However, Apple has given us a taste of the iOS 5 by releasing a developer preview soon after the announcement. We went on to update an iPhone 4 with the beta release and we are ready to share our first impressions.

But before we continue, let's take a look at the most important features to premiere on the iOS 5.

Apple iOS 5 new features:

• Notifications - real time on-screen notifications, lockscreen notifications and pull-down Notification Center
• iMessage service in the Messaging app enabling instant messages to other iOS users
• Reminders - including location-aware options
• Customizable notification sounds - email, voicemail and calendar alerts
• Twitter integration
• iCloud service integration
• Enhanced Camera app - viewfinder grid, hardware shutter key
• Integrated photo editing - crop, auto enhance, rotate and red-eye fix
• Updated Safari - tabbed browsing (on iPad), private browsing mode, integrated Reader, Reading list and optimized performance
• Dictionary lookup throughout the interface
• Computer free operation - independent activation, OTA updates, iCloud backup and restore
• Wi-Fi synchronization with iTunes with automatic operation
• New features in the Mail app - Bold, Italic, Underline and Quote options, extended Search, mass Mark as Read/Unread and Flag setting, Add/Delete mailbox folders
• Updated Calendar and Game Center apps
• Newsstand app combining all of your magazine subscriptions
• iPod player now called Music, has new icon
• Separate Video app for iPhone
• AppStore purchase history (already available for iOS 4 too)
• New Storage management options (list and info of all installed apps)
• Multi-tasking gestures for iPad
• AirPlay mirroring for iPad
• New accessibility options involving the LED flash and custom vibrations

Typically, there's still plenty of stuff missing and some of the things will probably never make it to the iOS. Here is a list of the things we continue to miss:

Still missing:

• No Flash support in the web browser
• No quick toggles for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and 3G
• No Facebook integration
• No proper widgets for the lockscreen
• App folders still are limited to 12 apps tops
• No DivX/XviD video support out of the box (though there're lots of players in the App Store)
• No USB Mass storage mode for uploading content to the device
• No haptics for the touchscreen
• No Bluetooth file transfers to other phones
• Contacts lack a swipe-to-delete or mass delete feature

Well, the list is notably shorter than last year's. It's debatable though whether Apple listened to the users or just filled their time with low-priority features that have been on the list for quite some time. Either way, some of the new stuff is quite good so let's waste no more time on introductions. Follow us on the next page where we start to explore the iOS 5 at close range.

This post is sponsored by:
Dr Mobiles Limited
1 Huron Street, Takapuna, North Shore 0622
Tel: (09) 551-5344 and Mob: (021) 264-0000
Web - Map - Email - Posterous - Twitter - Blogger - Flickr
Please note that Dr Mobiles Limited is the only professional phone repair laboratory who DOES NOT charge inspection fee for looking at your damage phone. It is simply if we can fix your damage phone or not. No point of adding burden to our clients!
Besides that, we are able to repair your Apple iPhone 4, 3G, 3GS while you wait at our laboratory! Just call (09) 551-5344 for booking.

2011 Smartphone review: HTC Sensation, Google Android mobile phone (gadget, news, update, "Dr Mobiles Limited")

HTC burst right onto the dual-core scene with a phone that's set to be an Android sensation. They've gone all out with the design of that one - from screen, through camera to the powerful chipset. No cutting corners, no compromise on features.

HTC Sensation official photos

HTC has a flair for big names but Sensation sure is something else. The name simply sticks. We're talking a monster 4.3" S-LCD screen with qHD resolution (540 x 960). If the bump in resolution doesn’t mean much to you, picture this – the Sansation’s 4.3-inch screen has the same pixel density as a much smaller 3.7" screen with regular WVGA resolution.

The 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon chipset with the new Adreno 220 graphics bodes no good for rivals. But hey, that's the news we've been waiting for. A battle is brewing and dual-core domination is the prize.

Before we let the excitement of benchmarks cloud our minds, let's get the laundry list out of the way. Here's what the HTC Sensation has to offer and what didn’t work all that well.

Key features

• Quad-band GSM and dual-band 3G support
• 14.4 Mbps HSDPA and 5.76 Mbps HSUPA
• 4.3" 16M-color capacitive LCD touchscreen of qHD resolution (540 x 960 pixels); Gorilla glass
• Android OS v2.3 Gingerbread with HTC Sense 3.0
• 1.2 GHz dual Scorpion CPUs, Adreno 220 GPU, Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8260 chipset
• 768 MB RAM and 1 GB storage for apps
• 8 MP autofocus camera with LED flash; face detection and geotagging
• 1080p and 720p video recording @ 30fps
• Wi-Fi b/g/n and DLNA
• GPS with A-GPS
• Stereo FM radio with RDS
• microSD slot up to 32GB (8GB card included)
• Accelerometer, proximity sensor and an auto-brightness sensor
• Front facing camera with video calls
• Standard 3.5 mm audio jack
• microUSB port (charging) and stereo Bluetooth v3.0
• MHL TV-out (requires MHL-to-HDMI adapter)
• Smart dialing, voice dialing
• DivX/XviD video support
• HTC Locations app
• HTCSense.com integration
• HTC Portable Hotspot
• Ultra-fast boot times (if you don’t remove battery)
• Office document editor

Main disadvantages

• Serious "death grip" issue with Wi-Fi radio
• Less than impressed with the screen's outdoor performance
• Performance not quite as convincing as other dual-cores
• No dedicated camera key
• microSD is under the battery cover
• No unibody construction as advertised

You'll notice that "unibody" is not on the feature list - the back cover is certainly interesting but this is by no means a unibody. Let's not let that sully the great impression though - the Sensation is one of the most powerful droids around and it's on the shortlist if you're looking for the ultimate in smartphones.

The 8MP camera with 1080p video recording begs for a camera shootout. And the high-res S-LCD unit calls for another display test. So that's a lot of testing we have ahead of us.

The HTC Sensation at ours

But before we get busy, we need to give credit where it's due. HTC have been perfecting their interface designs for years and the latest Sense UI 3.0 is laced with equal amounts of useful features and eye candy.

Retail package: nothing out of the usual

The HTC Sensation comes in a ordinary looking box and there's nothing surprising about its contents. A compact charger connects to the provided microUSB cable to fill the battery. There's also a nice single-piece headset with music controls.

The HTC Sensation retail package

The only real perk in the package is the 8GB microSD card, which comes inserted in the phone.

There's no MHL dongle in the package - you'll have to buy one yourself if you want to enjoy streaming HD video. Other MHL-enabled devices don't come with MHL dongles either, so this didn’t surprise us much.

Design and construction

It's hard to deny that HTC make some attractive looking handsets and the Sensation is good enough proof. It just isn't a prime example. We can understand their need to freshen up the design and set the new flagship aside. But the end result is questionable - and not what we'd call unibody.

It's curves on the back, curves on the front, curves all around - from the metal plate on the back that extends to wrap around the edges of the phone - to the screen, yep the screen.

The Sensation comes with a 4.3” Gorilla glass protected S-LCD screen. It seems concave because the edges of the screen curve upwards but most of the surface of the display is perfectly flat.

We've seen some very good S-LCD units from HTC and while the one on the Sensation is okay, it has its issues. Viewing angles are less than perfect - contrast is quickly lost when you tilt the phone and colors get slightly off.

Also, blacks are not as deep as AMOLED screens go but brightness and color rendering are good.

The S-LCD screen is not the best from HTC • Side by side with the competition

Sunlight legibility is acceptable - though obviously failed by the reflective screen coating.

And here come the results of our now traditional display brightness and contrast test. Deep blacks are not the Sensation's strength and while the brightness levels are OK, the contrast ratios aren’t terribly impressive.

Display test	50% brightness			100% brightness
	Black, cd/m2	White, cd/m2	Contrast ratio	Black, cd/m2	White, cd/m2	Contrast ratio
LG Optimus Black P970	0.27	332	1228	0.65	749	1161
LG Optimus 2X	0.23	228	982	0.35	347	1001
Sony Ericsson XPERIA Arc	0.03	34	1078	0.33	394	1207
Samsung I9000 Galaxy S	0	263	∞	0	395	∞
Samsung I9100 Galaxy S II	0	231	∞	0	362	∞
HTC Incredible S	0.18	162	908	0.31	275	880
Apple iPhone 4	0.14	189	1341	0.39	483	1242
HTC Sensation	0.21	173	809	0.61	438	720
Motorola Atrix 4G	0.48	314	652	0.60	598	991

You can learn more about the test here.

Above the screen, we have the proximity and ambient light sensors to the left of the earpiece and the VGA video call camera on the right. Under the earpiece grill hides a small status LED (on the right).

There’s a video-call camera right next to the earpiece this time

Underneath the screen, we find four capacitive keys. The haptic enabled controls are well spaced and very responsive. The keys (Home, Menu, back and search) have extra functionality upon a long-press (task switcher, virtual keyboard, voice search).

There are four capacitive touch keys below the display • Note the curve of the display

The left side of the Sensation is occupied by the microUSB port and the volume rocker. The volume rocker is quite thin but comfortable enough to use. The microUSB port is left uncovered and it also serves as a charger port.

It's a MHL port and not strictly speaking a microUSB port - though it looks and works like one. Plug in a MHL dongle however and the MHL port transforms into HDMI out.

On the right, there's nothing - you weren’t hoping for a shutter key, were you?

The volume rocker and the microUSB port on the left side • The completely bare right side

At the top we find the 3.5mm audio jack (left uncovered) and the Power/Lock key, which is easy enough to press when you want but secure against accidental taps.

As usual, at the bottom of the phone, you will see the mouthpiece. There's also a small latch that lets you pop the phone out of its back cover. That's right, the phone comes out of the back cover, not the other way around.

3.5mm audio jack and a power/screen lock key on top • The microphone pinhole on bottom

The back of the Sensation features the 8MP camera and the dual-LED flash right next to it. The area around the camera protrudes slightly and the camera lens is set quite deep, giving it very good protection against scratches and fingerprints.

The protruding frame around the lens also helps to keep the loudspeaker from getting muffled when you place the phone on a level surface. It's not entirely successful but the sound is still pretty clear.

The camera lens is flanked by the LED flash and the loudspeaker grill

The back plate consists of three parts – a metal piece in the middle and two parts of soft rubbery plastic either side. Each has different finish - looks like patched together and might not be to everyone's taste.

Unfortunately, the back cover houses the antennas for the HTC Sensation - remove the cover and the phone loses all Wi-Fi signal. It's unusually susceptible too to the so-called "death grip" as our tests confirmed.

Actually, you don’t even need a grip to attenuate the antennas - place the phone flat on the palm of your hand and the phone loses a few notches of Wi-Fi signal. In fact, touching the area around the camera and loudspeaker can reduce the Wi-Fi signal to zero.

The cell network antenna also has death grip issues - they're not as bad but your hands around the bottom of the device will cause the signal to weaken. It's nothing to worry about if the signal is strong enough, but in areas of typically poor reception it can make the difference between having and dropping the call.

Beneath the back cover is the microSD card slot (easily how-swappable once you open the phone) and the SIM card compartment, which is blocked by the battery.

The battery is a 1520mAh Li-Ion unit with a little over 14 days of standby (in 2G, over 16 days in 3G) and over 8 hours of talk time (in 2G, nearly 7 hours in 3G).

Once the back cover comes off, we can access the microSD and SIM card slots and the battery

The HTC Sensation is a solidly built phone - we didn’t get a unibody, but there's a good amount of metal on the phone. We also liked the Gorilla glass that curves at the edges.

The Sensation is a bit thick and heavy compared to other phones with similarly sized screens, but we do like phones that have some heft to them.

HTC fans will love the Sensation, though others might find it a bit hard to tell apart from its HTC siblings.

The HTC Sensation felt nice in our hands

This post is sponsored by:
Dr Mobiles Limited
1 Huron Street, Takapuna, North Shore 0622
Tel: (09) 551-5344 and Mob: (021) 264-0000
Web - Map - Email - Posterous - Twitter - Blogger - Flickr
Please note that Dr Mobiles Limited is the only professional phone repair laboratory who DOES NOT charge inspection fee for looking at your damage phone. It is simply if we can fix your damage phone or not. No point of adding burden to our clients!
Besides that, we are able to repair your Apple iPhone 4, 3G, 3GS while you wait at our laboratory! Just call (09) 551-5344 for booking.

Geohot Releases Limera1n to Jailbreak iOS 4.1 iPhone 4, 3GS, iPad, iPod Touch 4G

George Hotz has just released an untethered jailbreak Limera1n to jailbreak iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G on iOS 4.1, iPod touch on iOS 4.1 and iPad on iOS 3.2.2 on iOS 4.1. Notably, Limera1n iOS 4.1 Jailbreak is a not a one click app similar to blackra1n Tool.

From the official site:

limera1n, 6 months in the making
iPhone 3GS, iPod Touch 3G, iPad, iPhone 4, iPod Touch 4G
4.0-4.1 and beyond+++
limera1n is unpatchable
untethered thanks to jailbreakme star comex
released today to get chronicdev to do the right thing
brought to you by geohot
Mac and Linux coming soon
follow the instructions in the box, sadly limera1n isn’t one click
that’s the price of unpatchability
as usual, donations appreciated but not required
still in beta, pardon my ragged edges
zero pictures of my face

It took around six months for Geohot to develop Limera1n tool which is unpatchable. Currently, limera1n is available for Windows. Mac and Linux version will be coming soon! For all future jailbreak and unlock software releases, please follow us on Twitter or become a Facebook fan.

This post is sponsored by:
Dr Mobiles Limited
1 Huron Street, Takapuna, North Shore 0622
Tel: (09) 551-5344 and Mob: (021) 264-0000
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