Pocketables

Verizon Samsung Galaxy Nexus review

Every time Google releases a Nexus device, it is a pretty big deal. And rightly so, because the Nexus is presented as the defining standard for Android software and hardware for at least the next year. As such, Samsung's new Galaxy Nexus is a significant device for Google, Android, and the mobile market in general.

This latest iteration of the Nexus line has received a more major redesign than the last version, quite a bump in specifications, and a completely revamped version of Android. There's a lot going on, and a lot of questions about these changes.

Does the impressive on paper hardware really stack up in daily use? More importantly, though, has Google finally solved problems with both fragmentation and usability with Android 4.0? Read on past the break to find out.

Samsung Galaxy S II review

With the Galaxy Note fresh off the assembly line and rumors of the Galaxy S III breathing down everyone's necks, the Samsung Galaxy S II doesn't show up in the spotlight as often as it used to. Still, it's one of the top Android phones out there, and is far from outdated. With it getting cheaper and cheaper and putting up camp in the mid-range price segment it's gaining a lot of new users, and yours truly is one of them. Read on for a review of the Samsung Galaxy S II (international version). 

Noreve Tradition C leather case for Samsung Galaxy S II review

I recently bought a Samsung Galaxy S II to replace my 2.5 year old iPhone 3GS. I've been a heavy user of always-on cases for a long time, but with the S II, I want the ability to dock it at home and not deal with the added bulk except when I actually need protection. The natural choice then is a pouch style case, which you'll normally find in either leather or imitation leather. Noreve is a brand that's practically synonymous with leather cases in my head, so not long after I had made that decision I had a brand new Tradition C leather case in my hands, provided by Noreve for review. Read on to see if it's any good. 

Motorola Droid Bionic review

The Motorola Droid Bionic we see today is nothing a completely different beast from the one that wowed the audience at CES an entire year ago. It took a major redesign, months of delays, and much rumoring and anticipating, but despite some major bumps along the way, the Motorola Droid Bionic is finally here.

It might not be at the top of the spec pile like it once was, but inclusion of 4G LTE puts it in a class with the HTC Thunderbolt, Samsung Droid Charge, and Samsung Galaxy Nexus. So, after all this time, can the reborn Motorola Droid Bionic manage to put up a good fight, or has time made all the difference with this smartphone? Read on past the break to find out.

Amazon Kindle Fire review

This fall, Amazon surprised everyone with the release of the Kindle Fire. There had been a couple clues beforehand, but still no one expected the product Amazon announced. The Fire is an Android tablet, yes, but it is also something more. It is a specially optimized tool for accessing Amazon's numerous cloud services, and it just happens to run Android as well.

It was a bold move, and while so far reception has been good, it is still early in the game. Can the Kindle Fire's combination of Android apps as well as Amazon integration, along with a dirt cheap $199 price point live up to the hype? Read on to find out.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus review

When Android 3.0 Honeycomb first came out, it was an OS made only for large tablets. This resulted in devices such as the HTC Flyer shipping with the phone version of Android, and it wasn't until this fall that Android 3.2 came along with support for smaller screens. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus is among the first 7-inch tablets to benefit from this, and it's also the true successor to the original Galaxy Tab, with the same screen size and resolution as the original. With updated hardware that puts not only the original Tab but also the more recent 10.1 and 8.9 Tabs to shame, the 7.0 Plus is proof that the 7-inchers are back. Read on for the review. 

Video review: Quadrant benchmark scores on Galaxy S II, Skyrocket, and Droid Razr

 

I've been receiving quite a bit of emails asking which phone gets higher Quadrant benchmark scores, the Samsung Galaxy S II, Galaxy S II Skyrocket, or Motorola Droid Razr.

Quadrant isn't the only way to measure how fast a phone is, but if you're into the numbers game, then check out which phone got the best score in the video above.

Video review: White Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket

 

When the Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket was announced last month, the white version was nowhere to be seen.

But that changes today, as AT&T is now officially selling the new phone all dressed in white. Check it out in the video overview above.

Video review: Motorola Droid RAZR

 

If you've been thinking about picking up the Motorola Droid RAZR, here's a quick overview video that might help you decide.

The RAZR is a very capable phone, as it is snappy performing general tasks and multitasking. It comes with a 1.2GHz dual-core processor and 1GB RAM to zip through thing like opening your favorite apps. You will also be able to capture 1080p HD video using the 8MP rear camera, as well as capture your favorite still shots.

Noreve iPhone 4/4S Tradition leather case review

I'm not the biggest collector of cases for my devices. Sure, I've got a Patagonia Daily Grind (in French Roast) that houses the Incase Neoprene Sleeve (black) in which my MacBook Pro lives while we're traveling together, and a bumper for my iPhone 4 and a simple little Belkin case for my iPhone 4S, but I've never really been a fan of "designer" cases that try (and fail) to make the devices that fit in them look better. 

Of course, I can be swayed if I find a company that makes some seriously awesome stuff. And that's what happened when Noreve, a French company that specializes in hand-making high-quality leather cases, reached out to me to review its iPhone 4/4S Tradition leather case. Click through the break to find out what I thought of this little leather beauty.