Review: Nvidia GeForce GTX Titan

The fastest single GPU card outClever power and heat management system6GB of GDDR5Very expensiveSome older dual-GPU cards have it beat

The Cray Titan awoke at the end of October last year, benchmarking at 17.59 petaflops it's the fastest of the current generation of supercomputers.

Why would you care about a supercomputer when we're meant to be talking about a big graphics card? Well, Nvidia supplied 18,688 Tesla K20 cards to pack out the Titan and in exchange has nabbed the name to stick on its gaming-focused versions with the same GPU.

There was always the feeling that the GK104 GPU at the heart of the GTX 680 wasn't the fastest implementation of Nvidia's Kepler architecture way back when I first got hold of our test unit back in March of last year. That was confirmed a few months later when we saw those Tesla K20 professional graphics card, home to the full-fat Kepler core, the GK110.

The instant that card was confirmed though we were all here taking bets on how long it was going to take before Nvidia took the plunge and dropped the GK110 into a proper gaming desktop card.

None of us thought we would have to wait this long, however, to a time in the year when we were half expecting a new generation of graphics cards to hit.

Sadly it looks like the great graphics powers-that-be have decided we don't need a new generation right now. AMD has announced it's sticking with the current range of HD 7000 cards right through 2013, and we're only likely to see a new lineup right at the end of the year. And with the launch of Nvidia's GTX Titan I would bet that the next line of GTX 700 series cards, based on the upcoming Maxwell architecture, aren't going to be tipping up until the late-summer at the earliest.

Whatever happens with the next generation of graphics cards though it's going to be incredibly difficult for any new GPU to be able to best the power available to the GK110 silicon.

And as such this is probably going to be the fastest single-GPU card we'll see until Nvidia itself decides to pull the top chip out of the next-gen Tesla cards and offer it up to the desktop gaming crowd. Well, unless AMD does something completely unprecedented with Sea Islands.

So, for the foreseeable this is the fastest single-GPU card around. And that's exactly what Nvidia was after as Tom Petersen, Nvidia's Director of Technical Marketing, told me a few weeks before launch: "this is without doubt the biggest, baddest, fastest graphics card we've ever built.

The key thing about it is that it does crush all other single-GPU cards we've ever built and it crushes all other single GPUs anyone's ever built."

That assertion about its single-GPU credentials is really the key to the GTX Titan. That's because it's not actually the fastest graphics card anyone's ever built, in fact both the EVGA GTX 690 and Club3D HD 7990 we're putting it up against are faster cards out of the blocks.

But is overall straight-line performance the be-all-and-end-all? Nvidia would say no, AMD would say absolutely yes.

Who's right? Well, as Obi Wan would say, you will find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view…

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Hands-on review: MWC 2013: Nokia 105

A glance up at the picture above and with the word "Lumia" missing from this device's name you may think we've travelled back in time, but oh no the Nokia 105 is very much part of the here and now.

While smartphones having been ruling in the roost in places such as Europe and the States, feature phones still play massive part in the mobile phone ecosystem in developing countries where demand for low cost, basic handsets is high.

The 105 takes over from the Nokia 1280 as the entry point into Nokia's mobile world, and it's got some pretty big boots to fill as the 1280 managed to shift 100 million units in three years.

There is a twist though. Nokia isn't just targeting the emerging markets this time round, it plans to bring the 105 to Europe as a companion phone which can offer rugged, cheap functionality and standout battery life.

When we say cheap, we mean it as the Nokia 105 will set you back €15 (which is around £13) and will be available in some European countries by the end of March, although it hasn't been confirmed for the UK just yet.

Unsurprisingly the Nokia 105 is completely plastic and its chunky frame reinforces the fact that this handset is incredibly basic in the functionality department.

It's very light meaning that its bulbous shape isn't taxing on the wrist and the dust- and splash-proof keypad is a handy touch, especially if you're considering the 105 as a festival phone.

While colour displays are nothing new, the 105 is Nokia's first entry-level feature phone to sport one, although we'll warn you now it's about the size of a postage stamp at 1.45-inches.

The Nokia 105 may not carry the Lumia name, but there are hints of the smartphone range's design when you inspect its body with rounded corners and simplistic finish.

Available in black and the rather more psychedelic cyan - which has become synonymous in the Lumia range - Nokia hopes the brightly coloured 105 will stand out among the sea of black slabs currently on the market.

In terms of features there's not much to write home about, with the Nokia 105 sporting early 2000 classics such as FM radio, built in flashlight and a talking clock.

There's no camera, app store or social network integration, but what you do get is a phone which will make calls, handle text messages and even boasts a headphone jack if you fancy listening to some tunes.

Operation is a little on the slow side as the weedy feature phone processor takes several seconds to work through some tasks - you won't be winning any speed tests here.

An 800mAh battery may not sound particularly special, but Nokia reckons it will provide you with up to 35 days standby, and it should easily see you through a two week period of relatively intensive usage without needing a top up.

The Nokia 105 is a funny proposition for the European market as people won't be buying it as their main device and possibly not even as their second handset.

It's very much a back up, emergency phone which is capable of taking some knocks and deliver a battery life which can last you a month, but it won't be able to offer the experience we've come to expect from our mobile phones today.

A feature phone still makes a lot of sense in the developing world, but in markets such as Europe expectations are very different and the Nokia 105 seems destined to spend the majority of its life in the kitchen draw.

More hands-on pictures...

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Hands-on review: MWC 2013: LG Optimus G Pro

There's a new king at the top of the mobile tree over at the Korean firm as the LG Optimus G Pro struts its stuff at MWC 2013.

Taking over from the LG Optimus G, the Optimus G Pro was officially announced back in January but this is the first chance we've had to get hands on with the new flagship device.

LG says the Optimus G Pro will be available in global markets, although it's bad news for anyone living in the UK as the Korean firm has already confirmed it won't be heading that way.

The LG Optimus G Pro comes equipped with an excellent 5.5-inch full HD IPS display which delivers an eye popping 400ppi, meaning everything looks stunning.

This puts the Optimus G Pro firmly in competition with the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, Huawei Ascend Mate and ZTE Grand Memo in the ever evolving phablet war.

That screen is backed up by a beefy 1.7GHz quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM which sees Android Jelly Bean zip along at a rate of knots making for a pleasing and efficient user experience.

Thanks to that 5.5-inch display the Optimus G Pro is a pretty large device measuring 150.2 x 76.1 x 9.4 mm and weighing in at 160g.

LG has taken steps to make it more manageable for one handed use with a slender bezel running down each side of the display helping you wrap your fingers round the device.

Something which detracts from the Optimus G Pro from a design perspective is the use of plastic, as we're seeing premium handsets such as the iPhone 5, HTC One and Sony Xperia Z sporting classier materials these days.

The gloss finish of the plastic also means that the Optimus G Pro is a pretty slippery customer in the hand offering up very little in the way of grip and we would be concerned about dropping this behemoth.

It's also tricky to hit the power/lock key on the right and the volume rocker and quick key buttons on the left side of the G Pro when holding it in one hand, and we found ourselves employing both mitts when it came to adjusting the volume or unlocking.

The responsive touchscreen meant we were able to merrily skip through homescreens and app list without issue and applications opened up almost immediately on the Optimus G Pro.

LG has added a few touches as part of its Android overlay including quick settings toggles in the notification bar allowing you to easily control Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and NFC.

QSlide also makes an appearance on the LG Optimus G Pro, allowing you to have multiple applications open at the same time on the expansive 5.5-inch display, which is prefect it you need to read a document while replying to an email, or need make a quick calculation in the middle of a text message.

Video playback on the Optimus G Pro is very impressive and HD movies look excellent on the large screen which also boasts decent viewing angles allowing your friends to huddle round and watch the action.

Battery fans will be pleased to hear that the LG Optimus G Pro comes with a removable 3,140mAh juice pack, which will be in high demand thanks to the HD screen and 4G network capabilities.

The Optimus G Pro is also blessed in the camera department boasting a 13MP lens and single LED flash on its rear, while round the front you get a 2.1MP camera for video calls and self portraits.

As with the rest of the handset, shutter speed is rapid and there's a decent range of modes and settings in the camera app to keep budding photographers busy.

Google Chrome and the stock Android browser both make an appearance on the Optimus G Pro, offering up a slick, fast and visually impressive web experience which you can take on the road thanks to the LTE compatibility.

The Optimus G Pro is an impressive handset offering up super slick Android Jelly Bean and a top notch range of features.

It gives the likes of the Galaxy Note 2 and Xperia Z some serious food for thought and it could go on to be a pretty decent success as LG looks to turn its ship around off the back of a successful Nexus 4 period.

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Hands-on review: Nikon D7100

When the Nikon D7000 was announced it had the highest pixel count of any Nikon APS-C (DX) format DSLR, but by the company's own standards a 16.2MP device looks quite dated now. So it's no surprise that the new Nikon D7100 has a 24.1MP CMOS sensor.

However, this isn't the same sensor as we have seen in the Nikon D5200 or the Nikon D3200 - in fact it's a completely new device that has been built to Nikon's specification. But the surprise twist in this little tale is that there's no low-pass (AKA anti-aliasing) filter over the sensor, so it should be capable of recording sharper detail than a comparable sensor with a filter.

Unlike the Nikon D800, which is available in two varieties - the D800 and D800E, with the only difference between the two being that the D800E doesn't have a low-pass filter - there is only one version of the Nikon D7100.

Most DSLR manufacturers use an anti-aliasing filter to reduce the risk of moiré patterning, which can occur when photographing subjects with regular fine detail that is close to the resolving limit of the sensor.

According to Nikon, the pixel density of an APS-C format sensor with 24.1-million effective pixels is such that the risk of moiré patterning is much reduced in comparison with that of lower pixel-count cameras. Consequently, the company feels that the benefits of omitting the filter outweigh the detriment, and it anticipates very few occasions where moiré patterning may be seen. This appears to be borne-out by the lack of moiré patterning seen in images from the D800E.

The other big news for the Nikon D7100 is that has a higher build quality than the Nikon D7000, with weather sealing that enables it to be used in a wider range of situations than the older camera.

According to Jeremy Gilbert, Nikon UK's group marketing manager, the D7100 is built to the same standard as the Nikon D300s, although it doesn't replace either the Nikon D300s or the Nikon D7000.

In another improvement over the Nikon D7000, the Nikon D7100 has the Multi-Cam 3500DX AF module with 51 AF points, the central 15 of them being cross-type. This should help improve both speed and accuracy of the AF system.

Sport and wildlife enthusiasts will also be pleased to learn that the Nikon D7100 is the fifth DSLR in Nikon's lineup to feature an AF system that is sensitive down to f/8. This means that the system will still function when telephoto and teleconverter combinations result in an effective maximum aperture as small as f/8.

In an unusual move, Nikon has given the D7100 a 1.3x crop mode. When this is selected the imaging area is almost completely covered by the 51 AF points, and the maximum continuous shooting rate is boosted from a respectable 6fps to 7fps.

This crop mode can be used in still or video mode, and it enables you to shoot Full HD movies at 50i or 60i for smoother recording of action or slow-motion playback. When shooting videos in DX format, the frame rate is limited to a more common 30, 25 or 24p.

Some of the Nikon D7100's other features are a little more predictable. The metering, for example, is handled by the same 2,016 pixel sensor as the Nikon D7000, and image processing is courtesy of the Expeed 3 engine that we have seen in Nikon's more recent DSLRs.

Unsurprisingly, the native sensitivity range is ISO 100-6400, but it can be expanded to ISO 25,600 if required.

When the Nikon D7100 goes on sale in March, its price will be £1,099.99 (around US$1,682/AU$1,635) body only, or £1,299.99 (around US$1,988/AU$1,932) with an 18-105mm kit lens.

Although it has a more durable construction, at just 675g (23.8oz) the Nikon D7100 is a little lighter than the Nikon D7000, which weighs 690g (24.3oz). It also feels more solid, and textured coatings on the front and rear grips make it comfortable and secure in the hand.

Nikon has added a lock button to the mode dial, and while this prevents accidental exposure mode changes, it may take existing Nikon D7000 users a little while to get used to it.

Another change in comparison with the Nikon D7000 (but like the Nikon D600) is that the Live View switch is near the bottom of the back of the camera and there are two settings; one for stills and the other for video Live View mode. Pressing the Lv button at the centre of the switch activates the Live View feed.

This change to the button layout means that the video activation button has had to be relocated and, as with Nikon's other recent DSLRs, it is near the shutter release button.

Nikon has also introduced a new 'I' button at the bottom-left of the back of the D7100, and pressing this gives you quick access to some key features such as the 1.3x Crop mode, Picture Control mode and HDR mode. It's a useful addition that complements the healthy collection of direct controls.

On the subject of the screen, this has been boosted to 3.2 inches and has 1,229,000 dots. We were only able to use a pre-production sample of the camera indoors, but the screen seems a good performer and it doesn't suffer excessively from reflections when used near a bright window.

That high dot count also means that there's plenty of detail visible, which is especially useful when focusing manually in Live View mode.

Naturally we will look into it more closely when we get a full production sample in for testing for our full review, but our first impressions are that the Nikon D7100's contrast detection system is a little quicker and more decisive than we have found with cameras such as the Nikon D5200.

Despite the changes mentioned above, we think that most Nikon D7000 users will quickly find themselves at home with the Nikon D7100. The menu layout will also be familiar territory for existing Nikon DSLR users, and is logical.

So far we have only been able to use a pre-production sample of the Nikon D7100, and while the early signs are good, we will have to wait for a full-production model before we can comment on the quality of the images it produces.

Because it doesn't have an anti-aliasing filter, it will be particularly interesting to see how much detail the Nikon D7100 can resolve. We will also scrutinise the darker mid-tones and shadows of high sensitivity images and check for signs of banding like those exhibited in some shots from the Nikon D5200.

Nikon has created a small yet solid camera that has plenty to offer the photography enthusiast. The weather sealing is a particularly nice touch that enables you to carry on shooting when others have to pack up and head home.

Given the Nikon D7100's high pixel count, the decision to include a 1.3x crop and omit the anti-aliasing filter seems sensible.

The former will enable tighter framing of the subject (although this can be achieved by cropping) and a faster continuous shooting rate, while the latter should ensure sharper details straight from the camera and less time spent with post-capture sharpening.

Although Nikon has given the D7100 a pretty extensive feature set, it would've been nice if the company had pushed things a bit further and perhaps included Wi-Fi connectivity to enable remote control via a smartphone or tablet. At £649.99 (around US$993/AU$967), the WR-1 wireless remote introduced at the same is far too expensive for most users.

It would also have been good to have seen a touch-sensitive screen - preferably articulated like the Nikon D5200's - that is designed to complement rather than replace the physical controls.

On balance, however, we think the D7100 will find favour with the Nikon faithful, and it should win the manufacturer a few new fans.

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Hands-on review: MWC 2013: LG Optimus L5 2

The LG Optimus L5 2 is another new addition to the Korean's firm entry-level smartphone range, and sits just above the Optimus L3 2.

Replacing the original Optimus L5 which launched at MWC last year, the Optimus L5 II looks to build on the L-Style brand with updated software and bumped up features.

LG says the Optimus L5 2 will be available on a global scale sometime during the second quarter of this year, with the UK already confirmed to receive the handset.

The Optimus L5 2 is expected to retail for around £120 (around $180/AU$175) which will probably equate to £10 - £15 per month on contract.

A number of improvements have been made on the Optimus L5 2 over its predecessor, with the 4-inch screen now sporting a HVGA 480x800 IPS display (up from WVGA) with a pixel density of 233ppi.

The battery has also been given a boost to 1,700mAh, which LG reckons should last you two full days before requiring another charge.

The L-series of handsets is LG's budget offering and therefore plastic is very much the material of choice on the Optimus L5 2, but the metallic looking rim which runs round the edge of the handset does make it look more premium than it actually is.

The lightweight design is sturdy and at 117.5 x 62.2 x 9.2 mm the Optimus L5 II is easy to hold, while the buttons below the screen and on either side of the handset are well positioned for finger manipulation.

Android Jelly Bean is the operating system of choice on the Optimus L5 2 and LG has applied a basic overlay adding features such as quick settings in the notification bar, but leaving a lot of the Android settings as they are.

Slightly disappointingly the Optimus L5 2 rocks the same processor, RAM and internal storage as the smaller, cheaper Optimus L3 2, with a 1GHz single-core chip, 512MB of RAM and 4G of memory at your disposal.

Although considering the low cost of this handset those specifications aren't particularly poor.

Jelly Bean runs well on the Optimus L5 2 and although it might not be winning any speed races, we didn't experience lag issues.

There's a handy button on the left side of the handset above the volume rocker which you can programme to launch an app of your choosing, plus it can also be set as the shutter button in the camera app.

This quick button will come in useful if you find yourself using one particular app on a regular basis and we can easily see this become a Facebook or Twitter launcher for a lot of people.

The 4-inch display is pretty good with reasonable definition, although we found it could be a little on the dark side - especially when watching videos.

We didn't have any trouble with responsiveness however, with the Optimus L5 2 responding merrily to all our various pokes and prods.

Apps generally loaded up in good time, but more demanding applications such as Google Maps did take a few extra seconds to gather images and nail down our location.

The 5MP camera on the back of the LG Optimus L5 2 is accompanied by a single LED flash to aid you in low light, but there's no front facing camera here.

LG's new "Chesse Shutter" is present on the Optimus L5 II, which lets you snap a picture via a voice command, but the shutter does take a second or two to sort itself out.

Image quality is more than acceptable for a handset at the bottom end of the market, although the VGA video recording option is probably best avoided.

The on screen keyboard is a relatively decent affair, with the larger 4-inch display of the Optimus L5 2 making it easier to type on than the Optimus L3 2.

The LG Optimus L5 II is another promising, affordable smartphone from the Korean firm which is looking to strengthen its position at the low-end of the market.

It's a stylish and well equipped proposition and we look forward to getting the Optimus L5 2 in for a full, in-depth review.

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Shazam celebrates 300 million users with new tablet apps

There's something satisfying about pressing that giant 'Shazam' button the music-tagging app that tells you what you're listening to so you don't have to Google the lyrics, has surpassed 300 million users worldwide, the company announced today.
That's no small feat - according to a report from Strategy Analytics, there are a little more than 1 billion smartphone users as of October 2012.
Any app used by almost a third of smartphone users can probably be considered a success.
To celebrate, Shazam announced plans to release redesigned apps for iPads and Android tablets "in the coming weeks."
We still use Shazam mainly to find out the names of whatever annoying new songs are playing on the radio and in bars, but the company announced that the new Shazam tablet apps will make social and mapping features more prominent.
Users of the new Shazam apps will be able to view activity streams to find out what songs and TV shows are being tagged most often and see what people are tagging in any city in the world.
Shazam CEO Andrew Fisher called it "the most efficient way to experience more of the media around you" in a press release.
The app will include a newly redesigned home screen that emphasizes social features, an interactive map that shows tags around the world, improved friend features, faster tagging, automatic re-submission if your initial tag attempts fail due to poor reception, and better integration with other social networks for easier sharing via Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and Gmail.
Shazam also announced that users of the free version of the app will get some nice bonuses soon as well: faster tagging and lyrics display for tagged songs.
The press release also mentioned that the iOS Shazam app is universal, so it seems as if the incoming iPad update will work on iPhones and iPods as well.
No word on whether the same applies to Android devices, but TechRadar asked Shazam to find out and we'll update this story when we hear more.

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Hands-on review: MWC 2013: LG Optimus L3 2

The LG Optimus L3 2 picks up where its predecessor left off, sliding in at the bottom of the Korean firm's smartphone family.
It's a dinky little handset which will appear in various global markets has already been confirmed for the UK where it will retail for around £50-£60 (around $75-$90/AU$73-AU$88).
The Optimus L3 2 release date is pegged for the middle of the second quarter of this year, so we'd expect it to start hitting stores towards the end of April/beginning of May.

We were rather disappointed by the original Optimus L3 which launched at MWC last year, but LG has worked on the device to bring it up to speed.
It still sports the same small compact design cantered round a 3.2-inch display, and the curved edges means it snugly sits in the hand.

The chassis is noticeably plastic but we weren't expecting brushed aluminium at this price point and the Optimus L3 II does feel sturdy enough.
You do get the choice of three colours, black, white and silver, each of which have a slightly different finish on the rear of the L3 2, with the black sporting a glossy look, while white offers you a textured pattern.

We preferred the white version as it provided more grip, but as the Optimus L3 2 is so small you can easily wrap your mitt around it and hold it tight.
The ancient Android Gingerbread operating system has been replaced by the much newer Android Jelly Bean platform, with the Optimus L3 2 running version 4.1.2 out of the box.

LG has added its IPS technology to the 3.2-inch display, but it's very low res and there's no getting away from the fact that you can clearly see the pixels on the 240 x 320 screen.
A light overlay has been put on the Jelly Bean OS but it's relatively inoffensive and adds handy features such as quick settings in the notifications drop down.

The processor has been given a boost over the 800MHz chip found in the original, with the Optimus L3 II benefiting from a 1GHz single-core deal, which coupled with 512MB of RAM and Jelly Bean makes for a pretty good user experience for a low end device.
Where the original was chronically laggy, the Optimus L3 2 runs Jelly Bean efficiently and while it may not have the zip of more powerful devices, we didn't find ourselves getting frustrated.

LG has popped its Quick Memo app onto the Optimus L3 2 which lets you to draw on top of whatever screen you're currently viewing - allowing you to quickly jot down a phone number or draw a picture.
It's a nice feature to have on an entry level device, but the small screen on the handset means drawing with your figure isn't particularly easy, or accurate and we found ourselves generally making a bit of a mess.

The physical home button below the screen is surrounded by an LED light which you can set to flash different colours for various notifications which ping up on your phone.
This feature appears in the whole L-Series II range and it's a handy one to have, as a glance at the phone will tell you if you've got an email, text message or Facebook comment.

Thanks to the 102.6 x 61.1 x 11.9 mm body the home button plus back and menu touch keys either side of it are easy to hit without having to awkwardly shuffle the Optimus L3 2 in your hand.
There's only 4GB of internal storage in the Optimus L3 2, but the addition of a microSD slot means you don't need to be economic with the media you put on the handset, but with its small low res screen you probably won't be sticking movies on it.

You get a 3MP round the back of the Optimus L3 II which is really the minimum we expect from smartphones these days.
There isn't a flash though so you'll want to avoid snapping in low lighting, and there's also no front facing camera so video calling is also out of the question.
Image quality is, as you'd expect, pretty average with the low resolution display not helping the situation, but the camera is at least good enough for the odd picture here and there.

Shutter speed isn't particularly quick, with the Optimus L3 2 taking a couple of seconds to go through the picture taking motions, but there is LG's funky "Chesse Shutter" to hand which lets you take a picture by speaking to the handset.
Say "Cheese", "Smile" or "Whiskey" for example and the Optimus L3 2 will happily snap a photo for you - particularly handy if you're trying to take a picture of yourself. It worked surprisingly well on the noisy show floor.

The keyboard on the LG Optimus L3 2 is a decent offering but is hampered by the size of the screen which means the keys are cramped and it's difficult to tap out a sentence without making a mistake.
Web browsing is also a slow affair as the single core processor struggles to load pages in a decent time, with desktop sites be a big effort for the Optimus L3 II.
The handset does come with the stock Android browser and Chrome pre-installed which at least gives you a couple of pretty decent surfing options, just don't expect to be flying around the world wide web.
The LG Optimus L3 2 seems to be a well equipped smartphone for its bargain basement price and could well prove to be a popular choice for parents looking for a first handset for their little ones.
Obviously the screen, processor and camera are hardly stellar features, but at this price point that can be forgiven as the L3 2 manages to offer up a solid user experience.

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Hands-on review: MWC 2013: Nokia Lumia 720

As well as the budget Nokia 520, Nokia also announced the Lumia 720 at MWC 2013.
The new handsets join Nokia's increasingly broad Lumia range, slotting in around the Lumia 620, 820 and 920 for Windows Phone 8.

The 4.3-inch 720 retains the familiar unibody casing and it's available in five different colours - we've opted to photograph the rather striking mustard yellow. Do you like it? We actually do.
If you've used a Lumia before, the new model will seem unremarkable, but it is a lot lighter than the high-end Lumias at just 128g.

The phone will make its debut in Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore soon - the Nokia Lumia 720 UK release date is likely to be in the Spring. It seems the US release date will be further out.

Performance of the handset is snappy - there's a 1Ghz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor inside - but the screen doesn't innvovate - it's 800 x 480 just like the 820's 4.3-inch display. It 217ppi though, and it has a high enough resolution to make some third-party live tiles look a little substandard.
However, all the standard OS and Nokia Here add-on apps look the part, and you won't be disappointed with how things look.



The camera is, again, a selling point for Nokia; Carl Zeiss optics are used as usual, although it's only a 6.7MP snapper. Pictures did look vibrant though, but some images were a bit blurry under the MWC show lights.
Video is 720p at 30fps, while the front camera has a resolution of 1280 x 960.

We've always liked how the Lumias look and feel in the hand, but some of the handsets have been a little too big for our liking. 4.3-inches is a good size

On the top of the handset there's a 3.5mm headphone jack and you can see the camera lens and flash here too.

On the side are the standard three Lumia buttons - volume, screen on/off and the camera control. This picture makes the handset look a lot thicker than it actually is - it's 9mm.

Towards the bottom of the back is a speaker as well as three tiny holes for a Wireless Charging cover, which fits on the back of the device..


The Lumia 720 doesn't have the high end features we've come to expect from the more expensive Lumias but it does have a decent spec sheet for something that's bound to be available on next-to-nothing contracts. Nokia wants to spread the Lumia's appeal - and that of Windows Phone 8 - and sees this and the low end 520 as crucial to its hopes.

See more mobile phones Add comment 'Hands on reviews' are a journalist's first impressions of a piece of kit based on spending some time with it. It may be just a few moments, or a few hours. The important thing is we have been able to play with it ourselves and can give you some sense of what it's like to use, even if it's only an embryonic view. For more information, see TechRadar's Reviews Guarantee.

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Hands-on review: MWC 2013: LG Optimus G Pro

There's a new king at the top of the mobile tree over at the Korean firm as the LG Optimus G Pro struts its stuff at MWC 2013.
Taking over from the LG Optimus G, the Optimus G Pro was officially announced back in January but this is the first chance we've had to get hands on with the new flagship device.
LG says the Optimus G Pro will be available in global markets, although it's bad news for anyone living in the UK as the Korean firm has already confirmed it won't be heading that way.

The LG Optimus G Pro comes equipped with an excellent 5.5-inch full HD IPS display which delivers an eye popping 400ppi, meaning everything looks stunning.
This puts the Optimus G Pro firmly in competition with the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, Huawei Ascend Mate and ZTE Grand Memo in the ever evolving phablet war.
That screen is backed up by a beefy 1.7GHz quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM which sees Android Jelly Bean zip along at a rate of knots making for a pleasing and efficient user experience.

Thanks to that 5.5-inch display the Optimus G Pro is a pretty large device measuring 150.2 x 76.1 x 9.4 mm and weighing in at 160g.
LG has taken steps to make it more manageable for one handed use with a slender bezel running down each side of the display helping you wrap your fingers round the device.

Something which detracts from the Optimus G Pro from a design perspective is the use of plastic, as we're seeing premium handsets such as the iPhone 5, HTC One and Sony Xperia Z sporting classier materials these days.
The gloss finish of the plastic also means that the Optimus G Pro is a pretty slippery customer in the hand offering up very little in the way of grip and we would be concerned about dropping this behemoth.
It's also tricky to hit the power/lock key on the right and the volume rocker and quick key buttons on the left side of the G Pro when holding it in one hand, and we found ourselves employing both mitts when it came to adjusting the volume or unlocking.

The responsive touchscreen meant we were able to merrily skip through homescreens and app list without issue and applications opened up almost immediately on the Optimus G Pro.
LG has added a few touches as part of its Android overlay including quick settings toggles in the notification bar allowing you to easily control Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and NFC.

QSlide also makes an appearance on the LG Optimus G Pro, allowing you to have multiple applications open at the same time on the expansive 5.5-inch display, which is prefect it you need to read a document while replying to an email, or need make a quick calculation in the middle of a text message.
Video playback on the Optimus G Pro is very impressive and HD movies look excellent on the large screen which also boasts decent viewing angles allowing your friends to huddle round and watch the action.

Battery fans will be pleased to hear that the LG Optimus G Pro comes with a removable 3,140mAh juice pack, which will be in high demand thanks to the HD screen and 4G network capabilities.
The Optimus G Pro is also blessed in the camera department boasting a 13MP lens and single LED flash on its rear, while round the front you get a 2.1MP camera for video calls and self portraits.

As with the rest of the handset, shutter speed is rapid and there's a decent range of modes and settings in the camera app to keep budding photographers busy.
Google Chrome and the stock Android browser both make an appearance on the Optimus G Pro, offering up a slick, fast and visually impressive web experience which you can take on the road thanks to the LTE compatibility.

The Optimus G Pro is an impressive handset offering up super slick Android Jelly Bean and a top notch range of features.
It gives the likes of the Galaxy Note 2 and Xperia Z some serious food for thought and it could go on to be a pretty decent success as LG looks to turn its ship around off the back of a successful Nexus 4 period.

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Qualcomm and doubleTwist bond over Android media streaming

The doubleTwist music player for Android
As much as you might love using an Android phone, there are a few things which as still easier with Apples. Media streaming is a prime example, thanks to Apple's AirPlay protocol.
This could change, if a new project partnership between chip-maker Qualcomm and music player doubleTwist bears fruit. Together they have created MagicPlay, a new open-standard streaming protocol which they are hoping OEMs will incorporate into the next generation of Android smartphones and tablets.
The MagicPlay technology is actually based on an older Qualcomm wireless concept called AllJoyn, which connects compatible (read: Qualcomm) chips creating peer-to-peer networks over short distances.
Wireless connectivity is something doubleTwist knows a thing or two about, having created th successful AirTwist wireless media syncing tool to complement the standard doubleTwist media player for Android phones. AirTwist connects with a client installed on PCs and updates the media library on your phone, so that you always have the most up-to-date music to listen to.
From here, Qualcomm will begin the uphill battle selling MagicPlay to the manufacturers and trying to convince them to use MagicPlay in their media apps rather than the older (and clunkier) DLNA protocol and the new (and considerably more streamlined) Miracast.
Either way, it's a win for consumers. After years of wishing the latest droid could dock and stream like the iPhone, we may finially see something resembling a standard that all the manufacturers can embrace; both in phones and in their home theatres and TVs, too.
Via CNET

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Review: Razer Deathstalker Ultimate

Good integrated touchscreenGenuinely useful functionsStylish designGood build qualitySome minor bugs remain with touchpadChiclet keys not to all tastesA bit priceyBy Dave James from PCFormat Issue 276  February 20th 2013
You wait all year for a super-expensive gaming keyboard with touchscreen controls and then two turn up at once. Following hot on the crazy-priced heels of the Mad Catz STRIKE 7 comes this ultra stylish, ultra techie riposte from peripherals guru Razer.
Like the STRIKE 7 it comes with a touchscreen interface, but aside from that and the £250 price tag, they are almost entirely different takes on the gaming keyboard.
Whereas the Mad Catz look is all rounded-off angles, Meccano-like configurability and stealth-fighter chic, the DeathStalker Ultimate is a matte black slab of stylish gaming goodness. The chopped-off corners stop it being a plain rectangle, but the flat frame and low-profile chiclet keys give it a rather more subtle look than the Mad Catz board.
That said, you've still got the multi-coloured LED backlight shining through the keys, and your eye will always be drawn to the touchscreen trackpad that sits where the numpad ought to live.
That trackpad almost manages to justify the DeathStalker Ultimate's enormous price. The STRIKE 7 had potential (if developers managed to get something interesting out of its resistive touchscreen, which they still haven't), but the Razer has impressive functionality right out of the box. My Windows installation recognised it as a trackpad even before I installed the Synapse 2.0 software from Razer.
Once the Synapse application is in there, things get even better. There are already various interesting little tools for the 4-inch screen, including YouTube, Twitter and Facebook apps, and a Gmail client. These all load on the touchscreen itself like smartphone apps.
For gamers with a single panel, this extra screen is fantastically useful. You can keep tabs on the social world and watch videos of Colonel Meow without having to leave your game. There's even a rudimentary web browser that stays separate from your Windows session.
You also have stopwatch and clock functions, but my favourite is the screenshot button. In screenshot mode you can press a button to capture an image, view ones you've already shot, and upload them to Facebook - all without exiting a gaming session. These dynamic keys can be configured separately too, allowing you to add icons and program functions yourself.
It's by no means perfect though, which is a shame given the price. In certain USB ports the screen and buttons had visible artefacts in them, and my PC would occasionally boot without the touchscreen active. But for the most part the DeathStalker works well, and its extras are genuinely useful.
I'm still not a fan of membrane-switch keyboards, but the chiclets are very responsive, if loosely built.
There's no way I can really talk about the DeathStalker Ultimate in terms of value for money, but it's a thing of beauty, and if you can spend this sort of cash on a very functional peripheral then this is the top-end keyboard of choice.

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Hands-on review: MWC 2013: Huawei Ascend P2

Last year Huawei gave us the world's slimmest and the world's most powerful smartphones in the form of the Ascend P1 S and Ascend D Quad, and now the Huawei Ascend P2 has stolen the "world's fastest smartphone" crown.
In short, Huawei loves a good record breaker (which means it will absolutely love TechRadar), probably due to the fact it generates additional hype around its smartphone launches.
The Chinese firm is firmly setting its sights on the mid range and high end mobile market, as it tries to shake off the budget tag it's developed for itself over recent years.

It all started at CES 2013 when the Ascend D2 and the huge Ascend Mate took centre stage, and the Ascend P2 now slides in below these two to fill the mid-range void in the line up.
The natural successor to the Ascend P1, the Ascend P2's release date is set for the second quarter of this year and it will cost €399 (around £345/$525/AU$510).

For the money you'll get a 4.7-inch 1280 x 720 display with 315 ppi, 1.5GHz quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, 13MP rear camera, 1.3MP front camera, Android Jelly Bean (version 4.1), 4G, NFC and a 2,420mAh battery.
Huawei has managed to cram all that tech into a relatively slender frame with the Ascend P2 measuring 136 x 67 x 8.4mm, and weighing a comfortable 122g.

The handset sits nicely in the hand, with the flat back and curved edges of the handset allowing you to grasp it properly, although the all-plastic finish does detract a little from the smart, minimalist design.
It feels solid enough, with the strength enhanced by the sealed chassis - meaning there's no access to the battery inside the handset.

This means you're left with a microSIM slot on the right hand side of the Ascend P2 which is covered by a simple-to-remove plastic flap, just below the easily reached power/lock key.
The Gorilla glass which covers the front of the Ascend P2 extends over the top and bottom of the device, which apparently gives a similar effect to an infinity pool - at least that's according to Huawei's Head of Device, Richard Yu.

However you want to describe the Ascend P2, you'd probably say it's a tasteful design which is clean and professional and it looks like a handset you might actually want to own.
There's no full HD resolution on the 4.7-inch screen because Huawei believes there's no point having anything more than 720p on displays less than 5 inches in size as the human eye can't distinguish the difference.

Not everyone is singing from Huawei's hymn sheet, though, as the HTC One sports the same size display as the Ascend P2 and a full HD screen.
The screen on the Ascend P2 is very good though - it's bright, colourful and well defined, making the heavily customised Android Jelly Bean operating system look good.

In a similar fashion to Nokia and the Lumia 920, Huawei has equipped the Ascend P2 with what it's calling Magic Touch, allowing you to use the handset whilst wearing gloves - an insanely useful feature we wish more smartphone manufacturers would implement.
Huawei has gone to town a little with its Emotion UI overlay, as it looks to give the Ascend P2 a different look and feel to the rest of the Android handsets on the market.

For example, it has completely removed the app draw from the P2 leaving you with just the homescreens to manage your apps from.
At first we found this pretty confusing, as we kept wanting to press the app list key at the bottom of the screen, only to find it wasn't there. However, after a short while we became accustomed to the fact we were stuck with just the homescreens.

Another unique feature is the ability to group a series of different sized widgets together into one larger widget, to provide a personalised homescreen experience and one that reminds us a little of the variably sized Live Tiles on Windows Phone 8.
The default icon design on the Emition UI does come across slightly childish, but the Ascend P2 has over 100 different themes for you to choose from, which changes the icons, wallpaper, widgets and colour scheme.

This means you can make the phone look quite a bit smarter without too much effort, but the pared down options may put off the Android purists.
You can easily manage your apps by dragging one on top of another to create a folder, and you'll find a variety of handy quick settings in the notification bar if you drag down from the top of the screen.

Moving around Android and jumping in and out of apps is generally pretty good, but the Huawei Ascend P2 lacks the zip of the Samsung Galaxy S3 and HTC One.
It's not a huge issue and it's certainly not so slow as to infuriate the user, but some applications did take two or three seconds to load up - the camera being one.

The Ascend P2 sports a dedicated camera key towards the bottom of its right side, which gives you the option to easily load up the app so you can quickly snap a picture.
Although the app may take a little time to load, the shutter button is far more responsive and we were able to snap pictures in quick succession without any hint of slow down.

Picture quality from the rear facing 13MP camera was very good, helped in part by the presence of autofocus and tap-to-focus, which meant we could avoid blurry messes most of the time.
During the launch event for the Ascend P2, Huawei claimed it had equipped the handset with a Super Resolution 2x digital zoom which would put an end to poor picture quality.
In practice this didn't quite seem to be the case, with some pixelation occurring as we zoomed in, but it wasn't as much as we're used to seeing on smartphones.

If you like to play around with your photos, there are a variety of camera effects and filters available in the app, along with modes such a panorama, HDR and low light. There's also a front facing 1.3MP camera, which is perfect for video calls or the odd vanity check.
Huawei is making a big song and dance about the Ascend P2's internet capabilities - they're the reason the manufacturer has dubbed P2 "the world's fastest smartphone".

The Ascend P2 is the first smartphone to come equipped with CAT 4 LTE, meaning you're able to access even faster 4G speeds - apparently maxing out at 150Mbps.
This is faster than the iPhone 5 and Galaxy S3 LTE, which both house the CAT 3 version of the technology.
Sadly we weren't able to put the Ascend P2 properly though its paces as the only internet connection available to us was a rather mediocre 3G network.

In terms of web browser you're provided with the perfectly functional Android default, although our surfing experience was distinctly average thanks to that 3G connection - look out for our full Huawei Ascend P2 review for the proper run down of how well the world's fastest smartphone fares on the web.
Web pages do look great though, thanks to the 720p display, and the automatic text-reflow made reading out favourite TechRadar articles a breeze.
We watched the HD trailer for Rango on the phone and we're pleased to report that the movie looked fantastic on the Ascend P2 and we would happily watch a full length flick on this device.

Thanks to the quad-core processor and 1GB of RAM, the Ascend P2 has enough grunt to run even the most taxing of games and Riptide ran smoothly during our play - though we felt the graphics weren't quite as good as handsets running Tegra 3 processors.
Huawei has also tweaked the onscreen keyboard and thankfully it's still a pretty decent offering with well spaced buttons and adequate auto correct and next word prediction making tapping out a message pretty easy.
The Huawei Ascend P2 is a solid mid- to high-end smartphone with some decent features and a pleasing array of specs.
It doesn't quite have the build quality of the iPhone 5 or HTC One, nor does it have the same snappiness as the excellent Galaxy S3, and the Emotion UI may not be every Android fan's cup of tea.
That said, it will give the likes of the HTC One S, BlackBerry Z10 and Nokia Lumia 820 a right old run for their money, and we look forward to putting the Ascend P2 through its paces in our in-depth review.

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Review: Cooler Master Seidon 120M

Good performanceRemoves need for low-profile RAMPricePeak-to-idle time not very fastBy Dave James from PCFormat Issue 276  February 22nd 2013
There once was a time when the idea of water-cooling was seen as about as outlandish as the way we currently look at people jamming liquid nitrogen into their systems for overclocking challenges. Water-cooling also used to be rather tricksy and damned expensive to boot, but not so any more.
Adding to the glut of closed-loop liquid CPU coolers is Cooler Master's latest series, the Seidon. This Seidon 120M version is the single-fan setup using one 120mm fan with a radiator of the same size, much like the pricier Thermaltake Water 2.0 Performer.
At less than £50 this water cooler is piling into serious air-cooling territory, and with the impressive thermal performance of even these budget liquid chillers it's getting harder and harder to recommend active air-coolers.
There's another string to the Seidon 120M's bow and that's its small footprint in your PC. A £50 air-cooler is likely to have a hefty heatsink setup even before you start adding in the primary or secondary fans, and if you're not sporting some low-profile RAM, things can get tricky. With the Seidon's tiny waterblock there's no such worry, and the radiator is only around double the depth of the 120mm fan you've likely already got exhausting hot air out of the back.
It also means the Seidon 120M is perfect for the burgeoning small-form factor performance PC market. With the rise in quality mini-ITX boards and chassis you also need coolers that aren't going to take up half the case. So, in practical terms, Cooler Master's Seidon 120M is a winner in the price and footprint stakes, but how does it actually perform when it comes to keeping your hot chips chilled?
The answer is: rather impressively for a small radiator cooler. Our test rig uses Corsair's excellent H100; a water-cooler with a 240mm radiator and a pair of 120mm fans keeping it cool. Cooler Master's smaller Seidon 120M does a great job of keeping pace with the beefier H100.
Stock cooling performance
Full CPU load: Degrees centigrade: Lower is better
CM SEIDON 120M: 58
CORSAIR H100: 60
Stock cooling performance
Peak to idle: Seconds: Quicker is better
CM SEIDON 120M: 177
CORSAIR H100: 41
Overclocked performance
Full CPU load: Degrees centigrade: Lower is better
CM SEIDON 120M: 88
CORSAIR H100: 87
With the larger area Corsair's H100 is a more effective cooler, but that doubled radiator only manages to chill things by an extra couple of degrees at best. In fact, at stock CPU speeds, Cooler Master's latest manages to stay a little cooler under load.
Though it has to be said our test H100 has taken a fair bit of punishment over the years. When we ran our 3770K at 4.6GHz the larger liquid cooler showed a bit of an edge at the high end, but still the Seidon 120M ably kept the Corsair cooler in its sights.
Where the larger radiator of the H100 comes into its own is in the time it takes to get the chip from its peak temperature back down to the idle temperatures. At stock speeds the H100 does this in over 40 seconds while the Seidon takes under three minutes whether the chip is at stock speeds or overclocked.
The higher performance of the cooler with the larger radiator was expected, and we also expect the Seidon 240M to be incoming very soon. But for less than £50 the performance of the smaller 120M is impressive and will keep your overclocked chips running happily.

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HTC ONE X

The The brand new htc One X provides the very best cpu, an High definition display along with a sublimely slim body as the Taiwanese company appears to replicate the results of the original Desire.

The One X is really a mobile phone that's got us captivated for some time – using a quad core Processor (Nvidia's Tegra 3) as well as one of the biggest displays on any HTC… and that's without having to be given a massive name like the Titan.

It's obvious from the beginning what HTC is attempting to do with the One X: get rid of the bit of a doom and gloom surrounding the brand's drop in revenue, and bring out a smooth, powerful and, even more important, useable handset that only costs £36 per month (about $57) on a two year deal.

With Ice Cream Sandwich running from the outset, this is the phone that really takes HTC to the next level – but is it a case of too much, too soon for a brand that's still really just over a decade old?

HTC's phones have been slowly moving towards sleeker design ever since the purchase of One & Co (which may have had more than a little to do with the new naming strategy) and the release of the HTC Legend.

Since then, unibody designs and smooth lines have been a feature of its devices, and that principle has been evolved with the HTC One X.

However, before you read any further, a note of caution: if you're not willing to accept a pretty large mobile, then you're better off waiting for the likes of the HTC One S – the One X is a large piece of phone estate in your hand.

But it's that large 4.7-inch screen that is such a stunning feature of the One X – it's a 720p HD display packed into a chassis that's only 8.9mm thick. Plus it's also using the Super IPS LCD 2 technology that, while it lacks the vivid colour reproduction of Samsung's Super AMOLED range, really brings games and movies to life.

We're not going to get into the pros and cons of OLED vs LCD – suffice to say, it's a matter of choice whether you prefer improved contrast ratios or a more true to life colour reproduction. In our opinion, both are excellent and the One X will certainly not disappoint.

Like the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, it's got a pixel density (screen sharpness) that rivals the iPhone 4S, but does it on a screen that's over an inch larger. It's one of those devices that you have to see to really believe, but there's a good chance you'll confuse it with a shop model with a static image Sellotaped onto the front.

The rest of the phone design is, again, pretty subjective. For the large size, it's very light indeed at 130g. That's quite a bit heavier than the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S2 (14g, in fact) but in reality you'll consider it to be almost impossible to feel in the pocket.

The rest of the phone is pretty minimal in design. Unlike the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, we're offered some physical (well, touch sensitive) keys on the front of the HTC One X, meaning the display won't need to jump up and down to show the contextual versions.

There's an expected volume rocker switch on the right-hand side, a power button on the top (accompanied by a 3.5mm headphone jack) and a microUSB slot on the left-hand side – which also doubles a Mobile High-Definition Link to hook up to a TV.

It's a very sparse offering on a phone that's so expansive in its design, and leads to a very minimalist feel, which will likely appeal to many.

That effect is compounded by the microSIM slot on the back of the phone, which requires an Apple-esque device to open it up – and there's no microSD support to be found here either, with the battery locked into the unibody design.

While the smaller SIM will be a slight annoyance to those upgrading from the full-size version, the lack of a microSD slot will be a big worry for many, especially as HD movies and large games will play very well on a phone like this.

There is 32GB of onboard storage, but that's not going to be enough for the ilk of smartphone user that wouldn't buy an iPhone until capacity was raised to 64GB.

The rear of the phone features the 8MP camera, which protrudes quite a lot from the handset, but thanks to the slightly curved nature of the chassis, doesn't affect the phone too much when resting on a table.

The power button on the top of the phone can be quite hard to hit with the phone resting in the palm if you've not got the largest hands in the world, although the travel is such you'll hit it pretty accurately most of the time, which is something some phones fail to manage.

The size is the main design issue we can see for most people – this sleek-looking, lightweight phone will appeal to both men and women, but those with smaller hands will struggle to use the HTC One X effectively without doubling down on their digits.

Alleged Samsung Galaxy S 3 Leaked out

A Polish tech blog published a scoop. Its writer, Piotr Pesta, had written he acquired a hint from an nameless source who stated he (or she) is evaluating Samsung’s Galaxy S 3 together with a photograph to verify it.

The picture revealed the supposed Samsung smart phone set out on a flat work surface having its icons pixelated, perhaps to cover up the source’s identity. Apart from the picture, the original source did not elaborate about the specifics of the alleged Samsung Galaxy S 3.

Nevertheless, studying the picture verifies some rumours concerning the device. On the list of rumours going around is the fact that Samsung Galaxy S 3 may have up to 5 columns of applications in a single display, reducing the necessity to swipe through pages as often.

As for the physical element, we can easily say the smart phone includes a physical home button, speakers, sensors, along with a front-facing digital camera. Now we simply have to verify information regarding its computer hardware and Operating system. Gossip has it that the Straight talk samsung Galaxy S 3 will feature a 1.5GHz processor, a full High definition display, and Google android 4..

Source: OPDA, via Slashgear

Android RAZR MAXX

At merely 8.99mm (.35-inch), the Android RAZR MAXX by Motorola for Verizon wireless is definitely the longest-lasting mobile phone on the market yet still impossibly slim. Outfitted with the exact same wonderful features as the first Android RAZR, the Android RAZR MAXX comes with a much larger 3300 mAh lithium-ion power supply with as much as 21 hrs of talk-time using one charge. Strengthened with Corning Gorilla Glass and surrounded in laser-cut KEVLAR fiber--the most powerful substance in smartphones--the Android RAZR MAXX continues to be among the thinnest 4G LTE mobile phone handsets around. Android strong. RAZR sharp.