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The HTC ONE and the Samsung Galaxy S4 can easily eclipse any of your other options when it comes to purchasing a smartphone this year, but don’t you all remember the pair of handsets that were the mobile products of the Consumer Electronics Show earlier this year? Yes, we are talking about the ones from Sony, the Xperia Z and the Xperia ZL, and these devices are still nothing to scoff at in light of the recent announcements from Samsung and HTC.

Although in most markets, you may only be able to choose one or the other between Sony’s latest flagship smartphones, these are still a device that many of you might consider when you go to purchase your device for the coming year. The Xperia Z and Xperia ZL are definitely premium products, even though you might not hear as much about them now that the One and the S4 are making the rounds through the tech media circuit. On to a refresher course on why the Xperia still deserves your attention and consideration when making your purchase.


The Hardware of this device is delightful, when speaking of the Xperia Z. The device features a very sleek design, industrial; it is not curves, but edges, that give this Sony devices a grand appeal. The device screams quality and style in the hand, as the lack of a taper and the premium slabs of glass that make-up the outer body of the phone give it a much different and more robust feeling. The gadget is the epitome of Sony craftsmanship and quality, and from the time your fingers touch it, you know that the thing is built right, it’s solid. It is very reminiscent of, dare I say, the first experience with touching the iPhone 4  a couple of years ago.

The phone is also waterproof as well as dust-proof, and carry the IP55, and IP57 ratings. That alone gives it something that the competition does not have. You could even text in the rain or snow, while those with the Galaxy S4 are seeking a storefront to huddle under while checking their messages. It can even stay underwater for 30 minutes time, others that fall of the boat this summer won’t be so prepared.

Oh yes, the Xperia phones also have expandable storage. With all of the photos and videos that some us are taking, the built-in storage space of the device can shrink very very quickly, and you might find yourself having to clear out some space or upload to the cloud in a hurry while on vacation with one of the other flagships of the year. On the other hand, the phone only comes in the 16GB storage option, and you will not be able to store apps on the microSD card unless the phone is rooted.

Like the other flagships this year, the Xperia Z also comes with a gorgeous 1080p fullHD display. The colors are vivid, with saturation levels that have been describes as close to Super AMOLED display quality. The Sony Mobile Bravia Engine 2 is to thank for that. It will also help with the saturation levels in your photos and videos taken with the device. If color saturation is something that does not float your boat, that can be disabled for more real-life colors.

Although the screen color levels are very versatile, the same cannot be said for the viewing angles. Colors appear washed-out when you veer even slightly away from looking at the display dead-on.
One of the first things that were touted during CES when this device was announced, were the features and versatility of it’s camera. The 13.1-megapixel has been described as one of the best among Android smartphones, and the feature set out-of-the-box, is said to be one of the best as well. Camera-test photos, alongside the iPhone 5 have proven that Sony’s set-up is tit-for-tat with the Apple flagship, which is commonly called the “best” smartphone camera.

Sony’s UI is not nearly as over-done as it’s competitors. Sony stays along the lines of stock Android with it’s home scree, app drawer, recent apps, and settings menu. This is perhaps even more upsetting than an all-out proprietary UI, since it is more along the lines of a skin over the best-looking interface ever (Jelly Bean), that you cannot change.

This is a great release from Sony, and it is very disappointing that more people won’t even give it a chance, simply because the Galaxy S4 exists. Even more saddening, is the fact that the United States might not even get to see the Xperia Z, and if we do it will only be on one carrier or so. I urge all of you that have the chance to take a look at this phone to at least pick it up and give it a once-over. Even compare it to the Galaxy S4 if you are in a position to do so. I believe that seeing this device in real-life, gives a much deeper appreciation for the phone than seeing it in pictures. Have any of you been able to get the Xperia Z or if you have even had any hands-on time with it; we would like to hear what you think about the device in the comments section below.

Source : [seetechno.com]

The Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD and Barnes & Noble Nook HD are all proof that decent budget tablets do exist. But these tablets are all loss-leaders, designed to encourage content sales or boost Android platform popularity; the GoClever is not. Unlike the Fire and Nook, though, it does offer access to Google Play.

Mainly plastic in construction, the rear panel has a faux metallic silver finish that gives a fleeting impression of quality. It’s by no means a thin device, but the edges taper off and make it feel thinner than it is. The screen bezel is also larger than those of premium tablets, but our main concern with the GoClever’s build is the amount of flex in its plastic sides, and the loose plastic construction of the volume switch and on/off button.

The GoClever has some great connectivity options, including micro USB, mini HDMI and a microSD slot. The latter lets you boost the 16GB storage with a further 32GB. There are front- and back-facing 2Mp cameras; both capture video. A single 1W speaker is found on the rear, situated exactly where you’d typically place your hand, so any movie watching or music listening will likely make use of the 3.5mm headphone jack.....Read More from seetechno.com

Many applications are available to Android devices that make shopping a breeze. Learn how Google Shopper, Amazon, and Barcode Scanner can change how you shop for the better. Your Android device is a powerful android shopping tool. Learn about a number of popular apps that can be used while you’re out and about to identify, save, share and research products on the spot and ensure that you’re getting a good deal on a quality product by performing price comparisons, reading reviews, saving products of interest, and sharing them with others.

Use these tips and app recommendations to make your shopping experience enjoyable, easy, safe and secure.

1. Browsing the shopping category of the Android Market
App stores, like the Android Market, generally have an entire category devoted to shopping applications. This category is broad, and includes applications for ordering products as well as grocery list managers, apps to help find the nearest coffee shop, business directories, coupon apps, and more.

A good place to begin is with the applications developed by your favourite online retailers. Web shopping giants like Amazon and eBay, as well as numerous big box stores, have apps available for the Android platform. Many of these apps allow you to browse prices without logging in to your account, as well as purchase items and access account features like wish lists once you’ve logged in.

2. Using shopping utilities
Shopping utilities are helpful applications that can be used to scan products to compare prices, find reviews, research the product or purchase it. For example, you might scan products you already own and like to buy again or keep a wish list of items you want. Although too numerous to list, we’ll focus on a few particularly useful shopping utilities freely available on Android:

Google Goggles lets you take a picture and search the web based upon the image. You can use it to identify objects like art or product logos, as well as translate text. Whether you’re shopping for cars or groceries, Google Goggles is a great app for research.
If you’re coupon crazy, apps like Groupon, Valpak and The Coupon App can help.
If you’re a Craigslist junkie, you’ll find numerous apps and widgets to help you find cheap stuff.
Finally, there are numerous apps for purchasing downloadable content, eBooks, movie and theatre tickets, flowers for your mother, and anything else you can think of!

3. Shopping with Google Shopper
Have you ever been in a store and wondered if the price you’re seeing is reasonable or not? Next time, try the Google Shopper app. Choose image search and point the device camera at either the product (book cover, etc) or the product bar code and scan it. With luck, the product will be recognised and you’ll be presented with a list of retailers selling that item. If the item isn’t recognised, try a text search instead. These options may include online and local merchants....Read More This Articles