Price now $299 for all models of BlackBerry PlayBook

The company has dropped the price of all three BlackBerry PlayBook models to $299. The 16GB model originally shipped at $499, while the 32GB and 64GB versions initially listed at $599 and $699, respectively.

For those hoping to buy the higher-end models, RIM's new pricing scheme might be quite welcome. On Amazon, the 64GB option is currently retailing for $367.99. However, exactly why RIM would sell all of its models at the same price, thus pushing customers to the higher end of its spectrum and keeping the lower-end models off wish lists, is a head-scratcher.

In the iPhone 4S, for example, Apple pays just $43 more to double capacity over the 32GB model. However, the company sells the device for $100 more than its less-spacious alternative, helping Apple generate more profit per unit. RIM's new pricing scheme eliminates that ability.

MiniStation Plus USB 3.0

Buffalo has launched a new line of portable storage solutions this week in the form of the MiniStation Plus drive. The new Buffalo MiniStation Plus comes in two storage capacities either 500GB or 1TB which is housed in a shock proof chassis.

It is also USB powered so there is no need to carry a power cable, which is always a bonus, and will provide transfer speeds around 5Gbps when used with a USB 3.0 port.

Buffalo’s MiniStation Portable USB Hard Drive offers a compact, sleek, lightweight and portable storage solution. Store, back up and transport digital images, music and other files without taking up space on your PC’s hard drive.

Nokia's first Windows Phone shows promise

The love affair between Microsoft and Nokia that has transpired over the last year has finally born fruit.
The Lumia 800, Nokia's first smartphone that runs Windows Phone 7, is set to hit some retail chains in the U.K. on Wednesday.

Nokia says the Lumia 800 and the Lumia 710, which is the lower-end version, will arrive in other European countries this month and in parts of Asia by the end of the year. They won't come to the United States until early next year, the company says.

BlackBerry Curve 9300 Review

It’s long-established that most people buy BlackBerrys for the services they offer, not for their often-lightweight specs. The success of the entry-level Curve kits is proof positive.

The latest addition to the Curve range marries smooth, rounded edges with a slim 11mm frame, Research in Motion’s trademark QWERTY keyboard, the latest version of BlackBerry Messenger and is 40 per cent faster than its predecessor.

HTC Sensation XL Review

Music tech on mobile phones isn’t always what it might be. As any fule kno, if you want a rich sonic experience, you need a dedicated MP3 player. And you need to invest in some costly, quality earbuds. But maybe that won’t be the case for too much longer.


The Sensation XL features technology pioneered by Beats By Dre – the company helmed by Hip-Hop producer Dr Dre - as well as some free boutique-y uRBeats headphones in the box (usually priced £80). On the smattering of tracks we tried out on the phone’s media player with, we were mightily impressed.

Samsung Galaxy S2 Review

Not too long ago HTC had Android sewn up. Then came the Samsung Galaxy and the Galaxy S, which made Sammy the go-to brand for Google’s OS. Shortly after that came the outstanding S2 and the title of top dog changed hands for good.

Seven months and ten million unit sales later and the S2 is still top of many Fandroids’ wishlists. For proof, look no further than the uSwitch Tech Mobile Tracker, which it’s now topped for six consecutive months – most recently even seeing off the challenge of the iPhone 4S.

You want stellar specs? You got ‘em. The S2’s feature set takes in an eight megapixel camera, Android 2.3 (an update to 4.0 is scheduled for Q2 next year) and a brawny dual core processor. But the jewel in the crown is its glorious 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus screen that set new standards for Android phones.

Samsung Galaxy Nexus Review

The newest Android challenger on the block takes all that was good about the monster-selling Samsung Galaxy S2 (CF: the pin-sharp Super AMOLED screen and slick, curved design that sits comfortably in your hand). And then teams it with everything that was good about the Google branded Nexus phones – namely, the vanilla version of Android unadorned by Samsung’s TouchWiz custom user interface. The result is a handset tour de force.

Choose this and you’ll get the latest Ice Cream Sandwich version of Android before anyone else – complete with the fun Face Unlock feature that harnesses face detection technology for a novel handset lock option, as well as slick multi-tasking and all-new versions of native apps.

How to use the iPhone 4S's new voice recognition software - video

Guardian technology editor Charles Arthur demonstrates Apple's latest voice recognition software, Siri, for the iPhone 4S - which allows him to schedule meetings, send messages and even check the weather

Apple Update Doesn't Solve IPhone Battery Drain

According to 9to5Mac, dozens of iPhone 4S users are complaining they continue to experience poor battery performance despite having downloaded the update and resetting their phones.

"Installed the new IOS 5.0.1 two hours ago," one user wrote. "Five percent battery drain in 45 minutes with Wi-Fi and location services turned on and me not touching the iPhone 4S. The new update doesn't seem to help much."

Smaller SIM Cards to Slim Down Phones

The German smart card maker's nano-SIM will be one-third smaller overall than current micro SIM cards, as well as 15 percent thinner. The reduction in shape may allow phone makers more room for parts like batteries and more powerful processors, or help them slim down devices overall.

The company aims for the nano-SIM to become a universal standard by the end of 2011, which would put it in phones by 2012. Giesecke also will make adapters, so the card can fit into larger-sized SIM slots.

Mage Gauntlet - Best iPhone games this week

Quite the departure from developer Rocketcat Games’ in Iphone previous work, Mage Gauntlet is a charming and funny action-RPG that also serves as a loving tribute to every SNES-era RPG you’ve ever liked. Fast-paced melee combat combined with powerful, limited-use magical abilities make for an engaging combat system that remains fresh throughout, thanks to the game’s near-constant supply of new enemy types to deal with.

HTC Titan is a winning Windows Phone

Ever since Microsoft took the wraps off its next-generation mobile platform, "Windows Phone Series 7," in early 2010, I've been intrigued. Like webOS, Microsoft's operating system offered a fresh take on the smartphone user experience. When handsets finally started shipping ahead of the holidays last year, Windows Phone delivered: It was fresh, unique and a pleasure to use.

Windows Phone was quite clearly rushed. I can't really blame Microsoft for racing its new mobile platform out the door, since Windows Mobile had effectively been dead for quite some time. Android and iOS were crushing the market; Microsoft needed something to lure its vendor partners away from Android. And so Windows Phone 7 was born -- but almost immediately dropped off at the orphanage. Vendors didn't bother promoting the devices, carriers didn't bother, and even Microsoft fell oddly silent as its new platform was cast aside.

Samsung ISD Phone

Samsung device with a 720p display. The handset is bigger than the iPhone, a bit wider and comes with an 8 megapixel camera at the back and front, strange as that may seem. The Samsung ISD supports fingerprint authentication, sliding on the screen for navigation purposes and more. Inside there’s a Hummingbird CPU and the phone is supposed to run the latest version of Windows Phone OS. ISD is a device with an edge to edge display, something that we’ve been waiting to become reality for a while now. Interestingly the front camera is integrated into the top left side here and will probably give a great videocall experience if this model has LTE connectivity.

Samsung Focus Flash review

The Focus Flash is really a rather unassuming device. Sure, it packs Mango and a 1.4GHz Snapdragon, but its 3.7-inch Super AMOLED screen (no Plus here) and $49 price point aren't the sort of thing that scream "buy me" to gadget fiends and power users. In fact, since it was first announced, the Flash has been living in the shadow of its bigger brother (literally and figuratively), the Focus S.

Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S

It seems like nearly all the phone makers are doing it. Take the latest flagship release, add some welcome (but relatively minor) technical tweaks, slap an extra S on it and release to an adoring public not much more than six months after the original hit stores. Sony Ericsson's Xperia Arc is the latest (but certainly not the last) to undergo said refresh.