Let's talk technology...                                                                                        ...you, me, TODOS.

TODOS Smartphone Guide: Samsung Mobile

Welcome to the second post of TODOS Smartphone Guide where we will introduce you to the latest and greatest smartphones available this holiday season. We will be showing you offerings from Android, Windows Phone and of course iPhone 5. Last time we featured the Nokia Lumia 920 a new competitor to the Samsung Galaxy S3. Samsung and Apple have been in the press recently with lawsuits regarding rounded corners and software with both the iPhone and original Galaxy sporting a similar UI (grid of icons). Well Samsung went out to create some differentiation with the GS3 and it no longer looks like a large iPhone with Samsung branding. The Galaxy S3 is truly a flagship device perhaps the best Android device out there today. For starters has a 4.8 in HD Super AMOLED display. It has a quad-core processor which makes the device run swiftly and virtually lag-free. Android has caught up in the touch response department. Right now the Galaxy S3 comes with Android 4.0 with Samsung's TouchWiz overlay to give it's unique feel and design from other Android devices. The Android 4.1 update is right around the corner. It comes with an 8 megapixel sensor that takes outstanding photos. From test comparisons we've seen it's right on par with the iPhone 5's camera. Unlike the iPhone, the Galaxy S3 features NFC so you can make your mobile payments with Google Wallet. It is also has this cool NFC feature called S-Beam and with it you can enabled it and share photos, videos, songs and playlists with other Galaxy S3s. Being an Android device you get the best Google experience so if you use a lot of Google's services then you should consider this flagship Android device. The Galaxy S3 has been out for a couple months but it still stacks up very well with the best smartphones out there. 


Today buying a smartphone is really about what ecosystem you want to buy into. There's Apple's ecosystem with the iDevices, iTunes, iCloud and MacBooks. For Google it's Android, Google docs, Gmail, the best Google Maps, Wallet and more. For Windows Phone there's SkyDrive, Xbox Live, Office, and of course Window Phone 8 which will sycn up with Windows 8, Microsoft's new computer operating system. In fact Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8 will be releasing at the same time. Samsung also will be releasing Windows 8 PCs and announced their first Windows Phone 8 device and it's called the Ativ S. It's similar to its Android cousin the S3 packing the same display, same camera, it's practically a GS3 optimized for Windows Phone 8. So if you like the GS3 and but lean towards the Windows ecosystem then the Ativ S could be right phone for you. +JG:PG for TODOSLifestyle +September 2012

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TODOS Smartphone Guide: Nokia Lumia 920

Welcome to the very first post of TODOS Smartphone Guide where we will introduce you to the latest and greatest smartphones coming this holiday season. We will be showing you offerings from Android, Windows Phone and of course iPhone 5. We will first introduce you to a phone we're eager to see in action and that is the Nokia Lumia 920. Do not get it confused with the previous Lumia 900 which was an excellent phone, well this new Lumia makes the 900 like an amateur. Nokia as you may heard has been struggling in last couple years. From once the leading mobile phone outfit to now fighting for their survival. Nokia is based in Finland and like most European companies they produce quality hardware, innovative technology and excellent product support. In the war of ecosystems Nokia has joined Windows Phone instead of opting for Android or adopting their own operating system. With the release of Windows Phone 8, Microsoft's latest and greatest operating system is poised to take on Apple and Android in the specs war, and welcomes new hardware to the game. We present to you Nokia's flagship offering and it is pretty impressive. Nokia has one of the best R&D firms and they have brought all their guns out to the party with the Lumia 920. First we'll mention the build quality, it made of a polycarbonate uni-body that screams Nokia build quality. The screen is rounded into the polycarbonate body giving it a seamless integration. Next let's talk about specs screen. It has 1280 X 768 HD+ resolution with 332 ppi (pixels per inch) that's more than the Retina display. What we're excited is about is the PureMotion HD+ technology on the screen. It has a refresh rate 60 Hz, that means when you scroll down, the image does not blur, text remains crisp and clear. Speaking of clear, this also features ClearBlack technology which is a reflection blocking polarized layer that dramatically reduces glare and color washing that you see in other devices, another great Nokia innovation. The previous Lumia 900 already tested out as the most effective smartphone at reducing glare in direct sunlight and Nokia claims that with PureMotion HD+ it will be even better. Which is impressive because the ClearBlack technology is by far the best out there and colors look bright in direct sunlight as we've seen with previous Lumias. Huge win there thanks to Nokia R&D. Also Nokia has included a more sensitive display that reacts to touch even with gloves on! It is pretty amazing and user's in cold settings will benefit and from this technology and will appreciate not having to remove their gloves out on the ski slopes when receiving a call or answering a text message. That's the an impressive display on the Lumia 920. Next is probably the most exciting part: the camera. It is 8.7 MP sensor but what is exciting is the PureView technology which promises to deliver the best camera on a smartphone to date. We first saw PureView with the Nokia 808 PureView phone which featured an incredible 41 MP. Though bulky the phone takes incredible pictures. The Lumia 920 features the second rendition of PureView which focuses on capturing more light for outstanding low light performance. You will be able to take amazing photos in low light settings and the key to that is PureView technology which keeps the shutter open for a few more split seconds allowing the sensor to capture more light. The second innovation with PureView on the Lumia 920 will improve video capture. PureView features floating lens technology which is a crafty mechanism Nokia engineers developed for outstanding image stability. Optical image stabilization (OIS) means videos will be blur free and no more shaky videos even when walking. You can look up videos on YouTube of the Lumia 920 demos with a person purposely shaking the device while taking a video and then playing back a incredibly smooth video capture thanks to OIS and floating lens technology. Other notable features of the phone includes wireless charging which is actually pretty intriguing. Nokia apps and location based services are phenomenal, if you get this device download all the Nokia apps because they are very useful. The devices comes with built-in SatNav with Nokia Drive and great Nokia support on their devices such as timely updates, they really take care of their customers beyond the day you purchase the device. Check out the Lumia 920 below in the video and the device is expected to arrive in late October/early November in time for the holidays. +JG:PG for TODOSLifestyle +September 2012

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Now you can update your status on your mobile


Ever wanted to know if someone was available before you called them? Or ever wanted to set your status as busy before going into an important meeting? Well now you can with Presense. It's this intuitive application that knows when someone is busy or available on their mobile device. What's great about Presense is you can automatically set up status detectors based on location and also your calender. That means when your GPS antenna detects your at the lecture hall it'll automatically change your contact status to busy. This is convenient especially when you don't have time to jump into applications. What makes this even better is you can see at a glance what's your contact's availability in real time. To top it off Presense features a powerful communications hub so you can send text messages, Facetime calls and notifications all on a single beautifully layed-out single screen. It could be used to stay in touch with your circle of friends. It can become a great tool for your business, it could also be used for families, and of course students with their loopy schedules. It's really a powerful application with simple yet profound implications. Download it today at the App Store for iPhone 3GS, 4, 4s and coming soon to Google Play.  Check out MyPresense for more info. Make it part of your lifestyle, stand up be counted. +JG:PG for TODOSLifestyle +May 2012
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Time to think outside the box. Puma & Fuseproject.

How do you become the most desirable, most sustainable sport lifestyle company in the world? You lead with innovative change in the most fundamental aspects of the company: design & sustainability. Combine these two, and you have the 'Clever Little Bag' by Puma & Fuseproject. Puma and Yves Béhar, designer and founder of Fuseproject, collaborated over a 21 month period of time to develop 'a game changing packaging system that would greatly reduce Puma's footprint and build on their initiatives toward cleaner, greener, and safer practices contributing to a better world.' Forget the standard cardboard shoebox, the laminated printing, the tissue paper. Design for less shipping weight and space that gets rid of the plastic retail bag. The 'Clever Little Bag' is made of non-woven polyester consisting of polypropylene, which is eventually recyclable. Its cardboard structure  is die cut from one flat piece of material with four walls that taper in to allow for secured, more efficient stacking. The tens of millions of shoes shipped in the 'Clever Little Bag' reduces water, energy and diesel consumption on the manufacturing level alone by more than 60% per year. Essentially, Puma and Fuseproject offer a packaging system with less material yet even better looking, and a shipping and distribution system that is even more sustainable. It is inspiring projects like these that require multi-faceted innovation that need to continue taking forth for a better world around us. It's time to learn from others, think outside the box, and commit ourselves to positive change. +JG:PG for TODOSLifestyle +May 2012
 
 
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Samsung unleashes the Galaxy S3 smartphone in London

The Samsung unveiled their new Galaxy S3 smartphone in a London press event. The device is 8.6 mm thick and only weighs 133g to put that in perspective the iPhone 4s comes in at 140g and we're talking about a 4.8 in display on the S3 compared to iPhone's 3.5 in. The Galaxy S3 is well crafted and the back of device is coated with Hyperglaze to prevent scratches and comes with Gorilla Glass 2 in the front. On the software side, it comes with Google's latest and greatest Android OS 4.0 (aka Ice Cream Sandwich) with Samsung's TouchWiz skin over-layed on top. "Inspired by nature, designed for humans" is the design and functionality direction Samsung developed the Galaxy S3 with, now how does this translate into the actual device? Well Samsung cleverly focused on innovating and improving the overall smartphone experience. The Galaxy S3 is the first phone to use the front facing camera to track you eyes and keep it from going to sleep as you read a long email. Samsung also added S Voice, their response to Apple's Siri. Samsung says that it'll unlock your phone, control your music player, and even take pictures. Samsung also built in NFC (Near Field Communication) into the phone, so you can give Google Wallet a try and also share media to other NFC devices. One of the coolest features is Pop Up Play, a new feature that lets you pin a streaming video on to your screen on top of any application seamlessly. It's definitely one of the coolest features. Now what powers all this? Well Samsung has put a powerful Quad-Core Exynos processor in to the S3. The screen is 4.8 in Super AMOLED display with 306 ppi density not iPhone's prestigious 326 ppi but still impressive. It features a 8 megapixel sensor similar to the S2 and Galaxy Note and a front facing camera. Samsung seems to have continued in the great line of Galaxy products with S3, Apple, it's your turn now. The Samsung Galaxy S3 is coming to your market soon. +JG:PG for TODOSLifestyle May 2012
  
Does the Galaxy S3 have an edge over the iPhone?

Presenting to you Blackberry 10

Rim has announced details on their upcoming Blackberry 10 platform, the operating system intended to catch up with iOS, Android, and Windows Phone 7. BB10 brings slick new gestures, a new swipe keyboard, and a handy new camera app. What we first noticed here is that the BB device displayed does not have a physical keyboard, RIM is hoping to make up for it with their version of the swipe keyboard. The new swipe keyboard will use gestures to input characters such as swiping up to change the layout, swiping backwards to delete a word, it's not innovative but it looks to be intuitive . Blackberry also announced that BB10 devices will support full multitasking with applications running in the background and 720p HD screens. Last but not least the new camera app. Blackberry has developed great software enabling the camera to take multiple shoots before you actually press the shutter button thus giving you the option to swipe back in time to an earlier shoot of the photo. Interesting developments coming from RIM. Will this be enough to save RIM? That is to be determined. +JG:PG for TODOSLifestyle May 2012
  
What's your favorite smart phone?

The alternative to iPhone & Android: Nokia Lumia 900

Nokia makes beautiful and durable hardware(devices), Microsoft has developed a great mobile operating system(software) in Windows Phone 7.5 Mango. Now combine the two and you get a phone that is beautifully different and it's called the Lumia 900. It features a 4.3 Clear Black AMOLED display, Nokia's Clear Black technology optimizes the screen through 3 polarized levels of screens that provide 40% less reflectiveness than your iPhone 4s, which makes the the screen in direct sunlight gorgeous and better than any mobile device out there including the new iPad with it's HD retina display. Under the hood the phone features a 1.4 Ghz processor more than enough to run Windows Phone Mango and it's highly acclaimed buttery smooth functionality with no lag. The phone is constructed out of an elegant Polycarbonate Unibody and comes in three different colors cyan (blue), black, and white. The Polycarbonate construction makes it that the color runs deep, which means if you litterally scratched it the surface the color stays consistent throughout. The Polycarbonate material feels great in your hand, certainly worthy of a high-end device. It features an 8MP Carl Zeiss sensor with a 1MP sensor in the front for video calls. The device runs on AT&T's LTE network which provides blazingly fast data speeds. Through AT&T on contract this high-end device is available at only $99, which is a super deal for what you get. The highlights of this phone are Nokia's build quality, the snappy Windows Phone 7 OS, and the Polycarbonate unibody. To buy from Amazon which provides the best deal for the Lumia 900 click here.
 

A visual of how glass will be merged with technology in the future 

We often wonder how technology will change the way we do things everyday. In the past we've had computer do things in a way we could not have possibly dreamed of doing. The internet has revolutionize the way we interact with the world. Smartphones such as the Apple's iPhone has propelled mobile communication, applications and media profoundly. What's next? Corning is a world leader in manufacturing glass for industrial and scientific applications. They manufacture Gorilla Glass, the engineered glass for touchscreen devices such as your smartphone or tablet. They released a video of their vision of the future demonstrating how glass, integrated screens and multi-touch gestures will be part of your everyday life, helping you accomplish tasks and stay productive like never before. The applications shown in the short film are fundamental, we have a lot of them available now to us, the breakthrough is how they will be available to us beyond our computers, tablets, and smartphones. This short film is fascinating and do not be surprised if you see the first glass screens in the near future. +March 2012
 
 
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Introducing you to next version of Windows

Want to take a peek into the future of Windows? Well here it is and it's called Windows 8. It's set to roll out in Fall 2012 and it's going to be running on your PC, Laptop, and Slate (tablet). What most stands out is the "live tile" start screen dubbed as "Metro". In fact it's the same design direction as Windows Phone 7 and the new Xbox interface. The idea behind lives tiles is that information is presented at a glance, you will no longer need to go into an application to see what's happening. It certainly is a refreshing change for computer interfaces and if it's as functional as Windows Phone 7 then Microsoft has a winner with Windows 8, get ready to interact with your Windows PC in new platform. Watch the video to be introduced to Windows 8. +January 2012
 
 
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Amazing Hardware, Amazing OS

Nokia is renowned for making beautiful hardware. The Finnish manufacture has partnered with Microsoft to enhance the well reviewed relatively new Windows Phone 7 mobile platform and this is what Nokia has come up and it's called the Lumia 800. It features a beautiful seamless design with a 3.7 AMOLED Clear Black touchscreen display that is beautifully molded into the poly-carbonate uni-body. The Clear Black technology produces deep black colors and the AMOLED makes colors look lifelike. This is what you call a high-end handset. It will be available at Windows Stores in an unlocked GSM version optimized for AT&T. Nokia is also offering the Lumia 710 targeted for first time smartphone users on T=Mobile and also a high-end LTE handset coming soon called the Lumia 900. +January 2012
 
 
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No SOPA for me!

SOPA is presented as the law that will end online piracy, but don’t be fooled, there is plenty of fine print included. The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) promotes itself as the law that will end online piracy and bring those who engage in piracy to justice.  What it doesn’t promote is that this same law will censor the internet, hurt innovation and introduce regulations that will hurt many American businesses. Join Google, Twitter, Facebook and the rest of the internet community in protesting against SOPA by signing the on-line petition at GoGogle. If you would like more information on SOPA please visit The Verge. January 2012 (contributed by EM)
 
 
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Where a television meets design

Samsung makes some of the best flat-panel displays in the world. This Samsung LED, shown below, is the closest thing there is to a high end designer television set. What's striking is what's most minimal, the stunning ultra thin bezel. It features a premium chrome finish and its stand is also design forward. If you're looking for a television to dazzle as a design piece, look no further. (Click to below to see at Best Buy) +January 2012    
 
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A personal trainer for women by NIKE 

If you are an iOS user, you are in luck right now. Nike Women has developed an amazing app called NTC, featuring workouts with actress Lea Michelle & Nike atheletes Li Na and Hope Solo. Whether you are looking to build muscle or get leaner this app has it all to compliment your fitness program. Click on the image below to see how it works and take your workout to the next level. +January 2012
 
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Enjoy music with good sound in every room

Take the sounds of your favorite songs with you to the kitchen, the living room, or to the patio outside. Music is always a plus, and portable speakers that connect to an iPod or any headphone jack via Aux cable can give you that accessibilty everywhere and anywhere. These Logitech mini-speakers are small enough in size with enough power for quality sound. Check them out at the Logitech website by clicking below. +January 2012 (contributed by HL)
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A noisy newcomer to the tablet market

This is the Amazon Kindle Fire and it's a game changer in tablet computing. It sports a 7 inch high resolution display running an Amazon customized version of Android. It features a fast dual-core processor, excels in streaming video from, and features a good web browser. At only $199, it is less than half the cost of an iPad. With that said, it is no iPad in terms of versatility, but we think the Kindle Fire is just what most people need in a tablet computer. Watch the video below to see the Kindle Fire in action. It is available for sale at Amazon.com and also at retailers such as Best Buy. +December 2011
 
 
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Stylish, affordable, reasonable sound, on the go

These Sony Over-The-Ear Headphones are light weight, comfortable, and stylish. They're great for listening to your favorite music on the go and for traveling in style. (By Sony available at Best Buy, click on the picture below). +November 2011
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Track your progress

adidas miCoach is a personalized coaching application to help you keep track of your exercise routines & progress. This application developed by adidas is available for download on smartphones and uses GPS to track your distance traveled (walking, running, cycling, etc) and calculate calories burned. Under app settings, you can even set the voice of your coach to the voice of British athletes like Victoria Pendleton,  American athletes (Derrick Rose), or even Spanish athletes (David Villa). Click below for the video demo.
+November 2011

 
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Now you can see your favorite websites in a beautiful mosaic

Pulse is a smartphone application available for iOS (iPhone & iPad), Android, and now Windows Phone Mango. It beautiful integrates your favorite news sites in a structured mosaic slide-show where you can simply click in and out of articles. It is free and available in the app stores for the platforms mentioned above. Now enjoy you can enjoy all the news amazingly organized in a single application (click on the picture below for more info). +November 2011   
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Siri, iPhone's new personal assistant 

Take a look at how you can use Siri as a personal assistant on the new iPhone 4s. Although Siri is still considered a beta version by Apple much like TODOS at the moment, it is the new main feature of the iPhone 4s. You simply activate it and ask a question or tell Siri what to do and it'll reply with what you're asking for. Siri listens to diction in various forms as seen in the video above. To learn more watch the video below to see Siri's capabilities. +November 2011 
 
 
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A great OS you've never heard of

This is Windows Phone 7.5 codenamed Mango.  It's a mobile phone operating system developed by Microsoft and it's very well made and extremely polished. What you get is a smooth, sleek, and seamless phone experience. Mango or 7.5 is the second and newest version of the OS and it's a phenomenal successor to the original Windows Phone 7. It looks nothing like iOS, Android OS, or Blackberry. Windows Phone features a beautiful and intuitive user interface that displays live tiles instead of icons which update regularly to keep you up with what matters most (learn a bit more about Windows Phone Mango and see it in action in the video). +October 2011
 
 
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It looks good, it must sound good

Upgrade to great sound in your pad with this 2.1 system called the Sound Sticks by Harmon Kardon. They not only look aesthetically pleasing but also sound amazingly crisp. Listen to your favorite music with great fidelity in a design so stylish that would look great in any room (available at apple.com by clicking below). +October 2011
Click & talk here...
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Now conveniently text anywhere

This is the smartphone application called WhatsApp developed by WhatsApp Inc which provides crossplatform instant messaging. It is available for Blackberry OS, iOS, Android, Symbian, and now on Windows Phone 7.5. It is a great alternative to SMS and is ideal for international messaging with your friends across the globe. (Click on the picture below to for link to WhatsApp website). +October 2011

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Update to the newest version iOS 5

Apple has rolled iOS 5 for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch, if you have one of these devices it's time to upgrade and enjoy over 200 features that Apple has added to the new version of the OS. Now what is an "OS"? Simple it is the operating system software the device runs. From the moment you turn on your device it begins running the OS. Below is a great video to learn a little more about Apple's iOS 5 which was rolled out with the release of iPhone 4S. +October 2011
 
 
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