I just love sharing with my readers… the various product survival tests that manufacturers put their various brands through to help ensure that they live to their specified high standards.

Here we got a hold of three separate BlackBerry produced by  Ryan P.  a hardware Engineering Technician at RIM… these are the Water Test, the Drop Test and the Bend and Flex Test:

The Water Test

For the water test a BlackBerry Curve 9360 was dropped into water, or what they call the “Moisture Ingress Test”. This water contains dye so that they can tell where imperfections are in the design to “improve the device’s water seal”.

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The Durability Drop Test

The actual drop test is cool and apparently every Berry gets dropped on concrete “hundreds of times” to ensure it’s ready for a full rollout. In the video it’s never states the amount of pressure that used for the bend test, but does confirm “your BlackBerry smartphone can withstand the pressure of your posterior”.

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The Bend and Flex Test

Finally, the keys. Majority of BB users love the QWERTY keyboard – it’s one of the main reasons that makes a BlackBerry so “iconic”. The keys have been pushed, zapped and tested “literally millions of times to sure they click with the right pressure and can withstand all the e-mails, BBM messages and tweets that you type. Have you ever been shocked by a door handle… RIM zaps them with what is called an Electrostatic Discharge, or ESD, to make sure that the sensitive internal components are protected.”

Motorola has done it again!  Introducing a new Droid RAZR! This one was launched last Thursday by Verizon and has the likely moniker of “DROID RAZR MAXX.” As with any other mobile carrier, the handset is available at a discounted price when a new two-year agreement is signed. The asking price is $299.99. With that kind of out of pocket investment and a signed contract, this writer would highly recommend consumers to shop around for an unlocked cell phone.  These unlocked cell phones empower consumers to break free service provider long term contracts and permit to negotiate a plan that best meets your lifestyle needs at the lowest price.

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Compared to its predecessor, the DROID RAZR, this latest Motorola is housed in a thicker frame (only slightly). After that the differences are nominal. In fact, Droid-Life affirmed rumors that each of these devices runs on exactly the same software. Even the Android versions for both the DROID RAZR and DROID RAZR MAXX are the same kernel, build number, and baseband version. The community forums have some miffed participants that accuse Motorola of simply charging customers for a new battery, but this streamlined user of software should actually make things easier on the manufacturer, carrier, and consumer.

Discover the Droid RAZR MAXX in this insightful video :

Smartphone manufacturers are known for making slight changes and rebranding devices. This allows the newest handsets to accommodate tech changes by tweaking the software versions from the old to the new device. Some examples of this are the DROID 2 and DROID R2D2. The silver lining is that as the DROID RAZR and RAZR MAXX, it will all be interchangeable which permits tech-savvy users to take advantage of a wide range of custom ROMs.

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Alas, with the slight variation in size, all accessories may not be interchangeable. But with the internal specs unchanged, peripheral devices and more technical accessory purchases should meet the system requirements of both smartphones.

Google Android’s numerous handset manufacturers have made the mobile OS platform incredibly accessible to consumers across the world. The one downside is that each of these vendors goes through its own process to adopt the latest version upgrades. Some handsets are not capable of those major upgrades, like Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich.

Luckily for Sprint Nexus S 4G owners, the wait should not be much longer. An internal testing ROM was seen on Google’s servers that will update the Nexus S 4G to Android v4.0.4 build IMM26. Of course that file was pulled once it was seen, but the more curious of you can get a mirrored copy at xda-developers. But, with the removal from Google servers, it is likely better to wait for the official release.

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The popularity of this device has customers of Verizon wishing it was available as an unlocked handset that could be used with their existing contracts. As LTE 4G becomes more mainstream across North America, the availability of smartphones capable of taking advantage of these speeds will increase. Carriers have been rushing to pair up with manufacturers to augment their product lines. The question of whether customers will be willing to pay the premium cost of these data plans.

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The good news is that there is no requirement to utilize the 4G LTE capabilities until the costs are more accessible. In the interim, these customers have the good fortune of not having to purchase a new handset to get the Ice Cream Sandwich update which leaves more funds to invest in the must-have and secretly-covet accessories to make the most of your pocket PC.

As this report indicates, the version had release keys which denote a fast-approaching launch date. So far, the next gen Android platform has had great reviews, so be sure to keep your eyes and ears open for your Nexus S 4G update!

The hype and buzz have died down a bit from CES, now we are on our way to the build up and news out of the Mobile World Congress. So without further ado, let’s fill you in on the latest  HTC cell phone –  the HTC Ville.  Get a detailed review of the svelte metal uni-body design that is less than 8mm thick that  is  HTC Ville.

Potential customers can expect an Android 4.0 mobile OS which will please those who don’t want to have to wait for their device to roll out upgrades. Additional specs are Sense 4.0, a 4.3 Super AMOLED display, with a 1.5 GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor under the hood. What’s really exciting is that this Snapdragon’s Qualcomm Krait CPU will increase performance by 60% compared to the existing Scorpion micro-architecture in previous Snapdragon versions. A face-lifted Adreno 225 GPU will make graphics perform 50% faster too. Get ready for a little zoom zoom in your HTC Ville!   Get a complete view of the HTC Ville preliminary specs at GSM Arena

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Following my ‘Cell Phone and Bathroom Usage’ piece… I thought to research on the hygienic condition of typical cell phones and mobile devices.

You may want to brace yourself… for your smartphone and mobile devices are a petri dish accommodating and sustaining a thriving micro bacterial  ecosystem.   Dreadfully frightening isn’t it?

In 2009, the prominent  journal “Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials” conducted a study wherein they tested the various cell phones brands (iPhone, Blackberry, Samsung, Motorola, HTC, Nokia, Sony,  LG, etcc..) of 200 of their staff members.  The results were alarming  a whopping 94.5 percent of the devices were severely contaminated with various bacterial strains – many of which were resistant to multiple antibiotics.  Moreover, the study yielded that over 60% of the bacteria thriving on the phones were ultimately transferred to the users.

When one considers that most users take their cell phones with them everywhere… including the bathroom.  A startling 95% percent of common folk admitted to routinely using their mobile device, cell phones, tablets, laptops, notebooks and other media playing devices during toilet sessions… you can discover the statistics from a study conducted by 11 Mark in my previous blog on ‘Cell Phone and Bathroom Usage’.

Microbes have been existing long before any other life form appeared on our planet.  Their inherent ability to thrive and multiply in adverse conditions and hostile environments has fuelled their prolific growth and widespread presence throughout the world.  Studies indicate their propensity to subsist in both highly populated regions and on public surfaces.  Our entire bodies as well as public bathrooms, phones, computers, park benches, restaurant kitchen counters and tables are all ideal hosts harbouring a magnitude of microbe strains – with paper currency being found to have one of the highest concentration of bacteria.   As such, it is plain to see that we are engaged in a true germ warfare… protecting our physical health against bacterial invasion.

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Wireless devices are excellent breeding grounds for bacteria…  as they generate the requisite heat which helps promote and facilitate breeding.   Furthermore, the majority of people do not think of routinely disinfecting their mobile devices, to this end, typical cell phones and mobile devices have more bacteria than toilet seats. I would highly recommend protecting both their devices and ultimately themselves with iSkin protective accessories‘ revolutionary  Microban technology.  Built-in to products during the manufacturing process, Microban antimicrobial product protection inhibits the growth of microbes such as bacteria, mold and mildew that can cause stains , embarrassing odors and deterioration of both cell phones and other mobile devices.

It was also reported  that while older flip phones have more nooks and crannies for bacteria to hide in, the flat touch screens of current smartphones are not immune to bacteria. Numerous studies have found colonies of streptococcus, staphylococcus and diphtheroids on people’s cell phones. And there’s even been one reported case of a person contracting an MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus) infection – a so-called flesh-eating bug – from a phone. Now that is downright nasty!

For the most part, though, the bacteria that reside on your smartphone and mobile devices come from your own skin and mouth. It’s other people’s germs you have to worry about; think about that the next time you set your phone down in a public place or share your phone with someone. You’re taking in their germs, as well as the bacteria they’ve picked up just by using their cell phones out in world. You’re not only touching the phone, but also everyone and everything that phone has touched.

For those of you loyal readers who have been following and reading my blogs…. you no doubt noticed my propensity to provide you with industry and market statistics and information.

Keeping with this tradition, I came across a study – IT in the Toilet conducted by 11 Mark “View Infographic“… according to this report, we shouldn’t be surprised if we hear a toilet flush in the background while on the phone with friends or colleagues; as a whopping 3 out 4 in America use their cell phones while in the bathroom.

Approximately the same number of men and women have used the phone in the bathroom, according to a survey of 1,000 Americans… although men seem more tethered to IT in the toilet: 30 percent of men versus 20 percent of women agreed with the statement, “I don’t go to the bathroom without my mobile phone.”

Since only 14% of respondents reportedly cleanse their phones after a toilet session…  I would highly recommend protecting both their devices and ultimately themselves with iSkin protective accessories‘ revolutionary  Microban technology.  Built-in to products during the manufacturing process, Microban antimicrobial product protection inhibits the growth of microbes such as bacteria, mold and mildew that can cause stains , embarrassing odors and deterioration of both cell phones and other mobile devices.

Check out the following video for in-depth information on Microban iSkin protective cases and skins.

More than half the surveyed users (63 percent) said they have answered a phone call in the bathroom, and almost half (41 percent) reported initiating a phone call. That’s not all, however: What goes on behind the walls of the stalls is anything a mobile phone is capable of. Sixty-seven percent said they have read a text, and 39 percent have surfed the Web. Men work more from the bathroom—20 percent said they have participated in work-related calls, versus 13 percent of their female colleagues.

As expected, Gen Y respondents are the pacesetters in the “mobile everywhere” movement, with 91 percent using their phone in the bathroom. Still, older generations are not far behind. Eighty percent of Gen X reported using the phone in the bathroom, as did 65 percent of Baby Boomers and 47 percent of the Silent Generation.

While online, they are doing more than just surfing; 16 percent of Gen Y report they have made an online purchase while in the bathroom.  The study indicates that 87% of Droid users (Motorola Droid RAZR, Samsung Galaxy S 2, HTC Amaze, LG Optimus 2X) and 84% of Blackberry users (Bold 9900 Touch, Bold 9790 , Curve 9370) followed by  77% of iPhone users are particularly likely to browse and buy in the bathroom – 22 percent have made a purchase, versus 10 percent of Americans with mobile phones overall.

“The writing is on the stall,” said 11mark principal Nicole Burdette. “This study confirms what we all know: that the last private place is no longer private.”

After the shock and awe of the Consumer Electronics Show last month, Samsung is bringing us a more mid-range mobile device that will satisfy those consumers  who want more functionality without shelling out the money for a brand-new, top of the line smartphone. So, without further ado we introduce to you the Galaxy S Advance a welcome addition to the Samsung Galaxy cell phone line.

The following is an insightful video review of the Samsung Galaxy S Advance by Mobile Gazette

Customers will experience a zippy interface that is quick to open apps and multi-task on. The specs are solid, if not stellar. 4 inch Super AMOLED display gives a great visual experience and the middle-of-the road RAM and internal storage are pretty standard.   There are no current plans to move the mobile OS from Android Gingerbread to Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich.

Consumers can further enhance the Samsung Galaxy S mobility by optimizing aaplications with select accessories including stylus & pens, micro SD memory cards, batteries, docking stations, Bluetooth headsets, data cables and glider gloves all specifically designed to make your devices functionally efficient and performance rich.

As Samsung’s President of IT & Mobile Communications Division, JK Shin noted, “The GALAXY S Advance adds to the successful track record of the GALAXY  smartphone range with a phone that combines power and style with all the versatility of Samsung’s Hub services.” This particular group of services is what will give users over 11 million music tracks, 2.3 million e-books, 3,500 magazine and 200 newspaper titles which are both excellent reasons to invest in good headphones and speakers.

For gamers, the ever-popular Game Hub puts thousands of catalogued games at users’ fingertips. As these may take up more juice, check the specs and requirements to see if a purchase of additional resources is needed.

And, in a move that will bring a more competitive offering to the new Nokia Windows Phone line, ChatON acts as a kind of people hub to interactively share content, group chat via video and voice and in general make messaging intuitive and easy. The last (and perhaps favorite) feature is Find My Mobile which is a unique lost-phone management system. Securing and encrypting data, ability to wipe the device data via Web or trace the device via Web is uber awesome.

All in all, Samsung looks to bring a best-of-both-worlds kind of phone to market and we look forward to seeing the smartphone in action!

There is no question that Samsung has the Android smartphone mastered at this point. With world-wide popularity and the manufacturer of the de facto line of Galaxy S 2  smartphones that are synonymous with “Android.” This set the bar high for a Samsung tablet. So far these expectations have fallen flat.

Hopefully this trajectory changes following the rumored cancellation of the Samsung Galaxy S III that was scheduled to launch at Mobile World Congress. According to Android And Me, the upcoming Galaxy Tab would be a great replacement with an Exynos 5250 processor with a 10 inch display and the Android 4.0 OS, Ice Cream Sandwich.

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What gives this latest gossip credence is the prototype seen at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show. And what will set this slate apart is the fact that it not only will have the Android 4.0 but will also be Samsung’s first mobile processor with ARM’s latest Cortex-A15 CPU core. This translates into double the computing power, augmented memory bandwidth, all-day battery life and a whopping five times the graphics horsepower of existing CPUs.

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These kinds of next-gen specs could be the turning point in Samsung’s quest to make a significant play in the tablet market. If they add in some innovative, top of the line accessories to the next release they can compete and incentivize customers to add another Samsung device into their homes. Whether those are docking stations, wireless attachments, or just artistic and great protective covers, these kinds of add-ons have the ability to solidify the popularity in this market for Samsung.

There are no details on when this would be made available to the general public, but we will be sure to keep you informed of what Samsung’s offering will be.

Now that there’s new management at the helm of Canadian BlackBerry manufacturer Research in Motion (RIM), the company’s future is the subject of much discussion and speculation.   I have been researching, collecting and consolidating information to our readers with an exclusive insider view of the Research In Motion’s (RIM) product and release road map strategy for 2012.

I came across the following RIM Roadmap Deck that best illustrates where the company is headed in the coming months.  The following summarizes RIM’s product launch roadmap for the next 15 months:

• Apparently two new Blackberry Curve smartphones are to be launched in short order.  the BlackBerry Curve 9230 and the BlackBerry Curve 9320. The 9230 will be an EDGE smartphone and the Curve 9320 will be an HSPA device
• Rumor has it that RIM will be launching two new Blackberry PlayBook – a 10-inch Playbooks running the latest build of RIM’s well-received Playbook OS, version 2.0. Playbook OS 2.0 with the capability to support 4G LTE is scheduled to arrive in February.  With a 7-inch 3G capable model coming by April.
• It seems that the BlackBerry London which will reportedly run RIM’s new QNX-based smartphone operating system, BlackBerry 10 is still on track for a September launch
• There is now another BlackBerry 10 smartphone in the works that will launch as part of Balackberry Bold series accessories. The phone features a touchscreen display and QWERTY keyboard, and it is planned for a December release
• A QWERTY slider running BlackBerry 10 has been talked about for the first quarter of 2013.

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Life is indeed good for LG… their LG Optimus cell phone series are extremely popular.  In fact, they recently boasted the sale of over one million LG Optimus LTE  worldwide since the device first launched last year.

The Optimus LTE made its international debut in LG’s native South Korea last October, before its December invasion of Japan and North America – where it is sold under the brand name of Spectrum at Verizon (where it is available for $199 on contract) and the Nitro HD at AT&T, while Canadians recognize it as the Bell Optimus Eye.

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In short the Optimus LTE delivers the ultimate HD multimedia environment through a 4.5 inch 1280 x 720 (16:9 ratio) True HD IPS display with lightening fast LTE connectivity.  The True HD IS display features an incredible 2.76 million sub-pixels as well as superior color accuracy, clarity, natural color and battery efficiency

The following video provides an excellent review on the LG Optimus LE

‘With brisk sales for a high-end smartphone the Optimus LTE reaffirms LG’s leadership in mobile LTE technology,” said Dr. Jon-seok Park, president and CEOof LG Mobile Communications Company.  “The combination of LTE connectivity coupled with LG’s True HD IPS display has resonated with the public regarding the potential of LTE technology.”

LG also confirms that consumers can enhance their mobility and turn LG devices into a power tool wither select accessories such as; stylus & pens, micro SD memory cards, batteries, docking stations, Bluetooth headsets, data cables and glider gloves all specifically designed to make LG devices functionally efficient and performance rich.