iPad 2 Review

iPad 2 Review 1

The iPad 2 is both all about -- and not about -- the hardware. From an industrial design standpoint, the iPad 2 just seriously raised the bar on sleek, sexy computer hardware. If you're an owner of the original model, you know it was no slouch in the design department, but its latest iteration takes it to a whole other place. The first thing you'll probably notice about the iPad 2 is that it's thin -- unbelievably thin. At its thickest point, the tablet is just 0.34-inches (compared with the first iPad's half an inch of girth). The device is slightly shorter than the previous model (at 9.5-inches tall), but also slightly less wide (just 7.3-inches versus the iPad's 7.47-inches). It looks and feels amazingly sleek when you hold it. As Steve Jobs pointed out at the launch event, the device is thinner than the astoundingly thin iPhone 4 -- quite a feat considering what's packed inside the slate. Of course, it's still not exactly light, weighing in at 1.33 pounds (or 1.34 / 1.35 for the 3G models), just a hair under the original's one and a half pounds.As with the previous version, the front of the device is all screen, save for a bezel (which appears slightly less broad than the one on the first model), and a home button at the bottom of the display. The iPad 2 does add a camera opposite from that button at the top of the device, but the small dot is barely noticeable. Around back there's the familiar, smooth aluminum of the previous version (it does feel slightly smoother here), a small, dotted speaker grid on the lower left, a camera on the upper left, and depending on what model you get, the 3G antenna along the top back. The volume buttons and mute / rotate switch sit on the back left side of the device, while on the right you'll find the Micro SIM slot (on 3G versions). A standard 30-pin dock connector is along the bottom, while the top reveals a power / sleep button on the upper right side, and a 3.5mm headphone jack on the left. All pretty standard business for an iPad, but smartly put together on this tiny frame.The device is available with either a white or black bezel -- we reviewed the white model.In all, it's an incredibly handsome and svelte package. Pictures don't quite do the iPad 2 justice -- it feels really, really great in your hands. Not only does the construction give it a feeling of heft and permanence, but the thin profile combined with the new, tapered edges make holding the device a real joy. Apple is known for its industrial design, and they didn't just chew scenery here; the iPad 2 is beautifully and thoughtfully crafted.

Internals / display / audio

Much has been made about what is -- and isn't -- inside the new iPad. For starters, Apple has replaced last year's A4 CPU with a new, 1GHz dual core chip it's calling the A5 (surprise surprise). According to Geekbench, there's now 512MB of RAM in the iPad, bringing it up to iPhone 4 standards. That still seems on the low side to us -- a device in this class should probably be sporting 1GB, though we had no memory issues. The screen is identical to the previous model, a 1024 x 768, 9.7-inch IPS display. It still looks good, though we really would have liked to see a bump in resolution -- if not up to the Retina Display's doubled numbers, then something substantial. We don't take issue with the quality of the display as far as color balance or deepness of blacks go, but we would like to see higher pixel density, especially for the book apps.On the wireless front, you can nab either a WiFi (802.11a/b/g/n) only model, a Verizon 3G version, or an iPad of the AT&T / GSM variety. Bluetooth 2.1+EDR is on board, as is an AGPS chip in the 3G versions. All the models come equipped with an ambient light sensor, an accelerometer, and a new addition: a three-axis gyroscope.As we said, Apple has relocated the iPad's single speaker to the back of the device. The sound seems clearer if somewhat quieter than the old version, and we can't say that there's a major improvement as far as the placement goes. It does the job, but if you're working in GarageBand (or just listening to music or watching video), you'll want good headphones or decent speakers nearby.Still, on the specs front the iPad 2 feels very iterative. There's nothing here that is totally mind-blowing, but there's nothing here that makes it feel far off from its nearest competition. We're early enough in the tablet game that a small push in specs like this will last us another season, but Apple needs to deliver bigger guns by the time we see a "3" at the end of the iPad moniker.

Read More : http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/09/ipad-2-review/

iPad 2 Review 2

The good: Apple's iPad 2 is dramatically thinner and boasts front and rear cameras, FaceTime video chat, a faster processor, and 3G options for both AT&T and Verizon.



The bad: The iPad's screen resolution hasn't budged, photo quality is mediocre, there's still no Adobe Flash support, and ports for HDMI, USB, and SD all require adapters.



The bottom line: The iPad 2 refines an already excellent product. Its easy-to-use interface, vast app catalog, and marathon battery life bolster Apple's claim to being the king of tablets.


Photo gallery:
Apple iPad 2

Editors' note: On June 6, 2011, Apple announced a new version of iOS due out in fall for the iPod Touch, iPhone, and iPad. The free upgrade will bring new capabilities including a unified messaging app, improved notifications, iCloud synchronization, and more. Visit CNET's iPhone Atlas for more information on iOS 5.

The competition must really hate Apple. The Apple iPad wasn't just a successful tablet computer in 2010--it was the tablet computer. In one fell swoop, Apple created the new tablet market and sold tens of millions of iPads in spite of a global economic downturn and considerable skepticism.

The same, only better
With the iPad's second go-around, Apple sticks to its successful formula. The iPad 2 is thinner, faster, and includes two cameras, but otherwise, the iPad stays the same: size, price, capacity, and features all carry over.

Oh, except for color. Apple now offers both white and black versions of the iPad 2 in every price and configuration. The base model starts at $499, giving you 16GB of storage and a Wi-Fi connection to the Internet. If you want more storage for all your applications, photos, music, and videos, you can jump up to the 32GB ($599) or 64GB ($699) models.

The freedom to surf the Web over a 3G cellular connection costs an extra $130 for any of the three models mentioned above, plus monthly carrier fees. Unlike with the original iPad, you now have a choice of two carriers (Verizon or AT&T). Choose carefully, though, since the Verizon version of the iPad can't be made to work on AT&T, and vice versa.

The hardware
The iPad 2 is thin--so thin, in fact, that it feels like a different device. Measuring just 0.34 of an inch, it's thinner than the iPhone 4 and a third thinner than the original iPad.

Despite the thinner design, its construction quality is no less rugged than the original's. The back of the iPad is still made from a durable, single slab of aluminum machined to fit the iPad's internal components like a glove. The face of the iPad is covered in the same scratch-resistant glass, with a home button at the bottom of the screen and a new front-facing camera at the top.

Otherwise, the iPad 2 sticks to familiar iPad routines. The sleep/wake buttons and headphone jack are in the same place as on the original, up top, as are the volume rocker and mute/rotation lock switch on the right edge. On the bottom you'll find the iPad's universal dock connection and the internal speaker. The speaker's perforated grille now wraps around the back, giving it more surface area and noticeably better sound quality.

The height and width may look similar, but in terms of thickness, the iPad has done some dieting, shrinking from 13.4mm thick on the original model to 8.8mm thick for the iPad 2. It's thinner, even, than the iPhone 4.

For the iPad 2, Apple has avoided compatibility shenanigans. With the exception of any original iPad cases, the device works with first-gen accessories (docks, adapters, speakers, video cables, chargers), though first-gen docks don't fit like a glove. An updated standard dock for the iPad 2 is available. For keyboard support, Apple now recommends its Bluetooth wireless keyboard.

The iPad 2 accessory that's really getting all the attention is Apple's new Smart Cover. An answer to all the bulky, overdone, rubber third-party cases made for the first iPad, Apple's unique hinged cover comes in two materials--leather ($59) and polyurethane ($39)--and multiple colors. It attaches magnetically to the left or right edge of the iPad 2 using two aluminum hinges embedded with impressively strong rare-earth magnets. Magnets within the cover are used to detect when the cover is open or shut, allowing the iPad 2 to automatically wake or sleep. It works, but you also have the option in Settings to bypass the automatic wake feature and use the button manually.

Photo gallery:
Apple iPad 2 and Smart Cover

As accessories go, the Smart Cover is nifty--not so much for the protection it offers, but for the convenient stand it provides when rolled up. If, on the other hand, you are seriously concerned about protecting your investment, keeping the iPad 2 in a traditional wraparound case is still the best way to go

Read more: http://reviews.cnet.com/apple-ipad-2-review/#ixzz1U232VM14

Kawasaki ZX-6R

Kawasaki ZX-6R Review 1

MCN overall verdict 

In the Kawasaki ZX-6R, Kawasaki has built a race ready 600 which is road legal, just. Everything about the ZX-6R is track focused, you could enter a standard Kawasaki ZX-6R into a club race and you wouldn’t be far behind the top runners. The more you thrash it the more fun you’ll have. The Kawasaki ZX-6R is easily the most fun 600 on track but let down by its real world capabilities.

Engine

A measured 109.61bhp at the back wheel made the Kawasaki ZX-6R the most powerful 600 in our recent group test. You have to keep the Kawasaki ZX-6R motor singing to get the most out of it above 9,000rpm ideally, but revving it to its 16,000rpm redline sends shivers down your spine.

Quality and Reliability

Kawasaki has never had a problem with engine reliability or build quality and the Kawasaki ZX-6R is no exception. An MCN staffer who owned one of the original high revving ZX6-RRs says it never missed a beat despite its hard life. The Kawasaki ZX-6R feels well built and solid with attention to detail in the finish.

Ride and Handling

The track-focussed Kawasaki ZX-6R is built for carving up race tracks. The brakes are outstanding, and the Kawasaki ZX-6R remains stable no matter how late you dare to brake. You can carry a stupid amount of corner speed on the Kawasaki ZX-6R, which is really confidence inspiring. The Kawasaki ZX-6R's front will give the odd twitch over bumps and imperfection on the road.

Value

At £7190, the Kawasaki ZX-6R is the second cheapest 600 on the market and it’s a new model for 2007, only Suzuki’s older GSX-R is cheaper. Haggle with a local dealer and you should be able to steal a Kawasaki ZX-6R for under £7,000 which for the latest, track-focussed 600 which will hold its own against almost anything on track, is a bargain. Find a

Equipment

The Kawasaki ZX-6R has fully adjustable suspension front and back, radial brakes up front... it ticks all the boxes for a 600 supersport machine. The standard slipper clutch is one of the best on the market something the Kawasaki ZX-6R has always led in term of development for the original ZX6-RR.Compare and buy products for the Ducati Monster 100 in the MCN Shop.

Read More : http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/bikereviews/searchresults/Bike-Reviews/Kawasaki/Kawasaki-ZX-6R-2007-current2/

Kawasaki ZX-6R Review 2

THE KEY TO THE EVOLUTION OF THE KAWASAKI NINJA ZX6R

Well Kawasaki have done it again. The Kawasaki Ninja ZX6R for 2009 / 2011. A complete model change and the press loved it. MCN rated it 10/10.and they still love it.

This bike is lighter, more power, more torque and vastly improved handling characteristics thanks to the big piston forks. Read on for more detail on the 2011 Kawasaki ZX6R.

Browse our Kawasaki price list for the latest Kawasaki ZX6R 2011 prices....

What's was changed to produce the new Kawasaki Ninja ZX6R for 2009 / 2011??

Truthfully - Everything !!

2011 Kawasaki Ninja ZX6R Engine & Performance 

A new engine for the Ninja ZX6R that weighs 2Kg less than the old one helping towards thetotal weight saving of 10KG yes, 10KG. In fact, throw a leg over it and it actually feels like Kawasaki have shed a lot more than 10 kilos.

New double bore intake funnels (“velocity stacks”) on the Kawasaki ZX6R feature inlets at two different heights, allowing performance increases in both the mid- and high-rpm ranges. Optimised cam nitriding and tappets with increased durability enabled the use of high-load cam profiles which improve overall performance. The Kawasaki ZX6R has new pistons with new profiles and improved crown finishing to contribute to the gain in performance. Molybdenum coating on piston skirts reduces friction, piston rings with less tension reduce mechanical loss and revised cam chain guides stabilise chain motion, further contributing to reduced mechanical loss. Revised exhaust collector layout contributes to improved low and mid-range performance while maintaining high-rpm performance.

As seems to have become the norm with the late date Kawasaki Superbikes, a slipper clutch that really does the business comes as standard fitment on this new Kawasaki Ninja ZX6R.

The Kawasaki Ninja ZX6R Chassis 

While structure of the main frame is basically the same as that of the ZX6R from 2008, revised rigidity around the swingarm pivot and the rear engine mounts optimises front-rear rigidity balance. A 2-piece sub-frame is an aluminium die-casting consisting of a front and rear section. This layout for the 2009 Kawasaki Ninja enables a very precise and very lightweight construction. The new sub-frame is also very narrow, allowing the rear of the Ninja ZX6R to be very compact and slim. Steering head angle (rake) has been adjusted in order to allow the ZX6R to turn in more easily. An ohlins steering damper has been fitted as standard ensuring that the more agressive attitude of the Kawasaki ZX6R does not get out of hand.

Suspension and Big Piston Forks (BPF) on the new Kawasaki ZX6R

Here's what Kawasaki have to say

Click to enlarge...

"The new BPF is one of the great contributing factors to the new Ninja ZX6R ’s great composure under braking. Compared to a cartridge-type fork of the same size, the BPF features a main piston almost twice the size (φ37 mm vs φ20 mm on ZX6R of 2008); oil inside the BPF acts on a surface area almost four times the size. The larger surface area allows the damping pressure to be reduced while ensuring the damping force remains the same. Reducing the damping pressure allows the slide pipe to move more smoothly, which is especially noticeable at the initial part of the stroke. The result is greater control as the fork begins to compress and very calm attitude change as Kawasaki ZX6R weight shifts forward when reducing speed, and thus greater chassis stability on corner entry. Because the BPF eliminates many of the internal components used in a cartridge-type fork, construction is simplified resulting in lighter overall fork weight. Compression and rebound damping adjustment are located at the top of each fork tube. Preload adjustment is at the bottom of the ZX6R fork."

Read More : http://www.seastarsuperbikes.co.uk/zx6r2009.html

I

Audi A5 Review

Audi A5 Review 1

Audi A5 - What the Auto Press Says

The 2011 Audi A5 ranks 13 out of 21 Upscale Midsize Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of 33 published reviews and test drives of the Audi A5, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.

The 2011 Audi A5 may not be the fastest or sharpest-handling upscale midsize car, but the A5 makes up for it when it comes to style and fuel economy. From its delightful exterior to its handsomely appointed interior, the A5 is pleasing to nearly every reviewer’s eyes.

Although the 2011 Audi A5 is not the sportiest car in its class, plenty of testers enjoy what it is good at: looking good and returning better-than-expected fuel economy. Powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged motor, the A5 produces an underwhelming 211 horsepower. But when you consider the coupe comes standard with Quattro all-wheel drive – convertibles have standard front-wheel drive – and gets an EPA estimated 31 miles per gallon on the highway, the A5 makes a good case for itself.

Most critics agree with Edmunds: “Thanks to its sleek and sexy styling, the 2011 Audi A5 could be a dog to drive and we'd still like it. Luckily, it's quite nice to drive, and fuel-efficient, too."

Other Cars to Consider

If you’re looking for an upscale midsize car, there is a noticeable bias towards performance in this class. With that said, the Audi A5 focuses on being more practical with a hint of sportiness.

If you’re shopping for a car that prioritizes luxury over sport, the Lexus ISconvertible deserves a shot. With two different motors, the IS comes in two flavors: a 2.5-liter V6 producing 204 horsepower and a 3.5-liter V6 making 306 horsepower. Additionally, because the IS convertible has a folding, metal hard-top, it serves as both a coupe and a convertible. However, that luxury eats up trunk space with the top down and the Lexus only comes in rear-wheel drive.

But if you prefer stronger sporting credentials, the BMW 3-Series is a better pick. Prepared to satisfy you with two powerful engines and optional all-wheel drive on coupes, the 3-Series is known for its razor-sharp handling and sporty suspensions. Keep in mind that the 3-Series’s sporty suspension can be harsh during daily driving.

Details: 2011 Audi A5

For 2011, the Audi A5 remains largely unchanged with exception of some engine changes and the repackaging of its options. In a move likely to upset enthusiasts wanting more power, Audi has discontinued the 3.2-liter V6 it used to offer in the A5. Now buyers will only have one engine choice with the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder.

A high-performance A5, the S5, is available as a coupe or convertible, and is reviewed separately.

• "Given the influx of power-folding hardtops in the U.S. market, Audi seems poised to separate itself from the herd. The new A5 and S5 Cabriolets offer handsome styling, whether the top's up or down, impressive cargo capacity, and formidable street cred." -- Motor Trend
• "The A5 is a comfortable, rewarding car to drive, with a beautiful cabin and fuel economy that soars to about 30 mpg on the freeway. Beautiful and sensible -- now that's a combination to fall in love with."--Edmunds
• "All told, the 2011 Audi A5 is a solid choice for anyone looking for luxury, power and technology."--Automobile.com
• "Aside from a few changes to option packages, there are no significant changes for 2011."--Cars.com

Read more :  http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/Audi_A5/

Audi A5 Review 2

Driving

Where Audi really needed to improve its game was in the driver involvement department. With the A5, it has just done that. The coupe features a wide track, its steering has been engineered from scratch, the quattro 4WD is biased towards the rear and the front axle has been moved forward 120mm to counteract understeer. All this work has had the desired effect. The A5 offers meaty steering, good turn-in and, impressively, a better sense of balance than the firm’s storing RS4. Thanks to its 4WD traction, the car is also very efficient through corners – especially slow ones. The trouble is, it doesn’t deliver the same feedback and sharpness as its arch-rival, the BMW 3-Series. Opting for the optional Sport pack would improve things – but would also hurt the ride quality. As standard, the Audi is comfortable, particularly on motorways where it has a quiet, forgiving ride. As for engines, the 3.0-litre TDI has been developed, and now delivers more power. It doesn’t feel like a normal diesel – it’s smoother, with good composure and minimal diesel-like rattles. It pulls cleanly from below 1,500rpm and revs to an impressive 5,200rpm. 0-60mph in 6.2 seconds is potent, though the gearbox is springy and transmits vibrations.MarketplaceThe A5 is impressive in the metal. It’s best viewed from a distance, where you can appreciate the subtle line that forms the car’s shoulder, and the sweeping roof that flows down into the bootlid, ending in a tiny lip spooler. If anything, we thing the rear is more successful than the generic nose, and the front end is only distinguished from other Audis by the standard xenon headlamps with their dramatic LED running lights. Up close, the first thing you notice is how low the A5’s roof is. When you open one of the relatively short doors, you seem to have to dip much lower to get in. but inside, it’s a full four-seater – finally, it’s a return to a market Audi abandoned in 1996. Built on the Modular Longitudinal Platform that will underpin the next A4, the Audi offers a fairly extensive range of engines, including the 3.0-litre TDI we tested, plus a 2.7-litre TDI, a 3.2-litre V6 petrol and the superb 4.2-litre V8 S5. There’s just the single bodystyle. Its arch rival is the BMW 3-Series Coupe – this car is a competitor to that model in absolutely every respect, and you know Audi has benchmarked its Munich counterpart to the nth degree. The Mercedes CLK is an alternative, as is the leftfield Peugeot 407 Coupe.OwningThe interior is all-new for the A5. We expect elements of the design to appear on the next A4, but in the meantime the Audi’s cockpit looks and feels unique. But that’s not to say it’s perfect. The new key is rather clumsy, the switches for the electric windows click nastily and the heating controls are fiddly. Nevertheless, the cabin has a quality feel, while the dash’s wraparound effect enhances this and provides a sense of space. You won’t benefit if you’re sitting on the cramped rear bench, though, while you’ll struggle to get your feet under the front seats. But what’s been taken from rear legroom has been given to the load bay – the A5’s 455-litre boot is huge. It’s pretty economical too, while retained values look extremely glittering.

Read more:http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/newreviews/209763/audi_a5.html#ixzz1U1uXImrb

Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini Review

Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini Review 1

The Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini is adorably tiny, but promises to be packed withsmart-phone features, thanks to its Android operating system. Its 3-inch touchscreen also means this compact phone looks thoroughly usable.

The Mini will arrive in shops this autumn. We don't know how much it will cost yet but, based on the tiny price of its predecessor, the Xperia X10 Mini, we expect it to be cheaper than average.

Mini by name...

The Mini has a slightly larger case than last year's X10 Mini. It measures 52 by 88 by 16mm, which means there's room for a 3-inch screen. The screen is half an inch bigger than that of the X10 Mini, and the same size as the one on the larger Xperia X8. The upshot is that the Mini feels like a tiny phone, but has enough screen real estate to be very usable.

The 320x480-pixel display also uses Bravia video-smoothing technology, named after Sony's line of televisions. In our early hands-on tests, video looked very impressive on the Mini's screen, especially given it's such a tiny phone.

That's good news when it comes to watching the 720p high-definition videos that you can shoot on the Mini's camera. The camera also offers a 5-megapixel resolution for still photos. Stay tuned for our full review to see how the Mini's camera stacks up.

Tiny robot

The Mini may be small but, inside, it's a fully-fledged smart phone. Email, maps and more are all present and correct. Sony Ericsson tells us the phone will launch with the latest version of Android, 2.3 Gingerbread.

Sony Ericsson has customised the user interface to suit the small screen. We thought the changes were worthwhile on the original X10 Mini, but Sony Ericsson has toned down its tweaks for the new Mini, which is a move we agree with, since it has a larger screen. You now get a full Qwerty keyboard in portrait mode, rather than an alphanumeric one, and there's room for multiple Android widgets on each home screen, instead of just one.

There are also shortcut menus that sit in the corners of the screen. In each corner, you can add up to four shortcuts to your favourite apps. The corner menus pleased us on the previous Mini, but we'll have to take the new Mini for a full test drive before we agree that it's still a good idea on the larger screen.

The Mini has a few custom apps, like the Timescape app, which shows an animated stream of your Twitter and Facebook feeds.

Thankfully, Sony Ericsson has resisted making too many changes to Android, and most of its tweaks can be ignored if you don't like them -- for example, the Timescape app. But you are stuck with the dark blue and black colour scheme that Sony Ericsson has imposed on all the menus.

On such a small phone, usability is everything, so we're happy to see that the Mini has a large, finger-friendly home button, flanked by touch-sensitive menu and back buttons.

Shrunken Snapdragon

We haven't had a chance to push the Mini to its limit yet, but, during our brief tests, it felt smooth and responsive. We're not too surprised, since there's a muscular single-core 1GHz Snapdragon processor inside. That should provide plenty of oomph for playing games and apps downloaded from the Android Market.

The Mini also has room for a microSD card, so you can store your photos and apps. You'll probably get a 2GB card in the box, and you could bump that up to a maximum of 32GB.

Outlook

The Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini could be tempting if you're considering upgrading to a smart phone, but don't want one of the massive, sun-blocking slabs that are all the rage at the moment. Its screen is surprisingly spacious, given the phone's amazingly small case, and it even shoots HD video. If it turns out to be as usable as we expect, it could be a winner.

Source : http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/mobile-phones/sony-ericsson-xperia-mini-review-50003867/

Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini Review 2

Sony Ericsson didn't have the best of years in 2010, but one of the few bright spots was the launch of theXperia X10 Mini and its keyboarded sidekick, the Mini Pro.

So it makes perfect sense that Sony Ericsson would choose to reboot the mini marvels this year, and it's done so to great effect.

The Xperia Mini is essentially packed into the same size chassis as its predecessor, but with a three inch screen rather than the 2.55-inch version. The pixel count has been boosted to HVGA (320x480) which means it can now run a much higher percentage of applications from the Android Market.

The increase in resolution really shows too - while we were big fans of the previous phone, the screen's sharpness was a little on the dull side. The Xperia Mini looked bright and crisp, further boosted in media terms thanks to the addition of the Bravia Engine.

The latter feature is supposed to improve video playback on the device, and it certainly did look clear and crisp - but the size of the screen means that it's never going to be your primary media player.

The chassis feels more premium too, with the front home button slightly segregated from the rest of the front... running your finger over it gives a solid feel, with a strong pressing action and easy holding in the hand.

The main thing that really impressed us though was the sheer snappiness of the phone, with the 1GHz Scorpion processor powering through all tasks with veritable aplomb. Given we've been playing with the Samsung Galaxy S2 this week, it didn't feel dissimilar to the snappiness of the Xperia Mini.

The interesting thing about the Xperia Mini and Mini Pro is the placement of ports - well, interesting if you're into that aspect of a phone. The Xperia Mini has the headphone port at the bottom, along with the USB slot, with the power/lock key at the top.

The Mini Pro has all three on the top of the phone - whether the few millimetres difference in thickness between the phones makes a difference, we don't know. But it may make the phone feel a little weird when holding it to watch videos etc, so we'll have to check that out in our full Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini review.

The Xperia Mini also sheds the front facing camera of its keyboarded brother - again, we're not sure whether it's a size thing or people with keyboards love to look at themselves.

The back camera's been boosted to a 5MP offering with 720p video recording with the lovely addition of an LED light for flashing and suchlike. A few quick pics we took showed that the performance was passable - we'll need to give it a good going over to really see if it's just a handy addition or a decent snapper.

Sorce : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/hands-on-sony-ericsson-xperia-mini-review-952661

Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini Review 3

Building on the original XPERIA X10 Mini, the Sony Ericsson XPERIA Mini is a fully featured smartphone in an incredibly tiny package. The XPERIA Mini is a comprehensive upgrade, especially under the hood. It will be powered by a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, up from the 600MHz processor of its predecessor; it will come with 320MB of internal memory, up from 128MB; it will record 720p HD video, up from standard definition video recording. Sony Ericsson claims the XPERIA Mini is the world's smallest Android smartphone that records HD video.

The Sony Ericsson XPERIA Mini also comes equipped a larger 3in display compared to the XPERIA X10 Mini (up from 2.5in) and has a higher resolution of 320x480 (up from 240x320). Like the flagship XPERIA Arc, the XPERIA Mini uses a "Reality display" combined with what Sony Ericsson calls its BRAVIA Mobile Engine. It claims image noise reduction, along with sharpness, colour and contrast enhancements when viewing images and video.

The Sony Ericsson XPERIA Mini runs the latest 2.3 Gingerbread version of Google's Android platform. Gingerbread offers a revamped keyboard, better copy and paste functionality, improved power management, and a slicker user interface as improvements over previous versions of Android.

The XPERIA Mini also comes with a Sony Ericsson custom UI overlay that takes advantage of the smaller screen size compared to most phones on the market. Users can place up to 16 apps in the corners of the XPERIA Mini's home screen and can add widgets to individual home screens like regular Android smartphones. The XPERIA Mini is also one of the first Sony Ericsson smartphones that will ship with 'Facebook inside XPERIA', software that integrates Facebook into commonly used areas of the phone including the picture gallery, music player, phonebook and calendar. The Facebook inside XPERIA feature will soon be available across other Sony Ericsson XPERIA handsets through a future software update.

Source : http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/review/mobile_phones/sony-ericsson/xperia_mini/385556