T3 Rating

Swing when you are winning

There are four ways to buy a phone on AT&T.

(Credit:Screenshot by Jessica Dolcourt/CNET)

If you're tried of calculating exactly which US carrier gives you the lowest absolute price on any given smartphone, you can start by "blaming" T-Mobile.

Brassy shock-jock CEO John Legere's campaign to position the carrier as the simple, refreshing upstart vis a vis AT&T and Verizon's corporate greed has seen success: T-Mobile has picked up more competitor customers, and AT&T and Verizon rolled out similar up-front pricing and early-upgrade plans of their own.

Today, T-Mobile gives you two ways to pay for a phone (everything up front, or down payment and monthly), Verizon offers three (two-year contract, Edge, and month-to-month), and AT&T provides you with a whopping four (two-year contract, one-year contract, Next, and month-to-month). Some second-tier carriers have also introduced more payment methods as well.

Let's say you'd like to buy the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, which I'm choosing because it's a new phone on all carriers that has not been subject to discount. You now have nine pricing options to compare on T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T alone.

The price of the hardware is just the beginning of working out the phone's total cost to you. There are additional fees to consider, like activation, data plan choices, and how many devices you'll want to connect to a shared data plan, if any. All those factors contribute to the total cost of ownership over the course of two years.

Instead of simplifying anything, the country's three largest carries have now made seeking the best deal into a time-consuming, mind-numbing project.

Does a contract really matter?
These days, I think it matters less if you're technically on a contract or not. As I see it, the main reasons to switch carriers are to get a new phone that a current carrier doesn't have, to get a better deal, or to get better service, either in terms of network performance or customer care. And some of these thorns are going away.

For instance, more flagship devices appear across the carrier spectrum, which eliminates the need to switch providers if customers are happy with their service.

The same can now be said for early upgrades. Thanks to T-Mobile's industry agitations, carriers are understanding that customers want affordable options for switching handsets more often, which takes some of the sting out of getting a new device before two years are up. You'll still have to pay more for the privilege of upgrading (after all, smartphones cost hundreds of dollars each), but you won't have to shoulder the entire cost yourself if you want to switch phones on a whim.

That brings us to the two-year nature of the contract itself. T-Mobile is indeed a no-contract carrier in that it won't penalize you for switching once you pay off your device, but you'll notice that its upfront-plus-monthly pricing plan follows the two-year contract model with 24 neat and totally digestible little payments.

An underlying psychology at play here is that paying off smaller chunks of change in installments makes the product seem more affordable, even if the cost remains identical over time. This, and a carrier's subsidy of a phone with a contract agreement, makes purchasing the most expensive phones seem much more attainable than paying a lump sum. It is a problem of perception that T-Mobile has "exposed" in its anti-contract potshots and tirades.

T-Mobile may not penalize you for leaving, but by hewing to the contract spirit with its two-year payment cycle, it's hanging onto a deeper goal that's the prerogative of all carriers everywhere: keeping you on the network -- and paying those data bills -- for as long as possible, probably two years and quite possibly much longer.

Does cost perception keep you from your best phone?
My main concern, as someone who make phone recommends for a living, is if a higher up-front cost winds up steering price-conscious customers into making concessions they ordinarily wouldn't in order to save money.

If you avoid the pricier handset with an off-contract carrier in an effort to keep costs low, you might still wind up replacing the phone sooner than you would have had you bought the higher-end device in the first place. On the flip side, if buying a more expensive phone on contract feels "cheaper" than buying the same phone off-contract, you could still wind up paying more for the phone and data, depending on your whole kaboodle of needs.

Price is important, of that there is no doubt, but it's still only one piece of the entire smartphone usage puzzle, alongside factors like the carrier's breadth and quality of coverage. Still, in pricing choices that are the most complex I've ever seen them, the industry as a whole is making it harder for buyers to calculate their overall costs, not easier.

Smartphones Unlockedis a monthly column that dives deep into the inner workings of your trusty smartphone.

Moto X

(Credit:Motorola)

The Moto X and its gorgeous display take Round 2 against the iPhone 5S.

A couple of weeks back, I wrote that the iPhone 5S bested the Moto X on physical design.

This week I'm writing about the display. Mostly because I'm wondering why Apple hasn't switched to AMOLED displays.

After using the X's AMOLED display for the last few weeks and comparing it with the 5S' LCD, I think it may be time for Apple to consider AMOLED, as the technology has improved a lot over the last 12 months or so.

The colors on the X's AMOLED displays are more vibrant, richer, with higher image contrast than the 5S' LCD. And the range of colors -- or color gamut -- is greater.

And there's no such thing as viewing-angle image degradation. That is, the image on the X's AMOLED looks virtually the same no matter what angle you view it from.

But Raymond Soneira, president of DisplayMate Technologies, makes a good case as to why Apple hasn't gone with OLEDs, above and beyond Tim Cook's panning of the technology earlier this year.

Soneira has stated in the past that a too-large color gamut can, in some cases, hurt color reproduction -- making the LCD's narrower gamut more accurate.

And, in response to my e-mail queries, Soneira states three basic reasons why he believes Apple has yet to go with an OLED display.

One, OLED displays cost considerably more than LCDs. Two, the power efficiency of OLEDs has been improving rapidly, but LCDs still have better overall power efficiency. And, three, getting OLED displays in the volumes that Apple demands could be problematic (because one supplier, Samsung, tends to dominate production).

And Soneira throws the following into the mix of reasons why OLEDs, in the past, have sometimes fallen short in reviews.

OLEDs are a lot harder to properly integrate, engineer, and calibrate into a device, and most smartphone manufacturers do not have the knowledge or expertise to do it well, so OLED smartphones frequently perform well below their capability. Most other manufacturers engineer OLEDs as if they were LCDs and wind up with a number of performance problems as a result.

And Samsung is making strides with its displays. "We measured an impressive 26 percent improvement in power efficiency between the Galaxy Note 3 and Note 2," Soneira said.

"OLED is a new technology and it is just now getting really good," he added.

That should be reason enough for Apple.

T3 Rating

Puzzler thats rather puzzling

T3 Rating

Prequel that tries its best to flip the bird

AT&T's U-Verse app for Android.

(Credit:Screenshot by Jessica Dolcourt/CNET)

AT&T U-Verse subscribers can now stream about 20 live TV channels from their Android devices, AT&T announced on Monday.

The carrier first unveiled its live TV stations on October 7, rolling out to iOS devices first.

Now it's ready for AT&T's U-Verse subscribers who use the U-Verse app on select tablets and smartphones.

In addition to the 20 live TV stations you can watch outside the house, you can access all 100 live stations from home.

T3 Rating

Happy happy joy joy

They come in a colorful array of orange, green, blue, and black. They are more fun than a barrel of monkeys, and they are aptly named Tankbots. They sort of look like little Smart Cars on tractor treads. There are a few steps that must be followed to get your Tankbot up and running. The first thing you'll want to do is fold down the USB charging tab from the back of the unit and plug it into any USB port. While it's charging, download the Tankbot app for your IOS or Android device. Yes, if works with iPhone, iPods, ipads, and all Android devices. Then turn off the sound from within the system settings. Next, in the remote sensor, install the little hearing aid batteries that come with it. You're almost set to go. Just plug the sensor into a 3.5mm sound jack and switch it on. A blue light will flash. Invoke the Tankbotapp, select your Deskpet and turn it on. On the screen two levers will appear that you can use for remote navigation that commands the vehicle to go left, right, backward and forward. Be warned that they are kind of touchy at it takes some getting used to controlling it. The Tankbothas three modes of operation , all controlled by the on/off button. Push the button to turn it on. When the blue headlights turn on, push it again for autonomous obstacle avoidance and maze navigation. Push it again for free roaming with light and sound. The third push enables remote control mode. Frankly, I had the most fun with the obstacle avoidance and maze navigation mode. I turn it loose on my desk and let it avoid and maneuver around the objects on my desk. It's a hoot. It senses the edge of the desk and turns away. My kids used to have buckets full of Legos. I will I still had them so that I could build a complex maze with them and put the Tankbotthrough its paces. It's surprisingly intelligent. Other than being somewhat touchy to control in remote mode, it seems to have a penchant for tipping over backwards when it runs into certain objects, which I find annoying. Here's a YouTube video to see it in operation. Tankbots are the latest release in the Deskpet menagerie joining Skitterbots that look like red, blue, white or green bodied tarantulas and white, blue, black, or orange Trekbots that look like little, slant-wheeled wheel chairs sans a person. Anyway, the Tankbotwill make an excellent stocking stuffer for Christmas or a welcome little gift any time of year. The street price is around $49.95, but I've seen them for $39.99, but it's a small price to pay for so much entertainment for you, friends, and family.

If you are a gamer, and you like to go mobile with your IOS, Blackberry, or Android phone, you'll want to take a look at Powerskin. It not only protects you device, but it makes the handheld gaming experience more exciting and longer lasting. Two gaming buttons, one on either end control the action.

It makes it more exciting because it shakes, rumbles, and vibrates to give extra stimulus while playing a game. It is also configured to give you a better grip while playing. You can also plug headphones or external speakers into its 3.5 mm jack. The unit has two volume control buttons and a power switch.

It makes it longer lasting because it will extend the playing time with its powerful 2050 mAh battery that will charge your device. Playing time can last up to ten hours between charges. Charging is accomplished with a mini USB cable that can plug into a computer port, car charger, or an AC wall charger.

There are several Powerskin models. There is a model for iPhone and iPod touch. But when you use it with the iPod touch, you will have to shim it into the case because an iPod is not as long as an iPhone. I used a rubber band, and it worked just fine.

Powerskins are also available for select models of Android phones made by HTC, Motorola, Samsung, Blackberry, and the Nintendo 3DS.

Some models come with a kickstand. A series of 4 blue lights indicates the power level on most models, but not on the unit I received. You should charge it for 5 hours before using it the first time.

As a protective skin for your pocket pal, it does a good job and it's lightweight. But is will add a couple of inches to the length and a bit of girth. As a gaming enhancement tool, it is nonpareil.

The list price that came with my media kit was $99.99. But I have seen Powerskins for as low as $44, which seems more reasonable.

T3 Rating

And you will know us from the trail that we lead...

T3 Rating

Unbelievable tech-ers.

I must say that I was surprised when I received this "tablet" for review. Somehow I was expecting a 7 to 10 inch screen, but instead, this unit is about the size of an iPod touch. In fact, that's the best way to describe it. It's an Android iPod touch. It's a bit thicker than an iPod with a smaller touch screen at 3.2 inches with a 400 x 240 resolution and 18 bit color depth. I found the on screen keyboard extremely difficult to use because the screen and keys are so small. It measures approximately 2 1/8 x 4 1/8 x 1/4 inches and weighs a mere 2 1/2 ounces. It has a handsome, sleek, black case. It runs on Android 2.2 with an 800 MHz processor and sports 8 GB of internal memory with no expansion slots for additional memory. It has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, but no GPS. You cannot access the battery and replace it yourself. Battery life of course is variable. On the left side is a volume control rocker switch. Below that is the power switch. On the bottom of the unit there is a mini USB port for syncing and charging. Next to that is a 3.5 earphone jack. The right side and the top has nothing. Below the screen are the usual Android hardware button for back, home, settings, and search. Below that are + and - buttons for yet another sound control. At first I thought it didn't have a camera because there was no lens on the front and none on the top back. Instead, the lens as at the bottom of the unit on the back. The 5 MPX camera shoots both still and video with support for MPEG-4, MPEG-2, Motion JPEG, WMV, FLV, RM, VOB, RMVB, MPEG-2 PS, VC-1, ASF, MPEG-2 TS, H.264, MKV, MPEG-4 ASP (up to 720p), WMV9 (up to 720p). The audio recorder/player supports MP3, WMA, WAV, AAC, AAC+, OGG, FLAC. It has a built-in speaker and microphone. Unfortunately there is no front camera and no flash. The unit comes loaded with software such as Deezer, Ebuddy, Mewbox, Raging Thunder Lite, Touiteur, Quickpedia. The App Library icon will take you to thousands more apps. It also has a nice photo gallery application. The best thing about the Archos 32 is the price. The best price I found was about $87,, which is a lot better than the iPod. If you want an inexpensive, small, handheld tablet, this could be just the unit for you. It does, however, have some shortcomings. The screen resolution is not the best. It lacks a front facing camera and flash. It has no expansion slot and therefore somewhat limited memory. But, all these things cost money, and as is, it sells for a great price.

What will Cellink U do for you? It's an amazing multifunctional Swiss Army Knife everyone will want to have in his or her pocket.

It's a power backup. If you run out of battery on your mobile device, Cellink U can come to the rescue. It will give you an extra 90 minutes of talk time. or two days of standby time. It is supposed to give your device battery a 40% charge boost. It can be used with phones, GPS, cameras, and other mobile devices.

You can charge this Cellink Uback up battery pack from your computer, car, or AC source. It comes with a regular USB male adapter and a Micro USB male adapter. As it is, it's set up for connecting to Android and Windows mobile devices. With an appropriate cable it will work for IOS and those goofy connectors as well. However, there is also a Cellink I with the Apple proprietary adapter. It will charge simultaneously with a mobile device if connected .

It functions as a data link to synchronize cell phonea and computers. It will transfer photos, videos, and data files. It has a micro USB card reader tor an easy, portable way of transferring data. So, the size of its data storage depends on the size of the Micro USB card you use.

Specifications

Charging Current/ Voltage: 500mA/5 Volt
Available Battery Type: Li-ion, Li-polymer
Built-in Battery: Li-Polymer 600 MAh/3.7V
Support micro SD/SDHC card
Protection: Charging system of contant voltage with limited current
Hot Plug & Charge, Hot Plug & Play functions
High Transfer Rate: 20 MG/sec (read); 8MB/sec (write)
Thee LED indicator when device is in use:Blue for data transfer; Red for charging, Green for fully charged
Interface: USB 1.1, USB 2.0
Size: 29mm wide x 75mm long x 15 mm high
Output connector: Micro USB

It comes in a handsome gray plastic case that houses and protects the USB tangs. The diminutive package fits nicely in your pocket or a purse.

Go here to acquire your own: http://www.usbcelldrive.com/products/cellink-u-mobile-charger-and-card-reader-micro-usb/. The cost is $54.95.

T3 Rating

Is there really another need for speed?

Second screen experience makes an impressive debut, but is crying out for more game compatibility

What will Cellink U do for you? It's an amazing multifunctional Swiss Army Knife everyone will want to have in his or her pocket.

It's a power backup. If you run out of battery on your mobile device, Cellink U can come to the rescue. It will give you an extra 90 minutes of talk time. or two days of standby time. It is supposed to give your device battery a 40% charge boost. It can be used with phones, GPS, cameras, and other mobile devices.

You can charge this Cellink Uback up battery pack from your computer, car, or AC source. It comes with a regular USB male adapter and a Micro USB male adapter. As it is, it's set up for connecting to Android and Windows mobile devices. With an appropriate cable it will work for IOS and those goofy connectors as well. However, there is also a Cellink I with the Apple proprietary adapter. It will charge simultaneously with a mobile device if connected .

It functions as a data link to synchronize cell phonea and computers. It will transfer photos, videos, and data files. It has a micro USB card reader tor an easy, portable way of transferring data. So, the size of its data storage depends on the size of the Micro USB card you use.

Specifications

Charging Current/ Voltage: 500mA/5 Volt
Available Battery Type: Li-ion, Li-polymer
Built-in Battery: Li-Polymer 600 MAh/3.7V
Support micro SD/SDHC card
Protection: Charging system of contant voltage with limited current
Hot Plug & Charge, Hot Plug & Play functions
High Transfer Rate: 20 MG/sec (read); 8MB/sec (write)
Thee LED indicator when device is in use:Blue for data transfer; Red for charging, Green for fully charged
Interface: USB 1.1, USB 2.0
Size: 29mm wide x 75mm long x 15 mm high
Output connector: Micro USB

It comes in a handsome gray plastic case that houses and protects the USB tangs. The diminutive package fits nicely in your pocket or a purse.

Go here to acquire your own: http://www.usbcelldrive.com/products/cellink-u-mobile-charger-and-card-reader-micro-usb/. The cost is $54.95.

My relationship with the Archos 80 series has been of growing interest with a few disappointments. Overall, I would say that it is a nice tablet worthy of your consideration depending on your needs.

I have to say I was not too impressed with the first Archos 80 I tried. The first problem with the 3.5 mm charger port, which only worked on occasion. I never could get the USB port to work, and it lacked an SD expansion slot.

As if by magic, somehow the developers received my concerns and addressed the issues in the next release. Suddenly the charging port was the more universal micro USB port, which meant fewer cables and chargers to have to lug around. The USB port worked (most of the time, but more on that later). And, to my amazement, there was a micro SD slot that increased the memory capacity to 32 GB. I was elated and the machine took on a whole new attraction for me.

However, it wasn't all peaches and cream. The USB slot is of very low power and will not work with just anything you plug into it depending on drivers and power requirements. I was elated when I plugged in my 19 inch AOC USB monitor. It worked! But the Archos is not designed to allowing it's native screen and the auxiliary screen to become an extension so that you can drag items back and forth. What a shame.

It's not Archos' fault, but the micro SD memory card is all but useless. In their infinite wisdom, the ICS (Ice Cream Sandwich) developers have disabled the ability to install items on a memory card or to drag already installed items to a storage card. What were they thinking? This feature is simply gone from the system menu. I wish the card slot had a cover. It is entirely too easy to push on the card accidentally. It can fly out without your knowing and be gone. This design needs improvement.

Another disappointment, and again, this is not Archos' fault, is the lack of applications that work with the new ICS system. Many of my old favorites are simply not available yet. I hope they will be soon, but be prepared for some work around solutions, which in a way may be a good thing as you discover new products.

There's a lot of bang for your buck when you purchase an Archos G9 with its 8", 1024 x 768 screen. There's also a 10.1" (1280 x 800) model. Both are built on the latest Android operating system (ICS 4.0+).

There is a standard version and a turbo version. The standard offers OMAP 4 smart multi-core ARM Cortex A9 with a 1 GHZ processor. The turbo version uses an OMAP 4 smart multi-core AMR Cortex A9 with a 1.5 GHZ processor.
Onboard flash memory comes in either 8 or 16 GB.

Video playback features MPEG 4 with H.264 HD up to 1080p @ 30 fps and 10801/720P @60 fps. With optional plug-in the device can play AVI, MP4, MOV, 3GP, MPG, PS, TS, VOB, MKV, FLV, RM, RMBV, and ASF.

Audio playback formats include MP3, WAV (PCM/ADP-CM) AAC, AAC +5.13, OGG Vorbis, and FLAC.

It has a forward facing webcam rated at 720p, but alas, no rear facing camera. Photo viewing is allowed in JPEG, BMP, PNG, and GIF with .srt, .ssa., smi., subtitle formats.

Interfaces include USB, micro SD card, HDMI output (cable sold separately) with WiFI 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1.
The unit also features built-in GPS, stereo speakers, G-sensor, compass, kick stand, and microphone.

The 8 inch unit that I am reviewing measures 10.86 x 6.59 x .46 inches and weighs 17 ounces.

Naturally the lithium battery playback time varies with function and load. It may play music up to 36 hours, video up to 7 hours, and navigation up to 10 hours.

Another nice feature is that the system automatically downloads the latest firmware updates when connected by WiFi.
Prices range from 189 to $322 depending on configuration. Click here to see the options: http://amzn.to/MSNTfL

Even with the minor issues I mentioned above, I am pleased to recommend the Archos 80 G0 as an attractive and serviceable tablet that I am happy to have working for me.

I would also like to complement Archos' tech support and customer service. I found it to be efficient and effective, which is an important consideration when purchasing a product.

The seminal satnav provider has been a long time coming to Android - was it worth the wait?

For fear of dating myself, I remember not leaving home without a folding, windup, analog travel alarm clock. Now, there's probably not a hotel room in the world without a radio alarm clock. Now most people probably use their phone for waking up in the morning. But there's a better way.

I've discovered a speaker system to die for that does it all. The Geneva Sound System Model XS is highly portable. It folds into a study case measuring 6 1/4" x 3 3/4" x 1 1/2" making a compact unit in your suitcase. It weighs about one pound. The XS comes in red, white or black.

I just returned from a road trip on which I visited my brother who would play his iPod on a Bose speaker while barbecuing most nights. At the time, I was impressed with his Bose setup. But, at less than half the size, I would say without doubt that the Geneva system is every bit as good, if not better, and it does a heck of a lot more.

Even with the volume at the highest level on my iPod and on the unit itself, I could not produce any distortion. At lower levels, I began to hear subtle tones that I didn't even know existed in the music. This sound system is a real treat; it fills the room like a concert hall. Close your eyes, and you're in Carnegie Hall.

Here are all the specs:

Model XS - Bluetooth, FM, Alarm Clock, Speakers, Amplifier. All-in-one.
2.1 speaker system with two 1" tweeters and one 2¼" woofer
Bluetooth for wireless audio streaming
When in Bluetooth and Line-in mode, powered by a digital amplifiers for optimal audio performance. When in FM mode, powered by analog amplifier for optimal radio reception
Each speaker individually powered & chambered for accurate acoustics
Rechargeable lithium battery with more than 5 hours play-time
Digital FM radio tuner with auto search function
Digital clock with alarm
LED display for volume/mode/frequency
TouchLight controls backlit, touch-sensitive
Stereo mini line-in jack for external audio
Model XS Specifications
Engineered in Switzerland by the Geneva Lab in-house design team
Cabinet: Piano-lacquered HD composite, available in white, black, and red color
Features
Speaker system: 2 × 1" tweeters and 1 × 2¼" woofer
Power Amplifier: Digital and analogue amplifier (Class A/D) with 12 (2×3, 1×6) watt output
Frequency Range: 80 Hz to 20 kHz
Built-in Audio
Digital FM radio tuner, with auto search function
Connectivity
Analogue Audio in: 1 × Stereo mini line-in with 3.5 mm ( inch) plug for any external audio input, e.g., computer, MP3, TV, wireless music receiver, etc
Bluetooth 2.1 A2DP: for high quality wireless audio streaming
Electrical Requirements
Power supply: 100-240V AC, 50-60Hz
Size and Weight
Width × height × depth (when opened): 6.2" × 4" × 4.5"
Weight: 1.1 pounds
Included Accessories
AC power adapter with cable
Rechargeable 2700 mA lithium battery
Adapter cable for stereo mini line-in: 3.5 mm ( inch) plugs on both ends

Let me tell you about all its capabilities. I mentioned that I have been using it with my iPod touch. It will connect to any device via Bluetooth, which makes it very versatile. If your device doesn't have Bluetooth, it comes with a 3.5 mm double male adapter cable. So, it will probably connect to just about any MP3 type player out there.
But, that's not all. It comes with an FM radio built in. There is also a fold out telescoping antenna for better reception, but I've never had to use it.

Now if only it you could play your Pandora stations on it. Oh, wait a minute, all I had to do was connect my iPod to Pandora via WiFi, connect my iPod to the XS via Bluetooth, and I was playing all my Pandora channels in the highest fidelity. Very cool.

Too bad it isn't also an XM/Sirius receiver in addition to FM. That would make it just about the most perfect unit ever. Oh. wait a minute. I pulled up my Sirius mobile app on my iPod and connected via WiFi and the to XS via Bluetooth. Voila! I was playing my favorite Sirius radio channels on the XS. I guess that makes it just about the coolest travel companion ever.

There is a control panel on the top of the unit with a power switch, + - for clock settings, a Mode button so you can switch between input sources (FM, Bluetooth, cable), < > buttons for changing FM frequencies, and an alarm clock button. The time is displayed in red numerals through the front of the sound grill making it a perfect travel alarm clock.

The developers at Geneva have succeeded in producing a product of superior quality and functionality. It is not by far the least expensive sound system you can acquire, but less expensive ones do not compare in quality and are merely speakers. Most don't even have Bluetooth, not to mention FM and all the other features.

At half the size of my brother's Bose system, which is anything put portable, the quality is the same or better. Surprisingly, at $199, the Geneva XS costs a lot less than the Bose. Now ask yourself, which would you rather have?
Perhaps I should mention that I am the unfortunate owner of an Acer netbook that I take with me as a compact alternative to a full sized laptop. The speakers on this thing are practically none existent. At full volume, you can hardly hear anything. I hooked it up to the Geneva, and suddenly there was sound, great sound. It transformed that sorry netbook into something useful at last.

I hope I have convinced you that this is a must have accessory whether you are a road warrior or a couch potato.

Check it out here: http://amzn.to/N3IjqS. Happy listening.

T3 Rating

Vertical challenges not vertically challenged

From the Simple is Beautiful Collection by Ayano Kimura, this designer case is highlighted with a Milky Way pattern composed of handset Sworovski elements by skilled craftsmen from Bling my Thing.

Swarovski elements are high quality man-made crystals used for high fashion creations in jewelry, clothing, and lighting offered only by the finest designers.

The two cases I'm reviewing today are almost identical in design. The only difference is that the jewelled settings in the lower right corner of the case very by color. One has all clear jewels, and the other has some scattered pink jewels inserted.

These gorgeous, transparent cases will set your Galaxy S3 off like a crown jewel while protecting it at the same time. It features a scratch resistant metallic mirror case composed of tough polycarbonate material.

The elegant, slim, form-fitting design offers easy access to all ports and buttons. It has an extra large camera hole to eliminate flashback glare.

Simply put, you will not find a more elegant, feminine case anywhere. It is the perfect accessory for a classy lady and would make a much appreciated gift.

The manufacturer's suggested retail price is $39. But, I discovered them for less here: http://amzn.to/RZVrUu

T3 Rating

All thats missing is a sheepskin coat

If you are fortunate enough to have a new Galaxy S4, surely you will want to protect it from the rigors of life out there in the real world. If so, you will certainly want to give the new X-Doria Dash Pro case a look-see.

This handsome case comes in your choice of four colors: black, brown, and cabernet. It costs $29.99, and you can check them out here

The leather like cover folds open to make a multi-angle stand for your phone. Its a clever arrangement, and I like it. It is held securely closed with a strong magnetic fastener.

The inside of this folio style case is made of a soft microfiber lining to give it double layered protection from scratches and dropping.

My only wish is that it would stand up in the portrait position and be adjustable that way as well. Then it would be the perfect case.

T3 Rating

Once it has you in its vice, it just wont let go

T3 Rating

Temple re-run, just like in the old days

It may seem as if it should be a little bulky, but its surprisingly light weight and svelt. This highly protective case also sports a holster with a handy, secure belt clip. The multi-layer construction of plastic and silicone provide security for your Galaxy S4. The rubberized coating provides extra gripping power so it wont slide out of your hand. A rotating belt clip allows users to wear the case in any of seven different positions. It comes in six colors including black, white, orange, pink, purple, and blue. All the ports and buttons remain accessible and functional in the case with appropriate openings. And guess what. It has a kick stand, which I applaud. Too bad all cases dont sport kickstands. Not only that, but the holster is included so you dont have to buy it separately. Id say thats a pretty good deal for $49.95. Normally you would pay another $29.95 for a holster. But, hold on. You can get the Active case with holster here for just $43.25.

T3 Rating

Take on your mates in a Six Nations (quiz) clash for the ages and win match balls from the competition...

Koushik Dutta, one of the top developers at Cyanogen Inc., has been working for quite a while now on bringing AirPlay mirroring to Android through its ROM.

In the video after the break, Koush was able to mirror the HTC One to a Nexus 10. He still has some work to do, but hes definitely making progress. Check it out for yourself!

Source: +Koushik Dutta

» See more articles by Harrison Kaminsky