Chris Hall News Archive 
Reviews from Chris Hall
-
Mio Cyclo 305 HC pictures and hands-on
HANDS-ON Get on your bike 22 May 2012 14:57 GMT TweetMio has announced a new line of bike computers which draws on the company's experience in the satnav arena. We've managed to get our hands on the Mio Cyclo 305 following its announcement yesterday.
The Cyclo 305 is a complete package for your...
-
Nikon Sportstar EX binoculars pictures and hands-on
HANDS-ON Perfect for London 2012 22 May 2012 11:52 GMT TweetNikon UK, as an official licensee of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games, has released a London 2012 edition of it Nikon Sportster EX binoculars.
With the London 2012 logo emblazoned on the body in pink, the binoculars are compact...
-
Pentax Optio LS465 camera offers compact customisability, at little cost
16-megapixels of cover-changing fun 21 May 2012 23:00 GMT TweetThe Pentax Optio LS465 continues the trend of offering owners the chance to customise their compact camera.
Like last year's Pentax Optio RS1500, the Optio LS465 features a clear removable front cover, so you can change the front design of...
-
Pentax K-30: 16-megapixel weather-proofed mid-level DSLR
81 seals makes this one tough cam 21 May 2012 23:00 GMT TweetPentax is expanding its line-up of DSLR cameras, with the introduction of the mid-level Pentax K-30.
The Pentax K-30 will offer photographers a compact and lightweight DSLR with the benefit of weather proofing, as seen on the existing K-5 and...
-
APP OF THE DAY: WhatsApp review (Android)
Instant message, cross platform 21 May 2012 20:07 GMT TweetSmartphones are great for keeping in touch, be that with friends, family or colleagues. It really doesn't matter what device you have, there are plenty of options available to you.
SMS and MMS messaging is great, but sometimes you want something...
-
Panasonic H-HS12035 Lumix G X lens announced, hints at weather-proofed GH3
Premium MFT lens 21 May 2012 6:00 GMT TweetThe latest addition to Panasonic's Lumix G X Vario lens range is the H-HS12035, a 12-35mm constant f/2.8.
The new Micro Four Thirds lens is pitched at the high end, sitting above the regular G Series lenses, and joins the two X lenses launched...
-
Sony Vaio E Series pictures and hands-on
HANDS-ON Everyday laptops 18 May 2012 13:22 GMT TweetThe Sony Vaio E Series laptops are designed as everyday laptops, with a fresh new "wrap around" design for 2012. This reminds us slightly of the folded design of the Sony Tablet S and it's a design we like.
Separating the E Series from models...
-
Sony Vaio S Series pictures and hands-on
HANDS-ON 13-incher fondled 17 May 2012 17:38 GMT TweetThe updated Sony Vaio S series ushers new Intel hardware into a body that's constructed from premium materials giving you a slim and portable powerhouse.
The starting price sets it close to the asking price of the Sony Vaio T13 Ultrabook, but...
-
Sony Vaio T13 Ultrabook pictures and hands-on
HANDS-ON Sony's first Ultra 17 May 2012 16:47 GMT TweetSony is setting a trend by not jumping on the bandwagon as soon as it starts rolling. It was slow off the mark with its Android tablet, for example, and it has been relatively slow to bring out its first Ultrabook.
But with time comes the chance...
-
HTC Desire C pictures and hands-on
HANDS-ON Could sell like er, wildfire 17 May 2012 14:02 GMT TweetThe HTC Desire C is the newest addition to HTC's 2012 line-up of Android devices, joining the HTC One series and seeing a diversion from what we thought was going to be a clean and simple approach to naming.
We can't quite see the logic behind...
-
GoPro Dive Housing will maximise your HD Hero performance underwater
For snorkelling or diving 15 May 2012 15:45 GMT TweetGoPro has announced a Dive Housing for its HD Hero line of action cameras. The new accessory will enable you to get the best possible results at depths down to 60m.
If that depth sounds familiar, that's because it's the existing rating of the...
-
APP OF THE DAY: Cinemagram review (iPhone)
The common GIF goes arty 14 May 2012 18:00 GMT TweetApps that make it easy to do something clever will always be popular. Plenty of apps have picked up on the retro imaging trend and that doesn't appear to be slowing up.
Today we're looking at an app that might achieve great success, but its...
-
Leica X2 APS-C compact camera promises high performance at a price
Premium 24mm compact 10 May 2012 22:18 GMT TweetThe Leica X2 supplants 2009's X1 as the German company's premium APS-C compact camera. It offers a fixed 24mm (36mm in 35mm terms) Leica Elmarit f/2.8 lens.
The body, which is pretty large at 124 x 69 x 51.5mm, reflects classic Leica design...
-
Leica V-Lux 40 brings 20x zoom to the discerning traveller
Or anyone not wanting a Lumix TZ30 10 May 2012 21:21 GMT TweetLeica has announced its latest compact camera, the Leica V-Lux 40. As previously, the new compact model is based on its existing partnership with Panasonic.
The Leica V-Lux 40 features a 20x optically stabilised zoom lens, offering a range...
-
Leica M Monochrom: Full-frame digital black and white snapping rangefinder
World's first, for purists 10 May 2012 20:50 GMT TweetLeica has unveiled the world's first digital monochrome rangefinder, a camera designed specifically for black and white photography and known as the Leica M Monochrom.
Built on the beautiful Leica M design, the diecast magnesium alloy body...
-
Vodafone UK telesales offering Samsung Galaxy S III on 29 May
UPDATE: Voda says not so fast 10 May 2012 20:11 GMT TweetVodafone says it has "priority" on the Samsung Galaxy S III, offering UK customers the handset a day early on 29 May.
"Samsung have said 30 May, but we've been told we can have it on the 29 of May," a Vodafone salesman told Pocket-lint over...
-
APP OF THE DAY: National Rail Enquiries review (Android)
Get me home 10 May 2012 18:00 GMT TweetWe all remember putting through those calls: "Hello, when is the last train from Waterloo…?". Timetables are one thing, but being able to talk to a human being who can answer your simple questions was one of the charming things about phoning...
-
Orange TVcheck app auto recognises programmes, makes TV social
Tweet, Facebook, quizzes and more 9 May 2012 21:01 GMT TweetThe Orange TVcheck app has landed in the UK, with the aim of making the "second screen" (that's your phone) an interactive TV partner.
After a successful launch of the app in France in September 2011, the TVcheck app will automatically detect...
-
BlackBerry Curve 9320 pictures and hands-on
HANDS-ON Baby BB curves explored 9 May 2012 16:37 GMT TweetThe BlackBerry Curve 9320 is the new baby of the BB Curve family, effectively replacing the popular 9300, or BlackBerry Curve 3G as it was otherwise known.
The new model is designed to appeal to those looking to make their first foray into...
-
Samsung S Pebble pictures and hands-on
HANDS-ON Basically an iPod shuffle 4 May 2012 9:25 GMT TweetAnnounced alongside the Samsung Galaxy S III, the Samsung S Pebble is a small accessory MP3 player to accompany your phone.
Your first reaction might be to wonder why, when you've you got a smartphone, you'd need an additional MP3 player. It's...
-
Can the Samsung Galaxy S III topple the HTC One X?
It might come down to a plastic cover 3 May 2012 20:51 GMT TweetThe world has waited with barely bated breath for today. The day that Samsung launched the Samsung Galaxy S III. The Samsung Galaxy S III is the first device that's really seen the sort of crazed attention you associate with the Apple iPhone.
Today's...
-
Samsung Galaxy S III accessories announced: AllShare Cast Dongle, S Pebble and more
Everything you need 3 May 2012 20:16 GMT TweetSamsung today announced a line-up of accessories for its new Samsung Galaxy S III smartphone.
To support the features of the new smartphone, there will be a range of media accessories, as well as more conventional docks and covers.
We're...
-
APP OF THE DAY: Tap the Frog review (iPhone)
Tap, flick, think, play 3 May 2012 18:00 GMT TweetWith so much going on in the app space, it's easy to overlook games. So today we look at something that's been around for a while, but it well worth playing if you haven't seen it before.
It takes a slightly different approach to gaming, offering...
-
Samsung Unpacked 2012: We're here at the Samsung Galaxy S III launch
All the details, as they happen 3 May 2012 17:49 GMT TweetThe rain has abated here in London's Earls Court and we've made it to Samsung Unpacked 2012, where Samsung is going to be unveiling the next Samsung Galaxy.
Known to its friends as the Samsung Galaxy S III, the big question is whether Samsung...
-
Windows Live is dead: Long live Microsoft account
Microsoft cleans up branding 2 May 2012 22:38 GMT TweetMicrosoft is making a lot of noise about its cloud services in the run up to the launch of Windows 8. Today the computing giant announced a change it will be rolling out over the next few months in branding for its cloud services.
Windows...
APP OF THE DAY: Tom Daley Dive 2012 review (iPad / iPhone / iPod touch) Splooosh!
Sony Vaio E Series pictures and hands-on Everyday laptops
APP OF THE DAY: The Weather Channel review (iPhone / iPod touch) Tonight for the first time, just about half-past ten...
Canon EOS 650D coming in June - specs leaked About time and all
Diablo III collector's edition pictures and hands-on
Want to transfer Android apps to a Windows Phone? Microsoft would like to help Showing App-titude
Samsung Galaxy S III receives 9 million pre-orders Are you one of the crowd?
ICANN and the dot anything: do we care about domain names? The web is changing
WIN: Tickets to Ibiza Rocks to see Maverick Sabre and Labrinth live Epic prize courtesy of Sony
Olympic diving hope Tom Daley gets own iOS game Tom Daley Dive 2012
Cisco Linksys X3000 One for basic users
APP OF THE DAY: WhatsApp review (Android) Instant message, cross platform
Steve Jobs dreamt of creating an iCar What might have been
Twitter suggests who to follow according to your web history Separate the 'tweet' from the chaff
Pentax K-30: 16-megapixel weather-proofed mid-level DSLR 81 seals makes this one tough cam
Olympus OM-D E-M5 review
The compact system camera to beat all others?
Nokia Lumia 900 review
Is big beautiful?
HTC One V review
V for victory?
Huawei Ascend G300 review
Big bang for your hundred quid
FIFA 12: UEFA Euro 2012 review
Lacks polish, if not the Polish
Asus Transformer Pad TF300T review
Transforms your money in to a great tablet
BlackBerry Mini Keyboard for PlayBook review
Will this make working on the go easier?
Fujifilm X-Pro1 review
Like a Leica
Nikon Coolpix P510 review
Does the P510 zoom beyond expectations?
Volkswagen Beetle Design 1.2TSi DSG review
The bug is back. Again.
The Walking Dead: The Game review
Fleshed out zombie bonanza
HP Envy 14 Spectre review
The Ultrabook that isn't an Ultrabook
Fujifilm FinePix HS30EXR review
Can Fujifilm’s latest put the ‘super’ in superzoom?
Nikon Coolpix S6300 review
Point, shoot and scoot