Chris Hall Reviews Archive 
News from Chris Hall
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Motorola Xoom review
REVIEW
Have Motorola jumped the gun?
11 April 2011 12:00 GMT
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The Motorola Xoom is the first tablet to touchdown with Android 3.0, Honeycomb, the Google operating system designed for tablet devices. It’s more than just the first tablet to arrive with a new version of Android - it’s the device that...
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Android 3.0 Honeycomb review
REVIEW
A beta sweet tablet experience
6 April 2011 15:03 GMT
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Android Honeycomb is pretty much the stuff of legends: the great saviour of the Android tablet, the operating system that is going to give the Apple iPad a cause for concern. Finally Honeycomb has arrived and we get a chance to see exactly what it...
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Sony Ericsson Xperia Play review
REVIEW
Is it game on for Sony Ericsson?
1 April 2011 15:01 GMT
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The Sony Ericsson Xperia Play could be the stuff of legend: the Holy Grail of the PlayStation phone has been subject to rumour and speculation for many years. With the meteoric rise of mobile gaming, thanks largely to the iPhone, an Android device...
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Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc review
REVIEW
Arc de triomphe?
30 March 2011 23:38 GMT
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The Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc is a flagship handset from a company that was on the back foot in 2010. It brings with it a wave of exciting technologies - the Exmor R sensor, the Mobile Bravia Engine - it hits the right numbers too - 4.2 inches, Android...
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ViewSonic ViewPad 10s 3G review
REVIEW
Excitement central in Android land?
28 March 2011 16:24 GMT
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The ViewSonic ViewPad 10s comes in two variants, the Wi-Fi only or the 3G version. We managed to get our hands on the 3G version of the 10-inch Android tablet looking to bring entertainment to the masses, with the added bonus of keeping you connected...
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First Look: Xobni for Gmail review
FIRST LOOK You gotta get yourself connected 23 March 2011 14:48 GMT TweetWe’ve always been fans of Xobni, but can’t help feeling that the original form was the best: Xobni for Outlook when it launched in 2008 was absolutely steaming, bringing search results that Outlook itself couldn’t muster. Search now...
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HTC 7 Pro review
REVIEW
Want WP7 with a keyboard?
16 March 2011 16:38 GMT
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The HTC 7 Pro is one of the few QWERTY handsets available for Microsoft's shiny new Windows Phone 7 operating system, also appearing as the HTC Arrive variant for those on the US Sprint network. But will this "pro" model be a business workhorse or...
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HTC Incredible S review
REVIEW
A strong start for HTC in 2011?
10 March 2011 10:01 GMT
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The HTC Incredible has broken out of the US, had an “S” refresh and landed on our fair British isles. It’s the first of a refreshed line of handsets from HTC, riding high on what was an excellent 2010. But does the first arrival bring...
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Acer Liquid Metal review
REVIEW
Not quite the T-1000
3 March 2011 11:26 GMT
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The Acer Liquid Metal continues the work of the Acer Liquid and the Acer Stream that we’ve seen previously. Both handsets have impressed, but lacked the overall wow factor that strong rivals from HTC or Samsung have. With the Liquid Metal, have...
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First Look: Apple iPad 2 review
FIRST LOOK Or is it the iPad S? 3 March 2011 1:46 GMT TweetThe Apple iPad 2 is but a few hours old and we were at the London launch of the new tablet to poke, prod, stroke and caress it for a couple of hours. Steve Jobs certainly seemed excited by the new iPad “1.3 pounds!” he exclaimed repeatedly....
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Apple MacBook Air 11-inch (2010) review
REVIEW
Ultra portable, ultra thin, ultra cool
2 March 2011 12:00 GMT
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The Apple MacBook Air 11-inch pushes into a new space for Apple, slotting between the existing (and refreshed) Air 13-inch, and above the iPad. It means Apple now has a compact and extremely portable format of computer: Apple had always said they wouldn’t...
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TomTom Via Live 120 review
REVIEW
Not a Michelin map in sight
28 February 2011 15:03 GMT
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The TomTom Via Live 120 sits in the middle of TomTom’s range of satnav devices, a step down from their all-encompassing Go line, and above the XL and Start models. The Via Live 120 comes in two versions, European mapping and the “regional”...
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Archos 70b eReader review
REVIEW
Part tablet, part ebook reader
22 February 2011 15:59 GMT
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The Archos 70b eReader cuts a line somewhere between an ebook reader and a tablet. Archos have released a number of Android devices in recent years and this latest addition offers up a 7-inch resistive display and a couple of features specifically...
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First Look: INQ Cloud Touch review
FIRST LOOK Is this the Facebook phone? 9 February 2011 22:57 GMT TweetThe INQ Cloud Touch has been subject to rumour and gossip on a scale not normally seen for a small UK-based company with a portfolio – up until today – that only included two devices. Facebook is a big deal though and this is where the...
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LG Optimus 2X review
REVIEW
A game changing Android device?
4 February 2011 10:43 GMT
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The LG Optimus 2X sees the Korean company mount an assault on the high-end of Android mobile phones. It sits on Nvidia’s brand-spanking new Tegra 2 chipset, which is not only dual core, but promises mobile graphics handling not previously seen....
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Zeal Optics Transcend GPS review
REVIEW
SNOW WEEK: Real-time stats in your goggles
31 January 2011 15:22 GMT
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The Zeal Optics Transcend GPS combine Zeal’s experience in optics with Recon Instruments’ direct-to-eye information system to give you a pair of goggles that will feed you real-time information, such as your speed, distance and temperature...
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Creative ZiiO 7 review
REVIEW
Is Ziis the tablet you've been waiting for?
27 January 2011 12:50 GMT
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We’re at a junction in Android tablets, with last year’s announcements coming to market, just we we’re getting excited about the next influx of tablets. The Creative ZiiO 7 is a little late to the party, typical of the types of device...
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Samsung Wave 723 review
REVIEW
Can Bada beat off the Android onslaught?
25 January 2011 15:21 GMT
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The Samsung Wave 723 (GT-S7230E) is Samsung’s latest Bada phone. If you remember, that’s their own mobile phone software platform. Launched at MWC 2010 on the Samsung Wave, the company has always said it is committed to the platform. It...
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Olympus E-PL2 review
REVIEW
Does this set a new standard for compact system cameras?
17 January 2011 19:53 GMT
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The Olympus E-PL2 replaces, or rather modifies, the Olympus E-PL1, Olympus’ Micro Four Thirds hybrid camera. As an “update” it doesn’t rewrite the book, it doesn’t usher in a new round of features or a new design, but...
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First Look: LG Optimus 2X review
FIRST LOOK CES 2011: We dive into the dual core Android device 13 January 2011 19:53 GMT TweetThe LG Optimus 2X sees a slight change of direction for LG’s Android line and one that we welcome. The Optimus, the Optimus One and the LG InTouch Max (GW620) were all mid-range in their approach, whereas the Optimus 2X is the very definition...
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First Look: Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc review
FIRST LOOK CES 2011: The saviour of SE? 12 January 2011 9:33 GMT TweetTo say that Sony Ericsson had a tough year in 2010 would be an understatement. We slammed the Xperia X10 which was supposed to be their flagship device, we then went on to question the X10 mini and X10 mini pro, although they weren’t without...
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First Look: BlackBerry PlayBook review
FIRST LOOK CES 2011: Enough posturing, what do we think? 11 January 2011 4:29 GMT TweetWe’ve seen the PlayBook on several occasions now. We saw it when announced, we’ve had it demoed, we’ve played with it ourselves, we’ve been through the mill with all the briefings and showcases, we’ve seen videos and read...
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First Look: Samsung SH100 review
FIRST LOOK CES 2011: We look at the connected features 8 January 2011 0:53 GMT TweetThe Samsung SH100 expands on the sort of connectivity we’ve seen creeping into cameras over the past few years. It is now common to have a system whereby you can mark and automatically upload pictures to the Internet on connection to a PC, but...
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Samsung Galaxy Player 50 review
REVIEW
An iPod touch challenger?
7 January 2011 18:35 GMT
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The Samsung Galaxy Player 50 is an Android-based portable media player, offering up a healthy dose of connected magic and Android goodness, along with Samsung’s trademark additions that have made the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S a popular media-savvy...
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Sanyo Xacti VPC-CA100 review
REVIEW
Full HD video and 14 megapixel stills
24 December 2010 8:46 GMT
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The Sanyo Xacti VPC-CA100 is a waterproof “dual camera” as Sanyo puts it. Using the pistol grip form factor, it is called a dual camera because it claims to offer not only Full HD video capture traditionally associated with this sort of...
Acer CloudMobile Ice Cream Sandwich smartphone set for MWC launch 4.3-inch award winner
Best iPhone utilities apps Resistance is futilities?
Samsung not worried by Apple iTV threat EXCLUSIVE: AV boss not concerned
HTC PlayStation certification devices coming 2012, time to get your Crash Bandicoot skills up to scratch EXCLUSIVE: Game on
Samsung Galaxy S III: Review of rumours, features, pictures and specs Thinner, faster, better
New HTC Ice Cream Sandwich device pictures leak Another one for the rumour pile...
Samsung O table is for the kitchen of the future Flexible hob
Nokia 700 Sleek and desirable Nokia
LG Miracle picture and details leak Update: More pictures from the wild
Google home entertainment device detailed WSJ solves device mystery
More leaked iPad 3 parts help form bigger picture - including Sharp Retina display iPad 3, in kit form
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0) pictures and hands-on Up close with the ICS tablet
Tesla Model X SUV goes back to the future DeLorean lookalike announced
APP OF THE DAY: Tweetbot review (iPad) Should a Twitter app cost?
New Apple TV leaked in software update? iOS 5.1 says so
Panasonic Lumix GX1 review
The one?
Sony PlayStation Vita review
Curriculum Vita
Nokia Lumia 710 review
WP7 on a budget
GoPro HD Hero2 review
Amazing things come in small packages
HTC Explorer review
A phone for people who make calls
BlackBerry Torch 9810 review
Middle of the road
Sony Alpha A65 review
Affordable SLT. But is it a DSLR-beater?
BlackBerry Bold 9790 review
To boldly go where we've already been before
Fiat 500 TwinAir Plus review
Two-cylinder beast
Motorola MotoACTV review
Just add exercise
Motorola Xoom 2 Media Edition review
Mini Xoom
BlackBerry Porsche Design P'9981 review
For the fast lane
Sennheiser IE80 review
Tune that bass
Kingston Wi-Drive review
Expand your storage
Huawei Ideos X3 review
Cheap but imperfect