Here’s the recipe for an Android phone. Take a phone, add Android and then customize it. This formula has worked really well for Google. The bodies of WebOS, S60, Blackberry, Windows Mobile now litter the landscape since since Android and iOS joined the mobile phone war.

However, Google’s Nexus devices are slightly different beast. First off, while they’re from Google, they’re not made by Google. Instead they’re based off of existing devices and contain no customizations or extras from their respective manufacturers.

I think one of the reasons why Nexus devices are so popular is because many people have been using Windows PC’s for years. It’s very common for PC’s to come with all sorts of useless extras like trial subscriptions to 5 different ISPs, Anti-virus software that is constantly asking you to update your subscription, multiple toolbars, useless utilities and just a bunch of crap that no one wants. We’ve been conditioned to not trust manufacturers when it comes to what software they put on our devices.

Here’s the Nexus 4, the sister phone to the LG Optimus G. It shares many of the G’s specs plus it has a similar glass covered body. Unlike the G it’s running Android 4.2 and is a pure Google device.

The fact that it doesn’t contain anything extra is the appeal of Nexus devices. That plus the fact that the Nexus 4 with 8GB starts at $309CAN/299USD unlocked while the 16GB is $359CAN/349USD ...

While Tablets are now the norm, it’s hard to believe that the original iPad only came out about 2 and a half years ago. Tablets have been around for years but it wasn’t till the iPad came out, that they really took off.

Now 2 and half years later, iPads have sort of matured to the point that you don’t have to buy the fanciest one, to buy one that’s usable.

It’s the perfect time for Apple to release an entry level iPad because it doesn’t have to suck. Here’s the iPad Mini. It’s an iPad with a 7.9” display.
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One of the best phones for 2012 was the HTC One X. It was almost the total package. It was fast and had an amazing display. The camera was a blast to use. The only problem with it was that it only came with 16GB of storage. It’s like a sports car that can only seat one person. It’s a blast to use but it’s not very practical.

Thankfully, we now have the One X+. It’s similar to the One X but ups the storage to a much more useful 64GB of storage. You also get a quad-core processor, a slightly bigger battery, and Android 4.1. ...

One thing I admire about HTC is that their phones always have a very original design esthetic. Just like Nokia and Apple, you can spot a HTC phone immediately. While I admire their originality, I haven’t connected with many of their recent phones. Last year’s Amaze reminded me of a bathtub while the One X had to profile of a banana... That is, till I laid eyes on the HTC 8X.

To say that the 8X is beautiful would be giant understatement. Windows Phone is known for it’s distinctive design and the 8X is a wonderful interpretation of it. It’s like one of the Windows Phone live tiles grew up and became a phone. ...

These days, movies cost a lot of money so it’s not uncommon for them to have some promotional product tie-ins. While this can make a movie seem like a commercial, there’s usually a line between what’s acceptable and what isn’t. For example, it would be a sham if Gandalf used a AT&T phone to call Frodo in the Lord of the Rings movie.

Then we have the Sony Xperia T. The phone of choice for James Bond in the new Skyfall flick. If I were to guess what kind of phone James Bond actually uses my guess is that it would be something waterproof, but then again, the T’s a slick device - I could see him using one.
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While it’s been awhile since I’ve reviewed a pair of Bluetooth headphones but I jumped at a chance to try a pair of Parrot Zik’s.




They’re designed by Phillip Starck and are packed with goodies that make the phone nerd inside me drool! Besides Bluetooth, they also have NFC, a removable battery, touch sensitive controls, sensors that can tell when you’re not wearing them and upgradable firmware. Those features are all great but the Zik’s Pièce de résistance is that the Zik comes with its own app. I’ll talk more about the app later.

I haven’t even mentioned the design yet. Unlike all the colourful headphones you see these days, the Zik has a slick modern design. The plastic surfaces are all soft to the touch while the metallic pieces are actually metal. They look really cool and don’t shout “My mom bought me these headphones” like a pair of Beats headphones. ...

Here’s the Xperia Go. An entry level Smartphone that’s waterproof.

I’m impressed that it comes with a dual-core NovaThor U8500 processor and a microSD slot (the Xperia U didn’t) plus you get Android 4.0 (this is a Sony phone). I’m not surprised that it comes with 512MB of RAM has a 5MP camera and 8GB of storage (probably 4GB available). I’m a bit annoyed that it has a 3.6” 430x320 display and a 1305mAh battery. ...

I got a chance to play with the Sony Xperia T. The T is known as the James Bond Phone because he uses one in the new Bond Flick that’s launching soon.

Spec-wise the T is similar to the Galaxy S III and HTC One X (the LTE versions). Dual-core 1.5Ghz Snapdragon S4 processor, 1GB RAM, 16GB built-in storage plus a Micro SD slot, 1850mAh battery, 4.6” LCD display and 12.8/1.3MP cameras. It also supports Mira-cast (video out via WiFi). It ships with Android 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich).




It’s launching on Rogers, TELUS, Bell, Mobilicity, Videotron, MTS plus they mentioned Wind too (though I’m not sure if they got confused). Kudos to Sony for getting it on most carriers!
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So the UPS driver dropped of my iPad mini today. I actually order both a white and black iPad mini. My black one showed up while my white one is back-ordered for 2 weeks.



When I first opened the Mini I couldn't help noticing that the finish feels fantastic. The edges of the bezel are like the iPhone 5 while the back is metal that feels kind of satin-y.



Before I even turned it on I thought that the Mini feels substantially larger than my Nexus 7. The Nexus 7 has a 7" 16:9 screen while the Mini's is 7.9" with 4:3 aspect ratio. In my hand the Mini is a lot wider and not comfortable at all to hold unlike my Nexus 7. ...