Smartphones, tablets, flat-screens among ‘hot’ electronics this Christmas
T-Mobile’s portfolio offers the newest Windows Phone 8 devices — including the Nokia Lumia 810.
This year’s gift-giving season officially kicks off tomorrow and for those whose favorite presents are in the form of wireless devices and electronics, you should know the lineup is wide-ranging and cutting-edge.
Following is a run-down of what some carriers and manufacturers are offering this Christmas:
T-Mobile
T-Mobile’s portfolio offers the newest Windows Phone 8 devices — including the Nokia Lumia 810 and the Windows Phone 8X by HTC — the Google Nexus 4 with T-Mobile as a premier launch partner; and the Samsung Galaxy Note II featuring premium gaming experiences from world-class partners such as EA and MOGA.
The Nokia Lumia 810 offers an enhanced camera with Carl Zeiss optics for crisp photographs, impactful design, integrated wireless charging via swappable back covers, navigation features and high-performance – all in a simple silhouette.
Meanwhile, the Windows Phone 8X by HTC is a premium Windows Phone 8 device that packs a punch with a beautiful 4.3-inch HD-resolution super LCD 2 screen, a powerful dual-core processor and fast speeds running on T-Mobile’s HSPA+42 network. Customers will enjoy the feel of the pure uni-body design in California Blue, access to Windows Phone’s Live Tiles, immersive studio-quality sound with Beats Audio and incredible camera capabilities of the Windows Phone 8X by HTC.
Both devices are powered by the new Windows Phone 8 operating system, making it easy for users to personalize their device and experiences and always stay connected to friends and family. Taking advantage of the only truly Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data plan, on a nationwide 4G network, T-Mobile customers will see a superior value with T-Mobile’s lineup of Windows Phone 8 devices.
Nexus 4 is the latest device in the Google Nexus that features cutting edge hardware designed collaboratively by LG and Google, favorite Google Apps, and the latest version of Android. Nexus 4 comes with a high-performance 8MP camera and takes stunning Photo Sphere images to capture every detail of the world.
With a stunning 7” display, powerful quad-core processor and all-day battery life, Nexus 7 was built to bring the best of Google in a slim, portable device. With a vibrant, 1280-by-800 high-resolution display, Nexus 7 brings apps, games, books and movies to life, all protected under scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass and designed for the whole family to pass around and enjoy. Nexus 7 was built by ASUS and comes with a NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad core processor so everything is faster – pages load quickly, gameplay is smooth and responsive, and running multiple apps is a breeze.
Frances Rodríguez, public relations manager for T-Mobile, gives a rundown of the carrier’s Christmas lineup.
Samsung Galaxy Note II gives customers a powerful all-in-one device with a 5.5 inch HD Super AMOLED screen and a speedy 1.6 GHz quad-core, Samsung Exynos processor that are perfect for gaming, productivity, entertainment and more.
The LG Optimus L9 features a 4.5-inch qHD Corning Gorilla Glass 2 display and equipped with a long-lasting 2,150 mAh battery, users can listen to music, explore the Internet or chat with friends and family for hours with just one charge.
T-Mobile is also partnering with Samsung to deliver the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, a high-powered, premium entertainment device. Running Android 4.0 and powered by a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor with access to T-Mobile’s fast 4G (HSPA+ 42) network, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 is the ideal device for customers who want to stay connected and entertained wherever and whenever.
AT&T
AT&T’s holiday lineup also includes a full-range of devices that couple innovation with productivity.
The Nokia Lumia 920 smartphone includes the latest advances in Nokia PureView imaging innovation. The 8 megapixel rear-facing camera records HD video in 1080p at 30 frames per second, while the front-facing camera records in 720p HD. Using advanced floating lens technology, the camera in the Lumia 920 is able to take in five times more light than typical smartphones without using flash, making it possible to capture clear, bright pictures and video indoors and at night. It also compensates for hand movement while the photo is being taken.
Viewing videos or browsing the web is more enjoyable than ever on the 4.5-inch PureMotion HD+ ClearBlack display, which is made of Corning Gorilla Glass 2.0 and comes with Sunlight Readability Enhancement technology and High Brightness Mode, allowing you to view your screen outdoors, even on a bright day. In addition to its durable, scratch-resistant curved display, the Lumia 920 also has a new sensitive touchscreen that lets you use the device with fingernails or while wearing gloves.
The Windows Phone 8X by HTC combines bold colors with a uniquely slim and stylish design, plus 4G LTE speed, a 4.3″ screen, and Beats Audio. Using the power of Windows Phone 8, the Windows Phone 8X by HTC also helps users stay organized with Microsoft Outlook Mobile, Office Mobile, and Windows Live Messenger.
AT&T’s lineup includes the season’s hottest smartphones, tables at peripheral devices.
The Sony Xperia TL, is the latest Sony smartphone bringing Sony’s best HD experiences, easy connectivity with ‘One-touch’ sharing enabled by Near Field Communications and arc design. This 4G LTE smartphone takes connected entertainment to the next level with new Sony media applications and 13-megapixel primary camera that brings even the smallest of details to life.
The device features a 4.6-inch HD display (1280 x 720), powered by the Mobile BRAVIA Engine for clarity and brilliance. For those looking to take their content from their smartphone screen to the TV screen, Xperia TL connects through MHL or wirelessly through DLNA.
The AT&T Mobile Hotspot MiFI Liberate offers blazing fast mobile Internet speeds for up to 10 Wi-Fi–enabled devices — laptop, tablet, e-reader, or music player and share the speed with family and friends. The vibrant touchscreen makes setup a breeze and lets users manage their connections right from the interactive display. And it stays connected for up to 11 hours.
The 4G connected Samsung Galaxy Camera combines high performance photography with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and AT&T 4G mobile Internet, resulting in a powerful point-and-shoot camera with a familiar, intuitive user interface and access to Android applications from the Google Play market.
The Galaxy Camera is a perfect fit for those who wish to shoot, edit and share brilliant photographs and video easily and quickly through social networks without connecting to a laptop or PC. The Galaxy Camera features a 4.8-inch HD LCD screen, a 21x optical zoom lens and a 16MP backside illuminated CMOS sensor for shooting high-quality images close up and in low light conditions. This device is powered by a quad-core 1.4 GHz processor for quick and responsive performance.
Enrique Niggeman, sales director for AT&T Puerto Rico
“By connecting the Samsung Galaxy Camera through the AT&T wireless network, users can instantly share photos,” said Enrique Niggeman, sales director for AT&T Puerto Rico. “Customers will receive $100 off the purchase of the new Samsung Galaxy Camera when they purchase any Samsung Galaxy smartphone, making the Samsung Galaxy Camera the perfect gift this holiday season.”
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 is a 4G LTE Android 4.0 tablet that delivers entertainment and productivity, combining a 10.1-inch display and premium entertainment options including Media Hub, Smart Remote and AllShare Play.Features like on-device encryption and VPN access ensure the tablet is secure for business use, while the 7000 mAh battery allows for all-day connectivity.
Meanwhile, the Samsung ATIV smart PC combines computing power in an elegant tablet form factor while providing productivity and entertainment features. The ATIV smart PC has an 11.6-inch HD PLS display, 64GB of internal storage memory and a microSD card slot to support up to an additional 32GB of memory and the Intel Atom dual-core processor, up to 1.5 GHz.
ATIV smart PC comes installed with Windows 8 (which can be upgraded to Windows 8 Pro). It is also backward compatible and supports all existing software and applications that run on older windows OS such as Windows 7, Vista, and XP. ATIV smart PC also comes preloaded with a trial version of Microsoft Office 2010 for a complete PC experience and for productivity while on-the-go.
As for peripherals, AT&T is offering the HMDX Jam Bluetooth Wireless Speaker, a compact device that delivers sweet sound in a tiny footprint at a price that makes premium Bluetooth wireless audio available to anyone.
HMDX Jam connects wirelessly up to 30 feet away and works with most Bluetooth-enabled smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktops including iPhone, iPad & iPod. The rechargeable, lithium-ion battery will deliver up to four hours of wireless play. This speaker is compatible with most wireless devices.
Sony
Earlier this month, Sony launched its Christmas lineup with an exhibit at the Plaza Las Américas mall, which features several flatscreen TVs, tablets and cameras.
Heading the lineup is the 84-inch XBR-84X900 TV set equipped with a 4K (3840 x 2160) LCD panel that delivers an image four times the resolution of Full HD and creates an immersive viewing experience previously unavailable from a TV. The XBR 4KTV provides the most immersive picture and sound experience ever available for the home theater.
The Sony Xperia Tablet
Among its key features are LED backlighting; three-chip, 4K X-Reality Pro picture engine; 4K upscaling; 10 unit live speaker system; passive full HD 3D capable; and network connectivity, including the full Sony Entertainment Network suite of services
The Xperia Tablet, the ultimate universal remote with one-touch control of the TV set, cable box and more. It also features a visual TV guide fueled by personal preferences and latest trend from the user’s social media feeds.
The Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 is Sony’s new flagship compact camera, striking the ultimate balance of form and function. At the heart of the Cyber-shot RX100 is the world’s first 1.0-inch type Exmor CMOS sensor with a resolution of 20.2 effective megapixels.
Specially developed by Sony, the sensor has an area that’s approximately four times larger than the 1/2.3-type sensors in traditional point-and-shoot cameras. The sensor’s larger area takes in more light while capturing content, resulting in beautiful, detail-packed images and Full HD movie clips with very low noise.
The larger sensor is partnered with a bright Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T fixed lens with 3.6x optical zoom range. The camera features a high-resolution 3-inch 1,229k dot Xtra Fine LCD display and also adds a new feature: WhiteMagic technology. This uses additional white pixels to boost screen brightness, allowing users to see subtle details and tones on the screen in all types of shooting environments, including outdoors in bright sunlight.
The NEX-F3 digital camera delivers professional quality photos with a compact, pocket-sized body, allowing consumers to explore the creative world of high-quality, interchangeable lens photography in a refreshingly fun and entertaining way.
The device features a space-saving mirrorless design, as well as an advanced, 16.1 effective megapixel Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor, identical in size to sensors found in traditional DSLR cameras. The NEX-F3 camera adds a whole new perspective to self-portraits with a 180° Tiltable LCD screen, a first for Sony’s E-mount camera line. By simply holding the camera at arm’s length and flipping the LCD screen vertically, users can adjust the on-screen preview image and properly frame photos.
Additionally, the new model features a useful built-in flash to broaden shooting options indoors or in low light situations, as well as an “Auto Portrait Framing” feature for creating top-quality portraits quickly and easily.
For the young at heart, the iShop store will have in stock for the holiday season the Helo TC Assault remote-control helicopter that can be maneuvered via iOS and Android devices.
Apple
This year, local Apple authorized dealer iShop will have in stock all of Apple’s new additions, namely the iPad Mini, the iPhone 5 and the next-generation Macbooks. Aside from the much sought-after gadgets, the retailer — which has three local stores — will also offer a gamut of accessories manufactured by the most popular companies worldwide.
One name to be featured is Viastara, which markets more than 144 products under 32 brands: including Moshi and CaseMate iPhone cases, Puma earphones and Griffin electronics — including a helicopter that is controlled from iOS or Android devices — among others.
