SPEED:

1. HTC Desire:
Qualcomm Snapdragon QSD8250 1 GHz processor

2. Apple iPhone 4:
1 GHz Apple A4 processor

Navigation wise, both are equally fast. But for gaming, iPhone 4 is better because HTC Desire has no dedicated graphic engine.

SCREEN & RESOLUTION:

1.HTC Desire:
3.7 inch, AMOLED capacitive touchscreen with 16 millions color.
480 x 800 pixels.

2.Apple iPhone 4:
3.5 Inch, TFT capacitive touchscreen with 16 millions color and IPS technology.
640 x 960 pixels (Retina display – 4 times clearer than previous generations.)

HTC Desire screen is simply beautiful but iPhone 4’s IPS and Retina Display are far superior to HTC Desire’s AMOLED

CAMERA & VIDEO RECORDING:

1.HTC Desire:
5 Megapixels, LED flash, face detection and auto focus.  (with camera options)
Recording at WVGA (800×480 pixels) for 15fps

2.Apple iPhone 4:
5 Megapixels, LED flash and auto focus.
Recoding at 720p for 30fps.

Clearly, iPhone 4 is far superior in Video Recoding and takes better photo quality. But rumors have it that HTC Desire might be getting 720p recording in future update.

OS & AVAILABLE APPS:

1.HTC Desire:
Android OS 2.1 Eclair (Soon be upgraded to Froyo 2.2 with full flash support and 2x to 4x times speed increment.)
More than 70,000 apps

2.Apple iPhone 4:
iOS4 with multitasking, folder managment and etc.
More than 200,000 apps.

iOS4 is fast, so is Android. If you need freedom (rooting) and widget, Android will be your choice. But iOS4 has more quality games.

CONCLUSION

HTC desire is definitely one of the best smart phone out there. But iPhone 4 is far superior in term of features and available apps. With Apple’s new gyro sensor, secondary camera, IPS & retina display, noise cancellation, extremely durable battery and A4 processor (used in iPad), HTC Desire is still behind. But of course, HTC Desire is value-for-money compared to iPhone 4 and you got the freedom to root your phone, Google apps integration and interactive widgets. So it is the choice for techno geeks like myself.

Now let me explain how that makes it a new technology. Mainstream 3D cameras (or stereo cameras) utilise two (or sometimes more) lenses to create a stereoscopic or 3D image by capturing two separate images from two (or more) different perspectives. The two images are then overlaid and by using red/blue anaglyph filters, polarization or viewing the images on a specially treated screen, it simulates human binocular vision to give it a three dimensional view.

The new Exmor R CMOS-sensor-based Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5 (left) and Cyber-shot DSC-TX9 (right) are the first of their kind to offer a 3D panorama mode that allows you to shoot 3D images with a single lens. To do this, you only have to press the shutter button and pan it across the scene and the camera automatically stitches a 3D image for you. Then you view it through special glasses on a compatible HDTV set to see the 3D effect.

The main shortcoming of this one is that although the 3D image displays fine on other monitors, in order to obtain the proper 3D effect, you need to view the images through Sony’s Bravia HDTV while wearing the company’s Shutter 3D glasses. A hefty investment just to view images shot through these cameras.

The video of the iPhone 2G running Android can be found here, and its currently in Alpha, although the hacker stated that porting it over to the 3G hardware will be relatively simple, although getting it to work on the 3GS might be a tad more difficult (probably due to the huge hardware change between the 3G and 3GS).

Now some might be wondering…WHY are people doing this? Well mainly to prove to others that they can. The Android installation is native (not running under an emulator) and the speed is pretty decent, although it’s the older version of Android, not the latest 2.1. Personally I don’t see the advantage of doing this, other than a way of telling other people how awesome their hacking skills are. Most newer Android devices out there have specs that outmatch even the 3GS and costs less (unlocked), making it a moot point. I guess you could show off to your friends by running Android alongside the iPhone OS, but from a practical standpoint it’s just a waste of time.

But if you ever thought “I wonder if it could work…”, you now have your answer. The tech world gets crazier and crazier every single day =).

PDF is a great format for computers, but on the limited screen of a phone, they are hopeless and very hard to navigate, requiring lots of panning around and waiting for the phone to ‘redraw’ every time you pan the view. I started my quest to hunt for the best ebook readers for smartphones and this is the results.

If you are on the iPhone OS platform (ala iPad, iPod Touch or iPhone), things are extremely simple for you. Simply download the Stanza app, which includes a desktop client. From here on, everytime you turn on your iPhone and connect to your home network, launch Stanza on your phone and computer and they will connect to each other automagically. After that, just click and drop your favourite books from your desktop and it will automatically upload them to your iPhone. It’s  a really genius interface and makes transferring books a painless and near foolproof process.

Stanza is able to convert almost any text medium, including PDF, RTF, MS Office, ePub and a host of other formats.

If you are on Android, things are a bit tougher. Currently my favourite eBook reader app for Android is Aldiko, which performs pretty much the same functions as Stanza on the iPhone. However, Aldiko lacks a desktop client, so you can only get books either through the Aldiko store or by copying it into your phone memory. Aldiko only supports the ePub format, so if you have any other formats, you will need to find a converter for it.

For other smartphones such as Blackberry and Symbian, there are also plenty of ePub readers out there and it should be no problems getting one.

One reason why I prefer the ePub format is because this format will be the future de facto standard for electronic books. It is currently supported by most, if not all, major eBook readers such as the Amazon Kindle, Hanlin and its clones, the Barnes & Noble Nook and so on. Converting your collection over to ePub now ensures future compatibility and less hassle.

Which brings the topic to ePub converters. Stanza does a wonderful job converting all sorts of format into ePub for its iPhone software and the ease of use makes it the top choice converter if you are on the iPhone platform. For Android and other platforms, your best bet is Calibre, an open source Ebook Manager which comes with a powerful converter. Fans say the conversion from Calibre is of higher quality than Stanza, and supports graphics.

Using Calibre is pretty simple, you just install it and start adding books into its database. There is a Convert button which you can click to convert from almost any format to ePub. Once conversion is done, you can choose to transfer it to your phone’s memory. On the iPhone, unless you have jailbroken it, copying is not so easily done as the computer does not detect the iPhone as a Mass Storage device, so you are better off using Stanza’s automated functions.

Enjoy carrying your library in your pocket! And not just your music library, but books as well.

However the rapid growth of Android has been rather alarming. No sooner did Android 1.0 launch, Google engineers were already working on the 1.5 Cupcake update, followed a few months later by the 1.6 Donut. Every week, new updates to Android were being pushed out at a frenetic pace.

The upside is that the operating system has some of the best features that can be found on the smartphone market, bar none. Although iPhone OS came first when the iPhone launched a good few years ago, they still lacked basic functions like multitasking and copy & paste whereas Android has already received such features – and more – in the short span of a few months!

The growth and fragmentation of Android became a problem, however. Currently there are three versions available, the 1.5, 1.6 and 2.1 update. Why are there such fragmentation? It’s partly to do with the myriad of devices that are currently out on the market, each with different configurations of RAM, Processing power, graphics chips, etc. It’s quickly becoming a nightmare for Android developers to keep all these devices chugging on a single build of Android and thus we end up with this situation.

Google has acknowledged the situation and is reportedly working on a way to reintegrate all of Android’s features under one common release which will be able to function across all devices, no matter how powerful (or weak) their hardware is. It’s certainly no easy feat, given even Apple, which has controlled the hardware specs of all their iPhones, are still slow in developing their own operating system.

Froyo will be the next big Android release and Google promise to unify all the different flavours of Android all under this one roof. Of course, you can’t expect the latest and greatest feature to work on a 2 year old HTC Dream/G1, so the new update will detect the hardware capabilities of your phone and configure itself accordingly in order to provide an optimal user experience without bogging down the hardware. Sounds good so far. Rumors have it that later this year, Google plans to move all devices over to the 2.1 firmware, yes even the old venerable G1, and solve the big problem of platform fragmentation once and for all.

For the consumer, we may finally see the year when Android stops being a Geek’s wet dream and a serious consumer-level smartphone operating system.

Paladone’s Hover Football is what I am actually talking about. Well, it is called a football, and looks like one, but kick it anywhere within your home, and worry not about breaking anything! Unbelievable? There’s more! The Hover Football basically floats on a self-invented air cushion, thus you would find it hovering around your home innocently, waiting to be kicked.

The existence of a soft bumper within the gadget allows it to bounce off any surface without damaging it. Very useful if you ask me! And when the World Cup fever kicks in, trust me when I say that it would be on the receiving end on more than a few occasions! Hats off to Paladone for such an inventive product, definite to capture the imaginations of many this summer!

The gadget-frenzy for the 2010 World Cup is set to increase exponentially within the next month or so. So keep your fingers crossed for more imaginative items to unfold before the World Cup starts this June in South Africa, they would undoubtedly fulfil your football and toys appetites at the same time!

Kodak Pulse Digital Frame

In April 2010, Kodak will be launching the Kodak Pulse Digital Frame. This sleek 7 inch baby features a 800×600 pixel high-quality interactive touchscreen display and a 512MB built-in storage capacity. It also comes with WiFi connectivity and a dedicated email address so that users can upload images directly to the device without the hassle of having to install any complicated software.

Riding along with the social media trend, users of the Kodak Pulse can now connect to their Facebook account so that latest pictures of their vacations and special functions can be automatically uploaded and displayed on the frame. Fantastic way to stay tuned with what your friends and family are up to, all by just glancing at your Kodak Pulse Digital Frame. Expected to retail at USD129.99 (MYR430).

Female iPhone Apps

These days there are as many females using the iPhone as there are males. That is probably why iPhone app developers see the potential in targeting iPhone-obsessed females who want fun, cool and functional applications that complement their busy schedules.

No more searching frantically for the shopping list just before heading out to the store. With Grocery Gadget, all shopping needs are safely stored in the palm of your hand. It helps to save time by organising household goods in reusable lists, allowing you to quickly identify items for purchase. Pictures and details of items can also be stored so that even if you were to pass the shopping chore to the daft male (i.e. husband or boyfriend), he will not end up buying the wrong product. Download for USD4.99 (MYR16.50).

If you are a mom-to-be, the iPregnancy app (developed by a practising gynaecologist) might be the perfect tool to help keep track of your pregnancy. This one stop app includes so many useful features that will actually save you the time and money spent surfing the internet or browsing bookshops for pregnancy-related information.

These exciting features include a due date calculator, 3D ultrasound picture of the baby, information about the baby according to the gestational age, baby name picker, ideas on how to prepare for the baby, mummy weight gain analysis and recommended questions to ask your doctor, and many more! Download for only USD3.99 (MYR13.00).

KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixers

What you see is not just a cake mixer. And don’t let the shiny paint fool you to thinking it’s a pretty face without substance. This is the KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer, the ultimate dream appliance for any homemaker who loves spending time in the kitchen whipping up scrumptious meals and desserts for the family. This stylish baby which comes in an array of pretty and vibrant colours can knead dough, mix batter and even make pasta, ice cream and meringue. Its well designed and easy to wipe parts also make cleaning up breeze. Who needs a maid when you own a KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer?

It is priced slightly on the high side, at USD349.99 (MYR1,158) but is worth every cent as reviewers rave about how it will change your cooking experience altogether!

iRiver Hello Kitty PMP

Hello Kitty is back and this time she is small, black, sleek and plays music! Probably one of the latest and trendiest gadgets in town. Neither too childish, nor too geeky, this portable media player from iRiver has managed to blend fun and functionality with feminine sophistication.

It is available in 2GB and 4GB storage capacities and comes with matching ear phones, a lanyard and a USB cable for easy access to the computer. The device only weighs 16 grams and supports MP3 and WMA audio files. Currently the Hello Kitty PMP is released only in Japan and costs around USD90 (MYR300).

Zeno Hot Spot Blemish Clearing Device

Every girl’s worst nightmare is for a zit to suddenly sprout on her face days before a hot date. Pimple creams are not only messy but they don’t exactly smell very nice. This is when technology steps in and takes charge of the situation.

Zeno Hot Spot is a blemish clearing device, small enough to fit into any handbag and zaps pimples away. Just hold this battery operated hand-held device and point the treatment tip to your problem spot and let it perform the job. The heat radiation kills off pimple-causing bacteria and within 24 hours that unsightly little bump is significantly reduced, if not completely eliminated. Zeno Hot Spot is not available in Malaysia, but it can be purchased online for USD39.99 (MYR132). What a steal for quick, painless and effective pimple-removing treatment.

Thinking of what to get that woman in your life for her birthday? Look no further than the Kong Technology’s Top 5 Gadgets for Women list. But plan early because you would probably have to ship some of them in!

Be prepared to anticipate incredible depth and clarity perfection with a whole range of new 3D LED TVs from Samsung, from the entry-model 46-inch C7000 series, to bigger models such as the 55-inch. For now, viewers are expected to wear a pair of electronic glasses that opens and closes in quick succession, providing you with the perfect 3D effect and experience.

The recent rise of popularity of 3D TVs is attributed to the success of Avatar, a recent 3D blockbuster made by master-director James Cameron. And the World Cup is set to reap dividend from this recent interest in 3D TVs as more of the population are expected to invest in 3D TVs ahead of the World Cup this summer to get the best viewing experience possible!

Hats off to the cool dudes at Samsung Electronics in Korea for this amazing invention, and for the impeccable timing as well! Samsung disclosed that they are planning to enrich the way viewers watch sports, movies and TV at home. We believe you guys, completely!

Collaborating with FIFA, Sony has managed to make football’s governing body to allow them to capture 25 matches at South Africa 2010 in full 3D mode, allowing football fans all around the world to watch the most important matches on the planet in a 3D-perspective! Well, if you are indeed a football fan, this would interest you greatly, but if you are not, then you would do well to flip the page!

Watching a tournament as huge as the World Cup in 3D would indeed be a breathtaking experience, as it provides you with the feeling of almost being at the stadiums themselves in South Africa! Then again, you would need to have a compatible TV set to be able to obtain this viewing pleasure.

Using the world’s most watched sports as the medium to market their 3D TVs is indeed a masterful tactic by Sony, and broadcasting the matches through 3D-perspective would give viewers an absolutely amazing and different experience than ever before! And before you know it, the 3D-craze would be all over the place, with Sony leading the pack as the pioneers!

If you aren’t about to get a 3D TV set yourself, don’t you fret! Sony have confirmed that they are hosting “Fan Fests” in seven different cities across the globe to introduce to the world the ultimate experience of 3D-cameras and TVs, and the ever-popular 3D Bravia sets would be set into prominence here without a doubt! The Sony Bravia comes with the futuristic RealD 3D technology that would certainly blow you away, technology-wise! Fans could watch their favourite team play and battle in out against each other in 3D, and what better stage than the World Cup?

The 3D-mania is set to take over the globe, and is the next-big thing without a shout of a doubt! The question remains, when will you choose to be part of this craze? Why not let Sony convince you?

Recently in November 2009, Nokia released their latest Flagship model – the N900 – right after the N97 Mini. The Nokia N900 is a special phone, it’s not just a phone, it’s a mini computer or you can call it an Internet Tablet much like its ancestor, the Nokia 770, N800 and N810.

Being Nokia’s flagship model, the N900 has several unique features that most of the phone in the market doesn’t.

Nokia N900 key features,

-         ARM Cortex A8 600 MHz CPU with PowerVR SGX graphics (The one in iPhone 3GS)

-         Best web browser in the market with Full AJAX, Javascript and Flash Support!

-         Adobe Flash Player 9.4 (It’s not Flash Lite 3.0 and Flash 10.1 player is on it’s way to N900!)

-         32GB Internal Storage (27GB usable), memory card expansion slot. (You can make it up to 64GB of total storage!)

-         1GB Application RAM (256MB physical RAM, 768MB virtual RAM) Multitasking is the King!

-         Maemo 5 Operating System (Coolest OS ever!)

-         QWERTY Keyboard

-         3.5 inch resistive touchscreen at 800 x 480 pixels resolution! (iPhone has 320 x 480 pixels only)

-         Built-in FM Transmitter

-         5 Megapixels, Carl Zeiss optics camera with Auto focus and Dual LED Flash. Video recording at WVGA, 848 x 480 pixels at 25 FPS.

-         Integrated A-GPS with FREE Ovi Maps.

-         Skype and Google Talk integration

-         4 Fully customizable desktop and live widgets everywhere!

-         Push Email and SMS in Threaded View.

Something missing….

Since Nokia N900 has evolved to an Internet Tablet with Telephony Function, it lacks tons of basic telephony function that a conventional mobile phone should have.

These are the main features missing in Nokia N900 by default (at firmware PR1.1.1),

-         Portrait Mode. (Everybody is complaining about this.) Starting from firmware PR1.1, N900 allows portrait mode in web browsing. Other than that, it only allows portrait mode in photo viewing and phone calling.

-         Bluetooth is not able to send file by default. Thanks to an application called Petrovich, and now you can. J

-         No contact ringtone. You can only assign one ringtone for all calls.

-         No Pinch Zooming. N900 uses resistive touchscreen… no hope for that…

-         No MMS support.

-         No 3G video chat despite N900 featured a secondary camera and 3.5G support.

-         No Java Application support.

-         No Digital Compass

-         Network service command is not allowed.

-         No Asian language input support.

-         Current version of Ovi Maps has no voice guidance.

-         Very basic music player (No equalizer, virtual 3D and etc.)

-         No global search engine within the phone.

Nokia currently has no intention to release this monster in Asia yet. But because we’re enthusiastic, we’re actually one of the earliest N900 owners in Malaysia and we’re proud of it.

Before moving to an in-depth review of N900 functionality, let’s us tell you what we have done with our Nokia N900.

Things we’ve done with our Nokia N900,

-         Running desktop version of Facebook.

-         Playing videos and Flash game (eg. Who has the biggest brain) in Facebook directly.

-         Playing around with X-Terminal.

-         Hosting SSH server.

-         Connecting to FTP Server.

-         Remote desktop to our laptops.

-         Playing Bounce Evolution (Graphic is on par of Sony PSP!) with TV-out.

-         Running our GBA games using VGBA application.

-         Customizing N900 desktop widget with Linux command.

-         Installing applications, Facebooking and Youtubing at the same time with TV-out!

-         Multitasking, multitasking and multitasking!

Stay tuned with Kongtechnology.com for more in depth review and experiments for Nokia N900. By the way, firmware PR1.2 is coming very soon! It’ll be a major upgrade, let’s hope for more functionalities for the great N900!