RIM’s first touchscreen device features a “clickable” screen that the company says simulates the feel of a physical keyboard. The Storm can connect to either EV-DO Rev. A or HSPA 3G cellular networks and features 1GB of onboard memory storage and a card slot that allows for up to 16GB of additional storage.

But while Verizon (and Vodafone in Europe and elsewhere) is hoping that the BlackBerry Storm will be its own “iPhone killer,” questions remain about whether the offering can match the popular Apple consumer device in several key areas. Here’s a look at how the Storm stacks up against the iPhone in terms of call quality, data coverage, price and more.

Call quality

Year after year, survey after survey, Verizon consistently gets the highest marks for wireless call quality, for the least amount of dropped calls and for overall network reliability. Verizon also outpaces AT&T in terms of customer service and in the cost of service, the latest JD Power survey finds. The bottom line: If call quality is your most important qualification, go Verizon.

3G network coverage

Verizon and AT&T boast impressive 3G networks that span across the United States. Verizon’s 3G network runs on the CDMA-based EV-DO Revision A wireless technology, while AT&T uses the GSM-based HSPA. A study conducted earlier this year by ComputerWorld showed that while AT&T and Verizon offered similar data speeds for their 3G networks, AT&T offered slightly faster service for peak download speeds, average download speeds and average upload speeds. Added to this, the iPhone is able to take advantage of local Wi-Fi hot spots to download data, while the Storm is not. Thus, the ability to access Wi-Fi as a cheaper alternative to 3G data service gives the iPhone a slight edge in this category.

Cost

One of the most striking features of several new smartphones is their low cost. Apple and AT&T got the ball rolling earlier this year after they announced they were going to slash the price of the iPhone 3G to $199. T-Mobile and Google decided to one-up them by selling their G1 smartphone for $179. So far, neither Verizon nor RIM have released details on the retail cost for the Storm, but it will likely have to be in the $200 range if it really aims to be the “iPhone killer”  that its makers hope it will be.

Enterprise features

The iPhone is seen as a legitimate enterprise device now that it has access to Microsoft’s Exchange ActiveSync, a licensed data-synchronization protocol whose built-in support will give IT departments the ability to set password policies, set up VPN settings and perform remote data wipes on iPhones that have been lost or stolen. The iPhone also took a big step forward when it gained access to Cisco IPsec VPN, which Apple says will “ensure the highest level of IP-based encryption available for transmission of sensitive corporate data.” However, as some analysts have pointed out, the BlackBerry still sets the standard for enterprise wireless devices due to its larger array of security policies, including the ability for IT departments to disable its digital cameras; to enable or shut down specific Bluetooth profiles and set how long the device is “discoverable” using Bluetooth; and to define which applications on a BlackBerry can access GPS capabilities.

Keypads

This could be an intriguing matchup, since neither the iPhone nor the Storm has a physical slide-out keyboard like the T-Mobile G1 does. However, RIM says that it is changing the game of how touchscreen keypads work with what it calls a “clickable screen.” This means that users can actually press down on the digital keys on the screen and feel them being pressed and released just like they’d feel a mouse button being pressed and released. Thus, users will in theory be able to type much easier by having the touch of a standard qwerty keyboard on the digital screen of their smartphone. Though we won’t know for certain until it’s tested out by more users, the Storm’s keyboard gets the edge here for its ambition and creativity.

Click Here To Get a Free Blackberry Storm

On Saturday, an independent site called Boy Genius Report leaked a 17-page PowerPoint presentation that purported to show the touchscreen Storm, along with an App Center that mimics Apple’s App Store and Google’s Android Market. The site followed up on Monday with a Storm user guide that TIME was unable to access — probably because too many other folks were attempting to do the same thing — but which was promptly reposted on CrackBerry. RIM would not confirm that the leaked photos were of the Storm, but by Monday afternoon the images had been published and identified as RIM’s new device on a handful of sites, including ZDnet.com, Information Week, Gizmodo, CNET News.com and CrunchGear.

What’s so exciting about yet another BlackBerry? The brand has built a reputation as a secure and reliable, though somewhat stodgy, e-mail device for corporate types, but the Storm could help recast BlackBerry as a viable, exciting option for consumers as well. Unlike most devices from the smartphone maker based in Waterloo, Canada, the Storm won’t have a physical keyboard, allowing for a larger, 3.2-in. touchscreen and a much neater appearance. And with a wide range of after-market applications — including Facebook, a blackjack game and a GPS navigation program — it should also be a lot more fun to use. All apps can be downloaded via a built-in browser, but it is not clear whether the App Center will be accessible from older models of BlackBerry handhelds. The Storm is expected to run on Verizon’s 3G network and also support wi-fi, so downloading the apps should be fairly quick. As an added bonus, the Storm will reportedly feature intuitive cut-and-paste functionality — a huge selling point for e-mail junkies who have long favored the BlackBerry brand.

Other noteworthy features include the built-in GPS, a media player and landscape mode for viewing Web pages horizontally and typing e-mails. (The iPhone 3G does not let you type e-mails in horizontal mode.) The screen is about the same size and resolution as the iPhone, while the built-in camera is slightly better at 3.2 megapixels, vs. 2.0 megapixels on the iPhone. You can also record video — a feature strangely lacking on the iPhone and G1.

Feature-rich smartphones like the BlackBerry and iPhone are one of the few bright spots in an otherwise stagnant cell-phone market. Of the estimated 1 billion cell phones sold worldwide this year, more than 181 million were smartphones — a number that is expected to more than double by 2011, according to ABI Research. One out of 10 cell phones currently has a touchscreen.

If your looking for a chance to get a free one Click Here.

I don’t believe that there is ever such a thing as ‘enough storage’. If you can afford it, you should get the model with 32GB of storage. The 32GB will give you nearly 40 hours of video, 7000 songs or about 10′000 images. Due to the extra storage, the Apple iPod touch (32GB 2nd Generation) is a little bigger than the 8GB and 16GB model, measuring at 5×1.2×3 inches and weighs at just 8 ounces.

The Apple iPod touch (32GB 2nd Generation) retains the signature back stainless steel plate that is really pretty to look at. As it is prone to fingerprint smudges and scratches, it is best to get a cover for your player. This new generation iPod have some few design changes from the original version. It now sports a sleeker design and looks thinner than the original.

The touch-screen, audio and video playback on the Apple iPod touch (32GB 2nd Generation) is just flawless. The response from the touch-screen is always instantaneous and don’t remember the last time I experienced any lag on this device. Apple added speakers in the new generation mode. The audio quality of those speakers was acceptable (with much room for improvement). Music playback through a set of good headphones/speakers was, as usual, very impressive.

The popularity of the Apple iPod touch in the past couple the years have spurred the development of lots of software for this device. There are now a wide variety of games that you can download from the internet to your player. The Apple iPod touch (32GB 2nd Generation) is also compatible with Kindle e-book formats. There is also a Nike + iPod feature that helps you track the progress of your exercise routine. Just insert the Nike + iPod sensor (sold separately) to your shoes and the iPod touch will record down data such as calories burned and distance. The internet browsing experience is as good as it gets on a handheld device. The mobile Safari browser was very intuitive and easy to use.

To hear to the iKaraoke’s output—your music and your voice, mixed together—you have two options. For the best sound quality, you can connect a standard 1/8-inch (3.5mm) audio cable (not included) from the iKaraoke’s line-out jack, located on its dock-connector plug, to a sound system. Alternatively, you can connect wirelessly, using the iKaraoke’s built-in FM transmitter, to any stereo system with an FM tuner. As with dedicated iPod FM transmitters, you’ll need to find an unused frequency; the iKaraoke transmits between 87.9 and 107.9 MHz. One caveat here: If you use the FM-transmitter option, you’ll want the iKaraoke to be close enough to your tuner/receiver to get a good signal, but you’ll also want your microphone to be far enough away from the speakers to avoid feedback issues. Since the microphone and transmitter are separated by only three feet or so of cable, this can be a challenging proposition, limiting the usefulness of the FM-transmitter feature. Also, although the iKaraoke’s documentation claims stereo FM transmission, I was unable to get anything but a monaural signal using the built-in FM transmitter. In either connection scenario, you shouldn’t expect great sound quality from the included microphone; it’s adequate for casual use but not professional-quality.

The iKaraoke–which hooks up to your iPod with a dock-connecting cable and to your stereo vie either a line-in cable or wirelessly through your FM receiver–works with the following iPods: iPod 4G, iPod 5G with video, iPod nano 1G and 2G, and the iPod mini.

Sends the music from an iPod® to a stereo minus the lead vocals. Pause the music, scan forward or backward, or temporarily add the vocals back. Comes equipped with reverb effects to enhance the singers performance. Connects to stereo via in-line cable or wirelessly through an FM receiver.

What You Get:
iKaraoke microphone, cable with line-out jack, user’s manual.
Warranty: 1-year limited warranty

Article Source: MacWorld Reviews

Griffin’s iKaraoke is a lightweight and portable karaoke accessory consisting of nothing more than a slim microphone that connects to your iPod’s dock-connector port. Since it’s powered from your iPod, there’s no other hardware required. If you don’t have karaoke songs with the vocals already removed, the microphone includes a vocal cancellation switch for isolating and reducing the vocal levels of your favorite songs. However, as with the vocal cancellation feature found on most karaoke products, the effectiveness of this feature varies from song to song; in addition, the process results in a monaural signal. (The iKaraoke includes a reverb option to simulate a stereo effect when using the vocal-cancellation feature.) The controls are simple and easy to understand: play/pause, back, and forward buttons help you navigate the new iKaraoke configuration menu on your iPod. However, these buttons also control playback on your iPod, so you need to be careful not to inadvertently press them while singing.

To hear to the iKaraoke’s output—your music and your voice, mixed together—you have two options. For the best sound quality, you can connect a standard 1/8-inch (3.5mm) audio cable (not included) from the iKaraoke’s line-out jack, located on its dock-connector plug, to a sound system. Alternatively, you can connect wirelessly, using the iKaraoke’s built-in FM transmitter, to any stereo system with an FM tuner. As with dedicated iPod FM transmitters, you’ll need to find an unused frequency; the iKaraoke transmits between 87.9 and 107.9 MHz. One caveat here: If you use the FM-transmitter option, you’ll want the iKaraoke to be close enough to your tuner/receiver to get a good signal, but you’ll also want your microphone to be far enough away from the speakers to avoid feedback issues. Since the microphone and transmitter are separated by only three feet or so of cable, this can be a challenging proposition, limiting the usefulness of the FM-transmitter feature. Also, although the iKaraoke’s documentation claims stereo FM transmission, I was unable to get anything but a monaural signal using the built-in FM transmitter. In either connection scenario, you shouldn’t expect great sound quality from the included microphone; it’s adequate for casual use but not professional-quality.

Another drawback of the Griffin iKaraoke is that you can’t adjust the microphone’s sensitivity to fine-tune the mic—for example, to balance your sound levels. Although you can connect a pair of headphones to the iKaraoke’s line-out jack to eliminate feedback problems (creating your own private karaoke session), since that jack is a true line-level output, you have no control over volume levels. On the other hand, a useful feature of the iKaraoke is the ability to use it in conjunction with a public address system: just mute the iPod’s music, via the iKaraoke configuration menu on your iPod, and only the microphone output is sent out.

Griffin did an impressive job of packing so much functionality into such a small device. However, the gain in portability is offset some by difficulties encountered in trying to get the right balance of vocals and music without feedback and by a lack of a way to adjust the microphone sensitivity. Once you do have it configured, however, it works adequately and can provide a reasonably good karaoke experience.

Article Source: MacWorld Reviews