The world's tech titans have evolved,
with new operating systems, killer new hardware and new cloud services that tie
everything together. To buy into one is to buy into a lifestyle, each with its
benefits and pitfalls. So which is strongest overall? Read on to find out...
Google finally has the hardware to back up
its cloud domination. With a brilliant new version of Android powering the
world's best smartphones and a genuine iPad rival in the Nexus 7, it's Bulldozering
Apple's territory at an incredible rate. But it's still open to all: want to
use Google Drive on an iPhone? Go right ahead. That openness might be its most
powerful weapon of all...
The iPad is undisputed king of tablets. The
MacBook Air makes other laptops look lethargic. OS X is the most polished
computer operating system. And the iPhone? Yes, it's fallen from the top spot,
but iOS 6 is ready to lift it right back up. Coupled with the unifying
brilliance of iCloud and the riches of iTunes and the App Store, Apple still
makes Google and MS look small-fry. Doesn't it?
This is a renaissance year for Microsoft.
With the Metro-fronted Windows 8 poised to sweep away its corporate reputation,
its first ever own-brand tablet and dual-screen gaming coming to the
connoiseur's console, the Xbox's taste for innovation is revitalizing the
company, gadget by gadget. So much so, we've almost forgotten all the cryptic
errors and the Blue screen of Death. Almost.
SMARTPHONES
Hardware
Samsung Galaxy S III
Price: $795
Website: www.samsung.com
Samsung
Galaxy S III
It’s fortunate that Samsung is good at
making phones, given how bad it is at naming them. The S III has a spec that
eclipses anything available on iOS or Windows: Android 4.1 Jelly Bean will fly
on its 1.4GHz quad-core chip, while the 4.8in Hi-Def screen has the contrast to
give films and the web real punch. Seriously, it can play a 1080p video in a
window while you browse. Mighty.
Pros
·
Excellent battery life
·
MicroSD slot for extra storage
·
Built-in NFC
·
Power
Cons
·
Cheaper-feeling build than HTC One X or iPhone
·
Screen has slightly blue hue
S Health - Special skill
Adding ‘pocket nurse’ to the S III’s CV,
the free S Health app sucks information over Bluetooth from tech such as
Lifescan’s OneTouch blood glucose monitor range, so it’s easy to track sugar
levels.
Apple iPhone 4S
Price: from $819
Website: www.apple.com
Apple
iPhone 4S
Still reeling from being knocked off the
top spot in our rankings, the iPhone is starting to look its age - despite the
botox boost it got from the 4S spec lift last October. The 3.5in screen now
feels restrictive, a feeling only heightened by iOS' regimented grid design.
But its other attributes, such as its steel and glass build, 8MP camera and
Retina display, still give its familiar face allure.
Pros
·
Retina display
·
Steel and glass
·
Sound quality
·
Camera performance
·
Apps
Cons
·
Dual-core
·
3.5in screen now feels small
·
No NFC
Retina display - Special skill
It might be dwarfed by the 5.3in Galaxy
Note on Android and WP7’s 4.7in HTC Titan, but at 326ppi the iPhone’s Retina
display wins the pixel density war, giving its fonts and images a peerless
crispness.
Nokia Lumia 800
Price: $460
Website: www.nokia.com
Nokia
Lumia 800
We were charmed by the Lumia 800's bold
polycarbonate design and its bright 4.3in AMOLED screen, but the news that it
won't be getting an update to Windows Phone 8 means it's a dead phone calling.
And with just a single core chip and 480x800 screen, it's now more of a
collectable than a serious Android or Apple botherer. Expect a WP8 successor by
the end of 2012.
Pros
·
Original design
·
Long battery life
·
Bright OLED screen
Cons
·
Won't be getting Windows Phone 8 update
·
WVGA screen
·
Single-core
Clear black filters - Special skill
Nokia's nifty polarizing filters eliminate
screen reflections to keep blacks dark and make colors pop - even in direct
sunlight. It's a real bonus for WP7's Metro UI and its 'glanceable' Live Tiles
interface.
Smartphones - OS
Android Jelly Bean 4.1
Price: free
Out now (for nexus devices)
Android
Jelly Bean 4.1
Google's obsession with sugar and spice
continues with Jelly Bean and its screen-smoothing Project Butter tech, which
speeds up app-switching and responsiveness. Notifications now carry more info,
there's offline voice control, and search has been rebuilt to make use of
Google's Knowledge Graph, which presents extra intelligently-gathered info. In
short, 4.1 is a bit good.
Pros
·
Available now (for some)
·
Ultra-customizable
·
Slicker than ever
Cons
·
Many phones still waiting for Ice Cream
Sandwich, with Jelly Bean a long way off
Google Now - Special skill
Google Now takes all your appointments,
news and travel info and joins them up. It tells you what the weather will be
like in the morning, gives traffic info on the way to a meeting, or tells you
when the next train is.
Apple iOS 6
Apple
iOS 6
If familiarity breeds contempt you'd figure
Apple fans would be ditching iOS in droves, but its sixth iteration adds enough
newness to keep iOwners sweet. TomTom-powered Maps with navigation, live
traffic and 3D buildings replaces Google cartography, Facebook is fully
integrated, and Passbook is a time- and location-sensitive digital wallet for
your e-tickets or loyalty cards.
Pros
·
Apps, apps, apps
·
The slickest mobile OS out there
·
Siri does local search
Cons
·
Still the same old look
·
No live tiles or widgets
·
No NFC (yet)
Eyes Free - Special skill
The likes of BMW and Mercedes are adding
Siri-compatible voice control systems to their cars, allowing you to access
your iPhone's sat-nav, calendar, music, messages and apps just by asking.
Politely, mind.
Windows Phone 8
Price: free
Windows
Phone 8
WP8 is a risk. No existing WP7 phone will
run the new OS thanks to stringent requirements, in place to provide WP8 phones
enough power to run the same Metro apps that Windows 8 tablets and desktops
will be able to. That makes it a risk worth taking. It supports multiple cores
(up to a bonkers 64) and 720p screens, and has a nicely customizable
homescreen. It really could be big.
Pros
·
If it runs WP8, it’ll run it perfectly
·
Multi-core support
·
Win8 Metro apps will work
Cons
·
Not supported by older phones
·
Relatively few apps (but potential for many
more)
Direct X - Special skill
Gaming power-platform DirectX is on its way
to Windows Phone. That doesn't mean you'll be playing BF3 on your phone
any time soon, but it does open it up for some serious game devs to make some
serious games.
