The new Mini Cooper D Convertible seemingly caters for those who want economy, fashion, open-top frolics, around-town usefulness and even the ability to go round corners with some finesse, all in one package. Given the growing number of premium buyers downsizing but wanting to retain the image, it’s clear that there’s a market for it.
Standard stop-start works very well in traffic, with not too much clatter on start-up, and the cabin is refined enough despite its fabric roof unless you push the motor into its harsh upper ranges. Which there is very little point to doing anyway, given that the motor is best kept in its responsive if narrow mid-range, when you can rely on the 199lb ft of torque to provide plenty of punch.
But if it’s thrills you’re looking for, this is likely to be a mild disappointment. The diesel engine lends itself well to unhurried cruising, but in the 1200kg Mini Convertible the motor struggles to provide lively performance. That the classic, sharp Mini handling still characterises the car only makes it more obvious that the engine offers very little potency.
Wednesday, 11 May 2011
Nokia E52
The Nokia E52 measures 116mm tall by 49.9mm wide by 9.9mm thick and weighs 98g, and is therefore a 'sub-10mm, sub-100g' device. It's actually smaller and lighter than many 'feature phones' that pepper the mid-range of the consumer market.
The all-grey casing lends it a professional look, while the aluminium parts should help the phone withstand its share of drops and knocks. If we have a grumble about the colour scheme it's that the white of the key markings does not always stand out too well. In bright outdoor and dull indoor conditions, when the backlight is not activated, it can be difficult to distinguish their markings. The brilliant white backlight does a superb job when it's on, though.
Nokia has managed to fit in an impressively large number pad, with the largest keys almost 15mm wide and 6mm tall. The two outer columns of keys are slightly smaller than the inner one and the bottom row of outer keys is particularly curtailed, but all of the keys are relatively large.
The Symbian Series 60-based Nokia E52 offers a strong set of business-orientated features, but also has plenty for the crossover user. To this end, Nokia has integrated its dual home-screen system. We've seen this before in E-series handsets, but it remains a simple yet smart solution.
You can set up two different home screens, with different wallpapers and application shortcuts. Switching between them is a matter of choosing an option on the shortcuts menu. It's an easy way to switch between 'work' and 'play' modes.
The E52 is a quad-band GSM phone with GPRS, HSDPA (10.2Mbps max) and HSUPA (max 2Mbps) support. Despite Vodafone's recent announcement of a 14.4Mbps upgrade in some areas, this handset can be classed as capable of handling pretty much the highest mobile broadband connection speed available.
Battery life is startlingly good. Nokia says you should get up to 8 hours of GSM talk, 23 days on standby and up to 18 hours of music playback or 30 hours of FM radio listening. Our own test involved playing music continuously from a fully charged battery through the handset's loudspeaker. We had to conduct the test over several days, as the E52's 1,500mAh battery delivered an amazing 26 hours 19 minutes of music playback.
The all-grey casing lends it a professional look, while the aluminium parts should help the phone withstand its share of drops and knocks. If we have a grumble about the colour scheme it's that the white of the key markings does not always stand out too well. In bright outdoor and dull indoor conditions, when the backlight is not activated, it can be difficult to distinguish their markings. The brilliant white backlight does a superb job when it's on, though.
Nokia has managed to fit in an impressively large number pad, with the largest keys almost 15mm wide and 6mm tall. The two outer columns of keys are slightly smaller than the inner one and the bottom row of outer keys is particularly curtailed, but all of the keys are relatively large.
The Symbian Series 60-based Nokia E52 offers a strong set of business-orientated features, but also has plenty for the crossover user. To this end, Nokia has integrated its dual home-screen system. We've seen this before in E-series handsets, but it remains a simple yet smart solution.
You can set up two different home screens, with different wallpapers and application shortcuts. Switching between them is a matter of choosing an option on the shortcuts menu. It's an easy way to switch between 'work' and 'play' modes.
The E52 is a quad-band GSM phone with GPRS, HSDPA (10.2Mbps max) and HSUPA (max 2Mbps) support. Despite Vodafone's recent announcement of a 14.4Mbps upgrade in some areas, this handset can be classed as capable of handling pretty much the highest mobile broadband connection speed available.
Battery life is startlingly good. Nokia says you should get up to 8 hours of GSM talk, 23 days on standby and up to 18 hours of music playback or 30 hours of FM radio listening. Our own test involved playing music continuously from a fully charged battery through the handset's loudspeaker. We had to conduct the test over several days, as the E52's 1,500mAh battery delivered an amazing 26 hours 19 minutes of music playback.
Mobile 3-D
Smart phones will take 3-D mainstream.
The Samsung B710 phone looks like a typical smart phone, but something unexpected happens when the screen is moved from a vertical to a horizontal orientation: the image jumps from 2-D to 3-D. The technology that produces this perception of depth is the work of Julien Flack, CTO of Dynamic Digital Depth, who has spent more than a decade perfecting software that can convert 2-D content to 3-D in real time. It could help solve the biggest problem with 3-D: the need for special glasses that deliver a separate image to each eye.
Flack's software synthesizes 3-D scenes from existing 2-D video by estimating the depth of objects using various cues; a band of sky at the top of a frame probably belongs in the far background, for example. It then creates pairs of slightly different images that the viewer's brain combines to produce the sensation of depth.
The technology can be used with the much-hyped 3-D televisions announced in January (which require glasses), but its biggest impact will be as a way to create content for mobile devices with autostereoscopic 3-D displays, which work by directing light to deliver different versions of an image directly to each of a viewer's eyes. The effect works best over a narrow range of viewing angles, so it is ill suited to television or cinema screens. But phones are generally used by one person at a time and are easily held at the optimum angle. That's why mobile multimedia devices are likely to win the race to bring 3-D into the mainstream.
The most exciting area for Flack right now is games. Hundreds of games actually simulate 3-D spaces internally to handle mechanics such as the path of a missile, and then convert those 3-D spaces into 2-D to display to the player. With his technology, he says, the 3-D geometry "available inside the game itself" can be made accessible to the display. DDD has already released software that converts games to 3-D on PCs and expects to have similar software running on mobile devices in the next year or two.
PHILIPS 9000
Good
Extremely deep black levels
Rich, vivid colours
Great picture-processing
Full internet access
Bad
Awkward remote and menu system
No 3D or HD tuner
The price
Bright lights
The telly certainly looks like a premium set thanks to the attractive brushed-aluminium finish and the thin transparent strip that runs around the outer edge of the screen. Philips' new three-sided Ambilight system can be seen when you peak around the rear of the TV. You'll find strips of lights arranged across the two sides and top of the telly. The Ambilight system, which projects colours onto a wall behind the set to match what's on screen, may sound like a gimmick, but once you've used it you'll appreciate just what an effective feature it is.
So far, it may sound like the set isn't worth the asking price, but where the 32PFL9705 really shines is in terms of picture and audio quality. On the picture front, its key feature is its direct LED backlighting. Most LED TVs have edge-mounted backlights that offer limited dimming control, but this set is lit by 1,000 LEDs behind the screen that are grouped into 224 individually controllable zones.
As a result, it allows one area of the picture to be completely black, while another adjacent area is operating at full brightness. It's as near to OLED technology as you can get from an LCD screen and the results are stunning. The set really is able to deliver the deep black levels of plasma displays, while retaining the aggressive brightness and colour of LCD screens. Subsequently, movies on Blu-ray look beautifully cinematic thanks to the filmic feel that the boost in contrast affords. There's a convincing amount of shadow detail in darker scenes, too, while skin tones and colours in outdoor scenes appear astonishingly rich and natural.
Sounds expensive
It's not just the pictures that are impressive on this telly, the audio is excellent, too. This seems to be partly due to the fact that Philips has a added a mini subwoofer to the rear of the set to boost the TV's ability to recreate bassier sound. It certainly works a treat. The TV really does have a surprising amount of low-end punch, while retaining exceptional clarity of dialogue.
Conclusion
There's no doubt that £1,300 is an outrageous asking price for a 32-inch TV, especially as it lacks 3D support and an HD tuner, but the Philips 32PFL9705 produces the most stunningly rich and cinematic pictures we've seen on a 32-inch set. Sometimes, if you want the best, you just have to pay for it.
SAMSUNG C8000
Good
Good 3D performance
Deep black levels
Sharp HD pictures
Great range of internet features
Gorgeous design
Bad
2D-to-3D conversion doesn't work very well
No 3D glasses included
Backlighting is not
Samsung has garnered a reputation for creating some of the most eye-catching sets around, and the UE46C8000 doesn't tarnish its good name. It uses LED backlighting, and Samsung has managed to make the telly super slim. In fact, it's a mere 24mm deep, which is pretty incredible for a TV of this screen size. It's not just the sheer slimness of the chassis that's impressive, it's also the classy design. The screen is edged by a brushed-aluminium bezel that's finished with a glass surround. The stand also looks gorgeous thanks to its distinctive X-shaped design and chrome finish. What's more, Samsung has graced the set with one of the best-looking remote controls we've come across. It has the same brushed-aluminium feature as the TV bezel, which sits above a membrane of buttons to give it a very industrial look. The remote is also backlit, so it's easy to see the buttons even when you've got the lights off.
The TV's range of picture-processing features is highly impressive, too. It includes Samsung's 3D Hyper Engine, which includes 200Hz picture-processing and a scanning backlight for smooth motion. There's also Smart LED backlighting, which dynamically adjusts the edge LEDs to deliver richer contrast and deeper black levels, while Samsung's Wide Colour Enhancer Plus technology helps to produce richer, more lifelike colours.
It's perhaps not surprising, then, that the TV puts in such an accomplished performance with both standard and high-definition material. Colours are rendered in a beautifully realistic way and motion is handled superbly -- although you do have to be careful with the smooth motion controls not to overly flatten the picture, especially on films.
Perhaps the set's key selling point is its 3D capabilities. The TV uses active 3D glasses, which are quite pricey. Glasses aren't included with the set as standard, and with each pair costing around £80, you're looking at shelling out a total of £320 on eyewear for an average family of four! Cost aside, the 3D performance is very good. The glasses are comfortable to wear, even over normal spectacles.
Conclusion
Nevertheless, the Samsung UE46C8000 is an easy TV to recommend. It looks absolutely gorgeous and is packed with great features. Its 2D performance is first-rate -- it delivers deep black levels and impressively vivid colours, and it also puts in the best 3D performance we've seen yet from an LED set.
The Samsung B710 phone looks like a typical smart phone, but something unexpected happens when the screen is moved from a vertical to a horizontal orientation: the image jumps from 2-D to 3-D. The technology that produces this perception of depth is the work of Julien Flack, CTO of Dynamic Digital Depth, who has spent more than a decade perfecting software that can convert 2-D content to 3-D in real time. It could help solve the biggest problem with 3-D: the need for special glasses that deliver a separate image to each eye.
Flack's software synthesizes 3-D scenes from existing 2-D video by estimating the depth of objects using various cues; a band of sky at the top of a frame probably belongs in the far background, for example. It then creates pairs of slightly different images that the viewer's brain combines to produce the sensation of depth.
The technology can be used with the much-hyped 3-D televisions announced in January (which require glasses), but its biggest impact will be as a way to create content for mobile devices with autostereoscopic 3-D displays, which work by directing light to deliver different versions of an image directly to each of a viewer's eyes. The effect works best over a narrow range of viewing angles, so it is ill suited to television or cinema screens. But phones are generally used by one person at a time and are easily held at the optimum angle. That's why mobile multimedia devices are likely to win the race to bring 3-D into the mainstream.
The most exciting area for Flack right now is games. Hundreds of games actually simulate 3-D spaces internally to handle mechanics such as the path of a missile, and then convert those 3-D spaces into 2-D to display to the player. With his technology, he says, the 3-D geometry "available inside the game itself" can be made accessible to the display. DDD has already released software that converts games to 3-D on PCs and expects to have similar software running on mobile devices in the next year or two.
PHILIPS 9000
Good
Extremely deep black levels
Rich, vivid colours
Great picture-processing
Full internet access
Bad
Awkward remote and menu system
No 3D or HD tuner
The price
Bright lights
The telly certainly looks like a premium set thanks to the attractive brushed-aluminium finish and the thin transparent strip that runs around the outer edge of the screen. Philips' new three-sided Ambilight system can be seen when you peak around the rear of the TV. You'll find strips of lights arranged across the two sides and top of the telly. The Ambilight system, which projects colours onto a wall behind the set to match what's on screen, may sound like a gimmick, but once you've used it you'll appreciate just what an effective feature it is.
So far, it may sound like the set isn't worth the asking price, but where the 32PFL9705 really shines is in terms of picture and audio quality. On the picture front, its key feature is its direct LED backlighting. Most LED TVs have edge-mounted backlights that offer limited dimming control, but this set is lit by 1,000 LEDs behind the screen that are grouped into 224 individually controllable zones.
As a result, it allows one area of the picture to be completely black, while another adjacent area is operating at full brightness. It's as near to OLED technology as you can get from an LCD screen and the results are stunning. The set really is able to deliver the deep black levels of plasma displays, while retaining the aggressive brightness and colour of LCD screens. Subsequently, movies on Blu-ray look beautifully cinematic thanks to the filmic feel that the boost in contrast affords. There's a convincing amount of shadow detail in darker scenes, too, while skin tones and colours in outdoor scenes appear astonishingly rich and natural.
Sounds expensive
It's not just the pictures that are impressive on this telly, the audio is excellent, too. This seems to be partly due to the fact that Philips has a added a mini subwoofer to the rear of the set to boost the TV's ability to recreate bassier sound. It certainly works a treat. The TV really does have a surprising amount of low-end punch, while retaining exceptional clarity of dialogue.
Conclusion
There's no doubt that £1,300 is an outrageous asking price for a 32-inch TV, especially as it lacks 3D support and an HD tuner, but the Philips 32PFL9705 produces the most stunningly rich and cinematic pictures we've seen on a 32-inch set. Sometimes, if you want the best, you just have to pay for it.
SAMSUNG C8000
Good
Good 3D performance
Deep black levels
Sharp HD pictures
Great range of internet features
Gorgeous design
Bad
2D-to-3D conversion doesn't work very well
No 3D glasses included
Backlighting is not
Samsung has garnered a reputation for creating some of the most eye-catching sets around, and the UE46C8000 doesn't tarnish its good name. It uses LED backlighting, and Samsung has managed to make the telly super slim. In fact, it's a mere 24mm deep, which is pretty incredible for a TV of this screen size. It's not just the sheer slimness of the chassis that's impressive, it's also the classy design. The screen is edged by a brushed-aluminium bezel that's finished with a glass surround. The stand also looks gorgeous thanks to its distinctive X-shaped design and chrome finish. What's more, Samsung has graced the set with one of the best-looking remote controls we've come across. It has the same brushed-aluminium feature as the TV bezel, which sits above a membrane of buttons to give it a very industrial look. The remote is also backlit, so it's easy to see the buttons even when you've got the lights off.
The TV's range of picture-processing features is highly impressive, too. It includes Samsung's 3D Hyper Engine, which includes 200Hz picture-processing and a scanning backlight for smooth motion. There's also Smart LED backlighting, which dynamically adjusts the edge LEDs to deliver richer contrast and deeper black levels, while Samsung's Wide Colour Enhancer Plus technology helps to produce richer, more lifelike colours.
It's perhaps not surprising, then, that the TV puts in such an accomplished performance with both standard and high-definition material. Colours are rendered in a beautifully realistic way and motion is handled superbly -- although you do have to be careful with the smooth motion controls not to overly flatten the picture, especially on films.
Perhaps the set's key selling point is its 3D capabilities. The TV uses active 3D glasses, which are quite pricey. Glasses aren't included with the set as standard, and with each pair costing around £80, you're looking at shelling out a total of £320 on eyewear for an average family of four! Cost aside, the 3D performance is very good. The glasses are comfortable to wear, even over normal spectacles.
Conclusion
Nevertheless, the Samsung UE46C8000 is an easy TV to recommend. It looks absolutely gorgeous and is packed with great features. Its 2D performance is first-rate -- it delivers deep black levels and impressively vivid colours, and it also puts in the best 3D performance we've seen yet from an LED set.
Samsung C8000
Good
Good 3D performance
Deep black levels
Sharp HD pictures
Great range of internet features
Gorgeous design
Bad
2D-to-3D conversion doesn't work very well
No 3D glasses included
Backlighting is not
Samsung has garnered a reputation for creating some of the most eye-catching sets around, and the UE46C8000 doesn't tarnish its good name. It uses LED backlighting, and Samsung has managed to make the telly super slim. In fact, it's a mere 24mm deep, which is pretty incredible for a TV of this screen size. It's not just the sheer slimness of the chassis that's impressive, it's also the classy design. The screen is edged by a brushed-aluminium bezel that's finished with a glass surround. The stand also looks gorgeous thanks to its distinctive X-shaped design and chrome finish. What's more, Samsung has graced the set with one of the best-looking remote controls we've come across. It has the same brushed-aluminium feature as the TV bezel, which sits above a membrane of buttons to give it a very industrial look. The remote is also backlit, so it's easy to see the buttons even when you've got the lights off.
The TV's range of picture-processing features is highly impressive, too. It includes Samsung's 3D Hyper Engine, which includes 200Hz picture-processing and a scanning backlight for smooth motion. There's also Smart LED backlighting, which dynamically adjusts the edge LEDs to deliver richer contrast and deeper black levels, while Samsung's Wide Colour Enhancer Plus technology helps to produce richer, more lifelike colours.
It's perhaps not surprising, then, that the TV puts in such an accomplished performance with both standard and high-definition material. Colours are rendered in a beautifully realistic way and motion is handled superbly -- although you do have to be careful with the smooth motion controls not to overly flatten the picture, especially on films.
Perhaps the set's key selling point is its 3D capabilities. The TV uses active 3D glasses, which are quite pricey. Glasses aren't included with the set as standard, and with each pair costing around £80, you're looking at shelling out a total of £320 on eyewear for an average family of four! Cost aside, the 3D performance is very good. The glasses are comfortable to wear, even over normal spectacles.
Conclusion
Nevertheless, the Samsung UE46C8000 is an easy TV to recommend. It looks absolutely gorgeous and is packed with great features. Its 2D performance is first-rate -- it delivers deep black levels and impressively vivid colours, and it also puts in the best 3D performance we've seen yet from an LED set.
Good 3D performance
Deep black levels
Sharp HD pictures
Great range of internet features
Gorgeous design
Bad
2D-to-3D conversion doesn't work very well
No 3D glasses included
Backlighting is not
Samsung has garnered a reputation for creating some of the most eye-catching sets around, and the UE46C8000 doesn't tarnish its good name. It uses LED backlighting, and Samsung has managed to make the telly super slim. In fact, it's a mere 24mm deep, which is pretty incredible for a TV of this screen size. It's not just the sheer slimness of the chassis that's impressive, it's also the classy design. The screen is edged by a brushed-aluminium bezel that's finished with a glass surround. The stand also looks gorgeous thanks to its distinctive X-shaped design and chrome finish. What's more, Samsung has graced the set with one of the best-looking remote controls we've come across. It has the same brushed-aluminium feature as the TV bezel, which sits above a membrane of buttons to give it a very industrial look. The remote is also backlit, so it's easy to see the buttons even when you've got the lights off.
The TV's range of picture-processing features is highly impressive, too. It includes Samsung's 3D Hyper Engine, which includes 200Hz picture-processing and a scanning backlight for smooth motion. There's also Smart LED backlighting, which dynamically adjusts the edge LEDs to deliver richer contrast and deeper black levels, while Samsung's Wide Colour Enhancer Plus technology helps to produce richer, more lifelike colours.
It's perhaps not surprising, then, that the TV puts in such an accomplished performance with both standard and high-definition material. Colours are rendered in a beautifully realistic way and motion is handled superbly -- although you do have to be careful with the smooth motion controls not to overly flatten the picture, especially on films.
Perhaps the set's key selling point is its 3D capabilities. The TV uses active 3D glasses, which are quite pricey. Glasses aren't included with the set as standard, and with each pair costing around £80, you're looking at shelling out a total of £320 on eyewear for an average family of four! Cost aside, the 3D performance is very good. The glasses are comfortable to wear, even over normal spectacles.
Conclusion
Nevertheless, the Samsung UE46C8000 is an easy TV to recommend. It looks absolutely gorgeous and is packed with great features. Its 2D performance is first-rate -- it delivers deep black levels and impressively vivid colours, and it also puts in the best 3D performance we've seen yet from an LED set.
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