In many of my posts about the Nokia E7, ever since I received my trial unit, I kept saying that "I don't get it". I don't understand the purpose of the E7 or who will buy it or for what reason. The rationale behind my thought was that in terms of Symbian competition, the Nokia N8 offers a much more complete package, while in terms of QWERTY/Business competition, there are plenty of better options with Android on board.

However, saying something is not like proving it in an objective comparison of specs, so given that I have an N8, E7 and HTC Desire Z in my hands, I set out to take some pictures of all of them for you, and to do a specifications comparison table.

In the comparison table below, I placed the Nokia E7 in the middle so you can easily spot the differences between it and the Nokia N8 on one side and the HTC Desire Z on the other side. I highlighted the areas where a device is easily a winner (sometimes there are two winners in a category), and I left some others without picking one as they are more subjective and depend on every person's preferences.

However, specification sheets only tell you half the story. Nothing compares to actually seeing, holding and using a device, as there are a lot of features that shine in that light, and a lot that feel irrelevant.

The three devices rank on the "big" scale, compared to what we considered smartphones 2 years ago. The N8 (hardware tour) is the smallest and lightest of the bunch, it's also the most drop-proof with its simple form factor. The Desire Z (hardware tour) is the thickest and the least "solid", it's quite solid, but not as much as the other two. The E7 (hardware tour) is taller and wider than the Desire Z, in order to accommodate the tilting form factor and the 4? screen. It's incredibly well built.

Screen-wise, the Nokia N8 packs nothing really special. The E7 has that awesome 4? Clear Black Display that shines indoors and is awesome in direct sunlight. The HTC Desire Z has an awesome resolution and colors that pop indoors, however get outside and the screen will be a harder to read in direct sunlight.

For example, simply tilting the 3 devices a bit, shows how clear the Nokia E7's display remains, and how the Desire Z is affected by surrounding light.

Flip those phones over, and you see the winning point of the N8: it's unrivaled 12MP Carl Zeiss camera with Xenon Flash. The Desire Z shows a good enough 5MP camera, but a great strength in its removable battery: you can purchase a spare battery and keep it with you when the main one dies for example. The E7, well, it has a fixed-focus (read: non-autofocus) camera and a non-removable battery. Slayed on both fronts!

The E7 gets back a winning point with its transformer form factor. Where the N8 is a simple candybar, and the Desire Z features a fancy-named Z-hinge that eventually just settles flat on top of the keyboard, the E7 has an awesome swiveling screen, that is solidly built and that rises to face you a bit like a computer.

As you see, my theory was quite right. If you're a Symbian fan, the N8 is a more robust and complete choice, especially with its camera, and if you're a QWERTY fan, the HTC Desire Z (and many other Android QWERTY devices really), is a better choice than the E7.

The only person I can see getting excited about the E7 is the Symbian + Qwerty fan, however, I can't help but feel their pain, given the compromises they will have to make. No great camera, no FM transmitter, no MicroSD slot, compared to the N8. No removable battery, no more RAM, none of the great software features of Android or the vast array of third-party applications for office and productivity use that the Market offers, compared to the Desire Z. Yes, it's a big compromise on both aspects.

Are you interested in getting the E7? Or still doubting whether to purchase it or go a safer route with another device, N8, Desire Z, or otherwise?

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Sprint and HTC recently launched their first ever Android powered 3D smartphone and it's known as HTC EVO 3D. The phone is successor to the famous HTC EVO 4G, which is the America's first 4G phone. You may have seen the video in which HTC is telling us about the new phone. If we were thinking that the phone is only limited to USA, then we are wrong because according to a tweet by HTC France which is spotted by FrAndroid, HTC is launching the EVO 3D in France with the same name. HTC Fr didn't tell us anything about the release date, but it will be available there after launch in USA. The meaning of tweet above is:

Well people, that's what we know about the phone so far. If you want to check out all the specs and detail of the EVO 3D, then click this link. So our�French�readers, are you ready to say bonjour to the EVO 3D?

Thanks animatrix for the tip!

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Okay Apple fans, hold your breath. Apple have officially announced that the Apple Worldwide Developer Conference is from June 6^th to June 10^th. And it's also that time of the year when Apple announces the new iPhone but The Loop is saying that there will be no new iPhone. Well, it's just a rumor so we shouldn't trust it. Apple aim is to "unveil the future of iOS and Mac OS" at the event. It looks like Apple will launch the newer version of their operating systems. What I feel is that Apple is also buckling up to launch a new iPhone. As the competition is getting tighter and tighter, it's right time for Apple to launch the new iPhone and break the market share of other operating systems. But I am also feeling that Apple would delay it because Verizon just launched the iPhone and it's too early for them. May be Apple will launch the iPhone 5 and make it exclusive to AT&T only and then after few months, Verizon can launch it, just like they did with the iPhone 4.

Well people, only Apple knows the real deal. As the event is still two months away, a lot of things can happen. May be this time, someone will again left an iPhone in a bar like last year. So everyone, stay tuned this and tell us is it the right time for Apple to launch an iPhone 5?

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RIM announced the pricing and launch date for Blackberry Playbook this week. The were rumors that Blackberry Playbook to support Android apps. Now RIM made an official announcement that Blackberry Playbook will support Java and Android apps.

Actually there is no native support, but this would be available through "App players" which is an application run-time environment that runs Blackberry Java and Android 2.3 apps. This would be available this summer on 'Blackberry App World'.

RIM also announced they would release native Blackberry OS SDK (NDK) for developers to create apps for Playbook with the help of QNX POSIX library and C/C++ application development platform in addition to HTML5, Flash and AIR support. They have also tied up with Ideaworks Labs and Unity Technologies to offer game development engines for the developers to develop games for Blackberry Playbook.

"App Players" and NDK for Blackberry Playbook would be showcased at BlackBerry World in Orlando, Florida on May 3 to 5 of 2011.

(Press release)

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In the beginning of this new year, LG shocked everyone by announcing the first phone with Tegra 2 processor, which is known as the LG Optimus 2x (read our review). LG is one of the leading mobile phone companies in the world. At the MWC, LG also announced their first ever 3D phone and tablet. Now LG is planning to bring a new smartphone and it will be something big because it's known as LG Optimus Big.

The phone is rumored to have a 4.3 inch Nova display and a single-core processor. Well, I don't believe the single-core thing because almost all the new LG smartphones are running on a dual-core processor; anyway it's a rumor so we should wait for some official words. The image above is showing it why it's known as Optimus Big. As you can see the phone is really big as compared to the Apple iPhone 3G/3GS. It's reported that it will be launched in S.Korea by LG Telecom next month where it will be known as LG U+. Well, at the moment we don't know if LG is planning to launch this phone outside S.Korea, but we hope that it will hit other countries too because LG fans are all over the world. So after checking out the image above, do you think the phone is big enough to fulfill your need, or is it too big?

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Idea Cellular has launched its 3G services in India in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh today. They have also setup Experience Kiosks inside My Idea stores, for customers who would like to test before they opt for the service .

Idea Cellular's 3G services will be available in 200 towns by April 2011, 750 towns by mid 2011 and 4,000 towns by the end of 2012. Idea to offer 3G services in rural, Industrial and centers of learning where broadband services are not yet available. They have introduced 'Idea mall' which is Idea's app store that offers several games and apps for mobile and web platform. 3G subscribers can experience video conferencing , video on demand and mobile TV.

They have introduced different tariffs such as usage based, sachet based, time based plans and plans for those who use USB dongles.

They have planned to launch their 3G services on their other circles gradually such as Maharashtra & Goa, Kerala, Haryana, UP East, UP West, AP, J&K and Punjab where they have acquired 3G licenses. They are also in talks with other operators to launch their 3G services in other circles too.

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Bharti Airtel, Idea Cellular ltd. and Vodafone Essar are close to signing a pact to share their 3G services reports a Chinese news agency YTWHW. They are almost in the final stages and the announcement about this would be made soon.

Airtel that holds 3G licence for 13 Circles already launched its 3G services this January, Vodafone that holds license for 9 circles launched its 3G services this February. Idea holds 3G license for 11 circles but they are yet to launch their 3G services. Idea Cellular's 3G website went live last November but, tariffs and launch date were not announced.

The launch was expected within the first quarter of this year. Now teaming up with Airtel and Vodafone Idea may launch their 3G services in more number of circles. Idea Cellular is expected to hold a press conference today to announce the launch of their 3G services.

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