LG Optimus 4X HD

Register Hardware has published a very positive (90%) review of LG's latest quad-core, £425 Android smartphone.

Verdict [edited]:

"The 4X HD is not only the cheapest quad-core around, it's also the smallest and lightest. It may not shout "Look at me" like the opposition, but it’s a smart and solid bit of kit. Furthermore, it has a very well thought-out storage arrangement and some clever UI additions. Add to that the beefy removable battery and regular-sized SIM card slot and I think we have a winner."
------------

Nano Napping

lifehacker reports: [edited]

Research published in Sleep suggests the best nap length is just ten minutes.

Australian researchers studied twenty-four young adults who sleep well at night but don't normally nap. The participants napped for 5, 10, 20, and 30 minutes (plus a control of no napping) and then were measured across a range of benefits for three hours afterwards. The results:

The 5-minute nap produced few benefits in comparison with the no-nap control.

The 10-minute nap produced immediate improvements in all outcome measures (including sleep latency, subjective sleepiness, fatigue, vigour, and cognitive performance), with some of these benefits maintained for as long as 155 minutes.

The 20-minute nap was associated with improvements emerging 35 minutes after napping and lasting up to 125 minutes after napping.

The 30-minute nap produced a period of impaired alertness and performance immediately after napping, indicative of sleep inertia, followed by improvements lasting up to 155 minutes after the nap.

For the ideal time to nap, click here.
------------

Panasonic DMC-FZ200

Digital Photography Review reports: [edited]

The DMC-FZ200 is a 24X superzoom with a constant F2.8 lens and high-resolution electronic viewfinder. It has a 1.3m dot equivalent electronic viewfinder and the ability to shoot at 12 frames per second and can capture 1080p video at 60fps or 720p at up to 120fps.

The camera's 25-600mmm equivalent lens features an improved version of the company's highest-grade stabilisation system.

Hands-on preview available here
------------

Infographics

Wired has produced an excellent piece on what makes a good (and bad) infographic.

some excerpts:

"An information graphic, is designed to convey a huge set of data in a fraction of the time that it takes to wade through a dense, numbers-heavy paragraph. The best ones are also entertaining."

"Creating an effective infographic is much more difficult than just arranging a few charts around a cartoon character. It requires graphic designers to tap into their inner data analyst and journalist — to crunch numbers and craft a convincing narrative. Few have all these skills at their fingertips."
------------

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7

Digital Photography Review reports: [edited]

The LX7 features a slightly smaller sensor than the LX5, allowing it to offer the brightest lens of any compact camera with a F1.4-2.3 24-90mm equivalent range.

The LX7 is based around a 10.1MP MOS sensor, rather than its predecessor's CCD, allowing it to offer 10 fps continuous shooting and 1080p60 movies (50p for European examples) in AVCHD Progressive format, or half that rate in MP4.

It also gains an aperture ring around the lens, a 920k dot LCD, and finds room for stereo mics and a larger accessory port, allowing use with an optional high-res electronic viewfinder.

Hands-on preview available here
------------

Sony Walkman F800

Register Hardware reports: [edited]

The Sony Walkman F800 has a 3.5in display and runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, providing access to Google Play and its wide array of apps and games.

It comes in 8GB, 16GB and 32GB sizes, connects through Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and should pump out up to 36 hours of audio from a single charge, if Sony's battery life claims are true.

The Japanese giant also revealed further Walkmans - including the Bluetooth-focused S770BT Series, the noise-reducing E570 Series, and the colourful E470 Series, which comes with a portable speaker dock powered by the device's internal battery.
------------

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5

Digital Photography Review reports: [edited]

The G5 is built around a 16MP LiveMOS sensor that the company implies hasn't been used in a G-series camera before. This, combined with the company's latest 'Venus Engine' allows the capture of 1080p video at 60 frames per second (50p in European examples).

It also gains an additional control lever, higher-resolution 920,000 dot rear LCD and regains the eye-sensor to automatically switch between LCD and electronic viewfinder.

Hands-on preview here.
------------

How to prepare your app/website for 'retina' displays

Thomas Fuchs has produced an excellent flowchart describing a suggested workflow.
------------

Samsung EX2F

Digital Photography Review reports: [edited]

The magnesium-bodied EX2F features a 1/1.7" 12.4MP BSI CMOS sensor and the fastest 24-80mm zoom lens of any compact camera on the market (F1.4 at 24mm to F2.7 at 80mm).

ISO sensitivity can be extended up to ISO 12,800 and as well as various still image modes the EX2F can also capture full HD 1080/30p video.

The 'F' in the model name designates WiFi, and features the full complement of 'Smart' options offered by its high-end NX cousins, including Mobile Link, Remote Viewfinder, Email and Auto Backup.

The EX2F will be priced at $549 and will be available in August.
------------

Google Nexus 7

Google's 'Kindle Fire killer' is available for pre-order, starting at £159 for the 8GB version.

For engadget's (very favourable) review, click here.
------------