Video Review: Spigen Ultra Crystal Dual Screenshield for Nexus 4

Upon first hearing that the Nexus 4 would be constructed of front and rear glass panels, I immediately thought of all the issues that have plagued the iPhone - easily cracked screens, scratched glass and a slippery surface leaving little to hold on to. Don't get me wrong, the design makes the Nexus 4 look absolutely stunning, but it makes it a much more delicate phone than it should be.

That said, I contacted Spigen right away to get my hands on their Ultra Crystal Dual screenshield, which contains a set of front / rear screen protectors. Due to their ultra-thin and clear nature, you cannot tell they are installed as they function identically to the glass panels. You'll still find build ups of grease and fingerprints - but at least you will be protected from scratches.

Retailing for $13.99, there are certainly cheaper alternatives out there, but I choose to use Spigen's as I believe they provide the most 'natural' experience, since they don't distort the display. Check out the full video review below for more info;

Rapid Review: The Huawei MediaPad/T-Mobile Springboard

So, as promised a couple of weeks ago, here is our inaugural Rapid Review.

First up? The Huawei MediaPad (also known as the T-Mobile Springboard Stateside).

It might seem an odd choice to review now, being an end-of-life (EOL) product, about to be relegated to the side-lines as Huawei refreshes its tablet line up. But then, it might just be one of those unappreciated gems worth grabbing at EOL prices, mightn't it? You'll have to read on to find out I guess. Well, actually, I know you're clever enough to realise we wouldn't even be here if we didn't like it, but there still might be a few tasty surprises just past the break nevertheless...

Rapid Reviews; introducing a new review format at AndroidNZ

The Tomahawk, the worlds fastest bike. A metaphor for the spirit of
rapid reviews, and no, I'm not referring at all to the obvious there...

Brief reviews are something I've wanted to do for a while here at AndroidNZ. Not because I don't like really going to town exploring a device and taking it to it's limits, but because sometimes devices deserve reviews, but don't necessarily deserve that  kind of review.

I'm talking here about devices whose time may already have passed, but which may have taken on a new relevance in light of some other context, or that perhaps escaped our attention in their prime but shouldn't have. Devices that have some really interesting aspects, some technology or idea that is simply too revolutionary not to write about, something so astonishing it makes the device assume a significance beyond it's market share in terms of how it defines the discussions we have about smartphones, tablets, and technology.

(or, if we drop the grandiosity a notch for a few moments, maybe just that end-of-life bargain that you shouldn't miss)

At any rate, we'll have the first of these reviews up shortly, covering none other than the humble Huawei MediaPad. If a nine month old Android tablet doesn't immediately seem like something worth spending print on to you, then I guess you'll just have read the review to see why we beg to differ. Without wanting to give everything away right now, let me just say that I prefer my MediaPad to my Nexus 7. If you did a double-take just now, let me assure you: that is exactly what I meant to say.

Catch you then.