Reviews

There are only a few Windows 8 laptops in production that we can consider to be the ‘high end’, machines with exacting build quality and specifications to match. While many PC makers are content to push out hum drum machines with middling specs and so so performance the same cannot be said for Lenovo and their ThinkPad range. Over the years their quality and reliability have become legend amongst the most demanding of laptop buyers.

The ThinkPad X1 comes in a body woven from Carbon fibre in a style similar to that of the current crop of Ultrabooks. Lenovo seems keen on finally shunting the look of their machines forwards and have recently adopted Chicklet keyboards and of course the wedge shape body design we have all come to recognize of late.  I’ll be kicking the tires on the X1 to see how well Lenovo have melded the heritage of ThinkPad with the modern styling of an Ultrabook.

Nokia’s Lumia 620 could be Palm Centro of 2013

The Nokia Lumia 620, a modestly priced entry-level Windows Phones, represents one of the best value devices we’ve encountered yet on the platform. The 620 replaces the Lumia 610, a device that went on sale last year and now runs Windows Phone 7.8. But in our opinion, the value impact of the 620 is leaps and bounds higher than its predecessor.

Make no mistake, this is an entry-level device that is not meant to rival the 800/900 series of Lumia Windows Phones. But also know this: it is one cool device and we’re having a hard time putting it down.

Packing a lot of power, the Brando Power Jacket is a nice solution for those who don't mind the extra bulk

Back a few weeks ago we reported on Brando bringing their seemingly high quality Power Jacket to market for the Lumia 920. The $37 item features a massive 2200mAh battery that “wraps around” your precious Nokia phone, allowing you go all day and night all at the price of extra size.

Our ‘Jacket showed up yesterday and we’ve been toying around with it. Verdict? For $37 we think it’s a good deal. There’s no doubt that it makes the Lumia 920 even huger but let’s be clear, this is for specific moments where you need extra power—traveling, long hikes, camping, power outages, etc. For that reason, it’s quite a nice addition.

Head past the break to see our video review and photo gallery.

Super Voltage is a Windows Phone puzzle game where you race to solve puzzles.  It reminds me a little of the Windows Phone game Metro Pipes but instead of racing a clock, you're racing pesky little monsters.  Super Voltage features Koo Monsters who, when they reach the bottom of the screen, drain you of health point.

You are tasked with solving a series of puzzles and as you do, the Koo monsters are slowly working their way down your Windows Phone screen.  However, as you complete one of the puzzles, super voltage electricity power is unleashed that destroys any monster lying within it's path.  Again, if the monsters make it to the bottom of the screen, you lose health points.

Super Voltage is a fun, fast paced game that is full of challenge. It's a nice addition to the Windows Phone gaming library.

Microsoft has never released a portable console like the Playstation Vita or 3DS, instead opting to publish Xbox-branded games for Windows Phone and Windows 8… A wise choice given the modern trend towards smartphone and tablet gaming over handheld game systems. With the Xbox 360’s excellent lineup of downloadable games, Windows Phone users rightfully expected the chance to play many of their XBLA favorites on their mobile phones.

Unfortunately, the number of robust, XBLA-quality titles released for Xbox Windows Phone to date is incredibly small. I count only Final Fantasy, Puzzle Quest 2, Castlevania Puzzle, ilomilo, Plants vs. Zombies, Sonic 4: Episode I, and Sonic CD as games with full console-level production values and quantity of content. Crimson Dragon Side Story, Hydro Thunder GO, and Civilization Revolution would be on there too if not for their Playstation One-era graphics. Maybe 11 games out of Xbox Windows Phone’s over 150 titles feel like full XBLA games and not just smartphone/casual titles.

Well, add another game to the top-tier pile because Skulls of the Shogun from 17-BIT and Microsoft Studios fits right alongside the XBLA and Windows 8 versions that released alongside it.

Plane in Storm is a fast paced arcade game for your Windows Phone that has you piloting a plane, trying to out run bad weather, dodging flying objects, storm clouds and lighting bolts along the way.

The game is nicely animated with two game modes and plenty of bonus items. I'm not sure if Plane in Storm can hold up to marathon gaming sessions but it's a nice way to pass short bits of time with.

Gestulator is a gesture based calculator app for your Windows Phone. We took a look at the app some time ago and found it to be an interesting, handy calculator app.

Gestulator was recently updated to provide Windows Phone 8 support that also addresses a few stability issues. The Windows Phone 8 support allows the app to be compatible with all screen sizes and overall, the app seems to have a little more zip.  If you're looking for a basic calculator with a speedy interface, Gestulator is worth trying.

One aspect of fitness is dealing with the weather in a healthy and safe way. The Windows Phone app WeatherCare hopes to help you combat the elements in a healthy, safe manner by providing weather tips based on your current conditions.

Tips range from health related to clothing tips to driving tips. On rainy days you may get a tip to watch for slippery spots on the road or on sunny days with a high UV Index, tips to wear sunscreen for protection.

WeatherCare has potential and I like the concept, but the app still needs a little fine tuning.

SophieLens Pro is a photo editing app for your Windows Phone 8 device that lets you apply a wide range of filters to your photos.

SophieLens Pro is a fairly straight forward photography app that launches straight to a camera app that previews the selected filter in the view finder. The filter style is noted in the bottom left corner of the view finder and two button controls sit on the right edge of the view finder that controls the flash and changes the filter.

We’re hard at work on our Skulls of the Shogun review, but it’s a long game and also features an extensive multiplayer component. As such, we’ll hold our judgment of that title until next week. In the meantime, let’s look at one of those Nokia exclusive Xbox games that half of us love to love and the other half loves to grumble about.  Risk.

The Nokia-Electronic Arts partnership has produced games in a variety of genres so far. The mostly highly represented game type is actually board games, with The Game of Life, Connect 4, Trivial Pursuit, and Risk among its numbers. Risk recently gained Windows Phone 8 compatibility, making it a prime target for review. It’s also one of the stronger board game adaptations to appear on Microsoft’s mobile platform.

While there isn't an "official" Fitbit Windows Phone app, Fitbit Companion is nice option for the Fitbit users in the house and a step in the right direction by giving you access to most your Fitbit statistics. For those not familiar, Fitbit is a small fitness monitoring device that tracks your activities and sleep patterns.

Along with the monitoring device, Fitbit also offers a fairly extensive web based tracking app that syncs with the data from your Fitbit device and allows you to enter meals, activity and track your weight. The Fitbit Companion app taps into the web based app and delivers most of your Fitbit stats to your Windows Phone. The app uses the Fitbit API and doesn't share your personal information outside of the app.

If your Windows Phone 8 device has NFC (Near Field Communication) support, you may want to take a look at the Windows Phone game Grow.

Grow is a simple game where your success is dependent on how much you use NFC. You have a potted plant that grows the more you use your NFC and as a bonus, you can view the map (little icon in the upper right corner) to find additional Grows for bonus plant food.  Grow comes across as a game that is part virtual pet and part scavenger hunt.

Grow isn't an action packed game for your Windows Phone but if you've been looking for an excuse to use your NFC on your Nokia Lumia 920 or HTC 8X, Grow might fit the bill.