ARA Asset Management Limited

ARA Asset Management Limited is an Asian real estate fund management company focused on the management of public-listed REITs and private real estate funds. Its currently manage REITs listed in Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia, private real estate funds that invest in Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia and China, and a specialist equity fund that invests in REITs and listed infrastructure and utilities trusts in the Asia-Pacific region. Its business comprises three primary segments namely REIT management, private real estate fund management and specialist equity fund management and corporate finance advisory services.

Anchors Away or Life Bouy

Chartered Ellipsiz Gems TV

Spine-tailed Swift or Flying Fish

ARA CDL Hosp Changtian China Oilfield CH Offshore ChinaAOil Cosco CourageMa First Res Golden Agri Indo Agri Noble Group SGX SPC Swiber Ultro Wilmar Yangzj

Pole shift 2012

pole shift theory is a hypothesis that the axis of rotation of a planet has not always been at its present-day locations or that the axis will not persist there; in other words, that its physical poles had been or will be shifted. Pole shift theory is almost always discussed in the context of Earth, but other solar system bodies may have experienced axial reorientation during their existences.

Pole shift theories are not to be confused with plate tectonics, the well-accepted geological theory that the Earth's surface consists of solid plates which shift over a fluid asthenosphere; nor with continental drift, the corollary to plate tectonics which maintains that locations of the continents have moved slowly over the face of the earth,[1] resulting in the gradual emerging and breakup of continents and oceans over hundreds of millions of years.[2]

Pole shift theories are also not to be confused with Geomagnetic reversal, the periodic reversal of the earth's magnetic field (effectively switching the north and south poles). Geomagnetic reversal has more acceptance in the scientific community than pole shift theories.

http://2012wiki.com/index.php?title=Pole_shift

Galactic Alignment 2012

The Galactic Alignment is the alignment of the December solstice sun with the Galactic equator. This alignment occurs as a result of the precession of the equinoxes. Precession is caused by the earth wobbling very slowly on its axis and shifts the position of the equinoxes and solstices one degree every 71.5 years. Because the sun is one-half of a degree wide, it will take the December solstice sun 36 years to precess through the Galactic equator.

The precise alignment of the solstice point (the precise center-point of the body of the sun as viewed from earth) with the Galactic equator was calculated to occur in 1998 (Jean Meeus, Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, 1997).

Thus, the Galactic Alignment "zone" is 1998 +/- 18 years = 1980 - 2016. This is "era-2012."
This Galactic Alignment occurs only once every 26,000 years, and was what the ancient Maya were pointing to with the 2012 end-date of their Long Count calendar.

Theories

The Milky Way Galaxy is the inspiration for the symbol of the Ouroboros. Myth refers to a serpent of light residing in the heavens. The Milky Way is this serpent, and viewed at galactic central point near Sagittarius, this serpent eats its own tail. The Milky Way Galaxy keeps a great time cycle that ends in catastrophic change. The sign of the Suntelia Aion is the sun rising out of the mouth of the ouroboros, which allegedly will occur on the solstice, December 21, 2012. The Greeks called the End of the Age the Suntelia Aion. Ancient historians and especially Plato referred to a cycle of catastrophe at the End of the Age. The AION was symbolized by the Ouroboros.

Retrieved from "http://2012wiki.com/index.php?title=Galactic_Alignment"

Philips feminizes the LCD TV

With its 'Design Collection' of LCD TV's the Dutch electronics giant is cottoning on to the fact that style sells. It is actually focusing some of its design efforts around market research that suggests that for 98% of female consumers style is an important factor in the buying process.

Andrea Ragnetti, Philips' consumer lifestyle guru is at the forefront of a growing trend within large consumer focused organisations who have recognized the increasing importance of female buying power.

Three new LCD TV series' the 7000, 5000 and 3000 certainly lean towards a more 'femmine' style without being overtly directed towards the fairer sex. The new panels however have substance to back up the style with

The top of the range 1080p 7000 series comes equipped with 120Hz processing, an extremely rapid 2 millisecond response time along with an impressive 4 HDMI (v1.3) inputs.
The new panels will feature Philips' proprietary HD Digital Natural Motion technology (HD DNM) which has been designed to reduce on-screen juddering, while Motion Estimation Motion Compensation (MEMC) acts to further smooth motion by inserting compensating frames within faster scenes.

With a growing reputation for producing some of the most technologically advanced LCD TV's around, Philips' like other manufacturers have begun to realize the importance of psychological aspects and how they affect their bottom line.

Read a full review of the Philips 32PFL9632D here
Read a full review of the Philips 47PFL9632D here

http://hdtvorg.co.uk/news/articles/2008013002.htm

Philips 47PFL9632D Review

Design

Along with many other flat panel manufacturers, Philips have realised that style sells. The Philips 47PFL9632D introduces us to a subtle departure in style for the Dutch electronics manufacturer whose latest range of LCD TV's have evolved into high gloss units with slightly rounded corners.

Just as visually dramatic as previous LCD TV's, the slim outer grey 'grille-like' bezel on the 47PFL9632D along with wider inner glossy black screen frame will undoubtedly gain an instant following.

Features

The Philips 47PFL9632D is identical in terms of specification to its 52in and 37in siblings, and almost identical to the 32in model. What all of the larger screens share is a Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution. The screens Full HD resolution is able to map, pixel for pixel, the highest quality input onto the screen without the need for downscaling. Screens with a 1366 x 768 resolution would have to downscale a high quality input (e.g Sky's 1080i format) to fit.

http://www.hdtvorg.co.uk/reviews/lcd/philips_47pfl9632d.htm

Enterprise resource planning

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems attempt to integrate all data and processes of an organization into a unified system. A typical ERP system will use multiple components of computer software and hardware to achieve the integration. A key ingredient of most ERP systems is the use of a unified database to store data for the various system modules.

Origin of the term

MRP vs. ERP — Manufacturing management systems have evolved in stages over the past 30 years from a simple means of calculating materials requirements to the automation of an entire enterprise. Around 1980, over-frequent changes in sales forecasts, entailing continual readjustments in production, as well as the unsuitability of the parameters fixed by the system, led MRP (Material Requirement Planning) to evolve into a new concept : Manufacturing Resource Planning (or MRP2) and finally the generic concept Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)[1]

The initials ERP originated as an extension of MRP (material requirements planning then manufacturing resource planning).[2] ERP systems now attempt to cover all basic functions of an enterprise, regardless of the organization's business or charter. Non-manufacturing businesses, non-profit organizations and governments now all utilize ERP systems.

To be considered an ERP system, a software package must provide the function of at least two systems. For example, a software package that provides both payroll and accounting functions could technically be considered an ERP software package.

However, the term is typically reserved for larger, more broadly based applications. The introduction of an ERP system to replace two or more independent applications eliminates the need for external interfaces previously required between systems, and provides additional benefits that range from standardization and lower maintenance (one system instead of two or more) to easier and/or greater reporting capabilities (as all data is typically kept in one database).

Examples of modules in an ERP which formerly would have been stand-alone applications include: Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Financials, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Human Resources, Warehouse Management and Decision Support System.

Overview
Some organizations — typically those with sufficient in-house IT skills to integrate multiple software products — choose to implement only portions of an ERP system and develop an external interface to other ERP or stand-alone systems for their other application needs. For example, one may choose to use the HRMS from one vendor, and the financials systems from another, and perform the integration between the systems themselves.

This is very common in the retail sector[citation needed], where even a mid-sized retailer will have a discrete Point-of-Sale (POS) product and financials application, then a series of specialized applications to handle business requirements such as warehouse management, staff rostering, merchandising and logistics.

Ideally, ERP delivers a single database that contains all data for the software modules, which would include:

Manufacturing
Engineering, Bills of Material, Scheduling, Capacity, Workflow Management, Quality Control, Cost Management, Manufacturing Process, Manufacturing Projects, Manufacturing Flow

Supply Chain Management
Inventory, Order Entry, Purchasing, Product Configurator, Supply Chain Planning, Supplier Scheduling, Inspection of goods, Claim Processing, Commission Calculation

Financials
General Ledger, Cash Management, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Fixed Assets

Projects
Costing, Billing, Time and Expense, Activity Management

Human Resources
Human Resources, Payroll, Training, Time & Attendance, Rostering, Benefits

Customer Relationship Management
Sales and Marketing, Commissions, Service, Customer Contact and Call Center support

http://images.google.pl/imgres?imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f4/MRP2.jpg/500px-MRP2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://tech1207.blogspot.com/2008_02_03_archive.html&h=668&w=500&sz=81&hl=pl&start=5&um=1&tbnid=m393w1aOzYl2uM:&tbnh=138&tbnw=103&p

60in Average Screen Size by 2015

The electronics giant Sharp has predicted that many of us will be settling down in front of 60in screens across Europe by 2015. Although the 50in category is the fastest growing segment of the market, Sharp are confident that the trend towards bigger screens will see the average flat panel size supersede this level in the not too distant future.

Mike Gabriel, Sharp Electronics UK head of marketing and communications said: "Big screens are no longer for just shop windows or shiny office receptions so we're seeing the size of TVs in the home increasing dramatically. People no longer have to compromise on space or quality. This is why our range of TVs at 42 inches and above is growing."

In just one year, the the most popular size LCD panels that Sharp sells are their 46in models compared to 42in just a year ago. Sharp's 46in TV's have witnessed a sales surge of 150% in the past 12 months. Significantly, slimmer designs mean that 42in sets are now made to occupy the same living room space as their 37in predecessors used to.

Of course, the main driving force towards bigger screens are falling prices. Economies of scale, technological advances and new entrants are all helping to drive down prices.

Not so long ago, 32in screens were seen by many consumers as the upper limit in the size of TV they felt comfortable with. Now 40in + and even 50in screens are commonplace, and with the likes of LG producing affordable 60in units, the upward trend looks set to continue.

Read a review of the LG 60PF95 here
Read a review of the Sharp LC52XD1E here

http://hdtvorg.co.uk/news/articles/2007122601.htm

The Air Car Preps for Market

Some still question the vehicle's chances of success, despite a boost from India.

A French-designed car that's propelled by compressed air and claims speeds of more than 60 miles per hour is expected to go into commercial production as early as this summer, although skeptics of the technology aren't holding their breath.

Using compressed air, they argue, may mean zero tailpipe emissions, but it's unlikely to provide enough range or speed to appeal to the masses, particularly in North America. "Compressed air does not contain much energy--that's the killer," says Larry Rinek, senior research analyst for automotive technologies at consultancy Frost & Sullivan. "This is more a nice garage project for a Popular Science subscriber."

But the dream lives on. Motor Development International (MDI), based near Nice, France, has developed several prototypes of its Compressed Air Technology (CAT) car since its first engine was created 14 years ago. Now company founder Guy Negre, an aeronautics engineer who developed a high-performance racing engine for Formula 1 in the late 1980s, is counting on India's largest carmaker, Tata Motors, to bring his highly anticipated Air Car to market later this year.

The Air Car was supposed to hit the streets years ago, but its release always seems just around the corner. MDI announced in 2002 that the cars would be used to replace taxis in Mexico City, but nothing resulted.

Tata's involvement this time around, combined with the fact that oil recently hit $100 a barrel, could change the game. India's largest automaker announced last February that it had struck a deal with MDI to further develop and refine Negre's compressed-air engine technology, with the intention of producing and selling the emission-free cars in India. It has since been reported that Tata invested nearly $30 million in MDI as part of the agreement.

"The recent manufacturing push is in response to the contract that MDI signed with Tata," confirmed Kevin Haydon, a spokesman for Zero Pollution Motors, based in New Paltz, NY. He says that the company plans to manufacture CAT vehicles in parts of the United States around 2010, through a license with MDI.

Zero Pollution has even entered the car in the multicity Automotive X Prize competition, where in 2009 more than 30 teams--including electric carmakers Tesla Motors, Phoenix Motorcars, and Malcolm Bricklin's Visionary Vehicles--will compete on the fuel efficiency of their vehicle designs.

The Air Car may do better than fuel-cell cars, but experts say that using grid power to charge a battery-powered electric vehicle is much more efficient than using electricity to compress and store the same amount of energy in a tank. "The main problem is that air gets hot when you compress it, so much of the energy input goes into raising the temperature of the air as you try to raise the pressure," explains Doug Nelson, a professor of mechanical engineering and an expert on advanced vehicle systems at Virginia Polytechnic Institute.

http://www.technologyreview.com/Energy/20071/

LG 50PC55 Review

Design

LG have realised that style sells and have employed an Italian design studio to improve on the rather clunky look of LG's of the past.

With its piano black minimalist look complemented by a stand in the same style, the 50PC55 looks like it could actually claw back sales that were lost as a result of previous models rather 'clunky' style. The finishing slim silver strip which separates the screen frame from the full length horizontal speaker at the units base completes a rather chic piece of kit that won't look out of place even in the most fashion conscious of households.


Features
Connectivity on the LG 42PC55 is adequate rather than outstanding, with 2 HDMI inputs along with 2 Scarts and the usual Composite video input, Component video input, S-video and PC input.
Screen:
50in 16:9
Tuner:
Digital
Sound System:
Nicam
Resolution:
1366 x 768
Contrast Ratio:
15,000:1
Brightness:
1500cd/m2
Other Features: XD Image Processing Engine, MPEG Noise Reduction, Digital Comb Filter .
Sockets: 2 HDMI, 2 SCART, Component Video, Composite Video, PC input.




Picture processing technology on the 50PC55 comes in the shape of LG's proprietary XD engine. The XD Engine brings together a range of picture processing enhancements under the XD umbrella, and amongst other things focuses on improving the input signal quality.

The XD engine is complimented by MPEG Noise Reduction processing which has been designed to eliminate video noise once it hits the screen.

The 50PC55 is equipped with Clear Filter Pro, an advanced thin film filter designed to improve brightness, contrast, and more importantly to reduce screen reflections.

Also featuring a Digital Comb Filter, LG's 50PC55 separates TV signals into Brightness and Colour components, aiming to provide softer and cleaner images.

Performance

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the LG 50PC55's performance considering its budget status is its black level ability. It can't match the benchmark 'Kuro' screens from Pioneer, but nevertheless puts in a wholly convincing performance that is the equal of most LCD TV's. Darker scenes look genuinely black, and only reveal a certain amount of greyness on closer inspection.
Disappointingly however some of the detailing on darker scenes lacked the subtlety possessed by more accomplished performers. Instead of a smooth colour transition, we were often faced with a 'graduated' transition.

Like its smaller brother the 42PC55, it is the High Definition (HD) performance of the 50PC55 that makes it such a serious contender for best budget home cinema screen. Pictures posses all the detail and sharpness you will ever need, and the depth of colour on such a reasonably priced piece of kit is a revelation.

Unfortunately, the 50PC55 is not quite as accomplished as we would have liked with fast motion sequences. Although the effect does not intrude to any great degree on the viewing experience, there is a noticeable amount of 'blocking' with faster action.

Inevitably, there is a fair amount of grain and video noise with Standard Definition (SD) sources. To a degree this is a reflection of the 50PC55's size, but it is also a reflection of the budget status of the kit.

The acoustic ability of the LG 50PC55 is nothing more and nothing less than adequate. Lack of bass is the main problem, and as the majority of buyers will probably be upgrading the sound capability on this unit, it won't be a problem.

Conclusion

There are better LCD's and Plasma's out there, but the LG 50PC55 offers a level of performance that is hard to beat for the price. An excellent choice for a budget home cinema system.

http://www.hdtvorg.co.uk/reviews/plasma/lg_50pc55.htm

Sony LCD TV model range explained

With a number of different lines offering a vast array of LCD TV's with different specifications, it is easy to become bogged down in the detail of Sony's current crop of flat panels.

To make things a little easier for those of you who are considering buying a Sony LCD we have summarized the main differences between their current UK line up.

Essentially, differences between Sony's LCD TV's boil down to; Picture processing technology (Incarnation of their 'Bravia Engine' and any accompanying wizardry such as 100Hz processing); Screen resolution (Full HD or not); Connections (How many HDMI inputs etc).

Sony's flagship X3000/3500 series is equipped with the latest incarnation of their picture processing engine 'Bravia Engine Pro' along with 100Hz processing, Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution, 10-bit panel, Live Colour Creation, 24Hz Tru Cinema and 3 HDMI inputs.

The one step down W3000 series retains the X3000/3500 features apart from 100Hz with picture processing being handled by the 'Bravia Engine EX'

The V3000 retains all of the features of the W3000 apart form losing an HDMI input and the 10-bit panel.

The D3000/3500 series is a bit of an anomaly in that the D3000 is equipped with 100Hz processing, 3 HDMI inputs and a 1366 x 768 resolution while the D3500 gains Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution but loses 100Hz processing and sports 2 HDMI inputs. Both models feature the standard 'Bravia Engine' picture processing technology and retain 24Hz Tru cinema.

The T3500 panels feature the standard 'Bravia Engine', are all equipped with Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution panels but lose 24hz Tru Cinema and come with 2 HDMI inputs.

The S3000 series has the same spec as the T3500 but gains an HDMI input (3) but loses Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution.

The P3020 retains most of the T3500's features but loses a single HDMI input (2).

The U3000 series retains all of the P3020's features apart from the built in digital TV tuner (present on all other models).

http://hdtvorg.co.uk/news/articles/2008012101.htm#

Knee Power

A new human-powered generator tries to capture walking energy.

Engineers who design wearable devices that harvest human energy for power face a daunting dilemma: how do you collect a significant amount of power without making the user expend a lot of extra effort? Gadgets like hand-crank generators and windup radios require manual work from a user, and existing shoe-mounted generators produce less than one watt of power.
A team of engineers has developed a modified knee brace that captures energy that would otherwise have been lost while the wearer walks. The generator produces about five watts--enough to power 10 cell phones simultaneously.

"If you want power, go where the muscles are," says Max Donelan, a professor at Simon Fraser University, in British Columbia, who led the research. "We thought, maybe there's a smart, selective way to do energy harvesting when muscles are normally decelerating in the body." Donelan's research appears in the February 8 issue of the journal Science.

Donelan looked to the legs, which have the largest muscles in the body, and capitalized on a careful understanding of how humans use energy to walk. During an average stride, a person uses her muscles to bend at the knee and swing her leg forward, like a pendulum bob. This is positive work. At the end of the swing, she executes negative work to decelerate her moving leg. She places her foot on the ground, and by then her other leg has begun its swing.

Donelan and his team concentrated on harvesting energy from the end of the stride using their bionic knee brace. When the brace's generator is engaged, it collects power while slowing down the motion of the leg. As a result, the brace reduces the human effort required at the end of the swing phase.

If the mechanism were continuously engaged, however, it would also impede acceleration at the beginning of the swing and require more energy from the wearer. To solve this problem, Donelan installed a sensor in the device to monitor the knee angle and switch the generator on and off. According to his research, this "generative braking" approach requires only one-eighth the metabolic power of a continuously operating mechanism.

"What's extremely clever about this device is that it only tries to capture mechanical energy when the muscles would be primed to slow the body down," says Lawrence Rome, a biology professor at the University of Pennsylvania. Rome, who did not work on the knee brace, recently designed a backpack that converts walking energy into electricity. "[Donelan's knee brace is] a smart device, and it only works when you're trying to brake yourself," says Rome. "It lets the reverse torque of the generator do the work of the muscle."

http://www.technologyreview.com/Infotech/20177/

Sony KDL-32S3000 Review

Design

Finished largely in matte black, the KDL-32S300 doesn't quite have the impact of some of the higher end Bravia models, but nevertheless maintains Sony's tradition for producing quietly classy, supremely well built flat panel LCD TV's.
The looks may be too conservative for some, but Sony have yet to produce an LCD TV that doesn't add a discreet touch of style to your living room.
Features
As an entry level offering from Sony, the KDL-32S3000 loses the Full HD resolution (1920 x 1080), 100Hz processing, or the ability to accept a 1080p input of higher end panels, but it does retain the impressive Sony Bravia picture processing engine of the 'V' and 'W' series.
Screen:
32in 16:9
Tuner:
Digital
Sound System:
Nicam
Resolution:
1366 x 768
Contrast Ratio:
1600:1 (8,000 dynamic)
Brightness:
450cd/m2
Other Features: BRAVIA Image Processing Engine, Live Colour Creation, BRAVIA Theatre Sync.
Sockets: 3 HDMI, 2 SCART, Component Video, Composite Video, PC input.




What's more, connectivity is impressive with 3 HDMI inputs, 2 Scarts and the usual composite, component and s-video inputs.

There is no 'x.v.Colour' on the KDL-32S3000 (x.v.Colour is based on xvYCC, a new international standard for video signals that defines a colour space nearly two times wider than the existing sRGB standard) but it does come equipped with LIVE COLOUR CREATION which is Sony's integrated solution for wider colour reproduction.

WCG-CCFL (backlight) technology allows the KDL-32S3000 to achieve approximately 95% of the NTSC (National Television System Committee) video signal colour gamut – representing a 140% improvement on LCD TVs that feature traditional fluorescent backlights. WCG-CCFL incorporates a different type of luminescent material to produce more accurate and deeper reds and greens

By combining the BRAVIA ENGINE and WCG-CCFL backlight technology, Sony claim to provide far truer and more accurate colour tones for enhanced picture depth and clarity.
Theatre Sync, which is Sony's name for CEC (Consumer Electronic Control), is a control standard that functions over HDMI 1.3. The technology facilitates one-touch control over compatible devices and in practice means that if you fire up your compatible DVD player, the all connected devices such as your LCD TV will also spring into life.
Performance

Like its bigger brother the 40S3000, the most impressive aspect of the KDL-32S3000 is its black level performance. The abilities of the KDL-32S3000 are not going to trouble the best Plasma's or even LCD's in this respect, but what this screen achieves is a black level which belies its status as an entry level LCD TV. Crucially, there are no obvious signs of greyness across darker scenes.

The KDL-32S3000 proved to be a more than competent performer when handling Standard Definition (SD) sources. Simply as a result of more pixels being squeezed into a smaller area, the 32S3000's picture is perceived as a little sharper and more detailed than the 40S3000. This screen actually tells us a lot more about the features it does not posses, namely 100Hz processing and Full HD resolution. The higher end features certainly work, but we were impressed with how little impact there absence had on the 32S3000.

Unfortunately, the colour reproducing abilities of the 32S3000 cannot live up to and take full advantage of the excellent black levels. The WCG-CCFL backlight is partly to blame with a slight lack of uniformity across the whole of the screen producing less than wholly consistent colours. This is certainly a minor flaw of the KDL-32S3000, but colours nevertheless maintain a vibrancy that few other LCD's can match.

As we expected, the KDL-32S3000 achieves an excellent level of detail and sharpness with High Definition (HD) material. Colours are absolutely stunning, with a vibrancy and sharpness that we have come to expect.

Although fast action material is prone to a little blurring, on the whole the SD performance of the KDL-32S3000 was excellent. Inevitably, poorer quality Freeview sources show some signs of degradation, but on the whole, this screen will satisfy all but the most demanding of consumers for SD performance. SD performance is not quite there yet when compared to your CRT, but the gap is narrowing.

Conclusion
Apart from a few minor flaws, the KDL-32S3000 is a very competent all round performer. It makes you think twice about how much benefit is derived from high end features such as Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution and 100Hz picture processing. The 32S3000 cannot match the cheapest budget offerings on price, but its worth a little extra.

http://www.hdtvorg.co.uk/reviews/lcd/sony_kdl-32s3000.htm

Motorola RAZR2 V8

Tired of mediocre call quality on T-Mobile? You could have had a V8. No, not the tomato juice–based beverage—I'm talking about the Motorola RAZR2 V8, T-Mobile's highest-end feature phone with the carrier's best call quality by far. Sure, the huge gap in price between it and other T-Mobile feature phones is hard to justify. Also, the handset's features, such as support for third-party software and Internet connection, could stand some improvement. But there's no denying that this phone takes voice calls on T-Mobile to a whole new level. That's why I'm awarding it our Editors' Choice.

SLIDESHOW (7)

Slideshow | All Shots

The V8 is shaped and styled just like other RAZR2s on other carriers, the V9 and V9m. It's a massive slab of metal and glass. Though thinnish, at 0.5 inches, the device takes up some serious pocket real estate, measuring 4.1 inches long by 2.1 inches wide. It weighs in at 4.2 ounces, average for a feature phone. The front is dominated by the best external screen ever to grace a flip model, a 2-inch display that's 320 by 240 and has 262 thousand colors. A tiny, 2-megapixel camera sits above that screen. Side buttons toggle through the handset's "profiles" rather than directly controlling volume, activating voice dialing, or launching the music player. Also, there's no dedicated camera button, nor is there removable memory —but I'll get to that later. Below the side buttons is a MicroUSB port for charging, PC connectivity, and headsets.

Like the V9, the V8 has CrystalTalk, Motorola's technology designed to dampen ambient din), which produces the best sound quality I've ever heard on a GSM phone. It also sounds just as good as the V9 for AT&T, which operates on UTMS, not GSM. Rather than being loud, the V8 is just clear. The volume and sound characteristics of calls automatically adjust to background noise, so you can hear your calls over, say, a nearby idling truck engine or the buzz of a busy street. CrystalTalk even seems to work some wonders with the speakerphone—which is, once more, far more intelligible than its volume level alone initially might suggest. Alas, the speakerphone doesn't work with the flip closed.

The phone's microphone doesn't entirely block out all environmental noise, but voices come out clearly on top of any background sounds. Voice dialing, which requires no training, worked well in my testing. Battery life was excellent for voice calls, and vibrating alerts felt strong. I found reception to be impeccable. This handset is quad-band, so it will operate on GSM and EDGE networks all over the world. (Frequent travelers should be aware that there's an unlocked version of this phone available as well, direct from Motorola.) Frankly, this is the best T-Mobile voice phone ever.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2159329,00.asp