However, a big disappointment for  Nokia’s new Lumia handset which got off to a poor start, failing to make the top 10 handsets in the four weeks of the survey period. The Lumia, which runs Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 operating system, was released in Britain on November 16. The iPhone 4S is a more powerful version of its predecessor, with an improved camera and a new voice control system called Siri. Last week, there was speculation that Google was working on its own voice control software to be released as part of its Android mobile operating system.

Not such good news for RIM, the Canadian company that makes BlackBerry handsets, it has had a bad year but there was at least some comfort in the GfK data. Sales of BlackBerry handsets increased during the period of the survey, with three variants of the BlackBerry Curve in the top 10.

The Amazon Kindle is an e-book reader developed by Amazon.com subsidiary Lab126 which allows users to shop for, download, browse, and read e-books, newspapers, magazines, blogs, and other digital media. The Kindle hardware devices use an E Ink electronic paper display that shows up to 16 shades of gray, minimizes power use and simulates reading on paper.

Their new manufacturing process, involving simple sodium chloride (table salt), can boost the capacity of computer hard disks by six times. With current hard disk manufacturing technology reaching its limits, the new process could mean that current capacity is able to be increased on future computers. In a statement it is reported that the agencies have “developed a process that can increase the data recording density of hard disks to 3.3 Terabits per square inch, six times the recording density of current models”.

The new C5 in-ear headphones, too, deliver on both those ambitions: an innovative “Micro Porous Filter” acts as a diffuser. B&W claim this produces a “pristine, natural” sound, and for once the marketing blurb is spot on: music listened to through the C5 takes on a quality of spaciousness that is hard to achieve even in more expensive, on-ear cans. Although the sound quality is near perfect, the way that the headphones are held within the ear is not to everyone’s liking. This uses a thin tube of flexible plastic to hold the headphones within the ear, although it does promote a genuine feeling of security, it can become uncomfortable after long periods.

To review any tablet it has to be compared with the Apple iPad and devoted Apple users would think that the iPad was better, but would have to concede that the Samsung Galaxy is a close second to the iPad and in some ways it’s even better. Physically, the tablets look similar side by side but the number one difference is that Galaxy is equipped with Flash, which obviously is not in the iPad. Working everything on the Galaxy is simple: a home button gets you to the home screen where apps are lined up and ready to use on the very responsive touch screen. However, there is one area where the iPad scores and that is the quantity of apps available between the two devices; the Apple iTunes App Store wins easily but the Galaxy’s Market Store has a great selection and is growing every day.

Highly rated Android sat nav apps include Co-Pilot Live, which ranks favourably with standalone GPS systems and even offers the facility to receive live traffic updates and petrol prices. With great usability, it comes highly recommended. Other Android sat nav apps worth exploring are AndNav2; TeleNav, for the occasional user, which works on a subscription basis; or the highly innovative BreadCrumbz, which even works within the confines of a building, allowing the user to plot every step.

Some smartphones even come with Android sat nav apps as their integral feature and USP, such as the nuvifone A50, produced by Garmin-Asus. Other sat nav apps include Sygic, which fully maps the UK and Ireland and provides real time updates of traffic alongside lane guidance features and warnings of safety cameras.

In order to capitalise on their invention, Krupenkin and Taylor have taken the initiative to start commercialising this technology by establishing a company called InStep NanoPower. InStep NanoPower will produce energy harvesters embedded in footwear that captures the energy generated by humans while walking. The two researchers argue that the device will make batteries more durable, making those last 10 times longer. The technology could extend not only to Smartphone’s and laptops, but to radios, GPS units, night-vision goggles, flashlights, and other devices normally used in places where power supplies are not available.

The Sony Ericsson Arc offers arguably best looking screen currently available. It has a fabulous touch screen of 4.2 inches enhanced by Sony BRAVIA TV technology, packing an incredible 16million colours and 480 x 854 pixel resolution. The ease of use is fantastic, with an extremely touch responsive interface and excellent Facebook, Twitter and email integration, which all adds up to super user friendliness. There are more than 100,000 apps to download in this visually brilliant model that comes complete with Android sat nav apps, such as GPS, Google Latitude, Street View and Google Maps. 

FM radio and MP3 player also come as standard in the Sony Ericsson Arc, which also has a high quality 8.1-megapixel camera, one of the best currently offered with smartphones today. Overall, the software complements the fantastic design of this handset, which is further enhanced by adequate battery life, easy browsing and great pinch to zoom capacity on the touch screen. The Sony Ericsson Arc also comes with a welcome bonus feature, the Noise Shield, which negates ambient noise in the background when making calls, providing an all round pleasurable phone experience.

The one thing that was never in question was the beauty of the physical design. Gorilla Glass covers the front screen and menu icons, while the back is matte black. A metal band runs along the edges, similar to the iPhone 4.

The screen is a high-resolution 4inch display, providing sharp images, deep blacks and vivid colours. On the back is a quality 8 megapixel camera.

Inside, the LG Optimus 2X sports a dual core processor, 1GHz with GeForce GPU and Nvidia Tegra 2 chipset, which means it is fast. Applications launch quickly, gestures reaction is prompt, video looks fantastic and games play smoothly. Unfortunately, with all of this power and responsiveness comes battery drain. Like so many of the smartphones out there, the 2X needs daily charging.

Out of the box, the Optimus 2X comes with Android 2.2 under the hood. LG’s personal modifications are minimal and include customised Twitter and Facebook clients. An HDMI out connector allows you to play phone-held video on an HDMI ready television, choosing between 1280 x 720 and 1920 x 1080.

As an overall LG Optimus 2X review, we can affirm that the unit is solid, fast and beautiful to look at; most certainly LG’s best Android so far.

Public Wi-Fi hotspots are another area of vulnerability and nearly one third of Smartphone users take advantage of them. These hotspots are usually found in city centres and are frequently unsecured and susceptible to electronic eavesdropping. When asked, around 20% of those who use Wi-Fi hotspots, say they conduct online banking there, risking their accounts, PINs and passwords. Do not use public Wi-Fi spots to conduct transactions on your Smartphone which require you to divulge sensitive information.