The Android mobile platform is truly getting around. It has been a much anticipated hope for many fans of the mobile platform to get handsets that feature physical slide out QWERTY keyboard and Motorola has been one of the first to comply with the request. While there are now plenty of other Android smart phones that have slide out keyboards, the Motorola Milestone is still a much loved device.
The Milestone-creating phone maker is attempting to make a second round of it all with the announcement for the Motorola Milestone 2. While this device has been pretty much expected, seeing it confirmed is great news. The new phone still uses the same old futuristic look of the original Milestone, though this new one is less rugged and a lot classier looking.
Expect the spec sheet of the Milestone 2 to easily surpass that of the previous version, though at this point, very little is known about the device. One thing is confirmed at least: the device will be running Android 2.2 Froyo. This new version of the Android OS is much faster than the previous versions (in terms of user interface and web browsing) thanks to better kernel memory management and Java script handling.
Another new Motorola handset is the Defy. Named after its own concept, this mobile phone was designed to defy the challenges that face mobile phones in life. While Motorola has heavily stated that the device not be dropped from heights or submerged in water, one cannot help but be tempted when looking at the heavy duty frame of the smart phone.
The Motorola Defy is confirmed to be water and dust resistant, so expect this device to run without any issues even after being spilled with water, but it will certainly not last long if submerged in over a meter deep of water.
Motorola Brings a Tough Android and Second Milestone
September 2nd, 2010Nokia Confirms N8 Launch Date: No Delays in Sight
September 2nd, 2010
It was only a while ago that the latest launch delay for the Nokia N8 smart phone has been announced. Now, the winds seem to be blowing in a different direction as Nokia confirms the announced September launch date for the Nokia N8. In fact, they are confident enough to let loose an important fact: the exact date of launch.
According to news sources, Nokia has confirmed that the launch date for the N8 has been set for a release this coming September 23 and that no further delays will be affecting the mobile phone.
In some ways, it is already hard to tell whether we are still excited to see this little handset which was supposed to have been out as early as last April. But instead of actually seeing the device in store shelves, we have been given constant announcements of delays without much explanation, leaving most in the tech industry baffled as to why the device has not launched yet.
The phone is confirmed to be using the Symbian^3 operating system, making it officially the first and only N-series handset to use the OS. According to Nokia, they will not be releasing another N-series Symbian until the next version (Symbian^4) has been officially launched.
The device itself is a standard smart phone with mid range specs and a basic form factor. However, media is the new focus of the new handset and that is why it packs a very powerful camera. With its 12 mega pixel snapper and HD video recording capabilities, users can expect to have a lot of fun taking photos and videos with this device. The 12 MP snapper is also equipped with Carl Zeiss lenses and Xenon flash technology.
With September 23 just a few weeks away, we might finally be able to see this handset in action.
Incoming Devices: LG E900, LG E720 and the Motorola XT300
September 1st, 2010Motorola and LG are back in the spotlight with a few new handsets and from the looks of it, these mobile phone makers have a lot more up their sleeves. For now, we will be focusing on three new confirmed devices from the two companies: the LG E900 and E720, as well as Motorola’s XT300.
The Motorola XT300 is reminiscent of the Flip Out handset that came out some time ago. The square-ish form factor and the slide out keyboard are definite match for the older handset, though the XT300’s standard slide out keyboard is much more practical than the single hinged Flip Out keyboard.
Aside from having a physical keyboard, very little else is known about the handset. It is confirmed that the device packs the Android operating system and the Motoblur user interface and that it makes use of the back touch panel similar to the Motorola BackFlip. So far, no launch date has been given for this handset.
LG has a couple of devices for us as well, the E900 has been popping up in images and teasers for the past couple of weeks and as we all know, this is their new Windows Phone 7 handset. The device sports an impressive slide out QWERTY keyboard, a WVGA touch screen display and according to rumors, a 1.3 GHz Snapdragon Processor. The QSD8650A is reported to be coming out later this year so we could expect to see plenty of new high end devices sporting the high speed CPU.
Another LG handset that we have been seeing in leaked images is the new E720 Optimus Chic. Aside from the fact that the device is a touch screen Android smart phone, no other details have been released about this device.
Mobile 3D on Nokia and WP7 Texting Features
September 1st, 2010
It looks like communication and connectivity truly are the key foundations of the upcoming Windows Phone 7 mobile platform. A recently released video of the texting system on the OS showcases a live thread that allows the user to view text messages as if they were on live chat.
The video features the new LG WP7 handset with a slide out QWERTY keyboard (more on the hardware in a bit) and the whole device rotated to a landscape view. The messages onscreen appear as wide text bubbles which allow the user to easily keep track of who said what. While it is common for the text messages to appear in threaded view, this is one of those few rare instances where the thread is easily viewable while writing a reply.
The device on hand is a LG smart phone which sports an impressive looking keyboard. The keys seem evenly spaced though the buttons are a little flat.
In other mobile news, Nokia is coming out with the N-series N9 smart phone at the end of the year and it is possible that 3D technology might be in development for the device.
According to reports, Nokia and Intel are now working on the development of 3D video technology for mobile phones. While hardware might no longer be available for the N9 (which is due to come out this December), it might at least support some of the software features if the Intel-Nokia team up comes out with anything.
The N9 is a likely testing ground for the new project as it is the device that makes use of the MeeGo operating system which was developed by the two companies.
Speaking of the N9, the N-series is still awaiting the launch of the Nokia N8 which has been delayed constantly for the past few months. Currently, the expected launch date is early in October.
Apple’s New Patent, Nokia C6-01 and Samsung’s G-Tab
August 31st, 2010
The Google Android operating system is going big with the upcoming launch of the Samsung Galaxy Tab. According to initial speculations, the new touch screen tablet will be sporting the new Android 2.2 Froyo operating system and the device will be supporting voice call functionality effectively making it one large mobile phone –which is probably why Samsung still includes the device in the Galaxy line up.
In any case, the Korean phone maker has yet to reveal other details about this upcoming gadget.
Speaking of upcoming, Apple has an interesting little patent that was put into focus by the tech website Patently Apple. The new technology being developed (on paper at least) is a way to combine the microphone with the audio jack.
The innovation will help mobile phones by adding in a secondary audio source and could be used to help filter out noise much like a dual speaker system would be capable of doing.
This technology seems to have been in the Apple patent cupboards for quite some time and it is actually quite a shame that they did not implement the technology on the recently released iPhone 4. Hopefully, other upcoming devices for Apple would be able to integrate the feature or some derivation of it.
Last on our news updates is a quick update from Nokia. Apparently, a Bulgarian operator accidentally placed the image of the Nokia C6-01 on an ad that was meant for the C6-00. The issue was quickly rectified and the image of the C6-01 is now associated with the right name.
While initial concepts for the Nokia C6-01 where showcasing a physical slide out QWERTY keyboard, the final product loses this add-on for a sleeker form factor. Since the older C6-00 already sports a keyboard, it is nice to see a small degree of variation when it comes to choosing a handset from the entire Nokia C-series.
HP’s Battle Plan: Tease Us to Oblivion
August 31st, 2010
It seems that HP is taking the long winding road to showing the world what it really intends to do with all that technology and patents that they have been able to obtain through the whole Palm buy out issue.
For those unfamiliar with recent events, mobile phone maker Palm has taken severe financial loses and the company was put up for sale earlier this year. With the company’s future looking bleak, many of the top executives have already jumped ship leaving behind the captain at the helm of the sinking ship.
Despite the financial setbacks, many other phone makers have been eyeing Palm’s resources –particularly for the very successful WebOS mobile platform and of course, the patent library owned by the company. Taiwan based HTC was among the companies confirmed to be interested in getting Palm.
This is why it was a complete surprise to learn that it was actually HP that decided to buy out Palm and take the company under its wings. According to HP, the reason they chose to purchase Palm was for the WebOS mobile platform, which was ironically followed up by a statement that they would not be working on smart phones. This statement was quickly changed after a massive public outcry. The statement then changed to HP looking into smart phone development, but not at the moment.
Now it seems that they are taking that much needed long hard look as the latest image teaser of CTO Phil McKinney shows that the company is indeed working on a smart phone type device. But that is all HP is willing to let the public know. For all practical reasons, the images could very well be showing Phil holding a small remote control.
In any case, the SXSW 2011 event is coming up and we can all expect to see what these intriguing devices are.
More News: YoGen is Eco Friendly, Orange Android is Coming
August 30th, 2010Everyone is looking for interesting new ways to generate clean energy, and YoGen is a great step in that direction. While this little rip-cord pulling gadget is hardly what you would rely on when it comes to getting a handset up to a full charge, it certainly helps add in a few minutes of usage time to any battery.
YoGen is easy to use, simply pull out the cord several times and it will wind up the motor and generate some power. If you are sitting in your desk, reading a book or watching a show, the motions can be done repeatedly in order to get the charge up and ready. Once it has been set, users can choose one of the many available connectors to connect the YoGen to almost any handset.
The device supports a wide variety of phones, the Apple iPhone, Sony Ericsson XPERIA phones, LG Optimus, Samsung Galaxy phones and Motorola Droids are just some of the devices that will support this eco friendly charger. Of course, each of these devices has great battery time, but having a little boost also helps out a lot.
In other news, it has been announced that Orange Mobile is currently working on a new mobile smart phone tablet that will be arriving later this year. For now, the device seems to be bound only for France while UK launch seems more likely for next year.
Will an Android Tablet be the item that Orange Mobile needs? It seems that with all the fuss with smart phones, paying attention to devices such as tablets tend to take a lower position in the priority lists for people.
On the other hand, there are plenty of professionals who would need the technology of a tablet. If Orange is able to bring their tablet to the business industry instead of keeping it bound to the general market, then this little Android gadget just might be the success they are waiting for.
Mobile Internet and Women: Great Combination
August 30th, 2010
There is no doubt that the use of mobile phones for accessing the internet has become something that is pretty much common practice, but looking at the user demographic closely, it has been recently shown that more and more women are starting to get online.
A recent study has shown that there are now almost 6 times (575%) more women accessing mobile internet on their handsets than men. Now, before we continue, it should be stressed that it is also completely possible that the increase for men is less (at 223%) simply because the study does not take into account all the men who are already using the technology.
In any case, it is pretty understandable to see why females are more likely to appreciate getting more communication options available –because biologically, women are made to communicate better than men. This is why mobile internet is used more for communication and interaction as opposed to being used as a resource pool for information.
With smart phones such as the iPhone 3Gs, Motorola Milestone, BlackBerry Bold, HTC HD2 and others, being able to communicate is an easy access feature that is almost embedded within any kind of operating system (and none of the above devices share the same OS).
There are social networking apps for Facebook on almost all platforms. Instant messaging software for various services such as ICQ and Yahoo! Messenger are also available. Various email accounts can be consolidated into a single push inbox. Simply put, each new form of communication is slowly being put into the smart phone.
The study was conducted through the use of Opera Mini, and is certain to affect how phones and content are going to be designed from here on out. 2009 saw several interesting made-for-women handset coming out, but we can expect to see more features that are geared specifically towards the female gender in the coming months.
Mobile Updates: Galaxy S Issues; and the Nokia C7 & N8 Launch
August 27th, 2010
Fans of the Symbian operating system (few that there are) have something definite to look forward to now. According to Vodafone, the N8 is indeed going to be launched. Despite the fact that the Nokia N8 has been delayed so much, a new piece of news has rekindled the hope: Vodafone UK is getting an exclusive green color variant.
While mint green is not really all that exciting, the confirmation is certainly something that stands out. With the device being delayed for almost six months, it got to a point where many folks simply did not care anymore.
Not that the N8 is a bad device however, while it packed a mid range processor, the media functions are top notch. The phone comes with a 12 mega pixel camera, Carl Zeiss lenses, Xenon flash, 720p HD video recording and even an HDMI output port.
Speaking of the Nokia N8, another Symbian^3 handset will also be launched this year. The Nokia C7 is basically a low end version for the N8 and is jam packed with features. Images showcasing the device started to appear on the web and from the initial looks of things; the C7 is turning out to be quite the ideal Nokia handset.
Moving on, the Samsung Galaxy S Android smart phone has been reported to be having some issues when it comes to connecting the device to a computer. Users are being advised not to use filenames that are longer than 16 characters in length.
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According to reports, the problem occurs when the handset is connected to a computer and the filenames are detected. This then would result in a bug that starts a data wipe -which is a very major issue.
Samsung is apparently working on a solution to the problem to help out the users of the Galaxy S. In the meanwhile, users are advised not to connect the phone to a computer directly (though inserting the micro SD card into the computer directly should not be a problem).
Nokia N8 Green Variant Heading for Vodafone
August 27th, 2010
Vodafone UK has come out with a bit of surprisingly good news: they will be launching an exclusive color variation of the Nokia N8 Symbian^3 smart phone. According to the reports, the lime green color of Nokia’s latest N-series handheld will be exclusive to the local mobile network operator for an indefinite period of time.
Now, some of your may be wondering why there is so much excitement to be had with a lime green color. The reason why this is good news is not exactly because of the color, but this is the first real confirmation that we have received regarding the impending launch of the Nokia N8.
As some of you may have known, this much anticipated Nokia smart phone has been due for release for almost half a year now and yet it has been plagued with constant delays. The original April 2010 launch has been pushed back so much that every month that has passed since then has had a tentative launch window for the smart phone.
The Symbian Foundation’s latest OS is not exclusively being used on the N8 (it has also been confirmed on the Nokia C7), but this is certainly the only time the platform would be used in the N-series product line. Nokia has hinted that the next Symbian for the N-series would need to a Symbian^4 handset.
The Nokia N8 is a media based smart phone. The device’s 12 mega pixel camera is supported by impressive hardware such as Carl Zeiss lenses and Xenon flash technology. Of course, there is more to the N8 than just taking high quality images. The handset also features 720p HD video recording and a mini HDMI output port for viewing your content on a larger screen.
Expect to see the Nokia N8 in store shelves by September.