Well, HTC is not exactly getting new devices per se. According to reports, the white versions of the Android toting HTC Desire and the HTC Wildfire are already available on pre-order though there is no confirmation as to when the devices will be ready for shipping. At the very least, interested buyers could probably expect to see the devices in the next few weeks.
Dell is coming up with entirely new devices to follow up on the success of the Dell Streak. While it may have seemed awkward to have a really huge 5 inch touch screen display, the Streak managed to charm and win the hearts of many Android fans –proving that big screens really do have a following.
The only question now is whether the new devices are going to take voice calls like the Streak. For all practical reasons, the new devices are basically touch screen tablets with screens at 7 and 10 inches large.
Vodafone is coming out with three new devices just for this holiday season, one Android and a couple of rather interesting 2G phones.
First up is the Miss Sixty edition of the Vodafone 543. While not remarkable in terms of specs, the Miss Sixty version is certainly very edgy and the design has been made to appeal to a much younger crowd.
The Vodafone 553 on the other hand, has been designed for those who love to text and type on their mobile phones. The slide out QWERTY keyboard is accented by the 2.8 inch resistive touch screen display. It even has a 2 mega pixel snapper for taking images too.
Lastly, the network operator will be launching a follow up to the Vodafone 85 with the new Vodafone 945 handset. This new device brings a 5 mega pixel camera, a 3.2 inch touch screen display and supports Android 2.1 Éclair.
Archive for September, 2010
New Devices for Vodafone, Dell and HTC
Thursday, September 30th, 2010RIM in Focus: Everything BlackBerry
Thursday, September 30th, 2010
For those trying to keep track, Research in Motion has come out with several bits of exciting new this week. But with all the updates and new reports, staying on top of the headlines can be quite a challenge. So for those who need a quick heads up on what is happening, here is our little wrap up of all the BlackBerry related news updates this week.
First up: RIM is working on a new touch screen tablet and the device’s custom operating system might be adapted by BlackBerry smart phones. According to sources, the new touch screen tablet is called the BlackBerry Playbook and it appears to be running some sort of custom made user interface. It appears that the OS on the tablet is actually the Playbook QNS platform and it runs a lot smoother than the already streamlined BlackBerry OS 6.
While it will be a long time before the QNS is adapted to the very first BlackBerry handset, it seems that RIM is highly considering the idea as a solution to updating their OS for the general public –as the BlackBerry has a stigma of being a serious business brand.
Speaking of the BlackBerry OS, RIM has finally shown the world what the new OS looks like when it is slapped on a device that does not have a touch screen display. Demonstrated on the Bold 9700 and the Pearl 9100, the BB OS 6 was running perfectly fine. In order to navigate the handset, users had to make use of the keyboard and the touch sensitive track pad on the handset.
Lastly, online retailer Phones4U has confirmed that the BlackBerry Torch 9800 smart phone will be made available on October 1. Expect to see plenty of people rushing to order the handset when it finally launches.
Sony Ericsson’s New Android Accessory: the LiveView
Wednesday, September 29th, 2010
While we are not too keen on “smart phone on the wrist” technology, which has been shown off in several science-fiction inspired wrist mounted gadgets in the past, there is certainly a lot of practicality and charm in the new LiveView gadget that Sony Ericsson will be bringing out soon. In a video demonstration, Marcus Hansson of Sony Ericsson gave a quick demonstration of the actual gadget, how it works and how impressive it would be to actually have one.
The LiveView is basically a remote access touch screen display that you can mount on your wrist. The screen itself is only 1.3 inches in size and provides a very small resolution at 128 x 128 pixels. But for reading messages or short RSS snippets, that is more than enough.
What the LiveView does is connect to your Android smart phone. While the device was demonstrated to be synched to a Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 Android smart phone, it is said that it can connect to other Android devices from other manufacturers as well –as long as the OS is running version 2.0 and above.
The device can be mounted on the wrist, thanks to the provided strap, though some users might prefer to hang the gadget or strap it on their bag instead –fortunately, SE provides various mounting solutions for users to play around with.
Being able to access the music controls on the phone without having to whip it out in the open is certain useful, and the ability to read the latest Tweets, Facebook updates, and SMS messages by just glancing at your wrist is certainly far more discreet that having to uncomfortably fish a smart phone from your bag or pocket.
Sony has also confirmed that apps for the LiveView will be added in later on in order to provide the device with even more functionality.
Free Facebook Now Accessible Through 3 Mobile UK
Wednesday, September 29th, 2010
The special free access Facebook Mobile site was launched several months back as a way to entice more handset users to get connected on the Facebook social network. The site, which can be accessed through a special URL, was deemed as a free access mobile site for users under certain network operators (who have tied up with Facebook) across the world. Not surprisingly, in the UK, the US, Japan and several other major countries with a large smart phone user population, the accessibility to this special site was limited or altogether lacking.
Now, the service is finally going to be available in the UK. 0.facebook.com is now a website that can be accessed free of charge by users under 3 mobile. The site itself has been tweaked to provide the best speed possible for mobile devices. No fancy graphics, no slow loading scripts –just plain simple text and a nicely made layout that easily helps users find the most relevant and updated posts form their contacts.
The service, as stated above, is completely free of charge and it is expected that the service will be available indefinitely. Naturally, users will need to connect to 3UK’s 3G services so they will have to be under the network as well.
Speaking of Facebook, INQ seems to be in talks with the social networking company. While it has not been confirmed that the two are already working on a green lighted smart phone project, many rumors are pointing to the possibility that they are. With the introduction and slowly growing use of Facebook’s online credits and the fact that more and more people are accessing the site though mobile devices, a Facebook branded handset is quite ideal.
Facebook’s representatives however, have denied any rumors and reports regarding a possible handset being in the works.
Are Sony Ericsson’s Androids Taking Out the Symbian?
Tuesday, September 28th, 2010
According to various news sources, it appears that Sony Ericsson has made their last Symbian handset with the SE Vivaz Pro.
Now, for those wondering, the Vivaz Pro was a relatively successful handset. While it did not break new ground, it was certainly an impressive phone and everyone who got to try out the keyboard toting Symbian smart phone pretty much saw good value in the product. The same can also be said of the Symbian devices that Sony Ericsson made as well.
The U-series of SE handsets; the Kita, Aino and the Satio were all released last year and despite a few issues with the Satio’s firmware (that saw a very unfortunate delay for the device’s distribution), the fact of the matter is, Sony Ericsson still managed to make a successful revenue with the devices (though the company’s overall performance that year still put them deeply in the red).
Sony would later come up with the Vivaz and Vivaz Pro; the media-centric, HD video capable handsets that pioneered the HD field ahead of their competitors. And while the devices did not become as famous or as successful as the Android XPERIA phones, they were still impressive devices in their own right.
The bottom line for Sony however, is sales. Despite the fact that the company is now doing well financially, they have plenty of previously lost revenue to catch up on and as the industry trends go, the Symbian is not an OS they can afford to bank on. With the upcoming launch of the Windows Phone 7 and the ever growing Android operating system, SE is better off making next generation devices for these two platforms instead.
While the Symbian Foundation is far from shutting down, there is no doubt that this latest update will certainly be a crushing blow to the company.
Facebook Phone Rumors Still Alive
Tuesday, September 28th, 2010
Despite the fact that Facebook’s very own representatives have already shut down the rumors about the social networking site coming up with their own smart phone, the rumor seems to keep getting bigger and bigger.
For those unfamiliar with the news, it seems that for quite a few days now, rumors that Facebook, INQ Mobile and AT&T are all working together to create a new smart phone. While it would not be uncommon for a social networking smart phone to be created, it is certainly unique that Facebook would have a direct hand in the development of the device.
It is interesting seeing that many people are indeed interested in the concept of a phone made by and for Facebook. Although the idea is quite redundant in many ways; after all, most smart phones already come with social network integration, allowing for the easy access to Facebook and the site’s overall functions.
Many also consider the move as an important step in distributing the concept of Facebook’s credits to users all over the world. This virtual currency could very well serve as a new form of currency –which directly translates to a whole new world of commerce that is controlled by the social networking site.
With more and more people using Facebook’s credits, it is likely that the virtual currency will be used as a standard in the future –though there are still questions as to how well it would do as Facebook is still not easily accessible for certain members of society.
Still, despite all the rumors going around, the official statement from Facebook is that there will be no smart phone –though the possibility of a future endeavor may have us all seeing an actual Facebook phone in the future.
The Quick List: All the News in a few Moments
Monday, September 27th, 2010
If you are having a busy day but would still want to stay on top of the latest updates, here’s the quickest wrap up of everything you would need to know about this week’s events.
First off, delays! There are plenty of announcements regarding delays. First off, the Nokia N8 is due to pop out sometime in the first week of October. Sony Ericsson XPERIA users are all lamenting the lack of an Android OS update to version 2.1 Éclair –it is expected to arrive next month.
But with delays, there are also some interesting releases. Like Vodafone’s announcement regarding the availability of the BlackBerry Torch 9800. The device is already being offered for free on a 40 Pound monthly tariff for two years or an 18 month plan cost 55 Pounds monthly.
Moving back to Android devices, the HTC Desire HD has shown that the new Sense user interface is indeed a lot better and more stable than the old one. It even boots faster too. Users of the HTC Desire will be happy to know that the UI updates will also be available on their devices as well.
As with any week in tech news, there are always leaks. This time around, we all got treated to a sneak preview of what the BlackBerry Storm 3 might look like. Though there are still no confirmations as to the specifics of the device that was shown. Its close resemblance to the Storm 2 is pretty convincing however.
LG has also confirmed the LG E900 Windows Phone 7 handset. While some are already calling the device as the “Optimus 7” as a tip off to the WP7 platform, it is still too early to determine that decision.
In new technology, it appears that Marvell might have the fastest CPU for mobile phones. The new Armada 628 CPU is clocked at 1.5GHz.
Cracking Down on the PSP Phone Rumors
Monday, September 27th, 2010
There are plenty of big questions as to the future of handheld gaming, and right now, most of the future speculations are not on Nintendo’s 3DS or on app gaming for smart phones, but on the possibility that Sony’s next big gadget may be a hybrid gaming phone. The reason we are all looking into this is due to a recent job ad for Sony London. According to the ad, the company is looking for a senior server engineer with experience working on the Android.
Right off the bat, we can pretty much say that this ad has nothing to do with the PSP Phone –regardless of the device actually being real or not. This is simply because if Sony was indeed working on the device, they would be doing in Japan –where they developed all of their game consoles. The ad is most likely for the creation of new Android and other mobile apps for smart phones.
Going back to the PSP rumors, there are several ways to go about it, but one thing stands for certain: making it a phone is not a good idea. What many people do not realize is that the PSP is made for the real gaming market, not the casual app playing smart phones users. While other people might not mind having their game of “airport manager” being interrupted by a text message, the same does not apply for a gamer playing the final round of Tekken 6 Portable.
Simply put, there is no room for the concept of hardcore gaming and real time phone functions to merge in a single device. Add in the concept of ad-hoc gaming and you have a greater argument against adding phone features.
As for the Android OS, it still remains to be seen. While it could certainly bump up the PSP’s casual game selections, Sony already has the PS Network and the XMB user interface. Still, the Android platform is more likely than adding in phone features. At the very least, the device could support 3G for online access.
Update for XPERIA OS Delayed, LG Town C300 Released
Friday, September 24th, 2010
One of the most disappointing things in the tech industry is the delay of long awaited release dates. Especially when some announcements are made ahead of time so much that being able to deal with a sudden announcement of a delay is almost impossible.
Anyway, it was originally stated that this September, the Android smart phones from Sony Ericsson would be updated to version 2.1 Éclair from the 1.6 Donut that comes pre-loaded with the phones.
Considering that the XPERIA series came out alongside the HTC Desire and the Nexus One, it was pretty surprising that such a high end device sporting impressive hardware would actually be using an older version of the OS. But since the XPERIA series utilized the Timescape user interface, it was acceptable.
When the Dell Streak late came out with its massive 5 inch touch screen and older 1.6 Donut OS, it was pretty much established that using an older version of the OS is not a bad idea, as long as an update becomes available soon. Sadly, September has come and is nearing its end without any sign of an update.
Even worse, Sony has confirmed that November will be the official launch for Éclair updates for their devices –a full month’s worth of delay. Expect to see lots of unhappy SE users in the next few weeks.
Moving on, Korean phone maker LG has come out with the Town C300 handset. While it looks like a BlackBerry at first glance, the curved form and very rounded edges gives the device its own look. While we have yet to actually try out the keyboard, the portrait oriented four row setup looks a little crammed in the device. While obviously messaging based, the new handset lacks both 3G and WiFi, limiting the connectivity options of the users.
Eyes on HTC: Froyo, Sense and Desire HD
Friday, September 24th, 2010
HTC’s Sense user interface is often considered to be one of the best custom UI available to smart phone users. In fact, it was the Sense UI that made the Windows Mobile platform tolerable to use on the HTC HD2. This made the device one of the best selling mobile devices of last year.
The Sense UI, according to HTC themselves, is going to get an update this month. At first glance, the update seems to bring only visual changes to the UI (though we appreciate the new email inbox look which makes viewing incoming content a lot more streamlined than it was before).
But mostly, the real update here is the addition of security features that allow for remote access to the device. While the technology is still new, there are plenty of hopes that HTC’s system will not be prone to attacks –and if it works perfectly, users will have the ability to alarm, lock or even memory their devices from an account online.
According to recent reports, HTC will be rolling out the Sense UI updates for the HTC Desire, HTC Legend and HTC Wildfire, though it will require an update to Android 2.2 Froyo prior to installation.
Speaking of the 2.2 Froyo update, the patch has finally been made available for Orange Mobile users. It was originally launched on time over a week ago but had to be pulled down for technical reasons. Both HTC and Orange has not given out details on the matter, though it is believed that the update originally caused system failures for an unlucky few who had downloaded the update as soon as it came up.
Lastly, the Desire HD is going to be available starting October 11. The device is expected to be priced at around 469.99 Pounds SIM-free and on T-Mobile, free on a two year contract with a 40 Pound monthly tariff.