While bits and pieces of the new Sense user interface are reported semi-integrated on HTC’s Windows Phone 7 handsets, the full version of the new UI can only be found on their Android 2.2 Froyo devices.
HTC, one of the most recognized names in the smart phone industry, held an event last week in London where they revealed the HTC Desire HD and the HTC Desire Z. While both devices are pretty impressive, it was pretty hard to not forget the announcement of the new HTC Sense user interface.
The Sense UI is one of the most impressive custom interfaces to be used in a mobile device. An earlier version was responsible for bringing capacitive touch screen technology to the Windows Mobile OS (which was designed for resistive touch screens), and the new version is sporting so many extra features that HTC should consider making it a standard on all devices.
According to the event, the new UI will be packing a special security feature that links up to a special HTC Sense website. HTC will now allow users to create accounts on the site which will link to their handsets.
Should the phones be misplaced, lost or even stolen, there are several options that are available to the rightful owners. The phone could be made to ring if the user wishes to locate the device in the immediate vicinity. Should the device be in a distant location, it could be set to a special ‘locked’ mode and lastly, if all else fails, the phone’s entire memory could be wiped out –pretty useful if sensitive data on the device can be compromised.
HTC has confirmed that the HTC Legend, HTC Wildfire and of course, the HTC Desire will all be compatible with the new user interface update. So far, there is no definite date as to when it will be made available but HTC fans can expect the new UI to come out before the end of the year.
Archive for September, 2010
HTC’s New Sense is for Froyo Handsets
Friday, September 24th, 2010Mobile News Bits: Updates and News from UK Networks
Thursday, September 23rd, 2010
T-Mobile UK is promising something special for users of the Samsung i9000 Galaxy S at the end of this month: the Android 2.2 Froyo will be made available for the smart phone ahead of schedule. For users of the phone on other networks, the expected update launch is set for early next month. This means that T-Mobile subscribers get to enjoy Flash and improved OS and web browsing performance ahead of their peers by the end of September.
Speaking of the Froyo update, the much delayed Orange Mobile UK Froyo update for the HTC Desire has finally been rolled out. Originally, Orange was able to make the update available as scheduled but had to it pull down due to technical issues that the update brought.
While it certainly took them quite some time to come up with a solution, they have finally done it and are now making the update available to all HTC Desire users under their network. It is advisable for those planning to download the update to do so under a secure and stable connection as the patch is about 90MB in size.
On a much larger news scale, T-Mobile, Orange, O2 and Vodafone are all confirmed to be offering Windows Phone 7 handsets when the new mobile platform finally comes out this coming October. Microsoft seems to have made well laid out plans as they have been able to get devices into all networks –effectively expanding the market viability of the new OS.
With several other powerful platforms already established on the market, it is important for MS to be able to show that the new WP7 platform is as flexible and versatile as they had promised.
Lastly, 3 UK has confirmed that they will be offering the Nokia C7 nHD smart phone later this year. The new media centric Symbian device will be sporting a 3.5 inch nHD touch screen display and support for HD video.
Google and Partners: the Real Deal
Thursday, September 23rd, 2010
The Dell Streak, Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 and other new handsets that sport earlier versions of the OS are not being made to sabotage Google –that would be an unfeasible way of going about it. But rather, the older versions are being chosen for their stability and compatibility –with promises of updates to newer Android versions in the future.
Yes, it is true that the Android’s biggest failings come in the form of cross platform compatibility –or as the situation stands, the lack thereof. As Techradar’s Gary Marshall states, it is through this that Google’s partners are ruining Google itself –either intentionally or not.
That however, is not as true as it may seem. Google has long been aware of the Android’s biggest flaw: that fact that it is open source and is used in a lot of phones. Getting the same performance and specs of two different Android devices from different manufacturers is difficult and as one can see with the continued delays in the launch of 2.2 Froyo updates, the issue still stands.
But this is not a problem being caused by manufacturers. It is a situation that Google has known would happen and has long been working on to solve. In the previous Google I/O conference, they discussed as to how the upcoming 3.0 OS is being intended to be the stabilizing standard for all iterations of the platform.
At the same time, while the above mentioned issue is considered to be a weakness, it is also Android’s greatest asset as well. The fact that it is an open source platform means that developers have plenty of room and freedom to create applications. More importantly, the fact that it is used on so many handsets has made it one of the fastest growing mobile platforms ever released.
In fact, industry experts and business analysts predict that the Android would eventually surpass even the Symbian OS in terms of distribution –despite the fact that the Symbian has been around for many years.
New Details: BlackBerry Storm 3, HTC Mozart and Desire HD
Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010
While Research in Motion is mostly known as a business brand mobile phone manufacturer, the fact that they are still one of the top phone manufacturers in the general smart phone market is a strong statement to how well their devices are made.
Some might argue that the presence of the physical keyboard will always draw a specific niche for BlackBerry smart phones; but the existence of the Storm 3 contests that statement.
Initial images of the BlackBerry Storm 3 reveal that the initial rumors about the handset are actually true; this smart phone is actually a full touch screen device.
We already know that BlackBerry’s OS 6 has been designed specifically for capacitive touch screen displays, and that the focus on media and social network was done in order to create a more mainstream appeal for the people.
The leaked images showcased both the 3.7 inch touch screen display and the portrait oriented slide out keyboard. The phone is also reported to be packing 512 MB of RAM, a 5 mega pixel camera and support for WiFi and 3G.
HTC has a couple of quick updates for everyone. First off, there is the HTC Desire HD which showcases the future of the Sense user interface. The new look is certainly much nicer and neater to look at and the controls are now a lot more intuitive in design. The fact that this updated version of Sense also packs a remote access security feature also helps a lot.
The HTC Mozart was also revealed in a small video that showed off new features for the Windows Phone 7 OS. From what we can tell, the video was showcasing the new home screen of the OS, the People tab and messaging/exchange functions on the handset. The phone is said to be packing an 8 mega pixel snapper, a 3.7 inch touch screen and a 1GHz CPU.
Apple iPhone and Facial Recognition: Do We Really Want It?
Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010
It appears that Apple has recently taken over Polar Rose (and by taken over, we mean they literally bought the company). And while it is not uncommon for the Cupertino based supergiant to be eating up small businesses, there is one certain factoid that we have to point out: Polar Rose is a specialist when it comes to creating facial recognition systems.
Sure, the idea is not new, even the Google Android was supposed to offer the feature as a capability on the Google Goggles app. However, there is a reason why the feature was not included in Goggles, and the fact that Apple was prepared to buy a small company means that the technology will not simply be put on a shelf for years.
Apple obviously intends to use facial recognition for its iPhone devices. The only question now is how the new feature will be implemented.
The technical side is actually a lot easier to explain, after all, cameras are already able to identify key features of objects and locations to provide users with a decent visual search. The issue is here is not with how the system literally works however, the problem is with the ethics involved in being able to identify a complete stranger just by waving a phone in their direction.
For the most part, a face has to be seen at a considerable proximity to able to be identified properly. But thanks to optical zoom and other features, being able to take that shot is actually a lot easier than one would think.
The trouble here is when people do not wish to be identified. Individual privacy is a leisure that not a lot of people can afford once the technology is made available to the public –and with so many iPhone owners out there, this is going to be a serious concern.
Smart Phone News: Leaks and Rumors
Tuesday, September 21st, 2010
Just recently, a leaked video of the Samsung Cetus i917 handset has been spreading around the web. While the phone’s specs are pretty much predictable (or at least, what the minimal specs would be), it is still impressive to see WP7 in action. Microsoft’s product manager, Charlie Kindel was demonstrating the handset off in the video.
So far, it seems that the device has not changed so much since it was first leaked weeks ago. The Cetus still sports a 5 mega pixel camera and a 4 inch WVGA capacitive touch screen display. Those who are excited to try out this new handset from Samsung will have to wait until October when Windows Phone 7 officially launches.
In other Windows Phone 7 related news, it seems that O2 Germany already has price plans for the upcoming HTC HD7. According to a leaked document, the upcoming handset will be price at a very expensive 559 Pounds. While the phone’s hardware features are certainly going to be impressive, this will make it hard for the HD7 to compete with Android devices later on. The contract costs of the handset are much easier on the budget with the device costing a nice 70 Pounds at a 20 Pound Monthly tariff.
With Windows Phone 7 due to come out in a matter of weeks, we can all expect to see more leaked videos and demonstrations of the various WP7 handsets that are going to launch alongside Microsoft’s new OS.
Lastly, it seems that Facebook is being plagued by rumors that the social networking site is going to release their own mobile phone. This is mostly due to exaggerated reports about Facebook’s devs working new apps and features for smart phones. Representatives of the social networking site have officially debunked the rumors about the FB smart phone –much to the dismay of some expectant fans.
HTC HD7 Confirmed in Germany, Facebook not Making a Smartphone
Tuesday, September 21st, 2010
It seems that the HTC HD7 is certainly headed for consumers this coming October when the Windows Phone 7 OS finally launches.
In a recently leaked document from O2 Germany, the price for the HD7 handset will be a whooping 559 Pounds SIM free. While this might not be the same cost for the device when it comes out in the UK, at least we have a pretty good idea of the price range for the handset. So far, the tariff plans seem promising as the device is coming out at a nice 70 Pounds when linked to a 20 Pound monthly tariff for two years.
The HTC HD series of Windows devices has always been impressive. The HTC HD2 stood out for being able to bring the Windows Mobile OS to a capacitive touch screen thanks to the Sense user interface. While it was originally believed that the new HTC Windows Phone 7 handset would be named as the HD3, the Taiwan based phone maker surprised its fans by stating that the new phone will be called HD7 –to reflect the move from Windows Mobile to Windows Phone 7.
In other smart phone news, Facebook’s representatives have stated that their company is not in the process of creating a smart phone. The rumors about the social networking site coming out with a new device is not new, but has gotten pretty much spread out in the recent weeks.
While it is hard to determine the actual source of the rumors, the fact that social networking has played a key role in the growth of the smart phone industry is something that is hard to deny. In fact, since the combined emergence of social networking and better wireless technology, more and more people have made social networks a primary channel of communication.
Price Watch: HTC Desire Z and Samsung Galaxy Tab on Amazon UK
Monday, September 20th, 2010
If there has ever been a good argument for going with a monthly tariff, it is looking at the tentative retail prices for many smart phones and other electronic gadgets. Sure, there are advantages when one goes SIM-less, but overall, the savings are not as good (unless the buyer is not a heavy phone user) as what one would get from a long term contract.
Take the new HTC Desire handsets. Last week, HTC revealed the Desire HD and the Desire Z to the public. So far, it has been confirmed that T-Mobile will be having the Desire HD as part of their offerings next month. For a 40 Pound monthly tariff, it seems like buyers will be getting an expensive plan for an expensive phone. But one has to realize, ultimately, the phone is actually free and that the monthly paid contract provides the user with a substantial degree of consumable call minutes, text messages and data allowance.
On retail, the Desire Z is going to cost around 429 Pounds –that price might even go up as some state that Amazon UK could boost it up to 499 Pounds.
The same also applies for the massive Samsung Galaxy Tab, this 7 inch touch screen smart phone and tablet hybrid is expected to come out on Amazon UK with a retail cost of 799 Pounds. That is tremendously expensive –far from Apple’s lower priced iPad (that also has a larger touch screen display).
Some would of course argue that the Android operating system on the Galaxy Tab (as well as the device’s ability to handle voice calls) makes the device a lot more valuable than the iPad –and that would be true in certain aspects. However, with the price being almost 800 Quid, simply choosing to purchase the Galaxy Tab is not an easy choice to make.
Sense UI Video Leak Also Reveals HTC Phone
Monday, September 20th, 2010
It is going to be a few short weeks before the Windows Phone 7 mobile platform is officially launched and with all the new teasers and leaks being brought out, one cannot help but get really excited over the new operating system.
Of course, as exciting as the OS can be, there is even greater cause for excitement with all the new phones that are being offered. Microsoft will be launching the OS on several handsets from various mobile phone manufacturers. Confirmed to be present at launch date Asus, LG, Motorola and of course HTC (some reports also add in Sony Ericsson and Samsung, though that could simply be speculation).
HTC is surprising everyone with a recent video that seems to take a quick roundabout way of fitting through Microsoft’s prerequisites for a Windows Phone 7 handset. While they have been pretty strict about the hardware specs that are needed for the OS, there is only one rule for the software side: no custom user interfaces. HTC seems to have been able plenty of Sense UI elements into their WP7 platform –turning the UI into some bizarre hybrid never seen before.
Currently, there are two videos of the UI; first simply showing how the interface looks like, and the other, an actual demonstration on an upcoming HTC WP7 device.
So far, the actual specs on the handset that was revealed in the video is still unknown. Though there are some who have said that this might just be the HTC Mondrian. In any case, the video showed the OS running at full speed with no slowdowns. The animation of transitions was smooth and easy to follow while the entire UI seemed very responsive to the touch screen commands.
It would certainly be interesting to see if other mobile phone manufacturers have been able to integrate some of their custom UI features into their own versions of the WP7 OS.
Smart Phones: Consumerism and Mobile Internet
Friday, September 17th, 2010
If there is one thing that the presence of smart phone technology is affecting heavily, it is the consumer industry. In the past few years, internet retailing has strongly changed the way consumerism works. Moving full circle from individual marketing, to mass media and back to targeting specific individuals, the consumer industry has seen a large change in the direction it has been taking.
But internet technology is not just limited to the households and offices like it used to years ago. The presence of better netbooks and more importantly, smart phones with 3G and 4G technology has pushed the limits of online access to new heights (the proliferation of WiFi technology also contributed to this as well).
So what has the consumer industry turned into after the arrival of devices such as the Apple iPhone 4 or the HTC Desire?
Consumers now shop and browse online -with one practice heavily affecting the other. Some people would use the internet to look for new products and then purchase then from brick and mortar stores. Others would roam around stores looking for good items and try finding a cheaper price through online sales. While there is no direct correlation as to whether mobile shopping access is a competitor or a complement for real life stores, the fact that the two heavily affect each other is there.
Take augmented reality applications like Google Goggles. One can take this to the local hardware store, point a smart phone at the local merchandise and get quick online results on where one could buy the same item (or a similar one) at a cheaper price. At the same time, loading up location based services such as Google Maps (or even Foursquare) to look up professional or consumer reviews of nearby restaurants and help you make that choice on where to eat.