Korean phone maker Samsung is taking a post right beside Android giant HTC as they too are now among the only phone makers to ever come up with Google branded hardware. The original Nexus One smart phones were manufactured by HTC and possessed 3.7 inch AMOLED touch screen displays, 5 mega pixel cameras and of course, 1GHz CPUs.
The new handset from Samsung has yet to have its details revealed, but it certainly shows that the device is pretty exciting for many. Most are already speculating that the phone would have a 1GHz CPU much like the original, but it will also be packing much larger touch screen display –and since this is Samsung many are hoping for the use of super AMOLED or SLCD technology for the display.
In any case, the launch of the Nexus Two (or so many believe that this will be the device’s name) will be carried out this coming November 8 in New York, US. The launch will coincide with the US launch of Windows Phone 7 handsets (which came out locally by about a week too).
Google is also quietly developing new functions and features for the Android OS. Today sees the launch of the Places Search function on the search engine. Basically, all this does is narrow down all search results to map locations.
This may not seem like much of a big deal, but for those who actively use Street View, Google Maps and any GPS assisted travel functions, places search is a godsend. Even with all the detailed maps and other information that can be found, being able to easily type in a keyword and have Google narrow down search results is a big convenience that should not be ignored. Expect to see this function to be used quite a lot especially by those who spend plenty of time travelling around.
Archive for October, 2010
Next Google Brand Handset is From Samsung
Friday, October 29th, 2010Apple offer iPad Engraving, Sony’s PSP Phone OS Rumoured
Friday, October 29th, 2010
The web is alive and full of news updates regarding the PSP that was ‘leaked’ yesterday. Apparently, it seems that the new device will be making use of an OS called the Z-system. While it looks nothing like the cross media bar that we are all familiar with, it certainly looks neat and relatively easy to figure out. Our only concern is the announcement that the new device will not support physical media storage.
Sure, the device will have a port for microSD cards (and will most probably have support for up to 32GB cards as well as a pretty big internal storage space). But what worries a lot of gamers is the type of games that will be released in such a manner. Most of the best games still available are pretty huge in terms of file size –making the concept of manually downloading each game like an app would be a big waste of time and resources. Hopefully, Sony is able to come up with new physical media storage option.
It is ironic that UMD storage is now out of the picture right after the latest rumors state that the hardware on the new PSP device will be matching that of Microsoft’s Xbox 360.
Apple has something else coming up for the holidays: the Apple iPad –with engravings. Sure, it is still the same old 9.7 inch touch screen tablet device, but it will now be a little more personal.
Buyers who would like to give out the iPad as a gift for their loved ones will be able to add in a small two liner passage, dedication or saying on the back of the device. This engraving is permanent and as such, will make that specific iPad non-refundable. It has also been confirmed that ordering an engraving will take more time so the shipping will take a while to push through.
Is the iPhone 4 Real Competition for the Playstation Portable?
Thursday, October 28th, 2010
One simply cannot avoid asking, is Apple a threat to Sony’s gaming division? The big skip to the bottom line simply reads yes, and a big one at that. Apple’s strong hold on the casual gaming market as well as the mobile phone industry is stealing the general user base that would have been attracted purchasing a PSP or a Nintendo DS.
But as for overall sales, the Playstation Portable does not need to worry about smart phones. Hard core gamers –that is the main target market for the gaming handheld would not be satisfied with the vanilla offerings on the iTunes store. Despite the presence of major companies such as Capcom, Namco Bandai and EA on Apple’s app market, the big consideration still lies in what kinds of apps are actually being launched in the first place.
Even ports of major game titles do not translate so well into touch phone controls. The use of tilt and touch is a novelty. And while it works for certain games, it certainly is a hassle for most. Try to get anyone to perform perfect maneuvers on Ace Combat Xi and they would need to spend plenty of time calibrating the tilt. The lack of a directional pad and actual buttons is a big deal.
Sadly for Sony, the market positioning of the Playstation Portable is not just games –it is also a multimedia device. It has a web browser, support for music and video playback; it even has a digital camera attachment for taking videos and images.
And this is where the iPhone’s overall practicality pushes in. The iPhone is still a phone and as such, sees far more practical use than the PSP. This is why the iPhone is selling in the millions over such a short period of time: because people will be using it more. Hard core gamers represent a small quantity of the overall market, and in that regard, Apple stands to make more money.
PS Phone: Why a Gaming Phone is Not Really All that Exciting
Thursday, October 28th, 2010
One would assume that for a tech fan who loves games and gadgets, the prospect of a hard core potable gaming system merged with a mobile phone would be an exciting idea, and the general first reaction would definitely be excitement. But given a few moments of careful consideration, the most hard core of gamers will realize the value of being able to separate a mobile phone from a gaming device.
It has been a common notion to put phones off the hook and leave mobiles on silent when one does not wish to be disturbed. And when you have reached a very important, dramatic, climactic and exciting part of your game, the last thing you need is for the outside world to interrupt you.
And this is why mobile gaming is such a big hassle. Sure, it does not hurt to move away from a quick round of Plants versus Zombies or Angry Birds if you suddenly have a Tweet alert or an SMS to read. But the same simply does not apply when you are viewing a real time un-pause-able event scenario in a Metal Gear game, or trying to perfect an SSS combo in Devil May Cry.
There are even players who would manually shut off their net connections or stay logged off from the PSN server or the Xbox Live service when they are on single player games, and unless a gaming phone allows users to instantly stay off the grid (or back on the grid, as needed), then it would always be best to separate the two purposes –phones and hard core gaming.
With rumors of the Sony Playstation phone being revived, along with much earlier news that the PSP2 is coming out next year, gamers can only hope that the two are separate devices.
More Mobile News: Web Usage, No More Garmin-Asus and Flash
Wednesday, October 27th, 2010
The headlines just keep coming in; this is one very busy week in the mobile phone industry and keeping up with all the new updates is going to be quite hard. So here’s a quick list of the new highlights over the past 24 hours.
First up, the Garmin-Asus team up seems to heading straight for splitsville. Garmin has been keen on developing sat nav based devices but the current dominance of Nokia’s Ovi Maps and Google Maps (thanks to the fact that both are free services), means that Asus seems to be better off working on their own. With no significant devices out on the market (the Nuvifone hardly made a difference), it is likely that we will not be seeing anything from Garmin Asus anymore.
Flash 10.1 is officially WP7 bound. This new update will be launched for all WP7 devices; this means that the entirety of the internet will be available on the browser for Microsoft’s latest mobile platform. The Google Android OS was the first to receive support for Flash 10.1 on the 2.2 Froyo version of the open source mobile platform. According to Adobe, the Flash player will also be adapted to other operating systems –except for Apple.
Lastly, a recent study held by 3 UK has shown that the mobile web usage patterns of people has not changed much over the past few months. While the overall ranking positions seem to be swapped, the fact is that Facebook is still the number one site to be accessed. While some note that Google has been offset by Zynga and the Apple iTunes, Zynga is basically a second count for Facebook users who play the games. Apple’s iTunes on the other hand is enjoying plenty of use and traffic from all the new users of the iPad and the iPhone 4.
Apple Updates: Screen Lock Bypass and Tesco’s Barcode Scanner
Wednesday, October 27th, 2010There is no doubt that the Apple iOS has its share of bugs and issues, but a recent discovery showed that even when locked, it is still possible for users to be able to access the contact list directory of an iPhone device. The bypass works even for version 4.1 of the OS so we can expect that Apple will be launching a quick fix for this issue within the week.
While it may not seem like a big deal –after all, messages and other functions are still inaccessible through the bypass, the fact that another person will be able to sift through a person contacts list is still an act of invasion that a lot of people –especially business professionals, would not be comfortable with.
Of course, the best advice for phone security would still be the user’s own alertness, awareness and constant vigilance. No degree of digital security could ever match simply not leaving you phone exposed for others to tinker around with.
In lighter news, Tesco has just made it a whole lot easier for iPhone owners to do their grocery shopping: the new Tesco Bar Scan application has just been launched and the best part of it all is that it is completely free.
In order to use the app, as long as an item is stocked by the Tesco supermarket, the only thing a user needs to do is to scan the item’s barcode using the camera on the iPhone. This will automatically add the item to the online shopping cart.
For many people, this will be a great way to shop as it will remove the need to spend too much time browsing the online store for specific items. Even better is the fact that you can add in new items as you reach that last can or last bottle on the shelf by simply scanning the code before tossing it in the bin.
Motorola’s Second Milestone is Over the Horizon
Tuesday, October 26th, 2010
When we say that the launch of the very first Motorola Milestone is a major milestone for the development of Android smart phones, we are making more than just obvious puns. The arrival of the Milestone (1), or rather, the Motorola DROID in the US, was a big thing for the Android community; a massively impressive handset using Google’s open source platform and comes with a physical QWERTY keyboard.
Not that the Android needs a keyboard in the first place –the only thing you need is a decent capacitive touch screen and you are good to go. However, the presence of a physical keyboard enables something else –the ability to type and chat without having to deal with a virtual touch screen keyboard. While some might say that newer virtual keyboards are becoming more efficient with the presence of technology such as SWYPE, the fact is that the lack of physical feedback is a major issue.
And that is why the arrival of the Milestone was such as big thing. Now, the Motorola is at it again with the upcoming launch of the Milestone 2. According to sources, the official launch of the handset will be on November 17 and right now, the device is already available on pre-order. Those who want that handset as soon as it launches can get it for 449 GBP SIM free though we can expect to see various contract offers for the device.
Specs wise, we can definitely say that the Milestone 2 is an upgrade to the original handset. The CPU is now up to today’s current standards with the 1GHz ARM Cortex A8 and the 5 mega pixel snapper is certainly going to make camera buffs quite happy. The only gripe we have with the device is the new design –which deviates from the rougher polish that the original Milestone had. But in terms of hardware and performance, the Milestone 2 has the definite advantage.
Windows Phone 7: How Microsoft Mobile was Reinvented
Tuesday, October 26th, 2010
It takes a lot to say that something has been re-invented, after all, breaking past the borders of upgrades and innovations to totally bring something new as a whole is not something that is aspired for as a goal –but it something that is simply achieved through the process of making things better.
Of course, the base argument here was that Microsoft had plenty to make better. The developer of the ever famous Windows desktop OS is also responsible for Windows Mobile, which is definitely one of the most horrid mobile platforms ever made. It was certainly fit for the job of handling office work (which was what it was designed for in the first place), but the design concept was so rigid, the UI was so badly designed, that when smart phones started becoming more commonly used by the general market, the WinMo OS did not make a successful transition.
In contrast, the BlackBerry OS (which was also beating the WinMo in business sales) made an easy transition. Something was definitely wrong with Microsoft’s formula.
Steve Ballmer’s plan to change everything and bring in the Windows Phone 7 operating system into reality is the perfect plan for Microsoft, and he pulled it off. The new OS is sleek, easy to use and is by far, the most dynamic mobile platform we have ever seen.
User interface animations aside, the lined functions and easy access commands brings a whole new level of diversity to the phone’s user experience –something that no other platform has been able to deliver.
Checking out the HTC HD7 (the WP7 sequel to the HD2), we can easily see what makes the new OS work so well –consistency. Despite the artsy approach to the user interface, the fact that all the commands and functions are delivered in a single method (with varying visual differences), makes the UI consistent, understandable and easy on the eyes. We can certainly expect to see more great things from Microsoft’s WP7.
New Androids and Nokia’s N8 to Hit Stores Soon
Monday, October 25th, 2010
The Samsung Galaxy Tab is coming out for both T-Mobile and O2 UK. The big announcement from O2 has just been confirmed and they have stated that the device will be coming out in November 1. Those interested in the touch screen tablet might want to know that it packs a 7 inch capacitive touch screen display, a 1GHz CPU, dual facing cameras, and of course, Google’s Android 2.2 Froyo.
The tablet also supports Flash 10.1 so users can browse any website without any worries about the compatibility of the browser.
Vodafone has confirmed that they will also be launching an Android smart phone, the HTC Desire HD. This handset is basically a remake of the original HTC Desire that came out alongside the Nexus One (in the UK) and the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10. The updated version brings in a 4 inch capacitive touch screen display and a powerful 8 mega pixel snapper as well. Expect to see plenty of use of the handset’s HD video recording and playback features.
The Nokia N8 is also coming to Vodafone, O2 and Virgin Media as well. O2 has officially listed the launched date to be on the first of November, making the launch date just a few short days away. The phone has been delayed from launch since it was announced earlier this year.
Thanks to the N8’s 12 mega pixel camera and HD video features, users can expect to have plenty of fun experimenting on the phone. The Symbian^3 operating system will also be making its high end debut with the N8 as well.
Speaking of the Nokia N8, a specialized Virgin Media player app has been launched exclusively for the N8. Subscribers under VM getting the handset will find the app pre-loaded while those on different networks may choose to download the app separately.
Why We Need Eco Friendly Phones
Monday, October 25th, 2010
It may not seem like a big deal, after all, with all the green house gas emissions that are visibly seen rising from smokestacks, car exhausts and other typical icons for pollution, the mobile phone is the last piece of technology that people would attribute CO2 emissions with.
But that is why the mobile phone is such a dangerous culprit –it is so deceptively innocent that nobody wants to do anything about it. Sony Ericsson has already started calling some shots by opening up the Green Heart program and creating phones from recycled material, using energy efficient hardware and also, making use of better packaging.
The green innovation does not stop there for Sony, but that does not account for the rest of the several other mobile phone companies. Even if Nokia already has the green approval from Greenpeace –they even scored higher than Sony Ericsson, the fact of the matter is that many other phone makers need to follow suit.
For a basic example of why phone energy usage needs to be streamlined, a basic math conversion goes like this: for every two minutes of phone usage each day, a mobile phone leaves a carbon footprint of about 42 kilograms of carbon dioxide each year. And that is just for two minutes. With the use of mobile phones now extended to being used as cameras, instant messaging, web browsing, media playback and more, the average usage time of a mobile phone has been extended up to an hour on average –and that actually beats the carbon footprint of flying from London to New York.
It will certainly be a while before the smart phone industry is able to catch up with ecological demands. But in the meantime, it is important for consumers to be aware of the actual effects of mobile phone usage and how crucial it is for people to start supporting green devices.