HTC’s Phones Coming this April
April will be a pretty busy month for the mobile phone industry as several impressive smart phones will be released. Sony Ericsson already has its SE XPERIA X10 Android smart phone and its Vivaz Symbian HD device lined up for release while Apple has set a late April release date for the 3G and non-3G versions of the new iPad tablet.
Things are also busy at the HTC camp as the Desire and the Legend are both expected to come out by April.
The Taiwanese manufacturer is bringing the sequel to the HTC Hero, the Legend to Vodafone’s store. So far, there is no word yet if the Legend will be offered by other operator. The smart phone comes with an aluminum casing, a 3.2 inch AMOLED capacitive touch screen, 5 mega pixel camera and a Qualcomm 600 MHz processor.
More widely available will the HTC Desire; this phone, originally called the Bravo will be launching around the same time as the Legend. It has already been confirmed that T-Mobile will be offering plans for the new Snapdragon Android while Orange and Vodafone are reportedly also going to have the device (though price offers from Orange and Vodafone are currently not yet available). Carphone Warehouse has most of the details for the T-Mobile plans.
The Desire comes with a 1GHz Snapdragon processor that will have the device running fast and smooth. It has a big 3.7 inch AMOLED capacitive touch screen that delivers high quality visuals perfect for viewing the 720p videos you shoot with the phone’s 5 mega pixel snapper. The device is being considered as the perfect alternative to the Nexus One smart phone which can only be brought from Google’s online store.
Get to know more about the HTC Desire smart phone and its tariff prices at Stuff TV.
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Loading ...The Phone that Keeps Going… and Going… and Going…
Looks like India is ahead in terms of eco-friendly power solutions. Olive Telecommunications’ FrvrOn V-G2300 is a 2G device running on the ULC2 7800 platform with a 1.5-inch CSTN color display. It features an FM radio, a memory capable of storing 200 contacts in the phonebook, a bunch preloaded games, a standard calculator, an alarm, a calendar, polyphonic ringtones and a speaker phone function. Sounds like a mobile phone from yesteryear right? You might just be surprised.
The phone has a very valuable feature: it is dual-powered. Meaning, not only will it come with a rechargeable 600 mAh Li-on battery, it can also run on a single AAA Alkaline battery. Now there is no need to wait around in charging stations just to call someone. This technology can potentially save time for those who need an instant hour of talk time. The mobile phone’s price is a steal as well at just around 27 EUR.
Aside from the fact that batteries are readily available, alkaline batteries can also be considered eco-friendly. When recycled and reused the proper way, these disposable batteries pose very little threat to Mother Earth as opposed to Li-on batteries. While the phone may not have been developed with just that cause in mind, the fellows at Olive Telecommunications sure are causing a stir and people all around the world are now starting talk about dual-powered smart phones.
Although Li-on power is unlikely to be replaced by this technology any time soon, a dual-powered mobile phone is a novel concept and is sure to be handy under a variety of situations.
Will this mean a line of dual-powered smart phones? Considering the fact that standard alkaline batteries have the capacity of 1000 mAh and some higher capacity disposable batteries reach up to a whopping 2000 mAh, two AAAs may just be enough to power a smart phone temporarily. We may very well see dual-powered Blackberrys in the future.
See screens of this handy phone in Engadget.
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(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Who will Offer the Apple iPad?
It comes as to no surprise that Apple is currently engaging in talks with different mobile network operators that might be interested in offering the device to the UK. Vodafone has already been labeled as the most likely distributor to subsidize the tablet, but with recent reports about Orange Mobile and O2 talking with Apple, it makes sense to assume that some of these operators are already vying for an exclusive deal.
The real question here is; will Apple sign an exclusivity deal for the iPad?
They already did the same thing for the Apple iPhone. Despite being Apple’s major mobile device, they allowed O2 to have the handset as an exclusive for two whole years. Though the iPhone was a great success (it is number one after all), many believe that it could have made even more sales had it not been exclusive to a single operator.
The Apple iPad tablet however, is not on the same plane as the iPhone. The fact that the demand for the tablet is still pretty much non-existent at the moment brings about many considerations. Primarily, they need the iPad to be able to penetrate the market as broadly as possible. This means that an exclusivity deal has the potential to push away and alienate potential customers – definitely not a good thing for a device that has yet to prove its worth and actually create a demand.
Anyway, while we might not be seeing and exclusive deal for the tablet, this also means that the initial price offering and the plan options will be pretty competitive as each operator brings our their own contracts for the touch screen tablet. As expected, experts believe that Apple is also talking with retailers regarding the iPad as well.
Get to know more about the coming of the iPad in the UK at Mobile Today UK.
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(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...App Review: Google’s Gesture Search
Yes, Google, before anything else is still a search engine. In a quick homage at showing that they are still the best at what they do, Google has added a new gesture search feature for Android smart phones using version 2.0 Éclair and above.
The new feature is pretty simple, users will have to gesture a letter on the screen which the phone will use to search phone contents with. If you are looking for a specific contact, simply write the first letter of the contact name on the screen and the app will give you a quick list of all possible matches.
The main focus here is the fact that the search function has adaptive learning capabilities that adjust according to your preferences. The more you select certain hits to certain letters, the more likely that these items will be placed on top of the search results –much like the Google search engine that delivers top matches according to the relevance of the search results.
The new app is still in Google Lab’s main page which means that the devs at Mountain View are still working out some kinks –kinks that we cannot find. It’s a great app and we certainly recommend it since it will save you many clicks and taps in the long run. If you want to try out the new app, simply boot up at the Android market to try out Google Gestures.
This new app by Google is welcome new addition since they put in the Buzz service for Gmail. Google has recently been losing its touch in terms of being able to deliver quality apps and features. The new Gesture Search brings us back to that old Google we used to know and trust.
Get to know more about the Google Gesture Search at Mobile Choice UK.
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(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Bringing the Internet to the Rest of Europe
According to recent studies, the lack of mobile coverage and internet in many rural regions has become the main reason why the younger generations tend to migrate to more populated urban areas and why the gap between the regions continue to grow.
Teenagers and young adults are first to feel the disconnection with their generation due to the fact that there is hardly any mobile or internet service in many rural areas. While over 60% of urban environments would allow you to access a mobile network or even the internet easily, this number drops down to a frighteningly low 1.5% in rural areas.
With society becoming more and more reliant in internet access, social networking and doing business online, plenty of people are finding themselves unable to keep up when forced to live in areas that are pretty far away from the rest of the world –in terms of getting online that is.
Even adults in rural areas are finding trouble with the limited options for having mobile coverage since there are plenty of areas in the UK that only have network coverage for specific providers –as other mobile network operators are not able to expand as much as their competitors.
There has already been talk of the possibility of a new legislation that would force operators to open their services to other subscribers for a small “roaming charge” –similar to travelling outside the country where access to local providers is absent.
Education is also another major issue –with the internet being the major source of information for children for doing research, homework and social growth outside of class, there are now calls for increasing the number of Government initiatives in many rural areas.
Read more about the lack of mobile and net coverage and its effects in rural areas at the Guardian UK.
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(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Apple Takes on Google, Starts with HTC
Critics have been heavy on Apple for the past few days, after all, the major electronics manufacturer and software developer has filed a lawsuit against HTC in an indirect attack to Google.
Taiwan based HTC is considered to be one of the biggest manufacturers of today. Their new smart phones are much anticipated and their devices set many of the industry standards that we have today. Despite not being as large as Nokia or Motorola, HTC still managed to create a very powerful name brand for itself –a feat in the harsh mobile industry.
HTC has spent the past few years as part of the Open Handset Alliance it helped establish along with Google. This gave rise to the Android operating system and many HTC devices that featured the mobile platform. HTC would later play a bigger role as the manufacturer of the G-branded Nexus One Android smart phone.
Despite the Nexus One’s weak sales and the continuous dominance of the iPhone in the mobile market, Apple still considers the Android as its toughest competitor in the industry. And while the iPhone 4G will be arriving later this year, it will be facing stiff competition from no less than the best Android devices that HTC can offer.
The infringement lawsuit specifies twenty software and hardware patents owned by Apple. Should this lawsuit give Apple a favorable verdict, they would be able to deal a crippling blow to one of Google’s major partners. In the end, it is fair game; no matter how ruthless the action Apple has taken, people will still continue to support their devices.
HTC has responded by stating that it will defend their innovations and would be presenting patents of their own. Google has also stated that they will be backing up HTC every step of the way.
Get to know more about the lawsuit on Tech Radar.
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(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Acer Liquid e Powered by Sweets
Acer, Taiwan-based international computer manufacturer, has an ace up its sleeve with the unveiling of the Acer Liquid e. The noteworthy addition to their smart phone line has a number of assets that make it a worthy contender for Android supported mobile phones.
The Power of Liquid e’s Hardware
With a 768 MHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and running the updated Android 2.1 operating system, the phone functions run swiftly with almost no hiccups. There are plenty of similarities between the Liquid e and its senior, last year’s Acer Liquid A1. The Liquid e offers a 3.5-inch WVGA capacitive touch screen. The screen size is a respectable 3.5 inches at an 800 pixel resolution. A 5.0 megapixel camera with Auto Focus is thrown in with the package along with a standard 3.5mm headphone jack.
The Liquid e has Wi-Fi capabilities, has Bluetooth, GPRS and supports high speed internet access through a 7.2 Mbps 3G via HSDPA/HSUPA networks.
A Sweeter Éclair this Time Around
With the new smart phone comes the latest version of Google’s Android operating series. Liquid e uses the Google Android 2.1, also known as Éclair, which is a sweeter version of the Android 2.0. Voice control allows users to access the GPS system, send emails and even Tweet on the go. Apps like Google Earth have been improved for the 2.1. Although the Google Earth app looks similar to its iPhone counterpart, 2.1 has a neat feature that gives users the ability to scan maps by simulating flying through the air.
The Éclair is all about connectivity. From pulling contacts directly off your Facebook to displaying feeds from more than one Gmail account, 2.1 just makes keeping in touch so much simpler.
No need to worry about getting drenched during camping trips, 2. 1 delivers dynamic weather updates that are tied up to the GPS system. This allows your mobile phone to deliver minute-by-minute accounts of the weather, humidity and temperature depending on your location.
Home screens are increased to five this time around so you can launch more widgets or apps at the same time. Even if some customized Android OS devices also offered more than the usual three, this is still a noteworthy addition to 2.1 since this feature is now available to vanilla devices and can be used fresh out of the box.
Liquid e Runs as Smoothly as Water
Though the body would give a different impression, the Liquid e actually runs the Android 2.1 OS swiftly once you’re actually using the smart phone. Acer has limited the amount of customizations they added, leaving the OS to run without slowdowns. A media shortcut wheel is added to the far left of the home screen and a wheel for browser favorites was added opposite to it at the far right.
Acer has never really been known for their phones but there is no question that the Acer Liquid e is a step-up from last year’s Liquid A1 and is something to look forward to once it comes out.
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(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Apple Sues HTC for 20 Infringements
20 infringements –looks like Apple has been keeping a very close eye on HTC made technologies recently as the Apple lawsuit against the Taiwanese manufacturer racks up quite the long list.
No word has been released as to exactly which technologies are being put into question, though many already believe that this is simply a case of Apple being able to file a patent ahead of others. In many infringement cases, the manufacturers being sued are never really guilty of actually copying or stealing existing designs and technologies. More often than not, the technology in question would simply have an existing patent owned by some other group –in this case, Apple.
The practice of filing for patents without actually manufacturing or using the technology has been around for quite some time. This is usually done in advance in order for the patent maker to own rights to the technology while still accumulating funds to develop the patent. In some cases, patents are filed as a way to own a predicted upcoming technology. Though there are laws that require patent ownership to expire after a certain amount of time, the practice of sitting on a patent for a few years have paid off for many people.
Anyway, the ramifications of this lawsuit will no doubt be a simple hiccup in the flow of progress for both Apple and HTC as both companies have been in the industry long enough to easily weather such minor troubles –unless HTC did steal technology from Apple. According to Steve Jobs (Apple CEO); “We can sit by and watch competitors steal our patented inventions, or we can do something about it. We’ve decided to do something about it. We think competition is healthy, but competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours.”
Get to know more about the Apple and HTC lawsuit at Tech Radar.
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(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Vodafone to Launch Nexus One in April
When it was predicted that 2010 would be the year of the Android, they certainly were not mistaken.
The year started with the release of the Google phone, the Nexus One. Despite the many hiccups, side problems and 3G errors that plagued the smart phone, Google pushed through with the device. They had a pretty dismal sales performance –selling only 20,000 units during the first week; but still pressed on in developing and updating the device that showed Android in the way Google wanted us to enjoy it.
The Nexus One comes with a 1GHz Snapdragon processor. The CPU keeps everything running fast and smoothly. It keeps the animations smooth and crisp while easily running multiple functions on the device. The 3.7 inch AMOLED capacitive touch screen is a perfect input system for mobile devices that delivers high quality images and visuals while the 5 mega pixel camera is perfect for taking videos and images.
So anyway, reports are showing that the device is indeed headed to the UK and Vodafone will be offering the device to its clients. Right now, interest on the Google phone is pretty low thanks to the big buzz generated by the WP7 mobile platform. But with the HTC Desire coming out this March (as well as the HTC Legend, XPERIA X10, and several others) it would not be surprising to see some pretty heavy marketing for the Nexus One to pop out.
Anyway, the Nexus One, despite being carried by Vodafone will still be limited in availability. Vodafone staff has been advised to refer customer inquiries to the Google online website as the phone will only be available through Google’s online store. We seriously doubt that pitch will get plenty of people to sign up.
Read more about the Nexus One on Vodafone at Softpedia.
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(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...HTC HD Mini
HTC HD Mini
HTC has recently unveiled its new HTC HD Mini, which is a Sense-based Windows phone that has focussed on the delivery of the very popular HD2 only in the sleeker and more compact design found in many popular minis today. Indeed, Peter Chou, the Chief Executive Officer of the HRC Corporation, stated that the initial demand for the HD2 has exceeded all original expectations and the new HD Mini is aimed at ‘bringing all of the experience and capabilities of the HD2 to customers in a more compact design, thereby fully satisfying customers on all levels of design and function.’ Mr Chou went on to say that the HD Mini’s integration of HTC Sense and Windows Mobile affords customers much more choice ‘for an advanced Windows phone that is well-crafted, sleek and user-friendly.’
The HTC HD Mini is indeed beautifully designed, and is eminently user-friendly right out of the box. Its precision fasteners used to assembled the phone are still visible to users from the outside and, far from detracting from the overall aesthetic, this merely shows the high levels of craftsmanship that have gone into making the phone. This concept of strong and original design is also visible under the battery cover, and is visible in a striking yellow internal structure when you look inside.
HTC HD Mini
Like all of the new device unveiled by HTC of late the HD Mini smartphone also uses HTC Sense, which HTC have also designed very much with the user in mind and ‘with the aim of putting the user right at the centre of their mobile world and experience.’ Sense is very good to use and incorporates what is called the ‘helicopter view’ known as Leap which allows the user to navigate easily between screens and operate the phone in much the same way as Expose on the Mac.
The handset also continues the concept of putting the user in the centre of the experience with its Outlook integration that provides a single contact view enabling the user to see individual snapshots displaying all conversations with that person, be they text messages, calls, e-mails or just status updates. It also features HTC’s Peep, HTC’s Windows-based Twitter application, which allows users to tweet without any problems and also to follow their online Twitter stream.
The HD Mini further appeals to many people by featuring a capacitive touchscreen which allows websites to be not only viewed but also zoomed in and out of and also re-sized to suit your particular needs. You can also do the same to PDF documents and all Microsoft Office files and pictures with just a pinch of the finger, a great feature of Sense.
Spec wise the HD Mini also comes complete with 3G broadband and Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing for seamless wireless connection and date transfer. The user may also choose to download a range of applications from Windows Marketplace for Mobile in order to further customise their mobile experience, though this is of course options.
For power the HD Mini relies upon a rechargeable lithium-ion polymer or lithium-ion battery that allows the user a fully-charged talk time of around 400 minutes. It also packs a decent 5-megapixel integral camera which comes with a range of useful features, including an ambient light sensor, proximity sensor, auto-focus facility and widescreen photo capture. There is also a fully integrated Windows media player that supports the full range of media files for around eight hours of playback as well as video playback formats that can support around 12 hours of video playback. For those needing more space users can also utilise the MicroSD expansion card in the integral slot in order to further enhance the storage memory capacity of the Mini HD. Though no official price and release date information is confirmed as of yet the HD Mini is pencilled for release in the second quarter of 2010.
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