Windows Phone 7 Series Gets Tentative Handsets
The new Windows Phone 7 series mobile platform is a truly impressive new OS. Obviously, with a release date not due until later this year, lots of work still has to be done and the platform is far from ready. Despite that, Microsoft did not fail to impress. If anything, they proved that they can make a truly amazing operating system that could possibly change the way we look at mobile phones.
Now, the one thing we are all wondering about is: what kind of phone will the OS appear on?
So far, three major mobile phone manufacturers have been tagged as the next potential WP7 handset producer. The lineup is pretty promising too.
HTC was first to make the announcement that they would be making a Windows Phone 7 handset and would have a device ready by the holidays. The Taiwanese mobile phone manufacturer has had a very long history with Microsoft, longer than their new ties with Google and the Android OS. Since HTC was one of the pioneers during the Pocket PC era, it would be fitting for HTC to play a major role with WP7.
Asus and Microsoft are currently working on a WP7 device that will be branded by Microsoft –or so goes the rumor. In any case, this might be the first time Microsoft will be working with its own mobile device and we are certainly looking forward to seeing what these two companies can bring to the table.
Just recently, reports that the upcoming LG Apollo will be the first WP7 handset have also popped up. The new phone is expected to come out as early as September; there are even reports that it might be ready by August. Even if this is true, the OS is not expected to be ready until much later.
Read more about the LG WP7 handset at Mobile Choice UK.
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Loading ...Sagem Puma Phone
This year’s recently-held Mobile World Congress in Barcelona saw a number of very interesting new devices, and one such was a new offering from the famous sportswear company Puma. A slightly odd thing for a sportswear manufacturer to do, most people might think, as did many in attendance at the convention. The name alone, after all, warranted a closer inspection of the recently unveiled Puma Phone manufactured by the French telecoms company Sagem Wireless.
To start it off the Puma Phone supports a range of sports functions, as you might well expect given the company’s provenance. Such functions include a pedometer, compass, GPS tracker and a stopwatch. The phone’s memory also comes pre-installed with a number of applications for accessing the Puma World portal in order to get a range of sports information.
As a device the Puma Phone packs a decent enough screen display of 2.8-inches with a resolution of 320×240 pixels. The screen also features a decent touchscreen as well as an accelerometer, allowing for smooth screen displays when transferring between horizontal and vertical views, along with an integral 3.2-megapixel camera that also includes an LED flash – great for taking snaps in low-lighting conditions – as well as a 6X zoom capacity. There is also geotagging, a music player and a microSD card slot allowing the user to upgrade their phone’s internal memory capacity. The device even boasts Bluetooth 2.1 connectivity.
Interestingly – and highly appealing to some – on the rear of the Puma Phone is a solar panel that displays a recharge-level indicator in addition to an integral solar cell for recharging. This is, perhaps, the stand-out highlight of the whole package. This excellent system even shows the number of talk-time minutes or messages that have accrued whilst the user has been using either the solar panel or as a recharge option that can be converted into point and then exchanged for official Puma merchandise through their official Website.
The phone is hardwired to support the Puma brand’s way of life and appears sporty and outdoorsy from the very first glance. It might seem rather like a fashion accessory, but does pack a decent range of lifestyle features including up to five hours of talk-time (which is dependent on your network type), 24 hours of music playback and up to five hours of film playback. Puma’s CEO, Jochen Zeitz, stated that ‘Puma’s main aim is to blend together the treble influences of sport, lifestyle and fashion, and the Puma phone reflects the joy, spontaneity and individuality that Puma is well-known for’.
These aims are clearly carried by some of the phone’s previously-mentioned features, such as the stopwatch and pedometer – perfect for outdoor sports enthusiasts. There are also routing and mapping apps for those addicted to the outdoors as well as a compass. This is a phone definitely staying true to its manufacturer’s sporty roots, and the features and image will doubtlessly appeal to the legions of sports fans out there. There are also a wide range of music formats with a fully supported playlist and FM radio embedded in the Puma Phone in addition to a VGA video call camera, which might come in handy to instantly compare notes with your training buddies after a hard session.
The device even offers an excellent Internet surfing experience, with open browsing and WAP-Push. There is a well-equipped mobile e-mail client and instant messaging through both MMS and SMS. The phone is slight enough to carry comfortably whilst out and about too, weighing only 115 grams and measuring 102×56x13 mm. There are currently no details with regards to release prices, although the phone is predicted to come into shops in Europe and online in April.
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(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Parental Power: Banning iPhone Apps
Are we really to take this kind of news seriously now?
Apparently, Apple caved in to the pressure from parents complaining about “inappropriate content” being hosted at the app store. So fans of the Wobble iBoobs app by Jon Atherton might want to hold on to their copies of the breast jiggling application since Apple has removed the app permanently.
Yes, according to reports, Steve Jobs fears the power of parents. In a surprising, and somewhat familiar move, Apple has removed thousands of applications from the online store due to objectionable content that many called “soft core” porn.
Ironically, the apps in question did not even contain nudity –simply women in skimpy clothing. While many would say that Apple does have the final say in terms of what happens to the app store, the purge was nothing short of a (pardon the language) retarded solution to a non-problem.
So what if Apple did not react to parents? It is not like parents all over the world would start abandoning their iPhones. It is not like they would cease buying applications. No, these parents would have to face the reality that at the end of the day, the responsibility of educating and helping their children grow is theirs alone.
This is not Apple’s responsibility. If anything, Apple has taken more than enough steps to ensure that children do not have access to the App store. All mobile stores will not accept minors. The mere fact that you need a credit card means that if a child has access the app store, then it is only through the enabling functions that the parent gave. Parents need to wisen up and mature, not only for themselves, but also for the sake of their children.
Read more at Times Online UK.
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(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Samsung Monte S5620 – Sleek Connectivity on the Go
The Samsung Monte, also known as the Samsung GT-S5620, is Samsung’s new device and is a 3.5G ultra-connective GPS-enabled touchscreen phone. It is also WiFi enabled and has similar specifications to the B7300, although much to the relief of many mobile phone users out there it is without Windows. It also has similarities to the Blue Earth, although it does not have that device’s standout solar panel. As a result of this tweaking and tinkering the Samsung Monte expertly fills Samsung’s current tiny market niche in their overall product range.
On first impressions the S5620 Monte has a somewhat stylish and intriguing appearance, although quite a few of the device’s features are useful without being particularly outstanding or captivating. The display is a 3-inch 240X400 pixel touchscreen and appears to be a pretty standard TFT display and not especially distinguished from most of the others on the market currently. The rear of the device features a 3.2MP camera which boasts support for geotagging – again, a useful if not remarkable feature.
The camera does, however, come with some useful features such as smile shot, face detection and panorama shot. There is also the useful on-finger zoom capability. As a 3.5G device it has decent HSDPA download speeds ranging to 3.6 Mbps on top of it also usefully providing Wi-Fi connectivity for an alternative connection option. The Monte also features integral social networking applications, including various applications common to Facebook and MySpace, and also includes support for both Twitter and Bebo – very much in keeping with the constant pace of change constantly seen in the development of social networking that is attracting many users these days. This makes the device extremely useful for those with contacts over a variety of different platforms.
The Monte makes it possible as well to access user profiles wherever and whenever you choose, making keeping up with your online news easy and seamless. There is also support for advanced Twitter and Bebo widgets in addition to multiple instant messaging capacity which affords the user the ability to chat in real-time through whichever medium they desire. Users can also fully access the internet with browsing capabilities fairly decent and there is also an integral accelerometer sensor which means that the on-screen image will adjust itself immediately as the user rotates the phone.
Many people will also enjoy using the Monte’s TouchWiz 2.0 Plus interface which runs over Samsung’s generic operating system. The Monte also boasts fairly good and functional multimedia support, including a multimedia player capable of supporting and playing AAC, MP3 and WMA audio files as well as a few other formats in addition to the ability to play H.263, H.264 as well as MPEG4 video. At briefings and release specifications Samsung have made no mention of WMV video support so it appears that this is not included in the device. The device also includes a 3.5mm audio jack and stereo Bluetooth is also supported, big pluses for those looking for both wires and wireless headset alternatives.
Usefully, the Samsung Monte also features integral GPS that touts Google Maps version 3.0 as well as Google Latitude which enables you to know exactly where you are on the Earth at all times and update your friends on your location at any time – perfect for obsessive hiking Twitterers. This, combined with geotagging, enables you to imprint your photographs with geographic tags and allows you an excellent way of sharing your travels online with your friends and family. These specifications are fairly useful without being either groundbreaking or spectacular as they can be found on many other current devices.
The Monte will be available in black/silver or graphite/orange, and has a current probable SIM-free price of around 260 Euros, which would seem to denote the Monte as a mid-range device. It will be released in Spain as the ‘Onix’.
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(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Microsoft’s New Battle Plan
The Mobile World Congress came with a flood of brand new mobile devices, apps, gadgets and even new mobile platforms. Samsung’s Wave phone debut the new Bada OS for the Korean developer and while that was amazing, one cannot deny that Microsoft stole most of the spot light with their presentation of the new Windows Phone 7 series.
If you are wondering why there is so much excitement over a mobile platform that is not due until later this October, then you probably missed the part where they showed the user interface.
On paper, it sounds pretty basic. Large pages that go beyond the range of a phone display will be used as the main interface. The touch screen will allow users to pan around to get to the specific information needed and the bleeding effect is both stylish to look at and telling of the fact that there is always more to see.
Each major page delivers one specific phone feature –people, music and videos, pictures, games, marketplace and office. At present most of the pages still have missing features. Take office for example; so far only OneNote and SharePoint is accessible. “Games” only has Xbox Live Games and no actual games.
When shown in an actual working demonstration however, everything falls into place. Not to mention that they also added in Zune for media and Bing services as well.
Microsoft has been focusing not only on delivering a user experience that is unique, but also a platform that will attract developers to invest time and effort in the platform. There are thousands of apps out there, but to actually have applications that are well made and can deliver “immersive experiences” would be a key factor to the success of WP7.
Read more about Windows Phone 7 at Tech Radar.
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(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Samsung Beam i8520
Recent advancements in technology have made it possible to access very many things from your phone. One of the phones that have proved to be wonderful and excellent is the Samsung Beam i8520 phone. The phone has been designed to perform very many tasks that we would not have believed that a mobile phone can do, such as project images onto a wall or screen.
The phone has the ability to project for a very long time and give excellent services to the user. This phone has made projecting easier because you don’t need to carry cumbersome machines to help in the projecting but what you need to do is to carry the Samsung Beam i8520 with you and everything will be fine. The phone has been made with an excellent battery which can support projecting for the whole day without going out of charge. The battery also has a long life and it can last for several years before it becomes useless.
The Samsung Beam i8520 has been designed with modern technology to enable it conduct the projecting business for a whole day without getting hot. Many ordinary machines cannot project for the whole day without getting hot but the Samsung Beam i8520 phone works wonders.
The phone has been specially designed to project images of up to fifty inches wide. This technology has made the phone to be a market leader and it has been admired by very many clients. This makes the image to be extremely clear as it shows even the tiny details of the image. The phone is easy to carry and convenient because you just need to put it in the pocket as you travel.
Another nice feature of the Samsung Beam i8520 phone is the type of screen that it has. The screen has been specially made with a super AMOLED touch screen and it is 3.7 inches. This makes it easy to access the various features of the phone since you just touch the icon and it will bring you its contents on the screen. The screen also has enhanced brightness which makes it possible to see images on the screen clearly.
However, it is also possible to take excellent clear photos using the phone. This is made possible by the 5 mega pixel camera that takes very attractive photos which are very nice looking. The phone also has the ability to record video and it can record 720p at 30fps. This makes it an ideal phone for those people who are going for picnics and holidays where they need to take photos and record video. You don’t need to carry a cumbersome camera with you but what you need is the Samsung i8520 phone.
The Samsung beam i8520 phone comes with nice memory which enables it to store many files and photos without going out of memory. It has a memory of 16 GB and it also has a special micro SD slot. This makes it possible for the user to download and store movies, wallpapers, ring tone, music and games. It is also possible to watch video games using your Samsung i8520 phone. This is made possible because it has DivX and XViD video which makes it possible to watch video downloads.
When you are going for a holiday, you can carry the phone with you and it will give you the services of watching latest movies that you have downloaded. The big memory of the phone makes it possible to download several movies and songs that can keep you busy for the whole day when you want to relax. This is one of the best phones that a person who want to acquire a class of their own should buy.
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(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Windows Phone 7 Brings Absolute Change
Change is a great thing when you have a platform that never seemed to work right. And so, Windows Mobile changed.
Steve Ballmer and his troops have been at the front lines of the Mobile World Congress as they showcased the new Windows Phone 7 series platform. Yep, you heard that right. The new system comes with a new name. Phone 7 replaces Mobile 7. Despite Windows Mobile 7 being a lot more catchy, the new name designates the vast change in pace.
This strong symbolism comes from strong will and intent. It is clear from looking at the new Windows Phone user interface that the developers have worked hard to create a mobile phone experience that changes the way we view and use mobile phones.
To quote the presenters, “the phone is not a PC”.
It’s a great mantra that has allowed MS to reinvent the way we handle and open data. The new page hubs layout makes things so much easier to find and customize. Speaking of customization, the new tiles system will be replacing widgets and will allow you to assign almost any form of content.
Office was also shown in the demonstration, though only OneNote, SharePoint and Mobile Outlook are confirmed to be present. It is expected that when the full version comes out, Office will be with complete systems.
Zune is confirmed to be present. While Zune is not yet locally available in the UK, it is impressive in the way it handles music. It certainly makes tagging and sorting so much easier.
Xbox Live Games is also new. Too bad there are no game demos so it is still anyone’s guess if exclusive XBL titles will make it to the mobile form.
Get the full scoop on the Windows Phone 7 series at the Telegraph UK.
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(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Sony Ericsson’s MWC Surprises
Nothing makes us happier than seeing news about brand new phones. This is why Sony Ericsson has given everyone a nice big helping of joy when they brought out three totally unexpected devices during the MWC.
While it was already expected that the Android smart phone XPERIA X10 with its Snapdragon processor would be present at the event, no one knew it would also come with its successor, the XPERIA X10 Mini and the never before announced X10 Mini Pro.
The X10 Mini was previously rumored as the SE XPERIA Robyn. The X10 Mini Pro on the other hand, was totally unheard of before now. Looks like Sony Ericsson is truly expanding the market range for their devices. The X10 Mini is a significantly budget friendly revision of the high end XPERIA X10 which is not meant for general use (no matter how good the specs of the X10 are). The X10 Mini also cuts down on the large size of the X10 which makes it ideal for carrying around and storing in a bag.
The Mini Pro is a QWERTY keyboard version of the X10. This slide out variant provides plenty of accessibility for users that engage in plenty of messaging and typing purposes. Initial images of the X10 Mini and the Mini Pro showcase the many different colors of the devices.
It has been confirmed that it will be using the old Android 1.6 Donut operating system, though it is expected that an update to version 2.0 Éclair or higher will be made available soon. So far, Sony believes that the X10 Mini is as small as today’s current technology can go. They still managed to pack plenty of hardware into the small device too.
Read more about the new Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 Mini and the Mini Pro at Mobile Today UK.
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(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...iPad Reactions: Bill Gates
For the Apple iPad, it seems that everything is up in the air and we will never really know for sure how this device will turn out until it officially launches.
For now, many people do not even know what the iPad can really do. According to a recent survey, most British adults are familiar with the brand and the look of the iPad but more than half are not aware what the device can actually do. Most assume that it is a super sized iPhone and believe that it will have multi tasking, calling capabilities and a camera.
Lack of public familiarity seems to be preventing the device from getting into the mainstream. Whatever the reason is, Microsoft founder and former company head Bill Gates has expressed that the Apple iPhone was an amazing device that he wishes Microsoft had built, but the iPad is never going to be mainstream –unlike the net book. Ironically, Microsoft is currently working on its own tablet –the Courier and a touch screen net book.
Though looking at the statistics, the net book is far from being mainstream. Net books currently serve a purpose much different from what the iPad is poised to provide –though many who are unaware of the iPad’s features simply expect the tablet to be a keyboard less touch screen net book.
Steve Jobs on the other hand does not believe in net books. After his recent unveiling of the iPad, he has been quoted saying that net books are simply cheap computers that are not better at doing anything –though one has to point out that they are the most reliable portable desktop publishing tools (really, who would use a BlackBerry or a Milestone to type out a novel?).
For more about Bill Gates and the Apple iPad, go to Pocket Lint.
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(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Does Higher Fees Mean Better Apps?
The Guardian’s Vic Keegan raises a very sound idea; for those of us always asking for more – let’s pay more to get more.
And by more, it is not a matter of quantity but quality. Indeed, with applications being sold at better prices, both companies and independent developers can truly invest in creating fully functional and bug-free programs for a good profit. Since the software will sell for a higher price, they can manage to spend more time on the production processes to polish things better.
Ideally, this would work, but in practice, the idea will only go so far as having developers earn a whole lot more.
Now, the argument extends to an even more logical point, that if the developers were paid better, they can create applications that are suited not only for a specific platform. In this case, hundreds, if not thousands of iPhone applications will be made available for smart phone using other operating systems such as Symbian, Android and even Windows Mobile.
Basically, by moving away from the Apple’s C programming language to HTML5, then developers would have a more universally usable language to play around with. Ironically, it was Steve Jobs who said that the reason why the iPad currently does not support Flash was that he believed that HTML5 is the right way to go –perhaps Apple would later integrate apps written for web.
The problem about making an application that is universal is that it will not be able to make full use of the hardware and features on specific phones. Without going around in circles, it seems that having a universal sub platform for apps on existing operating systems would also help solve things.
Anyway, it does get pretty odd when you start viewing things from a consumer’s standpoint. But for a unique look into the many difficult considerations that developers have to face, read Keegan’s article at the Guardian.
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