http://www.ajans72.com Wed, 25 Aug 2010 09:06:13 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 One of the stand-out successes for Nokia over the years would undoubtedly be handsets running on the S40 operating system. This is found on the majority of mid range Nokia devices, and has always proven to be dependable and reliable, with a high level of customisation options available. In ============= Article Content: One of the stand-out successes for Nokia over the years would undoubtedly be handsets running on the S40 operating system. This is found on the majority of mid range Nokia devices, and has always proven to be dependable and reliable, with a high level of customisation options available. In recent times, one thing that has been lacking in a S40 device is the availability of a touchscreen display, which the recently announced Nokia X3 Touch and Type resolves. Part of the X Series range of handsets, the X3 Touch and Type delivers a strong feature set as well as touch capability, in a very small device. We’re going to take a more detailed look at this handset, and see if it has what it takes to compete in a very solid mid market section, that is already crowded with touch enabled handsets. The actual display on the X3 Touch and Type isn’t actually that big, with a standard Nokia QVGA resolution, and measuring just 2.4 inches. The display supports up to 256,000 colours, and uses TFT resistive technology, which means you will be able to use a stylus with the device. Overall the Nokia X3 Touch and Type measures in at just 106 x 48 x 10mm, and weighs a very lightweight 78g. The Nokia X3 is a well connected handset, offering a strong range of data connection technology. A quad band GSM device, the Touch and Type also has 3G with both HSDPA and HSUPA enabled, backed up with Class 10 GPRS and EDGE. The handset also brings the latest version of WiFi, with the inclusion of WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, whilst local wireless connectivity is handled by Bluetooth 2.1, with A2DP support. There is also a Micro USB port, for connecting the device to a PC or laptop, so you can transfer content to/from the device. Memory storage shouldn’t be a problem, as the Touch and Type supports memory expansion via Micro SD memory cards, officially supporting cards up to 16 GB in size. This should be ample for most people, allowing storage of thousands of music tracks, images and videos. A full media player is included, with support for various digital audio and video formats, plus we also find on board a stereo FM radio with RDS support. The handset includes a 3.5mm audio output jack, and there is a dedicated music key, which enables fast launching of the last used media player on the phone. A 5.0 megapixel camera is included on the X3, which is enabled for video recording, and there is full integration with all the popular social networks, and thanks to the support for high speed data transfer uploading content from your handset to Facebook or Twitter should be a straight forward and quick process. The X3 Touch and Type also features a multitude of messaging features, including support for Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo Messenger and GTalk, plus the usual SMS, MMS, and Email, with the option to create multiple accounts on the phone. Ultimately, you get the impression with the Nokia X3 Touch and Type that it isn’t really a handset that you would buy for the touchscreen, but the fact it has a touchscreen at all is a real bonus. Most often you will use the main keypad for interacting with the device, but for the times you would need a touch enabled display it is good to have it there. In comparison to many other touchscreen phones, the Nokia X3 offers something different, and with its small size, light weight and low price, it should sell in good numbers. Click here to view the embedded video. The Nokia X3 Touch and Type is scheduled for a Q3 2010 release, and will be available in a variety of colour options including White Silver, Dark Metal, Petrol Blue, Pink and Lilac. --------------------- http://www.ajans72.com/2010/08/mobile-phone-nokia-x3-touch-and-type-review.html Kind of an obvious point, really, but amongst the high powered cameras, inclusive media players, web browsers and large colour screens, the feature that is most important to mobile users is a decent battery. After all, no battery, and it doesn’t matter if your device is the ============= Article Content: Kind of an obvious point, really, but amongst the high powered cameras, inclusive media players, web browsers and large colour screens, the feature that is most important to mobile users is a decent battery. After all, no battery, and it doesn’t matter if your device is the best phone on the market, it is of little more use than a doorstop at that moment. The survey that gave the results was carried out by Nokia Conversations, and the question asked was “What is is more important than battery life?” Whilst 38% replied nothing, the top answer, there were some further interesting answers. For example, some people would be prepared to compromise on battery life for some certain features. The next most popular answer in the survey showed that people would be prepared to compromise on battery for better 3G and WiFi connectivity, whilst others would want better media features, such as being able to access email or listen to music and watch videos. Screen size was another area where people would sacrifice battery, and also handset size. Source --------------------- http://www.ajans72.com/2010/08/mobile-phones-battery-life-the-most-important-feature-for-mobile-users.html A recent survey from OfCom has discovered that UK consumers are spending almost half their waking hours either watching TV, or using their smartphones and other connected communications devices. The survey also showed more people than ever are ‘media multi-tasking’, i.e. ============= Article Content: A recent survey from OfCom has discovered that UK consumers are spending almost half their waking hours either watching TV, or using their smartphones and other connected communications devices. The survey also showed more people than ever are ‘media multi-tasking’, i.e. watching TV and talking on the phone, or browsing the web and watching TV. The survey found that the younger the user, the more likely media multi-tasking would be. Facebook continues to be the most popular website accessed via a mobile device, with almost half of users accessing the site via their mobile phones. The survey also found that smartphone ownership across the board has risen significantly, up 81% in the 12 months to May 2010, from 7.2 million to 12.8 million devices. The growth in popularity of smartphone handsets has lead to an increase in the amount of data traffic sent across mobile networks, with an increase of a phenomenal 240%. Whilst newer touchscreen handsets, with large colour screens and multiple media features are behind the explosion in mobile internet usage, older forms of communication also remain popular, with text messaging still continuing to grow in popularity. The OfCom survey found that mobile users sent over 100 billion texts last year, which is roughly equivalent to 1,700 SMS for every person in the UK, up from 1,200 in 2008. Source --------------------- http://www.ajans72.com/2010/08/mobile-phone-news-uk-mobile-internet-usage-continues-to-grow.html HTC have a big announcement coming in September, and rumour has it they will be announcing the update to the popular HTC Desire, the HTC Desire HD. The Desire HD will be a high specification smartphone, packed with a strong line up of mobile features. These are expected to include ============= Article Content: HTC have a big announcement coming in September, and rumour has it they will be announcing the update to the popular HTC Desire, the HTC Desire HD. The Desire HD will be a high specification smartphone, packed with a strong line up of mobile features. These are expected to include a 4.3 inch touchscreen, 8.0 Megapixel camera with HD video recording capability and support for HD video playback, as well as supporting the XviD codec. All this will be powered by a 1 GHz SnapDragon processor. The HTD Desire HD should launch running on Android OS 2.2, and will be able to support Android 3.0 when it launches. Given the popularity of the HTC Desire, the HTC Desire HD is sure to be a popular handset. We will have a full review of the handset once it has been officially announced. --------------------- http://www.ajans72.com/2010/08/mobile-phones-news-htc-desire-hd-expected-in-september.html Following on from yesterday’s rumour of an updated HTC Desire, the HTC Desire HD, we have learnt that the existence of an updated HTC Desire with a slide out QWERTY keyboard is also due to be imminently announced. The HTC Desire Z, was published as a coming soon handset on ============= Article Content: Following on from yesterday’s rumour of an updated HTC Desire, the HTC Desire HD, we have learnt that the existence of an updated HTC Desire with a slide out QWERTY keyboard is also due to be imminently announced. The HTC Desire Z, was published as a coming soon handset on a UK retailers website, despite yet being unconfirmed by HTC. However, it would seem that although the Desire HD and Desire Z are as yet unconfirmed, the likelihood of them being announced next month is extremely high. Whilst the full specs of the HTC Desire Z are still just hearsay, apart from the inclusion of a full slide out QWERTY keyboard, we expect the device to sport a large, 3.7 inch touch display, as well as possibly offering an 8.0 Megapixel camera, and support for HD video, both capture and playback, and we wouldn’t be surprised to find it powered by a 1 GHz Snapdragon processor. The handset may ship with Android OS 2.1 onboard, but there is a chance it will have 2.2. There will also be the usual HTC goodies, including Sense UI, and it would be a major surprise not to find both HSDPA and WiFi on the Desire Z. Full confirmation of the HTC Desire Z and full specification should be announced at next month’s HTC conference, and we will bring a full review of the handset as soon as we can. --------------------- http://www.ajans72.com/2010/08/mobile-phones-news-more-htc-handset-rumours.html Since being launched almost 5 years ago, Google Maps for mobile has grown to become one of the most highly used mobile services, with over 100 million users accessing the service every month. The advance of Google Maps is a good indicator of how smartphones have developed, from being ============= Article Content: Since being launched almost 5 years ago, Google Maps for mobile has grown to become one of the most highly used mobile services, with over 100 million users accessing the service every month. The advance of Google Maps is a good indicator of how smartphones have developed, from being points of access to information to now supplying a wide variety of applications, such as GPS location based services, as well as enhanced web browsing and multimedia functionality. All of these advancements in mobile technology have helped grow a wide variety of services, like Google Maps, and as manufacturers continue to produce even more powerful devices out reliance on these services will only continue to grow. Google Maps can be accessed on a wide variety of handsets, as well as smartphones such as the iPhone, BlackBerry, Android powered handsets and Symbian devices, Google Maps can also be utilised on many mid range handsets that support java. To get Google Maps on your handset, simply point your mobile browser to m.google.co.uk/maps and follow the instructions from there. Click here to view the embedded video. --------------------- http://www.ajans72.com/2010/08/mobile-phones-google-maps-services-100-million-users-per-month.html Motorola have confirmed via a posting on their Motorola Europe Facebook page that the Motorola Milestone, the European equivalent to the Motorola Droid, will be getting the Android 2.2 FroYo update. That’s the good news, the bad news is you will have to wait until the end of ============= Article Content: Motorola have confirmed via a posting on their Motorola Europe Facebook page that the Motorola Milestone, the European equivalent to the Motorola Droid, will be getting the Android 2.2 FroYo update. That’s the good news, the bad news is you will have to wait until the end of the year to get the update, which is a little annoying, given the Droid itself already has the 2.2 update. A point that seems to be a common issue with many Milestone owners who have posted their feedback on Motorola’s Facebook page. Still, given that September is almost upon us, it shouldn’t feel too long a period to wait. --------------------- http://www.ajans72.com/2010/08/mobile-phone-news-motorola-milestone-to-get-android-2-2-froyo-update.html Blimey, those Windows Phone 7 leaks are coming thick and fast, aren’t they? First there was the Samsung Cetus, that I blogged about on Friday, and now, there’s not one, but two new LG phones, both of ‘em running Microsoft’s new OS. Honestly, it’s getting ============= Article Content: Blimey, those Windows Phone 7 leaks are coming thick and fast, aren’t they? First there was the Samsung Cetus, that I blogged about on Friday, and now, there’s not one, but two new LG phones, both of ‘em running Microsoft’s new OS. Honestly, it’s getting to the point where, when these phones officially get announced later in the year, we’re all going to go, “Yup, we’ve seen that.” Today’s two new phones come courtesy of Engadget, and as I said, they’re both LG phones. First up, there’s the LG C900 (the one in the pic, to the right), which takes the basic Windows Phone 7 platform, and adds a QWERTY keyboard to it. As for specs, well, presumably it’ll have some, but there’s no indication what they might be. Now for the bad news: that phone in the pic has (in other shots where the screen’s turned on) AT&T branding on it. And AT&T is an American network. So, the only thing we know is that the LG C900 is destined for American shores, as in, there’s no indication if it’ll reach our fair sceptred isles. So, we’ll have to wait and see. I’ll cross my fingers, though, because ‘Microsoft’ and ‘QWERTY keyboard’ always makes for a nice combination. Just look at the HTC Touch Pro2. The second phone is the LG E900, and it’s broadly similar to the C900, only without the slide-out keyboard. And of the three keys on the front, only the Home key’s been painted, so the others are still black. And it’s only appeared in blurry-o-vision. Here ya go: Hmm, it does look nice and thin, though. Again, we’ll have to wait and see if and when it’s going to hit these shores. More news as it happens! And be sure to subscribe now to get all the latest action from the world of mobile phones! --------------------- http://www.ajans72.com/2010/08/mobile-phone-yet-another-windows-phone-7-handset-%e2%80%93-lg-takes-a-bow-this-time.html Acer’s chairman is predicting that open-platform tablets will be three times as popular as the iPad within two to three years. JT Wang said Apple’s tablet market share could drop to around 25-30% as more rival devices hit the market with Taiwanese companies taking up significant ============= Article Content: Acer’s chairman is predicting that open-platform tablets will be three times as popular as the iPad within two to three years. JT Wang said Apple’s tablet market share could drop to around 25-30% as more rival devices hit the market with Taiwanese companies taking up significant market share. He added that open-platform devices such as those which run on Android have done better in the smartphone market, a claim that’s backed up by the success of the Samsung Galaxy S and HTC Desire. Acer’s own phones such as the Acer Liquid have yet to make a mark. However, Wang said he expected the Taiwanese company’s revenue to grow 10-15% over the summer months. Wang’s predictions followed a report by market researchers Forrester that argued the iPad has fuelled “tablet mania”. It added that Apple’s announcement that it had sold 3.27 million iPads its fiscal third quarter there was a number of leaks and reports of rival manufacturers bringing out tablets some even with pad in the name, such as the Toshiba Smart Pad and the HP PalmPad. We previously reported Acer were hoping to bring out a rival to the iPad, which would likely run on Google Android’s open source platform and have seven-inch screen differentiating it from other iPad rivals such as the Dell Streak. It’s not known what the device will be called or when it will hit the market, although it’s not likely to be released before the end of the year. Check out Pay Monthly deals on MobileShop.com. Read: Three million iPads shifted Read: Acer all set to release 7 inch Android tablet? Read: Microsoft to launch iPad rivals Read: All MobileShop.com’s news stories and blog posts on tablets --------------------- http://www.ajans72.com/2010/08/mobile-phone-acer-predict-ipad-to-lose-market-share.html We mentioned back in March that a new world record had been set for texting speed, set on a Samsung Omnia II using the excellent Swype text entry method. Well, that record has now fallen, to a 27 year old British woman from Manchester, who took just 25.94 seconds to compose the phrase ============= Article Content: We mentioned back in March that a new world record had been set for texting speed, set on a Samsung Omnia II using the excellent Swype text entry method. Well, that record has now fallen, to a 27 year old British woman from Manchester, who took just 25.94 seconds to compose the phrase “the razor-toothed piranhas of thee genera Serrasalmus and Pygocentrus are the most ferocious freshwater fish in the world. In reality they seldom attack a human,” on a Samsung Galaxy S, again using Swype. This takes almost a full 10 seconds of the previous record, which was set at 35.54 seconds. Swype comes from the same team that brought us the T9 data entry system, and to enter text you press on the first letter of the word you wish to write, and then without moving your finger from the screen, simply slide your finger across the keyboard, stopping briefly on each letter of the word. Once you have finished writing the first word, simply lift your finger from the screen and start the process again for the next word. Swype will even automatically add the space for you. For a tutorial, check out the video below: Click here to view the embedded video. --------------------- http://www.ajans72.com/2010/08/mobile-phone-news-world-texting-record-broken-again.html