New Blogger at Mobiles.co.ukAugust 8, 2008 at 6:55 am by Jack | In Mobile News, Just for funHi, My name is Jack Bailey; I’m 20 and currently taking up the opportunity to join Mobiles.co.uk on my placement year at university. I’ve always been interested in anything technological and having owned my fair share of mobiles stretching from the very basic to the very unreliable and eventually to a few that have impressed me enough to want to share some of the more interesting offers and products that I have recently learnt about since joining the team. Somewhat off the subject, I enjoy anything with a controller, remote or on switch… slightly addicted to Xbox live I have to confess, in particular Fifa 08 with my beloved Tottenham Hotspurs (season ticket holder… Park Lane! for anyone that knows what that means) and bit of a film/cinema enthusiast. I like to think my opinion will be unbiased due to my short time in the mobile field; therefore my aim will be to give the fairest view on any new mobile phones along with the important info. Looking forward to sharing the facts and my thoughts, Jack Bookmark at:StumbleUpon | Digg | Del.icio.us | Dzone | Newsvine | Spurl | Simpy | Furl | Reddit | Yahoo! MyWeb Free Pay As You Go Nokia on all O2 contracts: Christmas comes early at Mobiles.co.uk!August 6, 2008 at 10:32 am by Dan | In Mobile News
The Nokia 1650 is ideal as a first mobile phone or for those who just need a phone for making and receiving calls (yes, they do exist!). Inside the compact black 80g phone you’ll find three pre-loaded games, an FM radio, built-in hands free and a flashlight. Plus the battery life makes for good reading too; you can expect up to 420 hours on standby and 8 hours of talk-time. And when you take out any contract on O2, you’ll get this cracking little phone absolutely free! And no, we haven’t gone mad during last weeks heatwave, we just like to go that extra mile! Running for a limited time, click here to bag yourself a summer holidays bargain! Bookmark at:StumbleUpon | Digg | Del.icio.us | Dzone | Newsvine | Spurl | Simpy | Furl | Reddit | Yahoo! MyWeb 007 Gets a Titanium Sony Ericsson C902August 5, 2008 at 12:54 pm by Jay | In Mobile News
The limited edition C902 will be available to purchase exclusively on the O2 network, and is expected to be released in October, before the film release which is on the 31st October. Bookmark at:StumbleUpon | Digg | Del.icio.us | Dzone | Newsvine | Spurl | Simpy | Furl | Reddit | Yahoo! MyWeb HTC Touch Diamond review: The Jewel in HTC’s Crown!August 4, 2008 at 2:38 pm by Dan | In Mobile News
On taking delivery of the phone, you certainly get the impression you’ve got something special thanks to the Diamond’s elegant packaging. The design of the phone itself certainly doesn’t fail to win you over either; the focal point on the front is that delicious 2.8″ Touchscreen which takes up the most real estate, 4 face buttons and a navigation key, and in the top right corner the phone’s secondary video calling camera. The back is the aspect that gives the HTC Touch its name owing to the Diamond effect similar to that found on the Nokia 7500 Prism. It must be pointed out it looks far nicer on the Diamond due to the black, highly polished materials used. Now call me childish but my favourite feature in this department is the magnetic stylus which is pulled back in to the slot magnetically. Sorry but there’s no other word for this but cool!
The phone operates on Windows Mobile 6.1 meaning you get a lot of the same perks as your home PC. The home screen has the familiar Start menu plus quick access to your call logs and calendar entries. Pocket office includes mobile versions of Excel, PowerPoint and Word plus Windows favourites Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player and Windows Live Messenger. And because it’s Windows, after a while I felt I could have used this phone blindfolded, every thing is where you would expect it to be and if you can’t find the file or folder you’re looking for, just search for it! The camera on the HTC Diamond is 3.2 Megapixel and shoots to a good level of quality (sample image right Thanks to the 4Gb internal memory found on the Touch Diamond, multimedia is well covered too. All the major file formats are supported including MP3, AAC, eAAC+ and WMA and play through Windows Media Player with a host of equalizer options. Video also plays nicely on the large display. The real draw in this department is an application called MP3 Trimmer which allows you to crop MP3 tracks to effectively make your own ringtones. Sound a bit unexciting? Think again, now you can have that sweet guitar solo as your ringtone, or your favourite movie quote or catchphrase as your text message alert. Trust me, 5 minutes playing around with this and you’ve already justified Additional features include a built in GPS receiver for SatNav and Google maps support, 3.5G HSDPA connectivity for super fast downloads and web browsing, a weather forecast application (see my previous post on mobile weather reports, proof that I’m psychic!), YouTube support and a wealth of customization options. Obvious comparisons will be drawn between the HTC Touch Diamond and the new Apple iPhone. But in my honest opinion, the more pocketable size and familiar user interface, plus that ingenious magnetic stylus, sets the Diamond apart and proves you don’t have to have a piece of fruit as your logo to make a great touchscreen mobile phone! Bookmark at:StumbleUpon | Digg | Del.icio.us | Dzone | Newsvine | Spurl | Simpy | Furl | Reddit | Yahoo! MyWeb Nokia N78 Mobile Phone Review: Hidden GemJuly 29, 2008 at 11:21 am by Dan | In Mobile News
While pleasing to the eye, this definitely takes a bit of getting used to even for those text-aholics out there. After spending some time playing around with the handset however, I did find you do become quite accustomed to this new style of keypad. One aspect that failed to win me over was the silver strip which forms the side of the phone as I prefer a phone as all one colour, though you can put that down to personal preference. On the back we find a nice textured effect and the N78’s camera and the absence of a lens cover which is also a cause for concern. This leads us nicely onto the camera. Featuring a 3.2 megapixel camera sporting auto-focus and an LED flash, the interesting feature of the camera is the support for Geo tagging which uses the in-built GPS to tag where a photo was taken - this information is then stored with the image and can be used with other software such as Flickr and Google Maps. Aside from this the N78 offers extensive settings starting from manual white balance and ISO sensitivity In terms of music the N78 is well covered from the off thanks to a 2GB memory card and stereo headphones with a remote control for ease of use. Plus thanks to the 3.5mm audio output jack, you’re not limited to which headphones you want to use. All the major file formats are supported including MP3, AAC, eAAC+ and WMA and navigating your music once it’s on the phone is made easy thanks to Nokia’s user friendly menus. The real crowning glory in this area and to be honest, the stand out feature of the N78, is the FM Transmitter. Put simply, activating this in the phone menu means the N78 will search for a blank radio frequency then all you have to do is tune into that station on a radio and everythin Maybe I’m getting over excited about this but as a previous owner of an iTrip for my old iPod, this feature is awesome! Tuning in to the corresponding radio station on your stereo means all that music on your phone is now playing through those nice big speakers. No wires, no docking station, just some sort of magic! This is a brilliant feature that also appears in the upcoming Sony Ericsson W980 and that is sure to become a regular feature among Walkman and other multimedia orientated devices.
To conclude, the adage don’t judge a book by its cover springs to mind. The N78 is a great all rounder with something to appeal to everyone but isn’t going to break the bank if you take the plunge. Yes the keypad takes a little getting used to and the subtle understated design may not be to everyone’s tastes. Look past these minor issues and you will discover a world of fun with the FM transmitter, a capable camera with a healthy list of options and an excellent GPS device. Bookmark at:StumbleUpon | Digg | Del.icio.us | Dzone | Newsvine | Spurl | Simpy | Furl | Reddit | Yahoo! MyWeb Sony Ericsson announce Z780July 28, 2008 at 1:52 pm by Jay | In Mobile News, Coming Soon Handsets
The clamshell design on the Z780 suggests nothing special. In many ways the Z780 looks like one of any number of mobile phones currently available but underneath the simple looking design we find a phone that is packed with top end features. Pre-installed on the handset is Google Maps for Mobile which can be used in conjunction with the built in GPS receiver, offering the end user the option of satellite navigation capabilities on their mobile phone. The addition of a-GPS support allows for a quicker GPS lock to give you a faster fix on your location. The compact Z780 measures in 92mm x 49mm x 16mm and weighs just 100g. The main screen is a QVGA TFT screen measuring in at 2.2 inches and supporting up to 256,000 colours. The external screen is a 36 x 128 pixel monochrome display. The Sony Ericsson Z780 includes a 2.0 megapixel camera with video record capability and is compatible with the Sony Ericsson blogger service. This means you can quickly and easily upload your pictures to your favourite blog, instantly sharing your images with friends and family. The Z780 has a built in MP3 player, an FM radio and also includes the excellent Track ID feature. The clamshell design Z780 is expected to release sometime during Q2 2008 and is expected in both black and silver colour variants. Register your interest here to be kept informed on when we have more details. Bookmark at:StumbleUpon | Digg | Del.icio.us | Dzone | Newsvine | Spurl | Simpy | Furl | Reddit | Yahoo! MyWeb Samsung Omnia Preview: is there anything it can’t do?July 22, 2008 at 10:09 am by Dan | In Mobile News, Coming Soon Handsets
The second bit of information and the bit that should have the rest of us waiting with baited breath is that the Omnia will be dropping in the rest of Europe by late August. As to why the world cup holders are getting this special treatment (answers anyone???) and if anyone else can expect the same Xbox treatment is unknown and unlikely respectively. Omnia, the Latin word for everything is just that, managing to cram in more features than you can shake a stick at! Are you ready? Ok, deep breath here goes, let’s start with the camera; the Omnia packs in an amazing 5.0 megapixel camera with auto focus, face detection, smile detection (waiting for all the faces in the shot to smile before capturing!), image stabiliser, flash and QVGA video recording at 30 fps. Reads like the spec list of a standalone digital camera doesn’t it? And we’re not finished there, oh no! Being a smartphone, the Omnia runs on Windows Mobile 6.1 meaning pocket versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint, a built in GPS receiver so wandering around lost will become a thing of the past, HSDPA mobile broadband connectivity, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Handwriting recognition. Apologies if this has turned into a bit of a list of what a mobile could and should do. That’s what it feels like Samsung have done with the Omnia. They weren’t kidding with that “everything” moniker. Almost done. Now just the small matter of multimedia. Think you’re going be short of things to do on that stunning 3.2″ TFT touchscreen? Well with up to 16Gb of onboard memory, expandable memory up to a further 8Gb and support for DivX, Xvid, MP3/4 and AAC plus a whole host of others, think again! Quite simply, if Samsung pull this off the Omnia could be the most complete mobile phone ever! Look out for our hands on review in the weeks leading up to its late August launch and register your interest here if you want to be emailed once we have more details. Bookmark at:StumbleUpon | Digg | Del.icio.us | Dzone | Newsvine | Spurl | Simpy | Furl | Reddit | Yahoo! MyWeb Brown Samsung Tocco now available at Mobiles.co.uk!July 18, 2008 at 2:14 pm by Dan | In Mobile News
In terms of the feature list, no change to the Tocco from its first incarnation means we get an excellent 5.0 Megapixel camera with video, autofocus, face detection, flash and arguably the best camera interface of all the touchscreen mobile phones to date. 3G HSDPA mobile broadband connectivity means using the phones excellent web browser is lightning fast. Then onto the obvious stuff, we find Bluetooth v2.0, MP3/AAC/AAC+ player and a memory card slot supporting microSD cards up to 8Gb. (See our mobile phone definitions page if some of these terms seem to be in a foreign language to you!) Samsung, clearly a firm believer in the saying variety is the spice of life, have been incredibly quick to pounce on consumers demand for assortment of options when choosing a mobile phone. Recent releases saw the Samsung Soul launching in Graphite and Silver, followed shortly by the new Pink Soul and soon to be joined in the range by the latest Midnight edition. Looking further back, the hugely popular U600 had a number of colour variations with some still coming (Black and Gold U600 anyone?). No other colours have been confirmed for the Tocco (it has only been out for a month) but it would be foolish to bet against a Pink Tocco in the pipeline. What is clear is that Samsung, more than any other major manufacturer, have capitalised on the demand for diversity! Bookmark at:StumbleUpon | Digg | Del.icio.us | Dzone | Newsvine | Spurl | Simpy | Furl | Reddit | Yahoo! MyWeb Apple iPhone 3G: short on stock, but short of competition?July 17, 2008 at 3:31 pm by Dan | In Mobile News
After the original iPhone failed to meet targets, leaving retailers with large quantities of stock without a home, it appears this time round Apple have tried to play it safe and in turn underestimated the demand, which may come back to haunt them. The original 2G iPhone initially suffered from over supply and again went off the boil in past months as rumours circulated over talk of a possible 3G successor. Now with the iPhone 3G, have Apple shot themselves in the foot with over cautiousness? The new iPhone features various improvements over the original phone; all important 3G connectivity, a slimmer more compact body, both 8 and 16Gb flavours and also supports a host of different applications, crucially from 3rd parties. Apple also know a thing or two about how to create some excitement around the launch of a new product but what good is excitement if you don’t have the stock to back it up? With no shortage of contenders for the iPhone’s multimedia crown, the last thing they need is a lack of hardware to meet with customer demand. Recent months have already seen the launch of the Samsung Tocco, a slick, touch screen, multimedia phone with notable advantages such as the vastly superior 5 Megapixel camera featuring auto-focus and face detection and the fact that you can actually buy one! An excellent selling point I think you will agree! Add to the mix expandable memory up to 8Gb, an excellent 2.8″ touch screen and support for major file formats, the Samsung Tocco and its new brown edition is a worthy contender.
From Sony Ericsson we eagerly await the launch of the latest handset in the Walkman range, the W980. A flip phone with a smooth black finish, the W980 has a whopping 8Gb of onboard memory to back up Sony Ericsson’s What cannot be dismissed is the simple fact that Apple’s new mobile phone will sell like hot cakes, what remains to be seen is whether the cautious approach they have opted for will cost them in the long term. Bookmark at:StumbleUpon | Digg | Del.icio.us | Dzone | Newsvine | Spurl | Simpy | Furl | Reddit | Yahoo! MyWeb Chinese company announces new mobile phone watchesJuly 11, 2008 at 4:59 pm by Dan | In Mobile News
Though not a new idea (see the Samsung GPRS watch phone), these new models (from the pictures at least) stand out from previous failed attempts at converging a watch and a mobile phone due to the sleek design and excellent spec list. Apparently, if these products do ever see the light of day, we can expect Bluetooth, a 1.3 megapixel camera and mp3 playback. As with many Chinese companies, innovation is the name of the game and what once would have seemed laughable, today seems entirely feasible. Though many of you will be looking at the watch phone with a large degree of scepticism, what this undoubtedly does go to prove is how far mobile phone technology has come in the pursuit of integrating multiple devices. Past products which spring to mind in this vein include the Sony Ericsson MBW-100 Bluetooth watch, an incredibly attractive watch which provided owners with excellent features such as caller id and text message alerts on the watch face itself as well as the ability to pair it with an accompanying Bluetooth headset and answer and end calls directly on the watch. Bluetooth has always been an area of innovation with hundreds of unique applications, from the useful to the downright daft. Now an increase in the amount of fashion orientated products, including Bluetooth wristbands and even a Where past ventures have seen mobile phones partnered with fashion houses such as the giants of Prada and Armani, perhaps the manufacturers are now directing the fashion themselves with the products likening themselves more to jewellery. Should we expect a phone co-launched with a major watch brand? Whether mobile phone earrings, necklaces or bracelets will materialize in the future remains to be seen, but the future design of mobile phones can be viewed with excitement (and a large pinch of salt!). While for the time being watch phones are still niche and viewed with a hint of negativity it is wise to remember how we all scoffed at camera phones! So hang on to your jewellery and your fashion phones for the meantime, just don’t be surprised if your next handset ends up replacing that Rolex! Bookmark at:StumbleUpon | Digg | Del.icio.us | Dzone | Newsvine | Spurl | Simpy | Furl | Reddit | Yahoo! MyWeb |
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