Archive for September, 2006

By September 5, 2006 Read More →

What is HSDPA?

You people aren’t shy in asking questions are you!? For those of you that want to know about HSDPA (Not HSPDA as I have seen it called) here is a run down.

High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) is a new mobile telephony protocol and is sometimes referred to as a 3.5G (or “3½G”) technology. HSDPA provides a smooth evolutionary path for Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) networks allowing for higher data capacity (up to 14.4 Mbit/s per cell in the downlink and 2 Mbit/s in the uplink per cell). It is an evolution of the W-CDMA standard, designed to increase the available data rate by a factor of 5 or more. HSDPA defines a new W-CDMA channel, the high-speed downlink shared channel (HS-DSCH) that operates in a different way from existing W-CDMA channels, but is only used for downlink communication to the mobile. HSDPA can give throughput up to 10.8 Mbit/s.

United Kingdom deployment:

Vodafone has launched HSDPA services during the summer of 2006. Vodafone released their HSDPA laptop data card on 22 June 2006. The card comes in two versions; tri-band and quad band and will work with Vodafone’s 3G/HSDPA network in several other countries including Austria, France, Germany, Portugal, Spain and Hong Kong.

T-Mobile UK has announced that their HSDPA network will go live across the UK on 1 August 2006. Initial download speeds were announced to be 1.8Mbps, rising to 3.6Mbps in 2007, 7.2Mbps in 2008, 10Mbps in 2009 and 20Mbps by 2011.

O2 will launch their HSDPA services across the UK in the third quarter of 2006. O2 expects initial download speeds to be 3.6 Mbit/s (peak) at launch, increasing to 7.3 Mbit/s by early 2008, and reaching 10.2 Mbit/s by late 2009.

Orange UK has announced they will be rolling out their HSDPA service in the second half of 2006.

3 UK has announced they will begin HSDPA services in the second half of 2006.

So now you know!

Matt

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Posted in: Phones
By September 5, 2006 Read More →

Samsung ‘Blackjack’ Specification

A while ago we showed you pictures that we took at the MoDaCo summer event, of the Orange branded version of the Samsung SGH-i600 (Blackjack) which is a 3G version of the Samsung i320. Today at IFA 2006 the device finally got a name, and also a lost of great specs. The Samsung SGH-i600 is a Windows Mobile 5 Smartphone, and features not only UMTS, but also HSDPA and WIFI. All this in an extremely thin, pocketable form-factor. Featuring Exchange push e-mail and a scroll wheel, the device will be a great alternative to the Blackberry or Q.

Samsung SGH-i600 Blackjack

Specification

  • Standard: EDGE, GPRS Class 10 (900/1800/1900 MHz)
  • Camera: 1.3 Megapixel Camera
  • Display: 2.2” 240×320 65K Color TFT
  • OS: Windows Mobile 5 for Smartphone
  • Push Email (Messaging & Security Feature Pack)
  • Input: QWERTY Keyboard
  • Video Recording & Messaging (MPEG4 / H.263)
  • Audio: MP3/ AAC / AAC+ / WMA/ WAV / OGG
  • Dual Speaker / Speakerphone
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth / USB / Voice Recognition
  • Memory: 120MB embedded , External Memory (microSD)
  • Size: 111 x 59 x 11.5mm
  • Weight: 95g
  • It also features some nice touches, such as the ability to use the device in mass storage mode, and includes a podcasts down-loader, so you have something to do with all that bandwidth.

    More info HERE.

    Matt

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    By September 4, 2006 Read More →

    HTC Excalibur on T-Mobile

    Our friends at MoDaCo have let us know that the HTC Excalibur will be comming to T-Mobile USA under the name “Dash”. We have also been informed that the firmware for this device will include the ability to scroll down through the program menu instead of having to press the more button!

    HTC Excalibur

    Specs:

  • OMAP850 200Mhz CPU
  • 128MB Flash
  • WiFi
  • GSM, EDGE
  • WM5 Smartphone OS
  • 64MB RAM
  • QVGA Landscape Display
  • The HTC Excalibur looks a lot like the Samsung i320 but it’s a couple millimeters thicker than the i320 and 2 millimeters shorter. It’s a Smartphone so no touchscreen though! 🙁 However it does have an innovative touch ‘jog strip’ which is HTC’s latest answer to the Blackberry scroll wheel. The only problem I can see with the Jog Strip is that it’s located just around the right hand edge of the screen. It’ll be a real pain for us left handers. I wonder if HTC realise that 1 in 8 people are left handed?

    Matt

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    By September 3, 2006 Read More →

    HTC TyTN screen alignment

    HTC TyTN Alignment Issue

    We discussed touchscreen alignment in an earlier post. However, I just saw this thread over at XDA-Developers.com which has a post containing an email from HTC, confirming that there is a known issue with screen alignment on HTC TyTn devices, and setting out the return / repair procedure:

    “Good Afternoon,

    There are now procedures in place for fixing the screen alignment issue with the TyTN devices. This is a hardware issue that we have identified and we are offering a replacement to owners of affected devices with two conditions.

    1: The device must be returned with all accompanying accessories.
    Everything that was in the box when you bought the device must be in the box when you return it.

    2: The device must be a Genuine HTC Badged device. This means that the device cannot be a Vodafone v1605, an O2 XDA Trion, a T-Mobile Vario II or any other device based on the TyTN, but that is not actually a TyTN. For these devices, you must contact the Network/Reseller for further advice on this issue.

    If you meet these two provisions, you may contact your nearest repair centre to arrange the swap. Please place everything back into the original box and arrange to have the device picked up. It will then be tested to confirm that it has the problem, and then it will be swapped for a replacement unit.

    If you are unable to return everything, you will be eligible for a repair under the warranty. For this also, you can contact your nearest repair centre to arrange this.”

    There have been very few, if any, reports of screen alignment issues on the Orange SPV M3100 and the Vodafone v1605 so the problem may be limited to HTC’s own version of the Hermes. If you have one of these devices and are unlucky enough to be affected by this problem you will have to contact Orange or Vodafone direct to arrange replacement. It will prabably take you half an hour to explain to customer services what screen aligment is and why it’s a problem though!

    Matt

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    By September 2, 2006 Read More →

    Hermes headphone modding service

    Since posting details on how to modify the headset the ships with the Orange SPV M3100 to make it in to a headphone adapter so that you can use your own standard headphones I have had a fair amount of feedback.

    M3100 Headphone Socket Hack

    It would seem that a lot of people want an adapter for their headphones but are either unwilling or unable to do this for themselves.

    SO, for anyone wanting their headset turned into a headphone adapter like the one above I have decided to offer this as a service.

    All you have to do is make contact with me through my contact form and send me your headset. I will then modify it for you and turn it in to an adapter that will allow you to use any standard headphones.

    The adapter will be compatible with the Dopod CHT9000, Qtek 9600, i-Mate JasJam, O2 XDA Trion, HTC TyTN, HTC Hermes, htc Z, Orange SPV M3100 and T-Mobile MDA vario II devices. In fact it will be compatible with all HTC Hermes variants as well as STRTRK and Breeze variants.

    I’m only offering this service to my readers, all I ask is that you send me your headset and cover the cost of the return postage and the 3.5mm jack socket.

    EDIT: Now that Expansys are offering adapters for sale I’m no longer offering the service. Check out this post for details of the commercially available adapter.

    Matt

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    By September 1, 2006 Read More →

    Docking station for Hermes Devices

    Brando have just released a decent looking hot sync/docking cradle for HTC Hermes devices.

    M3100 Docking Station

    According to the website the cradle will fit Dopod CHT9000, Qtek 9600, i-Mate JasJam, O2 XDA Trion, HTC TyTN, HTC Hermes, htc Z, Orange SPV M3100 and T-Mobile MDA vario II devices. It comes complete with the USB cable and features a fetching blue LED to indicate when it’s charging.

    I want one!

    Check out the full review.

    Matt

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    Posted in: Phones
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