I was just twittering today about a few problems that I was having with Pocket Informant for iPhone and along comes a new update. Not sure yet if it will fix my issues but they do seem to have fixed a lot of bugs and added in one or two new features. We also notice that there is a free Lite version available so if you want to try out the application you can for free. You can get that from the iTunes App Store here.
Bluetooth 3.0 is closer to release than anticipated, but how long before we see it become the standard is still up in the air because it doesn’t look cheap. April 21st is the official launch party of Bluetooth 3.0 which promises transfer speeds of up to 480Mbps, yep you read correctly 480Mbps is definitely the promised transferred speeds and it will be very interesting to see if it works out like that in real world testing. The high speed can be achieved by enabling the 802.11 standard but only when the user is transferring large files, after that it goes back to the normal standard when large files are completed which should slow battery consumption somehow. I wonder which device will be first to incorporate Bluetooth 3.0? We have to wait and see what happens come April 21st.
[Via Mobiletopsoft]
ScummVM is a game engine that was designed to be easily ported to multiple systems. It is currently available for Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, Dreamcast, PocketPC, PalmOS, AmigaOS, BeOS, OS/2, PSP, PS2, SymbianOS and now Android. ScummVM was originally released to support LucasArts point-and-click adventure games.
If you missed out on our previous eXpansys discount voucher offer, don’t worry, we’ve managed to get eXpansys to give us a whole new batch of vouchers to give away!
To grab your own voucher all you have to do is submit your name and email address and we’ll send you your unique voucher code.
The offer is £10 to put towards an order of £40 or more between now and the 30th April
To use your code you can:
You can even send the sign-up link to family and friends so that they too can take advantage of this great offer!
By registering for your eXpansys voucher you will be added to our newsletter mailing list which you can unsubscribe from at any time. Vouchers are only valid at www.eXpansys.com and when you spend £40 or more. One voucher can be used for a single order, between now and up to and including the 30th April 2009. Discount will be applied to the cost of the goods and excludes delivery charges. Not to be used in conjunction with any other eXpansys special offer. Valid for use with UK orders placed on www.expansys.com or with our call centre and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or to purchase memory cards.
Posted by: Matt
[ Post Tags: expansys, money off, voucher offer, tracyandmatt.co.uk ]
Google have updated their Maps Application for Windows Mobile and Symbian users. The new version 3.01 has a lot of major and minor bug fixes which we have after the break. It is always worth keeping your applications up to date. Hopefully when the Windows Market Place is up and running this will be done automatically in the future.
Download version 3.0.1 by visiting http://m.google.com/maps in your mobile web browser. To ensure proper device detection, use your phone’s original browser, such as Internet Explorer Mobile on Windows Mobile devices. All the details after the break.
In-ear style headphones are now pretty commonplace but the downside of these is that they have to be small enough to fit in your ear canal which often means that the speaker driver is also small and small drivers lead to a puny sounding bass. However, that’s where the Sony XB40EX headphones are different as they are specifically designed to offer a better bass performance.
What’s in the box?
Sony XB40EX headphones specification:
Review
It’s always a little tricky to review products like headphones – is there much that you can say about them?!
The Sony XB40EX headphones do live up to their claims as the bass sound is truly amazing, it’s the kind of sound that you would typically expect to get from a much larger set of cans. Thanks to their excellent low end response the middle and top end sounds so much clearer and tighter.
The package also includes three different sizes of ear plugs which means you can pick the ones that are right for you. When you have a good fit this helps to isolate outside noise and stops your music leaking out and annoying fellow bus travellers!
The other decent thing about the Sony XB40EX headphones is that the cable is flat rather than round. This may not seem like a big deal but in practice this seems to help prevent the cables from becoming tangled when kept in a pocket or bag.
There are a few things I didn’t like about these headphones though. Firstly the size is a bit off putting. I’m not talking about the size of the speaker driver, which needs to be large but the silver part that the driver is attached to. I don’t see why that really needs to be there. This leads me to the second thing I dislike about them – they are uncomfortable! I can wear the Sony XB40EX headphones for a while but after about 30 minutes they begin to make my ears ache. This is partly because of the shape of the outside which digs in to my ear.
Conclusion
The sound performance of the Sony XB40EX headphones is truly amazing and they do have to be heard to be believed. You don’t have to be a bass head to appreciate them.
The biggest let down for me is that they are just too uncomfortable to use for long. I’m sure this wont be a problem for everyone but you have to try them yourself to find out which isn’t always possible.
Review by: Matt
HTC have published a new video, this one gives us a brief look around the new Touch Cruise, this is the one with the Footprints feature that allows you to tag pictures as points of interest so you can navigate to and revisit them easily in the future. It is just a short video but its worth a watch especially as it is Easter and news is as slow as a frozen snail. Video after the break.
I am sure, like me, you have always been told to never judge a book by its cover, or in this case never judge a Bluetooth headset by its box. Well the later statement would be extremely difficult given the fantastically creative packaging for Nokia’s smallest ever headset – the BH-804. Packaging which will have gadget fans gleaming and environmentalists screaming.
The Nokia Bluetooth Headset BH-804If you have not yet experienced the wonderful treasure chest of goodness otherwise known as the packaging yet let me direct you to Matt’s recent unboxing video.
What’s in the box?
Nokia BH-804 Specification:
The headset.
The headset comes in at 42 x 13.6 x 6 mm and just over 7g so not only is it the smallest but also one of the lightest I have ever seen.
Personally I have never really been a fan of Bluetooth headsets. I can just about see their purpose but the thought of having a small tusk like item sticking out of my ear all the time is not an idea that has been particularly appealing. But, I have to say even I couldn’t help but be impressed by the BH-804, it is sleek, stylish, and surprisingly comfortable.
The idea behind the size of the device is to give the wearer the impression that they are not wearing a headset at all and just enhance the experience of wearing one. For that reason it does come just as it is with no over ear loop attached. However, even after switching the different sized earphone covers around I still found myself reaching for the comfort and security of the bundled over ear loop.
But, to take the grand total of good old fashioned clichés in this review to two. ‘beauty is only skin deep’. However, I am pleased to announce that the BH-804 does not disappoint on substance. Sound quality is fantastic and although I have limited experience of Bluetooth headsets I have sampled a few in the past, none of which compare quality-wise to the BH-804. This increased sound quality I imagine is largely due to the enhanced audio quality with digital signal processing (DSP) which is used for background noise cancelation which, I have to say although it is not as effective as being locked in a chamber of silence it does do the job cutting out the most obvious and somewhat distracting sounds of the world. I experienced little to no muffling and clarity was excellent with no need to sound like a broken record demanding everything be repeated through miscommunication.
The device is simple to use with just two buttons to get your head around and connecting the headset to your Bluetooth enabled mobile device is as simple as well connecting a Bluetooth headset to a Bluetooth enabled device in other words ‘simple’.
The device comes with a claim of 150 hours standby and around 4 hours talk time which is more than acceptable and should leave with few problems. As for charging the device, this is handled via micro USB either through the simple USB charger or via the included desk dock and Nokia claim just 1 hours charge should be sufficient to fulfil the above stated battery life.
Conclusion
Overall, the Nokia BH-804 is an extremely accomplished item. It is sleek, sexy and stylish, and although Bluetooth headsets are very much something you either love or hate, if you are in the love bracket, the BH-804 is certainly worth a look to give you that polished look of sophistication on the move.
Reviewed by: Nick
Yesterday in Korea LG announced plans to roll out 3 new music phones namely the LG GM310, GM210 and GM205. The plans are for release this year and the handsets will feature Dolby Mobile and the new LG Sound Engine for sound output enhancements. Regions like Mexico, Asia, Brazil and Latin America will be among the first countries that getting the phones.
All 3 music handsets will come with convenient music buttons for quick access to music player control and USB connector for easy file transfer. The LG GM310 (middle in picture above) has a 3 megapixel camera, microSD card slot (up to 32GB) and touch sensor buttons. Both the LG GM210 and GM205 will feature a 2 megapixel camera and microSD card slot (up to 4GB).
Posted by: John
T-Mobile USA are working on two Android-based non-smartphone devices, the first being a data-enabled home phone to be followed by a 7-inch touchscreen tablet. According to documents obtained by the NYT, the two devices will launch early in 2010 and be intended for in home use rather than mobile use.
Details on both devices are very sparse at present.
The home phone is said to have a recharging dock, together with a separate base station that would handle data synchronization. It sounds similar to the Verizon Hub or perhaps iriver’s WAVE HOME.
As for the tablet, that’s described as a small laptop without a keyboard, using a 7-inch touchscreen for control. As well as basic internet access – the NYT suggest checking the weather – it could be used as a touchscreen remote for other devices in the home. No specific availability details have been revealed, but the home phone is expected to launch in early 2010, with the tablet following “soon after”.
Posted by: John
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