Google Maps has been updated with a new Layer feature. The new feature allows you to see multiple content at any one time. Nice addition as it can sometimes annoy when one must remove local landmarks to search for something in particular. Out now for Symbian and windows Mobile, check after the break for a rundown of the new features and some bug fixes.
Devicewire.com just sent over and email to let us know about a promotion they are running on the HTC Touch Pro2.
Whilst stocks last you’ll get a free 4GB Memory Card with every HTC Touch Pro2 Ordered.
Add both the device and memory card to your shopping basket and use code ‘FREEMEMORY’ at the checkout.
http://www.devicewire.co.uk/htc-touch-pro2 & http://www.devicewire.co.uk/kingston-4gb-micro-sd-card
Posted by: Matt
[ Post Tags: HTC Touch Pro2, Windows Mobile, Smartphone, HTC, tracyandmatt.co.uk ]
Can it really be a year ago today that I sat down and penned my 1st review of the revolutionary new Google Android operating system that was showcased on the all new T-mobile G1? In conclusion I really liked the G1 and was impressed with OS more than the design and function of the device itself.
Now that Vodafone has jumped in on the act and released the exclusive HTC Magic, will it live up to my expectations and prove to be a competitor for that Apple phone as well as others on the market?
What’s in the brick shaped box?
You can see by Matt’s HTC Magic unboxing video that the box is definitely small and not overly feature packed.
Tight in this day and age…
Specification of the HTC Magic.
HTC Magic Overview
There is nothing on the top at all.
The left hand side there is only a single up/down volume rocker.
Once again nothing on the right hand side, not even a camera button.
The bottom houses the microUSB connector for headset/ charge cable etc.
On rear of the device you can find the 3.2 megapixel camera with no flash or portrait mirror, there is also a small hole at the bottom allowing access to the lanyard holder.
The front of the phone as a flush fitting HVGA 320×480 3.2” touchscreen, under which can be found, a central trackball, flanked by 6 buttons, 3 on the left which are a ‘home’ and ‘menu’ button above a green answer key. The right hand 3 are a ‘back’ and ‘search’ button above a red end/ power key.
Highlights
Lowlights
Software
By far the reason to buy one of these phones or should I say an android phone is the open source applications, as I raved about in the G1 review, these devices come pretty basic in terms of applications that are loaded, don’t get me wrong, the specification is pretty well up there, but it’s not until you start to add stuff from the ‘Market’ that this whole experience becomes worthwhile.
Standard things like Google maps works really well as expected, but get involved in the search function of the market and you will be there for hours, I guarantee, a friend of mine who HATES mobiles was hooked in minutes and kept him quite during a recent drive to Derby.
Anything from a colour-blindness test, to a mortgage calculator, Barcode scanners, RSS feeds direct from the BBC, Yahoo, tracyandmatt, games and so on and so on, the list is, not quite endless but definitely expanding! Add to this, things like aHome and widgets and now you are opening all kind of worlds. There is so much to add and adapt that I really can’t explain all the possibilities suffice to say you will enjoy the experience and add all the thing that interest you personally.
The speed of the GPS is a pleasant surprise. Although there is no dedicated Sat Nav software the fixes on Google Maps and things like the GPS guided weather forecast is very positive and easy to use.
Overall the upgrade from Android 1.1 to Android 1.5 Cupcake is a positive move in the right direction.
Review
The phone is not good in white, for me, I much prefer the look of the black and as Matt mentioned in the video review that is an issue in the quality of the casing, as this one already is showing signs of a hard life. The screen is exceptionally easy to mark and is not easy to clean, which proves an annoyance especially in a smudged, bright light.
The shape and dimension of the unit is good, it is a good compromise between a decent screen without being too big to pocket and use on a regular basis, all the rounded edges and lack of peripheral buttons make it easy to handle and use with finger touch. That said there were definitely times when I missed not having a stylus, as there is only the option to have the HTC QWERTY keyboard, and although it is useable and more than adequate, I would have like to see other options such as keypad or compact keyboard, to be developed no doubt?
Call quality and texting are easy to do as the screen is so responsive, and that dialler is well spaced and clearly laid out to be finger friendly especially when rotated into landscape, despite from the occasional lapse of a Vodafone signal, all worked well. I have not noticed a dedicated 🙂 button on a keyboard before, :-).
The screen itself is great, it is sharp and clear as you would expect from a HVGA and the accelerometer onboard is also a step up over the G1. It is also very responsive and in certain instances gives a gentle buzz to feedback that the touch has been registered. Such things as when moving icons or folders off the main screens, there is a gently buzz and the menu tab at the bottom of the screen turns immediately into a trash bin for easy removal.
Once again as with the G1 I find myself using the trackball quite a lot and although not a great fan this one is very responsive and pleasant to use.
Unfortunately the HTC grade of camera is up to the usual standard, it is OK but not the best and could really have done with the addition of flash and other now standard expectations such as face recognition and so on, I am looking forward to see how the new Samsung Galaxy camera with the Android OS will compare.
I have been away for a few days and left the Magic at home, alone, the surprise was that when I got back even with applications like the weather, Twitoid, and RSS notifications running and updating at regular intervals, the device was still up and running and had over a third of the battery left. It appears that the battery life coupled with this system is a winning formula, Vodafone claim 420 hours standby.
The specification is pretty good as well meaning that web browsing and connectivity options allow good speed and plenty of options, through wifi, HSPDA etc.
Conclusion
So here I am again finding myself enjoying my time with the HTC device and Android OS, I really do like the total package and the only slight downside for me is the connection with Vodafone, there is a real bright future to look forward to and the developments already mean things are good now.
Would I buy the HTC Magic? Of course not, why would I, with the like of the HTC Hero around the smallest of corners and also as I mentioned the Sammy on its way, the Magic is a very good piece of kit and I do like the directions these devices are going in, but please, a whole year for another model and then a few all at once?
It appears that the Magic is going to be priced out of the market with the option to buy, other, newer models almost immediately, and that is a real shame.
Edit: Now they can be seen at around the £350 mark it makes it a lot more interesting, wait for the Sammy and the Hero though and see where we are then.
Review by: Steve
Here is a 10 minute treat from teknoreview.com. The Touch Pro and Nokia N97 go head to head in a 12 round battle. Its great to see these two flip up phones together. There doesn’t seem to be too much that hasn’t already been said but it’s an enjoyable watch. Video after the break.
Browsing the price plans for the new HTC Hero I almost lost control of my bowels when I noticed the mention of a 36 month contract. That’s 3 years!
From time to time we like to look at prices of houses in London, EU, to snatch some interesting ones. Obviously iPhone is, usually, a nice way to browse information, so we like to use iPhone for that purpose. Previously we have published a review of of MyOwnHome – an app for property searching in UK and now comes another one: iProperty UK.
First thing that annoyed us in this app is that you cannot select both 2 and 3 bedrooms at the same time:
Orange have announced the availability and pricing of the HTC Hero which is available as an exclusive in graphite colouring on the UK network.
The phone is available from free on certain contracts and delivery will be from Thursday this week, yes thats right this week.
If you own an iPhone/iP od Touch and love the Fast & Furious movie, Universal is giving you a whole new reason to look forward to the upcoming Blu-ray special edition of their movie. Their planning to come out with a Fast & Furious app that will let viewers control 360-degree models of cars in a Virtual Car Garage using their iPhone, but that’s not the end of it. They’ve also got movie control, ancillary video content download, and even playback of annotations on your iPhone lined up for later release to complement new Blu-ray releases to provide a truly drool-worthy digital movie experience. We’re not sure though when they plan to roll these apps out, but it’s nice to know that they’ve included some of the more successful technological wonders of today such as the iPhonein their plans. Will Palm Pre and Android users also get the same treats down the road? One can only hope.
[appleinsider via pmptoday]
HTC puts a little effort into making an advert for it’s HTC Magic, remember that one? In comparison to most of the other adverts knocking about for the Pre, iPhone or Windows Mobiles, this one is right on the money. Fast movie, modern and it, wait for it, actually shows the phone in action. Check it out after the break.
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