News

Toshiba G710 and G910 available Mid-May

Toshiba re-entered the PDA/Phone arena in 2007 with the Toshiba G500 and G900. With a great specification including a VGA display, the G900 received good reviews and sales in the UK, but was somewhat hampered but what some would deem ‘buggy’ software.

Wanting to continue and improve the range Toshiba has announced the Toshiba Protégé G710 and G910. The big brother to the G900 the G910 has all the features required by demanding users today, whilst the Toshiba Protégé G710 is a compact messaging smartphone.

With a clamshell design the G910 has a 3” VGA screen, QWERTY keyboard full HSDPA connectivity, Bluetooth, WiFi 802.11b/g, GPS, biometric fingerprint reader not to mention the onboard cameras!

Toshiba G910a

The G710 has a few less features, but is by no means lacking. A QWERTY keypad, GPS, Bluetooth and a sleek and slim design, the G710 is a perfect messaging device.

Toshiba G710a

Pricing of the Toshiba Protégé G910 has been confirmed at £348+VAT, and the G710 at £185+VAT with first UK stock being available form 14th May.

If you think one of the above devices are suitable for you, or you require more information, Clove Technology, PDA and mobile device experts with 15 years experience have the answers to your questions. Visit www.clove.co.uk for more information or to place your order.

Posted by: Matt

[Post tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Windows Mobile blog, G910, G710, Toshiba, Tracy & Matt]

Devicewire free delivery weekend

Here’s another great offer, this time from our friends and Devicewire. Here in the UK it’s May bank holiday weekend and to celebrate the extra day off Devicewire.com are offering free standard UK delivery on all orders placed between now and 8am on Tuesday 6th May so if you have been considering a new handset then maybe now is the time to head on over to Devicewire.com to make your purchase!?

Posted by: Matt

[Post tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Devicewire, Free Delivery, Tracy & Matt]

Samsung i600 now under £100

We all love a bargain so check out this offer – eXpansys have brand new and unlocked Samsung i600’s available for just £99.95 including VAT!

Keep in contact with your office. The Samsung i600 seamlessly synchronises your calendar, contacts and tasks, making sure your always up to date. Full Microsoft Exchange support delivers your e-mails to you the instant they arrive, making sure you don’t miss important information.

The only thing to note is that these are unlocked devices but are pre-configured for Orange for use on the Orange network and are Orange branded. You can hoever turn off most of the Orange branding and still use these phones on any network so they’re still a fantastic brgain!

Go check out the product page on the eXpansys site for more details.

Posted by: Matt

[Post tags: smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Tracy & Matt, Samsung SGH-i600, Orange, Samsung Windows Mobile blog]

Neonode N2 changes colour

More Neonode news today and this time the N2 goes colourful.

The N2 will soon be available in 4 new colours as well as the original black. I think these look extremely cool!

Neonode N2 colour lineup

From the press release:

Neonode, the Swedish mobile communication company that develops touch screen technologies and designs mobile handsets, today announced the availability of Neonode N2, its highly acclaimed touch screen phone, in a new range of colors on the company’s web shop.

The new color portfolio holding the lively mix of the colors Lime (green), Azure (blue), Rubine (red) and Roza (pink), will initially be available through the company’s web site, www.neonode.com, and is expected to be rolled out to current markets during the course of the year.

The Neonode N2 has been available in black since its launch in August 2007 and sold 31,000 units in Q4 2007. Due to increased customer demand, Neonode decided to move up the launch of a new specially designed color portfolio.

“The color portfolio is an important part of our strategy to spread the brand and product awareness as well as ramp up the production and reach our sales targets,” said Daniel Stålbo, Director of Marketing at Neonode. “These new colors will be a natural part of several upcoming promotional campaigns and we also expect them to be a powerful tool when entering new markets.”

Simultaneously with the color portfolio launch, Neonode today also presents a new corporate web site with enhanced investors and media information. The web site can be reached directly at http://investor.neonode.com.

Posted by: Matt

[Post tag(s): Tracy & Matt, Smartphone News, Neonode, N2, TMM]

GSmart unveils its newly developed UI

In a press release today, GSmart announced their new UI for Windows Mobile Professional devices; Smart Touch.

You can see their video demonstation here on YouTube and read the press release below:

GSmart has announced newly developed UI software – Smart Touch, a new interface that is intuitive, informative and flexible, a more user friendly interface that surely add-value to GSmart products and great benefit to GSmart users when it comes available in April.

GSmart, as one of the PDA phone supplier, it has established a sound position in the market when its famous world’s first (and still the only one) DVB-T roaming PDA phone were introduced to the public, and after since, GSmart has been harvesting the market productively and actively, it has introduced several new models, and each with unique features. GSmart’s hard work and ability in continuous innovation are well recognized in the industry.

Growing with the PDA phones and Smartphone market, GSmart has recently developed a new UI – Smart Touch, which is a finger friendly interface that works like iPhone, but it’s intuitive, informative and flexible features, makes GSmart phone much more personal than iPhone, it is a more integrated version with useful and interesting features.

INTUITIVE

Smart Touch is an interface that users can customize by adding in 16 most frequently used apps as shortcuts on standby screen, with the shortcuts list displaying at the bottom of the screen, users are able to find the shortcuts they want to activate by swiping across the screen and launch the program simply by tapping on the icon!

Icon-to-Icon

Furthermore, Smart Touch has iconized the shortcut list; users can add the shortcut from the list by dragging the shortcut icon to the activate icon, and vice versa: – the shortcut icon can be deleted by dragging to the icon to the trash bin icon. Users are able to manipulate their phone more intuitively and user friendly.

INFORMATIVE

As the main users of PDA phones are mostly business users, GSmart has planned to utilize the middle of the screen to display as much information as possible. For Smart Touch, it can now show the clock in two types of clock face, which are digital or hand clock, user can switch the two types of clock face simply by swiping fingers to the left and to the right. GSmart promise that it will develop further and more informative features should be able to display on the screen.

FLEXIBLE

For those that still adapted to the original interface, it is flexible to switch in between the original interface and Smart Touch. However, GSmart has confidence that the user friendliness of Smart Touch will keep the users no returning to the original interface!

Like the most phone features, users also can customized its own Smart Touch screen, set their own theme, color or even use their favorite pictures as the background. The flexibility and customization is to have the users enjoying more of the new interface!

GSmart revealed that the Chinese version Smart Touch has accidently leaked to the market in April, and has alre that Smart Touch software available to download in many websites, however, those illegal versions are not fully workable due to the protection coding. However, Smart Touch will introduce to European market after May, and GSmart users are able to experiences the genuine and sensational Smart Touch UI by then!

Posted by: Matt

[Post tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, GSmart, Gigabyte, Tracy & Matt]

Neonode Lands Major Deal in Germany

More good news for Neonode and Neonode fans, as they’ve just struck a deal in Germany.

The Neonode N2

Neonode, today announced it has entered the largest market in Western Europe by striking a deal with Brodos AG, one of the leading distributors and retailers in Germany. The German market comprises 25.6% of all handset sales in Europe; according to a 2007 industry report by market research firm RNCOS.

Brodos AG has a wide-ranging franchising system of major retailers, including the company’s independent mobile chain of 500 outlets, my-eXtra. Brodos is the provider of major brands such as Nokia, Samsung, Sony Ericsson and LG. In addition to its own stores, my-eXtra supplies about 5,000 German dealers with mobile phones and enhancements.

The Neonode N2 will initially be sold in my-eXtra’s stores beginning in May and subsequently rolled out in Brodos’ extensive network of independent retailers. The first shipment was made in April.

With subscription at major carriers such as T-Mobile, Vodafone, E-Plus and O2 the Neonode N2 may be available to customers for as low as 1 EURO.

“Neonode N2 is a powerful and versatile multimedia mobile phone with state-of the-art touch screen technology that is likely to be well-received by our network of dealers,” said Stefan Vitzithum, CPO at Brodos AG. “We are confident that the Neonode N2 will be an attractive addition to our portfolio of consumer technology products.”

Neonode’s entry into Germany and Brodos AG is facilitated by Sapera GmbH, a major market entry and sales specialist liaised with all leading mobile operators, major distributors and service providers nationwide. As Neonode’s sales agent Sapera will, as a continuance, broaden the Company’s distribution and marketing reach in Germany.

“We feel that this partnership holds great possibilities and the Sapera-Brodos arrangement enables Neonode a perfect entry into Germany,” said Per Hellberg, Vice President of Sales at Neonode. “It is with great reassurance we are now launching the Neonode N2 in the largest Western European market.”

The Neonode N2 will debut in Germany on April 28 in a pre-launch campaign on the exclusive online fashion and lifestyle shopping community BuyVIP (www.buyvip.de).

Posted by: Matt

[Post tag(s): Tracy & Matt, Smartphone News, Neonode, N2, TMM]

The HTC Diamond

We first heard about the HTC Diamond a few months ago when we learned from our contact at Orange that a new HTC product had appeared in the ‘coming soon’ section of the Orange price list.

Initial enquiries didn’t reveal much about the origins of the HTC Diamond – my initial thoughts were that this would be an existing HTC device that had been renamed for the Orange market. Our contacts as HTC even said that they had never heard of the HTC Diamond before.

However, we now know a little more about the HTC Diamond and can reveal the following:

The HTC Diamond will be HTC’s top-end device, it has been designed to compete directly with the Apple iPhone. Specs are said to include: 2.8″ VGA screen, 4GB Flash Memory, Multi-touch, new touchflo (TouchFlo II), Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, Qualcomm MSM 7201A @ 528MHz, 256MB ROM / 128MB RAM, 7.2MB HSDPA / HSUPA (rev A EVDO for Sprint versions), WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0, eGPS, 3.1MP Camera with flash, Forward facing camera, TV out (Raphael only), Orientation sensor, FM Radio, microSD expansion, Diamond: 51x99x10.7mm – Raphael: 51x99x17mm

You can expect to see an annoucement from HTC in the very near future and this is something that we are going to be very involved with so watch this space for updates over the next few weeks. We suspect that the Diamond will be revealed at the press converence on the 6th May.

The suggested release date is June 2008.

Posted by: Matt

[Post tag(s): smartphone news, Pocket PC news, Tracy & Matt, Orange, HTC, HTC Diamond]

Samsung i780 now SIM-Free

A few weeks ago we reviewed the Orange version of the Samsung i780. Our reviewer, Steve, quite liked the device but as Orange were the first to bring the device to market it left those on other networks wanting.

However, yesterday Clove Technology received what they believe is the first UK stock of SIM-Free and Unlocked Samsung i780’s. You can pick up the device for £320 + VAT.

Overview

The Stylish Samsung i780 will be an ideal tool for your mobile messaging and communication requirements. Equipped with a 2.6″ touch screen Bluetooth, Wifi and a HSDPA there are few limits with the Samsung i780.

Ergonomic design and a QWERTY keyboard make text and data entry simple.

Added functionality comes from a 2 megapixel camera and a VGA camera for video calling. Utilise the MicroSD card slot for additional storage of media and files, especially for files such as images and movies that you may wish to enjoy.

Features

Posted by: Matt

[Post tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Tracy & Matt, Samsung, i780]

HTC Shift hits Orange Website

Well I said it was coming but today the HTC Shift has appeared on the Orange website under their devices ‘Coming Soon’ section.

No word from Orange on the price of the device nor on the tariff that you’ll be expected to sign up to but the HTC Shift is avalaible SIM-free from our friends at Devicewire for £874.

We currently have an HTC Shift that we are putting through its paces and you may want to read Alasdair’s ‘Living with the Shift‘ reports.

More news as we get it…

Posted by: Matt

[Post tag(s): smartphone news, Pocket PC news, Tracy & Matt, Orange, HTC, HTC Shift, Microsoft Communicator]

Sony introduces MDR-NC500D noise cancelling headphones

Noise cancelling headphones are not exactly a new concept but Sony have just introduced the world’s first digital noise cancelling headphones, the MDR-NC500D. Sony claim that these are the first headphones to use digital technology with Artificial Intelligence.

These full sized headphones can hardly be called discrete and wont be everyone’s cup of tea but for those that commute on noisy trains or planes they may well be worth a look, or a listen.

You can find out more by reading the press release from Sony below:

Sony MDR-NC500D headphones

Now travellers can enjoy their favourite music in absolute serenity, with the world’s first digital noise cancelling headphones from Sony.

Whether you’re a frequent flyer or train commuter needing to shut out engine noise – or just keen to reduce distracting sounds at work – the new MDR-NC500D cuts an incredible 99% of ambient noise while bathing you in supreme hi-fi sound.

The MDR-NC500D represents a radical departure from conventional noise cancelling headphones. They’re the first ever headphones to use digital technology with Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve noise cancellation performance while ensuring optimum audio quality.

A powerful processor inside the MDR-NC500D automatically adapts the cancellation profile to suit the characteristics of ambient noise. In normal use, pushing the ‘AI Mode’ button makes the headphones select automatically from three cancellation modes to suit the surroundings – whether on an aircraft, a bus or train, or in the office. Alternatively, pressing down and holding the mode switch allows the user to manually select the cancellation profile that’s most effective in their environment. A monitor switch is provided for temporary listening to external sounds like cabin announcements.

Class-leading noise cancelling ability is complemented by superb reproduction. Generously-sized 40mm drivers deliver an extended frequency response, high signal to noise ratio and excellent dynamic range.

With a generous 15 hours of operation between charges of the supplied lithium ion battery, the MDR NC500D shuts out distracting noise for the longest continental flight or train journey. For extra convenience, it can also operate using disposable AA cells if you don’t have a charging point handy while you’re travelling.

The premium protective travel case provides a handy pocket for storing your MP3 player or passport and storage for all the components that support these headphones.

Also new from Sony, the sleekly-styled MDR-NC40 offers excellent noise cancelling performance with comfortable extended wear. The light, space-saving folding design is ideal for travellers and commuters who want to enjoy quality audio with great isolation in an affordable, sleekly styled package.

Posted by: Matt

[Post tag(s): smartphone news, Pocket PC news, Tracy & Matt, MDR-NC500D, headphones]