News

Asus M930 pre-order

The folks at Clove just dropped me a line to tell me that another great Asus product is now available for pre-order. This time it’s the elegant looking Asus M930.

Asus M930

The M930 looks similar to the Nokia N90 but instead includes Windows Mobile 6 rather than Symbian OS.

The Asus M930 is your office on-the-go that’s high on class and style, and full of connectivity options and features. Boasting a full QWERTY keyboard and an ultra-wide screen, the M930 offers ease and efficiency of use.

The M930 has a stylish design, elegant screens with mirror reflective surface and sleek metal keys. A key design feature is the ergonomic free-stop flipping hinge that effortlessly fixes to any position and angle you prefer. When closed, the M930 offers great carrying ease with its compact body and slim side profile.

The Asus M930 benefits from a full QWERTY keyboard in a neat, narrow design, offering intuitive input that’s fast, easy and natural. Every character is in its rightful place, and speeds up everything from documents and presentations to emails and messaging. In addition, the M930 offers another input option with its numeric keypad for one-handed convenience.

The M930’s 2.6″ WQVGA landscape display makes the day-to-day content browsing, reading and writing of documents and messages that much easier on the eyes. With the ultra-wide screen and embedded webcam, you can enjoy enhanced Video Telephony with a wider, clearer and more detailed view.

Wireless connectivity is a strong feature of the ASUS M930 with GPRS, EDGE, WCDMA, HSDPA, Bluetooth 2.0 and Wi-Fi, you can enjoy faster downloads of documents, videos and MP3s with 3.5G high speed data transfers.

With the M930, you are assured of instant Internet access even in areas without Wi-Fi coverage. With the Quick Modem Setting, your M930 becomes a 3.5G modem in one quick step!

Asus M930 specification:

More details, including datasheets and posters can be found on Asus M930 pre order page on the Clove Technology site.

Posted by: Matt

[Post tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Windows Mobile blog, Asus M930, Laptop, Tracy & Matt]

T-Mobile Launches the MDA Touch Plus

Obviously, we have been coving the popular HTC Touch Dual for a while now and I know that many of you out there have been eagerly awaiting the UK launch of the T-Mobile version, the MDA Touch Plus.

The good news is that the Touch Plus has finally arrived here in the UK and you can head over to the T-Mobile shop and place your order!

T-Mobile MDA Touch Plus

From the press release:

T-Mobile announces the hotly anticipated MDA Touch Plus in the UK. Featuring a new slender design with a large touch screen and sliding keyboard, the MDA Touch Plus is packed with the latest technologies to enable users to send emails, surf the Internet, listen to their favourite tunes and catch up with the latest TV programmes on the move.

Combining an innovative TouchFlo screen with a handy slide-out keyboard, the device is stylishly designed to provide one of the best user experiences on the market. Navigation through emails, web pages, music and images has never been easier.

Coupled with T-Mobile’s latest web’n’walk service and super-fast HSDPA mobile broadband technology, the MDA Touch Plus is set to provide a complete and personalised mobile surfing experience, as users will be able to explore any site on the Internet as they would on their PC. Not only this, but people will be able to watch a range of TV channels on the handset, from Sky Sports to MTV. Perfect for people who need to stay in touch with their colleagues, friends and family, the MDA Touch Plus also offers fast and simple access to emails on the move.

There is also no need to carry around an MP3 player or digital camera, as the handset has these built-in. The 2 mega-pixel camera is ideal for people who want to zoom in and take photos or shoot films wherever they are, as well as editing images, creating slideshows and viewing favourite images at the touch of a finger. The front facing VGA camera is perfect for making video calls and the handset also comes with stereo Bluetooth functionality to give users a greater choice of how they listen to their music on the move. The MDA Touch Plus is also fully compatible with the CoPilot Live satellite navigation system – an ideal extra for busy people on the road.

Posted by: Matt

[Post tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Tracy & Matt, HTC Touch Dual, T-Mobile, MDA Touch Plus]

Will Microsoft buy Yahoo?

Microsoft has offered to buy the search engine company Yahoo for $44.6bn (£22.4bn) in cash and shares.

The offer, contained in a letter to Yahoo’s board, is 62% above Yahoo’s closing share price on Thursday.

Yahoo cut its revenue forecasts earlier this week and said it would have to spend an additional $300m this year trying to revive the company.

It has been struggling in recent years to compete with Google, which has also been a competitor to Microsoft.

According to its letter to Yahoo, Microsoft attempted to enter talks about a deal a year ago, but was rebuffed because Yahoo was confident about the “potential upside” presented by the reorganisation and operational activities that were being put in place at the time.

So what are your thoughts on this? Will a Microsoft/Yahoo partnership be a good or bad thing for the average internet user or do you think that such a move will only make Microsoft into a bigger monster?

Posted by: Simon

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

JCB Toughphone

Ok, perhaps this isn’t something that I would normally post about but I thought that the new JCB Toughphone was worth a mention and here’s why.

If you look after the mobile phone account for a business, as I do, I’m sure there will be a few people in the organisation that for some reason just cant look after their phones and seem to break them every other week. Or have you been asked by someone to “get Bob a phone that’s robust cos he’s working on a building site so it needs to last”.

If the above rings any bells with you then perhaps the new JCB Toughphone is the answer.

JCB Toughphone

The specification may seem a little basic, especially when compared to some of the phones we review on t&m but the JCB Toughphone is an incredibly rugged mobile phone which has been designed to work in the most challenging of environments. The Toughphone has been awarded the IP53 rating that makes it one to reckon with – being shock, dust, water and drop resistant as well as operational from -20 degrees C to +60 degrees C. In addition , the no quibble 3-year warranty, scratch resistant screen and high powered speakers combine to make this the most durable phone ever created.

The JCB TOUGHPHONE is built for anyone who requires equipment they can depend on, ideal for construction workers, lorry drivers, farmers and foremen. Equally, the JCB TOUGHPHONE is perfect for anyone with an active lifestyle who requires a mobile phone that can take a few knocks.

So next time I’m asked to provide someone with a ‘builders phone’ we may well be taking a look at the JCB Toughphone!

The JCB Toughphone is available now from eXpansys.

Posted by: Matt

[Post tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Windows Mobile blog, expansys, JCB, ToughPhone, Tracy & Matt]

VITO Technology updates FunContact

VITO Technology releases a new version of FunContact.

VITO FunContact

From the press release:

The new version of the contact manager loads in the twinkling of an eye. Managing contacts has become faster and still much fun! Minor bugs have been fixed.

Along with finger friendly touch oriented interface like on iPhone FunContact has other awesome features up its sleeve that turn Windows Mobile contact management into real FUN: quick access to list of favorite contacts quick access to call history instant finger scroll with alphabetic ruler keypad for dialing and T9 contacts look up built-in contacts editing sparkling graphics, smooth navigation, animated menus and big onscreen buttons
There’s been a definite call from FunContact users to speed up initial start of FunContact.

The new version of FunContact starts about 8 times quicker! Memory usage has also been optimized. Now you can have FunContact running safely in background without having to worry how much memory is left for other applications.

Another new feature allows you to add a new contact or update an existing contact with a new number right from the call log.

Lefthanders will be surprised to see the alphabetic ruler appearing on the left side of the screen. It used to appear only on the right side of the screen and lefthanders could not see the big letter in the center of the screen while sliding the ruler for quick contact look-up.

In addition, minor bugs have been fixed. Contact sorting is saved alright even if you exit FunContact. The pretty Korean girl that appeared as default photo for all contacts is gone.

FunContact is available for $19.95 at http://iWindowsMobile.com. Current users upgrade for free.

Posted by: Matt

[Post tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, VITO Technology, VITO FunContact, Tracy & Matt]

Samsung i780 appears on Orange

It’s been a while since Orange released a truly new and interesting Smartphone so I was pleased to discover the Samsung i780 on the Orange website.

Samsung i780

The Samsung i780 builds upon the success of the Blackjack and Blackjack 2 and certainly has a similar look to it, but where the i780 differs is in the screen department. The i780 has a 320×320 pixel touchscreen as well as smartphone style navigation buttons and also has built in GPS. Naturally the i780 has is Windows Mobile 6 professional powered.

With Windows Mobile® 6 and a range of other features to help you stay organised and in touch on the move, the Samsung i780 is the perfect mobile business companion.

Add in a touchscreen for quick and easy scrolling, a QWERTY keyboard, an optical mouse and a bright 320 by 320 pixel, 65,000 colour display and you have a handset that’s been designed for business from the word go.

Samsung i780 specification:

Take a look at the Samsung i780 page on the Orange website.

Posted by: Matt

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

HP iPAQ 214 now in stock

The folks over at Clove Technology just dropped me a line to let me know that the HP iPAQ 214 is now in stock. We think this is the first UK stock in fact!

HP iPAQ 214

HP iPAQ 200 Series Enterprise Handheld is a powerful, large screen PDA with Wi-Fi, that is well-suited to run a broad range of business applications.

Designed with business in mind, there is much to appreciate about the sophisticated design of the iPAQ 214.

The iPAQ 214 has a large 4-inch TFT touch screen display for improved visibility in a variety of environments. Further expansion comes from the SDIO slot and USB connections making this device the ideal solution for communication and mobile office.

Integrated IEEE 802.11 b/g wireless networking allows Internet and email access at the office or other Wi-Fi hot spots in airports, cafes and hotels. Whilst with Bluetooth, you can connect your iPAQ 214 to peripherals like headsets and keyboards.

Matt should have a review device early next week so you can look forward to an unbox and review soon.

EDIT: The HP iPAQ unbox video is now live HERE.

Posted by: Mark

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

MWg Atom Life & Zinc II now available

UBiQUiO is a familiar name here on tracyandmatt and UBiQUiO has recently become part of MWg (Mobile and Wireless Group), a new brand of Windows Mobile devices formed by the original O2 Asia team (responsible for the successful O2 Xda Smartphone line in Asia) with investment from eXpansys.

MWg was formed in November 2007 and they’ve been busy getting geared for great device launces in 2008. As of this month, customers can buy the first MWg-branded device, the MWg Atom Life from eXpansys. The Atom life features a fast 624MHz processor & 1GB of on-board memory at the low price of £255.28 (ex vat). They can also get it FREE if they sign up for T-Mobile voice & data. To learn more about it, go to the Atom Life product page.

MWg Atom Life

MWg Atom Life Specification

The second device to come from MWg will be the Zinc II is also available for pre-order from eXpansys

MWg Zinc II

MWg Zinc II Specification

Posted by: Matt

[Post tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Tracy & Matt, MWg, MWg Atom Life, Zinc II, Orange SPV M700]

HTC respond to HTCClassAction

I’m sure that many of you are aware of the complaint being raised to HTC regarding the alleged lack of video drivers included on the latest HTC devices. For those of you not familiar, the allegation is that HTC have deliberately nobbled the newer devices by not including the video drivers that are necessary to make the devices work to their full potential and lots of people are complaining that their new HTC phone underperforms when compared to two year old devices of a lower spec.

The complaint being managed by htcclassaction.org starts as follows:

What is this all about?

The latest SmartPhone and PocketPC devices from HTC (High Tech Computing) are supposed to be the most powerful devices on the market. And in theory, they are indeed real powerhouses of mobile technology.

There’s a catch though: HTC has neglected to include the necessary drivers needed for the devices to come to their full potential.

What does this mean?

This means our really expensive HTC phones (the TyTN II is about $700) are grossly underperforming. In fact, in many things, these devices operate even slower than HTC’s (and competitors’) two years older models – see the videos under navigation for demonstrations, especially the TomTom video (TyTN II vs Magician) is a terrific example.

The drivers (small pieces of software that govern your device’s hardware) in question are responsible for all drawing operations. This means absolutely everything having anything to do with putting something on your screen is affected. This includes normal programs, video playback, games, taking pictures, etcetera. If it’s on your screen, it’s affected. This makes the devices feel really slow and unresponsive. For more details about this, see the Drivers in detail page.

Yesterday, HTC gave an official response to the complaint:

In response to recent customer complaints about poor video performance on HTC devices based on the latest Qualcomm MSM7xxx chipsets, HTC is providing the following statement.

HTC is committed to delivering a portfolio of devices that offer a wide variety of communication, connectivity and entertainment functionality. HTC does not offer dedicated or optimized multimedia devices and can confirm that its Qualcomm MSM7xxx-based devices do not use ATI’s Imageon video acceleration hardware.

HTC believes the overall value of its devices based on their combination of functionality and connectivity exceeds their ability to play or render high-resolution video. These devices do still provide a rich multimedia experience comparable to that of most smart phones and enable a variety of audio and video file formats.

HTC values its customers and the overall online community of mobile device enthusiasts and fans. HTC plans to include video acceleration hardware in future video-centric devices that will enable high-resolution video support.

Personally, I am happy with my TyTN II, I’ve never really noticed it being slow or unresponsive. However, if there is something that can be done to make it perform much better then I’d be really pleased to see it!

There seem to be a number of unofficial responses from HTC too and reading through the points raised on HTCClassAction, make a good case. So why not head over to HTCClassAction.org and make up your own mind… I’d love to hear your opinion!

Posted by: Matt

[Post tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Tracy & Matt, HTC, HTCClassAction, ATI Imageon]

Eten Glofiish V900 announced

Hot on the heals of the Glofiish X650 Eten have details of a new Glofiish, the V900, have appeared on the web.

Eten Glofiish V900

I have to say that the V900 is quite possibly the best looking Eten device to date. When released the V900 will be available in both Blue and Black varierties and even better than that it’ll include a TV tuner and DAB radio.

Eten Glofiish V900 Specifications:

Posted by: Matt

[Source]

[Post tag(s): smartphone, Pocket PC, Eten, Glofiish, Eten Glofiish V900, Tracy & Matt]