Archive for 2007
The observant amoung you may have noticed that our Nokia N95 was posted by a new team member – “Nokia Nick”. Nick has been on the sidelines of the site for a while now and has been providing help with graphics from day one. More recently Nick has been our chief Podcaster!
So Tracy and I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Nick. Over the coming weeks we are hoping to post more podcasts with interviews and reviews as well as some non-Windows Mobile posts.
In Nick’s own words:
I’m a “non-techie geek” who loves technology and thinks that technology shouldn’t make me do extra work just to use and enjoy it. That’s one of my gripes with technology. I am a Smartphone and a Nokia phone user. Smartphones are amazing, if you can be arsed to get into all the setting up etc. hence the reason I am generally drawn to Nokia is that although they are far from perfect, they are simple. To me Nokia’s are very much mainstream consumer devices while Windows Smartphones are for power/ biz/ techie users. I hope my experience will bring something new to Tracy & Matt’s blog! Matt will be here for the technical stuff and to help everyone with device issues and I’ll be here to give my opinion as an average Joe with a phone. 🙂
Welcome aboard Nick!
Posted by: Matt
[Post tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Windows Mobile blog, Nokia N95, Clove,Tracy & Matt]
There is no denying, within the Windows Mobile/Smartphone community, Nokia is considered to be something of a bad word. The word itself is often deliberately misspelt.
However with devices such as the Nokia N95 gradually developing more PDA-like features it’s becoming harder to ignore them.
The Nokia N95 was recently launched and offers functions similar to those that you would expect from a Smartphone but within a Nokia package running Symbian OS 9.2. The N95 is available to buy now from Clove Technology and more operators are offering the device to customers.
With all the advertising for the N95 cropping up all over the place we decided to take a look at one to see what all the fuss is about. Over the next few weeks we shall let you know what we think!
Nokia N95 Specification:
Features:
Quad Band 5 Mega pixel camera GPS receiver HSDPA/UMTS WiFi Bluetooth Universal plug and play technology What’s in the box?
Nokia N95 Nokia Video Connectivity Cable CA-75U Nokia Connectivity Cable DKE-2 Nokia Stereo Headset HS-45, AD-43 Nokia Battery BL-5F Nokia UK Charger Printed Manual Getting Started CD
Ok, so now it’s official, the Samsung i600 will be available on Orange ‘soon’. The device is now on the Orange website for all to see.
No details for the exact release date just yet but with the Samsung i600 being made avalable on the Clove Technology website I don’t suppose it will be too long before it becomes available to Orange customers. Probably business customers only to begin with as seems to the the way with Orange.
See for yourself on the Orange website or check out our Samusung i600 video.
Matt
[Post tags: smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Tracy & Matt, Samsung SGH-i600, Orange, Samsung Windows Mobile blog]
Paul from MoDaCo has just been in touch to let us know that there is a new vesion of his excellent CamerAware application available.
This latest BETA version of CamerAware includes the following changes:
– Added additional expert options (exit on disconnect)
– Updated auto bluetooth logic
– Updated GPS subsystem
– Updated installer code
– Added full screen mode
– Added support for night skins (included)
– Added support for customisable alert bar colours
– Improved horizontal alert bar reliability
– Updated power management settings when running but disconnected
– Updated to latest version of support libraries
– More menu options are now accessible without disconnecting
– Just for fun… 0-60 timer function added
Check out the full news item on MoDaCo and don’t forget to have a listen to our CamerAware podcast interview with Paul.
Matt
[Technorati tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Tracy & Matt, MoDaCo, cameraware, podcast]
Further to my post earlier this week about the imminent launch of the Orange SPV E650 it would appear that I was right on the money! Just a few minutes ago I received a copy of the official Orange press release which states that the E650 is now available to business customers.
Orange Launches First Windows Mobile 6.0 Device for Business Users
LONDON, April 11
– SPV E650 Combines Latest Microsoft Platform With Dedicated Messaging Features
Orange Business Services today launches the first Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.0-powered smartphone on the UK market. Available exclusively from Orange until the beginning of May, the compact SPV E650 combines powerful functionality with sleek design and the ability to connect with Wi-Fi, EDGE and GPRS networks, making mobile messaging easier than ever before.
Designed for business users, the SPV E650 offers all the advantages of a PDA, alongside quad-band functionality for ultimate connectivity. Users can update spreadsheets or documents on the move, using the mobile versions of Microsoft Excel and Word. Windows Mobile 6.0 means that documents appear on the device screen just as they would on a PC, avoiding formatting headaches.
The Orange SPV E650 also conceals a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, making it easier than ever before to respond to emails on the move. A generous screen, which switches automatically between portrait and landscape modes, provides optimum conditions for viewing and amending documents.
“We’re naturally excited to be the first operator to launch a Windows Mobile 6.0 smartphone onto the UK market,” comments Nick Horton, Head of Business Devices, Orange Business Services UK. “By offering this powerful new operating system in a device that combines a compact, attractive design with full QWERTY functionality, we believe the SPV E650 represents the best option yet for today’s mobile professional,” he added.
Windows Mobile 6.0 offers full compatibility with Microsoft Exchange Server, ensuring seamless synchronisation between users’ email accounts and mobile devices. Even hyperlinks are supported, enabling web pages to be accessed directly from emails whilst on the move.
Security features are another important feature of the SPV E650, allowing data to be erased remotely in the event of device loss or theft, via Microsoft Exchange Server.
The SPV E650 is now available to UK business customers for GBP165 (excluding VAT), or from free depending on contract. The device is also available to consumer customers from free to GBP161, depending on package.
SPV E650 – Technical SpecificationConnectivity
Wi-Fi, EDGE and GPRSKey Features
Windows Mobile 6® 6.0:
Create and edit Microsoft Word and Excel® and PowerPoint® documents.
ActiveSync® client with push-email support
2.0 megapixel inbuilt camera
Portrait and landscape screen modes
320×240 pixel touch screen with 65k colours
Video player, recording and streaming
Sliding keyboard
Loud speaker for hands free optionAccessories (in-box)
AC adapter with mini USB power plug
Mini USB/USB synchronisation cable
Headset
BatterySpecification
Form factor: sliding keyboard
Size: 101.5 x 50 x 17.5 mm
Weight: 120g
Talk time: up to 5 hours
Standby time: up to 7 days
I suspect that demand for this device will be pretty high and that it will become available to all within the next few weeks.
Now, where is that illusive SPV E600? 🙂
Matt
[Technorati tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Tracy & Matt, HTC Vox, HTC S710, Orange, SPV E650]
It’s been a while since we had any news about the European version of the ever popular Samsung Blackjack, the Samsung SGH-i600. We have heard mixed messages about the device as some retailers, such as Clove Technology and eXpansys, are offering the i600 on preorder but Samsung’s own PR people say that they are not expecting a UK launch.
However the news from smartphone.fr is that not only will it see a European launch but that Orange themselves are taking the device, what’s more it’s reported that the i600 will launch by the end of April!
I’m looking forward to getting my hands on this device as I’m a big fan of it’s little brother, the i320. The i600 is a little larger but has 3G connectivity.
Samsung SGH-i600 Specification
See for yourself on the Orange website or check out our Samusung i600 video.
Posted by: Matt
[Post tags: smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Tracy & Matt, Samsung SGH-i600, Orange, Samsung Windows Mobile blog]
T-Mobile have dropped the MDA from their range. The device expected to replace it is the T-Mobile Wing, slated to be released in August.
The new T-Mobile Wing is said to be an HTC Atlas based device, similar in design to the HTC P4350, with its spring loaded keyboard, and a face similar to the HTC P3400.
T-Mobile MDA Wing Specification:
Matt
[Technorati tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Tracy & Matt, T-Mobile Wing, HTC, HTC Atlas]
Dell launched their Axim range of Pocket PC devices back in 2002 and after 5 short years Dell have officially announced that they are killing off thier Axim range.
Dell spokeswoman Anne Camden said that the Axim X51 family is no longer being offered and there are no plans for future devices. Apparantly sales have not been as good as Dell had hoped and for now it seems that the company is concentrating on its ‘other businesses’.
Matt
[Technorati tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Tracy & Matt, Dell, Axim]
Lots of rumours circulating about the eagerly awaited Orange SPV E650 as the moment the latest one suggests that the device could be released later this week!
We have already been told that some stores have received shipments of the E650 but I’m not sure how true that is. Anyone in Orange Retail able to confirm?
I’m have an HTC S710 in for review at the moment so will post a review of that shortly. In the mean time I can tell you it’s one of the nicest HTC devices I’ve seen for a while, if you want to ask me anything about it please feel free to contact me.
Orange SPV E650 Specification:
Posted by: Matt
[Post tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Tracy & Matt, HTC Vox, HTC S710, Orange, SPV E650]
You may remember that we discussed the XDA Zinc a while ago and the device was expected to launch in the UK some time in March. It’s now come to light that the device has been officially cancelled by O2. According to O2, the XDA Zinc failed to pass the stringent tests that a new device is subjected to and was therefore cancelled. Looks like they O2/Asustek unable to iron out the bugs that were mentioned in the Zinc review.
However, it’s not all bad news from O2. At the same time they have announced the O2 XDA Trion, which is to be their version of the HTC Hermes.
While I appreciate that the HTC Hermes remains a popular device, it does seem a little late in the day for carriers to be launching HTC Hermes based devices. It’s getting towards a year ago that the first Hermes models went on sale. As you can see below, the specification is no different to other Hermes devices.
O2 XDA Trion Specification:
Matt
[Technorati tag(s): smartphone, Pocket PC, Tracy & Matt, XDA Zinc, O2, HTC Hermes, Mars 2, O2 XDA Trion]
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