Pocketpcthoughts.com have posted some nice pictures of the E-Ten Golfish X650. Not the worst specs in the world however it’s hardly innovative. Samsung S3C2442 400MHz CPU, 64MB RAM, 128MB ROM, quad-band GSM/EDGE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, an FM tuner, a 2.8" QVGA (240 x 320) touch screen, a 2.0-megapixel fixed-focus camera with flash, and a microSD slot.
In a press release received just moments ago Sony have finally made their latest and greatest DSLR, the Alpha A900, official.
The Alpha A900 looks like an awesome piece of kit with an astonishing 24.6 Megapixel full-frame sensor!
No indication of cost at the moment but I suspect that, with this kind of specification, it will compete with the Canon EOS-1DSIII. Naturally I an hoping to get my hands on one to review but I suspect there might be a long waiting list! Watch this space.
Sony press release:
The A900 digital SLR from Sony sets a new benchmark for serious photo enthusiasts who demand the unrivalled quality and creative possibilities of full-frame imaging.
The flagship of the Alpha digital SLR camera range features the industry’s first ever 24.6 effective megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor. Developed by Sony, this groundbreaking sensor’s ultra-high pixel count and large size — equivalent to a 35mm film frame — deliver extraordinary image detail and wide dynamic range.
The new-generation sensor captures flawless images with unprecedented fidelity, characterised by vibrant colours, ultra-real textures and subtle tonal gradations. Complementing the extremely high native resolution of the sensor, Exmor™ performs on-chip analogue/digital (A/D) signal conversion and two-stage noise reduction. This guarantees ultra-low noise image files that take advantage of the superb resolving power of high-precision Alpha lenses.
Realising the immense creative potential of the 24.6 megapixel full-frame sensor, the new advanced dual BIONZ™ processors handle massive amounts of image data at extremely high speed. Powerful noise reduction algorithms are applied prior to RAW data conversion and then again during image processing, yielding flawless, detail packed images with an absolute minimum of noise. The dual BIONZ™ processors also underpin the camera’s razor-sharp shooting responses, allowing sustained 5fps continuous shooting at full 24.6 megapixel resolution.
Serious photo enthusiasts will appreciate the ground-glass optical pentaprism viewfinder that offers exceptional brightness and a field of view covering 100% of the full-frame sensor’s imaging area (approx.).
The camera’s uncompromising credentials are underlined by a fast, high-accuracy 9-point AF system to ensure fewer missed shots. It’s supplemented by 10 focus assist points to assist subject detection, improved out-of-focus detection to reduce focus hunting and a dedicated F2.8 sensor for enhanced AF accuracy with wide aperture lenses.
The A900 digital SLR camera is also the world’s first full-frame camera to feature SteadyShot INSIDE™. This enhanced in-body optical stabilisation system delivers up to 4 steps of anti-shake correction with all compatible lenses*, opening up even greater creative possibilities when shooting handheld.
Shots can be evaluated critically on the 3.0-inch Xtra Fine LCD with an exceptionally high resolution (921k dot) that offers sharp, clear viewing — even outdoors or in bright a mbient light. There’s a wide choice of index view options to simplify best-shot selection, plus a full-featured RGB histogram and shooting information display.
At the touch of a button, the LCD display switches to Quick Navi mode, allowing rapid on-the-fly adjustment of camera settings without disturbing your creative workflow.
A new Intelligent Preview function simulates the effect of White Balance, D-Range Optimiser and exposure level on the LCD screen without actually taking a picture. By simple confirmation on the camera, all the new settings are applied to take the next picture. This simplifies precise control over the final image in complex setups.
Shots can also be viewed on a connected HD television. PhotoTV HD mode provides optimised still image viewing with breathtaking clarity and lifelike colours on compatible BRAVIA™ televisions. The HDMI terminal also give access to HD picture viewing on any compatible TV.
Built for years of unstinting service in challenging environments, the A900 digital SLR camera is ruggedly constructed from a high-tensile aluminium chassis with magnesium alloy body panels. Viewfinder, card slots, controls and other sensitive areas are protected from dust and moisture by rubber seals for worry-free shooting. The inside of the camera is also protected by an anti-dust system that safeguards the full-frame sensor from the effects of dust entering the body during lens exchange.
Allowing stable, comfortable handling in portrait or landscape orientations, the optional VG-C90AM Vertical Grip holds up to two high-capacity batteries for extended shooting time and all the major controls are available in vertical holding for easy operation. The grip has also been designed in the same high quality material as the A900 with magnesium alloy and rubber parts.
There’s now a wide range of compatible alpha lenses to fully realise the incredible imaging potential of the camera’s full-frame sensor.
The choice of premium G series optics by Sony is joined by the high-power 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM telephoto, featuring a High-torque Super Sonic wave Motor for fast, silent AF operation.
Also from Carl Zeiss, the Vario-Sonnar T* 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM is a fast, high-performance wide angle zoom that’s ideal for interiors, landscapes and challenging photo-reportage applications.
Posted by: Matt
If you bought the HTC Touch Cruise and were feeling left out with the Windows Mobile 6.1 upgrade goodness well we have some good news. According to HTC, well via their Twitter feed, they are in the final stages of testing it and making sure it is rock solid before it is released. This is good news as it never looked like this was coming out so Touch Cruise users relax!
O2 customers in the Glasgow Subway will soon be the first in the UK to use their mobile phones underground as part of a new ground-breaking deal. O2 will be the first mobile phone operator in the UK to utilise the multi-user distributed antenna system which enables mobile phones to work underground.
Now it is time to review the iPhone look alike Samsung i900 (Omnia). This is yet another high end, flag ship of a phone. Can it stand up to the claim from Samsung that it is ‘A truly all-in-one phone’?
For various reasons I have not really been a fan for the later variations from Samsung, in the early days of splashing out cash for phones, my 1st choice was always for a Sammy. Lately I have been tempted away from them to seek the joys and delights of Windows Mobile, so, now Samsung are even entering that market, can I be tempted back?
What’s in the Box?
As always, you can check out Matt’s Samsung i900 Omnia unboxing video for more information on what’s in the box as well as a quick demonstration of the interface.
Around the device
General
The device is very well made, the chrome and black casing feels solid and doesn’t seem to attract the usual finger marks problems seen on most phones these days to the same extent. The back especially is difficult to mark. It is also not overly heavy at a stated 125g. It appears to follow along with a current trend to keep phone fascias uncluttered and minimal.
Top of the device there is the power switch and an LED status indicator. Also a very small reset hole.
On the left hand side of the phone, at the top end there is a lanyard connection or maybe the detached stylus connection, more later. Towards the bottom is the covered multifunction jack used for headset, PC connection and charging.
Top of the right hand side is a dedicated Main menu launch button; below this is the volume up/down rocker and finally the camera key.
The bottom of the unit holds nothing more than the mic.
On the back you can find the 5 megapixel autofocus camera and LED flash.
The screen on the i900 dominates the front as it is a 3.2” WQVGA Touchscreen, above you can see the small VGA camera, and below is the a Talk / Speakerphone button and an End / device lock key, these straddle the centred Trackpad.
Inside the back of the device is the side by side SIM card holder and the microSDHC card holder. The battery has to be removed prior to removing either card so no hot swapping here.
Highlights
Lowlights
Review
At first I was determined that I did not like the i900 Omnia, it is too long and also resembles the iPhone so much, I was happy not to be a fan. The only reason for me that I took a second look was the specifications appeared impressive. Unfortunately, faults mentioned apart, this is a very nice device that I easily learned to live with and enjoyed a lot more about it than I thought I would have.
There are some points I do not like, for example, it is relatively expensive in its group; however there has to be reasons why it is sold out almost everywhere. So here are some of my thoughts, good and bad.
Firstly when switched on everything is different, the usual Windows screens etc. are nowhere to be found, it took me by surprise to start with, and I have to say I did not like it. I felt that the main menu screen appeared childish in form, the icons appearing in a cartoon style, and the Samsung widget sidebar seemed a waste of time. Now having spent some time with the unit, I have to admit that it probably one of the easiest phones I have used it quite a time, connecting with my car kit and network etc where an absolute doddle. The layout and functionality as a breeze and the icon simplicity made it easy for even those not familiar with Windows mobile to get on in a plain and uncomplicated manner.
The unit certainly responds well and is quick in its opening of applications and the larger processor than standard is also noticeable.
Software
The Samsung widget is handy to use as it is acts as a shortcut to a lot of commonly used programs such as clock, photo album, games, music, radio, profile, notes etc. which can be dropped and dragged straight on to the main screen for launching.
It also boasts Dix VOD straight out if the box once registered. There is also a themes editor allowing the user to change the standard background colour and text colours to one of the multitude of colours available.
The vibration touch screen option was fun at the beginning where a touch of the screen was registered by the phone omitting a gentle buzz, I found that overall this was a little erratic, sometimes it would not register but carry out the command anyway and vice versa, for me in the end it was better switched off. The same can be said for the Auto orientation motion sensor settings, I found that this was better for me set on low as, the simple act of putting the phone down would trigger the screen flipping into landscape, and then having to flip it back again, although it was a handy addition when you did want it to work.
It was also good to be able to rid yourself of the Samsung settings and revert straight back to the standard Windows menus etc. in a way like have 2 different devices really.
Included in the settings are add-on’s such as GPS extra, which I assume downloads satellite positions on a regular customisable interval. There is also a facility to switch the Trackpad between a 4 way navigator or finger mouse, neither of which I find useful, but I know a lot of people do. And as more common on Samsung devices there is also the TV out connection.
Programs are again pretty standard as the device goes, Google maps as you would expect works very well. There is a smart converter for quick conversion of weights, areas, volumes temperatures and lengths. A Touch Player, specifically designed to be able to play music, videos etc at the touch of the screen.
ShoZu enables sharing and watching music videos, shows and photos delivered to your phone automatically again subscription and registration are required.
Apart from the few points already mentioned above, the other good and bad points are as follows;
There is no stylus compartment anywhere on the phone, there is a telescopic stylus included in an attachable case, I find this completely unusable and would imagine one of the easiest ways to scratch the unit would be to attach the stylus and then stow it in your pockets. The advice from Samsung is not to use pens, pencils or any other implements to activate the screen; it fails to mention how to reset the device with your finger?!
The Camera is great, the options and use of the 5 megapixel autofocus was superb and probably the best I have used in a long time, also included was smile as well as face recognition, which seemed to work well enough. I liked playing with such options as the panoramic mode. The photos achieved overall means that you can do away with your extra point and shoot camera, when going out.
Samsung are still insisting that they use their own connectors which drives me crazy, why can’t they adopt the standard miniUSB connections used by so many other manufacturers?
The screen is not quite a bright and vibrant as certain new devices lately, although adequate and I definitely preferred the manual settings over the automatic mode, I also had a minor issue with the fact then when displaying a photo, occasionally the phone would fill in the side with a section of the photo repeated, to make up for the longer screen. Having said that, when searching through lists and websites the longer screen was a pleasant extra, as you can see more of the page that you are viewing. Opera worked very well in this form and there is also a built in page zoom when the side of the screen was touched.
The call quality and signal strength indicator appear more than adequate, the earpiece and speaker phones work very well. I also found that the battery life was reasonably good with light to moderate use a couple of days between charges, heavier use of Sat Nav etc. reduces this dramatically.
Conclusion
It is very nice to have Samsung on the Windows Mobile road and this phone was I mentioned above really did grow on me, which was not a real advantage. I am still torn between the Diamond and the Pro, this makes the choice even worse, and the Xperia is likely next week!
I think for me, the advantages of the HTC devices still holds its for me, the VGA screen and the stylus issues mean that i900 not my preferred device of choice. But I was pleasantly surprised on how good it really is. It will be well received by many and also well liked, get over the length of the machine and get involved with the preloaded applications and the ease of use and this will prove to be one of the best phones around. As I covered at the start of the review those in the know have already brought theirs, and that’s why they are sold out!
It has got to be one of the best times in the mobile world for choice of good devices at the moment and more due to follow, will there ever be the ultimate device, or will the makers keep bringing out more and more great devices to part us from our money?
It looks like HTC are about to release another Windows Mobile handset, this time a replacement for the Touch. The device is code named the HTC Opal and it sports a very similar form factor to the original Touch. The brief specs are an Omap 200mhz processor, 128 meg Ram and 256 Meg Rom, WiFi b and g and Windows Mobile 6.1. No mention of GPS and definitely no 3G. It is quad band GSM,GPRS and Edge only. It will have the latest TouchFlo 3D software onboard. Looks like a strange device as it is not that different from the original Touch and the specs are definitely not a great leap forward with the 200mhz processor, 2MP fixed focus camera and 320 x 240 QVGA screen. Would have been nice to see a VGA version with a faster processor. Check out smartmobilegadgets for the full specifications.
ASUS today launched the ASUS P552w PDA phone which features Glide – an innovative touch-responsive user interface that makes navigating and performing tasks on a mobile phone more intuitive and interactive than ever before. Equipped with a 624MHz processor and a host of market-leading features such as 3.5G HSDPA connectivity, GPS and seamless Google integration, the ASUS P552w PDA phone is a perfect fit for the rising tide of young, tech-savvy professionals who appreciate a good-looking mobile companion that packs a wealth of fun features and yet is no slouch when it comes to work.
Blackberry maker RIM was the biggest winner in a slowing smartphone market in the second quarter, roughly doubling its market share from a year ago to 17.4 percent, research firm Gartner said on Monday. The market was still dominated by Finland’s Nokia, which sold 15.3 million phones with capabilities like e-mail and navigation, giving it a 47.5 percent share. But this was down from 50.8 percent a year ago as competition intensified in the consumer smartphone market. Read the full report after the break.
Sony has today announced two new headphone ranges; the BT and the EX ranges.
EX range: The fun, affordable EX range of in-ear headphones includes the MDR-EX33LP, which will be available in five colours and come with hybrid silicone earbuds. Additionally – in the UK and Germany only – Sony have also today announced the MDR-EX500LP/ MDR-EX300SL headphones. The premium closed-type in-ear headphones deliver studio quality audio through a vertical in-ear design with new hybrid silicone earbuds for secure fit and long-term wear comfort.
BT range: The DR-BT160AS Bluetooth Stereo wireless headphones stream crisp audio from any Bluetooth compatible device, perfect for active lifestyles.
More details in the press release below:
Would you like to experience the ultimate in studio-quality audio wherever you are? Need a sports-oriented Bluetooth™ Stereo headset without any wires to keep pace with your active lifestyle? Or maybe you’re ready for a great-sounding headphone with cool, fun looks to match your lifestyle.
Whatever sounds right, you’ll find it with latest additions to the Sony range of beautifully styled, comfortable in-ear headphones.
MDR-EX500LP / MDR-EX300SL in-ear headphones
Two new in-ear headphones make studio-quality sound accessible to anyone who’s ready for a dramatic step-up from their MP3 player’s supplied phones.
The top-flight MDR-EX500LP delivers the ultimate in precision monitor quality audio. The latest addition to Sony’s popular EX Monitor Series of in-ear headphones features a newly-developed 13.5mm driver unit that’s oriented vertically in the ear for comfortable extended wear. This innovative Sony design provides an extended low frequency response with excellent sensitivity, smooth, powerful bass and a wider dynamic range.
The MDR-EX500LP’s large driver is complemented by an extremely stiff multi-layer diaphragm. As well as improving high frequency response, this reduces unwanted resonance for ultra-pure, uncoloured sound.
A new-shape silicone earbud offers an extra-comfortable fit, even for extended listening periods. The novel hybrid design features a soft, flexible outer structure that fits snugly in the ear. It surrounds a rigid inner core made of harder silicone that resists deformation to ensure that sound quality remains unimpaired.
Reflecting Sony engineers’ dedication to perfect sound, every MDR-EX500LP unit is individually hand-tuned in the factory to achieve the ultimate sonic performance.
Also in the EX Monitor Range, the MDR-EX300SL features a large 13.5mm EX driver unit, offering very high quality sound at an even more attractive price. Already available, the range-topping MDR-EX700LP introduced the original vertical driver design. It’s combined with Sony’s innovative multi-layer diaphragm inside a 16mm driver unit – the largest of any in-ear headphone design – to reproduce the clearest, most pristine audio.
MDR-EX33LP and MDR-EX35LP in-ear headphones
Now every music lover can express themselves with a fresh, colourful choice of headphones to match their personal style. Featuring new-look pearlescent and metallic colours, the funky MDR-EX33LP is available in five stylish colour variations (pearlescent white, metallic blue, pink, silver, gold).
The affordable MDR-EX33LP delivers crisp, clear, low distortion sound with a wide dynamic range thanks to its high-quality 9mm diameter EX driver. Like other models in the new EX headphone range, a specially developed new hybrid silicone earbud assures extra-comfort wear.
The choice of three supplied earbuds includes a Super Small sized bud that’s a comfortable, more secure fit for girls and younger music fans. The cord slider prevents cord tangling, and a handy cord adjuster is also supplied to control the length of the cable.
Sharing the same 9mm EX driver and hybrid silicone earbuds, the MDR-EX35LP features sleek, contemporary looks and is available in a choice of black, white or red colour-ways.
DR-BT160AS / DR-BT160IK / DR-BT14Q Active Bluetooth Wireless headphones
Now you can enjoy superb sound from your Bluetooth phone, Bluetooth WALKMAN®, or other Bluetooth-enabled MP3 player without a tangle of cables while you’re rushing around, jogging or working out.
The DR-BT160AS Bluetooth Stereo wireless headphones stream crisp, wide bandwidth stereo audio directly from any compatible Bluetooth music source. The light, easy to wear headset also features an in-built microphone so you can take hands-free calls from your Bluetooth mobile phone without breaking a sweat… whether you’re pounding the pavement or the treadmill.
The splashproof, street-smart design features a soft elastomer hanger for a comfortable, secure fit on your ears. The sliding earpiece shaft can be easily adjusted to fit a wide range of ear sizes.
No-one needs the distraction of fiddling with their MP3 player’s controls when they’re exercising. The DR-BT160AS makes it easy to skip tracks and to adjust volume and other music player functions using convenient controls on the side of the headset.
The DR-BT160iK kit teams DR-BT160AS headphones with the TMR?BT8iP Bluetooth dongle, allowing you to stream music wirelessly from your iPod®.
Also available, the DR-BT140Q ear-clip headphone offers great audio quality from your Bluetooth music player, with a comfortable clip-on fit and fingertip control of player functions.
Posted by: Matt
Vodafone UK is trialling a unique service that enables all UK mobile users to send text messages from their Facebook profile to friends. The pilot service will be extended later this month to also include picture messages. Vodafone Connect to Friends lets Facebook users send texts and picture messages without having to switch from PC to mobile simply by installing the ‘Vodafone Connect to Friends’ application to their Facebook profile. The application allows users to send messages not only to their online Facebook friends but also to non-Facebook users and groups. Vodafone Connect to Friends can be used by anyone regardless of their choice of UK mobile operator.
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