Nitrogen makes audio playback a bit of a doddle on Windows Mobile. Having used Nitrogen for the last few months I feel it appropriate to hail it possibly the finest music playing software on Windows Mobile. It’s stable, finger friendly, developed by people who know what is wanted and … what’s that? Free!?!
In the press release just in from Sony Ericsson below they officially announce the W995:
With crystal clear resolution for the ultimate on-the-go audiovisual experience, the W995 Walkman™ phone allows you to stay entertained, with exclusive movie clips, podcasts and music videos.
The new W995 Walkman™ phone has been developed with an extensive range of entertainment services in mind. PlayNow™ Arena with Movies will offer subscribers 60 complimentary independent films a year.
PlayNow™ Clips, another exclusive service will enable consumers to access a host of entertainment content from sister Sony companies via a direct link on the phone’s cross media bar. Consumers will be able to download hundreds of the best Sony Music videos, watch a host of minisodes from a range of Sony Pictures TV shows and view the latest Sony Pictures movie trailers.
BBC iPlayer will also be available on the W995, bringing the very best television directly to you and Media Go™ will manage your media.
The W995 Walkman™ phone will be bundled with MS410 Snap-on Speaker Stand, providing listeners with a genuine clear audio experience. The phone also boasts a state of the art 2.6” screen, 8MP camera with face detection, 8GB memory and YouTube / Facebook access.
“The W995 really is the complete entertainment package and, via our extensive range of services, represents our on-going commitment to providing consumers with the best audiovisual experience, anytime and anywhere” commented Nathan Vautier, UK Managing Director at Sony Ericsson.
Showtime, Anytime with the W995 Walkman™
- Optimised video playback with style and performance – get the best possible video experience in your pocket
- Videos straight to your phone – Wi-Fi™ and Turbo 3G – easy video access to YouTube™ and other entertainment sites
- Clear 2.6” display, powerful speakers and 3.5mm audio socket – enjoy entertainment anywhere and anytime
- 8.1 megapixel camera – take picture perfect images with Photo Flash and face recognition
- Clear audio experience – enjoy the best sound possible, the way it was meant to be heard
- 8GB Memory Stick™ Micro – save an inexhaustible amount of music tracks, video clips and photos
- Tag a place-name to your memories or stay on track with aGPS and Google Maps™
Media Go™ – Makes it easy to bring your media with you
- Transfer, play and organise – with Media Go™ you can easily transfer music, videos, photos and podcasts between your mobile phone and computer
- Automatic sync – synchronise your music playlists automatically to keep the phone updated with your new music
- Auto convert – Media Go™ gives you the best quality playback of multi-media content on a mobile phone. There’s no need to use extra applications to be able to take your media with you.
- SensMe™ – create a playlist of songs in your library, you can also sort your music by mood or tempo
- Podcasts – it has never been easier to subscribe and download podcasts. Apart from adding your own favourites, the directory is there to help you to find the new and exciting content
- Audio CD transfer – Use Media Go™ to transfer your CDs and bring your music and audio books with you
The W995 Walkman™ supports GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 and UTMS/HSPA 900/2100. The W995 will be available in the colours Progressive Black, Cosmic Silver and Energetic Red.
Media Go™ will be available for all markets from the W995 launch in 15 different languages.
Posted by: Matt
Our friends over at last100 have put together a very detailed review of Nokia’s flagship device the N97.
There’s much more to like about the N97 than to dislike, the camera, build quality and built-in (and expandable) storage are major pluses. Along with the new widget-oriented home screen. As a media player, you also can’t really fault the N97, and the novel form factor (35 degree tilt) is something pretty special. On the other hand, the keyboard isn’t going to win you any prizes in the speed typing department, and the resistive screen maybe an issue for some, especially if you’re coming from an iPhone. Likewise, the web browser needs improvement, although I expect third-party browsers, such as SkyFire, Opera Mini and Bolt, to make their way over to S60 5th Edition fairly soon
You can read the full review with pictures and video over at last100
According to an article over at iLounge, T-Mobile Netherlands have confirmed both the RAM and processor specs for the new iPhone 3G S through its specifications page. According to the page, the iPhone 3G S sports 256MB of RAM — up from 128 in the original iPhone and iPhone 3G — as well as a faster processor running at 600MHz, compared to 412MHz in the first two iterations of the device. The second-generation iPod touch also sports a faster processor than that found in the first two generations of iPhone, running at 532MHz.
via iLounge
The iPhone 3G S will support OpenGL ES 2.0 however, the iPhone 3G does not.
This is the subject of an Engadget article which notes the graphics processor in the iPhone 3G S (PowerVR SGX) supports hardware acceleration of both OpenGL ES 1.1 and 2.0 while the graphics processor in the iPhone 3G (PowerVR MBX) only supports OpenGL ES 1.1.
The real issue here is that games or applications produced for OpenGL ES 2.0 will not simply look crappier on the iPhone 3G, they won’t play at all. OpenGL ES 2.0 and OpenGL ES 1.1 are not compatible whatsoever.
This means that developers may need to pick one standard to develop for. Either they can code a version for OpenGL ES 1.1 which will play on both devices, they could code two versions of the same game which is a lot more work, or they could only code an OpenGL ES 2.0 version which will not be available to iPhone 3G owners.
Currently most applications in the App Store are available across all devices with the iPod touch being an exception in some obvious cases. The improvements in graphics and processing power might cause a rift in the App Store where certain games are only available on the iPhone 3G S. These of course would likely be the better more exciting applications leaving a lot of iPhone 3G customers in the dust.
via iclarified
To start this review I would just like to say, the XDA Guide is like revisiting an old long lost friend, being a long time XDA Orbit user and being more than happy with it, I was interested to see if the new revitalised version can prove itself in this competitive market.
As Matt mentioned this device appears at the moment to be released as an exclusive to O2, so is there enough reasons to warrant switching over to them? Edit: I notice they are starting to appear on the web now as well.
Following on from the likes of the HTC Touch Cruise, TC2, 09 etc and Orbit 2. This device unofficially is being touted as the Orbit 3, or is that Iolite, call it what you will, here are my thoughts on the device.
Firstly, the Orbit 3, sorry, Guide box, it has to be said the box is huge! And comes in as a 15+cm cube. Fortunately this is to allow for the array of accessories that are included as standard. There are 2 separate boxes included in an outer wrapper, details and views of which can be found on Matt unboxing video.
What’s in the box?
In the 1st Box, can be found:
The 2nd box contains:
A very nice touch again from O2 to include the accessories as standard, I think someone must have nicked the screen protector though?!
Have a look at Matt’s O2 XDA Guide unboxing video for more.
O2 XDA Guide (HTC Touch Cruise 09) Specification:
General
On the top there is the power on button and you can also see the stylus holder.
The left hand side is just the single button up/down volume rocker.
The bottom of the Guide is the miniUSB housing underneath which you can just make out the back cover release recess, and a mic.
The right hand side has…nothing….no dedicated camera button…just the rest of the stylus holder mentioned in the top.
The rear of the unit again kept really simple has a small lanyard hold at the bottom, a speaker slot and the 3.2 MP camera, again missing any kind of flash or self-portrait mirror.
On the front of the flush screen, is the 2.8” QVGA 320 x 240 (Yes QVGA, please in this day and age?) screen. Under which from left to right is a Navigation button to launch CoPilot and call button, when long pressed activates voice dialling, next to which is the 4 way navigation wheel and enter button, and finally on the right is a dedicated ‘Footprint’ button above the call end key, which when long pressed locks the screen.
Highlights:
Lowlights:
Software
The Guide utilises the Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, which has the normal programs including a few extras such as Opera, Google maps, QuickGPS, Office Mobile, Windows Live and Messenger, Adobe, Footprints, Remote Desktop, RSS Hub, and You Tube, and of course TouchFLO.
The 2 main ones that make the XDA Guide standout more than most are the nifty NaviPanel and the Footprints, included in the TouchFLO application.
NaviPanel cleverly kicks in when you cradle the device into the supplied holder and presents you with 6 large button for quick and easy access to the handy functions needed while cradled. Straight away it asked if I wanted to connect with my Bluetooth car kit,
Once done it then presents a Footprints shortcut icon, covered next, a Phone launcher, and the other 4 buttons launch the CoPilot Live 7 in each area as indicated. Quite clever really and I wish I was clever enough to figure out how it does it, can someone enlighten me? Surely this has a multitude for other uses, like auto shut off and so on?
Secondly as Matt mentioned, ‘the new HTC Touch Cruise is the first mobile phone to offer HTC Footprints, an application experience that enables people to permanently chronicle their special moments by capturing a digital postcard on their phone. Once captured, Footprints provides the ability to take notes and an audio clip of that favourite restaurant or special place while identifying its specific geographical location. In addition to identifying each postcard with its specific GPS co-ordinates, Footprints also auto-names each postcard with its general location or area.’
In reality it is a nice little app for being able to add more details to your ordinary snaps such as Phone numbers, notes, voice note or to navigate to, this will probably work really well for the snap happy but for me I found relatively little use for it, and for me it seems strange to have a dedicated ‘Footprint’ button the front of the device, and not others more commonly used. However it does launch Footprints which at least launches the camera function.
Small note here about CoPilot which I have reviewed in more dept in the past, don’t forget to run QuickGPS and keep it up to date, I found that on the test device, without running QuickGPS at all the Sat Nav never did pick up any satellites and I had arrived at my destination unaided, following the update it lock on very quick and was really accurate too boot.
Review
As I mentioned my previous device of choice as the XDA Orbit, before that one last alteration which completely destroyed it, (Lesson: Don’t take these things apart if you don’t know what you are doing.) and eventually sold as scrap.
I wanted an all in Sat Nav, PDA, and phone etc.etc. which was why I had plumped for the Orbit. On removing the XDA Guide from the box straight away the improvements are immediately visible. At 102 x 54 x 15 mm it is a great size, smaller than the Orbit which was 108 x 58 x 17 mm. It fits well in the hand and the rounded, smooth, flat sides feel nice to hold and comfortable in the hand, big enough to be functional but not so big to be cumbersome.
The detail on the device make it look very smart and stylish, it is solid, polished and very positive in all aspects for me. One of the big failings or the previous model was the lack of memory, and that it only had a 200 MHz processor. Really good to see the major improvements on this device with its Qualcomm® MSM7225™, 528 MHz and ROM – 512 MB, RAM – 256 MB upgrade.
A pet hate for both Matt and myself is the position of the reset button, why is it underneath the casing? I might as well take the battery out to reset, one day maybe…
On opening the XDA I found the SIM housing a bit fiddly to deal with as it is pretty much flush with the casing and difficult to slide the SIM out once inserted, however there is a small slot next to the camera which can be used to poke out the SIM with the stylus. Replacing the cover gives a good reassuring click as you snap it back on.
The microSD card although not hot swappable from the outside is easily accessed once the back is off, without the added burden of removing the battery.
For me also being an XDA Ignito user the screen is OK but I do prefer the VGA version that I have lived with for some time now, having said that it is completely useable and can be brightened by unchecking the ‘auto adjust backlight’. I had no complaints about the responsiveness of the unit in day to day use.
The next and biggest gripes with the screen are the missing accelerometer preventing landscape screen rotation, probably due to the NaviPanel mentioned earlier, and the shininess. I found that using the CoPilot in the position where I always cradle my Sat Nav was completely useless in bright sunlight, whilst recently on holiday I had to stick a business card in the holder to shade the screen so that I could see it. I also tried had to revert to the supplied holder which means due to the position of my cigarette lighter meant I couldn’t charge it!
The call quality was very good, except in particularly bad conditions, it was not the best in this area as I find other devices such as my Ignito manage slightly better, but the calls are loud and clear with the right conditions.
The cameras are quite well know as not a major strength on these types of HTC devices, it is functional and useable, but not the best, the pictures wouldn’t impress Matt and it certainly doesn’t replace a normal digital camera, I found that in low light there is a definite lack of quality and no flash to compensate, either.
For those who what to use this as an actual phone and texting machine, the phone functions are fairly Windows/HTC standard, the texting abilities are also the same, and one of the reasons I personally, prefer to use TouchPal as my input method of choice.
Conclusion
I have enjoyed having my old friend back, this has been one of the first devices that I have tested in a while, where a few of my colleagues have commented at how neat and tidy it looks, one of my technophobe friends even commented how easy it was to use! The beefed up spec and a few little quirks make this reliable device very easy to live with on a day to day basis, and the small form factor is an added bonus.
It seems that of the ones that are slowly becoming available on certain auction sites, the price is about right as well. If you can’t afford £500 for the Touch Pro2 then have a look at the XDA Guide.
Final personal point – A little off-topic but I would like to thank Tracy and Matt publicly for their generosity in sponsoring me on my upcoming London to Paris cycle ride. (9-13th September)
I was really disappointed with the results of my recent appeal for cash on www.tracyandmatt.co.uk as I am riding for a great cause in ‘Make-A-Wish’ and could really do with some extra support from the rest of you, to date I have not had one other donation.
You can donate on my web page www.justgiving.com/steve-wilson, so come on guys, ANY amount will make a difference so please don’t be shy. (Sorry about the photo, it was a bad day, and I am getting better.)
Review by: Steve
[ Post Tags: O2 XDA Guide, HTC Touch Cruise 09, Footprints, Windows Mobile, tracyandmatt.co.uk ]
So if the rumours are correct it looks like Samsung will soon be launching the update to the original Omnia and it will be called the Omnia 2 or i8000.
If the info is to be believed: a 3.7-inch AMOLED touchscreen with 480×800 pixel resolution, 8.1-megapixel LED flash camera, Wi-Fi, DivX and Xvid support.
Also there is a video after the break and hopefully this is an early ROM as the phone runs like a dog and looks just an awful experience.
Many people across the country eagerly waited in line to get their hands on the most anticipated handset of the year, the Palm Pre. While the overwhelming majority of people who took a Pre home with them are counting on it to be their reliable companion for the foreseeable future, the people at Rapid Repair were merely interested in taking it back to their offices and ripping it apart. So what did we learn other than the fact that disassembling a Pre is best done by people who really, really know what they’re doing? Pre components are worth about $170 — a massive leap above the iSuppli estimate of $138. In other words, it’s probably best to actually have a unit on hand before estimating its production cost. Just a thought.
Via BGR
So after all the excitement of yesterdays iPhone announcements, O2 the exclusive Apple partner for the iPhone in the UK has destroyed the buzz for all current iPhone 3G subscribers. To upgrade my iPhone 3G to the new iPhone 3GS I have to pay the remaining 6 months of my contract off then sign a new 18 month contract and pay a minimum of £175.00 for the 32GB flavour.
So lets do the maths, 6 x £45.00 + £175.00 would give a cost to upgrade of £ 445.00 or at today’s exchange rate $717.00.
I understand that a contract was signed for 18 months but as a loyal O2 customer they could offer a little sweetener to help the early adopters, twitter is awash with complaints aimed squarely at O2’s twitter presence and so far they have patronised us with poor responses.
I have now made my decision and it has been hard to come to, I will not be upgrading to the iPhone 3GS it’s just not worth the money and I cannot bring myself to commit any more of my hard earned money to a network that obviously does not understand it’s customers or the old adage that a new customer costs 3 times more to win than to keep an existing one.
And don’t even get me started on tethering charges, £14.68 for 3 Gig or £29.36 per month for 10 Gig, not bad when your already paying for unlimited data as part of your iPhone contract.
So the iPhone killer never appeared as hardware but actually from one of it’s supposed allies #02Fail
We first saw the original LG Viewty over 18 months ago and surprisingly that handset remains popular today and is still offered by many of the mobile networks both on-contract and on PAYG.
When LG announced the new version of the device, the LG Viewty Smart, I’m sure that a large number of Viewty owners were pleased with the news and will be looking to upgrade. The new handset offers a larger and higher res touchscreen display as well as an improved 8 megapixel camera, TV output (with additional cable), AGPS, photo geotagging, Google maps, etc.
Naturally we’ll have a full review for you within the next week or so but until then you can check out my LG Viewty Smart unboxing video below.
LG GC900 Viewty Smart – Smart Photography.
Take pictures with razor sharp detail, thanks to the 8 mega-pixel camera, autofocus and high quality Schneider-Kreuznah lens. The high ISO 1600 sensitivity and included LED flash lets you take images even in poor lighting conditions. Face detection, smile shutter and a host of other advanced camera options makes sure your photos always look their best. On-board AGPS geo tags your photographs, letting you see where and when your photos were taken.
LG GC900 Viewty Smart – Smart Video.
Not just for stunning still images, experience exceptional video with the LG Viewty Smart. Record video in DVD quality or choose slow motion video for fast moving objections. Support for a wide selection of movie formats, like DivX, lets you simply drag and drop your movies to watch.
LG GC900 Viewty Smart – Smart Display.
See things different with the LG Viewty Smart. The large 3" high resolution WVGA display brings your photographs and movies to life. Wide-screen support lets you see your movies in wide-screen, view complete web pages or just view photographs in pin sharp detail.
LG GC900 Viewty Smart – Smart Interface.
Make using the LG Viewty Smart easy, thanks to the innovative S-Class interface. Use simple gestures to access common features and options. Rotate your finger while taking a picture to zoom, double tap to expand web pages, or simply swipe your across the screen to move through your photographs.
LG GC900 Viewty Smart – Smart Information.
Support for widgets, brings information to you, see the weather or news as easily as checking for missed calls. A built in web browser brings the internet directly to you hand while haptic feedback provides subtle vibrations to confirm on-screen actions.
LG Viewty Smart specification:
Posted by: Matt
Connect
Connect with us on the following social media platforms.