Archive for September, 2009

Xperia™ Pureness announced today

This morning at an event highlighting our new brand direction and its alignment under Sony’s make.believe brand message we showed the next device to be launched under the Xperia brand to a select few journalists.

It’s called Xperia Pureness and will launch during November 2009. Pureness is a really simple design phone, based around the core concepts of talk text and time but dressed up in a highly designed, sculpted shell and created around the idea of the handset as a work of art.

Toshiba announces the WM 6.5 TG01

It IFA today Toshiba have just announced the new version of their popular TG01 handset which will be one of the first handset out there to have Windows Mobile 6.5. Note that existing TG01 customers will qualify for a free update to Windows Mobile 6.5 as well. So if you win the TG01 in our competition then you’ll be able to upgrade it! 🙂

Toshiba Information Systems (UK) Ltd, Mobile Communications Division, today announced  the launch of the TG01 Windows® phone, a variant of its groundbreaking TG01 featuring the new Windows Mobile® 6.5 operating system.

The arrival of Windows Mobile® 6.5 and Toshiba’s immediate adoption of the platform for the TG01 sees the handset become a fully-certified Windows® phone; the updated TG01 Windows® phone will start to appear in stores across Europe from 6th October 2009. Toshiba customers who have previously purchased the TG01 will also be entitled to an upgrade to the new Windows Mobile® 6.5, free of charge.

The launch of the TG01 Windows® phone means users will be able to enjoy all the benefits of Windows Mobile® 6.5, including a new Home screen and a finger-friendly start menu. Designed to offer fun and interactive navigation between applications, Windows Mobile® 6.5 provides users with faster access to the handset’s plethora of features.

Windows Marketplace for Mobile enables users to download and install Windows Mobile® applications, including Games, Social Networking functions and office-tools, meaning each handset can be personalised to suit the tastes and needs of each individual user. Support for the latest version of Internet Explorer® makes it faster and easier to browse the Internet, and the free Microsoft My Phone enables users to protect their phone by backing up data and securely share photos with families and friends across PC, phone and the web-based platforms.

The TG01 Windows®  phone also comes with the high-power Snapdragon™ 1GHz processor, as found on the Toshiba TG01, to deliver smooth video playback, super-fast gaming and detail-rich browsing.  The same superb, high-resolution 4.1” Wide-VGA (800 x 480) touchscreen is also present, with on-board Coreplayer providing support for a wide variety of video formats.

Despite all this power, the TG01 Windows® phone comes in the same sleek 9.9mm body as the previously-launched Toshiba TG01.  It also features the same rich multimedia features, but with the added benefit of the new Windows® phone experience provided by the Windows Mobile® 6.5 operating system.

Expandable SDHC memory up to 32GB provides the facility for users to keep a large multimedia library on the move if required, with an  8GB microSD card bundled as standard, enabling users to store multimedia content and take advantage of the the handset’s cinematic mobile performance out of the box.  Integrated GPS and A-GPS technology allows the TG01 Windows® phone to double up as a satellite navigation system, providing rich graphics and detail.

“Windows® phones bring together the best of the Web, the PC and the phone so you can connect instantly to the people and information you care about, no matter where you are,” said from Stephanie Ferguson, general manager, product management, Microsoft Corp. “The new TG01 Windows® phone provides a great end-to-end experience that spans your entire life, at work and at home.”

“Our new TG01 Windows® phone is quite simply the next step in cutting edge mobile technology.  We’ve been thrilled with the market’s response to the TG01 handset so far and worked closely with Microsoft to launch one of the first Windows® phones to the market.  Toshiba is constantly striving to deliver the very best mobile experience and we are excited what this new Windows® phone update will bring our customers, with an improved user interface and access to a multitude of applications through Windows Marketplace.“ said Hidehito Koka, Deputy Managing Director, Toshiba Information Systems UK Ltd, Mobile Communications Division  

An update to the new Windows Mobile® 6.5 operating system for existing owners of TG01 will be available for download from Toshiba’s website: www.toshiba-europe.com/mobile

 

Thoughts?

Posted by: Matt

Android powered gaming device ODROID revealed

Although the device itself doesn’t look particularly inspiring, the concept of manufacturer Hardkernal’s new Android-powered entertainment device is pretty solid.
Slashgear noticed the ODROID floating around the blogosphere. It’s built around the same high-speed CPU as the iPhone 3GS (600MHz Samsung S5PC100 ARM Cortex A8), and also comes with 2 GB of storage, a 3.5 inch LCD touchscreen at 320×480 resolution, Bluetooth, wi-fi, SDHC card slot, accelerometer and an HDMI connector capable of 720p video output.
What the device doesn’t have is cellular connectivity, positioning it more as competition for the iPod touch than the iPhone. Judging by the button layout the ODROID can be used in landscape or portrait orientation, presumably to ensure it is compatible with all the games and applications on the Android Marketplace.
It seems the developer Hardkernal might yet be looking for a manufacturer and/or distribution partner, as there’s no word on if, or even when, the ODROID will become available, or what sort of price we can expect.
Still, it’s a fascinating bit of kit, eh?

[source Pocketgamer]

Samsung’s first Android™ smartphone (i7500) now on sale with O2

Samsung Mobile UK today announces that its Galaxy handset (i7500) is now available on the O2 network in the UK through O2 stores, o2.co.uk and O2’s telesales team. The Samsung Galaxy is the company’s first device powered by Android, giving customers instant access to familiar applications, as well as access to a range of ever-expanding services being developed for the Android platform.

“The Samsung Galaxy is one of the most innovative and high-quality Android-powered devices on the market. We’ve built in all the features people have come to expect from high-end Samsung devices, like the AMOLED screen and fast processing power, to provide a great user experience,” said Mark Mitchinson, VP, Samsung Mobile UK. “We’re fortunate to have the technical ability at Samsung to support a variety of operating systems and demonstrate real leadership in developing the technologies that customers want and understand.’

Live life without boundaries with the Sony Ericsson XPERIA™ X2

Live life in the fast lane with the XPERIA™ X2 from Sony Ericsson. Designed for those who always need to be connected, whether it’s for business or personal life, the XPERIA™ X2 blurs the boundary between work and play.

London, UK – September 2, 2009 – Today Sony Ericsson announces the XPERIA™ X2 a new Windows® phone that offers a best in class email and multimedia experience. In the modern world where 24/7 communication is key, users can instantly synchronise their mail and calendar and open and edit Microsoft® Office Mobile documents quickly and efficiently to stay connected with colleagues wherever they are.

Vorsprung durch Apps – says T-Mobile Germany

September 4-9, 2009, in Berlin, Germany, very big consumer electronics trade show takes place – IFA 2009. It’s bigger than CES, so it’s not small. Both IFA and CeBIT are 2 major trade shows in Germany which always energize German companies to release something and T-Mobile Germany claims that it is releasing wholly new Android phone at IFA 2009… but more important and more interesting is what T-Mobile Germany says about Apps:

Geared for iPhone – review

So, whazzup at app store recently? Well, despite digging through all the latest new app releases, we couldn’t find anything newsworthy, so instead we have taken a look at charts, i.e. which app is the number one, the top selling, paid app in app store these days:

Hands on with the Nokia N900 and Maemo 5

Andrew Orlowski at Register Hardware managed to get some time with the N900 at Nokia World and gives it a thumbs up but wonders how the small battery will cope if you use it as a gaming device.

He was more positive about the future of Maemo and upcoming devices though;

Now that Linux, rather than Symbian, is Nokia’s focus for expensive prestige devices, I’m more confident about improvements. Nokia’s tie-up with Intel suggests larger, faster and more powerful Maemo devices.

The N900 excels at task switching, the communication apps are good enough, and music playback and photo browsing are better than on any previous Nokia.

But even though the N900 is not an essential purchase, Nokia deserves credit for plugging away, and appreciating that a completely fresh approach was needed.

Read the full first look at Register

Update: Tech Radar has a good hands on too.

Next Gen Nokia Messaging Announced

More betas from Nokia World as the Nokia Messaging client gets an early look update to include Social Messaging. With so many sites and protocols for instant messaging coming up, the Social Messaging section hopes to be a clearing house for all your IM needs. This is a very early release, and while support for up to 20 social networks has been mentioned, the client currently only talks with Facebook.

The beta has gone live on Nokia Beta Labs today, and is available for the N97 and 6700. N97 users will be treated to better Facebook integration on the homescreen. Now you can scroll through the latest wall posts without actually leaving the homescreen. If you want to see more from one of your friends, simple click on their status message and you’ll be taken directly to the Nokia Messaging Facebook app, where you can also get the latest messages from your inbox.

Whizzy video here and head over to Nokia beta labs for more.