Archive for 2009
O2 released the new XDA Venn last week here in the UK but it’s not a totally new handset. The Venn has been on sale for a while in the USA as the Pantech Matrix Pro on the AT&T network and is also known as the Pantech Mustang 2. For those of you unfamiliar with the Pantech or the Venn it has a unique trick up its sleeve in that it has a dual slide action with both a numeric keypad and and full QWERTY keypad.
The O2 XDA Venn
The Venn is one of the few Windows Mobile Standard devices available at the moment so there’s no touch screen here. It’s a fairly well featured handset though with 528mHz Qualcomm CPU, 128mb RAM, 256mb ROM and quad band connectivity. However, there is a glaring omission in my opinion, the total lack of WiFi connectivity is a real shame as this is something that’s become pretty much standard on most handsets now.
We’ll be reviewing the XDA Venn this week and will have the review online shortly, so for now sit back and take a look at the unboxing video below.
O2 XDA Venn Specification:
- Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard
- Qualcomm 528mHz CPU
- 128MB RAM
- 256MB ROM
- 2.4" QVGA (240×320) transflective display
- Quad Band
- GPRS, EDGE, 3G, HSDPA, HSUPA
- Bluetooth 2.0
- MicroSD memory card support
- 2.0 megapixel camera
- GPS(?)
- Weight: Dimensions: 106 x 51 x 21mm (H x W x D)
Posted by: Matt
You may have heard of Viewsonic monitors before but the company has decided to try the netbook market with two models, the VNB100 and VNB101. What’s more they are actually quite reasonably priced at £299 and £329 respectively, they even have a reasonably good spec!
The Viewsonic VNB100 (left) and the Viewsonic VNB101 (right)
ViewSonic, has entered the PC market on a roll. Today, ViewSonic has announced two additions to its recently released personal computing line – the VNB100 and VNB101 NetBooks.
The VNB100 and VNB101 NetBooks feature portability and power in a sleek, sturdy package. Offering alternative options according to user preferences, ViewSonic has produced the entry-level VNB100 and the high-end VNB101. Drawing on its vast experience in LCD technology, ViewSonic has created two ideal portable PC solutions.
VNB100
Featuring a 10" wide colour TFT Active Matrix LCD, the VNB100 is a basic NetBook consisting of key operational essentials such as a 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor, 1GB memory, 160GB hard drive and Microsoft Windows XP Home, as well as integrated WiFi 802.11 b/g and 10/100 Ethernet for easy connectivity. Three high-speed USB 2.0 ports provide easy peripheral plug in, while the 5-in-1 card reader allows for effortless file transfers. The durable IML finish resists scratching, humidity and extremes in temperature. The VNB100 can expand to become a mini-TV via the PCI-Express slot and can steer users in the right direction with its GPS navigation tool. Eco-friendly, the packaging has been designed to be fully recyclable. Perfect for easy mobile computing, the VNB100 offers all-around reliability in a convenient, compact design.
VNB101
Sporting a super slim 25mm design and light weight (1.1kg), the VNB101 is the elite NetBook that boasts a frameless screen design for brilliant edge-to-edge images. The IML finish resists wear and is perfect for cover printing. Beneath its surface is a powerful Intel Atom N280 processor, plus 1GB memory, 160GB of storage and Microsoft Windows XP Home. With 8 second rapid boot-up, the VNB101 also comes equipped with WiFi 802.11 b/g connectivity, 10/100 Ethernet and built-in Bluetooth, as well as an ultra-light lithium-polymer battery that boasts a battery life of up to 5 hours. In addition, the VNB101 offers comfortable typing with its 92% standard size keyboard and comes bundled with additional software. Multiple touch control pad allows you to easily manipulate any image. Perfect for the professional on the go, the VNB101 provides real power reliability in a well-designed, sophisticated package.
The ViewSonic VNB100 and VNB101 is now available with an SRP – VNB100 £299 inc and VNB101 £329 inc.
As always, we’ll try to get our hands on one for review. I cant help wondering if the netbook market is already somewhat saturated though!?
Posted by: Tracy
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eXpansys Friday Deals: Selected deals between 11am and 5pm, 4th September 2009 |
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*Voucher codes do not apply with these deals. Limited to 2 units per customer, available while stocks last. |
Posted by: Matt
With so many hands on videos coming out of Nokia World this week, its been hard to keep up with all the goodness from Germany. The Nokia N900 hasn’t been shy either and was voted the most anticipated device from Nokia World and is without doubt the best thing to come out of Nokia since the N95.
Is the N900 the device for you?
More after the break…
Next up for the video treatment is the X6, the Capacitive screened touch phone is sure to be a hit with media and social users. It packs live widgets, 32GB of storage and unlimited music downloads, looks like Nokia is going head to head with the iPhone.
More after the break.
More videos coming out of Nokia World this week, this time its the turn of the Nokia N97 Mini. Enjoy this selection and hopefully it will help you decide if the N97 Mini is the device for you.
More after the break.
It seems T-Mobile UK has revealed that it’s going to have an Android Pay-As-You-Go handset named the T-Mobile Pulse; made by the manufacturer Huawei, it will coast around £179.99 and be available in October.
The handset is a 3.5 inch HVGA touch screen with a 3.2 megapixel camera with autofocus, GPS and Wi-Fi and like the HTC Hero; it’s got multiple profile screens. This will be the UK’s first Android handset without contract. Continue Reading »
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.
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
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]
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