Archive for 2013

Samsung expands its e-book service with Readers Hub 2.0

Samsung Electronics today announced it has expanded its e-book service and will now offer even more customers the chance to transform their digital reading experience with Readers Hub 2.0.  The service brings thousands of bestsellers and e-books from around the world, including illustrated cooking books and interactive reading materials for kids, to owners of Samsung’s smartphones and tablets.

Searching and navigating the extensive catalogue available with Readers Hub 2.0 is now quicker and simpler than before. Its enhanced content recommendation service makes it easy to find the titles that are right for each customer. Once they have made their choice, all they need to do is open the title and the intuitive interface allows them to customise the viewing experience:  change the text size, background colour or screen brightness so that it is just right for each individual, no matter when and where they are reading.

Simply touching the screen brings up a menu that allows readers to highlight key passages and annotate their reading. The notes are stored separately for easy reference, and can be easily shared. Readers Hub 2.0 also allows excerpts to be posted and shared from eBooks on individuals’ social networks, at any time.

O2 offering up personalised voicemail – by Brian Blessed

O2 has recruited acting heavyweight, Brian Blessed – he of the sonorous voice and even mightier volume – to record a series of bespoke voicemail messages exclusively for them on the new Windows Phone 8X and Windows Phone 8S by HTC.

Well known for his Kingly portrayals, Brian Blessed is perhaps best loved for his roles as Prince Vultan in Flash Gordon – for which he is frequently remembered for the famous line “Gordon’s Alive?” – and as King Richard IV in the first series of The Black Adder.

Blessed is now lending his thundering voice to O2 to mark the launch of two new Windows Phone 8 handsets by HTC which, with their customisable interfaces and personalised “live tiles”, allow people to truly tailor their mobile phones.

The first 100 customers who buy either a new Windows Phone 8S by HTC or Windows Phone 8X by HTC between Monday 28^th January and Monday 4^th February and tweet @O2 using hashtag #brianmail will get a personalised voicemail recorded by Prince Vultan himself.   Brian, who’s taking time out from DIVE-ing and discovering Gordon isn’t dead, will be creating completely individual messages based on the person’s name and their interests, meaning no two messages will be alike.

A new iPad Bluetooth keyboard – from ARCHOS Design

Earlier this week ARCHOS Design announced the Bluetooth Keyboard for iPad; a magnetic Bluetooth full QWERTY keyboard for 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th generations. The Bluetooth Keyboard for iPad was created by a new division in ARCHOS that will be dedicated to sharing ARCHOS innovations with other brands. With a very similar look and feel to the ARCHOS Gen10 XS coverboard, the Bluetooth Keyboard for iPad is ultra-thin at only 5mm (0.2”) and features an adjustable kickstand along with an aluminum back casing. Combining the best of both worlds, iPad users can expect this to be available in March for £49 MSRP.

“The needs and wants of today’s consumer have changed drastically over the past few years. Consumers expect everything to be smaller, faster, thinner, lighter and aesthetically pleasing,” says Henri Crohas, Founder and CEO of ARCHOS. “In order to meet this demand we feel that we should share our innovation and design across a number of different platforms.”

Bluetooth Keyboard for iPad features include:

· Ultra-thin Design– At only 5mm (0.2”) this is the thinnest iPad Keyboard available; it’s almost as thin as a Smart Cover

· Adjustable kickstand – Allows one to adjust their iPad for the best viewing experience possible

· Magnetic bonding to the iPad – The keyboard is magnetically held to your iPad

· Automatic screen switch on/off Function – The iPad will turn on or off when the keyboard is removed or placed in the cover position

· Long battery life-Enjoy with your iPad for months thanks to a long battery life via a Bluetooth connection

· Aluminum back casing – Stylish aluminum back casing to match your iPad

· Full QWERTY keyboard – Type easily with a full keyboard and work quickly with iOS shortcuts

More info on the keyboard can be found at archos.com

Posted by: James

Lookout for Android gets updated

The Android mobile security application, Lookout has received an updated bringing two new features – one which is included in the free version and one that premium users can access.

· Lock Cam (available on free version) – lets you know if someone is trying to look at or use your smartphone without your permission. It silently takes a picture with the front-facing camera if the password on you smartphone is entered incorrectly three times. The picture is sent to your email, along with the location of your phone on Google Maps.

· Lock Screen (available on premium version) – if you lose your phone, you can now remotely lock it and tailor the lock screen with a message for whomever finds it. For example: “As you are a lovely person who values good karma, please contact me on XX to return my phone.”

Mobile security has become an increasingly important issue in the UK. The Metropolitan Police says phones are by far the most common item stolen, making up 70% of items taken in personal robberies. In fact, in London alone, 314 phones are stolen each day. Recent research by Lookout reveals some alarming attitudes towards mobile security and privacy in the UK:

· 66% of people don’t have a lock pin or passcode on their phone

· 28% of people admitted to looking at someone else’s phone without permission

· 12% of people surveyed said they found someone looking at their phone without permission

For more information on the new features of the Lookout app, as well the research, please see the full press release below: