Author Archive: Matt

More than 20 years in the IT industry. Blogging with a passion and thirst for new technology since 2005.

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By November 27, 2009 Read More →

HP announce the iPaq Glisten

Looking for a Smartphone with a forward facing QWERTY keyboard and a touchscreen? Until now that was a pretty tall order, I can think of only a couple of other handsets that fit the bill, the JAQ3 Springs to mind, but they are all pretty long in the tooth now. So HP have stepped up to the plate with their new iPAQ Glisten which offers a beautiful 2.5″ AMOLED 320×240 Touchscreen display and full QWERTY keyboard. Also sporting the latest Windows Mobile 6.5 OS sounds like a really cool device, right?

HP-iPaq-Glisten-Smartphone_1

So what’s the catch? Well currently it’s only available in the USA and HP have no plans to bring it to the UK at the moment. Real shame I think as it looks like a lovely handset that certainly would fill a big void in the market.

 

Boost productivity-with your fingertips

  • AMOLED Touch Screen: 2.5" diagonal touch screen not only provides a brilliant viewing experience, it streamlines the way you work.
  • QWERTY Keyboard: With 5-way directional pad, it works just like a PC keyboard, making email & texting fast & easy.

Part Phone. Part PC. All Business.

  • Syncs easily to your PC via Active Sync or Microsoft® Exchange
  • Integrated Visual Inbox for more streamlined communications
  • A single, consolidated contact list syncs to your PC for easy contact management
  • Optimized Web experience-for work (and play)
  • 256 MB SDRAM/512 MB Flash for high speed multi-tasking
  • Assisted GPS navigation to keep you moving in the right direction

 

HP iPAQ Glisten Specification:

  • Display: AMOLED resistive touchscreen 320 x 240 pixels – 2.5 inches
  • QWERTY keyboard
  • Windows Mobile 6.5 professional
  • Internal: 256 MB RAM – 512 MB ROM
  • microSD up to 16 GB
  • 2G: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
  • 3G: HSDPA 900 / 1900 / 2100
  • Camera: 3.15 MP, 2048×1536 pixels, autofocus
  • 3.5mm audio jack
  • Dimensions: 112.8 x 62.8 x 13.4 mm
  • Weight: 132 g
  • GPS with A-GPS support
  • Wi-Fi 802.11b/g
  • Bluetooth: v2.0 with A2DP
  • USB: v2.0 microUSB

 

Posted by: Matt

Posted in: News
By November 27, 2009 Read More →

eXpansys Friday Deals 27th November

 
   

eXpansys Friday Deals: Selected deals between 11am and 5pm, 27th November 2009

   
HTC Touch2
Info

HTC Touch2
Windows Mobile 6.5
With £20 eXpansys Vouchers

Normally £279.99
Now £259.99
Save £20

Sony Ericsson MBW-200 Bluetooth Wrist Watch
Info

Sony Ericsson MBW-200
Bluetooth Wrist Watch
(Evening Classic)

Normally £154.99
Now £129.99
Save £25

Bluetooth Wrist Watch
Info

Sony Ericsson MBW-200
Bluetooth Wrist Watch
(Contemporary Elegance)

Normally £154.99
Now £129.99
Save £25

Plantronics DSP-400 USB Headset
Info

Plantronics DSP-400 USB Headset
With Stereo Sound

Normally £29.99
Now £19.99
Save £10

ORA Netbook Leather Pouch Case in Black
Info

ORA Netbook Black Leather Pouch Case
Fits 9"-10" Netbooks By Acer & Dell Mini

Normally £19.99
Now £9.99
Save £10

Premier Systems Travel iPod Speakers
Info

Premier Systems Travel iPod Speakers 2-Pack

Normally £5.99
Now £2.99
Save £3

Windows 7


These deals are available on Friday the 27th November 2009 between 11am and 5pm by following the links above only. Normal pricing will apply outside of these hours*.

*Voucher codes do not apply with these deals. Limited to 2 units per customer, available while stocks last.

 

Posted by: Matt

Posted in: Deals & Offers
By November 26, 2009 Read More →

HTC’s Capacitive Stylus Appears

Yesterday we told you about the extended battery, car kit and the capacitive stylus for the HTC HD2. Well today the first images of the stylus surface on the web.

htc-capacitive-stylus

 

Russian site YouHTC seem to have been the first to get their hands on photos but other sites also have the photos now. We’ll post more photos as we get them.

According to WMPoweruser the stylus will cost £17.25. Apparently the end of the stylus is transparent so you can see though it but with a red dot to indicate where it is being pressed. It’s also curved at the bottom.

 

Posted by: Matt

[Source]

Posted in: News
By November 26, 2009 Read More →

Christmas Competition 2009

Here on tracyandmatt.co.uk Christmas competitions are something of a tradition and this year is certainly going to be no different!

This year we have some fantastic prizes to give away, some from ourselves and some from each of our sponsors and friends. We’re also giving you additional ways to enter the competition this year and each person gets to enter using each method for a total of three chances to win.

So what you can you win this year?

 

Prize

Supplied By

XBOX 360

tm-logo-url 

HTC Touch Diamond2

tm-logo-url 

HTC Hero

 Gráfico1

Samsung Genio QWERTY

 orange-logo

Plantronics Audio 655 Digital USB Stereo Headset

 Clove vector logo

Plantronics Discovery 665 Bluetooth Headset

 Clove vector logo

Clove Technology £30 Voucher

 Clove vector logo

HTC Tattoo

 Expansys-Logo

Nokia 5800 SIM-free

 SuperETrader-Logo

iGame Family iPod Dock

 SuperETrader-Logo

 

There will also be a few smaller prizes that have yet to be confirmed but likely to include HTC goodie bags and a few other things.! 🙂

 

Here’s how you can enter:

  1. The first way to enter is using the normal competition entry form here on the site. Simply let me have your forum name and answer the qualifying question: “Do you want to win a prize?” and you’ll be entered in to the draw. You must be a registered forum member to enter but registration is free and simple. Go to the forum to register.
  2. The second way to enter is to follow us on twitter and to retweet the following tweet: “RT @tracyandmatt I just entered the BIG competition on tracyandmatt.co.uk Find out how you can enter too: http://bit.ly/6gSelV” You can also click the retweet link below to save you copying and pasting the phrase. Your twitter name will also be entered in to the draw.
  3. Finally you can enter by joining our Facebook fan page (www.facebook.com/tracyandmatt.co.uk). Become a fan tracyandmatt.co.uk and we’ll enter you in to the competition. Don’t worry if you are already a fan, we’ll add your name too!

 

RETWEET ME!

 

So that gives you three ways to enter the competition and each person can enter three times using each method once, so you have three chances to win!

We’ll pick the winners at random and will announce who’s won what on Monday the 21st of December so that we can, hopefully, get your prizes to you in time for Christmas!

 

Thanks to Clove Technology, Devicewire.com, eXpansys, Orange and SuperETrader for supplying the prizes!

Please note that while this competition is open to anyone, bue to regional restrictions on the console, I can only offer the Xbox 360 to a UK resident. All other prizes are open to all.

 

This competition is now closed, a list of winners can be found in the Competition Announcement post.

 

Posted by: Matt

Posted in: Competitions
By November 25, 2009 Read More →

HTC HD2 Stylus, Extended Battery and Car Kit

You may have seen on a few other sites that HTC will make a capacitive stylus available for the HTC HD2, presumably for the Asian markets where handwriting recognition is more popular than in Europe or the USA, this sounds quite plausible as we have seen styli for the iPhone on sale in the US recently.

We’ve heard that there will also be a dedicated car kit available for the HD2 which we assume will nicely make use of the car kit option in the settings menu on the HD2.

Another point that you may have also heard elsewhere is that there will be an official extended battery for the HTC HD2 and what you may not have heard elsewhere is that said battery, and larger battery cover will include a ‘kick-stand’ that will allow you to stand the HD2 on a desk or table in landscape mode which is a really cool idea. However, we’ve been told that the HD2 will not fit in the official car kit with the extended battery which is a bit of a shame, but I guess if you have a car kit you will have the HD2 on charge more often than not.

We’re trying to get official confirmation from HTC and get some pictures of these accessories and we’ll share them with you as soon as we get them!

Don’t forget to have a look at our full HTC HD2 review.

 

Posted by: Matt

Posted in: Rumours
By November 25, 2009 Read More →

O2’s HTC HD2 SIM-locked?

A few days ago we told you that HTC HD2 was now available on the O2 network here in the UK, something that was pretty popular with many of you!

HD2

HTC HD2

HOWEVER, a word of warning to any of you thinking about getting the HD2 via O2, we are hearing reports for various sources that and HD2 acquired through O2 will be SIM-locked to the O2 network! So you cant get the HD2 and use it on another network without getting it unlocked, and at this moment in time there is no unlock for the HD2, not that we know of anyway, please correct me if I am wrong!

If you are an O2 customer with the HD2 and are able to confirm this please do let us know, I have contacted O2 but have no official response so far. I’ll keep you posted!

 

Posted by: Matt

[Technorati Tags: , , ]
Posted in: Phones
By November 25, 2009 Read More →

Samsung ST550 unboxing video

It’s been a little while since we last reviewed a digital camera here on the site and even longer since we looked at one from Samsung. Last week Samsung sent us over the Samsung ST550 digital camera, a good looking piece of kit but with an innovative ‘trick’ up its sleeve (or lens).

The Samsung ST550 digital camera

The Samsung ST550 digital camera
 

Not only is the ST550 well specified in the lens and sensor department, with a 4.6x optical zoom, 12 megapixel sensor and 3.5″ touchscreen on the rear but the ST550’s real party piece is the forward facing LCD screen right next to the lens. When you first see this in action you realise what a simple idea it is and wonder why on earth it’s never been done before. How many times have you tried to take a picture of yourself with friends or family holding the camera at arms-length to take shot? Well this makes the process a little easier!

The forward LCD isn’t just limited to live view mode though either, it can also display a count-down for the self timer or display a smiley face when you are about to take the picture, idea for taking pictures of kids!

We’ll be looking at the Samsung ST550 over the coming weeks and will have a review online for you soon. For now, have a look at the unbox for a quick tour of the camera.

 

Samsung ST550 unboxing video

 

Samsung ST550 specification:

  • Style: Ultra Compact
  • Megapixels: 12
  • Print Ratios: 4:3, 16:9, 3:2
  • File Formats: JPEG
  • Memory Cards: Micro SD/ Micro SDHC
  • Zoom: 4.6x
  • Focal Length Equivalent: 27-124.2mm
  • Shutter Speed: 8 – 1/2000 seconds
  • Aperture: F3.5(W) – F5.9(T)
  • Sensitivity: Auto, ISO 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200
  • White Balance Settings: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent_H, Fluorescent_L, Tungsten, Custom
  • ExposureCompensation: -2EV to +2EV (in 1/3EV steps)
  • LCD Screen: 3.5 inches
  • Flash Modes: Auto, Auto & Red-eye reduction, Fill-in flash, Slow sync, Flash off, Red eye fix
  • Flash Range: 3.4m
  • Shooting Modes: Portrait, Night Portrait, Backlight Portrait, Macro Portrait, Backlight, Landscape, White, Action, Tripod, Night, Macro, Macro Text, Blue Sky, Sunset Sky, Natural Portrait, Natural Green, Beauty shot, Frame Guidet, Portrait, Children, Night, Landscape,Close up Text, Sunset, Dawn, Back Light, Fireworks, Beach, Snow
  • Maximum Movie Resolution: 1280 x 720 pixels
  • Maximum Movie Frames Per Second: 30 fps
  • Maximum Movie Duration: To capacity of memory card
  • Macro Focus: 3cms
  • Metering: Multi-pattern, centre weighted, spot
  • Image Stabilisation: Yes
  • Video Out (TV Playback): Yes
  • Computer Connection: Yes
  • Batteries: Lithium-ion Rechargeable
  • Dimensions: 99.8 x 59.8 x 18.6mm
  • Weight: 165.7g

See the Samsung ST550 page for more info.

 

Posted by: Matt

Posted in: Videos/Unboxings
By November 22, 2009 Read More →

HTC HD2 Camera Problems?

If you read our HTC HD2 review last week you may recall that James mentioned some issues with the camera in our review device, he noticed a purple-ish halo or ‘pink splodge’ in the middle area of the photos.

At the time neither James nor I took much notice of this, putting it down to odd lighting conditions rather than a specific camera issue. However, there are more reports coming in from other users about the camera quality issues and now even HTC have confirmed that this is indeed a caused by a hardware fault and as such can only be resolved by repairing/replacing the handset itself.

 

Dear valued HTC customer, Thank you for your enquiry about your handset. This is a hardware issue and you can contact your re-seller to exchange the device for another one or contact us and we will send this device to be repair. If these steps have not helped, please let me know by responding using the link provided and I will be happy to check again for you.

 

Shame to hear that this is an issue that comes right on the back of many reported problems with battery life. Again, if you are experience either of these problems please post on the forum and left us know!

 

Posted by: Matt

[Source]

Posted in: News
By November 21, 2009 Read More →

iGame Family unboxing video

Something a little different to unbox and review this week, SuperEtrader sent me over the iGame Family iPod dock to have a look at.

iGame

The iGame is a simple concept, take an iPhone or iPod and drop it in to the iGame dock and you can play some cool games with a proper wireless controller on your TV screen. Offering games similar to the Wii it’s not just limited to games you can also watch your iPod movies on your large-screen TV of stream your music. Seems set to be the must-have gadget of Xmas 2009!

Take a look at my brief video below which will give you an overview of the hardware involved:

 

iGame Family unboxing video

 

Compatible with :-

  • iPod Touch 1st Generation 8GB 16GB 32GB
  • iPod Touch 2nd Generation 8GB 16GB 32GB
  • iPod Classic 120GB
  • iPod Classic 80GB 160GB
  • iPod 5th Generation (video) 30GB 60GB 80GB
  • iPod 4th Generation (colour display) 20GB 30GB 40GB 60GB
  • iPod 4th Generation 20GB 40GB
  • iPod nano 4th Generation (video) 8GB 16GB
  • iPod nano 3rd Generation (video) 4GB 8GB
  • iPod nano 2nd Generation (aluminium) 2GB 4GB 8GB
  • iPod nano 1st Generation (video) 1GB 2GB 4GB
  • iPod mini 4GB 8GB

iGame key features:

  • iGAME lets you get the very most out of your iPod
  • Browse through your iPod folders on the TV using the iGAME controller
  • Great Fun For all the Family – 3d Action Games
  • Use the dock to Watch Movies Through Your TV
  • Play Music and Podcasts Through your TV
  • Additional Games Available through the ELONEX Website
  • Compatible with Nano, Touch and Classic iPods
  • iPod not included

Tracy and I will be spending time playing with the iGame over the weekend, all in the name of research you understand, and we’ll have a review for you soon!

 

Posted by: Matt

Posted in: Videos/Unboxings
By November 20, 2009 Read More →

Samsung Omnia Pro unboxing video

The Samsung Omnia Pro will be the second Omnia branded handset that we’ll look at this week as the Omnia Lite review is already under way.

The Samsung Omnia Pro

The Samsung Omnia Pro

 

The Samsung Omnia Pro B7330 (Aka Pro Scala) is one of any a few Windows Mobile Standard handsets out there at the moment, even fewer are of the forward-facing QWERTY keyboard design. The Omnia Pro goes pretty much head-to-head with the HTC Snap which has been around a little while now.

The Samsung Omnia Pro ships with Windows Mobile 6.5 Standard, you need to upgrade the Snap to get to 6.5, and is a good looking handset. There’s isn’t a great deal of difference between WinMo 6.1 Standard and WinMo 6.5 Standard visually, the difference is no where near as obvious as Professional 6.1 vs Professional 6.5 but there are a number of differences under the hood.

James is reviewing the Samsung Omnia Pro at the moment and will undoubtedly be comparing it to his HTC Snap. We”ll have the review for you soon.  Until then we’ll leave you with the unboxing video below.

 

Samsung Omnia Pro unboxing video

 

Samsung Omnia Pro B7330 specification:

  • Operating System – Windows Mobile 6.5 Standard
  • Memory – 4GB + 2GB + Micro SD (up to 32GB)
  • Display – 2.62″ 65K 320 x 320 TFT LCD
  • Operating Frequency – GSM Quad band / HSDPA 7.2 Mbps, (850/900/1800/1900MHz)
    WCDMA Dual band/ HSUPA 2.0 Mbps (900/2100MHz)
  • Bluetooth v2.1 + EDR
  • USB 2.0 HS
  • Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
  • A-GPS
  • MicroSDHC (Up to 32GB)
  • FM Radio wih Auto Tuning
  • 3.2 MP AF + CIF (VT Camera)
  • Video Recording – 320 x 240 (QVGA)-12fps (MAX, QVGA), 12fps (MAX, QVGA) H.263+AMR NB, MPEG4+AMR NB, ASF, Real One, PVX, WMV
  • QWERTY Keyboard
  • Talk Time – Up to 4 Hours
  • Standby Time – Up to 400 Hours
  • Battery – Li-ion 1500mAh
  • Dimensions – 114.9 x 59 x 10.8 mm
  • Weight – 109g

 

Posted by: Matt

Posted in: Videos/Unboxings
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