Author Archive: Gareth

Android building up steam

The last few weeks have seen a slurry of new Android devices being announced or actually released, some on this side of the pond, others in the USA, after what can definitely be called a slow start, Android is now marching full steam ahead.

Windows Mobile is in a state of flux, you can’t argue with that statement, it’s now so far behind I wonder if it can ever catch up, we will see when Windows Mobile 7 eventually hits devices sometime next year if Microsoft have really given it the time and effort it so craves, I have my doubts, hell Steve Ballmer didn’t even know what phone model he was using on the Engadget Show interview last week, that says it all for me.

Is Android on the right track to hit the top?, for me it appears that it is following a very similar route to Windows Mobile, lots of devices, lots of different form factors and lots of different software versions.

Not all devices are getting the latest software updates, not all devices are Google branded, if they run customised UI’s like the HTC Hero they are not classed as Google phones, it is all heading into messy land, can it be managed well, I seriously doubt it however Gartner seem to think so as they predict Android will overtake Apple and be second only to Symbian by 2012.

Where does this leave little old Palm, not a big brand like Apple, Microsoft or Google, it does not look good. What’s your thoughts?

Google’s swish Navigation Beta in Android 2.0

Here’s a pretty cool article from Android Community featuring some lovely images and a video of the Google’s new Maps Navigation Beta that may hit with Android 2.0.

While we may have caught up with the main features of Android 2.0 earlier this week, Google have been keeping one surprise.  Google Maps Navigation Beta is an update to the company’s free GPS app, initially exclusive to Android 2.0 devices such as the Verizon DROID by Motorola, adding in turn-by-turn directions, vocal prompts, speech-recognition and more.

Palm giveth and Apple taketh away

It’s must be frustrating being a Pre owner and wondering if your phone is going to sync in the morning. For many, it won’t, again. Hopefully only for a short time but it’s becoming quite tired to see Apple acting like a petulant child not letting any other kids play with their toys. Does Apple really feel so threatened that need to make things difficult for Pre users.

Disney.com for iPhone released

Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple, is a major shareholder in Disney (he owns stock worth several billion dollars) because Disney aquired Pixar so it is no wonder that Disney now is Apple-friendly. Donald Duck using iPhone? Mickey Mouse booting Mac? Yea betcha!

We have tried this app and it has very polished graphics with animations as well as some trivia quizzes, games and other content (it includes both old Disney characters like Donald Duck and Pixar characters like that cowboy from Toy Story):

Nokia N97 2.0 Firmware Now Available

Nokia has released the highly anticipated V2.0 Firmware for the N97 phone. Users can expect speed improvements, security fixes, Ovi Maps 3.1 and more.

Although the Nokia N97 hasn’t been the company saving handset the company had hoped for, it still retains a loyal following and Nokia has reciprocated this trust with today’s firmware 2.0 update which addresses a number of of security and bug issues. A list of the updates is below:

Msmobiles.com Podcast 303

msmobiles.com Podcast 303
(format: MP3)
(right click above to download the podcast)

You can listen to this podcast also from this web page, through the Flash player:

URL to RSS feed of this podcast (for your podcast catcher) is:
http://x.msmobiles.com/portal/podcast.xml

If you use iTunes then click HERE to subscribe to this podcast.

In this episode Edward from msmobiles.com is chatting with: Mickey from The Cellphone Junkie podcast, Alli from JustAnotherGeekSite.com, Gareth from Mobile Tech Addicts.

WebOS 1.3 to be released worldwide by November 15th?

So we found out today that the Pixi’s official launch date is going to be November 15th at the fairly low price of $99.99. Well this news can only mean one thing. WebOS 1.3 is around the corner! We saw in all the press releases that the Palm Pixi already has included with it a Facebook app which was developed by Palm themselves and Yahoo integration into Synergy allowing for you to add your Yahoo friends to chat with and contacts into your contacts app. Well the Pre doesn’t have this yet. When Engadget’s, Joshua Topolsky was given the demo of the Pixi, he asked if these new apps and Yahoo integration would be included on the Pre as well and the gentleman said yes the Pre will not be left out. We also heard a rumor from a website that reviewed the German version of the Pre that WebOS version parady would happen sometime in mid November. So this means an update is definitely coming. Whether there will be any other features added is uncertain at this point but, if you look at the length of time between each .1 update we have received in the past we are actually overdue for 1.3. So keep your eyes peeled for WebOS 1.3 news in the coming weeks because we are pretty confident it is on the way.

[Source: Prethinking]

Official HTC WM6.5 ROM Upgrades for Touch Diamond2 (Topaz) – Multi Languages

Whether you’re an English or a Russian HTC Touch Diamond2 (Topaz) user, we’ve got an official WM 6.5 ROM update for you. We currently have the official ROM in six languages. They are English, Russian, Norwegian, Danish, ELL, and SVE. They are now all available for an immediate download from our Apps section.

Where to download:
Official WM6.5 ROM Upgrade – HTC Touch Diamond2 (Topaz) – Engish Version
Official WM6.5 ROM Upgrade – HTC Touch Diamond2 (Topaz) -Russian Version
Official WM6.5 ROM Upgrade – HTC Touch Diamond2 (Topaz) – Norwegian Version
Official WM6.5 ROM Upgrade – HTC Touch Diamond2 (Topaz) – Danish Version
Official WM6.5 ROM Upgrade – HTC Touch Diamond2 (Topaz) – SVE Version
Official WM6.5 ROM Upgrade – HTC Touch Diamond2 (Topaz) – ELL Version

Source: htcpedia

HTC HD2 Now very almost nearly on o2 website

Gah! Come on o2, this is like.. torture or something. The HTC HD2. We all know how good it is. Since the announcement we’ve been hunched over our laptops, furiously watching videos and drooling at the early reviews.
Now it’s taken another (tiny) step closer, with the HTC HD2 available to select in the o2 accessories section. Sure, the phone itself still isn’t on the site (some Palm Pre thing is getting in the way), but it’s a little glimmer of hope for those of us waiting to get a hold of the real thing.

[source Coolsmartphone Link – o2 Accessories