Author Archive: James Richardson

An Android app for Epilepsy

The Epilepsy Society has launched a mobile app for the Android Market following the charity’s hugely successful iPhone app in 2010. The app, available free of charge, contains essential first aid tips, including a step by step guide to the recovery position, basic information about epilepsy and a link to an interactive seizure diary.

NSE communications manager Amanda Cleaver said:  “Epilepsy is a very complex condition. Being able to record details about seizures and make notes about circumstances leading up to an episode are vital to the management and treatment of the condition.

“We also hope that the app will have universal appeal  as the first aid advice and step by step guide to the recovery position can be a useful tool for anyone.”

The Android app has been developed with the help of employees from IT company Citrix through the company’s Global Day of Impact scheme. Volunteers, including Robert O’Keefe and Shawn Fraser, worked to develop the app based on knowledge of the Android platform and  the design of the original iPhone app.

Robert O’Keefe, localisation manager at Citrix said: “Epilepsy is a subject close to my heart and having the opportunity to put my skills towards improving public knowledge of the condition is invaluable. When I saw the iPhone app in the App Store, I knew there was a chance to reach a wider audience in the Android market and was determined to make it happen. The Global Day of Impact scheme played a crucial role in bringing the app to market and I’d urge more companies to look at similar programmes. “

Commented Amanda: “We are so grateful to Citrix for their help in this project. Thanks to them, the latest technology is now available to more people than ever before.”

The app, ‘epilepsy society’ is available to download free of charge from: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.nse

Posted by: James

Twitter for BlackBerry updates

Twitter for BlackBerry 2.0 is now available in BlackBerry App World. The new update incorporates simplified navigation and new functions, with an updated navigation bar design and the ability to search for Tweets and people from a single location.

Twitter for BlackBerry 2.0 also features a new Compose Tweet button, which acts as a single touch point for composing Tweets from anywhere in the app. Users with BlackBerry smartphones that incorporate the BlackBerry 6 operating system can also benefit from the update, which includes integration with the Universal Search function allowing users to instantly search categories within Twitter.

The application is available to download for FREE from BlackBerry App World.

Posted by: James

Samsung Cube heading to Covent Garden this weekend

Looks like Samsung are going on tour. If you are in Central London this weekend why not pop down to Covent Garden and check out the Samsung Cube where as well as being able to have a go of the new Samsung Galaxy S II you may also win a prize.

Samsung is inviting members of the public to head to London’s Covent Garden this weekend to visit the ‘Samsung Cube’ where they will have a chance to play with Samsung’s brand new premium smartphone, the Galaxy S II and win prizes, including tickets to Take That’s upcoming Progress Live tour.

Visitors to the Samsung Cube, which will be located in the Piazza, will be invited to send a Twitter message using a Galaxy S II and get an exclusive code to unlock the prize safe. Thousands of codes will be released on both days but only a select few will unlock the prizes, with winners receiving either their own Samsung Galaxy S II, a pair of tickets to see Take That, or Samsung mobile phone speakers. For anyone whose code is unsuccessful at unlocking the prizes  at the box, there will be a second chance to win a Galaxy S II by entering their code in an online competition.

The Samsung Cube will also be heading to Manchester on 28^th and 29^th May, and Cardiff on the 4^th and 5^th June. The Samsung Galaxy S II is available in the UK now across all major networks, key high street and out of town electrical retailers and online.

Seems like these tour things are all the rage at the moment. Maybe Matt and I will do one. A pub tour I think!

Posted by: James

HTC Sensation available on Vodafone

Looking to get the HTC Sensation? Well you can order it right now as the new HTC flagship device is available on Vodafone.

The device can be picked free for £35 per month on a 24 month contract although there are other options available, 26 to be precise.

Sporting a 4.3 inch screen, 1.2 GHz dual-core processor and running Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread the HTC Sensation is sure to be a big seller.

It is a real beauty. I had some time with the device when it was first announced and I am certainly looking forward to getting hands on again.

You can order the HTC Sensation by clicking here and the full specs are listed below if you need a reminder.

BlackBerry PlayBook sales appear promising

Many have heavily criticized RIM’s BlackBerry PlayBook since its launch but according to Mike Abramsky, General Manager at RBC Capital Markets RIM have sold 250,000 PlayBooks since launch and as the tablet is currently only on sale in North America this isn’t a bad start if you ask me.

If these figures are correct this means that the PlayBook has had a better start than Motorola XOOM tablet which we reviewed recently.

This is also encouraging for the whole 7 inch market. Sure RIM has a long way to go and they wont be catching up with the Apples iPad anytime soon but with the PlayBook rolling out to other countries next month it is looking like the device could have a pretty good first year. The better the sales, the more developers will support the PlayBook so we should see a much broader range of great apps in time.

Our own BlackBerry PlayBook review is very near completion so keep an eye out for what we think of it in the near future.

Posted by: James

HTC Flyer on Three

If you fancy picking up the HTC Flyer you can now order one from Three. As far as I can see there is only one plan available right now but you do get a whopping 15GB of data for your money.

The plan is a 24 month contract and will cost £30 a month with a fee of £169 up front for the device. Now if you do the maths this is going to cost you £889 in total over the next two years. If you don’t mind that commitment then go for it. Personally, I would wait a while. That is a lot of money.

If you did not see our unboxing video you can do so here.

Posted by: James

T-Mobile Sale

If you fancy picking up a new PAYG handset then until 11PM tonight T-Mobile have a sale on and all phones are reduced by 20%.

Many of the PAYG phones come with 6 months free internet so that in itself is another saving.

Click here to visit the shop but remember you only have until 11 tonight.

Posted by: James