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One of the shortcomings of Windows Phone 7 is apparently drawing nearer – a recent update that’s been showing up on developer Windows phones includes copy and paste as a headline feature. Microsoft has always promised that it was coming but now we are getting closer to that semi-confirmed “early 2011” timeframe.
It seems to work as you’d expect it to, with a similar method to Android and iOS (how different can it be?) See a short video of it after the break.
With nearly every gadget manufacturer wanting to out a tablet of their own, RIM and their PlayBook is one that seems to be grabbing the headlines, and rightly so. At a Rogers demo, David Neale showed off a demo of a PlayBook with a newer OS build, which was capable of showing the operating system’s multitasking system, though on only one of the two cores of its processor. The interface is very webOS-like with swiping gestures used to manage running apps. Another tasty treat was a full HD 1080p video clip playing very smoothly – it seems like one of the most promising tablets for the future!
Posted by: Vince
Google have finally come clean about the newest release of Android. As the rumours suggested, Gingerbread is indeed version 2.3. It isn’t a huge overhaul of Android, but rather many refinements under the hood and more UI tweaks and enhancements; Honeycomb 3.0, expected early next year, is the one that’s supposed to be the next major release. As well as officially announcing the release, Google have also seen it fit to already begin rolling over the air updates to Nexus One owners, so watch out for the update if you’re a lucky enough to own one. If not, there’s the Nexus S expected to be on sale on the 20th of December. Click through to see a brief summary of the tweaks and improvements over Froyo:
Believe it or not, it doesn’t say ‘delay’ in that title. After countless false starts, Xperia X10 owners are finally getting their first taste of Android 2.1. Despite 2.3 Gingerbread being just around the corner, Sony Ericsson has finally seen it fit to let 2.1 go on their X10s. Sim-free X10s, X10 minis and mini pros have just had their share; now O2 are rolling out theirs, and T-Mobile are prepping for a launch.next week. (now where have we heard that one before?!) If you still have one and have been living off donuts patiently waiting for over a year to get that promised update, you deserve a medal. Still, better than waiting for a white iPhone 4 I guess.
Posted by: Vince
The Oxford PaperShow is the most unusual device I’ve ever tested. It’s a digital-analogue crossover, a bridge between papers and computer screens, a digital tablet that uses paper and a Bluetooth pen that uses ink cartridges… If your livelihood depends on presentations, you will want one. But maybe not just yet.
Best Buy, the consumer electronic giant in the US, are following up their successful UK store launches with the opening of their online store. Currently, they have opened six jumbo stores, including a few that have opened within the last few weeks. For 2011, Best Buy are planning to open a further five stores across the UK if all goes well. In fact, they are planning to have a total of 80 (yes, eighty!) megastores over the next five years, and hopefully give DSGi and the like a well needed kick up the backside and start being more competitive.
Judging by their brick and mortar store openings, we can probably expect the new site to be littered with crazy deals and offerings so be sure to check it out!
Posted by: Vince
How do you test a webcam these days? No, that’s not a joke question. It’s a real problem. Same with a microphone – these days, it’s either it works or doesn’t. But the pair of devices I tested is somewhat different to the rest of their herds.
Vision in HD.
The image on the right, courtesy of Engadget, is a screen grab of the supposed next generation ‘Pre 2’. The French operator SFR have written on their blog about the new Pre 2. It’s unclear what exactly is happening, that SFR have announced it too early, or that it’s not the new Pre altogether, just a mix up (I hope not!) Regardless of what happened, they have mentioned some tasty specs, including an unspecified 1GHz processor coupled with 512MB of RAM running the new webOS 2.0 show. One of main complaints with the original Pre was the sometimes sluggish (and short-lived) performance and the build quality. Hopefully the new silicon inside will solve the first issue, and the grunt of HP will solve the second. The image seems very similar or even identical in terms of looks and form factor to the first Pre, but whether that’s a good thing or not is debatable.
Keep in mind that this is unconfirmed (they have only made a very general and vague announcement) and could all vanish into the land of vaporware.let’s hope not!
Posted by: Vince
The time has come again for another release of an LTS version of Ubuntu, one of the most popular Linux distributions. Being the 10th of October (10.10 edition), Canonical have seen it fit to unleash the Maverick Meerkat on Linux users and abusers, and this version is apparently the best yet. Personally I have installed the new version and there’s an even simpler idiot-proof installer, and a new custom Ubuntu font, which I have to say, looks very nice. This also comes with a new-look interface which, with the effects on, has the wow factor of a truly modern OS; commercial applications are now integrated into a new Software Centre. Just like the previous edition, Canonical is embracing the cloud with Ubuntu One with 2GB of free cloud storage for each and every penguin out there. Notably, there is also mobile access on Androids and iPhones, as well as a music sync function to said devices.
The Netbook Remix edition also includes the new ‘Unity’ interface, designed specifically for smaller screened devices that even includes support for touch gestures – click through for a short demonstration video.
Just as we and no doubt all of you expected, the event we are attending in central London on the 11th is indeed going to be the launch of Windows Phone 7. It will coincide with another event over the pond where Steve Ballmer himself will unveil the first crop of retail devices. Our lucky man James has already had a toy with the new operating system, and he’s also going to be at the event on Monday tweeting live. Over in NYC they’re expecting some hands on with the new phones, and I hope we’ll get the same treatment here!
So what can we expect? Starting with the HD7, it looks to be a monster of a phone with a 4.3 inch display, 8GB storage, 1GHz processor and maybe ‘Dolby Mobile Sound’! The second device circulating the interwebs is the HTC Mozart – this is perhaps more mainstream with a 3.7 inch display, an 8MP camera and more or less every extra you can think of, all wrapped in a 11.9mm thick body. Just as important as the devices is the fact that it looks as if all five main UK operators will carry a WP7 device of some sort, with a Phones4U leak suggesting a release of late October!
So with the dates so close, have you started saving the pennies for a Windows Phone?
Posted by: Vince
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