Phones

ALCATEL ONETOUCH introduces the IDOL 2 MINI S

Alcatel Onetouch has launched the IDOL 2 MINI S 4G LTE smartphone through Carphone Warehouse. This good looking Android smartphone has been built with performance and usability in mind. Its brushed metallic finishing and diamond cut perfectly complement its Quad Core processing power and a sharp IPS display to create a smartphone perfect for style-conscious consumers. With an 8 megapixel rear camera for HD video capture and crisp photos with image stabilisation enhancements, the IDOL 2 MINI S is a premium choice without the price tag.

With a screen size of 4.5”, the IDOL 2 MINI S is compact and fits in the palm. Despite its size, the IDOL 2 MINI S doesn’t compromise on the user experience. Innovative, user-focused features like One Finger Zoom ensure that it can genuinely be used with one finger.

The IDOL 2 MINI S is available in Slate from Carphone Warehouse priced at £12 per month on pay monthly. 

IDOL 2 MINI S

• 4.5” qHD IPS display
• 8.5 mm thin
• Quad Core 1.2 GHz
• 4G LTE – Cat 4
• 8 Mpxl 1080p main camera
• 2 Mpxl front camera
• Android 4.3 (4.4 FOTA)
• NFC

ARCHOS Platinum Smartphone Range

ARCHOS, a pioneer in Android™ devices, announces the availability of its new range of Platinum smartphones. The ARCHOS 45c Platinum and the ARCHOS 50b Platinum each come with three colourful back casings, the smoothness of Android KitKat®, amazing performance with their MediaTek quad-core processors and IPS screens from £99 and £119 respectively.

 Like their large IPS screens offering amazing colours and viewing angles, the three colourful back covers that come with the new ARCHOS Platinums will bring a bit of colour to autumn months. The interchangeable back covers are included in every box. In Deep Black, Metallic Blue and Spicy Pink they offset perfectly the deep black of the screen, obtained the full black lens lamination process.

 To as an added bonus, the ARCHOS 50b Platinum also comes with a see-through protective case and 8 GB micro-SD card in every box – the perfect back-to-school gift.

 Power in style

 Both Platinums have a 2MP front camera for better selfies and 5 and 8 MP back cameras with autofocus and flash. Able to record video in full 1080p HD, the ARCHOS 45c and 50b Platinums let users capture the colour of their lives in full definition.

 Along with their stylish design, the new ARCHOS Platinum smartphones have the power under the hood with their quad-core MediaTek processors and dual SIM placements.

 “ARCHOS’ latest colourful smartphones bring quad-core performance and the latest multimedia features to the style, utility and affordability conscious consumer. MediaTek is pleased to be powering ARCHOS’ latest Platinum devices,” said Siegmund Redl, MediaTek’s VP and GM of Corporate Marketing in Europe.

 ”Archos is proud to have our latest Platinum smartphones powered by MediaTek’s latest quad-core processors,” said Loïc Poirier, ARCHOS’ CEO, “giving 2014’s Platinum range performance in phase with its stylish, colourful designs.”

The ARCHOS 45c and 50b Platinum are available now from £99 and £119 respectively from www.archos.com and its usual retailers.

For more information about ARCHOS’ entire selection of smartphones, tablets and connected objects, visit us at www.archos.com, Facebook and Twitter.

The new range of ARCHOS Platinum smartphones as well as ARCHOS’ full range of other smartphones, tablets and connected objects will be on display at the ARCHOS stand at HKTDC from October 13^th to 16^th at booth 1A-F09.

When can I get my iPhone 6?

On the 9th September Apple announced not one, not two but three new devices. Possibly the most exciting announcement since the original iPad all those years ago. An exciting moment as Apple expands their product line to provide more choice for the consumer and more fuel for the Apple bashers to attack with. Love it or hate it there is a large percentage out there looking to upgrade to Apple’s latest and greatest. However, where and when are you likely to get one?  The iPhone 6 is due to be released on September 19th in the UK.

You can get one from Apple if you don’t want or need a phone plan. The Apple Store is a little more expensive as you are paying for a SIM unlocked version allowing to put in whatever SIM card you fancy, be it 3G or 4G. Paying for the device upfront allows you the freedom to choose your tariff and even swap to a better deal down the line.

The pricing model has changed a little as the Apple now have multiple phones on their market and this is the first time we have seen the much anticipated 128gb varient.

iPhone 6 – £539 (16GB), £619 (64GB) and £699 (128GB)
iPhone 6 Plus – £619 (16GB), £699 (65GB) and £789 (128GB)

• Three are taking details of those interested in ordering the device, their site was inaccessible last night, possibly due to these phones. You can now register here.
• Vodafone do not have a listing for either of the new iPhones at this point in time however they will update this very quickly, I would imagine. You can pre-register interest on the Vodafone website. 
• Phones4U also have no specific pre-order information, but the company said they’ll be stocking both new iPhones at all Phones 4u stores and online, as soon as they arrive in the UK. Check their site for information on pre-orders.
• EE has been listed as a partner for Apple’s Wi-Fi calling. EE are offering the phone from September 12 on pre-order, and to purchase on September 19. Check out the EE website to do so.
  
• O2 are not taking pre-orders or registry for the iPhone 6 or 6+ at this moment in time. This will change in time and we will update you as soon as we know.

Apple of course announced the iWatch, a sexy looking peripheral for the iPhone. We won’t see this until early 2015. The pricing is $349 and that translates to £220, so we will unfairly round that up to £299 as the likely UK price.

Lenovo Vibe Z2 Pro pops

There was no end of Phablets at IFA, in Berlin, this year. It seems every hardware manufacturer was bringing one to market or giving a serious refreshing to an existing model. Lenovo were no different.

A couple of companies continually popped up repeatedly on the news feeds as their presence at IFA was made known. Lenovo was a prime example. Havin taken over Sony’s PC business end and Motorola Mobility Lenovo are on their way to becoming one of the tech giants. Their line up at IFA was an impressive one.

Amidst their collection of laptops, desktops, tablets and grey area hybrids Lenovo dropped in the Vibe Z2 Pro, rocking a 6-inch  IPS display with a 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution. Running a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 MSM8974AC, with RAM up to 3GB, and built-in 32 GB the Vibe Z2 unfortunately looses expandable storage.

A newly revised 16 megapixel camera with optical stabilization, dual SIM card slots and a impressive 4000 mAh battery compliment the thin metal frame measuring 156 x 81,3 x 7,7 mm and weighing only 179 grams. This is a suitably impressive piece of kit and it looks just delicious!