News

Googles lucky unlocky screen

It looks like the crafty folks at Google have decided to "head Apple off at the pass", when it comes to Apple’s slide-to-unlock patent disputes. Google engineers and/or patent experts have just filed for a patent on a new way to unlock devices.

In case you haven’t followed the Apple vs. the "world" news much, Apple is suing Samsung and Motorola for various violations of a "slide-to-unlock" patent, that many people feel is a bogus patent to begin with. Google isn’t having any of that though, and instead of needlessly fighting potentially wasteful battles on that front, they are "going over the top" and skipping the issue altogether in the future. Their new patent application is for an "Input to Locked Computing Device" method of locking and unlocking your device. Here’s a quick quote from Engadget’s article with some more details,

Quote:

…the application claims a method for a device unlocking process using one or more user inputs while simultaneously executing a command — like calling a specific contact or opening an application. Those user inputs can take the form of passcodes, touch and drag, or audio commands. While the application’s drawings depict such a system on a phone, it claims an unlocking system for desktops and laptops as well, so it could easily find its way onto a Chromebook or two.

Clever Google. Very clever…

Posted by: Gareth

Everything Everywhere’s 4G LTE getting closer

Everything Everywhere, the UK’s biggest communications company, has unveiled significant progress in its network integration and evolution and outlined the path toward the roll out of 4G LTE.

The roll out of a nationwide HSPA+ (3.5G) network – the latest milestone in the company’s network evolution project – will provide 50% faster data speeds for T-Mobile and Orange mobile broadband customers. In addition, further trials of 4G technology across the country will continue to lay the foundation for a new digital backbone for Britain.

• Roll out of 3.5G HSPA+ 21, will mean faster speeds and improved network performance for T-Mobile and Orange customers
• Subject to regulatory approval by the spring, Everything Everywhere ready to roll out 4G this year
• New trial in Bristol to test 4G LTE using existing 1800MHz spectrum
• £1.5bn network evolution project progressing, with £1.4m being invested every day

The Acer A510 looks pretty smart

Acer’s next high-end Tablet, the Iconia A510 has just passed through its FCC certification hoops. The tablet is due to come out in Europe sometime in April. The tab has some fairly impressive specs:

• 1.3GHz quad-core Tegra 3 processor
• 1GB of RAM
• 10.1-Inch screen with resolution of 1280 x 800
• 16GB, 32GB and 64GB versions
• A microSD slot, mini-HDMI and mini-USB

There is no word yet on a potential price as yet however Acer do tend to come in a little lower than the competition.

Poster by: Gareth

Motorola MOTOLUXE now in stock at Clove

Clove just dropped us a line to let us know that the Motorola MOTOLUXE is now available to order and a day earlier than expected.

The Motorola MOTOLUXE XT615 is an elegantly designed smartphone running the Moto Switch 2.0 user interface on the Android 2.3.7 Gingerbread operating system.

Moto Switch features Social Graph, giving you quick access to the people that you contact most frequently. A feature called Activity Graph also gives easy access to the apps that you use most, while a music discovery tool called Music Now helps you to find new songs and albums.

Powered by an 800MHz Qualcomm processor, the 4″ edge-to-edge display of the MOTOLUXE is housed within a brushed metal outer frame. Just below the screen is a lanyard groove, which rather uniquely also doubles up as a notification light for alerts.

One of the most noticeable features of the MOTOLUXE is its 8MP camera, which features autofocus and LED flash. It’s also accompanied by a 0.3MP front-facing camera, meaning that video calling is a possibility should you wish to chat face to face with friends and family.

In terms of connectivity, the MOTOLUXE XT615 has a range of options, which include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, DLNA and 3G. There’s also a microSD card slot expandable up to 32GB, plus a 3.5mm connection for headphones or a hands-free kit.

Sony Xperia S: teaser video

We have known about the Sony Xperia S for a good month or so now. The device is currently listed by ‘Three‘ as coming soon and whilst on their site I noticed a link to a teaser video of the handset which I don’t think we have posted before.

The Xperia S looks to be a real beauty. You can see the video after the break.

• Unique, stylish design
• 4.3" HD Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA® Engine
• 12 megapixel camera with Exmor R sensor + HD video
• HD sharing with HDMI (cable in-box)
• Super-fast 1.5GHz dual core processor
• Huge 32GB internal memory
• NFC compatible

Angry Birds Space coming in March

Rovio has confirmed that Angry Birds Space will be released on March 22nd  and has NASA and National Geographic on board as launch partners for the game. You can see the teaser video below:

Posted by: James

Sony completes deal to but our Ericsson’s share of Sony Ericsson

The deal is done. Sony has parted with £871 million to buy out Ericsson and the company will now be know as Sony Mobile Communications with Bert Nordberg remaining as president and CEO.

Sony said in a statement: “Sony will rename Sony Ericsson “Sony Mobile Communications”, and further integrate the mobile phone business as a vital element of its electronics business, with the aim of accelerating convergence between Sony’s lineup of network enabled consumer electronics products, including smart phones, tablets, TVs and PCs.”

“With a vibrant smartphone business and by gaining access to important strategic IP, notably a broad cross-license agreement, our four-screen strategy is in place. We can more rapidly and more widely offer consumers smartphones, laptops, tablets and televisions that seamlessly connect with one another and open up new worlds of online entertainment.”

Now I can look forward to a Smartphone that looks just like my TV!

Posted by: James

BlackBerry Bold 9790 now available on Orange

The BlackBerry Bold 9790 has been on the ‘coming soon’ page of the Orange website for ages now. I just popped over to see if it was still in the same section and at last it wasn’t. You can pick up the 9790 for free with contracts starting at £31.00 per month.

You can see our hands on video with the BlackBerry Bold 9790 here or head on over to the Orange site.

You can see the full spec of the device below:

Plants vs. Zombies now available for BlackBerry PlayBook

At long last one of the most popular games for iOS and Android has hit BlackBerry App World today. Plants vs. Zombies will set you back a whopping £5.00 but for that money you will get hour upon hour of addicted fun.

Get ready to soil your plants in the hit PopCap game! A mob of fun-loving zombies is about to invade your home, and your only defense is an arsenal of 49 zombie-zapping plants. Use peashooters, wall-nuts, cherry bombs and more to slow down, confuse, weaken and mulchify 26 types of zombies before they can reach your front door.

Each zombie has its own special skills, so you’ll need to think fast and plant faster to combat them all. But be careful how you use your limited supply of greens and seeds. as you battle the fun-dead, obstacles like a setting sun, creeping fog and a swimming pool add to the challenge. The fun never dies!

We will have a demo video up on the site in the next day or so.

Posted by: James

Going to the Arctic? Take a Samsung Galaxy S II with you

Samsung Electronics UK is proud to announce that its best-selling smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S II, has prevailed in an independent test to ascertain whether phones can function in severe sub-zero temperatures. The endurance test conducted by Finnish magazine MikroPC, has verified that the Galaxy S II is able to function in temperatures ranging from 38°C to -20°C.

The technical review team at MikroPC tested 15 of the most popular mobile phones available to buy in Finland at the Weather Room, a scientific lab situated in the VTT Technical Research Centre at Espoo, Finland. This specialised research lab enables researchers to control the internal temperature, meaning readings can be altered to a fraction of a degree.

MikroPC discovered that the most weather resilient smartphone was the Samsung Galaxy S II, which functioned until temperatures reached -35°C. It was also the only smartphone to run smoothly when the temperature reached -30°C. While the Samsung Galaxy Xcover was not part of the comparison between the 15 most popular mobile phones, it performed just as well as the Galaxy S II.

The initial temperature in the research lab was set to 0°C, from which it was lowered by increments of five degrees until the smartphones being tested stopped functioning. One by one the popular smartphones gave into the cold; however, all five tested Samsung phones survived beyond -20°C.

A major contributing factor that causes smartphones to fail at sub-zero temperatures is the battery. When the temperature drops low enough, mobile phones register that its battery is empty, even if fully charged, and will not turn on.

For those willing to brave the cold, the Samsung Galaxy S II is the smartphone of choice for the arctic climate.

Posted by: James