News

ViewSonice previews new product range

Launching into the tablet market in 2011, ViewSonic plans to further this impressive momentum by expanding the ViewPad product family with new 10-inch business and consumer-focused tablets running Windows and Android operating systems. ViewSonic’s ViewPad tablet line is the ideal choice for sharing, reading, working and playing on a mobile device. The ViewPad 7e, an Android-based 7″ tablet offers Amazon services for Android integration, Amazon Kindle for eBook reading and RiteTouch for writing directly on the screen. The business line of tablets, which include the ViewPad 10pro, run Windows 7 Professional and provide the ability to boot Android as well.

Pushing the envelope of innovation, ViewSonic has partnered with EXOPC to build one of the first EXOdesks, a 32″ 10-point touch table top which runs a custom user interface open to HTML5 developers. The desk, on display during CES, will be powered by an Intel CoreT i7 processor, Intel’s integrated graphics and will run Windows 7 operating system.

Leveraging the company’s display heritage, ViewSonic will show an impressive universal display with projected capacitive multi-touch input. It is designed to allow consumers and business professionals to connect their smartphone, tablets and laptops wirelessly and share photos or stream media content from services such as YouTube, and extend desktop mode for dual display.

“The past year has seen ViewSonic at the cutting edge of visual display technology, including 3D and touch, and our vision for 2012 further propels us into every aspect of work and the home. We believe a multi-touch, vivid and compelling user interface will be the wave of the future and the innovations we plan to showcase at CES 2012, including the much-buzzed about EXOdesk, support that belief,” said Jeff Volpe, president for ViewSonic Americas.

Posted by: James

No BlackBerry 10 smartphones until late 2012

Bad news if you are waiting out for a QNX powered BlackBerry. At yesterdays earnings call RIM CEO Mike Lazaridis reported that the BlackBerry 10 devices would not be manufactured until mid 2012, meaning availability would be later in the year.

The reason for this is a particular chipset that RIM are waiting to use in the new handsets. RIM believe that in order to release devices that stand up against the competition and still have great battery life it is worth the wait.

On a personal level I am quite disappointed with the news. However, what would be more disappointing would be to get a new BlackBerry 10 device that didn’t perform as well as it could. At least we have the sturdy Bold 9900 to see us through next year.  

If you are a BlackBerry fan how do you feel about waiting up to a year for a BlackBerry Super Phone?

Posted by: James

First (leaked) Official Samsung Ice Cream Sandwich ROM appears

The latest major Android refresh was only released on the Galaxy Nexus a short time ago, but Samsung have been busy updating their current devices to Ice Cream Sandwich. A beta release, leaked by a Samsung insider, shows their progress on the Samsung Galaxy SII. Most of the basic functions are working, but with many force-closing apps and random reboots, it’s an unstable release which isn’t recommend to anyone just yet. While it has only showed up so far on the GSII, there will be other devices updated, with the final builds arriving early 2012.I hope. Perhaps unsurprisingly, TouchWiz has made the jump over to Android 4.0 too, and while many are passionate about the stock ‘vanilla’ look, it’s understandable given that many consumers out there are already accustomed to TouchWiz – updating to a completely new look and feel may be somewhat of a shock to some!

See a video of the GSII with ICS in action after the break.

HP webOS made Open Source

At the end of last week HP announced that they would be making webOS open source. Initial reactions were that this would be a really good thing and personally I was in agreement. As I said may times in review and on our podcast, I liked the operating webOS operating system that Palm/HP put on the Pre and Pixi but was massively unimpressed with the hardware so opening up webOS to other manufacturers sounds good, I’ve love to see a webOS HTC phone!

Indeed rumour has it that HTC are already working on a webOS handset.

So what’s the downside? Well one has to wonder what will happen to webOS. Will HP simply abandon the platform? That is perhaps the worry and the risk now as HP wont be making the money from the OS that they once were or had hoped to. Will they continue to love and support it?

In their press release, which you can see below, HP assures us that “HP plans to continue to be active in the development and support of webOS” but you have to wonder to what degree they will now do that.

Droid Deals Day 4

Well it’s Day 4 into Google’s 10 day celebration of 10 billion downloads from the Android Market and there is a whole new selection of titles available for a measly ten pee. Yesterday’s selection wasn’t too bad but today’s list of available games and app for 10p is pretty stellar (12p including VAT!)

So without further delay, here are today’s 10p games and apps. .

• Spirit HD
• Farm Frenzy
• Toddler Spanish
• Need for Speed Shift
• Game Dev Story
• Shazam Encore
• Sentinel 3: Homeworld
• Jelly Defense
• Baseball Superstars 2011
• My Beach HD

Posted by: Gareth

10p mayhem continues for Android

Here we are with batch three of Google’s big celebration with another bunch of carefully chosen price cuts for you. Each one will be considered by many as essential software and at this price it’s probably worth snapping them all up.

• Blue Skies Donation Wallpaper: https://market.android.com/details?id=fishnoodle.clouds
• Can Knockdown 2: https://market.android.com/details?id=pl.idreams.CanKnockdown2
• Talking Tom Cat 2: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.outfit7.talkingtom2
• Space Physics: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.doodle.main
• Reckless Getaway: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.polarbit.Getaway
• Tetris: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.eamobile.tetris_eu&feature=related_apps
• Toki Tori: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.polarbit.tokitori
• Homerun Battle 3D: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.com2us.HB3D
• ADWLauncher EX: https://market.android.com/details?id=org.adwfreak.launcher
• Kids Learn to Read (Preschool): https://market.android.com/details?id=com.intellijoy.android.reading

Posted by: Gareth

Android deal-a-thon continues

So today marks Day three of the huge sale going on with the Android Market to celebrate 10 billion downloads on the market. Just like yesterday, there are some prime titles available for a measly 10 pence once again. Some are apps while others are games but all are top notch.

So here is today’s list of 10p deals for you to snatch up as Google celebrates 10 billion downloads:

• Fruit Ninja
• Beautiful Widgets
• Reckless Racing
• Read It Later Pro
• AirSync
• NFL Rivals
• Flick Golf
• Star Charts
• Christmas HD Live Wallpaper
• BB – Bedtime Battle

Posted by: Gareth

Everything Everywhere to invest 1.5 billion on network improvements

Everything Everywhere CEO Olaf Swantee has today announced that the network is to invest £1.5 billion on the network over the next three years.

The scheme will see the operator further integrate its T-Mobile and Orange networks, upgrade existing network technology and start preparations for the role out of 4G technology.

Everything Everywhere has been involved in 4G trial with BT Wholesale since September providing the technology to consumers in rural areas of the UK.

Everything Everywhere stores outperforming Orange and T-Mobile

Everything Everywhere stores are giving better customer service than Orange and T-Mobile shops, according to customer exit polls.

The EE stores are rated as at least 10 per cent better than the single-brand outlets say polls covering customer satisfaction, customer experience and their dealings with staff.

The figures were revealed last month at the launch of an EE concept store at Westfield London Shopping Centre. EE head of store format Alan Howard and vice president of retail Andrew Coull said the roll-out of 21 EE stores this year had increased EE brand awareness.

They claimed the survey was proof that new layouts in EE stores were effective.

BlackBerry 10 to be the name of the the next generation of devices

We all now know that BBX was to be what RIM’s QNX device software was to be called. Well, it appears to have changed. Research in Motion have tweeted from their developer account and stated that BlackBerry 10 will in fact be the name.

I suppose for the general public, and not us phone geeks, this is a good thing and less confusing. What happened to the 8 and 9 though?

Posted by: James