News

T-Mobile change their minds about data usage

After absolute uproar yesterday when T-Mobile slashed their data allowance from 3GB to 500mb they have today back tracked a wee bit and decided that this will only apply to new and upgrading customers!

 

“On Monday 10 January 2011 we announced that, in line with the rest of the industry, T-Mobile would be reducing its Fair Use Policy for data usage to 500MB a month for all mobile phone customers. Following a further review of our policy, these changes will now be introduced from 1 February, to new and upgrading customers only – not existing customers.

There will be no change to the data packages for existing customers  for the duration of their contract and we apologise for any confusion caused. The revision to the Fair Use Policy is designed to ensure an improved quality of service for all mobile internet users."

Lysa Hardy, VP, T-Mobile UK

So my understanding of this is that if you were thinking of joining T-Mobile don’t bother. And if you are an existing customer and use a lot of data you had better start shopping around for a new network. Sounds harsh but they have nobody to blame but themselves.

Posted by: James

Dell Venue Pro – UK delay

Bad news I am afraid if you have been waiting fro the Dell Venue Pro. Clove yesterday posted on their blog that the device now has a further delay and will not be available until mid February. It is believed that the delay is due to a MMS problem that Microsoft need to fix before releasing the device to us.

Fingers crossed this gets sorted soon. The Dell Venue Pro is the only Windows Phone 7 handset here in the UK with the sliding QWERTY keyboard. I am sure many WP7 fans have been waiting for it and I am quite eager to give it a whirl too.

Come on Microsoft. Pull your finger out.

Posted by: James

T-Mobile move the goal posts on data

This one came to us via a tip from one of our podcast listeners – thanks Andrei. To cut a long story short T-Mobile have decided to slash their data allowance down to 500mb starting February 1st. Andrei tells us he currently has a 3GB allowance on his Android phone and as you can imagine he is not best pleased with this new news and neither would I be.

Below is the official word from T-Mobile on the subject. Make sure you read the last sentence. It is laughable!

Ocosmos announces gaming tablet

I have to be honest and say that OCOSMOS Co. is not a name that I am familiar with but we just heard of the companies latest product; the OCS9 Tablet PC, designed to ‘revolutionise the professional and gaming PC markets’.

OCOSMOS describe the product as being the “World’s Only Tablet with Detachable Controller, Stylus Stand, Pouch and OMOS Key Brings High-End PC Power and Uniquely Intuitive Interface to Gamers and Office Workers”

You can find the full press release below, it certainly looks interesting enough with it’s 9″ multitouch capacitive display, front and rear cameras and running Windows 7. Just curious that the screen is described as widescreen but with a resolution of 1024×768 as the resolution is more like 4:3 than 16:9?

Acer announces the beTouch E210

Acer announces another new Android 2.2 handset at CES, the beTouch E210. It;ll be one of the few Android powered handsets to have a front facing, fixes QWERTY keyboard.

The Acer beTouch range, easily recognisable with its attractive devices, now includes a new model, the Acer beTouch E210.

Its thin shape and refined design characterised by a rounded body – forever-perfect grip – make it the perfect smartphone for people who want to work and have fun. It is an example of style and practicality: compact, linear and professional. In a convenient small size: only 116 mm and 110 g.

The beTouch E210 is one of only a handful of smartphones to combine a touchscreen, a Full QWERTY keyboard and an optical trackpad with the Android 2.2 Froyo operating system. It is designed specifically for people who want to join the fantastic world of the touchscreen phone without giving up the convenience of a conventional keypad. Under the 2.6″ screen a full QWERTY keypad. The well-spaced keys permit maximum ergonomics to ensure precise typing.

HTC Wildfire in Black from Orange

While I was pottering around the Orange website today I stumbled upon the HTC Wildfire in Black as coming soon. Now, although the Wildfire has been around for some time now I have not seen it in black anywhere before and I kind of like the look of it.

As listed as coming soon to pay monthly the device will clearly be free, however as of yet there are no contract prices on the site. I am hoping this one may be a bargain.

Anyway, I just thought I would point it out in case you are in the market for a nice little Android device. You can read our full review of the HTC Wildfire here.

Posted by: James

Mac App Store

If you use a Mac you may want to double check you are running the latest version of Mac OS as the App Store is now available to use.

The store works much the same as it does on an iPhone or iPad making downloads quick and simple. There are both paid and free applications available and apps are stored either in categories, featured or top charts.

My personal favorite i have downloaded is Twitter for Mac. It is not too fancy but works like a dream. Classic games like Flight Control and Angry Birds are also in there.

If you have not downloaded you had better. Enjoy.

Posted by: James

Acer annouces Liquidmini at CES

More news from CES, this time from our old friends Acer. Hoping to capitalise on the budget popularity of the Acer Liquid, which we loved by the way, and have announced their new baby; the Acer Liquidmini.

Full details can be found in Acer’s full press release below and as always we’ll be doing out best to get our hands on one to review!

Introducing Motorola XOOM

Motorola are joining the tablet invasion with the Xoom. The 10.1 inch Honeycomb device was announced at CES yesterday and although it was partnered with Verizon Wireless in the States we are expecting a EU version here at some point in the future.

Looking at the specs below I kind of wish I had this now instead of my iPad although we still have to see what Apple will do with the iPad2 later in the year.

Key Features:

• Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) (More information HERE)
• 10.1″ (1280×800) Touch Screen
• 1GHZ Dual core Tegra 2 Processor
• 3G, but upgradable to 4G
• Front facing 2 megapixel front facing camera
• 5 megapixel rear facing camera  with dual LED flash and 720p video capture capability
• 1080p video playback
• 32GB on board user memory
• 1GB RAM
• 802.11n WiFi
• 730g
• 249.1mm x 167.8mm x 12.9mm

After the break you can see the video that Motorola showed at the launch and the official the press release.