News

Coming soon to Three – Samsung GALAXY Tab

Three has confirmed it will be ranging the Samsung GALAXY Tab (GT-P1000). Samsung’s Android flagship Tablet.

A network built for mobile Internet, Three will provide fast and reliable 3G connectivity for the Samsung GALAXY Tab, making the most of product features such as phone functionality, front and rear facing cameras for video calls, downloading e-books, using GPS and searching the Internet with full Flash capability.

Nigel Field, Director of Devices at Three said, “With both the Android and tablet markets going from strength to strength, we’re proud to be ranging the Samsung GALAXY Tab. More than 97% of Three traffic over the network is data, so more than ever consumers need to make sure they’re on a network that can cope with the demand when buying mobile Internet devices like tablets. With both SIM and Wi-Fi connectivity, Samsung GALAXY Tab users on Three can get the most out of the product knowing they’re with the UK’s number one mobile broadband provider.”

Galaxy Tab – UK & EU prices confirmed, rest of world confused

While we’ve just got a confirmed price for Samsung’s hotly awaited Galaxy Tab, it seems the rest of the world is still in confusion. UK retailers Clove.co.uk have price the 16GB version at £616.88 (inc VAT), that just over $800.  This price is for a SIM-free version so it does appear that the device will be priced rivalling a high end phone (which are always expensive) as opposed to rivalling the Netbook sector that tablets are expected to eclipse next year.  Similar high prices are popping up in the EU with Amazon.de having the device for €699 and €799 for the 16GB and 32GB versions respectively (that’s over $800 or $1000!), which is perilously close to the price of the Apple device it’s meant to be rivalling.

These seem to be upper estimates though, as O2 Germany later confirmed a price of €99 for the device and a further €27.50 for the line rental over 24 months.  This ties in closely with Samsung executive Hankil Yoon’s figures of $200 and $300 given in the Wall Street Journal.  This would seem more accurate as at this price point, the Tab’s closest contract rival now becomes Dell’s Streak, a device that has already laid the table for Android tablets and mobile operators.  Of course, the Tab betters in most departments and with the right contract and initial outlay, UK operator Vodafone could have a worthy alternative to Dell and Apple’s devices.  Galaxy Tab tariffs are expected to be announced next month on Vodafone throughout the EU.

Posted by: Ian

O2 release HTC Desire Froyo update – wait, no they didn’t

In a strange display of corporate confusion, O2 today released the long awaited Android 2.2 firmware update for the network’s Desire handsets, only to pull it shortly afterwards.  Why did the network pull the update so quickly?  Well it appears that not all Desires took to the update well, with O2 stating some handsets were experiencing issues.  While it’s clearly frustrating – especially as the vanilla HTC update has been around for a while now, and with many UK networks already having their own version out – firmware flashing is a process that can brick a handset in seconds.  It seems O2 would rather be safe than very, very sorry.  Here’s the situation in their own words:

“As some of you will have noticed the Android 2.2 Froyo update for HTC Desire on O2 went live this morning. While we’re pleased that so many of you have been able to download it successfully and are enjoying the benefits of 2.2, we have seen that a small number of people are having problems installing the update.

While we check out these issues we’re putting the 2.2 update on hold. We’ll update you as soon as possible and would like to thank our HTC Desire customers for their patience.”

Posted by: Ian

First Windows Phone 7 Advert

Microsoft have started their marketing campaign by showing a video advert at a one of cinema showing last week.

I’m not sure if we will see this same advert appearing on our TVs but as you will see below the phone displays the words ‘The Revolution is coming’.

Will we all be dumping our iPhones, Android and BlackBerry smartphones for a WM7 device? I wouldn’t have thought so, straight away at least, but you never know.

We will have some hands on time with Windows Phone 7 in the coming weeks so stay tuned for some video.

WP7 advert after the break

iPod Touch an iPhone? Well Apple’s Photoshop People Seem to Think So

The 4th gen iPod Touch is basically just an iPhone without the phone, right? Well someone at Apple’s art department seems to think differently, as they have managed to accidentally include the phone app in the images of the latest iPod Touch.  And it doesn’t stop there, when you search using Spotlight, you get SMS as well. But it does remind you that Apple is not just a heartless company with robots for employees. They do make the occasional mistake *cough* iPhone antenna problems *cough*.

Read on for the images…

HTC HD3 is HD7 and is a beast of a WP7 device

Android may have the software but if the rumours of the forthcoming HD3 are to be believed, it could really be the HD7 that James alluded to last week.  With stunning specs to make a netbook blush, it may have the first dual-core CPU in a phone (1.5 MHz ARM) and a staggering 1280×800 4.5" AMOLED screen.  There’s also a rumoured 8 megapixel camera, 1gb of internal memory and up to 32gb of ‘external’ memory.  All this will be the engine for Redmond’s newest and brightest – Windows Phone 7.  Many are saying that WP7 has a possibly insurmountable mountain to climb but armed with hardware like this and integrated features like Xbox Live, only a fool would place all the chips on MS’s failure.  Is this the beginning of the dreadnought-like uberphones?

Posted by: Ian

Carphone Warehouse launches 14 day coverage guarantee

Carphone Warehouse has launched a 14 day coverage guarantee – the first policy of its kind to offer exchanges or refunds on new products where network coverage is inadequate.

The new coverage guarantee will allow store managers to refund any new product where consumers report coverage difficulties at home or at work rather than relying on computerised coverage maps to sanction refund policies.

Matt Stringer, MD of Carphone Warehouse, said: ‘Some customers have reported that they can be put off switching network operator because they are worried about bad reception in their home or office. With the Coverage Guarantee we’re leading the way in giving consumers the confidence to choose the network deal best for them, secure in the knowledge they can change if necessary.’

Nice work CPW!

Posted by: James

iOS 4.1 Jailbreak Ready

It is not even out yet, but the good people over at the iPhone Dev Team have managed to Jailbreak iOS 4.1. ?Comex, the creator of the Spirit and jailbreakme.com jailbreaks is saying that he has already located 2 exploits in iOS 4.1. The first one is similar to the jailbreakme.com jailbreak as it uses a loophole in iOS itself, which makes it simple for the user to impliment, whereas the second one is in the bootrom of the iPhone at the hardware level. Which makes the second jailbreak will be much harder to impliment than the first, but as the second one is deep down within the iPhone, it will be much harder for Apple to lock it down.

Look for it to be available the same day that iOS 4.1 is, which is rumoured to be September 8th.

Posted by Patrick

[ Post Tags: Apple, iOS, iOS 4.1, iPhone 4, tracyandmatt.co.uk ]

Toshiba and Philips join the 3D TV party

Along with Tablet, 3D is the definitely the buzzword of IFA and two more major TV manufactures are getting in on the act.  Toshiba, while still not ready to unleash the frankly scary Cell Regza on shores outside Japan, have gone all in with 3D and LED on their latest sets, the REGZA WL768 series.  Coming in 40″, 46″ and 55″ flavours, they will hopefully herald a slightly cheaper option to the Samsung 8000 series, currently the cheapest 3D LED option. 

Posted by: Ian

Customers can roam across Orange and T-Mobile from 5 October

Orange and T-Mobile customers in the UK will be able to roam across both networks from 5 October.

Everything Everywhere CEO Tom Alexander said:

“We see this as a step change for Everything Everywhere,’ said Alexander, speaking at the first year anniversary of the merger announcement between the two companies.”