News

Sense UI goes Magic

OK, I’m not gonna give you all an Apple quote and say this post is made of Magic but instead I will tell you all that HTC have now released the Sense UI for the HTC Magic.

The update will completely wipe your ROM so make sure you backup your data before taking the new UI accross and remember that you can view your contacts online with Android by visiting Google Contacts (sign into Google before visiting).

To download the new Sense UI for the HTC Magic simply pop on over to HTC’s website and ensure you have your data cable handy.

Posted by: John McKenzie

Nokia N900 gets Firefox!

Hopefully you will have seen our Nokia N900 review by now and you’ll know that we quite like the handset and, in particular, like the browsing experience on it. That’s set to only get better now though as from today you can download Firefox for Mobile 1.0 for the Nokia Maemo 5 platform.

I downloaded it a few hours ago to have a look at and have been impressed with it, there’s Javascript support and Flash support too, although the latter needs to be enabled manually and it’s not perfect but it has a good go!

Anyone with a Nokia N900 should definitely check Firefox Mobile 1.0 out, well worth the download I’d say!

Now, where did I leave my fox?! 😛

Posted by: Matt

Samsung S560 Monte Leaked

My fingers are now starting to get sore with the amount of news I have typed up today, but gotta keep it coming while it’s there so here is the latest instalment of Samsung’s leaked handsets.

The Samsung S5620 Monte looks to follow similar form as the original Galaxy handset yet this time it will have the samsung touchwiz OS rather than the Android OS. Other than a 3″ touch screen display ther is not a great deal we can tell you about this phone. We do know that it will host a number of “the usual” features like:

• HSDPA
• 3.5mm Headphone Jack
• MicroSD Slot
• 200 MB internal memory
• GPS
• WIFI
• 3G

For now, here are some more pictures that should quench the knowledge thirst until the expected announcement at MWC.

Posted by: John McKenzie

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HTC HD2 Hiding Extra RAM

It seems like the HTC HD2 is a dark horse. Sitting in the back of the phone is an extra 128 MB of RAM that is completely unused.

How do you get this extra RAM then? Well not having one I haven’t tested it, but the guys over at XDA Developers have tested it and are more than willing to share how they done it too.

Tracy & Matt would like to point out that this will involve a ROM update and that backups of any data you have should be completed before undertaking an update like this. We would also like to say that we will not be held responsible for any “bricked” phones as a result of any modifications made to your handset and that modifications such as these may invalidate your warranty.

Posted by: John McKenzie

LG Pop Out Some New Colours

Following (or pre-dating, whichever is factually correct) the colour change of the Nokia X6 “Comes Without Music” it’s the turn of LG to change the colour of one if it’s popular handsets.

The LG GD510 POP is being released in the amazing amount of 5 different colour variants: Silver, Pink (Yes Pink), Brown (or Bronze as I cant make it out), Purple and Black.

LG GD510 Pop Colour Variants

At the moment there has been no confirmed release date or price for the GD510 Colours however I would fully expect that they will try getting them out the door in time for Valentines day to ensure maximum sales potential.

Posted by: John McKenzie

Dell Mini 5 Spotted

Q: If you were walking down the street and you happened to bump into Michael Dell  (Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Dell) what would you say to him?

A: Who know’s but a nice joke about him being one of the sales guys is a nice way to start off any conversation.

You may be wondering what in the hell I’m babbling about, well, one of TechCrunch’s roving reporters caught up with Michael on the street and well.

It should be interesting to see what comes of this but all I can tell you at the moment, that Michael didn’t want to is that the Dell Mini 5 is rumoured to feature a Snapdgragon 1 GHz CPU, 2 Micro SD slots, a 3G sim card slot and has a 1530mAh battery capacity.

If anyone can translate this next video then you should be able to tell us a lot more.

I’m not generally a fan of tablet devices but give me an android powered device with a 5MP camera and you might well convert me (do you hear that Dell? Give me.).

Posted by: John McKenzie

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Next Google phone confirmed by Motorola

It was just a rumour a week ago but the Motorola device know to us thus far as the Shadow has now been confirmed to be launched as the next Google phone, perhaps the Nexus Two?

The Motorola Shadow

According to Mobile Choice:

Motorola’s CEO Sanjay Jha has taken the bull by the horns and come out to confirm that they are working on a Google phone after all. He said that Motorola will be releasing the new design this year.

Further, the similarities continue because the Motorola-derived Nexus phone, "will be sold directly to consumers", just like Google’s Nexus One. Frustratingly, Jha failed to give us any further details about the new design, when the phone will be officially announced or even if the Shadow is, in fact, the designated handset, according to The Street website.

The design of the Shadow is quite similar to the Milestone released last year. The keyboard and slider mechanism looking almost identical, it’s going to be bigger than the Milestone though, having a 4.3″ display.

Motorola Milestone (Nexus Two) specification:

• OperatingSystem: Google Android 2.1
• RAM: 256 MiB
• ROM: 512 MiB
• Display: 4.3″ Colour transflective TFT , 16777216 scales
• Display Resolution: 480 x 854
• Video out
• Audio Output: 3.5mm
• Cellular-Networks: GSM850, GSM900, GSM1800, GSM1900, UMTS850, UMTS1900, UMTS2100
• Cellular-Data-Links: CSD, GPRS, EDGE, UMTS
• microSD, microSDHC, TransFlash, SDIO
• USB 2.0 client, 480Mbit/s
• Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
• Wireless+LAN: 802.11b, 802.11g
• FM radio (87.5-108MHz) with RDS
• Built-in GPS module
• Main_Camera: 8 MP
• Built-in Flash: mobile light (LED)
• Built-in-accelerometer

Posted by: Matt

LG GT540 to Launch With Android

LG are set to lauch their next Android driven handset in the shape of the LG GT540. The GT540 will be a value priced Android handset driven towards social networking with built in features like Bebo, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Google Talk.

LG GT540

Specification wise the GT540 will have a 320*480 touch screen, accelerometer, 3 MP camera with autofocus, FM radio, MP3 Player and MicroSD support for up to 32GB’s.

Coming in black, white and pink they are scheduled to arrive in stores in April of this year.

This comes not long after the release of the LG GW620 which we are still trying to get our hands on for review. Any company out there who has one, can we have it for review?

Posted by: John McKenzie

HTC Says Windows Mobile and Android both to stay

HTC’s CEO Peter Chou yesterday said, when delivering the company’s Q4 2009 figures, that even with a 30% year on year sales rise caused by the Nexus One they would be sticking with the Windows Mobile Operating System as part of their portfolio.

“We continue to believe both Windows Mobile and Android offer unique experiences to different consumer segments in their respective ecosystems”

This news came on the same day that we posted news of the HTC Diamond 3 and will I’m sure it will prove to be music to WinMo users ears.

Speaking directly about the partnership with the Google Brand Chou said:

“Our partnership with Google on the Nexus One shows our strength in innovation. It’s very good for our brand”

The data released by HTC shows that they shipped a staggering 11.7 million mobile phones in 2009 without breaking it down by phone or by operating system.

Looking back at the history of HTC and seeing how they have developed from a company who manufactured devices only for other company’s / carriers under the name Hong Kong and Taiwan Computer Corp. into a market leader under the brand name HTC (no abbreviation) and their own mobile’s makes for really interesting reading. Have a look at a profile on the company if you have some time.

Posted by: John

Nokia X6 – Comes With(out) Music

For those of you that wanted the Nokia X6 but just found it a little bit out of your price range then this post will come (maybe) as great news.

Nokia have now confirmed that they will be releasing a Pink on White, Black on Black and Yellow on White X6 without the “Comes With Music” subscription.

Excluding the fact that it has no “Comes With Music”, the biggest difference from the original X6 is the size of the internal memory. The Original X6 came with 32GB and the new version comes with just 16GB (massive drop).

Original X6 in the Blue on Black Colour Variant

Not to fret over the memory size though as it’s expected there will be a significant price drop when it’s released later this quarter with the WH-500 headphones instead of the WH-701 headphones that came with the original X6.

This new variant of this Nokia favourite will also feature the new Ovi Maps with free drive and walk voice guided navigation as well as the Michelin and Lonely Planet guides.

Matt has already played with the original X6 so why not have a look at the Unboxing Video before making your mind up

Posted by: John McKenzie