News

Google Earth now on iPhone

Continuing in their quest for World Domination, Google have now made Google Earth icompatible with the iPhone and iPod Touch.

In the words of the girls over at shinyshiny.tv…..

Having Google Earth on your iPhone means that you’ll now be able to… Well, I guess you could… Nope. I’ve never really found a use for it apart from trying to find my house on my street, and that’s only amusing for so long.

If you’ve got an iPhone you can connect via 3G as well as WiFi, and there’s special gyroscopic functionality, such as the ability tilt to adjust your view.

Apple App Store

So Google now seem to have their hands in virtually every O/S possible although I’m sure I will stand corrected on this comment.

Posted by: John

[source]

LG Cookie going direct to Carphone Warehouse

LG Are said to be shipping out their KP-500 (Cookie) this week to the Carphone Warehouse. The Cookie, LG’s budget touch screen handset, aims to bring touch screen technology to the mid-range market for the first time. It will be available on £25 per month contracts from November, and on prepay for around £159.95 which should be dropped in time for the Christmas market.

LG Cookie

“The LG Cookie was developed to reflect the desire of many consumers who want to own a full touch screen phone without having to pay a premium price” said LG Mobile head of marketing Jeremy Newing.

“LG has stepped up to meet the demand of today’s ‘Touch Generation’ as more and more consumers look to experience the pleasure of using touch screen phones. With the introduction of the LG Cookie we are continuing to build on our range of feature-rich yet affordable handsets.”

LG understands that a lot of you want to be a part of the touch screen generation but can’t or don’t necessarily want to fork out the big bucks for one either. This is where the Cookie steps in. It offers a decent range of features including an intuitive active flash user interface which will use haptic feedback when touched and:

• GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
• Dimensions: 106.5 x 55.4 x 11.9 mm
• Weight: 89 g
• 3 inch TFT touch screen, 256K colours 240 x 400 pixels
• Flash UI
• Accelerometer sensor for auto-rotate
• Handwriting recognition
• Polyphonic (64 channels), MP3
• Vibration
• microSD (TransFlash), up to 8GB
    48 MB internal memory
• GPRS Class 10 (4+1/3+2 slots), 32 – 48 kbps
• EDGE Class 10, 236.8 kbps
• Bluetooth v2.1 with A2DP
• USB v2.0
• SMS, EMS, MMS, Email
• WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML
• Games 4 + downloadable
• Colours: Black, Vandyke brown, Anodizing silver, Elegant gold
• Camera: 3.15 MP, 2048×1536 pixels, video (QVGA@12fps)
• FM radio with RDS
• Java MIDP 2.0
• MP3/WMA/AAC player
• MPEG4/3gp video player
• Organiser
• Document viewer (DOC, XLS, PDF)
• Voice memo
• Built-in handsfree
• T9 predictive text
• Standard battery, Li-Ion 900 mAh
• Stand-by: Up to 350 h
• Talk time: Up to 3 h 30 min

Posted by: John

[Various Sources]

Dual SIM Samsung S9402 DuoS leak?

According to the guys over at GSM Arena and mobilmania.cz the Samsung S9402 DuoS could be coming soon.

Samsung S9402 DuoS

Photos of the first dual SIM-enabled luxurious handset leaked online. The hand-crafted Samsung S9402 Duos relies on exquisite materials and great build-quality to impress potential buyers. The rhodium-plated body is resistant to almost any kind of mechanical damage and disruption and is among the most expensive precious metals.

In addition to the attractive looks and quirky name the Samsung S9402 will have a 262K color OLED display and a 5 megapixel autofocus camera. The network data transfers will have to go through GPRS or EDGE on both SIM cards since the new Duos has no support for 3G networks.

The internal memory of Samsung S9402 Duos is 1GB and can be expanded further through the microSD card slot. The list of features of the handsets is completed by USB and Bluetooth (v 2.0).

The new Duos handset will first hit the shelves in Russia but neither the exact date nor the price is yet known. However, rumor has it that it will directly compete with Nokia Arte phones and Motorola Aura, so you might expect a price tag of about 1000 euro.

Normally we see Dual Sim handsets sitting in the Asian market but could this be a first for the EMEA markets?  The phone itself will be a luxury candybar phone which is made from premium materials including hardened scratch resistant display glass and a metal frame covered with rhodium. Audio quality is not compromised as well, featuring a Bang & Olufsen/ICEPower amplifier with the following specifications :-

• Triband GSM (900/1800/1900 Mhz), GPRS/EDGE connectivity on 1st SIM card
• Dual band (900/1800 Mhz), GPRS/EDGE connectivity on 2nd SIM card
• 2inch 262K color QVGA AMOLED display
• 5 megapixel camera with autofocus and LED flash
• Image stabilization and smile detector
• Integrated FM Radio with RDS
• 1GB internal memory
• microSDHC memory card slot (up to 8 GB)
• Bluetooth 2.0 and USB connectivity
• FM Radio with RDS
• 960 mAh battery
• Dimensions: 115 x 48 x 16 mm
• Weight: 140 g

I can’t be 100% sure on whether this is real or not for the time being given that there are no manufacturer labels (branding) shown anywhere on the handset. The one thing I can be 100% on is the fact that it won’t be cheap to buy given that it’s designed to compete with the Motorola Aura and the Nokia Arte handsets.

Posted by: John

[Various Sources]

HTC Touch HD – Orange exclusive leaked document!

For those of you that doubted what we were saying about the HTC Touch HD being an Orange exclusive in the UK please have a look at the leaked press release below!

HTC TOUCH HD EXCULSIVE ON ORANGE IN THE UK

Orange today announced that the HTC Touch HD handset will be available in the UK from early November, exclusively on the Orange network. The Touch HD is a premium multimedia enhanced mobile handset, designed with a focus on entertainment that is set transform how people experience multimedia on the move.

Its extensive 3.8 inch, high resolution, widescreen WVGA touchscreen offers users stunning clarity and vibrant colours, providing an unrivalled experience when watching movies or using Orange’s mobile TV service, browsing the internet on Orange’s high speed data network (3G+) or even scanning through photos taken with its 5 megapixel auto focus camera. The Touch HD also renders websites quickly and in full-page width, providing a browsing experience closer to that using fixed line broadband and allowing users to navigate more easily.

What’s more, the stylish new device features HTC’s beautiful TouchFLO 3D user interface to provide quick and intuitive access to the people, messages and content that are most important, and a standard 3.5mm headphone jack has been incorporated, allowing customers to use high-performance headphones with the device for the best possible sound quality.

Speaking on the announcement, Francois Mahieu, Director of Devices, Orange UK said: “"We are very pleased to launch this state of the art mobile internet device exclusively on the Orange network. It is a great phone but also a wonderful multimedia handset which paves the way to even more innovations from Orange next year in the mobile internet space. The HTC Touch HD on Orange will be the must have device this Christmas for the person that wants it all".

The HTC Touch HD is exclusive on the Orange UK network until 2009 from £79.99 on an 18 month, £40 per month contact *Package includes inclusive option of anytime mobile internet browsing (subject to 250Mb per month).

The phone is available from Orange via Orange stores, Orange Telesales (0800 079 2000) and Orange’s online shop http://www.orange.co.uk

Key Touch HDTM product specifications:

· Size: 115 x 62.8 x 12 mm

· Weight: 146.4 grams/5.164 oz with battery

· Connectivity: Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHzWCDMA / HSPA: 900/2100MHz.

· Software/Operating system: HTC TouchFLO 3D with Windows Mobile® 6.1 Professional

· Display: 3.8 inch Wide Screen VGA screen (480 x 800 WVGA)

· Camera: 5.0 megapixel with auto focus – Second Camera: VGA

· Internal memory: 512 MB flash; 288 MB RAM

· Memory card: microSD™ memory card (SDHC™ capable)

· WLAN: 802.11b/g

· Bluetooth®: 2.0 with EDR

· GPS: GPS/AGPS

· Interface: HTC ExtUSB™ (mini-USB and audio jack in one; USB 2.0 High-Speed)

· Battery: 1350 mAh

· Talk time: WCDMA: Up to 390 minutes*** / GSM: Up to 310 minutes***        

· Standby time: WCDMA: Up to 450 hours*** / GSM: Up to 390 hours***

· Chipset: Qualcomm® MSM7201a™ 528 MHz

Cant wait to get my hands on one! I suspect that you’ll still be able to get the Touch HD SIM-Free from your favourite reseller but not on contract from anyone but Orange!

Posted by: Matt

Rumour – Motorola VE66 Appears

Is it just my imagination or are Motorola suddenly popping back out of the mobile phone woodwork?

Only 3 days ago we announce the Aura and today we’ve come across the Motorola VE66.

The leaks about the Motorola VE66 suggest that the new baby is geared with some high-end features as 3G, 5 MP camera, Wi-Fi and runs on the Linux OS Montavista v2.6.10.

Motorola VE66

Motorola VE66 is a slider phone with a large 2.4" 16M colour TFT display and carries the Freescale SCM-A11 500MHz processor. The 5MP autofocus camera can also record video with QVGA resolution, but we are uncertain if it will carry the Kodak branding. The phone also has Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP and a microSD card slot.

There will be two versions of the Motorola VE66 – the first one will have quad-band GSM/EDGE support and no 3G (for the Chinese market) and the second version will support UMTS and HSDPA.

If the source photos are legitimate, we can conclude that the VE66 will even have four touch sensitive keys below the display. We look forward the official Motorola announcement of this cool phone hoping for more details soon.

Posted by: John

[Source]

Free delivery on your new handset?

How about getting free delivery on the next phone or datacard you purchase? Well we teamed up with Devicewire once again and are offering just that.

Buy any device or any data card (over £100) and use the discount code below and we’ll give you free delivery.

Your code is : FDTAM

Simply enter this at the end of the check out process to receive a £6.77 (Ex VAT) £7.95 (Inc VAT) discount (Their standard delivery charge).

This code will work from now until 31st October 2008 and covers any phone or datacard but not accessories.

Posted by: Matt

Vodafone 1231 pops up over at FCC

A Vodafone exclusive Windows Mobile OS smartphone leaked yesterday over at the FCC website, sporting a full QWERTY keyboard and GPS.

The full QWERTY keyboard and the built-in GPS receiver that the Vodafone 1231 harnesses seem quite nice but there’s no Wi-Fi or 3G support in sight so we guess it won’t be a high-end device.

Vodafone 1231

Manufactured by ZTE, the Vodafone 1231 is a tri-band GPRS/EDGE smartphone with a large 2.5-inch landscape-oriented QVGA TFT display, capable of showing up to 65K colours. The 64 MB user available memory, microSD card slot and a 1.3 MP camera are among the confirmed data.

Vodafone 1231 measures 113 x 65.4 x 14.5 mm, weighs 130 grams and draws its juice from a 1100 mAh Li-Ion battery. There is no information on the device pricing and availability, but we guess it would be a relatively affordable piece of kit.

Posted by: John

[Source]

Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 IN STOCK!

Yes you did read the title of the post correctly. The folks at Clove just dropped me a line to let me know that they’ve taken delivery of the X1 and you can buy now!

The Sony X1 has received a great deal of interest since its launch and we are pleased to say we now have these available for order.  So if you have been waiting for this day, head on over to HERE

If you have missed all the fuss and excitement surrounding this device, just take a look at some of the features:

• Arc Slider QWERTY Keyboard
• Stylish Design
• Windows Mobile
• 3" Wide VGA Dispaly
• 3G/HSDPA
• WiFi
• Bluetooth (A2DP)
• MicroSDHC
• GPS
• 3.2 megapixel camera

Order your Xperia X1 now to avoid disappointment!

Posted by: Matt

Rumour – O2 and T-Mobile block upgrades until January

Now then, not sure just how much of this is true but if it is then I think there will be massive backlash on this considering the G1 is due for release before January in the UK and the upcoming handsets due for release before January on o2.

Customers are offered discount incentives as operators run out of cash
O2 and T-Mobile are telling customers to wait up to three months for their upgrades in a bid to save cash.
The parent companies of both networks – Telefónica and Deutsche Telekom respectively – appear to be looking to pull cash out of the UK businesses.
Since Monday 13 October, O2 customers wishing to upgrade are being assuaged with a £15-per-month discount on their monthly bill if they hold out on upgrades until January (after the financial year).
Manufacturers have had to review their sales forecasts at O2 in light of the drive for ‘non-hardware’ contract sales between now and Christmas.
Dealers have similar frustrations, and have said that they have no option but to churn O2 customers on to other networks.
Jonathan Earle, O2’s head of consumer postpay acquisitions, said: ‘The enormous success of our simplicity tariff has shown us that some customers are happy with their existing handsets and would rather take an option that allows them to save money, particularly in these credit crunch days.’
O2 only has real appetite for three mobile products: 3G iPhone, Sim-only, and mobile broadband. The latter two incur no major up-front cost for the operator, while achieving high iPhone sales is critical for O2 to secure further exclusivity with Apple.
O2’s advertising is understood to focus largely on Sim-only deals and broadband between now and Christmas with little to no promotions for contract handsets.
Meanwhile, T-Mobile is understood to be offering customers a similar deal if they wait until January for their upgrade, but is offering a £5 discount off bills instead of £15. It is a familiar story for all connected with T-Mobile, as the operator has seen its acquisition budget drained as it approaches the final three months of the financial quarter for the last three years.

Please let us know if you have been affected by this in any way.

Posted by: John

Touch HD and LG Renoir coming soon to Orange

Big thank you goes out to our reader Harv for the information and scan from the Orange catalogue below. Looks like the information we posted about the Touch HD exclusive to Orange was wrong – sorry about that guys but as you can see it is coming to Orange soon along with the LG Renoir and the Blackberry Pearl 8220.

I saw the HTC Touch HD coming soon in the orange Business October.
Also.. it is coming to Vodafone, as the manager of Birmingham Bull Ring store wrote down for me (acting a little dumb I was…) the phones coming soon are…

• Motorola C905
• Sony X1
• HTC Touch HD

So.. All points to.. it’s not Orange only…. maybe they will have one with more internal memory again.. like Omnia.. but not exclusive.
O2 also have a dummy X1 in store (bull ring middle mall.) so they are also getting the X1.

Thanks again for the info. Harv and if any of you have news to share please do get in touch!

Posted by: Matt