News

HTC S740 official announcement

Yesterday we told you about the HTC S740 appearing without warning on the HTC site. This morning HTC sent over the following official press release. Note that it states the availability as being from September – not long to wait!

Press release: 

HTC Corp, a global leader in mobile phone innovation and design, today announced the introduction of the HTC S740, a slim, compact, and stylish smartphone that provides the perfect combination of a traditional 12-key phone design with HTC’s signature sliding QWERTY keyboard for optimal messaging.  The HTC S740 will be available across Europe from September 2008.

“Demand for high-performance, smart, mobile devices continues to see strong growth globally and HTC is well positioned to meet the varying needs of our diverse customer base,” commented Dr. Florian Seiche, Vice President of HTC Europe.  “The HTC S740 combines a powerful, premium phone with a full slide-out keypad in a compact and sleek form factor.  Clearly, one size does not fit all and the S740 will play an important role in expanding our growing portfolio of devices.”

The S740 is designed to offer the most flexible and efficient messaging experience on the market.  From the design of its 12-key keypad (ideal for super fast one hand messaging) and full QWERTY keyboard (perfect for those who prefer a two handed messaging experience) both input capabilities ensure efficient and accurate typing, as well as support for POP3, IMAP and Exchange push email.  Instant messaging (IM) and SMS can also be accessed through the familiar 12-key interface on the front of the phone. 

The HTC S740 features the fastest mobile broadband capabilities with a maximum download speed of 7.2 Mbps, up to 18 times faster than 3G. This true mobile broadband experience allows users to leverage the mobile Internet in a variety of ways including browsing to a favourite website, using Google Maps to find a restaurant for lunch and catching up to the minute news, blog posts and video podcasts with the integrated RSS reader.

The S740 follows the sleek design of HTC’s hit consumer handset, the HTC Touch Diamond. This slim smartphone features the same polished black facetted back, a 2.4 inch QVGA display and slide-out QWERTY keyboard.

Key HTC S740 product specifications:

• Size: 116.3 x 43.4 x 16.3 mm
• Weight: 140g with battery
• Networks: WCDMA/HSDPA: 900/2100 MHz for EU and Asia
• GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
• Maximum speed: UL = 384 kbps; DL = 3.6/7.2 Mbps**
• Operating system: Windows Mobile® 6.1 Standard
• Display: 2.4-inch QVGA screen
• Camera: 3.2 megapixel with fixed focus
• Internal memory: 256 MB flash; 256 MB RAM
• Memory card: microSD™
• 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: 1000 mAh
• Talk time: WCDMA: Up to 320 minutes*** / GSM: Up to 380 minutes***          
• Standby time: WCDMA: Up to 400 hours*** / GSM: Up to 280 hours***
• Special features: Sliding QWERTY keyboard, FM radio, Google Maps, RSS Hub
• Chipset: Qualcomm® MSM7225, 528 MHz

Take a look at our HTC S740 demonstration video for a more detailed view!

Posted by: Matt

The HTC S740 appears!

It’s not very often these days that a device appears on the scene that we didn’t already hear about through some leak or rumour but today a new Windows Mobile device appeared on the HTC website; the HTC S740.

Taking it’s design cues from the latest HTC Touch range (the Touch Pro and the Touch Diamond) and looking like a seriously updated S730 the new S740 looks like it’s a cross between a mobile phone and a stealth fighter!

The HTC S740

Taking smartphone communication beyond the practical… the HTC S740 transcends power, usability and simple key-control to deliver the most joyful and intuitive writing experience.

Designed with both beauty and function in mind, the S740’s slender formation of bold angles and distinctive facets perfectly conceals a slide-out keyboard that makes typing-intensive tasks more pleasurable than ever before.

Working in perfect harmony with the S740’s quick messaging tools… writing documents, texts, emailing and instant messaging conversations feel as natural as they do on a notebook, giving you the freedom to communicate the way you enjoy the most.

Surf the Internet anywhere with broadband-speed HSDPA or hook up to the nearest Wi-Fi hotspot to peruse the web at your leisure. Stay in the loop with everything the world of media has to offer with a built-in RSS hub to alert you of the latest in news, entertainment and content as it appears.

Perfectly balanced to be as indispensable to the demanding business communicator as the most energetic of social butterflies… the HTC S740 belongs to everyone who’s passionate about staying in touch, whatever the medium.

HTC S740 specification:

• Qualcomm® MSM7225™, 528MHz CPU
• Windows Mobile® 6.1 Standard
• ROM: 256MB / RAM: 256MB SDRAM
• 116.3 mm (L) X 43.4 mm (W) X 16.3 mm (T)
• 140g with battery
• 2.4 inch TFT-LCD with backlight LEDs and QVGA resolution
• HSDPA/WCDMA: 900/2100 MHz for Europe
• GSM/GPRS/EDGE: Quad-band 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz
• Standalone GPS / AGPS
• Bluetooth® 2.0
• Wi-Fi®: IEEE 802.11 b/g
• 3.2 megapixel color camera with fixed focus
• Standby time:
  – Up to 400 hours for WCDMA
  – Up to 280 hours for GSM
• Talk time:
  – Up to 320 minutes for WCDMA
  – Up to 380 minutes for GSM

See the HTC website for more details.

Thanks to Paul from MoDaCo for the heads-up!

Posted by: Matt

Canon announces the new EOS-50D

Just this morning Canon announced their latest EOS digital SLR model, the EOS-50D. Looks like it’s going to be a fantastic model with 15MP sensor and IOS range of 100 to and incredible 12800. Looks like I’ll be upgrading my 40D then!

Canon EOS-50D

Canon today strengthens its EOS range with the addition of a powerful new digital SLR: the EOS 50D. With a 15.1 Megapixel CMOS sensor, 6.3 frames per second shooting and Canon’s latest DIGIC 4 image processor, the EOS 50D delivers unparalleled speed and resolution at a price point that is unique in today’s market.

Outstanding, clean images

A newly designed 15.1 Megapixel CMOS sensor delivers ultra-detailed, low-noise images – ideal for large-scale reproduction or creative cropping. New manufacturing processes, plus redesigned photo diodes and microlenses, extend the light gathering capabilities of the sensor – allowing more pixels to be fitted on the CMOS sensor without compromising image quality. These changes ensure improved high ISO performance and low noise. High-speed, low light shooting is enabled by ISO levels of 3200, expandable to an ultra-sensitive 12800.

The EOS Integrated Cleaning System – including the improved Self Cleaning Sensor Unit with a new fluorine coating – increases protection of image quality by helping to reduce, repel and remove unwanted dust from the sensor. Stubborn particles can be removed automatically in post-production with Dust Delete Data and Canon’s included Digital Photo Professional software.

Rapid-fire performance

Canon’s new DIGIC 4 processor is fast enough to allow up to 6.3fps continuous shooting, in bursts of up to 90 JPEGs with a UDMA card. Used with Canon’s wide area AF system, which locks onto subjects with 9 individual cross type sensors, stunning action sequences can be captured – even in low-light conditions. This makes the EOS 50D particularly suited to sports and wildlife shooting.

DIGIC 4 works with the CMOS sensor to deliver 14-bit image processing, for smooth gradation and natural-looking colours – as well as ensuring ultra-fast startup times and near-instant image review after shooting.

See everything

A new 3.0” Clear View VGA LCD provides extra-large and wide angle-of-view image review, with plenty of clarity for accurate focus checks in playback. By switching to Live View mode – which displays a real-time image on the LCD – photographers can enjoy simplified shooting from awkward angles, or connect to a PC for remote shooting. Live Mode now offers three ways to auto focus: Quick AF, Live AF, and new Face Detection Live AF, which optimizes focus based on faces detected in the frame – for fast, spontaneous portraiture.

Control and ease

The famously intuitive EOS menu system includes a new Quick Control screen, for instant access to the most commonly-changed settings. A new Creative Auto mode offers automatic focus and exposure – while still allowing creative ‘tweaks’ to settings such as background sharpness.

“For advanced amateurs and semi-professionals – or professionals looking for a powerful backup model – the EOS 50D stands alone,” said Mogens Jensen, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging, Europe. “No other camera in this price bracket offers a comparable combination of speed and image quality.”

Features at a glance:
•    15.1 Megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor
•    6.3fps continuous shooting, max. burst 90 JPEGs with UDMA card
•    DIGIC 4 processor
•    ISO 100-3200, expandable to 12800
•    9-point wide area AF
•    3.0” Clear View VGA LCD with Live View mode & Face Detection Live AF
•    Magnesium alloy body, with environmental protection
•    EOS Integrated Cleaning System
•    HDMI connection for high quality viewing and playback on a High Definition TV
•    Full compatibility with Canon EF and EF-S lenses and EX-series Speedlites

For more information including full technical specifications, please visit http://www.canon.co.uk/press_centre

Pricing & Availability:
The EOS 50D (body only) is available from end of September 2008 priced at £1199.99 / €1599.99 RRP inc. VAT.  The EOS 50D EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM kit is available from end of September 2008 priced at £1499.99 / €1949.99 RRP inc. VAT. 

Posted by: Matt

HTC Touch Pro vs HTC TyTN II

Since our review of the HTC Touch Pro just a few days ago many of you have been in touch to ask how it compares to the HTC TyTN II and if it’s worth upgrading from the TyTN II to the Touch Pro.

I previously had an HTC TyTN II and switched over to the HTC Touch Diamond a few months ago. While I do like the Diamond I really missed the QWERTY keyboard as I send an awful lot of email. When the Pro came in the scene it seemed like the answer to my prayers, a modern Diamond-like device with a hardware keyboard.

I’ve spent the last week switching between the Diamond and the Touch Pro. I like the size and weight of the Diamond but for me the Pro makes a lot more sense. The Pro works a lot quicker and smoother than the Diamond and with it’s higher-res screen and more modern lighter design beats the TyTN II in my opinion.

However, whether it’s worth spending £500+ of your hard earned upgrading from the TyTN II to the Touch Pro is debatable. What does the Pro have over the TyTN II? Well you get the VGA screen and TouchFlo 3D interface. It’s a slightly smaller package and is about 25-30 grams lighter. Both have GPS, Windows Mobile 6.1 and QWERTY keyboards.

It’s a tough call but personally I’ll be putting my Diamond and TyTN II on eBay to pay for the Touch Pro!

Have a look at some of the comparison shots below and see for yourself.

HTC Touch Pro vs HTC TyTN II

HTC TyTN II & HTC Touch Pro

HTC Touch Pro and TyTN II bottom view

HTC Touch Pro on top of the TyTN II

Posted by: Matt

ComputerWeekly.com IT Blog Awards 08

As some of you will have noticed over the last few weeks, tracyandmatt.co.uk was nominated for the ComputerWeekly.com IT Blog Awards 08. And as you can see from the results HERE – got second place! Only beaten by a Microsoft guy. Well done Jason. A huge thanks to all those who voted and all your support.

Get your free EeePC today!

If that’s not enough to get us sandbox’ed as spammers I don’t know what is.  However, it is half-true.  Orange UK are giving away the brand spanking Eee PC 900 16gb for absolutely nothing.

There is the downside of a two-year £25 a month contract, but for that you get 3GB data transfer and 100 text messages a month, and a free HSDPA modem.

Obviously the stonking £600 total cost of the contract is a little eye-watering, but if you were going to go for a mobile broadband contract anyway, maybe this will help you part with your money, and in my opinion and personal experience, Orange offers the most reliable coverage and quality of any network I’ve used.

Laptop: Asus EeePC 900 16gb

Modem: Option Icon 225 USB 3G Modem w/HSPDA

More @ Orange.co.uk

Posted by: Mark

HTC Touch Pro now in stock!

Just a quick post to let you know that the HTC Touch Pro has just landed in the UK and is in stock at Clove Technology and Devicewire.

HTC Touch Pro

he HTC Touch Pro, with VGA Screen, elegant touch screen response and built in keyboard makes it the ideal communication tool. With an impressive range of features and powerful processor, we feel sure this will become one of the best selling high end Smartphone’s.

A stunning 2.8-inch VGA touch screen provides the HTC Touch Pro four times the resolution making email, documents and web pages sharper and easier to work with. The new TouchFlo 3D interface provides quick and simple touch navigation between popular applications, and the excellent keyboard compliments this to enable quick input of information. Couple this with the power of Windows 6.1, push email, built in GPS and fast data connection though HSDPA and fast Wi-Fi connection. Additional memory can easily be added via a Micro SD supporting SDHC cards.

The HTC Touch Pro which is sold unlocked and SIM free can be used virtually anywhere in the world

Posted by: Matt

[Post tag(s): smartphone news, Pocket PC news, Tracy & Matt, raphael, HTC, HTC Touch Pro]

Sony introduce new Bravia models

Sony have just announced new Bravia HD LCD TV models, details from the press release:

Introducing the state of the art BRAVIA™ X4500 and W4500 series

 

BRAVIA™ X4500 series

• Full HD 1080p

• Graceful floating design with translucent frame

• Best-ever clarity, colour, contrast and definition with BRAVIA™ ENGINE 2 PRO

• Rich, deep colours, superb contrast and reduced power consumption from new RGB Dynamic LED backlight (46, 55-inch)

• Smoother, sharper fast-moving action with Motionflow PRO100Hz technology (46, 55-inch)

• Enjoy digital music and photos from networked DLNA devices

 

BRAVIA™ X4500 series

BRAVIA™ W4500 series

• Full HD 1080p

• Innovative styling inspired by new ‘draw the LINE’ design concept

• Superb clarity, colour and contrast with BRAVIA™ ENGINE 2

• Smoother, sharper fast-moving action thanks to Motionflow 100Hz with Image Blur Reduction technology

• Enjoy digital music and photos from networked DLNA devices

 

BRAVIA™ W4500 series

 Whether you’re into the latest movies on Blu-ray™ Disc, nail-biting PLAYSTATION®3 games or sparkling HD broadcasts, there’s a mouthwatering choice of  BRAVIA™ televisions for serious viewers who demand the ultimate entertainment experience.

 

“The unique blend of advanced technology and leading design of both the BRAVIA™ X4500 and slim speaker systems, mean that consumers can now view crystal-clear images with atmospheric sound without compromising on the look and feel of their home”, explained George Damigos, General Manager, Marketing, TV Marketing Europe.

 

“Together with the feature-packed W4500 series, these two new BRAVIA™ ranges represent the absolute pinnacle of Sony innovation in bringing you the best-looking pictures and an unmatched home theatre experience.”

 

BRAVIA™ X4500 series: the very last word for serious home theatre fans

The stunning flagship of the BRAVIA™ range, the top-of-the-range X4500 series represents the very last word in unmatched picture quality and breathtaking design.

 

Available in three screen sizes (40-inch, 46-inch, 55-inch), it’s packed with state-of-the-art Sony technologies to deliver Full HD 1080p pictures and dynamic sound that effortlessly surpass anything you’ve seen before. With no less than 4x HDMI ports for connection with a wide array of HD sources, the X4500 series is the ultimate choice for discerning home cinema enthusiasts who demand an uncompromised theatrical experience.

 

Thanks to a unique new ‘floating’ design, the exquisite looks of the X4500 series are guaranteed to grab your attention before the TV is even turned on. In addition to the supplied sterling silver speaker covers, there’s a choice of optional speaker covers (Ruby Red or Obsidian Black), letting you customise the X4500 series to complement and enhance your personal living space.

 

To get the absolute best out of your favourite movies, TV broadcasts and games, Sony’s new BRAVIA™ ENGINE 2 PRO filters, cleans and optimises image data before it’s displayed on the Full HD 1080p LCD panel. As well as reducing picture noise, this powerful processor widens colour range and smooths motion while boosting contrast for deep, cinematic blacks.

 

For amazing results with any picture source like DVD, the latest-generation DRC (Digital Reality Creation) 3.0 boosts the resolution using advanced up-conversion-technology to stream a Full HD 1080p picture. This ensures detail-packed images that take full advantage of the highly detailed 1920×1080 panel.

 

A true cinematic experience in your own home demands rich colours and true, deep blacks. For the first time ever, 46-inch and 55-inch X4500 series models feature an energy-efficient RGB Dynamic LED backlight that momentarily dims in dark areas of the picture, reducing light leakage for enhanced contrast and deeper blacks. Clusters of red, green and blue LEDs provide a wider palette of colours than conventional white LED backlights. The result is stunning reproduction of Blu-ray Disc™, DVD and TV broadcast sources, just as the director intended.  

 

46- and 55-inch models excel with smooth, lifelike reproduction of sports and other fast-moving action. Motionflow PRO 100Hz technology intelligently creates extra frames, inserting them into the signal and doubling the displayed frame rate. In addition, ‘backlight blinking’ successively switches off horizontal backlight portions of the frame with each frame. This significantly reduces picture blur without the fatiguing ‘flicker’ effect of conventional black frame insertion systems. The 40-inch screen size model also features new IB Reduction. This ‘cleans’ original frames before new frame insertion for a sharper image still with reduced motion blur.

 

Along with the W4500 series, the X4500 series is the first BRAVIA™ television that connects seamlessly with other networked devices via DLNA in your home. It’s easy to access, share and enjoy digital photos and music with other certified devices around the home – like VAIO Blu-ray Disc™ PCs and other compatible media devices.

You can also view your pictures  by inserting a USB Memory stick into the USB input on the side of the TV or by directly connecting your Cyber-shot™ or other digital cameras to your BRAVIA™.  Enjoying your detail-packed photos in Picture Frame Mode on a 40 inch or even larger screen will bring your memories back to life.

 

The ultimate BRAVIA™ entertainment experience is completed by an innovative audio system with 6 main speakers and 2 woofer speakers on the 55X4500 and 4 main and 2 woofer speakers on 40X4500 / 46X4500.

Surround effects can be optimised for sports, live music concerts or movies, or customised for maximum enjoyment of any type of programme. The combination of the ultra-thin shape with the leading technology of the finger speaker and assist woofer produces a remarkably crisp sound quality without altering the style and design of the TV.?

 

BRAVIA™ W4500 series: incredible images with any HD source

Whether you’re into sports, gaming or general TV viewing, the BRAVIA™ W4500 series delivers incredible picture and sound quality to get the very best out of your favourite HD sources.

 

Available in three screen sizes (40-inch, 46-inch, 52-inch), the set features effortlessly contemporary looks inspired by Sony’s audacious ‘Draw the Line’ design concept. Sharing many of the same picture innovations as its X4500 sibling, the BRAVIA™ W4500 series is packed with latest Sony technology for the best-looking Full HD pictures you’ve ever seen.

                         

BRAVIA™ ENGINE 2 processing guarantees superb clarity, colour, contrast and definition, while Motionflow 100Hz technology keeps fast-moving action crisp and clear. In addition, new IB Reduction ‘cleans’ original frames before new frame insertion for a sharper image with reduced blur.

 

The W4500 series also lets you enjoy multimedia content from other devices on your home network that support the DLNA standard.

 

The BRAVIA™ X4500 and W4500 series Full HD LCD televisions will be available from September 08 (X4500) and October 08 (W4500).

BRAVIA™ X4500 and W4500 Series: Key Features

	X4500	W4500
Screen size (inch)	40, 46, 55	40, 46, 52
1080p Full HD	Yes	Yes
10-bit panel	Yes	Yes
BRAVIA™ ENGINE	BE 2 PRO	BE 2
Live Colour Creation	Yes	Yes
RGB Dynamic LED Backlight	Yes (46-inch, 55-inch)	No
Dynamic Contrast Ratio	50,000:1(40-inch) 1,100,000:1 (46-inch, 55-inch)	50,000:1
Deep Colour	Yes	No
Motionflow	PRO 100Hz (46, 55-inch), 100Hz (40-inch)	100Hz
24p True Cinema™	Yes	Yes
x.v.Colour	Yes	Yes
Integrated MPEG-4 AVC HD tuner²	Yes	Yes
BRAVIA™ Sync	Yes	Yes
DLNA (music/photo)	Yes	Yes
Picture Frame Mode	Yes	Yes
PhotoTV HD	Yes	Yes
HDMI™ inputs	x4	x3
USB port	Yes	Yes
Optical digital output	Yes	Yes
S-Force audio	Yes	Yes
XMB™ (Xross Media Bar™)	Yes	Yes
Finger Speaker & Assist Woofer	Yes (40-inch, 46-inch)	No

Posted by: Matt

Diamond dust

We’ve reported dust problems on mobile devices in the past, most notably the Samsung i600 which suffered greatly with dust getting under the screen.

HTC phones are generally quite good when it comes to dust getting inside so I was surprised to see dust appearing under the screen on Tracy’s HTC Touch Diamond!

It initially looked like a couple of scratches on the screen but when you press them with your finger you can tell that it is in fact a couple of dust particles trapped between the outer screen and the LCD itself.

It’s quite hard to capture on a photograph but you might be able to make it out in the image below.

So, if you are an HTC Touch Diamond owner have you got any dust under the screen?

Posted by: Matt

LG Secret Competition Winner

I just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone that submitted feedback to us following the newsletter we sent out recently. The response was great and I’ll certainly be taking all of you comments on board as we move forward.

Everyone that received our newsletter was invited to send us site feedback and, as promised, everyone that then gave us feedback was entered in to our LG Secret competition. I am pleased to announce that our winner, selected at random, is Stephan White from Romford. Congratulations Stephan!

If you didn’t get our email newsletter this time around and would like to get the next one in about three weeks time then please do drop me a line via our contact page and I’ll gladly add you to the list.

I’d also like to say thank you to eXpansys as they kindly gave us over 4000 £10 off vouchers to send out with the newsletter and to LG for putting up the Secret as prize.

I’m not sure what we’ll have on offer in the next newsletter but I’m sure there will be some sort of prize and hopefully some vouchers or special offers!

Of course if you would like to submit your feedback you still can, let us know what you like and dislike about the site and if there is anything you would like to see more of etc. via the contact page.

Posted by: Matt