News

Windows Phone 8S from HTC – Video

Posted by: James

BBM Voice coming soon to your BlackBerry

Fresh from the announcement from RIM regarding the launch of BlackBerry 10 we now get notified of another new super feature for all BlackBerry users – BBM Voice.

For the times when you want to hear a friend’s laughter instead of reading LOL, BlackBerry® Messenger (BBM) is taking the social networking experience to a whole new level with an exciting new feature called BBM Voice. Research In Motion (RIM) today announced BBM version 7, a free update for the globally popular mobile social network, which will allow customers to make free voice calls to other BBM customers in the world over a Wi-Fi® connection*.

BBM is a fast, convenient and inexpensive service for BlackBerry® customers that gives them the ability to instantly chat with a friend, family member or colleague, and know when their message has been delivered, and read. With the new version of BBM, customers have a new option – they can talk with their BBM contact across the globe for free over a Wi-Fi connection. In an instant, customers can switch between texting and talking, or talk and text at the same time. For consumers, especially in developing markets, the BBM Voice feature offers an attractive way to talk with friends and family near and far, and staying in contact will be easier than ever as the holiday season approaches. For business customers, BBM Voice allows for enriched collaboration.

“BBM is the quick, easy way to stay connected to the people that matter to you, and with today’s announcement we’re expanding the capabilities of the service for deeper social engagement and even greater collaboration, beginning with voice functionality,” said T.A. McCann, Vice President of BBM and Social Communities at RIM. “The new BBM Voice feature is for when you’re travelling and you want to call home without worrying about phone charges. It’s for when you have news you can’t wait to share, for quickly explaining complicated details, and collaborating with colleagues. Whenever your ideas are too big for text, there’s BBM Voice.”

BBM Voice includes a number of convenient features.

• Customers can initiate a BBM Voice call directly, or instantly switch from a BBM text chat to talk, and back again.
• The split-screen feature allows customers to talk and text at the same time, so for example, they can send a picture to their contact while talking with them. They can also check other BBM text chats, check email, or navigate to other apps while engaged on a BBM Voice call.
• BBM provides a visual indicator that shows when contacts are available for a voice call.
• BBM Voice is compatible with any accessories a customer has now for making voice calls on their BlackBerry smartphone, such as a Bluetooth® or wired headset. Customers can also use BBM Voice over their BlackBerry smartphone’s speakerphone.
• If it’s not an ideal time to talk, customers can simply choose to respond by texting back.

Acer Chromebook selling now

A rather unexpected addition to Google’s device list on Play was the announcement there would be an all new Chromebook for sale. Whilst we don’t have the $249 Samsung Chromebook for sale to the mass market yet we do have this Acer sitting in the Play store at £199.

Much is being made of the Acer selling for $199 Stateside and the exchange rate being left out of the mix. By comparison to Samsung’s Chromebook that is likely to sell for about £50 more there are a few big differences to justify the pricing. Firstly we have a Intel Celeron processor running at 1.1ghz, whereas the Samsung has a slower atom processor. Battery apparently lasts an alarmingly short 3.5 hours. A standard hard drive that will no doubt run slower than the included 16gb flash drive on the Samsung however it packs 320gbs. The Acer is also larger and heavier.

Could this be a flooding of the market with ultra cheap laptop’s running Chrome like we saw several years ago when Android was taking a tight robotic grasp of the mobile market. Only time will tell and it’s going to jolly exciting finding out, Chromebooks will be the way forward in this writer’s opinion.

Here is the press release from Acer:

Wanting the Google Nexus 4? It is out of stock already

If you have been eagerly awaiting to order the Nexus 4 from Google Play and you didn’t get in quick I’m afraid you are going to be disappointed. Here in Europe both the 8GB and 16GB are now showing as out of stock which either means the device has been rather popular or maybe LG didn’t make enough?

Both phones offer great value for money – the 8GB is only £239 and the 16GB at £279. If you fancy the Nexus 10 instead then that one is currently in stock although it clearly isn’t a Nexus 4 replacement but it does look to be a great large Android tablet.

If you have to get the Nexus 4 then head on over to Google Play and enter your email address so they can keep you in the loop.

Posted by: James

Nokia Lumia 920 in stock at Expansys tomorrow

If you have been waiting for Nokia’s flagship Windows Phone 8 device then good news as you can grab one from tomorrow. Expansys will have a limited stock so you had better get in quick. SIM free the phone isn’t cheap at £544.99 but what a beauty it looks and it is available in white, red, black or yellow.

The Nokia Lumia 920 is the flagship Windows Phone 8 smartphone, including the latest advances in Nokia PureView imaging innovation. Using advanced floating lens technology, the camera in the Nokia Lumia 920 is able to take in five times more light than competing smartphones without using flash, making it possible to capture clear, bright pictures and video indoors and at night. It also compensates for hand movement while the photo is being taken.

The Nokia Lumia 920 also comes with Nokia City Lens, the latest addition to the Nokia location suite. By pointing the camera at a city street, City Lens overlays information about restaurants, shops, hotels and more on the surfaces of buildings, for the most intuitive way to explore surroundings. Nokia City Lens is the start of a new augmented reality experience that also enhances Nokia Maps, making it possible to move between maps view and augmented reality view to help people check their direction and surroundings. Along with enhancements to Nokia Drive and Nokia Transport, the Nokia location suite of services represents the most comprehensive, integrated mapping experience of any smartphone.

The Nokia Lumia 920 also comes with Nokia’s largest ever battery (2000mAh) and, for the first time, built-in wireless charging for an easy, convenient way to get more out of every day.

Order here.

Posted by: James

Samsung Galaxy S III Mini now available on Three

The Samsung Galaxy S III Mini is the new compact version of the Samsung Galaxy S III. Featuring a large 4.0″ display, the S III Mini is great for viewing more content on one screen, reducing the need for scrolling and zooming out. Its HD Super AMOLED technology also means that videos and pictures come to life in amazingly clear, crisp colours.

This elegant but minimal smartphone comes with a fast 1GHz dual core processor that allows apps and games to load quickly, enabling people to enjoy seamless browsing, gaming, viewing and downloading. Perfect for budding Instagrammers, the Samsung Galaxy S III Mini delivers great images using a 5 megapixel camera, which also has Best Shot mode that takes a burst of photos and then cleverly selects the best one.

Sylvia Chind, Head of Devices at Three, said, “Not only is the Samsung Galaxy S III Mini a top performing phone but it’s also full of innovative touches like the notification light, which can be customised to flash a different colour to alert users to new messages or calls.”

The Samsung Galaxy S III Mini is available with no upfront cost on the Ultimate Internet 500 plan for £28 a month, and on The One Plan, which offers a fear-free mobile internet experience with a guarantee of no surprise out-of-bundle data charges, for £32 a month.

The smartphone is also available on Pay As You Go for £269.99 plus a top up. All in One 15 costs £15 and gives 30-day access to All-You-Can-Eat data along with 300 any-network minutes and 3,000 texts. Or All in One 25 costs £25 and offers All-You-Can-Eat data, 500 minutes and 3,000 texts and for a 30-day period.

EE SIM only plans delayed

With EE rolling out their 4G service just over week ago many people have been eagerly awaiting to purchase a SIM only plan. Unfortunately the network Tweeted the following statement earlier today:

Sorry folks – there’s been a date change for our SIM-only plans. We expect to bring them in the next 2 weeks. Stay tuned for the new date.

Not the best of news for those of you that have been looking forward to SIM only but I suppose good things come to those who wait.

Source: techcrunch

Posted by: James

HTC 8X now available on Three – and with a free gift!

With an exclusive built-in amp and Beats AudioT technology offering a truly authentic studio sound the 8X is sure to please even the most musical among us. The smartphone also comes with an amazing 8 megapixel camera so you’ll be able to take incredibly vivid pictures and the front-facing camera with ultra-wide-angle lens captures twice the image area to fit more in every shot.

Running on the very latest Windows Phone 8 software, the 8X by HTC allows true personalisation of the home screen with real time Live Tile updates on its large 4.3″ screen and the powerful 1.5 GHz dual-core processor makes browsing and switching between apps a breeze.

Sylvia Chind, Head of Devices at Three said, “The 8X by HTC is packed full of great features and is perfect for streaming HD and enjoying music while on the go. Coupled with The One Plan offering amazing value with All-you-can-eat data it’s no surprise that Three carries over 40% of the UK’s data traffic”.

The Windows Phone 8X by HTC is available for £29 a month with an upfront cost of £30 on the Ultimate Internet 500 plan with a guarantee of no surprise out-of-bundle data charges.

The device is also available on Pay As You Go for £349.99 plus a top up. All in One 15 costs £15 and gives 30-day access to all-you-can-eat data along with 300 any-network minutes and 3,000 texts. Or All in One 25 costs £25 and offers 500 minutes, 3,000 texts and all-you-can-eat data for a 30-day period.

Additionally from today get an extra special gift with Three. Purchase the 8X by HTC and get the latest Windows 8 Pro upgrade for your home PC.

Carphone Warehouse Bundle Deal – Kindle Fire and LG Optimus L3 for just £14.50 per month

Carphone Warehouse is offering customers the chance to get their hands on the on the Kindle Fire and LG Optimus L3 for just £14.50 per month. This deal, available exclusively at Carphone Warehouse, will give customers 100 minutes, 250 texts and 100MB data.

The Kindle Fire is a perfectly portable 7″ tablet that packs a hefty performance punch. The sharp 7″ touchscreen device features loads of entertainment options:  there are books, magazines, videos, emails, web browsing and more available. The Kindle Fire offers an impressive 9 hours of battery life, so is perfect when out and about on the move.

The LG Optimus L3 is a stylish smartphone with a 3.2″ display and access to over 450,000 apps.  The enhanced 3MP camera has a variety of scenes and effects to help you get the best out of your photos.  It’s also integrated with social networks to help you share your favourite moments. There’s also built-in GPS for finding the latest bar you’re meeting your friends at, and Bluetooth for connecting hands free kits so you can chat to your family while on the road. The LG Optimus L3 is also available in white and pink, exclusively at Carphone Warehouse.

The Kindle Fire and LG Optimus L3 Bundle Deal is available in store, online at www.carphonewarehouse.com or by calling 0800 087 0870.

*24 month contract applies

Posted by: James

Angry Birds Star Wars arrives for iOS, Windows Phone and Android

Angry Birds fans can rejoice today as the infamous Star Wars edition is now available to download from iTunes, Windows Marketplace and Google Play.

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away… a group of desperate rebel birds faced off against a galactic menace: the Empire’s evil Pigtroopers!

Rebel birds, striking from a hidden base, have won their first victory against the evil Imperial Pigs. During the battle, Rebel spies managed to steal secret plans to the Empire’s ultimate weapon, the PIG STAR, and are racing to deliver the plans to the Rebel Birds. Now they need your help!

Join an epic adventure with the Angry Birds in the legendary Star WarsT universe! Use the Force, wield your lightsaber, and blast away Pigtroopers on an intergalactic journey from the deserts of Tatooine to the depths of the Pig Star — where you’ll face off against the terrifying Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Pigs! Can you become a Jedi Master and restore freedom to the galaxy? Time to grab your lightsaber and join the adventure! May the birds be with you!

• HOURS AND HOURS OF ENGAGING GAMEPLAY – Explore more than 80 levels in iconic locations like Tatooine and the Pig Star. Can you dodge Imperial pigs, laser turrets, Tusken Raider pigs, and the dark side of the Force to get all three stars?
• NEW GAMEPLAY MECHANICS – Use lightsabers, Blasters and Jedi powers to wreak havoc on the Imperial Pigs!
• LEVEL UP YOUR BIRDS – Keep playing and level up your birds to improve their skills!
• SECRETS AND HIDDEN GOODIES – Can you unlock all the R2-D2 and C-3PO bonus levels?
• FREE UPDATES – This is only the beginning of the epic saga!

Hit up your app stores respectively.

Source: MoDaCo

Posted by: James