Google are rightly proud of their new Android handset, the Nexus One. However, it seems that the launch has not been without a hiccup or two.
The latest problem that many early adopters seem to be reporting relates to the 3G performance and seems to be specific to those using T-Mobile.
Apparently when the device looses 3G reception the phone falls back to EDGE or GPRS, which is in itself a good thing as it means that you retain your data connection. The problem though, is that the Nexus is not then reverting back to 3G connectivity even when 3G coverage resumes. The only way to get back to 3G is to reboot the device.
At the moment Google are blaming the T-Mobile 3G network. Affected users seem to be unable to get any kind of support from either Google or T-Mobile.
Personally I suspect that the problem lies with the device itself being too aggressive with the SIM and connectivity. We’ve seen a very similar problem with the Acer Liquid on T-Mobile. The problem with the Liquid is that when you loose your signal, going in to a tunnel for example, then you cant get coverage back until you either reboot the handset or switch flight mode on and off. As both the Nexus and the Liquid are android devices I wonder if there could potentially be a common issue.
We should have our Nexus in a few days time so I’ll test with T-mobile as well as other networks and see how we get on with it.
Love to hear from anyone that has a Nexus One experiencing this problem, let us know via the forum!
Posted by: Matt
[ Post Tags: Google, Nexus One, Android, tracyandmatt.co.uk ]
Sony Ericsson have gone on the record to say that the Sony Ericsson X10 has not been delayed. A spokesman has reinforced the Q1 release date, “If anything appeared (on the Sony Ericsson website) saying otherwise, then it was incorrect.”
So we can look at it in one of two ways. Sony Ericsson has focused their attention and applied all resources on the device, ignoring the X2 and Satio to produce something special. Or, Sony Ericsson don’t have any phones selling at the moment since the bad press of the X2 and Satio has killed their rep and are desperate to get something out by hook or by crook.
When the Nexus One was launched earlier this week it was originally reported that the device would be a Vodafone exclusive here in the UK.
The Google Nexus One
There has, however, been some speculation over the past few days as to whether the Nexus One would make it to any other UK carrier and if, indeed, it would be available SIM-free. Early indications are that it will be a carrier only handset and will not be sold SIM-free through regular distribution channels but according to several UK sites T-Mobile and Three are in advanced talks with Google. “We can confirm that we are in talks with Google on the Nexus One,” a spokesman for 3 stated recently, according to paidContent:UK. “We are in talks with Google and hope to have something to announce soon,” a T-Mobile spokesman added, cited by Total Telecom.
With the apparent popularity of the Nexus One already, many people having already purchased the handset direct through Google’s online ordering page (google.com/phone), I would be surprised if the other carriers are not going all-out to have the Nexus One in their portfolio.
It will definitely be interesting to see what the next few weeks and months have in store for the Nexus One. Incidentally I could have my Nexus one here in the next few days so please do feel free to start asking your questions ready for the unbox and review!
Posted by: Matt
[ Post Tags: Google, Nexus One, Android, tracyandmatt.co.uk ]
That little country to the South of my own tiny little land doesn’t really seem to be loving the Palm Pre too much. Whilst, it is a country that has been through recession and almost all have been hit in some way by it it appears Palm on one of the biggest casualties. Read on for the full article:
You know things aren’t going too well for Palm when a heavyweight industry source gives you a call to say ‘you’ll never believe this’.
I always have to steady myself just in case it’s something shocking. You know, like ‘Larry Page has just bought Vodafone — he reckons it’ll be quicker’.
Today, though, the call was about the Palm Pre’s performance in Ireland. It seems the Irish haven’t taken to the old Pre. My source reckons that a whopping 220 units have been sold since launch. Now, the launch date was October 16. So it’s been out for roughly 85 days or about 12 weeks. So on that basis, o2 Ireland have sold about 16 Palm Pre devices per week since launch. Or 2.3 Palm Pre units per day.
My source tells me that the Pre is equally as successful at o2 UK. Surely not? Can this be accurate? Does anyone know differently?
[Source Mobile Industry Review]
The Palm Pre was another device discussed at length during our podcast with Mobiletech Addicts earlier this week. The panel (ok Gareth, Andy, James and I) were all in agreement that the Palm Pre could have been something special but the promising Web OS has been sadly let down by poor hardware.
I just read a short article from our friend Ewan over at Mobile Industry Review. Ewan has gathered some information about the Palm Pre’s sales in Ireland and I have to say the news, if correct, isn’t good. According to the source, just 220 units sold since launch some 12 weeks ago!
Read the full story over at Mobile Industry Review.
Posted by: Matt
According to several sources the family of Philip Dick, deceased author of the book Do Android’s Dream of Electric Sheep upon which the Blade Runner film was based, are set to sue Google for using the Nexus name. The family claim that this is an infringement of Mr. Dick’s intellectual property rights.
HTC’s CEO Peter Chou shows of the Nexus One
Isa Dick Hackett, Dick’s daughter, claims the names are lifted straight from her father’s science fiction novel Do Android’s Dream of Electric Sheep?
“Google takes first and then deals with the fallout later,” she said. “In my mind, there is a very obvious connection to my father’s novel. People don’t get it. It’s the principle of it. It would be nice to have a dialogue. We are open to it. That’s a way to start.”
Google’s response to the claim is that the name has nothing to do with Dick’s work, and that it was simply using the word in its original sense – as a place where things converge.
Love to hear everyone’s thoughts on this one over on the forum!
Posted by: Matt
If you listened to the Mobiletech Addicts podcast that James and I were guests on a few days ago, you’ll know that one of the subjects that we discussed in detail was the popularity of the Android OS and how it is being integrated in to more than just mobile phones, finding it’s way in to the Archos 5 internet tablet and several Netbooks already.
Today at CES California based Spring Design Inc. announced their latest eReader, strangely named, Alex. The eReader will feature two screens. a 3.2″ Colour display will be used for the user interface while a 6″ EPD screen will be used for displaying books and documents.
The press release can be seen below. I wonder if we’ll see anything like this in the UK?
Spring Design Unveils Alex Dual Screen Android-Based eReader at CES 2010
First eReader with Internet Browsing While Reading
FREMONT, Calif. –(Business Wire)– Jan 07, 2010 Spring Design http://www.springdesign.com will take the wraps off the AlexT, the only dual-screen Google Android-based eReader to fully integrate web browsing and reading, at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas January 7-10, 2010.
The debut of the Alex will take place at the press-only Lunch at Piero’s media and innovator event January 7 and 8 where the company will demonstrate Alex’s full browser capabilities and patented dual screen interaction technology, the Duet NavigatorT that enables Alex users to search the Internet on the 3.5″ color browser LCD screen while displaying books, periodicals and even personal, educational and corporate documents on the Alex’s paper-like 6″ EPD screen. The Alex browser and virtual keyboard provide handy access to email, calculator and will accommodate a growing number of programs from the Google Android community.
Alex’s network connections with WiFi, 3G, EVDO/CDMA and GSM, makes it the first truly mobile wireless e-reader device that gives users access to the Internet and their own personalized library on the go, whenever and wherever they need it.
Alex can be purchased for $399.00 starting February 22, 2010 on the www.springdesign.com site with other availability to be announced.
Spring Design created the Alex as an open systems device with the ability to download any book or document that conforms to the Adobe ePUB/PDF/DRM standard or .txt or HTML format. Alex’s fully functional browser gives users the flexibility to explore the Internet to access text, music, video, and images to enrich their reading experience, or annotate text with comments, multimedia or user-selected hyperlinks to other web sites and resources found online or stored by the user on the Alex eReader removable microSD card.
“We designed Alex to expand the users’ reading enjoyment, enriching the content whether it is reading for pleasure, education or business, and enhancing the capabilities with access to the growing suite of Android applications,” said Spring Design Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Eric Kmiec. “We believe Alex enables readers to transcend the printed page to an interactive multi-media reading experience; letting children browse classic picture books with music to serious students who can view videos of science experiments online on the LCD screen while reading textbooks on the EPD screen.”
Spring Design Eric Kmiec will be a speaker on a panel at HigherEdTECH, “From Dewey to Digital Free,” an exploration of how eBooks, digital devices and sophisticated search engines are shaking up the world of textbooks and academic scholarship, moderated by John C. Itelson, Professor Emeritus, California State University Monterey Bay and Director of Instructional Technologies K20CETC, Friday, January 8 at 3:30 at Room N264 North Hall. Alex will also be on display at both Marvell booth locations, one in the eReader tech Zone in Central hall, and a main booth in South Hall. Credentialed press wishing to see the Alex at Lunch at Piero’s may request an invitation at www.lunchat.com/mediaregistration.html.
Posted by: Matt
A few weeks ago Matt brought you the unboxing video of the Nokia N900 and what an unboxing it was, complete with a fox and a cake in the box!
Matt then sent the N900 to me to review but just before its published I thought I would give you a further demonstration with my new video camera!
Nokia N900
If you have any further questions regarding the Nokia N900 please head over to the forum and get your questions in quick. I may have time to slot them into the review.
Here is a reminder of the Nokia N900 specifications:
- Dimensions: 110.9 x 59.8 x 19.55 millimetres
- Mass: 181 grams (battery included)
- 600 MHz Texas Instruments OMAP 3430 CPU
- 256MB RAM / 768MB ROM
- 32GB internal storage
- 3.5″ colour transflective TFT 800 x 480 pixels
- Bluetooth 2.1 with EDR and A2DP
- WiFi – 802.11b/g
- Infrared Gate
- Nokia Internet Tablet OS Maemo 5.0
- Video output
- 3.5mm headphone connector
- Quad-band GSM and Tri-band HSDPA/3G
- FM radio (87.5-108MHz) with RDS
- Built in GPS and Nokia Maps
- 5 Megapixel auto-focus camera and dual-LED flash
- 0.3MP forward-facing camera for video calling
- 1320 mAh battery
Posted by: James
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eXpansys Friday Deals: Selected deals between 11am and 5pm, 8th January 2010 |
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HTC HD2 – WM 6.5 Normally |
HTC Tattoo – Android OS Normally |
LG GD900 Crystal Normally |
Normally |
| These deals are available on Friday the 8th January 2010 between 11am and 5pm by following the links above only. Normal pricing will apply outside of these hours*. |
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Posted by: Matt
Eye-Fi just busted out at CES with its next generation WiFi-enabled SD card, the Eye-Fi Pro X2. The big features of the new 8GB Class 6 SD card are 802.11n support and the Endless Memory mode, which automatically clears photos and videos as they’re uploaded to your machine over WiFi, and there are also some new sharing options in the mix, as well as geotagging support. No word on a ship date, but it’s up for pre-order on Amazon and other retailers now for $149. Eye-Fi is also launching its new Eye-Fi Center software, which should make managing media delivered from Eye-Fi cards a little simpler — it’ll be out later this month.
Eye-Fi
The Eye-Fi card is the 1st wireless memory card. It looks, stores media, and fits into cameras just like a regular SD/SDHC card. On top of that, the Eye-Fi card has built-in Wi-Fi that uses your wireless network to effortlessly transfer photos and videos.
Upon setup, specify which networks the Eye-Fi card uses to transfer your media. Add up to 32 networks for your card to use. The next time your camera is on within range of a specified network, your photos and videos will fly to your computer and to your favorite sharing site.
It’s certainly a neat concept and the good news is that Matt has just got his hands on one of these, so be sure to keep an eye (fi) out for the review.
To check out further details have a look at the Eye-fi website here.
Posted by: James
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