A few weeks ago O2 Ireland launched their version of the HTC Artemis, the O2 XDA Orbit. The XDA Orbit is the first device available on O2 to have built in sat-nav. Last week we finally managed to get our hands on one to review.
I haven’t had much time to play with the device yet but I am am impressed with the packaging and presentation of the device so I thought I would provide you with another unboxing video.
I shall be reviewing the Orbit over the coming weeks but in the mean time, feel free to ask questions. 🙂
O2 XDA Orbit Specification:
Head over to the O2 Website for more.
You can download the higher res version of the Video HERE or if you prefer you can watch the video on Soapbox.
Posted by: Matt
[Technorati tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Tracy & Matt, O2, HTC Artemis, XDA Cosmo, XDA Orbit, HTC P3300]
O2 today announces that it is adding to its Xda portfolio with the launch of the O2 Xda Argon. The Argon looks like being the O2 version of the HTC Panda/HTC P6300. Here is the O2 press release:
Powered by Windows Mobile® 5.0 platform and featuring Microsoft® direct-push email, the Xda Argon provides quick reliable internet access and familiar easy-to-use Microsoft Office applications, making it the ideal tool for busy mobile professionals.
Building upon the success of previous Xdas, the device offers key features for both corporates and SMEs. Boasting a large 3.5 inch colour touch screen and with no moving parts or keyboard, the O2 Xda Argon is a robust, compact PDA perfect for deploying business applications on the move. The large colour screen also makes reading documents and data entry fast and simple.
Additionally, users benefit from seamless synchronisation with Outlook® and the ability to open, edit and send Microsoft Office Excel® Mobile and Word Mobile attachments quickly and easily as well as viewing existing presentations using Powerpoint.
The device also features a 2.0 mega pixel camera, including video capability and MP3 player, enabling users to watch their favourite videos or downloads on the large colour screen wherever they are. In addition, Bluetooth® support allows integration with car kits and hands-free headsets.
The optional accessory of the award winning CoPilot® Live satellite navigation software and Bluetooth GPS receiver makes the Xda Argon the ultimate business tool for the mobile professional.
For international users, the Xda Argon offers tri-band functionality, supported by a battery life of up to 200 hours standby and up to 4 hours talk time for making all those important calls.
Tim Weston, Head of Marketing for Xda at O2 says; “The introduction of the new O2 Xda Argon is yet another example of our commitment to our customers. Its robust, compact design makes the O2 Xda Argon the perfect device to compliment any modern lifestyle and provides a cost effective business tool for customers who want all the functionality of a PDA, with a large screen and no keyboard.”
O2 XDA Argon Specification
Posted by: Matt
[Technorati tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Tracy & Matt, O2, O2 XDA Argon, HTC Panda, HTC P6300]
Orange today reveals its new look talk Pay As You Go range, which will make being a customer much more simple by offering flat rates, added value and great rewards. Launching today, the all-new Orange Speak Easy plan guarantees customers that it will cost them a flat rate of 15p a minute to call almost anyone on any network at any time.
Orange will also launch Reserve Tank, a £2.50 overdraft facility that makes it possible for Orange PAYG customers to make that essential call even after they have used all of their pre-paid credit. Orange is the first UK operator to offer its customers with such a Pay As You Go overdraft facility.
The changes to Orange Pay As You Go talk plans follows qualitative research among UK mobile phone users, citing loyalty rewards, better call rates to other networks and flat, easy-to-understand pricing as the most important factors when they choose their mobile network. To meet customers’ loyalty requirements, Orange is also changing the way customers redeem Magic Numbers, which discounts calls to their most frequently-called contacts. Now Pay As You Go customers can nominate three numbers when they join Orange rather than just one. Calls to Magic Numbers cost 15p for a whole hour.
Orange will also continue its new training programme for Orange store staff and independent retailers that sell Orange Pay As You Go phones and SIMs. Store staff will take part in the ‘Perfect Pitch’, providing them with the information they need to make customers’ choice of Pay As You Go talk plan simpler. Focused around three easy-to-understand pillars, the pitch will introduce customers to the new Speak Easy flat rate then explain the added value Orange customers get, such as Orange Wednesdays, Magic Numbers and Gigs and Tours. Finally, sales advisors will remind customers of the benefits of the ever-popular Bonus Top Up reward. Orange will also promote the new products on television, radio, outdoor and press over the next few months.
Pippa Dunn, Director of Pay As You Go, Orange UK said, “Customers have been telling us that they have yet to find a Pay As You Go plan that offers the right combination of value for money, rewards and simple pricing. The combined launch of Speak Easy, Reserve Tank and changes to our rewards will show our commitment to making it simpler for our customers to stay in touch.”
Posted By: Matt
[Technorati tag(s): Pay As You Go, PAYG, wireless, Orange, Tracy & Matt]
We have have been talking about the Samsung i600 a lot lately and today we discovered that the device is now available on Orange, much sooner than expected!
I’ve been using the Samsung i600 for a few weeks now and have to say that it’s become the main device that I use and finally I’m back to smartphone after being a Windows Mobile PPC man for the past few years! I really like the i600.
We are hoping to get our hands on the Orange version of the i600 soon so that we can see what the difference is between the two. The Orange version looks more grey than black and I assume that MSN will be MIA again?!
Samsung SGH-i600 Specification
See for yourself on the Orange Website or check out our Samusung i600 video.
Posted by: Matt
[Post tags: smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Tracy & Matt, Samsung SGH-i600, Orange, Samsung Windows Mobile blog]
The Orange SPV E650 was finally released last week and since then it has proven to be very popular and is the device that we are emailed about most. In fact you probably wont find it at your local Orange retail outlet as, in most locations, it’s out of stock.
Both SPV E650 and the HTC S710 are based on the HTC Vox and are essentially the same device. However, I managed to get my hands on both so thought that I’d do a double unboxing video to see if there are any differences between the two.
A few things I would point out to anyone looking to buy an Orange SPV E650.
You can download the full length video, in higher res, from HERE or if you prefer to use YouTube you can see the video, on two parts, HERE (Pt1) and HERE (Pt2).
The HTC S710 is now available to buy from Clove Technology. Thanks once again to Clove for supplying the S710 for review, and to Russell for letting me borrow his brand new E650 as Orange have yet to find us one!
Orange SPV E650/HTC S710 Specification:
Posted By:Matt
[Technorati tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Tracy & Matt, HTC Vox, HTC S710, Orange, SPV E650]
Samsung announced today that it has become the first to begin mass producing 16 gigabit (Gb) NAND flash, the highest capacity memory chip now available. The company said it will fabricate the devices in 51 nanometers (nm), the finest process technology to be used in memory mass production to date.
“In rolling out the densest NAND flash in the world, we are throwing open the gates to a much wider playing field for flash-driven consumer electronics,” said Jim Elliott, director, flash marketing, Samsung Semiconductor. “To minimize production costs and improve performance, we have applied the finest process technology a ‘half generation’ ahead of the industry, which is introducing 55nm and higher.”
Samsung’s 51nm NAND flash chips can be produced 60 percent more efficiently than those produced with 60nm process technology. Samsung achieved this new migration milestone just eight months after announcing production of its 60nm 8Gb NAND flash last August.
The new 16Gb chip which has a multi-level cell (MLC) structure can facilitate capacity expansion by offering 16 gigabytes (GBs) of memory in a single memory card. Furthermore, by applying the new process technology, Samsung has accelerated the chip’s read and write speeds by approximately 80 percent over current MLC data processing speeds.
Posted by: Matt
[Post tags: smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Tracy & Matt, Samsung, NAND, Flash Memory, Windows Mobile blog]
Makayama introduces Pocket Live TV 1.0, software that allows you to watch 100 live TV channels on your Windows Mobile phone.
Watch 100 channels from 10 countries live on your Pocket PC phone. With Pocket Live TV, your phone becomes a portable TV. Watch your favorite channels right in the palm of your hand.
Watch live TV from the U.S., U.K. Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Russia, Netherlands and other countries. So whatever you would’ve watched on the sofa, you can watch elsewhere instead. In the room next door, down the pub, or on the beach a thousand miles away. Take your favourite tv-series, talkshow, sport events or news programs with you on your portable device.
The most affordable way to get your television content in your pocket. No subscription, no bundled data-plan, just a one-time purchase of software.
Includes top news channels * , such as CNN, BBC, Sky News, Deutsche Welle and NBC. Music channels, such as MTV, Ministry of Sound and 3for12. Sports channels such the Baseball Channel, Eurosport and Sportbox. Get the latest weather forecast from the Weather Channel. And tens of general news and entertainment channels.
The channels are all broadcast over-the-internet, so if you have WiFi on you device, you can watch them for free, without data charges. Go to any Starbucks or free WiFi hotspot and watch free TV on your phone. It also works with UMTS, WCDMA, EVDO, EDGE and other wideband enabled Pocket PCs. Check out the free demo to see which channels from your country are available. Works on any Pocket PC (phone) with a WiFi or 3G connection.
You can learn more HERE.
Posted By: Matt
[Technorati tag(s): GPRS, 3G, wireless, Live TV, Makayama, Tracy & Matt]
Orange has developed the first service of its kind to offer the nation’s wanabees and extroverts a platform to pit their unique and bizarre talents against one another other.
Play-Off has been designed specifically for the mobile phone – so it doesn’t matter if you’re on a bus, out with mates, on the factory floor or in the office – the competition lets you take part.
How it works:
The British public’s love of the game show format has run for many years – so, whether you look at X Factor, Dancing on Ice or even the Generation Game with a longing to have a go, or just have fun watching and voting on participants – Play-Off gives you the chance to get involved.
Challenge categories for launch include Face-off, giving those who think they are the sexiest person alive a chance to prove it, Dance-off, for those with the craziest dance moves to let loose and finally Weird-off for, well, the weirdest stuff!
“It’s all about fun and spontaneity” said Deborah Tonroe, Head of TV and Video at Orange. “Many of our customers love taking and sharing videos with their mobile phones, and many more can’t resist the opportunity to watch and vote in shows like this. We’re expecting 1000’s of viewers to watch and vote on the first competitions – so it’s perfect for anyone who fancies 15 seconds of fame!”
Play-Off is being produced for Orange by IMP Media, a company specialising in multimedia services combining mobile, internet and TV. Tony Cuthbertson, Director of IMP Media, said: “Play-Off picks up on a number of big trends in television and the internet and adds the spontaneous interactivity of the mobile phone to create something that’s completely new and fresh.”
You can find out what it’s all about by visiting Orange World on your mobile or by going to orange.co.uk. To be the next star of Play-Off, simply submit your clip at orange.co.uk or send it by MMS to (7469).
Posted By: Matt
[Technorati tag(s): GPRS, 3G, wireless, Unlimited data, Orange, Tracy & Matt]
The HTC Kaiser (HTC P4550) with its built in GPS, 3G, HSDPA and spring loaded QWERTY keyboard looks like being one of the most sought after devices.
The folks over at PDAMobiz.com managed to get hold of some new images of the HTC Kaiser and as above, show the tilt and slide mechanism in action as well as some angles of the device that have not previously been seen.
The HTC Kaiser is one of the few devices that really interests me at the moment, Tracy thinks it might be too heavy or chunky but what does she know, she’s just a girl! :p
HTC Kaiser (P4550) specification:
- Windows Mobile 6 Professional
- 2.8″ QVGA LCD Touchscreen
- 256 MB ROM – 128MB RAM
- Qualcomm 400MHz CPU
- GSM850, GSM900, GSM1800, GSM1900, UMTS800, UMTS850, UMTS1900, UMTS2100
- CSD, GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA
- 802.11b/g WiFi
- Built-in spring-loaded QWERTY-type keyboard
- microSD memory card slot
- Bluetooth 2
- 3.0 megapixel auto-focus camera
- AGPS
- USB 2.0
- 58 x 110 x 18mm
- 160 grams
EDIT: You can order the HTC Kaiser/TyTN II now and get £10 off the purchase price. Details HERE.
Posted by: Matt
[Post tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Windows Mobile blog, HTC Kaiser, HTC P4550, Tracy & Matt]
Philips is probably one of the last brand names that would come to mind when you think about wireless, mobile or Bluetooth technology, but that could be set to change if Philips get thier way as they are now moving in to the Bluetooth headset market.
There are currently 4 products in the range, each of them offering Bluetooth wireless connectivity and offering music as well as voice call capability.
Philips kindly sent us their Bluetooth Stereo Headset SHB6100 “Neckband for phone and mp3 player” to have a look at and in the video below you can see me unboxing and having a look at them.
What I like about this headset is that it comes with a Bluetooth ‘dongle’ that you can plug into almost any audio device to make it Bluetooth capable.
You can see the full PDF specification HERE.
Oh, and that elastic thing that I didn’t know about in the video was actually a ‘Wrap around pouch’ for ‘Extra portability’ – The mp3 dongle comes with a wrap around pouch to tie your mp3 player and the mp3 dongle into a tight bundle.
The audio quality of the headphones is really quite good, with very little hiss or other noise that I have experienced with other bluetooth headsets. The large (32mm) speakers give a good base response that you don’t tend to get from in-ear heaphones. They are also quite comfortable to wear as the ear-pieces are filled with a soft gel. Despite having a built in Bluetooth receiver and battery they are not much heavier than a normal set of headphones.
As I metioned above, the headphones can be used for stereo audio playback OR as a headset for making/receiving calls. This is an either or situation though as you have to set up two different Bluetooth profiles – one for stereo and one as a headset profile. You cannot have one profile for both jobs. However, in practice you can use the Philips Switchstream. With SwitchStream you will hear a ring tone in the headset when you are receiving a call on your Bluetooth enabled phone. You can then pick up the call from your headset and return to your music after ending the call. I wasn’t able to get this working when using the headphones with my laptop and receiving calls through Skype.
Pairing the headphones with the included Bluetooth dongle could not be simpler and is a matter of a few button presses. I did try this out with my MP3 player and it works quite well.
When using the headphone with my laptop I was able to use the buttons on the headphones to skip between tracks, play and pause etc. but this was not something that I was able to do when using the headphones with my Windows Mobile device.
Overall I like these headphones, definitely worth considering if you are looking for Bluetooth stereo!
As with all of our videos, there is a higher res version available to download HERE.
Posted by: Matt
[Technorati tag(s): smartphone, Pocket PC, HTC, Philips, Bluetooth, Bluetooth Stereo Headset SHB6100, Tracy & Matt]
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