SanDisk today expanded its Memory Stick Micro (M2) line by introducing a 4-gigabyte card. With the capacity to hold up to 1,000 songs, 2,000 high-resolution photos or 20 hours of MPEG4 video2, the 4GB M2 is compatible with Sony Ericsson’s latest generation of slim line, multimedia mobile handsets such as the Cyber-shot™ and Walkman® series. SanDisk announced the 4GB M2 at CTIA Wireless 2007.
“This new card, and other SanDisk cards for mobile phones such as our 4GB microSD™ High Capacity (SDHC), are reshaping the wireless landscape,” said Norm Frentz, director of marketing for SanDisk’s mobile consumer solutions division. “This is the threshold at which mobile phones provide enough capacity to become the user’s all-in-one portable music player, camcorder, photo album and video player.”
The SanDisk M2 card line is designed for use with mobile handsets that have an M2 slot. By using an optional Memory Stick PRO Duo adapter, M2 cards are fully backwards compatible with all digital cameras and hand-held game players that have a Memory Stick slot.
The M2 format was co-developed by SanDisk and Sony Corporation to meet the growing storage needs of highly compact, multimedia mobile phones. M2 measures 15mm x 12.5mm x 1.2mm, making it the second smallest flash memory media in the world, behind the microSD format, which SanDisk pioneered.
The 4GB M2 card will ship to OEMs in May, and will be available in retail stores later in the year. Pricing is not yet determined.
Matt
[Technorati tag(s): Tracy & Matt, SanDisk, M2, Memory Stick Micro, CITA]
Big thanks to Chris for this JAVOedge AlloyVision review.
Having only recently purchased a 2nd generation iPod Nano I was anxious to keep it fit and healthy. The JAVOedge case is very easy to fit; all you have to do is slide the iPod in. I was initially skeptical that the iPod might fall out, but after extensive shaking I am happy to say that it stays put. There is a strip of non-stick material along the inside of the case to ensure this. There are cut-outs for the headphones, charger cable and hold switch. The jog wheel is exposed through a cutout. Most importantly, the case protects the screen, something that is missing from many hard cases. The case comes with a carry strap long enough to go around the neck (very good for the gym).
Key Features
Overall: I was very impressed and feel confident that should I drop or bump my iPod it would be well protected.
You can buy the AlloyVision case from JAVOedge.com
[Post tag(s): iPod Shuffle, JAVOedge, AlloyVision, iPod, Tracy & Matt]
Our friends at Clove Technology have once again come up with some excellent offers for you, our readers.
First of all the price of Eten products has been reduced. Eten M700 is now £295 (+VAT) while the Eten X500 is down to just £289 (+VAT).
BUT thats not all!
In addition to the price reductions if you use the voucher code below you can save a further £20 when you purchase either of the Eten devices.
Simply use this voucher code (TMBX5APR07) and £20 will be deducted from the price of the X500 when you reach the check-out (device sale only).
Use this code (TMBM7APR07) to save £20 off M700 will be deducted from the price of the M700 when you reach the check-out (device sale only).
Secondly, when you purchase any HTC device from Clove Technology and use this voucher code (HTC20APR07) you’ll get £20 off any accessory purchased along with the device. The only condition being that the accessory must exceed £20 in value (£20.50 is OK!!).
Thanks very much to Clove Technology for providing our readers with this offer!
Matt
[Technorati tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Tracy & Matt, HTC, Eten, Clove, Special Offer]
Edit: You can also listen to some other SPV M700 comments on our Orange SPV M700 Podcast.
It’s taken a little while but finally we have been able to get our hands on an Orange SPV M700 to review. We’ve fielded a lot of questions about the M700 over the past few months so I’ll incorporate the answers in to the review.
After a few false starts, the Orange SPV M700, which is the Orange version of the HTC Trinity/HTC P3600, was launched on the 19th February. There has been some confusion about the colour of the device but, as you can see below, the M700 is available in both black and white varieties. The black is aimed at business and the white at consumer customers. However the colour is the only difference between the devices.
The M700 is the first device on the Orange network to have built in GPS so it is a little surprising that Orange are not shouting about this feature. In fact you’ll be pushed to find the GPS mentioned anywhere within the literature or on the Orange website. Furthermore, Orange customer service staff are struggling to get to grips with supporting this device many of them being unaware that the M700 has GPS capability. However I have been assured that Orange are addressing this issue and are updating their staff training.
Upon initial inspection the M700 looks a lot like the SPV M600 being virtually the same size and having a very similar key layout. The most obvious difference between the two devices is that the M700 includes the front facing VGA Camera for video calls. Both the black and the white M700’s have a glossy finish with metallic accents on the bottom and sides of the unit. Size is where the similarity ends, the M700 is completely different on the inside!
Compared to the popular SPV M3100 the M700 is a little smaller and quite a bit thinner. It’s also quite a lot lighter than the M3100.
On the bottom of the device you’ll find the Enhanced Mini USB (EMU) connector which acts as sync/charge as well as being the place to plug in the supplied headset. This proprietary connector has been a source of frustration to many but as most new HTC devices have this connector more and more adapters are becoming available to allow you to plug in your own headphones. Also on the bottom you’ll find the infrared port and the hole where you jam your stylus to reset the device. The full-sized stylus pulls out of the bottom of the device too.
On the left side of the device you have the Scroll Wheel which provides a useful way for scrolling through menus and emails. Pushing the wheel opens or selects the chosen menu or email. Below the wheel is the ‘OK’ button which functions more like a back button.
The right hand side of the device is home to the power button, Voice Speed Dial button Camera button and the miniSD card slot complete with protective covering flap.
Below the screen you’ll find the customary D-pad for menu navigation, two soft keys, the red and green phone keys, the Windows key and finally another ‘OK’ button. The D-pad on the M700 is positive and easy to use and, although it’s smaller than the one on the M3100, it sticks out that little bit further and is a little easier to use with your thumb.
Turn the device over and you’ll see the main 2.1 Megapixel camera and slot for the loudspeaker. The rest of the back is seamless as the whole of the back removes, by popping upwards, in order to gain access to the battery and SIM card. This catches a lot of people out as they wonder where the battery goes!
Camera
The main camera is auto-focus so does not have the macro/normal switch found on many other HTC devices. This is handy as I always shot the first picture or two in the wrong mode. The picture quality is pretty decent, and is considerably better than the unit found in other devices at the moment. The M700 does not have a ‘flash’.
Battery
The Battery in the M700 is physically quite large occupying a large cavity in the back of the device and is 1500mAh in capacity. In practice the battery life is impressive, compared to the M3100 the M700 lasts much, much longer.
Screen
The screen on the M700 is 2.8″ diagonal and has a resolution of 240 x 320, pretty standard these days. However the screen is a lot brighter and more evenly lit than the M3100 and does not suffer from the yellow colour cast as on the M600. The contrast ratio seems a lot higher than on other devices we have seen in the past. This makes the M700 screen a pleasure to use.
Software
The M700 is powered by Windows Mobile 5.0 and by default has the standard Orange homescreen. I know that the Orange homescreen puts a lot of people off so it’s worth mentioning that this can be disabled in favour of the standard Pocket PC homescreen. I wont go through the software installed in the device as there is no real difference between this and any other device you might find at the moment.
GPS
I’m sure that most people will be reading this review in order to find out more about the GPS built in to the Orange SPV M700. In some ways the built in GPS unit could be one of the best kept secrets of this device. As we mentioned in past posts, even Orange retail are largely unaware that the device is GPS capable.
In the early days we had a lot of emails from people that had just purchased their M700 and thought that their device was missing its GPS. Strangely the M700 does not have any GPS control panel or settings that would give you any indication that there is a GPS installed. Not even the Comm Manager offers any GPS information. Furthermore there are no GPS applications installed by default.
In order to try out the built in GPS you’ll have to install some third party software such as CamerAware, Orange SatNav or even Tom Tom. When you register your M700 you qualify for a trial of the Orange SatNav software, the details of which should be given to you when you register, if not you’ll find details on the Orange NAV page.
The GPS unit installed in the M700 is pretty good. It picks up a satellite signal quickly and tracks accurately, for the most part it will even work indoors. One tip with the GPS is that you do NOT need to turn on the bluetooth in order to use it, doing so will only drain your battery more quickly!
The Orange SatNav software isn’t bad. It will give you directions to a destination and provides live traffic information. You should bear in mind that the Orange SatNav software uses your internet connection to download map and traffic information so could quickly become expensive. However it will give you the chance to test the GPS in your M700 if you don’t have any other software.
It’s a lot more convenient to use the M700 with its built in GPS than to use a bluetooth GPS device.
Accessories
The SPV M700 comes with a few more accessories than you might expect. On top of the normal mains charger and USB cable you get a leather effect pouch style case and, rather unusually, you get an in car charger that plugs in to the car cigarette lighter socket. You also get the standard ‘getting started’ guide and a generic manual, neither of which mention the GPS much beyond defining what GPS means.
Conclusions
A lot of people have been asking me of the M700 is worth the upgrade. I suppose that the answer is ‘it depends’. It depends on what device you already have, and what you use your device for. If you have an M600 at the moment and you want a faster device with 3G and Sat Nav then the M700 is definitely worth the upgrade. If you have an M3100 and can live without the keyboard and you are looking for a GPS enabled device then consider the M700. As much as a like the M700, and it really is a pleasure to use with its fast processor responsive operating system, I love having built in GPS. However I cant do without a built in sliding keyboard.
If you have decided to buy an M700 which colour do you choose? Well if you are a consumer you will only be offered the white device and if you are a business customer you will be told that you can only have the black one. If you really want the one that is not normally available to you then I would suggest that you speak to a team leader or retentions and ask for the one you want. Most people that I have spoken to have said that they have been able to get their preferred colour. Having played with both I would say that the white is the one I prefer. You may think that the black is the more practical when it comes to getting dirty, however the opposite is true. The black one attracts dirt and finger prints whereas the white one stays relatively pristine looking. It’s also worth mentioning that the black units have had some problems with the metallic paint flaking off around the keys which is something that has not been reported with the white one.
Overall the Orange SPV M700 is a good device and if you are looking for an all-in-one gps phone then you should seriously consider this.
Orange SPV M700 Specification
Matt
[Technorati tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Tracy & Matt, Orange, M700, HTC Trinity, HTC P3600, SPV, Orange SPV M700]
Just weeks after the official launch of the HTC Advantage comes another announcement from HTC this time it’s the HTC Advantage X7501 which is basically the Windows Mobile 6 version of the HTC Advantage.
Overview
The HTC Advantage X7501 is a powerful mobile office device that lets you work wherever and whenever you want. Powered by Microsoft Windows Mobile 6 with Direct Push Technology, you have the office tools you need while on the road. Attach the QWERTY keyboard and easily type up documents, e-mails, and messages. The huge 5-inch VGA display provides you more than enough room for surfing the Web and viewing documents. With its 3G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.0 capabilities, you stay connected to the world.
The built-in 8GB hard drive gives you plenty of room to store your work and media files on the phone, and if that’s not enough, insert a miniSD card to add even more storage space. Use the TV Out feature to output contents on the screen onto an external display such as a Projector or TV when doing presentations or sharing photos. You can also print out documents by connecting to a Bluetooth or network printer. Have your office with you wherever you are with the HTC Advantage X7501.
HTC Advantage X7501 Specification
You can find lots more photos on HPC.ru
Matt
[Technorati tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Windows Mobile blog, HTC X7501, HTC Advantage X7501 , Tracy & Matt]
The O2 XDA Atom Life has appeared on the web and has been reviewed by HardwareZone.
The Atom looks like a well specified device with its 624MHz processor and massive 1GB ROM although interestingly only Bluetooth 1.2 and 64MB RAM.
O2 XDA Atom Life Specification
Matt
[Technorati tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Tracy & Matt, O2, O2 XDA Atom Life, HTC Trinity, HTC P3600, SPV, Orange SPV M700]
Edit: Our Orange SPV M700 review is now online!
A number of our readers have been in touch to ask about the differences between the Black and the White SPV M700 and why they are unable to buy the colour they want.
First of all let’s clear up the question of ordering. The white M700 is for consumer customers whereas the black one is only available to business customers. That said, if you speak to the right people at Orange when you want to upgrade, and if you are persistent you should be able to get the colour that you want. Don’t let them tell you that the colour you want does not exist!
Secondly, there is NO difference between the black and the white SPV M700 other than the colour. Again, some of you have been in touch having been told by Orange customer services that the white device doesn’t have GPS but that the black one does. Let me assure everyone that both have built in GPS but that there is no control panel or settings that would give away this fact. Orange are really unable to offer any support with the GPS at this time so if you are having problems I would urge you to get in touch with us and we will do our best to help you!
Matt
[Technorati tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Tracy & Matt, Orange, M700, HTC Trinity, HTC P3600, SPV, Orange SPV M700]
The T-Mobile Ameo launched, fairly quietly, last week and gradually reviews are appearing on the web.
Gears over at CoolSmartphone managed to get his hands on an Ameo and has posted up some nice images of the device (as above) along with his initial thoughts.
The screen is huge and you cannot help but feel the resolution is wrong.
Inputting your entry passcode sees the stylus traverse most of the screen. Web pages are easier to read.
Battery life is better than expected, more time and use will clarify if this early judgement is valid. USB device charging seems to be slower than the included mains charger.
Check out what else Gears has to say along with the rest of the photos HERE.
The Ameo is available to buy now from T-Mobile UK.
Matt
[Technorati tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Windows Mobile blog, T-Mobile, Ameo, Dopod U1000, HTC Athena, HTC X7500, Tracy & Matt]
Sarian Systems has announced the launch of the first enterprise router to offer compatibility with both the very latest broadband networks and HSDPA, 3G, EDGE and GPRS mobile networks.
The DR6000 Series, which is designed for enterprise use and can be offered as part of a service provider’s managed service, provides future-proof, high-speed broadband, and is fully compatible with all ADSL, ADSL 2 and ADSL 2+ broadband services. In addition, the router can be equipped with built-in automatic failover to wireless networks – including HSDPA – to ensure business continuity in the event of a wired connection failure.
While the battle to secure new broadband customers continues to rage – with many mobile operators now offering their own broadband packages – a large number of businesses are still reluctant to migrate due to concerns about day-to-day performance and reliability. The DR6000 Series helps remedy these issues by offering service level agreement (SLA) policing, whereby the router is able to log and record details about real-time broadband performance. For the enterprise, this means that it is possible to tell whether the service provider is meeting the SLA; for the provider, the router can be configured to give advance notification in the event of any performance issues, so that immediate action can be taken to resolve them.
“While most companies recognise the benefits of broadband, there’s still continued anxiety over its reliability, which is proving to be a major barrier for broadband service providers,” said Andy Hood, managing director at Sarian Systems. “By incorporating the DR6000 Series into their broadband offering, service providers will not only be able to respond to user issues at greater speed, but they’ll be able to overcome one of the biggest barriers to broadband adoption, by demonstrating that they can provide accurate, trustworthy and transparent SLAs.”
The DR6000’s multiple serial ports make it capable of supporting legacy serial devices including point of sale terminals and telemetry devices and is compatible with all known future ADSL updates, with a physical download capability of more than 50Mbits/s as networks advance.
The router is also able to effectively migrate ISDN users over to ADSL, without upgrading their existing ISDN lines, whilst the integration of an HSDPA compatible GSM module means that with the DR6000 Series even bandwidth-hungry business applications will continue functioning if the broadband connection fails.
“It’s vitally important that organisations have a viable business continuity strategy – if their mission-critical systems go down, it can mean saying goodbye to both sales and customers,” continued Hood. “The DR6000 Series provides peace of mind, offering multiple back-up options so that communication is never compromised. In fact, such is the speed and reliability of HSDPA that in the event of a fixed line failure, companies probably won’t even notice any degradation in performance.”
As with all Sarian products, the new router contains several unique security and redundancy features to ensure the smooth running of mission-critical communications. These include dual SIM card slots to provide automatic failover in the event of mobile coverage issues and the ability to simultaneously transmit data while monitoring/controlling real-time router performance, so that business-critical data transfer is not interrupted. As it is built on Sarian’s own operating system, SAR/OS, the DR6000 Series can also be customised to support bespoke business applications.
The DR6000 Series is available worldwide, from Sarian partners or direct from Sarian. Prices start at approximately 500 GBP per unit.
Matt
[Post tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Sarian, wireless, 3G, Tracy & Matt]
The folks at Clove Technology have been in touch with me again to let me know that the Toshiba Portege G900 is now available to preorder on their website.
Whilst the final price and specification of the G900 yet to be announced you can preorder it now for £445 (+VAT). Delivery is expected at the end of May/early June.
With it’s large WVGA screen and finger print reader, the Toshiba G900 looks ike being a cool little device.
If you take business on the move seriously and you want to keep ahead, you’ll find the Portégé G900 gives you more control over the way you work. One of the first devices to use the new Windows Mobile 6 operating system and with a range of exceptional features, the G900 is first class for business travel.
Toshiba G900 Features
Posted by: Matt
[Post tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Tracy & Matt, Toshiba G900, Toshiba]
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