Press Releases

HTC announce the One mini

HTC have today officially announced the HTC One mini – bringing a smaller brother from the HTC One to the market. I was lucky enough to go hands on with the new handset recently and what a beauty it is. Specs wise, it may be lacking in a few places compared to the flagship device, but size wise I actually prefer the One mini. It just feels the right size for me.

In terms of pricing things are not yet confirmed but imagine the HTC One on a 24 month contract and then drop two price tiers. That is where this one will sit – so I am told by HTC.

Design wise the HTC One mini mimics its big brother being made from a single piece of aluminum and has the same robust feel to it. With a 4.3 inch display the mini may well appeal to a larger market of average consumers. Powered by a dual core processor as opposed to quad core on the HTC One this thing is still a speedy little son of a gun. The camera on the One mini is the same as the One so potential buyers will have piece of mind that they can get some quality photographs and video from the device.

Some sweet accessories will also be available for the One mini – there are a selection of different coloured flip style cases as well as a rather nice windscreen mount for in the car.

You can view the full specs/press release along with some photos below:

Usher teams up with Samsung Smart TV’s

Usher, eight-time Grammy winner, one of the best-selling musical artists in history and currently one of the coaches of NBC’s hit show, “The Voice,” has teamed up with Samsung Smart TV and digital agency Huge to create a digital short film inspired by the title track from his current critically acclaimed album, “LOOKING 4 MYSELF.” The film, Usher’s ‘Looking 4 Myself’ Presented by Samsung, is available via Samsung’s YouTube channel, http://www.youtube.com/samsungtelevisions.

“Our goal was to create a one-of-a-kind film that brought Usher, a global music icon, together with international technology leader Samsung, to create an artistic and extraordinary digital film experience that people will want to view and share,” said Ross Maupin, Creative Director of Huge.   “By seamlessly integrating the Samsung Smart TV into the film starring Usher, we are setting a new standard in viral marketing.”

Samsung announce the Galaxy S4 Zoom

Samsung Electronics today announced the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom, a new device that combines the stylish heritage of the Galaxy S4 smartphone with advanced photographic capabilities.

Part of the Galaxy S4 family, the Galaxy S4 Zoom is the result of Samsungs mission to create a single device that can fulfill the role of both an industry-leading smartphone, and a high-end compact camera. Combining 10x Optical Zoom, a 16 Mega Pixel CMOS Sensor, OIS and Xenon Flash with the very latest Samsung Galaxy S4 technology, the Galaxy S4 Zoom sets new standards for mobile photography.

Simon Stanford, Vice President of IT & Mobile Division, Samsung Electronics UK & Ireland said: ‘Combining our industry leading expertise in digital imaging and smartphones, the Galaxy S4 Zoom is a converged device that delivers on all fronts and is a product we are excited to be bringing to the market.’

Samsung announce the Galaxy S4 Active

Samsung Electronics today announced the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active, designed to enhance the life experiences of actives users who want to stay connected even when they’re out exploring the most rugged mountain trails or the roughest rivers.

Simon Stanford, Vice President of IT & Mobile Division, Samsung Electronics UK & Ireland said: “The Galaxy S4 Active offers all the great features of the original Galaxy S4, but with added innovative protective design elements to suit our most active customers. Built for an outdoors lifestyle, the Galaxy S4 Active is a life companion for all environments.”

Sony announce the Xperia M

Sony Mobile Communications (“Sony Mobile”) today introduces Xperia M featuring Sony’s innovative one-touch functions for effortless connectivity, and signature premium design.

Xperia M is designed to bring Sony experiences to a new market and price point; NFC connectivity for one-touch functions, stunning design and a range of technologies including: a high quality screen for sharp viewing; smart camera functionality for impressive pictures and videos; Battery STAMINA Mode for outstanding battery life; and Sony’s signature media apps for enjoying photos, music, movies and games on the go, integrating Sony Entertainment Network services directly in the apps.

“Consumers looking for their first steps into the world of Xperia smartphones, would be well-advised to look at Xperia M or Xperia M_dual,” said Calum MacDougall, Director of Xperia Marketing at Sony Mobile Communications. “Both models benefit from Sony’s proven innovation and engineering expertise, and are perfect for those who want the premium technology and experiences often only associated with high-end models.”

The Sony Xperia SP is now available on Three’s Ultrafast network on both Monthly and Pay As You Go price plans through online and in all Three stores.

The Ultrafast ready Sony Xperia SP is available for £26 a month with no upfront cost on the Ultimate Internet 500 plan and for £29 a month with no upfront cost on The One Plan. Both plans come with no surprise out-of-bundle data charges and all-you-can-eat data.
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.

With a stunning premium design including a high-quality HD 4.6 inch screen the XperiaT SP offers the ultimate viewing experience. Perfect for scrolling through pictures, browsing the web or watching YouTube clips on Three’s new Ultrafast network. The colour changing notification bar can also be personalised to show when a call or text is received or even set to pulse to the beat of music – a must have to avoid missed calls and messages.

Samsung Galaxy S4 sales booming

Samsung Electronics today announced that global channel sales of its Galaxy S4, a life companion for a richer, fuller, simpler life, has surpassed 10 million units sold in less than one month after its commercial debut. Launched globally on April 27, the phone is estimated to be selling at a rate of four units per second.

The Galaxy S4 sets a new record for Samsung, generating sales quicker than any of its predecessors. Sales of the Galaxy S III reached the 10-million mark 50 days after its launch in 2012, while the Galaxy S II took five months and the Galaxy S seven months to reach the same milestone.

“On behalf of Samsung, I would like to thank the millions of customers around the world who have chosen the Samsung Galaxy S4. At Samsung we’ll continue to pursue innovation inspired by and for people,” said JK Shin, CEO and President of the IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics.

The Galaxy S4 was developed to enhance the meaningful moments in our lives through its innovative features and superior hardware. It has the world’s first Full HD Super AMOLED display that showcases images at their very best on a 5-inch screen with 441ppi. Equipped with a powerful rear 13MP camera, the Galaxy S4 also boasts a Dual Camera function that allows simultaneous use of both front and rear cameras. The Galaxy S4’s new and innovative software features include Air View and Air Gesture for effortless tasks, while it also keeps people up-to-date with information about their health and wellbeing using S Health.

Samsung Galaxy S4 is available in more than 110 countries and will gradually be rolled out to a total of 155 countries in cooperation with 327 partners. Samsung is planning to introduce more colour variations to meet various consumer tastes and preferences. In addition to the currently available White Mist and Black Forest, new colour iterations will be added this summer, including Blue Arctic and Red Aurora, followed by Purple Mirage and Brown Autumn. UK availability on these colour variations is to be confirmed.

Posted by: James

HTC announce the Desire 600 with dual SIM heading to Russia, Ukraine and MEA

HTC, a global leader in mobile innovation and design, has today unveiled the new HTC Desire 600 dual sim, the first mid-range handset to offer HTC’s latest Sense 5 experience; HTC BlinkFeed and HTC BoomSound, most recently launched as part of the award-winning HTC One. Taking full advantage of Android Jelly Bean, the new model also offers super-fast quad-core performance, while the advanced Video Highlights feature enables maximum creativity at a more affordable price tag.

“People rely on their smartphones every day to be their news channel, email inbox, social network and music player,” said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC Corporation. “The HTC Desire 600 dual sim combines speed and easy multitasking with the truly innovative HTC BlinkFeed home screen. The result is an affordable mid-range phone that sets the standard for its class, keeping the busiest user up-to-date at a glance and offering them the power and range of features to switch between work and play.”
A smartphone designed to keep pace with life

The Motorola RAZR i now available from Three and it’s pretty cheap

The Motorola RAZR i is available for £17 a month with no upfront cost on the Essential Internet 100 plan. It is also available for £20 a month with no upfront cost and offering all-you-can-eat data on the Ultimate Internet 100 plan. Both plans come with a guarantee of no surprise out-of-bundle data charges.

The device is also available on Pay As You Go for £249.99 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.

The Motorola RAZR i has an edge-to-edge 4.3-inch screen which fits snugly within the phone’s compact design. This vibrant display is protected by aircraft-grade aluminium, a Gorilla® Glass front and even has a splash proof coating, so people won’t need to worry about accidental spills or splashes.
An 8 megapixel camera with dedicated camera button launches the camera in less than a second, even when the phone is on standby. Plus, in burst mode the Motorola RAZR i can take up to 10 shots a second which means it’s even easier to capture the perfect shot.

Pick up an iPhone for just 50 pence a day

Carphone Warehouse is giving customers the opportunity to get their hands on an iPhone for the super value price of 50p a day (£17 a month), making it cheaper than a chocolate bar, pint of milk or bus ticket. This is the first time that an iPhone contract has been available for under £20 a month at Carphone Warehouse, and will allow a new group of customers to get their hands on the premium Apple iPhone 4 handset.

The new tariff, available on Friday 10th May, has been introduced by Carphone Warehouse in response to a growing number of consumers who want smartphones at consistently accessible price points.