Press Releases

ZTE announce their first Windows Phone 7 complete with Mango

ZTE Corporation (“ZTE”) has this week begun displaying its first Windows Phone, the ZTE Tania, at the PT/EXPO COMM China 2011in Beijing.

The Tania supports HSPA+, has a multi-point touch 800×480 WVGA resolution 4.3-inch thin film transistor (TFT) screen and a 1GHZ frequency processor with 3D acceleration. It also has a 512MB cache, 4GB of flash memory, an auto focus 5-megapixel camera, WIFI and A-GPS. The device comes pre-loaded with the latest version of Windows Phone, code-named Mango, and will launch later this year in a number of European countries.

ZTE is the sole Chinese smartphone strategic partner for Microsoft and plans to introduce additional smartphone devices based on the Windows Phone platform in the future.

Monster BeKnown iPhone app now available

Monster announced European availability of an iPhone app for BeKnown, Monster’s professional networking application for Facebook. Joining the recently announced Android widget, this latest mobile app for BeKnown allows users to establish and manage a professional network on Facebook, seperate from social contacts, via their iPhone while on the move. Job seekers with other smartphone devices, including Blackberry and Windows Phone, can take advantage of the BeKnown mobile website without the need to use a desktop or laptop.

The Monster job seeking site has been around for a while but the new BeKnown application for iPhone lets users find jobs through their Facebook accounts, making it easier for employers and potential employees to connect together. The iPhone apps is now available for free in the App Store, and the widget for Android in the App Market.

Full press release is after the break.

Huawei Honor Android smartphone unveiled

Huawei has shown off their brand new smartphone, marking their first attempt at a truly high end smartphone. Packing specs like a 1.4GHz processor, 4 inch FWVGA capacitive screen, and an HDR capable 8MP camera, this is set to be a pretty serious bit of kit. Other notable features include a sleek 10.9mm body which weighs just 140 grams. It runs the latest (at the moment) version of Android Gingerbread, and from the press images it also seems to have some kind of UI skin.

You may be able to find smartphones which are even more powerful, but I don’t recall any which claim to have a 3 day battery life with what Huawei calls ‘normal usage’. Given its monster 1900mAh battery, it does seem like it’s achievable in day to day use – we’ll be able to find out when it becomes available in the UK sometime in 2012.

The full press release can be found after the break.

Samsung launches mango flavoured Omnia W

The Mango update for Windows Phone 7 has been on the cards for a while, but second generation devices which actually ship with the Mango update preinstalled are not available quite yet. The Omnia W from Samsung is their first Mango device, which also features some updated hardware. A 1.4GHz processor coupled with 512MB of RAM is under the hood, topped off with a nice 3.7″ Super AMOLED display. One of Mango’s headline features is support for video calling, so the Omnia W has a VGA front facing camera as well as a 5MP snapper on the back, all wrapped in a slim 10.9mm  casing – if you’re not one for the giant phones coming out lately then this may be worth a look, available later this year.

In case you’ve forgotten about what the Mango update brings to the Windows Phone table, take a read of this breakdown. The full press release is after the break.

What’s new with Facebook – a quick overview

Facebook have announced some changes/new features today at their F8 conference. Below you will see a quick summary that has been sent to us from Facebook themselves. If you have not visited the site today i suggest you go and have a look.

• Timeline – your home on the web
  The Facebook profile has evolved a lot over the last few years – from simple pages to the way you connect and share with friends. Today at f8 we announced a new type of profile – Timeline.
  Timeline is the place you tell your story on the web.
  It is the way you curate and control your identity through the content you share.
  Some life moments are worth more than a status update, such as moving house or getting engaged.  Now you can give that moment more presence on your Timeline, or even add it in retrospectively. Equally – we don’t want everything we do to stay with us forever, so if a photo from two years ago makes you feel a little awkward, you can hide it.

• Activity log – one place to control what you share
  Your activity log is a list of everything you’re posting on Facebook. Only you can see it. It controls what appears on your Timeline, and who you’re sharing specific things with.
  Activity Log gives you one place you can go to control your identity  – from posts and pictures you’re tagged in, to content you share.

• The cover – a photo to show who you are
  Your cover is a new space to express yourself on your profile. You can fill it with an image that defines you.

• A new breed of apps
  We’ve all got familiar with expressing ourselves on Facebook, from liking things to sharing photos, status updates and comments. Now we are enabling people to express themselves even more through apps. Going for a run? Listening to an album?
  Now you can add apps to your timeline so you can let your friends know – meaning your Timeline becomes a more complete story of who you are and what you care about.

Samsung Wave 578 to support Orange Quick Tap

Orange and Barclaycard today announced the upcoming launch of the second Quick Tap contactless payments enabled handset following their launch of the UK’s first mobile contactless payments service earlier this year. In the coming weeks, consumers will be able to purchase the Samsung Wave 578 with Quick Tap from Orange’s shops, online and via telesales.
The new Samsung Wave 578 with Quick Tap contactless payments will be available in a stylish Black with a sleek, user-friendly design and bright 3.2″ WQVGA TFT screen. It runs on Bada, Samsung’s own operating system, and offers Wi-Fi, HSDPA, A-GPS, MicroSD and Bluetooth. The 3G+ handset also features integrated social networking, including Facebook and Twitter, plus a 3.2 mega pixel camera and video recording.

Adobe Enables 3D Games with Flash Player 11, AIR 3

Adobe Systems Incorporated today announced Adobe Flash Player 11 and Adobe AIR 3 software to enable the next generation of immersive application experiences across devices and platforms including Android, Apple iOS (via AIR), BlackBerry Tablet OS, Mac OS, Windows, connected TVs and other platforms. As the game console for the Web, Flash Player 11 and AIR 3 allow game publishers to instantly deliver console-quality 2D and 3D games over the Internet to nearly all PCs and many other devices. Media companies can take advantage of new features to seamlessly deliver protected feature-length, cinema-quality HD video through the Web, in mobile apps, and even with surround sound for connected TVs. Flash Player 11 and AIR 3 provide a cross-device entertainment platform, enabling the best in online gaming and premium video while helping content publishers to reach the broadest possible audience with highly-leveraged development investments.

Dozens of new features in Flash Player 11 and AIR 3 allow developers to deliver a new class of gaming and premium video experiences, as well as sophisticated, data-driven applications with back-end systems integration across devices, including the iPhone and iPad via AIR. AIR native extensions add support for unique device features and native code libraries, empowering developers to freely choose the right mix of Flash, HTML5 and native code to provide powerful user experiences across PCs and devices. Flash Player 11 and AIR 3 will be publicly available in early October. Flash Builder and Flex, Adobe’s open source framework for building mobile, Web and desktop apps, will offer support for the new features in an upcoming release before the end of the year.

The HTC Rhyme is announced

Over in New York today HTC have announced a new Android device , the HTC Rhyme, which has a nice range of accessories. The Plum colored version will be offered to UK customers exclusively on O2.

HTC Corporation, a global designer of mobile devices, today unveiled HTC Rhyme, a new kind of phone created for people who require advanced features but want a phone that is sleek and fits seamlessly into their lives. The result is the elegant HTC Rhyme that delivers a fresh approach of integrating distinct colors, HTC Sense and complementary accessories for a natural personal experience.

“HTC Rhyme represents an entirely new approach, based on recognition that there is a substantial group of consumers who want their phones to be more personal and complimentary to every moment of their day,” said Scott Croyle, vice president of design, HTC Corporation. “HTC Rhyme is focused on delivering this through a fresh new style and experience that includes a family of innovative accessories like the HTC Rhyme Charm and Docking Station that are meant to naturally integrate into people’s lives.”

Adobe Releases Photoshop Elements 10 & Adobe Premiere Elements 10 Bundle

Adobe Systems Incorporated  today announced Adobe® Photoshop® Elements 10 & Adobe Premiere Elements 10 bundle for Windows and Mac, the newest version of Adobe’s award-winning, Number. 1 selling consumer photo- and video-editing software*. This milestone release celebrates 10 years of bringing powerful, easy-to-use technology to consumers. Available as standalone products (see separate press releases) or as a single retail package, the Photoshop Elements 10 & Adobe Premiere Elements 10 bundle offers two complete solutions that redefine what it means to bring photos and videos to life.

“The Photoshop Elements 10 & Adobe Premiere Elements 10 bundle brings together all the functionality people need to easily create, perfect and share both photo and video memories,” said Winston Hendrickson, vice president of Digital Imaging Products, Adobe. “The new features expand the creative possibilities with photos and videos. And now, more than ever, people who capture photos are experimenting with video, so we’re offering new tools and technology that bring video editing to photographers in a way that is natural and easy for them.”

ViewSonic launches new low power, ultra portable LED Projector at Tech Expo Ascot 21st Sept 2011

ViewSonic is launching a new projector aimed at users who need a smart, highly mobile projector that delivers superb image quality.

Delivering a high contrast, high quality 500 lumens display in full WXGA (1200×800) resolution, the PLED-W500 is perfect for meetings, training sessions or the travelling executive.

LED illumination technology from ViewSonic offers a 50% power consumption advantage over traditional projector technology, but has the added benefit of increased lamp life, 500% more than traditional lamps.   LED illumination technology means longer product life, less heat, no cool down procedures and a greater resilience to everyday use.

With a host of connectivity options you would come to expect from a ViewSonic projector the PLED-W500 offers a lot of choice.  As well as the traditional analogue connections and latest digital HDMI port, the PLED-W500 also incorporates the innovative USB Display function, where the unit can display video via the USB port from any compatible source. 

The PLED-W500 even includes an integrated media player and Microsoft Office document viewer, which when used with the built in memory card reader or USB port means you don’t even need to take a laptop to make a presentation. This reduction in cables, devices, power consumption, weight and ambient noise makes the PLED500 the perfect travelling companion.

“The PLED-W500 has a greater contrast ratio which enhances the 500 lumens putting it on par with higher lumen traditional lamp technology. We have taken our time to develop LED illumination technology so that it meets the standards our customers expect of a ViewSonic projector” says Trevor Holt, European Product Manager for Projectors.

The PLED-W500 comes as standard with a comprehensive 3 years European warranty, as do all the ViewSonic projector range.

Posted by: James