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Desiring the New HTC Desire Z

Liam — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 15:18:50 +0000

The first HTC Desire released in March is considered one of the most sought-after smartphones in the market and not a few has called its name quite apt. Now comes a couple of new Desire offsprings that extend the desirability of these handsets to a new level of sophistication.

One of them, the HTC Desire Z, brings full QWERTY functionality to the family. This is only the second full-QWERTY Android from the Taiwan-based leader in smartphones after the HTC Dream released in 2009.

High End Features

Designing derivatives of a successful product is often a give and take proposition. The HTC Desire Z should keep people wanting full QWERTY options on a smartphone happy. But they won’t get the 1GHz snapdragon on the first Desire since it only has a Qualcomm MSM7230 at 800 MHz. No matter, you now get the latest Android v2.2 Froyo on the Z.

It has the same radio connectivity options for a high end smartphone with quad band GSM and 3G with HSDPA/HSUPA data speeds even if you only get class 32 GPRS/EDGE speeds on 2G. You also have WiFi 802.11 b/g/n with DLNA where the first Desire only had the older WiFi iteration without DLNA or “n” for a wider coverage. Local data transfers get Bluetooth v2.1 with A2DP and microUSB v2.0. GPS is also supported.

Flagship Multimedia Features

Multimedia features start with 3.7-inch S-LCD capacitive touchscreen with WVGA (480 x 80) resolution, 16 million colors, accelerometer and proximity sensors as well as multitouch input technology.

The HTC Desire Z images with a 5-megapixel autofocus shooter with LED flash, face detection, geo tagging and video recording at 720p high definition. There’s a Stereo FM receiver with RDS and 3.5mm audio jack. All your multimedia files can be stored internally with its generous 1.5 GB user memory or in a 32GB microSD card which it supports a 1300 mAh Li-ion battery that yields up to 9.8 hours of talk time on 2G with 430 hours on standby.

Intriguing Form Factor: Nokia Touch and Type

Liam — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 10:40:43 +0000

The most interesting feature of the Nokia X3 Touch and Type is without a doubt, the keypad. This generic looking mobile phone may be easily passed up on a store shelf, but at a close look, one will see the functional value of the handset.

As stated, the keypad is pretty unique in this phone. The X3-02’s layout is a four column, three row setup, as opposed to the more conventional three column, four row keypad that is seen in most candy bar handsets. But this is actually well made, at the three left columns are the numbers one to nine while the last column is basically the bottom row of the old layout.

Quick Adjustments

There is no doubt that using this device is easy. While it does take a moment for any user to register the fact that the spacebar button is on the lower right area of the key mapping, it becomes quite intuitive after a while. One can easily see why Nokia has called this handset the X3-02 Nokia Touch and Type, it is because of the fact that typing on this device is easy.

And users will certainly want to type. One of biggest functions on the device is the ability to connect to social networking sites and tools such as Facebook, Twitter and instant messaging apps. These are all integrated in the operating system and thanks to 3G and WiFi support, getting online is a breeze.

Touch Capabilities

Of course, the Nokia X3 Touch and Type (like the similar Nokia C3 Touch and Type) is more than just the typing aspect, it also offers touch. This comes in the form of a 2.4 inch resistive touch screen that allows users to easily navigate the handset without much trouble. While it lacks gestures or multi touch, the screen is quite responsive and has excellent visual quality that users will certainly appreciate.

Microsoft Distributes WP7 Devices to Employees

Liam — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 10:48:25 +0000

There are certainly plenty of big advantages to working for one of the biggest companies in the whole world, especially when they are also the same developers of the most widely used operating system for desktop and laptop computers. Just for example: Microsoft is going to give out free smart phones to all of its employees.

Now, we have yet to get the full scoop on this little tidbit of news, which means that nobody has any idea one what the scope and limits for the giveaway will be. Obviously, Steve Ballmer’s teams are already getting the handset, and so will everyone who is associated with working on the operating system as well.

But as for the rest of the company, it is hard to imagine how Microsoft will be able to distribute so many devices internally –though they easily have the resources for it. It is estimated that the amount could cost anywhere from 1 to 2 million Pounds (about 2-4 million USD).

Anyway, the Windows Phone 7 OS has already been given out to many developers –bringing the device to its official technical phase. Initial reactions to the new OS are both promising and disconcerting. The UI and performance is said to be top notch, and while the new layout seems a little to experimental for some, it is fully functional, responsive and runs smoother than any other OS in the market.

The big issue that many folks are having is with the integration of Facebook into the handset. The OS apparently comes without any actual contacts page –the people page is the only list that users will get and it basically combines all contacts into a single listing.

Consolidated phone books are one thing, but for people who like to keep their phone and Facebook contacts separate, this can prove to be a serious issue. Also, having several thousand Facebook friends (surprisingly, many people do) will clog up the people page so badly that browsing through the list becomes a troublesome task.

Windows Phone 7: Rumors for September Launch and New Handsets

Liam — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 14:14:58 +0000

There is no denying that the upcoming Windows Phone 7 mobile platform is generating quite a buzz. The new OS is promising to deliver one of the most dynamic user interfaces, a fully comprehensive smart phone experience and of course, plenty of new integrated social networking features that does not only have access to Facebook, but also offers games and media sharing capabilities as well.

The WP7 OS was a surprise hit at the MWC last February that has gained quite a following since. In the past few months, Microsoft has slowly revealed even more details to the new OS. From the original Bing, Zune and Xbox Live Games trinity, the features of the new OS has been further expanded with new web services such as the MSN player, Silverlight and more.

According to a recently leaked document from Microsoft, it seems that retailers are being told to be prepared for a possible launch of the new WP7 handset this coming September. While a Q3 launch is not what Microsoft originally announced, it is pretty close to the original October launch date. This means that if Microsoft’s development is ahead of schedule, they might actually manage to release the OS a full month ahead of time.

However, as MS has yet to acknowledge the validity of the leaked document, we are still expecting WP7 and the first handsets to use it, to be available starting October.

Speaking of the WP7 handsets that are coming out; the LG panther is among the first of the devices to have been revealed to the public. And according to rumors, LG is already working on a couple more WP7 devices as well. So far, details on the rumored LG E900 and LG C900 handsets have not been released (nor have either two devices been confirmed).

Google: Smart Phones and the Future

Liam — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 13:05:33 +0000

If you ask Google’s CEO, Eric Schmidt about what the world would be like in the future, and he will tell you that it will have plenty to do with smart phone technology.

Sure, desktop computers will be around forever. The same can also be said about the newly emerging tablet devices as well. But smart phones are not becoming the new must have device –not because of all the convenience it delivers, but because the features it provides are a necessity in a world where people expect everyone else to be connected to the online world.

Back then, being online meant connecting to a slow dial up modem. These days, almost every cool gadget will have a WiFi feature that allows users to hook up to the internet. “Being awake meant being online” as Schmidt says, and he is quite right. These days, thanks to the power of smart phone technology, people are generally online all of the time.

That one single factor alone helps explain why the social networking site Facebook managed to become so successful while the site itself had the potential to match the previous success of MySpace, the fact that Facebook grew alongside the boom of smart phone usage helped bring the usage of the site higher.

The innovation does not stop there. Google is pushing to implement new standards and new features that would help make everything a lot more convenient. The current features of Google reflect this aim. The Goggles augmented reality feature, Google Maps, Street View and other features all focus on one basic thing –making relevant information accessible.

For a company built on the success of a search engine, this approach and goal is both strong and inspiring. With people like Schmidt at the helm of Google, we can only expect to hear more great things from the famous company in the coming years.

Wildfire Now on Vodafone UK

Liam — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 12:04:05 +0000

The HTC Wildfire is finally available from mobile network operator Vodafone UK. According to the most recent announcements, the device is available for free on several contract offers by the network operator.

Our recommended pick would be the 20 Pound monthly tariff for two years which gives the user unlimited text messages, 300 minutes of talk time and about 500 MB of data allowance each month. The offer takes full advantage of the device’s social networking capabilities, which is much recommended for anyone who wants to have the full value of owning this impressive Android handset.

In terms of specs, it is hard not to be impressed with what the HTC Wildfire has to offer. First off, the device comes with a nice big 3.2 inch TFT capacitive touch screen. A typical display for a mid range handset, it handles video playback and web browsing quite easily. The screen will support multi touch gestures, has an accelerometer, a proximity sensor that will automatically shut off the screen when used for a voice call and the HTC Sense user interface. Aside from the touch screen, there is an optical trackpad on the bottom of the device as well as support for movement gestures which will allow users to instantly switch the device to mute or to “dim out” an incoming call.

With the Qualcomm MSM7225 528MHz CPU, apps run fairly fast on this Android OS. Just do not expect to get super smooth performance when running resource intensive games. But for most phone functions, the CPU is able to provide a stable and fast experience.

The Wildfire’s main features focus heavily on social networking. It has several integrated apps that would allow users to easily access accounts on Facebook and Twitter as well as file hosting sites such as Flicker and YouTube for uploading media content to be shared.

Vodafone: Getting the Community to Help

Liam — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 11:29:26 +0000

The UK is no stranger to policy debates and discussions regarding the need to extend and expand mobile network coverage. Even in the busy streets of London, there are locations where signal is slow, bad or in some cases, completely absent and there is a need to address this concern.

With technology now pushing for the use of 4G/WiMax networks and faster data transfer speeds, there is also a humanitarian and social call for operators to seek and find the places that are not covered by their services. After all, having faster connections is not as important as bringing the connection to everyone.

However, seeking out the places, regions and area that have weak or no mobile coverage is difficult and even if Vodafone places all of its resources to finding these places, they would need plenty of time. In order to make the task easier, Vodafone has sent out a call to all of its users and subscribers to give the network a quick and instant feedback of network signal strength and availability in the various areas of the UK.

In order to participate, Vodafone users simply need to make a quick Tweet about where they are, what connection they are using and how strong the connection is. This will give Vodafone a clearer and more defined idea of which places are not getting good signals (as these locations would not be present in the tweets). For anyone who does not use Twitter, Vodafone will also allow you to post the information directly on their website.

While there are no incentives or rewards for anyone participating in the program, this is actually something that people should do when they can. The effort spent here is not just going to be beneficial to Vodafone, but for everyone as well as it will help Vodafone UK determine how they will improve and expand their network to provide coverage for more people.

Giving Your Child a Smart Phone

Liam — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 10:51:27 +0000

These days, getting in touch is simply a matter of sending a quick SMS message on the phone. It is handy, convenient and takes little to no time at all. This technology has allowed plenty of people to keep in touch, to arrange quick gatherings and to even hold instant celebrations. With the rise of 3G and wireless internet, more and more features have been added to mobile phones, people now have access to social networks, microblogging and of course, the rest of the internet.

The question now, is should you give a child a smart phone?

The issue may not seem like a big deal, but with most children already owning Facebook accounts and considering online interaction as more important that actually physical contact, there is the large risk that a child who is ‘unplugged’ would be ostracized and alienated by the very same people at school or the playground.

While parents may prefer to look for handsets with parental lock settings or other nonsensical features, the real concerns is how parents are capable of preparing their children for the burden of responsibility when it comes to the internet.

The answer being with actually knowing for oneself what is considered to be right, wrong, accepted and rejected on the internet. With millions of users online, the web is a very gray moral area, with people supporting various views regarding society, religion, politics and many other issues.

A child need not be knowledgeable in all these fields, but it is up to the parents to instill a strong sense of will, purpose and self-belief in one’s own moral compass for determining what is proper and what is not.

The next issue is teaching a child discipline –which is quite difficult given the impulsive and curious nature of children. The only way to surpass this is when parents show their own patience and perseverance in their goal to teach and guide their children properly.

How Portable Electronics Changed the Playing Field

Simon — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 10:32:33 +0000

The one thing we have to remember about the mobile phone is that we can have it with us anytime, anywhere. With 3G coverage being expanded every day and free WiFi hot spots popping up in almost every corner, it is getting easier and easier to go online whenever the need pops up.

This means that we can get information from the internet anytime and anywhere. This also means that we can upload and share news of our own. Mobile phones often come equipped with built in cameras that would enable us to record videos and snap images that we can upload and share online.

For many, this convenience is still pretty new, but for some others, being able to access the internet on their mobile devices has become something they heavily rely on.

So the question is; where does or society stand now? The answer is not so simple; mostly, for the better. We are able to communicate more and do more thanks to advancements in telecommunications technology. At the same time, we have to adapt our mental and emotional growth to keep up with the needs of the times.

Education and awareness regarding the proper use of electronics as well as safety measures when being online has become more crucial as people rely on the internet more for banking and other important transactions. Emotionally, people need to learn with coping with two sets of societies; the real world and the online community. There is already a rehabilitation center for children who have become too reliant on their online accounts that they have become unable to function normally in the real world.

For now, manufactures and developers are still exploring the limits and the boundaries of technology, but with these boundaries being expanded every day, human society will have to catch up fast.

For more about tech and the future, read the article on new technology for news and information at Pocket Lint.