Best Phone Blog

Sony Ericsson’s 2010 lineup will be seeing three new phones. The devices were revealed last Sunday at the Mobile World Congress held at Barcelona, Spain.

First in the new series of SE phones is the X10 Mini. This phone was initially revealed as the SE Robyn (the XPERIA X10 was originally named Rachel) and early on, it already showed the general design features that are present in the device today. This phone is literally a Mini, being almost half the size of the original XPERIA X10. Obviously, some hardware features and specs had to be dropped with the device to reduce its size. The X10 Mini helps extend SE’s range to include the low to mid range Android smart phone market.

Sony Ericsson also showed off the X10 Mini Pro, a special edition of the Mini that comes with a physical QWERTY keyboard. Thanks to its slide out form factor, the device is generally about the same size as the Mini, but only thicker. The Mini is confirmed to be available in various colors; it is expected that the Mini Pro will also have the same color choices available.

The Sony Ericsson Vivaz Pro is a special edition of the Vivaz that comes with a slide out QWERTY keyboard. The device was originally named as the Kanna (at that time, the Vivaz was still known as the Kurara). Originally, it was announced that the Kanna would have the same specs as the Kurara with the addition of a keyboard. As the Vivaz Pro, this has mostly not changed, with the exception of the camera which has been reduced to 5 mega pixels from the original 8 mega pixels of the Vivaz. It still keeps the ability to record videos in 720p HD quality.

Read more about the Mini and the Mini Pro at Stuff TV.

The HTC Photon was one of the mobile devices revealed last year when the HTC 2010 roadmap was leaked. Included in the document are the HTC Bravo and HTC Legend; two of today’s much awaited upcoming Android smart phones. There were three more Android devices in the roadmap as well as three Windows Mobile smart phones. The HTC Salsa, Tide and Buzz are various mid range Android phones while the HTC Photon, Trophy and Tera are business-centric Windows Mobile devices.

It is surprising to know that HTC has already resumed work on the Photon. Originally, the Photon was meant to be using the old Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system to be coupled with the HTC TouchFlo user interface which would make the OS compatible with the touch screen display. Now, it has been reported that the Photon would be using the newly unveiled WinMo 6.5.3 Maldives operating system.

What sets 6.5.3 Maldives apart is that it has been made to be used with capacitive touch screen displays with its finger-friendly user interface. So far, it has not been announced if HTC will continue to use the TouchFlo UI skinning.

The HTC Photon is reported to be running the Qualcomm MSM7227 CPU clocked at the speed of 600 MHz. It will also have a 5 mega pixel camera, a 3.2 inch capacitive touch screen and a new name: HD Mini. While the Photon is already confirmed, it has yet to be announced if the other two WinMo phones, the Trophy and the Tera will also be released this year.

Oddly enough, the Photon is pretty much a mini version of the HD2. The HTC HD2 is one of the most successful WinMo 6.5 devices (though it got pulled out of Vodafone’s 2010 lineup).

Read more about the HTC Photon aka, HD Mini, at Mobile Choice UK.

There is no doubt that Vodafone’s 3G network is already superior to other networks in the UK. Considering that the company has only had to deal with iPhone users from just last month, the 3G network and bandwidth are pretty much easy to access for many people.

Vodafone had a very successful launch of the Apple iPhone. On the first week of sales, they managed to sell over 100,000 units of the device (more than 5 times the number of Nexus One devices Google managed to sell in the first week). Recent reports indicate that Vodafone’s iPhone market is constantly growing with pervious O2 iPhone users switching over to greener 3G fields.

Now, it looks like Vodafone is no longer relying on people to make the switch, they have not introduced a new set of Sim-only plans for existing iPhone users on other operators to consider switching.

While it is obvious that Vodafone’s 3G network is still pretty much free from congestion, this is not only due to the small number of iPhone users, but also because of the fact that the mobile network operator spent a good deal of time (a year) preparing for the launch of the iPhone. Preparations came in the form of expanding and strengthening the network.

Vodafone UK recently re-released the Femtocell sure signal technology in order to deliver better 3G service to people living in areas with weak or no 3G signals. Femtocell has been priced at less than half the original price with the monthly subscription removed.

In other news, Vodafone recently had a little Twitter incident that got a little media buzz. The situation was quickly settled and the offending individual has reportedly been suspended indefinitely.

Read more about Vodafone UK’s new Sim-only plans at Mobile Today.

If you own a Gmail account and have not had the chance to check it yet, then chances are you have not seen that interesting new splash page for first time Buzz users.

Log in to your Google account and be greeted by a cheery bright page detailing the various features and things you can do with the new Google Buzz At the bottom of the page is a large button that will bring you directly to your account and let you try out the new Buzz tool.

For those of you who have a Facebook account, the interface is pretty familiar. There’s a big status updates balloon which you can fill with any sort of content you desire and publish it online to your friends and contacts that are following your posts (ala Twitter). It’s a simple process and had Google thought of it first, they would probably be on top of the social networking ladder –or maybe not, the real draw of Facebook for many people it is thousands of interesting applications that you can waste time on.

So far, public reaction to the Buzz has been lukewarm to outright rejection. Some Twitter feeds have already been gathering Facebook folk to create an “I Hate Google Buzz” fan group (which currently has 12 members). On the other hand, Danny Choo recently posted a retweet calling the Buzz as a Twitter killer.

With Google’s social networking tool still in its early stages, one might feel compelled to say that it is too early to judge. Though in practice, it feels a lot like Google Wave (and many others are making the same comparison), let us hope that the trend stops there for Google’s sake.

Learn more about the new Google Buzz, the mobile version of Buzz for Android 2.0 and above and more at Times Online UK.

The online community currently consists of 16 million users and is growing.

Thanks to the creation of more and more smart phones that make online activities more accessible as well as the establishing of better 3G networks, it looks like more people have been going online using mobile devices.

According to recent studies, over 16 million mobile phone users have been online last December 2009.

This shows how integral mobile phones and the internet have become to human society. It would not be surprising to know that a great percent of the websites visited online are social networking sites like Facebook and the micro blogging Twitter. Both are very concentrated social interaction. Applications for bloggers have also encouraged people to be online more. Other things that get people to go online are emails, instant messaging and VOIP applications.

The growth does not seem like it will stop. With 3G already getting pushed to its network limits, development of 4G networks is on the horizon –the iPhone 4G is expected to launch pretty soon too.

Another, major factor to the growing rise of online users is the fact that access to the internet has become much cheaper in the past few years. Back then, 3G packages were too expensive and uncommon. Now, many unlimited access plans are being made to suit the needs of heavy net access users.

Online stores are also another major reason why people go online. The Android and the iPhone are both pretty reliant on applications that expand the usefulness of mobile phones. Downloading apps and games are a great way to spend the time.

Mobile access to the internet has changed the way we look at the World Wide Web. No longer is the net an unfamiliar place behind the computer, but it is now a commonly accessible world right in the palm of our hands.

Read more about the mobile online usage study at Mobile Today UK.

Last weekend, this was posted on the Vodafone Twitter page: “Vodafone UK is fed up of dirty homos and is going after beaver”. So goes the recently removed post of an obviously disturbed employee of Vodafone UK. According to reports, the employee has been caught is currently suspended.

It is a very lenient punishment for the post which was obviously meant to offend members of the gay community and to objectify women (if you did not catch the slang, then you are a very non-malicious person). In any case, the post did cause quite a stir when it got put on Vodafone’s official Twitter page. While some expressed offense at the statement, many raised concerns that the account may have been the target of a malicious hack.

Employees were quick to apologize about the content of the post and assured the public that all is well and that the mobile network operator has not been hacked –the post was the result of a severe breach of rules by staff. Vodafone should really screen their employees more thoroughly.

In any case, this is hardly anything that can be blamed on Vodafone, internal problems like these do occasionally happen regardless of one’s vigilance. At the very least, we should be proud that the company has been quick to solve the issue before the sensitive matter became out of hand.

Aside from this little incident, Vodafone has been having a very great start this year. January ended with a successful launch of the Apple iPhone for the network giant. During the very first week of launch, Vodafone sold over 100,000 units of the iPhone. Talks of the company’s 3G network superiority over other services have attracted other iPhone subscribers to switch.

Get the full details and the news article on the offensive Tweet from a Vodafone employee at CNET.

Motorola Backflip is released on the market at a time when the clients are looking all over for a stylish and also functional handset. This handset is supposed to offer social integration along with the package. It must be observed that the new Motorola Backflip fits this description perfectly. It has 108 mm long and 53 mm wide and it is only 15 mm thick, making this device a comfortable piece for holding and for using. Caring only 133 g in weight the device makes itself in the category of relatively lightweight handsets.

The Motorola Backflip currently shows itself as being available in only one colour; platinum silver. It is operable by using the smaller form of the Android version operating system. The Android system is upgraded in the new model compared to the former Motorola Milestone. The variant that came along with Motorola Milestone was the Android 2.0. The new arrival of this model includes the features consisting in multiple social media applications like Facebook, Twitter, or My Space. Along with these come the integration of the applications offered by Photobucket and Picasa, those also included in the functional sphere of this device.

The 3.1 inch TFT is a good and effective mean to surf the internet and to view sites in general, its capacitive touchscreen presenting itself as an adequate feature. The display goes up to around 250,000 colours at a pixel size of 320 x 480 pixels, being offered effective colour representation. One of the main elements that outstand from the Backflip is the reverse flip-out QWERTY keyboard, wide enough to offer responsive and effective key entry. A standard property of the handset is the sensor contained in the backtrack panel, which allows the user to manipulate the cursor around the menus without touching the screen. Previously contained in the Motorola DEXT model, there are some widgets that have been kept and now are being displayed in this gadget such as the MOTOBLUR interface.

Web surfing becomes easily and facile when using the HSDPA connection, at a speed of 7 Mbps, whilst the Wi-Fi makes accessible the handling of local and national hotspots. Functioning on an A-GPS support, the GPS utility makes facile the satellite navigation along with Google Maps and street views so that locating certain places would not be as difficult as before. Class 12 had been uploaded by the use of the microSD which enhances the GPRS mood and the EDGE use as well.

The video capture is operable as up to 24 fps making the conferences seem as being in touch with reality. The camera is one of high quality having included as standard LED flash, auto focus and geo tagging. Furthermore it has to be considered that its quality is actually higher than expected which means up to 5.0 megapixels. Having fun should come easy due to the games included in this system along with the MP4/MP3 player. This mobile phone will certainly become a hit due to its simple and comprehensive accessibility and to the wide range of features contained.

The software development kit for the Apple iPad came out just a few days ago and the developers have been uncovering all kinds of amazing things about Apple’s new bid for market dominance (which, like the iPhone, will most probably succeed).

Around the same time that the SDK came out, people starting bringing out images of Steve Jobs’ unveiling of the tablet. The zoom in showed what might be a camera on top of the device Steve was using in the demo. While having a camera is not part of the known features of the iPad, it can also be a little surprise that Apple plans to announce when the device becomes commercially available.

Some have also pointed out the possibility that while this current version of the iPad may not have the camera, later version will (such as the rumored larger iPad 2). Also, it is possible that the camera will come as a part of the 3G version of the iPad –just like GPS which is not present in the non-3G version.

Now, developers tweaking around with the SDK have confirmed that Apple has made provisions for camera functions. One screenshot clearly shows an option to “take photo” –a reference that infers to an existing camera to be used.

Since the demonstration units given to the press at the launch of the device did not feature the camera (it was the non-3G version to go circled around), many cannot confirm if the device will actually have a camera when it finally comes out on retail. With features such as multitasking and flash compatibility still not present, there could be more added unto the device later.

The Telegraph UK has the full story on the iPad camera.

The LG GW990 is going to be the original phone to relate Intel’s new Linux-based Moblin 2.1 mobile OS to assist promises to take the practice of multitasking to a complete new level.  Obviously to sustain such a sizeable piece of equipment, creators of the LG GW990 resort to Intel’s new Moorestown processor.  This processor is ready to lend a hand and is usually meant for powering small laptop computer devices.  The LG GW990, in addition, hosts a 5-megapixel camera along with LED flash and autofocus and keyboard on the screen.  This ingenious mobile phone also includes a gigantic 1850mAh battery that promises close to four hours of time to talk and close to 300 hours of backup.  The astonishing product also has a sum of two cameras.  It provides a camera resting on the front intended for a camera and pictures on the reverse side for conference videos.

The LG GW990 is also the original mobile device to rock a 4.8-inch display with 1024×480 pixel resolution.  To people who do not know what this reality means, customers can take pleasure in watching exciting videos in high definition value.  This specially-widescreen feature ratio additionally means customers can work as a minimum three applications at ease without straining one’s eyes or even having to close any of the applications.  Developers of the LG GW990 pledge that web page browsing on this mobile phone is unlike any other.  Its enormous screen displays the bulk of websites at their in strength potential when viewed in landscape posture.

It’s smooth and sexy manner has captured the interest of every mobile phone owners surrounding the planet.  Though already creating a drone in a foreign country, the LG mobile device will simply be on hand in the United States.  While its cost and publication date are nonetheless unclear, the media and customers are buzzing about this supersize brilliance.  Along with this elongated catalogue of features along with commodities, the LG GW990 is required to be a model everywhere phones are utilized.  This breath-taking phone employs an atom sized powered battery which permits it to work on a smaller amount of power.  The central processing unit being made use, of also guarantee record high communication rates.

The character of this phone by no means ceases to shock critics around the world.  Its multi-tasking makes it a most hunted device. See in your mind’s eye, taking a look at a admired movie, sending a video message, and editing the events on your calendar fully at the same moment.  This mobile phone continues to astound the globe even months prior to its release date, making it the “must have” for the year of 2010.  This LG mobile device also allows 3D gaming with no problem with a great deal of storeroom!  It also provides a microSD card expansion opening that alleviate clients, of the continuous concern of insufficient cargo space.  This lets users store as many apps and games as they yearn for. This also puts a stop to the quandary of downloading documentation directly on your mobile device. Its storeroom capacity is an exciting 16 GB.

Word from the creators of this innovative mobile phone desolately proclaims that the item for consumption won’t be out close to the subsequent half of this year. Seeing as its release date is thus far to arrive there is restricted information regarding the mobile phone.

Last year, Sony was not taking a keen interest in tablet technology. With their existing line of VAIO laptops and net books, it was unlikely that the Japanese electronics giant would give the fledgling medium a second look.

Now that the Apple iPad tablet is poised to totally wipe the floor with all the existing eBook readers such as the Kindle and Sony’s own Reader, the Japanese company is taking a new perspective with the Tablet. During a press conference in Tokyo; a chief financial officer from Sony stated that “that is a market we are also very interested in. We are confident we have the skills to create a product”.

With the buzz about the Apple iPad ever increasing, it comes as to no surprise that computer manufacturers are doing a double take in their approach to the tablet. Even HP, who was already developing its own tablet device, will be facing some stiff competition from Apple.

So far, no word has been given as to what Sony is planning to do with its tablet ideas. It is also interesting to note that it will be Sony electronics entering the tablet market and not the mobile phone manufacturer, Sony Ericsson. With the focus on the tablet being towards more of a computer than a mobile phone, it is only natural that the folks from VAIO would be giving the new medium a try.

The smallest computer device from Sony is the VAIO P; this extra mini laptop fits nicely into a nice long purse for travel. With the tablet being a little less restricted in size, it would be interesting what cool form Sony’s tablet would take. One advantage Sony would definitely have over the iPad is in having games; with Sony’s current lineup of first party titles, they have a sure market for their device.

Read more about Sony taking an interest in Tablets from Pocket Lint.