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Iphone 3G 3.0 OS: All the best bits


At a special event held last week,Apple announced the eagerly anticipated new iPhone 3.0 OS update and revealed some tantalising new additions along with some long awaited features. Thought your iPhone 3G was perfect? Read on to see what you’ve been missing and what you’ve got to look forward to when the update hitsphones in the summer…

First up (and not exactly a surprise due to the amount of speculation in the run up to the press conference) the iPhone gets full cut and paste functionality. From copying text from a web page to adding text or contacts to a message or IM, simply double tap the text, select the amount to be copied/ cut and then drop it into the desired application. Made a mistake? Simply shake the iPhone to undo your last action.

Next, Apple have finally added MMS to the mix. Multimedia messaging on the iPhone 3G will allow you to send photos, contacts, audio files and locations. With the lack of MMS a long running gripe of iPhone users (and a point of much amusement for those who resisted the iPhone’s charms), Apple have answered their critics and given the people what they want.

Apple have also added a useful search tool to the iPhone so you can search your phone for files and content. Email has been given an overhaul with the phone now letting you compose mails in landscape giving you a bigger and more user friendly QWERTY keyboard. Creating voice memos is now an option and stereo Bluetooth has been added so you can stream music to a compatible wireless headset.

Among some other, more minor updates (SMS forwarding, shake to shuffle playlists etc.), one of the most exciting aspects of the new OS will be the new software development kit for App developers. In addition to improved usability for developers, Apps will now be able to offer in-app purchases such as subscriptions, additional game levels and new content. Paving the way for even more exciting, new applications, the Apple App store just goes from strength to strength.

Bet you’ve never been so excited about a software update!

Pink Samsung Pixon now in stock!


The Pink Samsung Pixon, Samsung’s all conquering 8.0 Megapixeltouchscreen phone has now launched . The huge touchscreen was destined to dressed in pink and looks right at home amongst previously released pink phones.

The Pixon’s stand out feature is of course the 8.0 Megapixelcamera sporting top of the range camera features such as face detection and an image stabiliser resulting in some truly staggering photos. The 3.2 inch display also makes for the perfect view finder with touch sensitive shortcuts giving you access to a plethora of camera settings. Video capture is also handled with similar aplomb capturing at a maximum resolution of 120 frames per second making for slick and fluid playback.

Built in GPS allows you to Geo-tag photos so you can show off to your friends while HSDPA connectivity ensures you’ll be on the fastest internet connection available when web browsing or downloading content. An excellent MP3 and movie player supporting DivX movies, Bluetooth v2.0 and expandable memory round off the features of an impressive touchscreen phone.


Samsung Beat DJ coming soon!


Following hot on the heels of the excellent Nokia 5800 XpressMusic,Samsung have announced their own touchscreen music phone in the shape of the Samsung Beat DJ and first things first, the phone looks absolutely stunning! The Beat DJ has rounded edges giving it a great feel when held in hand and is made from classy, textured materials. But enough of how it looks, what makes this phone tick?

Well the phone, also known as the M7600, gets its name from the Beat DJ application pre-installed on the phone enabling users to mix music and live out their DJ fantasies with a host of scratching, filtering and sampling tools all used with the excellent 2.8 inch TFT touchscreen. With its circular edges and textured finish you can definitely sense the inspiration from a set of mixing decks. Sound quality is also somethingSamsung are taking seriously with the Beat DJ, enlisting the help ofBang & Olufsen for an unparalleled listening experience. A 3.5mm audio jack also means you can use your own headphones if the ones included aren’t to your liking.

The Beat DJ features a comprehensive multimedia player supporting most music formats as well as high resolution video including full DivX support for fast and fluid video playback. A built in accelerometer rotates the screen to give you an excellent display for watching movies and enjoying the Beat DJ interface. From here on out you might of thought Samsung would hold back on the features due to the focus on music, right?

Wrong! The Beat DJ features HSDPA connectivity for lightning quick web browsing and downloads, plus a built in GPS receiver for location based services not to mention Geo-tagging photos taken with the excellent 3.15 Megapixel camera. The camera even gets a taste of high end Samsung camera phone features thanks to autofocus, face detection and smile detection. Bluetooth v2.0, expandable memory and the obligatory (for a Samsung phone at least) document viewer round off a very impressive package.

The Samsung Beat DJ, the budding DJ’s weapon of choice, is set to launch in the summer of 2009. 

Nokia N97 hands on: First impressions


This week i was one of a privileged few to get to grips with the brand new Nokia N97, Nokia’s first Nseries entrant in touchscreentechnology, For our first impressions on what is set to become one of the biggest phones of 2009, read on…

The first thing people tend to notice about a phone is how it looks and in this department Nokia have outdone themselves. Having previously only seen the phone in White, dressed in Black the N97 is one sexy piece of kit. When closed the screen dominates the front of the phone with only one physical button (menu) and two touch sensitive buttons (call end and answer) present. This minimalist design makes the N97 look classier and more understated than some of its touchscreen peers.

On picking up the phone, the N97 definitely has a substantial weight to it; at 150 g this is no feather weight but this serves a s a positive giving the phone a premium feel in the wake of some rather flimsy and light weight Nokia phones. When closed the phone feels solid and there is little give in the slide mechanism. The slide itself, reminiscent of the Sony Ericsson Xperia X1, is excellent. Working on a hinge, the slide is smooth and gives the impression of quality and a solid build that wont fail somewhere down the line. When open, the screen arcs up providing a better viewing position and presenting you with a full QWERTY keyboard. The keyborad is also very well made. Compared the the Xperia which was small and fiddly to use, the N97 keys are spaced out leaving little room for error whilst the directional keypad on the left is also very user friendly.

So the N97 is well made, what about how it operates? Powering the phone on is a pleasurable experience in itself as you are presented with the awesome 3.5 inch touchscreen. The display itself is bright and vivid with excellent levels of detail and, thankfully, this great screen quality is paired up with an even better touchscreen experience. Navigation is quick and easy and the N97 is incredibly responsive; there is no delay between selecting an icon from the menu and entering into it. The boost in screen dimensions also means the touchscreen interface is a lot easier to get to grips with; after 5 minutes using the phone i was browsing like a pro. The home screen presents you with the familiar lay out of Symbian shortcuts but with a new focus on social networking and messaging. Icons for Facebook, MySpace and Nokia’s own Ovi service sit alongside the usuals suspects such as messages, calendar and contacts. A simple jab on the relevant icon takes you where you want to be and of course, as with any Symbian phone, shortcuts are all customisable.

Though i wasn’t able to upload any images for closer inspection, the camera on the N97 looks to perform very well. The interface is simple and easy to use and opts for physical camera buttons rather than on screen for things like zoom and capture. The powerful LED flash also provides ample illumination for low light situations. Video capture is equally as impressive capturing at 30 frames per second and with the 3.5 inch display plus TV output, video playback is well catered for.

And sadly this was it, my brief play with the Nokia N97 was over. Though i would have loved to have delved a little deeper and taken a look at the web browser and GPS capabilities which should feel right at home on the excellent screen. None the less, the N97 was more impressive than i had imagined (and i was already a big fan) and this brief play test has left me wanting more. 

Sony Ericsson W705


The W705, announced last year, packs an award winning audio experience into a classy slide form factor. Comprising a smooth brushed metal finish on the front and matt black plastic on the back, the W705 certainly excels in the looks department. And as a member of the Walkman family, the W705 takes music seriously too. Alongside the latest Walkman Player 3.0, the W705 supports a host of different audio file formats including MP3 and AAC. The new W705 also features premium Sony Ericsson music features such as TrackID, Shake control and SensMe playlist. Expandable memory gives plenty of storage space and stereo FM radio boosts your listening options further.

Away from music, the W705 features a 3.2 Megapixel camera with a powerful LED flash for great photos every time, HSDPA and Wi-Fi connectivity for high speed web browsing and downloads plus full support for YouTube.

Nokia 7310 Supernova raises the style stakes!


Starting way back when with the Nokia 7200 which featured textured panels and the 7280 lipstick phone, the Nokia 7 series have always been the phone of choice for those with an eye for fashion. Continuing in this rich vein of fashionable form, Nokia present the world with theNokia 7310 Supernova.

The 7310 holds style at its very core with Xpress-on covers making a welcome return. Want to stand out? Want to personalise your phone to match your personality? Then snap on the matching cove and away you go. The Nokia 7310 Supernova is set to ship with the standard blue face as well as an additional candy pink cover with Nokia planning on releasing more designs in the coming months.

The phone itself takes on a candy bar form factor and sports a 2 inch display which doubles as a mirror when not in use. Even more pleasing is the numeric keypad which also moonlights as a mirror effectively turning the entire front of the phone into one big mirrored surface. Away from the design, the 7310 Supernova features a 2.0 Megapixel camera with video capture, TV output, Bluetooth v2.0, a built in MP3 and MPEG4 movie player plus expandable memory for stacks of storage.

LG GC900 Viewty 2 surfaces!


Following an impressive showing at the recent Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona, LG are preparing to announce the successor to the hugely popular LG Viewty. The name of this sequel? That’s easy; the LG Viewty 2! Well not that easy as the Viewty 2 has also been spotted sporting GC900 as its name. Whatever LG decide to plump for and with very limited information and images for the phone few and far between, here is what we know about the phone so far…

The Viewty 2 features a 3 inch WVGA touchscreen display which promises a vivid visual experience. But what’s a phone to look at if you can’t touch it? Well the Viewty 2 is also sporting LG’s brand new S-Class user interface, as seen first on the LG Arena, which promises to provide a slick, fluid “3D” user experience. If the appearance of the S-Class UI hasn’t already got you excited then the camera definitely will. The new Viewty features an 8.0 Megapixel camera with a SchneiderKreuznach lens, Face detection, smile and blink detection, a powerful Xenon flash and the ability to Geo-tag your photos. Following on from its predecessor, the Viewty 2 is also more than capable of handling video capture at both normal and super slow motion speeds.

Away from the camera, we find the Viewty 2 packs in HSDPA and Wi-Fi connectivity for high speed web access and downloads, A-GPS support for the afore mentioned Geo-tagging of photos (though whether this will be able to handle navigation software is unconfirmed), Bluetooth and an accelerometer for rotating the screen to match the orientation of how the phone is being held.

Sony Ericsson C510 Cyber-shot now in stock!


The C510 combines a candybar form factor with compact dimensions measuring in at just 12.5mm thick weighing just 92g. Don’t let the diminutive dimensions fool you though, the Sony Ericsson C510packs a punch.

As a member of the C-series, make no mistake, the C510 is first and foremost a camera phone. The C510 incorporates a 3.2 Megapixel camera capturing images at a maximum resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels. Images are enhanced further thanks to on board extras such as Autofocus which eradicates blurriness in your photos and a powerful LED flash which illuminates your subjects in low light conditions. The C510 also marks the first appearance of face and smile detection in a Sony Ericsson phone. Face detection will detect faces in a shot and ensure they are in focus, whilst smile shot will capture an image automatically when your subject smiles. The camera features are rounded off by Geo-tagging which uses a network connection to tag a photo to the location that it was taken so you can show your friends where you got that Kodak moment.

Away from the camera features, the C510 is a strong performer in connectivity department thanks to HSDPA mobile broadband with an excellent web browser with full support for YouTube, plus Bluetooth v2.0 for quick and easy file sharing and connecting to other Bluetooth devices. Multimedia is handled with ease thanks to a built in MP3 player and video player, supporting a wealth of file formats and with added extras such as the Walkman favourite TrackID which lets you identify a song simply by recording a short sound clip. An FM radio and expandable memory round off the multimedia features to make for a great all rounder.

What do you want to know about the new HTC Touch Diamond2?


Successor to the hugely popular Touch Diamond, the Diamond2 is the next big release from HTC and has built up a massive following thanks to an impressive feature set and looks to kill. So ahead of the Touch Diamond2’s launch in April, we thought we would put the question to you, our loyal readers, and ask what do you want to know about the newHTC Touch Diamond2? What feature has got you hooked and wanting to find out more? What aspect has got you scratching your head in amazement? And so on…

Simply fill out the comments section below outlining what you want to know and we’ll be sure to cover it in detail when we review the phone next week.

HTC Touch Diamond2 and Touch Pro2


HTC recently unveiled two new flagship devices, which I now have the privilege to tell you about, the HTC Touch Diamond2 and HTC Touch Pro2. Integrating innovative simplicity with unique style and an intuitive interface, the devices balance function, form and cutting-edge technology to personalise the communication and mobile Internet experience.

“The HTC Touch Pro2 and HTC Touch Diamond2 introduce amobile communication experience that simplifies how we communicate with people in our lives whether through voice, text or email,” said Peter Chou, president and CEO, HTC Corp. “HTC is delivering the latest, cutting-edge sophistication in a broad portfolio of mobile phones that improve how people live, work and communicate.”

HTC’s Touch Diamond, and its QWERTY’d counterpart, the Touch Pro, have formally passed into their second generation, with bigger and more responsive touchscreens, higher (WVGA) resolution, better battery life, and deeper interface changes. These handsets have always represented something of a standard to which WinMo phones are measured, and the tastefully restyled new versions, boldly called the Diamond2 and Pro2, play on their predecessors’ strengths, whilst trying to cut out any of their weaknesses.

The HTC Touch Diamond2 and HTC Touch Pro2 utilise HTC’s latest TouchFLO 3D interface. TouchFLO 3D has been more deeply integrated into a customised version of Windows Mobile6.1 to deliver more consistency throughout Windows Mobile applications and menus. Focused on making navigation easier and more intuitive, TouchFLO 3D brings important information to the top-level user interface, including quick access to people, messaging, email, photos, music and weather. As part of this improved Windows Mobile integration the touch focus areas have been enlarged to be more finger-touch friendly.

Touch Diamond 2

The Touch Diamond2 is crafted to fit perfectly in the palm of your hand. It incorporates a larger 3.2 inch high resolution wide screen WVGA 480×800 display than the previous 2.8 inch 480×640 display of the original for a greater viewing area in a design just 13.7mm thick. The phone also includes a new touch sensitive zoom bar for even faster viewing of web pages, emails, text messages photos and documents plus a brand spanking new 5 megapixel auto focus camera.

The hugely praised TouchFlo 3D alternative interface now reaches a bit deeper into Windows Mobile 6.1, making a few more functions touch-friendly, but stopping short of a total overhaul. The most interesting new interface feature is the “Single Contact View”, which consolidates your complete history of communication (texts, calls, emails) for a given contact into a single screen. A SD card expansion slot replaces the old model’s fixed internal memory, which results in greater flexibility but regrettably shrinks the initial internal memory to a some what less impressive 512MB.

Leveraging HTC’s TouchFLO 3D experience combined with a people-centric communication approach and HTC’s new Push Internet technology (basically your favourite webpage’s pre-loaded for one touch access), the Touch Diamond2 offers an advanced touch experience that is optimised for one-handed use. With “fifty-percent better battery life”, gravity sensor and an ambient light sensor, the Touch Diamond2 brings the most sophisticated capabilities to a broad consumer audience looking for the professional benefits of a smartphone without sacrificing size, looks or functionality.

The Touch Pro 2

The Pro2 is treated to most of the same upgrades. Its features a high resolution 3.6 inch widescreen VGA display, which is just .2 inches smaller than the monstrous TouchHD. This allows for a greater viewing area which is obviously a main focus as this handset lives to email. It also gets a louder speakerphone system and less-pixely camera than the Diamond2, but retains the larger battery and slide-out QWERTY keyboard that originally distinguished its dad from the Diamond.

The new HTC Touch Pro2 also uses voice in a new way to create one of the most sophisticated communication experiences found on a mobile phone. HTC’s new Straight Talk technology delivers an integrated email, voice and speakerphone experience. Users can transition seamlessly from email to single or multi-party conference calls and turn any location into a conference room. Straight Talk also includes an innovative mechanical and acoustic design that features a sophisticated speakerphone experience similar to those found in corporate boardrooms.

There is no doubt that it is designed for business professionals, and is created with distinct style and strength while delivering maybe the most powerful productivity experience available on a mobile phone. As with the Diamond it boasts HTC’s TouchFLO 3D operating system with all the trimmings, people-centric communication and push internet technology etc, making the Pro2 some what of a masterpiece.

The release date of these amazing handsets are still yet to be confirmed however if you would like to be kept informed on any new information concerning your desired phone then simple follow one of the links below.

Nokia 6720 Classic unveiled


February has been the month of the classic as far as Nokia are concerned. Earlier in the month Nokia were proudly showing off a trio of new Classic (which basically refers to the candy bar form factor) mobile phones in the shape of the 2700, 6303 and 6700 Classic. Now, the trio has become a quartet with the announcement of the Nokia 6720 Classic. The successor to 6220 Classic, the 6720 has a spec list that would be more at home on an Nseries mobile phone.

The 6720 Classic features a 5.0 Megapixel camera with a Carl Zeiss lens, usually reserved for Nseries phones, with Autofocus, a powerful flash, digital zoom and video capture at 15 frames per second. Despite the impressive camera credentials the 6720 classic still sports pocket friendly dimensions measuring in at just 110 x 45mm, 14mm thick and just 110 g in weight. With theses miniature measurements, you’d be forgiven for thinking the 6720 Classic might be a slouch in other departments. Not a chance though, the 6720 Classic is much more than just a camera phone.HSDPA connectivity gives you high speed web browsing and downloads, the built in GPS receiver features support for Assisted GPS which uses a network connection to get a satellite lock even quicker, Nokia Maps 3.0 offers an excellent SatNav experience and all run incredibly smoothly on the Symbian operating system.

Don’t worry though, the 6720 isn’t all work and no play; an MP3 player with support for a wealth of video and audio formats, 3.5 mm audio output jack, FM radio, Bluetooth v2.0 and TV output are all included to help make the 6720 Classic a capable multimedia phone.

Nokia 6720 Classic unveiled


February has been the month of the classic as far as Nokia are concerned. Earlier in the month Nokia were proudly showing off a trio of new Classic (which basically refers to the candy bar form factor) mobile phones in the shape of the 2700, 6303 and 6700 Classic. Now, the trio has become a quartet with the announcement of the Nokia 6720 Classic. The successor to 6220 Classic, the 6720 has a spec list that would be more at home on an Nseries mobile phone.

The 6720 Classic features a 5.0 Megapixel camera with a Carl Zeiss lens, usually reserved for Nseries phones, with Autofocus, a powerful flash, digital zoom and video capture at 15 frames per second. Despite the impressive camera credentials the 6720 classic still sports pocket friendly dimensions measuring in at just 110 x 45mm, 14mm thick and just 110 g in weight. With theses miniature measurements, you’d be forgiven for thinking the 6720 Classic might be a slouch in other departments. Not a chance though, the 6720 Classic is much more than just a camera phone.HSDPA connectivity gives you high speed web browsing and downloads, the built in GPS receiver features support for Assisted GPS which uses a network connection to get a satellite lock even quicker, Nokia Maps 3.0 offers an excellent SatNav experience and all run incredibly smoothly on the Symbian operating system.

Don’t worry though, the 6720 isn’t all work and no play; an MP3 player with support for a wealth of video and audio formats, 3.5 mm audio output jack, FM radio, Bluetooth v2.0 and TV output are all included to help make the 6720 Classic a capable multimedia phone.

Nokia announce new Eseries: Nokia E55 and E75


Business men and women across the globe rejoice!Nokia have fleshed out their Eseries business range with the announcement of two new phones ate Mobile World Congress; the much talked about Nokia E75 and it’s smaller sibling the Nokia E55. A firm favourite with professionals and companies alike, the Eseries gained popularity thanks to excellent reliability, excellent build quality, high end features and classy design. And the two newest additions to the range don’t buck the trend.

The Nokia E55 sports a candybar form factor with a semi QWERTY keyboard; an extra row on the keypad means that each button has twoletters on it for, what Nokia claim, a faster to learn and quicker to use interface than a standard alpha numeric keypad. Messaging is at the forefront of the E55; Email is easy to read, manage and send directly from the phone without the need to connect to your home or office PC. The E55 also features extensive calendar and task management functionality meaning you can organise your personal and profesional life all in one pocketable device. Running Symbian series 60 means you can customise, install third party applications and make the E55 your own.

The E55 includes HSDPA and Wi-Fi connectivity giving you the fastest connection possible for web browsing and downloads with a fully functional web browser just a few clicks away. GPS with A-GPS support is also included. In terms of multimedia, the E55 has most bases covered with an MP3 player and video player plus expandable memory for extra storage, stereo Bluetooth to stream music to a compatible headset and a 3.2 Megapixel camera (which is nice as cameras aren’t always a given on Eseries mobile phones). One final feature that will really appeal to the business user is the battery life; Nokia reckon you’ll get up to 28 day standby time out of the E55 which sounds nothing short of incredible.

The Nokia E75 offers a slightly different proposition to the E55. From the front the E75 looks like a fairly standard candybar phone but nudge the slide mechanism and you’ll find a full QWERTY keyboard lurking within. As if the keyboard didn’t give it away, the E75 is all about messaging. The E75 offers an email experience like that found on a desktop PC or Laptop with the ability to sort emails by size, date and sender. On top of email, the E75 also offers improved calendar capability, as well as contacts and task management making it clear why this has been tipped as a successor to the E90. The E75 puts your office in your pocket so your never out of contact.

Like the E55, the E75 also benefits from HSDPA mobile broadband connectivity and Wi-Fi for when you’re in a hotspot area or accessing your wireless network at home or in the office. GPS and A-GPS is complimented by Nokia Maps and as the E75 also runs on the Symbian operating system, there are a wealth of location based applications ready to download and install. An MP3 player is joined by a 3.5mm audio jack meaning you can use your own headphones and expandable memory (up to 16GB) means you can store 1000’s of music tracks and hours of video. A 3.2 Megapixel camera with Autofocus rounds off an impressive spec list.

HTC debut second Android phone: HTC Magic!


At this weeks Mobile World Congress event, held in Barcelona, HTCshowed commitment to the Android platform with the announcement of the HTC Magic. Currently the only mobile phonemanufacturer to launch an Android device with the T-Mobile G1, the Taiwanese company have doubled their Android range with the Magic. As to be expected, the Android is a touchscreen mobile phone, incorporating a 3.2 incher with familiar perks such as an Accelerometer for auto screen rotation and Handwriting recognition. To look at, the HTC Magic does look remarkably similar to the T-Mobile G1, so why all the excitement? What’s new?

Well firstly, the Magic sheds precious weight and size (13mm thick and 117 g compared to the G1’s 17mm 158 g) as it does away with a hardware QWERTY keyboard. Running the newest Android version means that the Magic can display an on screen QWERTY keypad for all your texting and emailing needs. This does make for a considerably more pocket friendly phone than it’s predecessor (the G1 was never exactly a handsome beast). The Magic, or G2 as it has also come to be known, runs the latest Android OS known as ‘cupcake’ (no, really). The benefits this will bring over its predecessor (apart from the afore mentioned on screen keyboard) include support for stereo bluetooth so you can listen to your music through a compatible wireless headset, video recording, music can now fade in or out around calls and lastly a general overhaul which should eradicate bugs and make the OS more stable and responsive.

Away from the OS, the Magic does look quite similar to the G1. The phone features HSDPA and Wi-Fi connectivity for high speed web browsing, a built in GPS receiver for SatNav services and location based applications, a Built in MP3 player and expandable memory for all your storage needs. A 3.2 Megapixel camera with Autofocus is included though unfortunately it lacks a flash of any kind so photos in low light are pretty much out of the question (unless you carry a torch round with you). And then apart from the usual suspects such as Bluetooth and the like, that’s pretty much your lot.


Samsung announce HD Omnia


Samsung certainly like firsts. After taking the title of first 8.0 Megapixel camera phone, the next landmark they have in their sights appears to be concerning video capture. But can they really have revolutionised mobile video recording simply by adding two letters to an existing phone? Well, when those letters happen to be H and D, you’d certainly be forgiven for thinking so. And so with the unveiling of the Samsung Omnia HD, Samsung are certainly a contender for best announcement at the Mobile World Congress (along with Sony Ericsson and the impressively spec’d Idou).

The Samsung Omnia HD earns its name thanks to the fact that it features HD video recording enabling you to capture precious moments in 720p HD quality at 24 frames per second and enjoy HD content on an HD TV via DLNA technology. This isn’t the only upgrade from the original Omnia, the Omnia HD is a complete re-imagining of the i900 Omnia. The new i8910 Omnia HD features an 8.0 Megapixel camera which incorporates premium digital camera ingredients such as Face and Smile detection, Wide Dynamic Range and Geo-tagging. Both camera and video recording are sure to look stunning on the incredible 3.7 inch OLED capacitive touchscreen capable of displaying up to 16m colours putting it as a strong rival to the current best in class, the HTC Touch HD (and the Omnia actually earns its HD title).

Ok so surely that’s the end of the new stuff, right? Wrong! The Omnia HD discards Windows Mobile(seen on the original) in favour of the new touch based Symbian series 60 user interface currently seen on the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic and the upcoming N97. Rather than being a carbon copy of the 5800 though, the Omnia HD does bring some Samsung flair to the party. TouchWiz makes an appearance on the homescreen giving you customisable widgets that you can move around and add to with new shortcuts. The camera interface is also given a Samsung overhaul for a far more user friendly experience than that found on the 5800.

To round up the rest of the features, the Omnia HD includes HSDPA and Wi-Fi connectivity for high speed web browsing and downloads, GPS SatNav with support for A-GPS, a proximitysensor for auto screen rotation, Bluetooth, an MP3 player, video player with support for DivX and XviD, a 3.5mm audio jack and an FM radio. The Omnia HD will launch with two different internal memory capacities; 8GB and 16GB. Don’t worry as which ever you choose, both can be expanded by a further 16GB thanks to a microSD memory card slot.

The Samsung Omnia HD was definitely one of the most exciting announcements at this years Mobile World Congress event and looks set to take the mobile phone world by storm when it launches later this year. Expected to arrive in June.

Nokia N97 Slated for May 2009 Launch!


With the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic serving as proof that Nokia are more than capable of producing a world class touchscreen phone, people are now looking towards the future and Nokia’s next take on the touchscreen market; the Nokia N97. With a spec list to die for, the Nokia N97 is hardly short of admirers. An all new touch based Symbian operating system, 32GB on board memory (plus expandable), 5.0 Megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, HSDPA, Wi-Fi and GPS SatNav; if this list of features doesn’t impress, nothing will. The problem we have had with top of the range Nokia phones in the past is that Nokia whet our appetite with the next big thing and then take an age to actually launch it (see Nokia N96 for proof!).

So it’s with much excitement (and a hint of skepticism) that we greet the news that Nokia have penciled the N97 in for a May launch! Which, in case you hadn’t noticed, is only two and a bit months away! Whilst teasing us once again with the all singing all dancing touchscreen phone, this time at the Mobile World Congress event currently running in Barcelona, Nokia hinted at a late May launch. The N97 is dressed to impress with a 3.5 inch touchscreen display featuring all sorts of niceties such as an Accelerometer, Handwriting recognition and a proximity sensor. And for those not wanting to abandon buttons completely, slide the phone and you’ll find a full QWERTY keyboard and navigation keypad which slides out in a similar fashion to the Sony Ericsson Xperia.

Touchscreen and keyboard aside, the spec that’s got people scouring the net for a launch date is the 32GB internal memory. You read that right; 32GB. and if that’s not enough, stick a 16GB MicroSD card inside and you’ve got 48GB of storage in your phone. Well now you can stop reading blogs with a fine tooth comb as it seems that Nokia have earmarked May as judgment day for the N97. 

Nokia gets in the mood for love!


Nokia have shown a softer, gentler side compared to the macho Symbian front that usually represents the Finnish manufacturer. To coincide with Valentines day Nokiahave decided to play Cupid, launching a website that gives you the chance to send a text to the one you love completely free. Too shy to announce your undying love for that special someone? Fear not, the mobile phonetext service is completely anonymous so you can text your beloved without worry.

How does it work? Well, visitors to the site are presented with a selection of pre-set messages ranging from short and sweet sentiments to famous quotes and poetry. Simply select the message that’s right for the man or woman of your dreams, fill in a few details about yourself and the name and number of the one you admire and bingo. Job done. And don’t worry, Nokia won’t jump the gun and spill the beans before the big day; all messages created prior to the 14th will be saved and then sent out on Valentines day. Who knew Nokia was such a romantic? No i’m not crying, i’ve just got something in my eye. Now if you’ll excuse me, i’ve got some messages to send. Ahem

Apple iPhone 3G helps you learn to drive


If you’re looking for a fan of the Apple App store, look no further. For me, the App store offers the perfect blend of fun and functional applications designed to put a smile on your face and make day to day chores that little bit easier. So what’s next for the iPhone 3G? Having conquered public transport, what’s next for the App store? Simple, the iPhone 3G is going to teach you how to drive. The latest app, developed by ABEL Learning, claims to provide a “21st century solution to passing the theory part of the UK Driving Test”. The App promises to simplify the learning process of that troublesome theory test.

Using the actual DSA data bank means the application will feature all the questions that could possibly appear on the theory test. The questions appear in the same multiple choice format as they would in the actual test. This App looks to be a great tool for learner drivers and should help you to become competent in the Highway Code, something that a lot of Drivers could benefit from! Whether a future release will include the Hazard Perception Test is unconfirmed, though surely this would work perfectly with the touchscreen. What will be interesting to see is whether any other developers take inspiration from this new App. How about learning to speak another language using your iPhone? Or learning to cook? What about an iPhone DIY tutorial? That’s just the tip of the iceberg, the educational possibilities of the iPhone 3G are limitless, who knows what the future holds.

Samsung S8300 gets official: Say hello to the Tocco Ultra Edition


Following the leaked images a few weeks back, the phone formerly known as the S8300 has now been officially announced as theSamsung Tocco Ultra Edition. While admittedly quite a mouthful of a name, the Tocco Ultra earns its moniker as a marriage of two of Samsung’s most popular phones to date; the Samsung Tocco and theSamsung Soul. The Tocco Ultra features a 2.8 inch full touchscreen display which promises to deliver an unparalleled visual experience thanks to AMOLED technology. The touchscreen is further complimented by haptic feedback which confirms your actions with a light vibration, Accelerometer for auto screen rotation and a proximity sensor which puts the screen on standby when you’re on a call. The Tocco Ultra Edition takes its styling from the Soul; at just 12.8mm thick, this incredibly slim phone still manages to pack in an alpha-numeric keypad in a slide phone form factor. The worlds first full touchscreen phone with a slide out 3×4 keypad.

So a slide phone with a traditional keypad and a proper fulltouchscreen, but what about features? Well, this is where the Tocco Ultra truly comes into its own. The Tocco Ultra includes an impressive 8.0 Megapixel camera with Autofocus, face and smile detection, Flash and support for Geo-Tagging thanks to an on boardGPS receiver. And if moving pictures are your thing, video capture at 30 frames per second is complimented nicely by a wealth of video editing options such as audio dubbing and the ability to trim videos. Perfect for budding Spielbergs. In terms of video playback, the Tocco Ultra supports DivX and XviD as well as MPEG4 meaning the Tocco Ultra is a powerful Multimedia phone.

Elsewhere, we find HSDPA connectivity offering up to 7.2 Mbps for lightening quick browsing and downloads, the aforementioned GPS SatNav receiver plus A-GPS support for an even quicker satellite lock, Bluetooth v2.1 for faster file transfers and streaming music to a compatible headset and of course an MP3 player supporting a wealth of file formats.

So let’s recap; Good looks? Check. Touchscreen interface? Check. Traditional keypad? Check. Cracking camera? Check. Wealth of multimedia and connectivity features? Check Mate. The Samsung Tocco Ultra Edition, known as the UltraTOUCH elsewhere in European markets, is set for launch in mid to late March (so next month!). If those stunning good looks haven’t won you over, the formidable features surely will.