Following hotly at the heels of the Galaxy and the Galaxy Spica which hit the shelves earlier this year, Samsung is ready to unleash another touchscreen Android-powered smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy 3 (I5800). Unlike its predecessors, the Galaxy 3 mobile phone will come with a beefed-up and enhanced software personalisation brought by the latest version of the TouchWiz 3.0 User Interface.
Scheduled for release in the second half of July, there are rumours that it will be shipped to the UK under the codename Samsung I5801 Galaxy Apollo. Since it runs Android 2.1 (Éclair) with Samsung’s very own TouchWiz 3.0 UI on top, it is speculated that the Galaxy 3 may carry the Social Hub, the centre where all messages are handled and allows the user to view and upload pics on different file-sharing websites. Read more Galaxy 3 reviews on the reviews page.
Whilst the Galaxy 3 is a mid-ranged phone, it boasts high-end features which include a large capacitive touchscreen, a 3 megapixel snapper, stereo FM radio, DNSe (Digital Natural Sound Engine), Wi-Fi, 3G and GPS. These features will definitely deserve a second look even from diehard hi-end phones enthusiasts.
High specs, design and features
The Galaxy 3 wears a different look compared to other Android-based Samsung phones currently on the market. The device comes with a minimalistic design, yet elegantly shaped and superbly crafted.
Apart from its multi-directional pad, the Galaxy 3 has four touch-sensitive keys which use capacitive technology beneath its display. However, they remain virtually invisible to the eye until their backlights are turned on.
It was mentioned earlier that the overall design of this mobile handset is simple and minimalistic. There are no fancy embellishments or unneeded designs that would get your attention distracted. Nothing except the earpiece grille and the silver rim of the directional pad at the front. The power button, the volume rocker, the 3.5 mm headphone jack and the microUSB port on both sides of the phone are hardly noticeable.
The display on the Samsung Galaxy 3 (I5800) is a 3.2-inch TFT capacitive touchscreen with 16 million colours at 240 x 400 pixels screen resolution. This particular resolution is a first on an Android phone. The device comes with multi-touch input method, an accelerometer sensor which automatically rotates the user interface in accordance to the phone’s orientation (landscape or portrait mode) and a proximity sensor which automatically lowers the phone’s ringing volume as the user comes near.
The Galaxy 3 boasts a 3.2 megapixel digital camera with 2048 x 1536 pixels image resolution. It is capable of recording QVGA-quality videos at 15 fps. The camera includes other cool features such as autofocus as well as Geo-tagging and face and motion detector. Because of its broad experience with cameraphones, Samsung has developed a new and amazing touch camera interface which they have incorporated in the Galaxy 3.
The phone has 170 MB of internal memory and includes a 1 GB card for storage. Should there be need for more storage space, memory of up to 32 GB can be added with the help of the built-in microSD expansion card slot. Along with the Galaxy 3’s new DivX/XviD video support and Digital Natural Sound engine (DNSe) audio technology, a lot of audio and video collection can be stored in the device.
Applications and functionality
The prototype phone used for demo and testing runs the Android OS v2.1 (Eclair). However, the release version of the Galaxy 3 in July may yet run the latest Android OS v2.2 Froyo. The phone will be powered by an efficient 667 MHz processor at its core.
The connectivity features of the Samsung Galaxy 3 (I5800) are quite striking for a mid-range smartphone. It boasts of both Class 10 GPRS and EDGE, 3G running at speeds of 3.6 Mbps, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v3.0 with A2DP and microUSB v2.0.
Apart from the dazzling screen display and colourful icons of the Galaxy 3’s customisable interface, the device provides Social Network Service (SNS) support. It allows users to keep their contacts in various social networking sites constantly informed about themselves.
The phone’s pre-loaded app Write and Go likewise depends on SNS support to give users the capability to update their Facebook, MySpace and Twitter status simultaneously.
The Media Browser also relies on the Galaxy 3’s SNS support. It is actually a media gallery which enables users to browse their and their friends’ MySpace and Facebook photo collections. Users will be delighted with Swype, a new feature which enables easy and convenient text input on the phone’s virtual QWERTY keyboard.
Entering text by finger swipes gives a whole new meaning to the term “touch-typing”. The web browser also allows Swype typing of URL’s – which is definitely not the default method of text input on Android.
Living up to expectations
Samsung’s previous models for the Asian and European markets lack any kind of camera interface customisation. Every exposure setting used to be pre-loaded. With the Galaxy 3, users can now choose from a wide range of effects, scene modes, exposures, and other settings to create crisp optimum-quality photos.
The overall public expectation for the Samsung Galaxy 3 (I5800) will be on a high level when you consider its Android operating system as well as its enhanced and customisable user interface. The Galaxy 3 is nothing less than elegant and will surely make a lot of heads turn. This is because very sophisticated Android smartphones occupies a very tiny niche in the market.
With the Galaxy 3, Samsung establishes its own concept on how the Android magic can be enhanced, thanks to the seemingly endless capabilities of the TouchWiz 3.0 User Interface.
Will the phone end up in the pockets of a lot of people? The answer will be determined by several major factors – the seamless integration of Android with its User Interface, its capability to utilise the inherent hardware and, without a doubt, the price that Samsung will tag on the device. Also playing an important role will be the Samsung Galaxy 3 deals being offered by retailers.
Archive for July, 2010
Samsung Galaxy 3 (I5800) – Will the Major Success Factors Come with Its Release?
Thursday, July 29th, 2010A Side by Side Comparison of the Samsung Omnia Pro 4 & Samsung Omnia Pro 5
Thursday, July 29th, 2010
One of the fastest growing Smartphone families is the Samsung Omnia line of devices. In fact, it has even been diversified into two categories – the plain Omnia and the Omnia Pro. The former holds the familiar oversized touch screen display which has resolutions that can battle it out with the best in the business (the i8910 Omnia HD, in particular). On the other side of the spectrum is the Omnia Pro which caters to a more professional market, primarily through the inclusion of a QWERTY keyboard.
Obviously, Samsung has struck gold with this series and they have no intentions of letting up. Now, they have just confirmed the launch of two new additions to the family in the form of the Samsung Omnia Pro 4 & Samsung Omnia Pro 5. Both devices share pretty much the same specifications save of course for a few technical differences here and there. However, whatever the case may be, these two devices are definitely top class and should be a wonderful device for anyone who chooses to bring their work with them while on the go. You can read more opinions on these two phones on the Omnia Pro 4 reviews page and the Omnia Pro 5 reviews page.
A Matter of Appeal
As with any other mobile phone, it’s physical design is perhaps the most relevant determining factor in the type of market it wishes to tap. There are tons of mobiles that clad themselves with vibrant colours that are truly eye-catching. These mobiles obviously cater to a younger market segment as their casual vibe appeal more to the students and perhaps the young professionals. It wouldn’t be customary for a corporation’s CEO to bring out an aquamarine blue mobile during a board meeting.
Somehow, it just doesn’t fit. On the other hand, we also have your typical QWERTY device which saw its rise to stardom through the Blackberry. Now, all manufacturers offer some type of QWERTY device which obviously cater to the more business-like users.
While it is common to see younger users with QWERTY Smartphones, the features of these devices are more suited for those wearing suits. And it is in this category in which we find the new Samsung Omnia Pro 4 & Samsung Omnia Pro 5.
It is relevant to discuss the physical design of these two Smartphones as perhaps, it is through this that we are able to best differentiate two mobiles that seem to mirror each other in features. Obviously, both devices are equipped with a QWERTY keyboard which is located right below their TFT displays.
The dimensions of the Samsung Omnia Pro 4 & Samsung Omnia Pro 5 are almost exactly identical and the two both have sharp corners which are accented by their somewhat rounded chins. These two Smartphones will only be available in a sleek black finish which further illustrates the professional appeal of the two mobiles. After all, what would you expect from a device that had “Pro” as part of its label, right?
Smarter Features
As mentioned previously, there is very little to choose from between the Samsung Omnia Pro 4 & Samsung Omnia Pro 5 in terms of their features. they are both compatible in the 2G and 3G networks and also have support for all the data connectivity options including GPRS, EDGE, HSDPA, Bluetooth, and of course, mobile internet via Wi-Fi.
The Omnia Pro 4’s 3-Megapixel built-in camera is a bit more advanced than that of the Omnia 5 which sports a 2-Megapixel snapper. However, with cameras which are rather on the low-end of the market, you could hardly tell the difference.
Surely, the camera of both the Samsung Omnia Pro 4 & Samsung Omnia Pro 5 are far cries from the monster snappers of the likes of the Sony Ericsson Satio and the Samsung Pixon 12 which hold 12-Megapixel cameras.
Perhaps the biggest difference between these two Smartphones is their screens. While they both make use of TFT technology for their displays, the main difference is that the Omnia Pro 4 has opted for a touch screen display. This of course would require a relatively larger screen which is somewhat achieved by the Omnia Pro 4 by having a 2.62” resistive touch screen display (compared to the Omnia Pro 5’s 2.4” display).
It also translates that the Omnia Pro 4’s display has a higher resolution which is at 320 x 320 pixels compared to the 320 x 240 resolution of the Omnia Pro 5. In the past, we have witnessed a number of performance problems form devices that attempted to combine a physical QWERTY keyboard with an undersized touch screen display.
We are not sure how the Omnia Pro 4 will fare in this regard, but we are all hoping that it does well. All in all, the displays of both the Samsung Omnia Pro 4 & Samsung Omnia Pro 5 are relatively impressive and should get the job done.
WinMo Woes?
While Microsoft has absolutely dominated the desktop computer operating system market, the same cannot exactly be said about their mobile OS product, Windows Mobile. A lot of people are left baffled on how such a brilliant developer is unable to translate their success into the smaller scale of mobile operating systems. WinMo has definitely had its critics but nonetheless, it is the OS that both the Samsung Omnia Pro 4 & Samsung Omnia Pro 5 have decided to stick with.
Regardless of what the critics may say about this seemingly underperforming operating system, we still have high hopes for these two new Omnia Smartphones. Version 6.5 of the Windows Mobile operating systems is what we’ll find on both the Samsung Omnia Pro 4 & Samsung Omnia Pro 5 and at the very least, what we can say for sure is that this edition is a vast improvement from its predecessors. Aside from having a totally revamped Internet Explorer application which makes the whole internet browsing experience more convenient and enjoyable for the users, one of the biggest enhancements on WinMo 6.5 is the fact that it has become more finger-friendly.
Past versions have been notoriously unable to survive without the stylus and this is the first version that hopes to let the fingers do all the work. Then again, we don’t know how this will translate to the Omnia Pro 4’s relatively small screen which will almost certainly require a stylus. Nonetheless, there are still a lot of other notable improvements that should benefit both the Omnia Pro 4 and the Omnia Pro 5. Find out what Omnia Pro 4 deals and Omnia Pro 5 deals are available by visiting their respective deals pages.
The Nokia C7: Proving that Nokia is Still on Top
Thursday, July 29th, 2010
Nokia had been out in the market for quite some time now and it is undeniable that that they are still the leader in the mobile industry. Nokia never failed to give us with brand new concepts incorporating it to the mobile they offer thus making connecting to our loved ones easier.
One significant aspect why consumers embrace Nokia mobiles is because of its price. It is well known that Nokia mobiles range from expensive down to the very affordable prices. Though some Nokia mobiles may be cheap functionality is not compromised at all. Who would forget those models such as Nokia 2760 and Nokia 1661?
Those mobiles were available at a lower price but still provided exceptional features. One example is their recently released Nokia 2330. Some considers it as a complete mobile for a number of its key features were basic and were those that a user truly needed daily like sending/receiving SMS, making/receiving call, can access the internet and receive/send Emails.
Now Nokia is introducing a fresh Smartphone sure to catch the attention of Smartphone enthusiasts again. It’s time to meet the Nokia C7. Just like the other mobiles from the C series, it may be available at a higher price but considering its features, there is no doubt it is still fairly cheap compared to the other Smartphones available in the market like of those from Apple or HTC.
Let us take a closer look at this interesting mobile and find out the standout features that will bring it on top above the rest.
Remarkable Camera
A quality camera is one of the important features that a mobile phone needs so consumer s can say that the phone is worth buying. People nowadays demand for a quality mobile camera to satisfy their picture-taking needs especially now that taking photos has became routine to the ‘upload generation.’
Technology has provided us a lot of ways to share memorable moments and with the number of social networking sites available, sharing photos has never been this easy. All that needs to be done is to upload a photo for everyone to see. Everyone definitely wants to look good in their pictures since anyone and everyone can access them.
And how do you get those beautiful shots without using a digital camera? Of course this is with the use of a good quality camera on your handy mobile phone. A mobile is one of the devices that we normally carry anywhere and it is safe to say that a mobile wouldn’t be considered fully functional if its camera couldn’t deliver superb photos. Consumers have an advantage of not bringing a digital camera anymore because of this feature.
It is rumoured that the Nokia C7 has an 8MP camera. A lot of people are surely excited about this and very eager to know when the mobile would be available in the market. This is the first 8MP camera of Nokia as it hopes to bridge the gap between the also famous N8 with its monster of a 12MP camera.
Another good thing about the Nokia C7 camera is you no longer need to worry if you are situated in an area with low light because the C7 has an LED flash too. This would be very useful feature since perfect picture-worthy moments do not only happen in well lit locations, but also in darker spots as well. With that high mega pixel resolution, it is without a doubt every photo taken with the C7’s camera will seem like that of a professional’s.
Salute to the Symbian^3 OS
Credit needs to be given to Nokia for introducing to the world what the Symbian ^3 OS really can do. Just like with the expected success of the Nokia N8, the Nokia C7 also wants to take this mobile operating system to a higher level as well.
Want to know more about this operating system? Well, first and foremost let me just say that it is made to make your life easier – a lot easier. Social networking seems to be the fad nowadays and Symbian ^3 make it easier for you to access your favourite portals with a single log in. A good thing is it lets you create a list of your closest friends and once there is an update, it is automatically shown at your home screen.
It also lets you choose widgets to use that will fit your lifestyle, such as putting the weather widget at your home page, perhaps? An interesting feature is that it lets you create several home pages that will suit you best. You can even create and use one depending on your mood.
The Symbian ^3 also makes the Smartphone experience a lot better for it offers pinch to zoom and swipe to scroll features making navigating a lot more fun. Viewing photos and videos has never been this easy before. With this OS you can simply connect the Nokia C7 to your flat screen TV to view photos and videos directly. What a great way to view them with your family and friends, right?
For some folks, the primary reason that they opted for a particular Smartphone is because of the number of features it offers with the hope of being able to maximise them as well. With the Symbian ^3 OS you can use several types of application like listening to music while uploading a picture all at the same time without the fuss.
The Symbian OS simply makes your Smartphone experience fun and memorable with all the awesome functionality it provides.
Mystery Breeds Excitement
The release of the Nokia C7 is still a mystery up to this date. While many have been hyped up with the leak of the said mobile, Nokia has yet to announce a specified official date on when it will be out in the market. However, some actually say that it may be out just in time for the gift giving season.
Full details about the Nokia C7 are still unknown, but it seems that the primary feature of this mobile is its 8MP camera. Not to mention its stylish design and attractive screen at 3.5 inches with a powerful resolution of 360 x 640 pixels.
There might be a lot of speculations that will be out in the internet about this mobile in the future but one thing is for sure, the Nokia C7 at this point is already being welcomed by a majority of Smartphone enthusiasts.
It is only when the mobile officially launches will we be able to tell if Nokia has once again succeeded in satisfying its users in all aspects. But based on initial reports, things are definitely looking good for the C7. Because of this we expect to see some fantastic Nokia C7 deals in the near future. Say what you think on the Nokia C7 reviews page.
Coming Soon: The LG Optimus Chic & LG Optimus One
Wednesday, July 28th, 2010
A number of people can say that LG haven’t started this year with its best foot forward in terms of providing remarkable Smartphones. It seems that LG haven’t lived up to the demands and expectations of the Smartphone market in a lot of ways. Well recently, LG has officially announced that they will release entry-level Smartphones to appease their frustrated consumers. In fact, they will release not just one, but two Smartphones named The LG Optimus Chic & LG Optimus One.
As we all know, LG has released several Smartphones but it is yet set its mark in the industry especially now that competitors like the iPhone and HTC seem to always pull a rabbit out of the hat every time they release a new Smartphone.See what other people think or have your own say on the LG Optimus One reviews and LG Optimus Chic reviews pages.
One good thing about these new LG Smartphones is that they are said to have the most advanced features on board made possible by the fact that they will be using the freshest Android OS v2.2 called Froyo. LG had promised to deliver 10 Smartphones within the year and the release of the LG Optimus Chic & LG Optimus One signals a major addition to this growing family.
Now the question is, will the launch of the LG Optimus Chic & LG Optimus One make LG one of the most recognised brand in the Smartphone industry? It may be a bit too early to tell, but what we can do now is start talking about some of the features it will offer.
The Amazing Froyo
A large number of people are excited with the new Android 2.2 also codenamed Froyo. So what does it really do? There’s a lot to discuss for it offers a myriad of new features so let’s start with the home screen first.
Well, it really isn’t that much different with the 2.1 version. However, the look of the home screen seems to be a lot smoother brought about by some minor artistic changes in the layout. Just like the 2.1 version the home screen looks great and with the newly added enhancements, it has definitely become more aesthetically pleasing.
Accessing the internet is something that we do everyday and at times it is difficult for us to connect to the internet via Wi-Fi if we haven’t found a nice hotspot. Wouldn’t it be nice to turn your mobile into an actual hotspot so you can share the connection to your family and friends during those problematic times?
That concept may be surprising for some, but the Froyo has actually made this into a reality. Yes, you can turn your mobile into a hotspot with Froyo. Amazing right? Once you have either the LG Optimus Chic & LG Optimus One you are sure to be the talk of the town because of this.
Another feature of the Android Froyo which we think should ring some alarm bells for the iPhone is that once you download an application on your computer, you don’t need to attach the mobile to your desktop to transfer the download. What it does is it automatically installs it to your mobile over the air. Yes, you got it right. No need to sync at all.
The same goes for your music, games, applications, and whatever else downloads you might have – no syncing needed! For those who have an iPhone, you must admit that it takes some time to sync your music and videos, but unfortunately this is something you have to deal with. With the Froyo, this just won’t be the case.
One last notable feature on the Froyo is that it sports a hardware compass functionality. It serves literally as a compass letting maps provide you direction depending on where you’re facing. It will be handy for those who always travel either by walking or driving as you no longer need to worry about getting lost ever again.
What’s good about this feature offered by Froyo is that it also lets you view the browser camera. It will really make your life easier by literally telling you where to go. No need to carry around big maps or location guides anymore; your mobile will be the perfect companion when travelling.
Having the Google Android Froyo as the operating system of the LG Optimus Chic & LG Optimus One is definitely a good start.
Availability
Consumers and critics alike seem to be all hyped up by the looming launch of these two new LG Smarpthones. It is great to see that consumers are actually giving LG a chance to prove themselves until they perfect their craft. Now, the big question almost everyone has is when would the LG Optimus Chic & LG Optimus One be available?
Unfortunately, there is no exact date of release just yet. There have been rumours that it should be available in South Korea (the manufacturer’s homeland) by the end of this year which means that we should expect it to arrive in UK shores a month or so afterwards. Their price hasn’t been unveiled as well, but knowing LG, the price tag on both of these mobiles should be fairly reasonable.
Final Say
LG has been struggling to cope with the ever changing expectations of its consumers. Not to mention that other than the iPhone and HTC, LG is continuously battling with its Korean competitor Samsung which as far we can tell has been doing pretty well in the market. However, we must also give them credit for not giving up in trying to deliver excellent quality mobiles to the consumers.
The release of the LG Optimus Chic & LG Optimus One may give Samsung the chance to prove that they could also set high quality standards with the Smartphones they offer. Hopefully, consumers won’t be disappointed. The addition of the Google Android Froyo seems to be something that will give the LG Optimus Chic & LG Optimus One a much needed advantage over its competitors.
Though full specs are not available yet, by the look of the new OS it may be quite a hit for the younger generation. But until the said release date is announced and the actual mobile is tested, we can only hope for the best LG Optimus Chic deals and Optimus One deals.
T-Mobile Confirms Nokia N8
Wednesday, July 28th, 2010
The upcoming Nokia N8 smart phone will be launching under T-Mobile in the UK, this has been confirmed by the local network operator in a recent announcement. However, since no exact release date has been given, it is still up in the air when consumers will actually get a chance to try out Nokia’s latest N-series handset.
As many of you may have previously heard, the N8 smart phone runs on the Symbian^3 operating system. It will be the first of its kind and according to Nokia, the only S^3 based smart phone to come out under the N-series of handsets. The next phone for the lineup is the MeeGo powered Nokia N9 which bears strikingly similar hardware features to the N8. In fact, if the N8 delay gets pushed any further, Nokia can probably have a dual phone launch giving users a choice of two different operating systems, but with two very similar devices.
The Nokia N8 is an impressive media based smart phone. Plenty of emphasis is given on the phone’s 12 mega pixel snapper as it can take images in extremely high quality. Even better is the fact that it uses Carl Zeiss lenses for the most detailed shots.
Xenon flash provides a significantly better lighting effect than regular LED flash options found on other mobile phones. As one would expect, this handset is also capable of recording videos in 720p HD quality with a frame rate of 30 frames per second.
Media buffs will enjoy the new user interface for accessing music and video files, but for those who truly want a real HD experience, the Nokia N8 also comes with an HDMI output port so that users can view their videos and other content on a high definition screen.
Originally, the Nokia N8 was supposed to have launched last April, however, several delays have pushed back the launch of this Symbian smart phone.
September Launch Confirmed for XPERIA X8 on O2 UK
Wednesday, July 28th, 2010
The upcoming launch of the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X8 smart phone has been revealed by network operator O2 UK as the company has announced that the phone will be available on their offers by this coming September. So far, it is not known if the device will be offered only by the network or if this will be limited time exclusivity.
In any case, Android fans can get to rejoice as another Android handset becomes available for choosing (ignoring the probability that users would have to switch over to O2’s mobile network).
The XPERIA X8 smart phone was first revealed in a series of leaked images that revealed several handsets from Sony Ericsson. The first was the W150 TeaCake that would later be renamed as the Yendo Walkman mobile phone. The X8 was also in that list as the XPERIA Shakira –though many were able to predict that the handset would given an XPERIA X-series name since it was designed right between the X10 and the X10 Mini (as to why the mini’s were designated under the same series as the original is not explained).
Oddly enough, the X8 is between the X10 Mini and the X10 in terms of size, but when it comes to overall specifications, there are very few differences from the Mini Androids and the X8, while we will not be getting much of variation on specs, at least we know that the prices will be quite similar.
The X8 comes with a 3 inch TFT capacitive touch screen display. While the graphic and visual quality is nothing unique; it has a resolution of 720 x 480 pixels, scratch resistant surface and an accelerometer –at least it still has Sony Ericsson’s Timescape user interface (which is expected, but still nice to be confirmed). The custom UI allows users to instantly view important updates, news and posts in a chronological order, allowing the user to easily scroll to the most important details.
Samsung and Sony Team Up to Bring New Screen Technology
Wednesday, July 28th, 2010
When two of the largest names in the tech industry collaborate on a single project, we all know we can expect great things. The latest big tie up comes with an unexpected cooperative move from Japanese electronics leader Sony and Korean industry giant, Samsung.
The new technology they are working on is an alternative to AMOLED touch screens. As many smart phone fans are already aware of, AMOLED screens are among the most impressive displays available for smart phone users. It is so good that the only technologies to ever surpass it are the Apple Retina display and of course, the super AMOLED touch screen which was developed by Samsung.
Among the handsets to use the AMOLED touch screen technology, there are some phones that truly standout such as the HTC Desire and the Google Nexus One. Both devices run the Android operating system and are two of the biggest profile handsets around. According to Sony and Samsung, the first S-LCD displays will be used in the Desire and the Nexus One smart phones.
The decision to use the S-LCD devices on existing devices (as opposed to slapping it into a new phone) is a tactical choice. First, HTC needs more AMOLED screens for the two handsets. With AMOLED technology being harder to produce, S-LCD is the perfect alternative. Not only does it match the AMOLED screens in terms of quality, but it is also able to deliver better viewing angles, contrast and more importantly, less battery consumption.
With Samsung previously pushing forward the limits of AMOLED technology, (they came up with the “super” variant and are reported to be working on a flexible and durable version of the technology) it would not be surprising they (along with Sony) also choose to improve the S-LCD screen technology in the same way.
HTC Acquire Better Production to Keep Up with Demand
Tuesday, July 27th, 2010
Apple’s iPhone is not the only handset that is getting out of stock these days, HTC’s Desire and several other handsets from the Taiwan based manufacturer are reported to be among the most sought other smart phones available. In a recent report, HTC has acquired new production facilities in order to keep up with the demand for their products.
Several years ago, it was unfathomable for HTC to think that their handsets would ever be out of stock due to demand. The Taiwan based electronics manufacturer had a rough start that helped smoothened out Microsoft –making them a partner in the development of Pocket PC devices.
HTC would later move on to become a key partner in the development of the Android operating system. Since then, HTC has slowly become one of the biggest names in the industry, with their handsets being the ones mentioned alongside the Android OS (despite other handsets also using the open source OS).
The latest Android smart phone from HTC, the Desire, is basically the same handset as the Google Nexus One. While there are some hardware and software differences, most of the features are basically the same. Some would even go as far as to say that the Nexus One was actually based on the Desire –which is not surprising as both devices were manufactured by HTC.
According to HTC, they have acquired new production facilities in order to keep up with the demands for their products (demand that they have described as surprising). Current HTC UK & Ireland executive director Jon French stated that they are trying to catch up with the production needs of the company.
The HTC Desire is an Android smart phone running version 2.1 Éclair. It runs on a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor clocked at 1GHz, has a 5 mega pixel camera and a 3.7 inch AMOLED capacitive touch screen display.
Samsung Takes More Aggressive Strategies Against Apple
Tuesday, July 27th, 2010Apple should have known that bringing in other mobile phones to the conference would spell trouble for them. Already, five phone manufacturers have spoken out (either indirectly through spokespersons or through official statements), and the issue is still far from over.
Among the devices that Apple has brought into their little show and tell are the Samsung Omnia II, HTC Droid Eris and the BlackBerry Bold 9700. Naturally, the manufacturers of all three smart phones would not be willing to sit down and take that kind of treatment from Apple without reacting. Also, Nokia’s N97 Mini was brought into the argument with a follow up video from Microsoft that was uploaded on YouTube. While none of Motorola’s devices were mentioned, the phone maker also made a stand against Apple.
Samsung is not content with just a simple statement. With Apple’s campaigns to evade the antenna issue, the Korean phone maker has decided that it will be bringing up a new ad campaign –one that directly targets disgruntled iPhone 4 customers.
Recently, the Twitter community has been abuzz with iPhone 4 users openly discussing how bad the antenna problem with the iPhone 4 is. This has lead to a series of actions from Samsung that would offer these (highly influential) folks some free copies of the Samsung i9000 Galaxy S smart phone. There is no definitive data or grade that people can determine their eligibility for a free handset, but it seems that Samsung is continuing the practice of giving out free smart phones to various users.
For those in the UK (and over the age of 18), the Facebook page for Samsung UK will give out free Galaxy S smart phones. Users who have “liked” the page will be eligible for the contest and the winners will be announced by early August.
Microsoft Announces Partners for Windows Phone 7
Tuesday, July 27th, 2010
With only a few months remaining until the expected launch of the new Windows Phone 7 mobile platform from Microsoft, the companies that are going to be coming up with new handsets for the MS OS is already getting ready as well. According to reports, various handsets will be offered when Microsoft’s new mobile operating system is available and several big name smart phone makers are on the list.
Leading the lineup is none other than Korean based LG. The company has already shown off their LG Panther smart phone earlier this year and it is one of the most complete devices that will run WP7. The device is a type 2 chassis WP7 handset which means that it will have a touch screen display and a physical QWERTY keyboard as well. This is one of the few devices that will have a keyboard which will give it a definite niche in Microsoft’s new market.
Taiwan based HTC is also on the lineup. So far, rumors of their HTC Mondrian and HTC Mozart are keeping people guessing which smart phone they will be launching (though some speculate that both devices are coming out at the same time). It has also been rumored that the HTC Gold might actually be the same device as the Mondrian. Expect to get more clarification about these in the later weeks.
Not surprisingly, Dell, Asus and Samsung are also on the list. Though it has reported that Samsung’s handset may not be available until January of next year, it seems that Dell and Asus already seem to have devices already set to launch.
According to recent updates, the new Windows Phone 7 OS will be delivering one of the most visually dynamic user interfaces ever seen in smart phones and will be the main OS used by Microsoft in the coming years.