Along with integration and multi-tasking, is fast becoming one of the must have features for smart phones. Having got off to a slow start with the critically acclaimed and criminally overlooked Samsung i8910 HD, HD video recording is now enjoying mainstream success with the excellent . Clearly Samsung have taken heart from Sony Ericsson’s performance and are set to introduce their second HD phone in May in the shape of the . And, with rumours of an and on the cards, it seems other manufacturers are now sitting up and taking notice. And now, we can add HTC to that list who have confirmed HD video capture is definitely on the horizon.
Speaking at a press conference in South Africa, local HTC MD Quinton Leigh confirmed that are working on implementing HD video capture in upcoming releases. But not just content with following suit, HTC are keen to innovate and push boundaries and will do so by coming to the table with a phone capable of full 1080p HD video capture! As if this wasn’t enough, will be pairing the best in class video quality with 5.1 audio for an all round AV experience. No precise word on when we can expect 1080p HD video phones just yet but early indications suggest late 2010 ear;y 2011.
Leigh also had one more bombshell to drop on the gathered press; HTC are working on a tablet device. With the recent (and hugely successful) launch of the in the US, it seems companies are falling over themselves to release a comparable product. HTC’s answer to the iPad is expected to run Google’s OS and could potentially have data connectivity baked in (ala’ the 3G iPad). No further details were released but the mere fact that HTC have a tablet in the pipeline is more than enough to keep us interested. Keep an eye on the blog for more information as and when we get it.
The industry is a fast moving industry, this much we know is true. Still, when you’ve just released one of the best and most technologically advanced mobile phones ever, you’d like to think you’ve earned some breathing space. Not so for , who already seem intent on topping the recently released with an all new flagship smartphone. What would does one call such an incredible phone? The HTC Incredible of course.
The news comes courtesy of US network Verizon Wireless who have just launched a mini site for the HTC Droid Incredible. Looks as though Verizon are keen to milk the Droid name for all it’s worth having previously launched the Motorola Droid (which we know and love as the ) and HTC Droid Eris (a jazzed up version of the ). But enough about the network, what about the phone?
Well, aside from a slightly altered design with some red detailing to match Verizon (or ‘Big Red’ as they’re known across the pond) the Incredible appears very similar to the Desire/ . A 3.7 inch capacitive is combined with 2.1, HTC’s Sense UI (which is absent from the Nexus One) and powered by a 1GHz processor. So, what’s changed? Well, HTC have upped the RAM and also added in a whopping 8GB of internal memory plus there’s still the MicroSD slot found in the Desire.
The camera is also boosted from a respectable 5 Megapixels up to an eye watering 8 Megapixels complete with Autofocus and video capture. So it seems, rather the Incredible is more evolutionary than revolutionary when compared to the already excellent Desire. The bad news? Well, it looks highly unlikely that we’ll be seeing the HTC Droid Incredible on this side of the Atlantic. As it’s coming to Verizon, the Incredible uses CDMA technology which simply isn’t supported here in the UK (we use the GSM standard). And, with the HTC Desire already a smash hit here in Europe, it seems unlikely will choose to release a GSM version of the Droid Incredible.
Still, until it’s explicitly confirmed one way or another, we’ll continue to dream that we’ll one day be able to get our hands on this handset without hopping on a plane first. Keep an eye on the for more news on this as and when we find out more.
The is a worthy addition to the ever growing family, bringing a huge display, best in class camera and unique offerings such as Timescape and Mediascape. But, as good as it is, the X10 is not without it’s drawbacks, most notably the fact that it’s stuck languishing on Android 1.6 and lacks support for multi-touch. But, this could all be about to change should the mutterings of a employee be taken at face value.
Speaking at the press event for the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 launch, the Sony Ericsson rep responded to criticisms of the outdated OS by stating that a “very big update” was due in Q2 of this year. Though obviously not wanting to give too much away, very big to us would definitely point towards the X10 joining the Android 2.1 crowd. That is unless have stolen a march on their rivals and will be updating to a new and as yet unreleased version of Android! Whatever it is, it’s gonna be big!
As if this wasn’t exciting enough, our man on the inside was also able to shed some light on the lack of multi-touch and potentially quash the rumours that the limitations are hardware based. Though specific details were thin on the ground, apparently multi-touch is also something that is on the cards and similarly we can expect to see an update at some point in the second quarter of the year. Keep an eye on the for more information as and when we get it.
UPDATE: Since this post was published, we’ve been contacted by Sony Ericsson who have stated that the X10 update will be available in the second HALF of 2010 (around September) rather than Q2. Apologies for the confusion but still, better late than never!
Last Thursday, we were one of a privileged few to invited to a press event celebrating the launch of the . The X10 is a seminal launch for ; the culmination of months and years of hard work resulting in a that has an awful lot riding on it. And unsurprisingly, Sony Ericsson were keen to mark the launch with a suitable amount of pizazz.
Held in a plush area of central London just off the Tottenham Court Road, Sony Ericsson had roped in professional rugby player Danny Cipriani and Super Model Poppy Delevigne as ‘brand ambassadors’. Whilst their background in consumer electronics and mobile phones was questionable, their knowledge of the device surprisingly wasn’t and this is down, in part, to the excellent usability of the device itself.
The main focus for the evening (apart from Sony Ericsson’s glamorous assistants) were the two user interface applications are hoping will sway consumers towards the X10 and away from a host of competitive offerings. Mediascape acts as your multimedia player letting you play music/videos etc. saved from the phone. Simple enough, but Mediascape gets interesting when you tap on the infinite button. Tap this when listening to a track and the X10 will scour the web for other media, from music downloads to videos on YouTube. It works great if you’ve got a single track from a particular artist and want to find out more. The information is also saved as a log so you can check back through what you’ve been listening too.
Timescape aims to do the same with your favourite social networking sites. Upon opening the app, users are presented with an overview of all the latest tweets, status updates and more from your contacts and social networking sites. from here, you can tap to reply to messages, flick left and right to get a more in depth look at each particular channel and start up new conversations. The beauty of Timescape is that rather than having to open a separate Twitter app and Facebook app, all are right here at your fingertips feeding you live updates.
Timescape and Mediascape on the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 provide a real unique selling point and a strong argument to choose the X10 over something like the if you’re big on multimedia or social networking. The best part is, they’re simply apps so, if you don’t know your tweets from your pokes, Timescape and Mediascape are not too obtrusive and can simply be ignored. The Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 is in stock now at , available for free on a ?30 per month tariff, to check it out!
We’ve seen HDTV’s that are capable of running internet widgets before. We’ve also seen the smartphone operating system make the jump to larger personal multimedia players (PMP) and netbooks. But what about an HDTV running Google’s Android operating system? Surely too good to be true right? Well, not if a little known Swedish electronics company has anything to say on the matter.
People of Lava (yes, that really is the companies name) have revealed an Android based HDTV (which the company are dubbing a world first) going under the product name of Scandinavia. Bizzare names aside, this 42 inch 1080p HD TV will boast internet connectivity and come pre-loaded with Android widgets on board including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Google Maps as well as a full web browser. The Android ready HDTV is set to launch later this year and is expected to seel for around ?2000 when it launches.
If you’re finding it a little hard to justify stumping up the best part of ?2000 for a new telly but still want to enjoy a summer of sport (including the FIFA World Cup!) in glorious HD, check out our fantastic range of with a ; the Samsung LE32B450. This LCD Samsung TV boasts a stunning design and picture quality to match and comes loaded with extras, from a built in Freeview tuner to 3 HDMI ports and Samsung’s Wide Colour Enhancer engine making for an incredible visual experience. Best of all, this incredible Samsung 32″ HDTV (RRP ?329.99) can be picked up absolutely free with a free phone for as little as ?25 per month. to check out some of our fantastic offers with a free 32″ Samsung HDTV.
For those who’ve had to endure an agonising wait for the since it debuted in early February at MWC, spare a thought for those waiting for the ! first unveiled in November of last year and widely known as the Rachael several months prior to this, the X10 has fallen foul of numerous slips and missed launch dates. But now, the wait is finally over as the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10, Sony’s first Android offering, is in stock now at ! Want to know more? Then read on…
The Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 is Sony’s first foray into the realms of and so it should come as no surprise to hear that the X10 is dressed to impress. Running version 1.6 of Google’s Android operating system (though have confirmed an update is in the works), the X10 is powered by Qualcomm’s 1GHz Snapdragon processor which ensures apps run smoothly, open almost instantly and suffer from no slow down. And on the subject of apps, the X10 is supported by the excellent Android Market which is literally growing by the day with hundreds of exciting new apps.
Sporting a stunning 4.0 inch capacitive , the X10 is itching to be taken online and used for on the move movie viewing. To this end, Sony Ericsson have seen fit to add in their new Mediascape user interface which combines your music, movies and photos with a wealth of online content for an unrivaled multimedia experience. Coupled with a 3.5mm audio jack, 1GB of internal memory and expandable memory up to 16GB, the X10 provides ample storage for all your music and movies.
Similarly, Timescape does for social networking what Mediascape does for your multimedia, aggregating all your conversations from Facebook, Twitter and more and pulling in live status updates and photo uploads. Start a conversation via SMS, switch to Email and finish in an instant messenger client and the X10 will store all messages as one seamless conversation. Timescape, with it’s user friendly interface and usability acts as the perfect gateway to all your friends.
So, the Xperia X10 has a stunning touchscreen, intuitive user interface and wealth of multimedia options. So what, if anything, sets it apart from the recently released (and equally impressive) HTC Desire? Well, Sony Ericsson have bucked the Android trend by eschewing a 5.0 Megapixel camera in favour of a staggering 8.1 Megapixel camera (a first for Android). Not one to hide behind the pixel count, have loaded the X10 with extras, from touch focus and an image stabiliser to smile and face detection.
All this packed to an exquisite form factor made from high quality matte plastics with subtle metallic detailing. Best of all, the X10 is in stock now on Mobiles.co.uk and available free on a ?30 per month contract with 6 months half price line rental by redemption! to check out this and all our other fantastic offers.
The launched late last week to overwhelming demand and try as we might, there simply wasn’t enough stock to meet the huge demand for this exciting new device. And, with a stunning 3.7 inch AMOLED display, 1GHz processor powering the latest version of Android 2.1, it’s easy to see why. But now, we can bring you the news you’ve all been waiting for; the
Available in incredibly short supply and on a strictly first come first serve basis, we’ve managed to secure our second delivery of the phenomenally popular Desire before anyone else. Available on Orange, Vodafone and T-Mobile, the Desire brings together the excellent Android platform with HTC’s intuitive Sense UI for the ultimate experience. to check out some of our fantastic offers on HTC’s flagship Android smartphone. Don’t delay because stock won’t be around for long!
When talking about and Microsoft’s new Windows Phone 7 Series operating system, the hot topic is whether the , HTC’s flagship WinMo device, will be upgradeable to the new OS. The simple answer to this is, no one really knows. And if they do, they’re not telling us. But, before you grow disheartened about the likelihood of an HTC Windows super appearing any time soon, HTC’s CEO has confirmed that an all new device is in the pipeline and scheduled for release nefore the end of 2010!
Speaking to reporters at the CTIA conference, HTC head honcho Peter Chou said he is “thrilled” with Windows Phone 7 and that plan to release a device running Redmond’s new OS before the end of the year. The confirmation should also put to rest constant rumours that HTC would be stepping away from Microsoft in the coming months and years. The Speculation had centred on Microsoft’s new hardline on compatibility and customisation of their new OS which will rule out the likes of HTC’s Sense user interface and prohibit devices from running the operating system unless they adhere to strict specification guidlines. Chou’s comments prove that Windows Phone 7 Series is still very much in the companies plans.
Chou also had time to comment on the stateside launch of the which, despite less than stellar sales figures, he considered a success. Chou commented “Considering Google didn’t do standard retail or marketing for it, the Nexus One is doing pretty well”. Chou believes that the Nexus One (and its stablemate, the ) showed the world that HTC is the top brand. And now with confirmation that a Windows phone is set to launch in the next 9 months, it seems the company is determined to repeat this success with Windows Phone 7 Series.
Not so long ago, the (or Droid for our friends across the pond) was the top dog in the world looking down on its compatriots from its Android 2.0 ivory tower. And then came the (and more recently HTC’s own brand version, the ) running Android 2.1, instantly establishing itself as the king of the Android hill. Well fear not Motorola loyalists, your prayers have been answered; the Motorola Milestone has got in on the Android 2.1 action.
Available as an over the air download or downloadable through a wired connection, the update to version 2.1 (or Eclair for pastry enthusiasts) brings with it support for live wallpapers (that switch and change as you navigate through the phone), 9 home screen panels, tweaks and improvements to various apps such as the camera and pre-installed Facebook app and a general performance boost to improve the overall performance of the .
Available to download now, to update your Milestone or head on over to the updates area on the phone itself. Not got a Milestone and want to find out more? to take a look at the flagship QWERTY Android device in more detail and check out some of our fantastic offers.
The wait is over. What’s only been just over a month has felt like a lifetime as we’ve eagerly awaited the launch of the phone we were first introduced to at . And now it,s here, the has landed on our shores and is in stock now at Mobiles.co.uk. Want the rundown on the front runner for phone of the year? Read on for our crash course on the HTC Desire.
Sporting a gorgeous 3.7 inch capacitive AMOLED with multi-touch technology and a built in accelerometer, the Desire combines the latest version of Google’s , version 2.1 for those still counting, with the latest edition of Sense UI. The result is 7 customisable home screens and all sorts of social networking integration, from live updates from Facebook to all the latest photo uploads and Twitter tweets. In short, if you’re big on social networking, the Desire is the perfect choice.
A built in 1GHz snapdragon processor provides the muscle behind Android and Sense UI making sure navigating menus and launching applications is effortlessly smooth and the phone pulls in all your social networking updates with out breaking a sweat. Browsing the web is equally quick with HSDPA and Wi-Fi connectivity on board whilst navigation is handled with the on board GPS receiver.
Want more? Well, the Desire is also brimming with multimedia options from a built in MP3 music player with 3.5mm audio jack, meaning you can use the supplied headphones or you own to listen to music on the move. Video playback is just as impressive, with the 3.7 inch AMOLED display the perfect viewing platform for movies and videos on popular sharing sites such as YouTube. The Desire also boasts an impressive video recorder of its own and a 5.0 Megapixel still camera with autofocus and an LED flash.
Best of all, at , the HTC Desire we stock is unlocked and completely free from network branding. This means that the phone will have no network logos on the outside and no additional network software on the inside meaning you get the Desire exactly as made it.
Available free on Orange on a ?25 per month tariff with 400 minutes and unlimited texts plus 3 months half price line rental by redemption, the HTC Desire is in stock now at Mobiles.co.uk! to check out this and all our other fantastic offers. Order now for next working day delivery!