Today Nokia have announced the Nokia 110, Nokia 111, and Nokia 112 mobile phones; which aim to bring up to date features and style within a budget handset range. Colourful by design, these vibrant candy bar handsets offer a similar palette to the likes of the , at an extremely affordable price. Built with a 1.8 inch display and alphanumeric keypad, the handsets are compact and lightweight; the Nokia 111 weighs just 77 grams!
Faster Web Browsing
The key feature across all three new Nokia handsets for 2012, is more efficient web browsing. The Nokia 110, 111 and 112 all claim to use a web browser that uses 90% less data. Compressed pages allow faster downloads and lower data charges. Though operating with a WAP browser, this improved efficiency ensures you can browse more for your money if you find yourself on a low data tariff or Pay As You Go.
Dual Sim Phones
The Nokia 110 and Nokia 112 have the added bonus of being able to hold two SIMS within their compact design. The advantage of this is the ability to text or web browse with the network that suits you best. It’s a handy way to save money, or simply combine your personal and business phones within a single handset. You could even insert and extra card that gives you extra minutes or texts at a low cost. Changing between SIMs is effortless and simple as the handset can stay switched on as you flick between networks.
Social and Entertainment
Just because the Nokia 110, 111 and 112 aren’t on Android or iOS, doesn’t mean they have to lack fun. Connected to the Nokia Store, there are a variety of apps available for the Nokia 110 range. Whether that’s free games from EA such as Tetris, or a Facebook application to keep in touch with friends, there are over ten million apps downloaded per day from the Nokia store. You will need a microSD card plugged into your Nokia 110, 111 or 112 in order to store multimedia files onto your phone but with the option to hold up to 32GB, this is plenty of room for apps and music. The latest Nokia devices come with an FM radio, Bluetooth connectivity and a VGA camera.
Expect the Nokia 110 and Nokia 112 to grace the UK shores late summer or early autumn with a very affordable price tag. Even if you already own a smartphone, we think the Nokia 110 and 112 will make ideal back up handsets. You can view on the official Nokia website.
Check out the latest on our website. Do the new Nokia handsets interest you? Let us know your thoughts on our .
From February 27th to March 1st, the Mobile World Congress will take place in Barcelona, Spain. The MWC conference is Europe’s largest gathering for all things mobile! The event brings together phone manufacturers, software designers and the media, into a magical melting pot to discuss the future and beyond of our favourite portable devices. Unlike Las Vegas’ Consumer Electronics Show (CES), anything shown at the MWC conference is highly likely to reach the UK. So what are we most looking forward to seeing at the MWC conference 2012?
HTC
look set to steal the show before it even begins. Inviting key members of the press to an event on the eve of the MWC conference, HTC must have something pretty important to announce to warrant their own event. What can we expect from HTC in 2012?
The Taiwanese giants look set to unveil a ONE series of top of the range smartphones. The ONE X (ONEX) is widely reported to have a jaw dropping quad core processor; power in a smartphone that could easily chomp its way through multitasking applications and Operating Systems such as . With a supersized screen of over 4.5 inches, a HTC release of this rumoured spec would certainly help fight their corner against smartphone rivals and . There’s also talk of a HTC ONE S (ONES) which will represent the next generation HTC Sensation, equipped with a still impressive 1.5GHz dual core processor and 8 megapixel camera.
Expect the unveiling HTC devices to have Sense 4.0 preinstalled. Sense 4.0 will give your HTC access to Microsoft’s Skydrive, improved copy and paste functionality and an improved dual panel task manager. Let’s hope the HTC rumours turn to truths at their announcement pre MWC conference.
Samsung Galaxy S3?
After months of speculation and rumour, we were saddened to hear the won’t be making an appearance at the 2012 MWC conference. Instead Samsung plan to adopt Apple’s approach and host their own event; a PR stunt which will raise a mountain of hype and attention towards their flagship Samsung Galaxy S3.
One possible announcement Samsung may unveil at the MWC conference is a new . The previous edition offered a happy balance between tablet and smartphone with a stylus equipped 5.3 inch portable device. For those who like the functionality of a stylus integrated with their tablet, the new Galaxy Note is rumoured to have a 10.1 inch display.
Nokia Lumia 900
We were mightily impressed by the announcement of the . Like an older brother to the Nokia Lumia 800, the latest Windows Phone offers a larger 4.3 inch screen size, 4G LTE capabilities and a front facing camera with Carl Zeiss optics. Currently only available in the USA, we expect Nokia to use the MWC conference as the perfect opportunity to spread the Lumia love and announce a UK release date. The Nokia Lumia series may also be set to expand with new editions trawling the web including a budget Nokia Lumia 730 and a possible Nokia Lumia 910.
With also expected to dazzle their new Windows Tango OS to the world, the MWC conference should announce which smartphones in the Nokia Lumia series will be lucky enough to utilise this software.
BlackBerry
After a troublesome 2011 and senior level restructure, Canadian Manufacturers Research In Motion look set to announce a few new handsets to their BlackBerry Curve series. Expect unveilings of the BlackBerry Curve 9220 and 9320 at the MWC conference. BlackBerry’s biggest announcement is likely to be in the form of a tablet. With a smooth user interface and great multi-tasking potential, the original was let down by the lack of apps available on its BlackBerry App World. With the new BlackBerry PlayBook 2.0 to offer apps from the Android Market, could be ready to unveil a tablet which can compete with the best. Let’s hope BlackBerry use the MWC conference to turn their fortunes around.
So there’s our round up of exciting releases we expect to be announced at the MWC conference 2012. Don’t forget to visit us next week as we bring you the latest info from Barcelona. Let us know what you think of these future releases on our
Due to be released this spring is Sony’s latest smartphone creation; the Sony Xperia S. Having removed Ericsson from their name, this marks a fresh start for the Japanese juggernauts. Unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show earlier this month, we delve deep into the details of why this smartphone promises to be one of the top handset highlights for 2012. The flagship phone for Sony in 2012, it will directly take on the new and .
Hardcore Hardware
If smartphones were judged entirely by their figures and numbers, the Sony Xperia S would confidently challenge the top trumps of the mobile industry. The 1.5GHz dual core processor is 25% faster than the iPhone 4S or Samsung Galaxy S2. Its LED-backlit 4.3 inch display towers above Apple’s smartphone range and is complimented by the transparent LED illuminated strip that shows off the necessary navigation buttons. Armed with NFC technology, the Sony Xperia S is ready for the increased reliability smartphones will have in card transactions and augmented reality.
Ice Cream Sandwich OS
Nothing tastes sweeter than the ability to optimise your smartphones performance. Android’s latest OS, Ice Cream Sandwich, will help you get the most out of the meaty hardware encased within the Sony Xperia S.
PlayStation Certified
Being manufactured by Sony can only be a good thing when you consider they own one of the greatest games console franchises of all time. It’s great to see they’ve branded the Xperia S as a PlayStation Certified smartphone, giving you access to a whole library of PS1 classics tailored for smartphones.
In addition to the PlayStation Certified range, the Android Market provides over 300,000 apps at your disposal, including the PlayStation Classic, . Wherever you download your games, the Sony Xperia S will charge through their exhaustive demands without losing breath, thanks to its already praised 1.5GHz dual core processor.
Capture it all – Camera Specs
Worries in photo quality between camera smartphone and camera are phasing out for the casual happy snapper. Capturing 12 megapixel photos, the Sony Xperia S offers a resolution that’s competitive against standalone cameras. The inclusion of an Exmor R mobile CMOS sensor maximises light availability in your picture to help prevent dark and gloomy snaps. With a 1080p high definition rear facing camera, your video memories are sure to look crisp and detailed. There’s even a front facing camera perfect for video calls that captures it all in 720p high definition. To help achieve that perfect photo, the camera hardware is provided all the trimmings; touch focus, face detection, image stabilisation, geo-tagging, LED flash and 3D sweep panorama, making the Sony Xperia S a truly sensational camera smartphone.
Sony Xperia S UK release date
Not long to wait until the release day as the Sony Xperia S will be available in the UK at the start of March. For a full product spec and all the info on the Sony Xperia S, visit our .
So there’s our run down on another hotly tipped smartphone for 2012. Does the Sony Xperia S excite you? Let us know on our Facebook page.
Samsung are set to officially unveil the Samsung Galaxy S3 at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next month. Hotly tipped to be the smartphone of 2012, we sift through the rumours and hype to establish what the Galaxy S3 will feature.
With the highly successful Galaxy range, Samsung have the world at their feet. The was crowned the bestselling smartphone in the UK for December. With sales that challenge the iPhone head on, it’s no wonder why the next instalment of the Galaxy S range is so eagerly anticipated.
Could this be the Galaxy S3?
During the international CES conference, Samsung slipped in a clip of an unknown smartphone during their official promo video. Is this the Samsung Galaxy S3? Demonstrating a thinner bezel strip around the display, the screen appears larger than the Galaxy S2 and would match the rumour of a 4.6 inch display; 0.3 inches larger than the Samsung. Whether this image is the genuine Samsung Galaxy S3 or just a fake remains to be seen. It’s certainly a clever marketing stunt for Samsung to raise the excitement bar and get the press talking on their mysterious handset.
Snap it up with the S3
Circulating rumours suggest that the Samsung Galaxy S3 will come equipped with a 12 megapixel camera. With key 2012 releases such as the already confirmed to have a resolution of this scale, it’s more than likely that Samsung will want to build upon the Galaxy S2’s 8 megapixel camera with their next generation release. With Apple also expected to upgrade their 8 megapixel camera with the release of the iPhone 5, Samsung have a great opportunity to steal exposure from Apple’s future handset by offering the technology sooner and stealing the wow factor from under their rivals noses.
Hungry for Ice Cream Sandwich? The S3 is.
It’s a dead cert the Galaxy S3 will come pre-loaded with the tasty new addition to the Android family. With a refined and evolved user interface, Ice Cream Sandwich is even more efficient for multitasking. This is great news for the Samsung Galaxy S3, which is rumoured to house a 1.8 GHz dual core processor which would storm through high end games and applications without breaking a sweat.
Galaxy S3 release date?
Following the World Mobile Congress in February, it’s highly likely that the Samsung Galaxy S3 will grace the UK shops within weeks of its announcement. Demand will be high, so make sure you don’t miss out on what is expected to be the top selling handset of 2012. We’ll be tracking the latest announcements on the Samsung Galaxy S3 as they happen. So check back for specific details as we get them through.
Google have finally announced their latest Android smartphone and have made the awesome decision to allow Samsung to manufacture the Google phone. The Samsung Galaxy Nexus wont disappoint you if you were previously upset about the Nexus which was created by HTC.
The distinct advantage of owning a Galaxy S over any of the other Samsung Galaxy mobile phones is that this is the first smartphone to offer Ice Cream Sandwich (The latest Android software) which is the successor of Gingerbread. A nice new feature is the unlocking mode where you can actually unlock your phone is using face recognition and voice typing is also available which is very similar to iPhone’s Siri.
Although the mobile phone looks quite compact in the photo above dont be fooled, the 4.65-inch display makes the Galaxy Nexus almost as large as the HTC Sensation XL however this is made up in thinness at only 7mm compared to the iPhone 4′s 9.3 mm and the Nexus is also 5g lighter than the Apple iPhone 4 weighing at only 135g.
If we are comparing the Galaxy Nexus to the iPhone then we will have to point out that the camera is only 5 megapixel compared to 8 megapixel cameras found in the and . Overall the new android mobile has its advantages over other smartphones such as the brand new software it runs on and its super AMOLED HD display which will be a significant upgrade from the Nexus S.
Sony Ericsson launched a smartphone in October and called it the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc and now they have improved this brilliant Xperia mobile and released the new Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S, Judging from most performance cars we can safely assume the letter “S” means faster a bit like the porsche turbo S being faster then the porsche turbo, it turns out we were correct and the new Arc S is pumped with a 1.4 Ghz processor compared to its predecessor which clocked at 1Ghz.
The Xperia Arc S has a 2d to 3d converter which lets you take photos and use ” 3d sweep panorama” application to display 2d photos in 3d if you plug it into a 3d tv or any other 3d display using a hdmi port. Sony Ericsson have maintained the reliable operating software for the Arc S which runs on Android OS gingerbread 2.3 and sustains all the hardware features the original Arc did including ultra thinness at 8.7mm. The Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S is available in an array of colours : pure white, gloss black, misty silver, sakura pink and midnight blue.
So what does this mean for current sony ericsson xperia arc ?
Cheaper deals? yes ! you can now get the sony ericsson xperia arc free on a 12 month contract, (yes they still exist and are growing fast) for ?30 a month plus 6 months free line rental by redemption. If you are weary of free line rental deals then take a good read of our new which actually has a cashback calculator where you can find out everything you need to know about claiming back without having the make any phone calls or send any emails to verify details.
If you want the Xperia Arc now then take a look at the cheap deals available on o2, orange, vodafone, talkmobile, 3 and Tmobile alternatively check back and find the Arc S very soon
Ok, so here’s you’re predicament. You want a top of the line in a traditional BlackBerry form factor but you’re intrigued by this new fangled touchscreen technology. What are you going to do? Well, you could buy yourself a BlackBerry Bold 9780, an iPod Touch and a soldering iron and get creative. Or, you could check out the amazing new BlackBerry Bold 9900 that has just landed in the UK, boasting that tried and tested BlackBerry design (with full QWERTY keyboard) and combining it with a stunning touchscreen display. We recommend the latter.
Launching last week, the Bold 9900 is RIM’s (the people behind BlackBerry) latest flagship phone and brings with it a wealth of top of the line specs and an all new operating system to boot. On the outside, it’s very much business as usual for the – if it ain’t broke… – with a full QWERTY keyboard, optical track pad and a 2.8 inch display all wrapped up in a premium and stylish design that exudes exclusivity (though with the excellent deals you can pick these up on, expect this to be next must have for BB fans – more on that later).
On the inside, RIM certainly aren’t pulling any punches. The Bold 9900 runs BlackBerry OS 7, the latest iteration of BlackBerry’s proprietary OS which brings along with it improved performance (apps open almost instantly with no lag), support for new technologies such as HD video recording and NFC (or near field communications, enabling contact interaction like those used on the Underground Oyster Card payment system), and several improvements to the built in apps such as email and BBM. The new OS is also perfectly suited to touchscreen navigation and the touchscreen unit on the is as good as they get with fluid animations and support for multi-touch (pinch-to-zoom!). All of these tweaks make for the most advanced and user friendly OS to have ever graced a device and a real contender for the heavy weights of and .
Powering the revamped operating system is a 1.2GHz Qualcomm processor 768MB RAM making the Bold 9900 the most powerful smartphone the Canadian outfit has released to date. No longer just concerned with email and messaging, the multimedia arm of the 9900 has also received a significant shot in the err… arm, sporting a 5.0 Megapixel camera with image stabilisation software, an LED flash, face detection and Geo-tagging using the built in GPS chip. Video capture has also been boosted with 720p HD video capture (thanks to the OS update) andthe LED flash doubling as a video light. Internal memory is a respectable 8GB but for those who insist on carting around every music track they’ve ever heard, memory is expandable up to 32GB via a memory card slot (allowing for a potential 40GB of memory).
Elsewhere, the Bold 9900 features all the little extras you’ve come to expect in a top of the range smartphone including Wi-Fi, HSDPA, GPS and Bluetooth not to mention the perks of being a owner; namely BBM instant messaging and best in class email. The BlackBerry Bold 9900 is in stock now and available on O2, Talkmobile and Vodafone on a range of 12, 18 and 24 month contracts. Our pick? Vodafone BlackBerry 300 + Mobile Internet which comes in at ?31 p/m, gives you 300 minutes, unlimited texts and 500MB data for BlackBerry email, BBM and web browsing.Whatever your tariff/network of choice may be, if you’re in the market for a high end smartphone that excels at email, masters multimedia and quenches your thirst for QWERTY, look no further than the BlackBerry .
We knew that dual core tech was coming, heck, it’s already out there in the palms of some of the worlds biggest bloggers and has been reviewed pretty extensively. What we hadn’t seen until today, was any official announcement of a dual core . The technology was announced quite some time ago and isn’t particulalry new or exciting when you consider even the most basic laptop or netbook you buy these days will be running a dual core processor; but it is a whole new dimension and the start of a new ‘breed’ of smartphone.
The first official dual core smartphone comes from our Korean friends LG, you guessed it, another new addition to the Family - The LG Optimus 2X. Now, this isn’t the usual mid-range handset you’d expect, inside you’ll find the 1GHz Dual Core Tegra 2 chipset, which doesn’t sound that great when you consider that there are already smartphones running similar clock speeds and have been doing so for quite some time, but (and it’s quite a big but here) the dual core Tegra 2 processor can handle full 1080p Video Playback (HDMI Out) and is set to be the first in the world to do so. It gets better, the LG Optimus 2X will also trump any video recording capabilities of any smartphone on the market currently, thanks to its ability to record in 1080p too!
The Optimus 2X has been described as a “brutally fast, overpowered reality” and rightly so, when you consider that it’ll be running FroYo on release with an update to GingerBread on the cards, potentially meaning even more speed! Other specs include a 8 megapixel camera + 1.3 megapixel front facing camera (compatible with GingerBread), 8GB internal storage, a 4inch WVGA screen (we assume capacitive) and what LG describe as a ‘hefty’ 1500mAh battery (which isn’t any larger than batteries offered on some single core smartphones), so it’ll be interesting to see how well the battery holds up through a full days use; it’s certainly going to put the revised Android power management in Gingerbread to the test!
The 2X is said to be available in early 2011 so keep an eye on the blog for updates about availability. In the meantime, what do you think about the Optimus 2X? Has it got you interested or has it left you with slight reservations, perhaps concerns about battery life? Let us know in the comments section below!
(pictured left) is the latest release from BlackBerry looking to penetrate the fiercely competitive market; a segment of the market which has grown exponentially in the last twelve months, so much so that it is now recognised as a market of its own.
This is not the first time that BlackBerry have attempted to enter this market however, two previous models in the form of the Storm and Storm 2 (pictured below) looked to try and grab a piece of the market albeit quite unsuccessfully, largely due to their unique and quite unusual piezo ‘clickable’ touchscreens which received very mixed reviews.
The Torch on the other hand, really distances itself from the Storm; it is first slider incorporating both a touchscreen and a physical QWERTY keyboard, essentially ‘the best of both worlds’. It is a concept that puts the Torch in quite a large bit of ‘middle ground’ sitting between the / of this world and BlackBerry’s own Curve/Bold series. It creates an interesting debate as to whether the need for such a device exists, but if early sales figures and reviews are any reflection on the future, then it certainly looks as though the Torch will be lighting the way.
The reason for the encouraging reviews is quite clear when you look in a bit more detail at the specifications of this device; a 3.2 inch capacitive touchscreen capable of displaying 16 million colours at a resolution of 360 x 480 pixels, a full QWERTY keyboard, 4GB of internal storage, microSD support, microUSB port, HSDPA, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a 5 megapixel camera and of course, the latest iteration of BlackBerry software – OS 6.0 which has been heavily optimised for touchscreen use.
Of course, as with any BlackBerry, the real attraction of the Torch is the exceptional push email services and BlackBerry Messenger; features which will essentially let you instantly message any other BlackBerry user, anywhere in the world. There is also access to third party applications thanks to BlackBerry Appworld, BlackBerry’s answer to the App Store in which you’ll find a huge selection of games and applications ranging from horoscopes to Sudoku and everything in between.
Aside from all of the features and specifications mentioned above, the Torch is quite possibly the best looking addition to the with its compact looking design and sleek curves it really is a good looking phone from any angle and is a welcome break from the usual smartphone form factor adopted by the likes of , , et al.
It’s been much rumoured and a long time coming, but it seems is about to be knocked from it’s top spot by this, the Sony Ericsson (X12) Anzu. True to form, have stuck with the Japanese/Spiritually themed names (Yari, Sprio, Aino, Satio - you get the picture) with the meaning of Anzu seemingly pointing towards being a God from Akkadian Mythology who breathes both fire and water and has the head of a lion and the body of an Eagle. Mythology lesson aside, the literal meaning of ‘Anzu’ in Japanese is an Apricot; which isn’t really going to tell us much about this phone.
So lets take a look at what we do know; the Anzu is said to be running 2.2 FroYo upon release (although currently running 2.1 Eclair) with an update to GingerBread 3.0 in Summer ‘11. It is also said to house an 800 MHz processor, a 4.3″ WVGA ‘X.LED’ screen (multi-touch support included this time!) Wi-Fi , an HDMI port and a standard 3.5mm jack.
It’s also reported that the X12 will be between 8.7mm and 10.9mm thick as well as the inclusion of an impressive 1500 mAH battery. In the camera department, we’re told that the fire breathing, lion headed Anzu will be sporting either a 12 megapixel or 8.1 megapixel camera (more likely the latter in our opinion) and will be capable of recording in 720p HD quality. What do you think, has the Anzu got you interested? Can the Anzu compete the with and of this world? Let us know in the comments section below.
We knew that dual core tech was coming, heck, it’s already out there in the palms of some of the worlds biggest bloggers and has been reviewed pretty extensively. What we hadn’t seen until today, was any official announcement of a dual core . The technology was announced quite some time ago and isn’t particulalry new or exciting when you consider even the most basic laptop or netbook you buy these days will be running a dual core processor; but it is a whole new dimension and the start of a new ‘breed’ of smartphone.
