Mobile Phone News

Toshiba TG01 To Receive UK Launch Next Week?

By Ernest DokucloseAuthor: Ernest Doku Name: Ernest Doku
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About: I like gadgets, loads! I like talking about them, writing about them, using them, watching other people use them though binoculars... Some would say it was an unhealthy fascination, but then I'd be all like, "Shh...," and go back to doing gadget-related things. Hit me up on Xbox Live or PSN, I'm EJStyleS. I promise to give you a good match as well as talk about things that aren't gadgets. A bit.See Authors Posts (984)

Toshiba’s super-fast TG01 handset seems to be far closer to release in the UK, with a special launch event to be held on the 9th of July.

Revealed earlier in the year, the Windows Mobile-powered TG01 attracted much attention due to the super slender design, huge 4.1″ WVGA touchscreen and 1Ghz Snapdragon chip under the hood, apparently making it the fastest device around (although we’d like to see what the 3GS has to say about that!).

With an announcement earlier in the week seeing the Toshiba TG01 coming to O2 in Germany, it is interesting to see which network will take the plunge with the handset. Well, we won’t have to wait long to find out, and Omio will let you know all the details of Toshiba’s ‘mobile revolution’ in due course.

UPDATE: And up it goes, on the Orange UK site. It’s listed as ‘coming soon,’ is next week’s announcement soon enough for you?

Unlocked iPhone 3GS Available For £900 On Play.com

By Ernest DokucloseAuthor: Ernest Doku Name: Ernest Doku
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About: I like gadgets, loads! I like talking about them, writing about them, using them, watching other people use them though binoculars... Some would say it was an unhealthy fascination, but then I'd be all like, "Shh...," and go back to doing gadget-related things. Hit me up on Xbox Live or PSN, I'm EJStyleS. I promise to give you a good match as well as talk about things that aren't gadgets. A bit.See Authors Posts (984)

Lots of money to burn and an Apple fetish? Well, Play.com may just be able to help, as they have the 32GB iPhone 3GS in stock for a mere £899.99, open to all networks. The 16GB model is available for a far more modest £799.99.

Just where have Play gotten them from, at a time when O2 has been bled dry of all sizes and colours the 3GS in only a couple of weeks? Perhaps this customer review from ‘JollyJack’ holds the answer…

“…all the menus were in Italian but after a bit of playing i found the international settings and changed everything to English…”

Aha! As we are well aware, the iPhone is sold via Vodafone in Italy without any network restrictions in place. So all they are doing is shipping them over, and supplying the demand for the latest must-have device.

Incidentally, a 32GB SIM-free 3GS costs €719 (£615) from the Vodafone Italy website. The iPhone 3GS is good, great in fact. Whether it is worth so much money is up to you…

Source: Pocket Lint

Nokia N97 Receives Firmware Update

By Ernest DokucloseAuthor: Ernest Doku Name: Ernest Doku
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About: I like gadgets, loads! I like talking about them, writing about them, using them, watching other people use them though binoculars... Some would say it was an unhealthy fascination, but then I'd be all like, "Shh...," and go back to doing gadget-related things. Hit me up on Xbox Live or PSN, I'm EJStyleS. I promise to give you a good match as well as talk about things that aren't gadgets. A bit.See Authors Posts (984)

Another Twitter exclusive, as Nokia Conversations revealed on their page that the new N97 smartphone will receive an update in the form of ‘SW 1.1 (11.x.021)’, available from today (1st July).

The fixes are plentiful, and wholly welcome!

- USB detection error fix
- PC does not detect N97 or USB charging connection not detected.
- Widget
- Home screen online/offline widget crash fix
- Fix for Alphabetical and Number input are mixed in facebook until end key is pressed.
- Widget UI improvement – New facebook widget fixes a problem of Home Screen background visible on soft-key area.
- Browser fixes to improve widgets stability.
- MfE related fixes
- Partial fix for Messaging/calendar entry lost.
- Mail for exchange calendar entry synchronization error fix.
- UI transition error fixes (Portrait <-> landscape transition, there is a home screen corruption.)
- UI transition (Slowness and bad effects)
- Slow Touch UI response
- Picture of the device lock appears half of the screen when transitioning the UI sometimes
- Landscape: in some cases the soft buttons on touch (right hand) show the Home Screen in background (install maps.google.com)
- Photos thumbnail performance and stability improvements
- Device performance deteriorates when lots of content in the device – especially photos
- Partial fix no display backlight illumination when unlocking lock-key – CAP Genius reported already
- New version of Accuweather to improve the “Connection error” situation
- Device reset when browsing with high speed packet access (for Malaysia)
- “Browser soft key UI doesn’t work after putting Chinese character with qwerty keyboard”
- Java fixes (TCK, Pre-install app disappearing, *#7370#*)
- Operator fixes (CMCC, Hutchson and Telefonica, Vodafone)
- Ovi store client now embedded in the core image

Great changes big and small, will these be the fixes to turn the Nokia N97 into the uberphone we were all expecting? Probably not, but its a step in the right direction. Especially improving the user interface slickness, which is way off the competition…

Source: TechTicker

Vodafone Reduces Mobile Data Roaming Rates

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About: I like gadgets, loads! I like talking about them, writing about them, using them, watching other people use them though binoculars... Some would say it was an unhealthy fascination, but then I'd be all like, "Shh...," and go back to doing gadget-related things. Hit me up on Xbox Live or PSN, I'm EJStyleS. I promise to give you a good match as well as talk about things that aren't gadgets. A bit.See Authors Posts (984)

Vodafone adds cheaper internet charges to their reduced rates scheme from today, as customers in Europe will now be able to access the web from their mobile at a daily cost of £4.99, with a 25MB data limit.

Vodafone also promises that ‘later in summer 2009′ customers will receive real time alerts as they approach the end of their data allowance, which should bring an end to users unwittingly racking up excessively high bills whilst using mobile internet abroad.

This is an extension of their opt-in ‘Passport’ scheme, wherein the 75p roaming charge has been abolished (albeit temporarily) for calls, texts and MMS messages. Vodafone will now charge Passport members per kb for the first 1MB, then charging the full £4.99 whether the other 24MB is used or not.

Sounds harsh, but according to Vodafone 25MB is enough to ‘browse approximately 250 internet pages, read and reply to 25 emails, find your way to a restaurant on Google Maps, read eight news stories on the BBC website, change your status on Facebook and watch three 90 second videos on YouTube’.

Still not nearly enough to do any downloading through, so keep your ‘Mad Men’ fetish on hold until you return.

Sounds like plenty of data activity, but how do you know when your 25MB is up? Vodafone pledge that customers will receive alerts as they burn through their data allowance, but this service is due ‘later in summer 2009,’ so the short answer is that you still have to take care when browsing abroad.

Samsung i8910 HD Audio Issues To Be Fixed By Firmware Update

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About: I like gadgets, loads! I like talking about them, writing about them, using them, watching other people use them though binoculars... Some would say it was an unhealthy fascination, but then I'd be all like, "Shh...," and go back to doing gadget-related things. Hit me up on Xbox Live or PSN, I'm EJStyleS. I promise to give you a good match as well as talk about things that aren't gadgets. A bit.See Authors Posts (984)

The Samsung i8910 is a sweet piece of hardware, and as our i8910 HD review can attest, it is pretty good at taking high definition video.

The only bugbear at present is that the audio recording output on these videos is decidedly sub-par, only using the internal AMR codec as opposed to the higher quality AAC format.

Not for much longer though, as an upcoming update will allow Samsung i8910 HD to record 720p videos with improved AAC sound.

This information popped up on the Samsung Italy Facebook profile (of all places), and mentioned two updates for the Symbian powered handset, the second of which gives the i8910 aural pleasure!

Great news, and good to see Samsung listening and responding to the issues from fans so quickly!

Motorola AURA Celestial Commemorates Moon Landing

By Ernest DokucloseAuthor: Ernest Doku Name: Ernest Doku
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About: I like gadgets, loads! I like talking about them, writing about them, using them, watching other people use them though binoculars... Some would say it was an unhealthy fascination, but then I'd be all like, "Shh...," and go back to doing gadget-related things. Hit me up on Xbox Live or PSN, I'm EJStyleS. I promise to give you a good match as well as talk about things that aren't gadgets. A bit.See Authors Posts (984)

How do you make an exclusive handset even more special? Yes, usually by coating it in diamonds, but this time the gorgeous Motorola AURA is signifying more than mere opulence.

The new Motorola AURA Celestial Edition commemorates the 40th anniversary of the lunar landings on 20th July 1969, and will be adorned with all manner of related content including videos, images and audio clips including Neil Armstrong’s famous first words upon setting foot on the moon.

The handset itself is largely identical to the original AURA, still beautifully handmade, sporting a stainless steel housing with chemically etched textures and retro stylings.

The AURA Celestial Edition will be on limited sale from the beginning of July until the end of the year, from selected retailers at an astronomical (in the most planetary sense) £1,400.

Source: Mobile Choice

HTC Hero On Orange Website

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About: I like gadgets, loads! I like talking about them, writing about them, using them, watching other people use them though binoculars... Some would say it was an unhealthy fascination, but then I'd be all like, "Shh...," and go back to doing gadget-related things. Hit me up on Xbox Live or PSN, I'm EJStyleS. I promise to give you a good match as well as talk about things that aren't gadgets. A bit.See Authors Posts (984)

That was quick! Everyone’s favourite Teflon-coated, Android-toting handset, the HTC Hero has already swooped in to save the day on the Orange UK site, coyly showing off its exclusive graphite finish and strong jawline.

Marked only as ‘coming soon’ and enticing with the promise of availability for free on pay monthly tariffs, the HTC Hero seems set to be a prime iPhone alternative when it launches next month.

If grey doesn’t suit you, feel free to defect to T-Mobile where the device will be masquerading as the T-Mobile G1 Touch, complete with the same 5 megapixel camera, 3.2″ touchscreen and equal parts silky and intuitive ‘HTC Sense’ user interface. Except it’ll be white!

Source: Engadget

iPhone 3GS Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot?

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About: I like gadgets, loads! I like talking about them, writing about them, using them, watching other people use them though binoculars... Some would say it was an unhealthy fascination, but then I'd be all like, "Shh...," and go back to doing gadget-related things. Hit me up on Xbox Live or PSN, I'm EJStyleS. I promise to give you a good match as well as talk about things that aren't gadgets. A bit.See Authors Posts (984)

As the world gets hot under the collar about the new Apple iPhone 3GS, a small but vocal group of owners are finding cases of overheating in the must-have handset.

Many users claim the 3GS gets incredibly hot in the battery area of the device, going as far as to say that the heat has caused discolouration in the plastic-backed case.

Initial reports stemmed from French sites including Nowhere Else, where forum users complained of the iPhone 3GS heating to almost untouchable levels during 3G/wi-fi usage, and in turn turning the white case into a reddish colour.

PC World blogger Melissa J Perenson reported her iPhone became “very, very hot” during use while plugged into a power point.

“Toasty doesn’t even describe how surprisingly hot it got,” she wrote. “It was too hot to even put the phone against my face.”

The faster processor under the bonnet could have been a contributor to why the latest 3GS model is such a scorcher, but the fact that both the iPhone 3G and original iPhone have sported similar charging and overheating problems in the past makes this something that Apple cannot ignore.

Apple has declined to comment on these issues at present.

Source: news.com.au

CoPilot Live: Turn-By-Turn GPS Released For Android Handsets

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Seems like the G1 has managed to steal a march on the iPhone in an important category - turn-by-turn satellite navigation.

Co-Pilot Live app has recently rolled out on the Android Marketplace, offering GPS guidance, lane indicators, speed camera locations and voice directions on your mobile for the princely sum of £25.99 for UK/Ireland maps and £59.99 for all of Europe.

Supported by the holy trinity of Android phones, the T-Mobile G1, HTC Magic and HTC Hero/T-Mobile G1 Touch will even allow you to divulge and share your location to your mates, Google Latitude-style.

With no monthly charge or extra costs outside of your 3G usage for services like live traffic, fuel prices or weather updates, Co-Pilot Live seems like a great, cost-effective way to get you going in the right direction!

Source: G1 News

3 Reduces Data Roaming Charges To Lowest In UK

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About: I like gadgets, loads! I like talking about them, writing about them, using them, watching other people use them though binoculars... Some would say it was an unhealthy fascination, but then I'd be all like, "Shh...," and go back to doing gadget-related things. Hit me up on Xbox Live or PSN, I'm EJStyleS. I promise to give you a good match as well as talk about things that aren't gadgets. A bit.See Authors Posts (984)

In another move to champion themselves as the nation’s best value network, 3 UK have announced Britain’s lowest standard data charges, inclusive of EU roaming.

From tomorrow (30 June), 3 will drive down their cost of browsing the internet using both mobiles and laptop dongles to only £1.25 per MB,  the lowest of any UK network.

Calls to the UK and to other EU countries whilst in the European Union will cost 34p per minute, while texts to the UK and other EU countries will cost 11p. Calls cost 15p per minute to receive, and receiving texts is free.

They are also eager to reiterate that this is not a limited time deal and is available to all customers, automatically, whether on contract or prepay.

Admittedly, the European mobile operator regulation requires all networks to comply with lower rates (€0.43 per min. calls and €0.11 texts) from the 1st of July, but 3’s new prices are a shade lower than the newly imposed charges.

This latest move is the latest in a long line from the 3 network to cement themselves as the best value network in the UK, following on from being the first to make VoIP service Skype available on the Nokia N97 and the controversial £0 per month ‘SIM Zero’ tariff.