Omio

HTC Makes A Name For Itself In The U.S.

By Ernest DokucloseAuthor: Ernest Doku Name: Ernest Doku
Email: ernest.doku@omio.com
Site: http://blog.omio.com
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 (128)

Heard of HTC? Unless you’re really into your tech hardware, possibly not. Maybe they aren’t a Samsung or a Motorola just yet, but they are the largest manufacturer of Windows Media-based handsets, and they want you to know about it. Okay, not you, but the US…then you.

With the launch of the Touch Diamond in the UK and the States, as well as the forthcoming Touch Pro, HTC seems determined to penetrate the public conscious with a multi million dollar marketing push across all media featuring the tagline, “Set Your Fingers Free”. Don’t mean to be a stickler, but whilst HTC were busy fiddling with styluses (stylii?), Apple beat them to the finger pie buffet with the iPhone. The Touch Diamond still has one…

The imaginative ad on their site highlights their new focus on being a maker of fun, intuitive touch-driven handsets, rather than remaining an austere PDA maker for the gadget-savvy. They have been known for courting a fair few networks in their time with many exclusive handsets including o2’s XDA series, but it seems they wish to get their solo project off the ground finally.

Combine this with their more prominent branding on handsets, the community aspect they are attempting to develop with the HTCWiki, and the Touch Diamond soon to be available on all networks in the UK, HTC may be a force to be recognised as much as reckoned with in the smartphone sector.

A Tale of Two iPhones : Differences Between iPhone And iPhone3G

By Ernest DokucloseAuthor: Ernest Doku Name: Ernest Doku
Email: ernest.doku@omio.com
Site: http://blog.omio.com
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 (128)

In light of the unofficial release of the o2 Pay As You Go pricing for the iPhone 3G, we thought it would be a good time to see if the young pretender has what it takes to wrestle the crown from the current champ.

o2 was kind enough to briefly display prospective numbers for the iPhone 3G on their site, which was at the expected price point of £300 for the 8GB and fifty quid more to double up on memory. These were promptly yoinked unceremoniously off the page, perhaps they were testing the waters to see industry reaction?

Using our patented Omio ‘Compare Phone’ feature, we stand the iPhone 3G next to its predecessor to see what magic the Apple camp has weaved in the past year.

See the iPhone Comparison in Depth.

More detailed analysis follows…

Read the rest of this entry »

ROKR Review!

By Ernest DokucloseAuthor: Ernest Doku Name: Ernest Doku
Email: ernest.doku@omio.com
Site: http://blog.omio.com
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 (128)

Thanks to the lovely folks at Motorola we’ve had a chance to rock out with the ROKR E8 before it’s network wide release on July 1st, and it’s not a bad l’il phone! Despite being a tad basic and lacking in some much needed 3G whizzyness, Motorola’s combination of music player and mobile seems to tick the boxes for people who want to leave their iPod in the drawer. It’s already out on Orange, with the other networks to follow soon. Be sure to have a look at our review on the site, see what we really thought of it!

In the meantime, here are a few images taken from the E8’s stay in Omio Towers to whet your appetite…

Any questions about the ROKR, or anything mobile-related as a matter of fact, don’t hesitate to ask us in the ‘Q & A’ section of the mobile phone forum!

PR: wait… I: wait… L: wait… LD: wait… I: wait… wait… CY: wait… I: wait… L: wait… YCat: wait… I: wait… Top: wait… I: wait… L: wait…

Forums A Go-Go!

By Ernest DokucloseAuthor: Ernest Doku Name: Ernest Doku
Email: ernest.doku@omio.com
Site: http://blog.omio.com
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 (128)

As the eagle-eyed readers amongst you may have noticed, there’s a new little tab up top, leading to the cryptically-monickered ‘Forums’. Now don’t be afraid, this is just a little place we’ve set aside so everyone can have a little chat about our favourite subject! Okay, maybe not that subject, but you can think about that whilst writing about phones.

It’s all laid out simply enough to get the ball rolling with tabs indicating the various topics, all you gotta do is just register, log in and speak your mind!

It can be civil or heated, mobile phone related or random ventings. Just no blows beneath the belt, and no talk of Big Brother… Okay, just a bit.

3: Everyone’s Lucky Number

By Ernest DokucloseAuthor: Ernest Doku Name: Ernest Doku
Email: ernest.doku@omio.com
Site: http://blog.omio.com
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 (128)

The mobile phone network 3 has just inked a deal with mobile gambling firm Probability, allowing them to hard-code a link to their ‘Ladyluck’ service on around 2 million new handsets. Upon clicking the link, the user is then sent to a mobile portal where they can register and subsequently partake in completely random and skill-based digital renditions of casino games including bingo, roulette, and blackjack. A spokesman for Probability (who may well have been wearing a hat made of money) stressed the value of the deal, primarily for converting large numbers of new gamblers from approximately half of 3’s current UK customer base.

Source : LSE.co.uk

Nokia Play Nice to Break US Market

By Kate CrowleycloseAuthor: Kate Crowley Name: Kate Crowley
Email: talk@omio.com
Site: http://www.omio.com
About: Kate is one of Omio's resident mobile experts.See Authors Posts (196)

Nokia have a reputation for never pandering to networks’ requests. For example, in August of last year Orange threatened to avoid carrying the 8GB version of the Nokia N81 because Nokia didn’t give them the chance to test the Nokia Music Store on the handset. Orange had no idea if it would be easy for customers to use. Also, the Nokia Music Store replaced their own music service, but I’d never be cynical enough to suggest that this affected Orange’s decision at all. An attitude like this doesn’t go down well with the US mega networks where, if a manufacturer fails to respect their authority, that manufacturer probably won’t get anywhere. This runs counter to Nokia’s strategy of rampant innovation with little regard for the networks. It seems that Nokia, in a bid to gain a larger market share in the US, has turned over a new leaf. They’ve assigned 300 product development guys to AT&T and Verizon each. The 6555 is one of the results of this unholy union. AT&T wanted the PTT button on the 6555 to be moved to the top, and Nokia complied. Will this change in attitude mean more US networks are prepared to carry Nokia handsets? Source: Engadget Mobile

Big, Fat N’ Dirty Discounts at The Link

By Kate CrowleycloseAuthor: Kate Crowley Name: Kate Crowley
Email: talk@omio.com
Site: http://www.omio.com
About: Kate is one of Omio's resident mobile experts.See Authors Posts (196)

Yes folks, it’s time for the obligatory Omio sell-out post. Here are some discount codes for a variety of stuff from The Link. Yes we do make money when you use the codes, but that doesn’t take away from their beauty. All proceeds made from these codes will be put into the Omio research and development fund, codenamed ‘The R2D2 Home Theatre’.

1. 10% off pay as you go phones over £80
Code is PAYASYOUGO10

2. £10 off any LG TV
Code is LG10

3. £10 Off the Samsung R88 HD TV range (26″ - 37″)
Code is R88

Big Savings on Nokia Phones

By Kate CrowleycloseAuthor: Kate Crowley Name: Kate Crowley
Email: talk@omio.com
Site: http://www.omio.com
About: Kate is one of Omio's resident mobile experts.See Authors Posts (196)

Never say that Omio doesn’t give you anything. Choose one of the handset models, or accessory categories, below from the Nokia Shop, bang in one of these discount codes at the checkout, and you can save yourself some money.

• Nokia N95 8GB Save £30 NAFFMARCHN958GB
• Nokia E90 Save £40 NAFFMARCHE90
• Nokia E51 Save £15 NAFFMARCHE51
• Nokia N82 Save £30 NAFFMARCHN82
• Nokia 6300 Save 2% NAFFMARCH6300
• Nokia 5310 XpressMusic Save £10 NAFFMARCH5310
• Nokia 5610 XpressMusic Save £15 NAFFMARCH5610M
• Bluetooth Headsets Save 10% NAFFMARCHBT
• Memory Cards Save 10% NAFFMARCHMEM

These codes are valid until March 31st.

T-Mobile to use Yahoo! Search in Europe

By Kate CrowleycloseAuthor: Kate Crowley Name: Kate Crowley
Email: talk@omio.com
Site: http://www.omio.com
About: Kate is one of Omio's resident mobile experts.See Authors Posts (196)

T-Mobile has announced that Google will no longer be its preferred mobile search provider in Europe. Instead, they have chosen Yahoo! oneSearch. It’s designed to make mobile search as simple and effective for its users as possible, returning relevant results and allowing navigation through different categories within results.

No doubt Yahoo! are pleased at this minor victory after the spate of bad press they’ve experienced lately. Google have made it clear that they are interested in developing mobile branded search services, so here’s hoping this setback will encourage them to up their game.

Nookia

By Kate CrowleycloseAuthor: Kate Crowley Name: Kate Crowley
Email: talk@omio.com
Site: http://www.omio.com
About: Kate is one of Omio's resident mobile experts.See Authors Posts (196)

Nokia has been playing hard to get for some time, but finally Google has wormed its way beneath that thorny exterior. Nokia will be including Google search on select models (the N96, N78, 6210 and 6220) before expanding it out to more.

It’s nice (and unexpected) to see Nokia compromising its own business ethics to give its customers a better service.

Source: Venture Beat