Omio

BlackBerry ‘Down’ With Social Networking, Releases MySpace App

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 (565)

In a move which highlights continued efforts to make BlackBerry culturally relevant, RIM has launched a new MySpace app.

It lets BlackBerry users send and receive MySpace mail, upload images to their account and update status and mood from their handset!

RIM has also proposed a MySpace presence with a BlackBerry community page. This allows them to announce news, new handset information and developments into the quickly and easily amongst the cool crowd.

We get the slightest feeling that there may not be that much of an overlap between people that frequent MySpace and those that are heavy BlackBerry users, aside from movie stars and tremendously lucky children. Still, kudos for trying!

If you would like to download it, get the BlackBerry MySpace App here.

Study finds iPhone to be Twice as Reliable as BlackBerry

By Kate CrowleycloseAuthor: Kate Crowley Name: Kate Crowley
Email: talk@omio.com
Site: http://www.omio.com
About: Kate's interest in mobile phones began when she realised she was supernaturally adept at Snake 2. She was less good at Battleships and, frankly, we shouldn't even mention Pipes.See Authors Posts (212)

A compelling study by a “mobile-phone warranty firm” has found that the Apple iPhone has half the failure rate of RIM’s BlackBerry in the first year of use. The SquareTrade study included more than 15,000 handsets covered by the company’s policy. The study found that iPhones have a failure rate of 5.6% compared to 11.9% for the BlackBerry handsets. Bottom of the class was Palm’s Treo, with 16.2% malfunctioning in the first year of use.

The weakest part of the iPhone proved to be the touchscreen, which accounted for a third of all reported issues. 12% of users reported accidental damage to the handsets in the first year of use, a problem attributed to the fact that iPhones are “slippy”. This is in stark contrast to the BlackBerry, which comes with hand grips and a strap to attach it to your winter jacket, not unlike a pair of mittens.

With Canalys announcing last week that Apple have overtaken RIM in the global smartphones sales stakes, it’s now only a matter of time before an iPhone is voted the next US President.

You can download the report as a PDF here

Source: CNET News

Samsung Topples Motorola To Become No.1 In U.S. Market, Apple Beats BlackBerry In Smartphone Sector

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 (565)

With all the Q3 2008 numbers finally in, it shows some exciting changes in the mobile phone industry!

Whilst overall phone shipments topped out at almost 40 million units over the third quarter, Samsung managed to overtake the inexplicably successful Motorola in the US, becoming the market leader for the first time. A combination of appealing new devices, cut-throat subsidies and shrewd marketing (off the back of a weak Korean currency allowing cheaper shipments) has managed to wrestle the Motorola RAZR’s death-grip on the US, and not a moment too soon!

Equally groundbreaking is that Apple has snatched second in the extremely competitive smartphone sector, overtaking BlackBerry with 17% of the market covered! It wasn’t all bad news for BlackBerry’s creators RIM though, who themselves have increased their share to 15%, from 10.2 in Q3 of 2007.

The losers? Well, all these market share increases make for sombre reading as far as Nokia is concerned, as other manufacturers chomp Pac-Man style into their huge piece of the smartphone pie. Their market share has declined by a small margin, but it comes as little surprise with their far reaching span of handsets for all regions.

With each of the big four manufacturers pretty much in control of their own operating systems (Nokia have Symbian, Apple and RIM devices run on proprietary software and Motorola uses Linux), it will be interesting to see if Android can muscle its way into what will be an increasingly tough area to penetrate.

Perhaps they have already targeted the unsteady one in the pack, with Motorola recently announcing plans to create an Android-powered device. Either way, 2009 will be a very interesting year in the mobile business, and Omio will keep you abreast of any developments!

Source: Information Week

T-MobileG1 UK Launch In Time For Halloween!

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 (565)

A release date being brought forward? Oh, T-Mobile G1, you are different from all those other phones!

Yes, the handset which looks like the result of congress between a Sidekick and an iPhone will be out this month in the UK, with an October 30th release!

The pre-registration service has also gone well with 25,000 sign-ups in the UK. This may be short of the eleventy billion “sales” in the US, but with relatively little fanfare the G1 is still stirring the blood of many.

It will be free on top end T-Mobile tariffs, with unlimited browsing, with the Pay As You Go plans (if any) still to be announced.

Have they been startled into action by Vodafone’s sexy BlackBerry Storm, or is this early release an altruistic act in the spirit of Halloween from T-Mobile? We know what our money’s on…

Source: T-Mobile

Vodafone’s BlackBerry Storm 9500: A Formal Introduction

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 (565)

World, meet BlackBerry Storm.

It gets thoroughly, thoroughly, handled in the next vid. Browsing, touchscreen loveliness, GPS, texts, video playback, it’s all here.

By the end, I felt like I had one in my pocket.

A bit scared of the Vodafone Music Store, mind.

Flashbacks of the bad old days where Voda firmware prevented things like homebrewed MP3 ringtones on certain Sony Ericsson handsets. Please let those dark days be behind us!

The BlackBerry Storm Is Both “Cool” And “Wicked” : So Says Lewis Hamilton

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 (565)

One of the perks of driving in Formula 1 for McLaren Mercedes, aside from being able to just ask for an SLR and get it for free, aside from being able to get with one of the PussyCat Dolls and travel the globe for your career zooming at breakneck speed and being besieged by fans, is to get to show off new phones from your sponsors!

So here’s Lewis Hamilton getting paid to provide Vodafone’s BlackBerry Storm 9500 with the much needed “cool factor” that the T-Mobile G1 sorely lacks (apparently).

Worst thing? It actually does look really cool! That browser is slick, the UI looks tidy (if Vodafone-d to the gills) and the accelerometer switching videos from portrait to widescreen on the fly is nice!

Saw Nicole from the Pussycat Dolls close up a bit ago. She ain’t all that, so I’m not jealous! The fact that he owns a Storm, however…

Source: Engadget

iPhone Stats Overload! No.2 Seller in the U.S., No.1 Smartphone?

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 (565)

After the news of Apple’s iPhone surpassing their target of 10 million sales in 2008, there has been a flood of even more impressive facts showing just how much the iconic device has turned the mobile phone industry on its head.

Apple Insider reports that NPD figures have the iPhone is the second best selling handset in the U.S. market, with only the Motorola RAZR v3 moving more units. Wait, what? The V3?! In 2008?

The clamshell design, and that phone in particular has singlehandedly kept Motorola going for at least 10 years. StarTAC anyone? After nuclear winter, when the earth is barren tundra and a husk of flaming rock, all that will be left is cockroaches…and the Motorola RAZR v3.

Anyway, the iPhone is also making serious waves in the smartphone sector, with the 3G iteration helping the handset carve out a 17% share of the entire American swanky-phone market. That made it the number one selling posh mobile between June and August, surpassing the all-mighty BlackBerry as the weapon of choice for salarypeople this summer.

Obviously, this had the knock on effect of many subscribers jumping ship to join the good ship AT&T, making the iPhone’s network exclusivity a very shrewd move for network and manufacturer alike. 47% made the move from rival Verizon, whilst 24% left T-Mobile’s magenta wonderland…

With the touchscreen smartphone seeming like a licence to print money for Apple, is it any surprise that there are no less than 812 more coming out in the next six months? Okay, 7, but you get what I mean.

BlackBerry Storm Launched: Vodafone UK Exclusive!

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 (565)

After all the talk, rumours and leaks, the BlackBerry Storm 9500 has finally been announced for the UK, and is an exclusive to Vodafone in the UK and Verizon in the US.

BlackBerry’s first touchscreen handset also is the world’s first to have a ‘clickable’ touchscreen, with word that the keyboard will feel a lot more like a real one, with a degree of ‘give’ when you press it. This is obviously meant to appeal to those missing a real keyboard, and claims to be much better than the current haptic feedback solution.

It has all the things that we look for in a 3G touchscreen device, an accelerometer for both landscape and portrait modes, a 3.2 megapixel camera, a headphone port for music and video playback, and even cut and paste!!

Look, as businessan and Vodafone CEO Frank Rovekamp shows off the Blackberry Storm in simple terms for the masses!

“It has a really big screen!” It sure does… The handset has been earmarked for a November release, with Vodafone yet to announce pricing. They are apparently aiming for that sweet spot of free on a £35 a month tariff, and if they manage that then the Storm will be a very destructive force this winter!

BlackBerry Storm 9500 On Vodafone: Leaked Launch Video!

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 (565)

Seems like Vodafone are very serious about launching the BlackBerry Storm 9500 as an all-in-one solution for the masses, if this impressive launch video is any indication!

Washing away the bad memories of the BlackBerry as a stuffy business phone, the suspected television spot tends to focus on the clean user interface, swift browser, the slick social networking options, GPS and impressive media functionality with that huge screen.

A nice surprise is that it will be able to act as a wireless modem, providing internet on the move and getting one over on the usual suspects. Just watch the video, it’s not even cringeworthy!

The BlackBerry Storm 9500 is looking like to be Vodafone exclusive for the foreseeable , and is just what they need to counter the highly successful iPhone on o2. Could this be the phone to get City boys (the ones left, anyway) as well as casual consumers onto the touchscreen bandwagon?

Nokia CEO Tips Hat To Heavyweight Challenger, Set To Take On All Comers

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 (565)

Speaking at a gathering of the big names in Silicon Valley, Nokia’s CEO acknowledged the threat posed by new competitors to their phone industry dominance, but vowed to put up a good fight in the coming months.

Nokia’s head honcho Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo realised that the introduction of businesses once rooted in the computing world have changed the focus of the mobile phone market to high-powered smartphones and online connectivity.

“Suddenly you have the mightiest companies in the world there as your competitors. That is a little mind-boggling,” Kallasuvo said, speaking of Google and Apple entering what was previously Nokia territory…and making waves.

Also Nokia have been impressed by BlackBerry makers Research in Motion making their handsets more appealing to the casual market, but have aligned with Microsoft to get Symbian compatible syncing software, thus remaining competitive in the business sector.

Apple did get a special shout-out, as the post-iPhone market has changed the requirements and desires of phone consumers forever:

“We have a new, credible competitor in this business. You know I need to take my hat off. Of course we need to be able to respond to any competitor and we will.”

Kallasuvo’s opinion of the new phone by online behemoth Google was somewhat muted, but not without a hint of recognition that the G1, and more importantly new operating system Android, as a threat: “They are a newcomer here. I think the jury is still out: What is the new thing they bring here?” Talking of the inception of Symbian architecture alongside Motorola and Ericsson, he said: “I realized that we could have made the same announcement 10 years ago.”

With the oft-rumoured 5800 Tube to be announced in mere hours alongside the iTunes-battling “Comes With Music” service, it is clear to see that Nokia can have become a bit of an industry also-ran as far as innovation is concerned, but they are far from comfortable there.

Moving into 2009, the Finnish company certainly seems to have the drive and determination to reclaim lost ground from their competitors, but you cannot shake the feeling that they would swap the hundreds of millions of handset sales for just some of the ‘cool’ that Apple has brought to the table.

Well, maybe not all those sales…

Source: Reuters