Omio

BBC iPlayer For Samsung Omnia, Sony Ericsson C905 And Xperia X1 Coming Soon!

By Ernest DokucloseAuthor: Ernest Doku Name: Ernest Doku
Email: ernest.doku@omio.com
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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 (565)

The roaring success of the BBC’s online portal continues unabated as they announce the expansion of the iPlayer to even more mobile devices.

Now the Samsung Omnia and Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 can be expected to receive the iPlayer, which will now also offer live television and radio broadcasts alongside the original ‘catch-up’ service.

The Sony Ericsson C905 Cybershot phone will also be added to the roster of supported handsets by the end of the week. Of cource, the current service offered to the Apple iPhone and the Nokia N96 will continue, with the N85 also getting its first taste of TV On Demand action.

Jon Billings, head of the BBC’s mobile technology, said of the development of the iPlayer to cater for the Xperia et al:

“These phones have been selected as they hit our requirements of Wi-Fi and 3G support with great browsing and media playback experience, and its also great to broaden our platform support out to Windows Mobile smartphones as well as our first feature phone offering on the C905″.

All of this is amidst the one year anniversary of BBC’s iPlayer service on 12th December, where the festivities will be huge Q&A sessions will all those involved in its development and success, as well as some kind of Flickr party! Sounds nice.

All this leaves ITV’s clunkier Catch Up service playing, well, catch up! A brand change to ‘ITV Player’ is on the cards…wonder why?

Source: Pocket Lint

LG Prada II Fashionably Late, Now On For A November Release Date!

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)

Electric Pig has managed to coax a little gem of information out of LG regarding the Prada II, a keyboard-packing remix of their highly successful fashion phone.

Originally earmarked to grace catwalks this October, they report that a spokesperson became deliberately vague regarding a release: “It might be this month, it might be Christmas”. They soon cleared it up, however, confirming the Prada II will indeed be out at the tail end of November.

This delay may have been a wise move considering the avalanche of handsets falling upon us at the moment, a brief respite might get the Prada II a few more column inches in the glossies than it would have.

Going up against supermodel snappers du jour like the Samsung Pixon, Sony Ericsson C905 and Nokia N96 at the height of their success would not be wise…

Ericsson: 20 Megapixel And Hi-Def Video Recording Cameraphones By 2012

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)

You think that the battle of the cameraphones is hot right now with the Sony Ericsson C905, LG Renoir, Samsung Pixon and the Samsung i8510 INNOV8 all vying for 8 megapixel supremacy?

In as little as four years we could see 20 megapixel snappers with full HD video capture as the norm, according to Ericsson! Just imagine the quality of YouTube gig uploads…and You’ve Been Framed will never be the same when I see 1080p cameraphone clips of an old lady fall off a trampoline. Can’t wait!

The slide from a recent press conference regarding the future of mobile technology also predicts insanely high XGA screen resolutions of 1024×768 (as opposed to the iPhone’s 480 x 320), and 1Ghz CPUs! That’s more powerful than my computer at home…

We would say that it was all the stuff of fantasy, if Engadget hadn’t rightly noted that there are already phones knocking at the doors of these specifications…in the Far East of course. 10 megapixel camera phones…in 2006? 1024×480 resolution 3 inch touchscreen phones?

The Japanese must find our excitement at phones like the Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 very quaint, as they order sushi and watch high definition cable TV on theirs…

Sony Ericsson C905 Cybershot Phone x FHM = A Good Idea

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)

There is no denying the photo taking credentials of the new 8 megapixel C905 handset, and Sony Ericsson has gone to some impressive lengths to prove it in their new ad campaign.

Nestled within the December pages of men’s mag FHM is a beautiful, and tasteful image of a lady in her underwear. No surprises there, but the hook is that it the campaign shots have been been taken with the C905 itself, thus proving the digital camera-beating quality of the latest Sony phone.

Sony Ericsson UK & Ireland Marketing Director, David Hilton was suitably exuberant, possibly due to his attendance at the photoshoot: “The audience and timing of this campaign is perfect for generating a buzz within the gadget-mad young men of Britain, just as their Christmas wish lists are being created.”

Don’t be fooled, gadget-mad young men of Britain! This was very much a professional shoot, complete with make up artists, lighting rigs and hair fluffers on hand to make the picture perfect. As good as the C905 is, don’t go expecting snaps of your weekend away to the Sidcup Travelodge to rival the vision of loveliness above…

Sony Ericsson Mobile Phone Range To Be Cut, Yet They Manage To Leak New Handset Info!

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)

Following on from Sony Ericsson posting their first quarterly loss in the last five years, they are to take drastic steps in order to wrestle the situation back under control.

Despite the world’s economy going into financial meltdown, Sony managed to sell almost 26 million phones in Q3 of 2008, and yet they lost €25 million in the process. That is almost certainly a bad thing, and worse when compared to the €267 million profit made this time last year.

Aggressive moves including cutting the range of handsets by a fifth and the consolidation of their three handset research labs into one were the first to be announced by Sony Ericsson president Dick Koriyama.

The downturn means that less people are buying phones, particularly those that may not have such strong unique selling points as the T-Mobile G1 or the iPhone. Trimming the range and drawing the focus onto ‘hero’ handsets such as the Xperia X1 and the 8 megapixel C905 may well be a step in the right direction for the beleaguered manufacturer.

Enough with all that doom and gloom, info on some more new Sony handsets has leaked!

Read the rest of this entry »

LG KC780 - 8 Megapixels And Proud Of It!

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)

Amidst all of the fanfare regarding the new breed of 8 megapixel cameraphones like the Sony Ericsson C905 and the Samsung i8510, comes a great little number under the radar from LG…

The KC780 will be released in the UK at the end of November, and is a powerhouse as far as snapping photos is concerned. A veritable waif at 13.9 mm thick, the KC780 is a slider handset with a 2.4″ QVGA screen, Bluetooth v2.1 and all sorts of PC connectivity that turns it into a wireless webcam!

It may not have 3G connectivity, but it is still certainly a handset for the snap happy crowd to consider this Xmas.

8 Megapixel Samsung M8800 Appears, Has Identity Crisis

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)

Okay, this whole naming and renaming phones thing has gotten a little out of hand. Won’t someone think of the children bloggers!

So soon after the story breaks about the Samsung M8800, an 8 megapixel cameraphone complete with convincing backstory as to the origins of the name “Bresson”, we are now being told that it’ll be called the ‘Pixon’ and not even be a smartphone!

Smape have managed to get some great shots of the handset, showing off the 3.2″ touchscreen beauty with Omnia-style looks (although without Windows Mobile), RDS FM radio and 100MB of expandable memory.

Despite stiff competition from the LG KC910 Renoir, and even though it lacks what is fast becoming standard features of GPS and Wi-Fi, the Pixon seems to have the looks and the marketing might to push it ahead in the crowded 8 megapixel market.

Industry experts are already doubtful the market can sustain the Samsung i8510, the Sony Ericsson C905, the LG KC910 Renoir and the M8800 Pixon, according to Mobile Today, all cameraphones sporting the same ‘unique’ selling point.

As this megapixel Cold War rages on there are bound to be some casualties, let’s hope the Pixon is not one of them…pics follow!

Read the rest of this entry »

Samsung M8800 ‘Bresson’ Camera Phone Leaks, 8 Megapixel Touchscreen Masterpiece

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)

Samsung are definitely going for the jugular in the mobile phone scene if these latest rumours are true…

Seems like Phones4U were a little overzealous in announcing a new 8 megapixel touchscreen handset, which stands to absolutely dominate the touchscreen and cameraphone domains by taking on both the Sony Ericsson C905 and the LG Renoir at the same time!

With the Samsung Tocco capturing fans for an entry level device and the Omnia dealing with high end (well, now mid-range…) desires, this M8800 Bresson would become the new flagship phone, boasting an 8 megapixel camera, 3.2 inch 16 million colour display, and a depth of only 15.5mm, slimmer than the i8510 Innov8!

This popped up without fanfare on the Phones4U site, obviously generating a whole load of chatter, and as such was popped down again soon after. The address now brings up a big ‘404,’ but proves there was once something in it’s place…

The name also rings true for a high-calibre snapper like the M8800, presumably named after Henri Cartier-Bresson who was an amazing french photographer who pioneered documentary-style candid photography.

With the handset rumoured to be out as soon as late October, the Nokia strategy of flooding the streets with lovely touchscreen phones has already been accomplished by Samsung before the 5800 Tube is even out. Samsung won’t have to settle for number two much longer if this success continues…

Source: Trusted Reviews

Nokia N93 vs. Samsung i8510 Innov8 - Clash Of The Megapixels

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)

People love numbers to quantify how good things are. Marks out of ten, the five star rating system, it just helps to compare one thing to another. Even the new Xbox was named 360 just to have the number ‘3′ in it to not appear inferior to the Playstation 3!

In the phone business, it is all about the megapixels…except for Nokia. They’ve been left behind in the megapixel race by other phones like the KC910, sorry the Renoir, and the Sony Ericsson C905, both boasting 8 megapixel badness.

Whilst the Nokia N95 did have a 5 megapixel camera, the Carl Zeiss lens and Xenon flash meant that the Nokia N93 remained their flagship cameraphone, despite having ‘only’ 3.2 megapixels. The optical zoom and photo quality meant the handset held it’s own against the strongest of competitors…until now.

The Samsung i8510 complete with 8 megapixel camera, great flash and awesome functionality has become the first serious handset with the skills to take on the champ. Symbian Freak has put up a detailed head-to-head, taking beautiful images of things like the Sega Megadrive and assessing the quality of photos.

It makes for interesting reading, and the closeness in quality proves that it’s not how many megapixels you have, but how you use them that counts.

The winner? Pop over to have a look…

iPhone3G + C905 + N96 = Hot Handset Threeway

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)

Electric Pig has done the sensible thing ahead of the big launch on Friday, organising a head to head to head with the three front-runners in the phone race.

The iPhone 3G is greased up and thrown into a pit with the 8 megapixel-toting Sony Ericsson C905 and the hotly anticipated Nokia N96, and like Highlander, there can be only one.

The breakdown is pretty comprehensive, with the three set against each other across a variety of aspects including memory capacity, multimedia features and added extras. It isn’t quite the victory one might expect, with each phone offering a real strong suit in certain areas. Their piece makes for some food for thought, and makes the iPhone’s future a lot more exciting as worthy challengers line up to take a pop…

We’ve put their impressive rap sheets side-by-side on the Omio Compare page, feel free to chuck your own favourite in there to see how it rates.