Omio

T-Mobile January Sales: Even Cheaper G1 Deals Coming!

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)

T-Mobile UK are planning to reduce the cost of the T-Mobile G1 for the second time since the Android-powered handset’s October release.

T-Mobile’s January sale (the first of its kind, credit crunch maybe?) will see the G1’s Combi 30 monthly charge reduced from £35 month to just £31.50.

That’s a free G1 with an 8GB memory card, 700 cross network minutes and unlimited texts for only £31.50, pretty impressive!

Only last month T-Mobile announced their first set of G1 price cuts and freebies, and this new reduction must be a last ditch effort to drive sales before the new batch of Android handsets from Sony Ericsson, HTC and Australian entrepeneurs come along…

The G1 isn’t the only handset to reach bargain status on T-Mobile, there are other mobile phone deals coming our way in January:

• Samsung i900 Omnia - down from £90 to FREE on Combi 30 tariff
• Samsung U900 Soul - down from £69.99 to FREE ON Combi 30 tariff
• Sony Ericsson C902 - down from £107.65 to FREE ON Combi 20 tariff

Source: IntoMobile

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
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)

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

Android Phone Coming From Sony Ericsson!

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)

Sony Ericsson has today announced they are in the process of creating their first Android handset, having joined the Open Handset Alliance.

And according to the CVP of Creation and Development, Rikko Sakaguchi, the phone could be part of the Cybershot, Walkman or even Xperia stables…

“We believe Sony Ericsson can bring a wealth of experience in making consumer focused multimedia handsets with new user experience to the Alliance drawing on the successes of the Walkman and Cyber-shot sub-brands.  Sony Ericsson is a strong supporter of open operating systems and we believe the Open Handset Alliance offers an exciting opportunity for a new and unique user experience only Sony Ericsson can deliver.”

Sounds like there will be some pretty impressive flagship phones in the near future from Sony, and goes some way to explaining the kind words said about Android surrounding the Xperia’s launch event… The fact that Sony are clearly stating that Android will ‘compliment’ as opposed to replace their existing operating systems of Symbian and more recently Windows Mobile means that no-one is going to be left out in the cold following this announcement.

Exciting times!

Source: G1 News/Unofficial Sony Ericsson Blog

HTC Purchases Design Company Responsible For Touch Diamond

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)

Those ‘magical elves’ that helped HTC come up with the Touch Diamond’s unique bevelled back? Seems like HTC were so impressed that they bought the whole company!

San Francisco design firm One & Co., who has developed products for such high-profile companies as Nike and Microsoft has been scooped up by the Taiwanese manufacturer for an undisclosed sum, with One & Co continuing to work with other companies.

The design of the Touch Diamond has been a watershed moment for HTC, with the great success of that handset being mirrored by the keyboard-toting sequel, the Touch Pro as well as the recently released Touch HD.

In such a competitive market, the way a phone looks or feels to use as just as important as the technology under the hood, just look at the success of the Apple iPhone!

HTC themselves are often the go-to guy for designing handsets for other manufacturers, the Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 (classy looker) and T-Mobile G1 (’nice personality’) were both theirs, and the acquisition of One and Co. can only cement their position as creator as some of the most aesthetically pleasing handsets on the market.

HTC Chief Innovation Officer Horace Luke said of the buyout:

“Design is key, it is why you love or hate something. Integrating iconic design into HTC products is an inspiring and dynamic challenge that requires a unique combination of consumer insight, creativity, innovation and an appetite to take risks; attributes that embody One & Co.”

Let’s just hope they don’t keep the best designs for themselves…

Source: CoolSmartPhone

Nokia N97 : Nokia’s Big Announcement!

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)

Well, the countdown counted down, revealing the touchscreen Nokia with slidey keyboard that we all dreamt of, but never thought they’d actually do!

The Nokia N97 is the first N-Series handset with a touch based interface, and also has a hinged horizontal slide out keyboard that angles the screen more like the HTC TyTN II or the Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 than the HTC Touch Pro.

The N97 has been touted as a web and entertainment focused device, with a customisable online widget-based Home screen (not a million miles away from iPhone jailbreakers favourite, Intelliscreen) and support for the Nokia’s Ovi syncing/entertainment service.

The Nokia N97 features:

- a 3.5 inch (360 x 640 resolution) touchscreen with haptic feedback

- a 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics and a dual-LED flash

- 32GB of internal flash memory, expandable up to 48GB with a 16GB microSD card

- GPS with A-GPS and compass sensors, and a new touch-driven Nokia Maps 2.0.

-802.11b/g Wi-Fi, HSDPA, Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP support for wireless headphones.

Would you like to know more? Then you’ve come to the right place! Click on!

Read the rest of this entry »

Reevoo’s Top Mobile Phones Of 2008!

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)

Consumer site Reevoo is a treasure trove of interesting information, particularly regarding what people really think of all sorts of electrical items once the honeymoon is over, thanks to some genuniely impartial reviews.

Well, this time they’ve cast their objective eye towards mobile phones, and based on feedback have compiled a list of the top mobile phones for 2008! A lot of the usual suspects turn up, but there are still a couple of big surprises in there…

Here we go, in no particular order (aside from ascending):

5. Sony Ericsson K660i

The Sony Ericsson K660i is an impressive handset, and been a real mainstay on Omio with loads of competitive 3 mobile deals! Even though it was initially released in 2007, the K660i’s has managed to see off a lot more spec-heavy competition to secure the fifth spot in 2008.

Positive comments on this phone from Reevoo include:

“…good storage…”

“A very good looking phone, good display/menus, easy to use, great music player, easy to use browse the web.”

“Great call sound quality (always good for a phone and lacking on my old “high end” mobile) and great battery life.”

A reliable, decent, mid-range handset with a raft of features. No surprise that the K660i sits high atop the tree!

4. Samsung F480 Tocco

Touchscreen glamour at a fraction of the price of the phone that shall not be named? Surprisingly, as our Samsung Tocco Pink review highlighted, it is much more than a cheap iClone. Funky widgets, a bright and breezy interface and responsive touch control has meant the Tocco has sold in droves, and garnered some very positive comments:

“Widgets are real cool, useful and fun way to use the phone, the picture quality from the camera is brilliant, design is fabulous - will always go for touch screen now over traditional buttons.”

“Easy to use,touch screen is fantastic,speed is very good,photo quality is very good.”

“Easy to use, good haptic technology feedback from the touch screen, excellent camera, fair battery life, smart, compact, stylish.”

The only issue people seemed to have was a lack of Wi-Fi connectivity for cheap internet on the go, but all in all the right choice for Samsung fans on a budget!

The podium finishers follow!

Read the rest of this entry »

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…

Nokia Top For Research & Development Spending, Where Are The Phones?

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)

Say what you like about Nokia lacking truly eye-catching designs and playing the ‘wait and see’ game as far as touchscreen handsets go, they are still the biggest spenders in the business when it comes to research and development.

On the 2008 Industrial R&D Investment Scoreboard, Nokia placed fifth amongst companies which hinge on innovation like Microsoft, Pfizer and Toyota with a spend of €5.3 billion.

They were also the highest placed company based in the EU, beating out Volkswagen and even Daimler-Benz.

Comparing phone companies, Nokia left the rest languishing with Samsung in 12th place, Sony at 24th, Motorola 27th, and Ericsson in the 28th position.

We just hope all that money was spent researching the touchscreen N-series handset rumoured set for an ‘08 release, as opposed to wooden phones and touchscreens made of water. Concepts are all well and good, but they need to be innovators as opposed to playing catch-up in aesthetics to whippersnappers like Apple.

Source: Cellular News

Sony Ericsson Presents: James Bond In Quantum Of Solace

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)

If the plethora of Sony Ericsson product placement in Casino Royale wasn’t quite enough for you (Sébastien Foucan’s T68 cameo brought a tear to my eye…), be glad to know that there are plenty more coming your way on October 31st when the new Bond movie, Quantum of Solace comes out.

Pretty much every major character in the movie has some cellphone enjoyment, but we are ensured that it will not be jarring or distracting from the film’s events in any way.

The following handsets will be getting top billing:

C902 in Titanium Silver - only the best for Bond, James Bond.

W350i in Graphic White - for the obligatory Bond love interest. She’s clearly a big fan of music on the go…

G700 in Mineral Grey - M (Judi Dench) can’t run MI6 without that 3G connectivity and touchscreen!

G700 - Mathis may have betrayed Bond, but it doesn’t mean that he has a poor choice in mobiles! Also the phone for the big baddie of the piece, Villiers.

W910 -The handset of choice for the CIA (apparently). Perhaps music shake control was a necessity for the spies in Langley.

G900 -Another Sony smartphone for new character Green.

W707 - this handset may have sadly been cancelled, but it will live on for all eternity on celluloid as the phone of new character ‘Elvis’.

What, no Xperia? It took nearly as long for the X1 to come to market as this movie took to make, so it could have easily snuck in there… I guess that nice limited edition boxset needs to sell some more C902s.

Sony phones and James Bond are actually quite a good fit, as this new ad shows!

The Sony Ericsson W595 : Shake It Baby!

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)

The latest mobile to be added to 3’s increasingly attractive stable is the new Walkman handset from Sony Ericsson, the W595.

The phone manages to straddle all sorts of multimedia fun by letting you take high resolution snaps with the 3.2 megapixel camera, listen to mucho music with 2GB of space - changing tracks with a flick of the wrist thanks to SensMe technology - and it even lets you immortalise your latest cinematic efforts with a one-touch upload to YouTube function.

It’s easy on both the eyes and pocket coming in at £129.95 on Orange Pay and Go, and for free on a 500 minutes/unlimited texts contract for £25 a month with 3.

Get into the groove with the W595!