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Voice Dialling On iPhone With Melodis

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)

Have you ever wanted to use your voice to find your iPhone contacts quickly and easily? Well, tough, because new program Melodis has been released on the App Store whether you like it or not!

Simply hold down the green bar, say the name of the contact you want (first and surname seems to work better) and it brings up all their details.

Similarly, if you wish to call them…you just say “Call Elise Cotard” and it calls out to them! Well, don’t call Elise, she’ll get all annoyed that I used her name…call your own contacts!

If there are multiple contact numbers, you can even break them down by saying, ‘mobile,’ ‘home’ or ‘work’ after the name.

Melodis uses some crazy magic called the Crystal Engine to find all of the many contact names without prior user input. The Crystal Engine is a search engine with a unique design that accepts voice as input instead of text. By doing it this way, instead of traditional voice-to-text conversion, the Crystal Engine is apparently much more accurate.

If only I had enough contacts to make this app worthwhile…

Grab Melodis - Voice Dialling for iPhone here.

Apple iPhone 3G Outsells All Windows Mobile Phones In Q3 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)

Okay. We’re as surprised at this as you all are.

Apple with their single handset, the iPhone 3G, has managed to outsell all of the Windows Mobile powered mobile telephony machines during the third quarter of 2008. Worldwide. Globally. Everywhere.

Just…take a moment to let that sink in. All those touted iPhone killers. The Samsung Omnia. The HTC Touch Pro. The Sony Ericsson Xperia X1. Put together. Outsold by the iPhone.

Other interesting changes in the smartphone landscape have been witnessed, including Nokia experiencing their first year-on-year sales decline, and BlackBerry shifting 81.7% more mobiles than this time in 2007. Well, the holy trinity of the BlackBerry Storm 9500, Pearl Flip 8220 and Bold all in Q3 must have had a great deal to do with that increase in sales.

What is also intriguing is the shift in operating systems, seeing Symbian’s share of the pie dipping below 50% of the market. Could it be because they were relatively late to the touchscreen party, forcing many to switch to WinMo or go it alone? Either way, the double whammy of the touch Symbian-rocking 5800 XpressMusic and the Nokia N97 will go some way to redressing the OS balance in 2009!

Love Hate to say it, but I was right about the iPhone’s software strategy for the 3G! From that announcement of the new iPhone in tandem with 2.0 and the App Store, it was clear that it wasn’t about megapixels or CPU speed but rather simple usability, freedom of choice and customer satisfaction.

Now the sales speak for themselves.

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

Truphone Makes VoIP For iPod Touch!

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 an impressive move, communications company Truphone have expanded their cheap internet call horizons past the iPhone all the way to the iPod Touch, essentially turning Apple’s slick music player into a internet mobile a la the Skype Phone!

All that you need to start your yakking is the hands-free headphones/mouthpiece combo that comes with an iPhone (available from Apple and all good e-retailers), and to download the app from iTunes.

Truphone allows free calls to all other users (including those using it on iPhones and Nokia handsets), cheap local and international calls, and a snazzy interface which allows access to your friends with a quick button press!

Think about this…all your mates to with an iPod Touch and headset, all signed up to Truphone, and all enjoying free/cheap mobile telephony wherever Wi-Fi resides…all without a mobile phone!

Be warned: this only works with the second generation iPod Touch, which is also the case with PacMan in our top 10 free iPhone games run down. Looks like the early adopters are getting a pretty raw deal, quelle surprise!

The potential for something like this is huge, Truphone has a proof of concept that when the entire world is encased in a Wi-Fi connectivity bubble, the networks’ time could be up as we enjoy free calls over the net!

(Hmm, this post has a touch of a French feel to it, je ne sais pas pourquoi…)

Get Truphone for the iPod Touch here!

Top 10 Free iPhone Games 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)

Whether you are broke or have a bank error in your favour, the Apple iPhone 3G has a lineup of awesome games to download from the App Store!

Apple, justifiably proud of turning the entire mobile games business on its head and leaving competitor closures and job cuts in their wake, has released a list of the most downloaded free iPhone games.

There are a fair few games that we love up there! Anyway, here is the run-down of the Top 10 Free iPhone Games of 2008!

Free Games

10. reMovem

If you like playing with balls or just tapping them, this is the game for you! Puzzlers are made to be used with a touchscreen (the Nintendo DS is proof positive of that!), and the iPhone excels at it with reMovem.

Customer Review: Robet76 - “Can’t complain about this much as it’s free…it’s a bit basic but it’s fun and passes the time when you only have a few minutes spare. And it’s easy to play.”

Get Free Removem on iPhone here.

9. Sudoku

Despite sharing its name with my famous mother Sue Doku (true story), the Japanese number puzzle game remains even more popular than her amongst bored pen-and-paperless commuters the world over.

Customer Review: jo bunny - “addicted to sudoku and saving trees by using it on the iPhone…brilliant!”

Get Free Sudoku on iPhone here.

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Americans Two Times More Text Mad Than Europeans!

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 time where App downloads, video streaming and over-the-air music stations are considered mobile industry moneyspinners, it’s impressive that analysts consider the humble text message to be the big revenue cash cow for the foreseeable future.

According to a Portio Research report, mobile messaging is on course to have made $130 billion by the close of 2008, and will skyrocket to $224 billion by 2013, equating to around 2/3rds of all non-voice phone revenue!

Even more surprisingly, the U.S. (a country that only just realised there are phones more advanced than the Motorola RAZR), send twice as many texts as Europeans each month…

Other factoids include Filipinos send an average of 755 messages each every month, whilst Japan is the only nation to have eschewed SMS for e-mailing as their mobile text communication of choice. Typical, always ahead of the game!

With picture messaging alone predicted to reach $30 billion in revenues in 2009, do you think that the next iPhone might want to get involved in such futuristic endeavours as MMS support? We can but dream…

Source: Textually

Nokia N97 vs. Apple iPhone 3G - Clash Of The Touchscreen Titans!

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 the announcement of the new Nokia N97, it is inevitable to compare it to the current undisputed champ, the Apple iPhone 3G.

Using our Omio phone comparison widget, we have put the two great handsets side-by-side, flanked by recent releases the T-Mobile G1 and the BlackBerry Storm 9500.

Far from making up the numbers, these touchscreen handsets all pose the most real threat to the latest Nokia dream, proving more than a match on paper…

Let’s break down exactly which wins what:

Size: The N97’s dimensions are a svelte 117 x 55 x 16mm, making it a hair longer, but also narrower than the iPhone’s 116 x 62 x 12mm frame.

That 16:9 screen results in a far thinner face than the stocky iPhone, but that 16mm depth is the thing to notice. This makes the N97 a far sexier proposition than the N95’s horrendous shape, showing that Nokia have realised the importance of both form and function.

Weight: The iPhone 3G is positively waif-like, as it tips the scales at a mere 133g. Yes, that’s a lot, but a relative lettuce muncher in smartphone terms. The N97 comes a close second at 150g, with the Storm at 155g and the G1 at 158g.

More follows!

Read the rest of this entry »

Virgin : Mobile Internet For 30p A Day

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)

As phones like the T-Mobile G1 and Apple iPhone 3G have shown, getting quality internet on the go proves to be a determining factor for consumers’ choice both handset and mobile network.

Virgin Mobile have certainly gone on the offensive to court these savvy shoppers, offering an awfully competitive mobile internet offer.

For a flat rate of only 30p per day, Virgin Mobile customers on SIM-only, prepay and pay monthly contracts can enjoy ‘unlimited’ web access on their phone. This new deal begins from the 8th of December, and people will only be charged on the days that actually use the service.

However, the definition of ‘unlimited’ shifts once again as the small print shows that there is a actually a 25MB limit, but as long as you aren’t going download crazy it seems a reasonable restriction given the low price.

Virgin Mobile Head Graeme Oxby had a real grasp of consumer mindsets when outlining the new deal: “As handsets get smarter and faster, mobile web usage has increased significantly and more customers than ever are using their handset to connect them to the internet when they’re not at home. By providing unlimited access at a highly competitive rate, we are giving all our customers the opportunity to use the internet on their phone, without having to worry about racking up huge bills or working out complicated price structures.”

We welcome that move entirely. A more transparent, realistic pricing structure for mobile internet is something sorely needed on all networks.

Source: Trusted Reviews

Free Your iPhone : The Ultimate List Of iPhone Tips And Tricks!

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)

Sorry to reiterate, but just stumbled on this site and the stuff on it is mind boggling! iPhone Toolbox also has a list of 20 Ultimate iPhone Tips and Tricks which help you get the most from your touch-happy handset!

I thought I was a super power hyper iPhone user, and I knew about 4 of these Apple iPhone 3G secrets. Trust me, they’re pretty darned good!

Taking screenshots? Fit-to-page? Speed punctuation? All there.

They aren’t even bribing us for such a glittering endorsement…it’s crazy!

Free Your iPhone : Free iPhone Wallpapers!

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)

To make a short story shorter, the website iPhone Toolbox is a frankly amazing repository of the best free iPhone wallpapers.

From Jack Bauer getting results in 24 to a dog with cool glasses, they have absolutely everything to give your iPhone 3G a touch of bespoke class.

There is also an impressive iPhone mockup that appears whilst you hover over the pics, giving you a nice idea of what it’ll look like on your phone!

Simply download the iPhone wallpaper you like the look of, move them into your Pictures folder using iTunes, and sync away!