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Apple iPhone: Over 10 Million Served…Three Months Early

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 (491)

At an Apple conference early last year, when Steve Jobs announced their new entry into the mobile phone market and a lofty goal of 10 million sales in 2008, many were very sceptical.

This was an industry with established titans like Nokia and Samsung, dedicated sellers who would not let such an unconventional device go unchallenged for long.

Despite the legions of iPhone killers, the flood of touch-based challengers that have been released or announced like the Samsung Tocco, the Samsung Omnia, the HTC Touch Diamond, the LG Viewty, the LG Renoir, the Samsung Pixon…none have had close to the same impact.

Even Nokia and BlackBerry have reluctantly entered the touchscreen domain, and whilst the 5800 and Storm 9500 seem like the most well equipped to dethrone the champ, is it too late to stop the charge?

With help from the revamped iPhone 3G, Apple have managed the unthinkable and reached their goal…three months early.

Looking at individual IMEI codes (a unique 15-digit handset identifier given to every single mobile phone made), the Apple Finance Board have tracked and logged 8 million handsets manufactured by early September, and all of those and many more have since been sold through. Wow.

The double whammy of the iPhone 3G and the new firmware and App Store (which I correctly predicted to be a game changer, thank you!) has worked wonders for the iPhone, breathing new life into what was considered a fad and technologically underwhelming device.

Apple performed what can now be officically coined as “doing a Nintendo,” perplexing the industry and consumers alike whilst selling lots of units through innovative ideas and application, despite what many would consider to be an inferior product. Wii Golf, anyone?

Champagne and cigars all round for Apple, methinks! As impressed as we all are with their success the big question, as ever, is “What next?”

Mobile Phone Survey Proves That Looks Are Everything, Size Matters

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 (491)

Based on an absolutely epic survey conducted by the boffins at Decide What To Buy, there is conclusive proof that people want their phones the same as they prefer their partners - a good looker with lots of megapixels.

31,000 consumers were asked to rate their handsets, and the top reviewed phones were then ranked by their best and worst attributes.

15% of people placed a phone’s looks at the top of the list when it comes to their favourite feature, closely followed by a slim figure. 31% of LG Viewty owners confessed they were only with it because it was so gorgeous, whilst almost half of Sony Ericsson K850i fans were megapixel junkies impressed with the 5 MP camera.

4 of the top 10 were in fact Sony phones, and with the next most important feature being the quality of music playback, the Cybershot and Walkman phones were certainly a popular choice amongst those surveyed.

However, the bad side should not be overlooked, with only two features way out in front as far as annoyances go.

Battery life and navigation were bugbears for everyone concerned with 14.8% overall having juice issues, with 35% of Nokia N95 owners calling it the worst point in an otherwise great phone.

Navigation and the keypad were an issue for 10.2% of users, and the Viewty didn’t fare so well when it came to usability with 25% of people finding it the worst thing.

“Where’s the iPhone?”, I hear you cry. Well, the handset wasn’t in their top ten for the most reviews, languishing in unlucky 13th place. Nevertheless, the best features were considered to be the web browsing and music (obviously), with only 1% finding fault with the innovative interface. The worst feature? Battery life. Making it through a day is a novelty as far as the iPhone goes, and 17% of users felt the same way.

All very useful little facts to think about before choosing a handset, but we would let another hot phone break their heart instead of a plain and reliable one every time.

The full results of the survey are on the Reevoo blog.

LG KC910 Is Now LG Renoir

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 (491)

As if to spite me, mere moments after I begged them not to, LG have renamed the KC910 the ‘Renoir’.

Pierre-Auguste Renoir was a French artist who was instrumental in the development of the Impressionist style of painting, and as such is a natural fit to their new 8 megapixel camera phone.

I only found that out from Wikipedia, and I’m a damn genius. Come to think of it, ‘name’ phones have been pretty successful in recent days. Samsung Omnia, the Tocco, the HTC Touch Diamond, all top sellers.

Let’s hope the old ‘Viewty‘ magic works for them this time around…

Source: GSMArena

LG Posts Positive Q2 Results, Poised To Take No. 3 Spot

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 (491)

Their tagline rings true, as life certainly is good for the Korean electronics manufacturer if recent financial reports are anything to go by.

Despite their other electronic devices performing well, LG’s mobile sector has been particularly buoyant of late. Selling a record 27.7 million mobile phones from April to June, they have attributed their successes to the luxury handsets performing well with the Secret, the Viewty, and even their cut-price contender, the Orsay attracting huge sales. Also, their focus on the emerging sectors of India and South America has proved profitable.

This puts LG in a strong position moving forward, and with a 9.1% market share and over 50 million sold this year alone, many analysts feel that they could overtake the ailing Motorola to become the third largest phone maker. As recently as March, some were speculating as to whether they could overtake Sony Ericsson, and it took place as predicted only last quarter.

LG does recognise the economic downturn will hit them however, predicting a slowdown in sales for the second half of the year, as fewer new models are released. Still, in light of the difficulties faced by their competitors, LG’s optimistic goal of selling 100 million handsets for 2008 is refreshing.