Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Phones Review

Phones Review

Samsung Galaxy S Gingerbread Update Release Date

Posted: 11 Apr 2011 02:46 PM PDT

Those of you out there that have been waiting for the Android 2.3 Gingerbread update for your Samsung Galaxy S smartphone, well you could receive the software update mid-April, no exact date known.

The latest information coming to us regarding the Gingerbread update for the Samsung Galaxy S is from the Finnish site of Samsung, where it has been officially announced that around the middle of April their local owner's of the device will receive the Gingerbread fix.

Now this information from Samsung's Finnish site comes to us via Engadget and coincides with Three UK's promise to their users of the Android smartphone that the OS version will be arriving "in a couple of weeks."

We reported on the update coming to some Samsung Galaxy S handsets in March, in an article dated 28 February 2011 – see a full story here.

So when will the UK owners receive the update, well earlier today we did an article relating to an Android 2.3 Gingerbread Update Schedule, which indicates mid-April for the update. However, the exact date is not stated, so how reliable this information is, we will just have to wait and see – but what ever you do, please don't hold your breath.

Nintendo & Activision Staff for Apple iOS Gaming

Posted: 11 Apr 2011 11:14 AM PDT

In order to establish iOS as a leading gaming platform, Apple have shown their intent, by recruiting Nick Grange, Activision’s European PR director.

In an MCV report it is claimed that the appointment of Nick Grange, follows Apple's recent acquisition of Robert Saunders, who was a former head of communications for Nintendo UK and is believed join at the end of April, in a role that was newly created.

However, at present Apple have not made any official announcements regarding these appointments, but according to the report by MCV, coming to us by way of IT Pro Portal, the role of Saunders will be to promote the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad within the games industry, whereby the appointment of Grange will be based around the promotion of iPad Hardware.

Saunders has years of experience in this field and helped in the successful launch of Nintendo's Wii and DS handheld console. Grange, worked with Microsoft and game publisher Electronic Arts, prior to joining Activision in 2007, as the European PR director.

Now the wealth of valuable experience that these two PR executives will bring to the table will be significant in helping Apple establish iOS devices as gaming platforms. According to a report in December 2010, coming to us by way of Apple Insider, the smartphone gaming market is said to account for 43.8 percent of the mobile gaming market.

In light of the news coming to us regarding iOS gaming, why not check out two of the articles we have done on iOS game apps: Final Fantasy III & Sonic and SEGA All Stars Racing (both articles include video footage).

Windows Phone: The Market Share by 2015

Posted: 11 Apr 2011 09:00 AM PDT

There is some interesting news coming out, regarding the predicted marked share in 2015. It is indicated that the partnership between Nokia and Windows will push Windows Phone into second place, behind Android, with iPhone being dropped to third and RIM's BlackBerry in a lonely fourth.

The reason for the rise in Windows Phone's market share is believed to stem from Nokia's ability to distribute the Windows Phones globally and to keep their prices down, giving more people the chance of being able to purchase a Windows Phone device. Also, with the expected release of 40 new Nokia devices in 2011 (12 of which are believed to be smartphones); it would appear that Nokia are trying to make a big statement in the market and to their competitors.

Now this latest market share prediction is no surprise to us, as this was previous reported by my colleague James' on 30 March 2011, see article here.

This report conducted by Gartner (a research firm), comes to us by way of Pocketnow and was sourced from PCWorld, predicts Windows Phone having 20% of the market in 2015, with Android having 48%, iPhone at 17.2% and BlackBerry holding up the rear with only 11%.

However, a lot of how this partnership will do in the smartphone market share, will also come down to the ability of Microsoft to keep up with the regular release of operating systems by others. Microsoft already appear to be having issues with the introduction of the Windows Phone 7 update ‘NoDo’, which is already delayed, This does not bode well for the partnership and will obviously bring about concerns regarding when the release of ‘Mango’, a considerably larger update will be.

So what do you think about the predicted Market share for Windows Phone in 2015, will they really be in second place? Let us know your views below.

Apple iPad 2 G-Form Extreme Sleeve Bowling Ball: Round 2 Video

Posted: 11 Apr 2011 08:31 AM PDT

The other day we posted a video showing how well the Apple iPad 2 stood up to having an 8 pound bowling ball dropped on it whilst being protected by the G-Form Extreme iPad sleeve, and now the guys have done yet another test using a heavier bowling ball.

This time round the guys use a 12 pound bowling ball dropped from the same height as previous probably just to make sure the iOS tablet can withstand a little harsher impact or perhaps just to show off what a good job the G-Form sleeve does.

The Apple iPad 2 12 pound bowling ball video footage comes our way courtesy of the guys over at 9to5 Mac and of course by way of the G-Form YouTube page.

Of course we do advise anyone who owns an Apple iPad 2 not to try this at home, but if you do happen to purchase the G-Form Extreme sleeve for the iPad and give it a go then feel free to let us know if it lives up to its name…enjoy the footage.

iPhone 4 India Release by Airtel

Posted: 11 Apr 2011 06:59 AM PDT

For all you lovers of the iPhone in India, we have received some great news regarding the release of Apple's fourth-generation iPhone model on your shore.

The iPhone 4 measures 4.5 x 2.3 x 0.37 inches, making it quite a lot thinner than the iPhones that have gone before it and comes with a 640 x 960 pixel resolution 3.5 inch display, and is packed with the iOS 4, which is Apple's latest operating system.

The phone also comes with two cameras, a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash and a VGA camera that is ideal for video calling. It also includes WiFi, HDMI, GPS and Bluetooth connectivity options and has a longer battery life, compared to the earlier models. With 10 hrs of Wi-Fi browsing, 40 hrs of music playback, 10 hrs of video, 6 hrs of 3G browsing and 7 hrs of 3G talk time, which should meet all your requirements.

News comes to us from The Times Of India, who claim that India's top mobile phone carrier Bharti Airtel Ltd will be launching the Apple iPhone 4 in India, within the coming months. However, there was no precise date actually given by the company. So watch this space for any further developments.

If you have been waiting for the release of the iPhone 4 on your shore, let us know your views on this latest news.

Also why not check out our article on the Element Vapor Cases for the iPhone 4 or our Hands-On Review, relating to an iPhone 4 Case & TypeTop Swivel Mini Bluetooth Keyboard. You could become the envy of your friends with these accessories.

CyanogenMod7 Final Build Released and Available

Posted: 11 Apr 2011 06:35 AM PDT

For all the Android faithful that perhaps are becoming tired of waiting for an official update of their smartphone OS to Android Gingerbread, you just might like to hear that CyanogenMod7 final build has been released and is now available.

According to an article over on the Boy Genius Report and by way of Android Central, the guys over at CyanogenMod have finally released the unofficial official final build of CyanogenMod 7.0, which will apparently support over thirty Android devices.

Included in the list of Android devices CyanogenMod7 supports are, the HTC Desire, HTC Desire HD, HTC Inspire 4G, HTC Tattoo, Google Nexus S, HTC Droid Incredible, HTC Wildfire, HTC legend, HTC Aria, T-Mobile G2, Motorola Droid, HTC EVO 4G and HTC EVO Shift 4G and more.

CyanogenMod7 is based on Android 2.3.3 and apparently delivers numerous features and check boxes to Android smartphones enabling the user to personalise their handset further.

So if you are of a mind to wait no longer for an official Android Gingerbread update to hit your device then you can take the leap and download the necessary from Here, and of course if you do then feel free to let us know how you get on.

The iPhone 5 Release Countdown: What We Want

Posted: 11 Apr 2011 06:02 AM PDT

Well folks, depending on what you believe, we should at some point this year see the arrival of the next generation iOS smartphone from the Apple camp, currently being referred to as the iPhone 5, whether the smartphone will appear in June/July or August/September still remains a matter of speculation.

As usual though, with upcoming Apple gear everyone tries to second guess what Apple will deliver in the way of new features as every iOS fan expects more and more with each release.

So what has been rumoured with the iPhone 5? Well there’s some debate whether the iOS handset will come packing NFC technology, others say the iPhone 5 will have a bigger screen, some say a smaller bezel leading to an almost edge-to-edge display, and then there’s the absence of the home button and of course that Sony rear and front camera.

There has also been some speculation as to whether the next iteration of the iPhone will have LTE functionality, we’ve reported on all these iPhone 5 rumours as they have come up, and there’s also been speculation that the iPhone 5 wont come out to play packing iOS 5.

Having said that, all this is pure speculation and what analysts have said in the past, and we all know analysts can be far from the mark at times and often lend confusion to the matter.

However in the end the only people who really know for sure what the iPhone 5 will offer is of course Apple and they are not about to share anything until such times as they are prepared to unveil the iOS device.

So what we’d love to know is what the iOS faithful want with the iPhone 5, what new features would you prefer Apple put in the smartphone that would make you desire the handset even more?

Do you really want NFC tech, perhaps you’d prefer LTE, or maybe that edge-to-edge display is your most favoured improvement.

Whatever the case we’d like our readers to voice their preference of iPhone 5 features to our comments area below, and when the iPhone 5 does actually materialise we’ll see who has come the closest in getting their iPhone 5 wish list come true.

UltraSn0w Unlock for iOS 4.3.1: Not new Basebands

Posted: 11 Apr 2011 05:25 AM PDT

For those of you out there with an iPhone 3G or 3GS on one of the following basebands: 06.15.00, 05.13.04, 05.12.01, 05.11.07, 04.26.08 or iPhone 4 on 01.59.00 baseband, you may be pleased to know that the Dev Team have now released an updated version of their UltraSn0w unlock, which is for iPhone 4.3.1.

We previously advised you of the UltraSn0w update coming very soon, in an article dated 6 April 2011. Therefore, the updates release now will be a great relief to those that have been waiting.

Please note that if your baseband is listed above, you can use PwnageTool to update your device to iOS 4.3.1, whilst still preserving your baseband. Unfortunately, if your baseband differs from those listed above, there is not an unlock for your device at present. However, we will let you know if one becomes available.

The guys at iPhone Download Blog have provided us with a Dev Team Blog which states:

This isn't a new unlock! It's to allow those who are already using ultrasn0w to use FW 4.3.1. It also fixes the signal bar issue for those who aren't using the unlock but retain an older baseband intentionally.

AFTER INSTALLING ULTRASN0W 1.2.1, PLEASE REBOOT YOUR iPHONE using the normal "slide to power off" swipe. T-Mobile users in the USA also should disable 3G mode in Settings->General->Network.

If you are unsure on how to unlock your iPhone, why not check out our article: iPhone 4.3.1 Unlock Guide and follow the three steps.

If you have tried the updated version of the UltraSn0w unlock, please let us know you views below.

iSouthPark App for Jailbroken iPhone: Watch All Episodes Free

Posted: 11 Apr 2011 05:17 AM PDT

If you are one of the iOS faithful you can easily download iOS apps from iTunes that enable the user to view content for free such as live TV like the WatchESPN app we mentioned earlier today, but if you own a jailbroken iPhone it’s not as easy.

However there are apps about for jailbroken iPhone handsets that do allow the user to view free content, and the guys over at the iPhone Download Blog have come across one called iSouthPark, which apparently claims to enable the user to watch all 209 South Park episodes for free.

Apparently the iSouthPart iOS app for jailbroken iPhones does indeed allow access to all episodes although you are required to register for an account with the content supplier but the account is also free.

However, the guys checked out the iSouthPark app and the app appears to connect to a large library of content covered by copyright, so there could well be a few problems down the line, and of course we certainly don't condone piracy or infringement of copyright in any way.

So if you feel the need to watch every episode of South Park on your iPhone you can do so by hitting up Cydia and searching for the app name, and if you do feel free to let us know how it goes by posting to our comments area below.

HTC Desire S O2 PAYG Low Price

Posted: 11 Apr 2011 04:55 AM PDT

If you are in the market for the Android packing HTC Desire S in the United Kingdom you can of course pick up the smartphone of contract, but if you prefer the Pay As You Go route with your mobile phones apparently O2 are offering the HTC desire S on PAYG for a reasonable price.

According to an article over on Eurodroid, and by way of Hot UK Deals, O2 UK is offering the HTC Desire S handset at a reasonably low price of £329.99 on Pay As You Go.

Of course if you opt to go with O2 on pay as you go for your HTC Desire S the Android device will naturally be locked to OS, but apparently it isn't that difficult to get an O2 UK device unlocked as apparently all one needs to do is email O2 and they will give you the unlock code.

However if you prefer going the contract route, then the Android 2.3 Gingerbread HTC Desire S from O2 UK can be gained for as little as 149 quid with a monthly tariff of £16.50 although the user will also incur a charge of somewhere between £3 and £10 for monthly data allowance.

So any of our UK readers thinking about snapping up the HTC Desire S from O2 UK either on contract or on pay as you go?

PSX4Droid Emulator Pulled from Android Market

Posted: 11 Apr 2011 04:26 AM PDT

In want appears to be a move to appease Sony Ericsson apparently the PSX4 Droid emulator has been kicked from the Android Market, probably because Sony Ericsson didn't want anyone being able to play PlayStation games on anything else other than the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play.

However, according to an article over on Eurodroid, for the Android faithful that enjoys playing PlayStation games the developer of PSX4Droid, Zodttd isn't giving in easily and has thus released the code and anyone can download the Android APK from his website for free.

Furthermore apparently this new version of PSX4Droid comes with bug fixes so no doubt will be a better version than that kicked from the Android Market, although the developers does say he’s still looking into incompatibility with the LG Optimus, Motorola Xoom Honeycomb devices.

Still it just goes to show that if an app is pulled from an app store there is always another route to gain the app although probably to the great annoyance of Sony Ericsson.

iPhone 5 & iPad 3 Possible E-Ink/Retina Display Hybrid

Posted: 11 Apr 2011 04:07 AM PDT

Several Apple patents have hit the net waves recently and the latest of which points to the possibility of E-Ink/Retina Display hybrid which could possibly be used on the upcoming Apple iPhone 5 and Apple iPad 3, although probably unlikely.

The discovery of the Apple patent comes our way courtesy of the guys over at Gadgets and Gizmos, and by way of Macrumors, and by way of Patently Apple, which says…

“Apple’s second patent surprise of the day is all about Apple devising a next generation iPhone that would effectively offer us a smart hybrid display that could switch between a standard LCD and an e-Paper display. In fact, it’s so smart that the display could actually subdivide itself into quadrants that could intelligently switch display types depending on the content that the user is running.”

Apparently the “smart screen” would utilise E-Ink and Retina depending on what the screen is displaying at the time, and according to the patent the tech would auto-switch depending on light conditions or what is being displayed and that the display would split into quadrants with each quadrant displaying different tech, meaning if an image was displayed it would use Retina and if text then it would use E-Ink.

Yes well all very technical, but basically we hardly ever see any of these patents materialise so can easily discount them from the iPhone 5 and Apple iPad 3, but who knows, maybe Apple will deliver on this tech as some stage in the future.

T-Mobile Pulse Mini in Pink Under 20 Pounds

Posted: 11 Apr 2011 03:53 AM PDT

With an ever-increasing demand for Android enabled devices, we have a real treat for those that want to get in with this crowd.

For just 19.99 you could be the proud owner of a T-Mobile Pulse Mini in pink. The Pulse Mini is an android enabled phone and its price has been coming down for quite some time now.

With the economy as it is now and finances a bit tight for many of us, there is no better and cheaper way to get your hands on an android enabled phone, giving you access to thousands of Android apps.

The guys at Eurodroid bring this offer to our attention. However, please note that you will have to purchase a top-up credit of £10, which takes the price to £29.99, which is still a great bargain. So don't delay, order your Pulse Mini online at the T-mobile shop.

Also, of interest why not check out our article on the Samsung Galaxy Mini available to order via T-Mobile.

iPhone 4.3.1 Unlock Guide

Posted: 11 Apr 2011 03:37 AM PDT

For the iOS unfaithful out there that simply have to go against Apple and unlock their iPhone, the iPhone Dev Team has released an updated version of Ultrasn0w to unlock iPhone 4.3.1 on the 3GS and iPhone 4 with basebands 01.59.00, 04.26.08, 05.11.07, 05.12.01, 05.13.04, and 06.15.00 only.

Thus the guys over at iPhone Download Blog have come up with a guide for unlocking your iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 running iOS 4.3.1 as long as the device runs one of the above basebands, and say that if not then there isn't a solution available just yet.

So we thought we’d pass the guide along, which is a three-step guide, so lets get to it…First off you’ll need to jailbreak and update your iOS device using either updating to iOS 4.3.1 via PwnageTool or updating to iOS 4.3.1 and preserving baseband 01.59.00 via TinyUmbrella.

Next you launch Cydia, then go to “Manage > Sources > Edit > Add” then type in http://repo666.ultrasn0w.com, and this should install the Ultrasn0w unlock, once Ultrasn0w is installed reboot, after which you can insert a different SIM card, although if you are using T-Mobile you will need to disable 3G in settings.

And that’s it the job is all done and should take just a few minutes to accomplish, so if any of our readers give it a bash feel free to let us know if you experience any problems or if all goes smoothly.

British Mobile Phone Users Wasting Money

Posted: 11 Apr 2011 03:14 AM PDT

Now everyone loves to own an mobile phone and the mobile phone has become an everyday need in life, but apparently British mobile phone users are wasting quite a bit of cash on their phone bills due to being on the wrong contract according to a recent report.

According to an article over on MSN UK Money, a recent study by Ofcom approved bill analysis service Billmonitor has found that subscribers on average waste 195 quid per year by being on the wrong contract, with 76 percent of those on monthly contracts are paying over the odds.

The study shows that subscribers in total are wasting almost a staggering £5 billion a year due to the problem of signing up to the wrong contract with 52 percent of users signing on for a contract that is too large for their requirements and using just a quarter of their monthly allowance.

On the flipside, apparently 29 percent have a contract that is too small and waste their cash of exceeding their monthly allowance on text, data and calls.

According to the figures, an average mobile phone user spends £439 per year while customers spent a whopping £719 million per year sending premium texts and calling premium numbers, £1.36 billion is spent on roaming charges and £502 million goes on texting and calling whilst overseas.

Sounds like there’s quite a bit of cash wastage in the UK doesn’t it, personally I never go over my allowance and have unlimited texts which I send a great deal of; so how about our readers, do you regularly go over your allowance or do you make sure you always remain inside?
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