As the new Blackberry Bold 9700 (Blackberry Bold 2) rapidly makes it way to shelves across the United States, I thought I’d share this informative video by the Phonescoop guys that I found on Youtube with my maybe not so informed Aussie readers. Phonescoop dude shows just how much effort Blackberry have gone to, to improve this already successful device.
This post is also in response to some of my Twitter followers saying that I only post about iPhones and related gadgets these days
For those who are keen to grab hold of the new Blackberry Bold 9700, contact your local Telstra dealer to find out when stock will be arriving in your locale.
It’s been a couple of days since Android 2.0 has been officially released. To help those out there who are trying to catch up in regards to the upgrade from the previous version or even more fundamentally, what it actually is, watch the Android 2.0 video below. I’ll admit it’s more geared towards developers but you’ll see the major improvements and UI of Google’s latest iteration of its mobile OS platform.
Here’s the list of New User Features for Android 2.0:
Contacts and accounts
Multiple accounts can be added to a device for email and contact synchronization, including Exchange accounts. (Handset manufacturers can choose whether to include Exchange support in their devices.)
Developers can create sync adapters that provide synchronization with additional data sources.
Quick Contact for Android provides instant access to a contact’s information and communication modes. For example, a user can tap a contact photo and select to call, SMS, or email the person. Other applications such as Email, Messaging, and Calendar can also reveal the Quick Contact widget when you touch a contact photo or status icon.
Sync support for contacts from multiple data sources including Exchange. Handset manufacturers can choose whether or not to include Exchange support in their devices.
New way to hover on a person to see more info and select communication mode (for example, phone, SMS, email).
Email
Exchange support.
Combined inbox to browse email from multiple accounts in one page.
Messaging
Search functionality for all saved SMS and MMS messages.
Auto delete the oldest messages in a conversation when a defined limit is reached.
Camera
Built-in flash support
Digital zoom
Scene mode
White balance
Color effect
Macro focus
Android virtual keyboard
An improved keyboard layout to makes it easier to hit the correct characters and improve typing speed.
The framework’s multi-touch support ensures that key presses aren’t missed while typing rapidly with two fingers.
A smarter dictionary learns from word usage and automatically includes contact names as suggestions.
Browser
Refreshed UI with actionable browser URL bar enables users to directly tap the address bar for instant searches and navigation.
Bookmarks with web page thumbnails.
Support for double-tap zoom.
Support for HTML5:
Database API support, for client-side databases using SQL.
Application cache support, for offline applications.
Geolocation API support, to provide location information about the device.
<video> tag support in fullscreen mode.
Calendar
Agenda view provides infinite scrolling.
Events indicate the attending status for each invitee.
Not only are those bugs fixed, but Verizon is also pushing its new WiFi capabilities, ultra-responsive touch screen and tons of applications available.
Let’s keep our ears to the ground to see how this version fares.
Remember how we were talking about the HTC Leo a couple of days ago and how it had many unofficial names? Well, no more guessing – what was fondly regarded as the HTC Leo across the interwebz is now officially called the HTC HD2! Check out the video below:
TAIWAN – October 6, 2009 – HTC Corporation, today unveiled the HTC HD2, the first Windows phone with HTC Sense, a customer experience focused on putting people at the centre by making their phones work in a more simple, natural and personal way. With its industry leading, high-resolution, 4.3-inch capacitive touch display, the ultra thin HTC HD2 delivers more visible content in a sharper, brighter and richer way.
“At HTC we believe that the best things in life should be experienced, not explained. HTC Sense is based on this principle by making the phone more simple and natural to use and by enabling people to personalise their mobile experience in their own unique way,” said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC Corporation. “With HTC Sense, the HTC HD2 melds the power and flexibility of the Windows platform with the most advanced phone we’ve ever created.”
“HTC has a long history of innovation with Windows Mobile, shipping millions of devices over the years in a wide range of designs,” said Andy Lees, senior vice president, Mobile Communication Business, Microsoft Corp. “The HTC HD2 Windows phone breaks new ground with its responsive, touch screen.”
The HD2 uses the first capacitive touch display on a Windows phone to make viewing, zooming and resizing websites, Microsoft® Office files, PDF documents and pictures easier with just a pinch of your fingers. The large display also enables faster, more efficient and accurate typing using the onscreen keyboard. Utilizing Qualcomm’s new 1Ghz Snapdragon mobile processor, the HTC HD2 offers enhanced performance that improves the speed of applications, videos, games and more.
Developed with a passion for enhancing peoples lives through innovation, design and ease of use, HTC Sense is rooted in three fundamental principles of Make it Mine, Stay Close and Discover the Unexpected.
Make It Mine
The HD2 continues HTCs drive for personalization by reflecting not only what you want on your phone, but also where you are. Using its large 4.3-inch window-like display, HTC has brought a new dimension to weather with a localized, animated weather experience that utilizes HD2s entire display without being invasive to your important content and information. The HD2 can also be further enhanced to reflect your needs and style by downloading a wealth of applications at the new Windows® Marketplace for Mobile.
Stay Close
The HD2 helps you stay close to the important friends and colleagues in your life with HTCs people-centric communication approach that provides a single contact view that displays individual communication snapshots of your conversations with the people in your life regardless of whether a call, text, Facebook status update or email were used. While in the midst of email exchange with someone you can easily transition to a call by pressing the call button. HTC has also included a new Windows-based version of its Twitter application, HTC Peep. The pictures you take with the 5MP camera can also be quickly shared via Facebook or Twitter.
Discover the Unexpected With the HTC Sense experience, the HTC HD2 includes a variety of enhancements that expand and improve the overall phone experience. The HD2 includes a variety of sensors including a proximity sensor that is used to prevent false screen touches when the phone is picked up to answer or make a call. A light sensor automatically adjusts the brightness of the display. Leveraging its 3G broadband connectivity, the HTC HD2 also offers personal Wi-Fi anywhere for your computer or other devices.
Also available for the HTC HD2 is the optional car kit that automatically transforms HD2s user interface into a finger friendly in-car navigation experience for driving.
Windows phone
As a new Windows phone, the HTC HD2 showcases the powerful messaging, browsing and productivity capabilities delivered by Windows Mobile® 6.5. Offering a best in class e-mail experience complete with the ability to synchronize with Microsoft Exchange, you have the ability to check and manage multiple email accounts. Microsofts new My Phone service enables you to automatically back up and synch photos, music, contacts and text messages for free from the HD2 to the web.
Availability
The HTC HD2 will be available later this month with selected operators across Europe, before rolling out to other regions in the coming months.
Check out this video of the upcoming Nokia N900 (to be released this month) featuring the Maemo Internet Browser. From the looks of this device, it appears that Nokia will bounce back nicely from the not-so-great success of the Nokia N97. I particularly like the zoom-in and out gesture at 2:37 -
I can’t help but notice my RSS feed being filled with the words “HTC Leo” (left in the above image) over the last couple of weeks. This warranted some investigation as to where this upcoming Windows device is actually at.
So Many Names
It seems that the HTC Leo also has other names on the web e.g. HTC HD2 and as the name suggests on the back of the device, looks to be HTCPRO.THREE. WMExperts also claim other names are HTC Thoth and HTC Athena 2. Hmmm…I searched all over HTC‘s website for more information and confirmation but nada.
Beast On The Way
If you read the specs list below, you’ll see why so many people are excited about this gadget. Let’s face it, HTC had to come out with guns blazing against the very very successful Apple iPhone 3G/3GS. Features that stand out are the 1GHz processor, huge 4.3″ screen, ultraslim design and dual flash LED 5 MegaPixel camera.
Camera: 5 MegaPixel with auto focus, High Power 2 x LED flashlight
Battery: 1230mAh
Wi-Fi, A-GPS Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
3,5mm Jack
MicroSD Slot
Other features: G-Sensor, motion sensor and light sensor, GPS/AGPS
HTC Leo Capacitive Screen, Yes!
Oh and of course one of the biggest changes to this HTC device is the inclusion of a capacitive screen. This is the very technology that distinguished the iPhone from all other smartphones at the time of its launch which changed and I believe improved the way that millions around the world interacted with their mobile devices. Here’s a YouTube vid of capacitive touch functionality on the HTC Leo:
Launch Date of HTC Leo?
According Engadget, the HTC Leo / HTC HD2 will be launched on October 12th, 2009 in Europe. That’s only 11 days away. Will keep you posted once we get news of when it will be released to other parts of the world.
Imagine how exciting listening to the radio on your smartphone would be if you had the RadioBee Mobile Internet Radio Player. With over 75000 Internet radio stations to choose from you can’t possibly say that your choices are limited.
Do you still remember the frustration that you felt when you can only play FM radio stations that can be heard in your locality on your smartphone? Listening to radio stations outside the country is an impossibility. But now not anymore. Because of the Radiobee you can listen to radio stations all over the world!
Having the Radiobee is like having your own personal disc jockey who will search, organize and play your favorite live internet radio stations. You don’t have to worry about any user application interference because it has none. Now who could beat that!
The Nokia E55 just passed the FCC. The Nokia E55 is a candybar smartphone that features 20-key QWERTY keyboard, QVGA display, 3.2-megapixel camera, GPS, Wi-Fi, stereo Bluetooh and microSDHC card slot.
The “dash 1” variant of the Nokia E55 has just garnered approval from FCC. Nokia keeps pumping all of its devices through FCC labs, despite the fact they’re not selling that well in the United States, to say the least. Latest phone we caught on its way to the North American market is the ultra-thin smartphone – Nokia E55. Announced alongside the E75 at the Mobile Congress in Barcelona, it prides itself with ROKR-type keyboard, WiFi, GPS, HSDPA, 3.2 megapixel camera, Symbian S60 3.2, and so on. We have no idea whether some carrier in the United States will pick it up, but we have no doubts it will reach Nokia’s Flagship stores in Chicago and New York City.
Nokia E55 is a S60 smartphone, which comes in at 9.9mm thick. So just when can we expect to see the E55 and its “compact QWERTY”? That’s not known as this point, but Europeans will be able to pick one up soon.
Think of it like a next generation Power Glove. With circuits detecting stretches in a flexible material, signals are sent to a device that could interpret user input, be it for gaming, virtual reality, or other creative uses. The patent includes haptic feedback mechanisms – small vibrations or even pressure could go a long way to polish virtual interactions. Imagine having that little finger sleeve pull your fingertip backwards when you push a button, as if it was actually there. In addition to the finger joint sleeve, there is also a wristband pictured which could add further functionality.
Nokia seems to be a bit behind the competitors in figuring out how to make full touch user interface work on it’s smartphones. But they are getting better at this and should eventually figure things out. The basic idea is pretty simple. Create a comfortable sleeve, with embedded sensors that react to the stretching and relaxation of the human skin.
As the skin stretches differently when you move your fingers and/or hand, the input device can figure out the different gestures and transmit them as commands to a mobile device wirelessly. The input device can be used to intuitively control a wide range of mobile gadgets, including your phone, game console, media player, laptop, near eye-display and many others.
This kind of controller may not seem too practical and looks pretty far fetched, but, if wearable electronics will become as popular as some are predicting, it might come in quite handy in a few years.
According to reports, RIM’s BlackBerry Storm 2 – the touchscreen follow-up to the original Storm launched back in November last year will indeed include WiFi b/g along with EVDO Rev.A and 2100MHz UMTS (for roaming).
The BlackBerry Storm 2 from RIM leaked out specifications re-confirm news that the soon to be released smartphone is ditching out the problematic click touchscreen. The clicky touchscreen of the first Storm has been replaced with a more traditional touchscreen.
The BlackBerry Storm 9550 will also have a 3.2-megapixel camera, 360 x 480 capacitive touchscreen and use BlackBerry OS 5.0.
Photos of the BlackBerry Storm 2 leaked out a few months back, promising a powerful touchscreen smartphone, only this time with Wi-Fi.
Here’s a run down of the specifications for the BlackBerry 9550:
CDMA 1xRTT/EVDO Rev. A
Quad-band GSM/EDGE
Single-band UMTS/HSDPA (2100MHz only)
Wi-Fi b,g
3.2 megapixel camera
360×480 resolution capacitive screen
OS 5.0
It was originally thought that the BlackBerry Storm 2 was going to be released last month, obviously, it did not happen. As of this writing, there is still no official release date for the device. We will keep you posted.
Imagine how exciting listening to the radio on your smartphone would be if you had the 
The Nokia E55 just passed the FCC. The Nokia E55 is a candybar smartphone that features 20-key QWERTY keyboard, QVGA display, 3.2-megapixel camera, GPS, Wi-Fi, stereo Bluetooh and microSDHC card slot.
According to reports, RIM’s BlackBerry Storm 2 – the touchscreen follow-up to the original Storm launched back in November last year will indeed include WiFi b/g along with EVDO Rev.A and 2100MHz UMTS (for roaming).
