Mobile Phone Features

December 9th, 2011 | Mobile Phone News, Mobile Phones

Since the early days of mobile phones in the mid-1980s when they were the preserve of the chosen few, cost a fortune and looked like white bricks, the technology has improved in leaps and bounds. Mobile phones are now small entertainment systems as well as devices for talking to other people over radio networks, and for most of us they have become an essential part of life.

It is the additional features, apart from the voice-to-voice capability, that is the main allure, and why we are prone to changing models on a regular basis. This of course is why more and more companies are trying to elbow in to get a piece of the action, because of the apparently insatiable demand for freshness and novelty.

Texting was one of the first of the many features that have clustered about the basic mobile phone model, with SMS (Short Message Service) making its debut commercial appearance back in 1992 when someone sent a text message from a personal computer to a ‘primitive’ handset, the Orbital 901.

MMS (Multimedia Messaging Services) appeared somewhat later around 2000. This took the initial form of a built-in phone camera from J-Phone in Japan, and although many competing companies put resources into developing small external cameras for use with mobile phones, these never took off and the built-in phone was here to stay.

Sony Ericsson’s 2006 Cyber-Shot represented a crucial advance in the development of in-phone cameras. It was 3.2 megapixel and the user was able to shoot a series of photos within a few seconds and choose the best one through a system called BestPic. Up to ten megapixels is now quite common for in-phone cameras, and Sony Ericsson are working on more advances in the technology.

Check out mobile phone news for the latest developments.

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Nokia X7 Review

December 6th, 2011 | Mobile Phone News, Mobile Phones, Nokia

When you look at the Nokia X7, the angular exterior is reminiscent of a Lamborghini Diablo.  In a market where so many phones follow the minimalist iPhone template, a design such as this is refreshing, despite the inaccessible battery and slightly awkward buttons.  Not being able to access the battery is advantageous as it means you will not have to turn off your phone and remove the battery to insert a new SIM card.

At first, the technical specs may appear a little underwhelming.  A 628MHz processor and 256MB of RAM may look inadequate in a world where Android phones have at least a dual core processor with at least 512MB of RAM.  Despite the specifications, the X7 is one of the first Nokia mobile phones to use Anna, a very efficient version of Symbian OS.  It still takes a few seconds to perform most operations, but the overall performance is very smooth.  The efficiency is noticeable from the battery life as well because the Nokia X7 can squeeze a couple of days worth of use from a single charge without having to turn off any battery consuming features such as Wi-Fi or mobile data.

The Ovi App Store doesn’t have the broad range of apps that Android and iOS have, but the basic apps, such as Adobe Reader, Youtube, Facebook and Quickoffice can enhance the functionality of the phone

Overall, the Nokia X7 is a great choice for anyone looking for an alternative to Blackberry, Android or iOS.

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The Aesthetics of WebOS

December 3rd, 2011 | Palm

The current Smartphone market is dominated by iOS, Android and Blackberry.  A less famous operating system is WebOS, found on Palm devices such as the Palm Pre 2, HP Pre 3 and the HP Touchpad.

Despite the limited range of available apps, WebOS is still worth considering, purely for the aesthetics.  Picture all your windows, arranged in patterns like a poker hand, depending on the app.  Say, for example, you have a hand for browser windows, a hand for pictures and a hand for pages in the settings menu.  You are now able to switch between hands by flicking the screen left or right.  Click a window and full screen appears.  Press the Home button and the screen returns to card mode and you can flick it to close.  Some of the later devices have the additional ability to drag the window to the bottom of the screen and watch it shoot up to the top and close with a satisfying whistle.

If you prefer looks, performance and battery life over advanced functionality, WebOS just might be worth checking out.

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An Introduction to the Blackberry

November 15th, 2011 | Blackberry, Mobile Phones, Touch Screen

In recent years, the mobile phone has evolved from a simple phone to the perfect assistant.  Many mobile phones include an attractive email client, rich internet browsing and a complex yet easy to use calendar.  Contact lists include more than a name and number, as many smartphones allow the user to attach an image in a single contact entry with the ability to include email addresses, multiple telephone numbers and other important information.  The perfect example of a stylish and modern smartphone is the Blackberry.

What is a Blackberry Phone?

The Blackberry phone includes a collection of smart and stylish handsets including Blackberry Curve, Blackberry Bold and Blackberry Pearl, available on pay monthly or PAYG (pay as you go) across a variety of mobile networks such as Orange, T-Mobile, Vodafone and O2.  Blackberry Curve comes in a wide range of bright and colourful colours, appealing to both genders within all age ranges.  The most significant feature of the Blackberry phone and consistent with all handsets is the QWERTY keypad, which replaces the traditional numerical keypad. The QWERTY keypad mimics the layout found on laptops and desktop computer keyboards and is ideal for composing text messages, emails and using social networking websites.

Another useful and exciting feature on all Blackberry handsets is 3G and Wi-Fi for fast internet access.  Blackberry phones have the ability to connect to a Wi-Fi signal to offer high quality speed, ideal for downloading files and for streaming video and audio, whilst 3G is offered when outside of a Wi-Fi signal, allowing the user to play games, check email, and view web pages with ease and speed.

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LG Optimus One Review

November 9th, 2011 | Android, LG, Mobile Phones

The LG Optimus One is an inexpensive Android 2.2 smartphone that cleverly bills itself as an all in one mobile phone.  With some excellent LG Optimus One deals on the market, this simple to use smartphone could really present a serious challenge to some of the more expensive phones on sale.  

Despite being a relatively basic model, it still provides many of the features that you would expect as standard with any Android phone, such as 3.2 inch capacitive touch screen with excellent zoom capacity and a 3 megapixel camera with video recording facility.  It has a larger than average 1500 mAh battery which gives more than enough power, and connectivity levels score highly too, with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and USB all provided. 

Integrated apps include Facebook and Twitter with the capacity to download many more, and the Android sat nav apps it offers are superb.  The LG Optimus One even allows you to use voice recognition when using GPS while driving, which is an added bonus.  Audio quality, like the camera quality, is adequate as you would expect with a budget phone, and while colours are limited, the display screen is surprisingly bright and clear.

Overall, this may not be the most sophisticated smartphone on the market, but for the price, the LG Optimus One is hard to beat.  Good connectivity and relatively fast browsing as well as a decent selection of Android apps add to its appeal, with particularly good results from its GPS.

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Mobile Phone Handsets with Multi-Media Functions

November 6th, 2011 | Blackberry, HTC, Mobile Phones, Motorola, Nokia

With a wide range of mobile phones to choose from, each suited to budget and lifestyle, there is one for everyone.  Handsets come in all shapes and sizes with a large selection of functions including 3G, video, email and voice-activated calling.  Below are three mobile phone manufacturers currently dominating the market:

Motorola

Motorola mobile phone reviews include handsets with the Android operating system led by Google, such as Motorola Atrix, Motorola Flipout and Motorola Fire.  With a large collection of apps available to download in the Android Market, the Android handset is ideal for those wishing to get more out of their phone with multi-media capabilities.

HTC

Many of the HTC handset range use the Android operating system, making these phones stylish and multi-functional handsets.  Popular choices for HTC handsets in the UK are HTC Desire S, HTC Incredible S and HTC Sensation, with their colourful display, rich internet experience and access to the Android Market.  The home screen displays up-to-date weather information, shortcuts to the Android Market and other functions.

Blackberry

What is Blackberry? Featuring a long line of handsets with multi-media capabilities, Blackberry manufactures mobile phones with functions such as music, video, social media apps and its unique Blackberry Messenger.  Handsets include Blackberry Curve, Blackberry Torch and Blackberry Pearl.

Nokia

From low budget handsets to high-end smartphones, Nokia mobile phones come in a range of styles and price brackets.  The Nseries range such as Nokia N8, Nokia N97 Mini and Nokia N97 Classic include a large display, quick and easy browsing, email client and and rich multi-media content.

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Android Sat Nav Applications

November 2nd, 2011 | Android, Apps, Mobile Phones

In the UK, Android sat nav apps are free to Android smartphone subscribers.  This is a great reason to use Android.  Also on offer is the superb Google Navigation programme, which is absolutely free to users of Android smartphones.  This is an exclusive Android offer and no other smartphone company offers this service.  One of the finest features of the Google sat nav is the voice control feature which allows the user to simply speak rather than type in the destination though this app does offer various search options to choose from.  The user can also select either the overhead or ground level view for faster and easier access.  A journey can be planned by car, by foot or via public transport with Android sat nav.

Google sat nav has long been considered the very best of sat nav apps on offer today and with this money-saving extra included in the cost of an Android smartphone, this must be one of the best deals of the year.

However, if the user requires the Android smartphone to operate as a sat nav on a regular basis then there is also inexpensive, and exclusive to Android smartphone users, sat nav software which can be purchased to enhance the service. 

Whether Google Navigation suffices, or whether the user wishes to purchase additional low-cost apps, Android sat nav is one of the finest and most cost effective systems on the market.

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Online fears for personal details

October 26th, 2011 | Internet News, News

Statistics have shown that 3 out of 4 people believe that websites and online firms are not keeping their personal details secure.

It is thought by over two thirds of Britain’s that outstanding laws fail to provide adequate protection to personal information with 3 in 5 people saying that they believe that they have lost control over how the personal information is stored and processed.

1,200 people took part in a survey for the ICO which showed the confidence of the public falling. Less than half of those surveyed thought organisations handle personal information in a fair and proper way which is 56% less than last year.

Online firms were of most concern. With only one in four agreeing that web-based organisations keep details in a secure way.

Christopher Graham, an information commissioner, said: “The fact is that security breaches in the private sector are on the rise, and public confidence in good information handling is declining. Companies need to consider the damage that can be done to a brand’s reputation when data is not handled properly. Customers will turn away from brands that let them down.”

It was also added that the number of data security breaches within the private sector has increased 58% so far this year, compared to last.

The director of the campaign group Big Brother Watch, said: “The Data Protection Act is 13 years old and it is staggering that in both the public and private sectors, the majority of organisations still do not understand their obligations under the Act. Personal information is a critical part of protecting our privacy in a digital age. With instances of personal information being lost or accessed inappropriately continuing to rise, up 58% in the past year, Government needs to do far more to ensure privacy is protected with adequate legal safeguards.”

The ICO survey questioned 1,241 people between August 8 and September 3.

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Samsung looks to halt Apple iPhone 4S sales

October 19th, 2011 | Apple, News, Samsung

As a continuation of the battle for phone supremacy between Apple and Samsung, the latter have decided that they are going to try and ban the sales of iPhone 4S in Australia and Japan. They have also tried to halt the sales in France and Italy claiming patent infringement by Apple.

Continuing the saga has seen Apple temporarily ban the sale of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Australia. The legal battle with Samsung involves smartphones and tablet PCs and various infringements between both sides.

According to Samsung: “Apple has continued to violate our patent rights and free ride on our technology. We will no longer stand idly by and will steadfastly protect our intellectual property.”
There have been claims and counter claims between both parties however at the moment Apple seems to be edging from in the legal battle. Last week, a judge in the US ruled that Samsung’s tablets infringed patents owned by Apple. However she did say that Apple needed to prove the validity of those patents in order to win an injunction preventing the sale of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab. This came after sale of Samsung’s Galaxy tab 10.1 in the country. Apple has also had success in Germany, with the Galaxy Tab 10.1 being banned from sale.

Unfortunately for Samsung their plea for a sales ban against some of Apple products was rejected last Friday by a Dutch court.

Apple v Samsung

Apple v Samsung

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Problem for BlackBerry and BlackBerry users

October 12th, 2011 | Blackberry, News

There have been sporadic blackouts of loss of service for BlackBerry users Europe, the Middle East and Africa; this has now spread to parts of America, with many people taking to Twitter to complain about a lack of email. The blackouts are blamed on a backlog of emails to Europe from Asia and the Americas.

America has only just started to suffer the blackout, while other parts have been struggling for the past two days. According to BlackBerry owners RIM “It is a backlog issue,” Their software vice president David Yach told a press conference in Ottawa, Canada. “Clearly we have a backlog in Europe… as you can imagine, with the global reach of Blackberry and people using it to contact others around the world, there’s a lot of messages to Europe from Asia and the Americas. Over time that backlog has built up and affected our other systems.”

Over time people in the US became increasingly frustrated at the lack of service, especially after being told there were no problems. RIM acknowledged that it was still experiencing problems and apologised for the inconvenience. “The messaging and browsing delays… in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, India, Brazil, Chile and Argentina were caused by a core switch failure within RIM’s infrastructure,” a company statement said. “Although the system is designed to failover to a back-up switch, the failover did not function as previously tested. As a result, a large backlog of data was generated and we are now working to clear that backlog and restore normal service as quickly as possible.”

Many people were left without the use of their email, web browsing and Blackberry Messaging (BBM) services, some services more integral than others for some users.

BlackBerry Problems

BlackBerry Problems

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