New Samsung Monte Cell Phone S5620 Review and Price
New Samsung Monte Cell Phone (S5620) Review and Price. With the new iPhone having just been released, and the constantly growing abundance of Android phones on the market, for those looking for a new phone it can be irritatingly complex trying to choose the right one. There are some which are fairly pretentious, attempting to rival the likes of the iPhone 4, Nexus One and HTC Desire without much success and there are those which simply don’t make the most of the resources available to them, such as the Sony Ericsson Satio or Aino. However, after testing the Samsung Monte (S5620) for just a few days, I really feel as though I’ve stumbled across a hidden gem.
So why is the Samsung Monte so special you may ask? Well, not only does it come packed in a comfortable and compact form factor; it doesn’t look half bad either. With the majority of the casing being a glossy black and the sides, speaker and the edges of the buttons wearing a contrasting silver finish, it perhaps won’t be the first phone which leaps off of the shelf at you, but at the same time you certainly won’t attract many peculiar looks with it pressed against your ear or held in your hand.
Furthermore, the sleek phone has a real sense of identity. It just appears to know its own capabilities whilst all the while knowing its limits too. Processing speed, memory and the likes are far from the forefront of the phones spec lists and promotions, multitasking is a no-no, but a huge array of applications and expert social integration makes all of that completely unnecessary in the Samsung Monte.
New Samsung Monte Mobile Phone Hardware
As I have already touched upon, the phone is centred around social networking, so how this relates to the hardware is a desperate need for network connectivity on the move. Happily, not only does the Samsung Monte boast Wi-Fi connectivity, HSDPA 3.6Mbps is also built in for real mobile connectivity. Both of which perform as you would expect, however obviously it is dependant on the network you are using.
Aside from connectivity, the phone has a relatively modest 3.2 megapixel camera with Smile Shot, delaying the snap until it detects a smile, which could really do with some sort of lens cover, but is ultimately as good as you could imagine for a budget phone.
The 3.0” touch-screen is hardly the most spacious you will come across, but provides ample room for browsing the web, checking e-mail etc. the WQVGA LCD capacitive screen is extremely responsive and vastly superior to many resistive screens I have used in the past.
Some other interesting and useful features hardware-wise is the inclusion of a Micro-SD slot which can obviously be used to expand the limited internal storage, a 3.5mm headphone jack and a mini-USB port found on the top of the device.
Aesthetically, I have already sung the Samsung Monte’s praises, however it is worth mentioning that the glossy finish can after even a short period of use become smeared with fingerprints, dirty marks and other unwelcome blemishes.
New Samsung Monte Cell Phone Software
This is where the Monte really comes into its own. Again with a definite social networking aspect, featuring more apps by default than the iPhone including Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Bebo, Friendster, Photobucket, Flickr, Picasa, Instant Messaging, Google Search and Mail, as well as Yahoo Search, BBC iPlayer, a music player, FM Radio and several games. That’s not all of them either but I fear a bout of RSI should I list them all.
All of these apps are accessible through the main menu, however another great addition to the phones TouchWiz UI is a favourite of Samsung of late, is the inclusion of widgets which you can add to the home screen simply via opening up a menu on the home screen itself. Simplicity is key and it delivers extremely well. Once the widgets for sites such as iPlayer, Facebook or tools such as Wi-Fi or Google Search are added, they are accessible through any of the three home screens which you can navigate between by a simple swipe on the 3” Touch-Screen in either direction and widgets are easily arranged too using a drag & drop method.
Other great software packed into the phone is the Internet browser which although functional is unfortunately fairly limited in terms of space due to the small screen. However, for locating some information on the web is easily done, and due to the specifically designed apps, most of the social side of the web isn’t even necessary. In addition to that you have GPS software, which makes use of the necessary hardware.
New Samsung Monte Cell Phone Review Summary
So, a vast collection of applications, the majority of which centred around social networking, the Samsung Monte (S5620) is very much a contender in the mobile phone market. You can buy the phone (sim-free) for under £150 from Amazon, a bargain when you consider the level at which it delivers probably the greatest range of social networking applications on any phone, all free of charge.
Though not the most spectacular set of spec you have ever come across, the innards of the Monte are more than capable of handling your social stuff, which ultimately is the entire purpose. The camera is also sufficient for the odd snap and making phone calls is as good as should be expected.
What is important is your level of expectancy with this phone. For under £150 you are not going to get the level of quality or functionality you find in the likes of the iPhone or Nexus One, but the Samsung Monte (S5620) provides a good enough mix of quality hardware and vast quantities of functional software and won’t leave you disappointed.
Blackberry Bold 9800 Slider touchscreen handset price
Upcoming BlackBerry Bold 9800 touchscreen phone physical keyboard. Along with the Apple iPhone 4 and the Nokia N8, the new Blackberry Bold 9800 Slider is one of the most anticipated smartphones of the year. Providing all we love about Blackberry, and combining it with a sublime touchscreen, it’s a formidable package. How much is it likely to cost though? Join us after the cut to find out…
The new BlackBerry Bold 9800, one of RIM’s next smartphone will be launched in the second half of the year. The BlackBerry Bold 9800, besides being equipped with the new BlackBerry OS 6.0, is characterized by the presence of a touchscreen and a full sliding QWERTY physical keyboard.
Out of all the handsets set to be released this year, the Blackberry Bold 9800 Slider is one of the devices we’re the most excited about. With an excellent QWERTY keypad in place, it’ll be just as good as existing Blackberry models when it comes to email use, yet you’ll also find a large touchscreen display in place.
Everything you need to know about the Blackberry Bold 9800 Slider
As always, it’s likely that you’ll be able to get the Blackberry Bold 9800 Slider for free, with the price of the handset subsidised by a network carrier. However, if you do that, it’s also likely that you’ll be stuck on a 24-month contract – at least initially – paying a hefty premium.
Check out the latest Blackberry deals
If you don’t use the phone that much, it may make better financial sense to buy your Blackberry Bold 9800 Slider on a SIM free package. This will cost you more initially – the Apple iPhone is currently on sale at £499 SIM free, and although the Blackberry Bold 9800 slider is likely to be cheaper it gives a good indication of how expensive these handsets can be.
However, factor that cost over a period of time – such as 24 months – and things start to look a lot cheaper. If you opt for a budget Pay as You Go SIM card, or a cheap contract, it could work out much cheaper than signing a contract – with the added benefit of being able to buy a new phone whenever you want.
How much will you pay for the Blackberry Bold 9800 Slider? Should it be a lot cheaper than the Apple iPhone 4? Leave a comment below and let us know.
Bluetooth mobile phone Advertising software Free Download
Bluetooth mobile phone Advertising software Free Download. Bluetooth Advertising software 3.1.1.10 free download online. Free Bluetooth Advertising software Download at mobile-cell-phone.org.
Bluetooth is a standard feature in virtually every modern portable device. Although it’s primarily used for wireless connectivity with a number of accessories, it may be utilized differently in a fairly unusual manner. Have you ever considered using Bluetooth as a means of ad content delivery? If not, there is an application that can help you draw more customers to your business!Bluetooth Advertising Software is a tool that enables you to send advertising files to mobile devices within the efficient range. You can send all kinds of files — from simple text to videos and sound messages. The software is fully automated, so all you need to do is set it up once and let it do the rest. The good thing about Bluetooth Advertising Software is that the files you send are not automatically stored to recipients’ devices. Users can accept or reject your messages, which makes this method of delivery different from spamming, where no choice is offered. Messages can be sent to devices located within 100 meters from the transmitter (depending on your Bluetooth hardware). Other features include the ability to scan the area for Bluetooth-enabled devices of different types and then select the ones your messages will be delivered to.If you are looking for a non-conventional and fresh idea for your advertising strategy, try Bluetooth Advertising Software! It extremely easy to use, affordable and may give your sales a solid boost!
Bluetooth Advertising software is a free to try software. You can free download and try it for an evaluation period.
- License Shareware
- Date Added 01 June, 2010
- Price: $29.50
- Category Business & Finance / Applications
- Filesize 6.1 MB
- Author RoverSoft
Android OS 2.2 Froyo Update for Verizon Motorola Droid Cell Phone
Verizon Motorola Droid Android 2.2 Froyo Update: How To Update Motorola Droid OS. Download Free Android 2.2 Froyo Update for Motorola Droid. Verizon DROID and DROID X cell phone will get Android 2.2 Froyo. By the end of August the Droid and Droid X cell phone will have Froyo. Now that the official 2.2 source code is out I’m eagerly awaiting the first custom ROMs built off that, but really couldn’t care less when OTA Froyo is released to everyone. I think the Droid X should be released with 2.2. Either way my Droid is waiting for 2.2. Motorola Droid to get Android 2.2 in July, Droid X in August.
Android OS Upgrade Details
Droid X customers will receive Android 2.2 and Adobe Flash Player 10.1 in the latter half of the summer with an over-the-air update. Current Droid by Motorola customers will receive the updates this summer as well!
Motorola Droid can get an update to Android OS 2.2 Froyo. Yes, it’s been almost a month since Google released the Android OS 2.2 update but Motorola or Verizon has so far failed to update the units of existing Motorola Droid phone owners. They keep promising an Over-The-Air (OTA) update since last week of May but up until now, I am still waiting in vain. If you are suffering the same predicament and can no longer wait for the official Froyo update, there already is an unofficial way to update your Droid. A hacker has managed to create a compatible kernel with Android 2.2 Froyo OS for Motorola Droid and he is giving it away for free. Take note that you need to have a rooted Droid phone for this method to work. If you don’t know how to root your droid, don’t bother making an attempt to do this trick.
Download Free Android 2.2 Froyo Update for Motorola Droid, Rooted Motorola Droid Phones Upgrade to Froyo Android 2.2 OS.
Again, please heed this warning that this unofficial way to update your Motorola Droid will involve the use of overclocked kernels. But if you already rooted your phone which already voided your warranty, why not go all the way and show Verizon and Motorola just how clever you can be. Here is the first step you should do, go to this website and choose the kernel which will work best with your phone. I downloaded the 125 MHz kernel for standard voltage and 1000 clock speed. After which, you have two options on how to proceed. Choose which method you feel most comfortable doing.
How to Install Instructions for ClockWorkRecovery
1) from your phone download by selecting the link below (must use the correct recovery link)
2) using a file explorer, on your phone, move the downloaded file from your download folder (/sdcard/download) to the root of your sdcard (/sdcard)
3) restart phone in recovery mode, select install zip, disable asserts, select zip
How to Install Instructions for SPRecovery
1) from your phone download by selecting the link below (must use the correct recovery link)
2) using a file explorer, on your phone, move the downloaded file from your download folder (/sdcard /download) to the root of your sdcard (/sdcard)
3) rename downloaded file to update.zip
4) restart phone in recovery mode, select install update.zip
Once you successfully accomplished this easy task. You still need to fix the WiFi issue. Download and install the patch for it and the other patch for USB fix. This set of procedures isn’t complicated – I was able to do it correctly on the first try! Good luck and enjoy your Android 2.2 OS Froyo on your Motorola Droid! We’ll publish more of these Android OS hacks in the future when they are ready and tested. Also in line are topics on Sprint Motorola i1 android phone hack. Bookmark us now to receive these updates when they become available.
Google Nexus One Smartphone Price and Software Update
Google Nexus One mobile phone runs Android 2.1 same OS software as iPod Touch cell phone. Google Nexus One Smartphone Price released in UK. An over-the-air free software update for users of its new Nexus One smartphone. The update will come via the telephone network instead of having to plug it into a computer and download the software.
Google’s new ‘superphone’, the Nexus One Web meets phone, has been the topic of many conversations since its release a day before CES began in January. Released subsidised in the US, and also available unlocked to the UK, Singapore and Hong Kong from Google directly or you can get it on contract with Vodafone UK, it comes packed with a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 512MB RAM and a 5MP camera (more on that later on).
Shipping and Initial Setup
The cost of the phone from Google is $529, although you’ll also have to consider international shipping costs of $29.65. DHL’s tracking service was great to have when biting my nails to see where my phone was, although it took an extra day to arrive after landing in the UK due to a shipping mix up – it was destined for Gatwick instead of Manchester, but I was just grateful that my Nexus One didn’t end up in Uganda…
As I was buying the phone without a contract, I deliberated on which network to opt for to use with the N1. I eventually decided to go for a SIM-only deal with 3 Mobile, offering unlimited texts, 300 minutes and unlimited data for £15 a month. There’s a Fair Usage Policy of 1GB data a month, but judging off my current usage, it should (just) be enough.
Because I’m using a 3 Mobile SIM card, the first thing I had to do was manually set up the APN settings for my network. This was a straight forward process, with the Access Point Names located in Settings > Wireless & Networks > Mobile Networks. With everything good to go, I wasted no time in getting everything set up the way I like it, and it’s been a wonderfully straight forward process so far.
Google Nexus One Hardware
The first thing you’ll notice when you first see the Nexus One is how sleek and lightweight the device is, even when compared to devices such as the iPhone 3GS. It feels sturdy in your hand, and is pleasant to hold and navigate. I was slightly cautious of this, because I’d never seen a Nexus One in person before purchasing, but it doesn’t disappoint aesthetically.
Despite this, I was, and still am, curious as to why Google saw a need for the inclusion of a trackball below the screen. I use the touch screen to navigate every aspect of the OS and never touch the trackball, although other people I’ve spoken to seem to appreciate its inclusion for those who may be new to the smartphone scene and still appreciate a physical navigation tool other than the touch screen.
The screen itself is one of the best I’ve seen on a mobile phone, with a 3.7” AMOLED display with a high resolution of 480×800 which puts the iPhone display to shame when compared side by side… It’s extremely sharp and the brightness reaches very impressive levels. Despite this, I struggled to see the phone clearly outdoors if I wasn’t at a high brightness level, so this should be taken in to account if you spend a lot of your time outdoors.
Directly below the screen are 4 illuminated softkeys: Back, Menu, Home and Search. These come in use a lot more than I thought they would on a mainly touchscreen based device, with all applications utilising the Menu function rather than an on screen menu. This is apparent across the board with Android phones, with devices such as Motorola’s Milestone (or Droid) sporting the same four button layout. It’s definitely a good thing to see standardisation across the board, which will hopefully be adopted in the future and make it easier for users to switch from one Android device to another.
Also packed in to the curved body of the Nexus One is a 4GB microSD as standard, which can be expanded to up to 32GB, 802.11n Wi-Fi and that 5MP camera I mentioned earlier. Although it protrudes slightly from the back of the device, the Nexus One maintains its flush appearance, with the LED flash sitting next to the camera. You’ll find a 2x digital zoom and geo-tagging with the help of the phone’s GPS receiver. The quality of photos taken on the Nexus One is certainly helped by the 5MP sensor, and sees a nice increase in quality when compared to other popular smartphones. Although some pictures may not be perfect, and taking a picture in daylight is difficult with the AMOLED display, it’s certainly noteworthy when looking at smartphone cameras.
There’s no doubt that HTC and Google have produced what is undoubtedly the best looking, and most powerful, Android device on the market today with the Nexus One. It has looks that rival that of the iPhone and a 1GHz chip to match. Although it has a few downfalls here and there, they are definitely overshadowed by the intricate design process that have resulted in a great looking device.
Google Nexus One Software
So what’s driving this great hardware? The Nexus One runs Android 2.1, which makes quite a few changes, giving you great performance and a sleeker GUI that’s easier to use and comes packed with attractive additions compared to previous versions of Android.
Navigation of the home screen has been improved greatly, with Google taking a lesson from HTC’s brilliant looking Sense UI and giving the user 5 home screens which can each house different widgets and application launchers. Notifications are accessed via the menu bar which drops down to reveal ongoing notifications, such as new email or messages.
The revamped home screen also includes some other tweaks: if you hold down the home screen dots at either side of the screen, you’re given an overview of everything running on each of your five home screens without having to scroll to one and see what it contains. Selecting the grid icon in the middle of the home screen presents you with a 3D scrolling application view.
These additions show how much progress Google have made in the short time since the initial release of Android, and shows off what the 1GHz chip inside the Nexus One is capable of. There are no performance issues, even when heavily multitasking, and I’ve noticed no lag when switching between applications and flicking through the home screens packed with widgets and shortcuts.
A major change has been applied to the Android’s Gallery application with the introduction of the Nexus One, with a vastly superior aesthetic quality compared to the somber look of the Gallery app found on previous Android versions. When you open the gallery, your photos appear in a stack like view, stacked on top of one another where you can take a look at different groups of your photos, expand a group or view them in a slideshow.
A feature I myself was rather excited to try out was the new voice-to-text feature you’ll find in Android 2.1. Not only does it allow you to use voice-to-text in specific text boxes, but everywhere you can enter text, you can dictate to the phone via an extra key added to the keyboard. Now don’t get me wrong, speaking your Zath Facebook updates has a rather geeky appeal, but it’s not a feature I find myself using regularly. Despite this, it’s certainly a nice touch and it’s surprisingly accurate when there’s little background noise to distract from what you’re saying.
Arguably the most influential buying decision for most when the Nexus One hits the UK is the native inclusion of multi-touch in both the browser and maps. Like the Milestone, this was rumoured to be included anyway in the European version of the phone, but to know it’s a feature you’ll definitely have is a decision changer. I for one am far more comfortable using pinch to zoom in the browser and maps over a double tap to zoom and pan after using the iPod Touch and iPhone for a considerable length of time.
Google Nexus One In Summary
We’ve been over the hardware and software of the Nexus One, and in my opinion it’s the best Android device available on the market. When the specs for the phone were first leaked in December and rumours spread about a Google Nexus One mobile phone, I wondered how such a device would utilise a 1GHz processor and 512MB RAM; after all, it is still a smartphone. After using the device for a few days now, the 1GHz chip in the Nexus One accompanied by a great OS that takes advantage of all the power available to it makes for the best smartphone experience I’ve encountered.
Coming from the iPhone OS, I’ve appreciated the level of customisation one can apply to Android. Where the iPhone OS is very restricted when it comes to customisation (unless you jailbreak your device), using Android is almost like an open door allowing you to do what you want and mould it in to the best device for you. There’s also a certain satisfaction in using my GameBoy and NES emulators, or remotely controlling P2P on my computer, and knowing that it would never hit the iPhone’s app store…
If you’re in the market for a new Android device now, you should look no further than the Google Nexus One as it’s without a doubt the best choice on the market. If you can wait a few months, you may be tempted to hold out for the HTC Desire, which is identical to the Nexus One specs wise, but comes with an optical sensor in place of the Nexus’ trackball.
What do you think? Is the Nexus One indeed an iPhone killer, or another over hyped smartphone in a saturated market? Let us know your thoughts on the “Google Phone” in the comments section below.
Add Google Buzz, Facebook and Twitter on your mobile phone
Google Buzz is a social networking and messaging tool from Google. Add Google Buzz, Facebook and Twitter Social Network on your mobile phone. Add Google Buzz, Facebook and Twitter on your mobile phoneWell Google recently released Buzz (didn’t Yahoo do that a few years back?) upon GMail users and anyone else who wants to sign up for a Google account, but the question is will it be the thing to beat Facebook and Twitter? I’m sure Google now hopes so, but I’m yet to be convinced.
Besides, I already use Twitter and Facebook, do I really need another social network? Don’t know what I’m talking about? You can read all about it in this Google Buzz features review.
I’m really not sure about Google Buzz, it seems strange for a company who keeps services in beta for years upon end (like they did with having Google Mail in beta for around 5 years), to release a previously unheard of product onto the world…and one that seemed to care little about your privacy of the contacts that you email regularly, but that perhaps just says more about a bunch of engineers creating and testing Google Buzz and their naivety over how it could be used for more malicious activities, take a look at our most recent technology roundup for more information on that.
Anyway, Google quickly did an u-turn on auto-following your most contacted people which could then be seen by anyone looking at your Google Profile – so well done to them with the quick response, but that too along with the lack of the Beta label almost suggests how highly Google places this in its priorities for further improving its search engine data by having its own social network data to build into its algorithms.
I’ve only had a quick play with it since it got put on my GMail account – on the one hand, I like the way it could pull together different sources of my info and consolidate stuff, but the thought of having another thing to check (as well as Twitter and Facebook) could become too much of a job in itself…especially when it’s sat there within your email interface when I’ve got plenty of work from that to do already. I’ve turned Google Buzz off by clicking the link at the bottom of the GMail page for now.
Buzz also brings with it geographical updates (not for the first time, but these are probably more sensible than real-time tracking that we saw in Google Latitude) which I’ve admittedly not really tested myself as I’m still unconvinced location-based services such as Foursquare and Gowalla – even if you do use those facilities, I find it’s often a tough sell to your friends to use them and having your friends use them is the whole point surely? If and when Facebook start doing location update/check-ins, that when I’m sure it’ll become more popular. In the meantime you can read up on what the Google Buzz location services can do.
Overall, it reminds me of Friendfeed, which aggregated different feeds into one place, but I never used that because it was so easy to get overwhelmed by it all and ultimately was far too much of a big distraction for me personally. It did feel like more of a job checking it rather than something you could skim over in a few seconds and move on – I like that Twitter has a 140 character limit, it keeps things short and easy to deal with, if I need more than those 140 characters then I can use email surely?
I’m rather cautious when it comes to Google trying social/real-time stuff, Orkut is only really popular in Brazil and I was never convinced by Google Wave from the first announcement video onwards and it’s still looking like an over-hyped collaborative working service.
That said I didn’t like Twitter when I first looked at it and it was only when it developed and looked into its possibilities in greater depth that I was sold on it, so who knows, Google Buzz might become huge, no doubt it’ll get fully integrated into future versions of Android, so it might become much easier to use on your mobile phones such as the Google Nexus One.
For me Google Buzz as a social network does need that further development, but I’m also sure it’ll get that given it seems Google is taking this project seriously, perhaps in a few months time I might then take another look at it, especially if I do have an Android mobile phone by then!
Apple iPad Tablet Computer price, pictures and video
Apple iPad Tablet: iPod Touch screen Computer price, ipad pictures and video review. So with the Apple iPad having finally been confirmed, anyone and everyone has been having their say on various tech blogs and sites around the web. So what sort of reception has the supposed blockbuster device had over the past couple of hours? Have Apple blown our minds again? Or have they finally dropped the ball?
Well… I think it’s fair to say that the general consensus is that it’s not a lot more than a giant iPhone (or perhaps I should say an iPod Touch). The guys over at Engadget have been lucky enough to get a hands-on with the iPad and they describe it as ‘not light’ and ‘pretty weighty in your hand’. An extraordinary amount of readers left comments expanding on this, going on to say “The thing is really an oversized iPhone, Apple finally fails”. It certainly makes interesting reading. Such a device coming from a company that is usually so reliable when it comes to wowing us with revolutionary devices.
Other complaints follow a consistent theme too. For example, one enraged reader says “No multitasking, no flash, no buy. That simple”. Another, “no flash, no multitasking, no integrated webcam, no integrated physical keyboard, Seriously?”. It comes as a surprise to many that this device hasn’t taken the world by storm already. I believe that a lot of people feel extremely let down by this release.
Steve Jobs opened the keynote by describing it a “netbook killer”. It has also been labelled “the Kindle killer” and in terms of being an eBook reader, this thing will be held in the highest regard – would you want to go back to an Amazon Kindle 2 or Kindle DX after using one of these? I think it’s clear to everybody that the implementation of the “iBooks” is nothing short of incredible. However, for this price tag, I think people wanted a lot more.
Perhaps they got it? Being able to run the iPhone apps out of the box means it is an extremely capable touch gaming machine, although how the current games upscaled up to the iPad size will be interesting to see, however I’m sure we’ll see iPad versions of games soon. How will this affect sales of PSP’s, Nintendo DS’s, especially when you consider the price of these iPhone/iPad games compared to the £30 titles for the other handheld consoles?
When coupled with a physical keyboard, or even with the on screen keyboard being fairly good, how will this affect the sales of netbooks and laptops? Even Apple’s very own MacBook Pro? You’ve got to think that the Apple MacBook Air is dead in the water? Clearly they are designed for extremely different purposes, however with the introduction of iWork applications and such which has been regarded as a good move from Apple, could this mean people will be more reluctant to spend so much on a laptop with no 3G, no eBook reader, shorter battery life etc.
Perhaps this would be the perfect device for those people out there who don’t use computers yet? Surely, this could be a great user-friendly touch-based device for all those parents out there who haven’t wanted to learn how to use a full computer system?
Some other points that I have taken from the hands-on at Engadget are their particular references to a ‘stunning’ screen. They certainly don’t hold back their praise for this device, however they are slightly critical in some departments. Although, they call the processor ‘something to be marvelled at’, the machine is apparently extremely fast which is of course, an added benefit. But then, why no multitasking?
I think there are several aspects to the device which are missing. It has certainly got a lot of people’s backs up. I think most of it revolves around the fact that it is being perceived as too similar to the iPhone/iPod Touch? Is it just a giant version? Although, I’m sure some people will want that, for example if you travel a lot, having a device that can play 10hrs of videos on a flight or train journey, that would be quite an upgrade from an iPhone screen!
It’s most definitely going to be another closed Apple eco-system created for you to continually spend money on content. Also, no multi-tasking, no flash, no camera for video conferencing.
On the other hand, Steve Jobs described the pricing of the Apple iPad as a ‘miracle’. I believe this view is pretty much echoed throughout the web at the moment. The basic model being just $499, is somewhat cheap for an Apple product. Or is this just Apple conceding that anything higher just won’t sell? After all, once people have got them, they will be raking in the profits from applications and software etc.
Overall I believe that Apple have got a lot of marketing to do. A lot of promotion and publicity. The public generally, are left unconvinced and underwhelmed. I doubt it will be a flop though, I mean come on, it’s gorgeous! Plenty of people will buy a tablet device like the Apple iPad and they always will.
But what do you think? Do you *need* to get one? Or do you just *want* to get one? If you want one, do you just want the wifi version or do you need the 3G mobile internet (contract) version of the iPad?
Via – Engadget
Download Top 10 Free Android Apps For Your Mobile Phone
Top 10 Free Android Apps For Your Mobile Phone. Download Top 10 Free Android Apps for your lovely smartphone. If you’ve got an Android mobile phone such as the Nexus One, here are the all important apps you should take a look at…
My first Android powered mobile phone was the T-Mobile G1. Gosh I loved it. With its love or hate plastic build, easy to use functional QWERTY keyboard and all the social networking tools I could shake a stick at Android powered phones were definitely for me. Moving over from the likes of the iPhone 3GS, I jumped at the opportunity to go with an OS which was to me, for the customisation alone, better.
I now have a HTC Hero running Android 2.1 and love it – HTC Sense is no longer there, but some of the perks do remain. I can also cross use my apps which I love so much, that if they were to self delete themselves, I would cry – because quite simply I need them all. And so after testing out apps, Android powered phones and the whole shebang, I have drawn up a list of the top ten free Android apps you should have.
Therefore, if you’ve got an Android mobile phone such as the Nexus One, here are the all important apps you should take a look at…
1. Twidroid (Twitter)
Twidroid is quite simply the best Android app for Twitter usage. The free edition, which I have used for 4 months, has many of the features you would want from a Twitter app – with the paid version offering even more features, but not necessary ones. If you have an Android powered handset, and use Twitter – whether for personal or business use, then get this app! It is crazily good, and the UI is pleasing to look at.
Click here for Twidroid website
2. Google Sky Maps (Star Gazing / Astronomy)
Okay. This is admittedly not a practical app. A GPS app. An game app or an app which you would use to solve your lifes little problems, but boy is Google Sky Maps fun to use! For the novelty effect this app has on people you should really try it – people who already have it know what I am talking about, it is the one app which, show it an iPhone user, they will be pretty miffed about. Your mates will love it too. Point your phone at the sky, and it’ll map every single constellation imaginable.
Click here for Google Sky Maps website
3. Note Everything (Note Taking / Organisational)
Note Everything does exactly what is says on the tin! You can pretty much note anything using this app. You can note things in the format of text, paint, voice, checklists and photos. On top of this, shortcuts are very easy to create and you can link them to home, search, send notes, encrypt, reminders and Note Everything even runs with live folders! A must have app for the forgetful type.
Click here to go to a download link for Note Everything
4. Meebo IM (Instant Messaging)
Meebo IM is possibly the best instant messaging integration App. It is compatible with all IM account types – whether they be Google Talk, MSN, AOL, Yahoo or Facebook. Fairly fast yet it can be unreliable, but Meebo IM is great when it does work. In fact, it is an IM necessity.
Click here to for Meebo IM website
5. Advanced Task Killer (Task Manager)
Admittedly Android powered handsets can be a little sluggish sometimes, and sometimes take up to 3 seconds to close an app or web page. That’s because there is so much going on! But, if you are not feeling the love, then you could always download the free edition of Advanced Task Killer. It will display itself as a gadget, and after two clicks will free up your internal memory and rearrange files on your phone a little bit like a defragment! You will definitely see an improvement in performance, and it should reduce the lagginess Android comes with.
Click here for the ATK website
6. AP Mobile (News Aggregator)
Ap Mobile is a news App. And a brilliant one at that. It updates itself regularly, bringing you the latest headlines in every category imaginable – from nature, to technology, to politics, to business > you name it, they’ve got it covered. Free to download, and lots of fact binding up to date articles at your fingertips.
Click here for the AP Mobile website
7. Metal Detector (Fun / Novelty)
Yep. It is another un-practical app. But oh how you should try this. I bet you thought that your mobile phone compass was only good for, well, being a compass – right? Wrong! Download the Metal Detector App and you’ll be very surprised by the effectiveness of this app. It works for me through a wooden table top!
Click here to go to a download page for Metal Detector
8. Chomp SMS (Text Messaging)
Ahh! You are thinking, isn’t that the app with the exact same interface as the iPhones? Well, erm, yeah it is. But that is a good thing! I mean, it is very clean to look at and most of all is free ! I’m really not selling this one am I? Damn it. Okay, just try it – you’ll see it is a great app! Don’t know what it is? It turns your SMS interface into an iPhone replica. Yep, and don’t act like you do not like the iPhone interface.
Click here for the Chomp SMS website
9. Layar (Augmented Reality)
It is a strange app Layar. I use it for fun – as a gimmick, but it could be so much more. Basically, Layar uses your GPS, handset compass and camera to display information on your surroundings in real time. You can hold it in front of you, and see details on landmarks and points of interest, or search for something like ‘toaster’ and all the relevant locations will be up on your display quick time. Nice eh?
Click here for the Layar website
10. Phonebook (Contact Manager)
Last but not least comes Phonebook. What list would not be complete without it? It is really good for managing your contacts, the UI is very slick indeed and sthe app syncs your contacts with pictures and contextual information such as birthdays, missed calls and unread text messages. A nice management app which is totally free!
Click here for the Phonebook website
So there we have it, a complete list of the top ten free Android apps you can get. Do you guys have a favourite app? If so, then let us know! 
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Amazon Kindle 2.5 Software Update Free Download
Amazon Kindle 2.5 Software Update Released For Download. Amazon has released a new firmware update for both the Kindle 2 and Kindle DX, bringing some nice improvements to the software in terms of features, especially to us international Kindle users. Kindle Software Update Version 2.5
- Kindle Version 2.5 Overview
- Automatic Wireless Updates
- Applying Kindle Software Updates Manually
- Troubleshooting Update Issues
- Information for Kindle (1st Generation) Users
Kindle Version 2.5 Overview
We’re excited to announce that a new, free software update is now available for Kindle and will be automatically delivered to your device. The features included in this update are:
- Collections: Organize your books and documents into one or more collections.