Latest Gadgets, Tablets and Smartphones
Sweden could soon switch to using text messages to pay for postage stamps. When available, users will be able to text a certain number with details of what they are sending. A code will then be sent back by text which can then be written on the parcel.
The code will be unique and when scanned through the postal system, will be recognized as postage being paid for. [Read more…]
HTC has announced several new smartphones today. The first two are the HTC ChaCha and the HTC Salsa.
HTC has designed this pair of smartphones to function as “Facebook phones” in that the HTC Sense UI designed for these devices, heavily integrates Facebook connectivity.
Both phones feature a dedicated Facebook button allowing one-touch access to the social network. The Sense UI also integrates Facebook through out the functions of both smartphones. [Read more…]
Over the weekend, a new version of Fring for iPhone was added to the app store. The new version brings FringOut to the iPhone allowing users to make calls worldwide for a fraction of the cost of regular international calls.
As well as bringing FringOut to the iPhone, the company is also offering a free $5 credit for iPhone users stuck in airports. There’s a procedure to follow where you send a picture of your ticket to Fring via Twitter and when validated, you get free $5 credit to make calls to those you might be missing. [Read more…]
Nokia Siemens has provided some interesting details that indicated the latest iOS 4.2.1 update Apple [AAPL] released last week, includes some new tech that helps reduce congestion on cellular networks. In doing this, it also increases battery life by decreasing network usage on the phone.
Nokia Siemens Networks is one of the worlds top suppliers when it comes to cellular infrastructure. The company also points out that Nokia Smartphones have also included this tech in the basebands of the phones since the beginning of this year. With Nokia and Apple both using the new tech, it will certainly take a lot of strain off the networks given that they account for more than half of the smartphone sales from what NSN says. [Read more…]
PCWorld is reporting today that the Symbian Foundation will be taking the Symbian mobile operating system off line on December 17th. After that, the only way to get a copy of the software will be to pay to have a physical media version shipped. Full details of that process will be detailed on the Symbian website found here. [Read more…]
The team behind the Swype virtual keyboard have now released a new version for Symbian^3 devices. This includes the Nokia N8 and the Nokia C7 at the moment.
The Swype keyboard, for those that don’t know, is a virtual keyboard that allows you to swipe across the letters on the screen to spell a word. By gliding your finger to each letter without releasing your finger off the screen, you can generally input text faster than tapping away with your thumbs. [Read more…]
The Nokia N8 has a 12 megapixel camera sensor built in. This however, wont be the record for long it seems as Sony is trying to up the game a little by creating a 16.41 megapixel sensor. This is, from what we understand, the worlds largest capacity sensor available for a smartphone.
The sensor measures 1/2.8 inch and is a back-illuminated Exmor R type sensor with the model number of IMX081PQ.
It is capable at capturing video at 30 frames per second with a resolution of 1080p. Drop that down to 720p and you can get up to 60 frames per second. [Read more…]
Windows Phone 7 hardware is classified in “chassis”. The main Chassis that all current test devices have been are Chassis 1 devices which basically means a large screen covering the face of the device with just three physical buttons below the screen. An optional slide out QWERTY keyboard also falls in to the Chassis 1 category with the LG C900 and LG GW910 being the only Windows Phone 7 devices that currently use that option.
Chassis 2 details have now been revealed. The screen resolution on these devices will be 480 x 320 which leaves room for a physical QWERTY keyboard on the front of the device, ie like a BlackBerry or E series Nokia.
WP7 devices will have one of two screen resolutions – either 800 x 480 for large touchscreen devices with the potential for slide-out Qwerty keyboards, or 480 x 320 for ‘BlackBerry’ style handsets that can incorporate a Qwerty on the front of the device. Microsoft expects the majority of WP7 devices to have the larger screen resolution at launch, with smaller resolution handsets coming later, said Foster.
Fring has launched a new service called FringOut. FringOut is a service that lets you make cheaper international calls that begin at under 1 cent per minute in cost.
Right now only Nokia S60 devices can use FringOut although Fring has commented that the software will be soon rolled out to the iPhone as well as Android based smartphones.
If you are running a Nokia S60 device you can grab the Fring install now. Once installed you’ll need to signup for the FringOut service. When you have registered you’ll then be able to start making international calls from your smartphone at low rates. [Read more…]
Swype is a keyboard available for Android OS based devices that lets you draw between the characters of words to enter text on a virtual keyboard. By using the Swype system to enter text, it allows for text entry up to about 40 words per minute.
Swype is now landing on Symbian touchscreen devices and has been made compatible with several Nokia S60 5th Edition touchscreen phones which includes the Nokia 5800, Nokia 5230, Nokia X6, Nokia N97 and Nokia N97 mini. [Read more…]
Orange in the UK has launched HD Voice calling. The service is designed to cut out background noise while calling to provide crystal clear calls.
To make use of the service (which starts today), you need to have a HD voice enabled phone.
HD Voice offers a proven improvement in the sound quality of traditional mobile voice calls. The service eliminates the distance between friends, relatives and colleagues to make callers voices sound like they do when communicating face to face. Reducing the background noise, hisses and crackles of normal mobile calls, HD Voice also excels in noisy environments, so whether you’re at a football match or concert, on a building site or next to heavy traffic – HD Voice gives louder, clearer, sharper mobile calls. This will come as a relief for a third (32%) of Brits who blame background noise including road works or noisy chatty friends as the biggest disturbance in conversations.
Chinavasion has launched a new USB Hub that has a solar panel built in. The Solar USB Hub is capable of acting as a regular USB hub and allows for four devices to be connected up to it.
As well as acting as a regular USB hub, the device also has a lithium battery built in that is charged by either the solar panel or by an AC adapter allowing you to have a source of power for your smartphone or MP3 player whilst on the go.
Ten different adapters are provided with the Solar USB Hub allowing a vast array of smartphones to be connected to it. The adapters are compatible with PDA’s, BlackBerry, Nokia, Motorola, HTC, LG, Samsung and Sony Ericsson devices. [Read more…]
