Flickr Android app finally arrives

Along with new Photo Session feature

29 September 2011 14:08 GMT / By Paul Lamkin

  Flickr, the image hosting site with more than 50 million users, has finally come to the Android party - with its first official app hitting the Android Market.
As well as all the usual stuff you'd expect from a Flickr app, like photo browsing and managing your streams you can also use the in-app camera to create pictures using the custom filters that are available.
It's then easy to share your pictures with all the usual suspects; Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and so on, all within easy reach from inside the app.
Flickr is pretty community driven and, as such, there's already an official Flickr Android App group where you can share pictures and get hints and tips from other users.
As well as the app, Flickr has also introduced a new feature called Photo Session which lets you bore your friends, sorry, share your pictures in real time - across multiple devices. Like a slide show for the 21st century.
source: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/42312/flickr-android-app-finally-arrives

Sharp Aquos 3D Android phone comes to Europe with Orange

French deal hints at Sharp expansion

29 September 2011 16:36 GMT / By Paul Lamkin

  Back in May, over in Japan, Sharp unleashed yet another 3D Android handset - the Sharp Aquos Phone SH-12C 3D.
At the time we warned our UK readers not to hold their breath waiting for a UK release, although the chances of some Sharp 3D Android action here have improved somewhat with the news that Orange is releasing the SH-12C in France, labelled as the Sharp Aquos SH80F.
And whilst that in itself isn't too exciting for us Brits, it does raise hopes that Sharp has wider ambitions than the land of the rising sun for its smartphones. Sharp has been the top mobile phone supplier in Japan for for over five years with a market share of around 30 per cent but has made little or no impact in the western world.
And that's a shame because its latest smartphones pack quite a hardware -punch. The SH08F is a Gingerbread device, running on a 1.4GHz Qualcomm MSM8255CPU with 512MB of RAM and 2GB of ROM. The display is a fantastic sounding 4.2-inch qHD (540×960) 3D "New Mobile ASV Panel" and it's got a dual 8-megapixel camera for 3D photos and videos. It also packs HSDPA 14Mpbs, GPS and Bluetooth connectivity.
Masami Ohbatake, group general manager of the communication systems group at Sharp said: "Sharp is honoured to commercialise our new 3D smartphone with Orange, thanks to their new collaborative relationship with DoCoMo.
"The introduction of this product in Europe will offer new added value experiences for users through our one-of-a-kindtechnologies; such as our 3D display and 3D camera."
We first got wind of Sharp's 3D phone plans back in September 2010 when Pocket-lint was treated to a demo of its auto-stereoscopic technology as well as a concept 3D smartphone at IFA.
source: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/42318/sharp-aquos-3d-android-phone

Let's talk iPhone: 4 October Apple event confirmed

Invites sent out for Cupertino launch

27 September 2011 16:30 GMT / By Paul Lamkin

  Apple has begun sending out invites for an iPhone event at its Cupertino HQ that will take place on 4 October at 10am local time, 6pm UK time.
The invite is simply a number of Apple icons with the message: "Let's talk iPhone".
The iPhone 5 release date has long been a subject of rumour with speculation as to what's to come drumming up quite a debate online.
We're now not even sure if it is the iPhone 5 that will launch, or just a revamped iPhone 4 - dubbed the iPhone 4S - or both? Who knows? Well, a number of Apple employees no doubt do, so expect their new leader, Tim Cook, to share all the juicy details next week.
All four iPhone launch events so far have taken place at the Moscone Centre and both iPad media gatherings were at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. The switch to home ground at Cupertino suggests Apple wants control of the networks and do not want a repeat of the iPhone 4 launch shenanigans. An LTE iPhone perhaps? Or one packing NFC?
Looking at the icons chosen by Apple, it's all pretty straight forward. It's on Tuesday the 4th, at 10am, at Apple HQ. It's the little one missing call badge that's got us all a bother. Could it be that it means that there's just one phone coming? Or that if you add a 1 to the 4 in the calendar icon you get 5? Or could it be a reference to the "Assistant" feature that has been touted as you've missed a call?
Or could it mean nothing, and be designed simply to intrigue fanboy conspiracy theorists?
Rest assured Pocket-lint will be all over the event like a bad rash, so be sure to check back for all your iPhone 5 or iPhone 4S details then.
source: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/42276/iphone-5-event-4-october

Vodafone non-Apple Micro SIM coming, but for what phone?

EXCLUSIVE: The likely suspects?

27 September 2011 16:31 GMT / By Stuart Miles

  Vodafone has exclusively confirmed to Pocket-lint that it will be selling non Apple Micro SIM cards for devices other than the iPhone 4 and Apple iPad 2 in the "not too distant future", after we were tipped that the company was creating generic Micro SIMs without the iPhone or iPad branding on the packaging.
"We don't comment on rumour and speculation but we do regularly refresh Micro and regular SIM collateral to ensure it's clear and relevant to all customers with compatible devices. Our Micro SIMs would work in any device which requires a Micro SIM to connect to our network. Bar their size, there is no difference between a Micro SIM and regular SIM."
"Meh," we hear you cry, but hold on... There are currently no other devices on the market that use the Micro SIM, so technically, Vodafone has let the cat out of the bag about a yet to be launched device due imminently.
What could it be?
Well, we know that HTC is expected to be announcing new Android devices in the coming weeks, but the move to include a Micro SIM would be a radical change for the company. And while it could be a possibility, we aren’t so sure about the timings.
To introduce a new SIM card size this late in the year, and this late in its 2011 product portfolio, would be a strange move from HTC and one we seriously doubt will happen.
That leaves LG, Samsung, Motorola, Sony Ericsson and Nokia.
From what we can tell, LG hasn’t got any further smartphones or tablets primed for a 2011 launch. Motorola’s latest barrage of leaks didn’t imply Micro SIM was on board or that the phones would be launching any time soon; and Sony Ericsson, like LG, isn’t expected to launching anything more this year after the Arc S - and we've already seen that with a normal SIM card.
That leaves Samsung and Nokia.
Samsung still has the Ice Cream Sandwich-packed Nexus Prime on the horizon. Plus, both Samsung and Google have a strong history with Vodafone, hinting that the Prime will be packing a Micro SIM and be out shortly. It certainly fits the rumours.
But the other, and possibly more tempting, alternative for Micro SIM adoption is the forthcoming Nokia Windows Phone 7 device or devices (Nokia refuses to confirm either way). After all, we know at least one exists, as it was in Conor Pierce's (the general manager for UK and Ireland) pocket during our recent one-to-one briefing.
It certainly makes sense. Such a move by either phone maker could both save space in the handset for a smaller, thinner design, and allow iPhone 4 and, presumably, iPhone 5 users to seamlessly move over to the mystery smartphone without having to request another SIM card or faff around with a Micro SIM to regular SIM adapter.
source: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/42246/vodafone-non-apple-micro-sim-coming-soon

HTC event promises surprise headliner: HTC Sensation XL incoming?

Beats celebration on 6 October

27 September 2011 23:11 GMT / By Chris Hall

  It isn't every week in October that two of the biggest names in mobile phones line up events. Not only do we have Apple sending out invitations for the iPhone 5/4S launch for 4 October, but HTC have now confirmed their event on 6 October.
As HTC have done in the past, this is both a press event and an open invite event for HTC fans, with both invitations for press arriving in inboxes and a public invite going up on the HTC UK Facebook page.
Beats Audio is centre stage, with a simple earbud pictured, of the variety that you'll get with the HTC Sensation XE which we've brought pictures of previously.
The Facebook invitation reads "Come feel every beat", while the press invite offers up a simple "Into music? So are we."
A surprise headliner is promised, but we're more interested in the timing. With rumours reaching fever pitch about the new HTC Sensation XL, formerly the HTC Runnymede, and a leaked photo of the device showing the date "Oct 4" on the display, it might be this event where we get to see the device for the first time.
Those very same HTC Sensation XL pictures also show Beats Audio branding on the back, fitting the Beats theme of this confirmed event.
Of course, we could be wrong, but we'll be there to bring you the news whatever happens. If you want to get on the Guest List, you'll have to apply through the HTC Facebook page.
And the mystery guest? Could it be one of the Beats Artists - Sean Diddy Combs, Lady Gaga, Justin Beiber? Or Dr Dre himself? Not likely. Geeks as we are, we're hoping it's the Sensation XL.
source: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/42280/htc-sensation-xl-launch-uk-event

Nokia FourSquare gift machine hints at a freebie geo-location future

Free shizzle, just for being where you are

22 September 2011 14:28 GMT / By Paul Lamkin

  Up in Glasgow, at the city's Social Media Week, Nokia is getting busy giving away free gifts.
Nothing unusual there, big companies are always handing out goodies at trade shows and events to promote their brand. The giving is normally done by promo-girls in skimpy uniforms. The giving of free gifts that is - get your minds out of the gutter.
But what's unique about Nokia's giveaway is that it hints at a geo-targetted tourism future, where people are tempted into visiting places simply because they will gain out of it.
The Nokia Gift Machine is in partnership with geo-fans 1000heads and is powered by FourSquare. To get a free gift users have to open Foursquare on their phone, locate the Nokia Gift Machine, check-in using the #NokiaConnects hashtag and share to Twitter. A prize then drops out of the bottom.
source: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/42199/nokia-foursquare-free-gift-machine

Microsoft Windows Phone Marketplace updated, lets you buy apps via browser

New features, and a new design

27 September 2011 10:22 GMT / By Stuart Miles

  Microsoft has announced the launch of a new look Windows Phone Marketplace and with it the chance to buy a Windows Phone 7 app via the website instead of the phone.
The news means that users will no longer have to have Zune installed to download apps or buy apps from their desktop and puts the company on a level pegging with Google's Android offering.
Users will be able to buy apps using their Windows Live ID account details and have their credit card charged with the purchase. A link to the app will then be sent directly to the user's phone to download the app directly, saving them the bother of connecting the phone to a PC or Mac.
The news is likely to be welcomed by Apple Mac users who have previously been unable to buy apps via software on their computer with Microsoft insisting that they use the company’s Zune software on a PC instead.
The new Marketplace website is currently live in the US with UK and other global releases expected shortly.
source:http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/42255/windows-phone-7-marketplace-update

Three extends unlimited data to all contracts

For £3 a month

27 September 2011 11:49 GMT / By Paul Lamkin

  No, no - no, no, no, no - no, no, no, no - no, no, there's no limit. Ahh, Three Unlimited - one of Pocket-lint's favourite Eurodance/Hi-NRG acts from back in the day, or something like that.
And a perfect intro for a story about Three extending its unlimited mobile data across all of its contracts, meaning that for an extra £3, anyone can tap into the unmetered access that The One Plan customers get.
Starting on 7 October, the extension means that unlimited data bundle contracts are available from just £18. For that you'll get yourself involved in one of the new Talk & Text plans.
Think you don't need all that mobile data? Think again - Three has revealed that the average quantity of data its iPhone 4 customers were using in February was 488MB per month and, by August, that number had risen to almost 1.2GB.
"This is a bold, but clever move by Three - and further evidence of the speed at which the smartphone market is evolving," said Ernest Doku, technology expert at uSwitch.com
"Unlimited data for less than the price of a posh sandwich would have seemed unthinkable just a few months ago.
"By bringing the price of mobile internet down so dramatically, Three aims to give price-savvy shoppers a genuine choice between pay-as-you-go and monthly contracts."
source: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/42261/three-extends-unlimited-data-3quid

HTC Amaze 4G press pictures emerge

Ruby, Ruby, Ruby, Ruby....

26 September 2011 16:40 GMT / By Paul Lamkin

  The latest HTC handset to ramp up the online fever following leaked official pictures is the HTC Amaze 4G, aka the HTC Ruby.
There seems to be a pattern to the deluge of devices emerging from HTC Towers. First they get snapped by blurrycam, then the official press shots emerge and finally they get officially announced.
The HTC Sensation XE and the HTC Rhyme have already been through the motions and the Amaze 4G joins the likes of the Explorer and the Sensation XL at stage two.
The Android 2.3 HTC Amaze 4G is said to be packing a 1.5GHz dual core chip, with 1GB of RAM, 16GB of built-in storage and a 960x540 qHD 4.3-inch display. HTC's Sense 3.5 will apparently be loaded onto the handset.
As well as the 8-megapixel camera on the back there's said to be a 2-megapixel one on the front. Murmurs suggest a T-Mobile launch in the States on 26 October.
We're still waiting for more info on the HTC Holiday and the HTC Vigor - expect to see official looking mugshots of these doing the rounds soon.
UPDATE: this is now official coming 12 October in the USA. The HTC Amaze 4G is packing a 4.3-inch 960x540 qHD Super LCD display, 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S3 processor, 1080p video capture, NFC, 42Mbps HSPA+ connectivity, and Android 2.3.4 beneath HTC Sense
source: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/42240/htc-amaze-4g-press-pictures

Nokia Windows Phone is 'absolutely stunning’

INTERVIEW: Nokia UK MD talks to Pocket-lint

26 September 2011 17:32 GMT / By Stuart Miles

  "Absolutely stunning." That’s how everyone that's been shown Nokia's new Windows Phone 7 smartphone describes the device. This is according to Nokia’s Conor Pierce, general manager for UK and Ireland, in a one to one interview with Pocket-lint.
"To the partners we have shown the device to, their words, not necessarily mine - although I agree - upon showing it to them. It's spontaneous and unprompted. They say ‘the first Nokia Windows Phone is absolutely stunning’ and that’s die hard gurus in this business, who have thick skin," boasts Pierce.
"For them to say that spontaneously without any sales pitch shows what we are bringing is pretty spectacular. And that’s only the beginning.”
The phone Pierce is talking about is, of course, the soon to be announced, and hopefully soon to be released, Nokia Windows Phone. Dubbed Sea Ray and already enjoying its fair share of leaks, it is the company’s first foray into the Microsoft Windows Phone 7 operating system and the phone that it hopes will help it turn around the fortunes of the once proud Finnish mobile phone maker.
"I’ve actually got one in my pocket, but I can't show you," he teases, leaving Pocket-lint unable to confirm the opinion of so many gurus.
Pierce, who also adds that he has "seen what’s coming," is very confident that the launch of Nokia Windows Phone 7 devices in the coming months is going to be the success that the company so drastically needs.
"My ambition is to bring Nokia back to where it was in terms of smartphones," he outlines in our exclusive chat.
"I'm very aware of where we are now in the UK. Globally we know where we are and the decisions we made in February [partnership with Microsoft] are a testament to a clear direction of where we are going.”
The UK general manager, who we can tell is determined to make sure the next 6 months for Nokia are positive, believes one of the key reasons the new phone - and possibly phones - will succeed is because of people’s heritage with the company.
"Why do I have this confidence? There is an unrivalled emotional connection with consumers. For the most part we [Nokia] are the first phone they had. So that's deeply rooted."
"We ran an independent focus group recently and the question was asked which manufacturer would you like to see produce the next Windows Phone, and the answer was Nokia. They want Nokia back and they know we can deliver."
So, with the confidence of a Nokia-hungry market out there, there's a single-minded focus now at Nokia; something which Pierce feels is of paramount importance.
"Nokia has made a decision to play hard on Windows Phone. That is our primary operating system. The scale and quality that we will bring to the WP7 ecosystem is unique. We aren’t dividing our time with other platforms. We will deliver a very superior smartphone, a very different experience."
The words are certainly of welcome relief to any Nokia users sick of the Symbian experience but, while confidence might be high, execution is a different matter altogether; something of which Pierce is fully aware.
"It’s about retail execution; it’s about advocacy across the partners. We have a lot of work to do. It’s not going to be easy. The UK is probably one of the most strategic markets we are going to deliver to and the most competitive. We all know what’s going to happen in Q4. So we need to shout hard. But not just shout hard, differently."
Part of that shouting hard is going to be getting the handset into people’s hands it seems. While that might be easier for those who have been reluctant to give up Nokia, converting those from the likes of HTC and Samsung might be a trickier audience. Nonetheless, Pierce and his team are convinced that they can still turn those heads.
"The power of the first impression - so when they actually see the device and are willing to show people and be proud of what they have - plays a big part in the decision. And that’s what we believe we have in our first device and future devices too.
"We need to make strong investments in retail. We are going to make an unprecedented seeding campaign to get it into the right hands. A lot of training is required. We measure advocacy every week. There is only one option for this phone, and that is success. So we are covering all the angles."
With even Microsoft admitting that the operating system hasn’t done as well as they had hoped to date, and analysts suggesting that Windows Phone 7 has just a 2 per cent market, share Nokia knows it has a tough job ahead.
"We are very aware of the current state of Windows Phone in the market. We are trying to bring a whole new slant to that. We are confident that, by putting a strong focus into this, we will overcome that hurdle. It’s not about one device, it’s about creating the applications and the ecosystem that is important.
"That goes back to building confidence with developers so that they also understand the scale of what we can do, not just in the UK but globally, and with the power of Microsoft and their Marketplace and their developer ecosystem. All that is ready and ripe and waiting. We just need to plug in the right devices and get them confident about it."
So how is all that possible from a company that has lost its way in recent years? It’s all because of a cultural change flooding through the company, explains Pierce.
"You aren’t aware of this, but I think you will see some of this in the way we are positioning our Windows Phone; the way we are thinking, it is refreshing. The way we listen to customers, this empathy, this confidence, and standing proud of what we deliver. I think that gives you an essence of the cultural change, and it’s quite dramatic, driven by Steven [Elop] and the leadership team."
Strong words from the Nokia UK boss, and thankfully he doesn’t have long to prove them. Nokia is expected to announce its first Windows Phone 7 device at Nokia World in London on the 26 October. Pocket-lint, of course, will be covering the event live so that we can tell you whether the Nokia Windows Phone really is "absolutely stunning" after all.
source: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/42235/nokia-windows-phone-7-stunning

Facebook NFC F8 announcement rumoured?

Tap yourself new friends?

22 September 2011 16:24 GMT / By Paul Lamkin

  The web is working itself into a frenzy, trying to second guess what the 52nd richest man in the world will announce over in California at the Facebook F8 developers conference.
And ignoring the almost confirmed Facebook Music service, and cutting the wheat from the chaff, we've come across an intriguing Gigaom report that suggests that the social network will be announcing some NFC features.
The report's sources are saying that "the company is going to make some sort of announcement around NFC technologies" and "the Places product will have some NFC elements built into it".
Now we're not expecting Facebook to get involved with wallet side of NFC (not yet, at least) but there could be some Facebook friending NFC tom-foolery coming down the line. We can imagine a scenario of meeting someone new and tapping your phones together to friend-up.
Or walking past a shop window, tapping your phone against a logo and being presented with the store's Facebook page - complete with location specific deals.
All will be revealed in a matter of hours - all eyes on San Francisco...
source: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/42203/facebook-nfc-announcement-at-f8

Samsung Omnia W Windows Phone 7.5 Mango phone official

Omnia 7 gets a sequel

26 September 2011 11:39 GMT / By Paul Lamkin

  If your cravings for a mediocre Windows Phone 7 device weren't met by the recently announced Samsung Focus Flash, then take a look at the just announced Samsung Omnia W - a Mango device that's landing next month.
With a spec sheet that sounds just like the Focus Flash, the Omnia 7 sequel shaves a bit of screen real estate from the original - it's a 3.7-inch WVGA (800X480) one, but it is of the Super AMOLED variety.
The engine room is a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, clocked at 1.4GHz with 512MB of RAM and there's HSPA 14.4Mbps connectivity, as well as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.1.
Camera-wise, it's 5 megapixels on the back with auto-focus and an LED flash, that can shoot 720p HD videos, and there's a VGA cam up front too for the much anticipated Mango video calling features.
On board memory is 8GB, although you can expand that with 25GB of free Windows Live Skydrive cloud based action. It measures 115.97 x 58.8 x 10.9mm and weighs in at 115.3g.
There are Sammy apps aplenty on board, including RSS Times, Video Call(3G), Photo Studio, Mini Diary, All Share (DLNA), Fun Shot and Wireless Manager.
No word on networks or prices yet, but we're told that the Omnia W will be available starting in Italy from end-October and then rolled out globally.
source: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/42229/samsung-omnia-w-windows-phone

Motorola Droid RAZR pictures leaked

Is this the Droid HD?

26 September 2011 15:23 GMT / By Paul Lamkin

  Could one of the coolest phones of 2009 be about to merge with one of the slickest phones of 2003? If the rumours surrounding these leaked Motorola handset pictures are to believed then yes.
What you are looking at here is, supposedly, the Motorola Droid RAZR. (Aka the Motorola Droid HD or the Motorola Spyder).
But we definitely prefer the RAZR tag, one that has cropped up as it is apparently what the phone is listed as in the "about" section when booted up.
It's said to be packing a 4.3-inch 960x540 qHD Super AMOLED display, and running Android via a dual-core 1.2GHz processor with 1GB of RAM.
There's reportedly a 8-megapixel camera with 1080p video shooting and also a HD front facing camera as well for video calling.
There's no word on whether this phone will be coming to the UK, the Droid label indicated a Verizon launch in the States. We'll keep you posted.
source: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/42239/motorola-droid-razr-hd-spyder

HTC Sensation XL: Launch name for the HTC Runnymede?

New moniker, and new action

26 September 2011 10:59 GMT / By Paul Lamkin

  The HTC Runnymede will hit the shops as the HTC Sensation XL and not the HTC Bass, as had been rumoured, according to reports.
The name would make sense as, like the recently announced HTC Sensation XE, the Runnymede will be packing integrated Beats Audio. There will be two options on offer apparently: one an in-ear buds bundle and one an over the ear job.
The Android 2.3.4 phone is said to have a 1.5GHz processor, 768MB of RAM, an 8-megapixel camera on the back and a 1.3-megapixel one on the front. Its big talking point, literally, is the display at a mammoth 4.7 inches and a 960x540 qHD resolution. Storage is said to be 16GB or 32GB.
The HTC Sensation XL/Bass/Runnymede has also been caught in action. A YouTube video is doing the rounds, although the footage is continually being pulled. It shows an almost-ghost like phone running on the Vodafone network in the UK.
There's no official word from HTC or any carriers yet though - chances are this could just be an unlocked tester model.
source:  http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/42232/htc-sensation-xl-htc-runnymede

FIFA 12 iPad hands-on

Curling corners, multiplayer and manager mode

23 September 2011 10:39 GMT / By Chris Hall

  FIFA 12 iPad will turn your tablet into a football console game capable of making any iPhone owner weep tears of joy. First demoed at E3, FIFA 12 for the iPad will let you use the Apple device as a screen, while using a Bluetooth-connected iPhone or iPod touch as a controller. And it can pair two at a time, to boot.
So, when we sat down with EA to have a preview of FIFA 12 on the iPad 2, that’s exactly what happened. And it is, in a word, brilliant.
It’s brilliant because there is a fair chance that if you own an iPad, you probably have an iPhone as well. You'll almost certainly have a friend with one too, so that means you’re all set for two-player FIFA at the drop of a hat.
To play FIFA 12 with iPhone controllers you’ll need a copy of the game on the iPad and then a controller app (which will be free in the App Store) for the iPhone(s) or iPod touch(es) you’ll use as controllers.
We took it a stage further, connecting the iPad 2 up to a bigger display so we could sit in relative comfort and play away our precious briefing time.
It gave us plenty of time to admire the enhanced graphics of FIFA 12 (although we weren’t allowed to take any photos) that have been configured to take advantage of the iPad 2 hardware. You won’t get Xbox or PS3 quality out of it, but it's good enough on a bigger screen. And, on the iPad itself, it looks stunning.

But it didn’t give us much time to admire the wholly new Manager Mode. We didn’t spend long looking at the emails we were getting from the board, offering more cash because of our great performance, nor did we get to spend much time looking at the player stats or transfer list.
We didn’t spend much time looking at the scouting system for up and coming players either, but all these juicy elements find their way into FIFA 12 on the iPad for the first time.
Of course, that means you really have two games here. You can play the matches and basically ignore the management, you can play the management and simulate the matches, or you can do both, which, let’s be honest, most of you will.
Taking things a stage further, you’ll also get a daily challenge mode. This is essentially a new challenge that arrives each day, designed to give you a quick 10 or 15 minute game, rather than diving into an important match in your season. The example we got was Arsenal being 2-0 down against Man United after 78 minutes and you have to basically come in and win the match.

You’ll also get updates to the stats in the system, reflecting the changing state of the real football leagues on licence with FIFA 12. Although EA wouldn’t be pinned down on the timing for these updates, or the frequency, it did say that if someone was having a particularly bad season (Torres, for example), this would get reflected in the game.
Finally, there is also a new control mechanism, which we did try out. Set pieces have a new sweeping control for the kick, a bit like Flick Football. This means you can attempt to curl the ball from the corner, or around a wall. It’s a welcomed addition, but something we need a little more finger time with.
FIFA 12 for iPad will be available from the iTunes App Store 29 September. Check out our review then.
source: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/42211/fifa-12-ipad-2-preview

Motorola Droid Bionic review

The Six Million Dollar Phone?

23 September 2011 17:00 GMT / By Mark Harris

  It would be cool if the Droid Bionic followed the same storyline as Steve Austin’s cybernetic TV show. Motorola, a company barely alive. A Google voiceover saying we have the technology, we can rebuild it. Then a better, stronger, faster Android phone exploding out to restore American pride and fight off foreign rivals.
As it happens, though, the Droid Bionic phone was already in production by the time Google announced its intention to buy Motorola’s mobile business. As long ago as January’s CES, Moto was talking up the Bionic as the first recruit to an Droid army of large-screen phones powered by dual-core processors and boasting blistering 4G speeds.
Not only is the Bionic a high def, high resolution Android handset in its own right, it comes with optional high tech extras such as a HD dock with USB and an 11.6-inch Lapdock to turn it into a netbook.
But the question in these post-modern, post-hardware times is whether simply being better, stronger and faster is enough. Do users really want more screen and more power (and, inevitably, less battery life)? Or will the smoothly integrated siren call of Apple iOS system prove irresistible? Is it time to go Bionic or should Android fans wait for Motorola’s first all-Google handset?

Better?

Size is not something that mobile devices usually aspire to, and the Bionic duly touts itself as the thinnest LTE handset in the world. The fact that it can claim that and still measure 11mm from front to back says more about the chunkiness of rival 4G phones than it does about Motorola’s design prowess.
Nevertheless, the Bionic still feels solid and well made. A slab of Gorilla Glass promises to soak up everyday bumps and scrapes, a raised shiny plastic surround gives a nice edge feel, and the soft touch back is warm and grippy. The phone bulges slightly at the top end to accommodate the camera optics.

Where bigger is usually better is in the display. The 4.3-inch qHD screen here can’t be faulted for size, brightness or colour, but don’t be fooled by the iPhone-alike 960x540 resolution. Motorola’s controversial (ie. rubbish) PenTile technology suffers from graininess and motion blur that wipes out any benefit from the extra pixels. Some people are more annoyed by it than others -it’s definitely one to try before you buy.

An excellent find on any modern phone is a mini HDMI port, here it nestles alongside the micro USB jack. Although the Bionic doesn’t come with a HDMI cable, mirroring software is built in. There’s a standard 3.5mm headphone socket on top, where you’ll also find a small power switch and volume rocker is to be found on the phone’s right side.

Stronger?

The dual-core processor in the Bionic is a 1GHz OMAP 4430 chip from Texas Instruments. In practice, there’s very little difference between this silicon and the more commonplace Nvidia Tegra 2. This Droid accelerates like the Bionic Man chasing a 1970s muscle car full of spies. Games in both 2D (Angry Birds Rio) and 3D (Eternity Warriors) are simply flawless, with never a hiccup or frozen screen. New levels load in a flash.
In fact, Android apps that you might be used to taking three or five seconds to load now spring to life almost before their animated transitions have faded away. Day to day apps like Navigation have never looked better, although Maps is a still little jerky when rotating and zooming satellite views.
A full 1GB of RAM keeps delays when swapping between apps to a minimum, and the Bionic comes with a healthy 32GB of storage, split evenly between internal memory and a removable microSD card.

Faster?

We’ve tried Verizon’s 4G LTE service before, we loved it then and we still love it now. Download speeds of over 10Mbps are not unusual, and the Bionic regularly bests a domestic cable Internet connection. Put simply, the Bionic makes most 3G mobiles look as if they’re running in slow motion.
The effect of near-instant Internet access is intoxicating -especially when it comes to installing hefty apps and games, or downloading huge email attachments. Web pages are a touch less impressive, as the Bionic still hesitates for a second when making a new connection, but there’s no doubt that this is the real Internet, including Flash, in the palm of your hand.
All this speed comes at a price. Verizon has scrapped its unlimited packages in favour of stepped pricing, and even its most generous package (10GB for $80) represents under two and a half hours of full speed downloads over the course of an entire month.

The other penalty is power. Leave 4G turned on and you won’t get a full day’s intense use out of the Bionic’s standard battery. Switching to 3G gives the handset a new lease of life although a more practical long term solution is to invest another $50 in the Bionic’s Extra Capacity powerpack.

Bionic vision

The Bionic sadly lacks Steve Austin’s 20x zoom and infrared-sensitive eyeballs. 8MP still photos are perfectly serviceable, with natural colouring and generally good levels of detail. However, Motorola’s camera app is a pain to use, sometimes suffering lags of up to three seconds, at other times snapping away without a hitch. Focusing is erratic and you can’t set focus or exposure by just tapping the screen, as you can on pretty much any decent touchscreen cameraphone out there.
Switching to camcorder mode takes two seconds. The Moto’s 1080p HD video is crisp and well-exposed, and the phone copes well with changing focus and light conditions. The gallery app is basic, but fast, letting you share images via messaging, email, social networks and online printing. The Bionic also plays back a decent alphabet of media files, from AAC through to H.263/4 and MPEG-4 to WMA (but not DivX).
source: http://www.pocket-lint.com/review/5566/motorola-droid-bionic-review

Google mobile network launches in Spain...kind of

MVNO for employees hints at greater plans?

23 September 2011 11:07 GMT / By Paul Lamkin

  Ladies and gentleman take a closer look. Yes, it's time for the mobile networks to start panicking - this is a Google SIM card for the search giant's own mobile network.
Mobile virtual network actually, as Google has entered the MVNO game in Spain. Not commercially, but for employees to test Google features such as Google Voice on their Nexus S handsets.
An MVNO, in case you didn't know, is a network that isn't actually a network as such. It buys data, voice and messaging allowances off of the actual carriers and piggybacks their networks to provide a service to its customers.
In the UK we have several MVNOs including Virgin Mobile which uses T-Mobile's network and Tesco Mobile that teams up with O2.
Whilst purely for cost measures in terms of testing, Google's Spanish inquisition certainly throws up a number of interesting points, especially as it's expected to undergo further MVNO work in other European countries.
Its first branded phone, the Nexus One, was released via an online portal only. A subsidised T-Mobile deal was available but it wasn't available in the network's stores for around 6 months.
Although the online store was short lived, it was obvious that the Big G had hardware distribution plans of its own, and didn't want to play nicely with the network status quo.
A move into operating its own network would certainly open up a few doors for the company and, given the amount of voice based services that seem to be coming out of Mountain View, would make sense commercially as well.
source: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/42217/google-mobile-network-mvno-spain

iPhone 5 factory pics hint at gesture based home button

And a bigger screen too

18 August 2011 10:03 GMT / By Paul Lamkin

  This is either a genuine picture of a Wintek assembly line, showing workers making hay with the next iteration of the iPhone, or a ruddy good fake.
And granted, there's not much close up action so it's hard to tell if these images let us in on any iPhone 5 secrets but look closely and you'll see a big slot where the home button usually sits.
More room for more fingers perhaps? Back in January there were reports doing the rounds that Apple may introduce a multi-touch (and no doubt "magical") trackpad area under the screen - could this bigger slot be making room for that?

Perhaps, and also interesting is the thinner bezel at the side which seems to back up the bigger iPhone 5 screen rumours that have picked up the pace as of late.
Most importantly though, and a fact that seems to have gone unreported so far is that Apple and Wintek are employing Stormtroopers to do their dirty work. Is Steve Jobs really Darth Vader?
source: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/41576/iphone-5-assembly-line-pics

8GB iPhone 4 coming soon?

Is this the rumoured cheap iPhone?

23 August 2011 11:49 GMT / By Paul Lamkin

  Apple is poised to release an 8GB version of the iPhone 4, according to a Reuters report that cites "two people with knowledge of the matter".
With all the iPhone 5 rumours flying around, there has been a growing murmur that Apple may also release a cheaper iPhone at the same time.
And whilst Pocket-lint can't see Apple cheapening the brand by scaling down the spec sheet, it is reasonable to accept that the Cupertino company may offer a cut-price iPhone 4 with less storage to sit alongside the next-gen iPhone.
After all, unlike the original iPad which was effectively killed off when its sequel came along, Apple has continued to offer the 3GS alongside the iPhone 4. So a scaled-down fourth-gen iPhone would sit nicely in the device hierarchy.
It's a much more realistic prospect than Jobs taking to the stage, announcing a new phone with shiny bells and whistles and then offering an entirely new, but inferior, model at the same time.
Reuters' sources claimed the 8GB flash memory was in production in Korea and one source also waded in to the ever growing iPhone 5 (or 4S) rumour pile with promises of "a bigger touch screen, better antenna and an 8-megapixel camera".
An official Apple announcement is expected in September. Expect a few more twists and turns on the rumour path before then.
source: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/41644/8gb-iphone-4-coming-soon

Apple shares tumble, iPhone 5 coming to save the day? (And recover)

Jobs' resignation could be all about timing

25 August 2011 11:13 GMT / By Paul Lamkin

  Much of the Steve Jobs fallout following his high-profile resignation as Apple CEO has been centred on the tumbling Apple share price, which fell 7 per cent in after-hours trading in the US - the only country where its shares are sold.
But Pocket-lint wouldn't be surprised to see those share prices recover in the next week or so - aided by an iPhone 5-flavoured tonic. Back in 2010, for example, Apple stock was listed at $258.29 on the day of the iPhone 4 announcement. Within a couple of weeks that price had risen to $277.69 - a rise of over 7.5 per cent.
Apple's last three September events (traditionally the iPod launching platform) were on 1 September in 2010, 9 September the year before that and 9 September also in 2008.
However, with IFA kicking off on 1 September this year - we'd be very surprised to see Apple let its rivals get all the attention for 6 whole days. Last year, Apple's September event launched the new iPod Shuffle, iOS 4.1 and 4.2, iTunes 10 and the new Apple TV, all on the same day that Sony's IFA press event took place, and a day before Samsung unveiled the original Galaxy Tab at the Berlin-based expo.
Apple is traditionally an IFA (and CES) spoilsport and likes to make big waves to gobble up all the attention from its competitors.
So, with Apple's share price taking an inevitable dent due to the step-down of its charismatic leader, it wouldn't surprise us to see an Apple event taking place next week. We've got an eye on our inbox, and we'd be shocked if we don't see an invite from Apple drop through in the next few days.
It's not for us to discuss Jobs' illness, or make suggestions that his resignation coincides with any health issues that he may or may not be suffering from. But it is fair for us to question the timing of the announcement. Apple as a company (with Jobs at the helm) has a meticulous attention to detail, and you don't become the biggest company in the world without making key decisions at key times.
Sure, the Apple share price has taken a hit, but the Cupertino boardroom would have planned for that. Did it plan for it with an iPhone 5-shaped trick up its sleeve? It's very likely, and we're sure it'll reveal its hand very soon.
UPDATE: Apple stock ended just 0.65 per cent down on the previous day's trading in the end, slightly above the NASDAQ as a whole. It suggests that shareholders have already started to forget the former CEO. Steve who?
Of course, it could mean that the market fully expects the iPhone 5 to come shortly too...
source: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/41696/apple-shares-saved-iphone-5

Is this the first photo from, and of, an iPhone 5?

Fanboy excitement turned up to 11

8 September 2011 12:36 GMT / By Paul Lamkin

  Ladies and gentleman, if reports ring true, your eyes are feasting on both the first published picture taken from an iPhone 5, and also of the iPhone 5 itself. Confused? You should be.
The image on the left, PocketNow has discovered, is one taken from a device labelled as the iPhone 4 in its EXIF data, but with specs anything but the current iPhone.
It is, instead, a crop of a 3264x2448 image (measuring 2235x2291 when uploaded by its taker) that suggests an 8-megapixel snapper. It also has a lens reading of 4.3mm f/2.4, as opposed to the iPhone 4's 3.85mm f/2.8.
However, This is My Next takes the story a step further. In fact, one of its readers does. He processed the image to straighten out the curved reflection, thus revealing a chap taking the photo with what appears to be a phone (the image on the right). The first shot of the iPhone 5? You can be the judge of that.
But be aware that the data also points at the location of the photo being taken - Building 1, 1 Infinite Loop. Apple HQ.
We love this story. Would any other phone, other than the iPhone 5, have enough pull to make people go to the effort of sorting through EXIF photo data, or partaking in heavy image processing - just to see barely visible reflection of what might turn out to be the next-gen Apple handset?
We doubt it, fanboy dedication knows no boundaries.
What is certain is that, if the origin side of the story is true, Apple's canteen serves up better lunch than the gruel that we get in a bowl at Pocket-lint HQ. We'd kill for a bit of sushi.
source: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/41985/first-photo-from-iphone-5

No redesign for the iPhone 5

So it's not thinner then?

12 September 2011 17:28 GMT / By Hunter Skipworth

  The great Apple rumour-windmills of Holland are spinning wildly once again with a new iPhone 5-based nugget of info. This time it's on the product design of the handset itself - or supposed lack of it.
According to MacRumours, the new iPhone is going to look very much the same as the previous release. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggested the lack of design change, along with pointing to a September shipping to manufacturers of the golden master version of iOS 5.
It turns out the new Apple phone might not be so different after all. Kuo says that inside will be 512MB of RAM, the same as on the iPad 2's A5 chip. He also points to an "almost same" camera module height as the last iPhone, 3.5-inch display and a glass front and back.
These specifications are very much the same as the long rumoured N94 prototype, suggesting that it may in fact be how we see the final iPhone 5 materialise.
Big sad face if there isn't much excitement to be had on the new iPhone design front. Then again, given how rumour-filled the Apple rumour mill likes to be, we can't believe much until we have one of the handsets appear in our hands.
source: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/42028/no-redesign-for-apple-iphone5

iPhone 5 release date to be announced 4 October claim sources

Tim Cook to confirm details

21 September 2011 18:20 GMT / By Stuart Miles

Sources are claiming that Apple will launch the new iPhone 5 on the 4 October with the actual iPhone 5 release date pegged for later in the month.
All Things Digital, who are the source of the top secret information, say that the new Apple CEO, Tim Cook, will be the one giving the presentation to the watching world, and that while it’s all to be completely finalised, it is pretty much "green for launch".
Steve Jobs who stepped down in August as the CEO of the company isn't mentioned in the plans that see Tim Cook leading the presentation.
The iPhone 5 release date in the UK and the US has long been a subject of rumour as far back as the spring, with speculation over screen size ad form factor making it all the more difficult for those who want the new smartphone from Apple to wait patiently.
If Apple keeps with previous release schedules, we can expect an iPhone 5 release date in the UK in a couple of weeks. That gives operators like Orange, O2, Vodafone and Three the chance to drum up pre-orders and tease us with hot iPhone 5 deals.
Rest assured Pocket-lint will be bringing you plenty of detail when Apple announces the new iPhone 5.
source: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/42188/iphone-release-date-detailed-4-october

Al Gore: iPhones coming October

Notice the plural

22 September 2011 10:19 GMT / By Paul Lamkin

Al Gore, the former vice president of the United States and current Apple board member, has seemingly confirmed that multiple iPhone devices will be released in October, mentioning to a Johannesburg audience "the new iPhones coming out next month".
Speaking at the Discovery Invest Leadership Summit in South Africa, Gore, who is also a senior advisor to Google, said: "Not to mention the new iPhones coming out next month. That was a plug."
Now obviously a lot of fanboy hysteria has been stirred up by the fact that the ex-VP used the plural "iPhones". This has been taken as the most concrete evidence yet that the next-gen iPhone will indeed be accompanied by a cheaper iPhone model.
It's often been suggested that, as well as a spanking new iPhone 5, we'll also be getting a more wallet-friendly update to the iPhone 4.
It's reported that 10 million of the budget models will be ready at launch for a phone described as an "iPhone 4 look-alike". Our guess is that it'll just be an 8GB version of the existing model, with the odd internal tweak.
On Wednesday, All Things Digital stated that the new Apple CEO, Tim Cook, will be the one giving the 5th-gen iPhone presentation to the watching world on 4 October, with the handset pretty much "green for launch".
However, Gore's statement is the first time that anyone from the Apple board has specifically stated that there will be a new handset launch in October.
source: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/42193/al-gore-new-iphones-october

iPhone 4S, not iPhone 5, coming 21 October

Tweaked version only to come this year?

22 September 2011 17:57 GMT / By Paul Lamkin

  The iPhone 5 that we're all waiting for may not actually arrive in October. That's according to Greek site DigitalLife who is reporting that the only Apple handset that will be announced next month will be a revamped iPhone 4, labelled the iPhone 4S.
It is claiming an "improved version of the iPhone 4" will be announced in early October, with a launch on the 21st of that month.
It will simply be a souped up iPhone 4 with the same display and form factor. Its inner workings have had a tweak though, with an 8 megapixel and 1080p video recording at 30fps available, a second antenna at the top to improve the signal and the inclusion of an A5 dual core chip running at 1GHz.
DigitalLife tipped Pocket-lint off about the 4S details although we get a lot of tips like this arriving in our inbox everyday.
So we asked the site to give us a bit more detail and its sources seem to be genuine. Obviously we're not going to sell them down the river by revealing where it claims to get its info from, and we can only take its word that it's all above board at this point.
The 4S only suggestion does tie-in with what Wedge Partners analyst Brian Blair stated on Wednesday though. His note to investors was reported by Fox Business, and read:
"We expect the focus of the new iPhone will be iOS 5, a speedier A5 processor and a higher resolution 8 MP camera with a small possibility of a larger 4 inch screen. We believe the casing will be largely similar to the iPhone with some particular modifications to the antennae [sic]. We don’t expect a second, dramatically different iPhone to accompany this as we don’t think Apple needs to have 3 models in the market to address the high end, mid-tier and low end since the iPhone 4 (with memory lowered to 8 GB) will drop to $99 and effectively attack those markets."
We're still not sure that there won't be a completely refreshed iPhone too, to sit above the ever-increasingly likely iPhone 4-a-like. There's been a lot of talk over the teardrop style design and there's not normally this much smoke without fire.
We guess that all will be revealed come October. Definitely. Maybe.
source: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/42207/iphone-4s-not-iphone-5

Three MiFi HSPA+ hands-on

Speedy Gonzales

22 September 2011 13:01 GMT / By Hunter Skipworth

  Three has updated its MiFi range with the new Huawei E586 complete with HSPA+, and we have managed to get our hands on one to test out all its mobile internet goodness.
The new MiFi allegedly boasts a 50 per cent speed boost on top of other offerings from Three, as well as another planned speed hike when the network launches its 21.1Mbps upgrade at the end of this year.
The MiFi is designed to be fired up straight out of the box, you simply pop the included SIM card in and away you go. We definitely liked the setup process and the decision to include the Wi-Fi password on the MiFi screen makes getting connected very quick.

Previous MiFis from Three had required you to either write down the passcode or remove the battery cover and type it into your device. This OLED display makes it a lot easier to keep track of what the MiFi is doing. You can see date, usage and the number of devices connected as well as how decent your reception is.
The single button activation found in the previous MiFi is also, thankfully, still there.
We like the inclusion of the charging cable, it makes it easier to keep the MiFi topped up on juice and the design is relatively unobtrusive. While on previous models you have to use the usual USB plug, this enables you to just plug into the cradle.

We have run the MiFi through a few speed tests now. We found the Wi-Fi connection to be stable and when reception is good, in a wireless packed area, we were getting internet speeds of around 6.6Mbps. This makes the MiFi speedy enough to transport around and work from, perfect for uploading or downloading files while on the go.

Three has pretty much nailed it now on the MiFi front, short of providing faster internet, we can't see what else it can add.
The new MiFi is available for £71.99, but there are also contract options too, that take the price down to £39.99.

source: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/42197/three-mifi-hspa-hands-on

Samsung Wave 578 NFC action with Orange and Barclaycard

Second Quick Tap handset announced

22 September 2011 11:43 GMT / By Paul Lamkin

  Orange and Barclaycard have finally announced that the Samsung Wave 578 is coming with NFC capabilities, as Pocket-lint reported would happen back in February.
It's the second of the Quick Tap mobile phones to hit Orange, following the début of the service back in May with the Samsung Tocco Lite.
The system lets you make purchases of £15 and under with contactless readers now installed in over 50,000 stores nationwide, including cafés such as Pret A Manger, Eat and Subway.
Payments are made through an on-screen app, which must be preloaded with funds of up to £100, and contains information such as electronic statements detailing Quick Tap purchases so customers can keep an eye on their spending.
For the Wave 578 Barclaycard is providing Orange customers with £10 cash added to their account upon activation, and 10 per cent cash back on all Quick Tap purchases made in the first 90 days.
"Paying with a mobile phone means never being without the right change, and always having access to funds," said David Chan, CEO of Barclaycard Consumer Europe.
"That’s why I believe contactless mobile is the future of payments, and I’m keen it’s made available to as many of our customers as possible. At the launch of our first contactless handset earlier this year we promised we would roll out greater choice in the Quick Tap range and I’m pleased to be able to announce the first of these new handsets today."
The Samsung Wave 578 offers a 3.2-inch display, a 3.2-megapixel camera and packs HSDPA, Wi-Fi b/g/n and Bluetooth 3 technology. It measures 107.9 x 54.9 x 12.5mm and runs on Samsung's Bada platform
It will be available from Orange in the coming weeks on PAYG and free on select price plans.
source: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/42195/samsung-wave-578-orange-barclaycard

O2 Twitter MMS launches in the UK

Picture Tweeting

21 September 2011 18:31 GMT / By Stuart Miles

  O2 and Twitter will join forces to allow users to post photos, taken on their phone, to Twitter via MMS.
O2 customers can now upload and share photos with their Twitter followers simply by sending them via MMS to a shortcode.
"The launch of Twitter MMS on O2 means that customers can now even more quickly and easily share the experiences happening around them in real time with their Twitter followers," claims O2.
Customers will need to log into their Twitter account online and associate their mobile number to be able to use the new service.
Once done, they can start using the service immediately from any MMS-enabled handset. To share a photo through Twitter the customer just needs to send it as an MMS to the shortcode 86444, the messages will then be taken from any MMS bundles they may have or charged at the standard MMS rate.
As O2 customers will probably know, they have been able to send text messages to be turned into Tweets since July 2009.
UPDATE: It turns out O2 isn't the only UK operator to embrace Twitter via MMS. Vodafone and Orange will offer the service too.
source: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/42189/o2-launches-twitter-mms-uk

Al Gore: iPhones coming October

Notice the plural

22 September 2011 10:19 GMT / By Paul Lamkin

  Al Gore, the former vice president of the United States and current Apple board member, has seemingly confirmed that multiple iPhone devices will be released in October, mentioning to a Johannesburg audience "the new iPhones coming out next month".
Speaking at the Discovery Invest Leadership Summit in South Africa Gore, who is also a Senior Advisor to Google, said: “Not to mention the new iPhones coming out next month. That was a plug.”
Now obviously a lot of fanboy hysteria has been stirred up by the fact that the ex-VP used the plural "iPhones". This has been taken as the most concrete evidence yet that the next-gen iPhone will indeed be accompanied by a cheaper iPhone model.
It's often been suggested that, as well as a spanking new iPhone 5, we'll also be getting a more wallet-friendly update to the iPhone 4.
It's reported that 10 million of the budget models will be ready at launch for a phone described as an "iPhone 4 look-alike". Our guess is that it'll just be an 8GB version of the existing model, with the odd internal tweak.
On Wednesday, All Things Digital stated that the new Apple CEO, Tim Cook, will be the one giving the 5th-gen iPhone presentation to the watching world on 4 October, with the handset pretty much "green for launch".
Gore's statement is the first time that anyone from the Apple board has specifically stated that there will be new handset launch in October though.
source: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/42193/al-gore-new-iphones-october

New HTC users to get 5GB free Dropbox service

Cloud Storage boost

22 September 2011 9:18 GMT / By Stuart Miles

  Microsoft has Skydrive, Apple has iCloud, and now HTC has Dropbox following a new partnership between the phone maker and popular cloud storage service.

HTC has confirmed to Pocket-lint that users of its latest Android handsets, like the HTC Rhyme, will get a bonus 3GB of storage in addition to the 2GB of free storage offered by Dropbox if they connect to the platform with the new phone - launching in October

The deal, which will extend to all Sense 3.5 devices in the future, will mean that users will be able to save files and photos on their phone and have them automatically synced to their computer at home or other devices running the Dropbox software.

Dropbox currently offers users 2GB of storage for free, with the chance to upgrade that by a further 8GB by convincing friends to sign up to the service. HTC’s additional 3GB makes reaching the 10GB free storage maximum all the more easy.

When asked whether HTC would be looking to bring the offer to its Windows Phone 7 smartphones, the company wasn’t so sure. Our HTC man suggested WP7 already has a very compelling offer from Skydrive powered by Microsoft baked into the OS.

Skydrive offers a far greater 25GB of free storage to lure people to the service.

Currently HTC’s Android interface Sense 3.5 is only on the HTC Rhyme and HTC Sensation XE however, with more phone announcements expected in the coming weeks from the company, we don’t expect that to be the case for long.

HTC hasn’t said whether older Sense users would be getting an update to 3.5 or the Dropbox features.
source: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/42191/new-htc-5gb-dropbox-allowance

Windows Phone 7 Mango update to start next week or two

Official update almost here

22 September 2011 9:16 GMT / By Stuart Miles

 

Microsoft has confirmed that it will be rolling out its latest Windows Phone 7 operating system, dubbed Mango, to customers with a first generation WP7 smartphone in the next week or two.

The announcement from Redmond means the company sticks to the promised "Fall" release.

"Hi everybody. Given all the recent speculation around the timing of our Mango update, I wanted to bring you up to speed on what to expect next," wrote Microsoft man, Eric Hautala on the official Windows Phone blog.

"For months, we and dozens of our partner companies have been laying the groundwork for the Windows Phone 7.5 update - and making solid progress. As a result, we now expect to start rolling it out in the next week or two."

If a "week or two" sounds pretty vague, that’s because Hautala was responding to comments saying:

"By 'roll out' I mean we’ll be starting the actual delivery process - emphasis on starting."

The previous update, dubbed NoDo, that added copy and paste functionality to the OS took a number of weeks to arrive via the numerous operators and handset makers around the world.

To help ease the stress of those waiting, Microsoft says that it will continue to update the Where’s My Phone Update? page that should let you know when the update is coming to your phone on your network.

Hautala also fires a warning shot to those keen to try and get it early through unofficial sources:

"During the official Windows Phone 7.5 update process, every Windows Phone will also receive software from the handset manufacturer. This matched and paired firmware has been painstakingly tuned so your phone - and apps -work with all the new features of Windows Phone 7.5. Since your phone requires the proper firmware to function as designed, my advice is simple: steer clear of bootleg updates and homebrew tools."

To get the update users will have to update the Zune software on the PC or the Windows Phone 7 Connector for Mac software.

HTC has already confirmed to Pocket-lint that it will be pushing the Mango update to its HTC 7 Trophy, HTC 7 Mozart, HTC HD7, and other handsets like the HTC Surround by the end of the month.

However, due to timings, the HTC Mango update will not have Wi-Fi tethering as Microsoft added the feature too late in the approval process for HTC to include it.

The feature will, however, be included in the OS for the company’s new handsets, the HTC Titan, and the HTC Radar.

source: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/42190/windows-phone-7-mango-update

New BBC homepage coming for smartphones, tablets and TVs too

To roll out in coming months

21 September 2011 10:37 GMT / By Paul Lamkin

  If you thought that the BBC's new homepage looked like it'd be a perfect fit for a smartphone or a tablet, then you'd be right. The homepage was built with Auntie's "1 service, 10 products, 4 screens" policy in mind - and a smartphone, tablet and even, possibly, a TV version will be coming soon.
"It shares a design principle that we've seen in tablets and mobile phones and we've heard from reviewers during testing over the last couple of months that it feels quite natural to them because of that," said James Thornett, product manager for BBC Homepage.
"We are already looking in advance, and thinking about how this would appear on a mobile platform. With the user interaction and design, you can see how tablets could easily be adapted and we are also talking with our colleagues across the business of TV. There are interesting discussions around the converging of TV platforms in the future as well."
Thornett also explained how the redesign of the homepage is part of a wider initiative, and is a configuration that will be eventually spread across the wealth of the BBC's online platforms.
"Visually and in terms of the technology used, this is the biggest change that we've made," he explained. "We built it from the ground up and we believe it to be an intuitive, time and location based experience for users.
"When we set up the strategy in January, we set up a very clear user experience vision to run alongside our technical product delivery and you're starting to see some of that bare fruit now.
"I would expect you to see, within the course of the next few weeks, months and years, the rollout of the design front and this kind of interaction and style across all of our sites."
Thornett explained that a blanket redesign of all of the BBC's sites in one go was an impossibility, not just down to the size of the task, but because there would be a risk of alienating the huge readership.
source:http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/42161/bbc-homepage-smartphones-tablets-tv

Upgraded Samsung Apps service coming for Wave and Galaxy handsets

Plus 30 free games

20 September 2011 14:20 GMT / By Rik Henderson

  Samsung has improved its Samsung Apps service and is rolling it out to handsets imminently. The Bada 2.0 sporting Wave range will be the first to receive the enhancements, while Galaxy device users will see the update hit before the end of 2011.
The new version of Samsung Apps features a rejigged user interface, with new elements such as My Page and Smart, while an integrated billing service has been introduced to make purchasing applications more simple.
Samsung has also implemented the concept of application rental with the new Samsung Apps. Users can "Rent'n Play" as well as "Try'n Play" in order to test apps before paying full price. And the Smart function adds recommended app suggestions based on an owner's preset preferences, as well as current usage trends.
Other new features include a Wish List, to store apps for future investigation (say, for instance, when you're in a Wi-Fi zone), and there are more opportunities for app developers to promote their wares.
In addition to the relaunch of the service, to celebrate the company's proprietary store's second birthday, Samsung has made 30 normally-paid titles, including Fruit Ninja and Plants vs Zombies, completely free for Wave smartphone users.
source: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/42159/upgraded-samsung-apps-wave-galaxy

HTC Rhyme: More metrosexual than plain girly

Pink RAZR to blame

20 September 2011 20:05 GMT / By David Phelan

  Here’s the thing: the history of mobile phone companies making handsets specifically targeting women has not been glorious. Mostly, it’s been a series of ho-hum phones picked out by dusty pink cases, the addition of diet apps or, pardon me, a pink (i.e. menstrual) calendar.
But the reason companies keep coming up with them probably relates to Christmas 2005. The UK mobile phone networks had high hopes: 3G had been around for well over a year, but this was the Christmas it was going to take off, surely? The 3G handsets had shrunk to a size where you could actually put them in your pocket - just - and although nobody was bothered about video calling, the benefits of faster data connections were beginning to seem more persuasive.
But Christmas 2005 was dominated by an under-powered phone with a dodgy operating system, feeble camera and disappointing battery life. And it wasn’t even a new model, let alone a 3G phone. Motorola’s RAZR V3 came out in hot, hot pink and cleaned up, that holiday season.

The pink RAZR’s success has a lot to answer for, 6 years later, as phone companies still target women. So, today, in the opulent surroundings of the High Line Stages in New York, HTC unveiled its latest smartphone, the Rhyme, to Pocket-lint and a handful of selected press.
To say that HTC has created a girl's phone is probably an overstatement. This is very much a "lifestyle" phone that will appeal to many, with the "girly" element coming from the range of accessories.
So, it ain’t pink, it’s a tasteful dark plum colour, and will also be available in Clearwater, a golden shade that looks really cool.

But the colour-matching accessories, a pair of tangle-proof earbuds and a cube on a wire that glows when a call or text comes in, make this phone seem decidedly feminine.
The processor is fast, the screen is pin-sharp and the new photographs commissioned as wallpapers look chic and inviting compared to the somewhat manly approach as seen in other more "early adopter" smartphones from HTC.
The charging dock that doubles as a display to turn the phone into a bedside alarm is handy, too. It has the latest version of HTC’s trademark Android overlay, re-engineered to make it accessible and good-looking.
Where the Rhyme, or Bliss as it was codenamed, will appeal is that it doesn't debase women into believing they just want something that's pink while still offering them something that will be powerful enough to appeal. That said though, you have to ask whether women will go for it and whether a few feminine touches here and there are enough to help emulate Motorola's success 6 years ago.
Unlike the pink RAZR, if offers brains and power to match its looks meaning that it's still likely to appeal to both women and men.
source: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/42166/htc-rhyme-why-a-girls-phone

HTC Rhyme hands-on

Gynoids are go

20 September 2011 21:54 GMT / By Henry Leonards

  The HTC Rhyme is something of a delicate matter, as it is HTC's first phone that is said to have been designed with a female audience in mind. Yet it comes in dull colours and looks quite a lot like every other HTC handset we’ve seen so far. Sure, it’s not black, but it’s unlikely to set anyone’s world on fire in terms of look and feel. So what makes this handset so special then? Well, we’re not quite sure to be honest.
Do women need a phone aimed at them? Is there something about current handsets that's somehow not meeting the needs of female-kind? We take a look into the Rhyme to find out if there's any rhyme or reason for this new handset. Sorry, we pretty much had to write that.
The HTC Rhyme has a pair of unusual features, the first one is the Charm indicator which in short is an LED at the end of a wire and the other being a "wireless" charger dock. Okay, so maybe we’re being a bit uncharitable about it, but the Charm indicator really is just that, a small LED in some plastic attached to a wire that connects to the headphone socket. The LED will then pulsate to help you find your phone when it's lost in your handbag and flash when you have an incoming call. The Charm indicator can’t be plugged in at the same time as the headset.

The wireless charger doesn’t rely on some fancy induction charger technology; instead it has a small row of connectors at the back of the phone which interface with the dock and thus charge the battery. At least the wireless charger is an optional accessory, unlike the Charm indicator, although to be fair, you don't have to use it if you don't want to.
The phone itself feels solid, but also quite heavy for its size at 130g, especially as it only has a 3.7-inch Super LCD screen, albeit with WVGA (480x800) resolution. The Rhyme has a power button and a volume rocker; we would have liked a dedicated camera button too, but this fits the majority of HTC's current Android portfolio.
The Micro-USB port is hidden behind a flap, although this flap is part of the rear cover and it’s fiddly to open and close. Behind the rear cover you’ll find the easily accessible SIM card and microSD card slots, but oddly enough, the battery is not removable.
A quick breakdown of the specs include a 1GHz single core Qualcomm processor, 768MB of RAM and 4GB of built-in storage, although only about 1GB is available for the user. You do of course get features like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS.
The rear 5-megapixel camera is meant to have a back side illuminated sensor and a 28mm F/2.2 lens and although it’s better than most phone cameras, it can’t compete with higher-end phones in terms of quality from what we've seen.

In use the HTC Rhyme feels relatively fast, although the HTC Sense 3.5 UI means that a lot of things have been moved around, so users of other HTC Android phones will have to re-familiarise themselves a bit. The most obvious change is that the little bar on the bottom is now gone, replaced by a pair of circles. One of which accesses the apps and the other the phone menu.
HTC has also come up with a new widget called Shortcuts and Clock and it adds five shortcuts on the left-hand side of the screen, all of which can be customised, alongside a clock and current weather conditions. HTC freely admits it's obsessed by the weather and weather widgets which continues to be a theme of its phones.
HTC has also thrown in FriendStream, its Locations app, HTC Deals, HTC Listen, Facebook, Twitter and a few other more or less useful apps as standard. The supplied desktop wallpapers are also nice, but some logic is missing in terms of how some of the HTC specific apps and settings work. We also didn’t notice any female specific apps, although we’re not quite sure what these would be in the first place.
The time we spent using the Rhyme didn’t convince us that there was anything specific about the handset that would make it appeal to a female audience, instead it’s just another smartphone from HTC that doesn’t really stand out from the crowd.
source: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/42167/htc-rhyme-phone-hands-on