Mobile Phone News

Palm Pre To Get iPhone Apps, Ports Possible ‘In A Matter Of Days’?

By Ernest DokucloseAuthor: Ernest Doku Name: Ernest Doku
Email: ernest.doku@omio.com
Site: http://blog.omio.com
About: I like gadgets, loads! I like talking about them, writing about them, using them, watching other people use them though binoculars... Some would say it was an unhealthy fascination, but then I'd be all like, "Shh...," and go back to doing gadget-related things. Hit me up on Xbox Live or PSN, I'm EJStyleS. I promise to give you a good match as well as talk about things that aren't gadgets. A bit.See Authors Posts (1387)

The Palm Pre may not have set the world alight quite as we had expected, but it has gone from strength to strength both as a versatile smartphone and an enterainment device, thanks in large part to the refreshing touch interface and the myriad titles available on the App Catalog.

Palm are hoping to take this to the next level, presenting a new software kit at this year’s Game Developer’s Conference that makes it even easier for programmers to make graphically intensive games and applications, as well as porting content from the iPhone and getting it to work on the Pre with minimal effort.

The Palm Development Kit is said to be so friendly with Apple’s applications that they “can be ported over in a matter of days…and they don’t really suffer any degradation in performance,” according to John Paczkowski of All Things Digital.

This goes some way to explaining why the virtual shelves of Palm’s App Catalog are filled with wares from big names like Glu, Gameloft and EA Mobile (the lattermost currently giving away their biggest games to demonstrate the Pre’s new-found gaming prowess), whilst Android phones are coming up short when it comes to digital distractions.

The ease of porting these titles means extra money for publishers with minimal added development time and resource spend, and a profusion of third party applications coming to the Pre would hardly be a bad thing.

Following from this logic, why stop at games? If Palm’s software is as snazzy as they claim, then we may see all manner of applications make the O2-exclusive handset even more appealing to those not willing to opt for Apple’s iconic device.

Considering that an App Store equivalent was found wanting in both quality and quantity upon the Palm Pre’s release, this concerted ramp up in the offerings to be found on the device is certainly an appealing development, as is Palm’s pro active nature in giving developers the tools to make it happen.

Let’s just hope Palm don’t stray too far into lawyer-baiting territory once again, you know how Apple gets…

Mobile Phones | Best Mobile Phone Deals Compared | Omio UK

By Ernest DokucloseAuthor: Ernest Doku Name: Ernest Doku
Email: ernest.doku@omio.com
Site: http://blog.omio.com
About: I like gadgets, loads! I like talking about them, writing about them, using them, watching other people use them though binoculars... Some would say it was an unhealthy fascination, but then I'd be all like, "Shh...," and go back to doing gadget-related things. Hit me up on Xbox Live or PSN, I'm EJStyleS. I promise to give you a good match as well as talk about things that aren't gadgets. A bit.See Authors Posts (1387)

As 2009 comes to a close, we thought it a good time to pore over some of the best mobile phones to be released over the past year.

From super-hot smartphones to fashionable feature handsets, join us as we select the few that stood head and shoulders above the rest!

HTC Hero

The strong design, slick social networking skills and beautiful implementation of the Android operating system with the ‘Sense’ UI has seen the HTC Hero snag an armful of ‘Best Phone’ awards this year, and rightly so.

Packing a 5-megapixel autofocus camera, 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen and GPS in a unique, angular form factor, the Hero is possibly the best phone to demonstrate what Google’s new operating system is really capable of.

Winning the hearts and minds of those not swayed by the iPhone, the Hero is easily the next best thing.

Check out the latest HTC Hero deals!

————————————————————————————————————

HTC HD2

Representing Windows Mobile as the Hero has for Android, the ‘wow’ factor of the HTC HD2 is definitely marrying Microsoft’s mobile operating system to that mammoth 4.3-inch touchscreen display.

Bringing the smooth, refined Sense user interface as well as the first phone to offer multi-touch on Windows Mobile 6.5, the HTC HD2 is equally at home being a business device as it is a multimedia powerhouse.

With a 5-megapixel lens and dual-LED flash, GPS and support for apps thanks to Marketplace for Mobile, the HD2 is the perfect poster boy for the next generation of Windows phones.

Check out the latest HTC HD2 deals here!

—————————————————

Apple iPhone 3GS

Getting the design so right first time has given Apple the ability to reiterate rather than revolutionise, and the iPhone 3GS is the second update to the groundbreaking formula.

Expanding on the iconic device with a 3 megapixel camera, video recording, voice controls and up to 32GB of storage, the Apple iPhone 3GS is able to do it all, faster.

View the latest iPhone deals here!

—————————————————

Samsung Genio Touch

The Samsung Genio Touch continues the popular range with a cheap and cheerful handset that brings touch screen joy without the price tag.

The 2.8-inch display offers the same TouchWiz user interface spotted on higher end devices, and with customizable covers as well as a 2 megapixel camera, the Genio Touch punches above its weight in terms of both looks and specs and has customers snapping it up in droves.

Check out the cheapest Samsung Genio Touch deals here!

—————————————————

Sony Ericsson Satio

A 12.1 megapixel wielding device that combines the strongest features of the Cybershot range, the Sony Ericsson Satio compliments them with the latest Walkman functionality, wrapping them together with a slick full touch Symbian powered user interface.

The 3.5″ display is clear, crisp and responsive to the touch, and the built-in 3G connectivity and GPS set it amongst the strongest smartphone contenders.

Strong advertising and an arresting form factor have seen the Satio fly off the shelves in the last few weeks, and showing little sign of slowing down.

Check out the latest Satio deals here!

—————————————————

Palm Pre

Already a million-seller in the United States, the Palm Pre is a well-kitted device with a 3.1-inch touchscreen and 3.1 megapixel camera, a socially savvy handset that pulls contact information to be automatically from networking sites including Facebook.

The combination of cute pebble-shaped design, slide-out QWERTY keyboard and the debut of their smooth new ‘Web OS’ user interface has been snapped by many shoppers looking for a worthy alternative to Apple’s iPhone.

View the best Palm Pre deals here!

—————————————————

Nokia 5800 XpressMusic

The Nokia 5800 XpressMusic is the epitome of cool by committee. With a plectrum for a stylus, endorsement from today’s fashionable young things and a full touch interface, the 5800 was bound to be a hit.

A music phone at heart, the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic ticks all the specs boxes with 3G connectivity, Wi-Fi support, a 3.2 megapixel camera and a hefty 3.2-inch high resolution touch display.

Your music selection is handled by an 8GB memory card, and a 3.5mm audio jack means that your favourite headphones can be plugged in with little trouble.

Outselling the iPod at one point as the UK’s biggest music player, the 5800 is one hot handset.

Check out the latest Nokia 5800 XpressMusic deals here!

—————————————————

Nokia N900

A late entry for the new flagship phone from Nokia, as the N900 just makes it to stores in time to be a late Xmas present.

Taking cues from Nokia’s range of internet tablets, the N900 delivers a close-to-desktop browsing experience, as well as offering cutting edge smart phone functionality.

The N900’s gorgeous 3.5″ touchscreen, slide-out QWERTY keyboard and 5 megapixel Carl Zeiss lens all impress, but it is the brand new experience that Nokia’s Linux-based Maemo platform offers that has early adopters in a frenzy.

Take a look at the latest Nokia N900 deals here!

—————————————————

LG Chocolate BL40

The latest in LG’s exclusive Black Label series, the BL40 boasts a 4″ LED touch screen, a 5-megapixel autofocus camera and an exciting new user interface.

Watch movies without the borders and browse web pages in all their horizontal glory, thanks to the screen’s unique 21:9 widescreen ratio, also giving the Chocolate BL40 an tasty form factor.

The quirky shape and multimedia credentials have definitely given shoppers a sweet tooth in recent months, with the Chocolate selling strongly since its September release.

Check out the latest LG Chocolate BL40 deals here!

—————————————————

Blackberry Curve 8520

Courting the casual user and breaking taboos seem to be the primary aims of the Curve 8520, getting rid of the famous trackball and replacing it with optical pad, and also becoming the first to have BlackBerry dedicated media buttons.

The Curve 8520 is still very much a messaging device, sporting the familiar QWERTY keyboard and e-mail functionality that the Blackberry brand has become famous for.

With additions like BlackBerry App World and a headphone jack to appeal to feature phone fans, the Curve 8520 strikes the perfect balance of fashion accessory and connected device.

Check out our BlackBerry Curve 8520 deals!

WebOS Update Comes Without Music: Has Palm Given Up The iTunes Fight?

By Ernest DokucloseAuthor: Ernest Doku Name: Ernest Doku
Email: ernest.doku@omio.com
Site: http://blog.omio.com
About: I like gadgets, loads! I like talking about them, writing about them, using them, watching other people use them though binoculars... Some would say it was an unhealthy fascination, but then I'd be all like, "Shh...," and go back to doing gadget-related things. Hit me up on Xbox Live or PSN, I'm EJStyleS. I promise to give you a good match as well as talk about things that aren't gadgets. A bit.See Authors Posts (1387)

There are a myriad of great new features in the latest WebOS update for the Palm Pre – wide screen YouTube, support for Yahoo! messaging amongst other things…yet curiously absent in this build is the infamous syncing support for Apple’s iTunes service.

Since the US launch this summer, every iTunes update that attempted to sever the Pre’s much vaunted illegitimate connection with their media download portal was swiftly met by an update from Palm, resuming the ability to transfer music and movies seamlessly between the two. But not this time.

The dispute ratcheted up in August when Palm attempted to take Apple to task over USB permission rights, but were tersely put down by regulatory body the USB Implementer’s Forum over having the Pre pretend to be an iPod in order to gain access in the first place. The battleground has been curiously quiet since…

Rumours as to why Palm have let Apple win this round have been varied, from Palm investing in developing their own syncing solution to simply running out of energy.

Palm has confirmed that the syncing feature is indeed absent from this latest version of WebOS, compatible with the diminutive Pixi as well as the pebble-shaped Pre, but have declined to comment on as to why this is.

Let’s hope that the find a solution, amicable or otherwise, to the smartest – and most controversial – unique selling points of Palm’s slick device.

Compare O2 Palm Pre deals on Omio.

Source

Palm Pre Now Available To Buy!

By Ernest DokucloseAuthor: Ernest Doku Name: Ernest Doku
Email: ernest.doku@omio.com
Site: http://blog.omio.com
About: I like gadgets, loads! I like talking about them, writing about them, using them, watching other people use them though binoculars... Some would say it was an unhealthy fascination, but then I'd be all like, "Shh...," and go back to doing gadget-related things. Hit me up on Xbox Live or PSN, I'm EJStyleS. I promise to give you a good match as well as talk about things that aren't gadgets. A bit.See Authors Posts (1387)

After what feels like an eternity of celebrity endorsements, freaky advertising blitzes and iTunes syncing spats on the other side of the pond, the Palm Pre finally arrives on UK shores from today!

Released as an exclusive on O2, the Palm Pre is the first handset to rattle the iPhone’s ivory tower with the combination of cute design, slide-out QWERTY keyboard and the debut of their new ‘Web OS’ user interface finally providing a worthy smart phone alternative to Apple’s behemoth.

Already a million-seller in the United States, the Palm Pre is a well-kitted device with a 3.1″ touch display and 3.1 megapixel camera, whilst the social networking functionality of Web OS enables contact information to be automatically pulled from various sites including Facebook.

The mobile deals available for the Palm Pre are fairly competitive by offering a free handset on a 24 month contract, with 600 minutes, 500 texts and unlimited wi-fi for £34.26.

18-month tariffs are also available, with the 8GB Pre priced at £96.89 for breaking off the relationship early. Not too far off the iPhone 3G deals, but a few quid less than O2 are asking for the iPhone 3GS.

What do you think? Is the Palm Pre cutesy or cool enough to steer you away from Apple’s hot handset?

Palm Pixi: Second Web OS Handset Seeks To Court The Masses

By Ernest DokucloseAuthor: Ernest Doku Name: Ernest Doku
Email: ernest.doku@omio.com
Site: http://blog.omio.com
About: I like gadgets, loads! I like talking about them, writing about them, using them, watching other people use them though binoculars... Some would say it was an unhealthy fascination, but then I'd be all like, "Shh...," and go back to doing gadget-related things. Hit me up on Xbox Live or PSN, I'm EJStyleS. I promise to give you a good match as well as talk about things that aren't gadgets. A bit.See Authors Posts (1387)

Whilst we are still shaking our fists and gnashing our teeth waiting for the Palm Pre to be released in Europe, Palm has unveiled their second handset to use their new Web OS interface.

The Palm Pixi is a cutesy candybar handset as opposed to the Pre’s slider form factor, but like that device it is equipped with both a touchscreen and QWERTY keypad.

The diminuitive size of the Pixi befits the name, with a weight of only 99.5 grams and 10.8mm thickness, the handset is the thinnest yet released by Palm.

Web OS brings all manner of web connectivity as the Synergy interface pulls information from all aspects of your social life including Google Mail, Microsoft Exchange and Facebook to seamlessly dovetail your contact details into one place.

The Palm Pixi unfortunately ships without Wi-Fi, s surprising concession given such a net-happy device, but has a 2 megapixel camera with fixed focus flash, and 8GB of internal memory.

The Pixi might be small but it’s tough, with a matte rubberised rear that is pretty resilient against the occasional scrape, a feature which iPhone owners would no doubt appreciate by this point…

With GPS, Bluetooth 2.1 and support for the new Palm App Catalog, the Palm Pixi looks set to appeal to those masses not quite swayed by the Pre’s price, which has recently seen a cut in US markets.

The Pixi is set to launch on the Sprint network in America this sie of Christmas, but a spokesman for Palm said he did not know when it would be available in Europe or Canada.

What they did manage to divulge was that “Palm does plan to bring Palm Pixi to both regions as soon as it can, and will announce more when appropriate”.

Take a brief look at the Palm Pixi in a promotional video below:

Sync Your Palm Pre with iTunes Again, Via Media Sync

By Ernest DokucloseAuthor: Ernest Doku Name: Ernest Doku
Email: ernest.doku@omio.com
Site: http://blog.omio.com
About: I like gadgets, loads! I like talking about them, writing about them, using them, watching other people use them though binoculars... Some would say it was an unhealthy fascination, but then I'd be all like, "Shh...," and go back to doing gadget-related things. Hit me up on Xbox Live or PSN, I'm EJStyleS. I promise to give you a good match as well as talk about things that aren't gadgets. A bit.See Authors Posts (1387)

With Palm Pre owners solemnly mourning the loss of their perfect media syncing solution after Apple’s latest update, alternative ways of getting content onto the pebble-shaped device are getting a lot more attention all of a sudden.

MediaSync from Sailing is the most…familiar solution for former iTunes addicts, allowing the syncrosation of playlists, music and podcasts and even photos onto a wide selection of mobiles, be they BlackBerry, Nokia, or Palm flavoured, to a Mac or PC.

Those looking to incur the wrath of the RIAA will find no solace here however, as Media Sync does not copy DRM-protected media, but does allow for the transfer of music ripped straight from a CD. Clever!

Better yet, the software is entirely free, with a $22/€15 version offering even faster syncing.

Good news, but is it too little too late for the plucky contender? With Palm seeing a slight fall in share prices following Apple breaking off the illicit relationship and a chance the Pre won’t see the light of day until space year 2010 in the UK, it will have to come with a pretty enticing hook to attract entrenched smart phone fans…

Source: Wired

Palm Pre On O2: Exclusive Deal Secured

By Ernest DokucloseAuthor: Ernest Doku Name: Ernest Doku
Email: ernest.doku@omio.com
Site: http://blog.omio.com
About: I like gadgets, loads! I like talking about them, writing about them, using them, watching other people use them though binoculars... Some would say it was an unhealthy fascination, but then I'd be all like, "Shh...," and go back to doing gadget-related things. Hit me up on Xbox Live or PSN, I'm EJStyleS. I promise to give you a good match as well as talk about things that aren't gadgets. A bit.See Authors Posts (1387)

With the Palm Pre due on this side of the Atlantic in the next few days for a baying press to lust over, the latest news is that O2 will be the exclusive carrier of the smartphone in the UK and many territories in Europe.

Wait, what? The same O2 that already holds the rights to selling the iPhone 3G and 3GS in the UK? It seems like they want to hold all of the cards in the premium mobile deck, beating Orange at the 11th hour to become sole vendor.

Pricing has not been finalised, but expect to see the Pre as a slightly cheaper alternative for those not wanting to follow the flock…

Palm will also benefit hugely with the weight of the largest UK operator behind them, as they are in need of getting the name out to a casual market largely oblivious to their existence.

It turned HTC’s fortunes around completely in the last eighteen months, and Palm could certainly do with the positive PR. The Palm Pre has been a modest success in the US, selling over 300,000 units, but already seeing a decline in interest.

Securing European popularity will be a real shot in the arm for the beleaguered manufacturer, and what many see as their ‘last chance’ in the market with the Pre.

Two questions – what does Apple think of a move that could only stand to take sales away from themselves, and when going into an O2 store and asking staff the perennial “Pre or iPhone?” question, what will their answer be?

Palm Pre App Catalog Hits 1 Million Download Milestone

By Ernest DokucloseAuthor: Ernest Doku Name: Ernest Doku
Email: ernest.doku@omio.com
Site: http://blog.omio.com
About: I like gadgets, loads! I like talking about them, writing about them, using them, watching other people use them though binoculars... Some would say it was an unhealthy fascination, but then I'd be all like, "Shh...," and go back to doing gadget-related things. Hit me up on Xbox Live or PSN, I'm EJStyleS. I promise to give you a good match as well as talk about things that aren't gadgets. A bit.See Authors Posts (1387)

Good news for the Palm Pre (remember, the dead cert iPhone killer?), their App Store Catalog has managed to reach 1 million downloads, only 18 days after the handset was launched in the US.

The App Catalog has been a success for Palm since the Pre launched, with 50,000 handsets sold and 100,000 programs downloaded on the first day alone.

Midway into the third week of sale, the Pre is still selling, with a userbase of 150,000 and 1 million apps downloaded.

Great numbers, but it took the App Store a mere 24 hours to reach the 1 million apps downloaded mark, with 26 times as many iPhone owners and hundreds of apps available, as opposed to the 30 currently on the App Catalog.

Still…it is early days, and we hope to see their success continue as the Pre is launched in more territories.

Source: Pocket Lint

Apple Weighs In Over Palm Pre iTunes Syncing…Sort Of

By Ernest DokucloseAuthor: Ernest Doku Name: Ernest Doku
Email: ernest.doku@omio.com
Site: http://blog.omio.com
About: I like gadgets, loads! I like talking about them, writing about them, using them, watching other people use them though binoculars... Some would say it was an unhealthy fascination, but then I'd be all like, "Shh...," and go back to doing gadget-related things. Hit me up on Xbox Live or PSN, I'm EJStyleS. I promise to give you a good match as well as talk about things that aren't gadgets. A bit.See Authors Posts (1387)

Well, it was good while it lasted… The Palm Pre and its stealthy iTunes-syncing ways might come to a premature end if Apple’s thinly veiled advisory warning on Tuesday was anything to go by, calling out ‘non-Apple digital media players’ in particular….

“Apple is aware that some third-parties claim that their digital media players are able to sync with Apple software. However, Apple does not provide support for, or test for compatibility with, non-Apple digital media players and, because software changes over time, newer versions of Apple’s iTunes software may no longer provide syncing functionality with non-Apple digital media players.”

Ouch. Having said that, the gall to piggy-back on the platform of your direct competitor for media support was always a gutsy one, and Apple severing the ties eventually must have been in Palm’s mind from the outset.

Palm spokesperson Lynn Fox opted for the obvious ‘consumer loses out’ angle when asked by All Things Digital for their take on things:

“If Apple chooses to disable media sync in a future version of iTunes, it will be a direct blow to their users who will be deprived of a seamless synchronization experience. However, people will have options. They can stay with the iTunes version that works to sync their music on their Pre, they can transfer the music via USB, and there are other third-party applications we could consider.”

So what you’re saying is…don’t update when Apple asks, right? The fact that the Pre has managed to go against the iPhone in such an overt manner is a breath of fresh air. Whether the sleek touchscreen device can make waves on this side of the Atlantic later this year remains to be seen, however.

Palm Pre vs. iPhone 3GS vs. iPhone 3G: Three Way Video Showdown!

By Ernest DokucloseAuthor: Ernest Doku Name: Ernest Doku
Email: ernest.doku@omio.com
Site: http://blog.omio.com
About: I like gadgets, loads! I like talking about them, writing about them, using them, watching other people use them though binoculars... Some would say it was an unhealthy fascination, but then I'd be all like, "Shh...," and go back to doing gadget-related things. Hit me up on Xbox Live or PSN, I'm EJStyleS. I promise to give you a good match as well as talk about things that aren't gadgets. A bit.See Authors Posts (1387)

We’ve already let know know what we think about the new Nokia N97 vs. Apple’s iPhone 3G S, but America has already seen the launch of what many believe to be the closest competitor yet – The Palm Pre.

In this video, CNet pits the Pre up against the swift iPhone 3G S and the iPhone 3G (henceforth to be known as ‘the old one’) in a number of tasks, including browsing the web and uploading a photo. The results prove surprising!

The 3G S has certainly earned its new ’speedy’ monicker, wow!

Source: CNet via IntoMobile