Nokia N9 unveiled - crazy home screens and specs galore

The first MeeGo phone announced - Nokia has finally taken the wraps off the long-awaited N9 phone, bringing with it the first viewing of MeeGo on a handset and jamming a boatload of top-end technology under the hood.

The new handset is rocking MeeGo 1.2 Harmattan, and comes with a 3.9-inch OLED display (no mention of Nokia's top-end ClearBlack technology though) which runs to a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels (WVGA).

MeeGo brings with a fancy new UI, with no traditional home screen for widgets and icons; instead we get the standard scrolling menu of applications, and list of missed calls and social networking feeds and a multi-tasking browser as our three 'home screen' offerings.

An innovative swipe gesture has replaced the home button, meaning users can jump back to the multi-tasking screen from anywhere in the phone.

Polly Carbonate – a tough old girl

The polycarbonate shell might not be metal, but still features Nokia's 'all the way through' colour treatment, meaning it's more resistant to scratching and the Gorilla Glass front display should weather key attacks in your pocket too.

There's an 8MP camera with Carl Zeiss optics stuck on the back, coming with decent low-light sensitivity and auto-focus, and is capable of recording in 720p HD at 30 frames per second.

The processor at the heart of the Nokia N9 is the most powerful the Finnish firm has ever jammed into a phone: an ARM Cortex-A8 OMAP3630 1 GHz offering with PowerVR SGX530 graphics to help awesome-ize games and video.

Nokia is offering the N9 with up to 64GB of onboard storage, or a 16GB version will be available for those that don't feel the need for oodles on video. A 1450mAh battery is included too, and given Nokia's penchant for power management, we'd reckon the 450 hours of standby time might not be too far off.

Insta-pairing

Other techno-treats on offer include NFC (with some cool accessories to use the technology, such as insta-pair Bluetooth speakers) Bluetooth 2.1, GPS, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and up to 14.4Mbps connection speeds.

The Nokia N9 release date has been set rather ambiguously for 'later this year' with UK pricing to be announced in the future too – although we're hoping this bit of kit comes in at the Nokia N8 range of around £25 to £30 per month.

Nokia has produced a (surprisingly low-budget) video of the N9 in action, so you can check out the new MeeGo OS in some more depth:

We're going to try and get our grubby mitts on the phone in the very near future to bring you a hands on Nokia N9 review and answer any burning questions – so if you're curious about anything, pop it in the comments below.

10:53 AM | 0 komentar | Read More

Best PAYG phone - budget mobiles compared

Buying Guide: We compare the best cheap phones on the market - With the mobile marketplace teeming with a multitude of smartphones, one might wonder whether cheap pay and go phones still have a place in the mobile infrastructure.

With massive innovation in both hardware and operating systems, phones now do a lot more than just let you talk and text.

With the introduction of devices like the Apple iPhone, HTC Desire and the Nexus range we are opened to a world of apps and uses.

Sadly all this innovation isn't cheap – and most of it is reserved for high-end contract handsets. So, is there such a thing as the 'best pay as you go phone on a budget'?

Below you will find what we think are the best cheap mobile phones available right now and all for under £200.

Sony Ericsson Spiro
Price: £29.95

The Sony Ericsson Spiro is a stripped down Walkman branded handset, packing a 2-megapixel camera, Edge connectivity and a 2.2-inch, 240x320 (QVGA) screen.

It's a well-made, sturdy handset – and it weighs a mere 90g, meaning it is super portable. The keypad is well laid out, and the keys are slightly raised to aid typing

The OS is a simple Symbian variant, which is clean and fast – if not incredibly feature packed. You do however get a great MP3 player and radio included.

At the end of the day – there is not much to shout about, however the simple handset will suit those on a lower budget, just fine.

Orange San Francisco
Price: £99.97

The Orange San Francisco is a feature rich Android handset the goes against the grain of other handsets at this price.

The San Francisco has some amazing assets. It packs a 3.5 inch 480 x 800 pixel touch screen, WiFi, GPS and 3G connectivity.

The chassis feels very solid, its slate grey main colour is appealing, and the sliver highlights on the long edges look reasonably cool too.

In our opinion, this is one of the best handsets about in this price range.

Samsung Monte
Price: £69.99

If social is your thing, the Samsung Monte could be the perfect phone for you.

The Monte is pre-loaded with widgets for several social networks, YouTube and BBC iPlayer access, and shortcuts to phone functions and apps.

You won't find a physical keyboard on this handset, however the touchscreen interface is responsive, even offering haptic feedback.

For mobile internet lovers, there's speedy 3G mobile broadband for browsing when out and about, and Wi-Fi connectivity means you can get even faster connections from hotspots.

Nokia X2
Price: £59.95

The Nokia X2 is a simple phone that harks back to the traditional form of Nokia 5 years ago. It is a simple candy bar form handset, featuring amazing battery life, a 5 mega-pixel camera and more.

Calls are clear, the loudspeaker is loud and texting is really easy.

You won't find many connectivity options on the X2. There is no sign of Wi-Fi or GPS – in fact you won't even find a 3g network on this Nokia, however if simplicity is key for you then the Nokia X2 could be just what you are after.

Nokia X3 Touch and Type
Price: £109.95

The Nokia X3 Touch and Type is a Symbian, touch screen handset featuring a great keyboard, super battery life and a solid build quality.

The handset uses the Symbian S40 operating system, which is no where near as feature rich as some of the other Android sporting offerings available, but it does cram a good number of attributes into a diminutive form.

You'll find an FM Radio, HSDPA and Wi-Fi connectivity for super fast browsing, expandable storage as well as a decent number of third party apps from the Ovi Store.

If you are a textaholic, then the Touch and Type could be the handset you are after.

HTC Wildfire
Price: £139.95

A smartphone for those on a tight budget, the HTC Wildfire doesn't skimp on the specs; the touchscreen handset runs Android 2.1 with the user-friendly HTC Sense UI and is rocking the same processing power as 2009's phone of choice, the HTC Hero.

The HTC Wildfire offers a 3.2-inch QVGA capacitive screen, Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity, a 5-megapixel camera and allows access to the full Android experience the 2.1 Android OS.

The screen isn't the best we've seen, but the features make this handset one to watch.

Samsung Galaxy Europa
Price: £99.95

The Galaxy Europa i5500 is another small format Android handset, running Android 2.1 that comes in at the pocket-friendly price of £100. The i5500 features Wi-Fi, 3G and GPS and allows for media expandability through the Micro-SD card slot.

The handset is well built and features a unique asymmetrical design that allows for comfortable handling, and its 102g weight is not going to tear a hole in your pocket either.

Samsung gives you access to nicely integrated versions of Facebook and Twitter – meaning that your friends will always be with you.

If you are looking for a compact Android device for under a £100, you can't go wrong with the Galaxy Europa.

LG Optimus One
Price: £175

The LG Optimus One is a stripped down version of their higher priced siblings. The phone features Android OS, a 2.2-inch capacitive touch screen, decent battery life and a pleasing array of media apps.

With upgraded storage, the Optimus One can become a great partner for both music and video, and though the screen isn't the largest – images and movies are crisp and clear and sound is passable.

We put this phone in the same camp as the Orange San Francisco, but personal choice will define which is the better handset.

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini
Price: £129.95

The Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini is one of the tiniest phones on the market and appeals to the fashion conscious and tech aficionado alike.

Featuring Android 2.1, a credit card sized form, a decently powered 600Mhz processor as well as all the usual perks of camera, Wi-Fi and 3G.

This phone zips along, and at no point does it feel underpowered. We really enjoyed how quickly apps open and screens update – for a phone of it's size, you expect to sacrifice power, but that simply is not the case.

If you are after stellar looks and high power to boot, the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini could be the phone for you.

Blackberry Curve 8520
Price: £119.95

The Blackberry Curve 8520 is RIM's cheapest handset in their vast range. If you are a business user on a budget, the Curve is a great way to get Blackberry features without breaking the bank.

Featuring a decent processor, Wi-Fi built in and a passable camera, this phone doesn't feel budget by any means. You won't find 3G/HSDPA connectivity or incredible media attributes, but if email and text is your thing, this could be exactly what the doctor ordered.

11:05 PM | 0 komentar | Read More

Nokia Oro Beautiful and Luxury Smartphone

Nokia unveils its Oro Smartphone, a luxury version of Nokia C7. The Oro is made of 18 carat gold for a touch of elegance and features premium leather back on him and a home button on sapphire glass. The Nokia Oro, just like the C7 has a 3.5-inch AMOLED touchscreen, 8-megapixel camera with dual LED flash and HD video recording, Bluetooth and WiFi 802.11b / g connection.

The phone has 8GB of internal memory and supports SD / SDHC up to 32GB. It comes in light and dark versions.

3:54 AM | 1 komentar | Read More

HTC: 'Nokia Windows Phone 7 deal will help us'

HTC reaffirms commitment to Microsoft's mobile OS - HTC's European boss thinks that the company will also benefit from Nokia's agreement to make Windows Phone 7 handsets.

Despite the likelihood that the Finnish smartphone giant will become Microsoft's favourite manufacturer, Florian Seiche says that HTC can profit from the platform's raised profile.

He told the Reuters Global Technology Summit: "[The Nokia deal] will not change our commitment to Microsoft.

"With a new player entering, it should actually help to elevate the relevance of that platform ... we actually feel that we should be able to benefit.

"The long-term opportunity with Nokia entering will definitely bring Windows back to critical mass."

Flyer performing well

During the summit Sieche also revealed that the company is pleased with the sales performance of its first Android tablet, the HTC Flyer, but refused to be drawn on actual figures.

"It's early days but we feel very good about it," he says.

"In five years' time, schools will have tablets probably instead of physical notebooks. I think that's going to be such a massive wave of additional penetration in society... I think we can't even guess the potential."

Sieche also said that the Taiwanese giant plans to launch its first NFC-enabled smartphone within the next twelve months.

2:05 PM | 0 komentar | Read More