June 14th, 2010 | Blackberry, Mobile Phone Reviews, Mobile Phones, Touchscreen
The BlackBerry Storm 2 9500 follows from the previous BlackBerry Storm 9500. The latter disappointed some users for its relatively hard to use touch-screen and the lack of Wi-Fi. The newer version was created to correct these problems and, as its predecessor, was eagerly anticipated before its launch.
The BlackBerry Storm 2 measures 4.43 by 2.45 by 0.55 inches. It weighs a relatively heavy 5.64 ounces, although this is due to its relatively large size. It has a battery life of 6 hours talk time, 12 days standby time.
The BlackBerry Storm 2 9500’s main display screen has a good picture resolution of 360 x 480 pixels, measuring at 3.25 inches. The screen is capacitive and multi touch. The camera has a 3.2 megapixels resolution with LED flash, auto focus, image stabiliser and digital zoom.
Multimedia features on the BlackBerry Storm 2 9500 include a video player supporting MPEG4, H.263, H.264 and WMV files and a music player supporting MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+ and WMA files. The memory is 256 MB ROM.
Internet connectivity is through an HTML browser. The BlackBerry Storm 2 9500 has microUSB, Wi-Fi, 2.1 stereo Bluetooth and A-GPS.
The BlackBerry Storm 2 9500’s best point is its stylish design, which looks very similar to the earlier 9500. The touch-screen that was criticised in the earlier 9500 works very well even if it continues to use the press method. Email services are, not surprisingly, excellent. Most BlackBerry 2 9500 deals are contracts.
June 11th, 2010 | Mobile Phone Reviews, Sony Ericsson
Marketed to a female audience, the Sony Ericsson Jalou is not much taller than a tube of lipstick. The concept is admirable, but even the convenient size can’t make up for this phone’s lack of advanced features.
Pros
Internet browsing is fast, though the small 2-inch screen and harsh pixilation hamper navigation. It is capable of running several applications at once, even while connected to the web. There’s an integrated Facebook app that posts updates and notifications quickly, right on the home screen, and users will also be able to access their Facebook inbox via the messaging app. For users who like to compare mobile phones, the Jalou Facebook app is similar to that of the popular BlackBerry.
Other key benefits include threaded text messaging, good call audio, and acceptable camera function.
Cons
Any mobile phone sized to a cosmetic product is likely to fail in the design department, and such is the case with the Jalou. The overall look of the phone is decidedly unattractive and the screen is much too small.
The control pad is an odd hexagonal shape, which makes it rather impossible to navigate through on-screen menus. Each key has been affixed with a tiny plastic diamond that looks like it will eventually come loose.
High end features are also seriously lacking; the Jalou barely stacks up against the latest mobile phones. Apps are limited, the media player is just average, there are no maps or GPS, and the phone is not equipped to handle multiple email accounts.
Conclusion
As a girl’s best friend, the Sony Ericsson Jalou falls well short of the mark.
June 10th, 2010 | Mobile Phone Recycling, Mobile Phones
The number of people using mobile phones is continuously growing, and this also means that there is an increasing amount of old handsets sitting in kitchen drawers or the bin. Unfortunately some people are not aware that recycling their mobile phone is very easy, and in doing so you could be in for a financial reward as well as helping the environment.
There are many different sites that make recycling mobile phones easy. Perhaps the most popular are Envirofone (www.envirophone.com) and Mazuma (www.mazumamobile.com). These websites provide a service where you can get a quote for any mobile phone and then send it off to them before receiving a cash payment. There are many other mobile phone recycling websites available, such as Fonebank (www.fonebank.com), Mopay (www.mopay.co.uk) and Mobile Phone Exchange (www.mobilephoneexchange.co.uk).
If you have decided to recycle your mobile phone through one of these organisations then make sure that you get a quote from each of the services before deciding on which one to go with. The price offered from one site may vary from another, so it is always best to make a comparison so that you get the best deal. When using one of the services you will find that you can often trade in your mobile phone for another upgraded handset as well as recycle it. This is an excellent service if you would like to get yourself a bargain on a new mobile phone, and put your old mobile phone towards a new handset.
June 7th, 2010 | Broadband, Mobile Broadband, Wireless Devices
When making a broadband comparison, price is often the main motivator for individuals, although the amenities offered with various broadband deals can also influence the consumer’s decision. Whether they decide to use Think Broadband, O2 Broadband, Orange Home Broadband, or a service such as Tesco Broadband or Plusnet Broadband, there are a huge number of companies offering UK customers broadband access.
One of the major differences between pricing for broadband Internet in the United Kingdom versus the United States is that in the U.S. internet service providers have flat-rate models, where the pricing is determined by the maximum bit-rate chosen by the consumer when they sign up for package. In the UK we tend to have an hourly charge or a monthly maximum rate. Unfortunately, the increased consumer usage in regards to streaming media has created a situation where certain ISPs have limited bandwidth, and as the demand for bandwidth increases, their networks become unstable. Ultimately this results in customers beginning to pay for something that they cannot actually access.
Broadband UK customers have access to range of options from flat-rate programmes to programmes that have a cap on the maximum download capacity in order to adjust for those customers who expect to use only a small amount of bandwidth, and thus give priority to the users who are paying for more access. This allows for greater control over the speed of each individual customer’s access to the broadband connection. Many companies, such as Virgin Media, actually allow consumers to build their own package before signing up for broadband Internet.
June 4th, 2010 | Google Android, HTC, Mobile Phone Reviews, Mobile Phones, Touchscreen
The HTC Desire is an Android mobile phone. Android mobile phone technology was developed by Android Inc. and Google. It allows for users to create their own applications through open source technology.
The HTC Desire is 4.69 by 2.36 by 0.47 inches, and weighs 4.76 ounces. Its main display screen has 480 x 800 pixels and is 3.70 inches. The camera has 5 megapixels resolution, and incorporates flash, LED, auto focus, face detection technology and geo tagging. The HTC Desire’s software is Android 2.1, with up to 576 RAM / 512 ROM in memory. It has HTML internet access, microUSB technology, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Email and GPS services come as standard.
Plus points in the HTC Desire’s favour are its very fast processing speed and the relatively large size of the touch-screen. Internet browsing is among the fastest achieved on any mobile phone. The touch-screen can handle seven home screens at the same time, with the ‘Leap thumbnail’ mode allowing for switching effortlessly between them. The mobile phone looks good and feels great to handle.
The sheer speed of the mobile phone leads to a minus point: switching between screens can lead to fast errors, with the touch-screen prone to being overly responsive. The battery can run out very quickly as well, although this is a common issue in smartphones generally.
HTC Desire deals are still widely on offer, with mostly contract deals on offer from T-Mobile, Orange, 3, Vodafone, O2, Virgin Mobile and Talk Mobile.
June 3rd, 2010 | Mobile Phone Reviews, Mobile Phones, Motorola Mobile Phones
This Motorola ROKR E8 handset looks good when new but it is very prone to scratching on the screen. It quickly loses its shine as the various operation difficulties come to light. This handset has the same keys for each function, so you have to get used to numerous functions for each one. Motorola calls it ‘Modeshift’ but all that really means is that keys illuminate for each different function in order to tell the user which keys are appropriate.
For example if you are using the camera you get zoom in and out, video view and a video toggle. With the music function the same keys give you forwards, backwards, play, pause and shuffle. This sounds like a clever idea but it really does not work any better than the straightforward up and down and side to side keys that other handsets have. The display screen is very small at just two inches and it has been turned on its side to cram it into the smallest available space.
There is a 2 GB camera included and a micro SD slot to expand the memory capacity if and when required. It has a useful 3.5 mm headphone jack which is often missing from mobile handsets and the volume keys are in a great place on the side of the unit. The Motorola ROKR E8 has an inbuilt FM radio and a voice recorder but nothing more technically advanced than that.
This is a straight forward model which can be bought on cheap mobile phones sites at real bargain prices. It looks good but will not suit those who like their mobile to be crammed with gadgets.
May 31st, 2010 | Broadband, Mobile Broadband, Wireless Devices
One thing to remember is that the advertised bandwidth from the various broadband providers is not always reliably available to the customer. This is because ISPs (Internet Service Providers) often allow a far greater number of subscribers to access their backbone connection or network than it can technically handle. This is based upon the assumption that many individuals will not be using their full connection capacity very often, so the load will balance out. This is known as an aggregation strategy, which works most of the time, which means that most users can access the full capacity of their bandwidth, depending on the package of broadband they purchase. One of the major things that has begun to tax the way various broadband providers offer Internet these days is the fact that an increasing number of companies are offering streaming videos and other services online. This causes more and more customers to max out their connection rates. If the company in question is not prepared, there can be some significant traffic issues with the broadband connection.
If you are looking to compare broadband and broadband providers, it is important to take a look at the various broadband deals offered by companies in the United Kingdom to determine your location and which company offers you the best packages. They range from Sky Broadband, Think Broadband, Be Broadband, Tesco Broadband, and Virgin Media Broadband. Your location determines which company will be your Internet service provider. Be sure to read the fine print regarding data transfer rates to determine which company is right for you.
May 30th, 2010 | Mobile Phone Reviews, Mobile Phones, Sony Ericsson, Touchscreen
The X10 is the first of the Sony Ericsson mobile phones to run on the increasingly popular Android OS.
Pros
The 4-inch screen is huge, with a nice display and excellent capacitive touch-screen. Still the body is relatively compact given the size of the screen, and the handset is sleek and lightweight.
The X10 features an 8.1 megapixel camera that stands up well next to those of the latest mobile phones from other manufacturers. Zoom, focus, and white balance are all controlled on screen, and there’s a dedicated camera button located on the side of the handset.
Mediascape serves as a central location for storing photos, videos clips, and music files. It features a comprehensive photo gallery that includes pictures taken with the camera and those uploaded to social networking sites, as well as a simple upload tool that lets users share video and photos instantly.
Cons
The most significant problem with the X10 is its pitiful battery life. Even disabling 3G doesn’t make much difference, and recharging the phone takes a long time as well.
Typing is clumsy, especially in portrait mode, and predictive text simply gets in the way more often than it helps while composing messages.
The X10 runs on Android 1.6, somewhat disappointing considering that this version of the operating system is fast becoming outdated. Using apps is not too problematic, but users are limited to just three home screens; Android 2.0 and higher offer five.
Conclusion
The Sony Ericsson X10 falls well short of the mark set by the other Android devices that have dominated mobile phone news lately.
May 26th, 2010 | Mobile Phone Recycling, Mobile Phones
Mobile Phone Exchange is another leader in mobile phone recycling in the UK. The company pays not only for your old phone units but also for your MP3, cameras and game machines.
Mobile Phone Exchange offers £119 for a Nokia N95 8GB and £177 for an Apple iPhone 3G 8GB. The company accepts phones from over 20 manufacturers. The phones may be fully working or partially damaged. Another interesting feature of the company is that you can also buy used mobile phones from it. Trading your phone and its accessories is also possible.
The first step is to go to the official website at www.mobilephoneexchange.co.uk and “value your phone” by entering its IMEI code on the homepage. Your phone’s IMEI code can be generated by typing *#06# into your device. This works if you cannot find your mobile phone unit model from the list of choices. Mobile Phone Exchange will send you a freepost envelope with pads 48 hours after you have entered your phone and personal details. The padded envelope will contain a unique tracking number for reference. After Mobile Phone Exchange receives your gadget and declares it working under the standards set by the company, you will receive your BACS payment within three days or your cheque payment after seven days.
Mobile Phone Exchange boasts of its higher price offers compared to other phone companies. If you click on the “Compare Prices” tab on the upper part of the homepage, you will see a table comparing how much Mobile Phone Exchange will pay for certain units compared to two other companies. Mobile Phone Exchange offers an extra 15% payment above the prevailing market price if you decide to get paid in Debenhams vouchers.
May 23rd, 2010 | HTC, Mobile Phone Reviews
Like most HTC phones, they rarely choose to create an incremental update or small change to an existing phone. Much like each and every product they offer, the HTC snap fills a specific niche in the market, in this case, the heavy texting, e-mail centric users. While visually similar to a Blackberry, make no mistake, this mobile is all its own, with its own set of unique features and qualities that set it apart. The full keyboard support is excellent, and should be considered by any one taking a look at new mobile phones currently available.
While raw processor performance is not the best on the Snap, this is simply not the main focus. The handset is carefully designed, wide enough to support a full QWERTY keyboard yet incredibly thin as well. While it’s not the thinnest smart phone on the market, with the full range of features such as GPS and Wi-Fi, the Snap is an impressive piece of technology. As far as the keys go, they are quite large, while providing excellent tactile feedback. They are very responsive to the touch, and allow for swift messaging and e-mailing. Similar to the BlackBerry, the Snap supports Microsoft Exchange accounts as well as POP3, IMAP and Gmail accounts.
While this is clearly HTC’s response to the massively popular BlackBerry, HTC manages to do it in a unique way; with the same high quality displays HTC are known for. It’s far from revolutionary, but it never claims to be, and is sure to exceed the expectations of previous BlackBerry users, and new smart phone buyers alike.
