mobile phone
LG InTouch Max (GW620) Review
March 6, 2010
The LG InTouch Max (GW620) is LG’s first attempt at an Android smartphone. Serving the budget end of the market, the GW620 is available from free on a £20 a month contract with T-Mobile in the UK. This is the same headset that Zath got to have a hands-on test with a few months ago when we attended the LG Mobile Event (November 2009), we liked the look of it and wrote up our own LG GW620 (Android) preview about the handset, so be sure to take a look at that first – it would appear our hope for a better name has in fact happened with LG playing up the social networking possibilities of this handset by calling it the LG InTouch Max!
Hardware
The LG InTouch Max (GW620) is the first Android device I’ve used with a hardware keyboard, which naturally makes the device thicker than others available on the market, although it doesn’t feel unnatural when holding it without the keyboard slid out. On the front of the device there are 2 soft touch buttons for home and back, and a physical button in the centre, allowing you to access settings of each app open.
Continue reading »Google Buzz – Do We Need Another Social Network?
February 21, 2010
Well Google recently released Buzz (didn’t Yahoo do that a few years back?) upon GMail users and anyone else who wants to sign up for a Google account, but the question is will it be the thing to beat Facebook and Twitter? I’m sure Google now hopes so, but I’m yet to be convinced.
Besides, I already use Twitter and Facebook, do I really need another social network? Don’t know what I’m talking about? You can read all about it in this Google Buzz features review.
I’m really not sure about Google Buzz, it seems strange for a company who keeps services in beta for years upon end (like they did with having Google Mail in beta for around 5 years), to release a previously unheard of product onto the world…and one that seemed to care little about your privacy of the contacts that you email regularly, but that perhaps just says more about a bunch of engineers creating and testing Google Buzz and their naivety over how it could be used for more malicious activities, take a look at our most recent technology roundup for more information on that.
Continue reading »The Puma Phone – A Sporty Mobile Phone?
February 17, 2010
Yet another interesting and innovative device has been thrown up at this year’s MWC. The much anticipated PUMA phone is now upon us and it certainly adds something new and unique to the line up of great mobile devices already announced at the event in Barcelona.
PUMA AG and Sagem Wireless have unveiled a mobile device which not only looks great, but contains some incredible technology that they hope will enhance the world of mobile devices in years to come. This is for one simple reason, although packed with great features, this sleek and compact device contains an integrated solar cell along with a charge indicator. This means that your device will charge whilst on the go, no need to leave it at home or take your bulky charger along with you.
Continue reading »Sony Ericsson Experia X10 Mini, X10 Pro and Vivaz Pro Announced
February 16, 2010
This year’s Mobile World Congress (MWC) has certainly thrown up some interesting stuff. Not a lot more so though, than the three latest instalments from the guys over at Sony Ericsson. The X10 Mini and Pro edtions as well as the Vivaz Pro.
Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini/Pro
The Xperia X10 from Sony Ericsson got a lot of people talking, so these compact editions are sure to do the same. They promise to deliver powerful devices, packed with apps which offer a great alternative for those who don’t wish to be lugging what used to be known as ‘bricks’ around with them.
Continue reading »New HTC Mobile Phones Announced (Desire, Legend & HD Mini)
February 16, 2010
At their press conference at the MWC event today, the mobile phone manufacturer; HTC made some major announcements as both Android and Windows Mobile devices were shown off to those in the audience.
Two Android phones were announced, both running Android 2.1 and a brand new version of HTC’s Sense UI.
Continue reading »Windows Phone 7 Series Announced By Microsoft
February 15, 2010
Microsoft have just announced their re-branding of Windows Mobile; the Windows Phone 7 Series at the 2010 Mobile World Congress, in Barcelona. The name may be a bit of a mouthful, but it’s clear that their new mobile operating system has taken a drastically different approach than previous efforts from Windows Mobile.
Every Windows Phone will have three buttons on the front of it: Start, Search and Back. This consistency will allow for a better experience for the user with hardware and software working together better – it’s a theme that Google’s also been chasing with their Android devices (such as the Nexus One) by encouraging manufacturers to use their 4 button template on the front of their devices, offering consistency across the board. This is definitely a step in the right direction as not only does it allow hardware and software to work better together, but also allows a much easier transition between Windows Phone devices.
Continue reading »Google Nexus One Review (UK)
February 15, 2010
Google’s new ‘superphone’, the Nexus One, has been the topic of many conversations since its release a day before CES began in January. Released subsidised in the US, and also available unlocked to the UK, Singapore and Hong Kong from Google directly, it comes packed with a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 512MB RAM and a 5MP camera (more on that later on).
Shipping and Initial Setup
The cost of the phone from Google is $529, although you’ll also have to consider international shipping costs of $29.65. DHL’s tracking service was great to have when biting my nails to see where my phone was, although it took an extra day to arrive after landing in the UK due to a shipping mix up – it was destined for Gatwick instead of Manchester, but I was just grateful that my Nexus One didn’t end up in Uganda…
Continue reading »Sony Ericsson Aspen Launched – A Green Windows Mobile!
February 6, 2010
Sony Ericsson really seem to be releasing a lot of new handsets just recently, for instance the SE Satio, SE Vivaz and now with the Sony Ericsson Aspen.
Whilst the green revolution continues to trickle its way through the tech world it has been a while since we’ve covered a product that aims to be at the top of the field in functionality and style, but still remain environmentally sound at its core so it’s a nice change to see the release of the Sony Ericsson Aspen, which aims to do just that!
Ignoring the green aspects for a moment and you’ll see that the Aspen is a QWERTY smartphone which also incorporates the ease of a touchscreen and which comes with all the functionality you’d expect from a ‘high end’ phone including the latest version of Windows Mobile.
Continue reading »Google’s Nexus One Gets Multi-Touch & Vodafone UK Release Date Soon?
February 2, 2010
Huge news for all you Android fans out there, especially in the States – the Google Nexus One mobile phone received a software update earlier today enabling multitouch on not only the default browser, but also on the Google Maps and Gallery apps.
There was speculation of whether the European version of Google’s latest phone would have multitouch enabled by default like Motorola’s Droid (known as the Motorola Milestone in Europe), but few expected a US software update so soon enabling multitouch.
Continue reading »Sony Ericsson Vivaz Mobile Phone Announced
January 26, 2010
Following the recent release on the Sony Ericsson Satio which we had the pleasure of testing here at Zath, they have announced the second instalment of their new family of ‘communication entertainment’ phones which promises to not only match, but exceed the standard set by its predecessor: the Sony Ericsson Vivaz.
Even if you didn’t know beforehand that the two mobile phones were ‘related’ just looking at the two next to each other kind of gives it away as the Vivaz looks remarkably like a slimmed down, brighter version of the comparatively blocky Satio.
This isn’t all that surprising as ‘looks’ seem to be one of the main two selling points of the Vivaz, and despite the fact that really it looks nothing like the shape of ‘the human body’ (which is what the publicity excitedly claims) the new design philosophy of ‘delivering beauty inside and out’ has succeeded as it really does look quite nice!
Continue reading »
