Mobile Phone Reviews

Google’s Android open source operating system is a great one but due to its frequency of updates and the infrequent rate at which hardware manufacturers push these updates out, some users have been left in the dust. The Dell Streak is a prime example of this segmentation as although it is a brand new device, Dell is still putting the finishing touches on the updated versions which means it will ship with Android 1.6 in tow.

Fortunately, some hackers over in the UK found this delay in updates to be inappropriate and have taken the liberty to themselves update the device to Android 2.1 also known as Eclair. According to those involved, all you need to do is copy the Android 2.1 .pkg file onto your device’s SD card and rename it ‘Update.pkg’. Once you’re done with that you just need to boot the Dell Streak into recovery mode and choose to recover from the Update.pkg file.

Of course, you’re going to have to make note that this will completely wipe your device and leave nothing behind besides a brand new, fresh Dell Streak. As with any non-official update, proceed at your own risk as it is possible that things may go wrong and you find yourself with a very expensive paper weight.

You can download that illustrious update file, here.

If anyone tries this, let us know how it goes.

via modaco

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LG Cookie Series Headed for Generation Z in the UK

LG Electronics (LG) today announced the release of the LG Cookie Series, a collection of vibrant coloured full-touch phones designed to match the unique lifestyles of young “Generation Z” mobile consumers looking for great style and great connectivity.

The LG Cookie Series consists of three full-touch mobile handsets: Cookie, Cookie Style and Cookie 3G, all suitable for younger users or first-time touch phone users. Tailored for the distinctive needs of today’s youth market, the LG Cookie Series provides more versatile texting functionality, enhanced music options, wider social networking support, and a customisable, user-friendly interface and design.

The LG Cookie Series was designed primarily for young mobile phone users who enjoy expressing themselves in unique and stylish ways, whether by phone or one of today’s most popular social networking tools.

All the Cookie phones offer an intuitive and easy-to-use virtual QWERTY keypad allowing for easy texting without the bulk of a physical keyboard. The keypad can be switched from portrait to landscape mode, providing young users with a more convenient texting method.

The LG Cookie Series touch phones make social networking much more enjoyable thanks to dedicated user interface optimised for this type of activity. Users can also keep in touch with their friends through instant messaging and email that support threaded viewing for easier conversations.

The LG Cookie Series also includes a 3.5-inch headphone jack, FM radio and microSD slot for enjoying and easy sharing of music and movies. Add to this a stylish two-tone design and the fun cartoon-styled user interface and the LG Cookie Series easily stands out in the full-touch phone handset market.

LG Cookie

Designed to fit perfectly in the palm of a hand, LG Cookie is the most compact phone in the line-up. LG Cookie is proof that touch phones don’t all look alike. LG Cookie’s compact form factor slips easily into a pocket or purse but still manages to include a generous 2.4-inch display.

LG Cookie Style

LG Cookie Style is the stylish phone in the series with a 2.8-inch LCD display and bold design. Cookie Style is available in a variety of colour options with accents on the front button panel, making it one of the most fashionable full-touch phones on the market. The phone’s colourful mix-and-match design will appeal to the young mobile generation’s desire for self-expression.

LG Cookie 3G

LG Cookie 3G allows for faster connectivity and data transmission, always keeping users connected to friends and family. Its advanced e-mail feature utilises the latest in push-delivery technology, instantly alerting users when messages are sent to any of their e-mail addresses. LG Cookie 3G is a perfect choice not only for Generation Z but also for digitally active people who cannot compromise on network connectivity and design.

The LG Cookie Series will be available in the UK in September. Pricing to be confirmed nearer the launch date.

via RealWire

Last week the European Union Commission rejected Research in Motion’s BlackBerry in favor of the iPhone and HTC smartphones and now this week the British Army adopts the iPad.  According to a report from BBC, the British Army is using the iPad in the field to help with artillery training,

“A lot of our training is directed at young soldiers who don’t respond well to the traditional PowerPoint lecture,” said Major Richard Gill of the training development branch. “Our solutions are developed very much with the iPod generation in mind.”

In other iPad news, BBC is running a limited iPad trial in some departments to evaluate how feasible it is to use the device to reduce paper and boost efficiency.  iPads are being made available to BBC’s UK production, location and technical departments.  Several managers have also been given iPad to see if it can replace desktop computers.

via 9 to 5 Mac

The Motorola Droid 2 and Droid X could be headed to the UK later this year.  Thanks to French Android site FrAndroid, we now know the Droid X is heading to France in November or December, followed by the Milestone 2 (Droid 2).  Of course, the launch in France does not guarantee a UK release, but it does raise hopes that at least one of the Motorola’s hot new smartphones will be ready for the UK by Christmas.

Here in the US the Motorola Droid 2 is expected to launch on August 23, exclusive to Verizon Wireless.

Droid X recap: 4.3-inch 854 x 480 touchscreen, 8-megapixel camera with 720P video recording, 1 GHz processor and 8GB of internal memory, Android 2.2 upgradable.

Droid 2 recap: 1 GHz processor, full QWERTY hardware keyboard + SWYPE software keyboard, 5-megapixel camera, 3G mobile hotspot, ships with Android 2.2

via FoneHome UK

The Nokia C6 has already been spotted in an European country, more specifically the Netherlands, but it has also become available for purchase in the UK. The price tag of Nokia C6 in the UK is set at $440 unlocked, or at $350 with a plan.

Specification-wise the Nokia C6 sports the Symbian S60 5th edition as the OS and besides the 5-megapixel camera it has a 3.2-inch touchscreen, WiFi, and FM radio. One of the main features is related to GPS navigation, it features a free lifetime version of Ovi Maps, A-GPS receivers, geotagging of images, and an accelerometer.

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The mobile operator from the UK – Orange – has decided to release their own cellphone running the Android OS, which will be named Project PAL.

The Project PAL cellphone has an innovative design as you can see on the image, and it sports Android 2.1 OS Eclair on the background, and besides the touchscreen display and the 3-megapixel camera it also has WiFi and Bluetooth. The price tag of this handset is not set, but Orange claims it won’t cost more than $225 without a contract.

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On the end of May we mentioned the announcement of the upcoming tablet developed by Dell which is also known as Dell Streak, and the good news is that the device is now available for purchase in the UK for £450 which is close to $670.

As a reminder here are some specifications of the Dell Streak:

- runs the Android OS;
- provides multi-touch UI;
- features a Qualcomm SnapDragon 8250 processor running at 1GHz and 512MB of SDRAM;
- comes with a 5-inch LCD screen that provides a resolution of 800×480 pixels,
- extras include a 5-megapixel camera, bluetooth 2.0, WiFi, and support for HSDPA at 7.2 Mbps;

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There are some rumors that Samsung on the UK will soon launch a new cellphone named Samsung Galaxy Apollo, but so far there isn’t any information about the exact specifications, nor release date, or price.

Anyway, the Samsung Galaxy Apollo is suppose to be similar to the Samsung M100S, which means it will boast a 3.7-inch AMOLED display screen, a 5-megapixel camera, WiFi, and Android 2.1 as the operative system. As always we will keep you updated with the latest news of the upcoming Galaxy Apollo.

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O2 from the UK will soon launch a new Huawei cellphone, more specifically the G7002 which has a price tag of approximately $60.

In terms of specifications the Huawei G7002 boasts a touchscreen, a 1.3-megapixel camera located on the back of the cellphone and FM radio. Other simple features include a battery life that can last 12 hours in stand-by mode, being a 2G cellphone, and working as a MP3/MP4 player.

via press

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For all of you UK Apple fanboys (and girls) out there, this is just a heads up — If you preordered the iPad you may be recieving a pleasent surprise in the mail today. Various reports are beginning to surface that say Apple is delivering the iPad to the UK 1 day ahead of its scheduled May 28th launch date.

Of course, even though it’s just a day earlier everyone here in the United States has been enjoying their iPad for well over a month now.

On the flip side of things, it will be interesting to see if Apple’s famed iPad tablet will recieve the same reception in the UK as it did the United States.

via engadget

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