Written on 9/30/2010 05:25:00 PM by poison_ivy
For avid Android fans out there, the two new hottest Android mobile phones from HTC is set to land on UK shores on Oct. 6. Yep, that's right, Oct. 6th. Retailers such as Superetrader and Clove UK has already set up pre-orders for the HTC Desire HD and Desire Z on their websites with estimated date of arrival on Oct. 6th. For our US friends, looks like they'll be getting the HTC Desire Z first or it's better known as the T-Mobile G2 since
radioshack will be offering it on the October 3rd.
However, US users who long for an unlocked version can also pre-order their HTC Desire Z or HTC Desire HD from Superetrader or Clove as both these retailers ship internationally, PLUS, VAT will be deducted from the price.
For those who want to get a discount when purchasing these two mobile phones, Modaco members get a
special discount when ordering from Superetrader. So I'd say pre-order now before stocks get depleted.
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Android News,
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News
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Written on 9/28/2010 04:11:00 PM by poison_ivy
Okay, I must admit, I'm getting pretty addicted to iPhone 4 cases. For the past month, I've racked up close to £100 for the different cases and screen protectors that I've purchased for the iPhone 4. And it doesn't help that I've been lurking in different forums, envying some iPhone 4 owner's customization of their iPhone 4s. Here are some of the best dressed iPhone 4s that I've seen so far.
Glow in the dark iPhone 4
In broad daylight, this iPhone 4 with a clear bumper seems very ordinary. However, it's when it gets dark that this mobile phone gets interesting. Pretty cool. The clear bumper can be bought off eBay while the glow in the dark side wrap is from iColorwrap Glow wrap. From macrumors.
Bumper with custom back sticker
This is another common combination and the different colors and back used can create a really good looking iPhone 4. Bumpers that can be used includes SGP Hybrid Ex, Scoshe BandEdge or Apple's original bumpers. There are a lot of custom back stickers for the iPhone 4 but the ones usually used are SGP's leather skin back or other carbon fibre back decals usually from eBay or other companies.
Decals and skins
Perhaps the best customization for your iPhone 4. Decals and Skins would not only let you choose solid colors for your iPhone 4 but lets you customize it with different designs as well. If you want to forego the bumper as suggested above, you can replace it with side wraps. Lucky Labs Spectra Wraps gives you different colored side wraps to customize your iPhone 4 for only $9.99. Gelaskins on the other hand offers full customization for your iP4. You can even make your own custom image and they'll print it out for you.
So those are just a few of my choices as the best dressed iPhone 4s. I'm thinking of going with the Lucky Labs Spectra Wrap plus the SGP leather skin back. Of course, these skins won't really protect your phone from drops but at least you got a very stylish and nice looking phone.
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Apple iPhone,
iPhone 4,
iPhone accessories
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Written on 9/22/2010 03:44:00 PM by poison_ivy
So, you got a 3 year old mobile phone lying around the house that you haven't used in ages. You're thinking you can sell it off eBay so you did, problem is that most consumers today are buying second hand mobile phones that are less than a year old considering how much technology changes nowadays. So you failed at selling it on eBay and on top of that, you incurred listing fees. So what can you do with your old mobile phone?
Rather than throw it away, you can still sell it, though not on eBay. You can trade in your mobile phones on sites like Mobile Phone Xchange. The process is very simple, you just type in the model number of your mobile phone and then the website will give you an instant quote. They can pay in you gift certificates like Debenhams, Argos, and Marks and Spencers (gift vouchers yield higher values), or you can choose to be paid by cash through Bank Transfer, Cheque or Paypal.
Take note though that your mobile phone needs to be in full working condition which means there should be no dead pixels, all buttons are working and if it's a touchscreen phone, the stylus should also be included, in order for you to get the full quoted price. If you have a broken mobile phone, you can still send it in for cash though at a reduced value. Damaged phones can still get anything up to 80% of Mobile Phone Xchange's quoted price for used phones so I guess this would depend on how damaged your phone is.
As for the value of your old mobile phones, if you still have a fairly new phone, maybe less than a year old, the price that Mobile Phone Xchange quotes is quite a bit low compared if you sell it on eBay but on the positive side, you have sure cash rather than risk listing on eBay, incurring listing fees and have no one buy the phone after the listing period.
Overall, I think the service that Mobile Phone Xchange is offering is a good alternative rather than just throwing away your mobile phone or selling it off Craigslist or eBay. You get instant cash plus you're helping save the environment too.
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Written on 9/18/2010 03:21:00 PM by poison_ivy
Okay, so I know a lot of you are waiting for the white iPhone 4, including my sister who's holding back upgrading with O2 because she really wants the white one, but it's still listed as "currently unavailable" in the Apple UK store. Want a specific release date? Unfortunately, there's still no specific date but according to this Apple fanboy who apparently emailed Steve Jobs and asked about the availability of the white iPhone 4, the mighty Steve answered and said that it can be this Christmas.
The whole email exchange went like this:
Hello Steve, My name is Nathan, I’m a high school student from San Bernardino. I also happen to be one of your biggest fan and a total Apple fanboy and proud to be :)
I’ve been saving up money to buy the new iphone 4. I want the white one but Apple said it won’t be available until later this year. I know you must be asked this question hundreds of times a day but do you think we can expect to get the white iphone for xmas?
I hope you can answer. Thank you Steve.
To which Steve answered curtly:
Christmas is later this year.
Sent from my iPhone
A lot of people believes this to be true coz, come on, Christmas is a time for spending all your moolah and what better way to spend it than on a spanking brand new white iPhone 4? I'm sure Apple is just waiting to cash in on this demand.
Via:
Redmondpie
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iPhone news,
tech news
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Written on 9/16/2010 09:05:00 AM by poison_ivy
The Samsung Galaxy S is one of the iPhone 4's biggest competitor in the UK. Most of the networks here carry the Galaxy S but like all subsidized mobile phones, chances are, the one that you got is locked to that specific network. So, how do you unlock the Samsung Galaxy S from Vodafone, O2, Orange, etc? Well, I've used this guide on a Galaxy S locked to T-Mobile USA so I don't really know if it will work for UK users but other users in other parts of the world reported it working on their Galaxy S locked to their carriers so there's no harm in trying (but then, I take no responsibility when you brick your phone so use at your own risk). This procedure will only work on a Samsung Galaxy S not running Android 2.2.
1) Go to Android Marketplace and search for Samsung Galaxy S Unlock Tool. Two apps showed up and I chose to download the one with five star rating (first one).
2) After downloading, I installed the app, went to applications then opened SGS Unlock.
3) Write down the generated unlock code and unfreeze code as well.
4) Shut down your phone, insert a simcard which your phone is not locked to. The phone will automatically ask for an unlock code. Enter the unlock code and press unlock.
5) Viola! You now have an unlocked Samsung Galaxy S.
Thanks to XDA-Developers for the instructions. If you run into some trouble, you can always ask the good fellows a XDA-Developers for some help. Good luck.
Posted in
How tos,
Mobile phone how-tos,
Mobile phone unlocking,
Samsung Galaxy S
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Written on 9/16/2010 12:19:00 AM by poison_ivy
Usually, unboxing videos are made by reviewers but lately there's been a trend wherein manufacturers create their own unboxing videos, release it in the wild, so as to create a buzz on their products. Nokia is jumping on that bandwagon and released a viral video of the unboxing of the Nokia N8. What's different about this unboxing video is that it's supposed to be interactive. You can choose from three persons to unbox the N8 for you. Check out the video below.
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Latest Mobile Phones,
new nokia phone,
Nokia,
nokia phones
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Written on 9/14/2010 03:56:00 PM by poison_ivy
Let's face it, even though Apple already offered a lot of nice looking cases for their free case program, a lot of us are still clamoring for their iPhone 4 bumpers. However, the only bumper that Apple is offering on their free case program is the black model. The black bumper case doesn't really do our black iPhone 4s a lot, it may be a good match for the white iPhone 4, which is still unreleased but black on black--meh.
On eBay, other colors for the original Apple iPhone 4 bumpers are selling for as low as $49.99 to as high as $100. Jeez, before you make that blind leap--stop! Considering that Apple is stopping their free case program on September 30, the availability of the different colors of iPhone 4 bumpers will likely resume so no need to spend that much money. However, if you're desperate for an iPhone 4 bumper alternative, here are some Apple bumper look alikes available.
Element Vapor 4 Case
Perhaps this is the slickest and most expensive iPhone 4 bumper look alike. But unlike the iPhone 4 bumper which is made of rubber and plastic, the Element Vapor 4 Case is made up of solid, CNCd aluminum frame made from aircraft-grade metals lined with a new, shock-absorbent liner material. This case costs $79.95 to $99.95. Be warned though, some users say that the aluminum case actually worsens the antennae gate problem.
Case-Mate Hula
Not keen on spending $79.95 on a case? Case-Mate offers a cheaper alternative. For only £14.95, you get an iPhone 4 bumper look-alike and comes in different colors too. The difference is that instead of the whole bumper containing one solid color, Case-mate opted to color only the edges and then make the parts covering the chrome lining of the iPhone 4, transparent. The bumper is made of rubber and molded plastic, has metal buttons for the power and volume buttons, and comes with a screen protector.
It's available for pre-order over at Mobile Fun.
Gear4 The Band for iPhone 4
Another cheaper alternative to the iPhone 4 and is currently available at Mobile Fun for £14.95. The Gear4 band is made of hard wearing plastic and comes with a 2 year manufacturer's warranty. Colors available are black, black/grey, and black/pink (pictured).
SGP Ultra Slider Crystal Case
The SGP Ultra Slider isn't exactly like the iPhone 4 bumper because there's a crystal case that protects the back but it looks like bumper nonetheless. The SGP Ultra slider is a slider type case and provides access to all buttons. The only thing I don't like about this bumper case is that there's a bit too much opening near the mute and volume buttons.
It comes in three metal like colors: gun-metal, satin silver, and champagne gold.
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iPhone 4,
iPhone accessories
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Written on 9/12/2010 04:24:00 PM by poison_ivy
For new touchscreen phone owners, the most important accessory for your phone is a screen protector. Having only the screen as an input option, of course it's prone to scratches. Although some people claim that the iPhone 4 has a scratch resistant screen, I know from experience that it's not the case and the glass screen is still prone to scratches so screen protectors are a must.
But one of the downside of having the a screen protector is that some screen protectors lessen the clarity of the iPhone 4's retina display. So when considering a screen protector, you have to take into consideration what you really want? Do you want REAL protection from scratches and drops, just basic protection while retaining the screen's clarity, or protection plus freedom from fingerprint smudges?
While doing my own research, here are some of the notable screen protectors that most users prefer.
Zagg InvisibleShield for iPhone 4
Zagg is still one of the most popular screen protectors out in the market today. Not only does it protect your iPhone 4's screen, it protects the back and side as well. The best thing about this screen protector is that it comes with a lifetime warranty. You just need to pay for the shipping of the product. One of the downside of Zagg is that it's tedious to put on but if you buy from a brick and mortar store, there's usually someone there who can put it on for you. Another downside which I don't like but others don't mind is that you have to use a solution to put the screen protector on. I don't know, I just don't like my phone to be sprayed as it might leave moisture inside. Zagg offers protection from scratches, it's smudge free, but it does diminish the clarity of the iPhone 4's retina display.
BodyGuardz Screen protector for iPhone 4
BodyGuardz is pretty much the same as Zagg Invisibleshield, it protects the whole body of your phone and requires a wet solution. One of the advantage of BodyGuardz is that according to owners, it doesn't have an orange peel effect compared with Zagg, the BodyGuardz package also comes with two protectors. Like Zagg, it protects your phone from scratches and smudges but also diminishes the phone's clarity.
Brando Screen Protector Ultra Clear
I've used Brando's Ultra Clear Screen Protectors from my previous touchscreen phones. I have to say that the clarity of their Ultra Clear screen protectors is best. The downside is that it's a bit expensive. $10 for only the front screen protector and $18 for the front and back protectors. That leaves the chrome sides of the iPhone 4 unprotected from scratches so you have to either use an iPhone 4 case or bumper case to protect the sides. The smudges are still there but it's easy to wipe off, but if you're looking for clarity, Brando delivers.
Powersupport HD Anti-glare film iPhone 4
Another screen protector that is getting rave reviews from forums although not so well on Amazon. Some people say that it's clear and doesn't affect the iPhone 4's retina display although some reviewers from Amazon say otherwise. I was about to get this based on reviews on the forums but then saw the Amazon reviews. I'm quite in the middle about this.
Seidio Crystal Protector for iPhone 4
The Seidio Crystal screen protector was one of the first protectors I've purchased for the iPhone 4. The good thing about this is that it has a front and back protector plus comes in two packs. It's cheaper than the Brando front and back Ultra Clear protectors and comes with a cleaning cloth and an application card. It doesn't affect the iPhone 4's display in anyway and is almost at par with Brando's ultra clear screen protector. The downside? It doesn't have clear instructions and the protector is VERY prone to smudges that it's bordering on annoying. The smudges can't be easily wiped off.
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iPhone accessories,
Mobile Phone Accessories
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Written on 9/10/2010 05:27:00 PM by poison_ivy
I bought the Speck Fitted iPhone 4 Case off Amazon instead of choosing it from the free case program for iPhone 4 because I already chose the slightly more expensive InCase Snap Case. First, the Speck fitted case is made from very hard plastic. There are two parts and you snap them in place together to fit the iPhone 4. There's no protective covering for the screen so I highly suggest that you buy your own screen protector.
The back of the Speck Fitted Case is made of soft cloth material and comes in different designs so it would really appeal to those people who would like to dress up their iPhones. The soft cloth material is glued to the hard plastic back, my concern is that sometime in the future, the glue might wear off and the cloth might peel. Other than that, the hard plastic actually feels very solid and might actually be impact resistant. I've come to this idea without having to test drop it because removing the Speck Fitted Case from your iPhone 4 is a real pain to do. I have to search YouTube to find some clever ideas to remove the Speck Fitted Case. So if you bought more than one Speck Fitted Case so you could change case everyday, forget it. Taking the thing off will take a few minutes of your time.
Anyways, going back to the case, it has five openings; the power button, earphones, camera, mute and volume controls and the charging slot and sprakers on the bottom. The opening for the mute and volume controls are a bit wider for my taste. I wish Speck put more of that plastic between the space of the mute and volume controls. I feel like this opening would invite scratches on those spaces in between. I also had qualms about the bottom opening, the Speck Fitted Case is a bit thicker than I expected so I thought it might not fit my
JBL On Time Micro Speaker dock but thankfully, it did fit (I thought I had to remove the case every time I have to use the speakers).
Overall, although the Speck Fitted Case seems much thicker than the
Capdase Soft Jacket 2 Xpose, I feel that it would do a much better job in protecting your iPhone 4 in case you suddenly drop it. The different back designs are also an added bonus.
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Written on 9/07/2010 03:56:00 PM by poison_ivy
By now, you've probably heard that Orange is rolling out HD Voice calls on their network. So, what is HD Voice calls exactly? Well, as the term implies nowadays, "HD" means higher quality voice calls. Supposedly, it would make your calls sound crisper and clearer, kinda like going from an ordinary FM radio to an audio CD.
So how do you exactly use the Orange HD Voice calling? Do you need to call a specific number to make use of it? Nope. You can dial your mate's number right away and can make use of Orange's HD Voice--BUT, and that's a BIG but, you need to have a capable mobile phone. Right now, according to Orange's press release, the handsets capable of HD Voice calls are: the Nokia 5230, Nokia X6, Nokia E5, and Samsung Omnia Pro. Orange says that they will be labeling the capable mobile phones with the Orange HD Voice Logo so consumers would know which handsets are capable.
Do you need to pay extra for HD Voice Calls? Nope, according to Orange, there's no extra charge for Orange HD Voice calling, just a capable phone. So you can use your free minutes to take advantage of Orange HD Voice calls.
Does the other person on the other end of the line need an HD Voice capable handset? Yes, in order to take advantage of the Orange HD Voice, both persons need to have a capable mobile phone, doesn't matter if you both have Nokia X6s or you have a Nokia E5 and the other person has a Samsung Omnia Pro, just that both mobile phones are capable.
So if you're due for an upgrade and want to test out HD Voice calls, you might want to check out Orange's HD Voice capable handsets.
Orange Press Release
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Written on 9/06/2010 05:02:00 PM by poison_ivy
The JBL On Time Micro is one of JBL's latest iPod/iPhone speaker docks with alarm clock and radio which has only been released this year.
One of the things that attracted me to the JBL On Time Micro is that of all the iPod alarm clock/radio docks that I've considered, it's one of the smallest and compact among the bunch. The base is around 7.7 inches and the unit itself is around 5 inches in height. As to the weight of the unit, it's not that hard to lug around the house and transfer from one room to another. As for the design, well, I'm not really a sci-fi fan and the JBL On Time Micro has that Star Wars sort of vibe to it combined that with the eery blue glow of the LCD panel, it's not that appealing but it certainly won't clash with your decor.
The dome of the speakers is covered with a metallic grille and the rest of the unit is made of black plastic but there's also a white unit for those who want to complement their white iPhones. The remote and the controls are not user friendly at all. I had to whip out the manual so I could set up the clock and tune the radio. The buttons on the speakers are tactile and can easily be pressed. Although the remote and controls need to be learned it's still easy enough to operate.
Now for the sound quality, for a small speaker, it could actually get pretty loud. When you turn down the volume to the lowest setting, the sound could still be heard in a 30 sq. meter room. The bass isn't that deep and when you turn the volume too high, there's actually a bit of distortion, but overall, it's pretty decent if you're just going to use it in your bedroom. The JBL On Time Micro is already iPhone compatible, meaning, if you get a text message or call from someone while your phone is docked, you won't hear any interference.
The alarm clock is actually good, you can wake up to your favorite AM/FM radio station, the default tone, or to your iPod/iPhone plus you can set the alarm to repeat on weekends, weekdays, or a particular day of the week. The JBL On Time Micro can pick up some radio stations without the antennae but you won't be getting clear sounds from the radio station. Oh, BTW, the JBL On Time Micro supports RDS feature.
As for other features, there's not much, just an auxiliary input on the back and you can put three AAA batteries so you won't have to reset the clock in case the power goes out. What's included in the box is an iPhone/iPod tray, FM Antennae, AM Antennae, the remote, and the AC Adapter.
Overall, for the price of £122.28 over at Amazon, the JBL On Time Micro is a bit expensive considering that the audio quality is not that great and some might even prefer the less expensive JBL On Time 200ID but if you like a small speaker dock with a pretty decent alarm/radio function, sub par audio quality, and if you're into all that Star Wars design, then the JBL On Time Micro might actually be a good buy for you.
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Written on 9/05/2010 04:11:00 PM by poison_ivy
I've just noticed this recently but it seems that the time indicated on my mobile phone is always late. This actually made me late for work because I rely on my mobile phone to tell time and don't wear a watch anymore. Big mistake that was. Anyways, I thought this problem was limited to a specific handset. I was using a Samsung B7610 that time and every time I reset the clock it turns back to the delayed time.
I finally figured out that the problem seems simcard specific. When I cut my current sim to be a micro sim for my iPhone 4 and put in a PAYG sim card on my old phone, my iPhone's time became late while my old phone tells the right time. I searched about this and it seems others in the US under AT&T are experiencing the same problem and some suggested that its the sim card and how it was programmed that was the problem. Just an FYI for those experiencing late time on their mobile phones.
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iPhone tips,
Mobile Phone Tips
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Written on 9/03/2010 05:11:00 PM by poison_ivy
Although mobile phone viruses are uncommon, it's still better to be safe than sorry right? After all, every one has mobile phones nowadays and most of us keep our personal information on our mobile phones, some of us even browse secure websites with smartphones so naturally, hackers are looking into mobile phone viruses to scour for personal information.
Just last year, a virus for the iPhone has been found and has infected some phones in Netherlands. Also, a few years back, a Bluetooth virus has plagued some Nokia phones. Although viruses for windows mobile phones have yet to be heard, there are a number of antivirus already available for Pocket PC devices. One of these is Bullguard Mobile Antivirus.
Bullguard is also available for Symbian devices and you can try it for free for 14 days. I've downloaded the file and installed on my Samsung B7610. The file is not that large and it's better if you download the cab file, transfer to your microSD card and then install for there as its faster.
Installation was painless and easy but then I encountered a slight blip: You need to register with a Bullguard account in order to activate the software. You can create an account using your WiFi or 3G network and after that, you also need to update the virus definitions.
You can choose which places to scan. Bullguard lets you choose whether to scan Memory, memory cards or databases. Scanning just the phone's memory is fast but its another thing for memory cards. Scanning my 4GB memory card took a while. You can also choose to customize your scan so the antivirus will only scan specific folders. If a virus has been found, you can choose whether the software would do nothing, move it to a quarantine file or delete it.
I can't comment on the effectivity of Bullguard because I really don't have a virus on my mobile phone as I rarely use it to surf the mobile web but in terms of user interface and how fast it scans, the software is pretty good.
In a world full of iPhones, I'm sure windows mobile users are getting fewer and fewer but I know that some companies still prefer windows mobile for their employees because of its security. Add a mobile antivirus into the mix and you got yourself a super secure mobile phone. Of course, security doesn't come cheap. The Bullguard Mobile Antivirus costs $39.95.
Posted in
Mobile Applications,
Windows Mobile
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Written on 9/02/2010 04:06:00 PM by poison_ivy
So, you got your iPhone 4, naturally you want to protect it with a brand new iPhone 4 case but you don't want to spend a dime on the case so you decided to download the iPhone 4 case program. Problem: You can't log in because it gives you the message: Your Apple ID or password is entered incorrectly. You double check and even reset your password just in case but you still get the same message.
Don't panic, take a deep breath, it's not an uncommon problem. Some people from Apple's support forums experienced the same problem. Some went as far as resetting their iPhone to factory settings. You actually don't need to do a reset. Just wait it out a few hours and try again. This actually happened to me and I just waited it out.
Posted in
iPhone leather case,
iPhone tips
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