Penny Mobiles – Mobile phone news, reviews & information

The LG Optimus Black is a phone that many are lusting after, and why not? After all it is boasting some great features. But nothing spices up your product as much as getting some awesome designs on the products rear, right?

LG is creating a scene thanks to its collaboration with the Keith Haring Foundation. Thanks to the new found collaboration between the electronic giant and the foundation of one of America’s most legendary pop artists, the Optimus Black would feature artwork from the artist on the world’s thinnest Android device (6mm to be exact).

“Keith Haring inspired the art world with his energetic, colorful images which are recognized by millions of people around the world,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “We hope to capture some of that ‘joie de vivre’ through this partnership as it’s perfectly consistent with our ‘Life’s Good’ philosophy.”

The collaboration between the two organizations have resulted in the selection of two of Keith Haring’s artworks which will be featured on the back covers for the Optimus Black. This collaboration marks the second time both companies have worked together, the first being 2008 when the foundation was responsible for the artistic feel of the KF600 and the KF700.

The LG Optimus Black will be available in either white or black as well as other color variations in select European markets starting next month. Those visitors to Mobile World Congress next Monday will be able to get a firsthand viewing of the device. Mobile World Congress starts the 15th of February and ends the 17th of that month.

We’ll be there with the latest information so stay tuned, and while you’re at it, you might want to control your spending as we’re sure there’s something you’ll want from the event.

Source: LG Newsroom

A few weeks ago the Dell Looking Glass Android tablet was officially unveiled at CES 2011. Dell didn’t go into any specific detail about the device except for saying it would be arriving shortly. Thanks to new information garnered from the GCF, Global Certification Forum, The Looking Glass concept is a go. According to the GCF, the device will sport GSM/GPRS/EDGE and quadband UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA on the 850/1700/1900/2100 MHz network as well.

No other information from the GCF gas been given, but earlier information does suggest the device could sport WiFi b/g/n as well as Bluetooth 2.0, both features which are a given on all tablets and smartphones these days.

The Looking Glass concept was originally leaked in April of last year and it is said to run Android 3.0, Google’s operating system answer to the iPad. Dell has come clean on 7-inch and 5-inch tablets, but up until now, a tablet between the size of 9 and 12 inches have been nonexistent from the computer manufacturer.

Speculation claims the device will run nVIDIA’s Tegra 2 platform along with a 7-inch WVGA touchscreen. A release date as of yet is unknown but Dell has been making mega strides within the past year to develop a presence in the mobile device market which it had left years ago. With smartphones like the Thunder, Lightning and tablets like the Streak, Dell is answering challenges by manufactures such as Apple, Motorola, HP, ASUS, Acer and others who all have established and announced presence in the tablet and mobile phone arena.

Dell has hinted that such a device could come as early as next year while it is yet to see what the company plans for this year’s holiday season.

Via: The Unwired

It was just a matter of time. With the growing sophistication of the Android OS now in its v2.2 Froyo iteration, the world’s 2nd largest mobile phone maker Samsung just stepped into the tablet war zone to challenge Apple’s iPad now looming as the undisputed leader in a pack of one. Welcome the challenger – the Samsung Galaxy Tab.

Samsung seems to be playing its cards right with a product that straddles the line between the mobile phone and a full tablet device in terms of size. The Samsung Galaxy Tab is a hefty 190 x 120.5 x 12 mm and weighing 380g but is just half the size of the iPad. It’s certainly larger than the largest smartphone in the market and you know it is with its 7-inch capacitive touchscreen display with multitouch, Swype, accelerometer and 3-axis sensor. Is it any good? We’ll let you be the judge, read on:

Trumping the iPad

The Samsung Galaxy Tab wins points over the iPad for having a 3.2 megapixel shooter with autofocus, LED flash including a video recording feature with D1 (720 x 480) resolution at 30fps. 3G video calls are also supported with its front-facing 1.3 megapixel camera.

There’s also Bluetooth v3.0 with A2DP and MicroUSB v2.0 local data connectivity support. External memory expandability of up to 32GB adds to its internal memory capacity which comes in two flavors of 16GB and 32GB. Lastly, you have a true multitasking OS in the Android v2.2 Froyo as well as Adobe Flash 10.1 support you won’t find in the iPad.

So what other features does it have that is at par with the iPad? It’s a Tri band UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA on 3G and a Quad band GSM on 2G with class 10 GPRS/EDGE. It also has WiFi 802.11 b/g/n for hotspot surfing and a GPS receiver with A-GPS support.

The 4000 mAh Li-ion battery powers up to 7 hours of movie playback and really makes this a superb feature set.

Android smart phones are the best answer to many mobile phone needs. It handles basic internet browsing, casual gaming, social networking, media recording and playback, document processing and of course, all the fun Google extra features.

And while it may seem like an easy task to simply go out and grab the latest Android smart phone from any major phone maker, there are certain devices that truly stand out over the rest. With that said, the HTC Desire is as ‘Android’ as an Android smart phone can be. The device rivals Google’s Nexus One in terms of both specs and user experience, providing users with the best that the Android OS has to offer.

A Close Look

The spec sheet on the HTC Desire is basically the new standard for what many other mobile phone makers consider as the basis for high end devices. First off, the Qualcomm Snapdragon QSD8250 CPU; clocked at 1GHz, this processor is responsible for keeping the handset running fast and smooth.

But even with the speed and the power of the chip, there is one more important feature that the Snapdragon has: better energy consumption rates. Even with its top level performance, the handset will last for hours on a full charge.

HTC has also provided the phone with a 3.7 inch AMOLED capacitive touch screen display, giving it high quality visual output and of course, serves as the primary user input. This multitouch capable display supports gestures such as ‘pinch to zoom’ which allow users a more convenient way of browsing the phone’s contents.

Wrapping Up

While the HTC Desire is pre-installed with the Android 2.1 Éclair, it is recommended that users upgrade to version 2.2 Froyo. This installment provides the handset with ever higher quality video recording, improved apps and most importantly, a massive boost to the performance in terms of speed and stability for the UI and in web browsing. The upcoming HTC Desire Z and HTC Desire HD are expected to ship with Froyo pre-installed.

Right now, Apple and BlackBerry are still on top of the Smartphone industry as the two try to battle it out for supremacy. However, not far behind is the Taiwan-based manufacturer HTC. They have continually supplied us with excellent Smartphones that match, and in some cases even outclass the likes of the iPhone. One of the best mobiles to ever come out of their busy kitchen is the HTC Desire.

Truly Desirable

One look at this Smartphone will almost instantly give you a desire to get one for yourself. The compact design is impeccable and the 3.7” AMOLED capacitive touch screen displays the most vivid of colours (resolution is at an amazing 480 x 800 pixels). 3G HSDPA, EDGE and GPRS are all on board the HTC Desire as is high speed WLAN compatibility.

The proprietary HTC Sense user interface is definitely a feature that will make this Smartphone the envy of your peers. It doesn’t only deliver user friendliness at the highest level, but its aesthetic value is also way up there.

At Par with the Big Boys

The HTC Desire is definitely at par with the big boys in today’s Smartphone scene. In fact, one could even make a case that it is even better than the BlackBerry’s and the iPhone’s out there. Alongside this mobile’s highly rated Google Android mobile operating system (version 2.1 or Eclair) is a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor.

With an astonishing clock speed of 1 GHz, this remains to be the most powerful processor in the market today. The HTC Desire even has a 5-Megapixel camera on board (complete with geo-tagging, an LED flash, autofocus, etc.) which is far better than the iPhone’s 3-Megapixel built-in snapper.

The HTC Desire is truly a remarkable Smartphone and we wouldn’t be surprised at all if this device bagged the awards as 2010’s Smartphone of the year.

There are plenty of reasons why Samsung and Sony Ericsson should be happy. After all, the past few months has seen the companies release a whole new line of Android devices and of course, the continued growth of market demand for the Google made platform.

Sony Ericsson has been in financial turmoil last year and has taken most of 2010 getting back in the game. But with both feet now planted firmly back on the ground with a strong line up of new devices selling plenty in the past couple of quarters, it is not surprising that the Swedish Japanese joint venture is enjoying it newfound success. Of course, the icing on the cake would have to be the award from EISA which celebrates the XPERIA X10 Mini smart phone.

Obviously, the X10 Mini is not as powerful as the XPERIA X10. In fact, compared to that powerhouse, the device seems very much like a toy. But looking closer at the specs, one realizes that the Mini is far more practical –especially when price is concerned. The phone is much cheaper than the X10 and it is almost as functional. Sure, the processor is slower and the screen is much smaller. But given that the device is far cheaper –then it is a better choice.

Samsung also got a little award as well. While Sony Ericsson got off with the best mobile phone award, Samsung was still able to nab the best smart phone award. The recipient is none other than the Galaxy S with its’ impressive high end specifications. Naturally, the phone’s impressive touch screen display technology which makes use of super AMOLED technology surpasses most screens available –including the retina display on the iPhone 4.

Expect to hear more about these two devices as the EISA awards are certain to bring the spotlight back on them.

There is no doubt that the demand for smart phones that use Google’s Android operating system are in demand. In fact, a recent study by retail research firm GfK, has shown that just here in the UK, the market share of Android devices has gone up to a massive 13% from the previous record of just 3%.

This momentous growth is spurned on by many different aspects, and here is a quick list of the things that have affected the Android’s growth.

The first thing on the list, is ironically, Apple and Steve Jobs. The Cupertino based company and their CEO has such an odd habit of antagonizing almost anything that comes their way that Google is starting to look quite like the quiet protagonist of the mobile industry. Google has stood beside HTC with regards to the Apple lawsuit and they have also taken in Adobe as well.

Another major reason why the Android OS is so in demand right now is because of all the big fuss about it. This is officially the first mobile platform that Adobe is supporting directly (though they have announced that Flash is indeed coming to other mobile platforms as well). The Google Goggles augmented reality application is also at the cutting edge of the technology. At the rate that the Android is moving forward, it has become one of the leading pioneers among mobile platforms.

Of course, the biggest reason why the Android OS is so successful is none other than the handsets. From simple mid range devices to the most powerful high end smart phones, the Android OS is used in a wide range of devices –with that range, almost any kind of smart phone user would find a great match.

With the upcoming launch of version 3.0 Gingerbread later this year, we can only expect the market share for the Android to keep on growing.

Google has officially taken down the online store that sells the Nexus One Android smart phone.

Over a week ago, Google quelled initial rumors about a possible Nexus Two handset. According to the software developer, the Nexus One has already been a successful handset in such a way that it achieved the goal that Google has set for it. Many may argue that the device was not a financial success –after all, the device did not sell much at all.

However, Google stated that the Nexus One was meant to be a smart phone that would push the current boundaries and standards for the Android operating system. This meant that users would be able to experience the open source mobile platform in the way that Google meant it to be. In that regard, Google states that the device was a success.

The shutting down of the online store does not mean that the Nexus One is no longer available. The smart phone can still be obtained through contracts and deals on Vodafone UK. Developers can also get a handset directly through Google –only the standard online store has been taken down. The special site exclusive for developers is still available. This means that Google intends to use the Nexus One as a continuous developer resource.

When the Nexus One was first launched last January, the only way to obtain the handset was through Google’s online store. Many who were present at the launch at the Googleplex in Mountain View, California thought that it was a bad idea, and that the device would not be accessible to a majority of the Android’s target market.

They were right, in the very first week of sales; the online store only sold 20,000 units of the Nexus One. In that same month, Vodafone UK managed to sell 100,000 iPhone 3G smart phones.

According to recent news Fujitsu is the newest phone manufacturer to be joining the ranks of HTC, Motorola, LG, Samsung and more in the Android phone community.

So far, the only thing that has been announced is the fact that Fujitsu is indeed working on an Android device, but aside from that, it is not known what kind of handset the Japanese electronics manufacturer will be coming up with. It is however, estimated that the new device will be out by the end of the year. The only speculation that matters right now is whether Fujitsu will device to bring the device over to the UK.

While we are all still guessing on what Fujitsu is planning, the other Android phone makers are already busy working on their own devices.

Korean manufacturer Samsung has recently added several new devices to the Galaxy series of Android phones, but it seems that the Galaxy tab seems missing from the list of devices that will be getting a release date soon.

Not to be outdone, the other Korean phone maker, LG has also confirmed that they are going to be adding a couple of new devices to the Optimus series of handsets (LG’s line of Android phones). In the meanwhile, the existing Optimus handsets are going to be updated.

HTC is already an established name in the smart phone industry –most particularly with the Android OS. With the HTC roadmap already leaked, it comes as to no surprise that the Taiwanese manufacturer is the one with the Android handset that we would be most looking forward to: the HTC Vision. Aside from the already impressive spec sheet, the device also comes with a physical slide out QWERTY keyboard. The other HTC device, the HTC Ace is still an unknown handset (no specs or details) at this point.

A lot of critics and consumers alike consider the HTC Desire to be one heck of a Smartphone. As much as we’d like to bash on this Taiwan-based piece of technology, the truth is, we totally agree with the Desire advocates. The Desire is as impressive as they come.

Multimedia Mad

Aside from all the voice and data connectivity options on mobiles, one defining aspect of an excellent Smartphone is its multimedia features. In this regard, the HTC Desire definitely doesn’t disappoint. It starts things off with its highly impressive 3.7” AMOLED touch screen display which delivers 480 x 800 pixels of resolution. The Desire also packs in a functional 5-Megapixel camera which sports features such as geo-tagging and smile detection. The pre-installed multimedia player is also noteworthy as is its external memory which goes up to 32GB.

Sensing a Difference?

One more thing that makes the HTC Desire stand out is its user interface. Not only does it sport the highly-acclaimed Google Android operating system (version 2.1 or Eclair), but it takes things a step further by combining it with HTC’s proprietary Sense UI. The two work together amazingly well as they bring out the best features out of one another – much like how we expect all our romantic relationships to be. Joking aside, the Android hasn’t looked this good and surely, Google has to thank the Sense UI for this vast improvement.

Bang for Your Buck

Lastly, the HTC Desire is very reasonably priced. It was launched just this March and today, it retails at approximately £400. At this considerably affordable price, you can already get your hands on a wonderful Smartphone that gives you all the features you’d need and want. It’s even over a hundred pounds cheaper than the iPhone 3GS which retails at over five hundred pounds.