Penny Mobiles – Mobile phone news, reviews & information

According to recent reports, there are two new additions to Samsung’s Galaxy series of mobile phones. The first is a mid range handset that is a lot like a super upgraded Corby handset, while the other is a massive tablet device that still keeps mobile phone features.

First off, the i5801 Galaxy Apollo; this new handset has been shown off at the Orange Mobile UK website, though the full details have yet to be confirmed. So far, it has been revealed that the smart phone will come with the new Android 2.1 Éclair open source mobile platform, a 3.15 mega pixel snapper and a decent sized 3.2 inch TFT capacitive touch screen display. Overall, it is very HTC Legend like, though it could use a better 5 mega pixel camera and the super AMOLED touch screen which will be used in the i9000 Galaxy S.

While a release date and CPU details have yet to be revealed, expect to see Orange get a semi exclusive version of this smart phone (or possibly even full exclusivity of the device itself).

Last week, Samsung also showed the tech industry that it has been busy planning for the upcoming tablet wars. With the successful launch of the Apple iPad last May, it is no longer a surprise that other companies want a share of the tablet market, and being armed with Google’s Android OS is certainly a great plan.

The new Galaxy Tab has a 7 inch touch screen display. While it is slightly smaller than the iPad (which has a 9.7 inch screen), the Galaxy Tab has a feature that the iPad can never match, the ability to make calls. This is why the Samsung Galaxy Tab is still considered as a smart phone despite its very tablet-like features.

Korean manufacturer Samsung has yet to confirm when the device would be in production, but many tablet fans are hoping to try out the device very soon.

Vodafone’s mobile device offerings for April are several Android devices along with the Apple iPad tablet. The UK based mobile network operator’s official website is already promoting the devices for their upcoming launch.

Sony Ericsson’s XPERIA X10 is already confirmed for April and it looks like Vodafone might also offer the X10 Mini devices when they launch later this year. The XPERIA X10 may be the first Android smart phone from SE, but it looks like the joint venture have made a pretty good device for the open source OS. It has already been reported that despite the phone having only version 1.6 Donut installed, an update to the latest version will be made available within the next few weeks.

The HTC Desire and the HTC Legend are two of the Taiwanese manufacturer’s most anticipated devices. Both were first revealed last year when the HTC 2010 roadmap was leaked (along with several other devices). Both phones were showcased at the Mobile World Congress held in Barcelona, Spain.

The Desire is pretty much like the Nexus One in terms of specs, both phones have Snapdragon processors running at a full 1GHz, both use 5 mega pixel cameras and the two devices also have 3.7 inch AMOLED capacitive touch screen displays. Many are considering the Desire to be the perfect substitute to Nexus One.

The Legend on the other hand is a mid-range smart phone that may sell even more than the Desire. Despite the hardware advantage of the Desire, the Legend is expected to be priced at a more reasonable rate. It is also the successor to the HTC Hero. Both the Desire and the Legend will be using the Sense user interface.

Get to know more about HTC Legend, Desire and Vodafone UK’s other offerings at Know Your Mobile.

Vodafone is one busy mobile network operator with plenty of new devices coming this March and April.

The Apple iPad is a definite top biller with Steve Jobs’ latest gizmo taking the headlines just before the Mobile World Congress. The only drawback to Apple’s tablet device is that most people do not even know what to do with it. While this gadget has the potential to change the way we look at daily published materials such as newspapers and magazines, the average folk is still not aware that this expensive and impressive device is not capable of something as basic as multi tasking. But many expect to see this device to get more users once people start realizing how nice it is.

The Google phone Nexus One is also headed to Vodafone though many of us wonder how much good this will do for the dying Google Android handset. While the device is impressive with its 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 3.7 inch AMOLED capacitive touch screen, 5 mega pixel camera, speech recognition software and noise reduction system, the fact that the only way to obtain the phone is through the online store is pretty discouraging. Expect many to pass this for the HTC Desire.

Speaking of HTC, Vodafone will be bringing us a winner of an Android this March as the HTC Legend will finally hit the shelves. The much anticipated successor the HTC Hero will be offered by Vodafone in various deals. The device comes complete in all its aluminum covered glory. The Legend has a 3.2 inch AMOLED touch screen, a 5 mega pixel camera and a Qualcomm 600 MHz processor. It also uses the HTC Sense user interface on top of the Android operating system.

Read more about the HTC Legend Android smart phone at Mobile Choice UK.

While it is very common for us in the mobile industry to see new devices and innovations being announced and released one after the other, there is a definite charm in being able to have a good idea of how the industry will be shaping up a few months ahead in time. Events like last January’s CES (held at Las Vegas) and Feb 14’s Mobile World Congress (held at Barcelona, Spain), has given us plenty of new things to look forward to.

Samsung’s Wave phone got a head start in exposure with plenty of its posters being put up just a day or two before the big event. Looks like the Korean manufacturer has gone all out to deliver its promise of making a “smart phone for everyone” –the new Wave phone is hardly lacking in features, it has a 1GHz processor, a super AMOLED touch screen and Samsung’s spiffy new proprietary operating system, the Bada. Open source and ready to go, the Bada made a pretty successful debut last Sunday.

Though when it comes to debuts, nothing comes as close to the amount of fanfare and critical reception of the new Microsoft mobile platform, the Windows Phone 7 series; the new name is a telling sign of how many things have changed for the OS previously known as Windows Mobile. Presenters onstage constantly repeated the phrase: “the phone is not a PC”, emphasizing heavily on their new approach to reinvent the way users see their mobile devices.

Google’s Android operating system also made a pretty heavy showing, in actual devices too. HTC and Sony Ericsson will be launching major devices this coming March as the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 and the HTC Desire will be going head to head. Both devices run on Snapdragon processors. The HTC Legend and the X10 Minis will be following shortly too.

See MWC product images at the Guardian UK.