The future is almost here

Have a look at the new Atrix promo that Motorola have released, this is turning into one dream phone and showing that the future is almost here. Who would have though dual core on a Smartphone would happen so quickly? But it is almost here and along with a host of docking features the most impressive being the laptop dock. My Smartphone has made my laptop redundant, the fact that it is almost ten years old doesn't help its cause, but sometime when not at my desktop while lounging on the sofa or in bed a bigger screen would be nice and this super thin and light dock fits the bill just right. And it doesn't have the problem of pumping out a ridiculous amount of heat that modern laptops do.

I hate to use the term but I really do see this as a game changer, imagine in an enterprise environment where you issue employees with this Smartphone and if they need to borrow a laptop for a trip or the weekend you just give them a dock. Get a custom made thin client and you can have you office on a tiny device.

This really is one to watch and a new era in mobile tech.

iOS 4.3 brings personal hotspot to iPhone

The one interesting thing about the Verizon iPhone announcement was
the inclusion of the personal hotspot. Well looks like we will be
getting it soon as iOS 4.3 has just been released to Developers which
includes this nifty feature.

Still has to be activated on the carriers side though.

The great Data plan con

So you have a superduper Smartphone – check

You have a data plan for said phone – check

So now you have treated yourself to a tablet or laptop and want to use it out and about but wait, the mobile companies want to charge you separately for this, or if you want to use your superduper Smartphone to tether they want you to pay a separate charge. Heck AT&T in the US have what has to be the craziest plan for tethering and I have had to read several sites to make sure that I understand it properly.

First of all you have to be signed up for their DataPro plan at $25, their unlimited plan used to be $30, but this new one has a limit of 2GB.

If you want to tether then you have to stump up a further $20 and here is the real kicker, you don't get any extra bandwidth for this extra payment just the ability tether, you still have the same 2GB allowance. They are charging you twice to use the same data, unbelievable.

In the UK things a little better but not much you have to pay a tethering charge but at least you get some extra bandwidth, Vodafone currently charge £5 for 500MB.

However should we really be charged extra? Surely if my plan has a limit of 1GB I should be able to use it however I want, after all I am paying for it? Can you imagine if your broadband ISP wanted to charge you extra if you wanted to use wireless at home or charged you per device? No you can't there would be civil unrest.

Yet we let the mobile companies do this, it's crazy. Come on someone offer one data plane that I can use on my phone/tablet/laptop or any other way I want, this is long over due.

I would like to point out that this is not universal across the board, most Android phones ship with a mobile hotspot feature and can be used as a modem without a extra charge. But have a close look at the T&C's of your mobile contract and I bet you will find a clause that forbids you from using your phone as a modem.

T-Mobile make a slight U turn on their new FUP

After some uproar when T-Mobile announced a new FUP they have today slightly amended their policy to exclude existing customer, the new changes that take effect as of 1^st February will now only apply to new and upgrading customers.

Press release in full:

Changes to Mobile Internet fair use policies

T-Mobile Statement:

"On Monday 10 January 2011 we announced that, in line with the rest of the industry, T-Mobile would be reducing its Fair Use Policy for data usage to 500MB a month for all mobile phone customers. Following a further review of our policy, these changes will now be introduced from 1 February, to new and upgrading customers only - not existing customers.

There will be no change to the data packages for existing customers for the duration of their contract and we apologise for any confusion caused. The revision to the Fair Use Policy is designed to ensure an improved quality of service for all mobile internet users."

Lysa Hardy, VP, T-Mobile UK

Source T-Mobile

Sony Strikes Back

According to documents posted on the website of George Hotz and hacking group failOverflow Sony Computer Entertainment America is seeking a restraining order against those involved in hacking the Playstation 3's "technological protection measures."

Sony is using the Digital Millennium Copyright Act citing that the exploit used knowingly opened up the PS3 to piracy.

So far no one has been sued this is just a restraining order, it would appear they are more concerned with trying to eradicate this information from the web. If so this will be short lived as this rarely works especially against nerds who feel they have been scorned.

This will be a very interesting development especially considering last year's ruling on jialbreaking your iPhone which also allows you to run pirated software.

Motorola Atrix

Moto seem to be on a roll here not only did they steal the limelight with the Xoom at this year's CES but they have another product that could change the way we think of mobile computing, the Atrix.

Check out Engadget's ten minutes hands on.

Needless to say words can't express how bad ass this is.

WP7: Copy and Paste is here

One of my biggest gripes about Windows Phone 7 has been its lack of copy and paste, when modern day Smartphone's are basically mini computers it is laughable that this was not included from day one, but at least unlike Apple, they did not make everyone wait two years for it.

A few other enhancements have gone into the update including enhanced performance of third party apps.

Video courtesy of Anandtech

iPhone comes to Verizon

One was left wondering if the Verizon iPhone was going to come with LTE, as President and COO Lowell MacAdam, mentioned their networks investment in the technology. However what we got was a CDMA only phone, no GSM so no capability to roam to a GSM network and no data while on a call. And no 4G!

The most interesting thing of note was that the phone will come with a built in personal hotspot that will support up to five devices which means no more tethering via a cable or Bluetooth. No mention of cost and seeing as the majority of mobile companies charge for tethering I expect this to be the same.

Pre-ordering begins February 3rd for existing customers and then on February 10th, everyone will be able to order online, in stores, or in Apple stores.

Verizon iPhone?

The Internet is ablaze with rumours today that Verizon will be
announcing a iPhone on their network today at a special press event
at 11 EST.

For all we know it could be an update on their LTE plans or even
highlighting the fact that they still offer unlimited data packages
when their competitors do not.

If it is an iPhone expect Apple internet forums to go in to meltdown.

T-Mobile cut their data packages

T-Mobile have today brought their fair usage policy in line with the other mobile vendors, you are now limited to 500MB. You won't be charged if you go over your limit but you will have your video downloading privileges suspended.
See the full statement here

One to watch in 2011

It seems like an eternity since Virgin Media announced their link up
with TiVo but it is almost here.

One to watch this year http://tivo.virginmedia.com/

Gadget of 2010

2010 saw some great new products and refreshes on existing ones. We saw the launch of Windows Phone 7, Microsoft finally became relevant in a market that they once dominated. Google and Apple both launched TV products and we waited with baited breath for Palm to do anything of note with WebOS.

We saw LTE launch, well in the US at least, promising down speeds of 100mps and up of 50mps. With speeds like this who needs a wired connection anymore? Expect to see UK operators offering LTE after Digital switchover is complete in 2012. If telco carriers were buckling under the strain that 3G was placing on them expect them to collapse with all the downloading you can do with LTE.

A special mention must go to Microsoft for Kinect, something that was looked upon as a gimmick at first but something that I have really enjoyed using and MS have managed to ship 8 million of these into retail. It works as advertised and it is incredible that it can track two players simultaneously so well, Kinect Sports was on constantly post Christmas but MS need to make sure that they can now get behind this with some top games in the next 12 months.

Apple launched a totally redesigned iPhone and managed to whip everyone in to a buying frenzy before antennagate hit but didn't really slow down sales. And rumour has it that this Tuesday Verizon is set to make a special announcement, it would appear that the iPhone will now becoming to Verizon in the US.

3D was in your face whether you wanted it or not, all the major manufactures had at least one in their range and both Sky and Virgin Media had both have a 3DTV offering, with sky opting for a dedicated channel and Virgin opting for 3D via Video on Demand. And it wasn't just limited to the TV, 3D is set to conquer not only handheld gaming with the Nintendo 3DS but can also be found in consumer cameras and video recorders.

Terrestrial TV took a giant leap forward this year with launch of Freeview HD with 3 channels, BBC One HD, BBC HD and ITV HD with another channel set to join the line up post digital switchover next year.

But there is one clear winner of what the best gadget of 2010 was.

The Apple iPad.

It has sold over 7.5 million units since launch making it the fastest selling non phone digital device ever. I went from a sceptic to a believer the first time I held one and spent a few brief minutes with it. The screen is just beautiful, the device is so responsive and is just a pure joy to use. The upgrade to iOS 4.2 really brought some much need functions to it but Apple had better watch out in 2011, they have had the market more or less to themselves but this year all the big players will be gunning for them.

 

 

 

Playstation Phone

The device has now appeared on two Chinese websites the latest being TGBus. While this product is indeed enticing one has to wonder just how Sony will manage to completely mismanage this product and stop it from reaching the potential that it has?

Mobile gaming on Smartphone's is a hot property at the moment at the moment with in even Microsoft now in on the act with its Windows Phone 7 Xbox Live integration. The achilles heel of mobile gaming on Smartphone's however is the touch interface, some games run really well however the majority are unplayable, ever tried Pac-Man? The Playstation phone is set to change this with its dedicated hardware keyboard, currently little is known about this wonder device, Sony themselves have yet to admit publically that it even exists but there were hints that their CES keynote that more Playstation products are on the horizon, maybe even in a tablet form.

Whichever way it goes this will be one to watch in 2011.

Best of CES: Motorola Xoom

Pre CES Motorola looked like they were writing cheques they possibly could not cash with their adverts about the iPad being a big phone. Oh how we laughed, Moto you make some great hardware but your software business has never been great. That all changed this week, not only have they shown the best new product of CES but this could possibly the best of 2011 full stop.

The tablet boasts a 1GHz dual-core Tegra 2 processor, 1 GB of DDR2 RAM, a 10.1 inch capacitive touch screen which supports a 1280 x 800 resolution , a 5.0 MP rear-facing camera with 4x Digital Zoom and Auto Focus, 720p video recording and 1080p video playback, 32 GB of storage (can be expanded using a 32GB SD card), 802.11 n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR.

All in all this is looking like the tablet that will bring some much needed competition to the market, let's hope they can market it at a sensible price, i.e. iPad.