HTC Tattoo: Affordable Android

HTC's low-end Android phone, formerly known as the HTC Click, has been released today as the HTC Tattoo. We don't know why there's been a change in the name, but nonetheless, it's still the same product only with a more "grittier" name.

According to the Press Release, it's "an Android-based phone that brings broad personalization to the masses." and it couldn't be any more straight to the point, however there's no news on how low it will be compared to it's higher priced Android siblings.

Here's a snippet of the specs:

HTC Tattoo integrates Google’s innovative mobile services including: Google Maps, search, Google Mail, and Android market where users can download thousands of popular applications and games. It also comes complete with a broad variety of hardware features including a 3.2 megapixel autofocus camera, 3.5mm stereo headset jack and expandable microSD memory.

A bit more detailed here:

• 528MHz Qualcomm MSM7225 processor,
• 512MB/256MB ROM/RAM,
• 106 x 55.2 x 14-mm / 113 grams,
• 2.8-inch touchscreen LCD pushing 240x320 QVGA pixels,
• 900/2100MHz HSPA/UMTS and quad-band GSM/EDGE,
• internal GPS, 802.11b/g WiFi, digital compass, accelerometer, and Bluetooth 2.0.

For the meantime, this wallet loving phone will be making the rounds around Europe starting on October and will eventually branch out to the entire world.

Obviously it's not as powerful as the iPhone 3GS nor the Palm Pre, but what HTC's targeting with this phone are those who want a full-fledged Android smartphone on a budget. And with the recession making people think of buying an affordable phone,the HTC Tattoo seems to fit the bill.

Press

Source of HTC Tattoo Specs

Spotify on iPhone, Android, and S60!

Why is there so much hype for Spotify anyway? Besides being a killer music application for the iPhone 3GS, it's supposed to change the way is being shared--sorry--distributed via mobile device. We initially thought it would be impossible that it would ever get approved considering Apple's penchant for killing any app that competes with the iTunes Store, but it got approved--in Europe.

The day has come for the patient Spotify fans in UK, Sweden, Spain, France, Norway, and Finland to buy and download the app from the iTunes Store, and every music and tech lover's expected to download it. If you aren't convinced yet, check out the features!

Key features include:

• Access to millions of tracks with Spotify’s constantly updated catalogue
• Search and stream music instantly. Browse by artist, title, album, genre, label or year
• Create and synchronise playlists. Updates from the desktop application will be synced instantly and vice versa
• Playlists can be downloaded and played in offline mode when you have no connection, are on a plane or subway, or abroad and subject to roaming data fees
• Listen to tracks and albums in their entirety. Rewind, fast-forward, pause, skip and shuffle
• View cover art for all tracks and albums

Another piece of good news? It's heading over to Android and with Symbian soon! Talk about covering all the bases! Videos of how it'll look like in Android and Symbian below:

How will this affect the iTunes Store? How will Apple react to this application? We'll see soon as Apple has something up its sleeve coming Sept. 9. Until then enjoy your Spotify!

Press

Spotify on the Android

Spotify on S6o

Palm WebOS 1.2 Leaked!

The Palm Pre, as we mentioned a few weeks ago, is actively updating their WebOS in response to customer feedback. Isn't it a treat that they accidentally leaked out their upcoming WebOS 1.2 update to Palm Pre users?

The 1.2 version of Palm Pre's webOS was accidentally leaked via Palm itself, inadvertently showing off future features like an improved copy/paste, email searching and saving images from the browser.

Here's a compilation of the updates based on the leak:

Updated w/ summary of 1.2 so-far discovered features

• Find-as-you-type search support in Email
• App Catalog updated to support purchasing apps
• Web browser enhanced
  * auto zooms to forms
  * download in browser enabled (including opening pdfs)
  * better rendering of mobile pages
  * Orange+click context menu on links
  * save images
• "Real" copy and paste
  * shift tap to select areas of textPalm
  * Select All option in Edit menu
• Sort by Priority or Date Due in Tasks
• Other minor tweaks and changes

Whether Palm intended this to be leaked or not, it still bodes well for its users. Go Palm!

Source for Gizmodo Quote

Source for WebOS 1.2 details

Toshiba Launches Three New Camileo HD Camcorders

Toshiba has launched three new HD camcorders to add to its Camileo line (S20, H30 and X100) all offering Full HD resolution (1920x1080p) and among the slimmest HD camcorders that consumers can find in the world today.

Among the features that these new camcorders carry include that of the ability to upload HD images directly to YouTube along with some exceptional functionality. This includes touch screen interfaces (H30 and X100 only) and varied quality snapshot resolutions for the S20 (5MP) and the Camileo H30 and X100 (10MP).

The three camcorders are priced accordingly below:

• Toshiba Camileo S20 (£119.99)


• Toshiba Camileo H30 ( £189.99)


• Toshiba Camileo X100 (£269.99)

These three HD camcorders will be available by the fourth quarter of this year.

(Source) Toshiba

Yes Virginia, Linux Runs on Kindle

With Sony and other e-readers breathing down their necks, what could Amazon do for the Kindle to ensure it's still the e-reader to beat? We don't know, but we guess running an OS on it may probably interest some people. That's exactly what Jesse Vincent decided to do for his beloved Kindle: he hacked the Kindle to run Ubuntu 9.04 AKA Jaunty Jackalope.

Ubuntu Jaunty has an ARM target. It's a fairly similar linux to the OS shipped on the Kindle 2 and the Kindle DX. A little bit of fiddling and an NFS export later, I was able to chroot into an Ubuntu environment on my Kindle.
That was when I discovered that Lab126 have built the Kindle's kernel without CONFIG_VT...and X.org really wants a tty or virtual terminal, but not for any particularly good reason.
This evening, I managed to bludgeon X.org into submission and found myself face to face with everybody's favorite checkerboard background.
After that, it was just a hop, skip and an apt-get until I was watching the mesmerizing transitions of xdaliclock.

Now if only Amazon picks up on this and makes a Kindle MORE than just an e-reader, then they may just have something new on their hands.

Source

The iRiver Story: A New e-Reader

From the looks of it, a few months ago e-books was Amazon land, the Kindle was the only king of e-readers, and most customers were stuck with reading their favorite e-books on a few devices that Amazon allowed. Then came the challenge from Sony: three e-readers to cater to your wallet and wants, great discounts on bestselling e-books, and a library where you can rent e-books for free for at least 21 days. Kindle users will most likely take a look at the tag price disparity between the Kindle and Sony's e-readers and the prices of e-books available at the Sony store--how can you beat free anyway?

It looks like this move inspired a lot of other companies to try their luck in the e-reader business. iRiver, a company known for the its DVD and mp3 players in the past, will be rolling out its own e-book reader called The iRiver Story.

You won't find wireless downloading like Amazon and Sony offer in their devices, but the Story does support SDHC cards and a slew of useful formats without conversion: PDF, E-Pub, txt, e-comics and Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Word and Excel docs).

From the looks of it, it's a Kindle clone. The price is not as competitive as the Sony's, but it can read more than a book though. The first ones to get will be Korea this month, while iRiver's still negotiating a deal with both the Europe and US publishers. We hope that they can cut the price lower than $300 to ensure some competitiveness in this market.

Source

Nokia Booklet 3G Official Specs

When we wrote about the Nokia Booklet 3G, it was just all videos and speculations on the specs. Now, Nokia's just released a statement providing the official specs and the price. Initially, the price was guessed at $799, but coming from a Nokia person, it's going to be at $820. Expect it to rise once it gets to the US though.

Specs are below:

All day computing

• Up to 12 hours of usage time Last for a heavy work day
• Windows 7 and Intel Atom processor
• Charge it and go – no need to worry about taking your charger with you

Sleek, robust design

• A stylish, premium design with a chassis made from a single piece of machined aluminum
• 19.9 mm thin
• Three different colors at launch: black, ice (white) and azure (blue)

Seamless connectivity

• Inbuilt WLAN and WWAN enable connectivity to the Internet anywhere a WiFi or cellular network connection is found
• 3G/ HSPA with hot swappable simcard

Sync easily with your Nokia handset

• Integrated Ovi Suite enables easy sync of calendar contacts, media with your device and the cloud

Integrated Nokia services

• Ovi Suite 2.0
• Nokia Music for PC
• Ovi Maps
• Social Hub – keeps track of your social software feeds in one spot and serves as a SMS sender
• Nokia software updater

Nokia Booklet 3G full specification

Dimensions

• Weight (max) 1250 g
• Dimensions (max) 264 x 185 x 19.9 mm

CPU and Chipset

• Intel Atom Z530, 1.6 GHz
• Intel Poulsbo US15W, fanless design

Memory and Storage

• RAM: 1 GB, DDR2, 533 Mhz, soldered down
• HDD: 120 GB, 1.8”/5mmH/SATA, 8 MB cache, 4200 RPM

Display

• 10.1”, 1280×720 pixels, glass window

Battery

• 16 cell, 56.8 Wh, Li-Ion prismatic, removable design

Connectivity

• 802.11 b/g/n, 2T2R
• BT 2.1 + EDR
• Inbuilt 3G modem (data calls only). Different variants: WCDMA: 850/1900/2100 or WCDMA 900/2100 or no modem.
• All modem variants have GSM and GPRS
• Assisted-GPS

I/O ports

• 1 x HDMI 1.2 out
• 3 x USB 2.0
• 1 x headphone out (OMTP 3.5 mm) – with OMTP headsets also functions as audio in
• 1 x DC-in
• 1 x SD card reader
• 1 x SIM / USIM slot

Camera and microphone

• 1.3 MP front facing camera with integrated microphone

Keyboard

• Frame keyboard
• 2 physical layouts: US (78 keys, 17 mm pitch, 1.8 mm stroke) and UK (79 keys, 16.7 mm pitch, 1.8 mm stroke)

Other

• Accelerometer

Inbox contents

• Nokia Booklet 3G
• BC-1S battery
• AC/DC power adapter
• Quick setup guide and warranty instructions
• Headset WH-205
• USB charging multi-cable CA-126

Software

• Operating System: Windows 7 Starter Edition, Home Premium or Professional
• MS Office Small Business 60 day trial
• MS Internet Explorer 8
• HDD protection utility, Hotkey utility , Knock Control utility, Power Profile Switcher, Battery Life utility
• Nokia Update Manager
• Ovi Suite
• Ovi Maps Gadget
• Social Hub
• F-Secure Internet Security 2010 trial

Source