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Monthly Archives: July 2010
Let’s Create! Pottery for iPhone review
Lets Create! Pottery HD has been available for the past week and has received rave reviews from a number of websites. This morning it arrived on the iPhone and I felt the need to write up a quick review detailing my thoughts on this unusual game that grabbed me from the very first second.
It is beautifully presented and even on the relatively small iPhone screen it looks and feels just right to capture the full experience. There are few instructions included which is unusually a good thing because it forces you to look around and start hunting out the features. Making a pot is as natural as it could be the first time you try it, but don’t for one minute think that it is going to be a cakewalk. As you progress through the levels and attempt to make pots that customers have requested, you soon realise that it is not as easy as it looks.
Included in the game is the ability to sell your wares which gives you money to buy colours, brushed and some unusual designs with which to decorate your finished works. I have literally only been playing the game for an hour or so, but it is special and unlike anything I have tried before on a smartphone.
Pottery should be the most boring pastime in the world, unless you are the male lead in Ghost, but I now understand why people enjoy it so much. That may sound like a silly statement, but there is a genuine sense of relaxation as you try to create the perfect pot. The graphics and animations are pure quality and the way the screen reacts to screen movements add one more element of reality. The fact that there is progression built in subtly keeps you coming back for more.
I can’t quite find the words to describe Let’s Create! Pottery. It is a game, but doesn’t feel like one. It offers a challenge, but you never feel pushed into completing it quickly. It is completely original and maybe the start of something on this platform- what I can put into words is that it is far better than I expected and well worth the asking price. If you have an iPad the experience will likely be even more immersive.
Available from iTunes.
QOTD: Away from home?
When you are away from home for a few days what mobile devices do you take with you? If it is on business I take my iPhone 4 and BlackBerry, but if it is leisure it is just the iPhone 4 these days.
Unlocked BlackBerry Pearl 3G 9105 now available
Clove now has stock of the unlocked BlackBerry Pearl 3G 9150 available for £299.63. I had a play with one of these the other day and it was much, much better than I was expecting.
“The BlackBerry Pearl 3G 9105 is the smallest Blackberry to date. With a refreshing new look, powerful performance and sleek design, the Pearl 3G is a must-have for not only existing BlackBerry customers, but also those who are yet to own a RIM handset.
With a 14-Key traditional phone keyboard and SureType technology, the BlackBerry Pearl 3G bridges the gap between business and consumer devices.
The condensed keyboard allows for the stylish candybar design, while still maintaining the functionality of a QWERTY keyboard that makes features such as Blackberry Messenger so popular. To add to this, BlackBerry’s SureType technology learns the words you use the most, ensuring you can type messages and emails as quickly as possible.
The Pearl 3G provides much more than you would expect from a device with such an elegant design. The 624 MHz processor and optical trackpad make navigation fast and smooth, while 3G connectivity ensures good internet connectivity when out and about.
Multi-tasking is important for Blackberry users and RIM has ensured this is accounted for in the Pearl 3G. You can easily switch between emails, Facebook and Blackberry messenger without having to close one to use the other. “
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A good weekend for Desire owners
This is an exciting weekend if you own an unlocked European HTC Desire. Version 2.2 of Android should be coming to you along with some extra special updates.
“The Android 2.2 (FroYo) update for HTC Desire will start rolling out across Europe this weekend. As well as including the complete set of Android 2.2 features, the update will contain a few special additions of our own through the latest iteration of HTC Sense. The update will provide 720p video capture, HTC’s App Share widget, as well as our enhanced HTC Caller ID, and improved multi-language keyboard. Also, through the update, HTC Sync will allow HTC Desire users to sync their music with iTunes.
HTC Desire users will be notified that the over-the-air update is available to download when their phone automatically checks for software updates. The update won’t delete any of the phone’s content. However, due to the size of the update, we would advise using a WiFi connection to download it wherever possible to avoid additional data charges.
This update will initially roll out to unlocked HTC Desire handsets. Operator specific versions of the update are undergoing testing and we expect to make them available in several weeks’ time.”
Source: engadget
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PDair covers the Evo 4G, iPhone 4 and Neo Touch P400
PDair has released a selection of new cases for three of the most popular smartphones. Here’s the full list-
Acer Neo Touch P400: Flip type, book type, sleeve type, horizontal pouch type, vertical pounch type with belt clip and vertical puhc type without belt clip.
iPhone 4: Luxury silicone cases in black, white, red and chocolate brown.
HTC Evo 4G: Aluminium case in silver and black.
Go to PDair to find the ones above and many more accessories.
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RIM and Samsung still rising
The global mobile market is on the rise again and the bulk of the rise seems to be coming from players outside of the top 5 manufacturers. Nokia, LG and Sony Ericsson have all lost market share while RIM is up 0.6% and Samsung has improved by 1.2%.
The full report is at IDC- “FRAMINGHAM, Mass. July 29, 2010 – The worldwide mobile phone market continued to show signs of improvement during the second quarter of 2010 (2Q10), driven primarily by smartphone vendors and companies outside the top five leaders worldwide. According to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, mobile phone vendors shipped a total of 317.5 million units during 2Q10, up 14.5% from the 277.2 million units shipped during the second quarter of 2009 (2Q09). For the first half of 2010, vendors shipped a total of 620.6 million units, up 18.5% from the 523.5 million units shipped during the first half of 2009.
“That worldwide growth was driven primarily by vendors outside the top vendors is particularly noteworthy,” said Ramon Llamas, senior research analyst with IDC’s Mobile Devices Technology and Trends team. “Directly contributing to this is growth in the smartphone category. Companies with a strict focus on the smartphone market, like RIM, Apple, and HTC have clearly benefited from steadily increasing user interest. But it’s not just smartphone vendors that have driven the market forward – it’s also the companies with a presence among entry-level handsets and mid-range devices, which have long been the domain of the worldwide leaders.
“To dismiss the worldwide leaders would be a mistake,” added Llamas. “Each currently enjoys broad distribution, a deep portfolio, and brand recognition. Moreover, each is in the midst of refreshing its respective product portfolio, with greater emphasis on smartphones during the second half of this year. Still, the upward pressure from vendors outside the current top five vendors, particularly Apple and Motorola, will provide tough competition in the quarters to come.”
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QOTD: Usage?
How much do you use your smartphone compared to your desktop computer of laptop? I suspect I use my smartphone a lot more these days and the ration is probably heading near 80% smartphone usage compared to other devices.
The Good and Bad of BlackBerry
Today is the turn of the BlackBerry platform to come under scrutiny and to ascertain what’s good and what’s bad. It boils down to a couple of things on both sides, but ultimately it will always be the perfect platform for some and one to avoid for others.
Good
RIM has bridged the gap between feature phones and smartphones better than anyone else. You get a near perfect PIM setup, class leading communications, super fast performance and stability and still there is room for great call quality, signal strength (despite what some may say) and data input the rest can only dream of. I am writing this article in a coffee shop after taking a train from Gatwick Airport; the number of BlackBerry phones I witnessed being used by people going on holiday and the suits is astonishing. They are everywhere and have taken on an air of coolness over the past year or so. They fit the transition from feature phone to smartphone better than any other platform and this is why the ‘kids’ and the ‘suits’ are all using them.
Bad
The third party software market for BlackBerry is without doubt limited in terms of volume and quality. The current OS limits what can be done and this may push some towards Android and iPhone. OS6 may change this, but I am expecting no more than a mild improvement over the next year. There are some brilliant apps like Ascendo Money and Tether, but these are the exception rather than the rule. I you do not need a ton of good looking third party apps the BlackBerry platform is still the best in my view for helping you to get on with your life.
I’m still a huge fan and will no doubt continue to be for some time to come.
VF 247 brings solar powered mobility for $32
Vodafone is launching the VF 247 in India soon for the paultry sum of $32 (1,500 Rupees). It is very basic and is in essence a voice and texter with a fixed battery. But, it is solar powered and one 8 hour charge will give 4 hours talk time / 1 week of standby.
There are aspects of this which are potentially very interesting- the price is the main one and could lead to similar technology appearing in other high-end phones. Of course more development will be needed to achieve this, but I do wonder if this will be the next big thing for mobiles. If only the UK got as much sun as India…
More at Greenlaunches.
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HP adding a $50 gift card to Pres and Pixis
HP has upped the incentive to buy a Palm Pre Plus or Pixi Plus and is now including a $50 gift card which is valid in the HP Home and Home Office Store.
All of these incentives are great and so is the rock bottom price of both phones, but the real incentive will be for HP to come up with webOS phones that people actually want to buy.
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Prizmo for iPhone: business cards done properly
Prizmo will soon be available for the iPhone and ideal for anyone who has to deal with traditional business cards often. The video below does, however, make the process look quite slow. Thanks to Trevor.
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Lets talk inputs: Touch Screen and QWERTY
Lets talk inputs: Touch Screen and QWERTY is a long and interesting look at data input on a mobile by Tomi Ahonen. Definitely one to save for when you have 30 minutes spare.
“We heard earlier this week that Motorola has found 30% of consumers are not willing to consider a phone that is a pure touch screen phone. This number is growing. A few years ago it was mostly only older teenagers and young adults, of whom about half (in the USA, 42%) were so addicted to mobile messaging, that they could send messages ‘blindly’ ie with the phone hidden in their pocket or behind their back or under the table. That portion (heavily SMS-addicted, tactile text input obsesed) was only about 13% of the total population a few years ago by my measurements worldwide – ie roughly half of the 16-30 year old segment of the total population. But the ‘I must have my physical text input’ customer segment is growing, and it is now 30% according to Motorola…”
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Iron Man 2, Shrek Kart HD and Brothers in Arms 2 for iPad down to £0.59 / $0.99
Iron Man 2, Shrek Kart HD and Brothers in Arms 2 for the iPad are currently on sale for only £0.59 / $0.99. This is great value when you consider that Iron Man 2 usually retails for $6.99. You need to be quick, but these are well worth it.
“JOIN YOUR ALLIES ONLINE
For the first time, challenge up to 5 friends to multiplayer battles on a variety of five maps in 3 different modes (Free For All, Team Deathmatch, Domination). You can connect locally via Bluetooth or even go online with Wi-Fi to battle friends anywhere.
A FIGHT ACROSS THE GLOBE
Experience every front of the war with battles raging across 5 locations and 13 levels: Pacific, Normandy, North Africa, Germany, Sicily.
WAR MACHINES
Take control of 3 different vehicles including a tank, 4×4 or glider to overrun your opponents – or to make a daring escape. You can even jump behind the vehicle turret to lay waste to foes with the machine gun.
THE BATTLE COMES TO LIFE
The stunning graphics have been specially enhanced for the iPad. And combined with authentic settings inspired by real WWII battlefields, the action is more lifelike than ever.
AN EPIC EXPERIENCE
Witness compelling cinematic moments with more interaction between you and your squad members that deepens the gameplay.
AN ARSENAL AT YOUR DISPOSAL
Grab a wide variety of historically accurate weapons including machine guns, bazookas, sniper rifles and flamethrowers.
Unlock 26 trophies and show them off to friends over Gameloft LIVE!”
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QOTD: What are you looking forward to?
What software or hardware are you most looking forward to at the moment? For me, it is Reckless Racing on Android and the iPhone. A bit shallow I know, but there isn’t much new hardware floating my boat currently.
Digital Newspapers: stuck at page one?
It is very early to judge where the digital newspaper will be heading in the future, but the start has been somewhat turbulent and many changes are needed to bring it to the masses. There are multiple areas that need tweaking so let’s have a look at each-
Pricing
The Times has had some problems so far, in particular with the quality of the iPad offering, and this has resulted in 2 free months of subscription to early purchasers. In defense of it I must say that I never had a single problem and that it was the single most used app on my iPad while I had it. The layout was well thought out, the content excellent and overall I felt it was value for money. The problem is that not too many feel the same way I do.
At the same time the main website was pushed behind a paywall and users had to start buying a subscription to view the daily content. The price is £2 / week or £1 for a 24 hour pass and again the presentation is excellent. I do feel that this represents good value, but early reports suggest that almost 90% of its online readership has disappeared over night. Financially this is not a problem because more than £1 million will be generated each year on the above figures, but I would have thought that online newspaper sites should be designed to bring in more newspaper readers and not to push them away.
It’s going to take some time for people to adapt to the idea of paying for online content because the idea of a free internet is still very much an overriding state of mind. Apps, like the iPad options, should do better, but initial figures suggest that people are struggling with the concept here as well.
It’s not there
The fact that there is no paper involved means that buyers are not getting anything physical for their money. This is still a concern for some music buyers who want the CD, film buyers who want the DVD and book buyers who want a book to hold. We are a long way down the road in digital music and still there are many who want the physical product so a long road needs to be travelled for newspapers to reach out to the majority.
A dwindling industry
The fact is that newspaper readership has been dwindling for some time because of the Internet, Satellite TV and many other competing factors. We lead busier lives and the time available for content consumption has reduced over the past decade. This should offer the digital newspaper a slim advantage over the paper version, but you still need to spend time reading it to enjoy it. Making a dwindling industry digital will not make it grow- it just makes it digital.
I personally think there is a future for digital newspapers, and potentially a very big one, but we will have to wait sometime longer for the readership to match the potential.