Whilst the LG BL40 New Chocolate was only in the spirit of the original Black Label luxury handset, this one evokes the landmark device far more closely in both style and substance.
Touted as an O2 release in the fourth quarter of 2009, the LG BL20 New Chocolate is on a strict diet at only 12.3mm thick, equipped with a 5 megapixel autofocus camera and Widget Hotkeys to quickly access at-a-glance features like weather updates.
The New LG Chocolate BL20 echoes the original LG Chocolate’s design, resurrecting the glossy black surface with red accents as well as the gorgeous touch sensitive controls that are revealed when the phone is carressed. The touch navigation has also spread to the sides of the device, with volume and camera keys discreetly tucked away on the handset’s flanks.
Whilst not as arresting as the 21:9 display of the BL40, the BL20 Chocolate offers the same minimalist fashion statement that exemplifies the LG Black Label range, but at a more “affordable” price tag.
After two years of exclusivity on the O2 network, the iPhone has finally appeared on both Orange and Vodafone, with the rival providers offering both the 3G and new 3GS models to their millions of subscribers.
Neither has been candid regarding release dates, but word has it that Orange will make the device available this side of Christmas, whilst Vodafone are to sell the iPhone from early 2010.
More importantly, the pricing for the iPhone on Orange has not been made public as yet, sparking talk of an imminent price war between themselves and the present sole retailer, O2.
The premium that has been placed on the device has kept the iPhone out of the reaches of many, but the resultant competition on price is sure to drive costs down and benefit the consumer in the long run.
O2 has seen this day coming and has managed to benefit hugely from the iPhone’s exclusivity, with over 1million customers signed up on iPhone 3G deals and 3GS contracts alone over the two years.
However, with alternatives like the Palm Pre already secured in their armoury of O2-only devices, they are certainly ready for a future where the playing field between networks is more level…
Time will tell whether the iPhone is a make-or-break handset for Orange, and if Vodafone’s late arrival will see them miss the boat. What is undeniable is that the iPhone is still at the height of the public conscious, and the freedom to choose a variety of networks will only see Apple sell more of the heavily-hyped handset.
The phalanx of new, ‘convergent’ Sony Ericsson handsets are on their way, and the first is now available on Orange ahead of an October 7h launch!
With the idea of bringing the best of Walkman and Cybershot functionality in a single device, the Sony Ericsson Aino is the first to hit the market, ahead of the 12MP-packing Sony Ericsson Satio and the playful motion gaming of the Sony Ericsson Yari.
Connectivity and versatility are the Aino’s strong suits, with the handset effortlessly switching between a touchscreen personal media player with 3″ display and fully-featured mobile phone with a quick slide.
The Aino is able to stream content from a Playstation 3, from movies to music, whilst the MediaGo client allows for data and content to be wirelessly synced with a PC easily. Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth enable the device to chat happily with other devices, whilst the microSD card enables fast switching of up to 16GB of fresh data.
The bundled dock sits elegantly on a desk, enabling the Aino to nestle comfortably in landscape and charge whilst acting as a mini-cinema.
Not only that, but the Aino is a cameraphone powerhouse with an 8 megapixel flash and autofocus, FM radio and high end music player functionality.
Sony Ericsson Aino deals currently available are surprisingly affordable, with the handset free at deals of around £25 per month, and offering around 400 minutes and 300 texts.
All those waiting in line for the make-or-break smart phone from Palm to touch down in the UK finally have a release date for the Pre – the 16th of October.
Arriving far earlier than expected with rumours of the handset even slipping as far as early 2010, the Palm Pre serves as a slightly cheaper alternative to O2’s ‘other’ smartphone, with the handset to be made available from Phones4U and the Carphone Warehouse, as well as from the network directly.
How much? Well, the Pre can be in your palm for free for £34.26, on a 24 month contract of 600 minutes and 500 texts, but another option is to go for the 18 month deal which asks that you spend a cool £96.89 to purchase the handset.
It might more up front, but saves you a bit in the long run and offers exactly the same number of minutes and texts… Those requiring more minutes with their mobile can opt for the £44.05 and £73.41 deals respectively.
All the Palm Pre deals offer unlimited data and Wi-Fi as well as support for The Cloud, O2’s public wireless hotspot service, whilst the popular TouchStone that offers wireless charging by magnetic induction will thankfully be boxed in, but with an RRP of £44.11.
A slick slider smart phone, the Palm Pre hasn’t set the world alight as far as the US was concerned, but the alluring form factor, physical keyboard and forthcoming array of apps could be enough to cater more to the refined European patate…
With a German release date of the 13th of October and the device arriving in Ireland soon after the UK, we will soon see if the wait was worth it!
Sony Ericsson might be courting the tech-savvy consumer with devices like the Satio and Sony Ericsson Aino, but they are still making great handsets for the masses – the T707 fitting firmly in the latter category.
A flip phone for the style-conscious individual, theSony Ericsson T707has been released on SIM-free deals, at a very reasonable £169.99.
So what do you get for your money? Well, the personality and personalisation of the T707 continues into a handset rich with colour.
With features like flashing lights surrounding the second external screen which can be customised by caller, themes which change during the course of the day, and a novel feature of silencing calls simply by waving a hand over the top of the device, the T707 is certainly a handset which may fit better in a handbag than a back pocket…
There are indeed strong specs to follow up the gorgeous looks, as the Sony Ericsson T707 is equipped with a 3.2 mega pixel camera, support for Google Maps and Youtube, as well as a messaging client and web browsing capabilities.
The HTC Touch2signifies the change in direction for Microsoft, as the new Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system offers a leaner and more intuitive interface and this handset is one of the first to take advantage of these improvements.
The Touch2 differs largely from previous handsets in the ‘Touch’ range, taking more cues from the Touch Diamond 2 and Touch Pro 2 in design.
Included are all of the perks of 6.5 – the new Windows Marketplace, MyPhone data backup service and a propietary customised interface dubbed “TouchFLO 3D” give much improved access to features and functionality for the uninitiated.
Specifications are strong in the device, with a 3.2 megapixel camera (although still without a flash), both 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity and a 2.8″ TFT resistive touchscreen.
“The HTC Touch2 delivers a familiar touch experience that millions of people have come to expect and rely on from HTC in their daily lives,” said Peter Chou, Chief Executive Officer, HTC Corporation.
The SIM-free price of the Touch 2 has been revealed as a refreshingly cheap £299.99, and a release date shortly after WinMo 6.5’s release of October 12th 2009.
The LG GM750 is a sleek new touch-driven device, expected to launch day and date with the new packing Windows Mobile 6.5 software update on October 6th.
Seemingly a Vodafone exclusive, the GM750 plays host to a myriad of features and services in a sleek form. The device offers access to personal and work e-mail accounts, calendar synchronization and faster Internet browsing via Vodafone’s high-speed mobile broadband network or Wi-Fi.
With a 3″ full touchscreen facilitating enhanced navigation capability while browsing the Internet, writing text messages and memos, GPS and a 5 megapixel camera, the GM750 offers a powerful all-in-one device.
With support for downloadable applications from the Windows Marketplace, the LG GM750 marries the popular S-Class user interface with a suite of productivity features.
The Sony Ericsson XPERIA X2 may be considered a “smart phone” at first glance, but entertainment is certainly not compromised in this high-end device.
Enjoy amazing multimedia with the 3.2” high resolution touch screen and DVD quality and take advantage of the 8.1 megapixel camera to capture and instantly share experiences with friends and family.
Personalise the panels and users can access Facebook to upload their party or holiday images and they can chat with friends across the world via Skype. Whether it is music, photography, email, video or gaming, the XPERIA X2 has it all.
With a revamped user interface, appealing slider form factor and coming shipped with the new Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system, the Sony Ericsson Xperia X2 brings up the rear with a November release, but is no less exciting on the mobile release calendar.
The Sony Ericsson Satio (nee Idou) wowed upon its initial unveiling at Mobile World Congress, a 12.1 megapixel wielding device that combines the strongest features of the Cybershot range, compliments them with the latest Walkman functionality and wraps them together with a slick full touch Symbian powered user interface.
The 3.5″ display is clear, crisp and responsive to the touch, and the built-in 3G connectivity and GPS set it amongst the strongest smartphone contenders.
The dual LED and Xenon flash guarantee only the highest quality images, and the microSD slot allows for up to 32GB of memory to fill.
A glaring ommision is a 3.5mm jack, which is such a necessity in mobile phones today touting multimedia as their strong suit.
Nevertheless, this powerhouse is due this October, with Sony Ericsson Satio deals looking at around £35-40 for a handset on a free contract.
Vodafone are showing off some of their Q3/Q4 line up, with some of the hottest mobile phones posing provocatively on their “coming soon” page with an October release date.
TheNokia E72 is the latest remodelling of their popular productivity-focussed Eseries devices, bringing a full QWERTY keyboard, a robust messaging client and a great compliment of media functionality.
Enhancements over the highly successful Nokia E71 include a 5 megapixel autofocus camera, 3.5mm audio jack, and A-GPS if lost on the way to the latest leadership meeting.
The office capabilities have been updated with a new version of Quickoffice, which delivers Microsoft Office 2007 compatibility, and instant messaging support is available to getting chatting as soon as you clock off.
Available from October, the Nokia E72 is an exciting addition to the range, and is sure to be the flagship handset for those bored by Blackberry and intimidated by the iPhone.
Want to see the latest Android phones? Check out the HTC deals now available on Omio.com to see prices and features of the HTC Magic, HTC Hero, HTC HD2 deals and the forthcoming HTC Bravo!
