I’ve never been much of a Samsung fan-girl but even I have to admit that they have pulled out all the stops with their new Android devices.  The Samsung Galaxy I9000 is a beautiful mobile phone that gives the iPhone some great competition.  With the gorgeous form factor, responsive AMOLED capacitive touch screen and super fast data speeds, this little device has my undivided attention.

Features:

• 4 inch screen with accelerometer and proximity sensor
• Multi-touch capability
• 8 GB or 16GB storage with micro SD card slot
• HSDPA and HSUPA data speed
• Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth and USB
• 5MP primary camera and second camera for video calling
• The latest Android 2.1 operating system
• 1GHz processor
• Built in GPS with support
• All the Google Android applications
• TV out
• Document editors
• Flash support

In short this is a power-packed little device!

Samsung also announced their imminent Galaxy tablet that aims to take the iPad on head-for-head!  I can’t wait to get my hands on one of these!!

In an interesting almost soap-opera-like drama, Dell lost the bidding war for Palm to their competitor HP in April this year.  It has been a fascinating story to watch as the hardware giants attempt to enter the lucrative mobile phone market.

In March Dell announced their android operated mobile phone, the “Aero”, but it was only this week that the phone was launched to the US market through AT&T.

It will be very interesting to see what HP does in response since they now have the popular Palm operating system, Palm Web OS.  Not only is this a really stable OS for phones but has been touted as a viable option for tablet devices that may even give the Apple iPad a run for its money.

Here’s the gen on the Aero:

The good:

This little phone has a sleek design and is ultra-thin.  It has wi-fi, Bluetooth and GPS.

The not-so- good:

The touch screen offers nHD (nearly High Definition) resolution.  In today’s market where the iPhone 4 offers retina display which is really High Def and even entry-level smart phones are competing for market share, this is an unpopular choice.

Another stupid decision (IMHO) was that they launched with an early version of Android 1.5 that probably won’t even be upgradeable to the latest releases.   It has been reported that some rudimentary android programs (like Google maps) don’t function correctly on this early version and require a minimum of 1.6.

Would I buy one? No way Jose! At $300 cost (approx R 2500.00) Even an entry-level HTC Android or BlackBerry will give me a better value deal!

Research In Motion (RIM), the manufacturers of BlackBerry phones recently launched the BlackBerry Torch 9800 with the NEW 6.0 operating system.  After all the hype around the new device, I was expecting a lot more from RIM and am not alone in my disappointment.  Technology journalists all over the world were waiting with baited breath for RIM to bring out an “iPhone or Android killer” and this phone hardly comes close.

The pretty design and small form factor is great but feature wise, they could have given us a more power packed phone.

I’ve made no secret of the fact that I’m an avid BB fan and last week after meeting with a RIM representative, I was really excited to find out what they had up their sleeve.  But unfortunately this little Torch just doesn’t light my fire.

Features:

• Full QWERTY keyboard is slide out – which saves space.
• Touch screen
• Optical touch pad and proximity detection
• 4GB storage with SD slot for up to 32GB extra (kewl!)
• GPRS, EDGE and 3G
• 5MP camera (bit disappointing since I’ve seen devices with 10Mp).
• NO front camera, which means no video calling
• GPS with support
• All the other BlackBerry applications such as document editors, FANTASTIC email client, etc.

As devices go it is pretty much a mid-level smart phone (in my humble opinion).  I don’t feel particularly eager to retire my 8900 Curve in exchange for this phone.  I’d rather try the BlackBerry Storm 2 or wait for iPhone 4.

As many know, the iPhone 4 was announced recently.  What an object of beauty! Apple sure knows how to make really sexy hardware, and this time, they got the software right with regard to additional features.  The iPhones 1,2 and 3 were dearly loved but had some fundamental things missing.  Most of these have been rectified in the iPhone 4.

What’s new in iPhone 4?

• The screen is unbelievable! Apple used what they call a “retina display” which means that this screen has the best resolution on any phone in the world.
• 

  Crystal clarity

  The front facing camera allows for video calling.  Apple uses a service called “Face Time” which only enables video calling over wi-fi.  This is a bit of a downer because you’d think they would have enabled video calling over the mobile network.  For South Africa, this might not be such a big drawcard.  MTN and Vodacom both offer video calling (at the same price as a regular call) but both phones must be in a 3G area.  With iPhone, both phones would have to be connected to a wi-fi (wireless) network.

  

  Video calling

  One of my biggest irritations with the previous iPhones was that they could not multitask.  This means that I couldn’t have instant messaging running in the background while I was doing something else.  The previous iPhones only allowed for one application at a time.  With iPhone 4, multitasking is enabled!

• The primary camera at the back of the iPhone 4 has 5Meg, flash, touch focus and geo-tagging (this is where location information is added to digital media like photos).
• The video feature on the new iPhone allows for you to shoot video, edit video and share video – all in HIGH definition!
• Music lovers will be happy to know that the new iPhone allows you to use mp3 ringtones.
• The HSDPA data is super fast so internet browsing and email will be an absolute pleasure.
• Memory capacity is still limited to 16 or 32 Gigs

I can’t wait to get my hands on one of these!  For more information see here.

If you’ve wanted a smart phone but bulked at the high price tag, then I have great news for you.  Vodacom intends to launch the Vodafone 546 for only R400.00.  This little device is jam-packed with features and I suspect it will sell like crazy!

It looks very similar to the BlackBerry Curve, with an icon based  desktop and menu structure.

Here are some of its cool features:

• A full QWERTY keyboard for easy messaging.
• 2 MP camera with video.
• FM radio
• Micro SD slot for extra storage capacity
• Data connections: GPRS, EDGE and Bluetooth (does not have wi-fi)
• Can do SMS, MMS and Email
• Media playback of most common types (for example mp3)
• Flight mode
• Conference call facilities

At R400 this is a sure winner.  Vodacom intends to bring out another version with a touchscreen, which will retail for around R600- R800.  That too, is far lower than today’s entry level smartphones from R2500.00.

I think that devices like this, at these excellent price points, could really help to get more South Africans online and connected.

Press Release:

Vodacom announces low cost web-focused computer

A South African first

10 May 2010

Vodacom is pleased to announce the unprecedented arrival of Linkbook – a low-cost compact computer designed specifically to provide users with simple and affordable Internet access. The Linkbook’s operating system is geared primarily towards a user-friendly web experience; from email to social networking and browsing, as well as basic Open Office – everything a business entrepreneur, student or first-time PC user could need in a computer.

Everything works off the desktop – including shortcuts to popular local online content and e-commerce websites – making it the most intuitive, simple to operate device of its kind available anywhere in the world.

“Linkbook is the first handheld computer of its kind available globally and aims to broaden web and computer access in emerging markets, tackling the digital divide and enhancing Vodacom’s strategy to make the Internet more accessible to all South Africans,” says Shameel Joosub, Managing Director of Vodacom South Africa. “South Africa is a market eager for more ways to get online. We expect that Linkbook will be particularly successful locally due to low PC penetration and we hope that by introducing a low-cost user-friendly Internet-focused computer bundled with 300 MB of data per month, this initiative will help to kick start local economies by encouraging entrepreneurs to create a range of locally-inspired business models and services.”

The Linkbook, which has an embedded SIM card, as well as two USB ports, will be available on a 24-month contract at a subscription fee of R199 per month, including a monthly 300 MB data bundle, from participating Vodacom outlets, nationwide. As part of the launch, Linkbook is exclusive to Vodacom and is touted as the perfect entry-level computer. Bundled with data packages useful to everyone from students, entrepreneurs, small business owners and others who want to be connected, the attractively designed Linkbook has an embedded HSDPA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access) module for totally wireless internet connectivity.

“Linkbook is an idea whose time has come,” says Mark Levy, co-founder of Linkbook. “It’s compact and highly intuitive and will bring easy-to-use wireless internet to millions. The cost of the actual computer to the consumer over the two-year contract period comes in at R40.00 per month. It is a massive step in the direction of the $100 computer.” “Customised for South Africa including links to the country’s top online sites, it’s a global first. No other laptop in the world does this, so it’s something we as a country should be extremely proud of. It also runs on a Linux operating system called Ubuntu.”

For further information call Vodacom’s 24-hour Customer Care Centre on 111, free from a Vodacom cellphone or 082 111 from any other cellphone, or go to www.vodacom.co.za. For more information on Linkbook: Visit www.linkbook.co.za For technical queries call 0861 99 4443

NOTE: Cellfhelp has requested additional pricing from Vodacom. We’re particularly interested in how much they would charge to purchase the Linkbook with a prepaid SIM card.

The Samsung S800 Jet is a small device jam packed with features! If you are looking for a fun, yet smart phone that gives tremendous value for money, this is definitely a contender!

For a once of purchase of around R3500 or R350 per month on contract, you can get the Jet.  It competes directly with the new HTC Smart (which retails at R2500) but has some really great features.

Looking under the hood:

• Triband
• HSDPA (high speed Internet)
• AMOLED resistive touchscreen with 16M colours
• Sensor for auto-rotate
• Excellent media player
• 5MP camera with autofocus, flash, geo-tagging, face recognition and more.
• Video recording (and editing!)
• Secondary camera for video calling
• The onboard memory is 8GB and you can purchase additional memory using microSD up to 16GB.
• Wi-fi and Bluetooth connectivity
• FM Stereo radio – with radio recording.
• GPS with support

Not only is this a really good looking phone but as far as features are concerned, it offers unrivalled value for money.