October 15, 2010 By

T3 Gadget Awards 2010 Winners Announced!

 

 

A couple of months ago I posted about the final round of the prestigious T3 Gadget Awards 2010. The winners have now been announced and can be seen below. T3 have also got a competition running at the moment giving you the chance to win a Desire HD.

Don’t forget to vote in this years Smartphone Essentials Awards, sponsored by Clove!

T3 Gadget Awards 2010 Winners:

Phone of the Year: HTC Desire

Tech Brand of the Year: HTC

Work Gadget of the Year: 3 Mobile Mi-Fi

App of the Year: Google Maps Navigation

[Read more...]

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September 9, 2010 By

HTC Desire Firmware Update

image

HTC have released today an update for the HTC Desire.

The update is to include:

  1. Android OS update patch
  2. Enhanced multi inbox Gmail support
  3. Improved RUS keyboard layout

To complete the update: From the Home Screen go to MENU> Settings> About Phone> Software Information> Software number). The new Software number will be 2.10.405.2

If anyone can tell us what the OS update patch includes it would be great.

From HTC Support:

Update – HTC Desire Firmware Over The Air (FOTA) update

You can now download the latest software update for new features and improved performance. It won’t delete any of your content and we’d recommend using a Wi-Fi connection as this is a large update. If not, standard data connection charges may apply. Any questions? Contact us via www.htc.com. After installing the update, you can confirm a successful update by confirming the Software number (From the Home Screen go to MENU> Settings> About Phone> Software Information> Software number). The new Software number will be 2.10.405.2

Update Information: 1.Android OS update patch 2.Enhanced multi inbox Gmail support 3.Improved RUS keyboard layout

Note: We still recommend you back up your all personal data first.

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September 8, 2010 By

HTC Desire Android 2.2 Update – Auto-Backup Disabled – BE AWARE

Sometimes you find things out the hard way.  I own a HTC Desire which I upgraded in good faith to Android 2.2 (FroYo) and all has been well.

However more recently the Desire has been running low on memory due to the number of applications and messages I had on the phone.

I deleted a couple of message threads that had over 1000 messages in which helped a bit as well as deleting a few apps I had used only a couple of times and moving some to the SD card (now available through Android 2.2).

For some reason the phone went a bit mad on me yesterday and decided to delete ALL my messages!  I thought that’s a bit strange.  Re-booted a couple of times still to find the messages still were not appearing.

Not that it was a big thing for me to keep old messages but there were some important ones.  A bit perplexed because I was under the impression that my messages were backed up automatically by the device to the memory card.  I had used this auto backup several times before and it worked perfectly.

HOWEVER – A call to HTC has confirmed – Android 2.2 on the HTC Desire DOES NOT automatically backup your device.  The ONLY backup is the sync to Google for your email and contacts!  Apparently this is because when the roll out took place the backup facility was not complete and HTC are working on a solution.

Therefore BE VERY AWARE to use  3rd party or alternative backup solution as programme settings, home screen configurations and messages WILL now be lost if the device is reset as there is NO auto-backup.

This is by no means a plug for the offer we have with WaveSecure at the moment, BUT you really should if you are an Android 2.2 user on the Desire consider using their backup services.  As you can see from the images below, it backs up your SMS – Guess what I am now installing on my device?

 

I will let you know when I hear from HTC of a fix.

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August 13, 2010 By

Google Voice Actions – Another Superb Freebie from Google

Google has just announced Google Voice Actions, an add-on for Google Search by Voice for Android FroYo 2.2. This adds yet another great piece of technology to the already stunning Android portfolio. So what is Google Voice Actions? Well the video below gives a run through of its features.

Basically, Voice Actions lets you give instructions to your device by voice. It does require Android 2.2 FroYo (or higher) to work. With Google Voice Actions, you will be able to tell your device to:

    • Send text messages
    • Listen to music
    • Get directions
    • Call businesses
    • Call contacts
    • Send email
    • View a map
    • Go to websites
    • Write a note
    • Search Google

Currently the HTC Desire (and Nexus One) are the only devices available with Android 2.2 FroYo in the UK. However, updates are on the way for the Samsung Galaxy S, HTC Legend and other devices.

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August 12, 2010 By

X-Mini II Speaker Now In Stock at Clove

P1000127

The X-Mini II Speaker is now in stock at Clove.co.uk, pictured to the left with the Motorola FLIPOUT. This really is a must-have gadget for anyone owning a Smartphone, or any other portable music device such as an iPod.

This handy little gadget is guaranteed to impress friends and family the first time you show them. If they’re not impressed, its probably because they’ve already got one. If that is the case, you’ll be able to connect the speakers together, thanks to the X-Mini II’s ‘Buddy jack’.

The X-Mini II is connected to your device with a 3.5mm Jack, the same jack used by a pair of headphones. It also has a 3.5mm jack of its own, meaning you can plug as many additional speakers into each other as you like.

The design of the X-Mini II really is very neat and you’ll be amazed at the sound quality it provides given that it’s little bigger than a golf ball and is powered by a rechargeable battery. P1000133

When not being used, the 3.5mm cable tucks under the bottom of the speaker, preventing it from tangling or getting damaged while in your pocket. The X-Mini II also sports a mini-USB port, which is used to recharge the device. A single charge can provide up to 11 hours of music playback, again impressive given its size.

At just £20 + VAT you will not be disappointed with the X-Mini II Speaker. It’s perfect for any device with a 3.5mm jack and a superb addition to large screen device such as the HTC Desire, HTC HD2 and Samsung Galaxy S that are ideal for video playback.

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August 11, 2010 By

HTC Desire Android 2.2 Update – A Guide To

HTC_Desire_Bravo_Brown (2) As the proud owner of a HTC Desire, you no doubt like showing off to friends what your device can do and are pleased at how well it works for you.

You probably find that Android is more customisable and fun than previous clunky operating systems.  Much of this will be because you have the latest version of Android on the device.

Still a rapidly developing system, 2.1 that shipped on the device has now been updated to 2.2  this means more features functions and improvements.  Sounds good? Yes? How do you get it?

Well, providing you own a UK specification, Unlocked, SIM FREE HTC Desire, you can now take advantage of a FREE upgrade to Android 2.2.

The upgrade brings a whole host of changes, a full list of which can be found here, but the main headline changes are as follows:

  • It’s faster in overall performance
  • Battery said to last longer.
  • Android Cloud to Device Messaging support, Eg. ChromeToPhone to send links, maps directly to phone from chrome/firefox browser now supported
  • Shutdown time has been reduced a lot.
  • Screen can now also be rotated to the right!
  • HTC App Share application – Share your applications with friends.
  • News & Weather application
  • Voice Search
  • WiFi Hotspot – Use your phones connection to the internet and share it with others
  • Torchlight  Use the LED flash of the camera as a torchlight
  • Google Search bar updated
  • It’s no longer possible to unlock the slide-down screen by pressing menu.
  • Device lock can now be a pattern lock, PIN lock or an alphanumeric password
  • Keyboard now allows for Chinese input
  • Keyboard now allows for quick language change.
  • Facebook events and birthdays are available in calendar.
  • Camera takes pictures a lot faster than before
  • 720p Recording possible with MPEG4 Codec.
  • Flashlight can be switched on during video recording.
  • The bottom box to type text in when creating a text message is bigger.
  • Text message screen now shows how many characters you have left from the start along with a new icon for send and an icon for attaching something.
  • So to the process of updating…

1.  Backup all of your data on the HTC Desire to your memory card or PC.

The HTC Desire (subject to your settings) will automatically back up all your data as and when changes are made, thus ensuring that constantly there is a backup of all the data on the memory card.

The update will wipe all data off the Desire, but once complete the backup will be automatically restored from the memory card.

2. Perform the update.

Because of the size of the download it is advised to do the update through WiFi, but it can be downloaded through a data plan with your network provider.

Do be aware if going through your network provider you may wish to check costs for the data download.

Do be aware too that this update may cause third party applications to fail as they may not support Android v2.2/HTC Sense customisation as yet. The majority will work without issue.

From your home screen click the Menu button > Settings > About Phone > System Software Updates > Check Now

HTC_Desire_Screen_Shot10HTC_Desire_Screen_Shot11

HTC_Desire_Screen_Shot12HTC_Desire_Screen_Shot14

HTC_Desire_Screen_Shot9

The device will go and check for any updates. If you have not already updated a message should come up on screen confirming that an update is available.

You will then need to select over what connection (WiFi or GSM/Cellular) you wish to perform the update.

Select the appropriate one and let the download commence. Depending upon connection speeds this could take a while.

When complete follow the on screen instructions and leave the device to complete the update.

This could take 5-10 minutes and it will re-start a few times during this time. Just leave it until it re-boots and presents you with your re-stored home screen (providing you did the backup).

That’s it basically. It isn’t complicated, in fact it is very straight forward. You have now successfully updated to Android v2.2 as will be confirmed in your ‘About Phone’ screen.

HTC_Desire_Screen_Shot

Here are a few images to show what your device may look like before and after the update.

New Messaging Screen (Before/After):

HTC_Desire_Screen_Shot18 image

New Google Search Bar (Before/After):

HTC_Desire_Screen_Shot8

HTC_Desire_Screen_Shot17

New Apps/Widgets

HTC_Desire_Screen_Shot1 HTC_Desire_Screen_Shot2

HTC_Desire_Screen_Shot5 HTC_Desire_Screen_Shot6HTC_Desire_Screen_Shot4 HTC_Desire_Screen_Shot3

UPDATE 08/09/2010 – PLEASE NOTE:  THE AUTO-BACKUP FACILITY HAS BEEN DISABLED – READ MORE HERE

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August 3, 2010 By

The Pros & Cons of Android Rooting

android-logo This is a useful article from Talk Android about ‘rooting’ an Android device. You’ve probably seen the term ‘rooting’ used often on the internet but may not know exactly what it means. This article explains what rooting is and talks about the advantages and disadvantages of rooting your device.

In posting this device, we are not advising that you do or don’t root your device. One disadvantage that the article doesn’t list is that rooting your device will void the warranty, so if you do root it and it goes wrong, you will be responsible for any costs to repair the device and in the worst case scenario, may need to replace it completely.

My personal advice would be to avoid rooting your device if you are a novice to this kind of thing. However, if you really are keen on having a go at rooting, try it on an older device/one that you’re not bothered about breaking to begin with. The last thing you want to do is to brick your brand new HTC Desire as part of an experiment!

From TalkAndroid:

What is rooting?

Before we get started, I want to explain what “rooting” is.  When you root your phone, you gain “superuser” privileges to the Android operating system. When you are using a stock device, you have the equivalent of “guest” privileges. If you are familiar with any Linux operating system, you know that the superuser privilege allows you to gain access to administrative rights. This level of access gets you down to the nitty gritty of the OS with no restrictions, lets you make changes to the system, and run scripts that would normally be blocked with a standard user account. As long as they are not encrypted, that is… such as the case of the Droid X, which has an encrypted bootloader. With superuser privileges on an Android phone, you can install programs that need complete access to the OS – such as ROM installers (like ROM Manager), theme modifiers (such as Metamorph), and simple apps like DroCap2, which takes screenshots from the device without having to plug it in to your computer.

Click here to read the rest of the article

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August 2, 2010 By

HTC Desire Android 2.2 Update

The most observant HTC Desire fans will have realised this already but HTC have made available an update to Android 2.2 (Froyo) for all owners of European SIM FREE Unlocked handsets.

Update – HTC Desire Android 2.2 Firmware Over The Air (FOTA) update

You can now download the latest software update for new features and improved performance. It won’t delete any of your content and we’d recommend using a Wi-Fi connection as this is a large update. If not, standard data connection charges may apply. Any questions? Contact us via www.htc.com. After installing the update, you can confirm a successful update by confirming the Firmware version (From the Home Screen go to MENU> Settings> About Phone> Firmware version). The new Firmware version will be 2.2.
Update Information: Android 2.2 and HTC Sense update

There are lots of features and functions that have been updated – a comprehensive list can be found at www.xda-developers.com (http://bit.ly/d60osT).

The main ones are:

  • It is faster.
  • Better battery performance.
  • Screen can be rotated to the right.
  • HTC App Share
  • WiFi Hotspot (Share the phones 3G connection with other devices)
  • Torchlight/Flashlight (Uses the camera flash)
  • and much more

I update my device last night – It took about 20 minutes to complete and is working fine.  Still reading and finding allthe new changes. 

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July 30, 2010 By

HTC Desire to get Android 2.2 this week!

Breaking news just in from Engadget.

They have just heard from HTC regarding the Android 2.2 update for the HTC Desire.

You should be receiving your serving of Froyo by the end of the week, together with a new 720p video mode and iTunes sync for your music. HTC is also throwing in its App Share widget that it first introduced with the Wildfire, along with its smart Caller ID feature.

"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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July 29, 2010 By

HTC Desire 2.2 FroYo update coming soon(ish)

HTC Desire

Since a tweet yesterday by Mark Moons, regional director of HTC Benelux, reports have been awash that the HTC Desire 2.2 FroYo update will begin rolling out today. While this is good news, Moon was referring to the Dutch model of the Desire and as of yet it is not clear how long this will take to reach UK or any other handsets.

These are Moons’ (translated) tweets:

Tweet 1:
“Tomorrow we start with the upgrades to Android 2.2 for the Desire, more devices later on”

Tweet2:
“…(which doesn’t mean that everybody will be getting it tomorrow… there’s a bandwidth limit)”

Tweet 3:
“A lot of (amongst others) tweakers look forward to 2.2 with extra attention to a specific feature… but 1 important one hasn’t been mentioned! guess…”

Following this news, Pocket-lint has been in touch with Eric Lin, HTC’s global PR and online community manager, who had told them in a previous interview that the update should be in place ‘before Christmas’.

He told Pocket-lint yesterday that HTC is expecting “to begin rolling out this update very soon, possibly as early as tomorrow [Thursday 29 July], but some things still need to be checked before we can confirm a specific day".

Between them these statements confirm that the update should now be completed well before Christmas, but given the volume of HTC Desire sales that HTC has experienced, it could take a while before the update is available for all versions of the handset.

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