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Mio Navman 687 review: It’s time satnavs started copying phones
Vodafone emporia RL1, LG Revolution launches, Galaxy S 2 update: US Update
Samsung Galaxy S 2 KE7 update promises better battery life, more RAM
Windows Phone 7 Mango: walkthrough video
Report: Foxconn explosion can’t stop the Apple iPad 2
LG Revolution spreads its wings May 26 on Verizon Wireless
Best Android apps of the week
Tesco Extra, Romford helps navigate your shopping list with new Android ‘Sat-nav’ app
Vodafone emporia RL1: tackles phone calls while delivering over eight days of standby time
Nokia Oro 18-carat gold smartphone can’t polish Symbian turd

Mio Navman 687 review: It’s time satnavs started copying phones

Posted: 25 May 2011 09:12 AM PDT

The Mio Navman 687 satnav marks an interesting turn for the satnav maker. It’s one of the first models to license IQ Routes technology, which roadsters may recognise as a TomTom technology, born and bred. Is it enough to outclass its competitor? And what about those pesky satnav apps on mobiles? Curious, we took it for a spin: read on to find out what we made of it in our Mio Navman 687 review.

If the Mio Navman 687 has a rival, it’s the TomTom XL series – mid-range satnavs with a wide screen, and plenty of extra features/excuses reasons to faff around in a lay-by.

Physically, the Mio Navman 687 is nothing out of the ordinary. The 5-incher is a relatively thick, with a low resolution 480×272 screen that requires some hard, resistive stabs to register input, and a separate accessory to clamp it on to your windscreen.

The difference from previous Navmans is on the inside, with the routing software. IQ Routes works as advertised, suggesting routes to us during busy periods we know we wouldn’t need at quieter times of day, and even helping us discover a shortcut we never knew about – but of course, it does on TomToms too, even the cheapest Start models. We’re still not convinced by the narrow roads and layout of Mio’s mapping, but it’s not as if we ever struggled to see anything.

You also get a free trial of speed camera data, which from our travels across central London and out into the suburbs seem spot on, but our favourite UI gestures are the ability to search by keyword rather than an exact address, something many GPS makers have yet to grasp as a concept, and the option to rent maps for infrequent trips abroad.

There’s also Google Local Search on board so you can find petrol stations and whatnot nearby. Unfortunately this feature is rather superfluous. Where top end TomTom models have their own 3G connections, here you’re required to connect a phone via Bluetooth to hook into its connection – and as you can imagine, this process is not as simple as simply googling what you’re after on said phone.

Mio has long tried to stand out from the crowd with extra entertainment features (remember the TV-in-a-satnav?) but there’s little in the way of that here. There’s an AV-in port and cable to plug in a rearview camera, Bluetooth hands free calling and that’s about it.

The problem with all this however is that we’ve been spoiled by smartphones. We’re not suggesting that the free Google Maps Navigation provides more accurate routing – it doesn’t – but we are suggesting that on new smarpthones it loads maps a lot quicker than a dedicated PND like this. Move the screen slightly off route to see if you really are being sent the right way, and you’ll be met with seconds of delay and confusion as you wonder whether your prod has been registered – and more time with your eyes off the road is more dangerous for you.

Of course, this problem is by no means generic to the Navman 687. But in an age of handsets with 1GHz+ mobile processors inside, and fully featured satnav apps that cost under £30, it’s not something we should have to put up with. We quite like the large buttons of the Navman UI, but when mobile phones can increasingly deliver a more pleasant experience at an equivalent price, there’s a wee problem.

Vodafone emporia RL1, LG Revolution launches, Galaxy S 2 update: US Update

Posted: 25 May 2011 08:30 AM PDT

We're half way through the week and the tech news keeps rolling in at a blistering pace. On tap for this afternoon's US Update is a new feature phone that promises over eight days of standby time, the Vodafone emporia RL1. We take a look at tomorrow's launch of the LG Revolution, a sexy sleek 4G smartphone we first spotted at CES, and close the show with an update rolling out the Samsung Galaxy S 2.

The Vodafone emporia RL1 is every bit affordable as it is functional. This entry-level feature phone packs tremendous battery life, a large display, easy to read buttons and some basic functions to make life a little bit easier. Priced at £60 on pay as you go, the emporia RL1 has all the makings for a great feature phone. Ever wanted to use your Android smartphone to navigate your shopping experience? Take a look at the new Android 'Sat-nav' app available for Tesco Extra, Romford in north-east London for the ultimate shopping experience.

The LG Revolution goes on sale tomorrow May 26th at Verizon Wireless. This 4G LTE smartphone runs Android 2.2 Froyo and features a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus display, the same technology behind the Galaxy S 2's display. Speaking of the Galaxy S 2, we've just received word the ultra-thin smartphone is receiving a firmware update which improves battery life and increases free RAM at start up. Take a look at all the improvements here.

Last up this morning is a report from DigiTimes which suggests the recent Foxconn factory explosion will not affect the success of the Apple iPad 2. Instead, Apple will ramp up 2011 production by 50 percent and continue to widen the gap between itself and its competitors in the tablet space. That wraps up the latest and greatest in the wonderful world of tech news. As always I'm Nick Marshall and I'll see you again tomorrow.

Samsung Galaxy S 2 KE7 update promises better battery life, more RAM

Posted: 25 May 2011 07:30 AM PDT

Proud owners of our favorite Android smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S 2, are in for a treat this afternoon. A fresh firmware build, dubbed i9100XWKE7, is headed to the frightfully-thin smartphone on the heels of the recent, K2 update. There's several noteworthy improvements such as improved battery life, more free RAM on start-up and an update to Samsung Apps.

In order to join in this afternoon's festivities you'll need to download the update through Samsung Kies application. A change log is absent for now, but our friends at FoneArena have put together what they believe are the principal changes: Samung Apps updated, picture in Background Effect Menu changed, Battery Life seems to have been improved, more free RAM at start-up, camera has been updated — fixing the pink problem, better image quality and improved zoom panel.

All in all the KE7 update looks promising and without a doubt, a welcomed addition by all Galaxy S 2 owners. If you happen to land the update this afternoon do tell, we'd love some confirmation on the purported improvements. Alternatively, if you track down the change log go ahead and shoot us an email.

Out Now | Samsung | Free

Windows Phone 7 Mango: walkthrough video

Posted: 25 May 2011 07:01 AM PDT

There were some juicy announcements at the Windows Phone 7 Mango update launch in London yesterday, not least the arrival of several new big brand handset manufacturers to the fold. But what about the OS itself? How’s that changed? See for yourself in our video walkthrough right here.

In the clips below, a Microsoft staffer shows us the ins and outs of Windows Phone 7 Mango (running on an Asus test unit which isn’t coming to market, alas), including the much vaunted third party app multitasking, which works in a similar way to multitasking on iPhone, by only permitting a few key background processes, such as music streaming. You simply hold down the back key and up the open apps pop, with screenshots of the state of each.

Perhaps of more interest though is the Groups function, which lets you plonk a few mates into one tile, see what they’re saying and contact them all in one swoop. We quite like this as a way of separating your close friends from your acquaintances on Facebook, and letting everyone on your team know what time the game is on Sunday.

Finally, we’re particularly taken with the way Windows Phone 7 Mango threads chats across Facebook, texts and Windows Live Messenger. It’s an idea Palm first introduced with webOS, better executed – we just wish other IM clients could take advantage of it too. Perhaps in time.

Windows Phone 7 Mango will be a free update, due in the Autumn. Too little too late? Let us know in the comments.

Report: Foxconn explosion can’t stop the Apple iPad 2

Posted: 25 May 2011 07:00 AM PDT

Industry insider elite DigiTimes has just published a report which suggests the recent explosion at Foxconn Electronics' plant in Chengdu, China will not be enough for the competition to gain ground on the iPad 2. Instead, Apple has a chance to make up for the losses by ramping up production 50 percent in the second half of 2011. Additionally, the Foxconn Chengdu plant only shipped 1.6 million iPad 2s through April, less than 30 percent of Apple's worldwide shipments.

Despite Apple's reported move to ramp production at the Foxconn plant, capacitive touch panels like those used in the iPad 2, remain in short supply. According to DigiTimes, the biggest threat to Apple's supply chain is Acer since most other competitors have moved to thin-film-type capacitive touch panels.

"Even if Apple’s competitors drop their tablet PC prices to gain advantages from Apple suffering from short supply of iPad 2, consumers, who intend to purchase an iPad 2, are mostly willing to wait."

The report concludes the labor shortages at the Chengdu plant are now Apple's biggest concern. Whether or not Foxconn can ramp up production to meet fourth quarter demand will determine if Apple can beat forecasts. With an onslaught of Android tablets headed our way this year the question remains — can Apple stay atop the tablet wars in 2011?

via DigiTimes

LG Revolution spreads its wings May 26 on Verizon Wireless

Posted: 25 May 2011 06:30 AM PDT

Joining the HTC Thunderbolt and Droid Charge as the third 4G LTE Android smartphone to grace the Verizon’s line up will be the LG Revolution, tomorrow May 26. Priced at $249 (£154) on 2-year contract, the Revolution runs Android 2.2 Froyo and features a Super AMOLED Plus display like our current favorite, the Samsung Galaxy S 2.

We first met the LG Revolution way back in January at CES in Las Vegas. At the time, the idea of a 4G LTE smartphone melted our tech-loving hearts with its 1 GHz Cortex-A8 processor, 5-megapixel camera (1.3-megapixel front-facing camera), and 4.3-inch WVGA display. The unfortunate twist is that now, four months later, the Revolution still ships with Android 2.2 Froyo. With our trusty Nexus S receiving Android 2.3.4 this month, we can't help but feel jealous.

Other highlights of the LG Revolution include HDMI output and WiFi mobile hotspot. Keep a lookout for the smartphone both in stores and online starting tomorrow.

May 26 | Verizon Wireless | $249 (£154)

Best Android apps of the week

Posted: 25 May 2011 06:10 AM PDT

Seeing as you’re sat reading about the best Android apps of the week, it’s safe to say the Rapture hasn’t taken place and the world is still in one piece. We’re eternally grateful of this fact, because had the End of Times taken place place last week as was predicted by a bunch of crackpots in the US, we wouldn’t have been able to tell you about the awesome Android-based downloads that touched down over the past seven days. We’ve got some amazing games, cool apps and even a Windows Phone-inspired music player that may just tickle your fancy if you’re a fan of Microsoft’s minimalistic Metro UI.

As ever, those handy QR codes are on hand to help you get these downloads on your phone as effortlessly as possible. Just make sure you’re installed Barcode Scanner and you can use it in conjunction with your handset’s camera to zap those codes and get those apps. Alternatively, the title of each app contains a direct link to the respective program.

Robotek

Free

Mobile studio Hexage has been responsible for some truly amazing Android titles – including Buka, Everlands and EVAC – and the company’s latest release is the ideal way to start our weekly round of the best Android apps. A turn-based combat strategy game with RPG overtones, it sees you going head-to-head with various cyborgs in an effort to free your robot-ruled world from technological tyranny. You can summon robotic warriors and use special ‘hacks’ to convert the enemy’s troops or create shields. It’s also possible to inflict massive damage with special attacks. All of these options are instigated by a slot machine-style jackpot game, where you spin the wheels in an attempt to match all three. It’s gloriously original stuff, and boasts far more depth than we could possibly convey here. To round it all off, it’s free to play – although you’ll need to reach for your wallet to download additional content.

TuneWiki

Free

The concept of “Social Music Discovery” is big business these days, with many record companies seeing it as a more viable and effective way of enticing you to purchase content than merely hearing it on the radio or TV. TuneWiki is all about sharing your musical tastes and putting you in touch with audio that you may not have heard of previously, and allows you to stream music and video through your phone, as well as connect with friends to sample what is currently rocking their headphones. Sharing and interacting with others users is a massive part of the appeal, and it’s even possible to find out what songs are popular in your region using the innovative ‘Song Map’ feature. To top it all off, it even features real-time lyrics, so you can be sure you’re getting the words right when you blast out Lady Gaga’s latest magnum opus in the shower.

SPB Wallet 2.0

Approx £2.15

In the light of Sony’s recent problems with PSN, the need to keep your passwords strong and secure is greater than ever. The problem is that with passwords becoming longer and more complex, it’s hard to remember them all – especially if you have a different one for each and every service you use. SPB Wallet allows you to lock all of your codes away in one safe location, and you can also use it to store other sensitive information, such as credit card numbers. In an especially nice touch, SPB Wallet allows you to create a ‘virtual wallet’ which mimics the appearance of your real world equivalent – right down to the design of the cards included. Fully secured with AES 256-bit encryption and complete with a password generator that makes sure you have the best possible protection, SPB Wallet could mark the end of all your online security woes.

FedeMusic

Free

Federico Carnales – a talented fellow we know well from his work on the excellent LauncherPro – has been busy with a side project that might interest those of you that like the look of Windows Phone 7′s Metro UI. FedeMusic is basically an Android-based replication of Windows Phone’s Zune music player, right down to the silky-smooth animation and transition effects. You can even search your music using the Zune Player’s cool grid-based tool. At the moment it’s only available in .APK form, so you’ll need to download it from Carnales’ site and side-load it using a file manager like Linda. We’re sure more features will be added in the future, but at the moment it should sate your desire to rush out and replace your Desire HD with a HD7, and it’s actually a lot nippier than the default Android music player to boot.

Zenonia 2 (Updated for Xperia Play)

Approx 60p (Gamevil $1 sale)

Gamevil’s classic action RPG series has already conquered the iPhone, and this second title in the series is now available on Android. If you’ve never heard the name before (and you really should have – the original is also available on the Android Market) then think The Legend of Zelda, only cuter, deeper and more rewarding. You select one of four dumpy little warriors and set off into a fantasy world packed with monsters to fight, items to collect, dungeons to crawl and peripheral characters to chat with. The game has recently been updated to support the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play‘s physical controls, and this only serves to make an already essential download even more desirable.

Tesco Extra, Romford helps navigate your shopping list with new Android ‘Sat-nav’ app

Posted: 25 May 2011 06:00 AM PDT

Wouldn't you like to know exactly where every item in your shopping list is located before stepping inside a store? A prototype system installed at Tesco Extra, Romford in north-east London is looking to do just that and they need your help. If you have an Android 2.2+ smartphone and live or work near Tesco Extra, Romford, this app is for you.

Let us caution the 'Sat-nav' beta app for Tesco Extra, Romford, is very much a prototype in the R&D phase. In fact, the app is not even in the Android Market. To land a download link to the free app you'll need to shoot an email over to R&D project manager Ben Martin with the subject 'SATNAV APP' and include your Android smartphone's make/model and OS version. Within a few days he'll respond with instructions to get you up and running.

So how does it all work? Once the app is installed, simply open the app upon entering Tesco Extra, Romford and you'll be presented with a comprehensive store map. Press a button and the app will find the shortest distance between the products you want and create a route for you (within 3 meters). As you walk around the store a blue dot will follow your location. Finally, the app works either by creating a shopping list beforehand or by selecting products as you go; making for the perfect shopping companion.

Out Now | Tesco | Free

Vodafone emporia RL1: tackles phone calls while delivering over eight days of standby time

Posted: 25 May 2011 05:35 AM PDT

In a world riddled with dual-core wonder phones touting qHD displays and megapixels upon megapixels of imaging wits, sometimes you just need a dependable feature phone. As the self described 'either day wonder', the emporia RL1 from Vodafone has the battery life to get you through the day whether you're a pay monthly or commitment-phobe using pay as you go.

Bells and whistles are not the Vodafone emporia RL1's forte. Instead, the focus has been placed on what might best be described as our smartphone's favorite past time — phone calls. Exclusively from Vodafone, the emporia RL1 has a clear bright display with adjustable text and large, clearly labeled buttons to avoid confusion.

You won't find a 12-megapixel sensor on the back, in fact there isn't a camera at all. Instead, the emporia RL1 sticks to the essentials: alarm clock, calculator, birthday reminder tool, vibrate, more than eight days of standby and a talk time of up to 180 minutes. With a price that could fit nearly any budget, the emporia RL1 looks to be a trusty feature phone.

Out Now | Vodafone | £60

Nokia Oro 18-carat gold smartphone can’t polish Symbian turd

Posted: 25 May 2011 04:35 AM PDT

The Nokia Oro 18-carat gold plated phone is a bit of a blast from the past, reminding us that to some people, smartphone software isn’t everything: it’s adorned with a sapphire crystal and leather from some of Scotland’s finest cows. The thing is, no amount of gold plating is going to make up for Symbian.

The Nokia Oro is to all intents and purposes a spruced up Nokia C7, so you get a 3.5-inch AMOLED screen and eight megapixel camera to go with the swanky finish. It also comes tragically loaded with Symbian, an operating system that we’ve been berating for years for its unintuitive UI. Yes, it’s the latest version, Anna, but having played with phones loaded with the OS, we’re not confident that it’s a panacea rather than a slight improvement.

Software preferences aside, the Nokia Oro does highlight something important: that the most coveted gadgets aren’t always the most expensive. Yes, the iPhone 4 is a pricey bit of kit, but it doesn’t cost €800 (£700) like this does, and the millions of people who’ve snapped one up on contract are testament to its affordability. As Nokia switches to Windows Phone in a bid to stop its share of the smartphone market from falling further, it would do well to remember that.

The Nokia Oro is out in “selected” countries in Europe, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Chine from Q3 this year.