I am very excited to welcome LastPass and their LastPass Premium product to our 'Plus Partners' program!

LastPass is an excellent, multi-platform online password management tool, complete with excellent support for mobile browsing! Featuring automatic form filling, one click login, sychronisation across multiple browsers, secure notes, sharing, backup / restore, import / export, password generation and analysis, phishing protection and even an on screen keyboard to protect against keyloggers in vulnerable environments, LastPass Premium is already a must-have on the desktop (Windows, Mac AND Linux), but REALLY useful when you take into account the fact that Windows Mobile, Android, iPhone, Blackberry and S60 are supported!

Under the terms of our Plus Partnership, MoDaCo Plus members receive a 1 year Premium upgrade to their lastpass account free of charge!

You can read more about LastPass and LastPass Premium at the LastPass website, MoDaCo Plus members, check out your dedicated area for YET ANOTHER great benefit!

Enjoy!

P

Click Here if you would like to learn more about joining MoDaCo Plus!

Would your company like to become a 'Plus Partner'? Click Here to contact us!

Chris and I are proud to present the MoDaCo Mobile Week Episode 39 - The 'AFTER Apple released the tablet' edition!

Sharing our views, activities and the news in this weeks mobile world.

In this weeks 1 hour edition, recently rebranded as the MoDaCo Mobile Week, we're talking about:

• Our superetrader.co.uk sponsored device - the Motorola Milestone
• The Apple iPad - with guest presenter Matt from tracyandmatt.co.uk
• Tweetcaster

...as well as our usual number of tangents!

To coincide with the Motorola Milestone as the MoDaCo Mobile Week featured device, Superetrader are offering the Milestone with a dock, carry case and pack of 6 screen protectors included at the standard £399.99 price! This deal is for podcast listeners only, visit the offer page for more details!

As with all our shows, this episode is available in standard MP3 format or as an enhanced M4A format with chapters, images and links for use on an iPod or in iTunes - we are currently having issues with the enhanced version upload, this will follow soon. You can get the podcast in the following ways:

• Direct download from the downloads section of the site
• Via iTunes (search for MoDaCo!)
• Via RSS with enclosures - simply add http://feeds.feedburner.com/MoDaCoPodcast (regular) or http://feeds.feedburner.com/MoDaCoPodcastEnhanced (enhanced) to the reader of your choice

Your feedback is really valuable and will tell us whether it is worth our while to continue running the podcasts! Do you listen? What do you like? What do you not like? Please leave your feedback in the comments below, or on the phone in number answerphone (which you can also use for questions for the podcast), or rate us on iTunes!

The phone in number is:

UK: 01379 888 101 NON UK: +44 1379 888 101

You can also leave a voicemail via Skype by calling:

skype user "modaco"

Enjoy!

You can listen to this weeks show here:



Link for enclosure purposes: http://angel.modaco.com/podcast/mmw-thirtynine.mp3

Chris and I are proud to present the MoDaCo Mobile Week Episode Thirty Eight - The 'before Apple released the tablet' edition!

Sharing our views, activities and the news in this weeks Mobile world.

In this weeks edition, recently rebranded as the MoDaCo Mobile Week, we're talking about:

• Our eXpansys Sponsored Device - The Acer M900
• Win a HTC HD2 or a Google Nexus One
• Google Nexus One and Acer Liquid
• Dell Mini 5
• Nokia Ovi Maps with guest Rafe Blandford from AllAboutSymbian
• Skyfire 1.5

...as well as our usual number of tangents!

As with all our shows, this episode is available in standard MP3 format or as an enhanced M4A format with chapters, images and links for use on an iPod or in iTunes. You can get the podcast in the following ways:

• Direct download from the downloads section of the site
• Via iTunes (search for MoDaCo!)
• Via RSS with enclosures - simply add http://feeds.feedburner.com/MoDaCoPodcast (regular) or http://feeds.feedburner.com/MoDaCoPodcastEnhanced (enhanced) to the reader of your choice

Your feedback is really valuable and will tell us whether it is worth our while to continue running the podcasts! Do you listen? What do you like? What do you not like? Please leave your feedback in the comments below, or on the phone in number answerphone (which you can also use for questions for the podcast), or rate us on iTunes!

The Phone in number is:

+44 1379 888 101

You can also leave a voicemail via Skype by calling:

skype user "modaco"

or alternatively reply on this topic.

Enjoy!

You can listen to this weeks show here:



Link for enclosure purposes: http://angel.modaco.com/podcast/mmw-thirtyeight.mp3

The HTC bravo and the Sony Ericsson X10 are to launch in the UK during March on T-Mobile.

Both handsets are being touted as heading for a March release on T-Mobile according to several sites.

The Bravo is basically a Nexus one with an optical joystick instead of the trackball and has physical buttons rather than the Nexus ones soft keys. It will also pack the HTC Sense UI that we all know (and love), it should also come with Android 2.1.

Best of all, it is rumoured to be free on a £35 a month contract.


The Sony Ericsson X10 is also rumoured to be officially available during March, again on T-Mobile ( hopefully on a similar contract for free)
This powerhouse of a phone could well become the highest specified Android phone available, running the same 1gh Snapdragon Cpu but with an 8mp camera and 4" screen.







( With thanks to Android release and htcsource )

Looking to buy yourself a new HTC device?

A bargain basement HTC Tattoo or Touch2? A high spec HD2? A versatile Pro2?

If so, you could do a lot worse than buy your device from Play.com, who are currently offering £30 off any HTC device by way of a coupon code at checkout.

I've just added a Tattoo to my basket, originally priced at £219.99 inc, and after using the coupon code 'HTC30', the price comes down to £189.99. Bargainous!

Head on over to Play.com to grab yourself a deeeeaaaallll... and let us know what you bought!

P

Vodafone, T-Mobile and 3 are looking set to carry the Nexus one in the UK

The latest gossip coming out is the three networks will be carrying the Nexus One, this is good news for the profile of Android, Google and the Nexus one as it is sure to get some heavy advertising and promotions. It's also good news for you the customer as there is a good chance of picking one up for next to nothing on a contract.

• Vodafone have confirmed they will be carrying the phone.
• '3' and T-Mobile are " In talks with Google" currently but hope to make it official soon.
• O2 say they have no plans to carry the phone.
• Orange has not yet commented.

( Thanks to : Nexusonenews )

So we rooted the Nexus One. Before it was out. Without a device. Neat, but many knowledgeable commentators in the Android community noted that the root was only possible due to the engineering bootloader shipped on the devices distributed by Google, and that retail devices would likely have locked bootloaders. We told them not to worry... and here's why.

Retail devices DO have locked bootloaders.

But you can unlock them.

You see, in the bootloader of the Nexus One there is a secret command. A command that, when issued via fastboot, gives you the warning you see here, after which you can merrily unlock your bootloader and flash anything you want onto your device (including our superboot rooting image).

Nice eh?

It's easy too! Google WANTS you to be able to do whatever you please on your Nexus One, but they also want you to be aware of the consequences.

To unlock your Nexus One's bootloader simply...

- Download and extract fastboot from here (Windows, Linux and Mac included)
- Run a command prompt / terminal at the directory you just extracted
- Type 'fastboot-windows oem unlock' or './fastboot-mac oem unlock' or './fastboot-linux oem unlock' (as appropriate)
- Proceed on your merry bootloader unlocked way

Enjoy! Big nod to packetlss for the heads up!

P

Google are set to officially launch the Nexus one on the 5th of January.

Google have sent out invites to select people to attend an 'Android event' at Mountain view on the 5th of January. This is hotly rumoured to be the official launch of the Nexus one, aka the 'Google Phone'.

I will update this post with news as and when it is released on the 5th, for now the Gossip and rumours are suggesting:

• The phone is made by HTC, codenamed the HTC Passion, it does look rather similar to the HTC 'Bravo', another phone set for a 2010 release
• It will cost $530 unlocked and $180 on a T-mobile USA contract
• 1GHz SnapDragon CPU
• 512MB of RAM and ROM
• 3.7 inch AMOLED screen
• 5MP camera with LED flash
• Google will sell it direct via the Web

Please be kind, this is my first post as a member of the Modaco news team!

Stuart.

I've just got my Android based Acer Liquid... and i've unboxed it for your viewing pleasure!

The Snapdragon equipped Liquid is Acer's first Android device and has great specs at a bargain price (the device is £328.90 at the time of writing at superetrader)!

Specs include...

• Android 1.6 (Donut)
• Qualcomm 8250/SnapDragon 768MHz
• 2G: 850/900/1800/1900 (Quad-Band)
• 3G: 900/1900/2100 (Tri-Band)
• HSDPA (7.2 Mbps)
• HSUPA (2 Mbps)
• 3.5" WVGA 480x800 capacitive display
• 5 mega-pixels (auto-focus) camera
• VGA video recording
• 512MB ROM
• 256MB RAM
• miniUSB
• 3.5mm Audio Connector
• Bluetooth (2.0)
• Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11g)
• AGPS
• 115x 62.5 x 12.5mm
• 135g
• 1350 mAh battery

The unboxing is also available in HD at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVbWKCF50ho

Got questions? Ask away!

P

Offer extended to include 9th December!

Friends of MoDaCo Devicewire have been in touch to let me know that, for today only, the HTC Hero gift set is reduced to £26.99 (normally the cost of the Hero stand on it's own)!

Free Royal Mail delivery is included too!

Use the coupon code 'HEROGIFT' at the product page to bag the package at the bargain price.

P

Edit: Further price drop until 18:00 tonight in the T-Mobile PAYG sale!

You could be forgiven for not knowing much about the Pulse, particularly if you are still a hardcore WM fan that hasn't taken a lot of notice of what's going on in the Android world. But it's time to sit up and take notice.

T-Mobile have dropped the price of the Pulse to £137.01 on Pre-Pay!

I published an extensive review of the Pulse, a rebranded Huawei U8220, in this post on Engadget, but a quick overview of the specs for you...

• Android 1.5 'cupcake'
• 528MHz Qualcomm Processor
• Quad Band EDGE, Dual Band HSDPA
• 3.5" HVGA Capacitive Screen
• 3.1 Megapixel Camera
• WiFi
• GPS
• Bluetooth
• Tilt Sensor
• Digital Compass
• microSD Expansion
• microUSB
• 1500mAh Battery
• 62.5 x 116 x 13.6 millimetres
• 135g

If you think that sounds like a pretty decent spec then you're absolutely right - it's a very nice device and at a paltry £137.01 (plus a tenner topup voucher and 20 quid for unlock if required) it's simply stunning. What's more, the Pulse is easily rooted, easily customised, has custom ROM options available in our Pulse forum and is a tweaker's dream. All of the things we love about Windows Mobile...?

Should WinMo be afraid from such bargain offerings? Discuss! You can read more details on the Pulse at the Product Page.

P

PS I've just realised that if you click through using Quidco to buy, you can get £15 cashback too!

The Motorola Milestone, the GSM version of the Motorola Droid, is set to hit the UK on the 7th December.

Now available to pre-order at UK site 'SuperETrader', the device will retail at a competitive £439.99.

The Android 2.0 / Eclair equipped phone has been very well received in the states and having used one while I was over there, I can say, it's a beauty (and it WILL be my next device of choice! )

P

This is the Android based Sony Ericsson Xperia X10. Looks nice doesn't it?

The Xperia X10 is Sony Ericsson first foray into the Android space, and builds on Android 1.6 (Donut) with a great looking context sensitive custom user experience layer. The phone will be available in 1H 2010 (we'd be willing to be just after Mobile World Congress in mid february) in Sensuous Black and Luster White, with the following specifications:

• Google™ Android Donut, version 1.6 Donut (future upgradeable to 2.0)
• 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon™ QSD8250
• GSM GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900, UMTS HSPA 900/1700/2100 and UMTS HSPA 800/850/1900/2100
• 8.1 megapixel camera with auto focus, face recognition, geotagging, image and video stabiliser, photo and video light, smile detection and touch focus
• A-GPS
• Bluetooth
• WiFi
• 3.5 mm audio jack
• 4" 480 x 854 262,144 colour TFT touchscreen
• Up to 1 GB phone memory
• microSD expansion
• 119 x 63 x 13 mm
• 135 grams

I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the press event yesterday and get a (very) brief hands on with the device. So what's it like? The caveat is that it is nowhere near production ready, but the early signs look promising! The Sony Ericsson apps were very much 'early versions' (and therefore not massively performant), but the device as a whole flew along and the rendering in the browser and maps applications was stunningly fast thanks to the 1GHz Snapdragon processor. The high resolution screen looked great and the hardware looked nicely designed (of course, there's only so much you can do with a 'slab')...

The Xperia X10 represents a new direction for Sony Ericsson. The X10 is new hardware product engineered by Sony Ericsson in house (unlike previous Xperia handsets) but the annoucement yesterday was also very much about the new user experience platform. Sony Ericsson is moving away from Cybershot, Walkman etc. branding to a device that does everything with an integrated experience. This is part of a drive to become known as 'The communication entertainment brand'. Entertainment and communication blended together, driving social networking and sharing via those mediums. Sony Ericsson feel they are well positioned to bring communication and entertainment together.

The new user experience platform showcased on the X10 will appear on a range of devices in 2010, more of which will be showcased at Mobile World Congress in February.

The X10 featuers a number of signature applciations, the first of which is 'Timescape' where all of your content is brought together into one place - a view for everything that has happened in the phone. From this view, the user can easily jump to related pieces of communication. This central 'spline of events' is updated as new things arrive with new tiles showing photos, tweets, messages and Facebook updates. The spline can also be sorted by content type rather than time. Much like HTC's people centric communication on Windows Mobile, information relationships can be based on an individual. You can easily view everything from that person - photos, interactions etc. by pressing the 'infinite button' which tells the device to intelligently gather everything from that person. The timescape application is launched from a widget on the homescreen, defaulting to the aggregated view of all of your content. Swiping left and right switches between views of different content types (Facebook, Twitter, music, messages etc.), the center button returns to main view and a long press on a title previews the content. When you are in the infinite content view, you can directly reply / respond without switching mode. Timescape brings all your communication together in one place. Motoblur anyone?

Another signature app is 'Mediascape'. The functionality of Mediascape is much like that of Timescape, except this time it is aggregating media - both media on your device and media from online services (such as Sony Ericsson's own PlayNow and YouTube). Sony Ericsson is working with operators and carriers to integrate their service portfolios too. Both local and online content are presented in exactly the same way. This content could be music, photos, videos. The infinite button is here too - if you are listening to an artist, press the infinite button to find content related to that artist, both on your phone and online. Mediascape was demonstrated with browsing in traditional list views - artists, songs, albums. Tapping the artist name switches to a detail view (songs or albums) and the infinite view even showesconcerts, interviews etc. too! Videos work exactly the same way. The photo view allows the user to quickly scroll through photos in different ways - recently taken phones, recently viewed phones, photos arranged in 'albums'. As you would expect, there is a thumbnail view or a fullscreen view, with the ability once again swipe left / right to view in different ways. The photo application features Face Recognition for taking pictures but also for auto tagging, with the ability to recognise up to 5 faces in 1 photo. Once a person is tagged in a photo, related stuff is sucked in - for example, you could click on face to call person, see their messages etc. etc.

The X10 user experience will integrate more services going forward - Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are included already but this will grow. Sony Ericsson will also work with 3rd party developers, allowing them to integrate their platforms. The UX platform will evolve and grow over time and will appear in a number of products. We are really going to see Sony Ericsson developing the software / UX as a product in it's own right.

Despite the X10 being Android based, Sony Ericsson plan the user experience to be platform agnostic. It could feature on Symbian, Android… maybe Windows Mobile, but the extent of use of other OS' is yet to to be decided. There is very much a move to focus on open Operating Systems and less on featurephones, in line with movement of market.

Although the X10 has a heavily modified user interface, it can run all Android apps - the Marketplace is preinstalled on the device, nothing is locked out,

Finally, expect to see devices featuring hardware kyeboards in this space from Sony Ericsson in the future.

Things are definitely hotting up in the Android space, right? Where does this leave Sony Ericsson's Windows Mobile commitment...?

News readers, click through after the jump for more images and official videos!

P

CLICK HERE to view the full news item.

My T-Mobile Pulse review is now online at Engadget Mobile!

Head on over for my thoughts on the device (hint: bargain of the century!) and feel free to post any questions about the device either here or in the Engadget comments.

I've also included my hands on video below.

If you are interested in buying the Pulse on prepay, clicking through this link will earn MoDaCo a fiver at no cost to yourself.

Finally, if you need the in-box DVD for the Pulse, i've mirrored it here!

P


CLICK HERE to view the full news item.