Sorry, couldn’t resist yesterday’s clip, but here you go, a genuine unboxing of the Samsung i900 Omnia, a device that runs Windows Mobile and is a similar form factor to… the Apple iPhone 3G!

Share this item!

So the first snap of the Google Android-powered HTC Dream has gone public, and it has to be said that it is a strange looking beast.

What appears to be a standard HTC display slides right up to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard in an age when devices are replacing physical keyboards with the touch-screen variety.

With the aim of the OS to drill into the Windows Mobile market, with the presence of the Touch Diamond and the Omnia in the market place both running Windows Mobile 6.1 and giving the brand a shot in the arm, The Gadget Monkey can only see Android stepping into line alongside all of the other mobile operating systems and waiting its term.

By defining Android as a WinMo competitor, Google are setting their sights a long way below the real target – the smooth, stylish but ultimately lacking in substance Apple iPhone 3G. Android is therefore unlikely to succeed.

Share this item!

Phones like this just don’t come along everyday… Windows Mobile, touch-screen swishy smooth stylish loveliness!

Share this item!

Here’s a quick video on the Blackberry Curve that shows how utilising Wi-Fi enables viewing of live TV and Youtube…

Share this item!

Superb news for haters of iTunes, and all that the Apple profit machine represents - Nokia are launching a new free music download service that is set to challenge the Apple behemoth and let downloaders keep the music regardless of their subscription.

Comes with Music will first appear on the Nokia XpressMusic 5310 handset and will be exclusive to Carphone Warehouse - who also sell the Apple iPhone. Comes with Music will be launched in the UK.

The service gives users a years worth of unlimited access to the whole Nokia Music Store catalogue - and after that time is up, all downloaded tracks remain with the user. That’s right - users can keep the songs they’ve downloaded! Nokia intend to generate revenue via the period beyond the 12 months -at which point further songs will be available at what Nokia describes as “a la carte” prices.

Should phone, music or license go missing, the Nokia Music Store will hold a personal “Music Vault” for each user, where all tracks previously downloaded can be regained.

Remember - Apple pay songwriters and artists pennies on iTunes, and the failing music industry virtually shakes their hands off. While not bringing the control of music back to the creators, Nokia’s entry into this market at least generates competition to iTunes.

Share this item!

The Apple Apps and the mooted Android Apps stores have featured heavily on The Gadget Monkey over the last few days, so what better way to round things up than with strong rumours of a Windows Mobile application store.

This cute device will run the upcoming Windows Mobile 7, a long rumoured adddition to the Microsoft family which will hopefully feature seamless communication and synchronization with its big brother, the successor to Vista: Windows 7.

The app store is apparently called Skymarket, and has been revealed by way of a job advert for a Senior Product Manager:

Job Title: Senior Product Manager - Skymarket
This is a unique opportunity and time of rapid change in the mobile industry for a Senior Product Manager in the Mobile Communications Services team to drive the launch of a v1 marketplace service for Windows Mobile.

Key Responsibilities include the following: (more…)

Share this item!

Damn this is a hot film… the HTC Diamond in action, smooth, TouchFlo sexiness…

Share this item!

Let’s take a look at the phenomenal iPhone application I Am Rich, which caused several Apple iPhone users with more money than sense to part with a cool $1000 for an image of a glowing red diamond…

Wish I had thought of that…

Share this item!

The Google Android wheel is rolling, with an example of the device leaked online - you can catch it below - and it seems as though its coming with a slideaway keyboard and all of the usual HTC gubbins.

But why a keyboard?  Why not a touchscreeen device?  There’s a certain, growing amount of consternation among the Apple iPhone loyalists that other companies are nicking ideas off Apple rather than forging their own path.  One of these companies is Google - but if they’re trying to steal a march on Apple or “buy in” to the amazing new trend for mobile UIs, why does the HTC Dream have a slideaway keyboard?

As we’ve already speculated, the only device that comes close to the iPhone 3G in capability and flexibility is the Samsung Omnia.

What will Google Android bring to the party?

Share this item!

As if falling out with the Tocco wasn’t bad enough, it turns out that the Samsung Omnia runs Windows Mobile.

That’s right, a touchscreen babe of a mobile phone - probably the only device on the planet at the moment that could compete with the iPhone.

A significant 3.2 inch TFT touchscreen display with beautiful colour reproduction entices the user to investigate the rather sexy interpretation of Windows Mobile 6.1, and depending on your network and tariff this affords various combinations of smooth, zooming web browsing (which is where the TouchWiz interface comes into its own) pop or push email, standard calls and text messages plus the vast repository of Windows Mobile applications that make the platform the most flexible and adaptable of all mobile OS.  There’s also a wealth of Java apps that are compatible.

Storage is afforded both in the shape the Micro SD slot which will accept up to 8GB as well as in the speciication of the model you buy.  There’s a Samsung Omnia 16GB as well as a Samsung Omnia 8GB, with the inbuilt memory which providing a massive amount of space for storing videos, photos and music.  Meanwhile a 5 megapixel camera equipped with face and smile detection and slick image editing software accompanies the usual Mobile Office software.

Unlike the trendy F480, Samsung have hit gold with the Omnia.  It feels like it can challenge the iPhone in functionality and style and features a delightful brushed metal finish.

With the right support from the mobile phone networks and suppliers, the Omnia can pose a serious threat to the buggy iPhone.  The earlier Samsung Tocco has been given a lot of backing by Samsung’s promo department, and with the capabilities of the Samsung Omnia obvious for all to see, strongly needs the same degree of support to put the ultra-flexible Windows Mobile on to an even footing with the elitist iPhone.

Share this item!