Lucky Phone

AQUA TEK S is one rugged iPhone 4/4S case

star — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:30:30 +0000

Snow Lizard Products has recently announced the introduction of a new, multi-purpose iPhone case that should suit folks who lead rugged lifestyles. Called the AQUA TEK S, this iPhone 4/4S case aims to keep the smartphone safe from drops, falls, and accidental spills. When you feel like it, the case will even let you bring the iPhone underwater with you for up to 20 feet. If you’re worried about the phone running out of juice during a of outdoor activities, the case has a built-in solar battery and solar charger to keep your mind at ease.

In addition to the above, it turns your iPhone into a retro-looking Game Boy/Pokedex device (at least to me it does). Your iPhone remains fully operational while inside the case, and you can even use it to take photographs. However, if you want to get your hands on one of these cases, you’ll need to pre-order it: Snow Lizard Products is crowdsourcing the funds required through Kickstarter in order to manufacture the case. It will be available in 10 different colors, with prices starting at $100. Find out more at the Kickstarter page.

Motorola Atrix receives new update

star — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:29:11 +0000

Motorola Atrix owners should keep a look out for an update notification on their phones starting today. While it’s not Ice Cream Sandwich, the update is said to bring some noticeable improvements to the phone. The update brings the Atrix build number up to 4.5.141 and implements the latest Google Android security fixes, improvements to memory function as it relates to media applications and ability to prevent need for rebooting when phone is impacted by heavy loading or high temperatures (improved stability).

It also lets you launch voice commands from a Bluetooth headset when the phone is asleep, improvements to WiFi settings and easier setup for Mobile Hotspot, improvements to text messaging, and all phone book contacts are kept after the upgrade. If you intend to install the update today, as usual – remember to backup all your important data. Bear in mind that the update is also said to break root access. Hit Settings > About Phone > System Updates to pull the update manually.

Sony Mobile Communications is the new Sony Ericsson

star — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:25:35 +0000

So, the day has finally dawned, where there is no more need to call a particular smartphone as a Sony Ericsson handset. No sir, it will just be plain Sony from now on, as it was more than a decade ago, back in the day when the jogdial on the top right hand corner of the Sony handset allowed you to scroll through the menu in an efficient manner. Now that the Sony Ericsson moniker is done and over with, what are the options out there? Sony Mobile Communications would step into Sony Ericsson’s shoes, marking the completion of the transaction that was jointly announced by Sony and Ericsson back on October 27 last year. The renaming exercise is said to “further integrate the mobile phone business as a vital element of its electronics business, with the aim of accelerating convergence between Sony’s lineup of network enabled consumer electronics products, including smart phones, tablets, TVs and PCs.” Godspeed, Sony. Do you think Sony has a bright future ahead with their range of Xperia smartphones?

HTC Ville to be called HTC One S?

star — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 13:23:08 +0000

It looks like HTC is going with a new naming format for some of its upcoming phones. Earlier we reported that the quad-core HTC Endeavor would be renamed as the HTC One X when it goes on sale, and now there are reports online about another HTC phone given a similar name. The phone that has leaked in the past as the HTC Ville is said to be launched as the HTC One S at MWC 2012 this year.

Other than the name change, the phone will remain the same: a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, a 4.3? qHD display, 8-megapixel camera, integrated Beats Audio, Android Ice Cream Sandwich and HTC Sense 4.0. As to whether or not these names are going to be official, we’ll just have to wait and see.

What do you think of the names One X and One S? I’m more of a fan of HTC’s previous naming scheme where it came up with different names instead of sticking with one and changing the alphabet behind it. But as long as they keep pumping out quality phones, the names don’t really matter that much.

HTC delivers first 4G LTE Android smartphone in Europe

star — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 12:53:55 +0000

HTC is first off the blocks in Europe with the HTC Velocity, touted to be the first 4G LTE Android-powered smartphone to appear on the shores of our neighbors across the pond. Vodafone Germany has plans to roll out the HTC Velocity sometime in the near future, and just in case you were wondering why the HTC Velocity looked so similar, as though you have seen it somewhere before, that is because this is at variant of the HTC Vivid LTE handset that arrived in the US last year over AT&T.

Similar to the HTC Vivid in terms of hardware specifications, your eyes will definitely welcome the generous 4.5? display that sports 540 x 960 resolution, running on a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, carrying an 8-megapixel camera at the back that does 1080p video capture as well when the situation calls for it, and a front-facing 1.3-megapixel shooter which caters for all your video chat needs (as well as doubling up as an emergency mirror). Expect the HTC Velocity to arrive in Germany first before making its way to the other major countries in Europe.