Panasonic reveals 4.3-inch OLED smartphone with global ambitions, no name

We knew that Panasonic's mobile division was summoning its strength for a return to the Old World, and finally we have some detail: it's aiming to bring an "ultra-slim D-shaped" Android smartphone with a slim bezel, 4.3-inch qHD OLED screen, NFC and some rugged credentials to Europe in March next year. The manufacturer hopes to use Europe as a stepping stone to the US, China and the rest of Asia, aiming to broaden its range of Android devices and sell at a total of nine million of them outside of Japan by the end of March 2016. Read on for the full PR.
This post is sponsored by:Dr Mobiles Limited
1 Huron Street, Takapuna, North Shore 0622
Tel: (09) 551-5344 and Mob: (021) 264-0000
Web - Map - Email - Posterous - Twitter - Blogger - Flickr
    

New Business card design for Google Android Smartphone repair and unlock (Dr Mobiles Limited) 2011

We have updated the boarder of our business card design (horizontal type) for our Google Android Smartphone repair and unlock. Our designers had used high grade material to print our business cards as image and presentation is everything in business world!

This post is sponsored by:Dr Mobiles Limited
1 Huron Street, Takapuna, North Shore 0622
Tel: (09) 551-5344 and Mob: (021) 264-0000
Web - Map - Email - Posterous - Twitter - Blogger - Flickr
    

2011 Android Phone Update: GrooVe IP Lets You Make Free Calls On Google Voice Over Wi-Fi or 3-4G

GrooVe IP is an Android application that allows you to use Google Voice to make free unlimited calls in the US and Canada or cheaper International calls.

The great thing about the GrooVe IP Android application is that it allows you to make and receive Google Voice calls over Wi-Fi and/or 3G or 4G, without using up your voice minutes.

The application also utilises your current contact list and provides the ability to choose to either use either the separate GrooVe IP dialer or your cellular service standard dialer to make your calls.

The GrooVe IP application has also been awarded, Lifehacker App of Day and is available to download from the Android Market now for $3.99

This post is sponsored by:Dr Mobiles Limited
1 Huron Street, Takapuna, North Shore 0622
Tel: (09) 551-5344 and Mob: (021) 264-0000
Web - Map - Email - Posterous - Twitter - Blogger - Flickr
    

Apple iPhone 4 Secret Mod: Camera Mic App Triggers Your iPhone Camera Shutter Using You Mic (www.drmobiles.co.nz)

When Apple removed the array of applications from the iTunes App Store which remapped the camera shutter button on the iPhone. we were left having to use the Apple screen shutter release. However a new application is now available within the Apple App Store that allows you to cleverly use your microphone on the headphone cord to trigger the iPhones shutter to take photographs.

The Camera Mic App offers the ability to take pictures using the iPhone or iPod Touch 4G’s microphone allowing a user to “feel” and tap it like a physical button. You can also tweak the sensitivity of the tapping from within the app to make sure you dont take unwanted photo’s.

You can also use the mic within the iPhone itself, positioned on the bottom-left side of the home button and of course using sounds or voice commands if required. The new Camera Mic application is available to download from the Apple App Store for $1.

This post is sponsored by:Dr Mobiles Limited
1 Huron Street, Takapuna, North Shore 0622
Tel: (09) 551-5344 and Mob: (021) 264-0000
Web - Map - Email - Posterous - Twitter - Blogger - Flickr
    

Apple’s Smart Bezel Patent Could Add Secondary Display To iPhone And iPad

04 June, 2011, Auckland (www.drmobiles.co.nz) -- There have been some patents previously from Apple about a smart bezel for iOS devices, but a new one has just been revealed, and the details look very interesting.


The latest patent for an Apple Smart Bezel, would see Apple using the bezel as a secondary display, which uses a printed segmented electroluminescent display, and this would be used to show illuminated indicators on the bezel.

The illuminated indicators would then be able to change and display different things, for example you would be able to see gaming controls and productivity controls built into the front side of the bezel.

The patent also points to controls that could also be built in to the back of a device, like the back of the iPhone or iPad, you can find out full details on this new Smart Bezel patent from Apple over at Patetnly Apple.
This post is sponsored by:Dr Mobiles Limited
1 Huron Street, Takapuna, North Shore 0622
Tel: (09) 551-5344 and Mob: (021) 264-0000
Web - Map - Email - Posterous - Twitter - Blogger - Flickr
    

Leaked iPhone 5 Part Shows Larger Display, Thinner Bezel (www.drmobiles.co.nz, Auckland iPhone Repair)

Apple is set to unveil the new iPad 2 later this week, and it is all we have been hearing about for the last few weeks, but what about the iPhone 5? The photo below shows a replacement part which is reported to be for the iPhone 5.


As you can see from the photo below, if this part for the iPhone 5 is genuine it will feature a larger display than the iPhone 4 and also a thinner bezel, this is something we have heard previously.

If this display part for the iPhone 5 is real, then we could see the iPhone 5 launch with a 4 inch display. We have also heard previously that the iPhone 5 will feature an upgraded processor over the current A4 chip found in the iPhone 4.

No doubt once Apple has unveiled the new iPad 2 on Wednesday all the iPhone 5 rumors will start up again, and we will probably see many more things like this until the iPhone 5 is officially unveiled.

This post is sponsored by:Dr Mobiles Limited
1 Huron Street, Takapuna, North Shore 0622
Tel: (09) 551-5344 and Mob: (021) 264-0000
Web - Map - Email - Posterous - Twitter - Blogger - Flickr
    

Apple iPhone News Update: iPhone Desktop Handset Turns Your Smartphone Into An Office Phone (www.drmobiles.co.nz)

We have featured quite a few different iPhone accessories here at Dr Mobiles, Takapuna, Auckland; the latest one will turn your iPhone into an office phone, the iPhone Desktop Handset.

As you can see from the photo below the iPhone Desktop Handset will make your shiny new smartphone look like a retro office phone, and the handset plugs directly into the headphone jack on your iPhone.

You can also charge your iPhone at the same time, although this doesn’t seem to be built in so you will have to use your iPhone sync cable.

If you want one, the iPhone Desktop handset is available for US$59.99 from here.

This post is sponsored by:Dr Mobiles Limited
1 Huron Street, Takapuna, North Shore 0622
Tel: (09) 551-5344 and Mob: (021) 264-0000
Web - Map - Email - Posterous - Twitter - Blogger - Flickr
    

Apple iPhone 2011 News Update: Will The iPhone 5 Look Like This? (iPhone unlock by www.drmobiles.co.nz)

We have already seen some photos of what is reported to be the new display for the iPhone 5, which shows a much thinner bezel and a larger display, and now we have another photo of a case mock up for the iPhone 5.


The photo below appeared on a Chinese trading site, and it is reported to be a new case for the iPhone 5, the photo is obviously a mock up, but the design of the iPhone 5 could end up looking like this as it ties in with the previous leaked display we saw.


Some workers at Foxconn, who make the iPhone and iPad for Apple have been charged with leaking details of the iPad 2 to case manufacturers, and we saw quite a few mock ups of the iPad 2, which turned out to be exactly the same as the iPad 2 when it was officially unveiled.

It could be possible that information has again been leaked by Foxconn workers to case manufacturers, and the photo above could end up being the actual design of the new iPhone 5.

This post is sponsored by:Dr Mobiles Limited
1 Huron Street, Takapuna, North Shore 0622
Tel: (09) 551-5344 and Mob: (021) 264-0000
Web - Map - Email - Posterous - Twitter - Blogger - Flickr
    

Google Android Smartphone News: HTC Wildfire S review (www.drmobiles.co.nz) "Android Unlock", Auckland

Mini phones are hot and HTC don’t want you take Sony Ericsson’s word on that. What started as a small niche is now a segment that keeps growing – and one that no manufacturer can afford to ignore. Sony Ericsson have just announced their updated mini lineup while Samsung and LG routinely have more than one thing going on in the midrange.

HTC know they can’t afford to stop right in the middle of what they’ve been doing with the Wildfire, the Aria and the Gratia. Going all the way back to the Tattoo, which first put Android on the radar for budget shoppers.

    
HTC Wildfire S official photos

There’s plenty of choice already for those who like their droid in a small package. The HTC Wildfire S seems to be aware of that and does well to make itself seen. The lively paintjobs and friendly compact size are the right features to show to potential buyers. The Wildfire S has found a way to further reduce size while keeping the same 3.2” screen.

One thing we should keep in mind though. HTC seem to be in power-saving mode currently with all their recent releases but facelifts offering minor improvements over predecessors. That holds true for the Wildfire S too, though this is not to say that it shouldn’t be on your list if you’re looking for the next hot mini. HTC seem to have worked exactly on the things that most needed improvement. Display is key here, HVGA finally bringing it to acceptable levels. CIF video-capture was upped to VGA and the phone runs the latest Android Gingerbread.

These things should give it enough value as an upgrade. The Wildfire S is well-designed and well-built – a colorful little droid to offer good bang for buck. Let’s look at what else the S stands for.

Key features

• Quad-band GSM and dual-band 3G support
• 7.2 Mbps HSDPA, 384 Kbps HSUPA support
• 3.2" 256K-color TFT capacitive touchscreen of HVGA (320 x 480 pixels) resolution
• 600MHz Snapdragon MSM7227 CPU, Adreno 200 GPU; 418MB of user-available RAM
• Android 2.3.3 (Gingerbread) with HTC Sense 2.1 UI
• Wi-Fi 802.11 b, g, n with hotspot functionality
• GPS with A-GPS connectivity; digital compass
• 5 MP autofocus camera, LED flash, geotagging and face-detection
• VGA video @ 24fps
• microUSB port (charging) and stereo Bluetooth v3.0
• microSD slot (up to 32GB, 2GB in box)
• Standard 3.5 mm audio jack
• Accelerometer and proximity sensor
• Gorilla Glass display
• Stereo FM radio with RDS
• Light and compact
• Turn-to-mute, lift-to-tone-down, flip for speakerphone
• Smart dialing
• XviD video support
• HTCSense.com integration
• HTC Portable Hotspot
• Ultra-fast boot times (if you don’t remove battery)

Main disadvantages

• Poor camera performance
• No HD 720p video recording
• No shutter key for the camera
• No Adobe Flash player, Flash Lite only
• No Document viewer
• No secondary videocall camera
• No ambient light sensor

The Wildfire S is the usual all-round smartphone – with the latest Android inside at that – but now in an even friendlier shape. All work and no play wouldn’t do for the Wildfire S and HTC have added some twists to the old recipe to make it 2011-ready.

    
HTC Wildfire S live shots

Balance was sought above all – no groundbreaking features are to be expected. Not in this price range, not in a pint-sized package. Minis are friendly and playful. Let’s see if the HTC Wildfire S matches the description.

Economical retail package

The tiny box of the HTC Wildfire S has the essentials duly covered. You get the mandatory charger and an USB cable (to use with the charger as well as in data connections). There’s a set of nice looking headphones and a complimentary 2GB microSD card inside too. The rest is the usual papers.

  
HTC Wildfire S retail package

The white set of accessories is suspiciously similar to the iPhone’s, the earphones especially almost a complete replica.

HTC Wildfire S 360-degree spin

The HTC Wildfire S measures 101.3 x 59.4 x 12.4 mm and is smaller in real life than it appears on a picture. It’s made entirely of plastic, tipping the scales at the acceptable 105 grams. Maybe it’s the similar styling but we got it wrong initially. No aluminum unibody in the HTC Wildfire S.

The phone feels great in your hand and – being so small, one-hand operation is hassle-free. 3.2” is still more than enough screen real estate to work with – you don’t feel crammed for space.

Design and construction

The HTC Wildfire S borrows some styling ideas from its bigger brother the Desire S and has inherited others from the original Wildfire. Bottom line, the Wildfire S is neat and friendly, and delightfully compact. The finish hasn’t suffered from the plastic build. The soft rubbery back contrasts nicely with the brushed finish of the front frame.

  
A little Desire S

The phone will be available in a variety of colors and the selection makes sense for a phone targeted at the young. Size is still the key selling point though.

 
The Wildfire S next to the Galaxy S II, iPhone 4

The front of the Wildfire S is dominated by a 3.2” capacitive touchscreen of HVGA (320x480) resolution. It’s a reasonably bright LCD unit but with no automatic adjustment for the lack of an ambient light sensor. The smallish screen is quite reflective – making it uncomfortable to use outdoors. The poor viewing angles don’t help it either: colors quickly get washed out. Still it’s enough of an improvement over the poor QVGA screen of the original Wildfire.

  
The HVGA display of the Wildfire S

As you have every right to expect, the capacitive screen response is top-notch.

Display test	50% brightness			100% brightness
	Black, cd/m2	White, cd/m2	Contrast ratio	Black, cd/m2	White, cd/m2	Contrast ratio
Sony Ericsson XPERIA Neo	0.19	299	1577	0.31	513	1670
LG Optimus Black P970	0.27	332	1228	0.65	749	1161
LG Optimus 2X	0.23	228	982	0.35	347	1001
HTC Wildfire S	0.43	256	603	0.76	314	414
HTC Incredible S	0.18	162	908	0.31	275	880
Motorola Atrix 4G	0.48	314	652	0.60	598	991

At the bottom of the device you get the usual four capacitive keys: Home, Menu, Back and Search. The major absence compared to the original Wildfire is the optical trackpad. It won’t be badly miss we guess – except perhaps in text editing.

The capacitive keys are small but well-spaced, with precise vibration feedback for comfortable use.

  
Capacitive Home, Menu, Back and Search keys

On the left side of the Wildfire S you’ll find the volume rocker and the MicroUSB port for charging/data connections. The volume control is unexpectedly big and prominent, with good press.

 
Volume rocker and MicroUSB slot

There’re no controls on the right, the asymmetrical contour of the battery cover a nice little accent.

 
The right side features nothing

At the top of the device there is a standard 3.5mm headphone jack and the power/lock button. It’s easy to locate by touch and bounces right back up after each press.

  
Power/lock button and 3.5mm headphone jack

The mouthpiece and a tiny lanyard eyelet are the only things to note at the bottom.

  
Microphone, lanyard eyelet

The back of the device is simple but attractive. We like the soft matt finish and the light-colored patch holding the loudspeaker grill, camera lens and LED flash that stands out against the darker finish of the surrounding surface. The camera is a 5 MP auto-focus unit and the LED flash looks quite powerful.

  
5 MP auto-focus camera with LED flash and loudspeaker

Removing the back panel reveals the 1230 MAh Li-Ion battery. It’s quoted at 360-570 hours of stand-by and 430/350 minutes of talk time (between 2G and 3G). In reality our unit gave us about 5 days, used sparingly.

 
1230MAh Li-Ion battery

The HTC Wildfire S is a solid little mini whose key feature is its diminutive size. The premium feel is gone but getting a higher-res HVGA screen we’d call it a fair trade. And just to be clear, the phone has no aluminum unibody but the build and finish are up to the usual high HTC standards.

  
HTC Wildfire S in hand

It’s a small phone that handles well and comes in a variety of colors to please any taste. Friendly and compact, the Wildfire S will let even less experienced users enjoy Android.

This post is sponsored by:Dr Mobiles Limited
1 Huron Street, Takapuna, North Shore 0622
Tel: (09) 551-5344 and Mob: (021) 264-0000
Web - Map - Email - Posterous - Twitter - Blogger - Flickr