Phone clones are never going to be as good as the original… and after playing around with at least 15 or so in the past I can see why; clunky hardware.. crap GUI (despite the ripped off iPhone icon set) and even worse.. Windows Mobile at the core. That all changes with the Aphone A6, which by way of the Android OS drastically bridges the gap between the iPhone and its iFauxne cousins. Read on to see how good this phone really is and a video of us putting it through its paces.
To wet your appetite here are the Aphone A6 specs (according to the manufacturer):
Multi-touch Capacitance Panel
3.5inch TFT LCD Screen(260000 color)High Definition
GSM EDGE/WiFi Intelligent Cellphone
Google Android 1.5 OS
Dual-Core CPU(Fast at 300Mhz) by Infomax Technology Co
260MB FLASH、130MB RAM
Support(GMAP、Opera Mini、FTP、PC-class Web Browser)
Network Frame/Network Whiteboard/Weather
Support Net-communicate (Skype/QQ/MSN)
E-mail、Office
Internal More Than20 Games and may download freely
G-safe TM
2 Million-pixel Camera
Support Bluetooth2.0 ，Mini-USB
Support TF Slot(2G-16G)
According to our sources (and until we rip apart this phone ourselves) this is purportedly the duel-core ARM processor from InfoMax at the heart of the device. Its notable also as we’ve only seen shanzhai phones from Marvell and now Infomax running Android… no sign of the ever popular shanzhai platform from MediaTek.
Device Build quality
Size is slightly larger than iPhone 3G or 3Gs, some bluish and highly visible discoloration on the back panel near some interesting looking speaker holes. The speakers sound loud and tinny. Typical of other iFauxnes we’ve tried.
Volume rocker switch is in the same place as on the iPhone, works fine but there is no mute switch. Another rocker switch on the opposite side side guides you back and forth through applications on the device.
You will note the Blackberry Pearl-like trackball, it feels good, responds well, seems totally pointless due to the high responsiveness of the touch screen, but might comfort some trackball loving users for better one handed navigation through apps.
In a strange move along the bottom of the phone they’ve gone to a micro-USB headphone jack and USB connection to the PC. The micro-USB cover strip is a bit crap, I could see this falling off at some point. They also tried to copy the USB charging plug of the original iPhone but they’ve kind of cheaped out here and it actually doesn’t function out of the box for us. We had to buy a special universal charger and shove the batteries into that device to get any power for our Aphone A6.
Speaking of batteries, the device’s back plate removes comfortably and easily. The Aphone A6 comes with 2 batteries… removable… decent enough battery life to count this possibly as a hardware advantage over the original iPhone which is NOT known for its own great battery life. The phone sucked about 25% of the battery life idling on standby over 24 hours and while we didn’t measure the juice used in the real world (yet) it SEEMS to be about normal compared with the real iPhone usage when playing around with apps and receiving calls.
Under the batteries the SD Card and SIM card slots are easy enough to access but the little metal clips that help position them aren’t too stable. If you’re not changing these items often it shouldn’t be a big deal though.
Where they didn’t cheap out and is very much appreciated is the touch screen. Its incredibly good. Its also where 99% of iFauxne clones perform poorly. So it was a pleasure to be swiping and pushing icons ONCE instead of four times to open and close programs and to move between screens. Its not a perfectly clear screen and some discoloration in the bottom left corner was revealed when in camera mode but it isn’t noticeable at other times.
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VIDEO: World’s First iPhone clone to go Android reviewed
SciPhone N19 Android Phone in Stock
If you’re looking to buy a SciPhone, why not give their Android phones a look. The SciPhone N19 is one of their first models to be made available to the public running Android, and it’s no iPhone clone either like many of their previous models. With the announcement of the N19 and N21, SciPhone has pushed the envelope in knock offs and actually made something original and thereby leaving rivals like HiPhone in the dust.
It’s good to see the N19 at last being made available online. The phone has 2.8-inch of touchscreen and runs on Google Android. It’s a quadband GSM with video and music supports, 2 MP camera and accelerometer for auto0rotation. Chinagrabber has it on stock with a slightly higher price tag than was announced: $189.99.
For the full specifications, go the link below.
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What’s New in Firefox for Mobile 1.0
Built on the same browser engine as Firefox 3.6 for the desktop, the new mobile Firefox comes packed full of your favorite features like the Awesome Bar, Add-ons, Weave Sync and Location-Aware Browsing.
Firefox is currently supported on Nokia’s Maemo platform, available for download on the Nokia N900. Initially available in over 15 languages, download and learn more by visiting Firefox.com/mobile.
You'll see many of your favorite features for the desktop Firefox, now optimized for an exceptional mobile experience:
Easy Navigation to Web Content
* Awesome Bar: The Smart Location Bar, or "Awesome Bar" is even more awesome on a mobile device. The Awesome Bar gets you to your Web destination with minimal typing, by intelligently searching the names, URLs and tags of the sites you visit, and takes into account how often and recently you visit them. With Weave Sync, the Awesome Bar will also search the Web history from Firefox on your PC
* Easy access to many search engines: Type your search term right in the Awesome Bar to search Google. Or send your search to another search engine (Wikipedia, Amazon.com, Twitter) with one touch. Customize with the search engines of your choice.
Touch Interface Optimization
* Touch-oriented UI: Firefox's touch-enabled interface allows you to swipe left to view your controls (bookmark, go backward and forward, access your browser tools, like Add-ons, preferences and downloads) and swipe right to view your open tabs
* View without obstructions: The browser controls and Awesome Bar get stowed away when you reach your website so you can use the whole screen to view the site. Start to pan up or to the sides and your controls and Awesome Bar reappear
* Quick zoom: Double tap on the screen to zoom in, double tap to zoom back out
* One-touch bookmarking: Bookmark a Web site in one touch, along with the ability to tag it with a memorable term
* Tabbed browsing: Thumbnails of your open tabs easily identify your open pages.
Seamless Synchronization
* Weave Sync: Create a Weave Sync account on your PC and install the Weave Sync add-on on your mobile to synchronize your Firefox tabs, passwords, history and bookmarks between your PC and mobile
* Less typing: Access Firefox for mobile’s Awesome Bar and visit any site you’ve ever been to, regardless of which computer you visited it on, with just a couple keystrokes
* Don't start from scratch: Weave Sync brings along your saved passwords from your desktop, removing barriers to your favorite sites
* Get up and go: Take your Firefox with you wherever you go. Surf the Web on your PC, get up and go, and have everything waiting for you on your phone -- even your open tabs.
A Personalized Experience
* Add-ons: Firefox is the first mobile Web browser to support add-ons. You can discover and install useful extensions for your browser directly from your mobile device
* Location-Aware Browsing: Be a local wherever you are. Get maps and info relevant to your location. Its all optional– Firefox doesn’t share your location without your permission– and is done with the utmost respect for your privacy.
Private and Secure
* Instant Web site ID ("Larry"): Tap on a site favicon for an instant identity overview
* Password manager: Typing passwords on your phone is hard, so why do it more than you have to? Choose to remember site passwords and forget ever having to endure long and difficult typing
* Popup blocker: Banish pop-ups from your surfing experience once and for all
* Clear private data: As an extra security measure, you can clear all your private data via your Preferences
* Customized security settings: Customize settings for passwords, cookies, loading images and installing add-ons for a fully empowered mobile browsing experience
* Automated Update: Install upgrades directly to your device when you receive an automatic notification, or wait until you’re ready.
Productivity
* Preferences pane: Go to your Preferences in one touch. From here, manage your plugins and security settings, as well as access your Downloads Manager and Add-ons Manager
* Download manager: Download files seamlessly and securely. The manager shows your download progress and lets you search your files by name or the Web address where the download came from
* Spell checker: Catch typos and misspellings in form fields.
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News from Meizu CEO Jack Wong
Good news! Today (3rd January), Jack Wong wrote in Meizu's official Chinese BBS…
1. The new firmware (1.0) will allow you to run Windows Mobile apps. The work is being done by Microsoft, not Meizu.
2. New phones (I think he means the ones that will be produced soon, not M8 3G) will use new PET touch screen (I don't know what PET is). The advantage of this screen is that it doesn't have 10*12 little dots, and it's more durable. The new touchscreen is still undergoing tests.
3. Jack estimates that we will have to wait at least half a year for M8 3G.
Google Chrome OS-based netbook tech specs are out
London - Believe it or not - the tech specs of the rumoured Google Chrome OS-based netbook are already out and by the sound of it, the netbook looks to me like a high performance machine
Even as rumours grow that Google has tapped several hardware manufacturers about making its netbook as per its specifications and design and has sent out RFPs (request for proposal), tech bloggers have already begun speculating about the netbook's specs.
The Google netbook, it is reported, will run on Chrome OS (what else?) and will boast of a chipset from Nvidia's Tegra line and it will be powered by an ARM CPU (which reportedly performs better than Intel Atom and consumes less power).
It is also rumoured that the netbook will sport a 10.1-inch TFT HD-ready multi-touch display, and would come with 64GB SSD (mind you, not HDD), 2GB RAM and other bells and whistles such as WiFi, 3G, Bluetooth, Ethernet port, USB ports, webcam, 3.5mm audio jack, multi-card reader, etc.
The netbook, which is expected to launch in the holiday season of 2010, will reportedly also come with preinstalled Google apps such as Google Map, Gmail, Google Docs, Google Calender and Google Search by Voice.
According to market rumours, the Google netbook will be subsidised (the device will reportedly sport a sub-$300 price tag) and sold directly to consumers by Google. However, in some countries like the US, Google will tie up with one or more network operators and sell it as part of a bundled 3G plan, making it a potential rival of Nokia Booklet 3G.
Now if all of these are true, it's like getting a Ferrari for the price of a Mini Cooper. What do you say, folks? Leave your comments below.
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Google May Unveil Nexus One at Jan. 5 Android Event
Google has sent invitations to the media for an Android Press Gathering on Jan. 5 at its headquarters in Mountain View, Calif., igniting rumors that the company will unveil its much-rumored Nexus One smartphone. It is also rumored that the phone, which Google employees have reportedly been testing, will be officially supported by T-Mobile upon release. The Nexus One will reportedly run the Android 2.1 operating system and feature a touch screen with no physical keyboard.
Google's much-rumored Nexus One smartphone will be officially supported by T-Mobile upon release, according to a new rumor circulating online. Most of the speculation about the device may well be settled on Jan. 5, when Google hosts an "Android Press Gathering" at its headquarters in Mountain View, Calif.
A Dec. 29 post on Boy Genius Report offered a photograph of a T-Mobile internal memo, purportedly taken by an inside source, that suggested a new Android smartphone will be launched by Google "with support from T-Mobile" in early January.
"The Google Android phone will be sold directly by Google via the Web," read the internal missive.
The message, marked for "T-Mobile Internal Use Only," continued: "Support for the device, including troubleshooting and exchanges, will be managed by Google and HTC. T-Mobile will offer service support including billing, coverage, features and rate plans. Additional details and Streamline content regarding the launch of Google's Android phone will be coming in early January."
Raed Full Story
Foxconn denies landing handset orders from Orange
Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry) has issued a filing with the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE) denying a Digitimes report stating that its subsidiary Foxconn International Holdings (FIH) has landed orders for Android-powered handsets from Orange. Foxconn reiterated that it has no intention of competing directly with its clients
By acting through arrangements with the sales agent, FIH is able to say it is not violating its policy of not competing directly with its clients, the sources pointed out.
Nokia N97 Mini - Unboxing
I got my hands on a retail version of the Nokia N97 mini and will be providing a thorough review of this device soon. For now, enjoy some of the unboxing photos. It’s already available in certain regions, so check your local Nokia shop
Want a quick reminder what the Nokia N97 mini is all about? Check out my Nokia N97 briefing from Nokia World. The Nokia N97 Mini and the regular Nokia N97 hardware are almost similar except the missing lens cover, different keypad, smaller battery, 8GB built-in memory instead of 32GB. The size is smaller, but not a big difference. I’ll have a review up after spending some time with it.
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Mancala Touch - Ovi Store - Nokia N97
his is a gameplay video of Mancala Touch, a smartphone version of the traditional African board game (this game is also sometimes known as Bantumi). The version shown here is running on the Nokia N97.
For the latest unofficial news, reviews and previews about Ovi Store games and N-Gage games, please visit www.ovigaming.com
You can access the Ovi Store on most Nokia phones and smartphones, either by going to store.ovi.com on the phone's web browser or by installing the Ovi Store application on the phone. If you have an Ovi Store icon in your phone's menu system then the Ovi Store app is already installed and you can access the store by clicking on the icon
