TAOYUAN, Taiwan – November 4, 2009 – Today, HTC Corporation chief executive officer, Peter Chou, joined Microsoft Corp. chief executive officer, Steve Ballmer and Harvey Chang, chief executive officer of Taiwan Mobile to announce the availability of the highly anticipated HD2 in Taiwan.   HTC and Microsoft also announced that the HD2 was available in Europe and would be coming to the United States with a major US carrier in early 2010.

“The HD2’s amazing customer experience is a testament to the close partnership between HTC and Microsoft and we’re excited to be bringing the HD2 to Taiwan, Europe and the United States,” said Chou. “The HD2 is the first Windowsâ phone with HTC Sense, an HTC user experience focused on making the phone more simple and natural to use and by enabling people to personalise their mobile experience in their own unique way.”

“Working with HTC, we’ve delivered great phones that help customers connect to the people and information they care about, wherever they are,” said Ballmer. “The HTC HD2 shows what’s possible through our close partnership with HTC and it breaks new ground for Windows phones by delivering a beautiful multi-touch screen that people will love.”

The HD2 is the first Windows phone with HTC Sense, a customer experience focused on putting people at the centre by making their phones work in a more simple, natural and personal way.  With its industry leading, high-resolution, 4.3-inch capacitive touch display, the ultra thin HTC HD2 delivers more visible content in a sharper, brighter and richer way.

The HD2 uses the first capacitive touch display on a Windows phone to make viewing, zooming and resizing websites, Microsoft Office files, PDF documents and pictures easier with just a pinch of your fingers.  The large display also enables faster, more efficient and accurate typing using the onscreen keyboard.  Utilizing Qualcomm’s new 1Ghz Snapdragon mobile processor, the HTC HD2 offers enhanced performance that improves the speed of applications, videos, games and more.

Developed with a passion for enhancing people’s lives through innovation, design and ease of use, HTC Sense is rooted in three fundamental principles of Make it Mine, Stay Close and Discover the Unexpected.

Make It Mine

The HD2 continues HTC’s drive for personalization by reflecting not only what you want on your phone, but also where you are. Using its large 4.3-inch window-like display, HTC has brought a new dimension to weather with a localized, animated weather experience that utilizes HD2’s entire display without being invasive to your important content and information.  The HD2 can also be further enhanced to reflect your needs and style by downloading a wealth of applications at the new Windows Marketplace for Mobile.

Stay Close

The HD2 helps you stay close to the important friends and colleagues in your life with HTC’s people-centric communication approach that provides a single contact view that displays individual communication snapshots of your conversations with the people in your life regardless of whether a call, text, Facebook status update or email were used.  While in the midst of email exchange with someone you can easily transition to a call by pressing the call button.  HTC has also included a new Windows-based version of its Twitter application, HTC Peep.  The pictures you take with the 5MP camera can also be quickly shared via Facebook or Twitter.

Discover the Unexpected

With the HTC Sense experience, the HTC HD2 includes a variety of enhancements that expand and improve the overall phone experience. The HD2 includes a variety of sensors including a proximity sensor that is used to prevent false screen touches when the phone is picked up to answer or make a call.  A light sensor automatically adjusts the brightness of the display.  Leveraging its 3G broadband connectivity, the HTC HD2 also offers personal Wi-Fi anywhere for your computer or other devices.

Also available for the HTC HD2 is the optional car kit that automatically transforms HD2’s user interface into a finger friendly in-car navigation experience for driving.

Windows phone

As a new Windows phone, the HTC HD2 showcases the powerful messaging, browsing and productivity capabilities delivered by Windows Mobile 6.5.  Offering a best in class e-mail experience complete with the ability to synchronize with Microsoft Exchange, you have the ability to check and manage multiple email accounts. Microsoft’s new My Phone service enables you to automatically back up and synch photos, music, contacts and text messages for free from the HD2 to the web.

Availability

Already shipping in Europe, the HTC HD2 is now available with Taiwan Mobile and will be available throughout Asia in the coming month.  The HD2 will be available in the US in early 2010.

About HTC

HTC Corporation (HTC) is one of the fastest growing companies in the mobile phone industry. By putting people at the center of everything it does, HTC creates innovative smartphones that better serve the lives and needs of individuals. The company is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under ticker 2498. For more information about HTC, please visit www.htc.com.

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The names of companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

Today we will be reviewing two new Free GPS applications, and each of them have their own set of valuable features.

I took both of these applications out for a road test, by picking a very difficult to find location downtown address and I started the navigation from the the expressway for both WAZE and AMAZE.

The first contender was WAZE:

And as I continued down the highway, I realized that the directions recommended almost past the downtown area, so I quickly jumped off at the next exit.  Unfortunately, and really quite comically, I went on a “wild goose chase” for about 7 minutes that ejected me right back onto the highway speeding my away from my destination at about 60 mph.  I did receive a warning during navigation that the accuracy of navigation might be lacking until the routes are “learned” by local “Wazers”.  I found out the hard way that I should not yet rely on this application to get me to timely affairs until a time in the near future when more users in my area drive the local roads and the navigation accuracy improves. 

I then got off at a subsequent highway exit and entered the coordinates into the second contenders application, AMAZE and turned the car around and headed back towards downtown.  I was directed by AMAZE to get off at one of the first downtown exits and after approximately 2 or 3 turns I ended up in front of the location.  The voice prompts were clear and quickly found my destination, however, I missed my appointment because of the inaccurate navigation of the previous GPS navigation

So, for accuracy and finding a difficult location I was amazed with the performance of AMAZE and let down by WAZE.

However, in all fairness I will give you my impressions of the other features found in both of these GPS Apps:

WAZE excelled in the Social aspect of having a GPS and provided user entered information regarding current traffic issues, including accidents.  It is possible for a user to quickly add an event and have it posted on the communal GPS experience.  The maps moved smoothly, they were not very detailed.

By simply driving around with WAZE activated you collect points and the more points collected increase your Community Member Ranking Status.

• participants driving habits improve the maps
• user data collected while having WAZE activated sends data  regarding streets including average speeds. 
• sharing events with other “Wazers” such as accident reports and heavy traffic events, it is possible to collect more points and help others reroute from road closures and construction. 
• PC Map Editing allows users to update maps with new roads and house numbers for improved navigation. 
• Wazers can show their moods, which displays to other users as a WAZE user icon on the area map.  Other Wazers can see your car and position and you can see their positions as well, as per the screenshots above. 

It was fun seeing the “Live” user reports and accident and traffic updates, per the screenshot above.

AMAZE on the other hand was ready out-of-the-box and had many options for Map display, including Satellite and Hybrid maps and the navigation was easy to use and for accuracy it can’t be beat.

• The Turn-by-turn voice guided navigation was very clear, as well as the timing was good, that is, you had ample time before an upcoming turn or destination.
• I really enjoyed the 3D (birds eye view) which is similar to popular “paid” navigations.  It is possible to turn on Satellite Navigation in 3D mode so you can see moving satellite imagery of the areas that you are navigating.
• It is possible to choose routing preferences such as shortest distance or fastest route.
• I really enjoyed the automated Day and Night modes so you can easily see at night with a darker background and softer color than daytime mode.
• It was a nice feature to see an overview of the next five day weather overview as shown in the screenshot.  The weather overview icon for the day is displayed in the upper right hand corner of the navigation screens, as well.
• Safety Camera and Traffic conditions can be displayed.
• Social Networking of locations using SMS helps you keep in touch with your friends.

Ability to Search by Address, Favorites, Keywords, etc. per the screenshot below.  It was easy to find a navigation destination using the many search options.

So here is a recap of what I liked:

• GPS user built live data, that shows in real time, creating a GPS software is truly user driven.
• The ability to report from your phone on roadside incidents “live” to inform other Wazers.
• Updating of maps by users via their PCs.
• Maximized User Participation.

Wish list:

• Satellite detail on maps would make navigation easier.
• Improvement needed in accuracy of Navigation

WAZE is currently available for the following mobile operating systems:

• IPHONE
• ANDROID
• WINDOWS MOBILE
• SYMBIAN

So here is a recap of what I liked:

• The Turn-by-turn voice guided navigation
• 3D Satellite Bird’s Eye view
• Ease of Zoom Controls
• Choice of Shortest Distance or Fastest Route
• Ability to get a 5 Day Weather Forecast.
• Accuracy of Navigation “Out of the box”
• Ability to Search with many options.
• Safety Camera and Traffic Conditions can be displayed
• Social Networking via SMS

Wish list:

None…I really like this freeware GPS application.

Amaze is currently available for the following mobile operating systems:

• JAVA
• ANDROID
• BLACKBERRY

COMING SOON:

WINDOWS MOBILE AND IPHONE SUPPORT (However, please note that I was able to run the JAVA version on my Window Mobile Phone without any problems)

What do water bottles and cell phones have in common?  The new Motorola Moto W233 Renew Mobile Phone!

T-Mobile kindly provided us with a Moto W233 Renew fully operational unit for this review, which will be returned after the review.

The Renewal Motorola mobile phone which, as incredible as it seems, is constructed from recycled soda-pop plastic bottles, as reported originally in Heather’s post, Motorola Renew Looking Out For The Pandas.

I think the coolness factor is really based on kids opinions, so I asked my kids what they thought of the phone…

Well what did my kids think of this new environmentally friendly phone?  They loved it! 

First of all it’s ‘Green’ which received a very cool "wow"  response, as they hadn’t seen any phones in that color before! 

Practically speaking, the Renewal is thin small and light and fits perfectly in my pocket.  The Auto-Lock feature keeps buttons from being pressed while in a pocket, since the buttons are always exposed.

The features are that of a simple Motorola mobile phone:

MP3, Speakerphone, Mobile Web and texting. I really liked the phone though…Simplicity and the saving the environment through recycle-friendly devices; the ideas go hand-in-hand.  Mobile Web was slow rendering pages.

Even the packaging for the phone is made from 100% recycled materials.  In the box is the A/C Charger, Moto W233 Renew Handset, Hands-Free Headset (stereo), SIM Card, Battery and documentation.

Here is a side-angle picture of the phone which shows how slim the unit is:

Well, as phone how does it perform?  The speakerphone is one of the best parts of the phone, as the user on the other end thought that the reception was great and it did not sound like a typical speakerphone; I had to convince them that I was on speakerphone.  The T-Mobile service did not drop any of the test calls and the reception was great, and tower strength had all bars available.

The noise-cancelling works well on both handset and speakerphone. The speakers on the phone are crisp and clear and the the phone comes with an assortment of cheerful ringtones.  Also of note was the clear MP3 player.  When using the handset reception was good and the sound was clear of distortion.  The phone feels comfortable and light to hold and is made of an easy to grip plastic that doesn’t slip out of your hands.

Things I liked:

• The Speaker Phone that doesn’t sound like one
• Quality Noise-Cancelling
• Nice Reception
• Clear MP3 Player
• Comfortable in hand
• Fits easily into pocket
• Auto-Lock keeps buttons from being pressed while in pocket

Wishlist:

• A camera would be a nice addition to this mobile phone.
• Mobile Web could be faster

In summary, there was much to like about this phone and everyone I showed it to liked it, after all what’s not to like about a cool green phone made from recycled water bottles

Just off the press Today: SendMe Mobile and Sony Music announced that they will be providing Sony Music ringtones, videos and images, including never before available content.

I am a fan of good music and given the popularity of media content on mobile devices, and the ability to find content from all four major U.S. music labels, including Sony, the possibilities are endless. Check out the press release below:

SAN FRANCISCO and NEW YORK (October 26, 2009) – SendMe Mobile, the
premier mobile media company, today announced a multi-faceted
partnership with Sony Music Entertainment to offer mobile phone users
access to Sony Music’s roster of acclaimed artists through
SendMeMobile.com.

As part of the agreement, SendMe will offer users a comprehensive
selection of Sony Music ringtones, videos and wallpaper images of
artists such as Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Franz Ferdinand,
T-Pain, Wyclef Jean and more.
In addition, SendMe will deliver additional ringtones, images and
video content from Sony Music’s extensive catalog never available
before to mobile users.

“With Sony Music, we’re giving mobile phone users access to the most
in-demand mobile entertainment, including content from some of the
hottest labels such as Epic, Columbia, Jive, RCA and more,” said
Russell Klein, co-founder and CEO of SendMe. “Along with more
offerings for our subscribers, this partnership reinforces the value
of SendMe’s portfolio approach for content providers.”

Subscribers can download media directly onto their mobile devices at
SendMeMobile.com or through one of SendMe’s distribution channels,
such as Eventful, Univision and IAC /ask.com.

In addition, SendMe and Sony Music will unveil special co-branded
sweepstakes to promote Sony Music’s hottest artists. For example, the
recently introduced “Viva Las Vegas with Mario” offers fans the chance
at an exclusive weekend in Las Vegas with the Grammy-nominated artist.
Mario fans entered to win on SoLow.com, SendMe’s mobile game and
contest platform where the player with the lowest unique guess wins
unique prizes and once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
“SendMe is connecting artists and fans in exciting and innovative ways
by offering a full suite of mobile entertainment services,” commented
Michael Paull, Executive Vice President, Global Digital Business, Sony
Music Entertainment. “We are pleased to make our unparalleled roster
of music available to SendMe subscribers as more and more consumers
continue to look to their mobile phones for engaging entertainment.”

With this partnership, SendMe now offers content from all four major
U.S. music labels and claims the most robust mobile entertainment
library on the market, also featuring content from dozens of emerging
labels, top game publishers, movie studios and other leading content
providers.

About Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment is a global recorded music company with a
roster of current artists that includes a broad array of both local
artists and international superstars. The company boasts a vast
catalog that comprises some of the most important recordings in
history. It is home to premier record labels representing music from
every genre, including American Recordings, Arista Nashville, Arista
Records, Aware, Battery Records, Beach Street Records, Black Seal, BNA
Records, Cinematic, Columbia Nashville, Columbia Records, Epic
Records, Essential Records, Flicker Records, Fo-Yo Soul, GospoCentric,
Hitz Committee Entertainment, J Records, Jive Records, LaFace Records,
Legacy Recordings, Masterworks, Polo Grounds, RCA Records, RCA
Nashville, RCA Red Seal, RCA Victor, Reunion Records, Slightly
Dangerous, Sony Classical, Sony Music Latin, Star Time International,
Verity Records, and Volcano Entertainment. Sony Music Entertainment is
a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America. For more
information, visit www.sonymusic.com.

About SendMe
SendMe, Inc. turns any mobile phone into a portable playground. As the
premier mobile media company, SendMe’s family of destination sites
lets you take the fun from the Web to your mobile phone with the
broadest and best content, entertainment and community out there.
SendMe’s three properties – SendMeMobile.com, SoLow.com and mbuzzy.com
- deliver content from today’s pop culture sensations, niche
independent creations, stuff from our own community, and one-of-a-kind
mobile games that will keep you coming back for more. Included in our
premium content at SendMeMobile.com are wallpapers, one-of-a-kind
mobile games, and the hottest, latest mobile ringtones. Whether you’re
searching for a TV show ringtone or a comedy ringtone, SendMe brings
it all to you – how you want it, when you want it. So when you’re
looking for new ways to show your personal style, eager for some
mobile gaming excitement, or trying to stay connected to the people
and things you love the most, turn to SendMe. Founded in 2006 by three
veteran online and mobile entrepreneurs, SendMe is funded by Amicus
Capital, GrandBanks Capital, Spark Capital, Triangle Peak Partners,
and True Ventures. For more information, visit www.SendMeMobile.com.

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What would you say to an e reader that was very slim sporting a huge screen. Also add that the QUE runs for days on battery verses just a few hours? It’s screen is constructed of an innovative shatterproof plastic display. I can’t wait to see it

For more details on this soon to be launched ereader (January 7th, 2010 @ CES in Las Vegas), check out Gizmodo’s cool review of the QUE prototype, as well as the PlasticLogic Que Website.

Here is the full press release:

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA – OCTOBER 19, 2009 – Plastic Logic revealed today its plans to unveil QUE™ (pronounced “Q”), the first proReader designed for business professionals. Premiering January 7, 2010 at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas (Central Hall of Las Vegas Convention Center at Booth 11840 anchoring the e-Book Techzone), QUE is an essential tool for busy professionals, providing access to a dynamic ecosystem of content.

With QUE, Plastic Logic is expanding the eReader category, which to date has focused on leisure reading devices and casual users. QUE is designed to simplify the multi-faceted lifestyle of the modern businessperson, and to quite literally lighten their workload. In addition to connecting its users with their business and professional newspapers, books and periodicals, QUE supports the document formats business users need (including PDF, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel documents) and features powerful tools for interacting with and managing the content.

“The QUE brand stands for a premium reading experience,” said Richard Archuleta, CEO of Plastic Logic. “The QUE proReader enhances business performance and gives you a competitive edge. More than an eReader, QUE means business.”

Extra thin, lightweight and wireless-enabled, QUE is the size of an 8.5 x 11 inch pad of paper, less than a 1/3 inch thick, and weighs less than many periodicals. The innovative QUE proReader features the largest touchscreen in the industry, an intuitive touch screen user interface, and provides access to a file cabinet’s worth of documents, plus your favorite—and most necessary—publications.

QUE stands out in a crowd because it’s a business reader, but it’s also unique for its shatterproof plastic display. This exclusive technology from Plastic Logic, along with E Ink Vizplex® technology produces an outstanding reading experience. Its battery can last days, instead of hours.

QUE users will be able to connect to content and download wirelessly via Wi-Fi and AT&T’s 3G network, the nation’s fastest 3G mobile broadband network. The QUE store will offer the most significant collection of business reading available on any eReader. The store is powered by Barnes & Noble, the world’s largest eBookstore.

Full product specifications, availability and pricing of QUE will be announced on January 7, 2010 at CES.

The QUE for CES starts at http://www.QUEreader.com.

About Plastic Logic

Plastic Logic’s mission is to lead a revolution in the way people acquire, organize and consume information. We are using our proprietary technology leadership in plastic electronics to create a range of innovative products. Our first product, QUE™, the proReader for business professionals, will enter the marketplace in 2010. Founded in 2000 by researchers out of the Cambridge University Cavendish Laboratory, Plastic Logic has research and development in Cambridge, England; high-volume, state-of-the-art manufacturing in Dresden, Germany; and executive management, product engineering, sales and marketing headquartered in Mountain View, California. For more information about Plastic Logic, please go to http://www.plasticlogic.com.

The QUE trademark and logo are trademarks of Plastic Logic LTD. All Rights Reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.