Posts Tagged ‘Sony Ericsson’

Leaked Images Show the HTC Vision Ready for Action

July 7th, 2010

Well, the HTC Vision is not really ready for action, no OS has been installed in the handset and there really is no way of telling if the device’s internal components are already complete. But looking at the images alone, one cannot help but hope that the engineers would pop in a ROM of the Android Éclair and finally show off an HTC device that packs a much demanded physical keyboard.

The slide out QWERTY keyboard has been a very elusive feature among HTC Android fans. While Motorola has already come out with the Milestone (known as the DROID in the US), and Sony Ericsson has recently offered the X10 Mini Pro, many would still want an HTC Android device over other manufacturers as the phone maker has been a constant in the development of the Android OS.

Taiwan based HTC has been a founding member of the Open Handset Alliance, the first manufacturer to create an Android smart phone and they also made Google’s Nexus One as well.

For those who have never used a physical keyboard, the charm of the feature lies in the simplicity of its purpose: it helps people type faster. While it is pretty common to hear of people who can dish out hundreds of characters in a few seconds of a using a T9 keypad, the average person is not as fast. Virtual keyboards often suffice for quick typing requirements such as for Tweets or simple one-liners; but for making long forum posts or personal emails, having a physical keyboard changes the experience to a more convenient level.

In the meanwhile, haptic technology is pushing the limits of how a touch screen can emulate a physical keyboard. While the technology is quite impressive -using a combination of audio output and sometimes, vibration feedback; the technology is still a long way from a real slide out keyboard.

The Green Approach to Mobile Phone Technology

June 11th, 2010

It is hard to deny that mobile phones –especially smart phones, are some of the most convenient electronic devices ever to be made. These handsets allows users to make calls and messages instantly to friends and family, it can access the internet, provide entertainment through music and videos, be used as a camera and more. Our society is now heavily reliant on the use of mobile phone technology.

As one might expect, this convenience comes with a price. Aside from the usual retail tags and monthly tariffs, our society gets billed with a huge carbon load –which the environment pays for.

This is why there is now a growing need for people to be more aware and responsible for their carbon footprint. And starting with changing one’s mobile phone habits is a great first step.

What people should realize is that as end users and consumers, society has the ability to dictate and decide what companies will manufacture and sell. By choosing to support eco-friendly companies and by buying green products –manufacturers can be swayed to change their approach. Nokia and Sony Ericsson have been heavily promoting their green-solutions internally with reduced packaging and better choices of raw materials. Choosing to buy handsets made out of recycled plastics will encourage other companies to do the same.

It does not end with choosing a phone either. Users have the responsibility to ensure that devices are used wisely. A smart phone can consume about a metric ton of carbon in a single year (energy wise), so ensuring that a battery charge is spent properly, and avoiding over-charging are also important steps.

Lastly, support your local recycling drives. Many companies such as Orange UK hold phone recycling programs in order to encourage people to dispose of their handsets wisely –more often than not, they also offer incentives to people who recycle.