What's new for Q4?

It's that time of year again where the race is on to get the hottest devices into the hands of our valued customers, and with the recent launch of the LTE network for Rogers, there is a whole host of great new phones for you to choose from.


All of these smartphone devices are the latest in Android technology and software, all featuring the 2.3 Gingerbread operating system (the Jetstream has Android 3.1 for tablets loaded), a dual core processor for lightning-speed browsing and applications, 8MP cameras with 1080p video capture, and access to Android Market for apps and HD movie rentals.

HTC Raider $149.99*

HTC Raider

Target Market
Tech enthusiasts who want the latest in smartphone technology and features

Features & Benefits4.5" qHD touchscreen
HTC Sense user interface for almost limitless customization
DLNA compatible so you can wirelessly stream your photos, videos and music from your smartphone to a compatible HDTV

Samsung Galaxy SII $199.99*

Samsung Galaxy SII

Target Market

Tech enthusiasts looking for the latest in smartphone technology and features; Samsung Galaxy Captivate customers looking to update their device to the latest model

Features & Benefits

4.5" Super AMOLED Plus touchscreen with 50% more subpixels than the original technology

DLNA compatible so you can wirelessly stream your photos, videos and music from your smartphone to a compatible HDTV
Up to 21Mbps 4G HSPA+ downloads

Motorola RAZR $149.99*

Motorola RAZR

Target Market

Media Moguls who need a powerful smartphone to do everything mobile and are motivated by smartphone design

Features & Benefits
Remotely access the pictures, music, videos, and documents on your PC and instantly stream them to your RAZR while on the go with MotoCast

4.3" Super AMOLED Advanced screen for hyper vibrant colours and incredibly vivid images

Up to 14.4Mbps 4G HSPA+ download speeds

Webtop App to view your phone's content on the big screen

Surf the internet with a full-featured Firefox browser, and multitask like a champ with multiple windows, all while your phone charges

HTC Jetstream $499.99*

HTC Jetstream

Target Market

Tech and creative enthusiasts seeking a premium Android tablet offering the fastest connectivity, top hardware specs, and support for innovative, intuitive digital pen technology

Features & Benefits

Download speeds up to 100Mbps; upload speeds up to 50Mbps

Up to 32GB of expandable micro-SD memory

Rich web browsing with Flash on a vivid 10" touchscreen

*Pricing based on a three year contract (minimum $45 monthly service fee for smartphones and minimum $30 monthly service fee for tablet). Pricing subject to change.

Still not sure about tablets?

A couple of months ago, we blogged about some of the reasons for purchasing a tablet device, yet there still seems to be the question hanging around "But....WHY?"

Yes, many of our customers have adopted the new technology, but are still wondering why when they already have a smartphone and a desktop computer. Let's put it in simple, yet effective terms:

It's an extension of your smartphone. It is designed to complement the device you use and to enhance the smartphone experience, whether business or personal.

• Your smartphone is your mobile device that keeps you connected while on the go, for business or for personal use
• Your tablet is your convenient device; perfect for those sunny afternoons on the deck or in your back yard, when you need to reply to emails, update some documents, listen to music, or browse the internet
• Your computer is the one that you turn to for the heavier duty items, such as creating large presentations, compiling information, documents, larger downloads, or for simply typing large amounts of text

Your new tablet is designed to work between your smartphone and your computer. It's almost like your personal liaison, and with data sharing plans now available for all Rogers customers, you can ensure that you are getting the most for your money and that you are able to enjoy the latest devices for the best price. You can have one data plan for all of your wireless devices so nothing goes to waste and you are always connected.

With more tablets joining the market all the time, you are bound to find the one that works best for your needs and with the smartphone you currently own. Whether it's the BlackBerry Playbook, the LG Optimus, or the new Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, Rogers has all of your tablet needs covered.

What's new for Q3?

As always there are rumours, speculations and forum discussions about the latest devices to hit the shelves - so, here at Cellworks, we like to keep our customers well informed.

Check out the latest additions to the Smartphone category:

Nokia X7 - $29.99 (3 year voice & data plan)

Nokia X7

Target Market

• Young, adult, tech enthusiasts looking for a smartphone with high quality multimedia and gaming features
• First time smartphone users looking for an affordable device

Features & Benefits

• 8MP camera with 720p HD video capture
• Wifi connectivity
• Integrated GPS with Free Ovi Maps
• Symbian Anna –latest version of the Symbian operating system. Includes fully customizable homescreens, widgets and social networking feeds.
• 8GB memory card included in box

Stay tuned for a product review on this device as we currently have a demo being tested.

$149.99 (with 3 year voice & data plan)

Samsung Galaxy Infuse 4G

Target Market

• Tech enthusiasts and fans of the latest cool technology trend
• Samsung/Android advocates looking for the newest smartphone

Features & Benefits

• 4G 21Mbps downloads means shorter wait times when watching videos or downloading the latest apps and games
• Powerful 1GHz processor for faster performance and multi-tasking
• Stylish, lightweight design - only 8.99mm thin
• 8MP camera with 1080p video capture
• Share your content with an HDMI output and DLNA support
• Built in WiFi and GPS
• 16GB internal memory; expandable to 32GB
• Android 2.3 Gingerbread

HTC Evo 3D

Target Market

• 22 - 35 year old customers looking for the latest technology available
• Mobile multimedia and gaming enthusiasts who demand high-end features like HD screens and dual-core processors

Features & Benefits

• 4.3” qHD touch screen with glasses free 3D display
• Dual 5MP cameras for capturing stunning 2D or 3D photos
• 1.2 GHz dual-core processor
• HTC Sense user interface - offers nearly limitless possibilities for customizing your phone's home screen, widgets, and social networking feeds
• WiFi calling for Android - make and receive voice calls over a WiFi connection
• HDMI output - allows content to be transmitted to a 3D enable HDTV for big screen viewing
• Android 2.3 Gingerbread
• WiFi and GPS built in

Devices To Watch Out For In 2011

With CES 2011 having taken place recently, there is much talk about all the new devices coming to market this year. At this time it is hard to determine which carrier will be responsible for which device, but here are a few to keep your eyes open for as we move into 2011:


Motorola Atrix

This much-hyped device is set to directly compete with the iPhone, with its 4G connectivity and dual-core processor. 1GB RAM, 16GB of internal storage, a 5MP camera and a super wide screen, as well as the latest Android software make this a phone to watch out for. The only sad thing for us at Rogers....this is going to be exclusively available to Bell Canada customers.


Samsung Infuse 

Another Android submission as a follow-through from the current Samsung Galaxy S - it's hard to believe that a device could get even more impressive, but it appears that Samsung has done so! A single core processor and 512MB RAM seem at first glance to make this inferior to the existing Galaxy, but take note - 8MP camera and a 4.5" Super AMOLED screen. Not only is the camera comparable (if not better) to most standard digital cameras, but the high resolution, top quality screen will make your pictures crystal clear.


This device is listed as 4G so might not be around until Rogers has fully implemented its LTE network, but definitely one to watch out for. Telus is also likely to carry this model.


LG Optimus 2X

This device is a close competitor for the entire Samsung Galaxy line-up across all carriers, but with a smaller processor. On the plus side, the screen is high quality (800 x 480) and shoots 1080p video - now that beats most digital cameras to the punch. Finally, for those who want a face-to-face experience using applications like Skye, or Qik, there is a front facing camera standard on the device. This is set to be released on all Canadian carriers.


With thanks to The Cellular Guru for the review tips


BlackBerry Playbook

This is the highly anticipated BlackBerry response to the iPad. There are almost too many awesome features to describe, but here are just a few to wet your appetite - 3MP forward-facing camera, 5MP rear-facing camera, 1080p HD video recording, 7" LCD display, 1Ghz dual-core processor, and....get this....micro USB and HDMI ports - a first for any tablet device currently on the market. This will be carried by Rogers, but no word yet on whether the other Canadian carriers will have it also. Rumors have it that this will first be available in WiFi only, with the possibility of a 3G+ version later in the year. 

The Samsung Galaxy Captivate...in HD

Samsung Galaxy S Captivate

This past Christmas I was given the opportunity to try out a new device. Being a BlackBerry user for the past five or so years, I was hesitant to move away from the familiar. But I had to give this sought-after device a try and see what all the fuss was about. Here are my thoughts...






High Points:

• The Super AMOLED screen and 5MP camera make pictures and even the device's screens itself look crisp and clear. Taking some shots of the family Christmas tree put my own digital camera to shame!
• The still and video cameras each have multiple settings depending on what you are shooting - the last Canucks game I went to was a great chance to try this out. By selecting the "action shot" feature in the camera, it was as if all the players had posed for their pictures - no blurring from movement!
• There are literally thousands of applications for almost anything - and they can be accessed right from the device. The one thing that really got me, was the device's ability to download these apps in the background and simply notify me when they were done. There was no rebooting required!
• Due to access to all the applications, including those to customize the device with live wallpapers, my Captivate looks nothing like anyone else's. Of course the physical device is the same, but once you take a look through it, nothing else looks familiar.
• The touch screen capabilities are sensitive enough to recognize your touch when typing, but when on the phone, it automatically senses when it is close to my face, and ensures that I don't accidentally press something in the middle of a call. Great to avoid putting someone on hold with my face....
• It was so easy to add my emails to the phone once I was ready to use it. I have a corporate email that just required a few inputs to get everything active, including all my contacts, and Gmail was even easier, only requiring a few steps to load up. Both emails look just as they do at my desktop which means I can access my messages quickly when I need to - the Gmail account even shows the labels I have added in my online Inbox, and allows me to apply them to new messages right from the phone
• The device has such a massive on board memory (16GB to be precise) that I was able to load nearly 1000 songs without needing a memory card. And it didn't seem to phase the phone either - everything ran just as smoothly as normal. But even so, adding a memory card into the phone is equally smooth - no configuring required, and the phone will even do its own security scan of the files just to make sure everything is okay
• Text messaging brings on a whole new way to type - SWYPE technology allows you to slide your finger across the keyboard instead of tapping individual keys to spell a word. This might sound like a strange feature, but when using a touchscreen, you can type as fast as if you had buttons at your fingertips. This is definitely one more thing to get used to, but everyone I know who has tried it, has never gone back to the standard style
• For such a powerful device, it sure is slim and sleek. Far less bulky than many other Smartphones out there, it amazes me that this phone is capable of so much
• And on the note of sleek and slim, you might think that as a result, battery size and life is compromised. As with any Smartphone, data is constantly flowing back and forth which consumes battery, but in order to make up for this, the Galaxy Captivate has battery saving features that kick in once your battery starts to wane - features that you don't have to physically ensure are working. The phone just does it!

Downsides:

• It is a full touch screen device....and there are times when I just want to push a button - new users to the Captivate will need to give themselves at least a couple of weeks to get used to the phone (the same goes for the SWYPE technology - give yourself at least a few messages to become familiar with how it works)
• There is no flash on the camera - for a device with such a great screen and camera capability, it is a shame that taking pictures at night, or even in a poorly lit room, is pretty much a no-no. Perhaps future versions of the device will incorporate this feature - I hope so!
• I mentioned I have been a BlackBerry user for a number of years - I miss my BBM! There are many applications designed to go across various operating systems, such as Kick or WhatsApp, but nothing really compares to the first instant messenger that many of us know and love. In fact, if you are a BB user trying to chat with people through WhatsApp, the application just doesn't work as well as it does on the Android or iPhone operating systems
• Although setting up email was quick and easy, I would recommend not merging your email accounts. The device tends to find any and all email addresses and list them in the address book....rather frustrating when an email has only been used once. In addition, the device has some sort of ability to merge contacts together, which can result in duplicates - and for those that did duplicate, one would have a picture, the other wouldn't, or each would be entirely different! 

Overall, this device is definitely a lot of fun to play with. It is great as a functional, work-based device, but is also perfect for all the fun you want. There is pretty much an app for anything, you can truly make the phone yours, and with the new Android 2.2 software, battery life is far better than it used to be, and there are some small tweaks that just make the phone run a lot more efficiently.

I find that I learn something new everyday with this phone, so I can't wait to see what tomorrow has in store!

iPad Alternatives Are Becoming More Popular

With the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Tab, there is the expectation that more corporate users are going to demand it for their mobile internet needs. With the move away from paper and bulky laptops, tablets such as the Galaxy are likely to be popular with hospitals, doctors, and other business folk that have, until now, had to deal with endless paperwork.


The wait for the BlackBerry Playbook has also created an interest in these kinds of users, and functions such as HD capabilities, front and rear facing cameras, and the ability to tether with a BlackBerry device, such as the Torch, are tempting customers away from the ever-popular Apple iPad.


The Samsung Galaxy Tab is the first tablet device to allow full Flash performance, and with it's super high resolution AMOLED screen, the user experience is extremely impressive.


Until now, the Apple iPad has commanded tablet sales  with a 95% share of the market, but other manufacturers are jumping on the tablet bandwagon, with products set to emerge from Hewlett Packard, Motorola, Lenovo and Acer in the near future.


Companies that have so far focused their sales on standard PC's and laptops are looking to reduce their sales forecasts for these types of products in anticipation of cannibalization by the tablet market. Although the growth forecasts aren't changing dramatically, it is still evidence that customer preferences are moving to items that make their daily lives more efficient, and mean that they don't have to carry around such large devices to stay connected.


Most pricing is set to stay around the levels that Apple has set with its iPad, which suggests that customers are quite happy to pay between $299 and $699 for a new tablet.


This is definitely going to be an interesting market to watch over the Christmas season, and well into 2011. New competitors, new products - all very exciting!

Does Apple's iPad Face Some New Competition?

Originally posted October 1, 2010

Samsung and BlackBerry recently announced their new tablet devices. Are these possible contenders to the Apple iPad?

Samsung Galaxy Tab

• Launches at the end of November on Rogers Wireless
• 7-inch screen
• Runs Android 2.2
• Cortex A8 1 GHz processor
• 3-megapixel camera and a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera for video chatting
• Access to the Android Market (alternative to Apple's iTunes store)
• Support for Adobe Flash 10.1
• Wi-Fi
• It also seems that Samsung is positioning the tablet as a voice device

There is still no word on pricing for the Samsung Galaxy Tab, but industry experts feel it would be wise for Samsung to position this device as a competitor to the iPad, and so ensure that pricing is placed lower.

BlackBerry Playbook

• Full Adobe® Flash® 10.1 enabled
• Built-in support for HTML 5  
• 7" LCD display, 1024 x 600 screen resolution
• 1GHz dual core processor; 1GB RAM
• Built-in microUSB connector
• Multi-touch capacitive screen
• Wi-Fi
• On-screen keyboard
• True multi-tasking
• 3MP hi-def forward-facing camera; 5MP hi-def rear-facing camera
• 1080P HD video
• Ability to pair with BlackBerry Smartphone

No word on the launch date for this device, but be sure to take a look on BlackBerry's website for a sneak video (http://na.blackberry.com/eng/).

Top Ten Smartphone Companies for 2010

Originally posted June 4, 2010

iSuppli has ranked the world's Top 10 mobile phone companies (for Smartphones and feature phones) for the first quarter of 2010.
iSuppli states that smartphones are having a revolutionary impact on the wireless business as more people are moving to those compared to the standard feature phones.

iSuppli lists these Top 10 companies based on market share, and sequential growth:

iSuppli Rankings (Q1 market share): Nokia (37.4%) Samsung (22.3%) LG (9.4%) Sony Ericsson (3.6%) RIM (3.6%) Apple (3.0%) ZTE (3.0%) Motorola (3.0%) Huawei (2.1%) TCL-Alcatel (1.8%) Other (10.7%)

iSuppli Rankings (sequential growth) RIM (3.6%) Apple (0.2%) Samsung (-6.5%) TCL-Alcatel (-9.3%) Nokia (-15.1%) LG (-20.1%) Sony Ericsson (-28.1%) Motorola (-29.2%) ZTE (-35.6%) Huawei (-44.7%) Other (4.5%)

With Smartphone usage growing all the time, they are being hailed as the "hottest segment of the cell phone market" with anticipated growth this year to increase by another 35%.

This complements earlier blog posts that global smartphone shipments jumped 65% in the first quarter, and could well be the reason behind so many manufacturers including Smartphones in their handset line up. 

For more details, take a look at the entire article, from IQMetrix.

Samsung Launches Its First Android Device for North America

Originally posted March 11, 2010
Android seems to be the talk of the town in recent days and weeks around the communications water cooler. The newest contender for the GSM market is the Samsung Galaxy Spica i5700 - although this is North America's first Samsung Android to come to market, it is the second seen in Europe and the fourth worldwide.

Features:

• Android 1.5 platform
• 800MHz processor
• Support for video files
• Pre-installed "switcher" applications
• Two colour variations - black/red and white/green
• 3.2 inch screen with a resolution of 320 x 480 pixels, and supporting 16 million colours
• 3.2MP camera with video capability

User Feedback - Positive:

• Fashionable and sleek
• Slim and compact with minimal navigational buttons
• Applications load smoothly one at a time
• Platform is user friendly, especially for those who have previous experience with the Android OS
• Device can run continuously for two days on HSPA (3G) connectivity
• Moving through applications on the device is smooth and simple, with only a handful of front facing buttons to use

User Feedback - Not-So-Positive:

• Looks very similar to a previous model
• Surface is prone to fingerprints and scratches
• Only 200MB of internal storage
• No flash on the 3.2MP camera
• Having a hard time keeping up with the previous model in terms of speed, functionality, and in-built items, such as the camera and on-board storage
• Have to hold the unlock button down for a long period of time to get the handset going
• Device can become laggy when using multiple applications

Overall Thoughts:

An average device suitable for users that like some multi-media capabilities. If the user is not hard on the device, and wants something to keep them connected, then the Galaxy Spica is the Android device for them. However, for those power users who want something a little more impressive, critics are suggesting the "older brother" model, the i7500.