Battery stay at low level even after charging overnight?

There are some phones with higher current need, for example iPhone 3G and 3Gs, HTC Hero and Magic, Google Nexus One, HTC HD2, Samsung Omnia i8910, and Motorola Milestone. GeekTechPost.com

Sometimes you are might just be able to charge to around 50% – 60% of full battery, chances are you are using a USB hub or a bad AC adpator.  If so, you might need to use the original AC adaptor.  The rational behind this is that it cannot charge fully if the input ampere is lower than the requirement of the phone.  This way the electricity cannot be flowed to the phone and thus the phone cannot be charged. GeekTechPost.com

Next time when you buy an AC adaptor with USB out, remember to check the output of the phone – a 500mA adaptor is unlikely to fully charge a phone which requires 1A input(1A=1000mA). GeekTechPost.com

Samsung S8000 Jet (S8000H) Silent Camera Hack

- In dialpad, enter *#0002*28346# (No backspace/delete), to the engineer mode
- When you see a menu with TMCommand:811, press the return button on the lower right corner.
- Press (5) Audio, then (2), then (3)
- Press (6) for Camera volume
- Press (6) again, (SPK) (Camera vol.) read will become (SPK) (Camera vol.) White
- Change RX:75dB to RX:-46dB

Note: We have moved to http://geektechpost.com

Disclaimer: A silent camera might be illegal in some countries, please ensure you can do this legally.

Brief thought on Samsung "Mirror" series Digital Camera (ST500/ST550/TL225/TL250)

The dual-screen digital camera by Samsung, known as "ST500" and "ST550" "Mirror" series, (also known as TL225 and TL250) in USA.

The front and rear LCD screens are the feature of this 12MP DC.

Basic stats are not quite detailed in this article because we are not interested in it (sorry guys).

(Amazon Link) 

12.2 megapixels, 3.5-inch rear touchscreen LCD, MicroSD card slot, 4.6x optical zoom, 1280px720p HD recording, and the biggest "feature" is... the front 1.5" LCD screen - for your self-portrait.

Take a look at their press release:

• When you tap the front LCD, it turns on and automatically goes into Self-Portrait mode, ensuring that the user will always be framed exactly the way they want. You can also turn on the front LCD with a simple selection through the intuitive interface. As soon as you smile, the camera automatically takes the picture. But the Dual LCDs do more.
• In Children mode, the front LCD plays a fun animation to capture a child’s attention while taking their photo.
• Shutter mode ensures you take a photo of your subject while they’re smiling, the front LCD will display a “smiley face” when the shutter is pushed halfway thus signalling to the subject they should smile.
• Function Info helps you to know the features of every function, with the front LCD providing a visual readout of key camera settings, including whether or not the flash is engaged or if macro focus is in use.
• With Self-Timer, when taking a group photo using the self-timer, the front LCD will show a preview of the shot as well as a visual countdown timer so that everyone knows exactly when the photo will be snapped.

Our Thought
We would actually stick a mirror onto any given digital camera instead. This should save you a hundred bucks.

Comparison Table: (Hero) Dream vs Magic vs Hero vs (Samsung) Galaxy

First Solar Energy Phone Samsung Guru E1107

As the world's very first solar-powered mobile phone, Samsung E 1107 is already launched in India as a budget phone.

This budget phone is currently selling at MSRP of 2799 Indian rupees or US$59. E1107 offers basic functions like MP3 and Radio with a relatively small screen of 1.5" 128x128 pixels.

Although this phone claims to be solar-powered, it, sadly, cannot be regarded as the primary electrcity supply - according to various sites, exposure in direct sunlight for one hour can only support up to 10 minutes of talk time.

Looks like it will take another 10 years to have major breakthrough in solar energy utilization.

E1107 will be available in Europe and Asia by the end of June 2009.

Samsung S8300 "UltraTOUCH" launches early May 2009

In Samsung's press conference in Hong Kong, it is revealed that the latest 8 megapixel camera feature phone S8300 (coded in Hong Kong as "S8300H") will be available early May, with unknown MSRP.

Unlike previous TouchWiz series, S8300 UltraTOUCH comes with a dialpad, which is essential for sending SMS during meetings/lectures.

In addition, for this generation of TouchWiz, new widgets can be downloaded from the Internet, feeding your machine with financial and weather information. Depsite supporting 7.2Mbps HSDPA, S8300 UltraTOUCH lacks wi-fi, meaning that you must pay data connection fees to download widgets if your tariff plan doesn't include.

With Google Map pre-installed in the phone, it can update user's approximate location with info by the operator's station. RingHK reports that the GPS chip cannot be used on Google Map - this may be their problem, and we do not have a hold of the machine so we are not sure about this particular point yet.

The 240 x 400 resolution 2.8 inches AMOLED screen is the same level as M8800, which is about right for a touchphone. As merely using the 880mAh battery will never satisfy a 4.1" screen like Toshiba's TG01.

There is also an accelerometer for S8300, when you tilt the phone, the screen will become landscape mode. Handy for taking pictures.

For camera performance, it successfully inherit the merits of M8800, clear and sharp photos are not difficult to take with its upgraded 8 megapixel camera. You can see the sample from RingHK and from ePrice (warning: links are bandwidth unfriendly).

It has the features of an entertainment camera phone - face detection, smile detection and eye-blink warning are included. The camera is also of impressive speed, comparable to a low-end digital camera. (You will know what we're talking about if you've been using any camera phones, sloooooooow)

We speculate that the price should be around HK$3,880 - HK$4,380 (US$497-US$562). Anything more than this just doesn't worth, unless a 8MP camera is critical to you.

Via ringhk and ePrice (contents in Chinese)

400x240 sized Wallpapers and screen backgrounds

As KU990 Viewty is 400 x 240 in pixel (WQVGA), other handsets with the same resolution can display these wallpapers too. Known handsets with the same resolution include:
LG Cookie KP500, Renoir KC910, Prada KE850
Samsung Omnia i900^*, Pixon M8800
SonyEricsson Xperia X1
K-Touch E60

*Note: 400 x 240 pixel pictures interacts poorly for Omnia i900's accelerometer, you will need larger pictures to eliminate the black edges

How big is 400x240 is in your screen? We have attached a photo of Ribeauville, Alsace, France for your reference. (If you like it, feel free to use it as your phone background.)

When we search the net, we found a massive load of screen background (swf) and wallpapers (jpg) for Viewty which you might want to see. High quality good stuff. http://www.reptilis.org/Viewty/index

Samsung C3110, interesting low-end 2G phone

We understand there must be some users who are not aiming to get all hi-tech stuff in one machine. Sometimes it get to back to basics.

C3110 is a slider phone which aims are basic users, no 3G shenanigans. It comes with Bluetooth and FM connectivity though.

Samsung C3110 has two very interesting features, attracting low-end users.

1) Motorola's Crystal Talk Technology. No, we are kidding, but according to the official site, it is actually Crystal Talk: "Thanks to Dynamic Noise Suppression, Handset Echo Canceller and other SAMSUNG's enhanced audio technology, SAMSUNG C3110 cancels out the echo and gives users the most crystal clear sound."

2) Forged incoming call function. Once enabled, you can activated it by hitting the down keys for four times. An anonymous call will be simulated and you have to pretend to be talking. For smooth action you can even pre-record the message so that you can "interact" with the "anonymous call". Superb function to interrupt annoying person / boring situations.

Oh and a bonus 3) for you guys:
8.5 hours talk time. Nuff said.

i908 Omnia hack - Modify sensitivity of touchscreen

Using any registry editor, go to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/HARDWARE/DEVICEMAP/TOUCH/

Change the value of CalibrationData to:
519,503 177,881 182,129 847,127 849,872
You can jot down the original values of your Omnia for backup purpose.

Save.

You should feel better touch when using, especially when dialing.

More about Omnia on GTP

Samsung Omnia i900 (i908) Silent Camera Hack

First, grab your Samsung Omnia i900/i908, type *#0002*28346# in your dialpad without editing

Go to notincall -> notincall_headset_camera -> common part -> speaker volume

Change the spk left value to -46.5, rinse and repeat for spk right

Technically it isn't silent, but the camera sound should be not audible.

More about Omnia on GTP

How to change wallpaper of Samsung F480 Tocco?

We're asked a couple of question regarding the background wallpaper of Samsung F480 Tocco.

Q: How to change the screensaver wallpaper for Samsung Tocco?
- No, you can't do that. No, we're not kidding.

Q: Okay, so how to change the background wallpaper for Samsung Tocco?
- Drag the widget out and choose, you can pick to use your own pictures as background too. If you don't see the widget, enable it in settings.

Samsung PIXON M8800 or LG KC910 Renoir?

There has been comparison on Samsung Pixon M8800 (M8800H) and LG KC910 Renoir recently. Here we provide a really simple comparision for your convenience.

What Renoir features but Pixon lacks:

• wi-fi
• front camera for video call (CMOS 0.3 megapixel)
• Xenon flashlight (Pixon uses LED flash)
• ISO 1600
• 120 fps video

What Pixon features but Renoir lacks:

• 720 x 480 video (Renoir is 640 x 480)
• 16x digital zoom
• 200 MB internal memory (100 MB for Renoir)
• a larger screen (3.2" for Pixon, 3.0" for Renoir)

As of 14 January 2009, Renoir sells for $440 and Pixon sells for $490 here. Seems Renoir wins in many ways but the screen size and outlook. It is still not clear that the Renoir will have the versatile customization ability like its precedator KU990 Viewty, but all in all, we believe that Renoir has some edge on the competition.

Verizon Samsung Omnia Low Battery Beep Issue

We have recently received a question from an US reader on his Samsung Omnia beeping in silent mode. So far only Verizon's version has been reported having the issue of beeping every five minutes of "low battery" in any mode, including silent mode. We have heard no case for other carrier's (Europe, Asia etc) on similar problems. If you are using a non-Verizon Omnia and still have this problem, please leave a comment below and we will follow up. Verizon users can attempt to modify the system registry at your own risk. The file in concern and in irritation is called "phonelowbatt.wav", you can try to do something on it. For example, change or add the value of the following registry: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ControlPanel\Sounds\phonelowbatt]

Change or add the value Sound to a .wav file with no sound, or to an invalid file.

Alternately, user might attempt to replace phonelowbatt.wav with another file, if possible.

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Update: Some reader pointed out that certain version of Omnia can change the low battery sound directly in option (Settings -> Personal -> Sound and Notification), you can change to a blank quiet.wav, and you can disable it, depends on model. If you don't see it, go to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ControlPanel\{A877D663-239C-47a7-9304-0D347F580408}\ Add a stringvalue with valuename: "Default" and valuedate "lowbatterywarning" try the above again.

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Users are encouraged to leave their feedback or question on this page. There are useful information in the comment of this article, please refer to it. Thanks to the anonymous contributor!

More about Omnia on GTP

Samsung's New T*Omnia SCH-M490

Samsung Omnia i900 (also known as i908) enjoyed a big success in various countries for its endless functionality and innovative widgets. The large screen it features is very clear to use but unfortunately the resolution was capped at 400 x 240. This resolution is acceptable for normal usage on its 3.2 inches screen, but rather pitiful facing its nemesis - HTC WM cellphones. Take HTC Diamond for example, features VGA - that's 640 x 480.

Now Samsung has fought back with its new masterpiece, called "T*Omnia" (or M490). The new T*Omnia features several upgrades to the specifications, the most notably, eye-catching shenanigan is the screen resolution to 480 x 800, so you can watch a video with much higher quality.

T*Omnia's screen has only increased by 0.1 inch but interestingly the difference is not difficult to spot.

T*Omnia also features "Satellite DMB" - Digital Multimedia Broadcasting. So if you are in Korea you can watch TV on the road.

According to their press release, the notable upgrades are just the resolution, screen size, and "DMB". All these features contribute to a increase in size of phone to 115 x 58 x 14 mm. The size of Omnia suits quite perfectly for a male adult's palm, so (in my opinion) it's not quite female-friendly. The enlargement in size will surely makes T*Omnia less appeal to women.

Extend the Battery Life of Samsung F480 Tocco

Extending the Battery Life

Here are some recommendations to prolong your Tocco's battery life, but they're really common sense:

• Disable flash-light when unnecessary
• Disable operation beeps and vibration feedback
• Set background light to a comfortable level.
• Disable Bluetooth

Samsung F480 Tocco Quick Tips

Samsung F480 Tocco, or known as "Anycall" "F488" in certain Asian countries, is a 3.5G phone with fast response and nice outlook. Do you know some or all of the tips? Here are some of tips on using the phone.


Dialling
When dialling, tap and hold the final digit and you will not need to fill in any additional numbers. Handy if you dont want your hand off the screen.


Silent Camera
If your F480 (or F488) can't set the camera to silent, and you feel you need to take some photos silently, say in restaurant or in an expo, you might consider loading the phone with another ROM. Changing ROM is not difficult for Samsung mobiles and there are lots of coverage on the web. (Disclaimer: Improper use might void the warranty.)


Equiette
Its operating beeps is very irritating to passengers. To maintain proper equiette and reduce battery usage, it is recommended to set disable the beeps.


Face Detection
If you face difficulties when using face detection function, try asking the person in picture to remove their eyeglasses. This might sound really awkward and stupid, but most of the time it works.