Props and Slops for HTC Tattoo vs other HTC Android phones

Props:

• Compact size - smaller than G1, Magic, Hero and of course Dragon.
• Internal FM Radio - in a cheaper model, not in the flagship models!  Quite a surprise
• Speed - the speed is comparable with HTC Hero
• Changable case - unlike most models, the case can be replaced easily, so you can buy another case when you sell the phone and claim it's like new :P
• More friendly price - while most phones are at least €300, this one is cheaper.
• 3.5mm audio jack - yes, of course.
  
• Android 1.6 Donut!!
  

• New Market - the old Market is crippled and worked like crap before Android 1.5 Cupcake, you usually won't be able to find the software you really want, while install a pile of other crappy programs.  With Android 1.6 Donut, at least you get to view the screenshots of the apps.  (I have no doubt to say Apple's AppStore is waaaaaaaaay more user friendly)
• "Quick Search Box" - now we can search most items in one integrated interface, including Apps (by name), Footprints, SMS, Peep (Twitter), Web, Contact etc.  Slower than iPhone, but the feature is still very useful.
  

Slops:

• Smaller display - smaller size, smaller display, common sense.  This machine has a QVGA resolution.
• No trackball - the trackball is addictively good, HTC should continue making them (if you switch from the ones without trackball, chances are you won't mind at all)
• Weaker hardware specifications - it's a beginner Android phone anyway
  

HTC Tattoo Buy Links:

Computer Universe <- Best site to buy a phone for residence outside America ships worldwide.  Voucher code for €5 off : (See this entry of our blog)

Alternatively, there are fascinating Android phones coming out in November, you can also wait for a Motorola Droid or a SonyEricsson Xperia X3 (3 November).

Like WM phones, it's usually pointless to "upgrade" to a second Android phone

The practical reason for changing an Android phone to another Android phone.

True, hardware specification might be quite different from handset to handset, but the core of the phone are usually the same.

As the moment, you can't expect 

• a safe Bluetooth file transfer feature
• a real radio function (i.e. not via Internet)
• alarm when power-off

While the buddies on xda-developer.com keep trying to break the Bluetooth restriction, the radio one is a hardware constraint that it is not possible to change.

The power-off alarm function, however, is an Operating-System level constraint.  I remember that my very first mobile phone 10 years ago could wake me up even if it was switch off.  While most phone running proprietary system will easily have alarm when you switch off the phone, those "smarter" phone systems, including Android and also Windows Mobile, cannot have this feature.  This is kind of lame, but we might have to realise the rationale behind this.

When an Android or a Windows phone is switch off, the entire operating system won't run, except the clock, which will consume a tiny flow of battery.  While it is relatively easy to trigger the alarm time based on the clock, the problem is to get the phone ringing, it would not be able to sound without fully launching the phone.

If you pay enough attention to new Android phones spouted by so many brands – HTC G1/Magic/Hero/Dragon etc, Samsung Galaxy, that Motorola "Droid" monstrosity, Sony Ericsson Xperia x3 – they only have slight differences.  With or without keyboard, CPU choice, ROM size, camera resolution, screen size.  The operating system is, however, the same.  A very basic G1 should be enough for newbies to familiarize with the system.

I have tried both HTC Dream (G1) and HTC Hero (G2), in some cases Dream served me better than Hero, especially if I were texting heavily.

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.

Our favorite feature of Opera 10

Why do we pick Opera?

- Speed, of course
Despite there are tests that Opera drains the battery quicker than IE/Firefox/Chrome (it does beat Safari), Opera has a bliztering speed of loading webpages. Good stuff.

- Recovery of closed tabs
Sometimes, we accidentally close a tab. True, there is a function and a hotkey for Firefox, but Opera's list is way more comprehensive.

- Opera Turbo
Opera Turbo is good theroetically, however, when you are really in need of it, chances are you are in your company or school, behind layers of proxy servers and firewalls. Using Turbo might hinder your browsing experience in this case.

- Mouse Gesture
U+D = Reload, we've been spoiled by Opera so much that even when we were using Firefox, we still need to install a gesture extension. Gesture is essential.

- Page Source Tweaking
Now, our favorite feature desired for some time.  Modifying a page doesn't necessarily need Grease Monkey for Firefox any more!  (Note: we are not hacking, we are modifying local data stored in the cached memory of our local machine without infringing intellectual properties) Edit and Save is useful not only to trick your friends, you can even bypass the unnecessary wait for downloading the file on file hosting site.

When we attempt to download certain resource from the file hosts, like this, Rapidshare, we usually need land on a pay-or-wait page, like this:

Now when we want to load faster, we modify the source code a bit.  To do this, open the file source (Ctrl+U), and you should be seeing lots of codes.  Don't panic.  For example, in Rapidshare, it uses a countdown script to slow down the download of free users.  In this page, we can search for the word "remaining" because it is mentioned in the waiting message.  Once we located the line, we find "c=c-1" on the next line.  This means a value "c" is decreasing gradually, in a unit-by-unit rate.

Changing c=c-1 to c=c-10 will make the countdown process ten times faster!  Remember to click "Save" on the top.  Just by we save the modification, the clock goes uber fast:

No, sorry to disillusion you, it's not porn, it's just a Radio upgrade for the HTC Hero.

We can use this for surprising friends too!  Changing Google.com to gOOgle.com does not make things special, but everyone has his/her own mischievous thoughts :)

 

Opera 10 can be downloaded directly on Opera's official site. (click here for the Opera Download page)

For More portability, Opera@USB enables you to stuff all files necessary for Opera in a USB stick. 

Order status from ComputerUniverse

Remember we have ordered two HTC Heroes (White and Silver) from the German online store ComputerUniverse.net last month? (Click here for the article) Once we received the items, we have been playing with it, and unaware about the promised feedback on the order. Thanks to our reader, Rykel, for his kind reminder.

We heard about this company from a user from Hong Kong, and heard that the company ships quite fast. So when Expansys had its absurd price increase after we placed the order, we quickly turned to Computer Universe.

Price: At the time of purchase, it’s 20% cheaper than the market price in Hong Kong. At the time of arrival, it’s around 5% cheaper. Can’t ask for more when the official launch here in Hong Kong is 1.5 months later, on 19 September.

Delivery time: Upon payment, we quickly get a track code on 6 August. With the track code we were able to trace the item with impatience on DHL Germany site. On ComputerUniverse’s side, they do ship quickly, as reflected on the track time on DHL post. It took seven calendar days for the parcel to arrive Hong Kong (13 August), plus one day for the Hong Kong Post to deliver (14 August). Eight days is a pretty standard time for normal air mail.

Package protection: The package we received is well wrapped carton box. The box is a bit large to store the two HTC Hero machines, but there were enough paper ribbons for adequate shock protection. So, when we receive the package, the two boxes are undamaged.

Product: Standard package in Germany, just like the unboxing videos on YouTube, with handset, battery, back cover, adaptor, 2G Micro-SD card with backgrounds and MP3 and driver, 3.5mm hands-free, USB-ext cable, USB adaptor, printed matters. So it is incompatible with the UK plug using in Hong Kong. Fortunately an USB charger is easy to come by, just beware that the lower Ampere ones cannot fully charge the Hero.

Overall: All in all, a hassle-free experience. As simple as shop-checkout-shipping. Reasonable priced and good delivery. Definitely would recommend buying from them.

Product search

Note: computeruniverse.net = computeruniverse.de

Note 2: quote the coupon code (voucher code) for €5 off your purchase: FW8TY5K