Decide what to buy: the Reevoo.com blog

Rumours have been flying around about a Google Android mobile for ages now but it seems that it may all come true sooner than we thought. Earlier today, Reuters leaked a story that Google and T-Mobile are on the verge of releasing the first mobile equipped with Android. The sleuths believe that we could hear news as early as the 23rd September.

Much to my disappointment, the rumours suggest that it will run on an HTC handset – not the most exciting of prospects but we know the technology will be worth it. Let’s hope the handset’s not too clunky.

Just in case you haven’t heard about Google Android, it’s an open source operating system and software platform for mobiles. Among other cool things, it will allow you to combine applications – so you could be looking up a contacts address and need to find where they live. With a simple click, you will be taken to the map application which will show you exactly where to go. You can also quickly switch your view to ‘street level’ so that you can see what the place looks like too. Very handy.

There’s also text chat that shows up at the top of the screen whenever you get a ‘notification’.

There are loads more features and functions – check out this video to see Google founder Sergy Brin and Steve Horowitz talking about Android with a demo:

You can also find out more on the Android website.

It seems that the iPhone has won even more fans in the shape of HSBC chiefs. The powers that be over at the global bank have decided to look into using iPhones as their executive weapon of choice. That would mean replacing their fleet of around 300,000 BlackBerry devices.

Now that the new iPhone 3G is compatible with Microsoft Exchange servers, it has become more attractive to business as well as consumers. Its larger screen and applications geared towards trading and accounting are adding to the iPhones capability to become a serious business competitor.

News from the BlackBerry camp is that the BlackBerry Thunder, equipped with a large touch screen, will be released later this year to go into direct competition with the iPhone. Watch this space for a smartphone stand-off…

Did you think that moving text and photos on magazine covers were only possible in Harry Potter? Well they’re so last month. Esquire magazine have already decided to mark their 75th anniversary edition (in October this year), by using E-ink.

The technology includes a tiny battery that has to last until the magazine is sold. It currently lasts for 90 days and will also power a moving Ford advert (Ford will be sponsoring the issue), inside the magazine.

The batteries won’t be the greenest things on Earth; they will have been made in China, assembled in Mexico, via Texas and then distributed in refrigerated trucks but I guess it was all about the novelty with them.

But it doesn’t end there. If you thought that was cool, they’ve also come up with moving mobile phone covers. The Hitachi W61H (above) has a load of moving images on its cover. Its 2.7 inch E-ink display switches between 96 different images when you receive a call or message or when you open it up. Japanese designer, SeKiYuRiO, designd the phone with a perfume bottle in mind. The Casio Model G’zOne, which also uses E-ink, will be released this summer.

All this moving business is great news for loads of other technology: we could see fridges that tell you what’s empty without you having to open them up, pictures of callers that flash up on mobile phone covers or cars which can display different designs. The possibilities are endless!

[Wired]

Has the PSP gone micro pocket-sized? Nope, it’s the new Sony Ericsson F305. You’d be forgiven for thinking it was a mini gaming device because it’s been decorated with the classic ‘O’ and ‘X’ buttons as well as a D-pad. They’ve even mixed in a bit of wii. Nintendo Wii, that is. The pre-loaded games on the F305 are movement-controlled, much like the Wii. You’ve got Bowling, Bass fishing and Jockey – sounds thrilling doesn’t it? But if that doesn’t get you excited, maybe the stereo speakers on the back of the handset, the Bluetooth multiplayer games, the expandable memory or the track ID will?

If you’ve been wondering about what colours the handsets come in, you can chose from polar white or mystic black, which I think may have been so-called to make the phones sound a bit more exciting. If you don’t share my scepticism, you can race to pick one up at the end of the summer. It’ll be aimed at the low to mid-range market so it shouldn’t break the bank – good job, if you ask me…

Remember our post about Nokia’s amazing nanotechnology phone of tomorrow? Well, our friends at Omio have been sharing some more secrets about Nokia’s plans for world domination so I thought I should let you all in on them too. They’re packed pull of swivelling, scrolling and bending excitement.

If any of you have a Nokia 7373, you’ll be quite used to the look of this first handset. It has the same swivelling action but depending on which way you swivel, different layers are revealed. On one layer, is the normal keypad with numbers a plenty but the other layer reveals a much more exciting touch pad which you can doodle on with a stylus.

Think that sounds good? Oh there’s so much more! Along the same lines as an iPod circular touch pad for scrolling, but halved, so it takes up less room, the next handset design brings back the clean simplicity of the touch pads of yesteryear but with increased functionality. This allows more room for the screen, the most important part.

Last of the secrets is all about the bending. If you’ve ever tried to watch a film on your phone without holding it, you might appreciate this next bit. This handy design allows you to rest your trusty handset on a surface so you can enjoy your films without the wrist cramp. Great stuff.