BenQ Joybook Lite U101 reviewed

Folks at laptopmag have recently reviewed the highly anticipated netbook by BenQ, the Joybook Lite U101. While they were quite impressed with the bright display and artistic lid of this netbook, they were not so happy with the cramped keyboard and sub-par battery life. Laptopmag says,

BenQ valiantly tries to make a splash in the netbook space. The Joybook Lite U101 sports a fun design and offers solid performance, but it’s outshined by other 10-inch netbooks when it comes to endurance and ergonomics. For example, the $499 Samsung NC10 comes standard with a longer lasting six-cell battery and has a better keyboard. This netbook has style, but we wish it had more substance.

Here are the quick specifications of this netbook:

  • CPU: 1.6-GHz Intel Atom N270
  • OS: Windows XP Home
  • RAM/Expandable: 1.5/2GB
  • Hard Drive Size/Speed: 160GB/5,400 rpm
  • Display/Resolution: 10.1 inches/1024 x 576

BenQ tried to make this netbook to look a little different from the rest of the netbooks, but they should have integrated a quality 90%+ laptop size keyboard to make the whole typing experience better for the people. Keyboard is now becoming the most important feature for the people who want to buy a netbook for themselves. May be in the next Joybook, they will come up with a better keyboard.

Nokia N96 Gets a Firmware Update

Nokia has just released a firmware update for the Nokia N96, which includes:

  • A new version of the Nokia Switch application (v4.0)
  • Improvements in still camera image quality and clarity
  • Compatibility with the new Nokia Email Service
  • Improvements to Bluetooth compatibility
  • System stability fixes and improved device speed
  • and some other fixes

About Nokia N96

The Nokia N96 is a dual-slider Symbian S60 Feature Pack 2 (v3.2) smartphone with a 2.8-inch QVGA screen, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, 16 GB of internal memory, a microSDHC memory card slot, and a built-in DVB-H digital TV tuner (for supported markets).

On the software side, the N96 features a full PIM suite, Mail for Exchange, Nokia Maps 3, the Webkit-based Nokia Web Browser, and the N-Gage gaming platform.

Head on to the Nokia N-series site to upgrade your N96 to the latest firmware

More details on the soon-to-be-released SONY netbook

As the release date of the mysterious SONY netbook comes near, more and more information is getting revealed everyday. Sascha at netbooknews.de has some more information about the upcoming netbook from SONY. According to netbooksnews.de, it will have:

  • Z520 Intel Atom processor @ 1.3Ghz clock speed
  • 2GB RAM
  • Hard disk or Optional SSD
  • GPS
  • UMTS :!:

By the rumored pictures of this mysterious device, it looks like it is going to be very light. Is it going to be possible replacement of the now-obsolete UX series?

Price is rumored to be around 700 euros. The launch date is rumored to be between Jan 7-Jan 10.

Google Android on a Netbook? Yes, it is now possible!

Who would have thought of doing that? Well, not us, but the folks at VentureBeats thought of doing so and they have been able to run the Google Android OS on the ASUS EEE 1000H. After some work, they were able to get Graphics, Sound and even Wireless working on it. An interesting point to note is that the Android was actually able to adjust itself according to the resolution of the EEE 1000H.

Google Android on a Netbook? Yes, it is now possible!

Sadly, since they were using the Open Source version, which does not include the Android Market. This deprived them of downloading applications to their Android EEE (yet)

It is great that very soon, there will be an option to run the Google Android, but with a Netbook, which has the capability to run full OS like Windows XP, Vista or any Linux Distro, it makes less sense to run such a “weak” mobile OS. Let us better leave them for the ARM devices :)

Also read  ASUS EEE 904HA REVIEW

HP wants to use Intel Atom processors in the regular Notebooks.

HP is reportedly in negotiations with Intel to use the Intel Atom processor in the regular notebooks. Sadly, it would be difficult to do so as the Intel Atom was made to be run only on the netbooks and due to the restriction that they are allowed to be used only in the devices with 10.2″ or less, HP is going to have a hard-time convincing the Intel to use the Atom in their regular notebooks.

HP wants to use Intel Atom processors in the regular Notebooks

Well, it is true that the Intel don’t want the OEMs and companies to use the Intel Atom processor in the regular notebooks. But, the Dell mini 12 is a 12.1″ Netbook, which uses regular notebook resolution too (1280 x 800) uses hte Intel Atom processor. So, this means that Intel has infact allowed some companies to use Intel Atom processor in some devices.

Is the market ready for the netbooks breaking into 13-inch+ category? Well, not all people need the power of the Core 2 Duo or Dual-Core processors. Majority of the Notebook users use their devices for Internet and for running office productivity applications. Intel Atom has no problem running them.

HP has a great brand image and with high volume sales, HP may be able to get Intel convinced.

Also see: ASUS EEE 1000H running Vista with no problems. ASUS EEE 1000H with Windows 7

SensorScroll [HTC DIAMOND and HTC TOUCH PRO]

The SensorScroll uses the Diamond’s scroll wheel to perform scroll-up and scroll-down functions. By default, it performs different functions in different applications. For example: In IE mobile, it scrolls few lines or hop to the nearest link; in notes, it zoom in/out and so on. When using SensorScroll, it OVER-RULES their functions and performs scrolling-up and scrolling-down.

Instructions:
1. Install the application. It adds shortcut in Programs and in WindowsStartup folders
2. Right after installation you may run the application from Programs shortcut (name is Diamond SensorScroll)
3. To use application open a Window with horizontal scroll bar like Programs or File Explorer and try rotating the scroll sensor clockwise for scroll down and counter clockwise for scroll up.
4. Have fun!
5. To stop the application run it again and it will give you an option to stop it.

Get it from here

T-Mobile Dash Black now available [Windows Mobile Standard]

Remember the T-Mobile Dash 2 we mentioned few days back? Well, it has now been made available on the T-Mobile’s website. As we mentioned before, it is exactly same as before except few cosmetic changes, which include:

  • Removal of aluminum front piece
  • Windows Mobile 6.1 replacing the old Windows Mobile 5.0(which was later replaced by Windows Mobile 6.0 by a ROM upgrade)
  • More spaced-out keys

T-Mobile Dash Black now available

T-Mobile Dash black is still a decent QWERTY phone. It costs just $99 now after discount and mail-in rebate, which still makes it a pretty good deal.

Some great S2U2 themes [windows mobile professional]

The S2U2 is a great application, which uses iPhone-like lock/unlock mechanism to lock/unlock your Windows Mobile device. It comes with the following theme. Without a doubt, everything looks too iPhone-ish.

There is a way to give it a completely new look. See the following theme, which I’m using on my HTC DIAMOND.

Visit BOB_55’s website for more S2U2 stuff, which includes: Continue reading “Some great S2U2 themes [windows mobile professional]”

DredSensor – Reassign Answer and End key when needed [HTC TOUCH DIAMOND and HTC TOUCH PRO] – quick look

It is not unknown fact that the HTC Diamond’s and HTC Touch Pro’s D-Pad is very difficult to use. Quite a lot of time, I press the keys around the D-Pad when pressing one of the direction keys. Dredger97, a great coder at Xda-Devs has developed an application, which lets you modify the functions of Answer key and End key respectively.

To use it, just go to the application where you wish to change the functions of those keys surrounding D-Pad. Then, take the stylus out and put it right back-in in 1 seconds or less. You will get a message box telling you the application name. In the following screenshot, I am playing “Lemonade”.

Continue reading “DredSensor – Reassign Answer and End key when needed [HTC TOUCH DIAMOND and HTC TOUCH PRO] – quick look”