The Nokia Lumia 900 is currently Nokia’s premier Windows Phone (WP) device and, while we’re hoping to see its successor announced over the next few weeks, we still thought it was high time to give a Lumia 900 a review. It’s true that many Windows Phone devices can come off feeling quite similar, as there isn’t much leeway in terms of interface or hardware currently, so just what is it that has the WP world so deeply in love with the Lumia 900?
We've had a few months to settle in with the latest reforms for the telco industry and mull them over. Here at WhistleOut, we don't believe that the latest ACMA code (beginning next month) will fully stop 'bill shock' for Australian consumers. This new telecommunications industry reform package goes only part of the way to preventing the problem. The new rules will enable prevention, but they are not the cure.
The Samsung Galaxy S3 (aka S III) should need no introduction. It’s the latest record-breaking Android flagship device from the world’s #2 smartphone manufacturer. Bringing more than just upgraded specs to the table, the Galaxy S3 is the fastest-selling Android smartphone to date with an estimated 19 million units to have shipped by the end of Q3 of 2012.
The HTC One S is the second smartphone down the new HTC One line of phones comprise of the One X, One S and One V in descending order of hardware specs. The One S is a sleek device aimed at providing a solid, modern Android experience without charging premium rates or relying on OS updates. We grabbed a hold of one to see just how successfully HTC managed to deliver this reliable yet affordable experience to its users with our HTC One S review.
Australian mobile phone users will find it much easier to compare mobile phone plans following the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) announcement of the Telecommunications Consumer Protection (TCP) code. The TCP code is a result of many months of discussions between the ACMA, the telecommunications industry, and consumer groups, with the goal being the simplification and standardisation of Australian telecommunications offerings. A number of key changes have been agreed upon, including:
The Vodafone Pocket WiFi is essentially a small, dedicated WiFi hotspot device capable of supporting up to 5 devices with wireless internet simultaneously. The Pocket WiFi Pro is a pleasantly compact device. In fact, when not streaming broadband we found that we often forgot which pocket it was in, even when it was jammed in with other items such a smartphone or wallet.
Telstra has revamped its mobile phone plan offerings, replacing the old Freedom Connect plans with a new range called Every Day Connect plans. We've pushed through the plan updates and full details can be found in our comparison table. Telstra has retained its position of charging customers "premium" rates for the ability to take advantage of superior Telstra network coverage.
Since 2004 both Telstra and Hutchinson have been operated a mutual network sharing deal for their 3G networks. The joint venture gave customers of both the 3 and Telstra networks access to 3G connectivity as long as either a 3 or Telstra network was in range. The combined network was called the 3GIS network and was an enterprising move, as in 2004 3G was an new technology and network coverage was extremely limited.
Virgin Mobile today announced they were cutting down their range of mobile phone offerings to simplify the options for consumers. Gone are the low level $19, $29, and $39 Fair Go plans, along with the Pick & Mix and post paid Simple Plan. This change leaves Virgin Mobile with a much simpler looking plan matrix:
We know this one’s a little late, but we thought that while we eagerly await Samsung’s Galaxy S III to show up on our doorstep and with the Galaxy Note 2 supposedly around the corner we should at least finally do a Samsung Galaxy Note review. The phone/tablet, or “phablet”, hybrid has sparked polarising opinions amongst smartphone users regarding both its size and the viability of its capacitive stylus.