Samsung announces the more affordable bada device — the Wave 723
After having a go at the original Wave S8500, we still have our reservations on the bada platform developed by Samsung. There’s nothing wrong with the hardware but the bada OS, although brilliant in some aspects, fell short in most others making it a bit of a hit and miss affair.
With Android being ever present and the iPhone being annoyingly ubiquitous, it’s difficult for us to recommend the bada over the others. Samsung still has a long way to go but at least they are heading in the right direction.
Having covered the high-end segment with the Wave S8500, Samsung brings into the market an entry-level bada device of sorts.
The Samsung Wave 723 brings with it a 3.2in 400×200 LCD screen. Connectivity comes in the form of WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0 and 7.2Mbps HSDPA. There’s also 5MP camera (presumably of the same quality as on the high-end Wave) with flash, and although it does video, it doesn’t do it in 720p. There’s 90MB of on-board memory and that’s pretty much it.
No word on pricing, processor and much else but we’re expecting it to be at least RM300 cheaper than the high-end Wave with a processor speed of somewhere around 600Mhz or so.
We have to say that this Wave 723 is not really something we’re terribly excited about but it does look much better compared to the Wave S8500.
The Wave 723 will make its debut in Germany this September and will be introduced gradually into other markets including the SEA. Look out for it first here.
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OFFICIAL: SEA HTC Desires get Froyo OTA update
Finally the latest version of Android comes to the HTC Desire.
This is the official announcement made on the HTC’s SEA website:
Update – HTC Desire (Android 2.2) Firmware Over The Air (FOTA) update
Your phone will receive a notification of FOTA update when it is made available. Simply press OK to accept the update via a data connection such as Wi-Fi or GPRS/3G. After installing the update, you can confirm a successful update by confirming the Build number (From the Home Screen go to MENU> Settings> About Phone> Software Information> Build number). The new Build number after the update will be 2.13.707.1. Update: Android 2.2 and HTC Sense update. Note：Please back up your data first before upgrading your phone. We recommend using a free Wi-Fi hotspot or an unlimited data plan to apply this update. If not, standard data connection charges may apply. For any questions, please contact us at http://www.htc.com/www/CA_Hotline.aspx
While this is fine and dandy, we’re wondering when will the other Froyo worthy devices in HTC’s line-up — namely the Legend and Aria — be getting their updates.
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TM to start charging for UniFi installations
TM announced today that come 1 October 2010 TM will begin charging for UniFi installations.
From 1 October onwards TM will charge RM200 per installation for any UniFi package however the equiptment that comes with the UniFi package — the fiber modem, wireless router, IPTV set-top box, DECT cordless phone and additional outdoor terminals — will still be provided for free.
TM’s executive VP for consumer products, Imri Mokthar said in the announcement that although there will be an installation charge, those who has registered for UniFi before the changeover date will not have to pay for installation.
We think RM200 is a fair charge considering the amount of work required at the various equipment that you get for free. The fibre-optic cable that is laid in your house alone will cost more than RM200. So it’s a decent charge. What’s more the RM200 installation charge will be spread across five months at RM40/month, so you don’t actually feel the pinch right away and that’s ok too.
What we don’t like is how TM makes is sound that you’re actually getting an additional RM200 off if you sign-up for UniFi from now until 30 September. Technically you’re not, TM’s just going to start charging for installation after 30 September.
It’s really confusing for customers and very underhanded for TM. Shame on you TM for using such a tactic.
If you’re not up for paying the RM200, then sign-up ASAP. Though what is not being mentioned is what happens if an interested customer wants to sign-up for UniFi but stays in an area that is not yet covered.
Does the customer get to sign-up and have the RM200 installation charge waived when the UniFi service eventually becomes available in their area or will they have to wait for the service to be available and then sign-up?
On a side-note, there’s currently 9,000 UniFi subscribers and another 12,000 who have already signed-up waiting for the service to be installed. In July 2010, there was about 3,200 UniFi subscribers. No bad in a span of just a month.
You can read the full TM announcement after the jump.
UPDATE: Celcom to probe privacy breach allegation.
We have a feeling that a number of you people out there have a feeling that your personal information is being hawked off by your telco.
How else would you explain the many unsolicited text messages that you’ve been getting from services you won’t even consider subscribing to?
Problem is, there’s really no way to prove that the telcos are indeed selling off your private information. The telcos will tell us that our privacy is important to them and that they will never release our private information to any third party companies.
Here’s the thing, the telco are just saying that they are protecting our data but there’s no real proof that they are doing everything that they can to keep our data secure. So we have no choice but to just take whatever they say as truth. Many however, take words from our local telcos with a healthy dollop of salt.
Just recently, the papers reported a CEO has filed a suit against a “telecommunications company” for allegedly revealing to third parties the contents of her text messages and recordings of her telephone conversations.
The CEO is claiming RM20 million in damages and grievances.
It will be interesting to see how this suit will unfold and which party the court will rule in favour of. We are particularly interested which telco is being named the defendant in this case. If the CEO is successful in her suit, this will set a precedent for more such cases to come flooding into the civil courts of Malaysia.
Then the telcos will have to take data security and privacy very, very seriously.
What do you think? Have you been getting unsolicited text messages? Do you suspect that your telco has been selling of your personal information?
Comment us.