Compiled by Ciara O’Brien
Sony Ericsson Xperia X10
With the appetite for large touchscreen phones showing no sign of waning, Sony Ericsson has got in on the act with its Xperia X10. Running on Android, Sony Ericsson’s software has been layered over it to add in things like Timescape, which organises all your communication with one person in one place, such as Twitter updates, Facebook profiles, text messages and e-mails. Mediascape, meanwhile, manages your photos, music and videos, all on a 4-in screen. It also automatically recognises connections between contacts, content and media, and includes extras such as face recognition for images. Under the hood it runs on a 1GHz Snapdragon processor so it is reasonably fast. It also comes with an 8GB memory card in the box so you shouldn’t run out of storage space too quickly. The phone is now available across O2, Vodafone and 3 networks. http://www.sonyericsson.com
SmartSwipe (¤84)
Online shopping may be convenient, but what could make it even better? Never having to type in your credit card number again? Increased security? The SmartSwipe covers both of those. The device ditches the keyboard and requires you to simply swipe your card. It connects to your PC via USB and sends your credit card data directly to the online payment page. All you have to do is click the submit button. This means an end to painstakingly typing out credit card numbers. And because it encrypts the information and sends it directly to the payment site, there’s less chance of your details being grabbed by malicious software. It doesn’t store any information on the device. SmartSwipe is compatible with most payment sites and will work with Mastercard, American Express, Visa and Visa Debit cards. However, it is not currently compatible with Macs.
Novatel MiFi 2352
Vodafone mobile broadband hotspot (€79)
Vodafone mobile broadband just got a little more convenient. The Novatel MiFi 2352 gives a mini Wi-Fi hotspot that you can take with you on the move. It can be shared with up to five Wi-Fi devices, so you can hook up your iPhone, PC, laptop, hand-held games console and other wireless-enabled devices to it. It has only got a single button so using it is relatively easy – switch it on and the LED light will tell you if it is connected to a high-speed network within a short period of time. If you need to configure it, you can do so over any web browser. The device can connect at speeds of 5.7Mbps right up to 7.2 Mbps. A micro SD card slot allows you to share files with other devices on the hotspot. Plus,the Mifi charges over USB.
http://www.vodafone.ie
