Software updates are always something to look forward to, especially when it comes to relatively new devices. After all, most updates not only fix existing problems, but more often than not, they come with additional new software capabilities and features that extend and expand the overall usefulness of a smart phone.

The Satio will be getting some interesting new tools as well as a few graphical improvements for those who would be pointing their phone browsers at the official Satio website by Sony Ericsson (use the update service command).

The big new addition here would be the additional WVGA quality recording for the Satio’s amazing 12 mega pixel camera. The snapper already comes with video LED lights, Xenon flash, auto focus, smile and face detection and geo-tagging. The new high resolution video has definitely made the Satio an impressive media phone.

Of course, all those good videos are nothing if you cannot show them off. The update will also give users better Facebook integration with a new app found in the Sony PlayNow menu. Even better is that addition of instant image uploads to Facebook and instant video uploads to YouTube –making that WVGA patch pretty useful.

This impressive set of new updates for the Satio certainly shows how far this Symbian smart phone has gone. Back in 2009, the Satio got a lot of publicity from Sony Ericsson’s massive marketing campaign –a powerful marketing boost that still had the Satio fall flat on its’ face as it suffered from sudden firmware problems that got it suspended from sales.

Sony Ericsson was still able to save the device by bringing out a patch to fix the errors and have the Satio back on shelves just right before the holidays.

Read more about the details of the Satio update patch on GSM Arena.

The new Apple tablet has been taking headlines since it was shown onstage by Steve Jobs late January. The device is an impressive piece of engineering, a single touch screen tablet that lets users access WiFi and 3G networks to go online and bring you internet connectivity. The tablet also supports applications for the iPod Touch and the iPhone which gives it a vast library of already available resources.

Its’ name may conjure images of a sanitary napkin, but the iPad is no laughing matter. This device could potentially change the way we look at daily published materials and the way we access the internet. Should the device replace daily published material, it can save us tons of paper used in newspapers and magazines, as well as plenty of fuel used in the publication and shipping processes. Aside from net access, the iPad also supports games, eBooks and the Apple iWork software (which allows users to type with an onscreen virtual keyboard). This 9.7 inch touch screen device comes with an A4 processor clocked at 1GHz (reportedly using ARM technology).

Anyway, those looking forward to purchasing this device will have to wait a little longer as Apple has announced that the device will not be out in the UK until later in April. The US version will be out a lot earlier by April 3 though only the 3G version of the device will be initially availably. It has been said that the non-3G version will be available when the iPad launches in the UK.

Apple has been quiet regarding the reasons why the release has been pushed back and why the non-3G version is not yet available. Speculations are currently pointing to recent news about Apple’s China manufacturers having production problems.

Read more about the delay in the iPad’s release at Mobile Today UK.

Okay, everyone take a deep breath.

Before we start jumping off to conclusions about a new, PSP phone coming our way, the only thing that Sony CEO Howard Stringer has announced is that the company is working on a new “touch screen device” that features web services and more features.

It sounds vague, but hardly anything we can pin a “PSP Phone” tag on.

This is the big headline at Know Your Mobile (sourced from Know Your Cell) and while we are all thumbs for an impressive Sony smart phone that actually plays UMD games –there is not real announcement yet and this is not the time to start making rumors about it.

Though on a side note, we would really, really want to see the Sony PSP Phone made.

The news here however, is that Sony is working on something new. The fact that Apple is being mentioned in a context of comparison places the possibility of two things: first a device that is pretty similar to the iPod Touch which would mean that the old Sony MyLo would be making a comeback in an entirely new form. Or second, Sony is planning to launch its’ very own touch screen tablet device –a solid possibility since Sony’s VAOI team has already been working on some pretty impressive mini-net books.

Well, since we are on the topic of a potential vaporware with the PSP Phone, here is a quick rundown of things that we would actually like to see if the device ever gets made; first off, dual analog sticks for better gameplay control, a built in camera (unlike the Chotto Shot accessory) and of course, a hot swappable SIM reader and support for 3G connectivity. Anyway, that is enough wishful thinking for now.

To see the original news article go to Know Your Mobile.

Apple may have not singled out Google or the Google Android OS itself, but since it is only targeting specific devices from HTC’s lineup, Apple might as well paint the bull’s eye on Google themselves.

Affected devices in the patent infringement lawsuit include the Dream, Magic, Hero, Droid Eris and the Nexus One –all HTC made smart phones using the Android operating system. The Nexus One may be Google branded, but it was still HTC that handled the manufacturing.

HTC is also one of the main reasons why the Google mobile platform is succeeding so well. Their devices are top notch, reliable, well designed and marketed wisely. The Apple iPhone has proven to be a tough cookie to beat, and while Androids are still far from surpassing Apple, it looks like Steve Jobs and company will not wait for that to happen.

The Apple CEO has already been quoted saying that competitors should focus on making new innovations instead of stealing technology –a strong claim despite the simple nature of patent infringement lawsuits.

With patent infringements, it is rarely a matter of stolen technology. Instead the involved parties include one that has created the technology and another that has been insightful enough to file a patent for the innovation years ahead of time.

The decision from Apple to actually file the case after 20 alleged infringements have been found is also a tactical decision. Instead of just filing one case that is quickly settled, Apple is going for a significantly larger case in the hopes of tying up HTC’s resources and development capabilities –not to mention the ability to trade properly; which means shipping finished devices might come to a stop.

Read more about the HTC and Apple lawsuit and what its affects for the mobile industry are at Softpedia.

Acer, a Taiwanese international computer manufacturer has revealed to the world what looks like a version 2.0 of its older Acer Liquid A1 mobile phone. Unveiled during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the mobile phone has quite a number of similarities to last year’s Liquid phone model.

Looks the Same, Feels the Same

The Acer Liquid e has not traded in the older Liquid’s blunt and blocky look. It keeps the A1’s blocky chassis and as a result also keeps the problems of its predecessor. The flat rectangular body lacks a comfort grip and the general look does not complement the stylish new Google Android Éclair version 2.1 operating system it comes with. The bright new screen is also overshadowed by the rehashed design. It is no wonder that other mobile phones supporting the Android 2.1, such as the Nexus One, are being noticed a bit more than Acer’s new entry to the smart phone line.

Looking Inside the Liquid e

An X-ray of the Liquid e would reveal a 768 MHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 8259 processor which is still under clocked from its original 1 GHz but should run like an athlete from the Olympics as far as performance is concerned.

This year’s Liquid offers a 3.5-inch WVGA capacitive high definition touch screen.  The screen size is at 3.5 inches with an 800 pixel resolution. A respectable 5.0 mega pixel camera with Auto Focus is also installed in the Liquid e and the package is completed by a standard 3.5mm headphone jack.

Like most smart phones, the Acer Liquid e is Wi-Fi capable. Aside from the quad band GSM, EDGE and GPRS connectivity, it also has Bluetooth and mini USB connection support. High speed internet access is also featured through a 7.2 Mbps 3G connection via HSDPA/HSUPA networks.

Thanks to the Android 2.1, a number of new apps such as the dynamic Google Earth and weather apps complement the Liquid e. If mobile phone conversations are preferred though, not using any energy-draining apps would lend the 135g smart phone about five hours of talk time. Another plus factor is due to the fact that Acer kept their phone customizations to a bare minimum.

Since Android 2.1 was not changed much by Acer, the speed while running the OS also feels liquid. The phone also boasts added SMS and MMS support for easier recall of text message conversations.

The Verdict

Acer’s press release on the Liquid e focuses heavily on the Google Android 2.1. Considering the small amount of differences the newer model has over the Liquid A1, it is definitely no surprise. It is more baffling that Acer would release a clone of its older phone just to feature the Android 2.1. If it feels like a marketing ploy, it really probably is.

The bottom line is if you are the owner of an older Liquid mobile phone then there is really no need to update to the Liquid e just yet. It may be worth holding out for a newer smart phone model that uses the much coveted Google Android 2.1 Éclair operating system with more hardware and design updates.

Face it; we should now have a term for disorder of chronic mobile phone users. In fact, the disorder is so varied that there should even be specifics –such as Crackberry (addiction to sending and receiving emails through Blackberry phones).

Anyway, while we have yet to come up with a snappy term for people who would never last fifteen minutes without posting an update on Facebook, there is a nice new app that might just make taking trips with these folks a little more tolerable.

Instead of having to put up with travelling with a companion that checks their phone every other minute, there is an impressive little app that will actually let them enjoy life without having to stop and post a Facebook update –the CoPilot app. This brand new app combines GPS, net access and Facebook integration to instantly generate Facebook wall posts for the app user.

CoPilot has actually been around for quite some time now, but they recently updated the app to enable it to post on the Facebook wall. This new feature is a great time saver, and even for people who are not actively using their Facebook accounts, it’s a great way to keep an instant travel journal. While users will not be able to fill it in with philosophical ramblings about the sights and events, it will are least give you a clear idea of where you were and what routes your took on your trip.

Another new update to CoPilot is the ability to take voice commands. Users can now give out voice commands to the app so that it will instantly make a post –saving you precious time from having to log in and type the update manually.

Read more about the new CoPilot app update and its new features for the Apple iPhone at Mobile Choice UK.

When March rolls over, Vodafone will be starting off an impressive lineup of Android smart phones.

The mobile network operator has already released the expected prices for the upcoming HTC Legend smart phone. They are currently offering the smart phone for as low as £2 (1.99) at a monthly tariff of £25 –it’s a great deal, though most might prefer to go for slightly more expensive deals with more free minutes.

The Legend was finally shown off by HTC at the previous Mobile World Congress. The device came out alongside the HTC Desire (previously known as the Bravo) and the HTC HD Mini. HTC’s Legend smart phone is considered to be the successor of the HTC Hero (also an Android smart phone) as it possesses similar specs. This smart phone stands out with its aluminum casing and sleek new look. It comes with a 3.2 inch AMOLED capacitive touch screen and a 5 mega pixel camera. Speed will not be an issue with Qualcomm’s MSM 600 MHz CPU running the Legend.

Just like the HTC Desire, the Legend uses the HTC Sense user interface. It takes away a little from the Android experience, but since the Sense UI is still fun to use, the change is insignificant. Overall, the Legend is a great deal for mid range smart phones for those who are not willing to dish out the extra few hundred Pounds for the Desire.

The Legend will be coming out with the Desire this March and next April, Vodafone is expected to being offering the Google Nexus One. While the Legend and the Desire will be available right off the shelves, the Nexus One will still be limited to the Google store.

Read more about the HTC Legend at Pocket Lint.

Well, we have not actually seen the WP7 mobile platform running on LG’s latest prototype, but what we have is pretty interesting.

LG and Microsoft have finally decided to come out and show us all what the very first Windows Phone 7 smart phone might actually look like. The LG Panther is a sleek looking smart phone with a large capacitive touch screen and a spiffy slide out keyboard. Yep, that’s right. The new WP7 device follows the originally announced type 2 chassis from last week.

For those who missed the podcast from ZDnet, it turns out that Microsoft has narrowed down the types of smart phones that can use the new OS into three basic types. The type 1 is a traditional smart phone look just like the Apple’s iPhone. The second is a more specialized smart phone that comes with a slide out QWERTY keyboard. The third uses the candy bar format.

As you might have guessed, the LG Panther comes with a slide out QWERTY keyboard. While you might think that this will make the device pretty thick, it is only a little stubbier than the iPhone. It is impressive how LG has managed to make the device so thin –though we hope that it does not feel a little too thin when you slide out the pad.

So far, no word has been given as to what other specifications this new phone will be having. We do know that Qualcomm chips will be running the new platform so we are expecting to see either the 1GHz Snapdragon or even a faster dual core model. Images show a 5 mega pixel camera with LED flash as well as some control buttons up front.

Get the latest scoop on the LG Panther and Windows Phone 7 at Engadget.

Within the mobile phone industry, there is little doubt that the new HTC Legend device is one of the most keenly anticipated releases due to hit the market in the coming year. The Legend is set to take the space vacated by its one of its predecessors the HTC Hero, which was a very good phone in and of itself, and also compares well with HTC’s other new release the Desire.

When compared up and close many people feel though that the Legend looks more stylish and swanky that the Desire, and this can be principally put down to the fact that the Legend’s body and frame are manufactured and made from a single block of aluminium – much in the same vein as the Macbook’s unibody design that set the recent style trend for all laptop computers. The finish of the Legend is also as aesthetically and tactilely pleasing as the Macbook’s and could be straight out of the Apple design book, which puts it even further ahead of the Desire in the style stakes.

Within the phone itself the Legend utilises a design concept which their marketers refer to as ‘Hidden power’, the main idea being that design and function work in concert, and this is contained very much in the machined single piece body idea that negates the need for a separate frame and cover. This is good not only from a style point of view but also due to the fact that extra space is made available for components. As a result of this the Legend is easily able to get several improvements over the HTC Hero as it is able, with its design functionality, to pack a vibrant 3.2-inch AMOLED capacitive touchscreen.

The screen itself has HVGA resolution and is a joy to behold despite the fact that some other phones in the HTC line-up this year such as the Desire have a larger display, though it does have a number of integral improvements over previous incarnations of the HTC lines. For a start, the buttons are much more user-friendly and precise and now fit neatly into the bottom of the device’s display rather than taking up their own space as previously seen on phones such as the Hero. The previous trackball has also been replaced with an optical navigation button, a decision that reflects the general mood within the industry as trackballs are apt to fail more often – not an attractive proposition for those on 18-24-month contracts.

The Legend is also powered by the latest Android 2.1 operating system, something that affords excellent operation and speed and will please users. The Android is also overlaid by HTC’s Sense UI, which seems similar on first glance to the original Sense seen in the Hero which caused such a stir at its launch though HTC have upgraded the Sense since then and it is now replete with new features. Perhaps the biggest alteration to Sense is the ‘helicopter view’, known as ‘Leap’, which works in pretty well the same manner as Expose on the Mac. The Desire also features Friend Stream which acts in a similar fashion to MotoBlur as it combines Twitter, Facebook and Flickr all into a single stream, negating the need to follow people over separate platforms.

On the rear of the desire you will find a 5-megapixel camera with the welcome addition of an LED flash. Connectivity is also excellent through the Qualcomm MSM7227 processor which runs at 600MHz along with HSDPA, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. It also comes complete with the complete range of sensors such as a compass (an important part in many new Android apps), proximity sensor and GPS. Currently the release date is set for April of this year, and it is expected to be a major seller in many global markets.