It was announced last week that Google Street View would cover 96% of all roads, streets and avenues across the UK, however a recent survey has revealed that 24% of people polled thought that Street View was a merely ‘service for burglars’.

In light of people’s concerns, Thames Valley Police spokesperson told the Telegraph that there was no evidence to suggest that the service was the cause of burglaries.

As well as this Google has stated that they take privacy concerns very seriously and if someone has extreme concerns then they are able to ask for the image to be removed permanently or blurred.

Google Street View has proved to be immensely popular in the UK over the last year, proving to be beneficial tool for tourists and other users so I think we need to embrace Google Street View as a tool for exploration rather than an invasion of our privacy and ‘service for burglars’

Are you a fan or foe of Google Street View? Leave us a comment and let us know what you think…

Google Street View UK: Could This be a Service for Burglars? is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

According to a new commercial revealed on YouTube, the highly anticipated and rumoured iPhone 4G may actually be named the iPhone HD.

The video shows the new phone with a radically new chassis and is expected to have a higher powered camera, possibly a front facing camera for video calls and self portrait photography, however how much of this is believable?

I know we discussed a few weeks back that the 4G data chips would not be ready for when the iPhone 4G is set to be released this summer, which could mean a possible delay on the iPhone 4G or just a revised name, but I can’t see Apple calling their next iPhone, the iPhone HD.

As well as this, if you take a look at the design of the iPhone HD, it looks completely different to the current iPhone on the market.  Surely Apple wouldn’t want to change their super sleek design to the one shown in the video with a more chunky back?

There are a lot of rumours and speculations regarding Apple next generation iPhone, however with Apple’s long history of remaining tight lipped about the up and coming release of their products into the marketplace, I can’t really see them leaking a video like this regarding their next iPhone. Now where would be fun be in that?!

What do you think of the rumours? Does it looks likely that Apple may have accidentally leaked this information or is it just another Apple fanboy getting over excited about the rumours regarding iPhone 4G HD features? Check out the video below for yourselves and leave us a comment to let us know what you think…

iPhone 4G to be Named iPhone HD? Apple Leaked Video? is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

The popular mobile browser, Opera Mini 5 for Android is now available on the Google Android Marketplace.

The Opera Mini 5 offers tabbed browsing, speed dial and also provides thumbnail shortcuts to website and password managers.

It also claims to be 6 times faster than the iPhone Safari browser because it has been designed to compress web pages before loading them on the browser display which results in a faster browser experience for users who have low bandwidth connection.

So if you’re an Android user, you can go to the Marketplace now and get your hands on one for free.

Opera Mini 5 for Android Mobiles Now Released on Google Marketplace is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

It would seem that Apple isn’t the only one delaying the release date of the iPad in the UK until April, as it has also been announced that Google may also be forced to delay the UK launch of their sought after smartphone, the Nexus One until later next month.

It was expected that Vodafone, mobile phone carrier for the Nexus One in the UK will be launching the product in the next few weeks however the launch has been put back for a couple more weeks more which could mean that UK consumers will see the Nexus One hit stores in late April.

So what is the reason behind the delay in the launch? That is unclear but if you all remember back to the ongoing problems the Nexus One was having when the phone was released in the US, maybe this is the reason why Google are taking their time to ensure that these problems are fully ironed out before they hit the UK? It would certainly be a positive step especially as the Nexus One was strongly criticised in the US launch for it 3G connectivity problems and lack of customer service support which led to its disappointing sales figures.

However, a delay by a couple of weeks in the smartphone market could mean that Google may lose sales as a result especially as Vodafone are soon to launch several other Android phones in the next few weeks. The HTC Desire, HTC Legend and Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 are just a few of phones to be on Vodafone’s launch list. All three smartphones are packed with a whole host of features which could definitely give the Google Nexus One a run for its money so I am wondering whether these releases are likely to affect the sales of the Google Nexus One in the UK?

Are you looking to buy a Google Nexus One when it hits the UK or are you more inclined to opt for the other Android phones which are set to hit the market at the same time? Leave us a comment and let us know what you think?

Google Nexus One UK Release Date Delayed Until Late April? Bad for Nexus One Sales? is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

After posting my ‘3D past,present,future blog’ even more 3D news has sprung up and it’s more musical/gadgety hybrid goodness.

Samsung and THE BLACK EYED PEAS combined to celebrate the liberation of 2D entertainment into full high-definition 3D with a star-studded party on Wednesday night (10th March) to launch Samsung 3D LED TV. The event marked the arrival of Samsung 3D LED TVs worldwide availability.

Events kicked off with a ‘Surprise Samsung Announcement,’ followed by ‘photo and interview opportunities’. Then there was a new product preview and highlights of 3D entertainment experience with appearances by THE BLACK EYED PEAS and Samsung executives.

The Black Eyed Peas hugely popular The E.N.D. World Tour will be exclusively available in 3D for Samsung customers.

Will.i.am of The Black Eyed Peas said, “We are excited to help launch the Samsung 3D LED TVs and give our BEP fans exclusive access to the performance not only via Dipdive.com, but through the 3D experience.”

It’s certainly exciting to see how technology and performance can be combined to give fans an extra special experience. Sure nothing beats actually being at a concert, but 3D recordings are going to be much more exciting than a plain old 2D DVD. I think this technology is going to shine when we can bring new life to old recordings. Imagine an old Beatles concert jazzed up and brought to you in glorious 3D, or a 3D Elvis singing to you as if he was in your front room.

What would you like to see given the 3D experience?  Let us know, comment below.

Samsung 3D Event Featuring the Black Eyed Peas is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

It would appear that the ongoing saga between Google vs China is coming to an end.

News from Wall Street Journal revealed that Google is ready to close its Chinese Google Search website, after Google’s reluctance to censor their search results in China, which is against Chinese censorship laws.

It has also been reported that the death of Google in China is expected to take place in the next coming weeks.

With China being one of the world’s most densely populated countries with a rapidly increasing internet market, it was always the view that maybe Google might succumb to the Chinese government demands, especially as it would have meant a loss in their revenue. However, it is clear that Google have felt it is has been their global/social responsibility to uphold the stance to say ‘no’ to censorship.

Good for you Google! What do you think of Google’s stance? Do you think they have done the right thing to pull out of China? Leave us a comment and let us know what you think…

Via Geeky Gadgets Via WSJ

Death of Google’s Search Engine in China? is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

HTC has caused a bit of a stir in the mobile phone world lately with a slew of new releases including a whopping three at this year’s Mobile World Congress.

So if you’ve developed a bit of an interest in the Taiwanese manufacturer like the rest of the world seems to have, which phone should you go for?

HTC has released a number of handsets aimed at different markets, though there are a few mobile phone deals to be had.

We’ve taken a look at what HTC have to offer and whittled it down to a top five. Let’s see what took top awards and why.

Number 5. HTC HD2

This may be a controversial choice to include in our line-up, with an OS that’s already a bit behind the times, but we think that if you want a phone that makes you stand out like an individual when you pull it out of your pocket, the HD2 is the handset for you.

The HD2 is all about the screen- it’s big, bright and, let’s face it, beautiful. A massive 4.3-inches pixel-packed display will keep you watching movies on this thing for hours.

The phone itself is thinner than Victoria Beckham and will be picked up by an intrigued onlooker when you place it on the table in the pub.

It’s also the Taiwanese company’s first Windows phone to embody HTC Sense, which means half the time, you don’t even realize you’re using a WinMo platform.

When I say Windows, I do mean version 6.5, which is old news with the new Windows Phone 7 hitting the market, and unfortunately handsets on any Windows 6.x platforms won’t be able to upgrade.

Under the bonnet is a 1GHz Snapdragon processor and 448MB RAM. There is a microSD slot however, so don’t despair about not packing your music collection into this phone.

The HD2 looks sexy and has enough on the inside to not even make this a question of beauty over brains- there is a lot of functionality, but it’s just not the latest thing.

Number 4. HTC Tattoo

HTC’s affordable Android handset has been a winner from the start, packing the best of Google’s OS into an accessible phone.

Not only can more people get their hands on a usually rather hexy Android, the Tattoo even packs the newer version Android 1.6, which provides an excellent interface for Google’s Android store, organising apps into a rather Apple Store-esque: Top Paid, Top Free and Just In.

Spec-wise, the Tattoo is cheaper for a reason, with a 2.8 inch resistive touch screen, compared to the Hero’s 3.2 inch capacitive screen. IF your not sure what that really means, take a look at our attempt to explain.

You also get a standard 3.5mm headphone jack, which may not sound newsworthy, but seeing as the HTC Magic didn’t have a headphone socket at all (hence NOT featuring in our top line-up) we felt this was worth mentioning.

What is also a nice touch is the range of skins you can choose from to customise your phone. This is on top of choosing from a range of widgets for your home page.

Just because it’s a cheaper Android phone, that doesn’t mean that there’s no cool features included, which is why we’ve given the Tattoo the thumbs up.

Number 3. HTC Desire

It may not be as sexy as the HTC Legend, but under the bonnet the Desire comes into its own with a 1GHz processor as opposed to the 600MHz. HTC Desire reviews have been largely positive and it’s easy to see why.

The phone runs the latest Android 2.1, and boasts a 3.7-inch screen, making it basically the Nexus Two. What sets it apart from Google’s Nexus One is HTC’s own Sense user interface in the Desire, which is a joy to use.

HTC’s Desire also differentiates itself from the Nexus One by upgrading the trackball with a navigation pad, which isn’t as tactile but means less moving parts. This is good news for handset longevity, which is music to anyone on a two-year contract.

A 5 megapixel camera with LED flash on the back of the phone keeps the Desire in line with today’s mainstream phone camera specs, and it also features autofocus and digital zoom.

The Desire goes one up on Google’s first handset, and the integration of the Sense UI kept us entertained with this Android phone.

Number 2. HTC Legend

While most phones have a front and back that clip together like a clam, the Legend is out of a single block of aluminium. That made you kind of swoon, didn’t it?

The Legend lives up to its name with a with 3.2-inch AMOLED capacitive touch-screen, with a 320 X 480 resolution display that makes for clear viewing.

This handset is about keeping it personal, with a wider choice of widgets which you can expand even more through an online widget library, so no matter what you’re interested in, you should be able to find something to keep you occupied for awhile.

The HTC Legend also has Friend Stream, which consolidates your various social networking personas into the one place for you to easily keep track of who updated their wall and what was last tweeted. Friend Stream also lets you be a bit lazy by updating both your Facebook and Twitter statuses in the one go.

HTC has gone for the human touch with this phone, with features including “the ringer that knows when it has been heard.” When you pick up the phone, the ringer lowers in volume, and silences completely if you turn the handset upside-down.

We like the legendary features you get with this handset, and all in a sleek, sexy package.

Number 1. HTC Hero

Number one in our HTC count-down of awsomeness is the only handset produced by the Taiwanese manufacturer that could actually go all the way and challenge the iPhone.

The HTC Hero has access to a range of apps and superb web browsing capabilities, all in a stylish interface. Sounds rather Apple-esque, no?

The Hero is the perfect example of what an Android phone should be, with HSDPA connection speeds offering 7.2Mbps downloads and 2Mbps uploads. The online

There is also a GPS receiver providing accurate time and weather readings, amongst other purposes like, say, navigation.

The phone takes the idea of mobile web navigation to its full potential with all Google services such as Gmail, Google Talk and Maps specifically designed with a smaller screen in mind.

With HTC’s Sense UI, you have access to seven customisable home screens. There is also a new Scenes profile feature which lets you switch your phone over from the functions you need during the work week, to a fun phone on the weekend.

There is again the human touch on this phone, with the ability to dial your mates just by typing in the first few letters of their name; as the banks say, no one is just a number anymore.

The Hero also comes to the rescue when you need to find something, with a dedicated Search button that combs through Twitter tweets, your contact list, emails, calendar appointments and would probably find your lost car keys as well if it could.

HTC’s Hero got top billing with its combination of class both on the outside and inside, and with the Android market picking up in number of apps, Apple may just need to look twice at this handset in its rear mirror.

What’s your top HTC handset? Leave us a comment and let us know.

Check out Recombu for more mobile phone deals

Top 5 HTC Phones: Android vs. Windows is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

If you’re looking to get your hands on the a 3D TV in the UK, you might want to visit the Currys website as the UK chain has just announced that not only does it have ‘the first 3D TV in the UK’ in one of its largest Currys store but it will be the ‘only’ chain to be taking orders as of today.

Now when they mean taking orders, it is assumed that this will be pre-orders as Currys did not mention when these will be shipped to you.

So if you’re a 3D crack junkie and itching to get your hands on one, how much you might ask will it all cost to give you the ultimate 3D viewing experience?

Well if you’re looking to buy a Sony 3D TV, here is the breakdown below:

• Sony 3D TV 52 Inch – £2,999
• 3D Glasses – £100 (per pair)
• Transmitter – £75

TOTAL COST: £3174

There you have it!  You’ll definitely be paying a pretty penny to get your hands on one, so will you be one of the lucky ones to be splashing your cash on the ‘first’ 3D TV.  If you are then you can pre-order a 3D TV from 4pm today on the Curry’s website.

Currys: Only UK Chain to be Taking Orders for ‘First’ Ever 3D TV is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

At the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas, the Behind the Scenes of Gmail panel were asked a probing question which included something along the lines of ‘Why is Gmail Slow?’ Jonathan Perlow, a member on the panel then asked people to raise their hands if they thought Gmail was too slow in which a fair few people did.

Perlow explained that the reason why everyone didn’t raise their hands was because Gmail’s apparent slowness usually affects the power users who have approached 100% usage in their Gmail inbox.

However, the good news is that Google is aware of the problem and they do have a solution. Now they didn’t go into too much detail about the solution however they did sound confident by saying ‘we are fixing it’. With Gmail ranking 3rd in world for its email service, this is definitely good news for the Gmail ‘power users’ who face the problem of a slow email service.

Are you a Gmail ‘power user’? Do you face the problem of a slow Gmail service? Do you think Google are trying hard enough to fix the problem? Leave us a comment and let us know what you think…

Is Your Gmail Slow? Google Say They’re Working on It! is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

Overview:
It may sound like an SMS typo, but the Motorola Dext is anything but a mistake, powered by Android and featuring a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard. But after the success of the super-thin Razr, how well will this stocky big brother be received? Let’s take a look.

Review:
Motorola has gone from one extreme to another, rolling out the rather chunky-feeling Dext after its Razr which could have been used to cut bread.

The Dext measures in at 58 x 114 x 15.85mm, meaning it’s quite thick for a modern-day phone.

Its slide-out QWERTY keyboard is behind the solid feel, but just because it has keys for you to quickly and accurately type out emails, doesn’t mean the screen is just going to sit there.

The 3.1-inch, 320 x 480 pixel, touchscreen display has its own keyboard, giving you the option of exactly how you’re going to update your online statuses, which brings us to the point of this phone.

Motorola has looked to create a social networking-friendly handset through its Android-based Motoblur UI.

Motoblur’s number one feature is that it automatically displays your messages, posts, tweets and pics without you having to open multiple apps to access them.

All of your important feeds from Facebook, Twitter, Google and MySpace are available right there on your home screen, so you can see who’s doing what under Motorola’s “Happenings” umbrella. I guess the heading “Status Updates” was already taken.

All of your contacts from your various online personas also come together in the one place, with the Dext importing your social network friend details and merging them with your Google account into the phone’s address book. You can then choose to sort your contacts either by name or latest updates- sorry, “happenings”.

Motoblur also takes the unnecessary hassle of updating your Facebook and Twitter status separately, by synching both so you only need to type in what you had for breakfast just the one time.

Social networking aside, Motoblur also comes with an online service, which can backs up your various accounts and messages.

This online service is also handy from a security point of view, using the Dext’s GPS connection to have the phone tracked, so if it’s not in your pocket like it should be but has somehow made its way to Poland, you can clear all of your personal details from the phone remotely.

Onto other features, the Dext comes with a decent 5 megapixel camera with autofocus and geo-tagging.

It will also record video at 352 x 288 pixels, which isn’t top market but will do the job for capturing your mates’ embarrassing moments at the pub. Being a social kind of handset, you do get the options of uploading your Spielberg attempts straight to YouTube, Picasa, Facebook or MySpace.

Music-wise, there is a standard 3.5mm headphone jack so you can use your very own headphones to listen to Beyonce on this phone.

The option for a 32GB MicroSD card further ensures you can cram all (or at least most) of your tunes onto the handset.

The Dext also comes with a digital compass, accelerometer and proximity sensor so it knows when you’ve got it up to your ear.

Available for free on a £20 a month plan from MobileShop.com, the Motorola Dext is one for the Twitter addicts out there.

The Gaj-It Verdict:
Design: 7/10
Usability: 8/10
Features: 8/10
Value: 8/10

We Say:
Motoblur is makes brilliant use of Android 1.5, and extends Google’s OS in the right direction- simplified web use. The Dext may not be the best looking phone on the market, and let’s face it- will rip through a few pockets, but we love playing around with the social options this phone presents and feel that life is just that bit more orderly knowing that you haven’t missed out on that big Twitter announcement of who’s died lately in Hollywood.

Review: Motorola Dext. Facebook Just Got Even Easier is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com