With the Olympics on the horizon the BBC has made sure that everyone can watch the action wherever they are by taking the coverage mobile.

The BBC will create a dedicated mobile site which will be the same as the main desktop site giving you access to 24 simultaneous live streams, live data and statistics and live coverage. There will also be a free mobile app which should allow Android and Apple users to catch all the action on their phones too.

Roger Moseley, BBC Director London 2012 said “The London 2012 Olympic Games is likely to be the biggest sporting event in the UK in our lifetimes. The BBC’s coverage will ensure that our audiences need never miss a moment. As the nation’s broadcaster, we are committed to ensuring that viewers get the most from their Olympic experience and our comprehensive coverage will deliver on that promise”.

So whether you want to watch the action at home on your TV or laptop, at work on your PC or when out and about on your iPhone or Android mobile phone the BBC gives you the option to catch it all whichever medium you prefer.

Windows Phone devices may not be causing the stir that everyone had hoped but new phones are still being released in the hope of tempting users over from Android and now Samsung has released a budget Windows phone too.

The Omnia M features a 4-inch Super AMOLED display and 1GHz processor and is pretty compact at only 10.5mm thick. Windows phone 7.5 is on board and there is a 5-megapixel snapper for taking photos and recording video clips.

Wi-Fi, HSDPA and AllShare are on board as well as support for Family Story, Samsung’s cloud based sharing service. So this handset won’t compete with the big sellers like the Samsung Galaxy S3 or the iPhone but if you want to try Windows on your mobile and you are on a budget this device will fit the bill.

There has been no confirmation on release date yet so we will keep you posted when it becomes available.

Here we have put together some of our favourite apps that help with productivity.

Astrid Task

Astrid Task is a to-do list app that is available for both Android and Apple devices as well as available online. This app acts as your personal assistant helping you to keep organised with reminders, subtasks lists and widgets. Automatic syncing allows you to access your task list on your phone, tablet and online at Astrid.com. The app is easy to use and has a great design which will have you using every day to keep on top of things.

Pulse

Pulse is a newsreader app that allows you to organise all the RSS feeds, news sites, blogs and social network feeds that you follow. The app is available for both Apple and Android devices and having all the sites you follow in one place will help save lots of time flicking between pages. The app takes all the sites you have selected to follow and puts them into a mosaic effect so you can browse the headlines and simply tap on a news story that interests you. You can save apps for reading later and you can share stories that interest you on Facebook or Twitter.

Evernote

Evernote is a popular productivity app that helps you keep organised and remember everything you need to do across all your devices. Available on Android, BlackBerry, Windows and iOS the app allows you to improve your productivity, take notes, capture photos and record voice-reminders. Evernote has tons of useful features such as searching for text within images and you can email notes or save tweets to your account.

There are many more apps out there to help keep you on top of what you need to do – do you have a favourite that we haven’t mentioned? What productivity apps have you tried? Do you have one you couldn’t live without?

The previously leaked HTC Android 4.0 smartphone has been confirmed as the HTC Desire C thanks to Vodafone Portugal. The latest phone from HTC has not been officially announced by the manufacturer but Vodafone Portugal has included the phone in their May product catalogue along with official photos and specifications.

The rumoured OS of Android 4.0 has been confirmed along with HSDPA, Wi-Fi and GPS connectivity and the camera resolution is confirmed as 5-megapixels. Other specs in the product catalogue include 4GB of internal storage space and Beats Audio as well as a 3.5-inch HVGA touchscreen display.

So this budget phone is a surprise addition to the Desire range as these tend to be higher spec models and even though HTC has not officially announced this one yet it looks like it will be heading our way very soon.

This week’s App of the Week is LINE camera which allows you to make your photos fun!

OK so we all know about Instagram and I for one use it a lot, but if you are looking for an app to add funny effects, frames and funny stamps to your photos then LINE camera is a great choice.

Review

The app is free on the Android Market and the Apple iStore, once installed you can launch the camera through the app or choose to put effects on photos that you already have taken.

There are over 500 stamps to add from hairstyles to funny noses and from hats to love hearts and bows so you can easily lose a bit of time playing around with your photos.

You can add frames to your images and with over 100 on the app there are plenty to choose from and in an Instagram-esque way you can enhance your images with different filters.

The app also allows you to create your own stamps which you can design with drawings and messages and there are 156 brushes to give you the effects you want.

When you have finished adding filters and effects to your photo you can share it with friends on Facebook and Twitter or send it via Email or picture message.

Overall the app is quite simple to use and fun – who doesn’t love putting comedy effects on photos! The only negative thing I have to say about it is some of the stamps can be a bit difficult to get right as the resize and rotate tool is an all in one and can resize when you want to rotate which can be a bit frustrating.

I have given the app a 4 out of 5 as it’s great fun and it certainly kept me amused if the rotate and resize functions could be done separately the score would be higher.

Mobilesplease App Rating: 4 out of 5

The HTC Golf popped up in a leaked image in March and now it has reappeared with a new paint job and apparently a new name. This new device is reportedly going to be called the Desire C rather than the Wildfire C as previously thought.

As this is a budget device it would seem odd for HTC to put the Desire name on this phone as it fits into the Wildfire range on both looks and features.

So the Wildfire/Desire C features leaked so far include a 3.5-inch HVGA screen and a 1GHHz processor as well as a 5-megapixel camera and front facing camera for vuideo calls. Wi-Fi, 4GB RAM and a microSD card slot are also rumoured to be on board and this phone should sit at the affordable end of the Android 4.0/Sense 4.0 smartphone range from HTC.

So whether it be the Desire C or the Wildfire C it will be a great addition to the budget smartphone range from HTC giving those that are watching the pennies a chance at an Android 4.0 phone.

Official launch dates have not been confirmed but rumours suggest this should be heading our way next month.

The Samsung Galaxy S3 launched last week in London with the phones features and specifications -which up until that point were kept secret- also finally being released. With this launch also came the Samsung Galaxy S3 deals which were made available from Friday 4th May.

Features

The amazing new device is jam packed with a multitude of new and exciting features not previously seen in predecessors. One such feature is the Smart Stay technology which tracks a user’s eye motions, so as long as you are looking at the screen it will not dim or turn off. Direct call is another feature of the new phone which allows you to call contacts simply by holding it to your face once the contact is selected.

S Voice is Samsung’s answer to the main selling point of the iPhone 4S which is of course Siri. Like Siri it is an intelligent piece of software for users to interact with vocally. It is not yet clear which one is better out of the two but it can certainly be said that they aren’t far apart in terms of functionality.

Best Photo allows users to take a burst of 8 shots which makes a continuous scene of the shot you are taking and then it chooses the best one. This means one thing- better quality of photos that don’t miss out on amazing moments.

There are many other features that the Samsung Galaxy S3 has to offer but my personal favourite has to be the Pop up Play feature. This brings the picture in picture idea from television and applies it rather well to a smartphone. It allows you to do multiple things at once such as watching a video and texting at the same time, perfect for multitasking.

Specifications

Storage – 16/32/64GB depending on the model and expandable MicroSD card.
Screen- 4.8 inch Super Amoled HD
Colour- Pebble Blue or Marble White
Camera-8MP (back) and 1.9MP (front)
Weight- 133g
Size- 136.6mm x 70.6mm x 8.55mm
RAM- 1GB
OS- Android 4.0.4 (Ice cream Sandwich)
Processor- Exynos 4 Quad (1.4GHz)

Compare mobile phones with the amazing Samsung Galaxy S3 on Mobilesplease. This includes deals from all the leading retailers and operators across the UK.

The top of the range Xperia handset provides a top of the class multimedia experience.

Launched to much fanfare, the new Xperia range of handsets was expected to represent the perfect opportunity for Sony Mobile to gain a foothold in the increasingly competitive smartphone market. With a nationwide marketing campaign supporting a beautiful looking handset, the chances of the Xperia range breaking into the big leagues are looking good. Here, we take a closer look at the Xperia S, the top-of-the-range model, which ships with all of Sony’s multimedia bells and whistles. With deals starting from as little as £20 a month, we’re looking at a high-end handset with a mid-range price point.

Out of the Box

Out of the box, the first thing to note about the Xperia S is its size. We’re looking at a 128mm x 64mm slab of smartphone, which is head and shoulders above the likes of the iPhone but in reality, is the way many modern smartphones are going.

Here’s the Xperia S alongside the Samsung Galaxy S2 and the iPhone 4S for comparison. It’s certainly the biggest here, however with the newly released HTC One X measuring in a further 6.4 millimetres long and 5.9 millimetres wide, it’s not the biggest on the market.

Sizes: Sony Xperia S 128 x 64 x 10.6 mm Samsung Galaxy S2 125.3 x 66.1 x 8.5 mm iPhone 4 115.2 x 58.6 x 9.3 mm

The handset is dominated by its 4.3-inch HD screen, which delivers a sharp display backed up by Sony’s Bravia technology. Sony tech features heavily in this handset, which we’ll explore throughout this review.

Build

Despite its size, the handset isn’t heavy and feels comfortable in my hand, with a smooth, slightly curved back. The wake-up switch is on the top left hand corner and as I’m used to waking up phones in the top right or from a central button on the face of the handset, I found wrapping my finger around to it a bit awkward.

At the bottom of the phone is a see-through band that highlights a home button in the centre and then a back button on the left and menu button to the right. It’s lit with a backlight and looks quite neat when switched on, however the buttons are actually above the strip, not encased within it. So picture me, on first attempt, thumbing away at the strip, only to find that I’m meant to press the little white dot above it.

Sony has shunned the idea of loading your micro-sim via a slot and instead encased it in the back of phone, which is accessed by removing the plastic back. This felt a little flimsy in operation but doesn’t really detract from the build. Aside from this, I found the phone sturdy, responsive and the interface intuitive. Let’s look at that in more detail.

Phone Set up

The phone comes with a 1.5GHz dual core processor and ships with Android’s 2.3 Gingerbread release, although will be upgradeable to Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS). Although ICS is designed to give users more intuitive navigation and faster access with a refined user interface, the Xperia S doesn’t disappoint in this department. Its responsive, customisable trays give you easy access to your favourite apps in a flash.

Camera

Now we’re getting into Sony’s comfort zone. Packing 12MP on the back and a 1.3MP forward facing camera, we’re beginning to experience the Xperia’s strengths. The camera has touch-focus, geo-tagging, face and smile detection as well as 3D sweep panorama and image stabilisation. It’s also incredibly quick to start up. Simply press the camera button on the phone’s side and you can be taking a picture in little over a second.

This is all well and good, but what about the quality of the images it takes?

We put the Xperia S camera to the test against two of its rivals, the Samsung Galaxy S2 and the iPhone 4. As the S2 and 4S have 8MP cameras, we decided to test with the iPhone 4, which has a 5MP.

Here are three images, taken on a dreary Thursday morning in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, with the three cameras. Can you identify which photograph was taken by the Sony Xperia S?

Photo Sample 1 (click for a larger image)

Photo Sample 2 (click for a larger image)

Photo Sample 3 (click for a larger image)

The first one here was the iPhone 4′s 5MP camera, followed by 12MP might of the Sony Xperia S and finally the 8MP Samsung Galaxy S2. There’s a noticeable quality gap between the Samsung and the Xperia cameras, whereas the step-up in quality between the iPhone’s 5MP and the Samsung’s 8MP is tiny.

In terms of quality, there’s no competition with the Sony Xperia S from these three.

Video

Again, Sony Mobile has been pushing the quality of the Xperia S’ HD 1080p video, both in terms of playback and recording. The handset comes pre-loaded with videos that show-off its range of sharp colours, which gives it great depth of field. For a true understanding of its quality, I’ve put the handset up against the iPhone 4 and Samsung Galaxy S2 in a field test.

When viewed through the handsets, the Xperia S wins hands down, however once uploaded to YouTube, there’s little to choose from, when viewed in similar size windows. That’s because I’m viewing them through a non-HD screen. Even though the videos are named here, it’s not an easy job telling the difference between the three, is it?

Once you’ve recorded your video, you can hook your Sony Xperia S up to your HD TV via its HDMI port on the side of the phone. You can also download movies from the Sony Entertainment Network to watch on the phone, or again, plug it into your TV and watch through a bigger screen. This effectively turns the phone into a versatile multimedia centre and gives it a real USP over its rivals in the smartphone market.

Gaming

Again, Sony is taking advantage of its position as a giant in the games industry by offering one of the best gaming experiences with the Xperia S. As with video, you can download games to the handset, plug it into your TV and then play using a controller.

This is actually a PlayStation Certified smartphone however I’m not actually convinced that this is what a smartphone is for though. Serious gamers will have the PS3 whereas smartphone gamers want Angry Birds or Draw Something – something that you can pick up for five minutes and then put down.

Battery

I found battery life to be fine – or as you expect from a smartphone these days. If you use it heavily through the day, you’ll need to recharge it again that night. Over the course of a few days, I had heavy usage days, which saw the battery go down to around 30%, and then light usage, which ended the day on around 80% of its capacity. Charge is nice and quick and comes with USB and foldaway plug in the box.

Verdict

I liked the Sony Xperia S a lot more than I was expecting. I don’t think it’s an iPhone 4S (or 5) competitor, but it’s up there with being the best of the Android rest. I liked the sharp colours and HD screen, its fast and easy to use interface, its 12MP camera and you know what, I actually like its size; my iPhone 4 is looking quite slight as it sits next to the Xperia S on my desk.

With Sony Xperia S deals starting at as little as £20, it’s temptingly priced to capture Android lovers and maybe, just maybe, attract the glances of the iPhone 4 crowd.

Sony Xperia S Deals

Tesco Phone Shop have some market leading deals on the Sony Xperia S and other smartphones on all networks.

Photos

Compare the Stats

The iPhone 5 official announcement is still under much speculation and discussion as we all eagerly wait to see what Apple will deliver on their sixth generation iPhone.

The announcement last year of the iPhone 4S saw Apple change tact by holding a special event in October rather than using the WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference) as they had previously done for the iPhone 3, 3GS and iPhone 4.

So with this year’s Apple Developers WWDC date set for 11th to 15th June will Apple return to form and deliver the much awaited iPhone 5 during the key note?

Apple love to keep us guessing and it could be they will use the WWDC as the launchpad for their next generation iPhone and with the Samsung Galaxy SIII now official Apple won’t want to wait too long to announce it’s rival- let’s hope 11th June is the date as I for one can’t wait to see what delights Apple have in store for us.

After much rumour and speculation, Samsung has today revealed its new flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S3, which will be available to buy in the UK before the end of May.

The new curved body features an extra 0.5 inches on its 4.8-inch screen, making it slightly larger than the HTC One X, which has won over many critics since its launch in March. However with an 8 MP rear-facing camera and slightly underwhelming design, the murmuring among journalists presents suggest that it’ll have to go a long way to beat the S2′s title of the year’s best-selling phone.

The Samsung Galaxy S3 will be available to pre-order from Mobilesplease from Friday 4 May. You can compare the best Samsung Galaxy S3 deals from then onwards.

What’s in the box?

- 4.8-inch super AMOLED screen

- 64GB of internal memory

- 8 MP rear camera, 1.8 MP front facing camera

- Improved voice control

- Ships with Android’s Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0)

- Available in ‘pebble blue’ and ‘marble white’ colours