Novelty-hungry smartphone users will soon be able to quench their thirst for unusual handsets with the launch of an Android-powered mobile made of bamboo.

Consumers beginning to tire of the metal, glass and plastic casing of handsets such as the iPhone, BlackBerrys, or the range of Android smartphones will soon be able to get their hands on a phone constructed from the favourite foodstuff of pandas and the material used for their hardwood floors.

The world’s first bamboo smartphone is the brainchild of Kieron-Scott Woodhouse, a 23 year-old design student from Middlesex University. Woodhouse said he designed the handset during his final year of university after becoming frustrated with the lack of variety and choice in the smartphone market.

His unusual phone design, which has been christened the ADzero, caught the attention of a technology entrepreneur when images of it were posted online. The businessman agreed to fund development of the phone with a view to launching it China.

After receiving positive feedback at a design show in London during London Design Week 2011, Woodhouse and his backers have decided to launch the phone first in the UK and then roll it out to other markets.

The designer has remained tight-lipped about the specifications of the ADzero. All that is known is that it will be encased in solid bamboo and, as mentioned above, be powered by Google’s Android operating system. Other than that, the only other information available is that it will have a proper “ring flash” camera allowing users to take well-lit pictures. Ring flashes are used by professional photographers to give a good lighting finish to their images.

TechCrunch have reported that the bamboo phone will be around half the weight of an iPhone 4S and that no two models of the handset will ever be the same, due to the grain of wood used during the construction process.

Although no official release date has been planned for the world’s first bamboo smartphone, it is hoped the handsets will be available in the UK by the end of the year.

Commenting on his creation, Woodhouse said: “Bamboo may seem like a strange material to use for a phone, but it’s actually extremely strong and very durable, perfect qualities for this kind of application. The whole experience so far has been incredible and completely unexpected. Completing my final year and working has been challenging, but my course and the project complement each other well and it’s a great start of my career. I can’t wait to see my mobile phone in shops this year.”

If you’re curious about what the Adzero looks like and would like a little more information, you can visit Woodhouse’s Google+ page.

Android, Droid, Honeycomb, Froyo, Gingerbread, all these names conjure images of little robots happily playing on nearby green hills as butterflies float by and half eaten applies jealously look on. Maybe not? Either way, Android is on its way to become the world’s number one cellphone software and with that comes talk about the future of the operating system.

As of now, Android is split into two different and distinct software options. Android 2.x is the software that is built for cellphones while Android 3.x is designed and geared for tablets and maybe netbooks in the future.

Even though the core architecture under both operating systems are the same, Android 3.x is one that has more features that are geared for bigger screens and more powerful processors than what you would find in a smartphone. But would such software ever make it to the smartphone?

TechRadar asked Google’s Director of Engineering of Android Dave Burke if the world could ever look to the possibility of 3.x coming to smartphones which would also herald the death of 2.x altogether. According to Burke, “Right now it’s a tablet operating system.” He did say that Google would like to unite both numbering systems which would essentially mean that one software would run on both device form factors, smartphones and tablets.

“I think that coming together is a good idea. What we’re trying to do here is make a base platform that’s so good, that others only need to add native elements in their core areas. We wanted to make the whole UI better – it shouldn’t be necessary to customize the texting widget with the Honeycomb UI. We don’t think one size fits all with Android, but sometimes changes [people make to the UI] miss the point – then again, sometimes it amazes us.”

Digital camera technology has gone a long way since the very first digi-cams have been introduced to the consumer market. These days, it seems all too easy to slap on a camera on almost any handset. The average laptop and netbook comes with a built it webcam, even handheld gaming consoles such as the PSP and the DSi have cameras (in the case of the PSP, it is an external accessory; the DSi has it built in.) Naturally smart phones also have digital camera technology as well.

Nokia is already promising the industry a massive 12 mega pixel camera on the upcoming N8 and N9 smart phones (which use the Symbian^3 and MeeGo operating systems respectively). Sony Ericsson’s Vivaz and the Motorola Milestone XT 720 each bring an 8 mega pixel camera to consumers everywhere.

These days, taking a high resolution image of anything basically means simply pointing a phone at a subject and taking a quick snapshot. But for the more discerning graphic artists, the concern does not stop with the mega pixel count alone, having zoom, autofocus, LED flash and other additional features are also important.

For users who like to upload straight from the phone to a Flickr account or in Facebook, a smart phone with integrated social networking features are recommended, as well as having pre-loaded image editing software (which would really help a lot when it comes to sizing down images to make them viewer friendly as full resolution images shot with an 8 mega pixel camera takes a while to load).

In both cases, it pays to have hot swappable micro SD cards. While 32GB cards will take a while to fill up, they eventually will. And having other media such as music and videos are certain to fill up the cards as well (most phones are also capable of recording video in 720p, 30FPS, which is also pretty space consuming).

Microsoft’s new mobile platform is due to arrive on October and from the looks of it, several handsets will be ready by that time.

It is already known that the LG Panther has been ready for the past few months. A mock version of the device has already been seen as early as March while what seems to be final version of the smart phone has been seen in images in the recent weeks. And the Korean manufacturer is not the only one making a WP7 device. Taiwan based HTC has dropped two names, the Mozart and the Mondrian as WP7 handsets, though no details were given if the two phones were indeed separate or this is simply one device with two nicknames. Sony Ericsson’s name has also been added to the list with the announcement of the SE Jolie.

The new operating system from Microsoft focuses heavily on general users. While the older Windows Mobile operating system is a more business-centric mobile platform, the WP7 leans towards media playback, internet access, social networking, games and general functionality.

Considering the most recent demonstrations of the operating system, WP7 has proven to be a well composed OS, with various functions leading and linking towards each other. Users can jump from the map to the contact list to the calendar if the user has associated linked entries for the various contents.

In the above trail, a map could potentially show the addresses of nearby contacts that when clicked, can bring up the details of the individual. From there, a user can set a schedule to visit, call or simple email the contact and have the task marked on the calendar. All of these processes are done directly, without having to go back to the home screen even once.

Expect to see more updates regarding Windows Phone 7 as October approaches.

More often than not, the mobile phone serves as a very important cache of information and data. Contact lists will have names, phone numbers, address and the email of friends, family and business contacts. Images and videos taken with the devices camera will also be stored on the mobile phone. Documents and other files are also among the things that people find themselves concerned about when it comes to their smart phones.

Thankfully, the average modern mobile phone will hook up to any desktop or laptop computer and allow the use to transfer and store files from the handset into a different location. This will help ensure that no data is lost if the phone is ever damaged, misplaced or stolen. Even a simple phone problem might lead to potential data loss if the repairs would entail that the internal memory be formatted.

Backing up a mobile phone is fairly easy. First off, users should be sure that the device is fully charged. While some devices will actually charge as they are connected to a computer, this is not the case for all mobile phones. And the last thing that users need is for a handset to die out while in the middle of a data transfer –potentially corrupting the file being transferred.

Second, connect the handset to the computer. This is usually done through a USB connector and is import for devices that have large space of internal memory that users rely on. However, for users who do not store anything much on the smart phone itself, and instead, rely on microSD cards for storing important files, the most convenient thing to do would be to just connect the microSD to a reader.

To be sure that all files are properly copied, try to do a direct copy of all files. This can be organized by placing all the files into a single folder, allowing the user to have an exact backup of the phone’s data. Using the syncing features available with special phone software provided by the manufacturer is also a good idea.

With smart phones becoming a very crucial and important part of daily lives, one finds it really hard to go anywhere without one. The amount of convenience that such as small device can provide is hard to match. With a typical smart phone, a person is able to make and receive calls and messages, check and send email, browse the internet, listen to music, watch videos and even have a guided map service.

Of course, when travelling to distant locations, being without the smart phone is something that most people would not want to do. But preparing your Samsung Wave 2 or SE XPERIA X8 for a journey is also as important as preparing one’s own things, here is a quick list of things to do before taking your phone out for a trip.

First off, make backups of your data. Phones often carry several GB of important or personal data. From videos recorded to important documents, these files should first be backed up to a computer. There is no telling what may happen to the phone during a trip and data loss is something worth worrying about.

On the light side, move your content to the computer so that the phone will have space for new images and videos that you can take on the trip.

Research the locations’ power standards. Some places use a standard voltage, some have higher. As a rule, never stick your phone into a wall outlet unless you are certain that the voltage will match. Failing to do so could potentially damage your phone.

Also, it is important to check with your carrier. Some networks will charge exorbitant roaming fees. This is a great reason to consider getting a global SIM card if you find one available. It would also be good to inform your friends and family that you will be gone (and that they should not contact your phone) –the last thing any traveler needs is to find a large phone bill upon coming back.

The average mobile phone will last a person for about two years. After this time, the device is often replaced by a better handset for a wide variety of reasons. Some users simply prefer to own a new phone. Other handsets would have been exposed to wear and tear and in some cases, been damaged to a point that a replacement would be better. There is also the occasional case of the device being lost or stolen.

But what about having multiple handsets? While not everyone can keep up with the cost of maintaining two SIM cards, there are those who simply need to have separate number from the one they normally use. Often, some mobile phone users would have to segregate their work and personal contacts, but other variations also exist.

There is no set rule or limitation on how many mobile phones a single individual should own, but there is a limit to how much each individual can handle. Simply put, if a mobile phone is not being used for duration of a full two weeks, then chances are, you can probably afford to do without the secondary SIM card.

Having a secondary handset is also common. Most smart phones compromise size for extra features, and it is not rare for some people to transfer their SIM card from a big expensive handset to a more simple candy bar device when they go for a night out or for errands. This will help keep their iPhone 4 or HTC Desire safe (which is useful if you know you will be coming back home intoxicated).

Another good reason to have a spare mobile phone is for emergencies. Most families have emergency kits at home; these are usually packed with first aid kits, food rations, two way radios and other similar items. These days, it is also recommended to have a spare mobile phone as well (and an extra battery as well). While it would need to be charged regularly, having an extra mobile phone on hand could prove to be helpful in dire emergencies.

While developers might not be too happy that the Android market is well known for its wide range of free applications (they do need to make a profit after all, making apps and games costs money), end users will always enjoy being able to access useful features that will not require them to spend a single pence.

With the World Cup fast approaching, it certainly helps being able to rely on your Android smart phone for all the big updates. Choosing an app, however, can be pretty tough, with the thousands of choices available on the App store, figuring out which one to go for can be tough. So here is a quick list of our most recommended Android applications that will keep you on top of all the big news updates for the World Cup.

First off, the World DroidCup -this is one of the best tools we have found when it comes to getting all the big highlights. Do not expect long news updates however, the DroidCup focuses more on the numbers and statistics, providing users with updated tables and match results. It is the perfect app to use when you only have a few minutes to spare and cannot afford to take in the long news articles found in other websites. As expected, this app is free to download so you can get it now.

Another free app that we recommend is the EvriThing World Cup. The name may sound odd, but the app is absolutely fantastic. It gives users a running thread of news updates and match highlights. The app itself uses very little images and other content so loading is fast and smooth. As you might expect, all the articles on the site are updated by the moment, providing users with a unique insight to the matches as they happen.