My Mobile Universe

Google’s $199 phone to compete with the iPhone

2008-09-21T14:17:00.000-07:00

By Yi-Wyn Yen and Michal Lev-Ram

The Google-powered cell phone is coming soon, and it will retail for $199, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The price of the new Google smart phone would put the device head-to-head with Apple’s $199 iPhone . The Google phone, which features a touchscreen and is made by Taiwanese manufacturer HTC, faces some stiff competition. The iPhone 3G has generated significant interest among consumers for redefining touch-screen technology, popularizing mobile applications and significantly improving Web navigation on cell phones.

T-Mobile, the first carrier that will run Google’s Android mobile software, will show off the new phone to analysts and reporters on Tuesday in Manhattan. It is expected to hit stores later this fall.

Representatives from Google, HTC and T-Mobile would not comment on the Journal’s report.

Google unveiled features of the Android operating system on an unidentified black HTC handset at a developers conference in London on Wednesday.

The HTC phone is just the first of many Google-powered phones, according to the search giant. For Google to reach its ultimate goal - driving mobile Internet use and, in turn, ads - it will need to get multiple devices in the hands of mainstream consumers. The price will also need to be right, given that companies like Palm and Samsung already offer entry-level smartphones for $100.

[via cnn.com]

Spy photos of new Sony Ericsson Walkman-phone

2008-06-18T03:58:00.000-07:00

After information leak about new Sony Ericsson phone in Cybershot series, kind insiders give us some new photos of another model of the same manufacturer. Now we have opportunity to see new clamshell phone which will be part of Sony Ericsson's successful Walkman series. There's nothing special in this model. It's almost the same W890i with insignificant changes.

Main aim of that model is to establish emotional link with user. Developers cram with colorful menues, beautiful animations etc. For example, without reference to your location you can see animation on the screen showing weater in the region. Specifications are unknown yet.

Apple forgot to place Greenland on iPhone 3G sales map

2008-06-09T16:00:00.000-07:00

Today Apple's WWDC'08 was held. New 3G iPhone was introduced at last. But there's some strange thing, that you can see on the iPhone-2 map: Apple decided to remove Greenland from there. What is it? Mistake or maybe Apple's gods know something about global warming etc? :)

Light sensor smartphone Samsung i780

2008-03-21T10:47:00.001-07:00

Samsung Electronics has begun production of light smartphone i780. This particular device has optical joystick, 2,55 '' sensor screen (320x320 pixels), built-in GPS unit. It's width less then 13 mm.

Most interesting element of this phone is optical joystick. You can easily gain access to any function or menu. Standard QWERTY-keyboard is also an excellent addition to i780. This device is very convenient to use because of sensor screen able to identify touch of finger or stylus.

Supports HSDPA, Wi-Fi, USB 2.0, Bluetooth v2.0. Operating system of this novelty is Windows Mobile 6.0. You also gain a Office Mobile package: Excel, PowerPoint, Word and Outlook.

Media: 2 Mpixel camera (2x digital zoom), VGA camera for video-conferences, player (AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, OGG, AMR, MPEG 4, H.263 and H.265).

Data storage: 150 Mb + microSD.

[via 3dnews.ru]

Technorati Tags: Camera phone,GPS,Korea,Samsung,Smartphone,Touch Screen,Windows Mobile

Spice's "Popular phone": $20 today, $10 tomorrow

2008-03-15T06:23:00.001-07:00

India already manifested itself as manufacturer of cheap car Tata Nano ($2500). Indian holding company Spice released "popular phone" priced about $20. This phone does not have any display. "This is just a phone" - so says director of Spice.

There were few unsuccessful attempts of producing displayless phones in 90's. Those phones where unpopular. Specialists think that main advantage of this new model is its price.

Spice plans to sell billion of phones to people of developing countries in Southern America, Africa and Asia in next 3 years.

They also assure that in next year price will reduce below $10.

Nokia has also begun development and manufacturing of cheap phones, but their price is $34-$50.

Spice is cheapest phone at current moment and in closest perspective, says head of Spice, Mr. Mody.

[via thg.ru]

Technorati Tags: Spice,mobile phones,cheap

10 Best Selling Cell Phones of February 2008

2008-02-28T14:34:00.001-08:00

Sweden company Krusell, one of the biggest manufacturer of cell phone covers, released list of best selling cell phones of February. Because of Krusell business this list is based on cell phone covers sells.

In February the leader was Nokia 6300 again. This cell phone hold top position for several months in a row. Nokia 3109/3110 climbed to postition 2 and dropped Sony Ericsson k810i to third place. Apple iPhone left the list in February.

Here is the list(last month position in brackets):

(1) Nokia 6300
(3) Nokia 3109/3110
(2) Sony Ericsson K810i
(7) Nokia E51
(5) Sony Ericsson K850i
(4) Nokia N95 8GB
(6) Nokia 6500
(10) Sony Ericsson K530i
(9) Nokia N95
(-) Nokia N73

Technorati Tags: Nokia,Chart,Sony Ericsson,Krusell,February,iPhone

Sony Ericsson will change naming policy

2008-02-28T13:20:00.001-08:00

Marketers of of cell phones manufacturer decided to improve naming rules. Some latest devices of Sony Ericsson has rather funny names for consumers' taste. New scheme removes "i" letter from the end of devices' names. First cell phones which will have names according new scheme are R300 and R306. But actually this naming model isn't something absolutely new. Similar schemes are used by Japan producers.

Already existed series will have subcategories. G-Series(Generation Web, smartphones) for XPERIA, S-Series(Snapshot, less expensive Cyber-shot models) for Cyber-Shot and R-Series(Radio, lower-end Walkman models)

Technorati Tags: Sony Ericsson,Names,S-Series,G-Series,R-Series

Nokia to show future mobile green technologies

2008-02-27T11:11:00.001-08:00

New materials with nanotechnology will bring mobile devices on new level. That is what Nokia want to show with its concepts of gadgets. These gadgets can be used as cell phone, keyboard, TV etc.

Nokia and University of Cambridge researchers have developed an animated video describing how future mobile devices might be stretchable and flexible, allowing users to transform their device into radically different shapes.

Technorati Tags: Nokia,Morphing,Green,Nanotechnology

Texas Instruments demonstrate Google Phone(GPhone) Prototype

2008-02-16T07:33:00.001-08:00

On the World Mobile Congress 2008 Texas Instruments revealed its prototype of mythic Google Phone also known as GPhone or G-Phone. As TI declares, Google Phone will allow user to get access to Internet, Email, SMS and video with only one click.

Current prototype is a real working device but very likely it will be changed a lot before releasing on the market.

Google Phone works with Texas Instruments' OMAP 850 processor (200 MHz, GSM, GPRS, EDGE support), can be used in WiFi net and communicate with other devices with Bluetooth. Despite of relatively weak hardware Google Phone shows very proper performance working on the Google Operating System(Android platform).

But actually, this demonstration doesn't mean Texas Instruments will become Google Phone manufacturer. End user devices will be produced by HTC, LG, Motorola, Samsung etc. TI will be just a supplier of hardware components.

Technorati Tags: Google,Google Phone,GPhone,G-Phone,Android,Google OS,Texas Instruments

Sony Ericsson C702/C902: Cyber-shot Evolution

2008-02-15T17:19:00.001-08:00

New cell phones C702 and C902 came to popular Sony Ericsson's Cyber-shot family. Sony Ericsson claims both models have the best in its class cameras.

Rumors about C702 were already roaming in the Internet but with name K820. Some sources thought C702 would be waterproof camera phone. But it's only splash and dust-resistant, so it's not recommended to drop it into water.

Higher-end model C902 have better 5 megapixel camera, which can make shots in poor lighting condition with help of new Photo Flash feature. But C702 also has its bonuses - it has A-GPS controller and slightly bigger display. C902 slimmer than C702 on 5 mm.

Technorati Tags: Sony Ericsson,C702,C902,camera phone,waterproof,dust-proof,splash-proof,A-GPS,5 megapixel

HTC manufactures Sony Ericsson's XPERIA X1 smartphone

2008-02-13T16:45:00.001-08:00

As Chinese newspaper Economic Daily News (EDN) reports, High Tech Computer(HTC) perform production of ODM orders on smartphone Xperia X1 for Sony Ericsson (SE). It's not a surprise as Xperia X1 uses Windows Mobile Operating System. Xperia X1 was announced on Mobile World Congress 2008 which had place in Barcelona 11-14 February. Release of that Sony Ericsson's smartphone scheduled on second half of 2008.

As you can see it's very nice looking device, we hope it can grow to a very popular Sony Ericsson's product. Here you can find video short presentation of Xperia X1 and its unusual interface. Weight of that model is only 145 grams. The future cost isn't defined yet.

Technorati Tags: Xperia X1,Smartphone,Sony Ericsson,Mobile World Congress 2008,Xperia,Windows Mobile,HTC,High Tech Computer

MOTO Z6w Slider: Z6 and WiFi Included

2008-02-13T15:32:00.001-08:00

Despite recent rumors about Motorola's exit from cell phone market, American company announced several new models at the Mobile World Congress 2008. One of that models is MOTO Z6w

Novelty's characteristics are very similar to it's sibling Z6. Main feature of MOTO Z6w is WiFi controller and it reflected on the name of cell phone. Letter "w" in Z6w means WiFi. This is light improvement, but it can seriously raise attention of consumers to that model though. Because it can be really helpful in cities with high density of WiFi networks or if you have home WiFi network. But we hopes this new feature won't raise the cost of cell phone as the possible attraction.

Unfortunately, Motorola didn't exposed much technical characteristics in the given press release. We can only know that MOTO Z6w would have 2 megapixel camera with video capabilities, USB2.0 port, microSD slot for memory flash cards with up to 4GB capacity and Windows Media Player 11 capability is declared. From independent source leaked out that new slider works with GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, EDGE, GPRS networks. Also that sources says about QVGA display, Java and Bluetooth support. Dimensions are 104x45x16 mm and weight is 105 grams. Stand-by time up to 380 hours and talk time up to 7 hours.

We can expect MOTO Z6w release in Q2 2008.

Technorati Tags: Motorola,MOTO Z6w,MOTO Z6,Slider,WiFi

Music phone MOTO U9 from Motorola

2007-10-27T14:05:00.001-07:00

American based Motorola recently announced several new cell phone models including pretty MOTO U9 with great music capabilities. This new music phone has elegant design, support of CrystalTalk technology and ergonomic sensor control elements.

MOTO U9 is very phone for the music lovers. You can view your music collection with only one click. If You're listening music and someone calls you, music automatically will be pause. You can transfer audio files from your computer or from over 200 internet stores(for example Napster). Microsoft Windows Media Player 11 will help you to sort and control audio collection. U9 has 25Mb on-board user memory, plus an optional microSD memory card for up to 4GB of music, pictures and other media.

Technical specifications:

GPRS, EDGE
Dimensions - 90mm x 48.6mm x 16.4mm
Weight - 87.5g
Battery - 430 minutes talk time and 350 hours standby time
Exterior display - 1.45'', 128x160, 65k OLED
Interior display - 2.0'', QVGA, 262k TFT
Touch sensitive control
Windows Media Player 11 compatible
Integrated music player that supports multiple audio files: Windows WMAv10 plus Janus DRM, MP3, AAC, AAC+, AAC+ enhanced
Bluetooth (A2DP), USB2.0
25MB on-board user memory and up to 4gb microSD card
CrystalTalk technology
2 megapixel multi-shot camera with landscape viewfinder
MMS, SMS, WVIM, EMS5.04

In some regions MOTO U9 will be distributed with music content from British performer Fergie.

Technorati Tags: Motorola , MOTO U9 , Windows Media Player 11 , Music Phone , Fergie , Touch screen

Do You Want To Have Your Own Universe?

2007-10-12T03:54:00.001-07:00

If you want to broadcast your messages to the whole world you can be builder of My Mobile Universe(or any another blog of MyUniverseRing). We are waiting for your contribution.

Technorati Tags: Blogging , Blogger , Contribution

Samsung release two phones in a one - D880 DuoS

2007-10-06T15:33:00.001-07:00

Actually it's one phone which can handle two SIM cards in it. You can use it for example to separate your work and personal calls. Of course the phone that can carry and work with two SIM cards is nothing new. But all previous phones was made by minor manufacturers and mainly in Asia. And now Samsung wants to bring dual-SIM phones to mainstream in Europe with its new slider Samsung D880 DuoS.

With Samsung D880 DuoS you can use two different numbers from the same mobile operator or from two different operators.

SIM-cards in D880 DuoS can work simultaneously for all standard operations like calling? sending\receiving SMS etc. And you can easily switch from one card to another for using internet-related things like browsing, MMS etc.

Samsung D880 DuoS is an ordinary Samsung's slider with two SIM cards opportunity. There is specifications:

- Dimensions: 104mm × 51mm x 18.9mm
- 2.3 QVGA Display
- 3.2 megapixel camera with autofocus
- FM Radio
- Bluetooth 2.0 A2DP, USB 2.0
- 1200 mAh battery
- GSM 900/1800/1900 EDGE connectivity

You have to pay around $700 to have D880 DuoS.

Technorati Tags: Samsung , D880 DuoS , Slider , Dual phone , Two SIM cards , Dual SIM card phone

MOTORIZR Z3 This slider version of the KRZR looks good but doesn't have much new under the hood.

2007-03-21T15:38:00.001-07:00

By Stewart Wolpin

Motorola's designers seem to be borrowing from themselves instead of innovating. Case in point: The new Motorola RIZR Z3, an EDGE-compatible phone available from T-Mobile, is essentially a slider version of Motorola's clamshell KRZR (not to be confused with the RAZR). The name RIZR Z3 (pronounced "riser") stems from the rising top, but we're not convinced it's a better design than the clamshell version.
Sporting virtually identical outer dimensions, both the KRZR and RIZR Z3 phones have bright 1.9-inch LCDs, the same navigation and array of buttons, and similarly styled and sized keypads. But while the KRZR has a mostly glass and metal exterior, the RIZR Z3 is encased in the same smooth, rubberized outer shell as the PEBL. With a slider, of course, the exposed screen is far more vulnerable to scratches, and it's easy to accidentally activate exposed buttons when the key lock isn't activated.
Initial startup on the RIZR Z3 takes more than 30 seconds, possibly because it's collecting all your T-Mobile myFaves information, which is the last item to appear on screen. But because the longest the backlight can keep the screen lit is 20 seconds, the screen will go blank before the phone is ready to be used.
For photos, you'll find a two-megapixel camera with a video light and 8X zoom. Unfortunately, despite the jump up in resolution from the 1.3-MP KRZR K1m, pictures taken with the RIZR Z3 were almost all overexposed, soft-focused, and lacking in contrast and black levels. We actually think the KRZR's pictures were better.
A built-in music player supports MP3 and AAC files. Stereo Bluetooth is also included, as is 20MB of internal memory and a 1GB microSD Card slot for songs; we just wish the slot weren't buried behind the battery cover. The problem with the RIZR Z3's music player is finding it. The phone doesn't have a dedicated music player key, nor could we find the music player listed in the Fun & Apps menu. Further complicating matters is how the phone mixes your ringtones in with your tunes and offers no way to separate them other than to create a playlist that contains just songs.
While the RIZR Z3's multimedia amenities may be lacking, the phone's calling performance is not. Voice volume was loud if leaning toward the thick side, with only slight network warble at both ends. Voice-memo recording and voice dialing, as well as an enhanced phonebook all help make day-to-day communication a snap.
Initial Web access took about 12 seconds on T-Mobile's EDGE network, and subsequent WAP Web pages filled in a speedy five seconds. That's about average for an EDGE phone and is surprisingly speedier than the KRZR K1m on Verizon's EV-DO network. Its talk time of 3.3 hours is acceptable but shorter than what we've come to expect from GSM phones; the standby time of 9.4 days is adequate.
While the RIZR Z3 is certainly stylish, we think you can do better for the money. Unless you care more about looks than features, we say pick up the identically priced Nokia 5300 or the $149 BlackBerry Pearl instead.

(c) www.laptopmag.com

Uni.Mobile Tags: Motorola, RIZR, MOTORIZR, RIZR Z3, Cell phone

Nokir E828 meta review (yes, NokiR)

2007-02-26T14:29:00.001-08:00

At one glance, the cellphone above looks pretty much like a Nokia N73. I strongly suggest you take a closer look at the brand name, only to discover that this is actually a NOKIR instead of a NOKIA. What more, this model is being marketed as the E828 which is one digit too high for any of the E-series of business phones currently being offered by the Finnish cellphone manufacturer. I suppose Chinese manufacturers couldn't give two hoots about copyright infringement, going all out to secure consumer dollars by producing a bunch of copied designs that are good enough to fool the unwary customer. I predict that there are two groups of people who would pick up the Nokir E828 - the first would be those who are caught unawares, thinking that this is a bona fide Nokia, while the latter would be people who want to be seen toting one of the latest cellphones but cannot afford the actual one. Read on more of the Nokir E828 review after the jump.

The E828 comes in a solid cardboard box, where opening it reveals the handset itself, a couple of batteries, a stereo handsfree headset, a USB cable, a battery charger, and a manual. The product page mentioned that a 128MB microSD card was included, so I checked the box thoroughly without any success (you know how small those darn cards are). A moment of brainstorming later, I realized that the microSD card could only be in one place - inside the handset itself. Opening the back of the E828 easily, I found the 128MB microSD card stored safely where it belonged. Before getting down and dirty with the rest of the cellphone, I plugged it into the nearest power outlet.
It took approximately 4 hours to get a full charge from a flat battery, which is pretty much the standard these days. The first thing I noticed was the vibrant display - it was somewhat on par with the Nintendo DS Lite in terms of brightness. Checking out the pre-loaded picture gallery, I found the 2.6" touchscreen QVGA display to perform satisfactorily at a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels. The only downside as with all other touchscreen phones would be the layer of oil and fingerprints left over the display at the end of the day - you would be well advised to keep a soft cloth or some tissue nearby to wipe the screen clean after each conversation in order to retain a pristine look.
The phone itself is surprisingly light (104g) for its size (110mm x 55mm x 14mm), thanks to the majority of its plastic parts. Apart from the touchscreen, hardware specifications include an extendable stylus located at the top right hand corner just like the Treo, a 2 megapixel camera behind, volume control buttons on the side, and a mini USB port on the bottom left hand side. This mini USB port is pretty versatile as it can be used to plug in either your stereo handsfree handset or the charger cable. One drawback would be you can't use both at the same time. The USB charger cable can either be hooked up to the adapter itself, or directly to the computer for charging purposes. Once connected to the computer, you can use it as a 2 megapixel webcam or a mass storage device. I would recommend growing your fingernails beforehand as opening the mini USB port can be quite tricky due to the rubber cover.
Unlocking the cellphone is pretty tricky, as you first have to press a certain key before touching a precise point on the touchscreen. I would have preferred an all-key unlock system, probably due to the number of years I have been spoilt by Nokia's superb User Interface (UI). The UI here is nothing much to shout about, as it does not run on any of the the popular operating systems. It works more like a Flash-based interface, where each menu consists of 4 sub-menus. It takes a while to get the hang of things, and not being able to read a single character of Chinese in the manual does not help either. Those who are less tech savvy should rope in an experienced gadget lover to help them through the growing pains of navigation.
Software features include a camera, an image viewer, a video recorder, an audio and video player (supported formats consist of MP3, 3GP, and MPEG 4). You can choose to play the video of your choice in portrait or landscape mode, but I would recommend the latter due to the widescreen format. There is a lag of approximately half a second when you use the E828 to take photos, but generally the pictures turn out pretty okay for a camera phone of its class. You get all the usual trappings such as Night and Auto modes, an adjustable brightness level, and different effects.
Using this as a secondary MP3 player is great, as the included stereo headset offers a commendable sound quality. The phone's speaker itself is unusually loud, making sure you are aware of an incoming call even in noisy social environments. I sure hope the speaker would be able to last the pace throughout the phone's life and not tear too easily from playing music too loudly at frequent intervals.
The buttons on this cellphone are pretty hard to press, even more so if you are an owner of large digits. The depressed nature of the keys make it easy to make a typing mistake, and the fact that the E828 caters toward the Chinese-speaking market is made all the more evident in the text messaging mode. You won't find any T9 text prediction input in there, but messaging in Chinese is made extremely simple with a vast array of characters available at your command. I find that using the stylus to key in my messages are much faster when compared to using the keypad, as I am prone to spending almost half the time making corrections when using the latter.
Battery life stands at approximately 2 days before requiring a recharge. This includes conversations of up to an hour a day, playing the occasional song, while snapping a few pictures along the way. I guess that battery life would be even lower if other features such as Bluetooth were thrown in. Overall, it is pretty much average in terms of battery life. Most people charge their devices on a daily basis anyway, so this is a non-issue unless you hit the road often.
Take note that the Nokir E828 operates only on the 900/1800MHz GSM bands, which rules out those living in the Americas (including the United States and Canada). This Asian-centric phone explains why the manual comes in only Chinese, as I expect a vast majority of its buyers to come from mainland China.
At $200, this is pretty much a budget phone for those living in Europe and the U.S., but for the target market in China and other up-and-coming countries in the third world, it would be positioned as a higher end handset at that price. To cap up this review, I will list the pros along with the cons. You can purchase the Nokir E828 from Brando.
Pros:
• Great looking display
• Lightweight
• Extremely audible speaker
• Affordable
Cons:
• Poor User Interface
• No Bluetooth
• Fingerprint magnet
• Software lags occasionally
• Buttons hard to press
• No T9 text prediction input

(c) www.uberphones.com

Harman Kardon Guide+Play GPS-500 Does Nav and HiFi

2007-01-10T18:54:00.001-08:00

Harman Kardon has announced their GPS-500. This is a small GPS device that also has media functionality. This GPS unit includes a hi-fi music player (with FM transmitter), video player, 2GB of internal storage with optional SD expandability and support for MP3, MP4, WMA, ASF, WAV and OGG. The 4-inch touchscreen and software doesn't look too shabby, either—nice and clean. It will be hitting the shelves later this month for $500. – Travis Hudson

(c) www.gizmodo.com

How the iPhone avoided being leaked

2007-01-10T18:53:00.001-08:00

by Christopher Grant

We all knew Apple was going to announce the iPhone at yesterday's Macworld keynote, but we didn't really know, y'know? Despite years of anticipation, false starts, and promised rumors, we can't decide if we're more impressed by what Apple managed to pack into the iPhone's slender frame or their ability to keep the entire thing an absoloute secret. Fortune takes a look at the process, covering the highly secretive cooperation with cell-carrier Cingular, the unusually distributed effort within Apple itself, and the increasing strain placed on the personal lives of employees tasked with long hours and strict confidentiality. Perhaps most interesting was the creation of "bogus prototypes" that they used with not only Cingular executives but with Apple exployees themselves. Lucky for us, an insider deep inside the core of Apple sent us this cameraphone snap of an early prototype featuring a (now absent) external antenna.

(c) www.engadget.com

Sharp 770SH 3G phone

2007-01-10T18:26:00.001-08:00

CES 2007 - Truth be told, very little separates the 550SH and the 770SH. Both cellphones share almost the same specifications, with the main difference being the size and form factor. While the 550SH comes in a candybar design, the 770SH opens up its clamshell with a very satisfying click. Instead of the 1.9" TFT LCD display that you find on the 550SH, you get a 2.2" Mobile Advanced Super-V LCD instead. I compared the screens between both phones, and the 770SH looked a wee bit better but it probably would not matter to the casual user. Loading captured images took approximately 2 to 3 seconds per shot, which can be frustrating for those who are used to speedier software. As with the 550SH, it is currently available in Europe and will be offered by Cingular and T-Mobile sometime in the near future. Overall, it really depends on how you prefer your handset to come in - candybar or clamshell?

(c) www.ubergizmo.com

Pantech goes two up with IM-S150 and IM-U150

2007-01-06T15:30:00.001-08:00

Pantech is now offering two new handsets in Japan namely the Pantech IM-S150 and the Pantech IM-U150. The former handset is widely acclaimed for being extremely well designed and have had the good fortune of winning the iF Design Award of 2007 as well. Features on the S-150 include megapixel cameras, MP3 players and wireless internet. The IM-S150 features a screen, incorporating dual TFT LCD of 260,000 colors. It is also equipped with a 1.3 mega-pixel camera with flash and 64 polyphonic ringtones. Users can send photos and phone numbers to other mobile phones through its infra-red data association (IrDA) function. The IM-S150 will be launched in Korea this week under Pantech's SKY brand, the leading Korean premium mobile phone brand. The IM-S150 is 7.8cm in height and 3.7cm in width and weighs only 80g. The latter, i.e. the U150 is simpler yet elegant. The touch wheel design has been tried out with the U150. The U150 also has a surprisingly different color for the backlight - purple which ligths up depending on the movement of the finer on the touchwheel. The Pantech U150 phone will also enjoy 1 GB of memory, 3D surround sound and an integrated MP3 player.

(c) www.phoneyworld.com

MySpace on Your Cingular Phone

2007-01-06T15:21:00.001-08:00

MySpace.com and Cingular Wireless announced an exclusive partnership to offer enhanced MySpace functionality to all Cingular customers via their mobile phones. The deal marks MySpace's largest-scale mobile partnership and gives Cingular's customers exclusive access to MySpace Mobile's tool set including the ability to edit MySpace profiles, view and add friends, post photos and blogs, send and receive MySpace messages, and more from the mobile phone.

MySpace Mobile on Cingular provides features and functionality of the MySpace global community, translated for an easy-to-use and feature-rich experience on a mobile device. The rich feature set for MySpace Mobile on Cingular includes:
- Uploading Photos - Available on select Cingular handsets, MySpace Mobile allows Cingular customers to select photos stored on their mobile device and upload them to their MySpace profile. The same terms of service for MySpace also apply to the mobile sphere, including but not limited to inappropriate content and copyrighted material.
- Responding to Mail - Cingular customers don't have to wait until they are in front of a computer to read and reply to their MySpace messages. From their Cingular phones, they have the ability to send messages to their MySpace friends, read and reply to messages sent to them, as well as view and manage friend requests.
- Searching for Friends - MySpace Mobile allows Cingular customers to perform basic friend searches giving users the opportunity to "click-to-add "friends into their network. Cingular customers must simply locate a MySpace profile they wish to add as a friend, and then select to add this user as a friend. Customers will also have the ability to look through invites that are pending approval.
- Posting Comments or Blog Entries - MySpace Mobile allows Cingular customers to post new blog entries and make comments to other users' blogs or MySpace profile pages. To post a blog or comment, Cingular customers need simply view the appropriate section and click "Post" to create the entry. Users can save their work at any time, and any information entered will update both the mobile client and the online MySpace profile page.
- View Friends - Cingular customers have the ability to view the friend list of any MySpace profile. The Friend list contains a text listing of the friends, which when selected would show the profile picture along with a link to that user's MySpace page and the ability to add the friend to your contact list for quick bookmarking.
- View Groups - MySpace Mobile gives users the ability to view the group list of any MySpace profile. The Group list contains a text listing of the members, which when selected would show the profile picture along with a link to that user's MySpace profile and the ability to add the member to your contact list for quick bookmarking.
To experience MySpace Mobile on Cingular, customers can text: MYSPACE to 386 (FUN) to get the MySpace Mobile application on their wireless phones. The cost is $2.99 per month plus standard data usage charges.
In addition to the full range of new MySpace Mobile features, Cingular customers can still receive real time MySpace Mobile Alerts on their handsets which notify them, via a text message, when they receive postings to their MySpace page, such as updates or comments posted to their blog, friend invites, mail messages, comments to pictures, new bulletins and/or online status. MySpace Mobile Alerts have been available to Cingular customers since March 2006 and, to date, more than 75 million alerts have been received on Cingular handsets.

(c) www.mobiledia.com

Samsung Launches the Thinnest HSDPA Slider

2007-01-06T15:19:00.001-08:00

Samsung today launched the SGH-Z720, the thinnest HSDPA slide-up mobile offering a 13.8 mm profile.

The Z720 enables mobile users to access more files and provides greater fidelity for streaming video content, powered by High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) for data transmission speeds at 1.8 Mbps - up to six times faster than 3G UMTS technology.
Integrating a 3.0-megapixel camera with auto focus for taking photos, the Z720 has wide dimension to allow for a 2.1-inch QVGA display. Utilizing 3G power, the Z720 also includes a second camera for video telephony. With a document viewer, voice memo and PIM features, users can also keep on top of their workload.
For convenience, the Z720 supports microSD external memory and is equipped with Bluetooth and USB connectivity. Also supporting Samsung's newest uGo and uTrack interfaces, the Z720 automatically responds to the user's environment and displays a city landmark of where they are located, adjusts the picture to represent day or night, and adjusts the time to reflect the location automatically. The uTrack interface sends an SMS message to a predetermined number to alert the consumer of changes in the mobile's SIM card, as well as the location to increases the chances of recovering a lost or stolen phone.
In addition, the Z720 is the first mobile handset from Samsung installed with Google mobile search and Gmail, which enables consumers to search for information, and manage their emails on the move. It includes a Google icon in the application menu, offering one-click access to Google search.
The Samsung Z720 has been launched in major European countries this month and will soon be available throughout Europe.
Samsung Z720 Specification
- Standard: GSM / GPRS (900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz) + EDGE + UMTS + HSDPA
- Camera: 3.0-Megapixel Camera + VGA Dual Camera (AF / 3x Zoom)
- Display: 2.1-inch 240 x 340 px 262K-Color TFT LCD
- Features: Video Recording & Messaging (MPEG4 / H.263)
- MP3 / AAC / AAC+ / e-AAC+ / WMA
- Digital Power Amp
- Bluetooth / USB
- Document Viewer / Google Search / Google Mail (Gmail)
- Speakerphone / Offline Mode / uTrack / uGo
- MicroSD external memory
- Size: 104.5 x 51.3 x 13.8 mm
- Weight: 80 g
- Samsung Launches the Thinnest HSDPA Slider Photo 1

(c) www.mobiledia.com

Cingular ups SMS fee to 15 cents

2007-01-06T15:18:00.001-08:00

Cingular has announced a 50% price increase for the price for an SMS message. Starting January 21st SMS messages will cost 15 cents (this applies to both sending and receiving). Sprint made this same move back in October.

Despite the hefty price increase, Cingular customers will not be able to renig on their contracts. Sprint allowed users without a bulk rate SMS plan to cancel their contracts without an early termination free (usually around $200) after the price hike. Sprint did not reveal how many customers took advantage of that offer however.

Cingular will try to use this move as a way to get more customers to sign up for a bulk SMS plan. The base plan is $5 monthly for 200 messages and the top plan is $20 for 3,000. T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless still offer messages at 10 cents apiece.

(c) www.mobiletracker.net

Motorola 4th quarter lower than expected

2007-01-06T15:15:00.003-08:00

Motorola has issued a restated estimate for 4th quarter sales and earnings because of lower than expected sales of mobile devices. The usually red hot holiday season ended up being not as KRZY as Motorola was hoping for:

"We are very disappointed with our fourth-quarter financial performance," said Ed Zander, chairman and CEO, "but we remain committed to the strategic direction and long-term financial targets we discussed at our annual analysts meeting in July 2006. We will discuss plans to improve operating profitability on January 19 when we announce fourth-quarter earnings."

Motorola estimates Q4 sales of mobile devices at 66 million and attributes the shortfall to, "an unfavorable geographical and product-tier mix of sales."

(c) www.mobiletracker.net

Motorola Q Announced for Sprint

2007-01-06T15:15:00.001-08:00

Sprint today announced the planned availability of the Motorola Q in mid-February. Slim and stylish, the Q operates on the Windows Mobile 5.0 Smartphone Platform with the Messaging and Security Feature Pack and gives customers easy access to mobile email, Web, calendar, music, video and phone functionality in one pocket-sized device. Exclusive features available only from Sprint include:

- Sprint Mobile Broadband Service on the Sprint Power Vision Network
- Customized Sprint Powerdeck - The Sprint Powerdeck Located in the Internet Explorer - Favorites Menu will provide users with Featured Content, optimized content links and an online searchable User Guide for convenient access to tips, troubleshooting techniques and how-to instructions
- NFL Mobile - available exclusively from Sprint, this application brings the world of NFL to your handset. Access team content, check real-time scores and stats, and shop for NFL downloads. NFL Mobile is included with any Sprint Power Vision data pack starting as low as $15 a month
- On Demand - retrieve customized, up-to-date web content such as sports, weather, news, money and movie information with the push of a button
In addition to the exclusive Sprint offerings, customers can benefit from the following advanced features:
- Enhanced email capabilities with Good Mobile Messaging - provides secure, real-time access to email and corporate data with a familiar, Outlook-like interface. Available directly from the Sprint Powerdeck allowing for convenient and easy installation
- QWERTY keyboard for easy, accurate messaging
- Flexible push e-mail capabilities including support for Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 and Good Mobile Messaging, as well as consumer email solutions such as POP3, IMAP4 and SMTP protocols
- Wireless synchronization with Microsoft Outlook e-mail, calendar, tasks and contacts
- Windows Media Player 10 Mobile for playback and streaming of music, video and audio
- Large, high-resolution display
- Integrated version 1.2 Bluetooth wireless technology
- 1.3-megapixel camera with flash and 6x digital zoom, video capture with sound and playback
- Externally accessible mini SD card slot for additional storage
- Five-way navigation button and thumb wheel for single-handed operation
Sprint is enabling the Motorola Q with flexible connectivity options including phone-as-modem functionality to allow customers to use the device with a laptop for high-speed data access via the Sprint Mobile Broadband Network.

(c) www.mobiledia.com

Cingular Plans Live Video Sharing

2007-01-06T15:13:00.001-08:00

Cingular plans to make video service commercially available in 2007, allowing users to send a live video stream to a recipient during a standard voice call.

Beginning with a normal phone call, customers can hit one button to add a live video stream, allowing the called party to see what the caller is seeing while they're talking. The service also allows customers to switch the direction of the video stream during the same phone call.
For example, a couple in San Antonio would place a regular voice call to their parents in Miami, and once the call is connected, hit the camera button on the phone to start the video session. The parents receive an invitation asking if they want to view the live video stream, and once accepted, they begin seeing the video shot by the kids in San Antonio. The speakerphone turns on and the proud new grandparents in Miami can see a live video of their granddaughter taking her first steps or saying her first words.
Cingular is showcasing its 3G UMTS / HSDPA (Universal Mobile Telephone System / High-Speed Downlink Packet Access) network and recently deployed IMS (Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem) platform to provide the video service. Other companies participating in the demo are Alcatel / Lucent (Las Vegas 3G network and IMS platform) and LG Electronics (LG CU500v phone).

(c) www.mobiledia.com

Chocolate Phone Successor Due at CES

2007-01-04T03:57:00.001-08:00

LG Electronics will show the the successor to its popular Chocolate cell phone at next week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

The Shine handset is a slider-type phone and has been available in South Korea since October. It features a 2-megapixel camera and in South Korea it costs about $656. LG had previously said the phone would ship internationally during the first quarter, so the launch at CES is in keeping with those predictions.

LG hopes it will repeat the success of the Chocolate phone, which was projected to attract sales of 6 million phones in 2006. It was launched in Europe in May and in North America in August.

This report comes courtesy of Martyn Williams of the IDG News Service.

(c) blogs.pcworld.com

NPD Report: Smartphone Growth Spurt

2007-01-02T13:54:00.001-08:00

According to The NPD Group, a leading consumer and retail information company, the U.S. smartphone market has entered a significant growth spurt. October 2006 sales soared 230 percent from January of this year, rising from 216,000 units to nearly 715,000. On a quarterly basis in 2006, smartphone sales have risen more than four percentage points to more than 6 percent of new phones sold through October in the fourth quarter of 2006.

“The long-awaited growth in smartphone sales comes at a crucial time for carriers who have been anticipating wider adoption of smartphones,” said Neil Strother, research director for wireless devices at The NPD Group. “For the past couple of years, carriers and their handset suppliers have been hoping more buyers would migrate to these devices, since smartphone owners tend to spend much more on wireless data than those who don’t own them.”

Here’s the breakdown of the top sellers from August through October:

Motorola Q
Palm Treo 650
Verizon Wireless XV6700
Palm Treo 700p
BlackBerry 8700

The current top five best-selling smartphones reflect a shifting market that’s no longer limited to Treos and BlackBerries. Motorola’s Q has come on strong, and actually led sales between August and October 2006. The key reasons behind the overall growth in smartphone sales included the following:

Prices have declined by 10 percent on average since January 2006.
More smartphone choices are available – Motorola Q, Palm Treo 700p, BlackBerry Pearl and Nokia’s E62 have all entered the market this year alone.
Smartphones meet the growing demand for personal e-mail usage, which has doubled since March 2006.
More robust devices are now capable of better handling of music and video applications.
Devices now boast significantly greater data storage capacity than standard phones, and many provide slots for removable memory cards.
Smartphones can now take advantage of faster networks for quicker data transfers and Web browsing.

“All of this is welcome news to carriers, and not just because devices are moving in record volume,” Strother said. “The simple fact is that smartphone owners spend more on data and are therefore more attractive customers.”

Smartphone users spent an average of $6.31 per month for wireless data in the third quarter. By comparison, owners of all types of mobile phones spent just $0.89. “It’s no wonder carriers covet smartphone owners so much,” Strother said.

(c) www.slashphone.com

LG SB190, the latest LG phone

2006-12-31T06:34:00.000-08:00

LG just presented in Korea the SB190, their latest phone. This small phone offers DMB, GPS, an MP3 player, a 1.3Mpix camera and many other features. It will be soon available at SK Telecom and maybe some time after in Europe.

(c) www.iyiz.com

Toshiba Drape cell phone sports analog clock

2006-12-30T14:50:00.001-08:00

"Something old with something new" is the latest selling mantra. An ideal ingenious fusion of modernism with traditionalism can lead to a charismatic evolution! Toshiba Drape cell phone with analog clock testifies it. Toshiba 's mobile phone has been named Drape because it has a curtain-like appearance when closed. Available in three different colors, black, white or bronze, the clamshell will greet you with a traditional analog clock that can be switched with the standard cell phone interface for those who aren't very interested in using a mobile phone just for knowing what time it is. The main display can swap over to the usual cell phone interface, and you can take advantage of its 2.6-inch QVGA in more resourceful ways.

Also known as the W46T, the Drape is destined for Japanese service provider au. Other than the analog clock, it also rocks 1xEV-DO Rev.A, microSD expansion, EZ channel plus, EZ news flash, LISMO, 3 mega pixel camera, and Sony-branded earphones. There is no information regarding the mobile phone's price but it's almost a sure thing that this phone will only be available in Japan.

(c) www.luxurylaunches.com

FCC Clears Way for Phone Companies to Offer TV

2006-12-24T05:05:00.001-08:00

Telcos such as AT&T and Verizon heard rejoicing

The Federal Communications Commission voted by a 3-2 margin to speed the entry of new competitors into the cable television market by streamlining the local franchising process through which companies gain approvals to offer subscription television services.

Commission concluded that the current operation of the franchising process constitutes an unreasonable barrier to entry that impedes the cable competition and broadband deployment.

The order by the FCC addresses several ways by which local franchising authorities are unreasonably refusing to allow the entry of competitive franchises. These include drawn-out local negotiations with no time limits; unreasonable build-out requirements; unreasonable requests for “in-kind” payments that attempt to subvert the five percent cap on franchise fees; and unreasonable demands with respect to public, educational and government access.

To eliminate the unreasonable barriers to entry into the cable market, and to encourage investment in broadband facilities, the FCC will limit the time of negotiation to no more than 90 days and eliminate many of the deterrents that new entrants are forced to face. Companies breaking into the market will no longer have to abide by any build-out requirements, such as providing service to every part of town.

“Today's action will fast-forward the delivery of new choices, lower prices and better services to consumers. The FCC is standing up for consumers who are tired of skyrocketing cable bills and want greater choice in service providers and programming,” said Susanne Guyer, Verizon senior vice president for federal regulatory affairs. “Verizon has an aggressive schedule to deploy FiOS TV. This order will enable us to reach agreements with local franchise authorities more quickly so we can deliver the benefits of competition to consumers faster. The FCC has taken strong steps to increase consumer choice and spur investment in broadband and video deployment.”

(c) www.dailytech.com

Samsung Unveils Mobile Phone With 'Optical Joystick'

2006-12-22T16:25:00.001-08:00

By Jennifer LeClaire

Samsung on Tuesday released a new cell phone, the SCH-V960, touting its unique "optical joystick," which is used for navigating menus, as a "world's first." The phone also has a 2 megapixel camera, GPS and Bluetooth functionality, and a screen that automatically adjusts its brightness based on ambient light levels to conserve battery life.

Samsung Electronics' latest mobile phone sports a gaming element -- a joystick. The company on Tuesday released the SCH-V960, which features a unique "optical joystick" to help users navigate the wireless device's menu and user interface.

Unlike most cellular devices -- which depend on the use of a scroll bar on the side of the phone or a series of clickable buttons to navigate the on-screen menus -- Samsung's joystick is reminiscent of a PC mouse.

Like an iPod

Unlike most cellular devices -- which depend on the use of a scroll bar on the side of the phone or clicking a series of buttons to navigate the on-screen menus -- Samsung's joystick is reminiscent of a PC mouse.

Users can operate the optical joystick by placing one finger on it and moving a cursor to navigate through the menu. At a high level, the process is similar to navigating an iPod, though it uses different technology.

Optical sensors read and react to finger movements, breaking down the traditional four-way menu navigation.

Users can point the cursor and click directly on icons in order to gain direct access to frequently used menus, such as the photo album, messaging and music functions. They can also use the optical joystick to scroll through play lists while listening to music.

Like a BlackBerry

With this joystick, Samsung can claim a unique innovation in the cell phone market, according to M:Metrics Senior Analyst John Jackson.

The concept echoes the trackball functionality of the new Pearl smartphone from BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion (Nasdaq: RIMM) , he said.

"Samsung's optical joystick is certainly innovative. It's a good example of progress toward solving some of the usability conundrums that have always characterized handsets. Navigation and user interface advances are something that will continue to be a key area of focus and investment and innovation," Jackson added.

Although Samsung called its optical joystick "revolutionary," Jackson won't go that far. However, he did say that consumers will appreciate the innovation.

As advanced mobile applications become easier to use, and as their menus become easier to navigate, consumers will be more drawn to value-added services. "That means more money going through the wireless channel," Jackson said.
Smart Lighting

The V960's illumination sensor enables "smart lighting" -- a feature that automatically controls the brightness of the LCD screen and keypad, designed to protect users from eyestrain and minimize the device's power consumption.

In addition, the V960 supports a 2 megapixel camera, as well as global positioning system and Bluetooth functionality. The device will be launched in the Korean market at the end of December.

(c) www.technewsworld.com

Mobile Phone Telescope Lens - zoom vroom boom

2006-12-22T09:03:00.001-08:00

The Mobile Phone Telescope Lens adds a 6 x zoom lens to your humble phonecam handset which is pretty amazing. Apparently these new lenses offer much improved image quality too (check the example on the site), which makes it doubly interesting as higher resolution camera phones come on to the market. Sell those point and shoot camera company shares now. $19.00 and available for a number of different handset brands.

(c) www.redferret.net

Bluetooth Jawbone Headset

2006-12-21T14:43:00.001-08:00

Cingular Wireless today introduced the new Jawbone headset for Bluetooth mobile phones. Jawbone is the first adaptive Bluetooth headset with Noise Shield technology, which virtually eliminates background noise so calls are clearer. Ambient noise is often an issue with many headsets and can make conversations difficult in noisier environments. Noise Shield technology uses an advanced, military-grade system that continuously adapts to user's changing environments to deliver unparalleled audio quality.

(c) www.yankodesign.com

Self-sufficient cellphones

2006-12-20T11:30:00.001-08:00

Ever wished you could harness the power of kinetic energy to power the horde of devices that are in your possession? The YoYo is a practical solution that is worn around the neck, making full use of solar and kinetic energy that keeps it recharged at all times. Those in power suits will appreciate the U-Turn - an ergonomical, user-friendly device that comes with an integrated keypad that simplifies the e-mail process as it converts kinetic energy from the opening and closing of the keypad to recharge itself. Finally, the Runaway targets athletes who attach it to their wrist or equipment, making it a self-sufficient device thanks to the athlete's movements. Bear in mind that all three cellphones are just a concept and will not see production anytime soon.

(c) www.ubergizmo.com

Sony Ericsson W200a caught naked at FCC

2006-12-19T17:20:00.001-08:00

Everyone is keeping pretty tight-lipped about this apparently new budgetphone from Sony Ericsson, but we manage to snag a pic of the W200a in the nude. As the document is housed on the FCC website, we have reason to believe that it has already been approved (they seem to be discussing where to place the approval sticker, I think).

Unfortunately, the provided photograph doesn't show the front of the phone, but based on the model number alone, we can venture a guess on a several fronts. For starters, it's a W-series phone, meaning that it'll rock some form of the Walkman software for mobile music junkies, and by association, it's got to have some kind of memory stick slot. As it is the W200a, we've got to assume that it's a lower-end model, much like the W300, and the "a" has typically stood for "America" in SE's books, so it's either North America-friendly triband GSM (850/1800/1900) or world-friendly quadband GSM (850/900/1800/1900). It's also clearly got a camera going on in the back and comes draped in their signature orange paint.

I'm pretty sure it's a candybar. More as it develops.

(C) www.mobilemag.com

Samsung: We'll Probably Sell More Phones Unlocked

2006-12-18T12:40:00.001-08:00

At Samsung's press event today, I asked Samsung Telecommunications America president Dale Sohn whether they would follow Nokia's lead and start selling their coolest, high-end phones direct -- the phones so cool that US carriers refuse to pick them up. (At left, you'll see the Samsung SGH-P320 card phone, which you can buy on Dynamism.com but not through Samsung or a US carrier.) He looked visibly uncomfortable. Dale, if someone's touching you and they make you feel squirmy and wrong, that's bad touching.

Samsung recently made a stab towards consumer freedom by selling their high-end Black Carbon phone directly, unlocked -- it's an awesome black slider that Cingular and T-Mobile are ignoring. I'm still waiting for my review model. Sohn didn't give a "yes" or "no" to whether Samsung was expanding their direct-sales effort, but said that they looked forward to trying it further with more exciting design concepts and high-end phones appealing to niche markets, which sounded a lot like a "yes" to me. More thoughts after the jump.

Samsung's entire response to the question, though, had echoes of the kinds of answers you get from people in abusive relationships. They didn't want to suggest that the carriers' policies of keeping a stranglehold on sales and offering limited product lines was anything less than perfect, while at the same time they shyly admitted that, yes, they maybe do make a few phones that Americans would want to buy direct.

Earlier in the day, Samsung in-house mobile analyst Philip Garrison was a bit more direct. "Carriers - that's a love-hate relationship," he said. While some carrier execs thrill at cool fashion phones and high-end designs, carrier purchasing departments complain, "too many SKUs, too hard to handle, all those colors, we don't want to do it."

Hey Samsung, I've got a solution. Just like you did with the Black Carbon, pass your phones by the carriers to make sure they won't set towers on fire -- and then sell them direct. Wireless freedom!

[Thanks goes to www.gearlog.com for this article]

iPhone launches today ... ?!

2006-12-18T08:20:00.001-08:00

Yes, it's the moment we've all been waiting for - not. Linksys launched a product called the "iPhone" today, a family of voice-over-internet (VOIP) handsets (not cell phones.) One of them does sound pretty cool - the Wireless-G Phone for Skype connects directly to Skype through Wi-Fi hotspots, with no PC required. Linksys' amusing product naming raises two questions in the overheated Apple phone debate. First of all, if Apple can't call it the iPhone, what will they call it? Secondly, how the heck did Linksys get the trademark on that name?

[Thanks goes to www.gearlog.com for this article]

LG KE850 a Slim Touch Screen Phone

2006-12-15T15:22:00.001-08:00

LG KE850 is one of the product that won iF Product Design Award 2007. There wasn't any information on the mobile phone but mobilport releases few pictures of it today.

The slim LG KE850 is rather a simple design with a display screen took up most of the space of front body. The size of the display screen is unknown, but the resolution is as high as 240 x 400 pixels. The phone do not has a keypad or slide keypad, the touch screen will do all the task needed. Send, End and Confirm button are available below of the screen to let you pick up call easily. We can see Media, Office shortcut menu on the menu screen shot, you will be probably able to open/edit office documents on the large screen. The black body reminds us that it could be one of the chocolate phone series, we will just have to wait for the official announcement. Enjoy a couple more photos at next page for now.

[original post: www.slashphone.com]

More SE AI W880 pics

2006-12-14T12:56:00.001-08:00

These supposed photos of the Sony Ericsson AI W880 are different to what we were told was that next-gen handset back in November, but they’re a lot clearer and do look a little more like a cellphone than a pocket calculator. Otherwise the rumoured specs are the same: 9.4mm thick, 3G UMTS with dual cameras (front, for video calling; back, 2.0-megapixel for photography), HSDPA and 1.9-inch screen.

Slated for a February-ish release next year, and to be available in silver and black (photo after the cut). Those keys look a bit small for my liking, but we’ll have to wait and see.

[original post: www.slashgear.com]

Motorola ships special KRZR Fire phone

2006-12-14T12:21:00.001-08:00

Motorola today launched a special edition of its increasingly widespread KRZR cellphone. Dubbed the KRZR Fire, the new model replaces the conservative black and blue color schemes of the versions available in Europe and North America with a bright, metallic red. The red theme continues on the inside of the phone as well, Motorola says, as the blue keypad backlighting has turned red as well. Functionality is the same as the existing KRZR with a 2-megapixel camera, Bluetooth 2.0, and a microSD slot for music and video storage. The color is currently available solely in Korea, but may find its way to other regions in the near future.

[original post: www.electronista.com]

Japanese digital camera shipments up 24%

2006-12-08T12:11:00.001-08:00

CIPA, the Japanese Camera & Imaging Products Association is made up of all major Japanese camera manufacturers including Canon, Casio, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, Pentax, Ricoh, Sigma and Sony. Every month they publish statistics on the production an export of digital cameras, film cameras and photo printers. As we head towards the end of the year we thought it would be interesting to look at the Shipment figures for the first three quarters of this year and how they compare to the same period last year.

CIPA Shipment of Digital Still Cameras

January - September 2006: Units shipped by region

North America and Europe account for two thirds of all Japanese digital cameras produced, it's also interesting to note that Europe has now slightly stolen a lead over North America. In total 54.5 million Japanese digital cameras shipped in the first three quarters of this year (a total value of $10.6 billion).

January - September 2006: Units shipped by region / type

The uptake of digital SLRs appears to be fairly equal in Japan, Europe and North America, at around 7% of units shipped with uptake in Asia and other countries lagging behind a little. In total digital SLRs account for 6% of units shipped but a much more significant 19% of value. The compact 'built-in lens' value for the first three quarters was $8.6 billion, for digital SLRs this was $2.0 billion.

Region	Built-in lens		Digital SLR
Japan	6,247,996	92%	513,176	8%
Europe	17,496,291	93%	1,293,092	7%
North America	15,268,960	93%	1,167,305	7%
Asia	8,545,116	95%	438,021	5%
Others	3,456,362	98%	64,319	2%

Compared to the same period last year

Compared to the first three quarters of 2005 overall units shipped are up 24% for built-in lens compact cameras and 26% for digital SLRs. The strongest digital SLR growth being the European market which grew 37% followed by North America with a 24% growth.

Source: Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA)

Motorokr E6 PDA cellphone launched

2006-12-08T11:56:00.001-08:00

Motorola has a spanking new PDA phone in town, and the Motorokr E6 is set to rock your world with its slew of functions and capabilities. How does a large 2.4" QVGA 262k color touchscreen display sound to you? Other noteworthy features include Bluetooth and USB 2.0 connectivity, an SD/MMC memory card slot, and a 2 megapixel camera with 8x digital zoom. Not forgetting music and video playback, a built-in MP3 player with dedicated music keys, an integrated FM radio, QVGA recording, as well as a 3.5mm stereo jack. The Motorokr E6 is currently up for sale in China and will be available in India in Q2 2007, but all is silent on when it will arrive Stateside and how much damage will be done to your wallet.

[original post: www.ubergizmo.com]

Birthday!

2006-12-05T11:22:00.000-08:00

Today is "My Mobile Universe" birthday!