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.
"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.
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.”
By Jennifer LeClaire
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.
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.
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 
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.
