Sunday, December 30, 2007

Sony Ericsson W960i

By Damian Koh


The Apple iPhone won't be making its way to Asia until 2008 (at least not officially) and the launch date is at best an obscure moving target. For some, it means waiting patiently. For others who don't subscribe to that school of thought, there are already alternatives in the market they can consider and one of them is the LG Prada Phone. While the Sony Ericsson W960i isn't a full touchscreen phone (nor is the Prada anyway), it is the closest thing to an iPhone killer we've seen so far. We managed to wrestle a prototype unit off the Swedish-Japanese manufacturer to take a closer look.
Design
Like we've mentioned, the W960i isn't a full touchscreen phone and for heavy texters or people who prefer hardware buttons, that could be a welcome relief. What we didn't expect was that the alphanumeric keys would be bunched tightly together (as you can see from the pictures) with minimal spacing between each rectangular block.

On our prototype unit, it seems like the keys are made from thin plastics attached to the main body. Each of them is capable of rocking forward/backward and sideways like a balancing act. We're not sure how that would affect daily use and we're holding our comments until we have a full commercial unit.
Between the generous 2.6-inch QVGA touchscreen panel and the numeric keypad is a row of multimedia playback touch keys. These allow us to play/stop, fast forward, backtrack or skip music tracks. Alternatively, the jog dial on the left edge of the phone does the job of scrolling through tracks or playlists. What's missing is a Back button to accompany the dial. Although there's one on the numeric keypad, it isn't as convenient because the thumb will have to move back and forth between the two.
Like the Cyber-shot K850i, Sony Ericsson has adopted a glossy black fascia for the W960i and soft-touch plastic on the rear. In our hands, the W960i feels very sturdy and the rounded edges give a wholesome feel to the unit.
Features
Sony Ericsson's W960i claim to fame other than its touchscreen LCD and its announcement during the iPhone launch hype is its 8GB of onboard memory. That works out to approximately 2,000 MP3 files of about 4MB each, which technically is more than what the average user will listen to over a few days. All that looks very promising. The W960i belongs to the Walkman pedigree that most consumers have come to embrace as one of the better music-phones around. Most importantly, it isn't Sony Ericsson's first time releasing a phone.
The handset's menu is very similar to some of the touchscreen model's we've seen like the M600i and the P1i. Menu options that appear on the bottom of the 2.6-inch screen change according to the different settings. We got away using our finger or thumb on the panel most of the time, but typing a text message via the onscreen keyboard still requires a stylus. The latter is stowed away on the top left corner of the unit.

Because there's no directional keypad or joystick on the W960i, navigating the Walkman interface requires the use of the jog dial. The menu icons are lined in a column that looks vaguely like the Sony PlayStation Portable with the usual sorting by artists, albums, compilations, tracks and playlists. More interesting is the Moods option where songs can be tagged to the different tempo of the music, for example, happy, sad, energetic or chilled. So we can pick one that suits our mood for the day.
Although it's from the Walkman series, the W960i isn't a minion when it comes to digital imaging. It has a 3.2-megapixel autofocus camera with built-in photolight. There's also a secondary front-facing camera for 3G video calls.
On the connectivity front, the triband W960i is also 3G-enabled (UMTS 2100) and equipped with Bluetooth with A2DP support and Wi-Fi. There's no dedicated 3.5mm or 2.5mm headset port, though, which is a pity. Other features on this Symbian Walkman include FM radio with RDS, an Opera Web browser, support for RSS feeds, TrackID and organizer functions.
Outlook
Sony Ericsson rates the W960i for 9 hours of talktime and 15.4 days on standby. It comes in Vinyl Black and is currently available at S$998 without contract.
Source: Cnet

Samsung R500 Mobile Phone

Samsung Telecommunications America and Cricket Communications, the operating subsidiary of Leap Wireless International and a leading provider of unlimited wireless services, announced that the Samsung SCH-r500 handset, a sleek clamshell phone for Cricket customers, will be available to Cricket customers on Monday, December 24, 2007. The Samsung SCH-r500 features an internal antenna to maintain its sleek design; a high-resolution, 262K TFT internal display; a 1.2” external monochrome display; CDMA 1x 800/1900MHz digital-only EVDO; and a 1.3-megapixel camera with video. The Samsung phone also features an MP3 player; stereo speakers, up to 2GB microSD memory card slot; Stereo Bluetooth and enhanced voice recognition.


Samsung R500 Handset
"The Samsung R500 mobile phone is a hip and versatile device that will help our customers make full use of Cricket's extensive range of unlimited wireless voice and data services," said Sergio Garcia, director of device strategy for Cricket. "The handset's changeable face plates coupled with its MP3-player capabilities will make the phone especially attractive to our customers who want to stay on the cutting edge of trends and fashion. We are pleased to be working with Samsung on bringing even more variety in handset selection to our growing customer base."

Samsung R500 for Cricket subscribers
"The Samsung SCH-r500 handset is a feature-rich and stylish device that allows the user to customize their phone to match their personal style," said Peter Skarzynski, senior vice president, Samsung. "We are excited for the opportunity to offer the Samsung R500 to Cricket subscribers, and believe that given its changeable look and wide range of features, it will be popular among Cricket's young subscribers."

Samsung Clamshell phone
The Samsung R500 is compatible with Cricket's nationwide roaming service and supports Cricket Games & Apps, Mobile WEB and Quick Search. The Samsung mobile phone is also BREW capable for downloadable wallpapers, screensavers and ringtones directly over the air to add to those already included on the cell phone.

Samsung SCH-R500 price
The Samsung SCH-r500 measures 3.72 x 1.95 x .66 inches and weighs 3.34 ounces - with digital talk-time up to 3.5 hours and standby time up to 350 hours. The Samsung R500 cell phone is available at select Cricket retail stores and Cricket dealers immediately for $199.99.
Source: LetsGoMobile

Video-ified: A Closer Look at Samsung F720 DuoS and F490

Don't you hate it when the public relations people sneak you a peek at their latest products, only to leave you sorely dissatisfied with the amount of information they provide? That's exactly what happened recently with a couple of Samsung cell phones, but our video-watching needs can now finally be satiated.

You may remember the Samsung P720 DuoS and the Samsung F490 touchscreen phones from when they were originally introduced, but you can now get a better look at the devices through a video provided by Mobile-Notes. The P720 DuoS is a classy looking phone with a leather wallet cover. It's the natural progression of Samsung's calculator phones, having gained dual SIM slots (hence the DuoS) and a touchscreen display.

The Samsung F490, by contrast, looks more like an even glossier, even more touch-sensitive version of the Apple iPhone. Live photos of the near button-less wonder really get you to appreciate just how shiny that silver casing is. But enough yak. Let's get on with the video. Oh, and there's bonus coverage of the F700 in there too.



[via Mobilemag]

Video Review: Samsung Giorgio Armani Touchscreen Phone

It's easy enough to say that these phones are attacking the same chunk of the market as the Apple iPhone, but when you consider products like the LG Prada and the Samsung Armani, the Korean variants have definitely taken a more upscale approach by partnering with high-end fashion companies. Not to say that the functionality is equally upscale.

The Samsung Giorgio Armani phone has a form factor and size that is very similar to the LG Prada. Experience the Croix-inspired user interface second hand through the video below, discovering the camera is mediocre at best and the music player -- while sounding great -- isn't the easiest to use. In fact, you'll find that the software is very similar to mid-range Samsung phones like the U600 and U700. The brushed aluminum back, however, is a little more prestigious.

So, what's the final verdict on the Samsung Armani phone? You'll have to watch the vid from PhoneArena to find out.



Via techeblog.com

Samsung F700 flies

Samsung Mobile's F700 handset will trump the success of its G800 if sales continue as they are, said Samsung Uk & Ireland director Mark Mitchinson.

Samsung’s market share has slipped over the past month, but Mitchinson reckons the F700 (pictured) will see it reassert its buoyancy ahead of Christmas.

“On Vodafone, the F700 is selling extremely well,” he said. “It is on a par with the G800. Hopefully we will pick up some market share.”
Meanwhile Samsung’s Susan Land has taken on marketing for the networks as well as retail and distribution, in a new head of marketing role.

Samsung U940 Smartphone Gets FCC Approval

When you consider Windows Mobile PocketPC phones with slide-out QWERTY keyboards, it's usually HTC that comes to mind.


The Taiwan-based manufacturer has produced all sorts of handsets using this basic form factor, including the T-Mobile MDA, the TyTN, and the Mogul. But HTC does not have this market completely cornered.

The Samsung SCH-U940 is a beauty of a smartphone, complete with a 3.2-inch touchscreen and a sliding QWERTY keyboard. And now it's bound to the United States, because the handset has received a stamp of approval from the guys at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). By all indications, the Samsung U940 is joining the ranks of Verizon, right alongside the LG Venus and LG Voyager.

The reason why this phone looks so familiar is because it is the Americanized version of the Samsung F700 smartphone. It's got EVDO, a 2 megapixel camera, 150MB memory, microSD expansion, and stereo Bluetooth.

Source: HTLounge

Nokia Asks Jobs If iTunes Can Come Out and Play


Does Nokia's multimedia guru Anssi Vanjoki read Gizmodo? A few months back, when Nokia launched its Ovi mobile media portal, our own personal Jesus ridiculed its use of Windows Mobile content as not being able to keep up with iTunes. Well, right or wrong, Nokia got the message, and Vanjoki is now inviting Steve Jobs by name to let iTunes appear in Ovi's "open door" of goods and services. Besides the fact that the only answer I can imagine Steve uttering has a few f-bombs in it, how would that even work? Wouldn't Nokia phones and other Ovi-friendly devices need the coveted iTunes DRM? Or would it be for unlocked AAC iTunes Plus content only? [Press Release]

[via Gizmodo]

Nokia Brings 6110 Navigator to India


Nokia has launched the Nokia 6110 Navigator GPS handset in India, which offers integrated maps, routing, and navigation with the click of the one-touch Navigator key.
The handset promises turn-by-turn 3D navigation, suggesting the best route to follow to reach any location. It offers voice guidance as well as turn arrows on maps to help people find the fastest way to their destination.

The navigator comes pre-loaded with maps of eight cities, including Delhi and NCR (National Capital Region), Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Pune, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, and Hyderabad. In addition, users can download maps of over 150 countries on their phones.
The eight city maps promise locations and details of 75,000+ km roads, 10,000+ restaurants and hotels, 10,000+ banks and ATMs, 5,000+ schools and colleges, 3,000+ petrol pumps, 3,000+ places of worship, 2,000+ hospitals and medicine shops, 2,000+ car and auto service stations, plus 1,000-odd other places of interest.
According to Devinder Kishore, director (Marketing) of Nokia India, "With GPS and navigation services expanding rapidly into mobile communications devices, this industry is poised to grow. Maps and navigation will become a standard feature in a number of Nokia mobile devices."
Other features of the new navigator include: a 2 mega pixels camera with integrated flash, 4x digital zoom and panorama mode; 2.2-inches QVGA screen, 40 MB internal memory, and microSD expandable up to 2 GB.
Featuring Symbian OS, the handset enables fast and seamless access to online information with HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) up to 3.6 Mbps.
The Nokia 6110 Navigator will be available from end this month for Rs 20,869.
Source : Techtree

Nokia E90 Communicator Launched in India


On Thursday, Nokia launched E 90 Communicator, one more phone from E series. The E90 Communicator is the first enterprise phone from Nokia offering email access, web browsing and maps application for location-based services. The E90 also offers business full function, multimedia as well as 3G ability.

The Nokia E90 Communicator is well equipped. It has a 3.2 megapixel auto-focus camera with a flash. Also another QCIF camera that E 90 incorporates is useful for video-calling and conferencing.

The E90 has a foldable style that opens up to a large 800×320 pixel screen with 16m colors and has full QWERTY keypad with buttons on either side of the screen. The external screen features 320×240 pixel resolutions and it also has 16m colors.

Nokia’s new communicator phone sports connectivity options such as WI-FI, HSDPA, HSCSD, infrared, Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP. Not to forget, USB too. The phone has 128MB of internal memory and can support up to 4GB of external memory using microSD cards.

On the occasion of launch Nokia E90 Communicator, Chakrapani GK, Country General Manager, Nokia Enterprise Solutions, said, “The launch of Nokia E90 Communicator is the tipping point for business mobility in India. Business Mobility has emerged as the biggest reason for enterprises to go mobile as over 60% of business critical decisions are taken ‘on the go’. With the launch of Nokia E90, we are bringing an all together new and expanded view of business
mobility to the market place as well as a culmination of 3Ps - power, performance, productivity.”
He further said, “The Nokia Communicator category has enjoyed a cult status among users worldwide as well as in India. Today, the Communicator user base in India has grown to approximately 150,000 users.”

The mobile phone weights 210g, and measures 132 x 57 x 20 mm. The Nokia E 90 will be available in the market at an estimated price of Rs. 43,000.

Nokia Wi-Fi access

Boingo Wireless announced that Boingo Mobile is now available for selected Nokia mobile phones. With the addition of Boingo Mobile, selected Nokia mobile phones and Internet Tablets can automatically connect to the Boingo wireless network of hotspots across the world for only USD 7.95 - EUR 5.95 - GBP 3.95 per month. For a limited time, people who sign up for this internet service will receive the first month free.


Nokia Wi-Fi enabled mobile phones
Owners of compatible Nokia Wi-Fi enabled mobile phone - including selected S60 based smartphones and Linux-based Internet Tablets - can download and install Boingo Mobile software, which enables roaming access to the world's largest network of public hotspots. The Boingo software identifies hotspots and automatically authenticates users with their Boingo user account.

Boingo Mobile wireless internet
"Nokia mobile phone users can use Boingo Mobile to effortlessly connect to Boingo's hotspot wireless network, allowing them to experience intensive bandwidth applications at ultra-fast speeds," said Dave Hagan, Boingo president and CEO. "Boingo Mobile simplifies the connection process and eliminates the cumbersome task of navigating public Wi-Fi walled gardens.", added Mr. Hagan.

Nigel Rundstrom
"This agreement reinforces Nokia's commitment to become an Internet driven experiences company - offering not only great devices but also exciting services around them," said Nigel Rundstrom, vice-president, Nokia Multimedia. With the introduction of Boingo Mobile software and service on selected Nokia S60 devices and Nokia Linux-based Internet Tablets, consumers now have an affordable, unified Wi-Fi roaming experience across the globe that is extremely easy to use.", added Nigel Rundstrom.

Boingo Internet Wi-Fi access pirce & availability
Boingo Mobile is available as a downloadable software application via the Nokia Download site on the Nokia N95, N80, N80 Internet Edition multimedia smartphones, and throughout the Boingo website for selected Wi-Fi enabled Nokia S60 based cell phones. The availability of Boingo Mobile on selected Nokia Wi-Fi enabled mobile phones represents the successful realization of a mutual vision to deliver a robust multimedia experience on mass market mobile devices.

JBL On Call: Nokia 5310 Speaker Dock


The JBL On Call is a portable sound solution that’s made specifically for your 5310 XpressMusic phone with a dock that snuggly fits your mobile device. Carrying JBL’s signature sleek design, the On Call has two Odyssey neodymium drivers with a maximum of 3 Watts per channel. This is obviously no Bose Soundock or an Altec Lansing iM7, but its 4.5- x 2.5- x 7-inch size makes it a very portable add-on to your mini music machine. It is also compatible with other media players via its built-in input ports. It’s estimated to cost around P 5000+ which makes it a very decent buy for its reasonable price tag.

So if you’re one of the fortunate ones not experiencing problems with their Nokia 5310 XpressMusic phone and is on the hunt for the latest peripherals to enhance your music experience, then this baby is one of the things to look out for in 2008.

This Is What a Nokia E90 Blasted With a Shotgun Looks Like


Someone blasted their Nokia E90 with a 12-bore shotgun. And then decided to put the bent and twisted piece of telephony up for sale on eBay "for parts." Or for laughs, because then someone decided to buy the remains of the smartphone for $20.50. Apparently, he didn't realize that not a single part of this phone would work, as the E90 is mostly a single sandwich of printed circuit boards. Gunshot gallery is below.


The eBay blurb describes it as Bluetooth Enabled, Calendar, email, GPS Navigation, Internet Browser, MP3 Player, PDA-PC Sync, SMS-Text Messaging, Speakerphone, Unlocked, Video, Smartphone. And then he goes and tells us it doesn't even turn on. Tsk. Who knows, maybe the buyer just needs to replace the letter "E" for "End of Life" or "T" for "Trash."

[eBay via Just Another Mobile Phone Blog]

Blast Nokia E90 With Shotgun, Put On eBay, Receive 20 Bucks


I can't really begin to imagine why someone would even be interested in buying something like this, because most of the most valuable internals would have already been fried beyond recognition. I guess you could try to salvage the left side of the keyboard and maybe the camera, but that seems like more work than it's worth.
Whatever the case, some doofus has decided to take a shotgun to his Nokia E90 Communicator, blasting the high-powered smartphone beyond recognition with a mighty "woohoo" of a shot. The right side is completely obliterated, so don't expect much of the guts to be intact. The display is definitely a no-go. They say that the miniSD card reader still works.
Let's see. The current street price for a Nokia E90 is about $900. How much is a non-functional, partially destroyed unit worth? According to the now-ended eBay auction, it's worth $20.50. There were 12 bidders in all.
[via Mobilemag]

Samsung G800 review


With the introduction of the Samsung G600 in July 2007 everybody was convinced it would take a while for Samsung to introduce a new five Megapixel camera mobile. How could we get it so wrong, because at the end of October 2007 the Samsung G800 was already available for checking out at a Dutch dealer event. The SGH-G800 is unique in its class thanks to its three times optical zoom and face detection. According to Samsung the G800 has been equipped with a camera that can fully compete with a regular digital compact camera. I think we can leave that remark for what it is. Samsung also claim that the Samsung G800 leaves all mobile phone competitors far behind. Is it true what Samsung is trying to make us believe? And are they able to fulfil the promises they made? You can read it in the following LetsGoMobile Samsung G800 review.
Samsung G800 Cell phone design
Samsung G800 Camera phone
There is not a lot to comment on current mobile phone designs and of course it is also a matter of personal taste as well. Looking at the Samsung G800 from the back it looks like the spitting image of a regular digital camera. A cover, sliding open or closed, is protecting the lens and the xenon flash. The housing of the SGH-G800 feels solid and has a fine hand-fit. When we take a closer look, only the buttons for answering and ending a call reveal that we are dealing with a cell phone.

G800 Samsung mobile phone battery Samsung G800 Cellular phone
The Samsung G800 has been equipped with a 3.7 Volt Lithium-Ion battery. According to the specifications the battery offers a standby time of 370 hours and a talk-time of over eight hours. This time is accurate when the cell phone is exclusively used for calling and sending SMS messages. When the integrated camera is frequently used, battery time drastically reduces and the cell phone has to be recharged after several hours. This is a vast disadvantage when you’re on the road a lot making extensive use of the Samsung SGH-G800’s other functions.

Samsung G800 Mobile phone - Digital camera


Pictures can be made with the use of the five Megapixel auto focus digital camera. The camera offers an auto focus assist lamp, a xenon flash, face detection and image stabilization. We can say without exaggerating, that the Samsung G800’s camera is currently the most advanced camera inside a mobile phone. The possibility to zoom in three times optically enhances the photographic possibilities. This way distant objects can be captured without any quality loss. This is a true advantage compared to the competitors with digital zoom. The buttons for zooming in and out are placed on the left of the shutter release button. Every time you press the button one step zooming in or out is established. If it is too dark to focus correctly, the auto focus assist light will come in handy. The red light will shortly expose the object which gives the camera the opportunity to focus correctly. The flash of the Samsung SGH-G800 has a limited effective range. That is one of the reasons for making it hard to shoot in bad light circumstances.

For complete Review Click Here

Nokia N82 mobile phone

Nokia announced the N82 multimedia computer optimized for photographers, internet con-nectivity and navigation. With the tools to discover the places and moments worth capturing, and the capabilities to capture and share them instantaneously, the Nokia N82 offers photographers an enhanced camera experience. The Nokia N82 multimedia computer enables you to explore your surroundings and find your way with navigation and routing; document your adventures with the high quality imaging capabilities; and instantly share your experiences with one click upload.


Nokia N82 - 5 megapixel camera Carl Zeiss optics
Featuring A-GPS, 5 megapixel camera with Xenon flash, Carl Zeiss optics and internet connectivity, the Nokia N82 also incorporates all the multimedia computer features common to Nokia Nseries. Like its predecessor the Nokia N95, the Nokia N82 is the latest epitome of a truly converged device that is not one thing but is many.
Nokia N82 Specifications
• 5 megapixel Carl Zeiss Tessar Optics
• 20x digital zoom
• Xenon flash
• On-device photo editing
• 100MB internal memory
• MicroSD memory card slot
• 2GB microSD card standard in sales package
• Size: 112x50.2x17.3 mm• Weight: 114 g
• EDGE, GPRS, GSM, HSDPA
• Quad band (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)

N82 multimedia computer
"The evolution of camera capabilities in mobile devices has been extremely fast over the past years. With the Nokia N82 we have reached such a superior level in image quality, speed and ease of use that not only does it outperform any other cameraphone on the market, but it's also a very credible alternative for single purpose digital still cameras," says Satu Ehrnrooth, head of Nokia Nseries Cameras Category, Multimedia, Nokia. "In addition to the high-end camera, the Nokia N82 also enables you to navigate and discover new places, enjoy your music, browse the web, play games, chat online and be part of the global web 2.0 community wherever you go. Thanks to the wireless broadband connectivity, convergence and yet again increased performance, the Nokia N82 is all you need in your pocket!"
Nokia N82 Price & Availability
The Nokia N82 is available now in key markets with an estimated, pre-tax, unsubsidized sales price of approximately 450 euros.

A-GPS - Nokia Maps
The powerful A-GPS and preinstalled Nokia Maps help you explore and locate new places, whether in another country or just around the corner. All Nokia N82 standard sales packages come with a free voice guided navigation trial, and you can purchase additional features, such as city guides and longer subscription to the navigation. With access to more than 15 million points of interest, you can locate and navigate to the most interesting sights, bars or restaurants wherever you are. You can also send map excerpts and routes to friends by MMS or save map screen shots to the gallery. Thanks to the 2GB microSD card in the standard Nokia N82 sales package, you can store up to 900 high-resolution photos or up to 84 minutes of high quality video on the device.
Nokia N82 digital camera
With a 5 megapixel camera, powerful Xenon flash and Carl Zeiss optics, the Nokia N82 delivers remarkably vivid photographs, even in low-light conditions. Fast camera activation, autofocus with a dedicated autofocus assist lamp, fast reloading between shots and DVD-like quality video capture make it a truly convenient and credible tool for capturing and telling your life stories. "The Nokia N82 gives the best ever camera and navigation experience in one stylish premium device. Just imagine what kind of possibilities this will open up and how much richer your everyday life experiences can be! The sophisticated design and glossy looks appeal to men and women who are conscious of their style and want to impress with the latest in technology," Satu Ehrnrooth continues.

N82 Nokia multimedia slideshows
With high speed Wi-Fi connectivity and one-click upload to online communities, the Nokia N82 makes sharing your experiences and discoveries easy. When viewing a picture or video, simply one press of a button starts uploading it while you carry on using the device for other purposes.
Or you can impress your friends with multimedia slideshows - complete with music and effects - on the high resolution display or on a compatible TV.
3D multimedia menu
The N82 Nokia comes with the new content driven 3D multimedia menu and includes a convenient orientation sensor that rotates the user interface automatically between horizontal and portrait mode. For quick and easy access to entertainment content, the Nokia N82 also supports the Ovi family of Nokia internet services, including Nokia Music Store, N-Gage games and Nokia Maps.