Tuesday, March 25, 2008

LG Glimmer for Alltel confirmed launching in 12 days


LG Korea have
announced their Glimmer cellphone for Alltel, fliers for which showed up last month, and while the handset - also known as the LG-AX830 - is yet to show up on the carrier’s site, the press release suggests availability within twelve days. Resembling the LG Shine, the Glimmer is an EV-DO slider with 2.8-inch touchscreen, 2-megapixel camera and Bluetooth.


The handset can accept up to 4GB microSD cards, has speaker-independent voice control, is compatible with Alltel’s Access TV and Navigation subscription services and features the A2DP stereo Bluetooth profile for wireless headphones. The Glimmer’s media player can cope with MP3, WMA, AAC and AAC+ audio files, playlists, and it shows up as a mass storage device when hooked up to your PC via USB

[via i4u]

John Carmack says id is looking to develop games for the iPhone

It’s almost amusing how things work out sometimes. People have been trying to get Apple to work with developers to put games on their systems, and to date there is still a huge shortage of available games. However, hope is on the horizon for people wanting to play games on an Apple product, the ironic thing is that the platform isn’t OSX, but rather the iPhone/iPod Touch. John Carmack has added id to the list of companies committing themselves to the platform.


I’ve only had my iPod Touch for a week or so (can you say late adopter?) and I can already imagine it as being one kick-ass gaming platform. While there aren’t exactly a lot of buttons to be found, I can still see massive potential for games of all different types. Apple really got things right with their whole iTunes distribution strategy. This was one of the things John Carmack noted when discussing id’s plans to develop games for the iPhone.

The ability to distribute larger applications than the over-the-air limits and effectively market your title with more than a dozen character deck name, combined with the reasonable income split make this look like a very interesting market.

Sony Ericsson announce T303 compact budget slider


The mysterious Sony Ericsson slider we
saw last month has been officially announced as the T303. Triband GSM (900/1800/1900 or 850/1800/1900), the cellphone is aimed very much at the entry-level market; available in black or silver, it has a metal and chrome finish and mirror-effect screen, measures 83 x 47 x 14.7 mm and weighs 93 grams. Bluetooth is present - in case you want to offload photos from the 1.3-megapixel camera - as is an FM radio and Sony Ericsson’s TrackID music identification app.


Otherwise it’s all very simplistic: a 1.8-inch 128 x 160 display, 8MB of internal memory with no way to expand storage, a basic collection of organiser apps, support for MP3 ringtones and a WAP 2.0 internet browser. Sony Ericsson are promising up to 9hrs talktime or 400hrs standby.

It’ll launch mid-2008 in “selected markets”. No price has been suggested.
[via PhoneMag]

LG-SH240: Touch my keypad, it feels like real skin, seriously


The key selling point of the LG-SH240 is the silicon texture on the keypad which is said to mimic the feel of real human skin. Other than that this 2 megapixel, video calling enabled, device is rather plain and ordinary by Korean standards, but hey, if you're lonely Saturday night … I'm not going to go there.



[Via:
Akihabara News]

Kevin Rose says 3G iPhone will do 3G video chat with iChat

Kevin Rose, Digg founder and Apple hardware prognosticator, just threw more fuel on 3G iPhone rumor-flames everywhere. It seems that having founded the uber-popular social-networking news site give Kevin Rose an inside line on some iPhone rumors.

Rose previously speculated on the iPhone's initial release, citing sources that indicated the iPhone would launch with two battery compartments, slide-out keyboard, and both GSM and CDMA versions. All his predictions failed to materialize - but then again, that's how the rumor-game goes.



Rose's most recent sources point to the 3G iPhone rocking true-blue, two-way video chat over AT&T's now-expanding 3G network. He says that the 3G iPhone will use a dual-camera setup (one camera on the rear for picture-taking duty and a front-facing cam under the multi-touch display glass) to get jiggy with video calls. Futhermore, the Digg founder claims that Apple is restricting third-party iPhone applications from running in the background in order to squash any potential competition to its iChat application - through which the iPhone is said to deliver its video chat goodness.

We'll just have to wait and see. It's looking like the 3G iPhone could be launching in a few months, so the wait may not be that long…

Video: How to install and use six free BlackBerry apps

CIO.com prepared an excellent how-to video for first-time or let's say not-that-tech-savvy BlackBerry owners. In a roughly 10-minute long video, you'll learn how to install and use 6 free apps, including:

It's a must watch. Enjoy!

LG KF510 officially launched

We've already posted about LG's stylish KF510 handset, including the video of its UI. Now it's officially announced and ready to conquer the markets of Europe, Asia, Latin America, Middle East and Oceania starting from the end of March.

The 10.9mm thin slider looks awesome in both "Stardust Dark Gray" and "Sunset Red" and the contextual LED touch pad with the so called "Interactive Touch Lighting" system which displays various patterns upon the user's touch makes sure the device is both easy and pleasant to use. There's also the 3 megapixel camera, MP3 player, Bluetooth and whole lot more bundled in the full metal body of the device… Full release follows after the jump.

PRESS RELEASE - LG Electronics (LG), a global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, announced today the global launch of the LG-KF510 boasting an extremely-slim body with dynamic functional design.

The eye-catching color gradations of LG-KF510 are the first ever to be used on a mobile phone, with choices of Stardust Dark Gray and Sunset Red on the full metal exterior. It adds a lustrous sophistication while the 10.9mm slim and durable inner slide of the phone subtly underscores its sleek style.

The gleaming LED lights of the touchpad brighten with a gentle touch of a fingertip, allowing one to scroll and navigate the animated multifunction menu using the new "Interactive Touch Lighting" system.

Besides the stylish design, the LG-KF510 is outfitted with quality features. LG KF510 allows the user to enjoy 3MP camera with a power flash and a one-second response time. With the advanced MP3 player the user can automatically sort music into play lists or categories. These features are supported by a long lasting battery that saves power capacity through Auto Luminance Control (ALC) which self-adjusts to the brightness of the LED screen.

"2008 is the year for a new paradigm in mobile phone design and LG is setting the benchmark," says Dr. Skott Ahn, CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. "We have established ourselves as a leader in this field and the LG-KF510 is a unique addition in our mobile portfolio. With its sleek aesthetic and superior technology, it will appeal to many discerning consumers that value both style and substance."

LG-KF510 will be available at most major mobile retailers in regions including Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa and Asia, from the end of March.

ASUS P750 hacked to do VGA resolution

The ASUS P750 has been living a double life of sorts. I told you a little while ago that the Windows Mobile 6.0 Professional smartphone was moonlighting as a VGA-display super-hero in an effort to break-out from its daily ho-hum existence as a mild-mannered QVGA commoner. It was sort of sad that the ASUS P750 had to go about its daily activities with a huge VGA-secret hidden under that pressed business suit.

Well, it looks like a few hackers out there have managed to relieve the P750 of its day-job, in order to pursue its VGA-dreams full-time. Sorg and GreateVK from asusmobile.ru, have announced that they've cooked up a fix that should enable the ASUS P750 to rock VGA display resolution at all times. The VGA solution is due out in final form in about a week's time, so if you've got an ASUS P750 itching to make the jump to a VGA touchscreen, the wait is nearly over!

Stay tuned…

[Via: MoDaCo]

RIM testing new 3.5G BlackBerry device - BlackBerry 9000 on the way?

What, you're using 3G? That was, like, soo last year (at least for Americans). The truly hip folks at RIM have decided to get with the times and have announced that they are testing a new BlackBerry with 3.5G data capabilities. The Financial Times is reporting that Research In Motion President Mike Lazaridis has confirmed the near-term release of a 3.5G-enabled BlackBerry smartphone.

Apparently, it pays to be the President of RIM. Lazaridis said that he is toting around a prototype of the new BlackBerry that can hop along the internet superhighway at HSDPA speeds (where available, of course). The new BlackBerry could very well be the BlackBerry 9000 that we've been talking about for some time now. If so, we can expect a large 480×320 screen, GPS, and Wi-Fi - all features that have been confirmed for the new BlackBerry device.

We're keeping our fingers crossed for an announcement at CTIA in a little over a week from now. With AT&T's announcement of HSDPA network upgrades nationwide, the BlackBerry 9000's timing could indicate a release later this year, following a May European launch - 3Q in the US, perhaps?

[Via: Electronista]

Sprint keeps riding the data-wave with CDMA/EVDO variant of HTC Shift


Sprint is really looking to expand its data-side services, and it makes sense, given their struggles in the traditional voice-call market. Sprint is apparently going to pickup the CDMA/EVDO version of the HTC Shift. We knew that the HTC Shift was a-comin' in GSMCDMA flavors (thanks, FCC) , and it seems that Sprint will have the honor of offering this hybrid mobile device to US customers. The 7-inch touchscreen display, QWERTY keyboard, 800 Mhz processor, 1GB RAM, a 40GB hard drive, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.0 that we see in the GSM HTC Shift remain unchanged.

Of course, we'll be seeing Sprint offer a CDMA/EVDO radio in their own version of the HTC Shift - as the HTC HTCX9000 Shift CDMA.

Look for a $1500 price point when it drops. Pre-order yours today at Amazon.com.

[Via: jkOnTheRun]

Sprint Samsung Ace Smartphone Hands On

I just received the Samsung Ace from Sprint today for review. Before I delve into my testing, there are things that just have to be done 1st. The 1st is photos and video of the device. While I finish off the video, I thought I would share a few photos to get us started.


The Samsung Ace is available right now from Sprint. After rebates and such, you can get out the door with a 2 year contract for $200. The Samsung Ace is very similar to the BlackJack II, which was released on the AT&T network. The cool thing about the Ace is that it’s a “World Phone”. It operates both CDMA in the USA and GSM overseas using a Sim Card. Yes, I tried my AT&T Sim and it didn’t work.

For more info about the Samsung Ace, visit Samsung or Sprint. Read on for some more photos.

[via Mobilitysite]

Nokia releases sexy black N82 handset


Finnish mobile phone giant, Nokia Corp. has this week moved to broaden the core appeal of its already expansive product range by whipping the covers of aesthetic expectancy off a sexily revamped version of its N82 device.

Clad from head-to-foot in stylish and appealing new jet black colouring, the N82 in black delivers a tempting mix of state-of-the-art imaging, integrated navigation and high-speed Internet connectivity to Nokia’s hugely popular line of Nseries handsets.

Ultimately, press blurb notwithstanding, it’s the N82 with a different sense of fashion values, and that’s about it.

Putting colour-based cynicism aside for a moment for the sake of those who know nothing about the N82, Nokia’s diminutive multimedia computer is supposedly “made for storytelling,” according to Nseries director Juha Kokkonen.

“As one of Nokia's leading-edge connected camera, the Nokia N82 in black captures people's journeys and discoveries,” adds the Nokia exec. “With built-in A-GPS it even helps people to find new places by pairing ‘contextual’ information with a wide array of connectivity features such as Wi-Fi and HSDPA. We make it easy for consumers to quickly share those moments as they happen.”

Specifically, that much-touted “storytelling” aspect is delivered by enabling users to “geotag” their captured images, allowing them to save not just by date but also by location too.

The N82 also includes various “compelling” photography features to further enhance the user experience, including a 5.0 mega pixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics and a built-in Xenon flash.
It also bundles in interface advantages such as ultra-fast activation, autofocus and dedicated assist lamp, fast shot reloading, and DVD-like video capture.

Beyond the N82’s photography-based elements, it also offers up integrated A-GPS location for instant image tagging, along with swift content sharing opportunities via picture and/or image upload through the likes of Flickr, YouTube, Ovi and Share.

The Nokia N82 offers memory capabilities of up to 8GB thanks to its microSD memory card slot, which enables users to store up to 3,600 high-resolution images, 6,000 song tracks, or 5 hours of high-quality video footage.

Again, the only thing that’s truly different with this latest N82 is that it’s black styling takes its place beside the existing silver option. Still, banal as that may seem, the N82 is a pretty slick piece of kit, and glossy black is always preferable to silver, despite its near-magnetic attraction to fingerprints.

Nokia will be releasing the black N82 to retail in a few weeks, with a connected recommended retail price of around 400 Euros.

Silverlight comes to Nokia, S60

With the way things are going, it looks like the S60 platform is well on its way in securing its dominance as the premier mobile phone software development platform of today.


Aside from the numerous applications already available, Nokia announced that S60 devices will soon be able to work with Microsoft’s Silverlight plug-in which will allow users to enjoy a more dynamic, media-rich internet experience. Some of the more popular websites that run Silverlight applications are Entertainment Tonight, NBA and NBC Universal. By making S60 devices compatible with this application, it now becomes more versatile and comes even closer to how a desktop browser works albeit the lack of a mouse and full keyboard. It also paves the way for developers to work with a wider range of development environments which already include C++ (using native Symbian OS APIs and Open C providing subset of standard POSIX libraries), S60 Web Run-time (supporting standards-based web technologies such as Ajax, JavaScript, CSS and HTML), Java language, Flash Lite from Adobe, and Python.

According to Nokia, Silverlight will also be made available for Series 40 devices and Nokia Internet Tablets at a later date.

Brand New Motorola RZR Drops the A

What do you do when your mobile division is having some trouble selling enough phones and coming up with enough innovative models? It seems that the strategy Motorola is taking is to simply take what was once a winning formula and tweaking it ever slightly. The net result is the new MOTORZR.

No, that's not a typo. The new model is not a RAZR -- perish the thought -- because it is the all new RZR. Obviously, dropping the A is going to completely revitalize their mobile phone business and get people back on the Moto train. Then again, considering that the MOTORZR takes on exactly the same appearance and feature set as many of its RAZR V3 compatriots, it might not be all that popular.

The FCC just gave the RZR the thumbs-up last week, so it's only a matter of time before it arrives at your favorite cellular service provider. Personally, I would have preferred if they dropped the second R instead. Then we'd have a Wu-Tang Clan member.

[via MobileMag]

BlackBerry 8820 with GPS and Wi-Fi Confirmed by T-Mobile


Here's some good news for all the T-Mobile subscribers in the audience, because the pink-themed mobile operator has confirmed that it will indeed be getting the BlackBerry 8820. As you recall, this is the lovely QWERTY-packing device that comes equipped with both Wi-Fi and GPS.
The good thing about having Wi-Fi built into this latest version of the BlackBerry Curve is the fact that it can then take advantage of T-Mobile's Hotspot@Home service, helping you reduce the minutes racked up on the cellular network. The GPS side of things is taken care of with the preloaded TeleNav navigation software. The major feature missing from this handset is a camera, no doubt because of demands from enterprise users.
The BlackBerry 8820 will sell through T-Mobile for a price of $350, assuming you're willing to lock 'er down for a two-year contract.
[via MobileMag]