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Samsung Galaxy 550

vivi.daya85 (jerry-vivi daya) — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 12:57:00 +0000

Mau cari Handphone/Ponsel Android Termurah tapi berkualitas? Tentu merek Samsung bisa diandalkan yah, di mana Samsung yang menyadari bahwa masyarakat yang ingin memiliki perangkat Android dengan kocek terbatas tentu tidak bisa membeli Samsung Galaxy S yang harganya 6 juta rupiah lebih saat ini. Tak usah kuatir, ada Samsung Galaxy 550 dengan harga lebih bersahabat dengan dompet Anda. Tipe ponsel ini sebenarnya adalah Samsung I5503 tapi di Indonesia sepertinya dipasarkan sebagai Samsung Galaxy 550 atau Samsung Galaxy 5 saja. Berikut ini adalah tampilan iklan Samsung Galaxy 550 di kompas.
Samsung telah meluncurkan ponsel Android terbaru nya yaitu Samsung Galaxy 550 di Indonesia dengan harga sangat terjangkau yaitu Rp 1.999.000 saja. Spesifikasi Samsung Galaxy 550 ini pun lumayan dan bahkan sudah menggunakan Android Eclair 2.1 yang juga bisa diupgrade ke Android Froyo 2.2.

Ponsel ini dilengkapi TouchWiz 3.0 UI, aplikasi Samsung Apps, Samsung Social Hub, Aplikasi “Layar”, mendukung konektivitas 3.5G HSDPA 7.2 Mpbs, Push Email, AllShare DLNA, dan ada juga Swype yang memudahkan mengetik di layar sentuh

Spesifikasi Samsung Galaxy 550:

* Prosesor 600MHz
* Layar TFT-LCD (C-type) QVGA (240 x 320) touchscreen berukuran 2.8 inci
* Kamera 2Mp
* Radio FM
* 3.5G HSDPA 7.2 Mpbs

Samsung i7500 Galaxy

vivi.daya85 (jerry-vivi daya) — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 12:52:00 +0000

Samsung i7500 Galaxy, The Samsung’s Android First Phone Support AMOLED

First time announced about May 2009 ago, Samsung i7500 Galaxy comes with camera 5 megapixel, Android 1.5 and sports a 3.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen.
The first Samsung phone which runs Google Android mobile OS has hit several country such as UK and Germany.
The price of Samsung i7500 Galaxy is about £499 or $808 or €580, however some said that the i7500 Galaxy Unlock Version is just about $800.
Here the specification of the Galaxy:
* General: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, HSDPA 7.2Mbps, HSUPA 5.76Mbps
* OS and CPU: 528MHz CPU with 128MB RAM running latest Android OS v1.5
* Form factor: Touchscreen bar, no keypad
* Dimensions: 115.0 x 56.0 x 11.9 mm, 119 g.
* Display: 3.2″ capacitive OLED touchscreen, HVGA resolution (320 x 480 pixels)
* Storage: 8GB, hot-swappable microSD card slot (up to 16GB)
* Camera: 5 megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash and geotagging
* Connectivity: Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, microUSB v.2.0, 3.5mm audio jack
* Misc: Accelerometer sensor, Gesture lock
* Battery: 1440 mAh battery

Samsung GALAXY

vivi.daya85 (jerry-vivi daya) — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 01:16:00 +0000

Samsung Electronics HK. Co.Ltd., a leading mobile phone provider, today announced the launch of the first Samsung tablet devices with Android Operating System 2.2–Samsung GALAXY Tab Mobile Tablet. With the advanced electronic and communications technology, Samsung marks a milestone for entering the new market and makes the dream of mobility life come true.

Samsung GALAXY Tab brings together all of Samsung’s leading innovations to provide a perfectly sized 7-inch display for users’ pocket, browse internet and enjoy all forms of multimedia content on-the-go. With the intuitive interface, multimedia function as well as the software from Android Market, Samsung GALAXY Tab provides the best mobile entertainment to users. They can continuously enjoy their mobility life via e-book, web-browsing, playing video and music, e-mail, voice and video call, SMS/MMS or social network.

“Samsung has closely monitored the development of the market, and we recognize that multimedia tablet device is the trend of the market. Samsung GALAXY Tab has been designed to ensure that consumers’ demands on table device are being satisfied, and it will definitely become the spotlight in the market. We believe that Samsung GALAXY Tab is going to push the market to a new phase and will divert the trend of the mobile market into a brand new direction,” said Alex Chung, Director, Samsung Electronics HK Ltd.

Perfect 7-inch display
Samsung GALAXY TAB is meticulously designed in the hardware, software, outlook and the size. With 7” touch-screen display, Samsung GALAXY Tab only weights at 380g, which makes it easy to grip and use by one hand, and allows consumers to enjoy perfect on-the-move experience. The 7” inch display delivers exciting mobile experience for browsing, watching films, viewing pictures, e-reading or sharing documents which deliver high performance wherever you are. Samsung GALAXY TAB also features with Adobe Flash Player 10.1 to bring the PC-Like web-browsing experience to users. Supporting Multi-Tasking, Samsung GALAXY TAB allows mutli-operation to enhance user experience and support up to 32GB microSDHCTM.

Powerful, always-on communication
With 3.5G HSDPA connectivity, WiFi, and Bluetooth® , Samsung GALAXY Tab enhanced user’s mobile communication to a whole new level. Video conferencing and push email on the large 7-inch display make communication more smooth and efficient. Samsung GALAXY Tab also equips with perfect speakerphone which support Bluetooth headsetthat makes two-way communication more effective, and it also provides the perfect solution to consumers under this information technology era.
Samsung GALAXY Tab is powered by Cortex 1.0GHz application processor to deliver the best performance whenever and wherever you are. Meanwhile, HD video are supported by a wide range of multimedia formats （DivX、XviD、MPEG4、H.263、H.264 and more）, which maximizes the joy of entertainment. With the front-facing camera, it allows face-to-face 3G video call, while the rear-facing camera captures still images and video for editing, uploading and sharing.

Clear Motion Rate Defines the New Standard of Image Quality
Samsung leads the trend of technology, which provides an all-rounded 3D AV solution to users, including 3D LED/ LCD TV, 3D home theatre system, 3D blu-ray player and 3D glasses for both adult and children. HT-C9950W adopts Samsung exclusive chipset, which provides smoother and clearer image. With the vivid colour and effective noise control, the unbelievable 3D images are delivered. Besides, HT-C9950W also supports Audio Return Channel, which users can use one HDMI for 3D AV output conveniently.

Powered by Android operating system2.2
Samsung GALAXY Tab features with Android operating system 2.2, which improves over-all performance by including Adobe Flash player 10.1 for flash video and installing the application to memory card etc.

Portable Reading World
The 7-inch LCD display of Samsung GALAXY Tab makes reading more fun and easy. The ‘Readers Hub’ - Samsung’s unique e-book application, provides easy access to different kinds of digital book, newspaper, magazine or document. ‘Reader Hub’ has a simple interface design which makes e-reading as easy and funny as traditional reading.
‘Readers Hub’ has already cooperated with various global e-book publishers including Kobo, PressDisplay* and Zinio* which provide more than 2-million e-books, magazines and newspapers among them, 1.8 millions e-books will be free for downloading. And the publishers will frequently update and expand the content in the future.

Moreover, Samsung will also cooperate with several local publishers including Ming Pao Group, Crystal Window Books, Cultural Communication Press, Joint Publishing (H.K.), , GuangBo Media Limited, Ming’s Reader, Chung Hwa Book Co andCup etc. There are different types of books, such as magazine, novel, investment, travel, numerology, cultural etc. During the launching date, over a 400 books will be available for download (free or paid), written by famous local writer such asIn this famous writer Ni Kuang, young scholar Ong Yi Hing, famous metaphysicians Mak Ling Ling and travelers Kam Ling etc.

Samsung Anycall Warranty Service in Mainland China
Samsung Anycall offers country-wide warranty service in mainland China. For every purchase of all official Samsung Anycall handsets (accessories not applicable) in Hong Kong and Macau’s authorized dealers with recognized invoice and warranty card (customer receipts), customers are entitled to 1-year of free standard warranty dated from the date of purchase issued in Hong Kong, Macau or Mainland China, enjoying services at “Samsung Electronics Service Center” across major provinces and cities. For the details of terms and conditions of the warranty service in mainland China, please visit: www.samsungmobile.com.hk/ChinaWarranty

About Samsung Electronics
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2009 consolidated sales of US$116.8 billion. Employing approximately 188,000 people in 185 offices across 65 countries, the company consists of eight independently operated business units: Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, Digital Imaging, Semiconductor and LCD. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs.
For more information, please visit www.samsung.com, or contact the Customer Service Hotline of Samsung Electronics at

Apple’s New iPhone 4 is Ultra Thin, Light

vivi.daya85 (jerry-vivi daya) — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 01:10:00 +0000

The moment that smartphone geeks have been waiting for is finally here: Apple has just unveiled the fourth generation iPhone at today’s WWDC conference in San Francisco. At a diminutive 9.3 mm thick, the svelte new device is 25% thinner than the 3GS, significantly lighter, and it boasts a long-lasting battery that boosts call time up to 7 hours

Read more: Apple's New iPhone 4 is Ultra Thin, Light - But is it Green? | Inhabitat - Green Design Will Save the World

The iPhone 4 has some impressive specs, including six-axis motion sensing, a 4x overall pixel count increase compared to the iPhone 3, a 5 megapixel camera with 5X digital zoom, the capability to record HD video at 720p / 30fp, and — perhaps most impressively — a larger battery that provides 7 hours of 3G talk, 6 hours of 3G browsing, 10 hours of WiFi browsing, 10 hours of video, and 40 hours of music. That larger battery means users don’t need to plug the phone in as much, which in turn means less overall power use.

Apple‘s new phone also offers the ability to use more than one application at once. It’s a feature that has been unique the Android operating system up until now, and while it’s certainly useful, it’s not all that green. That’s because using more than one app at the same time sucks up battery life — effectively canceling out the benefits of the iPhone 4′s larger battery. Still, users don’t have to use the feature, and it’s a helpful option to have.

The iPhone 4′s “retinal display” of 326 pixels per inch (ppi) makes it ideal for reading books — the human eye can’t differentiate between digital displays and print above 300 ppi. It’s unlikely that most people will use the handset instead of larger resource-heavy e-readers or printed books, but we imagine that certain users might read newspapers on their iPhone instead of on paper.

Another practical and green benefit of the new iPhone: it’s 9.3mm thick — 25% thinner than the iPhone 3GS. A thinner phone means fewer resources go into making the product.

Is the iPhone 4 more sustainable than the iPhone 3? Yes. But it’s still not nearly as sustainable as, say Samsung’s recyclable bio-plastic Reclaim phone. We’re hoping that Apple continues to make strides in battery life and resource use — it still has a long way to go.

Read more: Apple's New iPhone 4 is Ultra Thin, Light - But is it Green? | Inhabitat - Green Design Will Save the World

iPhone 4 vs. Droid X:

vivi.daya85 (jerry-vivi daya) — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 00:59:00 +0000

No two phones are hotter right now than the latest Apple handset and Motorola’s new Android phone. We compared both in hands-on tests in seven categories to crown an overall winner.

Retina display! 8-megapixel camera! Video calls! HDMI port! The last few days have seen lots of shouting from proponents of the hot phones of the minute, the Apple iPhone 4 and the Motorola Droid X. Which phone really delivers the best experience? We got our hands on both and tested them in seven categories: cost of ownership, storage, connection speeds, still and video image capture, display and resolution, operating system, and multitasking and media playback.

The iPhone 4 won the majority of our battles--but barely. Both phones are incredibly fast, have superb displays, and come loaded with multimedia features. Some of our tests, such as OS and media playback, come down to personal preference. On the other hand, our display, still camera, and camcorder tests clearly prove that the iPhone 4 is stronger in those categories. And the iPhone 4 won our data-speed and voice-quality tests, though they were confined to San Francisco; the results could be different in other parts of the country.

Soon, we'll be putting the HTC EVO 4G and the Samsung Galaxy S through the same testing, so check back for those results.
Meet the Contenders

At this point, you've probably become pretty familiar with the iPhone 4 (available now on AT&T; $299 for 32GB, $199 for 16GB, both with a two-year contract) and the Motorola Droid X (available July 15 for $200 on Verizon, also with a two-year contract), but here's a quick refresher. The Droid X's standout features include a 4.3-inch display, an 8-megapixel camera, HDMI and DLNS connectivity, and a 1GHz TI OMAP processor. The iPhone 4's headlining features include its "Retina display," an improved 5-megapixel camera and a front-facing video camera for video calls, and HD (720p) video capture. To see how the specs stack up against each other, take a look at our comparison chart

Connectivity: Data Speeds and Voice Quality

The Stats: In the connectivity department, the Droid X and the iPhone 4 both come with Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth. What the Droid X can do and the iPhone 4 can't is to act as a mobile hotspot. For an extra $20 per month, the Droid X allows you to connect up to five compatible Wi-Fi devices, such as your laptop, your iPad, or other gadgets, to Verizon's network.

Both phones boast noise-cancellation technology, which is supposed to improve call quality by blocking sounds around you, leaving only your voice.

Testing Methodology: We tested the iPhone 4 and the Droid X in five San Francisco locations and used the same testing methodology we use for our 3G speed tests. We used the FCC-endorsed Ookla testing app on both the iPhone 4 and the Droid X to measure upload speeds and download speeds. The Ookla test sends a stream of packets from the phone to a network server and back, and then measures the average speeds at which the packets make the round trip. We ran three consecutive speed tests on each phone at each location and then picked the best upload and download speeds of the three. Our voice-call tests were more subjective; we placed calls to a common local number, listening for static, jitter, delay, dropped calls, or a failure to connect, and then assigned a score to each call.

Data Speed Winner: iPhone 4
In our informal performance testing in San Francisco, the AT&T-connected iPhone 4 registered far faster download speeds than the Verizon-connected Droid X did. The iPhone 4 showed an average download speed of 1958 kbps (almost 2 mbps) across our five testing locations in the city. The Droid X had an average download speed of 1130 kbps--still more than enough speed for reasonably fast Web browsing and standard-definition video watching. The two new devices posted similar average upload speeds; the iPhone4 registered 434 kbps and the Droid X averaged 564 kbps. Those upload speeds are fast enough to support basic file sharing but not enough to make fat-pipe apps such as multiplayer gaming or videoconferencing run well.

Voice Quality Winner: iPhone 4

The iPhone 4 showed an even greater advantage over the Droid X in our voice-call quality tests. In almost all the test calls we placed around the city, calls on the iPhone 4 sounded better than the Droid X. Calls sounded more natural, and were more pleasing to listen to on the other end of the line. We recorded no dropped calls on AT&T.

In test calls using the Droid X, the audio coming out of the earphone was usually clear enough, but it didn't sound as full and pleasing as that coming out of the iPhone 4. On the other end, I'm told, my voice sounded loud enough, but not as dynamic and even a bit shrill. We also noted some minor static on some calls, as well as a warbling sound in other calls. We recorded only one dropped call using the Droid X.

Obviously, you can't generalize too much from these tests. We were able to test in only one city, and testing over wireless networks is inherently unpredictable--weather and network traffic can affect the results in unknown ways.
Total Cost of Ownership, Plus Storage

Let's break down the cost of owning the phones. We looked at the most inexpensive voice and data plans as well as at the priciest plans for each phone to see how they compare

Our conclusion: With the cheapest options, Droid X costs about $360 more over two years than the 16GB iPhone 4 does, but the Droid X plan includes unlimited data, compared with 200MB for the iPhone 4.

With the high-end plan options for both smartphones, the Droid X costs $120 more over two years. The Droid X plan includes unlimited data, while the iPhone 4's data is capped at 2GB per month (though, to be fair, few users will exceed the 2GB limit).

You should also consider how much storage you're getting for your money. The iPhone 4 comes in only 16GB and 32GB models, as the previous 3GS generation did. As we all know too well, the iPhone 4 does not have expandable storage. The Droid X, on the other hand, has 8GB of storage built in, and comes with a 16GB MicroSD card in the box. And because the Droid X supports MicroSD cards up to 32GB, you can extend its storage up to 40GB.

Winner: Droid X

The total cost of ownership is not significantly more, and you get a larger data allowance and the potential for more storage capacity.
Still Camera

The Specs: The iPhone 4 sports a 5-megapixel camera sensor with an LED flash, which is a nice upgrade from the iPhone 3GS's 3-megapixel camera with no flash. The camera supports tap-to-focus in shooting mode, as well as photo geotagging.

On paper, the Droid X's camera seems a bit stronger. It has an 8-megapixel display with a dual-LED flash. The Droid X offers no tap-to-focus, but it does have a face-detection feature that will automatically focus on a (human) subject. In addition to an Auto mode, the Droid X has a handful of basic scene modes that you can adjust based on the shooting environment: Landscape, Portrait, Macro, Sports, Steady Shot, Sunset, and Night Portrait.

Testing Methodology: PCWorld's testing methodology for the iPhone 4 and Droid X cameras was a truncated version of our regular testing methodology for point-and-shoot cameras. We affixed each phone to a tripod and shot two images with the flash turned off:

1. One still-life scene with a color chart and delightful random objects to rate exposure quality and color accuracy.

2. A target chart and printed text to evaluate sharpness and distortion levels.

Here are the still-life shots from the iPhone 4 (left) and Droid X
Winner: iPhone 4

Here's evidence that megapixel counts rarely matter: Apple's 5-megapixel iPhone 4 beat out the Droid X for overall image quality in our tests, serving up well-exposed, brightly colored images in our lab tests. However, the iPhone 4's image quality did lag behind the competition in two categories: sharpness and visible distortion. The 8-megapixel Droid X scored closely behind the iPhone 4 in all tests, however, and even beat the iPhone 4 in our sharpness tests.

Samsung S7070

vivi.daya85 (jerry-vivi daya) — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 01:12:00 +0000

Samsung S7070 Diva with its quilted back is in UK stores now. While the diamond-shaped center key on the front tries to reinforce the feel of luxury, the social networking integration and the Wish List application aim to keep ladies occupied.

The Samsung S7070 Diva runs the traditional Samsung TouchWiz on its 2.8″ QVGA touchscreen, but its fashion-conscious design sets it apart from the usual suspects. The S7070 Diva supports microSD cards up to 8GB, has DNSe (though there’s no 3.5 mm audio jack) and a 3.2MP camera that focuses on arty effects (beauty shot, lomo, etc) rather than high-resolution image quality.

Since this phone is something of a fashion accessory, Carphone Warehouse are offering a limited number of gift bags with each Samsung S7070 Diva – the bags are stuffed with goodies from Benefit, like cream-to-powder finish foundations and portable kits of mini concealers. O2 on the other hand are offering a 12 month subscription to iSUBSCRIBE with the first 8000 Divas sold.

From Carphone Warehouse, the S7070 Diva is available for T-Mobile (free, 15 pounds a month on a 2-year contract) and Orange (again free, 20 pounds/mo, 2-year contract) or 130 pounds for a pay as you go service for T-Mobile, Orange, O2 or Vodafone.

Also known as Samsung La Fleur S7070

General	2G Network	GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900
	Announced	2009, December
	Status	Available. Released 2010, February

Size	Dimensions	101 x 54.8 x 13.4 mm
Size	Weight	94 g

Display	Type	TFT resistive touchscreen, 16M colors
	Size	240 x 320 pixels, 2.8 inches
		- TouchWiz UI - Accelerometer sensor for turn-to-mute

Sound	Alert types	Vibration; MP3 ringtones
	Speakerphone	Yes
		- DNSe (Digital Natural Sound Engine)

Memory	Phonebook	1000 entries, Photocall
	Call records	30 received, dialed and missed calls
	Internal	40 MB
	Card slot	microSD (TransFlash) up to 8GB, buy memory

Data	GPRS	Class 12 (4+1/3+2/2+3/1+4 slots), 32 - 48 kbps
	EDGE	Class 12
	3G	No
	WLAN	No
	Bluetooth	Yes, v2.1 with A2DP
	Infrared port	No
	USB	Yes, v2.0 microUSB

Camera	Primary	3.15 MP, 2048x1536 pixels, autofocus
	Video	Yes, QVGA
	Secondary	No

Features	Messaging	SMS, MMS, Email
	Browser	WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML
	Radio	Stereo FM radio with RDS, FM recording
	Games	Yes + downloadable
	Colors	White, Black, Gold
	GPS	No
	Java	Yes, MIDP 2.1
		- Social networking integration with live updates - MP3/WAV/eAAC+ player - MP4/H.263/H.264 player - Organizer - Photo editor - Voice memo - T9

Battery		Standard battery, Li-Ion 960 mAh
	Stand-by	Up to 800 h
	Talk time	Up to10 h

Misc	SAR US	0.38 W/kg (head) 0.54 W/kg (body)
	SAR EU	0.99 W/kg (head)

Samsung S8500

vivi.daya85 (jerry-vivi daya) — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 01:01:00 +0000

The Samsung S8500 Wave, the first phone with the new Bada OS and also the first with Samsung’s Super AMOLED screen popped in a couple of German sites and ladies and gentlemen, we have a price and even a target availability date.

The Samsung S8500 Wave has a Cortex A8 CPU running at 1GHz and packs Samsung’s home-brewed OS, Bada. Another mouth-watering feature is the 5MP camera that can capture 720p videos at 30 fps.

And of course, the screen. Yes, that screen. The Super AMOLED screen on the Samsung S8500 Wave is 3.3″ big with WVGA resolution and the best viewing angles in the business. It also has the deep blacks typical for AMOLED and great sunlight legibility (not quite so typical for that technology).

For a more in-depth look at the Samsung S8500 Wave, you can check out our preview, complete with head-to-head video comparing the Wave screen to that of the iPhone and a few HD video samples.

As for the price – the German Amazon has the S8500 Wave at 430 euro (580 US dollars) and Geizhals lists four retailers that offer it as low as 379 euro (510 US dollars). Geizhals sets the shipping date sometime in May.

Samsung Galaxy i9000

vivi.daya85 (jerry-vivi daya) — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 00:49:00 +0000

Introduction / Preview : Samsung Galaxy i9000

Samsung i9000 Galaxy its another Google Android smartphone and comes with the latest version of Google Android 2.1.

Samsung i9000 Galaxy specifications seem pretty impressive, it features four inch Super AMOLED WVGA display with a resolution of 800 x 480, and has a five megapixel camera, and 1GHz processor.

The Samsung i9000 Galaxy features Samsung’s custom ’social hub’ user interface which has a range of social networking feature built in. On top of that the i9000 also features A-GPS, Bluetooth 3.0, USB 2.0, integrated 802.11 b/g/n WiFi and a micro SD card slot.

Samsung i9000 Galaxy comes in a choice of 8GB or 16GB as standard, and the microSD card slot will take up to 32GB microSD cards, there is also quad-band GSM and tri-band (900/1900/2100) UMTS/HSPA connectivity. Samsung i9000 Galaxy will feature a range of pre-loaded applications which include Swype, Layar, ThinkFree Office viewer and DLNA.

Samsung S8300

vivi.daya85 (jerry-vivi daya) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:47:00 +0000

Samsung has released its first, and possibly the only 8MP camera phone in the world. This high end camera phone has an integrated AMOLED touch screen, that is 7.1 cm anti scratch, and is likely to create quite a flutter.

The camera phone is 12.7mm thick and has a 3 x 4 slider keypad. The finish is brushed metal. The screen is anti smudge and anti scratch which is a big bonus. The 8 MP camera is feature rich with a dual power LED flash and smile shot. The TouchWiz user interface permits browsing of photographs and maps and makes surfing the Internet a breeze.

The camera enables geo tagging thus permitting the storage of pictures by location. It can record at 30fps, 720 x 480 resolution. You can also automatically upload pictures from Flickr, Picasa, and Facebook.

A host of 3G services can be accessed with the phone. Video streaming, video telephony and high speed Internet access are a few to name. The camera supports DivX video player. The phone is being marketed for Rs 27,500 which is competitive considering the features of the phone.

SAMSUNG INDIA launched its UltraTouch smart-phone in the Indian market on Wednesday (March 1).

The device features a wide touch-screen and 8 megapixel camera. Presently, Samsung India has collaborated with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) to provide its users the 3G services. It also offers hi-speed Internet access, video telephony, streaming and multimedia services.

While speaking to the media, Samsung India President and CEO Jung Soo Shin said, “Samsung ‘UltraTouch’ leads the portfolio of our high-end phone and it will further enhance our leadership in the premium full-touch market.”

Sunil Dutt, the country head of Samsung Telecom Division said, “With this latest offering, we now have four touch-screen phones in the Indian market.

Dutt further added, “We will be further strengthening our touch-screen portfolio in the coming months with more innovative launches. Based on the enhancement of our touch-screen and the multimedia phone portfolio, we hope multimedia phone segment to contribute 40-45 per cent of our total sales in 2009.”

Samsung offers a special package to its BSNL subscribers on some selected handsets. The mobile giant allows its users to enjoy the full benefit of 3G services.

Dutt also announced that the special offer on the selected handsets of Samsung (F480, L700 J800 and S7330) for the BSNL subscribers include SIM card, airtime and data downloads free of cost for both pre-paid and post-paid customers.

Samsung SGH U600

vivi.daya85 (jerry-vivi daya) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:41:00 +0000

4 May 2007 - Samsung continuing its "Every phone we make has to be thinner than a piece of paper" route has released what it's claiming is the world's thinnest slider phone - the SGH-U600.

At only 10.9mm thick it's pretty thin and it's amazing to think that only 10 years ago phones were about 5 times the size and only made calls.

A cross between the LG chocolate phone and the Motorola RAZR the new handset's design is dominated by a 2.2-inch screen and a series of touch sensitive buttons - hence the Chocolate reference.

Slide it open and the phone comes to life with Samsung's time sensitive, location changing wallpaper. Features of merit include a 3.2 megapixel camera and dedicated music player.

When it comes to using the phone, the interface is virtually identical to other Samsung Ultra Edition models in the range and it's fairly easy to navigate your way around the interface regardless of what phone you've used before.

Picture quality whether it's video or still photos is very good and easily equal to Sony Ericsson's K800 series, however the U600 doesn’t come with the same focus on design.

The camera for example, is only revealed once the slider is open - very similar to their D600 from all those years ago and the digital camera does take some time to boot up once you've pressed the token shutter button on the side of the handset.

Other features we especially liked is a SmartSearch feature that automatically starts offering phone numbers as you dial them in, whether they are in your contacts list or not saving you that few seconds on making the call.

In use when it came to making calls - surely the most important element - we got good caller feedback with some callers believing we were on a landline phone in a quiet office when actually we were in the back of a cab on the way to a meeting.

Samsung's SGH-U600 set a world record for thinnest slider handset on the market, a record that Samsung itself had set. The new U600 is thin - thinner than many of the thinnest candy bar shaped handsets available today. The danger of miniaturization, such as we see in the U600, is often compromised ergonomics and usability. In this review we'll see if Samsung can avoid those issues with their latest and greatest slider phone.

Take note that the review model is a Hong Kong market SGH-U608. Minor differences in firmware can be expected when compared with versions of the U600 sold in other markets, such as in Europe.

Physical Aspects

Compared with its predecessor, the D900, the U600 looks a lot more streamlined. All three color schemes look very attractive. Few could find fault with our Sapphire Blue review model. The material used in the body is mainly plastic, but it doesn't feel cheap at all thanks to its metallic finishing and coloring.

At 103.5mm x 49.3mm x 10.9mm (4.1" x 1.9" x .43"), the U600 feels very sleek and smooth in the hand. Its 81g weight is about right, and the build quality feels very solid. Users should have no problem sliding the device into a shirt pocket.

The front of the phone is almost completely flat. The d-pad is slightly raised in the middle, making it very comfortable to access. Unlike the d-pad, the soft keys and dial/hang-up keys are all touch-sensitive, making it possible to have them mounted on a completely flat surface. The clear plastic used on the front of the phone is much stronger than that of the D900 - pressing on the hard surface won't result in any distortion of the screen image.

The dial/hang-up buttons are not backlighted, whereas the softkeys and d-pad have a very attractive white backlight behind them. Since these buttons are touch-sensitive, they are not the most reliable in use. Samsung added in the function of having the softkeys blink when accessed. This doesn't rectify the fundamental problem with touch keys, but it might allow users to be more confident with these non-mechanical buttons. All touch sensitive keys are automatically locked during phone conversations, so they shouldn't pose a problem when the user's face touches them.

The design of the U600 is very clean. The volume keys, ports, and shutter buttons can be found on the sides. One addition would be the new power button at the top, which also serves as a keypad lock key. This is a useful feature, but being as the power button is located on the top, it is not as accessible as it could be for such a common function.

Users will appreciate the slightly raised d-pad for its ability to make sliding open the phone simpler. The half-auto mechanism feels less well-constructed than on previous models, though. It is stiffer and not as smooth in action. Together with the glossy surface, sliding open the phone with one hand is not really all that easy. The alphanumeric keypad is engraved on a single piece of metal, and thankfully are appropriately spaced, and offer great tactile feedback.

In terms of its physical aspects, I am quite pleased with the U600, with the exception of the touch sensitive keys and slightly tricky slider. The design is really conservative, meaning that not a lot of people should find reason to complain. On the other hand, not a lot of people are going to be wildly impressed, either. Unlike the Motorola RAZR, for example, the U600 doesn't stand out when seen from afar.

Multimedia

The U600 has a full 2.2" QVGA 262K TFT. Color rendering on the display is great, but the photos here in this review simply won't do it justice; you have to see it for yourself in person to really appreciate it. Unfortunately, taking the screen outside the house is a completely different story, as screen readability in sunlight is markedly lower than on other similar sliders Samsung has made in the past. This has to do more with the contoured design of the U600's face. This makes the phone look curvier and reflective, but it also makes the screen a lot harder to read under direct sunlight. Apparently Samsung is also aware of the problem. They addressed it with a new Sunlight Mode setting that will increase the screen contrast a bit. As you can see from the screen shots, the two built in themes are already well-contrasted (black and white), thus this function only has a limited effect on usability.

The U600's 64 voice polyphonic ringtones come out from the same grille holes as the earpiece. Volume is on the soft side, but better than that found in the D900. The new ICEpower Mobile Chip co-developed with Bang&Olufsen may be partly responsible for the difference in volume. Quality wise it has also improved, especially when it comes to the mid-range sounds.

The ICEpower Mobile Chip, which is an amplifier, not a DSP, has more effect when you listen to music with the headphones. With all the equalizers off, we noticed that the sound quality is actually on par with that of the Sony Ericsson W810i. The maximum volume is also louder. The problem with the U600 is that users are not given the choice of using their own earphones, since the phone lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack. Never the less, the U600 can still read most music file formats, including AAC, eAAC+, MP3 as well as WMA. Other essential features such as playlists, flight mode, background play, A2DP and a microSD expansion slot are also in place. The music UI is the same as found in the F300, and looks a lot more attractive now. Users can even rate songs on the phone, and mark them as favorites.

Just like its predecessor, Samsung still managed to squeeze a decent 3.2 megapixel CMOS camera with autofocus lens and LED flash into this super slim phone. A self-portrait mirror is also in place in case you need it. According to our source, the camera module on U600 is different than that on the D900 (and the U700). In actual testing, we thought the difference in image quality was minimal, though we didn't have the 2 phones side by side to run tests. Night shots on the U600 are quite clean by phone standards, colors are accurate in bright daylight, and macro shots are still amongst the best in the mobile phone market.

You can start up the camera from the 3x4 icon main menu or by long pressing the camera shutter key on the side. The camera takes about 2 seconds to start up. The improved viewfinder user interface is worth mentioning. Similar to digital cameras in the market, options now are customizable and sorted into a row of icons along the bottom. This means users don't have to dig into the menu structure for common functions and settings. The viewfinder refresh rate is fast, but the menu is a big slow.

The U600 offers all of the settings you would expect to find in an dedicated entry-level digital camera. ISO, White Balance, exposure metering, exposure compensation, color effects, night mode, scene mode, macro focus, and self-timer options are all present. It is a pity that they have removed the choice of a Pan-focus mode, which is very handy in low light situations. What they have added, though, is a focus lock when you half-press the shutter key so that you can recompose the photo after focusing on the subject. The only problem is that the shutter key is quite stiff, so this might increase the chance of shaking the camera. The shutter lag is just under a second, and saving a full 3MP picture takes about a second, which is not bad for a phone.

The U600 is able to record video clips at resolutions up to 352x288 pixels in MP4 format. Videos can also be set as wallpapers or caller ID videos as long as they are recorded in 132x176/3GPP format. Video wallpapers look a bit small on the QVGA screen, but are a fun feature nonetheless. Users can always encode videos on a computer, transfer them over to the phone, and then watch them full-screen.

Unlike the D900, videos and pictures can be directly saved onto the external memory card, saving the hassle of moving those files manually. Internal memory is approximately 50MB and can be expanded with a microSD card of up to 2GB in capacity.

The U600 is not a weak multimedia device at all. In fact, Samsung has given it much potential in terms of its hardware, but the company has left out some obvious things. The great audio quality is hindered by the lack of a 3.5mm earphone jack or adaptor, and the screen is very hard to view in sunlight due to its glossy, curvy surface

Samsung SGH-D807

vivi.daya85 (jerry-vivi daya) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:33:00 +0000

With the ubiquity of ultra-thin devices, consumers are looking for new ways to differentiate themselves from the general public. Much of the appeal of the Motorola RAZR was its unorthodox design, released when much of the market was using Nokia-designed candybars.

reating the SGH-D807, Samsung put a spin on the popular RAZR. Rather than the familiar clamshell design, the D807 is slim slider, with similarly appealing features packed into a 15 mm profile.

Not just looks and no function, the D807 offers an impressive array of multimedia features, such as a high-resolution 262K-color LCD, integrated 1.3-megapixel camera and MP3 player, and Bluetooth wireless connectivity. An external microSD memory slot in addition to the D807's 18.0 MB internal memory, allows users to take advantage of the phone's

Placing the primary focus on design, Samsung engineers managed to create a sleek futuristic slider that turns heads whenever it's revealed. The D807 has an attractive matte-black housing that features a chrome accents around thee outer edge, contributing the quality feel. Preventing any interruptions in the smooth lines, an internal antenna is positioned underneath.

Slim enough to match up with the RAZR, the D807 measures 97 x 52 x 15 mm and weighs in at just 98 grams, rather thin and lightweight, but not impressive with the influx of similarly slim devices.

The Samsung D807's most dramatic feature is its large 176 x 220 px 262K-color screen. Offering exceptional resolution with vivid imaging, the state-of-the-art LCD is the centerpiece to the D807's impressive design.

Below, 4-Way Keypad with Select Key, Connect and Disconnect, and Left and Right Keys allow users to navigate without having to open the D807. But the arrow buttons are quite small, make functionality a bit difficult.

The multi-function port for Headsets, Accessories, and the Charger can be found along the left side near the Volume Keys. But with an irregular connection port for the Headset, consumers will have to purchase special headphones for the D807. Along the right side, an expansion slot accepts microSD memory cards.

Located on the other side the screen, an integrated 1.3-megapixel camera is revealed when sliding open the D807, ensuring the lens protected when the slider is closed. Capturing pictures up to 1280 x 1024 px in resolution, the D807 provides good quality photos that can be used for printing, allowing consumers to leave the digital camera at home.

Easily opened with one hand, the spring-loaded slider reveals a slightly recessed keypad. With the buttons connected, the smooth appearance is a beautiful design element, but is rather difficult to type on, being unable to differentiate keys from each other by feel.

Overall the D807's obvious appeal is its stylish, sleek look with a vibrant LCD set off by the matte-black finish and chrome trim. Similar in dimensions to the RAZR, the D807 is as compact as any of the latest ultra-thin phones on the market, fitting tastefully in any pocket.

Out of the box, the Samsung SGH-D807 comes with a Standard 800 mAh Li-Ion Battery, Home Charger, and User Manual.

Since first being introduced in 2002, cameras have gone from a novelty on phones to an essential feature that allows the user to leave their standalone digital camera at home.

Compared to the market, the D807 is in the middle of the pack with a built in 1.3-megapixel camera. Falling short of the latest state-of-the-art phones that feature 2.0- and 3.2-megapixel cameras, the D807 is nonetheless a significant improvement over the old 0.3-megapixel VGA cameras still found on some phones released today.

With resolutions up to 1280 x 1024 px, the D807 captures photos that are suitable for making prints. At around 250 KB per photo at this setting, the camera's internal memory can store up after 70 photos, but an external microSD memory card provides extra storage space. Lower resolutions include MEGA (1152 x 864 px), SVGA (800 x 600 px), VGA (640 x 480), QVGA (320 x 240 px), and QCIF (176 x 144 px).

Located on the back of the screen, the camera is revealed when the D807 is slid up (protecting the lens when the slider is closed). Easily controlled using the center select button to take pictures, directional arrows adjust the Brightness Level (0-10) and 4X Digital Zoom (10 steps). The brightness adjustment helps compensate for some low light conditions, however it is still a poor replacement for a conventional flash.

With the LCD screen out of view during a self portrait, the D807 has a mirror next to the lens that gives an accurate depiction of what's in frame. Other features found on the phone include a Self-Timer (Off, 3, 5, and 10 Sec), Quality (Super Fine, Fine, Normal, and Economy), Effects (Grayscale, Negative, Sepia, Emboss, Sketch, Antique, and Moonlight), and Frames (25 different to choose from). More advanced options include Multi-Shot (6, 9, or 15 shots at normal or high speed) and Mosaic Shot (2x2 and 3x3, Auto or Manual).

Entering Camcorder Mode, videos can be captured in Normal Length or Limit for MMS modes. Effects and Quality options are available for the video camera. Shot at 176 x 144 px resolution, the video clips are grainy and choppy and remain a novelty feature rather than intended for actual usage.

The D807's 1.3-megapixel camera is solid as an occasional replacement for the standalone digital camera. It fares much better than the older VGA cameras but trails many dedicated camera phones that can be found from major carriers. The lack of a flash hurts it in comparison with other 1+ megapixel counterparts but the robust filters and functions are useful options and a nice bonus.

Released for Cingular Wireless, the Sansung D807 features GSM quad-band (850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz) technology, permitting use of the handset on compatible GSM networks in North America, Europe, and Asia, provided it has been unlocked.

Locking phones is a common carrier practice to keep customers from purchasing phones at a discounted rate with a service plan and bringing them to other carriers. Since the D807 is a Cingular exclusive, it's locked by default. But good-standing customers can usually request the unlock code after 90 days of service. Only after the handset has been unlocked can users take it to other networks.

Samsung offers a straightforward 3 x 3 menu that can be easily navigated with the four-way directional button or by entering the 1-9 keys that correspond to each item. To get a custom look, the D807 gives the user the option of changing wallpapers, ringtones, and skins but the menu can not be altered.

Essential for the business user, the phone features a clear and easy to use speaker phone. To enable the speakerphone, users simply press the middle select button in the center of the directional button when answering or during a call. The sound on both the speakerphone and the earpiece is low. Loud environments can be troublesome for D807 users, who may struggle to hear the other party they are speaking with whether they are holding it up to their ear or have it on speakerphone.

Samsung rated the D807's 880 mAh Li-Ion battery at 5.0 and 250 hours (10.4 days) of talk and standby times respectively. However, these times are under optimal conditions and testing suggested it may yield a lower performance. Moderate to high users may find it necessary to charge the phone nightly to avoid battery troubles. While charging, the LCD remains lit so users who are not interested in having a night light will need to lay the phone on its face.

Screen

The centerpiece of the D807's sleek design is the vibrant 262K-color LCD screen that offers 176 x 220 px resolution. Built from TFT (Thin Film Transistor) technology, the D807's high resolution LCD offers bright and vivid colors that allow the screen to remain visible even in direct sunlight.

With TFT technology, circuit transistors placed directly on the glass provide fast refresh rates because each pixel location does not have to be scanned. This allows for noticeably faster response times for games or for use as a viewfinder and brighter, more distinct colors. The drawback with TFT is its significant power consumption and the resulting reduced battery life.

To conserve battery life, the D807's screen can be set for different intervals to fade out and turn off (15 sec, 30 sec, 1 min, and 3 min). To see the time or check the phone's static information, the user must slide the phone up or press the left softkey. With Samsung's knowledge and expertise in flat panel displays, the D807's 262K-color screen offers an optimal balance of performance and battery life economy

Featuring a user-friendly MP3 Player, the D807 is bolstered by a microSD expansion slot, allowing for sufficient music storage. Settings for the MP3 Player include Repeat, Shuffle, two different visualization modes, and a backlight (always on or normal). It lacks an equalizer but a nice feature is that the volume can be set independently of the phone's ringer or speaker volume.

An audio recorder is also among the D807's features. Using the microphone to record, the handset must be held close to the subject in order to be picked up by the recorder.

Cingular's MEdia Net service provides a convenient way to download MP3 ringtones for a fee - starting at $1.99 each - but does not offer full versions of songs. Other carriers such as Verizon and Sprint offer MP3 downloads to their customers but at a fee of around $2 per song, users may be better off transferring them from their PC anyway using a data cable (not included) or Bluetooth.

The audio features of the D807 are basic with a functional, but simple MP3 Player and a limited audio recorder. While MP3 downloads directly to the phone are not as simple as with other services, there are several options for transferring songs from another device.

The D807 comes complete with all of the standard text messaging options while offering T9 predictive text for faster typing. The handset features SMS (Short Messaging Service) for sending text, EMS (Enhanced Messaging Service) for positioning layouts, and MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) for sending photos, sound, or video clips.

Instant messaging on the D807 allows the user to stay in contact via the most popular services. AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), MSN Messenger, ICQ, and Yahoo are all pre-installed on the D807 and can be used to send and receive messages.

Not just limited to text messaging, the D807 offers easy access to Yahoo, MSN Hotmail, and AOL e-mail accounts. Users can also send and receive emails from 3rd party email accounts through POP3, IMAP4, and SMTP protocols.

The D807 makes it easy to access the most popular instant messaging and email services. T9 makes typing easier and faster, but some users may find the keypad difficult to use. With the phone's buttons undersized and connected in a row, it can be difficult to differentiate between them.

Entertainment

Essential applications come preinstalled on the D807. Alarm, World Time Clock, Timer, Stopwatch, Calendar, Scheduler with Alerts, Notepad, Voice Recorder and a Calculator are all included. The D807 also features a useful Converter Tool for Currency, Temperature, Length, Weight, Volume, and Area.

An impressive feature is the D807's use of voice commands through VoiceSignal 2.0 technology, a popular and innovative voice recognition software program. A helpful way to get around using the phone's difficult keypad, VoiceSignal can be used for one-step name and digit dialing, as well as to start programs, address a message, and get contact information. The program's settings allow for adjustment of the recognition sensitivity and the digits can be customized for the user's voice.

The D807 comes preinstalled with just two games, Tetris, the popular puzzle game, and Midnight Pool, a billiards game, which are both trial versions and very limited. However, users can download and install more applications through J2ME (Java 2 Micro Edition). As the most popular platform for mobile devices, developers have already created mobile versions of popular video games and work-supportive programs. Cingular's MEdia Net also offers games - including the full versions of Tetris and Midnight Pool - that can be easily downloaded for a fee.

The D807 comes with a solid group of applications pre-installed and the ability to easily expand on them. Voice recognition is an impressive feature that allows the user to avoid the directional arrows and keypad that may be difficult to navigate.

The D807 uses EDGE Class 10 technology and supports the GPRS protocol, as well as the popular high speed EDGE data protocol. With its Bluetooth capability and a Cingular data plan, the D807 can also be used as a wireless modem for laptops and PDAs. The phone features a built-in browser for MEdia Net downloads and mobile web browsing.

EDGE, Cingular's 3G network, allows data transfers two to three times faster than traditional GPRS networks. Averaging speeds from 70 to 135 kbps, the EDGE network has expanded to over 13,000 U.S. cities and towns and more than 39,000 miles of U.S. highways. International EDGE and GPRS roaming are also available in more than 80 countries, allowing access to more than 253 million people worldwide.

While the D807 has EDGE and GPRS, Cingular just released its first HSDPA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access) phone in July. While consumers may be content with EDGE, HSDPA will have 400-700 Kbps data rates to start and promises eventual speeds of up to 10 Mbps.

As Cingular plays catch-up with EV-DO, EDGE is fast becoming replaced. Regardless it still provides modest speeds to a far-reaching, almost nationwide network.

With 18.0 MB of internal memory, the D807 has ample storage space for photos, videos, ringtones, and text messages. However, more memory is needed to use the built-in MP3 player so the D807 features a microSD expansion slot along the right side of the handset.

While the phone does not come with a memory card in the box, they can be purchased separately in sizes of up to 2 GB.

Connectivity

Featuring Bluetooth technology, the D807 allows users to connect wirelessly to Bluetooth-compatible accessories within a 10 meter (30 foot) range. Compatible with several popular Bluetooth profiles, users are able to pair with a variety of devices.

The D807 supports Headset Profile (HSP) to connect with popular Bluetooth headsets, Hands-free Profile (HFP) to use hands-free car kits, Serial Port Profile (SPP) to emulate a serial port, File Transfer Profile (FTP) to send files from phone-to-phone, Object Push Profile (OPP) to send a vCard, and Dial-Up Networking (DUN) Profile to allow consumers to connect their laptops to go online over Bluetooth.

Unfortunately, A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) is not supported on the D807. A new technology, A2DP allows users to listen to stereo music on A2DP-compatible Bluetooth headphones. However, with all the devices that it is able to connect to, plus its ability to be used as a wireless modem, few users will be disappointed with the D807's Bluetooth connectivity.

With its sleek, modern look, compact size, and capable features, the Samsung D807 offers an impressive combination of style and performance that will make it a popular RAZR alternative.

Set off by the D807's chrome-framed, black matte finish, the 262K-color LCD screen is among the best on the market and is the centerpiece of the phone's distinctive look. At 176 x 220 px, the screen presents impressive size to go along with bright, vivid images.

Not limited to just good looks, the D807 delivers solid multimedia offerings. Capable of print-quality photos, the 1.3-megapixel camera is a nice feature but the lack of a flash prevents it from being a full replacement for a standalone camera. The MP3 Player has a simple, user-friendly design and the external memory card allows the user to keep an impressive array of songs stored on the phone as well as pictures, videos, and ringtones.

EDGE capability allows the phone to connect to the internet and download data, applications, games, and media for the phone. Already lagging behind the offerings of Verizon and Sprint, EDGE is being replaced by HSDPA. However, its does provide one of the farthest-reaching networks even if it is at modest speeds.

Extensive Bluetooth connectivity enables wireless communication for data transfer as well as the use of popular headset and hands-free devices.

Excellent voice recognition software mitigates a keypad that may lead some to misdial. Other concerns with the D807 are the low earpiece / speakerphone volume and short battery life which may be troublesome for some users.

Overall, the D807 offers a distinctive, compact phone with well-thought out, capable features. Consumers who buy this phone for its unique look will be pleased with what they find on the inside.

BlackBerry 9000

vivi.daya85 (jerry-vivi daya) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:26:00 +0000

Remember those three BlackBerry 9000 units that showed up on eBay? As I made note in an earlier post, when the auction got pulled by the powers that be (err.. RIM?!!) there were still two units remaining, leaving one Crazy BlackBerry Addict anxiously waiting for the delivery of this next generation BlackBerry smartphone.

As luck would have it, it turns out I’m the Crazy BlackBerry Addict! When mention of the eBay 9000s came up in the forums, there was plenty of discussion as to whether the devices were legit or not. The images accompanying the auction seemed too good to be photoshopped and were unlike any other leaked 9000 pictures I had encountered previously, so it only took a few minutes to make the decision to click the Buy it Now button and PayPal over the funds. At £399.99GBP + £19.99GBP shipping (~ $828USD) it was a gamble, but potentially a good deal considering previously reported rumors that the 9000 could carry an MSRP in the $900-$1,000 range. Worst case scenario if things went south I’d eat KD for a month and have a good story to tell.

As for these particular BlackBerry 9000s, the image above says it all. 100% the real deal. It was delivered to my house yesterday afternoon and I’ve been playing with my eBay-purchased toy ever since. You’ll want to keep it locked to CrackBerry.com. I was planning on writing up one super review, but there's simply WAY too much info to put into one post. Part I (this post) will cover the unboxing and initial impressions/comparisons and after getting a few more hours facetime with the device Part II will get into the device features and OS4.6. I'll follow that up with an in-depth video walk through and we are also going to record a Special Edition BlackBerry 9000 podcast. Craig and I will record the show Friday evening, so if the posts and video leave you with any unanswered questions be sure to call them in to our Podcast Hotline at 1-866-904-5772 ext. 222 and we will answer them on the show. My fridge is stocked with Red Bull, I have a BlackBerry 9000 in hand and I don't plan on sleeping until every feature has been tested and menu option explored. Let the FUN begin!

Unboxing the BlackBerry 9000

I made the eBay purchase on April 27th and it arrived a week later. The seller didn’t offer any alternative shipping options so I was stuck with 5 Business Day International delivery. The last couple of days I was beginning to think my BlackBerry 9000 would wind up meeting the same fate as did the O2 8300 Curve I had tried to buy from the UK when it wasn’t yet available from AT&T. Apparently it left Europe but got lost in transit and never made it to Canada. I like to think it’s lying at the bottom of the ocean, waiting to be discovered by a worthy individual. That image is more pleasant than the unfortunate truth (thief!).

The 9000 arrived in a well wrapped package that contained an even better well-wrapped package. No fancy BlackBerry box, but inside were the goods that mattered:

* Wall charger (European connector – thanks, but no help to me!)
* USB cable
* Black rubber skin case – unbranded and stinky (the whole box smelled like rubber)
* Battery
* & last but not least, one BLACKBERRY 9000 Smartphone

Once unpacked, I pulled the back cover off the device (you push in the button at the bottom and the entire back side of the phone essentially comes off) and inserted the battery. Now for the moment of truth. After a few seconds the red LED lit up (blindingly bright LED light I might add) and a few seconds later the display lit up and from there the 9000 took a leisurely 1m49s to boot up.

BlackBerrys always take a long time too start up – it’s a smartphone law of nature - but I thought maybe the 9000’s mighty processor would cut down on that time. And it did, but not by much. I conducted a quick boot-up race with my BlackBerry 8320 Curve clocking in at 1m59s and BlackBerry 8830 at 2m13s. There’s a good chance the 9000 will be snappier come its full commercial release, as I’m sure this pre-production 9000 is running a lot of “diagnostic stuff” in the background. Regardless, boot up time really isn’t an issue, as unlike so many other smartphones

On the initial loading sequence a warning message came up (I haven’t been able to get it to pop up again) that contained a bunch of legalese. I clicked OK to the message before reading any of it. What I don't know can't hurt me right? I’m thinking maybe the eBay Seller had the same thought process – is it breaking the rules if you never see the message?!

Initial Impressions Surprises

From the images I had previously seen online of the BlackBerry 9000, I already had a good idea of what to expect when my package arrived in the mail. Since the original leaked photos of the BlackBerry 9000 emerged, I have remained adamant about reserving my final judgment on the 9000 until I actually got to lay my hands on the device. That said, my initial impressions were not observations, rather, the details which immediately caught me by surprise:

Surprise # 1 - the metallic band around the perimeter of the phone is not metal. Based on the photos I had seen to date, I just assumed it was metal. But plastic she be! At least on this particular phone. Think back to the most recent post on BlackBerry 9000 Final Specs and you’ll remember the hokey line that read “High quality material, high-end finish”. Maybe that means the final-spec 9000 will ship with a metal band, though I doubt it. To be honest, plastic trim is probably better - it saves on weight and is not as cold to the touch.

Surprise # 2 – keyboard seems pretty good! I’ve never been a fan of typing on the 8800 series, preferring the small keys with spaces between approach offered by the 8700 and Curve series. But I only had to thumb the keys for a few seconds while the phone was still booting up to realize I could quickly get used to the 9000’s keyboard. Maybe this is just me being overly enthusiastic about a new device (and never fully giving the 8800 a chance before as I had the Curve), but I think maybe the very slight changes to the 9000's buttons (compared to the 88xx’s keyboard) have made a big difference.

Surprise # 3 – Screw waiting for OS4.5, OS4.6 is WHERE IT IS AT! They say looks don’t matter, but when it comes to your mobile companion that’s simply not the case. The leaked images of 4.6 have looked good – seeing it in person is SO MUCH BETTER. It’s smooth, it’s fast, it’s pretty. We’ll talk a lot more about 4.6 in Part II.

Surprise #4 – the display is AWESOME. I knew it would be an improved display, but I wasn’t expecting it to be as bright and crisp as it is. The 480 by 320 HVDA Color LCD delivers. For the 88xx, Curve and Pearl users reading this who shunned the notion of upgrading to the 9000 when it comes out, let me just say this display alone will make you want to reconsider.

Surprise #5 – 3G logo?! Seeing the 3G logo on a BlackBerry for the first time…now that’s just special. It nearly brought a tear to my eye.

At this point I realized I did not have my SIM card yet installed in the 9000. I rebooted and to my relief quickly discovered my BlackBerry 9000 was in fact completely and fully usable (I had a feeling that since the eBay auction was pulled maybe the device would be remotely locked out somehow). With SIM card installed,the device Registered on the Rogers Network. I logged into my BIS account online where it detected the new PIN and asked me if I wanted to switch to this device. I did, sent the Service Books and was up and running. Last thing left to do was sync my contacts over (yup, BlackBerry Desktop Manager 4.3 seemed to work fine for me with the 9000) and insert my Media Card into the externally accessible slot. The BlackBerry 9000 is officially now my daily driver!

Form Factor & Comparison

The BlackBerry 9000 has a familiar form factor. Within the BlackBerry family, I’d argue it most closely resembles the BlackBerry 8800 Series – both in terms of physical dimensions and general appearance, with the 9000 delivering an overall sleeker and more modern package. Outside of the BlackBerry family, while the “chrome” band provides an iPhone-esque appearance, I think the 9000 more closely resembles other recent entrants into the smartphone arena, such as the Motorola Q9H.

The BlackBerry 9000 features a full-QWERTY keyboard that is similar to that of the 8800 Series, standard issue trackball, and oversized central navigation/phone buttons which are smooth, look great and seem pretty easy to locate and press. Around the perimeter of the device the 9000 features left and right side convenience keys, volume controls and mute/standby button. Generally speaking, the phone feels solidly built, deceptively light for its size (from looking at photos I expected it to be heavy, and it's not!) and you can just tell RIM put great care into the overall visual package. Between holding the 9000 in my hand, and seeing the recently leaked images of the BlackBerry KickStart, I think its safe to say the days of a function before fashion are gone for RIM.

Unlike its other full-QWERTY BlackBerry siblings, the 9000 features an externally accessible microSD port which should be able to handle BIG Media cards. On the bottom left/right corners of the 9000 are two “indented silver buttons” – after a few minutes of pondering it dawned on me that these are not buttons, but are most likely charging leads (typically gold-colored on other BlackBerry models) for a to-be-released at a later date BlackBerry Desktop charger. The 9000 also receives the 3.5mm headphone jack.

Compared to the BlackBerry the 88xx, the 9000 is longer, appears to be a bit wider (though when you line them up they are the same) and is maybe a little thicker. But when it comes to holding the 9000 in the hand, compared to the 8800 it feels much thinner. Unlike the 8800’s straight sidewalls (think ‘Brick’), the BlackBerry 9000’s battery casing is 'set into the phone', reducing the bottom half of the device’s width, making it feel extremely thin when held in the hand. If you are currently a BlackBerry 88xx user, you will have no trouble transitioning over to the 9000.

The transition from a BlackBerry Curve to a BlackBerry 9000 may require more of an adjustment period for longtime users. RIM really got things right with the Curve. It’s small, lightweight, fits comfortably in the hand and is easy to type on. In comparison, the 9000 is quite a bit wider (I think that’s my only form factor gripe - it throws my grip slightly out of the totally "natural" feeling) and is a bit heavier - about 30 grams heavier than the 8320 according to my kitchen scale.

I’ll leave the BlackBerry Pearl out of the comparison, as that’s a completely different form factor altogether, but push come to shove while the Curve gets a slight edge for feeling good in the palm of the hand, the 9000 really does not give up that much to it. After using the 9000 for only a few hours, it's beginning to feel quite natural. And for that little bit the 9000 does give up in terms of feel, when it comes to hardware and features it seems the 9000 will leaves every other BlackBerry made to date in the dust.

Crackberry, the BlackBerry fan site, bought a BlackBerry 9000 off of eBay for $828 and reviewed it. Why's this notable? Because the phone doesn't go on sale until July or August. This fact doesn't stop them from throwing lots of praise on the phone now, however, saying that the "9000 will leaves [sic] every other BlackBerry made to date in the dust."

The 9000 still takes a long time to start up—Crackberry says the software should be updated before launch and that might speed it up a bit—but the keyboard is nice and OS 4.6 is also "smooth", "fast" and "pretty." The display is "bright and crisp", and 3G is definitely welcome. If you even have the smallest interest in BlackBerry, this is a phone to consider

RIM said "hello" to the iPhone this morning when it introduced the long-anticipated BlackBerry 9000, also known as the BlackBerry Bold. Aside from its dashing good looks, the Bold has tweaks under the hood that not only improve upon past BlackBerry offerings, but ensure that it stays a step ahead of the competition. For now, anyway.

The Bold is RIM's first BlackBerry to support tri-band HSDPA (3G) networks, which complements its built-in WiFi, Bluetooth, and GPS. The half-VGA screen features 480x320 resolution, which is twice the resolution of the most recent BlackBerry Curve. The Bold, of course, continues with RIM's commitment to the "real" QWERTY keyboard along with a trackball located just under the screen. The built-in 2MP camera has video recording capabilities, built-in camera flash that is common on BlackBerry devices, and 5x digital zoom.

Software-wise, the company revamped its menu icons to look a little more cutting edge, and the phone also boasts "desktop-style web pages." Users can choose to navigate through websites either with the full, desktop-style HTML pages or mobile-formatted versions. RIM also says that it has enhanced the Bold's media player to play video smoothly in fullscreen mode and manage a user's full music collection.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that RIM has taken a few design tips from the iPhone this time around. The Bold's all-black enclosure with a chrome border, combined with the high-contrast screen make it indeed a very, er, bold-looking new BlackBerry. Physically, the resemblance is striking:

Of course, the iPhone currently lacks many of the features that the Bold has—namely 3G capabilities, integrated GPS, Bluetooth that actually works with something besides a Bluetooth headset, video recording capabilities, and camera zoom. However, many of these features are expected to be announced soon at WWDC for the next-gen iPhone. At the very least, a 3G iPhone is all but guaranteed, and GPS is widely-rumored to be included. And, of course, the iPhone already offers desktop-style web browsing in addition to a giant multi-touch screen that the Bold doesn't have.

On its own, however, the Bold is still a very attractive option for those in business who are married to things like the BlackBerry's handling of corporate e-mail and the non-touchscreen keyboard that many BlackBerry enthusiasts still love. On the flip side, Apple said at its SDK Roadmap event in February that the iPhone 2.0 software will introduce "real" Exchange support, push e-mail, and other enterprise features that it currently lacks, possibly bringing it up to speed with the BlackBerry in that regard.

Unfortunately for RIM, the Bold is not yet commercially available. The company says that it will be widely available this summer, and told CNet that it expects the price to be somewhere around $300-400. If it were available today, RIM might be able to capture more sales than it will after the next-gen iPhone is released. By then (whenever that may be), the two may be roughly on par in terms of features once again.

Blackberry 8800

vivi.daya85 (jerry-vivi daya) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:23:00 +0000

Overview

As stylish as it is powerful, the BlackBerry® 8800 smartphone is designed to let you do your best work from wherever you choose. It gives you phone, email, organizer, web browsing and instant messaging. And then it goes a step further, providing GPS for enhanced access to location-based applications and services, including the pre-loaded BlackBerry® Maps application. A media player for your video clips and music. Expandable memory to ensure you’ve got the room you need for your media files. And a high-capacity battery to allow you to make the most of it all.

Sleek and performance-driven, it’s the stylish way to get things done.

Earlier this month, we took a look at one of the newest phones in Blackberry's line up - the Pearl. This was one for the consumers - a Blackberry that came in a sleek, candy bar form factor, had a two-letters-per-key SureType keyboard and featured easy setup for web-based email, such as Google Mail.

The compadre to the 8100 Pearl is the new 8800. It has the same design stylings as the Pearl - the glossy piano black, the metal accents - but resembles the Blackberries of old far closer. It's the latest device for businesses, and its got a few tricks up its sleeve. But can it dethrone the 8700 as king of the pocket email devices?

Let's compare the new 8800 to the previous generation 8700. What's different? Well, the form factor has altered. The screen is still the same resolution - 320 x 240, the same as most Windows Smartphones - but the physical dimensions are a little smaller, making for a slightly crisper image. The smaller screen is one of the things that goes into making the 8800 significantly thinner than the previous gen, with a notable difference in thickness between the two (the 8800 is 14mm thick, the 8700 is 19.5mm). However, partly to ensure that all the electronics gubbins get squeezed in, the 8800 is slightly longer (114mm v 110mm), making it look more extruded compared to the chunky-monkey 8700.

Blackberry business devices have traditionally lacked cameras, since photo taking in a corporate environment is often a big no-no, for privacy and legal reasons. The 8800 is no different here, which is one of the major functional differences between it and the 8100, which was one of the first 'berries to have a camera. However, there is some big-time added functionality - GPS. Yes, you can now mount your phone on your dashboard and get driving directions from it, thanks to the included Blackberry Maps application.

Like the 8100 Pearl, the 8800 is also being pushed as a consumer and small business device, so the phone includes functionality for checking web-based email - either directly via IMAP/POP, or through a web-based forwarder to push mail to your provided @blackberry.com address. Traditional Blackberry users will find emails easier to answer on the 8800 than on the Pearl, thanks to the fact that this version reverts back to the full-size keyboard that has defined the device across its lifetime.

Finally, the 8800 borrows the eponymous 'Pearl' from the 8100, replacing the old-school scroll wheel on the side of the device with a roller wheel in the middle.

HP iPAQ 912c

vivi.daya85 (jerry-vivi daya) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:19:00 +0000

Design

HP has done its homework. The 912c's pragmatic design is far from revolutionary, but the company has been smart enough to pinch a few good ideas from its competition. In addition to the standard menu navigation keys, there is an OK button used to close active windows, common to Palm smartphones, and on the right side of the handset HP has included a jogwheel reminiscent of the last generation of BlackBerrys. Both of these elements are simple inclusions but certainly make for faster navigation.

The 912c's dimensions (114mm tall, 54mm wide and 15mm deep) seems no bigger than other Windows Mobile (WM) devices we've seen, but its 154g weight is noticeably heavier, due in part to its enormous battery. The 912c also features a reasonably high spec camera compared to most WM smartphones; a 3-megapixel shooter with an LED flash and auto-focus.

The iPAQ 912c makes use of a full QWERTY keyboard for speedy text entry, similar to most other smartphones in the market. The keyboard is comprised of four rows of raised rounded keys. Raising the keys does give each button some definition, but overall we found this keypad hard to navigate at top speed, with two thumbs typing being next to impossible.

Above the QWERTY keyboard the 912c features a 2.4-inch colour TFT touchscreen display. We found that we didn't use the touchscreen much, the menus were often faster to navigate using the five-way nav button, but we do like to have the option to slap at the screen open to us, plus the 912c comes with an excellent telescopic stylus. We don't recommend relying on this display outside under natural light. While the screens on most phones lose clarity under sunlight, the 912c's display becomes completely unreadable.

Features
HP has employed Windows Mobile 6.1 professional on this latest iPAQ. Browsing through the iPAQ program folder is similar to browsing through the same folder on Palm's Treo Pro, with a few notable exceptions. HP has included several self-branded applications including the HP Photosmart Mobile used to view and modify photos taken with the phone's camera, with the ability to send the photos to a compatible printer via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

Following suit with most of its competitors HP has included all major connectivity features. Tri-band UMTS reception with HSDPA for fast Web access, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and A-GPS. Of course, just as important as the hardware is, the necessary software is where the iPAQ is lacking somewhat. Similar to the Palm Treo Pro we reviewed recently, the 912c lacks a dedicated navigation solution, rendering the A-GPS hardware almost entirely useless. HP has pre-installed Google Maps which will work with the built-in GPS, but it won't offer any sort of turn-by-turn voice-guided navigation.

Performance
Ladies and gentleman, welcome to the middle of the road. The HP iPAQ 912c fits neatly between the best performing smartphone we've reviewed and some of the worst. Its 412MHz ARM processor and 128MB RAM handle most basic tasks well, but lag spikes are evident, for example, opening the contacts menu, and navigating through the various phone settings. Once we had opened several applications we started to see the 912c struggle.

The most confusing part of reviewing the iPAQ 912c has been trying to ascertain its average battery life. Often this is a simple process, most phones show consistent battery cycles; however, the iPAQ has been considerably different. Firstly its 1940mAh battery capacity is enormous, most smartphone pack batteries around the 1200mAh mark, but even still we saw the battery drain in around 20 hours with extremely light use on the first and second day.

When we observed the phone closer we discovered that it was inexplicably bringing itself out of standby, powering the screen and seemingly performing a task in the background although we couldn't see what task this was. At times the iPAQ would chew through 10 per cent of the battery's charge in a single hour on standby. No sooner had we pinpointed the issue that it stopped, the third day the battery life was exponentially better and the device seemed to stop turning itself on and off. This seems to suggest a software instability rather than a dodgy battery, and it might be something worth keeping an eye on if you choose the iPAQ 912c to do your business.

The rest of our tests found garnered unremarkable results. The HSDPA hardware works well and Web browsing using the Internet Explorer browser was fine, but the touchscreen controls are far from the most intuitive. Making and receiving calls with the iPAQ, we found the speaker to be audible but quieter than we'd have liked at full volume.

Overall
Our problems with the battery have sullied an otherwise average smartphone experience, but at least it made testing the iPAQ 912c somewhat interesting. Like its average performance the 912c's RRP of AU$799 is halfway between the cheapest Windows Mobile devices, like the ASUS M530W at AU$650 and the AU$1,000 price tag on higher end models like the HTC Touch Diamond. As a bog-standard Windows Mobile device we'd recommend the 912c for business users, just be sure to keep an eye on that pesky battery life.

Nokia N85 Phone

vivi.daya85 (jerry-vivi daya) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 02:55:00 +0000

The N85 from Nokia is the latest release from Nokia's Nseries range that has set new standards in mobile technology. The Nokia N85 is a handset that takes the whole mobile phone multimedia experience to the next level through its multitude of technological features and all contained within a sophisticated, sleek and compact exterior.

The Nokia N85 includes N-Gage gaming with 10 pre-loaded games and the whole gaming experience enhanced through the amazing OLED display and dedicated gaming keys that light up when in gaming mode. The Nokia N85 also comes with superb Hi-Fi quality sound and you can save up to 30 hours of music via the 8GB memory card.

The Nokia N85 comes with a superb 5 megapixel camera that incorporates Carl Zeiss optics, dual LED flash, autofocus and video capture, through its high-speed connectivity all images can also be shared in an instant. Another great feature is the Nokia Download! application which lets you pick and choose your favourite applications in making your Nokia N85 bespoke to your own needs.

Nokia N85 multimedia phone : Nokia unveiled the Nokia N85, the latest Nokia Nseries multimedia cell phone made to set new standards for mobile entertainment, gaming and sharing. Along with an eye-catching 2.6" OLED screen and smooth, sleek finish, the Nokia N85 cell phone redefines the mobile experience. It boasts Nokia NGage gaming, music with in-built FM transmitter, digital camera with Carl Zeiss optics and geotagging capabilities, three month integrated license for turn-by-turn voice navigation and high-speed internet connectivity, all in one mobile device. A 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics and bright dual LED flash captures clear, sharp images as well as DVD-quality videos at 30 frames per second.

Nokia N85 mobile phone
Combined with A-GPS it is possible to geotag favorite photos to see where each picture was taken using the Nokia Maps phone application or online sites such as Share on Ovi or Flickr. With a strong lineup of multimedia features, the Nokia N85 is taking the world of mobile convergence to the next level. Gaming, photos, navigation and music blend together with the newest Ovi and third party services via 3.5G HSDPA and Wi-Fi connectivity to make discovering and sharing experiences on your N85 Nokia phone quick and seamless.

Mobile gaming phone
The Nokia N85 cell phone is pre-loaded with at least 10 made-for-mobile N-Gage gaming titles that jump off of the screen thanks to the dazzling OLED display and a voucher to activate one full game license. Dedicated gaming keys light up when the device is in landscape gaming mode to further enhance the action-packed experience. "The Nokia N85 multimedia cell phone was created to be more than the sum of its parts, offering a complete mobile entertainment package designed for connecting, sharing and discovering," said Juha-Pekka Sipponen, Director, Nokia Nseries.

Nokia mobile phone memory
Every Nokia N85 phone comes with an 8 GB microSD flash memory card, up to 30 hours of music playback time and its high-fidelity sound means favorite tracks can be enjoyed virtually anywhere. Build a personal music collection from the millions of tracks and playlists available from the Nokia Music Store or other online music vendors, or synchronize PC and mobile music libraries via USB cable. Alternatively, consumers can enjoy RDS radio or a wide selection of stations via the internet. The 3.5 mm audio jack makes connecting a top-quality headset simple and an in-built FM transmitter lets the Nokia N85 music phone play wirelessly through a car or home stereo to really crank up the sound.

Nokia N85 price & availability
While it comes out of the box with a multitude of powerful functionality, the pre-loaded Nokia Download! application makes the Nokia N85 mobile phone truly customizable by offering a wide range of bespoke content. This includes an outstanding selection of world-class branded entertainment content, the latest in mobile gaming and dynamic applications so users can really make their device their own. The Nokia N85 phone is expected to begin shipping in October 2008 with an estimated retail price of EUR 450, before taxes and subsidies.

This is a pretty simple deal: buy a Nokia N85 from somewhere*, complete an order form, include your receipt and phone box barcode, and get a $50 Visa Prepaid card.

*Some fine print: the rebate form does not state that you have to purchase the N85 from NokiaUSA, although it does mention that refurbished models do not qualify for the $50 back. Another question is whether the N85 needs to be the NAM (North American) version of just any ‘ol N85 - I don’t know, since the rebate form doesn’t specifically mention the NAM version. Finally, your purchase has to be made from March 9 to April 30, 2009.

Either way, if you were looking to purchase an N85 in the near future, a purchase that I heartily recommend, at least get yourself $50 bucks out of it.

And a Nokia N85 Deal For the Initiated

The fun doesn’t end there! Adorama via Buy.com is selling the N85 for $349.99. Throw in some MSN Live.com Cashback (1% I believe in this case), and you’re looking at $296 after your $50 Prepaid Visa card. Beats the NokiaUSA.com price of $449. Not too shabby!

Nokia phonebook

vivi.daya85 (jerry-vivi daya) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 02:53:00 +0000

Transferring data from your previous phone

There are several ways to transfer contact and other information when upgrading to a new phone. The most convenient method depends on:

* the phone models involved
* the type of information you are transferring
* the types of backup systems you have been using
* whether or not you are changing your operator or service provider.

Common methods of transferring data are:

* Transferring phone numbers via SIM card
* Transferring data via Memory Card
* Transferring data via Bluetooth
* Transferring data via PC

Transfer via PC is the most effective, but it initially requires more effort to set up. You will need to download and install PC Suite software on your compatible PC and ensure that a number of variables line up, including PC Suite version, Windows operating system, and connection method compatibility.

Transfer via memory card is the easiest method as long as both models support the same size of memory card. SIM card transfer is a simple method for transferring phone numbers only.

Transferring phone numbers via SIM card

SIM card transfer makes sense if you are only transferring phone numbers. Copy the phone numbers to your SIM card, remove the SIM card from your previous phone, insert it into your new phone, and store the phone numbers in your new phone's memory. For basic phone models without additional memory, the phone numbers may already be stored on the SIM card.
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What is a SIM card? Your SIM card is the small card with a notched corner that is inserted into your phone and allows your phone to establish a network connection. Provided by your operator or service provider, the SIM card includes your account and network information and a limited amount of memory.

Instructions for copying phone numbers to and retrieving them from your SIM card are phone model-specific and provided in your phone models' user guides. (Refer to your previous model's user guide for information on copying data and your new model's user guide for information on retrieving data.)

For many Nokia phone models, however, the process goes something like this:

1. With your previous phone, select Contacts

2. Select Options -> Mark All

3. Select Options -> Copy to SIM direct.

4. Select the contact details (for instance All) that you want to copy

Once the contacts have been copied, remove the SIM card from your previous phone, insert it into your new phone, and copy the contacts to your new phone's memory:

5. Select Contacts

6. Select Options -> SIM directory

7. Select Options -> Mark All

8. Select Options -> Copy to Contacts

Please note:

* In some cases, SIM card transfer may modify the appearance of the contact information. For instance, names may be shortened or multiple phone numbers for the same contact may appear as separate contacts after transfer.
* In some cases, you may also be able to transfer text messages with your SIM card.
* SIM card transfer also usually works if you are changing phone model manufacturers. In most cases, you can store information from another manufacturer's phone on your SIM card and transfer it accurately to your new Nokia phone's Contacts file.
* Since your SIM card is provided by your operator or service provider, using your SIM card to transfer data may be tricky if you change operators at the same time as you change phone models. The best thing to do is copy the information before ending your service contract with your previous operator or service provider.
* Depending on the number of contacts you have stored, you may have to perform SIM card transfer more than once. Usually SIM cards have memory to store several hundred contacts at a time.

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Transferring data via Memory Card

What is a memory card? A memory card is a removable memory card that you can use to store many types of data, including documents, photos, music, videos, and messages.

Many newer Nokia phone models have a slot for memory card in one of two sizes: standard or reduced-size. If you're not sure, you can check if there is memory card slot in your phone and the size supported from your phone's user guide.

Some of your phone's data may already be stored on your memory card, but in most cases at least some of your phone's data will be stored in your phone's built-in memory.

Instructions for transferring data from your phone's memory to your memory card are phone-model specific and are provided in your user guide. Look for information on:

* Copying/moving messages
* Copying/moving the contents of your Gallery (images, videos)
* Copying/moving music, tones, or other audio files
* Copying/moving documents

Copying or moving contacts, calendar items, add-on applications*, or games* may not work smoothly with a memory card. For these, try moving the information via Bluetooth or PC.

Once you have copied the data you want to your memory card, simply remove it and install it in your new phone. You can either leave the data on the memory card or move it to your new phone's memory.

Please note:

* If your previous phone supports a standard memory card and your new phone model supports a reduced-size memory card, use the reduced-size memory card to transfer the data. You will need to use an adapter to insert the reduced-size memory card into your previous phone model. This adapter may be included in your phone's sales package.
* If your memory card is already full, you may need to delete some data, transfer some data to your new phone for storage, or use another memory card with available storage to copy data from your previous phone's memory.

* Not all applications or games are compatible with all phone models. Check with the provider of the application for phone model compatibility. Information on free applications from Nokia is included on the phone model's Support pages: select your phone model from Product support.
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Transferring data via Bluetooth

What is Bluetooth? Bluetooth is a technology that allows two compatible devices, such as phones and PCs, to communicate wirelessly without the need for a line-of-sight connection. Many of Nokia's current phone models support Bluetooth wireless connections.

Instructions for transferring data via Bluetooth are phone-model specific and are provided in your user guide. All Nokia phone models with Bluetooth support transfer of data one item at a time.

Some of Nokia's newest phone models feature a built-in application called Data Transfer or Data Mover that allows you to transfer an entire Contacts, Calendar, or Gallery folder (Gallery contains images, sound clips, and video clips) via Bluetooth from one compatible Nokia phone to another. Open the application and follow the onscreen instructions to move the supported data formats from any other compatible phone. Compatible phones include all Nokia phones based on S60 software.

Please note that you cannot transfer emails, multimedia messages, or text messages using the Data Transfer or Data Mover applications.
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Transferring data via PC

Nokia offers free software, called Nokia PC Suite, that allows you to transfer data from your phone to a compatible PC via a data cable or a wireless connection. From your PC, you can then transfer the data to your new phone.

Will PC Suite work for me? Transfer via PC Suite can be very effective, but it requires a little effort to set up, and there are a number of variables that can affect how smoothly it will work.

Use PC Suite if:

* You are transferring data to another phone of the same model

or

* Both your previous and new phone models support PC Suite version 6 or later
* Your PC runs on Windows XP or 2000, and
* Your PC and phone support the same connection types: USB cable, Bluetooth, and/or infrared

PC Suite will not work if:

* Your phone models support different versions of PC Suite (for instance your previous phone supports PC Suite 4.8 or PC Suite for Nokia 6600, and your new phone model supports PC Suite version 6 or later)
* Your PC's operating system differs from the Windows operating systems supported by your phone's correct PC Suite version
* Your PC does not support the connection types supported by one or both of your phones.

In practice, this means that the information from Nokia phone models released prior to 2004 cannot be moved to new Nokia models via PC Suite. However, all Nokia phone models released today use the same version of PC Suite, meaning data transfer during phone model upgrade will become increasingly seamless into the future.

To find the correct version of PC Suite for your previous phone model, new phone model, and PC operating system, please visit step-by-step PC Suite download. Go through the tool once for your previous model and once for your new model and check to see if the versions offered match.

If the versions do not match, you may not be able to use PC Suite to transfer data from one phone to another. You can find the latest information on the intercompatibility of PC Suite versions at updating PC Suite.

To find information on the connection methods supported by Nokia phone models, see features supported by your phone or your phone's user guide.

Instructions on downloading and using PC Suite (version 6 or later) are provided on the PC Suite pages and the PC Suite user guide.

Motorola A3100 Phone

vivi.daya85 (jerry-vivi daya) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 01:49:00 +0000

Motorola announced the availability of the MOTOSURF A3100 in Singapore, making it easier to manage your life, whenever and wherever you want. A new, intuitive and customizable touch screen smart phone, the 3G MOTOSURF A3100 allows for seamless, easy access to the information you need to always stay connected, such as Internet content, contacts and calendars – all with just the touch of a finger. Working at high-speeds that give immediate access to everything you need, all through a single personalized icon-based home screen, the A3100 offers you the ultimate balance between business and entertainment.

Managing your social and work lives just got easier with the MOTOSURF A3100. The touch tablet’s customizable home screen is layered on top of the familiar Windows Mobile 6.1 software and offers up a huge range of applications that can all be accessed with the tip of your finger, a stylus, or using the built-in omni-directional trackball. You can choose to personalize your selection of icons on the A3100’s home screen to show whatever you need – updates on local weather, RSS feeds, news, personal and work e-mails, or messaging and calendar events.

“We developed the MOTOSURF A3100 as a true social smartphone – perfect for those who always want to be connected to every part of their lives whether it be personal or professional,” said Juliana DeCandia, General Manager, Singapore. “Home screen personalization, 3G connectivity, and access to a whole host of applications gets the info you want – fast, at your fingertips, and in a slick and sleek package!”

Whether toggling back and forth between documents while on the go, listening to mp3s, video conferencing on the run, updating your Facebook status or using aGPS to navigate from point A to B, MOTOSURF A3100 puts every aspect of your life, personal and professional, just a touch away.

Key Features

Begs to be Touched: Navigate your content by simply touching or swiping your finger across the vibrant touch screen, or use the omni-directional trackball. Use the digital keypad to communicate quickly and easily with the embedded stylus.

Take Control: Take control of your mobile world – it’s easy with Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional for fast and familiar access to personal and corporate email, documents and PC-like browsing with Internet Explorer/Opera. Never miss a beat with advanced features such as video conferencing and aGPS for finding places on the go.

When You Need It All, Right Now: Everything on the MOTOSURF A3100 is faster with reliable 3G speed. Connecting with HSDPA, HSUPA and Wi-Fi makes data transfer fast and simple.

Get Personal: With the customizable icon-based home screen, obtain access to continuous “live” updates of RSS feeds, weather, email, news and calendar events, delivered right to your fingertips. Connect with friends and update your status with one-touch access to Facebook.

Brilliant and Beautiful: The vibrant, 2.8” full-touch display provides one-touch access to the people, information and conversations that matter most to you.

Multi-Media On-The-Go: Set your tempo to music with Windows Media Player enabling you to transfer music, videos and images from a PC with ease. Watch streaming video anytime, anywhere with YouTube.

Motorola Singapore offers four extra applications to all MOTOSURF A3100 owners: SongID, MOTONAV Destinator, ShoZu and a game from Electronic Arts, SPORE. These are uploaded on a 1GB MicroSD card so that it can be conveniently and quickly installed on the device.

SongID1 is a great feature that recognizes and displays tune information. Users only need to point the phone at the source of a nice tune and at the simple click of a button, the phone analyses and displays the song title, artist and even the album art.

MOTONAV Destinator ensures that you always find your way around in Singapore. It will show you how to get to your desired location or to any points of interest around you. These can be restaurants, shopping malls, bars, clubs and more. You name it, MOTONAV Destinator will take you there.

ShoZu allows you to easily share the photos you’ve captured on your mobile phone with your chosen online networks. When you use ShoZu you can send photos and videos to over 50 websites including social networking sites, blogs, photo and news sites and you can send to email addresses.

Availability
MOTOSURF A3100 will be available immediately at all M1 and Starhub outlets in Singapore for a recommended retail price of S$638.

Motorola got a jump start on CES when it announced its new crop of phones two days before the show opens. The most high-end of the bunch is the new Surf A3100 smartphone, which offers an expansive touch screen and support for Windows Mobile 6.1. Starting Thursday in Las Vegas, it will join the Earth-friendly Renew W233 and the rugged Tundra VA76r at Moto's booth on the show floor.

Sporting a sleek, attractive design with rounded edges and chrome detailing, the Surf offers three ways for users to interact with it. They can use a stylus, a trackball, or their finger. Features on the quad-band GSM device include 3G support, integrated Wi-Fi, a 3-megapixel camera with a secondary VGA shooter, Google Maps, Bluetooth, messaging and e-mail, a media player, and video conferencing. A customizable user interface sits on top of the Windows mobile OS that will allow users to customize the UI with widgets.

The Surf will arrive first in China during the first quarter of this year. At present, Moto has no plans to bring the A3100 to a U.S. carrier.

Samsung Omnia Phone

vivi.daya85 (jerry-vivi daya) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 01:22:00 +0000

Samsung has recently announced the launch of OMNIA cell phone model number SGH-i900. It sports a 5 MP Camera along with GPS, FEMTOMETER radio and Bluetooth 2.0 and Wi-Fi. The 16G internal memory can store 4000 MP3 files and 100 minutes of movie. You can access Word, Excel and PPT etc. with the latest phone. Latest version of Opera (9.5) offers enhanced browsing. SAMSUNG OMNIA Phone is expected to reach the market in the second half of 2008.

It's not that the Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional-based 3G Samsung Omnia is not a good phone. In fact, we already knew that it looks very good. It's just that today, dear Samsung people, today is just not the right day to announce any cellphone, even if you think that telling us official details of an already-leaked model—like the face and smile detection on its 5 megapixel camera, or the DivX, XviD, H.264, WMV and MP4 video support, or the nice-looking GPS—is going to make any difference. But still, we like the new pictures of the interface and the full feature list.

Network: HSDPA (7.2 Mbps), EDGE / GPRS 850/900/1800/1900
OS: Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional
Display: 3.2” WQVGA TFT LCD (240 x 400)
Camera: 5 Megapixel CMOS, Auto Focus, Image Stabilizer, Geo-tagging, Auto-Panorama Shot,
Wide Dynamic Range (WDR), Face Detection, Smile Detection
Video: DivX / XviD / H.263 / H.264 / WMV / MP4
Video recording: Video Editing: Trim video, Audio dubbing, Live dubbing, Add subtitle, Image capture
Audio: FM Radio with RDS, MP3/ AAC / AAC+ / WMA / OGG / AMR
Bluetooth Stereo Headset (A2DP)
Value-added Features: GPS, TouchWiz UI, MS Office Document Viewer, Advanced PIM Apps, Push Email, Auto Rotation, TV Out, Connectivity, Bluetooth 2.0 / USB 2.0 / Wi-Fi
Memory: 8GB / 16GB Flash + External Memory slot : microSDHC™
Size: 112 x 56.9 x 12.5
Battery: 1440 mAh

The newly launched Samsung Omnia SGH-i900 mobile phone brings together high performance business content, top of the range style and a fun, dynamic multi-media experience, to ensure consumers are always connected both at home and at work. Omnia, meaning ‘everything’ in Latin and ‘wish’ in Arabic, goes beyond the current top-of-the-line features available in today’s mobile phones. The new Samsung Omnia allows users to switch seamlessly between Microsoft Outlook email and productivity applications that replicate the look and feel of their PC - with a stroke of their finger. The Samsung Omnia i900 will be available to the market from June 2008.

Stay connected with the Samsung Omnia
Geesung Choi, President of Samsung Telecommunication Business, said: “I am very excited to introduce Samsung Omnia, a mobile device that truly delivers the best possible features for today’s busy, connected consumer. Samsung Omnia demonstrates our vision for the Samsung mobile business, which is to provide premium phones for users who desire functionality, style, usability and entertainment in one innovative device. The Omnia mobile range will help users to be at the forefront of work and play and at the same time, to stay connected anytime, anywhere.”

Samsung Omnia mobile phone design
The Samsung Omnia presents Samsung’s leadership in design. With maxi-phone capabilities, it boasts a slender, chic form, so users can step out in style. It features an ultra-slim 12.5-mm profile and a platinum-look finish that fits snugly in the palm of the user’s hand. The elegant hairline patterns on the back of the phone bring the perfection in style.

Samsung Omnia uses Microsoft Mobile 6.1
Based on the most up to date Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional operating system, Samsung Omnia i900 gives users a mobile extension to their PC experience, with access to MS Office documents such as PowerPoint, Excel and Word. Users can also send and receive email and manage their appointments in Outlook while on the go. The Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional operating system means users can download additional programs as they would on their PC and customize it for their individual needs. For ease of navigation an optical mouse similar to those on laptop computers offers improved usability and one-handed control.

Samsung Omnia i900 digital camera & GPS
Samsung Omnia also comes with a 5 megapixel CMOS camera with the latest value-added features, which include auto-focus (AF), face and smile detection and auto-panorama shot. The handset’s generous internal memory (available in 8GB or 16 GB capacity options and extendable slot for additions) ensures ample storage space for digital assets. Rounding out the fully comprehensive feature set, Samsung Omnia also offers GPS, including navigation and geo-tagging capabilities, so users can get their bearings wherever work or life takes them.

View high resolution videos on the Samsung Omnia
Samsung Omnia delivers the ultimate in digital entertainment thanks to a wide 3.2-inch WQVGA LCD screen for viewing videos and slide shows in high-resolution and advanced audio capabilities. MultiCodec support for DivX, Xvid and other video formats eliminates the hassle of file format conversions. Users also have the assurance of a long-life detachable battery for extended playback.

Omnia Samsung features a touch sensitive screen
Samsung’s patented TouchWiz user interface makes entering data and text simple. With unique widgets, users can customise and personalise the way they use their phone. The Samsung Omnia's high resolution touch-sensitive screen uses intuitive tap, sweep, drag and drop operations as well as an on-screen qwerty keyboard. It also facilitates easy and convenient calling and texting with a dedicated dome key for controlling communications.

Samsung Omnia i900 mobile phone launch
The Samsung Omnia will be unveiled at CommunicAsia, Singapore from June 17 to 20 and commercially launched in the Southeast Asian market starting from the same week. The phone will be available in the European market from July.

GIGABYTE Introduces Next Generation AMD AM3 "Dragon" Motherboard extreme

vivi.daya85 (jerry-vivi daya) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 01:21:00 +0000

GIGABYTE, a leading manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards today is pleased to announce the GA-MA790FXT-UD5P, their first AMD "Dragon Platform" qualified motherboard with next generation AMD AM3 Phenom™ II processors support, enabling the very latest in definitive high performance platforms for work, home and play.

Sportting the new AMD AM3 socket, the GIGABYTE GA-MA790FXT-UD5P allows users to elevate their rig beyond the standard limits with support for support the highest performing ever 45nm AMD Phenom™ II processors featuring HyperTransport 3.0 and integrated DDR3 memory controller. The first motherboard to provide DDR3 memory support for the AMD platform, the GIGABYTE GA-MA790FXT-UD5P is able to reach memory speeds up to 1666+MHz (OC) for blazing fast memory access for today’s latest applications and games with greater energy efficiency. Build with top-notch high performance engineering, the GIGABYTE GA-MA790FXT-UD5P features the highest quality 8+2 CPU VRM power phase design, able to handle the power demands from 140W CPUs with ease.

No performance platform would be complete without the very latest in graphics technologies and the GIGABYTE GA-MA790FXT-UD5P doesn’t disappoint. Equipped with the AMD 790FX North Bridge, the GA-MA790FXT-UD5P offers Dual x16 PCI-E 2.0 graphics interfaces to deliver up the latest ATI CrossFireX™ support for the ultimate gaming platform. Plugging in dual graphics cards also enables support for up to 4 monitors, ideal for users wanting to boost their productivity by maximizing their multitasking capabilities.

Getting the most performance out of your system has never been easier as the GIGABYTE GA-MA790FXT-UD5P delivers AMD OverDrive™ support, allowing high-end users the ability to fully customize and monitor the performance and settings of their system. In addition, high-end performance junkies will love the latest EC AOD-ACC Embedded Controller, which allows AMD Phenom™ II Black Edition CPUs to be overclocked using the AMD OverDrive™ utility further than was previously possible.

The GA-MA790FXT-UD5P is the latest edition to the GIGABYTE lineup of Ultra Durable™ 3 motherboards. Featuring the industry's first consumer desktop motherboard design to introduce 2 ounces of copper for both the Power and Ground layers, GIGABYTE Ultra Durable™ 3 motherboards deliver dramatically lower system temperature, improved energy efficiency and enhanced stability for overclocking. GIGABYTE Ultra Durable™ 3 motherboards also feature Japanese Solid Capacitors boasting 50,000 hours of operation, Ferrite core chokes with higher energy efficiency compared to the commonly used iron core chokes and Lower RDS(on) MOSFETs that features a lower resistance, which reduces power consumption and heat generation. The GIGABYTE Ultra Durable™ 3 series motherboards promises to provide the stability, reliability and longevity essential to meet the power needs of high-end processors and other components running today's most demanding applications and games.

Advanced connectivity options are key to any high end system, and the GIGABYTE GA-MA790FXT-UD5P delivers with a combined total of up to 10 SATA 2.0 device support. In addition to the 6 SATA 2.0 (3Gb/s) ports from the SB750 (with RAID 0, 1, 5, 10, and JBOD support), the GIGABYTE GA-MA790FXT-UD5P provides an additional 4 SATA 2.0 ports through the onboard JMicron controller (JM363 & JM322 with RAID 0, 1, and JBOD support), enabling GIGABYTE's Smart Backup technology which allows users to connect up to 4 SATA 2.0 devices for effortless hardware-based RAID data protection on-the-fly. The GIGABYTE GA-MA790FXT-UD5P also features Dual Gigabit LAN connections with Teaming, which allows 2 single connections to act as 1 single connection for twice the bandwidth to improve overall throughput.

GIGABYTE CeBIT 2009 Highlights

vivi.daya85 (jerry-vivi daya) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 01:12:00 +0000

Even during times of subdued economy, GIGABYTE, a global renowned IT brand, resists on featuring breakthrough well-rounded solutions for users to experience Renaissance in Indoor or Outdoor Lifestyles at the world's leading IT technology tradeshow, CeBIT 2009 in Hannover, Germany from March 3rd to March 8th.

GIGABYTE guarantees to excite Heavy Internet Users with the highest quality and most innovative Ultra Durable 3TM technology motherboard featuring 2 ounces of copper for both the Power and Ground layers, and dramatically lowering system temperature by delivering a more efficient spreading of heat from critical areas of the motherboard such as the CPU power zone throughout the entire PCB. GIGABYTE's Ultra DurableTM 3 also lowers the PCB impedance by 50%, which helps to reduce electrical waste and further lowers component temperatures. A 2oz Copper layer design also provides improved signal quality and lower EMI (Electromagnetic Interference), providing better system stability and allowing for greater margins for overclocking. For users who like to be online anytime everywhere, the cutting-edge design Booktop M1022 equipped with a 10.1-inch LED backlight screen and the docking station exclusively from GIGABYTE will definitely keep users connected to Fantasy World all the time. Users can turn Booktop M1022 into a desktop by simply attaching Booktop M1022 to this docking station.

To provide exquisite portable solutions for Mobility Users, GIGABYTE unveils the 10.1-inch true slim and light Thin Note M1024 which is only 890 grams and 2cm thick. Thin Note M1024 is definitely the perfect product for portable purposes and delivering fashion design and lifestyle. What’s more, do not miss GIGABYTE's stylish and precious mouse, GM-M7800S, which is gracefully designed with encrusted Swarovski crystal and quality leather committing to bring fashion and style to Free Spirit.

With intention to present quick and hassle-free products for users, GIGABYTE has announced All-In-One PC, AIO-1192, combining desktop chassis with wide 19" LCD screen that brings a best solution for both cumbersome tangle of wires and the concessive small screen of laptop. Surprising slim and elegant appearance, AIO-1192 is the ONE for everything everywhere. Another "must-have" for users to enjoy Leisure Life is well-rounded connected CE (Consumer Electronic) product, GN-MD300L-RH. The heart of GN-MD300L-RH, Intel Media Processor CE 3100, is the first system-on-a-chip (SoC) based on Intel architecture for Internet-connected blu-ray players, advanced cable set top boxes, modular DTVs, and other connected CE products. GN-MD300L-RH will fire up a shift in demand from fixed-function CE products to programmable, scalable and interoperable CE devices across internet.

Last but not least, great tools specially dedicated for Gamers are the world's fastest, coolest and steady Silent-CellTM and Ultra Durable VGA. GIGABYTE rewrites the history of silent cooling to perfect the thermal performance, introducing the state-of-the-art Silent-CellTMCooling featuring a series of crimping layered fins with Aluminum nodes all-new zero-interval precision process. The latest Ultra Durable VGA technology features five high quality components to provide low GPU and memory temperature, high overclocking capability, and low power switching loss. Definitely, gamers will love the Ultimate Precision Laser Gaming Mouse, GIGABYTE GM-M8000, equipped with the highest performance laser engine providing the most accurate precision, no tracking lag, and the highest resolution up to 4000dpi accompanying the unique scaling-designed switching button. Another powerful feature of GM-M8000 is the five programmable buttons and GHOST engine software. Expert gamers have the best short-cut to upgrade to the highest rank and achieve triumph in any game competition.

Children and Smoke Alarms

vivi.daya85 (jerry-vivi daya) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 01:09:00 +0000

In spite of recent news events about children sleeping through them, smoke alarms and home escape planning are still a vital part of survival from fire. Smoke alarms have been and still are the cornerstone of fire safety technology in the home.

Statistics point to a fifty percent reduction in fire fatalities since the introduction of smoke alarms into the home. Although 90% of all residences have smoke alarms today, no smoke alarms were present in 42% of residential structure fires where fatalities occurred. Smoke alarms were present in 58% of fatal residential structure fires, but only operational in 37% of those fatal fires. That means that most often where smoke alarms are present in a fatal fire, the smoke alarm is nonfunctional due to dead or missing batteries.

However, the recent news events remind us of the need to continue research in fire safety and seek to improve on successful technologies such as smoke alarms. The USFA has recognized the need for a vigorous and timely exchange of information between the nation's fire safety stakeholders. It is important that the USFA and its fellow fire safety related organizations share information in order to analyze and disseminate appropriate and accurate information to the public and fire safety education specialists throughout the United States.

USFA and its partners are currently reviewing existing literature and studies from both foreign and domestic sources. USFA is also looking to identify and support relevant testing groups on this issue. Partners, such as the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL), are currently reviewing criteria for establishing such testing.

What is imperative at the moment is for our citizens to understand the need not to rely solely on smoke alarms as the entire answer to escaping from fire. These recent news events serve to reinforce the need for home escape planning. Smoke alarms are a tool in the planning process. Parents need to clearly understand their supporting roles in the escape plan. After going over the plan with your family, you should conduct a walkthrough of the plan. When you feel comfortable with your plan, hold a fire drill at night (activate your alarm) while your children are sleeping so that you and they can determine the appropriate response to a smoke alarm.

Smoke alarms and automatic sprinklers do save lives but they are just tools in the home escape process. We will continue to conduct research and promote new fire safety technologies but families need to remember that while technology is an integral part of the process, the maintenance of that technology (e.g. regular testing, replacing batteries, etc.) and incorporating planning and participation in their use will be the key to saving lives.

Smoke Alarms – Why, Where, and Which

vivi.daya85 (jerry-vivi daya) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 01:08:00 +0000

A smoke alarm is critical for the early detection of a fire in your home and could mean the difference between life and death. Fires can occur in a variety of ways and in any room of your home. But no matter where or how, having a smoke alarm is the first key step towards your family's safety.

This information is not intended to be all inclusive, but it is intended to inform the reader about some of the safety aspects and importance of having and maintaining working smoke alarms.

Why are Smoke Alarms Important?

Every year in the United States, about 3,000 people lose their lives in residential fires. In a fire, smoke and deadly gases tend to spread farther and faster than heat. That's one reason why most fire victims die from inhalation of smoke and toxic gases, not as a result of burns. A majority of fatal fires happen when families are asleep because occupants are unaware of the fire until there is not adequate time to escape. A smoke alarm stands guard around the clock and, when it first senses smoke, it sounds a shrill alarm. This often allows a family the precious but limited time it takes to escape.

About two-thirds of home fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. Properly installed and maintained smoke alarms are considered to be one of the best and least expensive means of providing an early warning of a potentially deadly fire and could reduce the risk of dying from a fire in your home by almost half.
Where Should Smoke Alarms be Installed?

Smoke alarms should be installed on every level of the home, outside sleeping areas, and inside bedrooms.

A smoke alarm should be installed and maintained according to the manufacturer's instructions. When installing a smoke alarm, many factors influence where you will place it, including how many are to be installed. Consider placing alarms along your escape path to assist in egress in limited visibility conditions. In general you should place alarms in the center of a ceiling or, if you place them on a wall, they should be 6 to 12 inches below the ceiling.
* Install a working smoke alarm on every level of the home, outside sleeping areas, and inside bedrooms.
* Replace smoke alarm batteries at least annually, such as when resetting clocks in the fall or spring.
* Test all smoke alarms in your house once a month.
* Do not place a smoke alarm too close to a kitchen appliance or fireplace, as this may result in nuisance alarms.
* Avoid locating alarms near bathrooms, heating appliances, windows, or ceiling fans.
* Replace smoke alarms that are more than 10 years old. Smoke alarms don't last forever.
* Develop and practice a fire escape plan, because working smoke alarms and a fire escape plan will increase your protection in case of a fire.

Which Smoke Alarm Type is Better?

Although there are several choices to make in selecting the right smoke alarms to buy, the most important thing to remember is that smoke alarms save lives. For that reason, you should install a smoke alarm if your home does not have one.

Smoke alarms may contain different or multiple sensors

There are two main types of smoke alarms, which are categorized by the type of smoke detection sensor, ionization and photoelectric, used in the alarm. A smoke alarm uses one or both methods, sometimes with a heat detector, to warn of a fire.

Ionization detectors contain a chamber with two plates that generate a small, continuous electric current. When smoke enters the ionization chamber, the smoke particles disrupt the current flow, which triggers the alarm.

Photoelectric detectors use a light beam and light receptor (photocell). When smoke is present between the light and receptor, depending on the type of smoke chamber configuration, the reduction or increase of light on the photocell sensor triggers the alarm.

Smoke alarms may perform differently

Both ionization and photoelectric detectors are effective smoke sensors. Even though both types of smoke detectors must pass the same tests to be certified to the voluntary standard for smoke alarms, they can perform differently in different types of fires. Ionization detectors respond quickly to flaming fires with smaller combustion particles; photoelectric detectors respond more quickly to smoldering fires. There are combination smoke alarms also that combine ionization and photoelectric detectors into one unit, called dual sensor smoke alarms.

The amount of time a person may have to escape depends on many factors, such as the type of fire, location of the fire, and the closest smoke alarm.

Smoke Alarm Sounds

Do not waste any time saving property. The fire has already developed and the closest smoke alarm has detected the smoke.
Escaping

It may be smoky; getting low may make it easier to breathe and see. Smoke contains toxic gases which can disorient you or, at worst, overcome you.

The time it takes to get out depends on many factors including mobility, helping others, escape route, time of day, smoke, fire, and the location of the fire relative to you.
Exiting the Home

Once you are out of the home, never re-enter the home. ONCE OUT – STAY OUT!

The type of fire, slow smoldering or fast flaming, can determine the amount of time you have to escape before being overcome by smoke, heat, and toxic gases. A slow smoldering fire may go undetected for a long period of time before it erupts into dangerous flames and high heat. A fast flaming fire has a very short amount of time before flames and heat become intense. In either type of fire, once out – stay out.
Fast Moving Flaming Fire

Fast flaming fires don't leave much time for escape. An ionization smoke alarm may be seconds faster than a photoelectric smoke alarm, and those seconds will count in a fast moving flaming fire.

In a flaming fire:

* A fire escape plan will help reduce the amount of escape time required for you and your family to get out safely.
* These types of fires can develop rapidly; leave the home as fast as possible because the flames, heat, and toxic gases will become too intense in a short time.
* If your primary escape path is blocked by smoke, flames, and heat, use your secondary escape method, such as an alternative door or window.
* Smoldering fires develop slowly. A photoelectric smoke alarm can be minutes faster than an ionization smoke alarm in responding to a smoldering fire. Regardless of the type of smoke alarm, as soon as the smoke alarm sounds, leave the home as fast as possible.

Smoldering Fire

Smoldering fires develop slowly. A photoelectric smoke alarm can be minutes faster than an ionization smoke alarm in responding to a smoldering fire. Regardless of the type of smoke alarm, as soon as the smoke alarm sounds, leave the home as fast as possible.

In a smoldering fire:

* A fire escape plan will help reduce the amount of escape time required for you and your family to get out safely.
* When the smoke alarm sounds, leave the home as fast as possible; it is unpredictable when the smoldering fire may burst into a flaming fire.
* These types of fires produce a lot of smoke; getting low may make it easier to breathe and see. The smoke contains toxic gases which can disorient you or, at worst, overcome you.
* If your primary escape path is blocked by smoke, flames, and heat, use your secondary escape method, such as alternative door or window.

What Features Come on Smoke Alarms?

In addition to the type of smoke detection sensor, ionization and photoelectric, used in the alarm, smoke alarms can be powered differently or be interconnected or single station alarms. Considering all of the available options will enable you to select the smoke alarms that may work best in your situation to effectively detect a fire.
Power

Smoke alarms can be connected to the home's wiring system, battery powered, or a combination of both. Smoke alarms most often fail to alarm because of missing, drained, or disconnected batteries. A good reminder to replace the batteries in smoke alarms is in the fall or spring when resetting the clocks.

For older homes, battery-only smoke alarms are the simplest to install. For homes under construction, smoke alarms are typically connected to the household wiring (hard-wired). Smoke alarms connected to household wiring with battery back-up will provide protection even during power outages. Consider upgrading smoke alarms to hard-wired with battery back-up during a renovation or remodeling project.

If your smoke alarm begins to chirp, signaling low battery power, replace the batteries immediately to prevent you and your family from being unprotected. Also make sure that everyone in the house understands how important it is to have working batteries in every smoke alarm and how dangerous it is to remove the batteries even for a short time. Smoke alarms with sealed lithium batteries can last up to 10 years; after 10 years, the entire unit is disposable.
Interconnection

Interconnected smoke alarms may provide improved protection and offer more escape time in a fire. This type of smoke alarm allows all smoke alarms to sound if one has detected smoke. With interconnected smoke alarms, a fire in the basement, for example, will trigger the closest smoke alarm and alert all the occupants in the home by sounding all the smoke alarms. Not all homes have interconnected smoke alarms. Prior to 1989, existing homes typically had independent single-station, battery-only-powered smoke alarms. After 1989, new homes included hard-wired, interconnected smoke alarms.

Interconnected smoke alarms are typically connected using a wire, but newer wireless technology is available that allows smoke alarms to be interconnected without using wires. This allows easier and less costly upgrade to interconnected smoke alarms for older homes. Not all homes may need interconnected smoke alarms. Small, single-level homes may not benefit from interconnected smoke alarms because of the close proximity between smoke alarms.

Features on smoke alarms for your home:

* Depending on your home, smoke alarms can be powered in one of several ways.
o House wiring
o House wiring with battery back-up
o Replaceable batteries, such as 9 volts
o Sealed long life batteries; smoke alarms are disposed of after 10 years.
* Interconnected smoke alarms may offer quicker escape time and improved audibility.
o Hard-wired interconnected smoke alarms can be found in most homes built after 1989.
o Wireless interconnected smoke alarms are an alternative for older homes using single-station smoke alarms.

Which Smoke Alarm to Install?

Guide to selecting the smoke alarms to protect you and your family

Because both ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms are better at detecting distinctly different yet potentially fatal fires, and because homeowners cannot predict what type of fire might start in a home, use these guidelines to help best protect your family:
BEST

* IF YOU DON'T HAVE A SMOKE ALARM INSTALLED IN YOUR HOME, GET ONE AND INSTALL IT.
* Install a working smoke alarm on every level of the home, outside sleeping areas, and inside bedrooms.
* Install both ionization and photoelectric type smoke alarms.
* Install interconnected smoke alarms.
* Install smoke alarms using house wiring with battery back-up.

Better

* IF YOU DON'T HAVE A SMOKE ALARM INSTALLED IN YOUR HOME, GET ONE AND INSTALL IT.
* Install more than one smoke alarm.
* Install interconnected smoke alarms.
* Install smoke alarms with sealed 10 year batteries.

Good

* IF YOU DON'T HAVE A SMOKE ALARM INSTALLED IN YOUR HOME, GET ONE AND INSTALL IT.

Regular testing is the only way to make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test your smoke alarms once a month and installing more than one smoke alarm. If you test it less often and only have one smoke alarm, a non-working smoke alarm may leave you and your family unprotected.
A Fire Escape Plan May Save You and Your Family

Installing working smoke alarms is an essential, but they don't save lives unless everyone knows how to get out of the home safely. Make sure everyone knows how to escape when the smoke alarm sounds, whether awake or sleeping at the time. In your plan, have two ways out of each room, a prearranged meeting place outside and, most importantly, ONCE OUT – STAY OUT!

Minimizing the amount of time it takes to get out can improve your chances of surviving a hazardous home fire. Having a fire escape plan for you and your family can reduce the amount of time it takes to get out. Practicing the fire escape plan will help everyone understand what to do and where to meet.

Follow these steps when developing a fire escape plan for you and your family:

* Practice escaping from every room in the home.
* The best plans have two ways to get out of each room. If the primary way is blocked by fire or smoke, you will need a second way out.
* Practice the escape plan with your family during the day and at night. Children, older adults, and the hearing-impaired may sleep through a fire alarm or may need assistance in escaping.
* Designate a meeting location away from the home, but not necessarily across the street.
* For example, meet under a specific tree or at the end of the driveway or front sidewalk to make sure everyone has gotten out safely and no one will be hurt looking for someone who is already safe.
* Designate one person to go to a neighbor's home to phone the fire department.
* Practice the fire escape plan twice a year.

Safe Practices and Preventing a Fire in the Home

There are more than 300,000 residential fires a year. Working smoke alarms are a key factor in surviving a fire, but safe practices in the home are the first line of defense in preventing a fire from ever starting. Many residential fires and fire-related deaths are preventable. A fire can occur in anyone's home and does not discriminate against age, race, or education.

The type of structure and the furnishings in a home play key roles in the type and progression of fire. It is difficult to accurately predict the type of fire that might occur in your home, but some simple safety steps can help reduce the risk of fire and better protect your family.
Safety around cooking appliances

Cooking equipment accounts for the largest percentage of residential fires. Because of oils used these fires are most often flaming fires. However, normal cooking can also produce steam, smoke, and fumes that set off alarms. Disabling a smoke alarm to silence frequent nuisance alarms could be a fatal mistake. Instead, moving the smoke alarm farther away from the cooking appliance may help prevent nuisance alarms and still provide adequate detection of the small fast moving fires that occur in the kitchen.

Follow these steps to prevent cooking fires in the home:

* Always keep an eye on food being heated. Unattended cooking causes the majority of fires in the kitchen.
* If you leave the kitchen, set a timer to remind you that something is on the stove.
* Keep children away from appliances when cooking. Have a "kid-free zone" around the stove and teach youngsters not to play in that area.
* Roll-up sleeves or, if possible, wear short or tight fitting sleeves when cooking. Loose fitting clothing and sleeves can be dangerous near open flames.
* Try not to reach over the stove. You can avoid this by not storing items you use directly over or behind the stovetop.
* Turn handles inward so pots and pans won't be pulled or knocked off the stove.

Check heating and cooling equipment

Heating and cooling equipment fires constitute the second largest share of residential fires. Home heating equipment includes central heating units, portable and stationary space heaters, fireplaces, chimneys, and heat transfer systems, as well as some devices not used to heat living spaces, most notably water heaters.

Follow these steps to prevent heating and cooling appliance fires in the home:
* Have a professional technician inspect your heating, cooling, and water appliances annually.
* Have the fireplace chimney checked and cleaned routinely by a chimney "sweep" at least once a year.
* Do not leave a portable heater operating unattended or operating while sleeping. Portable electric air heaters are designed for use only as temporary supplemental heating and only while attended.
* Look for portable heaters that are listed by a nationally-recognized testing laboratory. These heaters have been tested to meet specific safety standards, and manufacturers are required to provide important use and care information to the consumer.

Check electrical cords and lighting

Electrical fires from wiring and lighting are the third leading cause of residential fires. Fire deaths are highest in winter months which call for more indoor activities and an increase in lighting, heating, and appliance use. Most electrical fires result from problems with installed wiring such as faulty electrical outlets and old wiring. Problems with cords and plugs, such as extension and appliance cords, also cause many home electrical fires.

Follow theses steps to prevent electrical fires in the home:
Electrical fire

* Do not use any electrical cord that is stiff or cracked. The insulation on electrical cords can become damaged by wear, flexing, or age.
* Inspect electrical cords for frayed wires, which can cause fires. Replace all worn, old or damaged cords immediately.
* Install additional receptacles where needed. Extension cords should never be used as a long-term solution to the need for installing additional receptacles.
* Never use damaged electrical cords. Cords can become damaged when run under rugs or furniture.
* Keep combustibles away from light bulbs. Light bulbs, especially halogen types, get very hot and can ignite combustible materials that get too close.
* Never place clothing or towels on top of a lampshade. Do not use table lamps without a shade where they might fall over onto a bed or sofa.
* Use the correct wattage bulb for the fixture. Most light fixtures are labeled to show the type of and highest wattage bulb that can be safely used in that fixture; too high a wattage bulb can cause the fixture to overheat and start a fire.

Safety around upholstered furniture and mattresses

Upholstered furniture and mattresses and bedding are the items first ignited and involved in the greatest numbers of fire deaths. These items are commonly ignited by open flame products (such as candles, cigarette lighters, and matches) or smoking materials (primarily cigarettes). Young children playing with matches and lighters are often involved in starting these fires and, unfortunately, are also their primary victims.
Follow these steps to prevent fires in the home:
* Keep matches and lighters out of the reach of young children.
* Exercise caution when using candles. Do not leave candles unattended or lit while sleeping.
* Candles should be kept away from combustibles. Extinguish candles when you leave the room. If power is out, consider using flashlights instead.
* Never smoke in bed and extinguish tobacco products when tired.
* Use an ash tray when smoking.

Warrant issued for Lindsay Lohan

vivi.daya85 (jerry-vivi daya) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 01:01:00 +0000

Beverly Hills, California, police want Lindsay Lohan to turn herself in on an arrest warrant issued Friday.

A police official told CNN on Saturday that officers will be on the lookout for the actress-singer until she does so.

It wasn't clear why Lohan was being sought, but the warrant, issued by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge in Beverly Hills, apparently stems from her 2007 convictions for drunken driving, Beverly Hills police Sgt. Mike Foxen said. She is serving three years' probation for those convictions.

"We're hoping that she will turn herself in," Foxen said.

Calls to Lohan's publicist and manager have not been returned.

Once arrested, Lohan, 22, could go free after posting a $50,000 bond, Foxen said.

Lohan was arrested twice in 2007 on driving under the influence charges, with a cocaine possession charge in the second incident.

The first arrest in May came after Lohan lost control of her Mercedes-Benz convertible and struck a Beverly Hills curb.

Just two weeks after checking out of a Malibu drug and alcohol rehab facility, she was arrested again in July 2007 after a woman called Santa Monica police saying Lohan was trying to run her down in a car.

A judge sentenced Lohan to three years' probation after she entered guilty and no-contest pleas to the charges. She served less than two hours in jail.

Lohan's acting career, which started at age 10 on a soap opera, took off on the big screen a year later when she played identical twins in Disney's "The Parent Trap."

Since then, she has starred in at least a dozen movies, including "Mean Girls" and "Georgia Rule" with Jane Fonda in 2007.

Her pop music recording career, boosted by her movie roles, has floundered. She last released an album in 2005

AIG's insistence on bonuses raises ire in Washington

vivi.daya85 (jerry-vivi daya) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 00:54:00 +0000

White House officials and some members of Congress reacted strongly Sunday to news that insurance giant AIG had intended to pay out $165 million in bonuses and compensation. The company has received at least $170 billion in federal bailout money.

Under pressure from the Treasury, AIG scaled back the bonus plans and pledged to reduce 2009 bonuses -- or "retention payments" -- by at least 30 percent. That did little to temper outrage at the initial plan, however.

In a letter Sunday to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold urged the Obama administration to explore "legal options" to prevent the millions in AIG payouts.

"I write to ask why any bonuses would be legally required, given the company's abysmal performance," says Feingold, D-Wisconsin.

Feingold asked whether the bonuses could be canceled or recouped from recipients, and whether the administration will sue AIG executives for breaching their duties to shareholders

"There are a lot of terrible things that have happened in the last 18 months, but what's happened at AIG is the most outrageous," Lawrence Summers, head of the National Economic Council, told ABC's "This Week."

"What that company did, the way it was not regulated, the way no one was watching, what's proved necessary, it is outrageous."

And on "Fox News Sunday," White House economic adviser Austan Goolsbee said Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner was "really upset by the news."

"He stepped in and berated them, got them to reduce the bonuses following every legal means he has to do this," Goolsbee said.

In a letter to Geithner, obtained Saturday by CNN, AIG Chairman and CEO Edward Liddy said his company was taking steps to limit compensation in AIG Financial Products -- the British-based unit responsible for issuing the risky credit default swaps that have brought the company to the brink of collapse. The default swaps amount to insurance against losses from bad loans, which have increased dramatically since the U.S. housing boom peaked.

In the letter to Geithner, Liddy said the unit's 25 highest-paid contract employees will reduce their salaries to $1 this year and all other officers in the unit will reduce their salaries by 10 percent. Other "non-cash compensation" will be reduced or eliminated. But he told Geithner that some bonus payments are binding legal obligations of the company, and "there are serious legal, as well as business consequences for not paying."

Rep. Barney Frank, the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, told Fox that bailout recipients should have to follow stricter compensation rules, and said Congress should look into whether the bonuses are "legally recoverable."

"We can't just violate legal obligations, I understand that," the Massachusetts Democrat said. "But I do want to find out at what point these legal obligations were incurred. Who said, and at what point, 'We're going to give these bonuses no matter what?' And I do think it's inappropriate for those people to stay in power at that company."

Frank said that if banks complain that the Obama administration has made things too tough, "They can give the money back. We made that easy."

Goolsbee said AIG was following "a policy that's really not sensible, is obviously going to ignite the ire of millions of people."

"We've done exactly what we can do to prevent this kind of thing from happening again," Goolsbee said. Summers told ABC that the administration was taking "every legal step possible to limit those bonuses."

Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tennessee, told "Fox News Sunday" he believes it's important to know whether the bonuses are actually commission payments for products sold by brokers, saying he would withhold judgment until that is clarified.

However, "I do think that these entities that are receiving government money, our money, I do think they have to play by a different set of rules," Corker said. Hopefully, those different rules will discourage companies from accepting bailout funds, he said.

Liddy, however, makes clear in the letter that he took steps to limit his employees' compensation with trepidation. He said the company will have trouble attracting and retaining "the best and the brightest ... if employees believe that their compensation is subject to continued and arbitrary adjustment by the U.S. Treasury."

AIG lost a record $62 billion in the fourth quarter of 2008. It has more than 74 million insurance policies issued in 130 countries around the world

Safety Controlling the forklift truck pollution

vivi.daya85 (jerry-vivi daya) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 01:03:00 +0000

LPG-burning forklift trucks account for more than 60 percent of all material handling vehicles and more than 80 percent of all internal combustion forklifts used worldwide, the adverse effects of occupational carbon monoxide (CO) exposure from the exhaust gases of propane and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)-fueled equipment and vehicles are well known. In principle, however, these LPG-fueled engines needn’t be a major source of CO exposure because complete combustion of fuel in the presence of an adequate oxygen supply will result in the formation of only carbon dioxide and water. However, an insufficient amount of oxygen will cause incomplete combustion of fuel and allow the formation of CO and carbon particulate (soot).

Adjusting the air and fuel mixture can control engine CO exhaust emissions in the exhaust, as well as ensuring proper engine power and fuel consumption. At the ideal air-fuel ratio, the CO concentration in the exhaust gas of an LPG-fueled engine will be as little as 0.4 percent (4,000 ppm), an amount that may cause little concern if a reasonable amount of dilution ventilation is present.

However, if the amount of air in the mixture is only 90 percent of ideal (what is called a “rich” mixture), the CO concentration will go up by more than a factor of 10 (44,000 ppm). Proper engine tune-ups are thus critical to ensure the exhaust gas isn’t spewing out an excessive amount of CO. Unfortunately, though, the tune-up process doesn’t often include measurement of the actual CO emissions, and tune-up technicians may not be trained to properly measure CO even if they are required to do so. The tune-up adjustments may therefore be set for greater power rather than minimal CO emission.

Field study
A field study to assess the process and effect of forklift engine tune-ups was conducted in an operational warehouse with CO exposure from five LPG-powered forklifts. The majority of forklift operation in the facility, where it typically occurs Monday through Friday beginning at 8 a.m. and ending at 4:30 p.m. The warehouse (121,000 square feet) is operated primarily as a storage and transfer facility for the shipment of bulk pallets of industrial products. There are 14 dock doors that provide tractor-trailer access for the loading and unloading of palletized consumer materials, and each dock door is manually closed when the dock door is not being used to access a trailer. The warehouse does not have a mechanical ventilation system, but there are 32 passive skylight vents in the warehouse roof. The forklifts are equipped with electronic emission and fuel computer modules to provide desired air-fuel ratios by continuous, active control of the fuel power valve, fuel injection system, and emissions sensors. The study forklifts were purchased as new models three years before the study and undergo tune-up and maintenance on a monthly basis by trained technicians. However, the tune-up process at this facility did not customarily include measurement of the CO emissions, as is typical for most forklift tune-ups.

Before a tune-up, CO measurements were made in the exhaust gas of each of the five forklifts using both colorimetric (detector) tubes and a non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) gas analyzer and a commercially available tailpipe probe to sample and cool the exhaust gases directly from the tailpipe. The exhaust gas CO concentration averaged 5.0 percent for the five forklifts before the tune-up (range 3 to 7 percent), even though these were up-to-date engines that were regularly tuned. Both measurement methods gave the same results, but the NDIR analyzer was much easier and faster to use. It also required less operator care to ensure accurate results, though periodic calibration is necessary.

During the tune-up, the technician used the NDIR analyzer to aid in adjustment of the air-fuel ratio in a much more precise way than the customary process. At the end of the tune-up, the CO concentration in the exhaust averaged only 0.82 percent (range 0.7-0.9 percent), a reduction of more than 80 percent from the original concentration. The emissions control system of the forklifts was found to maintain the same CO output at all engine speeds from idle to full power. Efforts to use detector tubes to aid in the engine adjustment were unsatisfactory due to the length of time required for a measurement with a single tube. However, they were entirely suitable for an assessment of the CO emission either before or after the tune-up. The detector tubes also were used to sample at a location 1 foot behind the tailpipe opening, to simulate the situation in which a tailpipe probe is not available. Because of the dilution of the exhaust gas with the surrounding air, the measured concentrations were much lower, with an average of 0.4 percent (range 0.25 to 0.55 percent) CO before the tune-up. Without correction, this sort of measurement would give a very misleading estimate of the exhaust emissions.

However, the ratio between the in-tailpipe readings and the behind-tailpipe readings was quite consistent for the five forklifts (average 12.4, range 11.4 to 13.3). If no tailpipe probe had been available in this case, multiplying the measurements 1 foot behind the tailpipe by a correction factor of 12 would have given acceptable estimates of the true exhaust gas concentrations (within ± 10 percent of the true reading for all five forklifts).

Before and after tune-up of the forklift engines, breathing zone and area air samples for CO were also collected in the warehouse and adjacent spaces. Eight-hour time weighted average samples for two forklift operators and two helpers averaged 25.5 ppm before the tune-up and 10.3 ppm afterward; stationary samples at three locations scattered around the warehouse decreased from an average of 17.7 ppm to 8.7 ppm; and area samples collected in work areas attached to the warehouse (employee break room, manager’s office, reception) decreased from 10.7 ppm to 4.3 ppm. These reductions of CO concentration ranged from 51 to 60 percenta substantial improvement, though less than the 82 percent decrease in the exhaust gas CO emission.

Conclusions
Tune-ups of LPG (or propane)-powered forklifts using CO measurement are an effective way to reduce worker exposure when the forklifts are used in occupied spaces. Of course, even this precaution may not be sufficient under conditions of minimal dilution ventilation. Electric-powered forklifts or improved ventilation may be needed in those cases for control of the hazard.