Gadget and Mobile Phone

Samsung NC10-11PBK 10.2-Inch Netbook

2009-07-23T03:01:00.000-07:00

Black Edition Product Features
* 5900mAh 6 cell high capacity battery giving up to 9 hours and 40 minutes of continuous run-time, touch pad larger than other models
* 10.2-inch Wide, 1024 x 600 WSVGA , 220 nits
* Intel Atom processor N270, 1.6 GHz, 533 MHz Front Side Bus, 512 KB Level 2 Cache
* 160 GB, 2.5-inch HD, 1 GB DDR2 800 MHz
* Intel 945GSE shared, 802.11 b/g WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR, 10/100 BaseTX LAN

Acer Aspire AS5515-5187 Notebook

2009-07-23T03:00:00.002-07:00

Specifications HT Mobile 32 | Mobile Phone

2009-07-23T03:00:00.001-07:00

HT Mobile 32

Peel 'BarackBerry', Special BlackBerry Obama

2009-05-15T07:11:00.003-07:00

Saking terrible BlackBerry (BB), up-to make Barack Obama President of the U.S. indirectly 'promote' the product. For, it includes a user-intensive and BB terbantu by many devices are in communication during the campaign. So when you want to be separated from the BB tercintanya, the resistance to the president directly.

In fact the office staff is not excessive because the presidency to President of the United States level, using a BB for official communication affairs office (United States President) is very dangerous. One of the things that ditakuti is the property of BB GPS Obama will give the exact coordinates where she is and this will help those who intend evil to it.

As described previously, including the BB device is actually a more secure compared to other smartphone because of the network provider, it has its own proprietary network. But this only applies if the user and not the people with the essential data communication is important and diincar.

If we can smartphone ibaratkan as cars that can protect users from the mine because the nails have been using tubeless tires, the BlackBerry can diibaratkan with a special car with run flat tire technology. So even though mine is exposed to specific tubeless tires keep the car stable running speed up to 80 KM per hour.

But President Obama needs more than that, other than the run flat tire, Obama also need antipeluru car and the car because antibom threat for far more than the layman. Similarly with the property Blackberry Obama, even though the network is equipped with exclusive and special from the Rim to Rim BlackBerry President Obama also provide additional encryption, this is still not considered safe by NSA (National Security Agency), cryptography government agency that specializes protect information U.S. vital.

This is believed to correct because a famous hacker, Kevin Mitnick is not directly reveal is a strategic step to solve the password protector (encryption) BlackBerry Obama has been strengthened with the encryption ganda. If you talk to solve the most complicated encryption though, in Russian group of hackers in time not too long akan successfully to find ways to find out important information that is sent encrypted by the first black President of the USA.

Not to speak of the other countries concerned that have funds and resources that can be said is not limited to password encryption code to solve this, because in principle there is no encryption is safe in this world and only a problem of time and resources just to solve a complex encryption.

This was in World War II, where the associate works to solve Enigma encryption owned by German intelligence and Purple used by the armed forces Dai Nippon. Therefore, NSA recommended device replacement for President Obama BB produced by General Dynamics, Sectera Edge. Communication device which 'claimed' most secure in the world (at this time) because it has been certified by NSA.

Sectera Edge alias' BarackBerry '

Sectera Edge is a communication device that has been certified by NSA to be so trusted for BB in the communications Obama presidency. One of the key security Sectera Edge network because this is the use of SIPRnet (Secret Internet Protocol Router Network) and does not separate combined with other conventional communications network.

Sectera Edge can use three modules of communication that is Wi-Fi, GSM and CDMA. In addition, it has a superior resistance to dust, water resistant (both rain water and get into the ditch tercebur), resistance to change and extreme weather resistant shocks where if fell from a height of 4 feet to the surface is still hard to function properly.

A quite surprising, Sectera Edge uses Microsoft Windows Mobile OS is included in Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Windows Media Player. Although the computer in the world 'om its' aka the Windows Mobile operating system is Windows is the virus most often attacked, but in the cellular world was the most attacked virus that is the Symbian operating system and take advantage of spreading the majority of Bluetooth and memory card.

This is a logical consequence of the operating system where most tempt the virus is not pointing at one particular brand, but the operating system the most popular because the virus will be zero in the number of potential victims the most.

Need to be confirmed again that this Sectera Edge diplesetkan although often as a 'BarrackBerry', apparently does not have any relationship with the BlackBerry. Blackberry Rim besutan is a product of Canada with the Blackberry operating system, while the product is Sectera Edge General Dynamics, a military contractor United States government is using the Windows Mobile operating system.

Secure Talk

Proportionate security with convenience inverted, so that should be received by the user Sectera Edge. In addition to the large size and clog-like, and so remain firm can still function even if already used to throw the head villain, not any communication equipment can be connected to the Sectera Edge.

For example, because the voice data is encrypted, so to listen to the voice is talking opponents also have to use the device that can mendekripsi data that has been encrypted. So the opponent must use talking Sectera Edge GSM compatible phone or regular phone that has the ability decryption of encrypted conversations Sectera Edge.

This feature is called Secure Talk. In theory, how to know the data is encrypted with key dekripsinya and the possibility that diincar by key stakeholders in the security technology is Sectera Edge Talk Secure this (both software and hardware).

In addition, there is one thing that does not mengenakkan for Obama to use this Sectera Edge, bandwidth SIPRnet kept strictly by the United States Department of Defense, where all communication data monitored by a number of the board of supervisors on duty, filter and measure the level of security of data flow.

Imagine such as film'24 ', what if this is the board of supervisors who successfully disusupi, such as what encryption secanggih akan also useless. Back security law valid, terlemah point in the implementation of security is a human. (Source: Detiknet)

BlackBerry is not the triumph will last up to three years?

2009-05-15T07:11:00.001-07:00

BlackBerry excited market probably has not been making Smart (one of the vendors in Indonesia) to provide a CDMA BlackBerry.

"For the BlackBerry, has not. Meanwhile, we still want to mengedukasi customer service data with the Smart," said Charles Sitorus, Chief Sales Officer of Smart Telecom, some time ago.

According to Charles, the use of the BlackBerry community was still not optimal. Meanwhile, said Charles, BlackBerry only alternative entertainment to be cheaper, for facebook's, Yahoo Messenger, and Internet browsing.

"Characteristics of users tend to consumerism, the BB just to complete the elements of lifestyle, gayaan-style," said Charles.

According to Charles, his side have not yet calculated how big the market BlackBerry CDMA. "we do not know. Please do the analysis first. What is needed or not the market? Sustain or not in the long term? If not, what make?" said Charles.

According to Charles predicted, akan booming BlackBerry does not survive until the next three years. Pasti akan pop other players who can compete with the BlackBerry, with a service that is not less complete and interesting.

Moreover, Charles added, after the presence of WiMAX in Indonesia. "The availability of the wide access to data. When the WiMAX network is ready, people will find the handset Featured more complete, there is Wi-Fi features, and much better rather than BB. (Source: Vivanews)

Fennec Beta 1 Release Notes

2009-04-05T05:02:00.001-07:00

This is the twelfth development milestone and the first beta release of the mobile version of Firefox, for testing purposes only, intended to:

* get wider feedback on our approach to the user experience
* engage Mozilla community teams, including localizers, and testers
* get feedback from Web developers
* encourage add-on developers to port existing add-ons and invent new ones for mobile

The initial focus of Fennec development was on building a new user experience that reflects Firefox's design principles, adding touch screen support and other interactions appropriate for mobile phones and other handheld devices, while preserving leading features like the Smart URL Bar ("awesome bar") and support for add-ons.

For beta 1, we continued to focus on performance and responsiveness. TraceMonkey, Mozilla's new JavaScript engine, is now included in Fennec, greatly improving performance. Many other performance improvements were made to panning, zooming, responsiveness and application start-up, some of which are listed below.

To help out, visit the Mozilla mobile page to learn about our public weekly meetings, how to find our community on IRC, and more.

These Release Notes provide a "quick start" for the impatient, some highlights of what's included in this version, download and installation instructions, known issues, and frequently asked questions. Please read these notes and the bug filing instructions before reporting bugs to Bugzilla.
Quick start

This release is available for the OS2008 ("Maemo") software platforms that runs on the Nokia N810 Internet Tablets. If you're viewing this on an N810, install Fennec.

Don't have an N810? Don't worry, you can still experiment with Fennec, provide feedback, write add-ons, and get involved by installing a version of Fennec for your desktop PC:

* Windows
* Mac OS X
* Linux

The idea behind releasing the package for PCs is to give people who don't have a Nokia Internet Tablet the ability to localize, experiment and build add-ons. Note: The desktop version of Fennec is not a supported product.
What's in this version?

New for Beta 1:

* TraceMonkey, Mozilla's new JavaScript engine
* Faster application start-up time
* Faster panning
* Faster zooming
* Initial implementation of bookmark folders and bookmark editing
* Support for plug-ins

This builds upon the feature set of the alpha releases:

Easy navigation to Web content:

* Bookmarks, including tags
* Smart URL bar ("awesome bar")
* Tabbed browsing with thumbnail images
* Integrated Web search - built into the URL bar
* Easy access to multiple search engines

Web content:

* Maximize content by auto-hiding controls and URL bar
* Zoom in and out

Security:

* Instant Web site ID ("Larry")
* Password manager
* Popup blocker
* Clear private data

Devices services integration:

* Click on a phone number to initiate a call
* JavaScript API to get device location

Also:

* Searchable download manager
* Preferences pane
* Add-ons manager, including ability to directly find and install add-ons

Installing Fennec

System requirements:

* Nokia N810 Internet Tablet running OS2008 ("chinook" or "diablo")

Installation:

* If you're viewing this on an N810, click here to install Fennec
* Read here for step by step instructions

Install a version of Fennec for your desktop PC:

* Windows
* Mac OS X
* Linux

Tips and tricks

* to use the full screen for browsing, click the button on the left hand side on top of the device (to the left of the -/+ buttons)
* swipe left to expose back/forward/bookmark buttons and the URL bar; swipe right to dismiss them
* swipe right to expose tabs; swipe left to dismiss them

Known issues

* Bug 458741: Allow panning/scrolling in iframes - Websites that display large amounts of content in IFrames, including Google Mail and Reader, will be very hard, if not impossible, to use.
* Plugins may not work in some of the desktop builds.

Give us feedback

* Comment in our newsgroup
* File bugs in Bugzilla. Read these instructions first.

BlackBerry Curve 8900 review: Curved right

2009-03-27T04:15:00.001-07:00

The sharp and compact BlackBerry Curve 8900 spells business and oozes with class. Easily the hottest looker in the Curve lineup - and possibly portfolio-wide - earns much respect as a massive functionality upgrade over its predecessors.

The distinct insider kind of charm of the BlackBerry handsets phases out into history as RIM are trying to take on the world and competitors with a new design language. OK, baptizing new converts was the Storm's job while the Curve 8900 seems the right stuff to inspire upgraders. Either way, we're happy to extend our BlackBerry streak and put the latest Curve through its paces.

BlackBerry Curve 8900 official photos

Key features:

2.4" 65K-color TFT landscape display with a resolution of 480 x 360 pixels
Comfortable four-row full QWERTY keyboard
Quad-band GSM support
Wi-Fi
BlackBerry OS v4.6
Trackball navigation
Built-in GPS and BlackBerry maps preloaded
3.15 MP autofocus camera, LED flash
512 MHz CPU, 256 MB RAM
Hot-swappable microSD card slot
Good build quality
DivX and XviD video support
Compact body
Good web browser
3.5 mm audio jack
Nice audio quality
Smart dialing

Main disadvantages:

No 3G
No email support without BlackBerry Internet Service account
Mediocre camera
No FM radio

T-Mobile G1 review: The whole cagoogleT-Mobile G1 review: The whole cagoogle

2009-03-27T04:13:00.000-07:00

The T-Mobile G1 is the Googlephone. Did we really need to say that? Well, there's more Google in this story than there is phone, so we guess we did. We've got a new contender on the race track but we're talking no rookie here. If you thought Apple made the phone game breathtaking, think of where it's all heading with Google keen to play along. Unlike the iPhone Mac OS X, the Android is the joint effort of the whole Open Handset Alliance, which brings together makers that sure know the drill. So much for the rookie, as long as Google is siding with Asus, HTC, LG, Garmin, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Toshiba.

But well, that's the bigger story. We have the first chapter right here, and it's called the T-Mobile G1 or HTC Dream if you prefer. The first impression sure is important. So, there we go.

T-Mobile G1 official photos

T-Mobile G1 or to be also released as HTC Dream might not have the specs to make a geek's heart melt but we guess the Android OS was still gonna draw drool even if it came tossed in a plastic bag or wrapped in newspaper. So, forget about the peculiar form factor, the full QWERTY keyboard, the large and crisp touchscreen and the anti-utopian design. Android's inside and google is the limit.

Key features:

Android OS
3.2" capacitive touchscreen display of HVGA resolution
Slide-out five-row full QWERTY keyboard
Qualcomm MSM 7201A 528 MHz CPU, 192 MB RAM
Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support
3G with HSDPA 7.2 Mbps and HSUPA 2Mbps
3.15 megapixel autofocus camera
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
GPS
Trackball
Accelerometer sensor
Digital compass

Main disadvantages:

Quite unassuming looks
Pretty bulky and heavy
The slider mechanism rattles
No secondary videocall camera
No video recording
No flash support in the web browser
No file transfers or A2DP over Bluetooth
No FM radio
No screen auto rotation

NOKIA E71

2009-03-01T05:06:00.001-08:00

Smartphone comes in a stylish solid casing which is available in either a white steel coloured casing or a grey steel coloured casing. The style of the handset is solid & slim with a full QWERTY keyboard situated below the high resolution screen. The overall size of the casing is very slim for a 3G Smartphone which measures 10mm in depth, 57mm in width by 114mm in height & its overall weight is 127 grams. The screen is large which measures 2.3 Inches when measures diagonally & provides up to 16 million colours on a QVGA type display. Below the screen the user will find a Navi™ key for smoothly navigating through menus & the full QWERTY keyboard for an easy to use text input method. The E71 comes with a handset lock feature & a remote lock to prevent the user activating any buttons when the handset is not in use.

The Nokia E71 works on a Symbian operating system version 9.2 complete with series 60 software version 3.1. The Smartphone comes with a built in A GPS navigation system which supports Nokia maps for easy to following navigation maps. The user can enjoy high speed Internet connectivity & Internet features on this Internet focused Smartphone which allows the user to browse the Web like they would do on their home or office PC. The E71 supports XHTML & HTML Web browsing complete with a Nokia mini maps feature. The 3G Smartphone comes with easy to use call features which allows the user to enjoy a conference call with up to six contacts at a time, a hands free call over the handsets loud speaker system or a voice over IP call over the Internet. A built in phone book allows the user to store contacts details complete with an image. The user can store all their contacts numbers & information in one place which allows the user to manage their contacts easily. The handset comes with everyday call features such as call divert, call hold, call timer & a call waiting feature. A built in calendar feature on the Nokia E71 allows the user to plan events & meeting easily to stay on top of arrangements & commitments. The E71 comes with an alarm clock function & a clock which can be displayed in either analogue or digital format.

The standby times vary on the handset depending on the user's network selection but the user can enjoy up to 408 hours of GSM standby time from a fully charged battery. The Nokia E71 is a 3G HSDPA technology handset which allows the user to experience high speed Internet & connectivity on this highly capable 3G Smartphone. The handset supports popular connectivity options which include a USB cabled connection, Bluetooth® wireless connectivity & an infra red connection. The user can connect their 3G Smartphone to other compatible devices using a connectivity method to suit the user's needs. The Nokia E71 supports WLAN Wi-Fi technology which allows the use to connect to either a local WLAN or hotspot to enjoy a wireless connection to the Internet. The handset comes with 110 megabytes of built in memory & has a memory card expansion slot which supports up to 8 gigabytes of external memory. The user can enjoy roaming Worldwide with their new 3G Smartphone as the phone covers four GSM networks & WCDMA but the coverage is dependent on the users chosen network provider.

A built in 3.2 megapixel digital camera function allows the user to enjoy capturing still images with the help of many high quality camera & imaging features. The camera comes with a built in auto focus feature, LED flash, CMOS sensor & a digital zoom. The user can change many settings to suit their imaging needs allowing the user to gain the best possible finish when taking a picture. The Smartphone comes with a flash mode features with automatic, on, off & red eye settings, capture modes which include a still, sequence, self timer & video settings. The camera also works as a video recorder which allows the user to capture moving video footage on their handset. The video recorder comes with a digital video zoom which allows the user to get up closer to their subject & comes with many settings & features to ensure a quality video recording is captured every time. The user can also enjoy playing videos & streaming videos on the Nokia E71 on the high resolution screen for a DVD quality viewing experience.

An integrated music player allows the user to enjoy downloading, transferring & playing music in many popular music formats. The E71 supports MP3, WMA, AAC, AAC+ & eAAC+ music playback formats & the handset provides a high quality sound experience for the user to enjoy from their mobile Smartphone. The user can record music & sound using the built in sound recorder. The user can enjoy tuning into their favourite radio station on the built in radio feature to enjoy a new listening experience. The Nokia E71 supports video ringing tones & MP3 type ringtones which the user can change to suit their taste & style. The 3G Smartphone comes with easy to use messaging services which allow the user to communicate with others via email, text message, multimedia message as well as making a call. The email service on the E71 supports email attachments & provides the user with a mobile service similar to the emails service on the user's home or office PC. The user can use the built in text to speech message reader to hear their messages out loud over the handsets speakers. The Nokia E71 is a slim & stylish 3G Smartphone packed full of easy to use communication & entertainment features & will keep the user on the move organised.

Reviews MWC 2009: LG overview

2009-02-18T05:09:00.002-08:00

The LG booth is definitely one of the must-sees on this year's Mobile World Congress. The crowd that it gathers is hardly a surprise, considering that the Korean company announced a number of rather hot devices. The main star at the booth is our namesake - the LG KM900 Arena. Running on the brand new S class interface the handset really promises an unprecedented user experience and loads of eye candy throughout the menu.

LG also announced quite a large pack of handsets at the start of the Mobile World Congress. While none of them manages to outdo the LG KM900 Arena which was officially unveiled last week there certainly are some interesting names.

As part of a demo at the LG press conference, LG CEO Scott Ahn videocalled Microsoft's CEO Steve Ballmer on his LG GD910 wristwatch phone. The answer for what the CEO of Microsoft might want in exchange for such a favor came a while later - LG promised to release no less than 50 phones running on the Microsoft OS until 2012.

The first step to fulfilling that promise is the announcement of LG GM730 - a slim WinMo-running handset. The fully touch-operated GM730 comes with a 3" WQVGA screen, A-GPS, Wi-Fi and a 5 megapixel camera. USB and Bluetooth connectivity are also on board and the device still manages to fit within 11.9mm of thickness.

LG GM730 runs WinMo 6.1 Professional with a touch of S class UI

LG GD900 Crystal is definitely the most interesting handset of the bunch, offering an unprecedented see-through keypad. The manufacturer is refusing to reveal most of its specifications, which suggests it's yet in a very early stage of development. The fact that it was only displayed behind a glass at the LG booth also kinda confirms that. We were quite disappointed about that since we are as eager as you to see what a transparent phone fells like (or at least what it's like to have a look through one). Well, we guess we will have to wait a little longer for that. The phone should be released in May so it shouldn't be too much of a wait.

LG GD900 wasn't available at the booth

Yet another disappointment for us was the pretty limited information about the 8 megapixel LG GC900. The handset was there for everyone to see alright, but was only displayed behind a window and only a small portion of its specifications was officially confirmed. Obviously LG are now focusing the whole attention to the S class UI and the KM900 Arena while the other exciting announcement will be kept for later.

The slider LG KT770 runs on Symbian S60 3rd edition UI and comes with FP2 preinstalled. It offers a 5 megapixel camera, a 2.8" WQVGA screen, and 3G with HSDPA connectivity. The internal memory will be 1 or 2 GB and is expandable through the microSD card slot.

LG KT770 offers Symbian S60 3rd edition UI

LG also announced their eco-friendly phone (still unnamed) that has a solar panel at the back for charging its battery. It is yet another handset displayed only behind a glass at their MWC 2009 booth.

LG solar-powered phone

Finally LG announced a bunch of low- and lower-mid-range phones, designed to suit the needs of the emerging markets and the users on a tight budget. You can check out their specifications here.

So completing the list of official announcements we move on to exploring the handsets ourselves. The LG KM900 Arena was quite naturally topping our priority list so once we set foot in the booth we started looking for a sample good enough for a brief hands-on.

First things first - the LG KM900 Arena was the handset that deserved the most attention so once we got to the booth we went straight off to exploring its secrets. And boy, were we impressed with how the device performed. Even at those pre-release stages the interface was really fluid and snappy, even with the huge amount of eye-candy offered.

LG KM900 Arena

Frankly, we haven't been this impressed with a touchscqreen UI since Apple had its iPhone, but this time we're talking serious firepower. The 3-inch WVGA capacitive touchscreen is amazingly sensitive and the hardware graphics acceleration is easily noticed. There was no lagging or holdups when browsing the menus and the all the animations and transition effects ran as smoothly as one can expect them to.

Here are the photos of the LG KM900 Arena that we managed to snap at the booth. The phone is pretty nice looking with the resemblance to Samsung i900 Omnia not as distinct as one can expect, looking at the official photos.

The LG KM900 Arena really managed to impress us

Apparently there are several ways of finding your way around the phone's menu. You can either drag your finger across the screen to rotate a small cube or select one of it sides to maximize it and than rotate it in full size.

Undoubtedly, both of those navigation methods bear some resemblance to the early HTC TouchFLO UI but with the colorful icons look a whole lot prettier.

Here is a short video demonstration of the LG KM900 Arena S class UI. It should give you the basic idea of how hot it looks and how it performs.

The LG KM900 Arena left us with excellent first impressions and we simply cannot wait to get a sample for an in-depth review. You have our word that once we get back to our office we will be doing our best to provide you with a review of what seems to be one of the hit mobiles of the MWC 2009.

LG Renoir back in black as KC910i, gets an overhaul

2009-02-18T05:09:00.001-08:00

Just in time for Pierre-Auguste Renoir's anniversary (born on February 25, 1841) LG unveil an update of their own Renoir, which also goes by the less inspired name of LG KC910. It won't be much of a spoiler to say that a Renoir is only supposed to grow in value over time.

It's important to note though that the black LG Renoir is not a new model, but just a facelift of the original KC910 and both versions will be available concurrently (possibly in different markets).

The newcomer is still officially called LG KC910 Renoir at many sources but at the LG booth at MWC 2009 it was labeled as LG KC910i, so we'll stick to that to avoid confusion.

The most obvious differences are that the LG KC910i Renoir is now all black and has lost the mechanical camera lens cover. In hand, one can't help but notice that it is also slightly thicker - perhaps the same reason why the camera lens doesn't stick out that much now.

The mechanical cover is not the only change in the imaging department. The camera interface has been revamped. It's all new and improved and fixes a little nuisance of the old version - it no longer crops part of the image in the viewfinder so what you frame is what you get.

LG KC910i Renoir

Here's a quick refresh on the specs of the Renoir. It's a full-touchscreen cameraphone with an 8 megapixel autofocus shooter and xenon flash. The camera captures VGA video at 30 fps and can go up to 120 fps in QVGA resolution. Videos are DivX encoded and there's support for playback of DivX /XviD video. The microSD card slot accepts 16gB cards easily plus there's TV-out functionality and a basic document viewer. HSDPA, Wi-Fi and GPS are also included, which means the phone is quite keen to answer most user needs.

The LG KC910i Renoir will be available pretty much throughout the whole world except for the USA and unlike the original Renoir, the LG KC910i will have only a tri-band GSM version.

LG KM900 Arena multimedia powerhouse is as official as it gets

2009-02-09T02:10:00.000-08:00

After a couple of leaks last week, it finally came time for LG to step up and officially unveil the KM900 Arena fully touch-operated handset. With a spanking new user interface our namesake seems destined to join the LG KC910 Renoir at the top of the line of multimedia handsets by the Korean company.

Peculiarly enough the official announcement brings less details about the phone than the leaks we witnessed just a few days ago. The company has chosen to keep the rest of its secrets for the World Mobile Congress, which starts next week in Barcelona.

What is certain for now is that the LG KM900 Arena sports GPS, Wi-Fi and the sweet 7.2 Mbps HSDPA. DivX and XviD support are also onboard and the new 3D interface, daringly dubbed S-Class, features some kind of rotating cube, much like the first implementation of the HTC-made TouchFLO UI.

While that is as far as official info goes, the info leaks of last week have revealed much more details about the handset. Seeing how accurate they have turned so far we see no reason to doubt them. That means that the LG KM900 Arena will come with an impressive 3" 262K color WVGA (800x480 pixels) touchscreen display. A 5 megapixel snapper will also be included and the handset is said to be able to record "DVD-quality" videos. We just hope this time LG got the frame rate right on that sweet D1 resolution.

The LG KM900 Arena will stand at 105.9 x 55.3 x 11.95mm and will weigh 105 grams, which are both quite acceptable considering the specifications.

Unfortunately there is no information about the availability or the pricing of the LG Arena ye

LG KF900 Prada review: Messenger wears Prada

2009-02-03T04:00:00.001-08:00

For the original LG Prada the best way to travel in style was to travel light. But this time around it's carrying a full QWERTY suitcase packed with goodies. Top of the line functionality and an updated interface sound just the right kind of luggage to us. But good enough won't do if it's not glam enough. The new LG KF900 Prada may seem like the missing link between the techie high end and exclusive fashionware. But will HSDPA, Wi-Fi, QWERTY and DivX ring the right bell with the target audience?

Last week we saw Samsung ride on the Emporio Armani youth appeal and now we're back by the catwalk with the more moderate, perhaps even conservative, but nonetheless attractive, new Prada phone by LG.

Official photos of LG KF900 Prada

And we've got loads to cover. Are the changed form factor and the QWERTY keyboard likely to backfire, and will performance ever be make or break for the fashion savvy? Rarely has a designer package promised so much action, so let's roll.

Key features:

3-inch 262K-color capacitive touchscreen display of WQVGA resolution
Comfortable QWERTY keyboard
5 megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash
D1 (720x480) resolution video recording at 30fps
Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support
Dual band 3G with HSDPA support
Wi-Fi
Responsive Flash-based interface with multi-touch support
Bluetooth v2.1 with A2DP and USB v2.0
Stylish and generous retail package
microSD memory card slot (verified to work with 16GB cards)
FM radio with RDS
Accelerometer sensor for screen auto rotate
TV-out
Office document viewer
DivX video support
Fashion-related content preloaded

Main disadvantages:

Two-year-old design
The large waistline doesn't match the fashionable image (but is OK for a QWERTY messenger)
Plastic build
No GPS (LG Renoir has it)
No XviD video support (LG Renoir has it)
Multi-touch has rather limited use
No Flash support in the web browser
Video recording is a letdown
High cost-to-features ratio (but OK for a premium fashion handset)

It was about time the first Prada phone by LG got an update, no doubt about that. Data transfers, connectivity, multimedia and user interface upgrades are spot on, but a hardware QWERTY keyboard was hardly essential. It's the Prada phone after all, and it probably needs all those buttons as much as the Sonim rugged phones need a Dolce & Gabbana carrying case.

Oh well, all-in-one QWERTY touchscreens are obviously the new black. Or so the LG KF900 Prada believes. Keen to find a niche within the niche, it lands right in the middle of not so friendly smartphone crowd. It's got the features to stand up to the XPERIA, HTC and the likes but it's kinda hard to imagine the ruthless WinMo machine melting with pity for the adorable, helpless, irresistible Prada.

Anyway, we think we'd be better off skipping our traditional round of window shopping this time. After all comparing the Prada to the smart messengers running Symbian or Windows Mobile will be irrelevant and unfair. There will be of course references to equally equipped messengers as we go, for both performance and looks, but that will be all.

Meet the new Prada

We couldn't find any other handset willing to embrace the LG KF900 Prada concept. The QWERTY touchscreen all-in-one segment is a small niche to begin with, and the haute-couture label narrows it down even further. The new Prada phone by LG finds itself in a difficult position so let's see if it's got what it takes to make the best of it.

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1

2009-01-31T03:07:00.001-08:00

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1

There's a lot to fall for in Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1. Possibly the hottest looker of a PocketPC is also heavy on skill. Heavy enough to not just scratch out a living as a one-hit-wonder but aim for the WinMo top.

The extra solid metal looks, gorgeous screen and the right pinch of novelty called XPERIA panels look to us as good enough reasons for the X1 to be hyped and romanticized. By the way, romance or not, Sony Ericsson and HTC have hit their perfect shape with that one.

The XPERIA X1 is surely the most eagerly anticipated device in the world of Windows Mobile. Getting our review out was surely quite a wait too, we know. Better late than ever, as some folks say. We'll still have our say 'cause for the XPERIA it's a load of high expectations to live up to.

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 official photos

Key features:

Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support plus HSDPA 7.2Mbps
3-inch 65K-color WVGA touchscreen
Qualcomm MSM7200 528 Mhz CPU and 256 MB DDR SDRAM
3.15 MP auto focus camera with VGA video recording
Four-row full QWERTY slide-out keyboard
Wi-Fi and built-in GPS receiver with A-GPS
X-Panels interface
Optical trackpad
Exquisite and solid metallic body
Standard miniUSB port and Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP
microSD memory expansion
FM radio with RDS
3.5mm standard audio jack
MS Office Mobile document editor
Opera 9.5 web browser
Excellent video playback performance
Superb audio quality

Main disadvantages:

Body is a bit on the bulky side
User interface is hardly thumb-optimized
Mediocre camera performance
No built-in accelerometer
Poor display sunlight legibility
Records low quality VGA@30fps video in 3GP format
No TV-out port
No full Flash support for the browser (hence no full-featured YouTube)

The XPERIA X1 is one of the best-equipped Windows Mobile devices to ever set foot on the market. But hey, is it not the most elaborate and charismatic PocketPC too? As to skills, the high-res 3" screen and the full QWERTY keyboard seem the most important parts of its magnificent ammo though its processing power is not to be neglected either.

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 in our office

Many devices find their identity in standing up to a rival. The XPERIA though is fatefully bound to always have one foot on alien ground. The haunting name for the X1 is HTC - manufacturer and main competitor.

As you probably guessed by yourselves the main alternative to the XPERIA X1 is HTC Touch Pro. It has a smaller screen than the XPERIA X1 and features a slightly lower resolution. In addition it is heavier and, if we were to be asked, not nearly as hot as the XPERIA.

However, the QWERTY keyboard of the Touch Pro is well ahead of what the X1 has to offer. The Touch Pro accelerometer and active magnetic stylus are small but nice touches that add to its allure. There are other advantages too, but we'll try to list them in the dedicated chapter of this review.

HTC Touch Pro

Furthermore, the Touch Pro had a nice two-month advantage since it hit the shelves back in August and this could be quite decisive for the sales. After all two months is quite a long time in the world of mobile phones, isn't it?

Let's not waste any more time now and get rolling with the actual review of Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1. Unboxing is this little jump ahead.

LG KF900 Prada review: Messenger wears Prada

2009-01-30T01:11:00.001-08:00

Reviews

LG KF900 Prada review: Messenger wears Prada

GSMArena team, 27 January 2009.

Pages: 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 »

Tags: LG, Touch UI

Official photos of LG KF900 Prada

Key features:

3-inch 262K-color capacitive touchscreen display of WQVGA resolution
Comfortable QWERTY keyboard
5 megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash
D1 (720x480) resolution video recording at 30fps
Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support
Dual band 3G with HSDPA support
Wi-Fi
Responsive Flash-based interface with multi-touch support
Bluetooth v2.1 with A2DP and USB v2.0
Stylish and generous retail package
microSD memory card slot (verified to work with 16GB cards)
FM radio with RDS
Accelerometer sensor for screen auto rotate
TV-out
Office document viewer
DivX video support
Fashion-related content preloaded

Main disadvantages:

Two-year-old design
The large waistline doesn't match the fashionable image (but is OK for a QWERTY messenger)
Plastic build
No GPS (LG Renoir has it)
No XviD video support (LG Renoir has it)
Multi-touch has rather limited use
No Flash support in the web browser
Video recording is a letdown
High cost-to-features ratio (but OK for a premium fashion handset)

Meet the new Prada

Join us on the next page, as we explore the exterior and ergonomics.

RIM BlackBerry Storm (9530) Phone

2009-01-27T05:06:00.000-08:00

RIM BlackBerry Storm (9530) Phone

Released for Verizon Wireless, the RIM BlackBerry Storm offers 'clickable' touch-screen technology that responds much like a physical keyboard. It supports single-touch, multi-touch and gestures for application navigation. The BlackBerry Storm has high-speed EV-DO Rev. A technology for fast Internet browsing and multimedia applications. It integrates a full HTML browser that works in portrait or landscape orientation. Navigate websites with the touch-screen interface by double tapping to zoom in and sliding the fingers to scroll and pan. Icons access websites, switches between Page View and Column View and toggles between Pan mode and Cursor mode.

RIM BlackBerry Storm (9530) Features

Sleek, elegant design with contoured corners, stainless steel back and chrome accents surrounding its large (3.25-inch) glass lens
Built-in 3.2-megapixel camera with variable zoom, auto focus and a powerful flash that also provides continuous lighting when recording video
Built-in GPS supports location-based applications and services, as well as geotagging of photos
1 GB of onboard memory storage and a microSD/SDHD memory card slot that supports up to 16 GB of additional storage
Media player plays movies smoothly in full screen mode, displays pictures and slideshows quickly and manages an entire music collection
A 3.5 mm stereo headset jack, support for Bluetooth stereo audio profile (A2DP/AVRCP) and dedicated volume controls
An ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts backlighting for ideal screen viewing and an accelerometer that allows customers to view applications in either portrait or landscape mode by simply rotating the handset
BlackBerry Internet Service, BlackBerry Unite!, BlackBerry Professional Software and BlackBerry Enterprise Server support
Preloaded DataViz Documents to Go allows users to edit Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files directly on the handset
Removable and rechargeable 1400 mAhr battery that provides approximately six hours of talk time on 3G networks and 15 days of standby time

Step-by-Step Guide to Unlock iPhone 3G

2009-01-26T06:13:00.001-08:00

Step-by-Step Guide to Unlock iPhone 3G

The iPhone dev team released the much awaited software solution to unlock iPhone 3G so that users can use any GSM carrier's SIM, a perfect New Year gift for all those waiting to unlock their iPhone 3G.

Here is a detailed step-by-step guide to unlock iPhone 3G using Dev team's yellowsn0w application.

Some important points to note before we start:

Hacking your iPhone could void its warranty.
Dev team's yellowsn0w application is still in beta and has not worked for all iPhone 3G users but they are working hard to fix the issues and have been releasing new versions of their application.
Since one of the important requirements to unlock iPhone 3G is to upgrade to iPhone firmware 2.2 (as it exclusivley works with baseband firmware 02.28.00 which comes bundled with firmware 2.2), you need to be aware that iPhone firmware 2.2 breaks Turbo SIM (in case you are using it) - the hardware method to unlock iPhone 3G so if Dev team's software method which is still in beta does not work you might not be able to use your iPhone 3G.
This step-by-step guide is exclusively to unlock iPhone 3G. We haven't tried it with the 1st generation iPhone. We would sugges you use QuickPwn to unlock the 1st gen iPhone.
The current version of yellowsn0w does not support SIMs with PIN enabled. So please disable any PIN you may have on that SIM before using this guide. The Dev team are currently working to support SIMs with PIN so this is a temporary limitiation.
If you want to know if Dev team's unlocking solution has worked for your carrier, please check the Yellowsn0w report.

Preparatory steps before unlocking your iPhone 3G:

Dev team's unlocking solution works exclusively with baseband firmware 02.28.00 which comes bundled with firmware 2.2, so you will need to upgrade your iPhone 3G to iPhone firmware 2.2 without preserving its baseband and jailbreak it. You can check your firmware and modem firmware(baseband) versions via Settings->General->About and look for Version and Modem Firmware. iPhone 3G firmware Version should be 2.2 (5G77) and Modem Firmware should be 02.28.00.
You need to first jailbreak your iPhone 3G to unlock it. You can checkout this simple step-by-step guide to jailbreak iPhone 3G using QuickPwn for Mac users or this step-by-step guide to jailbreak iPhone 3G using QuickPwn for Windows users.

Once your iPhone 3G running iPhone firmware 2.2 (with baseband firmware 02.28.00) is jailbroken, you are ready to unlock iPhone 3G.

Unlock iPhone 3G using yellowsn0w:

Launch Cydia from your iPhone 3G's home screen.
You need to add the source of the yellowsn0w application. So tap Manage, one of the tabs at the bottom and then tap Sources.

Tap the “Edit” button on the top-right corner of the screen.

Then tap on the “Add” button on the top-left corner of the screen.

You’ll be prompted to add a Cydia/APT URL. Enter http://apt9.yellowsn0w.com/ as the source URL for the yellowsn0w application and then tap the "Add Source" button.

Once the source has been added press the "Return to Cydia" button at the bottom of the screen.

Then tap the "Done" button at the top-right of the screen. This completes the steps to add the source for the yellowsn0w application so you can install it.

Tap on the apt9.yellowsn0w.com source that was just added from the list of sources.

Tap on apt9.yellowsn0w.com again from the list of packages.

You will get an option to install the yellowsn0w application. Tap the "Install" button on the top-right corner of the screen.

Tap the "Confirm" button on the top-right corner of the screen.

This will install the yellowsn0w application, you will see the progress on the next screen and the "Return to Cydia" button will come up once installation is complete.

Tap on the "Return to Cydia" button and press the "Home" button on your iPhone 3G to go back to the home screen.
You need to reboot your iPhone 3G so that the yellowsn0w application which is a small daemon is launched on boot up. Press the “Sleep” button and hold it until you see the “Slide to power off” message. Then slide to switch off the iPhone.
Once your iPhone 3G has shutdown, insert the desired SIM card and restart your iPhone 3G.
Once your iPhone boots up and you see the “Slide to Unlock” screen, wait for around 10 to 15 seconds (may be more) to see if your iPhone 3G picks up the carrier signal.
The Dev team has reported that there is a known issue with SIM cards that have STK (SIM Toolkit) application menus. So if your iPhone 3G doesn't pick up the carrier signal after reboot then try to try to pull out the SIM card and re-insert it, wait for another 10 - 15 seconds and see if your iPhone 3G picks up the signal of the carrier.

If it does then you have successfully unlocked your iPhone 3G.

Some Tips to unlock iPhone 3G if the above procedure does not work:

If the above guide did not unlock your iPhone 3G, then try some of the workarounds mentioned below as it has helped some readers to successfully unlock their iPhone 3G.

Method 1 (via Hackint0sh):

Airplane mode on.
Airplane mode off, you should see "searching" and should pick up the carrier's signal.

Method 2 (via Hackint0sh):

Launch Moble terminal app (you can install it via Cydia).
Type yellowsn0w -r wait for a moment 10 sec
Type yellowsn0w -c wait for a moment 10 sec if you get NO SERVICE wait until u get 5 dot and run it again if you don't encounter NO SERVICE just run next command
Type yellowsn0w -r
Type yellowsn0w -a if you get busy message in under 15 sec and don't see NO SERVICE it's unsucesfull and you have to do -r and -a again until it loads to NO SERVICE and wait untill it changes to 5 dots and wait for 10sec
Airplane mode on (keep it in that mode for more than 10 seconds)
Airplane mode off, you should see "searching" and should pick up the carrier's signal.

If that didn't help:

Type yellowsn0w -r once and after 5 sec wait 1 min.
Airplane mode on (keep it in that mode for more than 10 seconds).
Airplane mode off, you should see "searching" and should pick up the carrier's signal.

Note: Ignore the Unknown message (0xe3ff8000), the command still works even if you get it.

Method 3:

This was suggested by Anton, one of our readers (Thanks Anton!)

Install BossPrefs via Cydia.
Disable all Functions with BossPrefs (don't worry if you can't disable EDGE)
Reboot your Phone with BossPrefs (not in the normally way - important!)
Wait 1.30 min when you see the Lockscreen.
Take out your Sim and re-insert it.
Wait a moment (30 seconds).
Go on Settings and Turn on the Airplane mode (keep it in that mode for more than 10 seconds).
Turn off Airplane Mode.
Your iPhone 3G should pick up the carrier's signal.

Method 4 (via YouTube, user reda92):

Reset Network Settings. 99% of your success rate will depend on this. (You can find this in settings - general and to the bottom you'll see a "reset" menu in which you can find this)
Reboot your iPhone
Wait a little over a min.
Remove your SIM card and re-insert it back in
Wait 30 sec.
Turn on Airplane mode and wait 10 sec. (This is important as well)
Turn of Airplane mode, you should see "searching" and should pick up the carrier's signal.

If these workarounds did not help unlock your iPhone 3G, then report the problem to the Dev team using this link.

Update (Jan 7th, 2009):

Dev Team have updated their yellowsn0w app to unlock iPhone 3G. It fixes even more problems.

Please don't forget to drop us a line to tell us if you were able to successfully unlock your iPhone 3G using this guide or the workarounds. If you have any tips for fellow readers don't forget to mention them in the comments as well.

HTC Touch Cruise 09 officially unveiled, helps you find your way

2009-01-22T05:28:00.000-08:00

Today HTC announced a new WinMo-powered device with GPS navigation as its main features. Photos of the device, nicknamed Iolita have already leaked online on several occasions but now it makes its official debut as HTC Touch Cruise 09.

Yeah that's right - the marketing department over at the Taiwanese company apparently found it too hard of a job to think of a new name for the handset and reused a 2-year-old one (check the original HTC Touch Cruise).

Much like its 02 twin brother - XDA Guide the HTC Touch Cruise 09 strongest asset (and selling point) is GPS navigation. It packs a brand new Advanced Navigation System and the new HTC Footprints location-based services. Those include geo-tagging of photos, sound clips etc. Full turn-by-turn navigation capabilities are said to be included in the device for no extra charge and a car cradle will also be provided in the retail package.

HTC Touch Cruise 09

The Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional powered Touch Cruise uses a 528 MHz Qualcomm MSM 7225 processor and 256 MB of RAM. There is also 512 MB of ROM on board, that expandable through the microSD card slot. Some of the other features the new Cruise include the sweet TouchFLO ready to roll on the 2.8" 65K color QVGA touchscreen, 3G with HSDPA, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (2.0 and A2DP). A 3.2 megapixel fixed focus snapper that is in charge of the photography.

The HTC Touch Cruise 09 will start shipping this spring with an estimated retail price of 460 euro (600 US dollars).

Samsung Android

2009-01-22T05:27:00.001-08:00

As reported before that samsung will be release Samsung Android Phone on 2009. and the vendor has confirmed will be release the samsung android phone on June 2009.the samsung android phone will be release via T-mobile and Sprints.So just wait and see.

Nokia 5800 XpressMusic review: Young as you feelNokia 5800 XpressMusic review: Young as you feel

2009-01-22T05:24:00.000-08:00

It's touchscreen o'clock for Nokia and the stage is set for the 5800 XpressMusic. Go ahead and touch it. We did and we've got a story to tell.

Now, it's technically not the first time Nokia get their hands dirty with touch screens, but it sure feels they really mean business this time. For Nokia 5800 is not the only story here. The smart platform with the most influential touch receives its first trial by touch. Being the first device running Series 60 5th alone is enough for the 5800 to be remembered by.

It's a first try and proceeding with caution is only fair. Nokia 5800 is unthreateningly and unobtrusively positioned in the mid-range and the XpressMusic branding helps share some of that first-S60-touchscreen weight. Still, it's way more than an affordable music-centered handset. The 5800 has a strong and unmistakable Nokia identity and delivers multimedia prowess. So, let's touch, shall we?

Key features:

3.2" 16M-color TFT LCD 16:9 touchscreen display (360 x 640 pixels)
Symbian S60 5th edition
ARM 11 369 MHz CPU, 128 MB of SDRAM memory
3.2 megapixel autofocus camera with dual-LED flash
VGA video recording at 30fps
Dual-band 3G with HSDPA support
Quad-band GSM support
Wi-Fi
Capable GPS receiver and Nokia Maps 2.0 Touch
microSD card memory expansion, ships with an 8GB card
TV out
FM radio with RDS
Bluetooth and USB v2.0
3.5mm standard audio jack
Excellent audio quality
Landscape on-screen virtual QWERTY keyboard
Proximity sensor for screen auto turn-off
Accelerometer sensor for automatic UI rotation and motion-based gaming
Rich retail package
Affordable price
Office document viewer
OVI and MySpace integration (direct image and video uploads)

Main disadvantages:

Limited 3rd party software availability
UI is still immature with somewhat dodgy user experience
Touchscreen sensitivity not the best in the class
No smart dialing
Poor image quality and no GPS geotagging
Touch web browser not quite polished
No voice-guided navigation license
No office document editing out-of-the-box
Doesn't charge off microUSB

Now, you're not the only one waiting for Nokia 5800 XpressMusic. A legion of touchscreen phones have been busy delivering more and better, and owning that market. They sure won't be giving Nokia and S60 5th the warmest of welcomes.

At this point, Nokia 5800 may as well be more of a trespasser than a worthy rival. We mean, stealing even the tiniest bit of market off such formidable competition should be a win to savor for every newcomer. And still, we shouldn't be looking at the actual handset alone. Maybe the 5800 isn't make or break for Nokia, but S60 5th should darn well be.

We're looking at the first S60 touchscreen. A lot less hoping for the best than preparing for the worst may sound like the right kind of attitude. Because a first try will be measured by just anything that lives and breathes, and has a touchscreen. So, let's see what Nokia 5800 XpressMusic is up against. Just mind you that it's more than just the names of a few handsets - it's generations of touchscreen development.

Apple may be looking down with amused detachment at yet another iPhone-killer wannabe. We guess Nokia 5800 XpressMusic doesn't want that label but it won't escape it. We are talking the market leader against the touch interface pacesetter. Maybe not this time, but this one is worth keeping an eye on in the long run. At this point though, for the price of an unlocked contract-free iPhone 3G you can easily obtain two Nokia 5800 XpressMusic handsets - sounds a bargain, doesn't it?

Windows Mobile is well into the picture too. Recent HTC models (Diamond, Touch HD) and Samsung i900 Omnia have shown that powerful multimedia is no orphan in the WinMo world. Loads of 3rd party software and cool and nifty UI plug-ins (TouchFLO 3D, TouchWiz) are great assets but the heftier price tag sets them back a bit. The Diamond comes closest to the Nokia, but it's still about 30 euro (40 US dollars) more.

LG and Samsung are also quite versed in the ways of touchscreen. Both makers have sizeable touch portfolios, ranging from affordable, non-smart touchscreens to 8 megapixel multimedia monsters. Samsung do boast a bunch of WinMo touch devices too. What's more, the company is keen enough on Symbian too, so that's potentially another "touching" chapter in the rivalry between the top two market-share leaders.

So, obviously the touchscreen game is no joke - it's getting tougher by the minute out there. Let's now check if the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic has what it takes to play along. We just took a peek in the retail package and - boy, are we impressed. Join us on the next page, where cheers roar as the box breaks open.

LG KS360 review: Of teens and twitters

2009-01-22T03:39:00.001-08:00

LG KS360 is a mid-ranger that will easily catch your eye with bold colors and quirky controls. LG have managed to create a handset that's cunningly full of character, though it's kinda hard to think of it in the hands of a grown-up. It does seem like a toy at first glance and those color combos are to die for if you are of certain age and attitude.

Yet quite unexpectedly, LG KS360 is quick to serve a bunch of nice features such as a large and vivid 2.4-inch display, full QWERTY keyboard, a 2 megapixel snapper and… believe it or not… a wee tot of touchscreen.

This midrange phone isn't exactly hard to keep your cool about and the flashy paintjobs don't help much either. But we were pleasantly surprised by the ergonomics and performance of the KS360. So while we gear up to put the LG KS360 through its paces, you better get yourself ready to be surprised too.

LG KS360 official photos

The LG KS360 will be available in several color combinations, some of which will be exclusive to various carriers - the full list of color options includes Black and red, Black and silver, White and soft pink, and Titanium and bright blue.

Key features

Tri-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support
Large 2.4" TFT display of QVGA resolution
Full slide-out QWERTY keyboard with screen rotation
Touchscreen dialing
2 megapixel camera
Stereo Bluetooth
FM radio
microSD memory card slot (up to 4GB)
Threaded SMS
Attractive 3D image gallery
Office document viewer

Main disadvantages

No UMTS support
No camera autofocus
Poor video recording resolution (fit for MMS only)
Awkward file manager - no user-created folders
Uncomfortable phonebook (takes two clicks to get to the contacts list)
No smart dialing
The FM radio lacks RDS and cannot play in the background
Poor web browser and basic music player

The young and texting-savvy are two obvious targets of the slide-out QWERTY KS360. And while 18+ is not very likely, bill payers are given some sort of say with pay-as-you-go. The manufacturer is teaming up with operators such as Orange to offer the devices with the added value of free messages and free access to social community websites such as MySpace, Bebo, and FaceBook on Pay-as-you-go basis.

Currently the handset can be found for around 80 GBP (140 US dollars or 99 euro) at Orange UK (the pink color version is one of their exclusive deals too). So if you are looking for a LG KS360, we guess your carrier's retail stores are the place to start.

The unusual form factor puts the LG KS360 into a really narrow market segment currently cornered by the T-Mobile Sidekick family (the Sidekick Slide - a joint effort of Danger and Motorola - being the recent model at T-Mobile UK).

What both devices have in common are lively colors, QWERTY keypad and the young targeting, but with a decisive difference. T-Mobile is offering the Sidekick only on a Pay-monthly basis, while the KS360 is available on Pay-as-you-go. Additionally, the Sidekick Slide is way larger and heavier than the LG KS360.

Two of the LG KS360 color versions

That said, the KS360 probably has solid chances of market success for being adequately equipped and quite properly focused. It's also a nice performer, as you are about to find out. Join us after this very small jump as we explore the looks and feel of LG KS360.

The Android G2 meets the world - this time for real

2009-01-22T03:38:00.001-08:00

Today two real pictures of the Android-powered G2 leaked online. It seems that the upcoming handset will be thinner and with no physical keyboard. It's not quite sure if it will be branded by T-Mobile, but the HTC involvement is without a doubt.

It looks like the G2 features pretty much the same display and camera as the G1.

Update: The rumored G2 on those images is most clearly the HTC Sapphire as presented at the bottom of the previously leaked HTC 2009 roadmap. So as it's evident, it will be available through both T-Mobile and Vodafone.

T-Mobile G2

The Android G2 is a lot thinner thanks to the removed physical keyboard. The design reminds more of Touch 3G and Touch Viva than its predecessor - T-Mobile G1.

The rumors point May 2009 as the launch time but if you are into QWERTY, you have a go at the G1, which should be available in many European countries by the end of the month.

Source

Nokia 5730 XpressMusic leaks, QWERTY meets the music familyNokia 5730 XpressMusic leaks, QWERTY meets the music family

2009-01-20T03:51:00.000-08:00

Photos of a new member of the music-minded family of Nokia handsets leaked today. The yet unannounced Nokia 5730 XpressMusic comes in the side-slide form factor which seems to be gaining popularity in Nokia's portfolio quite quickly. The specs sheet on the device spells mid-range all over but a QWERTY-enabled XpressMusic handset isn't something we see everyday.

True to its XpressMusic nature, the Nokia 5730 will try to attract its customers with an affordable price tag and distinct youthful design rather than some out-of-this-world functionality. Running on the Symbian S60 UI the handset will use its non-touch-enabled 3rd edition rather than the latest reincarnation we saw on the 5800 XpressMusic.

In addition to the four row slide-out full QWERTY keyboard the Nokia 5730 XpressMusic will feature a 2" 16M color QVGA display, built-in GPS receiver, Bluetooth and USB connectivity. Some of the other extras include FM radio, a 3.2 Megapixel snapper with Carl Zeiss lens and 3G with video-call support.

Nokia 5730 XpressMusic

The Nokia 5730 XpressMusic will have 128 MB of RAM and up to 140 MB of internal storage memory but there is yet no information of its CPU. There will also be an 8GB memory card included in the retail package.

According to Mobile-review.com, who actually got the phone for a preview, Nokia 5730 XpressMusic is expected to hit the shelves in April with an estimated retail price of 220 euro.

Source

Locago

2009-01-19T04:55:00.000-08:00

After the N79 Active here comes the N79 Eco. What’s next?

2009-01-18T05:33:00.000-08:00

The nice looking Petrol Black version of Nokia N79 appeared today on the Nokia UK store web page. It's available in a so-called Nokia N79 Eco pack. What makes it “Eco” is the lack of a charger. While that sounds like a strange lind of eco-friendly initiative, it actually isn't.

When there's no charger in the box the package can be much smaller. That means less paper and water wasted, fewer trucks for all Nokia products to be delivered worldwide needed and millions of euro saved (of course there's an economical side of the ecology). Plus re-using your older Nokia charger, saves some recycling expenses.

Nokia stated that in nearly two years they have sold 250 million phones in small packages (all lower to midrange ones) and saved 15 000 tones of packaging material, 100 000 cubic meters of water and avoided 5000 truck journeys as more phones fitted in each truck.

Check out those articles (here and there). They are quite a read.

In fact, there's something else and it is important, too. The sum of 4 GBP (around 4.5 euro or 6 USD) of the 319 GBP paid for every Nokia N79 Eco will be donated to the WWF.

The price of the eco-friendly N79 is not much different from that of the regular Nokia N79, but the extra cool Petrol Black color is pretty much worth it by our books plus there's a nice eco campaign involved. Who needs another charger anyway?

The Nokia N79 Eco is now available (for online pre-order, though).