Newest GSM phones & All Phone's News

DLO WallDock iPhone charger shoots for minimalist practicality

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 4 Dec 2009 13:50:00 GMT

DLO WallDock iPhone charger shoots for minimalist practicality

Yesterday's in-wall USB charger hackery might have inspired plenty of you to take up tools and start the USB power revolution, but if you own an iPod or iPhone and just a smidgen of common sense, you might wanna look at this first. The DLO WallDock is a teeny tiny charger that plugs into those familiar standard wall sockets, and its designed so that your iDevice leans back when connected, turning it into a neat (and wireless) substitute for your regular dock. We still wouldn't sacrifice the $25 asking price at the altar of cable freedom, but the more important question is, would you?

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Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 preview: First look

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 4 Dec 2009 13:38:00 GMT

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 preview: First look

Introduction

With the X10 Sony Ericsson have gone from zero to hundred in a split second. While they may know their way around high-end devices, pulling off an undertaking such as the XPERIA X10 must have been a special challenge. And they have yet to get to the finish.

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 official photos

The thing is that Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 is the first Android smartphone by Sony Ericsson. It's also a Snapdragon first for the company, and they've even come up with a first of its kind proprietary Android UI. Making the X10 a reality seems like a long way full of potential pitfalls for a company that hasn't still recovered from its financial woes.

But the XPERIA X10 or Rachael, or X3, or whatever it has been called in the long months of development, seems like a device that's worth all the hard work.

Even more so, X10 will not be a solitary device but more of a high-flying start for a full-blown platform of Android devices with their own distinct interface and user experience. That kinda sounds familiar. A year and a half ago, we were again there listening to Sony Ericsson presenting the XPERIA X1 in much the similar words. Well, let's hope they'll have better luck with starting off and developing this new part of their portfolio this time.

We had the pleasure of attending a very limited press event held in London, at which Sony Ericsson presented their latest and greatest before they showcase it for the general public. Much like attending a press-only movie screener we had the opportunity to gather some first-hand impressions of what is probably going to be the Sony Ericsson flagship next year. But before making our first go at the XPERIA X10, let's recap its features.

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 at a glance:

General: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, UMTS 900/1900/2100 MHz, HSDPA, HSUPA
Form factor: Touchscreen bar phone
Dimensions: 119 x 63 x 13 mm, 135 g
Display: 4" 65K-color TFT capacitive touchscreen, 854 x 480 pixels
Platform: Qualcomm QSD8250 Snapdragon 1 GHz processor
OS: Android 1.6 (Donut)
Memory: 1GB storage, 256MB RAM, microSD card slot, 8GB card included in the retail box
Camera: 8 megapixel auto-focus camera with LED flash and face detection
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, standard microUSB port, GPS receiver with A-GPS, 3.5mm audio jack
Misc: Sony Ericsson custom social networking and media UI, built-in accelerometer

There have been numerous leaks about the XPERIA X10 so chances are you already know most of those specs well enough. As to the few new ones, let us assure you that some of those came as a surprise to us as well.

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 presentation for the press

Take the Android OS version, for instance. Despite all the hopes for getting the latest and greatest of the Android crop, Sony Ericsson are serving a cold meal to all the gadget lovers out there. They refused to comment any further on the matter but perhaps all is not lost. Our best guess is they'll have some hard time adjusting their proprietary UI for Android 2.0 (Eclair) so they prefer to stick to 1.6 for the time being in an effort to get the XPERIA X10 out in the market as soon as possible.

And the current plans for the X10 availability say Q1 2010. Yup, missing the holiday season and shipping the handset during the tight-pocketed January and February is certainly the last thing they'd like to do, but proper product development obviously demands it.

Speaking of which, the Sony Ericsson X10 units presented at the event were devilishly fast in all Android tasks and applications, but the proprietary UI by Sony Ericsson clearly needed a lot more work.

But let's not waste any more time and jump into the physical details of the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10

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Acer neoTouch review: The dragon within

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 4 Dec 2009 11:09:00 GMT

Acer neoTouch review: The dragon within

Introduction

It must be sweet October for Microsoft, with the launch of WinMo 6.5 on the 6th followed by the desktop Windows 7 on the 22nd. Acer are quick to sneak into the spotlight and make the most of the primetime coverage. Their neoTouch is leading a small PocketPC fleet, all powered by 6.5.

But it's the flagship of course to focus all the attention and the neoTouch should be conscious of its task. If you want it all you need to be prepared to take it - all the glory and all the enemy fire. The neoTouch is riding on the wings of a dragon but entering a territory long claimed by others.

The Acer neoTouch is not just the next in the growing line of Windows Mobile 6.5 handsets. It's the top device of a company that's determined to enter the mobile phone game with a bang. The 1 GHz Snapdragon CPU is a great way to start and the other ingredients look quite on par: complete connectivity options, spacious high-res screen and something becoming fairly typical for smartphones these days - a 5 megapixel snapper.

Acer neoTouch official photos

Today Windows Mobile is all about handset manufacturers customizing the OS with their own proprietary interface, such as the popular TouchFLO by HTC, Samsung's TouchWiz and the LG S-Class. Acer have given the neoTouch their own homescreen, brand new Phonebook and Organizer app (called Agenda), along with a neat Preferences menu and Communication manager.

But first, let's go over what the Acer neoTouch does and doesn't do. PocketPC spec sheets are quite a reading but potential deal breakers won't be overlooked either.

Key features:

3.8" 65K-color resistive TFT touchscreen, WVGA 480 x 800 pixels
Windows Mobile 6.5 with Acer Homescreen, Contacts, Agenda and Gallery
Qualcomm Snapdragon 1GHz processor, 256MB RAM, 512MB ROM (300MB user available)
5 megapixel auto focus camera with LED flash, geotagging, image stabilizer
VGA video recording @ 30fps
Quad-band GSM support
Tri-band 3G with HSDPA (7.2Mbps) and HSUPA (5.76 Mbps) support
Wi-Fi with DLNA technology
Built-in GPS with A-GPS functionality
microSD card slot (up to 32GB)
FM radio with RDS
Bluetooth and USB v2.0
3.5mm standard audio jack, TV-out functionality
Ambient light sensor, proximity sensor for screen auto turn-off
Accelerometer sensor for automatic UI rotation
Smart dial
Office document editor (but no PDF viewer)
Full Flash support in the web browser (IE)
Top-notch audio output quality

Main disadvantages:

Not enough user interface customization
No camera lens cover
Poor photo and video quality
microSD slot is under the back cover
No DivX/XviD video support out-of-the-box
No navigation software, even Google Maps is not preinstalled
No active stylus
High-gloss body panels are a fingerprint magnet
Poor ringing volume

The neoTouch is the first Snapdragon device we're reviewing but the bigger debut is Acer themselves. Since February 2009 - when they made headlines at the Barcelona WMC - Acer have released 4 handsets all in all that have no corresponding entry in the Eten glofish lineup. (It was the acquisition of Eten that put Acer on the mobile phone map.) And we're looking at one of them making a strong claim to challenge the big ones in the PocketPC game.

Acer neoTouch in our office

The Acer credentials as leading laptop manufacturer will have the neoTouch - and the phones to follow - held to a rather high standard. We're dealing with a debut but it looks bold enough at least on paper. And we won't mind another keen compatriot rivalry along the lines of Samsung and LG. Of course, HTC are well ahead at this point but Acer look like they should be taken seriously.

But much like every other Windows Mobile smartphone out there, the Acer neoTouch has it strong and weak points. You can be sure we will explore both of them, on the pages to follow.

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Nokia 6760 slide review: Compact messaging

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 4 Dec 2009 10:48:00 GMT

Nokia 6760 slide review: Compact messaging

Introduction

One of a kind would be a massive overstatement but there's something about the Nokia 6760 slide that's clearly against the usual run of things. Full QWERTY keyboards are an increasingly common sight on Symbian smartphones so this can't be it. However, the Nokia 6760 slide is a generic messenger - noting to do with Nseries, Eseries or even XpressMusic.

Secondly, the 6760 slide was first seen and used in the US as Nokia Surge. It usually takes quite a while for Nokia handsets to cross the pond and that makes the 6760 / Surge concept interesting enough. Whether it was custom made for AT&T and then given a go at home is irrelevant. Nokia now have a smart messenger ready to roll in the lower midrange.

Official photos of Nokia 6760 slide

The new 6760 slide (we'll use its European name from now on) is ultra compact and the full-QWERTY keyboard is backed by no numpad on top. The Internet and Messaging shortcuts up front are quite handy though and make perfect sense in both portrait and landscape hand hold. The neat messenger is trying to balance features, looks and ergonomics to offer all-round experience within budget. The absence of Wi-Fi support is a letdown, but the rest of the features are from the top drawer.

Key features

Quad-band GSM support and 3G with HSDPA
2.4" 16M-color TFT display of 320 x 240 pixel resolution
Full QWERTY keyboard
Very compact, friendly weight and shape
Fast and responsive interface
Built-in accelerometer, UI auto-rotate, turn-to-mute
3 megapixel fixed focus camera, QVGA video recording @ 15fps
Symbian 9.3, S60 FP2
GPS with A-GPS support
Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP, microUSB
microSD card slot with microSDHC support
Stereo FM Radio with RDS
Balanced audio output quality
Large capacity Li-Ion 1500 mAh (BP-4L) battery

Main disadvantages

Clattering slide hinge, loose battery cover
No Wi-Fi
No alphanumeric keypad: impossible to dial with the keyboard closed
Basic fixed focus camera, no extra features (not even geotagging)
No USB charging
No smart dial (3rd party solutions are available)

The Symbian-driven Nokia 6760 slide has a responsive and fast user interface and offers various social networking integration. The good web browser and robust messaging should be welcomed by users with a solid data plan.

We called it a generic messenger and there's nothing really impressive about the idea behind this device - unless you've never seen or heard of E75 or 5730 XpressMusic. Not to mention the N97 mini.

Still, an ultra compact Symbian smartphone with a full QWERTY keyboard seems to make sense. The 6760 slide certainly misses on some features but it does well to position itself as a typical carrier's handset. Fast data, solid messaging and friendly size will perhaps convince enough users they can live without WLAN. Plus, the 6760 slide styling seems to be trying to find middle ground between the too executive Eseries and too juvenile XpressMusic.

Nokia 6760 slide live shots

We called it ultra compact too and we mean it. It's hard to believe the 6760 slide is a Symbian smartphone to begin with. A formidable PocketPC like the Samsung B7610 OmniaPRO makes it look almost toy-like.

Friendly size is one of the Nokia 6760 slide key assets

If you find yourself interested in the new kid on the block, go ahead and take our guided tour of the Nokia 6760 slide. Symbian has little to no surprises perhaps but let's see how this little messenger handles and what it can do for you.

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HTC HD2 review: Portrait of a rockstar

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 4 Dec 2009 10:45:00 GMT

HTC HD2 review: Portrait of a rockstar

Introduction

Quietly brilliant is what HTC like to call themselves and they've been giving enough proof lately. But allow us to disagree. The last thing to call the HD2 is quiet - the monster of a PocketPC simply screams rock'n'roll.

We just got a glimpse of the Snapdragon-powered giant in the preview we posted a few days back. It's now time to let it off the leash and hope we can keep up with its speed. The HTC HD2, a.k.a. Leo, is the company's first Snapdragon-based device and also the first Windows Mobile smartphone ever to have a capacitive touchscreen (read: super thumb-friendly).

A capacitive touchscreen on a PocketPC? No way? Well, you'd better get used to it because they are just going to keep on coming. The HTC HD2 may be the first of its kind but the next ones are just around the corner. And what's even more important, a capacitive screen gives WinMo unmatched and absolutely unexpected user friendliness. With the large screen, icons are big, almost huge, and you can easily thumb your way around the menu and apps.

HTC HD2 official images

We've met the HD2 already and we guess it's ok to cut the civilities short. It's a device that likes to be in the thick of action and we're not paid to keep it idle either. The HD2 promises an exciting ride and it sure has horsepower to spare.

Key features

Huge 4.3" 65K-color WVGA glass-covered capacitive touchscreen
Multi-touch input
Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional OS with Sense UI
Qualcomm Snapdragon QSD8250 1 GHz CPU and 448MB RAM
Quad-band GSM support
3G with HSDPA 7.2Mbps
Wi-Fi connectivity
Built-in GPS receiver with A-GPS support
Stereo FM radio with RDS
5 MP autofocus camera with dual LED flash and touch focus
VGA video recording at 30fps
microSD card slot
Standard microUSB port and Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP
Standard 3.5mm audio jack
Great audio quality
MS Office Mobile document editor
Opera 9.5 web browser
YouTube client, Facebook and Twitter integration
Excellent video playback performance
Good battery life

Main disadvantages

It's a pretty large phone
Poor sunlight legibility
65K color limitation of display has color gradients banding
Card slot under the battery cover
Disappointing photo and video quality
No dedicated camera key and no lens cover
No DivX/XviD video support out-of-the-box
Preloaded CoPilot Live navigation software is a trial version
No secondary video-call camera
No voice dialing
No handwriting recognition
Dodgy web Flash support

The HTC HD2 may be a tad smaller than the monstrous Toshiba TG01 but that's nowhere near compact. And it all comes down to one simple thing: the 4.3" display. The huge touchscreen is an absolute treat but may be not that simple in the end. In tablet terms, the HD2 is sweet to use landscape but not every user will be happy with singlehanded operation and actual phone calls. But then you look at how thin it is, what it's packing inside and perhaps it doesn't seem so big. You know you'll adjust and get used to it in the same way that people got used to the less than compact size of the iPhone.

HTC HD2 live shots

And while we're at it, a side by side comparison of both devices may not be enough to convey the size issues of the HD2. In all fairness, a phone this size is not the most comfortable to hold next to your year but it's an impressive package that's worth the inconvenience. Against the iPhone, the HD2 has a much larger and higher-res touchscreen, as well as a faster processor, multi tasking and a 5 megapixel snapper with dual LED flash. HTC have also done a lot to transform TouchFLO into their new Sense UI, but it still lags slightly behind the user interface of the iPhone.

The HTC HD2 is probing tablet boundaries

One thing's for sure, the HTC HD2 is trying to widen the PocketPC horizon and remove the stigma of WinMo unfriendliness. We've seen very few phones that could possibly live up to the scale of that task. So, it's time to open the box and meet the handset in person. We're back after the jump with unboxing, design and construction. It's HD2 time.

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Samsung B7610 OmniaPRO review: Pro toolbox

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 4 Dec 2009 10:33:00 GMT

Samsung B7610 OmniaPRO review: Pro toolbox

Introduction

Now that we have the B7610 OmniaPRO running on the much-awaited Windows Mobile 6.5, we're finally up to speed. Omnia smartphones have a pretty wide reach already and they are known for their WinMo customizations and feature-rich specs sheets. The B7610 OmniaPRO however was the first family member to sport a full hardware keyboard and by the looks of it, Samsung have done a great job.

Side-sliding or not, the B7610 OmniaPRO is definitely a capable device in both hardware and software equipment. The QWERTY keyboard however is a convenience tool usually reserved for the competition's high-end offerings, so you can bet the OmniaPRO will have to tackle some really capable contenders. But you can easily tell, it a tough nut to crack as well.

Samsung B7610 Omnia Pro official photos

Key features:

Quad-band GSM support and 3G with HSDPA
3.5" 16M-color (65K effective) AMOLED display of 800 x 480 pixel resolution
Work & Life mode switch key
Full side sliding QWERTY keyboard
800 MHz processor with dedicated graphics accelerator
5 megapixel auto-focus camera with dual-LED flash and D1 video recording at 30 fps
Windows Mobile 6.5 fully skinned with TouchWiz UI
Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP, standard microUSB port
Standard 3.5mm audio jack
2GB built-in storage, 256 MB RAM, microSD (up to 32GB), 8GB card included
Wi-Fi with DLNA
GPS receiver with A-GPS
Built-in accelerometer for UI auto-rotate and turn-to-mute
TV out functionality
Nice audio output quality
Large capacity Li-Ion 1500 mAh battery

Main disadvantages:

Bulky and heavy
65K color limitation of display has color gradients banding
Poor sunlight legibility
Comes with OmniaLITE-grade HSDPA speed, and no HSUPA support
microSD card slot under the battery cover
The display and back pannel are finger print magnets
Performance under WinMo 6.5 not a good as it was under 6.1
No preinstalled SatNav software
No voice dialing
No web Flash support
No stereo speakers

Samung B7610 OmniaPRO at ours

Who is the OmniaPRO is a multiple choice question. And there is more than one correct answer. The original Omnia has produced such an offspring choosing names became a problem. They even had to name one of the kids after the uncle. If you've been keeping track, you'd know the OmniaPRO has an Armani-branded alter-ego - the B7620. But well, Giorgio was lucky. The B7610 OmniaPRO less so.

Now, there's nothing wrong with the name except that there are another couple of Pros in the family. And perhaps too many of them in other houses.

We've never had a doubt about the quality of the Omnia genes but such a strong and versatile lineup perhaps exceeds the most optimistic scenarios. Samsung are obviously not only trying to update their portfolio but confront their key market rivals by matching competing devices spec for spec.

The B7610 OmniaPRO will be engaging the enemy on the high end of the performance and pricing scale. And that's where even the smallest details count. The B7610 doesn't have a unique defining feature like the Omnia HD to give it an edge against some unforgiving rivals. So, it will have to squeeze every bit of performance out of its system. It can count though on Samsung's solid record in multimedia and interface customization.

Speaking of which, the custom-made TouchWiz looks and feels better than ever. So much that it's worth the spoiler. And the mode switch for toggling Work and Leisure is keen to make a point that this here Pro knows good fun too.

So, the B7610 OmniaPRO will be trying to make its mark. And so will be Windows Mobile yet again. Because the OmniaPRO is certainly not running against PocketPCs only - the competition's finest will stand on its way. That's Symbian, and Android, and Maemo.

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Nokia N900 review: A new hope

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 4 Dec 2009 10:32:00 GMT

Nokia N900 review: A new hope

Introduction

It's crystal clear by now that the Nokia N900 has almost nothing to do with the traditional Nseries values. The full QWERTY side-slider may look similar to its double-digit mates but the Maemo experience is completely different. However, the N900 is not there for the mere sake of difference - a tablet and a phone, it tries to get the best of both worlds. These are worlds though where Nokia feels at home.

Nokia N900 official photos

The internet tablet genes are strong in the Nokia N900 so connectivity and web-browsing are its greatest virtues. The large high-res display and great typing skills are the right kind of backup but we've seen plenty of similar packages already. We told you though - the N900 is different. It's a Maemo-powered phone with Mozilla browsing and all-you-can-eat connectivity. Call it good news, call it a good start or just call it good. Let's see if it calls back.

Key features

3.5" 16M-color resistive touchscreen of WVGA (800 x 480 pixel) resolution
Maemo 5 OS
State-of-the-art Mozilla-based web browser with Adobe Flash 9.4 support
Slide-out three-row full QWERTY keyboard
ARM Cortex A8 600MHz CPU, PowerVR SGX graphics accelerator; 256 MB of RAM
Quad-band GSM and tri-band 3G support
5 MP autofocus camera with dual-LED flash and active camera lens cover
WVGA (848 x 480 pixels) video recording @ 24fps
10 Mbps HSDPA and 2 Mbps HSUPA support
Wi-Fi and GPS with A-GPS
32GB onboard storage
DivX and XviD video playback
Foldable kickstand
microSD card slot with microSDHC support
Built-in accelerometer
Proximity sensor
3.5 mm audio jack and TV-out
FM Radio receiver, FM transmitter
microUSB port (charging) and stereo Bluetooth v2.1
Solid audio quality
Kinetic scrolling
Contacts integration of Skype, Google Talk and other VoIP services
Great build quality

Main disadvantages

Large and heavy
UI only works in landscape mode (for now)
No smart and voice dialing
Outdated camera interface and features
No preinstalled voice-guided SatNav application
No voice recorder, no MMS, and no handwriting recognition
No FM radio application (despite that the hardware's there)
Limited third-party software availabilty
Limited 3G support in the US (no AT&T)

we saw the Nokia N900 as a lean and mean browsing machine. This price range though has little to no room for one-trick ponies. The chubby phone/tablet will have to play its best and that's where Nseries come in. Of course, the Maemo has still to catch up with Symbian in terms of system expandability but the N900 is an Nseries handset and all-round service is implied.

Nokia N900 studio shots

One thing to definitely note about the Nokia N900 is the 16M-color WVGA screen, which is virtually unmatched by other smartphones - platform limitations are hard to get around. There is of course the Vodafone 360 H1 produced by Samsung and running LiMo but it's very much a niche device. Now add the QWERTY keyboard, which turned out pretty comfortable despite the three-row layout, and things are starting to get there.

So, it's time we checked what the Nokia N900 can do for you and where it can possibly fail. A new OS (new to phones anyway) should be able to at least come close to the current crop of smartphone platforms and show a high enough development potential. For what we saw in our preview, the Maemo and the N900 may as well be even more ambitious. But if you take nothing for granted you've come to the right place. Join us on the next page as we power up the N900 and the review unfolds.

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Nokia E72 review: The business of messaging

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 4 Dec 2009 10:30:00 GMT

Nokia E72 review: The business of messaging

Introduction

Nokia E72 is one of those handsets everybody is talking about long before their release. There may be nothing much to talk about - after all everyone knows what to expect of the Eseries and they have never let us down. But still, savoring the next batch of Eseries steel is always a pleasure.

The Finns keep feeding business ammo to the market and there's nothing out of the usual at first sight. We already tasted the new Eseries generation and the E52 and E55 were the usual good healthy meals. The E72 though needs to be nothing short of delicious.

Nokia E72 official photos

There's no need to tell you the Nokia E72 walks and talks business. The big one though has greater responsibility to carry. We guess the E72 will not fear being judged against the best messengers in its class. But it will certainly look back to a haunting shadow within its own family. The Nokia E72 can certainly go where the E71 would not venture. But it's not only the equipment (of which the E72 has aplenty) that makes a winner.

Key features:

Quad-band GSM support
3G with HSDPA 10.2Mbps and HSUPA 2Mbps
Landscape 2.36" 16M-color display of QVGA resolution
Comfortable full QWERTY keypad
Optical trackpad on the D-pad
Symbian 9.3 OS, S60 UI with FP2
600 MHz ARM 11 CPU and 128 MB of SDRAM
5 megapixel auto focus camera with LED flash
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, UPnP technology, DLNA support
Built-in GPS receiver, A-GPS support, digital compass
Accelerometer for turn-to-mute
250 MB of internal memory, microSD expansion, ships with a 4GB card
Standard 3.5mm audio jack
Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP support and microUSB v2.0
FM radio with RDS
Remote Wipe
Great battery life
Office document editor (including MS Office 2007)
User-friendly Mode Switch for swapping two homescreen setups
Smart dialing
Full Flash support
Great audio output quality
Lifetime Nokia Messaging subscription

Main disadvantages:

Optical trackpad is not as handy as we'd like
Limited camera features, no geotagging, video recording maxes out at VGA@15fps
No DivX or XviD support (can be enabled, possibly requiring a purchase)
No TV-out functionality
No dedicated camera key (trackpad compensates for that)
Poor loudspeaker performance

Eseries are always trying to get more skills on their resume. But the one that's supposed to be the next big thing in its class is really pushing it. Nokia didn't have to try and experiment with the E72. Build muscle on the E71 was their main objective. And by the looks of it they did more than well. The E72 promises richer experience and superior skill. But it will still be expected to deliver more than the sum of its parts if it wants to prove anything to the standard-setting E71.

Nokia E72 in our office

The Eseries spirit is all there - and we guess in-house competition is always in the picture. The E72 is bold and impressive, but manages to keep its cool too, as befits a conservative business handset. Armed and dangerous or polite and elaborate - the E72 will be whatever you want it to be. So, make up your mind, and take the jump. We're unboxing and feeling the cold Eseries steel in our hands.

Samsung S7070 Diva preview: First look

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 4 Dec 2009 10:28:00 GMT

Samsung S7070 Diva preview: First look

Introduction

The Samsung S7070 Diva is a style-conscious phone with a fairly standard front but with a very distinct 3D quilted pattern shape on the back panel. It marks the start of a new product family of female oriented style-driven phones in Samsung portfolio. The signature back pattern is complemented by the diamond back key dead center below the display.

The phone has been obviously designed with young women in mind and offers Facebook and MySpace integration and other social network applications. Other features such as the stereo FM radio and a 3 MP fixed-focus camera with smile shot and up to ISO 800 sensitivity will keep active young people entertained all day long.

Samsung S7070 Diva official photos

Samsung S7070 Diva at a glance

General: GSM 900/1800/1900 MHz, GPRS/EDGE class 12
Form factor: Touchscreen bar, no keypad
Dimensions: 101.0 x 54.8 x 13.4 mm, 94 g
Display: 2.8-inch resistive TFT touchscreen, QVGA resolution (240 x 320 pixels)
Platform: Latest TouchWiz UI
Memory: 40MB, Non-hot-swappable microSD card slot (up to 8GB)
Camera: 3 megapixel fixed focus camera with Smile shot, face detection, blink detection, Beauty Effect and Lomo Effect
Connectivity: Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, USB v.2.0
Misc: Accelerometer sensor for turn to mute, FM radio with RDS and broadcast recording, DNSe sound effect, Gesture lock, Pop-up SNS for Facebook, MySpace and Twitter integration, Wish list
Battery: 960 mAh battery

The Samsung S7070 is certainly not your ordinary handset. The pearly white paint job and the 3D quilted back are two things that do a lot to set it apart - not to mention the gem-inspired Back key below the screen. It's certainly a treat for the ladies - an attempt to liven up things in the lower range of the touchscreen market.

Samsung S7070 Diva all over

Now we did have a sneak peek of the Samsung S7070 some 10 days ago before it was even announced but now that Samsung officially unveiled it, it's time for a proper introduction. Join us on the next page for a full body inspection of this sizzling hot babe.

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 preview: Getting closer

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 4 Dec 2009 10:22:00 GMT

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 preview: Getting closer

Introduction

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 is one of the hottest names in the industry and it's not even released yet. Santa won't be able to get us one for Christmas but next year holds a serious promise for us geeks. The Sony Ericsson's first Snapdragon device and first Android smartphone is one seriously capable handset that promises great user experience.

We first met the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 a month ago at its official announcement event in London. The device that might end up deciding the company's fate left us feeling quite positive about its market prospects so we are really pleased to finally welcome it to our office.

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 official photos

The software of the XPERIA X10 is far from settled but since Sony Ericsson dared to show it to the audience, you can bet that the hardware won't see any dramatic changes. The realistic expectations are for the bugs to be solved and maybe a couple of minor features added but what we are going to show is what you should expect to see when the device hits the shelves in Q1 of next year.

For starters let's take a look at the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 key characteristics.

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 at a glance:

General: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, UMTS 900/1900/2100 MHz, HSDPA, HSUPA
Form factor: Touchscreen bar phone
Dimensions: 119 x 63 x 13 mm, 135 g
Display: 4" 65K-color TFT capacitive touchscreen, 854 x 480 pixels
Platform: Qualcomm QSD8250 Snapdragon 1 GHz processor
OS: Android 1.6 (Donut)
Memory: 1GB storage, 256MB RAM, microSD card slot, 8GB card included in the retail box
Camera: 8 megapixel auto-focus camera with LED flash and face detection; touch focus, WVGA (800 x 480 pixels) video recording at 30fps
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, standard microUSB port, GPS receiver with A-GPS, 3.5mm audio jack
Misc: Sony Ericsson Timescape and Mediascape UI, built-in accelerometer

That Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 certainly looks pretty powerful among its Android peers. It's only major sin is that it will be too late for the Christmas shopping spree and will have to achieve success in a much more challenging market conditions.

The Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 views

An unspectacular handset can do wonders in the last moths of the year, given the right marketing, but things get much tougher once New Year's Eve passes. People have already spent most of their surplus cash and need more persuasion to shell out the serious amount that this baby calls for.

The Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 next to the Apple iPhone 3GS and HTC HD2

But than again, the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 looks well prepared to handle any challenge. The device is supposed to launch in the middle February - most probably around the MWC 2010.

We'll start with a brief hardware inspection of the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 following the break.

LG GD510 Pop review: Mobile pop culture

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 03:47:00 GMT

Introduction

It looks like LG have been playing their own version of will it blend. There's no need to tell you they're not playing for fun - they're rather trying to squeeze some more cash off a couple of hot-selling handsets. So, here's the deal. Get your blender, throw in an LG Arena and a Cookie and set the speed to "budget". And there you have it - an LG GD510 Pop - ready to be served to the happy masses. The "pop" LG are going for is definitely "popular", as opposed to the "popstar stuff" some of you may have hoped for.

You can go ahead and call it the new Cookie, or the low-cost Arena, but the LG Pop is quite obviously keen to have its own purpose and personality. The optional battery cover fitting a solar panel and the all-round eco-friendliness are one way for it to stand on its own two feet as a phone.

LG GD510 Pop official photos

Apart from that, the Pop is just another midrange touchscreen. And this is by no means a guilty verdict. The LG Cookie used to be just another touchscreen too. Certainly not now - over 5 million units sold later. The Pop is perhaps setting its hopes high as well. Let's see if the classic unisex design, the feature mix and the affordable price tag can do it for it too.

Key features:

3.0" 256K-color TFT LCD touchscreen display (240x400 pixels)
3.15 megapixel fixed focus camera, QVGA video @ 15fps
Quad-band GSM support
Bluetooth with A2DP and microUSB v2.0
microSD card memory expansion
Standard microUSB port
FM radio with RDS
Widget interface and LiveSquare homescreen
Accelerometer sensor for automatic screen rotation and turn-to-mute
Landscape on-screen QWERTY keyboard
Office document viewer
Smart dialing
Nice battery life
Optional solar panel battery cover
Allegedly affordable price

Main disadvantages:

No 3G support, no Wi-Fi
Display has poor sunlight legibility
No DivX/XviD video support
Camera lacks autofocus and flash
Video recording maxes out at QVGA@15fps
No standard 3.5mm audio jack

There's something about the styling of the Pop that might misguide users to expect Arena-like functionality. In fact, the only Arena stuff inside is the S-Class-styled main menu - the rest of the interface is like on the LG Cookie. The important features for the mass user are there but the expected price bracket doesn't really imply high-end specs.

Many people might miss the camera autofocus and 3G support. And yes, some would have been delighted to get Wi-Fi support on the spec sheet. To us, the most important omission - given the potential target audience - is DivX/XviD support. Anyway, the reason for all that is more than clear: specs are sticking to the basics to keep the price tag comfortably low.

LG GD510 Pop live shots

We guess, there's no reason to construe the GD510 Pop as an upgrade to the LG KP500 Cookie. The Pop is simply the next LG handset to try and tap on the demand for basic affordable touchscreens. An inevitable response to what Samsung are doing with the Star, the Preston and the Corby. To set it apart from the Cookie, the Pop was given some of the LG Arena styling, an optional solar panel and has taken an altogether greener stance.

We praised the Cookie for its handling and style, and the Pop has quite a lot to live up to. The first impression is promising enough though. The Arena-like looks and absolutely minimalist exterior may receive a warm enough reception.

More on the LG GD510 Pop coming up after the jump. We can safely say the LG Pop looks above its class but let's see how it handles.

Sony Ericsson Satio review: Shooter by vocation

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 03:45:00 GMT

Introduction

Sony Ericsson have long ago shown that they are not afraid of any challenge, producing handsets that have claimed a top spot on the market. There are still plenty of fans from those good old days that would love to see another market-leading device thrown their way.

A look at what's between the XPERIA X1 and the Satio is enough to tell you what Sony Ericsson have been up to for the past year. A top-dog Cybershot (C905) and an all-round Walkman (W995) were both compelling enough but none would be trusted to top the portfolio of a company that used to call the shots at the forefront of mobile technology.

So, Sony Ericsson might have been busy cutting costs, fueling the hype behind their new wave gadgets (Satio, Aino and Rachael) or experimenting with Symbian and Android. But there's little doubt about their full-time job. The Satio is a lot more than its mouthwatering features, full touchscreen debuting Symbian S60 or its 12 megapixel camera. It may be too much to say that all the company's hopes lie with the Satio but the burden on its shoulders is disproportionate compared to any other flagship device we can think of.

Sony Ericsson Satio official photos

This review, by the way, is coming after a massive spoiler. But the good thing is we know the Satio is all geared and ready to face some serious challenges. An industry leading cameraphone, or top-of-the-line smartphone, the Satio has a clear view of its goal. But you can be certain that its path forward will not be covered in rose petals. Sony Ericsson are in dire need of fresh devices (and cash) and the Satio should not be anything but a bestseller. When you're trying to turn your fortunes around, you have very little room for error.

Key features

3.5" 16M-color resistive touchscreen of 640 x 360 pixel resolution
12 megapixel state-of-the-art autofocus camera
LED and xenon flash, active lens cover
VGA@30fps video recording
Symbian OS 9.4 with S60 5th edition UI, spiced up with a home-brewed homescreen and media menu
ARM Cortex-A8 600 MHz CPU, PowerVR SGX dedicated graphics accelerator and 256 MB of RAM
Quad-band GSM support
3G with HSDPA 7.2 Mbps and HSUPA 3.6 Mbps support
Wi-Fi and GPS with A-GPS
microSD card slot (up to 32GB)
Built-in accelerometer
TV out
Stereo FM Radio with RDS
USB and stereo Bluetooth v2.0
Web browser has full Flash support
Preinstalled Wisepilot navigation software
Office document viewer

Main disadvantages

Xenon flash is not adequately powerful
The S60 5th edition UI isn't to the best in class standards
No 3.5mm audio jack or a standard USB port
No DivX or XviD support out-of-the-box
No smart or voice dialing
Playing flash videos in the browser easily depletes the available RAM
No office document editing (without a paid upgrade)
No stereo speakers
No digital compass (magnetometer)

There's very little to complain about looking at the list above, but the difference between a moderately successful handset and a blockbuster depends on all the performance you can squeeze out of those features. And with the Symbian S60 touch reincarnation hardly the most heralded OS on the market, the job gets even more complicated.

Sony Ericsson Satio at ours

The competition is at an all-time high in the premium segment, Sony Ericsson won't enter the battle unarmed. The sleek Satio knows it has a trick or two up its sleeves and is eager to show the world its worth. And here we are revealing those secrets for you, starting with the design and handling on the next page.

Windows Mobile 6.5 upgrade now available for HTC Diamond2

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 03:44:00 GMT

As promised from the announcement, the HTC Diamond2 has just received its free Windows Mobile 6.5 (at least the European version). You can download the new software through the official HTC update tool.

HTC kept their promise to deliver the Windows Mobile 6.5 OS on the HTC Touch Diamond2, which was released half a year ago. The upgrade is already available on their website and you can find all the instructions there.

The currently available localized ROMs are intended for UK, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Portugal. You can upgrade your Diamond2 with one of these ROMs just now, but there is no other info if more localizations are coming.

The Touch Pro2 software update to WinMo 6.5 has been around for almost two weeks now and a few days ago Vodafone released the WinMo 6.5 upgrade for their customers, as well. So if you own a vanilla TouchPro2, you can get the update here from HTC, while if you've got a Vodafone Touch Pro2 you should use this link and follow the instructions for the upgrade process.

Speculations on the Interphone study outcome cause unduly panic

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 03:42:00 GMT

The Interphone study is a research trying to determine whether mobile phones increase the risk of humans developing cancer. News reports on the results of the study spread like wildfire recently allegedly linking mobile phones with three specific types of cancer.

The thing is that the official statement on the matter is that the results are still not finalized so any conclusion expressed by the media based on the study is at best incorrect assumptions.

The study

The Interphone study isn't the first and won't be the last research of that kind but what makes it important is the people behind it. The study is coordinated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) which is a part of the World Health Organization (WHO) and a part of the funding even comes from the Mobile Manufacturers Forum (MMF).

The 10-year Interphone study costs 30 million US dollars and is actually a whole series of multi-national studies which have taken part in 13 countries across the globe and have included more than 10 000 human subjects. The goal is to find out whether mobile phone radiation is able to increase the risk of four kinds of cancer - acoustic neuroma, glioma, meningioma, and tumors of the parotid gland. In other words - cancer types involving the tissues around the ears and mouth.

The media reaction

Until the final Interphone study results are revealed (expected before Christmas) all articles on that subject should be considered speculative.

If we quote the MMF reaction to those comments in the media “There is absolutely no information circulating at the moment that is accurate and correct with respects to the results of that study".

And some tips

However, the study website suggests some sound advice on minimizing phone radiation exposure be it harmful in the long run or not.

You could try to talking less and text more to minimize head exposure. The use of a hands-free set is also recommended (a Bluetooth headset is also better than nothing as it decreases radiation exposure by nearly 90%).

A research claims that phone radiation may also drop a man's sperm count by 30 percent, so guys, you'd better avoid wearing you phone in your pants pockets.

While not in use phones should be kept at least a meter away from the body. So, don't put your handset next to your pillow or on the bedside table. If possible, it's best if you turn your phone off at night.

And when it comes to children, don't forget that their skulls are way thinner and the brain smaller so radiation absorption is much higher. The best you could do is forbid small children the use of a mobile phone or at least to encourage them to text instead of talking on the handset.

Our part

As a way of expressing our concern with the possible negative effects of the prolonged cellphone radiation exposure, as of today we'll start work on a little internal project. Our goal will be to add a new field in our cellphone database that will make the SAR rating of all current GSM phones public and easily accessible through our specification pages.

We've had numerous user requests about adding that information and we've finally decided that we should make the extra effort and publish the SAR ratings for all currently available phones - where available within our reach, of course. It won't happen overnight, but so that you know - we're on it.

Google Maps for mobile anounce Navigation Beta for Android 2.0

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 03:38:00 GMT

Google Maps has always been one of the most popular ways to get directions, but the lack of voice-guided navigation to help you on-the-go. Luckily, today it took this next step in its natural evolution with the announcement of Google Maps Navigation for Android 2.0 devices.

Google maps Navigation screenshots

This new app should be as good as a fully-functional GPS navigation system, featuring 3D views, turn-by-turn voice guidance and automatic rerouting. Just bear in mind that it will use network data for the whole thing so you better be on a flat data rate if you want to use it.

Google maps navigation in landscape mode

Some other cool features included are voice search, satellite and street view as well as live traffic information. Certainly the best part about the whole deal is that it is free. Yeap, you got that right - aside from the data charges imposed by your carrier, the Google Maps Navigation doesn't cost a penny to use.

And here is a quick video, demonstrating the real-life performance of the application.

Google Maps Navigation is initially available in the United States only but more countries should follow soon. The first handset to come with it will be the CDMA-based Motorola Droid from Verizon.

Nokia 6600i slide review

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:45:00 +0100

Introduction

A while back Nokia released the 6600 pair - the slide and the fold - which we fell for, big time. The seemingly more popular sibling got an update and the 6600i slide will keep on cashing in. Slightly revamped, it brings a beefier camera and a new paintjob to boot.

Looks have changed just a bit and we honestly think they did it right. The consciously minimalist design of the original didn't leave much room for frills anyway. Alright, the 6600i slide is a no-frills package overall, but don't go saying we didn't warn you. It's enjoyable and addictive.

Nokia 6600i slide

Key features:

Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support, dual-band UMTS
2.2" 16M-color QVGA display
5 megapixel camera, autofocus and LED flash
VGA video recording at 15fps
S40 user interface, 5th edition
Bluetooth (with A2DP)
Stereo FM radio with RDS
microSD card slot (up to 16 GB), 1GB included
Ovi Maps for S40 come preinstalled
Ovi Contacts, Share on Ovi, YouTube, MySpace and Facebook applications preinstalled
Really compact and extra smooth metal body
Sweet oval shapes and neat slider design
Accelerometer for tap-for-time and tap-to-mute

Main disadvantages:

No HSDPA
Display brightness is quite low
Poor browser and no Opera Mini preinstalled
Memory card slot under the battery, no hot-swap
No dedicated shutter key
Below par camera quality
No 3.5 mm audio jack or a two-piece headset in the box
No smart dialing
No multi-tasking, especially uncomfortable in Ovi Contacts and the social networking applications
No office document viewer
Loudspeaker loudness is only marginally improved

No need to tell you, the "i" in any Nokia model designation is there to save face. It's like Nokia saying: here's a phone that sells big, so be our guest - keep on buying it. It's more of a relaunch than an update. And we're not pointing fingers here - if you have a massive seller the first thing on your mind would be to keep it rolling.

Just remember the 6300 - it did wonders for the Finns, so the 6300i followed in due course. Yes, it added Wi-Fi to its predecessor's feature set but that can really be seen as an exception and was meant for select markets only. And by the way, Nokia might have a point. The 3G-enabled 6600 slide can do without WLAN and a better camera will perhaps serve its market better.

Anyway, "i" models are incremental updates - they build on the previous device rather than turn it into something completely new. In that sense, the last people to be viewed as potential customers are current 6600 slide owners. If we were to upgrade from Nokia 6600 slide, we'd probably be considering Symbian - or maybe an all-in-one feature phone like the 6260 slide.

Accordingly, the real job of the 6600i slide is to pick up the customers the original missed and serve the Nokia midrange more in keeping with the time.

Neat and friendly is the name of the game

We've made it safely to the first jump, so you get ready to head to the next page, while we bring up the Nokia 6600i slide retail box and prepare to look inside.

Sony Ericsson C901 review: Cyber-shot reloaded

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:44:00 +0100

Introduction

At first, you might think that the Sony Ericsson C901 is just another 5-megapixel cameraphone. Well, that’s not terribly exciting in the current market bustling with 8-megapixel snappers, and probing the boundaries at 12. But you’d be wrong. Be it for the simple reason that the C901 is one of the few handsets out there sporting a Xenon flash. And the one on the C901 is special enough to help it stand above the crowd of cameraphones.

Another thing to note is the eco-friendly GreenHeart version which is interestingly enough, is the only flair or C901 that can currently be found on the Sony Ericsson website.

The C901 GreenHeart is trendy for being partially made of recycled materials (though, technically both devices are identical). You can find out more about it here.

Sony Ericsson C901 official photos

Even after reading those lines many would say there is nothing so special about the C901, particularly as it’s not even selling worldwide! Well, we‘ve been inundated with requests that we review it and there’s nothing we like doing more than pleasing our loyal readers.

Key features

Xenon and LED flash equipped 5-megapixel cameraphone, videocalling
Lots of dedicated camera controls
Active camera cover
Quad-band GSM support
3G with HSDPA 3.6 Mbps
2.2" 256K-color display of QVGA resolution
Accelerometer for screen auto-rotation
110 MB of internal memory, M2 expansion (up to 8GB)
Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP
Stereo FM radio with RDS
Motion-based games
Multi-tasking and task manager
Smart dialing

Main disadvantages

Video recording maxes out at QVGA@30fps
No document viewer
Memory card slot under the battery cover
Disappointing retail package contents

Sony Ericsson C901 live shots

The Sony Ericsson C901 is a great value in terms of image quality. Looking at the pictures we took with it makes us nostalgic for the time when Sony Ericsson camerphones set the pace and the others just followed.

Aside from the remarkable imaging though, the C901 is just an ordinary feature phone. And that isn’t a bad thing, since it does its job just fine. Very little to complain about, but at the same time not a huge list of features to get excited about either.

Anyhow, it’s about time we opened the box and started the review, don’t you think? Head for the next page to see what we found in the box and what we thought of the Sony Ericsson C901 design and construction.

Samsung B7620 Giorgio Armani preview: First look

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:43:00 +0100

Introduction

Well, here's for the next phone courtesy of the joint efforts of Giorgio Armani and Samsung. Third in line, it's meant to be the perfect companion for Armani's suits and more importantly, for the executives that wear them. Let's face it, a high-street fashion label phone is all about the statement and a little less about the functionality. The Samsung B7620 Giorgio Armani phones however, delivers on both and it does that with a charm of its own.

Honestly, when we first welcomed the review sample in our office, we were a bit put off by the large size, which seemed to make the golden highlights design even louder aesthetically. However we guess that in the fashion accessories worlds, being loud is the best way to attract the much sought-after attention.

After all, the B7620 is not tacky, it's just plain golden to our taste. And as you probably remember, our fearless editors don't mind dipping their feet in stores full of gold mobiles. So here goes, our quick preview of the Samsung B7620 Giorgio Armani as we briefly took it out for a spin.

Samsung B7620 Giorgio Armani held in hand

Samsung B7620 Giorgio Armani at a glance:

General: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, UMTS 900/1900/2100 MHz, EDGE class 10, HSDPA 7.2 Mbps; HSUPA 5.76 Mbps
Form factor: Slide-and-tilt full QWERTY touch phone
Dimensions: 118.5 x 58.3 x 16.4 mm, weight 164 grams
Display: 3.5" 16M color (65K effective) resistive AMOLED touchscreen of WVGA resolution
OS: Windows Mobile 6.5, TouchWiz 2.0 UI, Work&Leisure mode switch key
Memory: 8GB built-in storage, 192 MB RAM, hot-swappable microSD (up to 16GB)
CPU: 800 MHz processor with dedicated graphics accelerator
Camera: 5 megapixel auto-focus, with dual LED flash and VGA video at 30 fps
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP, standard microUSB port, GPS receiver with A-GPS, TV out
Misc: Accelerometer for screen auto rotate and turn-to-mute, FM radio with RDS, DivX/XviD video support
Battery: 1500mAh Li-Ion battery

You can easily tell - just by looking at the Samsung B7620 Giorgio Armani model name - that's it's a really close relative to the already available Samsung B7610 OmniaPRO. Well, there are some hardware differences, of course. The new Armani phone can tilt its screen and has 8 gigs worth of internal storage, but it comes with a slightly larger footprint and doesn't have the 3.5mm audio jack of the OmniaPRO. Still, as you can see, they're almost like twin brothers.

Samsung B7620 Giorgio Armani next to Samsung B7610 OmniaPRO

But let's have a nice look of the new Armani phone by Samsung on its own, after all, it's the start of today's show.

Windows Mobile 6.5 review: Saving steam for seven

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:41:00 +0100

The OS is half a phone's worth and there's little wonder everyone is trying to make it the better half. In the case of Windows Mobile the emphasis really is on everyone. Version 6.5 is up and running but is it the upgrade everyone was waiting for?

The better part of the Windows Mobile 6.5 army

You don't get to see OS reviews on our homepage too often, but this is such an eagerly awaited release that we just have to see if it lives up to the hype. Windows Mobile did need a design and usability overhaul - and you don't have to trust us on that. Go check out what HTC, Samsung and SPB have been doing about it. Alright, Microsoft must've thought it's about time they did something too.

Rumors of a new WinMo release started to fly just about this time last year, but it was not until a few months later that the official confirmation was finally out. Meanwhile, the inevitable leaks were rather quick to tone down the premature enthusiasm of PocketPC buffs.

It seemed at that point that the changes introduced by the WinMo 6.5 were almost nonexistent. Well, early leaks have never been real trustworthy stuff, so as soon as there was official word from Microsoft part of the excitement started to return.

Promises of increased user-friendliness, better browsing and an app store were made and it once again seemed the 6.5 could be the thing everyone was waiting for. And those leaked screenshots were pretty neat too.

Truth be told, we were still pretty skeptical at that point but seeing manufacturers all eager to hop on the bandwagon made us hopeful again. At the time of the official release of Windows Mobile 6.5, four major manufacturers had already announced handsets that were either shipping with the new OS or eligible for a free upgrade.

We even took a couple of them for a spin already and if you have been keeping track you'd probably know what to expect from this article. The Samsung I8000 Omnia II was indeed an inspiring performer but there's no escaping the fact that a large part of its charm was in hardware (mostly the magnificent 3.7" AMOLED display and the fast CPU). From a software point of view we're more impressed with TouchWiz rather than WinMo 6.5. Sony Ericsson XPERIA X2 didn't manage to win our hearts completely but still had a trick or two up its sleeve.

So now, we're bringing the Windows Mobile out of its third-party guises and focusing on the upgrades 6.5 claims to carry. What we've seen so far tells us the massive overhaul has been postponed. But let's see if the changes are enough to buy Microsoft time to bring WinMo 7 as close to perfection as possible.

Windows Mobile 6.5 startup sceren

It is a hard enough task now that the competition is keener than ever to bite off massive chunks of the WinMo market. So, even if Windows Mobile 6.5 doesn't convert new believers it should at least be able to stand its ground against overly-ambitious newbies. Android, Symbian S60 touch, WebOS and Mac OS X are all much younger than the WinMo platform but their rapid rise must've got Redmond by surprise.

Join us on the next page to see how Microsoft are trying to respond. And is 6.5 their way to play defense or are they keen to counter-attack.

Samsung I7500 Galaxy review: A hitchhiker's guide

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:39:00 +0100

Introduction

Android is set on grabbing the number two spot in the smartphone market by 2012 and the Samsung I7500 Galaxy might be the type of phone to get it there. Perhaps less for the Galaxy at this point, and more for the Samsung, but we'll see about that.

Samsung I7500 Galaxy official photos

The I7500 Galaxy is a "Google experience" phone, and has the intrinsic advantage of having the search giant's infrastructure behind its back. For one, YouTube and Picasa integration sure add value to the 5-megapixel camera.

And as to people who spend their time digging around the Internet for oft hard to find information, we really appreciate the improved search widget. And that thingy is about to get better - Android is a bit like Google's other projects, a perpetual work in progress that keeps getting new features and polishes the occasional rough edges.

The I7500 Galaxy is the company's first take on Android but if we put the OS aside, it should be a solid Samsung touchscreen with all the gadgetry we've got used to in smartphones. Of course, the Android platform still has a few issues to address and get some annoying limitations out of the way. Let's see what this here Android by Samsung can do for you and where it might fail.

Key features

Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support
3G with HSDPA 7.2 Mbps and HSUPA 5.76Mbps
Android OS v1.5 (codenamed Cupcake) without customizations
3.2" capacitive AMOLED touchscreen of HVGA resolution
Qualcomm MSM72000A 528MHz CPU, 128MB RAM
5 MP autofocus camera with LED flash, geo-tagging, YouTube and Picasa integration
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g and GPS receiver
Accelerometer sensor for auto-rotate and turn-to-mute
Digital compass for automatic navigation of maps
Standard microUSB port for charging and data
microSD card slot with microSDHC support
8GB internal storage
Stereo Bluetooth (A2DP)
3.5 mm audio jack

Main disadvantages

No smart dialing
Camera features are a bit outdated
No videocalling
No multi-touch gestures
No Flash support in the web browser (coming soon via the Open Screen Project)
No DivX/XviD video support or a third-party application to play that
No FM radio
No TV-out port
No voice dialing
Somewhat limited 3rd party software availability
No Bluetooth file transfers (not without rooting)
No tethering (not without a custom ROM)

Samsung I7500 Galaxy live shots

Samsung have established a strong presence in the touchscreen market. Their usual weapon of choice is TouchWiz, which brings PocketPCs and feature phones closer together, projecting a consistent brand image.

With the Galaxy, they're stepping out of their comfort zone - a new OS and a new interface. TouchWiz for Android is yet to come (and in the case of I7500 never is more likely than later).

To make sure it does well, Samsung have equipped the Galaxy to match to specs of the top Android phones available on the market. And it sure needs every bit of ammo if it's going to challenge the well-entrenched HTC Hero. The I7500 Galaxy can take it on spec for spec and even win a few rounds.

But that's on paper, and we guess you're curious to see the real deal. Jump to the next page for this Einstein's worth of a question: what is the Galaxy made of?

Satio vs. Pixon12: 12MP shootout teaser

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:38:00 +0100

Introduction

It took cameraphones exactly one year to take the next step in their evolution, closing the gap on dedicated digicams even more. As usual we are here, carefully tracking the progress and checking out if it's going in the right direction.

Samsung M8910 Pixon12 and the Sony Ericsson Satio are easily two of the most interesting phones in our database and their appeal is in no small part due to the 12 megapixel shooters that are mounted on their backs.

Sony Ericsson Satio • Samsung M8910 Pixon12

Back in the day, Samsung INNOV8 was first to exceed even the most optimistic expectations producing photos of quality unknown to the GSM world before. We are now curious if the Satio and the Pixon12 will take another leap forward, to virtually null the difference in image quality between cameraphones and digicams.

Of course the answer to that question will come in the form of one of our trademark full-blown shootouts but until that's finished we decided to give you some food for thought. We've posted several camera samples that we took with the retail units of Samsung M8910 Pixon12 and Sony Ericsson Satio for you to enjoy and compare.

The two competitors

For now we will refrain from passing any judgment on the image quality, leaving the stage to you instead. Feel free to drop a line in the comment section about which of the two cameras you like better.

So take a comfortable seat and prepare to meet the future of cameraphones. A host of 12 megapixel samples awaits after the jump.

More images of the HTC Pro Three a.k.a. Leo surfaced

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 20:26:00 +0100

More images of the HTC Pro Three a.k.a. Leo surfaced

We've just spotted some new images of the getting more and more popular HTC Pro Three (also known as Leo). Even if most of its specs are known since July the device is still waiting for its official announcement.

HTC Pro Three looks damn hot

The news is that Pro Three is expected to be the first WinMo based device to pack a capacitive touchscreen (measuring 4.3 inches, with multi-touch support including while watching video). That makes the Pro Three the first capacitive WinMo handset ever. The phone will also sport the latest reincarnation of company's proprietary TouchFLO 3D user interface which was already previewed a while ago.

The latest reincarnation of HTC TouchFLO 3D

The smooth operation of the Pro Three is guaranteed by its super zippy 1GHz Snapdragon CPU. Standing at the formidable 121 x 67 x 11 mm, it will also sport 320MB of RAM, 512MB ROM as well as HSDPA, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support.

At the bottom of the specs list we find the microSD card slot, integrated GPS receiver with A-GPS support, on-device 3.5mm audio output jack, a 5-megapixel autofocus camera and the 1230 mAh battery.

Pro Three compared to HTC Touch Diamond2 • Closer look at the Pro Three

Well, the HTC Pro Three seems quite promising. Looks great, works fast and has something the other WinMo powered smartphones can only dream of - a capacitive touchscreen. Come on, HTC, hurry up and clear out the rest of the unknowns. Some pricing info and released date would be a good start if we are to be asked.

LG BL20 New Chocolate appears in new colors, GW300 is there too

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 20:24:00 +0100

LG BL20 New Chocolate appears in new colors, GW300 is there too

LG opened a new office in Amstelveen, Holland and decided to show off the LG BL20 New Chocolate's color range plus some interesting info about its UI. The LG GW300 was also at the party along with some other models we've already seen.

The BL20, which originally leaked as BL42, has the traditional Chocolate look and form factor, unlike theLG BL40 New Chocolate. The color options are also very reminiscent of the original Chocolate.

LG BL20 New Chocolate in all the colors we've seen so far

Anyway, the interesting thing here is that BL20 New Chocolate apparently runs a non-touch version of the S-Class user interface, despite earlier rumors. The S-Class UI has so far been reserved for touchscreen handsets, but here is an interesting piece of trivia for you - it is reportedly much smoother on the BL20 than it was on the LG GD900 Crystal.

The other phone of interest was the LG GW300. It has a full QWERTY keyboard, a QVGA screen, 2MP camera, microSD card slot and 3.5 mm audio jack. It doesn't have 3G connectivity but with a price of about 100 euro, the LG GW300 will be one of the most affordable full-QWERTY handsets on the market.

LG GW300 would be an affordable full QWERTY phone

Release dates are still unknown, as we are waiting for LG to step in and officially announce the LG BL20 New Chocolate.

A wall of current and upcoming LG phones

Samsung B7330 OmniaPRO pops up, old Omnias get WinMo 6.5

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 20:22:00 +0100

Samsung B7330 OmniaPRO pops up, old Omnias get WinMo 6.5

Samsung has been playing around with the "Upgrade" magic wand - the new Samsung B7330 OmniaPRO is an upgrade of the B7320 OmniaPRO. Also, the proud owners of the Windows Mobile side of the current Omnia lineup rejoice - you're getting the update to WinMo 6.5.

The new Samsung B7330 OmniaPRO brings a slightly bigger, square-shaped screen with 320 x 320 resolution (B7320 OmniaPROhas a QVGA screen). The 3G capabilities have also been updated with the addition of HSUPA 2Mbps and faster HSDPA at 7.2Mbps (versus the 3.2 of the B7320).

The rest of the Omnia lineup will be re-launched, with the "new" devices running Windows Mobile 6.5 out of the box. Sounds like an excuse to throw a party, but it's also a good way to promote your products.

The Samsung B7610 OmniaPRO is the premium device in the OmniaPRO series, with B7320 and B7330 serving as the mid-range. The upcoming Samsung B7300 OmniaLITE will be the entry-level Omnia device though don't underestimate it. In short it offers- WinMo 6.5, 667MHz CPU, HSDPA, Wi-Fi, A-GPS, VGA@30 fps video recording and then some.

The B7330 is coming in October along with the Samsung B7300 OmniaLITE and as for the update to Windows Mobile for current owners of an Omnia handset - Samsung was a little vague, saying just that it will be after the release of 6.5.

Opera Mini 5 beta out now, tabs and speed dial onboard

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 20:21:00 +0100

Opera Mini 5 beta out now, tabs and speed dial onboard

Today Opera Software released a new fifth version of the world most popular and widespread mobile web browser - the Opera Mini. Introducing new features and sleek design its beta is already available for download.

Opera Mini 5 comes hot on the heels of its bigger brother - the desktop Opera 10, which was released just two weeks ago, with a revamped design and improved functionality. As a start - the tabbed browsing comes to the mobile Opera version, allowing fast jumping from one page to another.

Next is the Speed Dial, offering quick access to your favorite pages directly from the browser's start page. Similar to the desktop Google Chrome and Opera 10, the Opera Mini 5 will offer you 9 page thumbs on its home screen, which can either be selected manually or left to be filled up automatically with the most frequently visited web sites.

Speed Dial and tabbed browsing

A password manager is also onboard the Opera Mini 5, storing various passwords and user names for e-mails, social networks, online banking, etc.

Finally the Opera Mini 5 is optimized for usage on both touchscreen and regular keypad phones. Considering the great heritage its has, we are almost certain that it will deliver pretty good browsing experience.

Opera Mini 5

Opera Mini 5 is still in beta version, but it is available for download to all Java enabled mobile phones (there's also a dedicated version for the Blackberry devices). You can download it straight from your handset at http://m.opera.com/next.