Cell Phone Reviews, News and Blog

HTC P6500 Sedna Officially Released

2007-11-11T22:05:00.000-08:00

HTC P6500 Sedna has just been unveiled and proves not to be the average smartphone right from the start. The handset targets especially the business market, people that rely on their PDA phone for handling their work when out of the office.

HTC Sedna shows some impressive specifications that make this one of the most powerful such devices out there. The 3.5 inch screen is not something you see in every smartphone out there and should prove to be extremely handy for viewing large images. The fact that it is an anti-glare touchscreen makes it even more special and in line with the current trend that finds this feature to be an extremely important one.

This is a Quadband GSM phone and also packs tri-band WCDMA technology, which should make it compatible to several networks. The handset also includes several solutions for data management, with HSDPA connectivity being the most important one. It would have been a real shame not to have this capability, as fast data transfer speeds are quite important for strong mobile devices. To make the package complete, HTC Sedna also includes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity.

The 3 megapixel camera that this PDA phone has included should be able to take high quality captures, especially as it also includes auto-focus. Another impressive aspect about it is that it also brings GPS technology, a feature that is rapidly spreading among mobile phones.

HTC Sedna runs on a Qualcomm 400MHz processor, which makes it a powerful device. It has 256MB internal memory with the option to add up to 1GB in addition to two external SD card slots. It works on Microsoft Windows Mobile 6 Professional operating system, which proves the fact that it is one of the most powerful such devices out there.

HTC P6500 Sedna will be available in stores starting this November, although the producer did not mention anything about its price.

via softpedia

Sony Ericsson K660 Finally Unveiled

2007-11-11T21:58:00.000-08:00

Just as expected, Sony Ericsson made a major release yesterday, unveiling the K660 handset. The device brings some of the most evolved features, all wrapped in a fresh and appealing design. Sony Ericsson K660 is a 3G enabled handset, which means that it will manage to provide fast data transfer speeds for its user.

It will allow him to handle blogs and surf the web at high rates, after going past the small screen issue. For this, the user can even zoom in for a closer look at text or images. Moreover, the K660 also includes a Bookmark function, a single click button that takes the user back to the Home Page and an ‘Enter Address’ shortcut, highly similar to PC based internet. The phone’s design is one of its strongest points, as it looks both sporty and stylish in two color combination of lime green with white and black with red. It also packs the Google Mapsfor Mobile, a software which manages to replace the functions of the regular GPS.

The 2 megapixel camera will manage to bring only average quality pictures and nothing impressive. There’s no harm in that, as the phone targets especially those people who need a mobile device for surfing the web rather than one for shooting pictures. “This Web-optimised phone is a clear step along that journey and will appeal to individuals who are managing their busy lives and social networks online, whether its arranging to meet up for a football match or booking concert tickets”, said Martin Winkler, Head of Web Marketing at Sony Ericsson.

This proves to be only part of “Sony Ericsson’s vision to offer ‘Generation Web’ a mobile internet experience that’s rich, user-friendly and satisfying”, he further added.

There is still a lot of time left to wait until seeing this phone in stores, as Sony Ericsson K660 will be available starting with the first quarter of year 2008.

via softpedia

SOS Tracker Function For Nokia GPS Phone

2007-11-11T21:41:00.000-08:00

PhantomEye has announced the launch of MySpot, a personal security tracking software designed to give users a one click SOS “Panic Button” on their Nokia 6110 Navigator.

The MySpot allows a user to leave behind a personal location trail of “electronic breadcrumbs” - and notify multiple people by email, SMS, voice call, etc. when in an emergency situation, the company says.

PhantomEye Chairman, Ken W. Stokes said, “Before MySpot, users had to carry a special device to indicate an emergency situation and using conventional mobile phones, call up several numbers. The new MySpot solution from phantomEye solves all that complexity with a single SOS ‘Panic Button’ slide and click which can then call up to 20 pre-configured phones, send endless e-mail, SMS, IM and twitter messages (leaving a trail of so called cascading electronic breadcrumbs) - all with the current or last location of the user – and without further action needed on behalf of the sender. As a backup one phone number is also automatically dialled from the phone and this can be 000, back to base for security operatives, or in the case of teenage children – the parents!”

“While many mobile phones use GPS navigation for a variety of functions, most often to give location information and directions to the person using the phone. MySpot works in reverse – it allows a pre determined group of recipients to keep track of, and locate, the user. I believe phantomEye can now claim the GPS leading edge by exploiting this niche technology software and turning mobile phones into a “location documenting” device, sending/recording serial “electronic breadcrumbs” and offering high priority alert forwarding capability” Stokes added.

RRP: $30 one-time fee activation

See: www.phantomeye.com

The top 10 selling PDAs/Smart phones in October 2007 from Krusell

2007-11-11T20:56:00.000-08:00

Krusell’s top 10 for October shows Apple iphone further will strengthen its position on the market. In United Kingdom and Germany it is already official that iPhone will exclusively be launched with the operator O2, and T-mobile. With the debut in Europe we will most likely see a boost in sales just in time for Christmas. Thus we have made an extra effort to launch model specific cases within this segment, and we will see an exiting coming months of cases in line with Apples assortment from Krusell, says Ulf Sandberg, Managing Director at Krusell.
1. (2) Nokia 6300
2. (1) Sony Ericsson K810i
3. (3) Nokia N95
4. (5) Nokia N73
5. (7) Apple iphone
6. (8) Nokia 3109/3110
7. (4) Sony Ericsson P1
8. (-) Sony Ericsson K850i
9. (6) Sony Ericsson W880i
10. (-) Sony Ericsson K530i
() = Last month’s position.
The Swedish manufacturer of carrying cases for portable electronics, Krusell, has released their ‘Top 10′ list for October 2007. The list is based upon the number of pieces of model specific mobile and smart phone cases that have been ordered from Krusell during October 2007. Krusell’s list is unique due to the fact that it reflects the sales of phones on six continents and in more than 50 countries around the globe.

via pdasnews

[Video] Hacker clones Sony Ericsson W580i shake function to Nokia N95

2007-11-08T20:37:00.000-08:00

The Sony Ericsson W580i has a gimmicky feature that enables you to shake the device to change track. Someone, and I’m trying to score more details on the guy, copied that functionality to the Nokia N95 which we just found out recently has a full blown accelerometer inside.

via intoMobile

[Video] Nokia N95 vs N95 8GB

2007-11-08T20:34:00.000-08:00

Look what we’ve found this morning on YouTube. It’s the iGadgetLife’s video that compares two Nokia’s high-end smartphones - N95 and its successor N95 8GB. There’s no doubt the latter is a more powerful device. It has a larger screen, more RAM, better battery, boots faster and let’s not forget that sexy multimedia menu. That doesn’t mean the N95 is bad at all, it’s just that if you want a new Nokia smartphone, save a little and get yourself the eight gig version… Enjoy the 9-minute long video.

via IntoMobile

[Video] Comparison on Windows Mobile and iPhone!

2007-11-08T20:31:00.000-08:00

So much of what needs comparing between these two devices is software experience, so it had to be a video. And it turned into a more general “Windows Mobile vs. iPhone” sort of deal, so we bring you a long (25 minutes, too long for YouTube!) one. So grab a cuppa joe and witness the (low-key) smackdownery. If you don’t have time just now, here’s the short version:

iPhone: Absolutely rocks the universe with its media capabilities and its browser.

Windows Mobile: Still the king of productivity. …with plenty of “check out this native 3rd party app” cheap shots thrown in at the end.

Basically we’re looking at a situation that matches with everybody’s expectations surprisingly well - the Apple product is hip, flashy, and surprisingly easy to use. The Windows product actually lets you, you know, work. Now in the desktop world, I find that the Mac lets me do the work I need to as well (if not better) than Windows. But in the mobile space, well, the cloying commercials fit pretty well.

via pdasnews

Opera Mini 4 final release now available

2007-11-08T20:29:00.000-08:00

Opera, the only company that puts the Web on any device, today released Opera Mini 4, the newest version of Opera’s worldwide mobile browsing sensation. Opera Mini 4 inspires the senses with its stunning desktop overview mode, so users see the page exactly as it appears on their computers. People can then use the intuitive Opera Zoom to fly into the page and access the content you want. Or they can select Opera’s Small Screen Rendering to eliminate horizontal scrolling.Opera Mini 4 is a free download, over the air, to your phone from http://www.operamini.com/

KISS60 enables Flash Lite screensavers on Symbian S60 3rd devices!

2007-10-29T10:02:00.000-07:00

Ever wanted to have an animated screensaver on your Nokia smartphone (or any other Symbian S60 3rd edition based device)? Well, now you can thanks to KISS60, the application which “enables users to collect, manage, share and enjoy” Adobe Flash Lite screensavers on their S60 smartphones.

KISS60 is work of Finland-based mobile design and development company, Kuneri, and has been created using the company’s KuneriLite Rapid Application Development toolkit for Adobe Flash Lite. It (KISS60) has an easy to use interface, allowing users to seamlessly create their own screensaver collections, download new screensavers and share them using SMS or Bluetooth. The application is in public beta, and you can grab it free of charge from here.

via pdasnews

3 launches new Skype mobile phone

2007-10-29T10:01:00.000-07:00

Mobile phone provider 3 has launched a new handset that will allow users to make free calls over the internet via telephony service Skype. Users will also be able to use Skype's instant messaging service, 3 said. But while people using Skype on their computers are able to make cheap global calls to any phone number, this will not be possible via the new 3 handset. Skype has about 246 million registered users worldwide and is one of the firms reshaping the global phone industry.
To date, mobile phone companies have been unwilling to let users freely access Skype via their handsets for fear that it would hurt their business. While it is possible to access Skype from a number of handsets, this has involved downloading third-party software, something that has put off the majority of users.

The Skype-phone will be the first instance of a phone operator launching a mass market device that is designed to allow free calling over the internet from a mobile, 3 said. "It takes an innovative operator... to challenge traditional thinking and offer the kind of product other operators are still shying away from," said Skype's acting chief executive, Michael van Swaaij. "It's is now truly mobile. Skype has now taken a giant step forward in the mobile arena. And chief executive of 3 UK, Kevin Russell, said the firm wanted to make mobile internet more accessible. "Services need to be simple to access and affordable," he said. "Mobile has the potential to massively increase access to internet calling."

The service, launching on 2 November, will be accessed by a button on the handset. As well as the UK, the 3 Skype-phone will be launched in countries including Australia, Denmark, Italy and Hong Kong. Pay as you go customers will have to top up their account with at least 10P each month to qualify for the free Skype-to-Skype calls, 3 said.

via pdasnews

Dumb iPhone Commercial Of The Week

2007-10-28T02:53:00.000-07:00

So now the iPhone helps a pilot bust his plane out of a 3-hour tarmac delay by enabling him to surf to Weather.com? That’s the preposterous story line of Apple’s latest commercial, which was inescapable on Sunday whether you were watching football during the day on FOX and CBS, or game seven of the American League Championship Season in the evening.

At least for new “fatty” iPod Nanos, Apple took the soft sell approach, enlisting the charming Feist ditty 1234 in a meta-music-video.

No such luck with the latest iPhone commercial. This one has some guy who’s supposed to be a pilot, telling us his iPhone got him to a weather report which said the storm was breaking, so he “called the tower,” and within a half hour, he was on his way.

Even if that scenario were believable, who is it aimed at? The subgroup of the potential iPhone buying public who has commercial aviation licenses? I much preferred the original iPhone ads, which pulled the wool over everyone’s eyes by grossing inflating the Web-surfing speed of the EDGE network, and let it at that.

Here’s the iPhone “Fly Me” commercial, courtesy of YouTube:

What’s next? Steve Jobs friend Larry Ellison enlisting the iPhone to help him steer around a squall during the America’s Cup?

via InformationWeek

WiMAX is 3G!

2007-10-28T02:52:00.000-07:00

Call it a major victory for WiMAX as a technology and industry. For the first time, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has approved a non-cellular telecommunications technology as part of the union’s 3G standards.

The decision, made at the ITU’s Radiocommunication Sector’s (ITU-R) general meeting in Geneva , Switzerland, means operators with 3G spectrum in the 2.5 GHz bands globally can use WiMAX to build out a network. Although each country’s regulators ultimately decide, the ITU decision usually has a strong influence.

“This is a very special and unique milestone for WiMAX technology,” Ron Resnick, president of the WiMAX Forum, said in a statement. “This is the first time that a new air interface has been added to the IMT-2000 set of standards since the original technologies were selected nearly a decade ago. WiMAX technology currently has the potential to reach 2.7 billion people. And today’s announcement expands the reach to a significantly larger global population.”

IMT-2000 (International Mobile Telecommunications-2000) was approved in 1999 with five cellular standards, including W-CDMA, cdma2000, TD-CDMA, EDGE, and DECT. It essentially meant that one of those technologies had to be used in 3G spectrum. WiMAX, which the ITU calls ODDAM TDD WMAN, had been locked out until the ITU-R decision. A working group approved WiMAX in June.

The ITU’s approval likely won’t resolve the debate over which is the best technology to use in the 2.57 GHz -2.69 GHz spectrum bands. The GSM community has plans to use orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) in its future, with a proposed standard called Long Term Evolution (LTE). The GSM Association had opposed the inclusion of WiMAX in IMT-2000.

WiMAX, although it uses OFDMA, in its current form is a TDD (time division duplex) technology that separates signals by time slots. W-CDMA is a FDD (frequency division duplex) technology that separates signals by frequency. Engineers and companies argue over which is best.

Intel Vice President Sriram Viswanathan, who also is general manager of Intel’s WiMAX business unit, says the ITU’s decision means operators in emerging countries like India and Brazil that already have 2.5 GHz spectrum can use WiMAX for their network buildouts.

It also means that WiMAX could be used for the so-called IMT-2000 Extension Band allocations in some developed European countries later this year or next year. And it also makes WiMAX a possible inclusion in the ITU’s 4G (IMT-Advanced) decisions expected in 2009.

Ironically, the ITU decision also labels WiMAX as a 3G technology although Sprint Nextel is calling it 4G for its planned network launch this year and next.

via wirelessweek

Apple to Release Unlocked iPhone in France

2007-10-28T02:51:00.000-07:00

Apple is releasing an unlocked version of the iPhone that will allow users to run it on various cellular networks. But you have to live in France to get it.

Under a just-announced deal, the European mobile carrier Orange will be the exclusive source for the iPhone in the French market. The unlocked phone is concession to a French law that forbids companies to bundle a cell phone to a specific mobile operator.

According to a report in the International Herald Tribune, Orange will offer both a locked version for its French net for about $560 and an unlocked version for a higher, but undisclosed price. Both are expected to be unveiled in November.

Apple recently signed exclusive deals, similar to the one with U.S.-based AT&T, with Britain’s O2, the wireless division of Spain’s Telefonica, and with Germany’s T-Mobile, a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom.

According to the Tribune report, Orange wouldn’t say whether it had agreed to give Apple a share of the service revenues generated by iPhone users. This is one of the most striking features of Apple’s move into the mobile phone market. The Tribune quoted a Nortel executive on how revolutionary this change is: ‘For operators, having an handset maker suddenly demand a slice of their revenues is like being asked to change your religion,’ said Gerry Collins, the director of strategic marketing at Nortel Networks, a Canadian company that makes wireless phone networks. “This is really a significant change for the industry.

From the outset, Apple’s decision has come under concerted attack by hackers trying to unlock the phone’s SIM card, thereby allowing the phone to run on a network other than AT&T. Apple has made a just-as-concerted counter-attack to undo those hacks.

via PCWorld

Nokia N810 gets official!

2007-10-28T02:50:00.000-07:00

Stay in touch and on the right track with the new pocket-sized Nokia N810 Internet Tablet

Nokia today introduced the Nokia N810 Internet Tablet, signifying a new phase in portable internet communication. You have ability to connect this pocket-sized device to the nearest Wi-Fi hotspot or over your Bluetooth mobile phone. The Nokia N810 allows you to make internet calls; check your Google Mail or Facebook Account; watch the latest videos on YouTube or update your blog using the device’s slide-out keyboard along with its stunning touch screen. Its built-in maps and satellite navigation helps you to find your way. It is expected to start shipping mid November with an estimated retail price of 479 USD (excluding local taxes).

Bringing you closer to communities
Whether you are at home, in the park or in a coffee shop, with the Nokia N810 you will never be far away. With the ability to check emails, read the latest gossip online or IM to your friends, share your moods on your favorite social sites; call via Skype, or get closer by the Gizmo video chat - with the integrated VGA camera - you’ll never be far away from those you want to keep in contact with..

Keeping you on the right track
You may feel lost without it, but with the Nokia N810, you’ll never lose your way. The Nokia N810 has an integrated GPS receiver which allows you to pinpoint your position and find a wide variety of points-of-interests using the pre-loaded maps. Upgrade to Wayfinder’s voice-guided navigation for turn-by-turn directions and explore the world on foot or in the car.

Never be bored again
Whether you’re traveling on the trip of a lifetime or on your daily commute to work, the Nokia N810 is the perfect traveling companion. No Wi-Fi connection on your journey? No need, the Nokia N810 offers up to 45 hours of music playback and memory to store up to 7,500 songs on an optional 10GB memory card*. Its large (4.13″), sharp (800×480 resolution) wide screen makes for a magical experience right in the palm of your hand.
“The Nokia N810 packs the power of a traditional computer into a pocket-sized format. Its open standard technology accelerates the convergence of multiple functionalities and services into a single device”, said Ari Virtanen, Vice President, Convergence Products, Multimedia, Nokia. “Our new Nokia N810 offers users a true Web 2.0 experience in a compact, stylish, yet affordable package - it connects people to what matters to them.”
The Nokia N810 is powered by maemo Linux based OS2008, updatable also on the Nokia N800, the previous internet tablet generation hardware. The Nokia N810 features a highly customizable user interface and contains various novelties such as a Mozilla based browser with Ajax and Adobe flash 9, Bluetooth headset support as well as enhanced video and audio features. The refreshed Video Gizmo, Skype and Rhapsody highlight some most popular downloads available while Boingo Wireless, Earthlink and The Cloud enable Wi-Fi connectivity, across thousands of different locations globally.
Today, Forum Nokia also announced the launch of maemo platform support services for software developers and companies around the world via forum.nokia.com. Currently, Forum Nokia has more than 3.4 million registered users, developing leading mobile applications on Symbian Series 40 and Series 60 platforms. This professional support service complements the developer offering with maemo.org, an open source community sponsored by Nokia.
*Capacity based on 3:45 per song and 128 kbps MP3 encoding.

via PdasNews

Samsung SGH-i560 GPS-smartphone introduced at Symbian Smartphone Show

2007-10-28T02:48:00.000-07:00

Samsung has announced a new smartphone SGH-i560 powered by S60 3rd Edition at Symbian Smartphone Show in London. Samsung SGH-i560 works in GSM 900/1800/1900 MHz and UMTS/HSDPA 2100 MHz networks. The smartphone holds a GPS-receiver. In addition it comes with a 2.4” 262K colors QVGA display with mirror surface, a 3.2-megapixel camera and Bluetooth (A2DP) interface. The i560 carries 150 MB of memory onboard expandable with microSD cards. The device measures 130×51x16 mm.The shipments of Samsung SGH-i560 are set for the end of this year. I’d remind you that the company had announced the release of the GPS-smartphone late in September, and now it is preparing another navigation-enabled device – the SGH-i780 communicator based on Windows Mobile 6 Professional.

via PdasNews

StyleTap CrossPlatform Brings Thousands of Mobile Applications to Symbian

2007-10-28T02:45:00.000-07:00

StyleTap Inc. today announced StyleTap CrossPlatform for Symbian OS which will allow over 20,000 existing applications to run on current and future Symbian smartphones.StyleTap CrossPlatform for Symbian OS brings the largest library of smartphone applications to the largest community of smartphone users, with over 145m Symbian smartphones shipped to date, to over 250 major network operators worldwide.StyleTap CrossPlatform is compatible with most applications written for Palm OS® devices, and enables them to now run on Symbian smartphones. This gives consumers unprecedented freedom to choose the smartphone that meets their needs without losing their investment in mobile applications and accumulated data.
StyleTap CrossPlatform also gives application developers a compelling solution which can help leverage their existing mobile assets to target more devices. Instead of their applications running on a set proportion of mobile devices because they cannot afford to re-engineer their applications for each new device brought to market, StyleTap CrossPlatform offers developers access to millions more potential customers with no re-engineering required.
“By enabling thousands more mobile applications to be used by millions more users, StyleTap CrossPlatform creates enormous value for consumers, application developers and smartphone vendors,” said Gregory Sokoloff, CEO of StyleTap Inc., “By bringing StyleTap CrossPlatform to Symbian OS, the global market-leading smartphone OS, we are fulfilling our commitment to support the smartphone industry to the fullest possible extent.”
StyleTap CrossPlatform for Symbian OS is the newest member of the StyleTap CrossPlatform family of products which will continue to grow to include additional smartphone operating systems. StyleTap is demonstrating CrossPlatform at the Symbian Smartphone Show in London, and expects to ship the product in the first quarter of 2008. Pricing has not yet been finalized. StyleTap CrossPlatform will support Symbian smartphones based on UIQ 3 and S60 3rd Edition. Companies or individuals interested in receiving information about the release of StyleTap CrossPlatform for Symbian should visit http://www.styletap.com/ and subscribe to the StyleTap blog.
“Symbian OS has established itself as the leading OS for smartphones in the world today,” said David Wood, EVP of Research, Symbian Ltd., “As smartphones play an ever increasing role in people’s lives, application software will grow more and more important. We welcome the rich library of applications that StyleTap brings to the Symbian ecosystem and encourage their developers to take advantage of the Symbian marketplace.”
“StyleTap CrossPlatform will bring great value to users of mobile phones based on UIQ. They will now be able to access an extensive set of new applications for their UIQ phones from Sony Ericsson and Motorola. We are very pleased to see this innovation come to market”, said Elisabet Melin, VP Marketing, UIQ Technology AB.
About StyleTap Inc.
StyleTap Inc. is a privately-held Canadian software company founded in 2000 whose mission is to provide the essential software ingredient that enables mobile applications to run on any smartphone. StyleTap Inc. is the developer of StyleTap CrossPlatform for Symbian and StyleTap CrossPlatform for Windows Mobile which are robust, high performance software platforms that enable Symbian OS and Windows Mobile devices to run thousands of software applications that are also compatible with Palm OS devices. StyleTap continues to expand the capabilities of its existing products and extend its unique technology to run on additional devices and operating systems.

via PdasNews

Sony Ericsson announces K630 camera phone

2007-10-28T02:44:00.000-07:00

Sony Ericsson has announced the K630, a stylish camera phone providing music, email and broadband speed data transfers with HSDPA.

The phone comes with Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync preloaded, which allows a computer’s inbox to be mirrored on the phone’s display. This means that urgent emails can be answered while on the move.

A Media Manager function allows media, such as music or videos, to be transferred between the phone and a computer by simply dragging and dropping.

Quick access to often-used websites is provided with just one click, via animated widgets displayed on the phone’s desktop.

The K630 features a 2.0 megapixel camera for stills and moving images. The phone makes sharing photos easy, via MMS, email or postcard. They can also be uploaded to an online gallery, or blogsite.

With its HSDPA functionality, the phone can download a full-length music track in around 14 seconds.

A 256MB Memory Stick Micro (M2) is including for storing up to 3600 full-length tracks. A dedicated music key on the phone makes it easy to navigate tracks.

The K630 comes in two colours – Havana Gold and Quick Black. It weighs just 97 grams and measures 103 x 47 x 15.5 mm.

The Sony Ericsson K630 will be available in selected markets this year.

via Camera-Core

Viruses, Trojans and Remote Snooping: Hackers Release Their Own iPhone SDK

2007-10-28T02:38:00.000-07:00

Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced Wednesday that his company will release a software-development kit for the iPhone in February, to allow programmers to produce third-party applications for the device. But hackers have already come up with their own software-development kit. It allows them to deliver any code they want to the iPhone, including viruses, Trojan horses and the ability to snoop on audio and video.

Developer H.D. Moore has added support for iPhone attacks to the Metasploit Framework. Metasploit is an open source hacking tool used by computer-security administrators and black hats alike to create security applications and exploits.

Moore posted sample exploits and detailed instructions this week on how to write and deliver code that can take complete control of an iPhone.

The move takes hackers one step closer to being able to remotely and surreptitiously take control of an iPhone and turn it into a surveillance device.

But it also makes it easier for white hats to develop and install custom software for their own iPhones.

Moore’s tool and exploits take advantage of a vulnerability in the TIFF image-rendering library that’s used by the iPhone’s browser, mail and music software.

It’s the same vulnerability that has allowed numerous Apple customers to unlock and customize their iPhones. But Moore’s Metasploit Framework does much more, giving hackers remote shell access to iPhones that will allow them to run any code on the device.

“All you have to do is get somebody to open a TIFF image with an exploit in it ,and you’ve owned the phone,” says Rik Farrow, a security consultant and corporate speaker who delivered a security talk to Apple employees last year.

Attackers could conceivably write code to hijack the contacts in an iPhone address book, access the list of received and sent calls and messages, turn the phone into a listening device, track the user’s location, or instruct the phone to snap photos of the user’s surroundings — including any companions who may be in view of the camera lens.

Moore wrote on his blog that the iPhone is more vulnerable than other phones, because every application on the phone runs as “root.” That means a bug in the calculator application, for example, could lead to full access privileges on the device.

Simply patching the TIFF vulnerability in the iPhone won’t solve Apple’s problem. The Metasploit Framework allows hackers to easily mix and match exploits and payloads. That means hackers can develop code for the iPhone independent of any particular security hole, then deliver by means of whatever vulnerability in the phones is known and still unpatched at the time.

Jobs said in his announcement that the company is moving slowly on releasing the official SDK because it wants to provide broad access to developers, while also protecting users from hackers and others who might have ill designs on cracking the phones. That suggests the company recognizes it made a blunder by allowing full system privileges for every application.

“Apple is savvy enough to realize that this is really terrible,” says Farrow. “And it’s going to take them until February to actually be able to release the SDK, because they’re going to have to do basic things to the cellphone operating system itself to make it secure. So we’re not just talking about a software-development kit, we’re talking about fixing something that has major flaws in the security of it as it exists.”

But Moore and Farrow say to fix the problem, the company will need to do more, such as create precise rules in the system to limit what a malicious application can do on the phone. 

“From what I’ve seen of the design of the phone, it doesn’t look like an easy task,” Moore says.

So why didn’t Apple do this before releasing the phone?

“Apple wants to sell really fancy, glitzy appliances that have great consumer appeal,” Farrow says. “And security has never been one of those things that has great consumer appeal. So Apple is totally correct to ship out an insecure product, because people snap them up. But at the same time I’m sure that there were engineers at Apple saying, ‘This is totally insane. We are going to get so hammered for this.’”

“There are some very clue-ful people there. But my impression is that they have to work very hard to make security a priority.”

Apple did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

via Wired

Apple asserts iPhone meets eco standards

2007-10-17T00:35:00.000-07:00

Facing a lawsuit for allegedly using toxic substances in the iPhone, Apple today told MacWorld that the device "meets the restrictions placed on hazardous substances."

"Like all Apple products worldwide, iPhone complies with RoHS [Restriction of Hazardous Substances], the world's toughest restrictions on toxic substances in electronics," an Apple spokesperson told Macworld. "As we have said, Apple will voluntarily eliminate the use of PVC and BFRs by the end of 2008."

The declaration comes in the wake of a report from Greenpeace accusing Apple is using phthalates in the plastic earphone wiring. Phthalates is considered a reproductive toxin.

Although the iPhone may meet ROHS standards, the Center for Environmental Health (CEH) is asserting the Apple has violated California law, which says that products that can expose consumers to phthaltes or other such chemicals must carry a warning label.

The CEH has given Apple 60-days legal notice, which is the first required by California law before a lawsuit is launched.

via infoworld

Palm Treo 500v Launched in Singapore

2007-10-15T03:09:00.000-07:00

Palm announced the availability of the Treo 500v smartphone in Singapore on the MobileOne network. The Palm Treo 500v runs on the Windows Mobile 6 standard platform and includes high speed 3G/UMTS Internet access.

The Treo 500v, is the first device in Asia to carry the new Vodafone user interface on Windows Mobile 6 Standard edition (formerly WM Smartphone edition). The new device delivers enhanced usability and ease of navigation to customers who want to keep on top of their work and social lives while on the go.

"The Treo 500v's sleek design and social-centric functionality, combined with M1's high-speed 3G/UMTS network, deliver a compelling solution to a new generation of customers that enhances their mobile experience," said P. Subramaniam, director of Enterprise and Alliances, M1. "The Treo 500v on the M1 network will appeal to a growing number of customers who are using their mobile devices to keep them in touch on the go, and helps balance work and leisure." "The new Treo 500v adds a third internet ready Vodafone live! and Microsoft Windows Mobile device to our recently announced Global Handset range," said Jens Schulte-Bockum, Global Terminals Director, Vodafone Group.

"When combined with our high-speed 3G/UMTS network and fast access to the internet, along with great browsing and messaging support, we are confident the Palm Treo 500v will appeal to the growing group of consumers looking for the same functionality and ease of use our business customers continue to enjoy from this type of premium device."

The Treo 500 comes with a full qwerty keyboard and a 240x320 Transflective display with support for 65k colours. It has a tri-band GSM radio supporting the 900/1800/1900 bands and UTMS 2100. It includes 256MB memory with 150MB available for user storage and a microSD expansion slot. It also features a 2 megapixel digital camera and a Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR and stereo headset support. A mini USB port is provides for charging and connectivity as well as a 2.5mm headset jack. A removable 1200mAh battery is present for a claimed 10 day stand-by rating with 4.5 hours of talk time. It has dimensions of 16.5mm (D) x 61.5mm (W) x 110mm (H) (.65" x 2.4" x 4.3" inches) and weighs 120 grams (4.23 ounces).

The Palm Treo 500v smartphone is available now from M1 shops and selected M1 dealers for S$498 (on a two-year plan, inclusive of GST). For a limited period, customers also will receive 6 months of free subscription to M1's 3G SunSurf 10 Plan/VAS (Value Added Service) which is bundled with 5MB of free local data monthly and valued at S$10.70 per month. The Treo 500v also will be available from major retail outlets in Singapore.

via pdasnews

Vertu Signature 18K ripoff

2007-10-15T03:01:00.000-07:00

Here is the latest Vertu ripoff direct from China. Like all previous Vertu ripoffs/clone…they just don't look good and expensive like the real deal. They look cheap, tacky and even ugly. This one is marketed as a mini Vertu since it has smaller dimensions than the real one. It tries to look premium since it is constructed with metal and is 18K gold plated (it also has leather on the back) . Anyways, here are some specs.

- 1.8 inch 260K 176×220 touchscreen
- VGA camera
- microSD support
- A2DP
- measures 100×40×15 mm
- weighs 75 grams
- comes in two color versions
- metal construction with 18K gold

via mphonefrenzy

Fake Nokia N82 (CECT N82) spotted

2007-10-15T02:46:00.000-07:00

Even though we still wait to see Nokia N82 released, China-based CECT has already made their “version” of the device. To be fair, there’s no Nokia branding on this phone — it’s just the name “Nxx” ala Nokia that bother us.

Anyway, the CECT N82 comes with a 2.6″ QVGA touchscreen, 1.3 MP camera, stereo speakers, stereo Bluetooth support, and the standard microSD memory slot. It measures 110×50x17 mm, weighs 80 grams and no, we don’t know how much it costs, though I would expect it to be quite cheap.

Check out two more photos after the jump.

via IntoMobile

Nokia N95 8GB pre-loaded with Spider-man 3 Movie

2007-10-15T02:43:00.000-07:00

Nokia started to ship the Nokia N95 8GB smartphone pre-loaded with the full-length Spider-man 3 movie loaded on the phone.

Boasting up to 8GB of built-in memory, the Nokia N95 8GB has all the key features of its predecessor, including a 5MP camera with Carl Zeiss optics, built-in A-GPS, WLAN, HSDPA and an 2-way slide mechanism.

You can watch Spider-man 3 on the 2.8" (240 x 320) QVGA display of the N95.
The Nokia N95 8GB started to ship from Nokia globally today and should be hitting a store near you soon. The Spider-man 3 movie is pre-loaded on the N95 *GB in Europe and selected countries in Middle East and Africa region.

The N95 8GB multimedia computer has an estimated retail price of EUR 560 (~$800) before taxes or subsidies.

via i4u

"Ship Me!" Says the Nokia N95 8GB

2007-10-15T02:41:00.000-07:00

The stunning Nokia N95 8GB made its debut global shipments today, and will be hitting a store near you soon. The Nokia N95 8GB is the memory-packed big brother of the Nokia N95 multimedia computer.

"Our Nokia Nseries family has expanded with added pizzazz and performance with the Nokia N95 8GB, a device as personal as it is powerful," said Jonas Geust, vice president, Multimedia, at Nokia. "We've reached a pinnacle with the Nokia N95 and now with the addition of one of the largest ever displays, built-in Assisted-GPS and improved battery power, the Nokia N95 8GB takes entertainment enjoyment to another level."

Boasting up to eight gigabytes of built-in memory, the Nokia N95 8GB has all the key features of its predecessor, including a 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, built-in A-GPS, WLAN, HSDPA and an innovative 2-way slide. The sleek black N95 8GB also boasts a luminous 2.8" (240 x 320) QVGA display, so watching videos, browsing the Internet or viewing maps is a real pleasure. With its expanded memory, the N95 8GB offers up to 20 hours of video or up to 6000 songs(i).

Entertaining yourself has taken on a whole new meaning with this multimedia computer, optimized for enjoying videos, playing games, or even locating your favorite destinations with A-GPS.

The ideal companion for any lull in your day, the Nokia N95 8GB supports services like Nokia Music Store and N-Gage Games(ii), so you can delve into a world of leisure. Access millions of music tracks from the Nokia Music Store or get a sneak-peak at N-Gage gaming - live later this year. Test out games like FIFA 2007 and Asphalt 3: Street Rules(iii). Once N-Gage goes live, you'll be able to try games for free before deciding on your purchase.

Now with A-GPS, Nokia N95 8GB connoisseurs can whiz to their locations on Nokia Maps faster and enjoy maps for over 150 countries. Explore the world, find specific routes or locate services such as restaurants and hotels, covering more than 15 million points of interest. Purchase additional features, such as city guides and voice guided navigation, is an option too.

The N95 8GB multimedia computer has an estimated retail price of EUR 560 before taxes or subsidies.

(i)Capacity based on 3:45 mins per song and 48kbps eAAC+ encoding. Capacity with 128kbps AAC encoding is up to 2000 songs.

(ii)The Nokia Music Store and the N-Gage Games Service are expected to be available during the fourth quarter 2007

(iii)Games will vary according to the region

For full technical specifications, visit http://www.nseries.com/n958gb
For more information about Nokia Maps, visit http://www.nokia.maps.com

via cnn

Greenpeace: iPhone Not Good For The Environment

2007-10-15T02:33:00.000-07:00

International environmental group Greenpeace has launched an attack on Steve Jobs’ claims that Apple is a company with green credentials by releasing an analysis of the iPhone that finds toxic chemicals that have or are in the process of being eliminated by other mobile phone manufacturers.

According to Greenpeace, the iPhone contains toxic brominated compounds (indicating the prescence of brominated flame retardants (BFRs)) and hazardous PVCs.

Two of the “phthalate plasticisers” found at high levels in the iPhone headphone cable are classified in Europe as ‘toxic to reproduction, category 2′ and are banned from use in all toys or childcare articles sold in Europe.The report noted that Nokia is totally PVC free and that Motorola and Sony Ericsson already have products on the market with BFR free components.

Greenpeace called upon Apple to truly revolutionize the mobile phone by producing an environmentally friendly handset for the iPhone’s European launch.

via techcrunch