Shenzhen EM-2811 "Latte ICE" is actually kind of neat

These days, it's pretty wild and crazy if a PMP manufacturer manages to do anything different than what's already out there, so we've got a soft spot for Shenzhen's EM-2811, being sold as the "Latte ICE." Sure, nothing spectacular, and the 1GB-4GB capacity is seriously amature hour, but we like the look of the device, and the interface is pretty strong for a no-name DAP. There's a miniSD slot to overcome that capacity handicap, a 2.8-inch QVGA screen, FM radio, voice support, AVI / MPEG video playback, and a built-in speaker. Tetris is included, but with the button layout we're hoping they can finagle a couple emulators on there. Battery life of 4 hours video and 8 hours audio is painful, but overall the Latte ICE isn't at all bad for a $70 starting price. Video is after the break.

[Via: PMP Today ]
[Tag: dap,latte,latte ice,LatteIce,pmp,shenzhen ]

Motorola patent application reveals cellphone / HMD combo craziness

It looks like Motorola isn't about to let Apple have the goofy, non-existent product spotlight to itself, with a recent patent application of its revealing some plans of its own for a head-mounted display. As you can see above, however, this one is no ordinary HMD, with it also able to be folded up into an apparently over-sized cellphone for times when you want to look slightly less conspicuous. Of course, the chances of such a product actually making it off the drawing board are pretty slim (thankfully), and no doubt even less likely given the recent cuts to Motorola's research division.

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: hmd,motorola,patent,patent application,PatentApplication ]

Mio's Knight Rider GPS speaks with the voice of KITT -- we're in love

Move over, Dash Express. Take a seat, Garmin and Tom Tom. As of right now there's only one GPS unit worth buying, and it's this trick Knight Rider unit from Mio that issues directions in the voice of KITT. Yep, Mr. Feeney William Daniels is gonna be right there with you, although we doubt he'll be as tolerant of your skin-tight pants and unkempt chest hair this time around. Underneath the hood it's basically the same Mio kit as you'd expect, only it boots up by saying "Hello Michael, where do you want to go today?" uses a cartoon Trans-Am to represent your car, and features dual LED scanner lights on each side. Yes, we're in love. $270 is all it'll take when this thing hits in a few months -- 10 points to the first reader to get a picture of it inside a KITT replica.

[Via: Autoblog ]
[Tag: kitt,knight rider,knight rider pnd,KnightRider,KnightRiderPnd,mio,pnd,william daniels,WilliamDaniels ]

iPhone Clone Battlemodo: Which One Is the iPhoniest?

Okay, so the iPhone 3G is going to be the second coming of Jesus in pocketable form, but maybe you're a rebel and don't wanna look exactly like the estimated 27 million other tools expected to be running around with an iPhone by 2009. You wanna be different. (Or maybe you can't seem to break out of that damn Sprint contract.) Still, you do want a touchscreen, 3G data, a music player and all that jazz. Is there an iPhone clone worth buying from your carrier? Relax, we've done the work for you and broken down the top three nationwide carriers' best iPhone wannabes into a single chart. To sum that up, the Instinct is easily the best, most feature rich iPhone clone on the block, and at $129, is a steal for Sprint customers. My major problem with it is the touchscreen itself—I think the Vu's touchscreen is way more responsive. (Wilson likes it just fine, favoring it over Verizon's cloneys.) The Vu has everything superficial down right—the touchscreen, keyboard (best of the bunch) and phone body—but is really lacking in the feature department, and therefore not really worth the new $199 price, which hinges entirely on its Mobile TV function. If you married the Vu's body and touchscreen to the Instinct's features and price, you'd have a champion here, and a serious iPhone challenger. Too bad LG and Sammy hate each other. The Voyager isn't considered an iPhone clone anymore, not in the strictest sense, though most of its problems stem from Verizon software rather than the hardware. As Wilson said in his review last fall, it's ambitious but flawed—and the flaws are mostly on Verizon. I'm really hoping Verizon lets the Dare just breathe, because the Vu proves LG is best left to its own devices. The Glyde is just a truly terrible phone. Most clay bricks are more responsive than its touchscreen, especially around the edges, and the crappy, sluggish Verizon software doesn't help. And its keyboard ain't much better. One thing they all have in common is a shitty browser. There isn't a mobile browser that touches mobile Safari yet. Even when they could render HTML correctly, moving and zooming around the page (especially ones that aren't mobile optimized) is an exercise in self-control—how long can you take it before stabbing your eyes out. Opera mini does load on the Vu, and it's better than the included browser, but it worked kinda wonikly at times. For me, that's a critical flaw in all of these phones. Best to worst: Instinct, Vu, Voyager, and Glyde.

[Via: Gizmodo, The Gadget Blog ]
[Tag: ]

Sony Ericsson C905 8.1-Megapixel Cybershot Phone Gets Official Specs

Twice we've brought you leaked info on Sony Ericsson's upcoming C905 cellphone, and today at last Sony came good with official specs. The camera in its slider body is indeed an 8.1-megapixel one, with xenon flash, auto-focus, face detection and image stabilization. The phone's also pretty full-featured, and is GPS-ready, with a 2.4-inch TFT screen and TV-out capability as we'd heard. So is it a camera with a bolt-on phone or the other way around? Read the specs in the press release to decide. Simultaneously, Sony came up with news of the S302 Snapshot, which sounds like a lower-spec sibling to the C905 with just 2-megapixels and a fixed-focus lens. Both should be available late this year.

Singapore, 17 June 2008 – The C905 is Sony Ericsson’s first Cyber-shot slider and its most advanced camera phone yet. With an 8.1 megapixel camera and real camera flash amongst its cutting-edge capabilities, it offers easy photo-taking in a phone that derives its looks from a digital camera and offers the picture quality to match. In comparison the S302 Snapshot is for those who want it all at an affordable price – good looks, must-have features and a pocket-sized slim design. “The C905 Cyber-shot™ and S302 Snapshot have been developed to make us all better photographers! That means making it easier to take great shots and never missing that magic moment.” said Sven Totté, Head of Imaging Marketing at Sony Ericsson. “Although both have photography at their core, the phones are very distinct; the 8.1megapixel C905 is a viable alternative to a digital camera and the S302 is perfect for those who don’t want to miss a moment and like to send or Bluetooth™ their photos to their friends.” The new C905 Cyber-shot™
Take your best shot Complete digital camera experience on a phone – true digital camera styling and an 8.1 megapixel camera with Xenon flash
Outstanding picture quality – complete with face detection auto-focus, smart contrast and image stabilizer
From baby’s first steps to an amazing sunset; store them all on the 2GB Memory Stick Micro™ (M2®) included
The USB adaptor (CCR-70) provided in-box allows for easy transfer of your photos to-and-from your PC.
View high-quality pictures on the phones impressive 2.4” scratch-resistant mineral glass display
Share your memories – send your photos wirelessly from your phone to your TV via Wi-Fi™ (using DLNA), or connect with wires using the TV-Out Cable ITC-60, also announced today
Upload photos to your own online blogsite or print your photos with fantastic resolution up to A3 size
Much more than a camera phone - GPS-enabled for geo-tagging of photos and navigation support.
The new S302 Snapshot
Good for your image Slick and slimline with a stylish design and a premium, high-gloss finish
2.0 megapixel camera with an easy-to-learn camera menu. Use the S302 just like you would a digital camera
Photo light and Photo fix – useful photo functions to help you get the shots you want
Capture the action - video recording and playback
Room for your entire photo album - up to 20 MB internal memory and Memory Stick Microв„ў (M2в„ў) support
Transfer photos easily via USB, Bluetoothв„ў or Memory Stick Microв„ў
Building on Sony Ericsson’s camera phone heritage, the C905 Cyber-shot™ phone and S302 Snapshot are all-round performers that maximise their camera credentials. The S302 introduces a premium looking, yet affordable phone with a snapshot camera at-hand when needed. The C905 is a powerful 8.1 megapixel camera phone that looks, feels and acts like a real camera. The C905 Cyber-shot™ will be available in three colours (Night Black, Ice Silver and Copper Gold) in selected markets from Q4 2008. It will support the following networks:
C905: GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 UMTS/HSDPA 2100.
C905a: GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 UMTS/HSDPA 850/1900/2100
C905c: GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900.
The S302 Snapshot will be available in Crystal Blue and Thunder Grey in selected markets from Q4 2008. The S302 (and S302c for China markets) will support GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900. TV-Out Cable ITC-60 will be available Q4 2008

For the full, massive specs list click onto the Sony link. [SonyEricsson.com]

[Via: Gizmodo, The Gadget Blog ]
[Tag: ]

HTC Touch Diamond Available on CompUSA For $779

If you really want to get your hands on an HTC Touch Diamond before the official US launch, CompUSA has one available for $779. The good news is that it's unlocked, so you can use it on both AT&T and T-Mobile, and quad-band, so you can take it just about anywhere where GSM goes. It's a nice phone, though kinda slow in our first impressions. Might want to wait until some more reviews hit before making your decision. [CompUSA]

[Via: Gizmodo, The Gadget Blog ]
[Tag: ]

Optoma To Launch "World's First" Pico Projector in 2008

Optoma is winning the race to build the world's first pico-projector, the near-mythical mini projector that can throw up a display much larger than the source device's—think iPods, digital cameras and smartphones—screen. Optoma's pico will use the DLP chipset, support composite video quality and run on Li-ion batteries. The projector will make it to market later this year in Europe and Asia, before coming stateside in 2009. No word on pricing, press release after the jump. [Optoma]

Optoma Introduces World's First Pico Handheld Projector
Based on Texas Instruments' DLP Pico® Chipset, Features Sleek Design and Extreme Portability LAS VEGAS, NV (June 18, 2008) – Optoma, a leading manufacturer of award-winning digital projection and display devices, introduces the first Pico projector based on the DLP Pico chipset. Smaller than most smart phones, this new micro-portable projector fits in your palm and is the ideal companion to ultra-portable media devices such as iPods®, PDA's, smart phones and digital cameras. When connected to an ultra-mobile device, the four-ounce Optoma Pico Projector allows users to share photos and videos, and enjoy a far better visual experience with an image that is up to 100 times larger than the small screen of the source device. "The Pico Projector is the next step in sharing visual media for today's ultra-mobile consumers. Fitting in your shirt pocket, the Pico Projector can display pictures, videos or any content from a mobile media player or smart phone" says Jon Grodem, director of Product Management for Optoma. "Optoma's Pico breaks free from the limitations of the 2 or 3 inch displays found on today's mobile devices. This category defining projector creates a new benchmark for sharing content-on-the-go." Optoma's Pico Projector utilizes the latest LED technology resulting in a colorful and vivid image. The small and powerful unit is based upon DLP technology assuring the highest possible contrast. "The handheld Pico projector represents the latest advancement in the mobile device display industry. We view the Pico projector as a completely new and exciting market – one which dramatically expands the reach and potential of projection products into new end user applications," says Dr. William Coggshall, founder and president of Pacific Media Associates. The product will be first shown at Texas Instrument's InfoComm 2008 booth C909 and will be available in limited distribution in Europe and Asia in late 2008, with a worldwide launch in 2009.

[Via: Gizmodo, The Gadget Blog ]
[Tag: ]

Onda VX777+ touchscreen PMP gets detailed, shown off on video

Onda's VX777 (or VX777+, as it's apparently now known) has been popping up here and there for a while now, but it looks like it's finally nearing an actual release, and MP4 Global has now provided a fairly thorough video overview of the device for the occasion. Unfortunately, it appears that this particular model doesn't boast the WiFi we had heard about previously, although it does somewhat surprisingly pack a capacitive touchscreen (3-inch, 400 x 240) instead of a more common resistive one. Otherwise, you can expect your choice of 2GB, 4GB or 8GB capacities, with a microSD card slot provided for further expansion, along with a TV-out, a built-in microphone, and support for just about every audio and video format you could want. Head on past the break for the video, and look for this one to start shipping next week with pre-order prices clocking in at $89, $99 and $109 for the 2GB, 4GB, and 8GB models, respectively.

[Via: Slash Gear ]
[Tag: onda,onda vx777,OndaVx777,vx777 ]

Mercedes-Benz introduces new iPhone integration kit

Mercedes-Benz's current iPod integration kit is pretty weak sauce, especially since the new COMAND nav / multimedia system is so well done, but it looks like the automaker's newest iPhone cradle will take steps to address some of the more glaring issues and also add some interesting new features. The cradle appears to finally integrate iPod controls with the main nav screen and COMAND controller instead of relying solely on the instrument display and steering wheel controls, and it will charge your phone while allowing you to make calls and listen to music. On top of that, plugging the phone in will apparently increase reception by using the vehicle's antennas as well as the iPhone's, and from what we can tell, you'll be able to access the contacts list as well -- something MB's current Bluetooth system doesn't allow. If you've already got the iPod kit or Media Interface kit, the adapters needed will run you €39 ($60), and the cradle itself is available now in Germany for €249 ($385). Lots more pics at the read link.


[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: apple,iphone,iphone integration,IphoneIntegration,ipod integration,IpodIntegration,meercedes-benz,mercedes ]

Engadget Mobile's Nokia E71 review

They've got a bona fide, US 3G-friendly, Nokia E71 over at Engadget Mobile, all gussied up and reviewed for your viewing pleasure. The phone is a serious statement from Nokia, being that company's first 3G QWERTY device in the States, and the thinnest QWERTY smartphone in existence. Not too shabby for a little Finnish upstart.

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: e71,features,nokia,review ]

Sprint's $130 Samsung Instinct twists free

Mossy don't like it, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't put finger to screen and give Samsung's new Instinct a test of your own. Particularly if you're a fan of Sprint either by choice or by contract. Available now and right on schedule for $129.99 (with 2 year contract and $100 mail-in rebate), not the original $200 bounced around initially. With Sprint trying hard to position the Instinct as an iPhone killer, we guess they really didn't have a choice but to undercut it in price.
[Thanks, Mona]

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: instinct,samsung,sprint ]

Sony unveils superabundance of projectors at InfoComm

Whoa there Sony, try not to get too excited all at once, okay? Over in Vegas today, said outfit has unleashed a veritable smorgasbord of projectors on the world, primarily ones aimed at businesses and large venues. Each of the VPL-EX50, VPL-EX5 and VPL-EW5 beamers include the company's BrightEra technology and should go well in classrooms, while the XGA VPL-FX41 comes in with 5,000 lumens to light up even the largest rooms. Moving on, we've got the WXGA+ (1,366 x 800) VPL-FW300 and the VPL-FH300 (pictured), which offers an even nicer 2,048 x 1,080 resolution. 'Tis a shame that last one is stickered at $40,000. Hit the read link for more details (pricing included) on the whole lot.

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: 4k,BrightEra,infocomm,infocomm 2008,Infocomm2008,projector,sony,VPL-EW5,VPL-EX5,VPL-EX50,VPL-FE40,VPL-FE40L,VPL-FH300,VPL-FW300,VPL-FX40,VPL-FX40L,VPL-FX41,VPL-FX41L ]

Garmin's Nuvifone to be manufactured by ASUS?

Word on the street (and by "street" we mean mysterious corners of the internet) is that Garmin's upcoming Nuvifone will actually be manufactured by the ubiquitous and varied ASUS. According to "industry sources" -- that rare breed never seen yet often heard -- the two companies have been working on the device for the past two years, with the computer-maker lending a hand in the RF technology department amongst other things. The sources further claim that the Nuvifone will be the first in a series handsets, with plans to roll out new models through 2010... the year we make contact. More on this breathtaking bit of news as we get it, faithful readers.

[Via: Unwired View ]
[Tag: asus,asustek,garmin,manufacture,nuvifone,rumor,speculation ]

HTC Touch Diamond surfaces at CompUSA

Oh, snap. Just the other day we were bemoaning the fact that the Touch Diamond sent to us courtesy of HTC lacked both HSDPA 850 / 1900 and GSM 850, but according to the product page at CompUSA, the version it's selling has all of those. Yep, a purported quad-band Touch Diamond is seemingly in stock right now for Americans willing to part with $779.99, but remember, all those bills nets you a 2.8-inch VGA display, HSDPA 7.2, Windows Mobile 6.1 and oodles of sexy. Go on, help HTC get one closer to two million this year.
[Thanks, Tom]
Update: Hey look, UKers can get in too. Just ?463.99 including VAT. Thanks Leigh!
Update 2: For shame! HTC just pinged us and said this thing is the same as every other Touch Diamond, meaning that North American 3G is not supported.

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: available,CompUSA,Diamond,gsm,HTC,now shipping,NowShipping,on sale,OnSale,quad-band,shipping,ships,smartphone,Touch Diamond,TouchDiamond,windows mobile,windows mobile 6.1,WindowsMobile,WindowsMobile6.1 ]

HTC Advantage X7510 available to USers for $1,300

It doesn't sound like Qualcomm has all of its legal woes here in America worked out just yet, but apparently that won't stop fat-walleted USers from snapping up the forthcoming HTC Advantage X7510 real soon. Both Dynamism and On The Go Solutions are expecting stock any day now, and they'll be shipping to your US-based address so long as you're willing to accept a $1,299 charge on your preferred piece of plastic. Before you brush this off as absurd, listen to that devil on your shoulder whispering things like "5-inch VGA display" and "HSDPA." Hmm.
[Via: Pocketables ]
[Tag: Advantage,HTC,order,pre-order,qualcomm,us,usa,windows mobile,windows mobile 6.1,WindowsMobile,WindowsMobile6.1,X7510 ]

Samsung Instinct available June 20th for $129.99, strings attached

In a move that Sprint clearly hopes will fuel the iPhone vs. Instinct fires, the company today announced that it would be selling its lauded touchscreen phone starting June 20th for a price point of just $129.99. Of course, that takes into account a new two-year contract and $100 mail-in rebate, but it still comes in lower than the expected $199.99 price tag we'd been hearing about. Oddly, to activate the phone Sprint stipulates that you have to choose one of their unlimited data plans -- which start at a minimum of $69.99 per month (with 450 minutes of talk-time) -- so monthly costs hover right on level with AT&T's iPhone options... unsurprisingly.
[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: breaking news,BreakingNews,instinct,pricing,release date,ReleaseDate,samsung,sprint ]

Android on a Nokia N95 captured on video

We don't know too much about the clip you're about to watch, but we can tell you this: someone has apparently gone and gotten Android up and running on a Nokia N95, and they've captured it on the lowest quality video we've ever seen. It's unclear whether this is natively installed or not, but it seems to be getting data (as you can see Google Maps doing its thing). The dialer is also brought up and appears to make a call -- but it's pretty hard to know if that's just a demo of the app or if this guy actually has a semi-functional Android device. Check the video after the break and judge for yourself.
[Thanks, John]

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: android,google,hack,linux,n95,nokia,os,video ]

Google's Andy Rubin talks Android, demos apps

We've already seen plenty of screenshots and videos of Android in action, but it's not every day Andy Rubin, Google's Senior Director of Mobile Platforms, is behind the controls, and he recently demoed the open-source phone OS to a group of reporters. Rubin specifically demonstrated non-touchscreen versions of the platform, showing off a browser designed entirely for button-based navigation, and also hit upon Android's ability to multitask, using Google Maps seamlessly with a media player and a photo app running in the background. Take that, iPhone. Of course, the hardware itself was kept super-secret, but since Android is designed to work on any phone with at least a 200MHz processor, it's understandable that Google isn't interested in distracting us with specific phone models when the focus is clearly on the OS. We'll just have to wait until later in the year to get our hands on an actual device -- hopefully the screenshots at the read links will tide you over.
[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: android,andy rubin,AndyRubin,google ]

Video: Garmin's Nuvifone flicked into action

It's one thing to describe a UI, it's another to see it in action. Laptop Mag just posted nearly 5 minutes of finger-flicking, auto-rotating, rubber banding video of Garmin's hotly anticipated Nuvifone. There's even a brief glimpse of the touch keyboard in all its landscape, predictive text glory. Sure Garmin only showed the working aspects of the not-ready-for-prime-time prototype. Regardless, it's enough to keep us impressed and awaiting the Q4 release. Video just beyond the read link.

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: garmin,hands-on,nuvifone,video ]

Sony Ericsson's C905 shutterbug (and friends) in the wild

Press shots are often beautiful, but the problem with 'em is that they're usually about as real as Joan Rivers' face -- not the best way to get a real impression of what a device looks and acts like in the flesh. GSM Helpdesk scored some hands-on time today with the full range of Sony Ericsson's new wares, and the headliner of the bunch, the mighty 8.1 megapixel C905, is looking ready for battle. Not literal battle, of course, but battle in the marketplace with a whole host of feature phones being released this year from its top rivals -- particularly important at a time when market share is falling. The 2.4-inch display is apparently "clear" and plenty impressive for managing your extensive photo library, and we're digging the curvy styling; UIQ would've been nice, but we suppose the dumbphone set deserves killer cameras too. Also pictured are the low-end J132 and K330, the S302 (which with a 2 megapixel camera, may not be worthy of the name "Snapshot"), and the F305 gaming phone. We'd had high hopes for the F305 -- as we do for pretty much anything that can be shaken to control games -- but the live shots here are leaving us a little underwhelmed. Maybe the white version will do it justice?

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: c905,ericsson,f305,in the wild,InTheWild,j132,k330,s302,snapshot,sony,sony ericsson,SonyEricsson ]

Nokia XpressMusic 5800 "Tube" turns up in German poster

Nokia's 5800 "Tube" handset hasn't exactly been doing the best job staying under cover, and it's now turned up yet again to offer another sign of its presumably imminent launch, this time in a poster for Germany's SMS Shop. Somewhat curiously, the touchscreen-based device (S60, specifically) is now apparently branded with the XpressMusic moniker, rather than XpressMedia, although your guess is as good as ours as to what that might indicate. Otherwise, the only tidbits the poster has to offer is that the device does in fact boast WLAN and HSDPA capabilities, although given that all the other phones in the poster have been officially announced, it seems safe to bet that we should be hearing more about the 5800 straight from Nokia sooner rather than later.
[Thanks, Dax]

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: 5800,nokia,nokia 5800,nokia tube,Nokia5800,NokiaTube,tube,xpressmedia,xpressmusic ]

Garmin Nuvifone touched, prodded, abused, initial UI reports are positive

It's about time someone got his hands on a working Garmin Nuvifone. The folks at Laptop Magazine were lucky enough to spend some time with a prototype, reporting that the interface was snappy, the screen is nice and big, and the UI appears to be very GPS-centric. They tried the QWERTY keypad which is "spacious enough" and uses an auto-complete dictionary. The main interface presents a row of icons for calling, searching, and mapping, and finger swipes stream them across the screen. Included apps, at least in this model, were SMS, Google Search, email, and media player. All said, some apps didn't load properly and some of the display units were frozen in bug limbo, but we'll give Garmin a pass there as these were clearly early test units. So a couple questions remain: Is it still coming out Q3 of this year, and will it still run $499? Is it coming in white? Follow the read link for more impressions and hands-on pictures.

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: garmin, hands-on, nuvifone ]

Sony Ericsson reveals J132 / K330 entry-level candybars

Just when you thought Sony's barrage of new kit from CommunicAsia was finally slowing up, along comes another pair of handsets to prove us all wrong. First up is the simplistic J132, designed to do little more than talk, text, resist dust and tune into FM radio stations. Still, the 9-hours of talk time (450 in standby) is much appreciated. The K330 steps it up by including Bluetooth and a video capture mode, not to mention the 1.7-inch display, VGA camera and Health mate application. The J132 will be available in Night Black and Heaven Blue for "select markets" in Q4, while the K330 arrives in Gold on Black / Green on Black a quarter earlier. Keep an eye out for the J132a and K330a, both of which support GSM 850 / 1900 bands for the US market.
[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: candybar,CommunicAsia,CommunicAsia 2008,Communicasia2008,J132,J132a,K330,K330a,sony ericsson,SonyEricsson ]

Sony Ericsson births HBH-PV715, 720 and 740 Bluetooth headsets

Sony Ericsson's finishing off the onslaught today from Singapore with a trio of colorful Bluetooth headsets, perfect for anyone who doesn't mind talking straight ahead and receiving all sorts of weird glances from other patrons in the local mall. The HBH-PV715, HBH-PV720 and HBH-PV740 arrive in a variety of colors / patterns, boast at least 10-hours of talk time (and 700-hours in standby), and DSP / automatic volume adjustment. The units are aimed at value-driven, fashion-conscience and business-oriented consumers in order of mention, and while specifics (you know, like price) aren't stated, the trifecta will show up in "select markets" in Q4.

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: bluetooth headset,BluetoothHeadset,CommunicAsia,CommunicAsia 2008,Communicasia2008,earpiece,HBH-PV715,HBH-PV720,HBH-PV740,headset,PV715,PV720,PV740,SE,Sony Ericsson,SonyEricsson ]

Garmin's Nuvifone is coming in white?

The folks at NaviGadget got a couple reader-submitted shots of a white Nuvifone, but there's no telling just now how legit they are. Garmin just shows a black version of its phone -- which is still slated for Q3 at a purported $500 pricepoint -- on its own site, but perhaps this teensy supposed leak means there's more news in store for the Nuvifone camp in the near future.
Update: Turns out this is just an inverted shot of a black phone, so sorry to disappoint.

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: garmin,nuvifone,white ]

European Commission approves Nokia's acquisition of Trolltech

Not like we were really suspecting any issues or anything, but the European Commission has just made public its "unconditional approval" of Nokia's "voluntary tender offer for all the shares in Trolltech ASA." In other words, Nokia's acquisition of Trolltech is officially complete, with today being the final day in which the latter company is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange. Such a cute couple, don't you think?

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: Acquisition,business,europe,European Commission,EuropeanCommission,industry,nokia,troll,Trolltech ]

Sony Ericsson pops out MD400 / MD400g HSPA USB modems

In case you couldn't tell, Sony's getting down at CommunicAsia. Next up from Singapore is a fresh pair of HSPA USB modems, the MD400 and GPS-packin' MD400g. Both sticks pull double duty as a M2 / microSD card reader, but it's not like we haven't seen that functionality tossed into similar units already. Nevertheless, these buggers support 7.2Mb/s download and 2.0M/bs upload speeds and feature a swiveling antenna to complement the built-in one, a retractable USB connector and compatibility with Windows and OS X-based machines. SE tells us that the currently unpriced duo will be available worldwide in Q4, with the biggest decision to come when choosing between Exquisite Ebony and Lustrous White.

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: CommunicAsia,CommunicAsia 2008,Communicasia2008,gps,HSPA,HSPA modem,HspaModem,internet,M2,MD400,MD400g,mobile broadband,MobileBroadband,SE,Sony Ericsson,SonyEricsson,USB modem,UsbModem,WWAN ]

Sony Ericsson makes good on Motion Gaming F305 and S302 Snapshot handsets

We'll make this quick since we've already given you all the details related to Sony Ericsson's Motion Gaming F305 and S302 Snapshot. The F305 quad-band GSM/EDGE slider relies upon a motion-sensing accelerometer (pictured bowling), dedicated gaming controls, and stereo speakers to create the gaming experience -- an experience hampered by a wee 2.0-inch, 176 x 220 display. It ships with a standard 8-hour battery with an optional CPP-100 backup battery pack to extend play. The quad-band GSM/EDGE S302 Snapshot is just a regular ol' candybar with 2 megapixel sensor, photo light, video recording, and plenty of build-up trying to position it as a camera first, phone second. Both hit in Q4.

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: f305,motion gaming,MotionGaming,s302,snapshot,sony ericsson,SonyEricsson ]

Is your Pioneer AVIC-F Series navigator acting up?

We aren't suggesting that these problems are widespread or anything, but a fair number of users over at AVIC411 seem to be having all sorts of issues with their (admittedly pricey) F-Series navigators. According to owners, the issues range from complete lock-ups to distorted voice commands to quirky iPod interactions -- and that's just the tip of the iceberg. Have any of you taken the plunge only to find a litany of problems after installation? Or is your unit humming along just fine? Chime in below and let us know what's up.

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: avic,avic-f,avic-f500bt,avic-f700bt,avic-f900bt,AVIC-F90BT,avid,f-series,f500bt,F90BT,in-dash,Linc,microsoft,nav,navi,navigation,pioneer,windows automotive,WindowsAutomotive ]

HTC developing Atom- and Snapdragon-based MIDs?

HTC's hit us with some sexy new handsets lately, but a new report from DigiTimes says that the juggernaut ODM is getting ready to make some MID waves, and soon. Apparently inspired by the success of the Eee (who hasn't been?), HTC is rumored to be prepping devices based on Intel's Atom and Qualcomm's Snapdragon platforms, as well as up to 10 new phones in the second quarter of the year -- which, conveniently enough, is this quarter. There's no word on what we might be seeing apart from some new Diamond and Touch Pro handsets, but hopefully we'll see soon enough -- or just be left broken-hearted by yet another unsourced DigiTimes rumor.

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: atom,htc,mid,rumor,rumors,snapdragon ]

Sony Ericsson's Xperia X1 gets handled, photographed

The lucky chaps over at Boy Genius Report have managed to get their hands all over Sony Ericsson's latest and greatest -- the hotly anticipated Xperia X1. Early word is that the 800 x 480 screen, optical joystick, and speedy HSDPA data are all very welcome, but the keyboard (which looks like it would be a joy to type on) leaves a lot to be desired. Of course, the OS should come as no surprise, and they don't seem to have any shots of Sony's "panel interface," so for now you'll have to make do with some nice looks at the exteriors of the device. Hit the read link and check it out yourself.

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: qwerty,slider,smartphone,sony ericsson,SonyEricsson,x1,xperia,xperia x1,XperiaX1 ]

BlackBerry Javelin in the wild

As we understand it, RIM's so-called Javelin is a new BlackBerry completely devoid of 3G that's currently on track for a mid-2009 (yes, 2009) launch. That sucks, yes, but at least it'll look mighty purty if these shots of an engineering dummy in the wild are any indication. The whole phone is an interesting study in modern, high-end 2.5G design, actually, on account of the rumored WiFi, GPS, expansive display, and generous (by RIM standards, anyway) 3.2 megapixel camera. Don't get us wrong, the Bold would still find its way into our pockets long before this one would -- but hey, diversity in the product line is a good thing. As long as it doesn't involve a Burberry-clad 8800.
[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: blackberry,in the wild,InTheWild,javelin,rim ]

Palm Centro makes its Canadian debut with Rogers

It still hasn't quite made the rounds of US carriers, but it looks like that hasn't stopped the Palm Centro from hopping across the border to make its Canadian debut on Rogers. If that's the moment you've somehow been waiting for, and you're an existing Rogers customer, you get your hands on one now for $199 with a three-year plan and minimum $45 monthly service fee, while new customers will have to fork over $299 and jump through the same contract hoops. Of course, there is also that other little phone that's making its long-awaited Canadian debut on Rogers next month, but we're guessing that anyone planning to go that route has already pretty firmly made up their mind.

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: centro,palm,palm centro,PalmCentro,rogers ]

Bluetooth headset-packing LG Decoy now available from Verizon

As expected, the LG Decoy launched on Verizon today, for the also-expected price of $179 (on a two-year contract and after a $50 mail-in rebate). That price tag includes the Decoy's claim to fame: a snap-on Bluetooth headset, as well as some all around decent if unremarkable specs, including a 2 megapixel camera, a 2.2-inch "mirror-like" 240 x 320 display, a micro SD card slot, V CAST music and video support and, of course, built-in Bluetooth. In case you missed it, you can get a better look at the phone courtesy of an always helpful unboxing that turned up over the weekend.
[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: bluetooth,bluetooth headset,BluetoothHeadset,decoylg decoy,DecoylgDecoy,lg,verizon ]

Orange's recharge Pod tent to keep mobiles juiced at Glastonbury

For those fortunate enough to be planning a trip to this year's Glastonbury, you can rest assured that forgetting your mobile charger won't be the worst thing that could possibly happen. Reportedly, Orange will erect a seven-meter high recharge Pod tent in which patrons can stop by and reinvigorate their winded handset. Said tent will boast 500-watt solar panels and a 500-watt wind turbine in order to generate electricity for the lifeless phones, and Orange is hoping to juice up 100 devices per hour. If only such conveniences were everywhere...

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: chargepod,charger,charging,Glastonbury,green,orange,recharge Pod,RechargePod,solar,solar power,solar powered,solar-powered,SolarPower,SolarPowered,tent,uk,wind power,wind powered,WindPower,WindPowered ]

Video hands-on with the new E66 and E71 from Nokia

We got a quick little bit of quality time with Nokia's new business-centric S60 phones, the E66 and the E71. Both phones are virtually identical when it comes to specs, so it really boils down to what you prefer in form factor. If you're a T9 maven and prefer a vertical screen orientation, the E66 slider is obviously your ticket, but the E71's full QWERTY keyboard and glorious 10mm of thickness are probably going to guide it into many a business slack front pocket. The E71's keys have a harder, clickier feel to them than its predecessors, and they're also a tad more crowded than usual -- we had a bit of trouble typing at first, but it's a solid, well-built keyboard that'll certainly come to be second nature with a bit of use. Despite the phone's thinness we found it to be incredibly sturdy and just the right weight. As for the E66, we just love the feel of its slider mechanism, but we're a little puzzled as to the thickness compared to the E71. That said, it's a quite comfortable and small form factor for a smartphone. Our favorite new feature on these phones is the quick switch from business to personal use, which can swap your home screen, email accounts and calendar to your personal stuff after hours -- and with that hefty 3.2 megapixel camera, A-GPS and WiFi, there's plenty of fun to be had with these phones when your work is through. Video after the break.
[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: e66,e71,features,hands-on,nokia ]

Nokia E71 confirmed and oh-so-slim

Nokia's finally fessing up to its latest E series QWERTY phone, but took this one in a seriously surprising direction... for Nokia, anyway: thin. The E71 is one of the thinnest phones we've ever seen exit the doors of the Finnish giant, at 10mm thick, but there's still plenty of room for everything you'd expect out of an E series phone like WiFi, HSDPA, A-GPS and even a 3.2 megapixel camera and a front facing camera for video chat -- the main place the E71 differs on specs from its new E66 sibling is the 2.36-inch QVGA screen, just a fraction of an inch smaller. The E71 even manages to squeeze in extra battery, with 20 days of standby, 10.5 hours of GSM talk or 4.5 hours of 3G talk. There's 110MB of built-in storage and a microSD slot if you grow out of that, and the same business / personal switcher of the E66. Folks accustomed to previous Nokia QWERTY phones in the form factor like the E62 will find the screen noticeably smaller, but with the same number of pixels and an incredibly pocketable form factor there's plenty to love about this new entry. Unfortunately, the $500-ish pricetag isn't quite alluring, and like the E66, Nokia doesn't have any carrier subsidies lined up just yet. The E71 should arrive in the States -- and yes, with full 3G US bands -- sometime Q3 of this year, and will be available in grey steel and white steel.
[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: a-gps,e series,e71,ESeries,hsdpa,nokia,qwerty ]

Nokia E66 S60 slider goes official

Nokia's bringing some new, unsurprising, E series hotness to the States in the form of the new E66 slider. Featuring GSM, EDGE, WCDMA and HSDPA bands galore, the phone is slated for a Q3 release this year. Features include a 3.2 megapixel auto-focus camera, along with a front-facing cam for video calls, WiFi, A-GPS, 3.6mbps web browsing and a 2.4-inch QVGA screen. What really sets it apart from its E series forebears is the 13.6mm thickness, and some rather sexy new styling. Nokia's also worked in a sort of business / pleasure switch to change profile from your work email and documents to your personal accounts and such -- you can also swap to landscape mode by turning the device. Battery life is certainly no slouch, with 14 days of standby, and 7.5 hours of talk on GSM, or 3.5 hours of talk on 3G. There's only 110MB of internal memory, but you can supplement that with an 8GB microSD card. The phone comes in "grey steel" or "white steel" (what, no blue steel?), but brace yourself for the pricepoint: Nokia's quoting this at "under $500," and probably won't have any carriers Stateside subsidizing it in the short term. Quite a hefty price for a QVGA phone with little built-in storage, but some Nokia fanboy is certainly going to get a kick out of it.
[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: a-gps,e series,e66,ESeries,hsdpa,nokia,slider,wcdma ]

Sony Ericsson Has Wiimote-Like Motion Gaming, May Be PSP Phone?

This leaked Sony Ericsson's F305 phone is notable for a couple reasons. One, it's their first motion gaming phone under the F-line (there've been one or two here and there for various other phones), which makes us and The Unofficial Sony Ericsson Blog think that it the series stands for "Fun". Two, it's got PlayStation buttons on there, namely the O and the X, giving users an NES-level of complexity to the games. Other details are slightly less impressive. It's quad-band GSM with only EDGE, has a Power Pack CCP-100 purchasable accessory for backup battery capabilities, stereo rear speakers, Bluetooth connectivity to other phones for multiplayer, Memory Stick Micro slot, built-in FM, TrackID track recognition, and a "selected market" release in Q3 of this year. Se-nse says it'll be formally announced on Tuesday. [Se-nse]

[Via: Gizmodo, The Gadget Blog ]
[Tag: ]

HTC exec claims Q109 for first Windows Mobile 7 phones?

If you're apt to believe it, supposedly a regional HTC GM by the name of Kevin Chen flapped his lips about the first Windows Mobile 7 devices launching in Q109 -- so between six and nine months from now. We reached HTC, which had no (further) comment on the matter, but everything we've seen about 7 so far kind of leads us to believe that 7-based devices launching before next year's Mobile World Congress sounds a bit premature, even if that doesn't necessarily jibe with the MWg roadmap (which promised devices possibly even later this year).

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: htc,microsoft,software,windows mobile,windows mobile 7,WindowsMobile,WindowsMobile7 ]

Treo 700wx to get Windows Mobile 6.0 upgrade?

According to some slides unearthed over at TreoCentral, it looks like the Verizon Treo 700wx could be an unlikely candidate due for the Windows Mobile 6.0 (not 6.1) treatment. Usually carriers like Verizon won't bother upgrading devices as old as these with newer versions of their mobile OS -- partly to induce future handset purchases -- so we'll have to remain a touch skeptical until such time as the upgrade really does launch.

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: 700wx,palm,software,treo,upgrade,verizon,windows mobile,windows mobile 6.0,WindowsMobile,WindowsMobile6.0 ]

Nokia 6205 Dark Knight Batphone is for Bruce Wayne Wannabes

As if you needed any more reason to get excited for the new Batman movie, the Nokia 6205 Dark Knight edition is coming soon. The black flip phone with the movie's logo on the back comes loaded with the trailer, as well as themed wallpapers, ringtones and screensavers. It also comes in white, if you hate Batman as much as Harvey Dent. The 6205s have 1.3MP cameras with flash, microSD slots expandable to 4GB, and external music controls. It's $120 before rebate with a two-year Verizon contract, press release below. [Verizon]

Verizon Wireless and Nokia team up to fight for Gotham City with the new Nokia 6205 phone Verizon Wireless Exclusive: Phone Debuts with Limited “The Dark Knight” Edition Inspired by one of the Summer’s Most Highly-Anticipated Movies BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – Verizon Wireless, builder and operator of the nation’s most reliable wireless network, and Nokia (NYSE: NOK), the world leader in mobility, today announced the availability of the Nokia 6205 The Dark Knight edition mobile phone. Celebrating the upcoming July 18 theatrical release of “The Dark Knight,” the Nokia 6205 The Dark Knight edition will be available exclusively online at www.verizonwireless.com beginning, Sunday, June 15. Clad in a mysterious black color and embellished with a subtle The Dark Knight emblem, this themed-edition flip phone comes pre-loaded with wallpapers, voice tones, animated screensavers inspired by the film, and a full movie trailer. The Nokia 6205 The Dark Knight edition has a generous set of features designed to enhance the mobile lifestyle. Touch-sensitive external music keys make it simple to access tracks purchased from Verizon Wireless’ V CAST Music service, while the crisp two-inch display that supports up to 262,000 colors, makes watching news, sports and entertainment content from V CAST Video more enjoyable. In addition, the Nokia 6205 The Dark Knight edition includes: o 1.3 megapixel camera with flash and 4x digital zoom
o 58 MB internal memory; expandable up to an additional 4 GB with an optional microSDв„ў memory card
o Support for text, picture and video messaging
o Get It NowВ®-capable for downloading games, ringtones, wallpapers and other mobile content
o VZ NavigatorSM-compatible for audible turn-by-turn directions and location information
o Mobile Web for access to the latest news, sports, weather and more
o Voice dialing and voice commands for touch-free phone operation
o Built-in speakerphone
o Bluetooth®-enabled for wireless headset support Like the phone, the unique packaging of the Nokia 6205 The Dark Knight edition is also sure to be a hit with fans, featuring iconic images drawn straight from Gotham City. Verizon Wireless customers will also find a Joker playing card with a code and a link to the www.fightforgothamcity.com Web site. Once on the Web site, customers can instantly find out if they have won The Joker’s “bag of cash” containing $10,000, play games to win more The Dark Knight-themed prizes, and download exclusive The Dark Knight content from Verizon Wireless’ V CAST service. The Nokia 6205 The Dark Knight edition will be available online for $69.99 after a $50 online instant rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. Following the premiere release of The Dark Knight edition, the standard edition of the Nokia 6205 phone – containing all of the same features and a striking metallic blue and silver color scheme – will be available both online and at Verizon Wireless Communications Stores next month. For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

[Via: Gizmodo, The Gadget Blog ]
[Tag: ]

BlackBerry Kickstart Flip Phone In the Flesh (Looks Chunky)

The dudes at Crackberry have scored some serious camera time with BlackBerry's first clamshell, the Kickstart, shooting it from every possible angle. I think I'm back in the "it's, um, ugly" camp—it's definitely not a svelte or sexy number, and I don't really see it appealing to teens or other youngins if that's who the new flippiness is aimed at. But I failed art classes and Jesus cries whenever I open Photoshop, so maybe I just don't have any taste.
[Via: Gizmodo, The Gadget Blog ]
[Tag: ]

Nokia has a laugh with cylindrical cellphone patent application

You kvetch enough about that ultrathin candybar taking up too much room in those uber-tight Emo-style jeans -- we know you'd throw a fit if you had to tote around a mobile akin to a rolling pin. Nevertheless, that's not stopping Nokia's wildly imaginative R&D team from throwing out a patent app for a cylindrical cellphone. Granted, we are digging the movable materials and the potential for a fairly wide display, but unless we get some sort of spray can holster from The Home Depot, how else are we supposed to carry this thing without embarrassing ourselves?

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: cylinder,cylindrical,nokia,patent,patent application,PatentApplication,weird ]

Nokia 6205 flip official for Verizon

Nokia's got a new no-frills handset coming to Verizon on June 15th, the Nokia 6205. Specs like a 1.3 megapixel camera, 58MB of memory and the Verizon UI -- no thank you -- won't have us in a hurry to turn in our N95, but the real news here is that the phone was designed by Nokia itself, and they're promising even more phones for Verizon in the future -- though S60 might not be in the cards. The 6205 has a 2-inch 176 x 220 screen on the inside, and a 1.28-inch 128 x 128 LCD on the back, there's a microSD slot, plenty of audio codec support, Bluetooth and a paltry 4 hours of talk time due to the EV-DO connection this thing wastes on a WAP 2.0 browser. It comes in the standard blue version, available in July, or you can pick up "The Dark Knight" edition we heard about (pictured), complete with movie-based ringtones and a pre-loaded trailer, on June 15th. Both will retail for $119 with contract.
In need of some hands-on of this phone? That's weird. Check it out at Engadget Mobile.

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: 6205,batman,nokia,nokia 6205,Nokia6205,the dark knight,TheDarkKnight,verizon,verizon wireless,VerizonWireless ]

Motorola slashing 20% of its research division

Another month, another round of layoffs over at Moto. This time, we're seeing 120 out of the 600 positions in Motorola Labs -- the unit responsible for researching pretty much everything ranging from handsets to radio technology -- slashed; another 180 are "being reassigned to work in individual business units." According to the company, the moves from Moto Labs "will help R&D teams work with their business partners to optimize R&D investment and focus on projects that deliver the greatest value for Motorola," though your guess is as good as our as to what that actually means. Granted, we wouldn't normally support hacking off a good part of your innovation department, but given Moto's state right now, it seems to us like they they need development a hell of a lot more than they do research.

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: development,job,jobs,motorola,rD,research ]