LiQuidCelL

AT&T Quietly Releases the Ruggedized Samsung A657 Phone

2009-05-09T17:17:00.001+07:00

AT&T has quietly released a new ruggedized and tough push-to-talk mobile handset from Samsung - the A657. This candy bar phone was tested to withstand the harshest conditions and is preloaded with AT&T Navigator and can be installed with downloadable applications such as Telenav Track and Xora Mobile Workforce Management tools. The Samsung A657 can be mounted on your car’s dashboard and also serve as as light source, thanks to its built-in flashlight.Simple and basic as it may seems, the Samsung A657 is however loaded with nifty mobile phone features as well. it support mobile email with access to Yahoo, AOL, and Windows Live Mail, and supports text messaging, multimedia messaging and various mobile instant messaging through AOL IM, Windows Live Messenger and YM.

For connectivity, the Samsung A657 features both Bluetooth v.2 and USB 2.0 for transfering files to your PC. It also features AT&T Navigator for voice guided turn-by-turn directions, traffic alert and maps. The phone also supports microSD card for expanded storage.

Other features and specs of the Samsung A657 include support various music and video formats, integrated MP3 music player and XM radio, downloadable multimedia content including supertone ringtones, graphics and more, 100 MB internal memory, 3G HSDPA, GPRS/EDGE data transmission capability, 3 hours talk time and 10.5 hour standby time. The Samsung A657 is a GSM/GPRS/EDGE/UMTS/HSDPA phone.

The Sony Ericsson S312 Offers Quick Video Recording

2009-05-08T17:18:00.000+07:00

Out of the blue and without much ado, Sony Ericsson has announced a new camera phone - the S312. Being marketed as offering a quick way of capturing life’s precious moments either in still pictures or videos, the Sony Ericsson S312 boasts of a 2 megapixel camera which according to Sony Ericsson can be used horizontally and has an illuminated imaging shortcuts. You can also use the phone’s integrated photo fix to edit the photos you’ve taken.

Aside from taking still photos, you can also use the S312’s camera for instant video recording. The S312 has its own dedicated video camera key which gives to capture best moments quickly. Sharing your photos is also a breeze with the S312’s picture blogging functionality which allows you to upload photos to the web instantly.

For its technical specifications, the S312 features a 2-inch TFT scratch-resistant screen, 15MB internal phone memory with support for Memory Stick Micro. You can also use the phone as a media player with equalizer, stereo widening, playnow, and Track ID features. You can also listen to music via stereo Bluetooth hands-free devices.

Other features of the Sony Ericsson S312 include speakerphone, polyphonic ringtones, vibrating alert, email/sms/mms messaging, picture wallpaper, 3D games, Java apps, FM Radio with RDS, video viewing, as well as various PIM features such as alarm clock, calculator, phonebook and more.

The Sony Ericsson S312 is a GSM/GPRS/EDGE phone and can give up to 8 hours of talk time and 400 hours of standby time. It will be available in Dawn Blue and Honey Silver color design.

The Sony Ericsson S312 is slated for a Q2 release.

Samsung Intros the B5702 Dual-Sim Phone

2009-05-07T17:16:00.000+07:00

Samsung is joining the race to release the killer mobile phone that supports dual-sim operation as it announced the new B5702 dual-standby mobile phone. The Samsung B5702 support quad-band connectivity, hence earning it the title of being the world’s first mobile phone to support global coverage with the said connectivity.

The Samsung B5702 allows you to operate two SIM cards simulataneously and combined with its quad-band connectivity allows you to have a genuine global coverage. To make it easier for you to use the dual-sim capability of the B5702, Samsung has provided two LED lights that indicates which SIM card is receiving calls or messages. To make it even more fun, you can personalized each of the SIM card with respective themes, melodies, and screensavers. This would help you easily identify which SIM is in use. And finally to make it easier for you to use each SIM, the B5702 has dedicated hot keys for each of the SIMS located on the side of the phone. Thus, eliminating the usual process of rebooting the phone to change SIM.

Other features of the Samsung B5702 include full mobile web browsing support for both SIM cards, various multimedia functionality including audio player, video recording, a 3MP camera and an FM RDS radio. The Samsung B5702 also features a 2.4-inch TFT lcd , document viewer, USB 2.0, Bluetooth, 50MB internal memory, 8GB external memory, up to 11.4 hours of talk time and 220.9 hours of standbytime. The Samsung B5702 is a Quad band (850/900/1800/1900) EDGE Class phone.

The Samsung B5702 sports a slim and elegant design with a compact size and refined metal finish. It will be released sometime in May 2009 in various international markets.

Sony Ericsson Announces the new Walkman Phone, W205

2009-05-06T17:14:00.000+07:00

Aside from the S312 which Sony Ericsson just announced, another phone up for release soon is the basic Walkman phone W205. Probably realizing that everyone is feeling the grunt of the economic recession including mobile phone user, Sony Ericsson made the W205 more accessible to the users. The W205 has the many great features of a Sony Ericsson phone without hurting their budget that much.The Sony Ericsson W205 lets you enjoy your MP3 songs as well as your favorite radio station with its Walkman player, FM Radio and TrackID music recognition feature. It’s a slider phone that lets you set up music playlist that you can listen to various occasions. It also lets you share music with friends through a speakerphone.

The W205’s TrackID function is also a good feature especially for naming tune and artist that you don’t know of. The phone also lets you record a fraction of mp3 songs to use as a ringtone.

But aside from being a Walkman phone, the Sony Ericsson W205 also boasts of other mobile phone features including a 1.3 megapixel camera with 2.2x digital zoom and video recording function, which is decent enough to produce good quality pictures and videos.

You can also use the phone for mobile browsing through WAP 2.0 via the preloaded Opera Mini browser. Other features of the Sony Ericsson W205 include MMS/SMS/, support for various mobile phone downloads, and Bluetooth.

The Sony Ericsson W205 is GSM/GPRS/900/1800 and W205a supports GSM/GPRS 850/1900 phone available in Ambiant Black. It is slated for a Q2 release.

National Geography Launches its Own Dual-Sim Phone - Duet D888

2009-05-05T17:11:00.000+07:00

If you’ve been following the cellphone market, you’d know that National Geographic has already release a mobile phone not so long ago. Following up this phone is its second dubbed Duet D888. What’s so special about this phone aside from being a National Geographic branded phone is the fact that it has dual-sim capability. The D888 has one slot for your international sim card and another slot to hold the SIM card of a carrier of your choice.The Duet D888 is an unlocked phone, so you can pretty much use whatever SIM card you want to use. You can use a prepaid or postpaid SIM card such as AT&T’s various data plans.

The National Geography Duet D888 phone was manufactured by Beyond E-Tech. While it maybe special for the fact that it is a dual-sim phone, the Duet D888 is still an ordinary looking mid-range mobile phone with features such as a 2.8-inch QVGA screen, MP3 Player, FM Radio, Bluetooth, and a not so great 2 megapixel camera. Interestingly, given that you’d be using the D888 when you travel a lot, a higher megapixel resolution camera would have been better. Nonetheless the camera phone can also be used for video capturing and it support3GP video format.

The Duet D888 is tri-band GSM (900/1800/1900MHz) phone with GPRS, WAP, GMS and STR connectivity features.

The phone can max out 4 hours of talk time and 130 hours standby time. It is available now at the Beyond Etech site for around $349.

T-Mobile Announces the Social Networking Phone - Sidekick LX

2009-05-04T17:09:00.000+07:00

T-Mobile USA has just announced a new Sidekick phone dubbed Sidekick LX. Sporting a sleek and trendy look, the Sidekick LX boasts of 3G connectivity and social networking features that supports direct access to Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. Yes, you read it right, the Sidekick LX has an integrated Twitter application. You can imagine just how popular the Sidekick LX will be given the growing popularity of Twitter in the social networking industry.

The Facebook, MySpace and Twitter application is integrated into the Sidekick LX’s “Communities” section. These application will be updated in real-time and will display notifications on the phone’s home menu screen. In addition, the Sidekick LX would also features GPS-enabled Live Search capabilities.

Aside from these cool features, the Sidekick LX is also equipped with a 3.2 megapixel camera with enhanced video capabilities. Using this camera to take photos and capture videos, users can immediately upload them to their social networking profiles. The Sidekick LX also supports YouTube video streaming.

Other features of the Sidekick LX include built-in self-help app, swivel design, full QWERTY keyboard, mood lights, support for personal e-mail, SMS, MMS, and IM through AOL, Windows Live and Yahoo Messenger. The Sidekick LX also comes with 1GB microSD memory card, Bluetooth, and Network Address Book.

The Sidekick LX is a Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE worldphone (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) phone. Battery configuration is as follow - 3G — 3 hours talk time, 6 days standby; 2G — 5.5 hours talk time, 8 days standby.

This great looking Sidekick LX phone is available now for preorder at www.sidekick.com. It will be available in orchid and carbon colors.

Samsung Unveils the I7500 Google Android Phone

2009-05-03T17:07:00.000+07:00

Samsung has officially become the first company among the global top three mobile phone manufacturers to release a Google Android mobile phone soon, as they announced the I7500 Android-powered mobile phone. Featuring a cutting-edge smarthphone, the I7500 features a 3.2-inch AMOLED full touch screen, 7.2 Mbps HSDPA and WiFi connectivity, the I7500 gives users quick access to Google’s plethora of mobile services topped by full web browsing at fast speed.

Among the many Google mobile services to be featured on the Samsung I7500 are Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail, YouTube, Google Calendar, and Google Talk. It also features GPS receiver for the use of Google Maps with various features including My Location, Google Latitude, Street View, local search and detailed route detailed route description.

And being an Android-powered phone, the Samsung I7500 would also give users access to the many third-party applications available at the Android market.

Aside from these Android-related features, the Samsung I7500’s other features include a large 3.2-inch AMOLED display, full touch screen, 5 megapixel camera, long battery life, 8GB internal memory, 40 GB extended storage and a slim and compact design measuring only 11.9mm thickness.

Other features of the Samsung I7500 phone include Bluetooth 2.0, USB 2.0, WiFi, MicroUSB, and 3.5mm ear jack. The Samsung I7500 is a EDGE / GPRS (850/ 900/1800/1900) phone. It is slated for a European release sometime in June.

Samsung Releases the Propel Pro Smartphone

2009-05-02T17:12:00.002+07:00

Samsung has released a follow-up to its highly successful Propel Smartphone which was released sometime last year. Taking most of the great features of its predecessor, the Samsung Propel Pro is offering a chrome slider smartphone with full QWERTY keyboard, unique and seamless navigation, and running on Windows Mobile 6.1 OS on AT&T’s 3G network.The Samsung Propel Pro is a compact slider phone with an easy to use joystick that allows users to navigate through the phone’s menus and messages seamlessly. The phone allows users to access their multiple email accounts, through Microsoft Direct Push for corporate email, and At&T Xpress Mail for accessing their personal emaila ccount. It also allows over-the-air account synchronization for contacts, calendar, and task lists using Microsoft Exchange Server

The Samsung Propel also lets users browse the web using IE Mobile, sync schedules and contacts as well as manage their Windows mobile documents including Word, Excel, and Powerpoint. It also features threaded SMS, Internet connection sharing, mobile banking and voice command.

For enterprise-grade mobile solution, the Samsung Propel supports Microsoft’s System Center Mobile Device Manager. This allows Mobile Device Manager administrators with software distribution and update capabilities as well as security-enhanced access to company date.

Other features and specs of the Samsung Propel include, AT&T GPS Navigator, GPS-enabled turn-by-turn voice, on-screen driving or walking directions, colorful 3-D moving maps, mobile banking, AT&T Video Share, MobiTV, AT&T Mobile Music, WiFi, Bluetooth, 3.0 megapixel camera with video capture, and microSD memory card slot.

Samsung Brings the Tint to MetroPCS

2009-05-02T17:06:00.002+07:00

Samsung and MetroPCS has teamed up to deliver the new Samsung Tint flip phone to MetroPCS mobile customers. The Samsung Tint is a durable and fashionable flip phone which boasts of grey and pink faceplates, customizable wallpaper, banner themes and fonts which all make up for personalization options.
Aside from its fashionable design and durability, the Samsung Tint is also a power-packed mobile phone equipped with useful features. It has an integrated camera, SMS, MMS, email and IM messaging capabilities, advance voice recognition, Bluetooth wireless technology, and speakerphone for hands-free use.
The Samsung Tint also provides quick access to your family and friends via ChatLINK push-to-talk social networking tool. This feature is similar to how a walkie-talkie works that provides an easy and quick way of communicating with others which use compatible phones.

The Samsung Tint also offers mobile web browsing capabilities, downloadable ringtones and graphics.

For its technical specs, the Samsung Tint gives you 1.9-inch TFT LCD and external display, 20MB internal memory, GPS, 3 hours usage time, 250 hours standby time, audio format support for MID, MP3, MMF, AAC, QCP, and PMD.

Available now in all MetroPCS coverage areas, the Samsung Tint goes for $30 to $50 per month depending on the type of mobile subscription which does not need a formal MetroPCS contract.

Facebook for BlackBerry v1.5 Combines Contacts, Chat

2009-04-30T23:46:00.001+07:00

An updated version of the Facebook for BlackBerry application was launched today with new features such as combining contact information with Facebook photos and integrating online chats and status updates with the smartphone.

BlackBerry maker RIM said its latest Facebook for BlackBerry edition, version 1.5, can automatically update existing photos in the handset's own address book with a Facebook friend's profile photo.

The friend's photo will show up in the address book along with their Facebook name.

Users will still be able to click a buddy's number to call, use a shortcut to poke a friend or open Facebook to draft a personal message or wall post.

Events on Facebook, such as birthdays, can also be synced to the phone.

The app also combines chat conversations and status updates into the smartphone -- showing up as an IM thread in the application, and as a message in the BlackBerry's message list.

The latest update adds language support for French, Italian, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Polish, Russian, Czech, Traditional/Simplified Chinese, Japanese and Korean.

Samsung Trance to Offer Better Audio, Launches for Verizon

2009-04-29T23:43:00.001+07:00

Verizon Wireless, the nation's largest wireless carrier, today launched the Samsung Trance, an enhanced music phone with technology from high-end Danish audio designer Bang & Olufsen.

The Basking Ridge, N.J.-based carrier said the handset uses technology developed by Samsung and Bang & Olufsen to improve audio performance in mobile phones. The built-in ICEpower amp delivers a deeper bass and clearer treble for better sounding music without draining battery life.

Verizon customers can use VCAST Music with Rhapsody to choose and download from over five million songs or sync tracks, albums and playlists from a computer using a USB cable.

The handset comes with 1GB of internal memory dedicated for music -- actual formatted capacity is 64MB.

Additional features include Bluetooth wireless technology with Bluetooth Music Sharing to listen to music through two stereo devices simultaneously, a 1.3-megapixel camera with Multi-Shot, VZ Navigator for turn-by-turn GPS directions and threaded messaging.

The Samsung Trance costs $50 after a $50 mail-in rebate and a new two-year contract.

Nokia 6216 Classic Puts Mobile Wallet on SIM Card

2009-04-28T23:41:00.000+07:00

Finnish mobile phone maker Nokia today introduced the 6216 Classic, a handset that can buy items from stores by waving it over a sensor.

Nokia, the world's top handset maker, said the 6216 Classic can securely store a user's credit card information on the SIM card using NFC (Near Field Communication) technology.

Paying for purchases would be as simple as swiping the phone over a sensor.

"With the Nokia 6216 Classic in your pocket and the ticketing applications on the SIM you can replace the multitude of cards in your wallet," said Jeremy Belostock, Head of Nokia's Near Field Communications group. "Having the applications on the SIM consumers can bring their secure applications to their next Nokia NFC enabled phone."

With NFC, users can also share content -- such as photos, Web links, audio files or contact data.

Additional features on the 6216 Classic include a 2.0-megapixel camera, stereo FM radio and music player, 3G connectivity and a microSD slot that is expandable up to 8GB.

Visa has been aggressively pushing NFC and mobile related payment services. In 2007, Visa announced it was working with Qualcomm to bring CDMA and WCDMA platforms to markets that include NFC.

Earlier this month, the credit card company launched its first commercial mobile payments service using NFC technology in Malaysia.

Nokia Sells Mobile TV Technology Unit

2009-04-27T01:02:00.000+07:00

Nokia, the world's top mobile phone maker, said it has sold its mobile TV unit to India-based Wipro Technologies.
Mobile television broadcasting, the hottest upcoming feature for handsets only a few years ago, has struggled to take off.

"We wanted to focus on the consumer side of things, the mobile TV client in the devices, rather than on the business-to-business side," said a Nokia spokesman.

The mobile TV unit had 40 employees and developed software and hardware which enabled the mobile TV technology on the phone to find and access the broadcasting network.

The company has been implementing cost-cutting measures to respond to the fading demand for mobile phones amid the worldwide downturn.

Last week, Nokia reported its profits plunged 90 percent in the first quarter of 2009. It also announced plans to lay off 1,700 people worldwide.

AT T to AT&T Double 3G Speeds, Preps For New iPhone Launch

2009-04-26T00:58:00.000+07:00

AT&T, the second-largest U.S. carrier, plans to double download speeds of its 3G network just before the expected launch of Apple's new iPhone device.

The Dallas, Texas-based company said the new speeds, once implemented, would take its capacity to 7.2 Mbps -- double the current maximum speed.

Called HSPA+, its upgraded network is currently being tested in two markets and will roll out across the country later this year.

Apple is already testing iPhone devices on HSPA+ and the faster AT&T service could arrive as soon as May 31 -- just in time for Apple to launch its widely expected new iPhone device.

News of the increased speeds comes as reports emerged that the carrier was trying to extend its exclusive relationship with Apple until 2011.

LG Viewty Smart Analyzes Scenes for Better Photos

2009-04-25T00:54:00.000+07:00

Korean phone maker LG Electronics today announced the Viewty Smart, an "intelligent" 8.0-megapixel camera phone that automatically analyzes scenes and adjusts settings for better photos.

The Viewty Smart, successor to the first Viewty, has an upgraded 8.0-megapixel sensor with Intelligent Shot Mode, a feature that analyzes the subject, background, and lighting conditions and compares the data against seven pre-programmed scenarios -- eliminating the need to check settings before taking a photo.

The handset also adds several features such as Multi-Face Detection and DVD-quality D1 video recording. It also carries over features such as Touch Shot, Art Shot, Beauty Shot, Panorama Shot and Continuous Shot.

"The Viewty Smart represents the next generation of LG camera phones, and will drive LG leadership in the industry with its innovative, smart technology," said Skott Ahn, Chief Executive of LG Electronics Mobile. "It will be about having a smart camera phone that takes better pictures and is easier to use than a standalone digital camera."

The LG Viewty Smart will be available in Europe starting this May and then launch in other markets around the world.

Tossing your cell phone? Protect your data

2009-04-24T13:10:00.000+07:00

Best way to make sure your information is secret? Delete it yourself

Most people wouldn’t give away or sell their wireless phone without first deleting their phone book and other personal information. But you should be just as careful if your phone needs to be repaired.

When a cell phone breaks, you either take it back to the store or send it to the insurance company. In either case, you give them your broken phone and usually get a refurbished one in return. That means you get somebody else’s old phone. And eventually, somebody will get yours.

Today’s smart phones can store huge amounts of data — calendars, documents, pictures, audio recordings, and video files — personal and possibly sensitive information you don’t want to share with anyone, especially a stranger.

What you should?
The major phone companies have programs in place to erase all the data from phones they get for repair, trade-in and recycling.

“But that process can fail,” says Erik Larkin, an Associate Editor at PC World magazine. “If you want to make sure the data is gone, you should do it yourself,” Larkin says.

In fact, the wireless companies I contacted agree with that advice. “Clean it out before you return it or put it in the recycle bin,” says Verizon’s Georgia Taylor.

A true horror story
Imagine how you’d feel if that old phone spilled your secrets. It doesn’t happen very often, thank goodness, but it did happen a few years ago to JoAnn Bishop of Los Angeles.

Bishop returned a broken PDA phone and received a refurbished one. After synching the new phone with her computer, she checked the phone book and saw there were more than 300 extra contacts; names she did not recognize. “I thought, wow, this is bizarre,” Bishop told me.

When she checked the calendar she was horrified to find someone else’s appointments there, including a flight to Rome she wasn’t planning to take. That’s when she knew something was really wrong.

The refurbished phone Bishop received had been turned in for repair by Denver businessman David Levi King. Bishop now knew everything about King, including what he would be doing and where he would be going.

“It was freaky,” she says.

In the phone’s notes section she found King’s insurance information, bank and credit card numbers, user names, passwords, and pin codes.

“I felt like I was looking into someone’s private life.”

King told me he was lucky an honest person received his phone. “There are a lot of things a dishonest individual could have done. They could have used my credit cards, or stolen my identity.”

But wait, there’s more
Bishop was assured this was an isolated incident and was sent another refurbished phone. Guess what? This one came loaded with Bassem Megally’s personal information. Megally, who lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, had turned it in for repairs. He was shocked when Bishop called to tell him what happened.

“Why would they do such a thing?” Megally asks. “It’s just ridiculous.”

Both Megally and King told me they thought they had deleted the information from their phones before turning them in. And indeed, they may have tried. The problem is erasing all the data stored on a cell phone is often a very complicated procedure.

How to do it right
With a computer, when you “delete” files they are still on the hard drive. You just can’t access them easily anymore. The same thing is true with a cell phone.

You need to find out how to wipe the memory clean to permanently delete everything stored on that phone. Removing the SIM Card (Subscriber Identity Module), if your phone has one, is not good enough.

“You can pull the SIM card and still have a whole lot of your personal information stored internally on the phone,” says PC World’s Erik Larkin.

To permanently delete all that information, you need to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your specific model. And those instructions are different for every phone. They normally include codes and keys to push. With some Palm products you have to insert a paper clip into the reset hole on the back of the phone.

As an example, here’s what you need to do with the Motorola P8767:

Press FCN, 0, 0, *, *, 8, 3, 7, 8, 6, 6, 3, 3, STO
Press 3, 2, # and wait until display clears
Press 0, 1, #

Do that and you’ve wiped out all the stored data. That’s because this phone has what’s called a “master reset.” Many phones don’t have that feature, so you need to delete the data one step at a time.

With the Kyocera SE44 there are nine separate erase functions: phone book, calls list, call timers, text messages, voicemail, organizer, voice dial, voice memo, and wake-up message.

Where do you get information?
Go to http://www.wirelessrecycling.com, a site run by ReCellular Inc., the country’s largest recycler and reseller of used wireless phones. Look for the link to “Cell Phone Data Eraser” and you can find step-by-step instructions for phones made by 22 manufacturers. The site also has a database of more than 40,000 recycling centers that you can search by zip code.

Let’s recap
You never want to give away your phone, for any reason, if it contains personal data. You want to pull out the SIM card (if your phone has one) and do a master reset or individual resets to wipe out all the stored data.

Then go through all the menus and make sure everything is gone – the phone book, calendar, notes, and logs of your calls and text messages.

Remember, everything that has been on your phone will stay on your phone, unless you take the time to get remove it.

Source

LG Viewty II renamed the Viewty Smart, appears on official LG blog

2009-04-23T00:04:00.000+07:00

Details have surfaced regarding the LG GC900 Viewty II, supposedly renamed the Viewty Smart, on the official LG German blog. Although the information has been pulled from the site, we can say with some certainly that the information originally posted on the site appears to be valid.

The Smart is less than a half-inch thick and weighs only 3.2 ounces, but manages to pack a lot of impressive technology in that tiny frame.

The Viewty Smart features an 8 megapixel camera and a 3-inch touchscreen display powered by LG's 3D S-Class user interface. The device will apparently shoot video at 720x480 resolution, and will geotag photos with an onboard GPS. WiFI and HSDPA data connectivity will keep the device snappy on the Internet.

Pricing and availability were not detailed, and there is no news on when to expect the device to be officially announced.

T-Mobile adds unlimited mobile-to-mobile at no cost to some individual plans

2009-04-22T00:00:00.000+07:00

T-Mobile has revamped its mobile subscription offerings, its most significant change being that its now offering unlimited mobile-to-mobile calling at not cost to all individual plans costing more than $49.95.

The company has unveiled a new myFaves plan for $89.99 that includes 1800 minutes, unlimited nights and weekends, unlimited mobile-to-mobile and myFaves calling to favorite friends and family members.

It has also added 500 minutes at no cost to the $99.99 and $129.99 FamilyTime plans; 500 minutes were also added to the $119.99 and $149.99 myFave family plans, and the prices were lowered by $10.

Multi-touch coming to for Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, sort of

2009-04-21T23:57:00.000+07:00

Yes, you read it right. A developer created a simple game introducing the multi-touch implementation. The application itself reminds the popular Guitar Hero console games, but its breakthrough may established a whole new path in the mobile software.

Jamie Fuller, a UK programmer, successfully created the first multi-touch application for Symbian S60 5th edition or Nokia 5800 XpressMusic in particular. The app it's still at it's alpha stage, but you can easily get the idea.

The real news today is that the multi-touch game called Space Dancer is now available as a free download from Jamie Fuller's website. The basic game reminds of the popular console series Guitar Hero, where your objective is to touch the correct music notes flying on screen in accordance to the currently playing music track.

Up until not long ago it was considered impossible running multi-touch apps on resistive touchscreen displays but there are some companies such as Stantum, for instance, that are already working successfully on the task.

Now we see the same feat managed by a third-party developer using only software methods - and best of all, running on a popular handset. The exciting opportunities are overwhelming.

If we've got you interested, you can watch the short video demo below showing the application in its early stages almost two months ago.

iPhone OS 3.0 hides a promise of video recording on iPhone 2009

2009-04-20T23:58:00.000+07:00

The iPhone inabilities have been a matter of discussion at least as much as its virtues. Unfortunately, video recording (or better yet the lack of it) has often been a subject of criticism. But that will surely become a thing of the past since the developer's beta of iPhone OS 3.0 is supposedly sprinkled with clues that video recording will definitely be coming to the upcoming iPhone 2009.

It's this time of the year again, and with Apple's next announcement in June nearing, not a day goes by without some new iPhone rumors surfacing. Rumors are always to be taken with a pinch of salt, but this one seems as solid as a rock.

The iPhone 2009 is rumored to have a better 3.2 megapixel camera in store for us but no matter the megapixel count, it will almost certainly support video recording as the following camera screenshot reveals. Video recording has never been a part of the originally announced iPhone OS 3.0 new features, so it's highly possible that iPhone 2G and 3G will most probably be left out in the cold.

Screenshot of the updated camera application by MacRumors.com

Boy Genius Report have also gotten their hands on quite a few screenshots of the developer's beta OS, and one of their shots confirms video recording as well.

There are other yet undocumented 3.0 features as well - voice dialing (or perhaps even full-on voice commands), a digital compass (the most reasonable translation of "magnetometer"), as well as some changes to the UI, including an accessibility menu and OpenGL ES getting bumped to version 2.0 (it's the 3D library used by the iPhone SDK).

iPhone OS 3.0 Beta screenshots from Boy Genius Report

Unfortunately, there's no info on the captured video specs. Thanks to some unofficial third-party applications, the iPhones have already been able to record video in CIF resolution at 15-20fps. We really hope that the iPhone 2009 will do better than that.

We've already covered the most notable new features of the iPhone OS 3.0 version and only time will tell if these newfound capabilities will remain in rumor-land or they will make it to the new iPhone 2009 along with (hopefully) the old ones.

Android version 1.5 SDK released, OS update can't be far away

2009-04-19T23:56:00.000+07:00

The new version of the Android platform is obviously quite close to making an official debut. Starting today, developers can get an early look at the SDK for it, which contains a number of new APIs for making use of the new upcoming "Cupcake" features.

Based on the Cupcake branch of the Android Open Source Project, the ver. 1.5 of Adroid OS will allow for 3rd party virtual on-screen keyboards, home screen widgets, live folders, and speech recognition.

Developers can download the new SDK from the official developer website over here along with additional information about the new developer tools and structure, introduced with this SDK.

Samsung S8000 leaked again - this time it speaks Androidish

2009-04-18T23:53:00.000+07:00

The yet unannounced Samsung S8000 specs seem quite the thing, especially having in mind the handset is rumored as the first Android phone by Samsung. As you may guess, it features a high-res display, full suite connectivity and sports Samsung's new 3D interface.

As we already informed you before, the Samsung S8000 is one of the upcoming full touch phones by the South Korean manufacturer. However, until now we knew for sure only one feature - the 5 megapixel camera with dual LED flash.

The Russian retailer Euroset.ru however already posted the S8000 up for preorder along with a few juicy specs details, but shortly after that it was removed from their catalog. Anyway we managed to retrieve the full specs sheet, which of course is not official yet, but seems quite close.

The Samsung S8000 sports a 3.1-inch AMOLED touch display with WVGA resolution and 16 million colors, the 5 megapixel snapper with flash, FM radio with RDS, 2GB internal memory expandable via microSD slot and 3.5mm audio jack. The rich connectivity options include 3G support, Wi-Fi, GPS with A-GPS, Bluetooth 2.1 and USB. Finally its body is only 12mm thin.

Surprisingly, the Samsung S8000 will be running on the Android OS and the new Cube-like button hints of some new 3D graphical user interface changes. The video player will support both DivX and XviD formats.

Back to the online store affair, the Samsung S8000 was posted by Euroset.ru at a pre-order price of approx. 470 euro, but at this stage there is no official word or announcement on this handset.

Nokia 5800 XpressMusic in silver

2009-04-17T23:51:00.000+07:00

The original announcement of Nokia 5800 XpressMusic promised three color versions: Red, Blue and Black. Up until now only the red and blue ones have been available, but the grey-striped one will finally hit the shelves as well and here are the live shots to prove it.

Nokia 5800 XpressMusic Black official photo

Call it Black, call it Black/Silver, or call it Grey if you prefer. Whatever it is, the main thing about the new color of Nokia 5800 XpressMusic is that it looks much more serious now. The red and blue stripes of the well-known versions are now silverish.

Except for the more decent look of the Black/Silver Nokia 5800 XpressMusic behind the new clothes there's still the well known all-in-one multimedia monster.

And here are some live photos (source)

There's the 3.2" touchscreen, the Wi-Fi support, the built-in GPS receiver, the great music player, the powerful stereo speakers and all the other goodies that turned Nokia 5800 XpressMusic into one of the most anticipated and desired handsets announced lately.

The price hasn't changed as well so according to the Nokia UK store the new color version of 5800 will be selling for 249 GBP (around 280 euro or 370 US dollars) like its different colored siblings.

LG GC900 Viewty 2 turns official the Smart way, no xenon though

2009-04-16T23:49:00.000+07:00

LG Viewty Smart (known as Viewty 2) is now official and very similar to the current LG flagman - the Arena. S-Class UI, 8 megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, GPS awaits you in the 12mm only thin body.

The popular LG Viewty has finally jumped into the next generation with its successor. Previously known as simply LG Viewty 2, the device is now cunningly called LG Viewty Smart.

The new LG Viewty Smart packs a 3-inch capacitive touch-display with WVGA resolution, an 8 megapixel camera with LED flash and D1 video recording, accelerometer, 3G support, Wi-Fi and GPS. It runs on the new S-Class 3D user interface and most probably will have the multi-touch functions. Dolby Mobile technology along with the DivX/XviD support is also on board.

LG Viewty Smart

It's business as usual for LG, which showcased the LG Viewty Smart behind glass at the MWC 2009, but didn't really bother to reveal any more details about it. Instead they focused on the LG Arena.

As you can see the similarity to the LG Arena is quite obvious except for the better camera with Schneider-Kreuznach optics and the lack of huge storage. Unfortunately the rumored xenon flash is not present, instead the Viewty Smart has a LED one.

The 8 megapixel camera lacks a xenon flash

Just like the KM900 Arena, the GC900 Viewty Smart is only 12mm thin but its weight is even less - 90 grams.

The LG Viewty Smart practically leaked on the German LG blog but the information about it was quickly removed with a promise of publishing it officially soon. We guess it's going to be soon, as according to the leaked Orange UK release schedule it's due for market availability in June.

Samsung A657 Phone (AT&T)

2009-04-15T00:17:00.002+07:00

Released for AT&T, the Samsung SGH-A657 is a rugged push-to-talk handset built to withstand harsh conditions. The phone is the A657 is certified to Military Standard MI-SID-810F, withstanding dust, shock vibrations, rain, humidity, solar radiation and altitude and temperature extremes. Its block form factor conveniently mounts to a dashboard -- ideal for on-site businesses. Customers can get turn-by-turn directions with AT&T Navigator and track teams with Telenav Track and Xora Mobile Workforce Management tools. The handset also features a built-in flashlight to shines a light in tough work conditions. Additional features include AT&T Mobile Music and Cellular Video, Bluetooth wireless technology, a microSD card slot and USB 2.0 connectivity.

Sprint should sell Palm Pre for $149

2009-04-12T00:17:00.000+07:00

We should be seeing the Palm Pre smartphone hit sometime soon, and although the initial touted price of the Palm Pre was $399, it soon got pushed down to sit around the $199 to $299 mark.

However, the guys over at cnet reckon that Sprint needs to do better and break that $199 figure by lowering the Palm Pre to a more suitable $149.00.

They see it like this…Apple will push out a new Apple iPhone soon, the base iPhone is $199 and a possible lower priced entry lever iPhone on its way. Then there’s the Google Android T-Mobile G1 priced at $179, and of course BlackBerry smartphones are getting cheaper.

So basically if Sprint and Palm want to keep the Palm Pre in the game they simply have to lower that price to the $149 mark just to give it a fighting chance of competing.

Agree or disagree? Let us know.

LG Introduces a New Music Player Phone in Korea

2009-04-11T00:09:00.000+07:00

Here's LG's latest music player (Walkman) phone the LG-GM310, LG-GM210, and LG-GM205 (name depends on the mobile operator)… Besides the classic 2Mpix camera module, it features 4GB internal memory, USB 2.0 storage support, a 2.1 stereo speaker (with subwoofer), high-end LG sound engine, and Dolby Mobile engine.

Sony Ericsson S312

2009-04-09T00:14:00.001+07:00

Sony Ericsson has unveiled the Sony Ericsson S312 camera phone which is a low end handset in Sony Ericsson’s Snapshot range.

The Sony Ericsson S312 handset features a 2 inch display, 2 megapixel camera with 2.5 digital zoom, dedicated video camera key, picture blogging application, illuminated camera shortcuts, 15MB of internal memory and expandable via Memory Stick M2 cards.

The Sony Ericsson S312 measures 100 x 46 x 12.5mm with a weight of just 80 grams and will be available in “Honey Silver” and “Dawn Blue as of Q2 09 in selected markets, but no word on price as yet.

Pimp My Samsung SCH-W750, Behold the Haptic POP

2009-04-08T23:57:00.000+07:00

POP and not POPe… The Samsung's new line-up of battery covers for their phones. Today they released the Haptic POP line-up for the SCH-W750, a standard Samsung Haptic phone with DMB, a 3Mpix camera module and so on…

If you feel the need to personalize your SCH-W750, you'll have a choice of seven stylish battery covers.

AU Mobile Pico Projector

2009-04-08T00:07:00.002+07:00

AU just released the G9 from SE and have already released a few nice little accessories like the Mobile Pico Projector, a 3M LED like Pico Projector but made solely for use with the G9.

If you have no interest in getting a G9, rest assured AU will make the new Mobile Pico Projector compatible with AU S001, VA001, H001, W63CA, W63H, W62CA and W62H series phones.

AU G9 Mobile Phone by KDDI…

2009-04-08T00:00:00.003+07:00

When I arrived in Japan eight years ago I was amazed by the design of Japanese phones, now I tend to get more excited by iPhones and LG/Samsung creations rather than Japanese models that are all basically the same… Today am pretty impressed with AU’s latest G9, a gorgeous CDMA 1x Win + GSM phone… Made by… Oh wait… now I get it! It's not a Japanese phone after all, since it has a Sony Ericsson handset…

The G9 is the latest cool phone to own if you are in Japan, it features a nice 3” WVGA LCD, a 3.10Mpix AF camera, Bluetooth, GPS, 700Mb of Memory, 1Seg, TV, and so on at just 18.1mm thick.

Is Cell Phone Insurance Worthwhile?

2009-04-03T00:09:00.000+07:00

Buying a new wireless phone typically means hearing a sales pitch for cell phone insurance. It sure sounds reasonable. "Peace of mind for that important device that might be lost or stolen," says the sales rep.

But many consumers later find their insurance policy isn't everything they thought it was.

"The U.S. Cellular representative suggested that I needed insurance because the phone was expensive. I figured it wasn't a bad deal for an additional $5.00 per month, so I agreed and signed the paperwork," says Riki of Madison, Wisconsin.

When his phone's speaker was damaged, Riki called his insurer -- The Signal -- and was told that although his model of phone had been discontinued, he would be sent a comparable phone with the same features.

"I constantly use the MP3 feature on my phone, so it was very important the replacement phone have this feature," he said.

Riki received his replacement phone and was shocked to discover it was nothing like his first one.

"The replacement phone didn't have external memory, radio or voice recording, and it didn't even have an MP3 feature, the one thing that The Signal promised I would have."

Contacting the cell phone company usually won't help because the insurance policy is between a third-party insurer and the cell phone owner.

"I called US Cellular and they agreed that I should have at least received an MP3 phone, but there are limits to what the carrier can do because the policy is with another company," says Riki.

He again called The Signal and this time spoke with a supervisor.

"She explained that if they do not have the same phone as a replacement, they could send whatever phone they wanted and if I didn't like it, I could purchase a new phone."

Not Uncommon

In fact, what Riki experienced isn't uncommon because most policies state that a replacement phone might be a different model. Additionally, most consumers don't take the time to read the small print and seldom will a salesperson tell you all the details.

For instance, some policies won't cover a device such as a Treo or BlackBerry, but to know that you would have to read the policy which will tell you to visit the website of the carrier for a list of "ineligible" devices.

Furthermore, the policy will include the amount of your deductible, something that many consumers aren't aware of until they file a claim.

In Riki's case, he paid his premiums for 14 months and then paid a deductible, ending up with a replacement phone nothing like his previous one. He comments, "I've warned my family about this fiasco because they are paying for insurance just as I was."

Most carriers will give you at least fourteen days to decide if you want insurance, so don't be rushed into a decision that will come back to haunt you.

Like extended warranties, phone insurance may wind up being worth a lot less than you pay for it.

Do you need cell Insurance ??

2009-04-02T00:03:00.001+07:00

You’ve finally settled on the perfect new cell phone with all the latest features. You’ve chosen the accessories and picked a service plan. Now the salesperson asks if you want to buy insurance to protect your purchase.

It’s only $4.99 a month and you’ll be covered if the phone is lost, drops in the toilet or is run over by a car. So you say yes. Did you make the right decision?

Your new phone comes with a manufacturer’s warranty. But that only covers equipment failure caused by a defect or malfunction. You’re out of luck if the phone is lost, stolen, or accidentally damaged.

Dwight Moore with Verizon Wireless, says customers like cell phone insurance because they know if something happens to their phone, they’ll quickly have a replacement. In most cases, he says, it will arrive overnight and will be “exactly the same or similar” to the one you had.

Why consumer groups don’t recommend it

“We think it’s almost always a waste of money,” says Consumer Reports Editor-At-Large Greg Daugherty.

“You can insure every gadget in your life if you want these days,” Daugherty says. “We think all this little insurance is just adding up to too much in many cases. People really ought to be focusing on the big risks.”

San Diego’s Utility Consumers’ Action Network (UCAN) also advises most consumers to skip cell phone insurance. UCAN’s Michael Shames tells me they get “lots of complaints” from people who did buy this coverage.

Some complain their replacement phone is used, what the industry calls “refurbished.” Others are surprised by the deductible, usually around $50.

Shames calls that “one of the dirty little secrets about phone insurance.”

Shames says insurance might make sense for some people — those who are prone to drop their phone, get it wet or somehow disable it. “It might be useful if you happen to work on building skyscrapers and you tend to drop your phone 30 or 40 stories,” he says.

It could also come in handy if you’re buying a high-end PDA phone that would cost you $500 or $600 to replace. Just remember, he says, “your replacement phone is likely used.”

An insurance nightmare

Justin Leavens, a businessman in Sherman Oaks, Calif., is one of those who complained to UCAN.

He purchased insurance coverage when he bought a fairly expensive phone from Verizon Wireless. “My cell phone is my lifeline,” he says. “So I couldn’t really be without it for more than a few days.”

When the phone was damaged, Leavens filed a claim with the insurance company, Asurion, and was told he would have a replacement phone “the next day.” When it didn’t arrive, he called Asurion again and was told they didn’t have his phone in stock. His choices were: get on a waiting list or take a different phone that did not have the same features as the broken one.

Leavens says he suggested comparable phones that would make him happy, but the insurance company would not agree to that. He told them his local Verizon store had his phone. He offered to go pick one up if they would pay for it. Again, they said no.

“It really appeared like they were doing everything in their power to get out of paying for my cell phone,” he says.

Totally frustrated, Leavens went to the Verizon store and “basically begged for help.”

To make a very long story short, he says Verizon convinced the insurance company to pay for a new phone. Leavens picked it up right away, but he told me he had to wait 2-and-a-half months for his reimbursement check.I made several requests for a comment from Asurion, but there was no response to my calls or emails.

The fine print
When it comes to insurance, it’s the actual policy that counts, not what you see in the colorful brochure or hear in the sales pitch. The policy is a contract between you and the insurance company, and these cell phone policies have numerous limitations and exclusions not spelled out in the sales material.

For instance, the policy for Cingular phones do not cover “normal wear and tear” or a cracked display “that does not affect the mechanical or electrical function of the unit.” And while the sales brochure promises, “a replacement is just a call away,” the policy is less generous. It says the company has the right to “repair or replace” the phone. That’s a big difference. And if they do send you a replacement, “colors, features and accessory compatibility are not guaranteed.”

Before making a decision, ask for a copy of the actual policy and see what it covers and what is excluded.

What should you do?
Say no to insurance coverage at the sales counter. Take some time to think about this purchase. You don’t have to make an impulse decision in the store. Cingular gives you 30 days. Verizon Wireless customers have 15 days to decide.

Consider what you’re really buying. While the transaction takes place through your wireless company, you are actually buying the policy from an independent third-party. If your claim is rejected, the wireless company may not be able to help.

Cell phone insurance is not like homeowners or auto insurance. With these policies if you have a covered loss, you get money from the insurance company. With phone insurance you get merchandise — a phone — instead of money.

And consider this. You can go online and get some great deals on used cell phones. If you lose or damage yours, it may be cheaper to simply buy a new one out of your own pocket with the money you didn’t spend on insurance.

Taking action
A class action lawsuit filed in Miami claims the insurance companies selling this coverage are using “deceptive and outrageous” practices. The suit contends the refurbished phones people get are worth less than the original phones.

MSNBC.com has learned a preliminary settlement has been reached in this case and will be presented to the court later this week. If approved, the settlement would affect as many as 13 million people who bought cell phone insurance.

LG Will Let You Play with Their Phone with Transparent Keyboard at CTIA 09

2009-04-01T23:45:00.000+07:00

Introduced at the latest GSMA Mobile World Congress in Barcelona as a concept, the new LG-GD900 phone with improved UI and transparent keyboard will be LG’s latest star at CTIA 09. If we're still waiting for more detailed specifications, LG has confirmed that everyone attending the CTIA 09 will get the chance to see this baby in the flesh and play with it…

How to save money on: insurance

2009-03-30T23:48:00.001+07:00

If you're struggling to make ends meet, one obvious place to cut costs is to stop paying for something that gets you nothing. I'll bet you've looked more than once at an insurance bill and asked yourself the simple question: "Why?"

The average American spends more than $2,000 each year on auto, life and homeowners’ insurance. And what do you get for that money? Not very much. For example, only about one in 15 drivers makes an auto insurance claim every year.

On the other hand, you probably know better than to question the need for insurance. Even if you've never had an accident, you know your time will likely come. And when it does, it’ll be costly. The average auto insurance claim payment is nearly $4,000. Plus, auto insurance is required by law, so you don’t really have a choice.

It is not required that you overpay, however, and many people do just that. Here are a few tips you can use to pare down your insurance bills without putting yourself at unnecessary risk. I'll focus on auto insurance, but mix in a few tips about life and homeowners policies as well. And many of the principles apply to any kind of insurance you buy.

It helps to think of insurance as a concept as well as a product. Insurance was designed centuries ago to ease catastrophic losses by individuals by spreading risk over wide pools of contributors. One oft-told story has it that Chinese traders invented insurance by spreading their goods among each others' trading ships, so that no merchant would be wiped out if a single ship was lost at sea.

Notice I used the word "catastrophic." Insurance was never designed to make your life easy, and it's not really designed to make you whole after an accident either. It's designed to prevent you from being wiped out. If you get in a small fender-bender that requires some paint touch-up, you should expect to pay for those losses yourself. Save the insurance for the big event when you really need help.

In practical terms, this means most people are better off keeping deductibles on their policies high. The two most common optional coverages on auto policies are collision and comprehensive – collision covers the cost of repairing your car after accidents that aren’t covered by someone else’s policy, and comprehensive covers everything else (mainly fire and theft). Since you shouldn't make a claim for a $565 repair, you shouldn't pay for that level of coverage either. Raising the deductibles on your auto insurance policy is probably the single quickest way to save money. How much? Raising the deductible from $200 to $1,000 on comprehensive insurance will save an average of 40 percent or about $100 per year.

As a matter of sound financial planning, you should "self-insure" against the cost of these smaller incidents. That means when you raise your deductible to $1,000, you should simultaneously put $1,000 in an interest-bearing account that's earmarked specifically for small auto-related troubles. This way, when a theft or fire occurs, you can cover the expense relatively painlessly. In the meantime, you have the extra $100 each year – not your insurance company -- and you earn the interest.

There are many consumers who should consider dropping collision and comprehensive coverage altogether. Remember, these insurances are designed to protect you from a catastrophe. If your beloved clunker is only worth $1,800 and has a real replacement value of $1,200, it doesn't make sense to pay for comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible. Many consumers fail to realistically assess the replacement value of their car and the real value of their comprehensive and collision coverage. In 2006, the last year for which figures are available, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners said 77 percent of drivers bought comprehensive coverage and 72 percent bought collision. I know there are more clunkers out there that that. This is why it's so important to reassess your insurance policy every year.

When should you stop paying for collision and comprehensive? It's a personal choice, but here are some rules of thumb: As soon as you get to the point where you wouldn't spend $2,000 to fix your car, drop the extra coverage. Or, if you'd like a more complex formula that's often used, drop coverage when your annual premium multiplied by 5 exceeds the value of your car. If you already have that $1,000 set aside as your own “self-insurance" policy, that money can ease the blow if your car is stolen.

There's no way to skimp on the third main element of most drivers' insurance policies: liability. In fact, many insurance experts think consumers generally buy too little liability coverage. Minimum coverages are specified by each state's insurance regulators. Here's one list of state-by-state requirements.

You will often see liability insurance expressed as a series of three numbers, like this: 25/50/10. That means your state requires $25,000 in coverage for a single person’s injury in an accident, $50,000 in coverage for all people who might be hurt, and $10,000 coverage for any property damage. It’s important to note that who gets paid by your insurance company after an accident varies based on whether your state is a “tort” state or a “no-fault” state. In tort states, the responsible party’s insurance firm pays. In no-fault states, your insurance will pay you no matter whose fault the accident is. So if you skimp on coverage, you might actually be skimping on your own payouts. Twelve states currently have no-fault rules, according to the Insurance Information Institute (click for a list).

How much coverage should you have? Consumer Reports last year recommended 100/300/100 for an average middle-class worker. To be more specific, your coverage should grow with your income and assets. Think like a lawyer for someone you've hit in a car accident. If you have assets in excess of $300,000, someone might sue you for their value. So you should have at least enough liability coverage to protect your assets in case of an accident.

One other thing to look for: Many insurance companies load up policies with unnecessary extras like roadside assistance or rental car reimbursement. While roadside plans from insurers can be a good deal, make sure you aren't covered twice (perhaps by AAA, or your cell phone or your car manufacturer).

Rental car reimbursement can be handy, but it doesn't fit into the category of preventing catastrophe. In this economy, it's probably a luxury you can live without.

Even if you've done all these things to keep your insurance premiums down, you should take the time to get price quotes from competitors once each year. Auto insurers have a secret sauce they use to price policies. It includes arcane and unexpected items like your credit score. The only way to find out if you are paying a fair price is to see what the competition charges. Make sure you compare apples to apples when pricing polices -- same collision deductible, same liability and so on. Some insurers make that difficult, but it's worth the effort.

Other insurance tips

Finally, if you want to switch providers, do a little background check before you do. About half of U.S. states maintain extensive databases of complaints against insurers. The numbers are boiled down to a single rating called a "complaint ratio," which is essentially the number of complaints per customer each company gets. If you are thinking of signing up with a new company, make sure you aren't jumping to a leaky ship by first checking the complaint ratio database on your state's regulators Web site. How do you find that?

Here's a link to a state-by-state listing of insurance commissioners

Homeowners

Once consumers get into a home, they often allow their bank to pay their homeowners' insurance automatically through escrow payments. Then they forget all about it. Big mistake. Homeowners premiums can vary widely and also can be impacted by seeming unrelated items, such as a change in credit score. It's important to get competitive bids for your home insurance at least once every few years. Also, it's really important to avoid filing homeowners claims, and there's evidence that you shouldn’t even place a call to your insurer asking about whether or not you should file a claim. Insurers share information on claims through a big database called CLUE -- Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange. Sometimes, insurers make entries simply based on consumer inquiries. Avoid getting into this database at all costs. Handle small home accidents yourself.

And, if you've done anything to make your house safer – such as adding an alarm or helping to pay for a new fire station nearby -- make sure your insurer knows about it.

Life

Life insurance comes in so many flavors that I can't address then all in this column. My colleague Laura Coffey covered most of the basic ways you can save on life insurance in a recent column.

A few points should be stressed. Just like any other kind of insurance, life insurance should be there to prevent a disaster, such as premature death of a family's wage earner. It should not be confused with an investment vehicle. Life insurance policies that are bound up in retirement plans are generally a bad deal, and they are almost always confusing. Keep it simple. Buy what you need to take care of your loved ones if you die. How much do you need? Here's one calculator

The most common mistake people make is ignoring other sources of income available to the surviving spouse, such as Social Security benefits, when making the calculation. You'll need less insurance as life goes by and the kids finish college.

The best way to save money is to be healthy. Life insurers punish smokers with higher premiums. Ditto for those with high blood pressure or heart-related health issues.

The good news is that life insurance rates, overall, are plummeting. Premiums dropped 50 percent from 1994-2007 according to the Insurance Information Institute, thanks to better risk-assessment formulas and, naturally, competition.

Motorola ZN300

2009-03-30T00:09:00.000+07:00

The Motorola ZN300 is a quad-band GSM slider phone with a 3.1 megapixel camera with glossy case.

The display is 2.1-inch with 240×320 pixel and Motorola ZN300 supports stereo Bluetooth, USB 2.0, microSD expandable memory and comes with a comprehensive media player.

There’s no much features reveal on ZN300 and we will soon update it.

Motorola Aura

2009-03-29T23:48:00.000+07:00

Do you still remember the Motorola Aura? Now you can take a look the knockoff Aura phone with circle screen and led light around the display.

Here is the specification New Motorola Aura:

• LCD Size: 1.5 inch, 260 thousand color; PX: 176×220px

• Ringtone: Ringtone format: mp3,mp4

• Music: support to play music at background, equalizer, speed/pause

• Video: 3GP,MP4,AVI

• FM radio: FM, can play outside with earphone

• Camera: 13.0 lacpixel; support to shoot video with sound, the time depends on storage

• Rom: 505K/512MB, can extend TF card to 4 G, Document management

• Data Transfer: USB data wire/bluetooth (file transmission, voice, music)

• Standby Photo: jpg,gif

• Telephone directories: 500 groups,incoming ringtone,incoming call with photo or video

Top 10 Reasons Why you should choose Satellite TV over Cable TV

2009-03-28T09:56:00.000+07:00

So, you ‘re having some deep thoughts switching off your cable TV to satellite TV, huh? I bet you ‘re wondering DirecTV is the best choice to make. After doing some research, and working on this comparing homework, here ‘re Top 10 reasons, why Satellite TV is the one. And yup, it is. Over major cable providers. You heard me straight. Here we go :

1. It’s Cheaper.

So spend less and get more! No matter how you look at it, satellite TV is absolutely cheaper than cable TV. As we ‘ve noticed all the time that cable costs keep going up, you ‘ll for sure get your money ’s worth from DirecTV Total Choice package. These DirecTV deals gives you over 150 digital channels for $52.99/mo, including your local channels. For the same price with cable, you’ll typically get 60-90 analog channels. So cable is expensive for what you get — and with cable, the costs just seem to go up!

If it ’s simply the bottom line rate that you care about - rest assured - you ‘ll still pay less every month for satellite TV. Even better, DirecTV doesn ‘t charge you for installation or activation regardless of where you live. Best of all, such fees are waived for up to four TV sets!

2. It’s the HD, baby!

DirecTV has made a commitment to bringing you the best in HD Programming, that means more of the Digital DirecTV Satellite channels you want to see in HD than you’ll find anywhere else. Favorites such as CNN HD, A&E HD, The History Channel HD, as well as premium channels like HBO HD, Cinemax HD, Showtime HD, and Starz HD have already launches, and that’s just the tip of the iceburg. Now, you can watch 130+ of the channels you really want in breathtaking HD!

In addition to all the best in national HD programming, Digital DirecTV Satellite brings you more HD sports than any other cable or satellite provider, including OVER 230 NFL Games each season in amazing HD-quality. AND, for state-of-the-art HD and HD DVR receivers, no one beats DirecTV offers in bringing you the BEST and EASIEST TV experience.

3. Easiest & Affordable Setup

Get standard installation of a Digital DirecTV Satellite System for up to 4 rooms FREE when you commit to 12 months of TOTAL CHOICE programming, subject to credit approval. And, Handling and Delivery are FREE if you order online.

4. Access to Digital Benefits for All Customers

If your account is in a good standing, you can order pay per view and add premium services by subscription. It applied to all customers. You ‘ll also receive up to 72 XM Satellite Radio channels in your own total choice base package. Cable customers with analog service may not have these options.

5. It’s the Digital Quality

You ‘ll get a crystal-clear, 100% digital-quality viewing experience. With cable, maybe not! Digital cable is usually a combination service, with some channels in digital, and many channels in analog. With cable, even the premier channels may be only partially digital!

6. Local Channels in High Definition

The simple addition of an off-air antenna gives access to HD programs available in your area from the major broadcast networks. There’s no monthly fee to receive HD local channels this way. And with the planned launch of four next-generation satellites, Digital DirecTV Satellite will have the capacity to deliver more than 1,500 local HD and 150 national HD channels to consumers nationwide.

7. Cheaper DVR Service Costs

Can you believe that you only pay a $5.99/mo. DVR service fee. If you have the TOTAL CHOICE® PREMIER package, the fee is waived. Some cable companies charge a high monthly fee for DVR equipment rental in addition to a DVR service fee. DirecTV hardware, programming, and DVR service sold separately.

8. You ‘re into Sports, DirecTV its is.

So you ‘re a football fanatic? You wouldn ‘t be able to live without DirecTV ’s NFL Sunday Ticket. If you ‘re all about road thrills then you mustn ‘t miss an episode of NASCAR Hot Pass. As for NCAA fans, you can catch up with your favorite teams during the Mega March Madness. DirecTV is the exclusive provider of NFL Sunday Ticket ™. Over 100 NFL Sunday Ticket ™ games are available in high-definition during the regular season. Beyond the NFL, DirecTV gives sports fans access to more than 8 subscription sports packages.

9. Lines Down, Cables Down!

If a line needs servicing, or a tree takes down a utility pole, cable goes out. So your cable-subscriber neighbor may have to come to your house to watch that big game on your Digital DirecTV Satellite system!

10. You’re Buying Service!

Things you need to boldly remember is, you’re buying service, not just programming. Cable companies are monopolies – they have their territories locked in, good customer service or not. Make sure you can get through to customer service when you need to!

Well, that’s the final result of the Cable versus Satellite battle. These Top 10 Reasons are statistically speaking, not just some sort of marketing material stuff. So brace our self experiencing a whole new era of digital entertainment.

Protect Cell Phone Privacy with Reverse Lookup

2009-03-27T09:53:00.000+07:00

Many people don’t realize it, but there is currently a law on the books throughout the United States that forbids telemarketing firms from calling cell phones. Of course, this law isn’t always adhered to, just like telemarketing firms often ignore Do Not Call lists in hopes of increasing sales.

The Help is Coming

Now, a new tool is available to responsible citizens everywhere that looks to help put an end to unwanted telemarketer calls once and for all. Known as a reverse cell phone searches, this new Internet-based utility lets you get to the bottom of who is calling you so that you can directly contact the offending party and finally enjoy the peace and quiet you deserve.

Put a Permanent End

To perform a reverse cell phone lookup, all that is needed is the phone number that has been calling time and time again. New caller identification blockers used by most telemarketers successfully blocks the name recognition part of your caller ID, but usually not the number. Simply jot down the number that comes up and enter it into the search field on your most trusted reverse phone directory. The information you receive back will surprise you. Not only will you get the name of the company responsible, but you will also be given an address and alternate contact information, if available. This way, you can call the company behind the calls directly and put a permanent end to unwanted calls.

Up until very recently, people were left to use common search engines like Google to try to track down who was responsible for these unwanted calls. If you have ever performed a search for a cell phone number before using Google or Yahoo, you know first hand that the results are often lacking. This new form of search is far more effective thanks to the fact that private cell phone number databases are included in the search. You’ll be surprised at how responsive a telemarketer is when you contact them directly and ask them to remove your name from their call lists, especially if you are already on a Do Not Call Registry.

It goes without saying that our personal time is far too important to be spent hanging on up telemarketers. The time we spend with loved ones at home or out having fun should be cherished. Reverse cell phone search allows users to protect their private mobile phones from a barrage of frustrating, unwanted calls.

Toshiba TG01

2009-03-26T09:46:00.001+07:00

Hats off to Toshiba for making such a great and impressive device, the Toshiba TG01, one of the best Windows Mobile devices this year. So let’s get started.

The Toshiba TG01 is the first smartphone with a Qualcomm 1 GHz chipset, called Snapdragon, snapped under their hood. Toshiba claims that it will make the Toshiba TG01 considerably faster than any other smartphone currently on market. And also Toshiba promised the TG01 will “revolutionize the mobile entertainment world”. We’re sure about that, since the Toshiba TG01 managed to squeeze most of today’s must-have-features into their extremely slim body (only 9.9mm thick), such as a 3.1 MP auto-focus camera, a microSD cardslot for extra storage up to 16GB, a built-in accelerometer, Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP support, Wi-Fi, a built-in GPS receiver, HSDPA and HSUPA support, WindowsMobile-Pro operating system and Custom Toshiba 3D user interface, and a GIANT 4.1″ WVGA touchscreen display!

Besides the extreme chipset and massive display, users will be pleased with Toshiba’s custom 3D UI. It’s way more practical and fun to use. And thanks to the built-in accelerometer, the phone can accept gesture commands which brings more fun, for example a double shake of the phone sideways can do 5 available tasks such as open the dialer, ending a task, ending all task, jump to today’s screen, or simply to answer a call. There are more customization options to improve the user experience even further. But If you think running on such an extremely powerful chipset and a massive display will compromised the TG01’s battery life, you’re wrong. Toshiba claims it will last to 11.5 days in standby and 5 hours of talk time.

The only drawback is that the device is way too big and large for single-handed use. Users will have to use both hand to work with the TG01. But, personally, i don’t think it’s a drawback. A super fast chipset, a giant and sharp touchscreen display, nifty 3D UI and gesture control, and many other killer features, will make us forgot about the size problem. Right, people ? Way to go, Toshiba!

Ultrasonic Ringtone

2009-03-25T09:48:00.000+07:00

Wanna hear something really cool? This one is a must for you! Well, If you ‘re a teenager, this one is definitely for you. Ever heard of mosquito ringtone? You know, ringtones that will enable you to receive text messages and phone calls in class without your teachers hearing them.

What Is It Anyways..

Alrite long story short, it’s a tone outside the audible range of hearing for most people over the age of 30. This means that you can get phone calls and receive text messages in class or school without teachers hearing it.

“The Mosquito”, as the product was named, took advantage of a curious medical fact that most adults (and kids) are unaware of. Natural adult hearing loss is particularly acute at higher frequency ranges and most adults can not hear the ultra high frequency ranges after a certain age due to the condition known as Presbycusis.

Um,.. Presbycusis what?

The principle behind Presbycusis is a biological fact that hearing experts refer to as an ‘aging ear’. Medical scientists state that starting at around age 20, the human ear begins to lose its ability to hear tones in the highest human-range frequencies (18-20 khz), and this condition progressively gets worse the older you get. Most adults over 40 or 50 exhibit some symptoms of this condition. Young adults are usually asymptomatic since most human reproduced audio waves and communication takes place in the range of 200 and 8,000 hertz. For this reason, the deterioration of the ability to detect ultra high frequencies generally go undetected.

Lil bit History

The history of Mosquito Ring Tone dates back to 2005 when a British inventor by the name of Howard Stapleton came up with an ingenious idea to drive away teens through ultra high frequency sounds much like how a dog whistle would affect dogs. It was an idea to make the storefront very uncomfortable for the loitering teens while leaving the money spending adult customers unaffected.

As with any inventive good idea, sooner or later someone is going to use it for something other then the original intended purpose. In this case, some equally inventive teens in the inventor’s hometown (Birmingham) caught on to what the company was doing and decided to put turn the idea into something they could use. They took the ultra sonic frequency and converted into to a cell phone ringtone which they aptly named “Teen Buzz”. As such, the “adult proof” ringtones known as the mosquito ringtone was born.

Teens learned they could hear each others phones ringing at school but their teachers couldn’t. How cool is that! Well, told you it’s cool! Alrite, here ’s the place you ‘ll gonna get it for free, FreeMosquitoRingtones.org.

This place loaded with Free Mosquito Ringtones (..duh) and free ringtones. They even have this Online hearing test, you know a test to test out your ability to hear high frequency tones.

So, test out your hearing level, pick ringtones, and welcome to the world beyond the adult ears!

One word for this one. Awesome!

Choosing the Best GPS Tracking

2009-03-24T09:42:00.000+07:00

Getting a GPS Tracking device for your needs is not as simple as you think. Because there are so many different devices for many different purposes. So the first thing to consider is its primary use. Will you be using the GPS device on the water, on the road, or on the trail? Road GPS devices are usually mounted in the vehicle. They usually have turn-by-turn instructions and auto correction in case you miss a turn. There are also some portable devices, you can unplug and take them with you to navigate through the city jungles. They’re also capable of calculating the fastest possible route to save more time and to avoid getting stuck in a jam.

Some of GPS device comes with a built-in camera, flash light, electronic-compass, and a barometer, which will be a perfect device for camping enthusiasts or adventure lovers. An extra sensitive antenna is a must, that way you’ll get an uninterrupted signal, whether you are stuck somewhere deep in the forest or out trekking in the mountains. A GPS device with a two-way radio is also recommended for family and children. For pets, there are compact (and water resistant) GPS tracker devices that can be easily attached to our pet’s collars, to help us locate them just in case they got stolen or lost.

There are number of GPS tracking devices in the market, the best device for you would be the one that suits your needs. By choosing carefully your GPS investment and the right one for your needs, GPS tracking system can be an important part on your daily life.

Sony Ericsson T700

2009-03-22T09:49:00.002+07:00

Sony Ericsson ’s latest handset — Sony Ericsson T700 unveiled at last. We can’t sat that we ‘re greatly surprised though as photos of this device leaked several times in this last past month.

It comes with a moderate amount of on-board features and — pretty fortunate — an affordable price tag. So this new bar-shaped T700 is hugely expected to impress with looks and price point rather than with functionality.

Featured Specs

This T700 comes with quad-band GSM support and single-band 3G support with HSDPA. A 3.2 megapixel snapper is also around, with no autofocus, unfortunately. It also packs a 2-inch 262K color display with QVGA resolution. Bluetooth with A2DP, USB connectivity and up to 25MB of user memory. An M2 card slot provided to expand that amount and a 512MB memory card included in its retail package. An FM radio with RDS completes the SE T700 features list.

Dimension & Weight

Measuring 104 x 48 x 10 mm and weighing only 78 g the Sony Ericsson T700 is even more compact than its predecessor - the Sony Ericsson T650.

It’s gonna hit the shelves in Q4 of the year at less than 200 euro estimated retail price. The available color versions are Black on Silver, Black on Red and Shining Silver.

Mio Explora K70 GPS Phone

2009-03-22T09:41:00.001+07:00

Mio the satellite navigation oriented manufacturer, presented Mio Explora K70, their newest GPS phone. It’s a quad-band GSM phone with HSDPA/HSUPA support, with a 3.5″ WQVGA touchscreen display, a 3 MP camera (with auto-focus feature), Wi-Fi support, Bluetooth 2.1, MicroSDHC card slot, on-board accelerometer (allows automatic screen rotation), Windows Mobile 6.1 operating system and Mio’s navigation software, it will be the most attractive and impressive one out of the Mitac GPS phone lineup since the size is only 11.9mm in thickness and weighs only 115g.

No info released on it’s prices and availability, but you can visit Mio’s virtual booth through this link.

Samsung Tocco Ultra Edition to slide in the UK by 19 March

2009-03-18T02:36:00.000+07:00

The Samsung S8300 UltraTOUCH or otherwise Tocco Ultra Edition is now up for pre-order over at Vodafone UK. Vodafone promise to start shipping it by 19 March and you can get the phone for free with a 30GBP monthly plan and an 18-month contract.

The Samsung Tocco Ultra Edition, as the S8300 would be marketed in the UK, is the style-conscious tech-geek's dream - high built quality and black metallic frame give it a really sophisticated look to go with the long list of features. The 2.8 inch OLED capacitive touchscreen with WQVGA resolution and few apparent buttons do a good job at concealing that it is in fact a slider with a 3x9 keyboard.

It borrows the imaging module from the Pixon but improved image processing holds promise of better photos. Video recording has also been upgraded to WVGA resolution.

Other items on the spec sheet that stand out are the 7.2 Mbps HSDPA, GPS and DivX support. You can find more details in our early preview or our live hands-on at the MWC 2009.

iPhone OS 3.0 is knocking on the door, launch set for 17 March

2009-03-17T02:38:00.000+07:00

A word is out that Apple is now officially inviting representatives of the press to attend their next big announcement event on 17 March. The event will be dedicated to the upcoming iPhone OS 3.0. There's no word of an upcoming mobile phone, but our hopes are high as always.

Engadget.com report to have received an invitation by Apple for an upcoming event with its main theme set on iPhone OS 3.0.

Apple will display an "advance preview of what they're building", meaning that you probably won't see any working full-fledged iPhone OS 3.0 there (or iPhone 3 anyway). We really hope that at least some of the stuff on our wishlist will be answered - and maybe we will even be surprised by some new features.

Sprint's New LG Phone

2009-03-16T02:32:00.000+07:00

Here's a piece of news for our US readers... LG's latest phone, the Rumor2, will be available for purchase next month (April 19th) on the Sprint Network.

Far from being the phone of the century, the Rumor2 has some descent specs and may please some… But definitelyy not us!

ENTERTAINMENT/MUSIC 
• NFL Mobile Live providing live audio broadcasts of every regular season game and watch the live broadcasts of all NFL Network games. Get real-time red zone alerts, scores, stats, live NFL Network 24/7 and more. Manage your fantasy football team like a pro with up-to-the-minute insights, analysis, stats and alerts. 
• MP3 player with microSD memory card slot with 16GB card capability 
• Stereo Headset Jack allowing users to listen to music in stereo when using a 2.5mm stereo headset

PRODUCTIVITY 
• Sprint Navigation with GPS-enabled audio and visual turn-by-turn driving directions, one-click traffic rerouting and more than 10 million local listings 
• Mobile email with easy, one touch access to all your personal and work email including AOL, Gmail, Windows Live™, Hotmail® and Yahoo! Mail. 
• Full QWERTY keyboard for enhanced messaging and social networking 
• Increased screen resolution to QVGA clarity 
• 1.3 megapixel camera with 2x digital zoom 
• Sprint PCS® Picture Mail to shoot, share and print high-resolution digital photos instantly 
• Built-in productivity tools such as planner and scheduler, task list, world clock, alarm clock, calculator and more

SPECIFICATIONS 
• Dimensions: 4.41 x 2.05x 0.7 inches; 4.2 ounces 
• Display: 1.2 x1.61 inches TFT (240 x 320 pixels QVGA and 262K vibrant colors) 
• Standard Lithium (LiIon) battery: up to 5.5 hours continuous talk time

NTT Brings Push Info to Your iPhone

2009-03-15T00:49:00.000+07:00

Cocotan (koko = here, and tan = search) is NTT Communication's latest free push service for iPhone. Once connected to one of the 4000 nationwide NTT Communication APs (hotspots) you can receive push information on near by restaurants, stores and so on, and get discount tickets and special offers for use at these businesses (about 100 in a 1km radius).

If so far there's nothing special about Cocotan, its how information is gathered that's worth the whole damn thing. Thanks to a clever computer analysis tweak, NTT gathers data and info from consumer generated content sites, popular blogs, and Web reviews all across Japan instead getting it from professionals marketing stuff.

A nice little touch to Cocotan is its traditional Japanese stamp rally function for collecting unique stamps only available for a limited of time. This comes from an old Japanese tradition where pilgrims collected stamps from each temple they visited.

Bottom line, thanks to its CGC Cocotan is a clever idea that provides good real time suggestions and deals. However, limiting this service to a paid network of hotspot APs will definitely keep many users away since in Japan unlimited iPhone 3G is virtually scary cheap…

Another problem I saw is the old-fashioned the design of the app, it looks like NTT Communications isn't targeting the appropriate consumers… Cocotan looks perfect for the 50+ set (design, stamp, various other stuff…), but I'm not sure if there are many iPhone users in this age group.

Latest Samsung S5600 and S5230 Phones Soon Available Across Europe

2009-03-11T00:45:00.001+07:00

Samsung announced the impending availability of both the S5600 and S5230 in the U.K, France, and Germany and other countries across Europe.

The S5600 is a HSDPA 3G phone with a 2.8” QVGA screen Haptic feedback, 12.9mm thick, 3Mpix camera, Bluetooth 2.1 and FM radio.

The S5230 has a 3” WQVGA LCD, 11.9mm thick, Haptic feedback, DNSe, 3Mpix Camera with QVGA 15fps video recording, Bluetooth…

Samsung Unveils Newest Full Touch Lineup to Touch Every Lifestyle

Samsung S5600 and S5230 Reinforce Samsung’s Full-Touch Leadership

Seoul, Korea, March 10, 2009 – Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., a leading mobile phone provider, today announced the launch of its newest full-touch screen mobiles – S5600 and S5230. With these latest products, Samsung is able to enhance its position as a leading player in the hugely popular touch screen mobile market.

“Samsung S5600 and S5230 are significant products to our full-touch screen mobile portfolio, bringing stylish designs and intuitive user interfaces,” said JK Shin, executive vice president and head of Mobile Communications division at Samsung Electronics.

“We are committed to strengthening our portfolio of full-touch phones by introducing a variety of handsets to suit every lifestyle. These two new products will bring the exciting experience of touch to mobile phone users and will further enhance Samsung’s leadership in the full-touch market,” he added.

Samsung S5600
The Samsung S5600 attracts style-conscious users with its slim and compact design. Boasting sophisticated design, the phone is packed with multimedia features that enable its users to enjoy unique mobile experiences.

Equipped with a 2.8-inch QVGA full-touch screen, Samsung S5600 adopted the TouchWiz User Interface, designed to customize and personalize the way you use your phone. Mobile widgets can be dragged and placed on the screen for one-click access to your favorite applications. Full Internet browsing support with an accelerometer sensor for auto-rotation also gives users exciting mobile Internet experiences via 7.2 Mbps connectivity.

To enhance the usability for touch mobile phones, Samsung adapted “Gesture Lock” feature, which enables the users to unlock the phone and execute the menu directly as they draw a letter of the alphabet on the screen. Users can set which menu they want to correspond to each letter, from A to Z.

Samsung S5600 supports a 3 mega-pixel camera with the latest digital camera features such as Smile Shot. The phone also features music recognition using Shazam’s “Find Music” service. With this service, users can find virtually any song they want to listen to, even at an unexpected moment. By recording and sending a tune to the Shazam server, users can easily track down and even purchase the song through participating operators’ music stores. Multi-codec support including H.263, MPEG4, and WMV eliminates the hassle of file format conversions. The handset’s generous memory (80MB and Micro SD slot up to 8GB) ensures ample storage space for multimedia content.

Samsung S5600 will be available in European countries from May.

Samsung S5230
Samsung S5230 comes with the latest multimedia features in a slim and compact body that measures a mere 11.9mm. Adopting a 3.0-inch WQVGA full-touch screen and Samsung’s TouchWiz User Interface with Mobile Widgets, the phone enables its users to enjoy their mobile easily and intuitively. Using “Photo Contact,” users can call a contact by simply touching an appointed image.

The S5230 boasts various multimedia features including a 3 mega-pixel camera and video recording supporting QVGA@15fps. It supports multi-format and DNSe for ease of use and better sound quality. The phone also features music recognition using Shazam’s “Find Music” service. To enjoy various multimedia content, S5230 supports 50MB memory capacity with an external memory slot up to 8GB.

Samsung S5230 users can enjoy full Internet browsing with an accelerometer sensor for auto-rotation. For convenience, the phone also supports a QWERTY soft keyboard, “Gesture Lock” and handwriting features.

Samsung S5230 will be available in France and other European countries from April.

BlackBerry Curve

2009-03-05T18:22:00.001+07:00

The BlackBerry Curve 8900 has generally range GPS, WiFi, 3.2 megapixel camera and 2.4-inch 480 x 360 pixels, the only thing missing is 3G.

The BlackBerry Curve 8900 has a 3.5mm audio socket and a microSD expandable memory, giving it a maximum of 16 GB with SDHC compatible card. The curve of 8900 measures 109 x 60 x 13.5mm and weighs 112 grams.

Earlier Curve were combined devices like Series 8300, and business-oriented BlackBerry 8800 has fewer model too. The price around 360 Euro.

Cowon S9 Chrome Black

2009-03-05T17:51:00.003+07:00

The Cowon S9 is not something new per se, but Cowon Japan was kind enough to give the possibility to any people in Japan to purchase a limited edition of the S9 in its 16GB version wearing a new “Chrome Black” color.

Nothing new or different here compared to the regular S9, we still have a 3.3” OLED screen with the 480x272, support AVI, WMV, WMA, FLAC, OGG, APE, WAV, JPG… Bluetooth...

Sony Ericsson Z770i

2009-03-03T18:17:00.000+07:00

Sony Ericsson launch their new HSDPA phone with combination of fashion and business device which named is Sony Ericsson Z770i on the market.

The HSDPA phone mean Z770i can use 3.5 G high internet speed access although browse using the phone is not much fun like his brother Z660i.

The Z770i has a 2.2″ 240 x 320 pixel display, two megapixel camera, microSD expandable memory, Bluetooth 2.0, a USB connection, an FM radio, MP3 player and an impressively long battery life. The Z770i also supports push email from Microsoft Exchange servers.

Talktime is a maximum of 4 hours, and if you are only using the Z770i on GSM then this increases to 8.5 hours. Standby time is around 14 days. Sony Ericsson Z770i a very stylish looking device, and at 91 grams and 93 x 48 x 16mm in size the Z770i is pretty compact for a 3.5G phone.

The keypad with biggest gripe is a combination of dead flat keys and a stylish but possibly quite annoying navigation pad might not be to everyone’s tastes.

Receive RSS feeds from news or entertainment as the action happens or click on the RSS tile for instant access to favorite web pages from the phone’s desktop. In addition, the Z770i has a built-in weather forecast application, allowing users to receive regular weather updates.

Sony Ericsson say that the Z770i should be available during Q2 2008, but did not give any guidance on pricing.

Sony Ericsson G795 Multimedia Slider Phone

2009-03-03T18:12:00.000+07:00

Sony Ericsson G795 is a mobile phone that has multimedia features 2.4-inch widescreen display that has been designed to support the activities of web browsing and other entertainment media.

Sony Ericsson G705 was made specifically to meet the needs of web-centric consumers, it has a full HTML browser and high speed Internet connection, allowing people to easily access their email accounts, read the latest news and blogs, watch videos on Youtube, and browse web pages from the internet.

OZ Double Phone SPH-W6450 by Samsung

2009-02-28T01:39:00.000+07:00

Here's Samsung's latest 3G Phone and so far only available in Korea, the SPH-W6450. Thanks to its particular design can rotate the screen in two ways giving you either a clamshell phone or a notebook style PDA. It features a 2.8” LCD with a touch keyboard to use your keyboard as “trackpad”, DMB, MP3, a 3Mpix camera module, and Bluetooth 2.0.

LG Versa… Now Verizon Ready!

2009-02-27T01:37:00.000+07:00

The LG Versa emerged on the web a couple of weeks ago and now this unique phone is officially official… It's in fact a 2 in 1 device, a bit like the HTC Advantage, that can be used without a keyboard or with a full QWERTY keyboard if needed for texting.

It obviously has a 3" touchscreen, (OLED with a 480 x 240 resolution), 2MPix camera module, GPS, and is EV-DO (CDMA).

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and SAN DIEGO – Verizon Wireless and LG Electronics MobileComm U.S.A., Inc. (LG Mobile Phones) announced today that the LG Versa™ will be available on the nation's largest and most reliable wireless voice and data network beginning March 1. The LG Versa will be an MVP (Most Versatile Phone) for customers, sporting an elegant bar design with a chrome border, animated 3-inch touch screen interface with tactile feedback and an attachable QWERTY keypad.

Customers can personalize their LG Versa phones based on their messaging needs on any given day – either attach the QWERTY keypad to their phones or leave the keypad at home. The LG Versa's home screen is transformed into a sizzling, animated 3D interface and customers can quickly customize up to three different home screens with their favorite shortcuts. The built-in accelerometer rotates screens automatically from portrait to landscape, and customers can use rotation movements to steer games. The HTML Web browser includes Flash and RSS feed support, and customers can keep up to three windows open and switch from one window to the other to view pages.

Additionally, the phone comes packed with Verizon Wireless' V CAST Music with Rhapsody and V CAST Video services. V CAST Music with Rhapsody allows customers to purchase more than 5 million full songs over-the-air, download the master copy of their songs to their PCs free of digital rights management (DRM) software and sync their favorite tracks, albums and playlists from their PCs to their LG Versa phones using the included USB cable.
V CAST Video allows customers to download or stream video from the best names in news, sports, entertainment and more.

The LG Versa supports productivity tools – such as Visual Voice Mail to keep people more productive and prioritize their messages – while Verizon Wireless' VZ NavigatorSM service transforms the phone into a navigation device at a fraction of the cost of most GPS systems. In addition, the LG Versa is compatible with Mobile Broadband Connect to allow customers to use their phones as a modem by linking their laptops to their phones to establish a broadband connection anywhere within Verizon Wireless' Mobile Broadband rate and coverage area.

LG GD900 Transparent Phone

2009-02-17T12:37:00.000+07:00

At the Mobile World Congress 2009 in Barcelona, LG Electronics today unveiled the GD900, a mobile phone with a transparent keypad design.

The GD900 is a crystal, glass-like phone with a sliding, translucent keypad that illuminates to reflect its silver body.

A dedicated Bluetooth headset will accompany the phone. LG will reveal the technical specs at a later date.

The LG GD900 is scheduled for release during the second quarter of 2009.

Sony Ericsson W980

2009-02-17T10:09:00.000+07:00

This Gagdet has many features, such as HSDPA, 3.2 Mpix camera, motion sensors, Touch sensitive keys, Java and others, but the most interesting of this gadget is can associated with the music with Walkman Player 3.0. The different with the others series is W980 bring Clear Experience technology with clear bass and clear stereo feature and this make W980 is the first gadget that bring this new feature.

From the beginning I very interested trying the ability W980 music. In addition because this is a music gadget and the promo said that W980 awarded Best Audio from TestFactory’s. At the beginning, I feel there is no difference about the quality with the previous version of Walkman player, but Once I activate the Clear Bass feature… I change my mind.
Base on bass boom power Clear Bass still less of Mega Bass, but Clear Bass to bring the balance of the bass make the voice sound so clear.
Support an external screen and touch sensitive buttons make me easily to control the walkman feature in order to play the music. Key touch sensitive responsive enough, so I don’t need to press repeatedly. The external screen also unique because of the accelerometer make every time I change the position of the phone then Walkman icons on the screen and the visualization follow the position of the phone gadget. Wait for the flickering light at the end of the fold, flickering lights follows the rhythm of the songs that being played.

Privacy Policy

2009-02-15T00:12:00.001+07:00

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