Author Archive: John McKenzie

MOTO QA30 leaked – Motorola’s first QWERTY slider

Motorola seem to be absolutely flooding the handset market these days but does this new phone show a change for Motorola?

Moto QA30

Why look what we have here: MOTO QA30, the very first Motorola slider that features a full QWERTY keyboard.

The QA30 has a pretty weird form factor, somehow resembling AT&T’s Samsung Propel. Unlike the Propel, however, which is a GSM phone, MOTO QA30 is a CDMA one that, according to the images found at Howard Forums, will be released by Alltel in the US.

Of course, we don’t know yet when this will happen. We do have, though, most of the specs and features that MOTO QA30 will come with.

Here they are:

1x-EVDO connectivity

2.5 inch TFT display with 320 x 240 pixels and 65K colours

Threaded messaging

Full HTML browser

Facebook access

Email, IM

3.5mm headset jack (nice!)

Stereo Bluetooth 2.0

USB 2.0

2MP camera

MicroSD / MicroSDHC card support, up to 32GB

There are no details on the price of MOTO QA30, but the handset shouldn’t cost too much. After all, it’s not even a smartphone, hence it doesn’t have Windows Mobile, like the latest official device from the Q series – Motorola Q 11.

Moto QA30 Keyboard view

With Motorola never being able to get the “I look good” factor into any of their phones, this one is no different. It might well be a first for MOTO but for us it’s just another ugly Motorola Mobile Phone.

Posted by: John

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Press Release: Nokia 6260 slide – made for high speed sharing

November 25, 2008

Espoo, Finland – People use mobile devices to share their lives with friends and family and with this in mind, Nokia introduces the Nokia 6260 slide. The phone call is the most obvious way to use the new handset to connect with people, but it will also be used to share photographs and videos, check on a friend’s social network status or be guided to a restaurant to meet up with a loved one. For this, the Nokia 6260 slide features quick access to search engines and points of interest straight from the home screen and the new 360° navi-key allows a great mobile Internet experience.

Uploading images and videos to websites, blogs and social networks is quicker than ever with Nokia’s newest arrival, which features lightning-fast speeds over both cellular and Wi-Fi networks. The Nokia 6260 slide comes with the latest 3G technology, with high speed uploads (HSUPA) and downloads (HSDPA), a great camera, music player and web browser with a simple, instantly familiar interface. Combined with the range of Ovi services on offer, Nokia brings a compelling mobile Internet experience to a huge group of consumers.

A 5Mpix Carl Zeiss camera with flash takes fantastic pictures which can be easily shared and uploaded to Share on Ovi or other photo and video sharing websites. In addition to the photo, music and sharing features that come packed in the Nokia 6260 slide, Nokia Maps and the assisted GPS provide a great navigation experience. The Nokia 6260 slide brings GPS into the Series 40 software platform for the first time, really signifying navigation arriving in the mass market.

The Nokia 6260 slide is expected to begin shipping at the beginning of 2009 for an estimated retail price of EUR 299, before taxes and subsidies

Some points regarding the 6260:

• 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss lens,
• WiFi
• HSDPA/HSUPA
• Nokia’s Ovi service
• Nokia Maps
• AGPS
• Series 40 device

As we get more info on this we will post it.

Posted by: John

Motorola MING (ing) A1600 Gold Edition emerges

A gold edition of the Motorola A1600 touchscreen phone has just appeared on the Chinese website of Motorola. Designed in the style of the Motorola V8 Luxury edition the A1600 trades the snake for crocodile skin but this doesn’t make it any less tacky.

Motorola Ming A1600

This time Motorola somehow managed to convince the renowned French jeweller and watch maker Cartier to take part. However it seems that the design is mostly done by Motorola with Cartier only providing a business card holder included in the retail package.

We can’t quite get the idea behind all those gold editions that seem to be spawning recently. However we have to admit that among them all the A1600 is probably the most acceptably looking (we will by no means go as far as calling it attractive).

Motorola Ming A1600 Open View

Other than the new shiny colours the Motorola A1600 Gold has no differences from the original model. It still flaunts the 2.4-inch 262K colour QVGA touchscreen display and the signature MING semi-transparent plastic active cover. The handset also runs on the same Linux based OS and has quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support (no 3G as you might have guessed).

The Motorola A1600 also packs a 3 megapixel shooter, a microSD card slot (up to 4GB), stereo Bluetooth (A2DP), a microUSB port, and a stereo FM radio. Its final noteworthy feature is the built-in GPS receiver which allows both real-time GPS navigation and geotagging of the photos taken with the built-in camera.

Motorola A1600 is already available for purchase, costing about 685 euro (865 US dollars).

Posted by: John

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Windows Mobile based LG Incite on AT&T

AT&T and LG unveiled the availability of the LG Incite, a Windows Mobile powered smartphone with 3G capabilities, built-in aGPS and Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g) and Bluetooth 2.0. The LG Incite is equipped with Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, Microsoft Office Mobile and Microsoft ActiveSync 4.5.

LG Incite

AT&T Debuts LG Incite Global 3G Smartphone

AT&T and LG Mobile Phones Launch New Windows Mobile 6.1 Smartphone With Sleek Design, Vibrant Touch Screen, aGPS, Wi-Fi and More

Dallas, Texas, San Diego, California, November 18, 2008

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) and LG Electronics MobileComm U.S.A. Inc. (LG Mobile Phones) today announced the availability of the LG Incite™, the newest Windows Mobile device powered by the nation’s fastest 3G network for users who crave premium capabilities with ultramodern design. The Incite — available in the U.S. exclusively to AT&T customers — stirs up the smartphone market, with its stylish, sleek look and sophisticated technology.

The LG Incite boasts the latest in wireless communications technology, with domestic and international 3G capabilities, built-in aGPS and Wi-Fi^® (802.11 b/g) and Bluetooth 2.0^®. The LG Incite is equipped with Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, Microsoft Office Mobile and Microsoft ActiveSync 4.5. The Incite, the first of its kind for LG Mobile, offers Windows Media Player 10.

LG Incite looks as good as it sounds: a sophisticated, sleek design, a crystal-clear 3-inch touch screen and a 3.0 megapixel camera and camcorder that enables consumers to send and enjoy memories at the touch of a button. Users have a choice of on-screen virtual keyboards — a full, QWERTY keyboard in landscape mode and a 20-key keyboard in portrait view — with haptic keys that provide vibration feedback. The Incite also offers users choice in terms of screen navigation by simply using their fingers to move through the Incite’s friendly user interface, the scroll button to the upper right of the screen or the included stylus. A configurable, drag-and-drop favorites menu provides quick access to the applications that matter most to the user.

The Incite is pre-loaded with everything you’d expect, including AT&T Navigator, powered by TeleNav, featuring turn-by-turn voice and on-screen directions with colorful 3-D moving maps that can be used in vehicles or while walking. AT&T Navigator also features traffic alerts, re-routing and other location-based services. There also is business and personal e-mail access through Microsoft Direct Push and AT&T’s Xpress Mail service, instant messaging and AT&T Mobile Music service, which provides fast access to downloadable music from eMusic^®.

Store all your favorite songs with the microSD Memory Port with up to 16GB of support. Bluetooth 2.0 capabilities allow consumers to wirelessly access music through stereo headsets, transmit data to other Bluetooth-enabled devices and make calls hands-free anytime. The Incite also features AT&T Video ShareSM, the first-ever service in the U.S. that allows users to share live video over wireless devices while participating in a voice call.

"LG Mobile Phones has done an outstanding job in its first offering in the U.S. smartphone arena with the LG Incite, and AT&T is pleased to the be first U.S. carrier to offer an LG smartphone," said Michael Woodward, vice president, Smart Devices for AT&T’s wireless operations. "It is a great looking smartphone with powerful capabilities that will provide our customers with a new and outstanding choice in our Windows Mobile smartphone portfolio, which is the broadest in the industry."

Ehtisham Rabbani, vice president of Marketing and Product Strategy for LG Mobile Phones, said: "LG is excited to offer a phone with a different capability than anything we’ve offered in the U.S. thus far. As a leading provider of handsets, LG constantly looks toward the future and strives to incorporate the newest technologies as they become available to our consumers."

The Incite also supports Microsoft’s System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008, an enterprise-grade mobile solution for managing and protecting Windows Mobile 6.1 phones. Mobile Device Manager helps companies provide its mobile workers with software updates and applications over the air, as well as security-enhanced access to company data. The Incite operates on AT&T’s 3G BroadbandConnect network, which currently is available in more than 320 major metropolitan areas in the U.S. and, by year-end, AT&T expects to offer the service in nearly 350 leading U.S. markets. In addition to 3G connectivity, the Incite is also designed to connect seamlessly with AT&T’s nationwide¹ EDGE network, which is available in more than 13,000 cities and towns and along some 40,000 miles of major highways. When abroad, customers can use the Incite to make a phone call in more than 200 countries and access data in more than 150, including more than 60 with 3G networks. AT&T has the broadest international wireless coverage of any U.S. carrier.

The Incite is available now in AT&T retail stores nationwide and online at www.wireless.att.com for $199.99 with a new two-year agreement and mail-in rebate. AT&T voice plans begin at $39.99 with monthly enterprise data plans priced at $45 and personal data plans at $30 per month. Small business customers also can subscribe to AT&T’s new, industry-first BusinessTalk voice plans, which start at $60 a month for five users and 700 Anytime Minutes and can be expanded for $9.99 a line to accommodate up to 40 users and 20,000 Anytime Minutes.

For the complete array of AT&T offerings, visit www.att.com.

Posted by: John

Vodafone Christmas Lineup

Vodafone has announced its Christmas handset line-up and offers for 2008, boasting 16 exclusives within its festive portfolio.

With the new BlackBerry Storm topping the list, and the Dell Inspiron Mini 9 netbook with built-in mobile broadband, the company is clearly hoping the thought of shiny gadgets to play with on Christmas morning will tempt the UK’s cash-conscious consumers.

Pay as you talk customers will get a free gift of a digital photo frame with purchases of the Samsung G600, Nokia 6500 Classic or the Sony Ericsson K770i.

Ian Shepherd, consumer director for Vodafone UK, says: "This year’s Christmas range features a great mix of phones at a price that will please everyone. Many of our exclusive mobiles will make ideal gifts especially as several will come with a free digital photo frame".

The list of phones available to Christmas shoppers is as follows:

Pay as you talk:
Sony Ericsson K770i – exclusive in pink or silver – Cyber-shot camera phone, £80 when bought with £20 Top Up
Sony Ericsson W350 – exclusive black and purple colourway – a music clamshell, £60
Sony Ericsson W910i Havana Gold – exclusive – £100
Samsung Steel – exclusive – 3-megapixel (MP) camera phone with autofocus and video capture, £80 (also available on contract)
Samsung J700 – exclusive in silver and pink – slider phone, £50
Samsung G600 – available in pink and graphite 5MP camera phone, £100
Samsung Omnia – Windows Mobile device with a 5MP camera and full touchscreen, £400 (and from free on contract)
Nokia 6500 classic – 2 MP camera, 1GB internal memory and 3G, £100

Vodafone’s own range of mobiles are offered within the pay as you talk line up with the VF527 Rainbow in a variety of colours (£30 inc £10 Airtime), the VF725 2MP camera phone (£50), the VF533 1.3MP camera slider (£30 when bought with £10 Top Up), and the compact VF231 (£20).

Contract:
BlackBerry Storm 9500 – multi-media smartphone purpose built for Vodafone customers
Nokia 6210 – exclusive – 3.2MP camera, satnav, email and internet
Nokia N96 16GB – 5MP camera, 16GB memory
Nokia 6124 Classic – 2MP camera phone
Sony Ericsson 595 Walkman – exclusive in black and red – music slider phone with stereo sound, shake control, MegaBass and an AM/FM Radio
Sony Ericsson C905 – Cyber-shot camera slider phone with an 8.1-megapixel camera and real flash
Sony Ericsson Xperia – Windows Mobile device, QWERTY slide-out keyboard, 3-inch colour touchscreen

Posted by: John

Samsung Tobi S3030 Launched

Samsung have announced the launch of the Samsung Tobi (S3030) in Europe and Asia , a mobile phone that aims to cater to pre-teens, young adults, and those who wish to have both "fun and safety features" from their mobile phones.

Samsung Tobi in Array of Colours

The Samsung Tobi comes in six colours: – Sweet Pink, Loyal Blue, Apple Green, Bright Orange, Oasis Blue and Snow Silver.

SEOUL, KOREA – Nov 13, 2008 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a leading mobile phone provider, announces the launch of Samsung Tobi (Model: S3030), a mobile phone customized to amuse pre-teens, young adults, and anyone who desires to experience fun and safety features from their mobile phones. With friendly graphical user interface (GUI) and splashy design, Samsung Tobi is a perfect match for the mobile users who wish to stand out from the crowd. Also with various safety features and eco-friendly material, Samsung Tobi assures the security of the Samsung Tobi users.

Samsung Tobi is designed to meet the needs and desires of the mobile users to express their personality and style with mobile phones. First, Samsung Tobi features unique GUI themes which have never been applied previously in any other mobile phones. Affable animated characters in three themes, Monster theme, Snowman theme and Ocean World theme, capture the hearts of viewers instantaneously. Moreover, Samsung Tobi features changeable backside cover. Users can insert their favorite photo or image under the see-through protective sleeve on the back to customize their Samsung Tobi.

Available in six dazzling colors Sweet Pink, Loyal Blue, Apple Green, Bright Orange, Oasis Blue and Snow Silver each color variation Samsung Tobi is exceptionally designed to fulfill the visual satisfaction needs of even the most design-conscious mobile users.
With various safety functions such as SOS Call, SOS Message and Fake Call Samsung Tobi also fascinates parents with children at young age. Using these safety features, users can be directly linked to their family members and friends in emergent situations and even easily escape from dangerous situations. With Samsung Tobi parents are always assured that their children are equipped with safety tools to keep them as secure as possible.

Moreover, built with recyclable and biodegradable bio-plastic, Samsung Tobi is made friendly for the environment. Samsung Tobi is painted using non-toxic paints and non-allergic materials to keep the environment as well as the health of the users safe. Additionally, the earphone is also made of eco-friendly materials without any polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

Starting from Italia and UK launch in November, Samsung Tobi will continue to meet the mobile users in other European countries, CIS, and China within this year.

Additional information about Samsung Tobi as well as access to various related contents are available the Samsung Tobi official website at http://tobi.samsungmobile.com. Starting from November 21st, users can also download various images to personalize the backside cover of their Samsung Tobi. Various other Samsung Tobi contents such as screensavers, wallpapers, calendar and entertainments such as game are available on the website.

Samung Tobi Specifications:

Network GPRS Tri-Band (900/1800/1900 MHz)
Display 1.9" QCIF 65K
Camera 1.3-megapixel camera
Audio Music Player (MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA)
Value-added Features
Three themes (Monster, Snowman, Ocean world)
Six color variations (Sweet Pink, Loyal Blue, Apple Green,
Bright Orange, Oasis Blue and Snow Silver)
SOS function (SOS call, SOS message, Fake call)
Eco-friendly and non-toxic material
Changeable backside images
Games (Brain Challenge, Tetris Mania)
Connectivity
Bluetooth messenger
Bluetooth 2.0, USB 2.0
Memory Internal Memory: 15MB; External Memory: Micro SD (Up to 8GB)
Size 94.7x 45.4x 17.5 mm, 85g

Posted by: John

Toshiba G450 Is a Modem, Phone, MP3 Player and USB Memory Stick

When I first saw news of this phone I thought, great another concept phone. Don’t get me wrong, I like concept phones but how many of then really turn out to come alive? Not a lot I’d say. The Toshiba G450 in this case was not a concept, it was real which was a big surprise to me.

Toshiba G450

I’m sure there are many phones out there with the capability to do all 4 functions listed on this device but how many of them have you seen in this form factor?

Obviously the G450 is bigger than your regular memory stick but then you come to expect that given that it has to cope with a screen and two rotary keypads. Functions SMS messages aren’t a problem either except when trying to get used to the keypad I’d imagine.

The downside is that the stick offers only 160MB of storage space so you won’t get that many songs on MP3 player but with the price tag at only £140 in the UK I say it’s worth it.

Toshiba G450

Toshiba G450 Specification:

Size (mm) 98 x 36 x 16
Weight (g) 57
Band 2100 for UMTS, 900/1800/1900 for GSM, GPRS, EDGE
GPRS Class 12
Display OLED 96 x 39 pixels
System UMTS/HSDPA (7.2Mbps)/GSM/GPRS/EDGE
Chipset Qualcomm MSM6280
Memory 160MB internal
Connectivity mini USB 2.0
Battery Standby time: 200 hours
             Talk time: up to 140 mins*
Messaging SMS
Sound MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+
Alarm Alarm with repeat and snooze feature
Colour Variants 3 (red, white, black)
Accessories mini USB cable, stereo headset, battery, charger, user guide and CD-ROM

Posted by: John

Android based Dream G2

Not sure if this is gonna infringe on any copyright laws or how legit the Android inside this device is but Chinese phone manufacturer Sciphone will be releasing their "Dream G2" loaded with a modified version of Android on Nov.28

From the looks it appears that the UI is pretty much the same, although some stock apps have been replaced with custom Messaging, Media and Google Mobile apps. It also supports Java MIDP 2.0 apps.

On the hardware side, it has a 2.8", 320×240 res, 262K TFT screen, EDGE(no 3G), 4 MP camera with auto-focus, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP, AVRCP support and FM radio.

SciPhone G2

Android G2 Specifications:

• Bands/ Modes: GSM850/1800/1900MHz or GSM900/1800/1900MHz, GPRS/EDGE
• Size: 56 x 107.2 x 11.8mm
• Weight: 110 g
• Screen: 2.8" QVGA (240 x 320 pixels) TFT display, 262K colors
• Battery: 1500 mhA
• Talk Time: Up to approximately 250-450 mins
• Standby Time: Up to approximately 200-300 hrs
• Camera: 4MP with auto-focus
• Internal Memory : Upto 50 MB
• External Memory : Upto 16GB supported
• Bluetooth: v.2.0 EDR with A2DP, AVRCP, GAVDP, object push, file transfer.
• WiFi: Integrated wireless LAN (802.11)
• USB2.0: USB 2.0 via Mini USB interface and mass storage class support to support drag and drop functionality.
• Google Mobile app : Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail, YouTube, Google SMS, GOOG-411, Blogger, Google Calendar, Picasa Web Albums, Google Notebook, Google Reader, Google Docs, Google News, iGoogle.
• Support Java MIDP 2.0, Over-the-air download of Java-based applications and games, Built-in Android applications, Built-in games

Posted by: John

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