News

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

[source]

Samsung Renown, Saga and Cleo in the US

OK so this might not be breaking news but it is news never the less. Samsung & Verizon have announced 2 new phones to be released at the beginning of December to compete in the Christmas market sales.

The first of these devices is the new Samsung Renown clamshell phone. A quad-band GSM phone which supports the CDMA 1x EVDO 800/1900MHz network.

Samsung Renown

The Renown features a 2.3 inch colour internal display and a 96 × 96 external display. With just a 2 Megapixel camera and its horrific colour I really cant see this climb right to the top of the sales charts. The good news is that it will carry a microSD card slot which now seems to be the industry standard card type (did you hear that Sony Ericsson?).

Samsung Renown

None of this next bit actually makes any sense to me given that I’m Scottish and have never used the Verizon Network but The Renown is said to support Verizon’s VZ Navigator service as well as V CAST Music and V CAST Video services which I’m sure means something good to the guys across the pond

Samsung Renown

The Samsung Renown will be available from Verizon for $179.99 with a 2-year contract and after a $50 mail-in rebate.

Next on the list is the the far better looking Samsung Saga smartphone that features a full QWERTY keyboard . The Saga features a 2.55-inch 320 × 320 LCD touchscreen display, quad-band GSM/GPRS, WiFi 802.11b/g, Bluetooth, MicroSD support and again a 2 Megapixel camera. The difference with this camera is the fact that it features Night Shot (not sure if this is any way similar to Sony Night shot).

Samsung Saga

Verizon’s Samsung Saga runs Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional OS and comes with Opera mobile browser. The Saga measures 2.44-inch x 4.88-inch x .53-inch and weighs 4.59 ounces.

Due for release on the 1st of December for for $199.99 with a new two-year customer agreement after a $70 mail-in rebate.

Last but not least is the "I’ve just appeared on the FCC website" Samsung U440 or the Cleo. The Cleo will arrive from Verizon Wireless in the near future, just like the 2 above. Sporting a QWERTY keyboard, a considerably lower than normal 1.3 megapixel camera, A2DP stereo Bluetooth and up to 8GB of storage space this phone has also been hit with the Ugly Stick but the main question is will the QWERTY and 8GB internal memory be enough to sell this phone? I don’t think so but I am quite often proven wrong.

Samsung Cleo

So 3 very new mobiles and to be 100% honest, not one of them offers a great consumer package. Come on Samsung, we know you can do better than this surely?

Posted by: John

Press Release: ASUS Introduce 800MHz P565

ASUS today introduced the ASUS P565, a business PDA phone that boasts an 800 MHz processor – the fastest in the world at the time of this announcement. Featuring ASUS’ latest touch-driven user interface—Glide—the stylish, leather-accented P565 delivers graphics and system performance beyond anything else on the market at present, posting Vsbenchmark scores almost two times that of competing products in its class. This enables the P565 to glide through resource-intensive tasks effortlessly and to handle heavy multitasking exceptionally well—making it ideal for businesspeople who demand uncompromising performance and maximum speed from their productivity tools. Rounding off its impressive feature set is a 2.8" touchscreen running at a high resolution of 480 x 640 pixels, delivering an unprecedented degree of clarity that does wonders for both personal photographs and spreadsheets.

Gliding to New Heights of Productivity
The ASUS P565 is geared toward the business community. The coupling of an 800 MHz processor and Glide—an innovative touch-responsive user interface exclusive to select ASUS PDA phones—makes for a powerful, productivity-boosting combination. The fast processor renders the P565 particularly amenable to multitasking, while Glide enables users to switch between tasks rapidly with their fingertips. The P565 also comes with a potent suite of business-oriented features and software, including push mail, business card recognition and Microsoft Office Mobile. Other useful applications such as Anytime Launcher and Multi-Home enable users to view their calendars, the times of local and visiting cities, weather reports, online news and much more—all with an intuitive tap, slide or flick of their fingers.

Unprecedented Clarity with High-resolution Touchscreen
The ASUS P565 is equipped with a 2.8" VGA (480 by 640 pixels) high-resolution touchscreen that delivers unprecedented clarity and brilliance. Photographs look crisper and more true-to-life, while minute details in business documents, such as the individual cells in spreadsheets, are reproduced much more clearly—reducing eye fatigue over periods of prolonged use.

Air of Bespoke Exclusivity
The ASUS P565 is designed to leave a deep and lasting impression. Its battery lid is lined with black synthetic leather, commanding instant respect and attention. The leather contrasts nicely with the P565’s modern, high-gloss face, and lends the phone a natural tactility and evocative appeal that elevates it far above other phones on the market.

About Glide
Glide is a revolutionary touch-responsive user interface that enables users to perform a variety of navigational actions—such as selecting, zooming, scrolling and flipping—easily through simple flicks of their fingers. Incorporated into Glide are also applications that enable users to access a wide range of functions such as looking up the latest news, checking the weather forecast, viewing photo slideshows and listening to music within a few finger taps. These applications, dubbed Multi-Home, Anytime Launcher, EziPhoto, and EziMusic, give the expression "the world at your fingertips" a whole new meaning. For more information on Glide, visit http://event.asus.com/mobile/glide/.

Specifications

Posted by: John

HTC MAX 4G in Video

Since the official launch 3 days ago on YOTA various videos have appeared online and if you speak the lingo then this will be right up your street.

Not the greatest video in the world in regards to brightness but it does show that the phone itself really does not differ much from that of the HD which we hope to have the full review on-line for tomorrow.

You can see more videos of this phone on YouTube

Posted by: John

HTC MAX 4G alias HTC T8290 Announced

It seems like more and more of the rumours posted here come true so not to break the habit of a lifetime we can now officially say that the HTC MAX 4G alias HTC T8290 is real and ready.

The HTC MAX 4G is a WiMAX-enabled high-end device that’s exclusive for Yota WiMAX network in Russia. The handset is simply based on an HTC Touch HD with its 3G stripped and added WiMAX support. But there are several more new goodies on board.

The MAX 4G is not as big on the multimedia front as the Touch HD, but is still impressive. The main disadvantage of the new HTC MAX 4G is the lack of 3G support, which however won’t be an issue for its Russian owners, as there is still no active 3G network in Russia.

Instead, they get the Mobile WiMAX. WiMax is like Wi-Fi only its coverage is much wider and can span across whole cities, however, don’t confuse it with the upcoming 4G wireless data standard which we are yet to see in action, but WiMax is a good alternative that’s already available to notebook users in various countries.

Stepping away from the WiMAX fuss, the tri-band GPRS/EDGE HTC MAX 4G differs from the HTC Touch HD by several key features. The MAX 4G has 8GB of user available memory, 3.2 MP autofocus camera, and a proximity sensor for auto screen turn-off during calls – much like on the iPhone. The weight and dimensions remain nearly the same, but the new baby is almost 2mm thicker than Touch HD.

You will also get some extra services, granted by the Yota Center, Yota Phone, Yota TV and Music, Yap-Yap, Video, etc.

HTC MAX 4G will be released exclusively for the Yota network in Russia, which is a brand under the Scartel company in the end of November. It will have a rather hefty pricetag of about 840 euros (1050 US dollars), which gets you into a two year contract but promises lots of free music and video content.

Posted by: John

[source]

RUMOUR: T-Mobile Suspends Nokia 5610 XpressMusic Sales

According to several website’s yesterday T-Mobile have ceased selling and are now recalling the Nokia 5610 XpressMusic handsets.

Nokia 5610 in Red

T-Mobile will stop selling the Nokia 5610 XpressMusic handset, and will also recall the entire 5610 inventory which includes floor demos and literature, from all stores and warehouses. This drastic move comes about after the discovery of a manufacturing problem that affects the display. While Nokia has already corrected this error in its current batch of 5610s, it is unfortunately that T-Mobile’s supply were all manufactured before the fix. There is no word on whether T-Mobile will be offering fixed 5610s in the future, but 5610 owners can replace their defective handset with either a Nokia 6301 or 5310 at any T-Mobile store. In addition, you will get $50 or $25 credit, depending on the replacement model chosen.

This will be a huge blow for Nokia in the run up to Christmas give that this was a high focus handset and a lot of money was invested in PR for it’s sales.

Nokia 5610 in Blue

I have sent a mail to T-Mobile directly to see what I can find out and will update you later today.

Posted by: John

[source]

Samsung Behold and Samsung Gravity Released on T-Mobile

Is it just my imagination or is the mobile market suddenly going on a release as quickly as you can strategy. T-Mobile & Samsung jumped on that exact comment and have now officially released the rumoured Samsung Behold and Samsung Gravity.

Looking first at the Behold firstly, it has a large full touchscreen display with what looks like the new Samsung Widget based O/S.

Samsung T919 Behold

As well as the touchscreen TouchWix interface there is a 5 megapixel autofocus camera, 3G support and a full HTML browser. The new Behold scores higher with its built-in GPS but unfortunately, lacks the much needed Wi-Fi feature.

Samsung Behold can be yours starting from November 10 for $149.99 on a 2 year contract in light rose colour.

Next is the Samsung Gravity which is actually the first phone by Samsung with form factor similar to the HTC S740 and S730.

Samsung Gravity

Leaving aside the design, the Samsung Gravity, is a quad-band phone with GPRS/EDGE but no 3G support. Its display is relatively small measuring 2.1" 256K colours and 176 x 220 pixels resolution. Other features include microSD card slot, Bluetooth with A2DP profile, a modest fixed-focus 1.3 MP camera. Its processor and built-in memory is still unknown.

Samsung Gravity Keyboard View

Samsung Gravity will be released on November 17 for $49.99 on a 2 year contract in lime and aqua colours.

Posted by: John

[source]

Windows Mobile 6.1 SMTP error – The Official Fix

I’m sure that many of you are well aware of the SMTP problem in Windows Mobile 6.1 whereby ANY SMTP error will render the account unusable. We reported this problem to Microsoft a few months ago and they’ve been working on a fix since. We released an unofficial patch a few weeks ago and most of you that used the patch have found it to be successful.

Today Microsoft finally released an official patch for the problem which can be downloaded from HERE.

Windows Mobile 6.1 POP and IMAP Send Mail Patch

This behavior is associated with a feature that is introduced in Windows Mobile 6.1. The feature allows for mobile operators to specify an alternate SMTP server name that is used if e-mail messages cannot be sent by using the user-specified SMTP server name. If the mobile operator does not specify an alternate SMTP server name and if the Windows Mobile 6.1-based device does not connect, the e-mail account is corrupted and cannot send e-mail messages.

I haven’t tried this myself yet but if you do install it please let us know how you get on!

Posted by: Matt