The US Patent office has recently published a couple of patent applications for new keyboard designs. One by RIM the maker of Blackberry, and one by Nokia. RIM’s patent application consists of a standard 9 key keypad that that expands to a qwerty keyboard at the touch of a button. This is achieved with the use of flip-out wings on either side of the phone. It is an interesting concept, but it looks like using this phone with its qwerty keyboard out will require a little bit of thumb gymnastics. Details on Nokia’s application after the break

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The rumours about a forthcoming iPhone nano are building up ahead of Macworld in January and now another case manufacturer has posted a page where you can register your interest for an iPhone Nano case. This time though it is the well respected case manufacturer Vaja who are spilling the beans or just adding to the rumour. Obviously nothing concrete from Apple and we won’t know anything for sure until January’s event but this is getting harder to ignore. If it is true then Apple will be furious that these case manufacturers are slipping information out in this way.

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When most people think of Symbian, they think of Nokia, but Samsung also makes some nice S60 phones. According to Symbian Guru, Samsung’s newest flagship S60 device has passed the FCC with a special treat for S60 fans in the US and Canada. According to documents on the FCC website the i8510 includes dual band HSDPA that’s compatible with AT&T’s 3G network in the US, and Roger’s 3G network in Canada. The i8510 Innov8 includes an 8 megapixel camera with auto-focus and image stabilization, A-GPS, and a 3.5mm headset jack. This is shaping up to be an interesting alternative to the Nokia N96. It would be great if carriers in North America pick up this device.”

From the makers of Ocarina, the iPhone’s first wind instrument comes Zephyr, an app that IS the wind. Like the best-selling Ocarina, Zephyr is a tool for unlimited self-expression.  With this app, users can express thoughts by writing or drawing on a snow covered screen.  Zephyr senses every touch and tilt to supplement each message with a unique wind sound, creating a unique visual and audio story. Gently composed writing might be accompanied by the sound of a lightly blowing breeze.  Quickly drawn designs might generate the sound of blustery winds. More details after the break with  video demo.

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Google Street View will launch later this spring featuring full 3D representations of many areas of Britain’s city’s, including London, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh. Users will be able to pop along to Google Maps feature and virtually travel around at street level, with millions of 3D photographs used to offer a 360° horizontal and 290° vertical view of their location. Google Street View teams have been scouring and photographing key UK cityscapes since July earlier this year, causing some concern amongst privacy campaigners.

via Techradar

If you aren’t looking to run the Touchflo 2D interface provided by the folks over at XDA then have a look at this simple interface. Touch Shell Free 1.0 has touched down and it looks like a nice alternative. Have a read at what they have to say for themselves.

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Sony Ericsson’s next Xperia phone range will be released late in 2009 and will NOT be manufactured by HTC according to sources in the Far East. “Sony Ericsson is now in final talks with three handset makers, including FIH and Pegatron – the spin-off manufacturing arm of Asustek Computer – for the new smartphone project,” claims the Digitimes report. The report adds: “But HTC is not among them, said the sources, adding FIH or Pegatron is the most likely candidate to win the contract.”  “Sony Ericsson is expected to finalize details with its prospective partner in the first quarter of 2009, with an aim to launch the new Windows Mobile-enabled smartphone before year-end 2009 at the earliest.”

via Techradar