May 2007 Archives

Nokia announced today the availability of the Nokia N76 and N75 through independent distributors throughout the United States, making them directly available to consumers.

Nokie N76

Nokia's N76, the thinnest of Nseries product line, measures a mere .54 inches. Made of premium materials, it comes in a stylish chrome and magnesium outfit. If you are a music lover im sure you will enjoy featured one touch access to the built-in music player with additional dedicated keys for quick and easy contol of music playback. Users are able create and share music playlists and also listen to FM radio. With the built-in speakers and a max of 2GB storage (via removable microSD card), users can enjoy hours of their favorite tunes. In addition to the music capabilities, the N76 features video and photo capability with its intergrated 2MP camera which look great on its 2.4" color LCD display. Available in either colors of tempered glass or mirror steel, the Nokia N76 is priced at $499.99 without a contract.

Nokia N75

The Nokia N75 makes use of 850/1900-band 3G networks to provide a wonderful multimedia experience. With easy access to music and dedicated music control keys, users can can enjoy listening to their favorite tunes through the devices internal speakers or through Bluetooth stereo with A2DP compatibility. 2GB is plenty of room for all your favorite videos and tunes on a removable microSD memory card. The N75 also gets a 2.4" color LCD display and a 2MP camera. The device is priced a bit lower than the N76 at $429.99 without a contract

Both devices are available for purchase at many popular online sites and independent retailers, also including www.nseries.com and Nokia Flagship Stores.

AT&T will now offer international long distance text messaging plans. They are the first major wireless carrier to offer an international long distance text message plan. With saving of over 50% from pay-per-use rates, AT&T customers will be able to send long distance messages for as low as 10 cents per message. Their text messaging plans will include 100 international long distance text messages (picture and video messages not included) at a monthly fee of $9.99. Plans will begin on June 3.

Harman Kardon unveiled its latest Guide + Play GPS-300, a portable GPS device with integrated media player. The media player can handle MP3/WMA files, and the device offers a largish 4" wide, touchscreen interface.

The Guide + Play GPS-300 incorporates h/k's experience in audio products, which means users can look forward to high quality audio playback. The GPS-300 lacks video playback functionality, but at its price I wouldn't be too disappointed.

The device ensures that navigation information is audible and displayed, even while the music player is being used. A PoI search allows users to get to the nearest coffee shop or gas station. MiniSD memory cards up to 4GB are supported - enough for your next road trip.

At 19.6mm, you can easily fit in the GPS-300 in your pocket. Priced at US $299.99, the Harman Kardon Guide + Play GPS-300 will be available starting June 1, 2007.

Guide + Play

This phone is hot - hot PINK! The Sharp 913SH is the latest addition to Softbank's summer phone line-up, featuring 3G connectivity on a hot pink slider form mobile phone. It's also considered to be amongst one of the first "full face" sliders, featuring a large 2.8-inch LCD screen.

Other innovative features of Sharp's new phone include hidden, touch-sensitive controls for music and video playback, a 2-megapixel camera on back for snapping photos, and a 1-megapixel on the front for live video calls. The Sharp 913SH also includes Bluetooth with stereo audio, infrared, and microSD for expandable storage.

Not a fan of pink? Don't worry, this phone will be available in a range colors from bright orange and pink to the more tame shades of grey and white. The phone will be available beginning sometime in July at an undisclosed price, and will likely be available only within Japan.

The Nokia 6500 slide, like the classic, features an ergonomic keypad design. Targeted at amateur photographers, the 6500 slide is equipped with a 3.2 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics. You can also make/receive video calls on a television.

The phone offers a refined tactile experience with the brushed stainless steel finish and a sleek slide mechanism. In addition to CZ optics, the phone as autofocus features, a dual LED flash and 8x digital zoom. That's more than what my first Canon PowerShot had.

A TV-out jack lets you view your video calls on a TV, making video calls more fun than before. The phone has a unique hard coating that prevents scratches or even fingerprints.

Expect the Nokia 6500 slide in Q3 2007. Priced at €370 before taxes and subsidies. Check out more features in the extended entry.

Nokia 6500 Series

Nokia unveiled two new cell phones upping the number of phones with 3G support. The Nokia 6500 classic and Nokia 6500 slide are targeted at the mid-range market. Both feature a large, ergonomic keypad - a far move from the Nokia 6680 with its teeny keypad - and the emphasis is on usability.

Crafted from anodized aluminum, the Nokia 6500 classic is one of Nokia's slim phones for this year at just 9.5mm. Apparently, each phone is individually polished so that no two phones are alike, with diamond polishing on the beveled display aperture (!) and even a cold-stamped logo.

Packed with 1GB of internal memory, the phone runs on the Series 40 interface, offering a media player, 2 megapixel camera and dual LED flash. A unified micro-USB port allows charging as well as audio/data transfer capabilities - all with one cable.

You will have to wait until Q3 of 2007 to get your hands on this one. Priced at €320 before taxes and subsidies. More features in the extended entry.

Nokia 6500 Series

Nokia added another trend-setter to its growing list of phones with the shiny Nokia 8600 Luna. Made with chrome, stainless steel and titanium, the 8600 sports a combination of nearly opaque smoked glass and soft-touch stainless steel.

Underneath the glass lies the keypad's illumination giving it a distinguishing look. When a call is received, the ergonomic keypad slides out of its glass shell. Named after the goddess of moonlight, the Nokia 8600 Luna is a fashion accessory you don't want to miss.

That doesn't mean the Luna is low on features - far from it. This quad-band GSM phone has a micro-USB port allowing you to charge it or use it for audio/data connectivity. A 2 megapixel camera is included as well.

Expect the Nokia 8600 Luna in Q2 2007. Priced at €700 before taxes and subsidies.

Nokia 8600 Luna

It looks as though Steve Jobs may have been holding out on us! It is now believed that the Apple iPhone will have a few more features than initially promised, which is always a bonus. Apple has a tendancy to under-promise as not to disappoint, so there's a good chance that there is some truth to these rumors.

The source of the rumor is the VIM3 blog, and this juicy post. According to them, the iPhone will have these updated and/or additional features:

• More storage than the promised 4 and 8GB versions. It will have a "substantially larger flash memory" they say.
• User replaceable batteries. The iPhone had been criticized for not allowing the user to replace the battery. Apparently Apple has been listening, and will be adding a replaceable battery to the phone.
• The iPhone will have 802.11n wireless support. Hooray for WiFi!
• The iPhone will have variations of iWork and iLife software suites, which will allow for word processing, spreadsheets, and slideshow viewing.
• Streaming iTunes support, which means you wont have to waste storage space on your phone to watch a downloaded movie on your computer. Nice.
• Direct from iTunes Store purchasing. No need to download to your computer first, just buy your favorite songs, movies, tv shows and more directly from your phone. You'll also be able to sync the purchase back to your computer later without any hassles.
• The price will go down, but not right away. Apple Fanboys will likely pay the $500 and $600 to get their hands on a shiny new iPhone on launch days; others may wait a few months. The iPhone will come with a rebate with a 2-year contract and special iPhone plans from AT&T.

If the rumors are in fact correct, then it looks like the iPhone is going to be even better than we imagined. With the June launch date not too far off, it won't be too long before we find out exactly what Apple's got in store for us.

Here's to hoping that these rumors are true!

Bored? Check out these links:

• Sony HDR-SR8 AVCHD HDD Camcorder
• Football Superstars Announced
• Horizon MultiSync LCD5710 Largest LCD Touch Screen To Date
• Is Matt Damon done with his role as Jason Borne?
• Call of Duty 4 OFFICIALLY Announced

Olympus has a long history as a camera company, and are considered to be leaders in creating innovative new cameras. In 2005, Yoshihisa Maitani, an Advisor at Olympus Corporation, gave a great presentation overviewing the history of Olympus as a company, as well as discussing his uncompromising philosophy as a developer to create cameras that previously didn't exist elsewhere.

From Maitani's mind and team, we saw the creation of things such as the Pen FT, the world's first half-size TTL SLR camera, and the overall advancement of SLR cameras. If you're looking for an interesting read, check out the presentation Maitani made here - it's a good read.

The almighty FCC has given their stamp of approval to a new GPS navigation device, this time the Smart NAVI DOTN-430. It features an SD/MMC memory card slot, speakers, earphone input, AC/DC power port, USB connectivity, and can store custom navigation maps, photos, and multimedia content. It features several power options, and can be powered using its battery or through a car's cigarette lighter.

This device comes from Smart NAVI out of Korea. No pricing or availability details have yet been unveiled.

The BlackBerry Curve is finally available on the AT&T network, making it the smallest and lightest full QWERTY BlackBerry handset. AT&T will be the first wireless carrier in North America to offer the BlackBerry Curve in wireless.

The phone measures 4.2" x 2.4" x 0.6", weighs approximately 3.9 oz and also includes a 2 megapixel camera and spell checker for e-mail. One also comes across features like; media player and new desktop media manager, microSD expandable memory slot and RIM's trackball navigation system.

The BlackBerry Curve is powered by AT&T's nationwide EDGE network and has support for Bluetooth stereo audio profile (A2DP/AVRCP) and dedicated volume controls. The BlackBerry Curve will be available for as low as $199.99 with a two-year contract and mail-in rebate beginning May 31 in AT&T (formerly Cingular Wireless) retail stores.

"The BlackBerry Curve has all of the qualities of a winner that will resonate with a broad segment of AT&T customers," said Kent Mathy, president of AT&T's Business Markets Group. "Business professionals and consumers alike will gravitate to its iconic look, industry-leading coverage both here in the U.S. and abroad, robust e-mail and Web browsing capabilities, and powerful entertainment offerings."

Recently approved by the FCC is the Mobilus 3.0 Stolen Vehicle tracking system. The Mobilus system helps car owners safeguard their vehicle from being stolen and also helps to locate if stolen. Not only does the system include a telematics unit to communicate and transmit the vehicles location to the security central, it also provides the owners with a sense of security with anti-theft features. When one tries to start the Mobilus equipped vehicle without the provided remote, the vehicles ignition will be disabled and an alarm will activate. To obtain the location of the missing vehicle, simply log-in to the Mobilus webpage which will provide a marked location on a detailed map of North America.

Featured on Yanko Design is the Nikon 360 Digital Camera. With the Nikon 360, it is easy to shoot a full 360 panoramic image. Featuring a rotating ergonomic cylinder form lens, the camera captures a complete unbroken view of it's surrounding area. An angle gauge is provided to indicate the direction of the rotating head and also to provide the camera with a stronger and steadier feel during operation. An inclinometer is also integrated to indicate the horizontal position before execution. With much emphasis on the user interface, the 360 is very simple and easy with it's main operating function featuring a touch sensor. The Nikon 360 is yet another wonderfully designed product.

Bored? Check out these links:

• Sony HDR-SR8 AVCHD HDD Camcorder
• Football Superstars Announced
• Horizon MultiSync LCD5710 Largest LCD Touch Screen To Date
• Is Matt Damon done with his role as Jason Borne?
• Call of Duty 4 OFFICIALLY Announced

Olympus has a long history as a camera company, and are considered to be leaders in creating innovative new cameras. In 2005, Yoshihisa Maitani, an Advisor at Olympus Corporation, gave a great presentation overviewing the history of Olympus as a company, as well as discussing his uncompromising philosophy as a developer to create cameras that previously didn't exist elsewhere.

From Maitani's mind and team, we saw the creation of things such as the Pen FT, the world's first half-size TTL SLR camera, and the overall advancement of SLR cameras. If you're looking for an interesting read, check out the presentation Maitani made here - it's a good read.

The almighty FCC has given their stamp of approval to a new GPS navigation device, this time the Smart NAVI DOTN-430. It features an SD/MMC memory card slot, speakers, earphone input, AC/DC power port, USB connectivity, and can store custom navigation maps, photos, and multimedia content. It features several power options, and can be powered using its battery or through a car's cigarette lighter.

This device comes from Smart NAVI out of Korea. No pricing or availability details have yet been unveiled.

Recently approved by the FCC is the Mobilus 3.0 Stolen Vehicle tracking system. The Mobilus system helps car owners safeguard their vehicle from being stolen and also helps to locate if stolen. Not only does the system include a telematics unit to communicate and transmit the vehicles location to the security central, it also provides the owners with a sense of security with anti-theft features. When one tries to start the Mobilus equipped vehicle without the provided remote, the vehicles ignition will be disabled and an alarm will activate. To obtain the location of the missing vehicle, simply log-in to the Mobilus webpage which will provide a marked location on a detailed map of North America.

The Sony Ericsson W660i Walkman Phone got the FCC's nod. Get ready for this sweet little 3G phone, which we saw only a few weeks ago on The Whack.

The W660i comes with a 512MB memory stick micro (M2), allowing you to store as many as 470 songs (eAAC+ format). Memory is expandable to 1GB which means you can't throw away your iPod just yet. Even otherwise, it's got some neat features packed, including Bluetooth stereo support.

Thanks to the Track ID support on the phone, if you don't recognize a particular song playing on its FM receiver, you can record a few seconds of it, and the Track ID feature will send the clip to Gracenote Mobile MusicID database. Once identified, the song info is sent back to your phone.

No word on the pricing, but it should hit the streets soon.

Sony Ericsson

The Sony Ericsson W660i Walkman Phone got the FCC's nod. Get ready for this sweet little 3G phone, which we saw only a few weeks ago on The Whack.

The W660i comes with a 512MB memory stick micro (M2), allowing you to store as many as 470 songs (eAAC+ format). Memory is expandable to 1GB which means you can't throw away your iPod just yet. Even otherwise, it's got some neat features packed, including Bluetooth stereo support.

Thanks to the Track ID support on the phone, if you don't recognize a particular song playing on its FM receiver, you can record a few seconds of it, and the Track ID feature will send the clip to Gracenote Mobile MusicID database. Once identified, the song info is sent back to your phone.

No word on the pricing, but it should hit the streets soon.

Sony Ericsson

The Sony Ericsson W660i Walkman Phone got the FCC's nod. Get ready for this sweet little 3G phone, which we saw only a few weeks ago on The Whack.

The W660i comes with a 512MB memory stick micro (M2), allowing you to store as many as 470 songs (eAAC+ format). Memory is expandable to 1GB which means you can't throw away your iPod just yet. Even otherwise, it's got some neat features packed, including Bluetooth stereo support.

Thanks to the Track ID support on the phone, if you don't recognize a particular song playing on its FM receiver, you can record a few seconds of it, and the Track ID feature will send the clip to Gracenote Mobile MusicID database. Once identified, the song info is sent back to your phone.

No word on the pricing, but it should hit the streets soon.

Sony Ericsson

Fastlink and Research In Motion announced the launch of the BlackBerry Pearl smartphone in Jordan. Pearl provides the familiar well-known access to BlackBerry wireless services including email, text messaging and more importantly, corporate data apps.

The mobile provider Fastlink will also be providing BlackBerry Internet Service for its customers. Users can enjoy a digital camera and media player onboard the new BlackBerry. For additional storage, the device also offers expandable memory.

In the Middle East, the BlackBerry service is currently available in Jordan, Egypt, the UAE and Bahrain.

BlackBerry

Fastlink and Research In Motion announced the launch of the BlackBerry Pearl smartphone in Jordan. Pearl provides the familiar well-known access to BlackBerry wireless services including email, text messaging and more importantly, corporate data apps.

The mobile provider Fastlink will also be providing BlackBerry Internet Service for its customers. Users can enjoy a digital camera and media player onboard the new BlackBerry. For additional storage, the device also offers expandable memory.

In the Middle East, the BlackBerry service is currently available in Jordan, Egypt, the UAE and Bahrain.

BlackBerry

Fastlink and Research In Motion announced the launch of the BlackBerry Pearl smartphone in Jordan. Pearl provides the familiar well-known access to BlackBerry wireless services including email, text messaging and more importantly, corporate data apps.

The mobile provider Fastlink will also be providing BlackBerry Internet Service for its customers. Users can enjoy a digital camera and media player onboard the new BlackBerry. For additional storage, the device also offers expandable memory.

In the Middle East, the BlackBerry service is currently available in Jordan, Egypt, the UAE and Bahrain.

BlackBerry