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We have been talking about the Zune HD lately and we have a specs list which might or might not impress you. Will you choose a Zune HD over an iPod touch? Let's take a look at this Zune's specs:

• ~3.6-inch OLED full touchscreen


• NVIDIA Tegra powered


• 4GB, 8GB, 16GB and 32GB versions


• HDMI Connection to stream straight to your TV


• HD Radio


• Web browser


• Wi-Fi compatible, with wireless marketplace


• Released, early fall


• International release of the Zune device itself


• Home AV packs, Car packs, Charge packs

via Neowin

We heard Microsoft is entering the phone business with an actual device next year. While we're still waiting for more details we get another Microsoft rumor. The bad Windows maker has a Pink product which will get a weird technology combo from the Zune and from the Danger Inc.

The Pink, whatever it is, might arrive at CES 2009. By then we should figure out if this Pink rumor has anything to do with Microsoft's phone.

via ubergizmo

The USB memory stick which also works as a bottle opener is an inventive yet inefficient idea. Following a logical line of thinking you would end up realizing that if you desperately need a bottle opener with you at all times, then you shouldn't mix one with an USB stick. In other words you're likely to loose the stick after one too many beers. Because I am sure you won't realize you need to get that beer opener in your pocket when heading for home.

However if you fancy this TrekStor creation then head to Europe. It's there where where USB users lack bottle openers. You can choose various models, from 1 to 16GB and they will cost you from about $10 to $71.

You might be lucky enough to have pre-ordered the G1 in time. Or you might be just like the rest of us, waiting for October 22nd to buy it in store. In any case you probably want a taste of that Android OS mounted on the HTC Dream as soon as possible.

T-Mobile has a G1 emulator for you to play with. Sure it doesn't have all the functions of the real thing but you can still get a general idea of how stuff works. Don't bother complaining about various issues and bugs you might spot along the way. It's just an emulator for now. You'll get the chance to complain later on about the real thing.

The FCC has just approved Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 but hold on to your hats. You might not see it arrive that soon in your country. The FCC has approved a version X1i which is going to be released in Europe probably. The device they played with lacked 3G support which doesn't sound that good, does it.

But since the X1i was already approve we assume it's only a matter of time until a North American version will be given the OK. Hopefully the X1 will arrive in most markets by the end of the year. Waiting for carriers to announce it.

Sony has revealed its latest ebook reader, it is now in the third generation and is codenamed PRS-700. This one is small and light-weight, only 283 grams and the size of a paperback book.

The digital book reader has the usual touchscreen functions that in this case are similar to the iPhone, which means that to flip a page you only need to slide your finger across the screen. The screen size can be considered good, 6-inches with zoom in and zoom out features. In terms of text size there are 5 options you can pick.

Extra features include support for memory cards - SD and Memory Stick Duo, a built-in LED light, and the option to create notes.

The Sony PRS-700 eBook reader costs $400 and will become available in November.

Sony

The HTC Rose or S740 has been approved by the FCC. The Rose is one of the last handsets made by HTC. It's Windows Mobile handset like all recent HTC devices, excepting the Dream of course. The rose comes with a hybrid keybad/keyboard, GPS, WiFi and a 3.2 megapixel camera. Think of it like a modified HTC Touch. Add a slide-out full keyboard and a keypad and you get the Rose. You'd also have to remove the touchscreen to get a Rose. That last part you might not like!

The Rose is ready to be sold in the USA. All it needs now is some 3G support for the US since it only has quad-band (850/900/1800/1900Mhz) GSM/EDGE for now. Let's see what carrier will pick this one up!

Cowon is already known for coming up with products that have 5 stars in the design category, and the latest S9 Curve is no exception. This portable media player has the chrome look + rounded corners that will most likely make people think it is an Apple product...

Thanks to the big storage capacity options - 8GB or 16GB - it means you won't have to worry much about the lack of space to add more audio or video content. The best part is that there will be a 32GB version in the "near future". Obviously, the S9 Curve can read the majority of audio/video file formats, and even has a TV output function.

In order to make everything work, the processor is powered by a dual-core at 500MHz. In addition there is bluetooth, FM tuner, a voice recorder, and T-DMB for digital TV on the go.

The battery life can hold on for 40 hours of audio or 8 of video, and it takes about 6 hours to recharge via USB.

At this time there is no information about the price or release date, but as the saying goes: we'll keep you updated!

The KC780 is the LG's 8 megapixel camera phone we've spotted last week at the FCC and now we have a better picture of it. This LG could be the slimmest 8 megapixel camera phone so far, although the Samsung Pixon is officially measured at 13.8 mm so far.

• A TFT display with limited touchscreen support


• Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE connectivity


• USB 2.0 and Bluetooth 2.0


• Video recording at 30fps


• 140MB of expandable memory

We're getting closer to the Christmas holiday so you might already be looking out for special gifts for some of your friends. iRiver's SPINN PMP might be the thing you are looking for. It's like a great device which will keep its owner occupied for a few hours.

The PMP is coming in two versions, 4GB and 8GB and iRiver will be ready to ship them starting with October 3rd. The 4GB will cost $249.99 while the 8GB sells for $289.99.
The SPINN will get you a 3.3 inch 480 x 272 AMOLED display. There's an FM tuner, Bluetooth 2.0 and support for MP3, WMA, OGG, APE, FLAC, AVI, and WMV files.
Too bad there's no WiFi support in any of these versions.

Remember the Optimus Maximus OLED keyboard? You know, the really cool one? Well that keyboard was designed by Art Lebedev. The same company has developed a WiMAX concept phone together with Russian carrier Scartel.

The device looks like an iPhone clone from the pictures here. It will also have Apple like features if we don't count the WiMAX support: WiFi, tri-band GSM and a 850x480 touchscreen. Two cameras are also available, one for pictures and the other one for video calls. There's a microSD slot, a 3.5mm headphone plug and an A/V plug. A mini-USB socket will fit about right

While the design is not final and future changes might still occur, we know for sure that Scartel has WiMAX networks deployed in Moscow and St. Petersburg only for now. In the USA Sprint is getting ready for its XOHM network but it hasn't launched it yet.

SocialLife is a new application from Verizon Wireless. How did they end up creating it? Well people say that Verizon will do almost anything to add some extra dollars to your monthly bill. Like any other service, this is quite an affordable application. For $1.49 per month you will be able to go to any of the following social networking sites: Myspace, Photobucket, Livejournal, AsianAve, BlackPlanet, FaithBase, GLEE, MiGente, Rabble and MTV Tr3s.

Where's Facebook you ask? So do I. Not that I actually would need any of them, including Facebook. But where's Myspace support one would think there's also Facebook. I say don't pay for the app and look for a replacement.

Sony Ericsson had some problems with the full integration of Windows Mobile in their first Xperia phone. People noticed it but the Xperia wasn't delayed to 2009. Now after the official release of G1, the world first handset wearing an Android OS, it's reported that Sony Ericsson officials are considering the open-source OS for their future generation of Xperia smartphones.

Sony Ericsson president, Dick Komiyama said that his company is interestd in Android but they aren't ready to adopt it yet. But they will be ready won't they? Is Microsoft ready to see its Windows Mobile replaced with Android?

I'll give most phones a chance if they're not made by Sagem. Is it only me with this problem? Should I have it looked at and properly medicated?

In the mean time I'll show you the Sagem P9522. If you have the same problem like me you can always pretend you haven't seen it anywhere. The P9522 is a candybar handset, and here's what it will get you:

• 2.8 inch display


• 5 megapixel camera


• GPS navigation


• WiFi connectivity


• Fingerprint reader


• microSD memory card slot.

I am not exactly sure about the actual iPhone arrival in China but we know how Apple is eager to enter that large consumer market. South China Morning Post is saying that the iPhone 3G will come without 3G and WiFi. Which is really a very bad thing if proven to be so.

China Mobile will apparently ask Apple to disable the two features. They don't have a 3G network so it makes sense. But WiFi is everywhere! So why disable that?

If I am in China will I be able to use my Apple as a cell phone? And how much would an Chinese iPhone 3G without 3G and iPhone cost?

via Gizmodo

Remember the guy that managed to pull in a whooping $250,000 after developing that silly Bejeweled game version for the iPhone? Want to be one of those guys? Well Apple will offer you a chance through its iPhone Developer University program which is now available in the USA.

It's not actually a real university but an opportunity for other universities to introduce curriculum for developing iPhone and iPod touch applications. This program will let your university start development programs with up to 200 students free of charge.

Here's what Apple has to say about it:

With the suite of sophisticated and elegant tools included in the iPhone SDK, and a wide-range of resources in the iPhone Dev Center, students participating in the class will have everything they need to create innovative applications for iPhone and iPod touch.

Looks like LG wants to cover both the high and low end of things, just as it did when it entered the 5-megapixel fray with the Veiwty KU990 and KC550. As a companion to the already announced high-end KC910, LG seems to be working on a low-end 8-megapixel snapper, the KC780. The KC780 has already managed to slip by the FCC unnoticed and except for its powerful lens, it falls short (as LG expects) in many other areas. The slider is designed to work with quad-band GSM networks with speeds stopping at EDGE, and has Bluetooth, USB 2.0 support, and microSD expansion to augment the 140 megs that it houses internally. Not much to speak of, but if we are solely interested in a good cameraphone, this could serve the purpose. No details on pricing or availability, but as always, looks for us to tell you.

Via FCC

While other companies have long put in their entries for the ongoing touchscreen competition, Nokia is still yet to formally release the much-awaited Nokia "Tube" or more officially, the Nokia XpressMedia 5800. But it looks like we may not have to wait long as Pocket-Lint has a secret, vaild source that whispers a launch date of October 2nd. According to the source, Nokia's first full touchscreen cell phone is planned to be launched at a London event together with the arrival of Nokia Comes with Music service. October 2nd is not too bad, but you should know Nokia that we have moved on and fallen for the Touch HD instead!

We don't know if this is the real deal or not but if it is, ASUS might have created just the right cell phone to ward off the touchscreen heat that is building up right now. The above picture shows what looks like a simpleton with not much inside, but if the rumored specs are true, this handset could very well rule the roost in the coming months. The ASUS P565 is said to be powered by a blazing fast 800MHz Marvell-Tavor processor, something that hasn't been heard of on a cell phone until now, and a 2.8-inch VGA touchscreen (not big enough for the touchscreen fanatics of course, but it's VGA!). ASUS also seems to have crammed every known wireless solution into the device including WiFi 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, HSDPA support, and also GPS. The fast processor along with a decent 128MB of RAM should keep Windows Mobile 6.1 on its toes along with ASUS' own Glide touch-control software to round out a pretty impressive feature set. There's not a peep on its pricing but rumors point to an October release, enough time to change your mind if you are saving up for something else.

WMPowerUser

Google has an Android phone working already and it has an Android Market waiting to be filled with applications. Google's Android SDK v1.0 has been released so developers can go wild creating some applications.

That means you can's stop working on that v0.9 and update your application so it's ready by October 22nd. It has been reported that there aren't significant changes besides various bug fixes and a few API additions
So go on, start working on that application!

Well well T-Mobile, you sure have an Amazon store ready for your future customers. There are 6 million DRM-free songs available which is quite nice. But how are we to listen to it? It's been reported that there's no 3.5mm headphone jack available.

So who's fault is it? T-Mobile's? Google's? Well last time I checked, the manufacturer was HTC. It seems that's an old problem with the HTC. They tend to forget about the music jack in their models. The Touch HD is the only exception so far.

That means you should buy an USB dongle to mediate a connection between your faithful headphones and the G1. And the adapter won't arrive by the time the G1 gets released.

Do you think Amazon should be a little pissed off by all this? I mean they will be loosing some money for a while right? Why buy songs you can't listen to anyway?

via Engadget

The Samsung Armani Night Effect phone is the successor of the Samsung Armani P520. A different design and a couple of improved features might make you choose it as your next fashion phone.

Here are the most important features:

• Quadband GSM, HSDPA connectivity


• 2.2 inch reinforced glass AMOLED display


• 3.2 megapixel camera without flash


• Built-in FM Radio


• Dedicated music player control buttons


• 120 MB of User Memory


• microSD memory card slot


• USB 2.0 and Bluetooth 2.0

Much of the following is purely speculative but if proven true, we might just witness the best BlackBerry launch ever.

It's being said that the Storm and the Thunder do not refer to the same device. It looks like the Storm and the Thunder are both new Berries, both with a full touchscreen. The difference you ask? The Storm would have a slide-out full QWERTY keyboard. Just for those which can't make it without an actual keyboard.

Would any Verizon representatives care to comment? They are releasing the Storm soon so they might knhttp://www.mobilewhack.com/wp-admin/post-new.php
Mobilewhack.com › Create New Post -- WordPressow the facts. And how could anyone have missed a Thunder with a slide-out keyboard?

via ReportonBusiness

Analysts expect Android sales to go up in the fourth quarter of this year. Strategy Analytics estimates about 10.5 million smartphones to be sold in the U.S. during that period. From those, 400,000 are expected to be G1 handsets from T-Mobile.

Chris Ambrosia, Executive Director of Strategy Analytics says:

Google has the brand power in the USA to make a big impact at launch. The main issue will be operator subsidies. As seen with the iPhone and smart devices in general, retail prices need to be well below $200 to be competitive. Longer-term success will, of course, rest on Android vendor ability to create designs with wow factor and an intuitive user-interface.

Android's market share might go even higher. T-Mobile announced earlier it will have from 600,000 to 700,000 ready to be sold once the G1 starts selling. And let's not forget the Christmas season will pump all sales up.

Does Apple have a surprise for us? According to word on the street future Apple customers will be able to purchase an iPhone without a contract and activate it at home. Does this mean Americans will get the option of finally buying a contract free device? According to Apple Store retail employees a new option appeared on their EasyPay system. When making a sale they can choose Home now besides the previous four options which were: upgrade/swap existing iphone, new to AT&T starting a single line, new to AT&T starting a family line and add a line to existing account. But the Home option isn't working for now.

Let's go back in time to September 2007. That's when Apple dropped the 4GB iPhone and added then added the 16GB version in February 2008. It looks like right now 8GB iPhones 3G are reported to be missing form certain retailers. Does this mean a 32GB iPhone 3G model is coming up?