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We weren't expecting this to happen, especially after Christmas but it looks like Microsoft, Apple and Google will be sued by a little company from Michigan called Cygnus Systems. Why? Cygnus Systems holds on to patent US 7,346,850 called "System and method for iconic software environment management." The abstract of the patent describes "a method and system for storing, navigating, and accessing files within an operating system through the use of a graphical thumbnail representing the video display of the active document within the active application."

This patent which happens to describes features which are similar to Windows Explorer or Apple Finder was awarded to Cygnus in March 2008 despite being filed in 2001.

In other words, Cygnus' patent describes features similar to those of Windows Explorer and Apple's Finder. Will Microsoft, Google and Apple pay the price for their icons system? Probably they will. I don't want to imagine the alternative.

via ArsTechnica

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.

Kingston is ready for the next DDR RAM level. I am talking about DDR3 memory modules which are already shipping in the USA. The model you should be looking for is the HyperX from Kingston. They will be the fastest DDR3 made so far with speeds of 2GHz. The 2GB model will feature CL9-9-9-27 @ 1.9v and their price will start from $227.

I'd expect the competition to come up with similar DDR3 modules soon which will lead to a price decrease. Not that $227 is that expensive for the speed the new RAM promises.

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.

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?

I wondered where the catch is from the minute I saw free WiFi at McDonald's. At first it sounded awfully familiar. It's like I've seen the same scenario with slightly different characters. It was AT&T instead of Microsoft to offer free WiFi in Starbucks instead of McDonald's for iPhone instead of Zune users. But AT&T wanted to prove they can't do a thing right from the beginning and played around with free WiFi's switch for a couple of days.

Is Microsoft going to do the same? I mean I understand its effort to keep its 2.5% share of the MP3 players' market happy. And with such a move they're guaranteed to get at least a 0.01% more of that market. Imagine chewing on a burger and enjoying a vanilla shake while downloading Zune 3.0, which by the way is out, via free Mickey D's WiFi on your newest Zune player. Doesn't that sound like heaven? It does if you haven't seen Super Size Me and you don't know anything about Microsoft.

Oh, and the Zune doesn't have a web browser right? Well you will be able to get a few more songs instead of surfing the web. Nice one Microsoft!

Sony has big plans for Japan. Their latest PSP 3000 is expected to be launched on October 16th.

The new gaming device will have ready a 4.3 inch high resolution wide screen, anti-reflection technology, a built-in microphone, Skype and other communication tools. There's a video port which will let you take the game to your closest TV through the separately sold cables.

The new PSP 3000 will come in pearl white and mystic silver and it will retail for 19,800 yen or about $183.

Microsoft planned to release its IE8 browser amid the popularity of Firefox, now, they have another competition - Google! Google is trying to penetrate the browser market. Yeah, that's right, Google is releasing its very own web browser. This is not a surprise as the rumor of a browser goes way back 2004. I guess now it becomes a reality.

Google is launching a beta version of its own Web browser on Tuesday in more than 100 countries, the company announced Monday in a blog posting. The open-sourced browser will be named Chrome and is supposed to be faster, better and simpler than existing browsers.

From PC World, here are Chrome's main feature:

--It has a tab-centric interface, with a default home page that shows snapshots of your favorite sites and new memory management techniques designed to prevent tabs from bogging down your browsing;

--It uses sandboxing to prevent malware from doing damage to your PC;

--It includes built-in anti-phishing;

--It uses an all-new JavaScript implementation designed to provide snappy performance for Web-based applications;

--It includes Gears, the Google-initiated platform that helps online apps provide offline capabilities;

--It's open source;

--It's based on Webkit, the same open-source browser engine that powers Apple's Safari.

MSI has released another version of its Wind netbook - the Love edition. The 10-inch Netbook has proven to be a resounding success after garnering major international awards and winning over consumers worldwide. Now MSI is ready to unveil another version, the MSI Wind Netbook Love Edition. The new release is designed to support a range of notebook donation programs around the world for children in rural and remote areas. The donated notebooks will help those children learning valuable computer skills, connecting to world through the Internet, and narrowing the digital divide. By feedback to the community tangible ways, MSI Notebook will fill every corner of the globe with love.

MSI Notebook initially offered the MSI Wind Netbook in three colors: Angel White, Empire Black and Romantic Pink. The Love edition on the other hand, will feature tans, bright silver and shining gold hearts pattern on a pure white chassis to convey a sense of gentle softness.

The program take the form of charity donations in Taiwan, China, Poland, Ukraine, Turkey, Russia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Korea and India to give poor children a chance to learn how to use computers.

via: msi

Along with announcements of the Nokia N96 and Nokia N79, the folks over at Espoo also unleashed the new Nokia N85 multimedia computer featuring a 2.6 inch, battery-saving OLED display. The feature set is pretty similar to the N79, including the integrated FM transmitter, 5 megapixel camera, HSDPA and Wi-Fi support as well as 10 pre-loaded N-Gage games.

Where it differs is in its dual slider design and of course the display technology. When the phone is in landscape mode, the gaming keys light up for an enhanced experience. The camera on this baby can shoot videos at 30 fps - which you can store on the included 8GB microSD memory card.

The N85 features a standard 3.5mm audio jack and, with the built-in FM transmitter, you can play your music through your car or home stereo.

The Nokia N85 will be available starting October 2008 for &eur;450 before taxes and subsidies.

Nokia added yet another phone to their growing N-series portfolio. The new Nokia N79, like many of the other phones, is a multimedia computer. With integrated navigation, FM transmitter and HSDPA connectivity, the phone comes pre-loaded with 10 N-Gage games. You also get a 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics.

The N79 features Xpress-on covers that let you customize the phone to your tastes, with the following colors being available: Light Sea Blue, Espresso Brown, Olive Green, White and Coral Red. With the phone, you get a combo of 3 of these covers. Along with HSDPA, the phone also supports Wi-Fi for times when you don't want to incur data charges.

There's built-in support for various social networks like Friendster, Flickr, YouTube as well as integration with the Nokia Music Store and Ovi. The camera on the phone also comes with dual LED flash, and you can save images on the bundled 4GB microSD memory card.

Expect the phone in October 2008 retailing at &eur;350 before taxes and subsidies.

One of the hot phones of the year, the Nokia N96, will finally arrive at the American shores in Q4 of 2008. The N96 was introduced to us in the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona and will be targeted at 3G/HSDPA networks. Featuring a 2.8 inch screen, the phone will come with 16 gigs of memory in a sleek package.

Touted as an entertainment phone, it supports a range of video formats (including Windows Media) along with integration with popular video download services, allowing you to purchase, download and play TV shows and movies right on the phone. It features a convenient kick stand for handsfree viewing.

The Nokia N96 also boasts an impressive 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, Wi-Fi support and A-GPS (assisted GPS) navigation. Obviously it is integrated with Ovi services as well. A 3-month navigation service for Nokia Maps 2.0 is bundled with the phone.

Priced at US $895, the Nokia N96 will be available in Q4 2008.

Archos launched two MID, the Archos 5 and the Archos 7. The difference between them is about two inch and a few GB of storage. Can I make any phone calls with those? It would be just too good wouldn't it.

Archos 5 is a 5 inch touchscreen MID which will get you some internet connection when you need it most. The web browser is flash compatible and it will use 3G and 3.5G connections where available. There's WiFi connectivity too, and three memory options. Depending on how many songs and videos you want to carry with you, you can choose the 60GB version for $350, the 120GB version for $400 or the $250 version for $450.

The Archos 7 (in the picture above) has a 7 inch touchscreen MID. This baby will sport the same features but it will come in two versions. Either the 160GB for $450 or the 320GB for $550.

Who need an Eee if we have these MID available?

LG Invision is now available from AT&T. If you happen to watch a lot of videos on your cell phone than that's a phone you might want to consider. The Invision is the third AT&T phone which will support Mobile TV, but it's the smallest one out there.

Let's check out some of its features:

• 1.3 megapixel camera


• Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity


• XM Radio Mobile


• 3G connectivity


• Stereo audio support


• available programs: NBC2GO, FOX Mobile, ESPN Mobile TV and CBS Mobile

By the time the iPhone 3G hits the Russian market, fellow Russian can enjoy another smartphone from E-Ten. The Glofiish X610 is the phone I am talking about. It has everything you want provided that you don't want any 3G connectivity.

Here's what you will get for about $650 if shopping for the Glofiish in Russia:

• a Samsung SC3 400MHz processor


• 128MB ROM


• GSM/GPRS/EDGE connectivity


• a QVGA touch screen display


• a SiRF Star III GPS chipset


• a 2 megapixel camera


• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity

Luxurious look, attractive design and top-notch performance, these are the characteristics of Nokia's new 8800 Carbon Arte Cell Phone. It is made from carbon fibre, polished glass, titanium, and stainless steel. Bearing a modern chic look, this cell phone with a 3D pattern is alluring.

Nokia 8800 features an OLED display, 3G capabilities, 3.2 megapixel auto focus camera and extendable memory slot supporting upto 4 GB capacities. Enjoy high end audio with the latest model. If you tap the steel surface twice, a clock will appear on the screen.

Other Features:
Anti-fingerprint coating
Turn-to-mute silencing mechanism
Slide mechanism
All-in-one microUSB connector

The cell phone is accompanied with a wide array of accessories including a stylish desk stand, a Bluetooth touch-sensitive volume control headset, and a beautiful leather carrying case. The Nokia 8800 Carbon Arte will reach the stores in the 3rd quarter of 2008 at an expected price of EUR 1,100.

Via: Press

Thanks to the FCC we get all sorts of leaks. This time it isn't a phone but a gaming console. The PSP-3001 has arrived at the FCC.

People said the PSP-3001 will get GPS, WiFi 802.11n, Bluetooth and a microphone but none of those have been spotted in the FCC report. And although we've heard about a rumored PSP phone in the past, this isn't a phone either. It's just a simple game console taken to the next level.

HP is ready for some serious notebook action with its new EliteBooks. Three new models are available, the 8730w, 8530w and 8530p.

HP EliteBook 8730w is apparently the only 17 inch laptop on the market to ofer HP DreamColor Display. While regular machines offer about 260,000 colors, the DreamColor thing will get you a little more, 16 million colors. Besides the amazing display, the 8730w will get a true Intel quad-core processor, 8GB of RAM and the Nvidia Quadro FX graphics card with 1GB video memory.

The 8530w and the 8530p both have the DreamColor display. They are 15.4 inch laptops with Intel Core 2 Duo processors and about 8GB of RAM. Version 8530w will also support a quad-core mobile processor.

The EliteBook 8730w is arriving later this month for prices starting from $1,699 while the two 15 inch laptops are coming over in September from $1,499.

Today we have a gaming device from Spice Mobiles Limited. Their X-1 gaming cell phone comes bundled with a gaming mini console and it retails for just $210. We aren't going to get that much out of this phone for that price but it could be the cheap gaming solution you were looking for.

Here's what Indian Spice Mobiles have included in this X-1 phone:

• 2.4 inch display


• Memory card slot (up to 2GB)


• Pre-loaded games


• Gaming controller peripheral


• 2 megapixel camera


• Yamaha-amplified 3D surround sound


• Integrated FM radio


• Bluetooth connectivity

The question is not if you have seen The Dark Knight already, Batman Begins' sequel, which grossed over $400 million in less than three week, but how many times have you seen it so far?

In case you are a Batman fan you might want to treat yourself with this XBox 360 special edition with The Dark Knight logos all over the black case. We don't know how many similar units are out there and how much one costs, but hopefully more are going to be manufactured. I simply know a couple of guys that would certainly get one for themselves.

Here's a phone coming from 3, the S2 made by Amoi of China. This is another Skypephone with preinstalled Skype software. It has built in Windows modem drivers which will install automatically once you connect it thorough the USB port.

Besides that here's what the Skypephone S2 features:

• 2.2 inch 240x320 display


• 3.2 mega pixel camera


• GPRS/UMTS/HSDPA


• 50 MB of internal memory


• microSD slot

Despite the fact the 3G iPhone is unavailable in various worldwide locations, Apple is going to release it in 20 more countries besides the initial 22. August 22nd is the day the iPhone will come to the rest of the world. Well not the rest, as there should be at least 30 more countries to still get it.

Tim Cook, Apple's chief operating officer mentioned that Apple is confident enough in its ability to increase production in order to keep up with demand from its growing market.

Check out the picture above to see if your country is going to get the iPhone this August. If not, you should be receiving it by the end of the year.