Cameraphone

AT&T, LG turn spotlight on Shine

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 06:59:57 -0500

AT&T and LG Electronics announced the release of the handset maker's new Shine, a multimedia, sliding form-factor device boasting a sleek silver exterior. The LG Shine also features a 2 megapixel camera, a 2.2-inch LCD display, microSD storage for up to 4 GB of music, images and video, and 70 MB of integrated user memory--the device arrives pre-loaded with features including AT&T Video Share, Mobile Banking and AT&T Mobile Music (with support for MP3, WMA, AAC, AAC+ and eACC formats). Price tag: $149.99.

For more on the LG Shine:
-read this release

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The Shadow lurks in T-Mobile's future

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 07:59:57 -0400

T-Mobile USA announced the imminent arrival of the T-Mobile Shadow, a handset produced and designed by HTC that T-Mobile said is the first in a planned franchise of devices marketed under the Shadow brand. According to the operator, the Shadow was designed to significantly reduce the complexity so common among feature-rich devices, with enhanced myFaves functionality enabling users to call, send email, text or IM, and share multimedia content by pushing a button from the myFaves home screen. Powered by an enhanced user-interface integrated with Windows Mobile 6, the Shadow promises a 65K 2.6-inch display--one of the largest screens yet to grace a T-Mobile phone--along with a 2-megapixel camera with video capture, WiFi and EDGE connectivity for Internet access and voice-activated calling.

For more on the T-Mobile Shadow:
- read this release

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Handsets a go-go

Tue, 23 Oct 2007 06:59:57 -0400

All four of the major U.S. carriers introduced new handsets last week: Sprint launched the HTC Touch, AT&T debuted the BlackBerry Curve with GPS, Verizon Wireless premiered Samsung's Juke and T-Mobile USA unveiled its new Sidekick LX. Here's a round-up:

Sprint's HTC Touch: As expected, Sprint debuted the HTC Touch just a few days after it launched the Palm Centro. The Touch is so named for its 2.8" QVGA touchscreen that is meant to be used sans stylus--it operates on Windows Mobile 6, and will support Sprint's multimedia content including over-the-air music downloads and live TV. Other features include a microSD slot that supports cards up to 4GB, a 2-megapixel camera and voice-activated dialing. Photo

AT&T's BlackBerry Curve 8310 with GPS: This Research In Motion-produced device features a 320 by 240 pixel display supporting 65K colors, measures 4.2 by 2.4 by 0.6 inches and weighs about 3.9 oz. In addition to signature BlackBerry features like email and messaging, it includes a 2-megapixel camera, media player, 3.5mm stereo headset jack, microSD slot and Bluetooth 2.0 support. Photo

Verizon Wireless' Samsung Juke: This music-centric phone boasts an interesting form factor: the phone swivels 180 degrees to reveal the keypad. The Juke supports .MP3, .WMA, and unprotected .AAC music files, and the music player can be accessed without opening the phone. It also features a VGA-resolution camera and GPS features tied to Verizon's VZ Navigator and Chaperone services. One caveat: No 3G connectivity. Photo

T-Mobile's Sidekick LX: Since the original Sidekick, T-Mobile USA has courted celebrities to promote its messaging device. The launch party for the LX was no different--according to reports, the new model is the first to allow photos within text messages. Also of note: A wide QVGA display--reportedly incorporating technology borrowed from Sharp's AQUOS televisions--along with configurable mood lighting and a 1.3 megapixel camera with flash. The phone drops October 24. Photo | Release

For more on the handset launches:
- check out this photo gallery

Samsung fashions handset deal with Giorgio Armani

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 06:59:57 -0400

At the Milan fashion week event, Samsung Electronics announced a strategic alliance with fashion and lifestyle design firm Giorgio Armani for the development of consumer electronics products, beginning with the new Giorgio Armani-Samsung luxury mobile handset. The credit card-sized GPRS/EDGE device features a touch-sensitive 2.6 inch QVGA screen, haptical UI, 3 megapixel camera, music player and microSD memory slot. A specially-designed Armani leather carrying case in also included. The handset will be available at Armani flagship stores and selected mobile retailers across Europe in November 2007--pricing details were not announced.

"Today fashion has expanded to encompass our way of life, not just how we dress, but how we design our home, the hotels we stay in, the car we drive and the technology we buy," said Armani president and CEO Giorgio Armani in a prepared statement. "In fact, we make as much of a personal statement with the mobile phones that we carry or the televisions we have in our living rooms as we do with the shoes and bags we wear or the furnishings we chose to place in our homes. These are all lifestyle decisions, where design and performance are the criteria. Samsung has successfully anticipated the growing role for consumer electronics in our lives, while recognizing the importance of self-expression in the development of its products."

For more on the Samsung/Armani handset:
- read this release

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HP unveils new smartphones

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 06:59:57 -0400

At a New York City press event last week, Hewlett-Packard unveiled a series of new smartphones and traditional handsets that appear to signal a concentrated effort to resurrect the IT giant's foundering mobile device business. HP introduced two smartphones, the iPAQ 910 Business Messenger and iPAQ 610 Business Navigator. The former is a quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE device with support for tri-band UMTS/HSDPA 3G, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, VoIP and assisted GPS, complete with a QWERTY thumb-keyboard and a 2.46-inch, 240 x 320 pixel resolution touch screen. The 910 also boasts 3 megapixel camera with auto focus and 4x zoom as well as a microSD slot. The iPAQ 610 is primarily differentiated from the 910 by exchanging the keyboard for a numeric keypad and expanding the display to 2.8 inches. Both smartphones operate via Windows Mobile 6.0 Professional.

The iPAQ 210 Enterprise Handheld and iPAQ 110 Classic Handheld are traditional handhelds sans phone functionality. The $450 iPAQ 210 arrives with slots for both Secure Digital and CompactFlash cards and a 4-inch, 480 x 640 pixel resolution touch screen. It supports Wi-Fi, VoIP and Bluetooth. The iPAQ 110 is a thinner, cheaper version--the Nicole Richie to the 210's Paris Hilton, if you will--but still boasts the same amount of RAM and ROM as the iPAQ 210, along with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Like the smartphones, both operate on Windows Mobile 6.0 Professional. All four new HP devices are scheduled to hit retail this fall.

For more on the new HP devices:
- read this release

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Verizon introduces Motorola's MOTO Q music 9m

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 06:59:57 -0400

Verizon Wireless introduced Motorola's MOTO Q music 9m, the successor to the manufacturer's Motorola Q. Available exclusively via Verizon Wireless, the MOTO Q music 9m interface boasts an optimized keyboard, a side-scroll thumbwheel and dedicated keys for messaging, speakerphone and multimedia functions, and according to Motorola is one of the first smartphones to support over-the-air music downloads. Other features include:

Windows Mobile 6.0 support
Voice-activated dialing
Two home screens (standard and multimedia)
EV-DO access
HTML Browser
Wireless Sync
1.3 megapixel camera with flash
Dual, stereo-quality speakers
Compatibility with up to 4GB microSD cards
1170 mAh standard battery
Usage time up to 215 minutes
Standby time up to 310 hours

The MOTO Q music 9m is available for at $199.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and a new two-year customer agreement.

For more on the MOTO Q music 9m:
- read this release

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Sidekick 4 details leak

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 06:59:57 -0400

MobileWhack has dug up some new dirt on T-Mobile's forthcoming Sidekick 4, a.k.a. "Shuriken." According to insider buzz, the device will boast a widescreen display spanning across its entire middle section as well as a 1.3 megapixel camera and a MicroSD slot. Its face buttons and trackball appear unchanged from the third Sidekick model. The Sidekick 4 has been assigned the model number PV250, replacing the SK3's PV200.

For more on the Sidekick 4:
- read this MobileWhack entry

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Sprint, LG duet on MUZIQ

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 06:59:57 -0400

Sprint and LG Electronics launched the new MUZIQ, a multimedia device including over-the-air song downloads, a 4GB microSD memory card slot and a built-in FM transmitter enabling consumers to listen to their music libraries wirelessly through any FM radio within 10 feet. The successor to the FUSIC handset debuted by LG last year, MUSIQ also includes dedicated music controls, A2DP Bluetooth stereo audio and a 1.3 megapixel camera. In addition, MUZIQ arrives complete with the Sprint Music Manager service, which promises users the ability to sideload music from a PC to the handset via USB cable--while the device includes a 64MB MicroSD memory card, it is capable of managing 4GB of memory, or roughly 4,000 songs. MUZIQ by LG measures 3.80" x 1.94" x 0.61" and weighs 3.14 ounces, and is priced at $99 with a two-year service agreement.

For more on the LG MUZIQ:
- read this release

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FCC approves HTC Herald

Tue, 01 May 2007 06:59:57 -0400

HTC P4350 "Herald" is only 17mm thick, but packs a 2-megapixel camera, 2.8" touchscreen, quad-band GSM/EDGE and WiFi. The T-Mobile version, recently approved by the FCC, will likely run Windows Mobile 6. Blog

Review: HTC MTeoR

Mon, 09 Apr 2007 20:01:37 -0400

The HTC MTeoR has an awkward name and no current carrier deals, but it does boast a decent set of specs at a reasonable price. The Windows Mobile Smartphone runs on a 300 MHz Samsung processor and includes a 1.3 megapixel camera, microSD slot and is only 0.6" thick. The MTeoR is intended to be a slightly smaller and cheaper version of QWERTY Smartphone like the T-Mobile Dash (HTC Excalibur). According to the Brighthand review, in most respects the MTeoR succeeds, though there is an initial learning curve and battery life may prove to be an issue. The phone retails for about $475 unlocked.