Nokia 7610 Supernova

The flagship handset in Nokia's Supernova Range, the Nokia 7610 Supernova sports a 3.2 megapixel camera with autofocus and dual LED flash, capable of capturing VGA resolution video clips at up to 15 frames per second. As well as having an FM radio and multimedia player, the 7610 comes with a 2.5mm AV connector and TV output capability, so it is quite a capable media phone.

Despite the strong multimedia capabilities, the 7610 Supernova is primarily a fashion phone. A combination of mirrored surfaces and interchangeable covers mean that you can keep the 7610 looking fresh, and you can also customise the handset's key illumination and wallpaper to match.

In the past, we've tended to see these features with 3G phones, but the Nokia 7610 is not a 3G device, although it does support EDGE data which is OK as long as your mobile network actually uses it.

The display is a 2" 240 x 320 pixel panel in 16 million colours, which is perhaps a little smaller than we would like to see. Talktime is pretty decent at up to 5.4 hours with a maximum of 12 days standby time. Overall, the 7610 Supernova measures 98 x 48 x 15mm and weighs 99 grams which is pretty typical for this type of device.8

It's not a cheap phone, costing €225 (around £180 / $360) before tax and subsidy. That puts it roughly in the same price range as the Nokia N81 and Nokia N77 which are both 3G devices but don't have the same quality of camera as the 7610.

The standard sales package includes a 512MB microSD card (2GB for the US version), an AC-3 charger, video out cable, two Xpress-on covers and a stereo wired headset. The 7610 Supernova should be available during Q3 2008.

One last thing - this isn't the first time that Nokia have used this model name, the original Nokia 7610 from 2004 is one of Nokia's more off-the-wall handset designs. In fact, despite our misgivings, there are plenty of original 7610s around so make sure that you are ordering the 7610 Supernova rather than a bargain-basement phone from four years ago.

Source: http://www.mobilegazette.com

Motorola ZINE ZN5 (MOTOZINE)

The Motorola ZINE ZN5 (also called the MOTOZINE) is an advanced camera phone featuring some very clever Kodak technology, combining very clear high-resolution images with some intelligent integration with web applications.

The 5 megapixel camera has autofocus and a Xenon flash, plus low-light capabilities, panoramic stitching, multi-shot picture taking and a number of other proprietary Kodak imaging enhancements to ensure that the ZN5 delivers high quality results when it comes to stills photos. The results are impressive (as you can see from the Kodak gallery), and one clever thing is that the Motorola ZINE ZN5 can upload pictures directly to the Kodak gallery through the handset's data connection. The ZN5 also supports Bluetooth printing to compatible devices.

The biggest problem of all is that this is not a 3G phone, and is stuck with GPRS and EDGE data transfer while on a cellular network. That's just stupidly slow for a multimedia phone, although it does have WiFi. In a market segment where 3.5G is almost standard on new releases, the limited speed of the MOTOZINE ZN5 is likely to be a real turn-off. OK, so the ZN5 will initially be launched in China which doesn't have much in the way of UMTS coverage, but even so it is no excuse for a phone that will eventually be sold worldwide.

There are some nice features though - the MOTOZINE ZN5 has a similar ModeShift keypad to the ROKR E8, comes with a TV-out port, FM radio, stereo Bluetooth and has 350MB of internal memory and a microSD slot. The interface appears to be broadly similar to most new top-end Motorola phones, in other words it is much, much better than handsets of old. It's also a pretty good looking device, and the long battery life will be useful for many. But if you ignore the camera, the technical features of the Motorola ZN5 are hardly impressive.

What we appear to have then is an excellent digital camera welded to a mediocre mobile phone, a combination that we don't think serves anybody very well.

If you really care about photographs, then you can buy a Kodak C613 camera for just £60 / $120 / €70 which is much better than the ZN5 when it comes to being a camera. Although the ZN5's camera is very good, the overall ZN5 package seems to be quite poor.

We would dearly have liked to have told you that the Motorola ZINE ZN5 was the device that had once again made Motorola a class leader, but we can't. If Motorola could put this quality of camera in something like the MOTOMING platform and then breathe some of the magic they had when the original RAZR came out, then Motorola would have a winner, as it is.. we think that the Motorola ZN5 won't be the success that Motorola really need.

Motorola say that the MOTOZINE ZN5 will be available in China from July, with the rest of the world following before the end of the year.

source: http://www.mobilegazette.com

Samsung J700 - Seamless Connectivity With Magic Features

The Samsung J700 is a marvelous mobile that meets most of the expectations of the people. The mobile can bring entertainment and can seamless connect with people all around the globe.The Samsung J700 looks elegant with its slide open design, an embedded keypad, a large screen and some control buttons. This mobile has dimensions 99.5 x 48 x 14.8 mm and weighs only 92 gms. The display screen is a marvelous means to watch pictures and videos at the highest resolution possible. The resolution of the screen is slated at 128 x 160 pixels. The handset comes with preloaded ringtones that are of polyphonic and MP3 in nature.


This Samsung Mobile Phone is fitted with 1.3 MP camera that can capture pictures at resolution of 1280 x 960 pixels. So, pictures and videos recorded with this camera are crystal clear. The images are sharp and they can be transferred to other devices making use of technologies such as Bluetooth. The user can also make use of cable cords to transfer files from the phone to other secondary devices such as computers and digital cameras. Thus the Samsung J700 can connect seamlessly to other devices and transfer files very easily.

The J700 also brings entertainment in various forms. This phone is fitted with a music player that can play on formats such as MP3, AAC, AAC+ and MIDI. The video player of the handset can play files on formats such as MPEG4 and 3GP. The user can also play games on this amazing gadget. High definition games can be played and user can download them easily from the internet.

On browsing the internet with the aid of its WAP browser, one can visit various entertainment sites. The users can download ringtones, games, music and videos from these sites. This gadget works on 2 G network and thus it is possible for people to access all facilities that 2 G network can offer. The memory of the mobile can be extended to 2 GB. This memory space can be utilised to store large files without facing any hassles. Samsung J700 can be used for a long time as the gadget’s battery provides standby time of 250 hr and talk-time of 3 hr.

source:http://mobilestormer.wordpress.com

The Samsung Omnia SGH i900,the Smartphone

Don’t we just wish we can have everything? In this era of advanced technology, if the lamp genie would hear us uttering those words, he would most likely hand us nothing less than Samsung’s newly launched SGH i900.

Dubbed the Omnia which means “everything” in Latin and “wish” in Arabic, this new mobile phone embodies the fusion of formidable business functionality, cutting-edge design and exciting multimedia features. Powered by Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.0 Professional, the SGH i900 simulates the look and feel of a personal computer with its preinstalled Microsoft Office applications and its navigational attributes that make use of a built-in optical mouse similar to those found in laptops. Downloading programs from the Internet is as straightforward as in a real PC, and once installed may be customized according to the user’s needs. The smartphone also features GPS that includes navigation and geo-tagging capabilities.

The Omnia SGH i900 takes its attractive traits from its sophisticated ultra-slim 12.5mm metallic chassis. This stylish casing houses a 5 megapixel CMOS camera that has auto-focus, auto-panorama and face and smile detection features. Its 3.2 inch high-resolution WQVGA LCD display conforms to a 16:9 screen format, which is ideal for video viewing. The touch-sensitive screen, patented as TouchWiz, features a highly intuitive and user-friendly interface, while its on-screen QWERTY keypad simplifies data and text entry. The handset comes in 8 GB and 16 GB versions, both expandable using MicroSD cards.

The Samsung Omnia i900 will be officially introduced at the CommunicAsia in Singapore on June 17, after which market availability immediately follows. The 16 GB version will have a price tag of S$1,098 while the 8 GB will have its price announced later

source: http://www.feelphones.com

Sony Ericsson C905

The Sony Ericsson C905 is (as far as we know) the first 8.1 megapixel phone to hit Europe and the general world market, and it promises to bring a new round of the megapixel wars as other manufacturers try to catch up.

The camera is clearly the main selling point with the C905, but Sony Ericsson haven't skimped on other features. The C905 has GPS, WiFi, HSDPA high-speed data, stereo Bluetooth and an FM radio.

The display is a 2.4" 240 x 320 pixel panel, and tucked behind it is a slide-out numeric keypad. There's also a version of the Access Netfront web browser, push email support, instant messaging and of course a multimedia player.

Because it bears the Cyber-shot name, the Sony Ericsson C905 is obviously going to be very capable when it comes to digital imaging. Yes, the 8.1 megapixel sensor is the best in its class, but the C905 also has a bright Xenon flash, autofocus, face detection, red-eye reduction and an image stabilizer. The C905 also features Sony Ericsson multishot "BestPic" functionality and supports photo blogging.

The camera integrates with the inbuilt GPS to allow geotagging of photos. For video capture, the C905 again has an image stabilizer plus a video light, and an optional TV out cable (ITC-60) allows video clips to be played back on a standard television. There's no mention of the C905's video capture resolution and frame rate though. On top of that, there's a secondary video calling camera too. There's also a tripod kit (IPK-100) which is something we think may come in very useful.

The C905's GPS can be used with Google Maps or Wayfinder, but it's not clear what sort of satellite navigation options might be available as standard. As the C905 isn't a smartphone, then the GPS functionality might be a little limited.

Internal memory is 160MB, and the C905 comes with a 2GB Memory Stick Micro M2 card in the standard sales package. Talktime on 3G is up to 4 hours, with a maximum of 9 hours on GSM. Standby time is a maximum of 15 days, and the C905 also has a flight mode so that you can turn the cellular radio off completely.

Coming in at 136 grams, the Sony Ericsson C905 is hardly lightweight and is actually heavier than the Nokia N95 8GB and N96 despite having a much smaller screen. On the other hand, the C905 does have a pretty good battery life, so perhaps that accounts for some of the increase in mass.

Despite some quibbles, the C905 looks to be a very good camera phone. Sony Ericsson say that the C905 will be out sometime during the early fourth quarter of this year in Night Black, Ice Silver and Copper Gold colour schemes.

source:http://www.mobilegazette.com

Nokia Batman 'The Dark Knight' Phone Prepped for Verizon

Verizon Wireless today announced the Nokia 6205 (The Dark Knight Edition) will be available online June 15. Clad in a mysterious black color and embellished with a subtle "The Dark Knight" emblem, the Batman movie-themed clamshell comes pre-loaded with wallpapers, voice tones, animated screensavers inspired by the film, and a full movie trailer.

Touch-sensitive external music keys access tracks purchased from Verizon Wireless' VCAST Music service, while the 2.0-inch display supports up to 262K-colors. The Nokia 6205 (The Dark Knight Edition) also includes:

- 1.3-megapixel camera with flash and 4x digital zoom
- 58 MB internal memory; expandable up to an additional 4GB with an optional microSD memory card
- Support for text, picture and video messaging
- Get It Now-capable for downloading games, ringtones, wallpapers and other mobile content
- VZ Navigator-compatible for audible turn-by-turn directions and location information
- Mobile Web for access to the latest news, sports, weather and more
- Voice dialing and voice commands for touch-free phone operation
- Built-in speakerphone
- Bluetooth-enabled for wireless headset support

The Nokia 6205 (The Dark Knight Edition) features images from Gotham City. The Nokia 6205 (The Dark Knight Edition) will be available online for $69.99 after a $50 online instant rebate with a new two-year customer agreement.

Palm Centro Comes to Verizon

Verizon Wireless today announced that the Palm Centro smartphone will be available on June 13 for $99. Dressed in cobalt blue, the Centro offers a color touch-screen, full QWERTY keyboard and a lightweight design.
Running on Verizon's high-speed data network, the Centro can quickly send and receive email messages and attachments and browse the Web. Customers can use it as a modem for their laptops when they subscribe to BroadbandAccess Connect service plan.

The built-in Google Maps application provides directions, performs local searches and views moveable maps, satellite imagery and traffic updates. It can map a contact's address from the contact application simply by selecting the "maps" button.

The Centro can also access VersaMail 4.0 with built-in Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync. Microsoft Direct Push Technology delivers email and calendar updates from a home or office PC using Outlook directly to their handsets. Users can also use Wireless Sync to access email, contacts, calendar and tasks from a PC. Wireless Sync supports POP3 or IMAP email accounts, Microsoft Exchange, IBM Lotus Notes and IBM Lotus Domino.

The Palm Centro will be available online and in stores for $99.99 after a $70 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement.

source:http://www.mobiledia.com

LG Chocolate 3 Music Clamshell Hits Verizon Stores in July

Trading in its slider form factor for a slim flip style, the Chocolate 3 is designed with a control wheel on the outside. It offers a built-in music player and FM transmitter to play music through a car stereo. Users can listen through dual speakers or Bluetooth stereo headphones.

An integrated 2.0-megapixel camera captures photos and video.

The Chocolate 3 can download from over 3 million songs over VCAST Music using high-speed 3G connectivity. With 1GB of internal memory and the option of expandable memory with 8GB microSD cards, customers can pack thousands of songs.

VCAST Video streams entertainment clips, sports highlights, breaking news, weather and more. ESPN MVP gives access to in-depth mobile sports contentincluding live Gamecast, exclusive commentary, video alerts and ESPN radio clips.

The LG Chocolate 3 will be in Verizon Wireless stores and available online in July.

source:http://www.mobiledia.com

Doomed to fail: the LG KT610

Sometimes you can tell when a manufacturer has no faith in their own product, and the LG KT610 is a prime example of that. Although it was announced in February of this year at Mobile World Congress, LG's efforts to promote the KT610 have been almost non-existent. A handful of half-hearted press releases, a lack of decent pictures and specifications and a refusal to answer press enquiries shows that perhaps LG expects the KT610 to sink without trace.

To be honest, we've seen some blooming awful phones from LG, but the LG KT610 isn't one of them. Best described as a cut-down version of the Nokia E90, the KT610 is a Symbian smartphone with a full QWERTY keyboard, 3.5G support and a 2.4" 400 x 240 pixel main display. Because it's an S60 smartphone, the KT610 will support all the usual S60 features and functions.

It doesn't have WiFi, and the KT610 lacks GPS, the superb 800 pixel wide display on the E90 and also comes with a very basic 2 megapixel camera. On the other hand, this 109 x 54 x 17mm device is less than half the weight of the brick-like E90 and is little bigger than a standard business phone.

The keyboard looks good, and the relatively wide screen will be handy for emails and much better than a standard display for web browsing.

So, the LG KT610 seems appealing, even if it's not as feature-packed as some handsets. The number of Symbian S60 devices with QWERTY keyboards is pitifully small, so it is clear that the KT610 is a useful option.

So why does it seem to be getting the cold shoulder from LG? After all, someone in LG went to all the trouble to design the thing, so surely LG should be promoting it? We suspect that the problem is this: fashion. LG have gone completely mad for touchscreen phones, and the kT610 is firmly in the non-touchscreen camp. It's not a very attractive device either, so it doesn't really fit in with the trendy image that LG is trying to promote.

The rumour is that the LG KT610 is just about to hit sales channels, but then it was meant to be out last month. We think that LG won't make any real effort to promote the KT610, at least based on their past track record.


source:http://www.mobilegazette.com

Apple iPhone 3G

The original Apple iPhone was a love it or hate it device - and incredibly slick and stylish handset, but one with a number of serious flaws. The replacement iPhone has been rumoured for months and finally we can see what Apple have kept very secret - the new Apple iPhone 3G. Billed as "Twice as fast. Half the price", the iPhone certainly addresses two of the key concerns of the original - that it was expensive and slow.

Obviously, the iPhone 3G supports 3G. But it's also an HSDPA phone, which makes it 3.5G. In addition, the iPhone 3G's tri-band UMTS support, plus quad-band GSM, GPRS and EDGE data means that the iPhone 3G should be able to give high-speed data access pretty much anywhere in the world.

Another new feature is GPS - the iPhone 3G uses Advanced GPS to get quicker "fix" times. We've seen this before on many other devices, notably the Nokia N95 8GB. There's a mapping application bundled with the device, although we suspect that full blown satellite navigation may cost more.

Apple claim to have fixed on other annoying feature on the original iPhone - battery life. The iPhone 3G has up to 10 hours talktime on GSM, with a maximum of 5 hours talktime on 3G. Web browsing time on 3G is slated at around 5 to 6 hours. Standby time is around 12 days.

Enough of the good stuff - there are some things that Apple haven't fixed. Firstly, the camera is still a 2 megapixel unit , as found in the old iPhone. We would have hoped for 5 megapixels or better. The battery is still not user-removable, so a new battery involves a trip to an Apple service centre. The iPhone 3G doesn't have video calling, which is pretty standard on most 3G phones. Finally, the screen is still a 320 x 480 pixel panel when we would have hoped for a VGA or higher resolution display (as in the HTC Touch Diamond).

Of course, the Apple iPhone 3G still supports WiFi, Bluetooth. As with the original iPhone, the iPhone 3G's memory is not expandable.. but the 8GB or 16GB included should be plenty.

The Apple iPhone 3G's launch date is 11th July, and Apple intend to eventually roll out the iPhone 3G in 70 countries. The 8GB model will cost $199, the 16GB model will be $299. Those prices only apply to the US and other countries will have different pricing structures.


source:http://www.mobilegazette.com

Swarovski Dior Phone Comes with 3251 Carats

Dubbed the "Lady Dior," the crocodile skin exterior is inlaid with 640 stones of 3251 carats of Swarovski crystals. The handset includes a 2.6-inch touch screen with QVGA resolution, 2.0-megapixel camera, ringtones. Users can pick up or make calls with a miniature phone the size of a USB key, and use the main phone for more complicated functions - ideal for women who don't want to rummage through their bags to find their phones.

"In the same way that we have developed our watch and jewelry lines, we want to increase sales with the phone," said Sidney Toledano, Christian Dior CEO. "What really convinced us was seeing the attention people in emerging markets pay to buying a phone, by selecting the color and design."

Luxury goods makers have started venturing into mobile devices. After Dolce & Gabbana sold $315 million worth of its Gold Motorola RAZR phones, Italian fashion house Prade soon followed suit, launching a phone with South Korea's LG Electronics.

But Dior's new phone is priced higher than rivals, closer to Nokia's premium line Vertu, which also starts in the $7,900 range. Dolce & Gabbana, Prada and Giorgio Armani all have phones out that cost around $950.

Taking nearly three years to design, the handset is made by a small French manufacturer ModeLabs. My Dior starts at $5,500 or $7,900 and up while the Swarovski-studded version will be sold for $26,000.

My Dior will be marketed as early as June 2008 and begin selling shortly thereafter.

source:http://www.mobiledia.com

VLC media player goes iPhone, iPod Touch

Zodttd is bringing its popular VLC media player to the iPhone and iPod Touch users. At the moment, VLC for iPhone/iPod Touch allows selected testers to playback MPEG/MPG, AVI and MP3 files, and the software author wowed to bring the support for FLAC and OGG formats "soon." In addition, he's researching how to include VCD, DivX, WMA and WMV formats in the mix. The end result could be the ultimate media player for iPhone/iPod Touch.

VLC for iPhone/iPod Touch is currently in private beta, but a public release is planned soon. Naturally, jailbroken iPhone will be required, but that, as we know, is not a problem.

source:http://www.intomobile.com

HTC Raphael officially announced as HTC Touch Pro

Ladies and gentlemen, HTC Raphael has been officially announced. It's new name is HTC Touch Pro!

The Windows Mobile 6.1 super-phone will be getting its power from Qualcomm's MSM7201A 528 MHz CPU, and will also boast virtually every possible acronym you can imagine — including HSDPA, GPS, WiFi. Rest of the specs involve a 3.2 megapixel camera, Bluetooth, microSD memory expansion slot, 288 MB of RAM coupled with 512MB of ROM, 2.8-inch VGA screen, and, behold the full slide-out QWERTY keyboard. Because of the last mentioned, the Touch Pro is much thicker than the Diamond but few extra millimeters are there for a reason. The 18.05mm thick device weighs 165 grams, and is set to hit Europe in "late summer", while North and Latin America will have to wait a little longer…

source:http://www.intomobile.com

Take the HTC Touch Diamond (or T-Mobile MDA Compact IV) and add a QWERTY keyboard and a few other things, and you have the T-Mobile MDA Vario IV.

The Vario shares almost all the features of the Compact, including a large 2.8" 640 x 480 pixel display, a 3.2 megapixel camera, GPS, HSDPA and WiFi. The immediately obvious difference is the slide-out QWERTY keyboard (the one pictured has a German QWERTZ variant). The operating system is Windows Mobile 6.1 with what seems to be a TouchFLO-derived interface on top, and all the usual goodies that you would expect to see in a Windows smartphone.

It is also substantially heavier than the Compact at around 158 grams. This increase in weight is mainly due to the slide-out keyboard and the larger capacity battery - the cell on the Vario IV is a 1340 mAh unit compared with the rather puny 900 mAh one in the Compact.

According to T-Mobile, the Vario IV also has more operating RAM (256 MB), and comes with microSD expandable memory. The processor is the same 528 MHz Qualcomm MSM module found in the Compact and Touch Diamond.

We think that the keyboard on the Vario IV will appeal to a lot of users, but the overall "flat slider" layout is perhaps not as ergonomic as the Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 or the Nokia E90. The E90 and X1 phones have a higher resolution display too.

If you want a fully featured Windows mobile device then the MDA Vario IV is impressive, and at the moment it appears to be exclusive to T-Mobile. When it comes out later this year (T-Mobile say in the Summer/Autumn), then it will be competing directly against the X1 and "iPhone II". But even against the tough competition that it will face, it is likely that the Vario IV will remain a highly desirable mobile phone.

source:http://www.mobilegazette.com

Motorola A1800

We have good news and bad news.. the good news is that the Motorola A1800 is a touchscreen smartphone with built-in GPS, and it's a rare handset that supports GSM and CDMA. The bad news is that you are unlikely to ever see one if you live outside of China.

The latest in a series of "MOTOMING" handsets aimed at the Chinese market, the Motorola A1800 demonstrates just what Motorola can do when it's not making warmed-over RAZR phones.

Support for GSM and CDMA is exceptionally rare in a mobile phone, and in fact Motorola are the only mainstream manufacturer that we know of who make handsets like this. Before that A1800 was the Z6c, and before that the very rare A840. Both CDMA and GSM networks are common in China, which perhaps explains why it has been launched there first.. but many frequent flyers between the US and Europe could be interested in the A1800 too.

The Motorola A1800 has a 2.4" 240 x 320 pixel display, has expandable memory (up to 4GB), built-in GPS, handwriting recognition, a viewer for Office documents, email client and web browser. On the back is a 3 megapixel camera with autofocus. It isn't a 3G phone, and one serious omission is the lack of WiFi.

Despite the large 1000 mAh battery, the standby time on the A1800 is very short, at around 3.5 - 4.5 days. This is mostly down to the high power drain when running a CDMA and GSM radio at the same time. On either GSM or CDMA the talktime is a reasonable 3.5 to 5 hours.

Maps of mainland China are included, but nowhere else. Of course, it is theoretically possible to have other maps on the A1800 from different regions, but so far we have only seen this in China.

So perhaps the Motorola A1800 would need some reworking before it was suitable for US or European markets, although presumably it does support English as well as Chinese. And although the A1800 is perhaps not an iPhone killer, it would be a welcome addition to Motorola's worldwide lineup. We will wait and see.

source:http://www.mobilegazette.com

HTC Diamonds are shipping!

HTC Diamond fan boys, this is the news you've been waiting for. Not only have HTC Diamond shipments started (and some stores are already selling device), but the Taiwan-based smartphone maker has already shipped the first batch of over 10,000 units, according to market sources.

In Germany, HTC will co-operate with T-Mobile, where the two companies will market both the Diamond and the QWERTY-keyboard equipped Raphael, which the Deutsche Telekom owned mobile operator will start selling as MDA Compact IV and MDA Vario IV, respectively.

Unfortunately, we've no idea when will see the latest HTC devices hitting other European markets and the U.S. One could argue the handset maker may want to use T-Mobile to push its smartphones outside Germany, in other markets where the carrier operates. Which leads us to the U.S., where unfortunately, we're still waiting for T-Mobile's 3G network roll-out. I just hope they don't bring the "EDGE flavor of the Diamond" there — it's about time we see T-Mobile's 3G offering hitting the States.

source:http://www.intomobile.com