SE Cyber-shot W61S 5-megapixel camera phone

Sony Ericsson will offer au KDDI subscribers a new 5-megapixel camera phone from the Cyber-shot series – W61S. This slider phone features “Exmor” CMOS matrix, the same sensor technology (analog-digital converter) from Sony’s Alpha DSLR.

The W61S can work in CDMA 1 X WIN networks supporting EV-DO Rev.A technology, and supports Bluetooth, so the user can feel free without wires. GPS-functionality enhances photo capabilities of the phone: when you take a picture, the phone records the info from the GPS-receiver about the place, and then you can see it on a PC map.

In addition to photo and GPS the new Cyber-shot phone can boast of a big widescreen 2.8” TFT VGA display, which can be used as a pocket TV display. If the this display isn’t big enough for you to share the content, the developers added a video out.

The short technical specs of the W61S:

• Networks: CDMA1X WIN
• Dimensions: 50x114x22 mm
• Weight: 149 g
• Display: 2.8” widescreen, 480x800 pixels, 262K colors
• microSD storage cards
• Camera: 5.11-megapixel, CMOS
• Payment, music and navigation services

Skyfire – the fastest mobile browser

Soon we expect the release of a new free browser for mobile devices called Skyfire. Currently the company is about to release a private beta-version for Windows Mobile smartphones, and later it will add the support of Symbian smartphones. According to Skyfire, the advantage of the new browser is that it implements the same capabilities as PC solutions. The browser supports Flash 9, Ajax, Quicktime, Java, Windows Media and other technologies, so the users can view web-pages on a mobile device quickly and easily. The smartphone screen displays all essential info, including dynamic content, audio and video. Besides the company claims Skyfire features the fastest work speed among other mobile browsers.

Reportedly, the users can participate in tests of the new mobile browser. They need to fill in the registration form on this page and wait for the test start notification.

Toshiba SoftBank 921T – waterproof, hinge display, TV-tuner

It has become a tradition with many Japan’s handset makers to give names of big TV brands to mobile displays and phone image processing systems. For example, Toshiba has equipped its new 921T handset (announced yesterday by SoftBank operator) with a widescreen OLED display called “REGZA”.

This clamshell phone has a waterproof shell, which complies with IPX5, IPX7 standards. Its hinge display can be revolving in two directions. The 921T comes with a TV-tuner receiving “one-segment” digital TV-programs, specially designed for mobile devices.

The short specs of Toshiba 921T:

• National networks only - W-CDMA with HSPDA (up to 3.6 Mbps)
• Dimensions: 51x106x19.4 mm
• Weight: 132 g
• Display: 2.8” widescreen, 240x400 pixels
• microSD cards (up to 2 GB)
• Main camera: 3.24-megapixel, auto focus, image stabilizer
• Camera for video calls: CMOS, 320-kpix
• Connectivity: Bluetooth (stereo sound), IrDA
• Navigation and payment services
• Terrestrial TV programs

Mozilla Mobile browser - more details available

Some of our past news items featured the impending Mozilla Mobile browser, which was being developed by the company, however no real facts had been out and about. Thankfully, some tidbits have made it to the Web - it turns out they already have two UI prototypes. The former is meant for devices with no touch-screen displays, and rather includes an on-screen pointer, so that the user can move about web pages via a conventional keypad.

The other UI is tweaked for handsets enjoying touch-sensitive screens, and allows for finger-based navigation without requiring you to hold a stylus pen, which is a buzzed ability these days.

Apart from that, both UIs support tabbed web-browsing, page scaling, and an array of other features making for easy and convenient browsing sessions on a mobile device's tiny screen. As the developers claim, their arch-goal is to get the mobile version of the browser as close to its desktop counterpart as possible. We'll see how far they will go in this when the browser is released into the wild some time during the second half of 2008.

Hitachi W61H: phone with e-paper display

Hitachi has started implementing e-paper technology in mobile phones. One of the models (W61H) will be launched by au KDDI operator. This is a clamshell phone with the outside panel coated with an e-paper display. Such displays feature high contrast and consume no power to show info. The developers took advantage of it and used the external display of the W61H as a kind of interchangeable faceplates supporting animation.

In addition to the e-paper display the W61H has other advantages: it features an internal hinge TFT-display, wireless payment services support, “one-segment” TV broadcasting and a 2-megapixel camera with direct printing interface.

The short specs of Hitachi W61H:

• Dimensions: 51x107x16.9 mm
• Weight: 137 g
• Main display: 2.8” widescreen ISP, 240x400 pixels, 260K colors
• External display: 2.7”, e-paper
• Camera: 1.97-megapixel
• Memory: about 100 MB onboard, microSD cards (up to 2 GB)
• Digital TV - "one-segment" format
• Payment services
• IrDA

Apple launches 16GB iPhone, and 32GB iPod Touch

Apple launched updated versions of its iPhone, and iPod touch, doubelling their previous memory capacity to 16GB, and 32GB respectively. The memory update is a welcome addition for users who believe the current iPhone's/Touch's memory is insufficient. Apple Worldwide iPod and iPhone Product Marketing VP, Greg Joswiak had this to say: "For some users, there's never enough memory.", but, now, of course users have double the capacity then they did previously.

The 16GB iPhone and 32GB Touch are selling for $499 from Apple's online store. New iPhones are also set to hit the stores of supported operators shortly.

Nokia 3120 classic – 3G-phone at a low price

Nokia has unveiled a new cell phone – Nokia 3120 classic. It comes in the classic candy bar form-factor and several color solutions. The company positions the device as an affordable device for 3G networks and video calls. Nokia 3120 classic will hit the stores in 2Q 08 at the price starting from €150.

The specs of Nokia 3120 classic:

• Networks - GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900, WCDMA 850,2100 / 900,2100 / 850,1900
• S40 platform
• 2” QVGA-display, 16M colors
• 24 MB of memory onboard
• microSD-slot
• 2-megapixel camera
• Bluetooth 2.0, MicroUSB 2.0
• Media player - MP3, MP4, AAC, eAAC+ и Windows Media Player
• Stereo FM-radio
• Java MIDP 2.0
• WAP 2.0
• Opera Mini browser
• Dimensions – 111.3x45.4x13.4 mm
• Weight - 85 g

HTC CLIO: no mystery any longer

Late in November 2007 the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved HTC CLIO200, which wasn’t officially introduced then. It was unclear whether it was a UMPC or a communicator at that time. Now we‘ve got the info it is the very UMPC HTC Shift with two versions – CLIO100 for GSM/GPRS/EDGE and UMTS/HSDPA and CLIO200 for CDMA/EVDO.

The specs of HTC Shift (CLIO):

• Networks - GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 and UMTS/HSDPA 850/1900/2100 or 800/2100 (CLIO100); CDMA2000 1xEVDO/1xRTT.0A 850/1900 CLIO200
• Intel Stealey 800 MHz+ Little River (945GMS) + ICH7U
• Chipset - Qualcomm MSM 7200, 400 MHz for GSM/HSDPA
• Chipset - Qualcomm QSC6085 for CDMA/EVDO (probably)
• 1 GB DDR2 RAM for Windows Vista + 64MB RAM
• 64 MB RAM and 128 MB ROM for SnapVUE
• 40 or 60 GB 1.8” HDD
• OS - Windows Vista Business
• Display - 7”800x480 pixels, 262K colors
• Built-in GPS-receiver
• VGA-camera for video conferences
• Connectivity - Bluetooth, Wi-Fi b/g, USB 2.0
• VGA-out, 3.5-mm stereo jack, microphone, SDIO
• Battery – Li-Ion 2700 mAh
• Battery life in Windows Vista mode – up to 2 hours
• Battery life in SnapVUE mode – up to 11 days (Push e-mail off) or 53 hours (Push e-mail on)

LG Prada in silver coming

LG Electronics has announced an upcoming European release of LG-KE850 Prada in silver shell. The device won’t have any functional changes and will come with the big touchscreen display, no keyboard, a 2-megapixel camera with Schneider-Kreuznach lens, 2G cell networks support and 12 mm slim shell. It also features a screen QWERTY-keyboard. The device comes with the silver leather carrying case and the elegant package of the same color. The shipments of LG Prada silver will start later this month in the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy and then in 13 European countries.

LG-KE850 Prada debuted in Europe last March. Initially it came in Black. It got quite popular despite the €600 price tag. The model hit the 700 000 sales mark since the release date.

AD-HSM10: tiny Bluetooth headset

Add Tech has announced a tiny Bluetooth headset AD-HSM10. The company says this is the world smallest and lightest headset. If it’s not so (a number of such solutions is already on the market), the AD-HSM10 belongs to the most compact class. Measuring 23x22x31.5 mm it weighs 5 g. It ensures up to 100 hours standby and up to 3 hours of talk time. The device is available in Titan and silver colors. The AD-HSM10 will come out in Japan late in January 2008 with the price tag of 8980 Yen (about $78).

UMPC LimePC on Freescale MPC5121e

China’s Tsinghua Tongfang has unveiled its ultra mobile PC LimePC. It’s a touchscreen device without a hardware keyboard. Powered by Freescale MPC5121e mobileGT processor it is running on Lime OS (based on Debian Linux). As for the connectivity, the LimePC supports USB 2.0 and Bluetooth 2.1 EDR, Wi-Fi 802.11g and 10/100 Ethernet.

The Chinese shipments will start in 2008, then the UMPC would come to the US market.

PQI Traveling Disk i201 - slimmest flash drives

PQI has announced compact and slim flash drives – Traveling Disk i201. They involve Intelligent Stick patent interface and are fully compatible with USB 2.0. The drives carry from 1 to 4 GB of memory onboard. They are available in 3 “tasty” color solutions: Strawberry Rose, Banana Yellow and Bilberry.

The Travel Disk i201 is just 2.7 mm thick and weighs 1.35 g. Besides it features resistance to moist, dust and shock. You can download protection and synchronization software from the PQI site. The new ultra slim drives will debut at CES 2008 in January.

Ultra mobile clamshell by Sony Ericsson?

Sony Ericsson is rumored to release its first slim clamshell. It will be called Z660i. The phone will be just 14 mm thick, reports the source. It features UMTS support, a 2-megapixel camera and A200 platform. Probably the announcement of Sony Ericsson Z660i will take place today (no official confirmation). Meanwhile a SE fan has offered his version of this ultra mobile clamshell.

Motorola A1600: new Linux-smartphone with touch sensitive display

Some Chinese source has posted info and a picture of Motorola A1600 smartphone (MOTOMING 2). I’d remind you that another Linux-powered smartphone with the touch-sensitive display Motorola A1200 (MOTOMING) hit the Chinese stores last March and got high popularity. Probably Motorola A1600 will follow the steps of the predecessor. The new model features enhanced specs – a faster processor being one of them. The official announcement of the MOTOMING 2 might take place in February 2007 at 3GSM Congress.

The short specs of Motorola A1600 (MOTOMING 2):

• Networks - GSM/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
• Linux operating system
• 3.2-megapixel camera with auto focus and LED-flash
• Wi-Fi
• AGPS
• 3 preinstalled games
• Thickness – 17.5 mm

Motorola Z8 for Ferrari fans

Motorola is about to release the Z8 Ferrari Limited Edition smartphone. Its design speaks louder than words: Black and Red colors and Ferrari logo. In addition it comes with two preinstalled clips, theme ring tones and wallpapers, registration at Ferrari’s official site and “Bourne Identification” movie. The new edition doesn’t have anything different from the original Motorola Z8 RIZR. This is a side-kick slider powered by UIQ 3.1. Ferrari Limited Edition will come out in 1Q 2008 at Ferrari Store and Motorola’s sales centers.

Early live pics of Nokia N96 smartphone

At our English-language forum you can see live pics of a new Nokia smartphone marked N96. It looks like Nokia N81, though the form is close to Nokia N95: the numeric keyboard sliding from the bottom and the panel sliding from the top (it is empty on the photo, so we don’t know its destination, probably it carries sensor media player buttons). Taking into account the pictures, Nokia N96 is powered by S60 3rd Edition FP2 (Symbian OS 9.5), the platform hasn’t been announced yet. The rear panel hides a 5-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss lens and dual LED flash. The source hasn’t provided more details about the specs or the release date.

World smallest Bluetooth USB adapter

The world smallest adapter by Trust – Ultra Small Bluetooth 2.0 USB Adapter can be used with notebooks or PC and for plugging Bluetooth-devices (a mouse, a mobile phone, a smartphone), and now you don’t have to connect/ disconnect receivers. The Ultra Small Bluetooth 2.0 USB Adapter will help connecting a phone with PC by wireless means for data exchange. Besides it’s possible to build a wireless network of several PCs.

Trust Ultra Small Bluetooth 2.0 USB Adapter is so tiny that it sticks out only by 7 mm from the slot. When you finish your work, you can place the notebook with the adapter plugged into the case. The adapter supports Bluetooth 2.0 and also previous Bluetooth standards for optimal compatibility.

In addition to the size Trust Ultra Small Bluetooth 2.0 USB Adapter features high data transfer speed, which is 3 times faster compared to ordinary Bluetooth adapters.