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