LG launches Prada II teaser site, matching Bluetooth watch

Not that it wasn't official already or anything, but nothing demonstrates dedication to a product like an exclusive home on the web. Yep, LG has just launched a standalone microsite for the altogether sexy Prada II, and while you already know about the specs -- HSDPA, WiFi, 5-megapixel camera, 3-inch 400 x 240 pixel capacitive multi-touch display and quad-band GSM connectivity -- you probably weren't aware of the matching Prada Link Bluetooth watch. As you'd expect, the timepiece syncs with your Prada II and shows your incoming calls / texts, and we'll go out on a limb and presume that it tells time, too. Sadly, the tidbits we're most interested in (a release date and pricing) aren't clearly available on the site, but we'll be refreshing like madmen hoping for that to change.

HP Multi-Touch TouchSmart tx2

While HP mistakenly claims that its sparkly new (but previously rumored) TouchSmart tx2 is the world's first multi-touch consumer notebook, we're still decidedly stoked about this here convertible tablet. Boasting a 12.1-inch swivel display (LED-backlit) that's just dying to have your prints all over it, the tx2 will come loaded with Windows Vista, a bezel-mounted fingerprint reader, integrated webcam with microphone, Bluetooth / WiFi, stereo speakers, a 5-in-1 multicard reader and a LightScribe SuperMulti DVD burner. HP's also delivering the oh-so-stylish Reaction Imprint exterior, an AMD Turion X2 dual-core processor, the firm's own MediaSmart 2.0 software, a VGA output, Ethernet and at least one USB port from the looks of things. You're supposed to be able to add one of these to your digital shopping cart right now via HP's own webstore or Amazon.com, but both links currently lead to sections of the intarwebz you don't ever, ever want to see. Hold tight -- we've a feeling HP will be getting really official with this one momentarily. Check Laptop's hands-on with the unit in the video after the break.

Dospara doles out Atom-powered Prime Note Cartina UM netbook

It's been forever and a day since we heard from Dospara, but as it typically does, it's just hanging around and waiting to see what catches on before it dives in. Case in point: here we have the Prime Note Cartina UM, an 8.9-inch netbook that's hitting alongside the second and third iteration of everyone else's. You could likely guess the specifications in your sleep, but we'll humor you anyway; we've got a 1.6GHz Atom N270 CPU, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, 120GB hard drive, a 1,024 x 600 panel, 802.11b/g WiFi, a battery good for two hours and a mysterious Linux build pre-installed. You won't find an optical drive bundled in, but you will find a ¥39,980 ($413) price tag should you venture over to Japan.

ASUS 15.6-inch touchscreen Eee Tops launching tomorrow -- $499?

Can you feel it? That dull sense of ennui isn't the result of the diminished hours of daylight, oh no, it's the sensation of the Eee Top's imminent launch in Taipei. ASUS has a news conference scheduled for Thursday to out the ET1602 and ET1603 XP PCs into the wonderfully erect world of all-in-ones. Something we've been expecting since January of this year when we first heard about ASUS' Eee branding promiscuity. We're still looking at 15.6-inches of touchscreen LCD, a 160GB hard disk, 802.11n WiFi, a pair of 4-watt speakers, and 1.3 megapixel webcam all propped up by a tepid 1.6GHz Atom N270 processor -- a CPU that ASUS knows a thing or two about. The ET1603 packs a better ATI HD3450 graphics card and battery for 4.4-kilograms (9.7-pounds) of luggable PC. We'll have to wait for the pricing and country details but we can speculate that it'll arrive in the US pronto after seeing its wireless (EK-C2) keyboard slip through the FCC yesterday. Could be a holiday winner if it hits for the$499 price rumored way back when.

MSI unveils Neton all-in-one nettop models ranging from mild to somewhat less mild

MSI and Asus, having apparently found the bottom in the netbook race, are now working hard to find that magic point on the desktop. Asus has its B202 and all-in-one Eee Top nettops, the latter of which MSI is now countering with the new, all-inclusive Neton series. The smallest is the M16, starting at $400 and featuring a 15.6-inch 1366 x 768 screen -- exactly the same size as Asus's impending offering (coincidence, surely). Then there's the slightly larger but otherwise identically spec'd $500 18.5-inch M19, and finally the range-topping $800 22-inch M22, offering an HD-loving 1920 x 1080 display fed by an optional Blu-ray drive. As you can see in pics after the break the guts of the M16 have been placed into an unsightly, over-sized stand, while on the M19 and M22 everything is tucked neatly behind the monitor itself, making for easy wall mounting (more room for Coke cans and miscellaneous clutter). No word on memory or disk space, but each will offer touch-screens and will come with XP or Vista depending on whether you opt for a single- or dual-core Atom processor. The M19 ships first in January, the M16 next in Feb, and the M22 last in March.

Epson's Endeavor Na01 mini is a netbook

Not much to say here, just an Atom N270 1.6Ghz processor, 10.2-inch 1024 x 600 LCD, 1GB of RAM, 160GB HDD and a dash of Windows XP, doing what they always do. There's a nice complement of completely standard interfaces, like three USB 2.0 plugs, 802.11b/g WiFi, Ethernet, mini VGA out and a multicard reader, all stuffed into a slightly frumpy 1.5-inch thick enclosure, but let's not get off message: Epson's new Endeavor Na01 mini is all Microsoft-proscribed netbook and nothing more. The Japan-only computer is available today for the completely palatable price of 46,800 Yen (about $484). 

Keepin' it real fake, part CLXVIII: Motorola Aura clone is everything we ever wanted in a knockoff

If there was ever a phone worth cutting down to size with a completely shoddy but not actually completely unattractive fake edition, it's the Motorola Aura. What we have here is the Wingtech D20, which shares the swivel form factor of the Aura, mocks the round LCD with a perfectly boring square one in a round hole, and boasts a surprisingly weak complement of features, even for a "fake" phone. Oh how you suffer for fashion, Motorola.

The best Nokia N96 Deal

We’re constantly on the look out for the best brand new phone deals and the Nokia N96 looks set to be one of the must have’s of this Autumn and Winter.

Nokia’s beautiful new N96 - a sleeker and more powerful improvement on last year’s N95. The Nokia N96 boasts 16 Gb of internal memory - enough to hold a wide collection of movies, music, photos, videos etc.

It also has a 5 MegaPixel camera, a GPS feature and it’s lightning quick internet also enables you to use the BBC iPlayer feature. Perfect for catching up with the TV while you’re out and about or travelling to and from work.

Most of the big networks are launching the new Nokia N96 next week. We have been rustling away comparing all the deals - with the cost of the Nokia N96 handset, the number of texts and minutes, the contract length and the monthly cost and we have concluded what we believe to represent the best deal on the market.

And it is congratulations to….

T-Mobile

If you have the ability to pay £100 for the handset then the FlexT 40 deal from T-Mobile is our top recommendation. The handset is £99.99, it’s an 18 month contract but for a monthly line rental of £31.50 you will get either 1250 minutes per month or 2500 texts (or a combination of the both of them!)

If you want the new Nokia N96 handset for free then our second best deals are with Three. Their Mix and Match 500 deal for this phone is our recommendation for the free handsets. On this package the handset is free, the contract length is 18 months and the monthly cost is £33. With this package you get a combination of 500 text or minutes. If you want an extra 200 minutes or text then the £36 Mix and Match 700 is for you.

Enjoy your brand new Nokia N96.

The first 8 Mega pixel mobile phone camera

Christmas 2008 is set to be a battle between the megapixels in the mobile phone market.

Traditional digital camera companies, such as Kodak and Canon, as well as UK retailers such as Jessops, will feel the pinch even more as the next generation of snap-happy mobiles are released towards the end of this year.

Samsung are set to launch the first 8 megapixel camera phones, beating the present top-end 5 megapixel cameras on the market. The new Innov8 series will be launched on the 1st September and the handset itself will be free on a £35 per month Orange contract.

Many of us have heard of smile recognition features, but this new ‘phone’ will also feature ‘blink technology’ - to stop those shots of us looking half-asleep. Photos can also be uploaded straight away to the internet.

Sony Ericsson will follow suit with its own range of 8MP camera phones in October (with the C905) but Samsung is establishing a reputation for pushing the boundaries in mobile phone technology.

Samsung GT-i8510

This phone, also known as the Samsung Innov8, doesn’t just have an 8MP camera, but records video at 30 FPS at VGA resolution (or 120 FPS as QVGA).

Samsung now have normal headphone jacks in their phones, and the phone has an in-built FM radio with RDS, and the more advanced version of ’stereo’ Bluetooth.

The phone will ship with either 8Gb or 16Gb of internal memory, competing with the iPhone, but unlike Apple’s offering it can also take a memory card packed with up to an extra 16Gb.

The phone also features A-GPS (advanced GPS) meaning that information will be stored alongside your photographs telling you exactly where in the world you took them. Ideal for creating photo map books via Google or other similar sites.

FIFA 2008 and Asphalt are two games that come with the phone.

It’s a big phone, and when it is released on Pay as you Go will probably cost around £600. On a contract though you can get this phone for free with Orange.

Sony Ericsson Hikaru Back on the Map

Sony had reportedly put the brakes on surrounding a new device called thie ‘Hikaru’. It was an 8MP device that packed in a lot of features. Well, what should I notice today but more rumors popping up surrounding the Hikaru. Looks like the device will become a reality after all.

The Sony Ericsson Hikaru is a really high-end touchscreen camera phone. Look for it to feature at least 8GB of internal storage, and a slider to feature a QWERTY keyboard for your texting and emailing pleasure.

While full details, specs and pricing are of course unavailable, you can clearly see from the mockup above that the device looks pretty hot. When I first saw it, I thought to myself ‘Hmmm… sort of similar to the Samsung Instinct!’…. don’t you think? Somewhat similar in form-factor for sure.

I should note however that the image was created by the folks at Unwired Review. The actual device will probably look somewhat similar to this… The folks at UR did a pretty good job on the mockup don’t you think?! Stay tuned for more news on the Hikaru!

Facebook Refusing to Develop App for Android OS

Facebook and Google haven’t been seeing eye-to-eye as of late. The first ka-fuffle arose when the social-networking giant blocked Google’s Friend Connect, citing security issues as the reason for the block.

Now the battle continues on as Facebook has revealed that they will not be releasing an app for the new open-source Android OS. This is in stark contrast to Facebook’s action on the iPhone and BlackBerry. If you carry either of those brands you’re probably aware that there are full-featured Facebook apps for both of those devices. The iPhone version I particularly enjoy.

Early adopters of the T-Mobile G1 will certainly be disappointing with this news, especially if they were expecting Facebook to appear in the immediate future. Don’t count out Facebook from appearing on the OS, however be prepared to wait. Facebook has commented that Google or another third party will have to develop the application for them, as they do not want to dedicate any resources towards developing an app for Android. They’ve also commented “Android sucks, it doesn’t matter.” Thems fighting words!

An interesting side note? Facebook is ad-served and invested in by good ol Microsoft… and we know that Microsoft is not quite Google’s biggest supporter. Conspiracy theory? Nah, but something to chew o

Nokia E71 - Blackberry beater?

With the arrival of the Nokia E71 - Nokia’s high spec phones are aiming to make further inroads on the Blackberry market.

Nokia E71 - Silver version

Moving on from the previous E51 and E61 incarnations, Nokia’s brand new E71 handset is much slimmer, and much more user friendly than the previous versions.

The display is slightly smaller, but as with the Blackberry Bold, this seems to be an improvement in making the most use of the QWERTY keypad these phones feature.

The screen is widescreen and at just under 2.4″ in size. The phone is, as you would expect, quad band and can connect to 3G networks delivering speeds up to 3.6Mb/s.

It features the Symbian 9.2 OS, running at 369Mhz. It features 110 of internal memory but comes with an additional 2Gb microSD card.

The camera is an improvement on that of the Blackberry’s, at just over 3 Megapixels.

A GPS receiver is built in for SatNav functions, Bluetooth 2.0, FM Radio (and a proper headphone jack) and many other features including an Office document program.

The only negatives that can really be pointed at this phone is in fact it’s camera. But then, who buys a Blackberry style phone to take the highest quality images?

Some deals are already available for the E71 both with O2 and with 3 Mobile. Prices range from £20 a month with the handset free.

BBC iPlayer on the Nokia N96

We’ve had a few emails through to us asking about the Nokia N96 and using the BBC iPlayer feature.

Not only can you watch the programmes streamed direct to the phone but you can also download the programmes to your mobile. A few people, such as those of you who use the Tube, feel like your missing out on those commutes home.

So, you can either visit www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer directly on your handset or underneath you are presented with the option to download to your handset. If you do this you must select the Windows Mobile download version.

With 16Gb available already on the Nokia N96 then you’re not going to put a dent in your N96’s memory with the latest episode of Eastenders, Mock the Week, or whatever it is that floats your boat.

Do it before you leave work and you’ll have uninterrupted iPlayer enjoyment all the way home!

Nokia Comes with Music - and the Nokia 5310 XPressMusic

Nokia’s new ‘Comes with Music’ service has launched yesterday and one of the UK’s leading mobile phone retailers, The CarPhone Warehouse, is selling the Nokia 5310 XpressMusic handset at £129.99 on Pay as You Go.

Users will have unlimited access to the store and it appears that people buying this new phone can download a whopping 120 music tracks for free.

Initially Nokia had hoped to offer unlimited downloads for free - but they are currently negotiating on the price with music retailers.

USI introduces MID-160, 'world's thinnest' with an Atom

Size definitely matters for MIDs, what with the whole Mobile moniker in there, but features matter too, and USI's upcoming MID-160 offers most of the important ones. It's got a 5-inch 800 x 480 touch-screen, connectivity over 802.11b/g as well as HSDPA and WiMAX, plus GPS and Bluetooth, served by an (unspecified) Atom processor and 512MB of RAM with 8GB of flash storage (expandable via microSD). All that's delivered in a package just 15mm in thickness and 250 grams in heft, but sadly missing one thing we tend to use a lot when surfing the web: a keyboard. Nokia's N810 WiMAX Edition has one, plus most of the other goods (lacking the Atom and 8GB of storage), yet manages to be just as thin and even lighter -- not to mention available right now. By contrast we have no information on availability or price for MID's sleek, but perhaps unnecessary, successor to the M-150.

BenQ's M2400HD 24-inch LCD hits Japan next month

24-inch LCDs are the new black this season, with new ebony choices appearing seemingly every week. Funny, then, that BenQ should choose to distance its latest two-footer from the crowd by coloring it white -- plus giving it a few interesting features, like a 2 megapixel webcam peeking over the top of a 16:9, 1920 x 1080 resolution panel. That's a bit down from the typical 1920 x 1200 we'd expect on this size display, but it's perfectly suited for all that 1080p content you have lying around. (16:9 is a little rare on a desktop display, but we know how much you hate letterboxing.) An HDMI input will help to keep that HD video flowing, plus there's VGA and DVI-D too. The rest of the specs are fairly tame: 300cd/m2 brightness, 1,000:1 contrast ratio (capable of being dynamically boosted to 10,000:1), a 5ms response rate, and a 3-port USB hub. If you can do without the missing 230,400 pixels this sounds like a solid display, coming to Japan next month for 420€ (about $535).

Intel-based MID to make a splash on France's SFR

It looks like France's SFR will be getting some tweaked variant of Aigo's familiar P8860 Intel-based MID... with 3G on-board. The device features an 800 x 480 touchscreen display, an 800MHz Atom CPU, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of flash memory, Bluetooth, WiFi, a VGA webcam, 3 megapixel camera, and a full slide-out AZERTY keyboard (as well as some odd, circular navigation wheel). Obviously the big bonus here is the 3G connectivity, which sounds like it will be offered at €19.90 (about $26) or €24.90 ($32) per month, depending on plan. By appearances, those plans include unlimited data -- though the machine translated article seems to suggest there could be some capping. The Linux-powered device will sell for €249 / $310 (€349 with a €100 rebate) -- no word on release date.

Pentax preps budget, wide-angle Optio E60

Pentax tonight gave entry-level photographers an extra option through the 10.1-megapixel Optio E60. Its standout addition is a 32-96mm equivalent wide-angle lens that helps frame wide portrait shots, scenery, or other very horizontal subjects. Its beginner focus includes a fully automatic mode that changes all settings itself, though the camera adds face detection and ISO-based blur correction that also help more experienced owners.

The camera's simpler nature also surfaces in its 3X zoom factor and its use of AA batteries rather than a lithium-ion pack for power. Pentax will offer the E60 in just a single black color when it ships in October for $140.

Dell intros $700 Inspiron 13 notebook, 518 tower

Dell tonight is continuing a string of major PC updates with both a new Inspiron notebook as well as a desktop. The Inspiron 13 promises to challenge the MacBook and other 13-inch portables by pushing the cost well below others while also providing dimensions and features that aren't always carried over into budget notebooks. The system weighs a relatively light 4.5 pounds but still finds room for a slot-load DVD drive, touch-sensitive media controls, and a sturdier, one-piece "barrel" hinge versus the two-hinge design of larger Inspirons.

Full specifications aren't immediately available, though the system is known to add an 8-in-1 card reader; better Wi-Fi, a webcam, and Bluetooth are options. The system will be priced at as little as $699 with a unique model tailored for Wal-Mart that ships on August 3rd, while higher-priced specifications ship later the same month from Dell's online store.

A similar move upscale takes place with the Inspiron 518 mini tower. It has a more ornate appearance than the silver of the Inspiron 530 with a glossy black case and chrome trim, but also brings quad-core speed to a relatively low price level with the options of 2.4GHz or 2.5GHz Core 2 Quad processors. A top-mounted two-port USB hub is in place to help users attach peripherals when the tower sits on the floor instead of a desk. The system will hold up to a 500GB hard drive and should be ready as of Tuesday, starting at $349 with 1GB of memory, a 2GHz Intel chip, and a 160GB hard drive.

Fujitsu's Lifebook U2010

We've caught a few glimpses of Fujitsu's Lifebook U2010 in the past, but now we've got a whole handful of new shots of the crazy-versatile device, plus some fresh video and actual, honest-to-goodness specs. According to a Vietnamese forum, the miniature laptop / tablet will feature an Intel Atom CPU (at 1.6GHz or 1.8GHz), a 5.6-inch 1024 x 768 display, an 80GB hard drive, 1GB of RAM, a 3G radio, GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth, and will weigh 680 grams (about 1.5 lbs). No word on a street date or regions for the device right now, but the price is said to clock in around a hefty $1300.

Dell explains NVIDIA GPU issues, throws out BIOS updates to help

So yeah, quite a few NVIDIA GPUs have been acting up. Nothing new there. However, Dell's attempting to help its laptop owners out by making a few notable BIOS updates readily available for download. Apparently the issue "is a weak die / packaging material set, which may fail with GPU temperature fluctuations." In order to combat the problem, Dell's BIOS flashes "modify the fan profile to help regulate GPU temperature fluctuations," though the Round Rock powerhouse only promises that the updates will "help reduce the likelihood of GPU issues." Hit the read link and give it a go -- it can't hurt... we hope.

Nokia 5800 gets touched in the wild -- again

At this point, we've seen the Tube from everyone but Nokia -- heck, even Morgan Freeman got a chance to show it off -- and it looks like that trend isn't going to abate any time soon. Another round of in-the-wild shots of the supposed XpressMusic 5800 have popped up (yes, the latest prototype seems to have dropped the "XpressMedia" badge), showing off a pretty uninspiring keyboard that we can only hope has no bearing on the final product. Guess that's why they haven't announced this sucker yet, eh? We hope?

Nikon D700 full-frame DSLR

It's easy enough to drool over the press shots of Nikon's luscious D700. Seeing someone unbox this full-frame beast on video is another experience entirely (bordering on spiritual, really). Unfortunately, the vid waiting after the break is just two minutes long and doesn't show any clicks being depressed, but those looking to get a better idea of the size and build have plenty of reason to click through.

Nokia launches E66 and E71

Nokia is trying to retain its lead in the mobile phone market. The strategy of launching new products at regular intervals has worked well for Nokia. In order to consolidate the Business phone segment, Nokia has launched two handsets in the E Series, E71 and E66.

The E66 is a slider phone and a follow up of Nokia E65. It sports advanced integrated features such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0, GPS and 3G support. It runs on the Symbian operating system. It is priced at Rs 23,689. The Nokia E71 is the successor of E61 and E61i. It can handle MS Office applications with ease. It has advanced network connectivity in terms of HSDPA, wireless LAN and 3G. GPS along with Nokia Maps are included. It also sports a 3.2 megapixel autofocus camera, FM radio, music player along with 110 MB internal dynamic memory and 8 GB external memory. It is priced at Rs 23,689.
Devinder Kishore, Nokia’s Director (Marketing), stated, “The launch of two stylish email-optimised devices from the E-series product range reiterates the potential of business mobility in India. The two handsets deliver an unmatched combination of advanced technologies, network connectivity options and stylish design.”

Sony-Ericsson launches 5 megapixel Cyber Shot phone

The 5 megapixel camera has become the defacto standard for high end Camera Phones. Following LG and Nokia, Sony-Ericsson too has launched a phone with a 5 megapixel camera. Its latest offering is the Cyber Shot C902.

C902 sports of a 16 x zoom with auto focus and face detection. Eight keys facilitate selection of various modes of the camera. The photo flash can adjust for low light conditions. There are facilities to click nine photos one after the other in quick succession.

Mr Sudhin Mathur, General Manager Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications, India remarked “There is a change in the trend of more and more people replacing the camera with the camera phones. The Cyber-shot C902 is a perfect combination of style with superb camera features. Its unique camera features lets you capture your beautiful moments with the perfect shot”

C902 has a talk time of 9 hrs and a standby time GSM of up to 400 hours. It has a blue tooth headset and is GPS enabled. The carrying case is attractive too. For Rs 20,995 it is going to provide a stiff competition to its challengers.

IPhone to face stiff competition in India

Moblile Handset manufacturing companies are all set to face the onslaught of the iPhone in India. The iPhone is expected to be launched in September. The big three in the business, Nokia, Motorola and Sony Ericsson have already launched a slew of products that include music phones and touch screen products to face the iPhone.

Experts in the field are of the opinion that Nokia will still maintain its leadership with a 40 percent market share globally. Nokia leads in virtually all the categories except the Internet Mobile Devices. The major device that challenges them in this category is the iPhone. Nokia has its N and E series of converged mobile devices to take on this challenge. This time around the Apple threat is more pronounced as the new iPhone is 3G and is being marketed in Asia as well as Europe.

According to a Nokia spokesperson, “The iPhone is an interesting device and it is great to see other companies share our vision of connected multimedia devices. We strongly believe that traditional single-purpose, non-connected devices such as MP3 players and cameras will be marginalised and overtaken by converged multimedia devices in the future”.

There are very exciting days for the mobile handset manufacturers ahead.

Sony launches World’s First 16.4-Inch Wide Multimedia Notebook

Sony has introduced a notebook which can play Blu-Ray discs. VAIO FW notebook will be capable of displaying HD movies. The notebook is being marketed in the standard and the premium models.

The LCD is extra wide which permits unhindered watching of Blu-ray discs. The extra width of 16.4 inches eliminates the black bars which are a typical distraction otherwise. The notebook uses Sony’s patented XBRITE-HiColor LCD technology which enables glare free viewing with absolute picture quality.

The VAIO FW notebook is powered by a new Intel Centrino 2 technology that makes it more responsive and energy efficient. It uses the Windows Vista Ultimate operating system. The software bundled with the notebook includes VAIO Movie Story software, VAIO MusicBox software and the Disc/Editor software for creating DVD/BD video. It permits you to use the lap top in a wireless mode throughout your house.

Samsung's 8 megapixel Innov8

Samsung has launched a 8 megapixel camera phone, the innov8. This phone is a substantial upgrade to the 5 megapixel phone and takes the mobile handset photography and multimedia experience to a greater degree.

The innov8 offers surround sound cinematic video and latest games. It runs on the Symbian OS V9-3, S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 2. The GPS is integrated for navigation. The display is 2.8 inches 16 M colors. It supports formats of DivX,WMV,Real Player and MPEG-4. It has an optical mouse, 4-way navigation keys Wi-Fi and HSDPA connectivity.

A unique feature of the innov8 is that it can be used as a digital frame too. You can edit and personalize your photos and videos using the Movie Maker and Story Board. It has been chosen as the official phone for the World Cyber Games 2008.

Mr Geesung Choi, President of Samsung Telecommunication Business said “Samsung innov8 is made for tech-savvy users who want to enjoy the best possible multimedia entertainment with their mobile phone. With the 8 megapixel camera, pre-embedded 3D games, high speed data connections and much more other features will help users gain the true benefits of mobile entertainment”

Nokia - N96 - Specification

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Third quarter of 2008. It will be the upgrade to the excellent n95.

Let’s have a look at the specs of this impressive beast:-
General

Operating Frequency

* WCDMA2100/900 (HSDPA) / EGSM900, GSM850/1800/1900 MHz (EGPRS)
* Automatic switching between bands and modes
* DVB-H Class C, 470-750 MHz

Dimensions

* Volume: 92 cc
* Weight: 125 g
* Length: 103 mm
* Width: 55 mm
* Depth: 18 mm, locally up to 20 mm

Memory Functions*

* 16GB internal flash memory, plus microSD memory card slot (hot swappable) for expandability and flexibility
* Approximate dynamic memory capacity indication with 16GB storage:
o Video: 40 hours**
o Music: 12,000 tracks***
* 128MB RAM, 256MB system memory (operating system plus dynamic user data area)

*Changes to product details are possible without prior notice. Application offering may vary. Dynamic memory means that the available memory is shared between dynamic memory functions. When any of these functions is used, there is less available memory for other functions which are also dependent on dynamic memory.

** Video capacity is based on H.264 768-kbps video at 320-by-240 resolution, combined with 96-kbps AAC audio. Music capacity is based on 3:45 min per track and 48 kbps eAAC+ encoding.

*** Capacity based on 3:45 per song with 48 kbps eAAC+ (M4A) encoding on the Nokia Audio Manager. Capacity with 128 kbps AAC encoding is up to [12,000] songs.

Power Management*

* Battery: Nokia Battery BL-5F, 950 mAh
* Talk time: up to 150 / 220 minutes (WCDMA / GSM)
* Standby: up to 200 / 220 hours (WCDMA / GSM)
* Video playback: up to 5 hours (offline mode)
* Music playback: up to 14 hours (offline mode)
* TV playback: up to 4 hours (DVB-H)

* Operation times may vary depending on radio access technology used, operator network configuration and usage.

Display and User Interface

* 2.8″ QVGA (240 x 320 pixels) LCD TFT display with up to 16 million colors
* User Interface: S60 3rd edition, feature pack 2
* Active standby screen, Multimedia menu

Data Transfer*

* WCDMA HSDPA 900/2100 MHz with simultaneous voice and packet data (PS max speed DL/UL= 3.6Mbps/384kbps, CS max speed 64kbps)
* Dual Transfer Mode (DTM) support for simultaneous voice and packet data connection in GSM/EDGE networks. Simple class A, multi slot class 11, max speed DL/UL: 177.6/118.4kbps
* EGPRS class B, multi slot class 32, max speed DL/UL= 296/177.6kbps
* GPRS class B, multi slot class 32, max speed DL/UL= 107/64.2kbps

* Actual achieved speeds may vary depending on network support.

Video & TV

Video center

• Video center: central hub for video experiences
• Access to last played video and easy resume
• My videos: collection of stored videos
• Access to Internet Videos, compatible with RSS feeds and video podcasts, with direct wireless updates and downloads
• Service catalog to discover new Internet Videos

Video Codecs and Formats

• MPEG-4 Part 2 (H.263/SP), up to VGA 30 fps, hardware-accelerated codec, scaled to max QVGA on device screen, or max SDTV on TV-out
• MPEG-4 Part 10 (H.264/AVC), up to VGA 30 fps, hardware-accelerated codec, scaled to max QVGA on device screen, or SDTV on TV-out
• Windows Media Video (WMV9), up to CIF/QVGA 30 fps, hardware-accelerated codec, scaled to max QVGA on device screen, or SDTV on TV-out
• RealVideo QCIF at 30 fps
• Flash video support in browser
• DRM support: OMA DRM 1, OMA DRM 2, WM DRM

Live TV

• Broadcast Television (DVB-H) capable
  • DVB-H based mobile TV with internal antenna
  • DVB-H Class C, 470-750 MHz

Browser-based video access

• Support for download, streaming and progressive download
• Support for Flash video

Music Music Features*

• Digital music player - supports MP3, AAC, eAAC+, WMA, album art
• Playlist editing and sharing
• Equalizer and visualization
• Search, browse and purchase songs online in Nokia Music Store - with support for Windows Media DRM protected files

* Nokia Music Store availability varies by country.

Radio*

• Stereo FM radio (87.5-108MHz, 76-90MHz) with support for RDS, Visual RadioT and use of FM radio in offline mode
• Nokia Internet Radio

* The FM radio depends on an antenna other than the wireless device antenna. A compatible headset or enhancement needs to be attached to the device for the FM radio to function properly.

Imaging

Main camera

• Up to 5 megapixel (2592 x 1944 pixels)
• Carl Zeiss Optics: Tessar™ lens
• Auto-focus, auto-exposure
• F-number/aperture: F2.8
• Focal length: 5.2 mm
• Focus range 10 cm to infinity
• Dual-LED camera flash, video light, recording indicator, auto-focus assist light

Secondary camera

• VGA (640 x 480 pixels) sensor

Video Recording

• Video capture in MPEG-4 up to VGA at 30 fps
• Digital Video Stabilization
• Video clip length: limited by storage
• Video file format: .mp4 (default), .3gp (for MMS)
• Settings for scene, video light, white balance, color tone

Photography

• Still Image resolutions: up to 5 Megapixel (2592 x 1944 pixels)
• Still Image file format: JPEG, EXIF
• Location tagging: automatic insertion of location tagging into images
• Settings for scene, flash, sequence, self-timer, color, white balance, contrast, exposure compensation, guides

ExploreMaps and Navigation

• Built-in GPS receiver, with support for assisted GPS (A-GPS)*
• Nokia Maps application
• Free downloadable maps of over 150 countries, millions of locations, location details and satellite imagery**
• Upgrades available for purchase: Multimedia city guides and Navigation services: Drive - voice guided car navigation, or Walk - pedestrian-optimized turn-by turn guidance

* A-GPS is a network dependant feature that requires a data plan. Additional charges may apply.

** Downloading satellite images may involve the transmission of large amounts of data through your service provider’s network. Contact your service provider for information about data transmission charges.

E-mail and Messaging

• Easy-to-use email client with attachment support for images, videos, music and documents
• Support for SMTP, IMAP4, POP3, MMS, SMS. Unified SMS/MMS editor
• Compatible with Nokia Wireless Keyboard SU-8W (sold separately)

Browsing and Internet

• Nokia Web Browser with Mini Map, visual history, HTML and JavaScript support, Flash Lite 3.0 and Flash video support
• RSS reader

Connectivity

• WLAN - IEEE802.11 g/b with UPnP support
• Hi-Speed USB 2.0 with Micro USB type B interface
• 3.5mm stereo headset plug , TV-out support (PAL/NTSC)
• Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP stereo audio and Enhanced Data Rates (EDR)
• Nokia Nseries PC Suite connectivity with USB and Bluetooth wireless technology

Package Contents

Standard Sales Package Contents*

• Nokia N96
• Nokia Battery BL-5F
• Nokia Connectivity Cable CA-101
• Nokia Video-Out Cable CA-75U
• Nokia Stereo Headset and Remote HS-45, AD-54
• Nokia Mobile Charger DC-4 (car charger)
• Nokia Compact Travel Charger AC-5

* Sales package content may vary by region.

Nokia N96 UK Release Date

According to Carphone Warehouse’s website the n96 will be hitting the streets in August (as we predicted) . You can register interest on the site to take advantage of “special” offers.

Great timing for your truly, as my n95 contract is up about this time. Let’s see what they can do for me.

Let’s hope the release date doesn’t slip like the n95!

If you know of any revisions to this please let us know, don’t forget to quote the source and give a link if possible to verify.

Analyst: Zune phone "not likely"

would clash with the very fundamentals of Microsoft's mobile operating system business and with the partners it depends on to succeed, according to early Any attempt by Microsoft to release a Zune-branded phoneobservations by Jupiter Research analyst Michael Gartenberg. He warns that the frustrations with success in the market that led to the creation of the Zune media player don't exist with Windows Mobile. While companies selling Windows Media-compatible players and the relevant protect music format had largely struggled before the Zune launched in November 2006, Windows Mobile is still considered successful with 20 million copies sold for various devices in the company's fiscal 2008.

"Zune worked to some extent since the technology Microsoft was licensing wasn't getting them anywhere," Gartenberg says, referring to the PlaysForSure program for protected music. "The phone is different. [Windows Mobile] is a core platform and OS. No one has ever been successful licensing technology platforms to others and then competing with a device of their own."

Apple and Palm are cited as examples of this, with Apple having seen substantial losses while it licensed out the desktop Mac OS to third parties in the mid 1990s only to regain its footing after canceling the program. Palm in turn licensed out the PalmOS to Japan-based ACCESS but has had little success encouraging the spread of the software beyond its own phones.

Many Windows Mobile partners would also likely revolt, the analyst suggests, particularly if Microsoft decided to follow the same one-carrier strategy as Apple did with the initial iPhone. The move would force Microsoft to compete against close dependents and also create conflicts with licensees that would see Microsoft favoring certain providers and services over others. The company is unlikely to see much success should it follow Nokia's route and sell a high-end phone only as an unlocked model, according to the researcher.

Apple for its part has allowed a multi-carrier strategy for the iPhone 3G and in multiple countries offers the device through two or three carriers in non-exclusive agreements.

Gartenberg however suggests that any theoretical Microsoft change would most likely to work the Zune's media playback features into an update to Windows Mobile and let third-party manufacturers develop suitable phones if they so choose. Windows Mobile 7 is the next earliest opportunity for this and is planned for a launch in the second half of 2009.

Dell names, fixes notebooks hit by NVIDIA video bug

Dell this afternoon provided a list of its notebooks affected by a chronic graphics chip flaw as well as a firmware fix that should reduce the risk of the problem. The company is the first known PC vendor to do so and says that its new updates modify the fan behavior on each of the notebooks to make sure they remain cooler than normal and thus prevent the heat problems that trigger the failures. The sheet reveals systems that are largely using NVIDIA's GeForce 8400M and related video chipsets. Most are business systems and include the 13-inch through 17-inch Vostro business notebooks as well as the Latitude D630/D630c and Precision M2300 workstation. Three home systems are affected and include both the XPS M1330 and M1530 gaming notebooks in addition to the 14-inch Inspiron 1420.

Dell warns that the fix isn't guaranteed to prevent a breakdown and that anyone already experiencing signs of the problem, including patterns and other artifacts on the screen as well as an outright video failure, has to be taken care of under Dell's normal support program.

Revo intros FM, DAB, Internet radio, iPod dock

UK-based Revo Technologies recently announced it will launch the first product to combine Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB), Internet and FM radio reception, along with iPod docking capabilities. The iBLIK RadioStation also supports Wi-Fi Internet radio, RDS text data for FM stations and MP3 media streaming capability from Mac or PC computers. The unit also has a built-in alarm clock.

The DAB/DAB+ tuner allows users to find one of the 11,000 supported worldwide stations by name, and delivers interference-free digital audio signals complete with scrolling text information. The iBLIK RadioStation is certified for compatibility with Apple's iPod, and will charge and allow control over dockable iPods' contents via the unit's buttons or the included remote control. An included M-Port cable allows MP3 players to connect to the iBLIK.

The alarm clock options include four separate settings, allowing users to wake up to any source apart from a docked iPod, or a traditional buzzer. A customizable Sleep setting is also included.

The iBLIK RadioStation will be available on the UK market starting on August 18, priced at £180 (about $360) via Apple stores and online, as well as on Revo's web store. [

HTC Touch Diamond update adds GSM 850 band, more

A ROM update for the HTC Touch Diamond was released on Wednesday, giving the phone a few added capabilities, with the addition of the 850MHz GSM band for calling -- but not 850MHz 3G over HSPA for data -- and a quicker response from the TouchFLO 3D touchscreen interface chief among them. Users who perform the upgrade will also be able to use the EDGE data network. With the update, HTC will more specificially speed up the tab switching function along with the movement of the TouchFLO 3D interface. Eight other smaller fixes are part of the new software, including the occasional lack of signal, the sound alert delay after the arrival of SMS messages and speeding up the loading times of the home page.

Smaller quirks such as disabling the tendency of the screen shutting off again five seconds after users wake it up during a phone call and improving the audio quality when the audio booster is enabled were also addressed.

Rounding off the changes users are likely to notice are making the navigator control responsive in camera mode, and a new random access bar on the screen that allows selecting weather information in various countries and cities. [via Gizmodo]

Toshiba shows off 5.6-inch minibook prototype

Toshiba may soon launch a small portable computer that would straddle the line between UMPCs such as Nokia's N810 and netbooks from the likes of the Eee PC and MSI Wind, according to a recent PC Authority report. The size and lack of a keyboard scream UMPC, but hardware and specs are very netbook-like. Preliminary specs for the 5.6-inch UMPC-like device include an Intel Atom processor sitting on a motherboard that's half the size of the one used in the company's Portege R500 notebook. The report says a 64GB solid-state drive is fitted into the unnamed prototype, which runs on Microsoft's Windows Vista. GPS functionality is also integrated, thanks to a built-in antenna that curves around the perimeter of the small device. The virtual keyboard takes up two-thirds of the touch-screen's surface, in a similar vein to Apple's iPhone.

However, Toshiba staff is downplaying the chances of the prototype ever seeing production, at least in its current form. "We don't think this [prototype] is commercially viable, it's too small," said Toshiba's General Manager, Mark Whittard. "Having said that, we will have a ULPC (Ultra Low-Cost PC) soon."

Toshiba representatives went on to suggest they are looking into six or seven market segments, with a 9-inch netbook among the possibilities. Toshiba is not keen on taking on the Eee PC directly, stressing its product may not be a direct rival to the popular netbook.

Costume: The portable hard drive for senoritas

Someone took the time to throw together a render of a portable hard drive for girls, the Costume. Overtly targeting girls with technology can be dangerous proposition; dipping a phone in pink and calling it “for girls, now!” usually has less than a snowball’s chance in hell of getting anywhere, but Costume seems to have been designed with care.

It’s supposed to match all the doodads in your purse, like makeup and mace and so on.

You do have to question the sense of dragging around a 2.5-inch hard drive in your purse, though. Why not put whatever file your sneaker netting on your iPod, or on a much smaller thumb drive?

Brando's Power Station Holds 1000mAh, Title For Cheapest iPhone Battery

We're not sure if Brando's version of the external iPhone battery pack bests the others we've seen in performance, but it's definitely the cheapest by far. At $25, it's a whole $18 cheaper than the iPhoneck, and half as costly as Macally's PowerLink. Is it any good? No clue yet. But it's cheap, which is all some people care about.

Eee PC getting bigger battery and storage… again?

DigiTimes is reporting that Asustek, maker of the Eee PC, expects to increase battery life and storage capacity by the end of this year. The report is exceptionally light, with no concrete numbers and vague promises

Computer expects to introduce new features for its Eee PC range including “whole-day” battery life and Internet storage.

The question now seems to be, is “whole-day” the same as “One Day Computing”? As reported previously, there seems to be an Eee PC with an extended life battery available, not to mention plenty of storage room.

Recently the company did announce plans to include 3G connectivity to their increasingly popular mini-notebook, adding further fuel to the mini notebook fire. Could it be these external accessories that have sparked the report?

ASUS preps all-day runtime, Internet storage for Eee

ASUS is planning to extend the Eee PC's capabilities within the next few months, according to one report. Although the company's Atom-based Eee PC 901 is already estimated to get near eight hours of maximum battery life, a future upgrade due in the last half of 2008 should give it "whole-day" battery life that potentially gives it an edge over challengers. It will also offer an Internet-based storage option similar to those offered by Dell and others and will help compensate for the limited built-in storage.

Besides these changes, the company also supposedly plans to make hardware and software updates "every month" for the Eee PC line, although the details of these early plans aren't mentioned. ASUS is already known to be making several sub-variants of its most recent Eee PC notebooks that include the Celeron-driven 904 HD as well as the 903, 905, and multiple versions of the 1001.

Nokia - N85 leaked?

The existence of a separate, North American version of Nokia's N85 has been revealed, a new report claims. While a basic UAProfile for the phone appeared online several days ago, Nokia has today posted a second one, labeled "Nokia N85-3." Based on Nokia's past behavior with phones like the N95, it is expected that the 3 designates a North American variant.

The profiles also illustrate some of the phone's specifications, which should include a 320x240 display, EDGE, HSDPA and WCDMA broadband, plus a Wi-Fi receiver. An onboard camera should be rated between 3.2 and 5 megapixels, and the phone's operating system is S60 3rd Edition with Feature Pack 2. By contrast, Nokia's 5800 Tube is expected to use a touch-enabled 5th Edition.

Buffalo first with 8X Blu-ray burners

Buffalo has claimed a first in the industry with the announcement of the first-ever Blu-ray drives to record at 8X speed. The external BR-816U2 and the internal, Serial ATA-based BR-816FBS will equally write even 50GB dual-layer discs at the new speed, theoretically completing a single-layer disc in as little as 15 minutes. The drives also burn rewritable Blu-ray discs at 2X and record both CDs and DVDs.

The external drive is also rare in its category through the inclusion of both a heavily optimized USB 2.0 interface as well as an external Serial ATA connection that provides the same bandwidth as if the drive were attached internally. All drives come with Cyberlink software to help Windows users play, author, and burn Blu-ray content.

Buffalo ships its new disc drives to Japan in early August at prices of $382 for the internal model and $435 for its external counterpart. An international release is likely, while the drives themselves should lead to equivalents for other manufacturers.

Sanyo intros Eneloop power for Wii remotes

Sanyo has branched out into gaming peripherals with the launch of the Contact Charger for Wii. The add-on combines an Eneloop nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) rechargeable battery pack with a cradle to give a Wii remote both a longer active use time of about 6.5 hours as well as a much simpler way to recharge for the next session. As suggested by its name, the remote doesn't require a proprietary connector and is sensitive enough to work even with the Wii's protective jacket in place.

A single Wii remote will be fully powered from empty in slightly more than 3.5 hours, though Sanyo notes that multiple chargers can be strung together to charge four controls one after the other instead of having to plug each into a separate power jack.

The official debut of the Contactless Charger takes place on August 25, when it should be available for the equivalent of $72 in Japan. Sanyo hasn't said whether it will export the power bundle elsewhere and may need to adapt the cradle to North American power ports to bring it to the US.

Samsung G400 Soul review: Fold and touch

All right then, Samsung and Soul know better than simply recasting a slider as a bar. Samsung G400 Soul is the one Soul family member that easily gets singled out. The clamshell phone pulls off near RAZR size and style (save for the thickness), and boasts the unique dual screen setup and a 5 megapixel autofocus camera. Actually, this is the first 5 MP clamshell ever, though for some reason Samsung chose not to pitch that in their promos. Anyway, the G400 is one heavy piece of skill and style. And even if it's the odd one in terms of looks, it seems set to live up to that Soul pedigree.

Samsung G400 Soul official photos

Key features:

* 5 megapixel autofocus camera (face detection, wide dynamic range and
image stabilization)
* Identical external and internal screens: 2.2" 256K-color TFT LCD of QVGA
resolution
* Touch-sensitive external display with ,multimedia interface and haptics
* 3G with HSDPA (7.2Mbps) support, video call
* FM radio with RDS
* 120MB of shared memory and microSD slot
* Bluetooth (with A2DP) and USB v2.0
* User-friendly keypad
* Relatively fast user interface
* Fully customizable themes
* Dedicated settings for each of the displays
* The main display doesn't get key prints in closed position

Main disadvantages:

* Tri-band only
* Only LED flash
* Display legibility suffers under direct sunlight, external screen is hardly
usable
* Limited browser capabilities
* QVGA video recording at most

Some may claim the G400 Soul design is too old school for a Samsung. OK, it's inconsistent with the Soul looks and quite akin to the well aged Moto RAZR concept. In fact the G400 has almost the same design as the Samsung Z560, which was set to compete with the Motorola RAZR V6 maxx.

Still, the G400 rounds off the form factor supply within the Soul lineup and tries to meet some demand for full-featured flips. But so much for vintage vs. vantage - even if 5MP and HSDPA are nothing radical these days, it takes a flip to show off that sweet dual screen combo. For one of the most intriguing specs is the huge (in clamshell terms) touchscreen external display.

Samsung G400 Soul looks an old-school flip

Speaking of full-featured flips, Samsung G400 Soul easily comes out as the top dog in the pack. Even so, it's not immune to pressure and the handset to probably give it the strongest run for its money though is Sony Ericsson W980. It's a tough call between the Soul flip and the Walkman flagship. With enough class and gloss to go around, it all boils down to 5MP imaging or FM transmitter and auto screen rotation. Anyway, enough either-ors, take the jump for the real thing.