Samsung just announced the G810, a 'do everything' slider smartphone with a 2.6" screen, GPS, a 5 megapixel camera (with optical zoom, 'face detection' and image editor), HSDPA
connectivity at 3.6 Mbps, Wi-Fi, a 3.5mm headphone socket and based on S60 3rd Edition Feature
Pack 1. It will be available in Europe from March 2008. More details shortly.
Sony Ericsson just announced the G700 and G900 UIQ 3-powered 'touchscreen organisers'. The G700 has a 3.2 megapixel camera, while the G900 has a 5 megapixel camera and Wi-Fi, but otherwise they're very similar. Read on for more details, analysis, photo links and specs.
LG Electronics has announced its new 'LG-KT610', described as a "GPS-enabled,
stylish candy bar mobile phone with a unique 2.4" flip screen
holding a PC-like Qwerty keypad". More details below (it's actually a clamshell, in the style of the Nokia E90), plus photos from Rafe.
What kind of crazy tech industry do we have where companies make work for themselves at the same time as making customers unhappy? And you can bet that the mobile industry is the worst offender of all. Read on for a few experiences, thoughts and links.
Nokia has announced a camera-free variant of the Nokia E51. The E51 is impressively small at 61cc, but still has a full feature set including quad-band GSM with GPRS and EDGE, WCDMA with HSDPA (850 and 2100Mhz), and WiFi. There is also a FM Radio, 2.5mm audio jack and IrDA, USB and Bluetooth for local connectivity. The camera free variant of the E51 will be available in the next few weeks and costs approximately €250 before taxes and subsidies. Read on for more.
A video has appeared on YouTube offering a sneak preview from Motorola in regards to the Mobile World Congress. There are no specific details on devices, but the video does show various people lugging around a TV set and DVD player. Might this suggest another video focused phone from Moto, perhaps with an accomapnying video download or purchase service? Read on for more.
Mobil.cz is reporting that next week, at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Samsung will announce the G810, a new S60-powered phone. The rumoured G810 specifications are dimensions of 104x52x18mm, with a 2.6 inch QVGA screen, 5 megapixel camera with a 3x optical zoom, built in GPS, 150MB of internal memory and microSD card slot, GSM and UTMS (with HSDPA) cellular connectivity, Bluetooth 2.0, USB, and WiFi. These specifications would suggest it will look to compete with Nokia's high end Nseries devices such as the N95. Read on for more.
So you've a messaging-focussed Nokia E61i smartphone and you keep eyeing up the models in the rival Nseries? Is it possible to have the best of both worlds? To whet your appetite for MWC, at which I hope that at least one crossover device will be launched, here's my guide to (nearly) turning your E61i into an Nseries powerhouse. Qwerty and media? No problem.
Ewan continues his music-centric look at the latest Walkman-branded UIQ 3 smartphone from Sony Ericsson. In this part, having already looked at the main Walkman music player, he looks at all the OTHER music and audio-related applications. Do they work well and do they add significant value?
PDA Essentials magazine issue 71 is out today (in the UK) and is notable for a five page 'Real World Test' between the iPhone, the Nokia N95 8GB and a smattering of HTC, Palm and Blackberry models. Tests included 'Outdoors' (contrast in sunlight), 'Pub' (ease of use when err.... inebriated) and 'Bus' (ease of use on shaking transport, possibly one-handed). There was also a seven page 'Smartphones with GPS' round-up. Read on for results and comments!
Ah yes, I was wondering where my Nokia E90 had got to. Krisse has been using it in Finland, comparing it head-to-head with the N810 'Internet tablet'. Here's the first part of this report, covering the physical form factors and all the various communications possibilities. There's no real overall winner, but plenty of food for thought if you've been wavering as to which to get.
In the second and final part of his definitive review of the 'Silver Snapper', the Nokia N82 , Rafe proves that this smartphone is a lot more than just a great camera. Looking at GPS and navigation functions, music, general applications and overall performance, Rafe concludes that, despite a few problems and annoyances, the N82 is "an outstanding handset".
Photos have appeared on a German site (and reposted here in English) of a new Nokia E90, apparently a 'version 2', with totally redesigned, flush keyboard, presumably to stop any possibility of greasy fingerprints on the keys transferring to the screen. Comments welcome if this has made an appearance in other countries or if you can shed any light on timescales and distribution details.
