While the Monte isn’t a smartphone – in fact it runs Samsung’s own TouchWiz 2.0 Plus platform – Samsung reckon it has much of the functionality of one.  They’re particularly proud of the handset’s browsing abilities, which support full HTML and both landscape and portrait modes, and its social networking: there are Facebook and MySpace apps, as well as Twitter and Bebo widgets and a multi-platform IM client.

You also get Exchange ActiveSync support, an FM radio with RDS and Google Maps 3.0.  Memory is 200MB internal with a microSD slot (up to 16GB cards supported) and the 1,000mAh battery is rated for up to 298 minutes 3G talktime or 454hrs 3G standby.

No word on how much the Samsung Monte will cost, nor which markets it will ship in, but the company apparently plan to have it at Mobile World Congress 2010 next week.

Press Release:

Samsung Launches Monte, the Perfect Fit for Full Touch Lifestyle

Samsung Monte offers enhanced full touch functionality, social network integration & sleek design

SEOUL, Korea – February 9, 2010– Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., a leading mobile phone provider, today announced the launch of Samsung Monte(model: S5620), its new full touch screen device for style-conscious mobile users.

The handset is launched with a host of multimedia features and a sleek, organic design with a sophisticated and glossy look, providing the style and performance of a high-end handset at affordable price. With a stunning design and an intuitive TouchWiz 2.0 Plus User Interface (UI), the Monte is set to become the latest must-have full touch device.

Equally, the Samsung Monte has a lot to offer to the social network savvy consumer with a suite of native social networking applications including Facebook and MySpace, allowing users to access their profiles whenever and wherever they choose. This is teamed with advanced Twitter and Bebo widgets – and multi-IM capability – to provide users with the opportunity to chat in real-time via their chosen service. In addition, Monte users can enjoy full Internet browsing, with an accelerometer sensor allowing the onscreen image to automatically adjust as you rotate the phone.

To become the perfect accompaniment to a connected lifestyle, the Monte includes GPS supported by Google Latitude™, ensuring you know where you are – and can keep your friends updated on your location – at all times. This combines with Geo-tagging, allowing users to imprint their photos with geographic tags to share their travels and experiences with friends. Other connectivity features include optional anytime, anywhere Wi-Fi connectivity, Exchange ActiveSync for access to Outlook email accounts, and Google Sync™. This allows users to simultaneously update their social networks schedules and Outlook calendar, without the hassle of accessing each application individually.

“Samsung Monte is designed for those who appreciate beautiful design and outstanding performance at affordable price,” said JK Shin, president and head of Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics. “The phone offers a compelling set of features, such as the native social networking applications, with an intelligent User Interface, design and connectivity options to provide users with the performance they demand.”

To showcase this feature rich and stylish handset, the Monte comes equipped with a 3.0-inch WQVGA LCD screen with 16:9 landscape viewing. It also boasts a 3.2-megapixel camera with many value-added features including smile shot, panorama shot, and face detection. For convenience, the phone also supports Smart Unlock and One finger zoom.

Elsewhere the netbook looks to be the same as previously, which means an Intel Atom N450 processor paired with Intel GMA graphics, 1GB of RAM and a 250GB hard-drive.  Entry-level machines (i.e. without WiMAX) start at $299, though you can also specify Broadcom’s Crystal HD video accelerator to boost graphics performance.

What’s still unknown is whether Dell will be offering the new WiMAX Mini 10 bundled with a carrier, though since the high-speed wireless service is currently available in so few markets that seems a likely decision. No word on release dates, but we’re guessing we’ll see CLEAR branding all over the box.

[via Liliputing]

The images were posted by CellGuru on Twitter, though there’s no extra information about specifications or indeed even if there’s an OS loaded onto the device.  Certainly there are no images of the handset powered on.

CrackBerry suggest that this is in fact an early prototype, and not to be confused with the upcoming BlackBerry Dakota which will have a touchscreen and full hardware keyboard.  That device will look significantly different and is rumored to have a better quality lens for still photography.

[via IntoMobile]

The board itself measures 110 x 35 mm, which NTT DoCoMo reckon is around the same size as a standard, single-band amplifier.  That potentially means you could have a multiband-cellphone, capable of crossing networks wherever the user travels, but no larger than a typical, current handset.

Of course, there’ll also need to be the appropriate wireless radio chips, and the phone would need suitable software to recognize and handle the different networks.  You’d also need a forward-looking carrier with sufficient roaming agreements in place; after all, with a CDMA network you can’t just slot in a local SIM and get talking.  Still, the promise is enough to get us interested.

[via Gajeto]

The best part of the new subsidy news is that existing owners – i.e. the early adopters to whom the Nexus One really appealed – will be getting a $100 refund if they previously paid the old $379 upgrade price.  That will apparently be processed via Google Checkout, and customers should hear from Google starting from today.

As for the insurance, according to the screenshot both customers who picked up a Nexus One unlocked and SIM-free and those who bought a subsidized handset with T-Mobile service will be able to add Premium Handset Protection (PHP) through the carrier’s Magenta scheme.  The cover is priced at $4.79 per month, and if your Nexus One requires replacement there’s a $130 deductable.  If you’ve already bought your Nexus One you can still get insurance for it under the scheme – T-Mobile will allow you to add it up to 14 days after purchase.

Inside the molded plastic book there’s a removeable panel with slots for your memory cards, meaning you can label each nook: “graduation”, “Christmas 2008″, “why didn’t I upload these to Flickr and have them stream to a WiFi photo frame”.  Connectivity looks to include both USB and mini-USB, together with a multiformat memory card slot, headphones socket and power port, while the controls are touch-sensitive and arranged around the bottom corner of the display.

As well as photos the Album can show video content, and there’s a remote control included too.  No word on how much this monstrosity might cost, nor when it might arrive on shelves near you.

Video demo after the cut

The 23cm tall robot has 15 moveable joints, including shoulders, elbows, knees and neck, and integrated speakers for audio feedback.  There’s also a range of optional extras, including gripping claw-hands and colored body panels, but out of the box the Robovie-nano is capable of walking and being programmed for autonomous motions.

A motion-control app, RobovieMaker2, can be used to set up patterns and routines.  On sale in Japan now, the Robovi-nano is priced at 49,350 yen (including tax; $541) putting him into the home enthusiast realm, certainly, though probably not much competition for WowWee’s robots.

[via DesignBoom]

That confirms that the F1 has Qualcomm’s 1GHz Snapdragon chipset, 512MB of ROM and 256MB of RAM, and a 3.8-inch WVGA touchscreen.  There’s also a 5-megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash, accelerometer and 3.5mm headphones jack, as well as WiFi b/g and Bluetooth.

The Acer F1 is a quadband GSM, triband HSPA (900/1900/2100) device and measures 118.6 x 63 x 12 mm while weighing 130g.  The 1,350mAh battery is rated as good for up to 5hrs talktime or 400hrs standby, and there’s both A-GPS and a microSD card slot.  Clove have it listed for £295 (exc VAT; $479).

[via Register Hardware]

The camera comes equipped with motion capture to provide movie recording at 30 fps with choice of VGA and QVGA resolution. Movie will be recorded in AVI format and zoom function will be disabled during filming. Still and Motion capture captures can be play-backed and reviewed at its 2.5-inch LCD screen.

The camera runs on Lithium-ion battery, has internal memory storage of 8MB and supports xD-Picture Card, SD/SDHC memory types. The FinePix J15fd will be available in Silver and Black from the mid of November at 20,000 yen (~$206)

So, in a rather obvious move, Matsushita is looking to get into the LCD business. Right now there is word of one of two ways Matsushita plans on accomplishing this, the first is to takeover a joint venture of Hitachi and Toshiba to do it, and then pumping in 2.7 billion for a new facility.

The second is to go in with Canon on a minor stakes partner in Hitachi Displays LCD, who currently makes small (likely Canon’s interest) and mid-sized LCD’s and is working on OLED technology, all of which would allow Matsushita to remain a prominent player in the business. Regardless of which option they choose, I am sure the results will be good.

Matsushita, Hitachi Talking LCD Panel Deal [via digitaltrends]

It comes with a battery and requires a half hour of charging before you can use it, but they last 6 hours off that charge and, like I said, they should deliver quality audio while still allowing you to hear ambient noise. They clip onto your ear lobe sort of like a clip-on earring, but in a different location, thus leaving the ear-canal unobstructed.

When they drop, they will cost you about $105, but they will only be available in Korea. Now all they need to do is add some Bluetooth technology and bring them to the US and I’d be really happy.

En-Tech Vibe NVE-100 ear-phone clips onto the ear [via newlaunches]

The PXE-H650 allows you to upgrade the sound quality in your vehicles by correcting the acoustical problems with its AntEQ technology. The PXE-H650 removes the factory equalization and adds Audyssey SoundEQ XT to optimize the sound quality of your system. There is not much more detail on this from Alpine yet.

PXE-H650 OEM Audio Processor [via Alpine]

This powerful VAIO comes with a fast ATA hard drive, DDR2 up to 2GB memory, a NVIDIA GeForce Go 7600 GT or 7600. Speaking of graphics, it also features VGA out, HDMI out, and S-Video out. The drives can be customized from DVD±RW all the way to Blu-ray. The screen is a stunning 17″ (1920 X 1200) widescreen displays, so your dvd and Blu-ray movies can be viewed as the director intended with Full HD 1080p. This VAIO features the XBRITE LCD technology so it delivers solid blacks and vibrant colors that don’t blend during fast, live, and spontaneous movements.

The VGN-AR270 also features a built in camera with zoom and a microphone so you can chat, AIM, and use the video capabilities. This laptop has an estimated battery life of 1.5 to 3.0 hours, a 80GB HDD, and it weighs 8.4 lbs so overall it’s a worthy notebook from Sony. The standard features include Bluetooth, ethernet port, wifi, FireWire, USB 2.0, card slot, and a place for your memory stick. Another must have feature is the glare filter and anti-reflective coating and Sony doesn’t fall short with the VAIO VGN-AR270 (CTO).

Price: $2589.99+

Sony VAIO VGN-AR270 CTO NoteBook [Via: Sony.com]

The latest to catch my eye is CEIVA’s range of FrameT displays, which take advantage of the company’s PicturePlan service. There’s the option of on-board WiFi, but what singles them out is that they can also connect via dial-up. “Why is that important?” I hear you splutter, “what sensible person doesn’t have broadband?” Well, my grandmother certainly doesn’t. Let me explain: like I imagine is the case all over the world, there are grandparents missing out on family photos because they don’t have (or want) internet access. A CEIVA frame could sit happily on my grandmother’s sideboard, downloading new photos in the middle of the night and letting her see the mischief everyone has got up to when she’s up in the morning.

PicturePlan is subscription-based, costing $99.95 for a year’s service (or $6.95 a month) with a local dial-up number (or $159.99 for a toll-free number). Images can be sent from a PC or directly from a cellphone, either to your own frame or to anyone on your list of friends. The photos are stored online, and with a simple button-press a print can be ordered from the frame itself.

The FrameT range starts from $149.99 for a seven-inch model, and is available now. If it – and the PicturePlan service – were available in the UK then I think I would’ve just found my grandmother’s Christmas present!

CEIVA [Thanks to Bret for the tip!]

To register for the trial, all you need to do is go to halo3.com and register on December 4th, assuming that the halo3.com server doesn’t have a minor stroke attempting to handle all the requests. From there, Microsoft will select a number of applicants to serve as their testers. The upside to this is that Microsoft is unlikely to charge “admission” if the group is so strictly controller, so those who do get picked will be able to enjoy the beta without being charged. So get ready; December 4th isn’t that far off, boys and girls, so get your war gear ready.

[via IGN]

For the price of 7,875 Yen (approx. $68), the mouse is available in silver, black, and red colors.

Elecom launches mouse with changing shape, touchpad [via electronista, elecom]

QC3 is a headphone with QuietComfort and Acoustic Noise Cancelling technology providing you a rich-clear audio detail that you might have never experienced before. The QC3 is a compact, lightweight, and easy fit for hours of comfortable listening. The headphone is powered with battery. The kit comes with wall-socket charger and rechargeable battery with approximately 20 hours of run time. Purchase the QC3 for $349 and receive a free 256MB MP3 player valued at $50 before January 31, 2007.

QuietComfirt 3 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones [via Bose]

The VTS-384 has a trio of tubes per stereo channel delivered “full analog” sound out a pair of 2x2W (8ohm) speakers. And nothing is better than the analog sound from tubes. The kit comes with a remote for controlling the iPod, wire protectors for those tubes, and RCA and USB jacks for sourcing non-iPod music or connecting USB speakers. When it hit in February, this gorgeous dock can be yours for an expected MSRP of $604 to $777.

Rockridge Sound’s VTS-384 tube amp and speaker dock for iPod [via engadget]