According to Jha, Motorola “felt that our ability to deliver 50Mb/s would justify the $799 price point. It is 32GB with 3G and a free upgrade to 4G.” Asked whether the Apple slate had indeed been the benchmark by which Motorola had planned the XOOM launch, he agreed that it was the current yardstick but that it was not necessarily the outright winner. “Being competitive with iPad is important” he said, “we feel that from the hardware and capabilities we deliver we are at least competitive and in a number of ways better.”

As for the WiFi-only version – which has WiFi b/g/n support but no 3G/4G – Jha said it would be “meaningfully cheaper” than the cellular-equipped versions. “The price is set by iPad at $599 and we will be right around there” he confirmed.

[Thanks Barry!]

Of course, that’s probably because LG have readied at least one other Windows Phone 7 device for the North American market, the C900, which has been spotted with AT&T branding.  According to an earlier listing at the Bluetooth SIG, the C900 will come in three variants and be released in most territories.

Unfortunately the GCF isn’t saying much else beyond what bands the E900 supports, and so we’re still in the dark regarding a concrete launch date.  Most recently we’ve heard talk of Windows Phone 7 making its official debut on October 11th.

[via the::unwired]

Alternatively, the Airlife 100 can be had for €300 ($397) with a cheaper, €39 per month plan ($52).  Both plans seem to come with unlimited on-device data access, with the difference being the sorts of speeds you can expect: up to 10Mbps downlink on the €49 tariff, or up to 7Mbps on the €39 tariff.

As for the smartbook itself, that comes with 16GB of SSD storage, WiFi and GPS, together with a webcam and a battery HP reckon will last up to 12hrs.  For more, check out our hands-on preview.

HP Compaq Airlife 100 demo:

[via Carrypad]

Samsung reckon the AMOLED Beam W9600 is 1.5x as bright as its predecessor, the SPH-W7900.  Like that model, there’s support for showing photos and video (either recorded with the phone’s camera, or preloaded onto it), and the W9600 can also display Microsoft Office documents and play back DivX-encoded video.

Elsewhere there’s a DMB terestrial digital TV tuner, HSDPA, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR and a front-facing camera for video calls, while onboard memory totals 11GB with a card slot for adding up to 16GB more.  The whole thing measures 56 x 116 x 15.7 mm.  No word on whether we might see the AMOLED Beam SPH-W9600 reach the US or Europe, but we’re guessing we’ll probably get the Samsung Beam I8520 instead.

Press Release:

Samsung Illuminates the Future With the AMOLED Beam, Its Latest Beam Projector Mobile Phone

Equipped with high quality AMOLED display and advanced beam projector features, the AMOLED Beam brings a stunning mobile experience to the Korean market

SEOUL, Korea – April 15, 2010 – Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., a leading mobile phone provider, today introduced the AMOLED Beam (SPH-W9600) to the Korean market. The successor to the Samsung Haptic Beam (SPH-W7900), the world’s first full-touch beam projector phone, the AMOLED Beam delivers an enhanced viewing experience and richer image projection.

Moving the mobile phone experience from personal use to social engagement, the AMOLED Beam allows users to project and share multi-media entertainment, games, video and pictures captured on the 5.0 megapixel camera. Business users can use the AMOLED Beam to swiftly and simply deliver professional presentations wherever and whenever required.

The AMOLED Beam provides an exciting mobile experience by projecting any content to a maximum screen size of 50 inches. The phone also boasts a display 1.5 times brighter than that of previous model, the Haptic Beam. Featuring a lightweight and compact design, the AMOLED Beam offers optimized features such as Microsoft Office and DivX codec support for convenient use, 3.3” WVGA display, 5 megapixel camera, and Terrestrial DMB.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2009 consolidated sales of US$116.8 billion. Employing approximately 188,000 people in 185 offices across 65 countries, the company consists of eight independently operated business units: Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, Digital Imaging, Semiconductor and LCD. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.

AMOLED Beam (SPH-W9600) Product Specifications

Network:

• HSDPA

Display:

• 3.3” WVGA AMOLED (800×480)

Camera / Video:

• 5.0 megapixel Camera + VGA Video Telephony Camera
• DivX support

Audio:

• Poly 64, MP3, CMX

Value-added Features:

• WVGA Projector (9 Lumen @ 1W)
• Terrestrial DMB

Connectivity:

• Bluetooth 2.0

Memory:

• 8GB + 3GB, external memory slot (Up to 16GB)

Size:

• 56 x 116 x 15.7mm

Battery:

• 1200 mAh

* Product specifications are subject to change without notice.

That’s pretty advanced, and not just for a featurephone; it means you can access Google Latitude, Gmail, Calendar, Google Maps and Google Buzz, among other things.  There’s also push email support, along with a 5.0-megapixel camera, A-GPS and an FM radio.  Connectivity includes 7.2 Mbps HDSPA (network depending, naturally) and WiFi.

The LG Mini GD880 is set to launch in Europe sometime this month, with broader availability following on after that; prices are yet to be confirmed.  We’re still not entirely sure we’d pick a feature-phone – no matter how capable – over a smartphone, but for buyers prioritising web access the GD880 might make for a decent, affordable buy.

Press Release:

MAXIMIZE YOUR MOBILE WEB EXPERIENCE WITH NEW MINI PHONE FROM LG

Enhanced mobile web and social network experience with ultra-fast Phantom Browser supporting HTML 5

SEOUL, Apr. 7, 2010 – LG Electronics (LG), a global leader and technology innovator in mobile communications, today officially launched its new LG Mini (LG GD880), a pocket-size communication hub that maximizes the mobile web experience.

LG Mini is the first phone to use LG’s HTML 5-compatible Phantom Browser, which offers a much faster and more stable internet experience. Mini also includes special internet applications and social network connection features that make keeping in touch with online friends easier than ever.

LG Mini is a 3.2-inch full touchscreen phone that feels solid in the hand and is small enough to fit into any pocket. A button-free face contributes to Mini’s simple and sleek personality while textured metal accents on the sides add to the phone’s visual appeal without detracting from its clean look. This design won LG Mini a red dot award and iF product design award in March.

“Our research shows that most people think current full touchscreen phones — especially smartphones — are too bulky, too clunky and too difficult to use,” said Dr. Skott Ahn, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. We developed LG Mini to deliver the smartphone-like features that people want in a beautiful and compact package that is also user-friendly.”

Maximum Mobile Web Experience
LG Mini is the first phone to offer LG’s new Phantom Browser. Built for speed using the latest Webkit standards, the Phantom Browser delivers an on-the-go web experience without any limits. Not only is Phantom faster, it is also fully compatible with today’s most popular websites. Mini’s expanded memory allows for advanced multitasking, supporting up to 10 browser windows open simultaneously.
As the first HTML 5-compatible feature phone, Mini fully supports Google’s Latitude, Gmail, Calendar, Google Maps and Google Buzz services, with the same functionality and speed as on a desktop PC. Improved JavaScript and Flash performance means flawless video playback from sites such as YouTube. With navigation tools Intelligent Zoom and Touch-to-Zoom, web pages load at a size optimized for reading on Mini’s screen.

Maximum Connectivity
Social network connectivity is fully integrated into LG Mini so keeping in touch with online friends and making updates on popular social networks sites including Facebook and Twitter is simpler and faster. LG Mini also supports LG Air Sync, which wirelessly synchronizes information and data to a computer, the web and the phone. Even if the phone is misplaced, important data can still be accessed from any PC.

LG`s new On Screen Phone feature makes controlling Mini even easier. It shows the phone’s interface on a computer screen so files can be dragged and dropped directly from the phone to a computer.

Maximum Convenience
Online Applications provide access to late-breaking information and entertainment in real-time. Applications from BBC News and AccuWeather are pre-installed and content from partners Amazon, CNN International, The New York Times, eBay and Fox News will be available through the LG Widget Gallery.

LG Mini also offers push email, 5.0 megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, A-GPS, FM radio and 7.2 Mbps HDSPA.

The LG Mini will be available in April starting in Europe followed by other regions. Prices will vary country-to-country.

HTC Legend unboxing:

Specifications-wise, the Legend marks some key changes over the Hero and some points where we wish HTC had been a little more forthright. The Legend has a 3.2-inch HVGA display, like the Hero, but this time around it’s an AMOLED panel rather than LCD. Similarly, there’s a 5-megapixel autofocus camera, but now it has an LED flash. Where the Hero used a 528MHz chipset, the Legend gets Qualcomm’s 600MHz MSM7227; a speed increase, yes, but short of the 1GHz Snapdragon on the Google Nexus One and HTC’s own Desire.

In fact, there’s a feeling that HTC are pushing the Legend into the mid-range market, rather than aiming for the flagship status the Hero once occupied. We can’t argue the strategy – however much we generally prefer faster processors – and nor can we argue what the Legend brings to its new tier. Most notable is the construction: gone is the Hero’s Teflon-coated plastic, with a new, unibody aluminum casing taking its place. HTC describes their latest design focus as “hidden power”, but with the Legend it’s anything but disguised: by carving the phone’s casing out of a solid block of metal, they’ve been able to do away with a separate outer shell and thus make the whole thing smaller than the smartphone it replaces.

The only plastic to be found is the camera surround – punctuated with holes for the speaker grill – and the battery compartment door, which doubles as the antenna. The row of buttons under the display are also plastic, and they’re the sole point on the Legend where the quality doesn’t feel 100-percent; instead they’re a little too clicky, a little too plasticky. Everywhere else is soft-touch and sturdy, and the Legend feels great in the hand.

Gone, too, is the Hero’s trackball, replaced by an optical joystick. It takes a little getting used to – stroking it from side to side to navigate homescreens or tabs – but once you’re familiar it actually feels more accurate than the trackball ever did. That’s partly because there’s less chance of sideways-slip when you press in to select. As before there are seven homescreen panes and a variety of HTC’s own widgets to fill them with; you can also save various “Scenes”, with layouts and wallpapers suited to different times of day or activity. Not all of HTC’s widgets are loaded by default – there’s a “Get more” shortcut at the top of the list, with things like a tip calculator and a “Daily Challenge” – and we’re hoping that means the company are planning to push out new examples periodically. Panning between panes is swift and lag-free, even if they’re loaded up with widgets, and of course there’s the new – and incredibly addictive – “helicopter view”, which shows Exposé-style thumbnails of all seven panes when you pinch-zoom on the homescreen.

HTC Legend video demo:

Since the Legend runs Android 2.1 and the newest build of HTC Sense, there are several software changes to be discovered. That includes the newer version of the Android Market, complete with screenshot previews, something Hero owners are still waiting for. Still, the biggest improvements are HTC’s own. Unlike the partial Exchange support in Android 2.1, the Legend can sync not only Mail and Contacts but Calendar entries as well. HTC’s own Mail app has had a makeover and now has useful tabs to show not only messages and conversations, but pull out messages from your preset VIPs, unread-only, those flagged, meeting invitations and those with attachments. Where Nexus One owners looking to use Exchange have often had to resort to third-party apps from the Android Market, that’s unlikely to be the case with the HTC Legend.

HTC’s Calendar app has also been tweaked, with a new Agenda view that pulls appointments and reminders into a single list, rather than demanding you navigate by month or date. You can also put an Agenda widget on the homescreen. The other big change, however, comes in how HTC now manage social networks; while the first-gen of Sense added Facebook, Twitter and Flickr updates to individual contacts, there was no way of seeing all recent updates from everybody. Only HTC Peep – their own Twitter client – had such a view.

Now, though, there’s Friend Stream, which pulls together all three services into one view (and a homescreen widget too). As with MOTOBLUR you can update your Facebook status and Twitter from one single point; like the various tabs for drilling-down through messages in the Mail app, Friend Stream has separate tabs for viewing status updates only, just photos or just links. Of course you can still view each contact’s updates separately, or just use Peep for Twitter, but we’re glad to now have the choice. Still, it’d be great to see HTC commit to adding more social networks to their roster, like Motorola have been doing; there are still plenty of people wanting MySpace and LinkedIn, for instance.

There’s also a new copy/paste system which links in neatly to Wikipedia, Google Dictionary and Google Translate. Tapping and holding on a word calls up a small magnifier window and highlights that word; letting go allows you either to drag extender bars to enlarge the selection, or tap to copy it, share it via whatever methods are installed (Mail, Messages and Peep as default, with the Legend automatically URL shortening if necessary), or pushing it over to the look-up services. There, three tabs offer dictionary definitions, various language translations and Wikipedia’s mobile site. Our only one frustration is that, once you’re in the look-up pane, you can’t then tap-and-hold to search for a word in those three tabs; it only offers you the ability to copy that text.

Optics have never been HTC’s strongest point, and the Legend’s camera isn’t a huge step up from that of the Hero. Daylight shots are actually pretty reasonable, with the autofocus quick to snap into order and pressing the optical joystick easier than trying to do the same with the Hero’s trackball. Less impressive, frankly, is the LED flash. HTC told us ahead of the Legend’s launch that they’re currently finding that LEDs can produce just as good results as Xenon flashes but, whether or not you believe that, like other LED-equipped phones we’ve tested it has a tendency either to wash out or under-illuminate the subject. There’s a definite sweet-spot, and it’s a narrow one; particularly frustrating are close-up shots and, as you can see from those in the gallery below, while the Legend was capable of producing a decent shot of a Nexus One while naturally lit, relying on the flash resulted in a seriously washed-out photo. To be fair this is something that affects most camera phones, so we can’t especially blame HTC.

Speaking of Flash, while we were led to believe that the Legend wouldn’t support Flash Lite – unlike the Hero – in actual fact the customized browser does indeed display Flash animations and games. There’s also multitouch support, for pinch-zoom (something not shared by Google Maps), and the usual tabbed browsing. Text-reflowing is impressively quick: a double-tap on a block of writing will automatically zoom in and instantly reflow the paragraph for single-screen reading. We’ve had no problems with flipping from portrait to landscape orientation, and complex websites have rendered with no errors as far as we can see. While the Legend’s display may not be as expansive as that of the Desire, the combination of reflowing, intuitive zooming and overall speed go a long way to overcoming that limitation.

In fact, speed is generally pretty impressive across the board. Our concerns at the relatively minor bump in chipset were founded on repeated complaints about the Hero suffering lag; that’s something HTC have obviously worked hard to code out of the Legend. There’s a little pause as you move between tabs in data-heavy apps like Mail – as the phone pulls out only those messages flagged, for instance, or with attachments – but otherwise it’s slick and smooth. Loaded up with push email, various social networking accounts and media, the Legend does an admirable job of keeping up, and that’s no small relief.

Call quality is good, though we miss the dual-microphone array found on the Google Nexus One. We had no trouble finding and sticking to an HSPA connection, either, with the Legend supporting up to 7.2Mbps downloads and 2Mbps uploads, network depending. Short-sighted, though, is HTC’s decision to limit HSPA/WCDMA support to the European/Asia Pacifit 900/2100MHz bands; while you’ll be able to use EDGE data in most places (the Legend is quadband GSM) you’ll have no luck, say, getting 3G in North America. We understand that’s probably to allow HTC to differentiate their global range, but it’s frustrating nonetheless. Of course, there’s also WiFi b/g (along with Bluetooth 2.1+EDR) for faster connections when you’re around a suitable hotspot.

Given our relatively limited time with the Legend, we haven’t had the opportunity to fully test out its power management. HTC quote up to 440 minutes WCMDA talktime or 490 minutes GSM talktime from the 1,300mAh battery, or up to 560hrs WCDMA standby or 440hrs GSM standby. From what time we’ve had, we’d expect this to be another case of a charge-nightly device, especially if you have push-email and social network updates turned on. One of HTC’s optional widgets is a 1×1 battery meter you can put on your desktop, which is a more telling way to gauge how much runtime you have left.

It’s saying a lot that, when we reviewed the Hero just eight months ago, we had to go pretty much back to basics to explain Android as a platform, but today there’s no such requirement. The standard music player is still uninspiring, and we’re hoping HTC turn their Sense amendments to that next, given Google themselves seem reluctant to do anything about it; still, we’ll take the FM radio they’ve added (which requires a wired headset in order to work) as a start. The jump from Android 1.5 on the Hero to Android 2.1 on the Legend is a sizeable one, though of course HTC are promising a reasonably imminent firmware update that should bring the Hero up to speed. That’s expected to include Android 2.1 Eclair together with many – but not all – of the new Sense functionality.

It’s a long-overdue release, and something Hero owners have been anticipating for some time; it’s also a moderate cause for concern for those considering the HTC Legend. As we’ve increasingly seen with manufacturer-modified Android devices – not just from HTC, but other companies as well – there’s a potential for delay involved when you start modifying the core OS. The Hero has been left languishing with Android 1.5 because of the effort its taken bringing Sense up to speed with newer versions of the platform, something initially tipped to be ready late last year.

HTC Legend durability test:

Now, as we’d say with any device, you should always choose a new gadget because it satisfies your needs now, today, out of the box, rather than because it may get some new feature however many months down the line. Still, one of the attractions of Android is undoubtedly its potential for upgrade and the relative speed at which Google are pushing out new iterations. HTC have again pledged to support the Legend with new firmware as and when possible, but it’s up to the would-be buyer to decide whether they’re willing to take the risk of possible delays.

Nonetheless, even if it remained as it is today, the HTC Legend is an impressive device. It no longer occupies the top-spot in HTC’s Android range – the imminent Desire will take that position – but it’s arguably more attractive and pocket-friendly than its sibling. HTC have made some clever, thoughtful enhancements with Sense – Friend Stream and the look-up functionality come particularly to mind – and in doing so they’ve improved on a core platform that already feels reasonably mature. Held up to the mid-range devices it’s being positioned against, the Legend feels a step up in build quality and design; enough, even, that we could well see it tempting some of the geeks who might automatically have plumped for the Desire or Nexus One. The Android landscape may have changed significantly in the months between now and the Hero’s launch, but with the Legend HTC have shown they still have what it takes to stand apart.

That would leave the unnamed new device as pretty much a BlackBerry Storm 9520 with a slide-up keyboard similar to the BlackBerry Bold.  Other specs include WiFi 802.11n – “100% support” insists the source – and a 360 x 480 display.  Software is expected to be BlackBerry OS 6.0, and – best of all – this isn’t going to be a Verizon exclusive; RIM’s first slider will be a GSM/HSPA device.

Of course, all this is unconfirmed by RIM themselves, and the origins of the image – which would be distinctly easy to recreate in Photoshop – are unclear too.  RIM have proved cautious with alternative form-factors to their traditional candybars – the clamshell Pearl Flip 8230 model has languished unchanged for some time now, and is in fact rumored to be end-of-life – and it took a hardware refresh and several software iterations before the touchscreen Storm was accepted.

As well as being small, the FP810/G3-mini apparently only uses 5W of power making it pretty frugal, too.  Of course, the number of simultaneous calls permitted will depend on your broadband connection and any limitations placed on the femtocell by carriers, but the promise of up to 14.4Mbps downlink and 5.7Mbps uplink rates with strong coverage has us drooling a little.

Press Release:

NEC to Launch New Femtocell Access Point from Ubiquisys

Enables operators to offer high performance, competitive pricing, low energy consumption

London 10 February 2010 – NEC Corporation (NEC) announced today the addition of a new femtocell access point from Ubiquisys, to its end-to-end femtocell solution. The NEC FP810 femtocell access point will be available to mobile operators in April 2010.

“One of the main concerns of mobile operators has been to understand the business case for femtocells. The launch of the NEC FP810 proves how we are meeting that challenge by providing mobile operators with a low-price, high-performance and low-energy-consumption device,” said Richard Hanscott, vice president, NEC Europe.

The NEC FP810 is a discreet size – eight centimetres – and delivers high capacity and performance: it is capable of up to eight simultaneous calls and supports HSPA (High Speed Packet Access). It consumes less than 5W of power which is below the EC code of conduct power consumption targets and up to three times lower than most commercially available femtocells.

“We have a proven track record with NEC in providing cutting-edge femtocell solutions to mobile operators and understand the challenges they face. Our collaboration with NEC meets these challenges by providing a low-cost femtocell solution with high performance and low-energy consumption,” said Chris Gilbert, chief executive officer, Ubiquisys.

The NEC FP810 is powered by the Femto-Engine software from Ubiquisys which has patented Self Organising Networks (SON) capabilities that provide continuous spectrum monitoring, self-adapting radio resource management and integral optimised timing synchronization.

As you might have guessed from the photos, you’re not looking at a particularly advanced phone.  Still, you do get GPS/A-GPS, a microSD slot (to augment the 50MB of integrated memory), an FM radio and a 3.5mm headphones jack.

Design-wise it’s hardly inspiring, but considering Nokia have been stomping down on their prices recently so as to leverage their market share we’re expecting the C5 to be at the affordable end of the spectrum.

Don’t expect anything interesting OS-wise, however; the S5620 runs Samsung’s own TouchWiz platform, rather than a “proper” smartphone OS.  Unwired View reckon there could be a chance we’d see bada make an appearance, but there’s no sign of that from the original source.

As for hardware, we’re looking at 3G HSDPA, WiFi and GPS, along with a 3.5mm headphone jack, microSD card slot and 200MB of onboard memory.  No word on when we might see the Samsung S5620 Monte arrive on shelves, nor in which countries.

[via Unwired View]

Both the Shark and the Shark 2 have HSDPA 3.6 (900/2100) and quadband GSM/EDGE, while the Shark 3 makes do with just the GSM/EDGE connectivity; all have Bluetooth 2.1 and USB 2.0 support.  As for cameras, the Shark has a 3.2-megapixel snapper, the Shark 2 a 5-megapixel one with autofocus and LED flash, and the Shark 3 makes do with just 2-megapixels.  Meanwhile the Shark 2 also gets an AMOLED display.

All of the phones have added security functionality, too, including sending out a message whenever the SIM card is changed.  The Samsung Shark range will go on sale in January 2010, no word on pricing however.

Press Release:

Samsung combines power, performance & stunning style with the Samsung Shark

• Cutting-edge metallic phones give social-network fans the constant-connections they crave
• Samsung’s signature designs for 2010 deliver sleek ergonomics and unrivalled style

Seoul, Korea, January 14th, 2010 – Samsung Electronics, one of the world’s foremost makers of mobile phones, today announced a sleek, tactile new mobile phone, the powerful Samsung Shark range. The first devices in the range, the candy bar Shark (S5350) and slider phones, devices Shark 2 (S5550) and Shark 3 (S3550), will be available from January.

The Shark series has been created for active, multimedia-hungry users who value style and design as much as they value constant access to their social networks, friends and family. Bringing together power and function in such a unique, style-led handset allows Shark series users to stand out from the crowd while remaining in constant contact with it.

“The Shark Series is designed to meet the needs of active, style-conscious users who demand constant connection with their peers.The Shark Series will not only keep these users up-to-date with the latest news and information important to them, but also allows them to express their own style and distinctive personal taste.” said Younghee Lee, Vice President of Mobile Marketing, Samsung Electronics.

The Shark’s does not come at a cost – the phone offers fantastic value for money while still delivering great style, strong multimedia functionality and an intuitive user experience.
Social Networking Services (SNS) direct shortcuts have been placed on the idle screen, giving users one-click access to Facebook, MySpace, Bebo and other favorite sites.

Samsung Communities software enables users to upload and share photos and personal videos to global SNS or photo sharing sites quickly and easily. Meanwhile swift and simple access to popular sites like Flickr, Picasa, Photobucket, and YouTube, encourage browsing and viewing while on the move.

The Shark series provide peace-of-mind for busy users through security features, including Mobile Tracker, which helps to trace a lost or stolen mobile by alerting the user whenever the SIM card is changed. In addition, an SOS Message can be programmed to send a distress alert to a pre-selected emergency contact, enabling quick and discreet requests for assistance.

Shark (S5350):SNS-enabled Sleek Metal Candy Bar

The Shark’s sleek curves, metallic finish and unique, asymmetric design redefine the look of candy bar mobiles. The curved and ergonomic form provides a better grip than the conventional straight-lined models, while its slim (11.9mm) profile ensures it is perfectly pocketable. This stylish phone is packed with multimedia fun, from music to advanced camera features.

Updated Graphic User Interface (GUI) designs add exciting and stylish new looks for the mobile interface. Users can choose from a variety of contemporary and sophisticated themes to suit their personal style. The Shark also comes with a 3.2 megapixel camera that can record video.

Moreover, the Shark features Multi-instant messenger which combines all of the user’s accounts for GTalk, AIM, and Palringo Chat into one easy-to-use application for instant communication with all friends. Chatting with friends on any platform becomes as simple as opening a single application

Shark 2 (S5550): Futuristic Fluid Slider with AMOLED

Shark 2′s well-crafted mix of extrusion, Kevlar, and metallic surface creates a strong, chiseled look that dictates the form factor. Importantly, this mobile does a lot more than just look good; it delivers an impressive performance.

The Shark 2 boasts an AMOLED screen, producing true-to-life images at a faster response time while power consumption is lower than with other display types. The realistic colors are combined with a wide viewing angle – perfect for sharing and viewing photos and videos with friends.

The 5 megapixel camera with Auto Focus takes brilliant photos anytime, anywhere. Video is captured at 30fps for steady playback and recorded in QVGA resolution. Other features include 110MB internal memory and an external microSD slot (up to 8GB),ensuring significant storage for any multimedia needs. From Bluetooth and USB connectivity to ample storage space, the Shark 2 does everything to ensure convenience and usability.

Like Shark, Shark 2 also features Multi-instant messenger for instant communication with all friends. Shark 2 is also equipped with an SNS shortcut menu on its idle screen, so users can instantaneously be connected to their social networking sites.

Shark 3 (S3550): Compact and Curvilinear

The Shark 3 merges simplicity and style in one of best all-around slider phones on the market. The design finesse and originality introduces a new level of sophistication and sleekness for general mobile users. The patterned metallic back cover gives a premium look from every angle, while the compact size enhances portability and ergonomic comfort.

The slim and sleek exterior is complemented by superior function thanks to an enhanced user interface, offering effortless operation and optimized navigation. A new innovative UI features one additional soft key added in the bottom center which adapts to users’ needs for intuitive navigation. Optimized user scenarios streamline navigation paths for common functions such as message composition, and the efficient layout increases visibility and readability of the menu screens.

Connecting to social networks is a breeze, too with instant messenger and various SNS enablers. The Shark 3 is equipped with a 2 megapixel camera for capturing fun, spontaneous moments easily. Audible entertainment is just as easily accessible. There is 40MB of built-in memory and a microSD (up to 8GB), enough to have photo albums and music libraries within immediate reach.

The Notion Ink smartpad measures 6.3 x 9.8 x 0.6 inches and weighs 1.7lbs; as well as the triband (850/1900/2100) UMTS/HSDPA, WiFi b/g and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR it also squeezes in A-GPS, a digital compass, accelerometer and proximity, ambient light and water sensors. Connectivity includes USB, HDMI, a 3.5mm headphone jack and a microphone input, and there’s also a 3-megapixel autofocus camera with video recording support. Onboard storage is either 16GB or 32GB of SSD, and there’s an SD slot for augmenting that.

Initially – at least as it’s to be shown at CES – the smartpad will use the regular Android UI, with full gesture support. Navigation is either via the touchscreen or a trackpad, and Notion Ink have added a matte-finish anti-glare, oleophobic and scratch-resistant coating to the Pixel Qi display. Of course, the panel itself can be viewed indoors as a regular LCD, or outdoors in either transflective mode with reduced color vibrancy or fully reflective 64-level grayscale mode. Notion Ink say they’ve been developing a number of applications that should be added sometime after CES, including Office-style software, Flash-based titles and some graphics apps that include physics-based functionality. Ebook reading is also another possibility, and the company are in talks with several (unnamed) content providers.

Perhaps most importantly for a web-browsing tablet, battery life estimates are impressive. Notion Ink reckon the smartpad will be good for up to 48hrs standby on its integrated rechargeable Li-Ion battery, 8hrs of HD video playback and 16hrs of internet surfing over WiFi. It seems it’s the eight-core Tegra T20 chipset that’s primarily responsible for such longevity, though Notion Ink can’t share any more details on that SoC itself. Meanwhile media playback isn’t sacrificed, and Notion Ink have apparently played three 1080p HD videos simultaneously with only a small loss in frames.  The company is still working on optimizing the hardware, so we might see even greater runtimes and performance by the time the smartpad launches.

The big issue remaining is price, and so far we’re not sure exactly what sort of MRSP Notion Ink expect their Android Tegra tablet to command. The general consensus seems to be that a $300 price point is roughly what the market expects; however we’re not sure everything on the smartpad’s spec-sheet could be brought in for that price, at least not without carrier subsidies. We’ll update with more information when we have it, together with video.

That HDMI port will apparently be used to output 720p HD video (or perhaps even higher).  There’ll also be a 3.5mm headphone jack while, under the hood, a TI OMAP 3430 Cortex A8 processor potentially clocking in at 800MHz should keep things running smoothly.  There’s also multitouch support and Motorola’s Crystal Talk DSP system for voice calls, and while right now it’s running Android 2.0, the expectation is that it’ll get Android 2.1 by the time it launches.

Since it’s a slate rather than a slider like the DROID, the Sholes is tipped to be even thinner.  Connectivity is apparently UMTS/HSPA – no word on bands – and we’d guess there’ll be WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS in there too.  Given how impressive the DROID turned out to be, we’ve got high hopes for the Sholes.

[via the::unwired]

The Acer beTouch E100 and E101 both have 3.2-inch WQVGA touchscreens, 12mm thick casings and the same Qualcomm 7225 528MHz processor.  There’s also a 2-megapixel camera, Windows Mobile 6.5 with IE Mobile 6, and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR.  The differentiating factor is 3G: the E100 has quadband GSM and dualband HSDPA support, while the E101 makes do with quadband GSM and EDGE.  They’re already available in the UK, priced at £210 ($335) and £159 ($253) respectively (plus VAT).

Meanwhile the Acer beTouch E200 has largely the same specifications as the E100, but adds in a slide-down numeric keypad.  It keeps the HSDPA support, but boosts the camera to 3-megapixels, adds GPS and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR support.  It’s available for £225 ($358) in the UK (plus VAT).

Finally, the Acer neoTouch S200 gets Qualcomm’s 1GHz Snapdragon processor, a 3.8-inch WVGA touchscreen, quadband GSM and triband HSPA.  There’s a 5-megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash, WiFi b/g and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, together with GPS, an accelerometer and 3.5mm headphone jack.  It’s on sale in the UK for £295 ($470) plus VAT.

Press Release:

One Size Does Not Fit All

Technologies designed to meet a wide variety of communications needs

Smartphone users are not all the same; they have extremely different characteristics and priorities.

The choice of one product rather than another is broadly determined by how much that particular device meets the user’s needs: some users seek a sophisticated and powerful product purely for business use, some choose a product to keep in touch with their world, and there are those who prefer a stylish or glamorous look.

Following extensive market research on user expectations and the relationship between accessibility and content, Acer now presents two new product lines – beTouch and neoTouch – designed to cater for diversified targets and types of use.

The new product lines have a single common denominator: touch.

The two lines are designed to be cutting-edge devices for everyone, not only a limited elite class of users. From now on, anyone can access applications and services online with a simple touch of the finger.

beTouch
The beTouch line brings energy, colour, and warmth to the smartphone world and is destined to light up the lives of active and dynamic individuals who want to change their method of communicating. For this reason, the line is graphically represented by the colour orange, chosen as it is as vibrant and joyous as the beTouch itself.

Style-conscious people who constantly seek out fashion and the latest innovations choose their smartphone so that it reflects their own personality; people who focus directly on design and ease of use, but also insist on a mobile access to Internet to keep in touch with friends. People who won’t settle for anything less than a trendy and colourful device like the Acer beTouch E100/101.

If you prefer efficiency and immediacy, on the other hand, there is the beTouch E200. This smartphone features a slide down keyboard, making it the ideal choice for those who require constant connection with their workplace and friends who yet prefer simple and intuitive communications.

It’s the perfect combination of a traditional mobile phone and a highly advanced smartphone.

neoTouch
Acer, for its top of the line model for processing power, graphic capabilities and comprehensive connectivity, has chosen the elegance of brown to represent it because brown is a colour that evokes sophistication, taste, decisiveness and solidity.

The Acer neoTouch is a fast and powerful device, complete and versatile, but at the same time attractive and easy to use. It is Acer’s response to those trendy and demanding users who are perfectly at ease with technology and who only choose devices that fully satisfy their expectations in terms of communications, information, and entertainment.

The new Armani phone is a triband HSPA device, supporting the 900/1900/2100 bands, and will be available in Italy, the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Russia, China and the UAE (Dubai).  It also has quadband GSM support, and measures in at a chunky 118.5 x 58.3 x 16.4 mm.

What Samsung haven’t revealed is official pricing, though Friday’s reveal did suggest that the SIM-free, unlocked version of the Windows Phone would come in at €700 ($1,301).  No word on specific release dates as yet.

Press Release:

GIORGIO ARMANI, SAMSUNG AND MICROSOFT
PRESENT THE NEW GIORGIO ARMANI – SAMSUNG SMARTPHONE

Milan, October 9th, 2009 – Giorgio Armani, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., and Microsoft are proud to present the new Giorgio Armani-Samsung smartphone, the most elegant and functional mobile on the market. Giorgio Armani himself personally designed this stylish smartphone, as he did with the first Giorgio Armani Samsung mobile in 2007 and the Emporio Armani Samsung “Night Effect” mobile in 2008. In 2009, the new smartphone makes its debut with more powerful functions and superior usability. The next rendition of this style and technology partnership includes a Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system, a unique two step tilt hinge form factor with both full touch screen and QWERTY keyboard hybrid, and a stunning 3.5 inch Ultra Brilliant AMOLED display.

The Giorgio Armani-Samsung smartphone is part of an innovative brand alliance of portable electronics and household products by Giorgio Armani and Samsung Electronics. This phone stands out due to the innovative blend of Giorgio Armani’s refined style and Samsung Electronics’ cutting-edge technology.

Giorgio Armani, President and CEO of Giorgio Armani S.p.A., commented: “Today more than ever, elegant dressing is part of daily business life. When Samsung asked me to design the new business and lifestyle smartphone I decided to use my fashion aesthetic to create it. I simply aim to create a smartphone which is not only an elegant tool but also functional and useful, perfect for today’s managers. The result is a unique smartphone perfectly suited to every moment of one’s business and private day. This is the Armani aesthetic – to combine beauty with function in a simple and timeless way.”

JK Shin, Executive Vice President and head of the Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics, said: “We are delighted to have reached another milestone in the collaboration between Giorgio Armani and Samsung Electronics. This latest-generation mobile masterfully combines our experience in technology with a design from one of the world’s best known designers, and the functions offered by Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system. What’s more, the Giorgio Armani-Samsung smartphone is a demonstration of our commitment to offering customers cutting-edge technology in our products, along with exclusive design and fashion.”

“Mobile phones armed with Windows Mobile bring together the best of the Web, the PC, and mobile phones so that people can connect instantly to the experiences they care about,” said Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft Corp. “But people want more than just a useful device – they want a phone that offers design qualities that match their personality and lifestyle. The Giorgio Armani-Samsung smartphone we’re announcing today with Giorgio Armani and Samsung combines technology innovation and fashion to deliver a great mobile phone that also fulfills the desire for style and elegance.”

Designed to standout in the crowd

Like previous Giorgio Armani Samsung Mobile, the new device is designed by Giorgio Armani, reflecting his simple and graceful design philosophy. The unique two-step 30-degree tilt hinge form factor combines sophisticated design with exceptional usability. The phone also comes in a distinctive and elegant bronze gold color, which coordinates perfectly with Giorgio Armani’s suits.

Your mobile business partner

The new Giorgio Armani-Samsung smartphone offers always-on connectivity tools including 7.2Mbps HSDPA, 5.76Mbps HSUPA and WiFi access. With its unique form factor supporting full touch and QWERTY at same time, the phone provides a dynamic mobile internet experience through Push e-mail with Microsoft Exchange and full internet browsing.

The Giorgio Armani-Samsung smartphone comes with the new Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system. It’s one of the first phones available with the innovative Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system, which will lead the way to a new generation of mobile services and applications. Windows Mobile 6.5 includes a new start page and dashboard that simply and intuitively displays key productivity features such as e-mails, text messages, missed calls, and calendar appointments.

It also includes a touch interface that provides quick access to the main functions of the smartphone. The free My Phone service, which is a newly added Windows Mobile 6.5 application, lets users access, manage, and easily run backups of the personal information contained in the device using a password-protected Web-based service. Synchronization and automatic backups guarantee users that their contacts, appointments, text messages, and other information is kept up-to-date and is always easy to retrieve if the phone is lost or when changing phones.

Work hard but play harder

To satisfy business professionals, who want to easily and efficiently manage their work and personal lives, the Giorgio Armani-Samsung smartphone offers the latest multi-media features such as a 5-megapixel camera, a music player and a video player supporting various types of multimedia formats. The phone comes with 3.5” ultra brilliant AMOLED screen for viewing videos and slide shows in high-resolution and with reduced power consumption. Furthermore, it offers 8 Gigabytes of internal memory and an extendable microSD slot up to 32GB to store multimedia content.

The Giorgio Armani-Samsung smartphone also offers GPS navigation, so users can get their bearings wherever work or life takes them.

The Giorgio Armani-Samsung smartphone will be available in Italy, the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Russia, China, and the UAE (Dubai).

The Pulse has a 3.5-inch 320 x 480 touchscreen, 3.2-megapixel autofocus camera and GPS, together with HSDPA/HSUPA (7.2Mbps d/l and 2Mbps u/l) and Bluetooth.  There’s also the usual access to the Android Market, and Huawei have tweaked the phone’s homescreen with a new theme and five (rather than the usual three) panes.

Full specifications of the Pulse are here, and T-Mobile UK throw in a 2GB microSD card, a month’s trial of TeleNav turn-by-turn navigation, and Microsoft Exchange support.  No word on whether the Pulse will ever show up in the US, though.

There’s also HSDPA and Bluetooth, together with a DMB TV tuner for use in Korea, and a microSD card slot (happy with up to 16GB cards) for local media.  The whole thing measures 100.9 x 57.7 x 15.1 mm and weighs 132g.

Unfortunately there’s no 3.5mm headphones socket, and the W8200 looks to use Samsung’s proprietary connector rather than the far-preferable mini- or micro-USB.  No word on launch date or availability, either, though we’re guessing this will carry a luxury price tag to go along with its luxury branding.

[via HDBlog.it]

The H1 also has a 5-megapixel autofocus camera with flash, 16GB of onboard memory, GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0 and HSDPA, and measures 58 x 115.9 x 12.9 mm (134g).  As for the M1, that has 1GB of onboard storage and a microSD slot, together with GPS, Bluetooth 2.0, HSDPA, a 3-megapixel camera and measures 55 x 111 x 13.3 mm (111g).  Both support push email and offer around ten hours talktime.

As well as a unified address book there’s also integration with various IM clients, mapping with turn-by-turn guidance, GPS tagging for photos, the ability to post and check status updates to various social networks, and synchronisation with PCs and Macs.  Vodafone 360 will also offer music, game, video and app downloads.  For a full list of supported phones, check here.

[via AllAboutPhones.nl and via London Calling]

Press Release:

Vodafone Announces Vodafone 360

A Suite of Innovative, New Internet Services for Mobile and PC

Vodafone 360 is a brand new set of internet services for the mobile and PC which gathers all of a customer’s friends, communities, entertainment and personal favourites (like music, games, photos and video) in one place
At its heart Vodafone 360 has the most personal address book available, bringing together all of the contacts from the mobile phone, social networks and other internet accounts. It works across a range of mobile phones, including the new, exclusive Vodafone 360 phones, and synchs automatically with the PC
Connected address book – Vodafone People, open to everyone on any network across over 100 popular mobile phones, automatically synchs all contacts from a customer’s phone, Facebook®, Windows Live Messenger™ and Google Talk™, and will soon also include Twitter, Hyves and studiVZ
New suite of internet services accessible on multiple handsets as well as PC or Mac, including a wide range of apps, games, music and mapping services
Two tailor-made Vodafone 360 mobile handsets, manufactured by Samsung, give the best customer experience of the services including the unique 3D contacts display, driven by Vodafone’s ‘proximity algorithm’, bringing the most frequently contacted people closer to the front
Proprietary User Interface on Vodafone 360 mobiles, designed and developed by Vodafone using the LiMo operating system
Launching first in eight European countries by Christmas
24 September, 2009. London. Vodafone today announces the launch of Vodafone 360 – a new suite of innovative internet services for the mobile and PC.

All of a customer’s contacts, status updates and messaging services are brought together in one place enhancing the customer’s experience and use of social media. Customers will have integrated contacts, music, photos and mapping services and can share their favourite music choices and even their physical location, how and when they choose, with their chosen groups of friends.

The service is automatically backed up and synchronised, regularly and wirelessly, between the mobile and PC or Mac. All contacts updates, emails, photos and conversation history or settings changes made either at home or when on the move are saved, keeping all the content up-to-date.

“Vodafone 360 is the first service of its kind to offer customers the benefits of a truly integrated mobile internet experience that gathers all their contacts and content, all around them, in one place,” said Pieter Knook, Director of Internet Services at Vodafone Group.

“The beauty of Vodafone 360 is that all the services work together and they are easy to use. Vodafone 360 enables customers’ digital lives. Customers can stay in touch and share experiences through social networks, instant messaging, email, apps, maps, music and buying digital content on their mobile bill, with the personalised address book at its heart.”

Vodafone 360 is a substantiator of Vodafone’s new brand expression – ‘power to you’ – which is focused on putting the customer in control and enabling simple and easy to manage communications, both mobile and fixed.

Benefits:

bringing together all contacts and content in one place and allowing customers immediate access to their various contacts across different networking sites – all the latest information updates including Facebook status updates and the ability to chat through Windows Live Messenger and Google Talk
the ability to create different contact groups across social media networks, allowing customers to organise their contacts the way they want and manage how they share different information with different groups
the ability for customers and friends to share locations, tag and share pictures and favourite places
confidence that your connected address book is synchronised between your phone and the web and you can easily recover your phone contacts if you change or lose your mobile
access to the service through a variety of handsets and operating systems from multiple manufacturers – the ultimate experience being through a custom-built device
a catalogue of over one thousand Apps at launch available to different handsets, downloadable through the Vodafone Shop
the ability for non-Vodafone customers to access some of the range of services, linking them to their social networks via mobile.
The Vodafone 360 suite of services has been designed and developed by Vodafone. At launch the full Vodafone 360 experience will be available on two exclusive handsets built to Vodafone’s specification by Samsung. The Vodafone 360 H1 by Samsung boasts a 3.5” multitouch, high definition OLED screen, 16GB memory, WiFi, a maximum talk time of over 400 minutes (3G) and a 5 megapixel camera. It will be followed shortly by a second Samsung handset, offering customers a range of colours and price points.

At launch four Nokia Symbian smartphones will come pre-loaded with Vodafone 360 and part or all of the service will be downloadable to over one hundred popular phones. In the coming months Vodafone will be making the service available through as wide a selection of handsets and operating systems from multiple manufacturers as possible.

The 2009 launch in Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and the UK will be followed by launches in a number of other countries in 2010, including India, Turkey, South Africa, New Zealand and Romania and in France through SFR. through MTS in Russia, and through Vodafone Hutchison Australia.

Notes to Editors

1) The two Vodafone 360 handsets manufactured for Vodafone by Samsung give the best Vodafone 360 experience. Four Nokia handsets are preloaded for customers to buy in store and for existing customers 10 handsets can download the Vodafone 360 service. The People Service will be available on over 100 popular devices at launch for any customer on any network.

2) For images, go to www.vodafone.com/media

3) For more details on the service, go to www.vodafone.com/media

4) Hyves and VZ networks (which incorporates the schuelerVZ, studiVZ and meinVZ platforms) are leading Dutch and German social network services. Hyves and the Hyves logos are trademarks of Startphone Limited

5) Vodafone Group 2009. VODAFONE, Vodafone 360 and the Vodafone logos are trade marks of Vodafone Group. Other names used herein may be the trade marks of their respective owners.

6) Windows Live is either a registered trade mark or a trade mark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

7) Google Talk is a trademark of Google Inc..

8) Facebook® is a registered trademark of Facebook Inc.

Full specifications of the smartphone are unclear, but Archos did confirm that it would have a 4.3-inch 854 x 480 touchscreen (slightly smaller, but slightly higher resolution, than the Archos 5) together with using a faster, 1GHz ARM Cortex processor.  It also keeps its PMP-sibling’s slender build, measuring just 10mm thick, and a brief rear glimpse showed a camera lens.

No word on what sort of internal memory we can expect – though we’d like to think that Archos will offer the same 16GB, 32GB and 64GB flash versions as the Archos 5 – nor when the Archos Phone Tablet will drop.  Still, it certainly has potential as a MID/smartphone crossover device.

The MSM7627 has both a 600MHz applications processor, with floating point unit and L2 cache, and a second, 400MHz “modem” processor.  There’s also a 320MHz application DSP which is used for multimedia crunching, giving the Pixi the ability to handle full 30fps WVGA encoding and decoding, while a further 200MHz hardware-accelerated 3D graphics core supports OpenGL 2.0.

Qualcomm’s chipset also has integrated GPS and supports high-resolution cameras – though the Pixi’s 2-megapixel fixed-focus shooter likely won’t trouble it in that respect – and measures just 12mm x 12mm.  Interestingly for future GSM carriers (and international releases), the MSM7627 offers both EVDO Rev.A and HSDPA/HSUPA (7.2Mbps/5.76Mbps) connectivity, though we’re assuming the Sprint version of the Pixi will only have the CDMA elements activated.

For more on the Palm Pixi, check out our hands-on with the smartphone from last week.

[Thanks Tony!]

Those specs include a 9.7-inch capacitive touchscreen, integrated HSDPA module and a “long lasting” battery, though no claims on actual runtime have been made.  The Apple tablet is expected to use a P.A. Semi processor, again no huge surprise now that the company is under Cupertino’s broad umbrella.

As for pricing, that’s believed to fall somewhere in-between $799 and $999.  DynaPack are tipped to be providing the battery technology – complete with estimates of an ambitious 300,000 units per month – while Winktek will supply the touch panels.  The latter is already supplier for iPhone and iPod touch panels.

[via Engadget]

Of course, we’re not unused to the sight of any of these devices, and what we really wanted to know was how much they’d each cost.  Unfortunately Vodafone are keeping such details close to their chest, so right now you’re registering your interest rather than placing a true pre-order.

More on the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X2 here, the LG GM750 here, and the Nokia E72 here.  As soon as we hear full pricing we’ll let you know.

Press Release:

VODAFONE UK LAUNCHES NEW HANDSET RANGE

- Pre-register and be the first in line for the Sony Ericsson XPERIA™ X2, LG GM750 and Nokia E72 -

Vodafone UK has announced the launch of three exclusive new smartphones from Sony Ericsson, LG and Nokia. Enabling Vodafone customers to divide their apps and work/life content, listen to music or take quality images, the handsets are sleek, practical, great for multimedia and packed full of features. Alina Lapusneanu, Director of Terminals for Vodafone UK & Ireland, said: “I am delighted to announce these excellent additions to Vodafone’s smartphone range. With exclusives from Sony Ericsson, LG and Nokia we are confident that Vodafone will be the preferred choice for customers seeking the latest smartphone.”

The Sony Ericsson XPERIA™ X2 combines both touchscreen and Qwerty keyboard brilliantly and is availably exclusively on Vodafone UK until 31st December. Like its predecessor, the XPERIA™ X1, this new smartphone is ideal for those who always need to be connected with its flexible desktop panels categorised for life: communication and fun, multimedia, business and internet. Users can also enjoy amazing multimedia with 3.2” high resolution touch screen and DVD quality, as well as an 8.1 megapixel camera with Photo light. Also, with great on-board functionality including Geo-Tagging and Motion Gaming, this handset provides for every occassion.

Key features include:
· Windows 6.5
· 8.1 MP camera with autofocus and flash
· View your favourite YouTube videos
· Microsoft Pocket Office and Exchange
· Touchscreen with slide-out Qwerty keyboard
· SlideView feature provides quick access to frequently used phone activities
· TV-out connector
· At least 10 panels to organise work & apps with more available online
· Available online and in selected Retail stores
· Pricing not yet confirmed

Pre-register at http://shop.vodafone.co.uk/shop/mobile-phone/sony-ericsson-x2 to be the first to receive the Sony Ericsson XPERIA™ X2.

Customers wanting a similarly exciting device can now get the LG GM750 exclusively on Vodafone – LG’s first Windows Mobile 6.5 device. This handset is brimming with great applications including Facebook, Twitter, email and instant messaging on-the-move. The four homescreens allow you to divide your apps so you can separate your work and personal content. And thanks to Windows Mobile 6.5, everything’s fast, sleek and easy to use.

The large screen makes the most of the 3D graphics, 5 megapixel camera and easy-to-use GPS. All these features, not to mention fully loaded MP3 player, the LG GM750 manages to squeeze them all into a stylish handset.

Key features include:
· Windows 6.5
· 5 MP camera
· Inbuilt GPS navigation
· Pocket Office and supports Microsoft Exchange
· 3.0″ Touchscreen
· Four homescreens to divide apps, work/personal content
· Exclusive to Vodafone until 31 Dec 2009
· Pricing not yet confirmed.

Pre-register at http://shop.vodafone.co.uk/shop/mobile-phone/lg-gm750 to jump to the front of the queue for the LG GM750.

The Nokia E72 cleverly combines work and play and follows on from the hugely succesful Nokia E71. A full Qwerty keyboard makes messaging a breeze so whether you’re sending a text, email or just updating your status profile on Facebook, the Vodafone exclusive Nokia E72 will cater for your requirements.

You’ll never lose your way again with inbuilt GPS and handy compass, all clearly displayed on the clear, large screen and with simple navigation keys. Users can use the GPS to find the best route with step by step directions or let the handset suggest suitable alternatives. The 5 megapixel camera with flash enables to snap flawless shots day or night.

Key features include:
· 2.36″ screen for great internet browsing
· Fast 3G connection for downloading your favourite YouTube videos or accessing your social network site
· 5 MP camera with one touch autofocus and flash
· Symbian OS version 9.3
· Inbuilt GPS
· Qwerty keyboard
· Vodafone colour exclusive on black device

Be first in line to receive your Nokia E72. Pre-register here:http://shop.vodafone.co.uk/shop/mobile-phone/nokia-e72

All details can be found at www.vodafone.co.uk

Currently the only color option listed is black, though we saw blue and silver versions while at the launch event last week.  The Booklet 3G has a 120GB hard-drive, runs Windows 7 and packs WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth in addition to its cellular modem.

Processor is Intel’s 1.6GHz Atom Z530, paired with 1GB of RAM, plus there’s an accelerometer, HDMI output, three USB 2.0 ports and a battery Nokia insist is good for 12 hours runtime even in the real-world.  To be honest we’re more keen to see how much the Nokia Booklet 3G comes in at subsidized – and to see which carriers take a risk on it – but if you simply have to get one as soon as they’re available then preordering may be your best bet.

[via Notebook Italia]

Video demo after the cut

Two wireless modules are inside, the first packaging together WiFi, Bluetooth and optional AGPS, while the second is for the cellular broadband module.  Other connectivity includes three USB 2.0 ports, a VGA output and audio in/out, plus there’s a 2-megapixel dual-headed webcam and 4-in-1 memory card reader.

VIA are claiming up to three hours runtime from the standard 4-cell battery, and the whole thing measures 240 x 175 x 36.2 mm and tips the scales at 1.3kg.  RAM is up to 2GB and various HDD and SSD options will be on offer; similarly it can run Windows Vista, XP or a Linux OS.  Despite the size, it’s still capable of DirectX 9.0 graphics, video acceleration of MPEG-2, MPEG-4, WMV9, VC1 and DiVX content, HD video and 8-channel audio.

We’re waiting to hear back from VIA as to what sort of pricing and availability the WiMAX-equipped eNote will see; we’ll update when we have more details.

Press Release:

VIA Adopts Sequans Mobile WiMAX Chip Technology for New VIA eNote Turnkey Solution

Sleek and stylish, the feature-rich 11.6” thin and light notebook design will be unveiled at the Sequans booth during 4G World in Chicago, September 15-18

Taipei, Taiwan, 10 September 2009 – VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator of power efficient x86 processor platforms, today announced the availability of the new VIA eNote Turnkey Solution, a thin and light notebook that strikes the perfect balance between netbook ultra-portability and notebook performance and functionality. The snappy 11.6” design, which incorporates both state-of-the art WiMAX and Wi-Fi connectivity, will be demo’d from September 15-18 at 4G World in Chicago in Sequans’ booth, number 423.

The VIA eNote Turnkey Solution’s Mobile WiMAX chip is provided by Sequans Communications, the leading supplier of chips for the WiMAX market. Sequans technology delivers high throughput with low power consumption using Sequans mimoMAX™ technology, which combines a maximum likelihood decoder on the downlink with two transmitters (2Tx) on the uplink – a unique feature that can significantly improve link budget and greatly enhance coverage and capacity.

“The VIA eNote Turnkey Solution is one of the most advanced mobile notebooks in the world,” said Georges Karam, Sequans CEO. “It incorporates all the features one would expect in a state-of-the-art ultra mobile product, plus all the connectivity options that users need to experience truly high speed connectivity anywhere they go.”

“Sequans technology brings the best in mobile WiMAX connectivity to the VIA eNote Turnkey Solution,” said Richard Brown, Vice President of Marketing, VIA Technologies, Inc. “The result is a device that, for the first time, fuses the best features from the netbook and notebook segments resulting in a highly connected mobile product that is unmatched in both functionality and value.”

About the VIA eNote Turnkey Solution
Powered by the 1.3GHz VIA Nano processor and the VIA VX800 digital media IGP chipset, the eNote is a slim-line, 1.3kg, 11.6″ form factor design that supports WXGA screen resolutions and high performance VIA Chrome9™ DirectX™ 9.0 3D graphics. Advanced video acceleration for MPEG-2, MPEG-4, WMV9, VC1 and DiVX video formats, a VMR capable HD video processor and 8-channel HD audio make it a feature-rich thin and light platform.

The VIA eNote Turnkey Solution offers unrivaled broadband connectivity options though two internal modules, with the first one featuring WiFi, Bluetooth, and optional AGPS connections and the second one offering WiMAX, HSDPA, and EV-DO/W-CDMA options. Additionally, the device comes with three USB 2.0 ports, a VGA port, and audio-in/audio-out jacks as well as a 4-in-1 card reader (SD/SDIO/MMC/MS) and a 2 mega-pixel dual-headed web camera.

The VIA eNote Turnkey Solution supports a wide range of operating system environments, including Microsoft Windows Vista Basic, Microsoft Windows XP, and various Linux distributions. The device features up to 2GB DDR2 DRAM and can be equipped with a choice of hard disk drive and solid state storage options.

Featuring a 4-cell 2600mA lithium-ion battery, the VIA eNote Turnkey Solution delivers up to three hours of battery life and measures just 240mm(W)x175mm (D) x36.2mm (H).

Hands-on video after the cut

There’s also a 5-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics and a dual-LED flash, as well as a TV output and support for video recording.  It also has a touch-enabled browser with Flash Lite 3.0 support, plus access to Nokia’s Ovi suite of software downloads, messaging and other services.

Other connectivity includes Bluetooth 2.0, WiFi, A-GPS and a micro-USB port.  In the hand, we found the display felt little different to the excellent resistive panel of the N900, but the phone in general is pretty responsive.  For more, check out the video below.

Specifications of the two are roughly identical, bar their keypads. Each has a 2.4-inch 240 x 320 QVGA display, microUSB connector and 3.5mm headset jack, while wireless connectivity includes HSDPA/HSUPA, WiFi b/g, quadband GSM/EDGE and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR with A2DP stereo support. There’s also A-GPS, a 3.2-megapixel camera on the back and a VGA camera up front for video calls, together with an FM radio with RDS and a huge 1,500mAh battery that occupies a large portion of each phone’s volume. Also tucked inside the battery compartment is a microSDHC slot which will take up to 16GB cards; both phones have around 60MB of integrated storage.

In terms of design, both the E52 and E55 are relatively sober. With the exception of the oddly-textured battery cover and the control-key surround, the phone is pretty much all plastic. That adds up to a low weight of around 98g, plus slim dimensions of 116.5 x 49 x 9.9mm, but it does leave both phones feeling a little cheap. Hardware controls include a separate power button on the top of the phone, which is reasonably tough to press (as you’d probably hope), then a camera shortcut/shutter key, volume and voice-control keys on the top left-hand side.

Up front, aside from the eye-catching ‘board of the E55, there’s the usual Eseries control key layout. That means a large, square D-pad with central select key, nicely sized for thumbing, then two softkeys, send/end buttons, and two rocker keys in-between that offer Home, calendar, mail and back/delete shortcuts.

Since the E55 bears the more interesting keyboard of the two, that’s where we reached first. The concept is simple; the “half-QWERTY” ‘board pairs two letters to each key, and uses either predictive text or simply recognizing double-taps to manually pick between them. Being fans of full-QWERTY messaging phones, we were surprised to have so much trouble aclimatizing to the keys. Perhaps it’s the lack of differentiation between the buttons, the close spacing, or maybe just that our fingers are too trained to narrow numerical keypads, but we made constant mistakes. Changing between automatically-recognized words is also made tricky, as you have to reach up to the D-pad rather than bash at the + key in the lower-left corner as you would with a normal T9 phone.

In comparison we found it easier to type on the E52′s keys, simply because our fingers are already trained to use T9 and the buttons themselves are larger. It was also easier to type one-handed; with the E55, reaching across to the opposite row or squeezing in to the nearest row to the hand that’s holding the phone can be tricky, especially with the keys all the way down in the very bottom third of the candybar.

Still, with more use we imagine our speed on the E55 could have increased, and both phones have tactile, sturdy buttons with good feedback. That’s a relief, as Nokia are obviously intending them to be heavy on the messaging, preloading not only POP and IMAP clients but support for Exchange push email. We had no trouble using any of the three on the E52 and E55, which can be set to poll the email server at set intervals, when messages arrive (Exchange only) or when manually prompted. The 2.4-inch display is inescapably small, however, and with its QVGA resolution pales compared to other smartphones we’ve seen in recent months. S60 is obviously well placed to handle this, and menus and other dialogs are well-scaled, but it makes for frustration when trying to churn through an overloaded inbox. Very little of the body of an email shows on-screen without first scrolling down, and that can induce a pregnant pause while the phone either churns or grabs data from the server.

Web-browsing is also cramped, but it’s worth noting that both the E52 and E55 support accelerometer-led screen rotation, which does add a little more horizontal width (it also works to mute incoming calls or “sleep” alarms when you flip the phone over). The Webkit-based browser common to S60 devices has been updated to version 7.1, and is certainly faster than we’ve experienced on earlier handsets. Given the lack of a touchscreen and the small display, full webpages were less than pleasant to navigate (though, with patience, possible) but mobile-formatted sites whipped by. We also appreciated the fact that Nokia have used a transflective panel in both handsets, which means that outdoors and sunlight use is certainly possible.

In fact, both phones seem to prioritize everyday usability and reliability. Their cameras eschew complex flash assemblies and auto-focusing lenses in favor of a new “extended depth of field” (EDoF) fixed-focus lens. EDoF uses some nifty processing to eke better clarity out of a simpler lens assembly, and in decent conditions it works reasonably well. By “decent” we somewhat obviously mean bright lighting, since the LED flash is as mediocre as LED flashes in general always are, and lacking a macro mode they produce increasingly softer images when you get closer than a half-meter or so. Still, not having to wait for auto-focus to click into place does mean shots are taken very quickly, and even fast-moving subjects can be caught with little blurring.

The E52 and E55′s real strengths, though, is in their battery life. Nokia quote up to 8hrs GSM talktime or 6hrs WCDMA talktime, together with up to 23 days GSM standby or 29 days WCDMA standby. Alternatively the crisp-sounding music player – which is crying out for you to lose the included stereo headset and plug in a pair of your own headphones, at which point the quality is very good – should manage up to 18hrs playback. We found that with WiFi constantly turned on, together with push-email from an Exchange server, a few phone calls each day and some SMS messaging we managed close to five days of before needing to charge the battery, making the E52 and E55 excellent choices for those prone to forgetting to charge their cellphone. The freedom of being able to, say, go away for the weekend and not bother packing a charger takes some beating.  Not only that but voice call quality is excellent, both normally and when using the speakerphone.

Contrary to our original expectations, we preferred the Nokia E52 to its E55 sibling. The unusual keyboard on the E55 may find favor for those whose fingers aren’t already trained in T9 predictive text, but we struggled with the compact layout and frustrating symbol selection. Meanwhile the standard keys on the E52 made it perfect for the sort of one-handed use a slim, traditionally-designed handset is best for. S60 remains an uninspiring OS compared to much of what else is happening in the smartphone market, but it’s capable and, with Exchange support and a little patience, both the E52 and E55 could be both your business handset and your personal one, with the stellar battery life to span a whole working week without gasping for breath.

Video demos after the cut

The Nokia N900 also has, of course, a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, OpenGL ES 2.0 graphics acceleration, full Adobe Flash 9.4 support and a 5-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, dual-LED flash and GPS geotagging.  A microSD card slot means you can increase onboard storage to 48GB, and Nokia estimate the whole thing will cost €500 ($712) when it lands in “select markets” from October 2009.

The N900 measures 110.9 x 59.8 x 18 mm (19.55 at its thickest point) and weighs 181g; more details at the official product page.  As for Maemo 5, there’s plenty more information promised at the official blog in the run-up to Nokia World.  SlashGear will be there bringing back all the information next week.

Nokia N900 overview:

Nokia N900 Interactions overview:

Press Release:

Maemo 5 injects speed and power into mobile computing
August 27, 2009

The new Nokia N900: Computer-grade performance in a handset

Espoo, Finland – Nokia today marked the next phase in the evolution of Maemo software with the new Nokia N900. Taking its cues from the world of desktop computing, the open source, Linux-based Maemo software delivers a PC-like experience on a handset-sized device.

The Nokia N900 has evolved from Nokia’s previous generation of Internet Tablets and broadens the choice for technology enthusiasts who appreciate the ability to multitask and browse the internet like they would on their desktop computer.

Running on the new Maemo 5 software, the Nokia N900 empowers users to have dozens of application windows open and running simultaneously while taking full advantage of the cellular features, touch screen and QWERTY keyboard.

“With Linux software, Mozilla-based browser technology and now also with cellular connectivity, the Nokia N900 delivers a powerful mobile experience,” says Anssi Vanjoki, Executive Vice President, Markets, Nokia. “The Nokia N900 shows where we are going with Maemo and we’ll continue to work with the community to push the software forward. What we have with Maemo is something that is fusing the power of the computer, the internet and the mobile phone, and it is great to see that it is evolving in exciting ways.”

Designed for computer-grade performance in a compact size, Maemo complements Nokia’s other software platforms, such as Symbian, which powers Nokia’s smartphones.

“Just as Nokia continues to expand and diversify its device portfolio, so it is deploying multiple platforms to allow it to serve different purposes and address different markets. While we have seen continued growth in Symbian as a smartphone platform, Maemo enables Nokia to deliver new mobile computing experiences based on open-source technology that has strong ties with desktop platforms,” says Jonathan Arber, Senior Research Analyst in Consumer Mobile at IDC.

More multitasking with Maemo
The Nokia N900 packs a powerful ARM Cortex-A8 processor, up to 1GB of application memory and OpenGL ES 2.0 graphics acceleration. The result is PC-like multitasking, allowing many applications to run simultaneously. Switching between applications is simple, as all running content is constantly available through the dashboard. The panoramic homescreen can be fully personalized with favorite shortcuts, widgets and applications.

To make web browsing more enjoyable, the Nokia N900 features a high-resolution WVGA touch screen and fast internet connectivity with 10/2 HSPA and WLAN. Thanks to the browser powered by Mozilla technology, websites look the way they would on any computer. Online videos and interactive applications are vivid with full Adobe Flash(TM) 9.4 support. Maemo software updates happen automatically over the internet.

Messaging on the N900 is easy and convenient thanks to the full physical slide-out QWERTY keyboard. Setting up email happens with only a few touches and the Nokia Messaging service mobilizes up to 10 personal email accounts. Text message or IM exchanges with friends are shown in one view and all conversations are organized as separate windows.

The Nokia N900 has 32GB of storage, which is expandable up to 48GB via a microSD card. For photography, the Maemo software and the N900 come with a new tag cloud user interface that will help users get the most out of the 5MP camera and Carl Zeiss optics.

The Nokia N900 will be available in select markets from October 2009 with an estimated retail price of EUR 500 excluding sales taxes and subsidies. The Nokia N900 will be displayed at Nokia World, Stuttgart, on September 2. More information on Maemo is available at http://maemo.nokia.com.

The netbook itself, loving called the Booklet 3G, is about 1.25kg in weight, and only 2cm thick with an aluminum chassis. We know it’s going to be using an Intel Atom processor, but as of right now we don’t know the exact details regarding which processor will be making its way into the Booklet 3G. The netbook also has a 10.1-inch glass HD-ready display, and has an HDMI output for HD video playback. The body has 3 USB 2.0 ports, and an SD card sot. Bluetooth comes standard, and there’s even a front-facing webcam to take care of all your video calling needs.

The video showcases some neat stuff, so we’ve gone ahead and embedded it for your pleasure. It looks like Nokia is working in the opposite direction as Apple, but let’s hope that Nokia is just as lucky in their new market as Apple was. From the looks of it, they might be on the right track. So stay tuned for Nokia World next week.

[images via Reuters]

Video demo after the cut

Other ports include three USB 2.0 connectors and an SD card slot, plus there’s Bluetooth and a front-facing webcam.  OS is Windows 7, at least going by the video below, and there’s integration with Nokia’s Ovi services including Maps for Ovi that uses the GPS and A-GPS, music downloads, VPN integration and more.  Nokia are also talking about a hot-swappable SIM slot, which suggests you’ll be able to flip between 3G connections without needing to shut off the Booklet.

Nokia are promising the full specifications and pricing for the Booklet 3G at Nokia World next week.  SlashGear will be there, and we’ll be bringing you all the details from the show; until then, check out Nokia’s demo video below:

Press Release:

Nokia Booklet 3G brings all day mobility to the PC world
August 24, 2009

Espoo, Finland – After more than 25 years as a pioneer and leader in the mobile industry, Nokia will bring its rich mobility heritage and knowledge to the PC world with the new, Windows based, Nokia Booklet 3G.

Powered by the efficient Intel Atom processor, the Nokia Booklet 3G delivers impressive performance with up to 12 hours of battery life, enabling people to leave their power cable behind and still be connected and productive. Delivering the rich experience of a full-function PC inside an ultra-portable aluminum chassis, the new mini-laptop weighs 1.25 kilograms, measures slightly more than two centimeters thin, and has the features one would expect from the world’s leading mobile device manufacturer. A broad range of connectivity options – including 3G/ HSPA and Wi-Fi – gives consumers high speed access to the Internet, including Nokia’s broad suite of Ovi services, and allows them to make the most of every moment and every opportunity.

“A growing number of people want the computing power of a PC with the full benefits of mobility,” said Kai Oistamo, Nokia’s Executive Vice President for Devices. “We are in the business of connecting people and the Nokia Booklet 3G is a natural evolution for us. Nokia has a long and rich heritage in mobility and with the outstanding battery life, premium design and all day, always on connectivity, we will create something quite compelling. In doing so we will make the personal computer more social, more helpful and more personal.”

The mini-laptop also comes with an HDMI port for HD video out, a front facing camera for video calling, integrated Bluetooth and an easily accessible SD card reader. Other premium features include the 10-inch glass HD ready display and integrated A-GPS which, working with the Ovi Maps gadget, can pinpoint your position in seconds and open up access for a truly personal maps experience. The Nokia Booklet 3G also brings a number of other rich Ovi experiences to life, whether its access and playback of millions of tracks through the Nokia Music Store, or using Ovi Suite to sync seamlessly from your Nokia smartphone, to your mini-laptop, to the cloud.

The Nokia Booklet 3G will widen the Nokia portfolio, satisfying a need in the operator channel, and bringing another important ingredient in the move towards becoming a mobile solutions company.

Further information, including detailed specifications, market availability and pricing, will be announced at Nokia World on September 2. For more information on Nokia World, visit: http://events.nokia.com/nokiaworld/home.htm

However you do get HSPA 900/2100MHz together with quadband GSM/EDGE, along with WiFi b/g, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR and GPS/A-GPS.  HTC’s TouchFlo UI is also present, and as you can see from the image above it has a slightly tweaked appearance for its WM6.5 incarnation.  The zoom-strip from the Diamond2 and Pro2 is also present, and inside HTC’s old favorite, the Qualcomm MSM7225 528MHz processor, does duty with 256MB ROM and 256MB RAM.

Renders of the Mega were spotted back in August, and while we can’t exactly describe the 104 x 55 x 12.8mm handset as handsome, it does have a certain sturdy charm.  What remains to be seen is pricing; HTC CEO Peter Chou has previously suggested that their mid-range devices will carry roughly $300 price tags, pre-subsidies and discounts.

Your money gets you a 3.5-inch 320 x 480 touchscreen, HSDPA and HSUPA for up to 7.2Mbps uplinks and 5.6Mbps downlinks (network depending), and both WiFI and GPS.  There’s also Bluetooth 2.0, a 3.2-megapixel camera, and a microSD card slot, and Huawei are saying there’s also native Microsoft Exchange support.

No word from the online store themselves as to when the Pulse is expected to land, but according to Dutch site Tweakers it’ll make an appearance sometime in October.  We’ll have to wait to see if that pans out for certain, but considering the price is quite a bit cheaper than, say, HTC’s Android range, the Pulse may be a surprise hit.

[via Unwired View]

To be frank, you’re looking at a pretty straightforward Windows Mobile messaging phone, though in lacking a touchscreen the B7330 does at least mark a small change from other WM6.5 devices we’ve seen previewed to date.  In fact, the display is a 2.63-inch 320 x 320 TFT, its relatively small size keeping the overall bulk down to 115 x 59 x 10.8 mm.

Finally there’s the usual splash of Bluetooth, GPS, WiFi and a microSD card slot, together with a 1,500mAh battery that’s yet to be accompanied by any runtime predictions but which, if we were to be pushed at gunpoint to make some of our own, we’d expect a couple of average days use from before a rejuicing was in order.  The Samsung Omnia Pro B7330 is tipped to land in October; no word on pricing as yet.

[via Unwired View]

Speaking to Pocket-lint, the honest CEO confirmed that the first-gen Modu would see a release in 2009 across Russia, India, the Philippines, Greece, Romania and parts of South America.  Meanwhile the Modu 2 would get a launch in different markets, with the two remaining on sale at the same time; the company have tipped the US, Japan, UK and Western Europe as prime targets for the reworked handset.

While no timescale for the new device – nor the carriers it may be offered on – has been given, Moran did confirm that the company expects to announce a new product at Mobile World Congress in February 2010.  The only confirmed specifications are 3.5G HSPA and the touchscreen, as well as the same dock connector – but a very different form-factor – to the Modu 1.

Early sales of that first phone have apparently reached around 1,000 handsets, with a full launch taking place in Israel come October 2009.  The most popular accessory jacket has been a digital picture frame, for displaying images.

That camera comes in at a lower resolution than the last figure – 8-megapixels – we heard, which will be a disappointment to some, but hopefully the rear-panel render (which you can see in the gallery below) will make up for it.  Other specs include a microSD card slot, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, GPS and A-GPS, together with a g-sensor, both ambient light and proximity sensors, and a 3.5mm headset jack.

There’s also dualband WCDMA/HSPA (900/2100MHz) and quadband GSM/EDGE, setting the Leo up for 7.2Mbps downlinks and 2Mbps uplinks, network depending.  ROM is 512MB and RAM 320MB, and the whole thing measures a skinny 121 x 67 x 11 mm.  That’s a little longer and wider than the Touch HD but a millimeter thinner.

No word on pricing, but the HTC Leo is expected to drop onto operators’ shelves in October.

There’s also standard WiFi a/g/n, Bluetooth, gigabit ethernet and GPS, together with optional HSDPA.  A standard DVD burner, PC card slot, fingerprint scanner and TPM security module round out the main specifications, and Stealth suggest you’ll see up to 6hrs runtime from the standard 7,800mAh battery.

The whole thing weighs a not-inconsiderable 9.04lbs and measures a chunky 9.96 x 13.54 x 2.31 inches.  The Stealth NW-2000 is available to order now, priced from $4,895.

Press Release:

Stealth Computer Releases their latest Notebook Warrior PC
A Hybrid Rugged Notebook/Tablet Computer

Toronto ~ August 2009 – Stealth.com Inc. (Stealth Computer) a leading ISO 9001 manufacturer of industrial rugged computers and peripherals has released their new hybrid Notebook Warrior series computer. The all-new Stealth Model: NW-2000 Rugged PC provides the ultimate in mobile flexibility with the ability to quickly transform from a rugged notebook PC into a rugged Tablet PC in seconds. (and vice-versa)

Stealth’s versatile and full-featured ruggedized notebook/tablet computer was built to handle demanding environments in both indoor and outdoor/field applications. The NW-2000 rugged mobile machine meets Military Standard MIL-810F specifications providing for superior performance over commercial grade products. Stealth’s Notebook Warrior is encapsulated in a magnesium alloy chassis with built-in weather protective doors for all I/O ports. The IP54 / NEMA13 environmental protection provides a degree of defense in adverse operating conditions with protection from lint, dust and the spraying of water.

“The Stealth NW-2000 Rugged Notebook/tablet is the ideal solution for Government; industrial/commercial customers who are interested in the ability to work in rough environments yet maintain productivity without the risk of data or performance losses” stated Ed Boutilier President & CEO of Stealth.com Inc.

Stealth’s NW-2000 ships standard with a sunlight viewable 13.3″ WXGA (1280 x 800) LCD screen, ideal for high ambient light conditions. The external video graphics output provides resolutions up to QXGA (2048 x 1536). A built-in touch screen sensor allows finger-touch inputs directly on the LCD or the use of a stylus pen (included) for pinpoint data input accuracy. Stealth’s rugged machine is powered with the Intel Memrom ultra low voltage processor providing for efficient power and thermal management. The Stealth NW-2000 measures just 9.96″(D) x 13.54″(W) x 2.31″(H) or (253mm x 344mm x 59mm) and weighs 9.04lbs (4.1kg)

The Back-Lit 86-Key keyboard allows for easy operation in dark environments with a simple on/off brightness control. The system’s standard security features include a shock mounted removable hard drive, fingerprint recognition sensor and a TPM module. Stealth understands communications on-the-go is of vital importance and has built-in a wide range of connectivity that includes 802.11a/g/n, Bluetooth V2.0, 10/100/1000Mbps LAN, RJ11 Modem and Optional WWAN HSDPA / GPRS / GSM / WCDMA connectivity.

Stealth products are ideal for demanding applications within the Industrial, Commercial, Scientific Research, Military, Marine, Public Safety, Utility, Transportation, Mining and Telecommunications markets. The new Stealth NW-2000 rugged hybrid PC is available now and starts at $4,895.00 USD

About Stealth
Founded in 1990 Stealth.Com, is a leading manufacturer of specialized Computers and Peripherals. The company is ISO 9001 registered and continually develops innovative products designed to meet the exact needs of their clients. For two decades Stealth has provided thousands of proven reliable product solutions that have assisted clients with a myriad of applications. Our impressive customer base includes a wide range of customers from single man operations to Fortune 500 companies, Military installations and Governments worldwide. www.stealth.com

Video hands-on after the cut

For a start there’s that 3.7-inch WVGA AMOLED resistive touchscreen, plus either 8 or 16GB of internal storage and a microSD card slot.  The GT-i8000 has a 5-megapixel autofocus camera with dual LED flash and geotagging, face/smile detection, digital image stabilization and 15fps video recording.  Connectivity includes WiFi b/g, Bluetooth with A2DP support, a microUSB port, 3.5mm headphones socket and quadband 850/900/1800/1900 GSM/EDGE data.

Finally there’s an accelerometer, GPS, DivX/Xvid support, an FM radio with RDS, 800MHz CPU and a 1,500mAh battery, all squashed into a phone 118 x 59.6 x 11.9 mm in size.  In fact the only real drawback about the GT-i8000 is that it runs Windows Mobile 6.1, which even Samsung’s TouchWiz 2.0 UI can’t really save.  Still no word from either the Canadian or US carrier as to whether they’ll be offering the Omnia II GT-i8000.

[via Nowhere Else; via BGR]

Executive laps should be kept comfortably cool, too, with Acer Thermal Comfort technology, which apparently uses Intel’s Laminar Wall Jet system to create a cushion of cool air in-between the laptop and the user.  As for specifications, there’s the same mixture of Core 2 Solo SU3500 and Core 2 Duo SU9400/SU9600 processors, Intel GMA 4500MHD or ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4330 graphics, and up to 8GB of RAM supported. 

Connectivity ranges from standard gigabit ethernet, WiFi draft-n and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, through to optional 3G HSPA.  The 13.3-inch Acer Travelmate 8371 Timeline is available in Europe now, priced from €619 ($880) pre-tax (see our Timeline 3810T review here), while the remaining models will arrive in September from €699 ($993) pre-tax.  Full specifications for the three Acer Travelmate Timeline models in the gallery below.

Release schedules for the nuvifone G60 have been something of a running joke over the past year, with the handset first tipped to arrive in Q2 2008.  It’s a quadband GSM, triband (850/1900/2100) HSDPA 3.6Mbps device, with WiFi b/g, Bluetooth, a 3-megapixel autofocus camera and, of course, GPS.  It runs Garmin’s custom software on top of a Linux core, with a 3.55-inch resistive touchscreen and up to 4hrs talktime.

As for the M20, that runs Windows Mobile 6.1 and has dualband HSPA (900/2100), WiFi b/g, Bluetooth and a 3-megapixel autofocus camera.  Its display is smaller, at 2.8-inches, still resistive, and there’s GPS for geotagging and navigation.  No prices for either device have been released.

The release ties into a preview piece from a Malaysian site [via GPSTracklog] published earlier this week, with more screenshots than you could hope for and, in the short time they had to play, generally positive feedback.  You can check out our hands-on with the two nuvifone models here. 

Press Release:

Garmin-Asus nüvifone™ Available for Purchase in Asia

CAYMAN ISLANDS & TAIPEI, Taiwan–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Garmin-Asus, a co-branded alliance between Garmin® Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN) and ASUSTeK Computer Inc. (TAIEX: 2357), announced that the Garmin-Asus nüvifone G60 will go on sale in Taiwan on July 27, and in Singapore and Malaysia by the end of August. Also in August, the Garmin-Asus nüvifone M20 will go on sale in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia.

“We can’t wait for our customers to start using a nüvifone,” said Cliff Pemble, Garmin’s president and COO. “Our lives are all about location. The nüvifone is designed around that premise and that’s what differentiates it from the myriad of other phones on the market.”

“Whether it’s talking and navigating simultaneously, geotagging a photograph or navigating to an address on the web, the nüvifone seamlessly links navigation with other commonly performed activities,” said Benson Lin, Asus Vice President and General Manager of Handheld Business Group.

The Navigation Phone

The Garmin-Asus nüvifone series is a breakthrough product line that integrates navigation and location based services (LBS) like no other phone in the market today. It is ideal for those seeking an all-in-one, LBS-centric touchscreen phone, mobile web-browser and personal navigator. The nüvifone G60 and M20 have touchscreen displays that feature three primary icons – “Call,” “Search” and “View Map.” Customers can easily scroll through the other icons by swiping their finger across the displays, and a built-in accelerometer allows every screen to be viewed in either portrait or landscape orientation.

Navigate Wherever, Whenever

The nüvifone G60 and M20 come with preloaded maps of North America, Eastern and Western Europe, or specific Asia-Pacific regions. Since the maps reside on the nüvifone, customers will receive turn-by-turn voice-prompted directions to millions of destinations without accessing their carrier’s data plan. The nüvifone G60 and M20 utilize a real GPS receiver with hotfix, in addition to A-GPS (assisted GPS), so that customers always have directions at their fingertips, regardless of if they are in their provider’s coverage area.

Just as with Garmin’s acclaimed nüvi® product line, the nüvifone series has millions of preloaded points of interest (POIs) including hotels, restaurants and street addresses. The POIs can be easily accessed for turn-by-turn voice prompted directions. If a turn is missed along the route, the nüvifone G60 and M20 will automatically recalculate a route and get the user back on track. The nüvifone also offers a “Where am I?” feature so that users will know their exact latitude and longitude coordinates, nearest address, intersection, hospital, police station and gas station with one touch of the screen. And to help them find their car in an unfamiliar spot or crowded parking lot, the nüvifone automatically marks the position in which it was last removed from the windshield mount. The nüvifone comes with a unique suction cup mount cradle that fastens to the windshield and will also charge the device while it is being used.

Connect and Communicate

Although navigation is a key component of the nüvifone series, the devices do more than “just navigate.” Both the nüvifone G60 and M20 incorporate top-of-the-line phone capabilities with premium features such as 3.5G data connectivity, SMS text messaging, email, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and more.

The nüvifone G60 and M20 have a full HTML browser that customers can easily zoom in or pan with their finger, and pages may be viewed in either portrait or landscape. Users can surf the web on their phone via Wi-Fi or 3G networks, and the pages are presented similar to a PC browser.

Everything You Need

Customers will also enjoy the benefit of location-based services seamlessly integrated with nüvifone’s intuitive user interface and turn-by-turn navigation. Users can supplement the preloaded POI data with Internet enabled local searches and automatically navigate around traffic congestion while seeing the estimated traffic delay along their route. Other services include weather, gas prices, flight status, local events, movie times, Ciao!™and more (content pricing and availability may vary by country).

The nüvifone G60 and M20 include a built-in camera with auto-focus. The camera automatically geotags images with an exact latitude and longitude reference of where the image was taken. The user may then save the image so they can navigate back to the location or email the geo-tagged image to others. The nüvifone also provides direct access to millions of geo-located landmark and sightseeing photographs available through select picture sharing site, which are searchable and are sorted by the distance from the current location.

Specifications

nüvifone G60 nüvifone M20
2G Connectivity Quad-band GSM / GPRS / Edge 850/900/1800/1900 Tri-band GSM / GPRS / Edge 900/1800/1900
3G Connectivity 850/1900/2100 HSDPA 3.6 Mbps 900/2100 HSPA 7.2 Mbps
Other Connectivity 802.11 b/g WLAN, Bluetooth, HFP, HSP, AVRCP, A2DP mini-USB 2.0 802.11 b/g WLAN, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, HFP, HSP, A2DP, AVRCP, mini USB 2.0
OS Linux (closed platform) Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional (Upgradeable to WM 6.5)
Camera 3MP camera with auto-focus and geo-tagging 3MP camera with auto-focus and geo-tagging
Dimensions 112 x 58.1 x 14.6 mm 95.3 x 52.5 x 12.8 mm
Display 3.55″, 65K, anti-glare resistive touchscreen 2.8″, 65K, TFT with touch lens
Email POP3 / IMAP4 / SMTP Push / Enterprise / POP3 / IMAP4 / SMTP
Internet HTML browser based on Webkit platform OPERA browser, HTML, WAP 1.2.1/2.0
Messaging SMS SMS / MMS / IM
Talk Time Up to 4 hours 3G: Up to 3.5 hours / 2G: Up to 2.8 hours

Price and Availability

The nüvifone G60 will be available in Taiwan on July 27, and in Singapore and Malaysia by the end of August. The nüvifone G60’s distribution strategy for the Asia-Pacific market will differ by country. In Asia, it will be available through carriers and retail channels. The nüvifone G60 is on schedule for delivery in Europe and the United States in the second half of 2009, and additional details about pricing, availability and carriers will be announced in the coming months.

The nüvifone M20 will be available in August in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia. The nüvifone M20’s distribution strategy for the Asia-Pacific market will differ by country. In Asia, it will be available through carriers and retail channels. The nüvifone M20 is on schedule for delivery in Europe in the second half of 2009, and additional details about pricing, availability and carriers will be announced in the coming months.

Additional information about the nüvifone product line is available at www.GarminAsus.com.

About Garmin-Asus

Garmin-Asus is a co-branded strategic alliance that enables Garmin Ltd. and ASUSTeK Computer Inc. to combine their complementary resources to develop world class LBS-centric mobile phones.

About Garmin Ltd.

The global leader in satellite navigation, Garmin Ltd. and its subsidiaries have designed, manufactured, marketed and sold navigation, communication and information devices and applications since 1989 – most of which are enabled by GPS technology. Garmin’s products serve automotive, mobile, wireless, outdoor recreation, marine, aviation, and OEM applications. Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in the Cayman Islands, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit Garmin’s virtual pressroom at www.garmin.com/pressroom or contact the Media Relations department at 913-397-8200.

About ASUS

ASUS is a leading company in the new digital era. With a global staff of more than ten thousand and a world-class R&D design team, the company’s revenue for 2008 was 8.1 billion U.S. dollars. ASUS ranks among BusinessWeek’s “InfoTech 100,” and has been on the listing for 12 consecutive years.

ASUS is a registered trademark of ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Garmin and nüvi are registered trademarks, and nüvifone and Ciao! are trademarks, of Garmin Ltd.

All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved.

From the outside, the Hero blends elements of both the device that have gone before it; the smartphone is size-wise more in line with the Magic, but with some of the angular style of the original HTC Dream (aka the T-Mobile G1).  It’s a thin handset, measuring 112 x 56.2 x 14.35 mm, and feels even thinner thanks to the sharp beveling of the edges.  Our review unit is white, but depending on carrier there will be charcoal and black versions of the Hero, each with the subtle brushed-metal display surround.  It’s a distinctive design, but not unduly dramatic, and while we’ve heard complaint about HTC’s persistence with the angled “chin” section this does make holding the phone and using the buttons and trackball more straightforward.

Up top there’s a welcome addition to an HTC Android device, in the shape of a 3.5mm headphones socket, while on the base there’s the company’s own ExtUSB port (which is compatible with standard mini-USB).  On the left-hand side there are surprisingly large volume controls, while on the back there’s the 5-megapixel autofocus camera (which still lacks a flash of any sort).  There’s no dedicated camera button, either.

Up front, there’s a 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen running at 320 x 480 HVGA resolution, sitting above the usual six Android buttons: call, home, menu, call-end, search and back.  The trackball from the Dream and Magic is also present, and it lights up when you receive an SMS or phone call.  Above the display is the long, narrow speaker-grill, flanked on the left by an ambient light sensor and on the right by a two-color LED that flashes green to let you know a message has come in, and red when charging.  The whole handset is covered in Teflon, which HTC say will better resist scratches, fading and staining; its matte finish is a tactile and aesthetically welcome departure from glossy devices.

Prise off the back cover – something which takes a little bravery to do, as it’s a tight fit – and there’s a microSD card slot that can be accessed without removing the battery, together with the SIM slot and 1,350mAh Li-Ion power pack.  The whole thing weighs 135g.

On the inside, things are far more similar to HTC’s existing Android range.  The Hero has the same 528MHz Qualcomm processor, paired with 512MB ROM and 288MB RAM, as its siblings, together with 900/2100MHz HSPA/WCDMA supporting up to 7.2Mbps downlink and 2Mbps uplink speeds (network depending).  There’s also 850/900/1800/1900MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE; we’re yet to hear any announcement regarding a US-spec version of the Hero.  Other connectivity includes WiFi b/g, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR with A2DP support, and of course USB 2.0, plus there’s A-GPS, a digital compass and accelerometer.

Of course, what makes the Hero particularly special is the work HTC have done on its user-interface, under the auspices of their “HTC Sense” project.  Sense is the culmination of three years of UI work, that has taken in multiple iterations of TouchFLO 3D on Windows Mobile across the years.  Given that TouchFLO 3D could arguably be credited with keeping the aging Microsoft mobile platform as relevant as it has been for the past twelve months or so, that’s no small lineage.  Sense aims to take the basic Android OS and make it not only more visually appealing but functionally more immediate, bringing commonly-used services and features to the fore and, in no small way, making the fledgling Google platform more engaging “out of the box”.

HTC’s first, and perhaps most obvious way of doing that is through widgets.  Previous Android devices have had a few widget options – search, picture frame, music, etc – and those are still present, but HTC introduce fourteen of their own, along with five “toggle” controls for connectivity options.  These range from bookmarks and calendar, through a new mail app and messages app, to contact shortcuts, a Twitter app and a new weather app.  As for the toggle switches, they cover airplane mode, Bluetooth, GPS, cellular connectivity and WiFi, and present an easy way to lock-down the Hero or simply shut off a potential battery glutton.

To accommodate all this flexibility, HTC have increased the number of homescreen panes from the usual three to seven; you can switch between them with a horizontal swipe across the touchscreen in either direction, or using the trackball.  Your position in those panes is discretely shown by the arc at the base of the homescreen, which also has a direct shortcut to the phone keypad, main menu and widget control panel.  Pressing the home hardware button also takes you directly back to the center pane, so it’s always straightforward to navigate your way around.  HTC’s widgets share space with the usual shortcuts, which can be to apps, folders or bookmarks, and many of them have two different sizes to choose from.  The music widget, for instance, has a small, basic option which will fit on a pane with other shortcuts, or a larger version which shows more track detail, album art, and takes up a pane to itself.

Seven panes, then, can be occupied relatively quickly, but to get around that HTC have added Scenes support to the Hero.  Accessed by hitting the Menu button from the homescreen, Scenes basically allows for multiple layouts which the company expects will be used to differentiate between workday and social use.  As standard the Hero comes preset with the standard HTC, Social, Work, Play, Travel and “Clean Slate” (blank) layouts, which you can leave as-is or modify and save with your own names.  Each can have a different number of widgets, different wallpapers and other personalization.  Or, of course, you can ignore them altogether and focus on just one standard Scene; as with the slide-to-unlock, which can be replaced by the standard Android pattern lock, Sense is about giving you more options not taking them away.

Each widget generally acts as a gateway to its own app, too, so while they’re functional in their own right – you don’t have to leave the homescreen to browse through your Twitter message stream, for instance – you’re also one touch away from a more comprehensive experience.  To stay with Twitter, the client – called Peep – shows the full message list and allows you to post a new tweet from the homescreen, but tapping into the app-proper brings up separate panes in which you can view your “@” replies, direct messages and favorites.  It’s also linked into your location, so you can send geographic updates letting people know whereabouts you are, and there are options for update frequency (number of tweets to download, up to 250; frequency of updates, from daily through every 5mins and manual) and even a choice of photo host, picture quality and URL-shortening service.

Peep works well, spawning a little bird icon into the notification bar when there are fresh messages, just as you would get with a new email.  New messages have an easy photo upload button, which offers the choice of an existing picture from the gallery or to take a new shot with the camera then and there, and you can also tap the location button to tweet your geographical position as a link to a map, custom text or plain latitude/longitude.  Our one gripe is the seeming absence of any way to quickly paste in Twitter contact names, beyond physically typing them out; an “insert follower username” option would make this much easier.  Still, a long-hold on any tweet will bring up a menu for reply, send direct message, retweet, add to favorites or show profile.

A much-welcomed addition to an Android device is Microsoft Exchange support, and HTC have provided a new Mail app on the Hero to cater for it.  As you might
expect, it uses ActiveSync to wirelessly synchronize, and offer push-email from hosted Exchange accounts.  The Mail app also supports POP, APOP and IMAP, and can have multiple simultaneous accounts established; download frequency can be set from 5 minutes through to daily, plus manual, and you can choose how many days of messages you want on your Hero and the maximum size of each message (there’s an option to download the rest in each curtailed email).  Once set up, different accounts can be switched between via a drop-down menu at the top, while a sliding selection marker at the bottom of the screen takes you between three main views.  The first lists all emails by date and individually; the second threads together email conversations; the third lists only emails with attachments.

The most obvious comparison to be made is with Android’s native GMail app, also present on the Hero.  While the screen size devoted to messages in each app is different, both show at most seven email headers at any one time; GMail obviously conversation-threads as standard, and tags one message after another, while HTC Mail shows one email at a time with up/down buttons to flip between messages in a thread.  It’s arguable as to which system works better; those comfortable skipping down long conversations via touchscreen swipes will most likely prefer the GMail app, while the HTC offering does make it easier to get to the start of the next message.  Happily, since GMail offers IMAP support for their accounts, you can pick between the two clients depending on your UI preference; remember, though, that Mail won’t let you search the GMail server like the native app will.

Of course, the major difference is that Android’s GMail app has no homescreen widget, only a shortcut, whereas HTC Mail does.  You can choose to devote a whole homescreen pane (there’s no cut-down mini-widget, though there is a simple shortcut button) to Mail, and from there flip through the stack of emails, bin them, write a new message or go directly to the inbox.  There’s no HTML support in the widget, only plain text, but it’s certainly enough to see multiple lines of an email and choose whether it’s worth heading into the app proper to do anything about it.

The new SMS app works in a similar fashion, grouping messages by sender and presenting them in a conversation with icons – if present – from the contacts app.  HTC provide a number of quick-text inserts (such as “Where are you?” and “I’m running late”) together with the ability to easily attach pictures, video, audio, location data, a vCard contact file, vCalendar appointment, or to create a new attachment.  This latter option takes you to the camera, camcorder, audio-recorder or slideshow apps, allowing you to film a clip, etc, then attach it straight to an MMS.  As for the accompanying widget, this uses a Rolodex-style presentation to flip through the most recent messages from a contact on the homescreen, together with a shortcut to write a new message.

Moving to the Phone app, this can be accessed via the listing in the main programs menu or by pressing the shortcut button at the base of the homescreen.  It opens by default with your recent calls list overlaid with a number pad; tapping the buttons either enters the number or uses T9 to search through your contacts for a matching name.  Alternatively, minimizing the number pad shows the contacts list itself; the Menu button gives shortcuts to the contacts app proper, your full call history, favorites and speed-dials, as well as settings.  Call quality is fair, with the Hero relatively tenacious with a signal and no problems for either party with volume or noise.  The side volume keys adjust earpiece volume when in a call or ringer volume (down to vibrate and silent) otherwise; during calls the number pad is a button-press away, while the Menu button brings up options for speakerphone, putting the caller on hold, adding another party, launching the contacts app and muting the microphone.

HTC are proud of the work they’ve done with Sense when it comes to contacts, on the Hero called People, and they’ve good cause to be.  As with other apps, People is navigated primarily by a sliding bar at the base of the screen, which takes you from the full contacts list, to favorites (with the option to add a new favorite), to groups, to Updates and Events (more on this in a moment) and to call history.  The Menu button brings up options to add or delete a contact, view an entry, search through People, import from SIM and synchronize Exchange contacts

What elevates People above and beyond the standard Android address book is its integration with Facebook and Flickr.  By entering your login details for one or both, People automatically tries to match up contacts you have on those networks with entries in your address book.  Doing so pulls in their latest Facebook status update, photo galleries from both sites, their birthday and email address, and their avatar photo which is used as a contact photo.  If People can’t match them up correctly – we had a few different names in our lists, which confused it – then you can manually link profiles.  The “Updates and Events” tab shows any new changes from the two sites, such as upcoming birthdays and new galleries; tapping into an individual contact shows the same for just that individual, together with panes for any messages, emails and calls between you and them.

It all works surprisingly well, and is certainly a straightforward way to fill in contact photos and missing birthdays across your address book.  There’s little lag in updating, and by tapping your own entry at the top of the contacts list you can see your own Facebook and Flickr notifications, handling any unread messages, event invitations, friend requests and other alerts.  We wish – given the work HTC have obviously done on Peep – there was a way to link in Twitter accounts in a similar fashion to Facebook, but currently there is not.

Plugging the Hero into a PC brings up the options to either treat it as a mass storage device or to launch HTC Sync.  This latter app, available as a free download though only for Windows PCs, allows you to synchronize your Outlook or Windows Address Book (i.e. Outlook Express contacts) with the Hero, rather than using a wired ActiveSync connection.

Unfortunately HTC Sync doesn’t seemingly manage your calendar entries in the same way, which is a shame because the new Calendar app on the Hero is a generally pleasant way to get organized.  It defaults to a month view (as does the large homescreen widget; the small version has a single line of the next upcoming appointment) but offers day and event-list views via the Menu button.  There’s also a Calendars button, which allows you to switch between various different agenda sources: Outlook (wirelessly via ActiveSync) and any Google Calendars you might have.  These can be set to all simultaneously display (with different color coding) or toggled off to only show particular agendas.

If the Calendar is intended to organize your life moving forward, then HTC Footprints is more about looking back.  A feature of certain GPS-enabled Windows Mobile devices from HTC’s stable, Footprints basically allows you to snap a photo with the Hero’s camera, geotag it, and then add various details including phone number, website, a voice memo, star rating and notes.  Finally you can categorize it – shopping, dining, etc – and share them via SD card.  It’s a straightforward system, and if you regularly travel then it’s handy to make a note of favorite restaurants and the like, but we wish there was a simple way to share Footprint entries online with others.

Loading up content for the Hero’s media app is easiest done via a USB connection, and HTC supply a suitable cable in the box.  The smartphone mounts the microSD card as a removable drive, and you can drag and drop audio and video files straight across.  Files on the microSD card are automatically registered into the app, which is a basic though functional PMP.  There’s the usual shuffle, repeat and playlist functionality, together with sorting tracks by artist, album and other ID3 data, and you can also set files as the active ringtone directly from the mediaplayer app.  Audio quality from the built-in speaker is loud if not especially refined, but thankfully we’ve no complaints with quality via the 3.5mm headphones jack, particularly if you do the sensible thing and plug in your own headphones rather than those HTC supply.  During playback the volume keys control the music, rather than ringtone volume.

As for the impact of music playing in background on other apps, we noticed a very small amount of lag introduced, particularly when loading a data-heavy application such as a full inbox or lengthy contacts list.  Happily there was little impact on web browsing speed, with page panning and zooming as smooth as usual.  In fact, our general impression of the Hero’s performance has been very good, with the Sense modifications doing little to slow the smartphone down.

Turning to the browser, the biggest news here is the addition of multitouch support for pinch-zooming together with Flash playback.  The app is generally the same as on previous Android devices, only instead of zoom in/out buttons you can close and spread your fingers to manipulate the page.  It’s a far more natural way of browsing, and allows for much finer control, and frankly it’s about time an Android smartphone supported it (officially).  Double-tapping to reformat text works well, and the trackball steps neatly between links for when navigating more crowded pages.  Multiple browser windows can be opened, though we did experience a couple of odd moments where background pages were closed without warning.

As for Flash support, this instantly kicks the HTC Hero a step ahead of many other smartphones on the market.  Although there’s HTC’s usual excellent YouTube viewer preloaded on the phone, you can now stop by the full YouTube site and watch in-page streaming video too.  To be honest, the layout of the standalone app actually makes it more usable than YouTube’s site, but the Flash support comes into its own when you encounter in-page videos on news and review sites.  In our tests, only Vimeo videos failed to load, though connection speed also has a significant affect on overall browser performance when buffering footage.

Flash is more than just video, though, and so we stopped by some graphics and animation-intensive MySpace pages to see if we could overload the Hero’s browser.  Unfortunately not every element loaded; the music player many users have underneath their profile information was the most obvious error, telling us we needed an upgraded version of Flash.  Stepping over to a Flash game site proved disappointing too, with games taking very long periods to load and then usually proving uncontrollable in the absence of a keyboard or mouse.  It’s certainly possible that some titles will be better suited to the Hero than others, mind.

With pinch-zoom supported in the Android browser, it was a surprise to find that the same functionality didn’t work in Google Maps on the Hero.  Instead, you’re left with the same zoom in/out buttons as usual.  The Hero has the same Street View support as earlier Android phones, accessed by tapping and holding a point on the display and selecting it from the pop-up menu.  There are directions for driving and walking, but no voice-prompts so in-car use isn’t advised.

The Hero’s camera is a step up, offering 5-megapixels with autofocus though no flash.  It records both stills and video, toggled between with a simple on-screen button, and has basic white balance, brightness and flicker adjustment.  There’s also a self-timer and optional geotagging.  Photos are captured as JPEGs while video can be H.263 or MPEG4; once taken, they can be uploaded to Facebook, Flickr, Picasa or YouTube, or sent via GMail, HTC Mail, MMS or Peep (Twitter).  Quality, meanwhile, is reasonable though not likely to displace dedicated point-and-shoot digicams or some of the high-end imaging featurephones we’ve seen in recent months.  Still, it’s a welcome step up from the Dream and Magic.

One of HTC Sense’s more impressive introductions is the new on-screen keyboard, and this is a real step up from what arrived on the HTC Magic with the Android OS 1.5 Cupcake release.  Obviously both portrait and landscape orientations are catered for, each with well-spaced QWERTY layouts and secondary pages of numbers and symbols, while those secondary characters can also be accessed by pressing and holding the relevant letter key.  As you do so, a preview of the character pops up above your fingertip, handy for ensuring you’re tapping the key you intended to.  There’s also auto-complete and auto-correct, with a list of words showing up above the keyboard as you type; you can either tap them or press space to select the current highlighted word.  Adding new words to the dictionary is also well handled; if you type a word the Hero doesn’t recognize, you can tap space to insert it or tap the word itself on-screen to not only insert but to add it to the dictionary for later use.  In all, the keyboard is a real pleasure to use and we had no problems building up a decent typing speed in either orientation, especially when holding the Hero in landscape and thumb-tapping with both hands.

Elsewhere, there’s the usual array of Android apps and options, including the Android Market for software downloads.  The BBC iPlayer app works well on the Hero, and of course you can add shortcuts to newly downloaded software onto the various homescreen panes.  We’re hoping HTC – or third-parties – release some more homescreen widgets, as we really like the instant ease-of-use they bring to the platform.

HTC supply a 1,350mAh battery with the Hero, 10mAh more than the Magic, but quote up to 420 minutes of WCDMA talktime or 470 minutes of GSM talktime (20 minutes more than its predecessor).  They also suggest up to 660 hours of WCDMA standby or up to 420 hours of GSM standby.  We didn’t have enough time to put the Hero through the sort of charge/discharge and use cycles we would have liked to; however, with regular use of messaging and browser, plus several calls and email regularly checking over a mixture of WiFi and 3G, we found the phone would last morning to night before needing a recharge.  This is certainly a handset you’ll be charging every night, but from our experience over the past few days it shouldn’t require the mid-day top-up many iPhone 3G users, say, report.

Back in our initial unboxing and overview of the HTC Hero, we tongue-in-cheek suggested that it could be the best Android smartphone to date.  Having spent more time with it, that cavalier prediction is looking highly accurate.  Android’s flexibility is, arguably, one of its biggest stumbling blocks; out of the box there’s little to guide a new owner through the platform’s capabilities.  By introducing Sense, however, HTC have made the Hero instantly usable, and they’ve done so not with the bare minimum of app investment but with a range of programs that offer up-to-date functionality like social network integration.

Best of all, HTC’s dedication to developing Sense and treating UI as a long-haul process rather than a short-term prettification exercise gives us hope that the few shortfalls and omissions we’re currently seeing in version one of the Hero will be addressed over time.  It’s reassuring to know that not only is the Hero a great smartphone but that it’s only likely to get better as HTC continue their tweaks.  It’s safe to say that, in the HTC Hero, Android has come of age.

The HTC Hero is available unlocked and SIM-free from Clove.co.uk, priced at £335 pre-VAT.  They offer international shipping.

HTC Hero unboxing and Sense UI overview:

HTC Hero media widget and Flash-capable browser:

The camera has an 8x digital zoom and LED flash, plus image stabilization, smile shutter and face detection.  It can also record VGA-quality 30fps video.  Meanwhile the smartphone supports  SMS, MMS, POP, IMAP and Exchange email, has a microSDHC card slot and a mini-USB port, plus a standard 3.5mm headphone socket.

The XPERIA X3′s display is listed as measuring 4-inches and running at 800 x 400 resolution, and we’re assuming it’s a capacitive panel as has been the case to-date with Android handsets.  No word on pricing or availability, but Expansys are accepting pre-order interest.  Check out a video demo of the phone’s UI here.

[via AllAboutPhones.nl]