SlashGear » Mobile Phones

Samsung SCH-W960 3D phone launching this month

Chris Davies — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 09:18:20 +0000

Details are scant on this one, but Samsung have announced that they will be launching their first commercial 3D phone sometime this month. The Samsung SCH-W960 has a 3.2-inch WQVGA AMOLED touchscreen and dual DMB TV tuners capable of receiving terrestrial and satellite signals. Most interesting, though, is the 3D functionality; the W960 can apparently convert regular 2D content into 3D.

There’s also talk of a 3D TV channel specially for the SCH-W960. Other specifications include a 3-megapixel camera with Xenon flash, DNSe 2.0 and DivX support, along with HSDPA connectivity.

So far it seems the Samsung SCH-W960 will be a Korea-only release, at least initially. We’re guessing that, depending on its success there, the company will consider launching the technology in North America and Europe, though likely in a device that lacks the digital TV tuners.

[via Samsung Hub]

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Nokia C6 touchscreen QWERTY slider leaks

Chris Davies — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:44:01 +0000

We made no bones about our general displeasure with the Nokia N97 and N97 mini QWERTY keyboards, the lack of tactile feedback of which (and general bumpy rubberiness) let to a sluggish typing experience, so we’re hoping this leaked shot of the purported Nokia C6 turns out to be authentic. Ostensibly a 5800 with a slide-out QWERTY, the keys look more in line with those of the N900.

Elsewhere the rumored specifications include 256MB of internal storage along with a microSD card slot, and of course we can glean 3G connectivity and a touchscreen from the image itself. However there’s no tilting display as on the N97/N97 mini, something which might disappoint some would-be buyers.

The C6 follows Nokia’s new naming convention, officially announced with the launch of the Nokia C5 candybar. The Cseries will be Nokia’s core, entry-level range – as opposed to the social entertainment focused Xseries, business-centric Eseries and flagship Nseries – and according to the leak the C6 will arrive in Europe before the summer 2010.

[via XatakaMovil]

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Verizon Wireless will offer its first 4G LTE handset in mid-2011

Shane McGlaun — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:44:28 +0000

4G mobile networks are coming and in a few limited areas 4G is already here with Clearwire and Sprint. Those two firms are the only companies who bet on WiMax for 4G in the US. Other wireless carriers like AT&T and Verizon are going to use LTE for their 4G network tech. Verizon has announced that it will have its first 4G handset on the market by the middle of 2011.

According to the Wall Street Journal that is about six months ahead of the schedule Verizon had previously announced. The first handsets will use two chips to allow the device to operate on 4G and 3G networks. One big issue that many looking forward to 4G may not have considered is the cost of data on the faster networks.

The WSJ figures that 4G networks may be the end of unlimited data plans in America. Networks are expected to move to metered data usage to help recover the costs associated with building and installing the new networks around the country. Many consumers will not be happy to move to metered pricing.

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PS3-level graphics slated for smartphones in three years

Paul Fang — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:29:19 +0000

This comes off as a touch too incredible to say the least, but Imagination Technologies, who makes the PowerVR chip powering smartphones like the iPhone, Droid, and Pre, states that smartphones will be able to have graphics performance on par with a PlayStation 3 console in about three years.

Gizmodo’s chat with the company reveals that future mobile PowerVR graphics cores are in development currently and will not only have much more realistic 3D detail, but will do so at 720p, output via HDMI to a TV. When asked about what would be different about their chips coming in the future, Imagination said that will be more aware of multi-core system processors and will support OpenCL to offload some non-graphics tasks and speed up supporting programs.

Note that all this technology will have to be based on what hardware is going to be available in the phones released at that time. “A lot of this is still based on phone makers like Apple or HTC or Palm or Motorola to make these features available. But since most of the major phone manufacturers are going to have essentially the same chip, it’s in everyone’s self-interest to push as much power out from their phones as possible.”

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Microsoft Pink leaks again: April 20th Verizon launch? [Update: & Vodafone!]

Chris Davies — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:10:48 +0000

Microsoft’s been a leaky old sieve lately, with Courier slipping out earlier and even more Project Pink news just now. After yesterday’s Verizon revelation and the subsequent firmware leak comes new images of the two Sharp-manufactured Pink phones, the Pure and Turtle, themselves, along with a potential launch date of April 20th.

Update: Apparently the devices will also get an international launch – in their GSM formats – with carrier Vodafone.

Larger images after the cut

According to Engadget’s sources, the Pink phones will indeed be targeted at a more youthful market than Windows Phone 7. The promotional campaign will center on a “truly madly deeply” slogan, presumably leaning on the idea that the entry-level smartphones will become the essential lynchpin of your social life.

As for what we already know about the two devices, beyond that there will – eventually – be both CDMA and GSM models, and that the Pure has a 480 x 320 display while the Turtle has a 320 x 240 screen, it’s all a bit of a mystery. Social networking seems to be heavily integrated – along with Zune HD style media functionality – so it seems very likely that these are the devices Microsoft hope will grab the attention of Sidekick lovers.

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Microsoft Pure Pink phone caught in wild; firmware leak tips specs & more

Chris Davies — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 21:58:28 +0000

Hardly has the dust settled on the Microsoft Pink Verizon leak, when along come live – if blurry – shots of one of the handsets themselves. You’re looking at the device codenamed Pure, a touchscreen slider with a full QWERTY keyboard and – according to a leak of the firmware – a 480 x 320 display. The firmware also confirms the Verizon launch, together with traces of of Zune, as well as Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo! and Windows Live.

It also confirms that the Turtle has a 320 x 240 display, and that there are alternative codenames – Pride and Lion – for the Turtle and Pure CDMA versions respectively. There’s also what’s believed to be a social networking center, called The Loop, and the whole thing is based on Windows CE albeit heavily hidden with a distinctive UI that borrows from the Zune and Windows Phone 7. Says the source of the firmware leak:

“Everything is programed in .NET a lot like 7 is. It does not say it inside the files where I have seen, but It is coded in XAMl and is in the structure that CE 7 is supposed to be structured, it is my belief that it will be based off CE 7, and it will have a lot of tie in to Windows Live as well.”

Gizmodo’s tipster reports that the device was “intuitive, ‘better than Android,’ and decorated with Windows Phone 7-style animations throughout,” though that’s based on a few seconds use. They also saw an app store, though currently empty of titles. Meanwhile over at Twitter, user Conflipper apparently also has some firmware access of their own, and has released a few shots of the UI – including the dialer and PIN screen – together with a photo from the Pure’s camera.

No release date has been leaked for the Pure, but the assumption is that it’ll land at around the same time as the Turtle, at the end of April 2010. Microsoft were tipped to be preparing the Pink platform as a replacement to the Sidekick, and it certainly looks like that’s what these devices are turning out to be: social networking-heavy media phones with an emphasis on usability rather than the sort of enterprise functionality you’d get on Windows Phone 7.

[via Windows-Phone]

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Microsoft Project Pink getting imminent Verizon launch? [Updated]

Chris Davies — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:55:24 +0000

Microsoft’s oft-rumored Project Pink consumer cellphone platform has seemingly had another shot of credibility in the arm today, with Gizmodo claiming to have been sent a stack of promotional materials tipping a near launch. As well as reusing the same graphic of the so-called Turtle phone as we saw leaked last year, they also confirm Verizon as the carrier and position the handset as a social media-centric messaging device.

[Update: New tipsters have apparently confirmed that both the Turtle and the Pure (aka the Sharp PB10ZU and the PB20ZU) will be available, and are likely to launch in late April 2010. The production names are still not finalized, but the UI shares some of Windows Phone 7's appearance along with "some sort of UI skin/more of a social-networking edge".]

Gizmodo are only sharing one tiny graphic – the one you see above – because their hoard apparently came from someone working with Microsoft and they want to protect their identity. Still, they’re asking us to believe that the rest is legitimate even if we can’t see it; the documents are supposedly only days old, and discuss the launch as if it’s imminent.

The smartphone runs an OS other than Windows Phone 7 but also seems to include some sort of app platform; it’s unclear what the basis of that platform might be. There are also no specifications of the Turtle device, nor any indication of what its commercial name might be. Still, if the timescales they’re talking about pan out, we shouldn’t have too long to wait.

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Tin foil garage: anything to stop the alien whispers

Chris Davies — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:13:32 +0000

Paranoia makes people act in strange ways. Maybe you check obsessively over your shoulder when walking home at night; perhaps you don’t trust the ducks not to talk about you behind your back; or maybe you take a catering-sized roll of aluminum foil and paper over your garage so as to prevent alien brain transmissions.

Details of this fastidiously decorated hut are scant, but according to English Russia the garage owner decided the security of his brain was so important that no tin-foil hat would suffice. Handily the garage is also where he and his wife store their food supplies, so after dragging in his computer he was all set.

Of course, there was a time when everyone thought we’d be living in shiny tin-foil houses and wearing bright white jumpsuits all the time. That was meant to be “the 21st century”, and the reality has turned out to be pretty disappointing in comparison.

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Nokia C5 confirmed; brings new naming scheme with it

Chris Davies — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 10:10:50 +0000

Nokia have announced their latest “smartphone”, the Nokia C5, and while the S60 3rd edition handset isn’t exactly the most interesting in the company’s range it does mark the introduction of a new naming convention for them. The C5 has a 2.2-inch display, 3.2-megapixel camera, 3G, Ovi Maps (with free walk and drive directions) and Facebook integration with the address book, and will be the first of the C-series of devices.

It also has a microSD card slot – 2GB in the box and up to 16GB supported – together with an FM radio, stereo speaker and 3.5mm AV adapter. The Nokia C5 is expected to make its debut in Europe, Eurasia, SEAP, China and MEA come Q2 2010, priced at €135 ($183).

As for the new naming scheme, that seems to echo what we’ve seen leaked previously. Nokia have confirmed there are now four segments of device – Nokia Cseries, Xseries, Eseries and Nseries – paired with model numbers that indicate (rising from 1 through to 9) what sort of functionality and pricing you can expect. Cseries is the core range, Eseries targets business, Xseries prioritizes social entertainment and Nseries are the flagship phones; we’re still holding out hope for the multitouch-enabled N8-00 tipped for a summer launch.

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LG LG9400 Maxx Snapdragon featurephone hits South Korea

Chris Davies — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:14:27 +0000

LG’s 1GHz Snapdragon toting touchscreen feature-phone has been officially announced, having broken the water last month in a couple of leaked photos. Then known as the LG LU9400, the handset is now apparently set to launch in South Korea on the LG Telecom network as the LG LG9400 Maxx, complete with a 3.5-inch touchscreen and optical trackpad.

Other specifications include GPS and WiFi, together with T-DMB mobile TV reception and a 5-megapixel camera. There’s also HD video support and DivX compatibility, complete with the 3D UI from previous LG Arena-branded phones. Interestingly, the LG9400 Maxx uses Qualcomm’s QSD8650 Snapdragon chipset, rather than the more common QSD8250.

The QSD8650 has the same processor and GPS as the QSD8250, but it pairs them with CDMA2000 1x and EVDO Rev 0/A/B modems rather than the GSM/EDGE/HSPA connectivity we’re used to. It’s capable of up to 22M triangles/sec and 133M 3D pixels/sec, together with 720p HD video decoding.

LG have also promised to launch a Snapdragon-based device for carriers SK Telecom and KT “soon”, though there’s no public timescale as yet.

[via GSMArena]

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Bluetrek Crescendo Bluetooth headset is world’s first to support apps

Shane McGlaun — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:45:48 +0000

We are all familiar with apps for our smartphones and with Bluetooth headsets for hands free talking separately. What we are not very familiar with is a Bluetooth headset that has its own app store. Bluetrek has unveiled a new headset called the Crescendo that is the world’s first to support online app store uploads.

The headset has apps that can be accessed free via the Talk2Me App Store. The Talk2Me store offers apps for the headset to increase its functionality with things like the Personal Handsfree Assistant Dial2Do service that lets the user listen to their emails and speak a reply to be sent back out. The service can also read text messages to you and lets you reply to a text with your voice.

A search app called bing411 lets you search for information online using your voice too. The headset itself uses voice commands for operation and has NoiseLock technology. NoiseLock promises to block as much as 85dB of external sound like wind and traffic noise. It’s not clear if the apps the headset works with are actually stored on the headset, uploaded to the mobile phone, or accessed via a dial-in number. The headset is good for five hours of talk and seven days on standby per charge.

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RosettaStone uses RFID-NFC to make gravestones interactive

Shane McGlaun — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 13:52:35 +0000

Losing a family member or a loved one is never an easy thing. What most people will tell you is that they want to remember their loved one and have other people who visit the grave remember the departed as well. Most grave markers today only tell you the name, birthday, and date the person died. A new product called RosettaStone can take an existing or new grave marker and provide information that can be shared with visitors.

The device uses NFC-RFID tech to allow mobile phones that are capable of reading NFC data to get images and text that they can enjoy as the visit the graveside. The device is a palm-size stone tablet or a coin-size stick-on polymer tag called a Data Tag. The Data Tag sticks directly to the headstone and text and photos associated with the tag can be uploaded and managed by the buyer directly to an archive site included with the purchase.

The company also provides a system for handsets that aren’t NFC compatible that provides a URL with a specific site just for the gave they are visiting. The same text and images can be offered there. The prices for the devices range from $12.99 to $225.

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SlashGear Week in Review – Week 7 2010

Shane McGlaun — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 16:07:29 +0000

MWC was in full swing this week in Spain and SlashGear was at the show in force. There were a staggering number of new mobile phones and other gear that was spied at the show for the first time. Early in the week we got some preview action with the Samsung Wave S8500 (SlashGear hands-on at MWC 2010) The Wave is the first Samsung smartphone to run the Bada OS.

One of the biggest announcements to come out of MWC this year was the Windows Phone 7 unveiling. Chris and Vince went hands on with Windows Phone 7 at the show and the OS is pretty darn impressive. We spent lots of time at the show fondling various new phones and among them was the HTC HD mini. The HD mini is a smaller, cheaper version of the HD2 and runs WinMo 6.5.3.

The HTC Desire was the object of our desire at the show and a hands-on was offered up for your perusal. The Desire gets one up on the near twin Nexus one with a different case design and the Sense UI. HTC pulled the wraps off the Legend at MWC sporting a AMOLED screen and “Hidden Power” design. The handset has a 3.2-inch AMOLED screen with capacitive tech and multitouch support and runs Android 2.1.

Bug Labs was showing off its new Bug 2.0 platform at MWC. The modular platform lets you design your own gadgets and other gear using snap in modules for various functions. It’s sort of like a grown geeks Lego set. The cool Connect One Wi-Reach Classic 3G/4G router debuted this week. The router has a USB port for connecting a plain old USB modems and has an internal battery for under $100.

OpenPeak revealed its entrant into the tablet wars called the OpenTablet 7. The device is very slick looking and sports a 7-inch touchscreen, WiFi, Bluetooth and lots more. HP revealed a new accelerometer early in the week that is said to be 1000 times more sensitive than those used in other mass produced devices. I wish my iPhone had one that didn’t leave me shaking the phone trying to get the screen to rotate with frustrating frequency.

Toshiba shipped a new HDD this week for enterprise use with a 2.5-inch form factor supporting SAS connectivity and 600GB of storage. The drive is the highest capacity SFF drive around. The PUMA Phone was officially revealed this week at MWC. The most interesting aspect of the device for me is the solar panel built into the back for charging on the go.

Sonim was letting geeks at MWC beat up a new handset called the XP2 Spirit. After their unbreakable handset was broken at CES, the company called this one “nearly” unbreakable. The Acer Aspire One 532G netbook with the Ion 2 GPU was spied at the Acer booth at MWC. The device is the firm’s first full HD complaint netbook and the first to feature the Ion 2 GPU.

LG whipped out some cool new plasma HDTVs this week with thin screens only 25mm thick. It’s good to see new tech in the plasma market. Samsung’s Beam I8520 mobile with a pico projector inside was spied at MWC. The handset has a 3.7-inch Super AMOLED screen with an 8.1MP camera.

AT&T has announced that on March 7 it will get the Motorola Backflip Android smartphone. The device will sell for $100 making it one of the cheaper smartphones available on the network. A rumor turned up that claims the AMD Radeon HD 5830 might be shipping this coming week. The video card has nice specs and if priced well it should be popular with gamers.

Another new tablet debuted this week called the iiView Vpad. This tablet is a netbook without the keyboard and seems to be overpriced for what you get. A new DSLR camera rumor from Canon has a new 1Ds Mark IV coming next week with a 32MP sensor.

Friday we heard that a school was allegedly spying on student by activating the webcam of school provided notebooks while the machine was in the student’s home. An investigation is underway and the school is denying any spying. We spent more time later in the week hands on with Synaptics Fuse concept. I really like the warped screen look of the handset.

Monster has teamed up with designer Vivienne Tam called the Butterfly in-ear speakers. The things are expensive at a bit under $200. TiVo was granted a patent last week that doesn’t bode well for DVR fans. The patent is for the software that allows scheduled recordings to be prioritized for recording when they overlap. That’s all for this week’s edition, thanks for reading!

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Synaptics Fuse hands-on [Video]

Chris Davies — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 17:56:37 +0000

Synaptics’ Fuse concept is starting to look a little prescient, now that we’re seeing devices like the Motorola BACKFLIP and Notion Ink Adam putting trackpads on their rear panel despite also having touch-sensitive displays. We caught up with the Synaptics team at MWC 2010 this week to find out what they’ve been working on, and spend some very literal hands-on time with their Fuse prototype.

Video demo after the cut

The concept behind Fuse is that a touchscreen and/or D-pad is not always the best way to control a mobile device, especially if you’re trying to do so single-handed. Instead, Synaptics have used their various sensor technologies to suggest alternative paradigms for use: the Fuse has a capacitive touchscreen, but it also gets accelerometers, a rear-panel trackpad and side-mounted pressure sensors.

Squeeze the sides, for instance, and then tilt the phone up and down, and it scrolls through the main menu; a quick squeeze flicks from the current app to the homescreen. Alternatively you can run a finger across the trackpad on the back, and the icons bulge to show where you’re virtually touching. Everything is accompanied by haptic feedback, with the Fuse vibrating to let you know when you’re passing a button or on-screen icon. The side sensors also respond to strokes, too, for more granular control.

There’s some pretty complex rendering going on inside, too. As you move the Fuse from side to side, the lighting pans across the 3D icons accordingly. Thanks to the accelerometers you can tilt the handset 45-degrees and have the widgets tip over as if about to tumble off; a flick on the touchscreen then rotates them round, meaning each widget has twice as much space to display data.

To be honest – and Synaptics agree – the combination is overkill for a single handset. Attempting to hold the Fuse in a way whereby you can effectively squeeze the side-sensors often means your palm brushes the rear trackpad, sending the screen whizzing away, while sometimes there’s a sense that not everything is actually communicating with each other. In a production device you’d probably only have one or two different sensors, and make more use of dynamic rendering and accelerometer response.

It’s pretty tricky to describe in text, so check out the video demo below and the gallery. Synaptics had several prototypes with them, but all were proving pretty buggy at the show; we came across one of the devices while it was going through a stable phase, so some of the motions and gestures you won’t see anywhere else.

Synaptics Fuse demo:

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Sonim torture tests “nearly” unbreakable XP2 Spirit phone at MWC

Shane McGlaun — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:19:10 +0000

Nothing is more embarrassing for a manufacturer than to have its product tested and the features touted found to be false. This is exactly what happened to Sonim at CES when it dared a BBC journalist to try to break its indestructible XP3 handset, and break it he did. With that fresh in mind, Sonim is showing off its first 3G handset at MWC called the Sonim XP2 Spirit and is this time calling the thing “nearly” unbreakable.

The company gave geeks a tool belt with the phone, blocks of wood, nails, sand paper, tape measure, a Leatherman tool, and safety goggles. It then dared the journalists to try to break the handset and this time, the XP2 came out better than the XP3 fared at CES.

Check out the video below to see geeks pounding nails into wood using the phone and generally beating the rugged handset up. I am impressed at the abuse the device can withstand; my iPhone nearly cracked just watching the video. The only thing I am confused about is why a tape measure?

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Nokia and Intel launch MeeGo: Moblin and Maemo merge

Chris Davies — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 10:54:55 +0000

Nokia and Intel have announced a partnership to combine their mobile software platforms into one, MeeGo, which will be suitable for smartphones, MIDs, netbooks, smartbooks and other mobile devices. The platform will be based on the best of the Moblin core OS, together with the best of Maemo, with the Qt app development platform on top, and offer access both to the Nokia Ovi Store and the Intel AppUp Center; applications downloaded will be compatible across mobile devices, whether a MeeGo smartphone or tablet.

Of course, since other devices support Qt – such as Symbian – apps will also load on those handsets too. As for hardware support, MeeGo will run on both x86 Intel Atom processors and ARM-based chipsets more commonly found in mobile handsets. All the usual buzzwords are here, ubiquitous connectivity being the most significant one.

Intel and Nokia expect the first MeeGo release to be in Q2 2010, though the open-source source code will be released in the next few weeks, while the first devices should be on sale by the end of the year. There’s more information at the MeeGo site.

Press Release:

Intel and Nokia Merge Software Platforms for Future Computing Devices MeeGo* enables an open ecosystem for rapid development of exciting new user experiences
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS:
• Global leaders Intel Corporation and Nokia merge Moblin and Maemo to create MeeGo*, a Linux-based software platform that will support multiple hardware architectures across the broadest range of device segments, including pocketable mobile computers, netbooks, tablets, mediaphones, connected TVs and in-vehicle infotainment systems.
• MeeGo offers the Qt application development environment, and builds on the Moblin core operating system and reference user experiences. Using Qt, developers can write once to create applications for a variety of devices and platforms, and market them through Nokia’s Ovi Store and Intel AppUpSM Center.
• MeeGo will be hosted by the Linux Foundation and governed using the best practices of the open source development model. The first release of MeeGo is expected in the second quarter of 2010 with devices launching later in the year.
• Nokia and Intel expect MeeGo to be adopted widely by global device manufacturers, network operators, semiconductor companies, software vendors and developers.
ESPOO, FINLAND, and SANTA CLARA, CALIF., Feb. 15, 2010 – In a significant development in the convergence of communications and computing, Intel Corporation and Nokia are merging their popular Moblin and Maemo software platforms. This will create a unified Linux-based platform that will run on multiple hardware platforms across a wide range of computing devices, including pocketable mobile computers, netbooks, tablets, mediaphones, connected TVs and in-vehicle infotainment systems. Called MeeGo, the open software platform will accelerate industry innovation and time-to-market for a wealth of new Internet-based applications and services and exciting user experiences. MeeGo-based devices from Nokia and other manufacturers are expected to be launched later this year.
This announcement strengthens the Nokia and Intel relationship, and builds on the companies’ broad strategic collaboration announced in June 2009. Intel and Nokia now invite participation in MeeGo from existing Maemo and Moblin global communities and across the communications and computing industries.
“Our vision for seamlessly communicating between computing devices from the home, auto, office or your pocket is taking a big step forward today with the introduction of MeeGo,” said Intel President and CEO Paul Otellini. “This is a foundational step in our evolving relationship with Nokia. The merging of these two important assets into an open source platform is critical toward providing a terrific experience across a variety of devices and gaining cross- industry support.”

“MeeGo will drive an even wider range of Internet computing and communication experiences for consumers, on new types of mobile devices,” said Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, CEO, Nokia. “Through open innovation, MeeGo will create an ecosystem that is second to none, drawing in players from different industries. It will support a range of business models across the value chain, building on the experience and expertise of Nokia, Intel and all those who will join us. Simply put, MeeGo heralds a new era of mobile computing.”
MeeGo blends the best of Maemo with the best of Moblin to create an open platform for multiple processor architectures. MeeGo builds on the capabilities of the Moblin core OS and its support for a wide range of device types and reference user experiences, combined with the momentum of Maemo in the mobile industry and the broadly adopted Qt application and UI framework for software developers.
MeeGo also unites the robust worldwide Maemo and Moblin applications ecosystems and open source communities. For developers, MeeGo extends the range of target device segments for their applications. Using Qt for application development means that they can write applications once and easily deploy them on MeeGo and across other platforms, for example, on Symbian.
The Ovi Store will be the channel to market for apps and content for all Nokia devices, including MeeGo and Symbian-based, with Forum Nokia providing developer support across all Nokia device platforms. The Intel AppUpSM Center will be the path to market for Intel-based MeeGo devices from other device manufacturers, with the Intel® AtomTM Developer Program providing support for applications targeting devices in a variety of categories.
The MeeGo software platform, running on high-performance devices, will deliver a range of Internet, computing and communication experiences, with visually rich graphics, multitasking and multimedia capabilities and the best application performance. Since MeeGo runs on multiple device types, people can keep their favorite applications when they change devices, so they are not locked into one kind of device or those from any individual manufacturer.

MeeGo Hosted by the Linux Foundation
The MeeGo software platform will be hosted by the Linux Foundation as a fully open source project, encouraging community participation in line with the best practices of the open source development model. Intel and Nokia invite the respective members of Maemo.org and Moblin.org to join the combined community at MeeGo.com, as well as encouraging wider participation from the communications, computing and related industries. Developers can begin writing applications for MeeGo in Qt immediately. The first release of MeeGo is targeted for the second quarter of this year.
About Intel
Intel [NASDAQ: INTC], the world leader in silicon innovation, develops technologies, products and initiatives to continually advance how people work and live. Additional information about Intel is available at www.intel.com/pressroom and http://blogs.intel.com. About Nokia
Nokia is a pioneer in mobile telecommunications and the world’s leading maker of mobile devices. Today, we are connecting people in new and different ways — fusing advanced mobile technology with personalized services to enable people to stay close to what matters to them. We also provide comprehensive digital map information through NAVTEQ; and equipment, solutions and services for communications networks through Nokia Siemens Networks.

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SlashGear at Mobile World Congress 2010

Vincent Nguyen — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 16:05:51 +0000

CES 2010 hardly seems past us, and the SlashGear team are already in Barcelona for Mobile World Congress 2010. Most of the key players in the cellphone industry are here – with some notable exceptions – and we’re expecting big things from Notion Ink with their Adam Android tablet, Microsoft in the shape of Windows Phone 7, and HTC who have been leaking devices left, right and center in the run-up to the show.

We’ll be delivering video, hands-on first impressions and editorials all week, and we’d love to hear your feedback. You can follow all of our Mobile World Congress 2010 content using the MWC 2010 tag.

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LG GD880 Mini gets official: super-slim touchscreen phone

Chris Davies — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:18:28 +0000

Remember the LG GD880 spotted yesterday? The company have officially launched the slender touchscreen handset as the LG Mini, and according to the pre-MWC press release it’s the smallest and slimmest full-touchscreen handset on the market today. That’s despite packing a 3.2-inch display, 5-megapixel camera with face-detection and HSDPA 7.2Mbps.

The GD880 also squeezes in WiFi and there’s an A-GPS chip inside the aluminum casing too, but other than that LG aren’t being especially forthcoming with their information. Yesterday’s leak suggested the touchscreen runs at 480 x 854 resolution, but we’ll have to wait for a full spec sheet to know everything for certain.

What seems likely is that the LG Mini GD880 is running the company’s own OS with their oft-frustrating S-Class UI on top. Still, you do get easy uploads to various social networks, together with integration of Facebook and Twitter into a homescreen widget as well as the address book.

No word on pricing, but the LG Mini is apparently set to arrive in Europe come March 2010 before other markets.

Press Release:

Great Things Come In Small Packages With New Mini Phone From LG

Seoul (Korea Newswire) February 09, 2010 11:01 AM — LG Electronics (LG), a global leader and technology innovator in mobile communications, today announced its new LG GD880, or LG Mini, a new phone that accentuates its trendsetting design with a full complement of intelligent features.

LG Mini is the smallest and slimmest 3.2-inch full touchscreen phone on the market today, making it the perfect handset for people who want all the communication features that today’s technology has to offer without the bulk and heft of a traditional fully-loaded handset.

“We developed the LG Mini in response to specific requests from actual consumers who were unhappy with current full touchscreen phones that are too bulky, too clunky and too expensive,” said Dr. Skott Ahn, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “The easily pocketable LG Mini delivers great looks at a reasonable price, along with the trendy features that people want.”

Thanks to a slim, compact form factor made from the highest quality materials, the LG Mini easily slides in a shirt pocket or small handbag while still feeling reassuringly solid to the touch. Textured metal accents on the sides of the LG Mini add to the phone’s eye-catching looks without detracting from its overall simplicity. On the front, a large 3.2 inch touchscreen with an aspect ration of 16:9 extends all the way to the edge of the phone, giving it a finish that is as smooth as ice. In addition, a button-free face keeps the LG Mini simple and sleek.

But the LG Mini has much more than just great looks. Besides a raft of staple features such as speedy web browsing and fast push email, the LG Mini also includes several unique aspects, including Social Network Connect, which makes keeping in touch with online friends even easier than on a desktop PC. Popular social networks such as Facebook and Twitter are instantly accessible through built-in applications and a Social Network Feed provides instant and automatic updates of friends and family members on the home screen. Updates also appear next to each contact in the Social Address Book.

What’s more, the LG Mini boasts a 5.0 megapixel camera featuring advanced face detection which allows uploading of sharp, vivid pictures and videos wirelessly to multiple social networks in one simple step. The device also plays music and movies in several popular file formats and even includes an FM radio.

With HSDPA connectivity at 7.2 Mbps and Wi-Fi, the LG Mini can browse the internet at high speed and also provide real-time location information using A-GPS.

The LG Mini will be available in Europe starting in March, followed by other markets. Prices will vary country-to-country and will be announced separately in each market.

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Samsung Monte S5620 gets official

Lynnsie Nguyen — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 09:17:29 +0000

A little over a week since we saw it leak into the wild, the Samsung Monte S5620 has been officially launched. A 3-inch capacitive touchscreen featurephone, the Monte S5620 packs UMTS/HSDPA (900/2100, 3.6Mbps) along with quadband GSM, WiFi, A-GPS and Bluetooth 2.1. The Monte also has a 3.2-megapixel camera with smile-shot and face detection.

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

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

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

Press Release:

Samsung Launches Monte, the Perfect Fit for Full Touch Lifestyle

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Samsung Super AMOLED screen to show up on mobile phone at MWC

Shane McGlaun — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:05:47 +0000

Samsung makes tons of devices and products that are on the tech market today. The company makes lots and lots of LCD and AMOLED screens that end up being used on Samsung products and other products produced by different companies. Samsung has announced that we will see a new mobile phone at MWC sporting its latest screen tech.

The screen will be the new SUPER AMOLED screen with integrated touch functionality. The first phone to use the new 3.3-inch WVGA AMOLED screen will debut at MWC in Spain. Samsung claims that the new screen is five times more vivid than a typical AMOLED screen and has 20% improved performance when used outdoors.

There is no information offered on the mobile phone that will be sporting the screen. We have no idea what manufacturer will be showing the device right now. If Samsungs claims for performance are accurate, this may well be the best screen to hit a mobile phone. We presume this is the first device that will use the new AMOLED screen we talked about at the beginning of the month.

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Qisda QCM-330 and LG GD880 break cover

Shane McGlaun — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:56:08 +0000

The International Design Forum have unveiled some of their mobile device design competition winners, and there are a fair few handsets worthy of attention. The new devices include the new Qisda QCM-330 and the LG GD880, as well as a number of devices tipped for carrier Vodafone. The QCM-330 is probably the more interesting looking, and according to BenQ’s site will make an appearance at CeBIT in early March 2010.

It will feature a 4-inch screen with a resolution of 1280 x 1024, which is impressive. The device also sports HSDPA, WiFi, an accelerometer, and a 3MP camera. The OS is unconfirmed, but thought to be Android. Unfortunately it isn’t clear whether the QCM-330 will be functional at CeBIT 2010 or otherwise.

The LG GD880 isn’t as cool a device as the 330, but it is interesting nonetheless. The device is said to sport a 480 x 854 resolution touchscreen, HSDPA, WiFi, GPS, and a 5MP camera. Vodafone also has a 2010 Compass on show, a small square device that twists to open. A slew of other handsets that will be potentially hitting Europe this year were shown as well. The 360 Krystal for instance has an interesting feature where you can set it on a paper with a foreign language and the camera will translate the text for you.

[via Unwired View]

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Nexus One update enables multitouch, Google Goggles, 3G fixes

Paul Fang — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 01:08:45 +0000

Whereas iPhone owners may have gotten a so-so update, Nexus One owners finally have something to be upbeat about – Google has released an over-the-air update enabling multitouch (finally), Google Goggles (again, finally), and some 3G fixes (triple thumbs-up).

According to Google, the update will include:

Google Goggles: this mobile application will now be available directly on your device by launching it from your All Apps menu. Just use your Nexus One camera to start searching the web

Google Maps: the Maps application with be updated to a new version, Google Maps 3.4, which will include:

Starred items synchronized with maps.google.com – access your favorite places from your phone or computer

Search suggestions from your personal maps.google.com history – makes it easy to search for places you’ve searched for before

Night mode in Google Maps Navigation – automatically changes your screen at night for easier viewing and driving

Pinch-to-zoom functionality: devices will now include a new pinch-to-zoom mechanism in the phone’s Browser, Gallery and Maps applications

3G connectivity: we will provide a general fix to help improve 3G connectivity on some Nexus One phones

Apparently in order to access the update, you’ll need to wait until you “receive a message on your phone’s notification bar. Just download the update, wait for it to install, and you should be all set. This update will be rolled out gradually to phones – and most users might not receive the notification until the end of the week.” Hold on, Nexus One owners.

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Nokia plan Symbian^3 phones Q3 2010; Symbian^4 by early 2011

Chris Davies — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 12:03:02 +0000

Nokia haven’t been shy about their ambitious cellphone OS plans for the coming year, but according to Michael Hsu, general manager of Nokia Taiwan, they’re jumping version numbers in order to get there. Hsu has apparently confirmed that Nokia intend to launch Symbian^3 devices in Q3 2010, leapfrogging over Symbian^2 in the process, before hitting Symbian^4 in either late 2010 or early 2011.

Symbian^4 will, as we already knew, be based on Qt with a more consistent UI and native support for various touch and hybrid devices. Before then, Symbian^3 is expected to deliver multitouch. Nokia apparently expect S60 devices to account for 55-percent of the company’s total handset sales by 2011, with the remainder being made up of 35-percent S40 and 10-percent Maemo, as on the N900

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Samsung S5620 Monte touchscreen featurephone breaks cover

Chris Davies — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:50:14 +0000

It’s been a long time (in cellular terms) since Samsung rolled out the S5600 Preston, and so it comes as little surprise to see there’s a replacement fast incoming. The Samsung S5620 Monte is yet to get the official nod from its makers, but the 3-inch touchscreen handset has already been caught in the wild.

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]

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QderoPateo Ouidoo platform blends augmented reality, China Mobile and a US carrier

Chris Davies — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 10:06:00 +0000

Augmented Reality (AR) is making gradual inroads into smartphones, but a collaborative US/Chinese startup reckons the process needs to be accelerated. QderoPateo are looking to bring “Articulated Naturality” – which would include AR as part of “Ambient Intelligence” - to market, and have designed not only an OS but their own custom chipset and a hardware device that uses it, the QderoPateo Ouidoo. While we’ve seen enough cellular startups launch and then wither, the company have apparently secured “several million” in funding, a manufacturing partner, and deals with China Mobile and an unnamed US carrier.

Rather than use QR codes, 2D barcodes or other staples of current AR systems, QderoPateo are aiming for nothing less than full image recognition. The Ouidoo will have two dual-core parallel processors paired with 2GB of RAM and an 8GB chipset, used for rendering and manipulating interactive 3D images, while accelerometers, gyrometers and GPS are combined to apparently pinpoint user-location with ten-times more accuracy than GPS alone.

While the Ouidoo is expected to make its debut at the Shanghai 2010 World Expo this spring, QderoPateo will also be launching an iPhone app – WorldLenns – which gives a partial insight into their software plans. As for the business model, they reckon they can finally make proximity-based marketing pay its way.

[via GigaOM]

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Nokia Research develop cellphone radar [Video]

Chris Davies — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 11:54:27 +0000

From projected touchscreens to cellphone radar; it’s obviously trendy right now to develop non-traditional interface methods. Nokia’s Research bods have been playing with a new system of electromagnetic waves, which can be used to track movement around a specially adapted N95 even when there’s an obstacle in the way.

Video demo after the cut

Technical details are scarce, and it’s not entirely clear how the N95 has been modified beyond the electromagnetic array, but the demo below basically shows the handset tracking not only speed but direction of movement. As for obstacles, the phone’s radar can “see” through fabric, which means it could feasibly track movement even if it’s in your pocket.

The demo uses the system to control media playback volume, but we can’t imagine that’s all Nokia have up their sleeves here. At the very least, it could be used for alerting you someone is creeping up behind you to steal your smartphone.

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Windows Mobile 7 looks set for MWC 2010; Dev training in March

Chris Davies — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 09:50:06 +0000

Last week DigiTimes, this week CNET; the likelihood of Microsoft making at least some demonstration of Windows Mobile 7 at Mobile World Congress 2010 looks ever more probable. The latest sources reckon Microsoft will be previewing the latest build of the smartphone OS next month, with plans in place to finalize the platform’s code by the summer. Meanwhile, they’re also saying that Microsoft’s consumer phone range – tipped to be the fruits of the Pink project – is well underway, and should beat WM7 devices to market.

Separate from the oft-speculated Zune phone, Microsoft’s consumer handset(s) would represent the next stage of Sidekick-style devices, and stem from the company’s acquisition of Danger. Windows Mobile 7 handsets are expected to go on sale before the end of 2010, which probably puts whatever “Pink” phones Microsoft have in mind in the fourth-quarter.

While Microsoft have declined to comment on either WM7 or a consumer device range at MWC 2010, they have conceded that they’ll be running programming seminars at MIX 10 in March. These will help developers get up to speed with the next major iteration of Windows Mobile, which promises to mark a reasonably significant break with earlier releases.

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MetroPCS offers new nationwide calling plans

Shane McGlaun — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 13:53:26 +0000

Every time one wireless carrier unveils a new calling plan, it seems like all the other carriers have to match the new plan or better it. Last week Verizon unveiled new unlimited calling plans for its users. Shortly after Verizon made its announcement, AT&T announced its own new calling plans. Today MetroPCS is unveiling new calling plans for pre-paid users.

The new calling plans start at $40 monthly and go up to $60 monthly and provide unlimited talk, text, and web. The cool part is that the price for the service includes all state and local fees and taxes as well as regulatory fees. That means $40 monthly is exactly what you pay.

That is a good price and the only real downside is that some of the most popular smartphones are not available on the network. At $40 monthly and no contract metroPCS service will look good to many users out there. Handsets start at $29.99 for the network.

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Nokia Ovi event tips “big news” on Jan 21st

Chris Davies — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 13:37:59 +0000

Is the thought of an update to Nokia’s Ovi mobile download store enough to drive you into a frenzy of anticipation? We can’t quite believe that will be the general reaction, but when Nokia start talking about “big news” they have to share and their on-device download store in the same sentence, it seems pretty likely that they’re hoping to refresh and relaunch with Ovi 2.0.

While there are many more Nokia handsets out there than iPhones, Apple’s App Store has always been more headline – and, frankly, user – friendly than Ovi. The download store has been accused of being difficult to navigate, filled with confusing installation messages and poor at even recognizing which device you’re accessing it from; in short, the perfect candidate for a refresh.

SlashGear will be at the Nokia event this coming Thursday January 21st to bring you all the details. Although software stores like this aren’t, perhaps, as instantly interesting as new hardware, Apple have shown that they can end up a significant revenue stream for both owner and developers, together with a draw to the platform itself. Nokia really need to get Ovi right if they’re to rebuild their momentum.

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Apple attempt Nokia import block over IP dispute

Chris Davies — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 11:36:50 +0000

The patent battle between Nokia and Apple continues to rage, with the Cupertino company now attempting to block all imports of the Finn’s handsets into the US. The move follows Nokia’s own attempt to ban Apple from importing iPhone, iPod and MacBook products in late December 2009. Both companies have accused their rival of impinging on patents and IP.

“Nokia will study the complaint when it is received and continue to defend itself vigorously. However this does not alter the fact that Apple has failed to agree appropriate terms for using Nokia technology and has been seeking a free ride on Nokia’s innovation since it shipped the first iPhone in 2007″ Mark Durrant, spokesperson, Nokia

So far the ITC – the agency responsible for handling the complaints – is yet to formally announce whether it will investigate the claims of either company. Such investigations generally take around 15 months to complete.

[via Bloomberg]

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