Microsoft execs may be denying that any self-branded cellphone is in development, but somebody connected with the company doesn’t seem to have got the same memo. CNBC’s Jim Goldman quotes “a good source” claiming Microsoft are combining the Zune and technology from Danger (the company behind the Sidekick) to create a device offering “true competition to the iPhone”. Codenamed “Pink”, a prototype could be finished in time to unveil at CES 2009 in January.
First things first, we know this is a viral marketing video for Nova Scotia, but it’s still slick and shows a really nice mobile phone interface. Cocking a sly snook at Apple, the Pomegranate cellphone is billed as the ultimate mobile phone. An inverted tear-drop shape, the three-panel handset fans open to show dual touchscreens and – remember, it’s a joke – a coffee pod holder.
The white T-Mobile G1 smartphone has finally gone on sale in the US, after delays saw only the black and bronze versions available at launch. Functionally identical to the existing G1 handsets, the smartphone uses Google’s open-source Android OS and, in my opinion, looks a whole lot better (i.e. smaller and less blocky) in white than in either of the other colors.
The Pantech Duo 2 has cleared the FCC, with the same dual-sliding design – incorporating both numeric and QWERTY keyboards – but now running Windows Mobile 6.1. The original Duo was better known as the Helio Ocean, but there was also a GSM version on AT&T. The Duo 2 (aka the C820) has a 2-megapixel camera and dual-band 850/1900 GSM/EDGE/WCDMA.
Apple has been sued by LA real estate developer Elliot Gottfurcht over technology used in the mobile version of Safari found on the iPhone. The suit claims that technology used by the Safari browser to navigate and display mobile-formatted sites infringes on a patent obtained in October 2008 by EMG Technology LLC, a company founded by Gottfurcht and two co-inventors.
From one sliding Nokia to another, somewhat more interesting one. More images of the Nokia N75 have leaked, demonstrating the S60 smartphone’s side-sliding QWERTY keyboard. Similar in form-factor to the HTC S740, the N75 has 3G, WiFi and a 3.2-megapixel camera, together with a 2.4-inch non-touchscreen display.
A new rumor is floating around that indicates Microsoft is currently in the process of developing a new smartphone that would use a NVIDIA Tegra processor as its foundation. The idea here is to create a phone that would produce great performance and result in a sales boost.
The chip that is likely being referenced here is the APX 2500, which could make for 720p video playback on the mystery device and offer up 3D visuals. An unveiling is rumored to be slated for February 2009 at the Mobile World Congress.
It is believed any effort by Microsoft to develop their own smartphone is a reactionary measure produced by the success of the iPhone. At this point, it’s just a rumor, but if we were to see a Tegra-based Microsoft phone, what would you expect to see from it? Would you be excited about it?
The Nokia 5220 XpressMusic and 5320 XpressMusic phones are really quite stylish and have caught the attention of many over the past few months. But now, Nokia and WeSC, a Swedish company, have paired up to create something called the Visual Sound collection, which quite honestly looks stellar.
Shots of the Motorola Atila touchscreen smartphone have leaked, showing off among other things the company’s new theme for Windows Mobile 6.1 Pro (another, Apple-inspired theme is shown after the cut). The Atila is quadband GSM and triband UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA, capable of 7.2Mbps downloads and 1.8Mbps uploads (network depending); control is via a 2.8-inch QVGA 240 x 320 resistive touchscreen.
For some people, a BlackBerry Storm review isn’t enough. They want full, teardown detail of RIM’s first touchscreen handset, and while we didn’t have the heart to break open our review unit that hasn’t stopped the aptly-titled phoneWreck from doing just that. In doing so, some of the smartphone’s more obvious frustrations are explained.
SlashGear Japan
