Top Five Cell phones that Rocked the Market in 2008

It was a pretty exciting year for the mobile phone industry in 2008. Beginning in early part of 2008 when Apple’s 2nd Gen iPhone, the iPhone 3G was released, almost every major manufacturers called up their technicians and asked them to come up with the iPhone killer. Their battle cry was – come up with the equal if not better alternative to the iPhone which is sweeping the mobile phone market. And so aside from the iPhone we’ve witnessed how the industry went gaga in anticipation of mobile phones such as the Blackberry Bold, Sony Ericsson Xperia X1, Samsung Omnia, and of course the much awaited Google-powered HTC-manufactured mobile phone – the G1. As our special feature to usher in the new year for the mobile phone market, here’s a recap of these top five cell phones that rocked the mobile phone market in 2008.

iPhone

Apple’s second generation iPhone took the mobile market not only in the U.S. about worldwide by storm. Many got envious when it was released in the U.S. of everyone else in the world. Although nothing much in terms of features have changed since the first generation iPhone, still the 3G connectivity and the slimmer design made the iPhone a much sought after device. Having a 3G feature has encouraged more third party application developers to develop more useful applications, most specifically those which are location-based. Users no longer have to rely on getting wireless connectivity to get fast internet access through their iPhone. They can get connected anywhere, anytime through AT&T’s 3G services. What really made the iPhone 3G as successful as it is during 2008 was the plethora of applications that have been made available in the Apps Store, whether free or otherwise paid. If anyone would award something to the iPhone 3G, it’s got to be the mobile phone of the year.

G1 Phone

Just when everybody who bought the iPhone 3G was enjoying their newly bought toy, here comes Google making available their Android Mobile Platform, followed by an announcement of the first ever Google Android-powered mobile phone – the G1. The G1 was every Google fans dream mobile device. Carrying with it Google’s various online products, the G1 is what many were touting as an iPhone killer. Feature-wise, the G1 got what it takes to beat the iPhone. Backed by the Internet’s major player, as well as a reliable mobile phone manufacturer, HTC – the G1 rocked the mobile phone market when it was released in September. It may not be as strong as the iPhone’s media hype and buzz, but still the G1 managed to gain some mileage in the mobile market. Like the iPhone, the G1 has a stable of third-party applications which extends its usage to a mere smartphone. But even without the third-party applications, Google’s various mobile web products were more than enough to make the G1 and robust, productively useful mobile device.

Blackberry Bold

Blackberry is Blackberry. No matter what type of mobile device it comes up with, it is already assured of a captured market – the corporate/business smartphone niche. But of course, RIM will not just take the popularity of the iPhone and the G1 sitting down. And so, it joined the excitement in the industry and came out with its touchscreen Blackberry handset – the Blackberry Bold. Complemented by a sleek and classic black design, the Blackberry Bold gets some mileage when it was released in the U.S. And up to now, many other countries are still waiting for the arrival of the Blackberry Bold in their respective locality.

Samsung Omnia

Samsung’s entry into the touchscreen mobile phone niche was its Omnia touchscreen phone powered by Windows Mobile Platform. Aside from being a smartphone, the Samsung Omnia features a whooping 5MP camera and a plethora of productivity features. Mobile phone enthusiasts also anticipated the release of the Omnia since it was hot on the heels of the iPhone and the G1. But the Omnia was just another touchscreen mobile device for some and didn’t quite make it bigger than the other touchscreen phones. But it did get some good mobile market mileage for a time. I personally was able to get a brief hands-on of the Omnia when it was released. But having the iPhone inside my pocket, I couldn’t help but compare it the fluidity of the iPhone OS and when I left the shop where I tested the Omnia, I felt glad that I have my iPhone 3G with me.

Sony Ericsson Xperia X1

Sony Ericsson’s first Windows Mobile-powered device was also much anticipated for the simple reason that for a time Sony Ericsson has been the leader when it comes to smartphones. Interestingly, the Xperia X1 was not really an SE phone but rather a co-branded device with HTC. The Xperia X1 has got what it takes to be a successful mobile device, but unfortunately U.S. carriers are still pre-occupied with the G1 that they forgot take the Xperia X1 before it’s released. Hence, SE was forced to release the Xperia X1, unlock and with no carrier tie-up. But most importantly, SE released the Xperia X1 at such a high SRP - $899. In Europe though, the Xperia X1 managed to gain some mileage since T-Mobile and other manufacturers took it and offered the phone in their various network plans. The Xperia X1 is yet to be picked up by any U.S. mobile carrier. Hopefully, U.S. carriers will start offering it on their various network plans. This would definitely encourage more users to buy the mobile device.

There you have it, the five mobile phones which rocked the industry in 2008. Who knows what’s in store for 2009? This early, Sony Ericsson is already prepping up the Xperia X2 and so is the Google phone. As for the iPhone, rumors have been starting to leak out of the iPhone Pro. The coming year will definitely be another exciting year for the mobile market. And we will cover as much of that here in CPN.

iKids Play, an iApplication for iKids

The world is definitely not the same as it was a couple of decades before. As an obvious consequence, kids are not the same, as they grow up in a different environment, a more unnatural one. Technology is almost everywhere, and children are those who are most exposed, even if parents try their best in order to protect them from becoming the slaves of a virtual universe.

Nevertheless, when a kid see his mom and dad having fun while using all sorts of iPhone applications, it’s impossible for them to ignore these influences. This is why manufacturers from all around the world focus much of their attention on the young part of their target public.

Therefore, it’s important for them to have a wide variety of iPhone applications, for example, to choose from. iKids Play announced a brand new application that is the digital personification of the “mommy survival bag”, which is stuffed with storybooks, coloring books, crayons and pencils.

The iKids Play is based on “print versions of children’s picture books” and it’s compatible with the iPhone and the iPod Touch, being the result of a strong collaboration between parents, their children and teachers, being an alternative to gaming, but one considered to be positive. There are five different creative play activities included in one application, such as discovering hidden images by rubbing the screen, a digital coloring book, a storytime video, the possibility to read and record aloud and a digital finger paint pad.

The iKids Play will soothe your little one when you need him to be quiet. “iKids Play activities draw on the unique features of the iPhone to use tactile and fine motor skills, spatial coordination, color recognition, listening skills and practice reading books aloud”, said the Mark Smith, the person who founded and created the iKids Play. “But, most important, it lets kids express their creativity while giving parents, grandparents, babysitters or anyone waiting in line or traveling with kids convenience and portability. Your iPhone. Their fun!”.

The print versions of these picture books can be purchased online or from bookstores, while the iKids Play will be available every month at the Apple Apps Store (once a month) for only $2.99.

Free navigation license for Nokia Maps

Nokia Maps is a Nokia-branded product and service developed by the Finnish company for its mobile phones and smartphone multimedia devices. I’m sure this is far from being a news for you, as Nokia took very well care of the image of Nokia Maps on market, making everyone aware of its presence.

There are a couple of Nokia phones that come with a license for free navigation on Nokia Maps, which is available for a couple of months (three, in most cases), but there are also those cell phones that are not provided with the license in the first place.

If you find yourself in the situation of an expired license or you didn’t have it at all, it doesn’t really matter, as you now have the chance to enjoy a quite impressive present for the New Year coming from Nokia. The gift consists of an entire week of free navigation with Nokia Maps.

The best thing about this is the fact that you’re not supposed to take any kind of trouble in order to have access to the free navigation license. The only thing you should do is to give Nokia your mobile number where they will send you everything you need to get the party started: a message that includes the code that is aimed at activating the one week license and a reminder that is meant to let you know when the seven days are up. It couldn’t be simpler than that, right? There is nothing for you to lose from this experience and I could bet all my money on this one!

Anyway, if you’re interested in having your own free license navigation, then make sure you have the latest version of Nokia Maps and that the mobile phone that you own has GPS capabilities. If, on the other hand, you feel like you need more information, visit the official website of Nokia Europe. So, go and judge for yourself!

Get Free Radio on Your Apple iPhone via iheartradio.com

Now you can get free radio on your Apple iPhone via iheartradio.com. Stream your favorite American radio station to your iPhone or iPod Touch. iheartradio is free to download and free to use. There are no additional charges to use it beyond your mobile carrier or WiFi provider's standard data rates.

The service works on the Apple iPhone, iPhone 3G or iPod touch running iPhone OS 2.0.2 or later. iheartradio is available to customers in the United States and can be downloaded via the iPhone App Store.

iheartradio Includes:

• Search 100+ stations
• Bookmark your favorites
• Tag songs for purchase in iTunes
• Shake It! and find something new

Works With:

• Apple iPhone, iPhone 3G or iPod Touch
• WiFi, EDGE or 3G data connection
• iPhone OS 2.0.2 or later

For more information visit http://www.iheartmusic.com.

KS660, the first LG dual SIM cell phone

This is the LG day, that’s for certain. After the LG GD910, a fashionable wristphone which is the latest trend nowadays. And talking about trends, we should not forget about the cell phones provided with multi-SIM cards support.

Trying their best to offer customers whatever they might come up with, LG, the South Korean conglomerate announced its first ever dual SIM mobile phone, the tri-band KS660, an advanced device equipped with all sorts of ground-breaking features.

This is a touchscreen-centric cell phone which comes with a 3 inch WQVGA display, with a resolution of 240 x 400 pixels, being a TFT touch-sensitive one, a 5 megapixel camera with autofocus, flash and video recording capabilities (the resolution is 720 x 480), an internal memory of 50 MB which can be expanded with a microSDHC card, an accelerometer to play with, a built-in multimedia player, FM radio, Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity and USB support.

As I’ve already said, the LG KS660 is a tri-band mobile phone, working on GSM/GPRS/EDGE (900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz). This device could easily turn into the perfect business tool, as it gives you the chance to access the business line in the same time with the personal one, using the same device. The main disadvantage is the fact that the phone is not equipped with features like 3G and WiFi. And if you don’t enjoy using a stylus, then the KS660 isn’t precisely what you need, because it has one on the right side.

As far as the price is concerned, there are no details yet. But what we know for sure is that the first dual SIM LG cell phone is expected to become available in China, Russia and a couple of European countries (members of CIS, the Commonwealth of Independent States, former Soviet Republics), in the first quarter of 2009.

Sprint Launches Local, 10-Digit Numbers for Deaf & Hard of Hearing Users

Sprint announced the availability of local, 10-digit phone numbers for internet-based Relay (IP), Instant Messaging Relay (IM), Video Relay Service (VRS) and Federal VRS customers. Sprint Relay's 'Call Now' service allows IP and VRS users to be assigned a local 10-digit phone number to receive calls directly and make 911 calls based on their geographic location.

Callers will no longer be required to dial a toll-free number to reach Sprint Relay users. VRS numbers are available now and IP numbers will be available on Dec. 31, 2008. Federal VRS and Federal Relay Online also will have 'Call Now' numbers prior to March 31, 2009.

With 'Call Now,' Sprint Relay users can be contacted directly by their family, friends and colleagues by dialing their personal 10-digit phone number and will automatically connect with a Relay operator or VRS interpreter. In addition, customers can set up their account profile including their physical address with city, state and zip code. The account profile will be ready for VRS or IP relay users to make 911 emergency calls.

Beginning Dec. 31, 2008, users will be required to register their physical location information and submit a request for a 'Call Now' number through Sprint Relay before the 10-digit number is assigned. Sprint Relay customers can register their personal 10-digit number for Sprint Relay VRS or Sprint IP and IM Call Now Number at www.sprintrelay.com.

LG GD910, a new wristphone in the spotlight

Wristphones are more and more present on the cell phone market, which means that people are dead keen on such devices. If a couple of years ago they were spectacular gadgets that one could impress everyone with, today a wristwatch is something that you can easily find in the shop windows.

Following the footsteps of other companies that realized the interest that people manifest towards such devices, LG has just announced the GD910, a wristphone which is said to be “la pièce de résistance” at the Consumer Electronics Show, a trade show which is held each January in Las Vegas, Nevada (8 – 11 January, in 2009).

It was an inevitable apparition and I’m sure that was highly expected by the fans of the Korea-based company and it seems that the amount of features that the GD910 is equipped with won’t disappoint the most pretentious people on earth. Therefore, the latest LG device comes with a 1.43 inches LCD touchscreen, support for 3G and HSDPA technology, MP3 player, TTS (meaning Text to Speech), Bluetooth connectivity and an integrated camera placed on the face of the watch, being designed for video recording and conferencing. In addition, LG says that the HSDPA will help users download with speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps.

LG GD910 is expected to be presented at Consumer Electronics Show next month (which is supposed to be the official debut of this new wristwatch) and it is said to be released in Japan and Europe only. Unfortunately, there are no details yet about pricing and availability.

Become Rich Writing Apps for the Apple iPhone

Iphone application developers are making a killing writing software for the iPhone, not to mention Apple who gets 30% of the revenues. Thousands of people are writing iPhone apps and selling them through Apple’s App Store fir $1 to $10, which is part of the iTunes online market.

Several small software companies have switched to exclusively writing software for the iPhone because it’s so lucrative. Smule, a small software company created 4 small programs for the iPhone – voice changer, virtual firecracker, virtual lighter, and virtual wind instrument. The virtual wind instrument is named Ocarina and is the winner of the group with 400,000 downloads in less than 1 month. Smule had hoped to generate a $100,000 in revenue this year, but will generate close to $1 million.

One person can literally become of millionaire almost over night by writing an iPhone app and easily selling it via the Apple App Store. Case in point is Steve Demeter, a 30 year old programmer, who created the iPhone game Trism in his spare time.

In two months he earned $250,000 selling the game to iPhone users. He ended quitting his full time job and hired 5 engineers to develop various games for the iPhone.

Apple created the Apple App Store last July and has already has over 300 million downloads of 10,000 software applications. Apple just introduced the iPhone in June 2007 with the iPhone 3G last July and has sold 13 million units. In the 3rd quarter of this year, Apple sold more units that Research in Motion, maker of the BlackBerry smartphones. Apple is now the 3rd largest mobile phone provider after Nokia and Samsung.

Philips Xenium 9@9q Dragon and Phoenix

The holidays can easily turn into a genuine nightmare for those who lack inspiration when it comes to buying presents to their dearest ones. It’s quite difficult to come up with a brilliant idea, even if we’re talking about people who you’re supposed to know very well. It’s difficult because the market it’s overloaded and there’s nothing that one might need which is nowhere to be found.

Still, a very good idea is a nice looking phone, part of a limited edition, especially released on certain occasions. A relevant example is the Philips 9@9q, an old model that was beautifully adorned for the holiday season. The special version of this popular Philips cell phone, the Xenium 9@9q, has two new counterparts, called Dragon and Phoenix, and they’re aimed at all of you out there who are fashion-conscious.

Equipped with stunning features, the two mobile phones could easily be the gifts you were looking for, perfect for the New Year. First of all, both cell phones are very well polished, having smooth curves that point out the elegant silhouette of the clamshell. You can also observe the presence of an external display that is placed on both flip sides of the phone which make it easier for the users to check out vital information, including messages they didn’t have the chance to read, the calls they missed or the remaining battery power.

Inside the new outfit lies the same old Xenium you all know already. A very strong feature which makes the phone distinguish itself from other similar devices is the battery which provides up to 8 hours of talk time and up to approximately 1 month of stand-by time. This way, the Dragon and the Phoenix are two fashion-centric phones that amaze everyone with their long battery life.

As far as the price is concerned, the recommended retail price for both Dragon and Phoenix is approximately 4999 rubles or $172 USD.

Nokia Mail on Ovi Goes "Live"

Mail on Ovi, the free email account from Nokia, is now 'live' and can be set up directly on Nokia phones without requiring a PC to get started. People who use Nokia Series 40 devices can create their own email address directly on their mobile phones.

The Ovi email account gives a person all the features and functionalities of a typical PC-based email account. During the Beta period, consumers will be able to choose from 12 languages based on the settings of their device, including English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Hindi, Bengali, Tagalog, Bahasa Indonesia and Bahasa Malaysia.

Mobile phone users from India, Malaysia and the Philippines have been able to use the Beta service since November, with extremely encouraging results, and the availablity is now being extended to the rest of the world.*

Nokia has launched more than 35 Nokia Series 40 device models which immediately enable the creation of the Mail on Ovi email account**. As of October 2008, Nokia has shipped more than 110 million of such devices globally.

* Certain countries may not yet be supported during the Beta period

** Devices that enable Mail on Ovi include:

• Nokia 1680 classic, Nokia 168Oi
• Nokia 2320, Nokia 2323, Nokia 2330, Nokia 2600, Nokia 2600 classic, Nokia 2630, Nokia 2680 slide, Nokia 2760
• Nokia 3210, Nokia 3555, Nokia 3600 slide, Nokia 3610 fold
• Nokia 5000, Nokia 5130 XpressMusic, Nokia 5220 XpressMusic, Nokia 5310 XpressMusic, Nokia 5610 XpressMusic
• Nokia 6267, Nokia 6300i, Nokia 6301, Nokia 6260, Nokia 6500 classic, Nokia 6500 slide, Nokia 6555, Nokia 6600 fold, Nokia 6600 slide
• Nokia 7100 Supernova, Nokia 7210 Supernova, Nokia 7310, Nokia 7500 Prism, Nokia 7610 Supernova, Nokia 7900 Crystal Prism
• Nokia 8800 Arte, Nokia 8800 Sapphire

Nokia Makes the 6208c Official in China

Nokia China has just announced the new mobile phone dubbed 6208c - a touchscreen mobile handset that supports pen/stylus input and was optimized to write Chinese characters and messages in the most natural way. The Nokia 6208c features a stylus which is conveniently tucked inside a slot at the back of the phone for easy access. This styles suits well with the 6208c’s large screen display.

The Nokia 6208c sports a stainless steel back cover made of premium materials and which more than make up for the phone being easy to use and comfortable to hold. The phone also supports different language settings aside from the Chinese language.

A complete rundown of the features and specs of the Nokia 6208c would give us the following key features, a 3.2 megapixel camera, dual LED flash and 4x digital zoom, 13MB internal memory, support for optional microSD cards up to 8GB, a 2.4-inch screen display with 320 x 240 pixel resolution, keyboard and handwriting stylus pen for input methods, a dedicated camera and volume keys, video capture at 15fps, media player that supports various audio and video formats, 3 hours and 30 minutes talk time, 300 hours standby time, Bluetooth support, EDGE/GPRS/HSCSD network connectivity features, POP3 and IMAP4 Email support, web browsing, voice dialing and voice-driven commands, pre-installed games and more.

The Nokia 6208c runs is a series 40 mobile phone which supports JAVA and Flash applications.It’s a triband phone operating on EGSM 900/1800/1900. It will be available in the first half of 2009 in selected International markets.

Mobinnova ICE

Mobinnova, a Taiwan-based company that teamed up with Sony Ericsson in order to produce a new version of the Xperia, has just announced a brand new handset which is said to be their flagship smartphone. Maybe this is a surprise for some of you, but Mobinnova is indeed a company that has its own mobile phones as well.

Released under the name of Mobinnova ICE, the Windows Mobile-based smartphone works with the Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 professional and is provided with a 528 Mhz Qualcomm MSM7201ATM chipset. But this isn’t everything about this device, so pay a little bit of attention to what I’ve got to say.

The features of the Mobinnova ICE include: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz and WCDMA/HSPA 900 / 1900 / 2100 MHZ, a 3 inch WQVGA TFT-LCD touchscreen, a 3 megapixel camera with autofocus and a dedicated shutter control and a second camera which is especially designed for video calling, memory of 256 MB ROM and 128 RAM with the possibility of expanding it with microSD card (with SDHC support), an integrated FM radio with RDS and RBDS function, Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity with EDR / A2DP and an integrated GPS and aGPS.

In addition, the user interface comes with innovative controls like mobiToday and mobiShift, which are touch sensitive and allow users to experience a better mobile experience.

Measuring 114 x 53.5 x 13 millimeters and weighing 120 grams (with the 1080 mAh rechargeable Lithium-polymer battery included), the Mobinnova ICE provides up to 6 hours of talk time and up to 160 hours of stand-by time.

“Today we are proud to announce the Mobinnova ICE, a new sensation in touch-screen mobile phones, as once again, feel becomes more important than simple touch”, said KC Kuo, chairman of Mobinnova. In addition, he said that “users of the Mobinnova ICE feel a tactile response through their fingertips, whenever they touch the 3-inch screen, through our unique mobiFeel technology.

As far as the pricing and the availability are concerned, this information is still unavailable, unfortunately for those who are already interested in the Mobinnova ICE.

Nokia 6208 Classic

I’m sure you all know about the Nokia N97, the first smartphone released by the Finnish company, which is equipped with a touchscreen and a full QWERTY keyboard. But what would you say about the Nokia 6208 Classic, a phone that hasn’t been yet announced, which is said to be the first handset featuring a touchscreen and lacking the QWERTY keyboard. This one is aimed at all of you out there who’d be satisfied with a regular keypad, an alphanumeric one, more precisely.

The strangest thing of them all is the fact that the Nokia 6208 Classic won’t run on Symbian 9.4 S60 5th Edition (as other Nokia cell phones do, like N97 and 5800 Xpress Music), the company’s option being the S40 interface.

The device is far from being something like a ground-braking Nokia smartphone, but it will impress enough in order to catch your attention. The features of the Nokia 6208 Classic include: a 2.8 inch TFT display (it’s a touchscreen, as I’ve said it before) that has 16 million colors and a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels, quad band GSM connectivity with GPRS and EDGE, an internal memory of 27 MB which can be expanded with microSD card, Bluetooth connectivity and a 3.2 megapixel camera, that is equipped with autofocus and flash.

Weighing 130 grams and measuring 109.8 x 49.3 x 14.7 millimeters, the Nokia 6208 Classic is expected to be released on the Chinese market only. However, there are only rumors about this handset, and we’d better wait for the official announcement. Unfortunately, there are no details yet about the release date and the price.

MetroPCS Launches the Samsung Byline Push-to-Talk Handset

MetroPCS has launched the Samsung Byline (SCH-R310) push-to-talk handset. The clamshell-style Samsung Byline SCH-R310, encased in a stylish red finish, is designed for the user wanting quick access to friends, family and colleagues. The Samsung Byline offers easy one-touch communication via with the simple push of a button (ChatLINKSM), along with a bevy of messaging features, including text, email and IM. Users can stay on top of the news and the latest information by using the Samsung Byline’s Web browser. For easy, hands-free communication, the Samsung Byline comes equipped with Bluetooth® wireless technology.

PRODUCTIVITY

• Walkie-Talkie with ChatLINKSM
• metroWEBSM
• Bluetooth® Wireless Technology
• Advanced Voice Recognition
• Navigation Key
• Speakerphone

PERSONALIZATION

• Bilingual User Interface with Prompts in English & Spanish
• Downloadable Ringtones, Wallpapers and Games
• Customizable Banners, Dialing Fonts and Themes

ENTERTAINMENT

• T9 Text Input for easy text entry
• Text Messaging (SMS), Enhanced Messaging (EMS), Multimedia Messaging (MMS)
• Airplane mode

SPECIFICATIONS

• Dimensions: 3.5” x 1.7” x 0.77”; 3.25 ounces
• Internal Display: 1.77” 128 x 160 Pixel, 65K CSTN
• External Display: 1.0” 96 x 96 Pixel, 65K CSTN
• Standard rechargeable Lithium Ion battery: up to 3.5 hours talk time

Too Bad, LG’s Dual Sim Phone KS660 Won’t Be Coming to the US

LG Korea has announced what could be a great phone for everyone of us for the simple reason that is it an LG phone with dual-Sim support straight-out of the box without needing some modification or hacks. Whereas before to do, you’d either buy a dual sim-card holder and the solder it on your mobile phone, LG is making it easy with its KG 660 dual-sim phone. It is unfortunate though that LG is not (yet) keen on releasing the said phone to the international market.

The LG KS660 dual-sim phone which is expected to be released in China, Russia, a few other Russian satellite states and of course Korea, sports a 3-inch WQVGA display and a whooping 5 MP camera. It would have been a perfect business tool for everyone of us as it lets you accesss two lines, either your business line or personal line on the same handset.

The LG KS660 which we are hoping to be released other than the countries we mentioned would have the following specs and features:

* Tri-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE (900/1800/1900 MHz)
* 5MP camera with autofocus, flash and video recording
* Measures 105mm x 55mm x 14.9mm
* Weighs 115g
* 50MB internal memory
* accelerometer
* microSDHC support

If you’ve been following our cellphone news coverage paying particular attention to specs and details, you’d immediately noticed that the LG KS660 seems to be lacking 2 important connectivity features - 3G and WiFi. Well, those seemed to be one downside to this phone. It would have been better if you could use to 3G connectivity features of two mobile carriers, right?

Anyway, the LG KS660 also features a stylus, so we expect it to have some sort of touchscreen features.

Again, we would like to reiterate, the LG KS660 could be a great carry-around mobile phone, if only LG would rethink about its plan of releasing the said handset to a limited market only, sometime in 1Q 2009.

LG SH490, another cell phone for the ladies

Hey ladies! This is your last chance, so that you know, to tell Santa that you’ve been… obedient (it’s just a manner of speaking) and that you all deserve to receive everything that you’ve asked. Let’s be honest, “ask” isn’t precisely the right word for what you’ve done in the past couple of weeks, because the supplications can better be described with another verb: “to beg”.

Nevertheless, for those of you who didn’t get the chance to think of something, here’s our proposal: the LG SH490, which is also known as the Make-up Phone. The name is more than suggestive, as you can easily figure it out for yourselves, so the phone is aimed to fairer sex.

Therefore, the company has just announced these brand new cell phones for the ladies and for the ladies only, which have the “silhouette” of usual girly devices, with their polished outfit and the bright and shiny outer case.

As far as the features are concerned, they include a 2.4 inch QVGA internal screen, a secondary external display, of 1.1 inch, a 3 megapixel camera module, Bluetooth connectivity, PMP features, electronic dictionary and an internal memory of 512 MB.

Trying to satisfy all sorts of preferences, the phone is available in three different case designs, such as Smoky Red, Deep Blue and Pearl White. In addition, the ladies can also create 18 emoticons on the front panel using the LED animation lighting, which is another way for them to personalize their devices.

The LG SH490 spreads femininity from all of its pores and it’s expected to become available in South Korea via SK Telecom. Unfortunately, there are no details on the price yet.

Electronic football for your iPhone

When you’re writing about a specific subject on a regular basis and you feel like doing it for ages, no matter how varied the domain might be, you are tempted to have a tedious time when trying to squeeze out an idea from your imagination.

Something like this happens when you’re facing the following situation: as if they weren’t already enough, another iPhone application has seen the light of the day. You know that people can hardly wait for such spectacular events, so you want to catch their attention. This means you’ll have to make an “unexpected” decision: to write a nice review about the recently launched product, and everyone will be so very happy. You, because you’ve made your readers the happiest people on earth, and them, because they’re given what they like.

I’m sure you’re all curious about the latest iPhone applications and you’d want me to stop writing nonsense, right? Now, the LED Football 2, designed and developed by Mark Helmuth, is aimed at those who love electronic football. These guys will be able to experience the excitement of a wide variety of features like running, kicking, field goals, punts and passing. A very exciting about this application is that it’s so smart that it can emulate the slow accumulation of wear on the plastic buttons.

“Introducing LED Football 2 with passing. Now you’re in charge with 2nd generation electronic football technology! Total Control LED Football 2 with Passing means you have total offense. Now the power is at your fingertips to bring the defense to its knees. Watch as your receiver goes wide and your Quarterback locks on. Hit the orange PASS button and let that bad boy fly over heads of that shifty defense (watch out, they can and will intercept you!) and into the waiting arms of your fastest receiver. Now you take control of the receiver as you dodge the line of defense”.

If you think that this is where the iPhone applications story ends, then you’re so very wrong. Just wait and see!

The Nokia N85 & Nokia N79 Arrives in the U.S.

Nokia N85

Nokia has announced that the Nokia N85 and Nokia N79 (announced last August) has hit the United States. The Nokia N85 delivers a striking fusion of design and entertainment that bursts through its stunning 2.6" OLED display, while the Nokia N79 is bound to turn heads with its three seasonally colored Xpress-on smart covers in, red, white and brown, to automatically customize the device's theme to match your holiday moods.

Both devices will now be available unlocked through retail channels in the United States, including the Nokia Flagship stores in New York and Chicago, on www.nokiausa.com and from a number of independent retailers and e-tailers.

The bright OLED screen on the Nokia N85 is an ideal backdrop to view those holiday pictures. Get snap-happy with the Nokia N85 and Nokia N79 - both have 5 megapixel cameras with Carl Zeiss optics, so you can enjoy high quality images in richly defined colors, taken with a bright dual LED flash, or video clips at 30 frames per second.

Images can be geotagged to record the capture location and shared online on sites like Share on Ovi or Flickr.

The fun doesn't stop there - playing N-Gage games is a pleasure with fast connectivity and bright screens. Break the boundaries of gameplay by challenging like-minded players from across the globe to rescue the princess with Reset Generation or net the catch of the day in Hooked on Creatures of the Deep. Try out any of a variety of games with the free activation voucher on either device.

Nokia N79

Turn up the volume

The Nokia N85 and Nokia N79 are ideal companions for music enthusiasts. Both devices have ample storage space included inbox for your favorite tunes - an 8GB microSD card on the Nokia N85 and a 4GB microSD card on the Nokia N79.

Great for getting the party started, both devices also have a built-in FM transmitter so you can enjoy tunes wirelessly through a car or home stereo - and in 3D sound.

Find it

The Nokia N85 and Nokia N79 come with Nokia Maps and an integrated three-month license for pedestrian and voice-guided navigation. Other highlights of the Nokia Maps include free maps for more than 200 countries, satellite view and close to 15 million points of interest.

The Nokia N85 and Nokia N79 can be further enhanced with a range of customizable content available from the pre-loaded Nokia Download!.

Both the Nokia N85 and Nokia N79 are compatible with high-speed 3G HSDPA networks in the US (850 and 1900 MHz). The Nokia N85 also supports European 3G networks (2100 MHz) - perfect for a holiday break abroad. The Nokia N85 is available for an estimated retail price of $539 and the Nokia N79 for $439.

AT&T Launches the BlackBerry Curve 8320 Smartphone with Wi-Fi

AT&T Inc. and Research In Motion has announced the availability of the BlackBerry Curve 8320 smartphone with built-in Wi-Fi, which gives AT&T customers with unlimited corporate or personal BlackBerry service plans free and seamless access to thousands of AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots in the U.S.

Available in sapphire blue, the BlackBerry Curve 8320 smartphone makes it easy to connect to home or campus Wi-Fi networks and to automatically connect to any of the more than 17,000 AT&T Hot Spots nationwide. These include Starbucks, Barnes & Noble and thousands more restaurants, airports, hotels and other convenient locations across the U.S. Those customers who subscribe to unlimited corporate or personal BlackBerry service plans can access these AT&T Hot Spots at no charge.

The BlackBerry Curve 8320 smartphone — with 802.11 b/g — provides broader data coverage, and customers also can carry on a telephone conversation on the cellular network while simultaneously accessing data via Wi-Fi.

The BlackBerry Curve 8320 smartphone also gives AT&T customers the ability to access Wi-Fi hotspots worldwide¹. These global Wi-Fi capabilities complement AT&T's industry-leading wide area wireless international coverage with the ability to perform data functions in more than 150 countries and make or receive a phone call in more than 200 countries.

The BlackBerry Curve 8320 smartphone packs numerous new features including an enhanced HTML browser that supports a Web browsing experience with desktop-style depiction. The smartphone's trackball acts like a computer mouse, allowing users to quickly scroll through a page, zoom in and out or click on hotlinks. The BlackBerry Curve 8320 also has an improved user interface and support for HTML e-mail, and it allows users to download attachments as well as edit Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files directly on the handset using the preloaded DataViz Documents To Go software suite.

The BlackBerry Curve 8320 smartphone retains the features that have made it one of the most popular smartphones in the world. It combines the renowned BlackBerry e-mail and messaging capabilities with a full QWERTY keyboard, built-in spell checker, premium phone features and comprehensive organizer, and it sports a large, ultra-bright, 320-by-240 display that supports more than 65,000 colors and comes with light-sensing technology that automatically adjusts backlighting for optimal viewing. In addition, it features Bluetooth 2.0 support, a 2 megapixel camera with zoom, flash and video recording², advanced media player with desktop media management software and expandable memory of up to 16GB via its microSD/SDHC memory card slot. The BlackBerry Curve 8320 smartphone also includes AT&T Music subscription services, integrated Push To Talk (PTT) and, when used with a separate Bluetooth-enabled GPS receiver, provides access to the popular AT&T Navigator and YELLOWPAGES.COM mobile services.

Pricing and Availability

The BlackBerry Curve 8320 smartphone with built-in Wi-Fi is now available online at http://att.com/blackberrycurve8320 and through AT&T's direct business-to-business sales organizations for as low as $149.99 with a two-year contract and mail-in rebate. In early 2009, it will be available at select AT&T retail stores and national retailers. Customers who want personal e-mail access and Web browsing with BlackBerry Internet Service can choose the BlackBerry Personal Unlimited data plan for as low as $30 a month with a qualified voice contract. Unlimited corporate e-mail and data access via BlackBerry Enterprise Server or BlackBerry Professional Software for small businesses is available for as low as $45 a month when a qualified voice plan is also chosen. Customers who travel overseas can select the BlackBerry International Unlimited data plan for as low as $65 a month with a qualified voice plan.

Small business customers also can couple their BlackBerry data plans with new AT&T BusinessTalk voice plans, which start at $60 a month for five users and 700 Anytime Minutes and can be expanded for $9.99 a line to accommodate up to 40 users and 20,000 Anytime Minutes. When combined with BlackBerry Professional Software, AT&T BusinessTalk provides small businesses with a complete voice and data solution. Companies may also choose BusinessTalk with either unlimited Mobile to Mobile or Push To Talk features.

¹ Local Wi-Fi charges may apply.
² Video recording requires microSD memory card, sold separately.

Full Review : Sony Ericsson G900 (Red)

After a couple of days of using the Sony Ericsson G900, I’m completely blown away by the great features of this “smartphone in a not-so smarthphone form factor” mobile phone. Sony Ericsson hit the sweetest spot on making this mobile phone a special smartphone catering to mobile users who are in need of a not so complicated, simple and yet powerful smartphone. In fact, with a 5MP camera to boot, the Sony Ericsson G900 can be more aptly categorized as an “all-around multimedia smartphone”. So, here’s our full review of the Sony Ericsson G900 (Red).

Hardware Features, Design and Specs

The Sony Ericsson G900 sports a slim form factor which reminds you of older models such as the T310 and the T600. The unit I have is a red and black design with textured grey lining on the side which adds to the classic appeal of the phone. Examining the right side of the phone you’d find the camera button on the lower part, the screen lock key on the middle and the volume control on the top most part of the side. While at the top is the power button. On the other side of the phone, you’d find the stylus which is tucked firmly in its slot. And a little lower is the USB or FastPort which with a LED indicator below which lights up in green when the phone is charging and red when the phone’s battery is running low. In the inner side, if you take out the battery cover, you’d find the memory stick micro slot.

At the upper back portion of the phone, you’d find the 5MP main camera with the Flash above it which also serves as a Flash light. The Sony Ericsson G900 also has a secondary camera which is located above the LCD screen. This is used for video calls. Below the main camera is a speaker which you can use when playing ringtone. You’d also notice a slightly protruding ridge below the speaker which is used to let the sound out even if the phone is lying on its back.

Going back to the front of the phone, we go now to the phone’s numeric keypad. The Sony Ericsson G900’s keypad features your usual mobile phone keypad. Above it is your usual “back” button on the right side of the navigational wheel, while on the left side is your usual “C” button. The phone’s navigational wheel is used for controlling all the phone’s functions especially if you’re not fond of using the phone’s touchscreen features. Above these two buttons are quick keys for messaging and opening the notes function.

Software Features

The Sony Ericsson G900’s main screen consists of the usual icons at the top of the screen representing connectivity options, signal strength indicator, battery meter, and the task manager icon. Below the screen the three basic functions, Calls, Menu and More. Directly above it are 5 icons which you can choose which of the functions you want displayed. You can navigate through these icons using the navigational wheel or by tapping on the screen using your fingers or the stylus. As a default setting the five icons displayed are My Shortcuts, Alarm, Reminders, Messages, Main Menu and Favorite Contacts.

To go to the Main Menu, simply push the button at the center of the navigational wheel or tap on the “Menu” icon on the screen. At the upper corner of the screen you’d find a quick arrow key that would bring you back to the desktop screen. Again, you can navigate through the Menu using the navigational wheel or by simply tapping on the screen.

The G900’s Main Menu features a 3×3 grid of icons which is pretty much what other Sony Ericsson UIQ-based mobile phone.

One main difference of the G900 with other Sony Ericsson phone’s which utilizes the UIQ platform is the minimized treatment to the Task Manager. Whereas before the Task Manager has its own screen, tapping on the Task Manager icon would only pop out a small window containing some of the tasks which you can access.

The Sony Ericsson despite not being included in the Walkman phone series of Sony Ericsson also functions as a Walkman player with its own multimedia player menu and interface similar to other W-series phones of Sony Ericsson.

Conclusion

After a few days of using the Sony Ericsson G900, I am totally blown away by the simplicity of its approach to the smartphone functionality. The G900 is your typical mobile phone with voice and calling features. But what makes it different from the rest of the mobile phone crowd is the fact that it has other “smart” functions such as PDF viewer, mobile internet browsing, geo-tagging of photos, GPS, Wi-Fi, RSS Feeds reader and more.

But the best part is the fact that the Sony Ericsson G900 has all these features and yet won’t cost you too much as compared to other smartphones. I got my wife’s unit for around $287 only. What phone could possibly give you all those features for such a price?

The Sony Ericsson G900 is definitely an under-rated mobile phone with great features.