Remember that wild, all-black Dash we peeped a couple days ago? We have no intention of scuttling your hopes and dreams, but aside from a few cosmetic differences (they removed the aluminum front piece, the keyboard has been spaced out a little bit, and the OS has been bumped up to Windows Mobile 6.1) it looks like the 'new' Dash isn't all that new after all. But who cares if there's nothing revolutionary here? Just take a look at the bright side -- maybe this means we'll be seeing a new Manhattan sometime soon.
It looks like Vertu isn't resting on its laurels -- a mere two years after snatching the "world's ugliest phone title" with its Signature Cobra, the company's back with the Signature Dragon. What can we say about this one? Not much, seeing as how the thing isn't even listed on the company's website. Even so, since the Cobra retailed for over a quarter of a million bucks we're guessing this new handset ain't gonna be cheap. Feel free to sneak a peek at the thing in the Vertu store in Las Vegas's Wynn Hotel when you hit the town for CES. As an aside, when researching this post we came across an erotic French novel titled Dragon de Vertu which is on sale for about $30. Even if you don't read French, we still think it'd be a better use of your hard earned cash -- and if you do read French, please underline the good parts before you pass it on to us.
Read: Vertu to display its luxury handset 'Vertu Signature Dragon' Read:Dragon de Vertu by Francis Tigrone
Did we just blow your mind with this all-black T-Mobile Dash? Besides sporting a new look, this furtively shot handset seems to confirm details we received from a tipster over the weekend. According to the source, the new phones have been seen in a few T-Mob stores across the country, and they're sporting Windows 6.1 and a camera upgrade of some sort. We're light on details, like whether or not this bad boy is 3G, but then again there's no telling whether or not any of this is even for reals. But that is a picture, isn't it? We'll just have to wait and see.
Although G1 users have that sweet compass-based Street View implementation, we haven't heard much about turn-by-turn nav on Android until now -- AndNav2 is a new alpha app that uses OpenStreetMap data to get you where you're going. It's currently supported in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, France, Denmark, Spain, Switzerland, and Italy -- apparently the folks at AndNav don't have server enough for a Stateside implementation, although they hope to have this remedied in the future. In the meantime, it looks like Americans hoping to get from one place to another will have to either continue to rely on their superior sense of direction or, more likely, their Knight Rider GPS.
Photos of the ASUS Galaxy 7 touchscreen phone have been popping up for months now, and due to a resemblance a certain Samsung device, it's been referred to more than once as an "Omnia-killer" (of course, we understand the urge, but we have to ask if it's even worth the effort). Now it looks like the folks over at Mobile Review have their hands on the thing, and they've been kind enough to share their thoughts. Right off the bat, they were disappointed to learn that plans for a 800 MHz processor had been scrapped in lieu of the far less exciting 528 MHz Qualcom MS7200A, but they then go on to give props to the phone's Glide interface (on par with TouchFlo3D, it seems) and its build quality -- the handset itself seems sturdy, well considered, and it even integrates some leather for that touch of "class" that only a dead animal can bring. Other than that, it's pretty much what you were expecting: a WinMob phone with a 5 megapixel camera, a 3.5-inch (800 x 480) display, 512MB memory, 4GB storage and a microSD slot. The phone should be available early next year.
Sierra Wireless has just announced two new ExpressCard modems for HSUPA wireless users. Sporting download speeds up tp 7.2Mbps and upload speeds up to 5.76Mbps, the AirCard 501 supports 850 / 1900 / 2100 MHz bands, while the AirCard 502 covers 900 / 1900 / 2100 MHz. Both are backward compatible with UMTS, EDGE and GSM networks world 'round, and they're being touted as "durable," meaning there are no little antennas or plastic pieces to break on you. That last part should be good news to all of you post-apocalyptic Road Warriors out there (or not -- they're still just regular ExpressCards, as far as we can tell). The AirCard 501 is slated for release later this month, while those of you interested in the AirCard 502 will have to wait until the first part of 2009.
It looks like that obscure Korean handset we spotted a week or so ago has been identified as a MID from Compal with the unlikely name of Tabasco. The images we saw were shot at Computex 2008 in June, and this is what Blog Times has to say about it: the non functioning prototype sports a rear facing 3.2 megapixel camera with 2x optical zoom and a flash, a front-facing webcam, and it measures about 6.3 x 3.3 x 1.3-inches with a 4.5 or 5-inch screen. It's impossible to determine the device's processor, OS or storage capacity at the this time -- so it seems that, after all this, the handheld is still something of a mystery. Of course, it could always turn out to be that fresh breath of Palm New-ness we've been warned of -- after all, it's been rumored that the company placed a significant order with Compal way back in August. Perhaps we'll find out at CES.
Gresso, the Russian company known for its luxury electronics, is back with the scarily named (and strangely apt) Avantgarde Skeleton Collection. Another benchmark in conspicuous consumption, this Windows Mobile 6.0-sporting, Bluetooth 1.2-supporting brickphone is housed in a titanium alloy case "with high-tech ceramic coverage." But no, the luxuriosity doesn't stop there -- both the 240 x 320 display and the transparent back panel are made of crystal sapphire glass. The battery case is made of stainless steel, with a leather cover and magnet release, and the back of the handset features the Gresso logo covered with 10 micron gold. Sure "elegance" is timeless, but it ain't cheap: only fifteen of these guys will be made, and they'll be available for five grand. Tough choice between this and five Kodak OLED frames, we know -- life is so hard sometimes.
You know what they say -- another day, another hands-on look at the N97. Although the folks at Mobile Review insist that this is not a formal review, they have been kind enough to post their extensive thoughts on the phone -- as well as more UI and comparison shots than you can shake a stick at. Overall, they seem to really dig the handset's design: sure, it's big (a shade larger than the iPhone), but it's well-proportioned, and doesn't seem bulky. And even though it's a slider, it doesn't have that "wobbly" feeling that sliders tend to have. Other features of note include a secondary camera that can serve as webcam and the 3.5-inch, 640 x 360-pixel screen, boasting 16 million colors, which they call "a true marvel." But that's not all! Hit the read link for thoughts on the new, improved music player, all those widgets that you crave, and comparison shots with the HTC Touch Pro, Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1, Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, and the Apple iPhone. Video after the break.
Not that you'd be interested, because DRM isn't a clumsy or expensive solution to a problem that exists largely (or even solely) in the heads of the film and music industries, but a new version of Tunebite is out, and among its many features is the ability to make unprotected dupes of tracks downloaded from Nokia's Comes With Music service. This isn't the "crack" everyone's talking about -- there's nothing new about software that records protected audio off the sound card -- but this package does so at speeds of up to 54x. Not bad, eh? But please, don't use it. Kanye needs our money if he's going to keep scarfing up all those awesome gadgets.
How would you improve the XPERIA X1? If you answered, "remove the keyboard and add a mangled iPhone UI," then the iFone x1 will be right up your alley. Of course, this ain't the first phony X1 we've seen, but it might be our fave. What can we say about this one? It appears to be running Windows CE, it quite possibly supports dual SIM cards, and it has an FM receiver (probably). Does that excite you? In the mood for a good laugh? In either case, be sure to check out the hilariously mangled translation below, and don't forget to peep the video after the break.
According to CNET, it looks like Bluetooth 2.2 will see the light of day sometime in mid-2009. Designed to work in tandem with other wireless technologies already present in many devices, the spec will be referred to either as Bluetooth 10x (working in conjunction with WiFi) and Bluetooth 100x (working with UWB). Something like this should good news for manufacturers of PMPs and handsets, expanding the range of possibilities to include Bluetooth media streaming and much larger file transfers. On the other hand, perhaps the new spec will finally herald the age of the Bluetooth viruses the doomsayers have been hollerin' about. No matter what happens, it shouldn't be too long before we find out.
Update: Apparently, this was only according to CNET. According to SIG's PR: "We're... trying to find the source for this story as it is incorrect. We have made no such announcement recently and 2.2 was never intended as a name for the next spec." It looks like someone pulled this info out of thin air -- we'll keep you posted if we hear otherwise. Thanks, Eric!
Mankind has never known a greater mystery than that of the true identity of "Kate." We knew it was a camera phone, manufactured by Sony Ericsson, and that it was part of the Cyber-shot line -- but beyond that all we had was speculation and innuendo. And here's some more! According to SEMC Blog, Kate -- officially known as the C510 -- should be available in roughly "two months." The camera sports a 2.2-inch QVGA display, 3.2-megapixel camera and 120MB on board storage. Also detailed were Filippa, a new Cybershot candybar, and Frances, its slider counterpart. Both of these phones feature 5-megapixel cameras with autofocus. There's no word yet on a release date, but knowing SE the information will trickle out... eventually. In the meantime, you'll have to make due with the specs we've included for you after the break.
Perk up, iPhone users! Up until now, if you've wanted to enjoy all of that free AT&T WiFi that is your right (as a Starbucks customer and as a loyal American) you faced an onerous process that included registering via Safari, waiting for the appropriate SMS codes, losing track of what you were doing and finally, flirting with the barista. These days are behind you now, kiddo -- upon entering any AT&T WiFi hotspot, just fire up Devicescape's Easy WiFi app, enter your ten-digit AT&T phone number and log in. This guy is free until Friday, at which point the price gets set for an ever-so-reasonable $1.99. And while we're at it: would it hurt you to lay off the barista for once?
The iPhone has never seemed a likely contender as a smart phone for the blind (it's certainly not designed for touch typing), which makes this case by designer Bruno Fosi all the more impressive. The Silicon Touch covers the phone's screen and features a selection of bas-relief buttons that correspond to menu items in a custom app, allowing those with diminished sight access to all the phone's functions, including multi-touch and finger flick scrolling. Right now it's just a concept, but we're hoping to see this one become a reality sooner rather than later.
