Sony Launches 2 New Cybershot Cameras

Sony has revamped their Cybershot T-series cameras. The new T200 and T70 Cybershot cameras are equipped with a 3.5 inch and 3 inch LCD touch screen displays respectively. This touch screen technology allows the user to select the subject they wish to focus on by simply touching the screen. The same can also be used for zooming into images taken. These cameras also have a feature called the ‘Smile shutter function’ that helps focus on the subject’s simile.

The DSC-T200is an 8 megapixel camera and also comes equipped with a 5x Carl Zeiss optical zoom lens and is available in silver, black and red. The DSC-T70 camera is also an 8 megapixel camera and comes equipped with a 3x Carl Zeiss optical zoom lens. It will be offered in silver, black, white and pink.

Both cameras offer users the ability to watch their home movies and view their photographs in full 1080 high-definition resolution. They can be hooked up to an HDTV via HD component cable or a cradle. It’s recommended, of course, to go well with the new Sony BRAVIA HD TVs. They also incorporate face detection, image stabilization and a high sensitivity (ISO 3200) features, as well as a selection of designs or frames, and stamps to enhance the images. There are also options for re-sizing photos to 4:3 ratio or a 16:9 aspect.

The Cyber-shot DSC-T200 and DSC-T70 digital cameras will ship in September for about Rs. 16,373 ($400) and Rs. 12,279 ($300), respectively. They can be also be purchased online at sonystyle.com.

Canon Launches New Pixma MP145 All-In-One

Canon India Pvt. Ltd, has launched the Pixma MP145 photo all-in-one printer. MP 145 is a compact high-performance all-in-one that features true-to-originals copy technology and long-lasting photo prints. It comes with Canon's latest Double Color Gamut Processing Technology that gives sharp and vibrant reproductions of original images and documents either on plain or photo paper. All this at a price of Rs. 5,995.

Supporting Canon's Full-photolithography Inkjet Nozzle Engineering (FINE) print head technology, the Pixma MP145 photo all-in-one can enables a borderless 4x6 inch photo print in approximately 60 seconds. Utilizing 1,472 nozzles, the photographs can be printed at up to 4800x1200 dpi in color.

The Canon PIXMA MP145 photo all-in-one is a photo and document scanner that utilizes a CIS sensor that provides optical scanning resolution of up to 600x1200 dpi.

"Combining user-friendliness and advanced technology in an elegant design, the PIXMA MP145 will undoubtedly appeal to users across segments who want a space-saving device that serves functions as printing, scanning and copying functions and supports quick speed." said V P Sajeevan, Assistant Director, Consumer Systems Products, Canon India.

Nikon Launches D300

Nikon yesterday launched the D300 camera that also supports the new DX-format. It’s equipped with a 12.3 effective-megapixel DX Format CMOS image sensor with integrated A/D converter, 51-point AF system, Scene Recognition System for optimal autofocus, auto exposure and auto white balance performance.

The D300 also provides the composition and focusing ease of a large new pentaprism viewfinder that provides full frame coverage; an expansive 920,000-dot, high-resolution 3-inch LCD monitor with wide viewing angle.


The CMOS sensor's integrated A/D converter features the ability to select between 12-bit and 14-bit conversion, making it possible to shoot using high-quality 14-bit NEF (RAW) format. The D300 is capable of shooting at a rapid 6 fps, and as fast as 8 fps when using the Multi-Power Battery Pack MB-D10, in continuous bursts of up to 100 shots at full 12.3 megapixel resolution. The Nikon D300 is also the first digital SLR to support next-generation high-speed card UDMA, which enables high speed recording.

Olympus Launches Stylus 790 SW

Olympus recently introduced the 8 megapixel Stylus 790 SW, the newest addition to its Stylus SW line of digital compact cameras. Available in five colors (orange, blue, lime, black and silver), the shockproof, waterproof, freezeproof and dustproof camera captures amazing images in any situation - whether it is a day of fun at the beach, an action-packed snorkel adventure, a family ski trip or a night out with friends.

Some of the signature features include:
Face Detection Technology
Shadow Adjustment Technology
2.5-inch HyperCrystal LCD screen
TruePic III Image Processor

"The Stylus 790 SW offers the performance and durability that consumers have come to trust from the Stylus SW family with a sleek new look and innovative feature set," said Mark Hoffman, director, Product Marketing, Olympus Imaging America Inc. "Face Detection and Shadow Adjustment Technology ensure effortlessly sharp, bright images anytime, anywhere. The rugged, waterproof body design makes it the ideal camera for active lifestyles and a must-have for vacations and outdoor (or underwater) adventures."

The Stylus 790 SW will be available in the US by September 2007. It includes: a wrist strap, camera WIN/Mac USB cable, audio/video cable, LI-42B Li-Ion rechargeable battery and charger, manual, warranty card and OLYMPUS Master 2 software (CD-ROM). Estimated Street Price is $299.99.

No news on the Indian launch or pricing yet.

Canon India Drops EOS 350D Price

Canon India has announced a special price on EOS 350 D DSLR for its customers.

The EOS 350D D-SLR is now offered at a price of Rs. 28,995. The model known for its DIGIC II imaging processor offers different shooting modes for versatility and advanced functions for serious photographers.

Parveen Sahni, Assistant Director, Imaging Communication Products, Canon India said “It brings us great pleasure to see satisfied customers. The D-SLR range is not only for serious photographers but also for aspiring professionals and amateur photographers. Canon is offering the special price on EOS 350D as we are encouraging the customers to enhance their photography skills with this exciting camera.” He further added “Canon keeps on announcing such initiatives from time to time so that customers from any segment can experience and enjoy Canon’s products.”

The Canon EOS camera customer can now get these products at a 0% finance scheme and will get nine other gifts such as – a free return ticket, a 1 GB card, 1 year extended warranty, a Canon EOS Pro kit (jacket, cap and camera bag), digital photography training coupons, lens and accessories discount coupon, complimentary sensor and lens cleaning coupon, a digital photography course discount and a free digital photography handbook.

Sony to Launch Advanced Digicam

Sony Corp said it would launch a new digital single lens reflex camera for advanced users in November, broadening its product lineup in a move to take on industry leaders Canon Inc and Nikon Corp.

Single lens reflex (SLR) cameras, the fastest-growing segment of the digital camera market, are high-end models with interchangeable lenses, as opposed to point-and-shoot compact cameras.

The new model, called "DSLR-A700", which comes with 12.24 megapixel resolution and is expected to sell for about 180,000 yen ($1,560), is Sony's second digital SLR camera after an entry model launched in July 2006.

The Tokyo-based electronics and entertainment conglomerate is the world's second-largest digital camera maker behind Canon but lags also behind Nikon in the digital SLR camera market.

Digital cameras, along with camcorders, are Sony's cash cow products as its vertically integrated business model, where key products such as image sensor chips are manufactured in-house, allows high profit margins.

Sony aims to raise its market share in the digital SLR camera market to 10 percent with the help of the new model from about 7 percent now, said Keiichi Ishizuka, deputy senior general manager at Sony's digital imaging business group.

"Well-established SLR camera makers are formidable rivals," Ishizuka told a news conference.

"What we need to do first is keep expanding our product offerings. Only by doing that steadily can we compete with them in a true sense. Today, we took that one step forward," he said.

Sony plans to make 30,000 units of the new SLR camera in September, the first month of production, and 20,000 in each of the following months, Ishizuka said.

Besides the entry model and the mid-range model just unveiled, Sony plans to offer a top-end, flagship model as early as the business year starting next April, covering the full digital SLR camera market.

Sony held a 6.2 percent share in the global digital SLR camera market in 2006, following Canon with 46.7 percent and Nikon on 33 percent, according to research firm IDC.

Both Canon and Nikon last month unveiled their latest digital SLR camera models for the year-end shopping season, in a pre-emptive move against new entrants such as Sony.

Sony Launches the A700 D-SLR Camera

Sony is expanding its Alpha digital SLR system with the introduction of the D-SLR A700 camera, which is aimed at photo enthusiasts or serious photo hobbyists.

The new model features advanced imaging technologies and ultra-responsive operation, as well as a lightweight, dust- and moisture-resistant, magnesium alloy construction common to enthusiast-class D-SLR cameras.

Like Sony’s mainstream D-SLR A100 model, the new A700 unit incorporates Super SteadyShot Inside image stabilization in the camera body and is compatible with most Minolta Maxxum mount lenses in addition to Sony lenses.

"Discerning photo enthusiasts will be impressed with the rugged construction and outstanding performance of the A700," said Phil Lubell, director of marketing for digital cameras at Sony Electronics. "We also expect that this new camera will redefine the post-capture experience with HDMI output for high-quality playback of images on high-definition televisions."

The camera’s new 12.2-megapixel Exmor CMOS sensor conducts analog-to-digital (A/D) signal conversion and dual noise reduction right on the sensor itself. Noise reduction is applied to analog signals before A/D conversion and the resulting digital signals are then subject to a second round of noise reduction.



A newly developed, auto-focus system features 11 wide-area sensors, including a center dual cross sensor comprising two horizontal and two vertical line sensors for exceptional AF precision. An F2.8 line sensor leverages the brightness of fast aperture lenses for even greater precision.

The A700 model features an HDMI output for connection to HDTV sets, putting a high-resolution spin on the conventional photo slideshow. When connected to an HD television, photos are optimized for viewing with the new "PhotoTV HD" mode.

The D-SLR A700 camera body, DT 16-105 mm lens, and DT 18-250 mm lens will be available for about $1,400, $580 and $550, respectively. The DSLR-A700K kit with an 18-70 mm lens will be available for about $1,500, and the D-SLR A700P kit with the 16-105 mm lens will be available for about $1,900. The camera body and D-SLR A700K kit will ship in October and the D-SLR A700P kit in November.

There is no news about the Indian launch and pricing yet.

Nextbase Releases All-in-one Music System

NEXTBASE, a comparatively unknown brand in India, has released a useful device called Media 22 Entertainment Center. It's a single, remote-controlled component with the following features :
iPod dock
USB portable audio device/Flash memory playback
DVD/CD player (with DivX and MP3 format compatibility)
Bluetooth-streaming option (for playback of music stored on Bluetooth-equipped mobile phones)
FM radio
3.5in portable TV with analog TV tuner
Five-driver, 2.1-channel speaker system
2 x 12w stereo output plus 20w to subwoofer
Notably, all of this capability comes in a single compact case. And unlike many portable audio devices, the NEXTBASE Media 22 has been designed to deliver excellent sound quality rather than maximum sound pressure levels. To that end there are five drive units within the case: two treble drivers, two midrange units, and a single subwoofer. All the drivers and electrical components are housed in a solid wooden structure around which is wrapped a smart gloss black plastic skin.

To make navigating the unit’s functions easier there’s also a simple icon-driven OSD (onscreen display) visible on the 3.5-inch screen. The price is about 300 pounds; we're watching the radar for an Indian launch. The product currently retails in online stores such as www.askdirect.co.uk

Hasselblad Launches 39 Megapixel Cam

Just when you thought 12 megapixels seems like a lot of resolution to play around with, along comes someone (namely Hasselbald) and ups the insanity bar with a 39 megapixel D-SLR camera!

Here’s what Let’s Go Digital has to say about the H3D II:
A complete DSLR that is much more than the sum of its parts, the H3D II is peerless in terms of its combined image quality and flexibility. While retaining its full digital lens line and the choice of 22, 31 or 39 megapixel capture units using CCD image sensors up to 48x36 mm – the largest currently available and more than twice the size of even the largest 35mm camera sensors – the Hasselblad H3D II now has a large, bright 3-inch display, which affords both improved viewing of captured images and lower power consumption.

Currently selling for €17,900, I seriously doubt if this will go "consumer" anytime soon. Read all about it here.

Pentax Launches the Compact Optio A40

Pentax U.K. has announced the newest addition to its high-end Optio A-Series range with the introduction of the Optio A40. Pentax's first 12.0 effective megapixel camera boasts three types of anti-shake technology and a new 'Dynamic Range Adjustment', enabling users to take ultra-high definition images with superior tone reproduction.

The Optio A40 incorporates a new 1/1.7 CCD image sensor and smc Pentax lens. The 'Dynamic Range Adjustment' function also prevents white outs and black outs by correcting tones in highlighted or shadowed areas of a subject, enabling users to capture great images even in difficult lighting conditions, particularly if shooting against the sun. In addition, the cameras 2.5 inch LCD monitor offers improved screen brightness, for easier viewing outdoors, particularly in strong sunlight.

Like previous models in the A-Series, the Optio A40 camera boasts three types of anti-shake technology - Shake Reduction, Digital Shake Reduction and Movie Shake Reduction. The Optio A40 also includes Pentax's 'Face Recognition AF&AE' technology.

The Optio A40 will be available from November at a guide price of £219.00. No news on the Indian price and launch date yet.

Pentax Introduces the 8 MP Optio V10

Pentax U.K today introduced the new ultra slim and lightweight Pentax Optio V10 to its compact digital camera range. It features 8.0 effective megapixels, 3X optical zoom and 3.0-inch high-resolution LCD monitor, that includes 230,000 pixels and a viewing angle of 170 degrees.

technology for premium quality people shots, as the new Shake Reduction mode reduces the effects of camera shake and subject blurring. All this functionality has no impact on the camera's size, measuring just 19mm deep and weighing just 140g, Pentax has managed to keep the camera small and light through miniaturizing the circuit board and introducing an exclusive new slim battery.

Hitting UK stores in November, the Optio V10 will be available at a guide price of £149.

Palm Launches Treo 750 With Windows Mobile

Palm has launched their latest piece, the Treo 750 Smartphone in India. You may think it’s just another Treo till you realize it doesn’t run on the ever popular Palm OS, but Windows Mobile. What they’ve done is opened the doors to consumers who could be Palm users for the first time and introduced them to the sophistication of the Palm Treo form factor and the versatility of Windows mobile.

the initial stages of this collaboration. But we were informed it would be available for download shortly with no specific dates provided. The 750 is EDGE and 3G enabled with a 1.3 megapixel camera, Bluetooth with A2DP compatibility, Infrared and USB connectivity. The full QWERTY keypad offers shortcuts to applications and Palm and Microsoft have merged their OS and design in a seemingly efficient manner we can say with the short test we were allowed to conduct. Equipped with Windows Pocket PC applications you can view all MS documents and PDF files as well.

"Over 5 million Treo smartphones today are being used by companies and individuals around the world, and continuing to expand the Treo footprint is a key focus for Palm," said Sharon Ee, Head of Business, South Asia, for Palm, Inc. "India is an important market for Palm, and Treo smartphones are well poised to meet the growing demand by Indian consumers who want a compelling mobile-computing experience."

The Treo 750 is equipped with a 312mhz, Samsung processor. Unfortunately it has no Wi-Fi capability, but that option is available through a third party provider through a miniSD card that can be purchased separately. The inbuilt memory is 60MB with expansion capability through the same miniSD card slot. The 2.5 inch TFT Touchscreen sports a resolution of 240 x 240 pixels with 65K colors.

Nokia to Sell $18,000 Euro Ferrari Phone

The luxury unit of Nokia has started selling a phone designed jointly with Ferrari for about 18,000 euros ($25,400) at its stores in London, Paris, Hong Kong and Singapore, it said on Thursday.

The Vertu unit produced the Ascent Ferrari 60 phone to celebrate Ferrari's 60th anniversary.

"We worked very closely to develop this limited edition of 60 phones. Detailing on the phone is inspired by detailing on a number of Ferrari cars," said Vertu spokeswoman Elizabeth Maragh.

Luxury goods segments are benefiting from fast economic growth in countries such as China, India and Russia, while Middle East markets have strengthened as a boom in commodity prices has increased incomes.

Nokia and other cellphone manufacturers are increasingly teaming up with designers. Earlier this week Italian designer Giorgio Armani joined forces with Samsung Electronics to design a television and a mobile phone.

Designers Dolce & Gabbana have teamed up with Motorola for a gold-colored version of the RAZR mobile phone model and Prada has developed a phone with South Korea's LG Electronics.

Palm Launches Entry Level Smartphone

Palm has decided to go ahead and cater to those people who always wanted one of their phones but couldn’t afford them. Enter Palm’s entry level Smartphone – The Treo 500v, or Centro. The Centro has a QWERTY keypad and a TFT Touchscreen 65k color display with a 320 x 320 pixel resolution.

The problem is that the phone has been peeking its head out in so many places the specs seem to be quite vague as various sources seem to have differing information regarding the same. The specs we’ve sourceed are directly from Palm so they should be accurate. So here’s what we know, the Centro has a 1.3 megapixel camera and will run on the traditional Palm OS. The Palm site states that the Centro has 65MB of internal memory and is expandable with microSD cards up to 4GB. It’s equipped with Bluetooth v1.2 and anything else that you’d expect from a Palm device.

The pricing is not very clear since it’s being offered with Sprint in the US at the moment. However, it is available for 99 USD with a two-year contract. What the actual price of the phone will be when and if it hits our shelves is not accurate, but considering it’s an entry-level smartphone it’s estimated to be anywhere around Rs. 12,000 to Rs. 15,000.

Samsung's SGH-i78 Takes You Everywhere

Samsung is gearing up for another Windows Mobile phone release. The SGH-i78 is Samsung’s Wi-Fi and GPS-enabled mobile that will run on Windows mobile v6.0.

The i78 has a large TFT Touchscreen with a 320 x 320 pixel resolution and 65K colors. But what makes it stand out is the 'Optical Mouse' on the nav pad that activates a pointer, much like the mouse pointer on your PC. The integrated GPS module is a another plus.

Word has it that the i78 will also have Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP compatibility, and support for external memory with microSD cards (but no confirmation on what the internal memory would be). It will also have 3G, HSDPA and EDGE.

The SGH-i78 is expected to be out sometime early next year, but there doesn’t seem to be any price announced for the phone yet.

Property Now Available on Mobile Phones

Property portal MagicBricks has launched a new mobile application called MagicBricks Mobile that allows users to search for property by type, budget and city. The users have to download a small application that is less than 50 Kb on their GPRS enabled handset.

Users can contact the concerned person through SMS or a phone call from the application. The application stores the history of the contact they have made in past sessions, for recall and follow-up.

The application is compatible with GPRS models such as Nokia, Motorola, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, LG, Sagem, Siemens, Philips, BlackBerry, BenQ, Huawei, Qtek, Sendo and Alcatel. In case, a handset is not listed, they can contact MagicBricks customer service and get it listed.

Tata Indicom Launches Samsung Flo

Tata Indicom has launched the Samsung Flo, a slim slider that features a Mobile Tracker.

Samsung Flo’s exterior and slide-up design gives easy access to the phone’s features with one push of the thumb. The phone is features a 262K TFT screen, 1.3 megapixel camera with flash and video recording, 43MB inbuilt user memory, MP3/AAC+Player, File Viewer, Bluetooth, is BREW and WAP enabled with video streaming, a 72 level polyphonic sound engine, mobile tracker and PC sync.

The handset supports data speeds of 153kbps on Tata Indicom network and can be connected to the laptop through Bluetooth.

Samsung Flo mobile phones will be made available across the country at all the retail outlets and Tata Indicom True Value Hubs. The cost of this handset is Rs. 7999.

HTC Touches up The Touch

After the Touch, not the iPod, the Windows mobile device from HTC, the company has decided to take it up a notch by adding a slide out keypad. Guess what they’ve decided to call this marvel? The HTC Touch... wait for it... Slide. It has a 2.6 inch touch screen and with a Windows Mobile v6.0 OS it still has the TouchFLO interface as well if you happened to get used to the older version and want to upgrade.

From the pictures floating around it seems like the keypad is quite similar to the Blackberry Sure-Type style. Speculation on the specs tell us that the Touch Slide will have quite similar specs like its predecessor. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, microSD support for external memory, perhaps even a 2 megapixel camera. It’s also a speculation that the processor will be up-ed to a Qualcomm 400MHz.

Of course the pictures are out but let’s wait and see on Monday what the real deal is. Stay Tuned.

Airtel and Vodafone Launch New BlackBerrys

BlackBerry is prominent in the news these days with all the big players like Reliance, Airtel and Vodafone releasing new models. Seems like every one wants a slice of the BlackBerry pie.

Vodafone is kicking it off with two models – the BlackBerry 8310 and 8820 and they’re priced at Rs. 24,990 and Rs. 31,990 respectively. Both of these models are GPS enabled with trackball navigation and QWERTY keypads. Both phones also support Bluetooth with A2DP and microSD cards. The 8820 also has Wi-Fi support and the 8310 is available exclusively though Vodafone.

Another HTC Phone Peeks Out

Another HTC Windows Mobile phone is peeking from under the covers. The S730, an upgrade, it would seem, to the previous HTC S710 model with a similar design, is equipped with a QVGA touch screen display with 65K colors and a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels. It will also have a 64MB RAM and a Qualcomm 7200 with working frequency of 400 MHz processor in the CPU. The HTC S730 is also going to be 3G enabled. Like the S710, this model also has a slide out QWERTY keypad.

There isn’t any information as to what the camera would be like or too many other available features. The pricing or availability has not been disclosed either but we should know in a few days. Stay tuned.

Samsung Launches High Quality Music Phone

Samsung and Danish Audio equipment manufacturer, Bang & Olufsen have joined forces to bring us the Serenata music mobile phone. They seem to have managed to put together a unique and stylish mobile with music quality that we can just hope lives up to their brand names. This phone is going to be all about the music.

"Since we started our first co-operation with Bang & Olufsen, we have only been confirmed in our belief that both companies share a passion for innovation and consumer-focused technology. Serenata is another example of new ways to think of the mobile phone. I'm proud to say that our customers can see a true innovation of music player and mobile phone as we have opened a new era of mobile phones with Serene two years ago", says Geesung Choi, President of the Telecommunications Network Business in Samsung Electronics.

"We have high expectations to Serenata, as it is a result of our joint vision to constantly push the boundaries, and bring unique and exciting products to our customers", states Torben Ballegaard Sorensen, CEO of Bang & Olufsen.

Nokia Signs Video Deals With CNN, Sony

with seven companies including CNN and Sony Pictures to bring video content to its top-of-the-range multimedia phones.

"Consumer desire to watch Internet videos on mobile devices is growing all the time and we want to help users discover and access the best content in the simplest way possible," Harri Mannisto, director at Nokia's multimedia unit, said on Tuesday.

Nokia said it would also bring video content from India's IBN news channel and videos from Jamba, RooftopComedy, ROK and Versaly Entertainment to its N95 models.

It has previously signed similar deals with Google's YouTube and Reuters.

Verizon to Launch iPhone Look-A-Like

In time for the holidays, Verizon Wireless is launching a cell phone that looks a lot like the hottest phone so far this year: Apple's iPhone.

Like the iPhone, the LG Voyager features a large touch screen, a camera and extensive multimedia, Web browsing and e-mail capabilities.

However, it one-ups the iPhone by folding open lengthwise to reveal a QWERTY keyboard and a second, non-touch sensitive screen. The lack of a hardware keyboard has been one of the main complaints about the iPhone.

The Voyager will connect to Verizon Wireless' latest data network, providing speeds much higher than the AT&T network the iPhone uses. The Voyager also has direct access to Verizon Wireless' online music store.

However, the Voyager will not come with a large built-in memory for songs and video, offering instead a slot for memory cards up to 8 gigabytes. Nor are its screens as large as the iPhone's.

It's an open question whether the Voyager can encroach on the iPhone's cachet or match its ease of use. Apple has sold more than 1 million units since the phone-cum-iPod hit the market June 29.

In announcing its holiday lineup Wednesday, Verizon Wireless did not say how much the Voyager or three other new phones would cost. It also didn't give a specific launch date, saying only that they would be in stores before Thanksgiving.

Verizon also showed off an LG phone called the Venus. It has two screens on its face, of which the smaller is touch sensitive, with controls for the phone's music player and camera. The phone slides open to reveal a numeric keypad.

Verizon Wireless is also bringing out a version of the BlackBerry Pearl, with fast data network access. The slim e-mail oriented phone is already available on the slower networks of AT&T and T-Mobile USA. (Like Verizon, AT&T has a third-generation cellular broadband network, but it's not used by the AT&T Pearl.)

The fourth phone in the lineup is the Juke, by Samsung. A small unit that flips open like a jackknife, it features an iPod-like wheel to control the music player.

Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications Inc. of New York and Vodafone Group PLC of Britain.

HTC Launches 4 New Windows Devices

First off, the name isn’t the Touch Slide but the HTC Touch Dual Pocket PC. Longer, yes, but more suitable. What we want to inform you of is that it’s out now along with the launch of two others - the S730 and the HTC P6500 GPS-Enabled Pocket PC. What’s also on this list is HTC’s Tablet like PDA - the Shift.

HTC Touch Dual

It runs on Windows Mobile 6.0 OS and even though it’s 3G enabled with HSDPAQ and EDGE, it doesn’t have Wi-Fi, which is rather odd. Other connectivity includes Bluetooth v2.0 and miniUSB. The Touch Dual has a 2.6 inch TFT touch screen display with a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels and 65K colors. The slide out keypad is just like the keypad you’ll find on the Blackberry Pearl. Other specs include a 2 megapixel camera and a second VGA camera for video calls. It uses microSD cards for external memory. Unfortunately we don’t know when it’ll be out nor the price.

S730

As previously stated the S730 is an upgrade to the earlier HTC S710 handset that was launched earlier this year. The HTC S730 adds 3G/HSDPA and a 400MHz processor for those consumers and business professionals who want high-speed connectivity. It also has Wi-Fi capabilities, Bluetooth with A2DP capabilities and miniUSB connectivity. It features an auto-sliding QWERTY keyboard to access email, messaging and the internet while on the go. The HTC S730 comes equipped with Windows Mobile 6 and 256MB Flash memory wrapped in a gunmetal gray casing. It also has a 2 megapixel camera and a secondary VGA camera for video calling. Like the Touch Dual this model also supports external memory using microSD cards. The S730 is going to be available this month but no price tag has been provided yet.

HTC P6500

The HTC P6500 is primarily designed for the enterprise market. Incorporating a 3.5 inch screen, 3 mega pixel camera with auto focus and barcode, business card and fingerprint scanning capabilities, it offers the ideal features to be overlaid with programs tailored to meet the specific needs of each enterprise. The HTC P6500 is equipped with 256MB internal memory with the option to add up to 1GB in addition to two external SD card slots. This powerful specification set is supported by 3G/HSDPA connectivity as well as a GPS capabilities. It even has a Remote Wipe system so you can delete all data without actually having the phone with you. A security precaution in case of theft or loss of the phone. The HTC P6500 will be available in November, but no price has been disclosed.

HTC Shift

In all honesty I have no idea if this is a phone, a PDA, a Laptop or a Tablet. What my guess is, it’s a mutated hybrid of all of the above. It’s equipped with a 7 inch TFT Touch Screen with 800 x 480 pixels and 16 million colors. It has dual speakers with 1GB of RAM, a 30 GB HDD and a 1.2 GHz VIA CPU. It’s also equipped with a 1.3 megapixel video call camera. The Shift is a GSM device which is 3G enabled with HSDPA, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v2.0 and miniUSB connectivity. It runs on a Microsoft Vista Business OS. The estimated price is expected to be around Rs. 68,000 (1199 Euros) and it should be out by the end of this year

Samsung Launches Dual SIM Phone in Europe

Like the Samsung Duo that we were privileged to see here first with Tata Indicom, Samsung has launched a similar handset for Europe. The name doesn’t seem to have undergone a major change as it’s called the DuoS.

The DuoS is a Tri-Band GSM device. For connectivity it’s equipped with EDGE, and Bluetooth with A2DP compatibility. This slider has a 2.3 inch QVGA display (no touchscreen) and will allow a user to use two separate service providers with two separate SIM cards and again you can switch providers without having to switch the phone off. The good thing is that all incoming calls will also show which SIM card it’s coming though. So you’ll able to effectively keep your personal and business life separate. The DuoS also has 3.2 megapixel auto-focus camera and an integrated FM Radio. It can also use microSD cards for memory expansion and it's possible that it would also have a business card reader.

The DuoS will hit Europe in November and the price is estimated to be around Rs. 27,000 ($700).

Symbian OS Grows Another ARMs Length

All you Symbian fans out there, have we got some good news for you! It was announced recently that the newer Symbian OS will be structured to support the ARM Symmetric Multi-processor (SMP) architecture. With this new system, your Symbian phone should work more efficiently, not just in the way of being faster, but also by judging the devoices requirements and shutting down unnecessary systems. This will also help conserve energy. Your battery will also breathe a sigh of relief.

Of course these are not going out so soon, so hold your horses people. Symbian 9.5 that was announced in March of this year is still not visible. Adobe also announced the release of their Flash Lite 3.0 platform which is an upgrade to the existing platform like the ones used in phones like the LG Prada.

Via GSM Arena.

Sagem Bleu Launches 2 Entry Level Phones

Sagem has launched two new phones in the Indian market. As part of their Bleu series, Sagem unveiled the 253X and 351X entry-level mobile phones.

The 351X is a music phone with mp3 playback and expandable memory. It also comes with an integrated FM radio and has a 1.8 inch, 65k color display. It comes with preloaded Sing-Tones and also has a loudspeaker.

The second phone launched – the 253X, has only an FM radio with no music playback but does also have preloaded Sing-Tones and has a built in loudspeaker. The 253X is a slim phone that’s just 10mm. It also has a 65K color display and weighs in at just 70g.

Both the 253X and 351X are available in the market and priced at Rs. 2,500 and Rs. 3,799 respectively.

BPL Gets on The BlackBerry Bandwagon

BPL Mobile not wanting to be left out in the 'BlackBerry' frenzy we've seen in the last couple of weeks has announced the launch of the BlackBerry Curve 8300 smartphone in Mumbai. Being a single circle operator, BPL Mobile currently empowers over one million subscribers with wireless services and will now offer the BlackBerry solution to customers in the Mumbai region.

Norm Lo, Vice President of Asia Pacific at Research In Motion said, "We are pleased to be working with BPL Mobile to bring the BlackBerry Curve 8300 smartphone to their customers in Mumbai. The BlackBerry Curve 8300 smartphone is an exceptional choice for customers that want to stay connected to the information and people that matter most.”

The 8300 has a full QWERTY keyboard and uses Blackberry’s trackball navigation system.
It has an ultra-bright 320 x 240 pixel resolution display with light sensing technology that automatically adjusts backlighting levels for optimal viewing in indoor, outdoor and dark environments. It comes with a 2 megapixel camera with 5x digital zoom, built-in flash, self-portrait mirror and full screen viewfinder. Photos can be shared easily and instantly by email, MMS or BlackBerry Messenger and can also be transferred over Bluetooth or USB cable. The 8300 smartphone also includes the Roxio Media Manager for BlackBerry desktop software, which allows users to easily search for media files on their computer, view and organize them, create MP3 music files from CDs, add audio tags, create play lists and automatically copy or convert pictures, music and videos for optimal playback.

For corporate customers, BlackBerry Enterprise Server tightly integrates with IBM Lotus Domino, Microsoft Exchange and Novell GroupWise environments and features a broad set of IT policy controls that allows IT departments to manage deployments. The price, however has not yet been disclosed.

BenQ Launches Music Phone

BenQ has just announced the launch of a new phone - the BenQ C30. It weighs in at 77g and has dedicated keys for activating the music player, FM radio and the VGA camera (supports AVI recording and playback). MP3, WAV, MIDI, AMR, and AAC are the supported multimedia formats. It uses MicroSD cards for external memory Connectivity includes USB and GPRS, but it doesn’t seem to have Bluetooth. Other features include an e-book reader and a Heath Management application. It has a 1.8 inch TFT LCD with a 128 x 160 pixel resolution. The C30 also has a set of dual integrated speakers.

The price and availability of the phone have not yet been disclosed.

iPhone Prices Nose-dive in Mumbai

The Apple iPhone was officially launched in the United States of America on June 29, 2007 and commanded a price of $599 (Rs. 23,621) for the 8GB version. By September 5, 2007 Apple had slashed the price of its 8GB model to $399 (Rs. 15,733) and dropped the 4GB version from its line-up.

Back home, dealers from Mumbai's Heera Panna market say that the iPhone will be officially launched in India in March or April 2008 but then again a not-so-little birdie told us that the iPhone will come to India in the end of 2008.

But a trip to Heera Panna, saw iPhones peering out of the windows of almost every electronics shop. A month back, the cost of the iPhone was a whopping Rs. 52,000. Today, iPhone fans can rejoice as the price of the iPhone in the grey market has dropped to a mere Rs. 27,000 for the 8GB model. The 4 GB version is available for Rs. 24,000. “We have only a few pieces of the 4GB model as people don’t mind shelling out Rs. 4,000 extra for the 8GB model. Moreover, the 4 GB version has been dropped from its line-up,” says Vikram of Sound Out, Heera Panna.

Another shopkeeper added that the stock they ordered a few days ago – 10 8GB models and four 4GB models just sold out and he was awaiting the next order. The volume of phones being sold is rising. Every shopkeeper has claimed to have more than 50 iPhones in the last two-three weeks. “We are going to order for more iPhones as we expect the sales to increase during Diwali,” says one shopkeeper. The shopkeepers also unlock the phone for no extra charge.

The slash in iPhone prices have surely brought good news to iPhone fans who can now make their dream of owning one a reality.

Samsung Launches Two 5MP Camera Phones

Samsung seems to have made it a habit to surprise us by launching a succession of new phones, each more eye-catching than the previous.

After its latest music phone (the Serenata, with audio manufacturer Bang and Olufsen) and a fashion statement phone (with well known Designer Armani), Samsung has decided to go solo on its latest masterpieces: the F700 and G800 mobiles.

What makes these phones so special? They’re both equipped with 5 megapixel auto-focus cameras, that's what!

Specs for the F700 indicate that it’s a tri-band phone with a 2.8 inch TFT display and a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. It’s also likely that the F700 is 3G-enabled with HSDPA.

The G800, it would seem, is equipped with a Xenon flash and apparently has 3x optical zoom. Other specs include Bluetooth, but there's no mention of A2DP compatibility. Of course, the pictures do tell us that it’s a slider.

Samsung G800
Prices and availability have not been confirmed yet. I guess we’ll have to wait a bit longer for the official deal with the specs as well, so stay tuned.

Via GSM Arena.

Gphone to have Linux-based Mobile OS

It's time to finally put the rumors to rest with speculations as to whether Google's Gphone is likely to be competing with Apple's iPhone. Apparently not! The Gphone project is expected to ship with the Linux-based mobile OS that's in the pipeline.

With this, Google is expected to to extend its portfolio of offerings through online adverts on mobile Internet, a market that the company expects to grow manifold in a few years, and something that goes beyond the mobile search and map software.

That's all we've heard so far. So hang on till we get some more news.

Nokia Ties Up with Network 18 for Live News

Cell phone manufacturer Nokia has partnered CNN-IBN, a Network 18 Group news channel, for providing real time news in the form of videos on select handsets free of cost. The service will initially be available in Nokia N95 and N95 8GB handsets, according to a press release issued by Nokia.

Nokia, which has a market share of 53.6% according to Voice & Data's latest survey, has also announced the launch of three new handsets in the Indian market.

"Nokia continuously works towards gaining deeper insights into the needs and aspirations of the consumer. We put our understanding into practice by developing products that are rich in functionality, easy to use, and have a strong element of design," said Raghuvesh Sarup, product head (mobile phones), Nokia India.

The new phones range from entry level to high-end, he added.

Samsung Launches New Music Phones

Samsung today announced its new music phone lineup: the SGH-i450, SGH-F330 and SGH-F210.

With the launch of music-dedicated phones such as the SGH-F300, Samsung has developed an innovative Physical User Interface (PUI), a mechanism ideal for music lovers.

With an optimal PUI, Samsung offers its users the opportunity to enjoy its music player as if it were an MP3 player, even when the mobile phone is turned off.


Samsung SGH-i450
Dual Slider with Touch Wheel Music Navigation

The Samsung i450 enables users to enjoy a unique mobile experience, as the two-way slide form factor enhances the usability to control music and mobile phone functions.

When you push the slide up, the phone supports powerful smartphone features with Symbian S60 OS. Running the Symbian S60 3rd Edition operating system, the i450 provides download application and multitasking features with fast speeds through HSDPA connectivity at 3.6 Mbps.

With the slide down, the phone activates as a music player with touch-wheel navigation, which enables users to control the multimedia menus easily. Moreover, metallic speakers supporting ICEpower amplifier developed by Bang & Olufsen offer superb sound quality to music phone users.

For its advanced music features, the i450 supports a unique music UI and multi-codec music files. It also offers 35MB internal memory and microSD slot up to 4GB to store more music.

The i450 will be available in Italy from the end of October and in other European countries shortly thereafter. The price is around 360 Euro without subsidy.

Suit Accuses Apple, AT&T of Monopoly

Complaints over Apple Inc.'s use restrictions and recent software update for the iPhone have erupted in two lawsuits alleging Apple and its carrier partner, AT&T Inc., engaged in illegal monopolistic behavior.

Two separate lawsuits were filed Friday in San Jose - one in federal court and the other in state court and both seeking class-action status.

The federal case accuses the companies of unfair business practices and violations of antitrust, telecommunications and warranty laws. The state case raises some of the same allegations.

Apple spokeswoman Susan Lundgren and AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel both declined to comment on them Wednesday.

The federal case was filed by the firms of Hoffman & Lazear in Oakland and Folkenflik & McGerity in New York on behalf of iPhone owners Paul Holman and Lucy Rivello. The state case was filed by Saratoga attorney Damian Fernandez on behalf of California resident Timothy Smith.

AT&T is the exclusive carrier in the U.S. for Apple's iPhone.

By not allowing consumers to modify their iPhones to work on other carrier networks, the two companies conspired from the beginning of their partnership to maintain a monopoly, the federal lawsuit alleges.

The companies are unlawfully restricting consumer choice by preventing users from ''unlocking'' their iPhones, and Apple intentionally disabled unofficial third-party programs or rendered unlocked phones useless with its software update, the lawsuit alleges.

Apple issued the update Sept. 27 after warning users that any ensuing damage to iPhones with unauthorized modifications was not covered by the product's warranty.

It is unclear how many iPhones were disabled or how many iPhone owners have modified their handsets.

Some hacker communities estimated that thousands of people have downloaded their ''unlocking'' programs, while AT&T's Siegel says the company has heard from ''very few'' customers that have done so.

The federal lawsuit stated it didn't know how large the affected class could be but pegged the number at 100 or more and anticipates ''there will be millions.''

Apple has sold more than 1 million iPhones since they hit the market June 29.

Motorola Announces New Cell Phones

Motorola Inc., badly in need of hit products to spark a turnaround, announced nine new cell phone handsets Thursday to be available this quarter.

Among them is a luxury version of the Razr2, the latest successor to its once top-selling model.

The Razr2 V8 is being touted as a potential holiday gift with gold-plated accents, snakeskin texture, ultra-slim design and storage of up to 1,000 songs, among other features. It costs $250 to $300.

The company said four of the seven new W-series phones - the W160, W180, W213 and W377 - feature FM radio, which requires headphones.


W160

W180

Six of the handsets contain Motorola's proprietary CrystalTalk technology, which automatically adjusts audio for clear calls in noisy environments.

W213

"These devices are designed for consumers who are purchasing their first mobile phone, for those who simply want to talk and message on an easy-to-use phone or for those who are looking to upgrade a basic phone," said Stu Reed, president of Motorola Mobile Devices.

The Schaumburg, Ill.-based company also introduced the Moto U9, a lightweight phone and music player with clamshell design and stereo Bluetooth wireless techn
The phone is pegged for introduction in Asia, Latin America and Europe, not yet in the United States.

Motorola executives told analysts last month that a series of innovative new cell phones would help break the company out of a slump that has coincided with a sales decline for the once-iconic Razr.ology, a two-megapixel camera with 8x zoom and multiple messaging capabilities.

Nokia Slashes E65 Price Ahead of Christmas

Nokia slashed this week around 15 percent off the price of its 3G phone model E65, one of the top sales and profit generators for the world's largest cellphone maker, market data showed on Friday.

Analysts said the price cut was deeper than usual, but they were not surprised by the timing as handset vendors are setting up their offerings for the upcoming Christmas sales season.

Nokia sold more than one million E65s in the second quarter, making it one of the top three products for the firm. It will report July-September results on Oct. 18, but analysts said all signs showed good sales of the phone had continued.

Nokia said the E65 price cut was part of its normal price adjustments after the phone had been on the market for more than six months. Its success helped to pull Nokia's ailing enterprise unit into the black in the second quarter after years of losses.

"This is normal for any product, the price varies at different stages of the product life cycle," said a Nokia spokeswoman.

With the price cut the E65 competes in the same price category with Samsung's U600 and Sony Ericsson's K810i.

Apple cut its iPhone price by one third just two months after it launched the phone, but later offered some rebates after phone owners' complaints. Price cuts of up to 10 percent are normal in the industry after the first few months of sales.

Nokia has also lowered prices for its E61i, N73 and N73 Music phones this month, but not as sharply as the E65.

"Nokia has been very aggressive with its pricing strategy during 2007," said Ben Wood, head of research at consultancy CCS.

HTC Launches GPS Phone P3300

High Tech Computer (HTC) Corp. has announced the launch of the HTC P3300, a Global Positioning System (GPS) phone in India. This device allows users to take pictures outdoors and then automatically embeds the satellite coordinates into the picture.

The MapKing R12 is the mobile mapping system which comes with the P3300. It also includes the SiRF III chipset with 20 parallel channel receivers. Offering wireless LAN access, the phone is equipped with a 2.0 megapixel camera and FM radio with tuning range from 87.5 MHz – 108.5 MHz.

The P3300 GPS phone with photo navigation is an addition to our existing portfolio of world class smartphones and PDAs available in India under the HTC brand," said Ajay Sharma, country manager, HTC, India.

The phone weighs 128 grams, is 16.8 mm thin and is available in an iron-grey colour. It operates on the Windows Mobile 6 professional platform and comes with a 128MB built-in ROM and 64MB RAM.

Microsoft Office programs like Outlook Mobile, Word Mobile, Excel Mobile, PowerPoint Mobile, IE Mobile and Windows Media Player 10 Mobile are pre-loaded in the phone. Optional softwares like Adobe Reader (PDF), Sprite Backup, Activesync, Comm Manager, Internet sharing, Network Wizard and Audio Manager are also available. Connectivity options include Wireless LAN 802.11b/g, Bluetooth v2.0 and quadband GSM/GPRS/EDGE. The phone features a 2.8-inch QVGA display screen and Phonepad input option.

The phone is available for Rs. 23,000.

8GB Nokia N95 Starts Shipping

The 8GB version of the Nokia N95 has started shipping and will be in stores soon.

"Our Nokia Nseries family has expanded with added pizzazz and performance with the Nokia N95 8GB, a device as personal as it is powerful," said Jonas Geust, vice president, Multimedia, at Nokia. "We've reached a pinnacle with the Nokia N95 and now with the addition of one of the largest ever displays, built-in Assisted-GPS and improved battery power, the Nokia N95 8GB takes entertainment enjoyment to another level."

With 8 gigabytes of built-in memory, the Nokia N95 8GB has all the key features of its predecessor, including a 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, built-in A-GPS, WLAN, HSDPA and an innovative 2-way slide.

The phone also boasts a 2.8" (240 x 320) QVGA display and offers up to 20 hours of video or up to 6000 songs.

The Nokia N95 8GB supports services like Nokia Music Store and N-Gage Games.

The 8GB N95 has an estimated retail price of EUR 560 (approx. Rs. 31,000) before taxes or subsidies.

Samsung and Symbian Announce New Phone

Samsung and Symbian have announced the Samsung i450, a music dedicated Symbian smartphone.

The Samsung i450 is a High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) mobile phone that will be on display at the Symbian Smartphone Show in London on October 16th and 17th 2007.

The mobile phone applies HSDPA connectivity at 3.6 Mbps so that users can enjoy multimedia features with higher data download speeds. The phone runs on the Symbian operating system (OS) version 9.2 and the Symbian 60 (S60) 3rd Edition, Feature Pack 1 and provides access to the S60 applications library and multitasking features in faster data speeds.

The Samsung i450 is a dual slider phone which slides upwards to the alphanumeric keypad and downwards to the speakers. The phone also includes a touch navigation half-wheel that enables users to navigate the device when the phone is held sideways.

The Samsung i450 has an ICEpower amplifier developed by Bang & Olufsen. The phone claims to feature a dedicated music interface to make navigation and listening easier and to store more music. The phone has a 35 MB internal memory and the memory card slot is expandable up to 4GB. The LCD screen is 2.4 inches and offers an MP3 player, a 2 megapixel camera with flash and another VGA camera for video calling.

The phone will be available in Europe from October 2007

Nokia Announces Touch Interface for S60

Nokia unveiled its new touch interface for S60 smartphones at the Symbian Smartphone Show in London earlier today.

According to a press statement from Nokia, the new software would allow licensees to develop devices with a variety of input methods; such as touchscreen with traditional keypad, QWERTY keyboard, or standalone touchscreen, supporting both finger or stylus optimized input.

The interface comes with support for tactile feedback, which means there is a physical pulse and feedback when a user taps on the screen. This will provide better awareness of the device's response.

Existing S60 3rd Edition applications will run on touch-enabled devices unmodified. Tools will be made available for developers to further optimize the touch experience of their applications.

Other innovations to the S60 smartphone software platform include sensor technologies and a complete web video experience.

The former will open up a new kinetic world to the user and offer completely new opportunities for application and game developers. Also, the new UI Accelerator toolkit will allow device manufacturers to rapidly develop impressive graphical effects and new types of interactions, increasing user appeal and excitement.

S60 will be the first mobile software platform to deliver the complete Web video experience as Flash Video will be integrated with the web Browser for S60. This allows people to view on the go Flash-enabled websites and Flash Video, such as YouTube.

"S60 on Symbian OS offers a great platform to innovate with Internet services," said Matti Vänskä, Vice President, Mobile Software Sales and Marketing, Nokia. "We see experiences converging, and people demanding more and more of the functionalities that smartphones offer, both of which highlight the significance of ease of use."

The technologies are expected to be available for all S60 device manufacturers during 2008.

Tamil Nadu Bans Use of Mobiles in Schools

The Tamil Nadu government Tuesday banned the use of mobile phones in school premises throughout the state following complaints that many students were not paying attention to studies and were using cell phones in class rooms.

No exceptions would be made on the basis of age or other factors in applying the ban, an official release said.

Minister for School Education Thangam Thennarasu said it had come to the government's notice that some students were not paying proper attention to their education due to the use of cell phones inside the classrooms.

"Students have also been found sending SMSs from classrooms instead of concentrating on their studies. Parents and educationists had requested the ban and the government decided to act upon these suggestions," the release added.

While some parents expressed apprehensions about the measure, school authorities felt the ban was necessary.

S. Sridhar, father of a teenaged girl studying in a higher secondary school, said, "In these times when the security concerns of parents are very high, the cell phone was a handy instrument to allay our fears in times of any emergency. Now that it has been banned, we do not know as to how to contact our children if they are late while coming home for some reason. The facility also helps parents to track their wards. Now it cannot be done."

"The abuse of SMS is common among college students and not those in school. While one has to admit that some schoolchildren do listen to FM radio on their mobiles, a total ban is uncalled for," said Lokeshwari Govindaraj, the widowed parent of a teenaged boy who is in high school.

"My son has to commute nearly two km to and from school. These days all sorts of antisocial elements lurk in the vicinity of educational institutions, it's a situation that scares us," Govindaraj said.

A school principal, who wished to remain unnamed, welcomed the ban.

"This move will force parents to pay more attention towards their children who are being led astray due to the advent of technology. Perhaps, some guardians may be forced to accompany their wards to school and take them back. This will be a safer option," she said.

Unlocked iPhone to be Launched in France

Finally, Apple has decided to launch an unlocked iPhone in France come November. Orange recently confirmed that the iPhone is likely to be sold by it for 399 Euro, and the unlocked iPhone will be available too.

The price of the unlocked iPhone has not been announced yet. Orange will be the operator exclusive partner in France, which puts to rest a speculation that has been tracked by analysts for some time now.

Nokia Reveals Another Entry Level Mobile

Obviously most people want to get as much as they can squeeze out of their mobile phones as possible. But there are plenty of people out there who merely see it as a tool for communication. So naturally they’d need something a little simpler and Nokia has been able to provide many consumers with the same and they’ve just added one more to their list - the Nokia 2135.

"Many consumers are looking for a simple, affordable phone to keep them in touch with the people who mean the most to them, and the Nokia 2135 is designed with those consumers in mind," said Larry Paulson, senior vice president and general manager of Nokia's CDMA business group. "The large easy to read keys and familiar Nokia user interface makes the Nokia 2135 comfortable to use. The modern design and compact size makes it easy to carry, and the attractive price makes it easy to afford."

The 2135 is a simple candy-bar designed phone. Its primary target are those users who would need it for just daily use to make and take calls and messages. It has a 400 entry phone book, an integrated speaker phone function, assignable ringtones for specific callers and of course the basic Calendar functions for keeping memos and reminders etc. It also comes equipped with a voice recorder function for leaving voice memos. According to Nokia the 2135 will be able to give users a 3.5 hour talk time and 11 days of stand-by.

Although the price has not yet been revealed it’s expected to be available in North America in a month or so. Stay tuned.

Samsung Launches Another Music Phone

Samsung and Symbian seem a great combo. The two companies have decided it’s time they worked with each other, and have announced the tie-up in the latest Samsung SGH i450 mobile phone.

This is a music phone that runs on Symbian OS, v9.2 and S60 3rd Edition, Feature Pack 1. The i450 is a dual slider phone that’s well equipped for audio playback as well as high speed Internet browsing (3.6 Mbps) though HSDPA.

The keypad slides out from the bottom of the i450 and a set of metallic speakers slide out from the top. The i450 is equipped with a touch-sensitive arch-like half-wheel that can be utilized for navigation when the phone is in landscape mode.

Once again, Bang & Olufsen have contributed their bit to Samsung’s music phone range with their ICEpower amplifier. The i450 may have just 35MB of internal memory, but this can be extended using microSD cards(up to 4GB).

The i450 is equipped with a 2 megapixel camera at the rear and a secondary VGA camera in front above the 2.4 inch LCD display (240 x 320 pixel resolution) for video calling.

The i450 was on display at the Symbian Smartphone Show in London on October 16 and 17. Price and availability are yet to be revealed.

Via Akihabara News.