LG GC900 Viewty Smart review: S-class act

It's 12 and counting for cameraphones but the real thick of action is at the 8 megapixel notch. There goes the next of them exciting imaging gadgets waiting to be put in play. We've got a bit of catching up with the LG Viewty Smart to do since our first rendezvous. But let's quickly review the basics. Whether you call it an LG Arena with a beefier camera or a Viewty on S-Class, we guess we're happy either way. Oh, you can also call it Viewty2, while we go on and check if it's 2 good 2 miss.

Sweet waistline and slick packaging, the Viewty Smart carries quite an impressive feature set including a 3" capacitive touchscreen, 8 megapixel autofocus camera with loads of options and the high-flying S-Class Touch UI. The Viewty is not smartphone kind of smart but the inspired interface and the sharp gadgety looks do give its name some credence.

LG GC900 Viewty Smart key features

• 3" 16M-color capacitive TFT touchscreen of WVGA resolution (480 x 800 pixels)
• S-Class Touch UI
• Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support
• 3G with HSDPA (7.2 Mbps)
• Wi-Fi and GPS receiver with A-GPS
• 8 megapixel autofocus camera, Schneider-Kreuznach optics, LED flash, manual focus, geotagging, image stabilization, multi face detection (up to 3), smile detection
• D1 (720x480 pixels)@30fps, VGA@30fps, QVGA time-lapse and slow-mo video recording
• 1.5GB flash storage, microSD card slot (up to 32GB)
• Hot-swappable microSD card slot
• USB Mass Storage, TV out
• Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP
• Accelerometer for screen auto rotate
• Multi-touch input
• DivX and XviD support
• FM radio with RDS
• Dolby for Mobile audio enhancement
• Office document viewer
• Smart dialing

Samsung S8000 Jet review: Airborne

Introduction

It's that time of the year and the living is easy: pool parties, blockbuster movies and new gadgets. The Samsung S8000 Jet sure knows good timing and gallantly promises a bit of everything - style, entertainment and impressively light and lively handling. It's a thing to show off to your friends and help you enjoy and capture the hot moments of the season.

The S8000 Jet is not exactly jet set stuff but claims a big piece of the touchscreen action. And it knows who it needs to kill to get it. The Jet is the direct and brave answer to the LG KM900 Arena and boy isn't it a tough call between these two. The S8000 Jet has the fancy 3D interface upgrade, 5MP camera with D1 recording, Wi-Fi, GPS and all the stuff to put this touchscreen phone in the desirable category. We have a thriller of a local derby and the high-end contenders need to do everything and do it well.

We were impressed in our preview with the new visual upgrades of the TouchWiz interface, which combine the best part of the 3D LG cube and page-organized iPhone menus. But now it's time for the final and deciding round with the Samsung S800 Jet.

Here is the full ammo of the S8000 Jet, along with what might be the deal breakers.

Key features

• 3.1" 16M-color resistive AMOLED touchscreen of 800 x 480 pixel resolution
• 800 MHz processor
• 5 megapixel auto focus camera with dual-LED
• Geotagging, image stabilization, face detection, Smile Shot, Wide Dynamic Range (WDR)
• Latest TouchWiz 2.0 UI with Motion UI, Media Gate 3D, Smart Unlock
• Quad-band GSM support and 3G with HSDPA 3.6 Mbps and HSUPA support
• Wi-Fi
• GPS receiver
• 2 / 8 GB onboard storage
• microSD card slot with microSDHC support
• Built-in accelerometer for screen auto rotate and turn-to-mute
• Proximity sensor for display auto turn-off
• TV out
• 3.5 mm audio jack
• Stereo FM Radio with RDS
• microUSB port and stereo Bluetooth v2.0
• Web browser has full Flash and Java support
• DivX/XviD video support
• DNSe and SRS sound effect
• Smart dialing
• Speaker Call

Samsung B7610 OmniaPRO preview: First look

Samsung are not quite the standard-setter in communicator devices but are obviously keen to have their say. Playing catch up seems well in order for a debut but we guess someone here is set to play for keeps. The Samsung B7610 OmniaPRO is a generously spec'd device that's poised to tackle the best in the class and even raise the bet. While sheer size and scope confine it to a niche, the Samsung communicator might be just the right option for those served by that niche.
Having acquired a pre-release sample of the side-slider PocketPC we are squeezing in a short preview, introducing its most important features. The chunky bloke does give a decent first impression, but handling will be the ultimate test. For starters, let's look at the key items on the Samsung B7610 OmniaPRO's balance sheet.

Samsung B7610 OmniaPRO at a glance

• General: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, UMTS 900/2100 MHz, HSDPA 3.6Mbps
• Form factor: Full QWERTY side-slider
• Dimensions: 112.6 x 57.8 x 16.2 mm, 159g
• Display: 3.5" 65K-color resistive AMOLED touchscreen of WVGA resolution
• OS: Windows Mobile 6.1 (upgradable to 6.5), TouchWiz 2.0 UI
• Memory: 1GB built-in storage, 256 MB RAM, hot-swappable microSD (up to 16GB)
• CPU: 800 MHz processor with dedicated graphics accelerator
• Camera: 5 megapixel auto-focus, with dual LED flash and VGA video at 30 fps
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP, standard microUSB port, GPS receiver with A-GPS, TV out, 3.5mm standard audio jack
• Misc: Accelerometer for screen auto rotate and turn-to-mute, FM radio with RDS, DivX/XviD video support, work and leisure modes
• Battery: 1500mAh Li-Ion battery

Meet the fastest, most powerful iPhone yet. iPhone 3GS

features video recording, Voice Control, up to 32GB of storage, and more

The Fastest i Phone Ever
The first thing you’ll notice about iPhone 3GS is how quickly you can launch applications. Web pages render in a fraction of the time, and you can view email attachments faster. Improved performance and updated 3D graphics deliver an incredible gaming experience, too. In fact, everything you do on iPhone 3GS is up to 2x faster and more responsive than iPhone 3G.

Video
Now you can shoot video, edit it, and share it — all on your iPhone 3GS. Shoot high-quality VGA video in portrait or landscape. Trim your footage by adjusting start and end points. Then share your video in an email, post it to your MobileMe gallery, publish it on YouTube, or sync it back to your Mac or PC using iTunes

3-Megapixel Camera

he new 3-megapixel camera takes great still photos, too, thanks to built-in autofocus and a handy new feature that lets you tap the display to focus on anything (or anyone) you want

Voice Control

oice Control recognizes the names in your Contacts and knows the music on your iPod. So if you want to place a call or play a song, all you have to do is ask.

Internet Tethering

urf the web from practically anywhere. Now you can share the 3G connection on your iPhone with your Mac notebook or PC laptop.

Stocks

tocks on iPhone shows you charts, financial details, and headline news for any stock you choose. Rotate iPhone to see even more detailed information.

Find My iPhone and Remote Wipe

f you misplace your iPhone, Apple’s MobileMe service can help you find it. Log on to me.com to view a map that shows the approximate location of your iPhone. If it’s nearby, have it play an alert sound to help you find it, or display a message on the home screen to help someone return it to you. If displaying a message hasn’t resulted in its safe return, you can initiate a remote wipe and restore your iPhone to factory settings.

Nokia 6600i slide

General	2G Network	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
	3G Network	UMTS 850 / 2100
	Announced	2009, May
	Status	Coming soon. Exp. release 2009, 3Q

Size	Dimensions	93 x 45 x 14 mm, 52 cc
	Weight	110 g

Display	Type	TFT, 16M colors
	Size	240 x 320 pixels, 2.2 inches
		- Accelerometer

Sound	Alert types	Vibration; Downloadable polyphonic, MP3 ringtones
	Speakerphone	Yes
		- 3.5 mm audio jack

Memory	Phonebook	Yes, up to 1000 entries, Photocall
	Call records	Yes
	Internal	20 MB
	Card slot	microSD (TransFlash), up to 16GB, 1GB included

Data	GPRS	Class 32, 88 kbps
	HSCSD	Yes
	EDGE	Class 32, 296 kbits
	3G	Yes, 384 kbps
	WLAN	No
	Bluetooth	Yes, v2.0 with A2DP
	Infrared port	No
	USB	Yes, v2.0 microUSB

Camera	Primary	5 MP, 2592x1944 pixels, autofocus, dual-LED flash
	Video	Yes, VGA@15fps
	Secondary	Yes, VGA@30fps

Features	Messaging	SMS, MMS, Email, Instant Messaging
	Browser	WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML (Opera mini)
	Radio	Stereo FM radio with RDS
	Games	Yes
	Colors	Black, Silver
	GPS	No
	Java	Yes, MIDP 2.0
		- MP3/eAAC+/WMA player - MPEG-4/3gp player - Flash Lite 3.0 - Nokia Maps - T9

Nokia 6730 classic

General	2G Network	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
	3G Network	HSDPA 2100 / 900
	Announced	2009, May
	Status	Coming soon. Exp. release 2009, Q2

Size	Dimensions	112 x 46 x 12.6 mm
	Weight	83 g

Display	Type	TFT, 16M colors
	Size	240 x 320 pixels, 2.2 inches

Sound	Alert types	Vibration; Downloadable polyphonic, MP3 ringtones
	Speakerphone	Yes
		- 2.5 mm audio jack

Memory	Phonebook	Practically unlimited entries and fields, Photocall
	Call records	Detailed, max 30 days
	Internal	48 MB
	Card slot	microSD (TransFlash), up to 8GB, 1GB included

Data	GPRS	Class 32
	HSCSD	Yes
	EDGE	Class 32, 296 / 178.8 kbits
	3G	HSDPA
	WLAN	No
	Bluetooth	Yes, v2.0 with A2DP
	Infrared port	No
	USB	Yes, v2.0 microUSB

Camera	Primary	3.15 MP, 2048x1536 pixels, autofocus
	Video	Yes, VGA@15fps
	Secondary	VGA videocall camera

Features	OS	Symbian OS, S60 rel. 3.2
	Messaging	SMS, MMS, Email
	Browser	WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML
	Radio	Stereo FM radio with RDS
	Games	Yes + downloadable
	Colors	Yes
	GPS	Yes, with A-GPS support; Nokia Maps
	Java	Yes, MIDP 2.1
		- MP3/MP4/eAAC+/WMA player - Voice memo - T9

Nokia E52

General	2G Network	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
	3G Network	HSDPA 900 / 2100
		HSDPA 850 / 2100 - US version
	Announced	2009, May
	Status	Coming soon. Exp. release 2009, Q3

Size	Dimensions	116 x 49 x 9.9 mm, 54 cc
	Weight	98 g

Display	Type	TFT, 16M colors
	Size	240 x 320 pixels, 2.4 inches

Sound	Alert types	Vibration; Downloadable polyphonic, MP3 ringtones
	Speakerphone	Yes
		- 3.5 mm audio jack

Memory	Phonebook	Practically unlimited entries and fields, Photocall
	Call records	Detailed, max 30 days
	Internal	60 MB
	Card slot	microSD (TransFlash), up to 16GB, 1GB included

Data	GPRS	Class 32
	HSCSD	Yes
	EDGE	Class 32, 296 / 178.8 kbits
	3G	HSDPA, 10.2 Mbps; HSUPA, 2 Mbps
	WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, UPnP technology
	Bluetooth	Yes, v2.0 with A2DP
	Infrared port	No
	USB	Yes, v2.0 microUSB

Camera	Primary	3.2 MP, 2048x1536 pixels, enhanced fixed focus, LED flash
	Video	Yes, VGA@15fps
	Secondary	VGA videocall camera

Features	OS	Symbian OS, S60 rel. 3.2
	CPU	ARM 11 600 MHz processor
	Messaging	SMS, MMS, Email
	Browser	WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML
	Radio	Stereo FM radio with RDS
	Games	Yes + downloadable
	Colors	Metal Grey Aluminium, Golden Aluminium
	GPS	Yes, with A-GPS support; Nokia Maps 3.0
	Java	Yes, MIDP 2.1
		- Digital compass - MP3/MP4/eAAC+/WMA player - Document viewer (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF) - Voice memo - T9

Battery		Standard battery, Li-Ion 1500 mAh (BP-4L)
	Stand-by	Up to 672 h (2G) / Up to 432 h (3G)
	Talk time	Up to 8 h (2G) / Up to 6 h (3G)
	Music play	Up to 18 h

Nokia 5730 XpressMusic

General	2G Network	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
	3G Network	HSDPA 900 / 1900 / 2100
	Announced	2009, March
	Status	Coming soon. Exp. release 2009, Q3

Size	Dimensions	112 x 51 x 15.4 mm
	Weight	135 g

Display	Type	TFT, 16M colors
	Size	240 x 320 pixels, 2.4 inches
		- Full QWERTY keyboard - Accelerometer sensor for auto-rotate

Sound	Alert types	Vibration; Downloadable polyphonic, MP3 ringtones
	Speakerphone	Yes
		- 3.5 mm audio jack - Dedicated music keys

Memory	Phonebook	Practically unlimited entries and fields, Photocall
	Call records	Detailed, max 30 days
	Internal	100 MB storage, 128 MB RAM
	Card slot	microSD (TransFlash), up to 16GB, 8GB included

Data	GPRS	Class 32
	HSCSD	Yes
	EDGE	Class 32, 296 / 178.8 kbits
	3G	HSDPA, 3.6 Mbps
	WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, UPnP technology
	Bluetooth	Yes, v2.0 with A2DP
	Infrared port	No
	USB	Yes, v2.0 microUSB

Camera	Primary	3.15 MP, 2048x1536 pixels, Carl Zeiss optics, autofocus, LED flash
	Video	Yes
	Secondary	VGA videocall camera

Features	OS	Symbian OS, S60 rel. 3.2
	CPU	ARM 11 369 MHz processor
	Messaging	SMS, MMS, Email
	Browser	WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML
	Radio	Stereo FM radio with RDS
	Games	Yes + downloadable, N-Gage compatible
	Colors	Red, Monochrome, Blue, Pink
	GPS	Yes, with A-GPS support; Nokia Maps
	Java	Yes, MIDP 2.1
		- Nokia Say and Play (voice control to music player) - MP3/MP4/eAAC+/WMA player - Voice memo - T9

Battery		Standard battery, Li-Ion 1000 mAh (BL-4U)
	Stand-by	Up to 300 h (2G) / Up to 270 h (3G)
	Talk time	Up to 5 h (2G) / Up to 4 h (3G)
	Music play	Up to 25 h

i-mate Ultimate 7150

General	2G Network	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
	3G Network	HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100
	Announced	2007, February
	Status	Cancelled

Size	Dimensions	110 x 74 x 18 mm
	Weight	180 g

Display	Type	TFT resistive touchscreen, 256K colors (65K effective)
	Size	640 x 480 pixels, 3.8 inches
		- Second OLED, 2.2 inches display (128 x 128 pixels) - QWERTY keyboard - Handwriting recognition

Sound	Alert types	Vibration; Downloadable polyphonic, MP3 ringtones
	Speakerphone	Yes

Memory	Phonebook	Practically unlimited entries and fields, Photocall
	Call records	Practically unlimited
	Internal	128 MB RAM, 256 MB ROM
	Card slot	microSD (TransFlash)

Data	GPRS	Class 10 (4+1/3+2 slots), 32 - 48 kbps
	HSCSD	No
	EDGE	Class 10, 236.8 kbps
	3G	HSDPA
	WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/e/i
	Bluetooth	Yes, v2.0 with A2DP
	Infrared port	Yes
	USB	Yes, miniUSB

Camera	Primary	2 MP, 1600x1200 pixels
	Video	Yes
	Secondary	VGA videocall camera

Features	OS	Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.0 Professional
	CPU	Intel Bulverde 520 MHz processor
	Messaging	SMS, MMS, Email, Instant Messaging
	Browser	WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML (PocketIE)
	Radio	Stereo FM radio
	Games	Yes
	Colors	Silver
	GPS	No
	Java	Yes, MIDP 2.0
		- Voice memo - MP3/AAC/AAC+/WMA/OGG/AMR player - WMV/MP4 player - Pocket Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF viewer) - File manager - TV-out

i-mate JAQ

General	2G Network	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
	Announced	2006, September
	Status	Available

Size	Dimensions	122 x 71 x 22 mm
	Weight	160 g

Display	Type	TFT resistive touchscreen, 65K colors
	Size	320 x 240 pixels, 2.8 inches
		- Handwriting recognition - QWERTY keyboard

Sound	Alert types	Vibration; Downloadable polyphonic, MP3 ringtones
	Speakerphone	Yes

Memory	Phonebook	Practically unlimited entries and fields, Photocall
	Call records	Practically unlimited
	Internal	64 MB RAM, 128 MB ROM
	Card slot	miniSD, buy memory

Data	GPRS	Class 10 (4+1/3+2 slots), 32 - 48 kbps
	HSCSD	No
	EDGE	Class 10, 236.8 kbps
	3G	No
	WLAN	No
	Bluetooth	Yes, v1.2
	Infrared port	Yes
	USB	Yes, miniUSB

Camera		No

Features	OS	Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 PocketPC
	CPU	TI OMAP 850 200 MHz processor
	Messaging	SMS, MMS, Email, Instant Messaging
	Browser	WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML (PocketIE)
	Radio	No
	Games	Yes
	Colors	Silver
	GPS	No
	Java	Yes, MIDP 2.0
		- Pocket Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF viewer) - Voice memo - MP3/AAC player - File manager - T9

Battery		Standard battery, Li-Ion 1440 mAh
	Stand-by	Up to 150 h
	Talk time	Up to 4 h

Misc	Price group

HTC MAX 4G

General	2G Network	GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900
	Announced	2008, November
	Status	Coming soon. Exp. release 2008, November

Size	Dimensions	113.5 x 63.1 x 13.9 mm
	Weight	151 g

Display	Type	TFT resistive touchscreen, 65K colors
	Size	480 x 800 pixels, 3.8 inches
		- TouchFLO 3D finger swipe navigation - Accelerometer sensor for auto-rotate - Proximity sensor for auto turn-off - Touch-sensitive navigation controls - Handwriting recognition

Sound	Alert types	Vibration; Downloadable polyphonic, MP3, WAV, WMA ringtones
	Speakerphone	Yes

Memory	Phonebook	Practically unlimited entries and fields, Photocall
	Call records	Practically unlimited
	Internal	8 GB storage, 288 MB RAM, 256 MB ROM
	Card slot	microSD (TransFlash)

Data	GPRS	Class 10 (4+1/3+2 slots), 32 - 48 kbps
	HSCSD	Yes
	EDGE	Class 10, 236.8 kbps
	3G	No
	WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, WiMAX 802.16 e
	Bluetooth	Yes, v2.0 with A2DP
	Infrared port	No
	USB	Yes, miniUSB

Camera	Primary	3.15 MP, 2048x1536 pixels, autofocus
	Video	Yes
	Secondary	VGA videocall camera

Features	OS	Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional
	CPU	Qualcomm ESM 7206A 528 MHz processor
	Messaging	SMS (threaded view), MMS, Email, Instant Messaging
	Browser	WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML
	Radio	Stereo FM radio with RDS
	Games	Yes
	Colors	Black
	GPS	Yes, with A-GPS support
	Java	Yes, MIDP 2.0
		- Yota Mobile WiMAX 2,5-2.7 GHz - Yota TV - MP3/MPEG-4 player - Pocket Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, PDF viewer) - Voice memo

Battery		Standard battery, Li-Ion 1500 mAh
	Stand-by	Up to 350 h
	Talk time	Up to 7 h

LG GD900 Crystal preview: First look

If a phone can get away with looking like a dummy phone, it's art. Let's see. You wouldn't want to touch the LG Crystal. At least a couple of minutes you'll just sit back and admire. OK, you'll eventually start exploring it and the question will slowly emerge.

What kind of keyboard do you put on a full-touch phone? Well the answer is simple - a touchpad. The LG Crystal keypad is not a real keypad, but a transparent touchpad instead. And it's not there as a typing commodity, it's there for the coolness of it. How sick is that you may ask? Well, we don't really know but we're infected.

We are previewing a pre-production unit here but it's the most final design that LG currently have and happily matches the latest official photos, so the exterior will most likely stay the same in the final retail version.

If you've followed the Crystal as closely as we have, you will know that back in the day when it was first displayed to the public it had a strikingly different blue front panel gradient that later on silently disappeared. We guess them focus groups are more fond of uniform gray than gradient blue.

LG GD900 Crystal official photos: the two on the left feature the new design as opposed to the other two

Now, even if it yells handle with care, the LG Crystal carries a bulletproof spec sheet. All-inclusive imaging, multimedia and connectivity on the inspired S-class interface: prepare to be impressed and entertained. To help you take your eyes off the phone at least for a short while, here is a quick summary of what the LG Crystal is all about.

LG Crystal at a glance:

• General: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, UMTS 900/2100 (alternative version: 850/2100) MHz, GPRS/EDGE class 12, HSDPA 7.2 Mbps
• Form factor: Touchscreen slider
• Dimensions: 105 x 52.5 x 13.5 mm, 127 g
• Display: 3-inch 16M color TFT touchscreen, 480 x 800 pixels
• Memory: 1.5GB integrated memory, hot-swappable microSD card slot (up to 16GB)
• UI: LG S-Class Touch UI
• Camera: 8 megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash and D1 video recording at 30 fps, QVGA time-lapse and slow-mo video recording
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, standard microUSB port
• Misc: Accelerometer for screen auto rotate, proximity sensor for screen auto turn-off, FM radio with RDS, DivX/XviD video support, TV-out, touch-sensitive keypad, gesture shortcuts, multi-touch input, office document viewer
• Battery: 1000 mAh battery

Design is the defining feature of the LG GD900 Crystal but - quite against the general rule - it doesn't imply crippled functionality. The see-through keypad is cool enough to not only get the handset noticed but make it hard to resist. And then, the wide range of skills is just the thing for those who need a different kind of inspiration.

So, the question as always is if performance will live up to the hype. The LG Arena turned an impressive performer and walked away with plenty of our respect and admiration. Now, that means we won't let the Crystal get away with anything but flawless.

T-Mobile G1 review: The whole cagoogle

The T-Mobile G1 is the Googlephone. Did we really need to say that? Well, there's more Google in this story than there is phone, so we guess we did. We've got a new contender on the race track but we're talking no rookie here. If you thought Apple made the phone game breathtaking, think of where it's all heading with Google keen to play along. Unlike the iPhone Mac OS X, the Android is the joint effort of the whole Open Handset Alliance, which brings together makers that sure know the drill. So much for the rookie, as long as Google is siding with Asus, HTC, LG, Garmin, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Toshiba.
But well, that's the bigger story. We have the first chapter right here, and it's called the T-Mobile G1 or HTC Dream if you prefer. The first impression sure is important. So, there we go.

T-Mobile G1 or to be also released as HTC Dream might not have the specs to make a geek's heart melt but we guess the Android OS was still gonna draw drool even if it came tossed in a plastic bag or wrapped in newspaper. So, forget about the peculiar form factor, the full QWERTY keyboard, the large and crisp touchscreen and the anti-utopian design. Android's inside and google is the limit

Key features:
Android OS
3.2" capacitive touchscreen display of HVGA resolution
Slide-out five-row full QWERTY keyboard
Qualcomm MSM 7201A 528 MHz CPU, 192 MB RAM
Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support
3G with HSDPA 7.2 Mbps and HSUPA 2Mbps
3.15 megapixel autofocus camera
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
GPS
Trackball
Accelerometer sensor
Digital compass

G1 does look like a rather wary and conservative approach to introducing a new OS to the mobile world. While the T-Mobile G1 isn't by any means low-end it kind of deliberately falls short of what the current multimedia monsters have to offer, both in terms of styling and mind-boggling high-tech feats. This gives the G1 two quite important advantages. Firstly the main focus of the device remains on the OS, though this doesn't exactly relieve the pressure. Secondly, keeping a low profile allows the G1 to get away with its juvenile weaknesses more easily.

LG KM900 Arena preview: First look

The LG Arena is getting set to storm its way across Europe but not before a proper courtesy call. Yes sir, one of the Barcelona Mobile World Congress headliners is feeling right at home at the arena. And the pleasure is ours too.
The well-rounded feature set - which could've been a major asset in any reputable handset - is easily eclipsed by the interface that boasts some of the best looks and handling in quite a while. S-class is a not a name to misuse so let's hope the Arena lives up to the expectations.

Our LG namesake is the first ever handset to run the new touch UI of the Korean company. In addition, you get a state of the art connectivity package and a nicely sounding 5 megapixel shooter. Well, obviously it's not a top of the line imaging monster like the Renoir but the target audience is different here.
Having made a great first impression with its brilliant screen and inspiring UI, the LG KM900 Arena is now to face a more serious test. It's a quick little preview we've got for you here but hopefully the Arena will have no secrets left.
For starters let's have a look at the LG KM900 Arena main specs.
LG KM900 Arena at a glance
General: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, UMTS 2100 or 850/1900 MHz, EDGE class 10, HSDPA 7.2 Mbps
Dimensions: 105.9 x 55.3 x 12 mm, 105 g
Display: 3" 16M-color capacitive TFT touchscreen of WVGA resolution (480 x 800 pixels)
Memory: 8GB flash storage, microSD card slot (up to 16GB)
User interface: S-Class Touch UI
Still camera: 5 megapixel autofocus camera, Schneider-Kreuznach optics, autofocus, LED flash
Video recording: 3GP D1 (720x480)@30fps, QVGA@120fps high-speed recording, QVGA time lapse recording
Connectivity: Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm audio jack, TV-out, microUSB port, GPS receiver with A-GPS
Misc: Accelerometer for screen auto rotate, Multi-touch input, 3D hardware accelerator, DivX support, Dolby for Mobile audio enhancement, FM radio, FM transmitter, office document viewer
Battery: Li-Ion 1000 mAh, Talk time: 3 h 50 min, Standby: 300 h, Music playback: 30 h
Retail price: 400 euro (540 US dollars)

BlackBerry Bold 9000

General
2G Network
GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network
HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100
Announced
2008, May
Status
Available
Size
Dimensions
114 x 66 x 14 mm

Display
Type
65K colors
Size
480 x 320 pixels

- Full QWERTY keyboard- Trackball navigation- Wallpapers
Ringtones
Type
Polyphonic, MP3
Customization
Download, order now
Vibration
Yes

Memory
Phonebook
Yes, Photocall
Call records
Yes
Card slot
microSD (TransFlash), microSDHC, up to 8 GB, buy memory

- 128 MB flash memory- 1 GB storage memory- 624 MHz processor
Data
GPRS
Class 10 (4+1/3+2 slots), 32 - 48 kbps
HSCSD
No
EDGE
Class 10, 236.8 kbps
3G
HSDPA, 3.6 Mbps
WLAN
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g
Bluetooth
Yes, v2.0 with A2DP
Infrared port
No

Camera
Primary
2 MP, 1600x1200 pixels, LED flash
Video
Yes
Secondary
No
Features
OS
BlackBerry OS
Messaging
SMS, MMS, Email, Instant Messaging
Browser
HTML
Games
Yes + downloadable
Colors
Black
GPS
Yes
Java
Yes

- BlackBerry maps - Document editor (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF)- Media player MP3/WMA/AAC+- Video player DivX/WMV/XviD/3gp- Organizer- Calculator- Voice dial- Built-in handsfree- Voice memo

BlackBerry Storm 9500

General
2G Network
GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network
HSDPA 2100

CDMA2000 1x EV-DO
Announced
2008, September

Size
Dimensions
112.5 x 62.2 x 14 mm
Weight
155 g
Display
Type
TFT capacitive touchscreen, 65K colors
Size
360 x 480 pixels, 3.25 inches

- Accelerometer sensor for auto-rotate
Ringtones
Type
Polyphonic (32 channels), MP3
Customization
Download, order now
Vibration
Yes

- 3.5 mm audio jack

Memory
Phonebook
Yes, Photocall
Call records
Yes
Card slot
microSD (TransFlash), up to 16 GB, buy memory

- 128 MB RAM- 1 GB storage memory- 624 MHz CPU
Data
GPRS
Class 10 (4+1/3+2 slots), 32 - 48 kbps
HSCSD
No
EDGE
Class 10, 236.8 kbps
3G
HSDPA
WLAN
No
Bluetooth
Yes, v2.0 with A2DP
Infrared port
No
USB
Yes, v2.0

Camera
Primary
3.15 MP, 2048x1536 pixels, autofocus, LED flash
Video
Yes
Secondary
No
Features
OS
BlackBerry OS
Messaging
SMS, MMS, Email, Instant Messaging
Browser
HTML
Games
Yes + downloadable
Colors
Black
GPS
Yes, with A-GPS support
Java
Yes

- BlackBerry maps - Document editor (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF)- Media player MP3/WMA/AAC+- Video player MPEG4/3gp/H.264/WMV- Organizer- Calculator- Voice dial- Built-in handsfree- Voice memo

BlackBerry Storm 9530

General
2G Network
GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network
HSDPA 2100
Announced
2008, September
Status
Available. Released 2008, November

Size
Dimensions
112.5 x 62.2 x 14 mm
Weight
155 g
Display
Type
TFT capacitive touchscreen, 65K colors
Size
360 x 480 pixels, 3.25 inches

- Accelerometer sensor for auto-rotate
Ringtones
Type
Polyphonic (32 channels), MP3
Customization
Download, order now
Vibration
Yes

Memory
Phonebook
Yes, Photocall
Call records
Yes
Card slot
microSD (TransFlash), up to 16 GB, 8GB card included, buy memory

- 128 MB RAM- 1 GB storage memory- 624 MHz CPU
Data
GPRS
Class 10 (4+1/3+2 slots), 32 - 48 kbps
HSCSD
No
EDGE
Class 10, 236.8 kbps
3G
HSDPA
WLAN
No
Bluetooth
Yes, v2.0 with A2DP
Infrared port
No
USB
Yes, v2.0

Camera
Primary
3.15 MP, 2048x1536 pixels, autofocus, LED flash
Video
Yes
Secondary
No
Features
OS
BlackBerry OS
Messaging
SMS, MMS, Email, Instant Messaging
Browser
HTML
Games
Yes + downloadable
Colors
Black
GPS
Yes, with A-GPS support
Java
Yes

- BlackBerry maps - Document editor (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF)- Media player MP3/WMA/AAC+- Video player MPEG4/3gp/H.264/WMV- Organizer- Calculator- Voice dial- Built-in handsfree- Voice memo

BlackBerry Curve 8900

General
2G Network
GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
Announced
2008, November
Status
Available. Released 2008, November

Size
Dimensions
109 x 60 x 13.5 mm
Weight
110 g

Display
Type
TFT, 65K colors
Size
480 x 360 pixels, 2.4 inches

- Full QWERTY keyboard- Trackball navigation- Wallpapers

Ringtones
Type
Polyphonic, MP3
Customization
Download, order now
Vibration
Yes

Memory
Phonebook
Yes, Photocall
Call records
Yes
Card slot
microSD (TransFlash) up to 16GB, buy memory

- 512Mhz processor

Data
GPRS
Class 10 (4+1/3+2 slots), 32 - 48 kbps
HSCSD
Yes
EDGE
Class 10, 236.8 kbps
3G
No
WLAN
Wi-Fi 802.11b/g
Bluetooth
Yes, v2.0 with A2DP
Infrared port
No
USB
Yes, microUSB
Camera
Primary
3.15 MP, 2048x1536 pixels, autofocus, LED flash
Video
Yes
Secondary
No
Features
OS
BlackBerry OS
Messaging
SMS, MMS, Email, Instant Messaging
Browser
HTML
Games
Yes + downloadable
Colors
Black
GPS
Yes, with A-GPS support
Java
Yes

- Media player- BlackBerry maps - Organizer- Calculator- Voice dial- Built-in handsfree
Battery

Standard battery, Li-Ion 1400 mAh
Stand-by
Up to 356 h
Talk time
Up to 5 h 30 min

MWC 2009: HTC overview

HTC had us quite eager to drop by their booth at the MWC in Barcelona and get some touchscreen action with WinMo and Android flavor. Two curious sequels in the face of the HTC Touch Pro2 and Touch Diamond2, along with the Android-based Magic sounded intriguing enough for a quick sneak peek.
Sadly, it was only the HTC Touch Diamond2 that was on display at HTC booth. The Touch Pro2 and the HTC Magic are still early prototypes and were guarded pretty closely. Still, we had a good enough look on them as well, and we lived to tell the story.

HTC Touch Diamond2

Holding the Diamond2 in hand, the most striking novelty is the missing D-pad/scroll wheel. By the way that's the TouchPro2 approach too. Perhaps as of Touch HD, HTC are ditching D-pads. Most users won't mind its absence in Number 2, though some situations required its use - picking an item off the relatively small high-res display of the Diamond using the touch screen with your finger is a real challenge while on a moving vehicle for example. So a more precise way of making your selections was welcomed. Nevertheless, the D-pad is nowhere to be found on these products.
So, that leads us to the brand new feature in the Diamond2 - the Zoom bar, which is placed at the bottom of the screen. Basically, it does the job of the old Diamond's touch-sensitive scroll wheel. You can use it to zoom in and out on images, web pages and messages, and even in the camera. We think the bar does better than the wheel and is easier to handle.

Holding the Diamond2 in hand, the most striking novelty is the missing D-pad/scroll wheel. By the way that's the TouchPro2 approach too. Perhaps as of Touch HD, HTC are ditching D-pads. Most users won't mind its absence in Number 2, though some situations required its use - picking an item off the relatively small high-res display of the Diamond using the touch screen with your finger is a real challenge while on a moving vehicle for example. So a more precise way of making your selections was welcomed. Nevertheless, the D-pad is nowhere to be found on these products.
So, that leads us to the brand new feature in the Diamond2 - the Zoom bar, which is placed at the bottom of the screen. Basically, it does the job of the old Diamond's touch-sensitive scroll wheel. You can use it to zoom in and out on images, web pages and messages, and even in the camera. We think the bar does better than the wheel and is easier to handle.
The really nice visual upgrade however is the all-metal frame that surround the display and covers the upper part of the Diamond2 body. That's one excellent design.
We know what would have but no, a 3.5mm jack is not there again. The Diamond is not a music centric device, no doubt about that, but we see 3.5mm jacks in almost every high-end phone lately. Hell, even on Sony Ericsson handsets.
And speaking quite seriously, what's up with HTC and camera keys? The new Diamond2 still doesn't have one on board. We don't really like software shutter keys and there's hardly anything that can change our mind.
By the way, there's another feature that the Diamond2 lacks - it's the magnetic stylus. The stylus is active as before, it's just that it doesn't relay on magnets any more to help plugging it back in. Shame, we really liked that feature.
To complete the hardware changes, the Diamond2 is cut quite differently at the rear - none of the faceted splendor of the original. The only thing that reminds of the first Diamond is the brushed metal plate around the camera lens. The latter by the way is up a notch to 5 megapixels but didn't really worked nicely on the displayed units, so we won't be posting camera samples.

Samsung M7600 Beat DJ preview: First look

Samsung M7600 Beat DJ is one of those mobiles that stake everything on a unique and exclusive feature. Designed to stand out, the M7600 takes enhanced music playback capabilities to unprecedented heights. Allowing you to mix your own music right the way you like it, the Beat DJ opens up an empty market niche and makes the M7600 a standard-setter. The entertainment package is complete with the nice touch user interface and relevant design.

Samsung M7600 Beat DJ at a glance:

General: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, UMTS 900/2100 MHz, GPRS/EDGE class 10, HSDPA 7.2 Mbps
Form factor: Touchscreen bar
Dimensions: 112.0 x 51.0 x 13.9 mm
Display: 2.8" OLED touchscreen, WQVGA resolution (400 x 240)
Memory: 50MB integrated memory, hot-swappable microSD card slot (up to 16GB)
Music: Beat DJ music mixer application with filters, scratching, sampling and effects
OS: Proprietary Samsung Touch UI, latest version of TouchWiz (1.5)
Camera: 3 megapixel auto focus camera with PowerLED flash, and VGA video@20fps
Connectivity: Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, standard microUSB port, GPS receiver with A-GPS
Misc: Accelerometer for screen auto rotate, Proximity sensor for auto screen turn-off, FM radio with RDS, DivX/XviD video support
Battery: 880 mAh battery
While the Sony Ericsson Walkman family and Nokia's XpressMusic line compete to deliver more and more functionality on the music playback front Samsung M7600 have set their efforts on turning a small rounded handset into a DJ deck - sounds an exciting job really, but let's see how well it spins.