Month: December 2007

“We like the 8130’s size, though can’t help but feel that the device feels a bit cheap. The plastic casing is good, but not great, and we would have liked some more weight to the phone. Making the chromed sides metal instead of plastic would have gone a long way to making the phone feel higher-quality. While we know several people who are happy with their 8130, we also know several others who planned to upgrade to it but have reconsidered due to the chintzy feel. We would highly recommend using one for yourself to see where you fall on the spectrum.Flip the phone over and you will find the 2 megapixel camera. It is at the top, and sits inside a black trim which sits inside a chrome trim that wraps around the top and incorporates the standby button. Below this trim is a small slit for the speaker. At the bottom of the phone is the battery door clasp, a flush silver button flanked by two gold accents. The gold is a bit out of place on the phone, but it looks good enough that most users won’t realize that they are actually connectors for a desktop dock.” Read more here:

“The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has certified Samsung SCH-U940 mobile device. At the same time the FCC site doesn’t have full info about it. However the Phonearena with the reference to reliable sources reported that the device is a modification of Samsung SGH-F700 for the US market and will be sold by Verizon. In this case the model will work in CDMA EV-DO networks. Like the European version the U940 is packed in a side slider form: it is equipped with a 3.2” touchscreen and a sliding QWERTY-keyboard. It also features a 2-megapixel camera, 150 MB of memory onboard, a microSD slot and Bluetooth support (with stereo profile).” via mobile-review.com

“I’d like to add a few words about the display, for Gadgeteer readers who might not be familiar with electronic ink technology. E-ink is reflective; it’s made up of pigments on a surface. E-ink displays have no backlight, but unlike the LCDs used in most devices today they don’t need one in many cases, since they are readable in lighting conditions similar to ordinary ink on paper. Unfortunately, e-ink displays don’t have as much contrast as paper yet, so you will want to consider a clip-on book light if your reading conditions warrant it. I don’t find it hard to read the Kindle’s display in the same conditions I normally read books in, but I still hope that Amazon finds a way to put in some kind of built-in lighting that you can turn on to read in the dark. Another thing worth mentioning about e-ink displays is that they are slow to refresh, and when turning pages the Kindle, like the Sony I reviewed earlier this year, flashes the entire screen briefly to “reset” the ink and avoid ghost images. With all of that, you might be wondering what the point of e-ink is. Primarily, it’s about a more comfortable reading experience. Like paper, it’s reflective, so it’s quite usable in full daylight and at just about any angle, and reading for hours on it isn’t like staring into a light bulb. The technology is far from perfect, but it is very comfortable to read on, compared to a backlit PDA.” Read more here:

Intrinsyc Software International, Inc. (TSX: ICS), a global wireless software solutions provider, today announced that Quanta Computer Inc., the world’s largest notebook computer Original Design Manufacturer (ODM), has entered into an agreement to licence the Soleus mobile handset platform. Quanta is using Soleus to develop a Third Generation (3G)/High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) mobile device, expected to be a breakthrough in the design concept and user experience of today’s wireless communications electronics. Quanta has also engaged Intrinsyc’s wireless engineering services to support development and accelerate this product’s time to market, which is expected to be in the third quarter of 2008. This marks the fourth Soleus SLA in 2007.“We are very pleased that Quanta chose Soleus as the software platform for this innovative new product,” said Glenda Dorchak, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Intrinsyc Software. “This engagement draws on Intrinsyc’s Soleus software strength and the wireless systems integration expertise provided by our Taipei-based operation. This engagement also validates Soleus’ flexibility in enabling a wide range of wireless products, which now include this high-end 3G/HSDPA mobile device, personal navigation connected devices, a GPS-capable phone, and a handset that supports the new Mobile Digital TV (MDTV) standard.” “To satisfy our customer’s requirements, we needed a software platform that would allow our engineers to scale features and customize future devices into a complete product line,” said Dr. George Chiou, R&D Sr. Director of Wireless Business Unit at Quanta Computer. “The Soleus platform gives us a very flexible and versatile software foundation with pre-certified telephony and pre-integrated applications. Our engineers see great potential in Soleus’ architecture and intuitive UI Framework, which quickly delivers a high level of integration and flexibility in software customization; features that many of our customers require.”By leveraging the turnkey Soleus platform, Quanta will reduce the project’s time-to-market, lower its bill-of-materials (BOM) cost, and make the device upgradable from Windows® Embedded CE 5.0 to CE 6.0. Intrinsyc has also won an engineering services engagement to support Quanta’s development team with the integration of the Windows Embedded CE operating system software and its 3G/HSDPA hardware platform. Both the software engagement and engineering services will be provided by Intrinsyc’s Taiwan operation, with support from Vancouver, BC and Bellevue, WA. Further details on the 3G/HSDPA mobile device will be made available upon product release. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.About QuantaQuanta Computer is a Fortune Global 500 Company that is an industry leader in providing technology products to many of the world’s most prestigious electronics companies through ODM and EMS business models. Quanta also holds the distinction as the world’s largest manufacturer of notebook computers with around 30% market share worldwide. Products that the Company provides range from information, communication, networking, consumer electronics and car electronics to storage.Founded in 1988, Quanta is headquartered in Taiwan and has major operations set up in Asia, America and Europe. The Company employs over 40,000 employees worldwide. The revenue for Quanta Computer Inc. during the last fiscal year, 2006, was US$14 billion. For further information, please visit Quanta’s website at www.quantatw.com/ About Intrinsyc Software International, Inc. Intrinsyc provides wireless software solutions that enable next-generation handheld products, including mobile handsets, smart phones and converged devices. The company’s software products, engineering services, and years of expertise help device makers, service providers, and silicon providers deliver compelling wireless products with faster time-to-market and improved development cost. Intrinsyc is the licensor of the Soleus™ platform based on Windows® Embedded CE for consumer handset development. Intrinsyc is a Microsoft® Windows® Embedded Gold Partner, the 2007 Windows Embedded Excellence Award winner for System Integrator, and a Symbian Platinum Partner. Intrinsyc is publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (symbol: ICS) and headquartered in Vancouver, Canada with regional offices in, the United States, Taiwan and Barbados.

“Astrology & Horoscope Pro is a professional program which uses astrology to advice you about matchmaking by sign, your 2008 horoscope, detailed zodiac sign analysis and numerology by your birthdate/birthday.Features:* New 2008 Horoscopes* New 2008 Numerology* Support for Motorola Z8 With this update all platforms are ready for 2008. (Palm OS update to 1.2, Pocket PC update to 1.4,WM Smartphone update to 1.2, Windows PC update to 1.2,Symbian S60 3rd ed. update to 1.1, UIQ3 update to 1.1)” Check this great program here:

“Since the P520 comes with no hardware keypad onboard, this vacant space has been taken over by the biggest display they could only squeeze into the handset – a 2,6-inch TFT-screen with the resolution of 240×320 pixels (40x53mm), showing up to 262K colors. All data input is done via this touch-sensitive display, running the Capacitive Touch Screen technology – in other words, unlike more conventional touch-screens, it packs no sensors and rather employs a special oxide layer on top of its screen, which reacts to touches of your fingers, basically, a stylus or any other sharp object won’t do here. With a pair of gloves on, you will still be able to use the P520’s hardware buttons, while typing up a short message will prove to be impossible.” Read more here:

“Some Chinese source has posted info and a picture of Motorola A1600 smartphone (MOTOMING 2). I’d remind you that another Linux-powered smartphone with the touch-sensitive display Motorola A1200 (MOTOMING) hit the Chinese stores last March and got high popularity. Probably Motorola A1600 will follow the steps of the predecessor. The new model features enhanced specs – a faster processor being one of them. The official announcement of the MOTOMING 2 might take place in February 2007 at 3GSM Congress.The short specs of Motorola A1600 (MOTOMING 2):
Networks – GSM/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
Linux operating system
3.2-megapixel camera with auto focus and LED-flash
Wi-Fi
AGPS
3 preinstalled games
Thickness – 17.5 mm” via mobile-review.com

“Palm plans to get smaller in the coming weeks, as less money coming in the door means less money to spread around.A company representative confirmed a report earlier Wednesday by PalmInfocenter that the struggling company has begun informing employees of job cuts, just as the holiday season kicks into full gear. The representative said Palm is not disclosing how many employees were affected by the decision to cut jobs, but PalmInfocenter said the number could be in the “hundreds.” Palm had 1,247 employees as of May 31, according to its annual report.Palm announced earlier this month that quarterly revenue and gross margin would be well below expectations after the company was unable to get a new product qualified for release, setting the stage for the layoffs. The company has struggled mightily this year as the Treo smartphone, so popular in years past, has fallen out of favor with consumers and businesses. The hardware look and feel of the Treo has grown stale against thinner models, and there still hasn’t been a major update to the Palm OS since 2004, an eternity in this industry.CEO Ed Colligan does not appear to be among those who will be laid off, at least yet. It’s hard to see how fewer people will make it easier for Palm to create something new, but the company doesn’t really have a choice if it wants to stay in business. It’s really sad to see a company that has played such a pivotal role in the advancement of mobile computing on the brink like this.” via cnet.com

“We’ve got info that new Opera Mobile version number 9 to be preinstalled on WM-devices will come out in the first half of 2008, and Symbian UIQ smartphones with it will shipped later.I’d remind you that Opera Mobile 9 was announced at World GSM Congress back in February 2007. The company expects to release versions for all main mobile platforms. The ninth version features “intelligent zoom”, widget support and advanced functionality with Ajax and Web 2.0. You can download the current version of Opera mobile here.” via mobile-review.com

“Are you interested in Communicator phones? Watch out the new RoverPC C6 GSM GPRS Phone bearing a minimalist design. This Russian model works on Windows mobile 6 OS with 300 MHz Samsung 2442B processor. The RoverPC comes loaded with several software applications Microsoft Office Excel Mobile, Microsoft Office Outlook Mobile, Microsoft Office Word Mobile, Internet Explorer Mobile, Windows live, Live messenger and Microsoft Office PowerPoint Mobile. You can choose operate the mobile via joystick as well as navigation keys. Additional features of the GPRS phone include wireless interface Bluetooth, 2MP Camera, slot mini-USB 64 MB RAM and 128 MB ROM. The price, and availability is still a mystery. Till then wait and compare it with other available models.” via mobilewhack.com