TXTBlocker a new texting blocking service that stop your kids texting while driving

TXTBlocker is a software and online service combo which locks off a registered mobile phone from making or receiving text messages or calls while in a car. It uses cell and GPS data to determine location and speed and decide whether the phone is actually in a car, and once it thinks it is, boom, the service is automatically limited.

TXTBlocker allows parents, employers and others to safely end the dangerous habit of texting while driving. Cell phone owners simply log in to this site and customize settings to control when, where and how their cell phones can be used.


You can use TXTBlocker's GPS technology to disable or limit cell phone functions in your own "safe zones" like schools or workplaces.

TXTBlocker works automatically, so you never have to remember to turn it on, and it allows for safety features so that phones can always make calls to 911 and send or receive calls with preset "safe list" numbers.

It doesn’t jam the phone in the traditional sense, so the subscriber can use the online dashboard to set up a whitelist of emergency numbers to keep open, which is reassuring. There’s also a passenger mode, for when the phone carrier is not driving, but again it’s subscriber allowable, so if the parents don’t trust you, you’re SMS toast in any vehicle. Which leads to one possible problem. What happens if you’re on a train or bus?

It’s currently compatible with Blackberry and Windows mobile phone platforms, with more on the way. Priced from $9.99 a month plus a $24.99 set up fee.

You might ask: What happens to my text messages, e-mails and phone calls when TXTBlocker is active? Text messages and e-mails are kept in the phone’s database until the phone is in a ‘safe’ state. An automatic TXT message is sent as a reply to senders to let them know that TXTBlocker is active and that you will receive their message once you are clear to communicate safely. Phone calls are sent to voicemail. TXTBlocker services suggest updating your voicemail to let callers know that you have TXTBlocker, which doesn’t allow phone calls while driving or at certain locations. When a call is missed and TXTBlocker is active, an automatic TXT message is sent to the caller’s phone number caller to let them know that TXT Blocker is active.

myPANTONE App puts color library in iPhones

The release of a new iPhone App is sure to please graphic designers, decorators and artists who work with Pantone colors. Pantone has been the industry standard in color for many years, but carrying around a Pantone book full of color palettes hasn’t always been practical. And they’re expensive books to lose, too. Pantone LLC has launched myPANTONE, a digital app for iPhones that gives designers more flexibility when choosing and working with Pantone palettes.

“myPANTONE marries the power of the iPhone with the inspiration of Pantone Color Palettes, enabling designers to be creative whenever inspiration strikes them,” said Andy Hatkoff, vice president of technology licensing for Pantone. “Providing a digital, portable design studio and essential color tools at their fingertips, myPANTONE gives designers the freedom to access Pantone Colors anywhere, without the need to be in their office or carry around cumbersome guides.”

Hatkoff said with myPANTONE’s Portable Color Memory, designers no longer need to struggle to recall an exact color.

myPANTONE gives designers access to all the Pantone Color Libraries, including the Pantone Matching System (PMS) for coated, uncoated and matte stock; the Pantone Goe System for coated and uncoated stock; Pantone Pastels for coated and uncoated stock; and the Pantone Fashion + Home Smart Color System. The application lets designers create harmonious color palettes by finding complementary, analogous and triadic combinations for selected colors.

Hatkoff said myPANTONE uses the iPhone’s built-in camera to allow designers to capture whatever inspires them – from architecture and street scenes to fashion and nature. Colors can be extracted from any photo on the iPhone and then matched to the closest Pantone colors.

The beauty of a digital version of the Pantone palettes is that once they’re created, users can share their color choices and combinations with other iPhone users and automatically post notification of new palettes to Facebook and Twitter, attaching text notes and voice annotations to palettes when posting.

Designers with impatient clients can email their color choices to clients as color patches, or as application-ready swatch files for use in design applications including Adobe Creative Suite, CorelDraw and QuarkXPress.

Sharing with other designers is easy using the Pantone-hosted Website.

Each color swatch in myPANTONE includes sRGB, HTML and L*a*b* values. Additionally, myPANTONE makes cross-referencing color capabilities simple for users to find similar colors among the various Pantone Color Libraries.

myPANTONE is available for download at the Apple iPhone App Store for USD$9.99. myPANTONE is compatible with iPhone OS 3.0 or higher, and can be used on the iPhone or iPod Touch.

Source: Gizmag

Nokia 7205 Intrigue now available from Verizon Wireless

Nokia’s latest offering for Verizon Wireless, the 7205 Intrigue we first heard mumblings of back in November, is now available online. The surprisingly sexy 7205 shapes up like so:

• CDMA, 1X/EV–DO Rev. A
• 2.2″ internal display with QVGA Resolution
• 1.9″ external display, 176×32 white PMOLED
• 2.0 megapixel camera/camcorder with flash
• Bluetooth
• GPS enabled/E911
• 2.5mm headset jack
• microSD expansion (up to 8GB)
• Music player with external touch sensitive controls
• Playback of MP3, WMA, unprotected AAC, and unprotected AAC+ formats
• V CAST Music with Rhapsody
• Chaperone® Parent/Child
• VZ Navigator capable
• Visual Voice Mail capable
• OTA software updates
• Eco–friendly charger uses up to 50% less energy than Energy Star requirements
• Dimensions: 3.56″(h) x 1.85″(w) x 0.55″(d)

The Intrigue is available with a pink keypad or silver keypad and will run you $129 after a $50 rebate with a 2-year contract, $199 after a $50 rebate with a 1-year contract or $299 at full retail. Hit the jump for a few more images of this sleek new flip phone.

Unlock Virtually Any iPhone

Online iPhone unlocking solutions provider UnlockAnyiPhone.net (www.unlockanyiphone.net) is staying one step ahead of manufacturers Apple, allowing handset owners to unlock and choose their own network operator.

With the latest iPhone firmware and baseband updates, many of the commonly exploited software loopholes that allowed 3G unlocking are closing up, thus rendering most commercial unlocking solutions completely useless for the latest handsets.

However, the update has not affected the UnlockAnyiPhone.net (www.unlockanyiphone.net) solution, a safe, physical SIM insert designed to work with any model iPhone without cutting or causing any loss of service.

Peter Smit of UnlockAnyiPhone.net believes their solution is one of the most robust, safe unlocking products on the market, which will continue to unlock future generations of iPhone handset.

“Our solution is one of the most reliable unlocking products on the market, and we’re proud to offer our customers an easy route to unlocking their iPhone. Unlike many of our competitors, our SIM unlock solution is completely unaffected by the latest updates from Apple, and as a result, UnlockAnyiPhone.net customers can still enjoy safe, legal and easy unlocking thanks to our product.”

“Those that provided software unlocking solutions have been closed off in later models, with Apple successfully closing down the security loopholes that made software unlocking possible. However, our physical unlock will continue to function regardless of modifications made to the 3G handset’s programming, allowing the user to bypass the automatic network configuration to choose their own preferred operator.”

UnlockAnyiPhone.net provides iPhone unlocking solutions for both 2G and 3G iPhone handsets from $29.95, with free shipping and handling where applicable.

Samsung Launches the Slimline Lucido Handset

Not quite as eye-catching as the recently-announced Tocco Ultra Edition, the Samsung Lucido offers many of the features, but with a more traditional look. And quite probably for less of an outlay.

Lucido means 'sleek' in Italian and in terms of a traditional candybar phone, it's no bad looker, with some 'premium metal' detailing thrown into that slimline body for a slight touch of bling. Indeed it is slim, just 11.8 mm thick says Samsung.

But those looks means nothing if the Lucido doesn't cut it with the features. Thankfully it does with a 2.2-inch AMOLED screen, a-GPS (using Google Maps), high-speed HSDPA connectivity for speedy browsing, media player, FM radio, up to 8GB of storage and a more than decent 5 megapixel camera with anti-blur, face detection and smile capture.

Look out for it in April on various networks, price depending on that contract.

Emgeton Enzo - 3G Dual SIM GSM Mobile Phone

Time to change your image is coming! Open your mind to the intelligent communication. The choice of SIM is up to you now… Family/Business or Business/3G Internet or your provider/prepaid SIM for abroad. There are so many combinations, so enjoy business on two phone numbers simultaneously.



Prestigious business mobile phone in an elegant novel design, design with 3G DUAL SIM technology, which is provided by a revolutionary chip made by the Qualcomm company with a possibility to use both SIM cards ONLINE independently of each other. Finally two really independent mobile phones in one, without any restrictions! Be excited about our intuitive Czech 3D graphic menu and the high workmanship. High-quality Flexaret camera with a video function takes all your snapshots perfectly. Even more, you can take photographs of your self or record videos using the second front camera. We integrated into the phone our top MP3/video player with an external slot for the microSD card up to 4GB. It enables you to listen to your favorite music in high quality through branded hi-fi headphones supplied in the basic packing. Back up and reload contacts with the computer is another obvious feature. SIM Toolkit is independent and works with both SIM cards. You can have independent and individual settings of ringing profiles! Predictive T9 dictionary. Ultrafast internet via 3G modem. Bluetooth of newest generation.



Both SIM cards work ONLINE simultaneously and completely independently of each other. You do not have the problem of switching between phone lines or changing SIM cards. It is possible to deactivate either SIM card or both of them, but you will still have access to the Phone Book and SMS. Common Phone Book is for both SIM cards and there is the possibility to choose contacts from the first or second card. By pressing keys on the phone, you select the card which you want to use for a call.

Specs the Emgeton Enzo offers:

• 2.2 inch TFT display with 240 x 320 pixels and 260k colors
• Tri-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE connectivity (900/1800/1900)
• HSDPA 2100 connectivity (only for the first SIM card)
• Bluetooth
• MP3/video player
• E-mail
• 2MP camera
• VGA camera for video calls
• 50MB of internal memory
• MicroSD card support, up to 4GB
• Talk time: up to 5 hours
• Stand-by time: up to 10 days
• 117 x 49 x 16.5 mm
• 109 grams

Lenovo i60 & i60s Phones

Lenovo (OTCPK: LNVGY) is out with two new phones, i60 and i60s, both sporting large touchscreens, dual-band (900/1800 MHz) GSM radio, media player, FM radio, and a microSD expansion slot that can work with memory cards of up to 16GB.

At 3-inch diagonal, the first of the two comes with a larger display, but also with a larger capacity battery (1250 mAh). On the other hand, the i60s (pictured on the right) adds few more buttons that take bit more space, hence the screen is little smaller, measuring “only” 2.8-inches. Its battery is also lower capacity - 1000 mAh.

No other details are known, but it seems neither one of the two devices will come with a smartphone OS, which is kinda sad. On the good side though, those large screens are WQVGA (240×400 pixels), leaving tons of space for, let’s say, decent web browsing experience.

Finally, it’s fair to add that most of us probably won’t be able to try out neither the Lenovo i60 nor i60s. At the moment, they seem slated for China, and we’ve no clue whether they’ll ever reach the western hemisphere.

Nokia Handset Checks Breath for Diseases

Applied Nanodetectors Ltd (AND) of the UK prototyped a mobile phone that can detect various diseases from user's breath and exhibited it at the International Nanotechnology Exhibition & Conference (nano tech 2009).

The handset was manufactured by Nokia Corp of Finland. AND is aiming to do businesses with Japanese mobile carriers, the company said.

AND's mobile phone features a function to detect diseases from the user's breath blown into the hole to the right of the "Nokia" logo.

The mobile phone is embedded with AND's chip that integrates sensors to detect various gases such as CO2, NOx and ammonia (NH3).

This chip determines the composition of the user's breath and tabulates the density of each gas. By matching the results with characteristics of various diseases, it can detect diseases. The matching process is similar to fingerprint matching, said Victor Higgs, managing director of AND.

AND claims that the handset can detect asthma, diabetes, lung cancer, a kind of food poisoning called "gastro" in Europe, oral odor level and breath alcohol concentration, etc.

Victor Higgs, managing director of AND

There are some devices on the market that can measure oral odor level, but this is the first chip that is capable of detecting so many factors and embedded in a mobile phone. If the handset detects one or more of these diseases or abnormalities, it will automatically inform the user or his/her doctor for early detection of diseases, the company said.

However, the marketing schedule of this handset is yet to be determined even in Europe.

"We contacted Nokia first because mobile phone manufacturers have more influence than carriers in Europe," Higgs said. "But we are intending to discuss business with carriers in Japan because they are more influential in this country. If the handset is commercialized in Japan, it will be just a matter of time before the handset spreads all over Asia."

Vertu Constellation Pure Collection with Colored Ceramic

Vertu, Pioneer and world's leading manufacturer of handcrafted luxury mobile phones, presented by Pure Collection Vertu Constellation, the first of three new collections with exceptional materials. Through the use of colored ceramic Vertu has created a mobile phone, which again scales in materials innovation. The Limited Edition Pure Collection is a classic original design of the Vertu Constellation series faithful, however, combines a smooth aesthetic high-tech ceramics colored with the warm, natural texture of the finest leather. The result is modern, extremely elegant and stylish mobile phones.

Frank Nuovo, chief designer of Vertu, comments: "The collection was inspired by a design that is based on the simplification of form is based. These stylish phones are convincing due to their simplicity and are characterized by the innovative use of ceramics. You are pure."



More than two years, Vertu on perfecting the dyeing process worked and put this technology is now the first company in mobile phone. All ceramic parts in the models of the Pure Collection are manufactured individually, each with a specially for this purpose-built tool. This ensures that the parts have the perfect size and perfectly into the structure of the mobile suit. In a careful design and selection process, the leather on the precise colors, and the haptic processing of ceramics vote.

The backs of the individual keys have a special coating coated to prevent light penetration, and the holes were painted graphic to the perfect light dispersion over the entire lifetime of the phone sure. Each phone line is equipped with ceramic buttons and earpiece to provide a high gloss finish.

The Vertu Pure Collection is available in four different colors: Pure White, Pure Black and Pure Silver in polished stainless steel - each in a limited edition of 2500 pieces. The Pure Chocolate with 18-carat yellow gold, it is only 250 times around the world give. Each phone comes with its own leather case made of fine Italian calfskin delivered, color matched to the particular phone. The cases of the models Pure White and Pure Silver is also present with a shiny outer shell of leather or silver metallic finish.



Each Vertu phone is the result of high-quality engineering and manufacturing is in Vertus in England by highly qualified experts assembled by hand. The perfectly processed, minimalist design of the enclosure is easy to handle the added functionality as well as by a wide variety of simple, practical features and the exclusive Vertu concierge service, which at the push of a button is available.

The Vertu Constellation Pure Limited Edition Collection is available in versions Pure White and Pure Black from 1 March 2009 commercially available. Pure Silver and Pure Chocolate will appear in September 2009.

Prices: from 6.800, - Euro.

Phone Controlled Street Lights Saves Energy

A trend is spreading through small towns across Germany. Tight budgets have forced hard decisions, including turning the lights out at night. No one is on the streets at night anyway, so why pay for the electricity to run the street lights? But residents have revolted. They fear an uptick in crime, or simply for their safety while stumbling through the dark streets to walk the dog or return from a late night out. Proving necessity is the mother of invention, a handful of clever solutions are being implemented; some with interesting consequences.


The solution seems to have started in the small town of Morgenröthe-Rautenkranz in the Erzegebirge. Over one and a half years ago, the 900 citizens of Morgenröthe-Rautenkranz were plunged into darkness each night, but given the option to turn the lights on by mobile telephone. Older citizens were concerned about their ability to master this new technology, but practice makes perfect. The first two weeks of the program, the lights remained on almost all night long as residents remained awake late for an opportunity to test the new system! But now the lights stay off except when needed. The town saves 4000 euros ($5300) per year. According to the Berliner Morgenpost daily newspaper, Morgenröthe-Rautenkranz is the inspiration for 4300 person community of Groß Pankow, the most recent community to consider on-call streetlight.

The town of Döblitz has used a similar system for about a year. In Döblitz, the invention is attributed to local resident Heinrich Frühauf. After tripping and falling in the darkness, Frühauf got permission from the town to install a modified mobile telephone in the electrical box controlling the street lamps. All of the citizens can call that number, and the lights come on. A timer shuts the lights off again in 15 minutes.

Things take a turn for the complicated in Dörentrup. A BBC interview identifies Dörentrup resident Dieter Grote as the inventor of the dial-in system installed there. Although residents appear happy with the system in this BBC clip, the Dörentrup system requires users to register, and to enter a 6-digit number to identify the area which they want lit. Users must know the number of the area where they want light--either by looking the numbers up in an on-line database, or finding the numbers posted on the nearby streetlamp, probably a difficult task given that the streetlamps are not yet lit.

An application to patent the idea has been submitted, under the business model of Dial4Light. The communities of Lemgo and Rahden have joined Dörentrup in the Dial4Light system. In a further twist, some communities are requiring users to pay for the lighting. All of the areas in Dörentrup and Lemgo can be lit up for the cost of the phone call. But in Rahden, 60 minutes of light will cost the caller €3.50 ($4.65). Dial4Light suggests that expensive lighting systems, such as stadium lights, can also use the dial-up database to charge users for lighting on demand. A pay-to-use system does align the costs with the user benefits, but leaves open the question of whether residents will take unneccesary risks with their safety for the benefit of the city budget.

Pantech Matrix Pro

AT&T and Pantech Wireless, Inc. today introduced the Pantech Matrix Pro(TM), available exclusively from AT&T on Feb. 24. The next generation in Pantech's line of successful dual-sliding, double-keyboard mobile phones, the Matrix Pro includes a host of updated features including a compact new premium design with a larger and more brilliant LCD screen, a chat-style view of text messages, tri-band 3G for the best global coverage possible, an upgraded camera, more memory, a faster processor and AT&T Video Share(SM) calling. Customers can learn more by visiting http://www.att.com/matrixpro.

Beneath the dual-sliding keyboards and refined steel-blue exterior, the Matrix Pro connects Windows Mobile 6.1 to the nation's fastest 3G network to provide a full range of entertainment and business features. Additionally, with AT&T's wireless network, you can listen to a conference call on a headset while sending and receiving e-mail attachments, picture messages or Web pages at the same time(1). The compact and elegant design of the Matrix Pro fits snugly in your hand for optimum comfort when typing e-mails with the QWERTY keyboard or dialing phone calls with the numeric pad.


"The Matrix Pro is a fantastic-looking device and a significant evolution in this dual-sliding family of phones," said Michael Woodward, vice president- Smart Devices for AT&T Mobility. "We've seen the Matrix become a hit with consumers, and the Matrix Pro will appeal to anyone who wants a powerful smartphone with a great design."

Patrick Beattie, vice president, Sales and Marketing at Pantech Wireless, Inc., said: "By offering users an exciting alternative to smartphones with traditional QWERTY keyboard constructions, the Matrix Pro emphasizes efficiency without sacrificing style or functionality. With a large and vibrant LCD screen, two full keyboards, enhanced multimedia functionality, and the ability to edit Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents, the Matrix Pro appeals to both business users and trend-conscious consumers."

Customers in 3G coverage can also use AT&T Video Share to send live video during a phone call to a user with a compatible phone. With aGPS support for location-based services such as AT&T Navigator, the Matrix Pro can help you find your way with turn-by-turn directions. AT&T Navigator is available for a free 30-day trial(2).


A messaging and multimedia powerhouse, the Matrix Pro has smartphone-class memory and processing power to go beyond simple text messaging and voice and allows customers to run the thousands of applications available to Windows Mobile users. It supports threaded chat-style text messaging, corporate and personal e-mail and also provides access to a host of AT&T services such as MobiTV, Napster Mobile, eMusic Mobile, AT&T Mobile Banking and CV on-demand video.

The Matrix Pro operates on the fastest 3G network at home and the best global coverage outside the U.S. -- even in Japan and South Korea -- because the Matrix Pro supports all three 3G frequencies used worldwide. AT&T customers can use their mobile phones to make calls in more than 200 countries, access data in more than 160 and even use 3G data in more than 65. AT&T offers 3G service in nearly 350 U.S. major metropolitan areas and many other smaller cities and towns across the U.S.


Pricing and Availability

The Matrix Pro will be available Feb. 24 in a steel-blue metallic finish at AT&T company-owned stores and online at http://www.wireless.att.com for $179.99 after a two-year service agreement and a $50 mail-in rebate(3).

For the complete array of AT&T offerings, visit http://www.att.com.

1. Standard data charges apply, depending on your plan.
2. Users must cancel free trial of AT&T Navigator within 30 days or be automatically subscribed at a cost of $9.99 per month for unlimited routes. You can cancel from the "My Accounts" portal on your handset or call AT&T customer care. Standard data charges apply, depending on your plan.
3. For the Pantech Matrix Pro pay $229.99, and after mail-in rebate, receive $50 AT&T promotion card. A two-year service agreement is also required. AT&T promotion card valid wherever major credit cards are accepted and for 120 days after issue date. May be used to pay wireless bill. Not redeemable for cash and cannot be used for cash withdrawal at ATMs or at automated gas pumps.

Cricket Launches Ultra Sleek A100

Cricket Communications, Inc., a leading provider of unlimited wireless services over its high-quality 3G network and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Leap Wireless International, Inc. (NASDAQ:LEAP), today announced that the Cricket A100 is now available to customers in Cricket’s newly-launched Greater Chicago market and soon to be available to customers in all Cricket locations. The A100 is an exclusive slim candybar style mobile phone designed for Cricket’s customers from the ground up, with many of today’s hottest features at an attractive price.


“The Cricket A100 is an extremely versatile device with a sleek and stylish form factor,” said Jeff Toig, vice president of product marketing for Cricket mobile phones. “With its popular features and attractive price, the phone offers customers true value innovation. Its AWS capabilities also allow customers to take advantage of Cricket’s Premium Extended Coverage calling area.”

The A100 features an internal antenna, a 1.8” LCD screen (128x160 CSTN, 65K), speech recognition for handsfree dialing, a 2.5mm mono headset jack, a mini USB charging port, vibrate and speakerphone. It also has 31 megabytes of user memory and supports Mobile web, Games and Apps, SMS and today’s most popular image and ringtone formats. The A100 weighs 2.47 ounces and measures 4.44x1.94x.55 inches; talk time is 4.5 hours and standby time is 250 minutes. The phone is Hearing Aid Compatibility compliant.

The A100 is available now with a retail price of $89.99 at Cricket stores and dealers in the Chicago area, and will be available soon in all Cricket markets. For more information, please visit a local Cricket retail location, or online visit www.mycricket.com.

About Cricket

Cricket is a simple, affordable wireless service offering consumers and local businesses a flat-rate unlimited service over the latest technology, high-quality, all-digital CDMA2000 1X and 1xEV-DO 3G wireless network. Designed for customers whose basic and advanced wireless needs have not been met by traditional communications companies, Cricket is the pioneer of unlimited services with no long-term commitments or credit checks required. Cricket offers customers access to a variety of the latest devices and feature-rich mobile applications such as unlimited text, instant and picture messaging, Mobile Web, popular games, ringtones and wallpapers. For more information on Cricket, visit www.mycricket.com. Cricket services are offered by Leap Wireless International, Inc., headquartered in San Diego, Calif. For more information on Leap, visit www.leapwireless.com.

Leap is a U.S. registered trademark and the Leap logo is a trademark of Leap. Cricket, Jump, the Cricket “K” and Flex Bucket are U.S. registered trademarks of Cricket. In addition, the following are trademarks or service marks of Cricket: Cricket By Week, Cricket Choice, Cricket Connect, Cricket Nation and Cricket PAYGo. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Source: Cricket Communications, Inc.

Samsung Omnia HD

Samsung might have only released the Omnia in the middle of last year, but it has already deemed it's good enough for an update, so we have a play with the OmniaHD.

It's easy to see some of the changes: the screen has grown to a whopping 3.7 inches, and the Windows Mobile interface has been dumped in favour of the regular TouchWiz system, which will please a few WinMo haters out there.

Samsung told us that this isn't an upgrade, rather an 'addition to the family', meaning that it doesn't probably want direct comparisons made between a phone aimed at business users and the multimedia fan.

Dragging it out

The home screen might come as a little bit of a surprise to even the biggest fan of the TouchWiz interface, (which is based on the latest Symbian S60 5th edition), given that you can have three different home screens, all with your choice of widgets dragged all over the place.

The swipe to the menu screen is also pretty nice, meaning that you can guide your way through interfaces in a similar way to the iPhone.

The first thing we wanted to check out, given the phone's name, was the video recording and playback. Given that it packs an 8MP sensor and 720p video recording, we had high hopes, and weren't disappointed.

The pre-packed video looked so sharp it nearly made our eyes bleed, and the video recorded was smooth and fluid, although we didn't get the chance to see it on a larger screen to test it out.

Bleeding eyes

However, the OLED screen used on the Omnia HD is more than a match for hi-def content, providing the reduced battery life and razor-sharp images you've come to expect from the technology.

Messaging was improved over the original Omnia, which is to be expected given the loss of Windows Mobile, and was fairly easy to use, especially in QWERTY mode. However, it's clear that Samsung has tweaked the touch interface on its latest slew of devices, and it seems very difficult to get used to.

In fact, the only downside of the whole handset is the interface... you feel the need to press it too strongly to get a response, and this can lead to easily pressing the wrong thing. It's a consistent system, so it's likely you'll get used to it over time, but it somehow feels inferior to other touchscreens on the market.

The internet was nice to view, with a springy browser whipping you around the web pages quick sticks, and the TechRadar site was quick to load up, which is always a pleasing function.

Heavy touch

Flipping through the menus was a bit of a chore thanks to the touch interface as well. It felt unsympathetic to sliding through the menus, and we were forced to resort to the piddly side bar to navigate on more than one occasion, which was a little irksome.

But overall, the Omnia HD is certainly a handset to feel proud of if you're a Samsung-ite, and even though the OS was running a little sluggish in the demo model we were using, these bugs are more than likely to be quickly worked out and the OLED screen will make this a real alternative to a PMP, especially given you'll be able to pick one up in 32GB flavours when it debuts later this year.

Digicel ZTE Coral 200 Solar Eco Phone

Digicel Group has launched the Coral-200-Solar, the world’s first low-cost solar-powered mobile phone. The Coral-200-Solar, manufactured by ZTE, uses proprietary technology from Dutch-based innovator Intivation.

Since early 2008, Digicel has been providing its customers with low-cost or free portable solar charges in many markets. The concept of linking charger devices and a phone at the point of sales has been a proven success. Now, with the launch of the Coral-200-Solar with an integrated solar charger built into the phone, Digicel takes the initiative to an even higher level.

There are an estimated two billion people in the world who have limited or no access to electricity. The population of many emerging markets in which Digicel provides cellular services will benefit greatly by access to a mobile handset that can be powered by the sun, or by electric power when it is available.

Tom Bryant, Digicel Group VP Distribution Procurement comments; “Solar-powered handsets are clearly the way to meet the needs of power-challenged users across the globe. While the idea of solar-powered handsets has been around for some time, it has taken the leadership of Digicel and the technology and manufacturing skills of its partners Intivation and ZTE to make the Coral-200-Solar handset a reality. This marks another first for Digicel and we think our customers are going to love this great device.”

Mr Xiong Hui, VP of ZTE’s handset division says: “As mobile phones continue to proliferate in emerging markets and are widely used where electricity is available, mobile operators are demanding more innovative handsets. We are confident that the Digicel Coral-200-Solar is such a product and that solar power technology can be used in any type of handset. We are pleased to provide this handset with Digicel and Intivation. It will help millions of consumers worldwide to use mobile phones more conveniently and the technology is more environment-friendly.”

Digicel will begin to deploy the Coral-200-Solar in selected markets from this June.

Acer Announces Newly Smartphones: X960, F900, M900 and DX900

Have you found yourself itching lately for a brand new Windows Mobile 6.1 smartphone with a familiar form factor and specs that are a good 18 - 24 months old? No? That’s odd, because Acer seems to think handsets in the aforementioned vein will be just what the doctor ordered as it battles to become relevant in the smartphone game. Sure the new Tempo line announced today by Acer looks to be a quartet of sleek and sexy handsets, but in this day and age we’re looking for much, much more bang for our buck. Hit the jump for specs on the newly unveiled X960, F900, M900 and DX900, pictured above starting clockwise from the top left corner, and let us know if Acer won your hard-earned cash with its MWC announcement.


X960

• Pre-installed GPS software (Navigon try-and-buy, for Europe market)
• 2.8″ VGA touch screen
• High speed HSPA connectivity
• New easy-to-use virtual keyboard
• Access directly to key applications via widget-based home screen
• 3.2MP Auto-focused camera

F900

• Pre-installed GPS software (Navigon try-and-buy, for Europe market)
• 2.8″ VGA touch screen
• High speed HSPA connectivity
• New easy-to-use virtual keyboard
• Access directly to key applications via widget-based home screen
• 3.2MP Auto-focused camera

M900

• Physical Qwerty keyboard
• 3.8“ WVGA touch screen
• Fingerprint reader
• 5 Megapixel autofocus camera
• HSPA, WiFi, BT
• Windows Mobile 6.1, Outlook, Office

DX900

• Physical Qwerty keyboard
• 3.8“ WVGA touch screen
• Fingerprint reader
• 5 MP autofocus camera
• HSPA, WiFi, BT
• Windows Mobile 6.1, Outlook, Office
• Standby time 160h / Talk time: 5h

Samsung W7900 Projector Phone

The next evolutionary step in cell phones will probably be the inclusion of projectors in them, after all, you can only bump up the megapixel count in a camera phone by so much. They can’t really place in the relevant sensors and lenses that will me a camera phone function on par with a regular dedicated digital camera unless the technology is miniaturized to such a degree, but at least there is another path to take - by throwing in a digital projctor. The latest collaboration between Samsung Electronics and Texas Instruments has led to one of the more impressive projector phones in the market to date - the Samsung I7410 (for those in the European market), also known as the W7900 for folks living in Korea. The W7900 is equipped with the Texas Instruments DLP Pico Chipset that helps provide a providing “big picture” viewing experience when you’re on-the-go.

The Samsung W7900 is able to throw content with a wide range of image sizes that are way larger than standard phone displays, and you can even pass the 50″ mark assuming ambient light conditions are optimal for such a viewing. The lightweight and compact design is a boon, making this particular Samsung handset a complete mobile office and entertainment solution. Those who are interested will be able to pick up the Samsung W7900 in Korea sometime this month, while folks living in selected European markets will also be able to get their mitts on them in the same month. Pricing details have yet to be announced, and we’re not sure whether they will come subsidized with a carrier or retail at a higher price, unlocked.

Features of the Samsung W7900 include :

• DLP Pico chipset technology
• 5 megapixel camera
• High-resolution color OLED touchscreen
• Intuitive flick navigation to view presentations and photo slideshows
• Ultra-contemporary sleek and lightweight design
• Built-in audio speakers

Sony Ericsson W995 Walkman

Keep amused like never before on one powerful video mobile phone; watch news, TV shows or blockbusters in premium video quality or check out the latest videos from YouTube using Turbo 3G or Wi-Fi. Complete with an 8.1megapixel camera and Walkman player, with clear audio experience, the Sony Ericsson W995 Walkman is the ultimate mobile phone to keep you entertained when on the bus, lunch break or waiting for a train.

With Media Go it's easy to bring your media with you. This unique Sony application makes its worldwide debut on the the Sony Ericsson W995 Walkman and lets you effortlessly and automatically transfer any audio, photos and videos between your phone and computer. You can even find podcasts with exciting content easily from the directory – just two clicks and you’re away, and watch the action in all its glory on the bright clear 2.6” screen.”


Set the phone on its built-in stand and watch videos with your friends while you pump up the volume on the powerful built-in stereo speakers. The Sony Ericsson W995 comes complete with excellent sound for both movies and your favourite tracks. Clear Stereo, Clear Bass and the included HPM-77 premium headphones make music on the move feel like you’re sitting in a recording studio listening to your favourite band live! For the next level of clear audio experience, in selected markets the HPM-88 noise cancelling headset will replace the HPM-77.

To complete the entertainment experience get picture perfect all the time with auto focus, photo flash and face detection. Capture images in their true colours with the 8.1 megapixel camera and you can print pictures up to a full A3 size without having to compromise on quality.


The Sony Ericsson W995 Walkman "Anytime is showtime"

• Optimised video playback with style and performance – get the best possible video resolution in your pocket
• Videos straight to your phone - Wi-Fi™ and Turbo 3G – easy video access to YouTube™ and other entertainment sites
• Clear 2.6” display - with desk stand, powerful speakers or 3.5mm audio jack
• 8.1 megapixel camera – take picture perfect images with Photo Flash and face recognition
• Clear audio experience – enjoy the best sound possible, the way it was meant to be heard
• 8GB Memory Stick™ Micro – save an inexhaustible amount of photos, video clips and sounds
• Tag a place-name to your memories or stay on track with aGPS and Google Maps™

Media Go™ "Makes it easy to bring your media with you"

• Transfer, play and organise – with Media Go™ you can easily transfer music, videos, photos and podcasts between your mobile phone and computer
• Automatic sync – sync your music playlists automatically to keep the phone updated with your new music
• Auto convert – Media Go™ gives you the best quality playback of multi-media content on a mobile phone. There’s no need to use extra applications to be able to bring your media with you.
• SensMe™ - create a playlist of songs in your library, you can also sort your music by mood or tempo
• Podcasts – it has never been easier to subscribe and download podcasts. Apart from adding your own favourites, the directory is there to help you to find the new and exciting content.
• Audio CD ripping – Use Media Go™ to burn your CDs and bring your music and audio books with you

The Sony Ericsson W995 Walkman supports GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 and UTMS/HSPA 900/2100. W995 will be available in selected markets from Q2 in the colours Progressive Black, Cosmic Silver and Energetic Red.

Windows Mobile 6.5 Details Unveiled

Windows Mobile needs a dramatic update of its user interface (UI) and Microsoft has finally done it: From the hexagonal icons to the zoom slider, things are not only meant to be finger friendly, but are also designed to be used with one hand, which is not always true of competitors. Emails and other UI elements have also been made to be finger-friendly. Now, we will have to test it for ourselves, but at least, it seems like Windows Mobile is going in the right direction, and there’s version 7 around the corner.

The design of some of the screens has been inspired by Windows Media Center. A good amount of information can be accessed by swiping up/down, left/right. It’s really cool.


Pocket Internet Explorer also benefits from the update. Not only it has the page zoom slider but all the non-essential UI elements also go away when they are deemed unnecessary (battery live, signal strength…). Pocket IE also has a zoom triggered by a double-tap. The double-tap is smart enough to know if it should zoom or un-zoom, depending on the situation. We’ll have to see if it’s smart enough, but Microsoft thinks that it is.

Windows Marketplace

Windows Marketplace is an app store where users can find and download applications directly from the phone. Previously, it was possible to find apps and download them as .cab files, but the process was painful, especially when the search was done on the handset itself. There’s nothing like competition and the arrival of the iPhone App store has forced everyone to wake up – this is good. If you wonder, Microsoft will 'check security and compatibility' before the applications are featured in the store…


MyPhone

MyPhone is a free online service that lets Windows Mobile 6.5 users sync their data to the cloud. By “data”, Microsoft means SMS, media files, contacts and so on… it does not include exchange server or WIFI networks configurations – this is NOT a full backup of your phone. The communication between the device and the cloud goes both ways: users can add files from a web interface to their phone which is something that was long overdue: it’s nice to be able to partially manage a phone from a PC.


When is this coming out?

Microsoft says that the first phones will be available in the second half of 2009. We’ve heard that “some” current phones will be upgradable, but Microsoft will let its partners decide which and when. From what we’ve seen, it looks like there’s little to no hardware limitations (besides ROM size) that would prevent the upgrade of current Windows Mobile 6.1 Pro phones.

Right now, there is not a single Windows Mobile phone that supports Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) – that’s a really cool feature that should be integrated sooner rather than later.

Bluetooth Bracelet with Vibration and LCD Display

Have you ever missed a few calls on your cell phone because it was on silent mode or you just didn't hear your mobile phone ring? Then this new Bluetooth bracelet is bound to be your new best friend! It comes in a nice looking rubber & metallic matte finish and is both comfortable and fashionable to wear. Just use the Bluetooth bracelet as you would a normal Bluetooth device, it is very simple and very straight forward to use. The Bluetooth bracelet vibrates when you receive calls and displays the caller ID's number so you can decide whether or not you want to fish your phone out of your pocket or bag. If you are too busy to take calls then just press the function button to reject the call, thereby allowing you to pay more attention to your meeting. This Bluetooth bracelet not only looks cool, but also makes your busy life just that much easier to handle.

Available now for your single piece sample or stock orders. Brought to you from the leader in direct from China wholesale electronics, Chinavasion.

Product Specifications

• Primary Function: Bluetooth bracelet with vibration function and LCD display
• Display Size: 22mm wide
• Bluetooth version: 1.2
• Frequency range: 2.4GHz
• Active use time: 60 hours
• Dimensions: 15mm wide x 65mm (inside diameter)
• Manufacturer Ref: F8966A0770D7
• Catalog Ref: Bluetooth device

Other Features

• Attractive silver and black finish
• Charging time: 2 hours
• Caller ID (only shows numbers not name)
• Can charge using your laptop or home PC via the USB cable provided
• Can be used just as a bracelet

Package Contents

• Model CVFM-B03 Bluetooth bracelet
• USB Charger
• AC Power Adapter (100-240V 50/60HZ)
• User Manual - English

Nokia N86 8MP

The new Nokia N86 8MP has just been officially unveiled. This landmark Nseries is the first Nokia phone to break the 8 megapixel camera mark. But the N86 8MP is by no means playing simple megapixel war games - this serious point ‘n’ shoot camera phone launches laden with top performance photography credentials such as a Carl Zeiss Tessar optics and a host of smart photo sharing talents.

Read on for full details of the new Nokia N86 8MP, and get clicking through our close-up photo gallery of Nokia’s first 8 megapixel camera.

Alongside its talent for capturing ultra high-resolution shots at up to 8 megapixels, the Nokia N86 8MP comes loaded with 8GB of internal flash memory, enabling it to stomach around 4,000 snaps. Built with Carl Zeiss Tessar optics at its core, the N86 8MP features a lens that’s in the same league as the sort of wide angle 35mm lens you’d find on an SLR camera. Likewise, the lens has been engineered to offer sharper image contrast and better colour representation.

The Nokia N86 8MP features a super vibrant OLED QVGA screen that measures in at 2.6-inches, making it an ideal window for showcasing your shots. However, this 8 megapixel S60-powered Nseries is more keenly focussed on enabling you to share you photos further afield via services such as Share on Ovi and Flickr. Plus, it comes with onboard Assisted GPS, geared towards letting you geo-tag your photographs with location info before you share them. Its GPS talents are also exploited for satnav action and location-based services such as Nokia Maps 3.0 which comes pre-installed on the device.

N-Gage ready, the N86 8MP doubles as a full-blown entertainment handset. As well as being a premium pocket games machine, it’s a music player with a standard 3.5mm headphone socket and FM transmitter for sending songs wirelessly to your in-car stereo. It’s OLED screen is also perfectly suited for video playback (up to 7 hours), and like the N96 has a handy kickstand.