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We had heard whispers about the Blackberry Curve hitting Sprint this month, and it looks like they were dead-on — say hello to RIM’s latest, the Curve 8330, all done up in black. Apart from looking way hotter than the silver version that’s made the rounds, you’re getting GPS, a 2 megapixel camera with video recording, Bluetooth, “enhanced” web browsing, and the usual suite of Sprint music and TV services. $179 with a two-year contract later this month, says Sprint. One more shot after the break.
source:engadget

The subscription-based iTunes rumor has been around for what feels like eons, and apparently, it’s rearing its always intriguing head once more. According to a report over at Financial Times, the suits in Cupertino are currently “in discussions” with major music outfits about a new model that could essentially “give customers free access to the entire iTunes music library in exchange for paying a premium for its iPod and iPhone devices.” Reportedly, a distribution model similar to Nokia’s “Comes with Music” could be used on both iPhones and iPods, while traditional subscriptions would be reserved for the iPhone — a device which has a monthly billing relationship already attached to it. As it stands, we’re hearing that the major holdup is Apple’s hesitation to pay big bucks in order to access the labels’ libraries, but here’s to hoping the iTunes buffet opens for business sooner rather than later. [Warning: Read link requires subscription]

source:www.engadget.com

We’re used to seeing fashion-centric devices bedecked in jewels all the time, but the E90 is pretty much exclusively the domain of the business set, and we’re having a hard time imagining Joe Stock Broker going, like, totally crazy over this pimped version. The Nokia phone has been set with 408 diamonds and an 18 carat white gold shell by Peter Aloisson and retails for around $80k. Yeah, Joe Stocks is really going to flip. We have nothing more to add, other than our traditional, time-worn plea to Nokia: please release a 3G version of this in the States, we swear it’s not to late.

The AT&T Tilt is one of the latest mobile phones released in 2007 that runs on Window Mobile 6 Professional Edition. It has a QVGA 240 x 320 touch screen (that comes with a stylus) but it also works well with finger scrolling and panning; a Windows Mobile Today Screen themes and HTC’s plugin with shortcuts to a few applications along with plugins for TeleNav and AT&T Xpress Mail.

What’s cool about this device is that it has WiFi capabilities, Bluetooth support, a 3 megapixel camera with autofocus lens, an integrated GPS, and a slideout QWERTY keypad in which you can “tilt” your phone into 40 degrees for easier viewing (hence the name).

You can send and receive e-mail and multimedia messages easily, browse through the Internet, watch streaming videos, listen to satellite radio, or download your own music through AT&T Music and Video, all at broadband speed.

However, there are some things that can be seen as bothersome with the Tilt. For one, it’s bulky, even thicker than many smartphones today. Its speakerphone quality is not impressive, the talk-time battery life is quite short, and the picture quality is subpar (considering it’s a 3 megapixel camera).

Overall, the AT&T Tilt promises to be the a powerful smartphone for business users with its full range of wireless options, Windows Mobile 6, and a unique tilt screen.

According to recent surveys, more parents are considering getting their children mobile phones for safety reasons. Mobile phone companies have also seen this growing market, selling kid-friendly wireless phones to busy parents for them to stay connected with their children. These phones are mostly aimed at “tweens” or kids between 8 to 12 years old.

Some mobile phones are designed for younger kids, with easy-to-use features and toy-like designs. Others work like a two-way radio, where kids can keep in touch with their parents and friends within a two-mile radius. Most phones basically allow parental control over the handset’s incoming and outgoing calls.

While most would feel weary of giving their child his own mobile phone, the kiddie cellphone packages provided by mobile phone companies mostly keep the parents from worrying too much about their kid’s whereabouts. They have the option of choosing from a range of practical features that they can activate in their kid’s mobile, while not stressing about breaking their budgets.

The following are the best kid-friendly mobile phones in the market today, as tried and tested by both child and parent. Most of the parental control of these phones are programmable over the internet. Parents can choose which calls could go through and assign which phone numbers their kids can dial and receive. Some of these phones also have GPS features where parents can set boundaries to the places where the child can go and easily locate their kid’s phone online.

Cingular Firefly. One of the first cellphones made especially for kids, the Firefly is the less complicated among kiddie mobile phones. The phone’s interface is limited to a few keys that even 5-year old tots can easily figure out how to use it. There are two programmable buttons, one that has a picture of a man and one of a woman. Parents don’t have to worry about outgoing calls as there’s no keypad. There’s also an added visual feature of on-screen animations and playful ring tones that the child can choose from.

TicTalk. This gadget looks more like a stopwatch than a mobile phone. The TicTalk doesn’t have any buttons and instead uses a rocker switch for scrolling through numbers and then pushing in to dial. Designed for kids of ages 6 and up, this cool phone also comes loaded with five educational LeapFrog games that any kid would sure get the hang of.

Disney Mobile. This phone caters to the older, stylish “tweens” as it is actually an LG flip phone. Compared to the other kiddie phones, the Disney Mobile is the real phone of the bunch as it isn’t made of plastic and doesn’t appear too rugged and toy-like. It is fully-equipped with a colored screen display, VGA camera with flash, and camcorder. Games can be downloaded and ring tones and screen displays can be customized to your kid’s liking. The phone also has voice-dialing features.

Verizon Migo. Like the Firefly, this bright green phone also has a simple interface which kids can easily understand. There are five programmable speed-dial buttons in front and when the child presses one of these buttons, a question pops up on the screen to ask if he wants to call home or call mom’s cell. Pushing the send button will automatically make the call. What the child only needs to memorize is which number would correspond to whom.

Think about the perfect collision of fashion and function in your mobile phone. This is what Samsung Armani P520 has to offer, remarkably translating techy-savvy to sophistication, beauty and exclusivity. This is the first phone translated to a Giorgio Armani accessory, with the personalized audio and graphics of the User Interface.

The handset’s dimension is 87.5×54.5,10.5 mm weighing a light 84 grams. Its leather case adds a couple of millimeters to its girth. Imagine the size of a credit card. Its design is pretty simple - glossy metallic frame in a single color casing. IT comes without keypads, turning the space with a big TFT-screen with the resolution of 240×320 pixels (40×53mm), showing up to 262K colors.

All data input is done via this touch-sensitive display. It has a dependable plastic or glass display protection, providing a higher degree of safety than on standard touch-sensitive panels. The screen does well in the sun, with its picture remains legible even with the rays striking directly to it.

The model also supports bluetooth for headset, handsfree, file transfer and basic printing, as well USB-connection for media, mass storage and Samsung PC Studio. No additional drivers needed if the phone is in USB Mass Storage Mode, and it automatically recharges itself once connected to a PC via USB.

61.5 Mb of memory is readily available and it has no problems handling a 2Gb microSD memory card. It also have a 3.2 Mpix camera which can support resolutions as high as 2048×1536 pixels and as limited as 320×240 pixels. A built-in MP3 player is also included.

Having a Samsung Armani will definitely give satisfaction to the fashion conscious. Nonetheless, it’s one of the most intriguing phone to date. With a price tag ranging from 1100-1200 US Dollars, it’s really a thrill.

A merging of two essential gadgets is made possible with the new Cellwatch M500. The new Cellwatch M500 combines a wrist watch with a miniature cell phone into one gadget that would surely appeal to people who look into miniaturization as essential in their daily lives. With the Cellwatch M500, people no longer have to bother bringing along their cell phones with them. Now, they just have to wear it on their wrists.The Cellwatch M500 is being billed as the world’s smallest mobile watch. It is equipped with a 1.5 inch color OLED touch screen that also comes with its own stylus. It has a 128 Mb memory and is capable of playing MP3 and video aside from just telling time. The mobile watch is also Bluetooth enabled and also allows its use for web browsing. The M500 carries GSM900/1800/1900 MHz frequencies and is fully SMS and MMS capable.

The watch also allows USB connectivity for software downloads and uploads. It also is capable of storing over 300 phone numbers in its memory along with about 40 different tones. Al these features that is packed in a gadget that can be worn just like a standard wrist watch makes the M500 quite an interesting gadget to have. Initial launch of the M500 took place in November of 2007.

The Casio W61CA is a waterproof foldable phone equipped with a 5.1 megapixel digital camera. The electronics company has merged its knowledge in digital cameras with a mobile Exilim engine with blur reduction using six-axis correction.

Being only available in Japan (why do the cool mobile phones have to be available only in Japan?), it has to keep up with the market by putting DMB-TV functions so users can watch television on their W61CA. Another “uniquely Japanese” feature is an animated story of “Adelie Penguin” that unfolds whenever the phone is on standby.

It also has an integrated timer, distance measurement, and calorie counter that make the phone an ideal walking (or running) partner. Other notable features include a 2.7-inch QVGA screen, a micro-SD card slot, voice input, Office document viewer, navigation, and dictionary.

The Casio W61CA comes in four colors: green, gold, white, and yellow.

After Sharp was able to integrate its TV technology into their mobile phones, Japanese electronics brand Panasonic is beginning to follow suit with the release of the VIERA 920P, which is available for Softbank mobile subscribers.

The VIERA 920P, named after Panasonic’s line of LCDs and plasma displays, features a large three-inch-wide VGA resolution screen. Its wide-screen format makes it appear like a mini-HDTV, and the phone can be folded two ways to take advantage of such an amazing feature.

It also has a 5.1 megapixel camera with auto focus (as well as a second VGA camera), Bluetooth support, and DMB-TV functions. Users can e-mail, browse through the Internet, and switch between GSM and W-CDMA. This phone is an energy saver, with up to 580-hour stand-by time, and 220-minute talktime.

The Panasonic VIERA TV Phone measures at 106×49×18 millimeters and is available in 5 colors: gold, white, black, light blue, and pink. Date of release is unsure however, as with most Mobile TV phones, it would only be available in Japan.

Samsung unveiled a compact handset in Japan that specifically targets the female market. The Samsung 821SC is slim at 17 millimeters with a 2.4-inch OLED display and a 1.96 megapixel camera. The mobile phone is available in a variety of “girl-friendly” colors like pink, silver, purple, and red. It also supports Bluetooth connectivity and up to 20 hours of TV-quality video recording.

The 821SC has a simple yet good design, with some people claiming that it looks like an Nintendo DS Lite. However, the camera could have been a bit bigger, especially if Samsung intends to sell phones for females who love to take pictures of themselves.

What other features this phone has are yet to be seen, but so far it looks promising. The Samsung 821SC is expected to be released after March 2008.