Nokia E5 Launching In July : Posted by Rida Kamran on 2:14 AM

The Nokia E5 has appeared on Play and they have the launch date listed as the 30th July.

The Nokia E5 has a similar styling to the Nokia E71 and 72 and looks set to succeed those mobiles in Nokias portfolio.

In terms of specification it has a 2.4 inch touch-sceen and a full QWERTY keypad. The QWERTY keypad is exposed , just like that of the Nokia E72, and will be perfect for writing messages and emails. The Nokia E5 runs on the Symbian platform and is powered by a 600 MHz mobile processor.

Other noticeable features include a 5 mega-pixel camera, 3.5 mm headphone socket, microSD support up to 32GB , FM Radio and built-in GPS with Ovi Maps. The Nokia E5 supports all the major email clients including Windows Live Hotmail, Yahoo, Ovi Mail and many more.

Play have listed the price of the Nokia E5 as £219.99 , which suggests it will be free on contracts from around £20 a month. We'll bring you more news once we have it.

Modu 1 Modular Mobile Posted by Rida Kamran on 1:05 PM

The Modu 1 is a modular mobile, which means its appearance and functionality can be personalised with different jackets.

 

The Modu 1 is the only mobile of its kind and is also the lightest mobile phone in the world. It's been out a while in various Asian countries and is now available in the UK.

 

The standard specification is quite a basic affair which includes MP3 playback, the ability to display images, 2GB of onboard storage, microUSB support, Bluetooth, alarm clock and a calender.

 

Other jackets bring new features to the mobile with the Night jacket adding a 3MP camera to the mobile. Additionally, another jacket includes the ability to dock your mobile in the a digital picture frame which also charges your mobile. Additionally,  you can use the mobile as a sports band with another hardware option.

 

You can buy the mobile from purelygadgets.co.uk for just £130, with jackets starting from £20.

Aava Mobile Virta 2 With Intel Atom: Posted by Rida Kamran on 7:37 AM

Microsoft's Worldwide Partner Conference kicked off a few of days ago, and, since some of the sessions there were dedicated to the upcoming Windows Phone 7 operating system, additional details on the matter were already unveiled. Of course, most of the WP7 aspects discussed there were already known, but Andy Lees, Senior VP of Mobiles Communication Business, as well as other people present there did bring to light some info unknown until now.

Those interested in learning what was discussed there should take a look at the WP7 Keynote available on Microsoft's dedicated website here. Another video presentation, dubbed 'Windows Phone 7 Value Keynote - Brad Brooks & Andy Lees,' which, reportedly, was not streamed and which is 55 minutes long, can be found here. However, in case that would seem too much, some highlights from the presentation are available below, courtesy of a recent post on phone7.wordpress.

Windows Phone 7 is expected to land on the market with features like:
- Customizable lock screen with extra info available (e.g. upcoming meetings)
- Start screen fully customizable
- Support for multiple exchange accounts in the phone
- Same contact details are merged from various sources
- Emails synchronized over the air
- Close integration between email and calendar
- Bing Search – smart searches using your current GPS location

Of course, that is not all. The operating system should arrive on shelves organized in hubs, and each hub, along with its specific features, was discussed on Monday. The People Hub should put together info on contacts from various sources; the Office Hub would come with SharePoint synchronization support; the Games Hub is expected to sport one's real avatar from the Xbox live account; the platform should be accompanied by a cloud service that would arrive at all carriers at the same time, and more.

Some details on the said cloud service, dubbed Windows Phone Live, were unveiled on Tuesday. Those interested in learning more on what was discussed about Windows Phone 7 at Microsoft's WPC should head over here for the full transcript of the keynote.

Motorola CHARM: Posted by Rida Kamran on 1:06 PM

The Motorola CHARM looks very much like a more sane version of the Motorola FLIPOUT, sharing almost identical specifications, but in a more traditional form factor.
Although it shares the square-ish looking design of the FLIPOUT, the CHARM is more of a BlackBerry-style handset, a bit wider and shorter than the Curve (for example) but otherwise roughly comparable.
Heading exclusively to T-Mobile in the USA, the Motorola CHARM has very little competition in the market - this is an Android 2.1 device with a fairly small 2.8" QVGA touchscreen but a decently laid out QWERTY keypad which does make it pretty unique (apart from the FLIPOUT that is).
On the back of the Motorola CHARM is a 3 megapixel fixed focus camera with Kodak software enhancements. The rear of the phone also has a small pad on it called the BACKTRACK, which works like a standard navigation pad for selecting options and scrolling through menus. The idea is that the user can use the BACKTRACK without having to obscure the smallish screen with their finger.
Inside is 1700/2100 MHz 3.5G support, WiFi, Bluetooth and quad-band GSM. There's a fairly large 1170 mAh battery which can power the CHARM for up to 5 hours talktime and just under 14 days standby time on 3G. The CHARM also includes an integrated GPS receiver, and the whole handset measures 98 x 67 x 11mm and weighs 110 grams.
As this is an Android 2.1 handset then most media types are supported, and there is also an FM radio. The Motorola CHARM supports microSD cards up to 32GB with a 2GB card included in the standard sales package, so there should be enough storage space out of the box for quite of lot of music and short video clips.
Android 2.1 includes all the usual Google features, including turn-by-turn navigation with Google Maps. Motorola have also integrated the CHARM with their MOTOBLUR service to keep contacts and updates all in one place, and MOTOBLUR also has a remote data wipe facility in case the phone is lost or stolen.
Think of the CHARM as an Android-based BlackBerry alternative aimed at consumers, and you can see the potential market appeal. Most Android handsets are almost identical looking black slabby things, so it is nice to see some choice.
The Motorola CHARM should be available this summer on T-Mobile USA. If you're not in the US then fear not - the FLIPOUT does almost exactly the same thing and it is available now in Europe for about €300 to €350 SIM free.

LG Announces Optimus One and Optimus Chic: Posted by Rida Kamran on 8:20 AM

Optimus, as it turns out, means "best" in Latin.  At least, that's the pitch LG is throwing out there for their new Android phones, the LG Optimus Chic and the LG Optimus One.
According to the company, the Optimus is a new line of products that will comprise of both smartphones and tablet computers.  Apparently, they're going heavy on the project too, promising ten smartphone releases in the series before the year is over.  And, just so it's clear, the naming has nothing to do with the Transformers (though I doubt whoever holds the trademark for the leader of the Autobots won't have any issues with it).
The press release is light on the specs.  All we know so far is that the LG Optimus Chic is going to be a fashion smartphone , while the LG Optimus One will be geared towards an entry-level user base.  Both handsets will ship running Android 2.2 Froyo, with availability likely guaranteed only for South Korea.
All phones and tablets slated for release in the Optimus line will feature individual-specific designs, rather than the current smartphone trend of one device doing everything for a wide variety of audiences.  No word on either pricing or availability for either of the two Optimus handsets were given.
[via Gizmodo]

Microsoft Kin Two Review: Posted by Rida Kamran on 1:40 PM

The Kin Two, like the Kin One, is all about social networking. A constant stream of Twitter, Facebook and MySpace updates piles onto the phone's main stream throughout the day. But with updates organized and sized in a readable way, the stream never gets too cluttered.
It also eschews being so simple a person can't find or will miss an update if checked semi-regularly. The phone makes it just as easy to send updates as it is to receive them.
Other parts of the phone get less attention. There's no instant messaging on the phone, no extras like visual voicemail or photo editing options, and messages and emails are stored separately, as are contact entries from various sources.
The Kin Two is a fun option for young social butterflies and the limited, flat-fee entertainment options make managing the cell phone bill easier. But people that want more applications, downloads and extra options may get bored with the phone.

Design:

The Kin Two definitely has a more approachable look than the Kin One. While the Kin One is close to square-shaped and compact, the Kin Two is less likely to turn heads with its more standard look and measurements of 4.38-inches long, 2.36-inches across and 0.64-inch thick. The Kin Two also looks more professional, with its all-black exterior. Whether blending in is a good thing or a bad thing depends on personal taste.

Garminfone Review : Posted by Rida Kamran on 2:30 AM

Garminfone, the first Android™-powered smartphone fully integrated with Garmin’s premium navigation experience. Anticipated to be available later this spring, Garminfone is a sleek, full-touch 3G smartphone with a large 3.5-inch screen integrated with Garmin’s robust navigation experience for quick and reliable navigation from the middle of town to the middle of nowhere — and back.

“The Garminfone brings together two increasingly well loved devices in one state-of-the-art package, delivering a rich, unique experience that no other smartphone or standalone navigation device can offer,” said George Harrison, vice president, marketing product innovation, T-Mobile USA. “Busy people balancing personal and professional lives are increasingly seeking smartphones, and the deep integration of Garmin navigation into the smartphone features of this device helps them do more with one device to more simply navigate their busy lives.”

Cliff Pemble, president and COO, Garmin International, said, As the North American leader in Personal Navigation Devices, Garmin sought to partner with the leading carrier of Android smartphones, T-Mobile USA, to bring our first Android device to market. Garmin’s advanced, user-friendly navigation technology is used by millions of people every day, and the combination of Garmin’s rich navigation services on the Android platform simply makes Garminfone a must-have device for families, individuals, travelers, commuters, and professionals alike.