Named Samsung WEP490 Corby, the headset comes in various color versions, to match the colorful Corby phones.

The WEP490 Corby features a status LED indicator, echo cancellation, noise reduction and automatic volume control. It can provide a talk time of up to 6 hours, or a stand-by time of up to 10 hours.

The Samsung Corby WEP490 Bluetooth headset should be available  soon in Russia for about $45.

Via Samsung Hub

• Samsung intros new Bluetooth headsets: WEP870, WEP850 and WEP470
• Wirelessly ride in style with Motorola H620 and H560 Bluetooth headsets
• BlueAnt Q1 Bluetooth headset launched at CES
• Motorola Endeavor HX1 Bluetooth headset with bone conduction technology announced
• New, tiny Nokia Bluetooth Headset BH-804, cool like a ninja with a scythe

The chargers come from Huizhou BYD Electronic and include model types AC-3U and AC-3E manufactured between June 15, 2009 and August 9, 2009, and model type AC-4U manufactured between April 13, 2009 and October 25, 2009.

Nokia says that “the plastic covers of the affected chargers could come loose and separate, exposing the charger’s internal components and potentially posing an electric shock hazard if certain internal components are touched while the charger is plugged into a live socket.”

However, the Finnish handset maker mentions that no incidents or injuries related to the chargers were reported.

While Nokia didn’t say how many chargers are affected, Reuters India mentions that their number is of about 14 million.

To check if your charger needs to be replaced, visit Nokia’s charger exchange website. If your charger is on the list, Nokia will give you a new one, for free.

Via Press release

• Micro USB phone charger standard to be adopted next year by Nokia, Samsung, Apple and others
• MicroUSB Standard Now Backed by ITU
• Early Nokia 5800 XMs have a major speaker defect. It’s likely to die within months
• Samsung S7550 Blue Earth has TouchWiz; caught on video
• Energy efficient universal mobile phone charger launched by O2 – a first for the UK

According to CrackBerry, the watch will come as an accessory “designed specifically for BlackBerry from the ground up.” It has a nice OLED display and it can show notifications or messages that you receive on your BlackBerry smartphone.

The Bluetooth watch might be called BlackBerry inPulse, but this name isn’t confirmed.

No info yet on the release date or the price of BlackBerry inPulse.

• RIM to launch BlackBerry Bluetooth watch, new Bluetooth headset?
• InPulse Blackberry Watch is Official, Taking Pre-Orders Now
• BlackBerry 9000 Named BlackBerry Bold?
• Best Buy launches mIQ, its own mobile cloud service for smartphones
• Verizon’s BlackBerry Niagara 9630 confirmed for a May release?

The Swedish-Japanese company has just announced the Motion Activated Headphones MH907, presented as “the world’s first ever motion activated headphones that sense the user.”

With Sony Ericsson MH907, you can listen to music just by plugging in its two earphones. To pause music, you have to remove one earbud. You can answer and end calls in a similar way – so there’s no need to push any buttons.

Sony Ericsson worked with internationally renowned animator Kristofer Ström to make a video promo for the MH907:

The SE MH907 is compatible with most Sony Ericsson phones that feature a fast port connector. The headphones weigh only 25.32 grams and will be available in the fourth quarter of the year, in two color versions: Titan Chrome and Yellow/White.

Via Press Release

• Sony Ericsson phone (J132?) with standard 3.5 mm headphone jack?
• Sony Ericsson S500 Nature Styled Slider
• Sony Ericsson Walkman W902, W595 and W302 video preview and live pictures
• Sony Ericsson working on unlimited music download service to regain market share
• Micro USB phone charger standard to be adopted next year by Nokia, Samsung, Apple and others

Well, LG has announced that it has, indeed, partnered with the famous actress, as well as with her sister, Savannah Miller, who is Creative Director of fashion label Twenty8Twelve.

The announcement was made at the London Fashion Week, where Sienna and Savannah Miller have unveiled a luxurious case for the BL40 Chocolate phone.

Made from bespoke leather, the case features the Twenty8Twelve logo on a stainless steel tag, and is presented as a “perfect accessory” for the BL40.

LG will also offer exclusive Twenty8Twelve digital content for the BL40.

A video with Sienna and Savannah Miller’s opinion on the LG BL40 Chocolate can be watched below. They say they’re amazed by the phone:

Via Press release (in Korean)

• Sienna Miller to promote the new LG Chocolate?
• LG BL40 Chocolate to feature FM Transmitter
• Vertu Constellation Ayxta video preview
• LG KF300 (Wine) details are finally out there.
• Apple “tax” for iPhone accessories may be in the works

Presented as a fashionable flip phone, the M240 comes with features like: internal and external displays, Web browsing, voice dialing, and up to 6.5 hours of continuous talk time.

Samsung M240 can be bought from Sprint online, for only $19.99 with a contract agreement for two years.

Sprint has also introduced a set of new eco-friendly accessories. In consequence, as of today, customers can by a new All-In-One Vehicle and Wall Charger (pictured below) for $39.99, or an Eco-Friendly Universal Case (made from cotton and linen) for $19.99.

In early October, Sprint will launch a new SOLIO solar powered charger too.

To see all the eco-friendly accessories in Sprint’s portfolio, visit this website.

Via Sprint

• Sprint to Begin Shipping Accessories in Greener Packaging
• Micro USB phone charger standard to be adopted next year by Nokia, Samsung, Apple and others
• Credo Mobile Brings Us Eco Acccesories
• Samsung Reclaim M560 announced by Sprint alongside green initiatives
• Samsung Instinct HD coming to Sprint on September 27?

Available for $89.99, Samsung WEP870 includes a noise-canceling mono headset, as well as a pair of premium stereo ear buds for listening to music.

The WEP870 can be paired with two Bluetooth devices at the same time. It features active noise and echo cancellation technology, dual-microphones, and an LCD display (which shows call status, Bluetooth connection status, and battery level).

Samsung WEP850 also features noise and echo cancellation – “amongst the best in the industry when compared against products with pricing up to 80 percent higher.” The WEP850 is priced at $69.99.

And finally, the Samsung WEP470 (which costs only $39.99) comes with stuff like integrated background noise filtering, detachable crystal ear hook, and dedicated on/off switch.

You can buy any of the new Bluetooth accessories from Samsung USA’s official website.

Via Press release

• Samsung Corby WEP490 Bluetooth headset announced
• Wirelessly ride in style with Motorola H620 and H560 Bluetooth headsets
• Moto’s H780 Bluetooth headset lets you connect to two phones at once
• Sprint to Begin Shipping Accessories in Greener Packaging
• Samsung E2100, E1125, E1100 and E1070 are now official

Called AD3700 and made by ZTE, the  modem provides access to EV-DO, GSM, GPRS, EDGE and UMTS/HSPA networks in more than 175 destinations around the world.

Compatible with Windows Vista, XP and 2000, the USB modem comes with VZAccess Manager software, allowing “easy connection management and automatic installation.”

The AD3700 global modem is priced at $79.99 with a Mobile Broadband plan for 2 years, and after a $50 mail-in rebate. Verizon will sell the modem starting tomorrow, August 14.

Via Press release

• Verizon intros GlobalAccess plan, USB1000 Global Modem
• Verizon launches entry-level Escapade world phone
• Customers of Verizon Wireless get Blackberry Curve 8830
• Samsung Omnia officially launched by Verizon – yours for $250 starting tomorrow
• NTT DoCoMo to Offer Blackberry Service

According to a post found at BlackBerry OS, Antoine Boucher, RIM’s vice president of Accessories, has “confirmed” that they’re working on a Bluetooth watch, alongside a new Bluetooth headset codenamed Alpha 1.

Reportedly, RIM’s Bluetooth watch can be connected to a BlackBerry smartphone and receive email alerts, BlackBerry Messenger messages, SMS, and even Tweets and Facebook notifications. Moreover, the watch would allow you to transfer music and videos from you BB smartphone. Something similar to LG’s Prada Link watch, we guess.

As for the upcoming RIM Bluetooth headset, this will feature the BlackBerry logo and noise reduction technology. It might be the HS500 (pictured below), approved today by the Bluetooth SIG.

The HS500is not featured on RIM’s website, and only a few retailers are listing in as being on pre-order.

We’ll bring more on RIM’s new Bluetooth watch and Bluetooth headset as soon as new info emerges.

Via IntoMobile

• LG Prada Link appears on FCC web site
• LG Prada II KF900 arrives in Europe with a Bluetooth watch and a microsite
• RIM’s BlackBerry Bluetooth Watch (inPulse) shows up
• Wirelessly ride in style with Motorola H620 and H560 Bluetooth headsets
• BlackBerry 9700 coming to T-Mobile, live picture leaked

A fuel cell battery charger is considered greener than traditional chargers, due to the fact that it produces power from a reaction between water, air and methanol, while releasing negligible amounts of water vapor and carbon dioxide as by-products. Moreover, the DMFC chargers can be replenished in a matter of seconds with a new methanol cartridge.

According to NetworkWorld, the new Toshiba fuel cell battery charger will be available for purchase before September 2009. Its price is not known at the moment.

Toshiba has also announced the upcoming launch of the world’s first 64GB SDXC memory card. Unlike SDHC cards, SDXC cards can have a storage capacity between 32GB and 2 terabytes.

The 64GB SDXC memory card will be available for purchase sometime in spring 2010. At about the same time, Toshiba will launch new 16GB and 32GB SDHC cards. Similar to the 64GB SDXC card, these can provide a maximum write speed of 35MB/s, and a read speed of 60MB/s.

• Fuel cells now for mobile phones, too
• Your Cellphones & iPods to run on sugar
• CES 2009: SDXC Cards on Display
• Mobion fuel cell charger will charge your gadgets on the go
• Toshiba TG02 and TG03 appear in leaked photos

But there’s also one problem. Through the years of using, you’ve set-up your old device to work with perfectly.

You know – things like fast dial numbers, equalizer settings, network connection passwords, bookmarks, shortcuts to various apps and functions, etc. Now you have to do all that again on a new device, which is one hugely boring task.

And then there’s that process transferring all your media collections, favorite playlists, etc; to the new handset.

Well, Apple may soon have a solution to make this process completely seamless. With the help of the headset that comes with your device.

The idea, described in the latest Apple patent application called “Data store and enhanced features for headset of portable media device “ is pretty simple and elegant.

Since most of the time you don’t really have to change the headset when you get a new device, just add some flash memory to it to store all your device settings, and, maybe, even most used media items. Then, when you get a new device, plug-in your old headset and all your settings and media items are quickly downloaded to your new phone.

And that’s about it. No manual configuration, no additional data transfers, and your new device works just as perfectly as the old one.

• Apple iPod/iPhone as a remote control for Apple Media Centre
• Karaoke iPod and iPhone as an ultimate Karaoke machine
• Apple iPhone home activation to make a comeback, but still in hack-proof form
• True Apple Media Center in the Works
• iPhone 3G in-home activation may be possible after all

Now it looks like phones compatible with the new universal charger will be available in Europe as soon as next year.

According to Reuters, the European Commission announced that major telecoms companies have agreed to adopt the Micro USB solution and offer compatible products starting 2010.

The companies are: Nokia, Samsung, LG, Motorola, Sony Ericsson, Apple, Research in Motion, NEC, Qualcomm and Texas Instruments.

Reportedly, the new chargers will only be compatible with data-enabled handsets, leaving out basic phones.

A new EU norm should be created soon, requiring next-gen mobile phones to use a universal Micro USB socket. This would eliminate “unwanted phone accessories”, allowing users to charge phones made by different manufacturers with the same charger.

• Mobile industry giants to adopt universal chargers for phones by 2012
• Energy efficient universal mobile phone charger launched by O2 – a first for the UK
• 14 million Nokia-branded chargers are faulty, Nokia exchanges them for free
• MicroUSB Standard Now Backed by ITU
• Carphone Warehouse outs Eco Charger for Nokia, Samsung, Sony Ericsson

The USB1000 Global Modem will be available from Verizon starting tomorrow, June 19 – the same day when AT&T and Apple are launching the iPhone 3G S.

With a 2-yr contract agreement and after a $50 mail-in rebate, the USB1000 costs $149.99.

Verizon offers the USB1000 together with the GlobalAccess plan, available in two options: monthly or pay-per-use.

The monthly GlobalAccess plan can be used in 31 select destinations and costs $129.99 for 100MB, or $219.99 for 200MB per month (5GB allowance in the US and Canada is included).

Via Verizon

• Verizon launches ZTE AD3700 USB global modem
• Palm Pre officially coming on June 6 for $199 with a Sprint contract
• Verizon Wireless Offers New Plan for Smartphone Users
• AT&T to sell the new iPhone with cheaper service plans
• Verizon’s Motorola Rival A455 and Casio Exilim C721 coming on June 10

HX1’s stealth mode leverages on true bone conduction technology, thus allowing users to hear and be heard clearly, even in extreme noise/wind conditions.

Motorola says that the bone conduction technology used for the Endeavor HX1 is similar to that used by special military forces.

Moreover, the Multipoint technology enables users to connect the HX1 headset to more than one device.

Compatible with Bluetooth 2.1 and providing up to seven hours of talk-time, the Motorola Endeavor HX1 Bluetooth headset will be available starting July in Asia, with other markets to follow later this year.

The price of HX1 was not announced.

Via Motorola

• NTT DoCoMo Sound Leaf+ Bone Conducting Bluetooth headset
• Moto’s H780 Bluetooth headset lets you connect to two phones at once
• Wirelessly ride in style with Motorola H620 and H560 Bluetooth headsets
• BlueAnt Q1 Bluetooth headset launched at CES
• Nokia Bluetooth Stereo Headset BH-905 – the best headset ever made?

The BH-905 allows users to either make calls or listen to music, “with virtually any compatible phone or music device.”

It features active noise cancellation technology from Wolfson Microelectronics (plus a special switch for turning it on/off), 10 microphones (8 for canceling noise and 2 for capturing speech), a dedicated multifunction key for call management, and music/volume controls.

Here’s the BH-905 paired with the Nokia N97, which will be available this month in more than 75 countries:

The Nokia Bluetooth Stereo Headset BH-905 is compatible with:

• all Nokia devices that have 3.5 mm Nokia AV and 2.5 mm Nokia AV
• music players, PCs and devices with standard 3.5mm jack
• home stereos with standard 6.3 mm jack
• airplane players

The Nokia BH-905 will be available starting August 2009. Its retail price should be of around €285 ($400).

Until then, the video promo below should give you a better idea of what the BH-905 is all about:

Via Nokia

• Wirelessly ride in style with Motorola H620 and H560 Bluetooth headsets
• Samsung intros new Bluetooth headsets: WEP870, WEP850 and WEP470
• Motorola Endeavor HX1 Bluetooth headset with bone conduction technology announced
• Nokia X3 passes the FCC, might hit the US soon
• Official pics of Motorola EM326g and the MOTOROKR S7-HD Bluetooth headset emerge

Built in collaboration with the Korean company Microbot, the CW100 robot – which is actually a very smart vacuum cleaner – uses video calling to send live images to your phone. By seeing what the robot sees, you can remotely control its actions, helped by your phone’s keypad.   

KTF says the new robot can also be used for monitoring kids, elders or pets at home.

The CW100 bot costs 500,000 KRW ($370) and it’s sold together with a wireless data plan of 5,000 KRW ($3.7) per month – required for video calling.

Reportedly, KTF intends to export the CW100 robot to France, through a partnership with France Telecom.

Via KTF

• Hit the malls remotely via telerobotic shopper and cellphone in Japan
• Samsung Robot Sentry can shoot you on sight
• Revolution in cellphone design! A Cellpphone Robot :)
• Samsung C3060R – new phone for the elderly
• MTV Mobile tops 1 million subscribers in France, sells 100k MTV phones

The report mentions that, in the last three years, battery capacity in handsets has increased by only 4% yearly, despite the fact that nowadays phones (and especially smartphones) need much more power than the ones we had a few years ago.

It’s said that web browsing, social networking and GPS navigation will grow “from a combined 9% of the battery budget in 2008 to 30% by 2014”. So, in case manufacturers don’t find ways to significantly increase battery lifetime, we’ll need to charge our phones more often than we do now.

(an O2 Universal Charger)

However, the future will probably bring new technologies that may be more energy-efficient.

“Strategy Analytics believes that emerging technologies, like Fuel Cells, Symmetric Multi-Processing (SMP), small semiconductor process nodes and bistable displays, could eventually have a positive impact on the cell phone battery budget,” said analyst Sravan Kundojjala. 

Via Press release

• Average pone thickness now below 14mm; other interesting statistics from Strategy Analytics
• Qualcomm and Pixtronix developing different display technologies to help conserve power on phones
• Fast-charging lithium batteries to come in two or three years
• Energy efficient universal mobile phone charger launched by O2 – a first for the UK
• New PowerVR chip could make way for HD iPhone in the future

Unlike the MS500, though, Motorola T325 was not officially announced.

However, we know that this Bluetooth speaker can also be used as an in-car hands-free system.

Further details about its features, specs or size are not known, but the T325 probably works with any Moto phone that has Bluetooth with A2DP.

Here’s what the new Motorola Bluetooth speaker looks like:

The price and release date of T325 will probably be announced by Motorola in the next few months.

Via Mobile-review

• MOTO V10 announced for Korea – another RAZR?
• Motorola Ruby lives, now it’s called V13
• Motorola launches the MOTO VE240 in the US
• Official pics of Motorola EM326g and the MOTOROKR S7-HD Bluetooth headset emerge
• Motorola unveils the MOTO W403 – new basic clamshell

At 113 x 83 x 45 millimeters (4.4 x 3.3 x 1.8 inches) and 155 grams, the MS500 is both small and lightweight, thus you can take it anywhere with ease.

Obviously made for the outdoor environment, the speaker comes with a splash proof shell, plus a handy strap.

You can pair with any Sony Ericsson phone that supports Bluetooth with A2DP, as well as with phones from other brands. Your handset can be used as a remote control for the speaker if you keep within a 10-meter range.

The MS500 is offered with 2 AA batteries capable of providing a playback time of up to 5 hours. Its price was not announced, but we know that it will soon be on sale in two color versions: orange with black and white with pink.

Via Sony Ericsson

• Motorola T325 Bluetooth speaker unveiled
• Sony Ericsson W705 is official, together with the Wireless Home Audio System MBS-900
• Your iPhone and iPod will rock with Logitech Pure-Fi Express Plus and Logitech Pure-Fi Anytime
• Sony Ericsson MBW-150 Bluetooth Watch approved by FCC
• Sony Ericsson T715 announced – a “sophisticated slider”

The new batteries could be smaller and lighter than the regular ones, this making them perfect for mobile phones and various other small-sized devices. 

Moreover, due to new techniques and new materials used, the batteries would degrade at a very slow pace, even if they’re repeatedly recharged. 

This below is “a sample of the new battery material”:

MIT engineers already have a prototype of the superfast-charging battery and say that we may be able to buy such batteries in the next two or three years.

Hopefully, these batteries will need less energy than the standard ones. After all, we need to head towards a more energy-efficient way of life.  
 
Source: MIT via TG Daily

• Solar power leather case charges your iPhone the green way
• Nokia may use ambient electromagnetic radiation for charging phones
• Sony Ericsson GreenHeart phones coming on June 4
• Philips Xenium 9@9j now official
• Samsung’s keypad battery pack arrangements

The largest British MVNO has set up a giveaway contest that’s open from 9 AM today, to 9 AM tomorrow, March 10 (UK time). 

To enter the giveaway you simply need to fill a form found on 3’s official website. All UK residents of at least 18 years old are eligible.  Winners will be randomly selected.

The dongles that will reach the 1,000 lucky winners are ZTE MF627 models, which can provide Web access “wherever you go and can even replace the broadband you have at home”.

Well, hurry up and enter the contest if you’re in the UK

• Sprint debuts Palm Pre sweepstakes, might release the handset before June
• Palm is looking for Pre reviewers?
• LG Phone Design Challenge
• T-Mobile to turn 3G USB dongles into Wi-Fi routers with new service
• Vodafone UK offers £1,000 and free HTC Magic phones for Android app ideas

Available for various Nokia, Samsung and Sony Ericsson phones, the Eco Charger costs £22.99 ($33) and it “shuts down” immediately after your handset is charged.

Apparently, if all mobile users in the UK would use it, the new charger could save up to 300,000,000 kWh of electricity yearly – the equivalent of £85 million.
 
Carphone Warehouse stores should have the Eco Charger on sale starting March 3, but it looks like you can already buy one via the retailer’s website.

Now, until that universal charger proposed by the GSM Association gets launched, this new Eco Charger can definitely be a good alternative to your regular charging methods.

Via Pocket-lint

• Energy efficient universal mobile phone charger launched by O2 – a first for the UK
• Carphone Warehouse to sell 1 million iPhones by Christmas
• BlackBerry Curve 8900 Javelin to hit the UK exclusively via Carphone Warehouse
• Best Buy and The Carphone Warehouse Form New Venture
• Micro USB phone charger standard to be adopted next year by Nokia, Samsung, Apple and others

As a matter of fact, the big V calls it a “runaway favorite for MVP – Most Versatile Phone”. That’s because the handset features a 3D UI which lets you customize up to three different home screens, while at the same time coming with a set of pretty cool accessories.

These include an attachable full QWERTY keypad (that sports a 56 x 120 pixels monochrome OLED screen) and an attachable game pad controller.

Engadget has it that the Versa VX960 will be on sale via Verizon starting March 1. Its price? $199.99 with a 2-yr contract and after a $50 mail-in rebate. 

LG Versa’s specs and capabilities include:

• CDMA / EV-DO Rev A connectivity
• 3 inch TFT touchscreen display with 240 x 480 pixels
• VZ Navigator
• Visual Voicemail
• Light sensor
• HTML browser
• Bluetooth
• Music player
• 2.5mm headset jack
• 2MP camera with autofocus and flash
• MicroSD card support, up to 16GB
• Talk time: up to 290 minutes
• Stand by time: up to 430 hours (huh, really?)
• 4.16 x 2.07 x 0.54 inches
• 3.81 ounces

Oh and one more thing: it looks like that gaming pad will cost you an extra $29.99. But if you really really want it, this shouldn’t be a problem. Or should it?

• LG Versa officially announced by Verizon
• Verizon’s LG VX9600 Versa shows its weird face
• Samsung Highlight t749 available from T-Mobile USA
• Verizon announces the HTC Droid Eris, launches the LG Chocolate Touch
• Verizon’s LG Chocolate Touch VX8575 shows up again

More exactly, GSMA wants all mobile phones (or at least most of them) to be charged via a standardized solution that would use Micro USB as its charging interface. This should reduce standby energy consumption with up to 50%, and eliminate up to 51,000 tons of duplicate chargers.

And, needless to say, it would make our lives simpler, since we’ll be able to charge our handsets with any charger – even if it’s from a device made by a different manufacturer.  

The companies that gave their endorsement for the UCS project are: Nokia, Samsung, LG, Sony Ericsson, Motorola, AT&T, Vodafone, Orange, T-Mobile, Telefónica, Telstra, Telenor, Hutchison’s 3, KTF, Telecom Italia, mobilkom Austria and Qualcomm.

As you can see, Apple and HTC (to name just two other important companies) don’t seem to be interested in using a universal mobile charger – for the moment, at least. 

Via Press release

• Micro USB phone charger standard to be adopted next year by Nokia, Samsung, Apple and others
• Carphone Warehouse outs Eco Charger for Nokia, Samsung, Sony Ericsson
• Energy efficient universal mobile phone charger launched by O2 – a first for the UK
• The first Windows Mobile 6.5 phones coming on October 6
• Qik adds support for 20+ new phones for the holidays

And there’s no shortage of these mobile phone accessories today  – speakerphones for your car, headsets, wireless keyboards, even watches.

But once in a while some strange and interesting thingie to pair to a mobile phone pops up. And I even have trouble figuring out what it is at first.

For example a thingie named  LG LBA-C300 Bluetooth enabled Qwerty Card, which just passed through FCC:

When I first looked at the pictures, LG C-300 seemed a pretty strange device. I even had to open the users manual to figure out what the heck this thing is.

It seems that LB GBA C300 is supposed to be used mainly as a wireless QWERTY keyboard for LG phones.

It is able to write and send new messages and display allows you to read the incoming ones. LG C300 Qwerty Card also allows you to enter, store and view contact information on a paired phone, has the clock, alarm and calendar functions, can be used as a stop watch,  act as a keypad for a phone, be remote phone camera controller and allows you to reject incoming calls or send them into silent mode if you forgot to set your phone to it in a meeting.

Overall LG LB-C300 looks like an interesting gadget. Not an essential one to have, but I can see some uses for such device next to a touchscreen phone like LG Arena KM900.

• Sony Ericsson’s bracelet phone
• Blackberry with side-slide QWERTY keyboard
• PocketDevice Mphone Radio Number One Mp3 player/mobile phone
• Asus J502 Camera Phone with remote SMS control
• T-Mobile Cameo Wireless Digital Frame comes with own phone number for $9.99 a month

It’s the Verizon Network Extender, a device that should provide a reliable coverage for consumers “who may experience a weaker signal in their homes because of geographic or structural conditions”

Built by Samsung, the Network Extender is quite small (being comparable with a wireless router box) and it’s capable of offering coverage in an area of maximum 5,000 square feet.

The Network Extender costs $249.99 and you can find it online, as well as at select Verizon stores.

Via Press release

• Verizon Wireless Network Extender Review
• Verizon expands, buys SureWest Communications for $69 million
• AT&T announces embedded laptops and netbooks
• Verizon Wireless to acquire Alltel for $28.1 billion
• 3G networks of AT&T, Sprint and Verizon compared

One of the scientists who worked on the study published in the journal Science, David Smith of Duke University in North Carolina, says that “Cloaking technology could be used to make obstacles that impede communications signals ‘disappear.’”

The cloaking technology that is being developed here comprises of a so-called metamaterial, which is a unique, engineered substance with properties not seen in nature. When placed between two wireless devices, such as cellphones, it can block the devices from intercepting each other’s wireless signals and therefore interference (i.e. static) will cease to exist.

This kind of technology first and foremost applies to military scenarios, but if it’s good enough we’ll be able to see it in real world applications once it’s ready.

Via Reuters

• Haven’t Found E.T. Yet? Blame Mobile Phones
• Koreans are testing indoor LBS services too
• New TRRAM technology could bring transparent, flexible phones like Nokia Morph
• FCC Chairman Kevin Martin wants to allow the use of portable devices on white spaces
• Wi-Fi to replace Bluetooth?

The Nokia N79 Active comes with pretty much the same features as the original. It has a built-in GPS, accelerometer, support for HSDPA data, a 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics and an FM transmitter to share tunes to any FM radio.

However it does come with some noteworthy accessories, among which is the earlier mentioned wireless Polar Bluetooth WearLink heart rate belt from Polar, and also sporty headphones and an armband as well as a 4GB microSD card.

The Nokia N79 will be made available later this year in select markets for EUR 375 or about $490 USD before taxes and subsidies.

• Broadcom fits 802.11n Wi-Fi chip, FM transmitter and Bluetooth radio into one
• Nokia N78 will lack FM transmitter in some markets
• 2 versions Nokia N85 pass through FCC
• Nokia outs three new accessories: Nokia Home Music, Nokia Internet Stick CS-10 and Nokia Extra Power DC-11
• Nokia N95 really coming to Rogers Canada, actually 8GB version

The Nokia Locate Sensor is currently a work in progress, now a project at the Nokia Research Centre labs and could very well soon be an official release product. But what does it do?

As a tiny device that measures not bigger than a small thumb, the Nokia Locate Sensor can be attached to virtually any object a user desires. One that the user is fond of remembering not to forget, Nokia presumes, like say, a phone, a wallet, keys, or an I.D.

Once attached, the Nokia Locate Sensor will communicate wirelessly to a user’s phone via a software app to ring alarms whenever certain events happen (i.e. when the object with the attached sensor is dropped, or when the user and the object with the attached sensor get farther apart from each other than they should).

How the Nokia Locate Sensor wirelessly connects to a user’s phone wasn’t specified, though it could quite possibly be Bluetooth. 100 individual sensors can be supported by a single app on a phone, and each sensor is said to have power enough to last for one whole year and 6 months.

We won’t be seeing this go retail any time soon, but it would certainly be a good thing to have lying around.

Via Nokia Conversations

• Sony Ericsson wants to equip cameraphones with built-in image dictionaries
• Nokia Eco Sensor Phone concept
• Nokia Morph phone concept
• LG GW600 smartphone for AT&T approved by the FCC
• Microsoft Veda. New look at mobile convergence

Snapture Labs, a company known for providing a popular software for iPhone cameras, has recently presented its patent-pending “Xenon attachment for iPhone”. This looks somehow like a protective case and, obviously, it adds a Xenon flash to the handset’s camera.

The Xenon camera accessory is only a prototype for the moment, meaning that you still cannot make your iPhone a good photography tool in low light conditions.

However, Snapture Labs is working on the product and it will commercialize it sometime in the future, for both the iPhone 2G and the iPhone 3G.

No word yet about the exact release date and the price of the Xenon wonder, but you can get on a waiting list for it by visiting the Snapture website.    

Via Wired 

• Brando’s Super Grip for iPhone
• Sony Ericsson working on new 5MP K750 successor?
• Nokia Beta Labs mobile website now available
• New iPhones to come with 3.2MP, 5MP cameras?
• Apple “tax” for iPhone accessories may be in the works

The Belgian pharmaceutical firm initially announced that the E-waves chip reduced the heating effect of a mobile phone, but now it clarifies and says it can only do it to a certain degree. In other words, they aren’t quite owning up to the earlier announced levels of supposed heat reduction that they had initially indicated.

The company also says, “After the launch… a storm of protest broke out during which scientific proof of doctors and professors was brought into doubt,” speaking to Reuters.

But if you’re thinking Omega Pharma’s going to dump this whole idea for good, think again. That same report from Reuters also states that the company has just decided that it had to “repeat some tests and make the results known as soon as possible.”

They have an idea, and they believe in it whole-heartedly, apparently.

• Belgian pharmaceutical company unveils E-waves chip to counter phone radiation
• A Nokia N95 prototype can check your breath for diseases
• MagnaChip Semiconductor announces WVGA resolution supported AMOLED driver chip – EA8850
• 1Gb DDR2 mobile chip to come from Hynix
• Samsung announces single chip capacitive touchscreen controller

After the Nokia N97 multimedia computer and the Nokia Messaging service, it’s now time for some accessories intended to “enhance the mobile experience”.

First we have the Nokia Home Music. Obviously a music device, Nokia Home Music offers podcasts, internet radio and FM radio, all at the touch of a button. The device can be connected to a mobile phone, a digital music player, a PC and even a home stereo system.

Next is the Nokia Internet Stick CS-10, a broadband modem that can provide, independent of hotspots and WLAN, fast access to the Web, via the USB port of a PC or a Mac. The CS-10 only requires an active SIM card with data option enabled.

And finally, we have the Nokia Extra Power DC-11. This should allow users to “extend the power of mobile devices anytime, anywhere”, providing back-up power for up to two handsets at the same time. The Nokia Extra Power DC-11 works with any Nokia phone that has a micro USB or a Nokia 2mm charging interface.

No info yet on when the new Nokia accessories will be available and for what price.

Source: Nokia

• Nokia 7500 Prism offcially launched
• M2E Power to release motion-powered mobile chargers next year
• Nokia Xseries debuts with the X6 (Alvin) and X3 music phones
• UMA enabled Nokia 7510 launched by Rogers
• Nokia Unveils Unique Asymmetrical Design With the Nokia 5220

Named O2 Universal Charger, the new product is approximately twice more efficient than a regular mobile phone charger, cutting up to 70% of the wasted energy.  

The charger meets the energy efficient guidelines of the US Energy Star rating and features a power control system.

The O2 Universal Charger is the first product of this kind released by a UK mobile carrier. It can be purchased as of now, from all of O2’s UK stores, for £14.99. When bought together with a new handset, the Universal Charger costs only £7.49 (offering available until December 31, 2008), while separate connection cables are sold for £4.99.   

O2 says that about £30 million are wasted every year in the UK because of the improper use of cell phone chargers, so its new Universal Charger might save quite a lot of money, provided that most of the mobile consumers will use it.      

Via Press release

• Carphone Warehouse outs Eco Charger for Nokia, Samsung, Sony Ericsson
• MicroUSB Standard Now Backed by ITU
• Nokia 3110 Evolve Environment Friendly Handset
• Micro USB phone charger standard to be adopted next year by Nokia, Samsung, Apple and others
• Mobile industry giants to adopt universal chargers for phones by 2012

As expected, the W705 is a slider – the Walkman version of Sony Ericsson G705, which was announced last summer.

Sony Ericsson says that the new handset is capable of offering the “best-in-class audio experience”, and I guess we should believe that. The phone is nicely packed with lots of music features as well as with Web capabilities, all of which make it a pretty good mid-range device.

The specs of Sony Ericsson W705 look like this:

• 2.4 inch TFT display with 262K colors and 320 x 240 pixels
• Quad band GSM/GPRS/EDGE connectivity, 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz
• Dual band UMTS/HSPA connectivity, 900 / 2100 MHz
• Wi-Fi, DLNA certified
• Google Maps
• Accelerometer for auto rotate
• Walkman player
• Shake control
• Bluetooth with A2DP
• NetFront browser
• Email
• Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync
• Quick YouTube access
• 3.2 MP camera with geotagging, video recording
• 120MB of internal memory, plus a 4GB M2 card 
• 95 x 47.5 x 14.3 mm
• 98 grams
• Music listening time: up to 20 hours
• GSM/GPRS talk time: up to 10 hrs
• GSM/GPRS standby time: up to 400 hrs
• UMTS talk time: up to 4 hours
• UMTS standby time: up to 350 hours

Sony Ericsson W705 will be on sale starting the first quarter of 2009, in two color versions: Luxury Silver and Passionate Red. Its price is not known yet.

Apart from the regular W705, there will be other two versions: Sony Ericsson W705a, for the Americas, and Sony Ericsson W705 u, an UMA-enabled, Orange-exclusive version.

Together with the new Walkman phone, Sony Ericsson has also announced the Wireless Home Audio System MBS-900. This features a dual speaker and sub-woofer system and it can be connected with any Bluetooth-capable mobile phone, offering a crystal-clear sound. It also has an independent FM receiver and a monochrome OLDE display.

The MBS-900 will hit the market at the same time with the Sony Ericsson W705. Its price is also unknown.

Via Sony Ericsson

• Sony Ericsson W890 Walkman Phone announced
• Sony Ericsson announces W205 Walkman and S312 Snapshot phones
• Sony Ericsson W380 Walkman launched
• Sony Ericsson W395 Walkman brings music to the masses
• Sony Ericsson W880/W888 Walkman Phone Released

Released in the US exclusively via RadioShack, Motorola’s new GPS are available right away, retailing at $199.99 (the TN20) and $299.99 (the TN30).   

The first GPS navigation system, MOTONAV TN20 measures 3.7 x 3.2 x 0.7 inches, weighs 5 oz and has an anti-glare 3.5-inch touchscreen display with 320 x 240 pixels.

This is what the TN20 looks like:

Feature-wise, MOTONAV TN20 offers:

• Preloaded maps of continental US
• 2D and 3D map perspectives
• Spoken street names, turn-by-turn directions
• More than 1 million searchable points of interests (restaurants, banks, gas stations and so on)
• Lane guidance
• Speed limit display and warning
• Zoom, move maps using a finger
• Automatic day/night mode adjustment
• SD card slot for updated maps
• USB charging port

MOTONAV TN20 provides up to 2.5 hours of operational time (on battery) and comes with a windshield mount, dash mount and an in-car charger in the box.

MOTONAV TN30 is a bit bigger than the TN20, mainly because it sports a wider anti-glare touchscreen display that measures 4.3 inches and supports a resolution of 480 x 272 pixels: 

The TN30 can be connected via Bluetooth 2.0 with phones from more than 15 manufactures, so that users can easily make hands-free calls.   

Its other features include:

• Preloaded maps of the 50 US states, plus Canada and Puerto Rico
• 2D and 3D map perspectives
• Spoken street names and turn-by-turn directions
• Search restaurants, gas stations, banks and so on
• Zoom & move maps with a finger
• Lane guidance
• Automatic day/night mode adjustment
• Millions of points of interest to search  
• Speed limit display and warning
• SD card slot for updated maps
• USB charging port
• Up to 2.5 hours of operational time  

MOTONAV TN30 comes with the same in-box accessories as the TN20.  

Via Motorola

• Google Maps for mobile now with NYC public transit directions for all platforms ‘cept iPhone
• Google Maps for mobile updated: find businesses easier
• Garmin offers “Lifetime of Navigation” to BlackBerry users for $99.99
• Motorola Milestone (Droid) officially launched in Europe. Gets multi-touch, loses free navigation
• AT&T Navigator now available through Apple’s App Store

Nokia BH-804 comes in a genuine aluminum case and brings the latest technology so that we can enjoy superior audio quality and clear conversations.

For example, the Bluetooth headset features DSP (aka digital signal processing) that cancels background noise.  

Nokia Bluetooth Headset BH-804 has only two buttons, said to be user-friendly. These let you manage basic call functions, as well as the volume level.

It might be just my crazy imagination, but, from the angle above, the BH-804 looks like a mechanical ninja equipped with a scythe. Of course, it’s highly probable that no ninja has ever carried a scythe, but that’s another story.

Anyway, here are the technical details of Nokia BH-804:

• 7.2 grams, 42 x 13.6 x 6 mm
• Talk-time: up to 4 hours
• Standby time: up to 150 hours
• Bluetooth 2.0, EDR
• Hands-Free (HFP) Profile 1.5, Headset (HSP) Profile 1.1
• MicroUSB charging connector
• Operating range: up to 10 meters
• Operating temperature: -15°C to +55°C

The Nokia Bluetooth Headset BH-804 will be on sale starting this quarter, hence before the end of 2008, for a price that should be announced soon. The headset will be available in two color versions (aluminum grey, black) and will have a Desk Stand and a Carrying Strap included in the package.

Source: Nokia

• Dual-slide Nokia 8208 approved by FCC
• CDMA Nokia 8208 officially announced
• Kyocera G2GO M2000 and Laylo M1400 officially presented
• Motorola T325 Bluetooth speaker unveiled
• Verizon LG Decoy now official and available for $179.99

That’s more than the capacity of lots of PCs and laptops currently on the market, and a lot more than many of us will ever need for our handsets.

According to Deccan Herald, the 128GB cards will be “MicroSD” ones, but since these officially support only up to 2GB of memory, it’s more likely that the future cards will be MicroSDHC. 

Either way, the 128GB cards will be released in about three years, sometime in 2011. Well, too bad, because by then Apple might launch, let’s say, an iPhone 4G with 320GB of storage space, while Nokia might have an Nseries smartphone with similar internal memory.

But let’s dream no more and better wait for further details on SanDisk’s 128GB cards, ’cause they surely promise a lot.

Via Daily Mobile    

• SanDisk goes official with its 16GB MicroSDHC and M2 memory cards
• CES 2009: SDXC Cards on Display
• Toshiba readying fuel cell charger, 64GB SDXC memory card
• Apple intros the iPhone 3G S in 16GB and 32GB versions
• 5 mpx Samsung SGH-G800: 3x optical zoom, microSDHC card and HSDPA support

The slotMusic cards are actually 1GB MicroSD cards packed with DRM-free MP3s from more than 40 international artists. They cost $14.99 a unit and can be used with most of the cell phones and portable music players on the market.

A small USB adapter comes in the box with every slotMusic card, allowing you to move your music to any Windows, Mac or Linux computer.

The world’s biggest music labels, Sony BMG, Universal Music, EMI and Warner Music Group, are providing content for the new cards.

Included artists, as presented by SanDisk, are:

• ABBA
• Coldplay
• Chris Brown
• Connie Talbot
• Daughtry
• Elvis Presley
• Jimi Hendrix
• Jimmy Buffet
• Five Finger Death Punch
• Kiss
• Kelly Clarkson
• Katy Perry
• Keane
• Leona Lewis
• Lynyrd Skynyrd
• MIA
• Metro Station
• Nickelback
• New Kids On the Block
• Nelly
• Ne-Yo
• Rihanna
• Robin Thicke
• Pussycat Dolls
• Rise Against
• Sugarland
• Saving Abel
• Solange
• Shwayze
• Toby Keith
• Tim McGraw
• Weezer
• Usher
• Young Jeezy

Starting 2009, European consumers will be able to buy SanDisk’s slotMusic cards too. The price will probably be similar to the US one, so expect to pay about €12 for a card.

Via Press release

• SanDisk goes official with its 16GB MicroSDHC and M2 memory cards
• Samsung considering buying memory card maker SanDisk
• Cheaper Nokia X6 16GB coming in 2010 without CWM?
• SanDisk working on 128GB MicroSDHC cards?
• Samsung offers SanDisk $26 per share, SanDisk rejects

The famous flash memory products manufacturer announced the future market availability of both MicroSDHC and Memory Stick Micro (M2) cards that feature the said 16GB storage space.

The new cards will be released in the US via Best Buy, starting October, as well as via Verizon Wireless, but only starting November. The 16GB MicroSDHC units should have a retail price of $99, while the 16GB M2 ones will be a bit more expensive, coming at $129. Both have a 5-yr warranty, in case you’re wondering.   

Supposing that you don’t know yet, MicroSDHC cards can be used not only with a mobile device that supports these type of cards, but also with digital cameras, GPS receivers and high-end MP3 players.

On the other hand, the Memory Stick Micro M2 cards are made mainly for Sony Ericsson’s handsets. But since there are tens of millions of M2-enabled SE phones out there, SanDisk surely has no problems in selling the cards.   

Source: SanDisk

• SanDisk working on 128GB MicroSDHC cards?
• 5 mpx Samsung SGH-G800: 3x optical zoom, microSDHC card and HSDPA support
• SanDisk’s $15 slotMusic cards now shipping. Leona Lewis, Rhianna, Coldplay and many more coming your way
• Toshiba interested in buying SanDisk away from Samsung
• Samsung considering buying memory card maker SanDisk

KDDI, Japan’s second largest mobile carrier, will soon introduce a new set-top box (aka STB) called “au BOX” and targeted at users who want to “enjoy music and video content downloaded via their TV sets on their au mobile phones”.

Built by Motorola, KDDI’s new set-top box uses Opera Devices 9 SDK. Thus, in addition to providing Japanese mobile users with multimedia content, it also enables them to enjoy the Web on the large display of a TV.

With au BOX, consumers can further purchase content and make use of video-on-demand services.

It’s not too clear yet how the handset-TV interaction will function via KDDI’s new set-top box, but this “accessory” seems to be a perfect fit for Japan’s advanced mobile phones.  

The au BOX will be commercially available for KDDI’s subscribers starting the 1st of November, for a price that was not unveiled yet.   

So, a trip to Japan, anyone?

Via Opera

• KongZhong Opera 3.0 – the new mobile browser for Chinese users
• Opera Mobile 9.7 to be showcased at CTIA Wireless 2009
• Opera Mini 4.2 out of beta, available for Android and Samsung Instinct too
• Opera Mini 4.2 beta released for 20 million users worldwide
• Opera to announce US carrier partnerships at CTIA 2009 (Update: No, not really)

Apple says that, “under certain conditions”, the power adapter can create “a risk of electric shock.” The company doesn’t mention what exactly those conditions are, but it strongly suggests iPhone 3G owners to stop using the adapters. Not all iPhone 3G owners, but only those who bought the smartphone from:

• US   
• Canada
• Mexico
• Japan
• and six other Latin American countries: Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Peru

The faulty power adapter was also on sale as a standalone accessory, in all the countries mentioned above, as well as in Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica and Panama.

So, if you bought an Apple ultracompact USB power adapter from these countries, with an iPhone 3G or separately, you are eligible to change it, free of charge, even if it hasn’t caused any problems to you or your iPhone. You just need to visit an Apple Store (if you’re lucky to have one near by) or order a new adapter from Apple’s website. All the replaced (hence not faulty) USB power adapters should have a tiny green dot and look like this:

Apple will start offering the new and free adapters as of October 10. Until then, you can recharge your iPhone 3G:

• from your computer, through the USB cable that came in the smartphone’s package
• through a standard-sized Apple USB power adapter
• or through a third-party adapter (i.e. a car charger).  

Via Apple

• iPhone 2.0 software coming free to iPhone in July, $9.95 for iPod Touch
• Apple releases software to fix Connection Problems but furnishes no details
• Apple sells 1 million iPhone 3Gs, 10 million App Store downloads in first weekend
• iPhone 3G to receive firmware fix on September
• Apple Cube reborn

M2E power, a Boise, Idaho-based startup that has been dabbling in the cellphone accessories business for quite some time now, has just announced that it plans to bring a new kind of mobile phone charger to market next year. Now a mobile phone charger isn’t usually something to get excited about, but that’s what I thought too, until I heard that M2E’s charger actually takes its power from your movements.

Basically, M2E’s mobile phone charger will be more mobile than you think, since it has the ability to store power thanks to the user’s movement. And it’s said that with six hours of everyday movement, M2E’s mobile phone charger will be able to give your mobile an hour of talk time.

And that’s it. About two days of carrying the device around in your person will give you at least an hour’s worth of talk time on your phone. The only question now is, can we afford it? This is definitely one of those things that has the potential to become a big hit in the future, since it solves a big problem regarding the power in mobile devices these days. But if the price is too prohibitive, not too many people may be able to enjoy it.

Also interesting to note is that the company plans to have the chip behind their chargers integrated into future mobile phones. Now that would be useful. We’re not sure how much bulk this would add to handsets, however, if it will add any at all, but perhaps the benefits will outweigh outward appearances in this situation. Or perhaps not, We’ll probably come to know more about the product as it nears its launch next year.

Via GigaOM

• Energy efficient universal mobile phone charger launched by O2 – a first for the UK
• Mojo Mobility develops Near Field Power method to charge multiple devices at once
• O2 UK launches eco-friendly Sony Ericsson Naite
• Carphone Warehouse outs Eco Charger for Nokia, Samsung, Sony Ericsson
• Cellphone energy gap widens, says Strategy Analytics

On Monday, on his own personal blog Eldar wrote

” … some guys wanted a war and they will get it… I officially decided that I won’t be complying with the embargoes on any materials from your company, including:

• marketing roadmap until 07/09
• advertising plans with product/channel breakdowns
• new products and their problems
• etc;

Since none of the materials I have came from you and I never signed any NDA’s…

While Sony Ericsson is never mentioned in the post, many of his readers readily concluded that they are indeed the ones to provoke Eldar’s ire.

And less then kind reviews of the new, unannounced Sony Ericsson Walkmans only confirmed this.

Well, today seems to be a good day for a follow-up. And here’s a Sony Ericsson’s “Accesory Design Brief: Digital Photo Frame” from Eldar’s journal:

It seems that Sony Ericsson has decided to start making it’s own digital photoframes, as an accessories for it’s Cybershot phones. The design brief argues that:

This is the first Sony Ericsson digital photo viewer. The purpose of the product is to be an affordable accessory, but still provide enough quality and design impression to match the Cyber-shot™ concept/brand and lead the way for more Sony Ericsson digital photo viewer products.

The target group for the product is Mainstream Materialists, with UK, Germany and Sweden as initial target countries.

More than 50% of all digital photo frames today are sold as gifts and why buyers seem to be “all kinds of people” according to sales channels. This concept is (at least to some extent) assumed to be the case also for this product, meaning that the buyer and user in many cases probably won’t be the same person. A design language appropriate for a wide range of consumers, at least covering the whole span of Mainstream Materialists, is therefore desired.

The specs for the incoming Sony Ericsson Digital photoframe will include:

• LCD screen 5-7” (cost related but 7” is the goal)
• Vertical and horizontal desk stand back support (stored in the product preferable fold out or similar, not an extra item that gets lost.)
• Hanging device for both vertical and horizontal position (“keyhole”)
• Hard key – on/off switch
• Soft keys (capacitive sensing) for UI control
• Internal memory ~ 512 MB
• External power adapter (interchangeable tips to fit globally) with long enough wire to enable wall mount of the photo viewer.
• In-built battery < 3 hrs photo display
• Tilt sensor for picture rotation
• Light sensor for LCD adjustment and auto shut off
• Movement sensor (for power saving)
• Memory card reader with support for: MS M2, MS Duo, SD, SD micro (CF, xD and MMC if included in “standard” solutions)
• Connectors:
• USB Mini B (slave) for connection to computer.
• USB Type A (host) for connection to phone, USB memory sticks and other storage devices. The USB connector shall be located to enable a standard USB memory stick to be inserted while the product is hanging on the wall/standing on a shelf.
• TV-out RCA connector.
• Bluetooth 2.0+EDR or latest version at the time of launch.
• Remote control functionality from the phone via Bluetooth (like the power point control, change picture forward and backward)
• Kensington lock compatible

I have no idea what transpired between SE people and Eldar Murtazin, but the upcoming quarrel promises to be a boon for us, mobile news junkies. So stay tuned for the latest leaks and news about upcoming SE products.

• Sony Ericsson P10, G702, F305, S302, and C905 product pages leaked
• Sony Ericsson logo to get new colors
• Sony Ericsson K850i Cybershot, W999i and Shinobu Walkman, M610 Lizy to be announced on June 14?
• Sony Ericsson P5i Paris is actually P10?
• Sony Ericsson W380 Walkman launched

It’s the first ever Moto BT headset optimized for the car, says them. It offers noise reduction and echo cancellation technology, and the headset volume gets automatically adjusted depending on the amount of outside noise during use.

The H620 should be able to serve you up to 7 hours of talk time and 8 days on standby. It’s wireless range is standard, at up to 10 meters, and the battery is rechargeable via a rapid in-car charger when its not resting easy on the dashboard headset holder.

And then there’s also the Motorola H560 Bluetoooth headset. This one features a TrueComfort design that points all the audio directly into your ear, so you can clearly hear what the person on the other line is saying.

Here are a few more of the Motorola H620 and H560 Bluetooth headset’s features:

- Clear calls with noise reduction and echo-cancellation technology
- Rapid car charger and dashboard headset holder included
- Voice dialing support for quick hands-free calls
- TrueComfort design for an optimal fit and multiple ear cushions
- EasyPair technology helps simplify initial connection with a compatible phone
- Tested to work with over 200 compatible Bluetooth enabled devices from over 15 brands
- Version 2.0 Bluetooth wireless technology
- LED shines green, yellow or red for a quick battery check
- Easy on/off, call and volume buttons

No word yet on pricing, but these should be available starting on Q3 2008.

• Moto’s H780 Bluetooth headset lets you connect to two phones at once
• Motorola Endeavor HX1 Bluetooth headset with bone conduction technology announced
• BlueAnt Q1 Bluetooth headset launched at CES
• Samsung intros new Bluetooth headsets: WEP870, WEP850 and WEP470
• Nokia Bluetooth Stereo Headset BH-905 – the best headset ever made?

This little ditty weighs a grand total of 170g and uses AA batteries. If you use this keyboard one hour a day one pair of batteries will last 2-3 months. Not bad at all, IMO. I have not found any information leading us to believe it will be released in the States anytime soon, but you never know. For the time being, it will be released June 11 in Japan at $153.

The question is, how small will the keyboard truly be? Small gadgets are awesome, but will it be large enough to actually type on or should we just stick with the keyboards on our PDAs for now? After all, if you can’t type on it comfortably, what’s the point? (To type on it uncomfortably, I suppose…)

via Crunchgear

• Mobile phone shipments in Japan down 30% in July
• Fast-charging lithium batteries to come in two or three years
• Softbank Get iPhone in Japan
• Will the HTC S743 Turn Heads? Pics
• NetvibesToGo – new mobile service by Netvibes

The Super Grip helps protect your iPhone from falls, ensuring a long life well worth the initial cost, making sure that it stays in perfect condition.

It grips onto even the slipperiest surfaces, costs $10.50 and is available in black and white. You can purchase this handy iPhone accessory through Mobile.Brando.Com.HK and there are also various other retailers with this product in stock as well.

It may not be the most attractive accessory in the world but for a mere ten bucks we think it is at least worth checking out.

Via: IntoMobile

• White 3G iPhone in the wild?
• Solar power leather case charges your iPhone the green way
• Brando starts selling iPhone 3G SIM unlocking tool
• Apple “tax” for iPhone accessories may be in the works
• AT&T turns $99 iPhone dreams come true with refurbs

There are also various other mini-games which have been released by THQ but this is sure to be one of their most popular to date, what with the grand success of the ABC television show.

As stated on IntoMobile:

Dancing With the Stars for mobile phones lets wireless gamers choose their celebrity and costume while training their way through five exciting mini-games. Players can select from 16 favorite celebrity dancers as they choose to perform the Cuban Cha-Cha or the Jive to wow the judges. Gamers can also track their successes and ranking in an eight week competition.

If you enjoy playing games on your mobile phone this may be one that you will want to check out, even if you don’t end up actually purchasing the game it would be fun to give it a try.

• Prison Break on Your Mobile
• Opera Mini 4.2 beta released for 20 million users worldwide
• Lenovo i909 NES gaming phone with D-pad
• Opera Mini coming to Verizon or AT&T phones?
• Nokia N97 Mini appears in press photo

The quality of video processing quality on the iPhone is pretty good already, and, thank’s to the Moore’s law, will get much better in time, including the capabilities to view full HD movies in time. Storage? Give a few years and you’ll be carrying hundreds of gigabytes of media files in your iPhone 3.0. Sound quality? The headphone’s are getting better and better each day, and Dolby labs do not sit idle with advanced audio processing techniques.

But that small 3.2″ touchscreen display? Well, it might be good for watching a movie while on the road. But that’s certainly no HD experience. And there’s no good way around this problem, especially where the portability of the device is concerned. Or is there?

Well, if this Apple’s patent application ever becomes a real product, there actually may be: A laser based head mounted display for your iPod and iPhone.

The idea of head mounted displays is actually nothing new. There are already quite a few of them on the market. But they are all pretty bulky/clumsy devices, wearing which is certainly not a seamless experience.

But Apple has a way around that too.

Most of the bulk in the device comes from the light source and all the optical elements that are necessary to generate and display video image.

And here comes the Apple’s idea – you actually don’t need all of these things sitting on your head mounted display. Put all image generation electronics, the laser engine and other optics into a compact battery powered box, that can be clipped to the users belt. Transmit laser generated video to the headset display via optical cable. And then use ultra thin wedge optics, like those developed by Cambridge FPD, to display this image in front of the user eyes.

The optical display element can already be made no more then 2 mm thin, and the whole set-up that sits on your head could be no bigger then you standard horn rimmed glasses. When they do not get any images fed, the optical display elements can also be made fully transparent. Then you can go around walking with what looks like an ordinary glasses, and enjoy full HD video experience when you sit on that long cross-country flight. And if you are wearing glasses anyway, you may not notice any difference at all, since wedge optics elements can be made a part of them.

But I don’t have to go into all the details. Apple spells all of this out itself, in a patent application:

In accordance with one embodiment, the remote laser engine is a portable unit that can be carried by the user. In some cases, it may even be a highly compact handheld unit. In fact, it may include a strap, clip or other attachment means for coupling to the user or an article of clothing thereby making it easily transportable. The user simply wears the head mounted display apparatus that includes the imaging device and displays elements and on their head, and attaches the laser engine to their person thereby keeping their hands free to do other tasks. In the case where the display element(s) formed from transparent optical elements, the user can further be mobile when images aren’t being displayed, i.e., the user can see through the display unit similar to traditional eye glasses. Furthermore, in cases where the laser engine is powered by a battery rather than a power cable the user is free to move anywhere they like thereby making the laser engine even more portable.

In one example of this embodiment, a user simply plugs their handheld video player such as the iPod manufactured by Apple Computer of Cupertino, Calif., into the compact laser engine attached to their belt, and places the headset on their head. The user then selects a video to be played at the handheld video player (viewing through transparent display elements). Once selected, the handheld video player generates a video signal which is processed into synchronized light control signals and image control signals for use by the laser engine and imaging device. In essence, the laser engine and imaging device work together to create dual video images in accordance with the video signal being outputted by the handheld video player. Furthermore, the display unit receives the dual video images from the imaging device and presents them for viewing. When video is not being played, no images are being created and thus the display unit act just like glasses. In fact, the head set may further include optical components that are based on the user’ eyesight so they can see normally when the system is not operating. Thus, the user is able to select other video for playing without taking off the head gear. If the laser engine further includes a battery, the user can be very mobile while utilizing and wearing the system (e.g., not limited to the length of a power cord).

Apple also has some more patent applications related to head mounted displays, covering such things like treating of peripheral areas of the HMD’s to enhance the overall comfort, or better image display and generation techniques.

Looks like an interesting idea all around. We should see whether something will come off it in the next few years.

• Motorola patents mobile phone/ head mounted display hybrid
• Look out Google. Nokia is working on its own Mobile Search Engine!
• Samsung phone with holographic 3D projection display
• Nokia Image Exchange available for download from Beta Labs
• Apple wants to make Mac Book smaller… By putting Optical Disc Drive at the Bottom

The AX Visor car kit is perfect for use while driving to work, and users are offered both car mode and speakerphone mode, the microphone switching accordingly dependant upon which mode you choose.

The Visor comes with a battery that offers up to 15 hours of talk time and 400 hours of standby time as well as an OLED screen for displaying caller ID, and you even have the option of charging the Visor either via AC/DC adapter or a USB port.

Both Bluetooth accessories are already available through Tritton, the AX Micro at a price of $59.99, the AX Visor a bit pricier at $119.99.

• Verizon LG Decoy now official and available for $179.99
• Wirelessly ride in style with Motorola H620 and H560 Bluetooth headsets
• BlueAnt Q1 Bluetooth headset launched at CES
• Sony Ericsson F305 motion-gaming phone gets official
• New, tiny Nokia Bluetooth Headset BH-804, cool like a ninja with a scythe

Credo is selling for its customers and others the Iqua, a solar powered Bluetooth headset, as well as the Tread handset case made from recycled tires and the Solio Charger, a solar powered charger designed to charge various portable devices. These items will run you around $100, $25 and $100, respectively.

I’ve personally decided to take Credo Mobile for a two-year spin by ordering its Motorola Moto Q smartphone. While I’m not sure exactly how this extended experiment will turn out, I do think Credo has a worthy thing going on here. The dedicated sales of these type of eco-accessories only seem to strengthen this focus. I could, of course, just be a sucker as well – time will tell.

• ZegnaSport Solar JKT Jacket to power your phone and iPod
• Samsung’s Blue Earth phone is both awesome and solar-powered
• Cheap Samsung E1107 Crest Solar phone announced
• Solar-powered iCharge eco to let you charge your phone in the wild
• HTW S116 Solar Powered Phone is Real