The Dext MB220 [a.k.a. CLIQ] is Motorola’s smartphone that has Android OS v1.5 (codenamed Cupcake). It should already be out on the store shelves this month of October 2009. Features: 2G Network: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 3G Network: HSDPA 1700 / 2100 / 900 Android OS, v1.5 (Cupcake) Qualcomm MSM7201A 528 MHz processor 5 megapixels camera, 2592 x 1944 pixels, autofocus, w/ geo-tagging 3.1-inch 320x480 TFT capacitive touch screen Accelerometer sensor Proximity sensor for auto turn-off Full QWERTY keyboard with 5-way navigation key MOTOBLUR UI with Live Widgets Memory: 1 GB storage, 256MB RAM, 512MB ROM microSD card slot, up to 32GB Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g Bluetooth v2.1 with A2DP microUSB v2.0 connectivity Dimensions: 114 x 58 x 15.6 mm Weight: 163 g CNET gave the Motorola Dext an 8 out of 10: “If you're drowning in a social-networking deluge of updates and messages, the Motorola Dext may be the answer for keeping everything under control. Throw in a full QWERTY keyboard, you've got an excellent phone that's built for staying in touch, as long as you don't actually want to make calls.” [CNET Asia | Motorola Dext] Sometimes, smartphones become too smart, that its main purpose is no longer making calls. ;) Technorati Tags: motorola, dext, cliq, smartphone

The Nokia internet tablet series will have a refresh in the form of the N900. Expected to be released this October 2009, this is the first Nokia internet tablet that has  built-in telephony features. (The previous models, N770 and N800, did not have phone features.) Features: 5 megapixel camera, Carl Zeiss optics, autofocus, Dual LED flash, video light, Geo-tagging WVGA(848 x 480)@25fps video recording secondary VGA camera, for video conferencing GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 HSDPA 1700 / 2100 / 900 3.5-inch 800 x 480 TFT resistive touchscreen Proximity sensor for auto turn-off Accelerometer sensor for auto-rotate Full QWERTY keyboard Memory: 32 GB storage, 256 MB RAM microSD expansion slot, up to 16GB 802.11 b/g WLAN Bluetooth v2.1, with A2DP microUSB connection Maemo 5 operating system ARM Cortex A8 600 MHz processor, PowerVR SGX graphics Stereo FM radio; FM transmitter GPS with A-GPS support; Ovi Maps MIDP 2.1 Java Digital compass MP3/WMA/WAV/eAAC+ music player WMV/RealVideo/MP4/AVI/XviD video player TV-out Dimensions: 110.9 x 59.8 x 18 mm Weight: 181 g In my opinion, the lack of popularity of the previous Nokia Internet Tablets could be due to the absence of the mobile phone function. This shortcoming was addressed by Nokia in coming up with the N900, and also added the whole nine yards! The Maemo operating system is a modified version of Debian GNU/Linux, specifically developed for the Nokia Internet Tablet series. Technorati Tags: nokia, maemo, n900

Recently, there were reports of some iPhone screens suddenly cracking up, without just reason. “Consumers in the UK, Holland and Sweden have reported similar problems, prompting an earlier EU investigation. … Apple said it was aware of the reports and was waiting to receive the handsets from the affected customers.” [Exploding iPhones investigated | BBC News] Some reported that the iPhone’s lithium ion batteries could possibly be the source of the problem. Technorati Tags: apple, iphone, screen, problem, battery

The N86 8MP is the Nokia’s newest offering in the N8 smartphone series. Features: 2.6-inch 240x320 OLED display 8 megapixel autofocus camera with 28mm wide-angle lens, dual-LED flash, and AF assist light Symbian OS 9.3 operating system ARM 11 434 MHz CPU, 128MB RAM Quad-band GSM / 3G with HSDPA 3.6Mbps Wi-Fi with UPnP technology Built-in GPS with A-GPS functionality Dual slide design with dedicated gaming/audio/gallery keys microSD card slot with microSDHC support 8GB internal storage Built-in accelerometer Stereo FM Radio with RDS, FM transmitter Standard microUSB port stereo Bluetooth v2.0 Digital compass Dimensions: 103.4 x 51.4 x 16.5 mm Weight: 149 g   “… Great all-round performance is what you can expect in one of the most-complete smartphones on the market. A cameraphone, an N-gage gaming phone, a dual slider with a kickstand, a true Symbian all-in-one. … Nokia have got the hardware right however and the image processing is hopefully fixable through a firmware update. How the first Nokia 8 megapixel cameraphone fares against the competition is probably a short-term strategy. The important thing in the long run is the Nseries is done catching up and is ready and willing to discover. ” [GSM Arena | Nokia N86 8MP] One can say that the N86 is an N85 with a better and cooler camera. If you’ve been wanting to buy an N85 but held off, the N86 won’t disappoint. Technorati Tags: nokia, n86, 8 megapixel, wide angle

Currently for Mac OS X only, users can now the Pwnage Tool to jailbreak their iPhones. QuickPwn for Windows and Mac OS X will follow sometime soon. Notes: GOLDEN RULE: If you are using a 3G iPhone with yellowsn0w and rely on yellowsn0w to obtain cellular service, then you should NOT use PwnageTool right now. UltraSn0w is not included with this release and therefore your baseband will be locked and unable to use an operator other than the official one it was bought for. UltraSn0w will be release via APT (cydia and icy) soon. If you have an original iPhone (1st generation) then 3.0 unlock works with this PwnageTool release. Yellowsn0w in its current form will NOT work with the baseband version that is present in the 3.0 update, you will need Ultrasn0w, which will be released sometime soon, Ultrasn0w will work with all iPhone 3G models (but not 3GS), even ones that were previously unlockable, Ultrasn0w (when available) will be released via APT (this means you can get it via Cydia or Icy). Please read all parts of this post before downloading and using these tools. Read items 1, 2 and 3 again and again. At the bottom of this post are the bittorrent files for the 3.0 capable version of PwnageTool. This app is suitable for the recent 3.0 release. PwnageTool will NOT work for the iPhone 3GS. PwnageTool WILL work for Original iPhone (1st Generation), Original iPod touch (1st Generation) and the iPhone 3G. Read more at the Dev-Team Blog website >> Technorati Tags: iphone, 3.0, firmware, jailbreak, pwnagetool, quickpwn, apple

Palm recently released update 1.0.3 for webOS. This is particular for the Palm Pre from Sprint. Changes: Calendar Events created in your Google calendar—either in Calendar on your phone or in Google online—that contain a symbol or accented character in the event name can now synchronize. Previously, including a symbol or accented character in an event name prevented the event from synchronizing. Changes made to Google events on the phone now sync with Google online within a few minutes. The sync interval for Google events has been decreased from every few hours to every 15 minutes. Clock Changes made to Google contacts on the phone now sync with Google online within a few minutes. The sync interval for Google contacts has been decreased from every few hours to every 15 minutes. Email Power performance in areas where wireless coverage is sporadic or unavailable has been enhanced. Non-SSL Exchange ActiveSync (EAS) mail servers are now supported. Other Miscellaneous updates for Email, Phone, and other applications. Read more at the Palm website >> Technorati Tags: palm, webos, pre, update, firmware

Palm detailed how system updates work on their new operating system, Palm webOS. The Palm Pre automatically checks for system updates every 7 days. Manual checking of update availability can be done by opening “Updates”. When an update is available, it is downloaded in the background (no user intervention needed) whenever a Wi-Fi connection is established. “Palm provides system updates wirelessly to webOS phones. These updates are released periodically and are intended to increase stability, improve the user experience, and in some cases add functionality to the phone. Software updates cannot be downloaded on a 1xRTT connection because it would block incoming phone calls. You need to be in an EVDO network coverage area or connect the device to a Wi-Fi network. System updates are intended to be automatically installed. In order for this to happen, your phone's battery must have a 30% (or higher) charge. We recommend that you charge your battery frequently as this also improves battery life. Never remove your battery during an update as it may permanently damage your phone. There are several steps to a system update, but almost all of them are performed automatically.” [Palm] While a system update is being installed, you will not be able to use any part of your phone, and all wireless services are disabled. A system update usually takes about 10 minutes. After 15 minutes, your phone will shut down. Never remove the battery while an update is being installed as this may permanently damage your phone. Read more at the Palm website >> Technorati Tags: palm, pre, webos, system, update

The Apple iPhone 3G S (US$199, plus subscription plan) is the successor to the previous iPhone 3G. It is tagged as the “fastest, most powerful iPhone yet”. Features: 2G network: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 3G network: HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 3.15 megapixel camera, 2048x1536 pixels, autofocus Processor: ARM Cortex A8 600 MHz, PowerVR SGX graphics 3.5-inch, 320x480 TFT capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors Multi-touch input method Accelerometer sensor for auto-rotate Proximity sensor for auto turn-off Scratch-resistant surface Ambient light sensor 16 GB/ 32 GB storage, 256 MB RAM Wi-Fi 802.11b/g Bluetooth v2.1 USB 2.0 connectivity iPhone OS (based on Mac OS) Built-in GPS, with A-GPS support Digital compass Google Maps Audio/video player TV-out Voice command/dial Dimensions: 115.5 x 62.1 x 12.3 mm Weight: 135 g AnandTech has got the skinny on the iPhone 3G S hardware: “… the Palm Pre uses a similar combination of hardware to what I expect from the iPhone 3GS. TI’s OMAP 3430 combines a Cortex A8 CPU core with a PowerVR SGX 530 GPU. The difference is that while the Pre uses its excess horsepower to enable user-level application multitasking, Apple won’t be. The Pre is most definitely faster than the iPhone, but it still has some rough edges. Combine the power of the Pre with the highly optimized software stack of the iPhone and you’ve got the recipe of an extremely fast iPhone. … The iPhone 3GS may be a mild upgrade from a consumer perspective, but what it's going to enable is far from it…” [AnandTech | The iPhone 3GS Hardware Exposed & Analyzed] Yes, Dorothy, it does have new hardware. ;) Technorati Tags: apple, iphone, 3gs

(Picture courtesy of RapidRepair.com) RapidRepair.com has a complete take-apart repair guide for the Palm Pre: “Welcome to the RapidRepair Palm Pre take-apart repair guide. Here we show (in nearly sickening detail) the internals of the new Palm Pre and how to safely reach them in a few easy steps. Be sure to check our repair tools page for easy to use toolkits for replacing screens, batteries and more on your Palm Pre.” [RapidRepair.com | Palm Pre Repair Guide] If you ever need to disassemble your Palm Pre, the guide gives you a step-by-step procedure of going about it. Technorati Tags: palm, pre, disassemble, guide, smartphone

BoyGeniusReport.com had a hands-on “Pre” review of the upcoming Palm Pre (US$200 plus plan). Features: Palm webOS operating system 3G EVDO Rev A network 3.1-inch touch screen 320x480 HVGA color display physical QWERTY keyboard built-in GPS 3 megapixel camera with LED flash ambient light, accelerometer, and proximity sensors Audio formats: MP3, AAC, AAC+, AMR, QCELP, WAV Video Formats: MPEG-4, H.263, H.264 Image Formats: GIF, JPEG, PNG, BMP 802.11b/g Wi-Fi Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR with A2DP stereo 8GB memory, with USB mass storage support MicroUSB connector 3.5mm stereo headphone jack Palm Touchstone charging dock Dimensions: 59.5 x 100.5 x 16.96 mm Weight: 135 grams “Once the initial Pre launch is over and done with and all the hype, smoke and mirrors are clear though, we can see Palm being pretty successful moving forward. Hell, Palm has converted tons of people into raging Pre fanboys before they could even see the phone in person! Very Apple-esque. More carriers will get the Pre, more handsets will be released and WebOS could very well keep things interesting even if the hardware is lacking.” [Boy Genius Report | Palm Pre Review Part 1] Okay, so like the Android G1, the OS is great (or has great potential) but no cigar in the hardware department. Personally, I’ve been a Palm (or more appropriately, a Palm OS) fan for many years due to the easy-to-use platform and wide availability of apps. It’s simple, gets the job done, and has (or had) a large dev community. Sadly, the tech and consumer community has declared the Palm OS already old (no support for fancy sensors and gestures, etc.), thus the need for a new OS. Now let’s wait for more reviews after the official June 6 launch of the Palm Pre… Technorati Tags: palm, pre, phone, pda

The Nokia N79 (US$350 Unlocked) is a refresh of the previous N78 mobile phone. Features: Candybar form factor 2.4-inch 240x320 display Symbian S60 platform GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz 850/1900/2100 3.6 HSDPA 5 megapixel camera Bluetooth 2.0 802.11 a/b/g WLAN Dimensions: 4.3 x 1.93 x 0.59 inches Weight: 3.42 ounces InfoSync World gives the N79 a 79% rating: “The Nokia N79 is a smaller, powerful Nseries device, and it fits neatly beneath the Nokia N85 in the lineup, even though the larger dual-slider can be found for less. Regardless, the candybar N79 won't win too many fans for its hodge podge design, but if the insides count more than the outside, the Nokia N79 shines from within with good call quality, robust Web browsing and good performance all around, especially in multimedia playback and GPS navigation.” [InfoSync World | Nokia N79] Best features of the N79 are: Calling, Multimedia, Web Browsing, and GPS Navigation. If you already have an N85, maybe it’s better to stick with your present phone. Technorati Tags: nokia, n79, smartphone

There’s nothing worse than running out of battery, whether it’s on the train to work or the plane abroad.  Following the success of their Mobile Device Charger, Proporta are pleased to announce their new model, the Universal Emergency Charger.  This sleek, portable gadget allows you to power up any device that charges from a USB socket up to three times, so whether you’re a commuter, a traveller, or just out and about, you need never be caught short again. The Universal Emergency Charger packs an impressive 2500mAh of power, and can be charged from any convenient USB port. It comes complete with a USB to Mini USB cable and a retractable cable with adaptors that allow you to charge and recharge your Nokia, Micro USB, PSP, Samsung, iPod or Sony Ericsson device anywhere.  Anything that charges from a USB will work with this ridiculously handy device, meaning you can charge your mobile gadgets again and again (and again) wherever you are. For the travellers among us, Proporta also offer the Universal Emergency Charger – Travel Kit which includes a useful in Car Power Supply compatible with all standard car cigarette lighter sockets, and an AC World Travel Charger Kit, that allows you to charge from the mains anywhere in the world. P.S. Keep all your mobile gadgets in one place and protect them on the move with the Proporta Gadget Bag. (Thanks to Hannah Saffman for the news.) Technorati: proporta universal emergency charger Tags: accessories audio console gaming pda phone player reader video

iPhoneDev.org recently released their Pwnage Tool 2.2.5 and QuickPwn 2.2.5 software. These tools will help you update to Firmware 2.2.1 from Apple, as well as Pwn and Jailbreak your device.

You can use these tools for your iPhone 2G, iPhone 3G, and iPod Touch 1st Gen. The iPod Touch 2nd Gen is NOT supported. The [...]

The Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 – the first Windows Mobile phone by Sony Ericsson, allows you to enjoy your favourite entertainment and work efficiently whilst on the move. With its sophisticated and distinctive design, it’s right up there as being one of the best in its field.

The Alu-Leather Case (Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 [...]

Nokia recently released Firmware v200.21.118 for its European E71 smartphone. This will work for the European E71 only, but I’m sure updates for other regions are on its way. Users can get the new firmware on the Nokia website, via the Nokia Software Updater. New Functions:

Internet Radio application My Nokia application 3G power reduction for [...]

Palm recently announced its new phone and operating system at CES. Say hello to the Palm pre and Palm WebOS!

Palm pre Specifications:

High-speed connectivity (EVDO Rev. A or UMTS HSDPA) Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g Integrated GPS 3.1-inch touch screen with a vibrant 24-bit color 320×480 resolution HVGA display Gesture area, which enables simple, intuitive gestures [...]

The Motorola RAZR2 V9x (US$100, plus contract) is a clamshell mobile phone that features:

2G network: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G network: HSDPA 2100
2 megapixels camera
Primary display: 2.2-inch 240 x 320 pixels TFT display (256K colors)
secondary display: 2-inch 240 x 320 pixels with contextual touch interaction
microSD expansion slot (up to 8GB)
45 MB internal memory
Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP
microUSB 2.0 connectivity
Dimensions: 103 x 53 x 13 mm
Weight: 125 g

“The Motorola RAZR2 V9x has lost much of the appeal of the original RAZR brand, in that it isn’t very thin or sleek. In fact, these days it seems like a wide, bulky phone, but all that width and heft helps drive the two great screens, the bright and colorful internal display and the surprisingly large and useful external screen. Overall, there may not be much clout left in the RAZR name, but that doesn’t keep the Motorola RAZR2 V9x from being a very nice multimedia phone. Call quality was very good, much better than most phones in this class, and the phone also packs a nice range of 3G features, including a capable Web browser from Opera and GPS navigation. The Motorola RAZR2 is a nice choice for folks who want plenty of features on a phone that isn’t too smart. For these folks, the RAZR2 may be a shadow of its former self, but it’s still a phone that might just turn a few heads.” [InfoSync World | Motorola RAZR2 V9x review (AT&T)]

Best characteristics of the RAZR2 V9x are the external display with touch controls, lots of features, and nice style. Technorati: motorola razr2 v9x Tags: phone

The HTC Touch HD is the newest member of the HTC family and this rather clever device allows you to enjoy music videos, films and streaming like you never thought possible on a mobile device. It will come as no surprise that Proporta has designed an Alu-Leather Case (HTC Touch HD Series) - Flip Type which has been made to fit the exact specifications of your HD. Proporta’s Alu-Leather Cases also feature their ultra-special ‘Screen Saver System’, which uses a sheet of rigid, lightweight, aircraft grade aluminium which will protect your Touch HD against crushing and impact shocks.

Proporta also recommends the Advanced Screen Protector (HTC Touch HD), because when it comes to touch-screen devices you really can’t afford to take any chances with your screen (i.e. without the screen, you aren’t going anywhere). Proporta has managed to improve the thickness of the high-clarity protector, without impairing screen brightness or quality. Clever Proporta. P.S. If you decide to purchase Proporta’s  Alu-Leather Case (HTC Touch HD Series) - Flip Type they’re adamant you’ll want to keep it in good nick. Check out their Leather Care Guide for some handy tips on how to keep your case looking fine and dandy. (Thanks to Hannah Saffman for the news.) IceRocket: htc touch hd

Proporta knows just how fantastic the original HTC Touch was (and continues to be), so it should come as no surprise that they are already quite fond of its older brother; the Viva. The HTC Touch Viva boasts state of the art HTC TouchFLO technology and, amongst other things, has also managed to make Internet browsing a breeze. Seeing as Proporta has already taken quite a shine to the HTC family, they really wouldn’t like to see a member of the Touch clan ruined by the wear and tear of the daily grind. Proporta has therefore designed a lovely Alu-Leather Case (HTC Touch Viva) - Flip Type which has been designed to fit every contour of your device.  Proporta’s Alu-Leather Cases also feature their ultra-special ‘Screen Saver System’, which uses a sheet of rigid, lightweight, aircraft grade aluminium which will protect your Viva against crushing and impact shocks. Proporta would also recommend their Advanced Screen Protector (HTC Touch Viva), as when it comes to touch-screen devices you really can’t afford to take any chances with your screen (i.e. without the screen, you aren’t going anywhere). They’ve managed to improve the thickness of the high-clarity protector, without impairing screen brightness or quality. Clever Proporta. P.S. If you decide to purchase either of Proporta’s  Alu-Leather Case (HTC Touch Viva) - Flip Type they’re adamant you’ll want to keep it in good nick. Check out their Leather Care Guide for some handy tips on how to keep your case looking fine and dandy. (Thanks to Hannah Saffman for the news.) Technorati: htc touch viva, screen protector Tags: accessories pda phone

Proporta knows just how fantastic the original HTC Touch was (and continues to be), so it should come as no surprise that they are already quite fond of its older brother; the Viva. The HTC Touch Viva boasts state of the art HTC TouchFLO technology and, amongst other things, has also managed to make Internet browsing a breeze. Seeing as Proporta has already taken quite a shine to the HTC family, they really wouldn’t like to see a member of the Touch clan ruined by the wear and tear of the daily grind. Proporta has therefore designed a lovely Alu-Leather Case (HTC Touch Viva) - Flip Type which has been designed to fit every contour of your device.  Proporta’s Alu-Leather Cases also feature their ultra-special ‘Screen Saver System’, which uses a sheet of rigid, lightweight, aircraft grade aluminium which will protect your Viva against crushing and impact shocks. Proporta would also recommend their Advanced Screen Protector (HTC Touch Viva), as when it comes to touch-screen devices you really can’t afford to take any chances with your screen (i.e. without the screen, you aren’t going anywhere). They’ve managed to improve the thickness of the high-clarity protector, without impairing screen brightness or quality. Clever Proporta. P.S. If you decide to purchase either of Proporta’s  Alu-Leather Case (HTC Touch Viva) - Flip Type they’re adamant you’ll want to keep it in good nick. Check out their Leather Care Guide for some handy tips on how to keep your case looking fine and dandy. (Thanks to Hannah Saffman for the news.) Technorati: htc touch viva, screen protector Tags: accessories pda phone