Video: New Nokia N97 Firmware Preview

Together with the Nokia N97 Mini, Nokia is bringing a new firmware for the current Nokia N97 next month with many improvements and bug fixes. The new firmware will add-on more social network application, widgets and the useful kinetic scrolling. Check out a video from thenokiablog with some of the new features.

[via SlashPhone]

Samsung i5700 Galaxy Lite Leaks in Lime Green!

Different from what we saw in the previous leaked photo, the Samsung i5700 Galaxy Lite is leaked in a fresh color design. According to ai.rs, the production unit might not include the lime green design but instead use a more conservative colors. The Samsung i5700 will comes with a 3.2 megapixel camera, 1GB internal memory and microSD card slot. Check out the hardware preview video here!

[via slashgear]

Leaked HTC Leo Gets a Video Walkthrough

Wow wow, as the next big updates to the HTC Touch HD, the unannounced HTC Leo is now available in a high quality photo gallery and a nice walkthrough video. The ai.rs has again confirmed the multi touch capability on this giant Windows Phones. This could be the first Windows Phones using a capacitive touch screen! The HTC Leo is also coming with a new version of the famous HTC’s TouchFLO 3D (Manila 2.5), added with program shortcut on the home screen, footprint tab, social network integration and new icons design.


Powered by a 1GHz Qualcomm 8250B CPU, the new TouchFLO 3D is very responsive to finger touch with no delay. While it is not sure that HTC Pro Three will be its actual name, we are definitely happy to see a dual flash LED added to the 5 megapixel camera module. Check out the video below.

[via slashgear]

Video: Nokia 6710 Navigator

Video: Nokia N86 - Nokia 8 mega pixel camera phone

Video: HTC Touch Diamond 2

Video: Nokia E75 in detail

Hands-on video of Sony Ericsson's Idou, its first S60/Symbian Foundation smartphone

With the official start of the Mobile World Congress 2009 only hours away, Sony Ericsson announced its Idou smartphone at a press event in Barcelona. We sat down with a few Sony Ericsson execs to talk about the new smartphone, which will be the first device from Sony Ericsson to run on the new Symbian Foundation(INFO) platform. The open-source Symbian Foundation OS is being built upon Nokia's S60(INFO) user interface and the Symbian OS(INFO), and will look very much like the current Nokia S60 5th Edition that runs on the Nokia 5800 XpressMedia, if our sources are to believed.

Since the Idou is a prototype, and doesn't even have an official name yet, we were unable to get video of the smartphone actually powered up. But we did get a chance to play around with the hardware enough to at least be able to imagine what is coming.

For being such early hardware, the Idou felt solidly built. We could see the 12.1 megapixel camera's autofocus lens and Xenon flash, and the signage on the device told us that it will feature DLNA compatible WiFi and GPS as well. The display measures 3.5 inches across and is in a wide screen format, though we don't know what the actual pixel resolution will be.
In terms of the look and feel of the user interface, we can expect it to be fairly true to the stock Symbian Foundation UI, which is expected to look much like S60 5th Edition. Sony Ericsson reps did say that we should expect to see the same kind of Sony Ericsson user experience type apps on the Idou as we see on Sony Ericsson's feature phones and its Xperia X1, though there was no mention specifically of the Xperia panels, which we are not expecting.

We have been told that the full announcement for the Idou, which will contain its final name, full specs, and expected availability date, will come to us by early Summer of 2009. We're looking forward to it. For now, enjoy the photos and the HD video we shot of the device.

[via MobileBurn]

Nokia XpressMusic 5800 hands on videos

MobileBurn has brought a few nice video demonstrations of the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic to those of us who are still waiting to get our hands on one. They are reporting that other than the two bugs that are believed to be worked out in the production model, the XpressMusic 5800 is a really solid device.

First impressions of this touchscreen phone were very grim; not very many people liked the phone when it was first introduced. Many of the people who did not like the handset at first are not eating their words. Scrolling with the touch interface is a bit different than with most other touchscreen phones such as the iPhone. Users must first tap the screen to select, and then tap again to activate the navigation style. This method not only works very well, but also is also very intuitive.

One drawback that was found is the lack of the ability to customize the Active Standby screen. With how much space the screen has, users may come to expect more options and better use of the screen. As with many touchscreen devices there is a T9 mode when the handset is held in portrait mode and a full Qwerty keyboard for landscape mode. One feature that makes the XpressMusic 5800 feel very solid is the haptic feedback when using the touchscreen.

Just as it appears the XpressMusic 5800 feels a bit “hollow and plasticky.” The web browser is a pleasure to deal with and the Wi-Fi is reportedly easier to use than with previous S60 models. One thing we are disappointed to hear is the music player does not do anything to wow users. This phone is based around a music device after all.

[Via MobileBurn]

Nokia 5800 XpressMusic ‘Tube’ touchscreen phone announced

After months of speculation, rumors and information tidbit leaks, Nokia’s “Comes With Music” phone was officially announced today. The Nokia 5800 XpressMusic will run S60 5th edition, the first phone from the company to do such, and will possess finger-input.

With a 3.2-inch 640 x 360 rez resistive touchscreen, this phone is equipped to provide the tools and experiences users want. With US HSDPA, European HSDPA, and GSM versions, Nokia has all their bases covered. Other features include video playback and recording with 30fps and 16:9 aspect ratio in VGA. There is an onscreen QWERTY keyboard and a numeric keypad that uses T9 predictive text. Plus, you can input text by means of a finger, stylus or Nokia plectrum.

Also pretty unique to the phone is it’s combined Contacts bar that includes all of your recent information including missed calls, emails, text messages, RSS feed updates and more. Other specs include a 3.2 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics and autofocus and LED flash, Bluetooth, GPS, WiFi, a 3.5mm headphone jack, microSD slot and more. You can expect the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic phone sometime this quarter for €279 ($385) unlocked and an 8GB microSD card included. You’ll have your choice of black, red or blue color options. A Comes With Music version of the phone that includes a year’s worth of access to the Nokia Music Store will be available early next year.

[via SlashGear]

Video Phone: Sprint Samsung Instinct vs Apple iPhone - GPS

LG Secret includes DivX video technology

DivX announced that it has signed an agreement with LG to include DivX technology in the newly launched LG Secret (LG KF750) mobile phone. The LG Secret is part of the highly stylish LG Black Label Series, which has just been launched in Europe. DivX continues to enable a high-quality media experience for consumers by making it easy to transfer video content across the PC, the mobile environment and the living room. The LG Secret mobile phone lets users load all their high-quality DivX video onto the phone via a USB cable or memory card and then enjoy that content not just on-the-go but in the living room as well.

LG Secret delivers the ultimate in style and technology

The unique TV-Out feature of the LG Secret lets users play back their video contents from the phone directly on the television screen, turning this LG handset into a powerful portable media library. The LG Secret represents a significant advance from the first DivX Certified phone released by LG in November 2007, the popular LG Viewty. Compared with LG Viewty's focus on multimedia features, LG secret focuses on premium exterior design features to achieve the ultimate in style and technology in an attractive, ultra slim 11.8mm frame.

DivX video playback via the LG Secret

"LG recognizes that DivX video playback is a feature that consumers appreciate and rely on," said Chang Ma, Vice President of global marketing strategy team of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. "As our newest phone to offer high-quality DivX technology, the LG Secret will allow consumers to do more with their media, watching it how and where they want to watch it."

DivX certifications LG products

A long-time DivX licensee, LG offers a number of DivX Certified products, from DVD players to digital televisions. Over 100 million DivX Certified devices have shipped worldwide by all major manufacturers, including DVD players, gaming consoles and more.LG Secret includes DivX video technology"Consumers are increasingly demanding the ability to access their digital media on any device or platform and mobile entertainment devices are an enormously important element of that experience," said Kevin Hell, CEO at DivX, Inc. "As a leader in the mobile industry, we're pleased that LG recognizes the value of DivX technology and we look forward to continuing to work together to meet the needs of global consumers."

LG Secret mobile phone features

The LG Secret was recently launched as a highly stylish handset with the slimmest 5 megapixel camera on the market. The sleek exterior has a timeless look that is built with carbon fiber and a scratch-proof tempered glass screen for long-lasting quality and for a superior viewing experience. The LG Secret boasts features that provide consumers with a quality multi-media experience, including photo editing features, auto-rotating control functionality, wireless PC sync, and FM radio. The LG Secret has undergone a rigorous testing program, as do all the products that bear the DivX Certified logo, to ensure a high-quality DivX media experience.

[Source]

LG Viewty cell phone records DivX video

LG Electronics and DivX, a digital media company, announced that the LG Viewty camera phone, also called LG KU990, is the first mobile phone with DivX Certification to natively record video in the high quality DivX format. The LG Viewty enables consumers to capture high-resolution video, comparable in quality to what they would expect from a video camera, on their mobile phones, DivX videos recorded through the LG Viewty can easily be uploaded to online video sites or can be played back on any DivX Certified consumer electronics device, including DVD players, gaming consoles and portable media players.

LG Viewty DivX video recording capability
"Users of the LG Viewty have come to expect innovation and quality," said Dr. Skott Ahn, LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. "The addition of DivX recording capability to the LG Viewty will open up the media experience and enable our users to do more with the videos they capture, from sharing that content online to playing it back beyond the phone on a wide variety of devices."

LG Viewty mobile videos
"Our goal is to make it easy for consumers to enjoy a high-quality video experience on any kind of device," said Kevin Hell, CEO at DivX, Inc. "The LG Viewty is a perfect example of this experience. It allows consumers to capture video on its 3-inch screen and then easily transfer that video to a computer or virtually any kind of consumer electronics device."

LG Viewty camera phone with 5 Megapixels
The LG Viewty is a professional-level camera phone with features that surpass most phones on the market and includes 5.0 mega-pixel still image capture, manual focus, image stabilizer, handwriting recognition for photo editing, a document viewer, voice recording and 120 fps 640 x 480-pixel DivX video encoding.

LG Viewty DivX Certified logo
The LG Viewty has undergone a rigorous testing program, as do all the products that bear the DivX Certified logo, to ensure a high-quality DivX media experience. LG Viewty, currently for sale in Europe, will begin shipping immediately with DivX encoding capabilities.

[via LetsGoMobile]

Sony Mylo 2 to use On2 video decoder for YouTube compatibility

After looking at On2’s new 1080p HD-capable mobile video chipset yesterday, today there’s word that the company has licenced one of their software decoder solutions to Sony for their latest WiFi communicator. The TrueMotion VP6 video decoder will power the Flash Lite 3 functionality in the new Mylo 2, Sony’s IM, VoIP and internet device, ensuring compatibility with streaming web video such as YouTube and Google Video.

“We continue to improve the quality of our video solutions for leading handheld
device manufacturers, and the mylo communicator is one of the best examples of
mobile video products on the market today. Most of the leading user-generated
content web sites today use our Flix Engine product and VP6 compression scheme
to create and publish video, and we see the market trends moving toward mobile
video sharing and consumption” Bill Joll, president and CEO, On2 Technologies

Apparently the On2 Flix Engine is the video processing application often used to convert video files into streaming Flash-based video, with customers including Adobe, AOL, Skype, VideoEgg and Nokia.

You can read more about the Sony Mylo 2 here.

[via Phonemag]

Samsung F490 Hands-on video

In case you’ve missed it, the Samsung F490 is the keyboardless cousin to the Croix or F700v. It has a 5MP camera, a 3.2” touchscreen with some sort of pseudo haptic feedback system, and it has the same UI as the Croix.


It has HSDPA at 3.6Mbps, UMTS, and EDGE. On the same wireless side, it also has Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP+ and AVRCP, but no WiFi.



Other than that it has some fairly respectable media players inside, a nice smooth, shiny finish, and a light weight of 102 grams. Basically, it’s a pretty nice phone, don’t forget to check out the video.

[via intomobile]

The Future of Cell Phones: Nokia Morph Concept (Video)

The future of cell phones is obviously a little unclear, because there are so many directions that the industry can take. If you were to ask someone a few years back about what would become the most popular user interface of 2007, it's unlikely that they would have mentioned anything about an Apple-brand multi-touch display. Even so, Nokia has decided to venture a bold prediction as to what cell phones will look like in the future and what they envision is the Nokia Morph, a handset that uses nanotechnology.

The Nokia Morph, which you can see below, seems to combine the innovation behind e-paper and nanotechnology to produce a phone that can actually change its physical configuration to suit your needs at the end. Fold it out to reveal a full-sized QWERTY keyboard or scrunch it up and wear it like a watch. You can also fold it up like an accordion for a candybar-like form factor. How they will go about doing this, well, that remains to be seen.

Do you think Nokia is getting it right or are they way off the mark? Time will tell.



[via mobilemag]

Samsung Introduces its First DivX Certified Video Phone

Samsung Introduces an Ultimate Viewing Experience on the Move

Ultra Video Phone first in the world to be DivX Certified® and an innovative dual face LCD screen with swivel design and wide 2.4” screen

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. today set new standards for video viewing capabilities in gadgets with the launch of the Ultra Video F500, a portable media player and 3.5G mobile phone rolled into one beautiful user-friendly handset, giving users access to a world of entertainment with their favourite video and music files on the go.

One of the most versatile and super slim personal multimedia devices, Samsung’s Ultra Video F500 is a high-performing multimedia player and powerful 3.5G phone rolled into a 10.7mm-slim package. Superbly compact, it is the only gadget you will need to keep you entertained on the road, and is the first phone to be DivX Certified. Combined with a built-in audio player, the Ultra Video boasts DVD-like quality picture and sound with TV output function for the additional option of enjoying your favourite films on a larger screen. The phone supports up to five video formats for greater viewing flexibility, and features a unique swivel design that allows for an adjustable viewing angle or serves as a stand to be placed on a flat surface.

“High video quality should not just be limited to large TV screens. The Ultra Video highlights our passion to leverage on our multimedia capabilities to satisfy consumers’ leisure and entertainment needs, and we have advanced from a product provider to a total solution provider through our partnership with DivX. Samsung will continue to lead the wireless industry with premier technologies, innovative products and strategic marketing tie ups to enhance the lifestyles of our customers,” said Mr. Ng Long Shyang, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Telecommunications and IT products.

Complementing the Ultra Video’s cutting-edge features is an innovative design incorporating a dual face LCD screen - a phone on one side and on the reverse a large 2.4” screen for multimedia viewing. The 2.4” wide screen boasts a 320x240 pixel panel in 262K colours that can display video in landscape mode. With an internal memory of 350 MB and expandable memory up to 2GB (with microSD™ card), the Ultra Video allows the user to view approximately two movies (each about two hours long). The HSDPA (3.5G) enabled phone allows users to transmit data at broadband speeds five times faster* than 3G, for instant information and entertainment on the move. With HSDPA, Ultra Video users can download large files quickly for high quality viewing.

The Ultra Video also comes with a 2.0 mega-pixel camera and Bluetooth v1.2 with A2DP stereo headset support. The Samsung Ultra Video is now available at a recommended retail price of $998 without contract, bundled with a 2GB MicroSD card and pre-loaded with the full-length award-winning blockbuster ‘Infernal Affairs’ movie. The leather case included in the pack acts as a backup battery that allows up to double your talk time.

*HSDPA performance is network and SIM card dependent.

Motorola to Embed Video Projector inside Mobile Phones

Microvision says that it has signed an agreement with Motorola to develop pico projector display solutions for mobile applications leveraging Microvision's ultra-miniature laser based display engine, called PicoP. Tiny laser-based projectors are expected to enable a "big screen" viewing experience from mobile devices, by projecting content displayed on the device screen onto a nearby wall or clean surface.

Motorola is committed to driving technology innovation that will enable the next generation of great consumer experiences," said Rob Shaddock, CTO, Motorola Mobile Devices business. "Working together with Microvision, we are pursuing ways that projection technology can redefine how mobile consumers view and interact with the media they take with them."

"With its slim form factor and low power requirements, Microvision's PicoP projector is optimized for the mobile environment," stated Alexander Tokman, President and CEO of Microvision. "We believe that our unique display technology, combined with Motorola's focus on delivering cool experiences, would allow mobile users to enhance their viewing of information and entertainment."

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed, however the companies revealed they will work together initially to integrate Microvision's latest PicoP projector inside a functioning mobile device for demonstration purposes. This prototype handset will utilize Microvision's new, WVGA (854 x 480 color pixels) wide angle scanner, first demonstrated in May 2007 at the Society of Information Display annual conference.

Samsung Launches Quartet of Music Video Phones

A PLAYGROUND OF FUN WITH SAMSUNG’S QUARTET OF PHONES

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. today unveiled four mobile phones set to redefine the concept of fun and entertainment on the go. Featuring Bang & Olufsen ICEPower music support, panoramic 3-megapixel cameras and DivX video capabilities, Samsung’s line-up of phones offers a range of industry-leading multimedia capabilities built into cutting edge stylish designs.

“Today’s young and trendy consumers are always looking for compact yet power-packed products which allow them to carry their entertainment with them wherever they go. We believe our new line-up offers them a gamut of high-technology multimedia from music to video in sleek form factors,” said Mr. Ng Long Shyang, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Telecommunications and IT products.


Focusing on leisure and entertainment to enable fun seekers to experience more and express themselves better, the quartet consists of the dual-faced Ultra Video F500, a portable multiplayer phone with a large 2.4” TFT screen for comfortable viewing of videos and movies, the dual-faced Ultra Music F300 which offers a dedicated music user interface for quick and easy navigation, the candy bar Mini Camera E590 designed by Jasper Morrison and featuring a 3-Megapixel camera with panorama shot feature, and the Music Phone E740, an affordable music phone with one-touch music access.

Ultra Video F500
One of the most versatile and super slim personal multimedia devices, Samsung’s Ultra Video is the first phone to be DivX Certified. Combined with a built-in audio player, the Ultra Video boasts DVD-like quality picture and sound. Complementing the Ultra Video’s cuttingedge features is an innovative design incorporating a dual face LCD screen - a phone on one side and on the reverse a large 2.4” screen for multimedia viewing. The screen boasts a 240x320 pixel panel in 262,000 colours that can display video in landscape mode, while TV output gives you the option to view videos on a larger screen. The Ultra Video also comes with a back-up battery leather case which ensures longer battery life, and its unique swivel design allows for an adjustable viewing angle or serves as a stand to be placed on a flat surface. The Ultra Video F500 will be available from early August, pricing TBD.

Ultra Music F300
The Ultra Music F300 features an innovative dual-face LCD design which is unique for optimum viewing of the extensive multimedia features, yet stylish. On one side is a complete music player with superb sound quality and a large, clear touch-screen which makes scrolling through your music simple, intuitive, and fun. Flip over to the other side for a Samsung mobile phone that is rich in extra features such as a 2-megapixel camera with digital zoom, 128 MB onboard memory with microSD™ slot for expansion and BluetoothTM for wireless music streaming via a stereo headset. All this is packed into an extremely slim 9.4mm profile. The Ultra Music F300 is available at an RRP of $638 without contract.


Mini Camera E590
The Mini Camera E590, designed by leading industrial designer Jasper Morrison, features simple contours and clean lines which comprise this compact bar design. It is equipped with a powerful 3-megapixel camera with auto focus and half-shutter. In addition, the Panorama shot feature enables users to take landscape pictures, achieving wider coverage in one shot. The Mini Camera E590 also comes with the Bean bag, a unique tripod which serves as a portable accessory made from special rubber material for maximum flexibility and grip. Pricing and availability TBD.

Music Phone E740
A music model with FM radio, the Music Phone E740 features high quality music performance and a dedicated music user interface. The easy one-click music access, jog disc control and categorization by genre, album, artiste or recently played tracks means quick and easy navigation, while the multi-format music and video support lets users enjoy various file types on the phone. The locally-launched version comes with a 1GB card pre-loaded with 180 full track songs from various artistes which users can preview for free, and download and purchase the license at the click of a button if they like the song. The Music Phone E740 will be available from mid-July, pricing TBD.