cell phone review

Sony Ericsson Launches 6 New Phones

2007-06-15T01:35:00.000-07:00

Sony Ericsson today announced 6 new phones as well as an overwhelming number of accessories including speaker systems and Bluetooth watches. Of the phones announced today, the K850 is the only one clearly meant for US shore, however many others will come in US-friendly versions. New high-end models include a send and end as well as soft keys, a trend first seen on the Z750. This hints that they will include a new user interface.

1. K850: A candybar with tri-band HSDPA and quad-band GSM/EDGE has a 5 Megapixel auto-focus camera and Xenon flash. It also features a new photo mode that changes the keypad when the camera is activated for easier control. The K850 also has Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR and a combo M2/MicroSD memory card slot.

2. W960: This followup to the W950 features tri-band GSM/EDGE and UMTS 2100. It has a 2.6-inch touch-sensitive display and uses the Walkman touch player interface based on Symbian UIQ. It comes with 8 GB of internal memory for storing media. The W960 also has a 3.2 Megapixel camera with autofocus. It has Wi-Fi and the Opera Web browser, stereo Bluetooth and comes with a pair of stereo bluetooth headphones.

3. W910: A slider with motion-sensitive controls allowing you to change tracks or play games by shaking it. It will ship in two versions. The W908c will be quad-band GSM/EDGE, and the W910i will also include UMTS/HSDPA 2100. Both versions have a 2 Megapixel camera and the Walkman 3.0 player. It also comes with stereo Bluetooth and a 1 GB Memory Stick Micro for storing media.

4. K530: A mid-range candybar for Europe with tri-band GSM/GPRS (900/1800/1900) and UMTS 2100 that features a 2 Megapixel camera, stereo Bluetooth, Memory Stick Micro slot and support for a new GPS receiver and software suite that plus into the accessory port.

5. Z320: An entry-level tri-band clamshell that will be available in a US version (GSM/GPRS 850/1800/1900). Features a 1.3 Megapixel camera and internal color display, but only features an icon display on the cover, like many of Motorola's W series phones.

6. Z250: An even simpler version of the Z320 featuring a VGA camera. Also available in a tri-band version for the US.

Kodak's Filter Helps Cameraphones See In Dark

2007-06-14T08:42:00.000-07:00

Kodak has developed a new type of filter that would allow cameraphones and other digital cameras with small sensors to work better in low light. The new filter allows some of the pixels to see a wide range of colors instead of just red, green or blue. By letting in more colors, the filter lets in more light, which helps increase the clarity of low light pictures. Manufacturers will be able to to integrate this new filter technology into products next year, but will need to re-write their camera software to use it.

"Low light can mean trying to get a good image indoors of your kid blowing out the birthday candles. It can mean you want to take a photograph on a street corner in Paris at midnight," said Chris McNiffe, general manager of the photography company's image sensor business. "We're talking about a 2-to-4-times improvement in (light) sensitivity."

Analyst Chris Chute doesn't doubt that the new filter system, intended to supplant an industry-standard filter pattern designed by Kodak scientist Bryce Bayer in 1976, represents a breakthrough in boosting photo quality — especially when light conditions are not ideal.

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Wafer-Thin Digital Camera Technology Developed

2007-06-12T09:50:00.000-07:00

Tessera Technologies has created OptiML WLC, a new process that helps to shrink digital camera components for use in devices such as cell phones. The new technology reduces the size by 50% and costs by 30%, making the camera modules smaller and cheaper for integration into other electronics. It works by manufacturing thousands of lenses simultaneously on a wafer and bonding them together to create the optical element.

Tessera's solution is designed to overcome the cost, size and manufacturing roadblocks facing the industry as cameras become pervasive in mobile phones and other electronics. Using OptiML WLC technology, thousands of lenses are manufactured simultaneously on a wafer, and then bonded at the wafer level to create the optical element of the camera. The result is simplified assembly and up to 30% cost savings for the optical component of the camera module. OptiML WLC technology also reduces the size of the camera to a minimum, delivering up to 50% size reductions over conventional camera modules in camera phones today. Tessera's recently acquired Eyesquad technology can be easily integrated into the OptiML WLC solution, providing advanced auto-focus and digital optical zoom without the use of moving parts, resulting in greatly enhanced camera functionally and reliability at lower costs and smaller form factors.

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Nokia 8600 Luna: A definitive design statement with a touch of glass

2007-06-11T06:43:00.000-07:00

The timeless beauty of glass highlights the latest evolution of Nokia's most coveted phone series.

Building upon a tradition of crafting its most unique and prestigious phones from trend-setting materials like chrome, stainless steel and titanium, Nokia today unveiled the Nokia 8600 Luna, which has been precision engineered from the same material that has inspired both artists and craftsmen for centuries- glass.

The melding of nearly opaque smoked glass with unique, soft-touch stainless steel makes the Nokia 8600 Luna as enchanting to behold as it is a joy to touch. Adding to its mysterious allure, a gentle keypad illumination pulsates from beneath the glass case while the phone awaits a call. Combined with the warmth of its glass and stainless steel body, this "heartbeat" transforms the Nokia 8600 Luna from an inanimate object into a trusted companion with an organic, virtually alive form. When a call does beckon, the signature slide movement is carefully balanced to smoothly raise the ergonomic keypad from within its glass cocoon.

"An obsession to every detail marked each step in the development process of the Nokia 8600 Luna. We took painstaking effort to ensure that the experience delivered by every surface - from the smoothness of glass against the face to the warmth of stainless steel in the palm to the superior tactile feedback of the keypad - would surpass any and all expectations," said Heikki Norta, Senior Vice President, Mobile Phones, Nokia. "Even the name holds special significance. Much like the Nokia 8600 Luna that we named in her honor, Luna, the goddess of moonlight, was often represented by the Romans as a mysteriously captivating beauty encircled in a soft, yet radiant light."

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Palm Sells 25% Stake to Private Firm

2007-06-04T09:00:00.000-07:00

Less than a week after releasing the Foleo Treo companion device, Palm announced that it has sold 25% of the company to a private equity firm, Elevation Partners. Elevation paid $325 million for its quarter share of Palm, which is reorganizing itself in an attempt to strengthen the business. As part of the restructure, Palm is bringing in Jon Rubinstein as executive chairman to help manage the company. Rubinstein formerly ran Apple's iPod division. Also as part of the deal, Fred Anderson, Apple's former CFO, and Roger McNamee, a co-founder of Silver Lake Partners, will join the board. Palm will pay a $940 million dividend to shareholders, which breaks down to $9 per share. U2's Bono is one of the founders and investors of Elevation Partners.

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Nokia N75 : Review

2007-05-26T08:08:00.000-07:00

The Nokia N75 is a 3G clamshell first announced by Nokia last September. Made available recently on AT&T's network in the U.S., it has all the features you'd expect from a high-end consumer phone. With the camera, music player, high-speed wireless data capabilities, and customizable S60 operating system, the N75 is an enticing pick. With so many capabilities, it could be hard to settle on the N75's defining feature. And that's just the problem, there isn't one. So what makes the N75 special enough for you?

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Treo 755p review

2007-05-26T08:04:00.000-07:00

Palm OS users are loyal, possibly more loyal than Apple users. However, unlike Apple, it is not a growing platform. More people are not adopting the Palm OS every day like they are Windows Mobile, or Symbian or the Blackberry. The Treo 755p doesn't add any new features to attract new users to the Palm OS, nor does it give current users much of a reason to upgrade. However, the 755p it is a solid performer that addresses nearly every complaint we've heard from current Palm users.

The Treo 755p and 750w share the exact same body. The only thing that is different about it are the navigation buttons that surround the D-pad. Because they are the same shape and even color, they will be difficult to tell apart. The 700w and 700p were equally similar.

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Moto RAZR2 Launch

2007-05-17T07:59:00.000-07:00

Today Motorola announced the new RAZR 2 at a press conference in New York City. After the event, we had the opportunity to spend some time with the new phone.

The RAZR 2 comes in three different variations. The V8 will be a quad-band GSM/EDGE phone. It uses Motorola's Linux-Java user interface. The V9 is the 3G HSDPA model, but it reverts to Motorla's older Synergy UI. It is also quad-band GSM, plus HSDPA 850/1900 in the US version. Also using the Synergy platform is the CDMA EV-DO variant, the V9m.

They all share a similar build. The form factor is sleek, smooth, shiny and definitely thin. Motorola shaved 2 mm off the size of the original RAZR and slimmed the GSM and CDMA RAZR 2s to just 12 mm thick. But as the RAZR2 got thinner, it also got slightly larger, as though Motorola's designers just pushed down on the RAZR and let the volume ooze out a bit.

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Qualcomm Acquires Mobile WiMAX Technology

2007-04-17T19:48:00.000-07:00

Qualcomm has purchased the mobile WiMAX technology assets of TeleCIS Wireless. TeleCIS has developed both mobile and fixed WiMAX technology and sold its 802.16e mobile WiMAX capabilities for an undisclosed amount. In the past Qualcomm had downplayed WiMAX technology, touting its CDMA wireless broadband capabilities instead. This move represents a change in stance for the chipmaker. It will now have greater knowledge of the OFDM radio technology that serves as the basis for 4G networking. TeleCIS will continue to market and sell its fixed WiMAX products.

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Apple iPhone to be shipped in late june

2007-04-16T16:41:00.000-07:00

Apple todayreleased the following statement:
iPhone has already passed several of its required certification tests
and is on schedule to ship in late June as planned. We can't wait until
customers get their hands (and fingers) on it and experience what a
revolutionary and magical product it is. However, iPhone contains the most
sophisticated software ever shipped on a mobile device, and finishing it on
time has not come without a price -- we had to borrow some key software
engineering and QA resources from our Mac OS(R) X team, and as a result we
will not be able to release Leopard at our Worldwide Developers Conference
in early June as planned. While Leopard's features will be complete by
then, we cannot deliver the quality release that we and our customers
expect from us. We now plan to show our developers a near final version of
Leopard at the conference, give them a beta copy to take home so they can
do their final testing, and ship Leopard in October. We think it will be
well worth the wait. Life often presents tradeoffs, and in this case we're
sure we've made the right ones.

Palm Announces New Linux Based Mobile Platform

2007-04-10T13:01:00.000-07:00

Today at Palm Inc's Analyst Day, Palm CEO Ed Colligan officially announced that Palm will deliver a new Linux and open source based mobile computing platform combined with Palm OS Garnet technology on new products later this year. The new platform was just announced at the Palm Analyst meeting and details are light at this point and still coming in. Read on for some slides and more information from the presentation.

The platform is described as a "new foundation for Palm." It will combine aspects of Palm OS Garnet and a Linux core. Palm plans to "evolve" the Palm Developer community to the new platform.

Colligan highlighted and stressed a few points about the new platform. He continually stressed the importance of the user experience citing the ability to have an instant on, highly portable device with great battery life. Other highlights included greater hardware flexibility and the ability to handle simultaneous voice and data, two key ares which have hampered the traditional Palm OS in recent years.

Another key aspect would be the device's web browsing experience. Colligan said Palm is focusing highly on connected web applications and web services built around mobile devices. He cited the ability to easily backup and restore over the web, delivering software and device updates over the internet and wireless software distribution. The recent Opera brower licensing agreement is likely tied to this new platform.

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Nokia 5700

2007-04-07T07:16:00.000-07:00

Nokia revealed the Nokia 5700 XpressMusic, an accessible 3G smartphone augmented by a dedicated audio chip for enhanced music performance. The Nokia 5700 XpressMusic features an iconic twist design that easily switches between four modes at the flick of the wrist - music player, 2 Megapixel camera, video call and smartphone. Combining the benefits of a music-oriented, multipurpose device featuring 3G dataspeeds, the Nokia 5700 XpressMusic is expected to retail for an estimated EUR 350 before taxes and subsidies during the second quarter of 2007.

"The Nokia 5700 XpressMusic adds a new twist to the mobile music experience with compatibility for tracks purchased from many Internet music stores," says Heikki Norta, Senior Vice President, Mobile Phones, Nokia. "In addition the Nokia 5700 XpressMusic features a dedicated audio chip for improved music performance which consumers can further enhance by selecting from an ever increasing line of compatible audio enhancements."

Using an optional 2GB MicroSD card, the Nokia 5700 XpressMusic supports up to 1500 tracks that can be enjoyed using Bluetooth stereo headphones, with their own favorite 3.5mm plug-equipped headphones and the included headset adaptor or through built-in stereo loudspeakers. Loading songs onto the Nokia 5700 XpressMusic is fast and easy as consumers can choose from a broad range of supported digital formats, including WMA, MP3, AAC, as well as eAAC+ and MP4. When purchasing music online, shoppers again have the luxury of choice as they can select from a range of Internet music stores, also those utilizing Windows Media Player Digital Rights management (WMDRM). The optimized music player in the Nokia 5700 XpressMusic supports album art, playlists, plus a 5-band equalizer and audio visualizations.

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Pantech Reveals 2007 GSM Lineup

2007-03-29T08:10:00.000-07:00

Pantech this week announced a new lineup of GSM and WCDMA phones for the US, to replace and extend the current models offered for Cingular.

C600: A small clamshell 3G phone with an internal antenna. Features include EDGE, dual-band WCDMA, a microSD memory card slot, stereo Bluetooth, and a VGA camera. Available early 3rd quarter.

C710: A higher-end clamshell 3G phone with a sleeker design. Feature upgrades over the C600 include a megapixel camera, PTT, and most likely HSDPA. Planned for late 3rd quarter.

C510: A clamshell music phone with external music controls, stereo Bluetooth, and a microSD memory card slot. Features include quad-band GSM, EDGE, an OLED external display, and a 1.3 megapixel camera. Available in the 2nd quarter.

C150: An update to the C120 that adds Bluetooth, EDGE, and a larger display in a slimmer package. Available in the 2nd quarter.

C3b: An update to the C3 that adds Bluetooth.

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Sony Ericsson Unveils New High End Phones

2007-03-27T00:09:00.000-07:00

Sony Ericsson today announced its first 3G phone for the US as well as its first slider bound for our shores. Both phones feature Bluetooth and 2 Megapixel cameras and a Memory Stick M2 slot.

Z750: Looks like a US version of the Z610 clamshell Sony Ericsson released late last year with quad-band GSM/EDGE and tri-band HSDPA, making the Z750 a prime candidate for Cingular. Features a mirrored exterior with a monochrome screen hidden beneath. Also features a customizable RSS ticker on the home screen and Exchange synchronization.

W580: A small, 14mm thick slider with Walkman functionality. Quad-band GSM/EDGE with a pedometer and FM Radio. (Not to be confused with the W850 Walkman slider for Europe.)

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Palm Buyout Could Close This Week

2007-03-26T08:45:00.000-07:00

Palm, maker of the Treo smartphones, is expected to sell itself off this week, possibly as early as Thursday. The top bidders include two private equity firms, Texas Pacific Group and Silver Lake Partners, and two manufacturers, Nokia and Motorola. Palm is working with banking firm Morgan Stanley to close the deal, and is said to prefer selling to a private equity buyer. Nokia is considering bids in the $19 to $20 range, which is close to the $20 per share minimum that Palm is seeking. Motorola may enter the bidding process in an attempt to block Nokia from successfully acquiring the smartphone maker and thereby gaining some much-needed leverage in the U.S. market.

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Preview: Samsung Helio Heat

2007-03-10T08:57:00.000-08:00

When you first take the Heat out of the box, there is a little instructional sticker on it, as there are on many new phones. I tore it right off thinking it just pointed out where the keys were; which it does. However the sticker also warns you to press and hold the soft keys to reject an incoming call, which I and many others who received review units failed to notice. Learn from our mistake.

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Dual-Sliding Messenger Phone for Helio

2007-02-26T05:53:00.000-08:00

A new dual-slider with Helio branding on it was seen on the FCC web site today. Internally called the Pantech PN-810, the phone features a three-layer design. The top layer holds the main screen and function buttons. If the top is slid up, the middle layer reveals a standard number pad, and if the phone is slid sideways, it reveals the bottom layer's full qwerty keyboard for messaging.

The keyboard includes a dedicated emoticon key, but no direct access to numbers. It is equipped with an EV-DO radio, Bluetooth, 2.1 megapixel camera with flash, and a 260k TFT LCD. Another model that appears to be bound for Helio, the Samsung A303, is also waiting in the FCC's wings. It looks to be a variant on the U510 for Brazil - a slim slider with touch sensitive keys on the front, Bluetooth and 2 MP camera.

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RIM Introduces the Sleek New BlackBerry 8800 Smartphone

2007-02-13T21:53:00.000-08:00

Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today introduced the highly anticipated BlackBerry® 8800 - a feature-rich and finely tuned smartphone that is both functionally and visually inspiring.

The BlackBerry 8800 is the thinnest BlackBerry handset yet and is designed to satisfy the most demanding mobile professionals. Equipped with a full, highly tactile QWERTY* keyboard and RIM's user-friendly trackball navigation system, it also includes built-in GPS (Global Positioning System), multimedia features and a microSD expandable memory slot.

“The BlackBerry 8800 smartphone offers another winning combination of superior hardware, software and service embodied by an extremely elegant industrial design,” said Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO at Research In Motion. “We spent a tremendous amount of effort refining the BlackBerry 8800, inside and out, and that effort will be evident to customers. From the premium finish to the vivid screen to the exceptional sound quality and the unmatched usability, the BlackBerry 8800 is a standout choice for mobile professionals.”

The quad-band GSM/GPRS and EDGE-enabled BlackBerry 8800 offers best-in-class performance with smoothly integrated support for voice and data applications, including phone, email, text messaging, web browser, organizer, multimedia and more. Powering its robust performance is an ultra-thin, high-capacity battery that further extends the uncompromising battery life for which BlackBerry handsets are renowned.

Through its built-in GPS, the BlackBerry 8800 can pinpoint its location and provide "out-of-the-box" support for a wide variety of location based applications and services, including BlackBerry Maps. BlackBerry Maps provides driving directions -- with the ability to track the route via GPS -- and integrates with other BlackBerry applications, so users can generate a map from an address in their BlackBerry Address Book and send maps via email from their BlackBerry 8800.

The BlackBerry 8800 is a world-class mobile phone with advanced and easy-to-use phone features including noise cancellation for enhanced audio performance, Speaker Independent Voice Recognition for Voice Activated Dialing (VAD), intuitive call management functions such as smart dialing, conference calling, speed dialing and call forwarding, as well as dedicated “send”, “end” and “mute” keys. It also features a high quality, low-distortion speakerphone and Bluetooth® 2.0 for use with hands-free headsets, car kits and other Bluetooth peripherals. Support for polyphonic, mp3 and MIDI ringtones is included.

With the large, bright, high resolution (320 x 240) landscape display, images appear vivid and crisp for viewing emails, attachments, pictures, videos, web pages, business applications and games. Built-in light sensing technology automatically adjusts the screen, keyboard and trackball brightness for optimized visibility in various lighting environments. The vibrant display, coupled with the BlackBerry 8800’s innovative trackball navigation, delivers a user experience that is dynamic and intuitive.

The BlackBerry 8800 also comes with a media player and stereo headset jack. Its expandable memory capability allows users to store their favorite music and videos on a microSD card to enjoy while on the go. Music and video are delivered with rich sound and vivid color.**

The BlackBerry 8800 can operate with BlackBerry® Internet Service, giving users the ability to manage up to 10 supported personal and corporate email accounts, as well as BlackBerry® Enterprise Server, which includes IT policy controls for managing the handset's features and usage.

The BlackBerry wireless platform gives customers the capability to deploy a variety of applications. Hundreds of business solutions from third party software providers can further extend the BlackBerry platform to support various business needs such as CRM, sales force automation, field services, business intelligence, supply chain management and continuity of operations, as well as a broad range of industry-specific applications for sectors including health care, law enforcement, government, financial services, insurance, pharmaceutical, professional services, real estate, manufacturing, wholesale and retail.

The BlackBerry 8800 comes with a complement of accessories in the box, including a headset, travel charger and USB cable. Additional Authentic BlackBerry Accessories, including premium leather holsters and totes, desktop and automotive chargers, Bluetooth® headsets and other peripherals, are available online at www.shopblackberry.com.

The BlackBerry 8800 will be available from a variety of carriers worldwide beginning in February 2007.

For more information about the BlackBerry 8800, please visit www.blackberry8800.com.

* Keyboard also available in AZERTY and QWERTZ configurations to support different language groups.

** Supports MP3 and ACC music files and MPEG4 and H.263 video files.

Sony Ericsson Launches 4 New Phones

2007-02-07T23:30:00.000-08:00

Sony Ericsson today announces four new 'candy bar' phones that make it simple to stay in touch. Of the four, the K200 and K220 are both camera phones, whilst the K220 again and the J120 bring music into an affordable segment with integrated FM Radios, complete with headsets. All four, including the J110, display Sony Ericsson’s signature styling and premium feel, yet manage to keep simplicity and ease-of-use at the heart of their design.

K200

The K200 is all about having a camera on your phone just when you need it.

The VGA camera and photo album are immediately accessible with just one click on the dedicated button. Given that the K200 has a slideshow view and will store up to 40 images, it’s easy for users to view their pictures in full screen and share them with friends.

Navigating the phone couldn’t be easier either, as the menu can be set to a series of simple, single icons. To keep things hassle-free, the central navigation key is set-up to give one-click access to key features such as the phone book (which stores up to 300 contacts) and messaging menu. Available from Q2 2007 in selected markets in either Metallic Black or Light Champagne, the K200 allows you to always have your favourite pictures in your pocket.

K220

As with the K200, the K220 is an easy-to-use camera phone with a single icon display, but with the advantage of an integrated FM radio with RDS. Perfect for those quieter moments, the K220 can store up to 10 pre-set stations so there is no need to hunt around when it’s time to change channels. It will even provide a wake-up call since a favourite station can be set on the Radio Alarm Clock.

Choose your station and choose your colour; the K220 comes in two striking finishes - Frost White or Ocean Blue. The K220 will be available in selected from Q2 2007.

J110

Keeping in touch is made straightforward with the J110, a classic ‘candy bar’ phone with large, legible keys and easy navigation. A central navigation key with clear icons gives one-click access to commonly used features such as the text message menu, ring volume and alarm clock. Navigation through the menu options is easy thanks to the single-icon display, and J110 has enough stamina and storage to keep you in touch however busy you are, giving up to nine hours’ talk time and room for up to 200 phone numbers.

A robust, solid phone with chrome detail and a bright 65k colour STN screen, The J110 will be available in selected markets from Q2 2007 in three distinct colours: Soft Cream, Smooth Grey or Precious Purple.

J120

J120 has the same easy to use features as J110, such as a single-icon menu and one-click access, with the added benefit of a built-in FM Radio that allows you to store up to 10 favourite channels plus a stereo headset that’s supplied with the phone. When it’s time to share the radio play-list with a wider audience, the J120 features a loudspeaker through which the radio can be played. This can also be used as a speakerphone when you tire of the radio and decide to call a friend.

This compact and striking phone, finished in Night Black with ‘FM Radio’ detail, really stands out from the crowd. The J120 will be available in selected markets from Q2 2007.

"Origami" Lens Might Improve Cell Phone Cameras

2007-02-05T02:21:00.000-08:00

Engineers at UC San Diego have built a powerful yet ultrathin digital camera by folding up the telephoto lens. This technology may yield lightweight, ultrathin, high resolution miniature cameras for unmanned surveillance aircraft, cell phones and infrared night vision applications.

"Our imager is about seven times more powerful than a conventional lens of the same depth," said Eric Tremblay, the first author on an Applied Optics paper published February 1, 2007, and an electrical and computer engineering Ph.D. candidate at UCSD's Jacobs School of Engineering. Eric is working with Joseph Ford, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at the Jacobs School who leads the camera project within UCSD's Photonic Systems Integration Lab. Ford is also affiliated with the UCSD division of the California Institute of Telecommunications and Information Technology, Calit2.

"This type of miniature camera is very promising for applications where you want high resolution images and a short exposure time. This describes what cell phone cameras want to be when they grow up," said Ford. "Today's cell phone cameras are pretty good for wide angle shots, but because space constraints require short focal length lenses, when you zoom them in, they're terrible. They're blurry, dark, and low contrast."

To reduce camera thickness but retain good light collection and high-resolution capabilities, Tremblay and colleagues replaced the traditional lens with a "folded" optical system that is based on an extension of conventional astronomical telescopes that employed mirrors, such as the Cassegrain telescope, which was developed in 1672.

New GPS Chip Can Track Phones Indoors

2007-02-02T22:48:00.000-08:00

U-blox will introduce a new GPS chip at 3GSM sensitive enough to determine a location indoors. The u-blox 5 is able to read extremely weak signals, down to -160 dBm, from either the GPS or Galileo satellite network. This would allow users to get an accurate location indoors or in urban canyons where signals are normally weak. In addition to not requiring a powerful signal, the u-blox 5 does not require much power either, making it a possible choice for mobile device manufacturers.

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Google Adds Windows Mobile Version of Maps App

2007-02-02T22:45:00.000-08:00

Google Maps, which has been around since November 2005, is now available to users of Windows Mobile devices. It supports Windows Mobile 2003 and higher. Maps lets users interact with maps and satellite images, find point-to-point directions and find businesses or other points of interest. Windows Mobile 5.0 phones that are enabled with GPS see some added features from Google Maps, which will automatically show where the user is on the map with a flashing blue dot.

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Seagate Introduces Portable Drive For Phones

2007-01-31T20:06:00.000-08:00

That's DAVE as in Digital Audio Video Experience, previously code-named "Crickett," a tech platform from the California-based storage company that aims to add 10-20GB of wireless storage to cellphones, or other WiFi- and BlueTooth-equipped devices, thanks to a tiny drive you can stash in your pocket, desk draw or glove box. The aim is simple: offer mass storage on the go, and stay far enough ahead of the Flash-based curve to make the idea of a separate unit attractive.

"We're looking to see storage implemented in the mobile ecosystem," said Rob Pait, Seagate's Director of Global Marketing for Consumer Marketing for electronics. "If that happens, we will win."

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RAZR maxx For Verizon Hints At New Music Strategy

2007-01-29T09:18:00.000-08:00

Motorola this week confirmed previous rumors and photos of a MOTORAZR maxx for Verizon by making a manual available for download from the company's public web site. The manual confirms many of the features previously seen in pictures as well as revealing a few new aspects. The MOTORAZR Maxx Ve is a VCAST EV-DO phone with stereo Bluetooth and MicroSD slot. It features a 2 megapixel autofocus camera with a large flash and a new 2 stage shutter button located where the internal camera would be on the HSDPA version.

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LG Unveils Prada Phone With Touch Screen

2007-01-26T06:59:00.000-08:00

LG Electronics, a pioneer in consumer electronics and mobile phones, and PRADA, one of the world’s leading brands in the luxury goods industry , unveil the first completely touch screen mobile phone.

The PRADA Phone by LG (KE850) is a real breakthrough in the industry, as it is a unique, sophisticated and elegant mobile phone with the first complete advanced touch interface.

LG and PRADA have worked closely together on every aspect of the product, from handset development to marketing combining the attention to detail and uncompromising quality of PRADA design with the trademark technological innovation of LG mobile.

PRADA’s involvement extends beyond exterior aesthetics to the key elements of the user experience such as the advanced touch interface, ring tones, pre-loaded content, mobile phone accessories and the exclusive leather case, inspired by the classic Italian craftsmen tradition.

“We at LG are exceptionally proud of the PRADA Phone by LG” says Dr. Scott Ahn, President & CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. He continues, “The two companies have worked together seamlessly towards a truly shared vision, to develop one of the most beautifully stylish handsets the market has ever seen.”

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