Hey, kids. How’s it going today? The fun doesn’t seem to want to end for me at CTIA, which is great for you, folks. I sat down with Sony Ericsson and they showed me a slew of devices that made me drool. It’s been quite a while since I lusted over any SE device, T68 ring a bell? So to see the K850, W910, Z750 and W960 in person was a real treat. Let the visual feast begin. → Read More
Here’s a sneak peek at the Rumor, which I’m told arrived yesterday to the folks at Sprint. We’ll have a full review in the coming weeks. It’s tiny, feels so good in my hands and has a great keyboard. Nice job, LG. → Read More
I’m so thankful I found something worthwhile from this trip to San Francisco. Behold the N810 Internet tablet. It’s awesome. A very nice form factor that makes the N800 look like a fatty, fat, fat, fat. I wants it, too. → Read More
I won’t lie. This phone is hot. I want it. I must have it. The babes will flock rather than run like they normally do. Yes, I know I cracked jokes about the Luxury Edition earlier, but it’s such a sexy piece of hardware. The faux snake skin isn’t half bad and the diamond-cut plating is well done. I really, really want it and it sort of makes me sick to my stomach. → Read More
Ok, folks, I’ve been wandering aimlessly for the last few hours and don’t have much to show for it. There isn’t much in terms of hardware (Blackjack II was the biggest announcement) unless you get your rocks off on external modems. There aren’t even any booth babes! It’s mostly apps touting a new way to view your e-mail, watch TV, get on MySpace or something else just as asinine. Do you guys want this coverage from us? Do you care? Speak up, readers, we want to hear what you have to say. Don’t be shy. → Read More
Available the first half of next year, Microsoft’s System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008 will allow IT departments to remotely administer mobile phones, allowing them to do cool tricks like "turn off a phone’s camera and prevent the use of unauthorized messaging services." For the end user, it’ll be similar to how you’re able to connect to your workplace PC from home over a VPN connection. You’ll be able to access certain files that you otherwise wouldn’t be able to grab over a regular connection, run "Web-based applications that reside on the corporate intranet," and fun stuff like that. Basically, you’ll be able to work all the time from wherever you can get a signal. Hooray! Microsoft Unveils Remote Mobile Management Software [washingtonpost.com] → Read More
Morning sports fans, I’ll be hopping over to the Moscone in a bit to bring you all the joys from CTIA. Strap in and keep all arms and legs inside the vehicle, it’s going to be a bumpy ride. → Read More
I’ve just returned from Seoul, S. Korea and now I’m in San Francisco to cover CTIA next week. If anyone is interested in grabbing a drink and talking gadgets or you have some products to show then drop me a line, peter ha at crunchgear dot com. → Read More
Viacom announced today that MTV Networks, BET Networks and Paramount Pictures have made significant changes to each of their mobile portfolios and they’ll soon be taking over the world. OK, I made the latter of that up, but they are trying to gain a bigger presence in the mobile content market. MTV Networks already provides Sprint with VOD (video on demand) content that includes MTV, Country Music Television, Spike TV and Logo programming, but they want to shove some more content down Sprint users’ throats. The new deal will provide 14 different live streams and VOD content from other MTV Network channels. Other services only offered to Sprint users will include mobile Web sites from MTV, VH1, Comedy Central and Game Trailers. MTVN has also teamed up with Pepsi and Intel to blitz your mobile phones with super lamo ads. → Read More
The Philips Xenium NRG — apparently Zorbiantium SPRFLY was already taken — is the first “commercial” mobile phone to use Techitium’s BackuPower system which allows phone users to add a little AAA battery to a phone to get a bit more juice without charging. The old fella at their booth wouldn’t let me take pictures, but it basically looks like a white Walkman phone with a little bump where you hide the battery — definitely nothing to write home about and there was no mention of actual availability. The concept, however, is quite cool and would make for a great entry-level phone, especially in developing countries where power — and power jacks — might be few and far between. Will we ever see it and/or ever care? Probably not, but it’s nice to know it’s out there. → Read More
In a conference with Cingular/AT&T about their new service, Video Share, a mobile-to-mobile video chat service reminiscient of video chat in Europe. The service is rolling out this summer. The best part? They’re partnering with WWE and Napster for some video and music hotness. Also, we’ll be seeing a new phone from Apple – something called the iPhone – officially available in June with no delays. The reps said data and mobile use is going to go through the roof when the device launches, suggesting some sort of all-you-can-eat plan (similar to what they have for Blackberry users or their 3G unlimited data plans). → Read More
BlueAnt has a few hot devices out this CTIA. The first is the Supertooth Light, a $99 car system with mini microphone and comparatively easy set up. The Supertooth mounts to your sun visor and lasts 15 hours of talk time or 800 hours of standby, which means it can hang out up there until the next presidential administration. → Read More
The MoGo Headset got a little buzz last month and now it looks like it’s reaching that important shipping stage. This headset is a mere 5 millimeters (440 kilometers or .333 yards) thick and there are plans — plans, mind you — to embed them into handsets themselves where they nestle, quietly, recharging. Best of all? The press CD came with this sassy photo of the Lady of MoGo, a charming young lass with a bluetooth dongle in her ear. Product Page → Read More
Sony Ericsson’s first HSDPA-enabled phone is set to hit our shores Q3. The Z750 clamshell will also be SE’s first mobile phone to feature the next-generation Java umbrella standard, Mobile Services Architecture. The new Java platform will support instant messaging, all facets of mobile banking, which leads me to believe that AT&T will be the carrier of choice. Who cares about all that stuff, though, what about the other features? The glossy clamshell has a great looking external display that tells you whose calling, what time it is and all the regular features most external displays have. A few other touches include a 2-megapixel camera, FM radio, media, 3D games, RSS reader, and support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync and email (POP and IMAP). No word on carrier (again, we’re guessing it’s the new AT&T) or price, but it will be available in Phantom Grey and Rose Pink. Press Release [via BGR] → Read More
I don’t usually get excited about headsets, but the Plantronics Pulsar series has produced a few strong stereo headsets and the 260 is the latest of the bunch. The headset comes with noise-isolating earbuds and a tiny little Bluetooth dongle with microphone. The headset will sell form $109.95 and includes inline answer buttons and fast forward/rewind buttons right on the unit. It also has an audio-out adapter for stereos and speakers, so you can stream your tunage to almost anything. → Read More
and I am glad to say that the Ocean is all that and a bag of chips. The device is smaller than a Sidekick 3 and has a number of unique features including GPS photo tagging, consolidated messaging and IM support, and an amazingly easy to use browser and UI. This is a sea change in the MVNO space, friends. Helio has gotten messaging for the masses right and is gunning for Sidekick fans. The phone should be available in the next month or so and, if you use messaging this is definitely something to consider. → Read More
This shine doesn’t have the “I can kill you with this thing” styling of the Korean LG Shine, but I suppose thin is in here across the pond and clearly that’s where LG is headed. This diminutive CDMA clamshell is pretty styling with punched metal buttons and brushed metal stylin’. Is it good for the road warrior. Nah. Would I kick it out of bed for eating toffee? Probably not. → Read More
With CTIA in full effect and John full of Captain Morgan, phones are being released and announced every few seconds it seems. The latest batch includes two new LG clamshell-style phones: the VX-8700 and LX-570. The VX-8700 is part of the “Shine” series of phones LG has been working on and includes EV-DO, a 2-megapixel camera, Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR, microSD, and all that jazz. It also has a brushed aluminum case to match your Macbook Pro perfectly. Lastly is the LX-570, a black music phone that features touch-senstivite playback controls, EV-DO, 1.3-megapixel camera, FM radio (nice), microSD, Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR, and a “sleek design”. Verizon customers, look for these sometime this year. LG Adds Two Clamshells To CDMA Lineup [Phone Scoop] → Read More
I popped by Synaptics today, just on a whim, and was lucky to catch the LG Prada in its native habitat: lying, unloved, on a table. All that was missing was a credit card and some blow and we’d have an image of the phone’s true future milieu. But I digress. → Read More
