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NTT DoCoMo announces new FOMA 904i handsets
We've all accepted the reality that Japan has the straight up coolest handsets on the planet, and this lineup of NTT DoCoMo's new flagship 9 series does nothing but up the ante. From the pic's top left to bottom right, we have the NEC N904i, Sharp SH904i, Panasonic P904i, Fujitsu F904i, and Mitsubishi D904i. As an upgrade to the FOMA 903i series, the new 904i stable brings a pile of new goodies to the table with features like "2in1" support (more on that in a moment), Uta-hodai (full track download), and Chokkan Game (game downloads with motion control), with One-Seg mobile TV reception and HSDPA on select models The 2in1 support is one of our faves, with two separate phone numbers, email addresses, and address books, all accessed via a mode-switching function which allows a, b, or dual-mode -- no word if dual-mode enables both numbers at once. We're also loving the Chokkan Game support, but the press release shared no detail about the touted "intuitive motion" beyond mention of finger tracing, tilting and waving as means of control. Pocket Wii, anyone?
Epson cranks out "world's smallest" GPS module
Apparently Epson is hoping that small is in, as the firm is pumping out yet another "world's smallest" object, and this time it's a wee-sized GPS module. Crafted specifically for tiny applications like mobile handsets, the S4E19863 measures just 7- x 6- x 1.28-millimeters and purportedly holds the title for "world's smallest GPS chip." Already available in NTT DoCoMo's FOMA 903i series, Epson has begun shipping these things in bulk, hoping to add GPS functionality to other miniscule handsets as well. Built to receive even the faintest signals indoors and out, the chip also boasts "3GPP-compliant positioning modes (MS-Based, MS-Assisted and Autonomous)" to offer greater compatibility across the board. Plus, we bet it's just a matter of time before these tiny positioning modules are up and running in some streamlined dog collar for the "anxious pet owner" crowd.[Via Far East Gizmos]
NTT DoCoMo shows slew of new phones
At this point, we're beginning to wonder whether NTT DoCoMo can keep track of its own lineup, let alone its customers -- because we sure as heck can't. They've gone ahead and announced a mind-boggling eleven new handsets this week, all members of the new FOMA 903i series. The members of the series include entries from NEC, Sharp, Panasonic, Mitsubishi, and Sony Ericsson, with three (the D903iTV, P903iTV, and SH903iTV) supporting digital television, and another two rocking HSDPA. Interestingly, Panasonic's P903i supports a new security mechanism that's capable of locking the phone when it's taken a certain distance from an RFID card stored in the owner's wallet, handbag, or clothing -- while it won't prevent your phone from being stolen, it's not a bad idea for stopping the baddies from placing international calls on it.Read - NTT DoCoMo 903i product page (translated)Read - New Scientist
