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Neonode posts

Neonode AB, maker of the N2, files for bankruptcy

by Darren Murph posted Dec 10th 2008 at 8:57AM

Neonode AB, a wholly-owned subsidiary of US-based Neonode, Inc., has filed a petition for bankruptcy in Sweden. The company, which has focused almost all of its efforts on pushing the now aged Neonode N2 since 2004, finally caved after looking so vulnerable in late July. According to Per Bystedt, CEO and Chairman of Neonode: "For the past six months we have focused on turning the business around and solving the financial situation of Neonode AB; we continue to have great belief in our technology and believe we have a competitive product in the Neonode N2 but without sufficient funds we cannot continue operations." No word of a revamped OS. No word of hardware tweaks. Nothing that sounds to us like they really want to survive in today's high-stakes handset market. At any rate, the parent company is hoping to trudge on as a technology licensing company, with or without Mr. N2.

[Via GeekZone]

Every Neonode N2 recalled due to reception problems

by Nilay Patel posted Jul 30th 2008 at 6:05PM

Hey, you remember the Neonode N2? The OG full-face touchscreen phone? Well, better cherish those memories, since every N2 is being recalled due to "reception problems." A fix is apparently ready to go, but seeing as we haven't heard a peep from Neonode since it promised us a totally new OS and handsets back at CES, we've got a feeling you might be better off swapping out handsets for a while -- besides, who still uses EDGE?

Neonode planning revamped OS, totally new handsets

by Joshua Topolsky posted Jan 9th 2008 at 3:49PM

We've just gotten out of a meeting with Thomas Eriksson, co-founder and CTO of Neonode, and we've learned some very exciting information about the company's newest, as-yet-unannounced phones. We were shown designs of the mobile-maker's next lineup of devices, including an iPhone-esque model called "Earth" which has been confirmed for production (though Thomas insisted that some features and design would change, of course). The phone will feature a 2.9-inch, true 16:9 ratio infrared touchscreen (an updated version of the Neonode N2's touch surface), HSPA connectivity, and will operate on five separate frequency bands (a first as far as we can tell), allowing 3G use in both Europe and the US. However, the most interesting thing that we were shown was a live prototype of the company's latest OS, which blows the doors off of previous iterations. The new interface is a much more robust platform, featuring a homescreen made up of a number of small widget-like icons, all updating live with things like RSS feeds, phone logs, weather, and mail. The UI is still meant to be operated via one hand, though Thomas confirmed that the device would sport a virtual QWERTY keyboard, and would deliver more PIM / smartphone features than we've seen from them in the past. The design of the interface is still being tweaked, but it looks very contemporary to current and future phone OSs we've been seeing, with lots of nice shading and alpha layers. From the little we peeped, this platform could be a contender if handled correctly -- Thomas told us that Neonode had plans underway to partner with carriers in the US, so stay tuned to this space for more info.

Video: Hands-on with Neonode media playing GPS prototype and more

by Thomas Ricker posted Jan 8th 2008 at 5:16PM

What do you do when you've got a hot UI built upon a red-hot touch screen technology? Diversify and conquer, naturally. Today, Neonode is showing off a new media playing GPS device in their booth at CES. The fully functional, engineering prototype may or may not be brought to market under Neonode's brand as they consider licensing their IP to the big SatNav boys. Whatever happens, we likey. They were also showing off concepts of their Neonode MP3 player (not working) and media player (working). While you wouldn't catch us watching a full length video on that tiny screen, we'll dole out the love to Neonode for showing us a glimpse of their future. Click on the through for video of the GPS device or check the gallery for the Neonode media player.

Gallery: Video: Hands-on with Neonode media playing GPS prototype and more

Continue reading Video: Hands-on with Neonode media playing GPS prototype and more

Hands-on with the 3G Neonode N2.5... yes, N2.5

by Thomas Ricker posted Jan 8th 2008 at 4:51PM

While most of the US is just getting their first glimpse of the Neonode N2, we've got the Neonode N2.5 for you dear readers. We were assured that this engineering prototype features a heftier battery to offset complaints raised by N2 owners. The other complaint -- lack of 3G data -- is also solved. It will also feature A2DP-enabled Bluetooth 2.1 (yes, 2.1) when its ships (no time specified) and a big fat 3G radio of unspecified type. Thing is, this time, the N2.5 is specifically targeted at the US market with Neonde already starting to sort through the carrier quagmire in order to bring it to market. WiFi? Maybe, that all depends upon the carrier's demands. Other than those changes, it features the same UI and touch screen technology of the tiny N2 which is fine by us. The only question now is how consumers react to it's new chubby profile.

Update: Neonode wants us to remind you that this is a prototype design. As such, you can expect revisions (particularly after they read your comments).

Gallery: Hands-on with the 3G Neonode N2.5... yes, N2.5

Neonode N2 officially coming to the US

by Chris Ziegler posted Jan 4th 2008 at 3:22PM

It might be lagging a bit behind its European cousin, but Neonode is finally committing to bringing its N2 to the States in 2008. The finger-friendly touchscreen device is the follow-on to the N1 -- a phone that never even crossed the pond -- and features a 2 megapixel camera, expansion via a rather unusual miniSD slot, and mere GPRS data to ferry bytes down from the network. Without 3G or even EDGE, our excitement's tempered, but we're still curious to find out how it feels and functions in the hand. Look for availability and carrier agreements (yep, it sounds like someone will be officially offering this -- T-Mobile, perhaps?) to be announced in the second quarter.

[Thanks, Kristofer B.]

Neonode N2 makes its FCC debut

by Donald Melanson posted Oct 26th 2007 at 4:28PM

It's been out in Europe for a good few months already, but the Neonode N2 has now finally landed into the FCC's all-important hands, which would seem to suggest that a US release isn't all that far off. From the looks of the tests reports, however, the touchscreen-based handset doesn't seem to have picked up any of those much-desired 3G capabilities in its trip across the Atlantic, although we suspect it'll still find its share of fans. For those not up to speed on it, the N2 boasts a 2-inch touchscreen that fills up most of the front of the handset, along with a 2 megapixel camera, a miniSD card slot, and quad-band GSM / GPRS capabilities (no WiFi though). Hit up the gallery below for a few more pics courtesy of the FCC, and keep it locked here for any word of a release.

Gallery: Neonode N2 makes its FCC debut

Neonode N2 gets unboxed, videoed

by Darren Murph posted Jul 18th 2007 at 3:43PM

Granted, this whole unboxing process took a tad longer than we're used to, but considering the absence of an Apple logo and the fact that the folks in Greece likely roll with a bit more patience than we gizmo freaks here in North America, we won't grouse too much. Still, the first widespread unboxing pictures (and a video for good measure) of the highly anticipated Neonode N2 have officially hit the 'net just under a fortnight after the launch party in Athens, and we must say it's looking pretty good. From the well appointed packaging right down to the matte black outfit, the N2 is (finally) yours to witness (psst, the video is after the jump).

Read - Neonode N2 unboxing
Read - Neonode N2 unboxing, part II
Read - Neonode N2 Interface shots

Continue reading Neonode N2 gets unboxed, videoed

Neonode N2 launches in Europe on Vodafone, Wind

by Darren Murph posted Jul 6th 2007 at 10:26AM

Intelligently waiting until after the iPhone lived out its (first) 15 minutes of fame, Neonode has just now went and threw a launch party to celebrate the official debut of the Neonode N2. Yesterday, the firm went wild at the Babae Club in Athens, Greece as it celebrated with MyPhone (its distributor for south-eastern Europe) and announced that the handset would play nice with "operators such as Vodafone and Wind." Sadly, exact releases dates were obviously muddled through all the jumpin' and jivin' going on, but the N2 should be in "select shops in south-eastern Europe" very soon, with the rest of Europe and "other major markets" to follow suit shortly thereafter.

[Thanks, Sleepless]

Neonode's N2 ready for summer launch

by Thomas Ricker posted Jul 2nd 2007 at 12:31PM

Sick of the iPhone but like the whole touch-screen thing? Great, then you'll be happy to hear that the Neonode N2 is prepped for sale. Starting this summer, the phone that led the way for the iPhone (their words) will be up for grabs. No 3G or WiFi (or even EDGE) of course, and the launch will be limited to "south-eastern Europe," but hey, it's a start. Maybe we'll get a bit more info after the launch party in Athens (Greece, not Ohio).

[Thanks, Guillermo V.]

Hands-on with the Neonode N2

by Thomas Ricker posted Feb 13th 2007 at 8:26AM

We had a chance to go hands-on with the Neonode N2 today while trippin' the floors of 3GSM. So how was it? Pretty sweet. Although lacking WiFi and 3G, the device felt excellent in the hand. Text input was a bit buggy but that touch-screen interface and long (theoretical) battery life will likely be a hit in whatever market the N2 ultimately reaches... someday.

Gallery: Hands-on with the Neonode N2

Neonode's N2: the iPhone is just "following" its lead

by Thomas Ricker posted Feb 12th 2007 at 8:10AM

We knew the announcement was coming, now here's the product: the Neonode N2. According to Neonode's 3GSM press release, "Apple's iPhone and several other manufactures" are just "following the lead set by Neonode." Of course, they are referring to their N1 which stuttered onto the scene back in 2004. Hyperbole aside, the quad-band GSM / GPRS N2 does look pretty sweet bringing MiniSD support to store your media, a 2 megapixel camera, and a 2-inch, 176 x 220, 65k color, and of course a touch-screen display all boxed up in a small 47x77x14.7-mm / 70-gram package. We'll try to get a hands-on of a working prototype from our crew in Barcelona later today. Until then, color us skeptics... we've been burned by our Neonode enthusiasm before.

Neonode still at it, announcing device at 3GSM

by Chris Ziegler posted Feb 1st 2007 at 7:49PM

Remember the Neonode N1 (and its modestly improved sibling, the N1m)? We had to wrack our brains for a second, but then we were all like, "Oh, Neonode! That sweet looking CE-based smartphone that just barely materialized in a couple European countries years after it was announced!" So apparently these guys are still in business (who knew?) and have some big, hot 'n heavy product announcement scheduled for 3GSM on February 12. Could this be the dual-mode device that Neonode hinted at nearly two years ago? We admit we're curious, despite the company delaying the N1 into oblivion and cursing it with a dual-band radio useless in the States. Don't let us down this time, guys and gals.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]