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Verizon to get LG VX9400 on March 23?
Liking VCAST TV but that Samsung u620 -- the only supported handset at the moment -- isn't doing anything for you with its submicronic display? We can't blame you, especially after we laid eyes on that rather comely VX9400 from crosstown rival LG at CES a couple months back. A tipster is reporting that the pivot display VX9400, which was originally thought to be scheduled to launch alongside the u620, will end up dropping on the 23rd of this month in VCAST TV markets. Not too painful of a delay, eh? Pricing should come in at $350 full retail, $250 on a one-year contract after rebate, or $200 if you like that mobile TV action enough to sign up for two full years. Launching the same day should be the Samsung u540 at $80 after rebates on a two-year agreement (we'll take the VX9400, please).[Thanks, anonymous tipster]
Matrox unveils Extio F1220 remote graphics extender
Although it's not likely that you'll want your optical drives to be 820 feet away from you at all times under normal circumstances, we're sure we could envision a few scenarios where it'd be beneficial (or at least rather nifty). Matrox is adding another unit to its Extio lineup with the F1220 (closeup after the break), which gives users the ability to extend up to two displays, audio, twin FireWire connections, and up to six USB devices 820 feet from the workstation. Marketed for use in "mission-critical systems, media creation, broadcasting, control rooms, and digital signage applications," this remote graphics unit (RGU) supports resolutions up to 1,920 x 1,200, 128MB of graphics memory, and features fanless operation and a Matrox-designed graphics chip within. The unit it connected to a Matrox PCI or PCI-Express Extio adapter and the data is transferred over a "standard multi-mode fiber-optic cable with Dual-LC connectors." As for availability, the firm's latest RGU won't land until sometime in Q2, and while pricing is currently unlisted, you've got a few months to save up for this presumably costly piece if you so desire.[Via PCLaunches]
Hands on with the LG VX9400 for Verizon
It may not be Chocolate -- but in terms of style, the VX9400 isn't very far off. From the pictures, we'd thought that this was going to be one heavy, wide, unusable disaster of a handset, but we were dead wrong on every count. The phone can be used against the ear whether open or closed (obviously crucial for easy access to the keypad and quick taking of a call while watching TV), the pivot is smooth, and the glossy black top contrasts nicely with the silver bottom. The MediaFLO-based VCAST TV service, announced during the press conference today, is fully functional on the phone; we caught wind that Vegas and Seattle are fully live (among other markets) so it seems reasonable for Verizon to meet its goal of launching before the quarter's out. The video was smooth and quick to load, and the interactive guide (which loads via the FLO link) seemed well laid out. Click on for more pictures!
LG announces 9400 with MediaFLO, sort of
Wait wait wait, LG, let's be sure we have this straight: you've gone ahead and distributed pictures of the rumored 9400 with your CES press kit, but you make positively no mention of it in your press release. Didn't something just like this happen at CTIA with the VX8600? Either you've truly mastered the fine art of brilliant viral marketing, or you've accidentally announced yet another critical phone in Verizon's lineup early. Our money's on the latter. Anyhoo, here's the 9400 finally in all its blur-free glory, finally ushering in the age of mobile TV stateside. Though it's not branded as a Verizon release, we know from our candid shots that it's due up as a launch device for the imminent unveiling of Big Red's MediaFLO network -- possibly as soon as this afternoon at Verizon's press event. As always, we'll keep ya posted; in the mean time, check after the break for some more eye candy.
Pantech's SKY IM-R110
Pantech's high-end SKY division is up to its usual antics again, doing its best to humiliate the remainder of the telecommunicating world -- this time with the be-all, end-all IM-R110 pivoting candybar. The handset touts support for just about every conceivable acronym in the cellphone industry, with DMB mobile TV and SK Telecom's GXG gaming portal topping the list. Other features include a 2 megapixel camera with autofocus, the typical suite of media support, and microSD expansion. As usual, this one is destined to be confined to Korea for all of eternity, but hey, things are looking up -- we've got our own mobile TV to look forward to, right?
LG KU950 does DVB-H for Vodafone
Vodafone already has a partnership with the UK's Sky TV to bring live television to handsets via 3G data; it must be going pretty well, seeing how this here LG KU950 will apparently be one of the first handsets to bring Sky to Voda customers via DVB-H. Unlike UMTS, DVB-H is a downlink-only technology, suggesting that Vodafone might be a bit... shall we say, concerned at the long-term implications of customers getting their TV fix via the traditional data pipes. We don't have any solid details on the KU950, but the pivoting slider features a front-facing cam (meaning 3G is a sure thing), the screen apparently clocks in at a TV-friendly 2.4 inches, and it'll apparently run €99 when it hits next year -- not a bad first foray into the brave new world of digital mobile TV for Vodafone, if we do say so ourselves.[Thanks, Tony]
Samsung's tiny X830 now shipping
It's not every day that a global release from Samsung gets as many oohs and aahs as one of their domestic pieces, but the SGH-X830 is a notable exception. The curious lil' spinner gets by with just two columns on its keypad (a rather low number, we reckon), brazenly sacrificing usability for fashion and the cool factor. Then again, for a phone of this shape and size, we could be going completely keypadless -- so we'll stop our bellyaching right here. Look for the "Flick & Swing" X830 to drop in a rainbow of six colors when it shows up in your friendly local importer's inventory.
FCC shows Nokia N92 some approval love
Nokia's DVB-H capable N92 may not support GSM 850 or a UMTS band that's useful to us here in the States -- never mind the fact that we don't have any DVB broadcasts to tune in to -- but that doesn't mean we can't lust after the dual-pivot clamshell with its gorgeous 2.8-inch display. Happily, it looks like we can now satisfy our desires without ruffling the feathers of the, uh, FCC police. Of course, that still means we'd have to find some stock; despite getting announced alongside the N80 last year, the N92 hasn't yet become available in significant quantity, though Nokia's promising that we should start to see 'em here in the second half of the year.[Via Mobilewhack]
