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Nokia C6-01 is a Symbian^3 touchscreen candybar with 8 megapixel camera?
The nerds over at Mobile Geek Inc did a nifty investigative piece revealing more details about Nokia's mid-level C6-01 candybar. After making an awkward early appearance on Nokia's Dutch online storefront, more pics along with the user agent profile have been located thus confirming its lack of QWERTY, 8 megapixel camera, and Symbian^3 OS. A nice alternative to the 5 megapixel C6-00 slider shackled to S60 5th. Look for the new C6 to get official with a very nice price either at, or around, Nokia World 2010 which kicks off September 14th in London. One more front-side pic after the break.
TAG Heuer Merediist GMT keeps your Monte Carlo arrivals on time
For all its luxurious sapphire crystal glass and genuine alligator skin, the TAG Heuer Meridiist has always struggled to keep up with the times -- but don't expect that two megapixel camera or 1.9-inch QVGA screen to change in the handset's latest iteration. No, the Merediist GMT's only new feature is -- you guessed it -- to literally keep track of Greenwich Mean Time. "Switch between home time and destination time," a flashy new ad teases, as a pair of (presumably) filthy rich individuals take the TAG Heuer Tesla for a cross-country drive. We're not quite sure how one originally forgets about world time with 150 years of watchmaking experience under one's belt, but at least the company has pledged to include the function in all future $4000+ models.
Motorola Charm coming to T-Mobile with 'enhanced' Android 2.1 Motoblur? Update promised for CLIQ and CLIQ XT?
Usual rules apply -- we can't independently confirm this at the moment -- but a tipster has sent us what appears to be T-Mobile training materials for an upcoming Motoblur-infused candybar smartphone, the Motorola Charm. Only this Motoblur is allegedly powered by Android 2.1 and boasts the same scalable widgets as we saw on Droid X, in addition to improved Facebook / Twitter integration (hello, Like and Retweet) and the usual Eclair refinements.As far as the hardware is concerned, there isn't much to glean from it at this point, aside from a textured QWERTY keyboard reminiscent of the CLIQ and a "camera" button denoting some form of memory-capturing capabilities. Speaking of which, the materials mention that the enhanced Motoblur is heading to CLIQ and CLIQ XT. Let us bookend this entire post with another reminder that none of this is confirmed, but we do know more than a few T-Mobile users who would love to get their mitts on a candybar Android. %Gallery-96395% [Thanks, Anonymous]
Sony Ericsson's Cedar, Yendo are official: candybar and an Android-free X10 mini clone
If the phone on the left looks familiar, it should -- it looks a heck of a lot like the Android-powered X10 mini, sharing the 2.6-inch touchscreen and some of its UI cues -- but alas, this bad boy isn't running Android. Instead, Sony Ericsson is branding this fairly low-end dumbphone as the rumored Yendo with Walkman branding, a 2 megapixel cam, and FM radio; interestingly, it lacks 3G, instead offering one of two dual-band GSM / EDGE choices in ten colors. On the right, you've got the Cedar, bringing back what's quickly become a dying form factor as of late -- the simple candybar -- with a 2 megapixel cam and VGA video capture at 30fps, 3G, a 2.2-inch display, and 3.5mm headphone jack available either in black with silver accents or red accents. Both will be available in the third quarter, though the Yendo has been slapped with the "selected markets" label, so we suspect it'll be the harder to find of the two.
Boost Mobile rolls out Motorola i296
If you thought the aging i290 was about ready for replacement, we've got some great news for you -- the updated i296 is upon us. It's an ultra-basic device by any measure, seeing how it lacks a camera, music player, and web access, but if you're just looking for a marginally stylish way to get your chirp-chirp on, this might be a decent way to do it. As with many (if not most) iDEN devices in recent memory, the candybar is mil-spec 810F compliant for dust, shock, and vibration resistance, and it runs just $59.95 contract free -- let's see you try to get that kind of a deal on a smartphone, eh? Follow the break for Boost's press release.
Nokia's C1 and C2 series try hard not to break even the smallest of banks
It looks like Nokia's conversion from the time-tested four-digit naming scheme to the one-letter, one-number strategy may be nearing completion now that the company has announced a new series of ultra-low end candybars that all have homes within the Cseries. The C1 is actually a three-pack of phones -- the C1-00, C1-01, and C1-02 -- all of which feature Nokia's longest standby time ever (quoted at six weeks) along with a color display, integrated flashlight, 3.5mm headphone jack, and FM radio; the 01 and 02 variants add microSD slots, while the 01 also features a VGA camera and the 00 becomes Nokia's very first dual-SIM device to hit the market. The C2 is also a dual-SIM device, but unlike the C1-00, the C2 can keep both SIMs active simultaneously, meaning you'll be able to get calls and messages to either SIM without manually switching. It's got a microSD slot and a SIM slot, meaning that one of the two SIMs is hot-swappable -- a pretty unique feature if you've got an endless supply of lines that you want to be able to use without hassle. Look for the C1-00 to hit in the third quarter for €30 ($37) subsidy-free, the C1-01 early in the fourth quarter for €39 ($47), and the C1-02 and C2 both to come late in the fourth quarter of the year for 35 and 45 ($43 and $55), respectively. Follow the break for Nokia's press release.
Nokia E73 Mode brings a familiar form factor to T-Mobile US on the cheap
Say what you will about Nokia's software, there's no faulting the E70-series of QWERTY candybars, which marry delectable keyboards with thin, classy, and surprisingly rugged design -- and of course top it off with an almost-just-too-small screen. The latest of these is the new Nokia E73 Mode for T-Mobile US (that's right, a Nokia phone on a US carrier!), which will start shipping on June 16th. The S60 handset has a 5 megapixel camera with flash and autofocus, WiFi, free turn by turn Ovi Maps, and not much more to speak of to set it apart from its predecessors, which is a good or bad thing depending upon what you want out of a phone. The best news, however, is that it's retailing for $69.99 on a two year contract. PR is after the break. %Gallery-94285%
Vertu Ascent 2010: same pretension, new specs
Vertu's not big on press releases, so you'll have to forgive us for missing this a few weeks back -- but it seems that Nokia's little outpost of opulent, over-the-top luxury has just released an updated version of its time-tested Ascent range. The so-called Ascent 2010 features a 5 megapixel camera (up from the Ascent Ti's 3), 8GB or 32GB of on-board storage depending on the version (up from 4GB), and quadband 3G. It also has AGPS with preloaded maps (Vertu's carefully avoiding the plebeian Ovi Maps branding here, but we'd imagine it's more or less the same thing), a 2-inch QVGA sapphire crystal display, and a sweet chronograph display (pictured) that undoubtedly makes the phone worth every one of the thousands of dollars you shell out for it. You can pick it up now in your choice of aluminum or titanium bodies with a variety of colored leather accents from luxury retailers around the globe -- and don't forget to pack your checkbook before you hop in the Roller and head down there, obviously.
Nokia X2 follows X3's footsteps, welcomes Series 40 to the Xseries fold
A number of Series 40 devices were branded with Nokia's "XpressMusic" label back in the day, so why not Xseries, too? Well, Nokia must be on the same page, because it has just announced the X2 candybar without a trace of smartphone DNA to its name after the X3 kicked things off a few months ago. The relatively low-end phone clocks in with a 5 megapixel cam with flash, 2.2-inch QVGA display, Ovi Store and Facebook support, dual loudspeakers, integrated FM radio, dedicated music keys, and microSD expansion up to 16GB (32GB would've been nice, but considering the scarcity and overwhelming price of said cards, it really doesn't matter too much in practice). The 13mm-thick piece is due before the end of June for €85 ($113), which is a heck of a value by our rough math.
Samsung AMOLED Beam SPH-W9600 projector phone is not what we've been waiting for
Remember Samsung's impressive 3.7-inch Super AMOLED Beam projector phone running Andriod? This isn't it. Instead, Samsung is launching its far less impressive 3.3-inch AMOLED (what, no Super?) Beam SPH-W9600 we previewed back in January into its South Korean home. So yeah, it's the same 5 megapixeler with T-DMB TV, Microsoft Office and DivX codec support, and improved DLP pico projector that replaces last year's W7900. But if it's all the same to you Sammy, we'll be waiting for the true projector phone successor -- your Beam i8520, codenamed Halo -- said to be launching this summer.%Gallery-90467%
Mobiado's 712GCB: 'your choice of yellow or rose gold' is really all you need to know
Were you up late at night trying to imagine what a Mobiado 712ZAF might look like were it covered in 8 microns of 18-karat gold? Well, an honest night of peaceful slumber might finally be within reach now that the Canadian company has answered the call with the 712GCB. The pricey candybar carries over everything you love (or hate) about the 712ZAF, including the 2.2-inch QVGA display, 5 megapixel camera, AGPS, and tri-band 3G, but swaps out the plebeian bits of colored steel for your choice of yellow or rose gold. Price is, of course, unlisted -- but you were just planning on putting it on the black card without asking any questions anyway, weren't you?
Cricket tacks on Samsung's Stunt
Looking for a rightful successor to your now-aging SCH-R211? Samsung and Cricket would like you to look no further than the SCH-R100 Stunt, a dead ringer for the candybar of the same name that launched on MetroPCS back in December of last year. It turns out this is a little bit more than your average ultra-basic phone, though: Cricket says this device is introducing Bluetooth to the lowest tier of its lineup, a particularly useful feature now that using the handset while driving is a no-no in many jurisdictions. It's available now (contract free, naturally) for $99.99.
Nokia C5 wastes no time getting FCC blessing
Just days following its announcement, the FCC saw fit to grant Nokia's low-end C5 all the regulatory approval it needs (well, not all, but some) to start hitting shelves stateside. Whether it'll actually be sold in any official capacity in North America is another story altogether -- but the prospect of a sub-$200 unlocked smartphone from any top-tier manufacturer is a difficult one to ignore; in any event, this isn't the model you'll be seeing in American stores since it's quadband GSM with 900 / 2100MHz 3G only. While you wait for manufacturing to ramp up, there's a 91-page manual included with the filing for you to flip through, so you may as well get started.
Sony Ericsson's eco-loving Naite now available from Sony Style
Following availability on Rogers by just a handful of days, Sony Ericsson is now talking up availability of the simple Naite candybar down south of the border -- but it's not through a carrier this time. Instead, you'll need to stroll into your local Sony Style store (or order online) to get it unlocked and unsubsidized. Oftentimes that's a brutal situation financially, but seeing how the Naite is a rather low-end device, these guys are charging just $159 for the privilege of using a device touting a case made of 50 percent post-consumer recycled plastic and an ultra-eco charger. It's available right now -- a good backup phone, perhaps?
Nokia C5 arrives with S60 3rd edition OS pretending to be a 'smartphone'
We're not going to kid you, the already leaked C5 is not going to woo many smartphone hunters as we traditionally understand this defining term for high-end handsets. Although Nokia dubs it as such, the 2.2-inch display riding 2GB of microSD storage and S60 3rd OS just doesn't hold up. It does, however, come with Nokia Messaging baked in as well as GPS with free Ovi Maps turn-by-turn navigation making it a heck of a featurephone for the price: just €135 (about $183) unlocked, before taxes and any carrier subsidies are applied. So what we're looking at here is execution of Nokia's strategy to push Symbian downward throughout its product catalog as Maemo, eh hem, MeeGo starts filling in the top slots (give it a few years). Besides complicating smartphone marketshare reports, the emergence of the handset also confirms Nokia's new Cseries of middling devices while giving credence to the Nokia roadmap leaked last month. So while the C5 might not tickle your fancy, maybe the rumored 12 megapixel N8-00 with 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen rumored to be launching this summer will.
MetroPCS goes a second round with Mister Cartoon for Moto's VE440
Motorola's unassuming VE440 candybar was not a phone that we'd ever taken as the kind of device a company would revisit to craft a special edition -- but then again, we don't really understand Mister Cartoon either, so what do we know? That's right: just as it did last year with the Samsung Messager, the regional has paired up with tattoo guru Mister Cartoon to coat the VE440 in black and chrome trimmed with two positively frightening interchangeable covers. The new version comes bundled with a 1GB microSD card and two "exclusive" Snoop Dogg tracks, which -- considering the phone's $89 off-contract price after rebate -- might be worth the cost of admission alone. It's available now; part of the proceeds will be donated to youth centers within MetroPCS' market areas, so you can feel good about the purchase despite what the glaring skull on the back of the phone wants you to believe.
Vertu Ascent X dazzles FCC with its expert craftsmanship, supple leather
We don't really know the fully story behind this new certification just yet, but it's not every day that Vertu -- Nokia's ultra-luxury brand -- passes a device through the FCC, so we figured we'd broadcast the exciting news anyhow. Other than a line art shot of the back and a few particularly sparse lab documents, your guess is as good as ours, but there's one bit in the RF test results that reads right out of a Tourneau brochure: "The Vertu Model: Ascent X, FCC ID: P7QRM-589V is a mobile phone in the Luxuary [sic] category. It is differentiated from standard models in terms of craftsmanship/materials and quality. The model is available in a number of cosmetic finishes, where substituted on a like for like basis, Metal for Metal, RF Neutral/leather and cover materials for the same in a variety of colors and finishes (Mat/polished/color etc)." Metal for metal indeed, Vertu. Interestingly, the phone appears to support quadband HSPA on the 800, 850, 1900, and 2100MHz frequencies -- not something you see every day -- and although we can't find any details on the phone, Vertu's official data configuration service lists an "Ascent X Design" model, so this might very well be it. Start raiding the trust fund, ladies and gentlemen.
Nokia 6303i Classic announced, 'guarantees fun for a long time without charging'
If you were waiting for a mild refresh of Nokia's 6303 Classic before taking the plunge on a new handset... well, you're a strange character, but the good news is that your time has come at long last. The 2.2-inch QVGA display and 3.2 megapixel camera are both carried over; otherwise, you've got a micro-USB connector, 3.5mm headphone jack (good for the integrated FM radio), microSD expansion up to 8GB, Nokia Messaging, and up to a respectable 8 hours of talk time. Needless to say, this isn't a high-end piece -- it tops out with tri-band EDGE, but it'll run just €105 ($144) unsubsidized when it hits "select markets" this quarter.
Nokia C5 seemingly leaked, but don't expect much
It's been a little while since Nokia locked up the Cseries trademark, and it looks like they're finally putting it to good use here following the Xseries launch a few months back -- but don't break out your party pants just yet, because it looks like this could be Nokia's new catch-all bucket for the low-end Symbian gear. The so-called C5 that's been leaked on Daily Mobile looks like a possible 6124 Classic successor thanks to a 3.2 megapixel cam, full HSPA, microSD expansion, AGPS, a 3.5mm headphone jack, S60 3.2, and... well, a rather classic candybar design. Given the overwhelming realness of the site's shots, we're going to go ahead and assume that it's legit and planned for an MWC reveal later this month -- and considering Nokia's global low-cost domination strategy for Symbian, this might be priced very, very aggressively.
Mobiado's 712ZAF yet another way to rid yourself of bothersome $100 bills
Cash weighing you down? Credit limit too high? Luxury phone specialist Mobiado might just have the answer with its latest creation, the 712ZAF candybar. Billed as the successor to the Luminoso, the Vancouver-based company's latest execution of conspicuous consumption features a 2.2-inch QVGA display, AGPS, two-mic dynamic noise reduction, a 5 megapixel camera with flash, and quadband EDGE plus UMTS 900 / 1900 / 2100 (Mobiado has always had a bad habit of simply calling out "WCDMA" without specifying UMTS or HSPA, but on that tiny display, it really doesn't matter too much). The aluminum frame is surrounded with a ceramic coat in your choice of six colors; no word on price or availability, but we'll venture a guess that breaking open your piggy bank isn't going to cover it.
