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Keepin' it real fake, part LXXXVII: "Manhattan" mobile not a T-Mobile Dash
Although this "Manhattan" Wide Screen GSM Dual Card Mobile phone doesn't rip-off any logos, it most certainly is more than "inspired" by T-Mobile's Dash. You probably won't want to pick up this $224.99 model, unless you don't mind living without any internet access at all (it doesn't even do GPRS), but if you need a phone that does two SIM cards -- we can't imagine what for -- then you're in luck. Then again, if you live in the US or Canada, you're out of luck again, because apparently this doesn't work there. Double lame.
Phoebus 3G router converts PCMCIA data card into WiFi
Yeah, this trick most certainly has a thin layer of dust on it, but there's just something special about a portable pyramid that turns your average PCMCIA data card into WiFi. The 3G Phoebus MB6000 purportedly plays nice with "most cellular PCMCIA cards on the market today" sans drivers or complicated software installations, which enables plug 'n play access to your data network regardless of current location. Aside from turning your card into a wireless access point for multiple users to connect to, it also enables wired Ethernet connections and a security suite that will only allow authenticated users to view the network. Such a fine convenience, however, was bound to come at a rather steep price, so you should probably make sure you'll be spending an awful lot of time surfing on the go before shelling out $299.95.[Via ChipChick]
Falcom's MAMBO II worldphone brings the GPS, Bluetooth
Feeling paranoid and require the use of a personal GPS tracker? If so, dig this: Germany's Falcom Mambo II is a quad-band GSM worldphone with GPRS that sports a 20-channel GPS receiver for those detailed tracking needs you may be looking for. That bulge you see contains a helix GPS antenna and some features inside the unit include a SiRF Star III GPS chip (with GPS tracking using up to four satellites), a 3D motion detector, a decently large 1,200 mAH Li-ion battery and a standard mini-USB connection for charging and connection purposes. No pricing or availability is known yet.
Teltonika's HSDPA USB modem accepts SIM cards and OS X
While PCMCIA and ExpressCards certainly fit the bill at times, the convenience of popping any ole SIM card into a USB adapter and hopping on a 3G network can't be denied. Teltonika's HSDPA USB modem just so happens to provide such a luxury, as the versatile device supports speeds up to 1.8Mbps via GPRS / EDGE / HSDPA, is entirely USB powered, and provides the ability to "text from your PC" and use VoIP. Furthermore, the TELTUSB3G manages to support both Windows and OS X right out of the box, and the company even allows you to customize the enclosure with colors and logos of your choice if you cough up the required surcharge. Unsurprisingly, you won't be snagging this one in the US without some importing help from the other side of the pond, but Europeans can grab one right now for around £165.00 ($329).[Via BoyGeniusReport]
Globesurfer ICON USB HSDPA modem adds support for US networks
Following up on its previous Globesurfer ICON, which was Europe- and Asia-only, Nova Media's new Globesurfer ICON 7.2 Ready kit updates the included Option modem to the now-standard USB key form factor and, more importantly, adds a dash of that sweet 850 and 1900MHz UMTS action -- making it usable on AT&T's HSDPA network and T-Mobile EDGE in the States. Other than the hardware change, though, the package is basically the same: OS X and Windows software (OS X users get Nova's launch2net utility with 300 preloaded network configurations), HSDPA / UMTS 3G / EDGE / GPRS support with download speeds up to 7.2Mbps on HSDPA (384Kbps up) and 220Kbps on EDGE (80Kbps up). Sadly, Nova says that speeds will be slower when connected to 850 and 1900MHz networks. Of course. Look to drop about €299 ($406) for the ICON Ready at the end of May.
TomTom intros GO 715 nav system
We caught this one on its trip to the FCC, but TomTom has now officially taken the wraps off its GO 715 GPS navigation system, the follow-up to its GO 710 unit. As we mentioned last time, the big news here is the addition of a SIM card slot for GPRS data, which will let the device send and receive messages, as well as location information, to other vehicles. That, of course, makes it a slightly less consumery device than some of TomTom's other units, with this one aimed instead at business looking to manage a fleet of vehicles. There doesn't appear to be any word on pricing just yet, but it should be rolling out sometime next month.[Via Navigadget]
Hands-on with the LG Prada
At the O2 booth at CeBIT we had an opportunity to go hands-on with much-loved but not often touched LG KE-850-based Prada. We have been diggin' this phone since we first laid eyes on it, but now that we have finally had a chance to use it a bit, we can't help but feel fairly underwhelmed. The build quality looks top-shelf, but feels like inexpensive plastic, and while the idea behind the touch interface is grand, typing an address in a browser was nasty. That being said, the lovely PR type from O2 told us that it was most definitely her fav handset and that she was hoping to take one home, so what do we know? We won't bore you with the specs again, but we will share the pics! Hands-on with the LG Prada
Sony Ericsson shoots for style points with W660
The Walkman phone's sporty orange trim gets switched out for a classy attempt in gold on Sony Ericsson's newest rendition, the W660. At a svelte 0.57-inches, the UMTS 2100 and GPRS 900/1800/1900 phone really packs in the goods with Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity, FM radio support, a 2 megapixel camera, web browsing, RSS feeds, and a 512 MB Memory Stick Micro (upgradeable). It has a 2-inch color TFT display and totes random extras like TrackID, a music identification service, and a Picture Blogging function that allows you to send snapshots directly to your personal blog. To top off the lifestyle angle on this phone, Sony Ericsson has embellished the pants offa this one, with the aforementioned gold trim on both glossy color options, Record Black and Rose Red. The Rose Red (geez, what's up with the cranberry hype?) model jazzes it up a bit more with its floral-themed relief pattern on the backside. For those of you who are more concerned with performance, you'll get up to 6 hours of talk time on GSM, up to 2.5 hours with 3G, or a max of 25 hours of music listening. Expect to peep these newbies in select markets by Q2 of this year. [Via PhoneArena]
All hail Gupp Technologies' Linux-powered Phreedom
Malaysian startup Gupp Technologies is prepping its baby (and by baby we mean ugly baby, that only mommy could love) -- the Phreedom -- for Q2 release this year. This dual-mode VoIP / GSM abomination little fella will be running a la Mobile's Convergent Linux platform, so fiddlers, start your engines because Linux anything means open source! It's good news for Gupp that this handset is also partially redeemed with a solid feature set, packing 802.11b/g, push and pull mail, 312MHz CPU, 320MB memory, VoIP with seamless handover to GSM, and a 2200 mAh battery to supply the juice for it all. Billed as a VoIP device first and a GSM handset second, this may be an interesting notion, but until we get our greasy hands on it, the jury is out -- and so far the looks are hurting its case. [Via Linux Devices]
Siemens AySystem utilizes GPS / GRPS for emergency tracking, alerting
While Siemens HQ is probably still dusting itself from last year's invasion, that's not stopping the whole show 'round those parts, as the firm is introducing a new form of emergency communication with its AySystem. By utilizing worldwide GSM / GRPS networks (and optionally, GPS), the pocketable device can be tracked, modified, and used as a channel of communication between a caregiver and patient, parent and child, boss and subordinate, or any other useful combination of individuals. Essentially, the Ay token is given to the person who needs monitored, and the other party can adjust various "thresholds" such as motion (or the lack thereof), temperature, and sound, and if that limit is surpassed (i.e. a patient stops moving), the token will sound an alarm whilst simultaneously texting / calling a user-selected individual. Moreover, it can be remotely controlled and tweaked via a web-based interface, and users can add "SnapOns" such as GPS receivers and cameras to extend its functionality even futher. Thankfully, the platform in which the device runs on is entirely Java-based, which should please those looking to code their own programs to take full advantage of what's being offered. As of now, we're not exactly sure how much this fancy panic button will end up costing, but it is slated to be made available "via mobile carriers or through pre-paid plans" in the not too distant future.[Via Gizmag]
Sony Ericsson W880i and K810i mini-gallery
We had a quick and dirty hands on with both the K810i and W880i this afternoon. Both were lovely, but sadly neither was able to stay but for a few minutes. We stacked and shot them with a K800i, BlackBerry Pearl, and an 02 Trion (a.k.a. HTC TyTn) for your viewing pleasure. Quick thoughts on the W880i: it has a gorgeous screen, the rubberized back feels secure in your hands, the keys actually might not make your fingers bleed -- and, oh yeah, the Nano-esque skinniness was enough to make our hearts sing. On the K810 side, keys are a bit odd-looking but feel just fine, the screen is on par with the K800i, and while this phone feels very solid -- it is still a bit on the portly side. Bottom line? We want them both ... now. Many thanks to Mr. Oli for bringing us the goods. Sony Ericsson W880i and K810i mini-gallery
Polymer Vision's Readius rollable display gets face time
Talk about a long time coming, as what is now Polymer Vision has seemed to finally put all the pieces together and produce an actual working product from the idea envisioned by Philips around two years ago. We knew the spinoff was looking to commercialize the product later this year, but after nearly 24 months of coming up empty, a bit of understandable skepticism begins to seep through. Nevertheless, the firm's rollable, pocket-friendly "Cellular-Book" was out and showing its stuff at 3GSM, proving that there's at least something there to put on store shelves. Although the unit on display was indeed a standalone device -- sporting 16 shades of grey, USB, "10-days" of battery life, 4GB of internal storage, and GPRS, EDGE, and DVB-H connectivity just like we'd heard -- Polymer Vision is actually hoping to integrate its e-paper technology into mobile handset displays in the near future. Sadly, there still didn't seem to be any hints of a release date for the nifty pocket reader, but be sure to click on through for the very long awaited pictures of the Readius in action.[Via Slashdot]
Sony Ericsson K550, the baby Cyber-shot reviewed
The friends at GSM Arena has slapped up a very nice review of the baby Cyber-shot – the K550. This relatively small, 14 mm thick quad-band GSM / GPRS / EDGE device (850, 900, 1800, 1900), packs most of the goodies that we have come to expect from the Sony Ericsson team. Included is a 2 megapixel camera, Bluetooth for handsfree goodness, M2 slot to augment the system memory -- a 512 MB card is included, and even an RDS-enabled FM radio. What this handset does lack, however, is 850 MHz support, and sadly this is a bit of a bust for the NA market. Considering this is a low to mid range device, it has to have some shortcomings; including a lower-than-we-would-like-it resolution screen, the keys appear as if a heavy text messaging session might make your fingertips bleed, and the word is the camera quality is sub-par for a Cyber-shot branded phone. On the plus side, if the price is right, the great feature set will likely outweigh the negatives mentioned above. It does seem Sony Ericsson is starting to suffer from 'Nokia-itis': new handsets galore – but we are beginning to see a fair bit of rehash. Edit: As astude reader johnnie points out - this device supports 850 MHz which of course makes it a quad band device.
Sony Ericsson's PC300 3.6Mbps data card: better late than never
Showing up a bit late to the prom (and in pink) is Sony Ericsson's newly announced PC300 Mobile Broadband PC Card. Yeah, as in PCMCIA, not ExpressCard. Their new radio-slab brings HSDPA, UMTS, EDGE and GPRS data at speeds up to 3.6Mbps. It will automatic handoff between HSDPA/UMTS/EDGE supporting tri-band 850, 1900, 2100MHz HSDPA/UMTS and quad-band 850, 900, 1800, 1900MHz EDGE/GPRS. And yeah, it's PC and Mac compatible... although you can't buy a new MacBook (and a growing list of others vendor models) with a PC Card slot anymore. Fortunately, the antenna is integrated -- a nice touch if you've ever snapped one off while puttering about staring at your laptop's screen. Expect the PC300 to hit in Q3 globally -- about the time we hope we'll need cards supporting 7.2Mbps. Hey, a boy can dream.
PDC's Guide Dog does GPS, gaming, and parking?
There's practical, there's incredible, and then there's sensational. PDC's Guide Dog looks to be a strong contender for the latter, as the all-in-one gizmo has a bit too much going for it to be believable. Nevertheless, this sleek, flashy portable supposedly functions primarily as a GPS device, boasting a four-inch touchscreen, "built-in antenna," and Windows CE behind the scenes. When not pulling you around, this puppy doubles as a "2D / 3D gaming machine," and also plays back MP3s, MP4 video files, and various other forms of "media." As if this weren't pushing things already, it purportedly packs a WiFi adapter for internet browsing, an "IP phone," DVB-T tuner, Bluetooth, GPRS, UART, and even acts as a "parking sensor," presumably requiring you to duct tape it on your bumper for best results. To keep your media on hand, it supports MMC, MMCplus, SD, and PDC's "own proprietary format" (or is it?), PSd. While this thing would cause some serious shakeup in the handheld navigation world if it all panned out, we're taking this yet-to-be-priced, and currently unavailable device with a few throws of salt for now.[Via NaviGadget]
Palm announces Treo 680
Per protocol, Palm was scooped well ahead of today's announcement, but it's always good to see official details get laid out nonetheless. Following hot on the heels of its elder Windows Mobile sibling, the 750v, the Treo 680 comes into the light today for GSM networks -- a good sign for carriers worldwide after a year of CDMA equipment out of the company. Cast as an entry-level model (read: no WiFi support), the 680 brings it strong with a redesigned phone UI and software bundle, quad-band GSM (what, no quint-band HSDPA?), 64MB of RAM, and a VGA cam, all sitting atop Palm OS in the buyer's choice of Graphite, Copper, Arctic, or Crimson colors. No pricing or launch carriers were announced today, but given the branding we've seen on some of the shots thus far, we've got our guesses.
Sierra Wireless to offer HSDPA, EV-DO Rev A via USB
Not a day's passed after we caught word of Sprint's launch of Novatel's S720 PC Card do we hear that Sierra Wireless has a proverbial one-two punch of WWAN modems up its sleeve, this time of the USB variety. First up in Q4 of this year will be the 595U, an EV-DO Revision A device topping out at a purely-theoretical 3.1Mbps downstream, followed by the quad-band GSM, tri-band HSDPA 875U humming along at 3.6Mbps in Q1 2007. Both USB modems look to be coming in sleek little packages with internal antennas and matching cradles, support location-based services, and have upgradeable firmware. If these things really look as slick as the press shots make them out to be, we may not be whining for a Rev A ExpressCard after all -- if the ship dates hold up, that is.[Via Macworld]
Lenovo unveils Cingular-enabled WWAN ThinkPad T60
All of you Cingular users who are happily toting that Dell already know how splendid built-in UMTS / HSDPA-based technology can be, and you Verizon customers with MacBook Pros now have your very own EV-DO ExpressCard to gloat about, but America's "favorite" GSM provider has paired up with Lenovo to unveil the latest ThinkPad T60. For those who just ain't feeling the protruding Novatel apparatus, this WWAN-integrated machine comes with Cingular's BroadbandConnect hardware pre-installed, as well as a communication manager that "easily establishes connections" to service, and Lenovo's own ThinkVantage software is thrown in to automatically activate / deactivate the host of wireless capabilities based on your in-range options. The specs on this T60 -- aside from the WWAN amenities -- is on par with other non-Cingular editions, and sports a 14.1-inch SXGA+ display, 1.66GHz Intel Core Duo, 512MB of DDR2 RAM, 80GB hard drive, 64MB ATI Mobility Radeon X1300 graphics, 802.11a/b/g, and a DVD burner. The Cingular-enabled T60, which is amazingly not tattooed by a barrage of little orange stickers, is available now to curb your 3G notebook cravings for $1,899.[Via Slashphone]
"3rd-i" cam for spyin' on the go
There are undoubtedly less proprietary ways to go about doing this, but if you're looking for a quick, painless way to get a PC-free camera feed to your phone, a British operation by the name of 3rd-i reckons they have the answer. The concept is simple enough: take your garden-variety video cam, strap on a GPRS modem, and call it good for £199 ($370). Besides accessing live video and up to 30 days of archived footage via pretty much any Java MIDP 1.0- or 2.0-enabled phone, the unit can be set up to immediately text you upon detecting motion. Not bad -- in fact, we'd strongly consider using 3rd-i's cams to secure the Engadgetmobile, but the dual band 900 / 1800 support just doesn't cut it in these parts.[Via Crowdedbrain]
Hands on with Sony's would-be UMPC killer, the UX180P
Sony is never a company to back down from raising a few eyebrows or ruffling a few feathers in the standards game, and so shall it be with the not-quite-UMPC UX180P. There's little question that the UX whips up on the current crop of UMPCs in the marketplace, sporting a more powerful processor, higher-res screen, integrated keyboard and EDGE -- but at $1800, it needs to. And right there lies the million-dollar question: at almost double the cost of a UMPC, does the UX serve its function? And what exactly is its function, for that matter? Read on for our take on the answers, along with some in-depth imagery.