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ZTE and OKWAP team with Intivation to deliver next generation solar devices
Let's be honest, we'd scorch the Earth to eke just one more hour of power from our superphones. Fortunately, as residents of the western world we've got plenty of juice to power all of our gadgets. Still, we can definitely see the attraction of a solar-powered cellphone meant for the peoples of developing nations living off the grid. Throw in a flashlight and you've just changed somebody's life. That's what we've got in the ZTE S316, a dead simple candybar with color display and torch. Also announced is the S101 charger with its own built-in flashlight that can be used to charge select, non-solar devices and costs just $12 to $13, maybe less on volume. The third solar device comes from China's OKWAP and is built by Inventec. The $40 GS109 (pictured above) feature phone is destined, believe it or not, to be an object of ultimate desire when slung from the neck on a lanyard as proof of ones prosperity. Spec-wise, this dual-SIM solar-powered phone packs a video camera, color display, microSD slot, MP3 player, and even Bluetooth 2.1 -- a lot of features for a solar phone. Linking the three devices is Intivations SunBoost solar conversion technology allowing the devices to charge in conditions less than ideal. The ZTE S316, for example, draws a max of about 113mA when on a call, while the solar cell pumps out about 50mA to 60mA of juice depending upon the natural lighting conditions (it even charges when cloudy). That's about two minutes of natural light exposure required for every minute of talk time to keep the device going. The solar cell on the GS109, meanwhile, produces about 70mA in direct sunlight to keep the device humming. Remember, the idea isn't to charge a phone from 0% to full but to keep a device continually charged at about 70% to 80%. Intivation is so confident in its tech that it claims to provide "a far better charging experience than anything else on the market today." Both the S316 and S101 charger will be available in April while the relatively swank GS109 will hit next month. See them all in the gallery below. %Gallery-85611%
Okwap's C150T gets mauled by Hello Kitty
Hello Kitty has certainly claimed her fair share of cellphones in the past, but she's going totally diva on the Okwap C150T. From top to bottom, side to side, this GSM handset is smothered in cuteness, and reportedly, it boasts a built-in media player, a two-megapixel camera, and a myriad Hello Kitty themes / backgrounds. Regrettably, there's no word on a price just yet, and it's doubtful you'll find this thing anywhere in America, but go on and click through for shots of the interface if you just can't get enough.[Via AkihabaraNews]
Okwap C150 introduced and handled
Looks like Okwap's got a new thing going with the stylish C150, which dons a stealthy black outfit and utilizes red lights beneath its surface to showcase the control pad. Reportedly, this mobile sports dual SIM card slots for all the GSM fun you can handle, comes in at 15.8-millimeters thick and weighs 91 grams, features a 2.2-inch 220 x 176 resolution display, and also gets a ho hum two-megapixel camera. Furthermore, you'll be looking at a 2.5-millimeter headphone jack, 117MB of built-in memory, and a complete lack of short-range wireless capabilities or flash expansion options. Still, Okwap must be mighty proud of its new handset to charge CNY2,799 ($366) for it, but feel free to click on through for more hands-on pics and judge the value for yourself.[Via JustAMP]
Inventec's Windows Mobile 6-powered K871 shown at Computex
Not too many details on this one just yet, but Inventec was apparently showing off the Okwap-built K871 at Computex, and aside from boasting a slideout QWERTY keyboard and a standard number pad, it also comes loaded with the latest version of Windows Mobile. Additionally, the smartphone packs a three-megapixel camera with auto focus, a few handy hotkeys surrounding the number pad, built-in 802.11b/g WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, USB 2.0 connectivity, and the ability to hop on the 3G highway via HSDPA. Still looks a little thick for our tastes, but feel free to click through for a couple more shots from the show floor.
'Virtual Navigation' WM5 Smartphone unveiled by Taiwan's OKWAP
Taiwan's OKWAP is sitting on a new Windows Mobile smartphone that looks eerily reminiscent of many newer Sony Ericsson designs. It's not really a first for OKWAP -- a Windows Mobile Smartphone, that is -- but this baby sports a slick "virtual" scroll wheel, ala iPod. Sporting a very clean and almost sterile white design, we were first perplexed by the absence of a joystick or d-pad of some kind, but alas, OKWAP has designed the whole keypad to be a touch-sensitive virtual navigation array. The SD slot on the top of the unit (great move OKWAP) takes old school full SD cards and the single connector -- miniUSB -- rounds out the bottom. Price in Taiwan? $450US for that beauty, once you find it.[via Slashphone]
Okwap, it's AstroBoy!
You know you're in for a good time when Okwap has a new phone, and when it's an AstroBoy branded phone we're talking about, all bets are off. Given the packaging of this particular model A323, we don't think it's unfair to assert that they're aiming this less at the user and more at the AstroBoy collector audience, but ain't no shame in that game, there are certainly enough fanboys of that particular character to make it worth Okwap's while.[Via MobileMentalism]
OKWAP's WM2005 Smartphone slider
Despite the seemingly exponential popularity of sliders over the past couple years, Windows Mobile Smartphones have seen shockingly little action in the form factor (heck, even Pocket PCs have managed to join the party). Taiwan's OKWAP is looking to change all that, parading their adorable little K728 at this year's Computex. The tri-band GSM device (sorry, yanks) sports some unusual specs for a Smartphone, including a 400MHz Samsung core, generous 128MB of flash, 2.0 megapixel camera, MiniSD slot, AKU2 with all the trimmings (A2DP included), and a 220 x 176 touchscreen. Yes, that's right, a touchscreen -- Smartphone doesn't officially get down like that, so we're assuming OKWAP rolled their own touch support. Given the unusually healthy spec sheet, you might be led to believe this Smartphone is secretly aspiring to be a Pocket PC, but the K728's diminutive 93.5 x 46 x 24.5mm and 107.8g weight suggest otherwise. More not-for-US-release eye candy after the break.
