MobilePhones-O-Focus

Sony Ericsson W850i – Music for Everyone …Now !

Samsung Blackjack II Reviewed by Mobile Tech Review
Found under: Samsung, Reviews, Smartphone, Windows Mobile 6 Standard,

HTC Shift hands-on

Filed under: Features, Handhelds, Tablet PCs

HTC’s Shift finally launched in the US this week, and what do you know, we landed one to check out. Sure as hell ain’t too shabby for a UMPC, but while it’s got a number of things working in its favor (versatile form factor, solid hardware, lots of niceties like a fingerprint reader, 3G, Windows Mobile, etc.), it’s got a number of bits working pretty hard against it. Some thoughts:

• The screen hinge is significantly improved and feels really solid. Without putting it through 20,000 open / close cycles, we think it’s fairly trustworthy, definitely good HTC gear.
• The microscopic keyboard keys are an absolute nightmare to type on with two hands if you’ve got normal human mitts. Unfortunately, it’s just too small to use regularly, and too large to use with your thumbs; with that kind of real estate we’d have preferred a proper split thumb-board with a nice big track pad in the middle. Major bummer.
• The trackpad is pretty sensitive, but a little difficult to control. The machine itself is certainly snappy enough, though, even running Vista with Aero.
• Hitting SnapVUE / Windows Mobile-mode is instantaneous, albeit a little jarring — especially since the screen is so huge and WinMo is so clearly not intended for it — but it’s nice to have a lighter weight interface than full-on Windows.
• Try though we might, we simply could not find a way to disengage the unit from its leather-bound case. Maybe this was outlined in the Shift’s documentation, of which we received none. Quite annoying.
• HTC kindly bundles a screen protector, a spare clicky stylus, external USB hub with Ethernet (ahem, Air), and headphones with mic.

All in all not bad, but it’s going to take a hell of a lot more than what the Shift’s offering up to get us to drop $1,500 on a UMPC of any kind. And it isn’t winning it any further points considering that one of the device’s main draws — the keyboard — may as well not even exist for us fat-fingered fools. Check out the extensive unboxing and hands-on gallery below.

Update: Apparently the case is permanently bolted to the unit and can’t be removed, part of some weird FCC requirement regarding antenna distance / SAR. At very least they HTC could have used Philips head screws (and not Torx) to facilitate ease of removal.

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Nokia E65: Fabulous and Attractive

Enhance your Smartphone with Windows Mobile 7 Theme
Found under: Freeware, Smartphone, Themes, Skins,

AT&T announces AT&T Mobile TV for May launch

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds, Portable Video

They haven’t revealed anything we didn’t already know, but AT&T’s finally come out with a semi-firm date for the launch of its MediaFLO-powered mobile TV service which will be branded simply as “AT&T Mobile TV.” It’ll be available to subscribers in May — no specific date just yet — on two exclusive handsets, the Prada-esque LG Vu and the more pedestrian Samsung Access; the Vu features an expansive touchscreen and 2 megapixel camera, while the Access makes do with a smaller landscape display and a 1.3 megapixel sensor. Both feature Bluetooth and 3G data, but the real story here is Mobile TV itself, which will come with two new channels that are exclusive to AT&T (in other words, unavailable on the other live MediaFLO service, VCAST TV from Verizon). The latest, hottest way to burn productivity on the go gets real in just a few short weeks, folks, so finish up whatever remaining work you have now.

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Caption contest: the Kindle cake

Filed under: Handhelds

Sure, it might not be as filling as the Skoda cakemobile, or as family oriented as Martha Stewart’s Wii cake, but do those contain the thrilling tale of The Light Beam Rider? Yeah, we thought not.

Paul: “Unfortunately the screen refresh times of ‘30-35 minutes at 350 degrees’ is just plain unacceptable.”
Chris: “Moments later, a naked Jeff Bezos burst out, ready to greet everyone at the shareholders’ meeting.”
Richard: “Philippe Starck calls the Kindle ‘a little delicious.’ “
Sean: “No friends, that’s not the iCing phone, tis the Kindle Cake and it serves 12.”
Don: “You can never be too careful buying gadgets on eBay.”
Josh: “The Light-Beam Rider was surprisingly short.”
Ross: “The book is a lie.”

[Via The Raw Feed]

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Sony Ericsson W580i: The Royal Phone

MD Sound’s KO-GPS4 navigator includes e-book reader

Filed under: GPS, Handhelds

Can’t say it’s likely that you’ll find MD Sound products on just any ole store shelf, but for those that look hard enough, they can procure the firm’s latest PND, the KO-GPS4, right now. Carefully watching his words, the outfit’s head of product development notes that “as far as [it] can tell, [this unit is] the first personal navigation device to include the popular e-book capability.” Beyond that, you’ll find a built-in MP3 / video player, photo viewer, Li-ion battery good for three hours on a full charge and a 4.3-inch touchscreen. Yeah, the $249.99 sticker may be tempting at first glance, but we’re pretty confident you can still do better for two and a half bills. Full release after the jump.

Continue reading MD Sound’s KO-GPS4 navigator includes e-book reader

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Bey 5 minute Sync on Windows Mobile devices
Found under: Tips, Sync, Windows Mobile,

SPB Mobile Shell v2.0 is here
Found under: Pocket PC, Software,