Videos, pictures and review of the T-Mobile G1

21 things we know about the G1 Android Phone

The world's first Google Android phone, expected to be called the T-Mobile G1, will be officially launched tomorrow, and the blogosphere is buzzing with expectation. In anticipation of tomorrow's announcement, here's a list of 21 things we expect from the new Google Android phone...

Leaked pictures of the 8 megapixel LG Renoir

Unofficially christened the LG Viewty II, the new LG KC910 has been given the official name LG Renoir, and it's specs are simply awesome. With an 8 megapixel camera with more camera-specific settings than you'd find in you, er, camera, plus GPS, 7.2Mbps HSDPA, Wi-Fi and a giant 3" touchscreen, the LG Renoir is set to be one of, if not the, most feature-heavy mobile phones on the market.

As these leaked pics show, it's not exactly bad looking, either, although it does seem to take its styling cues from another rater more famous touchscreen smartphone that's been on the market for a while now.

Google Android to sell 400,000 units in 2008

Having returned from my hols just in time for the big Google Android announcement that's expected on Tuesday, it seems the whole mobile blogosphere's abuzz with Android news. With bloggers arguing over the likely success or failure of the first Android phone, the HTC Dream, market research group Strategy Analytics have waded into the debate by estimating that the Dream could sell as many as 400,000 units before the end of 2008.

However, although 400,000 units sounds a lot, it's small compared to the huge number of smartphones that are shipped annually...

MobileMentalism’s archives now available

It's holiday time again, mobile phone fans, so I won't be posting much until next weekend. In the meantime, feast yourselves on our mobile phone archives from the past three years - you'll never know what you'll find!

First Android phone to be released on September 23rd?

News reaches us that the first Google Android phone, the HTC Dream, could be on sale as soon as September 23rd. According to Reuters, T-Mobile and Google will make an announcement about the new Android phone in New York later this month.

If correct, this is excellent news, as Google really needs to be seen to be competing in the Mobile Web space before Christmas. With the likes of Sony Ericsson, Nokia, Apple and the myriad Windows Mobile phones out there, there's some stiff competition for smartphones, with each platform desperate to get developers to write for their smartphones.

Given that Christmas is a big time of year for the mobile phone manufacturers, Google needs its Android phones to ship well before then in order to build up a head of steam ready for a big push in the mobile Web space in 2009.

[Source: PCPro]

Sony Ericsson G705 YouTube Phone

Sony Ericsson have announced the Sony Ericsson G705, a mobile phone pitched squarely at the Nokia N82. I know this, because I have a Nokia N82 sat in front of me as I type this, and the features of the new G705 look remarkably similar!

The G705, like the N82, is clearly focused on multimedia content. Not only do you get the usual features - 3.2 megapixel camera, video recording, web browser, HSDPA and WiFi - you also get a few nice touches that enable you to actually use those features.

For example, there's a dedicated zoom button that lets you zoom into a Web page, which saves you having to do this by fiddling around with menus. There's also a Google button, which unsurprisingly takes you straight to Google with just the click of a single button. Building on that, the G705 also comes with built-in YouTube integration, enabling you to upload and download YouTube videos directly.

No more having to faff around finding the video and then working out how to connect to YouTube in order to upload your latest masterpiece. Just record the video, click a button and select "Send to YouTube" and you're done...

...just like you can on the Nokia N82! That's not the only similarity, either.

More details of the Sony Ericsson G705 after the jump.

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 release date now officially confirmed

Final news today on the XPERIA X1: Sony Ericsson have finally officially confirmed tha the XPERIA X1 release date will be September 30th 2008, well before Christmas. Wahoo!

Sony Ericsson opens new front in Mobile Web

All the news seems to be Mobile Web-related today! Sony Ericsson have hinted that their new user interface for the XPERIA X1 smartphone could be made open to any developer who wants to use it, meaning we'll no longer have to put up with the lousy Windows Mobile user interface that comes as standard on so many me-too Windows Mobile smarpthones.

When Sony Ericsson announced that their new smartphone, the XPERIA X1, would use Windows Mobile, the world was somewhat shocked, as Windows Mobile is, well, frankly appalling! Looking like a dinosaur in a 21st Century world of super-tech phones, Windows Mobile phones all use the same boring user interface that reminds you of Windows 95! The thought of a high-end Sony Ericsson smartphone featuring the same user interface was nothing short of horrific.

NVIDIA teams with Opera in new assault on the Mobile Web

The mobile Web looks like it's about to catch fire.

Not content with smartphones that really are smart from the likes of Apple, Google's Android, Nokia's Symbian platform and Windows Mobile (which has just received a boost thanks to Sony Ericsson's decision to open up the new Panels-based user interface on its forthcoming XPERIA X1 smartphone), graphics chip company NVIDIA have announced a deal with browser developer Opera to create a new optimized version of the Opera 9.5 mobile browser that should bring a real desktop browsing experience to mobile phones.