Posts filed under News
EverTwist Origami-phone adds new twist to cellphone form factor
November 11th, 2005
Korean mobile phone manufacturer KTFT have just announced the new KTF-TR2000 (Ever Twist) mobile phone. Although its features are pretty standard (1.3megapixel, MP3 player, Pict bridge, T-flash external memory), it has a strikingly novel form factor. According to KTFT, it features a “twist rotation” design. When rotated, the folder is twisted asymmetrically away from the keypad. Why, you may ask? Well, when twisted, you see the screen, plus one row of buttons from the standard keypad. These then act as hot-keys for the camera and camcorder. Not sure if this warrants the design and engineering effort that must have gone into this mobile handset, but the resulting origami-like form factor is pretty nifty.
[Source: MobileKorea]
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Casio 3G cellphones destined for the US
November 10th, 2005
Gizmodo are also reporting today that Casio are planning on supplying cellphones to the US market. Not unsurprisingly, Casio will be using digital cameras to spearhead its overseas push, and “will easily hit its target of selling 5 million cameras this business year”, Kazio Kashio (Casio’s president) said, adding that continuous innovation was necessary in such a competitive market.
“Every half year you have to market a new model with new technologies,” he said. “If you fall behind in this schedule, you will lose.” Unless you’re Motorola, he could have said, where releasing the same phone in different colours seems to work, as long as its slim and has a cool name. And isn’t the ROKR!
Cellphone transformed into Smellphone
November 10th, 2005
As if ringtones weren’t annoying enough, a company caled Keita KunKun has developed what it calls ‘smelltones’ – yes, when your phone rings, you’ll be alerted not by the irritating renditions of an absurd frog, nor the tinny monophonic ear-pain of an even more absurd McFly, or even by a warm buzz in your pants – no, now you get a smell alerting you that someone’s calling you! WTF?! Why?!
Gotta love the Japanese market-speak though:
“ Is the first among the world! It is news universal design in “odor” at arrival of the mail of a cellular phone!
It is epoch-making mobile accessories to inform of arrival of the mail of a cellular phone in “odor”.Hangs it on a strap of a cellular phone, and faint odor opens at every telephone and arrival of the mail of an email for five seconds.”
It is epoch-making mobile accessories to inform of arrival of the mail of a cellular phone in “odor”.Hangs it on a strap of a cellular phone, and faint odor opens at every telephone and arrival of the mail of an email for five seconds.”
Marvellous!
Motorola Fuel Cell Phones on the horizon
November 9th, 2005
Finally, a replacement to the humble cellphone battery – a fuel-cell phone battery! Fuel cells have been talked about for some time as a possible replacement to battery technology, which is becoming increasingly overlaoded by all the new features thatgo into a modern cellular phone. Fuel cells can offer more power for longer, ensuring that you can still make phone calls even after listening to your tunes for several hours. Now, they’ve come a step closer to being introduced into a cell phone, with the news that Motorola has made a strategic investment in Tekion, a micro fuel cell developer.
“Our decision to invest in Tekion was motivated by its cutting-edge technology and experienced leadership in micro fuel cell development,” said Warren Holtsberg, corporate vice president, equity investments and director of Motorola Ventures. “As mobile products have simultaneously miniaturized and increased in functionality, battery capacity has become a significant challenge. Tekion’s non-flammable Formira fuel cell technology combined with an advanced battery technology, such as lithium ion, is a practical and efficient solution. Tekion’s technology will help advance Motorola’s vision of bringing seamless mobility to wireless users.”
With Motorola’s torpid speed in developing new products, though, expect them to have a fuel cell phone by 2015. Other cell phone manufacturers should have their fuel-cell driven cell phones substantially sooner.
Apple Hobbled ROKR SHOKR
November 9th, 2005
Rumour has been rife for sometime that Apple deliberately spiked the Motorola PLOPR ROKR, ensuring that it was a poor product. Now a new rumour has surfaced, suggesting that the reason for this was not so that Apple could produce an even better iTunes mobiled phone all by themselves, but rather so that consumers would think that MP3 playing mobile phones are pants, and the only good way to play MP3 music on the move is with an iPod.
That’s the theory being proposed by theappleblog anyway, and given the fact that it was Apple who forced the 100 tune limit onto Motorola, and then released the 1,000 tune iPod Nano at the same time as the ROKR was launched, there may be some truth to it. It’s quite obvious that MP3 players will become entirely absorbed by mobile phones sooner or later, leaving Apple, with a hefty chunk its profit deriving solely from the iPod, dangerously exposed. The longer the shelf-life they can give the iPod, the more healthy their company will remain. But let’s just hope they meet the challenge with good technology, such as a really good iTunes phone, rather than trying to stem the tide with a poor product. Don’t fight the mobile phone world, Apple: embrace it.
Samsung’s latest mobile phones follow latest slimming fad
November 9th, 2005
Samsung’s at it again. They’re about to unleash five new mobile phones onto the European market before Christmas, each one focusing on a seriously slim form factor. The credit-card sized Samsung SGH-P300, only 9.9mm thick, was announced on Tuesday. Following on from this come the Samsung SGH-Z510 and Samsung SGH-Z540 for 3G mobile networks. These new mobile phones are only 14.9 mm thick, making them the slimmest third-generation phones available.
Finally, Samsung will finish off the range with two slide phones, one of which, the Samsung SGH-D800 will, at just 14.9 mm, be the slimmest of its kind.
More on the trend to slimness after the jump
Samsung’s massive R&D blitz
November 9th, 2005
Samsung have recently started to go more upmarket with their latest mobile phones, partnering with both Bang and Olufsen and BMW. This, it transpires, is all part of a huge brand-building exercise the company is about to undergo, as it attempts to grow the value of its brand to $70 billion by 2010. As part of this exercise, Samsung will recruit 30,000 new R&D staff and spend over $47 billion on R&D, focusing on the semiconductor, display, mobile communications, high value-added shipbuilding and nanotechnology sectors.
Not sure about the high value-added shipbuilding part, but Samsung’s mobile communications arm is going to get one serious injection of cash – can’t wait!
[Source: Digitial Chosunilbo]
New Motorola PNK and BLU RAZRs
November 9th, 2005
After a few weeks’ worth of rumour, Motorola have officially announced the launch of four new Motorola RAZR variants: the V3c, V3i, and er, PNK and BLU! OK, so I made those last two names up. They are real phones, though, but rather than new features, they’re just standard Motorola RAZRs relaunched with bold new colours (well, pink and blue, anyway) that are, apparently, “the first choice for a select group of fashion elite and Hollywood “it” girls”…!
Features of the phones include:
- Motorola RAZR V3i – Adding new functionality to the sleek RAZR form, the RAZR V3i delivers a 1.23 megapixel digital camera, expandable memory and a sophisticated new spun metal look – combining the best of mobile style, imaging, audio and technology in one slim device. It’s also the one that should have the same iTunes software as the Motorola
PSSPOORROKR. - Motorola RAZR in pink and blue – A new twist on the traditional, the RAZR will soon be available in striking shades of pink and ice blue. The first choice for a select group of fashion elite and Hollywood “it” girls, these svelte mobiles offer advanced technology and superlative design in attention-grabbing colors.
- Motorola CDMA RAZR with Ev-DO – Revolutionary mobile style is now available on the CDMA network. Whether downloading a musical ringtone or taking a video clip with the 1.3 megapixel camera, this chic handset brings unparalleled mobile sophistication to CDMA users worldwide.
All four should be available before Christmas, so let Santa know now if you need to!
Yahoo team up with Nokia for Yahoo Mobile Phone
November 8th, 2005
Continuing with announcements from search engine companies, rumours abound that Nokia and Yahoo are teaming up to develop a Yahoo-branded mobile phone. Currently pitched at the American market through Cingular, the phone will be nothing radical, offering a 1.3 megapixel camera, MP3 player and removable storage, which suggests it’s a Series 60 smartphone, and will likely retail for $200 – $300. However, its purpose, according to the Wall Street Journal, is to “link wirelessly such cellphone services as music, photos and email with consumers’ existing Yahoo accounts, address books and preferences.”
This is something mobile phones could certainly do with. For too long, the major network operators have hidden behind their walled gardens, preventing the mobile phones form integrating with other information systems, such as the web, effectively. However, I’m not sure we need Yahoo-branded phone for this – why can’t Yahoo just launch their mobile service and let anyone use it whatever they phone they use? Hopefully they will, and the Yahoo phone will be used just for greater brand recognition. The Wall Street Journal writes quotes a Yahoo spokesman, who said “this idea of taking essential Yahoo services that we offer on PCs today and extending them to other devices including mobile phones is a huge priority for the company”, so hopefully we can see new Yahoo mobile phone services soon regardless of what mobile phone we use.
Google Local now on your Mobile Phone
November 8th, 2005
Today, it would seem, is the turn of the major search engines to muscle in on the mobile phone market. First up is Google, with its beta release of Google Local for mobile phones. Working on Java-enabled devices, Google Local for Mobile shows full-color satellite imagery from its Google Earth service, allowing overhead views with zoom in and out, and drag capabilities. Its purpose is to let you find local hangouts and businesses across town or across the country.
More details on Google’s new service after the jump.
