Sony Ericsson revealed its Vivaz phone today, a Symbian S60 5th edition powered device that doubles as a 720p HD camcorder.
The Vivaz comes equipped with an 8.1 megapixel camera, GPS support, WiFi, an 8GB microSD card, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a 3.2-inch touchscreen display with a 540 x 360 resolution. The video camera supports a gamut of features you would expect from a standard point-and-shoot camera including auto-focus, face detection, an image stabilizer, flash, and geotagging. However, with the included WiFi and 3G support, you can quickly upload videos to Facebook or YouTube.
Today Verizon Wireless launched its first Windows Mobile 6.5 powered smartphone, the multimedia-centric Imagio from HTC. As if being among the first Windows Mobile 6.5 devices to hit the market, the Imagio is also the first Verizon smartphone to include support for the
based V CAST Mobile TV service that Verizon offers for $15 per month. The digital TV service comes through to the Imagio via its antenna, which serves double duty as a viewing kickstand.
The TV should appear big and bold on the Imagio's massive 3.6-inch touchscreen display, which sports a monstrous 800 x 480 pixel resolution. And since there are TV programs and channels from over 19 networks to choose from, there's sure to be something for everybody to enjoy. Of course, if you prefer to do it yourself, there's also a 5.0 megapixel autofocus camera with camcorder ability on the Imagio.
The HTC Imagio can do more than just keep you connected in the U.S. since it also offers quad-band GSM/EDGE and 2100MHz UMTS/HSPA support for world roaming capability when it can't rely on Verizon's speedy EV-DO Rev. A 3G network. WiFi connectivity is also available, and the large 1500mAh battery should give the device plenty of power.
Verizon claims that the HTC Imagio also provides users with seamless social network integration and an HTC TouchFLO 3D powered user interface. The Imagio supports V CAST Music with Rhapsody, too, and even offers a 3.5mm port for use with standard stereo headphones - no adapter required.
The Google Nexus One is the first real "Google Phone." It is being sold directly by Google, it is branded a Google device (in spite of being built by HTC), and you won't find it listed on a carrier's site. The first version of the Nexus One was designed to work with T-Mobile's GSM and 3G networks, and can be purchased with T-Mobile service, but can also work at GSM EDGE speeds on AT&T. Versions built for Verizon's network in the U.S. and Vodafone's network elsewhere are set to become available in the Spring.
Physical Aspects:
When it comes to the hardware design of the Google Nexus One, Google and partner HTC nearly knocked it out of the park. The device, which measures 120mm x 60mm x 11.5mm (4.7in x 2.4in x .5in) in size, is made up of nice textures and smooth, softly curved lines. The soft touch paint on its back cover only improves the feel of the 136.2g (4.8oz) device as it lays flat in your hand.
In the world of Nokia it's all about evolution, rather than revolution. So don't expect the specs on the X6 to blow your mind. The handset is the next logical step for the market leader scrambling to make up for a late start in touchscreens. To be honest, the Symbian touchscreen OS has been struggling to catch up with the standard setters in terms of user experience. And the X6 claims to have the answer: the responsiveness only a capacitive screen can bring.
The Nokia X6 is also the first XpressMusic handset to head straight for the high-end. Midrange is the highest the music Finns have gone so we are interested to see how this change of approach works. Nokia have always had a strong appeal to the masses, but pleasing the selected few is undoubtedly harder.
The Samsung S5560 lacks 3G connectivity but comes with Wi-Fi connectivity. It's hardly the solution that most carriers opt for (and carriers ARE the biggest cellphone contractors), but we guess Samsung have gone for pleasing the end client this time. In an effort to keep the price down, trading 3G for Wi-Fi is a compromise many users would make.
It's not like we didn't tell you. And hey, it's not like we're on time either. But we guess better late than sorry goes both ways. Once a popular (mostly stateside) PDA and smartphone maker, Palm were going full blast from safe to sorry. So, did they try to put the brakes? Negative. They hit the U turn.
Many must've doubted Palm ever getting out of the twilight of their dwindling smartphone line. But we're not gonna give you all that crap about second chances. It won't be fair to the Palm Pre. It couldn't have been bleaker for the company but the Palm Pre is not the kind to walk around a with "Will work for food" sign on its neck. No sir. It's looking to elbow its way through a crowd of apples, androids and PocketPCs.
Are we talking the mother of all comebacks here? We honestly don't know. But it looks like a debut of the same magnitude as the iPhone OS, Android and Maemo. The Palm Pre seems to have all the things that made the iPhone so special: multi-touch display, an Application Store, fluid and creative UI and a good web browser. But Palm didn't stop there - the webOS is all about multitasking - to an extent that gives quite a point to those who wouldn't call the iPhone a proper smartphone.
The webOS and all the touchscreen gadgetry will sure keep us busy enough. It's the interface and the handling that will earn the Palm Pre its deserved share of admirers. But before we power up this multitasking monster and start navigating its new and unique system, let's look at the package itself.
The entertainment you want. The information you need. And the email experience BlackBerry is famous for. If you want it all, the BlackBerry Storm smartphone does it all - beautifully. The BlackBerry Storm smartphones funky touch screen is supple, responds instantly to your touch and lets you type, navigate and browse at speed. Its 3.25 inch screen is also high-resolution and wide-screen, bringing your pictures and video to life. Its a BlackBerry smartphone, so email is sorted. A supercharged 3G connection delivers the web at warp speed. Its built-in media player handles a number of usic formats and can even synchronise with iTunes.
