ASUS P550: GPS-communicator with big screen

ASUS has officially announced the P550 communicator. This is a candy bar model without a keyboard and a big 3.5” display. It is powered by Windows Mobile 6 Professional. According to the manufacturer, ASUS P550 is good for mobile professionals, users who need to work in move. They can be always connected and the big display enables convenient document handling.

The specs of ASUS P550:

• Standards - GSM/GPRS 900/1800/1900 MHz, UMTS 2100 MHz
• OS - Windows Mobile 6 Professional
• Display – 3.5” touchscreen (240x320 pixels, 65K colros)
• CPU - Marvel PXA270M, 520 MHz
• 256 MB ROM and 64 MB RAM
• miniSD-slot (SDHC)
• Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g), USB 1.1, Bluetooth 2.0
• Built-in GPS-receiver (SiRF Star III), (TMC-module, optional)
• 2-mehgapixel camera
• Battery – Li-Ion 1530 mAh
• Standby time – up to 350 hours
• Talk time – up to 5 hours
• Dimensions – 121x70x16.5 mm
• Weight - 188 g
• Colors - silver

Early live pics of Nokia N96 smartphone

At our English-language forum you can see live pics of a new Nokia smartphone marked N96. It looks like Nokia N81, though the form is close to Nokia N95: the numeric keyboard sliding from the bottom and the panel sliding from the top (it is empty on the photo, so we don’t know its destination, probably it carries sensor media player buttons). Taking into account the pictures, Nokia N96 is powered by S60 3rd Edition FP2 (Symbian OS 9.5), the platform hasn’t been announced yet. The rear panel hides a 5-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss lens and dual LED flash. The source hasn’t provided more details about the specs or the release date.

SKY IM-S300 romantic handset

Pantech has introduced its Romantic Wave Slim Phone (SKY IM-S300) in Korea. Its design features smooth curve lines. The device is packed in a slider form-factor with the numeric keyboard, equipped with a 2.2” display, a 1.3-megapixel camera, an integrated MP3-player and e-dictionary. SKY IM-S300 is already available in Korea at 400000 Won (about €297).

Motorola Z8 for Ferrari fans

Motorola Z12 handset with Kodak 5-megapixel camera

The Chinese-language IT168 has posted a picture of a new Motorola’s mobile phone with a 5-megapixel camera by Kodak. According to the source, this is a slider called X PIXL Z12. The new model has been already mentioned as a part of Motorola 2008 roadmap. The company has really reamed up with Kodak to add a 5-megapixel camera with xenon flash. We don’t know for sure whether the photo was true or it was just a presentation based image. At least, we have a slight imagination of Motorola Z12 phone.

Tablet PC: Amtek iTablet T221

Amtek has introduced a Tablet PC – iTablet T221. It is equipped with a 12.1” touch-sensitive display and has no keyboard. The source emphasizes a tactile display feedback. The iTablet T221 is based on Intel Core Duo processor with lower power consumption and Windows Vista inside. The price tag is $2237.

The specs of Amtek iTablet T221:

• Operating system - Windows Vista
• CPU - Intel Core Duo U2500 1.2 GHz
• Chipset - Intel 945GM +ICH7-M
• Graphics - Intel GMA 950
• Display – 12.1” touchscreen, 1024x768 pixels
• Up to 2 GB DDR2 533/667 RAM
• 60-GB HDD
• Wi-Fi module Intel Pro/Wireless 3945 ABG
• Ethernet 10/100/1000

Sony’s successor to mylo Wi-Fi communicator

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved Sony mylo 2 mobile device. This is an heir of Sony mylo released in the middle of the last year. This device is equipped with a sliding QWERTY-keyboard and meant for instant messaging and working in computer networks. Sony mylo supports Wi-Fi (802.11b), but no cell networks.

Sony mylo 2 recently approved by the FCC has the same form-factor, but slightly different shape. We can judge just by the scheme, the FCC site hasn’t posted pictures of it. The device features an integrated camera and Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g support. Well, we have to wait for more details (or the leakage from the FCC site).

Live pictures of Android proto

Gizmodo has posted a “live” picture of a mobile device prototype based on Google Android platform. This is a candy bar device with a landscape oriented display and a QWERTY-keyboard. Its design resembles HTC smartphones (it might be designed by this very company) or SDK Android emulator. This is an early proto, so the final version might look other way. The device is quick fast and lightweight on this stage: it works faster than the desktop emulator, says the source.

The first Android devices are said to come out in the second half of 2008. Probably we’ll see among them the final version of this proto.

Toshiba Portege G910 and G920: info from FCC

Some info and pictures of Toshiba Portege G910 and G920 communicators have leaked to the Internet from the FCC materials. The products feature a side opening mechanism, a 3” touchscreen WVGA display and a QWERTY-keyboard.

The Portege G910 and G920 are based on Windows Mobile 6 Professional and work under GSM/GPRS/EDGE 900/1800/1900 MHz and UMTS/HSDPA networks. There is also a Bluetooth 2.0 interface, a Wi-Fi b/g module, a 2-megapixel camera and a frontal camera for video calls, and a Li-Ion 1320 mAh battery, says the source. On the top cover we see a navigation wheel, call buttons and a small display.

Details on Sony Ericsson Z660i clamshell

We’ve recently mentioned that Sony Ericsson is rumored to prepare an ultra slim clamshell Z660i. In addition the source shared a possible design. Now we have more details about the new product. Firstly, the “live” picture is very like the image. Secondly, Sony Ericsson Z660i is based on A200 platform, supports 3G networks (HSDPA included), a 2-megapixel camera and an FM-radio. These are preliminary details, the company hasn’t yet made an official confirmation.

Bluebird Pidion BM-350 communicator

Bluebird soft has introduced Pidion BM-350 communicator powered by Windows Mobile 6 Professional. This is “all-in-one” device supporting 3G networks, GPS-navigation and wireless connectivity and packed in a compact shell. However there is no info on the price.

The specs of Bluebird Pidion BM-350:

• Cell standards - GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, UMTS/HSDPA 2100 MHz
• CPU - Intel Bulverde PXA270 520 MHz
• OS - Windows Mobile 6 Professional
• Display – 2.8” touchscreen 240x320 pixels
• 64/128 MB RAM, 128/256 MB ROM
• Built-in GPS-receiver on SiRF III
• Wi-Fi 802.11b/g
• Bluetooth 2.0
• USB 2.0
• FM-radio
• Dimensions – 114x61x14.9 mm
• Weight - 120 g (with the battery)
• Standby time – up to 200 hours
• Talk time – up to 360 minutes

MetroPCS offers Samsung R410 QWERTY-handset

The American operator MetroPCS has launched Samsung R410 mobile phone. The company’s site has posted some info about it. This is a side slider with two keyboards: a numeric and a QWERTY. The latter is highly appropriate for SMS-messaging. Taking into account the rest features we have a simple phone – a VGA camera and Bluetooth support. Samsung R410 is listed for $199 and available in Red and Black colors.

Samsung SCH-U940: a side QWERTY slider for the US

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has certified Samsung SCH-U940 mobile device. At the same time the FCC site doesn’t have full info about it. However the Phonearena with the reference to reliable sources reported that the device is a modification of Samsung SGH-F700 for the US market and will be sold by Verizon. In this case the model will work in CDMA EV-DO networks. Like the European version the U940 is packed in a side slider form: it is equipped with a 3.2” touchscreen and a sliding QWERTY-keyboard. It also features a 2-megapixel camera, 150 MB of memory onboard, a microSD slot and Bluetooth support (with stereo profile).

Record high sales of LG Viewty in Europe

LG Electronics has announced that LG-KU990 Viewty showed record high sales (310,000 units) since its launch on the European market. The European sales started in November 2007. According to LG, daily sales in Europe (the UK, France and Germany) were 6300 units. So LG Viewty record outpaced that of LG Chocolate and LG Shine. The company expects the Viewty to succeed on other market – the company has just launched shipments to Asia and Middle East.

I’d remind you that the official announcement of LG-KU990 Viewty was late in August 2007. This is a successor to LG Prada – equipped with a big touchscreen and has no buttons. At the same time the device stands out for a high quality camera – 5-megapixel with xenon flash and Schneider-Kreuznach lens.