Motorola A1600: new Linux-smartphone with touch sensitive display

Some Chinese source has posted info and a picture of Motorola A1600 smartphone (MOTOMING 2). I’d remind you that another Linux-powered smartphone with the touch-sensitive display Motorola A1200 (MOTOMING) hit the Chinese stores last March and got high popularity. Probably Motorola A1600 will follow the steps of the predecessor. The new model features enhanced specs – a faster processor being one of them. The official announcement of the MOTOMING 2 might take place in February 2007 at 3GSM Congress.

The short specs of Motorola A1600 (MOTOMING 2):

• Networks - GSM/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
• Linux operating system
• 3.2-megapixel camera with auto focus and LED-flash
• Wi-Fi
• AGPS
• 3 preinstalled games
• Thickness – 17.5 mm

Opera Mobile 9 to come out in first half 2008

We’ve got info that new Opera Mobile version number 9 to be preinstalled on WM-devices will come out in the first half of 2008, and Symbian UIQ smartphones with it will shipped later.

I’d remind you that Opera Mobile 9 was announced at World GSM Congress back in February 2007. The company expects to release versions for all main mobile platforms. The ninth version features “intelligent zoom”, widget support and advanced functionality with Ajax and Web 2.0. You can download the current version of Opera mobile here.

Mixed Metal handset from Vertu Constellation series

Vertu has introduced a new version of the Constellation phone called Mixed Metall. The shell is coated with stainless steel with golden parts. The navigation pad, side buttons, speaker grates and screws are made of 18-carat yellow gold. It comes with the ceramic keyboard and the rear panel covered with black leather. In addition Vertu released a Constellation version of satin steel and burgundy colored leather coat.

I’d remind you that Vertu Constellation handsets debuted in fall 2006. These are candy bar phones equipped with 208x208 pixel displays and sapphire glass. Vertu Constellation works in GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, supports Bluetooth 2.0 and USB 2.0 interfaces, and lacks a camera.

AMOI GSM6711A: a Windows smartphone with QWERTY-keyboard

The FCC site has posted the info on a new Windows smartphone with the QWERTY-keyboard – AMOI GSM6711A made by the Chinese company AMOI Electronics.

The materials on the FCC site don’t unveil the technical details, such as the version of Windows Mobile OS and the display type (touchscreen or LCD). However in addition to the standard set of functions and software it is said to feature:

• GSM support (GPRS/EDGE)
• 2-megapixel camera with video capture
• microSD cards
• Java applications
• Connectivity: USB, Bluetooth (stereo sound support)

Gigabyte M704 new UMPC with a slide-out keyboard

The Gigabyte site in Taiwan has posted the info on a new ultra mobile PC M704. The device is equipped with a 7” display and a slide-ou QWERTY-keyboard. The source hasn’t unveiled the place and time of the release and the price of the product.

The specs of Gigabyte M704:

• CPU - VIA Esther ULV C7-M (1.2 GHz, 400/800 MHz, 128/128 kb L2)
• OS - Windows Vista Premium
• Chipset - VIA VX-700
• Memory - DDR2-533, 768 MB
• Display – 7” 1024x600 pixels (LED backlight)
• HDD – 1.8” (5400 rpm), 40 or 60 GB
• Camera – 1.3-megapixel CMOS
• Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
• 2 USB 2.0 ports
• Ethernet 10/100
• Card-reader - SD/MMC/SD-IO
• VGA-out
• Battery - 3900 mAh
• Dimensions – 190x120.8x30.3 mm
• Weight - 780 g

HP iPAQ 610 and 910 to hit stores in 2008 or later

Mike Hockey, HP’s spokesman, has reported approximate release dates of the iPAQ 610 Business Navigator and the iPAQ 910 Business Messenger. The devices were announced early in September and expected to come out during the following months. However the company has recently said the iPAQ 610 will be available in the American stores in 1Q 2008 and the iPAQ 910 – in 2Q 2008.

Both communicators are powered by Windows Mobile 6 Professional and feature similar specs. But they differ in design: the iPAQ 610 is equipped with a numeric keypad with sensor wheel and the iPAQ 910 comes with an integrated QWERTY-keyboard and landscape display. The iPAQ 610 will be available for $600, as for the iPAQ 910, the company hasn’t shared the info.

Finger-friendly interface for UIQ?

We’ve got out hands on an interesting photo from a presentation. Supposedly, it shows a new user’s interface for UIQ platform codenamed Maria. It seems to be finger-oriented beyond the stylus control. However there is no official info on Maria, so we can judge from the picture.

When the new UIQ version (if exists) will be announced or SE devices based on it will come out is anyone’s guess. The info might be true and the presentation revealed a finger-friendly UIQ interface. At least the company should think over to work in this direction to increase competitiveness of its products: the finger control is already implemented in iPhone and TouchFLO for WM-communicators, let alone upcoming S60 Touch.

iPhone in Canada on December 7?

The info on Apple iPhone coming to Canada via Rogers operator has already popped up in web sources. And now we can come across the following picture:

As you can see, the device is available for preorder, so you can get it on December 7, the official announcement date. The price tag makes up 499 Canadian dollars equivalent to 520 US dollars, on a 3-year service plan. However there is a chance we deal with another fake.