Nokia has got a patent for the mobile device resembling T-Mobile Sidekick. The new device differs in the opening mechanism: you have to revolve the device at 180 degrees, while with the standard Sidekick you just slide the display to reveal the QWERTY-keyboard. It’s unclear whether such design is more convenient or it’s just an attempt to go beyond the patents of Danger, the maker of the original Sidekick. Unfortunately there is no info when Nokia’s Sidekick-like device will come to stores.
Amazon has introduced an e-book reader called Kindle. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos noted that paper books remain the last analog fortress in the digital world affecting the shift to the new technologies. The online giant is aimed at altering the situation and expects that the device will enjoy the commercial success. The Kindle applies e-ink technology, the display is monochrome (the color version is currently under development). The product weighs about 290 g and has a pencil width. The Kindle can store up to 200 books and the SD slot enhances the storage capacity to 1000 books. It lasts for several days to a week on a single charge, the full charge takes 2 hours.
In addition Amazon has launched the Kindle Store online, which currently holds up to 90000 materials, including newspapers, magazines and popular blogs in future. The access to it is provided via EV-DO technology. Sprint is offering the service in the US without insisting on service plans and monthly fees. Besides the Kindle is shipped with the e-dictionary and the Wikipedia access, and will be available at $399.
Nokia has launched the shipments of its Internet Tablet N810 in the US. It is already available online and in stores throughout the country. The recommended price for Nokia N810 Internet Tablet makes up $479.
I’d remind you that Nokia N810 was announced a month ago. It’s a successor to Nokia N800 equipped with a slide-out QWERTY-keyboard and a touch sensitive 4.13” 800x480 pixel display. The device is based on Maemo Linux 2008 and carries 2GB of memory oboard, an integrated GPS-receiver, a VGA-camera and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless modules.
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:
The CES jury reported that four ASUS products were awarded International CES Innovations Design and Engineering Awards 2008. These are the Eee PC, the R50A UMPC, the P527 GPS-communicator and ASUS Internet Radio (AIR). The first pair became leaders in Computers category, ASUS P527 – in Phones and AIR – in Personal Electronics.
The Eee PC subnote was announced in June. This is a compact device with a 7” display is positioned as a multi-purpose solution for work and entertainment. Its main advantage is its low price. The R50A UMPC hasn’t been officially announced till this moment, we heard only rumors. It stands out for a 1024x600 pixels display, the 3G/3.5G support, an integrated GPS-receiver and a TV-tuner.
ASUS P527 GPS-communicator has been recently announced. It works in GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks running on Windows Mobile 6 Professional. The communicator features all key functions for an up-to-date: a 2-megapixel camera, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, an integrated GPS-receiver. And finally we have a not-ordinary device: ASUS Internet Radio. This device receives radio signal via the Internet running on Wi-Fi connection. Thus the user gets access to 10000 world radio stations.
Lenovo has introduced the i909 mobile phone for the Chinese market. It is meant for gamers. A peculiar thing about it is that you can plug a game-pad to the phone. In addition the device includes the emulator for the popular NES console.
Other features are quite standard: this is a candy bar with a numeric keypad and a 2.4” (QVGA, 262K colors) display, a 2-megapixel camera, a microSD slot and a media player. Lenovo i909 measures 11.4x50.2x15.5 mm. Currently the device is available in China only.
Vincent Palicki has introduced a mobile device concept, which might have been released by Sony Ericsson. Unlike other such concepts this one looks quite real and resembles current SE handsets. The device is packed in a candy bar form-factor, equipped with a big display, a camera and stainless steel buttons. The phone can play music (there are player buttons at side), video and work with e-mail. The Vincent Palicki concept stands out for a full-value USB-port. So you can use the standard flash drive. This function might be in handy, it’s only the matter of convincing the manufacturer.
LG.Philips LCD has developed a 15.4” dirt-resistant LCD panel for notebooks. Now you can easily clean off dust, fingerprints and even ink. According to the manufacturer, ordinary LCD coating holds onto dirt and oil, and most annoying – fingerprints. To make the display dirt-resistant many manufacturers apply additional coating, which is a time consuming process, besides it adds to the cost of the product. LG.Philips LCD has developed a brand new technology to solve the problem. Dirt and oil can be easily wiped away.
The mass production of 15.4” dirt-resistant LCD panels is scheduled for the first half of 2008. The company plans to expand the lineup with panels of all sizes by the end of next year.
Qualcomm has announced the world shipments of the first Snapdragon chipsets – QSD8250 and QSD8659. The maker says the new mobile chipsets ensure high productivity with multimedia, 3G network support and low power consumption. The chipsets are based on Scorpion 1 GHz processor and 600-MHz ВЫЗ-processor. The product is said to support GSM/GPRS/EDGE, CDMA2000 1xEV-DO, Revisions B, A and 0, WCDMA and HSDPA (up to 7.2 Mbps), Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, up to 12-megapixel built-in camera, GPS and so on. Peter Chou, HTC’s CEO, has already unveiled company’s plans to launch mobile devices on new chipsets.
E-TEN has announced an upcoming release of its Glofiish M800 communicator in the UK. The preliminary info about the device popped out every now and then in the news. For example, the device was approved by the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) late in October. The communicator is the successor to the X800, but in other form-factor – side slide with QWERTY-keyboard. It works in GSM/GPRS/EDGE and UMTS/HSDPA networks and has a VGA-display, a 2-megapixel and 0.3-megapixel cameras, a GPS-receiver and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR and Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g wireless modules.
The sales of the Glofiish M800 in the UK are set for December 13. The price makes up 399.95 pound sterling (about 800 dollars). The new communicator is available for order at Expansys.
