RIM has filled a patent for new keyboard design, which can be applied in new BlackBerry smartphones. It is peculiar for the form of the buttons, which are set at an angle. RIM believes this design ensures more convenient text input. In addition these buttons can be used for the screen keyboard. Probably next year we’ll see new BlackBerry models with the new keyboard and the touch-sensitive display. Besides they will be equipped with the scroll like LG Shine.
Amosu Luxury Phones has introduced Motorola RAZR V8 Luxury Diamond Edition for the Christmas holidays. This exclusive phone is coated with 412 5.9-carat-diamonds, it is supplied with “Concierge” international service. There are just 5 diamond RAZR2 V8 released. As for the price tag, the source hasn’t unveiled it so far. I’d remind you that Motorola RAZR2 V8 is a slim clamshell for GSM networks. It features two QVGA displays, a 2-megapixel camera, 2GB of onboard memory and Bluetooth interface.
Sony Ericsson has got the patent for a waterproof mobile phone housing. It’s not just waterproof, the phone is capable of “underwater image capturing”, which is the very name of the recently filled patent. Thus the new housing would protect the phone from water and the phone won’t have water problems. The description mentions two modules, which make parts of the waterproof housing. There is a special camera window and external camera buttons.
We’ve mentioned that Asus planned to release its new M930 communicator in Nokia E80 Communicator style. This time the French-language GPS&Co has posted pictures and specs of it. The new product is made in a clamshell form-factor and equipped with a numeric and a QWERTY-keyboard and two displays. The M930 opens at 90 and 180 degrees. At the picture we see that the internal display is of small size and has enough empty space around it, so we don’t know whether the final version would look this way. Supposedly, the European sales will start in 1Q 2008.
The specs of Asus M930:
Goldstriker International, the company tuning consumer electronics to luxury class, has extended its portfolio with a 24-carat gold plated phone – Nokia 8800 Arte. The price tag for the golden Nokia 8800 Arte makes up 749.95 pound sterling or 1489.7 US dollars. It will come out late in January 2008.
I’d remind you that the premium class Nokia 8800 Arte was introduced in mid November. It is packed in a sliding form made of polished steel and glass. The shell the shell has a special anti-fingerprints coating. The phone features 3G support, a 2” OLED 240x320 pixels display, a 3.2-megapixel camera with 8x zoom and Bluetooth interface.
We’ve already mentioned Samsung SGH-I640V smartphone, when it was approved by the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC). This time the device is said to come out from Vodafone. The operator’s site has posted the description and pictures of it. This is a slider equipped with a sliding QWERTY-keyboard.
Samsung SGH-I640V is based on Windows Mobile 6 Standard, works in GSM/GPRS/EDGE and UMTS/HSDPA networks. It features 2 cameras (a 2-megapixel for snapping pictures and a frontal one for video telephony), Bluetooth 2.0+EDR and a microSD slot. The maximum battery life in talk mode is 6 hours and in standby mode – up to 380 hours. Measuring 95x61x16 mm it weighs 126 g. Vodafone hasn’t specified the release date of Samsung SGH-I640.
BenQ has announced the release of Joybook Q41. The notebook is equipped with a 14.1” widescreen display and a 2.5” additional display on the top of the cover. The Joybook Q41 is based on Intel Core 2 Duo processor working on Windows Vista OS (with SideShow). Thus the additional display can give us all the essential info we need without opening up – media player, images, games, RSS-feed. The business users can quickly access calendar events, contacts, e-mail and presentations.
The maker hints at its exclusive technology UltraVivid with DBEFTM (Display Brilliance Enhancement Film). It ensures high brightness and high definition. As for the wireless opportunities the Joybook Q41 has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The price for the new model isn’t yet disclosed.
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:
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.
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).
