Palm Centro GSM version coming up

The Holland-based PDAshop has posted the info and pics of Palm Centro smartphone for GSM networks. The device has the tag “in stores soon” and the starting price €279. As for the current Palm Centro version it is available from Sprint in the US and meant for CDMA networks.

According to PDAshop.nl, the GSM-Centro will feature:

• Networks - GSM 850/900/1800/1900
• OS - Palm OS 5.4
• Camera – 1.3-megapixel
• 64 MB of onboard memory
• microSD slot for up to 4 GB cards
• Bluetooth 1.2
• Google Maps
• Touchscreen display and QWERTY-keyboard
• Compact size and light weight

Tune your wave with Sony Ericsson handsets

Sony Ericsson has announced two cell phones the R300 Radio and the R306 Radio meant for everyone who likes listening to the radio. The handsets support FM and AM bands. The Sony Ericsson R300 is a candy bar and the R306 – a clamshell, they are designed as a radio receiver with dedicated buttons on the front panel. They can record a piece of a track and set it as a ring tone. Besides there is support for TrackID, which is already par for the course for SE premium handsets: you can record several seconds of a song from an external source and by pushing the button get the info on the title, artist and album. The Sony Ericsson R300 and the R306 can also play music via headphones or built-in speakers, and with the Audio Enhancer button launch 3D sound optimization or increase sound volume.

The specs of Sony Ericsson R300 Radio:

• Networks - GSM/850/900/1800/1900
• Display – 128x160 pixels, 65K colors
• 8 MB of onboard memory
• Bluetooth connectivity
• VGA-camera
• Talk time - 9 hours
• Standby time - 410 hours
• Dimensions – 101x46x12 mm
• Weight - 75 g
• Color - "antique cooper" and "black steel"

The specs of Sony Ericsson R306 Radio:

• Networks - GSM/850/900/1800/1900
• Display – 128x160 pixels, 65K colors
• 5 MB of onboard memory
• Bluetooth connectivity
  
• VGA-camera
• Talk time - 9 hours
• Standby time - 410 hours
• Dimensions – 90x48x16 mm
• Weight - 93 g
• Color - "black coffee" and "white champagne"

Both models will hit the stores in 3Q 2008.

Official announcement of Sony Ericsson T280 and T270

Today Sony Ericsson introduced two inexpensive and stylish cell phones – the T280 and the T270 should meet the needs of different customers. The only difference betwee them is the 1,3 Mpix camera, installed on the T280. These two are meant for business and entertainment (FM-radio and Java games). Being 13 mm thick they are made of lightened metal and glass and offer premium class design for an affordable price.

The short technical specs of the T280/T270:

• Networks: GSM/GPRS 900/1800 (T270i/ T280i) or GSM/GPRS 850/1900 (T270а/ T280а)
• Dimensions: 100x45x13 mm
• Weight: 82 g
• Messages: SMS/MMS
• Camera: 1.3-megapixel (the T280)
• Memory: approx. 10 MB
• Sound: polyphonic ring tones, speaker phone, MP3/AAC support
• FM-radio
• Java
• Connectivity: Bluetooth, WAP 2.0 XHTML
• Misc: alarm clock, calculator, calendar, phone book, stopwatch, schedule, timer

Sony Ericsson T280/T270 will come out in 2Q 2008.

T270 and T280: two simple SE handsets

The Mobil Idnes posted the pics of new SE phones. The T270 and T280 might be announced today. Reportedly, they belong to low-end class like their predecessor Sony Ericsson T250. They are equipped with a 128x160 pixel display and Bluetooth interface. The T280 comes with a 1.3-megapixel camera, while the T270 lacks any camera. We expect more details very soon.

Nokia files patent for on-screen QWERTY keyboard

Nokia has filed a patent for a "Mobile device with virtual keyboard", which is designed to solve the problem of placing a full thumbboard on a tiny handset. The idea behind this scheme is to use the abilities of the phone itself to imitate a virtual keyboard, and that's the way it should work: the phone's bundled camera will capture all your fingers' wrigglings on any flat surface, while specially designed sensors will catch sounds or vibrations. Using a desktop cradle you will be able to have your phone in the upright position, although it is not obligatory to use this technology. The patent application also claims that the users will be allowed to just hold his device in the hands and type literally in the air, and just utter certain sounds himself (although it is not very clear how it will work out in real life). The virtual keyboard, along with the user's fingers, will be rendered on the phone's screen in real time, while all entered symbols will be popping up on the screen.

Rumors on Windows-smartphone Samsung i900

On the eve of another official event in the telecoms world we get more rumors about this or that product. This time the Italian source Kataweb has reported that Samsung Electronics will unveil its new Windows smartphone i900 at the upcoming 3GSM show in Barcelona. Taking into account the index this will be the top model in the lineup.

Reportedly, the smartphone will be powered by Windows 6.1 Professional and have touch sensitive control a la “iPhone”, but it will feature more advanced functionality and technologies:

• Networks - GSM and UMTS with HSDPA 7.2 Mbps
• WiFi
• Bluetooth 2.0 EDR
• 5-megapixel auto focus camera
• GPS navigation
• FM-radio
• Display – 3.5”, 240x400 pixel and brightness adjustment sensor
• TV-out
• 8 GB of onboard memory and microSD cards
• Dimensions – 112x56x12.5 mm

Updated LG Viewty: new shell

LG has announced the release of its Viewty handset in new color solution – Dark Silver. Earlier there is was just Black version. According to the company, it sold about 550 thousand devices. The new version is equipped with an updated scrolling wheel for more comfortable menu navigation.

LG Viewty features a 3” touchscreen display and no numeric keyboard. A 5-megapixel being a major advantage of the model. The European sales were launched last November. LG accessed its daily handset sales of 10 thousand units. The company expects to release several color solutions during this year.

GIGABYTE to introduce new product at Mobile World Congress

GIGABYTE Communications is about to introduce at least two new communicators powered by Windows Mobile 6 at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next month. Traditionally for GIGABYTE its products are focused on mobile TV support (DVB-T, DVB-H, T-DMB). In addition the company will show the first such model with 3G and HSDPA. The second product will feature GPS-functionality with GeoTag.

The company hasn’t provided more details on the models. We only know it will show communicators at Mobile World Congress. Besides GIGABYTE plans to expand its share on the world mobile device market. Currently the company is marketing its models in Russia, Italy and Turkey.

AD-HSM10: tiny Bluetooth headset

Add Tech has announced a tiny Bluetooth headset AD-HSM10. The company says this is the world smallest and lightest headset. If it’s not so (a number of such solutions is already on the market), the AD-HSM10 belongs to the most compact class. Measuring 23x22x31.5 mm it weighs 5 g. It ensures up to 100 hours standby and up to 3 hours of talk time. The device is available in Titan and silver colors. The AD-HSM10 will come out in Japan late in January 2008 with the price tag of 8980 Yen (about $78).

ModBook shipments start on January 8

We’ve got the info that the shipments of Axiotron ModBook Tablet PC start very soon. The fact is confirmed by an e-mail to users, who made a preorder for this device. The ModBook was announced at Macworld 2007 in January and positioned as the world first Tablet PC based on Mac OS X. After the announcement the sales had been suspended a number of times, and now they will eventually take place on January 8, 2008.

The specifications of the ModBook have somewhat changed. The device is powered by Mac OS X – 10.5 Leonard (the latest OS version), 2.2 GHz processor, Intel GMA X3100 graphical adapter. It is equipped with a GPS-receiver in the standard configuration (earlier it was optional for $99). In addition you can order a version with up to 4 GB RAM and up to 570 GB onboard.