Android-running Samsung I5801 Galaxy 3 taped on video

Partial specs of the next-gen Galaxy leaked a few days back and now we get to enjoy its first appearance on video. Unlike the Galaxy S, which packs top notch features, the I5801 is positioned in a lower class and covers the bare minimum of features (in smartphone terms).
Unfortunately, the big question on the I5801 / I5800 screen resolution remains unanswered. However, as the video reveals, it seems lower than the HVGA display resolution of the I5700 Galaxy Spica.

The I5801 (a.k.a. Galaxy 3) will apparently run Android OS v2.1 a.k.a. Eclair with some TouchWiz customization on top. Reportedly, it will also pack a built-in GPS receiver, a microSD card slot, a 3.5mm audio jack and support for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (v3.0, maybe). On the back you'll find a 3MP camera with QVGA video recording.
It's still not clear when the I5801 will be officially unveiled and how much it will cost.
Source

The next-gen iPhone spotted again, this time in Vietnam

Another iPhone has escaped the Apple headquarters. Where is it now? Doing a photo session in Vietnam. We are sure Steve Jobs is already instructing the SWAT teams on the unmarked choppers in the backyard.
There isn't much new information revealed about the fourth generation iPhone. In fact the 16GB logo at the back is the only thing deserving a note. The previously leaked prototype has only XX, but now we are sure one there will be 16GB version of the phone.

The new leaked photos of the next generation iPhone
The rest is pretty much the same but for the two missing screws at the bottom around the loudspeaker grills. Unfortunately this iPhone early prototype lacked a proper OS, so no further info could be extracted from it.

The new iPhone held in hand
Here is the hands-on video:

Well, that's it. We don't know how the guys in Vietnam managed to get their hands on this fella, but one thing is for sure - somewhere out there Steve Jobs is very angry and prepares to strike back.
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Motorola MOTOROI coming to UK, 8MP camera, 720p, Android 2.1?

The Motorola Sholes rumors flip-flopped between specs and countries, but it turns out there are several versions. One with 8MP camera and 720p video recording is coming to the UK with some other specs updates as well, compared to the South Korea-bound MOTOROI.
We've seen this specific model under quite a few different names. First, it was the Motorola Sholes Tablet in a roadmap, then the XT701 for China, then of course the MOTOROI for South Korea. They all had specs variations - in the camera department mostly.
Now, Motorola have confirmed that another variant on the XT701 / MOTOROI recipe will be coming to the UK - but with an 8MP camera rather than 5MP, while still keeping the 720p video recording and the xenon flash.

Motorola XT701 - the UK version should look very similar • Image source
The UK version of the MOTOROI will feature a faster CPU (no specific frequency was mentioned though). Other notable features include the mini-HDMI port, Android 2.1, the MOTOBLUR interface (carriers can choose not to use it though) and faster HSPA.
The new Motorola Sholes or whatever they name it should help Motorola fight off high-end Android handsets from HTC and Sony Ericsson, which offer faster CPUs and better cameras than the Motorola MILESTONE.
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Palm Pre Plus is hitting AT&T US stores this Sunday

If you're an AT&T user and you're holding out for one of those new Palm phones, then your wait is just about over. AT&T and Palm have announced that the Palm Pre Plus is coming to stores by the end of the week.
The AT&T site has touting the coming of the Palm Pre Plus and the Pixi Plus but now they've committed to a specific date, for the Pre Plus at least - it's coming on May 16th.
The Palm Pre Plus is slated for 149.99 US dollars on a contract and after a mail-in rebate. As a limited time offer, customers will get a Palm Touchstone charging dock for free (a Touchstone kit runs about 40 dollars).
The promo page mentions access to AT&T's Wi-Fi hotspots, but the Facebook post, which is the source behind this info, doesn't elaborate on that.
But the beefed up version of the Palm Pre should be in AT&T retail stores and online this Sunday. As for the Palm Pixi Plus there's no word yet on when it's coming. We'll hardly miss it though!
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Android-running Motorola FLIPOUT spotted in the wild

Motorola FLIPOUT seems to be another social-oriented smartphone with clever design and flipping QWERTY keyboard. It runs Android 2.1 and features the latest MOTOBLUR UI.
It seems the BLACKFLIP sells good enough, because Motorola are on the way to release another strange QWERTY-packed device. The quadratic FLIPOUT is still unannounced but today's leak reveals a device with swiveling QWERTY pad that despite the smallish size, manages to pack all the needed keys plus a D-pad.
The rest of the FLIPOUT specs are rumored to be a 3 megapixel Kodak camera, a 2.8-inch touchscreen, a 700 MHz processor, 256MB RAM and 512MB ROM plus a microSD card slot. More advanced wireless connectivity options - Wi-Fi and 3G - won't be supported.
Android 2.1 enhanced with the latest MOTOBLUR UI 1.5 supporting Live Widgets will power the FLIPOUT.

All this information is based on a reliable source according to Gizmodo Brazil and Motorola FLIPOUT is expected to launch in mid-June. The rumored price for the unlocked device with pre-paid plan is 310 euro.
We hope the FLIPOUT is not bound for Brazil only as several other manufacturers have dedicated products for the Brazilian market.

BlackBerry OS 6 powered Bold 9670 clamshell poses for a video

After the highly rumored BlackBerry Bold 9800 there is one more Bold waiting for its official announcement, the BlackBerry Bold 9670, company's latest clamshell. Apparently, it will also run the BlackBerry OS 6 and should roll out sometime this summer.
While the first BlackBerry slider, the Bold 9800, has been spotted lots of times (even on video), this is the first time we hear of RIM's latest flip, which, reportedly, will be the latest addition to the Bold series.


BlackBerry Bold 9670 • Image source
Besides being a fatty, the Bold 9670 is quite well equipped. Word on the street is that the new flip will run company's latest BlackBerry OS 6 and will support Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The 9670 will also have a 5-megapixel autofocus camera with flash and a full QWERTY keyboard. Unlike the 9800, the Bold 9670 won't come with a touch sensitive main screen on board. The trackpad underneath is touch sensitive though.
And here comes the video demonstrating the new BlackBerry OS 6 on the Bold 9670:

The BlackBerry Bold 9670 is expected to become available in both GSM and CDMA flavors but there is no word on when exactly that is going to happen.
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Motorola MT810 has no-glasses 3D display, 720p video recording

Previously rumored Motorola MT820 now popped under a new model number - MT810 - and it's becoming a lot more interesting. New rumors suggest it has a glasses-free 3D display, 720p video recording and runs OPhone OS, a heavily customized Android. Also, the display mixes touch technologies to make an even more unorthodox handheld.
The Motorola MT810 may have lost 10 points from its model number, but gained some very interesting specs along the way as the latest rumors indicate.

The Motorola MT810 (ex MT820)
The screen uses a parallax barrier (located in the transparent flip) that makes the display 3D and it works without any special glasses. The transparent flip also serves a second function - it's a capacitive touch sensor. The screen itself uses resistive touch technology - so, you get the best of both worlds.
The rumors go on - the 5 megapixel camera on the Motorola MT810 can capture 720p video. There's also an LED flash to accompany the camera. The phone runs the latest OPhone OS, which is based on Android, but modified for the needs of China Mobile.

A few more shots of the 3D-touting Motorola MT810
Unfortunately, there's no word of how the 3D capabilities are used - is it just for photos and videos, or does the OS interface use it too? The Motorola MT810 is the second phone with a 3D display that we've heard of (the first being the Samsung W960 AMOLED 3D) so this is new territory for both manufacturers and users.
We hope we'd see the Motorola MT810 outside of China, but no such plans have been mention yet.
Source (Site in Chinese)

Nokia sue Apple for patent infringements yet again

This is getting completely out of hand now. Nokia have just filled yet another complaint against Apple, this time with the Federal District Court in the Western District of Wisconsin. The Finnish company accuses Apple of infringing 5 of their patents with the Apple iPhone and iPad 3G.
The patents in question relate to technologies for enhanced speech and data transmission, using positioning data in applications and innovations in antenna configurations that improve performance and save space, allowing smaller and more compact devices. Nokia sees those patented innovations as key factors to their success as they allow improved product performance and design.
This is the third lawsuit that Nokia fills against Apple, plus there’s also one case where Apple sues Nokia for… yeap, you got that right – patent infringements. The stakes are really high but there is barely any indication as of how those will unfold.
PS. In case you have missed it, we just reviewed the controversial Apple iPad device and posted a series of articles on our blog.
Our Apple iPad review, Part 1: Hardware overview and our general take on software
Our Apple iPad review, Part 2: Multimedia, iBooks, gaming, wrap-up
Apple iPad JavaScript benchmark results are in, the A4 CPU fails to impress
iPad browser speed test shows that Mobile Safari is faster than desktop Safari, Chrome
The Apple iPad as a gaming device part 1: Pinball
The Apple iPad as a gaming device part 2: Plants vs. Zombies
The Apple iPad as a gaming device part 3: Angry Birds

Apple, HTC and Motorola increase smartphone market share

The high-tech industry analyzers from Canalys have published their report on the smart smartphone market in the first quarter of 2010. Shipments rose nearly 67 percent to reach more than 55 million units globally, with HTC, Motorola and Apple gaining the most in terms of market share.
All major manufacturers have increased their smartphone sales in Q1 of 2010, compared to the same period of the pervious year. Motorola’s growth is most impressive at almost 137 percent (2.6 million units vs. 1.1 million in Q1, 2009), while RIM “only” achieved a 45 percent increase (10.6 million vs. 7.3 million).

The second part of the report reveals that almost 60 percent of all smartphones sold for the first three months of this year were touch-driven, while 27 percent packed a QWERTY keyboard. The share of devices equipped with a standard 12-key keypad fell dramatically from 37.2 percent to 13.5 percent.

This quarter is also the first time when touchscreen phones represented over 50 percent of Nokia’s smartphone shipments, which were historically dominated by the keypad-based candybar form factors.
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Another BlackBerry Slider 9800 leak, this time with video

One of the worst kept secrets in the mobile world, the BlackBerry Slider 9800, just made another public appearance. This time it stars in a short video in all its BlackBerry OS 6 might.
The 14-second video clip doesn’t give much new information about the device specifications so it still remains pretty much all guesswork there. The touchscreen-enabled slider will come with a trackpad and according to the label on its back will be the next member of the Bold family.
Rumor also has it that there will be a 5 megapixel camera with Liquid lens technology (whatever that is) on board.

With leaks intensifying so much recently, we suspect that the BlackBerry Slider 9800 official announcement can’t be far away now. Availability though is expected in Q3 at the earliest. Source

Samsung releases Bada SDK beta 2 to all developers

Today Samsung releases beta 2 of their Bada SDK. You may now start creating your Bada apps and then deploy them on the first Bada phone – the S8500 Wave.
The SDK includes the IDE (integrated development environment), Simulator, UI builder, sample applications plus full documentation and tutorials.
The new UI framework provided with the SDK supports the latest TouchWiz, Adobe Flash, motion sensors, vibration and even face-detection.
With the new version of the SDK you will be able to deploy all the apps you create on the S8500 Wave. The first Bada phone is expected to hit the stores in the end of this month. We recently had a blast with it and its top-notch 720p video recording capabilities.
You can find more information about the SDK on the Bada developer website.
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Sony Ericsson Aino gets a shiny second firmware update

Sony Ericsson released the second firmware update for their touch-driven Aino. It reduces the power usage, improves the overall stability and adds a bunch of themes.
Besides the longer battery life, the new Aino firmware also brings new video codec support (MIME-type MPEG4-generic), improved WLAN and Bluetooth coexistence, and three brand new themes.
You will also get a new game – the Bubble Town 2.
Sony Ericsson is obviously committed on delivering nice firmware updates throughout their whole portfolio. Earlier this year we also saw new firmware updates for Satio, Yari and XPERIA X2. The X2 has been updated with video telephony and FM radio app, while the Satio’s been granted with WVGA video recording, direct upload to Facebook and YouTube, plus DLNA support. The Yari has two new games and improved battery life.
Recently Sony Ericsson also promised a major Android 2.1 update to the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10, which is supposed to add HD video recording to the already impressive specs sheet of the smartphone.
You can find all the device updates here.

Motorola MILESTONE finally gets treated to Android 2.1 in the UK

The wait is over and the Motorola MILESTONE UK update to Android 2.1 is finally here. Without any overly official announcements Motorola released the long awaited update.
Currently there is no over-the-air option, the only way to update your device is through a computer. You must follow this link and the instructions there.
Here's the official changelog from the Motorola MILESTONE UK update page (PDF link).
Motorolas has been rolling the 2.1 update slowly and painfully to regional markets since 22 March and we guess it was about time to hit the UK as well.
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Samsung presents W960 AMOLED 3D - the first phone with 3D display

It was only in a matter of time before we see the first mobile phone with 3D-capable display and it’s hardly a surprise the device comes from Samsung. The SCH-W960 AMOLED 3D doesn’t require glasses for proper 3D visualization, but for now its availability is limited to the South Korean market.
The Samsung W960 AMOLED 3D is a CDMA mobile phone packing 3.2-inch AMOLED capacitive touch display with WQVGA resolution, 3.2 megapixel auto-focus camera, 3G support with HSPA, DMB-T TV tuner, Bluetooth and microSD card slot. It’s powered by the proprietary Samsung TouchWiz 2.0.
The 3D capable display doesn’t require special glasses. There is a dedicated 3D shortcut key on the phone for switching on/off the 3D mode any time you want.
Samsung AMOLED 3D will be limited for Korea only through all the operators – SKT, KT and LGT. The device is expected to launch Q2 this year.
Ultra portable devices and projectors are probably the last frontier for 3D display technology. If you still haven't dipped your toes but you are curious, you should definitely check our blogpost on the Six ways you can get 3D technology in your home right now.
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HD video recording on the iPhone 4G confirmed, sort of

We already know the next iPhone will most probably pack a 5 megapixel camera with additional LED flash. That along with the snappy CPU inside surely makes 720p video recording a likely feature. We just found the first hard evidence of that. It was unearthed in the code of the same iPhone OS 4.0 beta that brought us the USB file transfers and the rotation lock.
After some serious digging fellow journalists dug up the following video presets in the code:
AVCaptureSessionPreset640x480 AVCaptureSessionPreset1280x720
This capture presets suggest some future iPhone will pack 720p video recording. The fourth generation is the ideal candidate since it’s rumored to be called iPhone HD and meets the hardware requirements.
All details will be cleared out on the 7 June, when we expect the next iPhone to be announced.
Source

Gresso presents the new Grand Monaco Sport luxury phones

After the Grand Monaco Red for the ladies Gresso launches a new luxury line – the Grand Monaco Sport. It targets all the sport cars fans offering various customizations to match their style.
The new Grand Monaco Sport phones follow the Gresso tradition and design-wise look much like their older siblings. Their cases have hi-tech ceramics coatings and steel keypads made of super thin titanium superalloy. The keys are of surgical grade steel with laser-cut numbers and letters.
The key element in the new Sport series is the carbon leather that will hopefully match the interior of your sports car. Obviously carbon leather is an expensive material that's really hard to produce. It's genuine leather but one that has been specially curried, reinforced and decorated with the carbon coating.
Grand Monaco Sport is available in two models: black ceramics – black leather and metallic ceramics – metallic leather. There are also various options for customization such as engraving, special leather types, different ceramics, etc.
A piece from the Grand Monaco Sport series will cost you about 1850 euro and you can already order one.
In case luxury phones are your thing, be sure to check out our Million dollar review where we scour the world of luxury phones to see what's ticking under that surface of sapphire glass, gold finish and encrusted diamonds.

XPERIA X10 to get HD video recording and Android 2.1 in Q4

The Sony Ericsson blog just announced that the XPERIA X10, XPERIA X10 mini and XPERIA X10 mini pro will be upgraded to Android OS 2.1 by the end of this year. What's more, the X10 will get HD video recording just as on the Vivaz. Sweeeet!
All of that is certainly good news for all XPERIA X10 series owners. It makes you wonder why didn't they go straight for Android 2.2 (a.k.a. Froyo) but even minor upgrades are welcome.

Fortunately, the original XPERIA X10 will be granted with a more major update over its mini siblings. The X10 will get HD video recording resembling that of the Symbian-powered Vivaz. Wireless home connectivity via DLNA and improved Timescape/Mediascape duo are also on the way.
Sony Ericsson admits that the Q4 updates are a bit late compared to their rivals, but we are given a promise for extended firmware support for all OS-powered devices in the future.
Adding HD video recording via firmware upgrade is certainly surprising but a similar software update was rumored recently about the HTC Desire as well.
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iPhone OS 4 beta 3 reveals USB file transfers and rotation lock

File sharing, accelerometer lock, new iPod widget and easier apps killing are among the new features discovered in the latest beta 3 of the iPhone OS 4.
Despite Steve Job’s claims that task killing means poor OS, it seems that the guys behind the iPhone OS 4 are further tweaking the way you kill unwanted apps in the new task switcher.
In the latest beta 3 task killing works in a similar fashion to the app unninstall process – tap and hold on a running app in the task switcher, then all icons will start wiggling and you can kill as many as you just like by tapping their red kill switches.
Another new thing is that when you've got your iPod running, swiping to the left in the task switcher will reveal useful media controls. It’s like a standard media widget and it would be really cool if Apple adds full support for creating various widgets on that place.
The third hidden goodie is the option for orientation lock. You will be able to turn off the accelerometer and lock the screen orientation (quite useful when lying in bed) by using a shortcut in the task switcher. Could you please now add similar switches there for toggling Wi-Fi, 3G and Bluetooth, please!

Multitasking, media widget and orientation lock
There is no doubt the most interesting among the new features is the file transferring over USB. It only works via iTunes but it's still something. In the App section you will find an interface which shows the apps that support file transferring and their files (like Mail, Office, etc.). With a simple drag and drop you will able to transfer files from and to your iPhone. About time, wasn’t it?

File sharing in iTunes
All the features are more than welcomed, because they lower some long criticized restrictions of the iPhone OS.
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Nokia C3 and BlackBerry Pearl 3G headed for Vodafone UK

Both, the Nokia C3 and the BlackBerry Pearl 3G 9105 have showed up on the Coming soon web page of Vodafone UK. The two devices have just been announced but obviously it won't take them too long to start selling.
While we kind of know what the price of the C3 will be (Nokia state that the phone will be selling for 90 euro before taxes and subsides), we can only guess how much the Pearl 3G will cost.

Nokia C3 is Nokia's first QWERTY keyboard equipped feature phone and it is also one of the select few non-smartphones made by the Finns packing Wi-Fi support. The phone will be available on pay as you go but Vodafone UK are still mum on when that's going to happen.

As far as the BlackBerry Pearl 3G is concerned, Vodafone have listed only the QWERTY-less version of the smartphone, the 9105. This is the first BlackBerry device to sport Wi-Fi 802.11n support. It also has a built-in GPS receiver and a 3-megapixel autofocus camera. It's still not clear when exactly it will hit the Vodafone UK stores.
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BlackBerry Slider 9800 shows up again, runs BlackBerry OS 6

The BlackBerry Slider was absent from rumor-land for a while but it has returned along with some more photos. The BlackBerry Slider 9800 is shown running the BlackBerry OS 6, so it's still on track to becoming the first RIM phone with the new OS.
The photos are quire poor - but still, they confirm that the BlackBerry Slider (probably not its real model name) is running BlackBerry OS 6, though (quite expectedly) a pre-release version.

New photos of the BlackBerry Slider 9800 • old photos are clearer
BB OS 6 was expected, along with some other interesting bits - touchscreen, but no SurePress, and a 5MP camera with something called "liquid lens technology". This leak neither confirms nor denies any of that. They do show the BlackBerry Slider 9800 running on Rogers, so we're sure to get a GSM version.
We still don't know when the Slider is coming out though. However, if it will really be the first device to run OS v6, then the BlackBerry Slider 9800 should come out in Q3 at the earliest(when BB OS 6 is expected).
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The LG GD880 Mini Tiesto Edition now available in the Netherlands

The LG GD880 Mini has only been available for a little while and it's already getting a special Tiesto Edition. It is headed for the Dutch's DJ homeland and comes with loads of exclusive Tiesto content, including his latest album and some remixes and videos.
The LG mini has just hit the stores and we already published our detailed review. But the reason for today's news is the special LG Mini Tiesto Edition which rolled out in the Netherlands on 1 May.
While there aren't any changes on the outside of the sleek GD880, the Mini Tiesto Edition is quite different on the inside. Tiesto is one of world's greatest DJs and his fans would be glad to find his latest album, Kaleidoscope, coming preloaded on the Mini.
Also included are 10 remixes of popular tracks as well as 2 videos. The icing of the cake are the two realtones and the preloaded wallpapers.
Just to refresh your memory, we'll mention some of GD880 Mini's features such as the 3.2" capacitive touchscreen or the Wi-Fi and the stereo Bluetooth support it packs. Also on board there is a 5-megapixel autofocus snapper, a GPS receiver, support for DivX/XviD videos out of the box and social network integration.
The LG Mini Tiesto Edition is already available for 399 euro.
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T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide has QWERTY, customized Android 2.1

The myTouch series is where T-Mobile keep their Androids and today they welcome a new member to the fold - meet the QWERTY-wielding T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide. As the name suggest this is a side-slider with a full keyboard, 3G and of course Android 2.1.
The T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide has a 3.4" HVGA screen but it offers a different experience than you'd expect - T-Mobile have thrown in some custom interface changes, on a level that can almost rival what HTC have done.
First is the Faves gallery - it stores 20 of your favorite contacts and will offer options to contact them in every way you can think of. Call, text, email, IM social networking updates. There's even a dedicated green notification light that lights up when one of your Faves has contacted you.

T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide
There's also myModes, which allows you to create "modes" for the five-pane homescreen on the T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide, with different widgets and shortcuts, much like Scenes in THC Sense.
Another addition to Android capabilities by T-Mobile is the Genius button. It lets you control the myTouch 3G Slide using voice commands and uses text-to-speech to answer back to you. It will, for example, read you a message and let you dictate a response.
Feature-wise the T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide includes a 5MP camera, quad-band GSM/EDGE and 3G with HSPA (T-Mo frequencies obviously), Wi-Fi, 8GB microSD card in the box, Google Maps Navigation, Swype keyboard and media syncing with doubleTwist.
The T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide will be available through T-Mobile exclusively beginning in June in black, white and red color schemes.
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