Samsung AMOLED 12M

Samsung, 12-megapixel cameraphone, officially announced its name - Samsung AMOLED 12M (SCH-W880). This has 12mega pixel camera and phone. AMOLED 12M is a two in one device.

Camera
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AMOLED comes with 12 megapixel, flash, 3-fold optical zoom, image stabilization, face recognition function and video recording (720p, 30 frames / s).

Connection
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AMOLED supports UMTS / HSDPA, has a 3,3-inch WVGA AMOLED touchscreen display (800 x 480), the availability of slots for cards microSD, and, of course, the joys of life such as Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth.

Apparently, the device will be used interface TouchWiz. About the price of a camera phone is still unknown, but the timing of it for sale called - this is October of this year.

HTC Touch Diamond2 Applications and stuffs

The HTC Touch Diamond2 comes with plenty of preloaded applications - the essentials are already installed, which means you can start using it straight away. There's the regular stuff such as an RSS Reader, a YouTube application and a Streaming Media manager. The MP3 trimmer app from the previous Diamond is missing however.

As we've come to expect from HTC, their admirable Task Manager comes preinstalled. It blends in with the TouchFLO 3D interface seamlessly and is convenient for switching between open apps or stopping them (not that there's any shortage of RAM, but still).

The Task Manager is available, as always in the top right corner of the homescreen. You can also access it through the settings menu, which comes in handy since an application's close button replaces the Task Switcher button. This does hamper its task-switching ability a little and we'd have liked to see a more elegant solution to the problem.

The RSS Hub app is an RSS reader for staying up-to-date with the latest news and content at your favorite web places. The Streaming Media manager allows access to custom sources of streaming audio and video.

Another thing that has become a part of the HTC experience is the well-known Teeter game. The game is simple - by tilting the phone, you must guide a ball to an end point avoiding holes along the way. The graphics are polished and accurate vibrations each time your ball hits the walls of the maze make it very fun to play.

The YouTube application is here again. It offers a fluid, excellent looking interface - shinier than even the iPhone's.

Developers have had plenty of time to adapt their applications to WVGA resolution thanks to the Touch HD.

Another application is the rather handy Search software, capable of searching throughout applications and the whole file system. You have the option to set filters so that the application searches only in the places you need.

HTC Touch Diamond2 GPS

The HTC Touch Diamond2 features a built-in GPS receiver - it's the Qualcomm gpsOne chipset, which comes along with the Qualcomm 7200A platform.

The Diamond2 supports the Assisted-GPS technology, commonly known as A-GPS. It means you can download current satellite data over Wi-Fi or the 2G/3G network for a much faster satellite lock.

The Diamond2 comes with Google Maps. With a more advanced GPS app installed, the handset can easily replace your dedicated GPS navigation unit thanks to the large screen. Given the huge pixel count, a lot more of the map gets displayed on screen at the same zoom level.

Chipset sensitivity of the HTC Touch Diamond2 seems to be on the faster side when it comes to getting an initial satellite lock. Overall, we're pretty happy with the sensitivity of the gpsOne chipset.

HTC Touch 2 First communicator on Windows Mobile 6.5 1

High Tech Computer (HTC) has officially announced the launch of the smartphone HTC Touch2 (T3333) with a full touch screen control, which is one of the first products of this kind, using as an operating system platform for new Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional. In terms of functionality debutant refers to the apparatus of the middle class and, if it is relatively inexpensive, may well be a massive decision. The device is made in the form of an elegant design monoblock without alphanumeric keyboard and is equipped with a proprietary user interface TouchFLO.

This product specifications look so ...

• Ability to work in networks WCDMA / HSPA (900/2100 MHz) and GSM / GPRS / EDGE (850/900/1800/1900 MHz)
• Processor Qualcomm MSM7225 CPU running at 528 MHz
• 512 MB of ROM memory and 256 MB of memory RAM
• Slot for removable storage standard microSD
• 2.8-inch touch screen TFT-display with QVGA-resolution;
• Integrated GPS-receiver
• Modules Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (A2DP) and Wi-Fi 802.11b / g
• 3.5-mm jack for connecting the headphone jack and HTC ExtUSB
• Mounted 3.2-megapixel digital camera
• Built-in media player, which operates the formats AAC / AAC + / eAAC + / AMR-NB/QCP/MP3/WMA/WAV/MIDI/M4A and WMV/ASF/MP4/3GP/3G2/M4V/AVI
• Lithium-Ion Battery 1100 mAh, a charge which is enough for 370 (WCDMA) / 440 (GSM) minutes of continuous negotiations, or 500 (WCDMA) / 370 (GSM) hours of autonomous operation in standby mode

Overall dimensions are 104 x 55 x 12.9 mm; Weight is 110 g.

HTC Touch Diamond2 Design

A side by side comparison to the original HTC Touch Diamond reveals that the Diamond2 has grown a few millimeters in every direction. The biggest difference is in height and thickness, at 107.9mm, the Diamond2 is visibly taller than its predecessor, which stands at only 102mm, and it's quite noticeably thicker at 13.7 vs 11.5 mm.

The front panel is dominated by the 3.2" screen of the exciting WVGA resolution. Riding on the immense pixel-to-inch ratio, the Diamond2 offers remarkable picture quality.

The Diamond2 has 22% more screen area than the first Diamond but it has 25% more pixels so the sharp and vibrant picture is even better than the original.

Above the display we find the earpiece, the ambient light sensor and the secondary video-call camera plus the LED status light.

Then at the bottom, we find four hardware keys and the touch-sensitive zoom bar.

The back key is a nice addition to recent HTC devices getting you one screen back wherever you are in the Diamond interface. Simple though it might sound it's a definite boost to user-friendliness.

The zoom bar has basically the same functionality as the touch-sensitive overlay of the original Diamond's scroll wheel. It can be used on images, web pages, messages, and doubles as a music control. We are delighted with the response of the zoom bar, which works like a charm in the image gallery.

On the left side of the Diamond2 we find the volume rocker, which is long enough but a bit to slim for our taste.

The bottom features the miniUSB port for connecting the data cable, charger and the headphones. The other thing to note here is the stylus compartment, which unfortunately isn't magnetic this time.

The stylus of the Diamond2 however is still active so it will wake the phone up automatically when pulled out.

The backside of the Diamond2, as we mentioned, is a lot plainer than the original Diamond. Considering that WinMo-fans are mostly into functionality, sacrificing some of the appeal in favor of practicality may be considered a good trade.

The only thing to see at the back of the Diamond2 is the 5 megapixel camera lens. There is no flash whatsoever, so low-light shooting with this handset is pretty much out of the question.

Opening the battery cover reveals the upgraded 1100 mAh Li-ion battery that powers the HTC Touch Diamond2. 200 mAh more capacity has are supposed to cover the larger and higher-res screen but as one might imagine it hardly does wonders.

It managed about 15 minutes of telephony, an hour of using the other phones features plus three days on standby, which is passable. When put under heavy pressure it can last for a day tops, but considering how things go with recent phones, that's perhaps OK.

The other thing of interest under the hood is the microSD card slot, which is at the right hand side of the handset next to the stylus. While you will need to remove the cover every time you change the card, the hot-swap support is all there.

HTC Touch Diamond2 Accessories

You get a one-piece handsfree but, considering the lack of a standard audio jack on the device, this is hardly an issue as you most probably won't be replacing the headphones.

The other included accessories are a miniUSB cable and a charger with a supplied adapter. It is certainly cheaper to make different adapters than different chargers.

Finally, the Touch Diamond2 retail box will welcome you with a quick start guide and a CD with the syncing software required - nothing you cannot download off the internet anyway.

As you have probably noticed, the big one out is a microSD card. Without a card the HTC Touch Diamond2 is well short of adequate storage, so a trip to the nearest store will be a must for potential adopter.

HTC Touch Diamond2

The HTC Touch Diamond2 outdoes its predecessor with a larger and higher-res screen, a vastly superior camera and more RAM. The TouchFLO 3D UI has also been improved and now covers the underlying Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional OS from tip to toe. Sounds like a decent update with a keen eye on the competition too, which is getting stiffer by the day.

It is only recently that Windows Mobile fans are receiving the treatment they deserve after years of undeserved exile. The WinMo devices are no longer stigmatized as ugly bricks with awkward handling and HTC are one of the main agents of this change. The HTC Touch Diamond was one of the most complete devices and its stand-out styling earned it well deserved popularity.

Key features:

• 3.2" 65K-color WVGA display
• Latest TouchFLO 3D
• Qualcomm MSM7200A 528 Mhz CPU and 288 MB RAM
• Dedicated graphics chip (64MB RAM reserved for graphics)
• Quad-band GSM support
• 3G with HSDPA 7.2Mbps and HSUPA 2Mbps
• Wi-Fi and built-in GPS receiver
• Stereo FM radio with RDS
• 5 MP auto focus camera with excellent image quality
• microSD card slot
• Touch-sensitive zoom bar
• MS Office Mobile document editor
• Opera 9.5 web browser
• Standard miniUSB slot and Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP
• Teeter game
• Great audio quality
• YouTube client
• Excellent video playback

Main disadvantages:

• Fingerprint nightmare
• Average sunlight legibility
• Questionable build quality
• No TV out port
• No standard 3.5mm audio jack
• No magnetic stylus

iPod Touch Upgrades Hardware and Lowers Price

Apple has made several hardware enhancements to the iPod Touch while lowering the price point on all models.

The new iPod Touch will be available in 8GB, 32GB, and 64GB versions. All three versions will ship with the new iPhone 3.1 software update. The new 32GB and 64GB models are 50% faster than the previous iPod touch and feature much of the same technology behind the iPhone 3GS.

The other standard features: multi-touch display, 3.5-inch widescreen glass display, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a built-in accelerometer and speaker remain the same. The iPod Touch will be priced competitively at $199.99 for the 8GB Touch, $299.99 for the 32GB Touch, and $399.99 for the 64GB Touch.

Apple Announces a Refresh of the iPod Nano

Apple announced a refresh to their iPod Nano product line. The new iPod Nano adds: a video camera, mic, speaker, FM radio with live pause, larger screen, pedometer, and anodized aluminum finish.

One of the more exciting new features is the FM Radio with live pause. According to Apple.com: “The new FM tuner lets you see the names of songs and artists. And two amazing features — iTunes Tagging and Live Pause — make listening to the radio nothing like listening to the radio.”

The new iPod Nano will be available in an 8GB Model for $149 and a 16GB model for $179.

Nokia Announces N900 Internet Tablet

Nokia has officially announced the forthcoming launch of the Nokia N900 Internet Tablet after weeks of speculation.

The N900 will be the first device powered by Nokia’s Linux-based Maemo 5 software platform, with the manufacturer describing the platform’s main purpose to address different markets despite the obvious dangers of marketplace fragmentation and perceived lack of development focus with the recent announcement of its Windows based netbook.

The N900 features quad-band GSM/EDGE, 900/1700/2100MHz UMTS/HSPA support, a 3.5-inch 800×480 pixel widescreen touch display, sliding QWERTY keyboard, 32GB of internal storage expandable to 48GB via microSDHC expansion slot, GPS/A-GPS support via internal transceiver, FM transmitter, TV output, Bluetooth 2.1 with stereo audio support, Wi-Fi radio and 5.0 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics and dual-LED flash.

Publish Post

The device also features the ARM Cortex-A8 embedded systyem on a chip which also powers the Palm Pre and iPhone 3GS, 1GB of application memory and OpenGL ES 2.0 graphics acceleration.

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X2 preview

The XPERIA X2 most other features, though not as innovative, are a nice match as well. We guess they are worth going through one more time.

Sony Ericsson EXPERIA X2 at a glance:

• General: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, UMTS 900/1900/2100 MHz, EDGE class 10, HSDPA, 7.2 Mbps; HSUPA, 2 Mbps
• Form factor: Slide-and-tilt QWERTY touch phone
• Dimensions: 110 x 54 x 16 mm, weight 155 grams
• Display: 3.2" TFT resistive touchscreen, 800 x 480 pixels
• Platform: Qualcomm MSM 7200 528 MHz processor
• OS: Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional
• Memory: 110MB storage, 256 MB RAM, 512 MB ROM, microSD card slot
• Camera: 8-megapixels auto-focus camera, LED flash, touch focus, geotagging, face detection, image stabilizer, Smart Contrast, WVGA@30fps video recording
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, standard microUSB port, GPS receiver with A-GPS, 3.5mm audio jack, TV-out
• Misc: Optical trackpad, accelerometer for motion-based gaming, office document viewer and editor, XviD video support
• Battery: 1500 mAh Li-Po battery

The XPERIA X2 should be available in two colors - Elegant Black and Modern Silver. There's hardly anything missing from the broad range of connectivity options. Perhaps the only two things it seems to lack are the FM radio and the automatic screen rotation. Yes, there's an accelerometer on board alright, but the screen doesn't auto rotate to match the orientation of the handset.

While the XPERIA X2 uses the vanilla Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional, the thing that sets it apart from competing products is the X-panels interface. X panels have gone a long way since the XPERIA X1 and have turned into a full featured system for using various animated and interactive homescreens.

HTC Touch Diamond

The HTC Touch Diamond™ is a window to your active life, keeping you in touch with people, appointments, and everything the Web holds in store. Set your own audio soundtrack, select the next video to view or flow through your roster of friends and family via the large, vibrant auto-rotating touch screen. This phone has the smart features and fun functionality to help you capture and enjoy all the best moments life has to offer in a luxurious new way.

Highlights

• TouchFLO™ 3D interface reacts quickly and accurately to the touch of a finger, transforming Web browsing, contact scrolling and media launching into a vibrant visual experience
  
• Easily holds new levels of pictures, audio, documents and exchanged data with robust 4GB internal memory
• 3.2 megapixel auto-focus camera to capture special moments with loved ones
• Take thousands of audio tracks or high-quality images wherever you go thanks to spacious onboard memory

HTC Touch 3G

The Touch 3G features a 3.2 inch HVGA capacitive touchscreen display, quadband GSM/EDGE, quadband HSPA, Android version 1.5 which features an on-screen keyboard, video recording, media player and improved email client with support for Exchange mail servers. The rest of the featureset consists of Wi-Fi radio, Bluetooth with stereo audio support, microSDHC expansion slot, A-GPS support with compass, accelerometer, voice control and speakerphone along with a 3.2 megapixel camera.

Highlights

• One-touch access to Google Mobile Services (Gmail™/ Gmail™, YouTube™, Google Maps™, Google Talk™, Calendar, Google™ Search).
• High-speed 3.5G network connection and Wi-Fi technology with seamless transition to open networks.
• 3.2 megapixel color camera with auto focus for quality image and video capture.
• microSD™ (SD 2.0 compatible) expansion slot (up to 16GB) for all your storage needs.
• 3.2-inch touch-sensitive screen with HVGA (320 X 480 pixel) resolution.
• Support for Bluetooth wireless stereo headsets (A2DP).
• Easy viewing of PDF files and Microsoft Word and Excel documents via included PDF Viewer and Quickoffice applications.
• Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync with push email as well as calendar and contact synchronization.

Nokia 2705 Shade Leaks Out

Spy photos of the unconfirmed Nokia 2705 or “Shade” for Verizon have appeared on the web.

From what we can tel the 2705 is expected to be a successor to the Nokia 2605 Mirage. There is a camera on the front, with no flash, once more. It also ditches the mp3 controls on the front, and a small 2 inch, maybe 1 inch, screen on the front.

Finally, it has a standard keypad and a full color screen. No word on pricing or release date.

LG Bliss

With a next generation user interface, large 3” touch screen, and sleek rounded design, this phone has a fresh look that’s sure to capture lots of attention. You can call your friends and catch up on the latest gossip while you browse today’s entertainment news on the web. You can take great photos or video with the 2.0 megapixel camera and camcorder, then share your coolest shots. Get in style with the LG Bliss

Display

• 262K Color TFT, 240 x 400 Pixels, 3.00”

Specifications

• 1.9 GHz CDMA PCS, 800 MHz CDMA
• Dimensions: 107.5 (h) X 58 (w) X 11.95 (d)
• Weight: 3.42 oz
• Talk Time: Up to 4 Hours & 30 Minutes
• Standby Time: Up to 13 Days

Convenience Features

• Phone Book with 1,000 Contacts each stores 5 numbers 2 e-mail addresses, 1 website address,
• 1 memo, & a picture ID
• Speed Dial (98 entries + 1 voicemail default)
• USB Charging via Computer (cable included)
• One touch Speakerphone
• Speaker-Independent Voice Commands
• Voice Memos
• Hearing Aid Compatible (M4/T3-Rating)
• World Clock
• Ez Tip Calculator
• Stopwatch
• Alarm clock
• Notepad

Advanced Features

• 2.0 MP Camera & Camcorder
• Camera Resolutions: 1600x1200 (default), 1280x960, 640x480, 320x240 Pixels
• Image Editor: zoom, rotate, crop, add frames, add stamps, draw over images
• Video Resolutions: 320x240 (default), 176x144 Pixels
• Video Recording Time: 30 sec. (for send) or 1 hr. (for saving)
• Video Player for WMV, MP4, 3GP, 3G2 Formats

Motorola Announces i856 Debut for Boost Mobile

Motorola has announced the availability of the i856 Debut slider for Boost Mobile. The phone features a 1.3MP camera with video recorder, external media controls and Bluetooth with stereo audio support along with threaded messaging and speakerphone.

The phone is now available online from Boost Mobile for $169.99.

Nokia Announces 6750 Mural for AT&T

Nokia has officially announced the 6750 Mural, the successor to the Nokia 6650 clamshell.

The Mural features a 2.2 inch internal QVGA display, dual-band HSDPA and quadband GSM/EDGE, microSDHC expansion slot, 2.0 megapixel camera with video recorder, external media player controls and speakerphone.

Pricing is set at $99.99 after a new 2 year agreement before an additional $50 mail-in rebate, bringing the total to $49.99 with the launch set for September 6th.

Sony Ericsson Announces Xperia X2

Sony Ericsson has officially announced the successor to its first Xperia Windows Mobile device in the Xperia X2 which will be one of many Windows Phone devices releasing in the 4th quarter.

The Xperia X2 features a 3.2 inch WVGA resolution capacitive touch display, quadband GSM/EDGE, triband US 3G, revised QWERTY keyboard recalling Sony’s Japan-market Vaio Picturebook, Windows Mobile 6.5 with an updated version of its Xperia Panel user interface, an 8.1 megapixel CMOS camera with xenon flash, video recorder, autofocus and image stabilization, microSDHC expansion slot, Wi-Fi radio with DLNA support, GPS transceiver and TV output.

Verizon Launches Pantech UMW190 Global Modem

The USB modem features dual-band EVDO Rev. A, tri-band UMTS/HSPA and quadband GSM/EDGE data access along with zero CD install and activation along with SMS support.

The modem is now available online for $99.99 before an additional $50 mail-in rebate after new 2 year agreement and data plan. The modem will be launched across retail channels later this month.

What is this?

It attaches to your laptop's USB port and uses Verizon's EVDO Rev A CDMA network in the US and affiliated GSM/EDGE/WCDMA network while roaming in other countries (with the included Vodafone SIM card). On the back of the device there is an External Antenna Booster Jack, so a longer antenna can be connected while in poor-coverage areas.

Perfect for business travelers and others who need to access the Internet and e-mail while on the go, the UMW190’s 3G capabilities offer high-speed Internet connectivity around the world through a combination of Dual-Band CDMA Revision A (Rev. A), Tri-Band UMTS/HSPA and Quad-Band GSM/GPRS/EDGE capabilities. Paired with Verizon Wireless’ easy-to-use VZAccess Manager software, the UMW190 offers simple “plug and play” installation and configuration.

Color/design: Stylish and compact black design with sliding cover

Key features:

• Dual-Band CDMA Rev. A; Tri-Band (850/1900/2100 MHz UMTS/HSPA) and Quad-Band GSM/GPRS/EDGE (900/1800, 850/1900)
• Pre-installed SIM card
• Convenient USB connection
• Compatible with Windows 2000, XP and Vista
• VZAccess Manager software
• Visual status indicator
• Built-in text messaging, an added communication option
• USB modem extension cable

Nokia Offically Announces N97 Mini and X Series

After weeks of speculation, Nokia has officially announced the Nokia N97 Mini and X3/X6 X series music oriented phones during the opening keynote at Nokia World Stuttgart.

The N97 Mini will feature Lifecasting with Ovi with support for geotagged Facebook status updates, which is meant to reposition the N97 from its former position as Nokia’s flagship device to its new place as its social computing device with a revamped Ovi Maps implementation that includes content from Lonely Planet, Michelin and Wcities.

Technical specifications for the device are identical to the N97 save for the revised QWERTY keyboard and smaller 3.2 inch display with a European release set for October.

The X3 is a slider featuring a 2.2 inch QVGA display and Series 40 along with a 3.2 megapixel camera, microSDHC slot and the X3 is the first Series 40 handset to include the Ovi Store.

The X6 is the flagship in the series with 32GB of internal storage, a 5.0 megapixel camera witha dual LED flash, TV output, and a 3.2 inch touchscreen. The phone will only be available bundled with the Comes with Music service, but is otherwise similar to the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, right down to the same operating system, A-GPS support with Ovi Maps, and a resistive touchscreen.

Both phones will be available in the 4th quarter of this year.

HTC Touch2™ Smartphone

HTC has officially announced the forthcoming launch of the Touch2 Windows Phone device, the first phone from the manufacturer to feature Windows Mobile 6.5 for a launch on the same day as the operating system on October 6th in Europe and Asia.

The device features Microsoft My Phone and Windows Marketplace for Mobile along with Google Maps for Mobile, YouTube and more applications as a result of its Flash integration via Internet Explorer Mobile.

Technical specifications include the Qualcomm MSM7225 chipset with 512 MB ROM and 256 MB RAM running at 528 MHz and Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional, a 2.8 inch touchscreen display at QVGA resolution, dualband European/Asian HSPA, quadband GSM/EDGE, GPS transceiver, Bluetooth 2.1 with stereo audio support, Wi-Fi radio, 3.5 mm headphone jack, HTC ExtUSB port and 3.2 megapixel camera with video recorder.

Pandora - One way to listen to music on iPhone

Pandora is a streaming music service based on the Music Genome Project that has become wildly popular on the Web and now has a pretty successful (free) iPhone app. Through the app, you can listen to specific stations that you have already created or even make new ones based on the patterns of music you already like. You can even vote up or down certain songs directly from within the app, and Pandora will figure out what about that song was different from others you voted on in order to tweak its offerings.

Multitasking

• Keep multiple applications open at the same time and easily switch between them with activity cards.
• Save time by searching contacts, apps, or the web from one place with universal search.
• Maximize productivity by viewing Microsoft Word, Excel^®, PowerPoint^®, and PDF documents, even while on a conference call.
• Perform business functions with a variety of third-party applications⁵ designed for the Palm webOS^™ platform.

Breakthrough design

• Slide out the full keyboard to type emails and messages quickly and easily.
• Navigate quickly with simple gestures on the colour touchscreen.
• See web pages the way they are meant to be seen in full HTML.
• Keep going longer by replacing the removable battery on the go.

Layered calendars and linked contacts

• Quickly access all your contacts. The Palm Synergy^™ feature links them from different sources such as Outlook or Google, giving you one place to find what you need.
• View Outlook^®, Google, and other calendars together for one logical view of your day that also helps to keep your business and personal appointments from conflicting.
• Get to meetings on time with automatic calendar notifications, or notify attendees that you're running late with just one touch.

Palm Pre Email and messaging

• Get Microsoft^® Exchange email as it arrives thanks to Microsoft Direct Push Technology.
• Send and receive from multiple email accounts including Exchange,² Gmail, Hotmail, and Yahoo! from one application. Ideal for those who need to monitor several business and personal inboxes.
• View text messages and IM in a single thread, so you can focus on the conversation no matter where it started.

Palm Pre Spying allegation

Spying allegation

According to mobile application developer Joey Hess, Palm Pre phone was periodically sending users' information to Palm. Palm is gathering users' GPS information, along with data on every application used, and for how long it was used.

Palm Pre 3rd Party applications

Third-party applications

Third parties are able to develop web apps that run within webOS. In addition, Palm has announced that they have partnered with certain trusted third-parties that have been given greater access to Pre functionality. At launch, 18 applications were available in the Palm App Catalog. One of the apps, available at launch, is "Classic", a Palm OS emulator (for $29.99) that can run a large number of the roughly 50,000 apps for the Palm OS.

Palm Pre iTune

iTunes syncing

Palm has announced that the Pre will be capable of "seamlessly" synchronizing with Apple's iTunes via its Media Sync feature. The Pre is believed to achieve this by switching its USB Product and Vendor IDs to those of an Apple iPod, thereby mimicking or "spoofing" the Apple device.

Note:
The update to iTunes 8.2.1 reportedly disables syncing with the Pre. WebOS update 1.1.0, released by Palm on July 23, 2009, restores iTunes syncing natively, but third-party applications can still be used to sync iTunes with the device with previous versions of WebOS.

Palm Pre web browser

Web browser

The webOS web browser is WebKit-based and, thus, pages render similarly to other WebKit-based browsers such as Safari, the iPhone browser, Google Chrome, and Nokia Web Browser for S60. The browser can be viewed in either landscape or portrait orientation, switched by rotating the device. Specific features of the web browser include the ability to play .pls file types without the need for an additional application.

Latest:
In addition, on February 16, 2009, Adobe announced that it will be developing a version of Adobe Flash Player for webOS.

Palm Pre Synergy

webOS allows a user to sign in to accounts on Gmail, Facebook, and Microsoft Outlook (via Exchange ActiveSync).

Contacts from all sources are then integrated into a single list.

Calendars from multiple sources can be viewed together or one at a time.

For messaging, Synergy combines all conversations with each contact into a single chat-style window. For example, instant messages and SMS text messages are viewed together.

Palm Pre Interface

Interface

The webOS interface is based on a system of "cards" used to manage multitasking. Applications can be launched from either the "Launcher", which displays a default of three pages of applications icons in a scrollable grid, or the Quick Launch bar, which displays five icons inline horizontally. The user switches between running applications by clicking the front-face button to bring up the "cards" and then flicking left and right on the screen. Applications are closed by flicking a "card" up - and "off" - the screen.

webOS also supports multi-touch gestures, enabling most navigational input to be made using the touchscreen. Unlike other touchscreen smartphones, the Pre does not include a virtual keyboard as it includes the slide-out keyboard.

Palm Pre Software

Software

The Pre is the first Palm device to use webOS, the Linux-based platform that replaces Palm's previous Palm OS. webOS is capable of supporting built-in first party applications, as well as third party applications.

Palm Pre Charging

Charging

The Pre is one of the first smartphones to feature wireless charging, using electromagnetic induction through an optional wireless charging dock (dubbed the "Touchstone Charger") and a special back cover, which also is sold separately. Users can still charge the phone using the supplied MicroUSB cable.

Palm Pre Storage

Storage capacity

The Pre has 8.0 GB of internal flash storage (approximately 7.4 GB of which is user accessible). The Pre does not have a flash memory card slot. However, unconfirmed reports state that the new revised GSM version may feature a microSD card slot.

Palm Pre Connectivity

Connectivity

The Pre will be available with high-speed connectivity on either EVDO Rev. A or UMTS HSDPA, depending on location. The Pre also includes 802.11b/g WiFi and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR with support for A2DP stereo headsets. A-GPS with support for turn-by-turn navigation is also included. For charging and data-transfer, the Pre uses a microUSB connector with USB 2.0 support, and audio output is supported by a standard 3.5 mm headphone jack. While the phone reports support for the Bluetooth DUN protocol, you can also use it as "Phone as Modem"

Palm Pre Screen and Input

Screen and input

The Pre features a 3.1-inch capacitive touchscreen over a 24-bit color 320×480 resolution HVGA liquid-crystal display. The touchscreen allows for manipulation of the UI with fingers instead of a stylus, commonly used with older Palm phones and PDAs. Below the display is the "Gesture Area", a touch-sensitive area with LED underlighting that permits additional touch commands.

On the Pre, the keyboard slides out, and is curved to follow the contour of the human face. In addition to the keyboard, the device features a single button in the center of the Gesture Area, a volume rocker switch on the side, and a ringer switch on the top.

The Pre features three input sensors that allow it to respond to its surroundings. An accelerometer automatically changes the orientation of the display between landscape and portrait when the device is rotated in the user's hands. An ambient light sensor allows the Pre to automatically adjust the brightness of its display. A proximity sensor allows the Pre to disregard touch inputs when the phone is held close to a user's face during a call.

The Pre also has an integrated 3.2 megapixel digital camera with LED flash.

Palm Pre

The Palm Pre is a multimedia smartphone designed and marketed by Palm, Inc. with a multi-touch screen and a sliding keyboard. The phone was launched on June 6, 2009, and is the first to use Palm's new Linux-based operating system, webOS. The Pre functions as a camera phone, a portable media player, a GPS navigator, and an Internet client (with text messaging, email, web browsing, and local Wi-Fi connectivity).

Hardware
The Palm Pre's CPU is a 600 MHz Texas Instruments OMAP 3430 (ARM Cortex A8 + PowerVR SGX) underclocked to 500 MHz.

Palm Pre

The Palm^® Pre^™ phone lets you tackle your entire workday like never before. Keep multiple applications open and move back and forth between business and life.

5 ways to listen to music on the iPhone without using iTunes

Pandora
AOL Radio
Soma FM
NPR News
Play music in the background with a Safari "hack"

iPhone not exclusive in China, talks with China Mobile go on

The three-year deal Apple made with China Unicom is not an exclusive one, and negotiations continue with China Mobile. Still, regulatory hurdles may prevent Apple from launching a Chinese App Store.

Apple has confirmed that its agreement to sell iPhones via China Unicom, which lasts for three years, isn't exclusive. China Mobile says it is still in talks with Apple to carry the iPhone, though Apple hasn't said what Chinese carriers it is in talks with. And while that company—China's largest mobile carrier by a wide margin—cited control issues with how the App Store is run, there may be further legal hurdles to cross before Apple can offer apps via the App Store to Chinese users. more