Archives for April 2006
Alcatel's liquid phone
Juniper Foo | Apr 05, 2006
From Motorola to Sony Ericsson, we're used to seeing these guys push the design envelope in mobile phones. But Alcatel? Our memories of the brand have been less than flattering, but absence makes the heart grow fonder. Particularly when we came face to face with the liquid-looking OT-C750 handset. The functions aren't anything to shout home about, but the metallic finish with its mirror effect looks almost deliciously organic. Too bad Alcatel retails its phones in only selected parts of Asia.
See upclose | slider
Price: N.A.
Availability: Europe
Device: Camera-phone
Basic specs: Dualband, VGA camera, 32-chord polyphony, videotones, 65K-color screen, up to 6 hrs 38 mins talktime, 3MB user available memory, infrared, Java, 90g
Motorola unveils new handsets at CTIA
Reuben Lee | Apr 04, 2006
The world's second-largest mobile maker has announced new additions to its RAZR handset family at this week’s CTIA (Cellular Telecommunications & Internet
Association) trade show in Las Vegas. Among them are three new color offerings (dark blue, maroon and violet) for the V3i and a CDMA version of the V3i called V3m. The company also showcased a new entry-level phone known as the W315.
Motorola also announced a collaboration with Skype for its Talk & Tunes Wireless Internet Calling Kit. This new kit makes use of Bluetooth to allow Skype users to wirelessly listen to music and manage calls over the Internet from a PC. The V3i color handsets are expected in the second quarter of 2006, while the V3m and W315 will start shipping in Q3, according to a Motorola press release. (Click here for a larger image of the new V3i handsets.)
Dell US ups warranty for Inspiron notebooks
Darius Chang | Apr 04, 2006
From three months to a year, that is how much more warranty all Dell US Inspiron notebooks will get from today. A quick check of its online stores in the US confirmed that the one-year service period has been implemented across the board. According to the PC manufacturer's press release, this move "brings consistency to warranty service offerings across all categories of Dimension and Inspiron computers".
In Asia Pacific, only the entry-level notebook and desktop have less than a year's service and support. The budget-level Inspiron 1300 laptop and Dimension 1100 desktop are still bundled with 90 days of service and support. On Dell Singapore's online store, the former offers a one-year service package for S$69.30 (US$46.38), while the desktop provides only a direct upgrade to a three-year warranty for S$113.40 (US$75.89). According to Dell Asia Pacific, the shorter coverage is a reflection of consumer demand for low cost PCs. As such, the company currently has no plans to upgrade the warranty period for budget systems in this region.
Bluetooth-enabled cameras a reality soon
Damian Koh | Apr 04, 2006
Even before the Wi-Fi-in-camera storm blows over, Candace Lombardi from News.com reported Kodak's apparent plans to include Bluetooth technology into its products based on documents filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
In January 2005, Kodak launched its 4-megapixel EasyShare-One equipped with Wi-Fi technology. The Printer Dock Plus, when fitted with the optional wireless card, can also be used to print pictures sans cables. However, at the time of writing, we still had no indication when the EasyShare-One would be available to consumers.
A year has passed, and now, a number of major manufacturers have begun selling their digicams with built-in wireless technology ahead of Kodak. If history were to repeat itself, we should be seeing the first Bluetooth-enabled shooters by the 4th quarter of 2006. Though this time we're quite sure Kodak wouldn't want to fall behind its competitors in making its units available again.
Nokia smart phones to ship in Q2
Reuben Lee | Apr 04, 2006
The Finnish mobile maker has confirmed it will be shipping six new smart phones in Q2 2006, after missing its intended Q1 deadline due to software issues. According to a news report, Nokia will launch the N91 music-phone, followed by the N71 clamshell and N80 slider over the next few weeks. The three business handsets, the E60, E61 and E71, are also expected to ship around the same time.
The N91, which comes with an onboard 4GB hard drive, was originally planned for launch at end 2005, but was delayed till Q1 2006 as a result of software glitches. (Note: Nokia Singapore has confirmed that the N80 and N91 will start shipping in April, while the E60, E61, E70 and N71 will be available before the end of Q2 2006.)
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