LG gets "touchy" with new patents

If you're still not convinced that touchscreen mobiles are the future, you better start psyching yourself to embrace the new technology.

According to a report by Unwired View, LG has recently filed two patents that seem to signify its Prada phone is just the start of a series of touchscreen mobile devices. The first of the patents talks about a handset with a pair of touch panels that work either independently or as one screen split into two. If you cannot imagine this, just picture the Nintendo DS Lite look and feel on your mobile phone.

The second patent describes "dynamic icons that are able to move in reaction to user actions or functions to be performed". While this sounds more interesting, we're not too sure about the usefulness of menu icons moving randomly on a screen when we have to jostle with the rush hour crowd on the commute while trying to maintain a grip on the overhead handle bar.

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Picture credit: Unwired View

Samsung F300 to debut in five colors mid-May

Samsung has finally given its much-awaited music-phone, the Ultra Music F300, a mid-May launch date.

First announced at last year's ITU Telecom World 2006 in Hong Kong, the F300 caught our attention with its unique dual-display candy-bar design that sports a phone face on one side and an MP3 player on the other side. It will retail for S$698 (US$467.11) without contract and S$598 (US$400.19) with a two-year mobile plan.

Showcased for the first time in Singapore at the recent Samsung Fun Club 4th Anniversary party, the F300 will be offered in five colors red, orange, white, blue as well as the original black. Like the Samsung SGH-P310 card-sized phone, the F300 will be bundled with a leather phone holder that doubles as second battery for longer usage. Other noteworthy features on this triband music-phone are a 2-megapixel camera, touchscreen MP3 interface, FM radio, stereo Bluetooth and a microSD card slot.

Also on display at the media event was a matching Bluetooth stereo speaker which comes with onboard playback controls. Although no further details were available on this interesting accessory, its onboard microphone seems to suggest that it can double as a speakerphone, too. A built-in stand also allows users to keep the F300 standing upright for easy viewing of the display. Click here for more details of the F300.

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Champagne gold KRZR loves Hong Kong

We've seen our fair share of gold handsets aimed squarely at those with deep pockets, but one that's dedicated to a city? That's unheard of.

Not quite the same as a Vertu or even the 18-carat gold-plated Nokia 8800 Sirocco Gold, Motorola is upping its fashion quotient on the KRZR K1 by dressing it in a rich shade of champagne gold. Catch is, the limited-edition clamshell is available only in Hong Kong. According to the company, customers will enjoy a 5-percent discount and free Sa Sa gold nail polish at any Sa Sa Cosmetics store in Hong Kong and Macau upon purchase of the handset.

No word on how many pieces will be made available or how much it will cost, but we're pretty darn sure you don't have to rob a bank to own this Moto.

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'Zune phone' patent application: It ain't ZenZui

Earlier this week, Microsoft filed what appeared to be a patent application for a smart phone interface, causing many a blog to begin speculating that maybe it was for a "Zune phone" (for better or for worse)--something that's been talked about for some time now.

The images in the application, showing a tiled graphical interface, definitely look somewhat iPhone-ish, and plenty of buzz arose that perhaps Microsoft was trying to develop an "iPhone killer."


The mysterious patent application image
(Credit: Mad4MobilePhones)

But a few sharp eyes (namely, those of our Microsoft guru Ina Fried) noticed that the interface also bore a striking resemblance to that of the software made by ZenZui, the Seattle-based mobile Web start-up that's using Microsoft's research labs to develop a "zoomable" user interface for smart phones. (Not to be confused with Deepfish, a "zoomable interface" browser developed by Microsoft Labs that aims to facilitate Web surfing on small screens.)

So we called up ZenZui to check it out. But company co-founder John SanGiovanni was quick to debunk the speculation: The patent application, he said, does not depict a "zoomable" interface and is unrelated to ZenZui's technology. As for what it actually was, he said he didn't know.

So maybe it is a "Zune phone." Or not. I suppose tiled interfaces are just rather hot right now.

Picture left is the ZenZui's tiled user interface. Credit: ZenZui

This article was first published on CNET News.com.

Qantas' in-flight texting on three-month trial

In-flight mobile phone use may soon be a reality if the three-month trial on a Qantas Boeing 767 proves to be successful.

Editors' note: 19 April 2007--CNET.com's Kent German wrote that Air France will join Qantas to implement a trial allowing passengers to use their mobile phones in the air. The French program will run for six months with the first three trial months for passengers to send text messages and emails only. For the last three months, they will be able to make voice calls as well. That makes Air France the first airline to allow in-flight calling from cell phones.

According to a report by The Sydney Morning Herald, Qantas is one of the first airlines to launch a program like this, with Emirates and Ryanair planning to follow suit later this year. The three-month trial will help the airline decide if the use of mobile phones onboard flights is possible in the near future.

Previous concerns were with handhelds emitting high power outputs to reach a distant base station, thus interfering with the aircraft's navigation and communication systems. British company, AeroMobile, has come up with a solution by installing a wire in the plane above the passengers' heads which acts as a base station cell so phone-to-base communication requires minimal power.

Passengers will be allowed to send only text messages and emails, and they won't know if they can use their mobiles until they board the flight. The company has no current plans to ban text alert tones, which can be very disruptive to other passengers.

A spokesman for Singapore Airlines said that the airline is not conducting any trials on the use of mobile phones onboard flights at the moment nor does it have any immediate plans to do so.

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