Alltel Wireless and LG Electronics announced on Thursday the availability of the LG 8575 Touch handset at Alltel retail stores and online at Alltel.com. The LG 8575 Touch will be particularly interesting to music lovers thanks to features such as Dolby Mobile sound system, 3.5 mm stereo headphones, built-in FM tuner, and a music player with applications that invite users to “join the band” by turning their handset into a virtual keyboard and thumping drum kit.

Features and specs include:

• 1GB of internal memory with support for microSD cards
• 3.2 megapixel camera
• Camera includes “Intelligent Shot” for improved image quality and built-in image editor
• 3 inch touch-screen display
• Text, picture, and video messaging support
• One-touch speakerphone
• Text to speech functionality
• Built-in GPS
• Web browser
• Bluetooth support
• Rechargeable battery for up to 5 hours of talk time

The LG 8575 Touch is available for a mere $19.99 after a $50 dollar mail-in rebate and activation to a 1 yr service contract on a qualifying rate plan.

Technorati Tags: Alltel Wireless, LG 8575 Touch

Sony Ericsson finally jumps on the Android bandwagon with yesterday’s announcement of the upcoming XPERIA X10 handset – their first phone to deliver Sony Ericsson’s new user experience (UX) platform built on top of the Android OS. Sigh.. another Android phone I just might be lusting after.

The introduction of the X10 also brings with it two new “signature” applications – Mediascape and Timescape. Timescape manages all of your communications within a single application – whether its emails, text messages, status updates with Twitter, Facebook etc. Mediascape is a centralized application for music, photos, and videos with access to content on the phone and on the Internet.

Other features and specs of the XPERIA X10 include:

• Supports GSM GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900, UMTS HSPA 900/1700/2100 and UMTS HSPA 800/850/1900/2100
• 4.0 inch 480 x 854 resolution scratch-resistant display with support for 262K colors
• Android Market support
• ActiveSync for access to Microsoft Exchange
• Built-in aGPS
• HSPA connectivity
• 8.1 megapixel camera with up to 16x digital zoom
• Intelligent face recognition technology; geotagging; image and video stabilizer; photo and video light; smile detection; touch focus; and video recording
• Music features include Album Art, Bluetooth stereo profile support, built-in media player, music tones, PlayNow support, and TrackID
• Built-in web browser
• Alarm clock, calculator, calendar, flight mode, Infinite button, office suite, phone book with dialer, and world clock
• 3.5 mm audio jack
• Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity
• 8GB microSD card
• Measures 4.7 x 2.5 x 0.5 inches and weighs 4.8oz

The XPERIA X10 will be available in Sensuous Black and Luster White and should be available in “selected markets” in Q1 of 2010.

[Check it out]

[Check out the press release]

Technorati Tags: Sony Ericsson, Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10, Android Smartphone

The LiMo Foundation announces the second LiMo compliant device built using the LiMo Platform Release 2 in the form of the new Vodafone 360 Samsung M1 handset. This latest Samsung handset features Vodafone’s customizable 360 user interface which provides “a new set of Internet services for the mobile and PC that gathers all of a customer’s friends, communities, entertainment, and personal favorites in one place.”

For those of you not familiar with the LiMo Foundation, the organization was launched in January of 2007 to provide an open and consistent Mobile Linux-based handset operating system. According to their press release, there are now 44 commercially available LiMo-based handsets.

The Samsung M1 has the following features and specs:

• HSDPA 3.6 Mbps 2100 and EDGE/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900  support
• Linux OS (2.6.24) LiMo R2.0.1
• 3.2 inch WQVGA TFT display with support for 16 million colors
• 3 megapixel fixed focus camera with digital zoom
• Video support includes MPEG4 / H.263/ H.264, Divx, Xvid, WMV /VGA 15fps recording
• Audio support includes MP3, AAC, AAC+, AAC+(e), WMA, AMR
• Built-in GPS
• Web Player
• Vodafone 360 3D user interface applications including People View, Time Line View, Menu Mode, Search View
• Bluetooth 2.0 support
• Support for up to 32GB microSD cards
• Measures 55.4 x 112 x 13.4mm
• 1500mAh Battery

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: LiMo Foundation, Vodafone 360, Samsung M1

The Motorola CLIQ, the first Android-powered handset to come from Motorola, is now available nationwide from T-Mobile for a price of $199.99 after an instant discount of $200 dollars and a new two year agreement. To celebrate the launch of the new handset, T-Mobile also launched a new T-Mobile Motorola CLIQ Challenge today to build the largest college fan club on Facebook.

For those of you not familiar with the CLIQ, here are the main features and specs:

• MOTOBLUR – Stream your social networking feeds to your handset in real time, providing instant access to the latest happenings and messages from your friends.
• 3.1 inch HVGA full touch-screen display
• Support for Android Market
• 5 megapixel camera
• 3G network and Wi-Fi connectivity
• Visual Voicemail
• Bluetooth support
• Full slide-out QWERTY keyboard
• Built-in GPS
• microSD memory slot
• Built-in music player
• Built-in video capture and playback support
• 3.5 mm headset jack
• 6 hour talk time and 13.5 day standby time
• Measures 4.5 x 2.3 x 0.61 inches
• Available in two colors – Titanium and Winter White

The CLIQ is also available with T-Mobile’s new Even More Plus plans (which are contract-less plans) for a price of $399.99.

To help promote the launch of the new CLIQ, T-Mobile launches the T-Mobile Motorola CLIQ Challenge. The goal? For T-Mobile fans to help create the largest Facebook fan club out there. Fans can simply visit www.facebook.com/tmobile to rally together and vote for the four-year college or university of their choice to win the ultimate grand prize.

The school with the highest # of votes in its clique by Nov. 30th will be awarded with an exclusive free concert by Weezer. In addition, T-Mobile will also award the winning school $1 dollar for every vote up to $25,000 for college enrichment.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Motorola CLIQ, T-Mobile

Those of you that absolutely must have the new Motorola DROID next Friday will want to head over to Best Buy now to pre-order the handset. Best Buy will be selling the DROID for $199.99 along with a new two year agreement from Verizon Wireless.

Why buy from Best Buy you ask?

If you purchase from Verizon Wireless directly, you’ll have to mail in a rebate form for the $100 dollar credit which means the checkout cost will initially be $299.99. Buy the phone from Best Buy and Best Buy will instantly credit you the $100 dollars at the point of sale. No forms or checks to deal with. Sounds like a good deal to me.

Technorati Tags: Best Buy, Motorola DROID, Verizon Wireless

A new software update for the Nokia N97 is now available delivering new user interface enhancements as well as new functionality to the handset. Some of the new features found in the version 2.0 update include:

• “Flip scrolling” added to the entire user interface – making scrolling in all views very smooth
• Shortcuts to personalized homescreen
• Ovi Maps 3.1 with 3D maps
• Nokia e-mail (Nokia Messaging)
• Ovi Contacts
• Ovi Store

The standard version of the Nokia N97 software update 2.0 is available now through the PC on the Nokia Software Update website at http://www.nokia.com/softwareupdate.

In addition to the software update, Nokia announces the new N97 mini handset is now available in stores. The N97 mini features stainless steel cues, a tilting 3.2 inch touch-screen display, a QWERTY keyboard and fully customizable homescreen. The mini comes with the same software as the N97 and will be available for an estimated price of EUR 450. Pictures of the N97 mini are above and below.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Nokia N97 software update, Nokia N97 mini

After a week or so of teaser announcements, Verizon Wireless officially unveiled the new DROID smartphone by Motorola – the first smartphone powered by the new Android 2.0 OS (which Google just recently released the SDK for). So let’s get down to the features shall we? According to VW, here’s what you’ll be able to do with the DROID:

• Multi-window browser
• Large touch-screen display  (3.7 inches) with an incredible resolution of 854 x 480
• Access thousands of apps over at the Android Market
• Voice-activated search delivered via Google
• The first device to feature Google Maps Navigation (Beta) which provides turn-by-turn voice guidance as a free feature of Google Maps. Use voice shortcuts and simply say “Navigate to [destination]” and you’ll be on your way. You can see live traffic, street view, or satellite imagery to view your route
• Built-in apps include Google Maps, Gmail, YouTube, Google Talk, Android Market, Calendar, Amazon MP3 store, and Verizon Wireless Visual Voice Mail.

The specs to the DROID are as follows (and according to BGR, this is absolutely the fastest Droid-powered handset yet!):

• Arm Cortex A8 processor 550 mHz
• 3.7″; WVGA (480 x 854 pixels); 16:9 widescreen
• 5 megapixel camera with 4x digital zoom, dual LED flash and auto focus
• Built-in music player with support for AAC, H.263, H.264, MP3, MPEG-4, WAV, WMA, eAAC+, OGG, AMR WB, AMR NB, AAC+, MIDI file formats
• Audio/video streaming support
• Video capture at DVD quality (720×480 resolution) up to 24 fps capture; up to 30 fps playback
• 1400 mAh Li-Ion battery with 385 minute usage time  and up to 270 hour standby time
• Email support – Corporate (Exchange 2003 and 2007), Gmail, IMAP, POP3, Attachment and browser document viewer (Microsoft Office and pdf)
• MMSG, SMS, IM, voicemail
• Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR support with HFP, HSP, A2DP, AVRCP, PBAP, and OPP profile support)
• Synchronization support for Corporate calendar, email and contacts (Exchange 2003 and 2007), Google contacts, calendar and Gmail, Facebook contacts
• 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi
• microUSB connector
• aGPS along with Google Maps, Google Maps Navigation Beta, Google Latitude, Google Maps Street View, eCompass
• Built-in web browser
• 3.5 mm headset jack
• Speakerphone
• Advanced speech recognition, Automatic redial, conference calling, emergency dial, noise reduction, speed dial, vibracall, voice dialing, phone book
• Haptic feedback
• Light-responsive display
• QWERTY keyboard
• Measures 2.4 x 4.6 x .5 inches
• Weighs 6 oz
• Built-in accelerometer
• Network support includes: CDMA 1X 800/1900, EVDO rev A
• 16 GB microSD pre-installed; supports up to 32 GB microSD expandable
• Sensors include Proximity, ambient light and eCompass

OK.. enough about features and specs – what about pricing and availability?

The DROID will be available starting next Friday November 6th in the U.S. exclusively at Verizon Wireless Stores and online for $199.99 with a new two-year customer agreement after a $100 mail-in rebate. Customers will receive the rebate in the form of a debit card which they can use as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted.

Customers will need to subscribe to a Nationwide voice plan and an Email and Web for Smartphone plan. Nationwide voice plans begin at $39.99 for monthly access for 450 minutes and an Email and Web for Smartphone plan is $29.99 for monthly access.

Finally, if you want to see a preview of the DROID handset, makes sure to head over to the Boy Genius Report where they’ve got an excellent preview of the handset. Those of you waiting for a solid iPhone competitor to arrive for Verizon Wireless might finally have their handset.

Here’s a video of the DROID handset courtesy of Verizon Wireless:

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Verizon Wireless, Motorola DROID,

Introduced earlier this month for the European market, TomTom announces today the U.S. availability of the TomTom car kit for iPhone which can be purchased either on the TomTom website or at the Apple online store. Just to recap the features, the TomTom car kit for iPhone comes with:

• Secure mount which docks the iPhone in the desired position on the car windshield or dashboard, using a twist-and-lock motion
• Adjustable mount securely rotates iPhone to either portrait or landscape mode
• Easily removed with one twist upon arrival at a destination
• Built-in GPS receiver reduces the chance of signal drop in areas where GPS reception is limited, such as cities with tall buildings or forested areas
• Significantly improved positioning accuracy in all areas
• Built-in speaker for clear voice instructions
• Integrated microphone and speaker allowing hands-free calling
• Charges iPhone while on the go, so it stays fully charged
• Plays your iPhone music through the AUX OUT port over your car stereo

The TomTom car kit for iPhone is available now for $119.95. Keep in mind you’ll still need to buy the TomTom application for the iPhone.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: TomTom, TomTom car kit for iPhone

Sprint announces the new Palm Pixi handset will be available starting on November 15th for a price of $99.99 (after a new two year agreement and a $50 dollar instant rebate and $100 dollar mail-in rebate). The Pixi runs Palm’s webOS mobile platform (also found on the Palm Pre handset) which includes features such as:

• Allows users to keep multiple activities open and move easily between them – flipping through them like a deck of cards using natural gestures
• Palm Synergy which links information from a variety of sources including Google, Facebook, Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync, LinkedIn, and Yahoo!
• Synergy offers Linked Contacts, Layered Calendars, and Combined Messaging
• New Facebook application

On the spec side of the equation, the Pixi includes:

• Palm webOS platform
• Dual-band CDMA2000
• EVDO Rev A
• 2.63 inch multi-touch display with 18 bit color and 320 x 400 resolution display
• Email support includes Microsoft Exchange, POP3/IMAP
• Integrated IM, SMS, and MMS
• Built-in GPS
• 2 megapixel camera with LED flash
• Ambient Light, Accelerometer, and Proximity Sensors
• Audio Formats: MP3, AAC, AAC+, AMR, QCELP, WAV
  Video Formats: MPEG-4, H.263, H.264
• Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR with A2DP stereo
• 8GB memory (~ 7GB is user available)
• microUSB connector
• 3.5 mm stereo headphone jack
• Palm Synergy support for Facebook, Google, Microsoft Office Outlook, LinkedIn, Yahoo! Mail, Google Talk, AOL IM, and Yahoo! Messenger
• Universal Search
• Measures 2.17 x 4.37 x 0.43 inches and weighs 3.26 oz

You’ll need to activate the handset on a pricing plan which includes unlimited data. The Palm Pixi will be available at Sprint stores, online at www.sprint.com, via telesales, at Best Buy, RadioShack, and select Wal-Mart stores.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Sprint, Palm Pixi

Get ready for the second coming of the Storm and this time, it might actually be a real storm rather than a tropical disturbance. Verizon Wireless and Research in Motion have announced the next-generation BlackBerry Storm2 will be available starting on October 28th. The Storm2 with BlackBerry OS 5.0 adds hundreds of hardware and software enhancements including a new “SurePress” clickable display and built-in Wi-Fi.

Key features of the BlackBerry Storm2 (model 9550) include:

• 3.25 inch 480 x 360 resolution display at 184 dpi
• Capacitive touch-screen with integrated functions (Send, End, Menu, Escape), and new SurePress technology
• 3G and global connectivity support
• Network Connectivity: EV-DO Revision A; UMTS/HSPA (2100 MHz); and quad-band EDGE/GPRS/GSM networks
• 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi connectivity
• 256MB of flash memory
• 2GB of on-board memory
• microSD/SDHC memory card slot with 16GB card included
• 3.2 megapixel camera with autofocus, Image Stabilization (IS), flash and video recording capabilities
• Premium and easy-to-access phone features, background noise suppression technology, loud distortion-free speakerphone and face detection (proximity sensor) that prevents accidental clicks and blanks the screen while the customer is on the phone
• Media player for videos, pictures and music, plus support for BlackBerry Desktop Manager for both PCs and Macs, and BlackBerry® Media Sync, for easily syncing Windows Media® Player music with the smartphone
• 3.5 mm stereo headset jack and dedicated volume controls
• Bluetooth 2.1
• Built-in GPS
• Support for VZ Navigator, V CAST Music with Rhapsody
• Support for Verizon Wireless Mobile Broadband Connect tethering service
• Comes with BlackBerry OS 5.0 which includes typing accuracy and selection improvements, as well as usability and visual enhancements such as inertial scrolling, spin boxes that make it easier to set dates and times, gradient shading on buttons, and more use of animation
• BlackBerry Browser with faster JavaScript and CSS processing  and support for Gears and BlackBerry widgets
• Customers running BlackBerry® Enterprise Server 5.0 will gain the ability to set follow-up flags, manage e-mail folders, access remote files (Windows Shares), forward appointments, view calendar attachments, and more
• Removable, rechargeable 1400 mAhr battery that provides up to 5.5 hours of talk time or up to 11.2 days of standby time

The Storm2 will be available for $179.99 after a $100 dollar mail-in rebate and a new two-year customer agreement on a voice plan with an Email and Web feature or an Email and Web for BlackBerry plan.

And in case you missed it, PC Magazine posted a review of the Storm2 here on their website stating:

“The second time’s the charm for RIM’s innovative click-screen smartphone; the Storm2 cures almost all of the original’s ills.”

Technorati Tags: Verizon Wireless, BlackBerry Storm2, Research In Motion