Check out this interesting red rotary phone from Sparkfun. It looks like a regular phone but
actually you can put your cellphone sim card in and use it wirelessly. The phone comes fully assembled and tested. All you have to do is open the phone, insert your SIM card, and turn the unit on! The unit will utilize your phone number and account minutes.
Phone dials out like normal through the rotary. Incoming calls ring the original, loud, gong style metal bells. Please note: As with all cellular phones, there is no dial tone. However, Sparkfun says that the sound quality will not be as good as your pocket phone.
The GM862 cellular module from Telit works within any country that has one of the 900MHz/1800MHz/1900MHz cellular bands (90% of the world).
Each phone is specially built to customer needs. The battery can run the phone for 4-5 days and is charged by unscrewing two screws on the bottom of the phone, opening it, and attaching the charger. This phone weighs around 1kg (~ 2lbs) and sets you back by US$449!!
PRODUCT URL: http://www.sparkfun.com (via zedomax)
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Samsung launched the SCH-V960, the world's first mobile phone featuring an optical joystick. Consumers utilize the optical joystick key by placing their finger and moving a cursor to navigate through the menu, similar to a cursor of a mouse on a PC. Optical sensors will read and react to users' finger movement, thus breaking down the traditional four-way menu navigation and providing 360 degrees of freedom. The familiarity and free movement of the V960's Optical Joystick results in quick and hassle-free menu navigation.
Users can point the cursor and click directly on icons on MyScreen, similar interface to that on a PC environment, and gain direct access to frequently used menus such as photo album, messaging, and music menu. Users can also use the Optical Joystick to easily scroll through the play list while listening to their music.
Through an illumination sensor, the Samsung V960 also includes a 'Smart Lighting' feature that automatically controls the brightness of the LCD screen and keypad. By using the Smart Lighting feature, users are protected from eye strain and will minimize power consumption for increased efficiency. In addition, the V960 also supports a 2.0-megapixel camera, GPS and Bluetooth function. The V960 will be launched in the Korean market at the end of December.
Kitae Lee, President of Samsung's Telecommunication and Network Business was well chuffed with the new interface, "As the importance of user-friendly interface increases, Samsung is researching and developing methods that enhances intuitive use of mobile phones. Samsung will continue to combine innovative ideas and the latest technology that will benefit our end users."
Read on for full specifications...
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Vertu released the last two phones from its Racetrack Legends series. The Monaco and Nürburgring editions have been released now completing the Racetrack Legends Series of Phones.
The phone features textured borders and the liquid metal on the back is titanium colored. The box set of all phones from the Racetrack Legends Series are also now available and more details have now been revealed. The box is made of carbon fiber and has three drawers below the presentation tray where the phones are kept which holds the cases of the phones as well as other accessories.
Like the previous issues (Monza, Silverstone, Indianapolis and Le Mans), the new models each have a uniquely-colored casing (yellow for Monaco, titanium gray for the 'Ring) with a map of the track etched into it. Available for around $6,400 each, they make quite a stocking stuffer. If you really feel like splurging, you can get the whole boxed set.
The box alone probably costs more than most of our cars. It's made of carbon fiber, with three drawers under the display level for the cases and oth accessories. Stylish and exclusive, the limited edition ractreack phones are limited to 1000 units each.
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Samsung expanded their popular Ultra series by unveiling 3 new handsets at the ITU Telecom World 2006, Hong Kong. This time the new additions are targeted specifically into three distinctive usage categories. The new handsets are called Ultra Video (SGH-F500), Ultra Music (SGH-F300) and Ultra Messaging (i600).
The Samsung Ultra Music F300 is a complete music player with superb sound quality. It is equipped with digital power amp offering dedicated music user interface that makes it easy to navigate through the song list. It has a stereo FM radio and a Quick PC Sync allowing users to create a music library and play lists.
The Ultra Video, like the Ultra Music, has got dual faces - one side is a phone while the other contains a large screen and intuitive controls for multimedia. It has a unique swivel design for multimedia content. The screen swivels away from the controls to adjust the viewing angle or form a stand to place the device down.
The Ultra Messaging is the first smartphone that runs on the HSDPA network, allowing for faster data transfer speeds. It is also the first smartphone to support Web applications such as podcasting RSS Feeder. The device offers high-speed connectivity through Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.0 EDR allowing faster connections for faster communications.
Read on for full specifications and pics...
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BlueAnt Wireless is an Australian company and may not be well known by many (atleast as much as they know Plantronics or Jabra), but they make some excellent products. Now, they announced the Z9 bluetooth headset, which has won the International CES Innovations 2007 Design and Engineering Award. This headset is to be launched in early 2007.
No doubt, this is the best looking headset ever released. Here the list of features that qualify this masterpeice of art for a place on your ear!
- Two microphones for pure speech
- World class Digital Signal Processor (DSP) software
- Echo suppression and noise cancellation
- Near-field sensing with Automatic Gain Adjustment
- Innovative tie clip for attaching to shirt, cuff, etc when not in use
- The ability to pair with multiple devices
- On-the-fly switching between devicesAbnormal Disconnection Notification
- Firmware upgradeable by USB
- A different ring tone for contacts and unknown callers
- Auto connection and reconnection
- Up to 7 hrs talk-time or 180 hrs standby
- 2 year replacement warranty
Now, thats what I call "an impressive feature set"!! I can't wait to get my hands on this beauty.
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Nokia and Lamborghini have created a limited edition Nokia 8800 Sirocco phone. The phone features special Lamborghini themes and ring tones as well as a video documentary. Although only software and cosmetic changes can be seen, this phone features special Lamborghini made ball bearings in the slider mechanism. Only 500 of the phones will be made and will only be available from Lamborghini dealerships.
The luxury phones bears the luxury seal of Lamborghini with a discreet laser etched Lamborghini logo on the front and on the stainless steel casing and the words “Automobil Lamborghini” on its holder which lends it a unique luxury touch known to the Lamborghini customers.
Apart from the cosmetic ado, the phone specs read 262,144 colour TFT display protected by scratch-resistant sapphire coated glass and an integrated 2-megapixel camera as well as a 128mb internal memory apart from the usual list that includes an integrated digital mp3 music player, Bluetooth conectivity, internet abilities and video streaming services.
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Rumors are making rounds as usual about Nokia's models in the making. This time its the "Improved" versions of two of the best phones Nokia has ever released.
N93i is being rumored for a long time now, but the recent pics released by the Chinese site, it168.com, add fuel to the fire. And now, its almost certain that N93i is real. The core features remain the same, however, the old Pop-port connector is now replaced by a Mini-USB port!
The most interesting aspect of this phone is that, the external screen now looks sleeker and sexy (It's gonna attract dust and finger prints I am sure!). The positions of the IR port and the MiniSD slot have been reworked. The phone will most probably run the S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 1 which has some nice improvements over its predecessor.
Another phone thats being rumored is the E62i. Its actually the E61 plus a camera, yes you read it right, it's got a camera! Nokia seemed to listen to its customers, they added the camera. But there's still no secondary VGA camera for video camera.
Read on for more info and some blurry pics...
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Nokia announced four new phones this week at Capital Market Days at Amsterdam, held annually. The Nokia 6300, Nokia 6290 and the Nokia 6086 -- as well as the Nokia 2626 targeted to consumers in entry markets. All four models are expected to begin shipping in the first quarter of 2007.
Nokia 6300
The Nokia 6300 is a mid-range model that represents an evolution of the modern monoblock design. Less than 13.1mm thin, the slim Nokia 6300 has a stainless steel frame that adds both design interest and strength. In addition to its organic curves and appealing design, the Nokia 6300 offers a robust range of easy-to-use features. The estimated retail price of the Nokia 6300 is 250 euros before subsidies or taxes.
Nokia 6290
The Nokia 6290 smartphone combines the collective power of S60 3rd Edition and 3G in an easy-to-use, attractively designed package. It supports a number of practical new features, multiple alarms and handy Quick Cover access keys which enable instant access to a wide range of the device's useful features, including an interactive world travel application. The estimated retail price of the Nokia 6290 is 325 euros before subsidies or taxes.
Nokia 6086
The Nokia 6086 allows consumers to stay in touch - in any environment. This quad-band GSM and UMA-enabled cameraphone hides its sophisticated circuitry in a classic design with a large keypad and intuitive user menu. The estimated retail price of the Nokia 6086 is 200 euros before subsidies or taxes.
Nokia 2626
The Nokia 2626 is a colorful mobile phone designed for style-conscious consumers in emerging markets. The Nokia 2626 will be available in a range of bold colors, such as Fiery Red and Spatial Blue, and includes an FM radio for music on the go. The estimated retail price of the Nokia 2626 is 75 euros before subsidies or taxes.
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Cell phones are needing more and more storage these days, since people are doing more and more things with them. These days just using a phone as a phone isn't good enough; we need to take pictures, record video and sound, and these days, listen to music as well. Cell phone manufacturers aren't exactly keeping up with our needs, but Samsung is here to the rescue.
Samsung has developed what it calls an S-SIM card (which by no means is its official name). Basically they took a regular SIM card and packed 1GB of storage onto it, without changing the size of the SIM card. All a phone would have to do is interface with this extra storage on the card to have an extra 1GB of storage at its disposal. No word on availability yet, but hopefully it'll be coming soon.
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Apple has announced its plans to release two cellphones (not just one, as previously believed) within the next few months. The first, which already had rumors floating around, is supposed to have a 2.2" display and a 3-megapixel camera, probably of the sliding variety. The second, which we're hearing about now, will most likely be a smartphone, with WiFi capabilities and a full keyboard. Both phones will obviously work hand-in-hand with iTunes.
Now all they need is a game console, and they can say that have their hands in pretty much everything. (iGame, anyone?)
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