8 Mega-Pixel Battle

As the war of the smart phones continues with the eagerly awaited X1 destined to rack up global sales and topple the ever so dominant i-phone, yet another battle has begun, this time the race is on for the best camera phone.

Gone are the days of limited mega-pixel ranges with phones that are only capable of taking still grainy images.

Now for the first time we are seeing the emergence of 8 mega pixel camera phones, capable of recording high quality video, playing audio whilst being light weight and micro sized.

At the moment four 8 mega-pixel camera phones are hotly tipped for U.K. release and they are amazing to say the least.

See what you think of these mega-pixel giants from the brief summary below:

Samsung M8800

This year Samsung have really been hard at work pushing out some great phones, such as the Tocco, Soul and of course the mesmerizing Omnia. Now they have entered the mega-pixel race with not one but two 8 mega-pixel phones.

The first phone being the M8800, this touch screen beauty with its large 3.2 inch screen is capable of display 16 million colours and is rumoured to provide HDTV quality viewing.

This is no brick though, at only 15.5mm wide it wont bulge in your pocket and its rumoured to include some of the following software:

• CNN News & Sport,
• Accu Weather Forecasts,
• Google Search & Maps

With the large screen, multimedia abilities and improved touch responsiveness this handset looks very promising and I can’t wait to get hold of the full spec’s.

It’s not clear when the official release date is, or if it will be officially known as the M8800 or by the name ‘Samsung Bresson’ but what is certain is that this phone is definitely something to look out for.

Image courtesy of mobilegazette.com

Samsung Innov8

Next up from Samsung is the Innov8 or the i8510 as it is professionally known and this is one mind blowing 8 mega-pixel camera-phone.

Running on a Symbian 9.3 O/S the i8510 is a well spec’d phone, coming in 8 GB and 16GB variants, with 3G and HSDPA as well as Wi-Fi connectivity.

From just a glimpse at the brief spec list below, you can see how good this phone really is:

Dimensions: 106.5 x 53.9 x 17.2 mm, 140 g

Display: 2.8-inch 16M colour TFT, QVGA resolution (240 x 320 pixels)

Video camera: MPEG4 VGA@30fps, QVGA@120fps high-speed recording

Battery: Li-Ion 1200 mAh, Talk time: 8 h 30 min, Standby: 310 h

Memory: 128 MB RAM, 8/16GB flash storage, hot-swappable microSD card slot (up to 16GB)

The Samsung i8510 also features integrated GPS and as for the 8MP camera, it holds an application that automatically geotags photographs in addition to the following:

• autofocus,
• mechanical shutter,
• automatic lens cover,
• dual Power LED flash,
• digital image stabilizer,
• auto panorama shot,
• face / smile / blink detection,

These features combined with the neat optical touchpad, 3D hardware accelerator, accelerometer functionality and DivX support make it a very desirable handset that seems to break even the biggest boundaries.

The Samsung i8510 is currently available on limited networks.

The LG KC910 Renoir

Boasting such phones as the Prada, Viewty and the Secret, LG proudly enters the race with the phenomenal LG KC910.

Just like the Samsung M8800 the KC910 is yet another multimedia power house, with the ability to play DivX and Xvid movies, without the need for additional coding plus it boasts to be the first handset to incorporate a "Dolby Mobile" audio enhancement system, abolishing the days of distorted audio.

The LG KC910 is just 14mm thick and has a 3in touch screen but of course the most impressive feature has to be the 8MP camera.

With Xenon flash and a large Schnieder Kreuznach lens, the KC910 shows that images are its being and maintains this stance by incorporating manual focus modes, image stabilisation, face tracking, smile and blink detection in addition to the ability to capture video at 120fps.

The KC910 may not be a smart-phone but it looks like a real contender in the 8MP race.

The KC910 will be available during the third quarter of 2009.

Sony-Ericsson C905

The word on the web is that the C905 is the most advanced camera phone yet and with its 8.1 million mega-pixels supported with Xenon flash, maybe the rumours are true.

Face-detection, image stabilisation, GPS ‘photo tagging’ and autofocus all come as standard but what is good about this phone is that it really acts like a digital camera.

Features such as Sony Ericsson’s multishot "BestPic" which allows you to select the best image from a range of images, just add to its distinction.

There is even a tripod kit (IPK-100) available to purchase for those who have that higher level of perfection and with 160Mb of internal memory plus a 2GB memory card included in the box there is more than enough space for you to capture the world around you.

This sliding handset has a 2.4" TFT display measuring 240 x 320, which is some what smaller than some of its competitors but with Google Maps, GPS, WiFi, HSDPA, Stereo Bluetooth and an FM radio at hand this certainly makes up for the difference.

There's also a version of the Access Netfront web browser, push email support, instant messaging, photo blogging support and a great multimedia player.

The C905 will be available from October 2008.

For more information and to pre-register visit se-store.co.uk

Sony-Ericsson G750

The G750 in the new handset from Sony-Ericsson designed for the internet generation in mind.

To start the G750 is a sliding quad-band handset with GSM UMTS 2100, GPRS, EDGE HSDPA data, plus WiFi, Bluetooth and USB connectivity at heart.

If you compare its camera to the likes of handsets such as the C905 there is competition but the 3.2 megapixels that it does offer with LED flash is not half bad.

Geotaging of photographs is possible but more importantly the video clips and images taken can be directly uploaded to ‘You Tube’ instantly.

The G705 sports a nice QVGA (240 x 320 pixel) screen capable of displaying 262,000 colours but surprisingly unlike other phones on the market this is not touch-sensitive.

Its redeeming factor to this is that the G705 offers auto screen rotation (Accelerometer) that works even in a browser, a real handy feature when you are out on foot and in desperate need of ‘Google Maps’, yet another element it supports.

The G705 also has an email client, and can support Microsoft ActiveSync and instant messaging.

As standard with most handsets there is a media player and FM radio at hand, in addition to the usual array of Sony-Ericsson multimedia enhancements.

Weighting in at just 98 grams and measuring 95 x 47 x 14.3 mm, the G705 provides up to 4 hours talk time and 14 days standby time on 3G or 10 hours talk time and 16 days standby time on GSM.

With a 1GB memory card as standard in the box, the G705 is most certainly one well equipped handset.

The G705 will be available in "Silky Gold" and "Majestic Black" and is due for release in Q4 2008.

Xperia-day looms closer

Yes I’m back again with some more exclusive phone news.

Once again it’s the Sony-Ericsson Xperia that has been hot on the lips of everyone, with rumours flying about all over the web about its planned release.

Lucky for me Sony-Ericsson came in to provide the inside scoop on their new phone.

Contrary to popular belief the X1 will not be release in January, an error made on the Se-store site drove everyone into a panic but the truth is the X1 will be due for release in October.

So all of you Sony-Ericsson fans can breathe a sigh of relief everything is still on schedule and wow are you guys in store for a great phone!

The features are amazing and unlike the prototype I tested in June this is much faster and slicker phone.

It will offer a more robust level of operating system with Windows 6.1 at hand allowing copy and paste functionality pop/IMAP, auto complete email addressing and great deal more.

The nine customisable shortcut panels distinctive to the X1 will allow access your work instantly by just a touch of the screen and with just over six hours talk time at hand you will enjoy this phone to max.

One of the best features of the X1 has to be the support, unlike other handset where you by the phone and problems have to relayed to the retailer or phone operator, X1 buyers will be privy to a dedicated 24hour support team to assist their needs.

Not bad but that’s not all! Customers will also benefit from travel support, where for a limited period your X1 handset can be exchanged if inoperable, wherever in the world you may be (most countries).

The X1 has destined to make a big impact on the phone market, going way beyond anything ever seen before.

Have a look at the new X1 video (excuse the subtitles) to see it action for yourself.

Stay posted for more news.

Nokia 5800

The unofficial word on the web is that Nokia has finally developed a new touch-screen handset.

Yep that right Nokia have entered the touch-screen race with the Nokia 5800, this will be adorned with a 3.2-inch TFT touch-screen, capable of displaying 16M colours at a resolution of 640x360 (shown below).

A reasonable range of specs so far compared with some of the current handsets on the market but a big let down for the handset could be the fact that it will run on the S60 5th edition as opposed to the current trend to use a windows mobile OS.

On the other hand, as with most touch screens the 5800 will have an accelerometer for instant rotation of pictures, which can be taken with a nifty 3 megapixel autofocus camera, boasting a Carl Zeiss lens embedded on the rear of the handset.

Geo-tagging will also be possible with integrated GPS and A-GPS functions in addition to quad-band functionality supporting GSM/GPRS/EDGE with UMTS/HSDPA to boot!

The Nokia 5800 will come bundled with 140MB of built-in memory and a free microSD card slot allowing up to 8 GB of memory to be supported all in a device weighing a mere 104g… not bad, not bad at all.

Further connectivity options include USB 2.0, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth complete with a 3.5mm AV jack and TV.

With this device Nokia seem to be catering for all but the proof in is in the finished model and like many I’m eager to see what really is on offer when it comes out.

Stay posted for more news.

Image source GSM Arena

Sony-Ericsson W980

Once again the guys from Sony-Ericsson have paid us a visit with yet another hot new phone.

The W980 is the new gem in the Sony-Ericsson treasure chest that is expected to be a big hit with the music lovers.

Unlike many of the other phones about that offer audio playback the W980 goes a step further by being specifically designed for playing music in the highest quality.

The W980 does this with its ‘clear audio’ feature, a unique functionality that as the name suggests offers clear audio.

With the clear audio system you experience a sharp level of audio and dynamic bass without the annoying ‘tinny’ noise that you would usually hear from mp3 players and other handsets.

However this audio delight can only be experience with specific ‘clear audio’ headsets, such as the HPM-77 which comes as standard with the handset, so no pre-ordering required...nice!

With 8GB of internal memory, 8 equaliser functions and an FM transmitter allowing you to send your music to other devices without an additional plug-in accessory, the W980 looks well equipped to be real winner with the music loving public.

The W980 is not all about music though it is also a 3G handset that offers HSDPA functionality with touch-sensitive keys and an accelerometer that is very useful when viewing images taken from the great 3MP camera.

If you love your music then try the W980 for size, it is due for release in July and will cost around £300 sim free.

BlackBerry Thunder 9500

The BlackBerry Thunder 9500 will be coming soon!

For a long time now the web has been filled with rumours of the BlackBerry Thunder, now with leaked photos appearing on the web its seems like the Thunder is set to go ahead.

This may be a big venture for BlackBerry seeing that this will be their first fully touch-centric phone however with their current dominance in the business phone market, this may prove to be a winner.

Isn’t it funny though how these photos leak just days before the launch of apples new 3G iphone? A genuine coincidence or maybe a big warning to Apple that they are in for some stiff competition.

The BlackBerry Thunder 9500 will run on OS 4.7, be fully touch-centric and will sport a 2.5" 65K color touchscreen TFT display with 360 x 480 pixels resolution.

In addition to this it will be a hybrid device working on GSM and EV-DO networks supporting EDGE/HSDPA and built-in GPS.

It not known as yet what the internet browser will be like, or the processor speed but if the Thunder is set to battle the iphone it will have to pull out big guns and offer a rich array of features to dazzle the crowd.

With The HTC diamond and Samsung Omnia, scheduled for release this year it looks like Apple will have to battle to retain their position on the smart-phone podium.

The BlackBerry Thunder 9500 will be exclusively available to Vodafone customers, however its pricing has not been confirmed as yet.

Watch this space for more info.

Toco-fantastic

Yes Samsung have done it again producing yet another great phone!

The catchy but unusually named Toco is a neat lil touch phone that definitely gives the iphone a run for its money.

The distinctive 2.8-inch touch-screen, meagre dimensions (98 x 55 x 11.5mm) combined with a wispy 100 grams in weight make the Tocco a very comfortable and usable phone that fits neatly in the palm of your hand or your pocket!

With the Soul, F490 and the Tocco now available, Samsung are really heating up the competition.

Don’t miss out check out the Tocco here.

A leap into the future

Nokia takes a leap into the future, with the Aeon concept phone.

We’re not too sure if it’s a product of the Nokia Research Center, or if just a designers dream.

Nevertheless it certainly is an eye catching design.

More images can be found here: http://www.yugatech.com/blog/toys-gadgets/nokia-aeon-the-concept-phone/

Sneak peak at the Sony-Ericsson Xperia X1

Last week I was lucky enough to try out a prototype of the Sony-Ericsson Xperia X1.

There has been so much hype generated on the web about this phone and its capabilities that I couldn’t pass up this opportunity.

Since the arrival of the i-phone, there have been many a phone that have tried to rival its touch screen abilities and creative style but many have fallen short of the mark.

However the Xperia X1 is leagues ahead of these wanabees, acting as a hybrid between the i-phone and Blackberry.

Just the look of the phone is sheer brilliance in design, then to see the arced sliding motion in action as you reveal the full function QWERTY key pad is yet another tick in the box.

As this was a prototype not all of the functions were operable, such as the nine panel interface that allows you to access customised functions.

Only 2 panels were operable (calendar, clock) but as expected, using each one was quick and simple.

The home interface was particularly amazing, at first sight the swimming fish look like a standard screen saver but when lightly touched each fish acts as shortcuts to features such as speed dial.

Better still when you stab them they scatter like an eagle has just swooped over its prey, a nice little touch that adds value to the handset.

I must admit the phone did feel a bit weighty at 145g and I was surprised that the camera was only 3.2 megapixels but when you have a handset that works with windows mobile operating system, offering email and internet functionalities on multiple GMS networks, HSDPA, HSUPA, UTMT and EDGE you can easily over look this.

In addition to these features this touch screen goddess has a 3 inch wide WVGA TFT display capable of showing and recording DVD quality video at an amazing 30 frames per second, not bad at all.

Even with limited functionalities of the prototype in place, overall I must say that I am impressed with the Xperia X1 and I can’t wait for Sony-Ericsson to release the finished model but with a planned release set for Q4, it looks like everyone is in for a long wait.

Check out more pictures and technical specs at the Xperia micro site:

http://www.sonyericsson.com/x1/

A week with the Sony Ericsson W960i

On paper, the W960 is a highly-promising handset, with 8GB of storage on board for music, videos and applications; and a none-too-shabby 3.2 megapixel camera... But how does it hold up in everyday use?

The first task was to transfer contacts from my trusty old W800; this turned out to be deceptively straightforward: once I'd found a spare sim card to allow both phones to be turned on at once, it was as simple as selecting 'send all contacts via bluetooth' from the contacts menu, then importing them from the message which appeared in the inbox of the W960 - however, due to difference in contact formatting between the phones, all of the contact names were reversed (eg "Smith, John" would become "John, Smith," - the only quick way to resolve this was to manually edit the affected contacts; but this wasn't so much of a chore as it gave me a chance to practice the handwriting recognition functionality of the W960.

The Write Stuff...

I was able to quickly familiarize myself with the basics of the handwriting recognition system and now tend to use it for all text input (though some characters, notably 'K', are annoyingly difficult to execute correctly, effectively forcing you to re-learn to write) - I doubt it speeds my text-writing up at all (in fact I suspect it slows it down considerably) but the handset is slightly cumbersome to hold AND to use the stylus AND to enter text via the keypad all at once, and writing messages in this way gives me a perverse sense of achievement.

Music, maestro!

Adding music to the phone was surprisingly easy; by connecting it via the usb cable provided, Windows picked it up as a mass storage device, and from then it was simply a case of dragging and dropping music into the right directory. You can then ask the Walkman software to scan for new media files, which it will then catalogue by artist/album/genre/year/etc. However...

If you have an album on MP3 where the artist name in the ID3 tags varies throughout the album (for example the classic "Rust Never Sleeps" by Neil Young, where some songs are listed as "Neil Young", whilst some are by "Neil Young & Crazy Horse") then if you list albums by artist (the way you'll access your music 99% of the time), half the album will be in one artist submenu, whilst half will be in an entirely different submenu - regardless of whether they're contained within the same folder. A workaround to this is the 'Compilations' submenu which does reunite these severed albums.

Worse however is in store if the album name varies between tracks on an album, or if no ID3 track information exists at all - there is no way to play an album in its original form if this happens, short of editing the song details on a PC or creating your own playlist. Its a minor quibble, but a simple 'play contents of folder' function is conspicuous by its absence.

Wired for Sound...

Whilst the Walkman software may be a little 'quirky', the audio quality you get from the bundled (wired) headphones is thoroughly impressive, with a multitude of equaliser options to play with; and the small built-in speaker has no right in pumping out such a 'full' sound.

The bundled (wired) headset is the same HPM-70 that has been available since the W800 - fortunately its an excellent headset. The lack of a bundled A2DP stereo bluetooth headset would seem to be something of a missed opportunity, though I have since picked up a HBH-DS970 bluetooth headset, which performs well though lacks the ability to connect your own choice of headphones.

Snap-happy...

Camera functionality is the main reason I have waited since the days of the trusty W800 to upgrade again. Currently the only Walkman phone boasting an autofocus and LED flash in addition to its 3.2 megapixel resolution - whilst it may not be top-of-the-range these days, its certainly no slouch.

If there is a grumble with the camera, its that the flash can be a bit bright if you're too close to the object you're trying to shoot (eg for dimly-lit macro shots), leaving the end result as a whited-out mess. Generally though, picture quality is good enough for my needs, and its more convenient for everyday use than carrying around a dedicated camera - it is after all an mp3 phone with a camera attached rather than the other way round.

Casting a web...

Internet access is available through either the GPRS or UMTS/3G (though for some reason, not HSDPA) mobile connections, or through its 802.11b wi-fi connection. Regardless of the lack of HSDPA support, mobile internet browsing is quick enough for general use, and although the wifi can be tricky to get set up, once enabled is no more difficult to use than any other type of connection.

The web interface is a version of Opera, which is fairly user-friendly. One feature it has is to convert standard html pages on-the-fly to text-only wap pages; the success of the implementation of this depends greatly on the website you happen to be visiting - Be prepared to skip through a lot of meaningless pages if the original HTML is formatted to put the main body of the page below a lot of menus and headers.

We've got the power...

Battery life is good, if not great - if you're going to be listening to a lot of music or using wifi frequently, then expect to recharge the W960 once every 2-3 days at least. This may not be as good as the W800, but then the features packed in to the W960 are far in excess of its older brother.

Round-Up:

Whilst not the all-singing, all-dancing behemoth that it could have been, the Sony Ericsson W960i is still a solid all-rounder worthy to take up the mantle held for so long by the W800i. If you're going to be listening to music more than you're going to be taking photos then the W960i has a lot to recommend it over more camera-oriented phones such as the K850i

By Matt Hubbard.

Is this really the long awaited Google Phone?

We came across some alledged pictures of the mysterious Google phone this morning. I know we have high expectations, but we were expecting something better.

You can read the post at Pocket Picks, in an article by Chris Leonard.

What do you think?