Forget iPhone, the Gphone is here:
Over at HighContrast blog, Simeon Simeonov of Polaris Venture Partner unveiled more information about the potential GPhone. The Google Phone (codename “Switch”), will apparantly be a BlackBerry-like device running C++ at the OS’ core. According to Simeon’ sources, the GPhone will also run an optimized Java, and will have a VoIP capabilities.
This latest information contradicts the leaked photo of Google Phone, published by Engadget earlier this year, where we see an iPhone-like device, without any keyboard.
Also in the news, Google’s Eric Schmidt said that Google and Apple are working together on “many more” new projects. Schmidt also added that two companies are “doing more and more things together. We have similar goals, similar competitors.” You can only imagine the amount of buzz these words generated…
It’s very hard to predict whether GPhone will actually be released. At this point, it’s all about speculation. Google would certainly find the way to make money on such device. Even if they’re working on it, all “leaked” specs of the future device, are everything but trustworthy. If you remember, we had the similar situation with the iPhone. Many details were unveiled by “trusted sources.” At the end, not very much of that was true.
Enjoy surfing!!!
Top 10 Most Expensive Mobile Phones in the World
1. The Diamond Crypto Smartphone
Price Tag: 1.3 Million USD
Luxury accessory producer Peter Aloisson has created the The Diamond Crypto Smartphone which is sold at $1.3 Million Dollars. Why So Expensive? Apart from the platinum body this expensive cellular phone features a cover adorned with 50 diamonds including ten which are a rare blue diamond. Even the logo of Ancort and the navigation key are made of gold which is 18 carat rose gold.
The Smartphone is powered by Windows CE and comes with high-resolution color TFT display and a 256 bit cryptographic algorithm. This expensive mobile phone is capable of SMS, MMS, E-mail, Internet, WAP, JAVA support and also has a media player.
In this post you can see the top ten expensive mobile phone in the world.However, Vertu’s monopoly of the luxury phone market is coming to an end with the launch of several new luxury mobile makers, including Gresso, Mobiado and GoldVish. Other mobile phone manufacturers are also partnering with luxury brands to produce a range of premium mobile phones, such as LG and Prada, D&G and Motorola, and now Tag Heuer and Modelabs.
2. Goldvish “Le million” = $1,000,000 (£540,540)
This is the most most expensive Cell Phone in the history of mankind. It was exhibited at the three-day Millionaire’s Fair in Cannes, France to certify the sale of the Most Expensive Cell Phone in the world. Also nicknamed ‘Le Million’ Piece Unique which was bought by a Russian businessman for his wife for 1 million Euros ($1.2 million)!
Created by GoldVish SA, a Geneva based luxury communication goods company, the cell phone is made of 18-carat white gold, mounted with 1800 (totaling 120-carats) VVS-1 graded diamonds and equipped with the latest in mobile technology.
3. Vertu Signature Cobra = $310,000 (£167,567)
Vertu’s Signature Cobra Cellphone can be yours for only $310,000.Vertu is now taking orders for the Signature Cobra, designed by French jeweler Boucheron, but you had better be quick as only 8 are being made! The Cobra will feature one pear-cut diamond, one round white diamond, two emerald eyes and 439 rubies. Vertu will also be offering a “cheaper” version, ruby free, at $115,000 (£62,162).
4. Sony Ericsson Black Diamond = $300,000 (£162,162)
The Black Diamond will be available in 2007, not from Sony Ericsson but by a company called VIPN. Initially only 5 unique numered pieces will be available for the unbelievable price of, wait for it… $300,000.
Black Diamond will have Quad-band with Wi-Fi, an Intel 400Mhz processor running windows mobile 5, and a touch sensitive 2″ screen. It will also include internal memory of 128mb and will come with a 2Gb SD card for external storage, plus a respectable 4 Megapixel camera.
5. Vertu Diamond = $88,000 (£47,567)
Vertu’s another $90,000 handset will feature tiny diamonds dotted all over, and a keypad that carries eight carat’s worth of diamonds. The phone’s body in constructed from the finest platinum, underpinned with ruby bearings and equipped with a similar ceramic composition originally intended for the space shuttle. For that price, it doesn’t even come with a camera! Only 200 such phones will be sold in jewelry and department stores.
6. Motorola V220 Special Edition = £28,000 ($51,800)
Austrian designer Peter Aloisson, has taken a standard Motorola, studded it with 1,200 diamonds and added a keyboard inlaid with 18 carat gold.This phone i think is dedicated for women
7. Gold Edition Nokia 8800 Phone = $2,700 (£1,459
One phone bitten by the Gold Bug is the exclusive Nokia 8800 which will now be available in 24K gold. By owning one of these babies you’ll no doubt be the talk of the town.However the features found on the Gold Edition are the standard 8800 features (bummer). It includes a 0.5 Mega pixel SVGA camera and a 2, 62,000 colors, TFT (208 x 208) display. Connectivity options include EDGE, Bluetooth, Infrared, Java, MMS, SMS, USB, WAP and it has 64 MB of internal memory. Some other features found on the phone which now may now look standard include, 64 polyphonic, FM Radio, Mp3 Player, Video Recording and 180 mins talktime.
8. Mobiado Professional EM (wood) = $1,900 (£1,027)
Professional EM is a $1900USD phone made from ebony and sporting titanium buttons, 1.3 megapixel camera and Bluetooth. It’s available in a limited edition of 200 phones. According to the site, the phone is not currently available in the U.S.
9. Bang & Olufsen (Samsung) Serene = $1,250 (£675)
Bang & Olufsen hooked up with Samsung to design the sleek but unconventional Serene. Its not a bad looking phone and it even has a built-in motor to assist you in opening and closing the phone. It’s not very practical however, requiring a special screwdriver to access the battery and the SIM card, and its circular keypad will take some getting used to.
10. Lamborghini 8800 Sirocco from Nokia = $To be announced
It has tri-band GSM coverage for up to five continents, as well as 128 MB of internal memory. Like its color TFT display, protected by scratch-resistant sapphire coated glass. It also has a 2 megapixel camera, as well as an integrated digital MP3 player. This is in addition to Bluetooth, xHTML browsing, Instant Messaging, video streaming services, as well as data transfer over EDGE, GPRS, or TCP/IP. This Lamborghini 500-piece limited edition will also feature Lamborghini graphics as wallpapers, screensavers, ringtones, and even has a short documentary video about the Lamborghini. No word on the price.
11. Gresso Luxury Phone = more than 1000$
The Russia based Gresso, is a new entry into the luxury phone market. Their aptly name “Gresso Luxury Phone” is made of gold and African Blackwood. Apparently they will be releasing a collection of five models called the Black Aura collection, and the designer is a “well known” Italian designer. Currently there are two versions of the African Blackwood phone, one with pink gold highlights named the Gresso Blackwood Gold Edition, and one made entirely of African Blackwood.
iPhone meltdown occurs during hardware hack
Not that it doesn’t completely go without saying, but whenever you start hacking any battery-powered portable device, you need to freaking be careful. Otherwise you might end up like dude here who was pulling a Geohot on his iPhone when short circuited and became red hot, releasing the magic smoke hither locked inside the device’s electronics. Lesson learned: you take your phone, even your life, into your own hands when screwing with components, so be gentle and careful, will you?
Google's first mobile phone will run a Linux operating system on a Texas Instruments "Edge" chipset, and will likely ship to T-Mobile and Orange customers in the Spring of 2008, according to unconfirmed reports. "GPhone" call minutes and text messages reportedly will be funded by mobile advertising.
News of the so-called "GPhone" or "G-Phone" broke quietly about two weeks ago in the island nation of Singapore, where Jennifer Tan of Reuters subsidiary Anian Research filed a report on July 12.
Tan cited "industry sources," "U.S. sources," and "manufacturing and component supply chain sources" in backing her assertion that after year-long delays finding a manufacturer, Google contracted Taiwan-based smartphone maker High Tech Computer (HTC) to design its phone hardware. HTC is best-known for its Windows Mobile smartphones, however, and Tan offered no conjecture about who might supply the phone's Linux-based operating system.
Additional details reported by Tan include:
- The G-Phone will have a large color screen with a predictive Qwerty keypad to simplify Google searching
- A follow-up 3G-capable model (Edge is considered "2.75G") will use a Qualcomm chipset
- Scheduled for production in Q1 of 2006, the Google phone will hit retail shelves next spring
- Call minutes and text messages are to be funded by "mobile advertising"
- Google originally hoped to launch a phone this year, but was delayed by "difficulties in nailing down a deal with a handset maker"
- T-Mobile will carrier the phone in the U.S., along with (possibly) Orange in other markets
Google itself has declined to comment on rumors it plans to produce a phone, Tan reported.
Tan's coverage also includes an overview of Google's financial outlook, and its prospects for success in the mobile phone marketplace. The article appears to survive for now only in Google's own web cache, here.
Sprint to offer WiMAX-enabled Nokia N800 in 2008?
While we were already looking forward to the N800 Internet Tablet’s inevitable successor, it seems like Sprint may have something else in mind. According to LinuxDevices, the operator “will offer a mobile WiMAX-enabled version of Nokia’s N800 Internet Tablet to North American customers next year,” which reportedly falls in line with the carrier’s grand scheme of making 4G services available “to over 100 million people during 2008.” Furthermore, Nokia’s director of open source, Dr. Ari Jaaksi, was quoted as saying that this here device would “most probably” include WiFi and Bluetooth as well, but as expected, no details regarding a specific launch timeframe were divulged.
Sony Ericsson W580i goes live on Rogers
Rogers Wireless has rolled out the lovely W580i slider from Sony Ericsson, a Walkman-branded piece first introduced late in the first quarter of the year. Though data tops out at EDGE speeds (this is Sony Ericsson, after all), the handset offers an integrated FM radio, 2 megapixel cam, A2DP support, pedometer, and Memory Stick Micro expansion. Grab it now for $150 Canadian (about $142) on a three-year contract.
Nokia-branded batteries at risk of exploding — 46 million devices affected
Here we go again kids. After all those notorious fires related to the batteries used by the world’s largest handset manufacturer, Nokia has issued a product advisory related to the BL-5C, Nokia-branded battery. That’s right, Nokia branded, not just those third-party knockoffs everyone had been pointing the finger at previously. A staggering 46 million batteries in fact, all manufactured by Matsushita (aka, Panasonic) between December 2005 and November 2006, are said to be at risk of “dislodge.” According to the release, “in very rare cases” the Nokia-branded BL-5C batteries could short circuit leading to an explosive burn. Nokia goes on to say that the danger only exists while charging the battery and of the 100 or so reported incidents, “no serious injuries or property damage have been reported.” Oh really? So the loss of a leg no longer constitutes serious injury? The BL-5C is one of just 14 different batteries used in Nokia products so be sure to check the list below to see if your phone is one of the 52 Nokia handsets affected. If you’re unlucky (or lucky, depending upon your viewpoint) enough to be affected, then Nokia will provide a replacement battery free of charge.
This is a preview ofNokia-branded batteries at risk of exploding — 46 million devices affected.
Hands-on with the Sony Ericsson P1i
Believe it or not, Sony Ericsson’s P1i has one of the richest, most storied family trees in the smartphone world. Technically, it could be said that the phone can trace its roots all the way back to Psion’s EPOC-based organizers, but more practically, the P1i is a direct descendent of the R380, the first Symbian-powered phone and a device that made more than a few jaws drop with its versatile design and expansive touchscreen. What’s our point? Simply that this brushed metal-clad beast has some work to do to live up to its ancestry, lest a few P800s start rolling in their graves — and with WiFi, a 3.2 megapixel cam, and UIQ 3, it seems equipped for the job.
Sony Ericsson K850 gets reviewed
The decked-out Sony Ericsson K850 has been thoroughly sifted through the review grinder by our pals over at mobile-review.com. The K850 is so packed that there were two parts to the review, and this one focuses on then phone itself (instead of the exhaustive digital camera functions). Positives seen by Eldar and the crew include an easy-to-use and touch-sensitive ‘blocky’ keypad with a unique d-pad design (that green rectangle), GPRS / EDGE / UMTS, excellent (and cutting-edge) Java support, obligatory A2DP Bluetooth, that sweet 5 megapixel cam and an overall ergonomic delight to use. This thing is loaded to the hilt, to say the least. Use the read link to glean more deets available in the exhaustive review.
Nokia acquires Twango, gets deeper into media sharing
iPhone on sale 6pm “local time”
After some initial confusion following WWDC, an AT&T memo has pegged the iPhone availability at 6pm in your respective US time zone. We imagine this comes down to Apple’s meticulous level of control over any monkey business. As such, the magic 6pm launch is likely the result of a next-day, 6pm delivery cutoff by AT&T’s distribution agent — FedEx. You don’t think these babies are just going to be sitting around in the stock room do you? So if you happen to see a FedEx guy hovering near an AT&T or Apple store on June 29th… well, be nice, mkay?
Google dual-face concept phone pics
Google dual-face concept phone pics.
Apple iPhone releasing on June 11 ?
According to CNET, Cingular [aka, the new AT&T] has “confirmed” June 11 as the release date for Apple’s iPhone. Keep in mind that confirmation in this case is unofficial as it supposedly comes from a front-line sales support person. See, after a call to Cingular’s customer service, CNET was transfered to sales where they were told of the magical date. Of course, all this makes perfect sense as the 11th also marks the kickoff of Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference where Steve and Co are always keen to announce new wares.
The “Bracelet Phone” concept — is it the thinnest phone yet ?
0 comments Posted by vineethv2 at 12:38:00 AMThe “Bracelet Phone” concept — is it the thinnest phone yet ?
Just when we think we’ve seen style in all things mobile, the cellphone comes out being almost completely redefined in some new perverse way. Although we have not yet seen the cellphone earring, Nokia’s Vertu luxury brand is swanky enough for pure enjoyment (at least for eye candy). Now, enter the cellphone bracelet. While this is not quite the concept the writers of Dick Tracy hand in mind, the “Bracelet Phone” vibrates slightly when it receives messages and calls. Movements past that point — you know, like to answer the call — require the wearer to take the “phone” off the neck and press a “diamond-like” stone to actually start conversing. We’re kinda iffy on whether this is an “elegant” solution like the manufacturer claims — but at least the m300 wristwatch phone is for real while this unit is a concept only right now, so elegance may have to wait. We’re also we’re told that the bracelet-phone has an MP3 player built into it; we’re really ready and waiting to see how text messaging works on this baby, though.
Wonder Where are the buttons ?
Click below image to see yourself
Twisted Nokia 5700 XpressMusic
Similar in looks to Nokia 3250, new Nokia 5700 XpressMusic S60 smartphone is released. The Nokia 5700 has a strong focus on music, and even has a dedicated audio chip to help your tracks sound that little bit better.
The three modes of the 5700 - music player, camera, videophone, and smartphone - can be accessed by twisting the lower portion of the handset.
Music is the main draw for the Nokia 5700, and users can store all their tunes on microSD cards up to 2GB, and can listen to them through Bluetooth stereo headphones or regular headphones with the bundled 3.5mm headphone adapter. The 5700 is compatible with WMA, MP3, AAC, and eAAC+ audio, and users can even load it with DRM protected WMA filesAT&T unleashes Motorola V3xx Gold
If there’s one thing AT&T’s 3G offerings have lacked thus far, it’s been a gaudy overabundance of yellow metal. Well, problem solved. The midrange V3xx has been re-rendered in a lovely gold shade, decidedly more flashy than the original gunmetal gray variant. Features carry over, meaning we get the same 1.3 megapixel shooter, microSD expansion, fabulous HSDPA radio, and just-can’t-get-enough RAZR styling for the price of $99.99 after contract and rebates have been applied. Look for it in stores now — or, if you’re like us, you’ll keep those wallets firmly shut for the maxx.
Sony Ericsson concept phone elicits drool
Yes, we’re well aware this phone isn’t actually in the works (well, we’d love to be wrong), but we can’t deny the sexy curves and all around stylishness of this here concept. This supposed SE handset sports a sleek, ultrathin design, flipdown keypad cover, silver accents, and what appears to be an OLED display. While “details” are scant, the word on the street is that it would pack a paltry 2GB of storage, 3.2-megapixel CyberShot digicam, FM radio, and instant bragging rights. C’mon Sony, this is the world is looking for, now let’s get a release date, capisce?
