HTC P3400i--sub-S$500 WM6 PDA-phone

Without fanfare, HTC announced its latest Windows Mobile 6 PDA-phone, the P3400i. With specifications like a 200MHz TI OMAP processor, 64MB RAM, no Wi-Fi and no 3G, you know it has to be cheap. And it is, at just S$488.

But is it a good buy? Not exactly. Some shops are selling the HTC Touch at just above S$500. So, for a little bit more than the asking price of the P3400i, you get a much better-looking device which has Wi-Fi and 128MB RAM.

On the bright side, we think the street price of the P3400i will drop very soon after its debut later this month. If it sells for S$400 or less, those who want to dip their toes into the world of Windows Mobile may find it an enticing proposition. HTC tells us that it will be available in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia for now.

Philips Xenium X800 and X-Connect are one and the same

GSMArena recently reported two upcoming handsets from the Philips camp--the X800 and X-Connect. However, according to the PR agency for Philips, the X800 and the X-Connect are, in fact, one and the same, and that's the Xenium X800. Apparently, the X-Connect is an internal project name. As far as we know, the X800 features a touchscreen LCD, weighs 99g, will have a virtual keypad and QWERTY keyboard, multiple language handwriting recognition and a 2-megapixel camera. More details to come next week.

Picture credit: GSMArena

Rendered images of 3-inch touchscreen Xenium X-Connect surface

If Philips could make the above handset happen anytime soon, it would have a hit under its belt. It's the same as if I had won last weekend's lottery grand prize. I wouldn't be sitting before my computer writing about product renderings. Still, the 3-inch touchscreen Xenium X-Connect is something worth looking forward to with purported specs such as HSDPA connectivity, Bluetooth, onboard GPS receiver, AA/AAA backup battery, microSD expansion card slot and an Intel 624MHz processor powering the WM6 software. Don't get your hopes up too high on this one, though.

Via Engadget | Picture credit: telefonino.net

New BlackBerry with 3G, finally!

Details have been spilled about the newest BlackBerry Bold, previously known as the BlackBerry 9000. Though the name is new to most of us, the design and specs are exactly as rumored. This includes HSDPA connectivity, a first for one of its email-centric devices. The 8707 was its last product to come with 3G and many BlackBerry faithfuls have held on to that model because all the newer ones have cellular speeds up to EDGE only.

Another striking feature is the interface. While the current BlackBerry interface is by no means stodgy, the Bold takes it up a notch with a revamped menu that looks like it belongs more on a consumer-oriented phone. The 480 x 320 display is also a welcome addition, doubling the number of pixels you find on a regular QVGA screen.

According to the BlackBerry press release, the Bold will be available globally starting Q3. We have contacted BlackBerry for a more specific Asian availability and are awaiting response. In the meantime, check out BlackBerry's Bold page for more information and images.

Via CNET Crave

Cell phone power is in your hands

Even if your telecom operator gives you cellular coverage all the way into the heart of a tropical rainforest, it won't mean a thing if your mobile phone runs out of power. Here’s a product that will address that problem, the Hand-Crank USB Power Charger sold on the National Geographic site.

If your mobile phone can be charged using USB, it'll probably work with this. The concept is simple--plug in your phone, and start cranking. You'll probably work up a sweat just trying to get one call out of your flat battery. But in case of emergency, a sweaty t-shirt would be the least of your worries.

This device costs US$39.95 and includes adapters to fit most Motorola, Samsung, Nokia, and LG phones. For those using brands not listed here, getting a third-party USB charger for your phone will probably do the trick, too. The Hand-Crank USB Power Charger even comes with an AC adapter so you can deposit power into the device when you have access to a power outlet--that'll help save you a few turns of the handle when out in the field.

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