Posts in Handhelds
Xperia X1 to come with Opera Mobile 9.5
John Chan | Aug 22, 2008
By default, all Windows Mobile PDA-phones come with Internet Explorer Mobile. Of late, some manufacturers have worked with Norway-based company Opera to bundle its Opera Mobile 9.5 with their handhelds. Some examples are the HTC Touch Diamond and Samsung Omnia. Now we can add another to that list, the upcoming Sony Ericsson Xperia X1.
Opera Mobile 9.5 is currently in public beta and so anyone with a Windows Mobile PDA-phone can install a copy onto their device. But the versions that come pre-installed with devices aren't in beta. They have in fact been tested by the hardware manufacturer for compatibility--important if the handheld in question has unique specifications. That's good news because the X1 has a resolution of 800 x 480, which isn't exactly common for this class of devices.
We tried out the X1 briefly with the browser and the higher screen resolution is quite a boon for Web surfing. It does make text incredibly small though, which is why the easy zoom-in feature on Opera Mobile 9.5 is so important. According to Sony Ericsson's head of marketing Lennard Hoornik, the X1 is still on track for an "early Q4" launch. Let's hope nothing disrupts that plan.
Rumor mill: HTC Dream details leaked?
Nicole Lee | Aug 21, 2008
Google Street View on the Android platform.
(Credit: CNET News)
First, it claimed that the launch date is October 13, 2008, with pre-orders available starting September 17 (pre-orders are purportedly available only to existing customers with a good history, and can be done only online). Second, unlimited data and messaging will apparently cost US$35 a month, and the Dream itself is priced tentatively at around US$199.
Here are the leaked specs: Full QWERTY keyboard, 3G/WiFi, full HTML browser, easy access to Google apps, maps (with street view), YouTube, IM and text, email, 3.0-megapixel camera, video playback, a music player plus a memory card slot, and an application store. In other words, the specs sound exactly like the ones on the prototype models we've seen awhile back.
Of course, this is all rumor and hearsay at this point, but seeing as the FCC documents were revealed recently, I think we'll be seeing a lot more of these "leaked details" coming forth between now and the actual launch date.
Source: Gizmodo | Via Crave CNET
Palm Treo Pro now official
John Chan | Aug 21, 2008
After weeks of teasers in the form of leaked Flash sites and photos, Palm today finally made its new Windows Mobile handheld, the Treo Pro, official.
As expected, this new model is a quad-band GSM device with 3.5G connectivity. It comes with Wi-Fi and GPS built in, addressing the feature omissions in its last GSM Treo, the 750. It is also confirmed that the Treo Pro will have a 3.5mm audio jack, which makes it perfect for entertainment needs as you can plug in your own favorite headphones. Though it seems like a simple feature, we haven't seen this standard headphone jack in many handhelds other than the current BlackBerry devices from RIM.
As with every Treo, you can expect some standard items such as a dedicated ringer switch on the top for quickly silencing the phone, a keypad under the display and a square screen. This one has a resolution of 320 x 320, up from the 240 x 240 pixels on the 750. This makes it similar in most aspects to the Samsung SGH-i780.
According to the US press release, it will soon be on sale at a recommended price of US$549. Palm is still unable to disclose its price and specific availability in Asia though the company did tell us that we can expect it from September onwards.
Don't discount the Dream just yet
Kent German | Aug 20, 2008
It's been only a day since the HTC Dream, a.k.a. the first Google Android phone, won approval by the Federal Communications Commission. That's why I think it's a little early to start naming reasons why the iPhone is better.
Sure, comparisons between the two devices are obvious, but I'd prefer to wait until I have the Dream in my hands to make my own. Despite the iPhone's success and popularity, it's both possible and acceptable for another cell phone to compete against it.
Here are a few reasons why I'm excited for both the HTC Dream and Google Android. As CNET colleague Nicole Lee said Monday, actual details remain sketchy, but we still can, ahem, dream.
- The Dream promises an open platform with Android.
- Android won't be limited to one manufacturer or (hopefully) just one carrier.
- Android will operate on multiple devices that will offer varying designs and features.
- You can bet that the Dream will have basic cell phone features like multimedia messaging, voice dialing, and video recording, all of which are lacking on the iPhone.
- Google applications galore.
Via Crave CNET
Palm leaks Treo Pro photos and videos
Tom Krazit | Aug 20, 2008
Palm's Treo Pro isn't quite official yet, but after two leaks, there's a lot of information out there already.
(Credit: Slashgear)
Palm jumped the gun on the introduction of the Treo Pro on Tuesday, briefly posting a few pictures and a video on its site before yanking them down.
Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on whether you work in Palm's marketing department or if you're a Palm fanboy, the Internet captures all. Electronista and Slashgear grabbed the photos and video, which have since been scattered far and wide across the Web.
Read more »
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