HP updates new iPaq launch dates

Here's some good news for iPaq fans amidst word of the hx4700's impending exit from the Asia-Pac markets. HP has dates to its other handheld launches, with the GPS-enabled iPaq hw6900 series expected to launch in the region around the May time frame, and the rw6800 Multimedia Messenger scheduled for release in mid-May. HP has also given an indicative price for the hw6900 of US$690 (without GPS map solutions). The retail price of the rw6800 has yet to be confirmed.

Both PDA-phones were showcased earlier this year at HP's Magical Mobility Launch in Hong Kong. The rw6800 is marketed as a handheld with strong multimedia features such as dual stereo speakers, integrated FM radio, a 2-megapixel camera and Philips LifeVibes Sound Ex for high-quality audio. It succeeds the GPS-equipped hw6515, and comes with much-awaited onboard Wi-Fi.

Xcute Wi5-80

Here's another Xcute phone that tries to push the envelope. On paper, that is, since there wasn't a working prototype at its booth to paw at. If it delivers, which is five months later, the Wi5-80 will do duty double as a VoIP/GSM dual mode phone. Design-wise, it's a sleek, minimalist black number with a twist, literally, much like the Nokia 3250. According to the specs, you can expect a 6-megapixel camera with flash, support for AVI, SF, MOV, Bluetooth, TV-out and a T-flash slot. Nice!

See the prototype rendition here

Price: N.A.
Availability: Due in five months' time in selected Asian cities
Device: VOIP/camera-phone
Basic specs: 16.7 million colors, 24-bit LTPS TFT screen, triband, 114 x 47 x 18mm, 110g, Java, slideshow

Xcute S50 6-megapixel camera-phone

We thought we'd seen it all with Samsung's 10-megapixel camera-phone. So we were pleasantly surprised to find Taiwan company Xcute stepping to the fore with its 8-megapixel DV50. But what really caught our eye was its pancake-flat 6-megapixel S50. It may not have a 3x optical zoom like the SCH-B600, but that lets it show off an impossibly svelte 9mm girth. Despite the anorexic figure, this 100g handset piles it on with onboard flash, triband, TV-out, 16.7 million colors, support for AVI, ASF and MOV, and T-flash expandability.

See S50 images at CeBIT: Side | angle | front

Price: N.A.
Availability: Due in five months' time
Device: Camera-phone
Basic specs: 50 x 105 x 9mm, 100g, display size of 640 x 240 pixels, Java, WAP 2.0, slide show, games

SanDisk to launch 1GB microSD card

After unveiling the 512MB microSD card late last year, SanDisk has announced that it will be introducing a 1GB version for the region. According to its Singapore distributor, the 1GB card will retail for S$139 (US$100.43) in the island state from March 29, followed by other Asian countries over the next few weeks. The 1GB microSD is already out in the US.

Formerly known as TransFlash, the microSD card is about a quarter the size of the original Secure Digital (SD) media, and is currently one of the smallest flash memory cards in the market today. Measuring just 15 x 11 x 1mm, its minuscule dimensions make it ideal for use in portable devices such as mobile and smart phones. The microSD can be used in devices with an SD card slot, via an adapter. (Click here for a larger image.)

Samsung goes pretty in pink with Z500

Who'd have thought that pink would be the new black? With Motorola's hot pink RAZR inspiring other phone makers to go the Hello Kitty route, Samsung has also unveiled a sweet pink edition of its 3G-enabled SGH-Z500 clamshell. According to our UK sister site, this will be out in April as a joint collaboration between the Korean company and Vodafone. To complete the whole experience, there’ll also be a matching pink Bluetooth headset bundled in.

However, Asia-Pacific consumers hoping to get hold of the pink Z500 are in for a disappointment. Samsung currently has no plans to bring the pink Z500 here. (Click here for a larger image)

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