LG gets "touchy" with new patents

If you're still not convinced that touchscreen mobiles are the future, you better start psyching yourself to embrace the new technology.

According to a report by Unwired View, LG has recently filed two patents that seem to signify its Prada phone is just the start of a series of touchscreen mobile devices. The first of the patents talks about a handset with a pair of touch panels that work either independently or as one screen split into two. If you cannot imagine this, just picture the Nintendo DS Lite look and feel on your mobile phone.

The second patent describes "dynamic icons that are able to move in reaction to user actions or functions to be performed". While this sounds more interesting, we're not too sure about the usefulness of menu icons moving randomly on a screen when we have to jostle with the rush hour crowd on the commute while trying to maintain a grip on the overhead handle bar.

Click for larger images:


Picture credit: Unwired View

Samsung F300 to debut in five colors mid-May

Samsung has finally given its much-awaited music-phone, the Ultra Music F300, a mid-May launch date.

First announced at last year's ITU Telecom World 2006 in Hong Kong, the F300 caught our attention with its unique dual-display candy-bar design that sports a phone face on one side and an MP3 player on the other side. It will retail for S$698 (US$501.40) without contract and S$598 (US$429.57) with a two-year mobile plan.

Showcased for the first time in Singapore at the recent Samsung Fun Club 4th Anniversary party, the F300 will be offered in five colors red, orange, white, blue as well as the original black. Like the Samsung SGH-P310 card-sized phone, the F300 will be bundled with a leather phone holder that doubles as second battery for longer usage. Other noteworthy features on this triband music-phone are a 2-megapixel camera, touchscreen MP3 interface, FM radio, stereo Bluetooth and a microSD card slot.

Also on display at the media event was a matching Bluetooth stereo speaker which comes with onboard playback controls. Although no further details were available on this interesting accessory, its onboard microphone seems to suggest that it can double as a speakerphone, too. A built-in stand also allows users to keep the F300 standing upright for easy viewing of the display. Click here for more details of the F300.

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Champagne gold KRZR loves Hong Kong

We've seen our fair share of gold handsets aimed squarely at those with deep pockets, but one that's dedicated to a city? That's unheard of.

Not quite the same as a Vertu or even the 18-carat gold-plated Nokia 8800 Sirocco Gold, Motorola is upping its fashion quotient on the KRZR K1 by dressing it in a rich shade of champagne gold. Catch is, the limited-edition clamshell is available only in Hong Kong. According to the company, customers will enjoy a 5-percent discount and free Sa Sa gold nail polish at any Sa Sa Cosmetics store in Hong Kong and Macau upon purchase of the handset.

No word on how many pieces will be made available or how much it will cost, but we're pretty darn sure you don't have to rob a bank to own this Moto.

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Bonus pack for Dopod U1000

Editors' note: In addition to the items listed below, the U1000 bonus pack also includes a 2GB miniSD card and CE Star, an application to type Chinese characters on the handheld. Scroll down for an image of the contents. 27 April 2007--According to Dopod, availability of the bonus pack was not affected by shipment delay, but is intended to be available now as a premium for U1000 users.

Users of the GPS-enabled Dopod U1000 who have been lamenting the lack of bundled maps and navigation software will be pleased to know that they will be receiving it for free now.

The Taiwanese company has announced that it will be giving out bonus packs for existing users of the U1000. Included are a car charger and car holder. It also comes with four applications: Mapking, Sprite Backup, GPRS Monitor and an application for business card information capture using the handheld's camera.

The bonus pack is available throughout the Asia-Pacific region wherever the U1000 is sold. Existing users will be contacted by their retailers as to how they can collect the goodie bag, while new buyers will receive the bonus pack upon purchase.

Dopod had meant for this bonus pack to be available at the initial launch of the U1000, but shipment delays resulted in it being available only now. It is a limited offer, and will cease once stocks are depleted. Dopod was not able to tell CNET Asia how many of these bonus packs are available.

Click here to read the review of the Dopod U1000.

Contents of the U1000 bonus pack. Click for larger image.

Fancy BlackBerry on your WM6 handheld?

Research In Motion (RIM), the company that makes the BlackBerry software, has announced it will have a new application software that will recreate its handheld's interface on Windows Mobile devices.

Much like how virtualization software works on PCs, this application appears in Windows Mobile 6 as a normal application and will still give the full BlackBerry experience within the device. Aside from the standard email functions, it will also support third-party programs written for the BlackBerry.

While the BlackBerry push-email service has already been available on certain Windows Mobile devices with the BlackBerry Connect software, it gave only those compatible handhelds push email functionality and not the full interface.

The new application will be available on selected Windows Mobile 6 devices, and will not work on the older Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system. RIM plans to have it ready later this year, but was not able to confirm whether this will be rolled out in the Asia-Pacific region at the same time as in the US. The first devices to support this new application have not been announced.

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