Nokia releases software update for N95

Tearing your hair out because your N95 takes forever to get a GPS location fix? Nokia's not going into the hair industry, but at least you don't have to worry about a balding head now.

The Finnish company has just announced a software update for the Nokia N95 and the new release will add Assisted GPS (AGPS) feature to the handset. This, according to Nokia, will reduce the time to first fix. AGPS operates in combination with a technical framework that allows third parties, such as telco operators, to reduce the initial time needed for the device to calculate its current position and is especially useful in urban areas. The feature was first sported on the 6110 Navigator.

Editors' note: July 27, 2007--According to the latest update from Nokia, the firmware will be available only after August. Users can either follow the same link below to download the patch or go to any Nokia Care center in the region to get the fix.

Users can now download the update via Nokia's Web site here.

Touchscreen Samsung P520 on the horizon

It looks like the Korean handset manufacturer can't wait to have a bite of the iPhone pie. According to Web reports, Samsung's coming up with its own touchscreen SGH-P520.

Reportedly, the P520 will sport a 2.6-inch QVGA resolution touchscreen LCD, GSM/EDGE radio, 3-megapixel camera, 50MB of onboard memory, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and a microSD card slot. If you ask us, it looks more like the LG Prada Phone. But, heck, everyone's just going to say "is that an iPhone killer"?

No word from Samsung Singapore on the legitimacy of the SGH-P520. Like we don't know already.

Via Engadget
Picture credit: Clubic

Armani phone: Where geek meets chic

Walking into an upscale boutique, one is bombarded with all things designer--clothes, shoes, handbags, and even makeup. As if all those objects of temptation weren't enough, Armani has reportedly teamed up with Samsung to design a cell phone that will appeal to label fiends everywhere.

Armani has not released an official statement on the phone. But The Korea Herald, citing an unnamed Samsung representative, is reporting that plans are in the works and the phone will likely be released in Europe this October. However, "the two companies have not signed a contract yet," the story said.

Armani's phone is expected to feature "exclusive content" and, presumably, a sleek design. But, if the price is anything like Prada's US$650-some phone, why not opt for an iPhone for either US$500 or US$600?

Regardless, Armani's plan to team up with Samsung, which worked with Bang & Olufsen in the past, may prove to be a smart strategy for the company. Rumor has it, according to the story, that Armani and Samsung also plan to create a line of TVs, another way to marry designer chic with tech geek.

Via CNET News.com
Pictured is the Bang & Olufsen Serene

Mathmos Lava Lamp Cell Phone Charm

This is so retro-chic Austin Powers, it's simply groovy, baby. And what better phone charm than a miniature lava lamp whose sole purpose is to light up? These charms work to detect the GSM radio signals from the phone when it starts ringing and light up to notify you of incoming calls. So maybe it's kitsch. But hey, we can bet there're plenty of folks who like collecting dingle-dangles for their phones and asking you where you got your mini Mathmos lamp when it starts to flash. At least this one has a dual calling to be both cute and useful.

Via Slashgear

Price: US$12
Availability: At Mathmos
Device: Cell phone charm
Specs: Needs 1 set of batteries, in blue or red models

RIM officially announces Wi-Fi-enabled BlackBerry 8820

Editors' note: At press time, RIM was not able to confirm the availability of the 8820 in Asia Pacific. The following article first appeared on Crave, CNET, and references made about operators are based on information in the US.

After getting the green light from the FCC just a couple of weeks ago, Research in Motion today officially took the wraps off the RIM BlackBerry 8820, the company's first smart phone with integrated Wi-Fi.

Available through AT&T Wireless later this summer, the 8820 supports 802.11a/b/g standards and is compliant with Wi-Fi security protocols, including WEP and WPA. In addition, the BlackBerry 8820 is the company's thinnest full QWERTY device to date (beat it, BlackBerry Curve), and has built-in GPS for out-of-the-box support for location-based services such as TeleNav GPS Navigator.

Other highlights of this quad-band phone include EDGE support (no 3G, though--boo hiss!) Bluetooth 2.0, and an expansion slot that accepts both microSD and microSDHC memory cards.

Those are just some quick hits. We're still trying to nail down some more details, such as pricing and exact release date, but wanted to share the good news with you in the meantime. Check back soon for updates.

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