Posts in Mobile Phones
KDDI's Infobar 2 debuts in Ceatec, Japan
Damian Koh | Oct 09, 2007
I think it's pretty safe to say we're sick of hearing about all the wonderful technology in Japan. It probably assumes that anywhere outside the land of the rising sun still belongs to Dark tech Ages. But that's not going to stop us from writing about all the gadgets we can't get (actually we can, but then we may end up writing about the iPhone again). Anyway, here's another one that surfaced at the recent Tokyo Ceatec exhibition in Chiba, Japan--the KDDI Infobar 2.
According to Yahoo News, the Infobar 2 is expected to debut in November in Japan at an estimated price of 20,000 yen without a service contract. Although we're not particularly excited about the handset's 2.6-inch OLED 240 x 400-pixel screen, 2-megapixel camera, 100MB onboard memory and microSD expansion slot, its embedded FeliCa chip allows for contactless electronic payment and is something the world is still trying to play catch-up with.
Besides free digital television broadcast (in Tokyo, there are envy of envy seven channels), KDDI offers a music download service for its users via its Lismo music store. Particularly of interest is the search feature which lets users look for a track by typing the artist's name, song title, or even humming into the handset and letting the system do the match. Really, who needs the iPhone after this?
[Thanks Steve Levenstein for the tip]
Via Yahoo News
Why I chose the iPod touch (and not the iPhone)
Reuben Lee | Oct 08, 2007
You'd think that years of being a CNET Asia reviewer would have taught me a thing or two about making tech purchases. Apparently not.
Prior to arriving in San Francisco for an Intel event, I had done my homework and somewhat set my mind on getting an iPhone. The US$200 price cut that the Cupertino company had recently announced was just too good to pass. Not to mention that I was as fallible as the next customer when it came to the iPhone, from the impressive touch display interface down to the sleek Apple styling that's simply irresistible. A further bonus was the fact that the iPhone would officially be launched in Asia only next year, giving me early adopter status in the league of extraordinary geeks and making me (naturally) the envy of my fellow scribes back home. And if it turns out I don't like the iPhone after all, well, there's always eBay.
However, when I finally found myself standing inside the Apple Store in San Francisco late in September, the iPod touch in one hand, the iPhone in the other, I started having second thoughts about the iPhone. Aside from not having faster connectivity options such as 3G and HSDPA, the iPhone needs to be unlocked by third-party options in order to be used with SIM cards other than AT&T's, and that's additional cost.
As much as I didn't like the glossy chrome finish of the iPod touch and its lack of a camera and cellular support, its slimmer design and larger 16GB capacity made it really attractive over the iPhone. Also noteworthy were the touch's video-out capabilities and normal 3.5mm-jack, both of which aren't found on the iPhone. The iPhone's 3.5mm audio jack is recessed into the slot, making it compatible with only a selected number of earphones out there (unless it is used with an additional adapter).
Eventually, on my sixth visit to the Apple store, during which the Apple staff now readily recognized me, I finally got the 16GB iPod touch. My rationale being that I'm still convinced a better iPhone will come along to Asia next year, complete with 3G and further improvements. There was that plus the limited availability of the iPod touch--the 16GB version was perpetually sold out on my first five visits to the store--which decided me. Am I happy with my decision now I've gotten it? You betcha!
Apple iPhone falls prey to the gold treatment
Damian Koh | Oct 08, 2007
How do you make a bricked iPhone stand out among all the paperweights on your desk? Easy, coat it in luscious gold. That's exactly what Goldstriker is coming up with--a 24 carat gold plated 8GB iPhone, though it didn't say whether it will be AT&T locked, upgraded with the latest software, or simply an iBrick. Whatever it is, if you've been with us, you'd probably know that not all things gold will get our attention. But with the amount of flak the iPhone is getting, this could jolly well end up as a valid reason for current owners in Asia to turn their iPhone into a gold brick. Start saving the money.
Via Newlaunches
Picture credit: Goldstriker
OneSIM card for use in Singapore and Indonesia
Reuben Lee | Oct 05, 2007
For those who travel frequently between Singapore and Indonesia, here's a piece of good news. Singapore-based mobile carrier StarHub has introduced the OneSIM Indosat, a service collaboration with Indonesian service operator Indosat that combines two SIM cards (one from Singapore and one from Indonesia) into one.
What this means is mobile users who travel between the two countries will now need only one phone and one SIM card to keep both a Singapore and an Indonesian number active for receiving calls and SMSes. Naturally, standard roaming rates apply in Indonesia for those based in Singapore and vice versa, but StarHub has added a carrot to the deal by offering a 20 percent discount on roaming rates.
The OneSIM Indosat is targeted mainly at business travelers and comes with a S$5 monthly subscription charge. The upgrade of the new SIM card is free. A StarHub representative told CNET Asia that this is the first time the company is offering such a service with an overseas partner. Depending on how this performs, StarHub is planning to introduce similar services with operators in other top business destinations in the region.
Headset worships the sun even after summer
Mike Yamamoto, CNET.com | Oct 05, 2007
Its latest invention has gone green, a wireless headset powered by solar energy. The Iqua "Sun," developed with partner Suntrica, is based on the previous "Vogue" model (pictured here) that was a hit on the French market with conventional batteries, according to OhGizmo. It beats having to wear a solar collar all the time.
Via CNET Crave
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