Report: No Android until fourth quarter

Last we heard, we'd be seeing phones powered by Google's Android open-source software in the second half of 2008. A report Monday from The Wall Street Journal has narrowed that down somewhat: Those handsets will start appearing in the fourth quarter of this year, a later time frame than expected.

And according to the Journal, some handset manufacturers are "struggling" to get Android on track even for a fourth-quarter launch. Sprint Nextel and China Mobile, the world's largest cell carrier, reportedly won't be able to put out Android-powered phones until next year. Other carriers, like T-Mobile, claim their Android phones are still on track.

Some developers of mobile applications, on the other hand, have been sidetracked by the announcement of the iPhone 3G, the second-generation version of Apple's ubiquitous handsets. With a lower price point, a developer kit already released, and a concrete launch date of July 11, not to mention faster Web access and a built-in GPS chip, the appeal of the new iPhone may have pushed Android to the back burner for some companies.

Via CNET Crave

Burn calories with this phone

People around the world are starting to jog (including my mom) to stay healthy. Currently, only Apple’s iPod nano has come out with the idea to count those calories burned and the distance covered. Unfortunately, there are people out there who can't separate themselves from their mobile phone. It can be troublesome to bring your handset along with your iPod nano.

Toshiba and KDDI, the second-largest mobile operator in Japan, have acknowledged that problem and teamed up to squeeze a calories counter and distance measurement feature into a mobile phone.

The result? An unusual-looking mobile phone called Sportia. Not only does this mobile looks "fat", its weird-looking buttons are so small, I don't think I can press them. Furthermore, the directional buttons are placed on the left side of the phone instead of the usual top central position. The overall design of the phone is simple and unattractive, not what one would expect of Japanese phones which are usually glamorous.

According to softpedia.com, Toshiba Sportia will be available in mid-June, but only in Japan. The price is yet to be known. I'll hoping the phone will hit the international market one day, though that's pretty unlikely given that Toshiba phones are still very much Japan-only.

Via SoftPedia

Curtain rises for handheld Pico Projector

We'd almost forgotten about the Pico Projector as more than a year had passed since we'd heard of it making any significant progress. But when our colleagues at Crave Asia spotted a working demo using the technology earlier this month, we were reminded of its promises to project photos and video from mobile phones and other portable devices.

Now Taiwan-based projector company Optoma is partnering with Texas Instruments to bring its own version of the micro-projector to market. Its technology requires a separate companion product, rather than projecting directly from a phone or media player, but it's a start: The micro-portable device weighs only 4 ounces.

The Optoma Pico Projector, which uses TI's DLP chipset and LED technology, casts images that are up to 100 times larger than the originals displayed on a handheld device, whether it be a media player, smartphone, or digital camera. It's scheduled to launch in Europe and Asia this year, with plans to arrive on the US market in 2009.

Via CNET Crave

Dior designs a frock for the iPhone

New iPhone accessories seem to come out daily, if not hourly, but the timing of this particular case seems a bit odd because it's made by Christian Dior. The venerable design house unveiled its own mobile handset only weeks ago, making a fair splash with a high-end model that will go for an estimated US$26,000.

That type of fearless (read: Insane) pricing probably helps explain why this rather plain-looking pouch--pardon us, the Dior Homme iPhone Holder--is listed at US$450, according to Luxurylaunches. It's a good thing that the iPhone needs only one case, unlike the My Dior handset and its Mini-Me companion.

Via CNET Crave

ASUS' Lamborghini phone takes design award

Ferrari may preen for the most attention, but Lamborghini is the auto house that gets the bragging rights for now. The ASUS-Lamborghini ZX1 has won the prestigious iF Communication Design Award for "uncompromising quality in style and materials".

It's not the first co-branded Lamborghini phone--Nokia offers its own version--but the ZX1 will definitely turn heads for its original design. Beyond just slapping a logo on its cover, the 3.5G handset sports a "beehive textured air intake" pattern and a "chassis-inspired aerodynamic flow," according to Fareastgizmos. Inside is a nine-way navigational key inspired by the car's steering system, as well as a 2.8-inch touchscreen, Wi-Fi receiver, Bluetooth, and 3-megapixel camera. No pricing was given, but we're guessing that it will likely correspond with the luxury vehicle it's named after.

Via CNET Crave

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