Nokia Learning the Alphabet

Nokia is now planning to name their new phone models rather than using numbers. They haven't released any names as yet. According to Nokia's head of marketing Keith Pardy, in the future customers "are going to start to see names that carry a meaning and are important to consumers."

I am not sure this will be a good idea in non-English speaking countries if the name is too difficult to pronounce, but we'll wait and see.

Motion Sensor + Screen Saver = Battery Level Meter

The N702is 3G phone by NTT DoCoMo in Japan has a built in motion sensor and when the screen saver is activated, the screen acts exactly like a glass of water. The "water" level moves when you move the phone around with the information it gets from the motion sensors. The water level reflects your battery status, the lower it gets, the less power you have and therefore needs some juice.

Nokia N93 Wins Phone of the Year

The European Imaging and Sound Association (EISA) has awarded the Nokia N93 smartphone 'Media Phone of the Year 2006-2007,' drawing votes from members in 18 European countries.

EISA is the largest editorial organization in Europe, with a membership of 52 Audio, Mobile Electronics, Video, and Photo magazines, and comes together once a year to choose the best equipment in a number of categories from products introduced during the preceding twelve months.

The EISA commended the N93 for its still image and video quality, as well as its connectivity options, video editing tools, printing capability, and music player. Adopting Nokia's favorite term for the Nseries, EISA calls the N93 the "perfect example of a multimedia computer that can fit in your hands."

Via [Mobilebrn.com]

Nokia N Series now with less RAM ?

It doesn't make sense to me either. It seems like they are trying to save money or most probably will be releasing newer handsets with more RAM so that we will have to buy them instead. As a developer it is pretty frustrating working with limited RAM in a mutitasking environment such as Symbian. Why not cut out providing less external memory (memory card) and more RAM ?Graph by biskero.org

Pantech PG-6200: Cellphone With a Fingerprint Reader

The Pantech PG-6200 has stats that, on a Friday afternoon, I can't even pretend to care about. What does make me perk up is the Pantech's fingerprint scanner that can be used for biometric security. Scan your digits to lock and unlock the phone. Sweet, eh? Stats? Oh fine. Those, and more details, after the jump.

New Slider from BenQ

BenQ Siemens have announced a new slider handset, the SL91. The new handset, which is due for release in November this year, features a 3.2 megapixel camera, large QVGA display, MP3 player and radio and UMTS support. It even has a small hidden camera above the keypad for making video calls.

The device's Force Resistor technology means that the slider automatically opens when a small pressure is applied to reveal the number pad, although the front of the new mobile also has touch sensitive keys. The whole phone is clad in a shiny black finish, making the phone also look extremely stylish

New Motorola Handsets Announced

Motorola have announced details of five new products they will be releasing over the next little while. Two of the products are new handsets, which feature Motorola's naming convention of 'very few if any vowels', with the announcement of the MOTOKRZR and MOTORIZR.

Motorola MOTOKRZR
Available in both GSM and CDMA, the MOTOKRZR will be available globally during the second half of 2006, regardless of their network preference. The GSM MOTOKRZR features a high resolution 2.0 megapixel camera, stereo Bluetooth audio, an updated phone directory and new messaging applications. While both versions offer integrated music players and expandable memory up to 1GB, the CDMA MOTOKRZR beats to a slightly different drum boasting touch-sensitive music controls, advanced EVDO data services* and location-based services capabilities.

Motorola MOTORIZR
Merging an innovative slider design with an impressive feature set which is accessible either opened or closed, the MOTORIZR offers intuitive functionality. This slider optimizes on-the-go imaging with its expansive landscape display, 2.0 megapixel camera and programmed point-and-shoot keys. The built-in music player supports a variety of formats and its video capabilities complete this dynamic package.

Alongside the new handsets are accompanying bluetooth headsets

Ultra-Bling Bling !

Now it's getting beyond a joke. Moscow-based JSC Ancort Company has announced a smartphone designed by Peter Aloisson that features sections made of rose gold, along with 50 diamonds embedded in the case. The phone, which features additional encryption technology alongside the more usual SMS, MMS, e-mail, Internet access, WAP, Java and a media player, will set you back a cool US$1.3 million.

Of course, if it gets stolen, it won't be for the content of the phone, making the encryption aspects not that interesting - I'm sure the 40 white and 10 blue diamonds would be far more interesting to any potential thief...

LG's CHocolate

LG's CHocolate slider handset has proven so popular, the company has decided to release versions in white and pink, and to extend the number of countries where the handset is sold. In addition, the company will be producing 'premium' versions with design variations and special features, although specifics haven't been revealed.

"As the first handset under the Black Label premium brand, Chocolate has been an amazing international success, smashing sales records in many countries," explains Jae Bae, Executive Vice President of Mobile Communications Company of LG Electronics. "It's important to continue to develop the Chocolate family to build on this success, which is why LG is expanding the range, giving Chocolate even wider appeal."

The new versions are due for release in the second half of this year.