AGOG TECH-mobilephones

Traffic service that predicts the future

2007-03-30T10:51:00.000-07:00

Inrix has announced a new traffic service dubbed Inrix Traffic at CTIA. While not exactly the most imaginative of monikers, it is capable of showing real-time traffic flow and traffic incidents in order to help you solve the mystery of why is there a crawl of cars in a 65mph zone. In addition to real-time traffic flow, you will also get a prediction of what the traffic is like in the future based on past records stored on a database. This means you will be able to plan your future trips with much ease. Definitely a great service for those who have absolutely no clue on planning. The Inrix Traffic service costs $39.95 per annum, which is reasonable by any standards.

CTIA sees Kyocera E5000 debut

2007-03-30T10:50:00.000-07:00

If you have a penchant for weird looking cellphones, the Kyocera E5000 definitely fits the bill. This oddly-shaped handset comes in a full chrome body that is extremely appealing to the eyes - too bad there is quite a lot of cleaning up to be done with the E5000 since you will be spending most of your time wiping fingerprints off it and perhaps even polishing it to get rid of annoying, minor scratches. The hinge of this clamshell handset is also something not seen on other models in the market, adding to its uniqueness. Apparently Kyocera is manufacturing the E5000 for the latest U.S. carrier, Carrier Logo. Pricing and availability details are unknown.

Sony Ericsson Z750 looking good

2007-03-30T10:47:00.000-07:00

There is a new 3G handset headed our way, and this time it is an offering from Sony Ericsson that is set to tantalize your cellular tastebuds with a beautiful mirrored clamshell exterior boasting a hidden LCD. The HSDPA-enabled Z750 from Sony Ericsson also comes with a 2 megapixel camera and an M2 memory card slot for expansion options. The camera ought to take some pretty respectable pictures judging by the type of quality Sony Ericsson puts in each handset these days. Additional features include a stock ticker for you to keep tabs on your investments no matter where you are and an RSS reader to keep up with the latest in tech and gadget news.

Sony Ericsson W580 hitting US shores

2007-03-30T10:45:00.000-07:00

Music phone lovers will be pleased to know that Sony Ericsson has lined up the W580 handset for a U.S. release in Q3 this year before bringing it to other continents, which is a very rare occasion. This slider handset will come in white or gray colors, featuring a 512MB Memory Stick Micro to carry your digital music library wherever you go. A pedometer has been thrown into the equation, enabling users to track the number of steps walk and ran, speed, distance, and calories burned. I guess this makes a good alternative instead of carrying both a cellphone and an iPod during your daily exercise regime. Pricing details are still unknown as at press time.

Xenium phone with AAA BackuPower

2007-03-30T10:31:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had an important phone call cut off right in the middle of your conversation due to a dead battery? Those frustrating moments can be relegated to things of the past with the AAA BackuPower cellphone which was co-developed by Philips, Energizer, and Techtium. This new Xenium cellphone pushes the envelop when it comes to battery life - the ordinary Xenium handset already boasts a standby time of up to a month before requiring a recharge, and the AAA BackuPower-enhanced Xenium can extend that battery life by another week once you plonk in any AAA battery inside. Hopefully other cellphone manufacturers will follow this cue and include such technology in their power-hungry handsets.

Motorola release StarTac III in Korea

2007-03-04T05:17:00.001-08:00

Motorola has unveiled the StarTac III cellphone, but this time it will be confined to Korean shores only. The original StarTac was an iconic phone in its generation, sparking off the clamshell craze and even popularizing the concept of wearing your handset around your neck as a necklace. Unfortunately, it won't be equipped with 3G connectivity, featuring just a 2" TFF QVGA display, GPS functionality, global roaming, an integrated MP3 player, and an electronic dictionary (presumably a Korean-English one). If you reside in Korea and want one for yourself, be prepared to fork out €240.

Grundig launches U900 Linux phoneGrundig launches U900 Linux phone

2007-03-04T05:16:00.001-08:00

The invasion of Linux-based cellphones has begun, beginning with the Grundig U900. This Chocolate-lookalike clamshell features a couple of cameras - one in front to take advantage of the UMTS 3G connection, while the 2 megapixel with flash camera behind is used to capture candid moments. Additional features include a built-in FM radio, Bluetooth and USB connectivity, video and audio playback, and 100MB of internal memory. In case that is not enough, you can always bump it up with a microSD memory card. The 2" QVGA 262k color display that comes with the U900 is pretty standard these days though, so nothing special there. Pricing and availability details are still unknown.

Can I have a CAN U

2007-03-04T05:15:00.000-08:00

LG has released the canU710D cellphone that was sold out within a couple of hours of its launch in Korea. Just 160 pieces of these exclusive cellphones were reserved for sale on the first day, and each handset features artwork from 10 famous cartoonists and painters, making them all the more desirable. Consumers will be able to get their hands on cellphones which feature their favorite artist's work when the handsets are released next month for approximately $535 a pop. Features of this 6th model of CAN U series cellphones include a large 2.6" display and an improved digital camera.

Linux-powered Grundig B700

2007-03-04T05:14:00.002-08:00

Grundig recently announced the clamshell Linux-powered U900, and now they have followed up with yet another Linux cellphone in the form of the B700 Ultra Slim Communicator. Taking design cues from BlackBerry, this handset comes with a QWERTY keyboard that features SureType technology for speedy typing. The package consists of a 2.4" QVGA display, Bluetooth and USB connectivty, push email support, a 2 megapixels camera, and a microSD memory card slot to complement the 100MB of internal memory. Too bad there is no 3G on the B700 though. Pricing and availability details will be released by Grundig sometime down the road.

Helio Heat joins 3G fray

2007-03-04T05:14:00.001-08:00

If you're in the market for an affordable EV-DO 3G handset, it would be prudent to check out the Helio Heat. Sharing most of the Drift's features, the Heat comes in a balanced package that does not hurt the wallet. What do you get for $150 anyway? How about a 2" QVGA display, stereo Bluetooth support, a 1.3 megapixel camera, video and audio playback, 136MB of internal memory, and touch sensitive controls ala LG Chocolate? Of course, it would have been better if this Samsung-manufactured slider handset came with a memory expansion slot, but you can't really complain too much at that price point.

Retro phone goes cordless

2007-03-04T05:13:00.002-08:00

I would love to see the looks on the faces of people who walk by this PB Grand Cordless Phone. Featuring the looks of a vintage-style receiver minus the wire, the PB Grand Cordless Phone boasts a push-button dial and other modern amenities such as caller ID, call waiting, instant redial, and a three-line display to view information. Running on the 900MHz analog system, you can be sure that each and every call you make/receive will be crystal clear. Unfortunately, the price to pay for such a fashionable piece of retro equipment with a modern touch is rather high - $129 to be exact.

Celux Nokia 7360 phones available

2007-03-04T05:13:00.001-08:00

Only in Japan can you find exclusive luxury cellphone stores that require a membership before making a purchase. Celux is one such store, and they have worked with Nokia to produce a special edition of the Nokia 7360 fashion phone. All the specifications will remain the same as the original handset, so what you're paying is essentially the unique design and brand association. Each of these redesigned Nokia 7360s come with a tag featuring the Celux logo like those found on clothing. You can pick one up between today and March 18th if you're anywhere in Japan at the moment. Just be prepared to fork out a little extra over the vanilla 7360.

Nokia possibly interested in Palm

2007-03-04T05:08:00.000-08:00

Nokia, among other candidates, is said to be in talks to acquire Palm Inc, the creator of the Treo. With a price target of $20 per share, the transaction would cost 2 Billion dollars to the new owner.

I do understand why Palm would like to sell: the Treo brand is still flying high, but there are significant clouds on the horizon. On the hardware side, they are under attack by HTC (which, at least, provides some components for the Treo 700w), Samsung, LG and soon, Apple. On the software side, Windows Mobile is making big strides in the smartphone market and Palm will have a hard time to compete.

If this speculation is true, it simply means to me that Palm doesn’t think that it can compete in the near future. Either way, I think that the Treo brand will survive - do you?