Nokia N79

Nokia today unveiled the Nokia N79, the latest addition to the Nokia Nseries range that combines intelligent and customizable design with a fully-loaded multimedia computer. Behind its sleek exterior, the Nokia N79 is a technology powerhouse. It offers a full range of multimedia experiences including integrated navigation, music with FM transmitter, high-speed connectivity, superior web browsing, at least 10 pre-loaded N-Gage games and an advanced 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics. The Nokia N79 is expected to begin shipping in October 2008, with an estimated retail price of EUR 350, before taxes and subsidies.

"The Nokia N79 packs cutting-edge technology into a compact design - a characteristic of the iconic Nseries - that allows people to discover, create and share their passions with others," said Juha Kokkonen, Director, Nokia Nseries. "It has been designed for those who want a device that is as appealing as it is powerful and comes with interchangeable covers that have automatically matching screen themes. This balance of performance and style means that it is a powerful and defining step forward from the popular and very successful Nokia N72 and Nokia N73."

Perfect for the style conscious, the Nokia N79 comes with Xpress-on smart covers that are available in five cool colors: Light Sea Blue, Espresso Brown, Olive Green, White and Coral Red. A combination of three of these comes with each Nokia N79.

The convergence of photos, music and navigation in the Nokia N79 combines with high-speed 3.5G HSDPA and Wi-Fi to make it quick and easy to share experiences on websites, blogs or online communities.

Experience new discoveries

The innovative technology packed into this colorful offering means that accessing a rich pool of services to further enhance individual experiences is seamless. Log on to online communities like Friendster, Flickr or YouTube or click through to Nokia services such as the Nokia Music Store, N-Gage, Nokia Maps and Share on Ovi, an online service that enables consumers to share personal pictures and videos from their mobile devices.

The 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, dual LED flash and video light captures sharp, clear images and video that can be edited immediately, without the need for a PC. Images can also be geotagged to specific locations. What's more, the Nokia N79 comes packaged with a 4 GB microSD memory card that makes it possible to store around 3,000 songs, approximately 2,500 pictures and up to four hours of DVD-quality video clips that can be organized by albums or tags and uploaded directly to Share on Ovi or third party services. The addition of a sliding lens cover helps protect the top-quality lens when not in use.

Nokia Maps makes it easy to explore and navigate new surroundings by accessing more than 15 million points of interest (POI). In-built A-GPS providing turn-by-turn navigation - for walking or driving - comes with a three month integrated license on the Nokia N79.

A Friendster widget will also be made available for the Nokia N79 via the WidSets service. This will allow people to browse Friendster friends' profiles, view and post shoutouts, upload pictures taken with their handset, and browse their own and friends' photo albums. All this enables more effective communication with friends while away from a computer using the Nokia N79. New users can even register for Friendster directly on their device via a link to Friendster's mobile site (m.friendster.com), create an account, and instantly begin participating in the Friendster global community.

To ensure each device is as distinctive as its user, customizable features are available at the Nokia Download! store, a one stop personalization shop, already embedded in Nokia Nseries devices. It lets consumers create a unique experience for themselves by offering easy access to a multitude of popular ringtones, branded entertainment content, the latest in mobile gaming and dynamic applications for personalizing mobile devices to the user's own preferences.

Nokia N85 cellphone

Nokia N85 - The definitive entertainment package

Espoo, Finland - Nokia today unveiled the Nokia N85, the latest Nokia Nseries multimedia computer made to set new standards for mobile entertainment, gaming and sharing. Along with an eye-catching 2.6" OLED screen and smooth, sleek finish, the Nokia N85 redefines the mobile experience. It boasts N-Gage gaming, music with in-built FM transmitter, 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics and geotagging capabilities, three month integrated license for turn-by-turn voice navigation and high-speed connectivity, all in one device. The Nokia N85 is expected to begin shipping in October 2008 with an estimated retail price of EUR 450, before taxes and subsidies.

"The Nokia N85 was created to be more than the sum of its parts, offering a complete mobile entertainment package designed for connecting, sharing and discovering," said Juha-Pekka Sipponen, Director, Nokia Nseries. "The iconic Nokia Nseries dual slider design has evolved to become smaller and sleeker while integrating the newest features and services to deliver the best mobile experience to date."

With a strong lineup of multimedia features, the Nokia N85 is taking the world of mobile convergence to the next level. Gaming, photos, navigation and music blend together with the newest Ovi and third party services via 3.5G HSDPA and Wi-Fi connectivity to make discovering and sharing experiences quick and seamless.

Engage and interact

The Nokia N85 is pre-loaded with at least 10 made-for-mobile N-Gage gaming titles that jump off of the screen thanks to the dazzling OLED display and a voucher to activate one full game license. Dedicated gaming keys light up when the device is in landscape gaming mode to further enhance the action-packed experience.

A state-of-the-art 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics and bright dual LED flash captures clear, sharp images as well as DVD-quality videos at 30 frames per second. Combined with A-GPS it is possible to geotag favorite pictures to see where each photo was taken using the Nokia Maps application or online sites such as Share on Ovi or Flickr.

Each Nokia N85 comes with an 8 GB microSD card, up to 30 hours of music playback time and its high-fidelity sound means favorite tracks can be enjoyed virtually anywhere. Build a personal music collection from the millions of tracks and playlists available from the Nokia Music Store or other online music vendors, or synchronize PC and mobile music libraries via USB cable. Alternatively, consumers can enjoy RDS radio or a wide selection of stations via the internet. The 3.5 mm audio jack makes connecting a top-quality headset simple and an in-built FM transmitter lets the Nokia N85 play wirelessly through a car or home stereo to really crank up the sound.

While it comes out of the box with a multitude of powerful functionality, the pre-loaded Nokia Download! application makes the Nokia N85 truly customizable by offering a wide range of bespoke content. This includes an outstanding selection of world-class branded entertainment content, the latest in mobile gaming and dynamic applications so users can really make their device their own.

HTC S740 Smartphone

Here are all the specs:

• Size: 116.3 x 43.4 x 16.3 mm
• Weight: 140g with battery
• Networks: WCDMA/HSDPA: 900/2100 MHz for EU and Asia
• GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
• Maximum speed: UL = 384 kbps; DL = 3.6/7.2 Mbps**
• Operating system: Windows Mobile® 6.1 Standard
• Display: 2.4-inch QVGA screen
• Camera: 3.2 megapixel with fixed focus
• Internal memory: 256 MB flash; 256 MB RAM
• Memory card: microSD
• WLAN: 802.11b/g
• Bluetooth®: 2.0 with EDR
• GPS: GPS/AGPS
• Interface: HTC ExtUSB (mini-USB and audio jack in one; USB 2.0 High-Speed)
• Battery: 1000 mAh
• Talk time: WCDMA: Up to 320 minutes*** / GSM: Up to 380 minutes***
• Standby time: WCDMA: Up to 400 hours*** / GSM: Up to 280 hours***
• Special features: Sliding QWERTY keyboard, FM radio, Google Maps, RSS Hub
• Chipset: Qualcomm® MSM7225, 528 MHz

Looking at that list, a few things stand out. First, it's an EU/Asia release first, so no North American 3G bands - meaning where I am, it's an EDGE-only phone. The good news though is that it's a GSM quad-band phone, so as far as voice coverage is concerned, it will be solid. The 2.4 inch QVGA screen is a bit of a disappointment - I was hoping for a VGA screen. This thing looks so much like the Diamond, why not give it the same screen? 256 MB RAM is plentiful on a Windows Mobile Standard device, and with the microSD card slot this thing can load up with a lot of storage. Built-in GPS is nice, but couldn't they do better than a 1000 mAh battery? Perhaps that will give stellar battery life since there's no VGA screen...

The potential down-side? As a slider, it's going to be thicker than a candy-bar style phone. The thickness of the S740 is 16.3 mm. The previous generation slider from HTC is the S710, and it's 18.6 mm - so they've managed to shave 2.3 mm off. My Blackjack II is 13 mm thick in comparison, and my all-time favourite Windows Mobile Standard phone, the HTC S620 (aka T-Mobile Dash), is 12.8 mm.

Sanyo Katana Eclipse and Motorola Razr VE20

Sprint brought back two popular cell phones for another round on Sunday when it announced new versions of the Sanyo Katana and the Motorola Razr.

Sanyo Katana Eclipse

Sporting thin designs (of course) with GPS and multimedia-friendly feature sets, the Sanyo Katana Eclipse and Motorola Razr VE20 offer two takes on the thin-phone craze that just won't go away. And before you start grumbling about rehashed versions of ancient designs, we advise you to give these models a decent look.

The VE20 is more like the original Razr V3m than the Razr2 V9, but it shows some design tweaks that give it its own style. Performance is great, particularly the music and video quality, and call quality wasn't bad either.

The Sanyo Katana Eclipse also shows some design tweaks over the original Katana. The feature set is similar to the Razr VE20, though its 1.3-megapixel camera is a step down from the Razr VE20's 2-megapixel shooter. Performance was satisfying, thought not quite as sharp as on the Moto phone.

Motorola Razr VE20

Both phones are $99 with service. For the full story, check out our Motorola Razr VE20 review or our Sanyo Katana Eclipse review. Or for just the beauty shots, take a gander at the Razr VE20 slide show or the Katana Eclipse slide show.

Nokia N96

It's no surprise that at GSMA we're seeing a lot of cool things. Since the show is geared toward the worldwide market (Europe in particular), the phones on display are a lot more exciting than the usual sort we see at home. But on the other hand, there's no guarantee that any of the devices will come to North America. Drool as we may, we're also green with envy.

Take, for example, the Nokia N96. As a slicker, stronger update to the already powerful Nokia N95, the N96 has just about every feature you could want in a cell phone. Besides making calls (hopefully it does that well), the N96 offers a 5-megapixel camera with a list of offerings that rival a standalone shooter. You'll find a Carl Zeiss lens, a flash, and a VGA camcorder that plays and records clips at 30 frames per second. On the whole it's more powerful than the 5-megapixel Nokia 6220, which the company also announced in Barcelona. The N96 has an impressive 16GB of internal storage. It also has a microSD slot that can accommodate cards up to 2GB. Nokia promises that you'll be able to watch 40 hours of video using the internal storage alone. Of course, you'll need to charge the battery during your video marathon; video playback is capped at 4 hours of viewing time because of battery life.

Other features include a digital music player, a 3.5mm headset jack, an FM radio, support for podcasts and Internet radio, e-mail, text and multimedia messaging, USB 2.0, stereo Bluetooth, and a GPS receiver with maps and turn-by-turn voice directions. The N96's design is similar to the N95, but also different. While it retains its predecessor's designated music controls and slider design, its black and silver scheme, and cleaner lines give it an overall sleeker look. That is an accomplishment considering that at 4.05 inches tall by 2.16 inches wide by 0.71 inches thick, and weighing 4.41 ounces, the N96 is actually a bit bigger than the N95. The N96 is quadband (GSM 850/900/1800/1900), and it supports both the 900 and 2100 3G bands. The N96 is set to be released in the third quarter of this year, and will require a serious amount of cash. Without carrier subsidies, buyers can expect to pay 550 euros (about $780).

Gadget and Accessories for iPhone 3G

Kensington Mini Battery Extender

The Kensington Mini Battery Extender is a handy add-on for an iPod or iPhone that's low on battery life.

If your iPod or iPhone (both first and second generation) is low on battery life, you can simply pop on this battery extender from Kensington to extend its battery life by about double. It attaches to the iPod and iPhone via the dock connector. It also comes with a retractable USB charging cable so you can charge both the extender and the iPod/iPhone at the same time. It is currently available for $40.

Mophie Juice Pack 3G

The Mophie Juice Pack 3G is a portable charging dock for the iPhone 3G that promises to extend its battery life without too much bulk.

The Mophie Juice Pack 3G from mStation is a unique battery extender for the iPhone 3G. It comes "precharged" right from the package, and it has an ergonomic, comfort-grip backing. Though it adds a little bit of bulk to the iPhone 3G, it doesn't seem too bad. The Mophie promises an additional 350 hours of standby time, 6 hours of talk time on 3G, 12 hours of talk time on regular 2G, 6 hours of Internet use on 3G, 8 hours of video playback, or 28 hours of audio playback. Of course, your mileage may vary depending on your daily usage, but that still sounds pretty good. The Mophie juice pack has a four-LED "charge status" indicator, and it even connects to your computer via a USB passthrough.

The Mophie Juice Pack 3G will be available in September for $99.95 retail.

Infinixx A2DP

The Infinixx A2DP is a tiny adapter that adds stereo Bluetooth capability to your iPhone.

Even though the iPhone is a music phone, it strangely does not come with stereo Bluetooth capabilities, which lets you stream music wirelessly. This adapter from Infinixx solves that problem. For about $60, this adapter adds stereo Bluetooth functionality to any iPhone so you can use any stereo Bluetooth headset with it.

Apple iPhone 3G dock

The Apple iPhone 3G dock is just like its name suggests; it is a docking station specifically made for the iPhone 3G.

As strange as it may seem, Apple has decided not to include a dock with its new iPhone 3G; you'll have to use a regular cable to sync it. The old iPhone dock isn't quite compatible with the 3G version, because of the iPhone 3G's new contoured shape. So if you want a dock for your iPhone 3G, you'll have to get this Apple iPhone 3G dock, with a special contoured back made to fit the iPhone 3G. You can use the dock to charge and sync your iPhone 3G as well as connect it to a stereo or speakers to play music.

Intel Nehalem Core i7

Intel Corporation announced today that desktop processors based on the company's upcoming new microarchitecture (codenamed "Nehalem") will be formally branded "Intel® Core™ processor." The first products in this new family of processors, including an "Extreme Edition" version, will carry an "i7" identifier and will be formally branded as "Intel® Core™ i7 processor." This is the first of several new identifiers to come as different products launch over the next year.

Products based on the new microarchitecture will deliver high performance and energy efficiency. This "best of both worlds" approach is expected to extend Intel's processor leadership in future mobile, desktop and server market segments.

"The Core name is and will be our flagship PC processor brand going forward," said Sean Maloney, Intel Corporation executive vice president and general manager, Sales and Marketing Group. "Expect Intel to focus even more marketing resources around that name and the Core i7 products starting now."

The Intel Core processor brand name has gained broad awareness, preference, and market momentum over the past several years. The Intel Core name remains the logical choice for Intel's latest family of processors. The Intel Core i7 processor brand logo will be available for high-performance desktop PCs with a separate black logo for Intel's highest-end "Extreme Edition." Intel will include processor model numbers to differentiate each chip.

Initial products based on this microarchitecture are expected to be in production in the fourth quarter of this year. These processors will feature Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology, also known as simultaneous multi-threading, and are capable of handling eight software "threads" on four processor cores.

Memorex Essential TravelDrives

The Essential TravelDrives sport 2.5-inch hard drive mechanisms with capacities from 160 to 320 GB; the drives connect via USB 2.0 ports and, even better, are bus-powered so there's no need to lug around a separate AC adapter to access your data. (Although running a drive off bus power can quickly sap a notebook battery, so be careful!). The drives are available in a variety of consumer-friendly color (blossom, tropic green, Caribbean blue, and cool silver)

This new tech gadget will take in only 2.5" hard drives and can work with either Mac or Windows platforms. Each Memorex Essential TravelDrive comes with its own backup software, so make sure you perform backups religiously and regularly. You can choose from 160GB, 250GB and 320GB models, and prices start from an affordable $89.99, with higher prices corresponding with a larger capacity; they should be available now.

Lenovo Ideapad S10

Lenovo on Monday announced the IdeaPad S10, the company's first Netbook. Specifications that make up the IdeaPad S10 include a 10.2-inch LED-backlit display, an Intel Atom processor, a keyboard that's 85 percent the size of a full-size laptop keyboard, and Windows XP.

Two configurations of the 9.8 x 7.2 x .8-1.08-inch and 2.4-pound S10 will be available in the U.S. Priced at $399, one will have 512MB of RAM and an 80GB hard drive. The other marked at $449.99 will have 1GB of RAM and a 160GB hard drive. The specs seem to indicate that the system will support 2GB of RAM, so we assume swapping out RAM will be easy. The netbook also includes Bluetooth connectivity, 802.11b/g , and an ExpressCard for popping in a mobile broadband card. It also sports a LAN connection and VGA-out. It has a 1.3-megapixel webcam, two USB ports, mic and headphone jacks, and a 4-in-1 card reader.

As for battery life, Lenovo is promising that the system will be available with a 3-cell battery, capable of 3 hours, and 6-cell, capable of lasting 6 hours.

The IdeaPad S10 will come in white, black, and a glossy ruby red. It will be on retail shelves in the U.S. on September 28 and perhaps on Lenovo.com a bit earlier. It will be available in China, however, on September 5 and in the far east on September 10.

A version of the S10 with a 9-inch screen will be available in select countries such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, Russia, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Mexico, India, France, Turkey, Poland, and others.