ViewSonic outs Android ViewPad 7

There’s not much in the way of extra information about the hardware to be gleaned, beyond the front-facing webcam, what looks to be a microphone on the side, and the usual Android buttons (in this case touch-sensitive) running down the bezel. However it looks like it could be a little thicker than the Samsung Galaxy Tab, though we’ll have to wait foViewSonic is throwing its hat into the Android tablet ring with a 7-inch offering called ViewPad.

The tablet will be made official at this year's upcoming IFA. So far, confirmed specs include a 7-inch screen, 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, microSD memory expansion, microphone, speaker, 3.5mm headphone jack, mini USB, and both front- and rear-facing cameras.

Pricing, capacity, and availability are yet to be determined, as is the specific version of Android the device will ship with. The image shown here, provided by ViewSonic, is a computer rendering of the device powered off, offering no hint of how Android will be implemented. The image does show a strip of touch-sensitive buttons down the right bezel of the screen, which seems to be typical for most Android-powered hardware.

A 10-inch tablet capable of booting both Android and Windows 7 is reportedly in the works as well. actual specifications of both units before we can know for sure.

Via : news.cnet.com

iPhone 4 Vs Windows Phone 7 Vs HTC HD2 Vs Nexus One

Guys over Pocketnow has done a wonderful job by comparing iPhone 4, HTC HD2, Nexus One and non-final Windows phone 7 (LG Panther) boot up times in tandem. The video compare the startup time of Windows Phone 7 with iPhone , Windows Mobile
and Android 2.2 OS.

Surprisingly, Windows Phone 7 comes out to be a clear winner that starts up in almost half the time of all of the other smartphone OS. Watch the video after the break!

Via : gadgetsdna.com

AT&T’s LG C900 Windows Phone 7 handset to be dubbed “Pacific”?

Seen last week in a handful of live photos, the WP7-based LG C900 will definitely not be launched under this name by AT&T.

Boy Genius Report has it that the QWERTY smartphone may be officially called “LG Pacific” (nothing to do with Samsung’s Wave series, of course).

The name “LG Pacific” was mentioned by a Microsoft official in an interview earlier this year, so this could indeed be the handset’s final moniker. We’ll see if this is true or not when AT&T announces the device.

The C900 has just been approved by the FCC, and some sources say (based on info found at the Bluetooth SIG) that it could be launched around September 28. I wouldn’t bet on that, though, since the SIG is often wrong when it comes to launch dates.

Via : unwiredview.com

Angry Birds preparing to peck pigs on PSP

When it comes to porting videogames, it’s usually Apple fans that have to wait to sample titles already being enjoyed by PC users or home console owners.

However, with Rovio Mobile’s Angry Birds, word of mouth, 6.5 million downloads, and plenty of critical acclaim garnered from its success on Apple-branded devices mean the hugely popular game is now venturing beyond the realms of the iTunes Store.

First up to host the feathery mayhem is Sony’s PlayStation Portable (PSP), which will soon be embracing the physics-based addiction of Angry Birds as a download purchase through the PlayStation Store’s ever-expanding ‘minis’ portfolio.

“The survival of the Angry Birds is at stake. Dish out revenge on the green pigs who stole the Birds’ eggs,” outlines publisher Chillingo. “Use the unique destructive powers of the Angry Birds to lay waste to the pigs’ fortified castles.”

This basically translates into a simple gameplay mechanic that involves the player using a slingshot to hurl up to six different types of birds at a variety of collapsible structures in order to uncover and defeat the greedy pigs hiding within.

Via : thetechherald.com

Wynncom Launches First Hindi QWERTY keypad phone Y-45

Wynncom has launched India’s first Hindi QWERTY keypad phone-Y-45 to make easy for mobile phone users from small towns. Sounds like, the keypad revolution is going on in India after a mobile phone with new Indian Rupee symbol from Lava Mobiles, After the successful launch of seven mobile handsets in India Wynncom is now set to entice the consumers with India’s first Hindi QWERTY keypad phone-Y-45 which facilitates a tech savvy urban youth to chat in our National language.

Wynncom has devised a new idea to make texting in Hindi possible by introducing a Hindi Qwerty keypad phone. This makes it easier for a user to connect especially in the small towns and villages where one can express oneself in Hindi without any language restrictions.The desi mobile with Indian national language Hindi QWERTY keypad comes with a dual SIM (GSM+GSM), a 5.6 cm (2.2) 262 TFT color screen, supports social networking sites such as Opera Mini, Snaptu, Nimbuzz, Facebook, Twitter, and MSN.

Features & Specs:

* Dual SIM (GSM+GSM)
* capacity with a 5.6 cm (2.2) 262 TFT colour screen
* upports social networking sites like Opera Mini,Snaptu, Nimbuzz, Facebook, Twitter, MSN etc and also has a Geographic location finder – Saarthi,
* 1.3 MP camera
* 1100 mAh Battery long lasting battery
* Talk time of 7 hours & Standby time of 250 Hrs
* expandable memory up to 8 GB
* Bluetooth with A2DP
* E mail facility
* PC Sync
* Video recording and Playback

Y-45 also allows a consumer to send free SMS’s across India, UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Malaysia and Philippines instantly with an inbuilt soft key for 160by2 – Free Mobile Phone Applications provider(Free SMS service provider)

Via : mobileclues.com

Panasonic Lumix LX5 vs Canon Powershot S95 – low light, size comparisons and other questions

Our recent article comparing the new Panasonic Lumix LX5 and Canon Powershot S95 high end cameras has resulted in us getting a fair bit of email, so we thought we’d post a follow up article answering some of the points raised.

Only for snappers?

Nick Wade commented:

"At the end of the day, these are all “happy-snappy” cameras. i.e., you can’t take them too seriously – despite the heavy price tags. The results are going to be pretty marginal in comparison. The Canon does sport RAW format which is a big plus though."

We disagree. The Lumix LX5 also supports RAW and both cameras are far from ‘happy snappy’ cameras – in the right hands, they’re extremely versatile tools capable of very high quality results – check out the Lumix LX3 and Canon S90 photo pools for examples of what their predecessors could achieve .

We’ve sold numerous photos taken on our long-serving Lumix LX3, and it’s proved a reliable and durable performer – in fact, when reviewing some of our photos we weren’t able to immediately tell if some were taken on our Nikon D300 dSLR or the LX3 without indulging in a bout of pixel-peeping.

That said, Nick is right to say that the difference in output from both the new Canon and the Lumix cameras will be marginal: with the two cameras packing similar, high quality components you’ll be unlikely to see any huge advantage either way.

Via : wirefresh.com

Weekly news roundup: Rumoured handset lineup for Windows Phone 7, Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 review and more

Want to know what's been hot in the world of technology and gadgets this week? It's been an entertaining week in the world of technology a gadgets as stories flood in from all angles.

First up we have the news that Gaming downloads have overtaken the downloading of music and films as Ofcom reports on the state of play. Whilst slightly controversially we make note of possible Apple plans to take greater control over your iPhone device.

Phone and camera news is rife as we bring news of big releases from Sony as well as a First Look review of its A55 Digital Single Lens Translucent camera, along with reviews of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100. And we reveal a whole host of potential phone candidates for the Microsoft's new Windows Phone 7 mobile operating system

Via : pocket-lint.com

BlackBerry Curve 3G 9300 coming to Australia, Malaysia

Already available in Canada (via Rogers and Bell) and ready to hit T-Mobile in the US, RIM’s BlackBerry Curve 3G 9300 will soon be available in Australia and Malaysia, too.

Australian customers will be able to buy the Curve 3G in early September via Vodafone and Optus. Starting October, the smartphone will be offered by 3 Australia as well. Pricing details will be unveiled later.

In Malaysia, the new Curve 9300 will also be available in September. No word yet on which carrier plans to sell the device in the country.

Currently running BlackBerry OS 5, the Curve 3G will be upgraded to OS 6 “in the coming months.” The smartphone comes to replace the Curve 8900 and Curve 8520 and adds HSDPA connectivity to their features.

Via : unwiredview.com

BlackBerry Curve 3G 9300 sails to Australia

After the BlackBerry Curve 3G finished junketing around Canada with Rogers, it is now backpacking to a new continent altogether. RIM has doffed the silk off its BlackBerry Curve 9300 for Australia. This handset renders support to high-speed 3G (HSDPA) networks all over the world.

This device features a QWERTY keypad and an optical trackpad for seamless navigation. Offering connectivity via integrated GPS and Wi-Fi, the Curve operates on the BlackBerry 5 and is ready for the company’s latest OS 6. The BlackBerry 6 is anticipated to come for this smartphone soon depending on carrier certifications. It sports a camera with video recording capability and has a microSD or SDHC slot which can be used to expand the storage capacity up to 32GB.

“The BlackBerry Curve series has been very popular in Australia and we are excited to extend the series with the new BlackBerry
Curve 3G,” asserted Adele Beachley, Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand, Research In Motion. “The new BlackBerry Curve 3G is both powerful and user-friendly, providing a smart choice for the growing number of first-time smartphone buyers who are looking for a better way to stay connected in their personal and work lives.”

The BlackBerry Curve 3G supports 3G networks which assist users in quicker browsing, seamless streaming, and the ability to take calls while browsing. Additionally, mobile aficionados in Australia can stay connected with friends using BlackBerry Messenger or other SNS. The handset is outfitted with dedicated music keys for instant access to a multitude of songs.

The BlackBerry Curve 3G 9300 will retail at Optus and Vodafone stores from the beginning of September. By October, three more stores is expected to sell the handset. Users will have to check out the respective carriers’ information for the pricing and in-store date.

Via : mobiletor.com

AT&T Captivate and T-Mobile Vibrant SIM unlock: an easy task

It’s no news that the Galaxy S is Samsung’s effort of trying to bring some new life to its smartphone line-up. And given the fact that this Android 2.1 smartphone (the Android 2.2 upgrade should arrive in September) was branded in several different ways (the Galaxy S, the T-Mobile Vibrant, the AT&T Samsung Captivate and the Sprint Epic 4G) you wouldn’t imagine that it’s a easy smartphone to perform a SIM unlock on. But think again.

The wizards from XDA hackers found out that the AT&T Captivate and the T-Mobile Vibrant have their unlock codes stored in a .BAK file on the smartphone itself. From there on to developing a way to unlock the phone was just a natural step. Unfortunately, this method has one limitation: while the Vibrant can work with AT&T’s 3G network, the Captivate is limited to T-Mobile’s edge network.

Via : free-pc-guides.com

Samsung Galaxy Review – If Size Does Not Matter To You

Many say that the 5 inch Dell Streak was a big phone, maybe a little too big, just imagine adding another two inches to that, what you will have now is a Android-powered Samsung Galaxy.

The Samsung Galaxy works totally like a 3G phone and the Samsung Galaxy Tab is almost like something between a phone and an iPad when you think of its size.

The other part where it would be wonderful for a user to use the Samsung Galaxy is if the person prefers a Bluetooth headset or handfree instead of holding the huge phone and talking on it. The speaker phone is kinda loud to use in private areas.

If compared with the iPad, the Samsung Galaxy Tab is significantly smaller than 10-inches. Both the screens have not much of a difference with their screen resolutions.

The Samsung Galaxy supports almost every video formats from mp4, wmv, DivX, XviD, mkv, etc. It has a 5 Megapixel camera including Auto-focus, Touch-focus. Video recording is HD Ready 1280*720 pixels on the Samsung Galaxy. The battery is great and lasts for around 2 days even with heavy usage.

The Samsung Galaxy is easily one of the top Android phones available in markets now.

Via : asiabizz.com

LG C900 to Launch End of September Worldwide?

It looks like the LG C900 with its slide-out keyboard and a destination of AT&T in the U.S. may get a worldwide launch on September 28 if information from the certification group Bluetooth SIG is correct. The models LG C900N, C900K, and C900B are set to launch around 9/28/2010 according to the Bluetooth SIG in Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, South America. AT&T, with its aspiration to be the premier Windows phone 7 destination, is hoping to be among the first to launch a smartphone running on Microsoft's next-generation OS, and that device will probably be the LG C900.

via : pocketnow.com

Are we going to see an iWatch next week?

So the reports of a 1.8 inch screen Nano continue this week. If you can imagine how small a 1.8 inch screen, measured diagonally, device is, you’ll note that it is pretty much the same size as a modern wristwatch. Apple, known for its ultra thin and light products, isn’t going to have a lot of weight around the outside of this product. It is pretty much going to be screen, battery, System on Chip and some way to charge it.

I’m not saying Apple is or isn’t going to release an iWatch. I’m just saying that if Apple does release a 1.8-inch iPod nano touch screen device, all of the kids are going to be ‘harnessing’ them on their wrists. It is the natural way to use a device like this. Think about it. Why do people wear watches on their wrists? It makes sense.

Read More @ 9to5mac.com

Griffin details PartyDock game accessory for iPad, iPhone

The iPad and iPhone offer a number of ways to get social while gaming, from Bluetooth or Wi-Fi fragging to split-screen, cut-fruit competition. But Griffin is looking to turn Apple’s latest gadgets into all-out gaming hardware consoles with a new dock the company announced on Friday.

Griffin’s upcoming PartyDock is a game and media dock for the iPad and iPhone 4. It includes four remotes and is designed to let you and your friends play games that Griffin is soliciting developers to create. Your iPad or iPhone 4 can become the gaming life of your party, or you can hook the PartyDock up to your TV to supersize the experience. Games will have to be designed or updated specifically to work with the PartyDock.

PartyDock can also send media out to your TV, and Griffin says it works great for YouTube, photo slideshows, and listening to music. It sounds like the PartyDock remotes will be able to control iOS’s YouTube and iPod app, turning your iPad or iPhone 4 into the world’s smallest competitor to the Apple TV and Google TV, and heck, maybe even the Nintendo Wii.

Beyond that, though, Griffin is mum on key details such as a price and ship date, though it does encourage developers who are interested in writing games for the PartyDock to get in touch. We’ll get you more info as we hear it.

Via : macworld.com