jkOnTheRun

RIM gets Bold with new BlackBerry and $150m developer fund

After months of rumors, RIM has come clean with their latest and greatest device. The BlackBerry 9000 as it were is officially announced as the BlackBerry Bold. There's no question, this is the most advanced and feature-packed 'Berry to date: tri-band HSDPA, GPS, WiFi, a 624 MHz processor, 2-megapixel camera, 1 GB of storage memory, a microSD/SDHC slot and a 480 x 320 screen. Of course, the famous BlackBerry QWERTY keyboard and trackball are there as well. All in all, this is quite a powerful device from RIM that will be available this summer; no price as of yet. Taking a cue from the iPhone SDK program, RIM has also set up a $150 million developer fund for mobile application developers. Maybe I need to blog less and learn to develop more... ;)

James has enjoyed his BlackBerry for the past year, but I have yet to experience one of the newer models, so I may need to get my hands on this when it hits the stores. It will be interesting to compare the Bold to the anticipated 3G iPhone, no?

Alltel rolling the BlackBerry Curve 8330 on May 1

Score a possible point for Alltel Wireless, the scrappy CDMA carrier in the southeastern section of the United States. Turns out that Alltel might beat out larger competitors Sprint and Verizon Wireless by being the first to roll out the BlackBerry Curve 8330 on May 1. It should all even out in the end though as the 8330 is likely to follow on Sprint and Verizon's network later in the month.

Alltel says that you can nab an 8330 for $229.99 after $100 mail-in rebate if you're a new customer adding two-years of service. The BlackBerry Curve 8330 offers a 3.5 mm headset jack, Bluetooth 2.0, full QWERTY keypad, GPS, 2-megapixel camera with video recording support, and microSD/SDHC slot. Sounds like a healthy feature-set to me; might be time to get a BlackBerry review device to put it through the paces.

Shozu coming soon to the BlackBerry

BlackBerry owners wanting to join the ShoZu party can sign-up for information as it becomes available; the sharing service is coming soon to the Pearl and Curve. If you're not familiar with ShoZu, it's a free service that lets you share photos, videos and more from your handset to over 30 websites including YouTube, Flickr, Facebook, Blogger and more. Plus you can keep tabs of what your friends are sharing thanks to content feeds. You can catch a look at the service even if you don't have a supported smartphone as a ShoZu client for the desktop (PC and Mac) was launched a few weeks ago.

(via IntoMobile)

RoadSync from DataViz - 40% off this month

Amidst all of the iPhone hype last summer, I showed a brief video overview of RoadSync from DataViz. This third party app provides an alternative method for Windows Mobile devices to synch with Microsoft Exchange, plus it brings this functionality to other platforms like Symbian, UIQ and Palm OS. Normally the software runs you $49.99, but I just got word from the DataViz folks that you can grab it for $29.99, which is 40% off. You can always trial the software for 30-days before dropping some coin, but this offer expires at the end of the month.

If your running Windows Mobile 5 or 6, you're outta luck on this one as the product only supports Windows Mobile 2003 on the Microsoft side. In the short time I used RoadSync on a Nokia N81, I was generally impressed. It's a great solution for devices that don't have a native way to synch to Microsoft Exchange 2003 or 2007.

Verizon XV6800 gets software patch for keyboard issues

Yikes, I actually didn't know there were any issues with the slideout keyboard on the XV6800 from Verizon Wireless. The good news is that there's an update from UTStarcomm that makes things a little better. This isn't a firmware update that wipes out your whole device and causes you to restore apps and data; it's simply a patch of some type. Since I don't have an XV6800, maybe one of the readers can help explain what issues there are with the keyboard? It's a shame because I loved the keyboard on my XV6700, which was the predecessor to the current device.

(via Mobility Site)

Nokia E90 Communicator review: Gear Diary

If only the Nokia E90 Communicator had a U.S. 3G radio. I might have considered giving it a closer look if it did, but for now I'll just have drool over the device that Mitchell Oke reviewed at Gear Diary. The device certainly isn't cheap at $1,099 here in the 'States but it offers quite a bit of bang for buck. How so? The 800 x 354 internal screen looks great for browsing on a pocket device for starters. The keyboard appears well designed although it would be nice if more than one hardware button were configurable. While the 3.2-megapixel camera doesn't share Carl Zeiss optics like the E90's bretheren on the Nseries side, the pics that Mitchell took look pretty darn good to me. It's just too bad about that 3G frequency... this could be a nice dual-purpose device when used as an HSDPA modem!

Palm Treo 755p for Sprint updated with... something.

I wish I could tell you more but sometimes Palm makes it a bit challenging. There's a new update available today for Treo 755p owners on the Sprint network running firmware 1.04 or less. You can find the info right here on the Palm support site.

Actually, I should re-phrase that. You can find the download there. If you're looking for information, you'll have to make do with the official upgrade description: "This software update is a tune-up that improves audio, stability, software quality and device usability." And don't we all want those features in our smartphone? ;)

(via PalmInfocenter)

Palm speaks up about Voice Dialing on Sprint, Verizon Treo 755p

There must be some confusion (or contention) between Sprint and Verizon customers that own a Treo 755p. The Official Palm Blog posted some clarifications on the different voice dialing solutions between the two because the two carriers opted for a different approach. Verizon went with the Treo Voice Dialing which requires no training. Sprint on the other hand didn't bundle a voice dialing application, but instead offers a free trial to Nuance Voice Control, which can be purchased as a subscription service.

This cuts to the heart of the matter with carrier control and customer perception: the exact same device on different carriers can be very different in terms of the user experience. Kudos to Palm for trying to manage a problem that really isn't theirs when you think about it. Unfortunately, consumers unhappy with the software on their device are more likely to blame the device manufacturer when it's actually the carrier that caused the issue in the first place.

RIM to enhance BlackBerry platform this year

RIM has announced their intention to update the BlackBerry platform the first half of this year to provide messaging and security enhancements.  BlackBerry users will predominantly notice improvements to the messaging handling which will add HTML support along with integration of Dataviz' Documents to Go software to allow viewing of Office documents directly from email.  These additions will eliminate the need to use third party utilities to provide the same functionality like many BB users do now.  There will also be Lotus Notes enhancements for those who live in Lotus by IBM.

(via The Mobile Gadgeteer)

VersaMail update for Palm Centro: Gmail IMAP, Exchange fix

The $99 Centro hasn't been out for three months but it's getting the update treatment already. I see that as a good thing; you don't want problems on your smartphone to linger on and on...

So what's included? It's all about the mail... VersaMail to be specific. According to Palm, this update enhances Gmail IMAP compatibility and beefs up the settings wizard for Gmail as well. There's also something in there for Microsoft Exchange users: a fix for an annoying DirectPush issue.

Matt Miller looks at gadgets over the past year

Fellow podcaster Matt Miller handles a lot of gadgets over time, if you want to know how many he's seen this year check out his look back at the gadgets he's played with this year.  Talk about geek overload!  He's written up his favorite devices and he's given some gadget awards so don't miss his look back.

Good article- The year of the new mobile operating system

InfoWorld has published a good article that takes a look at what the introduction of the iPhone and the Google Android platforms means to the US smartphone market.  It definitely appears that next year is going to be a really interesting one to watch and as InfoWorld points out we should see the carrier's "walled gardens" start to crumble.  This is a good thing as carriers are now realizing that it is too expensive and resource-intensive for them to try to force customers into their own portals because the portals aren't generating enough revenue for them to operate.  The iPhone and especially the Google Android will accelerate that realization as customers will have more carrier-independent choices in the US.  This is very good for the consumer but you will no doubt have to do your homework as choices open up.  We're here to help you with that on jkOnTheRun so buckle up, it's going to be a wild ride.

Gear Diary smackdown: HTC Touch vs. HTC Touch Dual

One thing is certain in a smackdown between the HTC Touch and HTC Touch Dual: bet on the HTC device and you're sure to come out a winner. Judie Hughes is in the enviable position of having both Windows Mobile 6 phones in her possession, so if you're looking for the differences in terms of specs, functionality or physical nature, now's your chance. Bear in mind that the HTC Touch Dual is geared for the non-U.S. market as the UMTS / HSDPA radio only supports 2100 MHz. Get a feel for both devices and their differences over at Gear Diary and see if either has you longing to reach out and Touch one! I'd probably opt for the original Touch since I prefer a touchscreen over a slide-out numeric keypad but the way Judie raves about the look and feel of the Touch Dual might have me second-guessing myself!

Palm Treo 755 pops onto Verizon Wireless online store

Verizon Wireless has the newest Palm OS Treo, the 755p, all ready and rarin' to go as of today. The latest refresh doesn't come cheap though: a quick peek at the VZW website shows the 755p going for $349.99 after a $50 rebate and a two-year plan commitment. Palm's press release indicates you can nab the device for $299.99 with with a qualifying voice plan, so check all of your options if you're purchasing.

Pretty standard fare for a a Palm OS Treo: 320 x 320 touchscreen, 1.3-megapixel camera, Bluetooth 1.2, miniSD slot with support for up to 4GB and QWERTY keypad. You've also got your speedy EV-DO connectivity with a fallback to 1xRTT where there's no Broadband Access coverage. Come to think of it, there isn't much difference here with the 700p, now is there?

Palm updates Treo 680 for AT&T customers

Palm announced an update to the Treo 680 a few days ago while I was traveling, but I thought to highlight the news in case some 680 handset owners missed the news. Software version 2.11 offers all of the features in the prior three upgrades and adds the following:

• Push-to-talk functionality for instant voice to other AT&T Push to Talk subscribers
  
• Direct Push e-mail support
  
• IM support for AIM, Windows Live Messenger, and Yahoo! Messenger
  
• Improved power management features
  
• Support for SDHC memory cards up to 4 GB

Note that this update is for the AT&T Treo 680; Palm expects this upgrade for unlocked 680s in the near future. Grab the software upgrade here if you missed it earlier this week. Sounds like some great features to help keep you productive with that Treo.

Documents to Go upgraded for Palm OS, adds create and edit functions

DataViz announced a point upgrade to Documents to Go for the Palm OS today; the old v10.001 becomes 10.002 as of today. There's a revision history of Documents to Go available, but I don't see the details of the new version just yet. The biggest upgrade however, has to be support for document creation and editing of Office 2007 artifacts like Word, Excel and PowerPoint docs. From my recollection, the prior version only supported document viewing; if I'm incorrect, someone can lend and hand and point out the inadvertent error.

If you purchased the prior version (10.001), you're eligible for a free upgrade from DataViz. Got an older version on your Palm OS device? You can grab the Premium Edition of this version for $29.99. New users can download a free trial and decide if the full price of $49.99 is worth it.

Nokia Audiobook software beta for S60 available

Here's a nice little freebie if you're a fan of audiobooks and have a Symbian S60 device: Nokia has a beta Audiobook application ready and waiting for you to download. Bear in mind it is a beta and will have some limitations right from the get go. First and foremost is the audiobook file support: you have your choice of either AMR-WB or AMR-WB, meaning, you don't have a choice. The Nokia Audiobook Manager software for PC will help you convert from .wav or .mp3 (with the optional LAME encoder), but this won't help you with protected content from Audible for example. Nokia is trying to balance sound quality with file size and AMR-WB is a well used standard for mobile phones, so I can understand this limitation.

According to the Nokia Beta Labs, the software should work with all S60 3rd edition devices and was tested with Nokia N73, N76, N80, N93, N91, E70, E65, E62, E60, 5500 sport, and 3250.

(via Darla Mack)

Om tries the Nokia N81, returning it promptly

Not a good sign when you take a review device out for a test spin and then plan to send it back willingly in under 24 hours. That's pretty much what happened to a new Nokia N81 when it arrived in Om Malik's hands. He's got a full review up, although I'd call it more like first & last impressions. From a look and feel standpoint, he liked what he saw, but apparently the operating system didn't cooperate much after that.

"The device behaved like a 3-year-old throwing a tantrum. Unless this is an especially buggy device, N81 has to be one of the worst Nokia phones I have ever used and would be loathe to recommend it to anyone.It is underpowered and the Symbian S60 OS behaves like Windows ME. Remember that piece of junk? Well this is worse. It takes more than 10 seconds to open a text message. Switching between applications is akin to me running - out of breath. One has to constantly reboot the phone to even make phone calls."

I have to wonder if this was a pre-production unit or needs a firmware upgrade because while I trust Om to share his true experiences, the S60 phones I've used have exhibited none of these behaviors. Today must be pick on mobile phone OS day and nobody told me...

Verizon Voyager pre-orders begin, free activations for limited time

Folks are debating if the Verizon Voyager is better than iPhone or not, but you can't debate a free activation deal. That's the offer currently on the Verizon Wireless site although I can't find any details. One detail I did find is that your Voyager will become available on November 21st, just two short weeks away.

As expected, this dual display will set you back $299.99 with a two-year contract. We like what we've seen so far, but iPhone killer? Well, that's going to depend on the web experience, which is something we haven't seen just yet.

Nokia bumps Mail for Exchange to 2.1, adds supported devices

While everyone else is talking about invasions Gphones by Androids, I'm going to zig to the zag of others. Running around all morning and just now catching up on RSS feeds has nothing to do with it, I assure you. (OK, maybe a bit, but boy is the new Apple Store in Whitehall, PA nice to visit in the fall!)

On the non-Google front, Nokia just upgraded Mail for Exchange to version 2.1. The latest and greatest software that lets you synch your iPhone Nokia handheld to Microsoft Exchange is now available here and there's a few additional handsets supported over the last version. Which ones? How about those sporty new N81s and 8 GB N95s? Not that I have one, but maybe you do and crave Exchange synching. I'm still trying to satisfy my mail urges with Gmail, but it's tough going when you're used to the rock-solid-ness of Exchange.

(via Eseries)

Video recording capabilities coming to CrackBerrys everywhere

Seems like it took forever for BlackBerrys to get integrated cameras, so it's no surprise that the handy-dandy handheld doesn't have recording capablities. Until now, that is. This won't sit well with BlackBerry owners that are already hiding the camera capability from their paranoid employers, but it looks like video-recording is in BB OS 4.3. The new OS version is already shipping on the 8130, and apparently the update will be filtering out to 8100 and Curve devices too. There's some other upgrades and features as well, plus an actual video that was taken with the 8300 to see. Where else but at CrackBerry.com.

(via Digital Inspiration)

T-Mobile Shadow first impressions: welcome to Neo

Note to handset manufacturers: if you're not already getting your devices to Matt Miller on or before you launch a new device, you're behind the eight-ball. Seriously! He did it again! Matt went to the T-Mobile store to pick up a new BlackBerry Curve, but all the customer buzz was about the Shadow so made came home flat. As in with out the Curve. Hmm...that was a bad one, wasn't it?

On a more serious note, he's got his detailed first impressions on the new Windows Mobile 6 GSM phone along with some video you'll want to see. Why? It shows off the customized "Neo" home screen that Microsoft worked on with T-Mobile. Windows Mobile as a platform has always been functional, but lacking in style and usability. Looks like that's changing if this Microsoft explanation of Neo is any indication.

Motorola Q9h global launches on AT&T

The Motorola Q9h lands at AT&T today without any surprises, but it's still worth a mention to folks doing some early Christmas shopping for a new Windows Mobile 6 device. What, doesn't everyone start holiday shopping the day after Halloween? The stores certainly seem to think so if the displays are any indication. Speaking of displays, the Q9h offers you a 2.4-inch 320 x 240, or QVGA screen. You can touch it but nothing will happen other leaving some fingerprints behind. Other specs include:

• Quad-band GSM with EDGE/HSDPA support
  
• 2-megapixel camera
  
• 132 MB of usable on-board memory with microSD slot for expansion
  
• Integrated GPS with TeleNav GPS Navigator and TeleNav Track software (usage is fee-based)
  
• DataViz Documents to Go
  
• BlackBerry Connect support coming in 2008

Of course, you get the nice QWERTY keyboard and thin RAZR-like profile too for $199 after all deals. I'd check your store because the AT&T online store shows a price of $299.99 currently. PC Mag has a full review all ready to go if you're in the market.

rotateMe adds automatic screen rotation to Nokia N95

Automatic screen rotation one of my favorite iPhone features and it's coming to the Nokia N95. Actually, the guts of the solution, an accelerometer, are already on the inside of the N95, just waiting to be flipped from portrait to landscape and back again. Once the rotateME software hits us around the end of this month, you can wake up that sleeping accelerometer as you see fit. Jonathan Greene caught wind of this and shares a great video demo of rotateMe on an N95. The video is all in French, but it's the visuals that captured my eye. The N95 using rotateMe looks to switch video modes very fast, near instant in many cases and supports rotation of the hardware buttons as well. Nice!

AT&T 8525 getting Windows Mobile 6 upgrade tomorrow

Good news for AT&T 8525 / Hermes owners: HTC is set to release a Windows Mobile 6 upgrade for your 8525. Look for it tomorrow and be sure to back up your data and charge your battery in preparation for the flash. Aside from some nice usability features added, Windows Mobile 6 appears much more stable to me than its predecessor.

Upgrading my T-Mobile Dash from WM 5 to WM 6 has made the device rock solid, so you'd be hard-pressed not to want this upgrade on your 8525. Best feature I've found for mobility in WM6? Easy Internet Sharing to use your phone as a Bluetooth modem for either a PC or a Mac.

Palm Daylight Savings rules: be sure you're up to date

Don't forget this is the first year we've had in quite a while (ever?) where the Daylight Savings Time start and end dates were changed. DST started earlier and ends this weekend, which is later than usual; I'm sure that Ben Franklin and William Willett are smiling down on us right now. Or maybe they were an hour ago?

Palm owners will can make sure they're not losing an hour of light by reviewing the information at the Official Palm Blog. There are links for both Palm OS and Windows Mobile devices; chances are you've already got the update from the pre-DST time frame, but if you missed it, now's the time... and now you know why you've been an hour late to every appointment since springtime.

Palm offers free Sudoku for Verizon 700p

I lost track of how many times the Palm Treo 700p maintenance release was on again and off again. (Again and again). Palm is showing some sympathy but you'll have to like flexing your brain muscles and be a Verizon customer to get jazzed about this. Why is that? Well, Palm is offering Astraware's Sudoku free of charge after you upgrade your Treo 700p to 1.10. If you haven't upgraded, you can find the release right here. After that, just hit up the Palm page with the free offer. You have until April 30, 2008 for the free offer; wonder if that means no more 700p updates until then? Actually, I've heard rumor that the version number for the next release is hidden the Sudoku grid shown. There's a mind-bender for you...

(via Palm Infocenter)

What WinMo lurks in the heart of T-Mobile customers? Only the Shadow knows...

T-Mobile has an interesting Windows Mobile 6 slider on the way this week. In fact, at $149 the T-Mobile Shadow might make a nice little trick-or-treat gift since you can get it in your goodie bag starting on Halloween. Matt Miller says the 2.6-inch QVGA display isn't a touchscreen, so this will run the Standard Edition of Windows Mobile. Most of the WinMo sliders I've seen are pretty beefy when it comes to thickness, but according to Matt, the Shadow shows as only a half-inch in thickness.

You won't get a full traditional QWERTY keypad like you do on the Tilt or Mogul, but you get what I think is the next best thing: a SureType keypad, i.e.: each button is used for one of two letters. Well, except for "M" and "L", which are literally, the odd men out. Although I haven't used this type of input method on a smartphone yet, I expect that it will work very well when combined with the excellent word completion that Windows Mobile offers. The Shadow has EDGE support as well as WiFi. On the downside, 3G would be nice but with no 3G network in place it would be a waste at this time. The upside: looks like you can get a brand new, very capable Windows Mobile smartphone for a reasonable price.

Mobility Site snags the Samsung SCH-i760

Mobility Site wasted no time in snapping up one of the new Samsung SCH-i760 Windows Mobile phones from Verizon. You still can't get 'em in the stores for another week or so; if you want to get a good look-see before ordering one on-line, check out the unboxing video and many comparison pics available. I held this device back at CES in January and since we haven't seen it since, I'd forgotten how svelte it is. In the comarison shots that Chis has, you can see it's no bigger than the Tilt and noticeably smaller than it when you compare the two with the QWERTY keyboards slid out. I still wish we had seen this device sooner, but it's a nice Windows Mobile 6 option if you're looking for something different.

IM client upgrades for BlackBerry: Yahoo! and Google

I get so stuck on BlackBerry for corporate users that I forget they can be fun devices too. Thankfully, Boy Genius Report reminds me that instant messaging isn't just for the 18 - 24 crowd by showing off the latest updates for Yahoo! Messenger and Google Talk. RIM has a newly updated version of both clients available; some of the beefed up features add better contact management, file sharing and support for Windows Live Messenger. Check out the full gallery over at BGR!

Maybe this is another reason Matt Miller is adding a BlackBerry Curve to the device drawer closet in his home?

AT&T announces Blackjack II with Video Share

"Return of the BlackJack" might not be the best-kept secret, but at least it's now official. AT&T just popped out a press release on the BlackJack II phone, but unfortunately they've stayed mum on a release date citing availability later this year. Since there's really only two months left on the calendar, I suppose that window is better than nothing. The BlackJack II will of course run on Windows Mobile 6 and has a very similar look and feel to the popular BlackJack it replaces. You can peep all the specs in the official press release, but a few jump out:

• AT&T Video Share will allow for video sharing but I believe it's a one-way stream (and pricey, IMO)
• Tri-band HDSPA, quad-band EDGE/GPRS
• GPS with TeleNav

Between the iPhone, the Tilt and soon the BlackJack II, AT&T might have the best high end phone line-up available. Arguable to be sure, but when I see phones like the XV6800 just now getting to Verizon, there's no comparison. Sprint is at least making an effort to keep pace, but I think this is AT&T's year in terms of phone offerings.

Windows Live Messenger for Nokia E-series devices, it's a-LIVE!

Got a Nokia E-series device and been somehow living without Microsoft Windows Live Messenger? Yes, we know it's tough to do without; I lost my Hotmail password years ago and life just hasn't been the same since. Go check that Download! folder to see if you've got an installation ready and waiting for you which will give you Live Messenger, Live Search, Live Spaces and Live Hotmail. There's some confusion on the web on if there will be a future charge for the software or service, so fore-warned is fore-armed... which is obviously better than four-armed or you'd need four of these. Availability of the software appears to be determined by which carrier and region your SIM is from, so this might not be a world-wide release just yet.

Nokia now shipping N81 handheld in Europe

Nokia shot out a press release this morning on the new Nokia N81 handset: it's now available and shipping. You've got your choice with and without the 8 GB of internal memory: with it, expect to pay 430 Euros. Losing the 8 GB capacity but adding a microSD card slot will save you 70 Euros for a price of 360 Euros. Note: both prices are prior to any subsidies or taxes.

What's all this talk of Euros for the non-European readers? Well, I just hit up the Nokia USA site and found the N81... with a "Coming Soon" label. With the multimedia functions, N-Gage support later this year, and solid S60 experience, soon can't come soon enough for some!

Samsung i760 hits VZW online tomorrow, stores on November 2nd

That Windows Mobile 6 Professional with the slideout keyboard, the Samsung i760, becomes available online tomorrow for Verizon Wireless customers. You'll have to wait until November 2nd to slide into a store and find one. $350 after contracts, rebates and promises of not gobbling up tons of bandwidth with the EV-DO radio nets you an i760. Aside from the keyboard and offset numeric keypad, there's your typcial array of features and functions: Bluetooth 2.0, 1.3-megapixel cam, WiFi, microSD slot, 128 MB of flash ROM and 64 MB of RAM.

The one thing I really don't understand here: I think we heard news of this phone very late last year. Why so long to wait for the actual product? This device would have had much more impact if it saw the light of day six months ago. Not trying to bash VZW here and I understand there's tons of hoops to jump through for testing and getting new devices out the door. Still, it's hard to get excited about the i760 when the Tilt is available for AT&T and the new HTC Touch is hitting Sprint on November 4th. Another example: Engadget Mobile says the XV 6800 is coming sometime after the i760. In my opinion, that device is overdue by 9 to 12 months considering how long ago we saw the XV 6700.

Social.FM launches new Windows Mobile, Symbian client for audio streaming

We told you it was coming and it's here: Social.FM just released their newest streaming audio client for Windows Mobile (PDF) and now Symbian as well (PDF), shown here. Social.FM is the company formerly known as Mercora, which is not to be confused with the artist formerly known as Prince. Well, unless they come up with some archaic he / she sign to represent the new name. The new client is free to download and use during a trial period through the end of November; after that it's $19.95 a year to access remotely music on your home PC or a friend's collection, listen to digital radio, or podcasts. Microsoft employees get a special benefit as they all get free subscriptions, bypassing the $19.95 yearly fee.

When I last tried the service, I found it to work quite well, even over EDGE. Now that there's a Symbian client, I'll have to pop out my iPhone SIM and give Social.FM a shot with a Nokia handheld.

Nokia introduces touch interface for S60: it's all in the UI

Nokia sure isn't sitting still with all of the iPhone hype going on these past few months. The largest handset manufacturer continues to make a strong push for feature parity and today shows the latest effort: the S60 touch interface. All About Symbian breaks the news and shares a YouTube video demonstrating the touch capabilities to be offered. Features include support for both finger and stylus input, haptics (tactile feedback that the iPhone doesn't currently offer) and backwards compatibility.

We've long been advocates of touch input; heck, we've been using touch-capable devices daily for several years. The key to success with touch is all in the interface. While touchscreens have been around for years, this is the first year that we have UIs that take full advantage of them in my opinion. From what I saw of the concepts in the video, Nokia is fully cognizant of the need for a good UI. The company will make the technology available for

Palm Centro gets another glowing review

The Palm Centro review units are making the rounds and therefore, so are the first hands-on reviews. I opted to read and highlight Andrew's first look at the Centro over at Treonauts; as a long-time Palm user and site owner, I think he provides a fairly balanced look at all things Palm. I know people keep commenting on the small device size and tiny, cramped keyboard but Andrew finds it very usable.

I like the fact that Pocket Tunes Deluxe is bundled with the Centro since that allows it to compete with other handhelds as a solid digital audio player. Andrew agrees and notes that the back speaker is extremely loud; great for pairing with Pocket Tunes Deluxe if you don't want to wear a headset while jammin' out! I think Palm just might have a $99 winner here and they'll capture a bigger smartphone audience than folks initially expected. It won't save the company by itself, but it's a step in the right direction; now if they could just get their new Linux OS device out the door before the end of 2008 as planned... that would go a LONG way towards helping.

Samsung/ Bang & Olufsen launch the Serenata

We first starting hearing last month about a smartphone being launched by a partnership with Samsung and adio king Bang & Olufsen through a viral web site that teased more than providing any real information.  Reader Paul Shadwell let me know this morning that the web site is now divvying up the goods on this great looking new phone, the Serenata.  Take a look at this baby:

The specs are pretty impressive with an emphasis on 3G, wireless access, PIM synchronization and of course, music playing:

The intriguing part of the Serenata is the lack of a keypad of any type, instead all entries are apparently made via a wheel on the front:

The inclusion of an integrated stand is designed to make conference calls easier with the Serenata:

Heck, just go see it for yourself, it's one of the most entertaining product web sites I've seen in a while.  There's music so it may not be SFW.

Nokia to bundle Devicescape in E-, N-series for easier WiFi access

Remember Devicescape, the beta application that helps you easily connect to WiFi hotspots? Nokia certainly noticed the service because they're going to bundle it with their E- and N-series devices. Devicescape offers a seamless and interesting approach for WiFi configuration so you don't have to jump through hoops to get connected. According to Techworld:

"The software works by sending a request to Devicescape's site, even before the user is logged in, by piggy-backing information on the DNS protocol, which is open on every hotspot. A DNS request transmits a query to the Devicescape site, and a legitimate DNS packet returns the information the handheld needs to log into the Wi-Fi hotspot."

If you can't wait for Devicescape on your Nokia smartphone or want to try it with Windows, OS X, Windows Mobile or Nokia Internet Tablet, you can download the client directly.

(via Phone Scoop)

Blackberry Pearl 8130 arrives at Sprint next month

There's a new berry on the Sprint vine, or soon will be according to the CDMA carrier. The Blackberry Pearl 8130 will surface in a lovely amethyst color next month at Sprint stores all around the town. You probably know the feature set, but we'll run it down as a refresher: 2-megapixel camera, integrated GPS, high capacity microSD slot, stereo Bluetooth support, 3.5mm jack, SureType keyboard and EV-DO radio. The 8130 will also support the wide array of Sprint PowerVision services such as the Sprint Music Store, Sprint TV, OnDemand and Sprint Navigation with voice guided turn-by-turn directions.

No official word on the pricing, but I'd expect it in the $200 to $250 range after all offers and two-years of your cellular life.

Sprint Mogul getting EV-DO Rev. A on October 22nd?

The buzz is that Sprint's Mogul will get a firmware upgrade on October 22nd which would finally allow the smartphone to take advantage of Sprint's faster EV-DO Rev. A network. If When it happens, it's probably not as momentous as it sounds since most of the Rev A. benefit is seen on the upload side of the house. I'd guess that a large majority of that 3G radio is used for downloading, but it's still a nice benefit. I know James was seeing some pretty fast up and down speeds with Verizon's EV-DO Rev. A, so it's all good.

Folks are also clamoring for the upgrade to fix a Bluetooth issue with the Mogul, so cross your fingers for all the Sprint Mogul owners out there!

(via Gear Diary)

New Nokia N95-3: it's what the original should have been

That's the general impression of the Nokia N95-3 made by Jonathan over at atmespheric endeavors. While some might read that as a knock against the original N95, I don't think it is. The earlier version of the N95 is a very capable device, but fell short in some key areas, namely: no U.S. 3G support, marginal battery life and not enough memory for effective multi-tasking. Jonathan has used the N95-3 for the past few days and it sounds like all of those shortcomings are a distant memory on the new device. The shame of it all is: he got used to the DSL-like speeds of HSDPA while in New York City with the device. Unfortunately, he's out of the coverage area at home and realizes something we've emphasized here for some time: "It’s equivalent to the upgrade from dial-up to broadband." I hope AT&T expands to your area soon, Jonathan! Meanwhile, if you've been looking for a high-end multimedia GSM / HSDPA handset, check out Jonathan's impressions on this $699 wonder.

Mobile Gadgeteer: AT&T Tilt might be worth the AT&T account

You and I can't get the AT&T Tilt until tomorrow, but Matt Miller has had an evaluation unit for the past five days. In typical Mobile Gadgeteer fashion, Matt provides a thorough overview on the new device along with a six minute video that covers most of the main features. How good does Matt think it is? Consider this: he bought and then unlocked an iPhone only to cancel the AT&T account. Now he says: "My AT&T account was actually set to get cancelled earlier today, but after receiving an evaluation unit of the Tilt and using it for a couple of days I called up and made sure my AT&T service would continue. The Tilt is so good that I may actually decide to stay with AT&T so I can pick one up for myself." Yowza!

Tomorrow, Windows Mobile 6 will Tilt at AT&T

It's officially official: AT&T will exclusively debut the Tilt Windows Mobile 6 phone tomorrow. $299 with two year commitment nets you what I think is the most powerful and feature packed Windows Mobile device yet:

• 2.8-inch QVGA screen
• Slideout QWERTY keyboard
• Bluetooth 2.0 / WiFi / tri-band UMTS & HDSPA / GPS with TeleNav
• 3-megapixel camera on the back (AT&T opted for the model without a second front camera)
• SDHC microSD slot for up to 32 GB of external storage

The Tilt is also the first U.S. Windows Mobile device to offer Blackberry Connect software which should expand the potential audience even more. Even though I'm not in the market for a smartphone, I think I'll be heading over to AT&T just to check this out up close and personal.

Garmin Mobile XT: you supply the GPS, software does the rest

Garmin announced a new navigation application for smartphones today with the introduction of Garmin Mobile XT. For a suggested retail of $99, you get a microSD card complete with navigation software and maps of the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, or Europe. You'll need a supported smartphone with integrated GPS for this to work; once you pop the microSD card in your phone, the application starts right up.

Most GPS-enabled smartphones already come with software or work with free offerings like Windows Live Mobile or Google Maps, so there might not be a big draw for Garmin Mobile XT on the surface. The add-in services might bring some more value however: "Garmin Mobile XT builds in unique features such as support for travel guides, topo maps and custom points of interest, as well as advanced features such as route planning with saved routes, custom avoidances and visible trip logs.  Garmin Mobile XT users also have the benefit of routing to the location of a contact in their phone’s address book or to a calendar appointment (on supported platforms)."

HTC outs Q4 lineup in London: Shift, S730, P6500

Proving to me that the folks at HTC never sleep, they've got their fourth quarter lineup announcement direct from London. Three devices are on the docket: the HTC Shift UMPC which we've already seen and the S730 & P6500 Windows Mobile Smartphones. I don't see any new information on the Shift but the two phones look interesting. The S730 appears to be a successor to the HTC S710, aka: the Vox with more memory, a bump in the processor from 201 MHz to 400 MHz, and HSDPA over the prior model's EDGE. It still has the numeric keypad on the outside and a full QWERTY slider on the inside.

The P6500 (known as the Sedna?) looks like a PDA phone for the enterprise; maybe even more so for warehouses and logistics business. It's chock full o' features: GPS, HDSPA, 3-megapixel camera with barcode & fingerprint scanning capabilities, and two external SD card slots. Let's see if this one shows up in Jack Bauer's hands next season.

Palm Centro for Sprint officially outed, $99 on October 14

Not like it was a secret or anything, but Palm officially unveiled the Palm Centro today at DigitalLife in New York City. The Palm OS device will cost $99 after all discounts and with a two-year Sprint agreement; Sprint has exclusivitity for 90 days after launch, which is October 14th. Onyx black or ruby red are your choices: if you like shiny, you'll like the red.

Some might not be jazzed with the Centro, but when I step back and look at the phone, I'm actually impressed from a value standpoint. For under $100 you're getting a 320 x 320 touchscreen smartphone with fast EV-DO connectivity, camera, multimedia capability and full QWERTY keyboard; smartphones have definitely come a long way and at a price like this will certainly become more mainstream.

Stellar battery life for new U.S. Nokia N95

Aside from including a 4- or 8-gigabytes of internal storage in the new Nokia N95 hitting the U.S., the battery capacity was also increased to 1200 mAh. Could there be some firmware or other tweaks that also help add to the runtime of the new model? I'm thinking yes because Darla Mack put both the old and new Nokia N95 through the roughly the same daily grind and the difference was staggering. Her original N95 stayed awake until around 9pm at which it decided it was bed-time. The new N95, also known as model N95-3? Well, lets just say that N95-3 could have an all-night pillow party while the ol' N95 was fast asleep. Check Darla's full day experiences to see how she used both devices throughout the day to test the battery life.

VZW Palm Treo 700 updates, mo' better network connectivity

I just can't keep up with these maintenance releases, but the official Palm blog assures us that they're here. Verizon Wireless customers with a Palm Treo 700p or 700 w/wx device can get updated right here. I haven't followed the update version numbers too closely, but it looks like these are basically the same updates that were available from Verizon retail stores earlier in the year, although some folks had issues when following that process. There appears to be at least one additional fix that addresses intermittent network connectivity issues, so even if you updated earlier, this is probably worth a look.

Conversation threads SMS on Nokia handsets

Nokia has an updated SMS application to provide a threaded, conversational approach. The new beta app is aptly named "Conversations" and it's available as a free download for E- and N-series devices running S60 3rd edition. Matt Miller gave it a shot since he's used to this type of interface on his AT&T T-Mobile iPhone; Matt says it needs some work, but that's the reason it's out in a public beta. Nokia's waiting on your feedback, so go have some conversations!

Missing Sync for Symbian announced, 1Q08 for Mac synching

Good news from Mark/Space, developers of The Missing Sync software that provides smartphone synching for Mac OS X: a version for Symbian phones is due out in the first quarter of 2008. The app is targeted for Motorola, Nokia and Sony Ericsson handset owners looking to pair their smartphone with a Mac. Contacts, calendar events, tasks, photos, music and e-mail will all be supported through Mac apps like iCal, Entourage, iPhoto, iTunes and Address Book. In terms of media, you'll only be able to transfer and use non-DRM files, but that's fairly typical in any iTunes situation. MarkSpace says you'll need Mac OS X and a supported Symbian device with Bluetooth; USB is needed for iTunes and iPhoto synching. Look for a downloadable license at $39.95 with a CD copy of the software for $49.95.