Nokia 5800 Navigation Edition
This variation of the popular Nokia 5800 Xpress Music edition makes the most of Nokia’s Ovi Maps that was recently re-vamped into a free ‘forever’ app.
The Ovi Maps app features coverage for over 70 countries and combines with the 5800 to maximize its abilities to give you turn-by-turn, voice-guided navigation for both driving and walking. Ovi Maps also features free updates, more than 6,000 3D landmarks, free event guides, and free Lonely Planet and Michelin travel guides.
As for the hardware, the bright 360×640TFT touchscreen displays the excellent features of the easy-to-read Ovi Maps and features tactile feedback. The 5800 Navi also features 3.5G (3.6 Mbs); Wi-Fi; 3.2 MP camera with video recording, autofocus, and LED flash; 81MB of internal memory; hot-swappable MicroSD slot that can accommodate cards up to 16GB; very respectable battery life of 8.8 hours talk time and 16 days of standby time; and all the music features of the original 5800 Xpress Music edition including dedicated menu button and even respectable built-in stereo speakers.
The 5800 Navi includes an auto power adapter and a windshield mount right in the box, so it’s ready to jump in the car and hit the open road with you. The windshield mount was a little tricky to put together and seemed rather large upon assembly, but actually is quite usable once installed in the car. It’s very adjustable and was long enough to put the phone right at my fingertips, even in my huge (read: non P.C.) SUV.
Currently on sale at the Nokia Online Store for $299.
LG’s Lotus Gets Elite
LG and Sprint are continuing their partnership with the release of the successor to the stylish Lotus phone. The LG Lotus Elite has all the looks of the original Lotus, but has stepped it up a notch with a few exclusive features.
One of the new features on the Elite is the 2.4-inch external touchscreen that allows users to easily navigate all their pertinent information without having to open the phone. The screen has a 320×240 resolution which makes for a vibrant phone experience. Other features include the new three dedicated shortcut keys for social networking, email, and text. The social networking button, dubbed Social can be mapped to a person’s favorite social network.
Fish Tank Friday: LG Fish Phone
By Evan Ackerman
We’ve seen our fair share of evil fish tanks, but this one is certainly a contender for the top three. The LG GD900 cell phone has a slide-out keypad that happens to be transparent. Some guy with a little bit of creativity and either a passionate love for, or an intense dislike of, his pet fish decided that it would be fun to stick a little compartment on the back of the keypad and turn it into a fish tank. The phone still works, but I’m not sure the fish do. There’s a video:
Please, don’t try this at home. Or anywhere else.
VIA [ Engadget ]
iNo Mobile simplifies the cellphone for kids and elderly
I do not know how I would react if my grandchild were to gift me a “for-elderly-only” gadget that would have nothing but the bare essentials, with the statement “The xxx device is the current rage Grandma, but I thought you needed one that’s as simple to get around as ABC”. One thing I know for certain – I would be saddened by my age being automatically assigned with a diminished learning ability. But for now, it gives me some hope to think that I am still several years away from that possibility and I resolve now to remain somewhat open to the idea, if ever. Sigh.
The iNo CP09 is another such GSM cellphone for kids and elderly that tears down the features to a minimum – a basic calculator-like screen with a large font display, large buttons, FM radio, torch light, headphone jack, and text messaging. And since both the categories of people are often imagined courting emergencies, there is an SOS button which when pressed sends a text alarm to a configured number and calls that number. Along with letting out a loud siren. Imagine the havoc a child could create with that. Whew.
The iNo Mobile is available exclusively in Singapore at $78.
Via Newlaunches.
T-Mobile lets loose glamor with the Sony Ericsson Equinox
T-Mobile adds more allure to its 3G phones with this latest from Sony Ericsson – the Sony Ericsson Equinox (earlier named T707). Otherwise a basic flip-phone in functionality, the Equinox carries some eye-catching bling to push itself to the limelight amongst the other established clamshell models in the market. First is the stylish exterior – after you update your T-Mobile favorites list with your caller friends’ circle, the shell lights up to indicate the identity of the caller in one of the five available colors. Say “amber” for good friend Joe and “amethyst” for avoidable Erica. I say, a thumbs-up for people with good memory, and more confusion for those without. Other than that, the external shell also contains an 128 x 36 OLED screen that functions only when you get an incoming call.
If you didn’t fall for that, here’s the next – the phone flaunts a scratch-resistant 2.2-inch QVGA inner screen, a 3.2MP camera, stereo Bluetooth connectivity, GPS for navigation, and an FM radio. It uses motion sensing for some gesture control – to silence a call or an alarm without opening the device. The phone also supports picture messaging and the provision to directly upload videos to YouTube. Poser or not you decide, but don’t say we didn’t warn you. The Equinox is due to go on sale today (October 28th) in T-Mobile stores. The price is pegged at $50 with a 2-year contract agreement.
Via UnwiredView.
