MacWorld 09 - Microvision Shows Off SHOW WX Pocket Projector

A company that specializes in ultra-miniature projection display products for mobile devices, today at Macworld Conference and Expo 2009 announced plans to unveil the pre-production version of its laser display solution for mobile devices. Providing a better display experience and a 25% package-size reduction over Microvision’s SHOW prototype, SHOW WX, the code name for the new device, combines ultra-thin pocket-sized convenience with the power to project DVD-resolution images up to 100 inches across.

The production version of SHOW WX is planned to be a simple plug-n-play pico projector for people on-the-go. Users could take the pocket-sized projector anywhere, plug it into their portable media players, mobile phones, notebooks and other mobile media devices with TV-Out or VGA functionality and share a big screen experience with friends, family or business associates.

SHOW WX uses Microvision’s PicoP display engine technology to help deliver more colorful and brighter images. The patented display engine technology requires no projection lenses or focus adjustment. As a result, SHOW WX images are always in focus, regardless of projection distance, producing widescreen images as small as 6 inches to as large as 100 inches across.
SHOW WX Features

• Easy setup: Simply plug and play.
• Small and sleek: Sits comfortably in the user’s hand and easily slips into a pocket or purse; just 118 mm long by 60 mm wide and just 14 mm thick, approximately the size of a personal media player or mobile phone.
• Image of any size: Ideal for controlled lighting environments, images are projected as small as 6 inches to 100 inches, or more.
• Wide projection angle: Brings the “big screen” closer to the user.
• High-resolution (WVGA) and 16:9 format: Serves both consumer (e.g., video) and business (e.g., presentations) applications.
• Vivid images: Stunning laser colors combined with exceptional contrast.
• Long battery life: Expected for the production version, up to 2 hours, provides plenty of time to view a movie on a single charge.

Initial commercial production is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2009, followed by larger commercial quantities in the second half of the year. Consumers interested in receiving more information about the availability of the production version of SHOW WX.

Nokia 5800 XpressMusic

Form Factor
To recap from the description of the handset I gave in the preview the 5800 may not be a sleek handset but it is well designed. Its dimensions are 111 x 51.7 x 15.5mm and it weighs in at just 109g and the only figure that I had a teeny tiny problem with initially was its depth. Nothing I didn’t get over very quickly though. The display is brilliant and very clearly visible even in direct sunlight. The 3.2-inch touchscreen sports a 360 x 640 pixel, 16 million color display resolution.

Once again I’d like to say, I personally am not a fan of the color the handset’s body is set in. I have yet to see the Blue colored model and decide. I do like the concealed hot swap SIM and microSD card slots built into side and the screen lock slider that’s well placed on the other side. The placement of the micro USB port, charging slot and 3.5mm earphone socket on the top is a good idea as it makes it quite convenient for all connectivity. I especially like the drop down ‘media-bar’ that can be accessed via a small touch sensitive key located above the display.

I still like the design though. It feels just like a normal candy-bar handset without the wide design like most other touchscreen handsets.

Features and Performance
Interface
The 5800’s tweaked out S60 version touchscreen User Interface is well constructed and can be used virtually with no help from the stylus whatsoever. The only time you’ll actually require the stylus is when you’re using the extremely intuitive handwriting option for entering data. A couple of negatives with the UI is that the accelerometer is a little too sensitive and that can’t be adjusted. Secondly there’s a 2-3 second gap and no transition effects every time the orientation is changed. The glitch could be easily fixed with a software update I’m hoping.

Lastly, selecting links on a WebPage is a little difficult as sometimes the status bar doesn’t appear so it’s a little confusing figuring out if the next page will appear or not. Other than that I think the touchscreen interface even with the double tap is well constructed. It’s even better with the tactile screen feedback. That sensitivity can be adjusted. Something that Nokia has not been able to curb is the dreadfully long wait period when attempting to open the video center section to view all video files. The more videos there are to load the longer the wait. My advice, open them from the file manager section. Flick controls is also present for scrolling through images.

The various modes of data entry are also well designed with a full QWERTY keypad that can be used only in landscape to optimize the use of the large screen, a smaller QWERTY keypad that can also be used in portrait, a normal mobile alpha-numeric pad for the conventional users and of course handwriting recognition. The handset also uses a very useful contacts bar - it allows users to have a few select contacts saved on the desktop with personal images etc., and when selected, a drop down box will reveal all the recent correspondence with that particular contact.

CES 09: Samsung Reveals Moble Handset With Built-in Projector

News from CES is still pouring in and although we already got reports of samsung's pico pocket computer .new reports are in that they also had a working mobile handset with a built-in projector as well. Together with Texas Instruments’ DLP-based Pico projector module, Samsung has developed a handset that’s yet to be named.

The handset will apparently feature –

• a large OLED display customized for a TouchWiz GUI
• 5 megapixel camera
• GPS
• 3G support

These seem to be the only features mentioned for now and I’m sure we’ll hear a lot more during the next few months as word is that the handset could be made available at least in Korea sometime this year. No price was mentioned either.

SE Announces Two New Walkman Handsets

Sony Ericsson has announced two new Walkman phones to be launching soon.

The first handset, for Vodafone customers, will be the GPS enabled W715 slider Walkman phone. Aside from turn-by-turn pedestrian or driving navigation available using Vodafone Find&Go, customers will be able to find their nearest restaurants, hotels or shopping centers all within a few clicks.

The W715 Walkman phone features the same superior sound quality as the W980 Walkman phone. On the top of premium music experience with crystal clear sound, the W715 includes -

• 2.4-inch TFT LCD screen, 240 x 320 pixel, 262k colors
• Accelerometer
• FM Radio with TrackID (for music recognition)
• SensMe (for matching your mood to the music)
• 3D games
• Shake Control to change tracks with the flick of a wrist.
• 3.2 Megapixel camera with photo fix and media editors, PictBridge support
• Wi-Fi connectivity (DLNA certified)
• Bluetooth with A2DP support
• available in colors - Galactic Black, and Luxury Silver.
• GPS with aGPS support (Google Maps)
• Desktop direct search to online music
• Option for 4GB M2 memory card

The W715 will be available in select markets (Country availability will be announced in due course), in the colors Galactic Black, and Luxury Silver. Countries and details of specific music and navigation applications, to be announced locally during Q1 (January-March) 2009.

The second handset from SE is the W508 clamshell Walkman phone that comes with one extra Style-Up cover to add a little variety to the handset’s design. 

The W508 will also feature -

• 2.2 inch internal display (240 x 320 pixels, 262k colors), external scratch-resistant monochrome OLED display
• Walkman on Top keys
• SenseMe and TrackID and access to SE’s PlayNow arena
• MegaBass
• FM radio with RDS
• Shake and Gesture control
• 3.2 megapixel camera with Photo fix
• 3G (HSDPA), GPRS/EDGE
• Bluetooth (A2DP)
• M2 card support (1GB included)

W508 Walkman will be available in selected markets from Q2 in the colors Metal Grey and Poetic White.
No pricing is available for either handset yet so stay tuned. 

LG Officially Launches Cookie in India

LG Electronics today officially launched the LG KP500 (nicknamed Cookie) for the Indian market.

Slim-profiled and lightweight, the LG KP500 comes in Vandyke brown and is complete with the latest touch techonology.

Anil Arora, Business Group Head, Mobile,pc's and DAV, LG Electronics India Pvt. Ltd said, "At LG, we continuously strive our best to innovate and launch world class products at affordable prices. Extending the touch generation phones from LG, we launched the LG-KP500 which is packed with dynamic features like sophisticated design; convenient user interface. The LG Cookie will expand touch screen technology to many people around India. We are certain that LG Cookie will appeal to all and it will be the handset that everyone will be reaching out for."

The LG KP500 has an embedded stylus pen concealed at the base for the advanced handwriting recognition program that allows the user to write memos and text messages, and also edit photo images by touching the screen with the pen tip. The QWERTY onscreen keyboard slides into view when the LG-KP500 is held horizontally, and the auto rotating display always shifts images or documents for proper viewing no matter which way the handset is turned. Also packed into the LG KP500 are motion sensor games that are played by turning, flipping, and shifting the handset for a more active and fun gaming experience with just a flick of your wrist.

The phone packs in a 3 megapixel camera and has an internal memory of 48 MB and also bundles a 1GB micro SD card.

The LG-KP500 phone is 11.9 mm thick and weighs in at 89gms.   

The LG-KP500 is available for Rs. 13,500.

Motorola Shows Off 3 New Mid-Range Handsets

Three new low-to-mid-range handsets from Motorola have made their appearance recently. Once again Motorola has decided to go with 3 separate form factors for their latest handsets. The ZN200 is a slider and the W396 and W388 incorporate clamshell and candybar form factors respectively.

The quad-band GSM ZN200 Slider comes with a 1.9-inch TFT display sporting 262K colors. It has a 2MP camera, media player, FM radio and support for Bluetooth with an A2DP profile. For net connectivity the handset supports GPRS and EDGE. The ZN220 also supports microSD cards for external memory and Motorola’s CrystalTalk techonology.  

ZN200

The second handset, the W396 flip phone, has a 1.8-inch TFT display with 65K colors and a 128 x 160 pixel resolution. Features include CrystalTalk, an integrated FM radio that can also be used as an alarm and FM station sharing via text. It also has support for WAP/GPRS and microSD memory expansion.

W396

The last handset is the simple candybar W388 that also has features similar to the W396 and includes a 1.8-inch display, microSD card slot, FM radio with RDS and only WAP/GPRS support.

W388

These three handsets will be out sometime at the end of the third Quarter but the price is yet to be revealed.

Nokia To Launch a New Flip Phone

Nokia’s latest offering is a stylish flip phone or clamshell handset called the 3640 fold. This GSM handset is equipped with an internal display of 2 inches with 256K colors and it also has an external 1.36-inch display that also features 265k colors. It features a large analog clock as a screensaver. The 3640 fold comes with a 1.3 megapixel camera and 30MB of internal memory with microSD card support as well. Other features will include a media player for audio and video, Bluetooth and USB connectivity.The handset will also support GPRS/EDGE.

According to reports the handset should start shipping anytime soon and is priced at approximately Rs. 7,910 (125 Euro) before taxes and subsidies. 

Color Handsets Under Rs 3000

Recently I showcased some color screen mobile handsets pricedbelow the Rs5000 mark. Of course, there are even cheaper color handsets with even fewer features. There are plenty of mobile users who wouldn’t mind a minimalist handset with simple features – they make great gifts for first-time mobile users and for those who lead uncomplicated lives.

Here are a few color display handsets that will get the essentials done and won’t cost you more than Rs 3000. During my daily commute I get ample opportunity to see mobiles used in their most natural habitat – and here are some that pop up most frequently.

Intex IN 2222 – Rs 1999
A well-equipped entry level handset, the IN 2222 has a sleek black form factor with a 1.5 inch CSNT display, sporting a resolution of 128 x 128 pixels and 65K colors. It has plenty of media functionality in terms of an audio player and an integrated FM radio, and photo and video caller tone support.

The In 2222 supports GPRS and comes with a few games and a flashlight feature as well. It offers all the basic functions like a calculator, calendar, to-do list, world clock, alarm etc. Aside from these it has a blacklist function for blocking unwanted calls, as well as a 'Health' feature.

Nokia 2626 – Rs 2050
The 2626 is one of those ubiquitous handsets I was referring to earlier. It has a CSTN display that allows 65K colors at a resolution of 128 x 128 pixels. It's not a great-looking handset, to be honest. It’s a little pudgy, but it does have quite a few relevant features, considering its modest price range.

The 2626 has about 2MB of internal user memory. This GSM handset supports MP3 ringtones, but we’re not talking full tracks here. GPRS and WAP are supported, and you get a few games and an FM radio as well. It also supports JAVA MIDP 2.0. Other features include a calendar, calculator, currency converter, voice memo, and a built-in handsfree.

Samsung Unveils New Clamshell

Samsung has unveiled a new sleek entry level clamshell – the S3600. Unlike most flip phones these days, the S3600 doesn’t have an external display but sports a 2.2 inch-internal one with a 176 x 220 pixel resolution.

The handset will feature a media player with an integrated FM radio with RDS, microSD card support for external memory, Bluetooth, EDGE/GPRS. It will also come equipped with a 1.3MP camera with video recording. 

Virgin Mobile Launches Low-priced 1.3MP Cam Phone

Virgin Mobile has unveiled its vKewl mobile phone with Video Recording capability. The handset is, according to the company the only handset in its price range with a 1.3 mega pixel camera that comes with video recording capability, lifetime incoming validity and a prepaid connection. Other features also include an MP3 player and an FM Radio.

M. A. Madhusudan, Chief Executive Officer, Virgin Mobile India said, "The mobile phone is a lifestyle device for youth and has become an extension of their personality and entertainment requirements. Keeping this in mind, we have now made facilities such as video recording and a 1.3 mega pixel camera more affordable for youth so that they can capture and share impromptu moments spent with their friends and family without hurting their pockets".

The handset comes equipped with a 1.8-inch TFT LCD sporting a 176 x 220 pixel resolution display with 262k colors. It comes with preloaded games, a microSD card slot for memory expansion, WAP and can also be used as a modem.

Motorola Adds W396 to MOTOYUVA Line Up

Motorola has launched the MOTOYUVA W396 as the latest addition to their range of affordable multimedia handsets. The handset comes with a mirror-like clamshell and a green rim. This is the seventh MOTOYUVA-series mobile phone to be launched in India this year.

It offers the latest version of MP3 player software that allows playlist creation and the ability to organize songs by genre, artist or album. The MOTOYUVA W396 lets users record excerpts of songs from its FM radio along with radio data system (RDS) functionality, which shows the name of the artist, the song and the genre of music playing. In addition, users can set an FM alarm and listen to FM radio via stereo earphones or speakerphone.

MOTOYUVA W396 will also provide users with an upgraded version of the Music ID application .The phone gives access to MOTOMUSIC, a combined Web and WAP service with a MOTOMUSIC scratch card inbox offering 10 free ringtone downloads.

The MOTOYUVA W396 supports microSD cards up to 2GB. It offers a storage capacity of 1000 contacts and 750 SMS messages. It comes with a VGA camera with 4x digital zoom. It features an enhanced user interface, making it easy to create a text message with one click.

Other features include call blocking, Motorola’s CrystalTalk technology the option of using the handset’s features without SIM insertion, a 128 x160 65,000–pixel TFT display, Airplane mode, regional language support (Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu)‏ and JAVA support.

“The sleek and stylish MOTOYUVA W396 makes a powerful statement with a youthful and vibrant design and fulfills the needs of every aspiring Indian youth,” said Faisal Siddiqui, director of Product and Solutions, India and Southwest Asia, Motorola Mobile Devices. “The MOTOYUVA W396 is a fully-loaded handset, delivering a fun and engaging experience in an elegant, compact package. The phone gives consumers an even richer experience at the most affordable price without compromising on quality and features.”

The MOTOYUVA W396 is available in India at all MOTOSTOREs and retailers at a best buy price of Rs. 4,199 (MRP: Rs 4,424).

Intex Launches 'All Weather' Handset

Intex's, has added the IN 3030 – "all weather" music phone to their range of mobile handsets. The phone is a complete music gizmo equipped with water, sweat & dust resistant technology.

"Intex is all set to make a noticeable mark in the segment by striking a chord with two of the most important user categories in the segment. This includes music lovers on the move and the masses on the street seeking protection of their handset in a high temperature, high humidity and dusty environment." said Shailendra Jha, DGM, Intex Technologies.

Equipped with features that include a music player, FM radio, voice & and an audio recorder with an apparent rugged feel, this handset has the potential to be exactly what individuals interested in traveling and sporting activities would find extremely handy. It’s also designed to cater to the common man - farmers, fishermen, factory and construction workers, etc.- who normally use the phone with sweaty and dusty hands.

IN 3030 conforms to the Japanese JIS (IPX grade 5) standard for water resistance. The electronic circuitry is protected by a special film and all the joints are effectively sealed by rubber gaskets. As a result, the phone can withstand dust, moisture and water splashes. It is also designed to perform at very low and very high temperatures with high humidity.

Other features built into the handset include a mobile tracker and expandable memory up to 1GB, etc. The handset has been launched at a special introductory price of Rs. 3,500.