We’re just throwing it out there, but we’re thinking that the Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) iPhone UI copy from Nokia and this 8 million unit order for Balda-sourced touchscreens could be related. Cellular News is reporting that Germany’s Balda has won a contract to provide 6-8 million touchscreens for an unnamed “leading mobile phone manufacturer.” Balda is the supplier for the iPhone’s touchscreens.

If Nokia (NYSE: NOK) is serious about replicating the same user experience that the iPhone UI has championed, it would make sense that they would source the same touchscreens that are used on the Apple iPhone itself.

Production should start in April 2008 in Xiamen, China.

We’ll keep you update on these happenings. We’re rooting for Nokia to bring an iPhone-like handset to market next year. Maybe alongside the Apple iPhone v2.0? We’ll see, we’ll see.

[Via: Cellular News]

With Samsung’s Windows Mobile 6.0 upgrade for the Samsung SGH-i600 already out in the wild, it makes sense for the AT&T (NYSE: T)-branded BlackJack get the same OS refresh. Word on the street has it that the Samsung BlackJack will be getting some Windows Mobile 6.0 Standard love from AT&T. We’ve been expecting this upgrade to be released in late summer, and guess what, it’s pretty late in the summer season. While the WM6 rollout for the BlackJack missed the late July window, a September 17 release date still works for “late summer” timing (wait, that is still summer, right?).

Now, will the WinMo6.0 upgrade endow the AT&T BlackJack with that hidden Video Share feature that we mentioned earlier? We don’t know, but give it a couple weeks – we’ll know more then.

If you just can’t handle the couple-week wait for AT&T to drop the WM6-bomb on us, you can always get yourself that leaked Windows Mobile 6.0 Standard ROM – although, it’s quite buggy (Google (NSDQ: GOOG) is your friend).

[Via: Smartphone Thoughts]

First Nokia (NYSE: NOK) courts the likes of rival Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) by licensing the software giant’s PlayReady DRM scheme and Windows Live applications suite for Nokia Symbian S60 devices. Now it looks like the Finnish handset leader is taking design cues from Apple (NSDQ: AAPL). They’ve basically come out with what amounts to a Nokia-made Apple iPhone knockoff – hit the vid above to see what we’re talking about.Now, when we talk about clones and rip-offs, we’re usually referring to the sub-quality goods coming of the land of dim sum and Communism (read: China). This time around, Nokia is the one cloning the heralded Apple iPhone – and it’s a touchscreen! Not only does this phone represent Nokia’s newly-found fondness for the touchscreen, it also represents Nokia’s acceptance and admiration of the iPhone. Check out the video, it’s pretty damn familiar, eh?

And, it seems Nokia has no problem copying Apple’s design. Says Nokia’s Executive VP about the design similarities between this phone and the Apple iPhone, “If there is something good in the world then we copy with pride.”

On behalf of iPhone users worldwide, we’d like to thank Nokia for the hat tip. Who said the iPhone wasn’t revolutionary?

Update
This video is a demonstration of the UI that Nokia intends to use, not the phone hardware.

Palm (NSDQ: PALM) really wasn’t kidding when they said that the Windows Mobile 6.0 upgrade for their Palm Treo 750 would hit “other [Treo 750] customers” by September. It looks like Vodafone (NYSE: VOD) subscribers in the UK, Ireland, and the Netherlands with a Windows Mobile 5.0 PocketPC Edition-powered Treo 750 can now look forward to getting “professional” with their 3 Australia counterparts. Windows Mobile 6.0 Professional is now officially an option from Palm, and a quick visit to the Palm website should net you that free download.
But, the excitement doesn’t end there folks. Palm’s Windows Mobile 6.0 Professional upgrade comes packing the long-awaited HSDPA update for the Treo 750! That’s right, not only does the upgrade give you the latest WinMo OS, you’ll be able to pull down all that wireless data at broadband speeds – by “you” we mean Vodafone users, of course.

Head on over to the website to get your copy of this free upgrade now. After October 31, 2007, you’ll be SOL for your upgrade. Just make sure to hold onto that ROM upgrade once you download it – you’ll only be allowed that one, single download.

All you Palm Treo 750 fans in The States will just have to wait for Palm to roll our way with an official WM6 Pro upgrade. Or, just grab yourself a copy of that leaked WinMo6.0 ROM upgrade and get your “professional” fix now.

[Via: Unwired View]

We love this little LG “Dominator.” Not only is it sleek and slim, it makes the LG KE850 Prada look like the stuffy, old guy in the room. It’s definitely one of the sexiest phones we’ve ever laid eyes on. And we’ve played the mobile phone field quite a bit.

LG has announced its plans to reveal the LG KS20 (we started calling it the “Dominator” because it completely dominates the Prada Phone and iPhone) with a 2 megapixel camera, 2.8 inch full-body touchscreen, video calling, Bluetooth 2.0, script recognition, and HSDPA – all wrapped up in a sexy 12.8mm body, powered by Windows Mobile 6.0 Professional. There’s nothing much that we didn’t already know about this phone – but it’s exciting to know that the LG “Dominator” is almost upon us.

LG will be dropping the KS20 “Dominator” bomb on us next week at FLA 2007, so stay tuned, we’ll bring you all the launch-day goodies. We expected a European launch of the LG KS20 Dominator in September and it looks like we’re going to get it. And, by the looks of that conspicuous branding on the front of this thing, it’s going to Vodafone (NYSE: VOD) for sure.

If you like cute European blond mobile phone models, keep reading – we have more pics for ya.

Read the full article »

Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) is one lucky company to have all those fans making iPhone apps without an official SDK. Now, a guy claims he has figured out how to use the iPhone’s accelerometer in applications. What follows is the short video demoing some wacky stuff and games, which use the accelerometer for controlling objects on the screen. On the second though, this might be the pre-recorded video and such things are still not possible. Who knows…

UPDATE: It seems this is the real thing. The guy who made this video posted the source code!

[Via: Gizmodo]

Just as we expected, Verizon (NYSE: VZ) has added Motorola’s flagship RAZR 2 V9m to its offering. Users can expect an ability to take photos with 2 MP camera, watch video clips, listen to the music (stereo Bluetooth is also there) and take advantage of the carrier’s popular services such as VZ Navigator, VCAST Music and Video. In addition, the built-in EV-DO ensures high-speed data transfer, and the microSD expansion slot can boost RAZR’s storage capacity.

What about the pricing? For $249.99 after $100 online discount with the 2-year term contract you can have one the coolest lookin’ MOTO phones ever.

[Via: Engadget Mobile]

Hmm, Pantech is cooking something delicious. The leaked photo above clearly suggests Korean handset maker is working on the new device, which has that dual-sliding mechanism boasting both full QWERTY keyboard and numeric keypad ala Helio Ocean. However, the upcoming C810 is smaller, thinner, and Windows Mobile 6 Standard edition suggests this baby will not only target teenagers. In terms of specs, we expect Pantech to bundle some sort of 3G radio in C810, as well as the standard microSD memory slot.

Sounds cool, especially when you consider it will be priced well bellow $300 with an appropriate 2-year contract. Let’s wait and see… One more photo after the break.

Read the full article »

In case you still haven’t installed the beta version of Opera Mini 4, what are you waiting for? Actually, wait one more day when Opera Software will release the new beta of its popular Java-based mobile Web browser.

According to Opera Mini Blog, we could expect many bugs fixed, improved support for BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM) phones, support for additional phones, and new features which should additional enhance the browsing experience. Among the old-new features — which were already there with Opera Mini 3 — are secure connections and my personal favorite – content folding.

Can’t wait to give it a try. In the meantime, if you still haven’t read Stefan’s review and Will’s sneak preview of the Opera Mini 4 beta, now may be the time.

Yet another content sharing service is going mobile. This time it’s NoNews, which just announced the launch of its mobile site to allow users to share photos, videos, audio clips and text messages with the friends in their channel.

Interesting thing about NoNews service is that it can work with practically any handset that can send and receive text messages — i.e. all mobile phones. All you have to do is send the “good news” MMS to NoNews, and they will take it from there. Naturally, users with better web-enabled phones will have the much better experience and more convenient interface.

Seems like at the end, every single Web 2.0 company will go mobile. What do you say?