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There's a trend among Windows Mobile smartphone makers - everyone and their mama is making custom user interfaces that sit on top of the Microsoft's mobile OS. We've seen HTC and Gigabyte doing it, and Sony Ericsson will rollout its own UI with the Xperia launch.

Toshiba doesn't want to miss the boat, but they don't have their own solution. Hence, they're licensing Spb Software's apps to enhance the user experience on its Portégé G810 smartphone. The end result is the newly created Toshiba Touch UI which combines Spb Mobile Shell, a customized version of Spb Full Screen Keyboard, the Spb Pocket Plus smart scrolling component, and other Windows Mobile customization enhancements.

As a fan of Spb Software's apps, I've no doubts the G810's UI look stunning. However, it's the QVGA and not VGA screen that's a deal breaker for me for the Portégé G810. I just don't get why Toshiba hasn't used a better screen…

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According to Akihabara, Toshiba's iPhone-fightin' Portégé G810 will be released on June 20th. In terms of specs, the all-touchscreen device is pretty much identical to the HTC Diamond, but fails to deliver the VGA resolution on its 2.8-inch display — it uses QVGA (240×320 pixels), instead. There's also WiFi, GPS (and A-GPS support), Bluetooth, FM radio, HSDPA/HSUPA, and a microSD memory expansion slot. Windows Mobile 6.1 with some custom UI on top of it is running the show.

I'm not too excited about the Portégé G810. Devices like the Sony Ericsson XPERIA, HTC Diamond/Touch Pro, Samsung i900 Omnia, some Gigabyte nad E-ten's models have raised the bar in the Windows Mobile world. QVGA is not enough, any more.

[Via: Engadget Mobile]

Toshiba's presence at CTIA Las Vegas 2008 was almost non-existence. Their booth was tiny, they didn't have much to show, and their booth reps didn't speak an English. All in all, the Toshiba booth experience was dismal.

But, that doesn't mean that Toshiba didn't have anything cool to show. On display at their booth was the company's methanol fuel cell technology. The "Micro Direct Methanol Fuel Cell" is basically a liquid-methanol-powered fuel cell that strips electrons from the Methanol as it leaks out as air. The stripped electrons are used to power the device.

Toshiba was displaying a prototype handset and a portable battery charger fitted with the Micro Direct Methanol Fuel Cell technology. The booth rep was able to say that the technology was slated to go live late this year or next year - seemingly the only bit of English he was trained to use.

The fuel cells can be re-filled with liquid methanol that comes packaged in squeezable plastic bottles. It's an interesting alternative energy source for handsets, but the viability of toting around extra stores of methanol is questionable. Still, an a "greener" age, we can't wait for Toshiba to launch their Micro Direct Methanol Fuel Cell technology.

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At least it's not covered in truckloads of gaudy diamonds.

Toshiba has launched the newest handset aimed at the luxury market (otherwise known as the more-money-than-we-know-what-to-do-with crowd). The Toshiba Cosmic Shiner is basically a Toshiba 815T adorned with a smattering of diamonds and commands a healthy $4000 price tag. Toshiba is really milking their Toshiba 815T or all it's worth. Last we saw, the Tosh 815T donned some transformer gear for the mid-range market, and now we see the 815T pulling duty in the uber-lux market.

For four-large, Toshiba will make sure that your Cosmic Shiner brings a 2 megapixel camera, HSDPA, FeliCa, and microSD slot to the table - which is strange because the Toshiba 815T rocks a 3.2 megapixel camera. The main difference between the two, however, is the addition of those not-so-tacky and somewhat tastefully done diamond studs.

Toshiba is only making 1000 of these Toshiba Cosmic Shiners, and you have to find a special model identifier in Seven Hills magazine in order to buy one for yourself. If you've got the discretionary funds, and the need for a few diamonds on your not-even-smartphone, grab a copy of the aforementioned magazine and get your credit card warmed up. Let us know if it was worth it.

[Via: Engadget Mobile]

You mean companies can sue for copyright infringement on the design of a particular handset? That must have been news to Toshiba, seeing as how they blatantly copied a RakuRaku handset made by Fujitsu. You see, the Toshiba Kandan Keitai 821T is an almost carbon-copy of the Fujitsu Foma RakuRaku Phone III, prompting NTT DoCoMo and Fujitsu to get their lawsuit-on with Toshiba in the cross-hairs.

The suit states that Fujitsu has been designing the RakuRaku phones for senior citizens and that Toshiba has copied the RakuRaku Phone III's button layout and interface, with a body that bears a striking resemblance to the original. DoCoMo apparently warned Softbank prior to the launch of the Tosh 821T, but Softbank decided to launch the 821T as a handset for the "junior population." DoCoMo is seeking to have Softbank Mobile pull the Toshiba 821T off the market.

Something tells us that NTT DoCoMo and Fujitsu has a pretty strong case on their hands. This isn't China…

[Via: GearFuse]

Almost missed this one. At the MWC in Barcelona, Toshiba has uneiled its latest Windows Mobile smartphone - Portégé G810. The all-in-one device prides itself with both HDSPA and HSUPA support. In addition to high-speed 3.5G, users can connect to other devices and networks using WiFi and Bluetooth v2.0. Then there's the built-in GPS and A-GPS, 3 megapixel camera with auto-focus, FM radio with RDS, 256 MB ROM and 128 MB RAM, 1,530 mAh battery, and of course the microSD card slot. One the other side, the new Portégé smartphone sports 2.83" 64K colors QVGA touchscreen — nowadays, we would expect VGA and way more colors.

As for the size, Toshiba Portégé G810 measures 58×110x14 mm and weighs 120 grams. Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional edition is running the show, while Qualcomm's MSM7200 (400 MHz) CPU is providing the processing power…

We've already seen what's Toshiba up to. One of the devices spotted includes the monoblock Portégé G710, which is heading to Vodafone Germany as VDA GPS. As you probably already know, it's the quadband GSM/GPRS/EDGE Windows Mobile 6 smartphone that also sports such goodies as Bluetooth, GPS, full QWERTY keyboard, and the 2 megapixel camera. On the down side, it lacks 3G and WiFi connectivity support, making it kinda strange buying choice, especially for corporate customers. However, the G710's weaknesses may make the device more affordable — not that we know how much it will cost, nor when exactly it will be released.

[Via: the::unwired]

The Toshiba G710 is your typical monoblock with a QWERTY keyboard business phone. It runs Windows Mobile 6 standard, has a 2 megapixel camera, 2.46 inch QVGA display with 65,000 colors, GPS, quadband EDGE/GSM, weighs 120 grams and comes in at around 300 Euros this March.

The G910 isn't anything new to us, we've seen the FCC leak, but just to reiterate the specifications: 800×480 screen, Windows Mobile 6 Professional, triband GSM/EDGE, 2100 MHz HSDPA, GPS, 2 megapixel camera, nearly 20 mm thick and with a weight of 145 grams this 600 Euro baby is expected in April.

This next one is unlike anything I've ever seen. Apparently the primary purpose of the G450 is as a USB HSDPA mode, but it has a full T9 keypad for making phone calls and even banging out text messages. For 200 Euros in March you're going to get a 2100 MHz HSDPA, triband EDGE/GSM, 96×39 pixel OLED screen device that defies categorization. Nice to see Toshiba innovating with this model, but I can't help but wonder why someone wouldn't just connect their existing device to their laptop via USB?

[Via: Pocket PC Italia]

Sometimes I just love the folks behind the FCC. Thanks to them, we find out about the upcoming devices way before handset makers want us to. That being said, we've recently spotted what seems like two powerful Toshiba-made smartphones called Portege G910 & Portege G920. And while it's not that clear what's the difference between the two devices, we can say that both of them are made to appeal to the high-end smartphone users. As a matter of fact, the image above reminds us on both Nokia Communicator and Windows Mobile powered QTEK devices.

As for the specs, we see a tri-band GSM radio, WCDMA, Bluetooth, WiFi, USB 2.0, two cameras (main at least 2 MP with flash light), large 3" display (possibly a touchscreen), microSD slot and the powerful 1320 mAh Li-ion battery. As for the OS, Toshiba has used Windows Mobile on many of their devices, so I guess they'll continue to do so with these two phones as well.

Personally I don't like the way it looks at this stage. But, it's also important to know the final product may be slightly changed in terms of design and hopefully the color choice. We'll wait and see…

[Via: Unwired View]

Again, we see great phones hitting the uber-advanced Japanese mobile phones market. One device that recently caught our eyes is the newly announced Toshiba 920T. Aside from lack of WiFi support which curiously isn't present in many of the phones for the Japanese market, it has everything else including large screen, 3G radio, GPS, 3.2 MP camera and one-seg mobile TV receiver. It's a slider device and as you can see from the image above, it's very slick and stylish…

[Via: MobileWhack]