“HTC announced an updated version of the HTC Advantage that introduces new software, increased storage and an improved keyboard.Based on a future version of Windows Mobile, the updated HTC Advantage includes a customized HTC Home today screen that provides one-touch access to emails, text messages, missed calls, calendar appointments and contacts, as well as current weather conditions and forecasts for hundreds of cities around the world.The HTC Advantage features HTC’s TouchFLO software which enhances finger touch scrolling and browsing of Web pages, documents, messages and contact lists. The Advantage will also include Opera Mobile 9 and Google Maps for mobile.A huge 16GB of storage is now built-in, together with an improved keyboard with haptic feedback and an updated version of VueFLO using a G-sensor that recognises the screen orientation of the device for optimal customer usage. Users can run presentations directly via the projector and TV output. Its 5-inch VGA colour touch screen and QWERTY keyboard are ideal not just for editing Microsoft Office documents, but also for enjoying leisure time. Users can watch videos, browse the web, use instant Outlook push e-mail, synchronize their contacts, tasks and calendar, and navigate anywhere with inbuilt GPS and TomTom NAVIGATOR 6.Offering a complete package of connectivity, the HTC Advantage offers Tri-band HSPDA, Wi-Fi and stereo Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity. The updated HTC Advantage will be available in March in select countries across Europe.Specifications:Size: 133.5 x 98 x 16 mm (additional 4.75mm for keyboard) Weight: 290g + 85g for keyboard Networks WCDMA/HSDPA: 850/1900/2100 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz Operating system Future Version of Windows MobileDisplay: 5-inch VGA with touch screen Camera: 3.1 megapixel with auto focus VGA for video calling Internal memory: 256 MB + 16 GB flash; 128 MB RAM miniSD card slotWLAN 802.11b/g Bluetooth 2.0 GPSHTC ExtUSB (mini-USB and audio jack in one; USB 2.0 High-Speed); HTC 16 pin port (USB 1.1 host, TV/VGA out); 3.5mm audio jack with microphoneBattery 2100 mAh Talk time WCDMA: up to 300 minutesGSM: up to 360 minutesStandby time WCDMA: up to 300 hoursGSM: up to 300 hoursDetachable QWERTY Keyboard with Haptic feedback; document printing; G sensor Chipset: Marvell PXA270 624 MHz; Qualcomm MSM6275” via slashphone.com
LG KT610 a flip screen clamshell with VGA display?
“We’ve already mentioned a mysterious smartphone briefly announced as “a unique 2.4 flip screen candy bar with the QWERTY-keyboard”. The company hasn’t provided the images of LG-KT610 right from the start. However some sources managed to get and post “live” pics of the phone after the demo at Mobile World Congress 2008 in Barcelona. The device turns to be packed in the form-factor similar to Nokia E90: a landscape-oriented clamshell with a pair of displays and keyboards. There is a small display and a numeric keypad outside, and a larger display with a QWERTY-keyboard inside. Currently we’ve got little info about it: S60 3rd Edition FP1 powered, GPS-enabled and with 3G support (HSDPA included).” via mobile-review.com
Trolltech Extends Linux Leadership Through Support of Touch Screen Devices
Trolltech announced the continued evolution of Qtopia Phone Edition, the leading application platform and user interface for Linux-based mobile phones. Trolltech is the leader in mobile Linux platforms with more than 10 million devices shipped. With version 4.3, Qtopia Phone Edition affirms its position as the category leader with major improvements in real-world start-up speeds, external benchmarking for compliance with key industry standards, and a range of new features.The latest generation builds on the proven strengths of the Qtopia architecture, and includes: Finger-touch user interface – This release adds a UI theme designed for finger touch operation, with a unique virtual keyboard, and an SDK for the touch-screen “OpenMoko” Neo1973 device. Outlook synchronization – The new Qtopia Sync Agent allows data synchronization between Qtopia and Microsoft Outlook. Enhanced media support – Qtopia now supports GStreamer as well as Real Networks Helix DNA media frameworks for mobile audio and video. The Qtopia media player is enhanced with a new UI and extended functions, and an audio policy framework is introduced to manage complex audio channels across a range of inputs and outputs. Faster start-ups – in real-world testing on a Greenphone, Qtopia 4.3 applications start on average 50% faster than the previous generation. Improvements to telephony and SIM Toolkit for GCF (Global Certification Forum) compliance – The Qtopia telephony stack and user interface have undergone further improvements to enhance Qtopia’s compliance with GCF.“With Qtopia 4.3 Trolltech continues to provide the developer tools to deliver feature-packed phones to market more quickly than ever,” said cofounder and CEO Haavard Nord. “Our end goal is to show consumers that they can expect more from their mobile phone experience.”