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Tag: smartphone

  • Kaspersky Lab In a Partnership with TAG Heuer

    Kaspersky Lab has signed a partnership agreement with TAG Heuer, the famous Swiss luxury watches manufacturer. The latter, in collaboration with ModeLabs Manufacture, launched the first luxury smartphone with touchscreen, called TAG Heuer Link, which runs Google’s Android.

    For this new smartphone, Kaspersky Lab developed TAG Heuer Mobile Security (powered by Kaspersky), a security solution, which is offering a high level of data stored in the phone.

    “Kaspersky Lab and TAG Heuer share common values, such as cutting-edge technology and an ongoing process of innovation,” said Eugene Kaspersky, President and CEO at Kaspersky Lab. “TAG Heuer Mobile Security is our first project in the luxury segment and we want to further develop this partnership.”

    The new smartphone TAG Heuer Link is a powerful communication tool, developed by Swiss engineers, assembled in France and equipped with Android OS. According to the company, TAG Heuer Link was made with quality materials and with the most advanced components used in horology and automotive industries, including diamonds and pink gold. The stainless steel used for this phone is also used to create surgical instruments and is hypoallergenic and resistant to corrosion.

    TAG Heuer Mobile Security offers a high level of protection against network attacks, malware for mobile phones and SMS spam. Besides the fact that it grants users the possibility to locate where the phone was lost or stolen, using the GPS Find function, the software offers the opportunity to store all digital files in encrypted folders and to lock or delete remotely all the files from the phone.

    Thanks to Mobile Security software from Kaspersky Lab, the owner is able to effectively manage the private contacts, to filter out the unwanted calls and SMSs by entering contacts in “black” and “white” lists and to restrict children’s access to the phone.

    You may also want to read:
    RIM Launches Blackberry Bold 9790 and Blackberry Curve 9380
    HTC Edge – The First Smartphone with Quad-Core Processor
    Samsung Launches Galaxy Note

  • Nokia Launches Its First Windows Phone 7 Smartphones

    Nokia has launched, on Wednesday, at Nokia World event held in London, its first smartphones running Windows Phone 7 Mango, Nokia Lumia 800 and 710, phones that did not make a splash whatsoever.

    Nokia Lumia 800: The First Nokia Smartphone with WP7

    The launch of Nokia Lumia 800 represents the most important step made by Nokia – the formal adoption of Microsoft's mobile operating system.

    Lumia 800 is similar in terms of design with Nokia N9 (OS MeeGo), has a polycarbonate casing and 3.7-inch AMOLED ClearBlack display. The first Finnish smartphone with Windows Phone has a 1.4 GHz processor and hardware acceleration, a graphics processor. Interesting is the fact that it offers only 16 GB storage capacity, but allows other 25 GB to be stored in cloud.

    The phone has an 8-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss lens, auto-focus and dual LED flash. It remains to be seen how good it is.

    The new smartphone scores in terms of colors, being available in black, blue and the version called "magenta".

    The price for Nokia Lumia 800 will start from EUR 420 ($ 590), the phone being already available for pre-order on Nokia's website in France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain and the UK (with delivery in November).

    Also, pre-orders can also be made for countries like Hong Kong, India, Russia, Singapore and Taiwan, and deliveries will be made until the end of 2011. On other markets/in other countries, Nokia Lumia 800 will be released early next year only.

    Nokia Lumia 710: Windows Phone 7 and 1.4 GHz Processor

    Besides the high-end model Lumia 800, Nokia has also announced at the Nokia World event the second terminal manufactured by the Finnish company that runs Windows Phone 7. Nokia World 710 promises great user experience to the platform offered by Microsoft at an affordable price.

    Lumia 710 has a 1.4 GHz processor, which guarantees a high performance, a 3.7-inch AMOLED ClearBlack display and offers interchangeable casings, in colors like black, cyan, white, fuchsia and yellow. This terminal focuses on the social networking. Moreover, Windows Phone Mango platform has been optimized to include a series of Nokia services such as Nokia Drive and Nokia Music.

    Nokia Lumia 710 will be available at a price around EUR 270 ($ 380).

    Nokia Asha 200, 201, 300, 303: QWERTY Keyboard at Affordable Prices

    Nokia Asha 200 and Nokia Asha 201 are two other affordable phones presented at the Nokia World event.

    Nokia Asha 200 is a dual SIM model with Easy Swap function, available in vivid colors, which will delight the youngsters passionate about communication. The phone has QWERTY keyboard and promises an impressive autonomy of up to 52 hours in audio playback.

    Nokia Asha 201 is the single-SIM version of the Asha 200, a model that also aims for the young generation. The phone has a powerful speaker and FM radio, the other specifications being similar with those on Asha 200.

    The price for both, Nokia Asha 200 and Nokia Asha 201 is the same, around EUR 60 and will be available in stores by the end of this year.

    Nokia Asha 303 comes with a 2.6-inch capacitive touchscreen, 1GHz processor and combo keyboard. The phone has a 5-megapixel camera.

    Nokia Asha 300 comes with features similar with the 303 model, but in addition has dual SIM. WhatsApp messgener and Angry Birds are connected to this phone.

    Asha 300 and Asha 303 will hit the market by the end of the year and will have prices of EUR 85 and EUR 115, respectively.

    You may also want to read:
    Nokia N9, Love at Second Sight
    Samsung and Google Launch Galaxy Nexus
    HTC Sensation XL with Audio Beats

  • Smartphones – Present and Future

    More than 200,000 units of iPhone 4S, the world’s leading smartphone, have been sold following its release into the market in the past week, and sales worldwide are still picking up. Just what is it about smartphones today that make them the hottest item in the global shopping list?

    Market analysts this week indicated that the success of the leading smartphones available today may be attributed to the specialized niche for the product created by Apple when the company launched its first iPhone model in 2007. The researchers pointed out that smartphones were not an invention of Apple; the device has been in the market for a couple of years before the 2007 iPhone launch.

    However, the iPhone defined the smartphones once and for all: hands down, it became the most dramatic universal device ever invented as the human race left the old and entered the new millennium.

    So many things can be said about this gadget and still leave so many things unsaid. The most recent studies showed that the smartphone is so common, in fact, so universal that it became as vital as breathing and as handy as a handkerchief.

    The growth of the smartphone market is due to the astonishing uniqueness of the device. Unlike any telephone ever invented, it has an entirely new name which describes its singular position as THE as a communications device of the day.

    There are currently scores of smartphone models from the four biggest cellular phone manufacturers worldwide, excluding knockoffs and imitations (of questionable quality and origin) from Asia. While the cell phone and the smartphone are essentially both hand-held wireless telephones to allow one to communicate with anyone anywhere in the world so easily and so inexpensively, smartphones occupy their own unassailable niche. Smart-phones are basically hand-held, pocket computers with features and capabilities far and away more superior to their older cellular phone cousins.

    The future of the smartphone remains awesomely bright, as technologies it thrust into the spotlight are further perfected such as its multi-touch screen that dispensed with the keyboard and its walk-around computer feature that makes smart-phones so updatable.

    You may also want to read:
    iPhone 5 Arrives Today!
    iPhone Did Not Conquer Yet the Hearts of the Rich
    HTC Sensation XL with Audio Beats

  • Grid OS Coming to Capture the Mobile Market?

    Many players entered into this market and failed to gain the upper hand over the hugely successful iPhone. Still, Android stands its well earned ground and still gives good competition to Apple and its iOS based products. Apple’s real success is very well grounded in its operating system iOS and applications support from the App Store. Google does the same with Android and the Android Store, but it is an accepted fact that Android is not as economically strong as iOS. Some other participants in this mobile OS arms race are BlackBerry OS, WebOS, Symbian, Windows Phone 7 and some more in their own niche and playing their cards for (local) dominance.

    The latest operating systems that are coming up with big flashing neon lights are MeeGo and the newly announced Grid OS. MeeGo is not a new thing and is an open source platform. Used to have Nokia support… No more.

    Fusion Garage (sadly well known for a lawsuit fight with TechCrunch's Michael Arrington) brings Grid OS, a completely new player entering into the arena with zero fan niches. The OS base is not completely new since it is Android based, armed with a new and shiny interface. This is the bonus point for Grid OS, you can use Android apps natively. Of course, this was the whole point of Google's open sourcing Android: competition.

    What makes special Grid OS? The home screen of this latest OS is quite nice and captivating. Definitely, it is quite intriguing after using iOS devices and other Android based devices. The flexibility is its capacity to group applications and expand or collapse each group according to the needs of the user. Designers are still tweaking this from an usability point of view, but it looks and feels gorgeous.

    It is a completely gesture based OS. Removing capacitive buttons is making the OS more interesting. Windows Phone 7 works through dynamic tiles and its interaction for the user is very far from the flowing feeling of Grid OS. Only time will tell if Grid OS stands its ground or disappears into mediocrity (or oblivion).

    Further reading:

  • Google to Launch Nexus Prime in October

    The first official phone with Android was HTC Dream, also called T-Mobile G1. After over one year since the launch of HTC Dream, has appeared Nexus One, and after some time came Nexus S. These three terminals are the only Android devices branded Google, although they were produced by HTC and Samsung, respectively.

    Even if there were no significant differentiation from other Android smartphones, they were closer to the soul of giant Google, regardless of the producing company. Each brought a new version of the so popular operating system and along with the approaching of 4.0 version of Android, the company seems to prepare a new version of the popular Nexus series under the name of Nexus Prime.

    The next smartphone from Google will be produced by Samsung. South Korean corporation is going to put on the Nexus Prime impressive hardware: Super AMOLED screen of 4.5 inches with 1280 x 720 pixels resolution and dual-core processor at 1.5 GHz. The 8-megapixel camera will have capabilities of shooting Full HD 1080p as Samsung Galaxy S II. Internal storage capacity will be 16 GB.

    The great preview related to this terminal will be the operating system, rumors suggesting that it will be the first smartphone running on Android 4.0, codenamed “Ice Cream Sandwich". Samsung & Google's Nexus Prime could be officially presented during the IFA meeting (September 2-7, 2011), and a month later would hit the stores.

    A launch in October makes us think of one thing: the fierce competition with iPhone 5, which will reach the stores in the same period. It will be a race against time for the long-awaited Apple smartphone versus the new Nexus handset, though if Google follows its usual strategy we won’t see too many operators selling the dual-core handset.

    Latest related news:

  • ASUS PadFone – a hybrid between smartphone and tablet

    ASUS PadFone, the latest product of the Taiwanese company, has been officially launched. PadFone, the first model of what appears to be a new class of portable devices, lures features borrowed from both smartphone and tablet.

    The tablet serves as a dock for the phone, providing an interface optimized for a larger screen of the same applications present on the phone. Being embedded in the tablet, the phone can be charged through its internal battery. Also, if it is connected to a 3G network, the tablet can also use the network to connect to the internet.

    The two devices are as one, each complementing the other. In times when the speed and the mobility are needed, the phone is the preferred device, but when it comes to productivity and media, the tablet wins.

    Among the benefits obtained by using ASUS PadFone include a significantly improved battery life and extended desktop display.

    The idea of creating two devices able not only to “discuss”, but also to integrate, represents a new concept, which opens new horizons for the technologies in this sector.

    The body of the tablet in which ASUS PadFone is housed, seems to have similar size with the ASUS Transformer tablet, but the weight is probably slightly bigger because of the carcass.

    Among the visible enhancements on the tablet include a set of stereo speakers, front camera and a 5MP camera, mounted on the back of the PadFone. Currently weren’t disclosed any technical details, but it seems that will have HDM and micro-USB ports.

    ASUS’ choice regarding the version of Android that the new PadFone will run on is currently unknown, but certainly the future Ice Cream Sandwich is among the favorites, being the first version of Android adapted for both tablets and smartphones.

    Even if it wouldn’t please everyone, ASUS PadFone may be a good compromise for those who want to enjoy the functionality of a smartphone and of a tablet, without spending an exorbitant amount of money for purchasing two separate products.


  • Businesses Must Get Smart with Mobile

    Smartphone adoption in leading European markets, including the UK, has now topped 60 million[1], and predictions forcast that by 2013 smartphones will overtake PCs as the dominant web access service[2].

    This burgeoning market presents huge opportunities for businesses to maintain contact with consumers 24/7 and influence purchase decisions in ways never before thought possible.

    Richard Baker, managing director, Sequence explains how and why businesses should take advantage of this.

    Prior to smartphones, mobile advertising was limited to opt-in mobile messaging and small ad banners, which were often difficult for the mobile user to read or be impressed by.

    The advent of smartphones and our growing dependency on them creates opportunities for companies to exploit, and as a result, clever brands are increasingly shifting focus from hard sell, (SMS, banner adverts) to engagement.

    Applications present great opportunities for businesses to interact with customers through a device that is personal to them. If brands can create two-way relationships with customers through their smartphone, it can open up a direct channel for engagement.

    The challenge for businesses is how they initiate these relationships. Rather than being a passive audience to messaging, consumers are increasingly asking ‘what‘s in it for me?’.

    Entertainment applications have proved an effective tool to help engage brands with consumers who might not normally buy their products, while also incorporating mentions of products and services. Barclaycard’s Waterslide Extreme game, launched earlier this year, immediately captured consumers’ attention with over 32,000 people downloading the application on its first day.

    Business should also consider focusing on value, creating apps that customers perceive as improving their lives, or brightening their day. This can generate positive brand impressions, and keep users returning on a daily basis to be exposed to the brand.

    Snow+Rock recently worked with us to release a practical application for hikers to download maps, popular routes and up-to-date weather information; helping Snow+Rock engage customers by improving their hiking experience, while also promoting the brand’s outdoor equipment and clothing.

    Burger King also understand the benefits of providing value, and do so through mobile coupons; consumers who use the BK app receive vouchers and discounts, direct to their phone, which they can redeem in Burger King stores by showing to staff on their Smartphone.

    Smartphones have become a channel that is increasingly difficult to ignore. As we see more businessess turn to mobile applications, a focus on engagement through branded, practical, and entertaining content will provide advantage to those looking to build relationships, direct sell to customers, and importantly, create advocates for the brand.

    Businesses must however make sure that any application they do create is carefully thought out, incorporates brand values and importantly, works as they are intended. A shoddy application can do more damage than good to a brand’s reputation.

    As with all new technologies, there is a period of uncertainty as users come to understand how they can be used most effectively. Businesses now realise the possibilities this new era in digital offers to them, and are only just beginning to explore its potential.

    [1] The Chartered Institute for IT
    [2] Economist Intelligence Unit

  • IFA 2009: the World’s Leading Trade Fair for Consumer Electronics is Coming

    IFA 2009 – the business event no. 1 for consumer electronics – will take place in Berlin from September 4-9.

    IFA 2009 will be the second time that the leading brands in consumer electronics and in the household appliance industry have been displayed together.

    This year over one thousand companies will be occupying 200,000 square metres of display space!

    For one week international media interest will be concentrated on IFA. Also the Biz-News journalists will be reporting directly from Berlin covering the latest in CE products.

    Apart from providing the hot news, we’ll be video interviewing the representatives of all the major and interesting companies, which will demonstrate us their newest products and share with as their opinions and expectations related to the CE market.

    In 2009 the main industry topics at IFA will be devoted to HDTV & wireless communications, innovative audio and smart interfaces, as well as ecology and lifestyle.

    Traditionally a large number of new technologies and products make their debut at IFA.

    Here are the expected CE highlights for IFA 2009:

    • A new sat nav from Falk
    The new F12 high-end sat nav from Falk features a larger storage capacity, high-speed processor, realistic building images, the ability to input special destinations by voice command or clicking on the screen, and is due to become the new flagship of Falk’s sat nav range.

    • T-Mobile – second-generation Android Smartphone, more mobile TV and mobile navigation
    T-Mobile is presenting impressive mobile communication, information and entertainment innovations at IFA. These include the T-Mobile G2 Touch, the second-generation Android-based mobile phone, which can be customised to a virtually unlimited degree. Android Market™ applications allow users to add numerous functions of their choice.

    • The Navigon MobileNavigator for iPhone
    The long list of technical specifications includes Reality View Pro, a lane assistant (Pro), a speed assistant, daytime and night-time operating modes, and an option for displaying POIs en route, thus setting the MobileNavigator apart from its competitors.

    • VideoWeb S500 – a world first for the first hybrid HDTV satellite receiver
    VideoWeb is presenting the first receiver to combine HDTV broadcasting, internet TV and numerous internet applications in a single unit. The VideoWeb S500 is a high-performance HDTV computer which is constantly updated over the internet with the latest applications and product additions.

    • LG entire screen LED backlighting
    At this year’s IFA LG is presenting its new Slim Direct LED technology which guarantees outstanding picture quality on new LCD TV sets, despite extremely slim lines. Covering the entire rear surface of the screen, the advantage of these LEDs over conventional Edge LED technology is that that they can be partially dimmed. So-called local dimming increases the contrast and reduces power consumption. LG’s new LH9500 will be one of the highlights at IFA displaying this technology.

    • New TV stars from Philips
    The 9700 series once again sets standards in terms of picture definition, contrast and image dynamics. Featuring a characteristic design and brushed aluminium front they look good in every size (40, 46, and 52 inches). All models have a hybrid tuner for receiving analogue cable, DVB-T and DVB-C with CI+ broadcasts. Picture quality is outstanding with the Full HD screen (1920x1080p), while 200 Hertz Clear LCD technology and the Perfect Pixel HD Engine ensure images are detailed, clear and razor sharp.
    .
    • SV series from Toshiba – fully automatic high-end TV sets
    With its SV models, Toshiba is introducing its first television sets with LED backlighting, which, by combining picture quality, ease of operation and eco-friendliness ensure that viewers can enjoy a premium viewing experience.

    • HD+ Ready receivers from Humax
    Digital equipment specialists and HDTV pioneers Humax are eager for scheduled new HDTV transmissions from SES Astra and private broadcasters to begin. When HD+ is launched in late 2009 Humax will naturally be supplying innovative und easy-to-operate new sets.

    • New TV sets from Sharp
    With Sharp, compared with the alternative method of installing LEDs on the sides, the LEDs covering the rear surface of the LCD provide an even lighting effect and more intense colour. However, LED backlighting technology is not the reason why the two new AQUOS series have received the accolade of “best picture”.

    • New headphones from Sennheiser
    The heart of the HD 800 is a completely new sound transducer and an innovative headphone design. The looks of the HD 800 are the perfect match for its outstanding sound quality. Uncluttered styling and a black and silver finish make this a genuine designer object.

    • Mitsubishi Electric’s new full HD beamer
    Mitsubishi Electric is presenting two new home cinema beamers at IFA, the HC6800 and HC3800. Both of these newly developed products offer Full HD viewing quality, and with their high light intensity are suitable for use not only in dark a projection room but also in the living room.

    • Loewe Reference Home Entertainment System
    Even before the start of IFA journalists were rating the new Loewe Reference Home Entertainment System as the ultimate in design. The Loewe Reference 52 Full HD+ 200 flat-screen TV exceeds all expectations. Featuring a massive 52-inch screen and measuring barely 60 millimetres in depth its sheer presence is impressive.

    …and many more.

    Be with us at IFA 2009 from September 4th!

  • IFA 2009: The Countdown Is On!

    IFA 2009 – the business event no. 1 for consumer electronics – will take place in Berlin from September 4-9.

    IFA 2009 will be the second time that the leading brands in consumer electronics and in the household appliance industry have been displayed together.

    This year over one thousand companies will be occupying 200,000 square metres of display space!

    For one week international media interest will be concentrated on IFA. Also the Biz-News journalists will be reporting directly from Berlin covering the latest in CE products.

    Apart from providing the hot news, we’ll be video interviewing the representatives of all the major and interesting companies, which will demonstrate us their newest products and share with as their opinions and expectations related to the CE market.

    In 2009 the main industry topics at IFA will be devoted to HDTV & wireless communications, innovative audio and smart interfaces, as well as ecology and lifestyle.

    Traditionally a large number of new technologies and products make their debut at IFA.

    Here are the expected CE highlights for IFA 2009:

    • VideoWeb S500 – a world first for the first hybrid HDTV satellite receiver
    VideoWeb is presenting the first receiver to combine HDTV broadcasting, internet TV and numerous internet applications in a single unit. The VideoWeb S500 is a high-performance HDTV computer which is constantly updated over the internet with the latest applications and product additions.

    • LG entire screen LED backlighting
    At this year’s IFA LG is presenting its new Slim Direct LED technology which guarantees outstanding picture quality on new LCD TV sets, despite extremely slim lines. Covering the entire rear surface of the screen, the advantage of these LEDs over conventional Edge LED technology is that that they can be partially dimmed. So-called local dimming increases the contrast and reduces power consumption. LG’s new LH9500 will be one of the highlights at IFA displaying this technology.

    • New TV stars from Philips
    The 9700 series once again sets standards in terms of picture definition, contrast and image dynamics. Featuring a characteristic design and brushed aluminium front they look good in every size (40, 46, and 52 inches). All models have a hybrid tuner for receiving analogue cable, DVB-T and DVB-C with CI+ broadcasts. Picture quality is outstanding with the Full HD screen (1920x1080p), while 200 Hertz Clear LCD technology and the Perfect Pixel HD Engine ensure images are detailed, clear and razor sharp.
    .
    • SV series from Toshiba – fully automatic high-end TV sets
    With its SV models, Toshiba is introducing its first television sets with LED backlighting, which, by combining picture quality, ease of operation and eco-friendliness ensure that viewers can enjoy a premium viewing experience.

    • HD+ Ready receivers from Humax
    Digital equipment specialists and HDTV pioneers Humax are eager for scheduled new HDTV transmissions from SES Astra and private broadcasters to begin. When HD+ is launched in late 2009 Humax will naturally be supplying innovative und easy-to-operate new sets.

    • New TV sets from Sharp
    With Sharp, compared with the alternative method of installing LEDs on the sides, the LEDs covering the rear surface of the LCD provide an even lighting effect and more intense colour. However, LED backlighting technology is not the reason why the two new AQUOS series have received the accolade of “best picture”.

    • New headphones from Sennheiser
    The heart of the HD 800 is a completely new sound transducer and an innovative headphone design. The looks of the HD 800 are the perfect match for its outstanding sound quality. Uncluttered styling and a black and silver finish make this a genuine designer object.

    • Mitsubishi Electric’s new full HD beamer
    Mitsubishi Electric is presenting two new home cinema beamers at IFA, the HC6800 and HC3800. Both of these newly developed products offer Full HD viewing quality, and with their high light intensity are suitable for use not only in dark a projection room but also in the living room.

    • Loewe Reference Home Entertainment System
    Even before the start of IFA journalists were rating the new Loewe Reference Home Entertainment System as the ultimate in design. The Loewe Reference 52 Full HD+ 200 flat-screen TV exceeds all expectations. Featuring a massive 52-inch screen and measuring barely 60 millimetres in depth its sheer presence is impressive.

    • A new sat nav from Falk
    The new F12 high-end sat nav from Falk features a larger storage capacity, high-speed processor, realistic building images, the ability to input special destinations by voice command or clicking on the screen, and is due to become the new flagship of Falk’s sat nav range.

    • T-Mobile – second-generation Android Smartphone, more mobile TV and mobile navigation
    T-Mobile is presenting impressive mobile communication, information and entertainment innovations at IFA. These include the T-Mobile G2 Touch, the second-generation Android-based mobile phone, which can be customised to a virtually unlimited degree. Android Market™ applications allow users to add numerous functions of their choice.

    • The Navigon MobileNavigator for iPhone
    The long list of technical specifications includes Reality View Pro, a lane assistant (Pro), a speed assistant, daytime and night-time operating modes, and an option for displaying POIs en route, thus setting the MobileNavigator apart from its competitors.

    …and many more.

    Be with us at IFA 2009 from September 4th!

  • VOXOFON Launches Mobile VoIP for Palm Pre


    VOXOFON has expanded the availability of its low-cost international calling services by offering a mobile VoIP application for the Palm WebOS platform.

    The application is aimed at the Palm Pre smartphone. VOXOFON plans to make the new application available on the Palm App Catalog later this year.

    After installation the callers can simply click on the VOXOFON icon on the phone screen to place a low-cost international call.

    The application works anywhere the phone has coverage and does not require a Wi-Fi connection. In addition, there are no monthly fees or contracts.

    Beginning at 1.3 cents per minute, with no additional fees, VOXOFON international calling services allow customers to call using their smart phone, computer, land line, or a cell phone.

    VOXOFON has been a leader in providing convenient mobile applications for its VoIP service, beginning with a web application for iPhone that was introduced in the summer of last year.

    In September 2008, VOXOFON was the first to announce an application for the Android platform – one that offered transparent cost optimization for international calls.

    The company followed with an identical application for BlackBerry smartphones in January of this year.