Been holding out getting a new smartphone while waiting for a Windows Phone 7 handset to come out?  Well, your wait just got shorter.  Microsoft has rolled out the release to manufacturing (RTM) version of their latest mobile effort, bringing the new OS all that much closer to hitting store shelves.

While it will still take a bit of time to integrate with their partners' hardware, software and mobile networks, there's still a solid four months before the end of the year.  That means, there's a good likelihood that a Windows Phone 7 device will come to market right in time for the year-end holidays.

According to Microsoft, the OS has been their "most thoroughly tested mobile platform" to date. Based on early impressions, it easily sounds like it could be the ace up their sleeve too, sending them right back into contention in the now-crowded smartphone space.

From what we remember, the new platform allows little space for firmware customization.  If that still holds true, then there shouldn't be much tweaks necessary (at least, for the OS itself) on the manufacturer's end, hopefully speeding up the integration process.

We know we're not alone in looking forward to Windows Phone 7 hitting the scene, so this is definitely big news.  Check out the announcement from the WP7 team at the link below.

[Windows Team Blog]



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We're not sure how rugged a slim and sleek smartphone can be, but Motorola claims their latest device "has been designed to handle everything that life throws your way."  Called the Motorola Defy, it's a semi-rugged Android phone with a specs list you typically don't see in handsets marketed for their durability.

While the pleasant 59 x 107 x 13.4 mm frame isn't  rugged enough to survive hard drops onto concrete, it claims dust-proof and water-resistant qualities.  The screen is scratch-proof, as well, so typical clumsy handling (read: your regular use) should leave it unscathed.

Details of the Defy include a 3.7-inch touchscreen (480 x 800 resolution), a 5.0 megapixel camera module with LED flash, aGPS, 3G (7.2Mbps HSDPA), WiFi, stereo Bluetooth, 3.5mm audio jack, DLNA support, microSD card expansion (up to 32GB) and a 1540 mAh battery (rated at over 6.5 hours of talk time).  It comes with Motorola's CrystalTalk Plus, which uses dual microphones to better drown out background noise.  There's no word on the CPU, but it gets 512MB of RAM and a hefty 2GB of ROM.

It's running Android 2.1 (so, no full Flash for you),  but it will feature Motoblur 1.5 on top.  You'll get all the usual Android fare, including robust messaging, Google's suite of services and support for third-party apps.  Honestly, this sounds pretty good, especially when you factor in the water resistance.

The Motorola Defy will debut in Europe sometime in the fourth quarter.  No word on carrier, specific markets or pricing has been given.

[Motorola via Gizmodo]

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Sony Ericsson announced its first TD-SCDMA smartphone, specifically directed at the Chinese market.  Called the Sony Ericsson A8i, the handset will be running China Mobile's Open Mobile System 2.0, a proprietary platform based on Android.

A quick look at the handset reveals a design aesthetic that's similar to what the company has done with both the Xperia X10 and X8.  It sports 117 x 59 x 14 mm dimensions and weighs 136 grams.

Details of the Sony Ericsson A8i include a 3.5-inch touchscreen display (854 x 480 resolution), a 5.0 megapixel camera, aGPS, 3G, WiFi, stereo Bluetooth, a 3.5mm jack, microSD card expansion (up to 32GB).  Battery is rated at 5 hours of talk time, with 260 hours of standby.

We haven't played with OMS 2.0 first hand, so we're not sure what it's all about.  From the sound of it, though, it inherits most of Android's messaging and overall smartphone capabilities, sans the bundled Google suite of apps.  Since it's a Sony Ericsson device, it comes with their usual set of multimedia software, paired with China Mobile's custom offerings.  There's also CNMB mobile TV on board.

The Sony Ericsson A8i is strictly for release in China.  It will be available in two colors (black and white) sometime in the fourth quarter.

[Sony Ericsson]

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If there's anything we learned from the App Store, it's that there are innumerable ways to enjoy a zombie infestation.  Joining the iPhone's endless stream of undead treatments is Zombie Highway, a violently-amusing driving game with zombies galore.

You spend the game driving around post-apocalypse America in a car.  Instead of racing other drivers or avoiding obstacles, though, your goal is to just step on the gas, while zombies pop up from all over trying to stop you.

In Zombie Highway, you get seven varieties of the undead - from the skinny, underpowered ones to health-generating hulking types.  Evading them is easier said than done, as the mutants will literally work their asses off, trying to tip your car over.  They'll cling on to your vehicle, pilling in numbers, until you either manage to get them off or your car eventually topples to the side.

You can get rid of zombies by sideswiping them onto the many wrecked cars that litter the highway.  It takes more than one hit, though, as each zombie has its own health bar.  Fortunately, you've got an arms dealer friend riding with you, so you can use his stash of weapons to further damage your assailants.  New weapons are gradually unlocked the more you play.

Three things really stand out in the game: brilliant driving physics, aggressive zombie enemies and very crisp 3D graphics.  On the downside, sound effects are nearly non-existent - you'll likely just have as much enjoyment if you mute the damn game.

Overall, Zombie Highway makes for an addicting experience.  There's not much beyond the simple premise, but the execution is really engaging.  You can get it from the App Store for 99 cents.

[Render Paz Studios]

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As the year goes forward, the line between tablets and smartphones is only bound to get even more muddled, with size likely playing the biggest difference between the two categories.  Take this just-announced ViewSonic ViewPad 7, a 7-inch Android tablet, fitted with complete phone functionalities.

While ViewSonic is mainly associated with LCD and plasma displays, the company has long been rumored to be at work on their own smartphone.  We guess the tablet is a logical  first foray into mobile electronics, as it's a considerably less mature market than the now-crowded smartphone space.

Details of the ViewPad 7 include a 7-inch capacitive touchscreen (800 x 480 resolution), a rear-facing 3.0 megapixel camera module, a front-facing VGA webcam, onboard gyro-sensor, WiFi, 3G (both for phone and data) and microSD card expansion (up to 32GB).  Hopefully, there's a way you can put this up to your face when making calls just like a real phone - that would be entertaining.

No word has been given about the tablet's innards (e.g. processor, RAM), so we'll have to see what kind of hardware it's packing under the case.   It's running Android 2.2 Froyo, along with the usual Google suite and a few pre-installed apps (such as an ebook reader).  Full phone features include standard voice calling, SMS, MMS and VOIP.

The ViewSonic ViewPad 7 will be part of the company's exhibit at the IFA 2010 in Berlin, which is slated to begin this coming September 3rd.  Review units will be available starting October, with UK pricing expected to be no more than £350 (around $540), including VAT.

[via Engadget]

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Bada-Powered Samsung Wave 723 Announced

August 30, 2010

Samsung has announced the newest member of the Wave family.  Running on the same Bada platform it introduced not long ago, the Samsung Wave 723 (model S720E) offers the same smartphone-like qualities as the earlier models, all while squarely positioning itself at the lower ranges of affordability.
Just like the Wave 2 and Wave 2 Pro, both of which aimed to get the platform into mid-range users’ hands,  the new handset seeks to further expand the home-brewed OS’ customer base.  While scaling back on some features, it retains the same extensibility of Bada (via their own SDK), paired with TouchWiz 3.0 UI on top.
Details of the Samsung Wave 723 include a 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen (240 x 400 pixels), a 5.0 megapixel camera module with LED flash, dual-band 3G, WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0, a 3.5mm audio jack and microSD card expansion.  Phone dimensions are 109.5 x 53.9 x 11.8 mm.  Notable design cues [...]

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Samsung Epic 4G Delivers Superb Multimedia, High Price

August 30, 2010

Personally, I can’t believe it took us this many years to come up with a phone model named “Epic.”  I mean, that’s like most epic name available for the taking, right?  With that said, the Samsung Epic 4G backs up the larger-than-life billing with  a feature set bound to endear itself to most power users.
Physically, the smartphone looks sleek, with rounded edges, curved corners and a glossy finish.  It’s easily the biggest of the Galaxy S line (so far, at least) and will probably be tough to fit in most jeans pockets.  Like most hefty phones, though, it feels particularly sturdy, apart from having a great feel in hand.
Display is a 4-inch AMOLED touchscreen, with 480 x 800 resolution.  Sharpness, colors and graphics look downright fantastic, made even better by the wide viewing angle.   Before we forget, there’s a horizontal slide-out keyboard too.  Thanks to the phone’s size, it’s got [...]

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Want A Dual SIM Adapter For Your iPhone 4?

August 28, 2010

You can say all you want about those Chinese knockoff phones, but they all have one very useful feature the iPhone doesn’t: they work with dual SIM cards.  A new accessory, unimaginatively named Dual SIM Card for iPhone 4G with Back Cover, now lets you do the same thing with your genuine Apple-branded handset.
Available at USB Fever, the accessory uses a special adapter that goes right into your SIM tray.  This is connected to a two-SIM dock that’s designed to sit flat on the back of your phone.   You’ll need to use the included transparent back cover or a different case to hold the dual SIM assembly in place.
The contraption requires no jailbreaking, but is only guaranteed to work for iPhone 4 handsets with firmware versions 4.0.0, 4.0.1 or 4.0.2.  No extra software is needed, with both SIMs easily accessible from the SIM Applications menu.  You can also have it [...]

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2K Sports NHL 2K11 For iPhone: Fun Gameplay, Excellent Season Mode

August 27, 2010

Seldom do we get hockey games on mobile platforms, so the release of 2K Sports’ NHL 2K11 is a much welcome addition to the App Store.  With serviceable graphics, fun gameplay and in-depth realism, it’s easily one of the most entertaining sports games on the iPhone.
Let’s start with the shortcomings.  Most noticeable here are the unpolished graphics (nothing horrible but the resolution is blocky at best), lacking commentary and a sometimes questionable AI.  None of the above are really deal-breakers, since the game is so good even with those deficiencies.
Controls consist of an analog stick for player movement and three onscreen buttons for a variety of in-game actions .  Strength of passes and shots are determined by how long you hold down the corresponding buttons.  Actions of the buttons will sometimes depend on your position relative to other players, so the body check button can deliver either a simple poke [...]

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