They're not calling it a "retina display," as Apple has done with the iPhone 4, but Sharp's newest Android smartphone deftly matches the sharpness of the former's screen.  Billed as the Sharp IS03, it's a Japan-only release that, we're hoping, sets the bar for upcoming Android hardware.

Primary draw is the 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen, which features a 960 x 640 resolution (the first Android phone to get one), along with Advanced Super View (ASV) technology for keeping things visible from all angles.   Styling looks pretty standard for modern touchscreen slabs with rounded corner and curved edges.

Other details of the Sharp IS03 include a 9.6 megapixel camera with autofocus and image stabilization, Global Passport CDMA (which means, it can be used in countries with existing CDMA networks, such as the US), a 1Seg TV tuner and the Osaifu-Keitai contactless payment system.  Early hands-on reports say the case feels covered in cheap plastic and runs a tad on the sluggish side, though, so it may not be as dreamy as it appears at first glance.  Plus, it only runs Android 2.1.

The Sharp IS03 is slated for release under KDDI au's network soon.  It will come in a choice of colors - black, orange and one we're quite uncertain of yet.

[Engadget]

We've long gone past fawning on pure hardware specs when it comes to smartphones.  Still, it's tough not to feel just a little excited about something like the Altek Leo, an Android phone armed with a 14-megapixel camera module.

If you're not familiar with the company, they specialize in  digital camera products and technology.  In fact, Altek claims they are currently the world's number one original design manufacturers (ODM) of digital cameras.  Suffice to say, they'd like to pimp the fact that their phone will have a really, really good set of optics, boasting 3X optical zoom, HD video recording, Xenon Flash and LED video light, along with the extremely high resolution.

Details of the Altek Leo include a 3.2-inch touchscreen display (480 x 800), aGPS, 3G with HSPA, WiFi, Bluetooth and microSD card expansion (up to 32GB).  It will run Android 2.1 at the helm and come pre-installed with a specialized software suite designed for photo editing.

No word on processor or RAM, so this might very well be a dud with a really good camera.  Altek appears to be priming it as a "high-end smartphone," though, so we're hoping it's packing some serious processing power.  The Taiwanese company is looking at the first quarter of 2011 to bring the Leo to European shelves.  No word on pricing.

[via Android Authority]

Vodafone has been steadily adding to their roster of self-branded phones.  Two new handsets join that growing lineup today, the Vodafone 945 and the Vodafone 553.

The carrier's second Vodafone-branded Android phone, the 945 comes in a slightly industrial-looking package, with a rectangular frame that's a bit on the thick side.  It runs Android 2.1 Éclair, with access to the Android Market and Vodafone's music services.  Details of the handset include a 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen (240 x 400 resolution), a 5.0 megapixel camera module with flash, WiFi, stereo Bluetooth, 300MB of onboard storage and a microSD card expansion (up to 32GB).

Its partner at launch, the Vodafone 553, on the other hand, is strictly a feature phone with a horizontal QWERTY slider.  Details include a 2.8-inch capacitive touchscreen, a 2 .0 megapixel camera module, stereo Bluetooth, FM radio and microSD card expansion (up to 8GB).  It comes with Vodafone's 360 People address book and Opera Mini 5.0.

Both handsets should be selling soon in most of the European markets the carrier services.  The Vodafone 945 will be available in black or silver, while the Vodafone 553 will come dressed in either black, white, silver or pink.  No pricing have been announced for either device, but they're expected to fall in the affordable range.

[Vodafone]

Want an Android phone, don't need a touchscreen slab?   You may want to give the Motorola Charm an audition.

Clad in a slim QWERTY candybar form factor, it's easy to mistake it for a Blackberry clone.  It's not the sleekest messaging-style handset we've seen, but it does have its own...uhm...charm.  The squared-off 2.8-inch touchscreen (320 x 240 resolution) feels too small for viewing most webpages, but it does work fine for most other uses.  It's capacitive too, making for excellent touch controls.  Motorola also added a navigation pad on the back of the phone that surprisingly works better than we expected.  Keypad is roomy and has a good tactile feel.

As a phone, the Motorola Charm makes for good calls, with voices just sounding with a little bit of echo.  Audio is clear, though.  Speakerphone isn't that good and will probably be unusable in crowded environments.  Battery is rated at 5 hours of talk time, making for over a day of use before recharges.

The phone runs Motoblur, which adds a number of useful stuff, such as a universal inbox, a socially-connected contacts list and a bunch of widgets.  While we do like the extra functionality, the UI layer does leave the screen a bit cluttered.  An underpowered 600MHz processor controls the action, which does wilt a little once you start to have a whole host of apps running.

It comes with the usual smartphone capabilities (threaded chat view, Bluetooth, aGPS, WiFi), along with the host of features that go with Android 2.1 (multiple home screens, robust messaging with Exchange support, speech-to-text and more).  Running on T-Mobile's network, it gives fast 3G speeds, with YouTube clips running smoothly after some short buffering.  Both the media player and HTML browser are stock, so don't expect much excitement there.  The 3-megapixel camera takes rather disappointing pictures.

Overall, we love the design of the Motorola Charm.  While I'm not swayed by its looks, it does offer an alternative for users who want a slim Android phone with a QWERTY keyboard.  Plus, it's priced pretty sweet at $74.99 on a two-year contract with T-Mobile.

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]

Not to be confused with the original Milestone (which is known in the US as the Droid), the Motorola Milestone XT720 is a newer model, which ditches the slide-out keyboard and takes on an odd styling.  It doesn't have the raw CPU power of other new high-end Android phones, but makes up for it with a solid set of hardware features.

Physically, it takes on a slate design, but includes an odd bump on the lower right side that's used for displaying a variety of LED indicators.  Personally, I like the unique touch, although I can imagine a lot of people finding it unnecessary.  Screen is a 3.7-inch capacitive touchscreen (480 x 854 resolution).  It manages a very crisp display, with bright colors and sharpness to spare.  Touch interface is quick and responsive.

As a phone, the Milestone XT720 managed good calls, with loud volume and no interference.  Those on the other end reported the same thing, citing very clear audio.  Speakerphone added some echo, but was serviceable even in loud environments.  Battery is rated at 4.5 hours of talk time, so expect to charge every night or so.

Like other Android 2.1 phones, it comes with the staple Google suite of apps, robust messaging and other OS-based features, aside from access to lots more via the Android Market.  It runs on a 720MHz CPU.  While far from the 1GHz performers now flooding the market, it performs most tasks without hitch, although it would occasionally act in a sluggish manner when you have a fair share of apps open.

Standard capabilities include quad-band world roaming, smart dialing, Bluetooth 2.1 and aGPS.  A few notable preinstalled apps include QuickOffice, a Phone Portal utility (for managing phone content on a PC over WiFi or USB) and an all-in-one social networking app.  It uses the default standard browser, with pinch-to-zoom and Flash lite.

Multimedia playback is typical for an Android phone, so it's nothing special.  It does have a high-res 8.0 megapixel camera with a Xenon flash and 720p recording.  Stills look very good outdoors and very usable indoors, while the video has nice colors but remains somewhat grainy.

Overall, the Motorola Milestone XT720 is a full-featured Android 2.1 phone with a high-res camera and good overall performance as its main selling point.  It costs $460 unlocked, but probably isn't the best deal available when Cincinatti Bell releases it for $199.99 on contract.

Motorola just announced a new phone for the South Korean market.  Called the Motorola Glam (model XT800), the handset brings mid-range smartphone specs, powered by Google's Android OS.

Running Android 2.1 (Éclair), the device will run on core hardware consisting of a 550MHz Texas Instruments OMAP processor, 512MB of ROM and 256MB of RAM.  It sports a slim frame, with rounded corners, that Motorola claims feature a blend of modern design with luxury.

Details of the Glam include a generous 3.7-inch touchscreen (with 854 x 480 resolution), a 5.0 megapixel camera module with 720p video recording and dual flash, aGPS, stereo Bluetooth, 3.5mm audio port, WiFi connectivity (no word on 3G) and microSD card expansion.  Rigged for heavy multimedia use, it comes compatible with a hefty roster of audio and video codecs (DivX, AC3 and more), DLNA support and HDMI out (not sure how well that 550MHz CPU will decode your 720p videos, though).

It comes with a variety of social networking features (via Motorola's SNS app), the usual Google suite of tools  and a number of apps from Korean carrier SK Telecoms, who will be releasing it in the home turf.  No word on pricing or exact dates, but it's now got its own dedicated space on the Motorola website.

[via Unwired View]

Like the Captivate, the Samsung Vibrant is another variant of the manufacturer's Galaxy S phones.  This one, however, is made specifically for T-Mobile and definitely makes it mark as one of the best multimedia devices on the carrier's roster.

Physically, it's arguably the best-looking of the Galaxy S variants we've seen so far, combining slim lines, rounded edges and a very clean profile.  It's also lighter than the Captivate, making it a bit easier to carry around.  On the downside, it definitely feels less sturdy, although our short use didn't really show any obvious chinks in durability.  Like its brethren, it features a large 4-inch Super AMOLED screen (800 x 480 resolution) that manages vibrant images, rich colors and good visibility under sunlight.

As a phone, the Vibrant makes for great calls, with clear and rich audio that's never interrupted by even the feintest distortion.  Those on the other end said our voice quality was very natural-sounding.  Speakerphone was similarly good, adding just a slightly hollow tone, while being perfectly usable even in noisier environments.  Battery life should be a worry, though.  Expect to charge this every night (if you're a heavy user, best carry a charger along).

Anyone who's heard of the Galaxy S series knows it packs the hardware goods and it's no different here.  The 1GHz processor keeps things running along smoothly, with nary a hitch even with a load of apps open.  T-Mobile's 3G network provides good broadband speeds, loading YouTube videos with just a slight delay and playing them back with zero buffering.

With multimedia as a definite strength, the phone zipped through our music and videos with excellent playback quality, giving Android's normally shoddy entertainment performance a huge boost (the 5.1-channel surround sound processing really does make everything sound better).  It comes with a full-length copy of Avatar, so you can immediately judge for yourself.  The 5.0 megapixel camera (no flash - booo) takes good shots, but nothing spectacular.  We do appreciate the large amount of editing options, though.

Of course, it's heavy on the smartphone features too.  Aside from gaining Android 2.1's solid messaging strengths, it boasts quad-band world phone capabilities, with the gamut of connectivity options (3G, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS).  There's also the usual suite of Google services, a slew of social networking talents and a few choice apps (like Layar's augmented reality browser and Kindle for Android).

The Samsung Vibrant is a fast and powerful multimedia smartphone - easily one of the best options for entertainment handsets on T-Mobile's roster.  It's available now for $199.99 with a two-year agreement.

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AT&T's version of the Samsung Galaxy S has finally been released.  Called the Samsung Captivate, it's easily the carrier's most powerful Android device.

Physically, the handset sports a rather industrial design.  If you can get past the cover, though, you will appreciate the hefty hardware, maintained inside a rather slim 0.39-inch frame that manages to slip (barely) in most front pockets.  Construction actually appears very sturdy, compared to other Galaxy S phones now out.  The 4-inch Super AMOLED capacitive display (840 x 480 resolution) looks gorgeous, with a brilliance and sharpness rarely seen in many smartphones.  Plus, the touchscreen is notably responsive and fast.

As a phone, the Captivate delivers great-sounding calls, with clear audio and rich voices.  Those on the other end reported the same, although they can easily identify we were talking on a cellphone.  Speakerphone  added a hollow tone, but it was usable even in noisier environments.  Battery life is rated at almost six hours.  From our tests, most users will probably need to charge every night or so.

Not only is this the most powerful Android phone on AT&T's roster, it's also the most feature-packed.  Aside from the usual phone features, it's also a quad-band world phone, with a whole host of advanced voice services.  It also inherits Android 2.1's messaging strengths, with support for IM, Exchange and multiple social networking sites.  Plus, there's unified inbox and calendar, as well as automatic backup of your address book to AT&T's servers .

Browser supports both tabbed browsing and Flash Lite, making for an enjoyable time surfing.  Data speeds are terrific and the phone performs up to speed, easily playing YouTube videos without a hint of buffering (after a couple seconds of loading).  We love this as a multimedia phone, zipping through every video we loaded handily, playing it with amazing quality.  Music quality is up there with the best too.  Plus, it's got MobiTV and future support for Samsung MediaHub.

Aside from Google's default suite of apps, it comes with a whole host of others, including Write and Go (a notepad/messaging app), Mobile Banking, Where and the gamut of AT&T-specific services.   The 5.0 megapixel camera took decent shots - nothing better than what's expected, though.  Sadly, there's no flash.

If you're getting an Android phone from AT&T, the Samsung Captivate is as good as you can get right now.  There's really nothing better, provided you're fine with an average-quality, high-res camera and no Wi-Fi hotspot tethering support.  It's priced at $199.99 with a two-year contract (both voice and data plans are required).

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Orange announced a new Android phone for the French market today.  Billed as the Orange Tactile Internet (yes, really), the new handset will be an entry-level smartphone carrying the wireless network's branding.

No clear word on who actually manufactured it.  Based on the unusual styling, though, it's probably not one of the big guys.  Like HTC's earlier Android devices, however, the compact frame (it looks like a regular touchscreen slab abruptly sliced in the middle) wears a highly conspicuous chin.

Details of the Orange Tactile Internet include a 2.8-inch QVGA touchscreen (240 x 320), a 3.2 megapixel camera module, aGPS, 3G with HSPA, WiFi, stereo Bluetooth, FM radio, 3.5mm jack, 256MB internal storage and microSD card expansion (with a 2GB card included in the package).  It measures 107.5 x 57 x 13.8 mm and weighs 104 g.

The handset will ship with Android 2.1, which means it will get plenty of newer features like Maps Navigation, apart from the default suite of Google apps.  Orange is pricing it at a low €1 on a new contract, so it sounds like an excellent deal for folks looking to switch from an older feature phone.  It's now available from Orange's website (it's French, though).  Link below.

[Orange via Unwired View]