The Onyx – Synaptics’ ClearPad (Unlocking Mobile) concept phone
The Onyx – Synaptics’ ClearPad concept phone
Filed under: CellphonesThis is totally on the concept design tip and so won’t ever actually be produced, but check out the Onyx, a prototype handset that Synaptics and Pilotfish put together that uses Synaptics’ new ClearPad touch screen. We’re still not totally sold on button-less phones — we crave the tactility — but the Onyx lets you do stuff like close an app by drawing an “X” over it with your finger, send messages by swiping them off the screen, and answer a call simply by placing the phone against your cheek. Don’t expect to ever actually get your hands on the Onyx, but Synaptics is planning to make ClearPad available to manufacturers around the end of the year, so there’s a decent chance that phones like it could start showing up within a couple of years.[Via Core77]Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Source: cellphones.engadget.com
CE-Oh no he didn’t! Part XII – Kiloo exec extolls virtues of crack cocaine business model
Filed under: Cellphones, GamingWe usually don’t have to wait long for some tech industry exec to give us new fodder for CE-Oh no he didn’t!, and Karl Woods, pusherman/Executive Vice President of sales and marketing for mobile developer and publisher Kiloo delivered the goods earlier this week. He decided we should witness the strength of his street knowledge by comparing his job of marketing mobile games to, and we’re quoting here, “the crack cocaine model.” (Could someone tell him that his company is named “Kiloo,” not “Kilo”?) Says Woods: “You offer the customer a free rock, and they get hooked. That’s what we’re going to have to do with the 90 per cent. But everyone has to do it, the whole industry has to try and crack this, or we’ll just keep fighting over that 10 percent.”We feel you, Karl. All the crackhouses on our block learned years ago how to stop fighting over that 10 percent and go after the mass market. [Via MoCoNews]Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Source: cellphones.engadget.com
Boy Genius brings BlackBerry Pearl 8100 pics and videos!
Filed under: Cellphones, Features For anyone wanting to finally get their hands on some videos of the BlackBerry Pearl (aka the 8100) in action, The Boy Genius Report over at Engadget Mobile delivers! Oh, and did we mention they have some more hot new photos as well? Yeah, get on over there, you know you can’t stop that uncontrollable urge to gawk at phones that you aren’t supposed to be allowed to see (until September 18th).Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Source: cellphones.engadget.com
Jobs boasts of Apple iPod cellphone?
Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio, Portable VideoApple rumor dredgin’ site AppleInsider just hocked-up another canard for those of you feeling a bit shorted following WWDC 2006. AI reports that the obsessively closed-mouthed Steve Jobs is so giddy about the oft speculated iPod cellphone that he’s been blow-harding its merits amongst personal acquaintances. Sources touting an “unblemished track record” in predicting Apple’s future and familiar with the device’s “ongoings” claim that prototypes have already been released to two potential OEM manufacturing partners with a “big bang” launch coming earlier than expected — catching even industry insiders (such as themselves?) off-guard. Certainly analysts and believers alike have all but convinced themselves that some kind of iPhone device (like that pictured to the right) with or without an MVNO is a certainty. Still, it’s hard to believe that Jobs would break character in such loose-lipped fashion even if they weren’t sitting around doing nothing.Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Source: cellphones.engadget.com
Tech Faith Wireless sells 501 under UBiQUio brand
Filed under: Cellphones Looks like the TechFaith Q-killer’s finally headed into the discerning hands of the general public under the UBiQUio brand, outfitted with a more BenQ P50-like keyboard, and badged with the model number 501 (as listed on Expansys). You’d have thought a device from a still-no name Chinese ODM would require a little less cash from your pocketbook than the $514 it’s being sold for, but aside from having a touchscreen and running Pocket PC, little did you know this thing also has 64MB flash memory, 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 1.2 with A2DP, 2 megapixel camera, miniSD slot, and a mini USB port? Motorizon better just hope like the dickens that TechFaith doesn’t find someone like Cingular to pick ‘em up Stateside — though that could be a while, considering the 501 is still tri-band with 900MHz, and only has GPRS class 10. A device just can’t be perfect, can it?[Via MobilitySite]Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Source: cellphones.engadget.com