New smartphones Extracted from from every corner of The World
Smartphones are exploding onto the scene this week at Mobile World Congress, a veritable smorgasbord of hot new mobile technology in Barcelona. While keeping phones that don't start with "i" straight is never an easy task, we've collected some highlights from this week's mobile extravaganza to help you sort the wheat from the chaff. From absurdlyhigh resolution cameras to tablet copycat capabilities, manufacturers are going all out to mak e their phones stand apart from the pack.
1. Nokia Lumia 610
Windows smartphones are arguably just as capable as the Android and iOS devices on the market, but they've remained a tough sell due to Windows Phone 7's late entry into the mobile fray. With the Lumia 610 — a new entry-level Windows handset — Nokia hopes t o lure customers in with a list of features and a bare-bones price point.
Being touted as the "most affordable" Lumia smartphone, the 610 is equipped with all the social networking and media functionality you'd expect from a Windows Phone device, including Twitter, Facebook, as well as integrated GPS and music apps. The phone is being marketed to a somewhat younger audience, and its rounded chassis will be available in multiple colors to broaden its appeal. If your interest is piqued by Nokia's Lumia line but the high-end Lumia 900 looks like overkill, the 610 might just be the phone for you.2. Asus PadFone
While some companies are attempting to blur the line between tablet and smartphone, Asus has a different plan: a phone that fits inside a tablet. The new PadFone — aside from having the most literal name of any handset we've ever seen — is a high-end Android 4.0 smartphone featuring a 4.3" HD display, 8-megapixel camera, and a speedy Snapdragon S processor.
These stats alone would make it a worthy contender for your smartphone bucks, but the PadFone has another trick up its sleeve: an optional tablet accessory that not only stretches the smartphone's display to 10.1", but also. extends its battery life. When plugged in to the tablet, you can use the PadFone just as you would any other Android tablet, and even take calls as you normally would using a Bluetooth headset. The PadFone is scheduled to ship in April, though pricing for the handset and its accessories have not yet been revealed.Keep in mind that most of these phones won't be hitting shelves for a while yet, so carrier and pricing details are scarce. Still, it's not a bad idea to know what's on the horizon before you sign in blood on your next two-year carrier contract — especially since this wave of devices has some compelling quirks
3. Samsung Galaxy Beam
Your head might be reeling from trying to untangle the web of Samsung's Galaxy-branded devices, but the Galaxy Beam does have a pretty notable trick up its sleeve. As its name would suggest (in a refreshing turn of logical gadget-naming), the Beam packs a built-in projector so you can share images, video, or presentations on your surface of choice up to 50" wide, which sure beats taking turns peering into its 4" screen. The notably bright 15 lumens projector can keep its charge for three straight hours of projected video playback, which should meet most professional needs — we'd definitely nod off somewhere in the second hour of PowerPoint slides. The phone runs on an older version of Android (2.3) for the time being, but Samsung claims that Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) is en route.
4. Nokia 808 PureView
Nokia has a handsome new line of top-notch Windows phones, but the company loves topull out all the stops when it comes to cameras. The Nokia 808 PureView isn't up to the Lumia line's standards in nearly every regard, but it does boast an absolutely absurd 41MP camera. The phone includes support for up to 48GB of expandable memory for all of those pixels, but since it runs on Nokia's own operating system rather than Windows Phone or Android we can't imagine it seeing any kind of mainstream adoption. Nokia's 808 PureView may be little more than marketing stunt, especially considering that HTC's Titan II Windows phone combines mega-megapixelage with an actually otherwise respectable phone, but it's still an interesting feat from a company looking to revitalize its brand with some seriously stunning smartphone optics.
5.HTC One X
Mobile gadgets may be multiplying like rabbits over atSamsung, but HTC wants you to know that it's still just as relevant as ever. The company that broke mobile ground with the HTC Evo 4G has a new flagship phone in store: the HTC One X. The One X will run its own flavor of the hot new Android 4.0 operating system out of the box, and with support for 4G LTE, NFC for nifty tricks like Google Wallet, Beats audio, and a huge 4.7", stunning 720p Super LCD2 screen. Unfortunately, the the U.S. version won't pack a monster quad-core processor like its European counterpart, but this powerhouse still looks to give Samsung's army of Galaxy devices a run for its money. Watch for it on AT&T within the next few months.6. I PHONE 5
7.NEW HTC ONE
Cool Smartphone: Tackles Windows Mobile, iPhone and Android happenings. Refers to Windows Mobile as WinMo, and suggests Microsoft needs to make Windows Mobile cool by exploiting the goodwill from the Windows 7 rollout. EngadgetMobile: Zeroes in on the most mobile of the gadgets that the broader Engadget website covers. iFixit:This blog comes from a company that helps people fix their Macs and other Apple devices, but the highlight of the blog is the posts about hot new devices like the Nexus One smartphone from Google/HTC that they tear apart and look at from the inside. IntoMobile: This blog is handled by a crew of 7 editors and has been around since 2005. IntoMobile's coverage spans all of the major wireless device vendors and carriers, features a slick system for navigating by vendor and boasts a page with financial information on key players as well. Video and audio content round things out on this site. Know Your Cell: Technically, the site has less of a blog feel and more of a news site feel, with an emphasis on carrier offerings, devices and mobile apps, plus lots of How To pieces. MobilitySite: A little less bloggy feeling than some of the others, covers the gamut from Windows Mobile to iPhones. pdaBlast: Branches off into a bunch of more specific "Blast" sites, focused on BlackBerry, iPhone, Palm, Symbian, Windows Mobile, Android, etc. Tell it like it is: The very opinionated Andrew Seybold doesn't blog much more than a couple of times a month, though also mixes in commentary via an email newsletter. Topics range from Google Nexus 1 to wireless auctions, a particular hot button of his. Google Android Android Angle: Mark Murphy's weekly Network World blog includes topics such as hitting Android developers upside the head to get them to be more self-reliant and the latest on the Nexus One phone. Androinica: One nice feature is a beginner's guide to Android. Android Authority: Reports on everything from the latest phones to new Android collectibles. Not much action on the comments/community front. Android Central: Part of the Smartphone Experts family of sites, this blog breaks news (such as on Google hiring a phone support team) and features hands-on reviews of the latest Nexus One, etc., products.
8.BLACK BERRY Z10
AndroidEverything: Usual collection of Android, Nexus One, etc., tidbits, plus an active forum community. Part of a blog network that includes less active Windows Mobile and BlackBerry sites. AndroidGuys: The bloggers here (who keep their identities relatively discreet, but say they are not complete Google fanboys/fangirls) focus squarely on Google's Android mobile platform, covering carrier, handset and software news, dishing rumors, providing reviews and offering access to products for sale. The blog got going in 2007. Google Mobile Blog: As far as vendor blogs go, Google's got it down pretty well, featuring a colorful collection of posts about new features. Phandroid: Android phone fans: Claims to be first documented site (est. 2007) reporting exclusively on Android news.approach to a smartphone-themed blog. The blogger goes by the handle "BlackBerry-1" and posts such sentiments as: "I have supplied the spiritual strength for Big-O since he first picked me up." BBgeeks: A steady stream of BlackBerry news, complemented by a slew of carrier, hosted exchange and software reviews. BlackBerry Cool: Around since 2005, this blog bills itself as the voice of the BlackBerry community, focused largely on apps and useful tips, including how to move from an iPhone to a BlackBerry. BerryReview: Specializes in useful tips for casual and hardcore BlackBerry users, from wireless rate plan comparisons to app reviews, including the latest data on which paid and free apps are most popular. Most posts are short. Like CrackBerry, this blog is part of a broader site that includes reviews, forums, a store, etc. BlackBerry Sync: Features a launcher to get access to the site from… your BlackBerry. It's "proudly owned by Canadians," though isn't affiliated with RIM, also based in Canada. Celebrity BlackBerry Sightings: Candid pictures of Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Hilary Duff and many more with their mobile devices. Also, the ever-popular Guess Who photos quizzes of celebs with their BlackBerries. CrackBerry: This site promotes itself as "The #1 site for BlackBerry users (and abusers!)." Its bloggers find no detail too small to examine, from videos of the bypassed BlackBerry "Magnum" to news on dot releases that extend way beyond one dot. The blog is part of a broader site that includes forums, reviews and shopping. CrackBerry is part of a network of Smartphone Experts web sites, along with those focused on iPhones, Windows Mobile, etc. It has also featured posts from CIO.com's crack BlackBerry reporter Al Sacco. Inside BlackBerry: The Official BlackBerry blog from RIM. As you'd expect, a fair amount of corporate stuff, from helping them pick out their Twitter background to promotions for contests. RIMarkable: Latest BlackBerry news, plus a free software resource. Apple iPhone Apple Enterprise Now: Apple coverage with an enterprise IT bent from IDG's CIO.com. AppleInsider: Technically, the blog portion of this website is much less frequently updated than the general news page. Focus goes beyond iPhones to include general Steve Jobs whereabouts, Mac and iTunes coverage. EverythingiCafe: Wide selection of Apple hardware, accessory, software posts, plus a very busy forum area. iPhone Download Blog: Tagline is: Liberate Your iPhone. As you might expect, good dose of jailbreaking, unlocking info, plus a sort of travelog of Sebastien Page's experiences using mobile devices around the world (in Bali when we last checked). iPhoneFreak: Part of the YulMedia blog network that also includes the Andronica Android blog. They've already got an iPad tab on the site. iPhone Hacks: Features sections for iPhone "jailbreakers" and unlockers, including hacks and tricks. iPhone Spies: Seriously focused on the iPhone, though not above touching on the iPad. Includes reviews of iPhone apps, iPhone hacks and more. Like many of these blogs, iPhone Spies has a colorful cast of characters writing for it, including a "bad ass" and a "jailbreak extraordinar" . iPhone Therefore I Blog: Chicago Now's Scott Kleinberg sets himself apart by being a journalist first/blogger second (in other words, he actually reports, doesn't just re-report others' stuff) and responding to every comment (test him!). IOnApple: Yoni Heisler typically blogs a couple of times a week for Network World, on news (such as the iPad), legal and other topics regarding the iPhone and Apple. iSmashPhone: Hacking, jailbreaking, news and some nicely presented feature pieces on topics such as phone comparisons and top sites to discover iPhone apps. Just Another iPhone Blog: Emphasizes they don't accept payment to review apps. Founder Patrick Jordan also runs the more general Just Another Mobile Monday website. Krapps: Toilet humor anyone? This site specializes in spotlighting the latest but not necessarily greatest iPhone apps, including such selections as one that helps you have undisturbed sex and another that measures how long it takes to chug liquid. And they get worse from there… Macworld's iPhone Central: Includes iPhone, iPad and other Apple tech coverage, including that produced by Network World and other of Macworld's sister publications within IDG. The iPhone blog: Everything iPhone, including news on the latest ads to the latest apps. And they're on the prowl for more bloggers if that's your game. The Unofficial Apple Weblog: They cover the iPhone and its apps, but also offer a search tab for non-iPhone news. Today's iPhone: Part of the Phonedog network of mobile phone websites, TiP offers news, tips, tricks, video tutorials (including those from readers).
9.WINDOWS 7 MOBILE
Microsoft Windows Mobile Microsoft Windows Team Blog: Microsoft folded its Windows Mobile Blog into its overall Windows blog in July 2009 (hmmm, what does that tell us?) The company still offers a dedicated Windows Mobile Developer Blog, but it isn't updated frequently. MS Mobiles: Describes itself as "The Fox News of Windows Mobile." Has an insider, sometimes cheeky tone. Features annoying little flashing comments icons. WMPoweruser: With Windows Mobile 7 around the corner, the staff at WMPpoweruser is keeping busy. The site features the latest on apps, rumors and Windows Mobile news. Symbian/Nokia Darla Mack (Days in the life of a mobile diva and friends): Specializes in Nokia S60-related items, and the posts are sporadic, so you won't get overwhelmed if signing up for a feed. The Symbian blog: Lest we forget about that little old mobile OS that's so popular outside the United States and is the most popular mobile OS in the world. This is "the official mouthpiece of Symbian." Palm EverythingPre: Part of Smart Phone Resources website network, featuring news on Palm devices, carriers, accessories. Active forum area. PalmAddict: Covers the Palm, but strays into the rest of the smartphone space as well.
