Archive for June, 2010

I don’t know if this company is called like that as it wants you to believe its products are hot, but I do know that Lava International Ltd has managed to make a completely unique phone. Two of them, actually: the Lava B2 and Lava B5 – that are BlackBerry-like devices that, in place of QWERTY keyboards, feature “Alpha keyboards”.

An Alpha keyboard is gifted as a “a path-breaking innovation” and it has its keys arranged alphabetically, in place of within the QWERTY way.

Lava says that these phones are made for people who don’t have a pc – “a large segment of mobile users who’re not familiar or happy with QWERTY or Multi-tap keypads.”

The Lava B5 costs 4,399 INR ($95) and contours a 2.2 inch QVGA display, dual SIM capabilities, email, Opera mini, Nimbuzz, MSN, Skype, FM radio, Bluetooth, Media player, 3.5mm headset jack, and memory card support. The Lava B2 is slightly cheaper, although its contains are concerning the same.

I’d probably get used to typing on an Alpha keyboard eventually, although my first attempts to write down, say, “hello world” will surely pop out as “pcssi bidsm.”

The B2 and B5 even have QWERTY versions – that you could see them at Lava’s official website (where the Alpha-key versions have to have been listed, too, but they’re not – yet).

Via Unwire India

Samsung is unstoppable when it involves launching its Galaxy S superphone (in any case, it did say it might release it in 110 countries across the world).

The latest market that’s confirmed to get the Galaxy S is Canada, where the handset must be out “this summer” – thus before the tip of August.

The Canadian Galaxy S looks be corresponding to the only launched in Europe and announced for Australia (via Optus) and T-Mobile USA (as Samsung Vibrant). Naturally, it’s going to feature a 4 inch WVGA Super AMOLED touchscreen display, Android 2.1 (upgradeable to Froyo), 1GHz processor, 5MP camera and HD video recording.

Samsung doesn’t say which Canadian carrier plans to give the Galaxy S, but I suppose as a minimum one of the large three (Rogers, Telus and Bell – which also has the Wave) will do it. which you can check in for more details here at Samsung Canada’s website.

I’ll bet, that each one those that purchased HTC EVO 4G from Sprint recently, have been wondering when and if their fresh superphone shall be updated to the latest Android 2.2 Froyo release, this is capable of run Flash.

Especially after this Wednesday, after the launch of EVO’s direct competitor – Motorola’s Droid X on Verizon, which was promised to be updated with Froyo in a couple of weeks.

Here’s some great news to you – Sprint rep. has just posted of their community blog, that they are putting the finishing touches on Android 2.2 version for his or her network, and will launch the upgrade within the near future. This Android 2.2 upgrade also will be available for Sprint HTC EVO 4G.

The wording of this announcement is pretty interesting, though. What do they mean –  ”we’ll be launching Android 2.2 within the near future”? Launching to whom? Notice, how Sprint  doesn’t say, that it is going to be launching HTC EVO 4G Android 2.2 upgrade within the nearest future. Just Android 2.2 upgrade.

On the handsets with customized UIs, like Sense on HTC EVO 4G, Sprint can not just go and launch the OS upgrade by themselves. Smartphone maker – during this case HTC, has to make upgrades to their UI to boot.

My guess –  Sprint is now finishing their network specific Froyo “optimizations” (like lock down of  Wi-Fi hotspot mode), after which will give that OS version to HTC and Samsung, to get their interface shells on top. After that, which you can start looking for your Android 2.2 on EVO 4G and, maybe, Hero in addition.

Update:  Bad news for Hero and Moment owners. Sprint has just tweeted that EVO 4G, and future handsets, launched with Android 2.1, shall be updated to two.2 Froyo. HTC Hero and Samsung Moment won’t.

Optus, Australia’s second largest mobile operator, announced the approaching launch of Samsung Galaxy S – one of the realm’s hottest Android smartphones at the instant.

The handset shall be exclusively available at Optus starting July 1. With a 2-yr agreement and a ‘yes’ Social plan ($59 per thirty days), the recent device may also be yours at no cost.

Expected to be launched via T-Mobile USA, too (as Samsung Vibrant), the Galaxy S is the 1st (ever) Android handset to add a brilliant AMOLED touchscreen display. It also comes with a 1GHz processor, HSDPA, Wi-Fi, GPS, 5MP camera with HD video recording, and eight/16GB of internal memory.

Optus currently sells five other Android handsets: Sony Ericsson Xperia X10, Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini, Motorola Quench, Motorola Dext, and Garmin-Asus A10.

With the Droid X having just been launched and the Droid 2 coming soon to boot, it makes a good amount of sense for the unique Motorola Droid to be discontinued within the near future.

According to a leaked Verizon document appeared over at Droid Forums, it’s not just the Droid that’s nearing End of Life, but additionally the Motorola Devour (which wasn’t really popular because the very beginning).

The to-be-EOLed list also includes some non-Android devices: BlackBerry Tour 9630, Samsung Saga, Samsung Intensity, Samsung Smooth and Samsung Knack. These shall be joining the HTC Droid Eris, which was discontinued last month.

We don’t know when exactly these devices will now not be available. they are still up for grabs at the instant – a moment by which, unfortunately, the recent Droid X is backordered: Verizon says it’ll ship it by July 23. So initial stock was limited, in any case. Déjà vu?