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CUPERTINO, California —Apple on Thursday, March 06, previewed its iPhone 2.0 software, scheduled for release this June, and announced the immediate availability of a beta release of the software to selected developers and enterprise customers.

The iPhone 2.0 beta release includes both the iPhone Software Development Kit (SDK) as well as new enterprise features such as support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync to provide secure, over-the-air push email, contacts and calendars as well as remote wipe, and the addition of Cisco IPsec VPN for encrypted access to private corporate networks.

The iPhone SDK provides developers with a rich set of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and tools to create innovative applications for iPhone and iPod touch. Starting today, anyone can download the beta iPhone SDK for free and run the iPhone Simulator on their Mac. Apple today also introduced its new iPhone Developer Program, giving developers everything they need to create native applications, and the new App Store, a breakthrough way for developers to wirelessly deliver their applications to iPhone and iPod touch users.

With the iPhone SDK, third party developers will be able to build native applications for the iPhone with a rich set of APIs, including programming interfaces for Core OS, Core Services, Media and Cocoa Touch technologies. The iPhone SDK will allow developers to create amazing applications that leverage the iPhone’s groundbreaking Multi-Touch user interface, animation technology, large storage, built-in three-axis accelerometer and geographical location technology to deliver truly innovative mobile applications.

Apple has licensed Exchange ActiveSync from Microsoft and is building it right into the iPhone, so that iPhone will connect out-of-the-box to Microsoft Exchange Servers 2003 and 2007 for secure over-the-air push email, contacts, calendars and global address lists. Built-in Exchange ActiveSync support also enables security features such as remote wipe, password policies and auto-discovery.

The iPhone 2.0 software supports Cisco IPsec VPN to ensure the highest level of IP-based encryption available for transmission of sensitive corporate data, as well as the ability to authenticate using digital certificates or password-based, multi-factor authentication. The addition of WPA2 Enterprise with 802.1x authentication enables enterprise customers to deploy iPhone and iPod touch with the latest standards for protection of Wi-Fi networks.

Pricing & Availability
Apple plans to release the final iPhone 2.0 software, including the iPhone SDK and new enterprise features, as a free software update for all iPhone customers by the end of June. Third party applications created for the iPhone will also run on the iPod touch, and iPod touch users will be required to purchase a software update to run these applications. The free beta iPhone SDK is available immediately worldwide and can be downloaded at developer.apple.com/iphone/program.  More at Apple.

Cupertino, Calif — Feb 05, `08 — Apple today added new models of the iPhone and iPod touch which have double the memory, doubling the amount of music, photos and videos that customers can carry with them wherever they go. The iPhone now comes in a new 16GB model for $499, joining the 8GB model for $399. iPod touch now comes in a 32GB model for $499, joining the 16GB model for $399 and the 8GB model for $299.

Both iPhone and iPod touch feature Apple’s revolutionary Multi-Touch user interface and pioneering software that allows users to find and enjoy all their music, videos, photos and more with just a touch of their finger. All iPhone and iPod touch models include the latest software enhancements announced last month including the ability to automatically find your location using the new Maps application; create Web Clips for your favorite websites; customize your home screen and watch movies from the new iTunes Movie Rentals. Both iPhone and iPod touch feature the world’s most advanced mobile web browser in the world with Safari and mobile applications including Mail, Maps, Stocks, Weather and Notes.

Pricing & Availability The new 16GB iPhone is available immediately for a suggested retail price of $499 through the Apple Store, Apple’s retail stores and AT&T retail and online stores. The 32GB iPod touch is available worldwide immediately for a suggested retail price of $499. More at Apple.

Stanford Report — Dec 18,`07 — Dan Stober writes an in-depth article on Stanford’s nanowire battery at Stanford news service.

Stanford researchers have found a way to use silicon nanowires to reinvent the rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that power laptops, iPods, video cameras, cell phones, and countless other devices.

The new version, developed through research led by Yi Cui, assistant professor of materials science and engineering, produces 10 times the amount of electricity of existing lithium-ion, known as Li-ion, batteries. A laptop that now runs on battery for two hours could operate for 20 hours, a boon to ocean-hopping business travelers.

“It’s not a small improvement,” Cui said. “It’s a revolutionary development.”

The breakthrough is described in a paper, “High-performance lithium battery anodes using silicon nanowires,” published online Dec. 16 in Nature Nanotechnology, written by Cui, his graduate chemistry student Candace Chan and five others.

The greatly expanded storage capacity could make Li-ion batteries attractive to electric car manufacturers. Cui suggested that they could also be used in homes or offices to store electricity generated by rooftop solar panels.

“Given the mature infrastructure behind silicon, this new technology can be pushed to real life quickly,” Cui said.

The electrical storage capacity of a Li-ion battery is limited by how much lithium can be held in the battery’s anode, which is typically made of carbon. Silicon has a much higher capacity than carbon, but also has a drawback.

Silicon placed in a battery swells as it absorbs positively charged lithium atoms during charging, then shrinks during use (i.e., when playing your iPod) as the lithium is drawn out of the silicon. This expand/shrink cycle typically causes the silicon (often in the form of particles or a thin film) to pulverize, degrading the performance of the battery.

Cui’s battery gets around this problem with nanotechnology. The lithium is stored in a forest of tiny silicon nanowires, each with a diameter one-thousandth the thickness of a sheet of paper. The nanowires inflate four times their normal size as they soak up lithium. But, unlike other silicon shapes, they do not fracture.

Research on silicon in batteries began three decades ago. Chan explained: “The people kind of gave up on it because the capacity wasn’t high enough and the cycle life wasn’t good enough. And it was just because of the shape they were using. It was just too big, and they couldn’t undergo the volume changes.”

Then, along came silicon nanowires. “We just kind of put them together,” Chan said.

For their experiments, Chan grew the nanowires on a stainless steel substrate, providing an excellent electrical connection. “It was a fantastic moment when Candace told me it was working,” Cui said.

Cui said that a patent application has been filed. He is considering formation of a company or an agreement with a battery manufacturer. Manufacturing the nanowire batteries would require “one or two different steps, but the process can certainly be scaled up,” he added. “It’s a well understood process.” More at Stanford.edu

Sixty years ago three scientists, , from Bell Laboratory in the US invented the Transistor - the tiny switches at the heart of all silicon chips - replacing vacuum tubes and mechanical relays and revolutionizing the entire electronics world. The team was awarded a Nobel Prize in 1956.

Analyst Malcolm Penn at BBC News writes an in-depth article on the history of transistor: “Following the transistor’s invention by John Bardeen, Walter Brattain and William Shockley at Bell Labs in 1947, no one really knew quite what to do with the invention.

Little more than a laboratory curiosity, it was not until manufacturers realized that the tiny switches would enable products to be built smaller, more reliably and with less power consumption than with conventional electronic valves that the market started to develop.

It took the technologists five years to come up with the first practical transistor application - a hearing aid in 1952.

Eight years after the transistors first laboratory demonstration, launched in December 1955, the watershed product that truly grabbed the world’s attention was the first transistor radio, pocket-sized Regency TR1.

Most of the early device manufacturers were traditional valve companies, soon to be displaced by the fledgling specialist semiconductor companies, the most famous of which being Fairchild Semiconductor in Palo Alto, California and Texas Instruments (TI) in Dallas, Texas.

A spin out from Shockley Semiconductors, Fairchild proved to be a hotbed of technology innovation throughout the whole of the 1960s, including the invention of the Planar manufacturing process - the ability to print tiny patterns on the silicon surface using photographic techniques - still the foundation for today’s mainstream technology.

It was at Fairchild in 1965 that Gordon Moore, one of the co-founders of chip-giant Intel, sketched out his prediction of the pace of silicon technology, subsequently became known as Moore’s law.” More at BBC News, Nobelprize.org.

Seoul, S Korea — On Dec 11, Seoul Semiconductor announced that it has launched the world’s thinnest chip-LED at 0.17mm, capable of producing more than two times the brightness of existing chip-LEDs. Seoul Semiconductor has applied for a patent for its new chip.

Seoul Semiconductor’s new chip-LED, WH108, measures 1.6mm in width, 0.8mm in length and 0.17mm in height, and represents a significant reduction in thickness. The WH108 is 15% thinner than the industry’s exiting thin chip-LED, which measures 0.2mm. The WH108 also delivers superior performance at a luminous intensity of 240 mcd, more than two times brighter than the existing chip-LED at a current of 5 mA.

WH108’s ultra-thin package and high brightness make it ideal for use in applications for cell phone keypad modules or touch pads, which will ultimately lead to thinner cell phones.

In addition, the WH108 is capable of producing the same brightness at a lower power, which helps extend the battery life of portable devices such as cell phones, digital cameras and laptops.

The WH108 has enhanced thermal characteristic, meaning it can withstand and perform reliably in demanding environments such as:
- Small lights: inner lighting of refrigerator, reading lamp of automobile
- Special illumination devices: endoscope illumination
- Automobile dashboard lighting

Prototype models of the WH108 in white, blue and green will be available to cell phone companies in Korea and globally in December 2007. Seoul Semiconductor will begin mass-production of the WH108 on a scale of more than 10 million LEDs per month in the first quarter of 2008. More at Seoul Semiconductor.

On  Dec 14 Intel announced the Intel Z-P140 PATA Solid State Drive (SSD), an ultra-small - smaller than a penny, weighing less than a drop of water - complete storage solution for mobile digital entertainment, and embedded applications, offering low-power, high performance, and durability, which is also 400x smaller than a 1.8″ hard-drive.

Using the industry standard PATA interface, the Intel Z-P140 PATA SSD offers the capacity and features to accelerate computing trends towards greater mobility.

Right Fit
Using the standard PATA interface, chipscale package-on-package technology, and a form factor significantly smaller than hard disk drives, the Z-P140 PATA SSD enables smaller and easier storage design.

Right Capacity
2, 4, 8, and 16GB capacities are enough to support operating system storage, applications, data, and media storage, meeting mainstream density requirements for most computing markets.

Right Performance
Fast to boot, load, and run applications, with low power and extended durability, solid state technology has no moving parts, allowing for faster system response and longer battery life.

More at Intel here and here (in pdf).

New low-power, rugged 1.8-inch HDDs feature up to 120GB capacity with an 80GB light-weight model for PC applications, along with a series of 60GB drives optimized for CE devices.

IRVINE, Calif — On Dec 12, Toshiba Storage Device Division announced expansion of its 1.8-inch HDD lineup with a series of five new HDDs for PC and consumer electronics (CE) applications.

Highlights include a high-capacity 120GB model for thin and light mobile PCs, as well as slim, single-platter 80GB and 60GB models for ultra-mobile PC and portable handheld CE devices.

Toshiba’s new 1.8-inch HDDs for PC applications include the 120GB MK1214GAH, the 60GB MK6028GAL and the lightweight 80GB MK8025GAL, weighing two grams less than traditional 5-millimeter-high 1.8-inch HDDs. All three models are equipped with a PATA interface, 2MB buffer and 512 byte-per-sector format for tablet, mobile PC, ultra-portable, ultramobile PC (UMPC) and other applications.

For CE applications, Toshiba introduced two single-platter, 60GB 1.8-inch HDDs in the slim, 5-millimeter-high form factor with special attributes for mobile and handheld products.

The MK6014GAL offers a 4,200 RPM spin speed and 2MB buffer for faster data throughput, while the MK6015GAA supports a 3,600 RPM spin speed for quieter operation. Toshiba’s two 60GB CE HDDs demonstrate the company’s lead in the design and manufacture of long data sector technology with 1K byte-per-sector formats optimized for CE.

In addition to spurring miniaturization and mobility for PC and CE devices, 1.8-inch HDDs deliver better power efficiency, improved ruggedness and quieter acoustics for music and video playback over long periods of time, compared to larger form factor HDDs.

More at ToshibaStorage (in pdf).

LOS ANGELES, CA –Marketwire– Dec 5, ‘07 — Napster has announced that it will provide music content for a new mobile music feature that will be available to customers of Japan’s leading wireless carrier, NTT DoCoMo.

Beginning on December 1, NTT DoCoMo customers who subscribe to its “Music & Video Channel” — a service that provides mobile-phone access to music and video programs — have the option to subscribe to a Napster-Tower Records music channel. The channel offers two programs that are updated weekly, each with eight to 10 full-length tracks that users may listen to up to three times during the week.

The first Napster-Tower Records program, “Napster HITS!,” will update weekly with the latest releases and most popular songs. The second, “Tower Records Must-Hear Recommendations,” will be programmed with genre playlists and older chart-toppers. Each will be equipped with links to the Napster Mobile subscription service, Napster’s a la carte ringtone store, and its full-track a la carte store.

The new programs will be accessible through 22 models of NTT DoCoMo handsets. The Napster-Tower Records channel monthly subscription cost is 315 yen ($2.90 USD) and is housed under NTT DoCoMo’s “Music&Video Channel” service, which is also priced 315 yen per month.

Related:

Nokia to Intro “Comes with Music” - 1 Year Free Music Servive -; Ovi and Cellphones with Bio-covers

Amsterdam, The Netherlands — Dec 04, ‘07 — At the annual Nokia World conference today, Nokia Oyj announced it has agreed with the world’s largest music group Universal to offer free 12-month access to Universal artists’ music for buyers of Nokia’s music phones.

The world’s top cellphone maker said it has signed up Universal Music Group International, owned by French media giant Vivendi, for its new “Comes With Music” offering and is eyeing similar deals with other labels before the offer starts in the second half of 2008.

Nokia said the new offering would differ from other packages on the market as consumers can keep all the music they have downloaded for free during the 12 month period.

“We set out to create the music experience that people are telling us they are looking for - all the music they want in the form of unlimited downloads to their mobile device and PC,” said Anssi Vanjoki, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Multimedia, Nokia.

“Even if you listened to music 24 hours a day, seven days a week, you would still only scratch the surface of the music that we’re making available. Comes with Music fulfils our dream to give consumers all the music they want, wherever they want it, while rewarding the artists who create it.”

“The financial barrier to try new music is completely removed. It fundamentally changes a lot of business logic in the music industry,” said Nokia spokesman Damian Stathonikos. The free access to new music could hurt peer-to-peer networking while also raising pressure on Apple Inc.

Nokia outlines its vision of Internet evolution and commitment to environmental sustainability:

Ovi - your personal dashboard to life
Nokia also gave further details of the upcoming Ovi Internet services environment. Ovi, meaning ‘door’ in Finnish, enables consumers to easily access their existing social network and content, acting as a dashboard to a person’s life.

“Ovi combines the mobile, PC and web environments into an easy to use experience with common user interface elements that provide consistency and simplicity,” said Vanjoki. “We started the Ovi services rollout with the individual services in navigation, music and games, and the next step is to provide an integrated experience. The complete Ovi environment and new services will be rolled out continuously throughout 2008.”

Towards greater environmental sustainability
Nokia also outlined its long heritage in addressing environmental issues and commitment to driving new initiatives in the mobile industry in areas such as energy efficiency, materials used in products, take back, recycling, and packaging. This was against the background of the launch of the Nokia 3110 Evolve, a mobile device with bio-covers made from more than 50% renewable material. The device is presented in a small package made of 60% recycled content and it comes with Nokia’s most energy efficient charger yet, using 94% less energy than the Energy Star requirements. More at Nokia.

Espoo, Finland — Dec 03, ‘07 — Discover and listen to radio shows broadcasted over the internet with the Nokia Internet Radio service now available. The application can be downloaded for free from Nokia.com/internetRadio and will also be embedded in upcoming Nokia S60 3rd edition devices.

“Most new music discovery occurs while you’re listening to the radio,” said Tommi Mustonen, head of the Nokia music business. “By offering the Nokia Internet Radio service on mobile devices, the radio experience becomes more accessible, giving people new ways to find music.”

With hundreds of internet radio stations to choose from worldwide, the station directory of Nokia Internet Radio makes music discovery effortless - browsing can be done based on station name, genre, country or language.

To find out what hits are hot around the world, hourly updates of the top ten most popular internet radio stations are also available in the station directory. Plus, there is no need to search for your top stations time and again because adding them to the list of ‘Favorites’ makes them easily accessible.

Moreover, the audio quality is enhanced by selecting appropriate streaming servers that match the speed of the current network connection.

The Nokia Internet Radio application is currently available for download to the following devices: Nokia N82, Nokia N91, Nokia N95 and Nokia N95 8GB.

The application is planned to be available later on further devices and will be embedded in selected upcoming Nokia S60 3rd edition devices. Please visit Nokia.com/internetRadio for the list of the latest compatible devices.

Nov 26, ‘07 — Electronista is claiming that some developers are gaining early access to Apple’s iPhone and iPod touch software developer kit, citing “reliable sources”.

Last month Steve Jobs announced in an open letter that an iPhone/iPod touch SDK would be released in February 2008.

Eelctronista further writes, “A handful of companies are said to be getting rough versions of the tools to help code more advanced applications than would be possible with the current web-only solution. Exact details of what the kit allows are unknown, though it is confirmed that it produces native programs and somewhat resembles Google’s OpenSocial in that it mediates between the programmer and the iPhone operating system.

Although treated as a welcome development, the SDK will not be the same as writing a Mac OS X application and has its clear limits, people familiar with the matter say.

The group of companies has only received its development tools within the past two weeks and is allegedly unable to provide a timetable for when finished software will be ready, though it should be well ahead of the community at large, which only receives the SDK in February.” More at Eletronista.

Nov 21, ‘07 Verizon has started selling its latest addition, 3-Megapixel Samsung SCH-U900 FlipShot Camera Phone. FlipShot features a 2.2″ 240×320 Display, 3-Megapixel Camera, EV-DO, GPS-VZ Navigator, Bluetooth Stereo, MicroSD Slot, and weighs 3.88oz and is available for $199 with a two year contract from Verizon Wireless.

White Plains, NY — Nov 19, ‘07 — Nokia announced today that the new Nokia N810 Internet Tablet has begun shipping nationwide in the United States.  With a new slide-out keyboard, built-in GPS, digital audio/video playback and Wi-Fi capability for VoIP calling, the Nokia N810 provides the functionality of a traditional computer but all in one sleek, stylish and portable device.

The Nokia N810 provides a premier, portable internet experience with its large color display, touchpad screen, slide-out keyboard, 400 MHz processor, Mozilla-based browser and up to 10GB of memory (an optional 8GB memory card combined with 2GB internal memory).  To access the Internet, users simply connect via the nearest Wi-Fi hotspot or over Bluetooth on a mobile phone.  Connecting to the Internet allows the user to stay connected with friends and family through VoIP calling, instant messaging and e-mail.  Users can also access their online communities by checking Facebook or Flickr accounts and see what’s new in the lives of those they care about.

With up to 45 hours of music playback, storage for up to 7,500 songs and built-in GPS, the Nokia N810 is perfect for the person on the go.  The Nokia N810 comes with free maps preloaded for users to browse detailed locations, search for street addresses, find various points of interest (POI) as well as nearby Wi-Fi hotspots.  Wayfinder will offer subscription based service for navigation over the Maps application; a 3-year license for $129.99 available in December.

The Nokia N810 is powered by maemo Linux-based OS2008, updatable in December also on the Nokia N800, the earlier internet tablet generation hardware.  The maemo Linux-based OS2008 features a highly customizable user interface and contains various novelties such as a Mozilla based browser with Ajax and Adobe flash 9, Bluetooth headset support as well as enhanced video and audio features. 

The Nokia N810 is available at Amazon.com for $459.99.

San Antonio, Texas, Dallas, Texas, November 19, 2007 — AT&T and Samsung have announced the future availability of the SLM by Samsung, Samsung’s newest lightweight mobile phone with music and multimedia capabilities. The SLM by Samsung will be in stores beginning Nov. 23 and is the first of the company’s music phones to feature Napster Mobile, a new service that enables AT&T’s wireless customers to easily search a music catalog of 5 million songs, preview samples of each song and purchase and download songs to their SLM in less than a minute.

Exclusive to AT&T, the SLM is a durable, brushed-metal finish clamshell-shaped device that will be available first in brown and then blue later this year. It is packed with features and services beyond Napster Mobile, including AT&T Video Share, mobile banking, AT&T Mobile Music, stereo Bluetooth technology, a 2.0-megapixel camera with video capture, external memory microSD and advanced messaging options.

With Napster Mobile, customers will have the ability to download five tracks a month with the Napster Mobile Five-Track Pack option for a discounted price of $7.49. Songs can be purchased a la carte for just $1.99.

In addition to enabling users to purchase and download songs over the air, the SLM supports the full AT&T Mobile Music suite of services, including XM Radio Mobile, Pandora, MusicID song-recognition service, and VIP access, a mobile fan club and music-discovery service.

The SLM will also be the first device to have AT&T’s mobile banking application pre-loaded on the device. On Nov. 13, AT&T announced that the application will be accessible by banking customers of Wachovia Corp and SunTrust Banks.

Other key specifications of the SLM include dual-band 3G connectivity, which provides download speeds of 600 to 1,400 Kbps through AT&T’s HSDPA network, and quad-band GSM technology, which allows AT&T customers to make calls in 195 countries and download data in 139. To support music services, the SLM includes a 512MB SD memory card and 3.5 mm headset adapter.

Weighing just 3.17 ounces and measuring about one-half of an inch thick, the SLM features a 96- by 96-pixel 65K color external screen and a 176- by 220-pixel 262K TFT internal color screen.

Pricing and Availability
The SLM by Samsung will be available through select AT&T retail locations or at http://www.att.com/wireless for a special introductory price of $149.99 after a two-year contract activation agreement and a $50 mail-in rebate.

Ever wished you had some way to magically extend the battery life of your most frequently used gadgets when you need them most? You can now do so with the new Duracell PowerSource Mobile 100.

The Duracell PowerSource Mobile 100 is the portable, rechargeable AC and USB power solution for all your mobile needs. It will extend the runtime of all of your mobile electronics such as an iPod, BlackBerry, video camera, cell phone and more. It will provide up to two hours of extended run time for your laptop. The Duracel® PowerSource Mobile 100 has one AC outlet and two USB charge ports, so you can run or charge multiple devices simultaneously. You no longer have to carry extra cords, chargers and device-specific batteries.

Get yours for $100 at Amazon.

REDMOND, Wash. — Nov. 12, 2007 — Tomorrow, consumers ready for a richer, more connected and more personal entertainment experience will have the first opportunity to get their hands on sleek new Zune players, redesigned Zune software, and new online services including the Zune Marketplace and Zune Social, an online music community. The players — along with dozens of accessories — will be available at retailers across the United States, while the new Zune software will be available for free download at Zune.

For the first time, consumers also will have the option to customize their Zune player with laser-engraved designs and personal text through a new Web store called Zune Originals. Customers will be able to purchase a Zune player directly from Microsoft at ZuneOriginals.net and choose from a collection of laser-engraved artwork designed exclusively for Zune by 18 internationally recognized artists.

Zune Entertainment Experience Expands

Together with the original Zune 30GB, the new models and customization options make it easier for consumers to find the size, color, design and price that best suits them. Three new Zune models will be on store shelves tomorrow: the black Zune 80GB, which has a bright 3.2-inch screen and comes with premium in-ear noise-isolating headphones (ERP $249.99), and the slim, ultra-portable Zune 4GB (ERP $149.99) and the Zune 8GB (ERP $199.99), both available in pink, green, black and red. Existing Zune owners will receive all new software features via a free and easy upgrade, available Nov 13.

Zune is set apart from its competitors by having all the following features:

More at Microsoft.

Nov 09, ‘07 — Samsung said Friday it had stopped selling flat panel televisions and other consumer products in Japan, citing poor profitability.

Samsung has emerged in the past decade and a half as a global force in consumer electronics, taking on and even beating Japanese rivals in places such as the United States and Europe. But penetrating the competitive Japanese consumer market, home to rivals such as Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Sony Corp. and Sharp Corp., appears to have been a considerable challenge.

“We judged direct sales to individual consumers are less profitable than business-to-business sales,” Lee Eun-hee, a Samsung spokeswoman, said of the reasoning behind the decision. Samsung sold LCD TVs, DVD players, MP3 music players and other items in Japan via the Internet, but stopped at the end of October, Lee said. It had ceased sales in retail outlets in August last year, she said.

Samsung will sell flat screen computer monitors directly to businesses and will continue to sell components such as memory chips and liquid crystal displays, she said. The company will also keep supplying mobile phone handsets to Japanese telecommunications company Softbank Corp., she said.

Since 2004, Samsung has produced LCD panels at a joint venture with Sony to meet strong demand for flat screen TVs, which has soared in recent years as consumers have switched to the sleeker versions.

London, UK – 6th November 2007 – The W960 Walkman phone will start to ship from November 2007, Sony Ericsson announced today. The W960, a potent combination of slim UMTS and Wi-Fi enabled phone with high performance media player, will be available in selected markets across the globe in time for the Christmas season.

The W960 was unveiled in June 2007 and marks a next generation of Walkman phones. With room for up to 8,000 songs and finger-touch navigation around playlists on the large touch screen, the days of taking an MP3 player and a phone with you are definitely over. The 2.6” display also serves as an excellent viewfinder for a 3.2 megapixel camera and as a widescreen for watching video in TV quality.

“The W960 has been generating a lot of consumer excitement since the day it was announced,” says Ben Padley, Head of Music Product Group at Sony Ericsson. “As the next instalment in our hugely popular Walkman phone series, we are confident that this music mix of 3G phone, Walkman player and quality camera will prove to be a hit, and a great complement to the rest of the range.”

Music Desk Stand MDS-65 makes the perfect partner for a hi-fi duet
Sony Ericsson’s Music Desk Stand MDS-65 will also hit stores at around the same time. The perfect musical complement to the W960 and many other Sony Ericsson phones, the MDS-65 lets you charge the phone while experiencing high-fidelity sound on its four full-range neodymium-magnet speakers. And when you’re on the move, the MDS-65 runs on batteries so you can use it anywhere you like – from barbecue to beach. With its sleek, futuristic silver finish, it can’t help but draw admiring glances.

The Sony Ericsson W960 Walkman phone is UMTS 2100-GSM/GPRS 900/1800/1900 and will be available in Vinyl Black from November 2007. The Music Desk Stand MDS-65 will also be available from November 2007.

No indication of Global / European launch/price!

H2O Audio has just released its H3 waterproof headphones that enable you to listen to your favorite tunes even when you’re swimming. Waterproofing for your MP3 player is not included though. 3rd Generation Speaker Technology delivers 10dB greater output and better bass response over our original underwater headphones. Says H2O.

H3 Features:

- 3rd Generation Speaker Technology - Offers improved sound above water
- Detachable Earbuds - Sport band detaches to provide everyday earbud use
- Aquatic Silencer Earplugs - Improved comfort, noise reduction, and the ability to seal water out of the ear for longer durations
- Reactive Coiled Cable - Moves with you during active use and eliminates tangles

Get yours for $49.99 at H2OAudio.

London, UK and Raleigh, NC — Nov 06, ‘07 — Sony Ericsson today announced the launch of the K660, an HSDPA (‘mobile broadband’) enabled phone, W380 Walkman phone, MD300 USB Mobile Broadband Modem and HBH-PV703 Bluetooth Headset. All four products will be available in Q1 of 2008.

K660:
- HSDPA/UMTS: 2100 MHz
- GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
- 2″ 240×320 QVGA Display
- 2 MP camera
- Bluetooth Stereo (A2DP)
- Access NetFront Browser, RSS Feeds
- FM Radio
- GSM: Talk time: Up to 9 hrs, Standby Up to 330 hrs
- UMTS Talk time: Up to 4.5 hrs, Standby Up to 330 hrs
- 104×47x14.7 mm, 3.4 oz
W380a:
- GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/1800/1900
- 1.9″ 176×220 TFT LCT
- Bluetooth stereo (A2DP)
- Audio Formats: MP3/AAC/AAC+
- FM Radio
- 1.3 MP Camera
- RSS Feeds, WAP 2.0 XHTML
- 512MB M2 Memory Stick
- Talk time: up to 7 Hrs, Syandby 300 Hrs
- 92×49x16 mm, 100 g
MD300:
- HSDPA/UMTS: Triple band 850/1900/ 2100 MHz
- HSDPA up to 3.6 Mbps
- EDGE/GPRS: Quad band 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
- USB 2.0 Mobile Broadband Modem
- Compact size: 70×32.5×15 mm
- Integrated antenna design
- Supported OS: MS Windows 2000, XP, Vista, MAC-OS X
HBH-PV703:
- Bluetooth 2.0
- 61×18 mm, 14 g
- Talk time: Up to 10 Hrs, Standby: Up to 350 Hrs

More at SonyEricsson here, here and here!

Tokyo, Japan–October 29, ‘07–Audi has unveiled Sony Ericsson, UK made mobile phone with its new hybrid concept car “Metroproject Quattro” at 40th Tokyo Motor Show 2007.

Tech-On! reports, “The terminal(mobile device) works as a verification system when starting the engine and supports mobile phone, car navigation system and video player capabilities. These capabilities can also be operated from outside the car. With a port located at the center console inside the car, the terminal can be fit in there.

The Audi mobile device can render images shot with the camera set inside the car, as well as letting users remotely set automobile air conditioner and music programs playback from outside the car. Communications between the car and the terminal uses wireless LAN (WLAN).

If the car is stolen, for example, and goes outside of the WLAN connection area, a 3G mobile phone access module equipped with the car will automatically turn on and inform the car’s present location to the terminal.” Cool. More at Tech-On!

Oct 29, ‘07 — The Unofficial Apple Weblog, TUAW reports, “A crew of hackers (including hdm/metasploit, rezn, dinopio, drudge, kroo, pumpkin, davidc, dunham, and NerveGas) have introduced a one-touch instant jailbreak for both iPhone and iPod touch. The jailbreak opens your iPhone for full disk access and installs Installer.app so you can add pretty much any third party application you like.  

To use it, open Safari and point your browser to jailbreakme.com (which we aren’t linking to so folks won’t install this by accident, but you are prompted to confirm). Once there, read the directions, scroll to the bottom, and tap Install AppSnapp. If Safari disappears and you return to the main Home screen, you’re good. Just wait a minute more for your unit to restart–don’t touch anything until you see the slide to unlock screen. If Safari hangs, just quit out (press and hold Home for 4-8 seconds) and try again. 

More at TUAW

Look at this awesome looking, mirror finish, stand alone CD player by Marantz which can play CD/CD-R/CD-RW in MP3/WMA format and comes with an USB port and round remote. It can be yours for $759 at AudioCubes. More details and pics at (google translated) Marantz Japan

This process is designed to rebuild your lock table in the seczone area and repair the damage done by the original anySIM unlock. In essence, it re-virginizes your phone. This method has been personally confirmed by Zibri who intentionally bricked a phone (wrong IMEI, Invalid SIM) then ran through this process which successfully restored the device to working condition.

More at iPhone Elite Dev Team