Wireless Archive

One of the world's largest computer and consumer electronics manufacturers will ship a completely open, Linux-based, GPS-equipped, quad-band GSM/GPRS phone direct, worldwide, for USD 350 or less, in Q1, 2007. The Neo1973 is the first phone based on the open-source 'OpenMoKo' platform.

I have been wanting to test and use this phone ever since it came out, in 2005. So when Hi-Mobile.net provided us with the opportunity to review the Nokia 8801, I did not think twice about accepting the review. Usually, Eugenia does our phone reviews, since she knows a lot more about phones than the rest of the staff does; however, this phone is not a phone which you can dissect feature-for-feature, assessing its potential based on what it can do. No, this phone focusses on style, exclusivity, and stunning looks. Read on for the complete review.

The Web has been rife with bogus rumors of an Apple cell phone since 2004, and each ridiculous 'leak' or faked 'photo' sets off a torrent of fruitless discussion, speculation and hysteria. What does that say about current cell phones? That they're claustrophobic and oppressively complex. That the world craves a phone that conveys, like Apple's iPod, a feeling of beauty, elegance and instantaneous mastery. This week, a cell phone matching that description has finally arrived - but it's not from Apple. Its design comes from Bang & Olufsen, maker of expensive, hyperstylish stereos and cordless phones, and its guts come from Samsung.

"This whitepaper, fourth in our series leading up to the Nov. 1 official launch of Windows XP Embedded SP2 Feature Pack 2007, describes a new set of components that bring desktop capabilities to Windows XP Embedded. This allows applications to work identically in both desktop and embedded environments and makes the same management, monitoring, and deployment infrastructure available to manage embedded systems."

"Sooner or later, people will do most of their reading on portable digital devices. If this horrifies you, then worry not: You have some time. But if you're impatient for the paperless future, you can embrace it now. Sony has introduced the USD 350,- Reader e-book and the 10000-title, big-publishing house backed Connect e-book store. The one-time consumer-electronics superpower clearly hopes the pair will become something of an iPod + iTunes for books."

Palm has launched a new sibling in its Treo smartphone line today, the Treo 680, using the PalmOS. "For people who are ready to move up to a full-featured mobile phone that includes everything needed to stay organized, Palm today announced the Palm Treo 680 smartphone, a GSM/GPRS/EDGE quad-band world phone. Customers will find the Treo 680 smartphone easy to use, slim and compact, yet packed full of features beyond its stellar phone capability, such as email, web browsing, messaging, multimedia, calendar, contacts and more." No Wifi though. At the same time, Palm OS died.

Some nice-looking screenshots of Microsoft's next version of Windows Mobile - codenamed 'Crossbow' - have popped up on the web to show the upcoming operating system's swankier graphics. The images come courtesy of MSMobileNews, which has a selection of shots on offer. Meanwhile, the similarly names MSMobiles has a smaller pic showing Windows Mobile 6.0/Windows Mobile 2007's Vista-like folder icons.

The folks over at Hi-Mobile.net were very kind to send us the Samsung D900 feature phone for the purposes of this review. What's special about this phone is that it's the slimmest slider in the market today with a 3.2 MP camera on it, a technological marvel. Read on for our review, screenshots of the system, camera samples and a hands-on video.

There is a lot of noise about VoIP lately, especially because it can help you avoid a major part of your cellphone bill. The first VoIP handsets released were all USB-based, but now cordless, Bluetooth and WiFi handsets are springing one by one in the market. The most affordable WiFi handset in the market right now, selling for just $150, is the FiWin SS28S that was released at the beginning of the summer by FiWin. Geeks.com sent us in a unit for the purposes of this review.

MadPenguin has published a short overview of SymbianOS 9.3. "Symbian has added plenty of features to v9.3, but do we need to rush? Well, the answer is no. This is because no handset manufacturer has still come up with a device based on the new operating system. According to industry sources, one may expect a plethora of such devices to be launched in early 2007 during high level mobile conferences such as Nokia Mobility Conference and Symbian Smartphone Show. Until then, enjoy your current handset."

Hi-Mobile.net once again kindly stepped up and sent us in the next-generation Motorola Linux-based ROKR-E2 feature phone. In the tradition of the ROKR devices, the E2 is also built around the idea of music on the go, while it's the first Linux phone to have an initial retail cost smaller than $256. Read inside for our detailed review, video and pictures.

"The Nokia 770 Internet Tablet is a thin black handheld device with a Linux operating system, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, but, unlike most Nokia handhelds, it's not a cell phone. Instead, it's a fun way to connect to the Internet. The latest version shows promise, but it's still not quite ready for prime time."

What's particularly compelling about the Nokia 770 Internet Tablet is that it's not only the first to be billed as an "Internet Tablet," but also its software is built entirely from open source components. Parts of it come as a result of direct community participation via the Nokia 770's community site. Somewhere between a PDA and a laptop, Nokia's 770 uses software built entirely from open source components.

OSWeekly compares Opera 8.0 to Pocket IE. "Pocket IE is suitable for casual browsers who seldom use their mobile devices for serious surfing. The innovative features of Opera bring it very close to its desktop counterpart. If all you do is check mails and that too seldom, we would recommend Pocket IE. If you are that tech-savvy person who would not settle for anything but the best, we would hands down recommend Opera as the mobile browser of choice."