We had a chance to gaze through the wireframe of this 8.1 megapixel Casio W63CA Exilim cellphone back in August courtesy of the FCC’s finest. Now check it in high-gloss, plastic flesh. The latest Japanese super-phone squeezes 480 x 800 pixel into a 3.1-inch OLED display. Let that sink in for a second… the very same 384,000 pixels on a display smaller than the 3.8-inch LCD heralded by the Touch HD. The camera features a wide-angle lens, 9-point auto focus, face detection, anti-shake, and a YouTube video mode that records VGA video at 30fps to microSD. All this in a Japanese-only flip measuring 110 x 50 x 17.4 ~ 22-mm when it launches in early November.

[Via Impress]
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We were always curious why a device that (at least on paper) was superior in a lot of ways to Nokia’s N96 wasn’t trumpeted as the outfit’s flagship device, but nevertheless, an Italian reviewer has made us feel a touch better about our previously ludicrous thoughts. After spending a solid fortnight with the phone, the critic felt comfortable deeming the N85 a “very, very beautiful” handset, also noting that it was “definitely the best Symbian [device]” out there. He even went out of his way to recommend the N85 over the N96 so long as you’re cool without DVB-H or a super-snazzy camera. As if you really needed more, he also found the OLED display to be spectacular, the audio quality very satisfactory and the GPS / multimedia functions to be top-notch. Wait, is that the N96 we hear crying? There’s no crying in Espoo!

[Via All About Symbian]
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If you can’t get your goods into China via the front door, there’s always the back. Apple is now selling its iPhone 3G unlocked via its on-line Apple Store in Hong Kong. The 8GB model sells for HK$5,500 (about US$694) or HK$6,200 (about $797) for the 16 gigger. Already available since July 11th with a local Hutchison Telecommunications contract, this is the first time that Apple has sold its device unlocked in Hong Kong:

“iPhone 3G purchased at the Apple Online Store can be activated with any wireless carrier. Simply insert the SIM from your current phone into iPhone 3G and connect to iTunes 8 to complete activation.”

Unfortunately for the 1 billion mainland Chinese, the terms and conditions limit sales to those in Hong Kong only — not that the gray market cares about T&Cs. It’ll be interesting to see if Apple extends the unlocking more broadly (presumably as exclusivity deals expire) or if this is strictly a local phenomena, perhaps in direct response to having its WiFi and the imperialistic 3G gutted from handsets sold under Apple’s rumored China Mobile deal.

[Via PC World, thanks Twins N]

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As expected, Apple just updated the iPod touch with a new thinner stainless steel case — it’s still got the same display. There’s now hardware volume controls (hooray!) and a built-in speaker, and a Nike+ receiver is also built in, so you just need the shoe transmitter. On the software side, the UI has been tweaked and the new iTunes Genius features have been added, and the App Store is now included (obviously). Battery life is decent at 36 hours of music and 6 hours of video, and Apple’s doing the same “environmentally sound” design thing it did with the new nano. Three price points: 8GB for $229, 16GB for $299, and 32GB for $399. So much for that rumored price drop below the iPhone’s $199 price point, but we won’t complain too much about a $100 price drop.

Gallery: iPod Touch 2.0

From engadget

Steve Jobs just announced that the iPod classic will only come in a single $249 120GB config from now on. Seriously, that’s the only model of classic available now, storage junkies — better snap up those outgoing 160GB models while you can.

From engadget

Sure, most fullscreen players end up looking roughly the same — some more than others — but we like the direction Onda has taken its 4.3-inch widescreen VX767. The player can show off RM, RMVB, FLV, AVI, MOV, ASF, MP4, WMV, 3GP and MPG video on its 480 x 272 LCD, and includes support for TV out. Audio codec support is less impressive, but there are games and lyrics along with voice recording and FM radio to keep you occupied. No word on internal storage or price, but you can slap in a 32GB microSD card if your wallet will allow.

[Via thegadgetsite]
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Those of you hoping to have your mind blown can go ahead and leave quietly out the back, but for anyone else hoping for a dirt-cheap and fairly lovable DAP, the Sansa Fuze from SanDisk might just fit the bill. PC Magazine and CNET put the player through its paces and came out with a few nice things to say about it. Starting at $80 for 2GB and ramping up to $130 for 8GB, the player is certainly a good deal, and its diminutive form factor — a compromise between the Clip and the View — measures a mere 0.3-inches thick, while still managing a quality feel and a microSD slot. Unfortunately, the size only leaves room for a 1.9-inch screen, which CNET calls “dingy,” and SanDisk’s proprietary syncing port on the player isn’t winning it any fans. Audio quality doesn’t quite match the Sony A810 or Samsung P2, and the codec support is fairly limited, but obviously Rhapsody integration is the real draw here. These days 24 hours of audio playback isn’t earth shattering either, but it’s certainly commendable, and while it doesn’t appear SanDisk is going to change to face of the DAP market with this unit, we’re sure they’ve hit the sweet spot for some.

Read – PC Mag (3.5 out of 5, “Good”)
Read – CNET (7.3 out of 10, “Very good”)
From engadget

Well, we’ve gotten some sweet PR on it with a few more details we didn’t hear about yesterday. The device will come in 2GB, 4GB, and 8GB configurations, feature playback of MP3, WAV, Audible, WMA, MPEG-4, and JPEG files, and will be compatible with subscription services like Rhapsody To Go, Napster, and eMusic. As we mentioned in the previous post, the 4GB model will be available in black, red, pink, or blue, while the 2GB version only comes in black, and the 8GB is only available in silver. The models are priced at $79.99, $99.99, and $129.99, and will be available sometime in April.

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What will it be, the good or the bad news first? How ’bout the good. After an initial rebuff, we finally managed to grab some photos of that exclusive T-Mobile MDA compact IV. You remember: 7.2Mbps HSDPA, GPS, VGA resolution screen, WiFi and 4GB of on-board storage. It’ll also launch “mit neuestem Microsoft Betriebssytem” which we can safely assume is Windows Mobile 6.1 at this point. Oh yes, and the bad news. It’s only a plastic dummy and our photographs were restricted by a glass cube. Still, this is as close as most of you will get for a long, long time.

Gallery: MDA Compact IV

    

from engadget

We’re all but convinced that nobody actually wears these video-playing watches out in public, but just in case there’s some otherworldly group out there that takes pride in adorning their wrists with timepieces that are utterly heinous, you’re in luck. This iteration sports a 1.8-inch 160 x 128 resolution OLED display, integrated media player that handles MP3, WMA and MP4 files, a built-in Li-ion, 4GB of internal memory, voice recording capability, USB 2.0 connectivity and an FM transmitter for good measure. All this can be yours for the above average price of $126, but if you have any respect for yourself whatsoever, you’ll glide right on past this one.

[Via The Red Ferret Journal]
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After a month or so of delays, Samsung has finally launched its P2 media player in the States; and it’s not putting the 3-inch touchscreen sporting, flash-based, Bluetooth-enabled DAP out there all by its lonesome. Today Samsung announced MPfreedom, a website with info and customization doohickeys, and of course content partnerships with the likes of CinemaNow, Rhapsody and Napster. As we heard before, Samsung is also going to be supporting the player through “Blue Wave” firmware upgrades, the first of which is due for December, and will include Bluetooth phone call and file transfer integration, along with AAC compatibility — currently only WMA and MP3 are supported — and some other frills. Samsung is emphasizing its 3-inch, 16:9 display that can run video at 30fps (WMV and MPEG-4), and of course the touchscreen “EmoTure” tap ‘n slide interface. The player is available in 2GB, 4GB ($199) and 8GB ($249) capacities, in your choice of black, white or red. There’s 35 hours of music playback or 5 hours of video on the battery, and Samsung tossed in an FM radio for good measure.

From engadget

Nokia is showing off their new S60 Touch Interface at the Symbian Smartphone Show today. Unlike their last attempt, this effort was demonstrated on a more Nokia-like concept device. The touch-interface supports haptic feedback and accepts both finger and stylus inputs depending upon the display technology used.

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