smartphone

HTC just made its smartphone/mobile computer/Frankenstein device, the HTC Advantage, even more powerful with an update that brings more memory, new software, and an improved keyboard.

Introduced at GSMA, the HTC Advantage (X7510) now includes the TouchFlo software (a la HTC Touch) for easier scrolling of e-mails and Web pages. Plus, it will boast a new Today screen, based on a new version of the Windows Mobile operating system, with one-touch access to messages, calendar, and contacts.

While the interface enhancements sound great, we're more excited at the mention of the new operating system. The Advantage X7510 … Read more

We were hoping to hear some news from HTC, and the device manufacturer did indeed have a couple of announcements at GSMA. The first is the HTC 3470. The company is touting it as the affordable option for those looking for a smartphone with built-in GPS. Uhh, I'm not sure what HTC's definition of affordable is, but with a price tag of 449 euros ($652 U.S.), I wouldn't exactly call it a bargain. It comes preloaded with TomTom Navigator 6 software, so along with the assisted GPS, users will be able to get turn-by-turn directions, points … Read more

As CNET News.com's Ina Fried reported earlier this week, Sony Ericsson has teamed up with Microsoft to release Windows Mobile smartphones and sure enough, the first such device was revealed at GSMA and its name is the Sony Ericsson EXPERIA X1. In the past, Sony Ericsson smartphones, such as the P1i, have used the Symbian mobile operating system (UIQ). The launch of the XPERIA line marks the debut of Windows Mobile on the company's devices. The X1 is the first in the series, and makes quite the impression.

It has a cool arc slider design (think Motorola … Read more

In an attempt to beat the masses of handset announcements that came out today, LG announced a new candybar smart phone yesterday that not only comes with GPS but also packs full Qwerty keypad and a standard one to boot too--it's called the LG KT610.

On the front you get a small screen and standard keypad, but flip the KT610 open and you're presented with a full Qwerty keypad and medium-sized screen.

Interestingly, the KT610 runs on Symbian OS v9.2 and S60 3rd Edition Feature pack 1--the same operating system as many Nokia smartphones. The advantage of … Read more

Samsung Electronics introduced a new ARM-based processor for smartphones at Mobile World Congress 2008 in Barcelona, Spain. The S3C6410 "mobile application processor" includes special hardware accelerators to handle motion video processing and 3D graphics, thereby freeing up the main processor for other tasks and speeding overall performance.

At the heart of the S3C6410 is an ARM1176 processor core that can be clocked up to 667MHz. The chip is made on Samsung's advanced 65-nanometer manufacturing process.

By embedding a hardwired Multi Format Codec on-chip, the S3C6410 can perform video capture in MPEG4/H.263/H.264 formats and … Read more

In addition to the Nokia N96, the N series welcomed another addition to the family today at GSMA 2008: the Nokia N78. Like the other models in the series, the N78 has a heavy focus on multimedia. It has a 3.2 megapixel camara with Carl Zeiss optics, an MP3 player, an FM transmitter that allows you to stream tunes to an FM radio, whether it be in your car or home, and it will be compatible with Nokia's Music Store and N-Gage gaming platform. The N78 is also outfitted with GPS, and what's really cool is that … Read more

Man, I could really use this cell phone right now. Today, along with a slew of other devices, Nokia introduced its Nokia 6210 Navigator phone at GSMA 2008. Like its predecessor, the Nokia 6110 Navigator, which was announced at 3GSM last year, the 6210 Navigator has built-in GPS (integrated and assisted) but adds the new Nokia Maps 2.0 application and an integrated compass for pedestrian guidance. There's also an accelerometer onboard to more accurately track your position on the map as you're walking around town. (Seriously, I wish I had this phone in hand right now as … Read more

Today, T-Mobile released a software update for the T-Mobile Shadow smartphone that brings, among other things, a new function called "audio postcards." This feature allows you add a personal voice note to a photo taken with the Shadow, which you can then share with family and friends. Other software enhancements include a revamped myFaves menu, improved text entry, and additional ringtones and wallpaper options. The update is available now and can be downloaded for free from the T-Mobile Shadow Web site.

On February 11, thousands from around the world will converge in Barcelona, Spain, for the annual GSMA Mobile World Congress (formerly known as the 3GSM Mobile World Congress). The four-day show brings together the cell phone industry to discuss and showcase the latest GSM technologies and developments. This year Senior Editor Kent German and I, along with CNET News.com's Maggie Reardon, CNET UK's Andrew Lim, and CNET TV's Ariel Nunez, have the fortune of traveling to Barcelona to cover the show so that we can bring you the latest news through blogs, pictures, and videos.

What … Read more