HTC S740: Dual Keypad Smartphone

HTC has come out with a design which others have not dared to try. A dual keypad one with a normal keypad on the top like any ordinary phones and the slider opening up to unveil a full scale QWERTY keypad.
The only awkward thing we notice in the phone is the screen when used with the full-scale keypad. It just doesn’t fit. When using a QWERTY keypad you need a complete display to view emails and other things but due to the 12-keypad on the front this is not possible.
The data connectivity offered by the HTC S740 is faster than 3G coming up to over 7MBPS. The phone weighs around 140 grams and measures 116.3 x 43.4 x 16.3 mm with a 2.4 inch QVGA display. Normally we would expect a VGA display but due to the small scren size we will have to settle for QVGA. Other features like Wi-Fi which has become customary in all new phones along with 256MB of inbuilt memory, 3.5mm audio jack, and Usb 2.0 port.
The S740 comes with a Windows Mobile 6.1 operating system running on Qualcom MSM7225 , 528 Mhz processor. The phone is WCDMA compatible along with HSDPA and GSM capable. There is GPS and AGPS navigation along with a FM radio built-in.
This HTC smartphone is scheduled to be released in mid September 2008 and could retail for $550 without carrier subsidy. (story Link)

October: 160GB PS3 and PSP is coming

Details on the new PlayStation 3 have been revealed officially by Sony today. Among the announcements was the crucial release date of 31st October 2008. This launch date is for Europe only, it will hit the streets in the US in November. We could see the new 160GB PS3 coming to India only in 2009.
The new technology in the PS3 includes the wireless keypad which enables you to type on it.
On the other hand the new PlayStationPortable will come with a built-in microphone and an anti-reflective screen.
"Consumers also are utilising PS3 as an entertainment hub for their digital media, placing content such as their entire music collection on the hard drive," said Jack Tretton who is the head of the America Sony gaming division.
The 160 GB PS3 will cost about 450 Euros, and close to $500 in the USA. The PSP will be launched at an introductory price of $200. (story Link)

Sony Ericsson TM506 Clamshell

T-Mobile has come out with a report on the launching of the Sony Ericsson TM506 mobile phone in the United States as early as next month. The phone will retail only from T-Mobile online and retail stores and the price is not yet disclosed.
The phone has a nice compact design and is available with Emrald and Amber color. The phone has a ebony glass type finish and has an external display screen for photo calling.
The Phone supports 3G technology which ensures you good download speed and streaming video/audio. It comes along with a 2megapixel camera for video and still photography.
The SE TM506 measures about 3.7 x 1.9 x 0.7inches and weighs close to 3.5 ounces. The battery of the phone lasts for a reported 9 and half hours on GSm and stand by of 250 hours. The phone is equipped with both UMTS network as well as HSDPA connectivity with Tri-band GSM. (story Link)

BenQ's E2200HD now in India

BenQ corp has launched the first 22 inch or so to say 21.5 inch 1080p Full HD LCD monitor. The monitor is equipped with a 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution with 300 cd/m2 brightness. It comes with VGA and HDMI inputs with a headphone jack.
The LCD has a 16:9 aspect ratio and has a 10,000:1 contrast ratio.
The E2200HD comes with integrated speakers and can render content from STBs, camcorders and DVD players. The LCD Monitor will be available for only Rs. 13,500 which is a pretty neat price for what you are getting. (story Link)

iPhone: Second most popular handset in US

The latest sales figures from NPD have show Apple’s new 3G iPhone gaining market share rapidly.
The 3G iPhone now accounts for 17 per cent of the market, second only to Motorola’s RazR2 handset. Before the launch Apple’s market share was 11 per cent.
The survey of over 150,000 consumers also found that 30 per cent of iPhone buyers switched networks to AT&T to get the phone. Verizon Wireless were the biggest losers, with 47 per cent of that figure, with 24 per cent coming from T-Mobile and 19 per cent from Sprint.
“The launch of the lower-priced iPhone 3G was a boon to overall consumer smartphone sales", Ross Rubin, NPD director of industry analysis, said in a statement.
"While the original iPhone also helped win customers for AT&T, the faster network speeds of the iPhone 3G (have) proven more appealing to customers that already had access to a 3G network.” (full story Link)