Phones Review

• Motorola Rival A455 on Verizon for just $99
• Palm Pre gains First Hands-on Review
• 18 to 20 Android phones release this year says Google
• Samsung Spark T749 Passes FCC on way to T-Mobile USA
• Sony Ericsson Idou renamed Satio for October
• Amazon to ship Nokia N97 as of June 25th
• HTC Magic Turns Android OPhone for China Mobile
• Palm Pre Can Sync with iTunes and iPhone
• Aino, Satio and Yari handset coming from Sony Ericsson in Q4
• Verizon gains Palm Pre and Storm 2 later in 2009?

Motorola Rival A455 on Verizon for just $99 Posted: 29 May 2009 03:47 AM PDT The Motorola Rival A455 is to be launched by Verizon reports the BGR with a price tag of just $99 on a two year contract after a $50 mail in rebate. Spec wise the Verizon branded Motorola Rival A455 has a 2.2 inch display, EV-Do connectivity, 2 megapixel camera with dedicated camera/video key, Verizon V CAST Music with Rhapsody, V CAST Videos, Chaperone Parent/Child, Media Centre, Mobile Web, Mobile Email, Corporate Email, Mobile IM, & Chat, Bluetooth, special keyboard backlighting, text, picture, video & voice messaging with threaded messaging feature. The Motorola Rival A455 measures 3.8 x 2 x .71 inches with a weight of 4.4 ounces and other purchasing options are $169 in a 1 year agreement after $50 rebate or $269 at full retail.

Palm Pre gains First Hands-on Review Posted: 29 May 2009 03:32 AM PDT The guys over at the BGR have managed to get hold of a Palm Pre smartphone and given it the hands-on treatment, and they say there is so much to cover that this is only their first impressions. They say the Palm Pre feels good in the hand where size and shape are concerned but it does hold a "plastiky aura" about it and that things aren't looking too good with the QWERTY keyboard either due to multiple key hitting. As for the Palm Pre screen, it is really responsive, executes well and the captive touch is awesome. The guy's rate the Palm Pre in front of the T-Mobile G1 but just behind the iPhone as far as screens go.

18 to 20 Android phones release this year says Google Posted: 29 May 2009 03:03 AM PDT The senior director for Mobile Platforms for Google, Andy Rudin has confirmed that there will be at least 18 or possibly 20 Android based phones released this year claims an article over on engadget mobile. Rubin also states that these Android handset will come from eight or nine manufacturers with faster adoption seen in Europe and will be three flavours of Android. Said Android flavours are… a free to download version of Android without Google applications such as Goggle Calendar and Gmail…next is the same as previous but where manufacturers sign a distribution contract with Google and pre-install Google apps…and finally the full fledged Google logo and Google apps installed and unrestricted access.

Samsung Spark T749 Passes FCC on way to T-Mobile USA Posted: 29 May 2009 02:45 AM PDT A new Samsung mobile phone has just passed the FCC and is the Samsung Spark T749 which is apparently destined for T-Mobile USA according to a report on cellphone signal. The Samsung Spark T749 is a mid-range handset much like the Samsung T349 and T239, and the Spark T749 will be quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE 800/1900 Mhz and dual-band HSDPA 1700/2100 MHz. There is no word on whether the Samsung Spark T749 will sport a touch screen but should also include aGPS with TeleNav, and a 3 megapixel camera. As expected there is also no word on any release date or expected price details.

Sony Ericsson Idou renamed Satio for October Posted: 29 May 2009 02:31 AM PDT The Symbian powered Sony Ericsson Idou smartphone which was unveiled back at Mobile World Congress is now to come to the market under a new name, and thus will now be known as the Sony Ericsson "Satio," confirms semcblog. Spec wise, everything remains the same with the Sony Ericsson Satio so will have the 12.1 megapixel camera with xenon flash, dual-band HSPA, GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz and UMTS/HSPA 900/2100 MHz, 3.5 inch touch screen, and microSD expansion. The Sony Ericsson Satio will be available in Bordeaux, Black and Silver and is expected sometime in October.

Amazon to ship Nokia N97 as of June 25th Posted: 29 May 2009 02:18 AM PDT If you are eagerly awaiting the Nokia N97, you may like to know that according to Amazon the Nokia N97 will be in stock on June the 25th according to a post on engadget mobile. If so, then this places the availability of the Nokia N97 smack in the middle of the Palm Pre and new iPhone fight which no doubt everyone will be watching and may add a twist to the fight. Furthermore, if you consider Nokia's history with such Amazon announcements we can expect the Nokia N97 to hit the Nokia flagship stores a couple of days before Amazon begins to ship.

HTC Magic Turns Android OPhone for China Mobile Posted: 29 May 2009 02:00 AM PDT The word is HTC plan to begin offering an Android based smartphone as of next month in China and will be a version of the HTC Magic claims Cnet. The HTC Magic is apparently to be customised with software from China Mobile and will join China Mobile's OPhone range. When China Mobile launches the customised HTC Magic in June although the pricing hasn't been confirmed it is speculated the mobile phone will cost somewhere in the region of 5000 yuan which is roughly $732, which is somewhat expensive for a handset worth around $450.

Palm Pre Can Sync with iTunes and iPhone Posted: 29 May 2009 01:43 AM PDT The latest word with the Palm Pre is the smartphone can actually sync seamlessly with the users desktop computer via iTunes and iPhoto confirms apple20. Apparently when the Palm Pre is plugged into your computer via USB up pops 3 options, mass storage mode, charging mode and "Media Sync" mode. The first two are fairly self explanatory with charging mode charging the Palm Pre and mass storage turning the Palm Pre into a flash drive for portable storage. It's the "Media Sync" mode which turns the Palm Pre into an official Apple recognisable device that can sync photos and tunes from iTunes and iPhoto.

Aino, Satio and Yari handset coming from Sony Ericsson in Q4 Posted: 29 May 2009 01:26 AM PDT Sony Ericsson has announced 3 new mobile handsets as part of their Entertainment Unlimited series, the Sony Ericsson Yari, Aino and Satio, reports Intomobile. The Sony Ericsson Aino is a slider with a 3 inch touch screen, 8.1 megapixel camera with auto-focus and flash, numeric keypad, WiFi, HSPA 3G, AGPS, Bluetooth, accelerometer, and memory slot. Inside the box is an 8GB memory card, matching wireless headphone MH100 and charging stand EC10. The Sony Ericsson Satio is none other than the Sony Ericsson Idou with a 12.1 megapixel camera, 3.5 inch nHD touch screen, 60 5th edition Symbian operating system, WiFi, TV out, HSPA 3G, AGPS, Bluetooth, accelerometer, and again with 8GB memory card in the box. The Sony Ericsson Yari is a slider with 2.4 inch QVGA display, 5 megapixel camera with auto-focus and flash, is a gaming handset so has dedicated gaming keys and pre-installed motion sensitive games, stereo speakers, YouTube application, and 1GB memory card along with MH300 head set and EC500 phone stand in the box. No pricing is available but they are expected in Q4.

Verizon gains Palm Pre and Storm 2 later in 2009? Posted: 29 May 2009 01:07 AM PDT Well what do you know; it appears that Sprint won't be hanging onto that Palm Pre exclusivity for too long. As we know the Palm Pre hits Sprint's network on June the 6th, but the Pre is seen to be the saviour of Palm, and the best way to make that possible is to go with multiple carriers for more sales. Therefore, according to a report on Reuters, Verizon Wireless has announced that the Palm Pre will be coming to their network sometime in 2009. The news comes via Lowell McAdam, Verizon's chief exec and he confirmed that Verizon will gain the Palm Pre sometime in "the next six months or so." McAdam went on to confirm that Verizon will also gain the BlackBerry Storm 2 with a revamped touch screen at some point this year.