NTT DoCoMo has Darth Vader selling its Android wares, so what could KDDI au possibly counter with? Why, a force even darker and more heinous than the Sith Daddy himself: Lady Gaga. Yes, the music fiend we love to hate has remixed Poker Face just to make sure we take notice of Sharp’s IS03, and the kindly Japanese carrier has taken care of inserting her into the phone for maximum promotional value. Yes, au, now that we’ve seen Lady Gaga strutting around inside it, we totally want to own one of these handsets! See the video promos after the break.
Because not every smartphone has a full 1080p resolution (yet), KDDI‘s R&D Labs have come up with a new method for massaging the most out of HD movie streams while on the move. You’ll still be able to pummel your poor mobile device and connection with the full-res stream, should you wish it, but KDDI’s innovation is in developing a system whereby you can zoom in on particular parts of the feed, have the stream cropped to your requirements on far-off servers somewhere, and then receive only the stuff you want to see onto your device. And because of your phone’s aforementioned pixel deficiency, the employment of this technique will most often result in negligible picture fidelity loss, if any. The biggest benefit, however, might be to carriers like KDDI who end up having to carry less data back and forth, even if it does come at a slight server-side cost. Video after the break.
Onkyo blasts out its latest Windows 7 Tablet, the TW317A7, powered by an ATOM CPU. This model is actually a TW317A5 loaded with KDDI 3G module letting you access the internet wherever you may roam, and includes a 11.6″ screen with 1366×768 resolution, Atom N450, 32GB of SSD, and 1GB of RAM. It also has a magically tiny 0.3 megapixel web camera. Fun!
Inside you’ll find new software by the name of ExTouch, this dedicated to helping improve Windows 7 touch input by giving you a dedicated App launcher. Feel free to visit Onkyo for additional information if you read Japanese. Looks kinda sassy!
The Novatel Wireless MiFi 2372 has landed all around the world on various mobile broadband services to allow users to get web access using a 3G hotspot. KDDI Japan has now announced that the MiFi 2372 is available in Japan as a rental product for Japanese consumers and business users that are traveling internationally.
Apparently the MiFi itself is included with a rental plan for data, which is what we would call pay as you go plans here in the US. The MiFi is the one we are used to with support for up to five different WiFi devices at one time including laptops, tablets, phones and more.
The MiFi will work on networks that operate on 800/850MHz, 1900MHz and 2100MHz allowing for global roaming. The device offers connectivity speeds of up to 7.2Mbps. The service for the MiFi starts at 1,280JPY per day and the rentals can be ordered on the KDDI rental site.
A few of these handsets were already public knowledge, but by and large, KDDI’s mind-numbing torrent of phones announced as members of its new Winter 2010 and Spring 2011 collections will leave you once again asking why you haven’t sold your four-bedroom suburban home and relocated your entire family to a 125 square foot flat in the heart of Tokyo. We’ve already talked about the X-Ray, a member of KDDI’s fashion-forward iida line, and the 16.4 megapixel Sony Ericsson S006 — but other highlights include the IS04, IS05, and IS06, Android smartphones from Toshiba, Sharp, and Pantech, respectively (which doesn’t even include Sharp’s IS03 announced at CEATEC a few days ago). Of the three, none matches the IS03′s 960 x 640 display nor its low-power secondary LCD, but the Toshiba Regza IS04 notably features a 12.1 megapixel cam.
As the iida line goes, the X-Ray will be joined by the G11, a follow-on to 2009′s G9 model — and from what we can discern, it’ll be a GSM / CDMA dual mode slider for international roaming with a touch-sensitive area below the 854 x 480 display in place of the G9′s physical keys. Highlights among the other models include an upgraded Sharp Aquos Shot SH010 combining a 14.1 megapixel sensor with a waterproof shell, a Bravia-branded Sony Ericsson S005 with a 1GHz processor, and “simple” phones from Kyocera and Pantech — the K008 and PT002, respectively — that are designed for the occasional shopper that actually doesn’t want ridiculous specs designed to make every phone outside Japan look like a DynaTAC. There’s also a new e-reader, the E Ink-equipped Biblio Leaf SP02, featuring integrated solar recharging — a smart feature for a device designed to sip power in the first place — and a new mobile WiFi hotspot from Pantech, the WiFi Walker Data05. If you need to know more, follow the source link, but we’ve got to warn you: it might be hours before you’re done.
KDDI may have done its best to bury it amongst the few dozen other phones it announced today (including that eye-catching X-RAY clamshell), but we’re not about to let the first phone using Sony’s new 16.4 megapixel CMOS sensor slip by. That honor naturally goes to Sony Ericsson itself, which has stuffed the sensor into the otherwise ordinary looking Cyber-shot S006 cellphone. In addition to all those megapxiels, you’ll also get ISO settings up to ISO 12800, and the rest of the camera’s specs aren’t too shabby either, including a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, a 3.3-inch screen (said to be VGA, though we’re assuming it’s actually HVGA or WVGA), and built-in WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS. Unfortunately, all of that is paired with Sony’s own proprietary non-smartphone OS and it’s, of course, exclusive to KDDI in Japan for the time being (and only being released next spring).
Japanese carrier KDDI has confirmed it too will be getting a 7-inch Samsung tablet, though it’s not the Galaxy Tab we’ve seen until now. The Samsung SMT-i9100 is obviously from the same family as the Galaxy Tab, with a 7-inch 1024 x 600 touchscreen and Android 2.2 Froyo, but it loses the 3G connectivity, has a lower-resolution, 2-megapixel camera and a redesigned casing.
There’s also less onboard storage, just 4GB, though you get the same 512MB of RAM. KDDI’s interface is different to what we’ve seen on the Tab before, too, thanks to a collaboration with Ocean Observations.
As for accessories, the only thing Samsung has confirmed is a desk cradle (which you can see in the gallery below). No word on pricing for the KDDI SMT-i9100, but it’ll apparently arrive on the Japanese network in February 2011.
Toshiba has outed its latest smartphone, and it’s the second KDDI Android handset for the Japanese market that we’ve been envious of within the space of a month. The Toshiba REGZA IS04 doesn’t have the high-resolution display of the Sharp IS03 – it gets a 4-inch 854 x 480 touchscreen instead – but what it does have is a 12.19-megapixel autofocus camera.
Keeping things moving is a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, paired with WiFi b/g and Bluetooth 2.1, and the smartphone is waterproof and has a microSDHC card slot. It uses a new EVDO system, too, promising up to 9.2Mbps downlinks and 5.5Mbps uplinks.
In fact the only thing stopping us from weeping openly is the fact that the Toshiba REGZA IS04 will arrive in January 2011 running just Android 2.1, which is already behind the times and, by then, will be well superseded. It’s part of three new KDDI Android devices announced today. No word on any potential North American/European release.
KDDI launched a wave of new phones this morning, but this is the one we really want to hold — it’s called the X-RAY, and it’s one of two new products in the company’s iida designer brand. Crafted by Tokujin Yoshioka, it’s a high-end Japanese clamshell with a 1-Seg TV tuner, NFC payments, and an 8 megapixel camera — you know, the usual — but with a translucent case (also available in blue and black) that leaves nothing to the imagination. There’s a QSD8650 CDMA-ready Snapdragon in there, a GSM radio as well, a 7 x 102 pixel LED scrolling sub-display to display alerts and notifications, plus all the requisite chips and wires beautifully laid out. It’ll be on display in Harajuku this Tuesday, but there’s no word on availability or price quite yet. However, given that the prime accessory for the X-RAY is a solid crystal stand that makes the phone look like it’s floating on air, we probably don’t want to know. Video after the break.
Another week come and gone and another Week in Review is here for your perusal. Verizon Wireless has started to refund customers money that it overcharged for wireless access. The charges apparently went on for years and the refunds will cost Verizon about $90 million.
The Sharp IS03 Android smartphone surfaced this week with a 9.6MP camera and a display that is as high resolution as the iPhone 4 screen. That screen is 3.5-inches and the phone has a 1GHz Snapdragon processor. The really cool Skylifter balloon concept surfaced this week. The massive balloon is designed to carry huge equipment into remote areas that weighs up to 150 tons.
A new Android smartphone has turned up called the Altek Leo 3.5G. The official PR images where shown off and the thing has a 14MP camera with a ship date set for Q1 2011. Researchers have issued a report claiming that Apple iOS usage share is 4.9 times that of Android. The reports was in response to one that claimed Android was overtaking Apple iOS and only proves fan boys can spin numbers any way they want.
The official launch date for Windows Phone 7 is set for Monday October 11. The first handsets will hit AT&T that Monday and I hope the mobile OS is better received than the Kin phones were. The Samsung Wave II S8530 smartphone is getting a larger 3.7-inch Super LCD and dropping the previous 3.3-inch AMOLED panel. The real issue is that the phone is expected to run Bada, which is the worst part about the phone.
UD Replicas unveiled some really cool and supremely geeky replica motorcycle suits that look like the suits from the coming Tron flick. The suit for guys looks like the one Sam Flynn wears in the movie. AT&T whipped out three new Android smartphones early in the week including the Bravo, Flipout, and Flipside. All three of the devices run Android 2.1 and have Motoblur with prices running from $79.99 to $129.99.
Verizon has announced that the Droid Pro will be landing in the coming weeks. The phone will have a touchscreen with a full QWERTY keyboard and looks a lot like a Blackberry. Word that Call of Duty: Black Ops will have 3D as an option surfaced this week. I can only imagine how cool playing this game in 3D will be.
ThinkGeek started shipping the Star Wars Wampa Rug this week. The thing looks like a bearskin rug made out of the pelt of a snow monster from Hoth. Western Digital unveiled new external storage solutions with USB 3.0 connectivity. One of the new drives could be had in up to 3TB storage capacity.
The Logitech Revue Google TV box made its official debut this week for $299 on pre-order. The box lets you do all sorts of stuff like watch web content on your TV and tons more. Those rumors of a Verizon iPhone won’t die. Rumors circulate claiming that the iPhone for Verizon will go into mass production starting at the end of 2010.
If you are one of the users of Netflix on the PS3, you may get tired of having to use that disc to get access. Disc-free access for the game console is due to land this month. Rumors of a 11.6-inch MacBook Air continue to circulate and create lots of buzz. The rumors are being fed by the fact that stock of the current Air are out everywhere.
PayPal has updated its iPhone app and the update allows users to deposit checks without going to a bank. Depositing checks requires images to be taken of the front and back of the check and money hits the PayPal account about six days later. Kingston unveiled its new microSD card with 32GB of storage this week. The tiny card has enough space for thousands of photos and songs.
Rumors abound that a new iPad is coming next year with a Retina display and 128GB of storage. The latest batch of rumors was started by a Wall Street analyst. New features will undoubtedly come with the huge popularity of the tablet. Augen pulled the wraps off six new Android tablets. Several of them are rather mundane, but one very cool tablet has a netbook base with keyboard and lots more.
HTC has offered up a demo of the Windows Phone 7 running HD2. The video demo shows many of the ins and outs of the coming smartphone. iFixit has torn down the Nokia N8 and deemed the phone designed very well inside and the handset is said to be very reparable. The phone looks neat on the inside. Thanks for reading this week’s edition!
