Archive for September 1, 2008

MOTOZINE ZN5 Launches in India

{ September 1, 2008 @ 5:37 pm } · { Mobile Phone }
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Motorola and KODAK’s MOTOZINE ZN5 camera phone has finally made it to the Indian market. Sony Ericsson’s Cyber-Shot series has got more competition now. With features that include Motorola’s “ModeShift Technology” and KODAK’s “Imaging Technology” this camera could just give the other mobiles in this segment a run for their pixels.

The ZN5 comes with a Xenon flash. It has a 2.4-inch TFT display with a 240 x 320 pixel resolution and 256k colors. With regard to connectivity the handset supports Wi-Fi, EDGE, GPRS, Bluetooth with A2DP and USB v2.0. Memory can be expanded via microSD cards. It comes with a TV out feature and a 3.5mm earphone socket. The handset also features Motorola’s CrystalTalk technology.

Consumers can experience a totally customized Indian experience on their ZN5. They can stay updated with news on their mobile phones with access to the WAP version of printed publications including Financial Express, Indian Express, and Deccan Chronicle via the ‘Daily News’ link in the ZN5. Motorola designers have specially designed wallpapers inspired by India and its people, traditions and fine arts.

Consumers can download more wallpapers from MOTOMUSIC, that as a combined service on the web and WAP, allows consumers to download full songs, ring tones, music video clips and wallpapers to both their PC and mobile at the same time. In addition, three cricket games by Krish Cricket have been preloaded on the ZN5, along with live cricket scorecards, ball-by-ball commentary, live match simulations, Series schedules and news.

Although no official pricing has been fixed, Motorola says the MOTOZINE ZN5 would be priced at approximately Rs. 20,000.

MOTOZINE ZN5 will be available in India from mid-September 2008 in retail stores and will come with a 2GB memory card and a TV-out cable. As part of the introductory offer, consumers will get 100 free Kodak prints of their personal photographs at select Kodak stores until 31 March 2009. This offer includes 60 4×6 prints, 15 8×12 prints and 25 prints of photos uploaded to www.motozine.picsquare.com with free home delivery service.

Samsung Shows 2 New Media Players at IFA

{ September 1, 2008 @ 5:32 pm } · { Mp3 and Gizmos }
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Samsung’s latest media players found themselves on display at IFA in Berlin, but from what reports state, they may not be as user-friendly as some of the older ones.

The YP-Q1 is a PMP with 2.4-inch TFT LCD, available in capacities of 4GB, 8GB and 16GB of flash memory. It also supports video, has an integrated FM radio Voice recorder and a .TXT viewer. It incorporates Samsung’s latest DNSe sound with v3.0. The reports say that the navigation on this player is a bit of a problem due to the touch sensitive nav-pad, as there doesn’t seem to be any scroll control but tapping is required instead to maneuver through the menus.

The second player, a DAP called the YP-U4, comes equipped with a USB plug and is available in 4GB and 8GB models. It has a small display and from the images taken, looks rather stylish, of course we’d actually have to see that to believe it. It has an integrated FM radio and voice recorder and supports Samsung’s DNSe 2.0 Sound Quality.

There’s no official word on price or availability yet.

i.Tech BlueCON35 II Bluetooth Dongle

{ September 1, 2008 @ 1:46 pm } · { Mp3 and Gizmos }
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A mobile phone with Bluetooth is not something that would warrant serious discussion, as even some entry-level handsets come equipped with the technology today. I’m a sucker for Bluetooth gadgetry, as I hate the tangle of wires that would follow me around otherwise.

My peeve is that there aren’t many portable media players like DAPs or PMPs that incorporate this wirefree technology. Thankfully, a company called i.Tech that specializes in making Bluetooth headset (stereo and normal) has come up with a very simple solution. What it does is turn your everyday MP3 player into a stereo Bluetooth-enabled device for use with any stereo Bluetooth headset.

Design
i.Tech’s BlueCON35 II is a Bluetooth V1.2 (Class 2) Hi-Fi device that comes with a 3.5mm pin attached by a short wire to the dongle. It weighs no more than a five rupee coin and is about as small, so you won’t have to worry about being weighed down.

It has a slot for the charger (included in the package) and a small power key for activating and pairing the dongle to any Bluetooth headset. Of course, the device you intend to use it with needs to be equipped with a 3.5mm earphone or line-out socket. After plugging it in, simply follow the instructions for pairing it with a Bluetooth-enabled headset. This is easy as pie, and you’re wirefree in no time.

It has a slot for the charger (included in the package) and a small power key for activating and pairing the dongle to any Bluetooth headset. Of course, the device you intend to use it with needs to be equipped with a 3.5mm earphone or line-out socket. After plugging it in, simply follow the instructions for pairing it with a Bluetooth-enabled headset. This is easy as pie, and you’re wirefree in no time.

Performance
There’s not too much by way of performance that I can mention, considering it’s merely a device that emits a signal and nothing more. I will say this though: its simplicity is one of the biggest selling points. It’s not complicated to use and has no unnecessary frills.

The design could perhaps have been a bit snazzier but it’s great as it is. I tested the device with a couple of gadgets, which included a PMP and an iPhone 3G that just happened to be lying around. The BlueCON35 worked like a charm on both. The headset I used was i.Tech’s own BluePro. What was most impressive was the range. In an office with numerous cubicles it worked with no hitches up to about 12 meters. With the iPhone I was even able to take calls.

I ran it nonstop for a battery test and squeezed out 6 hours and 35 minutes’ worth of talktime. That’s not bad, considering the company promises 7 hours tops. Still, I guess it could have been better.

The Bottomline
The idea of enabling any old media device with Bluetooth is a great concept. Who doesn’t want to be wirefree? Of course, you will also need to invest in a stereo Bluetooth headset, which are not cheap as headsets go. The BlueCON35 II is priced at Rs 2988 (MRP) but the street price is closer to Rs 2500. I say it’s worth it!

Intex Launches New Entry-Level Handset

{ September 1, 2008 @ 1:30 pm } · { Mobile Phone }
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Intex Technologies has just launched the IN-2222, its latest entry-level handset. It has a 65K color display with 128 x 128 pixel resolution, and other salient features include a one-touch torchlight and GPRS. In case you’re a music lover the IN-2222 has an integrated FM radio with a recorder for recording tracks playing over the air, plus a voice recorder. It allows for up to 2MB of recording space.

Kaushik Mitra, Product Group Head – Mobile Communications, Intex, said: “After receiving a very heartening response to our earlier model IN 2020, which has a talktime of 7.5 hours, this is our second offering in the entry-level segment this year. Considering that pricing is a major growth driver for mobile telephony in India – the second largest market for mobile phones in the world – Intex strives to launch affordable models with best of technology features to fulfill the communication needs of the masses who form a major part of the market.”

The IN 2222 is available in ‘Chic Black’ and is priced at Rs 2000.

Sony Cyber-shot T500 Announced at IFA 2008

{ September 1, 2008 @ 1:17 pm } · { Mobile Phone }
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Sony announced the Cyber-shot T500 at the IFA 2008, Berlin today. Apart from being equipped with 10.1 effective megapixels and a 3.5-inch touchscreen LCD, it can also take HD movie clips with stereo sound.

You can even grab crisp still images (1280×720 pixels) without interrupting video shooting. Optical SteadyShot is teamed with a High Sensitivity mode to allow faster shutter speeds. This ‘Dual Anti-blur’ solution is complemented by Clear RAW Noise Reduction for clean, natural images, even in low-light conditions like parties or twilight. If you want an even bigger picture, still images and HD movie clips can be experienced with extra impact on your HD Ready television. Connected via HDMI to your Sony HD TV, BRAVIA Sync allows on-screen control of Cyber-shot playback functions using the TV’s remote control.

The Cyber-shot T500 will be available from October 2008.

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