Sun
XPERIA X1, SONY ERICSSON
LG-KF510
DURABLE EXPLORER 370, PLANTRONICS
XPERIA X1, SONY ERICSSON
If you’re still waiting for that elusive day when Apple decides to make its iPhones available in Canada, forget that and check out Sony Ericsson’s latest entrant in the field. A Windows Mobile device that offers iPhone-like features such as the touch-screen and comes with a full QWERTY keyboard, the Xperia X1 was announced by Sony Ericsson at the Mobile World Congress in Spain with availability in selected markets expected in the second half of this year. An arc slider phone, the Xperia X1 has a 3.7 centimetre (three-inch) VGA display that gives the user the Internet, multimedia and other mobile applications from its desktop. The screen slides up to unveil the keyboard. The new device supports the HSDPA/HSUPA and Wi-Fi standards as well as GSM and EDGE networks. No price announced yet.
LG-KF510
While still cruising the Mobile World Congress for the latest in phones that may eventually find their way to Canada — roughly the last place on earth to get any of the really interesting new offerings — there is the skinny minnie LG-KF510, a slider phone all gussied up in colours from stardust dark grey to sunset red. Giving a serious run for the money to others in this category, the new 10.9 millimetre thick phone in a metal frame with a tempered glass display uses LG’s touch technology and includes a 3.0 megapixel camera with image stabilization and a MP3 player.
NOKIA N96
Another one to add to your gadget-envy list is Nokia’s N96, billed as a “multimedia computer truly optimized for video and TV.” The dual-slide device has a screen just over seven centimetres; 16 gigabytes of internal memory plus a microSD slot to boost memory and it supports the common video formats. It comes with a kick-stand so you can prop it up to watch, great for showing off at Starbucks. A five-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, flash and video light round this out with integrated A-GPS to enable geotagging of photos.
DURABLE EXPLORER 370, PLANTRONICS, $80
Sounds like something Dora the Explorer would sport. Just what you need with your new phone — a headset that meets military grade specifications with its water, dust and shock resistance. Drop it, wear it in rainy Vancouver, take it to the job site, or give it to a teen, this Bluetooth device promises to stand up to the roughest treatment. Once charged it has seven hours of talk time and eight days of standby time. Comes with a lanyard so if you’re out and about working or playing, you won’t lose it. Due out in March. Check it out at www.plantronics.com
