LG BL40 Chocolate Preview

Expected Q4 2009

LG are teasing yet again with some basic specifications and photos of the new "Chocolate" phone, the LG BL40. We first had a glimpse of this handset three weeks ago, but now we have a few more details.

The main thing to notice is the BL40's screen - it's a huge 4" 800 x 345 pixel panel, almost identical in terms of size and resolution to the Nokia E90. On the back is a 5 megapixel camera with flash and Schneider-Kreuznach optics.

The front-facing camera on the BL40 indicates that it's a 3G phone, and a close look at the icons indicate the probable presence of WiFi and an FM radio in addition to all the usual features.

The LG BL40's on-screen buttons indicate that this is a touchscreen device, and it works in both wide and tall orientations.

It's an unusually tall phone, looking rather like.. well, rather like a bar of chocolate. LG didn't specify the exact size, but we think that it comes out at something like 128 x 52 x 11mm.. again, not far off the size of the E90 but about half the thickness.

The 800 pixel wide 12:9 ratio screen is definitely a huge advantage when it comes to web surfing, but LG's "Real VGA" technology promises to deliver bright, sharp video playback too. LG also say that the BL40 comes with a "Dual Screen UI" which allows it to display two different types of content at the same time.

LG say that the BL40 should be available during Q3 2009 in 54 countries. There's no word on pricing at the moment, but we would guess it will be expensive. Presumably LG will give more details closer to the launch date.

LG BL40 Chocolate provisional specifications

Available: Q3 2009

Network: GSM + UMTS

Data: GPRS + EDGE + UMTS + WiFi

Screen: 4", 800 x 345 pixels

Camera: 5 megapixels

Size: Tall touchscreen 128 x 52 x 11mm approx

Bluetooth: Yes

Memory card: Not specified

Infra-red: No

Polyphonic: Yes

Java: Yes

GPS: Not specified

OS: Not specified

Battery life: Not specified

BlackBerry Curve 8520

Expected August 2009

We haven't seen a new GSM BlackBerry from RIM since November last year when the Curve 8900 was announced. So, the new BlackBerry Curve 8520 is a long overdue new addition to their range.

The 8520 is a straight upgrade to the old Curve 8320 announced nearly two years ago. You would expect that this new version of the Curve would raise the bar when it comes to features.. but unfortunately, it doesn't.

This is a very disappointing handset. In most major ways it is unchanged from the old 8300 series. The biggest problem is that the 8520 doesn't support 3G, although it does have WiFi in addition to quad-band GSM. Another disappointing feature is the camera, which is a basic 2 megapixel unit.

We will admit that the old Curve is a phone we liked a lot, and although the 8520 does improve on it in a variety of ways when it comes to software and hardware, we really just get the impression that the 8520 is just the same old thing repackaged.

One notable change is that the 8520 no longer has a trackball, but it comes with a tiny touchpad instead. We think that this will probably be a useful improvement, although perhaps many consumers would expect a touchscreen these days. There seem to be more keyboard shortcuts than ever before, and the 8520's mail client can cope with a wide variety of email protocols, including most popular webmail services.

Audio playback is pretty comprehensive, and the BlackBerry 8520 has a standard 3.5mm audio socket as well as stereo Bluetooth. This phone also supports most major video formats.

The BlackBerry Curve 8520 can also work with Microsoft Office documents and most other common file types. It also supports instant messaging and has applications to allow it to upload to Facebook and Flickr. Of course, because this is a BlackBerry then it also has an excellent range of personal information management tools. It's a Mac-compatible device too which should appeal to a large number of home users.

But we are halfway through 2009, and really we don't expect to see a relatively high-end media device like this without 3G support. RIM could get away with having GSM-only smartphones back in the days when BlackBerry devices were only used for corporate email. But competition in the corporate sector is intense, especially from Microsoft.

As a result of this competition, RIM devices have been aimed more at consumers.. but these consumers will want to be able to access the web from anywhere they go, and GSM just doesn't cut it these days. And since every other manufacturer now makes BlackBerryesque messaging phones, then the competition is hotting up here too.

So the problem with the BlackBerry Curve 8520 is that it already seems out of date. Yes, it's a well polished device, but the fundamental hardware specification is something that we might have accepted two years ago, but not now.

We understand that RIM have some other more interesting BlackBerry handhelds in the works too, so hopefully they can come up with something better than this.

RIM say that the BlackBerry Curve 8520 should be available in Europe from August on a variety of carrier networks and in the US exclusively on T-Mobile. No guidance was given on price, although we would expect it to be something in the €250-€300 range SIM-free.

Available:	August 2009
Network:	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
Data:	GPRS + EDGE + WiFi
Screen:	2.46" 240 x 320 pixels, 65k colours
Camera:	2 megapixels
Size:	Messaging device 109 x 60 x 14mm / 106 grams
Bluetooth:	Yes
Memory card:	MicroSD
Infra-red:	No
Polyphonic:	Yes
Java:	Yes
GPS:	No
OS:	BlackBerry OS
Battery life:	4.5 hours talk / 17 days standby

Samsung Comeback (Samsung T559)

Available now
26th July 2009

On the outside, the Samsung Comeback looks a little odd - it looks like a normal cellphone, except that for some reason it is a lot wider. The reason for this strange shape becomes apparent when it is opened up - inside is a QWERTY keyboard and a large 400 x 240 pixel display.

It is a little like a cross between a Nokia E90T-Mobile Sidekick, aimed at those who want to send a lot of email or IM messages, but at the same time it can be used like a traditional cellphone. and a

Exclusive to T-Mobile in the US, the Comeback is priced towards the upper end of their range at $130 after rebates and subsidy. So it's clear that T-Mobile think that this is a fairly desirable product.

What do you get for the money? The Samsung Comeback is a 3G phone with a basic 2 megapixel digital camera, an MP3 player, web browser, email client, Bluetooth, microSD expandable memory and of course two displays and a QWERTY keyboard. The external display is a basic 128 x 128 pixel panel, but inside the larger 2.6" display is ideal for messaging use.

Inside, the small widely-spaced keys are very much like those found on the popular sidekick range. The addition of a "www./.com" key speeds up entry of web addresses, the dedicated smiley key makes it easier to use emoticons in your messages. There are also a large number of other keyboard shortcuts available if you have the willingness to learn them.

Two screens and two keypads means that the phone is a little on the heavy side at 4.6 ounces (131 grams), and it measures 4.3 x 2.2 x 0.7 inches (110 x 56 x 19mm). The 960 mAh battery is quoted as giving up to 5.5 hours talktime and 12 days standby time, although we suspect that is a GSM-only figure.

This is a 1700 MHz UMTS phone with no mention of European 2100 MHz support. In addition, the Samsung Comeback has quad-band GSM, but it lacks WiFi connectivity.

The Samsung Comeback looks like a good alternative to a Sidekick. Oddly enough, T-Mobile seems to be competing with T-Mobile in this respect as the Sidekick is also a T-Mobile exclusive. The Comeback is available right now in "Frost Siver Cherry" and "Pearl White Plum" colour combinations, which are perhaps better described simply as "red" and "purple".

Available: July 2009

Network: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 + UMTS 1700

Data: GPRS + EDGE + UMTS (3G)

Screen: 400 x 240 pixels, 262k colours (main)
128 x 128 pixels, 65k colours (sub)

Camera: 2 megapixels

Size: Large QWERTY clamshell
4.3 x 2.2. x 0.7 inches / 4.6 ounces
110 x 56 x 19mm / 131 grams

Bluetooth: Yes

Memory card: MicroSD

Infra-red: No

Polyphonic: Yes

Java: Not specified

GPS: No

OS: Proprietary

Battery life: 5.5 hours talk / 12 days standby

Samsung Gravity 2 (Samsung T469)

Expected August 2009

The Samsung Gravity 2 (also known as the Samsung T469) is exclusive to the T-Mobile network in the USA, and it comes with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard and 3G support.

Primarily designed for messaging, the Samsung Gravity 2 isn't a particularly high-end phone. There's a standard 2.4" 240 x 320 pixel display, a fairly basic 2 megapixel camera, Bluetooth, an MP3 player and support for microSD expandable memory.

Samsung say that the Gravity 2 has "Band IV" UMTS, which indicates that it only supports 1700 MHz 3G, which is fine for T-Mobile in the US, but if you want to roam to Europe then you will need to fall back on the phone's quad-band GSM. The Gravity 2 does not support WiFi.

The main selling point with the Gravity 2 it its messaging capabilities, designed to interface with AOL, Yahoo! and Google mail plus standard internet formats. There's also an RSS news reader, a web browser and a set of personal information management tools.

The slide-out QWERTY keypad has a fairly conventional layout with a small space bar in the centre (much more convenient than the Nokia N97, for example). The spacing between keys is good and should help to prevent more than one key being pressed at a time. There is also a useful "www./.com" key to make entering web addresses easier, and perhaps a rather less useful "smiley face" key.

The Samsung Gravity 2 measures about 4.5 x 2.1 x 0.6 inches and weighs 4.4 ounces (or 114 x 52 x 15mm and 125 grams). Talktime is up to 5.5 hours with a maximum of 12 days standby time, we assume that these are GSM-only figures though.

It's not the world's most exciting phone, but it does manage to squeeze a decent keyboard into something that looks just like an ordinary cellphone, without making it too bulky.

Samsung say that the Gravity 2 should be available on T-Mobile USA from August onwards in a variety of colours. No guidance was given on price, but the original Gravity is around $30 after subsidy and rebates.

Sam sung Gravity 2 (T469) at a glance

Available: August 2009

Network: GSM 850 / 900 / 1900 / 1900 + UMTS 1700

Data: GPRS + EDGE + UMTS (3G)

Screen: 2.4" 320 x 240 pixels, 262k colours

Camera: 2 megapixels

Size: Slide-out QWERTY monoblock
4.5 x 2.1 x 0.6 inches /4 .4 ounces
114 x 52 x 15mm and 125 grams

Bluetooth: Yes

Memory card: MicroSD

Infra-red: No

Polyphonic: Yes

Java: Not specified

GPS: No

OS: Proprietary

Battery life: 5.5 hours talk / 12 days standby

Modu modular phone hits the shelves, at long last

So here we have it folks - the modular phone, produces by the Israel-based company Modu has finally hit the shelves. No less than 17 months after we first got a glimpse of a working prototype back at the MWC 2008 the device is now actually available.

Cellcom Israel will offer the handset along with a modest choice of jackets that only go as far as diversifying the looks slightly and adding a proper keypad to the lightest cellphone in the world. Priced at 125 US dollars, Modu doesn't sound as too bad of a deal but it is hardly what we really expected to see.

Yes, we were quite impressed the first time we got a glimpse of it - the concept being extremely cool, novel and all. But two years later and you will probably understand why our enthusiasm has cooled down.

We are hoping that more jackets will be ready until the Modu phone hits the shelves in Europe, Southeast Asia and South America later this year. We suppose potential users will be more willing to get one of those cameraphone jackets or touchscreen jackets that are rumored to be in production.

How to install the HTC Hero interface on the G1

The HTC Hero is a brand new Android phone that's due to be launched in the next week or two. One of the best features about the Hero is the fact that it has a brand new user interface - called Rosie, of all things! Rosie has bee developed by HTC to help it differentiate its Android phones from the myriad competitors that are now appearing.

The new user interface has been designed from the ground up to give Android a super-slick polished look. It's not just a port of HTC's TouchFLO user interface that it created for Windows Mobile. It's a brand new dedicated Android interface that looks super-slick, has a nifty new Web browser and great new music player, among many many other enhancements.

But what if you've already got a T-Mobile G1 with the "vanilla" Android user interface? Are you forced to watch your HTC Hero-sporting friend gloat over the greatness of his new phone's UI while you're stuck with your G1's UI for the next year or so?

Fear not. If you've got the technical chops, patience, and balls of steel, you too can port the HTC Hero's user interface over to your T-Mobile G1. Be warned - it's not easy!

But it can be done, and my brother Dave (@terminal7) has proved it by successfully upgrading his G1. You can see the pics he took of his new Hero G1, plus videos and details on how to do it after the jump.

A small warning!

First, a small warning. If you decide to do this and you do it wrong, you may end up with a decidedly unhealthy G1. So unhealthy, in fact, it'll have all the functionality of a brick!

Also, if you succeed, you'll not be able to update your phone to any new Android updates that Google releases. The current version of Android is Cupcake, which added a plethora of new features to the original Android release. With the Donut, Eclair and Flan updates all scheduled for release this year, the chances are that the existing features of your G1 will be radically improved anyway without you doing a thing. If you choose to port the Hero's interface to your G1, you won't be able to use any of these.

That said, the Hero's new Rosie User Interface is so cool, you may not actually care about the official Google updates!

What do you get with the HTC Hero user interface?

Before you decide to do this, though, you obviously need to know whether or not it's worth it. In other words, what do you get with the HTC Hero's Rosie UI that you don't get with the G1?

Well, I'll give a full run-down of the Hero's features later in the week when I do a full HTC Hero review, but in the meantime, here's a taster:

• Updated Web browser - lets you see the whole Web page on screen and easily swipe through pages in the browser's history
• Updated interface - brand new set of icons and flashy user interface widgets makes existing apps such as email look much, much better
• Nifty new calendar - the calendar's been updated and is much easier to use
• New music player - navigate your music playlists in a brand new media player
• New media gallery - view your images in a much sexier gallery app

These are just some of the updates. In short, the new user interface makes Android look so much closer to the iPhone's beautiful interface, you wonder why Google didn't create an interface like it in the first place!

How to turn your T-Mobile G1 into an HTC Hero

And now for the fun bit - or should that be the scary bit - actually porting the Hero interface over to your G1.

According to Dave, it's simple. Just do the following:

"After downgrading to pre-Cupcake firmware 1.0, then running telnet and rooting the thing, then flashing a new radio rom, then installing a new SPL, then installing a recovery image application, which I still cant seem to operate, then partitioning an SD card into 3 - and in 3 different file systems ! - then finally flashing a new build ROM from Haykuro and Jachero, it's all done...!"

Ahem! Told you this wasn't easy!

In a less breathless approach, the way to go about this is to follow the instructions over at XDA Developers, or just ask my brother Dave on Twitter (@terminal7). Not entirely sure how much help he can be with just 140 characters to play with, but I'm sure he'll help where he can.

Pictures of the HTC Hero interface on the G1

Right, now for all the glorious pics of HTC's Rosie on the G1. Now tell me you don't want to do this ;)

LG GW300

The LG GW300 is the first BlackBerry-style device that we have seen from this Korean manufacturer.

But where other recent LG designs have impressed us, the GW300 really does not. Closely resembling the two-year-old BlackBerry Curve 8300 in terms of specification, the GW300 seems dated before it even gets to market.

So what does the GW300 offer us? WiFi? Nope. 3G? Nope. A touchscreen? Nope. A high-resolution camera? Nope. GPS? Nope. A 3.5mm audio socket? Yeay.. we have a winner!

What we have with the GW300 is a GSM-only device with a QWERTY keyboard, a 2.4" QVGA display, a 2 megapixel camera, media player, FM radio, microSD expandable memory, Bluetooth and of course the 3.5mm audio socket.

But there's much more. Well, perhaps not much more.. but there's a Facebook application, email client and web browser. Terrific.

Perhaps it will be cheap. That at least would be something, and the "300" number does seem to place it quite a way down the product range.

LG say that the GW300 should be available in September, although we suspect that not many of our readers will care.

LG GW300 at a glance

Available: September 2009

Network: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900

Data: GPRS + EDGE

Screen: 2.4" 320 x 240 pixels, 262k colours

Camera: 2 megapixels

Size: 116 x 61 x 13mm / 95 grams

Bluetooth: Yes

Memory card: MicroSD

Infra-red: No

Polyphonic: Yes

Java: Yes

GPS: No

OS: Proprietary

Battery life: 5 hours talk / 16 days standby

Samsung S9110 Watch Phone

You probably didn't know that you wanted a phone that you could wear as a watch, but Samsung and some other manufacturers seem to think that you do, and they have given us a preview of the Samsung S9110.


Full technical details are not currently available for the S9110, but we do know that this phone is just under 12mm thick and has a 1.76 inch touchscreen display.

The S9110 comes with an MP3 player, Bluetooth and voice recognition support. Samsung say that the S9110 synchronises with Microsoft Outlook and you can even read your emails on it.

There's not much more to go on, except that the S9110 will cost about €450 when it goes on sale in France sometime this year. Presumably it will be available in other countries too, although perhaps you will need to find a specialist retailer.

It's all very clever, and while we admit that the S9110 would be a pretty cool thing to own.. we can't really see what the point is. We don't know exactly when the phone will be available, but rumours say that the S9110 should be out sometime this summer.

Samsung S9110 at a glance

Available: 2009

Network: GSM

Data: GPRS, other data not specified

Screen: 1.76", resolution not specified

Camera: No

Size: Watch phone

Bluetooth: Yes

Memory card: No

Infra-red: No

Polyphonic: Yes

Java: Not specified

GPS: No

OS: Proprietary

Battery life: Not specified

Nokia 6760 Slide

Expected Q3 2009
21st July 2009

The Nokia 6760 Slide is almost identical to the new Surge handset available on AT&T in the US, except that the 6760 is an unbranded device for worldwide use.. and for some reason it comes with a better camera.

This is really just a cut-down version of the E75, and if you ignore the slide-out QWERTY keyboard, then the 6760 is a pretty simple 3G phone underneath. There's a standard 2.4" 320 x 240 pixel display, 3.5G support, a 3.2 megapixel camera, Bluetooth and microSD expandable memory (with 2GB in the standard sales package and 8GB maximum).

The Nokia 6760 Slide also supports GPS and comes with Nokia Maps. The small screen is not ideal for in-car navigation, but it's still a useful thing to have in your pocket.

Because this is a Symbian S60 smartphone, there are a variety of applications available. Some of the built-in features include support for major social networking sites, instant messaging and the 6760 supports both standard email formats and Microsoft Exchange push email services.

As with most similar Nokia phones, the 6760 Slide comes with pretty decent multimedia capabilities plus an FM radio, although annoyingly it comes with a 2.5mm audio jack rather than a 3.5mm one. The camera is a little disappointing - the 3.2 megapixel unit is fixed focus and lacks a flash, and the maximum video capture rate is only 320 x 240 pixels at 15 frames per second.

Unlike the Surge, this has 900 MHz and 2100 MHz 3G support plus quad-band GSM. 3.5G data is supported, giving a maximum download speed of up to 3.6 Mbps, but it does not support WiFi. The 6760 weighs 124 grams, measures 98 x 58 x 16mm and has a maximum talktime of 4 hours on 3G.

The Nokia 6760 Slide certainly isn't to everyone's tastes, although it looks a bit more exciting in the red and white colour combinations that will be available instead of black. But people who are looking for a fairly low cost but versatile messaging device may well be tempted.

Nokia say that the 6760 Slide should be available from Q3 2009 at an estimated price of €199 before tax and subsidy.

Retro: Nokia 6300

This month we say goodbye to an old friend - after two and a half years as one of Europe's best-selling phones, the Nokia 6300 has finally been discontinued.


In the world of mobile phones, the 6300 is positively ancient. Most handsets are launched and them forgotten within a year, and yet the Nokia 6300 still remains very much in demand. On paper, the 6300 isn't that impressive.. so what gives?

There are several elements that we think contribute to the 6300's success. Firstly, this is a very attractive looking phone with a smart, understated design that appeals to many consumers. The 6300 uses high-quality materials, including stainless steel, in its build which gives the handset a very solid "well built" feel.

The Nokia 6300 is easy to use, with a simple keypad layout and the tried-and-tested Series 40 interface. The clear, 2" QVGA display also makes using the 6300 straightforward.

There's an MP3 player, FM radio, microSD expandable memory, Bluetooth and USB connectivity. There's a 2007-era web browser and email client as well.

The phone is not without its faults. The 2 megapixel camera is pretty basic, the 6300 lacks 3G and the small battery only gives 3.5 hours talktime. The replacement 6303 Classic is much better, although the Nokia 6700 Classic is probably a better replacement all around.

Not only is it a popular phone, it is a very good benchmark when comparing to other devices. Retailing at about €110 SIM-free, the 6300 is a quality handset for not very much money.. and it's the phone that other manufacturers have to beat.

Expect to see the 6300 around for a little while yet in the retail channel, although it's quite likely that remaining stocks will vanish quite quickly. But as we feel that the 6300 is a handset that many consumers are very happy with, we're sure that you will often catch site of one for years to come.

Nokia 6300 at a glance
Available:	Q1 2007
Network:	GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900 or GSM 850 / 1800 / 1900
Data:	GPRS + EDGE
Screen:	2", 240 x 320 pixels, 16m colours
Camera:	2 megapixels
Size:	Medium monoblock 106 x 44 x 13mm / 91 grams
Bluetooth:	Yes
Memory card:	MicroSD
Infra-red:	No
Polyphonic:	Yes
Java:	Yes
GPS:	No
OS:	Series 40
Battery life:	3.5 hours talk / 14 days standby

Nokia Xseries and Cseries coming up, geeks hold breath

It was all about four-digit model numbers with Nokia in the beginning. Then N-Gage stepped in, with the Nseries and the Eseries following shortly after. Now two more letters are joining the party - Nokia has registered the Cseries and Xseries trademarks.

Both patents are quite general and cover phones, smartphones, accessories and replacement parts, which doesn't really tell us much about the devices that will inevitably be announced.

Usually Nokia separates its phones in four categories like so:

• Achieve - those are the Eseries
• Explore - the Nseries
• Live - fashion phones for people with active lifestyles
• Connect - easy to use, but not basic, good looking phone; emphasis on ways to connect to others

Now, here's what we're thinking: two categories that are don't yet have a series of their own and two new letters. Simple enough, but here's the tougher question - which is which?

C for example could stand for "classic", and classic phones more or less fit the description of the Connect category. There are other words that start with C of course but they are less likely.

"Computer" is another of those words and we do now that Nokia and Intel are cooking something up. Then again, they call the N97 a "mini multimedia computer" and the Maemo tablets seem to be part of the Nseries (e.g. N800). "Camera" also springs to mind but that too is Nseries territory.

That leaves Xseries for the Live category. Now, X could mean XpressMusic - those don't really fit the bill for a fashion phone but "active lifestyles" is pretty accurate.

Prism and Supernova phones are the more trendy type. The few L'Amour phones are a good match too, as are the 8-series phones - the Sirocco, Luna and the Artes. This we think is reasonable guess of what constitutes a "Live" phone and an Xseries phone too, if our wild guess turns out right.

There's always the possibility that the two new series wouldn't actually to fit into the current categories. One of them might just be here, because Nokia is running out of numbers in the Nseries as the three digit Nseries models is reserved for the Maemo tablets.

Sony Ericsson Launches 8.1-megapixel Camera Phone

Anyone looking for a camera phone that packs a little more punch than the obligatory low-end cameras found on most phones these days will undoubtedly gravitate towards the new C905a Cyber-shot. With an 8.1-megapixel lens, it boasts the highest camera resolution available through AT&T. Supplementing the snazzy new image sensor is a feature set for snapping photos on the go: Face detection, red-eye reduction, smart contrast sensors, and BestPic options that let you take several successive pictures and save the best ones. Like the previous Cyber-shots, the C905a has a slider phone form factor with dedicated camera keys on the body of the unit ensuring you don't miss choice photo ops because you're muddling around in menus. All that will cost you $230, though if you start a new two-year contract you can get a $50 mail-in rebate.

Social media mavens, on the other hand, will prefer the W518a Walkman, a flip phone that emphasizes the mobile music functionality. When shut, the outside has a small display that shows the ID tags of whatever you're currently listening to, and it has Play/Pause, Next Track, and Previous Track buttons to make it easy to control without having to open the phone up. It comes preloaded with a Facebook app, so you don't have to wait until you get to your home computer (or shell out the money for a full-fledged smartphone) to get your hourly dose of the mundane, and it has a standard-issue 3.2-megapixel camera. You also don't need to wait to get home to download new music either; both Napster Mobile and eMusic Mobile are available for your digital downloading dollars.

Perhaps most noteworthy, however, are the new control options: Advanced Shake Control lets you shuffle or skip songs by flicking the phone with your wrist, and "Gesture Control" lets you deny calls or set your alarm to snooze by waving your hand in front of the camera. It's also substantially cheaper than the Cyber-shot: the W518a will only run for $100, which comes down to $50 if you sign a new two-year contract and get the $50 mail-in rebate.

If that caught your attention, don't forget to check out some of our recent phone reviews, like the high-end Sony Ericsson W995a or the details on Sony Ericsson's Android phone from earlier this month

T-Mobile Samsung T749 Highlight burns with 3G, has a cool touch

Samsung really have a thing for touch phones - and now there's a new one headed to T-Mobile. It's called the Samsung T749 Highlight and it's 3G capable (Internet services being a focal point) and running the widget-happy TouchWiz.

Sporting a 3" WQVGA touchscreen, capable of displaying up to 16 million colors, Samsung T749 Highlight stands at 108 x 54 x 13.7 mm and 105 grams. The Highlight offers quad-band GSM and dual-band HSDPA (it covers the two T-Mobile's frequencies).

Samsung Highlight in "Fire" and "Ice"

The T749 Highlight is a social creature with email and support for AIM, Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger. In short - the on-screen full QWERTY keyboard won't catch a break.

On the local connectivity side the Samsung T749 Highlight offers USB and Bluetooth with A2DP, to be put to good use by the music player, which supports MP3, AAC and WMA. The camera is a 3 megapixel snapper with video recording, lacking any goodies like autofocus and the like.

The Highlight will be available in two colors - Fire and Ice (black on blue and orange on red) and it's coming this month. It will set you back 149.99 US dollars if you are willing to sign a two-year contract.

Samsung i8000 Omnia II hits the shelves this weekedSamsung i8000 Omnia II hits the shelves this weeked

It just keeps getting better for the WinMo fans recently. The Samsung I8000 Omnia II official launch which was initially said to come in October, will take place this weekend in Singapore. Latest rumors had it that one of the most powerful Windows Mobile-powered handsets so far will star selling about a month ahead of schedule but this got us totally off guard.

Coming with a 3.7-inch AMOLED touchscreen display of WVGA resolution, the Samsung I8000 Omnia II is one of the most sought-after WinMo devices. It packs a great set of features, including advanced connectivity (Wi-Fi, 3G with HSDPA and HSUPA and GPS) and good imaging capabilities (5 MP camera with D1 video recording).

The recommended retail price of the Samsung I8000 Omnia II is 440 euro before taxes or subsides.

You can check out our Samsung I8000 Omnia II preview over here.

Samsung also announced that the Samsung i8910 Omnia HD should start selling from 1 August at a recommended retail price of 540 euro. The first samples (mostly carrier-customized units) of the monster-spec'd Symbian handset made their way to the market back in May but right after its launch mass production was stopped in order for some i-dotting and t-crossing to take place. Apparently there were some issues with the Omnia HD that Samsung wanted to get fixed before the handset received wider availability.

Nokia 6700 classic review: Sirocco Lite

The slim and stylish no-nonsense handset has been a Nokia trademark ever since the 6300 took the world by storm a few years back. However, it's only now after a run of equally popular successors that we realize just how much the Slim Finn changed the rules of the game. And the Nokia 6700 classic is here to say that no matter how simple and seemingly perfect things are, they can always get better.

Not everyone wants a high-end camera, a huge touchscreen or a QWERTY keyboard and - even if they do - not everyone is keen to dish out. The extra features are always welcome to have on board but in the end it's about the core functions of a phone that you want to work and want to work well. They say money can't buy you love but when a handset is great at the basics and looks like a million bucks it has every right to disagree. And the Nokia 6700 classic, like its forerunners, seems to know just how to please a massive crowd.

Key features

• Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support
• Tri-band 3G with 10Mbps HSDPA and 2Mbps HSUPA
• Slim and sharp
• Solid metal casing and beautiful design
• 2.2" 16M-color QVGA display with excellent sunlight legibility
• 5 megapixel camera, autofocus and LED flash
• VGA video recording at 15fps
• Built-in GPS receiver
• S40 user interface, 6th edition
• Built-in accelerometer sensor
• Tap-for-time and turn-to-mute
• Stereo FM radio with RDS
• Bluetooth (with A2DP) and microUSB port
• microSD card slot (16 GB supported, 1GB included)
• Rich preinstalled application package
• Ovi Maps and Ovi Share
• Push notifications
• Dedicated camera key and good image quality

Main disadvantages:

• Memory card slot under the back cover
• Smallish display
• S40 interface feels clunky and out of date
• No smart dialing, multi-tasking or even an office document viewer
• No 3.5 audio jack
• Poor image gallery

A brief look at the features listed above is enough to convince you that the Nokia 6700 classic is more than a pretty face. However we doubt it that anyone with I-want-features-and-I-want-them-all mentality will put it on top of their shopping list. On the other hand, the extra stuff will be better used to persuade Nokia 6500 classic owners that there is enough there for an upgrade.

By the way, one of the best-equipped S40 handsets might also be able to convert new fans who want decent functionality but are intimidated by smartphones. Until recently Sony Ericsson, LG and Samsung were enjoying a free run there, but with the Nokia 6600i slide and the Nokia 6700 classic, the market leader is quite keen to regain some of that ground.

Nokia Surge

The unusually named Nokia Surge is a handset designed for social networking, and it is exclusive to the AT&T Wireless network in the US.

You can perhaps think of the Surge as a cut-down version of the Nokia E75. The Surge features an identical 2.4" QVGA 320 x 240 pixel auto-rotating display, and a very similar slide-out QWERTY keyboard. On the back is a 2 megapixel camera that can record QVGA-quality video. The Surge comes with GPS, microSD expandable memory (up to 8GB), Bluetooth and USB connectivity plus a media player and FM radio.

This is an HSDPA-capable 3.5G device, with maximum download speeds of up to 3.6 Mbps where coverage is available. The Surge only supports 850 and 1900 MHz WCDMA (3G), so if you are travelling outside of the US then you will have to rely on the Surge's quad-band GSM support. There's no WiFi on the Surge, so everything will need to be downloaded through the AT&T network or transferred via a local connection to a PC.

Software is one of the key features of the Nokia Surge. This is a Symbian S60 smartphone, with a web browser, email and instant messaging client. The Surge uses Juicecaster to access popular social networking sites

such as MySpace, Twitter and Facebook. It can also use a number of AT&T services such as Mobile Banking, AT&T Navigator and video and audio downloads.

The Surge weighs 4.38 ounces (124 grams) and measures 3.84 x 2.28 x 0.61 inches (98 x 58 x 15mm). The large 1500 mAh battery gives the Surge up to 4 hours talktime on 3G and 16 days standby time.

Nokia say that the Surge should be available from July 19th for just under $80 from AT&T retailers.

Nokia Surge at a glance
Available:	July 2009
Network:	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 + UMTS 850 / 1900
Data:	GPRS + EDGE + UMTS (3G) + HSDPA
Screen:	2.4", 240 x 320 pixels, 16m colours
Camera:	2 megapixels
Size:	Large slider 3.84 x 2.28 x 0.61 inches (98 x 58 x 15mm) 4.38 ounces (124 grams)
Bluetooth:	Yes
Memory card:	MicroSD
Infra-red:	No
Polyphonic:	Yes
Java:	Yes
GPS:	Yes
OS:	Symbian S60 (3.2)
Battery life:	4 hours talk / 16 days standby (3G) 4.7 hours talk / 16 days standby (3G)

Nokia 3720 Classic

Billed as Nokia's "most rugged mobile handset to date", the Nokia 3720 Classic is an IP54 certified handset that is resistant to shock, water and dust ingress. Although not as resilient as some phones like the Sonim XP3 or even the Samsung B2100, the Nokia 3720 Classic should survive most things that life throws at it.

We got a glimpse of the 3720 a few days ago with a couple of Nokia teaser videos which show the handset being kicked about and then used as a golf ball in the rain. So, we feel that it should probably survive the odd bit of water and being dropped onto the floor.. which is a rather more normal thing to happen.

It's quite a smart looking handset, the 3720 Classic is much more "normal" looking than some other rugged phones. A combination of stainless steel and leak-resistant panels give it a discrete air of toughness, rather than making it look like a brick. Perhaps the most obvious thing to notice is the screw lock that keeps the battery compartment shut.

Underneath the toughened exterior, the Nokia 3720 Classic is a pretty basic GSM-only phone. It has a 2.2" 320 x 240 pixel display, 2 megapixel camera with LED flash, microSD expandable memory, a multimedia player and a stereo FM radio. One useful feature is a built-in LED flashlight, which is something that we would like to see in more handsets. The 3720 also supports Bluetooth 2.1 and USB connectivity.

There's a large 1050 mAh battery which gives up to 7 hours talktime and 18 days standby time. The standard sales package also includes a 1GB memory card, stereo wired headset, BL-5CT battery and an AV-8 charger.

This is a Series 40 phone, so it comes with a web browser and email client plus all the usual applications that you would expect. The microSD card comes with preloaded Nokia Maps, although the Nokia 3720 Classic does not support GPS.

Despite all the 3720's toughness, it weighs in at a reasonable 94 grams and measures 115 x 47 x 15mm. This is a little larger than a standard GSM phone these days, but it is hardly bulky.

Nokia say that the 3720 Classic should be available during the summer in Grey and Yellow colour schemes, and at estimated price of €125 before tax and subsidy.

In our view, the 3720 is long overdue. Nokia haven't made a robust handset like this since the 5500 and 5140i phones, but there does seem to be a small but significant market for this type of device. Now.. if only they would add GPS..

Nokia 3720 Classic at a glance
Available:	Q3 2009
Network:	GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900
Data:	GPRS + EDGE
Screen:	2.2" 240 x 320 pixels, 16m colours
Camera:	2 megapixels
Size:	Medium monoblock 115 x 46 x 15mm / 93 grams
Bluetooth:	Yes
Memory card:	MicroSD
Infra-red:	No
Polyphonic:	Yes
Java:	Yes
GPS:	No
OS:	Series 40
Battery life:	7 hours talk / 18 days standby

T-Mobile myTouch 3G

The T-Mobile myTouch 3G is T-Mobile's version of the HTC Magic, which basically makes it the T-Mobile G1 without a keyboard.

Just in case you aren't familiar with the HTC Magic, we can tell you that it is an Android handset with a 3.2" 320 x 480 pixel display, 3.5G support, WiFi, GPS and a 3 megapixel camera with autofocus.

Cosmetically, the differences between the myTouch 3G and the Magic are very minimal, basically consisting of a different button allocation and a choice of red, black or white colours.

The myTouch 3G should be available from T-Mobile USA from August onwards, although it will not be sold in Europe where Vodafone has the exclusive distribution rights for the HTC Magic.

T-Mobile myTouch 3G at a glance
Available:	August 2009
Network:	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 + UMTS 900 / 1700 / 2100
Data:	GPRS + EDGE + UMTS + HSDPA + WiFi
Screen:	3.2" 320 x 480 pixels, 65k colours
Camera:	3.15 megapixels
Size:	PDA-style device 113 x 56 x 15mm / 116 grams
Bluetooth:	Yes
Memory card:	MicroSD
Infra-red:	No
Polyphonic:	Yes
Java:	Yes
GPS:	Yes
OS:	Android
Battery life:	6 hours talk / 25 days standby (3G)