Samsung may try to unofficially claim the throne as the king of slim, but their fellow Korean companies aren’t going to give up without a fight. One of their biggest competitors, in the cell phone market anyways, is LG Electronics, and it seems that LG wants a big piece of the ultra-thin pie for themselves. The Korean manufacturer has just unveiled a new TFT LCD display that is a mere 1.48mm thick, or about 0.058-inches for those of you who aren’t metrically inclined.
Showcased in both 2.0 and 2.2-inch sizes, this new display will handle QVGA resolutions without a hitch, and they’re proposing various applications. I’m sure you can guess a few of these, like portable gaming machines, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and multimedia players. If integrated into a new batch of mobile phones, along with some other slim stuff, Samsung may have quite a battle for themselves when it comes to maintaining that they also have the “world’s thinnest”.
No word on when the TFT LCD’s will be available, and whether they plan on selling the technology for other companies’ uses.
June 7th, 2006
Kyocera K822 A perfect phone for audiophiles — the Kyocera K822 is a stylish, feature-rich handset that delivers a high-quality music experience, whether listening to digital music on the music player that supports MP3, AAC/AAC+ and WMA/Windows Media DRM technology or tuning in the FM radio on the phone’s built-in stereo speakers. Expandable MicroSD memory, with cards available up to 512 megabytes, accommodates hours of music, whether at the gym or on the road. Bluetooth wireless technology enables wireless stereo headsets and numerous other wireless accessories announced by Kyocera Wireless at the CTIA Wireless trade show.
Extending its entertainment value, the K822 offers video record and playback and a large, vivid TFT display ideally suited to music videos, gaming, photos and more. An external color display supports photo caller ID with images loaded onto the phone or taken with its 1.3 megapixel camera with a dedicated camera button, integrated flash and digital zoom. Kyocera will offer the phone with either BREW(TM) 3.1.4 or JAVA(TM) MIDP 2.0, allowing users to easily download a wide selection of music, games, ringers, contacts and more. The phone’s extensive productivity tools include room for 500 contacts, loud and clear speakerphone, and easy file transfer via USB or serial cable. Measuring 3.5 x 1.8 x 1 inches, and weighing 4 oz., the K822 has a talk time of up to four hours and standby time of up to 163 hours and is scheduled to launch with CDMA carriers in Q3 2006.
Kyocera K320/K340 Series Understanding the diverse needs of carriers and consumers alike, Kyocera Wireless introduced several options in mid-tier camera phones. The Kyocera K320 Series, with two distinct industrial designs, is perfect for the multitasking family member seeking a stylish, affordable, easy-to-use camera phone. This sleek color clamshell offers true convenience, with an easy-access speakerphone, side volume controls and a full array of productivity tools. The K320 Series features Bluetooth wireless technology, a VGA camera with a dedicated camera button, external caller ID and a larger internal display that is ideal for Kyocera’s renowned pinwheel user interface. Its small, compact styling and internal antenna make it easy to drop into a pocket or backpack. Kyocera Wireless will also make available a version of the K320 Series with push-to-talk walkie-talkie capabilities, including a dedicated push-to-talk button. Measuring 3.54 x 1.81 x .92 inches and weighing 3.4 oz., the K320 Series has a talk time of up to 3.5 hours, standby time of up to 165 hours and will be available in Q2 2006.
For those looking to step up to an even more feature-rich phone at an affordable price-point, the K340 Series is made for those who crave convenience with some extra high-performance mobile features. The stylish, color clamshell design builds on the K320 Series by offering the same array of features plus a 1.3 megapixel camera with video record and playback and a color external display for photo caller ID. The phone’s camera includes a number of advanced photo-taking options including multi-shot adjustment, auto focus, self timer, resolution adjustment, white balance, color effects and fun frames. The feature set is rounded out by advanced voice recognition, speakerphone, a WAP browser, BREW 3.1.4 and more. Measuring 3.54 x 1.81 x .92 inches and weighing 3.4 ounces, Kyocera K342 has a talk time of up to 3.5 hours, standby time of up to 165 hours and will be available globally with CDMA carriers in Q3 2006.
The Kyocera K352, built for international 800 MHz CDMA markets, is an ultra-slim, bar-style music phone for the young, urban set seeking an affordable, feature-packed handset. A music player with dedicated control buttons and 256 megabytes of onboard memory mean hours of music at the user’s fingertips, while USB 2.0 support makes it a breeze to manage the play list from a PC. The phone will ship with a hands-free stereo headset, a $25 retail value. Rounded out with a VGA camera, large 1.8-inch display and full data capabilities, the K352 is just what the hipster on a budget needs. Measuring 4.13 x 1.71 x 0.6 inches and weighing just three ounces, Kyocera K352 has a talk time of up to 170 minutes and standby time of up to 121 hours. It will launch with international CDMA carriers in Q3 2006.
June 7th, 2006
The SonyReader offers a new and convenient digital reading experience. It boasts an amazing screen with technology that rivals text on paper. Weighing less than 9 ounces and at only ½” thin, it’s more compact than many paperbacks. Plus, it comes with software that seamlessly allows you to search and browse thousands of electronic book titles from the Connect eBookstore and then easily transfer from your PC to your Sony Reader. With built-in memory and multi-format support, you can take many of your favorite titles and documents with you. So compact and convenient, you’ll want to take it everywhere.
The Sony Reader offers a unique, on-the-go reading experience. With a very compact and lightweight design, you can take it almost anywhere. More compact than many paperbacks, it weighs under nine ounces and is less than ½” thin. You can easily hold it in one hand while sipping coffee with the other. You can bring multiple titles to read while traveling without adding weight and bulk to your luggage. And with its rechargeable battery, you can turn approximately 7,500 pages on a single charge. Bring more, pack less… it’s the perfect solution for people on-the-go.
June 7th, 2006