HTC G1 Mobile Phone (Google Android)

This first generation Google Android phone is an interesting mish-mash of brilliant software and so-so hardware. The touch screen is fantastic and the UI is almost perfect. Whilst it can’t compete with the N95-8GB on multimedia capabilities, for our business it kicks its ass.
The G1 is not available in Ireland and may never be. So far it has been released in the USA and the UK. Calls to CPW in Enniskillen drew a blank as they had no idea what I was talking about. So I bit the bullet and paid full whack for an unlocked phone on eBay. The vendor in San Francisco shipped it the day before Thanksgiving and it arrived on the Monday. I was very impressed (and relieved). I immediately replaced the 1GB microSD card with a 4GB one.
First impressions of the hardware are not great. The screen looks good, the buttons cheap, the kink at the bottom weird, the full qwerty keyboard better than expected, the scroll-ball surprisingly usable , the lack of a standard audio jack bizarre, the wobble between the upper and lower halves of the phone terribly annoying and the camera crap.
The phone can’t be used until it is activated with Google. This took me a while as the Irish mobile network APNs are obviously not known to the phone and it won’t activate over wifi. A bit of Googling got me the settings I needed (see last post). Then a big sigh of relief as I realised it fully supports Google Apps for Your Domain so I could register with my loudervoice.com address.
Then you see the UI and the software and the touch screen in action. You forget about the crappy build quality and the squeaking back cover because that UI totally rocks. Many compare it to the iPhone but I actually think it looks better. The single iPhone feature which I prefer is the “Back” as a button on the screen rather than a real button. The main thing about the Android UI if you are coming (like me) from a Symbian Series 60 phone, is speed. It screams along. The browser is amazingly fast, GMail is scorching, GCal is great, GMaps is instant. Compare this to the “wait wait wait” of an N95-8GB and you wonder how you put up with it for so long.
You may have noticed a theme above. Yes you have to live in the Google world for Android to make sense for you. In my case it’s a no-brainer. Apart from Zoho CRM, Netvibes and some technical online tools like Unfuddle, I spend most of my day on a variety of Google Apps. Between GMail, Google Reader, GTalk and Google Docs, that accounts for many many hours.
The phone doesn’t come with a huge number of other applications. All the basic things you expect are there. The Google Marketplace is their equivalent to the iPhone App Store. There are a few big differences. The first is that Google doesn’t try to compete with its own developers by blocking “competing” apps. As long as the app doesn’t kill the phone, it’ll probably be approved on the Marketplace. The downside of this is plenty of silly pointless apps so you need to use user ratings/reviews to guide you.
The second difference with Android is that you are not limited to the Marketplace. Sergey Brin doesn’t decide for you what apps you are allowed to run on your phone. You can install whatever you like. This is even more open than Nokia who have dropped the ball completely in 2008 with the app-signing fiasco.

source : www.argolon.com

Sony Announces 12.25 Megapixel CMOS Image Sensor “Exmor” for Mobile Phones

Sony announced the commercialization of “IMX060PQ”, a new type 1/2.5 CMOS image sensor “Exmor” for use in camera enabled mobile phones which has a 12.25 effective megapixel resolution. Furthermore, Sony will also commercialize “IU060F”, a type 1/3.2 lens module with 12.25 effective megapixel resolution, and “IU046F”, a type 1/3.2 lens module with 8.11 effective megapixels. Equipped with lens and auto focus functions, the two modules claimed to be industry’s smallest and thinnest in their class. Does this also mean we are on the track to what Ericsson had predicted?



Above: Lens modules (from left to right) “IU060F”*2 “IU046F”Below: CMOS Image sensors “Exmor” (from left to right)”IMX060PQ” “IMX046PQ” “IMX045PQ”
Source: www.slashphone.com

How GPS Phones Work

by Tracy V. Wilson
Imagine driving to a job interview and realizing that you're lost. Your first impulse would probably be to call the business that's interviewing you and ask for directions. But if you're not sure where you are, getting directions can be tricky.
But suppose you use your phone for another purpose -- to figure out exactly where you are and to get turn-by-turn directions to where you're going. New phones that include global positioning system (GPS) receivers can do exactly that. With the right software or service package, they can pinpoint your location, give directions to your destination and provide information about nearby businesses.
In this article, we'll review the basics of how cell phones and GPS receivers work. Then, we'll explore how phones combine these technologies.
Cell Phone BasicsA cell phone is basically a sophisticated two-way radio. Towers and base stations, arranged into a network of cells, send and receive radio signals. Cell phones contain low-power transmitters that let them communicate with the nearest tower.
As you travel, you move from one cell to another, and the base stations monitor the strength of your phone's signal. As you move toward the edge of one cell, your signal strength diminishes. At the same time, the base station in the cell you are approaching notices the strength of your signal increasing. As you move from cell to cell, the towers transfer your signal from one to the next.
In remote locations, towers may be so far apart that they can't provide a consistent signal. Even when towers are plentiful, mountains and tall buildings can interrupt their signals. Sometimes people have a hard time getting clear signals inside buildings, especially in elevators.
­ Even without a GPS receiver, your cell phone can provide information about your location. A computer can determine your location based on measurements of your signal, such as:
· Its angle of approach to the cell towers
· How long it takes the signal to travel to multiple towers
· The strength of your signal when it reaches the towers
Since obstacles like trees and buildings can affect how long it takes your signal to travel to a tower, this method is often less accurate than a GPS measurement.­­
GPS Receiver Basics
Like a cell phone, a GPS receiver relies on radio waves. But instead of using towers on the ground, it communicates with satellites that orbit the Earth. There are currently 27 GPS satellites in orbit -- 24 are in active use and 3 act as a backup in case another satellite fails.
In order to determine your location, a GPS receiver has to determine:
· The locations of at least three satellites above you
· Where you are in relation to those satellites
The receiver then uses trilateration to determine your exact location. Basically, it draws a sphere around each of three satellites it can locate. These three spheres intersect in two points -- one is in space, and one is on the ground. The point on the ground at which the three spheres intersect is your location.
A GPS receiver has to have a clear line of sight to the satellite to operate, so dense tree cover and buildings can keep it from getting a fix on your location.
GPS receivers and cell phones have a lot in common, and both are very popular. In the next section, we'll look at some of the features of GPS-enabled cell phones.
GPS Phones
Nearly all new cell phones sold in America have some GPS receiving capability built in. Those that don't can connect to a server that uses techniques discussed in the last section to analyze their signals and determine their location. This allows the phones to transmit a person's location to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) after dialing 911. But that's all a lot of phones can do with their GPS.
However, some phones have a complete GPS receiver located in the phone or can connect to one with wires or through a Bluetooth connection. These GPS-enabled phones can understand programming languages like Java and can provide turn-by-turn directions or information about nearby businesses and attractions. Others can work like a tracking device. To use any of these features, you must have:
· A GPS-enabled phone or a compatible GPS receiver
· A calling plan that supports transmission of maps and GPS data
· A service plan or software that provides the actual maps and directions or provides information about the phone's location
Common uses for GPS phones include:
· Location Tracking: Some employers use GPS-enabled phones to track their employees' locations, and some business offer location tracking services for GPS-enabled phones. The Wherifone locator phone provides GPS coordinates and can dial emergency phone numbers. Parents and caregivers can track the phone's location by phone or online and can receive notification if it leaves a designated "safe area." Wearable Environmental Information Networks of Japan has also introduced the Dog @ Watch, a GPS watch phone for children.
· Turn-by-Turn Directions: GPS-enabled phones with view screens can often display turn-by-turn directions as well as announce them through the phone's speaker. In general, companies that offer these services charge a monthly fee and use a database of maps to provide the directions. The services are only as good as their database -- outdated maps can provide inaccurate directions. Some turn-by-turn direction services include:
o TeleNav
o ViaMoto
o MapQuest Find Me
o smart2Go, which requires a separate Bluetooth GPS receiver and a memory card
o Destinator SP, which is a software package for smartphones
· Outdoor Location Services: Trimble Outdoors offers maps and location-based services for hiking, mountain biking, geocaching and other outdoor activities.
· Other Location-Based Services: Some companies hope to deliver news, coupons, advertisements and other information to cell phone users based on their location.
Some other GPS-enabled phones include:
· Mio A701 Smart Phone
· Several Motorola phones offered through Sprint/Nextel
Follow the links on the next page for lots more information about cell phones, GPS systems and related technology.
Related HowStuffWorks Articles
· How GPS Receivers Work
· Cell Phone Quiz
· How Cell Phones Work
· How Buying a Cell Phone Works
· How Smartphones Work
· How Cell-phone Radiation Works
· How Radio Works
· How Microprocessors Work
· How Telephones Work
· How Intelligent Highways Will Work
· How Satellites Work
· How Location Tracking Works
· How Compasses Work
More Great Links
· GPS Cell Phone
· Global Positioning System Overview
· Cellular Telephone Basics
· Wireless-Assisted GPS
· GPS World
Sources
· Aquino, Grace. "GPS Phone Leads the Way." PCWorld, June 2004. http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,115893,00.asp
· Ellison, Carol. "GPS Phone to Take the Stage at CTIA." eWeek.com, March 10, 2005. http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1774953,00.asp
· "GPS-Enabled Cell Phones Taking Off." TechWeb, September 16, 2004. http://www.techweb.com/wire/mobile/47212213
· "New GPS to be Built into Cell Phones, Study Says." InformationWeek, May 13, 2005. http://informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=163101789
· Hamblen, Matt. "Don't Count on Using your Cell Phone for Disaster Rescue." PC World, July 7, 2005. http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,121744,00.asp
· Aquino, Grace. "Phones Use GPS to Show You the Way." PC World, August 2005. http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,121417,00.asp
· Levy, Steven. "A Future with Nowhere to Hide?" Newsweek International, June 7, 2005. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5093170/site/newsweek/
· Rojas, Peter. "Garmin Brings GPS to a Handful of Sprint Phones." Engadget, September 8, 2005. http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000667057924/
Source : http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/gps-phone1.htm

Nokia announces 6 new low-cost phones

Nokia has announced a range of affordable mobile phones. These phones are Nokia 7100 Supernova, Nokia 5130 XpressMusic, Nokia 2320 classic, Nokia 2323 classic/2330 classic, Nokia 1202 and Nokia 1661.
Nokia 7100 Supernova
Of course, you can guess that the Nokia 7100 Supernova is an addition to the popular Supernova collection. The colorful device is highlighted by its large, high resolution color screen, FM radio and a 1.3 megapixel camera, support for Share on Ovi as well as other photo sharing sites. This phone will be available in the fourth quarter of 2008 with an estimated retail price of €75.
The Nokia 5130 XpressMusic is Nokia’s most affordable music phone to date. This phone has dedicated music keys, a digital music player, FM radio and a standard 3.5 mm connector for headphones, an integrated 2 megapixel camera. The affordable music phone also supports image sharing through Share on Ovi and expected to begin shipping in the first quarter of 2009 with an estimated retail price of €90.
Nokia 2330 classic, Nokia 2323 classic
The Nokia 2320 classic, Nokia 2323 classic and Nokia 2330 classic will support Mail on Ovi and Nokia Life Tools. The 2320 classic and the 2323 classic are expected to begin shipping during the second quarter of 2009 with an estimated retail price of €40, while the 2330 classic is expected to begin shipping in the same period with a retail price of €50.
Nokia 1202
The Nokia 1202 is Nokia’s lowest cost mobile device to date with price of €25. This phone includes standard features like a flashlight, extended battery life, loud ringtones and a phone book for up to five users and will be available in the fourth quarter of 2008.
Nokia 1661
The Nokia 1661 is Nokia’s lowest cost color phone including an FM radio, a large color screen, flashlight support, loud ringtones and multiple phonebooks. This phone is expected to hit the market in the first quarter of 2009 with a retail price of €30.[via Cellular News]