LG’s first Andoid phone is called Etna, apparently after the famous volcano. While specs are somewhat skimpy and there’s no official announcement, here’s what we do know…
Seemingly, among the first of the android invasion.
LG Etna: Vodafone shows Android phone – Chip Online, 04.09.2009
The LG Chocolate BL20 brings back all the famous features of the classical Chocolate line with its new Black Label series slider, touch sensitive buttons and striking red numeric keypad. But it’s much different than LG Chocolate BL40. The BL20 is missing some features of the BL40, such as the accelerometer and a full touch screen. We believe the BL20 serves as a cheaper and smaller alternative to the BL40. On the other hand, the BL40 has an impressive software and interface, 21:9 touch screen, 5 MP camera, high-definition “Real VGA” 4 inch LCD that supports a 800×345 pixel resolution, 5 hrs of talk time with a 3G network or 6hrs with a 2G network, video recording and fast email. The BL40 comes with 1.1GB of memory and supports up to 32GB of add on memory with the aid of SDHC cards. According to an LG press release, people in Europe will see the BL40 mid-September while other markets will be covered in the following month.
The LG Chocolate BL20 continues the legacy of Chocolate series. Its release date and price are not yet clear. The BL20’s specifications are listed below.
LG Chocolate BL20 Slider Phone Specifications:
Here’s a video from engadget.com. It’s a good visual comparison of BL40 and BL20. I also got pictures above from engadget.com!
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Nokia launched N97 Mini officially two days ago in Stuttgart, Germany. It looks more compact than its older brother, the N97, however it’s definitely not “mini”. Lifecasting enables users to update their Facebook status directly from the device’s home screen. The Nokia N97 Mini works with Ovi Store where users can download new applications, widgets and ringtones.
It has a 3.2 inch 640X360 pixel touch-screen, full QWERTY keyboard, 5 MP Carl Zeiss camera, VGA video recording, double LED flash, 8GB internal memory, FM radio, microSD card drive, 3G support, Bluetooth, USB, HSDPA, WLAN, Wi-Fi, GPS, 3.5mm head set and TV output. It can playback up to 28 hours music and has 12 days of standby time. Nokia N97 Mini is 14.2mm thick and its retail price will be about 450€.
Nokia announces the X6, a music-oriented phone. 32 GB of capacity with 35 hours of music playback. Free access to the Nokia Music Store. 5 megapixel camera. 3.2-inch 640 x 360 231 ppi capacitive touch screen display. $655. Specs for the X6 are here.
The X6 replaces the 5800 XpressMusic as the top music phone from Nokia….but still no multi-touch.
Nokia X6 launched – Nokia news release, September 2 2009
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1% of iPhone 3GS buyers are dissatisfied with the phone, at least according to a survey by RBC/IQ ChangeWave.
Apparently one of those 1% of unhappy customers was sufficiently unhappy with the 3GS, so as to shot the thing…according to TechEBlog.
That leaves 99% who are satisfied with the device. The figure in the RBC/IQ survey comes from combining the 82% very satisfied number with the 17% of respondants who were merely somewhat satisfied. The same survey found that the 2 best features of the iPhone 3GS were the touch screen interface, followed by ease of use.
Still, that 99% satisfied figure does seem somewhat high though…other figures from other sources have come in at a still-respectable 79%, 82% and 91%.
Apple’s iPhone 3GS has 99 percent satisfaction rate – AppleInsider, August 14 2009
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Gartner reports that smartphone sales for 2Q09 were up 27% over the same quarter last year. Nokia remained the the sales leader with a 45% market share, followed by RIM and then Apple who held onto third place by sellling 5.4 million iPhones for a 13.3% share of the smartphone market.
ISmashPhone has produced a graphic showing how, at 40% operating margin, just profitable the iPhone is..
Gartner Says Worldwide Smartphones Grew 27 Per Cent in Second Quarter of 2009 – Gartner press release, August 12 2009
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After a long-ish year-and-a-half delay from when it was first announced, and after an alliance with Asus, Garmin’s GPS-enabled phone, the nüvifone, is finally here … or at least in Taiwan.
General availability (later this year) of the nüvifone should be a good thing for Garmin. Although Garmin’s nüvi line of portable navigation devices has sold very well, the future of in-dash and stand-alone PNDs does not look bright, as iSuppli and others are saying that the future of GPS and satnav is on phones, both smart and regular cell varieties.
Despite the requisite 3G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chips, web browser and 3MP camera, the Garmin-Asus nüvifone G60 seems to be marketed mainly as a portable navigation device. The device is touted as having a location based services (LBS)-centric resistive touch screen, millions of preloaded POIs, turn-by-turn directions and is even “optimized for automobile use with included car mount“.
The Linux-based nüvifone G60 (there’s also a smaller model M20) is larger and a bit heavier than the Apple iPhone 3GS, and has a smaller screen. Expensive at 16990 TWD.
Garmin-Asus nüvifone™ Available for Purchase in Asia – Garmin press release, July 24 2009
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Three touch screen phones compared…
Nokia announced their Nokia 5800 Xpress Music 640×360 touch screen phone (above) a few days ago… also called the Tube, this music phone comes with the Nokia Comes With Music 1-year no limits music subscription service. The Tube/5800 will be available later this year, specs here.
And then there’s the T-Mobile G1 Android-based 480×320 touch screen mobile phone, available in a few weeks on October 22 2008.
TechRader compares the 5800 and the G1 to the original touch screen phone, the Apple iPhone. Areas of comparison were Home screen, media, OS, internet, gaming, camera, maps, texting and email. The verdict: a tie between the G1 and the iPhone.
Nokia Tube vs Apple iPhone vs Android G1/The ultimate battle of the touchscreens – TechRadar, October 3 2008
HTC, who manufactures the T-Mobile G1 with Google mobile phone – also known as the HTC Dream – , believes that the device is so good that it has the potential to ‘obsolete the personal computer’. One Florian Seiche who is VP HTC Europe, also says that the browsing experience is as good as a desktop and it offers easy access to Google’s many offerings such as mail, IM, YouTube, Maps, Street View, and also has a QWERTY keyboard, etc.
…hmm, maybe…but we’re not so sure about Seiche’s 1st point re bailing on the PC. It might not be fun running the Android SDK on the G1, for example.
Interview: HTC chief Florian Seiche says Google’s G1 phone will kill off the PC – Telegraph, 26 Sep 2008
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T-Mobile officially anounced the T-Mobile G1, aka HTC Dream, or Google Phone etc, the first Android-based mobile phone.
The T-Mobile G1 was unveiled Tuesday September 23 2008 at Guastavino’s in New York City.
The launch event included execs from Google, HTC and T-Mobile, with an apparently unexpected visit by Sergey Brin and Larry Page, who seem to have rollerbladed the 1.2 miles from their previous event, the launch of Google Transit.
Specs for the G1 include:
Full specs are here
Walt Mossberg reviews the G1 in Google’s G1: First Impressions. Walt likes the physical keyboard and the slick software, but adds the music and video playback could be improved.
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