As you can see, someone has even used the safety bars on the DDR game, but made the subject matter of the competition not dancing, but texting, something that the teens these days are really, really good at.

So why not make an arcade game where players must “face-off” with each other on stainless steel phone-like keypads? It sort of reminds me of MasterType, a very old-school computer program that helped me learn to type. In that game, the player had to save a spaceship by typing in the correct sequence of letters to shoot the guns to destroy the aliens. I am assuming the player does a similar sort of game in Textminator.

What makes this game unique is that not only can the high-scoring player enter in their initials, but the Textminator has a built-in camera so the player can snap a pic of themselves for a virtual wall of fame.

So, let’s see how Textminator plays out in a modern video arcade. Perhaps it will spawn Textminator 2: Judgment Page.

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Impact offers a totally new user experience right from the get go, where its shiny blackout exterior is surrounded by textured blue or pink detailing. Every time the touchpad which is located below the screen is pressed, it will automatically spring to action, coaxing your hand to provide the finger taps it so craves in order to “answer” with a soft, tactile buzz. This allows the Impact to play and control music, make a call, or send texts without the need to open the phone.

The Impact also comes with a sideways flip that opens up to reveal full QWERTY keyboard which makes it a snap to compose those long winded emails to your Aunt Martha in a flurry, while even traditionally long text messages would fall prey to your brilliantly fast fingers as they dance across an all-too-familiar keyboard layout. Apart from that, you will also get a range of shortcut keys that make room for one-touch access to IM, text, email, and switching between applications. The second full-color display screen is great for viewing videos, friends’ profiles and flipping through images, while either side of the display houses speakers that makes tuning in to your favorite songs a joy. The Impact will retail for a surprisingly affordable $99.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate for a new 2-year contract.

Press Release

Sadly, I do not have anything to say about the i290. Of course, my mother always used to say that “if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything”. Well, I’m am going to say anything, because even though the i290 isn’t a good phone, it isn’t a bad one. That would make it…a normal candybar cell phone, which is what it is.

Yes, this is a phone that allows you to call people and make text messages. Yes, there are many other phones like it, and if you can afford one that does this and other things, then yes, you should buy one. As it is, this phone has no camera, very little features, except that of push-to-talk and Java capability.

Of course, it does have a thin and lightweight feature, as do most phones that are under $50. This is about the price of it on Boost Mobile. You can also get it on Sprint if you like. In fact, if you are looking for someone to buy a phone for this holiday season, and this person doesn’t want anything complicated, then you could save a lot of money purchasing them an i290 right here.

We can more or less expect it to arrive as a CDMA device via Verizon’s Open Development Initiative (ODI), making the Saygus VPhone is the latest Android phone that will target both casual consumers and businesses alike. It will feature a couple of cameras to get you started, where a 5-megapixel shooter with auto focus and flash alongside a VGA forward-facing camera for video calls. You also get a bunch of other notable functions such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, USB tethering and the ability to hook up to 8 devices simultaneously including laptops and MIDs, making it function as an access point, USB host and client capability. The inclusion of a slide-out keyboard that boasts a large keypad and raised keys makes it easier for typing out those text messages and emails replies in double quick time, while the display boasts a screen resolution which is double that of the iPhone.

Saygus is able to offer two-way cellular video calls at 24 to 30 frames per second (fps) in excellent resolution thanks to its proprietary low bandwidth video calling technology. In fact, the VPhone has also been tested on other devices and other cellular networks implementing video calling at 2.5G EDGE data rates without missing a beat. Saygus hopes to offer quality video calls to other devices and networks in the future, making video calls a staple worldwide. No idea on pricing though, but hopefully it will come with a sweet price tag.

Press Release

Available on an exclusive basis from AT&T, the LG Shine II aims to bring a careful balance between minimalist design and maximum functionality. Coming in one luminous form factor, you get polished round edges and an elegant slider design that ought to keep fashionistas smiling each time they pull out the LG Shine II from their handbags or pockets. With part of its chassis made from stainless steel, this sleek phone will feature a mesmerizing 2.2″ wide mirror LCD display, Java 2.0 support, dedicated music playback with a customizable equalizer, music recognition and ringtone creator alongside direct-to-device music download capabilities. In addition, a single push of a button will emit crystal clear sound that is streamed via its built-in stereo Bluetooth wireless technology.

The LG Shine II also plays nice with AT&T Navigator, allowing one to enjoy up-to-date traffic information with turn by turn directions and traffic monitoring. Other features include a 2.0 megapixel camera with flash and video recording and an image editor for you to modify your images on-the-fly. Expect the LG Shine II to hit AT&T retail stores nationwide and online from November 22nd onwards, where it will retail for $119.99 after $50 mail-in rebate for a two year agreement.

Press Release

I suppose that this would be the time to talk about how most watch phones don’t take into account that Dick Tracy isn’t cool anymore and the idea of having a phone on our wrist just doesn’t appeal to us like it did back then. I mean, most people have cell phones! Hello?

Still, you have got to give the Gauntlet Watchphone credit for trying to make the watch phone relevant in today’s mobile society. You will notice that the watch has a lot of icons on its touchscreen face, just like everyone’s favorite smartphone from Apple!

The icons include a music player, a basic email reader, plus much more. I can imagine that the user will be able to download apps. It can also connect to a headset via Bluetooth.

So, hey, is a watch phone fad in our future? After all, I stopped wearing a watch after I got a cellular phone. Maybe I would ditch my cellular phone after getting a watch phone.

Hey, it could happen. You never know what is going to catch on. I can just see an era when people will be saying: “You mean you still use a cell phone? We have watchphones. Hello?”

Source

Recently I’ve decided to switch cellphones, my old phone can only be dropped so many times before it finally starts looking a bit ragged.  I’m now not exactly looking forward to the joys of punching in all of my numbers into a new phone.  We’ve all had to do it before, in many cases it’s happened several times over the years.  It’s just what you have to do, so you deal with it.  Well instead of adding in those numbers one by one, you can have a gadget to transfer all that data for you.  It’ll store all of your numbers and can transfer it to your new phone if you get a new one or your old is lost or stolen.

With this you won’t ever have to worry about permanently losing numbers that are very important to you.  The device stores up to 4,000 names, email addresses and numbers.  Just push the button and it’ll begin uploading them to your new phone.  It comes with adapters to accommodate hundreds of brands as well as models.  To keep it powered it requires 3 AAA batteries.  You can purchase it for $59.95 through Solutions.

Source: Bookofjoe

These cell phone charms are specially programmed to spin and light up in reaction to the frequency emitted by a ringing cellphone. Hang your Vader or Stormtrooper charm on your jacket, computer bag, navel ring, etc., and whenever you get a call on your cell, it will spin around and the little lights near its base will flash. You can leave your phone on silent, tucked in your pocket, and pretend to be paying rapt attention to your boss as he drones on about this new technology they call Twitter and how your business is going to harness the power of social media. When Vader spins, you make a quick exit, feigning a potty emergency, and rush to safety to answer that important phone call from the Emperor.

They might be a wee bit more expensive than normal though with the Star Wars Cellphone Alert Charms going for $9.99, but being a fanboy certainly has its price to pay, eh? Bear in mind the Star Wars Cellphone Alert Charms only work with 800 – 1600 MHz GSM network handsets and require a trio of LR41 batteries to get you started.

I had a chance to try it out for myself, and one of the features that I found very amazing is the ModeShift Morphing technology. You know how most clamshell phones have that secondary screen that does nothing more than just show the time and what the camera can see for self-portrait shots? The i9 really fulfills the potential of the Secondary Screen.

In fact, I had more fun accessing the features of the camera when it was closed than when it was open. All I had to do was push the menu button on the side, and I could access the main menu which included the Media player, 3.1 MP Camera, and Camcorder. The secondary screen had this odd frame with light up buttons that included haptic feedback for navigation. In short, the ModeShift Morphing allows the i9 to become a PMP when it is shut.

All in all, I would have to say that the i9 is one of the better basic cell phones that you can buy. It is available now from Sprint for $199 after mail-in rebate or Boost Mobile for about $299.

The Android-powered handset will rely on Samsung’s innovative TouchWiz user interface which makes room for easy customization via movable widgets and one-touch access. There are also three different home screens to choose from depending on your mood, where each of them can be used to organize multiple workspaces with favorite widgets and application shortcuts.

The Samsung Behold II will also come with integrated Google mobile services like Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail, YouTube and Google Talk, with more than ample room for thousands of applications and games which can be downloaded from Android Market. With Wi-Fi connectivity turned on, you can also access personal e-mail and corporate e-mail with Exchange ActiveSync, in addition to instant messaging, text, picture and video messaging. Other features that you can expect to see on the Behold II comprise of assisted GPS, Bluetooth 2.1, visual voicemail and a microSD memory card slot.

Press Release

Make no mistake, while the Motorola Debut i856w is no iPhone, that doesn’t mean it is a slouch when it comes to performance. We were told not to judge a book by its cover, but surely the Debut i865w won’t make you lose all of your friends instantly. Meant to create a striking balance of modern luxury and design edginess with its combination of subtle color tones, finishes and modern graphics, this stylish slider will glide open and close in one smooth motion for instant communication. Apart from that, you also get additional multi-media features including music playback, threaded text messaging (a personal favorite of mine as it sure beats trying to locate just what the last message from a particular contact was all about), one-touch instant access, a 1.3-megapixel camera with video capture and playback capability.

The Motorola Debut i856w is tipped to retail for $149.99 a pop with free shipping. You might want to pair this up with Boost’s $50 Monthly Unlimited plan with nationwide talk, text and wireless Web. Among the features of the Debut i865w include :-

• Nationwide Walkie-Talkie capability
• Slider Design
• Music Player with Standard Audio Jack
• 1.3-megapixel camera with video
• Stereo Bluetooth capabilities
• GPS & Wireless Web-enabled
• Multi Media & Text Messaging
• Optional Removable Memory (microSD memory card slot)
• High Resolution Color Display
• Speakerphone with Voice-Activated Dialing
• Downloadable Games, Wallpapers and Real Music Ringtones

Guess this deal applies only to those who reside in the US.

Press Release

Of course, nothing should ever be judged by its name, and not be its looks, either. You may notice a vague resemblance between the i465 and a product whose first name is “Black” and last name is “Berry”. The i465 is slightly thinner than the popular Research In Motion (RIM) device, and the proportioned skinnier keyboard takes some getting used to. However, I was surprised at how easy it was to text. Normally I use a QWERTY that has to be turned on its side to work.

One of the problems that I saw with the i465 is that it really is an ordinary phone with all the usual features like the camera (both video and stills), Bluetooth, GPS, voice dialing, and Push-To-Talk. Yet I think that in its heart, the Clutch really wants to shift into high gear and be a full-on smartphone. Fortunately, it is possible to access the web and e-mail if you buy the right plan.

Those plans would be from either Sprint or Boost Mobile. The i465 phone from Motorola costs about $99 with either of those backers.

Product Page

This digital microscope made from a cellphone and $10 in parts could revolutionize bush medicine.

First there was the One Laptop Per Child laptop for under $100, now an engineer has created a $10 do it yourself microscope out of a cellphone!

The vision of engineering professor Aydogan Ozcan of UCLA, the microscope uses a cellphone and ten dollars ($10) of off the shelf parts. The idea is pretty groundbreaking and could help doctors who seek to diagnose illnesses in the “bush” areas of the third world where sophisticated lab equipment simply isn’t available.

The idea is pretty ingenious. Rather than take a slide and magnify it, the cellphone microsope can image the slide sample and send it wirelessly to the nearest hospital laboratory. But with special “app” software developed by Ozcan, the cellphones can also detect abnormal shaping of bloodcells which could show signs of infection.

And there’s even a special microscope box which can connect to a cellphone which can then transmit the data where it needs to go.

“There’s no need for regular microscope lenses anymore because the software can magnify the cells electronically,” said Ozcan, “by creating a hologram that can image several cells at the same time and analyze how they interact. We can learn a lot in seconds.”

And in a world where infectious disease can strike hundreds in a few hours, this invention can save lives to boot. My only question is, when will we see the iPhone app?

Hat Tip – the NYTimes via The Giz

• FM radio with 12 presets
• Integrated Song ID
• Dedicated side key for easy access to favorite songs
• Bluetooth-capabilities
• “Join the Band” feature
• The “Join the Band” piano function allows customers to play along on a full scrolling 88-key keyboard
• Dolby Mobile equalizer
• Touchscreen display
• Access to Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and other social networking sites
• 3.2 megapixel camera

Expect to exchange $79.99 with a $50 mail-in rebate for the LG Chocolate Touch in a new two-year customer agreement that is on a Nationwide Calling Plan.

Press Release

• Meets military specifications 810F standards for shock and dust resistance, vibration, salt fog, humidity, solar radiation, altitude and low and high temperature storage
• Push to Talk capabilities
• 1300 mAh for long battery life
• VZ Navigator support
• 2.0 megapixel camera with Night Shot, panorama, color effects and more
• Bluetooth version 2.1 wireless technology
• Support for headset (mono and stereo), hands-free, dial-up networking, serial port, object push (vCard and vCalendar only), basic image, basic printing and phonebook access
• Personal organizer with calendar, tip calculator, currency converter, notepad, alarm clock, world clock and stop watch

Expect to fork out $49.99 for the Samsung Convoy after a $50 mail-in rebate alongside a standard 2-year customer agreement. The Samsung Convoy will be made available from November 15th onwards.

Press Release

Among the key features of the Curve 8530 include the following :-

• Easy-to-use, highly tactile, full QWERTY keyboard and touch-sensitive trackpad for reliable, responsive typing and navigation
• 256 MB flash memory and 528 MHz next generation processor for enhanced performance
• Supports voice-activated dialing and Bluetooth (version 2.1)
• 3G-enabled (EV-DO)
• Built-in Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g) connectivity
• GPS with support for location-based applications, including geotagging support and Verizon Wireless’ VZ Navigator service
• 2.0 megapixel digital camera with zoom and video recording capability
• Multimedia playback of music, picturs and videos
• Dedicated media keys
• 3.5mm stereo headset jack
• BlackBerry Media Sync support
• Access to BlackBerry App World
• Support for BlackBerry services
• microSD/microSDHC memory card slot

You can’t get it immediately though, as Verizon Wireless will make it available to the masses only from November 20th onwards, where it is going for a relatively affordable $99.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate after agreeing to a new two-year customer agreement. This agreement is slightly different since it comprises of a voice plan with an e-mail and Web feature or an e-mail and Web for BlackBerry plan. Your BlackBerry Curve 8530 will also need to run on a data plan, where it will start from $29.99 when added to any Nationwide voice plan, going upwards if you want something more complex. If you’re interested, might I comfort you that you have at least a couple more weeks to save up your loose change before bringing this home?

Press Release

Currently, the REDFLY Mobile Companion is available in a couple of models, known as the C8N and C7, where both of them will boast a large display, a full QWERTY keyboard for easy typing, a touchpad for better navigation, up to an 8-hour battery, and USB, VGA and media ports. You won’t find any operating system, storage or processor within, as its performance is as good as how fast your connected device is. In the case of the connected BlackBerry, it will rely on the BlackBerry smartphone’s computing power in order to provide a much better user experience thanks to the REDFLY’s 800 x 480 resolution display.

The latest update will support the BlackBerry Bold 9000, BlackBerry Curve 8900 and BlackBerry Tour 9630 smartphones, so make sure you own the right device before deciding to bring home the REDFLY Mobile Companion. No longer do you need to be restrained by the BlackBerry’s tiny display when surfing the Internet, as the REDFLY is more than enough to handle a much more user-friendly surfing experience. Apart from that, a larger display also makes it easier to type out all your long-winded documents with ease.

Press Release

Source: Nexus404

Built on top of the Open OS, the UX platform creates a unique Sony Ericsson user experience by being the first handset which “truly humanise the way people interact with their phones.” Some signature applications of the XPERIA X10 include Mediascape and Timescape, where the latter will manage all your communication with one person in one place, where your Facebook messages, Twitter account, photos, emails and texts can be seen in a glance for each contact when selected. As for the Mediascape, this allows you to check out music, photos and videos you want from your favorite friends and artists.

You will be spoilt for choice when it comes to applications since with the XPERIA X10, users are able to download any application of their choice direct from a wide variety of stores including PlayNow and the Android Market. The XPERIA X10 will play nice with the following frequencies, making it a truly world phone – GSM GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900, UMTS HSPA 900/1700/2100 and UMTS HSPA 800/850/1900/2100. No word on pricng, but we do know it will come in Sensuous Black and Luster White.

Press Release

If my cellphone happens to survive being dropped in the sink, I’m about as happy as can be.  Apparently, I’ve been setting my standards way too low when it comes to the underwater capabilities of my cellphone.  If you’re not quite satisfied with your phone just surviving a dip in the water, you should check out the Alpha UWCP that allows for you to talk on the phone while you’re out diving.

The Neptune Space full face mask has a microphone and speaker built into it.  The mask is then wired to a 40 meter cable that is wired to the box within the buoy.  That cable can be modified upon request if 40 meters isn’t to your liking and the cable can also be detached from the diver if they choose.  The buoy is plenty stable due to a water reserve bottom pocket.  Within it is a top pocket that provides a secure spot for the box.  That box is water resistant and can be connected by Bluetooth to a cellphone.  It functions on a 9V alkaline battery.  The entire thing will cost you $1,790 from Sky Mall.

Source: Ubergizmo