High Tech Computer Corporation (HTC) started in Taiwan in 1997, and has designed mobile phones and PDA’s compatible for Microsoft Windows for distribution in all parts of the world. In June 2007, HTC proudly launches the HTC Touch, a petite but powerful smart phone that will surely make its competitors nervous. It’s named as such because of the keyboard-less design and the touch-sensitive screen that can do all the work.

The Touch comes unlocked and is now available in the US, Europe, and in many Asian countries. Let’s check the vital stats on this slim smart phone: 2.3 x 3.9 x 0.5 inches and weighs 3.98 ounces. This unit features TouchFLO technology, which allows users to perform various tasks by changing the motion of their finger. The HTC Touch can detect the difference between a tap and a swipe, as well as know if you are using the stylus or your thumb. Scrolling down web pages or documents can be done by swiping, and closing or opening applications by tapping. It takes a while to get used to the commands, but they are mighty handy. There is also a five-way toggle below the touch screen.

The LCD screen measures an impressive 2.8 inches, and displays 65,000 colors in 240 x 320 pixels resolution. The unit comes with a stylus and has the handwriting recognition feature. There is a virtual QWERTY keyboard for entering text, but since the buttons are too small, you can only do so with the stylus. The Touch has an internal memory of 64MB, and comes shipped with a 1GB micro SD card. The Touch runs on Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.0 Professional. It has a web browser and can connect to the net with Wi-Fi and EDGE. The HTC Touch also has Bluetooth and USB connectivity.

The HTC Touch houses a 2.0 mega pixel digital camera with 8x zoom and camcorder at the back. Photo resolution can be as large as 1200 x 1600 pixels. The camera has night mode, self-timer, image effects, and quality settings. Videos can be captured with or without audio and saved as MPEG4 or motion JPEG format. You can attach your photos and videos to MMS, email, or share via IM.

Some comments from critics: the QWERTY keypad was hard to use and needs a stylus all the time. The Touch is perhaps not meant for hardcore messaging fanatics. When switching from various applications, the unit tends to be sluggish and may have a tendency to freeze. Regarding photo quality, you have to hold the camera really still to take decent photos. Speaker quality was slightly choppy, and needs improvement. It could also use faster packet data than EDGE.

The HTC Touch has Pocket Office applications where you can open documents in Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and PDF formats. Other useful goodies are Java games, multimedia player, video and audio album, and voice memo. The HTC Touch box comes with the unit, battery, stylus, wall charger, USB cable, pouch, stereo wired headset with microphone, user manual, Sync Software CD-ROM, and 1GB microSD card.

The U600 is a slider phone that has dimensions of 49 x 103 x 11 millimeters, and has a mass of 81 grams. The body comes in silver blue finish. The QVGA screen is nothing but small, at 34 x 45 millimeters. It has 240 x 320 pixels resolution and can display over 262,000 colors. The LCD is flanked by touch-sensitive soft keys, send and end keys, and a four-way toggle button in the center. The unit slides up to reveal a flat numeric keypad.

The 3.2 mega pixel digital camera with 4x digital zoom is hidden so it is well-protected when not in use. To access the camera, you need to slide up the phone. There is an auto-focus feature plus an LED flash. The camera is capable of video recording as well. The U600 has a name card recognition feature which takes a photo of a calling card and saves the contact information into the phonebook.

The U600 has Bluetooth and USB connectivity. The unit has an internal memory of 60MB, which can be extended with a micro SD card up to 2GB, sold separately. Mobile businessmen and women can take advantage of the PC sync feature of the U600. Also, you can connect your laptop or desktop PC to the internet using your phone. Other useful tools are calendar, currency converter, alarm clock, voice recording, voice memo, and reminders. The U600 comes with vibrate alert and an assortment of polyphonic ring tones.

There are several messaging options provided by the U600, like SMS, MMS, and email. When selecting a receiver for a text message, a list of recent names will pop out for you. Plus, the U600 has a Smart Search feature, which lets you find specific files or folders that you saved on your U600.

This phone can play music in mp3, AAC, and WMA formats. You can pair up the U600 with Bluetooth headsets or ordinary stereo headsets to enjoy your play lists or the built-in FM radio. The U600 also supports Java games and applications. Call quality is great on the U600. In the box with the mobile phone are the instruction manual, USB cable, charger, stereo headset, and CD-ROM.

Although this phone is slim, Samsung did sacrifice some important things, like distinction between buttons on the number keypad. The LED flash on the camera adds a sort of blue tinge to the photos. Audio playback on the loud speakers could also use a little volume. But overall, the slim Samsung U600 performs well and is at par with its contemporaries. The phone is now available in North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region.

The LG Prada was released in spring 2007, much earlier than the Apple iPhone, to which it shares a so-called unique feature: the all-purpose touch screen. Yes, both phones were minimalist enough to do away with the keypad and other buttons, and sport the huge LCD screen look. The LG Prada has a 3 inch screen that displays 16 million colors in 240 x 400 pixels. It measures 3.9 x 2.1 x 0.5 inches and weighs only 3 ounces. The phone comes in piano black finish, with a matching Prada leather case. Purchasing the unit without a subscription plan will cost $849.

Yes, we already stressed that it looks chic and pretty. For that price, you will definitely be happy with the LG Prada’s performance. For starters, the phone can carry 1000 contacts in the phonebook, with enough space to spare for four phone numbers, an email address, and memo. Each contact can be assigned a photo ID and a polyphonic ring tone. The LG Prada has vibrate mode and can use mp3 songs as ring tones.

The stylish smart phone houses a 2.0 mega pixel digital camera that can take photos up to 1600 x 1200 pixels resolution. It includes a self-timer, quality modes, shutter settings, color balance, and multi-shot mode. The camera doubles as a camcorder for taking videos that can be used as MMS messages. The Prada also supports Bluetooth for file sharing and headsets. There is a built-in FM radio, but it can only be used when the antenna headsets are attached.

Carrying the LG Prada is also like having a mini-office along with you. The phone supports software for document viewing. Also, songs in mp3, AAC, and WMA formats that are saved on your laptop or desktop can be transferred easily to the LG Prada, without special music software.

The Prada operates on EDGE, for internet surfing, downloading, emailing, and instant messaging. Call quality is great on the Prada. However, you can’t dial by feel on the virtual numeric keypad, nor is there a virtual QWERTY keyboard. Sending a text message requires you to tap on the virtual numeric keypad several times, like in a normal mobile phone. Also, it would have been better if the attractive LG Prada operated on 3G, so more tasks can be done in less time.
You can personalize the LG Prada using wallpapers, screensavers, and sounds. For more entertainment, the LG Prada comes with four installed games: Halloween Fever, Photo Puzzle, Virus, and Piper. More games and applications can be downloaded. The package comes with the phone, USB cable, battery, stereo handsfree kit, Prada hard leather case, charger, user manual, 256MB microSD card and SD adapter.

The LG EnV is a sideways clamshell that operates like a mini-laptop. When closed, it resembles a mobile phone with numeric keypad and external display, and hinges open to reveal a QWERTY keypad and larger internal LCD screen. The dimensions of the EnV: 4.64 x 2.08 x 0.78 inches, and weight of 4.60 ounces. The external LCD screen is 1.25 inches, and displays 65,000 colors and up to eight lines of text. The EnV can be opened to 180 degrees, and the internal LCD is impressively large at 2.24 inches and 262,000 color display. Up to 15 lines of text can be viewed here, plus video, web pages, and photos.

The phone possesses a 2.0 mega pixel digital camera with auto focus and 2.5x digital zoom. There is also an LED flash, night mode, self-timer, and shutter mode control. Photo quality is great, as they can be taken in varied resolutions as well as adjusted for brightness and color. Videos can be captured up to one hour long, and saved in QVGA quality. Videos and photos can be attached to MMS and email, saved in the internal 64MB memory, or in the microSD card.

As a mini-computer, the LG EnV truly is something other phones will be envious about. It has EVDO support, which means internet connections speeds are tops. Web pages load ultra fast, and messaging, whether via email or IM, can be done in a flash. Verizon also offers multimedia services for their subscribers, like VCAST for on-demand live TV broadcasts, VCAST Music Store for audio downloads, games supported by BREW, and others, all of which can be enjoyed on the EnV. The phone also has Bluetooth, and can sync up with your laptop or desktop PC. The USB cable, however, is sold separately.

The LG EnV is enabled with GPS as well. Verizon subscribers can take advantage of VZ Navigator, so their mobile units can give them turn-by-turn driving directions from the speakerphone. The LG EnV also supports Verizon’s Chaperone service, in which parents can keep track of their child’s whereabouts using the mobile phone.

As a media player, audio quality was satisfactory, and streaming video displayed well with minimal pixellation. According to critics, the EnV is a little bulky and hefty. But overall, performs to meet the needs of the busy businessman or the entertainment fanatic. The EnV has voice dialing, voice memo, calendar, to-do list, games, customizable graphics and ring tones, plus more fun and functional features you might want to check out. The EnV package comes with wall charger and user guide.

Released in April 2007, the N95 is unlocked and does not need to be purchased with a subscription. The price, on average, is an astounding $650 in the United States. However, critics and buyers alike have been raving about the amazing abilities that the N95 has to offer. This sliding smart phone may well be Nokia’s ace to date. For starters, here are some basic stats on the phone: it measures 3.9 x. 2.1 x 0.8 inches and weighs 4.2 ounces. It comes with a Lithium Ion battery that has a talk time of 6.5 hours and standby time of about 220 hours. The LCD is a 2.6 inch QVGA screen which can display up to 16 million colors. Internal memory is 160MB, with an included microSD card with 2GB memory.

This phone is a dual-slider, which can be slid upward to reveal the numeric keypad, or slid downward to access the multimedia controls. The N95 has multiple connectivity options, including Wi-Fi, HSDPA, GPRS, EDGE, Bluetooth, infrared, USB, and SD card. Web browsing and downloading is pretty fast on the N95. Messaging can be done via SMS, MMS, email or instant messenger. The N95 also has GPS support, which is available from many cellular service providers. The phone includes the Quick Office software, which can create and open file formats from Microsoft Office programs.

One of the strongest and most favorite parts of the N95 is its 5.0 mega pixel digital camera with Carl Zeiss optics. The camera can zoom up to 20x, has an LED flash, and can take photos as large as 2592 x 1944 pixels. Photos can be personalized with an included photo editor in the phone, or can be instantly uploaded to Flickr. Videos can be shot at 30 frames per second, and saved as either MP4 or 3GP format. Picture quality was top-rated, as the N95 has a stabilizing feature to prevent fuzzy photos. Plus, video playback is one of the best, as critics would say. Video can be played on TV, as the N95 can be attached to video output cables.

As for audio capabilities, again, the N95 comes out strong. The phone has a 3.5mm headset jack, so users can listen to their tunes with any standard stereo headphone set. On top of that, the N95 allows music lovers to create their own play lists on the phone. Tracks can be sorted by category, artist, or album. Sound quality can be personalized using the equalizer. The N95 also comes with a built-in FM radio.

Although there are a lot of plus points for the N95, many users complain about the weak battery of the phone. There were also some slight delays experienced when the phone switches to camera mode, or opens a file for the media player, and others. Overall, Nokia can work on these bugs and make better with the next N-series member. In the box with the N95 are: video output cable, USB cable, stereo headset, wall charger, and user manual.

In the United States, Nextel won the rights to make the i850 available to their subscribers. At around $300 plus subscription, buyers can also get a mail-in rebate after purchase. Nextel has been known to be a radio communication giant in the US, being the first network to implement a two-radio system in the country. Nextel was wise enough to select the i850, as the phone has a push to talk (PTT) feature.

The Motorola i850’s PTT allows users to communicate similar to a walkie-talkie, even when cellular signal is weak or unavailable. The two-radio of the i850 can reach as far as six miles, depending on the terrain. Also, Nextel offers their subscribers with Group Connect, where up to 20 users can use the PTT feature and talk to each other all at the same time.

The i850 has an Openwave 7 Browser installed, so users can check email, surf the internet, and download files on to their mobile phone. The phone can also send SMS and MMS messages. Using your laptop or desktop PC, you can sync up with the i850, or use the phone as a modem. The i850 also supports GPS, and will work with Nextel’s TeleNav service, so you can get driving directions straight from your mobile. The unit comes with 1KTV installed, and with a subscription, users can watch live TV feeds on the LCD screen.

There is also a built-in 0.3 mega pixel digital camera with 4x zoom. It has a small mirror next to it so you can take self-portraits. Photos captured can be used as wallpapers, screensavers, caller photo ID, or attachments to MMS.

Sounds are played on the speaker or on headsets with great quality. If you’re a music lover, you can save and playback songs in mp3, WAV, and MIDI format with the Motorola i850. Polyphonic ring tones are included with the unit, and you can customize them, too. When a phone call comes in, the keypad’s backlight blinks in unison with the ring tone. Game lovers will also find this phone cool, as it supports Java games and applications. There are three included games with the unit, BlockBreaker, Zuma, and Aces Hold’em.

These are only a few of the numerous qualities that the i850 possesses. Having it in your hand will make your tasks much easier, and not to mention more fun. The mobile phone is a brilliant marriage of several useful tools in one. Enough said, the Motorola i850 really is something to flip about.

By 2006, other countries have made the RAZR V3 available to their residents. In Australia, the unit costs $200; In the United Kingdom for £70; and in Canada for $199.99. In the United States, Verizon and Cingular Wireless were one of the first to market the RAZR V3, while Sprint and Alltel soon followed. By mid-2006, Motorola proudly announced that they shipped their 50 millionth RAZR. The phone is said to be the most popular of its kind.

Soon after the RAZR V3, younger siblings were born, the RAZR V3c, V3i, and V3t. The latest addition to the family was the RAZR V3m, the multimedia phone of Motorola. The V3m is housed in an aluminum shell, making it lightweight and ultra thin. When flipped open, it shows an illuminated keypad made of nickel-plated copper alloy. Like the other RAZR V3’s, the V3m has two LCD screens, one on the outside and one on the inside of the cover. Both LCD screens have 16-bit color resolution.

For the media buff, the V3m has a 1.3 mega pixel digital camera with 4x zoom. Plus, the V3m is compatible for stereo headsets and built-in music player. It can support mp3 and WMA format files, which it can store in its 30MB internal memory. A memory card extension slot can be found beneath the battery, for those who want to increase the memory size to 1GB.

The RAZR V3m is Wireless Access Protocol (WAP 2.0) capable, which lets you browse the internet, download files, and watch real-time streaming videos at high speed. Also, in areas where GPS is supported, the V3m can serve as the navigator, giving out voice instructions to the driver with the speakerphone.

All this and more, the RAZR V3m is one of the newest bright ideas from the Motorola company. The RAZR’s never cease to amaze us with their hip new looks and smart functions. Wonder what they’ll think of next.

This Upstage is such an amazing combination of many machines, you’d wonder how they fitted it in one handheld device. The mobile phone is capable of Evolution Data Optimized (EVDO) technology, like many 3G phones today. EVDO allows users to get online and download at high speed using their mobile phones. With the Upstage M620’s convenient web browser and 2.1 inch LCD screen, subscribers can watch live TV broadcasts, movie clips, music videos, and tune in to the news.

The mobile phone also comes with a 1.3 mega pixel digital camera which can zoom up to 5x. Pictures taken can be in four resolutions, from as large as 1280 x 160 pixels or as low as 176 x 220, depending on the user’s preference. The camera can take still photos in night mode, and can operate on a five second self-timer. There are also adjustments for brightness and contrast, and a photo editing software is included. The Upstage supports PictBridge, so photos can be printed immediately without cable or card transfer.

The Upstage M620’s digital camera can take video clips with sound, as long as there is available space in the memory. Videos that are less than 30 seconds long can be attached to Multimedia Message Service (MMS) files or sent in emails. Photos can be saved and used as wallpapers or caller ID pictures. Photo sharing is also made easier with the Upstage, as users can transfer using Bluetooth, USB cable, or SD card. Overall quality of pictures is pretty good, several sources say.

Mobile phones today have come a long way than just for taking calls or sending text messages. They have evolved beyond PDA duties, made lives more convenient, and information more reachable. As computers shrink in size, one can only hope that the goodies in them will keep getting better. With features like that of the Upstage, one can have an even better view of the world.

In April 2007, Samsung proudly launched the Ultra Music F300, with Grammy-winner Beyonce Knowles leading the advertising campaign. Later on, the phone was renamed as the Upstage M620, as it intends to win against its mobile competitors. The Upstage is exactly what the TV commercial says: it’s for users who need their mobiles for business, as well as those who enjoy music anywhere they go.

The Upstage is the first model of its kind to have two faces: a phone side and a media player side. Aside from that, the unit is ultra thin and lightweight. With the flick of a switch, users can go from typing text messages or making calls to listening to music and watching TV. A smart 3G phone, the Upstage has EVDO technology, for high speed web surfing, downloading, as well as live TV broadcasts for news and sports. Users can make video calls with the Upstage and send SMS and MMS messages to anyone in the world. The phone also includes templates for messages, and a T9 dictionary for easy text entry. File sharing has never been easier with the Upstage M620. It has Bluetooth, USB connectivity, and SD card which can expand the memory to 2GB.

With a built-in 1.3 mega pixel digital camera, users can make video calls, and of course, still photos and capture videos. The camera can zoom up to 5x, and shoot in night mode or with a 5-second self-timer. Photos can be edited with color tone adjustments, brightness, and with fun frames. PictBridge lets you send photos for direct printing, without using the USB or the SD card. Videos can be taken for 30 seconds or more, depending on available disk space.

Additional features of the Upstage include polyphonic ring tones, wallpapers, themes, Java games and applications, voice memo, to-do list, calendar, alarm clock, calculator, and voice dialing with caller photo ID or tone. As Samsung says, having a phone that does everything you need is not hard to imagine. The Upstage M620 can be more than just a phone or a music player. This innovation lets you view the world in a brighter perspective.

Meet the Samsung Upstage M620. Originally named as the Ultra Music F300, but later changed to imply what it intends to do with the competition. The phone is a slim and light candy bar model, doubling as both a phone and a music player. Perhaps the first of its kind, the Upstage has a switch that lets a user change from phone mode to music player mode, to prevent unwanted enabling of certain applications.

As one of the smartest 3G phones to date, the Upstage is capable of Evolution Data Optimized (EVDO) connection. With EVDO, users can download files and browse through the internet at high speed, even when many others are online at the same time. The Upstage is also Bluetooth compatible, has USB connectivity and a built-in 53MB memory. An SD card can be purchased separately to increase memory to 2GB, for maximal music downloading.

The large media player screen on the music side can display over 200,000 colors. It makes the Upstage perfect for viewing album covers, photos, watching live TV broadcasts, movie clips and video. The touch-sensitive d-pad controls playback of mp3 and WMA format songs.

The Upstage M620 is also a smart mini-computer. It’s powerful enough to browse the internet at high speed, even when the music is playing. As a PDA, it has voice memo, calendar, to-do list, voice dialing, and voice dictation for composing messages. The phonebook can carry 500 entries, each with five numbers allowed. The Lithium Ion battery can keep for 2.5 hours of talk time or eight hours of music play. Battery can be increased to almost 7 hours using the included battery wallet, which can be attached or detached from the phone.

Don’t count out the 1.3 mega pixel digital camera, which can zoom up to 5x, and take photos in four different resolutions. Plus, there’s a night mode, self-timer, and the user can adjust brightness, contrast, color, and white balance. Videos can be taken for more than 30 seconds, as long as there is memory space available.

What’s the best surprise? The Samsung Upstage M620 costs only one fourth of the iPhone. You could have all these great features, and enjoy the savings you make. That’s a smart surprise. Thanks to Samsung.