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New RIM BlackBerry, Sony Phones Offer Big Cameras, Bigger App Stores
by Nicholas Kolakowski
Research In Motion’s new BlackBerry Curve 8530 aims at consumers instead of business users, with an advanced media player for music and video, and multimedia capabilities, in addition to standard-issue features such as access to BlackBerry App World.
The BlackBerry Curve 8530 is RIM’s attempt at a more media-centric smartphone, with mechanical controls for music integrated into the form-factor.
The BlackBerry Curve 8530 also comes with built-in WiFi (802.11 b/g) and GPS with support for location-based applications.
RIM hopes that its BlackBerry ecosystem of devices will allow it to compete this holiday season against Droid, the iPhone and other smartphones.
The Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 is Sony’s first smartphone powered by the Google Android OS. The device includes proprietary applications such as Timescape, which condenses all types of communication—including emails and texts—into one location.
The Xperia X10 integrates an 8.1-megapixel camera with 16x digital zoom and auto-focus, video recording, and image and video stabilizer.
Xperia X10 users can further customize their device with additional apps downloaded from Android Marketplace. Applications preloaded on the phone include Gmail, Google Calendar, Sony Ericsson Sync and YouTube.
The Sony Ericsson X2 runs on Windows Mobile 6.5. Like the X10, it includes an 8.1-megapixel camera with 16x digital zoom, and pre-loaded applications such as YouTube.
Depending on the network being used, and the applications running, the X2 offers between 6-10 hours of talk time, and between 500-640 hours of standby time.
The Sony Ericsson Aino includes a 3-inch touch-screen display, integrated 8.1-megapizel camera, and the ability to transfer media files onto the device via a Wi-Fi connection. It also makes phone calls.
The Aino features more productivity-centric applications, such as Google Maps, but also has a heavy focus on entertainment, including the ability to retrieve videos, music and photos from your PlayStation 3.
The Sanyo-branded Incognito smartphone from Kyocera includes access to Sprint applications such as navigation and email sync, a 2.6-inch QVGA display, and a 2.0-megapixel camera and camcorder.
When snapped closed, the Icognito displays glow-through information about time, date, etc. The lightweight (3.4 oz.) phone boasts a 5.1-hour talk time.
Until the rumored release of Windows Mobile 7 sometime in 2010, Microsoft is promoting Windows Mobile 6.5—along with its mobile-applications store, Marketplace for Mobile—as the latest in its mobile OS lineup.
Microsoft is also focusing some of its marketing attention on the Zune HD, which includes an HD FM radio.
Business users out in the field, as well as adventurous off-roaders, may appreciate the Casio G’zOne Brigade, a clamshell device hardened to resist water immersion, blowing rain, shock, dust, vibration, salt fog, humidity, and massive temperature swings.
Should you need to work while outside during a massive hurricane, the Casio G’zOne Brigade has functionality for viewing Word, Excel, PDF, text and PowerPoint documents, in addition to NetFront Browser v3.5 and a 3.2-megapixel camera.
The Zeppelin iPod Docking Station from Bowers & Wilkins lets users blast music from their iPhone.
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The holidays are upon us, and new devices from Research In Motion, Sony, and other manufacturers offer users a host of new multimedia capabilities. RIM’s BlackBerry line seems to be incorporating more consumer-style features—such as dedicated music buttons—with every passing generation, and Sony is embracing both Google Android and Windows Mobile 6.5 as the operating systems for its latest smartphones.
Devices from other manufacturers such as Casio and Kyocera (with the Sanyo-branded Incognito smartphone) also offer a variety of new hardware and software features, including powerful cameras and navigation applications.