RIM might have the enterprise market squarely in its sights with the upcoming BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, but the sleek device is hardly all business. At Mobile World Congress 2011 in Barcelona, recent RIM acquisition The Astonishing Tribe was on hand to show off two applications built to demo some of the QNX-powered PlayBook’s capabilities. And as can only be expected from TAT-born apps, they’re stunning. The first, Scrapbook, is a scrapbooking app with a playful look and some terrific 3D UI effects. The second, Aura, allows users to control the weather and features some nifty accelerometer-controlled physics. Hit the break for two video demonstrations.

Research In Motion’s “best BlackBerry ever” — the BlackBerry Torch — definitely wasn’t the most competitive device to hit the smartphone market place. But it looks like RIM is trying to change all that with a new take on its QWERTY, horizontal-slider: the BlackBerry Torch 2. BGR has exclusively obtained a photo of the BlackBerry Torch 2 along with the device’s full specifications. Was the Torch’s 600MHz CPU a bit too underpowered for you? You’re in luck, as we can now confirm that the BlackBerry Torch 2 will feature a 1.2GHz CPU with hardware acceleration. Full specifications after the break!

• 1.2GHz processor
• Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE
• Tri-band HSPA 14.4Mbps
• 3.2-inch VGA 640 x 480 capacitive display
• 8GB built-in memory
• 512MB RAM
• Bluetooth 2.1
• GPS
• NFC
• 5-megapixel camera with flash
• Magnetometer
• Accelerometer
• Proximity sensor
• 1300 mAh battery
• BlackBerry OS 6.1
• OpenGL ES
• 14.6mm thin

Yes, the BlackBerry Torch 2 looks very similar to the original Torch, and we’re told it’s basically the same on the exterior except for a matte silver finish. Internally, however, you can see that there have been quite a few changes made. The BlackBerry Torch 2 is tracking for a late Q3 release on AT&T.

We just got our hands on a crystal clear photo of the BlackBerry Dakota — you know, the device that’s going to sit right at the head of the BlackBerry family dinner table. What about the specifications for the BlackBerry Dakota? What, you thought we’d skimp out on you? How about the famous original Bold styling, HD video recording, NFC, 3G Mobile hotspot, magnetometer and much, much more! Full specs after the break!

• Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE
• Tri-band UMTS
• 5 megapixel camera with HD video recording, flash, and image stabilization
• 4GB of built in storage, 768MB of RAM
• 2.8-inch VGA 640 x 480 capacitive screen
• WiFi b,g,n on 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies
• 3G mobile hotspot!
• MicroUSB port
• Bluetooth
• NFC
• Magnetometer
• Accelerometer
• Proximity sensor
• 10.5mm thin
• Launches with BlackBerry OS 6.1

Well, what do you guys think? Is this your dream BlackBerry or what?

UK retailer John Lewis, self-admittedly, compiled a list of the “noises we’re hearing from suppliers” and guesstimated the initial specs for the fourth generation iPod Touch. The retailer postulated that the upcoming iPod Touch refresh will feature a 5 megapixel rear-facing camera with HD video capability and built-in flash, YouTube uploading, accelerometer, and gyroscope. The portable multimedia device will also reportedly include FaceTime calling over WiFi, which suggests the inclusion of a front-facing camera and iOS 4. If this handful of rumored specs pans out, the next generation iPod Touch may share many of the desirable features of the iPhone 4, a product development pattern that has been observed in the past.

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Sony’s first VAIO P was a was quite a disappointment considering how poorly it performed and the huge price tag it carried, but Sony seems to be confident that its second-gen VAIO P will right the wrongs of the past. Shipping one week ahead of schedule, the “Lifestyle PC” comes pre-loaded with Windows 7 Home Premium and has an Intel Atom Z530 processor and 2GB of RAM to help keep things flowing. Apart from that, the $900 rig has a 8″ 1600×768 display that’s straddled by optical trackpads, Everywair 3G, GPS, digital compass and an accelerometer. Of course if you lived elsewhere you’d have a lot more options than that to chose from, but who needs that much stress in their life?

[Via Pocketables]

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Some might argue it’s a case of too little, too late, but Sony looks to have a pretty darn good “don’t call it a netbook” netbook on its hands with its much-needed and long-rumored upgrade to the VAIO P. Featuring a “new design for two-handed operation while standing or walking”, the refreshed VAIO P has a built in optical trackpad to the right of the 8″ 1600×768 display which neighbors the left/right mouse click buttons on the left. Thrown in for good measure is an an accelerometer which allows you to shake and flick your way around the internet, Everywair 3G, GPS, digital compass and support for PS3 Remote Play (provided you’re running firmware 3.30 and up). Running Windows 7 Home Premium with an optional upgrade to Professional, the entry-level model features an Intel Atom Z530 clocking in at 1.6 GHz while the top-of-the-line model packs an Atom Z560 at 2.13 GHz. RAM tops out at 2GB, and you have your choice of either a 64, 128, or 256GB SSD. The new VAIO P starts at $799.

Catch the PR after the break.

Sony delivers a smarter on-the-move computing experience: Ultra-portable, easy to carry new VAIO P Series
10 May 2010

• Colourful ultra-portable PC weighs just over 600g
• New design for two-handed operation while standing or walking
• GPS and Digital Compass
• Accelerometer sensor
• Built-in Everywair 3G
• Clear, bright, widescreen VAIO Display Plus
• Easy to use with Quick Web Access

It’s smaller than a notebook and smarter than a smartphone: the colourful VAIO P Series from Sony is your perfect partner for on-the-move computing.

Weighing just over 600g and slipping effortlessly into a bag or jacket pocket, new VAIO P Series gives you all the power of a fully-featured Windows computing experience… and so much more.

Ideal for busy people who can’t sit still, it’s the first VAIO designed for simple operation if you’re standing or walking. The central trackball is complemented by an additional touchpad and mouse buttons. Duplicating the main controls, they’re located at either edge of the screen for comfortable operation with both thumbs while you’re holding the computer in two hands.

VAIO P Series is the first notebook computer from Sony with built-in GPS and a new Digital Compass. Perfect for telling you where you are and what’s happening around you, they can help you find your hotel or a nearby restaurant if you’re standing on the street corner in an unfamiliar city.

A brand-new VAIO Location Search software offers a real-time map view without tying up your web browser. Your map position and orientation are displayed along with nearby Points of Interest and even local weather conditions.

The ultra-light notebook’s ‘on-the-go’ credentials for travellers are boosted with Everywair 3G on-board, giving high-speed connectivity to mobile networks (where available).

New VAIO P is the first notebook from Sony with a built-in accelerometer that responds to physical movements. Just give VAIO a gentle shake to ‘flick’ through pictures or the pages of a PDF document, or navigate back and forth through your web browsing history.

The sensor also recognises when VAIO P Series is turned on its side, automatically ‘flipping’ the screen for easy reading of documents or web pages in portrait mode. The notebook’s additional mouse buttons are perfectly placed for comfortable page-turning when you’re reading in portrait position – just like a paperback book or magazine.

New VAIO P Series is beautifully designed for easy operation, with a comfortable full-pitch keyboard for easy typing, plus a bright, extra-wide VAIO Display Plus that’s ideally proportioned for viewing movies or two web pages side-by-side. There’s also an ambient light sensor that dims screen illumination for comfortable viewing while saving power.

For extra convenience, dedicated buttons are provided for Quick Web Access and one-touch access to VAIO Care. There’s also a handy new Change Resolution button: instantly select a larger font size for easy on-screen reading, or choose maximum detail for HD movie viewing.

Available in five vibrant colours (black, white, pink, green and orange), the new VAIO P Series is complemented by a choice of stylish accessories that includes a distinctively perforated silicone slip case and carry strap.

The new VAIO P Series ultra-portable notebook computer is available from June 2010.

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Ah, the Samsung Instinct HD. We know practically everything about it short of when it is going to launch and how much it will cost. A gaffe from Best Buy last month led us to believe that the Instinct HD would be dropping no later than the 26th however, and now an alleged internal Sprint memo has seemingly confirmed this. Okay, technically the memo says the handset will be launched on the 26th and available on the 27th, but what’s one day, really? Packing a  3.2-inch HVGA touchscreen display, 5 megapixel camera with video capture, Wi-Fi, accelerometer, HD video-out, visual voicemail and a “PC-like web experience”, the Instinct HD is expected to go for between $99 and $149 on contract, meaning it will compliment Sprint’s new Any Mobile, Anytime plan in terms of affordability and features. Hit the jump for the full text from the alleged internal memo.

Short Description of Product:

The Samsung Instinct HD is the premium follow up to the award-winning, record-selling Samsung Instinct. The Samsung Instinct HD is designed for people who want a stylish and cutting edge touchscreen phone with enhanced multimedia features, accelerometer and a 5MP camera with Hi-Res viewing and TV out capability.

Full Description of Product:

The Samsung Instinct® HD is the fastest, most advanced model designed in the Instinct portfolio of Samsung touchscreen phones. The Instinct HD includes an accelerometer that syncs to the user’s movements to create an intuitive experience that engages the senses in an extraordinary way. The Instinct HD is equipped with a 5.0 megapixel camera to deliver razor-sharp clarity for pictures and video. The Instinct HD also possesses WiFi capabilities for fast Web and content access, no matter where the device is being used. With incredible multimedia and browsing performance, the new Instinct HD lets users watch movies, play games, surf the net, check out social networking sites, upload and download content, record and play videos in Hi-Res, and much more — even faster than before. The large 3.2″ HGVA display with accelerometer and improved web browser gives you a great PC-like experience so your favorite sites look and load just like they would at home. It also has WiFi and comes with a 5MP camera with TV out capability, so you enjoy viewing your photos and videos right on your home TV. This fully loaded, premium touch screen takes you to the cutting edge of technology.

Please describe what differentiates your product/service from competing products/services:

• Full Touchscreen with Accelerometer
• Record & Play Videos in Hi-Res
• PC-like Web experience
• WiFi Capable with 3.2″ sharp and clear display
• 5.0MP Camera & Camcorder with TV out

When was product launched? If not currently on the market, when is product launch date?:

9/26/2009

Is the product currently on the market?

No

If no, when will it be available?

9/27/2009

Where can the product be purchased?

Sprint retail stores, Sprint.com, select wireless

What is the product’s price range?

$99-$149

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Well look what finally decided to grace us with its pictorial presence: Nokia’s Rover aka N900 aka RX-51. With the T-Mobile version having just passed through the FCC, the Rover just made its first live appearance and we have to say that we really like what we see of the upcoming Maemo 5 smartphone with apart from the fact that the Z key is not offset — oh and yes, Nokia’s design team is still smoking space key crack. Just in case you don’t recall, it was way back in May when what appeared to be the entire specs for the Rover leaked out. It looks like May’s leak was pretty accurate as here’s what we have today:

• 3.5-inch resistive touchscreen
• 800 x 480 pixel resolution
• 32GB internal memory
• 5.0 MP Carl Zeiss camera with dual-LED flash, auto-focus and sliding cover
• MicroSDHC support
• FM transmitter
• Quadband GSM/GPRS/EDGE, WCDMA 900/1700/2100, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth with A2DP
• GPS
• CPU: ARM cortex A8 @ 600mhz up to 1Ghz (similar to iPhone 3GS and palm pre)

Yes, we wants. Hit the jump for some more pics.

Thanks to everyone that sent this in!

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While talk of Samsung’s upcoming B7610 Louvre has been floating around in quiet corners of the internet for quite some time now, the first image of the upcoming Windows Mobile smartphone has emerged alongside a list of specs. We’re not sure exactly how this handset pays homage to the famous French museum but maybe Sammy is just running out of code names. While it’s clearly not meant to be a flagship device, the Louvre looks as if it will be able to hold its own against similar devices in its class:

• 112mm x 5.8mm x 16mm
• Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE and 7.2Mbps UMTS/HSDPA
• 3.5-inch WVGA AMOLED touchscreen display
• 5 megapixel camera
• 1GB ROM
• 802.11b/g Wi-Fi and aGPS
• Accelerometer
• Bluetooth 2.0
• FM tuner with RDS
• microSD support
• miniUSB
• Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional
• 1500 mAh Li-ion battery

Having not yet been announced by Samsung, a release date, list of carriers and pricing are still unknown. The source of this leak however, believes that the Louvre will makes its debut this July with a price ranging from 250€ to 500€.

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A day after launching three new devices for emerging World markets including the cheapest 3G model the company has ever offered, Nokia has announced the 6600i slide. Essentially nothing more than an update to the 6600 slide with a 5 megapixel camera, brushed metal body, smaller pant size and 3G connectivity, the 6600i could be just what the doctor ordered as summer approaches and the thought of ruining your N85 at the beach floats around in your head. Here’s what the 6600i slide has going for it spec wise:

• Dual-band WCDMA (850/2100MHz) and quad-band GSM/EDGE
• S40
• 2.2″ QVGA display
• 5 megapixel camera with auto-focus, 8x digital zoom and dual-LED flash / VGA video recording at 15fps
• Bluetooth 2.0, FM tuner, accelerometer, microUSB
• 20MB internal memory and 1GB microSD card in box
• 1100 mAh battery
• 3 / 4 hours talk time (GSM / UMTS), 14.5 days stand-by
• 93mm x 45mm x 14mm, 110g
• Available in both black and silver in Q3 for approximately 200€ ($272 USD) before subsidies and taxes.

Not bad at… Oh who are we kidding — there’s only room for one slider today.

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A press release has yet to cross the wire, but a few of our eagle-eyed readers have sent us links to Rogers’ website which is now listing the LG Xenon. The Xenon becomes the latest addition to Rogers’ rapidly growing Quick Messaging line-up, which also includes the LG Neon, Samsung Gravity and Propel. The Xenon however, is arguably the pick of the pack as it features a 2.8-inch 240×400 resolution touchscreen display, sliding QWERTY keypad, 2 megapixel camera with video recording, Bluetooth 2.0, 80MB of internal memory, microSDHC support, an accelerometer and dual-band HSPA with quad-band EDGE connectivity. Not bad at all, especially given that the Xenon is going for $79.99 on contract and $279.99 contract-free.

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Today Motorola announced the MOTO W7 Active Edition, a 3G-enabled slider packing plenty of features that might appeal to those who live an active lifestyle. For starters, the MOTO W7 Active Edition features an accelerometer that not only doubles as a pedometer and ties into the Personal Trainer application, but also works with games that are designed to get ones body moving by dancing and jumping around. Okay, it sounds a bit cheesy, but it’s clear that Motorola put quite a bit of thought into this handset, and its accelerometer integration goes beyond exercise and gaming. For example, simply flipping the W7 over will mute an incoming call, snooze an alarm or pause music. Shaking the MOTO W7 will open a user-customizable application and flicking it from side to side makes for simple navigation between music and image galleries.

As for the inner-workings, the 49mm x 99mm x 15mm / 105g device features UMTS / HSDPA connectivity alongside quad-band EDGE, a 2.2-inch QVGA display, 2 megapixel camera with front facing VGA camera for video calling, FM radio, Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP, YouTube support, 30MB of internal memory and support for a microSD card of up to 8GB. The MOTO W7 Active Edition will make a Q2 debut in Asia and Latin America in Licorice and Alpine White, but the presence of dual-band HSPA (850/1900MHz) seems to indicate that this thing might very well show up on either Rogers or AT&T’s doorsteps one day in the not too distant future. Hit the jump for a couple more pics.

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Using a series of extremely sophisticated environments and 1,440 bit graphics, Sixense used CES 2009 rekindle interest in its next evolutionary step in gaming controllers. Okay, maybe the demo scenarios weren’t quite as impressive as that, but Sixense’s TrueMotion gaming controller is nothing short of awesome. Evolutionary is certainly the keyword here as Nintendo did the grunt work in terms of bringing motion-based game controls to the masses, but TrueMotion takes the concepts put forth by the Wiimote and other motion-based options and really moves them a giant leap forward. Using a base station that creates an electromagnetic field around the gamer, TrueMotion allows for a much more responsive experience that is infinitely more precise. The solution will be compatible with existing games along with games designed specifically with Sixense’s controllers in mind. We’ll let Sixense’s demo video, an oldie but goodie, do the rest of the talking. We do however, now finally have firmed up timing and pricing set by the company – expect TrueMotion to become available for PC by year-end 2009 for around $100 (one remote bundled with a game).

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LG has announced its first ever dual-SIM device. Featuring a 3″ WQVGA display and a 5 megapixel camera, the tri-band KS660 is being touted as a great business tool as it allows users to have access to both their business and personal lines with the same device – no battery pulling or fumbling with SIMs required. The major drawbacks to this phone are that it lacks both 3G and WiFi. Also, if you’re a stylus hater don’t even think about the KS660 because it has one tucked away on the right-hand side.

• 105mm × 55mm × 14.9mm, 115g
• Tri-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE (900/1800/1900 MHz)
• 3″ WQVGA (240×400) TFT touch-screen display w/ feedback
• 5 megapixel camera w/ autofocus, flash, and video recording (720×480)
• 50MB in-built memory
• microSDHC
• accelerometer

Not expected to be released for North America or Western Europe, the KS600 should drop in China, Russia and a few other Russian satellite states in Q1 2009.

[Via engadget mobile]

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Pink is the new black, FriendFeed is the new Twitter, and it looks like accelerometers are the new ‘thin form factor’. While the world became much more aware of accelerometers with the coming of the iPhone’s “mysterious” automatic screen rotation, the truth is of course that handsets have been packing accelerometers for quite a while. Some of the more popular accelerometer-sporting include a few Sony Ericsson models and of course the Nokia N95 which has seen an onslaught of accelerometer-based apps in development since last October. Samsung wants a piece of the action as well apparently as it prepares to drop the M3510 complete with shake-and-twist gesture controlls out of the box. Other specs include:

• 2.5G GSM/GPRS/EDGE  connectivity
• 2″ QVGA 262K color display
• 2 megapixel camera
• FM Radio with RDS
• 20MB of user memory
• microSD memory card slot
• USB 2.0, Bluetooth, 3.5 mm headphone jack
• Dimensions: 109×46×9.9 mm

Meh, not terrible. It appears to be a music-centric handset that is likely intended to do battle with lower-end Walkman phones from Sony Ericsson. The unsubsidized price at launch will be somewhere in the mid to high $300s so carrier prices should be pretty competative. As for the possibility of seeing the M3510 stateside? Doubtful; at least not for quite some time.

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