Motorola Blaze Adds Another Touch Screen Handset to the Pile

The Boy Genius Report has a first look at Motorola's answer to the "Touch Screen Wars," called the Blaze. From the looks of the branding, this touchy-feely handset is coming to Verizon, complete with a special Verizon-only operating system. BGR says the touch screen is decent, and the mobile browser is "OK," but nothing to write home about. Email and texting functionality are also lambasted by BGR, as is the crush-the-screen-to-make-it-work haptic touchscreen feedback. Specs include a 2 megapixel camera, EV-DO Rev. A support, GPS, and Bluetooth. They didn't sound too keen on the Blaze, but they didn't write it off completely.

[Via GIZMODO]

TomTom Has Navigation App Already Running On the iPhone; Telenav Likely

If you were one of people who was all about GPS on the iPhone, you will be glad to hear that TomTom already has a version of their navigation software running on the device. Unfortunately, no other details regarding a release date, features or pricing have been released—but it stands a good chance of being the first, truly powerful GPS navigator for the iPhone. However, we have also heard that Telenav is hard at work on their own version—although nothing has been confirmed.

[Via GIZMODO]

Concept Phone Charges Self With The Rays Of The Sun

Another day, another concept phone. This Eclipse Intuit, by Eddie Goh, features a touch keypad with tactile feedback, 5 megapixel camera with built-in photo editing software, a giant touchscreen and a chemical-based thin solar skin that will charge the battery when exposed to light. It sounds all well and good, except how often does anyone keep their phone out in the open gathering sunlight? Usually if I'm out and about, my cell stays firmly in the depths of my handbag or in my back pocket and, last time I checked, sunlight doesn't reach there. I guess this phone is going to stay a concept.

[Via GIZMODO]

First 3G Dual SIM Handset Launched

With the UK population currently sharing 70m mobile phone SIM cards across its 45m adult population I'm surprised this market hasn't taken off sooner.

Since the first dual sim handset was announced back in January it has only been followed by Samsung's D900 look-a-like the D880, but finally two more are on the horizon.

Rather disappointingly however, both the candybar 'Duplii' (above) - the world's first 3G capable dual SIM handset and 'Twinn' - its EDGE only slider compatriot - come from little known company Verzio and are likely to spread no further than the Asian market.

This fact is all the more lamentable for we 1.55-SIM-cards-per-person totting Brits because with 2.2in QVGA displays, 2MP cameras (1.3MP on the Twinn), Bluetooth, FM radios and PC synchronisation the duo don't look half bad on paper and are reasonable lookers into the bargain.

Perhaps even more surprising though is the primary launch location for the pair: the Philippines - a nation not famed for its multi-handset sporting high-speed mobile broadband surfing population. Feel free to correct me on this if I'm wrong.

Still, with a December launch for the Filipinos planned it goes to show once more that this technology is now with us and given the teeny amount of extra physical space required to fit in this feature it baffles me why more handsets don't offer the mode as standard.

I'm speaking neutrally, of course, as an owner of two pay monthly SIM cards.

[Via TrustedReviews]

Moto Q9c is Here to Stay

Ignoring a few of the cons of the Motorola Q9c, most users and gadget critics seem to love it. It is an improvement on the Q9, thought it retains a few of the old features including the 1.3 megapixel camera and a micro SD card. It also runs on the WM6 Standard edition and is very efficient and also has QVGA display. It has a resolution of 320X240 and also is pretty good as far as multimedia goes.

The downside is of course that unlike AT&Ts usual 2.0 megapixel camera. Also it is an improvement on its predecessor since it is must faster and has a lot more space. It also is a bit wider than ideal, but if you hate cramped keyboards then you won’t mind this feature all that much.

It plays almost all known audio formats and the usual video formats. It also has a fraction under 5 hours of talk time, good battery life and QWERTY keyboard.

It sleek and nice and there’s not much you can not like about this phone. One of its major problems that it has is that it doesn’t have wi-fi, but overall this phone is a neat little bargain. You don’t really need to be carrying around a phone and a PDA with this around.

[Via PDALive]

The Perfect Katalyst - Samsung t739

T-Mobile has launched the Samsung t739, also known as the Katalyst.

The slider form factor phone features a built-in Wi-Fi radio for use with T-Mobile's HotSpot @Home UMA calling service, quadband GSM support, microSD expansion slot, 1.3 megapixel camera with video recorder, voice dialing, Bluetooth with stereo audio support, and speakerphone.

The phone is now available online with a free Bluetooth headset for $129.99 after $70 instant online rebate before an additional $50 mail-in rebate bringing the total to $79.99.

[Via PhoneNews]