Chip Chick » Cell Phones

Blackberry Tour 9630 Gets Dipped in 24kt Gold

Chip Chick — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:42:09 +0000

Ready for the holidays? Ready to spend that hard earned recession dough on some gold? Well Computer Choppers has a special treat for you, a 24kt Gold Blackberry Tour 9630. Who needs a BlackBerry Bold 9700 when you can have a Tour for $899. The Tour 9630 comes fully unlocked or you can just by the parts. You can even have customized logos or jewels as well. And at least when your done with it and it becomes an old outdated model, you can always sell it to Cash for Gold.

Text Messaging May Be Hazardous to Your Health, Leads to Shootings

Chip Chick — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:05:59 +0000

When they say that texting can be dangerous, we usually assume that they mean that you shouldn’t be texting behind the wheel. But for two men in Savannah, Georgia, text messaging proved to be especially lethal when they started arguing with each other through text messages and phone calls after having misdialed a number. The texting escalated in to violence when the two arranged a meeting at a CVS lot. At 2:30AM, Scott Allen Elder, the 22 year old man involved ended up shooting Brian Matison, 24, the other man involved in this pointless argument.

(Via Savannah How)

Roxy Phone is the Latest Fashion Mobile to Join the Fray

Chip Chick — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 06:42:37 +0000

It seems like just about every designer is coming out with their own mobile phone these days - Ed Hardy and Dolce & Gabbana are the more recent ones. The latest mobile fashion victim is the Roxy Phone. The phone actually doesn’t come as much of a surprise at all, being that Roxy has recently entered the world of consumer electronics with their headphone line-up. Unfortunately, we don’t have too many details on this phone, but we do know that the candybar form factor phone is from Sagem, and it features a 3.2 megapixel camera withflash, a 2.4″ QVGA display, HSDPA, a music player with FM, a microSD car reader, Stereo Bluetooth, a Web Browser, Windows Live Messenger, and more. There is no word in pricing but from what we can gather this phone is currently only available in France.

TrapCall Puts an End to Unknown Callers

Scott Schaen — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:11:02 +0000

If there is nothing that grinds your gears more than a blocked caller ID, today is your lucky day. TrapCall is a new [beta] service that will unblock any phone number—for free! Even better, it will work with your existing phone number, on any phone, for all major carriers. In addition to number unmasking, TrapCall can also offer contact blocking, call recording, name of caller, voicemail transcriptions and online management.

Okay… on to the nitty gritty. The service is free for Caller ID unmasking only; plans for additional features run from $2.95/month to $24.95/month. To take advantage of any of these features on your phone first you must decline the original phone call. The call then gets routed to the TrapCall server and resent to you within seconds. The whole process is very simple, and the caller will have no idea any of this rerouting is going on. The only thing that raised some red flags over here was voicemail transcription. Rather than digitally processing the voicemail immediately and converting it to text, as Google Voice does so well, TrapCall employees will listen to every voicemail of yours and transcribe it. So if you are subscribing to TrapCall for privacy reasons, you may not want a plan with voicemail transcription.

Dolce & Gabbana Sony Ericsson Jalou Launches Today in Style

Chip Chick — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:31:42 +0000

The Sony Ericsson Jalou by Dolce&Gabbana launches today to intrigue, jealousy, and glamour. The creative marketing campaign behind the device will not only feature the new cellphone but also high end fashion from the 2009/2010 collection. The Jalou will be incorporated into this haute couture escapism imagery and the 24 carat gold plated handset will be used as an object of desire. Jalou by Dolce&Gabbana will be available in the exclusive color Sparkling Rose and it comes with the following features and more:

• 3.2 megapixel camera – snap favourite outfits and send to friends
• Video recording – film and post clips online anytime
• Stereo FM radio – catch up on the latest songs while on the move
• Music player – with Bluetooth™ stereo, PlayNow™ and TrackID™
• Bluetooth™ 2.0 – upload images and videos to social networking sites
• Mirror key – check hair before a hot date
• Walk Mate step counter – keep fit while on the move
• Internet – Google™ search, Google Maps™, email, instant messaging, picture messaging
• Entertainment – YouTube™ application, 3D games, video iewing
• Weight – only 84grams
Jalou by Dolce&Gabbana support GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 and UMTS/HSDPA 2100.

Jabra STONE Review

Ali — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 04:18:58 +0000

The Jabra STONE is unlike any Bluetooth headset you have ever seen before. Jabra knew that launching that teaser website a little while ago would make the blogs start buzzing about what this ‘Stone’ was all about. Well it’s finally here and it looks cooler than any teaser picture could have depicted. The shape of the Jabra STONE is unique, as it has no extended boom. Unlike the Jawbone and Plantronics Voyager before it, that have an extended boom that lays on your cheek – the Jabra STONE has no boom but instead it features incredible phonics and noise elimination that eliminate the need for a boom. That leaves you with a beautifully designed Bluetooth earpiece that is sleek and fashionable, yet subtle.

In the Box:

The packaging for the Jabra STONE is as impressive as the device it holds. Made of a clear see-thru hard plastic,when opened the Jabra STONE is held in place by black plastic clasps. In order to open up the rest of the packaging you need to free the parts of the Jabra STONE. This requires you to push down and then pull, similar to opening a pill bottle. Once freed, you can then get to the rest of the contents of the package which consists of a wall charger, USB cable charger, manual, belt clip, and ear gel. Everything is neatly laid out, sectioned, and labeled so there is no guessing as to what is what.

Design:

The Jabra Stone is designed to be a unique Bluetooth device that eliminates the boom off of your face but besides its functionality, it’s just a really cool device to hold and play around with. The earpiece easily slips in and put of its charging base, effectively completing the “stone” look. When together as one piece, the Jabra STONE resembles an aroma therapy stone used in a spa. The Jabra Stone is very lightweight (only .25 ounces) and it can easily be slipped into a pocket or purse making it super portable and also something to hold in your hands to play with. The Jabra STONE slips over your ear like a pair of earclip earphones with the earbud resting in your ear nicely. The headset also features a neat touch volume control, all you need to do is slide your finger up or down along the outside portion of the clip. To pick up a call or hang up, you just press the Jabra logo on the device.

Setup:

The first thing you’ll want to do is charge your device. If you charge the Jabra STONE together – you will get a combined total of 8 hours of talk time. Two hours are available to you directly from the earpiece, the STONE charger holds 6 hours of charging time for you to keep refreshing your Jabra with. The STONE also has indicator lights for battery life and Bluetooth connectivity. In the past I have often had difficulty pairing my Bluetooth device with a phone. Usually a pin is needed or you have to hold down a button to pair the headset with the cellphone etc…Whatever the case may be – it isn’t the case with the Jabra STONE. It connected to my handset like butter, my MyTouch 3G picked it up instantly once I turned on the Bluetooth setting and the same could be said for my iPhone. There was no hassle or fuss, it just simply connected without any drama. Another sweet feature is the ability to connect two Bluetooth enabled devices at the same time with “Multiuse capabilities.” The headset can also stream music from A2DP compatible mobile phones. And I especially liked the ability to connect to two Bluetooth devices at once. It was as easy as setting up just one. However, it does get a little confusing when you’re connected to two devices, but it is kind of fun because it enables those who have multiple phones to be connected to them without having to physically pick up the handsets and switch between them.

Sound Quality:

The Jabra STONE utilizes DSP technology and Noise Blackout Extreme to increase not only the phonics that can be heard to the person calling you but also for upgraded noise elimination. Living in NYC you can always depend on there being noise from cars, sirens, or people around you. So I immediately tested the Jabra STONE as I walked around the city. Not only was I able to hear the person on the other side of the conversation crisp and clearly, but so was the person on the other end. I didn’t need to shout or talk loudly so that the person on the other side of the conversation could hear me, I was just having a normal conversation. And all I heard was their voice and no ambient sounds around them. On the other hand, several callers did tell me that they heard the cars and people in the background of where I was talking. However, being on the receiving end of the call while using the Jabra STONE, the caller’s voice was super crisp and clear.

Conclusion:

The Jabra STONE is a compact and sexy Bluetooth headset that redefines portability and handsfree interaction. The only downside I found with the device is that those with bigger ears might enjoy it more. Since the earclip is not adjustable, you are pretty much stuck if you have small ears – which I do. I have small ear canals and small ears in general. Those with big ears will definitely have a much better experience with this than the latter. My co-editor got the Jabra STONE to sit perfectly in her ear without falling out, where as on me it kept falling out or getting loose. I was able to still have an enjoyable experience with it, because my long hair basically kept in place, but not everyone has that option. That aside, the Jabra STONE lives up to its campaign of being a unique device that delivers superior sound quality, noise elimination, and a fashion statement. The Jabra STONE will retail for $129.99 and it will be exclusively sold at AT&T as of November 8th.

The Good: Excellent sound quality. Creative design eliminates boom off of your face and doubles as trendy mobile accessory. Can easily be concealed under long hair for a little 007 undercover work.

The Bad: Earpiece is not adjustable and those with small ears may find it difficult to keep on without it falling off. When operating outdoors, callers on the other end could hear ambient noise.

Sony Ericsson Announces Satio and Aino Handsets

Chip Chick — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:57:28 +0000

Today, Sony Ericsson announced the release of two new handsets: Satio and Aino. The Satio from Sony Ericsson will let you watch crystal-clear movies on 3.5 inch High Definition touchscreen with a true 16:9 widescreen format, and takes photos on a 12.1 megapixel camera. You can watch movies, videos, look at photos, or listen to music, and use the internet. Photos can instantly be uploaded directly to Picasa and commented on directly from the handset. In addition Sony Ericsson released the Aino, a slider cellphone with touch controls as well. Using Remote Play Access, control your PlayStation 3 media content, play and organize all your content with Media Go and transfer it from a PC to the handset via Media Home. The Aino also has a traditional keypad with an intuitive touch UI in media mode. The Aino can also be used to as an FM Radio or MP3 player and offers a 8.1 megapixel camera. Pricing and release date are still TBD.

Specifications:

Aino™
• Sound and vision set free • The best of both worlds: traditional keypad and touch UI in media mode

• Media Home and Media Go – simple to take your content with you • Remote Play with PlayStation®3 – control and access your PlayStation®3 media content from your mobile phone

• 3 inch 16 million colour screen – WQVGA • Clear audio experience – listen to music in superb quality

• Design matched Wireless Stereo Headphone MH100 and Charging Stand EC100

• Aino™ supports GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 and UMTS/HSPA 850/1900/2100

• Aino™ will be available in the colours Obsidian Black and Luminous White

Satio™
• Visual communication like never before

• True 16:9, 3.5 inch widescreen – feast your eyes on movies

• Express yourself through images – 12.1 megapixel camera, intuitive touch focus, Xenon flash and face and smile detection

• Web albums with messages – talk through pictures and share your experiences • Intuitive full touch media menu – tap directly into your favourites, from web pages to pictures and media files

• Symbian Foundation operating system – thousands of applications available online

• Music player – play your tunes loud and proud

• To make your listening experience even better, team Satio™ with the smallest headset on the market, the Wireless Stereo Headphones HBH-IS800 to listen in crystal clear sound

• Alternatively, maximize the mobile video experience with the Video Viewing Stand IM920. Transfer all media files via the Micro SD card or USB cable

• Satio™ supports GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 and UMTS/HSDPA 850/900/2100

• Satio™ will be available in the colours; Black, Silver and Bordeaux

Demola Sponsors Local Finnish Students to Create Mind Blowing Digital Services

Lydia Leavitt — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:12:06 +0000

Demola works with Finnish companies (like mobile mega company Nokia) to think up the most amazing new project ideas in the digital service industry. Once these Finnish companies have thought up their most next gen idea yet, instead of passing them off to experienced developers, they let Demola’s task force of rock star students from Tampere, Finland give them a try. Devoting three to eight months of their time, students embark on these projects to create real-life innovations for companies around Finland. Out of the 30 projects that were completed in the first year, 95% of them were then licensed by the companies involved. Can you imagine if Nokia thought that your project was so good, they licensed it? Way better than an A for effort!

One of the student presentations we saw was a Facebook application called Illtags. When the H1N1 swine flu scare began, these students were inspired to create a tool that would help parents, individuals, and even health care workers track the virus. What better way to do it than through the social media tools that people use daily to update their status. Users can sign in through Facebook or Twitter and choose their location and symptoms. You can post your health status on Facebook, which means if you’re feeling sick, you can command sympathy and homemade chicken soup from friends and family. A partner site designed especially for parents of day care aged children lets parents check out on how many kids are sick at a particular daycare. What’s really cool is that you can search maps and see outbreaks in your area. Perfect for paranoid parents and germaphobes alike.

Another cool project was Local Buddy, a cell phone application that uses geolocation and your cell’s magnetometer to create an informational radar to help you navigate your surroundings. Point your phone towards the site you’re interested in and pull up relevant information including hours of operation, menus, reviews, and write-ups about the place. Perfect for tourists, city dwellers, or adventurers alike, this application has total real world potential and could possible revolutionize travel. Plus you don’t have to look like a total tool carrying around your guide book and pop-out map.

I left feeling a little disappointed that I worked as a lifeguard during college rather than creating an app for Nokia, but totally amazed at the caliber of work these students produced. Get the Illtag’s Facebook application and read more about Local Buddy on Demola’s website.

Vtech DS6321-3 Cordless Handset Downloads Cell Phones Contacts Via Bluetooth

Chip Chick — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 04:21:22 +0000

Vtech’s new DS6321-3 is a smart phone system that makes landline handsets seem a lot less antiquated. The DS6321-3 is able to download up to 6,0000 phonebook contacts off of a cellular phone via bluetooth. We can so see that coming in handy because we often find ourselves reaching for our cell phone for a phone number when we’re actually using our landline. Additionally, two cell phones can be connected to the DS6321-3 at one time and the DS6321-3 also works as a virtual two-line system. That means that one handset can be used to make a landline call and the other can be used to make a cellular call. Other features of the DS6321-3 include DECT 6.0, an extra large LCD with blue backlighting, a digital answering machine and caller ID and call waiting. The handset system will be available in October for $99.95.

Golden Buddha Cellphone With Jade Is the Perfect Phone for Buddhists

Chip Chick — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 06:10:59 +0000

No this isn’t some type of retro prop from the Golden Child, instead its a REAL Golden Buddha Cellphone. I have to say for a site that likes to sell knock-offs, this one is pretty impressive since it’s an original. The Golden Buddha is made with genuine jade, pearl powder lacquer and a 24k gold plated finish. Each one is individually numbered and comes with a matching golden dock and Bluetooth headset. For the devout Buddhist you can make a quick prayer to the Supreme Buddha before answering your phone. There is a virtual prayer hall within the menu system of the phone which allows you to give a prayer and a digital offering to all the important Buddha Illuminati including; Sakyamuni, Maitreya, and Bhaisajya – just to name a few. The phone is fully unlocked and is dual-band GSM, so it can be used on just many networks worldwide. Some other features include a 2″ LCD, 1GB memory, and an integrated camera. There are no specs on the megapixels though. The Golden Buddha Cellphone with Genuine Jade retails for a whopping $1,746.65, so you’ll need to be a really devout Buddhist to actually get one.

Ed Hardy Tattoos the Sony Ericsson W595

Ali — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 14:36:58 +0000

It was only two weeks ago when the Ed Hardy USB Drives made everyone want to throw up. Well now there is a cellphone to compliment the nausea. However it only applies to those in the UK. Carphone Warehouse will have an exclusive on the limited edition Sony Ericsson w595 Ed Hardy. “Ed Hardy has emblazoned his motto ‘Love and Death before Dishonour’ in bold, bright colours across the back of this statement mobile. Even the keys on its slide-out keypad are framed with vivid orange, and the overall look is effortlessly cool.” If you want to own it, it will set you back £249.95 or there are pay as you go plans as well. (Via Mirror.co.uk)

Michael Jackson IMITO A8 Cell Phone Ultimate EDITION

Ali — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:27:48 +0000

Not a day goes by that someone doesn’t want some piece of the huge Michael Jackson pie. So it was only a matter of time that more wares kept popping up authorized or not displaying his image. So without further ado I present the Michael Jackson IMITO A8 Cell Phone Ultimate EDITION. Basically a cheap phone with a laser image of MJ on the back of it….lovely. Available in blue, silver, rose red, purple, green, and brown. The Michael Jackson IMITO A8 Cell sports a Dual Card Sim Card option, Stereo Bluetooth,FM radio,Phone call tracing, Multiple language support ( so people from other countries can get ripped off too), and 2.0 TFT screen. All this for the bargain basement price of $82.15. I’m sure the attorneys for Michael Jackson’s estate will get a Google alert right – about – now.

VERTU Signature Cobra Boucheron Replica for Those on a Luxury Budget

Ali — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 07:39:54 +0000

Remember those Vertu Boucheron blinged out phones from awhile back? You know, the one that went for $310,000! Well now you can get one for a whole lot cheaper – like $700 bucks. Yep, it’s just another knock-off site helping their fellow-man purchase incredibly over priced wares at much much less, albeit still expensive prices. The Vertu Signature Cobra Boucheron Limited Silver Edition has all the same similar details as the original minus a diamond and ruby here and there. It has a 262k true color TFT display, and has no digital camera (just like the original), GPRS/WAP capability and can also be used both as an MP3 music and an MP4 video player. Enjoy!

ColorWare Gets Their Hands on the BlackBerry Tour

Ali — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:16:51 +0000

“> ColorWare couldn’t wait to get their grubby hands on the BlackBerry Tour. Not even out a month and ColorWare has already taken to the paint and gave it a new dressing down. Once again ColorWare will take yours and transform it for $129 or give you a new custom one made for $750. There are several choices to choose from letting you accent different parts as per usual.

All Weather Cellular Camera Transmits Surveillance Photos over GSM Networks

Chip Chick — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 04:55:52 +0000

The All Weather Cellular Camera is the only surveillance camera system in the world designed to send back captured footage over GSM cellular networks. So no matter where on the globe you set it up , it should be able to send back snapped photos to you which you can view online. Also, one of the biggest issues I’ve always had with surveillance cameras is all of the wiring involved. Luckily, the All Weather Cellular Camera eliminates any wiring. The device is totally wireless and cable free and it runs on a long lasting battery. Finally, the camera is virtually weather proof and it is rugged enough to withstand most weather conditions. You can pick the All Weather Cellular Camera up for $599.95.

Samsung Releases 3 New Texting Phones for T-mobile

Chip Chick — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:19:58 +0000

T-mobile is always in need of fresh blood in their mobile handset lineup, and today we’re getting 3 new Samsung handsets each with an emphasis on being a text messaging device. The lineup includes an update to the Samsung Gravity, the Samsung Gravity 2. This new version includes a thinner, sleeker design, a built-in MP3 player, a camcorder, and expandable memory up to 16gb. The other cool new phone in the lineup is the Samsung Comeback which sports a clamshell design and a QWERTY keyboard. It can also take advantage of T-mobile’s 3G betwork, it has a 2MP camera, an MP3 player and support for up to 16GB of memory. The third and final phone released today is the Samsung t349 which has a candy-bar formfactor and a numeric keypad. Read on for more details and pictures

Samsung Mobile Announces New Lineup of Texting Phones with T-Mobile USA

July 22nd, 2009

Complete with full QWERTY keyboards, T9® predictive text and auto word completion, Samsung Mobile and T-Mobile USA today announced their latest text-friendly messaging phones.

The Samsung Comeback^TM, available in pearl white plum or frost silver cherry, is a stylish messaging phone with a unique side-flip that reveals its full QWERTY keyboard. The Comeback takes messaging to the extreme with access to E-mail and text, picture, video and instant messaging. A built-in 2-megapixel camera with digital zoom and T-Mobile’s 3G network allows customers to easily take and send pictures to friends and family or upload images to their favorite social networking sites. The Comeback also features a MP3 player and support for up to 16 GB of expandable memory.

Following the popular Samsung Gravity that launched last year, the Samsung Gravity^TM 2 also features a horizontal, slide-out QWERTY keyboard and boasts a thinner, sleeker design. The Gravity 2 offers a pair of fun color options – berry mauve and metallic pumpkin, multiple messaging capabilities, a 2-megapixel camera and camcorder, a built-in MP3 player and expandable memory up to 16GB.

Powered by T-Mobile’s high-speed 3G network, the new phones also offer fast downloads and quick access to the Web to stay up-to-date on the latest news, weather and entertainment.

The Comeback and Gravity 2 complement T-Mobile’s existing line-up of text-friendly Samsung handsets including the Samsung t349 (SGH-t349), a bar-style messaging phone featuring a 20-key, partial QWERTY keypad. The t349 offers access to E-mail, Instant Messaging and picture, video and text messaging, as well as several multimedia features.

The t349 and Comeback are currently available at T-Mobile and the Gravity 2 is anticipated to be available in August.

Hello Kitty Cellphone Site has Hello Kitty iPhone 3G Knockoff

Chip Chick — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 05:19:12 +0000

Instead of waiting to read about the latest Hello Kitty branded cellphone knockoffs you can now go to the one stop shop that sells them all. HelloKittyPhones.com is a site that sells just about every Hello Kitty cellphone that is out there at the moment- Even one that looks extremely like an iPhone. It is called the Hello Kitty Phone 3G and prices range from $89 to $109 depending on capacity. So if you love anything Hello Kitty and don’t mind using knockoff cellphones, then this is your source.

G1 Hacked with HTC Hero ROM Selling on eBay

Chip Chick — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:25:26 +0000

Since the video and random hands on reviews of HTC Hero made the rounds, I know I have been drooling over it and wish I lived in Europe when it comes out. I’m not that much a fan of the form factor as I am of the software on it – drools! It’s just so fluid and smooth. But I digress. However someone has already been able to hack their T-Mobile G1 and put the HTC Hero Rom on it. So if you don’t mind the G1 but can’t wait to use the Hero GUI then make your way over to eBay and for $600 a hacked G1 with Hero interface can be all yours. The seller claims it completely works and he will answer all your questions. SO if anyone of you take the chance and get it – let us know how it goes!

iPod Water Phone is Fit to Be Sued

Chip Chick — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 19:28:24 +0000

We’re used to seeing iPhone rip-offs, but this one is a bit much. This one is almost what an “iPod Phone” could have been if it had ever existed before the iPhone came out. Either way, Apple – get your lawyers crunching, because this is definitely infringing on more than a few copyrights. For starters, the pink flip phone has the Apple logo on its front, along with the label “ipod water”. It also has “iPod” punched out on it’s back. Oh, and did we mention that it’s pink? Not that anyone we know would actually be caught dead with this, except for maybe on April 1st. The “iPod Water Phone” AKA the Imobile Phone V629 retails for $93.

Beatbox Mixer And MP3 Player for Beatboxing Wannabes

Chip Chick — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:35:53 +0000

The Beatbox Mixer And MP3 Player is truly one of the funkier iPod/ Mp3 player speaks that we’ve come across. The system showcases three “professional” beat boxers, each with two buttons that you can use to mash along with. The original Beat box sounds have been provided by Doctor BadFunk, whom we actually aren’t familiar with at all. But this is a fun accessory if you’re the type that likes to get a little bit more interactive with your music while you listen to it. The Beatbox Mixer retails for just £4.89.

“Beatboxing is a form of vocal percussion which primarily involves the art of producing drum beats, rhythm, and musical sounds using one’s mouth, lips, tongue, voice, and more. It may also involve singing, vocal imitation of turntablism, the simulation of horns, strings, and other musical instruments. Beatboxing is connected with hip hop culture although it is not limited to hip hop music.”