T-Mobile has launched the limited edition Tony Hawk version of the Sidekick LX. Microsoft’s Andy Lees tell Reuters that Windows Mobile is going to focus more on music. A new beta version of iPhone VoIP client iCall can transfer calls from GSM to WiFi.
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Newsbrief: Tony Hawk Sidekick, Music for Windows Mobile, iCall for the iPhone
The focus of the Samsung F400 is music. First appearances suggest nothing special about this mp3 music phone, but underneath the standard looking exterior is a powerful music player.
The F400 has a two way slide action, similar to that made popular by the Nokia N95 and N95 8GB. Sliding the phone up reveals a 15 key alpha numeric keypad. Slide the phone down to reveal loudspeakers for the music player. The loudspeakers on the Samsung f400 are made using Bang & Olufsen ICEpower technology. Consequently the sound output from these speakers is of the highest quality, and much better than the usual tinny sound you get from many phone speakers.
The music player itself recognises many music formats; as well as MP3 there is support for AAC, eAAC and WMA formats. Another feature for music lovers to enjoy is the inclusion of a music recognition feature. Simply record a snippet of song on the phone and it will be able to give you full track details, including artist name, song and album details. With support for Bluetooth 2.0 you will be able to listen to your favourite songs wirelessly with a compatible Bluetooth headset. With the inclusion of an FM radio you will never be without the latest music tracks on your phone.
The F400 from Samsung is about more than just music, though. It includes a 3.0 megapixel camera, with video recording capability. Memory on the phone is 24MB, but this can easily be expanded with the addition of a micro SD memory card, offering plenty of space for songs and pictures.
Another feature is the inclusion of HSDPA mobile broadband, offering high speed connectivity for data transfers. HSDPA builds upon the speeds offered by 3G networks, and offers a noticeable difference to the end user. Browsing the web and reading email can now be achieved quickly and simply. The F400 has a good sized QVGA resolution screen, which renders websites clearly and brightly.
The Samsung F400 is due for launch soon. If you wish to register your interest in this handset, please register here and we will email you when we have a confirmed release date.
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Samsung F400 music mobile
Music phones are getting more and more sophisticated every day. Most phones will include some kind of music playing software, whilst others are more focused on their music playing capabilities. There are some important points to consider when weighing up your options if you are looking to buy a mobile phone with a decent music playing option. You will find a list of music focused and MP3 compatible phones on our website here. To help you choose your next mp3-capable phone, here are some points to keep in mind:
External controls
The first is fairly obvious. You don’t want to be hunting through your phone’s menu system every time you want to select a new track, skip forward or back a track selection. Easy accessibility to music controls is something any handset that proposes itself as a serious alternative to a stand-alone MP3 player must have.
Memory Capacity
It’s no good taking a phone as a serious contender to mp3 players if you only have room to store a couple of albums worth of tracks. Another option to keep in mind is memory compatibility. Will your new phone use a recognised standard of memory card, or will it use a bespoke option? This can affect the price you’d be expected to pay for a larger capacity card, and also the size of card available to purchase. Also, keep in mind your handsets own limitations. Not all phones that use Micro SD cards, for example, can take the current maximum size of 8GB available. Some are restricted by software limitation to 2GB or 4GB maximum capacity.
Bluetooth
Most handsets support Bluetooth, but two variants of Bluetooth exist, Bluetooth 1.2 and Bluetooth 2.0 The main difference is in the support offered between these Bluetooth versions. Bluetooth 2.0 allows you to listen to your music wirelessly, by streaming the music to a stereo Bluetooth headset. Bluetooth 1.2 does not have this feature.
3.5mm Audio Output Jack
Some people take their music very seriously. Not only do they want their files to be optimised for sound quality, but they also get very serious about the quality of headset they choose to listen to their music. For people like these, a stereo Bluetooth headset isn’t going to be good enough, they will want to use their own favourite wired headset. Some music handsets will have a 3.5mm audio jack built in. This is the best solution. Some phones, like the Sony Ericsson Walkman range, use a proprietary connector on the handset to connect their headsets. To use your own headsets with a Walkman phone you will need to use an adaptor, which can mean longer wires to deal with.
Music Playing Software
Often overlooked, an important consideration is just how good is the music playing software? A good UI makes all the difference, and extras such as equaliser, album art, and ’skins’ will enhance the user experience.
Other features
You may be buying your phone with the main purpose of playing music (apart from actually making calls and sending texts, of course) but a consideration should also be given to other features the phone may have. How good is the camera? Does it include GPS? How good is the web browser? Is there a decent email client? The design and look of the phone is also important.
Our Recommendations
There are some excellent music phones out there but if we had to choose just one, right now the Nokia N81 8GB would be our choice; 3.5mm jack for using your own headphones, large memory for music storage, dedicated music controls, etc. The N81 is a superb mp3 phone with the Sony Ericsson W890i a close second.
Choosing the Best Phone for Music
Nokia 6151 Black
Voice-centred and classically designed, the Nokia 6151 also includes 3G connectivity, browsing, comfy large keys, push to talk, a camera, and messaging.
Only $129
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Nokia 6151 Black
Nokia 6151 White
Voice-centred and classically designed, the Nokia 6151 also includes 3G connectivity, browsing, comfy large keys, push to talk, a camera, and messaging.
Only $129
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Nokia 6151 White