eK-gadgets info

• Looks like OS 4.6+ devices are definitely going to get the upgrade
• Seems to be a bit of confusion as to OS 4.5 devices getting 5.0
• Press the BlackBerry button twice for default action
• BIS is going to get a thick client for easy setup of your email accounts
• Photo resizing when sending via email
• Email upload progress indicator for large emails
• Event sounds like when you plug or unplug your BlackBerry
• Improved profiles and now you will be able to rename or delete all but the vibrate profile
• BlackBerry maps enhancements like photo geotagging and navigation
• Browser support for Gears and with a single carrier branded browser
• MicroSD cards can be Smart Cards
• Sticky dates in message list – Header with the date will stay at the top of message list
• Upgraded documents to go
• Device boot up screen with BlackBerry logo

Don’t bet all your money on this but the Omnia Pro seems scheduled to arrive in July. And it would be illogical not to arrive during that period especially since the competitors are going to launch a whole new iPhone. The phone will sport both a touchscreen and a QWERTY slide-out. We should expect a 3.5-inch 800 x 480 AMOLED touchscreen display, Windows Mobile 6.1 which should be upgradeable to 6.5, a 5 megapixel camera with auto-focus, flash and video recording and a price to match it all. We’ll be waiting for confirmation so feel free to tell us more if have more info on the Omnia Pro.

via SamsungHD

Samsung is unequivocally the most active carrier this year. We’ve seen lots of Samsung phones already and it’s only April. What we haven’t seen yet, although it was announced, a Samsung Android handset. And now we might have a date for you guys. The I7500 is a full touchscreen phone ready to run on Android and heading our way in June.

So without further ado, here’s what we can expect from the I7500:

• Android 1.5 OS
• Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE, dual-band UMTS/HSPA
• 528 MHz Qualcomm MSM7200A CPU
• 3.2-inch HVGA capacitive OLED touchscreen display
• 5 megapixel camera with LED flash
• Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth
• GPS
• 8GB internal flash memory
• microSD slot
• 3.5 mm stereo jack
• Metal case, 11.9 mm thick

O2 Germany is going to release it at first and it will cost about €300 or $400. Anybody anxious?

via theunwired

Just as we said in our exclusive post a few weeks ago, Verizon Wireless has just announced that the Samsung Trance will go on sale Friday, April 24th for $49.99 after a $50 mail-in with a two-year contract. For those of you not familiar with the device, the Trance is a mid-range phone geared towards those seeking out a decent MP3 player replacement. As you’ll recall, the Trance packs Bang & Olufsen ICEpower external speakers, 3.5mm headphone jack, 1GB of on-board memory and microSDHC support for a card up to 16GB. The rest of the specs are as follows:

• 2.1-inch display with 176 x 220 resolution
• CDMA 1X 800/1900mHz Digital Only
• 1.3 megapixel camera
• 1GB of Internal memory dedicated to Music, up to 16GB microSD expansion
• 3.5mm headset jack
• Bluetooth
• Mobile email, mobile web, VZ Navigator, Chaperone Parent and chat capable
• V CAST music with Rhapsody support
• Music Player for MP3, WMA & unprotected AAC & unprotected AAC+ Formats
• One touch access to music and ability to create & manage playlists and to multitask while listening to music
• Sync music from PC to phone (over the air music downloads are not supported)
• Text, Picture, and Voice Messaging with threaded messaging feature
• Tools: Alarm Clock, World Clock, Calculator with Converter, Stop Watch

Anyone out there going to be picking up a Trance this Friday?

Nikon introduced the new D5000 digital SLR, which takes many of the features from the D90 and puts them into a smaller (and less expensive) body. The D5000 features an HD movie mode, so you can’t help but compare it to the upcoming Canon EOS Rebel T1i and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1. Here are the highlights of the D5000:

Nikon D5000

• 12.3 Megapixel CMOS sensor (same as the one on the D90)
• Supports all Nikon F-mount lenses
  • Autofocus only available with AF-S and AI-S lenses (just like the D40/D60)
  • As usual, there’s a 1.5X focal length conversion ratio
• Relatively compact body; shutter rated at 100,000 cycles
• Flip-down, rotating 2.7″ LCD display with 230,000 pixels
• Optical viewfinder has 0.78x magnification and 95% coverage
• 11-point autofocus system
• Live view with contrast detect AF and face detection
• Full manual controls, plus tons of scene modes
• ISO range of 200 - 3200, expandable to 100 - 6400
• Can record HD movies at 1280 x 720 (24 fps) using the M-JPEG codec, just like the D90; there is no continuous AF while you’re recording a movie
• Auto Active D-Lighting improves overall image contrast
• Quiet Release Mode reduces mirror cycling noise so you don’t startle your subject
• Numerous retouching tools in playback mode
• Dust reduction system
• SD/SDHC memory card slot
• Support for optional GPS unit
• HDMI port
• Uses EN-EL9a lithium-ion battery; 510 shots per charge
• Ships in late April; get the body only for $730, or with an F3.5-5.6, 18-55 mm VR lens for $850
  
  

In addition to the new camera body, Nikon also released a new DX-format lens. The new F3.5-4.5, 10 - 24 mm AF-S lens (equivalent to 15 - 36 mm on the D5000) has a Silent Wave Motor for quiet focusing, two ED elements, and a rounded diaphragm for good bokeh. The lens will ship in May for $900.