BlackBerry Storm GSM-only gets FCC Approval

By now most of you know all there is to know about Research In Motions latest much talked about BlackBerry Storm, and this is probably nothing that folks in North America will get excited about.

However, for anyone who is planning on purchasing the BlackBerry Storm, maybe on say Vodafone, just may like to know that the not too secret GSM only version of RIM’s BlackBerry Storm has now cleared all the important tests within the FCC.

Other than that there’s not much new unless you are an official report geek who wishes to peruse all the official documentation over at the FCC website, but none the less the BlackBerry Storm GSM only is on its way.
Source – Engadget

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IV Charging Kit for iPhone: Camera Flash, extends battery, Bluetooth

FastMac is now shipping the iV, a 3-in-1 charging kit for the Apple iPhone, which provides three times as much battery life, according to FastMac claims. The iV also features a built-in LED that illuminates photos taken with the Apple iPhone’s camera, along with a charger for boosting the battery life of the users Bluetooth headset.

The FastMac iV connects to the iPhone dock and cradles the handset, and when paired brings up to 24 hours talk time and 31 days standby time, along with 72 hours of audio playback and 20 hours of video playback time.

The iV also has a full size USB port to power up the iPhoner’s Bluetooth headset or other USB connection device. The iV’s case is soft-touch non-slip material, and costs the iPhoner $79.95.
Source – FastMac

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Vertu Ferrari Ascent Ti collection: Nero, Rosso and Giallo

Vertu has unveiled an updated Ascent Ti series luxury mobile phone with the Vertu Ferrari Ascent Ti collection. This updated Vertu Ferrari Ascent Ti collection includes three mobile phones that have been inspired by famous brand Ferrari, and monikered after their respective colouring.

The three Vertu Ferrari Ascent Ti collection limited edition mobile handsets are known as the Nero and 2 special edition mobile handsets called the Giallo and the Rosso.

The mobile phone battery cover on all three handsets have been redesigned to the styling of a Ferrari hood and features a 3 dimensional Cavallino on the battery cover and a smaller version Cavallino on the front.
Source – sybarites

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Motorola Krave ZN4 Video Review

The Motorola Krave ZN4 on Verizon has a sexy clam shell design and has some innovation touch screen technology incorporated into the phone. But with competitors like the BlackBerry Storm, iPhone, T-Mobile G1, Samsung Instinct and with the LG Dare being its direct competitor it really does have to come up to scratch to be in the running within the lucrative smartphone market.

Although the design in the Motorola Krave ZN4 is extremely slick it doesn’t really hold its own with its software that seems almost dated compared to the applications you would find on the iPhone or BlackBerry.

The Krave has been based on the Motorola Ming which was hugely popular in Asia but the Krave ZN4 has a unique design with the flip, the flip cover is which appears to be clear actually is made by almost invisible wire mesh that allows you to use the touch screen through the cover. However this can cause problems if you do not lock the phone by accidently triggering apps.

The biggest attraction for the Motorola Krave would have to be the V Cast Mobile TV which is powered by Qualcomm’s FLO TC, you can watch ten channels of TV on the Krave with partners like Nickelodeon, ESPN and Comedy Central.

Scroll down the page and watch the video review of the Moto Krave.

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Verizon’s new BlackBerry Storm Data Plans

RIMs BlackBerry Storm has managed to constantly hit the headlines with its release later this month. The Storm will be Research in Motions main competitor to the Apple iPhone 3G. However there has been lots of speculation regarding data plans for the Storm from Veriz

on.

Technology sites and blogs have highlighted the rumours that we will see new data plans from Verizon on November 14. With Howard forums posting supposedly leaked data plans from Verizon it looks highly likely that the Pay-as-you Go data plans could be eliminated completely.

If all rumours are true the BlackBerry Storm could be prevented from having a 10MB Pay-as-you Go data plan or 1X Block after November 14. This could then lead to the Storm requiring a data plan costing $29.99 or more.
Source: Product-reviews

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HP iPAQ data Messenger takes on Google G1 & BlackBerry Storm

First came the Apple iPhone, today came the T-Mobile G1 Google phone and Research in Motions (RIM) BlackBerry who have dominated the smartphone market are about to release their first ever touchscreen smartphone the BlackBerry Storm and now Hewlett-Packard have followed suit with two new smartphones the HP iPAQ Data Messenger and HP IPAQ Voice Messenger and are set to join the smartphone race in November when it will be available through Vodafone’s business division in the UK.

Hewlett-Packard really are taking the computer mobile world to new levels through the relationship they have with Vodafone, and is set to take on Research in Motions BlackBerry Storm, with the Data Messenger having full touchscreen display and slideout keyboard and words on the Windows Platform and also sports GPS navigation.

So now the test is really on with 3 different operating systems Hewlett-Packard using Windows, T-Mobile G1 using Android and BlackBerry with RIM, all smartphone excelling in different areas and all completely competent to take on the iPhone that has been leading the smartphone market all year, with sales of over 10 million. Which one of the smartphones will become the number one smartphone of 2009, we will have to wait and see.
Read the earlier article here

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Second firmware update available for Nokia N96 v11.101

Not too long ago the Nokia N96 gained its first firmware update, and there were problems, so Nokia has released another firmware update this time v11.101 which resolves most of the Nokia N96’s stability issues including the mobile TV issues.

So just what are the issues this latest firmware update solves? Let’s take a look.

The Nokia N96 v11.101 fixes these related problems: DM settings aren’t generated automatically, when Email settings are defined in variant — screen flashes when power saver time-out expires during an active video call — Mobile TV is unable to set the platform guide after phone reboot — 3D Ringing tone is too low, almost nothing cannot be heard during MT voice call — Audio: Phone resets when plugging and unplugging headset for several times during music playback.

Other problems that are new solved are: Low audio volume in Mobile TV. DVB-H audio volume level is now set to be similar to N77 — Image Quality improvements — Illumination with Voice call — error fixes related to general system stability improvements.

Source – symbian-freak

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