GADGETS
PHONES – THE NEXT GENERATION

Sony Ericsson has launched the first of a range of high-end smart phones based on the Windows operating system. Branded Xperia, the X1 phone sports a big 76mm touch-screen; full Qwerty keyboard; an optical joystick and handwriting facility thereby providing four different ways of selecting menu services. Available this June, the X1 is a feature packed phone which includes a media browser, Microsoft Office and Outlook, plus picture messaging. It can play and record video, has an MP3 player and a 3.2 megapixel camera.

Believing mobile location-based services are the future, Nokia has added a pedestrian navigation service including such useful features as bus stops and rail stations to its new 6210 Navigator smart phone. Complementing its existing car navigation system, maps are preinstalled on the phone’s 1Gbp/s memory and can be updated when needed via the internet. The built-in compass automatically orients users to walk in the right direction. Available in the third quarter 2008, it is expected to cost €300. In other news, Nokia’s Share on Ovi service allows users to upload and manage multimedia content and share with others – geotagging adds GPS data to uploaded photographs.

Making its phone debut, Garmin has translated expertise in handheld GPS systems into an 89mm touch-screen phone. The 3G Nuvifone has GPS navigation. When docked into a car mount, it automatically activates GPS and moves to hands-free calling. The integrated camera includes a location message service: photographs are tagged with where they were taken and the coordinates can be used to navigate back to the location. The phone includes a web search engine and its Panoramio picture sharing site, pre-loaded maps and access to Garmin Online which updates traffic and weather information. No prices are available at present but the phone is due for launch in the third quarter of this year.

JCB has gone small and tough. Its rugged new phone is designed to work in the harshest environments. Made by Sonim and distributed by Data Select, the JCB Toughphone survived time in a cement mixer; being driven over by a JCB Groundhog; a highpressure soaking; and even being shot at. It works in temperatures between -20^oC to +60^oC. It includes Bluetooth, push-to-talk, USB ports, a WAP browser and built-in dual speakers making it easy to hear over noisy engines. SIM unlocked JCB branded phones cost €260 in the UK and are available now through Phones4u or on contract from Vodafone. Other stockists can be found via www.toughestphone. com.

Available from April, Samsung’s new 12.9mm thin handset called Soul combines smart looks with a number of cutting-edge user functions. It is quick too, supporting download speeds of a pretty impressive 7.2 Mbp/s for a fast browser experience, music, picture or video downloads and sharing. The Soul includes three different graphic user interfaces so users can personalise their phone, changing its appearance according to their personal preferences. Phone features also adapt to the user and, to make it easy to see which function is active, keypad indicators light up and change accordingly. More than keeping pace with others in its class, it also includes a 5 megapixel camera.