VZ Navigator 5.0 gets social with Facebook integration

At $2.99 for 24 hours or $9.99 a month, the latest version of Verizon's branded navigation service carriers over the same antiquated business model that seems destined for the scrap heap -- but for what it's worth, VZ Navigator 5.0 is now in full effect with a handful of new and freshened features. Most notable are a speech-to-text search mode for WinMo and BlackBerry versions of the service, crowdsourced traffic information (not unlike Google's strategy, though with decidedly fewer users on board), and Facebook integration that allows you to post location updates straight to your account. To start, only the BlackBerry Curve 8530, LG enV Touch, HTC Touch Pro2, and Samsung Omnia are getting the upgrade, but more devices will move to 5.0 'in the coming weeks.' Droid users, meanwhile, continue enjoying Google Maps Navigation at no charge whatsoever.

(Via Engadget Mobile.)

Sony Ericsson Vivaz Full Touch Screen Symbian Smartphone Announced

Already leaked as Sony Ericsson Kurara last year, Sony Ericsson has officially unveiled its next full touch screen smartphone as Sony Ericsson Vivaz. The Sony Ericsson Vivaz is running on Symbian S60 5th edition, featuring a 8.1 megapixel camera, built in WiFi, 3.2-inch AMOLED touch screen and able to do HD video recording. The smartphone will be available soon this quarter in the colours Moon Silver, Cosmic Black, Galaxy Blue and Venus Ruby according to Sony Ericsson.

‘User-generated content, especially video, is exploding on the web,’ said Lennard Hoornik, Head of Marketing, Sony Ericsson. ‘With Sony Ericsson Vivaz, we have created a mobile phone that makes it easy to catch life in high quality video and upload that self expression onto the web to share with the world. Sony Ericsson Vivaz offers beauty inside and out with an open and intuitive user experience allowing consumers to capture, view and share their lives and spontaneity in HD quality.’

Sony Ericsson Vivaz

• 8.1 megapixel camera


• auto focus (photos), continuous auto focus (video), face detection (photos), geo tagging, image stabiliser, photo light, smile detection


• Video recording (720p HD recording)


• FM radio


• Java


• A-GPS


• 3.5 mm audio jack


• Bluetooth


• Micro USB connector


• Wi-Fi


• 3.2 inches 16.9 nHD wide touch screen (640 x 360 pixels)


• Size: 107 x 521.7 x 12.5 mm


• Weight: 97 grams


• Phone memory: Up to 75 MB


• microSD card slot


• Operating system: Symbian S60 5th edition


• Processor: 720MHz


• Talk time GSM/GPRS: Up to 13 hrs


• Standby time GSM/GPRS: Up to 430 hrs


• Talk time UMTS: Up to 5 hrs 20 min


• Standby time UMTS: Up to 440 hrs


• Video call time: Up to 2 hrs 30 min

(Via SlashPhone.)

Sony Ericsson Aspen: first with Windows Mobile 6.5.3

It's finally here: Windows Mobile 6.5.3, the iterative finger-friendly Windows Mobile release that should have been wrapped into 6.5.0. The latest mobile wares from Microsoft come wrapped inside the Sony Ericsson Aspen (aka, Faith); a business-focused QWERTY candybar with 2.4-inch QVGA TFT touchscreen LCD, 3.2 megapixel camera, A-GPS with Google Maps, 3.5-mm audio jack, WiFi, and microSD expansion. This latest addition to Sony Ericsson's GreenHeart portfolio comes in black or white silver and packs quad-band GSM/EDGE with either HSPA 900/2100 or 850/900/2100 radios (depending on region). Available in Q2.



Back to Windows Mobile 6.5.3 for a second, although this is a .dot.dot update it's actually a fairly significant move for Microsoft. For starters, this release now includes a more finger-friendly layout (no stylus needed even when digging deep into the OS), support for capacitive touchscreens (huzzah!), and acts as a platform to enable multitouch. Microsoft has also improved browser performance with faster page load times and better memory management while improving the pan and flick gestures and zoom and rotational speeds. Sounds like somebody is getting ready for Mobile World Congress.

(Via Engadget Mobile.)

Somy X5: basically a Sony Ericsson Pureness for a tenth the price

Here's the thing about Sony Ericsson's Xperia Pureness: once you get past the translucent display, there's not much to it. Seriously -- it doesn't have 3G, a camera, hunks of precious metal, or even a fancy name to flaunt like Vertu, Dior, or Versace; it's just a low-end phone from a mass-market manufacturer that can't do much other than make calls. We suppose that's why it was so easy for a Shenzhen KIRFer to pop out this near-perfect duplicate of the Pureness -- the Somy X5 -- in no time. Heck, it's even got support for two SIMs, or exactly twice as many as you'll find on the $1,000 genuine article -- which, if you're keeping track, is over twelve times the bargain-basement sticker on the Somy here at RMB 550 ($81). Anyhow, looks like it's back to that search for a faithful Aura replica, eh?

(Via Engadget Mobile.)

Samsung S5620 'Monte' possibly leaked, looks better than it sounds

We know the FCC's already gotten a gander at this thing, but the general public... well, that's another story altogether. Daily Mobile has a bunch of shots of what it claims to be Sammy's upcoming S5620 Monte, a silly name from a company that certainly hasn't shied away from funny branding in the past (one quick look at the Corby or Rant should be able to verify that for you). Anyhow, we're told to expect a TouchWiz-powered feature phone here with a 3-inch display, HSDPA, and a 3.5mm headphone jack which you can clearly see in some of the pictures. A quick look at the FCC filing also reveals WiFi, though the lack of WCDMA testing indicates that we won't have 850 or 1900MHz 3G support -- in other words, North Americans are out of luck as usual. If we had to guess, this one might get the covers pulled off at MWC next month.

(Via Engadget Mobile.)

Motorola Backflip spotted in the wilds of China

Motorola's Backflip has yet to springboard itself over to AT&T, but those who call China home can hop on the bandwagon right away. Said phone -- which sports a full touchscreen and a physical QWERTY thanks to the horizontal clamshell design -- is now available from Moto's Chinese portal for 4,298 Chinese yuan (in unlocked form), which translates to right around $630. While the rest of the world awaits the phone's launch later this quarter, you can hit up Mobile.163.com for a downright beautiful gallery of in the wild shots. Go on, it's safe. We think.

(Via Engadget Mobile.)

Inmarsat's new phone trialed en route to June launch, definitely won't be mistaken for a RAZR

If you live your life one oil rig, one Siberian gas field, or one Antarctic base at a time, odds are you're precisely the target demographic for Inmarsat's new handset being rolled out later this year. Oddly, despite the company's decades-long history of providing satellite phone service, the IsatPhone Pro is apparently the first model 'purpose-built for its network' with awesome features like Bluetooth, text messaging, email support, and GPS capability that can be injected into outgoing text messages (you know, for when you finally strike oil somewhere in the Mariana Trench). Anyhow, the company has announced that the first calls have now been successfully made using the handset on the way to retail availability this June -- but if you have to ask for a price (either for the phone or a per-minute rate), odds are it's not for you.

(Via Engadget Mobile.)