Loo-Lee.com

Despite the deluge of smartphones that have hit the market in recent years, there's still a demand for basic phones.  Verizon has quite the history with LG when it comes to clamshell devices, and if rumors are correct, the LG Accolade and Clout will fit right into the lineup.  Branded as the LG VX5600, the Accolade will be the latest addition to the LG VX5XXX line and will offer a 1.3-megapixel camera and Bluetooth.  The LG Clout, on the other hand, is slated to replace the LG VX8360.  No word on pricing, features, or even a picture to go with it, but I'm sure it will offer 3G connectivity, a decent camera, Bluetooth, and an external display. 

With Verizon's new data requirement for feature phones, the LG VX5600 is another alternative for those looking to avoid the charges.  Sure, they're relatively bland, but not everyone needs a Motorola DROID.  Backup phone, anyone?

Via PhoneArena

{Widget type="youtube" id="N3e3WwoW9LQ&"}

Sure, The Weather Channel could take the conventional route and advertise their applications through their website and announcements on TV, but they've opted for a different approach.  Seen during a live television broadcast recently, the company is using Google QR codes in their regular programming to promote the app.  Scanning the QR code doesn't do anything more than take you to the webpage to download the application, but it's a smart marketing tactic, and one of the few mainstream places I've seen it used to date.

Via Engadget

Sure, it looks a lot like the HTC Dash, but the Trophy has been outed.  Scheduled to launch in May, the Windows-powered device offers a QWERTY keyboard and touchscreen in one body.

Here's what we know about the device:

-Dimensions: 119 x 58.36 x 11mm
-Built for use with T-Mobile 3G
-Windows Mobile 6.5
-3.0″ VGA (640×480) capacitive touchscreen
-5 megapixel autofocus
-512 MB flash, 256 MB RAM
-microSD
-802.11b/g WiFi
-Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
-GPS/AGPS
-1400mAh battery
-Accelerometer
-3.5mm jack, FM Radio
-TouchFlo 3D Interface
-Business card scanner

All in all, it's not incredibly interesting on the design front (I've often criticized manufacturers for making rather boring Windows Mobile devices, and barring the touchscreen, I would argue that this is no exception).  On the positive side, the device offers Windows Mobile 6.5, and a business card scanner.  I will say - if we're looking at specifications alone, it's a well-equipped phone.  Would you agree?

Via MobileCrunch

The two best Android phones on the planet? Maybe. HTC Google Nexus One vs Motorola Droid in a dogfight, hosted by Noah. Part 2 of 2.

It appears that the promotional boxes landing at the retail stores were a good indicator of a launch, as Verizon Wireless today announced the availability of the Motorola Devour in March.  The Android-powered Devour will offer a 3.1-inch 320 x 240 capacitive touchscreen, a touch-sensitive navigation pad, 3.1-megapixel camera, MOTOBLUR, Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, and a microSD card.

Pricing hasn't been announced as of yet, though I'd guess it'll be in the $149 range after rebates (keeping it in between the DROID and Droid Eris).  The full press release is below.  Now that the device has been announced, do you plan to pick one up, or are you sticking with Verizon's other Android offerings?  Sound off in the comments below!

MOTOROLA DEVOUR™ BRINGS MOTOBLUR™ TO VERIZON WIRELESS’ 3G DATA NETWORK
 
MOTOBLUR Service Gives Customers Home Screen Access to Content and Contacts
 
BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. – Verizon Wireless and Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) today announced the availability of Motorola DEVOUR™ in March.   Motorola DEVOUR will be the first Verizon Wireless phone to feature MOTOBLUR™, Motorola’s unique Android™-powered content delivery service created to make wireless phones more personal and customizable.
 
MOTOBLUR is the first solution to sync contacts from work and personal e-mail services, including Gmail™, with posts, messages, photos and more from popular sites such as Facebook®, MySpace and Twitter.  With MOTOBLUR, content is automatically delivered to the home screen and fed into easy-to-manage streams.
 
Key features: 

Touch-sensitive navigation pad
3.1” capacitive touch screen 
Pre-loaded applications such as Gmail, Google Talk™, YouTube™, Google Search™ and Google Maps™ with Google Maps Navigation.
Android Market™ gives users access to more than 20,000 applications.
Happenings Widget – MOTOBLUR automatically pushes status updates, wall posts and photo updates from popular social networking sites to the Happenings Widget on the home screen. Customers can flick through the latest updates and fire back responses using the slide-out full QWERTY keyboard.
Universal Inbox – MOTOBLUR gathers texts, social network messages and e-mails into one home screen widget for quick response.
Back-Up and Security – Contacts, log-in information, home screen customizations, e-mail and social network messages are backed up automatically on the secure MOTOBLUR portal.  The portal also allows customers to use the phone’s fully integrated aGPS to help locate the phone if misplaced. Remote wipe easily clears information from a lost device.
8 GB microSD™ card pre-installed
Bluetooth® profiles supported: A2DP, HID, HSP, HFP, AVRCP and GAP

 
Service plans:

To get the most from Motorola DEVOUR, customers will need to subscribe to a Nationwide Talk or Nationwide Talk & Text plan and a Data Package for smartphones.  Nationwide Talk plans begin at $39.99 monthly access, and Nationwide Talk & Text plans begin at $59.99 monthly access.  A Data Package for smartphones is $29.99 for unlimited monthly access.

 
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Media can access high-resolution images of Motorola DEVOUR in the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.)
 
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving more than 91 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with  83,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NASDAQ and LSE: VOD).  For more information, visitwww.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.
 
About Motorola
Motorola is known around the world for innovation in communications and focused on advancing the way the world connects. From broadband communications infrastructure, enterprise mobility and public safety solutions to high-definition video and mobile devices, Motorola is leading the next wave of innovations that enable people, enterprises and governments to be more connected and more mobile. Motorola (NYSE: MOT) had sales of US $22 billion in 2009. For more information, please visit www.motorola.com.
 
MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are registered in the US Patent & Trademark Office. Android, Google, Google Maps, Android Market, Google Search, Gmail, YouTube, Google Talk are trademarks of Google, Inc. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners. © Motorola, Inc. 2009. All rights reserved.

Ever since rumours and pictures of the Sony Ericsson Vivaz emerged, albeit under the Kurara nametag, everyone was hooked. Thankfully, Sony Ericsson only left us waiting a couple of months before the official announcement came. On January 21^st the Sony Ericsson Vivaz was revealed to the world. By this time there was little in the press release that hadn’t already been discussed, realistically all that was left to do was to get some hands on action!

The Sony Ericsson Vivaz represents a few firsts for the company, not only is it Sony Ericsson’s first multimedia handset release of 2010, but it is also the first to sport the ‘human curvature’ design that will be adopted across the new range. If this design concept passed you by, what Sony Ericsson has done is curve the outer casing of the phone so that it fits perfectly and comfortably into the human hand, making it far easier to get more one-handed action out of the touchscreen. Despite being plastic the casing doesn’t look or feel cheap, perhaps that has something to do with the sleek edging, curved design and smudge free surface, whatever it is the Sony Ericsson Vivaz will undoubtedly captivate its audience. (more…)

Post from Dial-a-Phone, UK's no. 1 for Mobile Phones.

How much do you love the design of your mobile phone? Sure it’s sleek and stylish. Maybe it’s a bit of a transformer. But would you want to take that same design and turn it into furniture for your house? Most people wouldn’t want a cell phone lounger or little bean bag chair rests for their mobile phones. But then, not all people are most people. There are some people who are totally happy to make mobile phones their lives to the point where this symbol dominates their decor. Here are ten examples of mobile phone inspired furniture and decor for those folks who just can’t help themselves:

The Cell Phone Shaped Chair … with Storage. This is a chair for your living room or guest room. The entire high back of the chair is designed to look like a mobile phone. And then the seat can open up to make the device look like a flip phone. Inside you’ll find room for storage. Although this design isn’t right for most people it could actually look really cute in a kids’ room. Too bad it’s not a smartphone design and therefore probably not cool enough for your tween or teen!

Chair for your Phone. Maybe instead of getting a chair for yourself that looks like a phone you could get a rest area for your phone that looks like a chair. Heck, your mobile phone is probably one of your best friends anyway so you might as well give it the best seat in the house. A whole seating area of chairs could go on a mantle or counter. It would be a cute little decor setup for holding a whole family’s mobile phones. (more…)

Post from Dial-a-Phone, UK's no. 1 for Mobile Phones.

Huge win for the Nexus One community today, as Google has launched an update to the popular device that includes multitouch support in the browser, photo gallery, and Google Maps.  Beyond that (and believe me, that's a big one), other improvements include enhancements to the device's 3G radio, Google Goggles, and a new version of Google Maps. 

Google expects to have the update out to everyone by the end of the week.  Nexus One users, how do you feel about it?  I don't know about you, but the addition of multitouch capabilities out of the box makes me want this device even more.

Let us know when you get your update, and what you think of it!

Via Engadget

The two best Android phones on the planet? Maybe. HTC Google Nexus One vs Motorola Droid in a dogfight, hosted by Noah.