BlackBerry’s new Curve 8520

BlackBerry’s new Curve 8520 will be available at Wal-Mart stores in early August for the iPhone-undermining price of $48.88 with a two-year T-Mobile service contract. (T-Mobile stores will sell the phone for $129.99.) The phone, aimed at young social networkers rather than business people, trades off 3G speed for Wi-Fi and digital media support.
The 8520 comes with two gimmicks. One is an optical trackpad in place of the BlackBerry trackball found on the Curve 8300 models. Hopefully the trackpad is more amenable than the trackball to being thumbed while eating a cheeseburger. (I have firsthand experience with food damage to the Curve’s trackball.)
The phone’s other feature is easy access to social networks and digital media. The 8520 has menu options to upload photos and video to Facebook and MySpace, plus dedicated keys on top of its shell for playing music and video clips.
BlackBerry maker Research in Motion promises the Curve makes it “easy to quickly sync music from iTunes or Windows Media Player.” Be aware that audio files protected by iTunes’ copyright protection technology won’t play on the 8520.
The camera is the same 2 megapixel model found on other Curves. It shoots both still photos and video.
The 8520 has one huge shortcoming. It doesn’t do 3G. So while you can get onto most networks in most countries thanks to its four-band support, you’ll be stuck with slower Edge networks, unless there’s a Wi-Fi router within range. That seems to be the phone’s target demographic: Young people who hang out in Wi-Fi hotspots.
Wal-Mart’s price reinforces something I’ve been typing about a lot in the past months: Mobile phone handset prices are almost completely arbitrary, usually lowered by subsidies from wireless carriers. The only question is how much of Wal-Mart’s eighty-one dollar price reduction came from Wal-Mart, from Research in Motion and from T-Mobile?
To read the entire story, check out the Venture Beat

CycledCells: Recycle and make money!

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Blackberry Releases New Desktop Manager for Mac Users

That's right! If you own a Blackberry and a Mac, you don't have to deal with the hassle of using PocketMac anymore! Download the new Desktop Manager for Mac.

Blackberry recently released the software for Mac users, who can now sync contacts, calendars, notes, and even their iTunes collections.

I am one of these people - and this is very welcomed. The program is easy to use and navigate, making these once painful tasks quick and easy. You want to add your iTunes songs to your Blackberry? After setting up your sync preferences, just plug in your phone. It is that easy. This software is so easy to use - you will not be disappointed.

Head to Blackberry's Site to download the new software.

Cheers!

RIM Working on New Touchscreen BlackBerry with a QWERTY Slider Keyboard

Forward berryreporter.com -

We knew it was only a matter of time before we saw the first touchscreen BlackBerry with a QWERTY slider keyboard. With the Storm 2 set to be released in early October rumors of a new type of BlackBerry phone could overshadow the launch. Codenamed "Mr. T" and no that is not a typo, this new model BlackBerry is something we have never seen before from RIM. It will come with a full Storm style touchscreen and a full size QWERTY slider keyboard. If this news doesn't excite you then you're not a true BlackBerry fan.

According to Alejandro Salomon the phone will house the QWERTY keyboard underneath the phone which is different than the popular Sidekick and in my opinion is a better position for a keyboard. It will also include the ON/OFF and SEND/CANCEL buttons on the screen like we see with the new Storm 2. Even though we are still considering this a rumor Salomon insists RIM is already working on this phone and he is always a great source. One thing is for sure if "Mr. T" does turn out to be true it will certainly be huge news for RIM and the BlackBerry brand.

Samsung Introduces “Blue Earth” - the First Solar Powered Full-Touch Phone

SEOUL, South Korea--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. today unveiled the innovative solar powered full-touch screen phone “Blue Earth”, alongside Samsung’s vision for environmental sustainability. Under the slogan: “The Blue Earth Dream: Eco-living with SAMSUNG mobile”, Samsung reinforced its commitment to protect the environment through the design of eco-friendly products and a programme of activities for its customers. It will be showcased at Mobile World Congress 2009 for the first time.

Designed to symbolize a flat and well rounded shiny pebble, Blue Earth is the first solar powered full-touch screen phone. By charging with the solar panel located on the back of the phone, users can generate enough electronic power to call anytime anywhere.

Blue Earth is made from recycled plastic called PCM, which is extracted from water bottles, helping to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions in the manufacturing process. The device, including charger, is free from harmful substances such as Brominated Flame Retardants, Beryllium and Phthalate.

The latest in a series of eco-friendly products, Blue Earth comes with a unique user interface which is designed to draw attention to preserving our fragile environment. Simple to set screen brightness, backlight duration and Bluetooth to an energy-efficient mode, this new user interface allows the user to be energy-efficient with just one click of ’Eco mode’. Through the ‘eco walk’ function the user can count their steps with an in-built pedometer, calculating how much CO2 emissions have been reduced by walking as opposed to motor transport. This unique function allows user to calculate the value of this footprint through the number of trees that have been saved.

The packaging for Blue Earth is designed to be both small and light, made from recycled paper, and comes with a 5 star energy efficient charger which uses standby power lower than 0.03W. As part of the Voluntary Agreement of European Commission IPP (Integrated Product Policy) pilot program, Samsung has agreed to start using rating on energy consumption on the no-load mode of the mobile device charger.

“Samsung’s ‘The Blue Earth Dream’ demonstrates our small but meaningful commitments for the future and our environment,” said Mr. JK Shin, Executive Vice President and Head of Mobile Communication Division of Samsung Electronics. "We are committed to achieving the highest eco-status with our customers and business partners by providing the best eco-products and promoting eco-activities.”

Get in touch with Samsung Mobile! Learn more about ‘The Blue Earth Dream’ and other eco-friendly initiatives at www.samsungmwc.com (The site will be opened on February 16) and visit us at Hall 8, Stand 8a139 at Mobile World Congress, Barcelona.

About The Blue Earth Dream

The Blue Earth Dream conveys hope and sets goals for sustainable growth and life. In increasing environmental awareness, Samsung is developing ways to reduce CO2 emissions and to save energy at every stage of the product life cycle, as an effective response to climate change. Milestones have been put in place to eliminate hazardous substances from handsets and packaging will be designed from recycled materials. Samsung will encourage its customers to recycle handsets at a growing number of special take-back points worldwide.

About Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2007 consolidated sales of US$105 billion. Employing approximately 150,000 people in 134 offices in 62 countries, the company consists of two main business units: Digital Media & Communications and Device Solutions. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.

Feds weigh cell phone ban for bus, truck drivers

Forward MSNBC.com -

WASHINGTON - Safety investigators told federal regulators three years ago that it was dangerous for bus drivers to talk on cell phones while driving and recommended a ban.

The National Transportation Safety Board put that recommendation on its list of most important safety measures. Industry and safety groups had no objections.

Yet the regulatory agency that would write new rules on cell phone use by commercial drivers, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, has done little more than study the issue.

7 Celebrity Cell Phone Snafus

Forward - popsocial.com

We’ve all had our little cell phone snafus – from the ever popular dropping in the toilet to drunk dialing to accidental voice mails when you thought you had hung up. Cell phones are with us everywhere we go. Add a dash of celebrity and our favorite cell phone snafus make the news.

After leaving her cell phone in a New York deli last month, Lindsay Lohan called all hands on deck, even the NYPD, to help her obtain it again. After reviewing the security tapes, the deli cashier returned the phone to her, no harm no foul. Imagine her shock that the one person in NYC that doesn’t recognize her is the one holding her precious cell phone.

Details of Paris Hilton’s mobile life come to light surrounding the lawsuit by the makers of her 2006 film Pledge This! Paris has admitted receiving a new mobile phone every 2 weeks: “With my phone I never know, because I lose it all the time. I probably get a new cell phone, like, every two weeks.”

On top of admitting her carelessness with mobile devices, Paris goes on to admit she’s “never seen a phone bill in her life.” Ah, the joys of The Simple Life.

Recently, the adorable Anna Faris admitted to having some fun with her fiancé by sending X-rated text messages to each other when they first met. I suppose on some level, we can all appreciate being in the throes of new found love and feeling compelled to send adult-themed SMS notes to our partners in crime. The starlet also sent a potentially embarrassing text to a youngster, hoping to throw back some libations:

“’I sent a text to a small child, asking the small child if they wanted to get drunk with me,’ she admitted. ’But I meant it for my friend. The small child said, ‘I don’t know what getting drunk means,’ so bless the small child’s little heart.’ “

Yes, bless the child indeed. I find it strange that a child young enough to not know what getting drunk means has a functioning cell phone.

Jordin Sparks, American Idol 2007, won a cell phone stalker after a friend posted her number on MySpace as a joke.

She explained to Sony Ericsson’s Pocket TV: “Loads of people got my number, and I had this person texting me going, ‘I know this is you. I know this is you, why don’t you answer? I know this is you, why don’t you answer? I’m going to keep calling you.’ I was like, ‘Oh my God!’ and I had people leaving me voice messages and text messages, so in the end I changed my number.”

Which of these things is not like the other? Rapper Lil’ Jon got teen sensation Miley Cyrus’ old cell phone number. The rapper has appealed to his Twitter followers, and the media are all over the story. How can Lil’ Jon discourage tweens from texting him? His Twitter page probably isn’t the best avenue, but he’s giving it a try:

“HOW COME I JUS GOT A NEW PHONE NUMBER AND ITS F***** MILEY CIRUS (sic) OLD NUMBER!!!”

“I was basically in shock, like how did that happen?!” Lil’ Jon said in a statement. “Especially when I get texts like ‘CONGRATULATIONS ON TEEN VOGUE!’”

Rapper and MC Foxy Brown is out of the woods in her cell phone harassment case, in which she allegedly smashed a neighbor in the head with her Blackberry. The saving loophole? Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Robert Miller dismissed the case because the rapper was never actually served with legal papers.

Coup de Gras: Paris Phone LeakWay back in February 2005, Paris Hilton set the stage for cell phone faux pas when her cell phone data was allegedly hacked and leaked onto the Internet. More than 500 friends of the hotel heiress (including the afore-mentioned Lindsay Lohan & Lil’ Jon) hurried to change their phone numbers to protect their privacy.