The Verizon Decoy launched this week ($179 on a two-year contract and after a $50 mail-in rebate) with the much-lauded built-in Bluetooth headset, as well as the usual specs, including a 2 megapixel camera, a 2.2-inch “mirror-like” 240 x 320 display, a micro SD card slot, V CAST music and video support.

Likes: Headset, tools, navigation, 5–way directional joystick, screen & camera resolution (though they could have bumped up to 3.0 megapixels), and sliding ability. My favorite feature? The Bluetooth headset which has superior sound quality; and I love that I can put it back in the phone when I’m completed using it. (Still, Verizon provides headset insurance, just in case.) One quibble: when the headset is out, the indentation worries my thumb, as if the cover is off.

Next, the tools: The calculator has the capability to do powers, for example 5^2=25. You never know when you may be called on to do advanced math, such as checking your tweenies’ homework. Also, the EZ Tip Calculator is handy, if you’re math challenged like me. Simple to set up, it makes that task very simple. The navigation software is intuitive.

If you like the Blackberry Pearl’s scrolling “pearl,” you’ll like the joystick center button on the Decoy. And compared to a Razr, the resolution on the screen is very clear and bright.

Source: gadgetsnews.info

If you can’t sleep at night thinking about the environmental damage caused by your need to have a new cell phone every six months, you’ll be glad to know that eco-friendly cell phones made of corn flour are about to be launched in Korea by Samsung Electronics. The Samsung SCH-W510 has a battery cover and other parts made of bio-plastic constructed from corn starch and other environmentally friendly materials. The W-510 is the first of its kind from Samsung, and, according to PCWorld, the handset contains no heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium). Apparently, the high price of oil is partially responsible for this renewed interest in using plastics made of corn in manufacturing.

Via Telecoms Korea, by way of textually.org.

Source: gadgetsnews.info

Have you ever seen something that was just so darn cute that it brought tears to your eyes? I know it was probably something legitimately touching and precious like a baby consoling a grandparent or a puppy curled up next to a kitten that had you reaching for the tissues, but for me, what pulls at my heart strings are these adorable, adorable, adorablepetite panda cell phone charms.

Yes, you read that right. A photo of a dozen variously posed 1.18? to 1.57? panda bear charms makes my eyes well up. Whether it’s the fact that each one has a ring bolted into the top of its head so that it can dangle oh-so-callously from a cell phone, the powerlessness I feel in not being able to select which panda to save (Strapya World chooses one at random), or that the $3.11 handset accessories are currently sold out is to blame for the waterworks is something only my therapist can discover.

Popularity: 12% [?]

Source: gadgetsnews.info

The Buddha cell phone probably does not adhere to the Buddha’s Middle Path in design or appearance, but incorporates Buddhist aesthetics – down to the startup screen and ringtones!

The specs for this customized Nokia N70 are downright flashy – a “golden” outer case that has apparently been made by using 24-carat gold plating over a steel base, a huge “jade” button for video (looks more like plastic), and a jewel encrusted camera. The other “regular” features include bluetooth, mp3/mp4 compatibility and video or still photography (duh). The screen also has handwriting recognition – which means, for example, you could just pull out the pen concealed at the side and write down insights that you might want to share with others. Pretty handy.

Source: gadgetsnews.info

Advanced technology is uniquely blended in to the sleek design of the V3 Razr. This phone is even available in multiple colors and designs. The phones operates on either GSM 850, GSM 900, GSM 1800, GSM 1900, or GPRS band networks. Like most other Razr’s, this phone is a clamshell, also known as flip, type phone. The stunning display has a resolution of 176 x 220 and features 65K Colors. There is also 5 MB of memory built in the phone for your convenience. You won’t find an antenna sticking out of this phone, since it is integrated. The Bluetooth feature on this phone also works very well. The digital camera gives you 4x of Digital Zoom. Message in an array of formats including SMS, MMS, EMS 5.0, POP3, SMTP, IMAP4 and Wireless Village Instant Messaging.

Cool phone features include an Integrated speakerphone, iTap predictive text input, Photo caller ID, Voice dialing, Alarm clock, Calendar, Calculator, Currency converter, JAVA Applications and an external display. The address book can manage up to a whopping 1,000 contacts. The phone is incredibly thin, with a depth of just 1.4 cm. Accessories that you’ll find along with your purchase include Lithium Ion Battery, Travel Charger, Headset, Software CD, Belt Clip and USB Data Cable. From a Gadget Addicts perspective, this phone is recommended because of its overall capabilities and the good looking design it carries.

Source: gadgetaddict.com