MP3 Phones | Cellphone Info & Reviews

Skype for the iPhone Now Available

2009-04-05T07:04:00.001-07:00

As if the iPhone doesn't have enough awesome features, Skype added to its roster.

Recently Skype announced that its app for the iPhone is ready and available for public download. The free application will allow users to make Skype-to-Skype calls using WiFi, make cheap landline calls, and send and receive instant messages. On top of that Skype for the iPhone functions like a regular Skype. It can use Wi-Fi, 3G or EDGE.

Rogers Now Offering ZTE Rock and Samsung Rugby

2009-01-28T08:23:00.000-08:00

Two of my favorite rugged-type phones can now be had through Roger Wireless. The ZTE Rock F165 (right) and Samsung Rugby A836 (left) are just my type of phones: built to last!

ZTE Rock F165 Features:

Durable and awesome design
Comes with bad-ass antenna
2MP camera
2GB expandable memory
With MusicStore, radio and mobile TV services

Samsung Rugby A836 Features:

Rain, humidity, drop, shock, vibration, dust and unicorn resistant
Will still function in extreme temperatures
External speakerphone button
1.3MP camera
8GB expandable memory

Check out ZTE Rock here and Samsung Rugby here.

Nokia 5730 XpressMusic Partially Reviewed

2009-01-20T08:51:00.000-08:00

"Blue" is probably the first word that came into your mind when you first saw the image above. "Odd" or "weird" is a close second, I bet. Well, those were my first thoughts when I laid my eyes on the new Nokia 5730 XpressMusic.

The guys over at mobile-reviews got their hands on a Nokia 5730 and promptly made a partial review of the phone. The QWERTY slide-out keyboard is a nice touch, especially with its dot matrix font, but seems a bit out-of-place in my opinion. The phone comes with 128MB of RAM and a microSD card slot, a good 4.5 hours of talk-time, EDGE, and built-in GPS. The 5730 also comes with the standard music player that comes with the N Series of phones.

The Nokia 5730 XpressMusic will be out this April in Europe and would sell for about $289. No word yet if it will be available anywhere else.

N73 + Swollen Batteries = ??

2009-01-15T09:33:00.000-08:00

I checked my Nokia N73 Music Edition as soon as I read this news.

Apparently, Nokia admitted that some BP-6M batteries they used in N73 have swollen up. This is a normal occurrence for lithium-ion batteries, but are supposed to happen after it has aged several years. It's good to mention that there's no risk involved, aside from having an enlarged battery that may prove hard to fit into the charger or mobile phone.

No worries though. Head over the nearest Nokia Service Center and they'll give a free replacement after verifying your claims.

[source]

US Cellular Bags Samsung's SCH-r470 TwoStep

2009-01-13T09:42:00.000-08:00

The ultra cool Samsung SCH-r470 flip phone is now officially on US Cellular. The SCH-r470, or the TwoStep, boasts several standard features such as a 1.3 megapixel camera, stereo speakers, microSD slot, Bluetooth, and of course, a music player complete with external controls.

The TwoStep comes on red, purple, and orange colors. It supports upto 8 GB microSD with a Talk Time of upto three hours.

[source]

Nokia 5800 XpressMusic European Release Date

2009-01-08T09:27:00.000-08:00

Both the UK and North American cellphone consumers can't wait to get their hands on Nokia 5800 XpressMusic. The only difference is UK's going to get their wishes earlier than us.

On January 23, the 5800 Xpress Music will be available in the UK. The first S60 5th Edition device will have a price tag of £249, or roughly $380.

Nokia Comes With Music Service Doing "Okay"

2009-01-06T09:24:00.000-08:00

Nokia's recent music service, Comes With Music, is doing just fine according to reports. "Initial sales had been okay, but not earth shattering." according to an unnamed source.

Some would say its because of the economy, while some blame pirating pirates getting their music off the web. The refusal of major UK carriers to Comes With Music-handsets are not helping either.

Do you have a CwM-equipped phone? Do you use the service at all? Me, I get my mp3's for free.

Nokia N96 Firmware Update Now Available

2009-01-02T09:15:00.000-08:00

An update to Nokia N96's firmware in now available for the North American public. The said update includes Switch 4.0, improved Bluetooth, and fixed alarm among other things.

What concerns us mp3 phone enthusiasts is that the N96 Music Player no longer hangs when refreshing the libarary if the General Settings Date separator is set to ":". I'm pretty sure that's a big chip off of some people's shoulder. There's nothing I hate more than my phone freezing.

The N96 firmware update can now be had through Nokia Software Updater.

Rentobile: Rent Cellphones

2009-01-01T08:16:00.000-08:00

Rentobile offers a pretty straightforward service: rent a cellphone. For a monthly fee ($20 to $50), you can rent a cellphone and use it as long as you want. When you get tired of it, then return it and get another one.

After an hour of doing the math, I find this service pricey. There's a bit of a discount if you opt to be a member, though. I would maybe give it a go if say I would like to try out a phone before buying it.

Philips Xenium 9@9q Dragon and Phoenix Looks Awesome!

2008-12-29T09:27:00.000-08:00

One deciding factor I always look into when purchasing a new phone is: Will this make me look cooler? After examining Philips Xenium 9@9q Dragon / Phoenix, my answer was a double YES!

Both Xenium 9@9q has engravings of their namesake on the outside of its clamshell body. There's also a small yet functional external display where you can see if you have a new message or missed a call among other stuff.

Another thing that drew me in on Philips Xenium 9@9q is its battery life. It has a month of standby time and about eight hours of talk time. Now that's how all batteries should be made!

Philips Xenium 9@9q Dragon and Phoenix is available for roughly $172 USD.

[source]

MP3 Phones is on a Holiday Break

2008-12-24T10:06:00.000-08:00

I'll keep this short because I wasn't really planning on going online today...

Happy Holidays everyone! Hope you all get your wishes..

I'll be back on Monday for more posts.

Nokia 5800 XpressMusic Hi-Fi Music Edition Comes with Shure

2008-12-22T07:39:00.000-08:00

The Nokia 5800 XpressMusic is proving to be a powerhouse not only as an mp3 phone, but in everything it does as well. So what does an awesome mp3 phone needs to improve itself? A kick-ass earphones that's what.

Nokia teamed up with Shure, a well-known brand of professional earphones and microphones, to bring to Hong Kong consumers a special edition Nokia 5800 XpressMusic. It comes with a Shure SE210 earphones that will sure bring 5300's mp3 playback quality to another level.

The Nokia 5800 XpressMusic Hi-Fi Music Edition will be available in Hong Kong on December 18 for the price of HKD 4798. That's HKD 810 more than the special-editionless 5800!

[source]

Motorola AURA Available at Motorola Store

2008-12-19T07:33:00.000-08:00

Though not an MP3 phone, the Motorola AURA looks like it has a competent music player. For $2000, it better be.

That's right. This baby will cost you $2000. I can't imagine why in the world this phone could cost that much, until I saw its "luxury" features. It has a cool circular display capable of showing off 16 million colors, it's protected by a 62-carat sapphire crystal, it's stainless steel, and it's textures and patterns are chemically etched.

If you happen to have $2000 lying around, please buy an AURA and drop us a comment and tell us how it fares.

[source]

Pandora for Windows Mobile Devices

2008-12-17T07:10:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite internet-based radio services, Pandora, announced recently that it will be available to users of Windows Mobile devices. As of this writing, the only devices supported are HTC XV6900 / Touch and Motorola Q9C.

Pandora is dubbed as a personalized radio station. Type in the name of the artist, title of the song, or just the genre and it will play music that matched you interest. Members can create and save stations for future use.

To get Pandora for your Windows Mobile device, open www.pandora.com on your phone's browser.

[source]

Car Key Cell Phone Jammer

2008-12-12T09:11:00.000-08:00

Worried about your kids (or parents?) driving and using their cell phone at the same time? It is very dangerous, as you should know. Well, worry no more as Key2SafeDriving is on its way.

Yup, that's what they're calling it. Key2SafeDriving. Don't sweat it though, as this device may very well save thousands of lives in the future. Key2SafeDriving works by fusing a cellphone jammer into a key fob, thus blocking signals.

Key2SafeDriving is being develpoped by researchers at the University of Utah and is hoping to have it on sale in six months time.

[source]

Skype Lite Made Available to More Phones

2008-12-10T10:10:00.000-08:00

I'm a fan of anything that is free, especially if it is something that I can use. That's why I fell in love with Skype the day I discovered it. Recently Skype Lite was made to work on more cell phones including several of my favorites.

Simply visit the Skype website and download Skype Lite onto your phone. Alternative, mobile browsers can visit skype.com/m for the download.

Here's a list of the new devices that can run the latest Skype Lite:

LG

KE770
CU515
CU575 Trax
CU720 Shine

Nokia

N96
N75
E71
E62
6555
6085

Samsung

A717
T639
A737

SonyEricsson

T700
T650
G502
W902
W380
W350
TM506
G700
G900
K770
Z750a
Z525a
Z310a
S500

02 Cocoon Review & Info

2008-12-05T08:48:00.000-08:00

02 Cocoon Specs

Launched: August 2007
Screen Display: 320x240 pixels, 18 bits
Size: 49 x 94 x 21 mm
Weight: 114 g
Memory: 2 MB Internal, 2 GB via microSD
Music Player: AAC, AAC+, WMA, MP3 and WAV
Camera: 2.0 MP

02 Cocoon Review

If retro is your style, then the 02 Cocoon is the right mp3 phone for you. This is what cellular phones would've looked like in the 60's and 70's.

The 02 Cocoon is a clamshell phone that reeks of retro in its curves and colors. The inside of it is another story though. It looks to "old" for me, and I believe they should've spent a little more time improving it. Also, the phone is a little on the bulky side, but not many people would be turned off by it.

What impressed me the most is the Cocoon's LED lights. Seen on the phone's front cover, the blue LED lights has several functions. It brights up whenever there's a call coming in and shows you the name of the caller. The same goes with text messages. When you're using its music player, it will also display the track's artist and title. A very nice touch indeed.

The 02 Cocoon has dedicated music keys on the side, and has quite loud speakers. It only has 2 MB of internal memory, though, so expect to buy a microSD card. One thing I have to note is that the 02 has a custom headphone socket. Sure, the phone comes with a headset, but you'll need to use an adaptor if you want to use your own.

All in all, the 02 Cocoon is a very good mp3 phone. It has style and has the features to back it up.

02 Cocoon Video

EM35: Another ROKR from Motorola

2008-12-03T07:51:00.000-08:00

Just when I thought Motorola is done with their vowel-dropping phones, out comes ROKR EM35.

The EM35 is a slider phone and an mp3 phone, just like its Moto ROKR cousins. It features listening to music while browsing the music store. The FastScroll navigation wheel allows users to easily scroll through menus and music tracks. One thing I like about the RORK EM35 is that it can hold upto 32GB of memory via MicroSD card, which is a whole lotta songs if you ask me. The colors are not too bad either.

The EM35 will be on sale by the end of 2008.

Motorola RAZR3/Ruby Axed

2008-12-01T09:46:00.000-08:00

Oh Motorola, you and your silly-named phones! RAZR. KRZR. ROKR. The first few were fun, and quite impressive, but recently it was just all branding. I say more innovation and less letter-dropping. That's why I'm not surprised to hear that Motorola RAZR3 aka Ruby was canceled.

The RAZR2 successor didn't make the cut, apparently. But this might mean good news for Moto fans. Motorola may have finally decided to move on and make better phones rather than rehashing old ones.

[source]

Nokia 5800 Xpress Music Video Review

2008-11-28T09:35:00.000-08:00

Can't wait for the Nokia 5800 Xpress Music? Here, here. Despite all the flak the Nokia Tube has been getting around the Internet, I still want one, and too bad I can't get it this coming Holiday season.

The 5800 is Nokia's first touch-screen phone, and an MP3 phone at that. To get us all riled up again, here's a featured video review of the Nokia 5800 Xpress Music.

LG Rhythm Now Available at U.S. Cellular

2008-11-26T09:25:00.000-08:00

Great news for LG fans as U.S. Cellular just announced the addition of the LG Rhythm in its cell phone roster. It's available in pink and black.

As mentioned in a previous post, the LG Rhythm is looking up to be a very good MP3 phone. I would have to do a thorough review of it in the near future.

[source]

Where to Download FREE and LEGAL MP3s

2008-11-24T09:38:00.000-08:00

Finding and downloading mp3s over the internet is easy. But finding LEGAL mp3s for download is another matter. With the advent of torrents and P2P, pirating songs has become a breeze. But this post is not about the morality or legality of downloading pirated songs, instead I would like to point out several sites where one can download free and legal mp3s.

Googling free mp3s will get you nowhere, that's for sure. You'll be led to site after site and eventually you'll end up paying for the song or worse, getting an illegal copy. The only way to get free copies of your favorite music is to know where to look, or know what to look for. To give you some ideas, here are some tips to get you started:

Official [Artist Name] Websites - The first place to look is the artist's official site. If they have a new album out then there's a great chance that mp3s of singles will be available for download. Sometimes they even give away recordings of live performances. There are rare times though, that you'll get more than you bargained for. Take for example Nine Inch Nails' website, where you can download their album the slip for absolutely free.

[Record Company/Label] Official Websites - Another gold mine of free mp3s are record companies' official sites. Not only will you find free mp3s of your favorite artist, you'll get the chance to check out similar bands in more or less the same genre. A fairly good example is The Aggrolite's page on Hellcat Records.

Music Communities - Online music forums or communities is a great way to discover rare artists. Also, it's a great source of free mp3s. Artists on these sites are itching to be heard. You'll be doing them a favor by downloading their music onto your players. A good place to start is http://www.unsignedbandweb.com/.

Podcasts - Although most podcasts are of low quality in terms of bitrate, they are fun to listen to and will often bring up artists that you may find interesting. The trick is to find a podcaster that is in tune with your taste. MOBTOWN SKA SOUNDS for example is a very good match for me. Head over podOmatic to find yours.

Nokia N96 Bruce Lee Limited Edition

2008-11-21T09:58:00.000-08:00

Special Note: Although the Nokia N96 is more of a smartphone than an MP3 phone, I just can't pass this awesome news up :)

I absolutely love Bruce Lee. I have a Bruce Lee shirt, hoodie, a semi-life-sized action figure, and almost all of his movies. That was why I was pumped to hear about the Nokia N96 Bruce Lee limited edition phone.

The package comes with a special handset with Lee's face and autograph found at the back. Open the phone up and you'll be treated to a number of rare photos of our favorite martial arts hero. Bruce Lee accessories (notice the nunchucks) and a doll (I call it action figure) are also included.

The whole shindig costs about $1,286 and can be purchased here.

Nokia N96 Bruce Lee Edition video

View special flash site promo of Nokia N96 Bruce Lee Edition.

[source]

Motorola VE66 Launched

2008-11-19T09:48:00.000-08:00

Motorola announced a couple of days ago another 5-megapixel phone, the MOTO VE66. The difference between this camera phone and Motorola's ZN5 is that this has LED flash instead of xenon. I'm not into camera phones that much so you be the judge which would be better.

What interests me is the MP3 playback capability of the MOTO VE66. The phone is equipped with FastScroll™ navigation wheel, which is always a good sign. It helps go through those long lists of songs and artists.

The MOTO VE66 will be released before the year ends. More about this MP3 phone when it becomes available.

[source]

New Technology to Improve Lithium Batteries for Laptops and Cellphones

2008-11-12T09:07:00.000-08:00

A new technology that makes lithium batteries, commonly used in cellphones and laptops, 90% more energy efficient was recently developed by South Korean researchers. Led by Cho Jae-phil, the team claims that conventional battery life can last upto eight times more using their new technology.

This is good news for people like me who makes the most out of their phones. My mp3 phone usually lasts about a day and a half before I have to charge it again. This new technology will help solve battery issues especially with MP3 phones.

To get the details of how they done it, go here

Zing To Your Zune

2008-11-10T08:24:00.001-08:00

In other (somewhat related) news, Microsoft has added 46 new designs for their MP3 player, Zune. Dubbed the Zune Originals, these are said to be perfect customized gifts for music and tech lovers this coming holiday season.
Pick a Zune, choose an artwork, etch a name or a witty phrase, and viola!

http://www.ZuneOriginals.net

Sony Ericsson W705 Announced in Style

2008-11-07T12:03:00.000-08:00

Another addition to Sony Ericsson's Walkman™ phone series was added yesterday during the MTV Europe Music Awards, the Sony Ericsson W705. The W705 features includes:

Walkman™ player
Clear Stereo & Bass
Shake control
SensMe™
FM radio with RDS
A 3.2 megapixel camera with 3.2x digital zoom
Picture blogging
Video blogging
Motion gaming
Google Maps

The W705 Walkman Phone is actually quite similar with W980. It will be available in select markets early next year.

LG Chocolate 3 Review & Info

2008-11-05T09:24:00.000-08:00

LG Chocolate 3 Specs

Launched: July 2008
Screen Display: Internal LCD: 240x320 pixels, 260K Color TFT External LCD: 176 x 220 pixels, 260K Color TFT
Size: 3.87 x 1.94 x 0.64 inches
Weight: 3.36 oz.
Memory: 1 GB Internal, 8 GB microSD
Ringtones: MP3
Camera: 2.0 MP

LG Chocolate 3 Review

The LG Chocolate 3 is the third of LG's Chocolate phones. If Motorola has RAZRs, LG has Chocolates. But don't let the cutesy name fool you, this baby's a very good MP3 phone.

The 1 GB internal memory is a good way to start. Add an 8 GB microSD card and you have yourslef hours of music playback. The Choco 3's music player supports MP3, WMA, and AAC & AAC+. There's a shuffle feature as well as repeat, and it comes with 6 equalizer presets. Oh and there's an FM transmitter too. On the right spine of the phone you can find its dedicated music button for easy music player access. The mechanical scroll wheel on the front is awesome as well.

As for the music quality, it's alright. Not that good but not bad either. A little more bass would surely help.

I have to admit, I'm no fan of LG cellphones. But after seeing the LG Chocolate 3, I'm ready to reconsider.

LG Chocolate 3 Video

FastMac iV: Extend Battery Life of Your iPhone 3G

2008-11-03T09:04:00.000-08:00

One of the first thing that I check when buying a new phone is of course, its MP3 playback features. After that I kindly inquire about the phone's battery life. What's an MP3 phone without a decent battery, right?. Sadly, a lot of phones fail to impress me in this category. Luckily, there are other options available...

Take for example the FastMac iV, an iPhone 3G extended battery and charger rolled into one. Basically it prolongs an iPhone's battery life upto 3 to 4 times! Here's quick round-up of its features:

Upto 24 hours talktime, 750 hours standby, and a whopping 70 hours of audio.
Additional USB Port so you can charge 2 devices at the same time.
Built-in flash for camera use.
It's a bargain at just $79.95.

Here's a FastMac iV video:

But don't take my word for it. Visit the official page of FastMac iV for more goodies.

Motorola RAZR2 V9x Now Available at AT&T

2008-10-29T10:12:00.000-07:00

The sleek and stylish Motorola RAZR2 V9x was recently added to AT&T's mobile phone lineup. What I like about this phone is it has a stainless steel structure, perfect for my rugged style. Oh, and did I mention it's an MP3 phone? Here's a summary of Motorola RAZR2 V9x features and specs:

Supported Music Formats: MP3 + Real , WAV, WMA
AT&T Mobile Music: Yes
Subscription Music Services: Napster Mobile
Streaming Radio: MobiRadio, XM Radio Mobile
MusicID: Yes
Create Music Playlist: Yes
CrystalTalk™: Yes
Internal Memory: 32 MB
Expandable Memory: 8 GB via microSD

Head here & here for more info.

Skull Candy: Stylish & Quality Headphones

2008-10-27T10:08:00.000-07:00

One of my dreams came true this weekend... I got a Skull Candy!! I chose G.I. in Rasta colors and it is a step above awesome. Here's the specs:

40mm speaker
Frequency range: 100 – 18,000 Hz
Impedance: 50 ohms
Max input power: 400mW
Cable type: OFC
Cable length: 1.2 M
Plug type: 3.5mm gold plated

The sound of my Nokia N73 and iPod is perfection and not only that, I look cooler too (at least I think I do).

Skull Candy is well-known for stylish and high-quality headphones. Head over http://www.skullcandy.com/ for more info and headphone goodies.

image cred

Motorola RAZR V3m Review & Info

2008-10-22T09:11:00.000-07:00

Motorola RAZR V3m Specs

Screen Display: 176x220 pixels, TFT LCD, 65,100 colors
Size: 53 x 98 x 13 mm
Memory: 40 MB internal, 2 GB microSD slot
Ringtones: Polyphonic, MP3
Camera: VGA resolution

Motorola RAZR V3m Review

The Motorola RAZR V3m has a very polished, sleek design, making it popular on almost all markets. As with the majority of Motorola phones, this one's a looker.

Sadly, the V3m doesn't pass as a good Mp3 phone. Actually I should call it a WMA phone, since MP3s must be converted to WMA for playback. Sound quality is okay at best, and expect to pay extra to get yourself earphones and compatible USB cable. Yup, it doesn't come with the phone!

The music playback features of the phone is not the only one that is lacking. The camera is terrible, being there's no flash. You can't send email either on this phone, or use Instant Messaging.

The rest of the Motorola RAZR V3m is good. It sends messages and you can call friends with it. Just don't expect it to be a good mp3 player.

Motorola RAZR V3m Video

Alltel LG Rhythm: Another Cool MP3 Phone

2008-10-16T09:39:00.000-07:00

Alltel announced a few days ago the latest addition to their phone roster - LG Rhythm. Just by looking at The Rhythm one can tell that it's a hip MP3 phone, most likely targeted at younger cell phone users.

The LG Rhythm has a circular panel that lets the user control the music. It also has radio functions, and a 3.5mm headset jack for headphones. It has Bluetooth 2.0, GPS, and supports microSD memory cards of upto 16GB.

The only downside some people may see is that The Rhythm's camera is just 1.3 megapixel. That's not too bad for me, as long as the music is good :)

Via phonescoop

Sony Ericsson W760a Walkman Phone NOW Available on AT&T

2008-10-13T09:06:00.000-07:00

Sony Ericsson's Walkman series has been a favorite mine. They deliver solid music playback with every model that comes out. Expect no less from Sony Ericsson W760a Walkman Phone.

The Sony Ericsson W760a Walkman Phone is now available on US soil via AT&T. This MP3 phone packs a lot of features including 3G, a 3.2 megapixel camera with flash and zoom, and stereo audio support. As an added bonus, this phone's design is just plain awesome.

Here's a video of Sony Ericsson W760a in action:

Nokia 5300 Xpress Music Review & Info

2008-10-09T05:52:00.000-07:00

Nokia 5300 Specs

Launched: 2006
Screen Display: 240x320 pixels, 262,144 (18-bit) Color
Size: 92.4 x 48.2 20.7 mm
Memory: 32 MB flash, 16 RAM, microSD slot
Ringtones: Polyphonic, MP3
Camera: 1.3 MP

Nokia 5300 Review

As its name implies, the Nokia 5300 Xpress Music phone is an MP3 phone, an it's a good one at that! Nokia did everything right this time around, delivering a phone that makes good of its name.

First thing you'll notice with the Nokia 5300 are the dedicated music controls. This allows users to play, pause, and navigate through their music library. Volume and camera controls can also be found on the other side of the phone.

The Nokia 5300 is also a slide phone, and Nokia made that work as well. The keypad and soft keys are just the right size and would delight all text messaging teens. It has such a bright screen too, for a small phone.

The music player that comes with the 5300 is almost perfect. You can browse songs by artist, album, genre, and there's even a playlist! Suffice to say the Nokia 5300 is a very good MP3 phone, but it still lacks on some areas.

With just 1.3 MP camera, and no flash, pictures and videos are okay at best. Also, the 5300's case feels like it will break anytime (but it won't!). So better take extra care when handling it.

All in all, Nokia did an excellent job. I would highly recommend the Nokia 5300 Xpress Music phone if you're looking for a good MP3 phone.

Nokia 5300 Xpress Music Video

Nokia 5800 "Tube" Won't Make it for Xmas

2008-10-07T10:04:00.000-07:00

Nokia's first touch-screen phone, the Nokia 5800, will not make it to the US market before the Holiday season. It will, however, be released in India, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Russia and Spain. Nokia Tube will cost around $387 US, noticeably less than the iPhone.

Too bad it won't be available in the US during THE season of seasons. US consumers will just have to wait a couple of months in on 2009 before getting their hands on a Nokia 5800.

Via reuters

Zune Coming to Windows Mobile Devices - Soon!

2008-10-05T09:17:00.000-07:00

At a recent interview with Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, it spilled out that Microsoft will be adding Zune software to the Windows Mobile platform. The interview doesn't give out any further details.

I have a Zune before, and I was pretty happy with it. Hope they do a good job inegrating Zune software with cellphones, unlike the mess ROKR E1 and iTunes did.

Source

Nokia "Come With Music" Comes to US in 2009

2008-10-04T09:15:00.000-07:00

Tero Ojanpera, head of entertainment business at Nokia recently announced that "Comes With Music" cellphones would be available in the US next year. No specific models nor any date was mentioned.

Does this make you want to buy Nokia MP3 phones more? I bet it's just another ploy to force unwanted tracks to consumers.

Via reuters

Nokia 5800 Hands-On

2008-10-03T09:03:00.000-07:00

How I wish I could get my hands on a Nokia 5800, but alas, my connections are not that good. But the guys over at phonescoop did get to scrutinize Nokia's first touch-screen music phone.

At the bottom of the first page summarizes the Nokia Tube: aimed at a younger market, with less polish than N Series phones. Here's a video of Nokia 5800 in action!

Nokia N90 Review & Info

2008-10-01T10:40:00.001-07:00

Nokia N90 Specs

Launched: 2005
Screen Display: 352x416 pixels, 144 colors
Size: 112 x 51 x 24 mm
Memory: DV RS-MMC / MMC-Mobile
Ringtones: Polyphonic, MP3
Camera: 2.0 MP

Nokia N90 Review

The Nokia N90 is an outdated MP3 phone by today's standards. But back in 2005, this cellphone was a must have. If you're looking for more than an MP3 phone, maybe this one is for you.

N90 was one of the first phones to have a swivel display. It has almost everything you need for a mobile device: camera, video, EDGE, Bluetooth, and MP3 player. With 2MP and 8x zoom, it's digital camera is pretty decent. Unfortunately, music playback is not the selling point of this phone.

The N90 has no stereo speakers, instead relying on small mono speaker. you can't play protected AAC tracks either, so say goodbye to those iTunes bought songs. Storage is also pretty low, with 31MB internal memory to start you out. Expect to charge the N90's battery frequently as well.

All in all, I would not recommend the Nokia N90 as an MP3 phone. It's a good value if you're looking for a phone that can do all, just don't expect much from it's music playback capabilities.

Nokia N90 Video

Nokia Tube Launch on October 2

2008-09-26T15:00:00.000-07:00

As mentioned on an earlier post, the anticipated Nokia 5800 Xpress Music or Nokia Tube is geared to be launched on October 2, 2008. The first S60 touchscreen is set to rival THE iPhone and other touchscreen mobile devices.

Amongst all the buzz, what I'm concerned about is how the Nokia Tube fares in terms of music playback. Since it carries the "Xpress Music" tag, I expect it to do really well.

16 GB microSD Available Soon!!

2008-09-26T09:03:00.000-07:00

Running out of memory to store all those MP3s? Fret no more as SanDisk, our favorite flash memory manufacturer, will start shipping 16GB microSD and M2 memory cards next month.

No word yet which phone models will be compatible to use this much storage, but suit will follow soon enough.

The only downside I'm seeing is the 16GB microSD cards will set you back aroun $100 US, which is a bit pricey for my range.

Sony Ericsson W910i Review & Info

2008-09-25T10:37:00.000-07:00

Sony Ericsson W910i Specs

Launched: October, 2007
Screen Display: 240x320 pixels, 2.4 inches
Size: 108 x 46 x 20.5 mm
Weight: 86 g
Ringtones: Polyphonic, MP3, AAC
Memory: 40 MB internal, M2 up to 8 GB
Bluetooth: Yes
Camera: 2.0 MP

Sony Ericsson W910i Review

This Walkman phone from Sony Ericsson is truly a gem. Sony almost did everything right, ensuring premium satisfaction for consumers looking for an MP3 phone.

Sony Ericsson W910i has a bright, clean, and well thought-out screen. It's wide and the colors are vibrant and fresh. The Media menu where all the music action is at is an ease to get used to. The sound quality is top-notch, especially if used the headphones that comes with it.

One weakness of Sony Ericsson W910i is its camera, which is just your basic 2 MP. But who needs that if you're looking for an MP3 phone, huh?! In addition, it uses M2 instead of the much cheaper microSD.

Sony Ericsson W910i is a solid MP3 phone that would satisfy anyone's hunger for music.

Sony Ericsson W910i Video

Nokia 5800 Tube Press Shot Leaked

2008-09-24T09:33:00.000-07:00

Fresh and clear shots of much buzzed Nokia 5800 Tube was seen over at mobil.idnes.cz. Nokia 5800 Xpress Music, or simply Nokia Tube is the first S60 Touch handset and is a full touch screen device. This slick MP3 phone is rumored to be launched on October 2, 2008.

Here's a quick look at Nokia 5800 Tube's notable specs:

Symbian S60 Taco 5 OS
3.2" 640×360px, 16M color touchscreen display
3.2mpx autofocus camera and 30 FPS VGA recording
3.5mm headphone jack, TV-Out port
microSDHC memory card slot (up to 16GB, 8GB memory card in a box)
111×52x15.5mm
109 gr

Can't wait until it's out? Join the club!

Motorola ROKR E1 Review & Info

2008-09-23T08:47:00.000-07:00

Motorola ROKR E1 Specs

Launched: September 7, 2005
Screen Display: 176x220 pixels, 262000 colors, 1.9 inches
Size: 108 x 46 x 20.5 mm
Weight: 107 g
Ringtones: Polyphonic, MP3, AAC
Memory: microSD up to 512MB
Bluetooth: Yes
Camera: 640x480 pixels, VGA

My Motorola ROKR E1 Review

I was one of those who got caught in the "ROKR" hype. The first time I read the latest of Motorola's genius branding, I immediately want one, being a "ROKR" myself.

First thing I noticed with Motorola ROKR E1 was it was damn heavy, mainly due to its internal speakers, which I must admit was of superior quality. I haven't seen or heard of a better set of speakers on a phone. With a little modding you can get the bass to pump the way you like it. Battery life was decent as well, and sending and receiving messages are alright. ROKR was also quite cheap compared to the competition. That's about all the good things you can get me to say about Motorola ROKR E1.

After a day of rabid testing, I immediately noticed that it was a pain to upload MP3s to my Moto ROKR. You need to install iTunes for you to take advantage of the MP3 playback feature. It would take approximately two minutes to upload a song. And if you delete a song from the library of your PC, it will be deleted on the phone as well.

One of the biggest setbacks of Motorola ROKR E1 is that it only allows you to store upto 100 songs. Even if you have space left, you can't exceed their limit.

The second month after I bought the phone the extrior paint of my Moto ROKR started to chip off. Then I see cracks. My looks-okay phone officially looks ugly. I started to look for another MP3 phone.

Motorola ROKR E1 Video

About This Blog

2008-09-22T10:47:00.000-07:00

Hello and welcome to my humble cellphone blog! First and foremost, let me just say that I'm no professional journalist. I just like tech stuff, writing, and blogging, so here we are...

Join me as I take a look at and review MP3 Phones from Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Motorolla, Samsung, and a whole bunch more. But before we begin, let me just impart my definition of an MP3 cellphone.

An MP3 phone's main function is ofcourse, communication. It's second focus though, is MP3 playback. It should be advertised as such too.

That's it for now. See y'all next post when I look at our first MP3 phone. Ciao!