Device makers have some fun with new offerings

NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: KEITH SHAW ON WIRELESS COMPUTING
DEVICES
10/27/05
Today's focus: Device makers have some fun with new offerings

Dear networking.world@gmail.com,

In this issue:

* News from Samsung, Verizon and Sony
* Links related to Wireless Computing Devices
* Featured reader resource
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USERS AWASH IN EMERGING WIRELESS OPTIONS

The days of simply giving traveling employees a cell phone for
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Today's focus: Device makers have some fun with new offerings

By Keith Shaw

Last issue we highlighted some new, serious,
"business-optimized" devices launched recently. Today, we're
going to highlight some new devices that let users have some fun
(although some business users may be able to still get some
value out of them).

* Samsung, Verizon launch camera, camcorder, MP3 player in one
device

Samsung and Verizon Wireless have launched the SCH-a970 mobile
phone, which includes a swivel-flip design (see it at Verizon's
Web site http://www.networkworld.com/nlmobile9271 ), a
2-megapixel camera, camcorder and MP3 digital music player.

The a970 includes a 262,000-color LCD screen, VoiceSignal's
VoiceMode speech-to-text dictation technology, and supports
Verizon's VCAST service, which lets users download video clips
to their phone (for an extra $15 per month).

Users can store their pictures, videos and music on a removable
TransFlash memory card that's sold separately. The phone is now
available for $299.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and two-year
agreement. The phone has Bluetooth, but only for the headset and
hands-free accessories profiles (users won't be able to use
Bluetooth to connect their laptops to the Internet, for
example).

* Samsung and Verizon find the music in you

If music is more your thing, then Verizon Wireless and Samsung
hve a new phone that will turn you into a "mobile DJ." The
recently launched SCH-a950 includes dual stereo speakers and
enhanced sound quality for listing to ring tones, music/video
playback and even speakerphone conversations. The a950 includes
TransFlash memory card support for carrying around MP3 music
files (cards sold separately), and a jog dial on the phone that
lets users scroll through playlists quickly.

The a950 also supports Verizon's VCAST, and includes a
1.3-megapixel digital camera/camcorder for shooting photos and
videos. Bluetooth is also supported, but only for headset and
hands-free accessories. The phone will cost $149.99 after a $100
mail-in rebate and two-year agreement. More details are
available at the Verizon Wireless Web site
http://www.networkworld.com/nlmobile9272.

* Sony Vaio's holiday colors

If you're sick of your plain black notebook, Sony wants to add
some color to your life, or at least to your notebook. The
company recently introduced a line of slim, portable notebooks
with five different "fashion colors." The Vaio FJ series of
notebooks will include colors such as Onyx Black, Pearl White,
Sky Blue, Jade Green and Raspberry Red on their casings and palm
rests. The notebooks themselves will have a full-sized keyboard,
14.1-inch widescreen display (with Sony's XBRITE-ECO
technology), integrated 802.11b/g wireless, an on-board DVD
drive (+R double layer and +/- RW drive), and a built-in camera
and microphone for video chatting. The Onyx Black notebook,
starting at $1,400, will be available by the end of this month,
while the other colors will be available next month. Pre-orders
are being accepted here http://sony.com/fj.

The top 5: Today's most-read stories

1. Cisco talking IP-radio nets
http://www.networkworld.com/nlmobile9596
2. How to respond to a security breach
http://www.networkworld.com/nlmobile9772
3. School traps infected PCs in its web
http://www.networkworld.com/nlmobile9597
4. Cartoon of the Week http://www.networkworld.com/nlmobile9598

5. CTO: BellSouth lost 9 COs to Katrina
http://www.networkworld.com/nlmobile9773

_______________________________________________________________
To contact: Keith Shaw

Keith Shaw is Senior Editor, Product Testing, at Network World.
In addition, he writes the " Cool Tools
http://www.networkworld.com/columnists/cooltools.html " column,
which looks at gizmos, gadgets and other mobile computing
devices.

You can reach Keith at mailto:kshaw@nww.com.
_______________________________________________________________
This newsletter is sponsored by Intel
The 64-bit Tipping Point

With the launch of the new Intel Xeon processor with Intel
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ARCHIVE LINKS

Archive of the Wireless Computing Devices newsletter:
http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/mobile/index.html Keith
Shaw's Cool Tools:
http://www.networkworld.com/columnists/cooltools.html
_______________________________________________________________
FEATURED READER RESOURCE

GRID TAKING SHAPE IN THE ENTERPRISE

Grid computing continues to gain ground and vendors such as IBM,
Platform Computing, Sun, SAS and Univa are launching services,
products and partnerships to support this growth. But will
challenges such as software licensing, security and bandwidth
issues hinder grid rollouts? Click here for more:

http://www.networkworld.com/news/2005/101005-grid.html
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