Motorola just announced the launch of their U9 mobile phone. This is basically an extension of the PEBL, much like V8 is to the original RAZR. We have here an interesting cell phone that comes with the lovely CrystalTalk noise reduction technology, a 2 megapixel camera and the possibility of including a microSD memory card. It is interesting to see that we have support for Windows Media Player 11 in combination with MP3, WMA, AAC, AAC+ and we can also notice stereo Bluetooth support. We are also hit with touch sensitive controls that are quite nice and the Motorola U9 is scheduled to appear in Asia, Europe and Latin America in the last quarter of the year. As you might have already figured out, there is no talk of a North America release plan.

DigiTimes is the latest in rumoring about Google launching their very own handset. The only thing that was really added to the statement (besides what is already having the world talk about) is the fact that the operating system for the GooglePhone will be Linux. Still no news as to hardware facts and eventual partners that are working on the project. DigiTimes sources also stated something very interesting. It seems like Google is aiming towards a 3G mobile phone instead of the EDGE platform utilized by the iPhone. This could already be a big point in favor of Google. On the other hand this could lead to a late 2008 launch. Not a problem, we will wait for it! I still feel I shouldn’t purchase an iPhone but the GooglePhone is really making me wait for it!

Tony Wright is an individual that does not stand out in the crowd but now he became famous. The reason? Breaking the world record for the longest phone call ever, with 40 hours and still going. Just in case you care, the previous record was of 39 hours, 18 minutes and 24 seconds, set on November 3 2005. Well, Tony Wright broke the record while talking to Jenny Barnard. It is interesting that people, as soon as they found out, took chat slots with Wright in order to help him beat the record. The good news is that the phone call is made by using Tesco Internet phones, making the call almost free. Way to go Tony!

Via Engadget

Reuters recently confirmed that Apple and Deutsche Telekom have got to an agreement as to sell the iPhone in Germany. An insider source was cited as giving the information and it seems that the supposed price would be around 400 EURO, quite more than the $399 that Apple is getting for each iPhone sold in USA. The much anticipated 3G add-on to the iPhone might be the reason for the higher price but this is not confirmed in any way. Who knows? Maybe iPhones will cost more at the beginning and then less eventually, just like it happened in US. However, when the first iPhone deal is made in Europe, it will be interesting to see what kind of sales it will generate after that nasty $200 price cut.

This picture is probably a fake but it is still so funny. Just click on the picture to see the larger version.

The Karnataka Government is planning to ban the sale and use of mobile phones for children up to 16 years old. The highlighted reason behind the move stands in the health effects cell phone use has on that age group. 2 years before mobile phones were banned in colleges and schools, probably for the same reasons. The health minister actually stepped in and said that parents need to discourage mobile phone use for under-aged children at home as well. Various studies conducted around the world highlighted the fact that mobile phone use by children can lead to brain disorders, cancer and malicious impact on the nervous system.

The official notification should be issued by the Karnataka Government soon and mobile phone retailers will be informed not to sell such devices to any individual under 16 years. It will be interesting to see whether this move will help. Also, think about the kind of impact such a decision would have in USA! Funny, ha?

Just as we all expected, the price drop of the iPhone immediately meant more units sold. This is similar to the price drop the PlayStation 3 experienced in the past. Everybody wants technology and if it is cheaper then even more individuals are going to buy gadgets. Gene Munster, analyst with Piper Jaffray recently claimed that iPhone sales went up a mile after the price drop. Before it there were around 9,000 of these mobile phones being sold per day while after transformed into around 27,000 iPhones per day, especially in the period between September 5 and September 9. Now the price cut proved to be beneficial when it comes to units sold but we still need to see for how long this will last.

The new iPod Touch seems to support all the features the iPhone does. There is still no Weather, Mail, Stocks or Google Maps on the device but it seems they are coming. Sources inside Apple said that the iPod Touch and the iPhone “use the same damn binaries.” It looks like the company decided not to include the above mentioned features in Touch. The reason behind the move might be that then the two devices will be too similar. If there is a difference between the two it stands in the fact that the iPhone is more communication oriented and the iPod Touch is more entertainment-oriented. Both gadgets use the same operating system and frameworks but there are differences in user interface elements.

I would love to see a way to transfer iPhone applications to the iPod Touch and the other way around. It would be an interesting combination that could be very popular with users. Apple is currently launching and marketing a lot of products and it will be interesting to see which one will have bigger success.

Browsing the internet I found what has to be the strangest mobile phone I have seen in a long, long time. I am sure you will agree with me on this, although some individuals have to love it since it is on sale. We have here a “Rocket Phone” that can also have a 2 megapixels camera on it, supports USB and microSD cards. Just picture yourself talking on such a mobile phone while at a coffee shop.

Source: PocketPics

After we got to hear about the exploding iPhone now we get news of a pregnant woman from India suffering burns after her Nokia mobile phone blew up, just minutes after she pot the handset on charge. Now in the case of the iPhone the reason was entirely of the users but now we have to turn our views towards the Finnish phone maker. Nokia warned people that their batteries are overheating and that around 100 such incidents were reported around the world.

The problem at hand is that the BL-5C series was recalled and was the one pin-pointed to have problems. The battery that exploded now was from the firm’s BL-D3 series. Injuries were not serious and the 30 year old Kishori Saha was released from the hospital after receiving first aid. It seems that the battery exploded 10 minutes after it was put on charge. According to the woman:

“I became nervous for a few seconds when the handset blew up triggering a ball of fire. Then I ran out of the flat”

Nokia promptly answered and said in a statement:

“It was an isolated incident. I guess the battery was obsolete. If we find that the handset, battery and charger are original, she would be compensated.

Note: the Nokia mobile phone in the picture has no relations to this case!