Mobile Phones - Reviews round-up

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  Rural highways get $8m mobile phone signal boost

  The government yesterday laid down AU$8 million for the next year to fill mobile phone black spots on sections of highway as well as selected towns in WA and NT.

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  Whaddyareckon?: Functionality vs. popularity

  In this week's Whaddyareckon? we're finding out what's more important when you buy a gadget: decent tech specs or the ability to draw jealous glances on the bus.

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  iPhone: Google Talk, new security threats

  Google is making its Google Talk instant-messaging application available for Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch, however these new applications come in light of new security scares.

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  Optus 3G iPhone pricing announced

  Optus will sell Apple's 8GB 3G iPhone for the outright price of AU$729 and AU$849 for the 16GB model, when purchased with Optus prepaid SIM cards.

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  Apple orders 50 million GB serve of flash chips

  Samsung is warning its customers that NAND flash memory might be hard to come by for some time after Apple placed a large order, according to a report out of Taiwan.

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  Apple considering slider-style iPhone?

  A new report suggests that Apple has developed prototypes of an iPhone with a hardware keyboard that slides under the display, but it won't be out until next year.

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  Telstra finally woos the iPhone

  Telstra customers won't have to feel left out any more, now that the telco has announced that the iPhone will be winging its way to its stores 11 July.

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  iTunes mobile media syncing: Unlock and load

  DoubleTwist converts iTunes tracks to MP3 and then syncs them to mobile phones and media.

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  Telstra unveils T[Life] Melbourne

  Telstra has thrown the covers off three new stores in Melbourne including the company's largest retail outlet located in the heart of Melbourne's CBD.

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  Photos: T[Life] Melbourne

  Telstra's new T[Life] store in Melbourne is glossy and enormous, and those south-of-the-border should count themselves lucky. Everyone else we bring you a virtual walk through.

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  Ferrari pimps the Motorola RAZR2 V9

  Forget phones that mimic a Ferrari car, here's the real (cross-branded) deal — the Motorola RAZR2 V9 Ferrari Special Edition.

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  Hummer, Cadillac and Cosmo phones

  Are you an ardent fan of Hummer's H-series four-wheel drives, Cadillac's sleek CTS sedan or Cosmo's sealed section? Well now you can get a mobile phone that's dressed and styled just like your favourite four-wheeler or magazine.

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  ZTE concept phones you can't have

  ZTE, the company behind several of Telstra's Next G handsets, was in Singapore showing off its current line-up, including a few very cool concept handsets.

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  LG on show at CommunicAsia 08

  LG may not have unveiled a new product at CommunicAsia 2008, but this didn't stop the company from maintaining an impressive presence at the expo showcasing numerous interesting mobile devices and accessories.

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  Samsung Omnia: Photo Gallery

  We'd heard the rumours, we'd seen the pictures and finally we had a chance to play with Samsung's flagship phone Omnia for ourselves.

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  Samsung U900: Hands on

  After waiting six months since we first saw the U900 at the World Mobile Congress, we've finally had our chance to get our grubby mitts all over its adaptive touch window.

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  Samsung mid-year roadshow

  Even with CommunicAsia 2008 just days away, Samsung has made time this week to show off some of the best of its upcoming mobile handset line-up.

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  Photos: Annoying hardware, a rogues' gallery

  Hardware may be less 'in your face' than software, but it can still ruin your day. We've listed our main bugbears: let us know if you agree.

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  Oi!: Telstra readies Next G mobiles for barcode invasion

  Uncross those eyes! It may look like a 3-D image but it's in fact a barcode designed to direct your web browser to a relevant web page, or a phone number to dial.

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  Oi!: Whereis Everyone tracks kids, cheating partners

  Telstra mobile customers can now keep tabs on loved ones and agreeable enemies with the newly launched Whereis Everyone service which tracks mobile phones via mobile towers, displaying users' locations on Whereis Maps.

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  Oi!: iPhone remote: Controlling iTunes from bed

  Have you reached the point of ultimate laziness and can't even be bothered to control iTunes from bed? Use your iPod or iPhone instead.

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  Oi!: Nokia's loud and proud Supernova series

  Nokia wants you to "Xpress yourself" with the Supernova range. Whether you're into 'mellow yellow', 'candy pink', or 'wasabi green', your phone will never look out of place at the circus again.

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  Oi!: Three asks customers to beg Apple for the iPhone

  Telco 3 has gone to extreme measures to get the iPhone, creating a website where customers can beg Apple to make the handset available on its network.

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  Oi!: LG reveals Mr. Big's Secret

  Tapping into the Sex and the City fervour of late, LG introduced Chris "Mr. Big" Noth as the brand ambassador for its Secret phone at a Sydney launch party.

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  Oi!: Googlify your Nokia

  Just like pimping your ride: Google has released a Google search bar to install on Nokia E- and N-series handsets.

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  Oi!: Motorola ZN5: Kodak and Moto in tag-team shocker

  Motorola and Kodak, two brands that are losing their once almighty grip in their respective fields, enter the ring together to make up lost ground on their heavyweight opponents.

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  Oi!: Plantronics reveals its arty Discovery

  It's fashion; it's art; it's a Bluetooth headset. Gather round and have a gander at the Plantronics Discovery 925.

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  Optus 3G iPhone pricing announced

  Optus will sell Apple's 8GB 3G iPhone for the outright price of AU$729 and AU$849 for the 16GB model, when purchased with Optus prepaid SIM cards.

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  Whereis Everyone tracks kids, cheating partners

  Telstra mobile customers can now keep tabs on loved ones and agreeable enemies with the newly launched Whereis Everyone service which tracks mobile phones via mobile towers, displaying users' locations on Whereis Maps.

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  Apple iPhone vs Nokia N95

  Will Apple's iPhone reshape the mobile phone market? Are there better devices actually available already? We put the iPhone head-to-head with its competition to see how it stacks up.

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  Top 5 PDA-phones

  These hybrid devices combine the organisational features of a traditional PDA with the communication capabilities of a mobile phone. To make your life easier, here are our current top five picks.

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  Samsung Omnia: Photo Gallery

  We'd heard the rumours, we'd seen the pictures and finally we had a chance to play with Samsung's flagship phone Omnia for ourselves.

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  Apple considering slider-style iPhone?

  A new report suggests that Apple has developed prototypes of an iPhone with a hardware keyboard that slides under the display, but it won't be out until next year.

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  Telstra finally woos the iPhone

  Telstra customers won't have to feel left out any more, now that the telco has announced that the iPhone will be winging its way to its stores 11 July.

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  Samsung i900 sneak peek

  Samsung has been hinting at a hot new release and our friends at CNET Asia managed to get a bit of face-time with this sexy new model.

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  Best free Windows Mobile software

  You dig your Windows Mobile device, but you'll love it more when it's loaded up with free software for entertainment, security and work. Find the best and brightest free downloads for your faithful handheld.

• Mobile phone buying tips

• Quick guide to 3G

• Camera phone tips

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  LG KF700

  Tossing the KF700 into a mobile market obsessed with the iPhone could be a tough pitch for LG. HSDPA data speeds and multiple methods of input could be what's needed to turn a few heads away from the competition.

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  BlackBerry 8707g

  The BlackBerry 8707g is reasonably zippy and easy-to-use, but lacks many common smartphone features like Wi-Fi and microSD memory expansion.

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  BlueAnt Supertooth 3

  The BlueAnt Wireless Supertooth 3 is an excellent choice for a portable car speakerphone, especially since it will read out incoming caller ID so you can keep your eyes on the road.

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  Samsung SBH700 Stereo Bluetooth Headset

  Samsung's Bluetooth stereo headset has a sporty look, but fails to cross the finish line properly.

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  Sony Ericsson C902

  Camera phones with 5 megapixels are no longer just for people with huge pockets. The C902 packs a very mean shooter into a very slim package and delivers excellent photos.

More reviews »

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  iPhone 3G (16GB)

  Though there are still some big features missing from the iPhone, the addition of 3G and GPS, the affordable price tag, and extra features from the iPhone 2.0 software update make the handset a worthy prospect.

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  Sony Ericsson C902

  Though there are still some big features missing from the iPhone, the addition of 3G and GPS, the affordable price tag, and extra features from the iPhone 2.0 software update make the handset a worthy prospect.

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  Nokia 6220 Classic

  Nokia's 6220 Classic is quite a feature-heavy handset for a mid-range phone, with a spec sheet similar to the flagship N96. HSDPA, Wi-Fi, assisted GPS and a 5-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics all packed into a relatively slim candybar form.

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  HTC Touch Diamond

  A swanky new 3D interface is just the tip of the iceberg for HTC's latest mobile. Add HSDPA, Wi-Fi, GPS, 4GB of storage and you have a handset worthy of challenging this year's strongest smartphones.

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  Nokia N96

  The Nokia N96 is a step up from the Nokia N95 8GB and offers some truly mouth-watering features.

More popular reviews »

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  Samsung i450

  Finally, a mobile phone with Bang & Olufsen audio technology that we can actually afford.

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  i-mate Ultimate 8502

  The first HSPA smartphone released in Australia may also be the best Windows Mobile available to date.

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  Sbp Mobile Shell 2.0

  Spb Mobile Shell 2.0 gives Windows Mobile an extreme makeover, giving the drab WM interface some flare and making the operating platform easier to use.

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  Sony Ericsson W890i

  The sleeker user interface, improved keypad and HSDPA make the W890i more attractive than its predecessor, the W880i.

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  Sony Ericsson S500i

  What the S500i lacks in the high-end gadgetry of its competition, it makes up for it in style, ease-of-use and its budget price tag.

More editors' choice »