Samsung announces first cellphone with night vision video

via DVICE by CharlieWhite on 7/2/09

Samsung, the company that feels good about brand-spamming its customers with untold hundreds of barely-different cellphones, finally differentiates itself with the first cellphone equipped with a night vision video camera. Samsung says the SCH-W760's infrared camera is perfect for users to videoconference in the dark.

We weren't aware the kids these days are calling those nocturnal interactions "videoconferencing," but hey, we do our best to keep up. Like you see in the pic above, this technology might be great for shooting videos of owls, and other night creatures.

Other than that 3-megapixel night shooting trick, this 3G slider is fairly conventional, using a 2.8-inch AMOLED display with 240x400 resolution. Available in Korea first, Samsung isn't saying if it will find its way Stateside, but we're guessing this see-in-the-dark cellphone tech will soon be widely available.

Behind The Scenes With Philips X810

via Yanko Design by Radhika Seth on 6/25/09

Ardent fans know that YD rarely covers real-live phones and lets the tech sites do the honors. On the rare occasions that we do cover them, it�s coz we try and bring out a different angle to the phone, like the design angle. I had the opportunity to interact with the Philips X810 designer Trent Stoddard and understand his sensibilities in designing this phone. The task at hand was to design a phone for the Chinese market, for a user who needed a large range of functions (like handwriting recognition) plus reflect luxury and individuality.

Relying on his trademark straightforward and honest design approach, Trent employed contrasting materials like stainless steel and rubber to scrounge out a �minimal yet iconic� design.

Inspiration is an integral part of design and Trent was inspired by bars of gold and silver and even organic elements like waves and sand dunes. Apparently the wave form at the answer keys acts to protect the screen when the phone is placed face-down. The detailing on the phone was inspired by fashion accessories like the buckles on handbags and shoes.

I know the techie in you wants to know the specs, so feast on it here.

BTW, care to tell me what inspires you designers when you sit on the drawing board? Leave me your comments; I�m sure they will inspire all of us!

Designer: Trent Stoddard for Philips

Mobile Script Phone Needs No Batteries

via Yanko Design by Long Tran on 6/16/09

Yay! It�s been awhile since we�ve posted a mobile phone concept that promises to do everything under the sun in the thinnest form factor. I was getting withdrawal symptoms. The Mobile Script phone explores what functions any contemporary mobile device should have; internet access, documents on the go, games, communication, and mobility.

It has 2 touch screens, one in a traditional candy bar style format, the other a flexible OLED that stiffens with a low voltage charge when you unfurl it. This layout enables maximum real estate when watching movies or editing documents when you need it.

Okay if that wasn�t enough, there�s more futurist fantasms. You don�t need to charge it, yes you heard right. The case is covered in a photo sensitive nano material that converts sun light into energy. Oh my!

You know what? I like it.

Designer: Aleksandr Mukomelov

Iwasaki Design Studio's elegant G9

via�Core77�on 6/6/09

It's hard not to like the "Global Use"�G9�phone, which breaks out of the typical iPhone-ocity with louvered keys on the slide-out deck, a chunky dock, and minimalist, elegant on-screen graphic design.

The G9 was designed by Ichiro Iwasaki, the man behind iida, a/k/a Iwasaki Design Studio.

(As for the "Global Use" moniker, the�product copy�mentions that the phone can be used worldwide, though it seems that depends on which model you buy.)

NTT gives us a peek at cellphones in 2015

via�DVICE�by CharlieWhite on 6/5/09

If Japan's number one telecommunications company NTT has its way, there could be a modular cellphone in your future, with various attachments that give the phone magical new powers. The star of the company's soothsaying is the flexible scroll attachment pictured here, giving you a big color screen to read the newspapers and magazines (and blogs) of 2015.

Take a look at this video, showing a couple of strange ideas NTT predicts we'll be writing about six years from now:

Why Should I Want This MID

via�Yanko Design�by Radhika Seth on 5/15/09

Really, why would I want this MID (Mobile Internet Device) over the current iPhone I use? Lord! I know you�re up to your neck with Apple banging, so for a change let�s compare it to an LG Arena, Samsung I7500 or even�BlackBerry Storm 2. Where does this MID score over the rest of these Internet efficient phones? Two places: Prime Real Estate i.e. a three screen setup that opens to 210 x 210 mm and an Integrated Stand.

On the flip side, this MID is merely a concept, but is pompous enough to include a clip-like anti-theft mechanism! I�m not going to get into the tech-specs, coz any dandy designer can pump out just about anything they like these days. So my focus stays on the screen.

How important is the screen of a mobile phone anyways. Plenty! Those who chanced on the LG Arena etc. will have to admit, that when you are using a device that small for net browsing, you wished for that moment the screen was a bit larger. Unfortunately I do need to quote Apple here, but damn; the panning in and out on the iPhone, sure compensates for not having a large computer screen handy. So yeah, a mobile device with a three tier screen layout giving easy keyboard access to fat fingers really scores, even if it�s a concept!

Designer: Petr Kub�k

Sony Black Tribute

via�Yanko Design�by Radhika Seth on 5/6/09

Concepts and Apple don�t go hand in hand, however that hasn�t deterred designers from conjuring up iterations to challenge the stalwart. The latest challenge is aimed at disturbing the iPhone mania on three simple grounds; an appealing fa�ade, discreet buttons and ample screen. The �Sony Black Tribute� that we see here, woos you with its ultra-wide screen and hot looks. Finished in aluminum with a satin touch; this phone scores well in the looks department. Unfortunately there are no tech-specs (apart from 3.2 mp cam) that we can boast about.

With challenging concept designs like the Intel�MID�(heavy-duty tech specs) and this Sony Black Tribute (gorgeous looks) popping up every now and then, there is every bit chance that we see Apple hitting us square in the face this summer, with a bombastic piece that is a mish-mash of such designs!

Designer:�Jaren Goh

Motorola Evoke QA4 Looks Like the Bastard Son of the iPhone and Pre

via�Gizmodo�by Jesus Diaz on 3/30/09

The Evoke QA4 may be one of Motorola's very few last chances against their market irrelevance and the unstoppable touchscreen cellphone wave. One that looks like a genetic experiment between an iPhone and a Pre.

Of course, if it uses the same operating system as previous Motorola cellphones, the good looks and its 2.8-inch touchscreen won't amount to a hill of beans in the land of iPhone OS, Android, Web OS, and software applications. The Evoque QA4 also has a sliding 12-key pad for some clickity-clack calling action.

The�Motorola Evoque QA4�will be shown at CTIA. [Mobilecrunch]