How to read Exif data from your image files

Antony Pranata offers a very nice tip on Exif data on his blog which might be good for camera phone and digital camera users alike.

Exif data is metadata stored in JPEG and TIFF image files by digital cameras. It allows you to view the settings used for taking the picture, including the camera model, aperture, focal length, exposure, flash used and a lot more.

Exif data as seen in Windows XP
Exif data as seen in Windows XP

A subset of Exif data is readable by the Windows XP operating system. Simply right-click on the file, go to Properties and then in the Summary tab, pick Advanced. As you can see from the picture, some information is missing, such as the flash used.

Under Mac OS X, you can view Exif data with the Finder. Simply do a Get Info on a file and expand the More Info section.

Alternatively, you can use a free program such as Exif Reader (WinXP only) for retrieving Exif information from a file to obtain information not displayed in the file properties of your operating system.

Source: Displaying Exif Information from JPEG Images

iPhone: the good, the bad and the ugly

The blogosphere is currently exploding with opinions on Apple’s latest gadget: the iPhone. Before reading what other bloggers think of the iPhone, I want to produce my very own unbiased opinion first. Here’s my take on the iPhone:

The good

Safari on the iPhone Web tablet. I was surprised to hear the iPhone would also serve as a web tablet with Wifi connectivity. This is great news for people not wanting to carry their laptop computer around when they travel or for the casual geek who needs his daily fix of slashdot at the cafe.
iPod Shuffle iPod functionalities. The iPhone being backed up by the iPod brand will be a sure success. The iPod has already proven its point in the music industry and it is currently the most famous music player around. Adding all of the iPod functionalities in the iPhone will surely boost its sales.
iPhone to run OS X OS X. While I personally dislike the OS X operating system for its over-user-friendliness, I think it makes a great operating system for a casual user. The integrated web browsing capabilities of the iPhone will be very well-supported by OS X, and the operating system leaves to door open for all kind of marvelous software.

The bad

Apple XCode Closed to independent developers. Apparently, the iPhone will be closed to independent software developer. That means one thing: less software available. If this is true, we’ll see how fast Apple and licensed developers can release new applications for the iPhone.
Fries Greasy touch screen. I dislike touch screens. They get all dirty with finger grease. The only touch screens I find acceptable are those that use a stylus like on a Palm or on a Nintendo DS, but they are annoying to carry and I don’t see myself dialing a phone number with a stylus. I will miss the keypad on the iPhone.
iPhone launches first on Cingular Cingular only (initial launch). I was hoping the iPhone would launch as an unlocked phone, bringing the cellular phone market into a new era. Apple had the power to do it. Locked cell phones are only beneficial to carriers and are currently a real pain for users.
No 3G on the iPhone? No 3G? From what I’ve seen of the iPhone, it will only support EDGE, a relatively slow data transmission technology. Whether EDGE is considered 2G or 3G depends on the carrier and is up for another debate. A phone of this caliber should at least offer the latest data transfer technology available for downloading music over cellular networks, such as W-CDMA. I hope they manage to slip the feature in before the phone launches next June.

The ugly

Despite the fact that the iPhone is not the revolution I was hoping for, and despite all its drawbacks, I still want one. It looks slick, it offers a lot of functionalities and it combines three things I like: the internet, music and communications. However, I will not spend $599 on a device I can only use with one carrier. I’ll wait until an unlocked version is available.

What are monophonic, polyphonic and true tone ringtones?

While most cellular phones now support all three types of ringtones, it is good to know the difference between monophonic, polyphonic and true tone ringtones before spending bandwidth (or worst, money) on a ringtone version of the latest James Bond theme.

Monophonic ringtones

Monophonic ringtoneIn the early days of cellular technology, most cell phones were only able to emit basic tones on different frequencies. The monophonic ringtone uses basic sequencing technology to play a song: it’s a one instrument, one note at a time thing. Monophonic ringtones are a good choice if you are looking for a clear, easy to discern ringtone for your cellular phone. Most monophonic ringtones are available for free or for very little money because they have since been outclassed by the more popular polyphonic and true tone ringtones.

Polyphonic ringtones

Polyphonic ringtoneLike the monophonic ringtone, the polyphonic ringtone employs sequencing technology but to a much higher level. Instead of playing only one note at a time, up to 40 notes can play at the same time. Polyphonic ringtones can also emulate different musical instruments, simulating a digital orchestra in your pocket when your phone rings. Polyphonic ringtones lack one thing: the ability to use digitalized audio samples.

True tone (or real tone) ringtones

True tone ringtone example: Crazy FrogTrue tone ringtones, also called real tone or full music ringtones, can play actual music. Addressing the issue of instrument samples limitation, the true tone ringtone can play fully digitalized audio samples such as MP3s, including the vocals. While true tone ringtones can be highly personalized, they are often quieter and harder to discern in a busy environment so they might not be the best choice for someone who works in a shopping center. True tone ringtones gave birth to the most annoying ringtone ever created, the Crazy Frog ringtone.

The ringtone business is currently flourishing: worldwide, it’s a $4 billion market. With over 50% of all US cell phone users having downloaded a ringtone at least once, ringtones are also a great marketing tool for audio products. Do not be fooled by the possiblities a true tone ringtone offers you though: nothing will ever replace the stunning clarity of a monophonic ringtone!

Steve Jobs announces Apple iPhone!

Steve Jobs announced the iPhone today during his keynote at MacWorld 2007.

Apple iPhone

The iPhone features three devices into one

The iPhone combines three devices into one: a 2 megapixel camera phone, a widescreen iPod able to play music and video files, and a cutting edge internet communication device. The iPhone features a touch-screen 3.5 inch display that will even let your read ebooks! The iPhone is very thin, even thinner than the Motorola RAZR.

The iPhone is more than just a phone

There is no doubt that the iPhone will be a great piece of technology: it will even run a version of Apple’s operating system OS X. Wifi ready, the iPhone will let you access the internet anywhere with the Safari browser. Coming standard with Google and Yahoo search, you’ll be able to synchronize your bookmarks between your PC and the iPhone. Full multitasking is also supported.

The iPhone has huge memory capacity

What’s more - the iPhone will come with a huge flash memory capacity. We’re talking 4GB and 8GB. That’s enough memory to hold about 1 full DVD movie or 1600 songs!

Apple iPhone

Before it was even announced, the iPhone was already a legend. Apple will score big with the release of the iPhone, which is due in June 2007.

101 Uses for a camera phone

Uses for a camera phone
Photo credit: Samsung
I have compiled a list of 101 uses for a camera phone to convince myself (and others) that the camera feature on you cellular phone can really be useful. All of these uses are legitimate and have already been tried by someone somewhere in the world.

101 Uses for a camera phone

  1. Use your camera phone to look under your car without getting all dirty.
  2. Take a picture of a take-out menu in a restaurant in preparation for your next visit.
  3. Every time you see something you like in a store, take a picture of it. The next time someone asks you what you want for your birthday or for Christmas, send him your photos.
  4. Property inventory. Use your camera phone to document your belongings in the case of a natural disaster or robbery.
  5. Use pictures to document car mileage when you travel for business.
  6. At a show or convention, snap the contact names and business information that interest you.
  7. When attending a conference, take pictures of the powerpoint presentation.
  8. Take pictures of the intersections, subway stations and buildings when you travel to a foreign city. It will help you find your way around.
  9. If you find something you think your wife would want, send a picture of it to her cell phone and then ask her if she would like this.
  10. Take a picture of your children before entering a theme park. If one of them gets lost, you will have a very good description along with what he was wearing.
  11. Entertain kids by taking their pictures or playing a photo version of scavenger hunt. Give them a list of objects they must take a picture of.
  12. When shopping for glasses take a picture of yourself and send it to your wife. Ask her which pair she prefers.
  13. Digitally memorize your parking ticket’s expiring hour.
  14. Take a snapshot of posters announcing shows you’d like to see.
  15. Upload videos straight to YouTube from your camera phone.
  16. Document bumper stickers you like (NOT while you’re driving).
  17. Grab prices for comparison. Make sure you remember in which store you took the picture though.
  18. Document medical problems. Show your pictures to your doctor the next time you see him.
  19. Film your office parties. I guarantee you will have plenty of occasions to have fun back at the office.
  20. If you’re a journalist or writer, take quick snapshots of locations or events you want to write about.
  21. When you travel, take a snapshot of important phone numbers, such as the phone number of the local forest ranger before entering a national park.
  22. Spam your friends’ cell phone with pictures of your high score at video games (I’ve done this).
  23. If you can’t remember the number on your ink cartridges, keep a picture of them on your cell phone.
  24. When browsing the yellow pages, take a picture of the yellow page ads along with the map and information.
  25. When fixing plumbing, take a picture of the configuration of the pipes before going to the plumbing store.
  26. Take a picture of the “For Sale” signs outside houses you’d like to buy.
  27. Take a picture of dip switch settings on computer equipment before toying with them.
  28. Document your collection of DVDs. Useful when exchanging DVDs with friends.
  29. With your camera phone you are always ready if you see a celebrity walking down the street. Paparazzi are us.
  30. If you’re bad with names, add a picture next to the names on your contact list.
  31. Grab a picture of the next thing you need to do. Use it as a wall paper.
  32. Take a picture of the city maps or shopping mall maps so you can carry them around on your cell. Don’t trust the ‘You are here’ sign though.
  33. Keep others updated as you travel by sending photos directly to their email address.
  34. Use your camera phone to send a map to someone who’s lost.
  35. Set a picture you took as wallpaper on your cell phone.
  36. Film a co-worker in a delicate situation and use it to blackmail him. That’s one free cup of coffee a day.
  37. Take a picture of your luggage/bags at the airport. It will come in handy if you happen to loose them.
  38. Use a camera phone to help you stay in touch with your family when you are separated. Pictures often speak louder than words, especially with the lil’ uns.
  39. Self-portrait. Some camera phones will even display what the camera sees on the outside LCD screen to help with the framing.
  40. Overcome language barriers. A picture is worth a thousand words.
  41. Go Feng Shui. You will need a Feng Shui cell phone though.
  42. Keep track of work resources you might need. Grab a picture of them and send it to your manager.
  43. Keep track of prices at the grocery store.
  44. If you get involved in a car accident, take pictures of the scene, the damage and the other driver’s license plate. Remember to smile.
  45. Scare shots. Lots of scare shots.
  46. While looking up a book at the library, take a picture of the reference number instead of writing it down.
  47. Upload photos to Flickr directly from your phone.
  48. Take a picture of the business cards you get.
  49. Snap the business hours of places you frequent.
  50. Take a picture of your car’s license plate, serial number, insurance papers and any other pertinent information. If it gets stolen you will have that information handy. Beware though, this is sensitive information.
  51. Entertain kids by taking a close-up picture of an object and ask them to identify it.
  52. Take shots of any damaged package before opening it.
  53. If you are a real-estate agent, get an edge on the competition by sending pictures of a house to potential buyers.
  54. Take pictures of movies you would like to see. The next time you rent a movie or go to the theater, you will spend less time making your selection.
  55. Snap information written on a post-it memo and then throw the memo away.
  56. When running errands, take a snapshot of what you have to buy before you leave.
  57. Use your camera phone to remember things you want to Google.
  58. Take a picture of a recipe you would like to try.
  59. Keep pictures of your children, wife or friends on your cell phone. It will make your wallet lighter.
  60. Girls – when you go shopping, take pictures of clothing items you want and send them to all your friends for instant advice.
  61. Contest parking tickets. The pictures may sometimes be used as evidence.
  62. Show people where you’ve put things. Take a picture of the item in its new location and send it to the concerned persons’ phones.
  63. Fight crime. A good picture of a criminal is worth a lot to the proper authorities.
  64. Keep a photo journal. Take a picture every day. After one year you’ll be able to review everything you’ve done during the year.
  65. Snap a shot of the train schedule at the station instead of grabbing a paper copy.
  66. Use your camera phone to loose weight with MyFoodPhone. Take a snapshot of your food and use their service to send it to a dietician for review.
  67. Take photos of apartments when you go apartment hunting.
  68. Take a picture of your todo list so you don’t have to carry the paper version around.
  69. Take photographs of books in bookshops to look them up later on Amazon.
  70. Use your camera phone as a mirror. You can take a picture of yourself from all kind of different angles.
  71. Take photos of the classroom blackboard to catch assignments.
  72. Use your wallpaper as a focusing tool. Take a picture of what you should be focusing on, be it studies, work or family and use it as a wall paper on your phone.
  73. Before going to the grocery store, take pictures of your food shelves.
  74. Use a picture to remember IP addresses instead of writing them down.
  75. Use a picture to remember where you parked.
  76. When browsing a catalog, take a picture of the items you want before going to the store.
  77. When you disassemble something, use your camera phone to document the steps so you can reassemble it later.
  78. Buy a macro lens for your camera phone and get into macro photography.
  79. Remember good wines. Take a picture of the labels.
  80. Start a Moblog.
  81. Take pictures of furniture you consider buying at the store. When you get back home, look at the pictures and see which one fits best in your home.
  82. In a foreign country, photograph your hotel along with its name if it’s hard to pronounce. If you get lost, show the picture to people on the street, they will most likely be able to point you in the right direction.
  83. Enter a camera phone photo contest.
  84. Stay motivated. Grab a picture of something you really want to accomplish. Use it as a wallpaper.
  85. When shopping for someone else, use your camera phone to double check your shopping list. Send a picture to the other person’s cell phone to confirm you are buying the right thing.
  86. At a concert, instead of lifting a lighter show the band your best snapshot. Lighters are sooo yesterday.
  87. Photograph landscaping ideas.
  88. Get a picture of your hotel room number so you don’t forget what it is.
  89. A camera phone earns you bragging rights. You get 1 bragging right per megapixel, twice if it has a flash.
  90. Take a picture of on-screen instructions instead of printing them out.
  91. Stay in touch with your travel buddies. Send a picture of your location to their cell phone.
  92. Annoy your boss, friends, wife, kids by taking pictures of them when they’re mad.
  93. When looking for a job, have your camera phone ready to snap photos of job advertisement posters outside stores.
  94. Take a picture of interesting designs. Look them up later when you need inspiration.
  95. Take a picture of a haircut that turned out well. Document the sides and the back of your head.
  96. Document your collection of video games. Useful when exchanging video games with friends.
  97. Document new meals you have at a restaurant to remember what you liked and didn’t like.
  98. Use your camera phone to remember brands you prefer. Take a picture of the box/wrapping.
  99. Become a photojournalist. Send photos of news you witness to Yahoo
  100. When you see a furniture arrangement you like, snap a picture of it and keep it in your archives.
  101. And of course you can simply take pictures of your vacation, friends or family.

I would like to thank About.com, Textually Picture Phoning, Lifehacker and 43folders who already had articles on the subject and served as a source of inspiration for this compilation.

What about you? Have you ever used your camera phone in a fun, creative or productive way? Add to the list by leaving a comment. Note that only legitimate entries will be kept.

Carnival of the Mobilists taking place at Wap Review

The Carnival of the Mobilists is back after a long holiday break. This installment of the Carnival is hosted by Wap Review and it features a selection of 20 great articles on mobile technology sorted in 4 categories: History and Prognostication, Reviews, Technology and Business Plans.

I encourage you to visit Wap Review for a good read!

CDMA vs. GSM, which one is the best for you?

CDMA vs. GSMCDMA vs. GSM: the two major network technologies are fighting each other worldwide. The CDMA vs. GSM debate has many advocates on both sides, since CDMA and GSM both have their advantages. When choosing a cell phone carrier you may have to figure out which of these two technologies is the best for you. Hopefully, this article will help you pick a side in the CDMA vs. GSM war.

CDMA vs. GSM: Breakdown of the technologies

CDMA vs. GSM

The Origins

CDMA: Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) is a technology developed by Qualcomm in the United States, and it is currently the dominant network standard in North America.

GSM: Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) was invented in 1987 by the GSM Association, an international organization dedicated to developing the GSM standard worldwide.

There is no clear winner in the CDMA vs. GSM debate here; it all depends on your needs. CDMA was established earlier in North America and thus has a bit more coverage than GSM. GSM on the other hand is an international standard backed by an international organization.

Coverage

CDMA: CDMA is mostly used in America and some parts of Asia. It is currently making progress in other parts of the world, but the coverage is still limited compared to the GSM technology. Its support is currently non-existent in Europe because the European Union mandates the sole use of GSM. In North America however, CDMA generally offers a better coverage than GSM in some rural areas because it was deployed earlier. The CDMA network reaches over 270 millions users worldwide.

GSM: GSM being an international standard, it is better suited for international roaming, provided you own a quad-band cell phone (850/900/1800/1900 MHz). The GSM network is also well established in North America, but not as much as the CDMA network yet. The GSM network reaches over a billion users worldwide.

CDMA is prominent in North America, but GSM reaches a lot more users worldwide (about 270 millions for CDMA and 1 billion for GSM). In the CDMA against GSM debate, GSM wins if you plan to travel to foreign countries but CDMA might have a better coverage in your area.

Data transfer

CDMA: The best data transfer technology CDMA has to offer is the EVDO technology, allowing for a maximum download speed of about 2mb/s (about 700kbps in practice), which is similar to what a DSL line has to offer. EVDO is not available everywhere yet and requires a cell phone that is EVDO ready.

GSM: GSM on the other hand offers EDGE, allowing for a maximum download speed of 384kbps (around 140kbps in practice). More technologies are being developed on top of EDGE such as HSDPA to boost the transfer rate to over 384kbps in practice. This technology requires an EDGE-ready cell phone.

CDMA offers faster data download. GSM is catching up fast, but its EDGE technology is subject to interferences. CDMA would therefore be the favored choice for data transfer.

Phone Identification (SIM cards)

CDMA: On a CDMA phone, your account information is programmed into your cellular phone. If you want to change your phone, you have to contact your carrier and have them reprogram your new phone. You will also need to re-enter your contact list and calendar information into your new phone. If you have a lot of contacts, your carrier might be able to help you perform this task.

GSM: On a GSM phone your account information along with your contact list and other personal data are stored on a SIM card (Subscriber Identity Module) which is a small chip you can freely remove from your phone. When you get a new mobile device, you can simply insert your SIM card into it and it will work with your current account information and contact list. If you travel to another country, it might even be possible to purchase a prepaid SIM card which you can use to avoid roaming fees.

GSM is a clear winner here. The SIM card technology offers many advantages.

Which technology is the best for me?

When asking yourself which technology to choose between CDMA and GSM, first ask yourself the following questions:

1. Is international roaming important to me? If you travel a lot to foreign countries, you might want to opt for a GSM phone for a better coverage.

2. Am I going to transfer a lot of data using the phone? Currently, CDMA offers the best data transfer speed with its EVDO technology and is the clear winner for now. If you intend to use the phone for mobile web browsing, watching television or downloading MP3s, you might be better off with a CDMA phone.

3. Do I plan to change phone often? If you do, a GSM phone is best for you since you can swap the SIM card to a new device without having to re-enter your personal data.

Once you have established your basic needs, compare CDMA and GSM signals in your region. Also compare the carriers offering both services in your area. Talk to your friends and colleagues and ask them if they are satisfied with their cell phone carrier and how good their signal is.

Remember, when choosing between CDMA vs. GSM, preferring a network technology over another also means limiting your choice in carriers.

How to fix a wet cell phone and prevent water damage

One day at the pool, the inevitable happens: you get thrown into the water by a bunch of your drunken buddies. In any case, the $300 cell phone that was in your pocket got wet. Unless you own a water proof cell phone, you’ll want to know exactly how to dry out a wet cell phone, because you might still be able to repair it.

1. Remove the battery. This is the most important part! Damage in wet electronic devices mostly comes from short circuits. Removing the battery quickly will prevent electricity from further damaging the phone. Resist the temptation to test the phone while it is still wet!

2. Remove the SIM card (if applicable). The SIM card should have survived, but make sure you don’t use it again until it has dried completely.

3. Disassemble the phone. Use the required screwdrivers to disassemble the phone as much as you can. Note that disassembling the phone will probably void your warranty, but then so will dropping the phone in water. You’ve got nothing to lose. The reason for the disassembly is simple: the phone will dry up much faster once it is disassembled. You could skip this step, but water can remain inside the phone for weeks if you don’t do it.

4. Dry the phone as much as possible using q-tips or paper towels or a similar material. This will prevent water from getting further into the phone. Two ideas to help with the drying:

  • Heat the phone. Heat will help water evaporate. Leaving the phone under a desk lamp for 24 or 48 hours might help. WARNING: Do not overheat! Just a little warmth is enough. Heating the phone too much can further increase the damage done to it.
  • Use a fan. Leave the phone under a desk fan for 24 or 48 hours.

5. Test the phone. After a few days (usually two or three), the phone should be clean and dry. Reassemble the phone and put the SIM card and battery pack back in. If it doesn’t work, there is a chance your battery has died from water damage. Try an alternative power source. You can get another battery for cheap if your phone still works.

As always, be very careful when disassembling electronic devices. Know you warranties and insurances well before attempting anything, and make sure you note how to reassemble the phone. Repair a wet cell phone at your own risks.

Hopefully, you will manage to save your wet cell phone from drowning!

Text messaging: the difference between SMS, EMS and MMS

The various acronyms used to describe the different kind of text messaging services are not always intuitive and can be confusing to new users. Hopefully the following breakdown of the three most popular messaging services will help clear things up.

1. SMS
SMS stands for Short Message Service and is the most widely used type of text messaging. With a SMS, you can send a message of up to 160 characters to another device. Longer messages can be split up into several parts. Most cell phones support this type of text messaging, and sending a SMS is usually very cheap. SMSs can also be used to access various services from a portable device, such as Google and MSN. Spam sent as SMS is also becoming more common.

2. EMS
EMS means Enhanced Messaging Service and is an extension of the SMS. It provides SMS with functionalities such as text formatting (bold or italic fonts) and limited picture and animation support. If an EMS is sent to a phone that doesn’t support it, it will display as a standard SMS. EMS will probably be rendered obsolete by MMS.

3. MMS
MMS stands for Multimedia Messaging Service and this type of text messaging is an evolution of the SMS. With a MMS, you can send a message including pictures, video or audio content to another device. It is very useful to send a photo taken with a camera phone to another phone. Most new cell phones with multimedia capabilities support MMS. Because the size of the message is defined in kilobytes, a MMS can contain a lot more information than a SMS. Be careful, carriers can sometimes charge high fees for data transfer over their network if it’s not included in your plan.

Now get to your keypads and start typing!

Sony Ericsson Z610

Sony has announced the Sony Ericsson Z610 cell phone this week. The Z610 is a small cell phone that has both style and a unique design.

The Sony Ericsson Z610 has a sleek mirror finish and comes in a clamshell form. The unique design features an outside OLED display that blends perfectly well with the rest of the phone, so much that it is invisible when turned off. When the user receives an event such as a phone call or a SMS message, the outside display turns on and shows information that seem to be floating on the surface of the phone.

It’s not all about the design; the Sony Ericsson Z610 has a lot of technology under the hood. Sony Ericsson Z610The 2.0 megapixel camera has a 2.5x digital zoom and allows the user to take pictures and upload them directly to the internet on a blog using the Picture Blog application that comes with the phone. Furthermore, the Z610 supports both music and video playback along with 3D games and 3G capabilities. As if it weren’t enough, the cell phone is also compatible with Bluetooth Stereo and it comes with a 64mb Memory Stick Micro that is upgradeable.

The Sony Ericsson Z610 is a fine piece of technology and it looks very promising. It will be available this fall in Europe.

Sony Ericsson Z610 News Release

Sony Ericsson today announces the Z610; a stylish 3G phone that blends performance with stand-out design. The sleek mirror finish on the front cover gives the phone a jewel-like quality that is complimented by a hidden ‘magic mirror’ display which can only be seen when in use. This striking phone delivers on its good looks: its advanced feature set includes a 2.0 Megapixel camera and broadband-speed 3G connectivity. With such a unique design and a choice of three eye-catching colours – Luster Black, Rose Pink & Airy Blue – Z610 is the clamshell to be seen with.

“The unique design of the Z610 is inspired by nature. We have applied a mirror finish and used a hidden display for the first time to achieve the feel of a calm ocean surface” says Eiji Shintani, Art Director, Creative Design Centre, Sony Ericsson. “OLED technology has enabled us to build in a display that doesn’t interrupt the seductive, reflective qualities on the front of the phone. And given that Z610 is also a highly-specified device, it appeals to the design conscious that need a phone for every day use.”

The magic of the Z610 is revealed when a call comes in or the user receives an SMS or MMS. The hidden external display illuminates, giving the effect that the caller-ID information is floating on the face of the phone itself.

The distinctive design of the Z610 is matched by a feature set that lets the user get the most from their mobile phone. The Picture Blog application allows the user to share photographs with friends and family, via an online ‘blogsite’, within just a few clicks. Simply take a shot with the Z610’s 2.0 Megapixel camera and upload (or blog) the images directly to the site.

The Z610’s 3G capability, coupled with its large 2.0 inch screen, makes video calling and accessing the Internet a pleasure; and with support for Push Email and RSS feeds that deliver the latest news updates direct to your mobile, it’s so much more than a pretty face.

And when its time to reflect, support for Memory Stick Micro™ (M2™) allows for generous storage of photos, video clips and MP3 files. This popular and portable storage format is available in memory sizes up to 1GB – that equates to around 2,800 pictures of 2.0 Megapixel quality.

Z610 is available in selected markets from Q3 2006.

Z610 – Features at a glance:

* Imaging & Messaging
o Main screen: 2.0”, 262k colour TFD, 220×176 pixel
o External screen: OLED, 128×36 pixel
o 2.0 Megapixel Integrated Camera
o 2.5 x Digital Zoom for still imaging
o Picture Blog
o Picture Wallpaper
o SVG Tiny 1.1
o Video telephony
o QCIF Video recording and streaming
o VideoDJ™ & PhotoDJ™
o Wallpaper animation
o SMS, MMS (Photo Messaging)
o Predictive text input
o Push e-mail
o Sound recorder

* Music & Entertainment
o 3D games
o Flight mode
o Embedded games
o Java MIDP 2.0
o Music player with support for MP3, AAC, AAC+ and eAAC+
o MusicDJ™
o PlayNow™
o Polyphonic ringtones (72 voices)

* Connectivity
o UMTS 2100
o GPRS 900/1800/1900
o Bluetooth™
o Bluetooth™ stereo (A2DP) support
o USB 2.0 mass storage
o USB charging
o 64MB Memory Stick Micro™ (M2™) in kit. Support of up to 1 GB
o Fast port connector
o Flight mode
o HTML full browser with RSS
o PC Tools and software

* Accessories

CORE ACCESSORIES
o Desk Stand CDS-60
o Travel Charger CMT-60
o Bluetooth Headset HBH-PV705
o Bluetooth Headset HBH-GV435
o Bluetooth Car Speakerphone HCB-100
OTHER ACCESSORIES
o Bluetooth™ Headset HBH- IV835
o Music Desk Stand MDS-60
o Portable Speakers MPS-60
o Bluetooth™ Car Handsfree HCB-700

* Availability

Available: Within Q3 2006
o Available colours:
o Luster Black
o Rose Pink
o Airy Blue

Sony Ericsson Z610 Reviews

GSM Arena reviews the Sony Ericsson Z610 and writes - “Sony Ericsson Z610 will provide you with 3G support, a standard 2 megapixel camera, a music player, and a Memory Stick Micro card slot. Not a bad offer, don’t you think? I am just a bit reluctant about the absence of EDGE and Infrared port. The dust-covered camera lens (a consequence of the lack of protection) and the rather unnecessary state diode in one of the phone’s corners won’t probably excite users either.

Pocket-lint reviews the Sony Ericsson Z610 and says - “In the flesh though and it’s seems to have been a disappointment all round. Sony Ericsson should be applauded for not skimping on features just because they have made a phone that looks good, and for this the Z610 clearly out-performs any competition in the fashion genre, but as a fashion phone it is as shallow as a catwalk model.