cell phone

Swiss Watchmaker Ulysse Nardin to Launch Ltd. Edition 'Kinetic' Smartphone

Filed under: Gadgets, Timepieces / Watches

Famed Swiss watchmaker Ulysse Nardin has partnered with European firm SCI Innovations to create what's being billed as the world's first hybrid smartphone, blending a high-tech communications tool with a classic and elegant timepiece. Dubbed the Chairman, the luxurious limited edition phone pairs cutting-edge kinetic technology with the pedigree of Ulysse Nardin, founded in 1846. The Chairman will be launched at the Ulysse Nardin booth at BaselWorld in Switzerland at the end of the month, and will go on sale later this year.

While details are limited, we can tell you that the phone will be able to use any mobile phone service provider in the world and includes several components never seen before in a smartphone. A Ulysse Nardin kinetic rotor system has been incorporated into the Chairman's mechanical and aesthetic design. The blue and rose gold phone is hand-assembled under the watchmaker's strictest guidelines, and each bears a numbered plaque.

Tags: BaselWorld, Cell phone, CellPhone, Mobile phone, MobilePhone, Smartphone, switzerland, Ulysse Nardin, UlysseNardin

The Motorola RAZR L�K

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

Despite being out of the spotlight lately, Motorola hasn't given up on the RAZR and they've released a new, luxe model of the popular phone called the Motorola RAZR LúK. It's only available in one color but we think you won't mind since it's classic pearl white combined with equally classic (and shiny!) 18k gold plating. The phone's shape, keyplate, and flip design all remain unchanged but the interior specs of this 3G model are updated with HSDPA connectivity, video calling, bluetooth, and pretty much everything else you'd expect in a RAZR. I love it.

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Tags: cell phone, cell phones, CellPhone, CellPhones, luk, motorola, motorola luk, motorola razr, MotorolaLuk, MotorolaRazr, phone, phones, razr

The New Nokia Carbon Arte Attempts to Prove the Cell Phone is Not Dead

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

It's not a Blackberry. It's not an iPhone. It's just a phone. The new Nokia Carbon Arte attempts to prove that the cell phone is not dead.

It has panels crafted with leather from Eastern India. Its sister phone, the Sapphire Arte has a sapphire "select" key. Both phones include a "groovy" soundtrack by Austrian duo Kruder & Dorfmeister. Each has a 3.2 megapixel camera, 1 GB of built-in memory, and 3G capabilities. We like the weight, the way it slides open to reveal the keypad (shown), and the really cool silencing mechanism -- if you turn over the phone to screen-side-down when it's ringing, it stops.

Is the heyday of the cell phone over? At 1000 - 1500 euros, this is definitely a luxury item, but who among the elite wants a phone that doesn't surf the web?

Are Cell Phones Over?
Yes. Blackberries and iPhones, and whatever is next.	84 (53.2%)
No, cell phones are still a great luxury item	74 (46.8%)

Tags: cell phone, CellPhone, nokia, nokia carbon arte, phone, polls

Gresso AvantGarde Skeleton Phone

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

Skeleton watches are very popular simply because it's fun to watch those tiny pieces in action safe behind a sapphire crystal. Gresso has created the Gresso Avantgarde Skeleton to give a similar experience to the cell phone. The limited edition phone is made of titanium alloy with a scratch-proof high-tech ceramic coverage. The 23 function keys and the triangle on the front panel are executed of aircraft steel. The sapphire glass on the back panel is decorated with the Gresso logo covered with 10 micron gold. The phone features Windows Mobile 6 Standard, 2 Gb memory, SMS/MMS/e-mail, Internet explorer, Outlook, WAP 2.0, GPRS, Bluetooth, USB-port, mini-USB, PC Synchronization, voice recorder, MP3-player, 2 MP camera.

Why do you need a skeleton window on a cell phone? That's the big mystery. I'm pretty sure there's not too much to see back there unless Gresso has developed some type of motorized circuitry. It sells for $5,000.

[via Crunch Gear]

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Tags: cell phone, gresso, skeleton

Prada & LG Team Up

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets, Timepieces / Watches

Sleek Prada phone and matching, synchronized watch

Cell phones have nearly become the new watches.

Personally, I'm not a fan of this trend. I love watches. Watches have history, a long tradition of craftsmanship and beauty. Cell phones tend to last two years at most and break a lot. Using your cell phone as your watch may save you the money and trouble of finding and elegant watch, but it's sort of like using a backpack for a purse.

Prada has come out with an interesting pairing of watch and cell phone, above. Prada and LG have teamed up to bring you a watch that receives all your Prada/LG phone's text messages, call data, and it also has a Reject Call function. You wouldn't have to dig out your phone every time if beeps, you could just look at your watch and decide whether it was worth it. Very James Bond, or at least Penny from Inspector Gadget.

[via gizmodo.com]

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Tags: cell, cell phone, lg, mobile, mobile phone, phone, prada, watch

The $2,000 Motorola Aura

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets, Timepieces / Watches

Now that's a phone. The $2,000 Motorola Aura is here, and lookalikes are bound to follow.

The Aura has the world's first circular display with 16 million colors and a 300 dpi resolution. The lens isn't just scratch resistant, it's Grade 1 62-carat sapphire crystal. The casing is stainless steel, coated with PVD coating (like on a luxury watch), and it rotates open with the help of 130 precision ball bearings.

All the usual technologies (2 megapixel camera, Bluetooth, Open Source browser) are included in this sleek, attractive 47.60 x 96.87 x 18.55mm phone.

Blackberries are for assistants.

Just in time for the holidays, you can order one now to be shipped out December 4th.

[via engadgetmobile.com]

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Tags: aura, bluetooth, camera phone, cell, cell phone, CellPhone, mobile, mobile phone, motorola, open source, phone

Are Landline Phones Only for the Rich?

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets, Services

It used to be that having a mobile phone was a fairly expensive treat but oh how things have changed. In a strange twist it now seems that owning a landline has become the true luxury.

A recent Nielsen survey found that not only have 17% of homes already gone landline-less but that number is predicted to jump to a full 1/5 of the population (20%) by the end of the year.

So what's causing this trend? Finances, for most. It's a cold hard fact that for most people cell phones are cheaper to own and operate than landlines, all factors considered, and in today's ever-tightening economy luxuries like home phone service are getting cut out. Who would have thought, expensive and fancy as cell phones are getting these days, that the real status symbol would become the clunky home phone?

Via psfk

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Tags: cell phone, cell phones, CellPhone, CellPhones, landline, landlines, phone, phones

Samsung's Armani Night Effect Phone

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

Armani and Samsung have released their latest joint effort cell phone. The Samsung Armani 2 Night Effect gets its name from the wraparound LED light on the phone. The candybar-style phone has a 3.2 megapixel camera, FM radio, 120MB of memory that is expandable with microSD, and Bluetooth. It will be sold in Europe in November with sales in Southeast Asia and the Middle East to follow. It will sell for around 300 euros. Tech pundits don't seem to be loving this one, finding the Armani logo on the back a bit garish and the overall look to be a bit clunky.

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Tags: armani, cell phone, CellPhone, gadget, samsung

Apple iPhone 3G, Studded with Diamonds

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

I'm not generally a big fan of diamond-encrusted cell phones but I think the iPhone lends itself to the idea better than others because it's so sleek and has such a limited area where diamonds can be placed. Claiming to be the world's first real diamond-studded iPhone, the Apple iPhone 3G by Swiss jeweler Knalihs Athem is made with 475 brilliant cut diamonds totaling 3.75 carats. Only 50 iPhone 3G handsets will be created on a made-to-order basis, with the first 10 units being sold at the special price of $10,000. iPhones 11-50 will be priced "sharply upwards."

I'm not sure what that translates to exactly but it sounds like if you want one you better move fast.

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Tags: athem, cell phone, CellPhone, diamond studded, diamond-encrusted, DiamondStudded, iphone, knalihs athem, KnalihsAthem, mobile phone, MobilePhone, phone

Christian Dior Cell Phones

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

We are late to the party on this one, the Engadget gang covered it way back in May and seemed quite unimpressed but the latest designer in the cellphone game is Christian Dior. The Dior phone is aimed at the Chinese and Russian luxury markets and will sell for around $5,000. The slim phone has a touch-screen, camera and Swarovski crystals on the faceplate. The most unique feature is that Dior phone is so posh it comes with its own phone. The phone has a mini mobile phone that resembles a USB key so that you can put the main phone in your Dior purse and use the mini phone to make calls. Why? I have no idea.

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Tags: cell phone, christian dior, ChristianDior, telephone

Polo Ralph Lauren To Offer Shopping By Mobile Phone

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Gadgets, Services

Polo Ralph Lauren will soon be offering American shoppers the ability to shop for goods via mobile phone. The technology itself is only about a year away (something about integrating codes for download) but the company expects Americans to warm up to the idea only very slowly after that. Although foreign consumers like the Japanese have been using similar technology for years, Americans are thought to be a little less comfortable with cutting edge shopping methods.

Do you think that's really the problem? Couldn't it be that we just have too much fun shopping to reduce the whole experience down to a tiny cellphone screen?

Hm, maybe that's just me. If you're interested look for the service to appear soon on a cell phone screen near you.

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Tags: cell phone, CellPhone, mobile phone, MobilePhone, phone, phones, polo, polo ralph lauren, PoloRalphLauren, ralph lauren, RalphLauren, shop, shopping

Diamond Nokia 8800 Sapphire Arte Phone

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

While you are waiting for your new diamond-covered iPhone you might want to consider this sparkly gadget. Swiss luxury designer and jeweler Knalihs Athem has recently created a diamond encrusted Nokia 8800 Sapphire Arte. This phone is decorated with 1000 finest quality brilliant cut diamonds that weigh 6.75 carats in total. There will only be 20 handsets made and each will be accompanied by a official diamond grading report from a gemological lab. It can also be personalized with your name or whatever you would like. The Nokia 8800 Sapphire Arte by Knalihs Athem has a starting price of $20,000.

Tags: cell phone, CellPhone, gadget, nokia 8800, nokia 8800 sapphire ..., Nokia8800, Nokia8800Sapphire...

"My Dior" Mobile Phone

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

Christian Dior has branched out into the mobile/cellular phone universe with the "My Dior" phone, by ModeLabs. It took three years to develop the clamshell, which will be available in two versions: a $5,000 basic version and a $26,000 luxury version, which features a 2.6 touch screen with an integrated media player and is decorated with 640 stones of 3,251 carats of Swarovski crystals imprinted on a crocodile skin case. Ringtones are proposed to be Dior's voice as well as music. Look for marketing to begin this month. This phone is just beautiful, but I'd be terrified of dropping or losing it!

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Tags: cell phone, CellPhone, Dior, mobile phone, MobilePhone, Swarovski

Gresso White Diamonds Phones

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

Luxury phone maker, Gresso, already has a Black Diamonds collection, now here's the White Diamonds version. The phone is made of African blackwood with white diamonds set in 18K gold. There are two styles, White Diamonds and Royal White Diamonds. In the Royal White Diamonds version the 23 function keys are done in gold topped with a total of 2.53 carats of diamonds. The White Diamonds version has diamonds only on the navigation keys. Both phones have a screen protected by sapphire crystal glass. The front panel is embellished by a triangle inset of gold and the battery cover is made of stainless steel decorated with leather. The Royal White Diamonds version is limited to 200 pieces selling for 30,000 euros each. The White Diamonds version is 9000 euros. The phones will be at the JCK Las Vegas show this week so hopefully I'll be reporting back to you with a hands-on look at these later this week.

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Tags: cell phone, diamonds, gadget, gresso, white diamonds

Plantronic's New Jewelry-Like Earpiece

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

Here's a Bluetooth earpiece that manages to be quite fancy looking without having any Swarovski crystal or gold plated "bling." The Plantronics Discovery 925 has a unisex VFrame™ design and is available in 3 jewel tone colors (black, gold, and pink) with a cute color-coordinated leather carrying case and charger included. According to this review the features are pretty average, with the exception of excellent audio quality thanks to AudioIQ noise control technology. The Black Onyx version is available now, with the Alchemy Gold and Cerise Pink shipping next month. $149.00

Gallery: Plantronics Discovery 925