GeekSugar

Daily Tech: The Giorgio Armani Phone Is Back. . . and Better Than Ever

GeekSugar — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:10:22 PDT

The new Armani smartphone, which was built by Samsung, comes with Windows 6.5 OS and includes a touchscreen and QWERTY keyboard - Engadget
MapQuest has just announced its new iPhone navigation application for the iPhone - AppleInsider
A new survey reveals that 4.1 billion SMS messages are sent each day, with 740 billion being sent in the US during the first half of 2009 - Mashable
A Barnes & Noble rep confirms that its new color-screened ebook reading device will be available next Spring - Gizmodo
Check out 17 hilarious niche dating sites for people who are looking for love online - Switched
It's giveaway and game time on GeekSugar! Be sure to log in and play our Best Video Game Ever bracket! - GeekSugar

COACH Goes Mobile For the Holidays

GeekSugar — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 07:10:24 PST

Normally when I mention fashion designers releasing trendy new cell phones they usually include two things: a hefty price tag and Swarovski crystals. Well here's a little holiday treat for you - even if it is only coming to Japan - the limited edition branded Christmas edition cell phone from COACH. COACH, who isn't a complete stranger to the tech world, is teaming up with the Japanese cell phone company KDDI to offer this COACH handset, which will cost $200 for the cover and designer accessories (on top of the handset price). So maybe not the most inexpensive handset, but for COACH, it's not completely outrageous.

The New Prada Handset: Love It or Leave It?

GeekSugar — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:00:39 PST

The new and improved Prada phone by LG was recently unveiled at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. Unlike the previous Prada handset, this new model is entirely silver, with a silver-user interface, earphones, and packaging to match. It also includes a slick, new qwerty keyboard on its touchscreen. I may be swayed by the fancy packaging, but I honestly like this phone!
To see more pics as well as check out a video with the LG portfolio manager of Europe, head on over to Aving News. The new Prada handheld is set to launch in 18 European countries including UK, France, Germany, and Spain.

Luxurious Geek: $25,000 Ferrari Phone By Vertu

GeekSugar — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 10:00:27 PDT

Vertu has long been one of the top names in luxury cell phones, but their most recent design may win the race against the competitors. The Vertu Ferrari phone, which is being sold by Nokia stores in London, Paris and Hong Kong, was designed in collaboration with Ferrari and costs a whopping $25,400. The release of the phone, which features a shift gate on its posterior, coincides with Ferrari's 60th anniversary.

While the appeal of a cell phone that costs more than my computer is a bit of a mystery to me, I can admit it's easy to be impressed by the company's special edition phones. The Ferrari phone certainly makes the MOTORAZR Ferrari phone look like a cheap knock off.
Source

Closer Look: Samsung's Armani Phone

GeekSugar — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 07:00:36 PDT

I know. I know. I'm a tease. I have been taunting you with talk of Samsung's Armani phone for months now. First we heard about it and guessed what it might look like. Then a picture of what may or may not be the "real thing" popped up on the internet, and despite not knowing if the pic was real, we were pleased it looks a lot like we predicted. I finally have some more legitimate news. This week Engadget featured a gallery of pictures of the phone's design and reported it will feature a 3 megapixel camera, 2.6-inch 262K color QVGA touchscreen LCD, Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP support, microSD expansion, full Internet browser, and support for H.263, AAC/MP3/WMA audio and MPEG-4 video.

View 3 Photos ›

The phone has an additional feature, which could possibly be the most unique cell phone function ever. What is it?

According to Daily Mail, the Samsung Armani phone will have an in-built "rape alarm" function that can be activated from inside your pocket or purse.

Described as a 'ground-breaking' achievement, the new phone automatically sends an SOS text message to five pre-programmed family or friend phone numbers, alerting them to danger. Intended for use by anyone being followed suspiciously or finding themselves in any physical danger - but unwilling to provoke attack by getting out their mobile - it is designed to prevent an attack.

What do you think? Would you buy the designer phone (it's priced around $760) for its design and added features?
Source

Armani Phone Is Real And Looks Just Like We Predicted

GeekSugar — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 03:00:25 PDT

A few months ago we turned you on to the fact that the Korea Herald claimed Samsung was teaming up with Armani to make a designer phone. The idea of a phone that could potentially join the Prada and Gucci phones on the chic meter got us so excited we even predicted what the phone might look like. When photos of the Armani device popped up online yesterday, we felt we had to gloat a little because our original mock up was pretty spot on. (The real Samsung/Armani phone is pictured on the left, our mock up is pictured at right.)

According to Pocket Lint, the Samsung Armani P520 phone is a triband GSM with EDGE handset, measures 88 x 54 x 8.9mm, boasts a 262k colour QVGA touchscreen, a 3-megapixel camera with video recording, microSD card slot, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. It clearly doesn't have the token Armani branding we predicted (we weren't being completely serious about that anyway), but it is sleek, shiny and dare we say...iPhone inspired?
Source

Luxurious Geek: Bang & Olufsen Serene Mobile

GeekSugar — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 07:00:49 PDT

The other night I was at a birthday dinner with my family and one of our friends whipped out her new Bang & Olufsen Serene Mobile. First and foremost, it's breathtaking. It's one of those phones that has its share of the usual features (SMS, MMS from the built-in camera, and email), but looks more like a piece of art.

It features a curved drop-shaped shell and soft-touch surface. When opened, the lower shell has a screen and the upper shell features a rotary-inspired keyboard. I was most shocked by how it's controlled. You just tap on the top of the shell and it opens like a slow car trunk. (Or, as they put it "opening and closing Serene involves a gentle move with your finger, which triggers a built-in motor so the shell opens slowly and gracefully.) It doesn't seem practical for e-mail or web access - mostly because it's so small - but it sure is beautiful.

The phone is compatible with TMobile & Cingular, but at $1,275 it's more than twice the cost of the iPhone.

View 4 Photos ›

Gold LG Prada Phone, That's Right Gold Baby

GeekSugar — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 04:00:36 PDT

The Prada phone by LG is one of the most desired designer phones of 2007, touting a sleek black casing, touchscreen, pre-loaded content, mobile phone accessories and an exclusive leather case for about $780 (yes, that's more than the iPhone). Apparently, all the glam wasn't enough for the people over at Amosu, who have dipped the Prada Phone in 24-karat gold. The phone is listed for £499 or about $989.70. It's less expensive than the $10,000 diamond and gold iPod shuffle, but still utterly ridiculous. Of course, the saying "you can't put a price on fashion" was born for a reason. Am I right?

Armani Phone? Will Samsung Make Designer Phone?

GeekSugar — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 10:00:52 PDT

The Prada and Gucci phones are sooo last season. According to the Korea Herald, Samsung Electronics is teaming up with Italian clothing designer Armani to produce an "Armani phone." An online publication claims a Samsung spokesperson leaked the news, but confirmed nothing is written in stone yet. Here's more:

"Yes, the plans are under consideration by the company," a Samsung spokesman said. "The two companies have not signed a contract yet. The company is going to make a new category called 'IT luxury products' jointly with Armani. The Armani phone will be launched in Europe in October and we plan to expand the brand to other businesses as well."

Of course there's no word on how much an Armani phone would cost, but I assume the price point would fall somewhere near the iPhone and Prada phone, which range from $500 to $600. Because the phone has not officially been revealed all talk is just speculation at this point, but that didn't stop me from dreaming about what the phone might look like if the designers took a little "inspiration" from the iPhone and Aramani cosmetics.

Which Do You Prefer: iPhone or Prada Phone?

GeekSugar — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:10:13 PDT

For all the iPhone hype the device may be falling behind the too-hot-to-trot Prada phone. Word is, the Prada phone by LG has sold over 300,000 units since its launch in March, while earlier this week AT&T announced it has only activated 146,000 iPhones. (Apple released its third quarter results yesterday, but that quarter ended three days after the iPhone release so there are no telling figures). Both phones feature touchscreen technology and have skated by on their sleek luxury cell phone status. The Prada phone costs about $550 - $650, while the iPhone is $499 for the 4 GB and $599 for the 8GB. Whether the Prada phone has outsold the iPhone or not, it's important to note the Prada phone is available outside the US, while the iPhone launched only in the US. Based on looks and all the reviews you've read, where would you put your money?
Source