NTT DoCoMo will go about redeveloping the LG Prada cell phone in time for a June release in Japan. You will be able to enjoy a (proclaimed) intuitive, full size touch screen display complete with haptic feedback for improved usability, a function which kicks in whenever the user touch the screen in order to perform an operation. In addition, you get a 2 megapixel German-made Schneider-Kreuznach lens and auto-focus capability which helps capture better photos than a standard camera phone ever could. Other features like a 7.2Mbps data transmission support and a full 3" browser helps make your mobile Internet experience complete. Phones in Japan are way more advanced that what we have here Stateside, so it remains to be seen whether this will be able to make a splash in the market when released.

The Cuusoo concept phone that you see here heralds from Japan, boasting a detachable screen portion that allows one to hold video phone calls on-the-go. I'm surprised with the technology that we have at the moment, something like this has not been realized yet. I presume that battery issues could be the main stumbling block though, since a screen does sip a significant amount of juice, even more so when it needs to transmit data wirelessly from the main handset. I like the way different attachments can be added to the concept handset, allowing one to turn it into a widescreen display or a dual screen viewer.

Microsoft is putting more resources and effort in its Fone+ program which will see the needy get their fair share of smartphones as a computing platform. I'm rather skeptical about this - just how much work can you actually get done on a smartphone, even when compared to a low cost computer like the Eee PC? I suppose the folks at Microsoft have a palantir which I do not know about, since they believe that the prevalence of cell phones and wireless networks would make third world countries a practical target. Apparently the Fone+ also comes with a docking station which can be connected to TVs for better viewing. No idea on when the final product will be realized, but it shouldn't be too soon. Image courtesy of Cellphone Digest.

CrackBerry managed to snag a BlackBerry 9000 for themselves, and here they are with a review. I have digested the entire review and churned out a bulleted list of all the important points to consider if you're thinking of getting the BlackBerry 9000.

• Decent battery life during testing
• Extremely fast compared to the Curve, does not suffer lag
• 480 x 320 LCD display is crisp, bright and sharp
• Subtle changes to keyboard for better typing
• Externally accessible microSD memory card slot
• GPS navigation
• Extremely bright notification LED and trackball
• Convenience key location is questionable
• Easy accessibility to SIM card

Samsung and Verizon Wireless have just announced Samsung Glyde, and those who are more comfortable with model numbers will know it as the SCH-U940. This touch screen handset based on the Samsung SGH-F700 comes in a slider form factor that opens up to reveal a full alphabetic keyboard for fast and easy typing. Features include :-

• Bluetooth connectivity
• Full HTML browser
• GPS navigation
• 3G support
• 2 megapixel camera

Here's a shot of the upcoming Sony Ericsson Paris slider handset, sliding upwards to reveal a numeric keypad which doubles up as a QWERTY keyboard as well (two letters to each button). You will get a 5 megapixel camera to go along with it behind, which is protected by a slider shutter while a standard VGA camera is located in the top left hand corner, officially making this a 3G-enabled handset. Additional storage is available through the use of M2 memory cards, and its slimness should appeal to the masses. Any takers when this finally hits the streets?

While the iPhone has been out for about a year now, we've seen plenty of custom jobs done on it on an unprecedented level where gadgets are concerned. Knight Creations does not intend to miss out on this money-spinning opportunity, coming up with the Black iPhone custom which has been upgraded with black replacement parts, consisting of an anodized aluminum back as well as TiAlN-treated Apple logo and front bezel. The main drawback I can see is the price - it will retail for a whopping $849, never mind that there is 16GB of memory inside.

I think it reflects poorly on a manufacturer when they actually have to insist that their device is a real PDA phone in a notice such as this :-

Please note that this is a Genuine PDA phone. Most other so-called PDA-phones advertised by other suppliers are NOT true PDA phones,butsmart phones only with a firmware interface similar to Windows Mobile.No application can be installed on these false PDA-phones and the OS cannot be altered. True PDA phones run on Microsoft Windows, Linux or similar OS and all Windows/Linux applications can be installed.

Cry me a river, dude, but statements like that just seem to strip whatever little credibility there is left. For those who are not turned off yet, check out the specifications after the jump.

Rumblings on the ground show that the Treo 800w will be out from Sprint this summer, with July 22nd being the date in question. Some of the first time features to be made available on the Treo line would be WiFi connectivity and GPS navigation, all running on the Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional operating system. Chances are the Treo 800w will have a similar general shape as standard Palm smartphones, but you will definitely enjoy the 320 x 320 resolution display much more than other handsets from Palm of yore. Apparently, Sprint's version will have EV-DO Revision A while the GSM version should come with the 3G standard HSDPA.

The FCC recently gave its nod of approval for the Nokia 6210 Navigator which is the successor to the 6110 Navigator that saw action not too far back. Starting off on that footing, you can be sure that the 6210 will share many a resemblance to its predecessor where features and functionality are concerned. Some of the specifications include :-

• Built-in GPS with A-GPS
• 3G connectivity
• WiFi support
• Voice-activated controls
• 3.2 megapixel camera
• Symbian Series 60 OS
• Dual LED flash

Longshow has made available its Data-backup Phone Charger which not only juices up your handset whenever it is in dire need of power, it is also very capable of backing up your contacts simultaneously. Its bag of tricks doesn't end there though, as it comes with an SD/MMC memory card reader and doubles up as a portable power supply whenever you head out to a place where power outlets are scarce and few. Major phone brands including Nokia, Motorola, Blackberry, Samsung and Sony-Ericsson are supported, and when functioning as a portable charger, it works great for portable media players, digital cameras and other compatible devices.

The Hello Kitty tidal wave of products just won't stop, with this Hello Kitty Car Cigar Lighter Charger being the latest in a long line of them. Fitting most in-vehicle power port sockets, it is able to charge your handset up to 90% capacity within 2 to 3 hours, perfect for state to state travel. Compatible with the majority of Japanese cell phones, I'm not too sure if this will work with handsets in other parts of the world, and whether it will have adapters for different brand phones as well. It measures 3cm x 8.5cm x 11.5cm and is compatible with DC12/24V. You can pick this up in Japan for 1,880 yen ($18).

The Stylus Hanging Bluetooth Headset is one geeky device - imagine using your Bluetooth headset as an imprompty stylus! I suppose guys might find this more useful than chicks, since they don't really have long fingernails to navigate through touch screen displays. It comes with a transmitter distance of 10 meters and features the following :-

• Talk time: 3 hours
• Charging time: 2 to 5 hours
• Standby time: 90 hours
• Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR

Arkados has released a reference design for making interactive software for the iPhone and iPod Touch, basically enabling you to control electronics in your house, such as turning on the fan in your living room even though you have not arrived home yet, and would come in especially handy if you want to cool down your home during those hot summer days. Unfortunately, Arkados has not reached that level of convenience just yet as they currently cater for just audio systems, letting you take control of your entire music library from room to room with the iPhone/iPod touch functioning as a remote control. Hopefully future iterations of the software will see a greater degree of functionality introduced.