The Workhorse: CDM 8795 now at Verizon

When Nextel just isn’t good enough and you can’t risk smashing up your precious at the worksite, Verizon would like you to stop on by their neck of the woods and take a gander at their latest PTT offering: the CDM 8795.  You may at first glance and even second glance pass right on by this fine display of mediocrity, however once you allow yourselves to get close you’ll notice that it isn’t that bad after all.  While it won’t win any whiz bang awards for its feature set or fashion forward design, you will get a reliable PTT handset from Verizon that will stand up to the rigors of the manly mans job…whatever that may be.  With the 8795 you’ll get your standard microSD slot, *non*standard 2.5mm audio jack, dedicated music/email/mobile web buttons as well as the o so loved VZ Navigator taking home the final button to itself.    You’re probably just teetering on the edge of your seat waiting for the price…*crickets*.  For all 4 of you out there get ready to shell out $149.99 for the privillage.  Business users should feel extra VIPish as it’s reported that you can pick up your precious through telesales as the phone isn’t yet available on Verizon’s site.  Run inside for a few more pics if you just can’t contain  yourself!

Rogers and LTE by 2010….maybe…?

Boy Genius has had the opportunity to talk directly with representitives at Rogers in Canada who are claiming that the news released yesterday about Rogers’ plans for a February 2010 LTE launch are completely inaccurate.  Even after letting Rogers listen to the audio clip BG had obtained from his source regarding the story, they continued to deny the claims.  To listen to the full phone call BG had with Rogers hit up Boy Genius Report.  So dear readers, now that the story is going back and forth and you seeing are two completely different stories, who are you going to believe?
Source: Boy Genius Report.

Torch Mobile updates Iris mobile browser to v1.1.0

Windows Mobile users who are all to familiar with the joke that is Mobile IE have yet another option in the mobile browser world.  Torch Mobile announced at MWC that they have updated their browser, “Iris” to v1.1.0.  Besides getting some new numbers, the beta tag has been kicked to the curb.  For those of you unfamiliar with Iris, it is a web-kit based mobile browser that will display web pages just as if you were browsing on a desktop computer, however, they will of course be formatted to fit your devices screen ratio’s.  Interested parties can find the download link right over here.  I personally have never used Iris so if anyone who has would be as kind as to let me know how it is it would be greatly appreaciated.  

 
Source: Mobile Burn, WMO Poweruser *pic*

Camera phone megapixel race getting out of hand?

Think back two to three years and try to remember what camera phones were like…0.3/1.3 megapixel cameras were the norm (and sadly more or less still are), and 2 megapixel camera’s instantly shoved you to the VIP club of cell phone users.  My how times have changed.  While 1.3 megapixel cameraphones still make up the majority of cell phone cameras, 2 and 3.2 megapixel cameras are swooping in fast.  And at Barcelone this year many 8+ megapixel camera phones were shown off including word from LG of an up and coming 12 megapixel camera phone!  Now at what time does the pixel count become ridiculous?

FREE bDroid theme for Blackberry Storm.

If the whole Android look gets you going but the actual OS or device still hasn’t won you over you have a new option.  Brian Collins over at Blackberry News has created now a tie for first (IMO) for the best looking Blackberry Storm theme.  It captures the slick look of Android and really gives your Storm a whole new lease on life.  One little tidbit that might also sway you to this theme is that so far, with other 4.7 Plazmic built themes, device performance tends to take a hit…not with bDroid.  According to BB News it renders and performs just as fast as a stock theme.  Good job Brian!  More pictures and direct OTA download link inside.

Coral-200 adds solar power to the feature list

Have you ever been out and about around town and have your phone die on you.  You might have had a charger but it doesn’t do you much good if you’re not near a power source.  All is not lost.  Digicel and ZTE have come together and come up with a solution to this ancient dilema: the Coral-200 will truly allow you to cut the cord as it comes with a solar panel built in to the back of the phone allowing you to constantly charge your phone just by having it in sunlight!  Sadly, any details and specs aren’t currently available.  However, judging by the diminutive size of the screen, I don’t think video playback will make the cut.  

Source: Slashphone

Uh-oh…Tethering no longer a Palm Pre feature

Mark this near the top of your all time tech disappointments list.  As the pictures clearly and sadly illustrate, it appears as if Sprint has removed data tethering as one of the Palm Pre’s highly coveted features.  Why?  Both camps are tight lipped so all we have right now is speculation.  Greed and money are the likely factors as is with all unfortunate business decisions.  Usually removing features from one of if not the most highly anticipated phone to ever come to your company when that same company is *still* continually losing customers left and right, not to mention in front and through the back door is not the smartest of decisions.  Why Sprint?  Why?!

Source: Engadget