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The waterproof mobile on your wrist

Gareth Beavis — 1210151019

The EP2502 cellphone watch may not be the first of its kind in terms of technology – but it is the first that won’t have children screaming at its looks.

The 1.3inch OLED touchscreen display (128 x 160, 260k colours) is nicely inconspicuous, housed in a metal case and strap.

Mobile phones crammed into a watch have been one of the ‘gadgets of the future’ since the days of Dick Tracy, but with the advent of Bluetooth headsets the idea has suddenly burst into life, especially from the Asian markets.

The EP2502 does indeed have the necessary Bluetooth, but the other specs are pretty impressive too. A 2-megapixel camera, Transflash card support (512MB boxed, extendable to 2GB) and MP3/MP4 playback.

Tough cookie

Designed to be shockproof, the watch is also tipped as "the world’s first waterproof mobile phone" though to what waterproofing standards is yet to be seen.

The waterproofing claim is further tested by the presence of an OLED screen; yes, it looks lovely, especially at smaller sizes due to the fast motion and thin form factor, and it does reduce battery life in certain cases.

However, OLEDs are notoriously pervious to water / air / anything else in the atmosphere, so this will have to have some pretty high-end sealing technology to survive underwater.

Still, at only $299 (£150) it’s a veritable bargain if you like wearing trenchcoats and solving mid-20^th Century crimes.

More BlackBerry 9000 details surface

Audley Jarvis — 1208353802

The latest rumour concerning BlackBerry’s forthcoming 9000 3G smartphone is that it will feature a front-mounted camera, allowing it to be used for video calls.

The rumour originates from a Spanish blogger and photographer called Luis Rodriguez, who appears to have had access to a pre-production version of BlackBerry’s new handset.

Quite whether the video call function will generate any more interest in BlackBerry's new model than it does in the myriad of similar 3G, front-camera-sporting phones already on the market remains to be seen though.

Put it on expenses

Perhaps BlackBerry is hoping that a video call feature will take off in the corporate world more so than it has in that of the consumer, where it’s largely redundant. If company expenses can be relied upon to pick up the bill for this type of usage then Blackberry could well be on to something.

In addition to video calls, Senor Rodriguez also claims that the 9000 will feature a microSD expansion slot and pack a larger battery life than other BlackBerry models.

Talk of a larger battery is interesting. Especially given a well-sourced report in The BoyGenius at the beginning of April that claimed the 9000’s battery life "sucked" allowing for "a little less than two hours browsing the web with Wi-Fi switched on".

Excellent batteries

It could well be that a larger battery has since been fitted to correct this shortfall. As Eric Zeman from InformationWeek notes, BlackBerrys are known for their "excellent battery life".

While battery issues are expected to lead to a delay in the 9000’s rumoured June launch, it does seem that BlackBerry is doing everything it can to ensure the resultant handset is able to fully compete with Apple’s iPhone.

As these photos show, it's even nicked the iPhone’s curves.

BBC happy to go DRM free?

Adam Hartley — 1205241213

Following the news earlier this week about the BBC's apparent decision to allow iPhone users to access its programming in a non-DRM-protected H.264 format – potentially allowing users on desktop computers to download and keep unrestricted videos – TechRadar polled a number of developers and Apple specialists for their response.

"The problem is that [the BBC] has used a simple web page/media player combination to play the videos, basically iPhone iPlayer is a bit of a hack," we were told by Marcus Dyson, CEO of developer eleventeenth.com. "They rely on the 'user agent' to identify that it's an iPhone, and then they deliver DRM-free content, because the iPhone does not support DRM video.

“What they need is to use the SDK to create an iPlayer client application, then work with Apple to get a list of all iPhone MAC addresses - the client would need to verify the MAC address before the site delivers content,” he added.

Alternatively, Dyson continued, “they could just make the client support DRM... However, the web-page version of iPhone iPlayer seems to present an insurmountable problem for the BBC and their only obvious solution right now is to live with the issue - which their charter may not allow them to do (as it makes content paid for by the UK license-payer freely available to foreigners) - or pull the iPhone iPlayer.”

The iPhone, of course, does support DRM - the FairPlay DRM that Apple attaches to some of the content bought from the iTunes Store. And that includes some BBC Worldwide programmes, like Ashes To Ashes, which are available to buy for £1.89 per episode. What the BBC wants - and what Apple doesn't yet deliver in the UK - is the ability to offer time-limited downloads, although these are expected to spring up later this year when Apple launches its iTunes Movie Rental Store.

Back-door testing of DRM-free content?

MacFormat’s Christopher Phin has a different take on what he feels are the real issues at stake here, telling us today:

“I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that the BBC is using this to test out the reaction from the industry and consumers to DRM-free content.”

As for the suggestion that this contravenes the BBC’s charter, Phin disagrees: “I’d be interested to know if they’ve had the go-ahead from the programme makers to do this, but I wasn’t aware that the charter mandates the use of DRM. I would assume that the appetite for DRM comes from the content providers, not the BBC itself.

Phinn added: "It’s possible that the BBC will build an app for the iPhone or iPod touch, possibly just an optimised browsing engine like the existing YouTube app, but there’s no reason why it couldn’t be an entirely web-based system, particularly given the iPhone’s ability to add quick links to websites directly to its home screen.”

Currently in beta

TechRadar spoke with a BBC spokesperson earlier today who informed us that the iPlayer workaround, "is not unusual or surprising” and that the BBC is “working with our partners to ensure that our content is delivered to users in a secure way.”

The BBC spokesperson added: “We have made it clear that BBC iPlayer on iPhone and iPod touch is currently in beta, which enables us to pick up on such issues and find a solution before we roll the service out in full in due course."

Apple was not available for comment at the time of going to press, but we have requested a response so watch out for an update shortly

Taliban targeting mobile phone masts

TechRadar Staff — 1205155902

Taliban militants have begun blowing up mobile phone masts across Afghanistan after their demands for masts to be shut down at night went unheeded.

To date four have been targeted, with militants using explosives to destroy the electricity generator and base station of the masts. It’s reported that no one has been injured in the attacks.

The Taliban believes that the US and its allies are using mobile phone signals to track its movements and launch attacks against the group. It's accused the phone companies of collusion.

February

Late in February a Taliban spokesman warned that they would target the masts unless the phone companies switched them off at night, when many US attacks reportedly take place.

However, the recent spate of attacks could ultimately prove to be something of an own-goal by the Taliban, as it too relies on mobile phones to communicate and co-ordinate with itself.

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Communication and Technology has condemned the attacks and said that all warring parties should respect the right to communicate.

The UN has also warned that the attacks could have humanitarian repercussions as Afghanistan relies on its fledgling mobile network to communicate. With the flooding season due to begin soon, Afghanistan’s National Disasters Management Authority has warned that it may struggle to respond effectively.

New bluetooth headset for bikers

Anna Lagerkvist — 1203094827

The AKE BlueCom 102 Bluetooth helmet wins the prize of cool gadget of the day so far. They look very handy if you’re off out riding your motorcycle this weekend…

The BlueCom 102 Pocket Repeater from German firm AKE Electronic has built-in Bluetooth that lets you communicate with fellow bikers when you’re out on the road.

The portable Bluetooth communications hub basically lets two motorcyclists communicate with each other via Bluetooth within a 20m range.

Hooked up

It runs on standard batteries, weighs just 65g and the lithium-ion battery promises up to 8 hours’ battery life in operations mode. Naturally, any other Bluetooth-enabled handset can be hooked up too, and it will work with any combination of devices, including GPS units, mobile phones and even portable music players.

You’ll hear any audio content - such as GPS instructions and bike-to-bike discussion - but also mobile phone calls.

There's one button per helmet set for all necessary adjustments, including on or off, pairing, connecting etc. This means that settings can be made separately for each Bluetooth channel.

You’ll be able to buy the AKE BlueCom 102 Pocket Repeater on its own, or bundled with a couple of Bluetooth helmets, although no details on pricing or availability dates were given.

BlackBerry could introduce touchscreen model

Audley Jarvis — 1202834506

Could it be that a touchscreen BlackBerry device is imminent? Following revelations earlier this month that BlackBerry filed a patent application for a touchscreen LCD display in the US, Research in Motion co-chief executive, Jim Balsillie, has refused to rule anything out at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

When asked about the possible introduction of a touchscreen BlackBerry by journalists at the Congress, Balsillie is reported to have said, “For sure we're looking at all kinds of different device packaging and presentation.”

HDSPA functionality

However, Balsillie refused to reveal any concrete plans for future products – as did BlackBerry’s UK PR agency when TechRadar called to ask for comment – but all the signs are that such a device could be on the way. Balsillie did confirm that the company will be introducing HDSPA functionality to its range in the near future.

If the touchscreen rumours do have any substance, then it would be an entirely sensible step for BlackBerry's parent company, Research in Motion, to take. Introduced in 1999, the BlackBerry was initially marketed as the ‘e-mail phone’, quickly finding favour with corporate America. However, eight years on and the current BlackBerry range doesn’t have quite the same ‘wow factor’ it once did – especially when compared to the all-conquering iPhone. Crucially for BlackBerry, the iPhone now has its own business tariff in the US.

And it doesn’t stop there, either. BlackBerry actually finds itself facing smartphone competition from just about any direction it cares to look. Only this week, Sony Ericsson announced the XPERIA X1, HTC announced the X7510, and LG announced the KT610. All three can do email, browse the net and execute all kinds of clever multimedia tasks.

If BlackBerry really wants to get its mojo back then the company will also need to improve its record for service stability, after large parts of the US and Canada experienced service outage on Monday. BlackBerry said it was looking into what caused the problem. It was the company's second major outage in less than a year.

Palm Centro lands in the UK

Anna Lagerkvist — 1202388019

Palm today said its ‘smallest and lightest smartphone yet’, the Palm Centro, will go on sale in the UK at the end of the month.

The Palm Centro resembles the Palm Treo 500, released last year, but is thinner and taller than its sibling. It also runs on Palm OS rather than Windows Mobile 6.

Fully featured

The Palm Centro crams in a Qwerty micro keyboard, quad-band GSM/GPRS/Edge connectivity, but - just as with the iPhone - no 3G. The Centro's memory can be beefed up to 4GB thanks to the Micro SDHC card slot.

There’s also a 240 x 320, 65,536-colour touchscreen, Bluetooth, and a 1.3-megapixel camera. You can connect to all your webmail accounts, Google Maps and so on using the integrated web browser. To complete the package, the Centro comes with the PocketTunes music player, Microsoft Office support, and push email.

Available in black onyx, the Palm Centro will go on sale at the end of February, priced at £199.

In-flight calls coming to Norwegian airline

Anna Lagerkvist — 1200580962

Scandinavian budget airline Norwegian Air Shuttle will soon start offering mobile phone and wireless internet services on its flights.

Starting late this year, the Call Norwegian services will include travel information for passengers, broadband telephone services and mobile banking, Reuters reports. The service will be available on board aircraft and at airports, starting with Oslo's Fornebu airport.

"Call Norwegian will be an internet-based mobile telephone company, and the products will be focused on primary mobile telephone services (network service)," Bjørn Kjos, Norwegian Air Shuttle's CEO, said in a statement. "We see it as a natural expansion of our business, and a service that our customers will find useful."

Signal strength

Traditionally, mobile phone use has been banned on planes due to claims that phone signals could interfere with sensitive aircraft equipment. This is because signal strength is increased when a mobile phone can't find an immediately available local signal, as is the case when airborne.

Last year, the US telecoms body - the Federal Communications Commission - said it would drop plans enabling American airline passengers to use their mobiles on flights after deciding that the use of mobile phones in the air would interfere with equipment on the ground.

However, Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, Qantas, Emirates and Ryanair are all now considering adopting in-flight technology that would enable calls to be made while airborne.

Meanwhile, German airline Lufthansa is bringing back internet access to its long-haul flights this year. Before the 11 September attacks in 2001, it fitted out 80 of its planes with internet capabilities using Boeing's Connexion system, but roll-out plans were abandoned in the wake of the terrorist attacks.

Future tech: Siemens Helium handset

Anna Lagerkvist — 1193007600

We caught a glimpse of Siemens' swanky new concept phone in Germany last week.

Siemens Home and Office Communication Devices is putting all its efforts into becoming greener, and the new Siemens Gigaset Helium handset underlines that aim. It features eco technologies and is made from high quality, glossy white, eco-friendly plastic.

Call your friends, save the world

About the size of an Apple iPhone, the Siemens Gigaset Helium handset sits comfortably in your hand. The curvy handset slides off its docking station, where its solar power battery is situated.

Its menu is intuitive, and key info such as caller ID and the phone's multimedia functions are displayed on the widescreen OLED screen at the front of the device. The Helium phone also features 3D surround speakers for what Siemens says is a "more natural sound".

The Siemens Gigaset Helium won the prestigious Red Dot Design Award earlier this year. Hans-Henning Brabänder, from Siemens' design management team, told us that the handset is still in development. It's at least two years away from lining up on the shelves of Carphone Warehouse.

Are we ready to go green?

The potential availability of such an eco-phone begs an obvious question: are we ready to buy green gadgets?

Ultimately, the majority of today's consumers are guided less by their conscience, and more by the feature-set of the phone itself. Or its image. Apple's iPhone is a classic example of this. And the power consumption of the average flatscreen TV isn't stopping happy shoppers snapping up plasmas at Currys.

Perhaps in two years time, attitudes will have changed.

Siemens: 'We're going green as of today'

Anna Lagerkvist — 1192748400

Siemens Home and Office Communication Devices (SHC) today outlined its strategy for developing more environmentally friendly technology products. In short, it's calling for rival consumer tech firms to do more about reducing waste, making more energy efficient products and making it easier for the consumer to choose green products.

In the picturesque location of a hillside gasthaus overlooking the German Alps, Siemens' CEO Peter Loescher announced that the firm's new range of DECT phones and broadband products is eco-friendly as of today. The green approach will be extended throughout Siemens' product range and manufacturing processes.

Siemens' ECO-DECT and ECO-broadband product range now uses 60 per cent less power using new energy saving power supply units, drawing just 1.3W instead of the previous 3.5W. There are also options for users to lower the power usage even further by reducing the transmission range of a phone handset or Wi-Fi router.

Positive side effects

"Our range of eco-friendly products has a lot of positive side effects, besides benefiting the environment," Godehard Gerling, SHC's vice president for product management, told Tech.co.uk.

"For example, if you set your Wi-Fi router to transmit over a smaller area, that makes it less accessible and prone to security risks. Also, docking our eco-friendly DECT phones after using them reduces the transmission power usage to almost zero. This saves energy but also saves money, and improves the battery life and standby time of your handset," Gerling said.

He added that the firm is focussing on the small steps that we all can take to make the world a little greener. "It's important to remember that many little things add up to a lot, and we can all do something - especially if it saves us money at the same time."

In the driving seat

Siemens said that it was now in "the driving seat" when it comes to environmental policies. "We are calling on our competitors to follow our lead," Jochen Eickholt, CEO of SHC, told us.

"We are now in the driving seat when it comes to environmental excellence, and we hope that others will follow our example. Eco-sensitive policies pay off, not just financially," Eickholt added.

The entire product lifecycle has been taking into account - from ensuring the manufacturing process is energy efficient and environmentally sound, to recycled and recyclable packaging, to easier procedures for customer to recycle their old products.

There is no change in pricing between the previous standard products and the new eco-friendly range, Siemens confirmed.