Microsoft recently announced a slate of updates to their Live Search features for mobile users, including a free 411 service and voice input for search features on Windows Mobile devices. Live Search 411 (800-CALL-411, or 800-225-5411) offers some pretty familiar features, with business listings and the ability to have maps sent by text message. Meanwhile, Live Search for Windows Mobile users now offers voice input (in beta), gas prices, and hours of operation for businesses. Windows Mobile 5.0 and 6.0 and BlackBerry users can access Live Search Mobile at wls.live.com, while other mobile phones go through m.live.com

411: Microsoft Offers "Live Search 411," Mobile Updates

 

The AT&T Tilt (8925) is official. This ship was leakier than a sunken pirate ship, the successor to the 8525 is finally here. The important specs: Windows Mobile 6, Mobile Office, 2.8-inch screen, GPS w/ TeleNav, Push to Talk, standard IM program, slide-out and fold-up keyboard, glorious HTC-style QWERTY keys, Wi-Fi, 3-megapixel camera, Push Email, 3G HSDPA—but no TouchFlo on the top level like the Touch (seems like they're saving that for "Touch" designated phones). $299 with two-year contract starting Friday October 5.

Windows Mobile: AT&T Tilt is Official - Gizmodo

 

For Windows Mobile users, the HTC Kaiser / TyTN II / MDA Vario III / AT&T 8925 ("Tilt") US release is equivalent in excitement to the launch of another handset widely anticipated by Apple fans, but unlike the iPhone, poor WinMo diehards have no definitive date at which to target their enthusiasm. We've heard numerous rumored release windows before -- and most recently, word of yet another possible delay -- with none having panned out so far, meaning you should take the following tidbit with the usual skepticism: e-tailer Negri Electronics has started taking pre-orders on both the 8925 (pictured above) and camera-less 8900, and claims that units are expected to be in stock on Sunday, September 30th. If the photo they're running is indeed the AT&T production version, potential buyers can be somewhat relieved that the color scheme has not changed from the unlocked model (unlike the fugly offering from T-Mobile Germany), but as we expected, the front cam and all possibility of hacked video calling have been eliminated. Hey, gotta give the early adopters something for spending double the subsidized price.

First pic of an AT&T-branded 8925 / Tilt, 9/30 release date? - Engadget

Free cell phone service Dial DIR-ECT-IONS (347-328-4667) sends driving directions to your phone via SMS. Just call their number and step through the voice-activated menus, telling it where you want to go and where you're starting from. You should receive a text message on your phone a few seconds after you hang up detailing turn-by-turn directions from your start point to your end point. It's no substitute for a fancy Google Maps application or GPS, but if you have neither it's a simple and useful way to get quick directions on the go. The service currently only works in these nine cities with more on the way.

Cell Phones: Get Directions with a Phone Call to Dial Dir-ect-ions - Lifehacker

 

It looks like Sprint users now have a few more search options at their disposal, with the carrier and Microsoft announcing today that Live Search will now automatically take the users' location into consideration. Apparently, the service makes use of cell-tower triangulation, and not GPS, to determine the users location, making it somewhat less accurate but far more widely available. What's more, the pair also announced a new voice search feature that'll work with five of Sprint's high end phones, including the Samsung a900 and a920, the Motorola Razr, the Sanyo 840 and the LG 550. As you can probably guess, it will let you speak search terms instead of typing them in, with it also giving you the option to press a button to call the business you're searching for. While Sprint is getting all Microsoft's attention at the moment, the company is quick to point out that the service is not exclusive, and "could become available via other operators in the future."

Source: Sprint, Microsoft roll out location-based Live Search - Engadget

 

The Sony Ericsson gaming boss, Peter Ahnegard, said that a PlayStation-branded gaming phone would be coming by Christmas. He also added that it might not be this Christmas, which probably pissed whoever he was talking to off to no end.

Sony Ericsson, who've already branded their W-line of phones the Walkman line, the K-line of phones the Cyber-shot line, and some random Japanese line the Bravia line, can easily brand another line (G, maybe, since P is taken) the PlayStation line. It doesn't even need games other than the mobile ones that already exist for their cellphones, which run just fine on SE's higher-end hardware. [Pocket Gamer via ]

Source: Cellphones: Sony Ericsson Gaming Chief Says PlayStation Phone Coming By "Christmas" - Gizmodo

 

South Korea's Iljin Display has been crowing about its coin-sized laser projector module for more than a year with no haps, but now the company says it's inked a deal with South Korea Telecom (SK Telecom) to mass-produce the projector for use inside cellphones. Is Iljin's so-called Nano Projector finally for real?

Iljin says the diminutive projector will be installed in SK Telecom's cellphones beginning this September, and those pocket-theater-toting cellphones will be for sale both in Korea and perhaps even here in the US soon thereafter.

The company blurted out even more bluster about the future of its of its pint-sized projectors, saying by the end of this year it will begin cranking out tiny stand-alone units that'll let you set up an 800-pound milligram-ish guerrilla theater with a 20-inch screen virtually anywhere you want. We'll believe it when we see it.

Source: Is That A Theater In Your Pocket?: Cellphone Projectors on the Way? - Gizmodo

 

You've already seen bits and pieces of this morning's Today Show, but another segment in the broadcast managed to grab a trip inside Microsoft's Mobile Design Lab where engineers and "audio geeks" look to be hard at work as they try to "redefine cool." Notably, the video fails to show any undercover shots of prototype mobiles that Microsoft may have up its sleeve, and it seemed that this "sneak peek" was intentionally devoid of innovation (secrets we can't know about?). Nevertheless, we do get a chance to see dedicated ringtone makers, and while it's already understood, any future mobiles coming out of Redmond will reportedly attempt to cram "as much of your PC into your cellphone as possible." Best of all, however, is the aptly-dubbed isolation room, which left the interviewer grumbling over how tough it was to peck out an email on the tiny keys of his smartphone. And whether you want to believe it or not, Robbie Bach was seen stating that the iPhone "doesn't change Microsoft's strategy nor its approach."

Source: Microsoft working feverishly on answer to iPhone? - Engadget

 

YouTube Mobile is a new, xHTML site optimized for your cellphone. The service will require your phone to be capable of video streaming already (RTSP/3GP with H263/AMR), but that shouldn't be a problem for most our techbling Gizmodo readers. Plus, using MMS, you can upload YouTube videos directly from your phone.

Were both of these functions possible in the past with the right setup? Yes. But broadcasting yourself (still sounds perverted) will be easier and faster than ever with YouTube's new streamlined interface

Source: YouTube: YouTube Mobile Goes Live - Gizmodo

 

Remember those WildCharge wireless chargers we played with back at CES? They're almost here. You'll be able to get one July 9.

Thoughts of hand cancer aside, the way these WildChargers work would require a couple of physics classes to completely understand. The layman's explanation is that it uses inductive charging—the type you see in Sonicare toothbrushes—that will charge your gadget just by placing it on a sheet.

Some more familiar companies other than WildCharge such as Apple, Motorola, and NTT DoCoMo all have their own wireless charging devices in development as well.

What's the point of all this wireless charging? Mostly convenience in not having to have multiple chargers and charging adapters, which may win out over our current favorite charging system, the Chargepod.  Read More

Source: Wildcharge: Wireless Gadget Charging Makes World Debut July 9 - Gizmodo

 

No offense, Amtek, we're sure that McCaslin-based U560 of yours has ample reason to be so big and ugly, but we're going to put our dollars on this "MIMD" (Mobile Internet Multimedia Device) Menlow-based UMPC from EB if you don't mind. Yes, it's the same "MID" device which Intel was proudly showing back in April only now with a bit of meat around the source. Along with the promising advances brought by Intel's UMPC-oriented Menlow chipset, the MIMD promises Mobile WiMax, HSDPA, GPS and a 4.8-inch high resolution screen. We should be seeing this one running Linux and hitting sometime in 2008. McCaslin, we hardly knew ye.

Source: EB's Menlow-based MIMD UMPC remembers to bring the sexy - Engadget

 

For those in the audience enamored with the iPhone -- especially those willing to look past the lack of 3G and requisite 2-year service agreement -- there's really only one x-factor left: the touchscreen keyboard. We've all seen it done, but no one's ever seen it done right -- and Steve seems to think it's going to be off the chain. So why is Dvorak, noted tech pundit, and goader of Mac users and iPhone fans, reporting that he's got insider information that the iPhone's keyboard is complete crap and "people are going to return the phone in droves"? Well, that might have something to do with the fact that he's Dvorak (really, what else would he say?), but we did consult a well trusted and connected source who, as it turns out, has heard the very same thing from multiple iPhone users, and who noted that an accessory keyboard to go with the device may become necessary if the touchscreen keyboard doesn't cut the mustard. Of course, we can only reserve judgment until we wrap our paws on a real production model, but we hope it all turns out well -- even if only because we're sincerely frightened of an iPhone-incited fanboy riot in the streets.

Source: Will the iPhone be undone by its keyboard? - Engadget

The MiniOne is a GSM+EDGE+WCDMA using Windows Mobile 6 and equipped with an ARM11 533MHZ (Samsung) processor sporting 128MB of DDR SDRAM. Sporting features like a TFT Touch Screen (16M colors) 720x480 resolution and 2 cameras (front 0.3Mpix/rear 3Mpix). The phone will also include Bluetooth, Wifi, DMB Tuner, GPS, video output, files such as Avi, Mpeg4 and Wmv can be played in 720x480. Last but not least the capacity goes from (4 to 16GB).

 

Source: Meizu - Microsoft's competitor to IPhone? @ Mobility Today

 

The shift project from Microsoft research has a goal that may not seem lofty at first, but could possibly help shape cellphone touchscreen technology in a big way. Traditionally, with Windows Mobile phones and other touchscreen phones, you have to use a stylus because your finger is too fat and unwieldy. Even Apple's iPhone, with its crazy gropeability, doesn't solve the problem of your finger being in the way of what you're trying to click.

Microsoft's Shift, on the other hand, re-creates whatever's underneath your poker so you can actually see what you're clicking on. Plus, there's added visual feedback so you can narrow down your inputs as well. Check out the video on their site for a closer look.

Source: The Future: Microsoft Shift Makes Cellphone Finger Input Easier (But Not Booger Free) - Gizmodo

While Gigabyte officially launched its first UMPC, the curiously-familiar U60, back at CeBit, the company unfortunately left out a few key details at the time -- namely, pricing and availability. That seems to have finally been sorted out, however, and DigiTimes is now reporting that the device will be released in Taiwan on May 22nd for NT$26,900, or just over $800 (it'll apparently hit the "global market" in the second half of the year). Gigabyte isn't exactly going all out with them though, with the initial run pegged at just 500 units. In case you missed it, the device itself runs on a VIA C7-M processor, boasts a 6.5-inch 800 x 600 display, a 20GB or 30GB hard drive, and (something we didn't know before) built-in 3G/3.5G support. According to DigiTimes, Gigabyte is also planning to release a second UMPC before too long, with it reportedly set to make its debut sometime in the second half of this year.

Source: Gigabyte's U60 UMPC set to hit Taiwan - Engadget