Microsoft strike back. As of October, new smartphones based on the new version of Windows Mobile will be on the market. Among others will be devices from the South Korean manufacturers LG and Samsung.

The new version of the operating system developed by the king of computing is finally here. It was necessary for Microsoft to take action because of its ageing and unresponsive OS that meant it was losing out in the high-end phone segment. According to the Gartner agency, the Microsoft system now only equips 9% of smartphones as against 12% a year ago. However the smartphone segment is the only segment that has been making a profit since the beginning of the year. Microsoft can’t therefore afford to lose more ground.

Nevertheless, this development of the OS has arrived just at the time when Microsoft’s big rival Apple is on the crest of a wave and Google phones are on the up.

Not a telephone but a strategy of partnerships

Several phone manufacturers (HTC, Acer, Sony Ericsson, Toshiba, LG and Samsung) are likely to put out new phones based on Windows Mobile 6.5. Although Microsoft itself hasn’t launched a phone, it is betting on developing partnerships with strong brands. Will the strategy pay off? Are we back to a time when constructors put all their eggs in one basket and roll out a single OS for their whole range?

To recap, the forthcoming 6.5 platform should have an improved interface that will remove the need for the stylus. In spite of this, we do wonder if this new system, that has not been completely reworked in depth, will be able to do the business.

The user should also benefit from a new Internet navigator. Will it manage to supplant Opera, easier to use and more streamlined than Microsoft’s current offering, Internt Explorer, but nevertheless less and less used by manufacturers?

Of course users will have direct access to Windows MarketPlace so as to benefit from a whole host of apps. On top of this Microsoft My Phone will offer a free synchronisation service and safeguard of data.

Will Windows Mobile 6.5 and its app store have enough going for it to garner customers in a highly competitive segment? We'll be in a better position to see by Christmas.

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Available in multiple colours, the Corby S3650 has been designed first and foremost for the chat generation. Its main selling point? Instant and permanent access to social networking sites.


The manufacturers of mobile phones are also back from their holidays. During September, a whole load of new mobiles and smartphones look set to be announced, following on from the Windows Phone.

The young chat generation, a boon for manufacturers

Samsung opens its autumn-winter 2009/10 collection with a phone designed for the young who live day and night with their phones.

Remember, over 95% of 15-24 years have a mobile phone.

To this add the attraction for touch devices and the fact that they are considered to be the fashion accessory (that therefore need changing regularly if you’re going to keep up). Great news for phone manufacturers.

A full wardrobe

With its flashy coating and interchangeable casings (one black and the other colourful), its curvy profile, 2.8 inch touchscreen and an animation inspired interface, the Corby has plenty of features likely to interest the target market.

What’s more it gives access to your favourite social networking site (Facebook, Twitter, Myspace and so on) and you can see the status of friends from your welcome page.

One regret however is that it is not a 3G device and therefore only has the Edge network. This is strange for a telephone that is also supposed to transfer photos and videos.

For the rest, it has a 2 Mpixel camera sensor, Bluetooth, a 50 MB internal memory and a microSD port.

The Corby is 103 x 56.5 x 12.4 mm in size and weighs 93g.

It will be on sale as of the second half of September for a stand alone 125 pounds.

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The world n°1 in mobile telephony has just announced, straight from Nokia World, a new terminal, the N97 Mini, and an agreement with Facebook.


The N97, the high-end Nokia multimedia phone that came out just few weeks ago and with 2 million models already sold, will soon be joined by a new mini version.

A little smaller than the N97 but still with a full QWERTY keyboard, the N97 Mini has a 3.2 inch (640x360 pixels) touch screen and uses the Symbian 5 OS. The internal memory has been reduced from 32 GB for the N97 to 8 GB for the new model. An extension is available via a microSD port.
For connectivity, the N97 Mini has a standard audio jack, a TV out that works with the GSM, Edge, HSDPA and wifi networks. It has Bluetooth and an A-GPS chip as well as an update of Nokia Maps and various optional features. The camera has a 5 Mpixel sensor.

Social networking: the new little extra

Also at Nokia World, Nokia presented its new “Lifecasting with Ovi” service, or how to stay constantly informed of what is happening on your favourite social networking site and update your status straight from the welcome page. Decidedly, direct access to social networking is fast becoming an essential selling point: Samsung and Sony Ericsson have also brought out products with a similar selling point.

Thanks to the agreement with Facebook, friends of a user of the Nokia terminal with access to this service will be able to follow the geographical position of their friend in real time on a map.

The N97 Mini should also benefit from new widgets, so as to better personalise your welcome page.

The N97 Mini is expected to come onto the market in October at a stand-alone of somewhere around 500 pounds. Perhaps a reduction in price might also have been a good idea!

Still at Nokia World, Nokia boss, Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, has reaffirmed the firm's diversification strategy. On top of being n°1 for mobiles and smartphones, Nokia has ambitions for the netbook market, with, in particular, the recently unveiled Booklet 3G, and its record 12 hour battery life. With a price tag of over 500 pounds, it will need to prove itself to persuade customers who are now used to aggressive pricing in this category of product. Will integration of Windows 7 be a sufficient argument?

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We are getting to the end of our successful summer series, but as with the best series, there’s been an unexpected twist in the plot: the arrival of a guest star, the Panasonic G15, to turn everything upside down, a spanking new model from the Panasonic plasma range.

Put yourelf in Pansonic’s shoes for a second. Do you feel the cold sweat as you discover the results? Panasonic followed the story of the Samsung PS42C96HD with a lot of compassion and were certainly in no hurry to participate in our torture series. Indeed, they had no intention of subjecting their screen to the same tests, but here they are, discovering like you, by means of this article, that their most recent plasma, currently being launched, has been designated as the volunteer for our famous crash test. We thank them from the bottom of our hearts…

For starters, we hadn’t completely finished with the Samsung PS42C96HD. It was resubjected to the fixed image of our homepage for an hour, followed by a snowy screen, to allow us to determine if this new method was more effective for getting rid of any marks.

Once we’d got tired of torturing the poor Samsung, we threw ourselves with great abandon on the Panasonic G15. What a pleasure it was to get to grips with a brand new high-end plasma. Same test: one hour with a fixed image!

So how did things go? Don't miss these two episodes that bring us right up to the final chapter! What excitement…

A plasma screen: subjection to burning

• Episode 5: Samsung, 1 hour then snowy screen
• Episode 6: The Panasonic G15 subjected to 1 hour

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We're looking at camcorders again today, starting with an entry-level model from a manufacturer that isn't very well-known, Ferrania, and a high-end model from the Full HD range of a manufacturer that needs no introduction, JVC.

The JVC GZ-X900 has been highly-awaited and as a slim, flat form factor and a glossy black finish.

On the other hand, the Ferrania Solaris Digital V596HD is easy-to-use and available very cheaply.  Can it work wonders for your HD video?

> Product Survey: Camcorders

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