BlackBerry Bold 9780

GENERAL	2G Network	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
	3G Network	HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100
		HSDPA 900 / 1700 / 2100
	Announced	2010, October
	Status	Available. Released 2010, November

SIZE	Dimensions	109 x 60 x 14 mm
	Weight	122 g

DISPLAY	Type	TFT, 65K colors
	Size	480 x 360 pixels, 2.44 inches
		- QWERTY keyboard - Touch-sensitive optical trackpad

SOUND	Alert types	Vibration, MP3 ringtones
	Speakerphone	Yes
		- 3.5 mm audio jack

MEMORY	Phonebook	Practically unlimited entries and fields, Photocall
	Call records	Yes
	Internal	256 MB storage, 512 MB RAM
	Card slot	microSD, up to 32GB, 2GB card included, buy memory

DATA	GPRS	Yes
	EDGE	Yes
	3G	HSDPA
	WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, UMA
	Bluetooth	Yes, v2.1 with A2DP
	Infrared port	No
	USB	Yes, microUSB v2.0

CAMERA	Primary	5 MP, 2592x1944 pixels, autofocus, LED flash
	Video	Yes
	Secondary	No

FEATURES	OS	BlackBerry OS 6.0
	CPU	624 MHz processor
	Messaging	SMS, MMS, Email, Push Email, IM
	Browser	HTML
	Radio	No
	Games	Yes + downloadable
	Colors	Black, White
	GPS	Yes, with A-GPS support
	Java	Yes, MIDP 2.0
		- BlackBerry maps - Document editor (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF) - Media player MP3/WMA/AAC+ - Video player DivX/WMV/XviD/3gp - Organizer - Voice memo/dial - Predictive text input

BATTERY		Standard battery, Li-Ion 1500 mAh
	Stand-by	Up to 528 h (2G) / Up to 408 h (3G)
	Talk time	Up to 6 h (2G) / Up to 6 h (3G)

MISC	SAR US	1.41 W/kg (head)     0.82 W/kg (body)
	SAR EU	1.15 W/kg (head)     0.40 W/kg (body)
	Price group

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Twin camera concept floats in water, unites sea and sky

  Taking an underwater self-portrait isn't the easiest thing in the world -- even if you're fond of robot DIY -- but this concept camera won a Red Dot award for capturing more than typically meets the eye. The UNDERABOVE floats like a buoy thanks to a pair of watertight ballast compartments, takes images with twin cameras above and below, then stitches the result into a turquoise vertical panorama viewable on the inbuilt LCD screen. If and when this device actually gets produced (and gains some serious image stabilization) the worlds of fish and man will never be the same.

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Google Maps for Mobile 5 unveiled, adds dynamic map drawing and offline mode

  Why look at static images when you can get a more 3D view of the urban scene? Google's Maps for Mobile 5 just got previewed on stage by Andy Rubin at D: Dive Into Mobile -- with a prototype Motorola Honeycomb tablet, no less! The biggest visual change is dynamic map drawing: vectors instead of flat images that scale without render hiccups and will show the buildings fleshed out for over 100 cities -- we gotta say, it looks great. Even more fun is that you can now use two fingers to tilt and rotate around the map (in addition to moving and pinch-to-zoom, of course). We've been told it's a much snappier experience, and the storage for these vectors is much smaller than the current images, which brings us to... offline caching. Maps will keep on file the locations that you go to (and search) most often, and it'll be able to reroute while offline in Navigation. You'll still need a connection for altering the route altogether -- sorry, subway-hoppers -- but once you go, even if you stray, you'll still be rerouted back on track. 

   Most modern Android phones from the original Droid onward should be able to enjoy most if not all the new features, depending on hardware capabilities (3D rendering) and "distinct multitouch" hardware support -- the Nexus One, interestingly enough, supports vector maps but not the rotate functionality because it lacks the latter multitouch requirements. Google sent us a list of devices that support 100 percent of 5.0's features, which you can find after the break. The update is due out in the "coming days," according to Rubin. Great way to kick off Nexus S' launch, then.

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Nokia X7 preps for its unauthorized preview

  After seeing the Symbian-based Nokia X7 leak into the wilds with its quartet of speakers a few weeks ago, you just knew that it was only a matter of time until Eldar Murtazin got his hands on the device for a preview. Last time he did this he burned the then unannounced Nokia N8 to the ground. He's coy with any details but the "I do not like this device" machine translation is pretty telling as is that AT&T logo. One more pic of the backside 8 megapixel shooter after the break as we brace for things to come.

Update: We've been told by a source that only two of the four "speakers" at the corners emit sound. At least that was the case for the unit tested by our contact.

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Awesome Modern House – Vacation House on Mediterranean Coast

   For modern minimalism at its best, Spanish architecture firm A-cero takes us to Sotogrande, on the Mediterranean coast. This awesome modern house is a luxurious vacation home featuring a white palette, which provides interiors with clarity and brightness, as described by the architects, while creating a restful, relaxing atmosphere ideal for a modern holiday home. The 400m2 house organizes living areas on two floors, with the lower level devoted to public living and socializing areas, and the upper floor designated for private spaces like bedrooms and guest rooms. The architecture firm also designed the furniture – white lacquered pieces, modern fabrics and earth tones that complement the architecture beautifully. A rooftop patio provides a great vantage point for the stunning surrounding scenery and the 90m2 swimming pool below – a great backdrop for alfresco parties by day or night. A-cero.

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Kuwait crowned the Gulf champion

HEADLINE NEWS

Published Date: December 06, 2010

ADEN: Kuwait clinched a timely morale boost ahead of January's Asian Cup with a 1-0 victory over Saudi Arabia in the Gulf Cup final yesterday. The two-week tournament, which started on November 22, featured Yemen, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, UAE, Oman and Qatar.

Ali guided Kuwait to the football 20th Gulf Cup of Nations in Yemen, scoring his side's 1-0 winner in a final against Saudi Arabia on extra time, after a goalless 0-0 draw in original time.

Kuwait remains the most Gulf nation to have won the illustrious regional tournament, earning their 10th title, after an absence of 12 years, with their fierce rival Saudi Arabia, and Iraq winning it three times apiece.

Ali scored his side's goal in the fourth minute of the first half of extra-time, sending Aden Stadium into raptures. The winger sticking to his position on the left, had a run on goal before passing a defender on his way to firing a shot into the top far left corner of goal.

After an intense two halves which began with Kuwaiti dominance in the first half and Saudi in the second, the two teams took the game to extra time after a 0-0 draw. The match between two of the most successful national teams in the Gulf region, was dominated by cautious play, which depended on a tough defense and several counter-attacks.

Having been down by a goal minutes into the second half of extra time, the Saudi side continued the last minutes of the match with 10 men, with striker Mohannad Asiry taking his second yellow card of the match after a desperate attempt to earn a penalty with a dramatic fall to the ground.

Handing out the awards after attending the match were Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh and Kuwait Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Minister of State for Development Affairs and Minister of State for Housing Affairs as well as President of the Olympic Council of Asia Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.

As well as winning the 20th title, Kuwaiti midfielder Bader Al-Mutawa won the golden boot award, with the award for best player in the tournament going to winger Fahad Al-Enezi and the golden glove award to Nawaf Al-Khaldi. The last Gulf Cup encounter in a final between both teams was in the 1974 tournament held in Kuwait, which ended in a 4-0 win for the hosts.

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Kuwait invites Obama to national celebrations

Published Date: December 04, 2010

WASHINGTON: Envoy to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and advisor at the Amiri Diwan, Mohammad Abulhasan, delivered a letter to US President Barack Obama during a meeting with Special Assistant to the President Dennis Ross.

The letter contained an invitation to President Obama, inviting him to Kuwait's 50th Independence Day and 20th Liberation Day celebration as well as the 5th anniversary of His Highness the Amir's assumption to power on Feb 26.
Abulhasan said that he was honored to deliver letters from HH the Amir to the leaders of North American and South American countries that contributed to the liberation of Kuwait.

The first letter to be delivered was the one sent to President Obama, he said, adding that the United States led the international coalition that included Saudi Arabia and 34 other countries that liberated the country.

Kuwait appreciates those countries that defended international justice and the United Nations Charter and contributed to Kuwait's liberation, he stressed.
He noted that the US appreciated the invitation and expressed an eagerness to participate in the celebration.

The US figures who will be invited to the celebrations include former
Presidents George HW Bush, George W Bush, and Bill Clinton, former Vice President Dick Cheney as well as former Secretaries of State Colin Powell and James Baker, he said.

Abulhasan will also visit Honduras and deliver a similar invitation. He pointed out that Honduras sent 500 soldiers to aid in the liberation, demonstrating that the Iraqi invasion did not only threaten Kuwait but world security and stability.

An invitation was also delivered to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. Abulhasan said that he hopes the invited leaders and figures would attend the Kuwaiti celebrations. He emphasized that their efforts were appreciated by the Kuwaiti people and leadership. ---KUNA

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Viber VoIP iPhone app: 3G calling, no registration, and totally free

 

You know those voice minutes you've been coaxed into buying for, like, ever? Now would be an awesome time to bid 'em adieu. Out of nowhere, Viber has swooped in to crush the dreams of Skype and every other VoIP provider out there, and if these guys can reach critical mass, avid iPhone users will certainly be able to buy a mobile plan with fewer minutes. It works as such: install the free app on your iPhone, provide just your phone number (no "registration" is necessary) and then fire it up. Viber uses your existing contact and favorites list, and you can make Viber or standard voice calls from within the app; naturally, a Viber logo pops up beside any contact who is also a user, making it easy to see who you can VoIP call for free. As our brethren over at TUAW point out, there's simply no catch to be found -- well, except for those of you counting your kilobytes on AT&T's newer, metered data plans. Call quality was said to be excellent over 3G and WiFi, and potentially best of all, gratis SMS and an Android version are both on the way. Head on past the break if you need any additional convincing, and tap that iTunes link to get your download on. So, AT&T, what's the value proposition on those "rollover minutes" again?

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The Pope desires a solar-powered Popemobile, might just get one

Remember how W said Americans were addicted to fossil fuels? Well, Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger (better known by his crew as '265-Cal') is addicted to renewable energy. First he had photovoltaic arrays installed on the roof of an auditorium in the Vatican. Then he had a solar cooling system built into the Vatican cafeteria. Now, the Pope wants his mobile bulletproof shell to be solar-powered. While we'd love to see some PV cells rocking out on the roof of the custom Benz, they probably wouldn't power a whole lot more than his DC Papal reading lights -- to that end, we're hoping he goes the practical route and installs a PV array on top of the Popegarage and simply juices the batteries between sessions of humbly waving to the teeming masses. Whatever he and his crack team of energy specialists figure out, we're sure you'll be able to read all about it in the next volume of The Energy of the Sun in the Vatican, a book that actually exists.

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