Recently, Microsoft [MSFT] announced the Kin One and Kin Two smartphones. The phones have been specifically designed for social networking and have a new user interface geared towards sharing with others and keeping up to date.

Microsoft Kin One Specs

The Microsoft Kin One has a 2.6 inch capacitive touchscreen with a QVGA resolution of 320 x 240 pixels. On the back is a five megapixel camera sensor that has several features including autofocus, anti shake and a flash. For connectivity the Kin One has Wireless that can connect to 802.11b/g networks. 4GB of internal memory can be found inside along with an FM radio, Accelerometer and GPS. The phone has 256MB of RAM. [Read more…]

Gizmodo are still publishing a lot of details about the iPhone 4G they managed to sneakily get hold of. Their latest on the iPhone 4G provides a teardown showing some of what’s inside although Apple [AAPL] have managed to do a good job at sealing the CPU and mainboard by encasing it in metal.

Some of the main changes include a main board that’s about 1/3 of the size of the iPhone 3GS. Apple seem to have crammed everything in to a smaller space perhaps to make way for the larger battery (17% larger). Also it shows how far technology can change within a year.

Although we won’t find out till June 22 if this is indeed the iPhone 4G for sure (although evidence strongly suggests it is), we just have to make do with the pictures we have and assume it is for now. [Read more…]

Google [GOOG] has updated Google Maps for Android smartphones that now allows Google Maps Navigation to work in the UK. Previously only the US had this functionality and those in the UK had to resort to rooting their Android phone and installing a hacked version.

The new version works just as it does in the US where you load up the application, select a destination and you now get an option to navigate in the menu system. After selecting the option you then get navigation ability in the UK.

The only Android smartphone I have here to test on is a T-Mobile G1 running 1.6 and I can confirm that it works on this device, so I assume that it will work on most smartphones running at least 1.6 or above. [Read more…]

FarmVille is a popular game on Facebook. You probably have seen a number of friends updates indicating they need help with chickens or want a new cow etc…

We are now hearing that FarmVille will be heading to the smartphone with the iPhone, iPad and Android based devices probably being capable of playing the game. Also, a text messaging version of the game is also expected to be launched.

The company behind Farmville are called Zynga who have commented that plans are being worked on to bring the game to mobile platforms, but no additional information could be provided. [Read more…]

HTC are looking for your input and want you to name their next phone. There are four options currently available and HTC will use one of the names to call their next phone. These are the HTC Jovi, HTC Zeal, HTC Wildfire or HTC Festi.

The voting page can be found over on Facebook here and the text on the page indicates that a new phone is in the works.

The guys and gals in the lab are working on something new and we want you involved in the process. We are looking for a name that is playful and full of youth. If you were to choose one of the following names for a new phone, what would it be?

[Read more…]