The HDBlog has been promising us a full review of the Samsung Omnia 2 a week ago, and they have now delivered, producing an 11 minute video in English for our enjoyment.

And the result is certainly droolworty, with hardly a white windows 3.1 screen in sight anywhere. HDBlog also confirms the device will come to market with Windows Mobile 6.5 pre-installed, which, given how close the OS is to release, only makes sense.

Thanks Giuseppe for the tip.

MobileWack has reported on new Windows Mobile 7 designs by Velocity Mobile, the Seattle-based company that was set to revolutionize the Windows Mobile world with their over the air auto-updating system.

However when I tried to do some confirmation on their website, I ran into a Bermuda-triangle like void.  Their website had disappeared without even a placeholder page. Their flagship device, the Velocity 103 has been discontinued on Expansys.

That makes it rather unlikely these devices pictured will ever see the light, and make them about as likely to get real as our Black Slab from yesterday.

Does anyone know more? Let us know in the comments.

Well Numpty Physics is a simulated physics app that has finally reached Windows Mobile. The aim of the game it to solve simple puzzles using the simulated objects found on the screen, and also the ones you draw with your stylus.

The app started on the PC, and that version is available here . A VGA version is available here while the QVGA is here.

See the video below for the app in action.

Source: FuzeMobility via 1800pocketpc.com

Bad news for T-Mobile users waiting for a powerful Windows Mobile Professional phone to finally come to their network.  According to TMoNews they have been tipped  to a possible delay of the device, all the way to August 12th.

Reasons are not know, but some sites are speculating that it was so the more powerful Touch Pro 2 does not overshadow the low res keyboard-less  MyTouch3G.

Follow the rumour at TMoNews here.

Crowing about second place doesn’t often sound very good, but when we are talking about Nokia in the European market, that may be the best that’s available for very long time.  The company, as usual, dominated the 2 million Dutch smartphone market, taking 49.5% of  2008 sales.

Its when you come to number 2 that things get interesting. Windows Mobile champion HTC took 16.6% of the sales, way ahead of media darling, Apple’s iPhone, with only 5.6% of the market share.  The small Taiwanese company even beat global giant Samsung, who achieved only 14.4%, despite the very popular Samsung Omnia.

Of course this news should come as no surprise to regular readers, who will know we reported in October 2008 already that the HTC Touch Diamond was outselling the iPhone in that market.

See the full numbers here.

Via Telecompaper.nl.

Despite rumblings of O2 bringing the device to UK, it turns out Orange has snatched the crown and will be carrying the much anticipated TG01.  the smartphone showed up on Orange’s Coming Soon page, likely spoiling Toshiba’s 9th of July announcement.

While its nice seeing the device being subsidized in the UK, Orange is likely the worst network it could have landed on, with their expensive and extremely limited data plans.  Lets hope it does not remain exclusive for long.

Source: Coolsmartphone via Engadget.

Below is a video of Windows Mobile 6.5 running on the Motorola Q9H, and the major impression is that it looks almost exactly the same as Windows Mobile 6.1, most clearly illustrated by the list-based settings page.

With non-touch screen based smartphones of the Blackberry variety dominating the US smartphone market at present Microsoft should ask themselves whether directing some eye candy in the direction of Standard may not have paid of dividends also.

See the video below:

We don’t often put up user-generated concept shots, but sometimes the work is just so impressive it deserves a little show-casing.

Nak’s Pure Black is the epitome of the now classic Black Slab, with a button-devoid 4.1 inch 800×600 screen, only 8 mm thick and with a 8 megapixel camera capable of HD recording and Xenon flash.  It features HDMI out and, to maintain the sleek lines,  a concealed MicroSD card

Visit the Nak-Design blog for more concept pictures.

Zer01 Mobile  announced today the formal launch of its new nationwide truly unlimited voice, data and Web mobile wireless service that will allow users to make as many phone calls, surf the Web, view movies and videos, text messages, download music and use their smartphones for a variety of other applications all for one, low monthly fee. Offering the new mobile wireless service as a mobile virtual network enabler, Zer01 Mobile has created its own grouping of mobile virtual network operators and strategic business alliances including a new partnership with Netmovies.com, an online entertainment network.

"Many years of research and testing have culminated in the public launch this week of the new, truly unlimited voice, data and Web mobile wireless service from Zer01 Mobile. Thanks to the ingenuity of the Zer01 Mobile engineering team, our new Veritable Mobile Convergence technology allows each smartphone user to make voice calls or transmit data through a VoIP system," explained Ben Piilani, CEO, Zer01 Mobile. "Because Zer01 Mobile is the only carrier in the United States offering truly unlimited mobile Web access, a number of important strategic partnerships with Zer01 Mobile have been finalized including the recent agreement with Netmovies.com, the Boston-based online entertainment network."

In April 2009, Zer01 Mobile first premiered its new truly unlimited voice, data and Web mobile wireless service at the CTIA Wireless Conference in Las Vegas, NV. Receiving positive reviews while showcasing its service at the global wireless industry event, Zer01 Mobile was presented with the "Best Overall Product" Award by Laptop Magazine. "That’s the appeal of Zer01, which uses highly efficient VoIP technology to let users make phone calls over existing cellular networks. This new breed of carrier will sell a variety of Windows Mobile devices starting in July that can tap into its service, but it will also enable users to bring their unlocked BlackBerrys, Android phones and other handsets. An extra $10 per month will allow subscribers to add international calling to 40 destinations. Zer01 Mobile promises that it will take as little as five minutes for the company to update your phone’s SIM card to make it compatible with its network," stated the Laptop Magazine Web site.

"With movies, music, games and television available anywhere on a mobile device, our agreement with Zer01 Mobile is a natural fit with our company’s business model and overall plan for the coming decade. The technology behind Zer01 Mobile’s service will assure a top rated viewing and listening experience for the end-user," explained John Fanning, chairman & CTO, Netmovies.com and founding chairman & CEO, Napster, Inc.

Creating interconnect agreements throughout North America and the globe, Zer01 Mobile is the first mobile service to offer a truly unlimited voice, data and Internet plan that is priced affordably with taxes and fees included. Zer01 Mobile’s international plan also reaches out to the most popular calling countries around the world and is also economically priced. The company has licensed patent pending proprietary Veritable Mobile Convergence technology that allows each smart phone user to make voice calls or transmit data by sending voice communications through a VoIP system.

Established in 2001 and 34% owned by Blockbuster, Inc., NetMovies is an online entertainment network providing producers and owners of video content a secure, highly functional and efficient digital distribution outlet. NetMovies’ proprietary downstreaming network builds on the technology model pioneered at Napster which was created using a regulated peering system offering high-speed downloads and secure and flexible digital rights management. NetMovies’ video content is licensed from studios or created by independent artists and introduced into a centrally managed and protected network then distributed to and among paying subscribers.

Based in Las Vegas, Nevada, Zer01 Communications is owned and operated by the Unified Technologies Group, Inc., a global technology services and consulting company headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware.

We have seen screenshots and video of LG’s S-class user interface, and while there is no arguing its pretty, many have also complained that it looks cluttered and confusing.

It seems the not everyone agrees, as LG just won an iF Communication Design for the 3D S-Class User Interface featured on the LG Arena. LG wont a Gold in the Product Interfaces category against 1367 other entrants for the UI’s user-friendliness in  operation and superiority in design.

“Through recognition from this prestigious organization, LG has once again proven its design expertise and innovation not only in physical appearance but also in user interface,” said Dr. Skott Ahn, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “LG will continue to lead with products that enhance the user experience.”

The LG Arena has already sold more than 500 000 devices in 3 months mainly on the strength of the user interface, and the software will be features on the Windows Mobile powered LG-GM730.

LG claims the UI greatly simplifies navigation and makes multimedia features easier to use. By applying 3D effects and transitions, virtual elements look and act more like real, physical objects. Essentially, the S-Class UI acts as one would expect it to, making operation highly intuitive and reducing the learning curve for the user.

LG intends to roll out the UI to all its high-end devices, and to introduce potential customers to the UI LG will launch a global promotional campaign, which allows customers to try S-Class on their PCs. At LG’s website, visitors can download a desktop widget and 3D screen saver, as well as play 3D games. LG’s widget demonstrates how the interface works and offers the same experience as an  S-Class equipped phone by duplicating the functionality of the UI. The downloadable screensaver is based on the S-Class UI’s cube layout theme and it is customizable with a variety of animated clocks that include moving and spinning 3D cubes. The software will be available at sclassui.lgmobile.com.

LG is set to be a key Microsoft Windows Mobile partner, with the company pledging to launch 50 Windows Mobile powered handsets over the next 3 years.