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As mentioned above, sharp/vodaphone already produced such a mobile: http://www.vodafone.jp/english/products/model_3G/v 904sh/index.html It has approximately 267 dpi, which gets close to photo printing quality.

Sharp released the V-604SH phone in Japan earlier this year, which had a 640x480 screen in it. I don't know how Samsung qualifies their screen as a world first, but it would seem that their big claim is that it's 3-inches, where the Sharp screen is considerably smaller.

Sharp V-604SH

3.2 Megapixel Phone Camera in Japan with VGA LCD

http://www.vodafone.jp/english/products/model_3G/v 904sh/index.html

I think I read in late 2004 or early 2005 about this being available in Japan at or before the time I had read about it.

They even have pay-for-train-ticket and pay-for-groceries-and-other-things by cell.

While not light years ahead in all areas, Japan trounces the USA in some interesting and invisible ways. I had an analog TV phone (with FM radio, 1.2 megapixel camera, tweaking ability of the hundreds of polyphonics tunes inside, removable SD card, JP/Eng interface, memo, cal, many alarms, and more.) there for ONE PENNY (One YEN) because by Dec 04 it was "obsolete", yet where in the USA is an analog (meaning your viewing habits are NOT trackable) phone available for such a humane price?

Hell, many of the cell phones have PS2 console interfaces so up to 4 or more bored friends can hook up to a large flatscreen and play games designed for the phones.

I used to taunt the local (SF/SJ) cell stores with it, but Karma caught up with me and I ended up having to lose it. I was devastated.

See:

http://www.vodafone.jp/english/products/kisyu/v402 sh/index.html

The real future of mobile phones can be found here and here.

I think this one actually has more features than my HTPC... http://www.vodafone.jp/english/products/model_3G/v 905sh/index.html

The real future of mobile phones can be found here and here.

I think this one actually has more features than my HTPC... http://www.vodafone.jp/english/products/model_3G/v 905sh/index.html

Try the phones from Sharp... I had a Vodofone Sharp 402-sh/v3 series phone (but lost it in San Fran recently...

Check out these URLs...

TV

http://www.vodafone.jp/english/products/kisyu/v602 sh/

the phones in a lineup...
http://www.vodafone.jp/english/products/domestic.h tml

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=sharp+vodafon e+tv+

MPEG stuff
http://shopping.kelkoo.co.uk/b/a/ss_vodafone_sharp .html

http://www.vodafone.jp/english/release/2005/050131 e.pdf

http://www.idiottoys.com/2005/05/vodafone-and-shar p-trial-digital-tv-on.html

Try the phones from Sharp... I had a Vodofone Sharp 402-sh/v3 series phone (but lost it in San Fran recently...

Check out these URLs...

TV

http://www.vodafone.jp/english/products/kisyu/v602 sh/

the phones in a lineup...
http://www.vodafone.jp/english/products/domestic.h tml

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=sharp+vodafon e+tv+

MPEG stuff
http://shopping.kelkoo.co.uk/b/a/ss_vodafone_sharp .html

http://www.vodafone.jp/english/release/2005/050131 e.pdf

http://www.idiottoys.com/2005/05/vodafone-and-shar p-trial-digital-tv-on.html

Try the phones from Sharp... I had a Vodofone Sharp 402-sh/v3 series phone (but lost it in San Fran recently...

Check out these URLs...

TV

http://www.vodafone.jp/english/products/kisyu/v602 sh/

the phones in a lineup...
http://www.vodafone.jp/english/products/domestic.h tml

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=sharp+vodafon e+tv+

MPEG stuff
http://shopping.kelkoo.co.uk/b/a/ss_vodafone_sharp .html

http://www.vodafone.jp/english/release/2005/050131 e.pdf

http://www.idiottoys.com/2005/05/vodafone-and-shar p-trial-digital-tv-on.html

I don't really understand how this phone is worth $900.00, when the Vodafone/Sharp V903 offers so many features around the $400-$500 price range (in Japan it's actually quite a bit cheaper). The v903 has a 3.2 megapixel camera (with a decent lens, containing autofocus AND 2x OPTICAL zoom). I've been using one of these in the US (T-Mobile) for weeks, and it's terrific. Interestingly enough, you can purchase a beta-unlocked Japanese version that has a few relatively minor bugs (which is what I did) or buy a completely unlocked UK version (only available in one color, has slightly different software and features). I haven't tried yet to roam in Japan through T-Mobile's service though, but apparently it even works in Korea...

The "West" is so far behind in mobile phone technology. For only $200, I can get this phone in Japan: http://www.vodafone.jp/english/products/model_3G/v 903t/index.html

The "West" is so far behind in mobile phone technology. For only $200, I can get this phone in Japan:
http://www.vodafone.jp/english/products/model_3G/v 903t/index.html

It's completely bilingual (although I don't think it has predictive text in English mode), has a 2 MB camera, global roaming (and global GPS navigation (although only five or six countries are available at the moment)), can take video calls, communicate via Bluetooth or IR, read QR codes (very convenient in Japan). The Nokia N90 can't even vibrate when it's in silent mode. WTF? That's pretty much par for the course over here. And the Nokia is $700 more? If you can switch this phone to work on a Verizon account back home, it's almost worthwhile to buy a ticket to Japan, buy the phone and then fly back.

Even the free phones you get with a new account over here have AT LEAST a 1 MB camera. Some have 2. Some of the newer Sharp phones even have built-in optical zoom.

Vodafone is generally looked down upon by the Japanese people. NTT Docomo probably have even better phones available.

Here in Japan, we've had broadcast TV capable phones for a while now. Here's a link: v402sh

My favorite part of the description? "Of course, there are no communication charges for TV and radio reception."

Of course.

This model is a bit old though (a year?). It's only got a 1-megapixel camera, and no optical zoom. But, what do you expect for a $50 phone?

The newer v603sh has more features, but costs almost $200. I don't know if I need an electronic program guide or the ability to record shows, but I don't spend two hours on the train going to and from work each day.

Here in Japan, we've had broadcast TV capable phones for a while now. Here's a link: v402sh

My favorite part of the description? "Of course, there are no communication charges for TV and radio reception."

Of course.

This model is a bit old though (a year?). It's only got a 1-megapixel camera, and no optical zoom. But, what do you expect for a $50 phone?

The newer v603sh has more features, but costs almost $200. I don't know if I need an electronic program guide or the ability to record shows, but I don't spend two hours on the train going to and from work each day.

You CAN back them up, providing 2 things:

1. there is a removable media card
2. the phone permits you to see the content on your card and external computer
3. the content is not encrypted.

See:

http://www.vodafone.jp/english/products/index.html

and, for a lineup:
http://www.vodafone.jp/english/products/domestic.h tml

(I have the older v402-SH...)

But, if you want to enjoy hand-motion in a game, see:

http://www.vodafone.jp/english/products/kisyu/v603 sh/index.html

Now, if only the US markets use JAN or QR code so that we could go grocery and other shopping and receive product information on user-initiated queries. We could even scan library shelves (on even from on-line libraries) and download content, or receive flyers on the street. Hell, even police cars could radiate missing persons reports that they receive. Then, any concerned citizen or visitor could download pictures and relevant information in a given community.

LOTS of things could be done right here in the US that AREN'T being done because some PHB or bean counter can't find an immediate payback in it.

You CAN back them up, providing 2 things:

1. there is a removable media card
2. the phone permits you to see the content on your card and external computer
3. the content is not encrypted.

See:

http://www.vodafone.jp/english/products/index.html

and, for a lineup:
http://www.vodafone.jp/english/products/domestic.h tml

(I have the older v402-SH...)

But, if you want to enjoy hand-motion in a game, see:

http://www.vodafone.jp/english/products/kisyu/v603 sh/index.html

Now, if only the US markets use JAN or QR code so that we could go grocery and other shopping and receive product information on user-initiated queries. We could even scan library shelves (on even from on-line libraries) and download content, or receive flyers on the street. Hell, even police cars could radiate missing persons reports that they receive. Then, any concerned citizen or visitor could download pictures and relevant information in a given community.

LOTS of things could be done right here in the US that AREN'T being done because some PHB or bean counter can't find an immediate payback in it.

You CAN back them up, providing 2 things:

1. there is a removable media card
2. the phone permits you to see the content on your card and external computer
3. the content is not encrypted.

See:

http://www.vodafone.jp/english/products/index.html

and, for a lineup:
http://www.vodafone.jp/english/products/domestic.h tml

(I have the older v402-SH...)

But, if you want to enjoy hand-motion in a game, see:

http://www.vodafone.jp/english/products/kisyu/v603 sh/index.html

Now, if only the US markets use JAN or QR code so that we could go grocery and other shopping and receive product information on user-initiated queries. We could even scan library shelves (on even from on-line libraries) and download content, or receive flyers on the street. Hell, even police cars could radiate missing persons reports that they receive. Then, any concerned citizen or visitor could download pictures and relevant information in a given community.

LOTS of things could be done right here in the US that AREN'T being done because some PHB or bean counter can't find an immediate payback in it.

I have a Sharp v402SH phone

http://www.vodafone.jp/english/products/kisyu/v402 sh/index.html

distributed by Vodafone. My phone allows reading of e-books. I just recently figured out how to find the hidden folder (it's on the mini SD card in Kanji, so I had to sprinkle files here and there and put the card back into my phone and then drill into e-Books until the file showed up in a list.

Here is how my text appears, 7 words across 13 lines down.

----------

Perhaps if the whole DVD region encoding
scheme were to be stricken or banished,
and movies released world-wide to many
regions versus by region coode (1), then
piracy and shoddy translations would be
reduced, maybe a lot. (Diisclaimer, I
have only ONE non-paid DVD in my
collection and iit's not US-produced, but
ALL my others are paidd-for, usually
from Fry's Electronics or as Blockbuster
or Hollywood used video sell-offs, and
I have spent HUNDREDSs on over 50 DVDs
and maybe 80 or more VHS cassettes. (2)

---------
That is on a CG Silicon screen READIN AREA (black border lines) measuring 1-11/32 inches wide by 1-14/32 (or, 1-7/16) inches. Using the scrool ring makes reading faster, and I can save to the bookmark, move to the bookmark, Home, End, % Shift, and Copy, a the page in percentages and save the bookmark. Also, I can change the text direction from horizontal to lateral. In lateral orientation/direction, I get 12 lines of text to read, vs 13. But, that is not a problem because I can flip and twist the screen and read it as a reader rather than as a phone, in appearance. *

The average paperback has 10 to 15 words across and 40-45 words down. Also, I can adjust the font to 3 (THREE) different sizes, but only one is useful to me, as my vision permits me to read small fonts (for now...).

The cool thing is I can write materiaal and save it in TEXT format (.txt, not .pdf) onto my mini-SD card and read it on my phone, and that is GOOD, particularly since when on a bus or train it's utterly embarrassing a impractical to use my Sony VAIO PCG-FX215 as the battery lasts only 3 (THREE) minutes now once KDE is up, and that is even with CPU throttling turned on. Even at a black screen before selecting a kernel, if I forget to plug in the laptop, I get maybe 4 minutes before the battery dies. (Yes, I try to discharge it by running the l/t, but when I plug in, it begins charging at some 85%, then takes an hour or so to get to 100%...)

Now, if the US markets offer .txt reading via cell phones (assuming the phone has an SD/mini-SD card slot), this might tick off the PDA and content providers, especially since the content providers might feeel "screwed out of" being able to charge by the kilobyte for downloading text. But, that would be a screwed up argument in itself, as Bluetooth-enabled phones would probably permit inbound text transfers to a phone (well, unless the provider specifically asks the phone manufacturer to block it in the circuitry...)

Now, when I run my phone's Analog TV (picks up Bay Area broadcasts, and when close enough to a tower like CH11 it is mouth watering. The Spanish and a few others are astoundinggly clear/sharp, and all run at 30-fps) or the FM radio (tunes from 76 MHz to 90 MHz... fortunately, I can pick up NPR/88.5), I get only about 1 hour of time on the battery. That is not bad, as it permits about 25% of juice to remain to take calls, e-mail, play scheduled alarms, etc. But, as long as the phone is plugged into AC, all I have to do hit the power button every 30 or every 60 minutes, depending on which I chose for battery conservation...

* (The screen measures 1-14/32 by 1-28/32 vertically, or 1-7/16 by 1-7/8 inches, while the lid itself, above the swivel point measures: 1-31/32 wide by 2-26/32. It's is a helluva cool phone, and I wish Vodafone or a US carrier would put this phone in t

There is a problem with everyone having cameras at all times (on their phones): everything, EVERYTHING becomes a photo moment, with the requisite posing, commentary, and "destruction" of the real connection with whatever you were trying to experience.

Everywhere I go (here in Tokyo), everyone takes pictures of everything, all the time. This turns a simple lunch, night out with drinks, or my wedding party into an extended photo shoot, with everyone taking turns shooting a group photo with their mobile phone/camera. It never occurs to anyone there is this thing called the Internet through which they could share one nice picture among else. *sigh*.

5M pixel cameras will only worsen this problem-- all of those people who (before) only took quick stupid shots because they knew the quality was poor will (now) switch to shooting entire photo albums from the minutae of their sardine-packed train commutes.

There are phones here with TVs in them, but my favorite is the karaoke phone

MobiTV is billed as the first streaming service to broadcast real-time video to cell phones.

The PDF about the V402SH describes one such phone...

Of course, on the one hand it is different from the service mentioned above in that it is not a streaming service but rather a built-in tuner, but on the other hand it has no additional cost...

MobiTV is billed as the first streaming service to broadcast real-time video to cell phones.

The PDF about the V402SH describes one such phone...

Of course, on the one hand it is different from the service mentioned above in that it is not a streaming service but rather a built-in tuner, but on the other hand it has no additional cost...

In Japan, Vodafone offers something similar on their phones. The content isn't specially tailored to mobile viewing, but it's simply able to pick up the 10 or so free channels offered to the Japanese public (plenty for most people considering very few people here actually have cable). The only problem is, as one would expect, batter life is insanely short.

In Japan, Vodafone offers something similar on their phones. The content isn't specially tailored to mobile viewing, but it's simply able to pick up the 10 or so free channels offered to the Japanese public (plenty for most people considering very few people here actually have cable). The only problem is, as one would expect, batter life is insanely short.

Japanese phones have had the ability to receive broadcast TV (via the internal antenna, not a re-packaged pay-to-view version) in several phones for a while now. Have a look at this Vodafone NEC unit.

It's not about the extra abilities in my phone, it's the disabilities that are newsworthy. The TV phone linked above has ridiculous DRM - you can save video clips and screenshots, but not transfer them. The powers that be fear losing what control they've got that you can't transfer the images or video clips you make with your phone, not to your computer. They're locked on the phone. Java apps are locked to the phone, if you have to replace the phone you're f**ked, unless you can transfer them to the SD card - if the phone has a slot - and even then only if your new phone is the same manufacturer and the same phone number. The phones are locked to the carrier, there's absolutely no way no how to use a Vodafone on DoCoMo's network, end of story. You can play music files, but only ones encoded by the locked-down software app, so they're useless to any other music device.

On the bright side, mine has a 2megapixel camera that does pretty nice work, so it's mad handy when I don't want to lug around the real camera and see something neat.

Where was I... Oh yeah: More features are good, but please - make these features useful and not more restrictive than the alternatives, ok? Anyone listening?

nope...

V601SH has QVGA (320x240) lcd and not VGA (640x480).

See News release on V601SH.
- Large-size 2.4-inch QVGA (320 x 240 pixel) System LCD screen for brighter and clearer viewing

Sharp model numbers begin or end in SH. Sanyo in SA. Toshiba in T. NEC in N. English-language PDFs of the manuals for several models are also available.

The review didn't mention the 800 series: 801SH and 801SA.

Other goodies: the 601T has T4G 3D accelerator and a TV output jack when playing games. 401D also has a 2MP camera. The 401SH needs a really good signal for TV, and it kills the battery. The 401SA and 801SA have the same type of body sliding mechanism to reveal the keypad, all the others flip.

The latest Sharp models, including the 801SH, have electrical and optical audio, so one can rip direct to the SD card. Unfortunately it's DRM City, so getting music onto the SD card via a computer involves Panasonic's awful SD Jukebox software and one of a small number of card readers.

The 801SA can place videocalls to similar handsets. The 801SH and 801SA use W-CDMA in Japan, and tri-band GSM when roaming internationally.

Finally, the VC701SI is a 3G modem card made by Seiko.

Sharp model numbers begin or end in SH. Sanyo in SA. Toshiba in T. NEC in N. English-language PDFs of the manuals for several models are also available.

The review didn't mention the 800 series: 801SH and 801SA.

Other goodies: the 601T has T4G 3D accelerator and a TV output jack when playing games. 401D also has a 2MP camera. The 401SH needs a really good signal for TV, and it kills the battery. The 401SA and 801SA have the same type of body sliding mechanism to reveal the keypad, all the others flip.

The latest Sharp models, including the 801SH, have electrical and optical audio, so one can rip direct to the SD card. Unfortunately it's DRM City, so getting music onto the SD card via a computer involves Panasonic's awful SD Jukebox software and one of a small number of card readers.

The 801SA can place videocalls to similar handsets. The 801SH and 801SA use W-CDMA in Japan, and tri-band GSM when roaming internationally.

Finally, the VC701SI is a 3G modem card made by Seiko.

I guess now would not be the time to mention that Japan is already up to two megapixel phones . . .

My v601sh is better than this and has been on sale for ages!

No, you can do that already with the NEC V601N. The difference is, the V601N just picks up normal VHF / UHF stations, not satellite.

In Japan, Vodafone sells a NEC phone that has a built-in TV tuner. Go to Vodafone's Japanese site (English link) to check it out (and their other awesome models).

The advertisements for this phone show two businessmen standing on the train platform. One of them is using an older DoCoMo style phone, and is standing alone on the right side of the picture. On the left side of the picture stands a younger businessman with one of the NEC TV phones: he is surrounded by lots of people peering over his shoulder at the phone. He has a huge grin on his face. The older man on the right side of the picture is looking sad and alone as he holds his phone out in front of him and looks enviously over at the younger man.