I blame the state of the technology. The lack of real innovation and news. Touch was finally everywhere—two years after the JesusPhone and one year after Research In Motion officials said touch screens were going nowhere—but so what? Been there, done that, got the bloody' t-shirt. Seriously, you know something stinks when you see the BlackBerry people racing to plaster their booth with this:

Yeas, it's one of those phony industry awards. The Storm named as the "Best Mobile Technology Breakthrough". "Press and be impressed", it claims. The BlackBerry Storm is considered a "breakthrough" by "the industry". The not quite a perfect storm, as Matt put it, with its bugs and half-baked SurePress technology.

I rest my case.

And so did everyone else on the floor. You can see people wandering the aisles, looking for something exciting, new, but everyone in the floor was kind of blah and smleh about everything. Just a mass of androids pushing around the floors, searching for nothing.

Here's some of the best—and worst—of what I found.

• Android G2 Hands On: Close to Perfection

• Why Do the Android Phones Have Chins?

• Windows Mobile 6.5 Hands On: The New Interface Rocks

• Coolest Cellphone Interface Ever Is Also Absolutely Useless

• Bluetooth Over Wi-Fi Zoomtastic Speed Shocks Our Pants Off

• How Not To Make a Touchscreen Phone

• Samsung Omnia HD Hands On Video: Amazing Screen, Still Bad Response

• Nokia N97 Hands On Video of Nokia's First N-Series Touch Phone

• Nokia E75 Hands On Video: Shiny Slick Boredom

• Sony Ericsson Idou's Interface: Hotter than Butter Down Beyoncé's Pants

• Garmin Nuviphone G60 GPS Smartphone Video Hands-On

• Garmin Nuviphone M20 Smartphone (Aborted) Video Hands-On

Though AT&T seems to be talking excitedly about its own LTE network—a technology that derives from the GSM networks that AT&T and T-Mobile run, and not the CDMA networks of Sprint and Verizon—Verizon really will be first, and at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this week, Verizon CTO Dick Lynch made a point of letting the world know it. Most of the chatter was stuff we'd published before, but the coolest part of the released statement, about the current and upcoming trials, was new:

Utilizing their existing spectrum, Verizon Wireless and Vodafone have been field testing 4G LTE networks in Minneapolis, Columbus, Ohio, and Northern New Jersey in the United States, as well as in Budapest, Düsseldorf, and Madrid in Europe, with a variety of network infrastructure providers. These field trials have demonstrated download rates of 50 to 60 Mbps peak speeds, though actual average download results will not be determined until the commercial launch of the new Verizon Wireless LTE network. Utilizing its recently acquired 700 MHz spectrum, Verizon Wireless will expand trials this summer, and Lynch said the company will commercially launch its LTE network in 2010. Once the initial rollout is complete, plans are in place for aggressive deployment throughout Verizon Wireless' entire network, including areas not currently covered by the existing Verizon Wireless footprint.

WiMax is already here, and Sprint has proven to be adept at rolling out next-generation data services, but still, I can't help but think that between Verizon and AT&T, LTE will definitely be the 4G technology of choice in America. [More Mobile World Congress 2009 Coverage]

LTWHO??? CDMWHAT?? Drowning in mobile-terminology alphabet soup? Have a quick look at our Giz Explains entry on the various mobile technologies.

Unfortunately, this has to be one of the most useless interfaces ever in a cellphone. But who needs functionality when you have physics simulation and eye candy a go-go? Exactly. [TAT]

The phone, composed of screen half and number-pad half, can be joined along either edge. But DoCoMo calls this phone "separable," able to be broken apart while staying in contact via Bluetooth, for such activities as:

• Surfing the internet on the screen half while talking on the keypad half

• Watching movies on the screen half while using the keypad as a remote

• Strapping the screen to your wrist as an MP3 player, while leaving the keypad in your pocket or bag

• Sticking the vibrating part down the pants of you or a loved one while... Okay, I admit, I'm making this last one up, but you see how the whole separation thing gets absurd in a hurry, and that's coming from a guy who thought the phone that has its own detachable Bluetooth earpiece was one of the best products of 2008. Nice find, Charlie. [Wired]

Why the hell would you need a motion-sensing SIM card you ask? Well first off, it could give any run-of-the-mill handset the capability to navigate menus, send calls or SMS messages with a simple shake or tap. It could even allow users to pre-program an emergency contact into the phone that could be called or sent a text message on a trigger of rapid movement—like a fall. So you are covered should you fall and break a hip or pass out in a bar.

The card was just introduced at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, so there is no word on when we might see something like this available commercially. But my guess it will come sooner rater than later. [PR Newswire via Uberphones]

According to HTC: Personality. The Androids are like people, they have chins, they have personality. The other reason: They also have protruding nippleballs: Having a chin allows the HTC engineers to pull the trackballs out more than competing devices, making them easier to use while protecting them with the chin.

There you have it. Now you'll be able to sleep tonight.

The bad news first: Apart from my gripes about the user interface—which are still there—there is one but. A big BUT, bigger than Ramona's, the planetary lady with accidental moustache who serves the bocadillos down at one of the fair's restaurants: The software keyboard. On this first touch, the keyboard felt cramped, probably a result of the screen size, which is smaller than the iPhone's—which is the obvious soft keyboard reference, since it was the first one to implement a finger-touch software keyboard.

In addition to that, there's an additional user interface problem, this time having to do with perception: Instead of popping up above your finger—like in the iPhone so you can clearly see what you pressed—the keys appear on the sides. They flash quickly as you press them, and I found it extremely distracting. They said that they put them on the sides not to obstruct the view, but knowing the over-the-key implementation in the iPhone's software keyboard, it doesn't make much sense. Furthermore, when you are typing with one finger only—like I often do—you will be obstructing the view of the flashing key with your finger. The reason: When you type on the right side of the keyboard, the flashing keys appear on the left. When you click on the right, they pop out on the left.

Other than this, the rest is great. There's a new Google Mail feature to delete or classify mail in bulk, as well as a faster camera, which now can take video—which obviously means you can play back video as well. The rest of the interface and features is what you already have in the Android G1. However, what really steals the show here is the hardware itself.

HTC has got a very smooth phone, which feels great on your hands and in your pants' pockets. While it's sightly thicker than the iPhone, the narrower, rounded body, and weight makes it feel the same size. For sure, a lot less bulky than the G1, which looks like a brick next to this. And as you have seen in the shots, the final HTC Magic is quite pretty. Have no doubt: This thing alone will make many consumers put up with the less-than-ideal software keyboard.

Overall, the first feeling is that we got a potential winner here. If they can manage to make the software keyboard better, Apple will definitely have a formidable enemy in the Android G2.

What's wrong with these guys? Last year I tried the Omnia at IFA 2008, and said it had "a poorly designed interface, lousy response time, buggy software, and it felt cheap and fat on my hand." The Samsung cellphones at the Mobile World Congress this year don't feel cheap and fat, but the touch interface is equally as bad. It wasn't just me. It was me trying, people around me trying, and booth people trying them for me.

In theory, the cellphones available to the public in a tech fair booth must be flawless, right? After all, everyone—visitors, partners, and press—will be trying them to get an impression on how they work. So, how these "touch" screens' response could be so bad, often requiring multiple clicks to get the most basic click operation done? Is it the hardware? Is it the software? Is it bad luck? I don't know, but it left me the same impression as last year hands on, which is just too bad because the cellphones have some other great qualities, specially the Omnia HD amazing AMOLED high resolution screen.

The new Bluetooth specification—technically denominated alternate MAC/PHY—will be official this April. And unlike other technologies, it won't be in limbo for a while before reaching consumers. In fact, your phone may support it right now, according to Broadcom's Mukul Suth: Some of their current production chips already have this ability and they will only require a software upgrade to implement it.

The alternate MAC/PHY method is quite clever: The two devices discover each other and shake hands using Bluetooth (being cellphones, computers, or any other shiny thing supporting the standard). When you start any file transfer, the communication gets passed to the Wi-Fi hardware layer, which will transfer your data at 54mbps. Once the transfer is over, Wi-Fi is disconnected and the control passes again to Bluetooth.

It just works. According to the Bluetooth Special Interest Group, the standard will allow you to easily:

• Wirelessly bulk synchronize music libraries between PC and MP3 player
• Bulk download photos to a printer or PC
• Send video files from camera or phone to computer or television.

Sounds good to me. Having this easy-to-use, straightforward ability to just connect to any device and transfer information in a fast way, without needing any wireless network or access points, will be great.

So two things could be happening here. First, and most likely, is that this guy actually goofed up and let slip Dell's poorly-kept secret. In that case we can truly start looking forward to Dell's multi-OS, multi-form-factor theoretical product line.

Second, and still totally plausible, is that AT&T Mobility CEO Ralph de la Vega really screwed up, and just repeated some words he'd seen written next to each other on Giz. Lending credence to this theory is the fact that he said that Dell has announced their entry into the market, not that they plan to enter the market. His statement, strictly speaking, is just plain false, and doesn't technically mean what most of us think and hope it does. It's probably not worth applying too scrutiny to the semantics of a slip. UPDATE: AT&T denies. They say that de la Vega was referring to prior coverage about Dell smartphones, not any new information. This sounds reasonable, but keep in mind that they couldn't exactly say "aww, shucks guys, you got us! Now here's a picture of the top secret Optiplex flip phone!" [Gearlog]

For sure, it is lot prettier that T-Mobile's G1. Here are the specs:

Processor
Qualcomm® MSM7201a™, 528 MHz

Operating System
Android

Memory ROM: 512 MB
RAM: 192 MB

Dimensions 113 x 55 x 13.65 mm ( 4.45 x 2.17 x 0.54 inches)
Weight 118.5 grams ( 4.18 ounces) with battery
Display 3.2-inch TFT-LCD flat touch-sensitive screen with 320x480 HVGA resolution
Network HSDPA/WCDMA: 900/2100 MHz, Up to 2 Mbps up-link and 7.2 Mbps down-link speeds
Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
(Band frequency and data speed are operator dependent.)

Device Control Trackball with Enter button

GPS Internal GPS antenna

Connectivity Bluetooth® 2.0 with Enhanced Data Rate
Wi-Fi®: IEEE 802.11 b/g
HTC ExtUSB™ (11-pin mini-USB 2.0 and audio jack in one)

Camera
3.2 megapixel color camera with auto focus

Audio supported formats AAC, AAC+, AMR-NB, MP3, WMA, WAV, AAC-LC, MIDI, OGG
Video supported formats MP4, 3GP

Battery Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery
Capacity: 1340 mAh

Talk time:
Up to 400 minutes for WCDMA
Up to 450 minutes for GSM

Standby time:
Up to 660 hours for WCDMA
Up to 420 hours for GSM
(The above are subject to network and phone usage.)

Expansion Slot microSD™ memory card (SD 2.0 compatible)
AC Adapter Voltage range/frequency: 100 ~ 240V AC, 47/63 Hz
DC output: 5V and 1A
Special Features G-sensor
Digital Compass

It's almost hard to believe that the Hyundai MB400 even exists, but it's actually on display at MWC right now. What do we know about it? Practically nothing, except for the fact that it looks like a knockoff iPod classic, makes calls, play music, and has a touchscreen that requires a stylus. Sales, I'm guessing, will be limited to places where patent law doesn't really exist. Release info is nonexistent for the time being, but my guess: the MB400 will soon be available, strictly in trade for food or ammunition, in Guangzhou, Mogadishu, and the internet. [Pocketlint]

The Samsung Omnia HD still has the same lousy response when it comes to the touch part, even while its screen is capacitive instead of resistive. Many times, the phone will fail responding at the touch. And when it didn't fail, sometimes the software registered the click but it didn't respond. The unit was pre-release, but I found the same problem with all the Samsung phones in display (the Beat DJ and the Ultra Touch). I just hope it's just a beta thing, but I find hard to believe all these phones have such problems with the most basic feature in its design.

And it is too bad, because the Omnia HD has a lot of good qualities hardware wise. Besides de two built-in speakers—which can get really loud, although obviously they are not hi-fi material—, the 8GB/16GB built-in memory, the 32GB microSD memory expansion card slot, or the wireless video and DLNA connectivity, the really amazing thing is the high resolution AMOLED screen. The quality of this QHD 16:9 screen is simply mindblowing. I haven't seen any telephone—-or any other device, for that matter—which such a clear, colorful screen. The vision angle is amazing, and no matter how much you turn it, the color and contrast remain the same.

The other big feature of the Omnia HD is the video recording in high definition: 720p at 24 frames per second. The quality was really good and clear. Granted, it's not film material, but it's hard to believe you can obtain such an amazing picture quality from such a small device.

If Samsung could get their touchscreen act together and get a decent operating system on top of this (Android or maybe Windows Mobile 6.5), they would have a winner. But as long as first hands on impressions go, this great hardware is still in need of matching software.

There aren't many more details, except that the keypad glows when exposed. But BGR says more details are expected to surface soon. For now, just savor the pretty design work. [BGR]

The slider has a 2.6-inch screen, and can serve up media files using DLNA over Wi-Fi, from its 8GB store. The 8MP camera even has face recognition. Although I've always loved Sony Ericsson phones, without carrier subsidies in the US, they're hard to justify as a purchase. The lack of an app store is a problem, but the other issue, music store support, has melted in the last year with the rise of the DRM-free music sources like Amazon and others.

Video on the go - relieve boredom forever with the Sony Ericsson W995 Walkman™
15 February 2009

Get a complete on-the-move entertainment experience with the W995 Walkman™ and its optimised video playback style and performance. Debuting on the W995 Walkman™ is Media Go™ which transfers, plays and organises your entertainment, in most file formats, to your mobile phone simply and effortlessly.

Barcelona – February 15, 2009 –Keep amused like never before on one powerful video mobile phone; watch news, TV shows or blockbusters in premium video quality or check out the latest videos from YouTube™ using Turbo 3G or Wi-Fi™. Complete with an 8.1megapixel camera and Walkman™ player, with clear audio experience, the W995 Walkman™ is the ultimate mobile phone to keep you entertained when on the bus, lunch break or waiting for a train.

With Media Go™ it's easy to bring your media with you. This unique Sony application makes its worldwide debut on the the W995 Walkman™ and lets you effortlessly and automatically transfer any audio, photos and videos between your phone and computer. You can even find podcasts with exciting content easily from the directory – just two clicks and you're away, and watch the action in all its glory on the bright clear 2.6" screen."

"With Media Go™ there's no need to worry about format, resolution and ‘frame per second' anymore." said Alexandre Cardon, Global Marketing Business Manager at Sony Ericsson. "No longer will the video you transferred from your PC to your phone play in low resolution or bad quality. With Media Go™ and the W995 the experience is as good on your phone as it was on your PC."

"The W995 Walkman™ phone brings together the very best music experiences of any phone, augments this with best in class video and sharing capabilities to offer the most complete communication entertainment package to date." said Alexandre Cardon. "This powerful mobile phone delivers the best possible video resolution that can fit in your pocket and with enough battery stamina to watch two full length feature films. The W995 also comes complete with the award winning clear audio experience and an 8.1 megapixel camera for the highest quality picture and sound available in a mobile phone."

Set the phone on its built-in stand and watch videos with your friends while you pump up the volume on the powerful built-in stereo speakers. The W995 comes complete with excellent sound for both movies and your favourite tracks. Clear Stereo, Clear Bass and the included HPM-77 premium headphones make music on the move feel like you're sitting in a recording studio listening to your favourite band live! For the next level of clear audio experience, in selected markets the HPM-88 noise cancelling headset will replace the HPM-77.

To complete the entertainment experience get picture perfect all the time with auto focus, photo flash and face detection. Capture images in their true colours with the 8.1 megapixel camera and you can print pictures up to a full A3 size without having to compromise on quality.

The W995 Walkman™
Anytime is showtime

* Optimised video playback with style and performance – get the best possible video resolution in your pocket
* Videos straight to your phone - Wi-Fi™ and Turbo 3G – easy video access to YouTube™ and other entertainment sites
* Clear 2.6" display - with desk stand, powerful speakers or 3.5mm audio jack
* 8.1 megapixel camera – take picture perfect images with Photo Flash and face recognition
* Clear audio experience – enjoy the best sound possible, the way it was meant to be heard
* 8GB Memory Stick™ Micro – save an inexhaustible amount of photos, video clips and sounds
* Tag a place-name to your memories or stay on track with aGPS and Google Maps™

Media Go™
Makes it easy to bring your media with you

* Transfer, play and organise – with Media Go™ you can easily transfer music, videos, photos and podcasts between your mobile phone and computer
* Automatic sync – sync your music playlists automatically to keep the phone updated with your new music
* Auto convert – Media Go™ gives you the best quality playback of multi-media content on a mobile phone. There's no need to use extra applications to be able to bring your media with you.
* SensMe™ - create a playlist of songs in your library, you can also sort your music by mood or tempo
* Podcasts – it has never been easier to subscribe and download podcasts. Apart from adding your own favourites, the directory is there to help you to find the new and exciting content.
* Audio CD ripping – Use Media Go™ to burn your CDs and bring your music and audio books with you

The W995 Walkman™ supports GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 and UTMS/HSPA 900/2100. W995 will be available in selected markets from Q2 in the colours Progressive Black, Cosmic Silver and Energetic Red.

Media Go™ will be available for all markets from the W995 launch in 15 different languages.

The Sony Ericsson W995 Walkman™ at a glance

Camera

8.1 megapixel camera
Up to 16x digital zoom
Photo fix
Picture blogging
Video blogging
Auto focus
Face detection
Photo flash
Video recording
Image and Video stabilizer
Video light
PictBridge

Music

Walkman™ player
Clear Stereo
Clear Bass
Album art
PlayNow™
TrackID™
SensMe™
Bluetooth™ stereo (A2DP)
Music tones (MP3/AAC)
3.5mm audio jack
Stereo speakers
Shake control

Web

Access NetFront™ Web browser
Web feeds
Photo feeds

Communication

Speakerphone
Polyphonic ringtones
Vibrating alert
Video call

Messaging

Email
Picture messaging (MMS)
Predictive text input
Sound recorder
Text messaging (SMS)
Exchange ActiveSync
Chat View
Instant messaging

Design

Picture wallpaper
Wallpaper animation
Auto rotate

Entertainment

3D games
Motion gaming
Java
FM radio with RDS
Video streaming
Video viewing
Media
YouTube™
Walk Mate

Connectivity

Bluetooth™ technology
Modem
USB mass storage
USB support
Synchronization
DLNA Certified™
Wi-Fi™

Organizer

Alarm clock
Calculator
Calendar
Flight mode
Notes
Phone book
Stopwatch
Tasks
Timer

Location-based services

Geo tagging of photos
Google Maps™
aGPS
Wayfinder Navigator™ (3-month trial version)

Accessories

In-Box:

* W995
* Battery
* Battery Charger
* 8GB Memory Stick Micro™ (M2™)
* USB Cable
* Stereo portable handsfree
* Sony Ericsson PC Suite
* Media Go™
* User book

Facts and Figures 1)2)

Size: 97 x 49 x 15 mm
Weight: 113 grams

Colours:
Progressive Black
Cosmic Silver
Energetic Red

Main screen: 262,144 colour TFT, scratch-resistant
Resolution: 240 x 320 pixels
Size: 2.6 inches

Phone memory: Up to 118MB
Memory card support: Memory Stick Micro™ (M2™)

Talk time GSM/GPRS: Up to 9 hrs
Standby time GSM/GPRS: Up to 370 hrs

Talk time UMTS: Up to 4 hours
Standby time UMTS: Up to 360 hours

Video talk time: Up to 3.5 hours
Music listening time: Up to 20 hours
Video watching time up to 5hrs

Availability and versions

Networks
W995:
GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900
UMTS/HSPA 900/2100

W995a:
GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900
UMTS/HSPA 850/1900/2100

Available in selected markets from Q2 2009.

X960
• Pre-installed GPS software
(Navigon try-and-buy, for Europe market)
• 2.8" VGA touch screen
• High speed HSPA connectivity
• New easy-to-use virtual keyboard
• Access directly to key applications
via widget-based home screen
•3.2MP Auto-focused camera

F900
• Pre-installed GPS software
(Navigon try-and-buy, for Europe market)
• 2.8" VGA touch screen
• High speed HSPA connectivity
• New easy-to-use virtual keyboard
• Access directly to key applications
via widget-based home screen
•3.2MP Auto-focused camera

M900
• Physical Qwerty keyboard
• 3.8" WVGA touch screen
• Fingerprint reader
• 5 Megapixel autofocus camera
• HSPA, WiFi, BT
• Windows Mobile 6.1, Outlook, Office

DX900
• Physical Qwerty keyboard
• 3.8" WVGA touch screen
• Fingerprint reader
• 5 MP autofocus camera
• HSPA, WiFi, BT
• Windows Mobile 6.1, Outlook, Office
• Standby time 160h / Talk time: 5h

But while Acer's skin they've placed on top of Windows Mobile 6.1 looks alright and the hardware seems passable, why aren't they breaking into the smartphone market with WinMo 6.5? [Acer]

While everything seems to have been touched up, simplified, and polished to no end, what really makes this version of Windows Mobile 6.5 isn't the new, revamped browser—which uses the engine deployed in 6.1 but feels a lot faster and has a good new interface—or the honeycomb start screen—which I don't find particularly impressive—or the cleaner UI designed for one-finger operation or the speed or the touch gestures.

To me, what really makes this new operating system great is the new home screen, combined with the lock screen. The lock screen doesn't look very good aesthetically—somehow, the elements don't appear tight enough—but it allows you to see what's cooking in your digital life with just one glance. Turn the screen on and you will see whatever pending alerts, mails, calls, short text messages, or any other element that requires your attention. No need to get deeper into the phone applications. From there, if you want to drill down, just slide-to-unlock the notification and you will be taken straight to the info.

Once you unlock your phone, you are taken to the home screen. This is the true jewel in the operating system: A simple list of categories which let you access information without having to get into the phone applications. It sounds like the lock screen, but from here you can get deeper into the information itself. Here's how it works:

When you slide your finger over the list, it scrolls like it's passing through a visor. The visor transforms the text line into the information itself, so if you go through "text", it will show you the last received text message. Once you are looking at that, you will effectively have access to all your SMS messages right on that screen: Just swipe your finger like passing the pages of a book and it will change the text message. The same happens with all the other categories. There is even a custom "Favorites" category, that would allow you to navigate through whatever you want to put in there, from weather reports to Messenger's messages.

Then you have the start menu, which is accessible through the now-obligatory Windows flag start button, which must be present in all Windows 6.5 cellphones. Microsoft calls this the "start experience." I call it: "about time something makes sense in your damn phones." The start page shows all your available applications displayed as icons in a honeycomb. You can scroll up and down the honeycomb to start apps. No more start menu. The honeycomb is supposed to make it easier to see the icons and click on them. It works well.

Of course, Windows Mobile 6.5 is not perfect. I doesn't seem to support multitouch, for example. However, it's a huge leap over the previous fugly versions, which were completely unpalatable. If it fulfills its promise, this one will make Windows users think twice before getting an iPhone or an Android phone.

From this first touch on, it looks like Microsoft is back in the game. They don't have the upper hand yet, but they are clearly waking up. We will see what happens and how deep these changes really are once it gets released.

(We can see an example here in the new HTC Touch Pro.)

Using the Start button will not take you to the Home screen, like the Zune, but to that trademark honeycomb icon screen that's new to Windows Mobile 6.5. As much as we like touchscreens, mandating a hard button in the 6.5 spec seems like a smart decision from Microsoft—one that should keep widely varied phones running the OS doing so with some level of consistency. [Gizmodo Windows 6.5 Liveblog]

Beyond that, details are thin. BG is claiming a flashless 3.2 megapixel camera (same as the G1), and all the expected connectivity (3G, wi-fi). They're also claiming it will be loaded with Cupcake, the supposed next version of the Android OS, even though confusion abounds over exactly what Cupcake itself is-a development tool, or an eventual update? The NYT has it on record that Cupcake is simply a dev release, but we have seen features in said release that aren't in the G1's recent 1.1 update, like the soft keyboard. And there's still no beauty shot of the G2/Magic in pop-out QWERTY mode, we might add...

So, haze is still strong here, and HTC did not unveil anything like this at their MWC press conference, but hopefully this Euro-only teasing is just the prelude to a wider release, because the hardware is certainly sexy. Hit up Boy Genius for more shots: [BG]