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LG Posts Positive Q2 Results, Poised To Take No. 3 Spot

By Ernest DokucloseAuthor: Ernest Doku Name: Ernest Doku
Email: ernest.doku@omio.com
Site: http://blog.omio.com
About: I like gadgets, loads! I like talking about them, writing about them, using them, watching other people use them though binoculars... Some would say it was an unhealthy fascination, but then I'd be all like, "Shh...," and go back to doing gadget-related things. Hit me up on Xbox Live or PSN, I'm EJStyleS. I promise to give you a good match as well as talk about things that aren't gadgets. A bit.See Authors Posts (491)

Their tagline rings true, as life certainly is good for the Korean electronics manufacturer if recent financial reports are anything to go by.

Despite their other electronic devices performing well, LG’s mobile sector has been particularly buoyant of late. Selling a record 27.7 million mobile phones from April to June, they have attributed their successes to the luxury handsets performing well with the Secret, the Viewty, and even their cut-price contender, the Orsay attracting huge sales. Also, their focus on the emerging sectors of India and South America has proved profitable.

This puts LG in a strong position moving forward, and with a 9.1% market share and over 50 million sold this year alone, many analysts feel that they could overtake the ailing Motorola to become the third largest phone maker. As recently as March, some were speculating as to whether they could overtake Sony Ericsson, and it took place as predicted only last quarter.

LG does recognise the economic downturn will hit them however, predicting a slowdown in sales for the second half of the year, as fewer new models are released. Still, in light of the difficulties faced by their competitors, LG’s optimistic goal of selling 100 million handsets for 2008 is refreshing.

Open Beta, Sign Up (To) Qik!

By Ernest DokucloseAuthor: Ernest Doku Name: Ernest Doku
Email: ernest.doku@omio.com
Site: http://blog.omio.com
About: I like gadgets, loads! I like talking about them, writing about them, using them, watching other people use them though binoculars... Some would say it was an unhealthy fascination, but then I'd be all like, "Shh...," and go back to doing gadget-related things. Hit me up on Xbox Live or PSN, I'm EJStyleS. I promise to give you a good match as well as talk about things that aren't gadgets. A bit.See Authors Posts (491)

Everyone on the net seems to want to tell everyone else what they are doing, every single second of the day. Social video streaming site Qik brings this one step further, allowing people to stream live video from their handset any time, day or night.

Sounds odd, but the more you think about it - the ability to stream live events, conference calls, password-secure private webcasts, on the scene news reporting - the better it is.

The new public beta has just been opened, adding the ability to embed these streams on sites like Facebook and MySpace. This allows for a whole new generation of stuggling artists to orchestrate gigs on a shoestring, but also bestowed bedroom divas with the power to host 3 hour concerts miming to their favourite hits. Qik representatives have not yet apologised for this.

I know what you’re thinking. Using this site for streaming live videos of a steamier nature, aren’t you? No chance, Qik requires the handset’s number upon signing up, so they won’t hesitate to…do something bad with that. They don’t say what exactly, but it is safe to assume they will have an elite force of porn trawlers to keep that stuff off Qik.

We have noticed a bit of a loophole there, as even Pay-As-You-Go handsets like the LG Orsay come equipped with super-cameras these days. Simply hand over the cash and you get an off-the-grid mobile and SIM, making a phone number is pretty useless as a security measure. But they are trying…

A staggering number of handsets are supported by their impressive streaming setup, with the all-important iPhone a new addition to the line-up. Click here to sign up and get guerrilla film making! One word of warning, make sure your data plan is pretty generous, or that video clip of yourself dancing to Aswad could cost you a lot more than just your dignity.

Sony Ericsson F305 : PSPhone?

By Ernest DokucloseAuthor: Ernest Doku Name: Ernest Doku
Email: ernest.doku@omio.com
Site: http://blog.omio.com
About: I like gadgets, loads! I like talking about them, writing about them, using them, watching other people use them though binoculars... Some would say it was an unhealthy fascination, but then I'd be all like, "Shh...," and go back to doing gadget-related things. Hit me up on Xbox Live or PSN, I'm EJStyleS. I promise to give you a good match as well as talk about things that aren't gadgets. A bit.See Authors Posts (491)

All the signs are there… X and O buttons, a little Playstation-esque d-pad and the dedicated ‘game’ shortcut button has the familiar joypad outline on it. Except it isn’t.

The new handset unofficially outed by the Unofficial Sony Ericsson blog in a completely unofficial manner is the new F305.

The F stands for fun apparently, and no genuine connection aside from the vaguely cosmetic has been made to Sony’s successful handheld. It has already been branded the PSPhone by at least one blog (this one…), and it is obviously designed with an eye towards being a gamer’s handset. It comes preloaded with this season’s hot new bandwagon, motion sensitive games!

Completely unlike the Wii (or LG Secret, or LG Orsay, or the N95….), there are a range of waggle-based games designed for use with it. In an impressive touch, albeit a relic from the heady days of Battleships on the Ericsson T68, Bluetooth multiplayer is also available.

It is also replete with all the great things you grow to expect from a new Sony Ericsson with RDS radio, Track ID, memory card support and amusing colours (”Polar” White and “Mystic” Black).

It is probably alright at making and receiving calls too, but does that even matter anymore?