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Posts with tag ktf

Symbian Foundation nabs Opera, KTF... UIQ?

by Chris Ziegler, posted Sep 9th 2008 @ 1:13PM

The Symbian Foundation has definitely managed to quickly reach a quorum in the few months since its inception, and the group has just announced yet another round of heavyweights to have thrown their support behind the effort. This time around, Sharp, Opera Software, South Korea's KTF, and UIQ are among nine new firms to throw their hats into the ring (in other words, if the Windows Mobile and Android camps aren't paying attention yet, they probably ought to be). UIQ might be the surprise here, considering that S60's perpetual second fiddle had already made moves to get ready for the Foundation's activities -- but whatever, good to hear that they're officially on board now.

Pantech's IM-U300K "Neon-Sign Phone" couldn't possibly be annoying

by Chris Ziegler, posted Jun 13th 2008 @ 7:02PM


Or could it? As the colorful name suggests, the hallmark of Pantech's new IM-U300K flip for its domestic market is a front cover chock full of 49 LEDs that form images and messages depending on what's going on -- text messages, calls, alarms and the like. PC-based software allows users to make their own designs, which can later be exchanged between phones via infrared (totally rad right up until that last bit, which seems straight outta 2002). Other features of the phone include DMB reception, a document viewer, and global roaming, so if you see a nightmarishly bright light emanating from the pocket of an individual in your neck of the woods, you now know why.

[Via Unwired View]

KTF's "Font of Your Own" service makes sending ransom notes a breeze

by Chris Ziegler, posted Jun 11th 2008 @ 2:41PM


Gone are the days of meticulously hand-cutting and pasting letters onto sheets of spiral bound lined notepad paper. Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, criminals of all skill levels should be able to boil their carefully crafted ransom notes down to an SMS, which can be received and read by the victim at their convenience. We kid, we kid -- KTF's new "Font of Your Own" service isn't actually designed to support anonymous demands for cash as far as we can tell, but will allow any user of the free service to take pictures of 33 characters with their phone to create a custom font for use in messaging. A PC-based font editor app will also be available for those hardcore font connoisseurs looking to create that perfect typeface for their next mobile communique. And no, if you're outside South Korea, you can't have this, so don't even ask.

[Via Unwired View]

KTF analyzes passion in your voice, won't make you irresistible

by Darren Murph, posted Feb 17th 2008 @ 1:50AM


We know, Valentine's Day 2008 has come and gone, but if you've managed to hold on to your SO through the Hallmark-inspired holiday, chances are you won't need these services anyway. For those waking up solo, however, you should probably listen up. South Korea's KTF has launched a seductive new service -- rightfully dubbed Love Detector -- for its subscribers which will actually "analyze voice patterns to see if a lover is speaking honestly and with affection." In an interesting twist, the data is actually only shown to the customer who coughs up ₩1,500 ($1.58) per month (or less per call), so don't expect to secretively find out if your lover has another lover waiting next door via voice analysis.

[Image courtesy of WestCoastPioneers, thanks Sandra]

KTF's EV-W200 and EV-K200 sliders rock e-dictionaries

by Darren Murph, posted May 21st 2007 @ 2:11AM


While Alcatel's latest slider is taking care of the European market, KTF is lookin' out for the Korean side by busting out a duo of new sliders for its homeland. The EV-W200 sports a two-megapixel camera, built-in MP3 player, video telephony capability, an e-dictionary, Bluetooth, and a photo viewer, while the EV-K200 steps it down to a 1.3-megapixel camera but maintains most everything else. Notably, the EV-W200 does indeed resemble Samsung's U600 just a hair too much for comfort, but considering that we Americans will probably never get the luxury of using these on US soil, we'll let them fight that one out elsewhere.

[Via Slashphone]

The Samsung SPH-W2900 is alright, we guess

by Chris Ziegler, posted May 12th 2007 @ 4:36PM


It's not that common that we're genuinely underwhelmed by a piece of Korean technology, particularly when said piece happens to be a cellphone. In the land of picture-in-picture satellite mobile TV, your expectations for new handset announcements are... shall we say, a bit on the high side. Don't get us wrong, this SPH-W2900 slider with HSDPA is alright, we suppose, but it seems like a phone we might expect to launch on a US carrier; there just really isn't anything fantastical about it. Specs include a 1.3 megapixel camera, microSD slot, media player, and not much else. See what we mean?

Pantech's SKY IM-R200 slider with dual displays

by Chris Ziegler, posted May 9th 2007 @ 11:15AM


Replacing the good, old fashioned numeric keypad with a touch sensitive display seems to be all the rage these days -- not to mention a certain phone from Apple that intends to bury buttons for good. We're still a little skeptical that the concept is easy to use, but we've gotta admit, this here IM-R200 from Pantech's upmarket SKY brand is way cool looking. Up top you have a 2 inch QVGA LCD accompanied by a 1.6 inch OLED touchscreen on the bottom that changes functionality and appearance depending on the handset's current mode. There's a 2 megapixel cam in back (with face recognition for improved focus, no less) and a VGA counterpart in front. There's no sign of this one ever finding its way out of Korea, but if you happen to be there, look for it on SK Telecom and KTF this month. [Warning: subscription required]

KTF offers location-stamped messaging

by Chris Ziegler, posted May 2nd 2007 @ 12:50PM

It doesn't seem too useful at first glance, but imagine being able to text your mates with a simple "I'm here" to get your point across. Especially on a device with a numeric keypad, busting out an SMS with crossroads or landmarks can suck since predictive text systems aren't terribly skilled with proper nouns. Korea's KTF has launched what it calls "location-tracking MMS," allowing users to automatically attach zoomed in maps of their present location to outgoing multimedia messages. The carrier is also shopping around the feature for emergency use, since it's a quick and easy way for a subscriber to communicate their coordinates to rescue personnel (a la e911). With accuracy to within about 500 meters, though, you better deploy a big ol' group of rescuers.

Samsung shows off ultra slim SPH-W2700

by Sean Cooper, posted Apr 24th 2007 @ 5:00PM


Samsung unveiled its ultra thin, ultra cool, and ultra white HSDPA enabled Anycall SPH-W2700 yesterday; and while it is not radically new and fresh (think Sony Ericsson Z800, check that rotating camera), it has a certain beautiful aura about it. Features include a 2.3 inch TFT LCD (which if true to Samsung form, will be gorgeous), a 0.8 inch external OLED display, triple-band GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz plus 2100 MHz in the 3G department (le sigh). While we're sure it'll never hit on these shores, we can stare and adore from afar -- sadly, from very very afar.

[Via Mobilewhack]

LG's KB2700 for widescreen DMB enjoyment

by Chris Ziegler, posted Apr 21st 2007 @ 11:33PM


"Remain calm, earthling, I do not wish to harm you -- at least, not yet. I merely wish to demonstrate LG's newest mobile TV phone, the KB2700. With a sliding keypad and a landscape screen, lazy humanoids such as you do not need to turn the handset sideways to enjoy the mind-numbing form of entertainment you call 'television.' Unfortunately, only those in the Earth territory of South Korea will be able to obtain it. Now, please lie still while I beam you back to the cornfield from which we obtained you."

KTF's surveillance canine beams snapshots via HSDPA

by Darren Murph, posted Apr 21st 2007 @ 4:30PM


It just makes sense that the same Korean provider that offered up a pet translator service would attempt to give back to the owners, as KTF has launched a robotic puppy that just melts the hearts of gizmo-lovin' gals abroad. Specifically, it garners a crowd of individuals wherever it's at, and then pulls double duty as an undercover surveillance agent, snapping mobile images and channeling them straight to your cellphone via HSDPA. For the paranoid 'rents in the crowd, this here ought to be a perfect way to monitor what really goes down in the house while you're away for the weekend, and while it's no guard dog per se, the evidence this bad boy captures could indeed be quite frightening. [Warning: Read link requires subscription]

KTF's EV-W100 with Max Headroom technology

by Chris Ziegler, posted Mar 3rd 2007 @ 2:19PM

This reminds us a little bit of voice-to-SMS -- it's a feature that's been perverted in such a way that the original intent has been somehow lost in translation. Don't get us wrong; with HSDPA, 2 megapixel cam, and A2DP, the EV-W100 from KTF is nice and all (it is, after all, a Korean handset), but the draw here seems to be special software that'll replace the outgoing video on video calls with an animated avatar as a "security" measure. Now if we're not mistaken, it takes two to tango when it comes to video calling, so why not just not hold a video call if you're concerned about the peeps on the other end seeing what's going on? No bother; we guess it's pretty cool that a talking pig is one of the avatar choices.

[Via textually.org]

KTF's EV-KD370 does automatic screen rotation, too

by Chris Ziegler, posted Jan 28th 2007 @ 9:19PM

Of the iPhone's 200-plus patents, automatic screen rotation must not be one of them -- either that, or we're up for a rather rousing legal brouhaha between His Steveness and Korea's KTF. It seems KTF's latest DMB slider for the local market, the pictured EV-KD370, can rotate the display with a flick of the wrist for enjoying mobile TV in the orientation of its lucky owner's choice. Perhaps even cooler, the sensor can be used to change tracks while listening to music, though we're guessing that means using it on a jog is out of the question. Otherwise, the KD370 seems like your typical Korean slider, complete with touch sensitive controls, a grim outlook for American availability, and the creepy out-of-focus hand model in the background.

Korean carriers to offer anti-eavesdropping service

by Darren Murph, posted Jan 16th 2007 @ 3:35PM

Just as Japan announces that it'll pretty much have an eye on every single cellphone user in the nation, Korea is going against the grain somewhat by offering up an anti-eavesdropping service on users' handsets. SK Telecom, KTF, and LG Telecom will all be offering private long code service, a digital encryption system to keep voice snoopers at bay, and will dub the service "Voice Private." Marketed primarily towards people of utmost importance, such as politicians, public officials, journalists (ahem), and CEOs, the luxury will purportedly operate on any mobile phone and will cost between W1,500 ($1.60) and W2,000 ($2.13). Interestingly, it wasn't noted if these fees were a monthly charge (less likely) or a per-call exaction (more likely), but regardless, the service should go live just as soon as the Ministry of Information and Communication approves it.

KTFT's EV-KD350 with split screen

by Chris Ziegler, posted Oct 24th 2006 @ 4:55AM

While we patiently wait for true mobile TV of any sort to launch here in the States, Koreans will be getting ready to enjoy another phone to sport a DMB tuner with split screen capability, the EV-KD350 from KTFT. The white slider brings GPS, expandable memory, and a 1.3-megapixel shooter to the table, but naturally, the real story here is the display's dual personality. Since text messaging while enjoying your favorite soap opera can be an exercise in tedium when the video goodness takes up the whole darned screen, the KD350 splits it all down the middle so you don't miss a single second of commercials while browsing Engadget Mobile's mobile feed. That's all well and good if you're on Korea's KTF network where the KD350 is bound, but otherwise, it seems our split-screen dreams are going to have to remain unfulfilled a bit longer yet.

[Via Tech Ticker, thanks Neil]




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