Wireless News

KDDI used the CEATEC conference in Tokyo as a platform to show off its updated prototype methanol fuel cell-powered mobile phone. In addition to the methanol, the fuel cell includes a lithium ion battery to help the unit deal with surges in energy use.

The battery is optimized to offer users 320 hours of power, a significant increase over current standard battery capacities. Of course the main benefit of such a power source is that the methanol can instantly be refilled (as shown in the photo above) rather than waiting for a power outlet to gradually recharge your mobile phone. KDDI hopes to have a sellable version of this technology on the market within the next few years.

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Casio has just announced their EXIFILM-series W63CA flip phone that is sure to catch attention. Made along with KDDI AU, this flip phone features a 8.1-megapixel camera and has a wide-angle mode and a nine-point autofocus.

Other features include a 3.1-inch OLED screen with a 480 x 800 resolution that can rotate, just like a tablet PC screen. This means you can rotate the screen outward for video watching and such. Other features include face detection, anti-shake, VGA video recording, a microSD card, stereo Bluetooth and more.

This phone is set to launch in Japan in early November. It will be available in white gold, pink and green color options and will feature Japan’s 1Seg support.

KDDI au seems to spend a lot of time on developing concept handsets, but that’s fine by us. Especially when they’re as cool looking as the Ply.

The “Ply” concept model is apparently inspired by plywood in that it has multiple layers for the phone’s different functions. It also has a touchscreen that fills the entire device. These functions are varied and definitely interesting for a phone. Things like a pico-projector, analog clock with a minute hand that swings outside of the body of the phone and a printer are included.

Changing out the casing on cellphones is old news, but Hitachi’s approach is pretty clever. Instead of you having to spend additional cash on an Xpress-On cover to make your Nokia phone look cool, all you need do on the Hitachi W61H is select one of 95 pre-installed graphics patterns. Once selected, the pattern will appear on a black and white 2.7-inch e-ink display called “Silhouette screen”. In an instant, the front cover of the phone is transformed from boring to a cool looking cover.

The e-ink display is still in an infant stage and only available in Japan. I’m sure the technology will catch on and soon enough it’s going to be the next megatrend in phones.

What else can you see e-ink used for?

[via unwiredview]