I kinda figured Sonos was content to let people use an iPod Touch or iPhone to control their beloved wireless audio system, but lo, here’s a $350 capacitive-touch second-gen controller, leaked from their own product pages, to prove me wrong.

Most of the sales pitch on the somewhat pricey CR200 matches that of the free iPhone/iPod Touch app: Wireless multi-room control of ZonePlayers throughout the house, quick access to music, automatic updates bring new features. With capacitive touch glass screen, 2-5 days of battery life, rugged body and removable battery, the thing beats hell out of the old-school scroll-wheel CR100, and is justifiable as a standalone product, if there wasn’t a “free” alternative.

But there’s one claim that seems to be a dig at that the iPhone app alternative: “100% dedicated to multi-room music.” I don’t know whether they think the delay getting from a iPhone’s home screen to the Sonos options is annoying (k, it is a little bit) or whether they fear your significant other will go for a jog and take the iTouch with her/him, leaving you controller-less (it could happen), but they definitely view a single-function controller as a boon.

I am sensing two takeaways: The first is that, since Sonos sells a lot of product at the custom-installer level, those installers need some cool upgrades to go and sell to their rich clients who already have ZonePlayers in all 14 bedrooms of their mansion. God love ‘em, that’s fine. The other is that Sonos might spend more time on its potentially profitable CR200 than on its more populist iPhone app, and a divide may emerge.

So, Sonos: Please continue to support and develop the free iPhone app, which makes your product line accessible to people on a budget, and we will continue to write up things like this leaked CR200, which may not be for everyone, but makes sense in some cases.

chinazrh via from Gizmodo

The sliding point where cameraphones and point-and-shoot cameras seems to keep moving towards the latter. The latest hybrid is the 720p, 12-megapixel LG GC990 Louvre, which, at least from the back, actually looks like a camera.

We can get nervous about the potential quality of such high-res photos and video coming from such a small sensor all we want, but on paper, the GC990 does well: the camera shoots through a Schneider-Kreuznach lens, gets lighting help from a Xenon flash module, and shoots up to ISO 3200, though I can’t imagine the noise levels being anywhere near tolerable.

As for the phone side of this brick, we’ve got a 3.2-inch touchscreen showing LG’s interesting S-class 3D UI. Wi-fi, DLNA streaming, TV-out and GPS (with geotagging for video and photos) are also included. The rest of the specs are a mystery for the time being, and LG tells GSMArena that the GC990 may well never make it to market, instead living out its life as a trade show tech demo?the saddest of phone fates.

chinazrh via from Gizmodo

AT&T and Nokia Ride a Social Wave into Summer with the Nokia Surge

New Symbian S60 Handset Offers Social Style with Smartphone Capabilities at a Low Price

Now you can carry your clique with you in your pocket. AT&T* and Nokia today announced the availability of the Nokia Surge, a socially supercharged smartphone powered by the nation’s fastest 3G network. Available online and in AT&T stores on July 19, the Nokia Surge is an ideal device for active consumers who like to stay connected whether using IM, text or email, sending multimedia messages, AT&T Video Share, or updating and connecting via their favorite social networks.

With a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard in a slim, stylish design and Symbian S60 multi-tasking capabilities, Nokia Surge is the ideal smartphone for today’s customer who is always in touch with their social circle. A recent survey commissioned by Nokia revealed that people are so hooked on staying in touch that they would rather give up coffee and sweets than live without their mobile for two weeks.**

In addition to an impressive suite of messaging capabilities, the Nokia Surge offers a powerful browsing experience, including Flash support to view most sites in full HTML or watch YouTube videos. Nokia Surge allows users to post messages, images, videos, and comments to web sites like Facebook on-the-go with the pre-installed JuiceCaster application.

“Launching at $79.99 with a complete email solution, downloadable applications and full HTML browser with Flash support, Nokia Surge hits the sweet spot between a quick messaging phone and a smartphone because of its low-price and strong feature set.” said Michael Woodward, vice president, Mobile Phone Portfolio, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets.

“Designed in the U.S., this socially charged smartphone comes in a sleek slide form factor that supports social networking and messaging – and all on an open platform,” said David Petts, vice president and general manager, AT&T Account, Nokia. “Together with AT&T, we’re excited to address the increasing demand for smartphones with a device that’s as attractive to the customer as it is to his or her wallet.”

The Nokia Surge offers multimedia and entertainment features, including:

* 2.0 megapixel camera – Customers can capture quality photos with color camera and 4X digital zoom
* AT&T Navigator – AT&T Navigator provides audible turn-by-turn directions, monitors traffic and alerts users when there is a slowdown or incident
* AT&T Mobile Music – Customers can listen and download their favorite music from Napster Mobile, eMusic Mobile, XM Radio and more over the air
* AT&T Video Share ?The first-ever service in the U.S. that allows users to share live video over wireless devices while participating in a voice call
* JuiceCaster – Customers can share videos and pictures from their wireless device to the Web’s most popular sites including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr

The Nokia Surge will be available through select AT&T retail locations or at www.wireless.att.com for $79.99 with a two-year service agreement and after a mail-in rebate. (Pay $129.99 and after mail-in rebate receive $50 AT&T Promotion Card. Two-year agreement for wireless voice plan of $39.99 a month or higher and data plan of $30 a month or more required for rebate.) For more information, please go to www.att.com. For the complete array of AT&T offerings, visit www.att.com.

<a href=”http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/gm.gizmodo/icon;ptile=2;sz=1×1;ord=24186156?” target=”_blank”><img src=”http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/gm.gizmodo/icon;ptile=2;sz=1×1;ord=24186156?” width=”1″ height=”1″ border=”0″ alt=”" /></a>

<a href=”http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/gm.gizmodo/quicklink;ptile=3;sz=1×1;ord=24186156?” target=”_blank”><img src=”http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/gm.gizmodo/quicklink;ptile=3;sz=1×1;ord=24186156?” width=”1″ height=”1″ border=”0″ alt=”" /></a>

Read More: Cellphones, nokia surge, Surge, At&t, att, Nokia, symbian s60, Symbian, S60

google.load(“ads”, “1″);
<a href=”http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/gm.gizmodo/cat.cellphones;ptile=4;sz=728×90;ord=24186156?” target=”_blank”><img src=”http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/gm.gizmodo/cat.cellphones;ptile=4;sz=728×90;ord=24186156?” width=”728″ height=”90″ border=”0″ alt=”" /></a>