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Microsoft is going to add new features to the Live Search found on BlackBerry and Windows Mobile devices, according to a keynote speech made by Robbie Bach, president of Microsoft’s Entertainment & Devices Division, at CTIA wireless 2008.

One of the changes in the Live Search feature for BlackBerry devices is the addition of voice-enabled search, in which users will be able to talk at their phone to find businesses and get driving directions alongside results shown on interactive maps. On the other hand, Windows Mobile users will get the ability to view the addresses of contacts on a map, get directions and view custom maps of user-made locations and events. WinMo users will also be able to launch Web search directly from the client, and find Web pages, product comparisons, and other information on the Internet. Weather updates will also be included in the set of new features for Windows Mobile devices.

The updates for Windows Mobile are expected to be released by spring, while the BlackBerry update’s release date is still uncertain.

Read [CNET]

CTIA Wireless ain’t just about the hardware. Sooner or later, you know a new application was bound to be revealed. And although Yahoo!’s latest development might not be something entirely new, it still ushers in a few cool features that are worthy of mention. I’m talking about Yahoo!’s improved oneSearch app, now called oneSearch 2.0, with new features that are already available for a few select Blackberry devices.

With oneSearch 2.0, users can now search instantly from the standby screen of their mobile devices, and this is further helped by Yahoo! Mobile Search Assist, which works in the same way as Yahoo!’s very own search suggest feature from their homepage on the Internet. This means that the most common search results will begin popping up even if you’re only three letters into typing your search term, plus it will also work to refine your search from more general terms. Let’s say for example that you’re searching for Ketchup, the intelligent Search Assist feature will then bring refined search terms according to your query, like Tomato Ketchup, Banana Ketchup, etc. Certainly makes searching for groceries much easier, eh?

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While we’re waiting for Motorola to introduce its latest phones in CTIA 2008, let’s take a look at one of their latest cellphone accessories. Today, the Motorola H690 Bluetooth headset was introduced, featuring noise-reduction technology, echo cancellation, dual-microphones and a 5.5-hour manufacturer-rated battery life. It takes on the shape of most regular Bluetooth headsets, but Motorola says it comes with “TrueComfort” ear buds that provide a better overall experience. There’s no word on official pricing just yet, but expect it to debut during Q2 of this year.

Via [Crave]

By and large, almost all the latest cellphones carry a touchscreen display and some kind of ho-hum touch-based UI with them these days. Don’t these trying-hard companies see that they are only strengthening the brand they are attacking with their half-baked jabs at innovation? Or is it imitation? It seems like everybody’s trying their best to make an iPhone killer, and miserably fails, each and every time. But ‘ole Samsung’s latest offering begs for a second look, a chance to impress. Samsung introduced a new phone, called the Samsung Instinct, to be made available for a still undisclosed price.

As you can see, the Samsung Instinct has a large, touch-sensitive display and it runs on a custom UI made by Samsung from the ground up taking data convergence into focus. It will also offer local haptic feedback, built-in GPS and Sprint TV. This is Samsung’s first direct strike at Apple’s iPhone, as well as against a lot of other touchscreen-based devices that have been popping up lately. I’m sure Samsung hopes that the Instinct won’t stink but will it have what it takes to be a real iPhone killer when it’s finally released? We will see.

Via [I4U News] Via [Crunchgear]

Today at CTIA 2008, HTC announced that the HTC Touch Dual will be made available in the U.S. starting this quarter. If you recall, last year saw the arrival of the HTC Touch, a touchscreen-based smartphone rocking WinMo 6.0, Wi-Fi, 3G, Bluetooth 2.0, a 2-megapixel camera and the TouchFLO user-interface under the hood. The HTC Touch Dual is a new iteration of that previous device, now offering the added convenience of a slide-out keypad and an updated OS with Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional. And oh, if you’re a mobile computing warrior, don’t get too excited. It looks like they took out the Wi-Fi feature from this baby. All the other differences set aside, the HTC Touch Dual is worthy of some praise of its own. After all, it’s going to be one of the first few devices running Windows Mobile 6.1, and it will be fully integrated with HTC’s proprietary TouchFLO technology, their answer to Apple’s multi-touch.

The HTC Touch Dual will feature a 400MHz Qualcomm processor, 256MB of ROM and 128MB or SDRAM, a 2.6-inch touch-sensitive TFT-LCD screen, 3G, HSDPA, and GSM/GPRS/EDGE connectivity, as well as Bluetooth, a MiniUSB port, dual cameras and a MicroSD card slot. A 5-way navigational pad also sits between the call and end keys up front, for you to run to in case you get tired of the touch-based TouchFLO user interface. Be sure to check out more HTC updates and announcements here on Gadgetell as CTIA 2008 continues. Continue reading for the full HTC Touch Dual press release.

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‘Emelie’ is just a codename for a new phone that Sony Ericsson is expected to launch at next month’s CTIA. The rumored cellphone seems exciting because it’s rumored priced of $230-$300, the phone will run on A200 operating system, a system which is not originally used on low to mid-end phone models. The 2-megapixel camera phone will feature a QVGA display with a 240 x 320 pixel resolution and is also expected to weigh only 100 grams. 

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