More details on HTC's Excalibur smartphone. Yes, it's going to be a full QWERTY device running Smartphone OS but unlike the popular Q, it'll feature QUAD band GSM/EDGE with availabe W-Fi and Blluetooth for a truly encompassing always on experience. Release dates as well as carriers and pricing plans are still in the air, but look for something close to the Q or Cingular 2125 - its main competitors.It will be marketed in the US by T-Mobile as the Dash

A new survey by British firm Hostway, indicates as many as 75 % of users (from 1500) surveyed find the mobile web, ie/ accessing the internet from a phone, a frustrating experience at best. Slow loading times, the inability to view sites formatted correctly for small mobile screens and the ability to access sites at all ranked high on the list. Obviously, companies need to start developing mobile compatible content soon but how and around what standard?

Researchers at the University of Leciester UK, are studying texting patterns for their forensic value in crime solving. It's essentially the digital version of uniquely identifying an individual based on writing styles that most of us are familiar with.  A precedent exists in Britain with the 2002 investigation of  teen Danielle Jones' death - her murderer  used her phone to SMS himself after killing her, just in a style so radically different from her that it led to his (rightful) conviction. NewScientist reports on the project:

Nokia, the world's largest cell phone producer by volume is set to churn out 320 million phones this year - around 10 a second. How does it do it? Well, largely by automation although human interaction remains a large part. After all, components have to be tested and visually inspected and the final projects packed for distribution. Despite challenges, Nokia generates around 33% profit margin per handset, placing it ahead of most competitors.

This should appeal to hard core Mac uses out there or really, anyone wanting to change the default Windows Mobile themes on their Q. It's already one of the most popular devices out there, so why not make it look a little different? Well now you can with cool free themes from Kooldezine. The Mac screens for Motorola Q are free but donations are always welcome. Now if only Mac would release the iPhone.

Tired of video blogging? Why not try the opposite with 3rd-i? It's a neat wireless home/office/ security surveillance system which sends  video streams directly to  your mobile (vs uploading content via your phone) with just the press of a few buttons. Before we get into pricing and setup, let's just admit this as another great step in mobile phone usage and evolution! Created by 3rd-i (eye) a UK based security company, the product is slated for release within the month.

If you're not moblogging yet - you may want to start. Pigeon Blog first featured at the Inter Society for  Electronic Arts aims is already outfitting birds with small cellphone like devices which will monitor the air quality and pollution levels in whatever area they happen to be flying in. Not only is this a first for "avian blogs" it could develop into a real time atmospheric monitoring solution for individual users. Are you moblogging yet, the pigeons already are:)