LG Electronics Canada has issued a recall for its LG 150 model phone, as routine tests have determined that it is no longer meeting government standards in regards to allowed radio frequency. The problem is thought to be due to a errant hinge on the phone, which is not properly grounding its antenna

The recall is voluntary but rather large, with over 129,000 phones (all of the LG 150 model) being affected. The recall is specific to phones produced between August of 2007, and February of 2008.

Those who own LG 150 phones manufactured outside those dates are also able to return their phone if they wish. Over 200,000 LG 150 phones have been sold in total.

The blogosphere is abuzz with rumors that Amazon is readying to launch a successor to their popular Kindle e-book reader offering. The rumors come as Amazon has announced a press conference set for February ninth, and as you might recall, the last time Amazon held a press conference it was in 2007 and included the announcement of the first Kindle.

What’s the new Kindle likely have in store for us? Well, the name is likely to be a simple “Kindle 2″, and it is thought to be lighter, thinner and feature an increased ease of use which will chiefly help newcomers to the device. Also the current “click-wheel” is likely to be replaced with a joystick. This is known as photos were leaked on BoyGeniusREport.

Unfortunately for Canadians, we’ll still have to take a trip south to get our hands on the e-book reader as the Kindle is so far a US only released device.

…and it comes with a big price tag! I’ll let you decide if the onslaught of features being released with Nokia’s N96 is worth the $895.00 price tag, but I will tell you this: she sure is pretty.

Nokia has gone the extra mile to make an all inclusive device that includes every option a wireless enthusiast could ask for. The Nokia N96’s wrap sheet includes: the ability to hold over 20,000 images and 18,000 songs, a 5 megapixel camera including video capability, 2.8 inch QVGA display, GPS, Bluetooth, WiFi, and by the way of microSD – expandable memory. If I missed something, don’t worry, this device almost certainly has it. Really, its aim seems to be “one device to do it all.”

Where can you find it? Well the device had already been unleasehed in both India and the UK, as well as in limited quanities in the US. If you gotta have it, look to the Noka flagship stores in NY as well as Chicago — or of course, online.

It sounds like a lot, and should mean a big increase in profits for manufacturer HTC in the upcoming months and year. However, while 500,000 units is certainly impressive, it won’t rival the first gen iPhone’s launch, which occurred in the summer of 2007.

Regardless, it’s a good number, and will give Android developers a sizable user-base to market new applications toward.

If you haven’t heard, or are perhaps were enjoying sometime living under a rock, T-Mobile is scheduled to launch the G1 Google Android phone on October 22nd. It offers touch screen, (hidden) QWERTY keyboard, Wi-Fi, 3-megapixel camera, navigation ball and will retail for $179.

Despite some lukewarm reviews of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, you have to admit, the virtual reality aspect of playing a video game with  a Wii saber is pretty darn neat. Frankly, these are no question the most unique and intriguing game controllers I have ever come across, and Star Wars really isn’t even my thing. I haven’t found them in any stores around here, but they are made by a company calling itself Thrustmaster (no comment), and are available from Amazon.com.

The sabers are designed to hold the wiimotes inside their handles, providing for a more authentic star wars experience. Also, they glow (either red or blue) when turned on. And yes, you will look fantastic wielding your Wii Sabre.

The Nintendo marketing genius must be making a killing off all of the wiimote accessories they get to peddle along with the actual games and the Nintendo Wii console.

In a market where iPhones and Gphones are getting all the hype, Nokia holds a special place in my tech loving heart, as the company that has produced most of the reliable cell phones I’ve chosen to use over the years. I’ve yet to have an issue with them, either. Knock on wood, just in case, though.

The G1 Google Android

wireless phone is certainly a rising star, hitting Sarah Palin levels of interest this week. I’m not sure which one is garnering more interest, but it’s clear in either case, that people want to know more. I’ll leave the political news media to pursue Palin, while I consider the Android Google “Gphone” cell phone.

The G1 device, which is being produced by Taiwan’s HTC and sold in the US by retail wireless carrier T-Mobile, surely appears to be serviceable mobile, but with all the hype surrounding the G1 device, that’s hardly going to be enough to win over many critical tech-fanatics – which are, of course, used to the Apple iPhone’s sleek design and abundance of features.

Gphone features include a good sized touch screen, (hidden) QWERTY keyboard, 3G, Wi-Fi, 3-megapixel camera, navigation ball, dedicated internet button, and built in web apps. To build on this foundation, many more applications are offered through Google’s Android marketplace.

The heart of this endeavour and the hype going a lot with it, is Google’s open-source Android software, which is a Linux-based, open-source operating system for wireless phones that will work with Google applications. Google has promised that it will be free for manufacturers to work with, though there has been some debate throughout the blogosphere on whether that is entirely accurate or not.

As for cost, the price tag is a lot more decent than previously speculated, at $179 with two data plans available for $25 and $35 respectively. Currently, the G1 phone is only available to current T-Mobile customers through their website, however look for the new device to be featured at all T-Mobile locations by the end of October.

For a retro viewpoint, check out our previous Gphone update here.

Google G1 Phone

RIM’s popular Blackberry gets a makeover and targets a new audience with their first flip phone offering. With a sleeker design, that also means a smaller keypad, the new device is suited more for the personal user than the business tycoon. In fact, the new model, called the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220, does not contain a full QWERTY keyboard, instead opting for a 20 button keypad.

The BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220 also offers a 16GB memory card, two megapixel camera, built in Wi-fi, satellite navigation system and more. The release date should land in fall, and pricing has not yet been disclosed.

It’s a smart move by RIM – spreading their eggs into multiple baskets in an effort to protect their market share from significant competitors. My personal opinion is that the new phone will do well, especially amid recent Iphone connectivity blunders.

Okay, some people will like this. To me, however, it sounds like volunteering to be stalked, and not just Facebook stalked.

Garmin has aligned itself with the location-specialists in the app world – ULocate, integrating Where.com’s software with Buddy Beacon to be compatible with some of Garmin’s products. If you’re not familiar with this software, it shares your current location with those you have dubbed as friends, and viceversa. Of course, this can be integrated with the Facebook app, as well.

What makes Where’s Buddy Beacon software unique, is its ability to operate over multiple networks, allowing users to enjoy the service with friends, whether they use the same carrier or not.

The models that Garmin intends to have supported with Buddy Beacon, as well as the launch time, have not yet been released.

It will be interesting to see if there is a real demand for this, as location-based networking, both online and device based, have somewhat flopped in the past. Personally, I think I’d feel just a little bit too much like dog embedded with a microchip, and doubt many people are comfortable with anyone apart from immediate family having access to their whereabouts at all times. However, as always, the market will decide the success or demise of this one.

Various rumors are circulating the web about the release date of Google’s Android phone offering, some claiming it will be available (through T-Mobile) in just four weeks, some say five, and others still predict a much longer wait.

The Google Android device, called G1, will be sold by T-Mobile, with a hefty $399 price tag for those paying full retail. You’ll have to sign a contract or be an existing T-mobile customer to get a better deal.

The phone is said to include a 3.0 megapixel camera, a touchscreen display, 3G connectivity and a full QWERTY keypad. Oh, and get this: you’ve got to have a Gmail account in order to fully activate the phone’s service.

Personally, I’m a Google-dork and tend to like everything they produce, however I thumb my nose at the requirement of having a Gmail account in order to activate services with the G1. That’s going a little too far, and I’d wager that this restriction will be removed.

Anyhow, no doubt the G1 release will make waves, but I’m not fully convinced yet that this is a good wave to surf.