Free Streaming TVApp, Celio Redfly, Samsung Omnia II

Amazing how we’ve come to expect so much more from our phones now, including streaming video. TheChanner is a free app that gives you access to over 300 streaming TV channels. This week we’ll also note a freebie that gives you an iPhone-like unlock screen, a review of the Celio Redfly (which turns your phone into a laptop), and an early review of the Omnia II.

TheChanner: Free Streaming TV

A beta version of TheChanner is now available for free download. Apparently, the developers plan to have it remain free and generate income via advertising.

The app gives you handy access to over 300 streaming TV channels via Wi-Fi or a 3G connection. Features include the ability to bookmark channels, share your favorite channels with other TheChanner users, rate channels, and make comments. Content includes xtreme sports, music channels, fashion, weather, entertainment, and more.

Free iPhone-Like Lock/Unlock App

To keep from inadvertently turning on the iPhone, it comes with a handy slider bar for unlocking it. S2U2 is a popular free lock/unlock application for Windows Mobile phones that offers iPhone-style unlocking, and now it’s been updated with additional useful features. It can show some information without unlocking, such as a CallerID function.

Read more on XDA Developers, which also has a link for downloading the application.

Celio Redfly Turns Your Phone into a Laptop

We’ve covered the Redfly before, and the big news is that it’s down to $199 for the low-end model and $249 for the high-end version.

It’s a device that looks like a small laptop, but it has no brain. Instead, it uses your phone via a simple connection, giving you a full keyboard and the ability to use USB accessories such as a mouse. You can view your phone applications application at resolutions up to 1024x768 pixels.

PocketNow has a hands-on video as well as an unboxing video if you want to get a good idea what this device can do for you.

As you likely know, netbook computers are hot these days, and in a sense the Redfly turns your device into a netbook for about the same price. Why not just get a netbook? It’s one more device to maintain. The beauty of the Redfly is that it’s simply an extension of your phone.

Samsung Omnia II

The iPhone-like Samsung Omnia has been a popular device, and now the Omnia II has been announced, as well as several other new models. The Omnia II will likely receive a free upgrade to Windows Mobile 6.5 when it comes out.

The phone has a 3.7-inch screen, 5-megapixel camera with autofocus and dual LED flash, and lots of other goodies. Apparently, the TouchWiz interface has been redone and is now a really strong feature of this phone.

An early review and thorough review is available on GSM Arena. You can also find info on the::unwired. PocketNow has a summary of the features, as well as a post about five interesting facts.