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2009-06-29T08:24:00.000-07:00

Hi All ,
I'm backed and want to start Re-update this blog very soon .

Sony Ericsson's PlayNow Plus music service goes live

2008-11-05T22:50:00.000-08:00

Alongside the W902 plus (pictured), Sony Ericsson has officially launched its PlayNow Plus music service. Currently, the unlimited music download service is only being offered through Sweden's own Telenor, but we suspect more carriers (and compatible handsets) will be added on in due time. For now, however, everyone outside of Sweden will have to rely on insider reports to see how the service fares, not that we're suggesting any Swedes drop us a bone in comments or anything. Ahem.

LG KS500 to pack 3 megapixels, GPS and an optical touchpad

2008-11-02T12:15:00.000-08:00

The latest LG KS500 is one of those handsets that won't get your attention on first look but it packs quite a punch under its unassuming looks. The nifty slider boasts a 3 megapixel camera, a QVGA display, a GPS receiver with Yahoo! Go maps application and quite possibly an affordable price tag.

Contrary to many of the online rumors, which spawned when the device was first leaked through the US FCC website, it's now finally clear that LG KS500 is not a smartphone.

The LG KS500 is a tri-band GSM phone which offers dual-band UMTS/HSDPA support. Measuring 102.8 x 49.2 x 14.9 mm doesn't really make it the most compact chap on the block, but still it's nothing too big.

The KS500 has a 262K color display of QVGA resolution, a 3 megapixel fixed focus camera (sad, we know), 100MB of built-in memory and a microSD card with support for an addition 8GB.

Although it doesn't sound ground-breaking by any means, you might be interested to know that the LG KS500 is the first handset by the South Korean company to feature an optical touchpad. It helps navigation through the menus or the web browser.

Unlike similar Samsung solutions, with the KS500 you can opt for turning off the optical trackpad in the menus, but leaving it on for an extra sweet experience in the web browser, which we guess will be the mouse-enabled NetFront 3.4 variety.

And finally, the LG KS500 brings GPS connectivity with A-GPS support. Yahoo! Go maps and location services application is preinstalled on board to make finding your way around that much easier. Of course, you can always add Google Maps for Mobile if you wish.

We don't know much on the projected availability or pricing of the LG KS500, but judging on the Vodafone brand on the official photos, you will be able to find it through Vodafone networks, so a nice, subsidized price seems a fair guess.

LG sells one million Prada phones globally, Prada II in Q4

2008-10-24T06:30:00.000-07:00

In a brief press release, LG has announced total sales of one million Prada handsets worldwide. Not bad for a March 2007 launch. The bigger news though is that LG and Prada will launch a new handset in Europe in Q4 of 2008. Prada II, we're ready.

by Thomas Ricker

Sony Ericsson's Play Now Plus to compete with Nokia's Comes with Music

2008-10-23T06:33:00.000-07:00

Nothing like a pair of high-brow Europeans slapping each other in the streets, huh? In response to Nokia's forthcoming Comes with Music service, Sony Ericsson is confirming rumors by announcing a competing unlimited music download service dubbed Play Now Plus. The service, which will be available "solely through telecoms operators," will provide subscribers with access to millions of tunes, and customers can even keep up to 300 jams after their 6- to 18-month contract expires. According to SE's marketing head Lennard Hoornik, it'll be rockin' on Telenor within a few weeks, and it will spread from Sweden into more of Western Europe in Q1 2009 and into other world markets in Q2 2009. We're told that the service will run early adopters 99 Swedish crowns ($15) per month, and so far as we can tell, you don't have to have a specific SE phone to get in on the action.
by Darren Murph

T-Mobile G1 live coverage roundup!

2008-10-22T06:39:00.000-07:00

Psst, heads up: word on the street is that Google and T-Mobile launched the world's first Android handset today, the G1. No, seriously! In fact, we were there covering every last detail -- so we thought we'd take this opportunity to cobble together all our live action into one place so we can all relive the emotional rollercoaster one last time. Shall we?

T-Mobile G1 video hands-on
T-Mobile's CTO on G1 unlocking and tethering -- plus a few details you might have missed
T-Mobile G1 first hands-on (updated)
Live from T-Mobile's Android event in New York City
by Engadget Mobile

Sharp's cellphone prototype unlocks, starts your Nissan

2008-10-22T06:36:00.000-07:00

In Japan, the hand can be used like a knife. Now, in another Japanese world's first (according to Nissan), you can use your mobile phone to open and start your car thanks to a new twist-up of Nissan Motors, NTT DoCoMo, and Sharp. The Sharp prototype cellphone pictured above integrates with Nissan's Intelligent Key system already fitted in various Nissan vehicles. Look for the device to be demonstrated on September 30th with the opening of the CEATEC Japan show. Hiiiiya!
by Thomas Ricker

Motorola rolls out two for the ears: H780 and MOTOPURE H15

2008-10-21T06:42:00.000-07:00

Motorola's never been one to shy away from a Bluetooth headset design that's just a little out of the ordinary, and its new top of the line model -- the MOTOPURE H15 -- surely fits the bill. The pill-shaped ear candy features a flip-out silver piece for no particularly good reason, but technically, it's at the top of its game with CrystalTalk noise cancellation, RapidConnect for easy pairing, and a quick-charging stand that can turn 15 minutes of charge time into an hour of talk time. Moving down the price rung a notch, the H780 tries to make a name for itself with faux carbon fiber trim and an earpiece tested to be comfortable for "over 90 percent" of users.
by Chris Ziegler

Nokia hints at new touch-based Communicator

2008-10-20T22:27:00.000-07:00

Every so often, Nokia will pop out a brick-like beast of a clamshell smartphone with a full QWERTY keyboard -- a black sheep in Espoo's lineup in every sense of the word. These so-called Communicators even had their own custom Symbian-based operating system, Series 80, until the E90 came around and brought 'em in line with the rest of the S60 crowd. Of course, S60 just took a big leap to the world of touch today, and that means the E90's starting to fall a bit behind -- so what's next? Nokia dropped a little teaser during its webcast today in the form of a stylized touch-based concept bearing strong family ties to the E90 and its ancestors, suggesting S60 5th Edition won't spell doom for the form factor. If it materializes, history suggests it won't be a mainstream device -- but if the real thing can look as good as this render, who knows?

Acer reaffirms handset plans, launch targeted for Q1 '09

2008-10-19T22:26:00.000-07:00

Following up on comments made earlier in the year, Acer's senior veep and president of IT products has reaffirmed that it'll be launching its own brand of handsets early in 2009, having ramped up its handset R&D staff to some 500 heads by the end of 2008. What this means for recent acquisition E-TEN and its glofiish line is unclear, but for what it's worth, Acer says it'll be primarily targeting its existing PC channels in Russia and Western Russia with the new line -- so perhaps there's still room for E-TEN's wares to flourish elsewhere.

by Unwired View

Sony Ericsson shuttering London flagship store

2008-10-18T22:24:00.000-07:00

If you blinked at some point over the past two years you may have missed it, but somewhere in there, Sony Ericsson had a flagship retail location in the heart of London. Actually, they still do -- it's not closed quite yet -- but it'll be gone by the end of the year, just one casualty of the manufacturer's cost-cutting measures in an effort to turn its weak financial position around. Worried about the prospects for immersing yourself in the Sony Ericsson lifestyle after the new year? Rest easy -- the company says it has no plans to get rid of its 200-plus stores in Asia.
by Slashphone

Samsung's "Style Report" flip phone -- you know, reports style

2008-10-17T22:23:00.000-07:00

We haven't the foggiest idea where Samsung got the inspiration for the name "Style Report," but if we look past the unusual name for a second, we have a decent little phone on our hands here. The flip is vaguely reminiscent of the RAZR 2, featuring an expansive (2.2 inches, to be exact) secondary touchscreen that can be used to work the phone's media player, photo viewer, and T-DMB tuner. It's also got Bluetooth, a 3-megapixel cam, and global GSM / HSDPA -- but don't count on finding 'er for sale outside South Korea, where she'll run somewhere from 600,000 to 700,000 won ($505 to $589).

HP said to be prepping consumer-minded iPAQ smartphone

2008-10-16T22:22:00.000-07:00

Details on this one are about as light as can be at the moment, but The Wall Street Journal has it that HP is aiming to expand its iPAQ smartphone line into the consumer market with a new model that it'll market to both average consumers and corporate users alike. According to "people briefed on the plan," the phone will have both a touchscreen and a keypad and, naturally, it'll run Windows Mobile 6.1 -- oh, and it'll be able to "send and receive emails, and access the Internet." While there's no indication of a price just yet, word is the device will be available in Europe first within the next two months, with a worldwide release to follow sometime thereafter.

by Gearlog

RIM's co-CEO sez AT&T still testing BlackBerry Bold

2008-10-15T22:20:00.000-07:00

We've long since known that RIM's BlackBerry Bold was AT&T bound, but in case you haven't noticed, the rumored October 2nd release date has come and went, and there's nary a Bold on any of AT&T's store shelves. According to RIM co-CEO Mike Lazaridis, the handset is still undergoing testing at AT&T, suggesting that it wanted to avoid the complaints that arose when the newest iPhone hit in July. AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel remained mum on the subject when asked, only affirming that the handset would eventually be available this year. Ah well, you've been looking for a reason to vacation in Chile, haven't you?

by phonescoop

ZTE's U990 does Windows Mobile for TD-SCDMA

2008-10-14T22:18:00.000-07:00

Outside of China, TD-SCDMA isn't going to do you very bloody much good -- but inside China, it's just about the best thing going right now for 3G data. That makes devices like this here ZTE U990 particularly useful if you happen to be in the area, offering the People's Republic's oh-so-special flavor of high-speed wireless in an attractive package loaded with Windows Mobile 6, GPS, and EDGE roaming. The U990 also happens to be ZTE's very first Windows Mobile device, a surprising revelation for a manufacturer that currently sits at number six in the world for production volume. Look for it to launch into the retail chain "soon" -- which in corporate doublespeak could mean "tomorrow" or "2010."

Motorola VU204 drops by Verizon on October 14

2008-10-13T22:06:00.000-07:00

If you've been dying for the full rundown on Motorola's upcoming low-end VU204 flip for Verizon -- well, first of all, bless your heart. Secondly, here you are. Key features include a VGA cam, Bluetooth, GPS, 220 x 176 primary and 96 x 80 secondary displays, and styling that'll make passers-by think you opted for the pricier VU30. After rebate and a signature on the dotted line, it'll run $29.99 ($199.99 commitment-free) when it launches on October 14.

by Chris Ziegler

T-Mobile still taking G1 pre-orders, but you won't get it on October 22

2008-10-12T22:16:00.000-07:00

So the good news is that T-Mobile has decided to keep right on taking pre-orders for the G1 through October 21, just one day before the handset's official launch. The bad news, though, is that it doesn't mean you'll be getting your Android on come October 22. Turns out that the initial allotment of G1s set aside for pre-orders is now sold out completely, and any names taken between now and launch will be allotted phones being shipped "at a later date." It's not clear if a "later date" means a week, a month, or a decade after the 22nd, but for the sake of everyone involved, we hope its the former.

FCC approval ensures American Sony Ericsson X1 users aren't bandits

2008-10-11T22:15:00.000-07:00

Now that Sony Ericsson's mighty X1 has earned the FCC's love and affection, you won't be an outlaw for using one in the States -- but unfortunately, you won't be a speed demon everywhere, either. The version that just nabbed approval here is the X1i, and anyone familiar with Sony Ericsson's naming scheme can tell you that an "i" means a phone's not really meant for North American consumption; in this case, we're lucky to squeak by with UMTS Band II support, which means we'll theoretically be able to pick up some of AT&T's 1900MHz signal. On 850, though, you'll be stuck with EDGE. Of course, a true global launch has been in the cards for the X1 from day one, and we're not worried that we won't see a more 3G-rife model getting torn down by the feds -- this just ain't it.
by Chris Ziegler

Emulator gives you the T-Mobile G1 experience now

2008-10-10T22:08:00.000-07:00

Yeah, the wait for October 22 (or after) is absolutely excruciating; trust us, we know. We'll take every scrap of information and imagery we can to hold us over until G1s start showing up on doorsteps in a few weeks, but T-Mobile's really gone above and beyond the call of duty here by setting up a surprisingly functional and feature-complete emulator to satisfy our urges to touch icons and click buttons. Obviously, you're not going to get a GPS lock, so don't get your hopes up that you're going to be playing around with Street View or anything wild like that -- in fact, most apps lead you to a "this screen is not fully functional" message -- but it's got more goodies than the Android SDK's emulator, and it's just enough to get you acquainted with the phone's personality by the time it's actually in your paws.
by Chris Ziegler

AT&T DataConnect overage: $480 per gigabyte

2008-10-09T22:07:00.000-07:00

As much as we hate that true, no-strings-attached unlimited data plans are being killed off one by one, we appreciate that carriers have had the common decency (well, sometimes) to impose caps as "soft" ones -- going over repeatedly might irk 'em into throttling your bandwidth or tearing up your contract, but at least you wouldn't be getting a bankruptcy-inducing bill in the mail without any warning. Watch yourself, boys and girls, because that's now changed on AT&T, where the one and only domestic DataConnect plan offered for laptops -- 5GB for $60 -- now features an overage charge of $0.00048 per kilobyte. Running the numbers, that works out to a staggering $480 per extra gigabyte -- and on a laptop, a gig isn't hard to burn through at all. We guess AT&T would probably either cut you off or give you a call if you went way over, but by then, you've dug yourself a pretty deep hole. It's all pretty ridiculous, and we're hoping they're only a few lawsuits away from reconsidering the way they're handling this.
by Chris Ziegler

BlackBerry Pearl 8220 launches on TIM in Italy

2008-10-06T22:04:00.000-07:00

T-Mobile USA's busy with... ahem, another launch at the moment, but Italians on TIM now have access to RIM's first and only clamshell (TIM, RIM? Coincidence?). The Pearl 8220 is ready for shipment to the Mediterranean villa of your choosing for 269 (about $372), though TIM's only offering black at the moment -- so maybe T-Mobile's taking so long because they have to prepare some specially formulated dyes for that red version. Or something.

by Chris Ziegler

RIM's BlackBerry Storm 9500 / 9530: details galore

2008-10-05T21:59:00.000-07:00

RIM's BlackBerry Storm 9500 / 9530, which is more affectionately known 'round these parts as the Thunder, is definitely within striking distance. Still, just because you don't have too much longer to wait doesn't mean you aren't anxious to get your hands on as many details as possible beforehand, right? The Boy Genius has managed to procure a few mundane stacks of PowerPoint slides that just so happen to contain some pretty scrumptious information on the touchscreen-based BlackBerry, and while there aren't any mind-melting surprises in there (like, confirmation that it can indeed read and reply correctly to each e-mail automatically), it's not the kind of data any real RIM fan would want to overlook. Go on and hit the read link, what exactly are you waiting for?

Verizon comes through with month-to-month plans

2008-09-25T06:51:00.000-07:00

As expected, Verizon has announced today that its customers (and would-be customers) are welcome to sign up for month-to-month plans with no contract -- and thus, no early-termination fee -- involved, mimicking a move by AT&T earlier in the year. Of course, anyone taking advantage of the new plans won't be able to get in on carrier subsidies, but the trade-off is that if you decide to bolt for greener pastures, you won't be slapped with one of those nasty prorated charges. Oh, and before you give customer service a ring, take note: you'll need to fulfill the terms of your existing contract before jumping, natch.

T-Mobile's data coverage maps now have added 3G flavor

2008-09-24T06:50:00.001-07:00

Check it out, from this zoom level Chicago's looking flush as far as T-Mobile 3G is concerned -- yeah, that's right, it seems they've gotten to a point where they're actually willing to show it off. We're betting T-Mobile's Android-based G1 announcement that's set for tomorrow was the impetus for this update, and we suspect we'll learn more about the network then. Feel free to put the site through its paces in your neck of the woods and let us know if you're one of the lucky places. Hit the read link to play with the map, but make sure you tick the "data coverage" option at the bottom of the page first.

by Sean Cooper

Amazon music, movie downloads coming to T-Mobile G1?

2008-09-23T06:48:00.000-07:00

Amazon's always looking for creative new ways to distribute digital media -- and in light of its recently-launched Video On Demand service and the decent head of steam AmazonMP3 has managed to build, it'd probably just love to shoehorn its way onto a high-profile mobile device right about now. VentureBeat is reporting a juicy rumor of a G1 that made an appearance somewhere in San Fran's seedy underbelly over the weekend bearing an Amazon music and video app designed to dole out media for cash, suggesting that Android's first commercial hardware might come out of the gate ready not just to lock horns with the iPhone's WiFi App Store, but also to straight-up beat it by throwing in movie and TV download capability. Then again, no 3G network -- particularly one with as small of a footprint as T-Mobile's -- is mighty enough to effectively do feature-length movie downloads over the aether, so it remains to be seen exactly how this would all play out. Get a good night's sleep this evening, folks, because if everything goes according to plan, we'll have some solid answers in just a few short hours.

T-Mobile goes live with G1 website

2008-09-22T06:46:00.000-07:00

It's one thing to appear on a website before being officially outed. It's another to have a web portal designed specifically for a handset. On the eve of its official debut in the Big Apple, T-Mobile has launched the definitive G1 website, complete with a G1 logo, the time and date of tomorrow's press event, a few tabs sure to be chock full of juicy details just as soon as said event closes, and most importantly, a pre-order button (of sorts) in order to sign up for what we can only fathom to be a notification of availability. 10:30AM tomorrow morning -- we'll be there, you'll be there.

Meet the T-Mobile G1

2008-09-22T06:44:00.000-07:00

Uh, c'mon guys -- this is a little ridiculous. Now typically, you want to keep this sort of thing under wraps until the day of your event, but it seems like the cats and kittens at T-Mobile can't contain themselves. Yes, you're looking at the first official product shot of the G1 Android phone ever. Enjoy it.

TmoNews has just uncovered new specs and info on the phone. Here's what they've got so far: the phone is 4.6 x 2.16 x 0.63 inches, weighs 5.6 ounces, features a 480 x 320 HVGA display, sports 3G (obviously), GPS, has a 3.1-megapixel camera, supports up to 8GB of memory (though no format is mentioned), and will feature 5 hours of talktime with 130 hours of standby. Strangely, the phone won't do video capture (what?), won't have stereo Bluetooth, will require a Gmail account, and won't be sold at stores outside of a 2-5 mile radius of T-Mobile's 3G coverage area. That last bit sounds a little odd to us, but we're guessing a lot of the functionality of this device will be shot in non-3G areas.

The Mobiado Luminoso Lucido: because functionality is for poor people

2008-09-21T03:19:00.000-07:00

Two megapixel camera, triband GSM, 2100MHz 3G. Sound familiar? Of course it does, because it's the exact same thing luxury handset maker Mobiado has been pushing for eons now in an ever-so-slightly revised, ultra-limited, ultra-expensive new package. The Luminoso Lucido is little more than the Luminoso of old, repackaged in a curved, CNC machined stainless steel case that's really no fancier than the insane casings Mobiado turns into reality for any of its models. If the specs, four-figure cost, and recycled guts aren't enough to outrage you, though, then maybe the Lucido is for you -- but act fast, because there are only two hundred to go around, and you've got to have a few months to save up for the next special edition, now don't you?

[Via Unwired View]

ZTE's AWS-packin' C79 now on MetroPCS

2008-09-20T03:37:00.000-07:00

True, ZTE's C79 clamshell becomes one of the relatively few phones released to market to support CDMA on the AWS frequency band in addition to the old-skool cellular and PCS bands, but to buyers, that doesn't mean a whole heck of a lot at this point. Instead, they'll be more concerned (and rightfully so, may we add) about the stylish red shell, the 1.3-megapixel camera, 220 x 176 primary display, external music controls, and 69MB of memory on top of a microSD slot. Strangely, there's no EV-DO involved, but this is MetroPCS we're talking about -- which also means we're met head on with a contract-free price of $169. It's available now.

2008-09-18T03:42:00.000-07:00

Ready for some excitement in the form of watching a startup squirm as it waits for its product to gain traction? Take a glance at Peek, which is churning out a dedicated handheld that handles e-mail, a few chain forwards, and more e-mails when you're done with that. At first glance, one may consider such a one-trick-pony quite ridiculous, but it's hard to say what will end up catching on these days. The biggest problem facing Peek is the pricing: it'll be $99.95 up front when it lands in Target next month, plus $19.95 per month to send unlimited e-mails over T-Mobile's network. Of course, if anyone figures out how to load Opera Mini up here, the Bulls-eye Shop won't be able to keep the shelves stocked.

[Via Silicon Alley Insider]

FCC chairman dreams of free mobile internet for all Americans

2008-09-18T03:39:00.000-07:00

Just over a year ago, we were all making bitter beer faces at FCC chairman Kevin Martin for not going along with a delightful sounding "free internet" plan. Now, it seems the main man's tune has changed. During a recent interview, Martin stated that there was a "social obligation in making sure everybody could participate in the next generation of broadband services because, increasingly, that's what people want." He's reportedly looking to attach a free mobile broadband requirement to the AWS-3 spectrum that's set to be auctioned next year, which would require the winner to allocate 25% for gratis access. 'Course, we wouldn't get our hopes us for this to actually go down like it surely is playing out in your mind just now, but we won't fault you for dreamin'.

[Via phonescoop]

Palm Treo Pro unboxing and hands-on

2008-09-17T03:46:00.000-07:00

Well we've gotten our hands all over Palm's new Treo - the Pro - and we've documented it all on film... er, disk. Here's what were liking so far - no more recessed screen (finally!), that HTC-licensed task manager, and the extremely slick packaging. Honestly, we think Palm might have one up on Apple with the presentation this time around. Also of note: the new modular power adapter (which Palm tragically forgot to throw into our box), earbuds you might not be ashamed to sport, and no install CD -- it loads when you hook the phone up to your PC. Check it all out in the gallery below (as well as a few size comparisons with the iPhone 3G), and we'll have pics of that power adapter just as soon as they courier it over. No, really.

Update: Palm has -- in fact -- couriered over the accessories they forgot the first time around, and we've added some new pics. Huzzah!

Sony Ericsson W350 now available from AT&T, too

2008-09-17T03:43:00.000-07:00

The Invision is the big news for AT&T today, but there's an unassuming little Sony Ericsson flip that's found its way into widespread availability on the network this week, too. The W350 is a blast from the past for owners of phones like Ericsson's venerable T39 back in the day, offering the rarely-seen traditional flip form factor with a cover that conceals only the keypad -- the screen remains visible at all times. The money feature, though, has to be the cover's shiny music controls, which are offered in a contrasting color to spice things up a bit. You've got a 1.3-megapixel camera hanging out in there, too, and at $29.99 on contract after rebates (except for the Ice Blue version, which is inexplicably free), we can see it as a sleeper hit for anyone who'd projectile vomit at the sight of even one more free clamshell.

Palm OS 2 slipping from "early 2009" to "first half" of next year?

2008-09-16T03:49:00.000-07:00

The New York Times has a little puff piece on Palm to accompany the launch of the Treo Pro today, and buried between the fawning references to Jon Rubenstein's former gig at Apple and how that's affected his management style ("He made them redesign the battery panel on the back so it didn't squeak. And he asked for fixes to the software so it would lock up less frequently." -- solid work, homey) there's a little tidbit about how Palm OS II and a single new device to run the new software will arrive in the "first half of next year." Two things interesting about that: first, that's a much wider timeframe than the "early 2009" window we've been hearing for a while and could signal even more delays, and second, it's a little odd that Palm is going to debut the new OS on just one device. Launching on a single device is pretty Apple-esque, so we'll cut Rubes some slack on that, even if we don't think it's the best idea -- but at this point the only real info we're hearing about about Palm OS II is news of delays, and that's not exactly out of the Jobs playbook -- remember, real artists ship.

Verizon launches Usage Controls, kiddies groan in dread

2008-09-15T04:13:00.000-07:00

So those Usage Controls we'd mentioned Verizon was getting ready to launch have finally gone live, and though it's happening a few weeks later than we thought it would, something tells us the target audience wasn't complaining during the brief delay. The idea, of course, is to help parents lock down the phones of their little ones with support for voice minute and messaging limits, voice and data schedules, whitelists and blacklists, and content filters -- none of which Junior is going to enjoy, we suspect. The service can be had for $4.99 per month on top of a postpaid plan. Separately, Chaperone 2.0 has launched for a more princely sum of $9.99 per month, enhancing the original Chaperone tracking service with the ability to track multiple devices simultaneously and -- get this -- a feature that lets parents plug their offspring's location right into their VZ Navigator-equipped device for turn-by-turn directions straight to the kid. Both features are available now.

Meizu M8 gets detailed in new words, pictures

2008-09-14T04:17:00.000-07:00

As you may have noticed, Meizu CEO J. Wong just can't seem to stop talking about his pride and joy, the M8, and he's now let loose yet another pair of new pictures, as well as some further details on the phone. Somewhat surprisingly, J. Wong says that the device will only be available in white initially (which he apparently likes better anyway), and that it will officially be called simply the M8, and not the "M8 mini one" as it had been officially known before. He also reiterates that the company plans to finally release the phone in October, or November "at the latest." Head on past the break for the second pic, and hit up the link below for a few more tidbits.

[Via PMP Today]

AT&T adds LG Invision to Mobile TV lineup

2008-09-13T04:19:00.000-07:00

Just as we'd envisioned, the Invision candybar (if a phone this stubby can, in fact, be called a candybar) from LG is now a reality for AT&T. The phone becomes just AT&T's third to support its MediaFLO-based Mobile TV service, taking a similar line to Samsung's Access by stuffing a landscape display, 1.3-megapixel camera, and HSDPA into a squarish case that's sure to make minimalists and traditionalists swoon; what's more, it also takes the honor of being AT&T's smallest Mobile TV-equipped handset to date. It's available today for $99.99 with a $50 rebate and two years' worth of commitment -- just be sure to factor the cost of the Mobile TV add-on into your budget.

Analyst takes new line with Motorola after decent quarter

2008-09-12T04:20:00.000-07:00

It's amazing the kinds of neat things that can happen once you manage to turn lemons into even just a drop or two of bittersweet lemonade. Take Motorola, for example: a manufacturer that's fallen on hard times by even the loosest definitions manages to turn a sliver of profit for itself, and boom, suddenly you've got yourself a shiny new CEO and a smiling analyst or two. Jim Suva of Citi Investments seems to be going to bat for Moto at a time when everyone was just about ready to abandon ship, saying that the most recent earnings announcement represented the "early innings a gradual steady improvement", expressing confidence that new CEO Jha's hiring was a good thing, and hooking up the company's stock with a "buy" rating. 'Round here, we judge a company's success mainly by the greatness of its hardware, but you need solid financials to fund the R&D to make said hardware happen -- so we suppose this really could be a solid start to a genuine turnaround.

Sprint prepping Motorola i365, Renegade, and a pair of Samsungs

2008-09-11T04:21:00.000-07:00

Okay, Samsung, we get it: you're really good at pounding out the cheap clamshells. Point taken. Oh, what's that, you say? You still feel like you have something to prove? Oh, well then by all means, dump another couple $20 flips on Sprint! Please, we insist. As expected, it looks like we'll all have the fabulous opportunity to pick up our choice of the M220 or M320 for $19.99 come September 2, offering Bluetooth, speakerphone, and in the case of the M320, a VGA camera.

Out of the Moto camp, we get the i365 ruggedized brickphone for iDEN fanboys and fangirls -- you know who you are, so stop looking around -- which will run $90 and include Bluetooth despite its early-90s appeal. Finally, the most exciting of the foursome has to be the V950 Renegade, but excitement comes at a cost: $199.99, to be exact. In this case, your pair of Benjamins is going to net you QChat capability, Bluetooth, a 2 megapixel cam, microSD expansion, and external music controls, which makes it just about the coolest Direct Connect phone going. Line starts over here, folks.

Palm's Treo Pro gets official

2008-09-10T04:22:00.000-07:00

Well you can't say you didn't see this one coming -- between the leaked shots, more leaked shots, and those -- yes -- leaked press materials, this was only a matter of time. That's right: Palm has gone and gotten all official with its latest and greatest smartphone, the now-familiar Treo Pro. The new Windows Mobile device is being sold unlocked (!), and features an HSDPA cell radio (tri-band UMTS, quad-band GSM), GPS, 802.11b/g, a 320 x 320 touchscreen display, 256MB ROM, 128MB RAM, a 2-megapixel camera, support for microSDHC cards up to 32GB... and a standard 3.5mm headphone jack! No word on price or actual street date, but we can't imagine that's too far off. Hit the read link and take a tour of the new device, or watch the totally radical -- and long, and detailed -- video after the break.

3 launches Skypephone S2

2008-09-09T04:24:00.000-07:00

Hold up just a second, this is more than your average WiFi-powered Skype handset for yakking it up while you're wandering around the abode in your skivvies. In fact, it's none other than the follow-on to 3's Skypephone of last year -- the aptly-named Skypephone S2 -- offering HSDPA data, a 3.2 megapixel camera, 50MB of memory with a microSD slot for plenty more, and pretty much all the Skype support you can handle (hence the name, we suppose). Skype-to-Skype calls are completely free from the phone, and the Skype service can be kept active by adding £10 (about $19) monthly on a pay-as-you-go arrangement; otherwise, the phone can be had for as little as zilch if you sign up for a monthly plan. It'll work as a broadband dongle, too, which we think officially makes this thing oodles more useful than even the most capable of WiFi phones, skivvies or otherwise.

Japan to push its whiz-bang handsets overseas

2008-09-08T04:29:00.000-07:00

With Japanese handset sales declining pretty much across the board (thanks, lower subsidies!), it follows logic that the government and Japanese-based handset makers would look internationally to pick up the slack. In a rather vague report, we're told that the nation is hoping to push its technologically advanced mobiles in other countries, though it'll have a tough time marketing mobile TV without sufficient infrastructure. One of the token handsets chosen to lead the parade is a Sony-made "wallet phone," which is only described as having cashless technology built in. Color us (very) mildly enthused.

Video: HTC's Touch Diamond / Pro are multi-touch gods, just not how you'd think

2008-09-08T04:25:00.000-07:00

While multi-touch input might be all the rage in handhelds and laptop trackpads at the moment, alas, it's not on the feature list for HTC's latest Touch Diamond and Touch Pro. However, the capability is indeed present and exploited on video by HTC's own debug application. Even more interesting is the way that the handsets' entire front, capacitive surface (not just the 2.8-inch, 640 x 480 pixel display) can be used for multi-finger input. So like Dell's Latitude XT Tablet which launched multi-touch ready, expect to see future, multi-touch capabilities come to HTC's latest... someday. Click through for the vid.

iPhone 3G starting at $700 in India, lines to be nonexistent

2008-09-07T04:30:00.000-07:00

Though we can't definitively say this will end up being the priciest iPhone 3G this side of eBay, there's a good chance it will be. Word has it that Vodafone will be offering up Apple's latest 8GB handset for a mind-boggling Rs 31,000 ($712), or Rs 36,100 ($830) for the 16 gigger. Why so serious high? Because neither Vodafone nor Airtel will subsidize the phone, and to add insult to injury, there's not even a 3G highway up and running in India. Grey market operators to capitalize in T-minus 3, 2, 1...

[Via Cellpassion]

QuickPwn jailbreaks iPhone without restore, pain

2008-09-06T04:34:00.000-07:00

Billed as a "compliment" to the existing PwnageTool, iphone-dev has released a working beta of what it calls QuickPwn, a utility that uses a crafty new jailbreaking method to forgo the installation of a fresh IPSW. In layman's terms, that means you can have a fully jailbroken phone running 2.0.1 (and soon 2.0.2, we'd imagine) without the mild discomfort of having to restore your precious sidearm from scratch. The tool's still being developed and is currently only available on Windows, though the team is quick to point out that because QuickPwn operates only on the iPhone's app processor, any screw-ups should be totally undoable. Be that as it may, you know the drill: keep your gloves up, protect yourselves at all times, and let's have a clean fight.

[Via Boy Genius Report]

Is Apple shooting in the dark to fix iPhone 3G issues?

2008-09-05T04:35:00.000-07:00

Hopes were high that 2.0.2 would decisively crush the reception woes some iPhone 3G owners have experienced since taking delivery of their cracking beauties; dropped calls, latching onto EDGE reception when 3G (also known as "the good stuff") is available, and general signal strength wonkiness have all plagued a select group of handsets since launch, making for a decidedly MobileMe-like user experience. Some upgraders are actually reporting just the opposite, though -- for these lucky few, 2.0.2 seems to be making reception somehow worse than it already was, and what's more, there are intermittent reports cropping up of broken third-party apps, too. With the 1.x line of builds having chugged along with relatively little drama for a year, here's our question: what the hell is going on? Why does 2.0, after two post-launch builds, still feel like a beta? MobileMe took the lion's share of the fall for Apple having spread itself too thin through the launch-heavy summer months, but did some of that fire-drill mentality trickle over to the breadwinner, too? Sound off in comments with your experiences putting 2.0.2 through its paces so far!

Apparently Steve Jobs, who should have his face buried in a developer workstation somewhere in Cupertino slaving away on iPhone bug fixes, somehow found the time to slack off for half an hour and fire off an email to some guy who wrote him complaining about third-party apps that are crashing on startup. Jobs allegedly says that the issue is a "known iPhone bug" and that it'll be fixed in the next update come September -- but frankly, we wish he'd let his assistants attend to this sort of needless communication so he could get back to, you know, writing code and inventing phones. Thanks, Alexander!

An Ars Technica reader seems to have developed a workaround to the crushing pain of dead third-party (and installed first-party) apps and iPod player weirdness: go back to iTunes 7.7 from 7.7.1. It's not for the faint of heart because you've got to reset the phone and delete some files off the computer, but until this supposed firmware update (and possible iTunes update) rolls around in September, it may be the best thing affected users have going. Thanks, Garrett!

Screenshots of iPhone Nike+ running app emerge, we're out of breath already

2008-09-04T04:37:00.000-07:00

It has taken its sweet, sweet time in arriving, but it seems the iPhone Nike+ running application is just... about... here. A slew of new screenshots of the application have emerged, and while there are no juicy tidbits to accompany 'em (release date, cost, etc.), we all know how many lines of text a single snapshot is worth. Hang tight runners, the app you've been waiting (and waiting) for can't be far from the finish line now.

[Via MacRumors]

HTC gunning for top-five worldwide phone marketshare

2008-09-03T04:39:00.000-07:00

HTC's already done a terrific job of going from anonymous Asian ODM to a major name player in the cellphone game, and it sounds like the company's aiming for the next level -- in an interview with the Commercial Times, CEO Peter Chou said the goal is to become one of the top three to five handset makers in the global market. That's a pretty aggressive target for a smartphone manufacturer -- competitors like Nokia and Samsung crank out millions of low-end dumbphones every quarter, and while there's no denying the appeal of devices like the Touch Diamond and Touch Pro, it's going to be hard to match those numbers. Still, with Android and the Dream on the horizon, anything's possible -- and HTC's definitely got the chops to pull it off.

[Via Electronista]

Nokia N85, 8800 Carbon Arte slated for October release?

2008-09-02T04:40:00.000-07:00

The N85 at retail in October? Yeah, sounds totally believable, especially considering that an October release would give the populace enough time to wrangle one for the holidays, the fact that Nokia's known to be revealing two hotties this month, and that the date comes from none other than Mobile-review's scoop-tastic Eldar Murtazin. A graphic scored by Murtazin has the N85 and the just-announced Carbon Arte variant of the 8800 series both slated for grand entrances in the tenth month of the year. One, we stand a fighting chance of affording; the other, just like the Artes of old, probably not.

[Via Mobile Phone Helpdesk]

HTC Touch Diamond launching on Sprint in September for $299.99?

2008-09-01T04:46:00.000-07:00

It won't be the first launch in North America -- those honors go to Telus at this point -- but Sprint won't be far behind. A pretty believable new slide deck suggests that big ol' Number Three will take delivery of its Touch Diamonds in September and start hawking them for the princely sum of $299.99 on contract after rebates, netting customers a 3.2 megapixel cam, 4GB of internal storage, and EV-DO Rev. A, among all the other spoils that only Windows Mobile 6.1 can offer. Is the back end of it red? Can't really tell from this angle, but if the goal is to offer up a high-end business tool, we've gotta believe black will be available either way.

Google lays out Android roadmap, devs scheduled to get more love

2008-08-31T04:51:00.000-07:00

Google feels really badly about that several month-long stretch where it kept any and all updates to its Android SDK out of the public limelight, developers, honest, but it wants to make it up to you. It seems that yesterday's 0.9 release, which represented the first official SDK available with a platform even remotely resembling what Google intends to release on retail devices this fall, was just the first in a string of goings-on leading up to the grand 1.0 launch in the coming months according to a new roadmap published on the Android site. To start, there'll be "additional Android 1.0 (pre) SDK releases made available, as necessary" in September, followed by the first 1.0-compatible release in the Q3 to Q4 timeframe (that's any time between now and the end of December, for you calendar-disadvantaged folk). Finally, the Android source will leak out in the fourth quarter along with the first "Android 1.0 devices" -- pay special attention to the plural "devices" there -- and an announcement about Android Developer Challenge II. It gives us a warm fuzzy to see that Google's interested in keeping its devs engaged with these contests on an ongoing basis, because let's be honest: "prize money" has a much nicer ring to it than "VC money" ever will.

Motorola's S9-HD looks white as a sheet

2008-08-30T04:47:00.000-07:00

The follow-on to Motorola's sporty and moderately popular (for a stereo bluetooth headset, anyway) S9 may not have launched yet -- a disappointment, considering the original plan for a Q2 release when it was announced at CES -- but perhaps a little last-minute paint job was the reason for the delay. We've now spotted the S9-HD in a bright white getup with blue accents, a far cry from the black of the model shown at CES (and presumably still slated for launch) or the red of the original, but let's not kid ourselves: this one has a way better chance of finding its way into an ear canal or two. Hopefully we'll see it within a few weeks -- just in time for a successor to be launched at CES 2009, no doubt.

by : engadget

KDDI's au design project creates cellphones that double as instruments

2008-08-29T04:50:00.000-07:00

KDDI's au design project has churned out plenty of interesting cellphone concepts over the years, and it looks like its latest batch is no exception, with it enlisting the help of Yamaha to develop some cellphones that double as musical instruments. That includes the self-explanatory "Strings for fingers" and "Sticks in the air" concepts pictured above, as well as the "Box to play" synth / scratch pad combo, the "Key to touch" foldable keyboard, the "Trio in your hand" scratch pad / sampler, and the "Band in my pocket" device, which accommodates a number of accessories to create instruments ranging from a harmonica to a trumpet. What's more, unlike some concept devices, KDDI actually had some working prototypes to show off, which you can check out in action in the video after the break (be sure to dig into the links below for some more pics and videos as well).

The Treo Pro makes its video debut, inches towards launch

2008-08-27T04:54:00.000-07:00

Now that the Treo Pro's been uncovered, the sleek black handset just can't stay out of the spotlight -- it's popped up today in several more high-res shots, a quick hands-on video, and even what looks like official press photography. Specs are still up in the air -- we're hearing there's a 400MHz processor and 128MB of RAM behind that 320 x 320 screen and original Xbox-looking exterior, but we won't know for sure until this thing gets official, which we're guessing will happen within the week. Video after the break.

Motorola "Jay-Z" Bluetooth headphones hit the FCC, branches on the ugly tree

2008-08-26T04:59:00.000-07:00

Hmm, Hov, you may want to check the fine print on whatever deal you've got with Moto, because these Jay-Z-branded MOTOROKR S7-HD Bluetooth headset aren't exactly big pimpin' -- and compared to Dre's big ol' cans, they look downright sad. Of course, the FCC's legendarily nasty product photography isnt helping here, but even A2DP stereo support and the integrated mic can't salvage this mess -- was this really worth unretiring for?

[Via Crave]

Nokia's 8800 Carbon Arte takes luxury to the moon

2008-08-25T16:58:00.000-07:00

Besides the RAZR, few handsets have milked longevity like Nokia's 8800 slider -- first introduced in April 2005 (spied in March). Unlike RAZR, however, the 8800 somehow manages not to annoy... too much. The latest Carbon Arte model brings 3G, a 3.2 megapixel camera, 4GB of flash memory, and OLED display with anti-fingerprint coating. Fine, but it's the rocket-esque carbon fiber, titanium, and stainless steel materials that help push the price tag to €1,100 (that's about $1,600) before taxes and of course, carrier subsidies. Expected to brazenly appear in the smoking dens of Europe's finest gentlemens' clubs sometime in Q3.

Samsung makes mobile memory go zoom with new software

2008-08-25T04:56:00.000-07:00

If there's one thing smartphone can never be, it's too fast. Yeah, granted, mobile processors have been intentionally throttled for years in the interest of keeping battery times reasonable -- so we're always delighted to hear when someone's doing something to boost speeds in different, creative ways. That's where flash memory giant Samsung comes into play, rolling out new file systems and drivers for its OneNAND, Flex-OneNAND, and moviNAND storage solutions (none of which are pictured to the right) that it claims will slap a turbocharger on boot and access times. The new software is available for basically every major mobile operating system, and Sammy even claims that it'll decrease engineering times, so it looks like it's a win all the way around.

Virgin Mobile USA: profit, ARPU down

2008-08-24T05:00:00.000-07:00

The sad part of Virgin Mobile's Q2 earnings story is that it lost customers (to the tune of some 111,000), saw ARPU slide from $20.97 to $19.32 year over year, and watched its profits get halved over the same period to a slim $3.5 million. The happy part? Hey, at least they're in the black, and we're sure they'd rather break even than hemorrhage cash the way virtually all of their MVNO brethren have. At any rate, the company thinks that it'll turn things around heading into '09 with the addition of Helio to its portfolio, which it confirms will be leveraged to offer "new data services and feature-rich handsets" -- both concepts that bare-bones Virgin isn't accustomed to offering in the States. The Ocean 2 would be a nice way to kick off that plan, would it not?

Video: Android SDK v0.9 hits the internet looking almost ready for primetime

2008-08-22T05:01:00.000-07:00

It's an interesting day for the folks at Google. Not only do we see the supposed GPhone (AKA, the HTC Dream) get trotted out to the FCC, and hear new rumors about the device's release date, but now there's a brand-spanking-new release of the Android SDK available. The version? 0.9 -- a number which puts this dangerously close to a number that most would consider non-beta. Meanwhile, the new version of the mobile OS has been significantly changed, adding a new widgetified (big old clock: present!) and flickable homescreen, a handy (and speedy) tab to pull up your apps, plus a media player, camera, and handful of other noticeable design tweaks. Don't believe us? Check out the video after the break showing it all in action.

BlackBerry 8220 / 8210 KickStart outed, but not by RIM

2008-08-21T04:55:00.000-07:00

Okay, pretend you had absolutely no inclination that this so-called KickStart was real. Surprise! E-tailer expansys has spoiled RIM's thunder (no silly, not that Thunder) by posting up detailed product pages for both the BlackBerry 8220 (WiFi) and BlackBerry 8210 (GPS). The current specs list points out a 2.6-inch 320 x 240 primary display, 160 x 128 pixel secondary display, 2-megapixel camera (with LED flash), video recording and a microSDHC slot. There's no price or release date listed for either, but at least you can shelve those worries of this thing never making it to market.

[Via Cellpassion]

BlackBerry Bold hits Rogers on August 21st, so get your thumbs worked-out

2008-08-21T04:49:00.000-07:00

Well, it looks like that long, painful wait is finally over. According to all kinds of tipsters, the BlackBerry Bold touches down for the first time in North America (in its home country of Canada, obviously) come August 21st (that's this Thursday, in case you don't own a calendar, computer, or have any friends). That's right -- the Bold will land on Rogers (where else?) with a price tag set somewhere between the dark valley of $300 and $400, according to Research In Motion co-CEO Jim Balsillie. Reports say the phone will be available from other carriers by the end of the week, though we don't have any definitive rumblings that confirm such heavenly ideas. You'll know more when we do, of course.

Verizon says heads will roll at Alltel

2008-08-20T05:05:00.000-07:00

When (and if) Verizon closes its deal to snap up Alltel, the carrier's Little Rock campus will suddenly lose its status as a corporate headquarters. Instead, it'll see duty as a regional outpost of the Big Red behemoth, according to Verizon Wireless CEO Lowell McAdam -- and regional outposts don't exactly need the 3,000 employees currently employed there. Though it's not clear exactly how many jobs will be trimmed, rumor has it executives and mid-level managers will be the first to get the boot; the silver lining in the news is that McAdam says Verizon's going to try to find jobs for some of the affected folks elsewhere within the corporate footprint if they're not needed in Little Rock. Atlanta, perhaps?

Swany's g.cell snowboard glove secretly doubles as Bluetooth handset

2008-08-20T04:28:00.000-07:00

Bluetooth technology has been finding its way into ski gear for years now, but Swany has taken things to a whole 'nother level -- one that's only reachable via the heated quad-lift. Unless this description is positively inaccurate, there's actually a Bluetooth module, speaker and microphone tucked within one of the g.cell gloves. When it detects an incoming call, it gives your wrist a shake (read: there's a vibrate function) and enables you to quite literally talk to the hand. Swany asserts that it'll last for 12 hours on standby (4 hours of talk time), though your phone may crap out a few hours earlier in extreme temperatures. Now that we think about it, wrestling that mobile out of our deep coat pockets with frostbitten hands is pretty annoying -- maybe that $495 price tag isn't so staggering after all.

Silver Motorola Q9h for AT&T, anybody? Anybody?

2008-08-19T03:38:00.000-07:00

The secret sauce to extending any phone's shelf life by at least a few months seems to be adding a new color or two into the mix (the Curve comes immediately to mind), and smartphones are no exception to the rule. It falls short of the lime green CDMA version's sheer wackiness, but AT&T's apparently getting ready to re-launch its venerable Motorola Q9h in gray, which is kind of like the original black except... you know, lighter. Seeing how Windows Mobile 6.1 is now official on this one, it comes as no surprise that these gray ones are showing up with the update preloaded; it's always a nice touch when you don't need to christen your new purchase with a hastily-installed update, isn't it? It's unknown what we'll be charged for the pleasure of owning one of these, but we'd assume it'll fall in line with the current version at $100 after rebate.

Researchers create solar tie that charges, carries cellphone

2008-08-18T14:42:00.000-07:00

There's certainly no shortage of folks working to incorporate solar cells into clothing and accessories, but a team of researchers from Iowa State University now look to have devised a way to make the wearable technology slightly more discreet, with them using digital textile printing to print fabric that matches the pattern of the solar cells. The solar cells themselves are then attached using a "liquid stitch" method, although that apparently presented its own set of problems, as the application of the cells made it difficult to tie a knot. As the researchers helpfully point out in thier paper, however, a clip-on tie would solve that problem. Combine that with the special pouch for carrying your cellphone, and you've got a combo that can't be beat.

[Via textually.org]

Researchers create solar tie that charges, carries cellphone

2008-08-17T05:03:00.000-07:00

There's certainly no shortage of folks working to incorporate solar cells into clothing and accessories, but a team of researchers from Iowa State University now look to have devised a way to make the wearable technology slightly more discreet, with them using digital textile printing to print fabric that matches the pattern of the solar cells. The solar cells themselves are then attached using a "liquid stitch" method, although that apparently presented its own set of problems, as the application of the cells made it difficult to tie a knot. As the researchers helpfully point out in thier paper, however, a clip-on tie would solve that problem. Combine that with the special pouch for carrying your cellphone, and you've got a combo that can't be beat.

[Via textually.org]

Is this LG's QWERTY-packin' Prada II?

2008-08-16T03:45:00.000-07:00

Remember those rumored specifications for LG's so-called Prada II? Yeah, particularly the part about the slide-out keyboard? If the image above has any traces of legitimacy, you could be looking at the Prada II. Good thing an image is worth quite a few letters, 'cause that's all the details we've got to go on for now.