Monday, September 21, 2009

HTC Leo spotted once again, friends call it "HD2"


This new Leo hotness from HTC sure is making the rounds, and we certainly can't get enough of it. Its latest appearance shows the handset from some sexy angles, but also gives us a new tidbit to chew on: the Bluetooth menu identifies the phone as the HD2. So, is this the much-rumored successor to the Touch HD, or an absolutely gorgeous impostor? We'd venture a guess, but we're too busy longing for that 4.3-inch capacitive LCD to care.
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GSM Palm Pre now looking at 'autumn' launch in Germany


You know, we admire Palm's patience. We knew a GSM Pre was in the works about 8.43 minutes after its CES presser ended in January, and we've been waiting all this time for some carrier in some part of the New World to grab hold of a GSM version of the world's first webOS handset. If you'll recall, we last heard that O2 Germany would be giving its loyal users the chance to get that very handset before the holiday season, but now an updated image on the site clearly indicates that it's coming this fall. As in, before winter. As in, within the next few months. As in, not nearly soon enough.
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LG's New Chocolate BL20 spotted in the wild


Calling LG's New Chocolate BL20 half of the BL40 would probably be classified as logorrhea, but there's no doubt that this slider is handsome. So handsome, in fact, that LG has seen fit to showcase it over in the company's new building in Amstelveen, Holland. GSMArena was able to snap a few pics of the installation while also gathering that it'll boast a non-touch edition of the S-Class UI.Hit the read link for a few more looks -- it ought to make waiting for LG to actually announce this thing a lot easier.
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Is this Sony Ericsson's Android-powered XPERIA X3?


As always, Mr. Blurrycam isn't doing us any favors here, but we're cautiously optimistic that the image you see above is one of the first real glimpses at Sony Ericsson's forthcoming XPERIA X3. Granted, the WinMo-packin' X2 is still in its infancy, but every true SE fanboy knows that Android is where it's at. The skin, which is obviously early in development, is definitely unlike anything we've ever seen, and while we can't make out much about the hardware, the general shape certainly jibes with what we'd expect an X3 to look like. Le0n_Pro's original post is down there in the read link, but we just couldn't leave well enough alone; thankfully, he was kind enough to gift us with a gallery's worth of (admittedly shaky) shots. Dig in!
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Saturday, September 19, 2009

HTC Leo Windows Mobile 6.5 slate is capacitive? (update: video!)

The Leo is fast becoming HTC's latest worst kept secret. Pics and video are popping up everywhere with the latest set giving a full visual walkthrough of what appears to be TouchFlo 3D 2.6 riding Windows 6.5. Even better, ai.rs blog claims that Leo is indeed capacitive -- something strongly suggested by the multi-touch video leaked a few days ago -- and not some fancy resistive touchscreen tech. We've got backside action now too, sporting a big "HTCPRO.Three" stamp we presume heralds Pro3 branding whenever this 1GHz Snapdragon handset launches. But man, that 4.3-inch, 800x480 display's looking positively massive next to the 3.2-inch version found on the Touch Diamond2. Check the back after the break.

Update: Video showing Leo's very snappy, finger-centric UI added after the break.

Continue reading HTC Leo Windows Mobile 6.5 slate is capacitive? (update: video!)

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LG's GB230 ditches the headphones and keeps the FM flowing

A great many of the world's phones can tune FM radio -- it's basically a standard feature in some developing countries -- but most of them are hogtied by a necessary evil: the headphones act as the antenna. Enter the GB230 slider from LG, an otherwise uninteresting entry-level slider that proudly boasts of its "Wireless FM" capability with a big silkscreened logo below the screen, meaning you're able to tune FM to your heart's content without plugging in. It's also got live radio recording and a microSD slot to save all that scintillating talk programming you're into, Bluetooth 2.1, and USB connectivity for 4,790 rubles (about $158) -- not bad for a phone that can do something most $600 phones can't.
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INQ Mini 3G review

FCC Fridays

by Chris Ziegler posted Sep 18th 2009 at 11:59PM Featured Story

We here at Engadget Mobile tend to spend a lot of way too much time poring over the latest FCC filings, be it on the net or directly on the ol' Federal Communications Commission's site. Since we couldn't possibly (want to) cover all the stuff that goes down there, we've gathered up all the raw info you may want (but probably don't need). Enjoy!

Phones
Read - Huawei Q1-200H
Read - LG GU285F
Read - LG VX8370
Read - Samsung SGH-T105G

Peripherals
Read - Samsung WEP570

Verizon says trackball issue is 'addressed' on Tour, no longer a problem

by Chris Ziegler posted Sep 18th 2009 at 10:59PM

Sprint had told us in a statement that its BlackBerry Tours only had trackball issues on "early production" units, and now Verizon is telling us pretty much the same thing:
Early on there was an issue with the trackball that affected a small percentage [of] the early production units -- far less than industry norms. The issue was detected early, addressed immediately and is no longer an issue. Returns on this device are some of the lowest among any of our smart phones.
In other words, it sounds like new buyers (and anyone who's taken the plunge recently) should be fine, and Verizon's actually taking it to another level by boasting that the handset's now one of its most return-proof smartphones. That doesn't change the fact that the trackball's a little too recessed for our liking -- but at least it should stay functional.

Windows Mobile 6.5 joins the ranks of iPhone and Android with its own app kill switch

by Ross Miller posted Sep 18th 2009 at 5:57PM

Earliest this week the internet alarms rang loud with word that Microsoft had added an app "kill switch" to its upcoming Windows Mobile 6.5 platform. Of course, such a kill switch is not unprecedented, as both the Android and iPhone platforms have their own variant. A Microsoft rep recently relayed a message of peace to assuage fears, telling Ars Technica that the vast majority of app rejections won't cause a remote uninstall, and it'll only be used if the app "exhibits harmful behavior or unforeseen effects" -- not that we're entirely assured by the latter scenario, but wording aside, it does echo statements from the aforementioned companies that have so far been very conservative with its use (i.e. we can't recall a single instance of its use). "While we hope to avoid this scenario," he said, "we will make refunds available in such cases." Only time will tell just how trigger happy Microsoft gets, assuming they ever use it. Hey, just be happy we know about it -- remember the last time we were surprised to discover such a feature?

FCC to propose new net neutrality rules disallowing data discrimination

by Darren Murph posted Sep 18th 2009 at 4:42PM


Based on what we're hearing, a slate of soon-to-be-proposed FCC rules may stop the likes of Comcast from discriminating against P2P applications on their networks, and AT&T sure will have a tougher time justifying why it won't let the iPhone's version of SlingPlayer run on 3G while giving WinMo and BlackBerry users all the bandwidth they can handle. Julius Genachowski, the new chairman of the entity, is slated to discuss the new rules on Monday, though he isn't expected to dig too deep into the minutiae. Essentially, the guidelines will "prevent wireless companies from blocking internet applications and prevent them from discriminating (or acting as gatekeepers) [against] web content and services." We know what you're thinking: "Huzzah!" And in general, that's probably the right reaction to have as a consumer, but one has to wonder how network quality for all will be affected if everyone is cut loose to, well, cut loose. Oh, and if this forces telecoms to deploy more cell sites to handle the influx in traffic, you can rest assured that the bill will be passed on to you. Ain't nuthin' free, kids.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

T-Mobile starts 21Mbps HSPA+ rollout in Philadelphia, nationwide in 2010

by Chris Ziegler posted Sep 18th 2009 at 3:34PM

T-Mobile USA's really kicking things into high gear, coming from behind (way behind, actually) on its 3G launch to become the first to bring 21Mbps HSPA+ here -- and possibly the only one to do it, considering that its closest GSM rival is leapfrogging from 7.2Mbps HSPA to LTE. Speaking at 4G World in Chicago, T-Mobile's Neville Ray has gone on record saying that its 3G footprint will be blanketed by HSPA+ next year and is actually already up and running in parts of Philadelphia; amusingly, he was apparently a little weirded out by AT&T's earlier comments at the show that it'd have 90 percent of its 3G coverage upgraded to 7.2Mbps by the end of 2011, suggesting that was slow (we'd agree, but then again, considering how far behind T-Mobile still lags in raw 3G coverage, we're not sure they've got room to talk just yet). If we had to guess, this huge push for mega-fast data has to do with investor discontent on the Deutsche Telekom side of things, so you can bet there are some crossed fingers out in Bellevue as this stuff lights up; now, just give us the world-class phone selection to match and we'll be good to go.

[Via Phone Scoop]

LG New Chocolate BL20 makes dramatic video debut

by Donald Melanson posted Sep 18th 2009 at 3:06PM


We've already had a pretty clear indication that LG was about to followup its stylish BL40 Chocolate Touch with a slightly lower-end BL20 model, but it looks like any doubt has now been cast aside by a just-revealed promo video, which shows off the new New Chocolate phone in all its swishing and swooping glory. That includes a brief look at the phone's sliding keypad (it's red), a quick once over of LG's various widgets, confirmation of a 5-megapixel camera, and a look a somewhat unique feature called Text Scan, which promises to let you capture clear images of notes or memos (though it doesn't seem to provide actual character recognition). But enough with the words -- there's two minutes of sound effects and visual overload after the break.

Continue reading LG New Chocolate BL20 makes dramatic video debut

INQ Mini 3G review

by Vladislav Savov posted Sep 18th 2009 at 2:00PM Featured Story

The INQ Mini 3G is quite the intriguing little phone. It has the dimensions and outward appearance of a standard issue featurephone, yet aims to provide the multifunctional utility of the bulkier QWERTY keyboard-sporting smartphones that now roam these lands. With deep integration of Facebook, Twitter and Skype, it's designed to be a do-it-all social networking device, so we thought we'd run a few status updates through it to see if the latest spin on an award-winning heritage lives up to its billing. Slide on past the break to find out.
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Verizon says trackball issue is 'addressed' on Tour, no longer a problem

Sprint had told us in a statement that its BlackBerry Tours only had trackball issues on "early production" units, and now Verizon is telling us pretty much the same thing:
Early on there was an issue with the trackball that affected a small percentage [of] the early production units -- far less than industry norms. The issue was detected early, addressed immediately and is no longer an issue. Returns on this device are some of the lowest among any of our smart phones.
In other words, it sounds like new buyers (and anyone who's taken the plunge recently) should be fine, and Verizon's actually taking it to another level by boasting that the handset's now one of its most return-proof smartphones. That doesn't change the fact that the trackball's a little too recessed for our liking -- but at least it should stay functional.
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Friday, September 18, 2009

Samsung announces Omnia Pro B7330, spills WinMo 6.5 plans for entire Omnia range

If you knew nothing of Samsung's lineup you might think that they'd just announced five Windows Mobile smartphones, but the reality is much, much less interesting: they've basically announced one (which was already widely known) and whipped up a rebranding and relaunch campaign for the other four. To the Omnia range, Sammy has now officially added the Omnia Pro B7330, essentially an upmarket B7320 with a square 320 x 320 display in place of the earlier model's QVGA unit and HSUPA thrown in for good measure. The bigger news might be that the i8000, B7320, B7300, B7330, and B7610 -- every current Omnia model -- will be packaged with Windows Mobile 6.5 going forward, while updates will be offered to Omnia IIs, B7610s, and B7320s currently in the field running 6.1. The B7330 launches on October alongside the previously-announced Omnia Lite B7300; Samsung's being a little more coy about dates for the upgrades, but we're hoping owners aren't waiting too long.
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ITG's Windows XP-loving xpPhone now accepting pre-orders worldwide

ITG's Windows XP-loving xpPhone now accepting pre-orders worldwide
It's been awhile since we last saw the xpPhone, a quick, quiet demonstration at Computex that left us doubting whether the thing would ever see the light of day outside a packed showroom floor. It seems our doubts are about to be put to rest as ITG, creator of the thing, has thrown up a pre-order page on the phone's website. There's no mention of a price, and indeed you won't be asked to plunk down any cash right now (it's not much of a pre-order), but what's interesting is that it asks you to choose between 3G modules for Vodafone, Orange, or AT&T. That means ITG seemingly has aspirations of a global release for this thing, and while we're not sure how many people are going to want to lug around a MID-sized monster celly with a "super big" 4.8-inch LCD and a weight of nearly a pound, surely some nation in the world has pockets big enough for this.
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R.I.P. i-mate, we barely knew ye

R.I.P. i-mate, we barely knew ye
Oh, global economic crisis, when will you stop claiming our favorite companies? Oh, wait, it's just i-mate folding this time? So, the company that already laid off its US staff is totally going away? We can live with that. It seems i-mate's remaining employees in Dubai Internet City were told yesterday that they had to take an unpaid two-month leave. That, apparently, was a typo, as the people were actually supposed to take an indefinite unpaid leave. Oops. The company has already been delisted from stock markets around the world, and this abrupt closing has left a number of retailers hanging as orders for the 810F are apparently still pending. Now they, just like our hopes of a Dirty Dancing sequel, will never be fulfilled.
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Navigon adding live traffic to iPhone navigation app, asks 'TomTom who?'


Practically all summer, the buzz surrounding TomTom's forthcoming iPhone GPS app was near deafening. But said noise apparently didn't penetrate the labs at Navigon, as that very outfit has produced what's easily the most full-featured option on the market today. Just a week after updating the already-great app with text-to-speech, iPod controls and location sharing, the company is now proclaiming that live traffic will splash down in October (at least in North America). The update will enable the software to utilize real-time speed data from drivers currently en route as well as historical information in order to alert you of slow-downs and re-route you when necessary. We've personally seen live traffic functions fail more often than not, but we're giving Navigon the benefit of the doubt here until we can test it ourselves. Best of all, it'll only cost MobileNavigator users (priced at $89.99) a one-time fee of $24.99 for lifetime traffic, and if you snag it within the first four weeks after it goes on sale, that rate drops to $19.99. So, TomTom -- what now?
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