Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Ok, you know the drill by now. HowardForums has a purported shot (on left) of the thinner, sexier successor to the VX9800 communicator, the LG VX9900 we first trolled from the FCC (pic on the right) back in May. We’re still hoping for this QWERTY clam to roll on Verizon sometime this month as reported by our own Boy Genius or sometime between September 29th and October 13th according to the rumor jockeys ridin’ the HoFo. Hell, let’s just say any day now and leave it at that mkay?

[Thanks, Scott and Sunny]

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Filed under: Cellphones, GPS, Handhelds

All four of these phones have had their fair share of leaks, but now HTC is ready to fess up and assign some names to their Q4 lineup of phones, which is all set to bust up on Europe this fall. Starting from the left we’ve got the S3300, codenamed Artemis, which is due for an October launch, and features TomTom software to power the GPS action, along with a 2.8-inch screen and a snazzy new “RollRTM” trackball / track wheel. The P3600 (aka Trinity) picks up where the Prophet and Magician left off with a bit of bulk, some cute looks, but sadly no QWERTY action. The phone does, however, manage HSDPA speeds and a 2 megapixel camera, so it won’t be all tears when this thing drops in September. Next we have the Q-killin’ “Excalibur” S620, which measures a mere 0.5-inches thick, weighs 4.6 ounces, and manages that lovable QWERTY keyboard and 2.4-inch screen. The phone, due for an October launch, will also come with quad band GPRS/EDGE (3G is conspicuously absent), WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity. Finally, HTC’s S310 “Oxygen” candybar isn’t anything too terribly interesting, but it’s a nice new look for HTC candybar fans who found the HTC Breeze to be a bit too squarish. The S310 should be out this September. Possibly the best news among all this action is that it seems HTC has decided to abandon the frightening naming convention they adopted for the “TyTN” and “MTeoR.” That was a slippery slope if we ever saw one. The worst news is, of course, HTC is only self-branding these phones in Europe right now, and will be letting US carriers adulterate these phones with garish branding and spec drops before we ever get a chance at ‘em. Oh well, such is life. Keep reading for entirely-too-large pr0n of all four phones at their shiniest.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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Filed under: Handhelds, Tablet PCs

After mysteriously pulling all mentions of the UX180P from their online store a week or so ago — they claimed they were merely out of stock — Sony is back with the UX280P, which doubles both the RAM and the HDD size from that of the UX180P. Along with the new 40GB hard drive and 1GB of RAM, we hope they found some time to refresh that debilitating software we encountered in our hands-on preview of the 180. The processor remains the same ol’ Core Solo U1200, and there’s still EDGE, WiFi and Bluetooth radios. Unfortunately, the price has now reached the $2000 mark, so you best have cash to burn or a real good excuse for some UMPC+QWERTY action, or you’re just going to look silly.

[Via jkOnTheRun]

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Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

With info and pic originating from Hungary, you know it’s gotta be good. Someone over at HowardForums just spotted this new, unconfirmed i-mate model, the i-mate Jaq, at Hungarian site PDA Mania, and were kind enough to share. Notably, i-mate doesn’t appear to be relying on HTC (who has that little Q-killer of their own brewin’) for the design here, and while their in-house designers might take a little while to warm up, a bit of diversity in the market never killed anyone. Also of note is that this phone purportedly runs the full-fledged Windows Mobile 5.0 Pocket PC Phone Edition, allowing pen input on its QVGA screen and the software advantages that OS provides. As for the rest of the specs, the phone is a quad-band GSM, GPRS and EDGE unit, with 64MB of RAM, 128MB of ROM and a miniSD slot for expansion. There is IrDA and Bluetooth 1.2, but no WiFi, and the 1.3 megapixel camera is a bit lackluster these days, but with that QWERTY action this just might turn out to be a decent contender from i-mate.

[Via HowardForums]

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Filed under: Handsets, Alltel, Kyocera

Filed under: Handhelds

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

We haven’t heard many peeps out of Samsung about their QWERTY “Q killer” SGH-i320 ever since we noticed its FCC approval a couple of months ago. Well, now it looks like they’re ready to bust this thing out, and they’re starting off with a launch in EDGE-friendly France. The EDGE smartphone isn’t as wide or tall as the Motorola Q, but the phones both share that thinner-than-a-RAZR 11.5mm thickness. There’s 120MB of included memory, along with a microSD slot, so Windows Mobile 5.0 should have plenty of room to play, but the QVGA display is a mere 2.2-inches, so some squinting might be in order. The phone includes Bluetooth, dual-speakers and push-email support, but we’re still without a clue as to the actual launch date or specific carrier. We’re also curious if Samsung can manage to compete with the Q at that $200 (with subsidies) price point, but we guess we’ll find out soon.

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Filed under: Handhelds, Wireless

When a manufacturer takes styling cues from a number of popular devices — in this case, the RAZR, the Wizard, and the gone-but-not-forgotten Clie — and throws in a number of high end features whose acronyms make us a little weak-kneed, the resulting products are bound to be pretty sexy. Such is the case with a trio of WiBro-capable PDAs being marketed under the Flyvo brand by POSDATA, all of which run Windows CE 5.0 Professional Plus on an ARM processor and let you get your ‘net on with WiFi as well in case you have to travel outside of Korea. Introduced at this year’s Wireless Broadband World Forum, these upcoming devices (which frustratingly lack either names or model numbers) also feature either 512MB or 1GB of flash RAM, with two of them adding T-DMB and VoIP capabilities, and the high-end model throwing in a little GPS action to boot. Lucky Koreans will be able to pick these up — and possibly even drop their cellphone services altogether — sometime early next year.

Read- The one that resembles a Wizard
Read- The one that resembles a PSP
Read- The one that resembles a Clie

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Filed under: Handhelds

So instead of revealing that upgraded version of the 770 Internet Tablet as we expected them to today, Nokia flipped the script on us and announced that the Google Talk and keyboard features we had been anticipating will actually be coming in the form of a software upgrade. The good news is that these new features — part of the company’s so-called Internet Tablet 2006 OS — will be available to current 770 owners through a simple update, although those folks who were expecting a hardware QWERTY option (and not just an on-screen “thumb board”) are certainly going to be disappointed. On the plus side, the new OS will support SIP-based VoIP solutions, with Nokia specifically mentioning that a version of the Gizmo Project client is forthcoming. IT2006 will become the default operating system on 770 units, and will be available as a free download to existing 770 users, beginning sometime this quarter.

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Filed under: Handhelds, Wireless

Don't wanna wait for Sony to complete their teaser campaign to peep that Vaio they're trying to generate some buzz about? Don't worry, jkOnTheRun has got you covered (well, maybe). According to site founder James Kendrick, a "reader who wishes to remain anonymous" sent him a number of pictures of this supposed ultraportable Vaio, which do indeed feature all of the disparate components visible in Sony's brief Flash movies. Besides portraying the device as a UMPC-style tablet with sliding QWERTY keyboard, one of the pictures clearly shows the words "Bluetooth," "WLAN," and "WWAN" on the screen's bezel when viewed full-size. We can also make out that fingerprint scanner and Motion Eye from the teaser campaign, as well as a MemoryStick Duo slot and a "capture" button, which may indicate the inclusion of a camera on the back of the device. Of course these pictures, even if genuine, reveal nothing about the actual guts of the machine, so Sony still has several important details such as processor types/speeds, operating system (a return to PalmOS, perhaps?) and storage system/capacities to hold over our heads. More pics are available by following the "Read" link...

Filed under: Handhelds

We’ve known since February that Nokia was working on a QWERTY-sportin’ followup to the 770 Internet tablet, and now the Wall Street Journal has confirmed that the included VoIP app will indeed be, as we anticipated, Google Talk. Unfortunately this means that the device will still be unable to call regular phone numbers out of the box, although G Talk members will at least be able to chat among themselves for free. The WSJ is also reporting (only to its subscribers, not to us) that sources close to Nokia have said that the new device will be officially unveiled on Tuesday, and sell for around $390 when it hits stores.

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Filed under: Handsets, Nokia, Symbian, GSM, UMTS

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Filed under: Peripherals

Those of us who type for a living are perhaps more attuned to keyboard minutiae than the average computer user, so any ‘board that promises to improve our WPM without resorting to a frustrating realignment of the keys naturally piques our interest. The DAS Keyboard II includes several “enhancements” that may or may not improve your typing speed by up to 100%, most noticeably the keys themselves, which, while arranged in the traditional QWERTY-configuration, are completely blank. Supposedly the lack of even a single symbol keeps the user from “cheating” and looking down at his/her hands, but Extreme Tech instead found themselves habitually mistyping and wasting time referring to character maps. Ultimately, since the letter-less keyboard only improved the seasoned typists’ speed by about 10%, it’s the other features of the DAS II that may entice consumers, including high-end,”clicky” keys rated to 50 million keystrokes which are differently-weighted to compensate for variable finger strength. Overall, TR gives the blank ‘board a seven out of ten, harshing on the rather steep learning curve, but suggesting that first-time typists might benefit from practicing without the traditional “crutch” of illustrated keys.

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Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

So, what’s been holding up the launch of the Motorola Q? Well, we’re not gonna speculate about the inner workings of Moto, Verizon and all the other parties to this long-delayed Smartphone. But there’s at least one bottleneck that we can confirm has been broken: the CDMA Q has now cleared the FCC. Does that mean the phone is going to be out this week, this month (this year)? Who knows? However, the fact that we’ve already seen it added to Verizon’s online image library could mean there’s finally light at the end of this long tunnel.

[Via Phonescoop]

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Filed under: Handsets, Reviews, T-Mobile, Danger, GSM, EDGE

So, it might seem a bit ridiculous for someone to write up a review of a product that is not only so far unannounced and unavailable, but that he hasn't even managed to personally photograph. But that's not stopping BSD of the Sidekick 3 blog, who has managed to eke out a review. Obviously we can't verify his claims, but he seems to have a few sources to help him out with info, along with the fact that most of his details seem pretty common sensical and/or confirmed by the pics we've seen so far. He says the unit has a 1.3 megapixel camera with flash, Bluetooth, a SD card slot, built-in MP3, and support for multiple IM protocols. The form factor is a sort of mix between the original Sidekick and the Sidekick II, and is notably bulky for a modern phone. There's a new cursor nubbin, which works well but feels a little flaky, along with an updated keyboard. Sadly, the screen is the same size and resolution as always, which is starting to throughly date the device. Luckily the SD slot makes music playback and PC file interchange easy, and the Bluetooth not only works well, but seems to provide some sort of PC functionality, which is always nice. Sounds like the device is mostly the same as far software goes, but it does seem the interface has been spruced a bit, and the AIM, Yahoo and MSN IM support are a big plus. We'll try and reserve judgement until we manage to get a Sidekick III in hand, but if this review is for real we can't have too terribly long to wait.

Filed under: Handsets, Virgin Mobile, Kyocera, CDMA

It might not be any more good looking now that it's finally being released to public consumption, but Virgin Mobile's new Switch_Back handset by Kyocera still seems to be a solid choice for QWERTY-inclined text messaging fiends. Along with the "hidden" QWERTY keypad (it's called a clamshell, guys), the phone sports internal and external displays, and has a VGA camera. Otherwise there isn't much going on here. The handset will go for $150, and should be available in stores nationwide.

Filed under: Handsets, HTC, Windows Mobile, GSM, GPRS, EDGE

Geek.com has scored a couple fabulous shots of HTC’s upcoming QWERTY Smartphone, the Excalibur, and for once we can’t complain about the quality of the photography. Besides being dwarfed by a BlackBerry — always a good sign for something you’d like to be able to slip into your pocket — we have a full frontal shot that shows the handset’s curious touch strip on the upper right hand side, which we guess would take the place of your standard rocker or scroll wheel. But alas, enough with the shots already, we want to touch that touch strip ourselves. How about that T-Mobile release?

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Filed under: Handsets, HTC, T-Mobile, Windows Mobile, GSM, GPRS, EDGE

While we’d secretly hoped we’d see the T-Mobile Dash before September was out, we’ve gotten hold of some internal T-Mobile documentation that tells us October 16 is the date. We’ve always been told not to look a gift horse in the mouth (whatever that means) so we’re going to keep our mouths shut and just thank the good folks at T-Mobile for seeing fit to launch HTC’s Q-munching Excalibur at all. Keep reading for a transcript of their “Selling Aid” cheat sheet for the Dash — something tells us it’ll pretty much sell itself, but kudos to T-Mob for making sure their peeps are properly informed!

[Thanks, anonymous tipster]

Introducing T-Mobile Dash
The exclusive T-Mobile Dash is a sleek Smartphone with a full QWERTY keyboard that brings e-mail and familiar Outlook right to your phone. Using Microsoft Office Outlook Mobile (R), T-Mobile Dash delivers important information and e-mail on the go. Now you can have your Outlook calendar and contacts up to date and always with you. Easily check e-mail and access Internet information virtually anywhere with T-Mobile’s EDGE network or blazing fast T-Mobile HotSpot wireless broadband. As a bonus, T-Mobile Dash supports myFaves rate plans, which allow customers to choose their top 5 contacts and make or receive unlimited phone calls for one low price.

Availability
T-Mobile Dash launches in all markets on October 16th 2006.

Audience
The T-Mobile Dash is an excellent choice for family-focused working individuals who are trying to master a busy life. They do a lot of personal and work e-mail from their computer and desire a way of doing this e-mail and using Outlook from a mobile phone. They are brand-conscious, tech-savvy individuals who rely on various organizational tools (phone, PDA, home calendar, home/work computer, etc.). They’ve thought of making the transition to a “converged device,” but worry that these devices may be too bulky, too difficult to use or too focused on business applications to meet their personal needs.

Key Selling Points
o. Sleek Device
Sleek Smartphone with a full keyboard
o. Familiar and Easy-To-Use Messaging Options
T-Mobile Dash has the most familiar communication and organization features (personal e-mail and Outlook), plus the ability to share and view pictures, video, and other large attachments.
o. Best Value Data Plan, including high speed Wi-Fi
UNLIMITED access to e-mail, Internet and T-Mobile HotSpot Wi-Fi service on T-Mobile’s powerful nationwide data network for $29.99/month when added to a T-Mobile voice plan.

Key Sales Considerations
o. Perfect handset for customers who want the convenience and access of a Smartphone without the bulk of a converged device like the MDA, and who don’t need or want the ability to edit e-mail attachments or use character recognition.
o. To get the most out of the T-Mobile Dash, use the T-Mobile Total Internet Plan for general GPRS and Wi-Fi data service.
o. Using the T-Mobile Dash with myFaves requires the separate myFaves plan.

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