Mobile, Internet, etc

Filed under: Handsets, Nokia, GSM, EDGE

Unless you’re talking about S60 5th Edition, the terms “Nokia” and “touch” don’t typically go together in the same sentence — but over in China, stylus-based touchscreens make a heck of a lot more sense for character input than they do in locales with with Latin character sets. Following the bizarre (by Nokia standards, anyway) 6208c, the company’s now rolled another China-only Series 40 model modified for on-screen character recognition in the form of the 3208c candybar. It’s got EDGE, a QVGA display, and a 2-megapixel cam — nothing to write home about there — but on the plus side it features a 3.5mm headphone jack, that aforementioned trick touchscreen, and if you squint hard enough, it sorta looks like an N79. Of course, the dilemma of whether to sink the cash for it will never enter most buyers’ minds; it’ll never see the light of day outside China’s domestic market, where it’ll be launching in the fourth quarter.

[Via GSMArena]

Nokia’s 3208c proves Series 40 can be touch-friendly, too originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Handsets, Nokia

Nokia’s latest mystery device to hit the FCC, the RM-550 “Alvin,” holds itself in some good company given the known specs. Its 32GB internal memory is matched only by Espoo’s other flagship devices N97 and N900, and it’s also got the same BL-5J battery as the aforementioned pseudo-MID. Throw in quad-band GSM, tri-band WCDMA, Bluetooth, and WiFi, and you’ve got our interests piqued. The confidentiality agreement of the filing gives no indication of when we might hear more details, but we’re gonna go ahead and start preparing ourselves mentally for yet another resistive touchscreen.

[Via Unwired View; thanks, Me]

Nokia’s 32GB Alvin RM-559 hits FCC, Simon 561 and Theodore 563 nowhere to be found originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Handsets, Samsung, CDMA

Outside of the occasional heavy-handed bout of carrier locking and regional band incompatibilities, GSM customers around the world benefit from one huge technical advantage over CDMA: network independence. That’s the problem the CDMA Development Group has been trying to solve with the introduction of the Open Market Handset initiative, and Sammy is now the first manufacturer in the world to roll out OMH-compliant gear. The Mpower 699’s appearance and forgettable specs belie its ground-breaking guts, looking pretty much like any other low-end Samsung slider of the past few years — but inside is an R-UIM slot that allows the phone to be used on any CDMA carrier in India where it’s being launched for 7,100 rupees (about $145). If you’re not happy with what you see here, fret not — Sammy’s promising a total of five more OMH phones in India by early next year, so it looks like this is the wave of the CDMA future. LTE aside, don’t count these guys out — CDMA’s going to be around for a very long time to come.

[Via Unwired View]

Samsung’s Mpower 699 makes Open Market Handset initiative a reality in India originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Handsets, RIM

We’re starting to get the feeling they just didn’t know about WiFi in Waterloo until now, because almost every BlackBerry hardware rumor we’re hearing lately is all about how RIM’s adding the wireless networking spec and everyone’s oh-so-happy. Case in point: today we’ve got word of a new BlackBerry Essex, which is essentially… the Tour with WiFi. Seriously, that’s the whole rumor, and we’re guessing it has something to do with Sprint mandating WiFi on all of its future handsets, so it’s not even particularly wild. Don’t get us wrong here, we’re glad to have WiFi — it’s extremely nice on the Bold, and it certainly improves battery life — but considering the sorry state of the BlackBerry browser and the continued lack of real IMAP on the BlackBerry platform, we’re just wondering when BlackBerry fans will have some real changes to get excited about.

BlackBerry Essex to bring WiFi on Tour? originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Handsets, LG, China Mobile, Android

It’s sort of interesting that China is where all the Android action seems to be going down lately, but here we are, staring at the LG GW880 — essentially the company’s first Android phone. Of course, “Android” in this case means China Mobile’s custom WiFi-less OPhone platform, which means we’ll probably never see this guy outside of the Middle Kingdom, but it’s a fair look at what LG’s handset designers think an Android set should look like: 3.5-inch WVGA touchscreen, 256MB RAM, GPS, and a five megapixel camera. Honestly? We’re hoping LG has grander plans for those other Android phones it has planned for this year — we’ll just have to wait and see. Hit the read link for a few more shots in the meantime.

[Via Slashphone]

LG GW880 leaks out, runs Android on China Mobile originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Handsets, HTC, Sprint, Windows Mobile, EV-DO, CDMA

We figured the suits over at T-Mobile USA were on some of that good stuff when they slapped an almost comical $350 (on contract) price tag on HTC’s Touch Pro2, but evidently said “stuff” has made its way into the halls of Overland Park as well. After months of watching evidence mount, Sprint has finally come clean and admitted that HTC’s EV-DO Rev. A-equipped superphone is coming to its network, and with it will come access to Sprint TV as well as NFL Mobile Live and NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile apps. The smartphone will go on sale September 8th, though you’ll have to pony up $349.99 (after a $100 mail-in rebate) in order to secure one on a two-year contract. We’re all about that 3.6-inch WVGA tilting screen, but with Palm’s Pre selling on this very network for a full $150 less, we’re thinking this one won’t appeal to many outside of the WinMo faithful.

Continue reading Sprint follows T-Mobile’s lead, wants $350 for HTC Touch Pro2

Sprint follows T-Mobile’s lead, wants $350 for HTC Touch Pro2 originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Samsung, Verizon Wireless

Most of the time when we’re taking a good, hard look at a phone’s user interface, we’re looking at the big picture — the home screen, the main menu, the dialer, the browser. You know, the things you’re using day in and day out. Samsung’s dug a bit deeper for the launch of its upcoming Rogue, though, putting together a pretty wild radar-style display for Bluetooth pairing. The idea’s simple: discoverable hardware around you appears as blips on the screen with your phone at the center; when you see the blip you want to pair, just drag it to the center. We can pretty much guarantee that the relative locations of in-range devices have no bearing on reality, but still, turning something as mundane as connecting your Bluetooth headset into a mini-game is paradoxically both awesome and annoying beyond words.

Update: The Eternity works the same way — and some other recent Samsungs, we’d presume — but it’s still a pretty interesting trick. Thanks, Jeremy!

Samsung Rogue’s Bluetooth setup will be second nature to air traffic controllers originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Handsets, Others, China Mobile, Android

Dell Mini 3i breaks cover for most complete photo shoot to date originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Verizon Wireless

Odds are you weren’t using this, but if you were, you were probably in for a little heartache and scrambling the last few days reconfiguring stuff. Verizon has shut down its SMTP Relay Service over the weekend, essentially a “plan B” outbound email server for cases where Verizon users wants to send email through their ISP’s email accounts and were blocked from using the ISP’s own server for one reason or another — a fairly common practice. Thing is, the SMTP Relay Service dates back to a time when SMTP servers and free email accounts weren’t a dime a dozen, so it kinda makes sense that Big Red would feel comfortable taking this beast offline right about now.

[Thanks, Zach]

Verizon sunsets SMTP Relay Service originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Handsets, Windows Mobile, Toshiba

The Toshiba TG02’s strange path to reality continues to unfold with a fresh Wi-Fi Alliance certification to shove under its belt alongside that FCC approval it earned a few months back. Of course, it wasn’t called the TG02 back then — it was known only by the more cryptic TM5-E01, a phone alleged to be a Windows Mobile clamshell despite the TG01-ish external photos provided with the filing — but at any rate, it seems that we’re talking about the same thing here. There’s not a lot of additional detail to go on here, but it’s encouraging to see that Toshiba’s still hard at work besting its already-awesome first Snapdragon model — and if it really is a clamshell, that’ll be sure to bring out a whole trove of HTC Star Trek fans who’ve been in hiding for a year or two. [Warning: PDF link]

[Via Unwired View and tweakers.net]

Toshiba TG02 earns WiFi certification, still unclear what it is originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Software, Palm, webOS

We know you just can’t wait to get typing on the Pre’s lush touchscreen, and the folks at WebOS Internals must feel the same way as they’ve been hard at work making their on-screen keyboard a functional reality. Installation has been made a breeze thanks to the Preware app, and usability seems to have improved markedly since the pre-alpha version, but a few kinks remain that need to be ironed out. Still, if you’re willing to put up with some buggy behavior and the potential for your Pre to melt into a puddle of fiery lava, then slide past the break to get educated on the how, what and where to download.

Continue reading Video: Pre virtual keyboard developing rapidly, gets easy install method

Video: Pre virtual keyboard developing rapidly, gets easy install method originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 08:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Accessories

If you’re the clumsy sort you have absolutely no shortage of protective cases and coatings to shroud your pricey gadget in, but most are ugly, bulky, and likely ineffective. The iBand from Tech21 isn’t particularly attractive nor svelte, but after watching the video below there’s little doubt about its effectiveness. It’s made of a substance called d3o, which is a fancy orange non-Newtonian substance, starting out stretchy and gushy but, when put under pressure, hardening and protecting its precious contents. We’ve seen this stuff applied to high-impact applications like motorcycle armor, but we’re glad to see gadgetry getting a little attention too. The video is a bit curious as it appears that the d3o is just applied around the edges of the case and yet the enclosed device survives a face-down landing, but it’s an impressive demonstration nevertheless. Right now the £15 ($25) iBand is only available for the iPhone and iPod Touch, but future gadgets should receive the oobleck treatment soon.

Continue reading Video: Tech21’s iBand protective case and its mystical, magical, non-Newtonian goo

Video: Tech21’s iBand protective case and its mystical, magical, non-Newtonian goo originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 07:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Software, Samsung, Announcements

Oh, look, it’s another place to buy bite-sized mobile apps, this one courtesy of Samsung. The company isn’t exactly new to the whole application store thing, launching a little outlet for Nokia users earlier this year, but piggy-backing on someone else’s platform and boldly blazing a trail of iFart knockoffs on your own hardware are two very different things. The imaginatively named Samsung Application Store launches on September 14 for British, French, and Italian Omnia and I8910 HD handsets, later coming to the Omnia II and OmniaLITE as well as users in various other nations. Samsung is pledging “over 300″ apps to start, while partners like Electronic Arts, Capcom, Gameloft, and TAITO have signed on for the fun. Omnia BUST-A-MOVE, anyone?

[Via NewsWire]

Samsung Application Store announced, the mobile mall gets a little more crowded originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 07:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Handsets, Others, GSM, EDGE

It doesn’t take but a few dollars (or euros, rubles, reais, yuan, you name it) to pick up a fully-unlocked 2G candybar these days. At least it usually doesn’t — unless you happen to source it from Russia’s Gresso, in which case it’s going to run you about $2,100. For that sum you’ll have your choice of the company’s new Grand Monaco model in black or metallic ceramic, featuring a 2 megapixel camera, triband (yes, triband) EDGE data, Bluetooth, FM radio, and microSD expansion up to an anemic 2GB. In other words, you’re paying purely for the materials and the assembly, because the specs are south of suck and Gresso’s got about as much name recognition as ZTE in most parts of the world. When’s the last time you paid over a grand per megapixel, anyway?

[Via Unwired View]

Gresso’s Grand Monaco, for if you’re too poor for Vertu and too rich for common sense originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 07:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Palm, Bell Mobility

With the latest installment of Bell’s “Meet my Palm Pre” series, paid spokesman Bradley here has basically guaranteed himself that he’ll be visited by elderly American roller girls with bad attitudes and a taste for justice. Some of the gruesome highlights:

“Unlike our neighbors to the south, Canadians are an active people.”
“Coupe de Kill is kinda scary. I should probably get out of here before she goes on Twitter.”
“According to Wikipedia, this game was first played in 1299. And, uh, I think some of these people were maybe there.”

Follow the break for the video.

[Via MobileSyrup]

Continue reading Bell’s latest Pre ad insults Americans, old people, and bloody roller derby girls in one pass

Bell’s latest Pre ad insults Americans, old people, and bloody roller derby girls in one pass originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 04:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Handsets, RIM, Verizon Wireless

Pardon the pun, but we’ve got the perfect storm here: the Storm 2 is undoubtedly just around the corner, the holiday shopping season is a stone’s throw away, and Verizon’s probably sitting on a fat pile of stagnating Storm inventory that’s gotta go. What’s North America’s largest carrier to do? Drop pricing on the original through the floor, of course, which means you can now pick up the 9530 for a scant $49.99 on a two-year contract after rebate. If you recall, it went for $199.99 at launch, so it’s a decent deal (for Verizon, anyway — it’s been easy to get a free Storm through third parties for a while now), so just don’t freak out on us when the replacement hits any month now, alright?

[Via PhoneArena]

Verizon blowing out Storms for $49.99 — you know what that means originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 01:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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