Sidekick iD finally launches

Not that any secret tends to remain well kept in the gadget world these days, but we've finally got official confirmation on the Sidekick iD. This 5.1 x 2.5 x 0.9-inch bugger's gonna run you a cut-rate $99, and features replaceable, colored bumpers, and all the basics necessary to get going T-Mobile style (including myFaves). But if you want the full Sidekick experience (i.e. camera, Bluetooth), you're still gonna have to roll with the 3. Welcome, welcome, teenage wallet-prybar.

Gallery: Sidekick iD finally launches

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[Anonymous.Skull @ Apr 12th 2007 11:54PM]

Not bad, it gets you the catchy flip-screen that everyone loves to play with for a cheap price. Now if only the new patch would come to my SK3, dammit.

[Andrew W. @ Apr 12th 2007 11:55PM]

Yuck.

[Eric @ Apr 13th 2007 12:29AM]

Let's see.. I'm 14 and it doesn't appeal to me. Lack of Bluetooth is unacceptable and no camera won't appeal to any teen, let alone a geek like me.

[Big @ Apr 13th 2007 12:37AM]

The Sidekick 3 wasn't very impressive to me as it was.
Couldn't take video footage. The camera wasn't that great and the web page loading was only a bit faster than the Sidekick 2.

This thing is gonna be so damn annoying for teachers in junior high school who regularly have to confiscate cellphones from the misfits.

[Rand @ Apr 13th 2007 1:25AM]

Monster phone, puny screen.

[Cory Tischbein @ Apr 13th 2007 1:48AM]

Looks great, but it seems a bit too expensive for me. I don't need all those extra features anyway. I'd prefer an LG Chocolate.

[shileds @ Apr 13th 2007 3:14AM]

No camera, no bluetooth , are these guys any serious or what, my SK is the alternative that i rarely turn to, switching over to something with that price and no way to sync it with my http://Zyb.com/ account makes it a bit too much of a drag.

[PEZ @ Apr 13th 2007 7:07AM]

I have an idea: lets take the lowest resolution cellphone on the planet and make a shittier screen version.

[Neebs @ Apr 13th 2007 9:51AM]

The best part of a SK is that you can play with it. And, my friend's SK2's calculator said 1337 in the icon for it. I thought that was pretty cool, but he didn't get it.

[zorntastic @ Apr 13th 2007 10:43AM]

http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/26/sidekick-iii-product-roadmap-revealed/

i guess this is the April release mentioned. i'll wait until june/july before i commit to changing phones again.

although the iD looks tempting to me because i currently have an sk3 that i don't use the camera or the horrible bluetooth on, it just seems like more for less to me.

as long as i don't have to sign up for myFaves (i have 1500 minutes, i never go over) i could be sold on this.

time will tell

[snapper @ May 22nd 2007 2:33PM]

Hmmm .... I guess it would suit kids under the age of 13, who just wanna text and not much else.

I love the Sidekick, and if they keep making them, I will upgrade to the newer model everytime they put one out, however they need to bring it up to speed with modern technology! I tried sending and receiving files by Bluetooth and was treated like I was trying to steal something. Contacts only, and even then it ain't compatible with all other devices.

I Danger needs to have an open forum for non-developers to post suggestions on favoured features, then poll the most popular ones, and pick a few for newer versions of the device.

SK users need quality video, quality pictures and more choices on I'M in all territories, not just with some U.S. carriers.

We wanna be able to send files to each other, and attach any files stored on our memory card to emails in order to send them, providing they are not too big.

That's the issues I have with it, but I tend to keep my USB lead on me and use it for file storage/tranfers whilst on the move.

[V @ Jun 20th 2007 1:35AM]

I couldn't give a rat's toe regarding pop culture, but I absolutely LOVE my SK3. For those who are looking for why on earth this should be as popular as it's made out to be, here are my whys:

I prefer written word to phone calls, but should I need to make a call, it's easily done. I can email using my t-mobile email, yahoo, or aol mail just on my phone -and can keep an eye on it throughout my day. The keyboard is amazing -I have yet to find a QWERTY keyboard on any phone that is remotely close to its quality and ease of use. IMing is another common communication technique that I use, and I can easily keep in touch with my loved ones, again, throughout my day, using AIM, Yahoo, and MSN. When there were storms and power outages in my area for weeks at a time, I was able to keep on eye on my bank account and such even while I was freezing my bum off at home.
Then there are the “extras”...such as the MP3 player, games and puzzles, the camera, and other applications...admittedly, I haven't touched the MP3 player -I use iTunes and so it's a bit useless to me. I only use the camera every now and again, but it's not too shabby -and especially useful when I forget my full camera on trips, or when I don't care to carry another item (believe it or not, I enjoy my basics). The games and puzzles, like my old favorite, Sonic the Hedgehog, and the joys of sudoku, mahjongg, and so on, are excellent when waiting and biding your time... (again, the convenience of not having to carry more stuff).
And the interface is extremely easy to use. Just scroll to select and push on the trackball to access.

The drawbacks:
Well, it is a complex little piece of equipment. Every so often it gets a little freezy. It just takes a restart, which should be done daily anyway. It hasn't gotten that way since I've started doing that (unless, I accidentally get a magnet near it...pfft).
It's only got EDGE2. It would be nicer if the internet moved as nicely as my laptop, but it's been helpful enough I can overlook it. ;>
Depending on the game, it doesn't run as fast as I was used to. I'm getting used to it by practicing on easy levels first...
The music player only runs MP3 files. I explained this already, but it bites that I have this application I can't make use of. It would be way more useful if it were AAC compatible, or had iTunes on it.

SK iD just appears to be a more affordable option. And with most anything, when you cut the costs, you cut the perks.