Capping off
months of rumor and speculation, T-Mobile and Danger have announced two new Sidekicks today targeting decidedly different segments of the market. The Sidekick LX takes over as the new king of the Hiptop hill, boasting a Sidekick-first wide QVGA display -- touted as incorporating technology borrowed from Sharp's AQUOS televisions, no less -- along with configurable mood lighting, 1.3 megapixel camera with flash, and 128MB worth of bundled microSD memory. Meanwhile, the 4.6 x 2.4 x 0.68-inch Sidekick Slide becomes the first Hiptop device to come from Motorola, the first to ditch the trademark swivel display, and the first to go on a serious diet (anyone who's used a Sidekick of old knows that it ain't exactly small) while still packing the same functionality and 1.3 megapixel cam as its big sib. Look for the LX to hit store shelves come October 24 in your choice of "midnight blue" and "espresso brown" for a cool $299 on contract; the Slide slides in (sorry, couldn't help it) two weeks later on November 7 in a black / deep purple combo for a Franklin less at $199.
posted Sep 26th 2007 12:01AM
why do kids like the sidekick???
i can type sooo fast with my blackberry pearl that people are often surprised im chatting on a phone. n the pearl is super small compare to the sidekick.
Because it's cheap! Sidekick iD has been hugely popular because of it's sub-$100 pricing. Also T-Mobile has a special data rate for sidekicks with $20 that covers both internet and messaging. The blackberry rate that T-Mobile offers does not include sms/instant messaging and requires extra fee - even though they are still cheaper than ATT, verizon, etc..
oh. i didnt know. hahaha. sorry.
i work for a mobile phone company. have never even seen a phone bill.
Yea the sidekick is the most inexpensive data plan you can get. $20 a month get's you everything, where on verizon you'd have to pay maybe $40 for data and another $20 for sms and im's. Just the choice of getting a sidekick instead of say,a motorolla q, pays for itself in a few months.
I only pay $15 per month with Sprint to get power vision and unlimited texting. $5 less a month PLUS high speed internet. Nevertheless, I have always had a soft spot for the sidekick, and my biggest standing issue (the screen) has now been fixed. Good job T-mobile/Danger!
@caramelzappa
not to mention who the hell is able to type on the Motorola Q's keyboard. I know that I want an actual QWERTY keyboard and one that i can actualy type on. Sidekick keyboards are much more User friendly than many of the other Smartphone QWERTY keyboards.
I think everyone kind of forgot that the sidekick is huge with the hearing impaired community. Dont quote me, but i think that was actually one of their original target demographics.
@Simon
now that you mention it I totally forgot about that. When I took an basic sign language course the professor mentioned that. Good Point!
haha, i can type 52 wpm on my hiptop/sidekick 3.....
you're right. the original demographic of the sidekick was the Deaf community (btw Deaf people don't like to be called "hearing impaired"). They were doing two-way texting YEARS before the hearing world caught on. The Sidekick enabled the Deaf community to communicate much more effectively than the old two way pagers. The sidekick not only provides real EMAIL on the phone (no character limitations), it also provides Deaf people a way to have their TTY phone access on the go. The other area that Deaf people are way ahead of the hearing world is video phones. They all have them now and rarely use TTY anymore. Video phones allows them to call each other directly and talk face to face.... Just a little Deaf education...
That swivel on the Sidekick seriously sucks. The Sidekick Slide is a welcomed change.
Something about the Slide's keypad turns me off. Not sure if it's the round keys or the fact they appear to be plastic instead of rubber...
What is WQVGA? 480x272? or 400x240?
I think its 428x240! http://www.kopin.com/wqvga/
People that wanted the Sidekick never bytched and moaned about not being able to get it since it's locked to T-mobile
//unlike some people we know (cough Iphone cough)
what makes you think that?
Thank you, I don't know why apple is always held to different standards than any other company on the face of the earth. Every cell phone provider and manufacturer have teamed up at on point or annother for exclusive contracts it seems. I believe the Chocolate phone is Verizon only, Sidekick is T-mobile only, those are just off the top of my head but there are many, many more. Nobody seems to care then, but as soon as apple releases a product on at&t only all hell breaks loose and people start talking class action lawsuits and how disappointed they are. I just thought that was how the cell phone industry works, I don't see why it would be any different when apple makes a cell phone. On a side note, $299 for a sidekick with only 128mb of memory? For $100 more you can get an iPhone with 8 gigs, or as another poster said a backberry pearl. I don't know who would want this for $299 with a 2 year contract. I guess 15 year old girls maybe.
dude I don't even like apple that much, and even I understand that an iphone is on a whole different level of goodness compared to a sidekick.
Thats because people were looking for Apple to enter the market and start to change things around. Consumers are sick of having to choose their phone based on who they currently have a contract with or miss out on a great device because it's not available for their carrier. There was alot of expectations for Apple to come in and not give into the bullshit that is the mobile phone industry. Unfortunately they bought into it.
@Tanner
tmobile owns the name sidekick the device itself is not a tmobile excusive other companies have released it
took long enough to get to QVGA, and still no touchscreen
Sidekicks are for people who like to get left behind
Sidekicks are for people who don't spend $600 on their phones, or $40 a month for their data plans with a seperate $20 for texting. Sidekicks are not the top of the line but they are a really nice way to get the features a lot of people want without spending a fortune.
^what are you talking about?
you can get a number of phones for a great price, though in America T-mobile's only PDA is the Wing
but yeah that goes for $300 or even less if you find a good dealer. As for data plan just call T-mobile and say you got a regular phone and you can get for $6 full html internet and AIM
now that's a kick in the Side (terrible joke)
I've been with the sidekick's since Sidekick B/W... haha, i've enjoyed them because its so cheap, and easy to use. I am gonna be getting the sidekick LX Oct. 17th! I can't wait
ok so in other words the difference in the two is the screen and price? and ppl wonder why i use an iphone on tmobile's network....still no wifi on these things
finally.
now i can own a sidekick 3 while my brother buys an LX
If I ever live in an area that T-Mobile actually serves, I'm getting a Sidekick. They're pretty cheap and I'm used to them. That the selling point for me.
Looks nice but I'm kidding myself on getting a phone I want unless I make it myself.....
between the carriers....(ripping you off) and the phones not doing what I want them to do....though I suppose with each new phone it comes closers to an full fledge camera and pmp (XVID/AVI not this WMV junk)
The popularity of Sidekicks and Blackberries proves that most people don't need touchscreens. It's easy to see why Sidekicks sell so well. Affordable unlimited data plans, good T-Mo customer service, well-designed user interface and QUERTY keyboard, and server syncing. I don't own a Sidekick, but my 37-year old sister does.
I always thought the sidekick had a solid form factor, it was just too bulky and underspec'd like some kind of toy. But I'm glad to see improvements.
WHEN WILL IT HAVE GOOGLE MAPS????
sidekicks only run sidekick apps, not the java midp apps that every other cell phone can just download from the web. but you never have to worry about compatibility either. about half the midp apps i tried didnt work on my blackberry. googles maps and mail apps did.
so unless google feels like writing a special version just for the sidekick and jumping through dangers hoops to get it in thier catalog, its not going to happen.
does the sidekick browser support enough javascript for google maps? other phones (like the blackberry curve) can do google maps and read a gps (internal or external bluetooth puck)
who needs google maps when you have a navigation system in your car
The LX is coming to the upgrade program (for existing customers) Oct 17. Retail on the 24th.
@1234321 Idiot. That's t-zones. That gets you WAP (not HTML) browsing and email (but not the same that you would get with a full data plan). Instant messaging is counted as text messaging using the built-in clients on handsets. (Yes, the AIM link in t-zones would let you do it for free, but WAP 2.0 handsets cannot access it anymore, so... anything less than 18-24 months old, really.)
Tmobile kinda pissed me off when they decided the only way to get updates is via paying for the Data plan. Then ontop of that they decided to only allow phones to update when they push something out over the network, not have the phone check-in with the system when it first joins the network to see if it needs any updates. So here I am running my Sidekick II with factory 2.0 OS because I could end up paying for the data plan for six months and still not get any firmware/OS updates. what a bunch of BullShit.
OTAs are sent over the network via GPRS so yes, you'd need a data plan. No other way to update the phone. Also the phones DO send their version info to the Danger servers when they connect, if the OS on your phone is older than the current OS an OTA will be sent to you. Once the OTA has been sent out it is always available for older models. If you do have an older phone and aren't getting the OTA call customer care, they should be able to force an update to your phone, providing you have data enabled on your sim.
someone should inform the sales people of this info because they dont know jack shit
what about europe? i read somewhere were they said that it will be internationally released.. will it come to europe? and the date?
I had a sidekick of various models for 4 years. This one here is in its last 2 months of operation and has not been turned on for 4 months. The HTC-6800 is far and away the best phone on the market today. Far better than the iPhone.
its gotta be the FLIP they do one lil change nd make a whole new phone frm my sk1 to my sk2 to my sk3 (minus the horrible camera nd da mp3 all the rest could have been a regular over the air update)
NOT TOUCH SCREEN
NO TV
NO FM RADIO
PROLLY STILL TRASH INTERNET nd DEF NO YOUTUBE (not evn internet tabs)
PROLLY STILL A LIMIT ON EMAILS
CANT RECORD YOUR PHONE CONVOS. . cant record anything
ND THE WORSE THING THEY HAVE IS THEIR CAMERAS (i guess they did not even bother putting wun on the sidekick id) WORSE CLARITY IN PICTURES ND CANT RECORD VIDEOOOOs
VERY SENSITIVE FOR NO REASON [[ITZ NOT A TOUCH SCREEN]]. . (steam frm ur hot breath can give this thing water damage)
ND ALL THIS Hi-TECH STUFF JUST MEANS TO ME EVN SHORTER BATTERY LIFE
www.myspace.com/antbo0gz
Any word if they're updating the applications? I've been a Sidekick fan from the very start, but damn. The applications are a bit dated. A tabbed browser that auto-detects phone numbers would be an awesome addition, and better HTML rendering and JavaScript wouldn't hurt.
Also, any idea if this has improved reception? It's embarassingly bad today.
THEY SAY ON OCTOBER 17TH TMOBILE CUSTOMERS CAN COME IN TO UPGRADE TO A SIDEKICK LX AND FOR THE NEW CUSTOMERS ITS OCTOBER 24TH!! MY QUESTIONS IS I HAVE A SIDEKICK 3 PREPAID SO I SHOULD BE ABLE TO COME IN ON THE 17TH SINCE I AM A CUSTOMER AND UPGRADE TO THE LX RIGHT?
No, prepaid customers are not eligible for the upgrade program. This is the "sign a new contract, get a new phone" deal, and prepaid doesn't have a contract.
Check out the Sidekick LX on the T-mobile website. The blue has no FM radio where the brown has a FM radio weird???
What about UMA? Any word on that?
The new devies look kinda cool, but t-mobile absolutely SUCKS!!
Their service is ok.. but their customer service is the worst. I called to speak with someone about a situation my roommate was in the middle of with them and complained that i wasn't happy with how he was treated and if he was treated so rudely and left without any options, who's to say wouldn't be treated with the same disrespect (and we have both been members since 2002. ) The woman transfered me to someone who was supposed to "appease" me and make me feel better about staying with tmobile, but he just argued with me, and told me that my friend's situation had nothing to do with me.. and he didn't listen to my argument. it was absurd that he raised at me, talked down to me, and treated me like a idiot. Since that conversation(which lasted 45 minutes) i have been telling all of my friends to leave them. tmobile will turn their back on you(the customer) the minute you actually need their help.. and they just won't care how loyal you've been to them if it doesn't help their own interests.
That's why I'm checking out helio's stuff. They seem to be a little more edgy, and for the consumer.
i THiNK THE SliDE l00KS HEllA UGlY. `N THE SCREEN iS WAAAAAAAAAY 2 PHUCKiN SMAll...THE lX iS WAT i'M GETTiN. CAN'T WAiT 2 DiTCH THiS WACK ASS RAZR.
the way you type is "hella ugly"
im gonna take a stab in the dark and guess youre from cali
i agree the way you type is rediculous, and to "kia" not everyone who is from california says hella and types like that. only the stupid people not from LA
im a new user to the sidekick, and i think its great.(yeah,razers blow)
If I'm on a 2 year contract with T-Mobile (started in July of 2006 and ends in July of 2008) will I be able to upgrade to the LX? If so how much will it cost?
It depends on who you talk to. I upgraded to a sidekick 3 in June of 2006. It's "supposed" to be 22 months before you get a discount to upgrade. I called twice hoping that I could talk them into a discount so I could get the LX. Both people said no. I finally decided to just do it anyway, but had trouble with the online upgrade. So I called to have them help me upgrade and the guy I got that time got me a $50 discount and a $50 rebate (making the phone $299 instead of $399). So, they CAN give you a discount...tell them to check with their supervisor.
Also, if you are thinking of upgrading, it's good to do it when the new version first comes out because then you can sell your older model for more money...I'll be putting my sidekick 3 on craigslist and should be able to get about half the cost of my new sidekick back...
ok, so the screen was small..... but did anything else really improve* ? no video support, no java apps, no flash, no touchscreen ? nothing really good in there other than sending pictures via sms.. but email kind of did that already.. so.. i just can't see the point.
* (and no.. myspace is not an improvement.)
i'm kind of wondering when they'll stop their prepaid BS - there's at least 30 minutes of downtime before it will reconnect to the network if you accidentally run out. a year or so ago it would automatically work, but then they realized people got free text messages during downtime and made it so that you had to call them to get reactivated. now it just takes ages. seeing that fixed would be much nicer than these boring new releases.. or seeing someone else carry it other than tmob, haha - ugh, those people.
basically I want the sidekick LX but seriously, youd think now that we have loads of phones with up to 3 mg pxl cameras theyd upgrade the cam on the sidekick which has been the same since sidekick II! I also dont really see the point in the sidekick slide ... since no one iv talked to wants to bye it, the sidekick swivel screen is what makes it cool. I'm not gonna judge tho cuz maybe some people like the slide :D i know i'll be upgradeing my sk3 for a mocha-brown sidekick LX when it comes out in the UK.
W0W. UMM WTF D0ES THiS SiTE HAVE 2 D0 WiTH THE WAY i |CH00SE| T0 TYPE?? YES i WAS B0RN iN CAli BUT i SERi0USlY D0UBT THAT THAT HAS ANYTHiNG T0 D0 WiTH H0W i CH00SE T0 MAKE TiMES NEW R0MAN TEXT M0RE EXCiTiNG.
HAVE A NiCE DAY PhUCKERS
=]
what is the difference between the LX and the slide besides the design?
that new sidekick looks badass. and ppl complaining of how it sux. then wtf r u doing here? lol. yes, the sidekicks arent as highteched as some blackberrys or the iphone. but those r more for old ppl who dont really go out and party like young ppl. the sidekick is a party phone. and dont make u look like a nerd like having the iphone.....! sidekick is for ppl 13-23. after that. its time for the phones that make u look more mature n shit. till then. FUCK U OLD PPL! :D
laterz.
how much is the sklx for those who have prepaid t-mobile?
the sk is definitely not as advanced as an iphone, maybe it doesnt have google maps or so called perfect email like the blackberrys. but personally i dont need wifi, i dont need youtube, i dont care about the weather, im not a businessman so my email doesnt really matter, i can buy a 1gb card which for a cellphone mp3 player is about 1gb worth of music that ill ever listen to on my phone. not to mention the texting, typing and aim capabilities are unparalleled. oh and its the cheapest data and text plan around (not bad considering its the best texting phone on the market)
and this isnt coming from a 17 year old girl on myspace. i graduated with a phd in pharmacology over 2 years ago. i bought the sk3 the day it was released in stores, and ive already placed my order for this one. maybe someday ill change, but no time soon.
What is wrong with these guys? How do you make a NEW phone that doesn't capture or play video. I've had the sidekick since in 1st dropped and it was upsetting that SK3 didn't have video capabilities. And on top of that, they kept the camera at a 1.3 mega pixel? SK3 is a 1.3 mega pixel and it SUCKS!!. I'm over it. I'm jumping ship and moving on.
i just got my blue lx. this sh*t is hooottttttt. doesnt look anything like the pictures. the blue is definitely a good choice.
the camera is a lot better than the 3.
the screen in brighter and bigger.
the only problem i see, which ill get over. the keys on keyboard and on the phone are now recessed. so it feels harder to use. but like i said in an hour im sure ill get over it.
Sidekick LX look cool but I don't like that swirl and screen front...cause lot problem. I prefered the clam...I am wait for the new OGO 2.0 soon.
I don't like T-mobile and Sprint cuz of cost more over $40 monthly service. That's why I can't afford it. (I heard the rumor that OGO 2.0 under Revol Wireless under $25 per monthly...I am not sure?)
maaaaaaan i got my new sidekick LX today.. on (it's release dat) extended my contract to get it for $299..... best sidekick so far from what i've read DA SLIDE AINT GOT SHIT ON DA LX so i were you which i was i wouldnt bother with the slide anymore and jus get da LX u wont regret... TRUZZ
Hey. is sidekick slide a girl's phone ??
cause the colors kind of make it look like a girls phone . is it for girls or both ?
watching porn on a sidekick3 STINKS! . i love my new HTC TYTN 2 =P. now i can acutally watch youporn with no LAG! MUHAHAH! i feel sorry for you sidekick users.
Well i live in bakersfield, california and lately ive been looking at the *Sidekick-LX-BLACK* i realy want to get one for my 16th birthday and my dads willing to put out the money but my problem is every t-mobile store i go to they only have the colors brown or blue:(
and if im going to be stuck with a phone i want it to be the color i like.
any help?
does anybody know where i can buy this phone.
I am currently living in Austria and I have a sidekick ID now, and i wanted to know if the Sidekick LX will work over here unlike the ID.
SiDEKiCK SLiDE,
WTF?
i HAVENT HEARD OF THATT?
WELL W/E
iM 13, AND i MiGHT GET THE
SiDEKiCK LX.
YEAHH BABBY.
iM LiViNG THE GOODLiFEE, HOMi3.
HEY!!!
I WAS LYKE WONDERiNG WHiCH SiDEKiCK U(THE PERSON READiNG THiS)WOULD RECOMMEND.
THE SiDEKiCK LX OR SLiDE???
I've been looking at the SK LX for a while, and I'm not sure if I should purchase it. I'm a teenager, so I would appreciate the texting etc. Any suggestions? Please reply.
Ok. Before I say anything I have to say. People be saying some crazy shit about how the iPhone is gay and all that other shit and that the so kicks shit. I'm 15 and i text like crazy and I have to say straight away - I have an iPhone and it was not easy to get used to the touch screen, but its no different from the sk because you get used to it just as fast. In an hour i was (and still am) typing like 30-40 wpm and it really is amazing. And the best thing - im using it with tmobile. Ive had a sidekick and this. Only annoying thing - it costs $400. Kind of a bitch. But otherwise, if someone is iming with me they almost never believe that im on my iphone. Get the iphone.
hi i am a new user person and i dont know wht kind of food service i should get i really want t-mobile becuse i like the sidekick lx but i dont really no the price on it. so it anybody can help me please give me some info.
lmao i ment PHONE service
I must say that I love my sidekick lx. I have been a sidekick customer since the sk2. i must admit that i do like the blackberry and such as well but i do know alot of people who have had a lot of problems with theirs lately which is making me hesitant to try to obtaining one. Now, for work purposes, I do use my sidekick for a lot of things but at the same time, i am planning on purchasing a blackberry with my other services to strictly use for work (possibly) while i still plan to keep my lx. The LX is made for the 18-30 crowd. Many people I know in that age range, have them. I have seen some of the older crowd keep the blackberry and maybe that is who it is tailored to. I (including a lot of my cousins) are satisfied with the new sidekick lx.
what happened to the sidekick 3?