AT&T Fuze dummies popping up in stores

Sprint beat 'em with the Touch Pro, but that doesn't mean a throng of AT&T customers aren't going to be delighted to hear that the Fuze is now shipping to stores -- sort of. Retail locations are receiving dummy Fuzes now, which don't do much good if you're trying to store contacts, make appointments, or place calls, but at least give us a solid indication that retail availability ain't too far off. Sorry, Tilt -- you had a good run, but our lust definitely lies elsewhere at this point.

[rock99rock @ Nov 5th 2008 2:03PM]

Looks pretty tantalizing for a dummy.

[PunkInDrublic @ Nov 5th 2008 2:18PM]

I'm so happy they kept the sharp corners, I hope they kept the angular back as well.

Sprint's version of the Touch Pro is ugly compared to the original that HTC made.

[Brad Groux @ Nov 5th 2008 2:26PM]

I disagree with PunkInDrublic, the Sprint HTC Touch is great looking, it is actually much more stylish as it has a dark crome almost gunmetal band around the edges wth a grey back and slick black face. The corners of the phone actually aren't very "rounded" they just seem that way because the outline of the inlaid face has rounded corners. Check out the 3D view on Sprint's website, the flat pictures don't do it justice.

[saccrant @ Nov 5th 2008 3:09PM]

@brad

have u seen the real touch pro and touch diamond? its alot better looking than the sprint version.

[Macbeth @ Nov 6th 2008 6:54AM]

@PunkInDrublic, saccrant esp. saccrant

I'm holding the Sprint version of the Pro in my hand right now and after having the Diamond for a bit, the rounded corners I got over them real quick, you will probably to because the AT&T version is also rounded just not as much. The dark chrome/matte silver finish looks way better than brushed/gloss black which after awhile looks plain.

what I don' like about the phone:

no hold button ~ it goes into standby, and you have to hit any button to resume, really annoying when listen to music.
crappy speakers, loud but still crappy
snag/hangs occasionally when executing certain operations using touchflo

if it weren't for those it would be gravy

[kjb434 @ Nov 5th 2008 2:03PM]

I have a tilt and will be moving to the FUZE. Not right away though. I'll let the price come down a little bit first since I have no real problems with the Tilt.

[Rusty @ Nov 6th 2008 3:22PM]

Same here. I plan on upgrading to the Fuse, but unless they get the price down UNDER the 225-275 range,
I'm holding off until after next year. Nothing wrong with my Tilt either. With the TouchFlo2d interface from the XDA site, it is much easier to use with your fingers.

[kjb434 @ Nov 6th 2008 3:26PM]

I hear ya. I've been using the SPB Mobile Shell 2.1 with the diamond interface. XDA of course has hundreds of choices from the posters.

I keep hearing how Android will allow developers to make cool interfaces. WinMo's been having practically infinite interfaces available to them for some time.

[Arcaynn @ Nov 5th 2008 2:09PM]

All I want is a date and a price! Why does AT&T taunt me so?!

[Sentax @ Nov 5th 2008 4:54PM]

You can't get a date? Sounds like a personal problem to me.

As for a price, it depends on where you bring your date.


HaHa. I so funny.

[Patrick @ Nov 5th 2008 2:15PM]

I just left an At&t store and they showed me one of these when I asked about it. Tey also said that their "manager" just went to a fuze launch party which means they should have them in stores in 1-2 weeks.

I'm debating the fuze or the epix......feel free to offer any suggestions

[beuge @ Nov 5th 2008 2:41PM]

I'm having the same struggle. I'm used to being able to do a lot of things 1-handed on my i730. I'm not sure the Fuze will lend itself to that style.

[Cornelius @ Nov 5th 2008 2:54PM]

I've played with an Epix in the AT&T store and feels a lot like my Blackjack 2 (keyboard is the same) with a barely larger screen. Still, the touchscreen in itself was a nice addition. But the keyboard hurts my thumbs after a long email. Not sure if it has the same issues that I experience with my BJ II (have to restart my phone every day to use data).

The Touch Pro has TouchFlo3d, a VGA screen, and a bigger/better keyboard. The plus I see in the Epix column is that it is $100 cheaper (after MIR)- oh, and it's available now.

[Cornelius @ Nov 5th 2008 2:58PM]

Btw, the Epix camera is just like the BJ II's as well- practically unusable unless you have super-steady hands and your target doesn't move for 10 seconds.

Judging by some Touch Pro sample shots on the review sites, the Fuze's camera is a lot better.

[Alan Strangis @ Nov 5th 2008 4:04PM]

Normally I'd say the decision comes down to a larger screen/keyboard vs. slimmer and better battery life, though battery life is a moot point if you're the kind of person who plugs their phone in just about every night, but the Fuze includes the Opera browser, and has the TouchFLO 3D interface, both which are huge pluses.

If you've never used TouchFLO before, it's convenience for easily browsing through multiple email accounts (I use it with 4 myself) alone makes it well worth considering.

[Kartik @ Nov 6th 2008 9:47AM]

@Cornelius

Hey i hope you see this comment, because i used to have the same problem with the restarting for my data plan.

ALL you have to do is open the wireless manager, goto phone, then right click and choose "disconnect data"

then try to use data again and the Forbidden 403 or whatever error should be gone!

[mailbox01 @ Nov 5th 2008 2:15PM]

Hope it comes by the end of the year, my contact ends later this month and I don't mind renewing it for this.

[Brad Groux @ Nov 5th 2008 2:16PM]

I'm loving my Sprint HTC Touch Pro... and regardless of what AT&T says Sprint's 3G network puts AT&T's to shame; at least here in Houston. Also the Sprint "Everything Package" is 450 any-time minutes, free nights and weekends and all you can use data and text for $69.99... iPhone on AT&T will cost ya at least 40 bucks more.

[essemm @ Nov 5th 2008 2:17PM]

I think I just filled the cup.

[MadMike @ Nov 5th 2008 2:17PM]

Too bad, I ordered my Bold yesterday.... Sorry HTC... I can't carry 3 cellphones. 2 is crazy enough.

[chaz0003 @ Nov 5th 2008 2:19PM]

Oh, finally one of the Touch flavors comes to the AT&T Army!

[Mert @ Nov 5th 2008 2:26PM]

Should be Fuze for dummies :))

[scjessey @ Nov 5th 2008 2:33PM]

I'm still concerned about the reports I have heard about it having a short battery life, and also being thicker than a plank of 2 X 4. Somebody put my mind at ease so I can go out and replace my itty bitty Nokia flip phone thingy.

[rock99rock @ Nov 5th 2008 2:37PM]

If you still have an itty bitty nokia flip phone thingy, then this phone is not for you.

Seriously though, every phone with that many wireless options with a screen that size that runs WM has shitty battery life compared to your little nokia. It comes with the territory.

[scjessey @ Nov 5th 2008 2:44PM]

I only have the itty bitty Nokia flip phone thingy because I've been waiting for the Fuze. I find myself using the intarwebs all the time (even with the crappy GBRS service) and would like to make better use of Google Maps and Gmail. What is the typical standby time on the Fuze?

[rock99rock @ Nov 5th 2008 2:56PM]

Ive had 3 or 4 different WM phones with a screen size comparable, but dont know about the fuze. ATT says the 8925 has 240 hours of standby. Id be willing to wage it is really half that if not less. Expect 2-4 days of standby.

[chefgon_ign @ Nov 5th 2008 3:04PM]

Almost any smartphone is going to need to be recharged every single day. It probably will die on you in the middle of the day if you're playing with it relentlessly, like 4 straight hours of web browsing and a bunch of text messages, but honestly how often will you use it that much? Past the first couple weeks of novelty, anyway.

[Exninja @ Nov 5th 2008 3:21PM]

FWIW, it's several mm thinner than a Treo. The bulge in my pants has subsequently shrunk.

*whimpers*.

[rock99rock @ Nov 5th 2008 3:56PM]

what chefgon_ign said.

My standby estimation was only if you let your phone sit there for 2-4 days without being touched...

[Macbeth @ Nov 6th 2008 7:07AM]

about size

a little taller and thinner than a deck of cards, just as thick give or take a mm

about battery life

see post by chefgon_ign

[Colin Potter @ Nov 5th 2008 2:40PM]

They have these at Telus stores in Canada too... but still no official public announcements, and they aren't on display. I was asking the saleswoman at my local Telus store about the Touch Diamond, and she mentioned that they're getting the Pro, then she went in the back and came out with the dummy phone

[holycow @ Nov 5th 2008 2:46PM]

Best Buy (Canada) has them as well, selling them at 299.99 i believe with obviously a Telus contract

[chefgon_ign @ Nov 5th 2008 2:52PM]

The unnecessarily large carrier logo kind of messes with the clean aesthetics of the thing. Does it really need to be so huge?

[Grant @ Nov 5th 2008 5:20PM]

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-remove-Logos-from-your-PDA--cell-phone-wit/

[Bryan @ Nov 5th 2008 3:13PM]

I just picked up the Epix after waiting for the Touch Pro to come to AT&T. I must say it's a snappy freakin phone, which is pretty much attributed to it's 624mhz processor (which is very rarely seen in phones today, not even in the Diamonds) and after having owned many devices produced by HTC (Dell Axim x50/51v, 8525/Hermes, and the Tilt/TytnII) I have to say the Epix hits the spot for speed, performance and power. Oh and the 7hr talk time doesn't hurt either ;).

[Imran @ Nov 5th 2008 3:13PM]

I probably sound a bit naive but why does USA get phones much later than Europe?

[wako @ Nov 5th 2008 4:10PM]

Not only does the US get phones late, we also get the shitty phones too. The simple answer to your question is the phone gods hate us. Also because Americans are too cheap to buy expensive phones and love free phones. Asians and Europeans are actually willing to plop down a couple hundreds for a phone.

Before I get flamed, I know us gadgeteers that read Engadget most are willing to plop down 500 bucks. But people in middle town America, like joe the plumber will be getting shitty phones that are free.

[chefgon_ign @ Nov 5th 2008 5:41PM]

Probably a combination of lower demand and stricter carriers.

[Scott @ Nov 5th 2008 3:16PM]

I've been reading threads and watching tech sites... and everybody felt the need to lie about the November 4th release. Now I've seen articles saying Nov 7th all they way to late November, even December.

Well, a friend of mine's dad owns a few AT&T store locations. According to him the release is the 11th. Take it for what it's worth; believe me or not. But Tuesdays are in line with the AT&T phone release trend. Good luck to everyone who has been searching and waiting like I have been.

[wyatt @ Nov 5th 2008 3:27PM]

i've heard the same from internal at&t sources. it was the 4th and got pushed to the 11th. of course, there's no reason it could be pushed again, but i sure hope not.

[Jason @ Nov 5th 2008 4:51PM]

Cool.

[Steve Arnott @ Nov 5th 2008 5:29PM]

Weird tattoo

[Max @ Nov 5th 2008 8:03PM]

Er....yes...weird "tattoo".

[digitallysick @ Nov 5th 2008 6:53PM]

I am for sure going to upgrade to this, ive held my upgrade for a while now , can't wait. I hope they don't restrict the hell out of it

[Unknown @ Nov 5th 2008 9:05PM]

Isnt Fuze a trademark of Sandisk? They can use this name?

[Mile @ Nov 5th 2008 9:12PM]

But what about the diamond? It's smaller, right? Did the update fix the performance problems or will it never be as responsive as this Fuze?