Dell Flash to offer Android Froyo in a 'dramatic' package

If Dell's vision of a mainstream Android device for 2011 ends up materializing, we're not sure we even need a high end anymore. Okay, that's not true -- we'll obviously be power freaks to the bitter end -- but the so-called "Flash" that we've just caught wind of (no relation to the Adobe product of the same name, as far as we can tell) looks to be a lovely piece of kit. Dell plans to fashion this thing out of a slice of "curved glass," topping out at 11mm thick with a 3.5-inch WVGA LCD, 850 / 1900 / 2100MHz HSPA topping out at 14.4Mbps down and 5.6Mbps "or better" on the upstream, a 5 megapixel autofocus cam with image stabilization and smile / blink detection, 512MB of RAM and ROM with microSD expansion up to 64GB (Dell's clearly assuming there'll be 64GB microSD cards by next year), WiFi, TV-out, 3.5mm headphone jack, Bluetooth 3.0, and a Qualcomm MSM7230 core humming along at 800MHz.

As you might recall, the MSM7230 is part of Qualcomm's next generation lineup of midrange smartphone cores, a series that looks to bring Snapdragon-class performance to the masses with HD video out capability and -- hopefully, anyway -- the performance you'll need to make Flash 10.1 fly. Dell plans to load this bad boy with Android Froyo, presumably with the same kind of custom skin that it'll start pushing with the Streak series this year; we're seeing references to a so-called "Stage UI," and we think that's what it is. This one's mentioned for a first quarter '11 release on AT&T and globally, though it's not clear whether it'll be AT&T-branded or simply be offered as an unlocked device compatible with AT&T's 3G bands -- but either way, you can count us in. Don't change a thing, Dell.

Dell Flash to offer Android Froyo in a 'dramatic' package

[m4192 Posted Apr 22nd 2010 5:14AM]

@TheGM
Captain Planet, he's our hero

[m4192 Posted Apr 22nd 2010 5:44AM]

@TheGM
Captain Planet, he's our hero

[bennn Posted Apr 21st 2010 8:54PM]

@qmartman711

did engadget found a secret dell usb stick or something?

[custmmade Posted Apr 21st 2010 8:55PM]

@qmartman711

they're the come-back kid.....and theyre coming back pretty strong!!!!!

[LoganT Posted Apr 21st 2010 8:56PM]

I kind of want Palm to buy Palm now...

[LoganT Posted Apr 21st 2010 9:00PM]

@LoganT Well that made absolutely no sense. I want Dell to buy Dell.

Damn, I just can't get it right. I want Dell to buy Palm

[Anticrawl Posted Apr 21st 2010 8:58PM]

Flash. AHHHHHHHHHH! King of the impossible.

[skinnyguy Posted Apr 21st 2010 8:59PM]

@bennn

probably at some German pub...

[RickStar Posted Apr 21st 2010 9:03PM]

I think... Dell decided... To give the world a lesson in marketing? Maybe?

[jellotime91 Posted Apr 21st 2010 9:06PM]

@qmartman711
They were late to the game, but boy did they come packing a punch.

These phones they are unveiling are some of the most stylish, best specc'd, and best skinned Android phones I've ever seen, and this is coming from an iPhone user.

I can't stand their logo though. I wish they wouldn't put it on the phones!

[cc3d Posted Apr 21st 2010 9:19PM]

Wow! I was looking for a change from the iPhone and these look HOT! It's upgrade time!

[HipHopIsLyfe37 Posted Apr 21st 2010 9:21PM]

@qmartman711 They've obviously been plotting some AWESOME technology, not to mention its very sexy

[zangetsu2 Posted Apr 21st 2010 9:30PM]

Sweet phones, but I'm not waiting past June to get a new phone.

Maybe in '11 I'll get a Dell.

[michaelpeerman Posted Apr 21st 2010 10:59PM]

@zangetsu2
If Dell goes to Sprint then I'll get a Dell

[nik Posted Apr 21st 2010 10:01PM]

Looks awesome.

Would look even better without the chrome.

[prodigypv Posted Apr 21st 2010 10:04PM]

There is a front facing camera!

[tekdemon Posted Apr 21st 2010 10:09PM]

@qmartman711 I think China where they've had phones out for a while? At least they seem to have used the experience to make sexier phones this time around.

[taciturnforsale Posted Apr 21st 2010 10:14PM]

Eh, maybe coming into the game late isn't always a bad thing.... if done with grace.

[who said what Posted Apr 21st 2010 10:46PM]

@tekdemon

Damn, this one's S to the E to the X to the Y!!

[michaelpeerman Posted Apr 21st 2010 10:53PM]

@qmartman711

I would go with this over the Evo 4G but I doubt Dell will give it to sprint ever

[michaelpeerman Posted Apr 21st 2010 10:56PM]

@acraplegend

In my opinion Webos has the best Multitasking. But I love how open Android is an the fact I can do whatever I want with it and not risk being locked out of things. Such as with an iPhone I risk getting locked out of the App Store. Also I believe more developers will start going with Android seeing as how Apple is disallowing Developers to use Flash to natively compile their apps.

[michaelpeerman Posted Apr 21st 2010 11:01PM]

@phoenix004
Why so you can be locked down?
Open source is and always has been the way to go. Now I'm not saying Windows 7 mobile or iPhone OS is bad I'll agree they are good for people who are not power users. The best thing I can say about the App Store is that they screen their apps therefore keep inept iPhone users safe from fraud.

[WastedxYears Posted Apr 21st 2010 11:11PM]

@bennn i hope you'd find a secret grammar book

[hellfroze Posted Apr 21st 2010 11:12PM]

Oh please oh please oh please include a lanyard loop.

[vqro Posted Apr 21st 2010 11:15PM]

@qmartman711 Never mind that. These are slick-looking phones. Haven't been too interested in previous Android form-factors but these are niiiice!!!

[vqro Posted Apr 21st 2010 11:18PM]

@victorvelasco1 God, there's never been anything so annoying as EVO fanboys. Gotta plaster every article with pointless posts.

[recharged95 Posted Apr 21st 2010 11:40PM]

@cwalters74

You think about it:

Thunder, lightning, flash, streak, aero.

Hail, tornado, hurricane, monsoon (taken?), sky, rumble...

Looks like VZW has the Droid, Dell has 'the sky', and T-mobile is 'my stuff'. AT&T and Sprint need a catchy theme.

FYI, 4" screen 16:9 makes perfect sense. In a year everyone will using bluetooth micro headsets. And inductive charging for both will be available.

[mlayer Posted Apr 21st 2010 11:50PM]

Like the phone. A lot. Anything that keeps my buddy at Dell working is awesome. But really, who is the lazy marcom person who can't get "let's" and "lets" right? Not that difficult, people.

[iakona Posted Apr 21st 2010 11:54PM]

Times are changing around here. Everyday is an android day now and apple days are once every 6 months when there is a product launch.

[AndroFan Posted Apr 21st 2010 11:54PM]

Is it just me or does that look like a front-facing camera in the upper right corner? The spec sheet doesn't say anything of the sort so it's probably not. Oh well, one can wish.

[lepetitprince Posted Apr 22nd 2010 12:57AM]

AXIM, you came back?!

[Dreamer Posted Apr 22nd 2010 1:47AM]

@qmartman711
is it me or does this looks like nokia X6?

[MadonnasManOne Posted Apr 22nd 2010 1:53AM]

@newjaruz

Um, no, this isn't going to "burn the house of Apple down". What a ridiculous statement!

[hero785 Posted Apr 22nd 2010 2:11AM]

@cwalters74
Thunder, Lightning, Flash...Let's hope the final products look like this and perform accordingly..Drooling as I type because I might have to hold off on my upgrade for a while now.. Damn Dell you got game son!

[thatkid82 Posted Apr 22nd 2010 3:02AM]

@cherryboom
Iphones, Ipod touches and Ipads are all built under contract in China by Hon Hai Precision Industry (FOXCONN) so they too are re-brands.

[engadget123 Posted Apr 22nd 2010 3:14AM]

This is the sexiest one.

[senturus Posted Apr 22nd 2010 3:18AM]

wow... htc's sense UI looks so outdated now...

[chabba Posted Apr 22nd 2010 3:39AM]

they should change on thing: release date. Around this summer.

[JakeInDC Posted Apr 22nd 2010 4:07AM]

This phone is badass.

[m4192 Posted Apr 22nd 2010 4:32AM]

I like it.

[Faxmonkey Posted Apr 22nd 2010 5:42AM]

I'm not really understanding the merit of "curved glass". Anyone care to explain why I want that?

[Kalian Posted Apr 22nd 2010 11:36AM]

Small and Sexy

[KMHess Posted Apr 22nd 2010 11:52AM]

I say emergency Engadget Podcast is needed!
Want to hear what Topolsky has to say about the new Dell phones.

[chanceusc Posted Apr 23rd 2010 8:10AM]

I love the fact that all of Dell's phones, including their Android phones, have the WinMo7 button layout. The Flash is the most appealing to me but I'd want it in 7 rather than Droid. Looks like they are planning ahead though!

[morenasholeiz Posted Apr 23rd 2010 5:30PM]

@qmartman711 Is it just me or does that look like a front-facing camera in the upper right corner? The spec sheet doesn't say anything of the sort so it's probably not. Oh well, one can wish.
Opinions... http://j.mp/dell-flash-view

[x017in Posted May 2nd 2010 8:19PM]

NEW UPDATE !!!!!!

To be released on JUNE 4th in the USA.
Later launch for UK!

[stenniz Posted May 20th 2010 12:18PM]

@newjaruz Apple s house is made of brick ,not straw.Why dont you apple haters get a life!

[shankarjain2010 Posted Jul 22nd 2010 2:27AM]

Thanks for the information shared here. that was an interesting and informative. I had a good experience by participating in the Adobe Summit in 2009 which features the latest developments on the Adobe Flash Platform that is of utmost importance to both developers, as well as designers.. I learnt lot of new technologies in Adobe. And I am planning to attend 2010 edition as well. I found the information about the conference from adobesummit.com