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Windows Mobile 6.1 update for HTC TyTN II now extra official
A leaky update faucet let in-the-know users get in on this one a little early, but HTC's now ready to trumpet its official Windows Mobile 6.1 update for its TyTN II to the world. Besides 6.1, the new release packs in the "display performance update" promised some time ago to help put a cap on the cursing and fist-shaking being displayed by owners of various HTC devices lately -- but as we understand it, this isn't a true driver, so don't expect miracles. AT&T Tilt folks who want to play it straight will have to wait some undefined additional period of time for their carrier to get its act together and release the update, but their European comrades can head on over to HTC's site now and kick off the download.[Image via MoDaCo]
Official Windows Mobile 6.1 update for Kaiser leaks out
The good news: HTC's prepping to officially launch a Windows Mobile 6.1 update for its TyTN II any day (or week, or month) now. The better news: you can get it now. The bad news: although there are some video performance tweaks in place, they aren't exactly revolutionary -- and it's still not true video acceleration. The worst news: AT&T's Tilt update will apparently follow on at some nebulous point in the future. Got all that? So if you're lucky enough to be sporting an unbranded Kaiser of some sort, why wait? Grab the update from MoDaCo and let us know how it treats you.
HTC Android port round-up
Why wait for the Dream when you can get Android all up in your HTC piece today? Numerous efforts over on xda-developers have yielded a high success rate in getting Google's still-young platform working (although the definition of "working" can vary from device to device) on a variety of recent and popular HTC models, so if you dig your hardware but you're ready to give Windows Mobile the boot -- and you like to live on the bleeding edge between functionality and brickage -- give it a shot. Drop us a line if you have a port to add to the list![Thanks to everyone who sent this in]Read - KaiserRead - Vogue, NeonRead - Polaris
HTC spy shot reveals handful of new phones
Apparently, HTC is having a little trouble keeping people with cameras out of its offices, as evidenced by this totally great spy shot of a what appears to be a bunch of (or two) new phones. We're familiar with quite of few of these devices, like the TyTn II, Touch Cruise, and Touch you see in the upper row, but things get a little stickier down below. Save for that P3470 that's second from left, we have no clue what those slick looking square numbers are. The far left model and the far right might be the same device, but its hard to tell. It also looks like all the devices in this picture are using Windows Mobile, but we're holding out hope that maybe the model on the far right boots Android... and soon.[Via IntoMobile]Update: So we figure that one of the two on the right is likely the MDA compact IV for T-Mobile, although that still doesn't explain the generous QWERTY board depicted over there on the left. Can't you just feel the excitement building? Thanks, Marios!
HTC Kaiser fans cough up over $5,000 for homebrew video drivers
Sure, it seemed like we'd heard the end of the story on HTC phones and the case of the missing drivers, but the cats over at the xda-developers forum have something else in mind. There is currently a $5199.51 bounty on offer from various members of the group for a hacker (or hackers) who can come up with drivers to get their Kaisers' Direct 3D up to par, thus increasing the video capabilities of the phone. If you've followed the case, you'll know that HTC has essentially stonewalled users looking for an upgrade to their poorly performing handsets, and has intimated that if customers want improved video performance, they should look to future hardware as opposed to upgrades on their current models. Clearly owners are looking to take matters into their own hands -- and they're willing to pay for it. We can't wait to see what they come up with, and if anyone out there has the ability and the time, here's a stack of cash that could be yours.[Thanks, Jaime]
O2 finally getting HTC Kaiser as "Xda Stellar" -- or "Stella" perhaps
Seems like a pretty egregious error on O2's part to throw up a promotional image of its upcoming HTC Kaiser variant with a big, fat typo up top -- but at the same time, we have an easier time believing that they're coining it the "Xda Stellar," not the "Xda Stella." The text below the picture uses the Stellar name, so that's what we're going with for the time being until we hear otherwise. Anyhoo, by all appearances, this is pretty much the same Kaiser everyone else has gotten, and with a projected release window in December, we're a little surprised to see O2 so far behind the curve here. Too little, too late, or is HTC's finest QWERTY device still going to find droves of buyers by the time it finally launches?[Via MoDaCo and Mobiholics]Update: O2's already corrected its mistake, it's officially the Xda Stellar. Makes more sense that way, eh? Thanks, Gears!
Hands-on with the AT&T Tilt
What can we say? The Tilt, like the Kaiser upon which it's based, is the ultimate execution of Windows Mobile 6 in this form factor. It's not for everyone, of course; Windows Mobile is the same old, cranky curmudgeon here that is is everywhere else -- and as anyone who's used version 6 knows, it's nothing more than 5 in a fresh set of clothes. That being said, HTC has done a great job of sprucing up the joint with a sprinkling of add-ins that make the OS more usable, while AT&T brings goodies like TeleNav, AT&T Music, and Cellular Video to the table. The hardware, though, is where this sucker shines. The Tilt has singlehandedly renewed our faith in HTC's ability to make exquisitely engineered devices, feeling utterly rock solid despite its relatively complex slide-tilt mechanism. It's heavy, but comfortably (and reassuringly) so, not to the point of annoyance, and the dark color scheme with black chrome nav keys looks better than we'd expected. One beef we expect some folks will have is with the Tilt's pudge -- it ain't the thinnest device in the world, about the same as the N95 (see the comparo shots in the gallery) -- but if you can get past that, this thing is the Windows Mobile device to have. For the moment, anyhow!%Gallery-8145%
Engadget Mobile checks out the AT&T Tilt
Shifting eyes, sweaty palms, restless legs -- yep, you're about at wit's end waiting to find a Tilt show up on your local AT&T shop's shelves. Shuffle up next to your countless brethren in the same boat, have a seat, and take a gander at our quick take over on Engadget Mobile, why don't you? Should go a long way toward holding you over 'til the Tilt's Friday launch!
The AT&T Tilt, October 5 for $299.99
Bringing all of the HTC Kaiser's joy to AT&T, the Tilt has finally been set for an October 5 launch. Besides the obvious feature of a tilting display -- hence the name -- the spec sheet reveals a 3 megapixel autofocus camera, HSDPA, stereo Bluetooth, Windows Mobile 6 Professional (the first AT&T device to officially rock it -- can ya believe it?), microSDHC slot for cards up to 32GB, WiFi, an integrated GPS receiver, and BlackBerry Connect support. Last time we checked, that pretty much covers the "superphone" checklist. Grab it starting Friday for $299.99 on contract after the full suite of rebates has been applied. Follow the break for a bonus shot of the Tilt in its upright and locked position!
Internal AT&T site foretells Tilt launch
We figure this website wasn't intended for public consumption -- either that, or we're all invited to the "2007 National Launch Tour" for the imminently available AT&T Tilt, and we should be speaking to our regional sales managers immediately to confirm our eligibility. The picture here looks pretty much like what we'd seen of the HTC Kaiser variant in the wild, confirming that the front cam is gone (no surprise), though it's a little chubbier looking than we thought, yeah? Or is it just us? Anyway, the site gives nary a clue about when we might actually be able to get a Tilt in our hands simply by walking into a store, but happily, everything we've heard still points to an October launch. Now if you'll excuse us, we're going to go track down our regional sales manager.[Thanks, regenC]
AT&T's "Tilt" Kaiser variation spotted in the wild
It looks like that purported first pic of AT&T's version of the HTC Kaiser, dubbed the "Tilt," wasn't entirely on the mark but, as you can see from the shot of the real deal above, it wasn't too far off either. One of the most noticeable changes is a new silver dialpad of questionable taste, which sorta matches the seemingly shinier than usual navigation keys on the face of the device. Also, if you squint hard enough you'll see that there's an option to "Get TeleNav," which means that you won't be getting TomTom, and also likely means that you'll need a data connection to use it. Hit up the read link below for a few more pics courtesy of HowardForums member "jlczl."Update: It looks like that delay we'd heard about might be for real, at least if retailer Negri Electronics is to be believed. It's now listing the Tilt with an expected in stock date of October 23rd, which is a fair bit later than the September 30th date it was quoting earlier.
Motorola Q9h, HTC Kaiser in Rogers' near future?
Boy Genius Report is reporting (which makes sense, since it's the Boy Genius Report, after all) that Rogers is gearing up for some sort of huge Windows Mobile push. Of course, to push Windows Mobile, you need some hot hardware -- the Motorola Q9h and HTC Kaiser, to be exact. Promotional stuff has apparently been spotted bearing both devices, with the Q9h launching any minute now for $249.99 on a three-year agreement. No word on Kaiser pricing yet, but we'd imagine it would go for a touch more. How's that HSDPA rollout coming along, Rogers?
AT&T Tilt delayed a few weeks?
Unlocked Kaisers are already available from your friendly local importer (and yes, it rocks, by the way), but if on-contract AT&T pricing is more to your liking, the wait may have just gotten a little longer. We're hearing unconfirmed reports that the 8925 Tilt -- AT&T's branded version of the Kaiser -- has been pushed back a few weeks from its September 25 release window thanks to some pesky network certification issues. You know, those tests that cause a phone mentioned in December of one year to be released late the following year (pardon if we sound bitter). Anyway, the phones have apparently been shipped back to HTC for some last-minute rejiggering; with any luck, we'll still see 'em before October's out if the rumor's true. If this ends up being nothing more than a case of a few misinformed AT&T reps, though, make sure to bring enough cash on your shopping trip next Tuesday for both the Tilt and Halo 3, k?[Thanks, John L.]
Updated look at AT&T's upcoming launches
We've just been tipped on a fresh roadmap for AT&T's fall launches, and goodness, there's a little something for everyone in here! Note that these are order dates, subject to change -- not necessarily in-store dates -- so your mileage may vary trying to grab these devices on the dates you see here. First up, LG rolls out the CG180 and CU515 "Chiwoo" on October 2. Nokia adds another color for the 6555 on October 11, red, which we think will suite it quite nicely. Speaking of new colors, Sony Ericsson brings a black version of the W580i on October 9. The Pantech Duo -- a device we suspect many folks are getting fired up over -- should hit on the same day. From Motorola, the Q9 Global becomes orderable just a few days from now, September 25, alongside the Tilt from HTC. UTStarcom outs the AMOI-sourced 5700 on October 9, giving folks a low cost (albeit non-3G) Windows Mobile option. RIM gets busy with the Curve 8310 on October 4, effectively sunsetting the original 8300 by adding GPS into the mix. On the data modem side, Sierra and Option will both be contributing HSUPA devices in October. Let's hear it for speedy uploads! Follow the break for the full roadmap.[Thanks, Superman]
HTC Kaiser manual mentions T-Mobile, 1700MHz support
So the FCC documentation for the Kaiser is a little wacky in that it makes repeated mention of T-Mobile in the user's manual. That in itself isn't strange -- T-Mobile Germany has the Kaiser as the MDA Vario III, after all -- but what is strange is that we're pretty sure this is the US T-Mobile they're talking about here on account of the English manual and screen shots, myFaves mention, and the lack of Vario branding in the photos. With the Wing in the wild and the Juno allegedly in the pipe, we weren't totally sure how the Kaiser would fit into T-Mobile's lineup, but here's the ace up T-Mobile's sleeve: 3G support on the 1700MHz band. The documentation identifies the 1700MHz radio as a feature destined for Japan, but it's just too much of a coincidence, isn't it? In our blind desire for T-Mobile's fricking AWS services to launch, are we being overly optimistic here?[Via Boy Genius Report, thanks Orlando]
Tilt, Duo, Inferno, and Q9h to blow out AT&T's October?
These are all devices we know folks have been waiting for, so we're delighted to finally hear some whipsers that launch windows are being put in place. First up, the AT&T Tilt -- alias 8925, alias Kaiser -- is rumored to be priced at $299 on a two-year or $374 on a one-year agreement. The Pantech Duo, which Amazon jumped the gun on over the weekend, will be launching for $199 on a two-year, which makes the Amazon pricing a bargain already. The Nokia 6555 "Inferno" gets priced at $49.99 on contract -- a steal for a sharp lookin' 3G flip, we figure. Last but not least, the Motorola Q9 global finally materializes for a cool $299, putting it head to head with the Tilt. All four of these are supposedly scheduled for shipment to stores on October 1, making for a very interesting month. Everyone know which of the four they're choosing yet?[Thanks, Amy K.]
HTC website leaks AT&T Tilt, BlackBerry Connect support
In case there was any lingering doubt that AT&T would pick up the Kaiser as the successor to its 8525, this should put all those nasty thoughts to rest. Paul from MoDaCo has noticed that HTC's US site now rocks a guide to setting up BlackBerry Connect on the AT&T 8925 "Tilt," confirming several notable things: one, that AT&T is getting the device, two, that it's called the Tilt and its model number is 8925, and three, that it'll support BlackBerry Connect. Sadly, HTC's apparent misstep (or clever leak designed to get us all foaming at the mouth, depending on how you look at it) reveals nothing about a Tilt release date, but we've gotta think it's coming before too long now.[Via MoDaCo]
HTC announces TyTN II / Kaiser for Europe
Well it's not quite as good as, say, AT&T informing us that we can walk down the block and pick up one this afternoon, but at least HTC has finally given the Kaiser / TyTN II / 8925 an official place in its lineup. Announcing the quad band Windows Mobile 6 handset for European carriers this morning, HTC revealed that Orange, Voda, T-Mobile, and o2 will all get their hands on this Hermes successor, and all the HSDPA, WiFi, and built-n GPS goodness that comes with it. We wish we had more info on plans for a US release, but with TyTN II hitting the EU in October, we suspect it's only a matter of weeks until we can toss the old 8525 into the retired gadgets drawer. [Warning: PDF link].
Rogers Wireless to get HTC TyTN II?
An observant fella over at Howardforums noticed the HTC Kaiser (a.k.a. TyTN II, HTC P4550) is listed in a select box for game purchases on the Rogers Wireless site. While this could simply be a typo on some web developer's part, we dare to dream that it is a slip up and that the TyTN II is in fact coming to a Rogers store near you. Of course, the TyTN is only a few months old up in Canada, but heck, we're positive the Canadian Windows Mobile users will celebrate its arrival and enjoy its warm glow through the cold winter months to come.[Via FidoFan]
HTC P4550 "Kaiser" gets name, meet the HTC TyTN II
The GCF (Global Certification Forum for GSM and UMTS devices) has just approved the naming for HTC's upcoming flagship monster: the handset formerly known as Kaiser. OK, the naming is just getting silly with HTC devices, with the P4550 -- a.k.a. Kaiser -- now getting an extra a.k.a. thrown in as the HTC TyTN II. Sure, the name does make sense as it really just improves on the TyTN we all know and love, but we're thinking the Kaiser or P4550 was just fine. Also mentioned are a few carrier branded names to further muddy the waters with the Vodafone 1615, SFRv1615, the Swisscom XPA1615, and the rumored AT&T 8925 as examples. Manager of handset naming conventions over at HTC seriously has to get off the heavy caffeine doses as his twitchiness is making our heads spin over here.[Via the::unwired]
