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Nokia Twist 7505 spotted paying homage to Verizon, and then disappeared
Recognize? This white cousin of the Nokia Twist 7705 briefly showed up on Bluetooth SIG's website as the Twist 7505, but now the picture's been eaten by a sad black square, and the description text taken over by some copy-and-paste disaster -- probably the panicked work of some shaking webmaster after a phone call from Verizon or Finland. Apart from the obvious replacement of touch-activated buttons with physical ones below the screen, the camera's apparently 1.3 megapixel instead of 7705's 3 megapixel. There's a chance that the hole at the bottom right of the screen has been patched up by a concave button as well, but we can't tell from this low-res pic; at any rate, though, it's certainly not the phone in Verizon's lineup that we would've expected to be re-released as a slightly lower-end model.
Bluetooth 4.0 finally rolls low energy tech into a shipping standard
Bluetooth low energy and its predecessors (think Wibree) have been in the pipe for ages now, but we might actually see this tech take off en masse for the first time now that the Bluetooth SIG has officially added it into a release: 4.0. While Bluetooth 3.0 was all about high energy with the introduction of WiFi transfer, 4.0 takes things down a notch by certifying single-mode low energy devices in addition to dual-mode devices that incorporate both the low energy side of the spec plus either 2.1+EDR or 3.0. In a nutshell, the technology should bring a number of new categories and form factors of wireless devices into the fold since 1Mbps Bluetooth low energy can operate on coin cells -- the kinds you find in wristwatches, calculators, and remote controls -- and the SIG's pulling no punches by saying that "with today's announcement the race is on for product designers to be the first to market." Nokia pioneered Wibree, so you can bet they'll be among the frontrunners -- bring it, guys.
Oh, by the way: September 7, 2009
Here's some of the other stuff that happened in the wide world of mobile for Monday, September 7, 2009: Samsung's got a version of the Jet for its domestic Korean market, the clumsily-named "Haptic AMOLED." Unlike its international cousin, the Haptic AMOLED packs a T-DMB tuner (as just about all Korean phones do) and it's available in spicy pink and white shades for the usual carriers SKT, KTF, and LGT. Did you know that AT&T used to have a stake in the Indian wireless market? Yeah, us neither, but they did prior to the Cingular merger -- and rumor has it they're looking to get back in by buying a chunk of state-owned operator BSNL, ostensibly because the market -- which is still in a heavy growth phase -- is seen as a powder keg waiting to explode. This one's been going around for a few days, and with the carrier's full-court press on Android, it makes total sense: the Bluetooth SIG is reporting that the Samsung T939 Behold2 for T-Mobile will feature "Google Mobile services," which would fit in with an earlier user agent profile leak. [Via Cell Phone Signal] There's a new Samsung i8910 HD firmware that's starting to hit some regions, and it's a good one -- it features an all-new 3D task switcher and a built-in weather forecast widget for TouchWiz. [Via PhoneArena] Surprise, surprise: Toshiba is relaunching the mighty TG01 with Windows Mobile 6.5 next month, a move that was fully expected all along. If anything, there'd be riots had this not happened. Sony Ericsson's Panel SDK for the X2 is now available, featuring new "Panelizer" tools to convert existing apps into panels in a few easy steps -- and starting in the next few days, devs will be able to submit their work for inclusion in the PlayNow arena. Vodafone has launched a range of eight new self-branded devices that'll be available in time for the holidays this year, and as usual, they're positioned squarely at the lower end of the market. Some of them like the E71 ripoff 1240 (pictured) are straight-up KIRFs, while others like the "Crystal" member of the 533 Catwalk Collection are trying to ooze fashion and style without killing the wad of cash stuffed in your pocket. Whether they've succeeded in doing that... well, that's another question altogether. [Via Unwired View]
Mystery Nokia flip for AT&T turns out to be 6350
Remember that nameless midrange flip from Nokia that the FCC outed complete with AT&T branding not long ago? Well, we've now got a name to put with the face: 6350. The good folks at the Bluetooth SIG have come through once again, revealing a picture -- admittedly a small one -- of the phone that we can safely identify as the same thing we'd seen getting FCC approval a little while back. We don't have a launch date yet, but the SIG confirms that it's an HSDPA-equipped piece with a 2 megapixel camera -- in other words, nothing that's going to knock your socks off, unless your socks are mysteriously knocked off by 2 megapixel cameras, in which case you need to check your socks. [Via Unwired View]
Nokia 6750 Mural for AT&T still exists, because the Bluetooth SIG says so
We haven't heard a peep about the so-called Nokia Mural flip since May -- basically an eternity (as opposed to an Eternity) by mobile standards. Was it canceled? Did AT&T get distracted playing Call of Duty 4 and forget to release it? It's possible -- crazier things have happened -- but we're taking some comfort this week in the knowledge that the Bluetooth SIG hasn't forgotten about the darn thing anyway. What's more, they're showing it with the AT&T logo up front, the first time we've actually seen it there; the FCC docs where we first learned of the phone had it blurred out (though there was plenty of other evidence to gather that AT&T was the destination from day one). Given that the Mural doesn't seem to be running S60, we're having a hard time getting too worked up about the fact that it hasn't launched -- but we're sure they'd manage to sell a few if it was actually on a shelf somewhere.[Via Unwired View]
Samsung Giorgio Armani 2 specs leaked by Bluetooth SIG
As best as we can tell, that June 11th Armani event with Samsung and Microsoft came and went with nothing more than a new ad campaign featuring David Beckham in his knickers, and Sammy's June 15th solo fête was devoted to the Omnia lineup and said nothing of any impending Windows Mobile fashionphone. So whatever happened to the rumored luxury device? The Bluetooth SIG group has leaked specs of the Samsung B7620, which the company's Twitter feed labels as the Giorgio Armani 2. According to the product page, under the hood we're looking at a 800MHz processor, Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, A-GPS, Stereo FM Radio, WiFi, business card scanner, and the usual assortment audio / video codecs. Of course, the big deal here is gonna be what's it gonna look like on the exterior, and unfortunately this technological diva hasn't seen fit to leave her dressing room just yet.[Via Mobilewhack]Read - Bluetooth SIG's twitter accountRead - B7620's product details page
Motorola MING A1890 "Greatwall" approved, Bluetooth SIG-style
It looks like most of the juicy details have been pulled, but thanks to the Bluetooth SIG, mobile-review seems to have gotten the inside line on Motorola's latest spec bump for its MING series, the A1890 (codenamed "Greatwall," though we're guessing this won't stick through to production -- many of Moto's handsets are listed by their codenames in the SIG's database). The model -- which, like its predecessors, will likely be confined to Asian retail -- apparently had both GSM and CDMA / EV-DO listed in its brief specs, suggesting it might be a good fit for China Telecom's 3G network with a little roaming capability thrown in for good measure. The screen's apparently still QVGA, but it's got a 3 megapixel camera with business card recognition (a feature that carries over from existing models), GPS (another carry-over), and a built-in PDF reader -- and actually, now that we're reading over it, our enthusiasm has been thoroughly tempered. How about 5 megapixels, WVGA, Android, and global availability, Moto?[Via mobile-review]
Motorola VE440 "Cadbury" shows up with the Bluetooth SIG folks
Want a sneak peek at Motorola's first Android phone? Well, you're looking in decidedly the wrong place -- but if you want to know what's coming down the pike in the company's low-end stable (and who doesn't?), look no further than our dear friends at the Bluetooth SIG. Ever since the SIG's database started offering Mr. Blurrycam-style shots of upcoming products, we've really started to warm up to their ways -- and the VE440 is the latest to roll up to the counter. There's not much to see here, but we know from the SIG filing that it's a CDMA phone destined for North American markets, so we wouldn't be surprised to see this on, say, Cricket or MetroPCS in the near future.[Via mobile-review]
Motorola W766 "Harmony" for Verizon gets Bluetooth SIG certification
In terms of leaking juicy product info, we're accustomed to the Bluetooth SIG being one of the least helpful certification bodies around town, so imagine our surprise to see those guys outing the upcoming Motorola W766 (codenamed "Harmony," apparently) with some photography. This clamshell certainly isn't anything special, but we've heard from other sources that it'll likely replace the W755 -- which basically looked old the moment it was launched -- at some point in the next few months. Oh, and yes, no worries -- A2DP's in the cards.[Via mobile-review]
Bluetooth 3.0 + HS gets official, adds speed with 802.11
The rumors were true, and today's the day that the Bluetooth SIG gets official with the latest, greatest version of Bluetooth. Bluetooth 3.0 + HS, as it'll be called, promises to be markedly faster than prior iterations thanks to the reliance on 802.11, which is the same protocol used by WiFi modules, routers, etc. The new standard obviously catapults Bluetooth into a new dimension; rather than being good for nothing more than sending images from one phone to another or syncing a fitness module to a DAP, v3.0 is nimble enough to handle camcorder-to-HDTV, PC-to-PMP and UMPC-to-printer transfers. In fact, the inclusion of the 802.11 Protocol Adaptation Layer (PAL) provides increased throughput of data transfers "at the approximate rate of 24Mbps." We had sit-downs with Mike Foley (executive director of the Bluetooth SIG) and Atheros CTO Bill McFarland in order to find out a few more details about plans for the protocol -- if you're eager to hear what they had to say, not to mention see a demonstration of BT 3.0 at work, follow us past the break.
Bluetooth 3.0 to use WiFi for high-speed file transfers
Sounds like the Bluetooth 3.0 announcement on April 21 is going to finally usher in the era of high-speed short-range data transfers -- as previously hinted, the new spec will actually negotiate a quick'n'dirty ad-hoc WiFi connection between devices if it needs to move bits in a hurry, and then turn off the spigot to save power when it's done. The idea is to leverage the speed of WiFi while keeping power usage low, and we'd say it's a pretty trick solution, since most Bluetooth-capable devices also have WiFi radios (cough, Storm). Since the ad-hoc WiFi connection is managed over Bluetooth, no actual wireless network is necessary, and the switch will appear seamless to the user -- except for the sudden increase in data transfer speeds. Yeah, it's definitely slick stuff -- we're looking forward to seeing the first devices in action next Tuesday.[Via MocoNews]
HTC Fiesta is "an Android phone," so says Bluetooth SIG
We know from countless encounters with our dear, dear friends at the Bluetooth Special Interest Group that their certifications aren't as... shall we say, "detailed" as their counterparts at the FCC; frequently, we don't even bother with them because there's simply nothing there to talk about. Android phones are still pretty difficult to come by, though, so whenever we see the platform mentioned in a certification of any kind, we're bound to sit up and take notice -- particularly when said certification comes via HTC. Tipster Jeff came across a filing for an HTC "Fiesta" in the SIG this time around, descriptively noted as "an Android phone" that'll be available in Asia, Europe, and North America. Other than that, we can count on it having Bluetooth (would be funny if it didn't, wouldn't it?), but that's about it; the G1 / Dream was the Kila, the Magic was the Sapphire, so what's this gonna be? [Thanks, Jeff]
Bluetooth 3.0 specification to debut on April 21st
We've seen no official word from the Bluetooth Special Interest Group, but phonescoop has it that the Bluetooth 3.0 specification is just about ready for prime time. Reportedly, the spec will feature "dramatically increased speeds, allowing for the transfer of large video files, music collections and photo libraries wirelessly within seconds." BT 3.0 should also include a newfangled ability called Enhanced Power Control (EPC), which will supposedly "reduce the occurrence of disconnects that can be caused by actions such as putting a phone in a pocket, backpack, briefcase or purse." We're told to expect a whole boatload of details, along with a list of chip makers already lined up to provide support, on April 21st.Update: It's official -- April 21st is a go. Head past the break for the official verbiage.
UWB is dead! Long live... UWB!
Wait, let us get this straight. UWB is dead, but it's... not? According to a melancholy release issued today by the soon-to-shutter WiMedia Alliance, said entity has reached technology transfer arrangements to shuffle its ultra-wideband workings to groups within Bluetooth SIG and Wireless USB. After that process is complete, the WiMedia Alliance will -- in its words -- "cease operations." According to WiMedia president Stephen Wood, it has "reached a point in specification development and product availability where it is more efficient for the related industry groups to oversee future specification development in-house." It's tough to say whether this move will add yet another nail in ultra-wideband's coffin or act as the spark it has been longing for since its introduction, but we're cautiously hoping for the latter to prove true. Alright new management, time to see what you're made of!
HTC Cedar's Bluetooth certification might confirm leaked lineup
We hadn't had much doubt that HTC's leaked 2009 wares were real as it was -- especially considering that we've seen the Android-powered Sapphire doing its thing in the wild -- but these are the kinds of deals where we like just as much confirmation as we can possibly get, you know? To that end, the good ol' Bluetooth SIG is hooking us up with certification information for an HTC Cedar, which just happens to one of the many, many devices in that leak. The Cedar itself is probably one of the least interesting phones in the group, an unassuming portrait QWERTY piece -- but more importantly, it proves that "Cedar" is a valid codename in HTC's current vernacular, so we can count on seeing other models in that bunch like the Tungsten, Whitestone, and Thoth as well.[Via wmpoweruser.com]
Bluetooth SIG promises high-speed specification next summer, likely BT 3.0
After putting those nasty Bluetooth 2.2 rumors to bed, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group has directly informed Wireless Week that it will indeed look to come out with a "high-speed specification next summer." Of course, we've been waiting on such a thing for, like, ever now, but Executive Director Mike Foley has asserted that when the spec arrives in summer 2009 it will likely be sitting at 3.0. What's 3.0 promising? Faster overall transmission speeds and quicker connections, namely. So, what's the over / under on the Bluetooth SIG actually delivering?[Via phonescoop]
The HTC QUAR100: a North American exclusive?
Once again, the mysterious Bluetooth SIG has left us with more questions than answers. Yes, okay, so there's an HTC "QUAR100" that we have to worry about now, but what is it? Given the gem theme they've set up for themselves, odds are the "QUAR" stands for "Quartz" -- though our comprehensive set of Scrabble tools reminds us that it could also be "Quart," "Quarterback," or "Quarterfinalist," among many others -- and we can at least glean that it's a phone (as opposed to, say, a standalone PDA) with WiFi. The most intriguing thing we've got going here might be the mention of North America as the one and only region for planned availability, an unusual move more frequently reserved for HTC's CDMA devices than anything else. Any educated (or not-so-educated guesses) out there?[Via Cellpassion]Read - WiFi certificationRead - Bluetooth SIG certification
Motorola Q11 is probably like the Q9, but two better
There's a "Motorola Q11" chilling in the Bluetooth SIG's product directory, and while the SIG is famously tight-lipped about revealing gory details about its members' unreleased wares, we see that it's a "Phone, Handheld" running Windows Mobile 6.1 Smartphone. Then again, given the name and the Q series' storied history, we probably could've gathered that -- and we can probably also count on it having something to do with that Alexander we saw not long ago. Only question is, is the Alexander really two whole numbers in the integer line better than the Q9? Time'll tell.[Via Cellpassion]
HTC Rose mentioned by Bluetooth SIG, inspires daydreams of Android
So when the Bluetooth SIG leaks a new handset, it's a leak of epically tiny proportions. Instead of the wealth of test reports we have the distinct pleasure of poring over when we get a juicy device via the FCC, the good ol' SIG gives us a single table of mostly meaningless information -- and that's in a best-case scenario. The worst case is where we get a model name or codename, geographic availability, and manufacturer name, and that's it. Such is the case with the HTC Rose, a phone we've never heard of before, and for all we know, may never hear about again. Our wild imaginations can easily concoct amazing Android-powered superphones with WVGA displays, 8-megapixel autofocus cameras, and 32GB of ROM until the cows come home, but this could just as easily be an EDGE-only Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard sleeper with all the design inspiration of an '82 Ford Escort. Or, you know, more likely something in between.[Via Cellpassion]
What's the HTC CONV100?
Don't expect the tight-lipped boys and girls at the Bluetooth SIG to tell you much, but HTC's brewing up something -- and that something has Bluetooth. Not the most informative bit of data, we know, but there's not a lot to go on from browsing the SIG's approval of the new device. HTC's internal model numbers typically start with the first four letters of the handset's codename, so start thinking of words that start with "CONV" -- bonus points for coming up with things tied to Greek mythology -- and let us know what you've got.[Via the::unwired]
