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Sony patent suggests Xperia Play with dual keyboards, it's slidingly slidable
Okay, so maybe physical keyboards were a bigger deal back in 2010 when this thing was filed, or maybe -- just maybe -- we'll one day see an Xperia Play smartphone with both a gamepad and a full QWERTY counterpart. A patent for such a contraption was just granted to Sony by the USPTO, which stakes its claim for a device with two sliding mechanisms in addition to the display. When the primary sliding mechanism is engaged, the second will come along for the ride -- and for those curious, it seems the default option is the keyboard. Once both are open, the sliding units may be disengaged from one another, so that when one of the units retracts, the other will remain accessible. It all sounds quite feasible, and if the mechanism works well enough, what's a few extra millimeters among friends?
Nokia N86 8MP coming to the US for $558
Nokia's trying to make a big deal today about the fact that the N86 8MP will be coming to Nokia's US flagship stores in New York and Chicago along with nokiausa.com in the "coming weeks," but in light of the company's recent North American strategy shift, the US availability of the N85, and the handling of the N97 launch, we'd be far more surprised if it wasn't coming. As for pricing, you're going to be looking at $558 out the door -- an oddball price, to be sure, but considering that you're getting arguably the best S60 3.2 device ever conceived, it seems within the realm of reason (and you'll be able to get it through third-party retailers for considerably less, we'd wager). Who's in?
Samsung Exclaim gets official -- the Best Buy way
This is starting to become a trend that we can't imagine carriers and manufacturers are too pleased with, but for whatever reason, Sprint's Samsung Exclaim is just the latest victim in a string of Best Buy outings. The previously-rumored dual slider looks to be hitting in your choice of blue and "berry" (are we the only ones that find that amusing?) for $399.99 off-contract with an estimated shipment in 1-2 weeks' time, aligning it nicely with talk that we'd see a launch in June. Your hard-earned cash nets you a 2 megapixel cam, microSD expansion, A2DP, and -- perhaps most importantly -- both QWERTY and numeric sliding keypads for those times when you're feeling a little indecisive. Hey, if the form factor works for Pantech, it can certainly work for Samsung, right?[Via Phone Scoop]
Samsung Trinity dual slider coming to AT&T?
Samsung doesn't have many launched dual sliders to its name -- none that we can think of, actually -- but this summer looks to change all that. First, it looks like the Exclaim is going to be hitting Sprint pretty shortly in a pair of fun, fruity colors, and now, we've gotten word that a "Trinity" (not to be confused with the HTC Trinity) is undergoing testing for a planned August launch. As is usually the case with this form factor, you've got both numeric and full QWERTY slides, HSDPA, a 2 megapixel cam, and a 2.8-inch QVGA display -- in other words, a solidly low- to mid-range consumer device without a hint of smartphone to its name. Follow the break for a composite shot of the Trinity doing its thing.
Mivvy wants you to "enjoy mobile life," use two SIM cards
We'll be honest: we hadn't heard of Czech firm Mivvy before mobile-review's expose on the company's new models. We suspect most members of its European target audience haven't either -- but one thing they may be able to identify with is the Dual Touch TV's design (pictured), which combines the HTC Touch Diamond's unique prismatic battery cover with Motorola iconography (notice the "A" and "B" buttons), a genuinely puzzling numeric / nav pad layout, and words of encouragement that we should "enjoy mobile life" along the side and back. The other two new units in the company's lineup -- the Dual Nio and Dual Slider -- are more forgettable, but all three offer dual SIM support and GPRS-only data. In the case of the Dual Touch TV you've also got an analog TV tuner, which will slowly cease to do anyone any good as analog television goes dark around the world. Not the most stellar specs in the world -- but the most expensive of the three runs just $215 fully unlocked, so at least you're getting what you pay for and paying for what you get. [Via Unwired View and mobile-review]
Samsung Exclaim dual slider hitting Sprint next month?
Yo, Ocean 2, look out -- Samsung's onto your game. QWERTY dual sliders are still pretty frickin' rare as form factors go, but it seems like Sammy's looking to rock one in the next few weeks for Sprint. This is a device that we'd previously seen rumored as the Cello, and for a device that's clearly intended to be a mainstream SMS-heavy handset, the specs really aren't that bad: QVGA display, EV-DO, 2 megapixel cam with video recording, AGPS, and Bluetooth in your choice of two tasty colors. Rumor has it we'll see it hit the market on June 7 -- possibly alongside the Pre, of all things, in which case we wouldn't expect much fanfare on launch day. [Via PhoneArena]
Nokia heads deeper down CDMA path with FCC-outed dual slider
For better or worse, dual sliders are quickly becoming one of Nokia's trademark form factors -- but one thing we'd never really expected out of Espoo was a dual slider equipped with EV-DO Rev. A. Sure enough, FCC documentation has revealed a diminutive black dumbphone that packs CDMA800 / 1900 with 3G and slides two ways: one to reveal a numeric keypad, the other to offer up music controls. Historically, Nokia has "co-ODM'd" its CDMA devices with an unnamed Asian partner, and we suspect this device is no different -- but we've got to give them credit for crafting a genuinely Nokia-esque device here. The draft user's manual doesn't reveal a retail name or model number, but we do see references to UIMs (the CDMA equivalent of SIMs) and British spellings of "organiser," which leads us to believe North America might not be on the VIP list for this one. Would be a shame, wouldn't it?[Via Phone Scoop]Update: Commenter Kunal points out that this looks an awful lot like the China-bound 8208, which makes us wonder -- why the FCC approval? Did that bad boy pique the interest of Verizon or Sprint?
Keepin' it real fake, part CXCIX: NokiPhone N3000i dual slider is one part N95, two parts iPhone, and six parts win
Combining two pretty great ideas in a way that is all kinds of illegal in the US, the China-produced NokiPhone N3000i looks to be a pretty straightforward iPhone ripoff with bonus N95-esque dual slider capabilities. The GSM smartphone's got 3.2-inch QVGA screen, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0, dual SIM support, microSD slot, and video recording capabilities. Price of admission is $129 right now, which according to chinagrabber is a hefty discount from its $400 MSRP. Your move, NOKLA.[Via PMP Today]
Nokia Italy lists N85 as in stock, legions of OLED fanatics cautiously optimistic
N85s were originally promised for delivery as early as September, but that didn't pan out; in fact, you can't really get an N85 through any non-nefarious channels at the moment. Or at least you couldn't, but Nokia Italy claims to now have Copper N85s in stock and available for immediate delivery for a cool €549 (about $749). If the product page turns out to be accurate and Italians start taking delivery of their lovely OLED-equipped dual sliders in the next couple days, it'll make Nokia's Italian outpost the first in the world to be delivering the goods.[Via All About Symbian]
Nokia gets fancy for CDMA with 3608, 8208
Who would've thought that Nokia's first Series 40 dual slider would be for CDMA networks? Well, not so fast -- these two aren't exactly Series 40, it seems. Nokia hasn't announced either the 3608 flip or 8208 dual slider officially, but official specs and pictures have popped up on an Espoo-owned domain that reveal the China-bound handsets to operate on CDMA 800 / 1900, and in the case of the 8208, we can say with certainty that there's EV-DO Rev. A on board. Anyway, as we were saying, Nokia lists both as having "Series 40 Nokia like UIs," with "like" being the key word there; we suspect these are either still being manufactured for Nokia by a third party, Series 40 can't rock CDMA in its current incarnation, or a little bit of both. Trust us, though, Nokia -- that doesn't mean you shouldn't take these cute little guys global.[Via MobileBurn, here and here]Read - Nokia 3608Read - Nokia 8208
Samsung gets official with B&O-infused F400 dual slider
Mmm hmm. That F400 dual slider we originally got wind of in February is the real deal, as confirmed by Samsung today. Designed with music aficionados in mind, the handset is equipped with ICEpower from Bang & Olufsen, which gets complemented with a 3-megapixel camera (with AF and a LED flash), 2.2-inch display, 3.5-millimeter headphone jack, twin stereo speakers, music hot key, FM tuner, Bluetooth 2.0, a 1GB microSD card and USB 2.0 connectivity. The unit itself is built on HSDPA tri-band technology, and while we know you US'ers would love to wraps your paws around it, Sammy would rather dish it out to the French in black / white motifs later this month, while sending it to other regions of Europe, Asia and the Middle East shortly thereafter. Tough noogies.
Amazon gets impatient, offers Pantech C810 for AT&T
You know, if it weren't for retailers and the FCC, manufacturers' and carriers' employees would lead relatively stress- and hypertension-free lives -- but in this heavily embargoed, NDA'd, confidentiality agreemented world in which we live, bean spillage is an inevitable occurrence. We're not saying that's what's going on here, but we find it odd that Amazon would start offering Pantech's C810 dual slider Windows Mobile smartphone for AT&T with nary a peep from the carrier itself (not that we're complaining in the least). Even better, they're offering it for a cool $180 which seems really reasonable for a Windows Mobile 6 Standard device with UMTS in such a creative and useful form factor. Give us a holler in comments if anyone grabs it![Via Smartphone Thoughts]
Helio Ocean launches today
Get ready to spend the weekend mindlessly sliding the Ocean's dual keypads open and closed until you drive friends and family to the brink of insanity (trust us, it's pretty addictive). Yep, that would be this weekend we're talking about -- Helio's new flagship device finally makes its debut on its website and store shelves today for $295, followed by a second wave of availability in a variety of third-party retailers toward the end of this month. Of course, unless you're within driving distance of one of Helio's handful of flagship locations, actually finding one today might be challenging; might we recommend our hands-on to hold you over while you patiently wait for the parcel to make its way to your doorstep?
Helio's Pantech PN-810 QWERTY device pops up in FCC
And here it is, Helio's coup de grâce. The QWERTY handset we'd heard Helio was cookin' up with Korea's Pantech actually hit the FCC some time ago, but the shots we were able to glean from the test apparatus documentation were teasers at best. Thanks to the wonders of expired confientiality agreements, that same FCC documentation now yields a bounty of goodness, including a user's manual and a full array of pictures. The so-called PN-810 gives the illusion of a dual slider, but actually employs two distinct layers to provide two completely different keypads depending on the slide direction: QWERTY in one, numeric in the other. Key features (other than the unusual form factor, of course) include a 2.1 megapixel cam, Bluetooth, and the full array of goodies that comes with Helio membership. A release date remains uncertain, but the PN-810's been chilling with the feds for some time now, so we wouldn't be terribly surprised to see it hit in the near term. Gallery: Helio's Pantech PN-810 QWERTY device pops up in FCC
Nokia N95 reviewed
It might be a few months yet before we see Nokia N95s start to circulate amongst the general populace, but far be it from that to stop Nokialist from putting a preproduction unit through its paces. Other than a niggle about the d-pad -- the reviewer would've preferred a joystick, a la E70 -- the hands-on was overwhelming positive, despite the fact that the super-ultra-early test model in their hands lacked some hardware (GPS, WiFi) promised for the production version. As one might expect, the software (S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 1, that is) is apparently the best thing since sliced bread, the dual slide is trick, the screen is gorgeous, and the 5 megapixel shooter is bananas. Sadly, about all the review has managed to do for us is make us want to lay our hands on this sucker a little more than we already did, but we're still in for a bit of a wait. Hang tight, folks.[Thanks, Phill]
Nokia N95 gets real
So it's not official official yet, but we know enough to say with some confidence that Nokia's oft-rumored N95 (alias N83) dual slider will be announced today. What does that mean? For one thing, it means we can move past the frustratingly blurry spy shots and onto some glamorous press photos, but more importantly, it takes the guesswork out of the spec sheet. Let's just put it this way: for anyone who thought the N73 was a half-baked effort, the N93 oughtta fit the bill. Nokia seems to be challenging naysayers to find a missing feature or buzzword, cramming in a 5-megapixel cam, integrated GPS, 802.11g, a 3.5mm audio jack (if the A2DP support isn't your cup of tea), 150MB of internal memory, microSD expansion, and HSDPA support (a first for Nokia). Word on the street has the everything-to-everybody N95 dropping in Q1 of 2007 for around €550 -- that's about $700, just in case the possible US release actually goes down.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]