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Analyst estimates 100,000 DROID smartphones sold in first weekend

by Darren Murph posted Nov 10th 2009 at 9:12AM

The lines may have been subdued, but one way or another, it sounds as if Motorola managed to sell quite a few DROIDs over the weekend. According to analyst Mark McKechnie at Broadpoint AmTech, the outfit managed to move around 100,000 of 'em during the opening weekend, with most stores moving at least half of their original shipments. He also estimated that Moto would sell one million Android-based phones in Q4 2009 alone (which includes the CLIQ, obviously), and that he viewed the first few days as "encouraging." It's been a long, long while since we've been able to say this, but hey -- nice job, Motorola.

BlackBerry 9700 reviewed extra early

by Vladislav Savov posted Sep 22nd 2009 at 9:09PM

What is it with BlackBerries and seemingly premature reviews? After the Onyx got manhandled ahead of schedule, it's the turn of its close relative, the trackpad-equipped 9700, which has been annointed as successor to the Bold. Boy Genius Report spared few superlatives in their examination of the hardware, which praises the 9700 as "the most gorgeous BlackBerry on the planet" and involves a size and feel comparison against the Tour. Their conclusion was that the new handset draws all the positives from RIM's recent portfolio of phones and ties them together into a very compelling little package. We couldn't spot any downsides, so either this is the best phone ever or somebody got a little carried away -- read up and decide for yourself.

Samsung S7550 Blue Earth reviewed, Monkey Wrench Gang unavailable for comment

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Sep 17th 2009 at 11:04AM

We're not sure if the recent trend for greener gadgets comes from a wish to save the planet, assuage consumer's guilt, cash in on a trend, or some combination of the three, but we'll tell you one thing: it's not going anywhere. Of course, with a product named "Blue Earth" you know that you're not just getting a handset, but some vaguely eco-friendly ID, including: an outer shell (mostly) fashioned from recycled water bottles, a solar panel, and a pedometer (you know, to encourage walking / discourage driving). Of course, these are all things we can abide, but the question remains: how does this handset hold up, you know, as a handset? Well, GSM Arena recently put one through its paces and was kind enough to let us in on its findings. As feature phones go, says the author, this one stacks up quite nicely with something like Nokia's 5530 XpressMusic -- and even does it one better by throwing in a GPS. On the other hand, this isn't the thinnest phone in the world, the lack of HSDPA will be a deal breaker for some folks, and the 3 megapixel fixed focus camera leaves something to be desired. And how about the solar panel? According to Samsung, one hour of solar charging is good for 2 hours of standby and a little over 15 minutes of call time in 2G (or 10 minutes of talk time in UMTS). Also, it seems that they make the phone bulkier and harder to handle -- although we imagine it can't be as bad as whatever users of after-market solar panel attachments are experiencing. Other features include a 3-inch capacitive touchscreen (quite responsive, apparently) and WiFi. But that ain't all -- you really need to wade into this review yourself if you want all the juicy details. Luckily, it's but one click away: hit the read link to see for yourself.

The Palm Pixi is official, headed to Sprint this holiday season -- we've got hands-on and video!

by Joshua Topolsky posted Sep 9th 2009 at 12:02AM

The Palm Pixi has officially arrived, and if you're an avid reader of Engadget (you'd better be), this device should look a little bit familiar to you. We first broke specs and images of the phone -- codenamed Eos and the alternately-spelled "Pixie" -- back in April, when we nabbed what appeared to be a leak of a new, Centro-esque phone headed to AT&T. Today, Palm has announced that the Pixi -- a tiny, sleek webOS-based handset -- will be coming to Sprint this holiday season. The phone will hit shelves sans-WiFi (EV-DO Rev. A only here), with 8GB of storage onboard (a nice bump up from the rumored 4GB), 2 megapixel camera (with flash), a full QWERTY keyboard, and a minute, 2.63-inch, 320 x 400 capacitive display (guess they didn't get that HTC memo).

Along with the new handset, Palm will offer five artist-designed back covers in the "Palm Pixi Artist Series" -- similar to Zune Originals and Dell's Design Studio laptops -- which can be purchased separately... of course. Touchstone owners take heart: those backs, as well as a separate black backing that you'll also pay extra for, are all compatible with the accessory. In addition to the hardware, Palm will be introducing a native Facebook app when the Pixi hits, as well as new Yahoo! and LinkedIn integration for Synergy. Right now no date for launch has been set, though Palm says the phone will be ready in time for the holidays. The company is also mum on price, but coupled with the news that Sprint will be slimming the Pre's entry point down to $149.99, we have to assume it's going to be in the $99-or-less ballpark. We had a chance to play around with the new phone, so read on after the break for our initial, early impressions.

Gallery: Palm Pixi hands-on

Gallery: Palm Pixi official shots

Continue reading The Palm Pixi is official, headed to Sprint this holiday season -- we've got hands-on and video!

Nokia N97 sells two million units in three months, Nokla sells two dozen

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Sep 4th 2009 at 5:13PM

Well, maybe Nokia recently announced a 66 percent yearly drop in Q2 profit. And perhaps N97 reviews have been, how we say, less than stellar. But there definitely seems to be a fan base for the handset: according to Mobile News, sales of both this guy and the 5800 XpressMusic combined to total 10 million in the last 10 months, with sales for the former adding up to a whopping two million since its launch three months ago. In fact, half of the XpressMusic sales were generated since the launch of the N97 -- certainly suggesting that the younger sibling successfully raised the company's profile and brought its fellow handset along for the ride. Does this make Nokia the "undisputed leading player in the smartphones space," as the company's chief executive Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo put it? By sheer volume of devices, perhaps -- but mindshare continues to be a problem that we're guessing they're eager to see if Maemo 5 and the N900 can solve. The CEO of Nokla could not be reached for comment.

[Thanks, David D]

Motorola Morrison engineering sketches emerge, has Android written all over it

by Darren Murph posted Aug 7th 2009 at 1:08AM

Okay, so maybe there's not literally any text penciled in on these drawings, but if you've been looking for multiple angles of Motorola's sure-to-be-forthcoming Morrison, these are about as good as it gets. Not surprisingly, the design here seems pretty conventional; for all intents and purposes, it's just a QWERTY-packin', full touchscreen slider smartphone with all the makings of a sub-$100 (on contract) Android offering. Hit the read link if you're eager for more, and go on grab another handful of patience while you're at it.

Keepin' it real fake, part CCXXVII: Rolex watchphone is, in fact, neither

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Jul 20th 2009 at 3:57PM

The Rolex watchphone is neither a Rolex nor a watchphone -- unless your definition includes handsets with a watch face embedded on the outside (and ours doesn't). But either way, it's probably safe to say that this bad boy does not sport a precision-made Swiss timepiece. Features include a 2.6-inch display, dual SIM, an FM radio, and presumably some sort of camera. Unlike the Swiss Rolex, the Shanzhai Rolex can be yours for the low, low price of 690 yuan (that's about $101). More mouth-watering KIRFness after the break.

[Via Cloned In China]

Continue reading Keepin' it real fake, part CCXXVII: Rolex watchphone is, in fact, neither

O2 Germany's TG01 handset, now with virus!

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Jul 15th 2009 at 10:17AM

It's bad enough picking up a virus because you've made an uncharacteristic (to you at least) illegal software acquisition, but bringing one home when you're just minding your own business, trying to enjoy your legitimate and hard-earned purchase, is totally uncool. Case in point: according to Inside-Handy.de, a few unlucky customers of O2 in Germany have purchased the TG01 handset only to discover a virus present on the device. While Toshiba tries to determine the impact and the cause of the infection, O2 has halted sales of the smartphone, though there's no word on when sales will resume nor if this infection has spread to other European nations.

[Via Unwired View]

Modu's next handset to sport a touchscreen?

by Darren Murph posted May 23rd 2009 at 10:35AM

Modu may be down, but unlike one Ricky Hatton, it ain't out. We haven't heard a whole heck of a lot from the niche handset maker since it handed out pink slips to around one-forth of its workforce, but now that things are looking a bit brighter, it seems as if innovation is back in full force. In fact, a new report on the outfit has it that its next cellphone will pack a touchscreen in order to fit the mold of today's finger-friendly array. Aside from being "iPhone like" (its words, not ours), little else is known about the forthcoming device, though we're told that development should be complete in around eight months. So, anyone wagering that R&D accelerates that just a touch to get this thing out by CES 2010?

[Via Talking Mobile]

Renesas's 1080p-decoding processor coming soon to a cell phone near you

by Tim Stevens posted May 5th 2009 at 6:59AM

Plenty of modern cell phones have HD-quality screens on them, but few can manage any sort of high-definition video content at a respectable frame rate. That's set to change with the release of the Renesas SH7370, a chip we first got wind of back in December with its promise to offer 1080p video at 30fps in a package small (and efficient) enough to be included in a handset. The first units are now shipping to manufacturers, and while the size has increased (it's about 1cm square vs. the 6.4 x 6.5mm package previously discussed) it's still impressively small given its functionality: 1080p H.264 video decoding and encoding along with on-chip Dolby Digital 5.1-channel output. Overkill? Maybe for now, but you might change your mind when the first head-mountable satellite speakers with subwoofer seat cushions hit retail.

Best Buy Mobile to get some Pre stock on June 7th?

by Jacob Schulman posted May 3rd 2009 at 6:24PM

If this latest bit of Pre intel scored by Boy Genius Report is to be believed, it looks like you might be able to pick up one of 4,500 of Palm's latest and greatest as early as June 7. According to a tip from a supposed Best Buy insider, the venerable retailer could be gearing up to launch the hotly anticipated handset in just over a month's time, though it's not clear whether this'll coincide with Sprint's full-scale launch or come before or after. Oh, and if that wasn't enough, they've got some possible numbers on what this beauty will run you: $199.99 for new customers with a 2-year plan, $299.99 for upgrades, and a cool $999.99 contract-free -- though in our experience, Best Buy Mobile frequently has its pricing wrong ahead of launch, so these are definitely subject to change.

Samsung unveils Blue Earth, a solar-powered mobile phone

by Ross Miller posted Feb 12th 2009 at 4:01PM

Samsung's Blue Earth handset might just be taking the green thing to a whole new extreme. Made from PCM, a recycled plastic from water bottles, the phone boast an "eco" mode for efficiently adjusting screen brightness, backlight duration and Bluetooth usage, and an "eco walk" app / built-in pedometer to tell you how much CO2 emission you've saved by walking instead of driving. The best part? It's got a giant solar panel on the back that'll apparently charge it enough to make a phone call anytime the sun's peaking out. Of the form factor, Sammy says it "symbolizes a flat and well rounded shiny pebble" -- which we hope means it can skip puddles with the best of 'em. It'll come in recycled packaging with an energy efficient charger. What we don't know, unfortunately, is what makes this phone tick, neither OS nor hardware specs. Not a word on price yet, but UK environmentalists can look forward to this one second half of this year.

Yubz Swarovski-covered cellphone handset plunges us into a sea of despair

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Jan 28th 2009 at 7:14PM

Sometimes we get the impression that somewhere out there is a community of ultra-wealthy individuals that live lives of unimagined excess and opulence. And when they get together to do whatever it is that they do -- think of ways to take over the world, perhaps -- they can be recognized by the fact that all of their belongings are encrusted in Swarovski crystal. From cameras to coffee makers, they live in a world of such rarefied elegance that any non-Swarovskified gadget is a blight, an eyesore. Even if you think we're a bit off base, it appears that someone at Yubz might know where we're coming from. The company is known for its plug-in handsets for cellphone users who want to kick it old school (like, "bakelite" old school). These things are usually available in cool colors like "Russian Red" and "Regal Gold" for somewhere around $45 ($75 if you want Bluetooth support). According to Chip Chick, the company has announced their newest handset line: beginning with "Lust" and working its way up through the Seven Deadly Sins, these guys will feature Bluetooth, a hell of a lot of Swarovskis, and an $1,800 price tag. Should be hitting the streets in the spring, if you can wait that long. And we've included a couple pictures of the standard device after the break, so you could see what all the fuss is about. You're welcome.

Continue reading Yubz Swarovski-covered cellphone handset plunges us into a sea of despair

Hello Kitty lineman's handset fills a niche: Hello Kitty-lovin' linemen

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Jan 27th 2009 at 10:35AM

What do you give the Hello Kitty fan that has everything? Oh, never mind...

Renesas aims to bring 1080p playback to your next cellphone

by Darren Murph posted Dec 1st 2008 at 7:35PM

Believe it or not, this is far from the first we've heard of bringing high-def video to cellphones, and it's not even the first application to dabble in mobile 1080p. Still, we'll take all the innovation we can get in this space, and when the real Touch HD ever arrives, we'll be ready and waiting with Full HD capabilities. Announced at ISSCC 2009 in San Francisco, Renesas Technology is showing off an application processor that enables handsets to process 1,920 x 1,080 resolution video at 30 frames-per-second; the processor's core has a maximum operating frequency of 500MHz and supports MPEG-4 AVC / H.264, MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 video formats. There's no telling when the 6.4- x 6.5-millimeter chip will be available en masse, but we need the HTCs of the world to get us a 1080p phone and a retina implant or two to read 0.2-size fonts before it even matters.