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Virgin Mobile announces LG Optimus Slider, sneakily postpones data throttling until 2012
Virgin Mobile was originally intending to celebrate the new month by flipping the switch on throttled data, but it decided to push those plans back and announce a couple new phones instead. The prepaid carrier announced the upcoming launch of the LG Optimus Slider (note: it's not the Optimus Note) and the HTC Wildfire S in October and, in the same press release, nonchalantly mentioned that it would delay reducing throughput speeds for heavy users until sometime next year. No word on why this came about, but we'll take good news whenever we can get it. The LG Optimus Slider is an Android 2.3 device with a 3.2-inch HVGA display, a 3.2MP camera and 1,500mAh battery, and will be available online beginning October 16th for $200 and in Sprint stores October 30th. The HTC Wildfire S will show up in silver at Best Buy and in white at Radio Shack starting October 23rd, and can be yours for $200 as well. We can imagine which announcement you're most excited for. Check out both press releases in their glory after the break.
AT&T postponing the LG Thrill 4G to September 4?
Are you excited that a 3D phone is coming to AT&T? If you answered yes, sit down and think happy thoughts, because we're now hearing that the Thrill 4G -- aka the LG Optimus 3D -- may be delayed once more. According to a screenshot leaked from Radio Shack, the ill-fated device is getting pushed back to a tentative September 4th launch date for unknown reasons. As such, the reseller's putting a halt on pre-orders of the phone until further notice. We've reached out to AT&T for official comment and will let you know if we hear anything back. Regardless, at the rate this phone is going, the Thrill is quickly devolving into a depression.
Radio Shack celebrates T-Mobile's departure by giving its phones away
You remember the joy you felt the last time you found a really good deal, right? You may want to take a lovely evening stroll into a Radio Shack near you to experience that same emotion. With T-Mobile getting the boot September 14th to make room for new roommate Verizon, The Shack has decided to offer a blowout sale to celebrate. Beginning today, every phone (!) is gratis with a two-year commitment. The offer is in-store only, and while we're assuming it's good until every last one of Little Magenta's phones are gone, the sale could end at any time. The toughest part now? Deciding which one to grab.
RadioShack ditches T-Mobile for Verizon, switcheroo happens September 15th
Well, it looks like T-Mobile is no longer on friendly enough terms with Radio Shack to call it "The Shack." The retailer announced today that it's ending its partnership with the carrier in favor of a new one with rival Verizon, which will be joining current partners AT&T and Sprint. The last day to buy a T-Mobile phone or service plan at The Shack will be September 14th, with Verizon moving in and setting up shop the very next day. As Reuters notes, however, the move isn't all that surprising -- the partnership has apparently been both an unprofitable one and a rocky one, with Radio Shack recently alleging that T-Mobile had "materially breached" its contract. While that's a bit of a blow for T-Mobile, the move seems to be working out quite well for Radio Shack -- its stock has already shot up more than 20 percent today on the news.
LG Thrill 4G up for pre-order today at Radio Shack, ahead of August 7th launch?
The LG Thrill 4G was announced at CTIA four months ago , but wasn't given its rightful time in the sun due to a much larger elephant in the room. Now the phone's launch is quickly approaching, however, and the AT&T-branded Optimus 3D is ready to get some glory. We were sent not one, but two separate emails this morning from Radio Shack insiders with a few details about the retail chain's rollout of the device. As it turns out, visitors to The Shack can be offered the opportunity to reserve a Thrill -- supposedly gearing up for an August 7th launch -- starting today with the purchase of a $50 gift card. According to the screenshots sent to us, the Thrill can be all yours for $80 with a two-year contract ($550 if you exhibit a fear of commitment). We're hesitant to declare August 7th the official launch date, since history has shown that resellers don't always get handsets at the same time as corporate outlets do. If you find any success reserving one today, however, we'll be thrilled elated to hear about it. [Thanks, Anonymous]
RadioShack offers Atrix 4G for $150 on launch day, undercutting AT&T?
We'd heard rumors that Motorola's Atrix 4G would cost $150, but after AT&T priced the handset at $200 we figured they were all for naught. The Shack begs to differ: it's just revealed it will sell the modular Tegra 2 superphone on February 22nd for that original $150 price. That's with a two-year contract, of course, and a data plan on top, but that means you'll shave $50 off the sum AT&T is asking, or $20 off the combo deal with the (somewhat disappointing) laptop dock. Still, if history's any judge, we don't expect savings like this to be exclusive to RadioShack for long. [Thanks, Andrew F.]
iPhone coming to The Shack: Dallas and NYC this month, nationwide in 2010?
So we knew a select number of authorized resellers would start stocking iPhones soon, and thanks to a tipster, it looks like we might be getting a glimpse at a none-too-surprising recipient of the new order. As these pics from an anonymous tipster show, "big hug for your mobile life" retailer The Shack will be getting AT&T's flagship device soon, with a letter supposedly from EVP of store operations Bryan Bevin (found after the break) adding that the 3G and 3GS rollout will begin this month at some company-owned locations in the Dallas Forth Worth and New York City areas, with a nationwide rollout in 2010. Not that you necessarily needed more places to tempt you with the device, but it's always fun to have options.
The Shack: You have questions, we have propaganda
tweetmeme_url = 'http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/the-shack-you-have-questions-we-have-propaganda/'; tweetmeme_source = 'engadget'; Here are some of the memorable catchphrases you can expect from the retailer formerly known as Radio Shack's rebranding, as caught on camera from an anonymous tipster: "The Shack is fluent in mobile. The Shack is a big hug for your mobile life. The Shack is music to your ears. The Shack is your path to wireless wisdom. The Shack helps you get it right. The Shack is like a GPS to your GPS. The Shack knows what you want to hear. The Shack is not camera-shy." The Shack is not at war with Eastasia. The Shack has never been at war with Eastasia.
ATSC tuners update
It looks like we are on the home stretch of this digital switchover. All most TVs over 36-inches have had tuners for about 9 months now and a good amount of 27-inch and larger now have them as well. Next year at this time we will see the majority of TVs 13-inches and bigger with them as well. The price of digital tuners have dropped with Radio Shacks leading the way at $69. Main-stream media and big box retailers are finally getting the story right and properly informing their readers/customers. And the big one of switching the over-the-air stations to a digital broadcast seems to be moving along nicely. How is it on your front? Is your OTA TVs good to go? How about your family members?
