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Samsung BlackJack II now available in pink and blue

by Chris Ziegler posted Jul 21st 2008 at 12:10PM

Saying that Samsung's new BlackJack IIs are pink and blue is really only telling part of the story. Unlike the originals, the stylish new models feature contrasting white fronts with color-coordinated keys and fancy designs on the back -- perfect for that fashion-conscious Windows Mobile nerd in your life (if that's not an oxymoron, we don't know what is). Collect the whole set now for $99.99 a pop on contract.

ASUS Lamborghini ZX1 propaganda spotted at CeBIT

by Chris Ziegler posted Mar 2nd 2008 at 2:32PM

So it now looks like that rumored high-end ZX1 Windows Mobile 6 Professional handset from ASUS is a lock for a CeBIT announcement, though we're going to be totally honest, we're not certain it's worthy of the Lamborghini name. Granted, we've got to withhold judgment until we get one in our hands, but outside of a Lamborghini badge-shaped nav pad and a speedometer-inspired clock on the home screen, we're not seeing anything special about the darned thing. On the plus side, it's a 3G world phone with HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 and quadband GSM / EDGE, a 3 megapixel autofocus camera out back with a VGA sensor up front for video calling, 256MB of ROM, 128MB of RAM, microSD expansion, GPS, WiFi, and the typical QVGA display. We guess the 13.2mm thick shell is notable, but Lamborghini notable? More on this one as soon as we catch it in the wild.

Gallery: ASUS Lamborghini ZX1 propaganda spotted at CeBIT

Samsung ACE global smartphone, M520 go live on Sprint

by Chris Ziegler posted Feb 17th 2008 at 2:40PM

Given the BlackJack's popularity on AT&T, it only makes sense that Sprint (among other carriers) would be looking to get in on that action. Indeed, as expected, Sprint has now launched Samsung's ACE (get it? like the really good card to have when you're playing blackjack?) that comes out swinging with Windows Mobile 6 Standard, 1.3 megapixel camera, microSD slot, stereo Bluetooth, EV-DO, and a SIM slot for hooking your globetrotting butt up with GSM service when you find yourself overseas; what it doesn't have is HSDPA, so don't look at this puppy as an apples-for-apples BlackJack II replacement. It's available now for $199.99 after the usual laundry list of rebates and contract discounts.

Separately, Sprint has also gone live with the M520, an unassuming slider we've known about for a while now with GPS, a 1.3 megapixel cam, and tethering capability. This one comes in at a reasonable $49.99 after rebate on contract.

[Via PhoneNews]

Read - Samsung Ace
Read - Samsung M520

Verizon getting in touch with its Touch?

by Chris Ziegler posted Jan 18th 2008 at 12:01AM

A poster over on HowardForums has a series of convincing shots of a little something we'd like to call "Sprint's Worst Nightmare." Okay, that's going way too far, but if this Verizon-branded HTC Touch is legit, Sprint has to be just a little bummed that it's about to lose exclusivity on the fancy little Windows Mobile piece among the big four US carriers (though Alltel's on the ball already). If it's simply the same Sprint hardware we know and love repackaged in white, we can expect EV-DO, microSD expansion, Windows Mobile 6 Professional dressed up to be about as finger-friendly as it possibly can be, and a 2 megapixel camera. Thing is, the poster says that this one's "a little thinner" than Sprint's -- amazing if true, considering that it's already a svelte and manageable 0.6 inches -- so all bets on specs are off until we get some official confirmation. Word on the street is that we'll see it in March.

ASUS M930 gets official, Nokia styling and all

by Chris Ziegler posted Jan 16th 2008 at 3:31PM

Yep, pretty much everything we'd heard about the upcoming M930 from ASUS has turned out to be the real deal, making the brick-like device nearly a dead ringer for Nokia's E90 communicator with Windows Mobile doing the dirty work in place of S60. The exterior nets you a traditional QVGA display and numeric keypad, while unfolding the beast yields a slightly larger 400 x 240 display along with a full QWERTY board. Internal storage clocks in at 256MB with 64MB of RAM, there's a 2 megapixel autofocus cam around back, and you get the usual microSD expansion, WiFi, and Bluetooth. Oddly, the whole package runs Windows Mobile 6 Standard -- not Professional -- so you can just put away any hopes and dreams of touching the display with a stylus. Look for a public reveal at CeBIT in March, so retail availability isn't expected before that.

[Via MoDaCo]

Sharper Image selling self-branded cellphones

by Chris Ziegler posted Dec 30th 2007 at 6:27PM

Many of us know The Sharper Image best as a purveyor of massaging lounge chairs (which makes their stores a must-stop location in the mall), a chronic pusher of ozone generators, and as a perennial favorite in SkyMall catalogs as we bide our time on the redeye. What we don't know The Sharper Image for, though, is its broad selection of no-name phones procured from Chinese manufacturers. We just happened to be flipping through TSI's latest catalog today and came across these four little gems, three with "The Sharper Image" proudly emblazoned across their faces. The pack includes a touchscreen equipped Chocolate knockoff (very 2006, but still quite strapping), a branded version of the AMOI N810 Windows Mobile 6 Professional device, a black slider that looks like death incarnated, and an ultra-generic silver clamshell that looks straight out of the early part of this decade. The good news is that they're all unlocked and range from a very reasonable $169.95 to $499.95; the bad news, however, is that you may have to keep your thumb over the TSI logo to keep the public mockery to a minimum.

Gallery: Sharper Image selling self-branded cellphones

Read - Sharper Image 101TSI
Read - Sharper Image 008TSI
Read - Sharper Image 007TSI
Read - Sharper Image 005TSI

BlackJack revisited: Samsung readying "Ace" smartphone for Sprint?

by Chris Ziegler posted Dec 5th 2007 at 4:09PM

From a distance, this thing looks just a little too much like the BlackJack (the old one, not the new) for comfort -- but when you zoom in a bit, it looks like Samsung's spinning a few cute touches into its SPH-i325 "Ace" for Sprint. Mobiledia has this one pegged for the first quarter of next year, offering a Windows Mobile Standard alternative to the BlackBerrys of the world with a slim shell, QWERTY keyboard, and landscape QVGA display; it's probably not going to make any BlackJack II owners envious, but at least this gives Sprint customers a chance to keep up with the Joneses. Even better, Boy Genius Report claims that we might see a little GSM radio stuffed in there for the globetrotters in the crowd. Anyone have an old Samsung Ace for Mobile ESPN, by the way?

[Via Boy Genius Report]

Windows Mobile 6.1 gets pictured, detailed

by Chris Ziegler posted Dec 3rd 2007 at 2:07PM

So this weird Motorola Q9 that Boy Genius Report came across is turning into quite a gold mine. First it revealed AT&T's apparent intention to let its guard down just a tad and start bringing more devices into the WiFi fold -- despite the obvious risk to data revenue -- and now it turns out that she's dressed to the nines with none other than Windows Mobile 6.1. A fleeting glance at most of the screens doesn't indicate any obvious changes from 6 (it is a .1 release, after all), but the devil's in the details: goodies like threaded SMS (Yahtzee!) and cut-and-freaking-paste on Standard (double Yahtzee!) alone should make it a worthwhile upgrade. 'Course, it's up to the carriers and manufacturers as usual to ultimately decide whether to push updates to existing devices, but it would be pure, unadulterated torture if the lion's share of devices didn't see official releases. Seriously, we'd cry.

Engadget Mobile checks out the Samsung BlackJack2 for AT&T

by Chris Ziegler posted Oct 23rd 2007 at 3:36PM

Quick: which one's the new BlackJack? If you said "the one on the left," you've been following Samsung's BlackJack2 closely enough so that you'll probably want to check out our shots of it over on Engadget Mobile. If you said "the one on the right," you clearly need us to hit you up with some knowledge -- so yeah, check out Engadget Mobile anyway. Cheers!

Samsung BlackJack2 gets ready to launch on AT&T

by Chris Ziegler posted Oct 23rd 2007 at 1:03PM

Don't get too excited -- you can't order it just yet -- but AT&T's at least ready to admit that the Samsung BlackJack2 exists. It seems the carrier's pulling the same stunt it did with the Q9 Global, taking email addresses for notification of availability without giving any indication as to when it might be available. Compared to the original, the keyboard and d-pad both look considerably hotter, Windows Mobile 6 comes installed (just imagine the horror if it wasn't!), "faster 3G speeds" are being touted, and perhaps most importantly, GPS capability is integrated. Oh yeah, there's some Video Share action in there too, but we're not too sure we'd call that a "feature." When it's launched, look for it in "wine red" and black.

[Thanks, Chris P.]

Sprint gets official with HTC Touch: November 4 for $249.99

by Chris Ziegler posted Oct 17th 2007 at 9:00AM

Is it safe yet to declare that carriers are looking at finger-friendly touchscreens as The Next Big Thing in wireless? Sprint today has officially announced its HTC Touch, a device codenamed "Vogue" that brings all of the original's unique personality to the world of CDMA (and, thankfully, EV-DO). Besides the touted support for 3G data, features include a 2 megapixel cam, microSD slot with support for up to 4GB of expansion, Windows Mobile 6 Professional with HTC's TouchFLO interface, and comprehensive support for Sprint's media features including Sprint TV and the Sprint Music Store, all packed into a shell measuring 4 x 2.4 x 0.6 inches and weighing in at 4 ounces (trust us, it looks and feels pretty flippin' small). Interested parties don't have terribly long to wait, either -- look for it to start showing up in retail channels November 4 for a penny under $250 on contract with rebates.

Engadget Mobile checks out the AT&T Tilt

by Chris Ziegler posted Oct 4th 2007 at 3:00AM

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

by Chris Ziegler posted Oct 4th 2007 at 12:15AM

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!

Continue reading The AT&T Tilt, October 5 for $299.99

Internal AT&T site foretells Tilt launch

by Chris Ziegler posted Oct 1st 2007 at 5:17PM

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]

HTC Touch Slide pictured ahead of October 1 announcement?

by Chris Ziegler posted Sep 28th 2007 at 1:38PM

Remember that press event HTC's got coming up early next week? There are plenty of rumored HTC devices that could be announced -- and a few in particular we know readers are pulling for -- but it looks like we've got at least one here that's a lock to see the spotlight. Known to many by the codename "Nike," the HTC Touch Slide takes the original Touch's small, finger-friendly package and makes good on two of its indiscretions by adding a slide-out keyboard (similar in layout to RIM's SureType) and a 3G radio. Other features should include WiFi, 128MB of RAM, 256MB of Flash, and from what we can tell, a diminutive case that holds true to its forebear despite the fresh slide mechanism. Oh, and you NTT DoCoMo users over there, stop gloating that you've had this thing for a few weeks, would ya?

[Via MoDaCo, thanks ZSX]