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New iPhone, iPad model codes set up for iTunes activation bypass -- CDMA versions, maybe?
So BGR's got a tipster lined up with alleged details from within iOS 4 beta firmware that shows a section dedicated to bypassing the usual iTunes activation scheme for three new product codes: iPhone3,2, iPhone 3,3, and iProd 2,1. Actually, these product codes aren't "new," per se; we saw all three of them in the iPad's firmware back in April, but they've yet to make the giant leap to officialdom. What's different here, then? Well, apparently, this activation-bypass scheme has historically had a tendency to show up in Apple's beta firmware right around the time a new iPhone goes into testing -- ostensibly so that field engineers don't need to worry about that rigmarole to do their jobs -- which suggests that these new models are getting ready for action. BGR's source says these will be the CDMA iPhone and the next-gen iPad, though you can't tell that from the product codes alone, and that doesn't explain why we've actually got two new iPhones listed. For what it's worth, the current iPad -- iPad1,1 -- used to go by the moniker iProd1,1 in firmware, so it stands to reason that we really are looking at a new tablet here. Now if you'll excuse us, we've got some Verizon Wireless field tech van recon to do.
Engadget Mobile celebrates the holidays with a Nokia N81 giveaway!
Statistically speaking, odds are you didn't get a new phone as a gift today. If you lie somewhere in that silent majority, we've got an awesome bit of news: we can totally remedy that for you. Well, not all of you, but at least one of you -- with a shiny Nokia N81 equipped all the N-Gage gaming support you can handle!So how does this work, exactly? Easy: Leave a comment below. We'll be picking a winner through a scientific, complicated, completely classified process that ultimately results in a random selection. You may only enter this specific giveaway once. If you enter this giveaway more than once you'll be automatically disqualified, etc. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.) If you enter more than once, only activate one comment. This is pretty self explanatory. Just be careful and you'll be fine. Contest is open to anyone in the 50 States, 18 or older! Sorry, we don't make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so be mad at our lawyers or US contest laws if you have to be mad. Winners will be chosen randomly. Entries can be submitted until 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time on December 26, 2008. After that we're all done. Good luck! Full rules can be found here. Special thanks to Reset Generation!
N-Gage First Access hacked for N95 8GB, others
That didn't take long. A mere day after the release of Nokia's N-Gage First Access gaming preview exclusively to N81 users, the app has been cracked open to work with any N-series device with enough horsepower. The hack was performed by Nokia regular P@sco, and comes in a convenient downloadable form, or an only slightly involved guide to hacking the app yourself. No rocket science here, and while we're sure Nokia could easily fight back, what we've really got to ask ourselves is why didn't Nokia just open it to everyone in the first place? [Thanks, Michael J.]
Nokia rolls out N-Gage First Access to N81 users
The delayed, revamped N-Gage client still isn't ready for prime time, but the First Access preview service -- which is just a little bit more functional than the preview shipping on some Nseries devices already -- has finally launched. The service introduces a full suite of social gaming tools (though with compatibility officially limited to N81s for the moment, that's a very small social circle indeed) and lets users download several game demos; Nokia promises that the service will evolve and expand as it ramps up for a full-scale release, so don't get too down on the lack of content and community just yet. Oh, and just a word of warning, downloaders: your data will get reset prior to the full-scale launch, so don't get too attached to your high scores, k?[Via All About Symbian]
Nokia's N-Gage First Access delayed to 2008
We suppose it was just too good to be true, having a solid release window and target device for N-Gage, even if it was going to be merely in the form of a "First Access" test service. Nokia has been going over the service internally with about 1,000 testers, and has uncovered an "issue" that it needs to address, but wouldn't elaborate much further about the problem, other than that the games and service are supposedly working smoothly. That means Nokia won't be releasing First Access for N81 users this week as promised, but instead will wait until the new year to finally make its new push back into the gaming market. Don't worry Nokia, it's not like we've got anything else going on. [Via Pocket Gamer]
Nokia's N-Gage hits the N81 next week in pre-release form
It's a good time to be an N81 or N81 8GB user, since Nokia's got some pre-release versions of full N-Gage titles just for you as of next week. Nokia's hoping for some feedback with this "N-Gage First Access" setup, since the full service isn't quite ready to go yet. Of course, the N81 has game demos on it out of the box, but this time it'll have "exclusive access to the pre-release version of the N-Gage application and one or more N-Gage games!" They're certainly taking their own sweet time getting the relaunch of N-Gage ready, but given the failure of its first two iterations, perhaps we should be grateful Nokia's waiting to get it right this time. But seriously, hurry up already. [Via NokNok; thanks James B]
Hands-on with the Nokia N81 8GB
You might recall that we had the opportunity to spend a little time with a pre-production N81 back in August. We liked what Nokia had done for several reasons: one, we thought it was the most attractive Nokia we'd ever seen thanks to a glossy, metal flake shell and really tastefully done faux titanium accents. Two, even in prototype form, the slider was absolutely rock solid; no one would accuse the average Nokia of being shoddily constructed, but there's typically a little play in the hinges and doors. Not so with the N81, though -- it really does feel Vertu solid. It's a bit on the heavy side, yeah, but we'd gladly trade a little extra weight for the feeling that we're operating a meticulously crafted device in our hand. Three, the N81 offers a couple innovative controls that give it a little street cred for music and gaming -- a touch-sensitive ring that doubles as a traditional four-point directional pad (Nokia calls it the "Navi wheel") and buttons atop the display that make landscape N-Gage gaming a reality. Well, we're happy to report that everything that made the prototype great is still great in the retail version. Read on for our quick impressions.Thanks to the good folks at Wireless Imports for the hookup!%Gallery-10334%
The Nokia Music Store video review -- hint: a "doddle" is good
Unless you're living in the UK, it's hard to get your hands dirty with Nokia's new Music Store. Unless you're living under rock, you know that it's Nokia's intention to take the service global as it vies for dominance over digital downloads. Fortunately, a quickie, video review from Nokia's new N81 has been posted by NokNok.tv. They claim that "hunting out tracks is a doddle, as is downloading." A good thing, apparently, judging by the 4 / 5 stars awarded. Check the action after the break.
Nokia's N81 8GB now shipping with N-Gage preview
Nokia's N81 is now, at this very moment, "available globally" according to Nokia. Pre-tax, pre-subsidy €360 / $515 for the 2GB microSD model or €430 / $615 for that full 8GB of on-board flash experience. Since the revamped N-Gage platform isn't online yet, the N81 comes pre-loaded with three playable demos of FIFA 07, Asphalt 3: Street Rules, and Space Impact Light. Those same games will be available for free download-and-preview over HSDPA when the service goes live sometime "later in 2007." Still, while Nokia touts a global launch, the fact that this quad-band GSM phone only sports 2100MHz WCDMA will limit its effective use in North America -- even if it is FCC approved.
Nokia's N81 shows up in FCC, gives Americans hope
While the N81 has managed to capture the hearts of many thus far, we Americans have been forced to look longingly at it as we wonder if it will ever come to our shores. Thankfully, it seems that there's at least a glimmer of hope, as the sexy handset managed to slip up on the FCC's website, although the documentation has since been removed. Nevertheless, this ought to mean that the handset is well on its way to being sold in US outlets, so why don't you give those hands-on pictures a more serious glance till we find out more, cool?[Image courtesy of SolNew]
Orange wary of Nokia Music Store, threatens to avoid N81
Genuine concern for the "customer experience" or genuine concern for its music revenue stream? It's hard to gauge Orange's true intentions here, but basically, the European carrier is threatening to avoid carrying the 8GB variant of Nokia's N81 -- the one with the Nokia Music Store on it instead of Orange's own -- on fears that they haven't seen the service yet and have no idea whether it'll be easy for customers to use. A rather testy memo sent from Orange to Nokia reveals that Orange has given Nokia until August 31 (that's tomorrow!) to offer it the opportunity to test the Music Store side by side with its own service; if Nokia declines, Orange will respond in kind by dropping its planned order for a crapload of "exclusive blue" N81s. Given that the N81 is seen right now as the cornerstone of both Nokia's renewed music and gaming efforts, we're guessing the manufacturer would see a refusal by a major carrier on its own turf to be a slap in the face and a major blow to its plans -- so we're cautiously optimistic that things are gonna work out. In the meantime, Orange, skim as much music revenue as ya can.[Via mocoNews]
Nokia's N81 slider is an 8GB N-Gager
Remember the sidetalkin' N-Gage? Yeah... well, this isn't it. This is Nokia's new N-81 gaming device built upon their revamped N-Gage gaming platform. The S60 device packs HSDPA (sorry, no US band support) for on-line gaming, integrated speakers (and 3.5-mm headphone jack), and D-pad navigation for getting your game on. Still, it's not just for gaming as it fully supports all the audio and video you'd expect in a new "pane-driven," UI which carousels your windows instead of lining them up in tabs -- a UI which will evolve in the coming months in line with Ovi. On sale Q4 in Europe in an 8GB flash model (€431/$585) or €360/$490 pre-bunged with a 2GB microSD card. You did see our hands-on, right?
Nokia hands-ons at Engadget Mobile!
We've had the good fortune to spend some time with several members of Nokia's just-announced lineup: the N81, the 5310 and 5610 from the XpressMusic series, and the US spec N95. So is an N95 packed with HSDPA 850 / 1900 like the best thing ever? Check it all out over at Engadget Mobile!Read - US N95Read - N81Read - XpressMusic 5310 and 5610
Nokia N81 hands-on
The N81 is perhaps the most attractive Nokia we've ever seen. Not everyone will agree -- it's kinda square, bulky, and a little heavier than we were expecting -- but the total package struck us as solid and extraordinarily well designed. We were digging the cool metallic flake front and rear offset by a medium gray strip down the sides, the wild control layout below the screen, and the fact that this simply doesn't look like Your Father's Nokia. Turns out the N81's beauty is far from skin-deep, though. %Gallery-6500%
Nokia music store, N-Gage, N81, 8GB N95 all confirmed for tomorrow
In case you haven't heard, Nokia's blowing it out tomorrow, London style. We can't be certain what exactly is going to get announced until the curtain drops, but as the date and time draw near, we're hearing whispers from across the 'nets about what we can expect. Latest across our desks is this itinerary from The Nokia Blog, detailing the day's events; from it, we can see that the N81 and 8GB N95 are both on the docket, ensuring that the high end will be well represented. Also up are the rumored music store and the revamped N-Gage platform we've been hearing a solid buzz about recently. Stay tuned, we're just a few hours away now!
Nokia N81 shown up close and personal
We know Nokia's got a big event planned for London tomorrow, but Unwired View's got the images of just what's being shown: among the releases, the 8GB N81 gaming / media phone will be there (though we've little more information the device itself). Also mentioned: the "N95 8GB" device and some new XpressMusic phones. Stay tuned for more info as we get it.[Thanks, Staska]
Nokia's N81 snagged for lengthy photo shoot
Just days after catching the all-too-common blurred snapshots of Nokia's N81, here we have a plethora of photos that are much, much easier on the retinas. As expected, this diminutive slider is looking as good as ever, and that two-megapixel camera and 8GB of internal storage makes it all the better. You know the drill, click on through for a number of glamor shots as well as a few comparison snaps beside the N80.[Via JustAMP]
Nokia N81 in the wild, sort of
Going all the way back to the N95, it seems like Nokia started having a really hard time keeping a lid on hot upcoming product releases -- not to say we're complaining or anything -- and the upcoming N81 slider with a penchant for music is no exception. Following some serious scoopage a few months back, we're now seeing this shot of a believable-looking N81 dummy, which we're guessing is in the process of getting shipped out to retailers preparing to sell the real thing. With a rumored 8GB of onboard storage, HSDPA, and a 3.5mm headphone jack, we imagine said retailers should be doing a pretty brisk business, too.
Profile confirms Nokia N81 exists
A freshly-posted WAP profile on Nokia's site confirms that an N81 is in the works, but there really isn't much else to go on at this point. What little information exists here seems to corroborate what we'd heard before -- QVGA display, 3G radio, and WiFi -- though it's anybody's guess how true the actual phone will ring to the rendering we've seen. Oh, and yeah, we are bitter that the screen is QVGA, a sad step down from the N80's glorious 416 x 352 example. Why, Nokia, why?[Via Just Another Mobile Phone Blog]
Nokia N81 and N82 come to light
Symbian-Guru has the scoop on not one, but two unannounced new high-end Nokia handsets, the N81 (pictured on the left) and the N82 (pictured on the right). The slider-style N81 looks it'll be the successor to their N91 musicphone (except less, uh, busted-looking) and sport a full 8GB of memory, a 2.4-inch QVGA display, quad-band EDGE and 2100MHz HSDPA, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The N82 has a more traditional candybar form-factor and'll have a five megapixel camera with Xenon flash and auto-focus Carl Zeiss lens, quad-band GSM (doesn't say whether it'll be GRPS or EDGE, but we're guessing EDGE), 2100MHz HSDPA, a 2.4-inch QVGA display, Bluetooth 2.0, WiFi, integrated GPS, FM tuner, and a microSD memory card slot. Doesn't sound like either will be out until Q4 of this year.[Via Ring Nokia]
