rhodium
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Leaked Sense ROM with landscape mode looks wider than it is tall
Landscape orientation: a bastion of width-lovers everywhere. Indeed, hearts have to be melting on news that the leaked T-Mobile USA-branded HD2 ROM -- which has somehow made it onto some Touch Pro2s thanks to xda-developers' usual black magic -- seems to have revealed a new landscape mode for Sense, the beautified WinMo skin formerly known as TouchFLO. Though this makes a ton of sense for devices like the Touch Pro2 that actually need to be used sideways when the keyboard's deployed, we think it'll find plenty of use on slates like the HD2, too. Won't it?
HTC Rhodium spotted in Sprint "compatible phone" list, Touch Pro2 definitely maybe imminent
While AT&T, Telus and Verizon Wireless customers have long since known that HTC's luscious Touch Pro2 was heading their way, fans of Dan Hesse have been twiddling their thumbs wondering if said handset would ever cruise along at Sprint Speed™. We wouldn't call this anything close to official confirmation, but an official Sprint portal for the outfit's NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile application definitely lists the HTC Rhodium as a "compatible phone" that supports full audio and video content. For those unaware, "Rhodium" is just another way of uttering "Touch Pro2." Don't get your hopes too high, but feel free to have a stiff drink on us.[Thanks, Kenny]
AT&T's HTC Touch Pro2 hits the FCC
It looks like that slightly-tweaked version of the HTC Touch Pro2 codenamed "Fortress" and destined for AT&T is winding its way closer to store shelves -- a listing for a Rhodium 300 just popped up in the FCC database, complete with test results on all the necessary bands. So that's Rhodium 100 for T-Mobile, 400/500 for Sprint and Verizon (or vice-versa) and 300 for AT&T -- any questions?
HTC passes CDMA / GSM hybrid Touch Pro2 through the FCC
Remember that Touch Pro2 we saw in Sprint livery yesterday? A leaked roadmap indicated that this would be a global roaming device packing both CDMA and GSM radios -- and Telus' inventory system certainly corroborates the existence of such a device. Further proof now comes to us in the form of an FCC filing for yet another variant of the Rhodium (HTC's codename for the Touch Pro2), and while only CDMA is being tested here, there's also some assurance from HTC that the FCC needn't worry about the locked-down GSM radio lying dormant in there. In other words, it'll only be used outside US borders -- places the FCC doesn't give two flips about. Even better, there are actually two versions being referred to here -- the RHOD400 and RHOD500 -- which could very well represent separate bodies for Sprint and Verizon. As if you needed another reason to upgrade from the original Touch Pro, Sprint folks... well, here you go.
HTC Touch Pro2 for Sprint spotted in the wild, mid-June release?
We've known that a version of the HTC Rhodium / Touch Pro2 was inbound for Sprint at some point this summer (assuming no delays), but would mark the first time we've seen one in what appears to be finished production trim. A SprintUsers poster claims that the global roaming-capable device should be hitting retail mid-June with the portrait QWERTY Snap following in July -- and yes, we'd be more inclined to ignore the noise had said poster not also provided the glorious pictures. Looking good -- really good, actually -- but good luck tearing any eyes away from the Pre kiosks in the stores next month, HTC. [Thanks, David D.]
Wing wiped from T-Mobile's website
It doesn't take a rocket scientist (a phone scientist, maybe, but not a rocket scientist) to figure out that HTC's venerable Wing is on the way toward that Great Carrier in the Sky this year as T-Mobile prepares to make room for the Rhodium / Touch Pro2, and the rather sudden disappearance of the Wing from T-Mobile's site definitely lends credence to that. You can still pick up a Shadow or a Dash if you're hard up for WinMo -- though we wouldn't recommend the latter, seeing how the Dash 3G is right around the corner -- because as far as we can tell, we're still not expecting the Touch Pro2 until July. Stay tough, folks. [Via TmoToday]
T-Mobile-branded HTC Touch Pro2 appears in the wild
It's really no secret that the Touch Pro2 is destined to arrive in the States on T-Mobile, but this is the first time we've seen the T-Mo edition not, uh, drippings with goo. And yes, that's a US-spec keyboard and the "fewer dots" US T-Mobile logo, so this looks like the real thing -- hopefully that means a launch is imminent. Hit the read link for a bunch more shots.[Via Pocketnow]
Sidekick 2009, HTC Snap and Touch Pro2 dated for T-Mobile?
The gang at TmoNews have it from a "trusted source" what's purported to be a list of tentative release dates for nearly a dozen T-Mobile phones. At the top on that list is the Sidekick 2009 (a.k.a. "Blade") for May 13th, followed by heavy hitters HTC Snap and HTC Rhodium (Touch Pro2) for July 1st / 22nd, respectively. Rounding out the list is a pre-paid Nokia 1661 for April 29th, a mysterious Sony Ericsson CS8 for June 24th, six Samsung T-series phones all debuting between May 6th and August 19th, and a big, fat "TBD" for the HTC Magic (Sapphire). Don't think these dates as gospel, but with less than six weeks until Blade's rumored to hit retail, we'll know soon enough if this list has any credence
HTC Rhodium / T-Mobile Wing II hits the FCC
It looks like the HTC Rhodium (that's the Touch Pro2's codename, if you're keeping track) is inching ever closer to its launch on T-Mobile as the Wing II -- the slider QWERTY handset just arrived at the FCC. The listing is awfully meager at the moment, but it looks like the model number will be the RHOD100, for those of you prone to prowling government databases late at night. Of course, there's no word on release date or anything like that, but we're willing to wait for this sexy piece loaded up with Windows Mobile 6.5. Engineers and RF fetishists, your SAR reports await at the read link.
Goo-covered Touch Pro2 supposedly running T-Mobile USA ROM
If we had to guess, this is the ROM destined for the Rhodium / Wing II that'll hopefully be hitting T-Mobile later this year, but for now, you're getting it served to you on a drywall putty-encrusted Touch Pro2 for some reason. Or maybe it's peanut butter, cake frosting, or Aspercreme -- we really couldn't tell you -- but we can tell you that no amount of Windows Mobile-induced desire is going to get us to touch this thing without latex gloves. Good news is you can grab the ROM for yourself and install it on something with a little less organic material smeared all over it, or do as the rest of the consumerati do and simply wait for an official release -- however long that might take. Your call.
HTC 2009 lineup gets spec'd in detail?
Other than a few desperately-needed in-the-wild shots, we're getting close to knowing everything we need to know about HTC's 2009 lineup of devices -- or much of it, anyway -- and the latest leak certainly fills in some holes for us. The big news here might be the NVIDIA-powered SuperStar, featuring 512MB of ROM, 256MB of RAM, and a whopping 3.7-inch WVGA display that should be ready to take full advantage of the high-octane 600MHz chipset. That sucker will be running WinMo 6.5 out of the gate, suggesting it won't be out until later in the year; we've also got a couple Qualcomm-powered 6.5 handsets in the mix along with a plethora of 6.1 units that -- if HTC's current strategy holds up -- should be upgradeable to 6.5 when the time comes. The authenticity of the leaked spec sheet can't be confirmed here, but it certainly seems believable, doesn't it?[Via wmpoweruser.com]
T-Mobile getting HTC Rhodium as the Wing II, Sapphire as the G2?
T-Mobile USA has a pretty solid relationship with HTC, considering it sells the Shadow, the Wing, and the G1 at the moment -- and seeing how the G1's doing a nice little spot of business for them, it stand to reason that they'd be looking to continue the good times through '09. We're hearing from TmoNews that one HTC devices leaked today -- the Sapphire -- is the G2, while another source is telling us that the Rhodium is the Wing II, giving T-Mob solid, high-end Windows Mobile and Android devices alike in the new year. The original Wing is older than your grandmother (bless her heart), and as for the G1... well, let's be honest, these guys can take as much Android gear as HTC will give 'em right now. Bring it, fellas.[Thanks, anonymous tipster]
Merovingi 2008 Fashion Awards now running
Running until the 26th, the 2008 Merovingi Fashion Awards are on now. If that name seems familiar it may well be because Gabriel Merovingi (Sebastian Oxide in SL) and Australian based Merovingi Group ran them last year, as well. This year the show is fund-raising for Doctors Without Borders, and the National Cancer Society. The prizes for the category winners this year include L$ and Apple hardware.
