TouchViva
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First Windows Mobile 6.5 device launched without a shred of officialness
If Microsoft had its way, Windows Mobile 6.5 wouldn't be coming to a retail device for a few months yet -- and if HTC had its way, manufacturers wouldn't be cloning its devices. This is the so-called real world, though, where a quick search on the internet will lead you to a cooked 6.5 ROM, and another search will instantly transport you into a magical universe of countless low-cost rips of your favorite name-brand handsets. It was just a matter of time before those two shady gray markets merged -- and, well, here you go. The Touch Viva knockoff is apparently based on a white-labeled Huawei platform that offers some sort of 460MHz core, quadband EDGE, a 3.2 megapixel cam, WiFi, and a 2.8-inch QVGA display. Given the forgettable design and spec sheet, we think you'd have to be extraordinarily hard up for 6.5 to bother dropping the requisite 1,099 yuan (about $161) -- but then again, you'd be making history with this one whether Microsoft likes it or not.[Via wmpoweruser.com]
T-Mobile launches downmarket HTC Touch Viva as MDA Basic
T-Mobile Germany's MDA Basic is just that friends, a no muss no fuss affair for those looking for more than a feature phone -- at least in some regards -- can offer, at bargain basement prices. We've covered all the details on the HTC Touch Viva set, but to refresh it includes a 2 megapixel camera, GSM / EDGE, TouchFLO 2D, WiFi, and even GPS. It's a bit mad that basic sets now includes things we only could dream about a couple years ago, GPS in a $6 Windows Mobile 6.1 Pro device is always OK with us. This set should stumble into retail in early February for about €4.95 (roughly $6.50) on a two year contract.Update: I guess adding Germany would help folks figure out where they can pick this thing up, huh? Thanks Matt.%Gallery-42361%
Leaked Rogers slides make us want to move to Canada
We're not really sure where to begin with this one, because the awesomeness is so thorough and so intense that we're basically at a loss for words; we'll see what we can do here, though. In brief, a HoFo poster has thrown up what appear to be slides from a Rogers event detailing the carrier's release plans for the better part of 2009, and seriously, if you name a badass handset, odds are it's here. Samsung will apparently be bringing the 8.1-megapixel Pixon, for starters, and Sony Ericsson will be throwing its name into the huge-cam hat with the C905. Turning our attention to Windows Mobile, the X1 is scheduled for release "around August if not sooner," Motorola brings the lowly Q11, and HTC adds the Touch Pro, the Touch Viva (an unusual choice considering HTC's intention to send it to emerging markets), and possibly the Touch 3G. Nokia will be offering the 5800 XpressMusic in the middle part of the year, Moto will be bringing a pair of 5-megapixel phones in the VE66 and ZN5, and finally, it seems RIM is signed up to bring the all-GSM 9520 Storm with WiFi -- a feature sorely missing from the Verizon and Vodafone versions -- and a 3G remix of the 8200 Pearl series flip that'll have a front-facing cam for video calling (yeah, no joke, they offer it up there). So look, AT&T, you have two options here: either crib off this presentation and make it happen, or we hope you get bought by Rogers. Your choice.[Via Engadget Spanish]
Touch Viva: the "Opal" materializes as HTC's low-end champion
Billed as an "affordable touch phone with the benefits of HTC's TouchFLO," the Touch Viva picks up where the original Touch left off and move things just a little bit downmarket for the benefit of smartphone lovers in emerging markets. To that end, the screen stays low-end with QVGA resolution, the radio tops out at EDGE speeds, and the camera's a mere 2-megapixel piece -- but by the same token, the Viva hangs onto WiFi, 256MB of ROM, and GPS. It also gets blessed with a tweaked version of TouchFLO that doesn't rely on 3D acceleration found in HTC's higher-end units. It'll be available starting next month for what we can only imagine will be a pretty reasonable price; backup smartphone, anyone?
