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BlackBerry's budget 'Americano' phone reportedly caught on camera
There have been rumors that BlackBerry would introduce a touch-only parallel to the Q5, and we may have just glimpsed that smartphone in the wild. Both BBin and CrackBerry have photos of what's reportedly the "Americano," the first device in the low-end C-series. The handset appears to be a smaller, more rounded counterpart to the Z30. There's nothing to support claims that the "Americano" will use the Q5's Snapdragon 400 processor and 5-megapixel camera, but there is a Verizon logo hinting at the possibility of a US launch. We also haven't heard of a release date for the phone, assuming it's released at all. We won't be surprised if it launches relatively soon, however; when BlackBerry is discounting the Z10, there may be a hole in the lineup before long.
Toshiba refreshes its PC lineup with new mainstream notebooks, a gaming laptop
If you're going to unveil a completely refreshed PC lineup, you may as well do it the week Intel launches some new processors (and, you know, the week a big computer show is going on). Toshiba just announced a slew of new models, including an all-in-one, a redesigned gaming notebook and mainstream laptops in various sizes. It'd be silly to overwhelm you with details right here, since everything from the designs to the GPUs have changed, but if you follow us past the break we've got a neat summary of everything Toshiba introduced today, complete with pricing, specs and a few hands-on photos too.
Toshiba updates its all-in-ones, mainstream Satellite laptops for early 2013
Sometimes a PC lineup just needs a little nip and tuck, you know? Toshiba certainly thinks so, as it's sweeping through its everyday all-in-one and laptop ranges with tweaks. The most conspicuous update we see is for the higher-end Satellite P series portables, which receive a Windows 8-friendly touchscreen on the 14-inch model and a 1080p display for the 17.3-inch behemoth. Toshiba also says it's sprucing up the LX815 and LX835 all-in-ones, as well as the Satellite C, L and S series laptops, although the company isn't specific on what's truly new -- we've reached out and will let you know what tune-ups are enroute. Regardless of the scope, all the new mainstream models should ship in February, with prices to come later.
Toshiba announces fresh C, L, S and P series laptops for back-to-school season
Chances are, college students are merely gearing up for finals, and the high school seniors among us are still months away from graduating. No matter to Toshiba. The company is getting ahead of the competition, showing off its back to school collection now. In addition to refreshing its entry-level C series, the outfit has redesigned its mainstream L and high-end P laptops. Look closely and you'll also see an entirely new line, the S series, which offers some of the same premium features as the P laptops, but with more of an emphasis on top-shelf specs than bells and whistles (because let's face it, bang-for-your-buck is likely to be a bigger priority for parents footing the bill). To keep things simple, we'll say this up front: each of these laptops is available in 14-, 15- and 17-inch sizes. Oh, and Toshiba isn't dishing too much on specs at the moment (Intel's Ivy Bridge processors still being shrouded in mystery and all.) Want the one-minute elevator pitch? You can jump straight to those pictures below. If you're curious about what makes each line distinct, follow past the break for the full breakdown.
Toshiba outs blingtastic Qosmio X770 for the US market, new P, C, and L series laptops
See that refined beast? You're looking at the Toshiba Qosmio X770 -- that European gaming behemoth we ogled from afar last month -- and in a matter of weeks, it'll continue its world tour to land on US shores. To recap, the company shrunk the screen from 18.4 inches to a more manageable 17.3, gave it a paint job that ever-so-subtly fades from red to gunmetal gray, and added a matching red backlit keyboard. This beefy guy comes in $1,199 and $1,899 configurations, with the higher-end model packing a 3D display, quad-core Core i7 CPU, and a 1.25TB hybrid hard drive, and the lower end offering a dual-core Core i5 CPU and a 750GB HDD. Either way, though, you'll get NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M graphics, 1.5GB of video memory, and MaxxAudio3 sound enhancement software. Meanwhile, Toshiba streamlined its consumer laptops for those non-gamers in the back-to-school crowd, axing the A and M lines, and leaving just the P series, for "premium." It'll include 14-, 15.6-, and 17.3-inch models, all decked out in a textured, two-tone Fuxion X2 finish and featuring USB sleep-and-charge ports, HDMI-out, Harman Kardon speakers, and that same MaxxAudio 3 utility. Depending on the configuration, you can also score NVIDIA GeForce GT540M graphics, Intel Wireless Display, a 4G radio, a Blu-ray drive, and a 3D screen (only on the 15-incher). On the inside, you've got your choice of Intel Core i3, i5, and i7 CPUs or a spankin' new A6-3400M accelerated processing unit from AMD. Look for the 14-inch P745 with a starting price of $699, and 15-inch P755 and the 17-inch P775 for $629 and up. And, rounding out its portfolio, Toshiba refreshed its budget Satellite L700 series with Core 2011 processors and new AMD A4 and A6 APUs, while the entry-level Satellite C800 gets AMD Fusion C-50 and E-350 APU options. None of these laptops go on sale until later this month, so for now you can content yourself with those up-close-and-personal hands-on shots below. %Gallery-126296% %Gallery-126295%
MSI rolls out Core i3-based CX640, CR640 laptops
MSI's already had a fairly productive month when it comes to new laptops, but it's not done quite yet -- the company has now also rolled out its new 15.6-inch CX640 and CR640 models, which each boast what MSI calls a "clutter free design," as well as some budget-friendly prices. As for specs, both pack an Intel Core i3-2310M processor, 4GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive (not to mention two USB 3.0 ports), while the silver CX640 upgrades things from the basic integrated Intel HD 3000 graphics on the black CR640 model to NVIDIA's GeForce GT 520M with Optimus technology. Sound like the mid-range laptop you've been waiting for? Then you can grab your choice of the CR640 or CX640 today for $630 or $680, respectively -- full press release is after the break.
Nokia's Astound debuts at T-Mobile, lazily announced on Twitter
T-Mobile has followed through on a promised April 6th release of its Astound -- a Symbian^3 device from Nokia -- adding yet another option to the carrier's venerable lineup of smartphones. We've already broken this one down in recent months, but in case you've been forced under a rock here lately, a recap awaits: the device features a 3.5-inch AMOLED display, an impressive 8 megapixel shooter with dual-LED flash, and a front-facing camera for Qik video chatting. The re-branded C7 also serves up your data connection by way of USB tethering and WiFi (though sadly, not at 4G speed). It's altogether likely to be one of Nokia's last homegrown creations to grace the 'polka dot' network, and at $79.99 after rebate, the Astound appears to be a fitting swan song, indeed.
Nokia announces new C6 and C7 Symbian^3 handsets with 8 megapixel cameras, 720p video
Nokia's just rolled a couple of candybar handsets out of its bakery, aiming to seduce new users to its next big platform, Symbian^3. The Nokia C6-01 features an 8 megapixel camera and a 3.2-inch AMOLED screen with all-new ClearBlack Display (CBD) technology from the Finnish company -- touted to deliver better outdoor visibility. The 3.5-inch (also AMOLED) C7 gets more memory than its family mate and a stainless steel body, which Anssi Vanjoki thinks makes it the sleekest device in the world, "no doubt about it." Both handsets can record pixel-heavy 720p video and both will ship some time later this year, with estimated pre-tax prices of €260 ($334) and €335 ($430), respectively. Full PR after the break.%Gallery-102112%%Gallery-102114%
Symbian^3 C7 with nHD display confirmed on Nokia's own site
If Nokia's N8 is just too much smartphone for you then perhaps you'd like to take it down a notch with the C7. As part of the C-series of Nokia devices, you can expect it to trim some of the specs off the N8, but not much as the flagship device of the family. You know, something very similar to the apparently leaked image and specs (pictured above) we saw a few weeks back. Parsing the XML posted on Nokia's own site reveals an ARM-based Symbian^3 C7-00 device with a Nokia favorite 360x640 nHD pixel display resolution and 3G UMTS/HSDPA, WiFi, and Bluetooth radios. Obviously no pricing is available but you can expect it to be fairly inexpensive for what you'll get. [Thanks, Glen]
Nokia's C1 and C2 series try hard not to break even the smallest of banks
It looks like Nokia's conversion from the time-tested four-digit naming scheme to the one-letter, one-number strategy may be nearing completion now that the company has announced a new series of ultra-low end candybars that all have homes within the Cseries. The C1 is actually a three-pack of phones -- the C1-00, C1-01, and C1-02 -- all of which feature Nokia's longest standby time ever (quoted at six weeks) along with a color display, integrated flashlight, 3.5mm headphone jack, and FM radio; the 01 and 02 variants add microSD slots, while the 01 also features a VGA camera and the 00 becomes Nokia's very first dual-SIM device to hit the market. The C2 is also a dual-SIM device, but unlike the C1-00, the C2 can keep both SIMs active simultaneously, meaning you'll be able to get calls and messages to either SIM without manually switching. It's got a microSD slot and a SIM slot, meaning that one of the two SIMs is hot-swappable -- a pretty unique feature if you've got an endless supply of lines that you want to be able to use without hassle. Look for the C1-00 to hit in the third quarter for €30 ($37) subsidy-free, the C1-01 early in the fourth quarter for €39 ($47), and the C1-02 and C2 both to come late in the fourth quarter of the year for 35 and 45 ($43 and $55), respectively. Follow the break for Nokia's press release.
Nokia's unannounced C3 sees FCC approval
Now that Nokia's one-letter, one-number branding realignment is in full swing, we can probably expect a cascade of thusly-named handsets out of Espoo over the course of 2010 -- a big part of that strategy will likely be the new Cseries, a line designed to thrust S60 into low-end segments of the market traditionally dominated by feature phones. The C5 kicked off that push a few weeks ago, and now it looks like we can expect the C3 to swing in before too long; it's hard to say what kind of specs or ID we can expect here, but judging from the line-art diagram in the filing, it'll be either a slider or a portrait QWERTY device -- it's just too wide for a candybar. Ultra-cheap QWERTY certainly sounds like an appealing option, but Nokia's yet to pull the wraps off this one, so it's hard to say when (or where) we might see a retail launch.
Nokia C5 arrives with S60 3rd edition OS pretending to be a 'smartphone'
We're not going to kid you, the already leaked C5 is not going to woo many smartphone hunters as we traditionally understand this defining term for high-end handsets. Although Nokia dubs it as such, the 2.2-inch display riding 2GB of microSD storage and S60 3rd OS just doesn't hold up. It does, however, come with Nokia Messaging baked in as well as GPS with free Ovi Maps turn-by-turn navigation making it a heck of a featurephone for the price: just €135 (about $183) unlocked, before taxes and any carrier subsidies are applied. So what we're looking at here is execution of Nokia's strategy to push Symbian downward throughout its product catalog as Maemo, eh hem, MeeGo starts filling in the top slots (give it a few years). Besides complicating smartphone marketshare reports, the emergence of the handset also confirms Nokia's new Cseries of middling devices while giving credence to the Nokia roadmap leaked last month. So while the C5 might not tickle your fancy, maybe the rumored 12 megapixel N8-00 with 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen rumored to be launching this summer will.
Nokia C6 gets FCC approval, launching at CeBIT?
Say you're Nokia. Well, you can't be Nokia since Nokia's an inanimate concept; say you're Nokia CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo. What'd be a good show to use as a backdrop for a new low-end line of smartphones, none of which are likely to generate a ton of buzz? Why, the monstrous fairgrounds of CeBIT, of course! There's a bit of creative wording in the official Nokia Conversations newsletter that would seem to indicate the long-rumored Cseries is finally ready to bow: "Of course, we don't comment on rumours or leaks, but we are looking forward to C BIT for the next series of Nokia announcements. Right we're off to pack our rucksacks and lederhosen, C you there." Get it? All those "C" references? Yeah, looks like a lock. We don't know what phones will be shown off, but the most likely candidates are the C5 and C6, the latter of which could have some legs as an E72 alternative. Speaking of the C6, it was just approved by the FCC this week, complete with 850, 1900, and 2100MHz 3G -- so don't you worry, AT&T folks, this'll work just fine for you when it launches. Stay tuned, because CeBIT is just days away.
Nokia N8-00: first Symbian^3 handset with 12 megapixel camera, 720p video, and HDMI leaked in summer roadmap?
Nokia's already tipped its hand for the year Twenty Ten by publicly stating its intent to deliver a sleeker, more attractive, and faster Symbian UI; fewer nags; and at least one Maemo handset before the year is done. What we've been missing though, are the details. While we still don't have the complete story, it is beginning to take shape according to alleged leaks received by Tom's Guide. First up is a new naming convention, something already telegraphed by Nokia's Xseries launch and Cseries trademark. According to the French language site, Nokia will end the use of monikers like XpressMusic or Classic as it simplifies around the following five ranges: C: voice-centric handsets. X: targeting youth, entertainment. E: business focused. N: high-end. S: limited editions. Tom's Guide claims to be privy to 14 new models, a few of which it spilled the beans on today. Click through for the gossip.
Nokia's mid-tier 'Mystic' to be dubbed C6, will hit stores in May or June?
We can't say we were overwhelmed by the first leaked photos of what we've come to know as the Nokia Mystic, but there's something about this QWERTY candybar form factor that Nokia just does so well that we have to hang onto the benefit of the doubt. The latest news on this front is that the handset will be dubbed the Nokia C6, which makes a lot of sense as a counterpart to the numeric keypad-equipped but similarly styled Nokia C5 that was recently leaked. Word is that the C6 should retail for around 200 Euro (about $274 US), and that it should be released in May or June. It seems logical that we'll see both of these S60 3rd edition phones at MWC this month, but there's nothing solid on that front just yet.
Nokia rumors: Xseries is XpressMusic successor, new Nseries touchphone in '09?
German site NokiaPort has rounded up a nice little cache of juicy Nokia details that it says is culled from "official information from Nokia, confirmed rumors and reputable sources of information," and while we can't personally vouch for most of what we're seeing here, it's all sounding reasonable enough -- and with Nokia World right around the corner, we figured this would be a grand opportunity to lay it out and see how the chips fall. First up, Cseries and Xseries are said to be presented at the show, with the first Xseries model being an upgraded version of the just-launched 5530 XpressMusic with 3G thrown in, probably spelling doom for the 5800 -- in other words, Xseries is very likely a wholesale rebranding of the XpressMusic line, which totally makes sense. Speaking of touchscreens and Nokia branding, the site says that we'll see another touchscreen Nseries model to keep the N97 company before the year's out, followed by Eseries' first S60 5th Edition model in 2010. Coincidentally, they've got a part of a supposed new touch model pictured on the site (see above), though we're not clear on what we're seeing. In the Maemo department, the N900 is likely to be the only Maemo 5 device for the better part of the year, though there's apparently a mysterious N920 already making the rounds in the Espoo campus. As technologies go, xenon flashes are apparently on the outs with Nokia -- better hang onto your phones, N82 owners -- while capacitive screens should start to take hold. Samsung has already proven that S60 works just fine and dandy with a capacitive display on the i8910, so we're stoked to see where Nokia takes it. Finally, OMAP3 cores are said to be working their way into the lineup following a Cortex A8-based introduction in the N900; Nokia has historically lagged its competition as processing power goes, so it'll be great to see them start to match up with the Pres and the iPhones of the world -- at least as far as raw computational might goes, anyhow. [Thanks Hermann S., image via Eldar Murtazin]
MSI dishes five new C Series laptops, all of which are perfectly average
Okay, so maybe "new" is being a bit generous here, but whatever the case, MSI has a fresh five piece of C Series laptops ready and willing to be purchased, opened and openly abused. The C Series never has been much to look at nor swoon over, with the whole lineup packing only decent specifications and a rather unexciting motif. Not that there's anything wrong with the all-business approach, but nothing here is going to set the world ablaze like, say, Toshiba's inglorious X305. The CX600, CX700, CR600-013, CR600-017 and CR700 are all either being introduced or mildly tweaked, with the 600 models packing a 16-inch display and the 700 flavors getting things done on a 17.3-inch panel. The CR600 and CR700 offer up a discrete GeForce 8200M GPU and optional Blu-ray drive, while the other guys get by with a Mobility Radeon HD 4330 and DVD burner. Hit the read link for the full specs list, and feel free to select one to call your own starting at $549.99.
MSI takes the pain, fun out of overclocking with OC Genie
If you thought MSI's obsession with motherboard implants was over after it unveiled Winki to a nearly nonexistent amount of fanfare, think again. The company has just taken the wraps off its latest mobo addition, the OC Genie. In essence, this is the one-touch overclock button that laptop owners have long enjoyed, but for desktops. Right now, the OC Genie is custom built for the company's own P55 motherboard, though it insists that all sorts of mainboards will be supported in due time. If you're curious about the details, you'll have to remain that way for now; all we're told is that activating the module automatically pushes your system to a safe brink within a second, giving even the newbies in attendance the ability to squeeze more from their current rig. In related news, MSI also added yet another model to its growing Classic laptop series, the 17.3-inch CX700, which gets powered by a Core 2 Duo processor, ATI's Mobility Radeon HD4330 GPU and 4GB of RAM.[Via HotHardware]
Nokia files for "Cseries" trademark -- but what's it for?
Those who follow Nokia know that its phone lineup is divided roughly into three segments: the Nseries, populated by high-end, media-heavy smartphones (plus the N770, N800, and N810 tablets); the Eseries, concentrating on business, and the four-digit line, which acts as a catch-all for anything not deserving of an Nseries or Eseries designation. It looks like Espoo could be prepping to add a fourth line into the mix, though, on news that they've gone ahead and trademarked "Cseries" in Finland. What "C" stands for is anyone's guess, but this does dovetail nicely with the near-constant stream of information suggesting Nokia will be driving hard with MIDs and netbooks later this year and next, so maybe the "C" stands for "computer." Of course, it could also stand for "crap," so we've just got to wait and see what becomes of this little moniker.[Via puhelinvertailu]
Sony announces VAIO C and FE 'Graphic Splash Editions'
Spring is in the air, which means that birds are chirping, flowers are poking their heads out of the ground, gamers are fleeing the sunlight for the cool darkness of their basements, and of course Sony is rolling out a limited number of VAIO notebooks with cheery seasonal paint jobs. Last time we saw the so-called 'Graphic Splash Editions,' it was the C and AR series getting all decked out for the holidays, but this time around the AR's are getting the boot in favor of of the 15.4-inch FE890 (pictured above), available immediately in either Charcoal Blossom, Black and White Dot, Weathered Blue, or Brown and Turquoise Dot -- despite what the product shot seems to indicate. With the 13.3-inch C series (pictured after the break), dropping April 17th, Weathered Blue and Charcoal Blossom are swapped out for Weathered Red and Pink Blossom, respectively, but both dot patterns remain. As you've come to expect from Sony's lappies, most of the specs are pretty high end (save for the graphics), with Core 2 Duo CPUs, at least a gig of RAM, and 100GB+ drives making an appearance in every configuration, along with Vista, dual-layer DVD burners, and three flavor WiFi. The C's will start out at around $1,250, while you can pick yourself up an SE for as little as a grand; hurry up if you're interested, though, because there are only 1,350 of these getting manufactured and painting your own is kind of a hassle.
