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Samsung Omnia II for Verizon in the flesh, Windows Mobile 6.1 on board
We finally got a good, hard look at the Verizon-customized version of Samsung's Omnia II, and we've got good news and bad news: the good news is that the phone's a darker, more reasonable shade in person than it was in that press shot we'd seen before, but the bad news is that we've confirmed it's running 6.1. Anyone daring to release a 6.1 phone at this point is at serious risk of getting laughed out of the room unless they offer an upgrade path mere minutes afterwards, so we're hoping that by the time this is on shelves, it'll either be running 6.5 out of the box or there'll be an update program announced in conjunction with the release. Otherwise, the display's absolutely phenomenal (indoors, anyhow) and TouchWiz seems to work as well as it did on the original model, though scrolling through menus got a bit laggy at times -- isn't it kinda weird that a years-old platform can practically max out a circa-2009 device? Check out a quick gallery below. %Gallery-74971%
Samsung Moment for Sprint first hands-on!
We're not sure that the keyboard meets the lofty standard set by the CLIQ / DEXT, but arguably the Moment's single most important feature -- the slide-out QWERTY keyboard -- has decent feel. It's very clicky and requires a surprising amount of pressure to actuate individual keys, but not enough to be frustrating -- it just feels solid. Overall, the phone's a little bulky and has a plastic overtone to it, but fortunately, the screen's at least as good as the G1 and Magic for feel and there's no "give" to speak of; OLED's gorgeous (as always) indoors, but the true test of trying to view this thing in the sunlight might not come until we've had a chance to take delivery of a review unit. The software's essentially stock Android with a few Sprint apps (including Sprint TV) peppered in for good measure. Check out our hands-on gallery, won't you?%Gallery-74953%
HTC Imagio for Verizon unboxing and hands-on
Verizon's matching AT&T tit-for-tat in the race to get the first Windows Mobile 6.5 devices out of the door with the launch of the HTC Imagio, a phone that essentially amounts to a more deluxe version of the Touch Diamond2 with a larger screen, 3.5mm headphone jack, combo CDMA and GSM radios (both with 3G) for global roaming, and a FLO TV tuner to support Verizon's VCAST TV service. We've had just a few brief moments to play with the Imagio so far, but after coming from the Pure -- the AT&T-branded model that we used to compile our initial impressions of WinMo 6.5 -- it's a real treat. It looks and feels like a higher-end device thanks to a proliferation of soft-touch plastic (as opposed to the Pure's glossy cover) and the kickstand is a cute touch, perfect for when you've got a few minutes to kill and you want to fire up the FLO-powered tube. Follow the break for video and more impressions! %Gallery-74853%
Samsung Intrepid intros Sprint to Windows Mobile 6.5 on October 11
Looking for a worthy successor to that aging Ace? Sprint customers need no longer wonder when they'd be up for their own dose of WinMo 6.5 because the carrier has officially announced the Intrepid, a portrait QWERTY device that basically brings the design of the OmniaPRO B7320 and AT&T's Jack over the CDMA world. Like its predecessor, though, the Intrepid isn't just about CDMA -- it'll also do GSM for global roaming, so feel free to pack it as you gallivant across the Mediterranean, and unlike the Jack, the Intrepid's got a QVGA touchscreen up top to compliment the chiclet keys down below. At any rate, you'll be able to pick this up starting this Sunday, October 11 for $149.99 on contract after rebates -- the same price as a Pure over on AT&T, coincidentally, so pick your poison. [Thanks, Jay]
BlackBerry Essex spotted, ready to add WiFi to Tour?
This looks an awful lot like an Onyx to us, but Salomondrin -- who has posted several blurry shots of this puppy -- claims it's the mythical Essex, a Tour refresh that should make CDMA BlackBerry fans very happy. Why? Well, first, there's the apparent addition of WiFi, something that we've heard was bound to happen sooner or later; secondly, the Tour's infamously finicky trackball has been tossed to the wayside in favor of a trackpad, yet another signal that RIM's looking to ditch trackballs altogether. It's also said to have a better camera, though the definition of "better" in this context remains unclear; also unclear is a release date, but considering that the Tour's still minty fresh on store shelves, we wouldn't realistically expect it until mid-2010. [Via CrackBerry]
Verizon's HTC Imagio toyed with on video, sized up against BlackBerry Storm
Interested in HTC's upcoming slate of WinMo 6.5 goodness for Verizon? How interested? Interested enough to peek a minty fresh video of the thing in action? If you're nodding your head up and down with any level of ferocity, we'd encourage you to re-familiarize yourself with the specifications, come to terms with the fact that there's no way you're laying hands on this yourself prior to October 6th, click on past the break and mash play. In that order, please.[Thanks, Mark]
Nokia 6350 comes to AT&T October 4
Wouldn't it have been amazing if Nokia had managed to drop S60 on a brand-new flip for AT&T and push it out the door for just $29.99 on contract? Yes, well, that's not what's going on here -- but if you're looking for a basic featurephone with a distinctly Finnish accent, the 6350 might be right up your alley. The phone still manages to pack HSDPA, a 2 megapixel camera, and dedicated music controls without breaking the bank -- and thanks to the 3G radio, it'll work with that newfangled 3G Microcell if you find yourself needing it. It'll be available in your choice of red and graphite (Nokia calls them "seasonal shades") starting this Sunday.
Verizon launching Omnia II later this month -- with WinMo 6.1?
With the Imagio having just launched and the Omnia II coming down the pike, it's easy to be lulled into the false sense of security that Verizon subscribers will soon have their pick of several high-end smartphones running Windows Mobile 6.5 this month. Sure, the Touch Pro2 runs 6.1 for the time being, but the Omnia II must be hitting with 6.5 at launch -- right? Not so fast; WMExperts alleges that when Samsung's latest US-bound smartphone hits later this month, it'll have 6.1 loaded, and although a 6.5 update is eventually planned, it won't come "for a while." That's a huge disappointment if true, and it'll be a tough situation to explain if they've got the Imagio launching on the 6th with 6.5 and the Omnia II comes, say, two weeks later with an operating system nearly two years older (not to say we expect the jump from 6.1 to 6.5 feel like two years' worth of improvement, but still). Heck, we can't believe we're saying this, but we think it might even be worth their while to delay the phone by a few weeks if it meant they'd be able to be on shelves with 6.5 from day one -- but maybe that's why we're writers and not Verizon marketing strategists. [Via pocketnow.com]
Verizon adds Motorola Barrage today, Nokia Shade next week
There's a certain joy, an undeniable stress release associated with heaving your phone directly at a wall. Of course, your average handset isn't likely to respond favorable to that kind of maneuver, so you might want to pick up something that makes boastful claims about its ability to stand up to shock, vibration, and all the other ails of an abusive relationship with its owner -- something like the Motorola Barrage, for instance. The Barrage is a mil-spec 810F that can tolerate submersion in a meter of water for half an hour, dust, baking in the sun, and everything in between, giving Casio's place at the top of the rugged food chain on Verizon a run for its money. It's got external music controls, a 2 megapixel camera, and support for VZ Navigator, launching today for $129.99 on contract -- or if you prefer to skip on the camera, you can look for a blind version to hit on the 21st of the month. Separately, Verizon is trotting out yet another member of its heavily-renewed partnership with Nokia, though this one isn't nearly as odd as the Twist. The 2705 Shade is your basic, run-of-the-mill clamshell with a 1.3 megapixel cam and swappable covers that's ready to do battle in the very lowest shelves of the store thanks to a $29.99 on-contract price -- though it'll take a while to get to those shelves since it's an online exclusive for the time being starting October 6. Read - Motorola Barrage Read - Nokia Shade
HTC Imagio launches on Verizon: WinMo 6.5 and VCAST TV on October 6
Those Imagio rumors have proven to be deliciously correct, with Verizon officially announcing the beastly Windows Mobile 6.5 set for availability on October 6 -- the first day 6.5 devices will officially be available anywhere. HTC's latest CDMA device features a spacious wide VGA display clocking in at 3.6 inches, a 5 megapixel autofocus cam, quadband EDGE plus HSPA 2100 for when you're looking for a little connectivity abroad, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and the very latest iteration of TouchFLO 3D featuring social network integration, but the most interesting feature might be its support for MediaFLO-based VCAST TV -- a first for HTC and Windows Mobile. Interest parties need only wait until next Tuesday to latch onto an Imagio online, while retail stores will be taking delivery on the 20th of the month -- either way, you'll be paying $199.99 on contract after rebate.
BlackBerry Storm 2 dummies coming to Best Buy around October 25?
We've long suspected that the Storm 2 would be bowing in the next couple months, within earshot of the original Storm's one-year anniversary -- and new evidence suggests that even if we can't get an actual device in October, we'll at least be able to make clicking sounds with our mouths as we amble around a non-functional display unit (you laugh, but it's our idea of a good Saturday night). Boy Genius Report has been slipped a Best Buy inventory screen -- a familiar sight in the phone scooping world -- that reports an in-stock date for Storm 2 dummies of October 25. Those dummy units can end up arriving before or after the actual phones, and considering that we've seen other evidence pointing to an October launch, this could be the real deal. Tao envy might be a problem by the time this hits, but we're sure there'll be a few folks willing to give RIM a mulligan on its touchscreen dealings. [Via PhoneArena]
Motorola Tao's photographer zooms out a little, better shot ensues
Now that the Sholes has seemingly been gifted with a less bizarre, less reminds-us-of-a-shoe-insert name, pictures and specs of the so-called Tao are starting to flow en masse -- just in time for a possible introduction at next week's CTIA show out in San Diego (we can only hope, anyway). The first round of in-the-wild shots really didn't reveal much of anything, but the cameraman has elected to apply just enough wide-angle this time around to give us a full-on view of the high-end Android beast in its closed position -- and if this is what we're going to be getting on Verizon shelves, HTC (and heck, even Moto's own CLIQ) should be on high alert. So, who'd switch to Verizon for this? [Via Boy Genius Report]
Samsung Trill and Caliber coming to US Cellular
US Cellular's just big enough of a carrier to command a few exclusive handsets of its own -- especially from a company like Samsung that somehow manages to announce about fifteen new models a day, 365 days a year (not really, but it'd be easy to think that they did if you didn't pay attention). Take these two puppies, for example; first up is the music-oriented r520 Trill slider (pictured left), which counts Bang & Olufsen's ICEpower signal processing and 1GB of onboard memory expandable to a total of 33GB as its headline features. To the right we've got the r850 Caliber, a full-touch piece with a 3.2-inch WQVGA display, TouchWiz, a 3 megapixel camera with video capture, and full HTML browsing -- not shabby, assuming the price is right. We don't have pricing or availability on either of these bad boys just yet, but we'll keep you in the loop. [Thanks, Doug]
Motorola Barrage for Verizon sounds aggressive, has specs to match
Casio has a pretty tight lock on Verizon's market for ruggedized gear, but they don't own it outright -- Motorola's got the V750 in the mix, too, though it's a little stale at this point (it launched last July, which amounts to an eternity in phone years). That might just be where this puppy comes into play: meet the "Barrage," a phone that both sounds and looks like it's gearing up to kick ass and take names. Verizon boasts in the launch pack that you don't have to "be afraid of getting dirty" when you're carrying the Barrage thanks to its mil-spec 810F compliance -- and you don't have to be afraid of getting wet, either, since 810F covers submersion in a meter of water for up to a half-hour without ill effect. If EV-DO, a 2 megapixel camera, external music controls, and GPS all sound good to you -- and you can tolerate a meager QCIF display -- it looks like you'll be able to score the Barrage online on the first of next month, while in-store availability follows on come November 16.
Samsung's Instinct HD lands itself a quick video hands-on
At this point we're a little bored of the Instinct HD leaks, especially now that it's been saddled with that hefty $250 pricetag, but how about a detailed video hands-on for olde tymes sake? Interestingly, on video we're shown the location of the mythic HDMI out port, though it's covered up by a flap, and we'd say that in motion the phone doesn't look as terribly chubby as those blurry photos made it out to be -- who says TV adds 10 pounds? Video is after the break. [Thanks, Taylor]
Sprint temporarily loses its mind, wants $250 for Samsung Instinct HD
And you thought T-Mobile and Sprint were sniffing the good stuff when they demanded $350 for the HTC Touch Pro2. Shortly after Instinct HD boxes began showing up at select Sprint stores, the flagging carrier has finally come forward with an official ship date (9/27) and price. Try as we may, we still can't figure out why exactly "HD" is tacked on the end of this thing; the 480 x 320 display is decidedly average, it can't play back high-def content on the device itself, and the "HD" video output is a feature that approximately 3.8 Earthlings will ever use (on a phone like this, anyway). Compounding the problem is the remarkable lack of detail in the specifications -- Sprint simply swears that its 5 megapixel camera and video record mode are HD, but it fails to provide any elaboration whatsoever. Other specs include WiFi, EV-DO Rev A support, Opera Mobile 9.7, an ambient light sensor, haptic feedback and an accelerometer, but even those can't help justify the $249.99 (after a $100 mail-in rebate and a two-year agreement) asking price. Hey Sprint -- we thought you guys were actually looking to gain subscribers. Right?
Instinct HD spotted with box, looking chubbier than ever
Look, we enjoy a bit of excessive caloric intake now and again ourselves, but the much-leaked Instinct HD really seems to have let itself go. We just got pics of the device up against a box, and the word is it "feels like a bloated s30 in your hand... and that is not meant as a compliment." Ouch. The instructions apparently say that you can plug an HDMI cable into the phone somehow, but so far all that's been discovered is the standard proprietary power jack -- so that's odd, but at least we have our first hint at some sort of "HD" functionality. %Gallery-73840%
Sprint Hero spied in a cold-looking retail setting
Most of us have a couple weeks to wait yet before strolling into our friendly local Sprint outlet for a Hero purchase, but it turns out that specially-trained employees are already receiving their phones so they know what's what by the time customers are ready to buy. That, of course, inevitably leads to leaks -- like this one, for example. Click through for a couple more shots. [Thanks, supamanasteel]
Nokia Twist for Verizon hands-on
We've got to give Nokia credit: they managed, against all odds, to come up with a truly unique form factor in creating the Twist for Verizon -- a combination of shape, design, and mechanism that had never quite been seen before. Thing is, it's the year 2009 and virtually every legitimate form factor has been explored, so how'd they pull that off? In a word, the Twist is... well, weird. A perfect square that swivels 90 degrees on a chrome ring with multicolored lights isn't the most obvious way to put a phone together, but the old adage of "different strokes for different folks" definitely applies here. Follow the break to find out why. %Gallery-73609%
Motorola Entice comes to Verizon, available today
When we say "Motorola" and "Verizon" in close proximity to one another, you hope that it's got something to do with the Sholes (and we can't blame you), but alas, the next Moto to hit Big Red won't be running Android. The W766 Entice clamshell is a solidly midrange featurephone with a 2 megapixel cam, EV-DO, microSD support up to 8GB, touch-sensitive external controls, Bluetooth with A2DP, and USB 2.0 connectivity -- and at $39.99 on contract after rebate, it'll keep your wallet relatively well-padded. It's available online today and hits stores later this month.
