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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.
Samsung InstinctQ for Sprint passes by the FCC and turns a few heads
It's been a little piece of time since we saw that photo of the G1-esque Samsung InstinctQ emerge, and we were starting to wonder what had become of our newest QWERTY cutie. Well -- the M900, as it's also known -- has just ducked through the old FCC, and though we didn't really learn anything we didn't already know, it was just nice to see its face again. The Sprint-bound, CMDA / EV-DO-loving Android slider will pack Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and we have to say that it's looking pretty fly to our eyes. We're not sure when this bad boy's going to hit reality, but the FCC appearance makes us think it won't be too long now.[via Unwired View, thanks Ryan]
Samsung's B900 comes to South Korea with T-DMB, funny d-pad
The Jet ushered in a new era of highly stylized directional pads for Samsung, and its latest midrange full-touch handset for its domestic market is no exception. The B900 features a sort of shield design down below the screen that looks like it might not be so fun to use, but the specs aren't bad for a stylish midrange unit: EV-DO, 3-inch WQVGA display, a 3 megapixel camera, Bluetooth, and T-DMB mobile TV tuning (which you'll find on virtually all phones destined for South Korea). If you're feeling it, you'll have to be on (or willing to switch to) SKT -- otherwise, the odds of getting your hands on this one are very, very low indeed.
Verizon's Samsung Omnia II pictured, drops cubic center button
We know that Verizon's version of the Windows Mobile-based Omnia II superphone is incoming, and by all accounts, we would've figured on it looking more or less like its global counterpart -- but those tinkerers over at Big Red apparently can't leave well enough alone, because the phone that's appeared on Samsung USA's site actually looks a bit different. The most notable change is the move away from the original model's distinctive cubic center button, though the replacement -- a shield design in the same vein as the B900 for South Korea -- really doesn't look any more user-friendly. Otherwise, there's not much to see here, but there's a brief mention of a relatively generous 1500mAh battery which should come in handy for spending hours on end using those YouTube, WeatherBug, and Facebook TouchWiz widgets you've got installed, eh? [Thanks, Austin] Update: As many folks have pointed out, it's merely a button, not a true d-pad. Thanks, everyone!
Cellular South scoops up Sprint-spec Hero
If you'd told us that privately-held regional Cellular South would be just the third carrier in the US to properly offer an Android handset, we would've laughed until we cried -- but now that it's official, our laughter has turned to steely solemnity and respect for a tiny company going above and beyond the call of duty. The carrier hasn't announced an availability date, but interested parties can now sign up to be notified when the Hero -- an exact duplicate of Sprint's version -- will be launching. Just like Sprint, you get Sense, a 5 megapixel cam, and that chinless bottom that's less likely to make your thumb upset in day-to-day use than its GSM cousin. We'd say "sign us up," but then again, we're not Cellular South subscribers, nor could we be if we wanted to -- that's the perpetual tragedy of the regional carrier, sadly. [Thanks, Bill]
Instinct HD gear starts turning up at Best Buy
A funny thing happens when a major new handset's released on a big carrier: matching accessories come along for the ride. Cases, chargers, armbands, screen protectors, you name it -- anything to get you to double your spend before you walk out of the door with your multi-hundred-dollar phone. Of course, those accessories frequently aren't perfectly synced with the phone itself -- they ship a few days beforehand or after the fact, so stuff like this is bound to happen. In this particular case, the upcoming Instinct HD is getting some silicone protection ahead of time courtesy of Best Buy, which should go well with those invisibleSHIELDs you picked up a few weeks back. Meanwhile, the phone itself is expected just a handful of days from now, so at least it's not totally insane to start stocking up on accessories now. [Thanks, Matt G.]
Samsung's Instinct HD launching on September 27?
The long-rumored Instinct HD ranks extraordinarily high on our "man, we really wish this thing ran Android" list, but at this point, we just sorta want to get it out of the way so we can move on to the InstinctQ. How do we do that? Well, getting it released is a good start -- and PhoneDog has it on good authority that we can expect to see it on the 27th of the month for somewhere between $99 and $149, presumably on contract after rebate. The 5 megapixel cam and huge touchscreen are both great -- but with a variety of smartphones now available at the $99 mark and the 5 megapixel Hero just around the corner, it'll be interesting to see how this actually fares in Sprint stores.
HTC Hero for Sprint hands-on and impressions
When we first caught wind of HTC's Hero coming to Sprint, we were more than a little hopeful that the issues we experienced with the European version would be alleviated. If you'll recall, we had a bit of a love-hate affair going on with the chinny, wine-drinking iteration of the Android-powered phone due to a seeming lack of horsepower required to push HTC's totally amazing Sense UI. In the last few weeks, we've heard lots of chatter about the forthcoming Hero update and the wonders it would do for the speed of this phone... but unfortunately there's no such luck in the US, CDMA version of this device.So, the point here is we were planning on doing a whole new review to showcase the differences between the old and new version of the Hero, but there really aren't any besides the obvious physical changes. Sprint has added some great new apps, like its visual voicemail, which works like a charm (oh by the way Coleen, you got that job -- maybe you should give them your new number too), and Sprint Navigation, though it's also muddied up the mix by including the yawn-maker NASCAR app. Of course, this phone provides a full-on 3G experience, unlike the European version (for obvious reasons), and Sprint's network seems as snappy as ever -- general web browsing was a noticeably more enjoyable experience, for instance.Here is what we can say about the phone: the industrial design of this version versus the older model is a marked improvement, chucking that awkward chin shape for a proper bottom half, and rearranging the hard buttons so that you're not constantly getting your hands cramped up. We also have to mention the trackball, which is the most comfortable we've ever used. While the performance is still not where we think it should be, the Hero is an awesome addition to Sprint's growing line of serious contenders in the smartphone game. If that new update is all it's supposed to be (and if Sprint is expedient in bringing it to market), many of our complaints should be quelled -- and this will be the killer device we know it can be.Update: To commenters asking for a longer review, or asking about discrepancies in our findings versus other sites -- we can only report on what we observed. In our eyes, there is nothing significantly different or improved about the Sprint version to warrant a second review. There are some very minor differences in camera quality, and obviously the network performance is better (since it's not EDGE), but a full-length review did not seem necessary (you'll note many of our contemporaries also have short-form reviews). While reports may differ (especially those stating that this phone has the updated ROM we've heard about), we're still seeing the same kind of sluggishness and slowdown we experienced with the European version. What we said in the original Hero review very much applies to the Sprint version, and we suggest you take a peek.
India's 3G spectrum auction finally on for December, for real this time
After stone-cold blowing past its original planned start window in January, India has announced that its huge 3G spectrum auction will finally kick off on December 7 of this year. Interestingly, operators MTNL and BSNL have both already begun their respective 3G rollouts, but they're not getting out of paying fair market prices: when the auction concludes, they'll need to pay the equivalent of the high bidder's price to keep their own slices of the airwaves. After the WCDMA 3G auction wraps up, both EV-DO and WiMAX auctions kick off two days later, which means the world's second most populous country is about to get a whole heck of a lot more high-speed wireless data -- or the promise of it, anyhow. [Warning: PDF link]
Deutsche Telekom eyeing Sprint Nextel for acquisition?
With T-Mobile UK and Orange now having to (potentially) learn to play nice, Deutsche Telekom is already looking ahead to its next big target: Sprint Nextel. According to a Telegraph report, the telecom giant, with an estimated value of $60.45 billion, has called in advisers from Deutsche Bank as it reportedly prepares to submit an offer to the $10.6 billion-valued Now Network within the next three weeks. The assimilation of Sprint and Deutsche Telekom subsidiary T-Mobile US under the same umbrella could give second-place AT&T a fight with a 78.2 million-strong customer base... but that said, we wouldn't anticipate any quick or smooth merger given the US carriers rely on substantially different bands (CDMA vs. GSM) for service. Hey, there's always WiMAX might come into play. Obviously there's a lot of unanswered questions here, but at this point it's all speculation given no actual offer has been thrown on the table -- and we bet Hesse will have some choice words on the matter. Keep an eye out on this one, things could very quickly get very, very interesting here. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
Sprint newsletter lets slip Instinct HD
Samsung still hasn't come completely clean with its forthcoming Instinct HD, but it might as well. A recent Sprint Premier Connection newsletter not only introduced the Any Mobile, Anytime plan that was detailed this morning, but it also let slip a staggeringly pixelated image of the Instinct HD. Sprint tells us a few things we already knew -- like how the phone has a 3.2-inch display that's decidedly not high-def, a 5 megapixel camera and an improved web browser -- while leaving us to wonder about things like price after rebate. We'll take "Coming soon!" to mean "within the next month or so." Right, Sprint?[Thanks, Ellis]
Verizon grabs HTC Touch Pro2, prices it right at $200 on contract
C'mon folks, say it with us now: "Finally!" After T-Mobile USA and Sprint decided to charge two arms and three-quarters of a leg for HTC's fancy-but-not-world-changing Touch Pro2, Verizon Wireless has stepped in to show those other guys how to price a phone appropriately. Big Red's version of the WinMo 6.1-packin' handset will be available starting tomorrow (just as we'd heard) for $199.99 on contract, though that is after a $100 mail-in rebate. You already know what to expect in terms of specifications -- 3.6-inch WVGA tilting touchscreen, 3.2 megapixel camera, a 3.5 millimeter headphone jack, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, built-in GPS for VZ Navigator and a microSD expansion slot. Now, there's just the decision to overlook Sprint's Any Mobile, Anytime plan or not...
The Palm Pixi is official, headed to Sprint this holiday season -- we've got hands-on and video!
The Palm Pixi has officially arrived, and if you're an avid reader of Engadget (you'd better be), this device should look a little bit familiar to you. We first broke specs and images of the phone -- codenamed Eos and the alternately-spelled "Pixie" -- back in April, when we nabbed what appeared to be a leak of a new, Centro-esque phone headed to AT&T. Today, Palm has announced that the Pixi -- a tiny, sleek webOS-based handset -- will be coming to Sprint this holiday season. The phone will hit shelves sans-WiFi (EV-DO Rev. A only here), with 8GB of storage onboard (a nice bump up from the rumored 4GB), 2 megapixel camera (with flash), a full QWERTY keyboard, and a minute, 2.63-inch, 320 x 400 capacitive display (guess they didn't get that HTC memo). Along with the new handset, Palm will offer five artist-designed back covers in the "Palm Pixi Artist Series" -- similar to Zune Originals and Dell's Design Studio laptops -- which can be purchased separately... of course. Touchstone owners take heart: those backs, as well as a separate black backing that you'll also pay extra for, are all compatible with the accessory. In addition to the hardware, Palm will be introducing a native Facebook app when the Pixi hits, as well as new Yahoo! and LinkedIn integration for Synergy. Right now no date for launch has been set, though Palm says the phone will be ready in time for the holidays. The company is also mum on price, but coupled with the news that Sprint will be slimming the Pre's entry point down to $149.99, we have to assume it's going to be in the $99-or-less ballpark. We had a chance to play around with the new phone, so read on after the break for our initial, early impressions.
Palm Pre falls to $149.99 on Sprint
Nothing like the announcement of a new webOS device to spur a price drop on the first, is there? The Palm Pre -- which has held steady at the $199.99 on-contract price it launched at back in June -- has finally taken a rumored $50 dip down to $149.99. That figure includes a $150 instant rebate plus a $100 mail-in rebate, which means you'll actually be paying $249.99 in-store to walk out with a unit -- but considering that the Pixi's only signed up for a vague pre-holiday launch window without pricing details, the Pre's still the cheapest webOS device available (of course, it's also the most expensive).
Samsung Rogue now official on Verizon
Time to finally give that Glyde a proper burial at sea (or recycling center, or baby cousin who needs a phone, or whatever). The oft-rumored Rogue is finally available, notably featuring a 3.1-inch AMOLED display (Verizon calls it "ultra brilliant"), a 3 megapixel cam with flash and on-board editing, microSD support up to 16GB, full HTML browsing, Microsoft Office document viewing, TouchWiz, and naturally, that full slide-out keyboard that makes it a Glyde killer. Grab it now for $99.99 on contract.
Sprint kicks off HTC Touch Pro2 sales at $349.99
So, any luck socking away $350 worth crisp, unmarked, non-sequential US currency over the past week since the Touch Pro2 was officially announced for Sprint? If so, we'd just like to offer a friendly reminder that you can now head over to Sprint's online store to place your order -- and yes, that $349.99 you'll be shelling out is after rebate and discount on a new two-year contract. Being second doesn't come cheap, it seems. [Thanks, Wilson]
