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Samsung announces four phones spanning the low to midrange
We've already seen a couple of these semi-officially, but it seems that Samsung has now fully, honestly announced these four fresh models for all of the world to ogle. There's actually not a lot to see here -- they're so well-buried in Samsung's literature that we were only able to find the S6700 ourselves -- but they present interesting options for anyone looking to get in on mobile music at a ridiculously low price point. Starting at the bottom, the M2310 and M2510 together formulate a powerful one-two flip / slider punch (okay, that's saying a bit much) with dedicated music controls and support for up to 8GB of microSD storage; the M2310 has a VGA cam while the M2510 steps it up to 1.3 megapixels. Moving upwards, the C5510 adds in a dual-band 3G radio, 16GB expandability, and a 2 megapixel fixed-focus camera, while the S6700 slider (pictured) tops out the range with HSDPA, a 3 megapixel camera with autofocus and dual-LED flash, GPS, and 120MB of storage on board. Still no word on when or where these are launching, but it seems like the S6700 might be available in some regions if you look hard enough.[Via GSMArena]
Switched On: iPhone 3GS is fine, young, but not a cannibal
Ross Rubin (@rossrubin) contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology. At least since the advent of the first camera phones, people have been wondering whether the cell phone would limit the opportunity for all kinds of other products, particularly portable electronics. Even the more pedestrian features of basic cell phones have been blamed for the declines in (or at least limiting the market for) pagers, Family Radio Service (FRS) radios, and even watches. And beyond portable electronics, cordless phones have also been in a state of decline for years as more consumers cut the cord. But the iPhone 3GS has renewed the old debate for a number of reasons, including data that shows that iPhone users are disproportionately inclined to use their phone's advanced features and changes in the hardware and software that improve the digital camera, add video capture, and open the door to in-vehicle turn-by-turn navigation. TomTom, which has returned to its roots by demonstrating navigation software for the third-party hardware of the original iPhone 3G, can now offer that software through Apple's App Store. So, will the iPhone shutter Canon, run Garmin off the road, or make Flip flop? Thankfully, for the sake of all wishing to avoid reading headlines containing these atrocious puns, not for the foreseeable future, at least in the U.S.
Pantech Escapade getting worldly on Verizon?
Global roaming on Verizon has typically been revered as a premium feature -- which more or less makes sense, considering that the well-to-do are more likely to be globetrotting and the additional radio hardware jacks component costs -- but it always pays dividends to keep a few lower-cost options in any lineup, and that might just be where the Pantech Escapade comes into play. The Korean flip is rumored to be gearing up for a launch on Verizon -- and as the SIM slot suggests, you'd be able to take this one overseas with you on the occasional business jaunt or vacay. It's said to have a 2 megapixel camera and a QVGA display, though a microSD slot may strangely be missing; it's become such a common feature at this point (even on the lowest-end devices) that we'd be shocked to see it launch like that, but who knows? Maybe you don't need music and picture storage where you're going.
BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 now available through Verizon
Seemingly as though it wasn't just totally pulling the claim of June 19 availability out of thin air back at the announcement, Verizon has gone ahead and started offering the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 online today. It's no Tour by any stretch, but the consumer-friendly phone comes in at a palatable $79.99 after discounts on contract and offers a 2 megapixel camera, 3.5mm headphone jack, EV-DO Rev. 0, and the 20-key layout made famous by the original Pearl -- if you're into that sort of thing. And hey, it looks pretty good in silver, doesn't it?[Via Boy Genius Report]
Samsung Axle launches on US Cellular
We can say with confidence after perusing the Axle's specifications that the most exciting thing about this phone is the unusual name. The new flip from Samsung is launching today on US Cellular for $50 after rebate on contract ($40 for existing customers), offering a VGA camera, Bluetooth, speakerphone, and not bloody much else. As far as we can tell from the specs and pricing in the remainder of US Cellular's lineup, that's about $50 too much -- but then again, we'll admit, the name alone might be worth the cost of admission.
Nokia's 3710 fold does 3.2 megapixels on the cheap
A little tip to Nokia: don't bother announcing stuff like this at the exact same time as monsters like the E72, because we assure you that no one's going to care. That's a shame, too, because the 3710 fold is a surprisingly well-equipped phone for the €140 Nokia will be asking for it (about $193) unlocked when it launches in the fourth quarter of the year -- on top of the standard Series 40, AGPS, stereo Bluetooth, FM radio, and concealed external display, you've also got a full 3.2 megapixels of photographic power and 3G. No carrier partners have been announced, but couldn't you totally picture T-Mobile USA wanting in on this in an AWS flavor?
Motorola W766 "Harmony" for Verizon gets Bluetooth SIG certification
In terms of leaking juicy product info, we're accustomed to the Bluetooth SIG being one of the least helpful certification bodies around town, so imagine our surprise to see those guys outing the upcoming Motorola W766 (codenamed "Harmony," apparently) with some photography. This clamshell certainly isn't anything special, but we've heard from other sources that it'll likely replace the W755 -- which basically looked old the moment it was launched -- at some point in the next few months. Oh, and yes, no worries -- A2DP's in the cards.[Via mobile-review]
Cricket picks up Samsung's MyShot II
We didn't know the lowly MyShot had developed enough brand cachet to warrant a sequel, but sure enough, the MyShot II has gotten very, very real for value carrier Cricket. Like the model before it, the MyShot II packs a 1.3 megapixel camera and tops out with 1x data; in fact, the only real improvement here seems to be the styling, which arguably looks a little more modern. It supports AWS CDMA -- as all Cricket phones do these days -- and can be yours (hence the "My" in "MyShot") contract-free for $139.99 after rebate.[Via Phone Scoop]
Samsung Mantra comes to Virgin Mobile
When you first click over to the Mantra's product page, your immediate thought is "why the hell would I pay $59.99 for this?" But then, it all comes back to you -- the fact that Virgin has no contracts, for example -- and you realize that it makes perfect sense that the MVNO would be charging a hair under $60 to get Bluetooth, a pair of color displays, and a VGA camera. In an age where heavy subsidies have become the norm, we bet it can be a tough sell for anyone coming from the world of postpaid, but then again, there's definitely something to be said for having the freedom to walk away after a couple months if you like. The Mantra's available now, and if you buy, don't bother bringing your signin' pen -- you won't need it.
Casio EXILIM now available on Verizon, water resistance no extra charge
Long rumored as the C721, Casio's pivoting EXILIM clamshell is now available to all comers on Verizon. Though the camera goes way up to 5.1 megapixels with autofocus, image stabilization, and a 3x optical zoom, the phone doesn't stray too far from its G'zOne roots -- it's mil-spec 810F compliant for dust, shock, temperature, and water resistance. It also features expandability up to 8GB (something you'll likely need if you're taking advantage of that cam) and compatibility with Verizon's VZ Navigator service. If you really need to be taking pictures in the shower, the pleasure's going to cost you: expect to pay $279.99 on contract after rebate.
Boost Mobile repaints Motorola Stature i9 in red
Boost Mobile's i9 stands head and shoulders above the rest of the carrier's line as its clear-cut hero device, but there's a problem -- the launch color, kind of a dark bronze, was a little bland. That's not cool for an iDEN flip this far up into the rare air, is it? Of course not, so we're glad to see that they've partnered up with Moto to bring out the so-called Stature in a second (more fitting) color, red. It's available now for exactly the same price as the original that's been available since February, $299.99.
Verizon's Casio Exilim C721 fully revealed in FCC docs
Yo, Verizon, we know your secret. We get it. The Exilim-branded C721 from Casio has been handled, it's taken a shower, and it's even made appearances on the carrier's rebate forms. When we first heard of its existence, the Exilim badge coupled with a 5.1 megapixel camera was a clever trick -- but sensors of this resolution get more common by the day, so the only trick that's going to be left in this pivoting clamshell's book by the time Verizon gets around to launching it is going to be the water resistance. That's all well and good, but we feel like we're just being taunted by the fact that some FCC certification lab has been playing with this thing for ages while Verizon network engineers are too concerned with "quality" and "customer satisfaction" to sign off on a half-baked unit. Chop chop, guys![Via Phone Scoop]
Sony Ericsson's TM717 gives FCC a quick "hello" on way to T-Mobile
Remember that "Elle" we mentioned in the leaked roadmap this morning? Whatever it is, it's destined to replace the somewhat homely TM506 -- which makes this here TM717 a prime candidate (especially considering that "Elle" was the T707's internal codename prior to launch). The handset looks to be little more than a T707 rebrand with AWS 3G thrown in for good measure, which would make it just what the doctor ordered to pick up where the TM506 left off, especially since it'd have a 3.2 megapixel cam versus the older model's 2. If the roadmap's close to correct, we have a few months left to wait for this one -- but it's not the end of the world since the CS8 is the Sony Ericsson that we're really waiting for anyway.
Verizon gets official with 3G BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230: $129.99 on June 19th
After months of leaks, Verizon Wireless is finally coming clean with its intent to carry the 3G-enabled BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230. Said phone will arrive in silver on June 19th, bringing with it a 2 megapixel camera (with flash and video recording), a SureType QWERTY keyboard, microSD / SDHC slot and support for VZ Navigator. The pain? $129.99 after a $70 mail-in rebate and a new two-year agreement.
Verizon Pearl Flip dummy in the wild, release this month?
This thing's been all over Canada for a while now, but the CDMA version of the BlackBerry 8230 hasn't managed to find its way out of Alltel's clutches in the States. Of course, we've been waiting on Verizon to do its thing for a while -- and it looks like we might finally see a release in the next few weeks A poster over on CrackBerry's forums notes that dummy units are now arriving in stores, and goes on to say that the arrival of dummies usually means that the real things can be expected within three weeks, give or take. We know that most Verizon customers waiting for a new BlackBerry probably have their eyes focused solely on the Tour, but hey, it's better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.
Jitterbug updates sole model with Jitterbug J, not just for old folks anymore
Previously billed mainly as a senior-friendly phone backed by a senior-friendly service, Jitterbug has replaced its original device with the very similar Jitterbug J -- a phone that improves on its predecessor in a couple key ways -- and has expanded its target audience to include anyone that wants a no-frills phone that pulls no punches. For $147 contract-free, you'll get new features like Bluetooth support and text messaging (we said no-frills, okay?) plus an improved UI, while unique character quirks of the original -- namely the teardrop shape and rubber cup around the earpiece -- carry over. We'll admit, the fact that it actually emits a frigging dial tone when opened is the coolest feature in years, but the lack of a WebKit-based browser is a deal-breaker for us, guys; calls us when you've muddied your business model by throwing in complicated, hard-to-use features that will appeal to the gadget freak in us, though, okay?[Via CNET]
Sony Ericsson's "Bruce" and "Tobey" C905a pictured with AT&T in mind
Here are a couple Sony Ericssons we've known AT&T is planning on releasing, but it's always good to see some more confirmation. The "Bruce" appears to be the W518a, which is a North American tweak of the W508a -- nothing mind-blowing, but it's got a 3.2 megapixel camera, QVGA display, external music controls, and HSDPA on board; maybe the coolest thing here (and something we didn't know before) is that AT&T intends to let buyers design their own custom covers for the phone online. The Tobey is really where it's at, though. This is the C905a, the big shooter -- literally -- that should do battle with T-Mobile's CS8. It's got an 8.1 megapixel camera with xenon flash in a slider form factor, accompanied by a 2.4-inch QVGA display, Video Share, TV-out, and HTML browsing. Disturbingly, both of these devices have already missed their target availability dates -- and anyone still reeling from the K850 disaster has to be a little concerned that one or both of these could be delayed indefinitely or canceled.
Samsung Gloss comes to US Cellular
Look familiar? Yep, this is US Cellular's version of the Cleo, a fun little clamshell that does battle with LG's Lotus by offering a full QWERTY keyboard in a stubby clamshell layout. Don't expect much feature-wise -- it's got a 176 x 144 display, for instance -- but you've still got a music player with stereo Bluetooth support and microSD expansion, a 1.3 megapixel camera, and of course, that text-tastic QWERTY pad. Look for it the carrier's stores in your choice of black and pink; we don't have pricing information, but we suspect it won't break the bank on contract.
KDDI au unveils summer '09 lineup: e-books, solar power, and 720p recording
Japanese carrier KDDI au has now followed Softbank and NTT DoCoMo in pulling the red velvet cover off its summer 2009 devices, and as always, there are some neat tricks in here. From Toshiba, the Biblio is billed as an e-book reader; granted, it's using an LCD instead of an E-Ink display, but it's a doozy at 3.5 inches at 960 x 480. It features 7GB of user-accessible storage on board for books, and also has a slide-out dynamic keyboard that can display a numeric pad in the portrait orientation or full QWERTY in landscape. Moving on, the Sharp Sportio Water Beat -- as its name suggests -- is a waterproof sports-oriented set with advanced calorie and distance tracking (a la Nike+), but you're still never too far from your true destiny as a couch potato thanks to the phone's one-seg reception. Next, the Hitachi Mobile Hi-Vision Cam Wooo is the latest in the multimedia-centric Wooo series, becoming KDDI's first phone capable of 720p video recording at 30fps -- and there's HDMI-out on board for when the time comes to enjoy your footage. Finally, the SH002 is the realization of Sharp's solar phone concept from earlier this year, delivering one minute of talk time for every 10 minutes of charge time. There are other announcements in the mix here -- eight new phones in total -- but those were the killers of the bunch, and as always, this post is about as close as most North Americans will ever get to them. [Via Engadget Japanese]
Nokia Grouper, Mako, Snapper, and Thresher rolling deep on AT&T
Who said Nokia doesn't have a major commitment to North American carriers? We've landed news of a whole plethora of Espoo-sourced devices scheduled to hit AT&T over the coming months, and a few in particular caught our eye. Most notably, the Mako (pictured) is unlike anything we've ever seen Nokia make, mostly thanks to a side-sliding QWERTY keyboard that doesn't really resemble any existing hardware. It rides on the same S60 3.2-based platform as the 6650 and E71x, features dual-band HSDPA, a 2.4-inch QVGA display, AGPS, 2 megapixel camera, Video Share, and 128MB of internal storage with microSD expansion. Sadly -- this is going to be a dream killer for some folks, we think -- it's only got a 2.5mm headphone jack, which is a step back for multimedia support. This one was at one time targeted for June 5, but if we had to guess, it's been pushed back -- maybe we're crazy, but we feel like it hasn't leaked enough to meet that date at this point. Anyhow, looks like this one's a good foil for that QWERTY swivel allegedly due on Verizon. Speaking of "this looks nothing like a Nokia," the Thresher is an ultra-glossy slider that doesn't quite resemble anything officially announced in other markets. It shares its Series 40 guts with Grouper, which was the codename assigned to the 6750 Mural flip we recently saw hit the FCC. Both devices do HSDPA and AGPS; the Grouper makes do with a 2 megapixel cam, though, while the Thresher steps up to 3.2 with an integrated flash. The Thresher's signed up for September and the Grouper for July, but as with all of these, it's anyone's guess whether those dates will hold. Finally, the Snapper flip is a lower-end device that we could envision replacing the 6555, lacking the Grouper's style but still staying strong with triband HSDPA, Bluetooth 2.1, AGPS, and a 2 megapixel camera. This one's tentatively targeted for August.
