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T-Mobile "Wing" to change name, see Q2 release?
Call it a T-Mobile device... just don't call it "Wing." Word has it that execs at the nation's number two GSM carrier were less than pleased with the naming for its latest Pocket PC phone (but "Dash" somehow made the cut?), though it's unknown what the new name will be. But wait, we haven't gotten to the good part yet: the same rumor claims that the release date has been pushed up (not a typo) to May 27 for a mere $249 on two-year contract, perhaps a nod to perceived pressure from Sprint and Verizon's latest round of HTC superdevices. That's quite a launch bump from the original estimate of August; we'll believe it when we see it, but we're doing our best to stay optimistic.[Thanks, Seth]
Dopod to release the HTC Cavalier as Dopod C730 in May?
Dopod is apparently set to bust out the follow up to its 3G-lacking little brother, the C720W (also known as the HTC Excalibur) with the Dopod C730. Based on the HTC reference Cavalier, it's touted as being loaded with Windows Mobile 6, a 400MHz Samsung CPU, Bluetooth, WiFi, quad band GSM / GPRS / EDGE, and UMTS / HSDPA (no word on frequencies here, but we hope for US varieties). This will be a decent upgrade for those of you enjoying the T-Mobile Dash or other Cavalier device -- and with virtually no size or weight difference, your pocket / belt holster will grin as well. No pricing info yet, but you can look for this to hit sometime in May.
Sprint PPC-6800 (HTC Titan) in the wild
Canada's Telus may be in the process of beating it to the punch, but that's not stopping Sprint (and Verizon, for that matter) from prepping its own variant of the HTC Titan, the PPC-6800. A PPCGeeks forum member recently got the enviable opportunity to screw around with a prototype of the Sprint-branded unit -- and besides coming away with a veritable cornucopia of imagery, they've posted a few key details: in addition to rocking Windows Mobile 5 AKU 3.3 (Pocket PC Phone Edition, of course), the device will use a Qualcomm MSM7500 to push bits and bytes at around 400MHz (as we've already seen in its XV6800 sibling) and end up with about 174MB of usable Flash and 49MB of RAM. Of course, this is a prototype -- specs are subject to change -- but seeing how the Telus version is already on the streets, what you see here is probably darned near what you're going to get. Follow the break for some key shots.[Thanks, Brian C.]
Google Phone launching end of 2007?
The on-again, off-again Google Phone rumors just got a healthy stir by Digitimes. The Taiwanese tech rag says that HTC is building the phone with initial shipments set to hit by the "end of 2007" -- globally in 2008. They cite "handset component makers" as their source. The phones will feature Texas Instruments' 3G platform with EDGE and of course built-in G-Mail and Google Maps. Unfortunately, they will not be GPS enabled. The handsets are also said to sport both Google and carrier branding with "sources" claiming that European's Orange might be the first carrier to see the hotness. Digitimes doesn't have the best track record with rumors so please everybody... exhale and let's wait for secondary confirmation.
Intel's Ultra Mobile strategy gets official
We already knew of Intel's 2007 "McCaslin" ultra mobile platform strategy after peeping their pre-show slides: professional UMPCs paired with consumer-oriented, Linux-based MIDs. Still, it's always good to get the official word even if it means that Intel must travel all the way to their IDF in Beijing to make it so. As the strategy goes, before 2007 is up we'll see product from Aigo, Asus, Fujitsu, Haier, HTC, and Samsung all based on the Intel A100 and A110 processors -- essentially underclocked Pentium M cores operating at 3W and certainly besting the UMPC underpinnings we saw in 2006. In the first half of 2008 then, Intel tells us to expect their "Menlow" platform of ultra mobile devices. Pumping Intel's 45-nm dual-core "Silverthorn" processor and "Poulsbo" chipset for longer battery life in smaller handheld devices. But if you're chomping at the bit for Intel's vision of the ultra mobile future, well, you'll be waiting around until well after 2008, boy. Intel doesn't expect to break into magical sub-0.5W territory until the naughts are up. Until then, you'll have to deal with mysterious slabs like the new Fujitsu pictured above. Update: UMPC Portal just pointed out something very interesting: Intel says that HTC's Shift UMPC is based on their A100/A110 processors. However, the engineering sample we pawed was running a 1.2GHz VIA proc. Looks like Intel scored themselves a major coup over HTC's Taiwanese neighbors.[Via Impress]
The HTC P4000 for Telus in the flesh
Being the first on the block to have the latest and greatest is an awesome feeling and the HTC P4000 (aka Titan) is no exception. Our favorite CDMA carrier up north, Telus, just landed the latest bad boy today that's sporting Windows Mobile 5.0 with a cost of $200 on a three (ouch!) year contract. Just in case you forgot the spec sheet, we'll give it to you again: EV-DO Rev. A, 2 megapixel cam, 256 MB of RAM, 128 of ROM, and Bluetooth 2.0. Verizon and Sprint customers should be very jealous!
AT&T 8525 firmware update coming April 25?
If you've been staring longingly at that poor, disabled push-to-talk button on the side of your Cingular-branded Hermes, wondering just when -- if ever -- you'd be able to annoy friends and family alike with Nextel-like ease, it seems your time has nearly come. Sources tell us that a firmware update will grace the 8525 on or around April 25 (yes, of 2007), bringing an enabled PTT button, AT&T branding to match the BlackJack's, and a mixed bag of fixes for bugs in the current firmware. The same source is telling us to expect our Windows Mobile 6 upgrade come Q3 of this year, so if the April 25 date holds up, we'd say that bodes well.[Thanks, anonymous tipster]
Telus launches HTC P4000?
Word on the street is that the HTC P4000 has allegedly landed at Telus Mobility in Canada. Although a perusal of the Telus website showed no evidence of the P4000 being offered as of today, we'd love to see the HTC Titan P4000 show up in some Telus stores or in a customer's awaiting hand real quick. If you're in Canada and have spotted the P4000 for sale, drop us a comment, would'ja? We'd love to see an HTC unit with Windows Mobile 6, full QWERTY and EV-DO Rev. A speeds. Verizon Wireless and Sprint customers -- this may mean good news soon, yes?[Thanks PocketGear]
The 2006 Engadget Awards: Vote for Gadget of the Year
This is it, the moment you've been waiting for. After all these long months you can finally cast your ballot for the 2006 Gadget of the Year! Our Engadget Awards nominees are listed below, and you've got until 11.59PM EST on Wednesday, April 18th to file your vote. You can only vote once, so make it count, and may the best gadget in all of 2006 win! The nominees: Apple MacBook Pro, Dell 3007WFP-HC, HTC Hermes / 8525, Nintendo Wii, SanDisk Sansa E280R, Slingbox PRO, and Sony PlayStation 3. %Poll-368%
HTC subsidiary will sell 3.5G data cards
Not content with simply making some of the best smartphones on the planet, Taiwanese powerhouse HTC is now looking to get into the data card game, with the company prepping a new HSDPA card through its BandRich subsidiary. The C100, as it's known, will offer download speeds up to 7.2Mbps where available, and is said to be just the first of many mobile modems BandRich is planning. DigiTimes is reporting that the C100 will be priced north of €200 ($269), so although we don't yet know when/where these are gonna drop, it looks like you'll have to part with at least a few C notes if this model lands in your neck of the woods.[Via jkOTR]
The 2006 Engadget Awards: Vote for Smartphone of the Year
Now's your chance to cast your ballot for the 2006 Smartphone of the Year! Our Engadget Awards nominees are listed below, and you've got until 11.59PM EST on Sunday, April 15th to file your vote. You can only vote once, so make it count, and may the best tech win! The nominees: BlackBerry Pearl, HTC Hermes / 8525, Motorola Q, Nokia N93, Palm Treo 750, and Sony Ericsson P990. %Poll-339%
Orange SPV E650 set to hit the shelves
Orange has rolled out the SPV E650 (alias HTC S710, alias Vox) in its mobile shop in the UK, giving Brits their first taste of Orange-flavored Windows Mobile 6 love. The Vox is set to be a kickin' handset in both its CDMA and GSM flavors, though we still wish HSDPA was part of its feature set. We have been waiting for this since HTC made the announcement at 3GSM, and we're sure that many will rejoice upon seeing it in the Orange mobile shop -- only to just as quickly deflate at the label: "Coming Soon." No word on exact shipping date or cost yet, but we hope to turn that frown upside down with something a bit more concrete, real soon.[Via Geekzone]
HTC Vox and Toshiba G500 reviewed
Are you chomping at the bit to get your hands on one of the newer candybar / QWERTY sliders from HTC or Toshiba? If so, get a load of the below review summaries and see which one is wanting to take a bite out of your wallet, mkay? For starters, the review of the HTC S710 (aka, "Vox") could be relegated to these snippets: just 140 grams (not bad) and about the same size as the Orange C600. The numeric keypad and QWERTY keyboard are both apparently quite usable and the screen is drop-dead nice (for a QVGA piece, anyway). Add in a decent 1,500 mAh battery -- and the undeniable cool factor of a candybar phone concealing QWERTY goodness -- and all around this unit gets a thumbs-up from its reviewer. Turning our attention to the Toshiba G500, the slider is rock solid, the tactile keys give excellent feedback, and the fingerprint reader is just plain awesome. Add in speedy 3G data and a better than average 2 megapixel digicam unit and you've got a winner with the G500 as well. An interesting difference between the two (besides the obvious exclusion of a dedicated numeric pad) would be the omission of Windows Mobile 6 on the G500 -- it ships with Windows Mobile 5, but might just make up for that glaring shortcoming with UMTS. Ah, decisions, decisions![Via Smartphone Thoughts]Read - HTC S710Read - Toshiba G500
The T-Mobile MDA is dead, long live the Wing?
Sweaty palms, darting eyes, hyperventilation -- the anxiety attack induced by the knowledge that T-Mobile is without a clear-cut QWERTY solution from HTC can be downright frightening, we know. After seemingly euthanizing the MDA, customers of T-Mobile's US outpost have been sans a replacement in the wings, but it seems that this sucker might be the lucky winner. A variant of the HTC Atlas (new to us!), the T-Mobile "Wing" appears to take some cues from HTC's newer QWERTY-based Pocket PCs by adding Function and Caps lights, a spring-loaded slide, and a more traditional numeric keypad layout. The whole shebang is said to be covered in a rubberized blue material, which we suspect should be comfortable and easy to grip as long as it's not too sticky, thick, or soft. If this holds up, look for it to hit around August -- Windows Mobile 6 Professional and all.[Via Boy Genius Report and Gadgets on the Go]
O2 Ireland gets the XDA Orbit, aka HTC Artemis
Irish O2 customers shouldn't feel slighted that other O2 peeps received the nav-enabled HTC Artemis way back when, 'cause now you all have the same goodness. Following O2 Germany's launch of the Artemis as the "XDA Orbit," ye Irish O2 customers should have have access to this beauty now or very (very) soon. Just like the German folks have, this appears to be the exact same Artemis with WiFi, GPS, 2 megapixel cam, Windows Mobile 5 and a trackball thrown in for good measure. We're a little surprised that O2 didn't upgrade the Orbit with Windows Mobile 6 and provide an update for existing customers, but whatever -- perhaps soon. Until then, pony up the €272 (about $365), not including VAT, for the Orbit should you wish it.[Via the::unwired]
MDA gone from T-Mobile's website
We were slightly thrilled when T-Mobile introduced the MDA and SDA Windows Mobile units roughly a year ago to thunderous applause of T-Mobile customers who wanted a branded Windows Mobile unit in their hot hands. The MDA was T-Mobile's valiant attempt to satisfy the hunger for an EDGE-enabled and fully fledged WM Pocket PC Phone with built-in WiFi (like the sister phone, Cingular's 8125). Bu, alas, the time has come to kiss the MDA goodbye it seems. As such, the handset has completely disappeared from T-Mobile's website. Is this just a short-term omission or is the MDA gone for good? Is this a sign that a replacement is near? Until then, perhaps T-Mobile peeps are out of luck in the Pocket PC department.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
HTC's voice-free Census coming to Sprint?
If this is the device Census Bureau workers end up getting to use come 2010, we've gotta say, we're a little jealous. The aptly-named "Census" from HTC crossed the FCC's wires several months ago, and a fresh visit reveals that pictures of the device and a user's manual are now available. Sticking with the Bureau's claim that their device would be strictly used for data collection, the Windows Mobile Pocket PC-powered Census dispenses with calling functionality, instead loading up with a variety of options for transmitting collected data back to home base: 1xRTT / EV-DO, WiFi, and a phone jack (oh, my!) are all on board. Though we're not certain, we're guessing the jack is an analog modem, ensuring that even the most rural Census visits -- places where even CDMA may not penetrate -- won't go unreported in short order. The device also includes a fingerprint reader, which gives us some sense of security (however false it may be) that the intimate details we share with those workers are safe. A screen shot in the user's manual reveals Sprint as a possible carrier, but if this is in fact the Census device we've all been hearing about, it's uncertain whether it'll ever be made available outside the feds' bureaucratic hands.[Via phoneArena]
Engadget Podcast 105 - 03.30.2007
Sure, the Xbox 360 Elite was finally announced, but we've got a fair bit of interesting cellphone news this week, too. Check out Samsung's UpStage, finally launched; or the long-awaited Helio Ocean dual-slider QWERTY featurephone -- not bad eh? And then HTC had a whole slew of gear, too, from their first UMPC to the Advantage's US launch. We won't only be talking about cellphones this week, but if you're not down with mobile gadgets then you might want to snag our enhanced RSS and skip some chapters, because we've got some CTIA stuff to catch up on. Get the podcast [iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC). [RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator. [RSS OGG] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in OGG) to your RSS aggregator. Hosts: Peter Rojas and Ryan Block Producer: Trent Wolbe Music: Solvent - Instructograph (Ghostly International) Program: 00:50 - Xbox 360 Elite and 120GB drive now official 07:22 - The Helio Ocean 12:31 - Sprint announces Samsung UpStage, 99 cent songs over the air 17:15 - HTC Shift -- the cellphone company finally goes UMPC 19:46 - HTC Advantage coming to US... under the HTC brand 23:29 - HTC 6800 / Titan hands-on 25:36 - HTC S720 vs Vox and TyTn hands-on 26:02 - Hands-on with the Samsung Ubicell 34:15 - How-to: Upgrade the drive in your Apple TV LISTEN (MP3) LISTEN (AAC) LISTEN (OGG) Contact the podcast: 1-888-ENGADGET, Engadget (Gizmo Project) or podcast at engadget dawt com
Canadians get HTC Vox before US
Our Canadian friends who are fortunate enough to subscribe to Telus Mobility will become the first North Americans to get their paws on the new HTC Vox handset. The CDMA Vox (GSM version announced a few moons back at the 2007 3GSM World Congress) will feature Windows Mobile 6, WiFi and Bluetooth, microSD, 2 megapixel cam and a 2.4 inch color display, though the real draw here is the dual keypad design. At first glance, the Vox looks like a standard Windows Mobile Smartphone candybar, but lurking underneath is a full QWERTY keyboard (which we hear is just how Canadians like it).[Via Crave]
HTC S720 vs Vox and TyTn hands-on
Like the Vox? Well, you probably haven't played with it yet, but as far as Smartphones go the Vox is pretty slick. Unfortunately, its biggest limitation, EDGE data, is well resolved with the S720, its EV-DO-equipped little brother. Check out the hands on gallery with tons of size comparisons with the Vox and Tytn, it's the perfect chaser to the 6800 hands-on. Gallery: HTC S720 vs Vox hands-on
