Mwc2009
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Acer's four other phones in the flesh, not powered on
Acer made a lot of noise about launching "eight" handsets yesterday, but we only got hard details on the four Tempos -- which was probably the wrong way to go, because the prototypes of the F1, white C1, L1, and the E1 due to launch later this year are way hotter. Too bad Acer won't turn 'em on or tell us anything about them -- we can see the F1 has a five megapixel camera, but the lack of a Windows Mobile 6.5-required hardware Start button on any of these doesn't bode well. Check 'em all out in the gallery.%Gallery-45053%
Acer F900, M900, X960, and DX900 hands-on with video
Acer's new Tempo lineup of middling Windows Mobile 6.1 sets isn't going to steal the show from the TG01, the OmniaHD, or the Magic, but it's not like they're total failures -- they're just way behind the curve. Engadget Spanish did the honors, and it looks like Acer would have been better off spending the time getting these ready to ship with 6.5 instead of the amusingly quaint Microsoft Bob-like Acer Shell it's come up with to skin 6.1 -- all it's missing is the dog. Add in a general sense of lagginess and a stubborn resistive touchscreen, and we'd say this round is better off skipped. So much for those budding Acer fanboys. More galleries and a video after the break.%Gallery-45048%
NVIDIA's Tegra in the flesh, booting to Android and pumping out 1080p video
NVIDIA really has a technical wonder in the Tegra APX 2600 chipset, and is more than happy to show it off, with a myriad of tech demos on display here at MWC. Some of this they showed off back in June of last year, but it's no less impressive -- there aren't really any mobile devices out there capable of this stuff right now. Still, we're here for the new, and NIVIDA showed up with Android running on one of its proof-of-concept units, and with another unit pumping out 1080p video, with a claimed 10 hours of battery life at that task. NVIDIA says it took them just a few weeks to port Android to the system, and we found it already quite snappy and even usable on the capacitive touchscreen-ed device. We also saw the forthcoming Android-running Yulong N8 and IAC S2 Tegra APX phones, along with an untitled CompalCom set -- they were all in non-working prototype form, but it's clear this chipset isn't just for MIDs. Check it all out in the videos after the break and the gallery below!%Gallery-45023%
Acer working on two Android phones to launch this year
Alright, this one's pure tradeshow silliness -- when Engadget Spanish pressed the Acer rep at MWC about rumored plans to launch an Android handset, dude pulled out a notebook and whipped up a quick product roadmap, including the two mysterious "Android secret models" shown here. That's all we know for now, but anything's got to be better than the sad Tempos Acer launched yesterday -- and hey, we also got the names of the four announced-but-not-revealed sets we're due to see sometime later this year. One more pic of Acer's secret diary after the break.
LG doesn't rock the WinMo boat, launches S60-powered KT770 on the downlow
In light of its fresh tie-up with Microsoft, we can understand how any LG smartphone not running WinMo might be perceived as a black sheep this week. Still, it bums us that the the company has launched its latest S60-powered handset -- the KT770 slider -- at MWC this week with little more than a brief mention on LG's official MWC site and a couple of forlorn demo models stuffed in the corner of the company's booth. The good news is we decided to make good on LG's oversight and give this little beauty the love it deserves with a mention, a gallery, and a quick video of its tweaked S60 3.2-based UI in action.The faux carbon fiber back is a little cheesy -- particularly for a device that otherwise looks fairly businesslike -- but with 7.2Mbps HSDPA, GPS, a WQVGA display, and a 5 megapixel camera on board, it's hard to argue that this device can't be competitive (put this up against the far bulkier, uglier N95, for example). The UI seemed reasonably responsive, and though we weren't able to test the browser without a connection, we imagine the stock S60 apps work every bit as well as they do on Nokia fare. Check out the video after the break!%Gallery-45005%
Ralph de la Vega says he was misquoted, doesn't know of a Dell smartphone
We just spoke with AT&T's Ralph de la Vega who says that he's been misquoted about Dell's rumored aspirations to enter the smartphone market. As we suspected might be the case, he claims he'd been referring to the fact that he'd heard rumors of a Dell phone -- you know, the same rumors we've all been hearing -- and was simply commenting on that fact. Either that, or there's a Dell smartphone running some futuristic S60 / Android hybrid in his pocket as we speak... one of the two.
LogMeIn Rescue+Mobile to provide remote IT access on Android
Among oodles of new phones, we're also expecting some nice surprises on the software front at Mobile World Congress this week. One particular app that has our attention is LogMeIn Rescue+Mobile, which should enable IT support groups to tap into one's Android-based phone remotely and "see an exact visual replica of the smartphone on their computer screens." From there, the techs can mash buttons, tweak code and do whatever needs to be done to solve any lingering issues. Call it remote virtualization, with a pinch of "help!" We're told that the software will be available immediately for carriers kosher with having it loaded on, and for any CSR who has attempted to understand a problem via spoken word alone, we're sure they're undoubtedly on board with this alternative.[Image courtesy of interpunct]
Gigabyte's S1200 and Smart Zone user interface on video
Same story, different company: yet another Windows Mobile ODM has broken down, taken the plunge, and invested some cash engineering its own unique skin for the platform. This time around it's Gigabyte's GSmart division with its "Smart Zone" UI, and to kick it off on the right foot, they're grafting it onto the all-new S1200. We spent some time fiddling with the S1200 at MWC today, and we're actually pretty impressed; it's sleek, a wacky thin 11.4mm, narrow enough to comfortably fit in the smallest hands, and feels pretty well-built -- and with full HSPA and a 3.1-inch WVGA display, it's spec'd with the best of 'em. Gone are Gigabyte's days of chunky plastic, thank goodness.We talked to Gigabyte about its announcements, and it turns out they've designed both Smart Zone and the S1200 with aspirational feature phone users in mind -- these are people who might not otherwise consider a smartphone because they're worried about sacrificing style and ease of use in the process. To that end, the skin definitely seems to get the job done. The transition animations got choppy in places, but we felt immediately at ease with the swipe gestures for getting to different screens, and the graphics look particularly superb at these resolutions.The S1200 launches this quarter in a variety of colors (it's fashion-friendly, after all) with WiFi, a 528MHz Qualcomm core, 3 megapixel autofocus cam, a microSD slot to bump up the storage to something more usable than the 256MB built-in, and -- perhaps most importantly -- upgradeability to Windows Mobile 6.5. Follow the break to see it in action!%Gallery-44997%
HTC Magic first eyes-on!
Surprise, surprise! Vodafone and HTC launched a new Android set named the Magic today. We had a brief eyes-on with it, though the version we see above is not final hardware. If you peek at the slides in the gallery you'll notice that there are more buttons and they're laid out quite differently than what you see above. Of course, we plan a more extensive tour of the Magic and all its Cupcake goodness a little later on today. Pics and a shaky vid after the break.%Gallery-45004%
Hands-on with TechFaith's QiGi i6 in Android mode
Remember that mysterious dual-boot QiGi i6 from a few months back? If you dream of Windows Mobile / Android dual-boot devices at night, then odds are you do, and we've been able to spend a little time with one humming along in Android mode today. It turns out that the i6's manufacturer is none other than TechFaith Wireless, an ODM more closely associated with WinMo devices -- but like so many other manufacturers these days, TechFaith is apparently looking to branch out by adding another platform into the mix.Anyhow, let's just be straight about this: odds are you don't really want this phone, even if you think you do. The physical design feels one or two iterations behind, but the real problem stems from the fact that you're rocking QVGA resolution here; yes, granted, Android runs -- but in its default layout, it's clearly designed for a few more pixels both horizontally and vertically. Furthermore, we're told that end users can't swap ROMs themselves (in other words, distributors would choose one platform or the other and be done with it) -- the hardware is designed to run both Android and Windows Mobile, but it's not like you get some fancy Boot Camp-style setup for booting into either environment. Also, since the i6 features no physical keyboard and Cupcake was little more than a twinkle in Google's eye by the time the phone was released, you're dealing with a pretty poorly-designed soft keyboard that's been grafted onto the build; individual keys are small enough so that you need a stylus to press them, and when you call up the keyboard, it takes up the full screen so you can't see whatever app you were in while you're typing. Check it all out (for the hilarious power-on splash screen, if nothing else) in our video after the break!%Gallery-44988%
HTC Magic is official, bringing Android to Vodafone sans keyboard
Vodafone just scooped planet Earth with the first touchscreen-only Android phone: HTC's Magic. All the specs look to line up with what was rumored, with a 3.2-inch QVGA screen front and center (that resolution might be a typo, HVGA seems more likely), HDSPA, GPS, 3.2 megapixel camera (no flash), and a G1-style trackball. Details on pricing and availability will be unveiled for local Vodafone markets as they see fit, but pricing in Spain will be from 99 to 199 Euro, depending on contract. Initial markets to nab the phone will be UK (due in April), Spain, Germany, France and Italy, with more countries to follow, and the phone will be a timed exclusive with Vodafone. Crazily enough, the phone has a proprietary headphone jack, proving once and for all that HTC doesn't like you, but at least this one will ship with a touchscreen keyboard out of the gate -- it's running Cupcake.Update: We have confirmation that the device is indeed HVGA like the G1 before it, that's a typo on the original press release. More detailed specifications after the break.%Gallery-45024%
AT&T Mobility's CEO seems to confirm Dell is working on a smartphone
Dell hasn't made an announcement, but it turns out that CEOs love spilling each others' secrets -- and to that end, AT&T Mobility CEO Ralph de la Vega has just mentioned during a Mobile World Congress panel that Dell has "announced they're entering the smartphone market." Maybe he got a bit confused about the announcement date or time -- or perhaps he's confusing the countless rumors with official details -- but either way, all eyes should be on Round Rock, Texas for the next few hours (or days, or weeks, or months) to see if anything shakes out.
Toshiba TG01 hands-on and video walkthrough
While we weren't originally cheering fans of the Toshiba TG01's somewhat odd "stripey" interface, checking it out in person tells a different tale. It actually makes sense and works surprisingly well, and really, there is a reason why we've seen so many Windows Mobile skinning efforts, the shipped interface needs it. Most functions you need can be found in Toshiba's homescreen UI or can be added -- the video demos some of the options for making changes and panel color choices if the default isn't tickling your fancy. This handset is thin and light and makes the iPhone we used for some scale pics look positively chubby -- it's like having a PSP-sized display in your pocket. The 4.1-inch Regza-inspired screen is clear, the resistive touchscreen is typical hit and miss with fingertips, video and gaming are fast on the 1GHz Snapdragon processor and look gorgeous. You know, if Toshiba sees fit to add some 3G bands other than the 2100MHz included in the first effort, we could easily see this living -- almost unnoticed -- in our pockets. We're still pretty far out from the rumored summer launch of the TG01 so we're expecting to see some changes between now and then, and we also have some concerns about battery life while driving a screen like this, but for now, wow. Video walkthrough, some gaming action, and a big gallery are just past the break.%Gallery-44983%
Nokia N86 hands-on with video!
We just messed around with Nokia's new N86, and while the form factor and feel of the device seem a little last-gen, there's no denying the camera's quality. Some of the soft button the face of the phone are a little difficult for our large fingers to press, but the d-pad is pure quality, as is the generic-looking numeric keypad -- T9ers rejoice. In traditional N-series fashion, the slide mechanism is practically perfect, with a meaty, satisfying and easy motion to it, and the general feel of the device, including the seamless glossy front, screams quality. The camera we played with seemed a little glitchy in operation -- it's still pre-production -- but the images were excellent. The LED flash won't be able to handle a large dimly lit room, but can do close-quarters indoors shots just fine, and should match up well with other high resolution shooters in the outdoor arena. The OLED screen, but it might not have been set at full brightness -- it's crisp, but not necessarily vibrant. Overall it's a "nice" handset, but somehow 8 megapixels alone doesn't seem to justify another go at this fairly dated and chubby N-series form factor -- but maybe that's just us. Update: We bumped up the brightness and stacked the phone up against the iPhone 3G and found the N86's screen to be considerably brighter -- another win for OLED! There's also now some video after the break!%Gallery-44982%
Nokia's N86 makes its 8 megapixel debut
Sure, things looked pretty legit yesterday, but we were awaiting official confirmation from Nokia. That's here, and now we can take a gander at the N86 purely on the up-and-up. The dual-slider (keypad on one end, camera and playback controls on the other) naturally centers on its 8 megapixel camera, which includes a Carl Zeiss Tessar lens, AutoFocus, a mechanical shutter and a dual-LED flash, but there's plenty of other N-series goodies like 8GB of storage, a 2.6-inch OLED screen, TV-out and a microSD slot. Nokia Maps, Ovi integration and all those other goodies are onboard -- though the new email capabilities of its E-series brethren seem absent. The phone is due in Europe in Q2 2009 for around 375 Euro before taxes and subsidies.%Gallery-44979%
Ericsson debuts Pixl8r and Social Media Portal at MWC
Not that we're completely in disbelief to see Ericsson by its lonesome touching on this stuff, but we can't say we were totally expecting it, either. Here in Barcelona, the aforementioned outfit has revealed what it's calling an "innovative social networking portfolio for mobile network operators, the Pixl8r initiative and the Social Media Portal." The former is described as an "open-standard solution that allows photo sharing sites to interact in real time." In other words, subscribers can share social media across operator portals and get SMS notification of friends' activities regardless of network. As for the latter, it enables operators to deliver a Pixl8r-compatible social networking service "quickly and cost effectively," which probably translates into "costly" for consumers. Guess we'll see if anyone bites on it before we get all worked up.
Texas Instruments out-picos itself with newer, tinier projector chip
We love pico projectors, we love phones -- so the combo pack known as the Samsung Show stopped us in our tracks when we first spied it at CES. Well, Texas Instruments, makers of the DLP projector chip that runs the Show, if you will, have just announced the second generation DLP chip which is -- you guessed it -- smaller! The second-gen chip is about 20 percent smaller and thinner in fact, and it boasts the ability to display WVGA resolution (the previous model has HVGA resolution), all while delivering a brighter display! TI's press specifically mentions mobile phones, so don't be surprised if the Show doesn't have a host of comptitors to deal with any day now. Texas Instruments is on hand at MWC, and their press conference is tonight, so we'll be watching, magnifying glass in hand, to see what else they have in store for us.
modu music jacket with JBL turns your mini-phone into a mini-boombox
We've seen plenty of teensy speakers setups for phones, some wired, some Bluetooth, but the beauty of modu is that in this case, the speakers become the phone. Slip modu into this "music jacket" built by PCH International and you get some surprisingly good sound out of the stereo JBL Odyssey speakers, a quality speakerphone setup, and a regular (if incredibly fat) handset experience to boot. The phone side of the device includes a 2.2-inch display and a 3 megapixel camera with flash, and there's a funky "digital sound meter" for visualizing your noise. The jacket will be available later this year; no word on price, but we expect it will stick with the modu trend of "cheap."%Gallery-44949%
modu hands-on with the set, jackets, and some far out visions
True to our word, we popped in to visit modu day one to get some one on one time with some of the recently announced kit. So we checked out the jackets, the new reworked set, and like last year, we're happy with the whole ecosystem. Sure, you have to approach this with the understanding that for now, modu is aiming at the middle of the road -- and price point -- and not to take on the iPhone, Palm Pre, and others. But what they have done and done quite well is offer up a really small set, a pile of fun jackets that actually change the phone's functions and kick in a wee bit of color and style. The biggest standout in the collection was a bike snap on with a thumb controller that connects wirelessly -- or dangerously, your call -- to the handset for "while cycling" control of your calls. Lots new is going on with the Israeli startup, a pilot project with Telefonica in Mexico, Argentina, and Chile, plus it has secured a $38 million first offer with Lynk Communication in the Philippines, here's hoping 3G is just around the bend. Take a peek at the gallery for more of the madness and nice video guided by Dov Moran himself.%Gallery-44931%
Samsung OmniaHD hands-on, now with more TouchWiz
Its TouchWiz implementation is still a little raw -- first time they've done this on S60, so we'll cut them some slack -- but otherwise, we're seriously stoked by everything we've seen of the OmniaHD this week. The display simply has to be seen to be believed, clocking in at a breathtaking 3.7 inches -- and we noticed that it has a rather uncanny capability for washing out any other display within striking distance. Check out this Memoir here, held side-by-side for comparison: taken alone, the thing has a gorgeous display, but it pales in comparison to that glorious AMOLED alongside (also notice how the already-large Memoir gets dwarfed by the OmniaHD's massive package). Despite its size, the phone was comfortable in the hand -- and even in its rickety pre-beta state, the firmware was really flying through crazy 3D transitions, so we're hopeful that this is going to be one of the most desirable phones of the year when it hits. Follow the break for a video tour of the interface!
