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HTC Vox, the GSM version of Libra?
Many fans of the form factor proposed by HTC's upcoming Libra (pictured) -- numeric keypad when closed, QWERTY when open -- probably felt a little snubbed when it seemed like CDMA customers would be the only folks lucky enough to put one in their pockets; we know we did. The latest intelligence coming off the wires suggests that we can all finally rest easy, though, with a device being called "Vox" taking the torch for the GSM side. Details are slim, but it sounds like Vox won't have the 3G capability of its EV-DO rev. A equipped Libra cousin, merely topping out with EDGE instead. HTC will apparently be positioning the Vox as a messaging-friendly phone (a la LG VX9900) rather than a full fledged PDA -- and with a meager 96MB of internal storage to its name, it shows. Look for it to drop shortly after the Libra in the first half of 2007.
i-mate prepping JAQ4 and SP JAM for early '07 release?
In what might be the shortest timespan from first to third product iteration in the recorded history of mankind, it now appears that i-mate is preparing yet another version in its JAQ series of QWERTY Pocket PCs. For those who haven't been keeping count, this would be JAQ4 (remember, there was no JAQ2), which is positively astonishing when you consider that we got our first hands-on glance of the first JAQ just three short months ago at LA's CTIA. There isn't much to write about here; compared to the JAQ3, the specs pretty much carry over (still no 3G) though the inclusion of a GPS antenna is a welcome addition. Perhaps more interesting is the SP JAM, which features a Fastap keypad (of all things), a generous 256MB of internal storage, 802.11g, Bluetooth 2.0, and TV out. Look for both devices to apparently hit the streets around February of next year.[Via Pocket PC Thoughts]
O2 Xda Apollo hits the FCC
Yet another fresh O2 Xda variant has come to light courtesy of the FCC; this time it's the Apollo, a 3G Pocket PC with a rather uncanny resemblance to HTC's P3600 "Trinity" in our humblest of opinions. Alas, the Apollo doesn't come from HTC, it's a Quanta device (yeah, the OLPC folks), just like its Atom predecessor. Atom users should feel right at home with the Apollo, as the device's dimensions and major features carry over -- the major draw for upgraders, then, will be the addition of UMTS (including US-friendly UMTS 1900) and a front cam for video calls. We're not sure when the Apollo is going to drop exactly, but with its HTC P3600 doppelganger already on the streets, they'd best get a move on.[Via hpc.ru, thanks Surur]
ETEN glofiish X500 hits FCC as "OX500"
The good news? ETEN has humbly submitted its thin, sexy X500 glofiish Pocket PC for the FCC's approval as the "OX500." The better news? According to the test report, GSM is in the box on both the 850 and 1900MHz bands. While that obviously doesn't guarantee any US carrier is going to pick up this bad boy, it does mean that you'll be able to import one, use it on any GSM tower in the States, and do so with the peace of mind that the FCC isn't trying to hunt you down for using an unapproved device. At just 0.6 inches thick, we're digging the integrated GPS, WiFi, and Bluetooth 2.0; just give us a few minutes to curse the lack of 3G and we'll totally be on board.
Palm delays US Treo 750 into oblivion
Clamoring to get your hands on a Treo 750 here in the States? Does the very thought of a HSDPA, stub antenna-free, Windows Mobile-equipped slice of Palm goodness leave you dizzy with desire? Well, get ready to wait. And wait. And, oh yeah, then wait a little more -- just until you get to the point where the by-then-dated phone is a distant memory in your mind and you couldn't possibly care less about its release (much to Palm's chagrin, undoubtedly). Despite repeated rumblings about the Treo 750's imminent release on Cingular, Palm has dropped the bomb today that the 750 is now targeted for a US debut in the third frickin' quarter of 2007 in a report detailing its revised guidance for Q2 of next year. The slip is allegedly due to a "delay in certification," suggesting that the FCC might be responsible for gumming up the works here -- but any way you slice it, this doesn't bode well for folks looking to get their high-end Palm on who don't have the benefit of Vodafone coverage. Maybe we can occupy ourselves with the 680 in the meantime?[Via PDA247]Update: False alarm! Apparently these newfangled "fiscal years," as they're known, are way ahead of the calendar we normally know and love. The third quarter of fiscal '07 starts next month, so we might see some 750 action before the year's out after all. [Thanks, Dayton]
AdapTex brings predective text to WinMo devices
We knew it would only be a matter of time before some technology company came out with software that could cut down on keystrokes when replying to email and text messages from our Pocket PCs. After Keypoint Technologies came out with their software for PC / Laptops, it's only fitting that they release their AdapTex software for Windows Mobile 5.0 / 2003 devices. By using common letter combinations, the software predicts what words and phrases fit in a sentence and reduces the amount of keystrokes typed. We tested out this software on our Treo 700wx and it does take a little getting used to but once you've got the hang of it, it's much easier than using the keypad.
Gigabyte gets official with g-Smart i120
Last time we touched base with the g-Smart i120, the Windows Mobile 5 candybar was making waves over at Taiwan's Computex shindig; this time around, the news is of a slightly more official nature, with Gigabyte triumphantly announcing the TV-friendly Pocket PC in a press release. Though we'd have to put that tricky keypad through its paces ourselves before signing off on its goodness, the specs don't lie: you get a 2.1 megapixel cam, 256MB of ROM with miniSD expansion, Bluetooth, FM radio, 64MB of RAM, 802.11b / g (for when the GPRS data speeds don't quite cut it) -- and perhaps most notably, a TV tuner capable of pulling in NTSC, PAL, and SECAM with recording capability. As is too often the case, North America is left in the lurch without GSM 850 (come on, Gigabyte!) but we're counting on our global readers to let us know how that offset keypad pans out, y'hear?
O2 Xda Flame to redefine Pocket PC high end?
Call us fickle, but if the rumored specs on this thing are even close to accurate, we're quite ready to put the whole Nokia N97 debacle firmly behind us. In fact, this so-called "Xda Flame" for O2's networks (read: not us poor, smartphone-starved Americans) has us salivating uncontrollably to the point where we're embarrassing ourselves. Skeptical? Check this: a 3G radio (HSDPA, we're guessing), 2GB of internal storage, 802.11b/g, a 2 megapixel cam, surround sound, TV out, and an XScale PXA270 clocked at 520MHz, all paired up to a 3.6-inch VGA (yes, we said VGA) display powered by an NVIDIA GoForce 5500. Breathtaking, is it not? Sounds too good to be true, in fact -- but we should know some time next year when this thing's allegedly lined up to hit store shelves. Now go back to your 8525s, folks, and we'll let you know when you can buy one of these suckers.
Missing Sync for Windows Mobile syncs Yojimbo notes
Due to a SonyEricsson phone that recently passed away, I took a leap of faith and purchased a Windows Smartphone device, primarily because I want push email and I think the BlackBerry OS was beaten beyond death with a fugly stick (yes, I know it's still all the rage with the kiddies these days). Device and OS debates aside, I was pleased to discover that the most recent 3.0 version of Missing Sync for Windows Mobile supports syncing items from Yojimbo, though there is a limit - bookmarks and PDFs don't seem to sync; just text notes (to Missing Sync's credit, however, browser bookmarks can be synchronized through a separate included plugin). I'm not sure how long it's done this, since I helped test the 2.5 beta back during the summer and I don't remember Yojimbo being on the list. Regardless, it's a welcome addition and alternative to syncing mostly Apple and Microsoft apps, however I should warn you of one more catch: Smartphone devices (which I bought) don't seem to be able to edit these notes (just like they can't edit Office docs either; only view them), though full-fledged Pocket PC/Windows Mobile can edit them just fine. I've found a few 3rd party apps that might be able to overcome this hurdle, though I haven't had the chance to give any of them a run-through just yet. If anyone knows any better, you know what to do.
E-TEN glofiish X500 reviewed
With the recent bombardment of Windows Mobile devices being released, it's kind of hard for anything to really catch our attention -- until now. E-TEN's latest offering, the glofiish X500, brings to the table what is being called the "World's thinnest Pocket PC Phone that combines GPS and WiFi in one device." This handset comes feature-packed with a quad-band GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 radio supporting EDGE data, a 400MHz Samsung S3C2440 processor, 128MB ROM and 64MB of RAM, a 2.8" QVGA touchscreen display, 802.11b/g WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0, and a 2 megapixel camera with flash. It seems like E-TEN still had some extra room left, though, seeing how they also decided to throw in SiRFStar III GPS for when we get lost, microSD slot for saving all of our music and pictures, and even found some space for an FM tuner. Of course, with new Pocket PC devices being released almost weekly, we wonder just how long this phone will reign supreme.
Real pics emerge of the E-TEN glofiish M700
Remember that iffy picture a few days back claiming to be the unannounced E-TEN M700 Pocket PC? Well, thanks to a Russian site with a comprehensive gallery of far more legit-looking pics, those among us who weren't believers are believers now. Not surprisingly, it looks like the production unit will be "glofiish" branded like the X500 before it, and it'll pack quad-band GSM with EDGE, 128MB of ROM and 64MB of RAM, 802.11g, Bluetooth 2.0, a 2 megapixel shooter, and a SiRFStar III GPS receiver. Even crazier, though, are the glowing blue lines between the keys -- an unexpected carryover from the mockup picture. Click through to the source for plenty of additional imagery.[Via PDA247]
The MC35: a Symbol for the masses?
Symbol's handsets, while plenty rugged and capable for everyday use, don't exactly meet the... uh, aesthetic requirements demanded by average folks carrying smartphones around as part of their daily routine. Enter the MC35, a rumored Windows Mobile Pocket PC coming down the pike for a possible January launch. If the blurry picture we have here resembles the final product, it looks like Symbol is taking a sharp turn in the direction of form over function -- but no worries, corporate users and Symbol fanboys -- it should pack pretty much all the typical goodness you'd expect from a Symbol. The company is apparently billing it as a "durable, lightweight... all-in-one enterprise communication device" with integrated GPS, VoIP, and push-to-talk. Foreign-language and WiFi versions will be following shortly after the plain vanilla variant launches.
i-mate gets real with JAQ3
Let's just sweep that original JAQ under the mat and carry on as though it never existed, shall we? The TechFaith-commissioned JAQ3 looks to take a major leap beyond the original Inventec piece in the looks department, thanks in part to its slimmer form and black shell. High-speed data is conspicuously missing here, though it'll top out with EDGE on all four GSM bands -- better than the previous intel we had indicating that GSM 850 and EDGE would be no-shows. Other major features for the Pocket PC Phone Edition device include a 2 megapixel cam, 802.11g, 128MB of ROM, and 64MB of RAM. Initially, it looks like the JAQ3's launch is restricted to the Middle East, but who knows? If we ask nicely, it might just come to grace US shores alongside the JAQ and SPL.[Via the::unwired, thanks kerunt]
BenQ-Siemens P51 now available (in China, that is)
Save for a recent cameo in the FCC's files, BenQ's latest P51 Pocket PC phone has been a longstanding resident of vaporware land -- and thanks to the relentless, ever-onward march of time, a phone that had some folks drooling when it was first announced is now relegated to the midrange. Yeah, we're a little jaded about the whole thing, but anyone still interested in picking up the GPS-enabled QWERTY Pocket PC can apparently now do so over in China for around 6500 yuan ($825, give or take). Now if you'll excuse us, we need to walk to the Cingular store to pick up an HP hw6925 for, like, half the dinero.[Via Pocket PC Thoughts]
E-TEN prepping M700 Pocket PC phone?
Sure, E-TEN's managed to make some waves with its thinnish glofiish X500, but what about a slide-out keyboard? Aren't those things, like, standard these days? If the E-TEN rumor mill pans out this time around (as it has in the past), this here M700 should come to the rescue. The alleged device looks to be the spiritual successor to the M600+ with GPS, WiFi, boatloads of internal storage, and some manner of 3G radio. Of course, this particular picture looks totally bunk (though we're digging the psychadelic blue glow on the keyboard) -- but we'll give it a mulligan for being a potentially legit mockup.[Via Slashphone]
CoolPad re-ups 728 with 728B
Remember that dual-mode GSM / CDMA Pocket PC out of China a few months back, the CoolPad 728? It looks like it must've done alright for itself because the manufacturer (which we think may be CEC Telecom, the folks behind our latest installment of Keepin' It Real Fake) has wasted no time in rolling out its successor, the 728B. From what little information we have, it looks like there's nothing to get terribly excited about here -- besides being a body double for the 728, the specs are largely similar though the 728B seems to add GPS navigation to the mix. If the 728B strikes your fancy (or you're an overly jealous 728 owner) get ready to dig deep: it scoots out the door for about 7,500 yuan, which works out to about $950 by our calculations.[Via Engadget Chinese]
Sprint's Treo 700wx can't text Verizon, T-Mobile
Is there trouble in paradise? In a story that's been developing for a few weeks now, it seems that at least some of Sprint's Treo 700wx user base has been stripped of its ability to send SMS messages to Verizon and T-Mobile customers. Now, we would never take the conspiracy theorist route (that's not true, by the way) and accuse Sprint of purposefully hosing outbound text messages to its bigger CDMA rival Verizon, but it does seem like a huge, inexplicable, and unacceptable screwup of epic proportions. For its part, Sprint is promising a fix by the end of November (feel free to take your time, fellas) but in the meantime, rumor has it that affected customers can call up Sprint and get some sort of compensation for their troubles.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]Read - mytreo.netRead - TreoCentral
i-mate shows "PDA L" Pocket PC phone
It looks like the midrange Pocket PC phone market (is there such a market?) is about to get a little more crowded. i-mate used Microsoft's TechEd in Barcelona to show off its new PDA L, a 16.5 millimeter-thick device packing 128MB of ROM and 64MB of RAM, a 2.4-inch QVGA display, Bluetooth, WiFi, and a 2 megapixel cam, all sitting atop a 200MHz OMAP800. While we're not sure 200 million clock cycles per second is really going to meet the needs of the speed demon inside us, the phone's dimensions are definitely too our liking -- especially considering that it's running Pocket PC under the hood. No word on a release date or price, but it'll apparently come out some time around "soon" at a price of "not very much."[Via MSMobileNews]
Samsung's SPH-8100 WinMo Pocket PC with Mobile WiMax, IMS, and DMB
It's not the dual-mode WiMax / GSM handset we're waiting for, but Samsung's SPH-M8100 Mobile WiMAX slider should force an optical interrupt nevertheless. Like the SPH-P9000 introduced yesterday, this device is part of Sammy's Mobile WiMAX MITs lineup only this time in a dedicated IMS lovin' handset. Come on, you remember IMS right? It's the IP Multimedia Subsystem we saw under global trial back in February which even Cingular has been known to dabble around with. IMS support means this not-a-cellphone handset will not only provide access to content over high-speed Mobile WiMAX (WiBro as it's known in Korea), but it'll also feature such SIP-based services as VoIP calls, video conferencing, and "Push-to-All" which we assume is just the push-to-talk, walkie-talkie service as it's known 'round here. The handset runs Windows Mobile 5.0 PocketPC and features a 2.8-inch 65k color, 240x320 touch-screen TFT display, MMCmicro expansion, and 2 megapixel camera with another 0.3 megapixel shooter up front for video conferences. It also features T-DMB mobile TV with both the antenna and stylus tucked neatly away in the case. Oh, and this handset will pull double-duty as a Mobile WiMAX modem for your laptop too. Now pardon us, we have to get back to banging our rocks together, there's mammoth for dinner tonight! Lots more pics after the break.
Cingular's latest rebate form hints at holiday releases
Cingular's rebate forms are about as accurate at predicting the carrier's releases as weathermen are at predicting blizzards, but nevertheless, there are several juicy tidbits in the latest form (dated November 5 to December 30, 2006) worth pointing out. First up, the Samsung ZX30 and LG CU400 make appearances, both presumably destined to bring yet more clamshell love to the HSDPA game, and it'll be interesting to see how the ZX30 slots in against its SYNC stablemate. Also showing up to the party is the CU500v -- a phone we know nothing about -- but we're guessing it represents some sort of incremental upgrade to the CU500 (video calling, perhaps?). Next up, the SGH-i607 seems to have been officially christened the "Blackjack" for Cingular's release of the slim, 3G, QWERTY smartphone. Finally, the Treo 680 and 750 get some rebate love with both models coming in camera and non-camera variants. Conspicuously missing from the form, though, is the hotly-anticipated Nokia N75, suggesting that American S60 fans might be waiting until early '07 to get some 3G action.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]Update: Looking closer at the form, we find a couple other goodies in the mix -- the Motorola K1 KRZR (in its GSM flavor, of course), the V3r (basically a red V3i, we hear), and the Pearl, a phone we'd previously heard wouldn't drop until 2007. Oh, and if you look really close, the ZX30 actually reads "ZX20" (how boring!). [Thanks again, everyone]
