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Sprint's Motorola Q finally goes on sale
It looks like "around mid-January" is finally upon us, and those looking to grab a dark grey Motorola Q with that unmistakable yellow splash screen need not wait any longer, as Sprint is officially loosing its rendition of the smartphone to citizens everywhere. You've all had time to deliberate by now, considering you've seen all the sneak peeks and even read a hands-on review, so now the real question is how certain are you about locking yourself into a two-year agreement with a provider that won't carry that oh-so-anticipated iPhone? Regardless, Sprint's offering up its Q for $199.99 after all applicable rebates and in exchange for two years of your cellular soul, or you can buy it outright for $449.99 if you should so desire.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Hands on with the Slim Devices Transporter
What makes a $2,000 digital music player a $2,000 digital music player? When you're Slim Devices, that's a pretty tricky question to answer. After all, its relatively affordable Squeezebox line has garnered extensive praise and a nearly rabid following over the past couple years -- especially in its latest (and most attractive) incarnation. What's more, Slim has positioned the Squeezebox as an audiophile-friendly device from day one, touting its extensive tweakability, high quality digital-to-analog conversion, and compatibility with the surprisingly useful SqueezeNetwork. Don't get us wrong, we suspected there was room in Slim's portfolio for something above the Squeezebox. Something with a larger display, perhaps something that'd fit in an A/V stack. What we never saw coming, though, was a price hike of seventeen hundred dollars over its little sibling. So just what does two large (that's over six Squeezeboxes with the WiFi option, for the record) buy the discerning music connoisseur these days? Let's take a closer look.
JVC's new 1080p projectors, front & rear
JVC is highlighting its LCoS-based D-ILA with a few new products due in early 2007. First up, the new DLA-HD1 projector, with its 1080p resolution and native 15,000:1 contrast ratio, is now set to hit the U.S. in February with a price of $6,300. If you prefer your projection from the rear JVC has unveiled two new slim HD-ILA sets, the 58-inch HD-58S998 and the 65-inch HD-65S998. Much like Samsung's 10-inch deep DLP from CEDIA, these are designed for shallow cabinets and stands made to fit flat panel displays or even hung on a wall. The three D-ILA devices in each HDTV are combined with a new mirror and lens that has allowed JVC to reduce the projection distance needed and slim down the sets considerably. They feature a 10,000:1 contrast ration and the same Genessa image processing found in other JVC sets, as well as two native 1080p HDMI inputs. The HD-58S998 is due in January for $3,299 followed by the HD-65S998 in March for $4,199. Continue on for a pic from the side of the 10.7-inch deep HD-58S998 and a look at the DLA-HD1.Read - JVC Slim HD-ILA RPTVsRead - JVC DLA-HD1 Projector
The SLVR, refined: Motorola's L7e
With all the facelifting, refinement, and replacement Motorola's RAZR lineup has gotten as of late, one might think the poor, overlooked SLVR series was in danger of going the way of the dinosaurs (or, perhaps more appropriately, the MPx). Actually, readers following The Boy Genius Report have known that Moto has been slaving over a hot stove chock full o' the thin candybars in a variety of flavors for a little while now, and it just so happens that the updated L7 we'd scooped -- identified back then as the L7i -- has gone on to officially become the SLVR L7e. Visually, the re-upped model is nearly a dead ringer for its pappy, save for the keypad which has taken on a decidedly RIZR-esque appearance and a "shimmering blue" hue. The microSD slot is a carryover from the L7, but virtually every other major spec has been tweaked: the cam goes from VGA to 1.3-megapixel, A2DP is now supported for wireless stereo, and the GSM radio mercifully adds EDGE for decent 2.5G data. Word has it no American carrier has expressed interest in the updated model, but thanks to support for both the 850 and 1900MHz bands, this is one phone that should be a breeze to import and use when it drops by year's end.[Via phoneArena]
Motorola L2 turns pink on Cingular
It may not bear the same altruistic intent of its red cousins, but with the fresh coat of paint, the pink L2 will still manage to stand out a bit in a sea of silver and black SLVRs. As a refresher, the L2 is the low-end variant of Motorola's SLVR L7, trading a few metal bits for plastic ones but otherwise keeping a strong resemblance to its pricier counterpart. How "low-end," you ask? The L2 can presently be had on Cingular in your choice of silver or the aforementioned pink for $0 or $10 on contract, respectively.[Via Mobile Magazine]
Smart S100: the slimphone with a silly keypad
There are slimmer phones on the market, sure, but the 7.7 millimeter, Asia-only Smart S100 has that poorly-faked-iPod look that Samsung simply doesn't have anywhere in their product lineup. With the exception of the unfortunate dual-band 900 / 1800 GSM radio with nothing more than GPRS to feed it data, the phone's specs aren't half bad, with a 160 x 128 OLED display, 2-megapixel cam, and that Nokia 3650-style circular keypad we all love (or love to hate). Without even a single US-friendly GSM band, we think we've probably spent too much time on this thing already, but it's fascinating to know that a no-name phone can beat virtually every major manufacturer in the slimphone game.[Via Slashphone]
Samsung @ CEDIA - 10-inch deep Slim DLPs on display
Sure we're impressed (or not-so impressed) by Samsung's LED-backlit DLP rear projection televisions, but another advance in the technology is the new Slim DLPs. The idea is to create DLP HDTVs small enough for wall mounting solutions, and Samsung's first television based on the technology is on display at CEDIA 2006. The 46-inch 720p HDTV is a mere 10.6-inches deep, and weighs only 46 pounds. They expect to bring the set to retail by the end of this year for $1,799.Follow the link for a front shot of yet another HDTV.
The VK-X200: VK Mobile's swan song?
As a phone manufacturer, it could be argued that one of the first steps you'd better take to get yourself out from under the financial gun is to release some quality products. That's exactly what VK Mobile looks to be doing here -- or trying to do, anyway -- in offering the VK-X200 for Korea's SK Telecom. The smart-looking X200 clocks in at 9.9mm, slim by all but the most extreme standards, and apparently rocks a 2-megapixel cam and media player. Good luck to ya, VK; we hope this thing sells like hotcakes.
VidaBox launches media center PC line-up
In a market becoming saturated with one HTPC offering after another, VidaBox is launching what seems like just another HTPC line-up for those too busy to build their own. Four strangely familiar looking models are headed your way: the ROOMMATE, SLIM, LUX, and MAX, which aside from performing all the usual functions -- recording live TV, storing music and photos, and sporting a snazzy case -- feature "unparalleled storage offerings." The LUX and MAX models offer up to 3.75TB of storage and includes their "VidaSafe" technology (which appears to be RAID, folks) to keep the machine running and your files recoverable, even if one of the hard drives fails while operating. As with most pre-built HTPCs, they don't come cheap, and with prices ranging from $1,499 to near-infinity, the VidaBox line-up can satisfy your wildest home theater desires if your credit card can stand the punishment.
UTStarcom joins the slim candybar game
If you're into the form factor, you don't need Bluetooth, and you're looking to save some coin, you might turn your attention to the FCC's deets on UTStarcom's GPRS1226 (or UT1200, depending on what documentation you're reading). Like the SLVR it loosely mimics, the microSD-equipped GPRS1226 emphasizes its music playback capabilities, even offering a dedicated music player button on its side. GSM 850 and 1900 support mean this thing is likely targeted at the North American market; we're not sure which carrier would offer it, but given its meager spec sheet, we're guessing you could walk away with it nearly free on contract.[Via phoneArena]
Slim Devices makes Rhapsody its main Squeeze
Squeezebox owners, listen up! If you've been pining away over Rhapsody access on your Slim Devices music streamers, your time has finally come. the release of SlimServer 6.3 and a Squeezebox firmware upgrade enable Squeezebox 2 and 3 owners to use the service like those Sonos-using next-door neighbors; too bad those Sonos loving friends of theirs they haven't yet gotten their PlaysForSure on like Slim, but hey, as far as Rhapsody support we're just about all on level ground now.[Via eHomeUpgrade]
Samsung's Ultra Edition 9.9, 12.9, 6.9: World's slimmest cellphones launched
Get ready Guinness 'cause Samsung just launched an entire series of "World's slimmest" handsets. Sure, we've seen the D830 clam, X820 candybar, and FCC approved D900 slider before, only now they've been turned-out onto that mean global scene official, spec'd, and rebadged with their ultra-slim, millimeter measurements right in the name: the Ultra Edition 9.9 (D830), 12.9 (D900), and 6.9 (X820) pictured left-to-right. The UE 9.9 brings tri-band (900/1800/1900MHz) GPRS/EDGE, a 2 megapixel cam with auto-focus and flash, a 2.3-inch 240x320 262k TFT main display (0.8-inch 92x16 grayscale external), Bluetooth, 80MB embedded memory with MicroSD expansion, MP3/AAC media player, and even an MPEG4 recorder with TV-out jack slammed into this world's slimmest flip. The UE 6.9 brings pretty much the same network coverage, cam, Bluetooth, media capabilities, and on-board memory as the 9.9 but had to forgo the microSD card and flash while dropping down to a 1.9-inch 176x220 262k TFT display in order to slip into that world's slimmest, 6.9-mm, 2.33-ounce dress. The relatively plump UE 12.9 takes advantage of all that, uh, roominess to squeeze in quad-band GPRS/EDGE, a 3.13 megapixel shooter, 2.1-inch 240x320 262k TFT, that good media lovin' we've already seen, Bluetooth with A2DP stereo audio support, and 80MB with microsSD expansion. Yeah, that makes it the world's slimmest slider, er, with 3 megapixel camera -- kind of a stretch, but that's how Sammy likes to roll. They didn't bother with drop dates, countries, or prices but the fact that the press release hit their English site gives us hope for this Samsung triptych to drop in the US sometime this year. [Via AVING]
Rumor control: No plans for PS3 downgrade
You know the drill. First it starts out from an "anonymous inside source" then it gets construed until the cows come home. That's about how the whole rumor concerning the PlayStation 3 downgrade started. Apparently an "inside source" revealed that Sony couldn't quite get all the pieces to fit and still make it cool correctly, thus needing a downgrade. He or she also said that the Cell could be clocked down from 3.2GHz to 2.8GHz in order to manufacture them in greater mass.Well Jonathan Fargher, a Sony rep, has stepped up to dismiss those rumors for the BS that they are. "Developers have been working with PS3 dev kits for anywhere between eight and 12 months, and to suggest that we'd now take the decision to downgrade the hardware at such a late stage, is, well, ridiculous."And to address the issue of sticking all those components inside the already large casing, he said they "do have over 40 years of experience making consumer electronics equipment, and therefore, extensive experience in making things fit."
Sony's Vaio TX3 lineup launched
Sony just revealed the details on their TX3 lineup of ultraportable, wide-screen Vaios. The TX72 finally brings these hotties into Core Duo Solo land by dropping the 1.2GHz U1400 CPU into that fine chassis. The TX72 also features a OneSeg digital TV tuner with iEPG programming guide for scheduling Japanese TeeVee recordings to that 80GB disk. Other than that, she still sports that same great 11.1-inch widescreen LCD with LED backlighting, now up to 10 hours off battery with the Core Solo at the wheel (7 if configured with 1.06GHz Celeron M), dual-layer DVD burner, 802.11a/b/g WiFi, and Bluetooth in a sleek 1-inch wedge still weighing less than 3-pounds. Expect to see 'em around Japan later this month for ¥229,800 nicely spec'd or about $2000 of the green stuff. Click-on to see 'er dressed-up in blue.
PS3 may include PS2 hardware inside
Quick: how do you ensure that the PS3 is backwards compatible with PlayStation 2 games? It's easy: you just put a PS2 inside of it.According to a Japanese periodical this is exactly what Sony has in mind for their back-compat strategy. Given that software emulation isn't an option (at least not yet), the PlayStation 3 is rumored to include the necessary hardware which is also used in the slim PS2. This would give one more reason as to why it looks so big.Of course sticking that kind of power straight into the next-gen system would guarantee a big number of supported titles right out of the box. However, it also runs up the cost and bloats the overall system. We'll have to wait and see what happens with this one as we get closer to launch.[Via Joystiq]
LG's new skinny KG320 candybar
The folks at LG are no stranger to slim phones, and they look to have a winner with their new KG320. Beyond the 0.39-inch thick form factor (the same as Samsung's recently launched T509) the LG phone features a 2.2 megapixel camera, 176 x 200 pixel screen, Bluetooth and a whole 128MB of memory. Playback isn't bad neither, with support for MPEG4, MP3 and AAC files. It's just a tri-band GSM unit, but the phone is headed for Europe in addition to the usual Asian targets, so here's hoping for a US launch.[Via MobileKorea.TV]
Samsung launches E900 slider in Europe
Though always the first to cram a few more megapixels into a cameraphone or shave a few millimeters off a slimphone, Samsung hasn't ever really seemed to try very hard on their UI. Well they're trying something new with their E900 called "Black UI," which looks pretty snazzy and even (heaven forbid) usable. That's not to say they forgot about the hardware this time, the E900 looks to be a respectable slider phone, with a touch-sensitive control pad not unlike that of LG's Chocolate phone. The phone measures 0.65-inches thick, and has a 2-inch display, 2 megapixel camera, microSD storage, and Bluetooth. The phone also boasts music playback functionality, and the control pad switches from phone mode to music player mode based on what you're using it for. We're not sure what carrier(s) are getting this phone in Europe, or the price, but it looks to be a solid contender for at least a few hard earned Euros. Click on for more pics.
Pantech's slim-ish PN-320 headed for Verizon
Forgoing the traditional methods of actually announcing their products, Pantech is content to let the FCC do their PR for them, with the latest example being the PN-320 clamshell. It's not going for the world record or anything, but the 0.9-inch thick PN-320 is still fairly slim for a flip phone, and it's not too hard on the eyes neither. Otherwise, the CDMA phone is pretty lame, with a mere VGA camera and 262k color LCD, ala its PN-315 sibling. There's no branding visible, but the phone looks to be headed for Verizon like the PN-315, thanks to some Verizon-specific wording in the manual. We just hope Verizon users can contain themselves for joy, and the FCC is getting reimbursed somehow.[Via phoneArena]
Samsung's SGH-T509 reviewed
The Samsung SGH-T509 we expect to hit T-Mobile anyday now just nabbed a "very good" rating over at c|net. While that uber-thin, 0.39-inch shell might draw in the eye, in the hand it "feels fragile" (though it emerged from a couple of drop tests without any damage) and suffers from "mixed call quality." However, those good looks, a "bright vibrant" 1.8-inch TFT display, solid feature set, EDGE support, and tested 4.5 hours of talk time resulted in a 7/10 rating from the reviewer who calls the T509 "a step above" that other slim candybar, the Moto SLVR L6.Update: Thanks to tipster Alex for pointing out that T-Mo is now offering-up the T509 -- giddy up.
Nokia 6126 wins FCC approval
Nokia has been gaining a bit of a reputation for being on the chubby side of the thin phone wars. So the 14-mm slim, 6126 flip which the FCC just approved, still passes for thin these days in the Nokia camp of plumpsters. Other than the 32MB flash and 16MB RAM we now know this thing packs, the filing doesn't tell us more than we already knew: quad-band GSM/EDGE, a 2.2-inch, 320 x 240 internal display, 1.3 megapixel cam, and microSD slot for storage expansion. Worth the wait we guess, if you're a Series 40 fan.
