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White Samsung Fascinate and Sony Ericsson X10 joining Dell Streak in Best Buy this month
Let's be real: almost every phone looks better in white. Okay, so that's strictly a matter of personal opinion -- but if you're a white phone kind of person, turn your attention away from the forever-delayed iPhone 4 and toward a couple that are launching shortly thanks to some new details from Best Buy. Turns out Verizon's white Fascinate and AT&T's white X10 are both scheduled to hit on October 24, alongside the Dell Streak -- not in white, by the bye -- followed by the HTC Surround on November 8 (which we already knew). Any of 'em can be yours for a $50 deposit. Update: We've been told that the white Fascinate and X10 will be exclusives for Best Buy, at least at first. [Thanks, anonymous tipster]
BlackBerry PlayBook vs. iPad vs. Galaxy Tab vs. Streak: the tale of the tape
What a day -- yesterday, that is. Research in Motion finally announced its long-awaited BlackBerry tablet, the 7-inch PlayBook (thankfully not named the BlackPad). While there's still quite a few missing details, and nary an unit in site for us to try first-hand, we've still got a sampling of specs for this little guy to go tête-à-tête on the quantitative field of proverbial battle, at least as it can be seen so far (that early 2011 release date is still a ways off). Looks very promising so far, lined up against Apple's iPad, Samsung's Galaxy Tab, and the Dell Streak, but our known unknowns -- i.e. price, app support, and overall feel of using the QNX-built operating system -- are what will really make or break the slate. Until that time, enjoy our number-crunching below: BlackBerry PlayBook Apple iPad Samsung Galaxy Tab Dell Streak Screen size 7 inches 9.7 inches 7 inches 5 inches Resolution 1024 x 600 1024 x 768 1024 x 600 800 x 480 Pixel density (approx.) 170 133 170 187 Platform BB Tablet OS iOS 3.2.2 (4.2 in November) Android 2.2 Android 1.6 (2.1 / 2.2 in future) Adobe Flash support 10.1 Not Supported 10.1 Not supported Processor 1GHz dual-core Cortex A9 1GHz Apple A4 (ARMv7) 1GHz Cortex A8 1GHz Snapdragon Graphics Unknown PowerVR SGX 535 PowerVR SGX 540 Adreno 200 RAM 1GB 256MB 512MB 512MB Internal Storage 16GB / 32GB (unconfirmed) 16GB / 32GB / 64GB 16GB / 32GB 2GB Expansion Unknown None microSD microSD Connectivity 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0 802.11 b/g, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR Cellular data 3G and 4G promised for future 3G optional (GSM) 3G (all carriers) 3G (sold via AT&T) GPS None 3G models only Yes Yes Camera 3MP front, 5MP rear None 1.3MP front, 3MP rear VGA front, 5MP rear Weight 0.9 lbs 1.5 - 1.6 lbs 0.84 lbs 0.49 lbs
How would you change Dell's Streak?
Oh, sure -- our international contemporaries have been toying with the Dell Streak for the better part of 2010, but Americans have just recently had their equal opportunity to indulge. It's a mini tablet, or a huge phone. Or both. And sometimes neither. But whatever the case may be on any given Sunday, the 5-inch Streak has caused more of a stir for the folks in Round Rock than any product since the Adamo. For those who eagerly pre-ordered and then not-so-eagerly paid the credit bill upon receipt, we're interested in knowing exactly how things are going so far. Are you still stoked about having a 5-inch phone? Would you have made it any larger / smaller? Changed the casing? Made it available on another carrier? Thrown in a slide-out QWERTY keyboard? Let us know in comments below, capiche?
Michael Dell teases new 7-inch Android tablet, says Streak to land in Best Buy next month (update: pic)
Oh Michael, such a teaser you are. Word has it that the head honcho of Dell Inc. has just pulled out yet another Android tablet from his pocket, only this time it's a 7-inch whopper. Sadly, Mr. Dell left us high and dry with dates and specs (and the lack of photos from the event doesn't help, either), but we'll bet you that this is the long-rumored Looking Glass. On a more solid note, Dell also announced that the smaller Streak is heading to Best Buy next month. That's great, except some of us would rather see the tabletphone getting its share of Froyo sooner -- here's hoping that this bigger tablet won't disappoint us with an outdated OS. Update: As it just so happens, Reuters snapped a pic of Mr. Dell himself holding the tablet on stage, and sure enough, it resembles that leaked Looking Glass even from quite a distance away.
Dell Streak's pre-rooted Android 2.1 update quietly suspended, revision coming in two or three weeks
Ruh roh. Looks like Dell's stepped onto its own toes real hard with the Streak's Android 2.1 update -- O2 just confirmed to us that due to some "feedback from users," it's decided to suspend said download while Dell gets cranking on a revised software release over the next two or three weeks. We weren't given the exact reasons behind this quiet withdrawal, but our friends over at MoDaCo might have had the answer for some time -- soon after the release, they discovered that the 2.1 firmware was in fact pre-rooted, thus leaving the Streak vulnerable to unauthorized access and modification (although handy for the seriously tech-minded). Yikes. On the bright side, such substantial time frame suggests that the upcoming fix should also address other bugs like incompatibility with the desktop suite, weird loading behavior in the browser, and missing WMV video playback functionality. And here comes the inevitable question: what about Froyo? Well, neither Dell nor O2 could provide a date for the Streak's scoop of frozen dessert, but we'll bet you a white iPhone 4 that it won't be out in October.
HTC HD7 resurfaces on a T-Mobile accessories list, could be with us by November 1
Aha! The phone you heard about here first has made its second document-based appearance, this time crossing the Atlantic and showing up on a T-Mobile inventory sheet. We can apparently look forward to accessorizing our HD7s with a leather sleeve, a "charge shell," a pair of different screen protectors, and two flexible protective covers made by Speck. Most of these parts are expected to arrive on November 1, and since accessories aren't much good without something to put them on, we can probably expect that to mean the HD7 will be dropping some time before November. It's expected on October 18 in the UK, which dovetails neatly with the idea of it being a headline Windows Phone 7 device from HTC -- that's about the time Microsoft promised WP7's European launch. As to that "Dell Claire" you see near the top, we're hearing it's the T-Mo version of the Dell Streak. [Thanks, John and Jakub]
Dell Streak to get official Android 2.1 update on September 1st or 2nd, according to O2
Looks like things are going swell for Dell Streak owners in the UK -- following the earlier Android 2.1 firmware leak, news from the grapevine is that O2 will be rolling out a final build of said update on September 1st, which would easily fit into the "early September" period as promised by the carrier. We double-checked with O2 and were informed that it's actually targeting either the 1st or 2nd, so regardless, the eccentric tabletphone should be getting some sweet pastry later this week. We'll let you know if something goes wrong in the oven, or if the buttery aroma manages to seep into AT&T's upgrade path. Update: Just as promised, the 2.1 download is now live. Simply go to Settings, "About device" and then "System updates" for the fresh delivery. If all else fails, just point your Streak's browser to the URL.
Dell Streak procures a hacked-up mini USB adapter, gets friendly with your dusty cables
Even if you can look beyond the SIM lock and the aging Android 1.6 OS on the Dell Streak, there's still one irksome problem: the lack of a mini or micro-USB port (Dell clearly missed the USB party last summer). Dissatisfied with this state of affairs, John from Linux Slate decided to build an adapter for his tabletphone's dock connector, which he confirmed to be PDMI instead of a proprietary design. The procedure was simple: John cut up his Streak's cable plug, soldered a mini USB socket onto the board, and housed the new assembly within the Streak's cable clip. Voilà! Until third-party USB-to-PDMI cables start to show up in the stores, it's either this mod or cough up $20 for a spare cable from Dell. See the adapter in action after the break.
Dell Streak gets ripped to shreds by iFixit, Blondie reportedly satisfied at last
Our friends at iFixit have made short work of the Dell Streak, doing what they do best. They've torn apart everyone's favorite giant mobile phone (or is it a tiny tablet?), and found some interesting innards in the process. iFixit reports that the Streak is extremely easy to disassemble, and inside they found a Qualcomm QSD8250 Snapdragon CPU, and cameras which they report are "similar" to those found inside the iPhone 4. There's nothing earth-shattering here, though iFixit's taken the Dell Streak teardown as an opportunity to debut a new "fixability" rating -- and you'll be happy to know that this baby has scored an 8 out of 10. Hit up the source for the full rundown.
Dell: Streak likely going straight to Froyo in US
Though it's really quite a capable handset, Dell's Streak brought several disappointments to its belated US launch; namely, a pastry-based OS without any creme filling, and a $549 version that's still SIM-locked. While we doubt AT&T's iron grip will release the Streak from the latter servitude, Dell's Lionel Menchaca suggests that the former problem may get solved all at once, because the company is considering skipping Android 2.1 altogether for stateside Streaks and upgrading them directly to the faster, more capable Android 2.2. We don't have a timeframe for a potential release, of course, as the device just went on sale, but it's clear that Dell hears your cries for the functionality Froyo brings.
Engadget Podcast 208 - 08.13.2010
It's the Engadget Podcast....to go! Would you like a little Joanna Stern with that? Easy on the Ziegler, buddy - and 86 the Paul, please. All that plus a special toy for kids ten and under that manage to listen all the way to the end. Update: If you've been unable to download the podcast in iTunes or Zune, it's because we had a naming issue -- it's since been fixed and should download properly once the cache breaks. Sorry for the inconvenience! Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel Guests: Joanna Stern, Chris Ziegler Producer: Trent Wolbe Music: California Gurls 00:01:30 - The Engadget Show - 011: Peter Molyneux, Fable III, Milo, BlackBerry Torch, Windows Phone 7 00:01:40 - BlackBerry Torch review 00:12:48 - Exclusive: Sony Ericsson to introduce Android 3.0 gaming platform and PSP Go-like smartphone 00:18:38 - Microsoft to open mobile games studio, develop and incubate Windows Phone 7 titles 00:24:42 - Exclusive: Upcoming Apple TV loses 1080p playback, gains apps... and will be renamed iTV 00:36:10 - iPod touch coming in a 'few weeks' with dual cameras and Retina Display, suggests John Gruber 00:39:49 - CDMA iPhone in engineering tests, may arrive in January, says John Gruber 00:43:05 - Plastic Logic kills QUE, 'shifts focus' to second-generation ProReader 00:43:56 - Notion Ink Adam delayed, this time investors are to blame (updated!) 01:47:00 - Notion Ink Adam priced at $498, lives up to promise of being below $499 00:50:20 - Dell Streak on sale August 13 for $300 on AT&T contract, $550 without 00:51:14 - Off-contract Dell Streak is still SIM-locked to AT&T, wrongs still being done in the world 00:52:40 - Exclusive: Dell Thunder prototype rumbles into the wild (video) 00:57:05 - Motorola Droid 2 (and R2-D2 edition!) finally official: Android 2.2, Swype, $200 on contract 00:57:50 - Droid 2 R2-D2 edition spied in the wild, ready to repair your X-wing 00:58:30 - Motorola's Droid 2 in the wild, looking as blue as ever 01:04:18 - Motorola's Jha says MOTOBLUR brand will fade from view 01:05:22 - Epic 4G coming August 31st for $249.99 on contract (updated) 01:06:14 - HP CEO Mark Hurd resigns over sexual harassment investigation (updated with liveblog!) 01:07:35 - Former HP CEO Mark Hurd rewarded with a $40m severance after being forced to resign over fraudulent expense reports 01:09:42 - HP tells employees webOS tablet coming Q1 2011 01:11:20 - Pre designer Peter Skillman latest to leave Palm, entire senior staff now in exodus 01:14:56 - Google and Verizon announcing something policy-related at 1:30PM ET -- we're liveblogging right here 01:16:00 - Google and Verizon publish joint policy proposal for 'an open internet' 01:17:00 - Google and Verizon's net neutrality proposal explained Hear the podcast Subscribe to 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. [Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace Download the podcast LISTEN (MP3) LISTEN (AAC) LISTEN (OGG) Contact the podcast 1-888-ENGADGET or podcast (at) engadget (dot) com. Twitter: @joshuatopolsky @reckless @engadget @zpower @joannastern
Dell Streak gets leaked Android 2.1 update in the UK, but still the same ol' 1.6 in the US
What is there to do on a cloudy Friday in Britain? Why, scouring the web for your phone's firmware update, of course. That's probably how a MoDaCo member unearthed the Dell Streak's latest Android 2.1 build (apparently just for locked O2 devices), anyway. Sure, the link's quirky domain name and sluggish speed may arouse some suspicion, but our sources have confirmed that this non-final update is indeed coming from Dell (and you can expect the link to be killed soon). Many users -- including ourselves -- are reporting a successful update and enjoying the same goodies we spotted in our preview: 720p camcorder, a much improved keyboard, live wallpapers, etc. Fancy giving it a shot? Here's how: copy the .pkg file to the SD card, rename it to "Update.pkg," then boot the Streak into recovery mode (hold down both volume keys and then power on), and finally choose to recover from said file (your phone will be wiped!). Of course, as with any firmware updates, make sure you have some sort of backup somewhere and tread carefully. In other news: as promised, Dell's AT&T Streak ordering page went live today, and yes, it'll still be shipped with Android 1.6. Looks like xda-developers and MoDaCo are well on course to beat Dell on releasing a 2.1 or even a 2.2 update. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] Update: Looks like someone's managed to get this firmware working on an officially unlocked Streak. Again, do it at your own risk. And if all fails, you can try going back to the 1.6 firmware.
Off-contract Dell Streak is still SIM-locked to AT&T, wrongs still being done in the world
Bummer. If you were planning to get your Streak pre-order in today, but were going to opt for the $549 off-contract version rather than the $249 on-contract version, we're sad to inform you that it's the exact same device in both scenarios. Not that we're shocked or anything, but Dell's own Lionel Menchaca has confirmed the tragedy via Twitter (shot after the break), noting that the $549 version of the Dell Streak "will not be SIM unlocked." In case that needed any more clarity, he continued: "It is SIM-locked to AT&T." Fairly lousy news for those hoping to snag one and pop a few international rental SIMs in as they headed off on their late-summer escapades, but it still makes us wonder whatever happened to that T-Mobile-ized version that sauntered through the FCC back in April. Angela Lansbury, we need you. Desperately.
Dell Streak on sale August 13 for $300 on AT&T contract, $550 without
After a brief delay in getting the ball rolling stateside, Dell's finally ready to start selling its Streak this Friday to all comers. If you go for a new two-year contract through AT&T, you'll be paying $299.99; if you value your freedom, though, you'll be looking at $549.99 out the door -- oh, and if you signed up for the pre-sale, you'll be able to place your order a day earlier on the 12th. Unfortunately, we don't have any indication that it'll be launching with anything newer than Android 1.6, so let's hope that juicy 2.1 update with 720p video capture wastes no time getting rolled out. Follow the break for the full press release.
Dell Streak with Android 2.1 update exclusive preview: 720p video capture, better keyboard, and more
We've got some good news and some bad news for fellow Streak-wielding chums. The bad news is that said Dell tabletphone won't be getting its Froyo update in September -- well, in the UK at least. The good news, however, is that O2 will be squeezing out a 2.1 firmware to fill the void around early next month, which probably implies that the unlocked devices will also get the update slightly earlier, if not at the same time. Now, Dell's lightning demo of the Streak's Eclair build last week might have been a tad underwhelming, but as we found out in the software exclusively sent to us today, turns out there's actually more than just a new unlock screen and live wallpaper support. Read on to find out. Update: Since you guys asked, here are some benchmark scores we obtained: 6.949 MFLOPS on Linpack, 767 on Quadrant, 30fps on Fps2D, and 3521 on An3DBench. Certainly a welcomed improvement from Pocketables' 1.6 scores.%Gallery-98938%
AT&T blocking Dell Streak beta units? (update: SIMs were deactivated, phones weren't supposed to be sold)
There's a fascinating discussion going on over in MoDaCo's forums today suggesting that Dell Streak units that were given out recently as part of the company's US beta test in and around Austin, Texas are no longer functioning on AT&T, the result of an apparent IMEI block; voice calls placed from the devices all get re-routed to AT&T customer service, and 2G / 3G data doesn't work at all. Our understanding is that beta testers were allowed to keep their units after the conclusion of the test period -- some of those ended up on eBay, naturally, so you can imagine that buyers are probably feeling a little steamed by this. One user has had luck with data by using the iPad's APN and plan settings, but otherwise, there seems to be a bit of frustration going around. We've reached out to AT&T to figure out what's going on; we'll let you know when we have more. [Thanks, Reece M.] Update: We've had at least one buyer of a beta unit write in to tell us that his Streak is still functional, so it seems that the IMEIs haven't been blocked across the board -- so far, anyhow. Leave us your experiences in comments, won't you? Thanks, Josh G.! Update 2: Dell just wrote in to give us some more background on the situation, and it looks like at least part of the confusion is stemming from the fact that the Streaks were provided with 30-day SIMs from AT&T; testers were provided with the following tidbit on the fate of their phones after the SIMs expired: "You can still use your Streak. Your beta phone number will be disconnected tomorrow, but you'll continue to have access to all the cool Streak features including the Android marketplace, games, email, Facebook, etc., you'll just need to connect via WIFI. Your Streak, while it may function on some carrier networks, is a beta phone and is therefore not certified on any carrier network, so it may not function normally. Any such use will be subject to and your carrier's data and voice plan." More importantly, it turns out that the agreement testers signed specifically forbade them from selling their Streaks, so it seems like it'd be entirely within Dell's right to report the IMEIs missing or stolen to AT&T -- not to say that ever occurred, but in light of the agreement, it wouldn't be out of the question.
Dell shows off Android 2.1 running on the Streak, still planning to make it to Froyo
Dell's Kevin Andrew answered a few questions about the Streak in a new "vlog" on YouTube, and it's a mixture of encouragement and confusion. On the good side, Kevin showed off Android 2.1 up and running on the phone / tablet / lady-killer. It looks just like 2.1, of course, but with Dell's customizations still riding atop it. Oddly, while showing off 2.1, Kevin reassures us that Dell is still planning to go to Froyo (2.2), which is reiterated by the text below the video, with no clarification if 2.1 will actually be released as an intermediate measure. Either way we don't have a timeline, which is pretty much the same tune we hear with every Android handset. In other news, Dell is planning to launch the cherry red version of the streak "shortly" after the international launch of the graphite model -- which might be as soon as tomorrow (Dell's site still says "late July," but they just wrapped up a 24 hour pre-sale and said to check back tomorrow, possibly just for more pre-sales). Check out the video after the break. [Thanks, James H.] Update: Matt at Dell (conveniently tweeting under the pseudonym @mattatdell) has clarified that the Streak is not going to be released this week. That seems odd, since that vague "late July" window ends this week, but hopefully we'll know more soon. Update 2: Check out our preview over at Engadget Mobile.
Dell Streak makes friends with Logitech diNovo Mini (in more ways than one)
So, you've either purchased a Streak, or you're anxiously awaiting your own here in the US. Fantastic. Now what? If you've just over $100 to spend and even a pinch of smarts, you'll give strong consideration to Logitech's diNovo Mini. Though launched around two years ago, this portable Bluetooth keyboard looks like a match made in heaven for Dell's newfangled 5-inch smartphone, with the cover holding the Streak (almost) perfectly in order to create a makeshift Android laptop. Better still, the Bluetooth device pairs seamlessly with Dell's doodad, and both the keys and finger pad operate sans any major issues. But hey, it's not like you ought to be taking our word for it -- head on past the break to see the magic happen on video, and dig down in that source link for even more inspiration. It might just convince your cold, hardened heart that love does indeed exist.
Dell Streak available for purchase 'in late July,' says US product page
It's funny to think, even after reviewing the device (thrice, at this point), that we still don't have a US release date for Dell's Streak. The company's been uncharacteristically coy, but the stateside product page does offer this tantalizing tidbit: "available for purchase in late July." That gives us a good 10-day window, so if you've been eyeballing that pre-sale button with intent to click, now might be the time jump on the list.
Dell to offer Streak pre-sale with 99 cent Bluetooth headset deal
We still don't know exactly when the beefy Streak will be hitting US store shelves, but Dell's finally ready to start teasing us about it by offering to take down names and keep interested parties in the loop. It's more than your average, run-of-the-mill reminder service, though: Dell will be giving these folks an "exclusive 24 hour pre-sale purchase window," which presumably means you'll get the phone a day early, and will offer you some model of Plantronics Bluetooth headset for 99 cents when you present a coupon during your Streak order. You'll also get free two-day shipping, but let's be honest -- we all know you'll be paying extra for overnight delivery anyhow.
