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Cingular 3125 puts on some weight
So one of the major selling points of HTC's Star Trek is its slim, sleek profile, right? Cingular may not have gotten the memo, having apparently decided to bundle theirs (the 3125, as you may recall) with a larger battery, necessitating a bulged-out hindquarters. Granted, we're guessing the benefit to standby and talk times justify the growth for some folks -- but we think we'd rather have seen this as an option, leaving the stock product true to form. Either way, get all your humptastic, Cingular-branded 3125 shots after the break.
More deets on O2's Xda Stealth
Perhaps we failed to adequately emphasize one key feature of the Gigabyte-sourced Xda Stealth when we outed its FCC filing yesterday: its diminutive size. At 110 x 53 x 22.5mm, it bests the HTC Wizard in all but length (where it clocks in just 2 millimeters longer), putting it nearly in dumbphone territory. Granted, the Stealth lacks a full keyboard, but everything's put into better perspective when remembering that it manages to stuff Pocket PC Phone Edition power (and specs to match) into a package on par with some Smartphones on the market. Though there's no 3G radio aboard the handset, we take solace in its 802.11g support; in fact, the only thing raining on our parade is the triband GSM support, which leaves parts of the world unhappy pretty much any way you slice it -- let this be a lesson to Gigabyte that they've got some American sales waiting in the wings as soon as they want to tack GSM 850 onto this thing.Update: MTekk reports that the Stealth will be finding its way to Australia post haste, officially launching before the end of the month for around $940 Australian ($707 US).
Samsung's IP-830w Pocket PC for Sprint
Does the model number vaguely ring a bell? Sure enough, this seems to be a Sprint-specific version of the Samsung i830 Pocket PC slider, packing both CDMA and GSM radios for globetrottin' goodness. True, Verizon's had the predecessor i730 for a good while now, but at least the i830 will come out of the gate with Windows Mobile 5 plus AKU2, and of course, that GSM support is going to be music to the ears of many a traveling businessman. No details yet on availability or pricing, but given that the fact sheet encourages readers to "order or view online" at Sprint's website, it shouldn't be long. [Warning: PDF link][Via Mobility Site, thanks Chris L.]
Palm Treo 750v gets official
Thanks to countless leaks over the last several months, one of the most anticlimactic smartphone releases in history has finally gone official. Palm has issued all the juicy details on their UK site, and... well, it's pretty much exactly what we expected: internal antenna, quadband GSM with triband UMTS (lending itself to a Cingular release), and a superbly average 1.3-megapixel cam sitting atop Windows Mobile 5 Pocket PC Phone Edition. The phone is still apparently in the pre-order phase, though Vodafone's site is showing a price "From Free to £127.66" (about $240) depending on contract -- not bad considering what you get, but whether similar pricing will carry over to Cingular is another question entirely.[Thanks, Wolwol and Camp]
FCC reveals O2's Xda Stealth
If you like your O2 Xdas with a few less keys than what the Cosmo's packing, news of the Gigabyte-designed "Stealth" might just get your heart racing. The FCC's spilled the beans on the triband GSM (sorry, Yanks) slider, revealing 802.11g, a 2.4-inch QVGA display, 192MB of flash with 64MB of RAM, and a respectable 2-megapixel shooter. Without GSM 850, a US release is out of the question, and frankly we're not quite sure what bearing FCC approval has on it dropping in the European marketplace, but we reckon it mustn't be long.[Via phoneArena]
i-mate rolls out JAQ and SPL models
It's official: i-mate isn't just a HTC rebrand shop anymore. Their new JAQ and SPL models have just been announced for reals, and neither relies on their ol' standby partner to provide the goods. The JAQ hails from Inventec, packing Pocket PC Phone Edition into a fairly clever looking (or different looking, if nothing else) QWERTY chassis with 128MB of ROM, 64MB of RAM, miniSD expansion, Bluetooth, and a 2.8-inch display. The SPL, on the other hand, bears a striking resemblance to a device we first saw outta TechFaith. The slim candybar Smartphone rocks stats similar to its JAQ sibling with the same 128MB ROM / 64MB RAM, miniSD, and Bluetooth, but with a more Smartphone-appropriate 2.2-inch LCD. i-mate is positioning both of these devices as mid-range, suggesting that they might be looking at non-HTC handsets to bring Windows Mobile on the cheap while their HTCs will stay positioned at the top. [Warning: PDF link]
HTC "Omni" to take torch from Universal?
Amidst a flurry of recent product announcements (and leaks) out of the HTC camp, their king-of-the-hill Universal (pictured) kinda got lost in all the hubbub. What's next for the psuedo-laptop of the Windows Mobile world? MoDaCo is reporting that the "Omni" will serve as the Hermes to the Universal's Wizard (if you will) by taking the Universal form factor, tacking on an HSDPA radio, and swapping out the Intel processor for a speedier Samsung core. As an added bonus, the Omni should be a bit slimmer than the model it replaces and rock Windows Mobile 5 AKU3, giving hope that the device will have VGA out capability. If HTC can finalize the specs in short order, we could allegedly see this thing as early as the end of this year, though 1H 2007 seems the more likely target.[Via Pocket PC Thoughts]
HTC Excalibur / O2 Xda Cosmo reviewed
If the Boy Genius' soiled-trow, hands-on of the HTC Excalibur had you gasping for more, then peep the full review of the O2 Xda Cosmo just posted at the::unwired. Their unit from O2 Germany came ready to go with Windows Mobile 5.0 and AKU3 which, besides some low-level tweaks, brought a new Internet Sharing application in replacement of HTCs Wireless Modem app. The reviewer who admittedly comes from a more traditional GSM phone background (read: no real experience with a QWERTY/Z Smartphones or BlackBerrys) found the keyboard confusing for "regular phone stuff" like entering a phone number or searching for contacts -- apparently preferring T9-style input instead. Still, he was stoked by this quad-band GSM phones WiFi, GPRS, and EDGE data connectivity options and "satisfied" by performance under normal usage or while watching live, Slingboxed TV. However, the reviewer then goes on to worry unnecessarily about the OMAP 850 processor getting overloaded if say, using it for GPS, watching live TV, and listening to audio over Bluetooth all at the same time. Hell, why not agonize over the risk posed by it getting lodged in your skull when used near certain supermodels? Geesh. Bottom line: if you're looking for a WinMo device with keyboard and "all the latest and greatest technologies" (well, almost all) then the Cosmo is a "great device."
Rundown of HTC's P3600 "Trinity" with HSDPA
Windows Mobile users that think they might dig the Hermes, but would like to see HTC dial down the keyboard factor and dial up the... uh, cute factor, are about to find their soulmate in the Trinity. The device (shown here in its self-branded P3600 incarnation) ends up getting a lot of love in this review, earning props for its Swiss Army Knife-like connectivity options, quality of construction, and chassis design. Performance proves to be on par with its Hermes sibling, though battery life was inexplicably worse -- despite having more juice on board. The reviewer chalks up the discrepancy to the review unit being a prototype, which seems fair enough. The lack of a keyboard may ultimately doom the Trinity to niche markets, but with HSDPA, Bluetooth 2.0, and 802.11g all packed into an unusually great looking device, we might just be willing to go back to character recognition.
Softtrends' LivePVR gives new meaning to "voice recording"
Our paranoid side tells us this app has "lawsuit" written all over it, but we're excited nonetheless. LivePVR, as its name suggests, acts as something of a PVR for voice; in its "meeting notes" mode, for example, it keeps a rolling buffer while recording, allowing the user to permanently save clips leading up to the moment. The more legally questionable "phone call" mode can be set up to automatically record every conversation or just the next call placed. A final "voice recorder" mode acts as a more traditional voice note app, with no limit to a note's maximum size. The whole package scoots out the door for $10 in Windows Mobile or S60 flavors.[Via Smartphone Thoughts]
HP iPAQ hw6940 hits retail channels, finally
Has HP come through in the clutch -- or is it too little, too late? That's the question Pocket PC-hungry consumers will be answering in the next few weeks now that the long... nay, long-rumored hw6940 Mobile Messenger is finally shipping stateside. We were sorta excited about this thing, like, nine months ago, but at this point we're not sure how we feel about Bluetooth 1.2, a pedestrian 64MB of RAM, and the lack of 802.11g -- not to mention that the inclusion of AKU2 doesn't command the same respect it did just a few short months back. Add to that the $600 this thing will set you back, and needless to say we're hoping Cingular's going to bless it with a hefty subsidy when it finally drops in their neck of the woods.[Via MobilitySite]
Vodafone taking preorders for Treo 750v
The teaser shot of the keyboard on Voda's site might not be very revealing, but hey, we've got plenty of evidence lined up to know pretty much what's in store for Vodafone customers come September 12 either way. Businessfolk on the carrier's UK site are now being encouraged to preorder the device, which will be "using Vodafone's high-speed 3G network" humming along atop Windows Mobile 5.2. The remainder of the spec sheet (if accurate) is nothing we couldn't have guessed, suggesting a 1.3-megapixel cam (we've heard 2 megapixels thrown around; we'll see), Bluetooth, and that fabulous HSDPA radio, though there's no mention of WiFi -- potentially a deal breaker for some. And for the record, yes, we're figuring that if they panned up on that annoying teaser shot, there'd be no external antenna in sight.[Via Mobility Site]
HTC Artemis becomes "MDA compact III" for T-Mobile Germany
The Artemis, HTC's first Pocket PC Phone Edition device with a GPS receiver on board, is one of those HTC code words we feel as though we've heard floating around for ages -- but only recently were we able to get an alleged snap of the oft-rumored device in the flesh. It appears we now have some solid confirmation that the blurry shot was in fact an Artemis, seeing how T-Mobile Germany's gone ahead and announced it as their "MDA compact III." Our German could use some brushing up, but the spec sheet seems to tell us that the rather stylish piece will be rocking a 2-megapixel camera, Bluetooth (naturally), and that in-built GPS module for the directionally challenged among us. Sifting through the device's control panel reveals that it packs a 200MHz OMAP850 with 64MB of RAM and 128MB of ROM, fairly standard fare for modern Pocket PCs. No word on a release date, but as usual, we'd caution our friends on T-Mobile in the US against getting their hopes up.[Via the::unwired]
Cingular 8525 (HTC Hermes) in the wild
It's with mixed feelings that we greet the Cingular 8525's first live shots in the wild. Yes, it's apparently real, and yes, it matches the renderings we posted not long ago, but these pics also seem to sadly confirm our fear that this particular rendition of the Hermes will be coming to American buyers sans front-facing cam. There's no crying in cellphones, though, so we're going to do our best to concentrate on the positive: the 8525 should improve significantly on the 8125's speed thanks to a new processor, and of course, it's hard to argue with HSDPA. We don't have ship date for this puppy, but given the pics, the state of Cingular's 3G network, and the general availability of Hermes variants worldwide, we'd say that "real soon now" is an appropriate attitude to take.[Thanks, Notorious Jatt]
FCC blesses HTC Foreseer
We're guessing Modeo's likely breathing a sigh of relief this morning on news that the DVB-H handset they've been showing off as of late, HTC's Foreseer, has passed FCC muster. We don't have much to go on -- no external photos or anything nifty like that -- but the ID label location sketch is a dead giveaway for the Foreseer's unique wide-body candybar design, and with a model number like "FORE," we're feeling pretty confident we have this one pegged. As a refresher, the Foreseer's a Windows Mobile 5 Smartphone with a 200MHz OMAP, 128MB of ROM, 64MB of RAM, microSD expansion, and a DVB-H tuner, but more importantly for Modeo and the American mobile television market (an oxymoron?), it's friendly to American GSM bands with EDGE thrown in for good measure. Still no word on whether the phone will ever be available directly to consumers, but with an FCC approval under its belt, we're feeling just a little twinge of hope.
Biggie-sized pic of the Treo 750
This is the first shot we've ever seen of a Treo without an external antenna. And when we say "first," we mean seventh this month.
Orange UK loses out on F600 (HTC Star Trek)
We can only imagine hearts across the UK are breaking this evening on news that HTC's clamshell Smartphone, the Star Trek, won't be finding its way to Orange's British network as the F600 after all. You might recall that MoDaCo had scooped a handful of HTC launches on Orange several weeks ago, and they've since learned that the F600 is destined for Orange in the Netherlands, but as of right now, no UK launch appears to be planned. Of course, resourceful Brits should have no trouble whatsoever getting hold of one of the Star Trek's other brand variants, but there's always something about a canceled HTC launch that leaves us with a sick feeling in our stomachs nonetheless.[Via CoolSmartPhone]
i-mate gets HTC Breeze as "SP JAS"
i-mate, purveyor of all things HTC, has gone ahead and picked up their first 3G Windows Mobile Smartphone -- the Breeze, that is -- and christened it "SP JAS." Nothing about the SP JAS stands out from its brethren marketed under other labels, save for one detail: it restores the front-facing cam lost on HTC's self-branded Breeze, the MTeoR. As with the MTeoR, buyer beware, as the SP JAS lacks GSM 850 and UMTS 850 / 1900, features originally (mistakenly) touted on some of HTC's marketing materials. Pricing and availability remain under wraps, but with Breezes starting to circulate through retail channels, we reckon i-mate'll be dropping shortly.[Via the::unwired]
Palm Treo 700wx for Sprint in the wild
The 700wx looks to be trickling into Sprint retail locations as we speak, and it seems everything we've been told about the device so far has been spot-on: it really is bound for Sprint, the addition of the "x" to the name is legit, and it rocks double the RAM (much to the chagrin of plain ol' 700w users everywhere), though we weren't necessarily expecting the big, scary floating head on the box. Still no solid word on an official availability date, but stores who've received them have apparently been instructed to keep them under lock and key until Sprint proper starts offering them, meaning the previously-reported August 27 date for business customers still seems perfectly plausible. Now if you'll excuse us, we have a Treo 750 rumor mill to attend to.
HTC Excalibur gets FCC nod
Well, can't be long now. We know, famous last words, but keyboard-havin' Smartphones always give us that special feeling, and HTC's Excalibur is no exception to the rule. With that all-important FCC approval under its belt, the handset should be making its way to T-Mobile in the coming months -- and since the GSM Q is still just a twinkle in Motorola's eye, this here's the next best thing. We still have some misgivings about the Excalibur's curious touch strip on its right side, but with built-in WiFi the Q sadly lacks, we've already decided to let it slide.
