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All five i-mate Ultimate devices to land in September?
It seems i-mate is making good on its promise from earlier this year by delivering its Ultimate line handsets in one 5-round salvo. While i-mate has chosen Singapore as the base of operations for its spring into new Asian markets, we do hope some of these will still trickle over here -- though we doubt they will carry any North American-carrier branding. i-mate CEO Jim Morrison commented on i-mate's ability to customize the new handsets to individual user's needs, and while we're loving the idea of customizing something, we're worried about the process. Another tasty tidbit is i-mate's newfound focus on the bundled software; its new suite will apparently offer tools for remote wipe, the ability to push updates (corporate users rejoice) and even the ability to remotely lock the handset down. We were a bit down on its last announcement, but this news has certainly renewed the shine we all once held in our hearts for Dubai's best, now let's get those shipped.[Via the::unwired]
How would you change Windows Mobile 6?
While some of you have no doubt been running Windows Mobile 6 for a few months or more already (thanks, XDA developers!), the majority of the world is just recently getting its first taste of Microsoft's latest mobile operating system from new devices like the Sprint Mogul and updates to others like the T-Mobile Dash. The critics have certainly been, um, critical of the new OS, to say the least -- "evolutionary, not revolutionary" seems to be the general consensus -- but until we're allowed to behold the glorious light that is Photon, it's the best we've got for now. Still, while WM6 has beefed up Office support and arguably improved the tethering sitch, there are a number of issues that users have been griping about for years which have curiously yet to be addressed. Where's the tabbed browsing in Pocket IE? How come we have to rely on pricey third-party apps to make a decent Today screen? And the old favorite, why can't we have the choice of "managing our own memory" and using that damn "X" button to actually close an app?These are just a few of the complaints that have been making the rounds about an OS that feels like its definitely in need of a serious refresh -- if for no other reason than to draw some of the hype away from splashy young competitors; so, what do you think: what could Redmond have done differently this time around?
HTC Touch spotted on sale in Hong Kong
Book your flights and whip your checkbooks out, folks -- especially if an iPhone isn't in the cards for you next Friday. HTC's lovely Touch has been spotted (in Dopod trim) on the streets of Hong Kong for $478, which seems like a reasonable sum for a latest-gen Windows Mobile 6 Professional device, does it not?
Sling outs SlingPlayer Mobile for Windows Mobile 6
Right on cue, Sling Media has taken its player for Windows Mobile 6 out of beta and into full public view. No new features have been announced in this release, but for users of Wings, upgraded Dashes, and other gems of Windows Mobile 6 goodness, that's just fine -- a player that simply works is all they ask for right now, thankyouverymuch. Upgraders from the WM5 version need to contact sling for a new activation key; new users can grab it now for $29.99.[Via Smartphone Thoughts]
Sprint Mogul review roundup
We thought the Sprint Mogul was a little bit of alright, but do the 'nets agree? By and large, yeah, it seems the bottom line is that this is the must-have upgrade for PPC-6700 owners. Mobile Tech Review points out that an MMS client is notably missing and picture quality on the 2 megapixel camera could be better, but hey, it's still an improvement over the Apache's 1.3 megapixel unit. Boy Genius Report found that the ridges on the phone's posterior were a little funky, too; just like the Mogul's crazy bright yellow UI, it's probably an acquired taste.[Via Pocket PC Thoughts]Read - Gear Diary ("...leaps and bounds above the PPC-6700 that it replaces...")Read - Boy Genius Report ("...the device is a pleasure to use...")Read - Phone Scoop ("... flashier design, updated operating and higher resolution camera...")Read - My iTablet (3.75 / 5 stars, "...a worthy upgrade from the PPC-6700...")Read - Mobile Tech Review (4 / 5 stars, "A very strong offering from Sprint, and a worthy, if not overdue, successor to the PPC-6700")
Engadget Mobile meets, greets Sprint Mogul
For our Mobile squad, no smartphone launch is complete until we've touched it, analyzed it, and -- knowing our butterfingered selves -- dropped it on a concrete surface (just kidding, our Mobile editors would sacrifice life and limb for the safety of a handset). But when said smartphone happens to be a frickin' CDMA device from HTC... well, that's like a once (or twice) in a lifetime event. Head on over to Mobile for our first impressions of Sprint's Mogul by HTC with a full gallery to boot. Heck, it's almost as good as actually buying one!
Hands-on with the Sprint Mogul by HTC
Known as the Titan, the PPC-6800, and the XV6800 in its various forms, Sprint's Mogul from HTC represents arguably the most anticipated piece of CDMA hardware so far this year. Why? Well, for starters, its direct predecessor -- the PPC-6700 "Apache" -- isn't getting any younger. Don't get us wrong, the PPC-6700 was a well-loved device that held its own for a good long while, but let's be honest: aerial antennas and Windows Mobile 5 are getting a little passé (to put it lightly). We've had the good fortune to be able to spend a few quality minutes with a production Mogul this weekend, so let's have a closer look, shall we?%Gallery-4052%
Mio GPS-enabled A702 sees light of day
The Mio A702 -- the replacement for the tweaked-looking Mio A701 Digi-Walker -- was unveiled amid much fanfare and smiling people in fancy outfits. Upgrade details include a bump to Windows Mobile 6 Pro, a 3.2 megapixel camera, MicroSD slot, and a jog wheel for speedy navigation. Connectivity also sees a bit of upgrading with the inclusion of WiFi (was lacking in the A701), Bluetooth, and we can only hope that the radio front reveals quad-band GSM with a few HSDPA frequencies thrown in for good measure. Official specs were not on the table at the unveiling, so expect an update post as soon as we hear more.[Via Slashphone]
Hands-on with the HTC S710 "Vox"
Looking for a Windows Mobile 6 Standard device with a slide-out QWERTY doohickey plus a dedicated numeric keypad? The Vox is pretty much the only game in town -- and we're delighted to report that that's not a bad thing at all. Known as the S710 under HTC's own branding, the set rocks a 2 megapixel cam, Bluetooth, quadband GSM with EDGE data, 128MB of ROM, 64MB of RAM, a microSD slot, and WiFi. The software's standard fare (and reasonably fast in light of the pokey 201MHz OMAP850), but as is often the case with HTC kit, the hardware's where this thing really stands out. Not only were we super impressed by how rock-solid the S710 felt, but considering the immense value of the QWERTY keyboard, you sacrifice very little in size or weight. In fact, looking at the phone straight on from the front, you can't even tell that it's anything but a rather ordinary looking candybar. It's a little thicker, sure, but well worth the price of admission, even if only for the occasional email-based rant. Check out some S710 poses (tasteful, we promise) in the gallery!%Gallery-3981%
Microsoft rolls out Windows Mobile Device Center 6.1
Remember that little file synchronization debacle we told you about for owners of Windows Mobile 6 Standard devices running Vista on their PCs? Yep, well, we can officially close the book on that one. Microsoft has rolled out Windows Mobile Device Center 6.1 which fixes several niggles present in the Vista RTM build of WMDC, most notably the inability to synchronize files to smartphones (a feature that's available to ActiveSync users on XP). Check after the break for Microsoft's official rundown of the changes.[Via MoDaCo]
Motorola "Nelson," CDMA version of the Q9h?
Seeing how the original Q came to CDMA first, it'd only make sense that the updated version of the now-ubiquitous QWERTY smartphone -- currently announced only in GSM / HSDPA form as the Q9h -- would return to its roots. Morning Paper (the folks that brought us the Palm Gandolf) is reporting that the Motorola "Nelson" is getting prepped as we speak, offering up Windows Mobile 6, a 2 megapixel cam, miniSD expansion, Bluetooth, and EV-DO data in an "ultra thin" package. As you might recall, the Q9h originally got passed around as the "Norman," so "Nelson" would be a totally appropriate name for a CDMA counterpart. Sprint's getting passed around as a potential carrier for this one (seems logical enough to us) but we'll have to wait this one out for a little more detail before calling it a done deal.
Gigabyte follows up g-Smart i300 with i350
Shown recently at Taiwan's Computex shindig, the g-Smart i350 appears to be the most incremental of upgrades to its i300 predecessor, especially in light of the fact that the i300's been signed up to get a Windows Mobile 6 upgrade. Both rock a 2 megapixel camera, Bluetooth, 802.11b/g, and integrated GPS, so it seems like the biggest boost for the i350 might be the move from a 2.4 inch QVGA to 2.6 inch VGA display (okay, we admit, that's a pretty big difference) and the addition of a fourth band of GSM support. We're not sure we're feeling the handset's sparkly white exterior, but we suspect it's one of those things you have to see in person before passing judgment.[Via Pocket PC Thoughts]
Sharp's WS011SH: nothing like Microsoft's leak, but still cool
So the Sharp device we thought Microsoft had accidentally leaked a day early yesterday actually looks nothing -- and we mean nothing -- like the actual handset, though what they ended up unveiling is still crazy cool. The Sharp WS011SH Advanced/W-ZERO3 [es], which we believe may be the most complicated name for a phone ever conceived, is the latest in a line of Windows Mobile-sportin' phones for Japan's Willcom; like its predecessors, the WS011SH doesn't disappoint, packing in Windows Mobile 6 Classic, numeric and slide-out QWERTY keypads, a 3-inch wide VGA display, WiFi, and 256MB of onboard storage with microSD expansion. And, oh yeah, it's only 50mm wide and 17.9mm thick. Willcom customers: we hate you (not really, it's just our extreme jealousy talking).[Via the::unwired]
Microsoft blows cover on Sharp's new device for Willcom
Remember the "X" Japan's Willcom teased us with a few weeks back? Other than offering that it'd be an ultra-thin Windows Mobile 6 device, the carrier offered virtually no info -- and with all due respect, the teaser site was a little heavy on tease and light on details. Thanks to a Microsoft press conference on the other side of the Pacific, though, the cover's now been blown a full day before the official announcement. If the picture is legit, we're fully prepared to take the existing W-ZERO3 off our lust list, and the visual is just the beginning -- the Sharp-sourced device's guts offer up Windows Mobile 6 Classic (as opposed to Professional; kinda strange, but whatevs), three inches of wide VGA glory, 256MB of onboard Flash, 128MB of RAM, and a 520MHz core in a 17.8mm shell. Seeing how Willcom uses PHS for its airwaves, this one doesn't stand a chance of working anywhere else in the world, so pick you jaw up off the floor and keep staring from afar.
Slide deck surfaces for Sprint's HTC Mogul
We admit it's nowhere near as cool as a PPC-6800 / Mogul launch (which as far as we can tell is still months away), but hey, we'll take what we can get. This slide deck -- or perhaps "decklet" is a better term, seeing how it's only two slides -- found its way onto PDAPhoneHome.com with a couple large, lovely pictures of what promises to be Sprint's flagship smart device when it finally hits stores. The launch delay has been attributed to the decision to drop Windows Mobile 6 Professional on it right out of the gate rather than offer an upgrade down the road, a theory that seems to be validated by the obvious presence of Microsoft's latest release in the pics. Otherwise, the specs on the second slide are pretty much what we expected: EV-DO rev. A upgradeability, a 416MHz core, 256MB onboard storage, and 64MB RAM.[Thanks, Brad]
WM6 ROM leaked for Samsung BlackJack
They said it was coming, and by golly, it's finally here. Sorta. Neither Samsung nor AT&T have let an official Windows Mobile 6 update out of the gate for the BlackJack, but it's gotta be mighty close now that an official-looking update has trickled down through the 'nets and into a good number of users' eager hands. Initial reports from guinea pigs the first round of installers seem to be positive, with AT&T branding magically appearing throughout. So, ya know, if you're really attached to that Cingular branding on an early build for whatever reason, the update ain't for you -- otherwise, proceed at your own risk and post all the gory details in comments.[Via Smartphone Thoughts]
Toshiba's G900 superphone passes FCC muster
FCC ratification really doesn't mean much of anything about a phone's eventual release or non-release stateside, but in this case, we're doing a little jump of joy nonetheless. The reason? Toshiba's do-it-all G900 with slide-out QWERTY, Windows Mobile 6 Professional, WiFi, biometric security, 2 megapixel primary cam, tri-band HSDPA, and a glorious wide VGA display has been stamped with the feds' seal of approval. Yep, we said tri-band HSDPA, so anyone interested in trying their luck at obtaining an import should have no trouble using it here for fast data. We've seen the G900 variously referred to as a Portege and a Satellite -- here it's just called RG4-E02 -- but frankly, they can call it whatever they like and we'll still be happy campers.Update: Sorry to break hearts here, but it appears that this particular variant of the G900 isn't even remotely bound for US shores; besides failing to support WCDMA 850 / 1900, it doesn't even offer GSM 850. Our apologies for the mix-up; let's hope the next G900 we see in the FCC offers just a little more juice. [Thanks, Mike]
SlingPlayer Mobile for Windows Mobile 6 in beta
With the T-Mobile Wing and the Windows Mobile 6 version of the Dash both in wide circulation, growing pains were pretty much inevitable; new operating systems almost always lead to compatibility issues. Without the ability to placeshift mindless telly programs to our phones, we're empty inside and we suspect many of our readers feel the same way -- so high on our "oh man, it sucks that doesn't work anymore" list would be SlingPlayer Mobile for Windows Mobile. Sling's well aware of the issue and has an updated player on schedule for release in the next few weeks, but in the meantime, the company is offering to let folks into the beta program for an interim solution. Check it out before the agony of streaming video withdrawal gets any worse, why don't you?
Samsung i620, the i600's successor?
Thin, yes, but you won't hear many folks call Samsung's SGH-i600 (the BlackJack in these parts) a beautiful phone. With Windows Mobile 5 Smartphone and HSDPA, it's very functional -- but the praise stops there. It looks like Samsung's poised to change that all-work-and-no-play image with the i600's alleged successor, though. Pictured above is a phone said to be the SGH-i620, a slider sporting just a 94 x 59mm outline when closed. Despite the tiny dimensions, the i620 maintains its smartphone status and actually one-ups the i600 by coming preinstalled with Windows Mobile 6 Standard. Other specs are up in the air -- Samsung hasn't officially announced this one yet -- but it seems that GSM 850 is nowhere to be found, so unless AT&T wants to have another go at it, we may not be able to use this one over here. The BlackJack has been a strong seller (hint, hint).[Via the::unwired]
ASUS M530W in pictures and video
Though it's taken a little heat for me-too styling, the M530W "Aries" from ASUS is still a strong contender in its market segment thanks largely to two key features: Windows Mobile 6 Standard and HSDPA. Ahead of a scheduled July debut, PDAFrance spent some quality time with the device, giving it a thorough rundown in both still and moving pictures. How thorough? The video clocks in at nearly nine minutes; yeah, it's in French, but eye candy is eye candy. If nothing else, it's helpful to see the M530W presented alongside its inspiration HTC's Excalibur for the cross-shoppers out there.[Via Smartphone Thoughts]