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T-Mobile Wing takes flight
Well, it's finally done: T-Mobile Wing née HTC's Atlas / Herald has lifted off. Obviously there are absolutely no surprises here for anyone who's been following this launch, but the thinner- hotter successor to the MDA comes out swinging with Windows Mobile 6 (Professional), quad-band EDGE data, Bluetooth, a 2 megapixel camera, WiFi, myFaves, a 2.8-inch QVGA display, microSD slot, soft-touch finish, and new and improved QWERTY keyboard. It'll be available tomorrow for $300 (with service agreement); stick around for some high res photography sure to tide you over until then. Early review roundup posted after the break.
Evidence grows for imminent T-Mobile Wing launch
We're not sure if it's the newfound presence of the Wing on T-Mobile's support site or the ever-growing throng of individuals reporting that customer service agents and in-store reps are touting May 22 as the launch date, but something tells us that tomorrow's starting to look pretty good for getting some Windows Mobile 6 Professional love. Seeing how T-Mobile is without a Pocket PC phone option right now, the Wing's arrival isn't just welcome -- it's necessary -- and as 2.5G Pocket PCs go, the Wing's a doozy. The slim case and soft-touch finish alone are enough to make Wizard owners shed a tear, but the real prize is likely Windows Mobile 6 Professional and a revised, spring-loaded keyboard with a more traditional numeric layout. Get your pocketbooks ready, ladies and gentlemen.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
More shots of the HTC Elf
Again, we really can't stress enough how appropriate the name "Elf" is here. HTC's latest QWERTY-less Windows Mobile 6 Professional device seems as though it could've dropped right off a spaceship, looking distinctly un-HTC -- and that could be a good or a bad thing, depending on who you ask. Click on for views from every conceivable angle, including some alongside the Artemis, one of our favorite HTC devices of recent memory.
HP crushes dreams, offers no WM6 upgrades
The former Windows Mobile heavyweight champ (sorry, HP, but we're pretty sure that title belongs to some friends of yours now) has made the unfortunate -- though not altogether unexpected -- announcement this week that it will not be providing Windows Mobile 6 upgrades to its existing line of Windows Mobile 5-based devices. That list includes the rx4000, rx5000, rw6800, and hw6900 series -- among others -- leaving even buyers of the company's more recent models in the lurch. If it's any consolation, the models won't be offered with Windows Mobile 6 preinstalled either (because let's face it, it'd just be downright insulting to be teased with an upgrade you can't have) though all future models out of the company will mercifully be rocking Redmond's latest and greatest.[Via the::unwired]
Dopod's C720W curiously left out of WM6 upgrade plans
We applaud Dopod's effort (or should we say HTC's effort?) in keeping its devices updated with all that warm, buttery Windows Mobile 6 goodness, but one rather notable handset has strangely been left out in the cold: the C720W, Dopod's flavor of the HTC Excalibur. We know there aren't any technical limitations to making it happen on account of T-Mobile's valiant effort to get the upgrade out for its Dash, so this all smells a little funny. One nefarious theory is that Dopod is looking to nudge folks into dropping their Excaliburs in favor of a shiny new C730 (the Cavalier, in HTC parlance). Whatever the reason -- come on, Dopod, do the right thing here.[Thanks, James]
Hands-on with T-Mobile's WM6-ified Dash
Kudos to T-Mobile for rushing (in relative terms) Windows Mobile 6 to its Dash, an honorable move that makes it the first carrier to launch a Windows Mobile 6 device in the US. We've had a chance to run through the re-upped device today, and, well, what can we say: it's a faithful implementation of Windows Mobile 6 Standard. As we've said before, Windows Mobile 6 is an extraordinarily incremental upgrade; the new operating system alone probably doesn't warrant rushing out tomorrow and picking up a shiny new Dash, but for existing owners, we can't think of a better way to close out the week. Click on for the glorious visuals. Gallery: Hands-on with T-Mobile's WM6 update for the Dash
T-Mobile Dash gets Windows Mobile 6 upgrade
Exactly as planned, all you Dash users can head on over to T-Mobile's Windows Mobile upgrade site tomorrow (Friday, the 4th, to be extra verbose), and snag the free Windows Mobile 6 upgrade. Be warned, though, you'd better make sure to get a decent backup app because the upgrade will, as usual, hard reset all the data on your device.
Windows Mobile 6 update for T-Mobile Dash leaked
Frankly we're a bit surprised it's taken as long as it has for the T-Mobile Dash Windows Mobile 6 upgrade to get leaked. Nothing much to see here if you're at all familiar with WM6 "Standard" (what we common folk are still calling Smartphone), but if you're not willing to brick-risk it, apparently the official update will hit the streets this Friday, the 4th.[Via Gadgets On The Go and Jamerican]
The T-Mobile MDA is dead, long live the Wing?
Sweaty palms, darting eyes, hyperventilation -- the anxiety attack induced by the knowledge that T-Mobile is without a clear-cut QWERTY solution from HTC can be downright frightening, we know. After seemingly euthanizing the MDA, customers of T-Mobile's US outpost have been sans a replacement in the wings, but it seems that this sucker might be the lucky winner. A variant of the HTC Atlas (new to us!), the T-Mobile "Wing" appears to take some cues from HTC's newer QWERTY-based Pocket PCs by adding Function and Caps lights, a spring-loaded slide, and a more traditional numeric keypad layout. The whole shebang is said to be covered in a rubberized blue material, which we suspect should be comfortable and easy to grip as long as it's not too sticky, thick, or soft. If this holds up, look for it to hit around August -- Windows Mobile 6 Professional and all.[Via Boy Genius Report and Gadgets on the Go]
FCC gives Samsung i760 two thumbs up
Just in case there was any lingering doubt that the feds would look kindly upon Samsung's upcoming i760 for Verizon, we can (thankfully) put those doubts to rest now. As is quite common for a Samsung FCC filing, details are kept to a bare minimum with only the ID label documentation giving us visual confirmation that this is the phone we think it is. No matter; we've seen the Windows Mobile 6 Professional-equipped device in the public domain plenty at this point -- only thing left, it seems, is to get it out the door.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Treo 750, BlackJack with Windows Mobile 6 in the wild
We'd reported this would happen, and, well... it happened. In Microsoft's booth at CTIA, anyway. It's anybody's guess exactly when it is end users will be able to drop Windows Mobile 6 on Treo 750s and Samsung BlackJacks of their very own, but we take it as a pretty solid sign that Microsoft is comfortable showing it off already.
Cingular's Treo 750, Blackjack and 8525 get WM6 treatment
We had a chance to peep an "eyes-only" presentation from AT&T with the dirty details on WM6 for current and future devices, with the newly-branded Cingular apparently poised to introduce patches for three of its hottest handsets. The word is that the Treo 750, 8525, and the Blackjack will see downloadable updates released for current owners, and that WM6 will be pre-installed on all devices launched in 2007. In a separate tip, our peeps tell us that the Blackjack update should be in Cingular's hot hands by May 26; with an expected eight week soak period for testing, this could hit by late July this year. We suppose that if the ROMs prove bulletproof, the cheering masses could theoretically get this update sooner, but until then we can only sit and wait. No word on timing for the other two devices, but we are seriously hoping that Blue has its ducks in a row and that they are on an similar schedule.
LG's KS20: Chocolate / Prada / whatever with WM6
As expected, this slick little Windows Mobile 6 Professional device could very well stand to be the first to benefit from LG's newfound relationship with Microsoft. Whether it'll get slapped with Prada branding remains to be seen, but the KS20's resemblance to its proprietary stablemate can't be overlooked; the Windows Mobile variant gets a thumb stick near the bottom in place of the KE850's buttons, but that's the only major change we see up front. The guts are just as pretty as the outside, too, with WiFi, Bluetooth, the obligatory microSD slot, HSDPA and (possibly) HSUPA, FM radio, TV out, and a 2 megapixel shooter. Needless to say, we're pulling for a radio that can suck down some American 3G, but we're not getting our hopes up. As soon as we catch wind of a release date, price, or any other solid 411, we'll pass it right along.[Via Slashphone]
Lenovo's lovely ET600 with Windows Mobile 6
Windows Mobile 6 Professional? Check. Brushed metal (or metal look, at least) body? Check. Dedicated Google button placed prominently front and center? Okay, sure, whatever. HSDPA? Eh, sorry folks, this one's a China-only special; GPRS still reigns supreme in those parts. Lenovo's not really known for its smartphone offerings in the western hemisphere, but on home turf, it's a different story -- this here ET600 is the latest example. Besides the rather comely exterior, you get a tri-band GSM radio sans 850 (no need for it over there), the usual QVGA display, 2 megapixel autofocus cam, Bluetooth 2.0, microSD expansion, and a 200MHz OMAP750 core. Like it? Us too -- bring back a few for us on your next trip to Beijing, wouldya?[Via Engadget Chinese]
HTC Kaiser in the wild
Whoa, what's that HTC Kaiser doing there? Don't whip out your Wizard or Hermes and try this, folks -- you'll only end up with tears and a broken Pocket PC -- it's a hot new trick HTC's Hermes follow-on has up its sleeves. Besides the wacky flip-up action, the Kaiser ups the camera to a full 3 megapixels (an extra million pixels over its predecessor), adds HSUPA support for crazy fast uploads, GPS, and the now-obligatory Windows Mobile 6 Professional. No word on release, but we know with certainty that HTC wants this thing in users' hands in 2007, so we'd expect it to start showing up on European networks before too long. Click on for plenty of gorgeous photography.[Via Howard Forums]
Aries rising: ASUS M530w at CeBIT
ASUS had the Aries on the show floor and we just couldn't resist asking it to say "cheese" and give us a big smile. Reminiscent of devices like the HTC Excalibur and just about every Blackberry, the M530w has a full QWERTY keyboard for your typing pleasure, a huge d-pad and scroll wheel for Blackberry-style play. For connectivity, this half inch thick wonder has triple-band (900 / 1800 / 1900) GSM, 2100 MHz (can you feel the pain? can ya?) UMTS / HSDPA, and of course EDGE. What self-respecting Windows Mobile 6 powered device would be complete without WiFi and Bluetooth to round out a fairly sweet set of features. As a bonus, the placard boasts that the 2 megapixel camera can add contacts using a "business card recognition function" -- cool beans. Click yonder linky to get a peek at its other sides. CeBIT: Aries rising
O2 Germany announces new HTCs as Xda "terra" and "nova"
Though O2 spends plenty of time getting cozy with Quanta for its Windows Mobile needs, that doesn't mean they've thrown HTC to the curb. The latest two HTCs to get the O2 treatment -- in Germany, anyway -- will be the Herald and Elf, released as the Xda "terra" and "nova" respectively. As you might recall, the Herald is the facelifted Wizard, replacing O2's own Xda mini S and offering all the same slide-out QWERTY action in a 17 millimeter shell; 3G data is sadly missing, though O2 is going to one-up the competition here by rolling out Windows Mobile 6 Professional on this bad boy out of the gate -- expect it in May for €150 (about $200). Meanwhile, the Xda nova (also a 2.5G device) brings Windows Mobile to the masses with a relatively low price point -- €100, about $130 -- while still managing to pack 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 2.0, microSD expansion, and version six of Microsoft's ubiquitous platform. Look for it a month after its Xda terra stablemate in June.Read - O2 Xda terraRead - O2 Xda nova
HTC slides in with "Nike" P5500
We don't generally associate the terms "HTC" and "slider" -- at least in the traditional, numeric keypad sense -- but it seems the Taiwanese patron saint of all things Windows Mobile would like us to have a change of heart in that regard. The rumored HTC "Nike" (these code names of theirs keep getting weirder and weirder, we swear) should bow as the P5500 when it becomes available this fall in HTC-branded trim, rolling deep with a 400MHz Samsung core, 128MB ROM / 64MB RAM with microSD expansion, integrated FM tuner, Bluetooth 2.0, a 3 megapixel cam, and a 2.6-inch QVGA touchscreen. Best of all, it'll pack GPS and industrial-strength data via both 802.11b/g and HSDPA (no word on bands, though) -- and yes, that is Windows Mobile 6 Professional you see there, hence the touchscreen.[Via Navigadget]
E-TEN to go WM6, 3G at CeBIT
Never mind 3GSM -- for Taiwan's E-TEN, the big news is happening at CeBIT this month in Hannover. Despite being pretty active in the Windows Mobile arena as of late, there are two big things E-TEN has failed to do thus far: 3G data and Windows Mobile 6, and they intend to rectify both of those grave injustices with a new "glofiish"-branded handset to be introduced at Europe's largest consumer electronics tradeshow. That's all we have at the moment, but we're guessing that anonymizing mosaic on the left of the CeBIT invite here is the device in question.
Windows Mobile 6 review roundup
Now that the mobile world has had a little time to digest Microsoft's latest offering, we thought we'd take this opportunity to circle back, put our ear to the ground, and have a look at some of the press Windows Mobile 6 is generating. LAPTOP Magazine spent most of its time with a Standard device ("Smartphone" in the Windows Mobile 5 world), and although the OS bears a striking resemblance to its predecessor in pretty much every respect, the review manages to focus on the positive: Office document viewing, improved stability (our apologies if we just jinxed anyone), and the modestly improved Pocket Internet Explorer. PC Magazine took a more critical view of Microsoft's failure to revolutionize its mobile platform, passing on correcting some of its more serious flaws -- the lack of true process management possibly the biggest -- but still calls it "the best mobile operating system out there," giving it big props for smooth Vista integration and little efficiency boosts like the email client's SmartFilter. CNET draws the same conclusion about Windows Mobile 6 being evolutionary rather than revolutionary, pointing out that many basic tasks still require more clicks than they should, but the bundled Office apps were a crowd pleaser. As far as we're concerned, the biggest news here is not the software but the new (and varied) hardware that's being launched to run it -- at least until Microsoft gets serious about a next-gen mobile UI, anyway.Read - LAPTOP Magazine (3.5 / 5, '...less intimidating and more approachable...")Read - PC Magazine (4 / 5, "...doesn't disturb the OS's underpinnings or solve some of its deeper problems...")Read - CNET (7 / 10, "...brings a collection of noteworthy improvements...")
