Treo 800w Reviewed, Impressively Average
Well the results are in and the Treo 800w - Palms newest and most featured-filled device yet- appears to be resoundingly average all around.
So far, several sites have given their review of the device including Mobility Today, Engadget and Palm InfoCenter. In general, all agree that it is nice to see a new Treo with a competitive feature set and improved specs, but the reviews all find a fair number of issues with the device to drag it down a little.
The good news:
+ Great keyboard
+ Improved screen (320×320, instead of 240×240)
+ Easy to use WiFi on/off button
+ Palm’s great software enhancements (threaded messaging, today screen dialer etc.) add a lot of value
+ Nice grippy rubberized finish
+ Speedy 3G over a great network (Spring EVDO Rev-A)
+ Camera better than megapixel count would suggest
The bad news:
- Processor not much better than Treos of past, leading to UI hickups
- Flimsy and cheap stylus (in contrast to the Treo 750’s, which is metal and great to use)
- Screen still not great given competition
- Bad controls and horrible softkey buttons
- Tired design, still thick
- GPS takes a long time to lock on
- Touch screen still buried deep into the device, making finger touching downright annoying
Overall, the 800w received restrained recommendations from all three reviewers. “Despite its periodic performance bottlenecks and lack of attention to multimedia, the Treo 800w easily bests most other Windows Mobile powered devices in overall usability” Palm InfoCenter concluded.
Engadget took a harsher tone saying “At the end of the day, Palm has made a fiercely middle-of-the road device — it’s not attractive, its software isn’t unique, and the phone does little to separate itself from the ever-growing pack.”
Mobility Today thought the device needed more work, giving it a “three out of five stars.”
If you would like to read the reviews, catch them below:
Mobility Today Video Review
Engadget Mobile Review
Palm InfoCenter Review
If you’re a diehard Treo fan or have found enough to love in this device, its available from Sprint for $249.99 on a 2-year contract.
Verizon Blitz Rushing To Wal-Mart, BestBuy
Verizon Wireless has a prepaid phone with some pizzaz - the Verizon Blitz - coming to Wal-Mart on August 8th and later BestBuy on September 28th. It looks pretty snazzy for a phone that is potentially super cheap but will still come packed with VCast Music, 4GB MicroSD Slot, Stereo Bluetooth, 1.3 megapixel camera and VZNavigator.
This doesn’t look too bad to be perfectly honest. And while it doesn’t fit our exquisite taste for the high end, we’re guessing a lot of the less than obsessed folks in need of cell phones will pick this up and consider it a real steal.
[Via Engadget]
T-Mobile Sidekick: Customized & Reviewed
Anyone interested in the T-Mobile Sidekick (2008) will be able to get their customization thang on with official faceplates offered by T-Moblie. The folks at CellPhoneSignal sneaked a peak at 9 that will be available:
Not too shabby… actually… pretty hot to be honest!
But before you customize your sidekick you’ll need to own a Sidekick. And before you buy a Sidekick you’ll want to make sure its worth it. Can anyone tell that we’re leading up to a review?
MobileBurn has posted their review of the Sidekick (2008) and here are a few notable quotes from the review:
- I think the designers have hit a home run with this new Sidekick design.
- Battery time not that great
- Texting and keyboard is great
- Impressive camera despite unimpressive specs
- Multimedia features pretty extensive, although don’t quite reach feature/smart phone territory
- Conclusion: “Highly Recommended”
They also gave it some video lovin’:
Enjoy!
Samsung Instinct Software Update Does?
Call it an update… but don’t call it a comeback.
Sprint might have hit a homerun with the Samsung Instinct as it achieved huge sales numbers and is already the wireless carrier’s best selling EV-DO device of all-time. Best-Selling perhaps but Best? Maybe not.
Engadget highlighted several data related complaints about the phone and users chimed in with a laundry list of problems that popped up as owners got more familiar with the device. Being such an important device made us think that maybe, with a software update, Sprint might address some of these issues.
Yes and no. There is an update available now. But unfortunately, according to Engadget, it does very little to address any of these problems.
Alright Instinct owners… chime in with your thoughts!
[Via Engadget]
Garmin Nuvifone Delayed Until 2009
GPS juggernaut - Garmin - released their 2008 quarterly report, most of which highlighted impressive financial growth and gains. Among all the percentages and dollar signs was the disappoiting announcement that the Garmin Nuvifone, Garmin’s first foray into the mobile phone market, wouldn’t be available until 2009.
Here is an excerpt from the Quarterly Report:
“The nuvifone will not be available in fourth quarter as previously announced. While we had hoped to have carrier launches in the fourth quarter, we have found that meeting some of the carrier specific requirements will take longer than anticipated. We remain pleased with carrier interest in the device and are working toward making necessary design changes to meet their requirements. We anticipate launching the product during the first half of 2009.”
When the Nuvifone was initially announced it was slated for the 3rd quarter of 2008. It was then delayed until the 4th quarter of 2008. The move to 2009 is arguably more painful as GPS devices and Mobile Phones are both electronics on the holiday shopping list. The Nuvifone could have been a hot holiday product, but instead, will be competing with additional Android devices that will likely have GPS Navigation via 3rd party applications.
I wonder which carrier’s they’re working with and what specific design changes need to be altered to fit the carrier’s requirements. That information probably won’t leak out… but we’ll keep you posted with anythiing extra we find… including more specific details concerning the Nuvifone’s release date.
By the way, Garmin posted a 23% quarter-to-quarter increase in revenue and YTD revenue up 28% compared to last year’s pace. The company has already $1.58 billion of business this year.
[Via CrunchGear]
Moto U9 Unlocked For Use In US
Way back in the middle of May, Engadget wondered why Motorola didn’t offer the Moto U9 in the states. Well, they don’t have to wonder any longer. Motorola has just made an unlocked version of the U9 available in its online store (here) for $275.99.
It’s not going to blow anyone away, but its a solid alternative to the RAZR and PEBL with different stylistic features and pretty strong multimedia options and capabilities. Check out the official press release from Motorola below the pics:
Experience the Stylish Side of Music with MOTO U9
Now Available Exclusively through MOTOSTORE in the US Libertyville, Ill. - 29 July 2008 - Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) today announced that the stylish MOTO U9 is now available unlocked for GSM networks in the U.S. exclusively through MOTOSTORE (http://www.store.motorola.com/U9). In addition to its curvaceous, graceful design, the U9 features an abundance of mobile entertainment features.“MOTO U9 is a stylish phone, designed for trendsetters seeking to make a fashion statement,” said Pete Peterson, general manager, global ecommerce, Motorola Mobile Devices. “In addition, U9 delivers a dynamic music experience, allowing consumers to carry the music that moves them anywhere they go.”
Seamless, small and light weight, the chic U9 has been designed to fit perfectly in the pocket or hand. Its metallic gloss finish comes to life with animated screen savers that appear to “float” across the borderless external display. This display is not just for show; however, as touch sensitive, digital keys let users control their music player from the outside.
In addition to the external music keys, the U9 delivers a robust suite of mobile music capabilities:
- Easy transition from phone to music and back again, MOTO U9 allows one-touch access to your library and pauses music as calls come through.
- Microsoft Windows Media Player 11 makes the U9 ready to rock as soon as it’s out of the box, with simple synching and automatic recognition of the device.
- Integrated music player supports multiple audio files: Windows WMAv10 plus Janus DRM, MP3, AAC, AAC+, AAC+ enhanced.
- Ability to download¹ the latest music hits from more than 200 on-line music stores onto the device from a PC using USB2.0 for speedy transfers and data access.
- Stereo Bluetooth wireless technology enables users to enjoy wireless mobile stereo experience.
Additional in-demand features round out a complete mobile experience:
- Up to 25MB of on-board user memory and an optional microSD memory card enables storage of 4GB of music, pictures and other media.
- Innovative CrystalTalk™ technology for better call clarity.
- Advanced “speaker independent” voice recognition dialing and talking phone features take “hands free” to the next level.
- A 2.0 megapixel with 8x zoom camera, multi-shot feature, video capture and playback, and light and landscape viewfinder delivers quality, printable and shareable images.
- Impressive messaging capabilities via MMS, SMS, WVIM, Push Email¹.
Pricing and Availability
MOTO U9 is now available in gunmetal grey exclusively through MOTOSTORE (http://www.store.motorola.com/U9) for $275.99. The device will be sold unlocked and is compatible with any existing GSM service. Additional colors, including pink and purple, are expected to be available soon.
[Via Moto PR]
Sony Ericsson G705 Quickly Uncovered
That didn’t take long! The MobileCowboys leaked information from a secret source who said that Sony Ericsson would hold a special event in 2 weeks to launch a brand new phone: “Ladies and Gentlemen, Start your speculation!” they suggested. Two hours later details of the phone - the G705 - were leaked along with tons of pictures.
It was only a week ago that Sony Ericsson announced a trio of new Walkman phones. Now the unannounced future announcement of the G705, prematurely outed by 2 weeks, is guaranteed to ensure snores when the “officially official” time actually comes.
It’s not that the phone is terrible… its a slim and sleek slider with a 3 megapixel camera and onboard GPS… we just wanted a few minutes to marinate in the possibilities before the announcement of a mid-range handset (PSP anyone). Afterall, we’ve seen this happen before. And in the case of the BeiBei and Paris, the leaks were so sub par that they were eventually cancelled. That won’t happen to the G705, will it?
If you guys are going to ruin the excitement for everyone by leaking everything weeks in advance… you need to let US leak it! Come on, get with the program!
[Via Sony Ericsson Blog]
Rumor Mill: BlackBerry Thunder Launching October 8th!
Take this one with every grain of salt in the entire Pacific Ocean and chase it with a glass of saltwater from the Atlantic Ocean… Fudzilla is reporting that Verizon Wireless will launch the BlackBerry Thunder on October 8th!
Outed by his “moles”, Fudzilla’s sources say the Thunder will come with a 3.2 megapixel camera, a MicroSD slot, and the ability to download and purchase Rhapsody tracks over the air.
Whether or not the rumor turns out to be true, the folks at VZW are probably calling this leak Dudzilla as the article goes on to say, “it’s a real shame that Verizon has first dibs on this device. It might be a hot gadget, but Verizon doesn’t really know what to do with hot ticket items. Let’s hope for their sake they don’t mess this up like the iPhone deal.”
Ouch. Wait a minute… you mean the Voyager, Glyde and Dare haven’t sold like hot cakes? Depending on the finances of the AT&T/Apple deal, Verizon could be extremely happy that it held off on the iPhone and courted BlackBerry instead.
The Verizon thing isn’t rumor… we know Big Red will get the Thunder. But we’re eager to see what BlackBerry Guru BGR has to say about this information as he’s considered the top source of Berry Leaks alive. We’ll keep you posted.
[Via Fudzilla, CrunchGear]
Nokia E71 Starts (Officially) Kicking Butt
We’ve known about the E71 for ages but only a select few in NYC last Thursday night got to take home the very first Nokia E71’s in North America. Now everybody can share in the joy that Wired Magazine is calling a, “Legit iPhone Killer” and the folks at Mobile-Review.com claim that, “no other device on the market can stand up to the Nokia E71.”
Wow… those are some big boots to fill. The full press release from Nokia is copied/pasted below and you can find the original here. Who is going to pick one of these up?
Nokia E71 makes its US debut at the Nokia Flagship Store in New York
July 29, 2008
3G Coverage Compared: AT&T, Verizon and Sprint
With the launch of the iPhone 3G on AT&T, everybody is talking about the coverage and speeds of 3G networks and how they compare between carriers. AT&T, Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel are all making claim to the 3G throne saying their network is bigger, faster and stronger. How do the arguments stack up?
AT&T 3G Network
First of all, lets start with the AT&T’s 3G network, which has so little pop it couldn’t punch its way out of a wet paper bag. Sure the iPhone 3G is fast, but what good does it do if you don’t have access to the 3G network in your area but still have to pay for the speeds? Wall Street Journal tech expert Walt Mossberg, an admitted iPhone fan, thinks AT&T’s poor 3G Network coverage really drags the product down:
The blue patches below represent areas where AT&T’s 3G service is available:
Don’t let the idea that they are “expanding” to 350 markets by the end of the year fool you. While the current map looks like it reaches maybe 50 markets… you might think they’re adding about 300. But in reality, the map above shows their current reach of about 300 markets and they are only adding 50. So, it won’t be growing all THAT much.
Meanwhile, Mark Siegel, Executive Director of Media Relations for AT&T had this to say: “We have the largest network anywhere.” Right… and the iPhone 3G has great battery life.
Verizon Wireless 3G Network
Compare AT&T’s 3G coverage with that of Verizon Wireless and you might be surprised (click to enlarge):
You’ll notice Verizon’s 3G Coverage area in light blue and it DOMINATES the dark blue AT&T areas. The map was created by Winterspan on the MacRumors forum but was composed using data from each carrier’s website - so its legit information.
Verizon Spokesman Tom Pica put some numbers behind the image, saying the carrier measured its 3G coverage in potential customers covered, and counts 245 million within its 3G service boundaries. Not bad… not bad. Sprint - what do you have to say for yourself?
Sprint Nextel 3G Coverage
Sprint went The Price Is Right on us, doing the equivalent of letting all the other contestants go first and then bidding $1. That’s right, it appears Verizon beats AT&T and Verizon has 245 million within 3G coverage so I’m sure you can guess…
Yup, Sprint said they can reach 246 million. They might as well have said, “Oh yeah, well our 3G network is infinity times infinity!”
Apparently, Sprint Nextel could be including 3G capabilities of Alltel from a roaming agreement the two signed. While it would technically fall into the “allowable” nature of 3G coverage, we all know that Big Red is in the process of purchasing Alltel so even with this half-way cheating advantage, it won’t last for long.
Outcome
According to our own personal opinion and calculations, Verizon wins the 3G coverage battle. However, consumers should check what carriers have the best coverage in THEIR area - afterall, thats what counts for you, right?
Remember that T-Mobile is rumored to be launching 3G service come October 1st or soon thereafter, but we wouldn’t expect them to approach the capabilities of the above three.
And don’t forget that ALL of these carriers already have their eyes on 4G networks, coming in the form of technologies known as LTE and/or WiMax. So… if you thought things were sticky now… just wait!
[Via RCRNews]
Verizon Makes Concessions For Alltel
Verizon’s (pending) aquisition of Alltel is a BIG move in the wireless world. With a nice coverage in the more “rural” markets, Alltel gives Verizon reach to areas it didn’t otherwise serve while customers in these areas benefit from Verizon’s huge network - arguably the biggest and fastest.
Before the deal can go through the ominous FCC must approve the deal, with monopolistic tendencies standing in the way. However, Verizon has offered to part ways with nearly 1.7 Million Alltel customers (13%) to prevent a scenario where Verizon would be the only wireless provider in certain regions. That 1.7 million come from 85 markets in 18 different states.
The deal would make Verizon Wireless the single largest mobile carrier in the United States, surpassing AT&T in number of subscribers. We assume Verizon has their fingers crossed that the deal will go through before the turn of the new year, when a new administration (and Congress) would reign over the issue.
Clearly, Verizon is prepared to make the moves necessary to please the powers at be. Will any other concessions be in the mix? Will the purchase ultimately go through? For onlookers… its now just a wait-and-see.
[Via RCRNews, Phonescoop, Engadget]
HeadStart on the BlackBerry KickStart
Up to now, there has been somewhat of a perception that BlackBerry owners belong to some mystical fellowship, making them part of an elite club/community. Little do they know their imaginary organization is about to be overrun by fans of a much different form factor.
The BlackBerry KickStart, BlackBerry’s first ever flip phone, is aimed at introducing the average, mass market consumer to the world of BlackBerry. And based on BlackBerry’s brand appeal on the status image it reflects, we’re guessing everyone from the tween wannabe-hots to the low-tech soccer moms are going to hop on this sucker.
The Kickstart is targeted for a September release, but the very first reviews and hands on videos are already starting to trickle in. The outlook looks good and we’ve got all the goodies for you. While Crackberry did a pretty darn in depth review, and a few golden nuggets have come from other sources as well, we’re going to summarize the most important points:
- BlackBerry KickStart 8220 has WiFi while the BlackBerry Seawolf 82210 appears to be identical to the KickStart except it has GPS onboard and no WiFi. Ummm how about the BlackBerry Logic 8230 that has both? Nope… it doesn’t exist.
- Kickstart and Seawolf are still codenames (as is the Thunder) and RIM could roll with these names or go to market with completely different names. Does anyone think half the point of these leaks is to hear what people think about the names before they decide on one?
- 8220 will be on T-Mobile while the 8210 will hit AT&T
- Priced as low as $49.95
- Release Date: September
- Clamshell with GSM/GPRS/EDGE (No 3G), internal and external display (RAZR-esque), 2MP camera, 3.5MM headphones jack, MicroSD slot…
- Looks SMALL closed but HUGE open and the keyboard (SureType) buttons are VERY LARGE so nobody will have trouble texting and emailing pretty quickly
- Trackball use is a bit different than most BlackBerry’s because of placement
Most people will be quick to compare the BlackBerry KickStart to other BlackBerry devices. That’s a stretch… its not meant to be just “another BlackBerry”. Imagine putting any consumer… teenager, parent, whatever… in front of several different flip phones and asking them to pick one.
Lets see… you have this one, this one, this one… and the BlackBerry. Oh yeah… and its only $50 bucks. Game over folks - BlackBerry is about to walk away a BIG winner.
[Via CrackBerry]
PSP 3000 + Skype = PSP Phone?
At E3, one of the world’s largest gaming conventions, Sony did not unveil any new hardware. Its still very well possible that the company will launch new hardware before 2008 if the recently surfaced rumors are accurate.
Pictures of a new generation Playstation Portable device show some interesting elements added to the system. The most exciting of those developments is a microphone (to the right of the volume buttons in the picture below) that will alledgedly allow for in-game skype conversation between players.
What has been looked over, however, it that THIS could be the key to the long awaited PSP Phone. The inclusion of Skype could go well beyond in game conversation and reach full blown cellular servie - why not?
With Verizon’s 700 MHZ spectrum required to be “open” and Sprint/Clearwire’s WiMax on the way, its perfectly possible that Skype could deliver full mobile phone functionality directly on such a device.
While some are saying the device will be available in time for the holidays, we’re still labeling the entire thing as rumor. We hope a valid rumor, mind you. But if Skype WILL be onboard at some point but doesn’t launch THIS holiday season… we might just be in for a doozy next year.
More reliable “rumors” claim the PSP of tomorrow (read: next year) will have GPS onboard. One would at first assume this is simply to converge the whole mobile thing (gaming device, GPS and phone all in one) but it could mean much, much more. Apparently John Koller, Senior Marketing Manager at Sony, has confirmed that GPS developments for the PSP are being pursued for furthering the GAMING experience.
Drive up I95, exit in Jersey, head to the Dirty Jerz Shore and pummel beach goers with bullets - Grand Theft Auto style? Who knows what this could mean for gaming… the possibilities are pretty astounding. Racing simulators, flying simulators and those types of games are merely the beginning.
This could get pretty exciting… so stay tuned!
[Via Electronista, PSPfanboy]
Garmin Does GPS For Your Phone
Phone, MP3 Player, Digital Camera, GPS, etc…the need for individual electronic devices is starting to diminish as one device, your mobile, sets precedence by combining them all into one handset. Up to now, there have been major shortcomings with each… but perhaps the one with the fewest obstacles to overcome is GPS.
Garmin is - hands down - the leader in navigational devices and software. But when you think about it, the software is the crux behind Garmin’s whole system. ANY of these phone manufacturers could likely develop devices the size/shape of Garmin’s but the software is what sets it apart.
Verizon and AT&T have launched their own navigational systems with monthly fees, which hope to replace the need for your traditional GPS. VZNavigator will cost you $9.99/month for unlimited access and AT&T just launched their AT&T Navigator Global Edition that will work in 20 countries for the price of $19.99 month. But do they match up to Garmin’s quality?
In one word - no. Sure, they are adequate solutions but in no way to they match Garmin’s precision and quality. Garmin’s maps being more up to date is an obvious edge, as the carrier’s versions can sometimes leave you stuck doing U-Turn after U-Turn in circles. It’s rare - but it can happen. You can more confidently count on Garmin to get you where you’re going. The small things such as the UI, additional features, business listings and all that jazz, while small touches, play a part in the bigger picture… making Garmin THE measuring stick for GPS devices.
Since Garmin’s wild success is based primarily on their software and years of experience… why can’t THAT be ported over to your wireless device? Now it can… for $99 with no monthly fees.
Garmin has announced Garmin Mobile for your mobile phone and while it only works on select models, folks with “smart phones” and BlackBerries NEED to give this a good look. It combines Garmin’s patented navigation technology with up to date traffic info from Traffic.com to supply you with the best Mobile Navigation system on the market.
Is it really the best? We haven’t been able to test it yet, but knowing Garmin and having used the navigational systems supplied by the carriers… yes, it probably is the best. So hop on over to Garmin, download your new mobile navigation system and report back on your experience!
You can learn more about Garmin Mobile Here.
Red iPhone 3G
It appears as though iPhone lovers everywhere will have a little more to love come holiday season as Apple is rumored to be releasing a Red iPhone 3G to boost sales for the holidays. The red version could be part of the (PRODUCT) RED non-profit campaign, meaning a percentage of proceeds would be donatedto fight HIV/AIDS in Africa.
The women will probably gobble this sweet thing up like a candy cane. But with an exterior that appears so simple to make/produce, why wouldn’t they (or any phone company) just make a removeable exterior so anybody can snap on any color they want?
Oh well, we assume there is a rhyme or reason they limit or pallette… probably so they can expand it later along with their revenue… but we digress.
[Via MacBlogz]
Waterproof Phones with Golden Shellback
Urinals and other types of toilets and potties have been mobile phone nemesis’ for years… but not any longer. In fact, it might not be long before you’re prancing around IN the pool while you’re talking or even dialing 911 from underwater, gargling about how you’re drowning courtesy of the undertoe.
Golden Shellback uses patent pending technology that heats up a special liquid concoction until it becomes a gas which is then evenly applied to the gadget in a vacuum, waterproofing the device for beach lovers and clumsy goofs everywhere.
As you can see in the video (from Gizmodo) below, you can dial a phone number, press send, drop the phone in a glass of water and it continues to function and make the call let alone works perfectly when the phone is taken OUT of the water:
We can definitely see a mainstream manufacturer working out a deal with Golden Shellback to produce a mainstream phone that has the waterproofing technology included on purchase. How about a Sony Ericsson Cybershot that takes underwater photos? How about a Summer Inspired Nokia that promises to function at the beach and pool, whether or not it gets wet.
It might take awhile for something like this to catch on but the company is still exploring distribution channels, whether through manufacturers, carriers, retailers or other parties.
[Via Gizmodo, Golden-Shellback.com]
Sprint Pays New Landlord $670 Million
Sprint Nextel has apparently decided to sell 3,300 of its cell phone towers for $670 million dollars and will now lease network facilities from the new owners in a long-term deal. For a company long rumored to be biting the dust, going from “owning” your towers to “leasing” them doesn’t seem like a step in the right direction.
Sprint executives like Bob Azzi seem to think its a huge success, “By leasing rather than owning these network facilities, we can better focus on our core business of providing communications services to consumers, businesses and government customers.”
Ummm… isn’t the whole tower thingy kind of essential in the whole communication service doohickey deal? This announcement is like broadcasting that you live on your mom’s couch just as you’re walking into a bar full of beautiful single women.
So why did Sprint think it was such an amazing idea? Probably because their financial advisor in this deal was Wachovia, a financial instituition who lost nearly $9 Billion Dollars LAST QUARTER. And no… nothing in that last sentence was a joke. I get mad at the weather guy for being wrong… but at least he doesn’t lose $9 billion dollars in 3 months! Unless of course you blame him for hurricanes and natural disasters since he is the one announcing them and all.
It looks like a last ditch effort to save a struggling company by sacrificing some core assets instead of simply waving the white flag. Its just odd considering the recent successes of the company seem like their first big wins in much too long. Just as the home team gets a taste of victory, the manager ships all the veterans to playoff contenders and claims it is time to rebuild.
Disappointing for Sprint fans to say the least.
[Via InformationWeek]
Samsung INNOV8 Packs 8MP of Punch
Good things seem to be coming in 8s recently. The year 2008 marks an accelerated pace at which phones are equipping killer cameras and the Samsung INNOV8 is yet another mobile phone packing 8 megapixels of punch… this bad boy will compete directly with the Sony Ericsson C905.
The phone isn’t just called INNOV8 because of the 8MP camera… it has a whole host of innovative multimedia features, especially with the camera. For example, the camera has auto-focus, face recognition, smile recognition, blink recognition, auto panorama, geotagging, LED flash, VGA video recording with at 30fps along with slow-mo QVGA video, which will be captured at 120fps. WOW.
That is a feature set that others should IMIT8 and anyone who wants to diss this phone before they’ve got it in their own hands are just ASSIN9.
In addition to 8GB and 16GB internal memory options, there is an expansion MicroSD slot so you can hold even MORE multimedia from pictures to music to videos to files… whatever. Connectivity options abound - this is looking like one sweet deal - whatever the price.
The Samsung Innov8 will hit Europe in August and make its way to other markets in September. Lets hope one of those markets is yours mine.
Some other sites talking about the Samsung Innov8 include:
By the way, you’ve got a Dick4 on your shirt.
BlackBerry and iTunes Now BFFs
Research In Motion has just launched MediaSync which introduces BlackBerries to iTunes in hopes that they can play nice together. They do… and music fans with a smartphone by BlackBerry will soon find the two to be BFFs.
You can download MediaSync for FREE, connect your BlackBerry to your computer via USB and immediately sync playlists and other assortments of songs directly to your phone. Update the playlist in iTunes? It will also update your BlackBerry next time you connect the two. Depending on your Berry, you might need a MicroSD expansion card to hold your music.
This is a MUCH welcomed application for music lovers. While Berry users have traditionally focused on the business breed, RIM is clearly opening up their expertise to the mass consumers with upcoming flip phones and touchscreen phones. It makes complete sense to open up the capabilities of their phones to appeal these broader markets as well. And who says business people don’t like music, too?
Learn more at the MediaSync page on RIM’s website.
[Via CrunchGear]
T-Mobile Sidekick 2008 Coming July 30th
Sorry to shatter your dreams but the Geico Gecko and Chuck Norris will not be teaming up to promote the new Sidekick Gekko dropping into T-Mobile on July 30th. The codename Gekko appears to have been merely that and the phone will be called only by its first name - Sidekick.
Distinguishing between THIS version of Sidekick’s will be the model number - 2008. Pretty boring, right? In a world where publishers launch issues of magazines 3 months in advance and automakers are coming out with next year’s cars at the beginning of this year, the 2008 model number midway through 2008 seems a bit uncool. Oh well.
The important thing to note here is that tweens and teens around the planet will have a new “cool” device to play around with… without costing their parents an arm and a leg. And then there is everyone else with a Sidekick… for whom we’re making no excuses.
Some of the features:
- Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE
- 2 megapixel camera
- 2.6″ WQVGA screen
- Video recording
- Stereo A2DP Bluetooth
- Standard Sidekick features
It wouldn’t be so bad but one glaring ommission? No 3G. Why not? Because T-Mobile hasn’t exactly “launched” their 3G Network yet. But according to many sources that could come at the beginning of October. And if it does, we might just see those Magazine/AutoMaker model numbers with a new and improved Sidekick Model#2009.
Keep in mind that the July 30th date is just a rumor from BGR… which inherently means its probably more than a rumor. If you’re so impatient that you can’t wait a whole week, the Sidekick (2008) is apparently available on Craigslist… make sure to ask Mommy first!