• 22Jan

    Remember the HTC Obsession?  It looks like the device may be making its way to AT&T and T-Mobile later this year as the HTC Diamond3.  Tough the Diamond has typically been a CDMA and GSM device, rumor has it that there won't be a CDMA version this time around, due to lackluster sales of the last CDMA Diamond device.  Said to look like the HTC Imagio, the Diamond3 is rumored for a June 2010 launch, and is expected to be the second handset powered by Windows Mobile 7.

    The full specifications are as follows:

    • CPU: Qualcomm QSD8250 (Snapdragon); 1GHz
    • GSM HSDPA
    • Device Size: 112 x 56 x 11.7 m
    • Memory (RAM/ROM): 512MB/512MB
    • Internal Storage: 4GB
    • External Storage: MicroSD (up to 32GB)
    • Screen Size/Type: 3.7-inch capacitive AMOLED “Multitouch Supported”
    • Camera: 5.0 Megapixel AF with flash; HD 720p video@ 25fps
    • Video Support: Windows Media Video (WMV), MPEG-4 (MP4/M4V) H.264, DVR-MS4
    • Audio Support: Windows Media Audio (WMA), Advanced Audio Coding (AAC-LC), FairPlay DRM, MP3 (.mp3)
    • Battery:  Removable 1230 mAh
    • Talk Time: Up to 10 hours
    • Standby Time: 240 hours
    • Internet Use: 6 hours (3G), 7.5 hours (WiFi)
    • Video Playback: 7 hours
    • Audio Playback: 24 hours

    Will the device (or Windows Mobile 7, for that matter) be announced at Mobile World Congress next month?

    Via PhoneArena, WMPoweruser


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  • 22Jan

    AT&T store

    According to an analyst, the nation's second largest wireless carrier, popular for the Apple iPhone, has been shortchanged in the budget department in favor of the company's wired division.  As such, AT&T would have to spend $5 billion on their wireless network to catch up with the coverage currently offered by Verizon Wireless.  In research conducted by TownHall Investment Research, AT&T receives 57 percent of its operating income from wireless and 35 percent from wired services, but the wireless division only receives 34 percent of the capital expenditures.  The wired division, on the other hand, receives a whopping 65 percent.

    What's more, AT&T's capital expenditures on the wireless network from 2006 to 2009 totaled approximately $21.6 billion.  In the same time frame, Verizon Wireless and Sprint spent $25.4 million and $16 billion, respectively.  In the three year period, Verizon Wireless has spent $353 per subscriber, while Sprint has spent $310 per subscriber.  Coming in last place is AT&T, with $308 per wireless subscriber.  The public's perception of AT&T's network is poor and declining, apparently because of real network challenges when compared with Verizon Wireless and Sprint, said Gerard Hallaren, director of research at TownHall Investment Research.

    AT&T's network performance has been heavily criticized in various online publications, magazines, and newspapers across the United States.  AT&T's network potential isn't the problem.  The company's 3G network operates on HSPA, with a theoretical cap of 7.2 Mbps.  As a comparison, Verizon Wireless utilizes EVDO, which has been said to reach 1.4 Mbps in real-world testing.  AT&T's network reliability is the concern.  In a test conducted by PC World last year, AT&T came in last place for reliability in all 13 test cities.

    I understand that AT&T has a poor reputation across parts of the United States (particularly in larger cities), but with 81 million subscribers, the company must be doing something right.  Is it the iPhone?

    Via ITWorld


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  • 22Jan

    In browsing the internet today, an Engadget reader discovered a Google advertisement for a Nexus One dock.  The description?  "Available for only $45!  Charges phone, plays photo slideshow & more."  Looks like we'll see a dock for the Google-branded device in the coming days.

    I could understand $29.99, but $45 is a bit steep for me (of course, accessories are incredibly overpriced anyway).  Anyone agree?

    Via Engadget Mobile


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  • 22Jan

    Apple iPhone app store

    Though I keep it out of my work personality, I'm very much into politics and business.  Having worked with campaigns in the past, my iPhone has one "page" dedicated to news, business, and politics - be it CNN, ABC News, MSNBC, Bloomberg, Yahoo! Finance, CNBC, NPR, or WSJ, I'm always connected.  The one thing I was missing?  An easy link to news from the White House.

    The White House app, released earlier in the week, offers news, press briefings, photos, streaming video (over 3G!), archived footage, and live content.  The iPhone app is said to be part of a bigger strategy to bring the executive branch into the 21st century.  In the coming weeks, a mobile version of their website will be available at mobile.whitehouse.gov, and rumors are pointing to additional platform support (Android, webOS, etc.) in the near future.

    The application is free, and can be found in the App Store.  Look for next week's State of the Union address to be broadcasted live over the application.

     


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  • 22Jan
    January 25, $150 on contract. Double the memory as the original Pre, and now with WiFI hotspot and Touchstone-compatible back plate standard. Noah gets it out of the box.


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  • 22Jan

    Push Nokia N900 contest

    It is widely known that the Nokia N900 is a "geek first" phone (as of now, at least).  Each time I've voiced my concerns to Nokia about Maemo's lack of intuitiveness, I've been told that general consumers aren't Maemo's focus just yet - they're gearing it towards geeks.

    To that end, Nokia has announced the second PUSH modder program (and the first in the USA).  Here's how it works: Three teams will be chosen based on inventiveness, demonstration of N900 capabilities, feasibility and conversation generation. These teams will receive Nokia N900s, along with funding and support so they can build the hack.  When Nokia goes to Las Vegas in March, a member of each team will travel along to demo their hack to the judges for a chance to win cash prizes.

    For more information on the program, visit Nokia's website.

    The full press release is below.  For the N900 users, modders, and hackers out there, a $10,000 cash prize and trip to Las Vegas sounds like a nice little treat to do something you already love to do - so why not take advantage of the program?

    Nokia competition challenges US tweekers and modders to imagine new possibilities for Nokia N900
    January 22, 2010 - NokiaPressServices
    “Nokia PUSH N900 MOD IN THE USA” Call for Entries - Now through February 15, 2010

    Nokia invites US tweekers and modders to submit their ideas for morphing the Nokia N900 into something entirely new. Whether it’s turning the Nokia N900 into a TV remote control or the brain of a fully functioning robot, the only limit is the contestants’ imagination. The Nokia N900, which became available in the US this past November, is a powerful mobile computer that uses the open source, Linux-based Maemo Software to deliver a PC-like experience on a handset-sized device.
     
    The top three ideas will be chosen from the ideas submitted by a panel of judges, after which the finalist teams will be provided with a Nokia N900 and some support to actually build their mod. In March, Nokia will bring a representative (and guest) from each of the three PUSH N900 MOD IN THE USA finalists to CTIA in Las Vegas, where each representative will have the chance to demonstrate their creativity for final judging and the chance to win cash prizes ranging from USD 3,000 to USD 10,000.
     
    A global PUSH N900 competition held in October 2009 drew hundreds of entries and resulted in the construction of five widely varying mods, including a skateboard that tracks your tricks and lets you compete against friends with their own Nokia N900s, an N900-equipped kite that lets you control the camera from the ground, a spray can that brings light graffiti to the N900, a Nokia N900-outfitted belt that vibrates to navigate you in the right direction, and a Nokia N900 with arms that will draw what you photograph on an Etch-a-Sketch.
     
    For more information or to submit an entry for the PUSH N900 MOD IN THE USA challenge, please visit www.blogs.nokia.com/pushn900/usa.


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  • 22Jan

    US Cellular logo

    Hey, if the big boys are playing ball, the nation's largest regional carrier has to jump in the game too, right?  Shortly after Verizon (and then AT&T) launched their $69.99 unlimited talk plan, US Cellular followed up with the following plans of their own:

    • National Unlimited Plan (Individual): $69.99/month
    • Unlimited National Family Plan: $119.99/month (two lines), $49.99 for additional lines

    Though outgoing text messaging is not included, all of US Cellular's price plans include free incoming text, picture, and video messages.  Check out the full range of plans at US Cellular's website.  For those in a US Cellular market (or existing US Cellular customers), does the unlimited plan appeal to you over US Cellular's lack of exclusive devices?  Customer service is known to be quite good, but the device selection is lacking.  It all boils down to the quintessential wireless argument: what's more important, phones or customer service?

     


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  • 22Jan

    This past week hasn't been too hectic in the world of Android, and that leaves me some room here for discussing apps. With all of the craziness surrounding CES and the launch of the Nexus One, that's something I've been missing.

    Apps

    There's a new keyboard replacement on the block, and this one comes from a new angle altogether (at least as far as I know can tell). QWERTED resizes your keys based on the probability of a given letter being the next in a partially completed word. Sounds cool, huh? See it at work on video. There's also a new Twitter client in this very crowded town, and people seem to be digging it. Check out a written review of TweetCaster by Justin Hubbord and a video review by Carlos Graves.

    For those of you concerned about current conditions in Haiti (or who want to speak Creole), check out Andrew Steffy's post on Tradui. If you need to make a call from absolutely any app on your phone, check out Dial@Bar. And for some geeky tech in the mapping realm, see this.

    Nexus

    Don't worry, I know a lot of you are sick of hearing about Google's Nexus One, so I'll keep this short and sweet. I started one of my questions and requests series, so be sure to get yours in while the getting is good. And while this video isn't solely about the N1, the appearance of Android's Senior Product Manager on the Engadget Show will be of interest to Nexus owners. That keyboard is multi-touch? Reeeeallly?

    New Phones (?)

    While the week was a bit slow, it's not like there wasn't any news about new gadgets. The Fender Limited Edition myTouch is launching soon, and that oddly shaped Moto called ROI is about to hit Korea. We also learned of a budget GSmart phone that isn't too inspiring, and another (yes) tablet. In terms of leaks, we got a little more info on the myTouch slide and an in-the-wild pic of the hotly anticipated HTC Bravo. There are also some rumors out there about the Nexus Two (warning: funny video ahead.)

    Fixes, updates, and upgrades

    I haven't had any issues with holding 3G connectivity on my Nexus, but apparently, many of you have. Turns out there is a very simple fix. Droid owners will be happy to know that their battery life is about to improve, and Samsung's Moment will see some tweaks as well. As for Android updates, Pulse will see 2.1 and G1 could be getting 2.0 by the end of the month.

    Hacks and Mods

    Quick burst of hacks and mods and I'll leave you for the evening with the best unboxing ever. Milestone has been rooted and here's the how-to. Carlos reviewed a program called Backup of Root Users on video. Check it out.

    Here is the promised video. Take care.

     


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  • 22Jan

    Enjoy our roundup of some of the best mobile phone stories that you may have missed this week:

    Nokia Maps1.  Nokia Confirm New Phone Launch Date.

    But that’s all they’ll confirm at this stage.  At the same press event which told us all about the new free Ovi Maps navigation, Nokia have said we’ll see a new phone from them on the 26th January, but have asked for silence from the press when it comes to the nature of the hardware.  It’s never easy to choose a launch date, but with Apple’s big event taking place on the 27th January, Nokia will have to do something very special to remain in the public eye for more than a day or so.

    2.   Bravo Gets Snapped.

    The HTC Bravo is one of our most anticipated new releases but we’ve only seen renderings of the handset up until now, when a real photograph has been leaked on to the Internet.  It looks almost identical, plus it seems to confirm that the phone will indeed have an optical trackpad in place of a trackball.

    3.   Acer Get Serious About the UK.

    With a road map containing ten UK-bound releases during 2010, Acer have said they intend to become one of the top five UK  manufacturers before the end of the year.  The ten phones are all Android based and will follow the recent introduction of the Liquid, their first Android release.  The second Acer phone is expected at the end of Q1. (more…)

    Post from Dial-a-Phone, UK's no. 1 for Mobile Phones.

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  • 22Jan
    Mobile Phones in HospitalFife’s Queen Margaret Hospital is seeking a mobile phone solution to stop the spread of an infectious norovirus, and since the norovirus is also known as “the winter vomiting disease” you’ll agree that anything which slows it down is a good idea. Especially when the symptom list includes the word “projectile.”  The NHS has agreed to a temporary suspension of its usual “no mobile phones” rule in medical environments, allowing patients to call friends and family during visiting hours instead of having them come in person.
    Queen Margaret’s hospital has closed seven wards due to the sickness already and has asked anyone and everyone to not come near the place unless they really have to. It’s upsetting when you’re unable to visit someone, but since it’s probably more upsetting to throw up over them you’re better off.  The use of mobile phones in medical environments is especially frowned upon because of the prevalence of camera phones, and all patients have been asked to respect the usual ban on photographs or video recordings.

    The upshot?  Mobile phones leaking into another aspect of life, and (like most modern technology) helping make things better.

    Post from Dial-a-Phone, UK's no. 1 for Mobile Phones.

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