Archive for April 22nd, 2008
It’s not often that a single handset unites all four US national carriers (assuming the T-Mobile thing ends up going down), so we have to give Palm some credit here — it’s an honorable feat. And with the Centro being a surprise break-out success for Palm (a much needed one, may we add), there’s no reason to think they won’t be able to push a few units on Verizon, too. The first color to launch on Big Red (but probably not the last) will be the very same blue that we’ve previously seen launch in Mexico. How does everyone feel about it? Check out the gallery for the full host of press imagery!
We’ve already seen one hybrid satellite phone shown off far in advance of its promised release date this month, and Elektrobit now looks to be doing things one better, with it debuting an even less satellite phone-looking device that’s supposedly coming even sooner. If the company is to be believed, you’ll be able to get your hands on the Windows Mobile-based device pictured above sometime in 2009, with it offering everything you’d expect from a standard smartphone with the added benefit of always-on satellite access for times when you stray beyond a cellular signal. That bit of convenience will come from the TerreStar satellite network, which hasn’t actually launched yet but, last we heard, was still on track for the end of this year. As for the phone itself, you can apparently expect to get Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, along with HSDPA support, built-in WiFi and Bluetooth, a microSD card slot, a 3-megapixel camera, and voice controls, among other standard smartphone features. No word on a price just yet, but Elektrobit says it’ll be “cost competitive” with standard cellphones.
Behold the 24 karat gold MacBook Air with a bejeweled version of the classic rainbow Apple. Why anyone would want a heavier, fingerprint-magnet version of a MacBook Air except a rich oil tycoon from the United Arab Emirates, I don’t know. But even while all the shiny gold and colored sapphires may look tacky at first, I have to admit that it actually looks kind of cool when you see the whole thing. See it, along with all the info about the bling job and price, after the jump.
According to a recent, sensational survey from Samsung Mobile, 61 percent of lazy, distracted, and impossibly ignorant cellphone users over the age 18 say they would be comfortable casting their vote for President of the United States via a text message. Meanwhile, the totally serious and meaningful survey found that eight in ten (or 80 percent) of teens under the legal voting age would use their mobile devices to cast a ballot in the election. Additionally, Samsung Mobile discovered that 90 percent of cellphone users would like an ice cream cone, while another 87 percent would like an ice cream cone only after eating a quarter-pounder with cheese. Soon Samsung Mobile hopes to determine what percentage, if any, of the people surveyed know who is running for the office of president.
According to DigiTimes, recent Hong Kong purchasers of the new Asus Eee PC 900 (it’s that Eee with the bigger screen) found that their batteries weren’t as nice as those given to reviewers. Speaking from experience, that sort of thing happens all the time. Real world testing is always more rigorous than reviewer testing. But in this case, consumers were not talking about battery life itself, but a straight-up battery capacity rating. Then, in a turn for the even loopier, Asus actually admitted to giving different batteries to reviewers and consumers. What??? Yeah.
Reviewers were given a 4-cell, 5800mAh battery. Consumers, on the other hand, were given a 4-cell, 4400mAh battery. Big difference. Asus claimed that the batteries given to testers were a mistake and that they’d planned to roll out the larger batteries to the public shortly. And at the moment, Asus is considering a replacement program.
With a super portable machine like the Eee PC, battery life may be the most important factor in day to day usage. Let’s hope this issue gets sorted out. [digitimes]
Word on the street (or via super-secret emails) is that Palm is about to begin beta testing on a fancy new device. Apparently, an email went out to select individuals calling for Sprint customers who will use Bluetooth devices and have access to WiFi. The email further requests that potential testers be “seasoned business professionals” who “commute and spend a ton of time working on email and on the phone.” From the sounds of things, the company is gearing up to road test its heavily rumored, WiFi-equipped Treo 800w, a Windows Mobile device likely sporting 6.1. If you don’t know what we’re talking about, it’s that mildly dated looking device from Gates’ CES keynote that we’ve also seen in leaks recently. Nice going on the new spec and inclusion of WiFi (at long last) — now how about some new form factors?
While we patiently wait for Nokia’s current, “no major new products” fiscal quarter to expire, we’ll have to trudge through releases like these 5320 (left) and 5220 (your other left) candybars. As members of the XpressMusic range the devices themselves are fine. Unfortunately, fine isn’t going to win back that 1% lost market share. The 3G HSDPA 5320 (€220 / $351) features dedicated music and N-Gage gaming keys, a 3.5-mm headphone jack, up to 24-hours of play time, up to 8GB of expandable storage, and a “Say and Play” voice controlled playlist; speak the name of the artist or song you want and the phone will play it. The (€160 / $255) 5220 removes the HSDPA but adds a lanyard… hoorah!? Expect both to land in Europe sometime in Q3 2008.
http://www.engadgetmobile.com/
Step aside Universal Music, Sony BMG is now offering its catalog of music on Nokia’s Comes With Music service. You know, the freebie, all you can eat music download service expected to launch mid-2008 (oops) “second half” of 2008. Remember, you’ll have to buy a Comes with Music device first and the free download period from the Nokia Music Store (to your PC or phone) only lasts for 12 months. Still, consumers keep the downloaded (and DRM’d) tracks at the end of the period and “can transfer their downloaded material by substituting their new [Comes with Music] device or computer for the original devices” later on. While no Comes with Music devices have been announced yet, we certainly wouldn’t be surprised if Nokia’s touch-screen Tube or some other S60 touch device was first.
http://www.engadgetmobile.com/
As far as we’re concerned, right up until the Glyde is released, there’s simply no such thing as “too many Glyde shots.” Like the phone or hate it, are we at least all in agreement there? The latest round brings us a handful of photos of a dummy model, presumably destined for a Verizon or authorized dealer store somewhere within the US of A. Our initial impression is that it’s just a tad thicker than we’d like, but we owe it to ourselves (and Verizon, for that matter) to hold off on panning the bulge until we feel it for ourselves. Click on, people!
http://www.engadgetmobile.com/
