Filed under: Handsets, Samsung, Verizon Wireless, EV-DO, CDMA

We’ve learned from a trusted source that one of the jewels in Verizon’s summer 2008 crown, the Samsung Glyde, will finally freaking launch on May 9. Despite a wealth of both in-the-wild and press quality photography of the phone over the past few weeks, it’s been less and less clear when exactly Verizon was planning on actually offering it, so we’re glad to finally have a date — particularly considering that it’s less than two weeks away. That’ll give the Glyde a few comfortable weeks atop the heap ahead of the Dare’s arrival, so enjoy it while you can, Samsung.

Update: It’ll be $299.99 on a two-year plan before rebate, $369.99 on a one-year, and $419.99 with no strings attached.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Popularity: 2% [?]

Share This

Filed under: Handsets, Software, HTC, Windows Mobile

As we hurl headlong toward HTC’s May 6 date with destiny, the Diamond is looking more and more like the headlining act for the unveiling — but what’s it gonna look like when they turn it on? Screen shots of a purported Diamond have turned up on Chinese site PDAFans, and if they turn out to be legit, the answer is “pretty much like any other Windows Mobile 6.1 device.” One of the Diamond’s alleged claims to fame is a revamped TouchFLO interface, though we’re not really seeing a heck of a lot of that here; just a whole lotta plain-vanilla WinMo that has us thinking that this is either fake or an early prototype with an particularly barren build loaded. Doesn’t really matter how hot the hardware ends up being — unless HTC manages to impress with the software visuals, we suspect there are going to be a lot of disappointed people when this one starts shipping.

[Via PDAPhoneHome, thanks Joseph G.]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Popularity: 2% [?]

Share This

Filed under: Handsets, Palm, O2, Windows Mobile, GSM, UMTS

British carrier O2 has added the previously Vodaphone-exclusive Treo 500 to its roster of business class smartphones. O2 is offering Palm’s latest Windows Mobile handset for free with certain data and voice plans, which is probably the only way the company could get anyone to take these underwhelming hunks of plastic off their hands.

[Via the::unwired]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Popularity: 2% [?]

Share This

Filed under: Culture, Handsets, Software, Nokia

Considering that some countries are mulling the idea of making texting a recognized subject and allowing students to use text-speak on exams, we suppose it’s not too outrageous to hear of handsets being used as educational tools and not seen as a hindrance. Nokia has teamed up with Mindset Network in order to spearhead the M4Girls pilot project, which utilizes Nokia 6300 handsets loaded with educational material to “help improve the mathematics performance of Grade 10 girl learners.” Reportedly, the initiative will be piloted in two South African schools, and students lucky enough to take advantage will have access to educational games and other material created to meet the needs of the national curriculum. No word on whether the program will filter out to other locations if it proves successful, but here’s to hoping that eventually gets answered with a resounding “yes.”

[Via textually]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Popularity: 2% [?]

Share This

Filed under: Handsets, ATT, Apple

According to Fortune, AT&T will subsidize the cost of the new, 3G iPhone by as much as $200, bringing the price within the $199 range. Apparently, a “person familiar with the strategy” claims that the provider will create this bargain bonanza for customers signing new, two-year contracts. Of course, the author of the story also says that the new phones will be available in “8-gigabit-memory and… 16-gigabit-memory” versions (for $399 and $499, respectively), so take that as you like. In addition to these discounts, the source says the new iPhone will be 2.5mm thinner than the previous iteration, although we understand that right after telling Fortune this information, the “person” burst into a cloud of rainbow-colored sparkles and went flying off into the night sky.

[Thanks, Penny]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Popularity: 2% [?]

Share This

Filed under: Handsets, LG, Verizon Wireless, EV-DO, CDMA

Get those textin’ thumbs ready, peeps, because your latest weapon of choice is just about ready for you. LG’s enV(2)– a phone that we’d argue takes attractive design far more seriously than its predecessor — will be available in exchange for a reasonable sum of cash (or cash equivalent) tomorrow, April 30, in Verizon stores across the land. Far more than a mere text machine, the enV(2) features a 2 megapixel camera, microSD slot, GPS, and a big ol’ 2.4-inch display when the clam is opened. The only question left, really, is black or maroon?

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Popularity: 2% [?]

Share This

Filed under: GPS

TomTom may be having some profit troubles these days, but that’s apparently not stopping it from getting plenty of new products out the door, with it now announcing four new models in its TomTom ONE and TomTom XL series, along with a spiffy new car mount to go along with ‘em. As before, the TomTom ONE 130 (pictured above) occupies the low end with a 3.5-inch display, though it sports a redesigned and slimmer body this time around, along with a companion model in the form of the ONE 130S, which adds text-to-speech functionality. Moving on up a bit, the TomTom XL 330 boasts a 4.3-inch widescreen display, and is also available in an XL 330S text-to-speech model. Otherwise, all the models will give you support for TomTom’s Map Share technology, support for an optional RDS-TMC traffic receiver, and TomTom’s new EasyPort mount (pictured after the break), which can be folded away into the device itself. Look for the whole lot to be available next month, with the ONE 130 setting you back $200, the ONE 130S and XL 330 each running $250, and the XL 330S coming in at $300. If none of those float your boat, you can also take a gander at TomTom’s previously-announced x30 series devices, which the company informs us are now available in North America.

[Via GPS Review, thanks Tim]

Continue reading TomTom intros ONE 130, XL 330 GPS units with new car mount

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Popularity: 2% [?]

Share This

Filed under: Handsets, Nokia, Verizon Wireless, CDMA

What’s blue, silver, and boring all over? If you guessed the Nokia 6205, well, you clearly knew something about the phone you were holding back to us — but nonetheless, go ahead and give yourself a gold star and a pat on the back for a job well done. The low-end flip for Verizon, which we’d mentioned not long ago, has finally been exposed in all its entry-level glory; don’t get us wrong, we’re delighted that Espoo seems to be back in the thick of the CDMA hunt, but we think we’re going to hold out for something just a little more visually stimulating than this. The lack of EV-DO isn’t helping its case either, though we suppose the external controls and camera flash are welcome additions for the folks who actually hold out until its alleged mid-June release.

Update: Peep that little “EV” signal strength indicator up there? Looks like there might be a 3G radio hiding in this one, after all. If so, kudos, Nokia! Thanks, VZW_Emp!

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Popularity: 2% [?]

Share This

Filed under: Handsets, RIM, GSM, EDGE, HSDPA, UMTS

A fistful of RIM documentation on Waterloo’s upcoming BlackBerry 9000 has found its way onto the interwebs courtesy of the good folks at Boy Genius Report, and while there’s nothing groundbreaking here, BlackBerry fanatics are sure to be drooling by the time they get to the last slide in this page-turner. The spec sheet promises a tweaked web browsing experience — and we’ll take anything we can get there, considering the device’s support for HSDPA. We also see mentions of an improved picture library, automatic music playlists, and inline video streaming in the browser (!!!), all accompanied by a handful of screen shots of the device’s delicious new theme. Seeing how we’ll probably be waiting a few months yet for this thing to get into our hands, go ahead and satisfy your impatience (for a few minutes, anyhow) by clicking through to the full novella.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Popularity: 2% [?]

Share This

Filed under: Handsets, Nokia, Symbian, GSM, EDGE, HSDPA, UMTS

Those hankering for an exhaustive rundown of the just-announced 5320 XpressMusic’s specifications need not conduct their search any further. Forum Nokia, Espoo’s developer outreach branch, has gone ahead and done the dirty work of dredging up the details and plopping ‘em all in one place, revealing roughly 85MB of usable memory on startup (a key stat, as any heavy Symbian user can attest) atop S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 2. The lack of HSDPA 850 / 1900 (or a separate version of the phone rocking those bands) still stings to read — like, physically causes our eyes to burn — but hey, what can you do? Wait for the N78, that’s what.

[Via All About Symbian]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Popularity: 2% [?]

Share This