Archive for March, 2009
Thursday, March 26th, 2009
It’s hard to say if this elusive new touchscreen handset will indeed be slotted between a few of Samsung’s other UltraTouch phones, but either way, we’re digging it. We get the feeling this so-called S8000 was already shown to us in that now-famous slide of Sammy’s upcoming lineup, but the whole “blur factor” kept us from really keying in on it. At any rate, we’re really feeling the style presented here, and despite the fact that we know absolutely nothing about its specifications (save for the flash-equipped 5MP camera), we definitely want to hold one. Check the read link for a few more (amazingly clear) looks.
Tags: culture, engadget, engadget-mobile, games, handsets, japanese, network, Pictures, s8000, smartphone
Posted in Samsung | No Comments »
Thursday, March 26th, 2009
Yeah, we’d seen those fine mechanical workings from the back, but Ulysse Nardin has just taken the wraps of its entire Chairman handset, which they bill as a “hybrid smart phone” — and actually seem to mean it. Ulysse Nardin surprisingly hasn’t skimped on specs here, with a 2.8-inch multitouch screen, finger print reader for phone unlock, 5 megapixel camera, WiFi and the inclusion of an email app and a browser. There’s also that fancy kinetic rotor system for passive charging of the phone, but no word on how much battery life that will actually get you. Ulysse Nardin is currently showing off the phone in Rose Gold, Rose Gold & Blue, Rose Gold & Steel, Stealth Black and Steel & Blue trims, so there should be plenty of options to set you apart from your other billionaire friends. The device is currently on display at BASELWORLD; no word on price, but if you have to ask…
Tags: Apple, browser, chairman, engadget-mobile, features, games, handsets, hybrid-smart-phone, messaging, News, ulysse-nardin, ulyssenardin, ulyssenardinchairman
Posted in Apple | No Comments »
Wednesday, March 25th, 2009
“T-Mobile” and “3G modem” aren’t two things you frequently heard uttered in the same sentence — but now that the number four carrier’s got a budding HSPA network that’s all dressed up with no place to go, it’s time to start rolling out some serious hardware (G1 aside) to take advantage. On that note, T-Mobile’s finally getting serious about laptop data, launching its rumored webConnect USB stick today with an integrated microSDHC slot, HSDPA 1900 / 2100 / AWS for compatibility in the US and abroad, and triband EDGE for those times — and there will be many at first — when you’re out of 3G coverage. The webConnect launches today for $49.99 on a two-year contract after rebate or $249.99 contract-free.
Tags: accessories, breaking-news, breakingnews, edge, games, HSDPA, japanese, messaging, mobile, network, peripherals, USB, usb stick, usbstick
Posted in T Mobile | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 24th, 2009
You may have seen some reports today about a new app from Ripdev called InstallerApp, which some people have mistakenly been covering as a desktop client that lets you install Cydia and Installer apps without having to jailbreak your iPhone using something like PwnageTool. Just to set the record straight, here’s the deal: InstallerApp is a kind of jailbreaking tool (let’s call it “jailbreaking lite”) coupled with a separate application management client for your computer. From what we can tell, the first thing it does is jailbreak your device (or, if you’re already jailbroken, installs some additional software so it can talk to your phone). In no way is it allowing you to install non-Apple-approved apps onto a non-jailbroken phone: it’s tweaking your underlying system to allow for those apps to run, and giving you an iTunes replacement to add and delete programs on your device. Keep in mind, RipDev is charging $7 for this, which isn’t a bundle, but not free either… unlike PwnageTool and QuickPwn, which essentially do the same thing (minus the desktop client). We’re not saying it’s not a useful app — it might be to some — it just isn’t the “get into jail free” solution that you may have heard it is. And now you know… which is half the battle.
Tags: applications, culture, engadget, engadget-mobile, games, iPhone, iphone3g, jailbreaking, jalibreak, japanese, podcasts, ripdev, television
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 24th, 2009
Alright, we have no idea why Lenovo’s phone division is suddenly pumping out copycat handsets, but these supposed shots of the Android-based oPhone’s UI look awfully familiar, don’t you think? Combine that with the equally-fishy rip of Samsung’s TouchWiz UI found in the recently-announced X1, and it more or less seems like Lenovo’s running a high-end KIRF outfit over there — no wonder this stuff never leaves China.
[Via The Raw Feed]
Tags: browser, china, culture, features, handsets, Lenovo, messaging, News, ophoneui, podcasts
Posted in Lenovo | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 24th, 2009
It won’t make much of a difference to the end user — all they’ll care is that they’re getting unlimited voice and data for under $70 a month — but it turns out that Zer01 Mobile’s upcoming VoIP-based service won’t be using AT&T alone to provide service. Instead, it’ll have service agreements in place with a number of GSM carriers — nationals and regionals alike, we’d imagine — in an effort to keep its costs low. Because all voice calls will travel over VoIP instead of GSM or UMTS proper, it seems like things could get a little dicey if you find yourself on a crappy EDGE (or worse yet, GPRS) connection, but hey, just keep telling yourself: “$69.95.”
Tags: accessories, browser, culture, edge, features, GSM, HSDPA, messaging, mvno, network, News, UMTS, zer01, zer01mobile
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Monday, March 23rd, 2009
Would it be too cruel to say we’re shocked it lasted this long? Apple’s iPhone Bluetooth Headset never was too popular outside of the hardcore Apple faithful, with a litany of respectable (and let’s face it, far superior) alternatives available for a fraction of the $99 MSRP. To that end, Cupertino has seen fit to discontinue the peripheral, though prospective customers can apparently still buy ‘em until supply runs dry. Here’s a tip, though — wait for the fire sale.
[Thanks, Richard]
Gallery: Apple iPhone Bluetooth Headset now discontinued
Tags: accessories, Bluetooth, Bluetooth headset, bluetoothheadset, browser, bt headset, dead, discontinued, engadget, iPhone, iphoneaccessory, kill, killed, peripherals, podcasts
Posted in Apple | No Comments »
Monday, March 23rd, 2009
We all know by now that the Banter is essentially a Rumor 2 clone for Alltel, which immediately makes it a desirable device to a whole battalion of folks looking for a cheap, relatively stylish way to get their text on. Just how cheap are we talking? Try $19.99 on contract after rebate, which by our rough calculations works out to a full $30 less than what Sprint is asking at the moment. Indirectly, you could call this a slap in the face to Sprint by sworn rival Verizon — but then again, Alltel’s launching this, not Big Red proper. How long until those two lovebirds merge their product lines?
Tags: accessories, Alltel, Apple, banter, engadget, engadget-mobile, games, messaging, network, podcasts, QWERTY, rogers-wireless, television
Posted in LG | No Comments »
Monday, March 23rd, 2009
Good news, Europe. Telefónica and Vodafone have just made public a milestone pan-European agreement that will enable the two to share network infrastructure in Germany, Spain, Ireland and the UK, with detailed discussions ongoing in the Czech Republic. The collaboration will supposedly deliver efficiencies of hundreds of millions of pounds for each company over ten years, and for customers of each, they can look forward to better coverage across each of those nations. Oh, and subscribers should also expect rates to remain lower compared to what would happen if each operator were forced to build out individually, but it’s not like either of these guys are coming out and saying that. At any rate, we figure there’s some serious celebration in order for those in the region, no?
Tags: browser, business, games, partnership, roaming, sharing, telefonica, Vodafone
Posted in Vodafone | No Comments »
Monday, March 23rd, 2009
So much for the “last stand,” huh? After getting pictured way back in August of last year, Motorola has quietly let CES, Mobile World Congress and (almost) CTIA slip by with nary a peep on why this thing has yet to ship. We’d initially heard that Q4 2008 was the window, and then Q1 2009; just last week, we heard that Moto could be shooting out ten new smartphones in the latter half of this year, but evidently this one won’t be included. According to the always questionable DigiTimes, Motorola has inexplicably “canceled the planned launch of the Alexander handset and also reduced the number of markets in which it will sell its A3100 smartphone,” though it gave no reason as to why. Is it sad that we’re not at all saddened? Onward and upward, we say.
[Via WMPowerUser]
Tags: 8 megapixel, alexander, Apple, breaking-news, compal, culture, games, handsets, Linux, mobile, network, nvidia, podcasts
Posted in Motorola, Uncategorized | No Comments »
