After all the
buffoonery over what exactly T-Mobile intended to call its newest entry-level Danger device, they've ultimately decided to just go back to basics, drop the acronyms, and christen it simply "Sidekick." Make no mistake, though -- this little puppy is a far cry from your daddy's Hiptop launched way back in 2002, thanks to a 400 x 240 WQVGA display, 2 megapixel camera with video recording capability, Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP, and a microSD slot. Though it's being billed as the
iD's spiritual successor, the Sidekick comes dangerously close to
LX territory, so it should see some solid movement at the $149.99 asking price on a two-year contract. What's more, the Sidekick becomes Danger's first device with user-customizable shells, available directly from sidekickshells.com for $14.99 a pop (we've got both a really bad and a really frickin' great feeling about the ridiculous sorts of designs people are going to be coming up with there). The whole shebang goes on sale starting today.
We've spent just a little bit of time fiddling with a Sidekick this week, and in a nutshell, this thing is a killer upgrade for the iD crowd -- which just so happens to be exactly what T-Mobile's going for. On the downside, the pivot mechanism and controls feel just a little chintzier than those on their big brother, the LX -- but not distractingly so -- and it's surprisingly hard to downgrade from the LX's stunning 3-inch display to the Sidekick's smaller 2.6-inch deal. For those of you with shell design ideas already in mind, though, where else are you gonna turn?
posted Jul 30th 2008 at 12:01AM
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Yevon @ Jul 30th 2008 1:19AM
Shell idea #1: a shell featuring Robin, Super Girl, that blue dude from Hellboy, Tonto, Chewbacca.... See where I'm going with this?
Paul @ Jul 30th 2008 1:48AM
This has a better camera than LX though...
That's why I didn't buy the better one and why I have my eye on this model though.
Anyone have any guesses as to how expensive phones that carry Android will be though? I'd rather wait if they're around $200 or less I suppose.
ashley @ Jul 30th 2008 4:53PM
i like my LX just fine..
tif @ Jul 30th 2008 12:01PM
Cool! They finally went with a USB charging port. My big question is the speaker and vibrate. I'd be coming from the SK3 which has a pretty wimpy speaker and just barely enough vibrate. The SK2 was much better in this regard. Does anybody know yet, how well this one will fare?
--Paul
Buddy @ Jul 30th 2008 5:20PM
Wow. Could you be any more condescending? This is the most biased crap article I've read on here yet. By the way, shells are 2 for $9.99 at some stores and maybe online. Special ones for $14.99. The Sidekick craps on the LX, even the Slide craps on the LX. Ever tried to do anything on an LX without lag? How about without a hard-reset? The Sidekick doubles the LX's RAM together with a faster processor, making it on par with the Slide.
OziD @ Aug 3rd 2008 4:58PM
i'll take the LX's screen and *slight* lag over that POS they called the slide any day.
i had a slide and when that broke and they upgraded me to the LX for free, I was in heaven.
But I got rid of that too.
Dylan @ Jul 30th 2008 7:01PM
I picked up my new sidekick today! I am totally loving it. The vibarate is good along with the speak. This is defiantly better than the LX. I have used all of the sidekicks to date and this is by far the best.
Lisa @ Jul 30th 2008 8:42PM
Cool. I don't think I will ever buy anymore new Sidekick because the e-mail messages have been lagging for last several months.
striggity @ Aug 3rd 2008 3:45PM
glad i'm not the only one who noticed how crappy dangers email server is.
Lisa @ Jul 30th 2008 9:23PM
Cool. I don't think I will buy anymore new Sidekick because email message have been lagging for several last months.
crzygamer208 @ Jul 31st 2008 1:57AM
where else am i gunna turn?! COLORWARE.COM OF COURSE CUZ IM RICHHHH AND CAN AFFORD IT MUHAHAH
El Taco @ Aug 18th 2008 6:35PM
colorware.com won't do anything. Idk what ur talkin bout.
Christine @ Jul 31st 2008 11:12AM
alright, so i've been looking into buying a sidekick for quite some time now. I've had my eye on the LX and thats what i've been saving for. But now this new 2008 comes out, and i'm a bit confused on what i should do. I'd like to ask the advice from anyone whose had both a LX and 2008. Which do you think is better, or which do you think would be best for me to buy as my first sidekick? Any help would be very much appreciated, thank you! =]
skillet78 @ Aug 1st 2008 1:00AM
I've had the sidekick 2, 3, and currently have the LX. the LX by far has the worst speaker quality of the three phones. the camera has always been terrible on all of these as well. that being said, if you are into minimal phone calls and heavy IM/texting, then any of the sidekicks are for you. i even work for AT&T and STILL won't get rid of my sidekick. side by side, the IM is way faster that any ATT phone i've ever tried out. plus, these phones are sooooooooo easy to text really fast on. any other PDA, you have to be way more precise. that's crap. i'm interested in this phone, but not sure if i can let go of the bigger screen of the LX. also, these phones are very user friendly.
thedude @ Aug 1st 2008 3:21PM
can i use this phone on a prepaid plan????
thatguy @ Aug 1st 2008 3:23PM
can i use this phone on a prepaid plan????
Daniel @ Aug 1st 2008 8:39PM
They get uglier and uglier every time.
Even my sidekick 2 looks sexy wherever the fudge that is.
chefgon_ign @ Aug 2nd 2008 10:24AM
This one actually looks extremely sleek in person. I only have experience with Sidekick 3 and Sidekick iD, but this one is much, much nicer looking than either of those. Smaller and more streamlined appearance.
Acidak @ Aug 2nd 2008 3:57AM
I LOVE THIS Phone.
chefgon_ign @ Aug 2nd 2008 10:22AM
For the record, this phone refers to itself as "Sidekick 2008."
"Sidekick" is the name used for marketing only. The real name of this phone is Sidekick 2008.
Ashlyn @ Aug 8th 2008 7:06PM
What phone is better the LX this one or that one that Spins open???? and do they sell them in Canada???
Penny Lane @ Aug 10th 2008 7:46PM
I've gone through about 15 phones in the past 20 months or so.. this is by CHOICE.. I get bored. My latest are the blackberry curve and the sidekick LX. LOVE both but texting is SO easy on the LX. My girlfried had the sidekick 3 and another friend had the sk2... the audio and screen has improved HUGELY. the screen on the slide is tiny compaired to the slide. apparently the screen on the new 2008 is bigger than that of the slide but smaller than that of the LX. The 2008 sk still doesn't have MP3 ringtones, though. The slide has MP3 ringtones, though. But now, after the system update for the LX, it has video capture. There's pros and cons to each of them but so far it seems that besides the screen size difference, the 2008 sk looks like it might oversee the LX. Surprising!
rachiie @ Aug 11th 2008 5:28PM
is there a way i can get this sidekick for at&t?. i don't plan to change into t-mobile cuz it dosen't work in other countries. i heard you can get an unlocked phone and change into at&t. is there a place where i can get a unlocked sidekick bescides getting it online cuz u never know who is the person tha's selling it to you. if you have any ideas i would apperciate it!!! thankzzzzz =]
susan @ Aug 20th 2008 5:22PM
is the sidekick on sale in ireland/uk??????
i really want 1 of these they r so kooooool
edward lartey @ Aug 25th 2008 9:50AM
Hi
Please I want a one sample of this cellphone. how can I get it
also quotation for 10 pcs the terms and mode of payment
hoping to hear from you soon.
with kind regards
eddie
OprahDustX @ Aug 26th 2008 3:27PM
i really wish rogers would let fido bring these things back
such awesome devices