XDA -- Engadget Mobile

Google Navigation hacked onto T-Mobile G1 (updated)

by Thomas Ricker posted Nov 11th 2009 @ 2:01AM

It's always a good sign when a device-specific product release becomes the focal point of the XDA development community: it means you've got a winner on your hands. Not that anyone ever doubted the intense demand for Google's new turn-by-turn Navigation introduced exclusively on Motorola's DROID. No more. Brave souls have now tweaked the original code to run on the original Android device, the HTC G1 running on T-Mobile. Anecdotal reports suggest that it's working great -- a good sign that we'll see a cooked ROM unveiled just as soon as feverish fingers can package the new code.

Update: Photographic evidence has arrived. Enjoy.

Gallery: Google Navigation hacked onto T-Mobile G1

[Thanks, Alex H.]

HTC HD2 (aka, Leo) launching on O2 UK October 12th?

by Thomas Ricker posted Sep 24th 2009 @ 6:41AM

A trusted tipster with a proven past just gave us the launch day scoop on the hotly anticipated HTC Leo. A Windows Mobile 6.5 handset we recently spied with HD2 branding and a 4.3-inch capacitive touchscreen display with 800x480 resolution -- a pixel density that should give plenty of room for finger-friendly TouchFlo 3D navigation. According to said source, the O2 intranet site lists the "HTC HD2" on its future products list with an October 12th launch date. O2 peeps will immediately recognize the lack of XDA branding which makes the claim a bit suspicious. Then again, HTC has been trying to break the shackles of pointless carrier rebranding for years. Truth be told in the days ahead.

O2's Xda Venn is the Pantech Matrix Pro in new clothes

by Chris Ziegler posted Jul 17th 2009 @ 9:18AM

O2 has been known to source its Xda line of smartphones from a number of different sources over the years including HTC and ASUS -- but Pantech? We're pretty sure that's a new one. Then again, WinMo 6.1 dual sliders aren't exactly easy to come by, so we suppose O2 simply did what it had to do to get one in the lineup when the time came. If this so-called Xda Venn looks familiar, that's because it's just a Matrix Pro tweaked with O2's corporate branding, featuring the same 2 megapixel cam, GPS, and HSDPA as its North American cousin on AT&T. It's not on sale yet through O2's online shop, but the plumbing appears to be in place, so we're guessing it'll be available soon.

[Via CoolSmartPhone]

O2 Germany gets HTC Touch Diamond2 as the uncreatively-named Xda Diamond2

by Chris Ziegler posted May 19th 2009 @ 1:27PM

We can dig that the Xda brand carries some weight and some solid history on O2, but usually, the carrier puts at least a little effort into coming up with creative, unique names for its units -- even if they're just mild rebrands of globally-launched HTCs. This time, though, they're not even bothering with the formalities, simply tweaking the Touch Diamond2's name to "Xda Diamond2" for its German launch this week. Pleasantly, the device is SIM-unlocked and features a tasteful carrier tattoo on the lower back; you should be able to find it for €420 (about $568) contract-free, so we'll cut it some slack -- it is HSUPA-capable, after all.

Pantech prepping new O2 Xda device, say hello to the Venn?

by Sean Cooper posted Apr 25th 2009 @ 4:55PM

The folks at the::unwired have unearthed a bit of news for fans of O2's Xda line, apparently Pantech is lining up a new device purportedly dubbed the O2 Xda Venn. Little is known about the Venn, but the rumored specs are of a quad-band GSM set with single-band HSPA -- of the 2100 MHz variety -- and of course we'd expect Windows Mobile. The when and where are still a mystery, but with a bit of luck Mr. Blurrycam'll be filling us in on the details sometime soon. Keep your eyes peeled for more as soon as we catch a whiff.

O2 Xda Guide gets photographed extensively

by Darren Murph posted Jan 20th 2009 @ 12:29AM

O2's oh-so-sexy Xda Guide was announced just around a month ago, but until now, all we've had are press shots to drool over. Thanks to the::unwired, we're now being graced with a gallery of photographs showing off every angle, curve and accent. There's even a shot of the rear with the casing gone for those who don't mind the risque. Have a look in the read link -- it's all there.

O2 launches HTC Advantage as Xda Flint, curiously aims at education sector

by Darren Murph posted Jan 14th 2009 @ 4:10PM

How do you make a niche handheld that's been out for over a year relevant again? Why, aim it at the unsuspecting education market, of course! The Xda Flint, which we first saw emerge back in early December, is officially being introduced to the world today by O2. If the device looks at all familiar, it's because it is -- we're looking at a re-branded Advantage X7510, with 16GB of internal storage, a 5-inch VGA display, quad-band connectivity, WiFi, HSDPA, a 3 megapixel camera and Windows Mobile 6.1 running the show. The odd thing here isn't that the Advantage is getting a new life, it's that O2 is targeting youngsters with a yearning to learn; it's suggesting that this device is perfect for reading eBooks, taking electronic notes and accessing knowledge portals. Of course, we'd argue a netbook with a non-mobile OS would be far more suitable, but what do we know?

O2 Germany introduces Xda Guide smartphone

by Donald Melanson posted Dec 17th 2008 @ 3:59PM

Well, it looks like O2 customers in Germany now have yet another exclusive handset at their disposal, with the carrier today unveiling its new Xda Guide, which will apparently replace the equally exclusive Xda Orbit 2. As you can see above, this one doesn't stray too far from its HTC-built predecessor, although it does up the connectivity options a bit with both GSM / GPRS / EDGE and UMTS / HSDPA / HSUPA, plus some Bluetooth 2.0, WiFi, and GPS for good measure. Otherwise, you can expect the same 2.8-inch touchscreen and 3-megapixel camera as before, along with 256MB RAM, 512MB ROM, and a microSD card slot for some further expansion. No word on a price just yet, but you'll apparently be able to pick one up sometime in February.

HTC Advantage emerges as Xda Flint for O2

by Darren Murph posted Dec 9th 2008 @ 8:32PM

Believe it or not, the polarizing HTC Advantage is still kicking around, and now it has sashayed its way over to O2. Based on a relatively informative product page hosted up by the carrier, we're looking at a pretty standard Advantage X7510 with a swank O2 logo (though rechristened the Xda Flint), detachable QWERTY keyboard, 5-inch VGA touchscreen, a 624MHz processor, ATI graphics chip, Windows Mobile 6.1, 16GB of internal storage space, a 3.0-megapixel camera, HSDPA, built-in GPS and quad-band GSM connectivity. Mum's the word on a price or release date, but we'll keep you posted.

[Via coolsmartphone]

O2 Xda Zest is first Xda on Pay&Go, on sale November 17th

by Darren Murph posted Nov 10th 2008 @ 4:48PM

We couldn't deny that the ASUS-built O2 Xda Zest was a real, live, breathing mobile, but at long last the carrier has made the phone available for purchase. Hailed as the first O2 Xda to be offered on a Pay&Go prepaid plan (as well as a traditional postpaid plan), the Windows Mobile 6.1-based unit can be acquired on November 17th for £249.99 ($392) with the Pay&Go option or as low as free on certain Pay Monthly contracts. As a refresher, this one brings a 2.8-inch display, a free fortnight of the CoPilot Sat Nav software, a 3-megapixel camera, multimedia player, WiFi and HSDPA.

ASUS-built O2 Xda Zest gets official, barely detailed

by Darren Murph posted Oct 14th 2008 @ 3:50AM

Sure enough, the ASUS-built O2 Xda Zest is more than just a figment of someone's imagination, though speaking of imaginations, we simply can't hear this phone's name without thinking about the soap. Sorry, just can't do it. All that aside, the handset has finally made its way onto the carrier's "Coming Soon" page, where we're told that it will include Windows Mobile for opening up Office documents, a 3-megapixel camera, 3G, WiFi, 356MB of internal memory and a microSD expansion slot. Looking for more? Strap yourself down and wait until November, vaquero.

[Via CoolSmartphone]

O2 Xda Vista coming to China? What happened to MWg?

by Chris Ziegler posted Jul 2nd 2008 @ 7:22PM

Last we'd heard, O2 was well out of Asia with remnants of the firm regrouping as MWg to forge ahead with some of O2's remaining projects and start blazing a new trail. Be that as it may, IT168 appears to have details of a clearly O2-branded "Xda Vista" with a WVGA display, NVIDIA graphics chipset, Windows Mobile 6.1, GPS, and pretty much every other feature a Windows Mobile power user is clamoring for these days. Those are downright modern specs, which means this thing was likely crafted after MWg came into existence -- or at the very least, after it was known that O2 Asia would go away -- so we're not sure what's going on here. Is it a fake? If not, will it end up getting rebranded as a MWg model by the time it's released? Then again, with a WVGA display and HSDPA, do we really care what it's called?

[Via Slashphone]

O2 to pick up HTC Touch Pro for its Xda line

by Chris Ziegler posted Jun 5th 2008 @ 4:48PM

Given the carrier's history this really comes as no surprise, but the::unwired is reporting that O2 Germany will definitely be adding the just-announced HTC Touch Pro to its lineup later this year as part of its long-running Xda line of Windows Mobile devices. Typically, Xdas have diverged from HTC's standard designs for a given model, but it appears that O2 has stuck with the Touch Pro formula here -- wisely, may we add -- only swapping out the stylized rear for a more subdued soft-touch one. That already puts the carrier count for the Touch Pro in Germany at two, while most of the world's fine nations are still at zero. Seriously uncool, guys!

HTC Touch Cruise becoming "Touch Find" for Movistar?

by Chris Ziegler posted Apr 30th 2008 @ 8:30PM

Oh, to be a fly on the wall in one of those meetings once in a while where product names get hammered out. Seriously, what possessed Movistar to latch on to "Touch Find" for this one? Was HTC's own name, Touch Cruise, not good enough for 'em? Or heck, how about the Xda Orbit 2 (pictured) moniker used by Movistar's own O2 subsidiary? Alas, yeah, the latest rumor here is that the Touch Cruise will be christened Touch Find for Movistar's networks, featuring 3.6Mbps HSDPA, WiFi, GPS, and a 3 megapixel cam. We don't know for certain whether the Touch Find will adopt the O2's same pebble-esque case or the Touch Cruise's harder lines, but it certainly seems like it'd make more sense to be consistent within the company ranks and go Xda Orbit 2-style. Then again, the name change itself doesn't seem to make much sense, so who knows?

[Via Unwired View]

Come get your Touch Cruise: Xda Orbit 2 now available from O2

by Chris Ziegler posted Feb 1st 2008 @ 11:14AM

It's bad enough that we're getting teased with the HTC Touch Cruise from afar, but to hardened customers in the US, the fact that O2's offering the Xda Orbit 2 for as little as £0 is just icing on the hate cake. The phone looks arguably even better in O2's very customized trim, too, sporting a glossy black case in which to stuff its 3 megapixel camera, GPS, 256MB of ROM, and WiFi. Were it not for the 2100MHz-only HSDPA, we'd be liable to smuggle a few across the pond, we reckon.

[Via CoolSmartPhone]