Using and loving Windows Mobile isn't always sunshine and roses -- sometimes your favorite carrier doesn't carry the phone you're looking for, sometimes your manufacturer doesn't release the WM6 upgrade in a timely fashion, sometimes the next-gen platform arrives years later than you'd hoped. But every once in a while, all the stars align just right. This is just such a week for Rogers, which is starting to get real with the Motorola Q9h (though it's not for sale just yet) and has finally released a Windows Mobile 6 upgrade for its own version of the HTC Excalibur, the s621. The only question, then, is just when can we get that Kaiser, Rogers?

[Via Mobile In Canada and Smartphone Thoughts]

Read - Motorola Q9h
Read - HTC s621 Windows Mobile 6 upgrade

We applaud Dopod's effort (or should we say HTC's effort?) in keeping its devices updated with all that warm, buttery Windows Mobile 6 goodness, but one rather notable handset has strangely been left out in the cold: the C720W, Dopod's flavor of the HTC Excalibur. We know there aren't any technical limitations to making it happen on account of T-Mobile's valiant effort to get the upgrade out for its Dash, so this all smells a little funny. One nefarious theory is that Dopod is looking to nudge folks into dropping their Excaliburs in favor of a shiny new C730 (the Cavalier, in HTC parlance). Whatever the reason -- come on, Dopod, do the right thing here.

[Thanks, James]

Kudos to T-Mobile for rushing (in relative terms) Windows Mobile 6 to its Dash, an honorable move that makes it the first carrier to launch a Windows Mobile 6 device in the US. We've had a chance to run through the re-upped device today, and, well, what can we say: it's a faithful implementation of Windows Mobile 6 Standard. As we've said before, Windows Mobile 6 is an extraordinarily incremental upgrade; the new operating system alone probably doesn't warrant rushing out tomorrow and picking up a shiny new Dash, but for existing owners, we can't think of a better way to close out the week. Click on for the glorious visuals.

Every once in a while, the anticipatory wait for that new handset to launch is blissfully short, and we're delighted to report that this is one of those cases. The S621 from HTC is now available all official-like through Canada's Rogers Wireless, offering the same glorious QWERTY experience (and somewhat controversial "JOGGR" touch strip experience) that T-Mobile customers have been enjoying for a little while now. Grab it now for a cool $250 CDN (about $213) on three-year agreement.

[Thanks, psxp]

Seeing how a user's guide for HTC's most QWERTY of smartphones -- the Excalibur -- has shown up on Rogers' site, we take that as a pretty strong indication that the carrier's Windows Mobile lineup is about to get one device stronger. We haven't gotten a date on just when this thing might get a "buy" link next to its picture, but with the 3G-capabile Cavalier waiting in the wings and Rogers' nascent HSDPA network slowly taking shape, we're thinking they're going to want to push it out the door sooner rather than later. Anyway, whenever the 1.3 megapixel Smartphone does drop, it'll do so as the "S621," sporting the same 128MB ROM, 64MB RAM, and quadband EDGE radio as the rest of the world's various renditions. Not a bad foil for the Nokia E62 already in Rogers' stable, if we do say so ourselves. [Warning: PDF link]

[Thanks, treatz]

Unboxing plain ol' released products is so 2006. The hip new thing is unboxing products that have yet to be released, like this here HTC Cavalier, and to a lesser extent, the iPhone. Boy Genius, international man of mystery, does the honors on this one, and while we don't see a box anywhere in sight, he makes up for it with a myriad of pics, so we're going to take his word for it that there was a box somewhere in these proceedings. As for the phone, that 400MHz processor, side mounted touch-wheel and 2 megapixel camera look just as promising in the flesh as they do on those oft-leaked spec sheets. Unfortunately, the phone seems to share its progenitor's curse of looking odd for the camera, but if it's as good in person as the Excalibur, we could still have a winner here. Unfortunately, HTC has sent out word that the phone is currently "postponed indefinitely," so we'll have to see what's up with that before we get our hopes too high for this little HSDPA number. Check another pic after the break, or peep the read link for the whole collection.

'Tis the season for giving, which leaves the rabid phone fans among us in a tight spot: how do we get in on a little new mobile tech for ourselves and help those less fortunate at the same time? Our friends over at Phone Scoop are hoping to fill the bill by auctioning off a handful of hot, current handsets graciously provided by carriers and manufacturers with all proceeds going to benefit The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria -- the same fund (RED) benefits. Loot includes a T-Mobile Dash, LRG Sidekick 3, Motorola MOTOKRZR K1, unlocked Samsung i320, M500 for Sprint, and BlackJack, and a Helio Drift (see, we told you the goods were hot). Bidding will take place via Phone Scoops' forums, with all auctions ending this Friday. Bid generously, and bid to win!

Right on cue, now that everyone's got an Excalibur (i.e. T-Mobile Dash), HTC's latest creation shows up online. Obviously the successor to the sleek Excalibur, the Cavalier doesn't look as refined to these jaded eyes, but it's certainly got the horsepower under the hood to make up for its sharper, more Blackberry-esque lines. For starters, that 200MHz OMAP is now a 400MHz, which is just what's needed to power the UMTS / HSDPA. It's also got a higher capacity battery (though not by much -- 1050mAh over 960), a 2 megapixel camera, and the requisite 802.11b/g and Bluetooth 2.0. Don't worry about it though, it won't make it to America until late spring by our wholly unscientific estimates, so your investment is safe for at least a couple months before importers make you miserable with longing.

Sorry to take the wind out of your sails just weeks after plunking down the cash for that T-Mobile Dash, folks, but you know how we roll: we gotta call it like we see it. If the rumors prove accurate, the updated Excalibur -- codenamed "Cavalier," it seems -- looks to make good on all the Excalibur's shortcomings by bundling UMTS, HSDPA, a shiny new 400MHz Samsung core (up from 200MHz), and a 2 megapixel cam (an extra 700,000 pixels to play with by our count, give or take), all of which should allegedly fit into a package that looks like a slightly porkier Excalibur. But the best part? This thing should be coming soon. Like, real soon; a few months at most. No word on carriers or pricing, but you can bet your Dash we'll be keeping a close eye on this one.

Well, we can finally talk about the Dash. Not that we weren't talking about it before, but you know what we mean. T-Mobile's debuting the device today; you already know what the hell it is, so let's cut to the chase on specs:

• 2.4-inch transflective TFT display
• Quad-band GSM / GPRS / EDGE
• WiFi and Bluetooth
• 128MB flash, 64MB SDRAM, microSD slot
• 1.3 megapixel camera
• myFaves support
• 960mAh battery (vs 1130mAh on the Moto Q)
• 4.4 x 2.5 x 0.5-inch body (vs 4.57 x 2.5 x 0.47-inches on Q)
• 4.2 ounces (vs 4.06 ounces on Q)

IIt's selling for $350 without contract, $250 with 1 year, and $199 with two years (and rebates, etc.), and will be available the 25th of this month. Want more on this sucka? Then peep our review!

P.S. -Sorry guys, we like to run our phone reviews on Mobile (hey, that's what it's for!) but since it doesn't have the huge-ass pics like Classic does, we had to throw the review over there this time.

We all know when T-Mobile is planning to release the Dash, now the only question is at what cost. Consider that base covered as well to our old pal Roc A Fella. The retail units started appearing at corporate stores last week (no chances of you getting one early so don't bother) and the pricing is pretty attractive for such a feature rich phone. More than likely it's becuase Tmo wants you to use it on myFaves.

• Full Retail $349.99
• One Year $299.99
• Two Year $249.99

Customers who are willing to sign both a one and (gulp!) two year commitment are eligable to get an additional $50.00 mail in rebate off this beauty. For some the 16th of October won't come soon enough.

While we'd secretly hoped we'd see the T-Mobile Dash before September was out, we've gotten hold of some internal T-Mobile documentation that tells us October 16 is the date. We've always been told not to look a gift horse in the mouth (whatever that means) so we're going to keep our mouths shut and just thank the good folks at T-Mobile for seeing fit to launch HTC's Q-munching Excalibur at all. Keep reading for a transcript of their "Selling Aid" cheat sheet for the Dash -- something tells us it'll pretty much sell itself, but kudos to T-Mob for making sure their peeps are properly informed!

[Thanks, anonymous tipster]

Field report tidbits from Engadget's mobile insider, the Boy Genius.

As Pete so eleganty reported earlier the HTC Excalibur -- or T-Mobile Dash -- will be coming stateside soon. How soon is still unconfirmed, but I've heard as early as the end of this month; review units have indeed already found there way into the hands of the paparazzi press. Stare at the T-Mobile logo, let it control you. Thanks to none other than super-producer Just Blaze for the teamwork on this one!

Alright, we're not going to hold back here. We really thought the HTC Excalibur was going to fall way short of expectations, but when the Boy Genius got a hold of his and told us how stellar it was, we were prepared to be swayed. We picked one up at MobileFocus hoping to remain neutral, but we just can't help it, we fell in love. There's no way to easily describe how thin it feels in the hand, but it has the molded, shapely curved body of a Treo combined with the thinness of a Q (which, unfortunately, is much boxier). But it also just feels damned good in the hand, way more solidly built that Moto's handheld. No, it's not as speedy on the cellular data, but it does have a few things the Q doesn't, like WiFi, and, well, a keyboard we're actually pretty fond of. Sorry Moto, it might soon be time to step to the side with this new device class (at least for this round).

If the Boy Genius' soiled-trow, hands-on of the HTC Excalibur had you gasping for more, then peep the full review of the O2 Xda Cosmo just posted at the::unwired. Their unit from O2 Germany came ready to go with Windows Mobile 5.0 and AKU3 which, besides some low-level tweaks, brought a new Internet Sharing application in replacement of HTCs Wireless Modem app. The reviewer who admittedly comes from a more traditional GSM phone background (read: no real experience with a QWERTY/Z Smartphones or BlackBerrys) found the keyboard confusing for "regular phone stuff" like entering a phone number or searching for contacts -- apparently preferring T9-style input instead. Still, he was stoked by this quad-band GSM phones WiFi, GPRS, and EDGE data connectivity options and "satisfied" by performance under normal usage or while watching live, Slingboxed TV. However, the reviewer then goes on to worry unnecessarily about the OMAP 850 processor getting overloaded if say, using it for GPS, watching live TV, and listening to audio over Bluetooth all at the same time. Hell, why not agonize over the risk posed by it getting lodged in your skull when used near certain supermodels? Geesh. Bottom line: if you're looking for a WinMo device with keyboard and "all the latest and greatest technologies" (well, almost all) then the Cosmo is a "great device."