Engadget Mobile http://www.engadgetmobile.com Engadget Mobile http://www.engadgetmobile.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget Mobile http://www.engadgetmobile.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Hands-on with Verizon's Nokia 6205 "The Dark Knight" edition]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/07/14/hands-on-with-verizons-nokia-6205-the-dark-knight-edition/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/07/14/hands-on-with-verizons-nokia-6205-the-dark-knight-edition/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/07/14/hands-on-with-verizons-nokia-6205-the-dark-knight-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Sure, you might be the biggest Christian Bale fan in the world right now, but what about this time next year when The Dark Knight DVDs are already collecting dust on bookshelves around the globe? That was the million-dollar question on our minds when we heard that Verizon was commemorating the launch of its Nokia 6205 and the latest Batman flick with a tied-in version of the low end flip. Turns out it's all good, though -- a look through the custom packaging revealed a grand total of two battery covers, one with the Batman logo and one without, so it should be pretty easy to avoid those embarrassing "what's with the batphone?" queries in a few months' time. Otherwise, there's very little to say about the phone -- it truly is a minimalist flip -- though we're definitely excited to see Nokia's apparently renewed commitment to working not just with CDMA, but with CDMA carriers in North America.

Gallery: Hands-on with Verizon's Nokia 6205 "The Dark Knight" edition

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>6205batmanclamshellfeaturesfliphands onhands-onHandsOnnokiathe dark knightTheDarkKnightverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvzwMon, 14 Jul 2008 13:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung Instinct, LG Dare, iPhone 3G... fight!]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/07/14/samsung-instinct-lg-dare-iphone-3g-fight/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/07/14/samsung-instinct-lg-dare-iphone-3g-fight/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/07/14/samsung-instinct-lg-dare-iphone-3g-fight/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Alright, you three are sworn enemies, so what are we waiting for? Let's get it on! Go ahead, seriously, exchange some blows. No better way to get the party started than with a little speed test; the Instinct's data services still seem to be jacked, but the Dare and iPhone 3G squared off with the LG model consistently besting Apple's by between 50-100kbps over Verizon's EV-DO network (see the gallery for the side-by-side). That's not to say the Dare is consistently the faster phone -- it has everything to do with the network in your area, the time of day, the circumstances, and which side of the bed you woke up on this morning -- but it's an interesting observation here nonetheless. We'll follow up with an Instinct speed test (and another round of testing on the Dare and iPhone) when we can.

Gallery: Samsung Instinct, LG Dare, iPhone 3G... fight!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3g iphone3gIphoneappleattdarefeaturesfightinstinctiphoneiphone 3gIphone3glgsamsungsprintverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvzwMon, 14 Jul 2008 12:04:00 EST<![CDATA[LG Chocolate 3 hands-on]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/07/14/lg-chocolate-3-hands-on/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/07/14/lg-chocolate-3-hands-on/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/07/14/lg-chocolate-3-hands-on/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


"Chocolate" is a storied word in the phone industry. In terms of brand recognition, it's right up there with RAZR and iPhone thanks to well-executed marketing campaigns by both LG globally and Verizon in the US, but more recently, LG has moved on to other marques -- Shine and Secret, to name a couple -- leaving Chocolate to trickle downmarket. We wouldn't exactly call the Chocolate 3 "downmarket," but its launch is definitely not being played up to the same extent as, say, the original VX8500's was; these days, those honors seem go to iPhone fighters like the Dare.

Gallery: LG Chocolate 3 hands-on

Continue reading LG Chocolate 3 hands-on

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chocolate 3Chocolate3featureshands onhands-onHandsOnlgverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvzwMon, 14 Jul 2008 09:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm Treo 800w for Sprint unboxing and hands-on]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/07/14/palm-treo-800w-for-sprint-unboxing-and-hands-on/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/07/14/palm-treo-800w-for-sprint-unboxing-and-hands-on/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/07/14/palm-treo-800w-for-sprint-unboxing-and-hands-on/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


If you've been really eager, it's possible you already bought one of these. If you haven't, then here's your chance to see Palm's latest Windows Mobile phone from just about every angle you could possibly imagine. We've got the company's new enterprise-themed phone in-hand (and on-table), and we're currently putting it through its paces. Take a look at the gallery below for a slew of pictures, and stay tuned for a review from us coming soon.

Gallery: Palm Treo 800w for Sprint unboxing and hands-on

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>800wfeatureshands onhands-onHandsOnpalmsprint nextelSprintNexteltreotreo 800wTreo800wunboxingMon, 14 Jul 2008 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Black iPhone 3G vs. white iPhone 3G... fight!]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/07/13/black-iphone-3g-vs-white-iphone-3g-fight/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/07/13/black-iphone-3g-vs-white-iphone-3g-fight/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/07/13/black-iphone-3g-vs-white-iphone-3g-fight/#commentsFiled under: , ,


For many people we encountered in line on launch day, the decision had already been steadfastly made: they'd be picking up a black iPhone 3G, and no one would sway them from their path (except maybe -- maybe -- if the black was sold out by the time their number got called). We've got to say, though -- after spending a great deal of quality time with both colors, the white definitely holds a special place in our hearts. It doesn't show smudges as easily, it makes just a little bit bolder of a fashion statement, and it tells passers-by, "yo, I sprung for the 16GB model" since the 8GB is only available in black. Don't get us wrong, the black's just fine, but we figured we'd throw out some food for thought on the subject.

Gallery: Black iPhone 3G vs. white iPhone 3G... fight!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3g iphone3gIphoneblackfeaturesfightiphoneiphone 3gIphone3gwhiteSun, 13 Jul 2008 12:57:00 EST<![CDATA[FCC Fridays]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/07/11/fcc-fridays/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/07/11/fcc-fridays/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/07/11/fcc-fridays/#commentsFiled under:

We here at Engadget Mobile tend to spend a lot of way too much time poring over the latest FCC filings, be it on the net or directly on the ol' Federal Communications Commission's site. Since we couldn't possibly (want to) cover all the stuff that goes down there, we've gathered up all the raw info you may want (but probably don't need). Enjoy!

Phones
Read - Ezze Mobile M4E
Read - ZTE C306
Read - Samsung SCH-W550
Read - Samsung SCH-W560
Read - Panasonic VS84

Peripherals
Read - ZTE MF626
Read - Samsung WEP250
Read - Huawei E216
Read - Huawei E3735
Read - Nokia HS-121W
Read - Option Globetrotter GE0421
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fccfcc fridayfcc fridaysFccFridayFccFridaysfeaturesfridayFri, 11 Jul 2008 23:58:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone 3G review]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/07/11/iphone-3g-review/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/07/11/iphone-3g-review/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/07/11/iphone-3g-review/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


It's hard to think of any other device that's enjoyed the level of exposure and hype that Apple found in the launch of the first iPhone. Who could forget it? Everyone got to be a gadget nerd for a day; even those completely disinterested in technology seemed to come down with iPhone fever. But the original device was still far from perfect: its limited capabilities (especially in the 3G department), high price of entry, and the small number of countries in which it was available kept many potential buyers sidelined. Until now -- or so Apple hopes.

The wireless industry is a notoriously tough nut to crack, and it's become pretty clear that the first iPhone wasn't about total domination so much as priming the market and making a good first impression with some very dissatisfied cellphone users. With the iPhone 3G, though, Apple's playing for keeps. Not only is this iPhone's Exchange enterprise support aiming straight for the heart of the business market, but the long-awaited 3rd party application support and App Store means it's no longer just a device, but a viable computing platform. And its 3G network compatibility finally makes the iPhone welcome the world over, especially after Cupertino decided to ditch its non-traditional carrier partnerships in favor of dropping the handset price dramatically. $200? We're still a little stunned.

So now that Apple finally stands poised for an all out war on cellphone-makers everywhere, will the iPhone 3G stand up to the competition -- and higher expectations than ever? Head on over to Engadget for our full review.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleattfeatureshands onHandsOniphonereviewFri, 11 Jul 2008 07:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: iPhone 3G unboxing and first look]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/07/10/video-iphone-3g-unboxing-and-first-look/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/07/10/video-iphone-3g-unboxing-and-first-look/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/07/10/video-iphone-3g-unboxing-and-first-look/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Here she is, the iPhone 3G, captured on video. We went through a number of the new features on the device and in the 2.0 software release for you. Apologies in advance if you're looking for side by side speed tests, we spiked the on-camera test due to coverage issues where we're at. Video of the unboxing and new feature walkthrough after the break. (We should also have a bit more video shortly, so check back soon.)

Still got questions about the 3G? Get 'em answered right here.

Continue reading Video: iPhone 3G unboxing and first look

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleengadget videoEngadgetVideofeatureshands-oniphoneiphone 3gIphone3gThu, 10 Jul 2008 21:19:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone: firmware 2.0, App Store, lineblog... and oh yeah, we have one]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/07/10/iphone-2-0-app-store-lineblog-and-oh-yeah-we-have-one/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/07/10/iphone-2-0-app-store-lineblog-and-oh-yeah-we-have-one/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/07/10/iphone-2-0-app-store-lineblog-and-oh-yeah-we-have-one/#commentsFiled under: , ,


A handful of countries are now able to stick their tongues out to the rest of the world thanks to a little quirk of chronology called the International Date Line. Of course, we took full advantage of that quirk and landed an iPhone 3G of our very own -- but Apple's bringing the noise on the original iPhone today, too, with the launch of the App Store and firmware 2.0. Have a quick gander at all the news so far:

Read - It's iPhone 3G tear-down time
Read - iPhone firmware 2.0 is live
Read - iPhone 3G first look, what do you want to know?
Read - iPhone 3G international launch lineblog
Read - App Store hands-on, notable apps
Read - Apple App Store is now live!
Read - Apple's Remote: turns your iPhone into a WiFi remote control
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applefeaturesiphoneThu, 10 Jul 2008 10:13:00 EST<![CDATA[FCC Fridays]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/07/04/fcc-fridays/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/07/04/fcc-fridays/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/07/04/fcc-fridays/#commentsFiled under:

We here at Engadget Mobile tend to spend a lot of way too much time poring over the latest FCC filings, be it on the net or directly on the ol' Federal Communications Commission's site. Since we couldn't possibly (want to) cover all the stuff that goes down there, we've gathered up all the raw info you may want (but probably don't need). Enjoy!

Phones
Read - Samsung SGH-i908E
Read - Huawei U1005
Read - Ezze Mobile M3EQ

Peripherals
Read - Motorola H780
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fccfcc fridayfcc fridaysFccFridayFccFridaysfeaturesfridayFri, 04 Jul 2008 23:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Motorola A810 in pictures]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/07/02/motorola-a810-in-pictures/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/07/02/motorola-a810-in-pictures/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/07/02/motorola-a810-in-pictures/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Quick: name a Linux-based Motorola touchscreen phone that isn't widely distributed in North America. Oh, wait, that's all of them! In this case, "all of them" includes the little A810, a phone that's been kicking around the rumor mill since way, way back in February of this year. EDGE data and a 2 megapixel camera should help keep this one priced somewhere in the midrange, and while not necessarily attractive, it's definitely interesting to look at. Come on, you've got to give it that. Click through to the gallery if you don't believe us.

Gallery: Motorola A810 in pictures

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a810featureslinuxmotomotorolaWed, 02 Jul 2008 12:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Verizon XV6900 hands-on]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/07/01/verizon-xv6900-hands-on/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/07/01/verizon-xv6900-hands-on/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/07/01/verizon-xv6900-hands-on/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Anyone remotely familiar with the HTC or Sprint Touch will feel right at home with Verizon's version, the XV6900. The XV6900 isn't content to just fall in line and play "me too," though -- Big Red decided to go with a blindingly glossy white finish, bucking the soft-touch black used as a staple of the Touch line, and that could be a boon or a bust depending on who you are and how you intend to use the device.

The tenets of HTC's TouchFLO interface are totally preserved from the other Touches we know and love, and thankfully, Verizon went easy with the application of bright red to the UI elements. Physically, the XV6900 is just ever-so-slightly larger than its GSM cousin -- not enough for the average person to ever notice in the course of regular use -- and the addition of 3G data is more than enough to make up for that slight difference as far as we're concerned. One thing that struck us was how much better the XV6900's display was over the original's; the overwhelming improvement in contrast is pretty striking, although to be fair, we would've never noticed had we not had them side by side. Check out the full gallery below.

Gallery: Verizon XV6900 hands-on

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featureshands onhands-onHandsOnhtctouchverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvzwxv6900Tue, 01 Jul 2008 12:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia E66 mini-review]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/30/nokia-e66-mini-review/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/30/nokia-e66-mini-review/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/30/nokia-e66-mini-review/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Hate to break it to you, but there's little more to tell about the E66 that we didn't already cover with the E71. It's basically the exact same hardware and screen in a portrait, sliding form factor, which loses the QWERTY for a numeric keypad. That said, we wanted to go over the specific quality of those differences, and touch on a few things we missed with the E71 review. Oh, and in case you missed our video hands-on with both devices, you can find it right here.

Gallery: Nokia E66 mini-review

Continue reading Nokia E66 mini-review

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e66e71featuresnokiareviewMon, 30 Jun 2008 09:12:00 EST<![CDATA[FCC Fridays]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/27/fcc-fridays/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/27/fcc-fridays/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/27/fcc-fridays/#commentsFiled under:

We here at Engadget Mobile tend to spend a lot of way too much time poring over the latest FCC filings, be it on the net or directly on the ol' Federal Communications Commission's site. Since we couldn't possibly (want to) cover all the stuff that goes down there, we've gathered up all the raw info you may want (but probably don't need). Enjoy!

Phones
Read - Samsung SCH-W580
Read - Samsung SCH-W460
Read - Samsung SCH-U310
Read - Samsung SPH-M220
Read - Samsung SGH-G818E
Read - Samsung SPH-M320
Read - LG KP260D
Read - Vodafone 730
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fccfcc fridayfcc fridaysFccFridayFccFridaysfeaturesfridayFri, 27 Jun 2008 22:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Two years and half billion later, Helio sells for a song. But why?]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/27/two-years-and-half-billion-later-helio-sells-for-a-song-but-wh/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/27/two-years-and-half-billion-later-helio-sells-for-a-song-but-wh/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/27/two-years-and-half-billion-later-helio-sells-for-a-song-but-wh/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Money-losing companies with interesting technology and a small, if rabid, customer base still frequently tend to sell for healthy chunks of change -- especially in the wireless space. Look at Trolltech, for example, the mobile Linux company that never really made any money, yet somehow managed to be acquired by Nokia for its talent and IP, which apparently carried a value of over $150m. We know Helio was burning cash on a whole 'nother level, but that doesn't entirely explain why SK Telecom was so absurdly desperate to dump their $500m investment. At a $39m acquisition price, SK didn't just lose its shirt -- it lost that, the shoes, and then the pants. You know, the pants with a half-billion dollars in them.

Continue reading on Engadget
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuresheliomvnovirginvirgin mobileVirginMobileFri, 27 Jun 2008 15:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 hands-on, sorta]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/26/sony-ericsson-xperia-x1-hands-on-sorta/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/26/sony-ericsson-xperia-x1-hands-on-sorta/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/26/sony-ericsson-xperia-x1-hands-on-sorta/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Sony Xperia X1

So here's the scene. We're at the Digital Experience show, trying to get our hands on a powered-up Sony Xperia X1. Sure, we found a unit that wasn't powered up, but that does you -- and us -- no good. Sony told us to come back in 15 minutes, so we grabbed some press kits, made a round of booths, and came back.

Sure enough, when we came back the X1 was powered up, but the nice booth lady tried to tell us that things weren't working just right and the unit was stuck on the config screen. After some jiggering, we determined the little X1 was just stuck on the touch screen calibration, and we were cruising through menus within minutes. It's pretty clear this unit wasn't ready for primetime -- you'll even see some HTC test apps in the below gallery -- but we were impressed by the screen's resolution and brightness. Windows Mobile 6.1 showed it face often in the UI, but the phone app and general utilities were looking good.

Overall, the X1 is a pleasure to behold -- it's one sexy device. That said, we'll have to wait how Sony Ericsson's user interface shapes up and just look at the pretty pictures in the gallery until mid-September.

You can find the gallery over here at Engadget Classic.
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featureshands onHandsOnsony ericssonSonyEricssonxperia x1XperiaX1Thu, 26 Jun 2008 09:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on with T-Mobile @Home]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/25/hands-on-with-t-mobile-home/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/25/hands-on-with-t-mobile-home/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/25/hands-on-with-t-mobile-home/#commentsFiled under: ,


We've been tooling around with T-Mobile's just-launched @Home service for a little while now; frankly, there's not much to write about, but in the case of a product like @Home, that's a very good thing. In order to be successful, the whole setup has to be drop-dead simple -- bear in mind that the carrier is targeting folks stubbornly refusing to give up their landlines here -- and it absolutely was. We'll be upfront, we cheated a bit by simply hot-wiring the HiPort router into our existing router, but it worked like a champ nonetheless with the blue phone service status light coming on about 90 seconds after we plugged it in. Customers choosing to play it straight and replace their existing router (or those who are buying a router for the very first time) are greeted with a fold-out poster explaining the step-by-step process to get the ball rolling in plain English.

Sound quality was excellent, caller ID worked, and the voicemail system was up and running right away; if you've got messages, a blue light flashes on the router itself. No status symbol appeared on the handsets themselves to indicate that a voicemail was waiting, though, which kind of sucks considering that your router isn't likely to be positioned somewhere you can readily see it; the only saving grace is that you get the stuttering dialtone when you pick up the line.

Overall, for $10 on top of your bill, this seems like a total no-brainer for any T-Mobile customer with a landline, especially since you can port your number -- and the VTech handset isn't a bad little cordless, either.

Update: Folks have been pointing out that the voicemail button on the phone should light up when you have messages, but for us, it wasn't -- we checked it thrice. Just a word of warning!

Gallery: Hands-on with T-Mobile @Home

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>at homeAtHomefeatureshands onhands-onHandsOnhiportlinksyst-mobilevtechWed, 25 Jun 2008 12:02:00 EST<![CDATA[LG Dare hands-on]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/25/lg-dare-hands-on/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/25/lg-dare-hands-on/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/25/lg-dare-hands-on/#commentsFiled under: , ,


We spent some touching (get it?) minutes with the new LG Dare that's hitting Verizon Wireless today, and while we didn't come away from the experience a changed human being, we've gotta congratulate LG and Verizon for the obvious effort they've put into this unit. Particularly with the hardware the phone seems determined to differentiate itself from its iPhone competition, with helpful tactile feedback while typing, (almost helpful) handwriting recognition, video recording (in slow-mo, if you'd like) and even editing, and the beefed-up photo taking capabilities that a 3.2 megapixel sensor and built-in flash provide. The basics aren't too bad either, with a sturdy and bright screen, peppy EV-DO Rev A., expandable memory and a flush 3.5mm headphone jack.

Gallery: LG Dare hands-on

Continue reading LG Dare hands-on

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>darefeatureshands-onlglg dareLgDaretouchscreenverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessWed, 25 Jun 2008 09:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony Ericsson's C905, Z780 and X1 hands-on]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/25/sony-ericssons-c905-z780-and-x1-hands-on/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/25/sony-ericssons-c905-z780-and-x1-hands-on/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/25/sony-ericssons-c905-z780-and-x1-hands-on/#commentsFiled under: ,


We got our grubby mitts all over the latest and greatest from Sony Ericsson, including that new C905 8 megapixel monstrosity, and, of course, the Xperia X1. The C905 is certainly no slouch in the camera department, with that for-serious Xenon flash and dedicated camera keys, but you'll pay for it in thickness -- the C905 is a good deal thicker than its Walkman counterparts, though that does leave room for a nicely formed slide-out keypad. The C905 is capable of geotagging pictures, but can't upload on the fly to photo services just yet like Nokia's new phones, though such capability is in the works. While the C905 seems finely honed for a specific purpose, the Z780 flip phone seems much more plain jane in comparison, with a rather large size despite its "slim proportions" and a lack of detailing in styling to make it really pop. But, of course, who needs all that featurephone nonsense when you've got the X1 staring 'em all down? We got to twiddle around with an out-of-battery Xperia for a minute, and it's certainly one of the thickest and heaviest phones headed for the market in the near future -- though the upside of that is some glorious build quality, an immense WVGA screen and an expansive, highly touchable keyboard. SE certainly does seem to have something for everybody, but with Moto apparently working on an 8 megapixel camera of its own, and touchscreen rivals to the X1 hogging all the spotlight, SE's isn't looking at an easy road to bumping back that profitability. Oh, and in case you were interested, the gallery below also includes the W760 sporting a black finish, a pink-ish red-ish W580 and the wonderfully tiny W350i.

Gallery: Sony Ericsson's C905, Z780 and X1 hands-on

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>c905cybershotfeatureshands-onsony ericssonSonyEricssonw350iw580w760walkmanxperia x1XperiaX1z780Wed, 25 Jun 2008 09:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Motorola MOTOROKR E8 hands-on]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/23/motorola-motorokr-e8-hands-on/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/23/motorola-motorokr-e8-hands-on/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/23/motorola-motorokr-e8-hands-on/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Like it or not, the combination of high-function media players with high-function cellphones is officially an inevitability (just ask Apple). It seems like every day a new handset's being announced with that obligatory 3.5mm headphone jack on board, one of the final pieces of the puzzle that had prevented phones from becoming legitimate PMP competitors for years. Motorola took this fusion particularly seriously with the ROKR E8, a slick little candybar announced at CES earlier this year, and we sat down with a China-spec model recently to see just how well it functioned as a full-time replacement for our dedicated music boxes -- and whether it could avoid losing its identity as a phone in the process.

Thanks to the good folks at Wireless Imports for the hookup!



Gallery: Motorola MOTOROKR E8 hands-on

Continue reading Motorola MOTOROKR E8 hands-on

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>candybare8featureshands onhands-onHandsOnmotomotorokrmotorolarokrMon, 23 Jun 2008 14:55:00 EST<![CDATA[FCC Fridays]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/20/fcc-fridays/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/20/fcc-fridays/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/20/fcc-fridays/#commentsFiled under:

We here at Engadget Mobile tend to spend a lot of way too much time poring over the latest FCC filings, be it on the net or directly on the ol' Federal Communications Commission's site. Since we couldn't possibly (want to) cover all the stuff that goes down there, we've gathered up all the raw info you may want (but probably don't need). Enjoy!

Phones
Read - LG AX585
Read - Samsung SPH-W5700
Read - Samsung SPH-W5200
Read - Samsung SGH-L750
Read - Sagem my730C

Peripherals
Read - Huawei E166
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fccfcc fridayfcc fridaysFccFridayFccFridaysfeaturesfridayFri, 20 Jun 2008 23:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on with i-mate's Ultimates]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/20/hands-on-with-i-mates-ultimates/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/20/hands-on-with-i-mates-ultimates/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/20/hands-on-with-i-mates-ultimates/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Even as we marvel at the HTC Touch Diamond's gorgeous VGA display, let's not forget that 640 x 480 resolution (buried within the larger context of a monster spec sheet, no less) is old hat for some Windows Mobile devices. i-mate's Ultimate line has been reppin' the high res displays for a while now, starting with the 6150 and 8150 models that were announced well over a year ago; more recently, the 9502 was added, offering shoppers a grand total of three distinct form factors from which to choose plus a more traditional QVGA setup with the 8502. Hate on Windows Mobile all you want, but you have to admit, it's hard to find this kind of hardware diversity with any other platform out there.

We just had an opportunity to play with all four models side by side -- an especially rare opportunity, considering that neither the 8502 nor 9502 are officially being sold in the US (despite their support for HSDPA 850 / 1900). Follow the break for some quick impressions with each of the fearsome foursome.

Gallery: Hands-on with i-mate's Ultimates

Continue reading Hands-on with i-mate's Ultimates

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>6150815085029502featureshands onhands-onHandsOni-mateultimatewindows mobilewindows mobile 6WindowsMobileWindowsMobile6winmowm6Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia E71 review]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/19/nokia-e71-review/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/19/nokia-e71-review/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/19/nokia-e71-review/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


While Nokia makes a habit of practically defining "featurephone" for the industry, traditionally it's handsets like the N95 that hog all the spotlight, leaving Nokia's few QWERTY phones in the shadows. Not that they've been trying too hard -- while the E62 and E61i have both shipped over here, neither has featured 3G data in US bands, and the E62 even had the distinct pleasure of having WiFi stripped out. Enter E71, the successor to those phones, and Nokia's very first QWERTY device to feature US-friendly 3G.

Nokia is also (finally) taking form factor much more seriously: at 10mm thick, the E71 is one of the slimmest Nokia phones to date, and Nokia claims it's the thinnest QWERTY smartphone on the market. The E71 also attacks the drab, plastic looks of its predecessors with chrome accents and a glossy screen. The phone is incredibly pocketable, and comfortable to hold and use. Of course, with the smaller size Nokia had to cut down on screen real estate and keyboard spacing, but at a QVGA resolution there's little suffering on that front. The keyboard had a much more rigid, clicky feel to it compared to the spongy keys of the E62, and we were virtually typo-free on it within minutes.

Gallery: Nokia E71 review

Continue reading Nokia E71 review

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e71featureshands-onnokiaqwertyreviewThu, 19 Jun 2008 16:38:00 EST<![CDATA[BlackBerry Javelin struts its stuff on video]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/17/blackberry-javelin-struts-its-stuff-on-video/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/17/blackberry-javelin-struts-its-stuff-on-video/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/17/blackberry-javelin-struts-its-stuff-on-video/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Not convinced that you can eschew the Bold's 3G in favor of an ever-so-slightly (and arguably) hotter shell? If the mid-2009 rumored launch date is right, you've got many, many months to think it over, but in the meantime we thought we'd throw out a little more food for thought. Follow the break for a whirlwind tour of an early Javelin prototype -- and rest easy, there aren't any Burberry faceplates to contend with this time around.

Continue reading BlackBerry Javelin struts its stuff on video

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blackberryfeaturesjavelinrimTue, 17 Jun 2008 12:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Video hands-on with the new E66 and E71 from Nokia]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/16/video-hands-on-with-the-new-e66-and-e71-from-nokia/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/16/video-hands-on-with-the-new-e66-and-e71-from-nokia/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/16/video-hands-on-with-the-new-e66-and-e71-from-nokia/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


We got a quick little bit of quality time with Nokia's new business-centric S60 phones, the E66 and the E71. Both phones are virtually identical when it comes to specs, so it really boils down to what you prefer in form factor. If you're a T9 maven and prefer a vertical screen orientation, the E66 slider is obviously your ticket, but the E71's full QWERTY keyboard and glorious 10mm of thickness are probably going to guide it into many a business slack front pocket. The E71's keys have a harder, clickier feel to them than its predecessors, and they're also a tad more crowded than usual -- we had a bit of trouble typing at first, but it's a solid, well-built keyboard that'll certainly come to be second nature with a bit of use. Despite the phone's thinness we found it to be incredibly sturdy and just the right weight. As for the E66, we just love the feel of its slider mechanism, but we're a little puzzled as to the thickness compared to the E71. That said, it's a quite comfortable and small form factor for a smartphone. Our favorite new feature on these phones is the quick switch from business to personal use, which can swap your home screen, email accounts and calendar to your personal stuff after hours -- and with that hefty 3.2 megapixel camera, A-GPS and WiFi, there's plenty of fun to be had with these phones when your work is through. Video after the break.

Gallery: Hands-on with the new E66 and E71 from Nokia

Continue reading Video hands-on with the new E66 and E71 from Nokia

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e66e71featureshands-onnokiaMon, 16 Jun 2008 08:02:00 EST<![CDATA[FCC Fridays]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/13/fcc-fridays/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/13/fcc-fridays/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/13/fcc-fridays/#commentsFiled under:


We here at Engadget Mobile tend to spend a lot of way too much time poring over the latest FCC filings, be it on the net or directly on the ol' Federal Communications Commission's site. Since we couldn't possibly (want to) cover all the stuff that goes down there, we've gathered up all the raw info you may want (but probably don't need). Enjoy!

Phones
Read - Huawei U1000
Read - Huawei C2206
Read - Huawei C5005
Read - Samsung SPH-W5310
Read - Samsung SPH-W5300
Read - Samsung SGH-Z810
Read - Samsung SCH-R550
Read - LG VX8360
Read - Ezze Mobile SL395Q

Peripherals
Read - Option MO0402
Read - Parrot MKi9000
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fccfcc fridayfcc fridaysFccFridayFccFridaysfeaturesfridayFri, 13 Jun 2008 23:50:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone 3G must be activated in-store (and other followup questions answered)]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/13/iphone-3g-must-be-activated-in-store-and-other-followup-questio/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/13/iphone-3g-must-be-activated-in-store-and-other-followup-questio/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/13/iphone-3g-must-be-activated-in-store-and-other-followup-questio/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Yesterday we went over a few of the more confusing bits of the iPhone 3G launch -- and let's be honest, this launch is way more confusing than the original go-round. Of course, there were a lot of burning questions to be answered from the audience, so we got an AT&T spokesperson to weigh in on what's on your mind. The most surprising answer? Contrary to reports implying otherwise, AT&T pretty much categorically claims that no matter where you buy your iPhone 3G, be it from AT&T or Apple, you have to walk out of the store an activated customer. Check it all out over on Engadget!
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3g iphone3gIphoneappleattfeaturesiphoneiphone 3gIphone3gFri, 13 Jun 2008 12:26:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone 3G: everything you ever wanted to know (but were afraid to ask)]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/12/iphone-3g-everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-but-were-afraid-t/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/12/iphone-3g-everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-but-were-afraid-t/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/12/iphone-3g-everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-but-were-afraid-t/#commentsFiled under: , ,

If you're anything like us, just about everyone in your called you up this week to ask if you think they should get the iPhone 3G; it really doesn't help matters that there's just an absurd amount of (mis)information floating around about it right now, too. So this one's for you and your fam -- we're dishing out the straight dope on iPhone 3G, a to z, so feel free to pass it on. Hit the read link for the straight dope on everything we know so far.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applefeaturesiphoneThu, 12 Jun 2008 14:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia N85 in the wild!]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/09/nokia-n85-in-the-wild/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/09/nokia-n85-in-the-wild/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/09/nokia-n85-in-the-wild/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


What's the N85, you ask? We don't know a heck of a lot about this one, but we're told that it features a 5 megapixel camera, GPS, and geotagging -- sort of an N96 lite, perhaps. The slider features the same industrial design featured on all of Nokia's Nseries devices as of late, but beyond that, your guess is as good as ours regarding target market, pricing, availability. Stay tuned for more as we get it!

Gallery: Nokia N85 in the wild!

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuresn85nokiasliderMon, 09 Jun 2008 12:04:00 EST<![CDATA[KDDI au announces Summer 2008 collection]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/08/kddi-au-announces-summer-2008-collection/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/08/kddi-au-announces-summer-2008-collection/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/08/kddi-au-announces-summer-2008-collection/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,


In Japan, carriers tend to release new models in giant, blockbuster batches -- seasonal "collections" that leave the rest of the world green with envy. KDDI au is no exception, having just announced its predictably spectacular Summer 2008 lineup with entrants from Kyocera, Sony Ericsson, Sanyo, Sharp, Toshiba, Casio, and Korea's Pantech. Here's the rundown:
  • Hitachi Wooo W62H. KDDI is emphasizing this one's video and 3D gaming capabilities, both of which are assisted by the presence of a 2-way hinge for flipping out the screen in a landscape orientation. Comes in blue, silver, and black.
  • Sharp W62SH. The FM transmitter's kinda cool, and the three-inch WVGA screen should be perfect for watching Spiderman 2, which comes bundled with the phone. Purple, white, and gold are the color choices.
  • Sanyo W63SA. Global CDMA roaming and an integrated English-Japanese dictionary makes this one a solid choice for world travelers. Get this one in red, silver, or black.
  • Toshiba Sportio. As the name implies, this one's all about burnin' those calories with an integrated calorie counter. The candybar form factor is a refreshing change of pace in the lineup, but too bad about that QVGA display! Five colors to choose from here: orange, black, white, green, and red.
  • Casio G'zOne W62CA. Like its counterparts on Verizon, the W62CA is designed to take a beating without falling apart. It's impact resistant and waterproof, features a compass, thermometer, and GPS, and naturally, one-seg TV. Get it in green, black, or white.
  • Sanyo W64SA. This fashionable flip has some crazy light effects to go along with its crazy selection of colors, but other than that, it seems pretty pedestrian. If you can call a 2.8-inch WVGA display "pedestrian." It's available in pink, white, yellow, and black.
  • Sony Ericsson Full Change re. The WQVGA display is one metric ton of weak sauce, but as the "Full Change" name suggests, five individual pieces can be removed from the front, back, and top of the phone to create a totally customized handset. Shell choices include white, pink, green, orange, and silver.
  • Toshiba W62T. Seriously, what's up with all this WQVGA garbage? The W62T appears destined for the midrange, though the 3.2 megapixel camera ain't bad. Colors for this one are gold, pink, and black.
  • Kyocera W64K. Possibly leading up the bottom end of the collection, the W64K rocks a WQVGA display and a weak 2 megapixel cam. We see "basic capabilities" mentioned a couple times in the translated description for it, so that says pretty much all we need to know. Pink and gold are the only color options here.
  • Kyocera W62K. Whoa, and we thought the W64K was low end! 1.3 megapixel cam, QVGA (yeah, that's right, QVGA, not WQVGA) display. 'Nuff said. Beige, blue, and black are the choices here.
  • Kyocera W63K. The W63K candybar is just 10.8mm thick, but we're still not sure that we can forgive it for a meager 1.3 megapixel camera. Kyocera's seriously dragging here, in case you haven't noticed the trend. Black, burgundy, and beige.
  • Pantech W62PT. The only phone in the lineup sourced from a non-Japanese manufacturer, the Pantech's nothing to get too excited about with a QVGA display, but the presence of quick dial buttons directly below the screen indicates that this one's designed for folks that are looking for a simple, easy-to-use phone that's just enough to make voice calls -- and ironically, it's still better than a good percentage of the phones you'll find elsewhere in the world. It'll come in silver, gold, and pink.
Not a bad showing, especially considering that KDDI au stands out as Japan's major CDMA carrier in a country dominated by FOMA. Get 'em while they're hot, folks -- you know it's just a few months before the next collection debuts!
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aucandybarcasioclamshellericssonfeaturesflipfull changeFullChangegzonejapankddikddi auKddiAukyocerapantechresanyosharpsonysony ericssonSonyEricssonsportiosummer 2008Summer2008toshibaw62caw62kw62ptw62shw62tw63kw63saw64kw64sawoooSun, 08 Jun 2008 14:14:00 EST<![CDATA[HTC Touch Diamond hands-on, up close and personal this time]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/08/htc-touch-diamond-hands-on-up-close-and-personal-this-time/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/08/htc-touch-diamond-hands-on-up-close-and-personal-this-time/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/08/htc-touch-diamond-hands-on-up-close-and-personal-this-time/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


The good folks at HTC left this little gem (pun totally intended) on our doorstep today, but as cool as it sounds to have one of the world's great Windows Mobile torchbearers just drop off its hottest new handset to us like it's an extra large pepperoni and mushroom, it's a bittersweet gift at best. Why? The Touch Diamond lacks both HSDPA 850 / 1900 and GSM 850 in its current incarnation, leaving it to cling to what 1900MHz EDGE towers it can find. That makes it an untouchable product for all but the hardest-core North Americans who are willing to throw both high-speed data and maximum signal coverage out of the window just to be able to put the pinnacle of WinMo 6.1 engineering in their pocket.

Gallery: HTC Touch Diamond hands-on, up close and personal this time

Continue reading HTC Touch Diamond hands-on, up close and personal this time

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>diamondfeatureshands onhands-onHandsOnhtctouch diamondTouchDiamondwindows mobilewindows mobile 6.1WindowsMobileWindowsMobile6.1winmowm6.1Sun, 08 Jun 2008 00:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung Instinct hands-on]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/07/samsung-instinct-hands-on/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/07/samsung-instinct-hands-on/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/07/samsung-instinct-hands-on/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


We hate gratuitous iPhone comparisons as much as the next guy, but let's be straight with each other here: Sprint has its sights squarely focused on Cupertino's darling with the Instinct. From beginning to end, the carrier has pulled no punches about the model's target audience and its competition. Make no mistake, though, the Instinct is no iPhone ripoff or clone -- it's distinctly its own beast that just happens to share a form factor and a few common UI paradigms, and depending on your perspective and the specific feature you happen to be using, that can be a good or a bad thing.

Gallery: Samsung Instinct hands-on

Continue reading Samsung Instinct hands-on

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featureshands onhands-onHandsOninstinctsamsungsprintSat, 07 Jun 2008 16:36:00 EST<![CDATA[FCC Fridays]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/06/fcc-fridays/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/06/fcc-fridays/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/06/06/fcc-fridays/#commentsFiled under: