Flagship -- Engadget Mobile

flagship posts

Nokia N86 8MP finally available stateside

by Chris Ziegler posted Sep 18th 2009 @ 1:39AM

It's still showing as a preorder on Nokia USA's own site, but Amazon and the brick-and-mortar flagship stores in Chicago and New York are finally stocking the N86 8MP -- a little bit of a stretch for the "coming weeks" claim made at the North American version's launch announcement back in July. The beefy dual slider features a 2.6-inch QVGA OLED display, US 3G up to 3.6Mbps on the downlink, and WiFi -- but clearly the big draw is its 8 megapixel cam with Carl Zeiss optics around back accompanied by a dual LED flash. We would've liked this last month, but the good news is that it's launching for less than the $558 originally mentioned: Amazon's got it written up at $469, while the flagship stores are apparently hawking 'em for $30 more.

[Via The Nokia Blog]

LG's 12 megapixel GC990 Louvre flagship with Schneider-Kreuznach optics records our puzzlement in HD

by Thomas Ricker posted Jul 8th 2009 @ 6:19AM

If you're the type who values specs above all else then lean in close, LG's GC990 Louvre is about as spec heavy as it gets. Taking its industrial design and UI cues from the GC900 it will replace later this year, LG's newest flagship brings yet another 12 megapixel camera to market. LG's promising "zero shutter lag" while using respectable Schneider-Kreuznach optics with auto- or touchscreen-focus, a xenon flash, claimed ISO 3200 sensitivity (from a tiny cellphone image sensor?), and the ability to record 720p video at 30 fps. It'll also geotag your snaps thanks to on-board GPS. Fine, just remember that 12 megapixel images shot at full quality will result in massive (up to 18MB) files that must then be stored and transmitted to your favorite image sharing sites -- a waste of time and treasure unless you plan to blow up and crop those well-lit images. Anywho, rounding out the specs are LG's S-Class featurephone UI running atop an auto-rotating 3.2-inch (16:9 aspect) touchscreen display, WiFi, Bluetooth, DivX and Xvid video support, a TV-out jack, and support for media sharing with DLNA standard devices. Picture of the backside camera just beyond the read link.

iPhone 3G S global launch sees smaller lines, quieter reception (update)

by Thomas Ricker posted Jun 19th 2009 @ 3:19AM

What a difference 18 months makes, eh? The relative short line for today's iPhone 3G S launch at Apple's flagship Regent Street store in London could be attributed to any number of factors: the economy, the steep cost of upgrade for iPhone 3G owners, or the fact that Apple allowed for advanced iPhone 3G S orders with home delivery. Or maybe people just aren't willing to wait in line for a bump in speed, improved graphics, and video recording. We wouldn't call it apathy but the iPhone halo doesn't seem as shiny beneath a spotlight now shared with Android and the new Pre. Regardless, the iPhone 3G S is now on sale in the UK and a few more European countries with North America up next after a few degrees of the Earth's rotation.

Update: According to O2, sales for the 3G S have already surpassed numbers for the iPhone 3G during last year's launch. Looks like pre-orders were in full effect here.

[images courtesy of Richard Lai and mrgeoffb]

Nokia N97 available tomorrow at US flagship stores

by Chris Ziegler posted Jun 8th 2009 @ 8:02PM

Sorry, preorderers -- you've once again gotten gamed by the quick-draw Nokia flagship stores in New York and Chicago who've received stock of the black version of the N97 today. You can't buy the units just yet, but they'll be available tomorrow morning -- the only catch is that there are established waitlists at both locations, so you might have to wait for those folks to burn through stock before you get your own. It'll run $699.99, so, you know... do what you've gotta do tonight to make sure those funds are available by sun-up tomorrow.

[Thanks, Shoham]

Nokia E75 NAM hits the US flagship stores

by Chris Ziegler posted May 6th 2009 @ 2:55PM

If you're up for a trip to New York or Chicago (both are lovely this time of year), you now have a shot at scoring the North American version of Nokia's landscape QWERTY slider, the E75. Of course, "scoring" costs you $529.99 in this case -- and you can only get it in black right now -- but if you spend a lot of time in the seedier parts of either of these towns, the concept of scoring for several hundred dollars should be very familiar.

[Via Symbian-Guru]

North American Nokia 5800 XpressMusic available once again, with feeling

by Chris Ziegler posted Mar 14th 2009 @ 11:04PM

We received a call this afternoon from our good friends at the Nokia flagship store in Chicago to let us know that the updated North American version of the 5800 XpressMusic is now in stock and ready to go. This means that existing owners should be good to exchange their units, and of course, new buyers can go ahead and dive in. Not all at once now -- we don't want riots at the entrance, now, do we?

Nokia 5800 XpressMusic with North American 3G coming to flagship stores soon, probably tomorrow

by Chris Ziegler posted Feb 24th 2009 @ 5:17PM

Circumstantial evidence continues to suggest that we're on track for a February release of Nokia's 5800 XpressMusic in New World flavor, featuring quadband EDGE plus hearty helpings of 850 and 1900MHz HSDPA -- and if you're close to the New York or Chicago flagship stores, that release might be right around the corner. The Nokia Blog cites a trusted source that we'll see both locations unleash the 5800 tomorrow afternoon for $399; we called the Chicago store and were told that it'd likely be released within a week, "but you might want to try back tomorrow." In other words, yeah, tomorrow's looking like a lock, unless something goes horribly wrong, the shipping truck flips somewhere along a deserted stretch of I-80, and hundreds of precious handhelds lie scattered across the asphalt.

Nokia's E63 NAM now on sale at Chicago flagship store

by Darren Murph posted Feb 6th 2009 @ 2:21PM

So when Nokia said "in the coming weeks" at CES, we definitely expected the North American E63 to be available in the US before now. But hey, if you've hung in there this long, there's nothing sweeter than snagging a device you've been longing after for longer than originally anticipated. According to Symbian-Guru, the Chicago flagship location has received stock of the blue model, while the red flavor should be arriving at any moment; there's been no direct word on stock at the New York location, but we can't imagine the Nokia mother-ship leaving those in the Big Apple hanging. In case you've forgotten, $279.99 buys you a QWERTY-packin' S60 handset, though you should be absolutely sure you're okay without HSDPA.

Meizu opens flagship store in Shenzhen

by Chris Ziegler posted Jan 1st 2009 @ 11:58PM

If you're going to go to the trouble of procuring an M8 from Meizu, you may as well turn it into an authentic, memorable, world-class experience by making the pilgrimage to Shenzhen, China to pick it up in its hometown. Oh, but don't just pick it up from some random street vendor -- do it up right by swinging on over to Meizu's shiny new flagship store, where you'll be able to select your M8 (or at least see renders of the M8) in a comfortable, relaxed environment while rubbing shoulders with Meizu employees. The fresh digs just opened today, and pictures from the grand opening show an epic mass of humanity waiting for the doors to unlock -- a promising sign for Meizu, and an unfortunate sign that the enochlophobes among us probably ought to wait a few weeks to make the trek.

[Via Meizu Me]

European Nokia 5800 XpressMusic now available at Chicago flagship store

by Darren Murph posted Dec 14th 2008 @ 5:31PM

Nokia's 5800 XpressMusic (or the Tube, as we prefer to say) has been on sale in certain corners of the globe for a few weeks now, but the touchscreen-heavy handset has just now made itself to US soil. Sadly, it lacks the support necessary for US 3G data, but those who simply cannot wait another day can hop a flight to O'Hare (or Midway, if you please) and snap up one of the Euro versions at the Chicago flagship store. 'Course, you'll get the US warranty and all, and you'll only be asked to hand over $349.99 to take one home. As of now, only the blue variant is in stock, and the NYC store is still waiting for shipment.

Update: It's available at the New York City store as well, so get your (European) S60 5.0 on, won't you?

Sony Ericsson shuttering London flagship store

by Chris Ziegler posted Oct 3rd 2008 @ 11:02AM

If you blinked at some point over the past two years you may have missed it, but somewhere in there, Sony Ericsson had a flagship retail location in the heart of London. Actually, they still do -- it's not closed quite yet -- but it'll be gone by the end of the year, just one casualty of the manufacturer's cost-cutting measures in an effort to turn its weak financial position around. Worried about the prospects for immersing yourself in the Sony Ericsson lifestyle after the new year? Rest easy -- the company says it has no plans to get rid of its 200-plus stores in Asia.

[Via Slashphone]

Nokia's North American E66 shows up in flagship stores

by Darren Murph posted Sep 2nd 2008 @ 7:56AM

Barely a month after Nokia's North American E71 went on sale at the Chicago / New York flagship stores, we've received word that the QWERTY-less sibling (that'd be the E66) has now arrived at the same locales. The quad-band slider boasts support for AT&T's 3G network, and there's also a 3.2-megapixel camera, GPS, WiFi and all the other goodies you'd expect from another solid S60 contender. Snap it up now in Grey Steel for $540.

[Via IntoMobile]

Nokia swings open doors to London flagship store

by Chris Ziegler posted Feb 8th 2008 @ 11:38AM

The latest of eight stores now open globally, Nokia has officially unveiled its London flagship retail spot at 240 Regent Street (Hong Kong pictured). The location could very well end up being the crown jewel in Nokia's direct retail strategy, lying within earshot of Apple's impressive London location at 235 Regent Street and covering two full stories of consumer space. As we've seen in the other spots, LCDs and color-changing walls cover the perimeter, while the floors and ceilings are clad with rich woods. A separate "Product Zone," "Solutions Zone," and "Retail Zone" all guide shoppers to different areas of the store depending on their needs, while a dedicated Vertu lounge lets the nouveau riche do their thing in privacy. If anyone has a chance to check out the digs this weekend, be sure to send us some impressions!

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Nokia unloads N95 on US flagships

by Chris Ziegler posted Apr 7th 2007 @ 7:00PM

In the plus column, Nokia's gotten consistently better and better about keeping the US -- or its two US flagship stores, at least -- in the loop on its hottest releases, and as "hot releases" go, it really doesn't get much hotter than the GPS-sportin', HSDPA-havin' dual slide N95. In the minus column, though, the guts inside the American N95 are identical to its European counterparts, meaning we still have to go without any 3G data (let alone HSDPA, a Nokia first). Is it just us, or is EDGE no longer cool? Anyway, yeah, grab yours next time you're in New York or Chicago for a stout $750.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Helio's first dedicated store opens its doors

by Chris Ziegler posted Nov 21st 2006 @ 10:39PM

Say you're in the market for a Helio device; perhaps a Hybrid data card or that hot new Drift all the kiddies are talking about. Could you get it from some third-party wireless outlet or Helio's online store? Sure, of course you could, but where we come from, we go big or we go home. Helio's Santa Monica flagship store has just opened its doors, and the MVNO is hoping would-be members (and current members alike) drop by to buy their next Helio device -- or, in the words of Helio honcho Sky Dayton himself, "cruise by to meet up or just hang out with friends." If Santa Monica is a bit out of the way, look for San Diego, Palo Alto, and Denver to flip their switches by year's end with New York following in early '07.