Hong Kong -- Engadget Mobile

Samsung F488 relaunched with new TouchWiz cut, 'i' suffix

by Chris Ziegler posted Oct 15th 2009 @ 3:16PM

We would've expected the F480 to fade away quietly into the night, considering that it was the very first device Samsung launched to run TouchWiz back in the day -- but instead, they're taking a different approach by reloading it with the latest and greatest build and launching it anew. The F488i is a variant of the F488i for the Asian market that's been tweaked for an Asian market -- Hong Kong, in this case -- and that "i" on the end means that it's been hooked up with a so-called "3X TouchWiz user interface" (in other words, three pages of widgets on the home screen, not unlike Android), new social networking features, and photo contacts. The F480's still a pretty smart-looking phone even by 2009 standards, so we've got no problem with Sammy's tactic here -- not to say it much matters in the States.

[Via Unwired View]

Oh, by the way: July 15, 2009

by Chris Ziegler posted Jul 15th 2009 @ 11:48PM

Here's some of the other stuff that happened in the wide world of mobile for Wednesday, July 15th, 2009:

Pantech's SKY division has announced the IM-S480S "Tilt" flip for the South Korean market to be offered through carrier SK Telecom. It's a fairly ordinary phone -- 2 megapixel camera, microSD expansion -- but it apparently gets its name from its curved halves (how that evokes a name like "Tilt," we're not exactly sure) and features a trick LED bar above the keypad that can be used to indicate download progress and the like.
Samsung has rolled out a so-called Elegant Edition of its S7350 slider in Hong Kong. It's pink and comes with a quilted pink leather pouch, so... you know, you'd better really be into pink. It also features customized "smart seasonal wallpaper" that'll change based on seasons and calendar events. [Via Unwired View]
It looks like BlackBerry OS 5.0 will get tabbed browsing, a feature that's become virtually standard across smartphone platforms (and has even started to invade the upper dumbphone echelon recently).
The just-announced Sony Ericsson C905a for AT&T has already started to filter into some retail locations ahead of its July 19 release, so don't give up if you've got an unquenchable, urgent yearning for this thing.

21Mbps Next G mobile broadband comes to Hong Kong's CSL Limited

by Darren Murph posted Apr 1st 2009 @ 2:50AM

21Mbps down seems a bit sluggish compared to Ericsson's 56Mbps HSPA+ demonstration, but it's still pretty speedy compared to what's offered in most corners of the globe. As of this week, CSL Limited customers in Hong Kong have access to the same Next G network that Aussies have been enjoying for months on end through Telstra. The launch marks the world's first SDR-based HSPA+ All IP network in Hong Kong, and if you're looking for new devices to take advantage, the operator's currently offering the HP Mini 1110TU (Mobile Broadband Edition), as well as the Express 21 USB modem. Oh, and we totally can't close this post without quoting the new service's motto: "Next G: Time is the Enemy, Fight Back."

Samsung offers up C3110H slider in Hong Kong

by Darren Murph posted Mar 15th 2009 @ 10:56AM

We're certainly seen simpler from Samsung, but the Anycall-branded GT-C3110H is pretty fancy for a low-end slider. The quad-band GSM phone sports a 2-inch 220 x 176 resolution display, 1.3 megapixel camera, FM radio, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, microSDHC card slot, speakerphone, up to 8.5 hours of talk time (510 hours in standby), a built-in music player and an incredible 15MB of internal storage. Yeah, fifteen megabytes. All told, it's not a half bad choice for just HK$1,080 (around $139 in greenbacks), and you'll even get to choose between black, purple and silver. Wicked, we know.

[Via Samsung Hub]

Nokia's 5800 XpressMusic bundled with Shure SE210 earphones in Hong Kong

by Darren Murph posted Dec 19th 2008 @ 1:19PM

As you can probably tell from the naming convention used on Nokia's 5800 XpressMusic, this here phone was designed with music playback in mind. Shocking, we know. That being the case, we're not surprised to see this here Nokia / Shure bundle surface in Hong Kong, and honestly, we're a little surprised it took this long. The special edition kit will come packaged with one handset and one set of Shure SE210 earphones, and it's expected to go on sale today for around $620. Too bad you'll have to jet to Hong Kong and drop by the currency conversion joint to actually snag one.

[Via The Nokia 5800 Blog]

Apple now selling iPhone 3G unlocked in Hong Kong

by Thomas Ricker posted Sep 26th 2008 @ 4:10AM

If you can't get your goods into China via the front door, there's always the back. Apple is now selling its iPhone 3G unlocked via its on-line Apple Store in Hong Kong. The 8GB model sells for HK$5,500 (about US$694) or HK$6,200 (about $797) for the 16 gigger. Already available since July 11th with a local Hutchison Telecommunications contract, this is the first time that Apple has sold its device unlocked in Hong Kong:

"iPhone 3G purchased at the Apple Online Store can be activated with any wireless carrier. Simply insert the SIM from your current phone into iPhone 3G and connect to iTunes 8 to complete activation."

Unfortunately for the 1 billion mainland Chinese, the terms and conditions limit sales to those in Hong Kong only -- not that the gray market cares about T&Cs. It'll be interesting to see if Apple extends the unlocking more broadly (presumably as exclusivity deals expire) or if this is strictly a local phenomena, perhaps in direct response to having its WiFi and the imperialistic 3G gutted from handsets sold under Apple's rumored China Mobile deal.

[Via PC World, thanks Twins N]

Hutchison's 3 gets iPhone in Hong Kong, Macau

by Thomas Ricker posted May 29th 2008 @ 3:57AM

The countries continue to fall ahead of Apple's presumed June 9th, 3G iPhone announcement at WWDC. This time it's Hong Kong and Macau -- foothold populations as Apple eyes the big Japanese, Russian, and Chinese prizes which have thus far avoided Jobs' ~~charm~~ RDF.

[Thanks, Patrick C and Edmond]

Colorware, Photoshop, or iPhone 2? None of the above.

by Chris Ziegler posted Apr 27th 2008 @ 7:08PM

Does that glossy black iPhone-esque thing we recently saw bare an uncanny resemblance to the description we've gotten of the 3G iPhone? Yeah, yeah it does -- but it ain't it. As we've already mentioned over on Engadget, what we're seeing here appears to be nothing more than an uber-fancy case for the iPhone Senior. Now, if the 3G model should just so happen to steal from cues from what we're seeing here anyway, we think that'd be just alright with us. Thoughts?

[Via Boy Genius Report]

Samsung intros F218, F338 musicphones in Hong Kong

by Chris Ziegler posted Dec 18th 2007 @ 2:55PM

Samsung pulled out all the stops at a star-studded event last week in Hong Kong to usher in its F218 and F338 phones, spinner and slider members of the company's MusiCall series. The two models seem to be little more than localized versions of the F210 and F300 for Europe, respectively -- but if music's your gig, that might not be a bad thing at all. The F218 features 1GB of integrated storage with microSD expansion, FM radio, stereo Bluetooth, a 2 megapixel cam, and ACCESS' NetFront browser (on that crazy little display, imagine that!). The F338 adds 3G data and microSDHC support -- a good thing, since it lacks the F218's ample in-built memory -- and goes for a slightly more traditional slim slider package.

[Via Mobilewhack]

Unlocked iPhones now available in Hong Kong -- cost arm, leg

by Chris Ziegler posted Aug 15th 2007 @ 5:17PM

Just how bad do ya want an iPhone, punk? Yeah, we're talking to you, Mr. Hong Kong Resident, because they're now available in your neck of the woods -- if the price is right, anyway. Supposedly unlocked examples of Apple's mobile gem (which we're starting to believe is really possible, even if this picture doesn't definitively prove it) are floating around the territory for a stiff $2,000, though that number falls to $750 if you can supply the phone yourself and bring it in just for the unlocking service. Still, though, you'd better really want one.

[Via Gearfuse]

iPhone's first sketchy battery replacement kit appears

by Joshua Topolsky posted Jul 31st 2007 @ 9:24AM

When the time came and your battery died, you were probably thinking you'd have to send your iPhone off to Apple as part of their expensive and complicated battery replacement program -- but now you've got a sketchy DIY option instead. Once again, a mysterious Chinese company has stepped in and "created" a "solution" to your problem with its iPhone battery replacement kit. For just $20, which is cheap enough to elicit genuine concern, you get a 1400mAh, 3.7V iPhone battery, some type of screwdriver-like tool, a strange plastic shiv, and an instruction manual (presumably in English, but you never know). All you have to do is crack open your $600 phone, de-solder your old battery and solder in the new one... and probably some other, more complicated stuff too. At this price, it seems unlikely that this battery won't explode, so buy at your own risk, and definitely try at your own risk.

[Via I4U, thanks Luigi]

Motorola's RAZR 2 V8 spotted on sale in Hong Kong

by Chris Ziegler posted Jul 21st 2007 @ 5:37PM

Yeah, it's already on sale in South Korea, we know -- but still, there's something that warms our hearts about seeing an in-the-wild shot of a hot new phone with a sticker price proudly displayed right below it. This example comes from Hong Kong, where the V8 (GSM plus EDGE only, no 3G) rendition of the Motorola RAZR 2 is available for $3,380 HKD (about $432). The travel distance-to-price ratio is too high on this one to justify us flying out to grab it, but with any luck, maybe AT&T can come through for us before too long.

Hong Kong retailers label activated iPhone as "80 percent" unlocked

by Sean Cooper posted Jul 16th 2007 @ 1:49PM

Nice to see the iPhone has finally found its way to Hong Kong and at 80 percent unlocked, you just can't lose -- the missing 20 percent would of course be the cellular features. Prices were sitting around $1300 initially, but have now reached the rock-bottom, bargain price of about $1150. Color us confused here, but why would electronic-savvy shoppers fork out that kind of cake when these doo-dads can be found on eBay for AT&T retail cost? Chinese input anyone?

HTC Touch spotted on sale in Hong Kong

by Chris Ziegler posted Jun 22nd 2007 @ 11:14AM

Book your flights and whip your checkbooks out, folks -- especially if an iPhone isn't in the cards for you next Friday. HTC's lovely Touch has been spotted (in Dopod trim) on the streets of Hong Kong for $478, which seems like a reasonable sum for a latest-gen Windows Mobile 6 Professional device, does it not?

UTStarcom's DV007 camcorder phone

by Chris Ziegler posted Jun 13th 2007 @ 6:28PM

'Round these parts, UTStarcom's best known for its hodgepodge of low-end offerings and its on-again, off-again relationship with HTC. In Hong Kong, though, well... check this out. You're looking at the UTStarcom DV007, a twist flip with a penchant for video recording. It rocks out with some flavor of Linux, a 2 megapixel camera, 40MB of onboard storage, and microSD expansion. The best part though? It's in your pocket for the equivalent of $140, if you can stomach the triband GSM radio.

[Via Slashphone]