Spy -- Engadget Mobile

spy posts

Mysterious HTC Android phone spied, might lean the way of the Dragon

by Ross Miller posted Oct 18th 2009 @ 7:52PM

In an almost perfect world, this spy shot would be of the rumored HTC Dragon, reminiscent of the HD2 with a 1GHz Snapdragon processor and packing the latest version of Android / Sense UI -- in a more perfect world, this would all have been confirmed last week and in our hands today delivered via unicorn express, but that's obviously not happening. Still, there's something new and exciting about this device, but we're grasping at straws beyond the handful of pics The Unlockr managed to obtain, several more of which can found just beyond the read link.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

HTC Leo Windows Mobile 6.5 slate is capacitive? (update: video!)

by Thomas Ricker posted Sep 18th 2009 @ 6:53AM

The Leo is fast becoming HTC's latest worst kept secret. Pics and video are popping up everywhere with the latest set giving a full visual walkthrough of what appears to be TouchFlo 3D 2.6 riding Windows 6.5. Even better, ai.rs blog claims that Leo is indeed capacitive -- something strongly suggested by the multi-touch video leaked a few days ago -- and not some fancy resistive touchscreen tech. We've got backside action now too, sporting a big "HTCPRO.Three" stamp we presume heralds Pro3 branding whenever this 1GHz Snapdragon handset launches. But man, that 4.3-inch, 800x480 display's looking positively massive next to the 3.2-inch version found on the Touch Diamond2. Check the back after the break.

Update: Video showing Leo's very snappy, finger-centric UI added after the break.

Continue reading HTC Leo Windows Mobile 6.5 slate is capacitive? (update: video!)

Possible Palm Pre, Eos, Storm 2, and more revealed in Verizon database

by Thomas Ricker posted Aug 28th 2009 @ 6:19AM

Well would you look at those. Six snaps from Verizon's internal inventory database showing the BlackBerry Storm 2, Touch Pro 2, Omnia II, the Samsung Convoy and a pair of previously unseen Palm devices tagged with "P101" and "P121" monikers. It's just a guess, but we, like PhoneArena, think there's a very good chance that these are the Pre (already shipping on Sprint as model P100 according to the FCC) and its little Eos cousin, respectively. Now, anyone still doubting a Q1 2010 release on Big Red?

Etisalat BlackBerry update was indeed spyware, RIM provides a solution

by Darren Murph posted Jul 21st 2009 @ 9:41AM

Um, yikes? An unexpected (and unwanted) surprise struck some 145,000 BlackBerry users in the UAE this time last week, when an official looking prompt coerced many of the aforesaid Etisalat customers to follow through with a software update. Rather than bringing about performance enhancements, the SS8-built app enabled the carrier to keep tabs on customers' messages. According to RIM:

"Etisalat appears to have distributed a telecommunications surveillance application... independent sources have concluded that it is possible that the installed software could then enable unauthorized access to private or confidential information stored on the user's smartphone. Independent sources have concluded that the Etisalat update is not designed to improve performance of your BlackBerry Handheld, but rather to send received messages back to a central server."

Like we said, yikes. The zaniest part is that Etisalat isn't backing down, still assuring the world that the upgrades were "required for service enhancements." At any rate, RIM has made remarkably clear that the update wasn't one authorized by the company, and it's even providing an app remover for those who'd prefer their BlackBerry to be in working order and, you know, not forwarding all their email to some dude in an Etisalat supply closet. Good on you, RIM. Bad on you, Etisalat.

[Thanks, Gerald]

Read - Confirmation of spyware
Read - RIM app remover

Palm Pre pics released into the wild by Sprint freedom fighter

by Thomas Ricker posted May 15th 2009 @ 3:19AM

You know, if you're going to post pics of yourself onto the Internet goofing around with the Palm Pre in a Sprint back-office, Engadget's going to be there to post them. However, if you're dumb enough not to block out your face, well, guess we'll have to do that for you. After all, you're likely not bright enough to find a new job after having committed gun powder treason. Word of advice: get a new hat. A few more after the break.

[Thanks, PreCentral tipsters]

Continue reading Palm Pre pics released into the wild by Sprint freedom fighter

Mobile Spy software / service keeps track of iPhone shenanigans

by Darren Murph posted Dec 21st 2008 @ 6:32AM

Worried that some less-than-becoming activities are occurring on your son / daughter / SO's iPhone? Rather than just approaching them directly, Retina-X Studios' Mobile Spy can now be installed on Apple's handsets. Put simply, the software / service combo enables the account administrator to "implant an undetectable rat inside the iPhone; it then squeals to a server, which is accessible via the web." Mobile Spy logs SMS messages, inbound / outbound calls and call durations, and it does so for just $100 per year. Then again, we'd prefer to handle things the old fashioned, more medieval way, but to each his / her own.

Leaked Sprint roadmap reveals Touch Pro, Touch Diamond dates and pricing

by Joshua Topolsky posted Aug 31st 2008 @ 1:31PM

From the looks of it, Sprint has gone and gotten a decent chunk of its playbook leaked all over the interblogs, and it's chock-full of titillating information. Thanks to slippery fingers and loose lips, we already knew that the Touch Diamond and Touch Pro were headed to the carrier, but now we have some solid dates (mid-September for the Diamond, October 19th for the Pro), and pricing ($549.99 and $579.99 unsubsidized, $249.99 and $320 with contract). Of course, this is all according to the above document, which admittedly could be the work of an extremely bored Photoshopper -- but this jibes pretty tightly with a lot of other chatter we've been hearing.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

HTC's Android-driven Dream revealed in glorious spy photos

by Joshua Topolsky posted Aug 30th 2008 @ 12:25PM

Sure, we've seen some blurry videos and a few stolen glimpses when Andy Rubin demonstrated this beast, but now we've gotten our hands on a slew of pictures showing off a very real T-Mobile-branded Dream in all its Android-running glory. Not only does this confirm the design spied in those FCC docs as well as show off that nearly-done version of Android, but it seems to confirm the fact that this will be headed to T-Mobile, and sooner rather than later judging from the looks of the above device. Needless to say, our inner-geeks are completely geeking out right now. Hit the gallery below for a handful of other views of the phone. [Warning: read link is a forum, requires registration, and is in Chinese]

[Thanks, Michael]

Wearable 3G CCTV system lets you snoop sort-of discreetly, be totally creepy

by Nilay Patel posted Feb 8th 2008 @ 3:42PM

We've certainly seen our share of wearable cameras and CCTV gear, but a company in England called WCCTV is aiming to combine the worst qualities of each with the 3G Covert Backpack, a torso-mounted vest with built-in camera and 3G modem. We're not exactly sure how "covert" a giant vest with a camera sticking out of it is, but assuming you make it into your mark's back-alley lair, the vest will transmit audio and video over 3G to your handlers, as well as your GPS-tracked location. If things get hairy, there's a panic button -- but it's located on the right shoulder, so smacking it is just about as discreet as yelling for help into the camera. Of course, you could always just chuck the enormous waist-mounted battery pack and control unit at your assailants while you wait for help to arrive -- or you could slip any number of video-capable cellphones into your shirt pocket and, you know, actually be discreet.

[Via picturephoning]

Motorola's 2008 lineup leaked in Amsterdam

by Thomas Ricker posted Oct 10th 2007 @ 7:39AM

Like blurry future product shots do ya? Well, these rank with the best. These four new Motorolas were accidentally on purpose shown to Mobile Phone Helpdesk today in Amsterdam during a discussion with Motorola. Kicking things off is the device code-named "SKARVEN;" a ZOOM-series kick-slider which might feature an 8 megapixel camera and 2.8-inch screen. The TEXEL is another ROKR musicphone due in February or March of 2008. It features a morphing keypad like that found on the ROKR E8 which allows the keypad icons and functions to change in support of music or cellphone modes. The X PIXL is a Kodak-Motorola mashup which should bring a 5 megapixel camera to market under a Motorola Z12 product name. Rounding things out is the entry-level GENGHIS QWERTY device for non-business types. While there's not much to call home about, at least none of these future looking devices looks like another played-out RAZR.

[Via Unwired View]

Sony Ericsson's mysterious red and white candybar peeped

by Sean Cooper posted Sep 20th 2007 @ 5:42PM

We could make up just about anything we please on this new bit of dashing design, but will lay off the imaginary specs and let you come to your own conclusions. Before anybody falls out of a chair with claims of "ZOMG! that phone is like, like, transparent!" it isn't, we're pretty sure it's just missing some bits. It does, however, seem to lack a forward facing shooter, which may --stressing may here -- mean it also lacks 3G services, but hey, we've almost come to expect that from Sony Ericsson over here. All in all, pretty simple, but Sony Ericsson has made a pretty successful business with simple designs -- think T610, K750, K790.

Nokia's geometric 7500 gets pictured

by Darren Murph posted Jun 25th 2007 @ 11:57PM

No word on official specifications or anything of that caliber just yet, but it looks like the geometry-inspired 7900 handset has an awfully similar sibling as well. Nokia's 7500 was caught on camera initially in a "spy picture" that resembles a horrific attempt at creating a Microsoft Paint masterpiece (seriously, it's after the break for your protection), but an entirely more stunning iteration hit the 'net shortly thereafter giving more legitimacy to its reality. Finally, the perfect gift for your child's seventh-grade math teacher, no?

Read - Nokia 7500 spy picture
Read - Nokia 7500 "official" picture

Continue reading Nokia's geometric 7500 gets pictured

This Nokia N95 is listening

by Chris Ziegler posted Apr 15th 2007 @ 7:38AM

So we get the Big Brother / CIA / James Bond appeal of a phone that sends all ambient audio, phone calls, and text messages to a third party; we really do. What we can't fathom, though, is what circumstance would lead to you giving a frickin' N95 to someone you're trying to spy on. If you're trying to spy on them, that presumably means that you're not on the best of terms -- and frankly, if we got a $1,000 handset from an enemy of ours with no strings attached, we'd be just a tad suspect of the device. Anyhoo, if you've got money to burn and privacy to violate, this Nokia N95 specially equipped with "Interceptor Software" will keep you in the loop on any form of communication its user engages in. Oh, and at £2,300 (about $4,560), you'd better really need to eavesdrop.

[Via SCI FI Tech]

T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless not supplying data to NSA

by Marc Perton posted May 12th 2006 @ 9:19AM

If you make most of your calls via cellphone, there's a good chance your call records aren't being provided to the National Security Agency -- if, that is, you're using Verizon Wireless or T-Mobile and most of your calls are between you and other cellphone users. Both companies say they haven't supplied data to the government, with T-Mob specifically stating that it was not involved "in any NSA program for warrant-less surveillance and acquisition of call records, and T-Mobile has not provided any such access to communications or customer records." If you're a Cingular or Sprint Nextel customer, well, it looks like you're in the same boat as the vast majority of landline users: those companies refused to deny participation in the NSA program.

Nokia N83 shot and specs

by Ryan Block posted May 2nd 2006 @ 9:44AM

We still can't guarantee the N83 is the real deal, but it certainly looks to be taking shape, and New Mobile has a very slick looking front-on of the device with those same promising details: UMTS, 2.5-inch ~~352 x 416~~ QVGA display, 4GB drive, 5 megapixel camera, Bluetooth 2.0, FM radio, MicroSD, and 3.5mm headphone jack. The over the top specs make it out to be one of the hottest Symbian devices we've ever seen, which is exactly why we're not going to go getting our hopes up just yet that all those pie in the sky features are going to turn up roses.

[Thanks, MacBoy]