With the T-Mobile Wing and the Windows Mobile 6 version of the Dash both in wide circulation, growing pains were pretty much inevitable; new operating systems almost always lead to compatibility issues. Without the ability to placeshift mindless telly programs to our phones, we're empty inside and we suspect many of our readers feel the same way -- so high on our "oh man, it sucks that doesn't work anymore" list would be SlingPlayer Mobile for Windows Mobile. Sling's well aware of the issue and has an updated player on schedule for release in the next few weeks, but in the meantime, the company is offering to let folks into the beta program for an interim solution. Check it out before the agony of streaming video withdrawal gets any worse, why don't you?

What's better than a T-Mobile Wing? A free T-Mobile Wing, that's what -- and that's exactly what we've got for you here today. HTC's latest device to grace US soil rocks Windows Mobile 6 Professional, WiFi, microSD, a newly-revised keyboard layout with a spring loaded slide, Bluetooth, a quadband GSM / EDGE radio, and 2 megapixels of pure, picture-taking pleasure. That mouthful adds up to a $300 value -- on contract -- but one lucky commenter here is going to waltz out of this joint without shelling out a single farthing.

A few rules (yeah, there are always rules):

• You may only enter this specific contest once. If you enter this contest more than once you'll be automatically disqualified and barred from all future giveaways. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.) In other words, be careful when commenting and don't submit more than once, ok?
  
• You may enter our other EngMob relaunch contests, but you can't win more than once; if you happen to win more than once (which is pretty unlikely, but still) we'll ask you to choose just one of your prizes.
• The prize is open to US entrants only. Hey, it's a US phone, you couldn't do anything with it anyway.
• Contest is open until 11:59pm EDT on Wednesday, May 30th.
• We'll be shipping all the phones to winners once all the relaunch giveaway contests are over. (Yeah, we know it bites to have to wait, but dems the breaks!)

Thanks and good luck to everyone! Don't forget to check out yesterday's contest, too: Helio Ocean

The T-Mobile Wing is a Windows Mobile 6 phone, alright -- and the specs aren't anything to write home about, especially not for $400. 200MHz CPU, EDGE data, QVGA display. And yet we find ourselves mysteriously attracted to the T-Mobile Wing. It's nigh-sticky soft-touch finish, it's thin profile (for a WM QWERTY slider, anyway), it's divinely clicky d-pad and keys, it's rubbery keyboard that we just didn't think HTC could make any better. Check out the pictures, decide for yourself; but if you're a T-Mobile customer, if you're willing to plunk down this thing is kind of a no-brainer.

Well, it's finally done: T-Mobile Wing née HTC's Atlas / Herald has lifted off. Obviously there are absolutely no surprises here for anyone who's been following this launch, but the thinner- hotter successor to the MDA comes out swinging with Windows Mobile 6 (Professional), quad-band EDGE data, Bluetooth, a 2 megapixel camera, WiFi, myFaves, a 2.8-inch QVGA display, microSD slot, soft-touch finish, and new and improved QWERTY keyboard. It'll be available tomorrow for $300 (with service agreement); stick around for some high res photography sure to tide you over until then. Early review roundup posted after the break.

We're not sure if it's the newfound presence of the Wing on T-Mobile's support site or the ever-growing throng of individuals reporting that customer service agents and in-store reps are touting May 22 as the launch date, but something tells us that tomorrow's starting to look pretty good for getting some Windows Mobile 6 Professional love. Seeing how T-Mobile is without a Pocket PC phone option right now, the Wing's arrival isn't just welcome -- it's necessary -- and as 2.5G Pocket PCs go, the Wing's a doozy. The slim case and soft-touch finish alone are enough to make Wizard owners shed a tear, but the real prize is likely Windows Mobile 6 Professional and a revised, spring-loaded keyboard with a more traditional numeric layout. Get your pocketbooks ready, ladies and gentlemen.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

MyMobile911 has somehow managed to acquire a "production package" of T-Mobile's upcoming Windows Mobile 6-equipped Wing, and perhaps the most interesting news here is that it is, in fact, called the "Wing." Previous reports had suggested that execs weren't happy with the name, but hey, they could call it "Poo" for all we care -- the fact that retail packaging is in the wild suggests that a release could very well be imminent. The box's contents turn out to be pretty standard fare: a charger, stereo headset, cables, software, and a handful of manuals, though one gem is the audio/charging dongle that appears to let you juice the battery and rock out at the same time. With the MDA axed from the lineup, T-Mobile's Pocket PC-less shelves are looking a wee bit bare; Wing, you can't possible get here soon enough.

[Thanks, Wally S.]

Been biting your nails waiting for the official release of the T-Mobile MDA successor? Fear no more, as the next best thing is on top with a video hands-on review of the device. If you haven't had a chance to feel one of these newer re-badged HTC Atlas units up, some potential satisfaction can be had by screening this video review we think. The Wing's (T-Mobile loathes that name) all-black goodness and HTC's prowess makes for one slick-looking (but not slick-feeling, on account of the rubberized exterior) Windows Mobile 6 handset.

As expected any day now, the T-Mobile "Wing" (aka HTC Herald or P4350) has shown up on the FCC (this time in full glory), and also as expected, it's definitely due for US release. Besides the requisite MyFaves support, don't expect any surprises: it'll have Bluetooth, WiFi, and EDGE data (which is fine enough for T-Mo's 2.5G network). Fingers crossed this will launch soon and on time, and with Windows Mobile 6, to boot.

[Via Phone Scoop, thanks Kashif and Mario]

Call it a T-Mobile device... just don't call it "Wing." Word has it that execs at the nation's number two GSM carrier were less than pleased with the naming for its latest Pocket PC phone (but "Dash" somehow made the cut?), though it's unknown what the new name will be. But wait, we haven't gotten to the good part yet: the same rumor claims that the release date has been pushed up (not a typo) to May 27 for a mere $249 on two-year contract, perhaps a nod to perceived pressure from Sprint and Verizon's latest round of HTC superdevices. That's quite a launch bump from the original estimate of August; we'll believe it when we see it, but we're doing our best to stay optimistic.

[Thanks, Seth]

Sweaty palms, darting eyes, hyperventilation -- the anxiety attack induced by the knowledge that T-Mobile is without a clear-cut QWERTY solution from HTC can be downright frightening, we know. After seemingly euthanizing the MDA, customers of T-Mobile's US outpost have been sans a replacement in the wings, but it seems that this sucker might be the lucky winner. A variant of the HTC Atlas (new to us!), the T-Mobile "Wing" appears to take some cues from HTC's newer QWERTY-based Pocket PCs by adding Function and Caps lights, a spring-loaded slide, and a more traditional numeric keypad layout. The whole shebang is said to be covered in a rubberized blue material, which we suspect should be comfortable and easy to grip as long as it's not too sticky, thick, or soft. If this holds up, look for it to hit around August -- Windows Mobile 6 Professional and all.

[Via Boy Genius Report and Gadgets on the Go]