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LG Chocolate Touch and Samsung Omnia 2 slated for August 23rd, according to supposed Best Buy leak

by Ross Miller posted Aug 8th 2009 @ 3:41PM

If this screen capture to be believed, August 23rd is gearing up to be one helluva day for phone lovers. According to this snapshot from Best Buy's computers, that's when LG's desirable BL40 Chocolate Touch will be making its way into the consumer world, alongside a red Xenon and a bevy of Samsung phones including Omnia 2, Rogue, and Solstice. No clue on what the Tour is doing up there dated for the 23rd, since it's already out on both Verizon and Sprint, but perhaps a major shipment is in the works. As for that M330 for September 8th? Yeah, we're not sure. Surrounding that tantalizing list from the top and bottom, respectively, are Samsung's eco-conscious Reclaim -- presumably listed for August 16th, although the date is obscured -- and a red and black "G2" from august 5th, which would undoubtedly be referring to T-Mobile's sophomore Android device, the myTouch 3G. Two weeks seem awfully close, but if this pans out, we certainly won't be arguing.

Sony Ericsson's 8.1MP C905a and W518a Walkman on sale at AT&T

by Darren Murph posted Jul 19th 2009 @ 1:18PM

Don't act surprised -- AT&T already told you that these two would go on sale this fine Sunday in July, and lo and behold, the carrier looks to have kept its promise. Starting today (officially, anyway), customers looking for a camera that doubles as a cellphone or a Walkman that occasionally makes calls can bring home the C905a or W518a, respectively. As expected, the C905a (which is available in silver only) will run you $179.99 after rebate and two-year agreement, while the W518a (which arrives in any color you like, so long as it's black) goes for $49.99 under the same conditions. Any takers? Or are all you SE fanboys waiting to court Rachael?

[Thanks, Jazzdoc]

Sony Ericsson hand delivers 8.1MP C905a and W518a Walkman to AT&T

by Darren Murph posted Jul 15th 2009 @ 10:42AM

While one could argue that Sony Ericsson should really be focusing its efforts on getting a Rachael / Android-based handset out on the double, it's evidently content with digging up a year-old phone, slapping an "a" on the end of it and passing it along to AT&T. The 8.1 megapixel C905 that we were so jazzed about in June of 2008 has indeed been certified for AT&T as the C905a Cyber-shot (left and center), offering the same 8.1 megapixel sensor, face detection, AutoFocus, Xenon flash, GPS tagging and 3G support. In related news, SE is also offering up the 518a Walkman (shown right) on the same carrier, which features a 3.2 megapixel camera, an obsession with Facebook, Shake Control and OTA music downloads from Napster and eMusic via AT&T Music. Both sets will be available on July 19th for $179.99 and $49.99 (respectively) after mail-in rebate and a two-year agreement, which sounds "way too high" and "too high" to us (also respectively).

Telstra rolling out seven Next G phones this month

by Chris Ziegler posted Jul 8th 2009 @ 7:08AM

Australian carrier Telstra's taking the "go big or go home" approach with its latest announcement, dropping no fewer than seven phones this month compatible with its Next G HSPA network -- table scraps for a Japanese carrier, granted, but a bounty by any other standard. Among the phones in the new lineup are the Xenon, Viewty Smart, and the Windows Mobile-powered GM730f from LG (the first version of the GM730 to launch anywhere, interestingly), the Touch Pro2 from HTC, and Sony Ericsson's W508 and W995. All will be available before the month of July draws to a close for prices ranging from AUD $30 (about $24) on contract for the W508 up to a mind-numbing AUD $1,499 (about $1,190) contract-free for the Touch Pro2.

LG Xenon now on sale through AT&T

by Chris Ziegler posted Apr 10th 2009 @ 8:43AM

The better half of LG's one-two combo of new QWERTY devices for AT&T has launched this week, bringing HSDPA, a 2.8-inch (sadly non-OLED) touchscreen, and 2 megapixel cam for under a hundie on contract. Sure, the even lower-cost Neon might look a little cooler than the Xenon, but if you're looking for high-speed data street cred and you bleed Lucky Goldstar, the Xenon's pretty much your only choice of the two. Grab it now in your choice of blue, blue, or blue for $99.99 after rebate.

LG Neon and Xenon hands-on

by Chris Ziegler posted Apr 2nd 2009 @ 11:27AM

We suspect both of these devices are going to sell at a brisk clip for AT&T, but interestingly, it was the much lower-end of the two -- the Neon -- that ended up leaving the bigger impression on us. The phone's solid (but light) to the touch, the keyboard is expansive and easy to use (thanks in no small part to its three-row layout as opposed to the Xenon's four), and you get a touchscreen for typing digits so you don't need to do any craziness to dial with the slide closed. Don't get us wrong -- there's nothing wrong with the Xenon, and the bright blue shell ends up being really attractive in the flesh -- but the Neon feels more unique, especially considering its expected ultra-low price tag. Follow the break for video!

Gallery: LG Neon and Xenon hands-on

Continue reading LG Neon and Xenon hands-on

LG Xenon, Neon join Samsung Magnet and Impression on AT&T

by Chris Ziegler posted Mar 30th 2009 @ 12:01AM

Outside of the smartphone realm, AT&T's really stepping up its game in the feature phone game, too -- so let's take this clockwise from the top left, shall we? First up, we have the brightly-colored Samsung Magnet, targeted squarely at the teen audience looking for serious texting power in a cheap package. Pricing hasn't been announced, but it should be easy on the wallet; it'll be available in the next few weeks. Next is the Impression -- also from Samsung -- which we'd previously known as the a877, the very first handset to officially launch on a US carrier with a full AMOLED up front. The screen's 3.2 inches of organic touchscreen awesomeness, accompanied by a 3 megapixel cam and a full HTML browser, all launching on April 7 for $199.99 on contract after rebate. Down below, we have the LG Neon -- a phone that's already launched up north on Rogers -- offering a full landscape QWERTY keyboard in addition to a touchscreen display for a low price, thanks in no small part to its lack of 3G data. The launch day hasn't been set for this one, but it'll come shortly. Finally, we have the long-rumored Xenon, featuring 3G, a 2 megapixel cam, QWERTY slide, GPS, and your choice of colors -- black, blue, or red -- all for $99.99 when it launches on April 8.

LG Xenon appears in semi-unflattering photoshoot

by Laura June posted Mar 29th 2009 @ 3:01PM

LG's Xenon has just shown up over at Smartphone Nation in an impromptu photoshoot, and it's not looking too bad. There's nothing out of the ordinary here -- slideout QWERTY keyboard, resistive touchscreen, 2 megapixel camera -- you get the idea, right? Seems to be expected on or around the beginning of April on AT&T, and we hear it will come in three colors -- red, black and something else -- and that it'll run somewhere in the neighborhood of $100 after a mail in rebate. Of course, none of that's official yet, so we'll just have to wait and see, won't we? One more shot after the break, hit the read link for the whole set.

[Via Boy Genius Report]

Continue reading LG Xenon appears in semi-unflattering photoshoot

Quick note: it's the LG Xenon, not Zenon

by Chris Ziegler posted Mar 20th 2009 @ 5:56PM

We were warned that Best Buy has a nasty habit of spelling phone names incorrectly on its internal documents, and sure enough, someone out there isn't too familiar with element 54. Turns out AT&T's QWERTY slider from LG will in fact be the Xenon, not "Zenon" as we'd seen on the inventory sheets a while back, so apparently the whole trademark thing wasn't a concern as we'd theorized -- it just might get a little confusing for customers trying to learn about phones versus camera flashes when they come into the store, no?

Nokia "Piranha" touch smartphone, others coming to AT&T? (Updated: probably just the E71x)

by Chris Ziegler posted Mar 13th 2009 @ 2:02PM

We've just been graced with a new trunkload of tentative -- very tentative -- release dates on AT&T, and while most of the devices were already rumored for launch, one is definitely sticking out here: the Nokia Piranha. We're assuming that's a codename, but the device is described as a "thin" smartphone with a touchscreen -- which can only mean S60 5th Edition -- and what's more, it's currently slated for a March 24 release. (Updated: see note below.) Speaking of touchscreens, a Samsung Impression touch slider with a 3 megapixel camera is due on March 26, the Propel Pro should hit a bit earlier on March 19, and the LG Xenon -- which is once again being spelled "Xenon" instead of "Zenon," so who knows -- is expected on April 9 with a 3 megapixel cam in tow. Speaking of LG, that Neon we've been hearing about (notice a noble gas theme here?) apparently won't be dropping by until May 9, and it'll only be EDGE, just like its Rogers-based cousin. On Samsung, we've got a device here that's being called the "BJ 2" with a 3 megapixel camera also launching on May 9, which we're assuming is actually the BlackJack 3 or something to that effect seeing how there's been a BlackJack II on the market for a hot minute now. Finally -- drum roll, please -- that AT&T-branded Sony Ericsson C905 we saw a ways back is currently slated to come around on June 9. Let's hope this one doesn't get canceled, eh?

[Thanks, Kal]

Update: Sadly, AT&T almost certainly screwed up the description of the Piranha -- it's likely just the E71x. We're weeping quietly to ourselves over here. Not to say the E71x won't be a fine phone, but it would've been awfully nice to randomly see a crazy touchphone from Nokia on AT&T out of the blue, wouldn't it?

LG GR500 pictured, sure looks like the AT&T Xenon / Zenon to us

by Chris Ziegler posted Mar 12th 2009 @ 6:10AM

Yep, we think we're starting to see what's going on here. AT&T realized somewhere along the line that its two hottest product trends were full touchscreens and texting-centric devices, and now, we're going to start to see combo units come out in full force. We know we're going to be treated to the a877 from Samsung any day now, and LG's definitely ready to hit back with the Zenon (or Xenon, however those guys decide to spell it) -- thing is, the a877's supposed OLED means the LG entry already has one strike against it by our count. Anyhow, we have another scrap of confirmation in the form of this thumbnail image from YourWirelessSource, which appears to be an unbranded version of the Zenon called out by its model number of GR500. Keep it thin, LG, and we might be able to forgive a non-OLED screen. Maybe.

[Thanks, Alex]

Sony Ericsson's C903 Frances gives us a rear view, xenon flash?

by Sean Cooper posted Jan 25th 2009 @ 9:41PM

We got eyes-on with the C903's other side a couple days ago, so it was only fitting that we throw this up to complete the picture. We have to admit, the blurriness threw us briefly because if you squint hard enough, that 5.0 on the backside can sorta come off like an 8. Of course, that's not the case, but the joy here -- if you take joy in this kind of thing, which we know you do -- is what may be a xenon flash lurking in the rear of the C903 Frances' housing. That's it for new-ness, but maybe more news will trickle before the handset's unveiling.

[Via SEMC Blog]

LG "Xenon" to bring high-speed data (and texting) to AT&T?

by Chris Ziegler posted Sep 24th 2008 @ 11:40AM

That Knick isn't even out yet, and it looks like AT&T might already be gearing up to stuff a competitor right alongside it in the lineup. Boy Genius Report is showing a picture (possibly a rendering -- hard to tell) of a reasonably-spec'd QWERTY slider dumbphone from LG dubbed "Xenon" that is claimed to be wrapping up testing as we speak in preparation for a holiday launch. Rumored goodies include dualband HSDPA, a 2.8-inch QVGA display, 3-megapixel cam with VGA video recording, microSD expansion, and WiFi -- so needless to say, we're not really seeing a free-on-contract future for 'er.

Things may be looking brighter for Nokia N96, Xenon flash in the works?

by Sean Cooper posted Mar 30th 2008 @ 9:31PM

PhoneMag is reporting on a post at the Esato forums that mentions the N96 may well be getting itself an update before it even hits the shelves -- this is a bit friend of a friend stuff, so please think rumor while reading. Word has it that the lowly LED flash is being replaced with a Xenon number which has some advantages in low-light situations -- such as useful pictures. Of course, there's always a rub, the dual-LED version that's being replaced could have been useful for shooting video and its replacement isn't going to fill that void -- and is a wee bit more power hungry. We guess we won't know 'til Nokia lets us know, but we'll do our best to shake an answer out of them next week in Las Vegas. Feel free to chime in with your thoughts on which flash would make you the happiest N96 owner -- or, perhaps we could have both please Nokia?

[Via PhoneMag]

Samsung G800 gets previewed

by Michael Caputo posted Sep 16th 2007 @ 7:01PM

It wasn't that long ago when the Samsung G800 came into our sights and with features like a 5 megapixel camera, 2.4 inch QVGA display, Bluetooth, Xenon flash, expandable memory via microSDHC, and Triband GSM with HSDPA -- who could forget such a device? Well lucky for us, some colleagues had the chance to play with the device pre-production. Be sure to check out the preview and additional pics in the read link.

[Thanks, David]