Cell Phone Hub

How do you improve on a phone that’s already been diamond-studded, layered in carbon fiber, and then dipped in gold? Why, you add more diamonds and some hints of gratuitous platinum, of course. Meet the Nokia Royal Edition, an 8800 that succeeds its predecessors in terms of pretentiousness — but not necessarily in looks. It has 1160 wee diamonds around the edges and platinum plates on the fore and aft, all surrounding the same internals as those other, plebeian fashionphones. Only 50 of these will be sold at an undisclosed price that surely is equally excessive.

[Thanks, Robin]

Filed under: Cellphones

Nokia’s 8800 gets more bling, more expensive, more ugly originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In a fit of editorial sobriety, reader Noel just sent us this handy “1 million devices sold” graphic above. The image demonstrates the speed (in terms of days) at which each competing handset achieved the magic milestone. What it leaves out is the footprint at launch which of course, affects the total population able to purchase the device. For example, the iPhone 3G launched in 21 countries simultaneously whereas the G1 launched in the US only. Still, it’s a valuable tool for the fanboy braggarts and budding marketeers amongst you. Data after the break.

[Thanks, Noel F.]

Continue reading Days to 1 million: the smartphone wars

Filed under: Cellphones

Days to 1 million: the smartphone wars originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 06:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Apple and Palm kicked a lot of dirt at each other last week — acting Apple CEO Tim Cook flatly told analysts that “We will not stand for people ripping off our IP” when asked specifically about competition like the Palm Pre, and Palm responded with a similarly-explicit “We have the tools necessary to defend ourselves.” At issue, of course, is that the Pre employs a multitouch screen and gestures almost exactly like those made famous on the iPhone — and if you’ll recall, Steve Jobs introduced multitouch on the iPhone with a slide reading “Patented!” To top it all off, the past few days have seen a number of media outlets proclaim that Apple’s been awarded a “multitouch patent” without so much as a shred of analysis, instead hyping up a supposed future conflict. That’s just not how we play it, so we enlisted Mathew Gavronski, a patent attorney in the Chicago office of Michael Best & Friedrich, to help us clear up some of the confusion and misinformation that’s out there — read on for more.

Continue reading Apple vs. Palm: the in-depth analysis

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio, Portable Video

Apple vs. Palm: the in-depth analysis originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Jan 2009 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Shortly after Acer snapped up E-Ten last year it’s been been making public and private mention of plans to launch an Acer-branded smartphone. Now we’ve got a date: February 16th at the big Mobile World Congress cellphone event in Barcelona. We’ll be there so let’s call it a date, deal? Iaaaaiaiaiiaa!

Filed under: Cellphones

Acer smartphone launching February 16th, everybody flamenco! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Jan 2009 05:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It always brings joy to our hearts to see a new UMA-compatible device come into the market, and T-Mobile’s revised Shadow from HTC certainly fits the bill. In fact, it’s being launched today as the very first Windows Mobile device to support HotSpot calls over WiFi, joining BlackBerrys and a handful of dumbphones on the support list. Speaking of HotSpot dumbphones, the stylish 7510 flip is also hitting shelves today with changeable faceplates, a trick semi-hidden external display, and 2 megapixels of Pulitzer-caliber shooting power around back in addition to the WiFi radio. Nab the Shadow for $199.99 and the 7510 for $49.99, both on contract after rebates.

Read - Shadow (White Mint)
Read - Shadow (Black Burgundy)
Read - Nokia 7510

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

T-Mobile launches new Shadow today alongside Nokia 7510 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Jan 2009 05:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

As anyone could have guessed, Android is going to be all over MWC in Barcelona this February, and it certainly looks like General Mobile, known for its dual-SIM handsets (at least in those parts of the world where that sort of thing gets any play) will be getting in on the action with a little something they like to call the DSTL1. Aside from the chilled out demeanor and all-around dual SIMiness, this device packs in a 3-inch TFT touchscreen, 5 megapixel camera with LED flash (made by Sharp), 4GB storage, WiFi, and a 624MHz Marvell processor. Also worth noting is the hardware’s display, which, apparently at 400 x 240 could run into the same grief as Kogan’s failed effort. Also missing — and righly pointed out by Android Authority — are Android’s required 5 hardware keys, but, it is a render, right? Due out in Q3 of this year, there’s no price yet — but you’ll know as soon as we do. Promise.

[Via Android Authority]

Gallery: General Mobile Android-based dual SIM DSTL1

Filed under: Cellphones

General Mobile Android-based dual SIM DSTL1 to hit Barcelona originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Jan 2009 13:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Apple had already solidly cemented its reputation as the confused, identity crisis-stricken, moral dilemma-having lord ruler of the App Store with its recent approval of a number of browsers that would seemingly violate its “duplication of functionality” policy, but now it’s doing some serious soul-searching with this latest move. Remember Podcaster? The on-the-go podcast downloader predated Apple’s own mobile download capability by months — but Cupertino struck the thing down for encroaching on iTunes’ territory, seemingly dooming it to a life of ad hoc installs and jailbreaks. It’s just been given a fresh lease on life, though, emerging as “RSS Player” and killing off Podcaster’s built-in directory of casts; Apple’s suddenly cool with the revised app, giving it two thumbs-up on the way to the App Store, but it’s not clear if the directory functionality was the problem, there’s a policy change in play here, or the name change simply fooled the App Store admins into giving the green light. At any rate, in case you’re wondering why you’d shell out $1.99 for the pleasure of this “duplication of functionality,” RSS Player will let you blow by iTunes’ 10MB limit — and, of course, you can download any feed you like. Thanks, Apple. [Warning: iTunes link]

[Via UNEASYsilence]

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds, Portable Audio

Apple throws another curveball, approves Podcaster for the App Store with changes originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 21:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

We already knew that the Sprint-branded Treo Pro was making guest appearances at the occasional Best Buy, but thanks to a hard working web admin, you’re one step closer to owning one without having to step foot in the aforesaid store… if you’re willing to wait, that is. Palm’s CDMA Treo Pro has found itself a holding page on Best Buy’s website, and while we’re desperately hoping the $699.99 off-contract price is still subject to change (read: drop), those anxious to get in early can pre-order one as we speak. Loose estimates have it shipping in a week or two, but we noticed that the handset was go for in-store pickup in most B&M locations near us. Oh, and don’t forget the “Great Financing Offer” as you checkout — with a sticker pushing seven bills, you’ll probably need it.

[Thanks, Brian]

Gallery: Palm’s Treo Pro for Sprint on sale at Best Buy

Filed under: Cellphones

Sprint Treo Pro now on sale at Best Buy originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 12:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

While our experience says otherwise, we really hope that the practice of launching buggy smartphones hasn’t been institutionalized. The Wall Street Journal just published a report about the “bumpy launch” of the BlackBerry Storm — a handset that WSJ sources say sold some 500,000 units in the first month following its global release. Not bad, but well off the 2.4 million launch pace seen by the iPhone 3G — the phone the Storm had hoped to unseat as sales champ. The WSJ speculates that the relatively timid response stems from buggy or otherwise “clunky software” that crippled the user experience and performance at launch only to be (partially) corrected later via software updates. An abysmal scenario which echos the buggy 2.0 software that accompanied the iPhone 3G at launch.

Now, instead of pleading for mercy at the feet of disgruntled consumers, RIM co-CEO, Jim Balsillie, calls the post-launch scramble part of the “new reality” of making complex cellphones in large volumes. A Verizon spokesman noted that return percentages are measurable in single digits (standard for a smartphone) adding, “The sales and performance of the device have lived up to our expectations.” Fine, but when expectations are high that the consumer experience will be poor, somehow that doesn’t sound like a victory to us.

Filed under: Cellphones

RIM CEO: Buggy smartphone software is the “new reality” originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 02:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Right on cue, Verizon has launched its very own femtocell into the world: the Network Extender. For those unfamiliar, this here box connects to one’s broadband internet connection and essentially acts as a mini cell tower right in the home. In other words, it’ll make your at-home VZW coverage absolutely amazing. Unlike Sprint’s AIRAVE, though, there are absolutely no monthly fees attached — simply plunk down $249.99 up front and watch your signal improve. As for limitations, you can only use this within the Verizon Wireless Enhanced Services coverage area (read: not overseas), and there’s no support for EV-DO data speeds or Location Based Services such as VZ Navigator and Chaperone. It’s available now for ordering online or over the phone, and all the nitty-gritty details are covered in the FAQ section linked below. So, AT&T — you’re next, right?

[Thanks, Anonymous]

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

Verizon gets official with Network Extender: $249, no monthly fees originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Jan 2009 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.