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We always heard that where there is a will, there is a way. Said mantra has never been more exemplified than in the video past the break, as someone halfway across this great planet has seemingly procured what could be the very first shipping N97. Still, we’d like to point out a few things here: first, Nokia has yet to officially ship these things, so there’s at least a sliver of a chance that by mashing play, you’ll actually be watching a KIRF unboxing, and in turn, supporting terrorism. Also, we can’t understand a word the unboxer says, so again, he could be explaining just how elaborate of a fake it is, and we’d never know. Needless to say, you should definitely proceed at your own risk.

Continue reading Nokia’s N97 unboxed on video — somehow, someway

Filed under: Cellphones

Nokia’s N97 unboxed on video — somehow, someway originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 31 May 2009 12:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

There are two sides to this coin, the way we see it. On the one hand, the handful of pictures that have just popped over on UMPC Fever demo many of the features we’re expecting to see in new iPhone hardware this summer — magnetic compass, autofocus camera, video recording capability, and a battery percentage meter in the status bar. On the other hand, having a good feel for those rumored features makes it that much easier to mock up ridiculously blurry shots of ‘em in action. The compass seems a little overdone, but then again, it’s not necessarily out of place considering the direction Apple has taken its voice recorder app in 3.0, so we’re going to play the cautiously optimistic diplomat here and say these could very well be real.

Update: We’ve swapped the top pic and added some larger, clearer looks after the break. It’s possible that we might be looking at two new variants of iPhone hardware here. Note the difference in styling between the phone on the right and the phone on the left? Well, if we’re to believe what we’ve heard about the future of the line, these could be the first photos of what Apple has in store for WWDC. The model on the right might easily be that matte version we’ve heard about… but that thing on the left? We have no idea, though it would be an insane move on a counterfeiter’s part to fake something so bizarre. What we mean is: it’s almost too weird to be fake.

[Via The iPhone Blog]

Continue reading Mr. Blurrycam takes new iPhone’s features for a test drive? (updated)

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Mr. Blurrycam takes new iPhone’s features for a test drive? (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 30 May 2009 20:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Ah, Samsung’s Instinct s30. One step forward, three steps back — or something like that. Of course, we’re not out to remind you of what we thought of the next-gen Instinct, we’re here to find out what you think of it. If you plunked down the coin in order to grab yourself the Sprint-locked featurephone, have you been fully satisfied? Is life going alright without EV-DO Rev. A? How’s that web browser treating you? Are you wishing you would’ve held off for the Pre? Feel free to voice your opinion below, and remember, this chance won’t ever, ever come around again. Ever.

Filed under: Cellphones

How would you change Samsung’s Instinct s30? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 30 May 2009 04:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It’s time for HTC’s Touch Pro2 to join the ranks of every other modern phone in getting its own unboxing video. An enthusiastic PocketNow has the honors, and even goes so far as to utilize the infamous “smell test” to confirm it is in fact a genuine leather case included. Sized up to the original Touch Pro, it’s got a more spread out keyboard, larger screen and thinner form factor — all welcome additions, if you ask us. We can’t imagine it being a deal breaker, but just so you know, the slide-out tilt doesn’t go as extreme as its predecessor in that form factor, HTC’s Titan. Living vicariously through video can be accomplished after the break — it’s not yet available stateside, but if you can’t wait, there’s always import.

Continue reading HTC Touch Pro2 unboxed with tempered excitement

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HTC Touch Pro2 unboxed with tempered excitement originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 May 2009 20:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Are you dying to see Nokia’s latest, the N97 ripped to shreds in glorious moving pictures? Well, that’s too bad: we don’t have that. What we do have, however, is a series of photographs of said shred-ripping, turned into a video. A creepy, silent film, if you will, complete with subtitles. Lack of movement and sound aside, it gives us a pretty great look at the innards of the handset, if that’s what you’re into. Sure, it’s not The Goldrush, but if you want to see the N97 in a talkie, there’s always that Royksopp video, right? Full video after the break.

[Thanks, Mike]

Continue reading N97 disassembled on video… sort of

Filed under: Cellphones

N97 disassembled on video… sort of originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 May 2009 18:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Ready for your daily dose of obvious? Good. After Verizon Wireless CEO Lowell McAdam proudly proclaimed that America’s largest mobile operator would be painting the Palm Pre red “in about six months,” Sprint has come forward to make sure we know that said statement is probably right on the money. According to Sprint spokesman James Fisher: “We have the Pre through 2009.” Short, sweet and chock full of pent-up rage. ‘Course, six months after the Pre’s launch on Sprint lands us in December, giving VZW just enough time to cripple the phone’s hottest features and push it out before Valentine’s Day. Sounds pretty reasonable, no?

Filed under: Cellphones

Sprint affirms Palm Pre exclusivity “through 2009″ originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 May 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Everybody’s getting into the mobile movie sideload business — just ask Samsung — and following an MWC unveiling earlier this year, Sony Ericsson is gearing up to launch movie content starting next month as part of its existing PlayNow Arena service. Direct on-phone downloads over WiFi or 3G would be awesome, but as most of these services tend to operate, PlayNow Arena will require that users select and download movies on their PCs, cable up their phones, and transfer the media the old-fashioned way, at which point they’ll be playable on the device for 90 days. You’ll be able to select from about 15 movies at any given time with content being cycled monthly — ridiculously meager, yes, but when you consider that the service is bundled with certain phones (up to 60 movies a year), it’s hard to pitch a fit. Look for it to launch on the W995 slider in Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the UK in June; support for Sony Ericsson’s newly-announced Satio and Aino (among others) is expected later in the year.

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Video

Sony Ericsson’s PlayNow Arena movie download service ready for June launch originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 May 2009 03:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Google’s big reveal at I/O? Meet Wave, the Next Big Thing from the Lars and Yen Rasmussen, makers of Google Maps. It’s a very early build, meaning we won’t see it anytime soon, but here’s the gist: a “wave” is a chat session that enables you to send messages live, with each word being transmitted live — no more “person X is typing” messages (don’t worry, that can be deactivated momentarily / permanently with a “draft” button). You can also add others to the wave, drag and drop images for instant transfers, and share documents for on-the-fly edits (with all the participants working simultaneously, mind you), and get this… it does real time translation. So hot, and the crowd is in an uproar over this. The “waves” can be played back to see the conversation evolve / documents edited dynamically. We just got confirmation that it’ll be coming to Android and iPhone, also, but they have yet to get the mobile platform to do the live updating. As they keep telling us, this HTML5-based platform is still in a very early stage, but all attendees will be getting an invite to a sandbox build later today. It’s an open protocol, so expect other devs to add their own toys to the mix. Hit up the gallery for more pics.

Gallery: Google Wave unveiled, new live chat medium for browsers, iPhone and Android

Filed under: Cellphones, Desktops, Laptops

Google Wave unveiled, new live chat medium for browsers, iPhone and Android originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 May 2009 13:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

18 Android phones, possibly 20 on the market this year according to Andy Rubin, speaking at Google I/O. Even higher if you count all the rogue, Google App-free Android deployments that Google’s not aware of. Seeing as how we’re already nearly half-way through the year with just a pair of Android handsets on the market (the T-Mobile G1, HTC Magic) and just another — the Samsung i7500 Galaxy — officially in the chute, we’re going to see a flood of product before year’s end. In fact, Rubin claims the releases will come from 8 or 9 manufacturers with faster adoption seen in Europe as US carriers try to “create highly distinctive versions of the Android phone to give themselves an edge.” Sure, edge, if that’s what you want to call the US cartel of hoops and handcuffs then go right ahead. Interestingly, Rubin also further clarified the three flavors of Android which break down as follows:

• Google-free: Free to download version of Android without Google applications like Gmail or Google Calendar. Access to Android applications is at the whimsical fancy of the manufacturer.
• Strings attached: Same as above but manufacturers sign a distribution agreement with Google and pre-install the Google applications. Of Rubin’s possible 20 phones, 12 to 14 fall into this category
• The Google Experience: Phones featuring the Google logo with all Google apps installed and includes unrestricted access (neither the carrier nor handset maker can block applications they find objectionable) to the Android market. 5 or 6 of the 20, Android phone mentioned by Rubin will deliver the full Google Experience as god and Sergey designed it.

Go ahead, blow it out Google, we’re ready for it.

Filed under: Cellphones

Google: 18 Android phones coming this year, possibly more originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 May 2009 05:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Heard any good iPhone 3.0 rumors lately? No? That’s because they’re all here in this tidy little roundup. The latest (pictured above) is a purported top-facing bezel frame for the “Apple iPhone 3Gen 2009.” Besides being black unlike the chrome edge of the iPhone 3G, iLounge and others have noticed a repositioned ear speaker, tucked high against the top-edge that could be making way for a front-facing camera or additional sensor(s). iLounge also created a render (pictured after the break) of a 5th gen iPod nano based on information provided by a source who “has a perfect track record for accuracy.” In addition to a slightly larger screen with 1.5:1 aspect, there’s now a camera on the back; a redesign that dovetails nicely with rumors about Apple to getting serious with integrated video and digital cameras. iLounge also claims that there will be three new models (3G, enhanced 3G, and mainland China version lacking WiFi we suspect) of iPhones with matte plastic bodies less prone to scratching. Importantly, countries will get the phone appropriate to their telco’s capabilities — iLounge says users won’t have to choose between a fast and slow iPhone, they’ll get what their carriers can support. Each will ship in a choice of two capacity options with 32GB being the top-end rumored. Oh, and iPhone 3.0 will also get into the Nike+ game without requiring an adapter (like the iPod touch). These rumors ride a wave of reports that inventories of the iPhone 3G are running low and component makers are now shipping parts for the next generation iPhone. So Steve Jobs or not, we’re still expecting the hardware to be announced at WWDC with possible July 17 launch.

Read — iPhone 3.0 bezel (via iFun.de)
Read — iPod nano with camera renders, three versions of iPhone 3.0
Read — PCB makers begin shipments for new iPhone
Read — Nike+
Read — 16GB iPhone 3G listed as End of Life
Read — 32GB iPhone 3G

Continue reading Apple iPhone 3.0 rumor roundup

Filed under: Cellphones, Digital Cameras, Portable Audio, Portable Video

Apple iPhone 3.0 rumor roundup originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 May 2009 04:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.