We've just heard directly from HTC regarding that hotly anticipated upgrade to Android 2.2: it's happening this weekend for lucky Euroland owners of the Desire. Provided your Sense-laden 3.7-incher is not carrier-locked, you should be receiving your serving of Froyo by the end of the week, together with a new 720p video mode and iTunes sync for your music. HTC is also throwing in its App Share widget that it first introduced with the Wildfire , along with its smart Caller ID feature. Very nice, though it's quite a shame that operator-specific versions of the update are still stuck in testing and are expected "in several weeks' time." Ah well, guess that'll teach us to buy our gear unlocked.

Continue reading Official: HTC rolling out Android 2.2, 720p video, iTunes sync to unlocked Euro Desires this weekend

Official: HTC rolling out Android 2.2, 720p video, iTunes sync to unlocked Euro Desires this weekend originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 06:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink    |   | Email this  | Comments www.engadget.com | 7/30/10 11:45 AM

At this point, we're starting to think that Motorola is intentionally (and cruelly) teasing us with its Droid successor. Today we can add to the parade of leaks preceding the Droid 2 's debut in the form of the above hard case, which has just landed in Best Buy's storerooms. Before you go off on some conspiracy theory comparing this to the iPhone's Bumper and questioning whether this Droid might need a jacket , you should be aware that Rocketfish does similar paraphernalia for the Droid Incredible, marking this out as an entirely un remarkable run-of-the-mill accessory. Which might be the best news of all, we figure -- if the unexciting peripherals are already being shipped, the handset itself shouldn't be too far behind .

[Thanks, Justin]

Continue reading Droid 2 cases arrive at Best Buy, Droid 2s soon to follow?

Droid 2 cases arrive at Best Buy, Droid 2s soon to follow? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 02:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink    |   | Email this  | Comments www.engadget.com | 7/30/10 7:44 AM

We first caught wind of the SCH-R900 after MetroPCS announced that it would be first to carry the Samsung handset when its fledgling LTE network lights up in select markets sometime after the summer. Now the FCC has been kind enough to bless a preproduction R900 with its approval. Not much is known about the dual-mode CDMA / LTE device other than what we can glean off the broad-shouldered image above and certifications for Bluetooth, 802.11b/g WiFi, dual-band 1700 / 1900 LTE and EvDO data. The future: it's what's for breakfast.

Samsung SCH-R900 approved by FCC: first US LTE phone is go originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 01:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   Phonescoop  |  FCC  | Email this  | Comments www.engadget.com | 7/30/10 6:53 AM

Announced back in April , LG has now launched its so-called Optimus Z Android handset on a pair of South Korea carriers -- SK Telecom and KT -- bearing model numbers SU950 and KU9500, respectively. You've got the usual range of features like a 3.5-inch WVGA display, 5 megapixel cam, DivX compatibility, and support for LG's neat Air Sync service, but what really sets these bad boys apart is something LG is aptly calling "On Screen Phone": using Bluetooth, you'll be able to see and interact with the Optimus Z's screen from your PC, which is awesome when you're too lazy to extract the thing from your pocket. It also offers something called "Drag & Shake," which will let you transfer files between devices with a mere shake of the phone -- something that conjures visions of Seoul residents meeting on the street and executing a series of odd gestures to exchange information. Paired with the announcement (which you can read after the break) is an affirmation of LG's plans to launch an Android tablet as part of the Optimus series in the fourth quarter, which should be an interesting foil for the so-called Galaxy Tab . We'll happily take one of each, of course.

Continue reading LG Optimus Z now available in South Korea

LG Optimus Z now available in South Korea originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments mobile.engadget.com | 7/30/10 3:18 AM

You might remember that an LTE modem for Verizon passed FCC muster not long ago -- now, it seems we're getting our first glimpse of it. As is usually the case with these early devices on next-gen networks, this USB stick doesn't look quite as svelte as we'd probably like it to be, but we have little doubt that they'll get progressively thinner and sexier over the course of a year or three. And hey, in the meantime, far be it from us to steer clear of faster download speeds just because the modem's a little chubby, you know?

LG VL600 LTE / CDMA modem for Verizon in the wild? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink    |  BGR  | Email this  | Comments www.engadget.com | 7/30/10 2:36 AM

It's hard out there for a prez, you know? Hardly anyone knows better than one Barack Obama, who sat down this morning on ABC's The View in order to talk smack with a few ladies who undoubtedly helped put him in office. If you'll recall, Obama fought hard early on for the privilege of maintaining his prized BlackBerry , and while he eventually won out, we learned today that a grand total of ten individuals are authorized to ping it. Yeah, ten . Needless to say, he described that depressing fact as "no fun," and even the folks that are cleared to make contact with it won't send over anything juicy. Why? They know that messages sent to it "will probably be subject to the presidential records act," so those lucky enough to have the digits are also smart enough to divert their ramblings to Texts From Last Night . But hey, at least hanging in there despite the limitations grants you early access to BlackBerry OS 6 , right? Right ?

Obama says presidential BlackBerry ownership is 'no fun,' should've went with the Sectera Edge originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.engadget.com | 7/30/10 12:33 AM

The iPhone 4 may be launching on all the major Canadian carriers tomorrow , but we're only just now starting to get the actual details on what they'll be offering. Rogers is the first out of the gate and, for a change, it looks like folks in the US may just be a tad jealous of their northern neighbors. It's not only offering the iPhone 4 for a further discounted price -- $159 for the 16GB and $269 for the 32GB on a three-year contract (for both new and existing customers eligible for a hardware upgrade) -- but it's bringing back its 6GB data plan for $30 a month as well. On top of that, Rogers is also offering a new iPad sharing plan that will let you share those 6GB between the two devices for an extra $20 a month. Still no official word from the other carriers, but MobileSyrup has turned up a leak that suggests Bell will be offering 6GB for $30 as well, and iPad sharing for just $10 a month -- although that's yet to be confirmed. We'll keep you posted as more plans are announced.

Update: Bell just flipped the switch , and their numbers are largely the same with one notable exception -- iPad data sharing is an additional $10 a month instead of $20, just as had been rumored. Thanks, everyone!

Canadian iPhone 4 launch details emerge: Rogers offers 6GB for $30, iPad sharing for $20 (update: Bell's iPad deal cheaper) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.engadget.com | 7/30/10 12:33 AM

If you think this dynamic duo is running Android, well... think again! Turns out Moto apparently isn't abandoning its Google-free low end just yet, with Celular Cafe -- a site that has developed quite a track record for leaking South American Motorolas -- showing a pair of new models that have all the smartphone looks without guts to match. The EX112 (pictured right) is actually available in two variants, with the second -- the EX115 -- featuring dual SIM capability; it's got a 3 megapixel cam, quadband GSM, full QWERTY (obviously), and apparently not much else. The EX245 on the right is arguably the more interesting of the bunch, stepping up to a full touchscreen while carrying over the same camera; what's particularly notable, though, is that it seems to be gunning for an Android -like UI with a widget-based home screen and a status bar that looks suspiciously similar to a variety of Motos with higher-end aspirations. No word on pricing, availability, or distribution, but we imagine these will be kept solidly out of the North American market.

Motorola's EX112, EX115, and EX245 exposed enroute to Brazil originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments mobile.engadget.com | 7/29/10 11:44 PM

Verizon today released the Samsung Intensity 2 , an eco-friendly phone with a slide-out keyboard, for $50 with a two-year contract. www.mobiledia.com | 7/29/10 10:25 PM

Still feeling abandoned , webOS users? Take heart, as the good folks over at THQ Wireless are working hard with that recently released PDK in order to port a number of its titles over to Pre and Pixi users. We aren't being clued in just yet as to what games are undergoing the all important conversion process, but a tweet from the company's official account has made it abundantly clear that it has "a number of [its] games in development for webOS." We'd caution you against hoping for Star Wars: Trench Run and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed , but we're fully aware that it's too late for that.

THQ Wireless has 'a number of games' coming to webOS originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments mobile.engadget.com | 7/29/10 9:40 PM

We're not certain that this date is going to hold -- things like this have an uncanny tendency to slip at the last possible moment -- but we're at least hopeful to see some internal Sprint communication that they're trying to get the EVO 4G updated to Froyo as soon as tomorrow, July 30. It'd be the perfect way to kick off the weekend, wouldn't it? Turns out this is no mere 2.2 upgrade, though -- they're making a bunch of changes, too, including a host of new preloaded widgets, a flashlight mode for the camera's LED flash, light-assisted 720p video, and "improvement" to the quality of said video capture (something we specifically complained about in our review). Unfortunately, it looks like the hotspot hack might be sealed off with this update, but that really shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. As we said, we're hopefully the date sticks, because Sprint has identified it as a "high priority for competitive reasons" -- in other words, these guys must be feeling the Droid heat -- but the PR is apparently going to identify the week of August 1 as the first push, so the devices getting the OTA tomorrow might just be a very small, select group to ensure that nothing spectacularly bad happens. We're pulling for you, EVO owners.

EVO 4G's Android 2.2 update starts trickling out tomorrow, loads of new features and fixes in store? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.engadget.com | 7/29/10 9:18 PM

Though Samsung has developed a near-legendary reputation for giving its phones silly names , it turns out that "Intensity II" is surprisingly appropriate in a way: this thing's got an infrared camera. Or at least the 1.3 megapixel shooter has an infrared mode, which should make it unusually adept at taking pictures of things that people never intended to be captured for posterity. Like its predecessor , the Intensity II has a slide-out landscape QWERTY keyboard paired with a numeric keypad in front; you've got a 2.2-inch QVGA screen and microSD expansion up to 32GB, perfect for those thousands of night shots you'll undoubtedly be taking. It's available today for $49.99 on contract after rebate in your choice of silver or blue.

Continue reading Samsung Intensity II descends on Verizon

Samsung Intensity II descends on Verizon originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments mobile.engadget.com | 7/29/10 9:09 PM

You know the drill: blurry shots of phone get leaked... user's manual gets leaked... excited would-be buyers voraciously consume manual's contents... phone finally gets released. Indeed, that's precisely the same well-trodden path the upcoming Droid 2 is taking, so if you're looking at getting this thing in the next few weeks, you might want to start skimming the documentation so there aren't any embarrassing newbie missteps in your first few moments of ownership. As Droid Life notes, we've got more confirmation here that the phone will be running the same skin as the Droid X , complete with the Swype -enabled (and presumably multitouch-enabled) soft keyboard for those times when you're too lazy to pull out the physical keyboard. We can't imagine what else could possibly leak at this point -- so hey, Verizon, can we recommend you go ahead and get this show on the road?

Droid 2 manual leaks, teaches you everything you need to know about a phone you don't have originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.engadget.com | 7/29/10 8:57 PM

So, how do you feel about the look of this myTouch 3G HD we've been seeing this week? Haven't formed a complete opinion yet? Well, maybe this new shot -- seemingly of said phone's backside -- will help. As we've seen on past models, the rear features a tastefully-sized myTouch logo, lending a dose of credibility to the picture that seems to have been covertly snapped off a monitor where the render was being shown. In other words, we don't have much reason to doubt this thing -- and considering that the Vibrant isn't a member of the myTouch line, T-Mobile's overdue for a refreshed non-QWERTY Android device in that segment of the market. Should be an interesting few months for these guys, no?

T-Mobile's apparent myTouch 3G HD gets spied from the rear originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.engadget.com | 7/29/10 7:27 PM

Boost Mobile does a fine enough job advertising its $50 monthly unlimited plan, but how's about the phone selection? If you're a fan of flips, Motorola has a new duo headed to the aforesaid operator next month. First up is the Rambler (shown right), which boasts a full QWERTY keypad, integrated 1.3 megapixel camera with video capture, stereo Bluetooth, IM / email capability and inbuilt GPS. The Bali, on the other hand, rocks a more traditional input surface along with an MP3 player, external touch controls and a microSD slot. Both handsets will go on sale August 11th, with the Rambler running $99.99 and the Bali $149.99. Who said Boost never gave you more (keys) for less (dough)?

Continue reading Motorola Bali and Rambler flip phones hitting Boost Mobile on August 11

Motorola Bali and Rambler flip phones hitting Boost Mobile on August 11 originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments mobile.engadget.com | 7/29/10 7:27 PM

It's a crying shame that the American flavors of Samsung's otherwise stunning Galaxy S lack a front facing camera, but even those camped out in the Great White North should know that the European versions (i9000 ) do have such a feature. Lucky for them, Bell's Galaxy S Vibrant will also have a camera mounted on the front, enabling video chats with a lot less hassle. Oh, and if you're wondering exactly when you'll be able to grab hold of one and brag to your friends down south, a contest from Bell is providing reason to believe that August 6th is the day to watch. Furthermore, the fine print makes mention of a CAD$599 retail value, so we're guessing that you may be able to pick up an off-contract Vibrant for that very price. Fingers crossed, right?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Bell's Galaxy S gets front-facing camera, rumored August 6 launch date originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments mobile.engadget.com | 7/29/10 6:58 PM

Call us jaded, bitter or just downright unlucky, but we've received more new Citi card digits in the past two years than we know what to do with. Every other month or so, some prankster is breaking into some database and compromising some quantity information over at Citi (or at least that's how it seems), and now the frustrations have spilled over into the mobile realm. Citigroup recently fessed up to a security flaw in its iPhone app, and even Apple has joined in encouraging users to upgrade in order to maintain their dignity, identity and sanity. According to reports, just over 117,000 customers were affected, though "the bank doesn't believe any personal data was exposed by the flaw." Of course, if you'd like that to remain the case, we'd suggest you upgrade right away.

Citi discloses security flaw in iPhone app, is probably sending you a(nother) new card right now originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments mobile.engadget.com | 7/29/10 5:54 PM

This new Bold 9780 is really looking like the real deal, isn't it? The phone, which includes some ultra-minor aesthetic tweaks over the 9700, along with 512MB of RAM to handle the new BlackBerry 6 OS, has been described on paper, caught on camera , and now has gotten the requisite video walkthrough. The video, obtained by Driphter.com , includes some nice WebKit browsing , with fast page loads but some slightly sluggish scroll speeds. Of course, this is still pre-release software, so we'll see where we end up when BlackBerry 6 starts landing on these RAM-bumped devices for reals. Video is after the break.

Continue reading BlackBerry Bold 9780 caught on video running OS 6

BlackBerry Bold 9780 caught on video running OS 6 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.engadget.com | 7/29/10 4:34 PM

Apple is investigating reports that its latest mobile operating system, iOS 4, causes problems for iPhone 3G owners, after receiving numerous complaints on its support forums and technology blogs. www.mobiledia.com | 7/29/10 2:53 PM

If you're an iPhone user, the only privacy notice you'll see from an app regards your current location -- as much a warning about the associated battery hit from the GPS pinging as anything. If you're an Android user, however, things are different, with a tap-through dialog showing you exactly what each app will access on your phone. But, do you read them? You should, with Lookout running a sort of survey across 300,000 apps on those two platforms, finding that many access personal information even though they seemingly don't need to. One particularly scary instance, an app called Jackeey Wallpaper on Android, aggregates your browsing history, text messages , could get your voicemail password, and even your SIM ID and beams it all to a server in China. That this app has been downloaded millions thousands of times is a little disconcerting, but it's not just Android users that have to fear, as even more iPhone than Android apps take a look through your contact infos. What to do? Well, be careful what you download to start, on Android read those privacy warnings... and we're sure Lookout wouldn't mind if you took this opportunity to download its security app.

Update : We received a note from Jussi Nieminen, who indicated the data fields being retrieved, as reported by VentureBeat , are incorrect. Texting and browser history are apparently not retrieved, but your phone number, phone ID, and voicemail fields are. And, since it's not unheard of for voicemail entries to include a password when setup on a phone, it's possible they could wind up with that too. Also, the popularity of the app was apparently misstated, with actual downloads somewhere south of 250,000.

Update 2 : Kevin, one of the Black Hat speakers from Lookout, wrote us to let us know that the full details on the wallpaper apps have been posted here , if you'd like to read. Meanwhile, estimations of just how many people have downloaded this particular wallpaper app are all over the place, ranging from as low as 50,000 to over four million .

Lookout's App Genome Project warns about sketchy apps you may have already downloaded originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 08:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.engadget.com | 7/29/10 2:15 PM

It's a good day here, because rather than poor 'ol Sad Moto we get to bust out Happy Moto, as Motorola has released some good news in its Q2 financial report. Earnings were $162 million, up from $26 million this time last year . That sounds like a big jump, but compared to overall sales of $5.4 billion you can see things are still rather tight -- especially since those sales were down from $5.5 billion the year before and all-important mobile device sales figures dropped six percent to $1.7 billion. Also, these numbers were boosted by a "significant legal settlement" valued at $228 million. Maybe intellectual property wasn't the only thing Moto got from RIM ?

Motorola manages $162 million Q2 profit, turns that frown upside down originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 07:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.engadget.com | 7/29/10 1:51 PM

A wordy headline, to be sure, but a pleasing one nonetheless. We came across HTC's Chinese web portal listing the Desire as coming with Android 2.2 (with Sense!) and simply had to ping the official source for confirmation. It turns out the info up there is no mistake: all HTC Android handsets shipping to China -- which includes the Wildfire and Tianyi -- will do so with Froyo preloaded, cutting down on your upgrade angst at least until the Gingerbread man comes a'knocking. HTC has also reiterated that a 2.2 update for its phones already on the market will be delivered "very soon," so if all goes well, we should be looking at a Froyo-dominated August in the land of High Tech Computers.

[Thanks, Christian]

HTC will ship all Android phones in China with Froyo on board, fuels fire for immediate update closer to home originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 03:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink    |  HTC China  | Email this  | Comments www.engadget.com | 7/29/10 8:09 AM

Nokia's Symbian^3 flagship -- the 3.5-inch N8 with 12 megapixel camera -- just went up for pre-order on Espoo's Italian storefront showing an end of September availabilty. Now before you get up in arms about the €469 price tag (about $610), remember, the €370 estimated retail price announced was pre tax and pre carrier subsidy. That's just how Europe does things, deal with it. We're not seeing the preorder available elsewhere but we'll update you if that situation changes.

[Thanks, Faisal]

Nokia N8 up for official €469 pre-order in Italy, available in September originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 02:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink    |  Nokia  | Email this  | Comments www.engadget.com | 7/29/10 7:47 AM

Back when we outlined the iOS 4 features missing from iPhone 3G , we forgot one key bullet point: performance. As more and more two-year veterans of Apple's phones have taken the plunge and upgraded to the latest firmware, slowdown and battery drain issues have become a common complaint, which is even more irksome when you think of just how little the update really adds to the UI. The Wall Street Journal reports speaking to an Apple spokesperson who said the company is looking into the matter. That doesn't necessarily mean a fix is coming anytime soon, but hey, at least you can hold the darn thing however you want.

Apple investigating issues with iOS 4 upgrade on iPhone 3G originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 21:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink    |  WSJ  | Email this  | Comments www.engadget.com | 7/29/10 2:19 AM

Well this is getting good . Motorola was one of the first to take a subtle swipe at Apple's iPhone 4 antenna dilemma with an ad saying you could hold the Droid X "any way you like," Apple came right back with a video purportedly showing the Droid X suffering similar attenuation issues when held in the right hand, and now Moto's responded with this cheeky ad that plays off Apple's free iPhone case solution by saying the Droid X can make calls "without a bulky phone jacket." Yeah, it's pretty good -- particularly because unlike most other phones, we haven't been able to death grip the Droid X with any noticeable effect on 3G reception. (Although, truth be told, we can drop the WiFi signal by a few bars pretty easily.) Either way, we're certainly enjoying this little slice of swagger from Moto -- check a larger version after the break.

Continue reading Motorola takes another shot at the iPhone 4, says Droid X is 'no jacket required'

Motorola takes another shot at the iPhone 4, says Droid X is 'no jacket required' originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 20:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink    |  Droid-Life  | Email this  | Comments www.engadget.com | 7/29/10 1:29 AM

We knew it was coming , and now it's official: Rogers Wireless has today launched its entry-level "chatr" wireless brand for Canadians everywhere -- and by "everywhere," we mean Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and Ottawa (Montreal is coming soon, as is possibly elsewhere). Two plans are available: $45 monthly for unlimited talk-and-text and $35 for unlimited talk and 50 free texts. As of now, the official website's showing four devices to choose from, available at full price only (no subsidizing). On the low end, relatively speaking, there's the Nokia 1661 candybar for $60, followed by the LG GB125R flip for $75, the Nokia 2680 portrait QWERTY slider for $95, and Samsung's Gravity landscape QWERTY slider sitting at the top of the chain for $130. Rogers -- whose name appears nowhere in Chatr's branding so far -- expects "hundreds" of chatr kiosks to be rolled out at Future Shops, Best Buys, Costcos, and other retail outlets.

The brand will compete with other budget-conscious options from the likes of Wind Mobile and Mobilicity , but this one's got the advantage of Rogers' more established, wider-reaching network. According to The Globe and Mail and CBC News , Wind will be offering a whopping $150 credit for those who switch to its network from Rogers / chatr. Mobilicity's chairman John Bitove has a different strategy altogether, threatening to complain to the Competition Bureau that Rogers' possible goal here is to drive other discount phone brands out of business before dissolving chatr and leaving the market with only a higher-priced segment. And if you were wondering where Telus and Bell Mobility stand, well, both companies are reportedly expected to follow suit with entry-level brands of their own. Data plan-averse Canadians should have quite the selection from which to choose.

Rogers' budget-friendly chatr brand launches in Canada originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.engadget.com | 7/28/10 11:58 PM

A quick WHOIS confirms that RIM's taken control of blackpad.com -- yes, it's long been rumored as a potential name for the BlackBerry tablet , but we're certainly hoping Waterloo's just parking a domain name to keep squatters at bay, because, seriously, we just got over the iPad jokes, you know?

P.S.- And might we see whatever this is at the RIM / AT&T event on Tuesday ? Consider our interest piqued.

RIM takes control of blackpad.com, laughter takes control of our minds originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.engadget.com | 7/28/10 11:05 PM

What is it about the word peel that screams "throw on the back of an iPod touch and grant it the power of mobile internet?" We spotted Yosion's Apple Peel 520 just this morning bound for Chinese markets, and now the FCC has unveiled ZTE's own Peel 3G router. Although the user manual and external photos don't explicitly state it, one look at the (slightly enhanced) image above removes all doubt that this is made to fit snugly around a certain finger-friendly iDevice with a headset jack on the bottom right . Additionally, the user manual's setup screens are all sketched out in what appears to be a more mobile Safari-friendly size. The Qualcomm-powered CDMA2000 case is brandishing Sprint logos on the front and back, which frankly wouldn't be the first (or even second ) time the carrier's targeted the Apple faithful. Only this time, there's no WiMAX -- bummer. Crafty, wacky, zany? We're sure Mr. Hesse is chortling, but perhaps he can catch a breath or two and disseminate out some proper release details post-haste.
[Thanks, The Kaiser]

ZTE Peel for Sprint outed by FCC, another 3G-equipped iPod touch case originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.engadget.com | 7/28/10 10:16 PM

Well, it looks like Verizon has a bit of company at the negative end of the earnings spectrum -- Sprint has now also reported a loss for the second quarter, although it's a slightly smaller one than expected. Specifically, the company posted a $760 million net loss for the quarter that's just ended, or 15 cents a share, which isn't exactly great, but is better than the 17 cent loss analysts had predicted. That gain is at least partly attributed to strong sales of the HTC EVO 4G , and by the company's best ever year-over-year improvement in net postpaid subscribers, which helped boost the number of wireless subscribers by 110,000 (for a total 48.2 million customers). Looking for some more hard numbers? There's plenty to keep you busy at the link below.

Sprint reports $760 million net loss for Q2, slightly less than expected originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.engadget.com | 7/28/10 9:57 PM

HTC Europe director Mark Moons caused quite a stir this morning when he tweeted that the company would begin rolling out Android Froyo updates to devices tomorrow, starting with the Desire , but we wouldn't get too excited yet -- HTC tells us that it's possible a rollout will begin tomorrow, but nothing's finalized yet pending some final testing. We've certainly got our fingers crossed -- and we're sure Desire owners the world over will be hitting that System Updates button nonstop for the next few days.

Continue reading HTC beginning Froyo rollout tomorrow? Maybe, maybe not

HTC beginning Froyo rollout tomorrow? Maybe, maybe not originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.engadget.com | 7/28/10 9:16 PM

Copy protection has always been a concern in the Android Market , primarily because applications can be sideloaded onto phones without a root or other modification from the end user. In a brief announcement made today, Eric Chu has made clear that a new method for protecting the work of paid app creators will be implemented long-term, with the plan being to "replace the current Android Market copy-protection mechanism over the next few months." This new "licensing service" is available now for those that want in, providing developers with a secure mechanism that can ping a Market License Server upon launch in order to see if a particular app was indeed purchased legitimately. It's hard to say how exactly this will affect usability (specifically in offline scenarios), but it's certainly an interesting twist to the whole situation. Expect to hear lots of growling on both sides as more and more apps opt to take advantage.

[Thanks, Jonathan]

New 'licensing service' replacing existing copy protection method in Android Market originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.engadget.com | 7/28/10 8:01 PM

Someone should really tell T-Mobile USA it's got a rather large hole that needs plugged. Hot on the heels of the (presumably) T-Mob-bound G1 Blaze leak comes this duo, which includes a purported leak of the myTouch HD (or 3G HD) as well as a web portal that quite clearly prepares us for the launch of the carrier's first HSPA+ smartphone . Of course, there's no official confirmation that the handset you're peering at above is anything more than a fan render, but it certainly has a look of authenticity to it; sadly, there aren't any rumored specifications to tag alongside the JPG, but it's a pretty safe bet that this one will run some flavor of Android and rely heavily on screen presses for letter input. As for the promo page? Scrutineers have drawn a link between it and the Vanguard that we peeked a few weeks back , so feel free to let your imagination run a bit wild there. Looks like it's gearing up to be quite the second half for America's number two GSM operator.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Purported myTouch HD leaks out alongside promise of T-Mobile's first HSPA+ smartphone originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.engadget.com | 7/28/10 6:43 PM

A few iterations beyond the last time we checked in , the Palm webOS Facebook app is now up to beta version 1.2.30. New features this time around include landscape viewing, improved photo tagging, and the ability to clear all notifications by selecting view all, then using a back gesture to exit the menu. Other changes that are more immediately noticeable are the news feed dropdown menu option (before & after picture after the break) which should be quite useful for those following our tips on managing your Facebook friends , plus the ability to see comments directly in the news feed, instead of just a number indicating how many there are. Check Preware or hit link below to download the latest version, if you're stuck on 1.2.5, just use the update feature on your phone and it should find the latest version.

Continue reading New Facebook Beta for webOS (v1.2.30) adds landscape viewing, inline comments

New Facebook Beta for webOS (v1.2.30) adds landscape viewing, inline comments originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments mobile.engadget.com | 7/28/10 5:23 PM

It's hard to say for certain what exactly this flyer means, but it sure looks as if at least some iPhone 4 owners will be able to snatch a free invisibleSHIELD 4fix (valued at $9.99 or so) from their local Best Buy. Based on a number of tips that we've received, we're getting the impression that the yellow-tagged retailer could be handing out (and installing) completely free side coverings for any iPhone 4 owner that waltzes into a store, presumably as a proactive measure to fend off returns or to upsell consumers on an entire invisibleSHIELD / separate case. Nothing about this notice makes clear that you actually have to buy your iPhone 4 from Best Buy in order to take advantage, but we probably wouldn't waste a lunch break giving this a go without a verbal confirmation from your local store manager. Until it's made official, of course.

Update : We've heard from another tipster that the deal is indeed legitimate, and it's for any human with an iPhone 4, not just those who purchased their phone from Best Buy. We'd recommend calling your local store to double check, but things are looking up.

Update 2: Ah, so we've finally received the full skinny from another tipster. The offer only applies to those who purchased their iPhone 4 from Best Buy / Best Buy Mobile or for Best Buy Reward Zone members. Granted, it's pretty easy to sign up for the aforementioned reward program, but those are the stipulations. The official BB name for the product you'll be getting is the Zagg SideShield, which would cost you $9.99 otherwise.

[Thanks, Anonymous]

Continue reading Best Buy to offer free invisibleSHIELD 4fix to aggravated iPhone 4 owners

Best Buy to offer free invisibleSHIELD 4fix to aggravated iPhone 4 owners originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.engadget.com | 7/28/10 4:53 PM

Vodafone 360 LiMo handsets are no more, probably not missed by many originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 09:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments mobile.engadget.com | 7/28/10 3:23 PM

HTC said it plans to venture into China under its own name for the first time, amid increasing competition with rival Apple. www.mobiledia.com | 7/28/10 2:46 PM

LG Electronics today said it lost money for the first time in four years, as the embattled handset maker struggles to turn around its mobile business and come up with a blockbuster phone. www.mobiledia.com | 7/28/10 2:24 PM

Sprint said that it lost fewer subscribers in its latest quarter, helped by the high-speed Evo from HTC , as the embattled company continues to improve customer service and retention. www.mobiledia.com | 7/28/10 2:01 PM

Look everyone, it's the littlest handset come to deliver Android cheer. Last month we got word that Modu was working on a touchscreen device dubbed the T-Phone , featuring full 3G and microSD expansion, also referred to as the Modu 2 . Now we have video of what looks to be the same phone out in the wild, running an early version of Android (possibly 1.6) and looking rather fit next to an iPhone and an HTC G2 . Curiously, this is said to be lacking 3G data entirely, only pulling data over WiFi, but we have to think that's just an issue with this prototype and not something that will be a feature of the retail release. It also sports FM tuning and, curiously, a stylus -- resistive ahoy? We'll have to wait and see.

Continue reading Modu's T-Phone captured in the wild chilling with Android? (video)

Modu's T-Phone captured in the wild chilling with Android? (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 07:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.engadget.com | 7/28/10 1:34 PM

Judging by the fact that our lovely planet is home to the Libretto W100 , the Kno , Onkyo DX and oodles of prototypes that utilize twin panels rather than a panel and a keyboard, Sharp's newest microchip is likely to draw some serious industry attention. Improving on an idea that began in 2008, the company has recently shown off a new chip (dubbed LR388G9) that can control two mobile LCDs and can simultaneously display a pair of different 1,024 x 480 pixel clips on a pair of screens; moreover, it can output full 1080p to any source connected via HDMI. Since '08, Sharp has increased memory capacity from 16Mbits to 32Mbits while boosting the image processing speed, and the company now intends to hawk this new guy to outfits who manufactuer smartphones, e-readers, digital photo frames and even netbooks. If all goes well, the chip will ship within a 261-pin WFBGA package this September, with volume pricing pegged at around ¥2,400 ($27).

Sharp microchip enables dual-screen smartphones, e-readers and netbooks originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 06:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.engadget.com | 7/28/10 12:17 PM

Oh sure, VoIP on the iPod touch is hardly breaking news these days, but what if you could actually slap on a regular SIM card and make calls on said device? That's what Yosion's appropriately named Apple Peel 520 claims to do. Powered by an Infineon baseband chip, this adapter not only offers voice calling and text messaging (presumably requiring a jailbroken iPod touch for the apps; GPRS not possible yet), but it also doubles up as an 800mAh battery and provides 4.5 hours of call time or 120 hours of standby juice. We're told this cheeky hack's coming out in China as early as this week for somewhere between ¥300 ($44) and ¥500 ($74), although the lack of an official website, full spec sheet or compatibility list means we'll have to remain skeptical with this potentially vaporware company. Maybe the demo video after the break will keep us believing.

[Thanks, Bong]

Continue reading iPod touch becomes iPhone using Yosion's Apple Peel 520?

iPod touch becomes iPhone using Yosion's Apple Peel 520? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 07:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.engadget.com | 7/28/10 12:17 PM

LG's official Application Store -- not to be confused with an App Store , App World , or App Catalog -- just went beta is 23 countries with the aim of serving up 4,000 apps to 33 countries (including the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain) by the end of the year. Sorry US netizens, you're seemingly out of luck for 2010. It launches with significantly less than 4,000 apps today (about 3,000) targeting LG feature and smartphones in countries that you, dear reader, likely don't care about. Oh, did we tell you that it's launching without any Android apps? Those won't arrive until sometime later this year.

Continue reading LG's Application Store launches in places you don't live for devices you don't care about

LG's Application Store launches in places you don't live for devices you don't care about originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 05:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink  | Email this  | Comments www.engadget.com | 7/28/10 11:10 AM