Top 5 Themes to Refresh Your BlackBerry

With all the news about the new 9700 or 8530, some BlackBerry users out there might feel a little discouraged because you’ve still got another year or two left on your contract before you can take advantage of the full subsidized pricing. Not to worry, we’ve got you covered. You can easily freshen up any older BlackBerry with a new paintjob courtesy of the theme settings on your phone!

If you need some help downloading and installing themes, I recommend you check out the tutorial on SimpleHelp.net as it’s pretty simple and comprehensive or you can check out the video below and learn from an eight-year-old. Once you’ve got the theme on the device, just go to" Options" on the Applications page and choose “Themes.” One thing to note: Any applications you may have moved to different folders or hidden in the Applications page will automatically move out of the folders when you choose a new theme and default back to the Applications page. While it can be a pain to have to redo everything, you can make it work to your benefit by creating custom button layouts or separate themes for business and personal use.

HTC Dash 3G and Touch Pro 2 to get Windows Mobile 6.5

Good news for all of you T-Mobile customers totin’ an HTC Dash 3G or Touch Pro 2. Phone Arena got a tip from a reliable source that T-Mobile will release a Windows Mobile 6.5 update for the two devices on Jan. 6. The reliable source was pretty skimpy with the details, so we aren’t clear on how the carrier will go about getting the update to its customers - but we say it’s better late than never! Everyone can appreciate an upgrade.

Sprint Android devices to get Android 2.0 in first half of 2010

We all know HTC has stated that it is preparing its Sense UI for Android 2.0, and naturally we’re all crossing our fingers for a January update. Well, Sprint let us know via Twitter that Android 2.0 will come to its HTC Hero and Samsung Moment devices in the first half of 2010. Geez, you really narrowed it down for us there guys! Samsung hasn’t laid any user interface over its Android platforms, so we’re not quite sure what the hold up is. Although Android 2.0 is a relatively minor update, it offers a handful of aesthetic and performance changes. Let’s hope the update comes out before June before we die of DROID envy.

T-Mobile's Android Market Billing Support Rollling Out

Back in November T-Mobile confirmed that Android market carrier billing support would be available “soon.” Today T-Mobile announced that its Android users should notice their Android Market application update itself with the new “Bill My T-Mobile Account” payment option. Word has it T-Mobile will take until Dec. 30 to roll out the update to all of its Android users, so some of you might have to wait a couple weeks to charge your T-Mobile account. Another great aspect of this update is that if a user decides they don’t like an application, there is a 24-hour window from the time purchased in which they may uninstall the application without being charged. Let’s all lift our egg-nog’s for a great big cheers! Don’t forget, Privus Mobile’s wonderful Mobile Caller ID application is also available in the Android Market. If you’re not familiar with Privus Mobile then take a gander!

Nokia will close Flagship U.S. stores in early 2010

Today, Nokia confirmed reports stating it will close its New York and Chicago stores, in addition to the manufacturer’s UK store in London. This may come as upsetting news to some Nokia fans, especially those who frequent or even had a chance to see either U.S. stores. Nokia opened its U.S. flagship locations in 2006 to in an effort to expose U.S. consumers to the Nokia brand with an innovative concept store. The manufacturer went on to say, “The decision to close the two Nokia Flagship Stores in the U.S. was made to create clear alignment with our local market strategy and in addition, as part of a global realignment of Nokia’s retail strategy.”

I hope this realignment of its retail strategy includes aggressively targeting U.S. carriers. Since Nokia lacks carrier support for the majority of its smartphone handsets, U.S. customers are left to pay an arm-and-a-leg to get the devices. With the relative stateside success of the manufacturer’s E71, and recent claims of a revamped Symbian S60 OS and movement towards Maemo, it sounds like Nokia has a lot of potential to gain some ground in the U.S. market in 2010. Let’s hope the closing of these stores is a step towards that, instead of a sign of Nokia’s dwindling market share. Check out the full statement below:

The Flagship stores, opened in 2006 in the U.S., were conceived to inspire and educate consumers to the benefits of mobility through an innovative retail experience, and broaden the appeal of the Nokia brand.

The decision to close the two Nokia Flagship Stores in the U.S., located in New York City and Chicago, was made to create clear alignment with our local market strategy and in addition, as part of a global realignment of Nokia’s retail strategy.

Nokia remains committed to providing the best consumer and retail experience around the world – the Flagship Stores are only part of Nokia’s retail experience and marketplace strategy. Nokia’s retail strategy includes retail and operator partners and their more than 600,000 retail outlets globally. All of these customer outlets will remain essential to Nokia’s ongoing success and continue to be a primary sales channels in the future.

[Source: Engadget, Nokia Experts]

HTC Bravo and HTC Passion/Dragon news

Every time a new roadmap leaks we know it’s time to play the “name game” by cross referencing already rumored devices with those listed on the manufacturer’s roadmap – a feat that can prove quite confusing. The 2010 HTC product map leaked yesterday, and today some pretty crisp images of the Android-running, Snapdragon-powered HTC Bravo spread through the blogosphere like wild fire. Many have speculated the HTC Bravo is the European GSM version of the already-leaked HTC Dragon/Passion which was expected to hit Verizon sometime this month. According to Boy Genius, the HTC Passion is now slated to hit the Verizon in Jan. 2010, while Europeans will enjoy a GSM version in the form of Bravo in April on T-Mobile Europe.

In addition to the lust-worthy 1GHz Snapdragon processor, the Bravo is speculated to have 720p recording capabilities with a 5 megapixel autoflash camera, DivX support and a oh-so-beautiful 3.7 inch AMOLED (my favorite six letters for any screen) capacitive touchscreen. You can check out scans of the roadmap details including performance and designs on Engadget.

Of course, this T-Mobile speculation is based on the wording on the original 2010 leak made famous by Engadget a couple days ago so whether or not we’ll actually see the carrier getting the Bravo is still a little questionable. What will happen next in the tale that is the HTC roadmap? Only time will tell! Stay tuned to find out!

HP iPAQ Glisten available online at AT&T

If you’re a business professional looking for a new smartphone device that will make on-the-go emailing and messaging a breeze, the new HP iPAQ Glisten should make your ears perk up. This Windows Mobile 6.5 device is now available via AT&T’s online store, and comes equipped with a 2.5-inch AMOLED touchscreen as well as a solid QWERTY keyboard. The Glisten is a pretty bare bones device -- nothing fancy or flashy but solid nonetheless. Plus, if you install Privus Mobile you can screen any unsolicited phone calls, which is always a plus! The device can be yours for $179.99 with standard 2-year contract and mail-in-rebate. Check out the unboxing video below for more details.

Verizon Android devices going BOGO

The rocky economic climate has caused retailers to launch some pretty sweet holiday specials, and it looks as if mobile retailers are not different. Starting tomorrow, Verizon will launch one of its famous BOGO sales - but this time the offer will involve the carrier's latest Android offering, the HTC's Droid Eris. If you buy one Motorola DROID or HTC Droid Eris, you'll get an HTC Droid Eris free. This offer will run until Monday, Dec. 8. What couple wouldn't want complimenting Androids for Christmas?

[source: Boy Genius Report]

Samsung Omnia II now available at Verizon Wireless

Calling all Windows Mobile lovers! As previously reported, the Samsung Omnia II and its purdy, view-me-from-all-sides AMOLED touchscreen hit Verizon Wireless stores today. The Windows Mobile 6.5 device is pretty solid, running with 8GB of internal memory, a 5-megapixel camera, TouchWiz UI, WiFi and widgets galore. The Omnia II also sports the new text entry method dubbed Swype – you can watch a video of Swype in action here. No more tippy-tapping away on that resistive touchscreen! With Swype you can essentially play connect the dots (or letters in this case) to enter words into a text box. You’ve also got access to Samsung’s all new Widget store just in case the included widgets aren’t doing it for you. Has anyone had the chance to play around with this yet? Let us know your thoughts!

Rumor Mill: Verizon to snag yet another Android device, the Samsung Behold II

The Bold II was made available Nov. 15 on the nation’s fourth largest network, T-Mobile. If you’ve had your eye on this device but aren’t crazy about the idea of switching over to T-Mobile, you might just be in luck. It looks as if Samsung accidentally announced the device’s arrival on the “nation’s largest 3G network”, Verizon Wireless, via its own product Web site. Take a look for yourself below! The TouchWiz UI running device it pretty standard as far as Android devices go, but solid none-the-less. Since Samsung let the cat out of the bag it’s only a matter of time before Verizon comes forward with an official statement. T-Mobile is currently offering the device for $229, but hopefully Verizon would price the device at $199 if not lower.

Nokia aiming for one Maemo device in 2010

In light of successful Nokia N900 sales and positive feedback over its Maemo platform, it appeared as if all hope for future Symbian S60 smartphones was abandoned. Not so fast Maemo lovers! A source came forth to Reuters claiming “direct knowledge of Nokia’s 2010 product roadmap” and stated that Nokia would only be manufacturing one Maemo device in the coming year. A Nokia spokesperson declined to comment but did say, “We remain firmly committed to Symbian as our smartphone platform of choice.” So, what do you think? On one hand we have Maemo, a new platform in need of development in order to improve touchscreen capabilities, and on the other hand we have the tried-and-true Symbian S60.

Black Friday Smart Phone Deals

Well, we’ve scoured the internet to bring you some of Black Friday’s best smartphone offerings. If lacing up those sneakers and strapping on those elbow pads for some day-after-Thanksgiving deals is your bag, then there are some pretty nice options out there for you. However, for those of you looking to find big savings on popular smartphones, you need go no further than your computer desk – take a look at Wirefly’s deals below to find out what I mean. In any case, there’s a lot of money to be saved. Which device tickles your fancy? Check out all the steals-and-deals below:

Amazon:

• AT&T BlackBerry Curve 8900: $0.01 with new AT&T service plan
• AT&T HTC Pure: $0.01 with new AT&T service plan
• Sprint BlackBerry 9630 Tour: $49.99 with new Sprint service plan
• Sprint Samsung Moment: $79.99 with new Sprint service plan
• T-Mobile BlackBerry 9700 Bold2: $149.99 with new T-Mobile service plan
• Verizon BlackBerry 9550 Storm2: $149.99 with new Verizon service plan
  

AT&T:

Friday: Starting on Black Friday (no given time) you can check out www.att.com/holiday09 for “vaule packed” holiday savings through “Cyber Monday.” From store opening to noon ALL devices will be $50 off. AT&T is also said to be pushing out some hot deals via its Twitter and Facebook pages – so you might want to check them out periodically on Friday. For the thousands of current AT&T customers, sadly it doesn’t look like there's too much in store for you this Holiday season. That is unless you are due for an upgrade, in which case you might want to give HTC's trade-in program below a little gander.

Saturday: Saturday is the 24-hour BlackBerry Sale

• Pearl 8110 or Curve 8310: $0.00 with 2-year agreement and minimum plan of $69.99 a month.
• Curve 8320 or Curve 8900: $99 with 2-year agreement and minimum plan of $69.99 a month.
  

Sunday: Free Solstice, Neon, Magnet, Karma or Propel quick messaging device. Unlimited messaging or data required, plus 2-year service agreement.

Cyber Monday: 1 Cent Sale, device offers rotate every three hours.

• Nokia E71x: $0.01 with 2-year service agreement- Sony Cybershot: $0.01 with 2-year service agreement
• BlackBerry Curve 8900: $0.01 with 2-year service agreement
• Pantech Reveal: $0.01 with 2-year service agreementSamsung Jack: $0.01 with 2-year service agreement
  

Follow this link for more AT&T information.

Best Buy (stores open at 5 a.m.):

• Sprint Palm Pre in Black: $79.99 with 2-year contract
• Verizon LG Chocolate: Free with 2-year contract
• BONUS: Best Buy’s wonderful Black Friday Shopping Tips
  

Radio Shack:

• BlackBerry 8520 Curve: $0.00 with 2-year agreement
• LG Xenon: $0.00 with 2-year agreement
  

Verizon Wireless:

• Gateway LT Netbook: $299.99 after $100 mail-in-rebate
• BlackBerry Pearl Flip: $9.99 after $100 mail-in-rebate (also buy-on-get-one free)
• HTC Ozone: $9.99 after $100 mail-in-rebate (also buy-on-get-one free)
• LG Glance: $0
• LG Versa: $29.99 after $50 mail-in-rebate (also buy-on-get-one free)
• Mifi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot: $49.99 after $50 mail-in-rebate (Black Friday only)
• Motorola Entice: $19.99 after $50 mail-in-rebate (also buy-one-get-one free)
• Motorola VU204: $0
• Nokia 7705 Twist: $29.99 after $50 mail-in-rebate
• Samsung Smooth: $0 after $50 mail-in-rebate
• Free LG HBM-210 Bluetooth headset with purchase of LG enV3 or enV Touch.
  

Wirefly:

• Verizon BlackBerry Storm2: $0.99 for new subscribers and $29.99 for existing Verizon customers (Black Friday only)
• Verizon BlackBerry Storm2: $9.99 for new subscribers and 429.99 for existing Verizon customers (Sat. Nov. 28 – Mon. Nov. 30)
• AT&T BlackBerry Bold 9700: $0 for new subscribers and $29.99 for existing AT&T customers (Fri. Nov. 27 – Mon. Nov. 30)
• Sprint Samsung Moment: $79.99 for new subscribers and $99.99 for existing Sprint customers (Fri. Nov. 27 – Mon. Nov. 30)
  

Walmart:

• Verizon HTC Droid Eris: $30 after a $149.99 instant discount and signed 2-year contract

HOLIDAY DEALS

T-Mobile:

• Motorola CLIQ: $149 with 2-year service plan
• BlackBerry Bold 9700: $149.99 with 2-year service plan
• Samsung Highlight: $49 with 2-year service plan
  

HTC:

HTC is enacting a trade-in program this Holiday season. When you purchase an HTC Tilt 2, HTC Touch Pro 2, HTC Imagio, Pure or HTC Ozone you can send back an eligible trade-in to receive a $100 rebate from HTC.

Privus Mobile's Greg Smith talks about the Apple App Store approval process

The Apple App store practically created the mobile application market, but has been scrutinized for it's unpredictable approval process. Privus Mobile president, Greg Smith, sat down with TechVi to talk about what Apple could do to make that process easier for mobile application developers.

Samsung Omnia II to hit Verizon Wireless Dec. 2

Tis’ the season…to launch your smartphone! Verizon Wireless adds yet another device to its ever-growing lineup with the announcement of Samsung’s Windows Mobile 6.5 device, the Omnia II. The Omnia II will be stocked and ready to go at your neighborhood Verizon Wireless store on Dec. 2 for $200 with standard 2-year contract and $100 mail-in-rebate. Let’s review some specs:

• 3.7-inch WVGA AMOLED display
• Virtual QWERTY (no physical keyboard)
• Samsung TouchWiz 2.0 interface
• 5-megapixel camera with LED flash and autofocus
• 3G, WiFi and GPS capabilities
• 8GB internal storage
• 800MHz processor

From reviews, it seems you will either love or hate the TouchWiz UI. So, who’s planning on putting an Omnia II in their own stocking this year?

T-Mobile offers more contract-free options with T-Mobile Complete

T-Mobile is slowly revealing new contract-free options just in time for the Holiday season and I have to say, I really like what T-Mobile is doing and I hope other carriers follow suit. It seems T-Mobile Complete will offer four handsets, two of which are said to be the BlackBerry Curve 8520 and the BlackBerry Pearl. These BlackBerry devices will be sold for $299.99 and $149.99 respectively, and you can pick them up at your neighborhood Best Buy or Walmart. The device comes with the one month service – making it perfect for Holiday gift giving. The recipient, or yourself, will then have the option to use a T-Mobile Even More Plus plan. These contract-free plans start at a mere $50, although for the BlackBerrys you’ll probably need the $80 plan. Remember, it’s still a prepaid phone plan so you will need to make sure it’s paid for at the beginning of each month to continue service. We’ll let you know when we hear more - but you might want to add the BlackBerry Curve to your Holiday shopping list for Uncle Phil, because you know he won’t upgrade that free-with-contract clamshell and its 1998 monophonic ringtone all by himself.

Acer officially announces Liquid A1, rumored for a late November

We wrote a post about Acer’s first Android device back in October, and Acer officially announced the Liquid A1 today. Does the name make anyone else think of the famous steak sauce, or am I just hungry? Although the device will come loaded with Android 1.6, it seems to be on par with its competition when it comes to screen size and processor speed. The Liquid A1 is powered by the increasingly-popular 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 800 x 480 WVGA capacitive touchscreen and a 5-megapixel camera. It appears the manufacturer is going after the social networking crowd with “smart integration” of popular platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc. Acer’s Liquid steak sauce looks pretty impressive on paper and I’m definitely interested to see a hands-on. Still no official word on pricing, but you know how manufacturers and carriers like to let you speculate right up until the release.

BlackBerry 9700 available at T-Mobile, set to launch on AT&T Nov. 22

The BlackBerry 9700 (aka Bold 2) made its way into the hands of lucky Berry lovers on T-Mobile yesterday. If you like to live your mobile life without strings attached, you should read about the fancy contract-free options T-Mobile is offering with the 9700 here. AT&T is still holding strong to a Nov. 22 release of the 9700 for its non-business customers, but don’t worry! We hear stores are fully stocked and ready to go. If you have an upgrade available on either T-Mobile or AT&T, I highly recommend getting one of these bad boys. The cumbersome trackball has been replaced with a trackpad, the beveled edges and sweet faux-leather battery cover give the device a much sleeker look and overall the device runs faster and smoother than any BlackBerry yet.

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 to launch Feb.10

We announced Sony Ericsson’s fancy new Android touchscreen, the XPERIA X10, here on the blog a couple weeks ago. The device was slated for a Q1 launch, and the manufacturer’s UK Web site confirmed a Feb. 10 release. Engadget Mobile had a hands-on with a very early model of the X10 and said it was “plagued by lag and unresponsiveness,” even though the device comes powered by the increasingly popular 1GHz Snapdragon processor. It looks as if Sony Ericsson has been working extra hard to get those kinks out as you can see in this video. With a little less than three months to get the device running in perfect order it will be interesting to see how the X10 fares in the market with the multitude of Android devices coming in 2010. Pricing and carrier support will play a large role in its success and we’ll let you know as soon as that information is made available.

Samsung Behold II Coming to T-Mobile Nov. 18

The Samsung Behold II is definitely coming to T-Mobile on Nov. 18 and Engadget gives us a little preview before this Android device gets a serious hands-on. Samsung has definitely laid its own brand of pizzazz over the Android 1.5 OS via its signature TouchWiz UI. In its current state, TouchWiz seems to slow down the operating system a bit – which is something that could pose a problem for users who fill up their smartphones rather easily. However, the build seems to be solid with quality materials and nice tactile front-facing buttons. Another noted feature was the camera button on the side of the device that focuses when pressed halfway down – just like a real camera! Samsung brings us a nice but standard Android option, and if T-Mobile has any sense, it wouldn’t even think about pricing this little baby over $199. More details to come.

Storm2 Gets a Hands-On Review

Chris Ziegler from Engadget Mobile got his hands on a BlackBerry Storm2 and threw a no-holds-barred post up on the popular mobile blog this afternoon. The biggest addition that comes to the Storm2 is Wi-Fi, which could be reason enough to cause current Storm owners to upgrade. From what I gather, if you’re not an avid BlackBerry user or haven’t been bothered by the wobbly screen or user-interface lags you might not be able to tell much of a difference. However, it seems as if “the devil is in the details,” so let’s get to them.

One of the major complaints about the original Storm was its SurePress technology which consisted of a single mechanical switch mounted below the center of the screen. This mechanical switch would allow the keyboard to move up and down giving the user a feeling similar to clicking a physical key on a QWERTY keyboard. However, the location of the single switch lead to wobbly and inconsistent clicks the further away from the center the user pressed down. But was that inconsistency enough to keep RIM from bringing the SurePress technology to Storm2? Not exactly. SurePress technology for the Storm2 now consists of four piezoelectric mechanical switches mounted in all four corners of the screen. This modification helps the touchscreen clicks to feel more sturdy and accurate than the original; however, it leads to a harder click and a louder “thunk” when pressing the screen. According to Ziegler, you’ll need some pretty beefy thumb-muscles to avoid getting finger-fatigue while writing an email on the Storm2.


The appearance of the Storm2 is almost identical to the original Storm. The Storm2 has black chrome bezel, a tastefully rubberized back and overall sleeker appearance from the front. Also, the LED-flashin’ 3.2-megapixel camera of the Storm2 is surprisingly far better than the 5.0-megapixel camera of the original Storm – not something you’d generally expect with a loss in megapixels. When diving further into the software of the Storm2 the first thing to mention is that it will run BlackBerry OS 5.0. This software upgrade allows for internal scrolling throughout the platform, and an overall smoother experience from the device. Ziegler states with the 5.0 OS update, the Web browser is slightly improved but he’d take a “good Webkit browser over this any day, but the platform just isn’t there yet.”

Rewind to about this time last year and the mobile world was clamoring over pictures, rumored specs and release dates of BlackBerry’s first touchscreen device. Some guy actually got a tattoo of the Storm on his leg for crying out loud! The addition of Wi-Fi capability might win over some new users and lead current Storm owners to upgrade, but beyond that the Storm2 is merely a slightly-improved version of the original.

Click here to read the entire hands-on review

[photo credit: CrackBerry]

Walmart is giving you $100 to buy a BlackBerry

Black Friday is almost upon us, and Walmart has grown a little wiser, and perhaps a little “smarter,” about holiday shopping. For phone enthusiasts in the market for a new smartphone, Walmart’s giving you a holiday savings head start on some of your favorite BlackBerry devices offered by various carriers. From Nov. 14 through Nov. 20, Walmart will give customers who purchase any BlackBerry device listed below a $100 Walmart gift card. You won’t even need to mail in a proof-of-purchase. These little berries aren’t contract-free though. You must sign a two-year carrier contract as well.

· AT&T Curve 8310
· AT&T Bold 9000
· Sprint Curve 8330 (Red & Titanium colors)
· T-Mobile 8520 (Black, White, and Frost)
· T-Mobile Pearl 8120 (Emerald)
· Verizon Storm
· Verizon Storm II

You can check out the full press release here.

"HTC Passion" image spurs a flurry of speculation

Smartphone blog posts are beginning to look like a daytime soap opera. New rumors. New names. One ongoing saga. Let’s rejoin the HTC storyline. There is an image of an HTC device circulating the blogs today, and this image is speculated to be Verizon’s HTC Passion aka Dragon (aka Android version of the HD2). The HD2 also has a U.S. Windows Mobile 6.5 version (codenamed Leo) heading to T-Mobile in Q1 of 2010. Confused yet? Needless to say this image could be a shot of any of these HTC devices.


I don’t know about you, but the only thing the above image tells me is the device runs HTC’s Sense UI and was taken underneath a fluorescent office light. I can’t make out the device, nor can I tell if it is an Android device. For all we know this could be a shot of the HTC Hero, which HTC made an announcement at the end of October that it was currently working hard to make its Sense UI compatible with the Android 2.0 (éclair) update. Perhaps the anonymous tipster (whom lives in Baltimore and currently enjoys the mostly cloudy, 61-degree weather) told BGR the image provided was in fact a shot of the HTC Passion. For now we’ll just take the image as pure speculation. If it is indeed an image of HTC’s Sense UI running in conjunction with Android 2.0, well then we will cross our fingers for the update to make its way to the HTC Droid Eris soon.

T-Mobile's BlackBerry 9700 Pricing

T-Mobile is expected to get the BlackBerry 9700 Bold2 on Nov. 16, and Phone Arena recieved a tip about pricing. You can pick up the new device for $199.99 with a standard 2-year contract. If you're affraid of commitment you can snag the Berry for a whopping $499.99 or 20 monthly payments of $22.50 on top of an Even More Plus plan. The Even More Plus plans allow you to customize a contract free plan that best suits you. The unlimited talk, text and web plan plus the monthly BlackBerry Bold2 payment of $22.50 comes in at around $100 - enough to make any iPhone user weep. If you're looking for a solid contract-free BlackBerry device I would say this is a pretty good option!

Verizon Gets a Phone That Isn't a DROID, Curve2 On Its Way

Verizon, Verizon, Verizon. It seems you've been dominating the news lately with all of your fancy releases. No, it isn't all of the looming Android releases we'll be talking about today.

The network wants to give it's BlackBerry lovers a gift with the Nov. 20 release of the Curve2. We knew Verizon would get the device, we just didn't know when. The Curve2 is a pretty solid device and the loved, yet hated trackball has been replaced with an optical trackpad. Good news is the device can be yours for $99 after the standard 2-year contract and $100 mail-in-rebate and comes in either Black or Smokey Violet for the ladies.

Motorola Droid Eris gets unboxed

I know we’re all counting down, so I don’t have to remind you Verizon Wireless is releasing two highly anticipated Android devices from Motorola Friday. The DROID may have overshadowed the Motorola Droid Eris, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t deserve some drool-worthy attention. Photos of the new Android device being unboxed have surfaced over on BGR. Like we said before, this device may look like Sprint’s HTC Hero but this device is thinner and lighter. Oh, and it's $80 cheaper! Said to be the best Android device on the market aside from cousin DROID, I’d say this little baby is a steal.

Sony Ericsson announces XPERIA X10 Android device

Sony Ericsson announced its flagship Android device, XPERIA X10, today with a press release and a flurry of images and videos. Sony Ericsson's first Android device will run Android 1.6 (cupcake) with its own branded "Rachael" user interface. The XPERIA X10 features an "infinite button" which allows you to aggregate all interactions with one person into one view. Yet another device that aims to integrate your social media experiences on platforms such as Facebook and Twitter with your everyday phone use.

The XPERIA X10 has a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 8.1-megapixel camera with autofocus, GPS with Google Maps, 3.5mm audio jack, WiFi and a 4-inch 480 x 854 WVGA scratch-resistant screen. There's only 1GB of built-in memory, but the device comes boxed with an 8GB microSD card for memory expansion. The XPERIA will come in Sensuous Black and Lustre White, and we're guessing will make its way to either T-Mobile or AT&T - although release date, pricing and carrier support were left out of the release. It looks like this is the year of the Android, everyone. We're just glad our Privus Mobile Caller ID application will work on all of the new upcoming Android devices!

Sprint Android Talk

Sprint executive David Owens conducted a live chat with Sprint customers last Thursday and laid down somewhat of a roadmap for the remainder of this year and on into 2010. Owens stated the carrier would be selling multiple HTC Android devices in the coming year and also confirmed that both the HTC Hero and Samsung Moment will receive Android updates. HTC also confirmed yesterday that the manufacturer is working on a 2.0 update for the Hero, although both Sprint and HTC won’t give specifics as to when this update will be ready. Owens told customers that Windows Mobile 6.5 is currently being tested for the TouchPro2, but again did not confirm a date for the update.

Sprint is set to release Wi-Fi enabled Blackberries, including a Wi-Fi-capable version of the Tour. According to Owens, Android phones on Sprint’s network will become less expensive “as we see volume across the industry.” Well, all I’ll say is Sprint better hope Verizon isn’t really planning on introducing the HTC Droid Eris next week for $99! The carrier already lost a little over 800,000 customers to competing networks during the quarter, which is actually down from over a million in the second quarter of this year. Sprint CEO Dan Hess says he expects customer retention to be prettier in the final quarter of 2009. It seems the carrier is putting a lot of eggs in its Android basket, and with stiff competition coming its way via Verizon, I’m a little skeptical of that.

Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless made it clear they plan to become the leading network for Android users, but according to the Boy Genius Report’s sources, it sounds like the carrier plans to become the leading network for smartphones period. Apparently if Verizon can’t have the iPhone, the carrier plans to dethrone AT&T by carrying everything but Apple’s wonder device.

Curious as to which devices will join the big red in this “Best network, best smartphone” campaign? Either the BlackBerry Curve2 or the HTC Passion (aka Dragon) will launch on Black Friday, with the second launching in mid-December. The Motorola Calgary is also said to be a device joining the ranks along with a “couple BlackBerrys” and some unannounced devices. Counting the BlackBerry Storm, Verizon aims to release 15 new phones by year’s end. When you take into account the highly anticipated Motorola DROID and Droid Eris (which is now confirmed to be a mere $99) launching this Friday, I’d say the carrier has a fair shot. What I’d like to know is how many of you are planning to jump ship in order to pick up one of Verizon’s new Android devices?

In HTC News

If I were HTC I’d be none-too-thrilled that the little ol’ Motorola DROID is getting all the Verizon love. The carrier has yet to officially confirm the Droid Eris’ existence to be exact. Images and specs of the Droid Eris, which is said to launch on Verizon the same day as the DROID, have been sprouting all over the blogsphere today. The Eris will come loaded with a 5-megapixel camera and Wi-Fi capabilities.

HTC has also confirmed it’s currently working on the Sense UI’s compatibility with the Android 2.0 (éclair) update for the Sprint’s Hero, but gave no indication as to when the update would be made available. The HTC Eris is the same device as the Hero (aside from reviews stating the Eris is “lighter, slimmer and faster” than the Hero). It only stands to reason that Verizon’s Eris would get the update along with Sprint’s Hero. That would make the Droid Eris a pretty sweet deal for a mere $99!

The Verizon Droid Saga

We all know that Verizon Wireless is sinking some major Benjamin’s into the launch of the highly anticipated Motorola DROID, including an interactive Times Square experience among other things. Formerly known as the Sholes, the Motorola DROID is quite drool-worthy – especially for an Android device. I learned today that Droid isn’t just a device from Verizon Wireless, but the name of Verizon’s entire Android line. In laymen’s terms, DROID = phone; Droid = brand. Still confusing? Stick with me as I try to explain.

We first saw the HTC ‘Desire’ or ‘Hero’ in the hands of Google CEO Eric Schmidt at the Verizon/Android announcement. This HTC Sense UI running device, which is now being referred to as the HTC Droid Eris, will launch alongside the Motorola DROID on Nov. 6. You might be asking yourself, “Why didn’t Verizon officially announce the Eris with the DROID?” Obviously this device is far inferior to the DROID as it runs the outdated Android 1.5, but Verizon is making up for that with a $99 ticket price. This is an aggressive move for Verizon as Sprint is offering the HTC Hero for $179.99. It’s nice to see Verizon is making a range of Android devices available for customers with varied budgets.

Looking into the future I’d say it is smart for Verizon to build an Android brand under the Droid name, as it easily identifies a device no matter the manufacturer as both an Android and a Verizon device. Speaking from the present with all the hub-bub over the Motorola DROID and confusion concerning code-names for specific devices that are individual to each carrier, I’d say it’s downright confusing.

Today Belongs to BlackBerry

Storm2
It’s not like this news comes as a surprise, but it’s nice to hear Verizon Wireless made the new BlackBerry Storm2’s arrival official. This Wednesday, Oct. 28 you can stop by your neighborhood Verizon store to pick up the device for $179.99 with the standard 2-year contract

inPulse to ship February 2010
This Bluetooth driven "smartwatch" will bring your incoming calls, emails, text messages, etc. to your wrist via a 1.3-inch OLED display. Bad news this watch is incapable of outgoing communication, but the 007 device has a microUSB port and rechargeable battery (last about 3 days) and a vibrating motor to indicate BlackBerry phone action! I think my favorite perk of the watch would be intercepting incoming caller information and deciding whether or not I would like to get up and walk to the other room to answer my phone. Some call it lazy but I call it technology. The inPulse can be pre-ordered now for $149 and slated for a February ship date.

Nokia N900 release pushed back to November

Nokia’s N900 was expected to debut this month, but according to Peter Schneider, head of Maemo marketing, the N900 will “start shipping during November 2009.” Although this means you will have to wait a little longer to get your hot-little-hands on Nokia’s latest superphone, I don’t think this is necessarily a bad thing. It seems that a lot of manufacturers took note of the 2008 Verizon Blackberry Storm catastrophe and now err on the side of caution in an effort to not rush the release of a new device. According to Schneider, Nokia lent out 300 pre-production units to the community – and being a company that claims to value the importance of feedback, I think it is safe to assume there was some cleaning up to be done before the N900 makes its way to the masses. For more Nokia N900 information, hop on over to Engadget.

More Dell Android Information Surfaces

Images of a prototype and basic specs for Dell’s Android device codenamed “Streak” have leaked onto the blogsphere, and this handset looks to be mammoth…in size, that is. Of course nothing is official as of yet, but the Streak has a whopping 5-inch WVGA 800 x 480 capacitive touchscreen – not exactly pocketable but attractive nonetheless. A front-facing camera on the bottom edge and the abnormally large screen points towards video conferencing capabilities. The Streak also comes equipped with a 5-megapixel camera with dual-LED flash, a 1,300mAh battery, and will run Android 2.0 (a.k.a Éclair). Dell is said to be testing prototypes on U.S. 3G networks. The phone looks sleek and could have a lot of potential, but will the size hold it back?

Motorola 'Calgary' Android device

Two Motorola Android devices will launch this quarter on the Verizon Wireless open network. It seems a device codenamed Calgary slipped out to Boy Genius Report complete with images. This will be a low-end device when it comes to smartphones. As you can see this device is not nearly as sleek or impressive as the Droid but is said to be a solid device running MOTOBLUR. The Calgary comes with a full QWERTY keyboard, 3-megapixel camera, GPS, WiFi and a 3.5mm headphone jack. In short, if you want an Android device but aren’t keen on all those fancy bells and whistles of the sleeker smartphones making their way onto Sprint and Verizon then the Motorola Calgary just might be for you.

Uncovering the DROID

This must be a sign of good things to come for the smartphone (especially the Android) industry – but is it knock-the-iPhone-off-its-pedestal good? I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. Boy Genius Report and Tech Crunch are both posting mini previews of the “DROID” formerly known as the Motorola Sholes. Motorola, Google and Verizon are all three said to have had a hand in the design of the latest Android device set to hit Verizon on Oct. 30. BGR reportedly had a hands-on moment with the DROID and said in a recent blog post that the device is “the Android device to beat, easily the most impressive…even in its non-final form [it’s] the most impressive phone we’ve used since the iPhone. It’s positively amazing.” Those are some pretty strong words of acclimation. While this phone might very well be impressive, it should be interesting to see how the device will fare on Verizon’s open network. In any case, it looks a lot better than the Motorola CLIQ.

So far we’ve been told that the device is running Android 2.0 and a killer Texas Instruments OMAP3430 processor (same chip as Palm Pre), has a super-slim slide-out QWERTY keyboard, and a huge, impressive capacitive touchscreen. Hopefully we’ll get some solid specs soon, but as of right now we’ll have to settle for the colorful commercials Verizon is pumping out.

T-Mobile's Motorola CLIQ gets reviewed

There are so many reviews over T-Mobile’s latest Android offering, the Motorola CLIQ, we thought it only fitting to do a little summary as well. Before we talk reviews, let’s talk specs:

- Android 1.5 Operating System
- Slide out QWERTY & virtual keyboard
- 320 x 480 HVGA Capacitive touchscreen
- Standalone GPS w/ internal antenna
- 5-megapixel camera with autofocus and geo-tagging
- 3.5mm headset jack
- MOTOBLUR syncs contacts, posts, messages, photos and much more – from sources such as Facebook, Twitter, Gmail and email.
- Removable 2GB MicroSD card, supports up to 32GB.

Build & Design:
Although the CLIQ is rather bulky in size, Boy Genius Report and ZDNet believe the high-quality materials and substantial build more than made up for it. Oddly enough Gizmodo says “the phone feels cheap,” so this seems to be a pretty subjective topic. The CLIQ’s keyboard is made of large round dome-like plastic keys which some might find a little off-putting. When it comes to the camera, the 5-megapixel camera performs pretty well – that is unless you’re trying to take a close-up. The CLIQ’s battery had trouble making it through the day – not unlikely for an Android device, especially one with cloud connectivity. The boys over at Engadget expressed the touchscreen was rather resistive, causing multiple mistakes and suggested it might be easier to just use the QWERTY. Another downside is the CLIQ isn’t running the latest Android platform yet.

Software:
This device seems to be all about the custom MOTOBLUR skin built over the Android platform. This software attempts to let you communicate seamlessly across all desired social media platforms. When you first turn on your device you’re prompted to set up your MOTOBLUR account. The next thing that happens is MOTOBLUR sinks ALL of your contact, and there is no way to stop this from happening. That’s right, every time you follow a stranger on twitter (that you would never need to contact via phone, or any other communication tool outside of twitter) they are synced into your contacts. The good news is there is a contact bar that allows you to sort through your contacts via source (i.e.; Facebook, Twitter, etc.). Also, the contacts application displays things like birthdays, recent status update, profile picture, email address, and phone number. Said to be a little overwhelming at times, the vast amount of BLUR branded widgets allow you to sustain connectivity 24/7. The interface is said to be very easy to customize. For more on the CLIQ’s widgets and UI check out the video below.



So there’s been a mix of reviews, and it really comes down to each individual. If you use your smartphone mainly for social media and texting, this device would be perfect for you. Chris Ziegler from Boy Genius Report said he would recommend the CLIQ over the G1, but overall it felt like a test-bed for another Motorola Android with great potential. In either case, I think the Motorola CLIQ is a step in the right direction, both for Android devices and Motorola.

Click here to get full reviews:
Boy Genius Review
PC World
Gizmodo
ZDNet

Acer announces its first Android device

Acer announced its first non-Windows Mobile smartphone today and it looks like it will be a monster. The new Acer Liquid will run on the Android 1.6 platform (aka Donut) powered by Qualcomm’s 1GHz Snapdragon processor. This sleek device has a large HD capacitive touchscreen as well as a 5-megapixel camera with autofocus and geo-tagging. Acer says the Liquid will come equipped with an enhanced user interface, and it seems as though Acer might market the Liquid as a social networker’s go-to gadget with automatic Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Picasa and Flickr integration. There weren’t any details about a release date, price or carrier support, but it looks like we have a race between HTC and Acer for the first Android device sporting the snappy Snapdragon.

[photo credit: Engadget]

Want a free iPhone 3G S with a year subscription of Privus Mobile?

Privus Mobile is giving away an iPhone 3G S with a year subscription of its iPrivus Caller Name Lookup service. The winner will be drawn at random and is open to U.S. and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec). All you have to do is go to the Privus Mobile Web site and fill out the form with your correct contact information – the winner will be notified via email so if you use a fake one and Privus Mobile can’t contact you, obviously you can’t win. You must be 18 years or older and the limit is one entry per person. You have until Nov. 27 to enter, but why dilly-dally? Here are the Top 10 reasons to enter this season’s contest:

10.) You’re tired of getting prank-called on your dumbphone.

9.) You bought the iPhone 3G right before the 3G S came to AT&T, and you’re still a
little bitter that you don’t have video capability.

8.) You’re dying to be able to make a ringtone out of your favorite iTunes songs.

7.) While Little Timmy is sitting by the Christmas tree thanking his grandmother for the socks and underwear with a fake smile plastered across his face, you’re on the receiving end of a genuinely excited “thank you” after your grandson opens his new iPhone 3G S that you won from Privus Mobile.

6.) You get a tinge of jealousy every time you see Apple’s “We’ve got an app for that,” commercial.

5.) You want to impress your co-workers by looking up unknown numbers for them with your iPrivus-loaded iPhone.

4.) You’re ready to catch that pesky Harry Sasquatch in action!

3.) You’re still tapping away at a first-generation iPhone on the AT&T’s Edge network.

2.) You’re anxious to see if your old iPhone really blends.

1.) You really want the fastest selling smartphone of all time as well as a year subscription of Mobile Caller ID…for FREE!

Most people think they have Caller ID on their mobile phone, but the caller’s name is never displayed unless it is already saved into your contacts. Privus Mobile provides true Caller ID to the world’s most popular smartphone operating systems including Windows Mobile, Symbian S60, BlackBerry and Android OS as well as Apple’s iPhone. Want to give Privus Mobile a try? While you’re on the site entering the contest, check and see if your phone is on the site! Happy call-screening!

Privus Mobile for Windows Mobile gets free upgrade

Good news cometh for all of my Windows Mobile compadres. Privus Mobile released a free upgrade to its Windows Mobile Caller ID application enabling caller name lookup in addition to its enhanced Caller ID services. How many times has a friend or co-worker received a call from an unknown number and asked you, “Do you know who this is?” I don’t know about you but I wouldn’t even be able to call my own mother if her number wasn’t programmed into my phone. Now you can be the hero with Privus Mobile’s update! Once you’ve installed the update simply open the Privus Mobile application and input the unknown number as your friend reads it off…and presto! You’ve saved the day by identifying the unknown caller.

The update is free for all those who are currently subscribed to Privus Mobile, and if you haven’t experienced Privus Mobile yet you can download the updated version through Privus Mobile’s mobile site at http://www.privusmobile.mobi/ or any of the numerous app dealers. Privus Mobile is available on BlackBerry, Symbian and Android devices as well as iPrivus for iPhones. You can also follow this link to set up your phone for a free 10-day trial. Don’t forget to tell us what you think!

HTC HD headed the the U.S. Q1 2010

I have to admit, I’ve had a little Europe envy creep up every time I read another rave review of the HTC Leo (a.k.a. HD 2), and with plenty of reason. Just take a look at these specs:

• 4.3-inch 480x800 WVGA resolution touchscreen
• Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional
• HTC’s Sense UI
• Standalone GPS
• 5-megapixel auto focus camera with 2x LED flash
• 3.5 mm headphone jack
• microSD card slot with SDHC support
  [click here for full specs via Slash Gear]

According to Phone Area, HTC CEO Peter Chou reportedly put out a January stateside launch. When prodded, an HTC spokesperson said, “I should be fired it I can’t sell this device in the U.S..” Well there we have it folks, the HTC HD 2 should be arriving here Q1 2010. Which lucky carrier do you think we get the device?

AT&T and T-Mobile set to get the BlackBerry Bold 2?

According to reports from Engadget and Phone Arena, it’s possible AT&T’s exclusivity with the BlackBerry Bold is coming to an end. Word is T-Mobile and AT&T will both announce the BlackBerry 9700 Bold 2 on Oct. 21 – making the Bold 2 T-Mobile’s first 3G BlackBerry device. There isn’t much change on the second go ‘round for this device. The 9700 has a trackpad in place of the staple BlackBerry trackball, an upgraded 3.2-megapixel camera, improved screen resolution and, potentially, gets early dibs on the 5.0 OS that should be coming out for the original Bold later this year. Maybe AT&T decided to let go of the Bold exclusivity to free up some more money to keep the iPhone? Either way, how many of you AT&T and T-Mobile users out there have got your eye on the Bold 2?

Sprint and Samsung announce the Samsung Moment Android device

Today Sprint added Android device numero dos to its lineup with the announcement of the Samsung Moment. This Android device should please touchscreen and QWERTY keyboard fans alike as it has a 3.2-inch AMOLEAD touchscreen and a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. The Moment is powered by a monster 800MHz processor which should help the device smoothly run your Android applications of choice as well as the various Sprint services offered such as SprintTV, Sprint Navigation and NFL Mobile Live. The Moment allows you to use a 3.5mm headphone jack to enjoy all of your multimedia, and while you’re at it you can take a MySpace-style picture of yourself with its 3.2-megapixel camera. Samsung included Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS with the Moment and it can all be yours for $179.99 after a $100 mail-in-rebate and standard 2-year contract. If you’re excited about the Samsung Moment you can preorder it now on Sprint’s Web site or you can wait until Nov. 1 to pick it up in stores.

Verizon and Google make Android relationship official

It should come as no surprise Thanks to numerous rumors that have been flying around the blogsphere for quite some time now) that Verizon and Google sat down this morning at a joint press conference to announce its partnership. Verizon representatives said the new agreement with Google will “come to fruition within the next few weeks as Verizon Wireless introduces Android-based handsets.” Really? According to Engadget Mobile, Verizon and Google representatives where seen holding the HTC Hero and Motorola Sholes at the press-conference. Why not just announce it? In either case, Android devices will be on Verizon before you know it.

[image source: Engadget Mobile]

Windows Marketplace for Mobile now live

Windows Marketplace for Mobile is now open and available to all those who a) have purchased the AT&T HTC Pure, which was early out of the gates, or b) have somehow managed to get Windows Mobile 6.5 onto their existing Windows Mobile device. In either case, the marketplace is open and ready for business with a whopping 34 applications, many of which are fetching a pretty high price tag compared to the mobile app store staple 99 cents.

For all of those who have Windows Mobile 6.0 or 6.1 and have no plans to update your devices anytime soon, Windows Marketplace should be available for your personal enjoyment sometime next month. Microsoft will officially unveil Windows Mobile 6.5, Windows Marketplace and MyPhone tomorrow at the first annual consumer products open house.

In other mobile marketplace news, MobiHand's on-device Windows Mobile application store now makes it possible to browse, purchase and downloads apps straight to your device. Privus Mobile can be found on MobiHand so be sure to check that out while you're browsing MobiHand. Not familiar with Privus Mobile? Try a free, 10-day trial here.

AT&T receives HTC Pure shipments

We just read over at Engadget Mobile that shipments of the HTC Pure (AT&T’s branded version of the Touch Diamond2) have made their way to AT&T stores. There has been no official word on pricing, but several reports speculate about a $149.99 price point after a $50 mail-in rebate and 2-year contract. Microsoft initially mentioned the carrier would be a global launch partner for Windows Mobile 6.5 so we’re assuming this business-friendly device will be AT&T’s first Windows Mobile 6.5 device. Anyone interested in the Pure or would you rather have the Imagio or Touch Pro2?

Verizon announces Windows Mobile 6.5 equipped HTC Imagio

If you’re on the Verizon network and would like to get a Windows Mobile 6.5 device but aren’t so keen on the Touch Pro2, you’re in luck. Today the network announced the HTC Imagio which will arrive equipped and ready with Windows Mobile 6.5. The Imagio is a pretty solid smartphone by all standards with 3G and Wi-Fi capabilities, a 3.6-inch high resolution touch display, 5-megapixel auto-focus camera and MediaFLO live TV. This device even has a kickstand for optimal hands-free media viewing pleasure! The Imagio will be available Oct. 6 (the same day Windows Mobile 6.5 debuts) for $199 after mail-in rebate and a 2-year contract. If you're in the middle of a Privus Mobile contract but would like to switch over to a Windows Mobile 6.5 device, never fear. You can simply download the application onto your new phone using your previous registration code and you're good to go! Not familiar with Privus Mobile? Click here to download a free trial now!



October 6 also happens to be the start of Microsoft’s first consumer products open house event for invited members of the press and analysts in New York City. The event will showcase Microsoft’s new My Phone or “Skybox” service for storing and accessing mobile-phone information (much like Apple’s Mobile Me) as well as the new Windows Marketplace for Mobile. After losing around 9 percent of its mobile operating system market share in the second quarter of 2009, I’m sure the folks over at Microsoft are hoping this will breathe some new life into Microsoft’s mobile devices.

Android 1.6 Update

The Android 1.6 “Donut” update was released yesterday to developers and the details are flowing out. In this update, Google isn’t focusing on the user-interface as much as security and performance. A few features have been added with the Donut update such as a quick search box for easy application access, a new multimedia gallery which allows for seamless camera and camcorder integration with performance tweaks here and there. All that plus an updated battery usage indicator which lets you know which applications are using the most power and how much. For a detailed report of all Android 1.6 updates click here.

Overall this update will make your phone harder, better, faster, stronger (cue the daft punk music). We love Android performance updates because that means our Privus Mobile Caller ID application will only perform better. While we’re on the subject, Handango loves Privus Mobile so much they’ve nominated the application for another award but we need your help to win. Follow this link to cast your vote (ehem, you can vote as many times as you like so get clicking).