The PlayStation Phone: new photos, more details!

We’ve gotten our hands on some more images of the PlayStation Phone, and gleaned a few more juicy details about the handset. Firstly, as you can see in the photos, the model in question does indeed seem to be codenamed “Zeus” (as we reported on the 27th). Furthermore, the handset pictured is running Android 2.2, though apparently there are multiple devices out there with different versions on board (including at least one packed with Android 3.0). Based on what we know, there’s little chance the phone will launch with Froyo — but it’s clear these have been worked on for some time with various versions of the OS.

The device appears to have an 8GB microSD card slotted, and at least 512MB of internal storage (though we’re hoping it’s the 1GB we’ve heard would be present). As you can see from the pictures in the gallery below, the device isn’t exactly thin — we surmise that the handset is around 17mm thick, or slightly thicker than HTC’s Touch Pro 2 (and funnily enough, about the same as the PSPgo). From a design standpoint, the device seems to have more in common with BlackBerry handsets than previous Sony Ericsson phones; that smoky chrome bezel which surrounds the device is definitely giving us Torch flashbacks. As always, we’re hard at work digging up more info on the phone (and potentially more images), but for now, just sit tight and enjoy the exclusive photos in the gallery below.


The PlayStation Phone: new photos, more details! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Oct 2010 16:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

WiFi-only Galaxy Tab stops by the FCC for tea

WiFi-only Galaxy Tab stops by the FCC for tea

$599 is a bit pricey for a seven-inch tablet, and while you can get $200 off that at some places by signing your life away to a data contract, that really isn’t any fun either. Thankfully Samsung appears to have another option with what looks to be the $499, WiFi-only model that showed up in a Best Buy flier earlier this week. That version has now been cleared by the FCC, indeed with only tests for 802.11 and Bluetooth wireless. The absence of 3G looks like it will save you $100 and obviously make the device a little less flexible than its bar-bearing brethren, but whether that modified cost:inconvenience ratio works out in your favor depends largely on the value of your income:restlessness factor.

WiFi-only Galaxy Tab stops by the FCC for tea originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Oct 2010 07:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink SlashGear  |  sourceFCC  | Email this | Comments

Samsung Galaxy Tab notches a fifth American carrier, coming to US Cellular

Milking this one for all it’s worth, eh Samsung? In what’s easily becoming the most drawn-out product launch in the history of product launches, Sammy is just now informing us of a fifth American carrier onboard to carry its Galaxy Tab: US Cellular. The regional CDMA operator has been chosen as the token ‘little guy’ to offer the 7-inch, Froyo-based tablet, but the company’s not saying when it will be arriving nor for how much. We’re guessing it’ll cost between $400 and $600 depending on the contract situation, but considering that every other carrier is getting it within a fortnight or so, those minor points should be clarified in short order.

Continue reading Samsung Galaxy Tab notches a fifth American carrier, coming to US Cellular

Samsung Galaxy Tab notches a fifth American carrier, coming to US Cellular originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Oct 2010 10:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

HTC Desire HD review

Did you know that the word “jumbo” originated from the name of an African elephant famed for being the largest of his kind? HTC will be well familiar with that tag having already rattled off the HD2, EVO 4G, and HD7 in a smartphone-dwarfing 4.3-inch form factor. And while that may not be the largest screen you can have your Android confectionery on today, it’s arguably the upper limit of what we might consider a pocketable device. The HTC Desire HD follows, and seeks to improve upon, its laudable predecessors with an aluminum unibody construction, WVGA (800 x 480) display, 8 megapixel camera with dual LED flash plus 720p video, and a modern 1GHz CPU. That hardware is put at the service of Android’s latest Froyo offering, complemented with an updated Sense that includes a web interface for controlling and discovering your phone remotely. It’s a rich spec sheet, that much is unquestionable, but you’re not just here for tenuous wildlife-related metaphors, you want to know if the whole is equal to, or perhaps even more than, the sum of its parts. Join us after the break for a deeper look at the Desire HD.

Continue reading HTC Desire HD review

HTC Desire HD review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 10:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Samsung Galaxy Tab hitting T-Mobile USA on November 10th, $400 on contract

America’s number four carrier just landed a launch date for Samsung’s Froyo-based Galaxy Tab, and sure enough, it’ll be trotting out into the spotlight a full 24 hours before Verizon Wireless and four whole days prior to Sprint. Trouble is, T-Mob’s not being kind enough to dole out a price tag, so there’s no reasonable way for you to compare its offering against the competition. But hey, being first out of the gate, they can’t hold out on us too much longer, eh?

Update: T-Mobile USA’s official Galaxy Tab portal just went live, and guess what? You’ll be shelling out $399.99 for this bad boy… on a two-year data contract. You’ll also be responsible for a $35 activation fee and a $200 early termination charge should you soon realize just what you’ve gotten yourself into.

Continue reading Samsung Galaxy Tab hitting T-Mobile USA on November 10th, $400 on contract

Samsung Galaxy Tab hitting T-Mobile USA on November 10th, $400 on contract originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 09:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceT-Mobile USA  | Email this | Comments

Acer Liquid Metal S120 spotted running Android 2.2 on AT&T bands in FCC

Rumors of a 3.6-inch 800 x 480 Liquid Metal handset from Acer have been heating up in recent months. Now the aluminum handset said to be housing an 800MHz Qualcomm MSM7230-1 processor just cleared the FCC sporting GSM/EDGE 850/1900 and WCDMA Band II and V making it the perfect candidate for an AT&T launch. The listing also confirms Android 2.2 Froyo, GPS, Bluetooth, and 802.11b/g/n WiFi on the tested model S120 DVT2 (that’s Design Verification Test 2) prototype. With an October launch set for the UK, well, it won’t be long before we see this babe in North America. A bit of documentary evidence after the break.

Continue reading Acer Liquid Metal S120 spotted running Android 2.2 on AT&T bands in FCC

Acer Liquid Metal S120 spotted running Android 2.2 on AT&T bands in FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 01:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceFCC  | Email this | Comments

Acer’s Liquid Metal spotted in the wild, chilling with two mystery friends

The last we heard about Acer’s Liquid Metal smartphone, an Android 2.2 unit with a 3.6-inch display and a lovely aluminum exterior, it was getting ready for a UK launch at the end of October. There’s just a little over a week left to meet that date, and all we have to show are some decidedly unofficial photos from Droid Sans. The first pic, above, shows off a very smudged up looking Liquid Metal (or what is said to be a Liquid Metal at least), but after that are photos of two mystery devices. The first of those (pictured below) has the same… distinctively lengthy form factor of the GW990, while the other device is a tablet that we’ve not laid eyes on before. It looks to be running Android 2.2 (or later) and is said to be “big enough to shift the iPad.” We’re not sure exactly how to parse that bit of auto-translation, but maybe it’s a coded reference to JT Wang’s prediction of doom for the iPad’s market share.

Continue reading Acer’s Liquid Metal spotted in the wild, chilling with two mystery friends

Acer’s Liquid Metal spotted in the wild, chilling with two mystery friends originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 14:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Android Community  |  sourceDroid Sans  | Email this | Comments

Samsung comes clean with Galaxy S Froyo upgrade dates: all carriers in November

The Android 2.2 upgrade situation on the Galaxy S has been a veritable rollercoaster of emotions for owners recently, owing in no small part to the seemingly final firmwares that have been briefly posted and pulled from the company’s servers in parts of the world over the past couple weeks. Nordic countries have already sample the goods, but Sammy says that a “new” firmware update will be available in early November in the UK and should hit “all operator versions” of the phone (presumably including the Vibrant, Captivate, Epic 4G, and Fascinate) by the end of November. YouMobile is reporting that existing regional updates have been pulled due to general not-awesomeness, so hopefully they’ll have a chance to get it right over the next couple weeks before it starts hitting again. Follow the break for Samsung’s press release.

Continue reading Samsung comes clean with Galaxy S Froyo upgrade dates: all carriers in November

Samsung comes clean with Galaxy S Froyo upgrade dates: all carriers in November originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 10:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Caveat emptor: Custom Android handsets all the rage in Germany?

This isn’t the first customizable phone we’ve laid our eyes on, and we’ve always been a fan of the concept — even if the execution sometimes leaves a lot to be desired. Apparently there’s a small startup residing in Germany called Synapse that will sell you a custom Android 2.2 handset, complete with 4-inch multitouch touchscreen, with prices starting around €434 ($600). We say apparently because, try as we might, we only got the Drupal-powered website to appear once this morning. Indeed, the tipster couldn’t even get it to appear more than once himself, which is why he sent us a screen shot. Thanks! What we were able to see, however briefly, was a whole menu of customizable options, including radio (3G and 4G, including LTE and WiMAX), Bluetooth, WiFi, up to a 12 MP camera (with a flash or not), mini-HDMI out, various memory and storage options, and more. Not bad, eh? We don’t think we’ll be taking a chance on this vaporous website, but if you do, make sure you let us know how it works out.

Update: Not that we’ve been able to access the site again, looks like the thing could be had for a baseline price of €299 (or roughly $410). Thanks to Thomas and everyone else who pointed this out!

[Thanks, Christian]

Caveat emptor: Custom Android handsets all the rage in Germany? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceSynapse Phones  | Email this | Comments

HTC HD7 vs. Desire HD: battle of the 4.3-inchers

Come October 21, European smartphone buyers will be faced with the enviable choice of having to pick between two 4.3-inch handsets from HTC bearing the latest and greatest OS from their respective camps. The HD7 will be one of the flag-bearing Windows Phone 7 devices, whereas the Desire HD — which is already sneaking out into retail in some small quantities — offers the finest Froyo dessert Google has yet cooked up, replete with some extra sprinkles of Sense-ible enhancements. We’ll have full reviews of both in the coming days, but for now, we thought we’d whet your appetite with a tour round their oversized bodies, both in pictorial form below and on video, right after the break.

Continue reading HTC HD7 vs. Desire HD: battle of the 4.3-inchers

HTC HD7 vs. Desire HD: battle of the 4.3-inchers originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Oct 2010 14:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments