Hasta La Gadget!

HTC has been on a global Android-pimping mission with its Hero device, and it looks like Chinese subsidiary Dopod gets the honor of announcing three new handsets for the Middle Kingdom. Unlike others, the Hero retains its WiFi capabilities by playing nice with China’s custom WLAN security protocol and is expected in late August on China Unicom for 5,600 Yuan ($820) along with the few-frills Click for 3,400 Yuan ($500). The carrier has opted to strip Google Maps from the Hero (though it’s still downloadable), and to soften the blow it will likely offer a snazzy red version of the phone. China Mobile will have to settle for an as-yet unspecified TD-SCDMA handset and the already announced Magic, both of which will likely be sporting the OMS flavor of Android. We’re not sure we’d classify the Hero’s price tag as reasonable — but really, can you put a dollar figure on being the first big-name Android release in the world’s largest wireless market?

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

HTC Hero and Click coming to China under Dopod brand originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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To dispel any disbelief in Apple’s rumored tablet, an analyst claims to have seen a prototype of the gadget in person.

The analyst, who remains anonymous in the story, told financial publication Barron’s that Apple’s tablet could be introduced in September for a November release. The source shared no details on the specifications of the device. Other publications’ sources have described Apple’s rumored tablet as a 10-inch version of the iPod Touch with multimedia specialties.

“One veteran analyst who has seen first-hand a prototype slate-style computer from Apple says the device could be announced in September for release in November,” the story reads. “Whatever the exact dates, the computer industry is so anxious to see what Apple introduces that it has held off on competing designs until Apple CEO Steve Jobs gives the device his final blessing.”

We’re skeptical about the validity of this claim. First, we question if remaining anonymous would benefit this source, because we imagine Apple doesn’t show its secret products to many analysts; thus it’d be easy to narrow down the possibilities. Second, if the analyst is going to blabber anonymously anyway, why not share additional details of the product? The only reason such a source would come forward would be with the permission of Apple to perpetuate the hype surrounding the product — which seems unnecessary considering the flood of previous reports on this rumored device (see below).

In any case, with all the rumor reports added together, an Apple tablet seems inevitable in the near future. And Wired.com has also heard that in the next year, a large number of tech companies — including Dell, Intel, HTC and Nokia — plan to compete with their own tablet PCs, too.

See Also:

• Financial Times Confirms Apple Tablet for September
• Rumor: $800 Apple Tablet Coming in October
• How an Apple Tablet Could Pit iTunes Against Amazon.com
• Analyst Predicts Apple Will Unleash Touchscreen Tablet Next Year …
• Rumor: 10-Inch Apple Tablet Landing in Early 2010
• Large-Screen Kindle Won't Mean Squat if Apple Tablet Arrives …
• Apple COO Reveals Plans for Touch Tablet — Kinda

A mocked-up illustration of an Apple tablet: Photo Giddy/Flickr

LG has announced the newest addition to its Black Label Series, the Chocolate LG-BL40. The new Chocolate has a 4-inch high-definition LCD and an 800-by-345-pixel resolution; the widescreen LCD features curved, tempered glass with a glossy black finish and red highlights. The phone also features a dual-screen UI, which allows the user to display two different types of content simultaneously. The wide HD LCD “Real VGA” screen makes videos, documents and photos easier to view.

The new LG Chocolate will be available for purchase beginning Q3 in 54 countries (sadly, the U.S. isn’t one of them). For more information on this phone check out the press release.

Clearwire Communications announced that it will launch CLEAR 4G in eight cities in Texas, as well as Boise, Idaho and Bellingham, Wash. on September 1st. The eight Texas markets include Abilene, Amarillo, Corpus Christi, Lubbock, Midland/Odessa, Killeen/Temple, Waco and Wichita Falls.

A Sprint spokesperson confirmed that Sprint’s own 4G rollout will mirror these on the same day. Meanwhile, Sprint will switch on Sprint 4G for Las Vegas, Atlanta, and Portland sometime this month.

Clearwire, meanwhile, said in a statement that it’s working to activate service later in 2009 in Chicago, Dallas, Honolulu, Philadelphia, Seattle, and Charlotte. Unfortunately, New York, Boston, San Francisco, and D.C. will have to wait until 2010.

So, this whole “The Shack” relaunch is really happening, and the San Francisco and New York “Summer Netogether” events promise to be speaker wire-riddled mayhem. Take this giant laptop keyboard an anonymous tipster sent us, for instance. You could probably write a really nice email to your mom on that thing, don’t you think? Like we said: ominous. The tipster also said The Roots are slated to perform at the Times Square version of this event, which will connect two gigantic, fake laptops with live webcam imagery of the two events being beamed across the country — sure to prompt either national unity or riots in the streets.

Filed under: Laptops

The Shack’s gargantuan laptop keyboard adds ominous undertone to Radio Shack relaunch originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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