Hasta La Gadget!

As we’d suspected, AT&T isn’t intentionally limiting upload speeds on iPhone 4s in some markets where things suddenly got slow over the weekend. Or that’s the company’s claim, anyhow — and seeing how they’re actually calling out a supplier in the process, we tend to buy it. Specifically, AT&T says that some Alcatel-Lucent equipment (which isn’t used in all markets) is causing uploads to fall back to non-HSUPA UMTS speeds “under certain conditions” affecting “less than two percent” of the company’s customers, and that they’re working on developing a fix. “Less than two percent” seems a bit optimistic, but regardless, at least it shouldn’t be a permanent condition for anyone. Here’s the full statement:

“AT&T and Alcatel-Lucent jointly identified a software defect — triggered under certain conditions – that impacted uplink performance for Laptop Connect and smartphone customers using 3G HSUPA-capable wireless devices in markets with Alcatel-Lucent equipment. This impacts less than two percent of our wireless customer base. While Alcatel-Lucent develops the appropriate software fix, we are providing normal 3G uplink speeds and consistent performance for affected customers with HSUPA-capable devices.”

AT&T identifies Alcatel-Lucent as slow upload culprit, fix in the works originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft’s mobile efforts may look like they’re slightly in disarray after the expensive and embarrassing Kin debacle, but it looks like Windows Phone 7 may yet emerge unscathed from the chaos — and potentially even earlier than expected, if this sheet of AT&T retail signage that’s being sent out for a July 24th store overhaul is to be believed. Don’t get too excited, however: we’re told that cards like this have hit in July for September launches in the past — which would line up with that hint of an October Telstra launch — and that the “QTY: 6” label likely points to two devices, not a sextuplet. (We’d guess… Samsung and LG?) Either way, it would be a big win for Microsoft if it can manage to get Windows Phone 7 in store shelves before that promised “holiday 2010” due date — we’ll see what happens.

AT&T stores getting Windows Phone 7 retail materials, launch coming sooner than expected? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Jul 2010 22:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When the Moto Backflip launched we were a wee bit miffed that AT&T stuffed its ROM with what our esteemed Chris Ziegler referred to as “unremovable crapware.” But, even more annoying was the handset being locked down to only accept apps installed via the Android Market, preventing users from the wealth of other goodies floating around these great internets. A few months on the situation is still the same for the HTC Aria and the company is responding directly to criticism with a statement that indicates it’s all in your best interests:

AT&T selected Android Market as the exclusive source for applications because it forces developers to be accountable for the apps they submit. If the Android community has issues with an app, the app can be flagged and removed. This minimizes the risk of malicious apps harming customers and provides more protection to the customer’s private data stored on the phone.

There, don’t you feel safer now?

AT&T explains, basically ignores criticism for locking down Android handsets originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Jul 2010 10:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung’s US team held a swanky event in NYC this evening to launch all four of its new US-spec Galaxy S phones in style. If you haven’t been brought up to speed on Samsung’s stateside Android invasion, the Captivate is headed to AT&T, the Fascinate to Verizon, the Epic 4G to Sprint and the Vibrant to T-Mobile. Each of the phones have 4-inch Super AMOLED screens, 1GHz Hummingbird Cortex A8 CPUs, and cams that can capture 720p video. We’ve already got detailed hands on impressions of the Captivate and Epic 4G, but stay tuned for Fascinate and Vibrant previews tonight. In the meantime, check out the family all together in the pictures in the gallery below.

Samsung’s American Galaxy S phones pose for family portrait originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 19:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We get it, the iPhone 4 is pretty cool, and of course the opportunity to obtain it on the very first day has a bit of an allure. But lining up for a camp-out in front of your strip mall-ensconced AT&T store five days later for the first day of walk-in sales is… well, we don’t want to judge. At least you documented the soul sucking process with these blurry photos of your lines, some of which stretched as far as 100 people. Don’t worry, the iPhone 4 will manage to snap much better shots of this process as it inevitably repeats itself next year, to the clear detriment of mankind. Oh, and if you onlookers were thinking of joining in on the fray, you might want to hold off: the word on the street is that most AT&T stores have run out of this fresh stock already.

[Thanks to everyone who sent these in]

iPhone lines crop up at AT&T stores as humanity slips ever further toward its inevitable destruction originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 11:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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