Microsoft confirms Natal launch in October (update: Microsoft responds)

We’ve heard it before, now Microsoft’s Syed Bilal Tariq is repeating the October launch date for Natal. Speaking to GamerTagRadio, Microsoft’s marketing manager for Saudi Arabia says that the Natal launch,

“is going to be somewhere in October and we will be in a position to confirm the date at E3, which is in June, but definitely it is going to be October 2010.”

So there you have it. While we’d prefer to see an official press release on the topic, there’s little reason to doubt what you can hear for yourselves after the break.

Update: It’s not as clear-cut of a statement as we’d probably, but Microsoft has responded via email, telling G4, “Syed Bilal Tariq is not a [Microsoft] employee… He is a vendor employed through a third-party company on behalf of the Microsoft subsidiary in Saudi Arabia.” Sure, that downplays his realm of knowledge, but it doesn’t completely discredit. No comment was given as to the October date. At least E3’s a few hours closer now, right?

Continue reading Microsoft confirms Natal launch in October (update: Microsoft responds)

Microsoft confirms Natal launch in October (update: Microsoft responds) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 May 2010 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint cans Nexus One in favor of EVO 4G

In light of Verizon’s recent decision (or was that Google’s decision?) to say goodnight to the Nexus One in favor of the Droid Incredible, we thought it might be wise to reach out to Sprint and get a comment on its own version — the EVO 4G is just around the corner, of course, and it’s lying in wait to cast a long, long shadow over any other Android device in Sprint’s lineup. Sure enough, the carrier says that it’s now taking a pass on Google’s first “superphone,” seeing how the EVO 4G is basically better in every respect: WiMAX support, larger screen, better camera, and so on. Of course, this might peeve a few folks who’d prefer stock Android over HTC’s Sense UI — if for no other reason than the fact that Sense-powered devices tend to have wildly longer firmware upgrade lag times than stock ones do — but otherwise, the move seems to be a perfectly logical one. Oh, and as for that EVO? No update on a launch window, but Sprint says that it’s still targeting Summer, thank goodness.

Sprint cans Nexus One in favor of EVO 4G originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 May 2010 15:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pre Plus comes to AT&T on May 16, $149.99 with free Touchstone

AT&T has finally sent out the rundown on when (and for how much) its customers will be able to saddle themselves with a Pre Plus and matching two-year contract, and the wait isn’t a long one: it launches this coming Sunday, May 16, just as we’d expected. It’ll run $149.99 on contract after rebate — the same that Sprint is charging for the Pre, and $100 more than Verizon is charging for its own Pre Plus — but buyers will be getting a free Touchstone charging dock along with their purchase “for a limited time” when the phone is picked up in a corporate-owned store. There’s no word on the Pixi Plus yet, but hey, at least this gets Palm back on the network after an extended vacation. No word on a free mobile hotspot add-on, but hope springs eternal, we suppose.

Pre Plus comes to AT&T on May 16, $149.99 with free Touchstone originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 May 2010 14:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC EVO 4G earns FCC’s blessing, WiMAX and all

Looking at hundreds of FCC documents each and every week, it’s pretty difficult for us to get too excited about any particular filing, but there are two words that do it for us each and every time: “LTE” and “WiMAX.” In this case, the latter word caught our eye all throughout the filing for HTC model PC36100, which runs WiMAX on Sprint’s (and Clearwire’s) 2500MHz band alongside the standard suite of CDMA bands with EV-DO. In other words, folks, yes — it’s true — you’re looking at the frickin’ EVO 4G for Sprint. There’s not much to see here, really; it’s still under confidentiality for the external photos, but at least they’ve cleared that all-important FCC hurdle on the way to retail, which will be… soon, Sprint? Right? Please?

HTC EVO 4G earns FCC’s blessing, WiMAX and all originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 May 2010 18:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPad international launch is go on May 28 (update: pricing)

We knew it was coming end of May, now we have a date: May 28th and up for pre-order on May 10th. That’s when the iPad will hit Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK. It lands in Austria, Belgium, Hong Kong, Ireland, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand and Singapore in July. Sorry, still no pricing. Full press release after the break.

Update: Tax-inclusive pricing is out. Très cher! Oh, and Orange UK has fessed up to pricing details for the iPad 3G + WiFi.

Update II: A handy pricing chart has also surfaced, helping you get a better grasp on what Apple’s charging for its first tablet in the first international launch markets.

Europe:

  • 16GB WiFi-only €479
  • 32GB WiFi-only €579
  • 64GB WiFi-only €679
  • 16GB WiFi+3G €579
  • 32GB WiFi+3G €679
  • 64GB WiFi+3G €779

UK:

  • 16GB WiFi-only £429
  • 32GB WiFi-only £499
  • 64GB WiFi-only £599
  • 16GB WiFi+3G £529
  • 32GB WiFi+3G £599
  • 64GB WiFi+3G £699

Continue reading iPad international launch is go on May 28 (update: pricing)

iPad international launch is go on May 28 (update: pricing) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 May 2010 08:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Milestone gets Android 2.1 update in UK, available to download now

The saga of the Milestone’s firmware update to Android 2.1 is finally over for one more territory. The United Kingdom is today awaking to the news that Motorola has made the freshest Eclair available to its loyal British users, with the download already awaiting those eager to be surfing along the cutting edge of Android innovation. What else do you need to know, it’s the finest software Google has to offer for your phone and it’s downloadable at the source link — get going!

Milestone gets Android 2.1 update in UK, available to download now originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 May 2010 05:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Ericsson X10 family to get Android 2.1 in ‘Q4 2010’

The Xperia X10, one of the big mindshare-grabbing devices of the smartphone world, made us wait a cool six months between its November announcement and wide retail availability in April. One of the secret hopes while all that waiting was going on was that perhaps SE would surprise us and upgrade the dusty old Android 1.6 base installation to a fresh and creamy Eclair (2.1) or even a frosty Froyo (2.2) treat shortly after launch. Time to lay those dreams to rest, dear friends, as Sony Ericsson has come with an official schedule for upgrading the firmware on the Xperia X10 and its X10 mini and X10 mini pro siblings, which places the Android 2.1 delivery in the fourth quarter of 2010 — and knowing the company that probably means closer to Christmas than Halloween. All we can say is you’d better really like that UX platform a great deal, because it’ll be the only thing you’ll be seeing for quite a while on Sony Ericsson’s Googlephones.

Sony Ericsson X10 family to get Android 2.1 in ‘Q4 2010’ originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 May 2010 08:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide official: Android 2.1, QWERTY, coming in June (we go hands-on)

Hey, CLIQ, better check that rear-view mirror, because you’ve got an interesting competitor coming right up on your tail. T-Mobile is launching another midrange Android QWERTY slider — some might argue the G1’s true successor — christened the myTouch 3G Slide (not quite the “myTouch Slide” we’ve been hearing for a few months) with a 3.4-inch HVGA display, 5 megapixel camera, and a pretty heavily-customized skin based on Android 2.1. How custom are we talking, exactly? Well, it’s not quite like anything we’ve seen on a production Android device before, featuring a host of custom apps including the “Faves Gallery,” a social aggregator for your most dearly beloved contacts; “myModes,” a profile manager that can change the phone’s themes and settings based on time or location; the Swype keyboard in place of Google’s option; and the so-called “Genius Button,” which seeks to extend Android’s already decent voice command and text-to-speech systems by allowing you to do just about anything on the phone using your voice, hear messages read back to you, and so on. In the myTouch 3G tradition, the Slide will come in a selection of colors when it launches in June — black, white, or red — for a to-be-announced price. Check out T-Mobile’s full press release along with our impressions of the device after the break

Continue reading T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide official: Android 2.1, QWERTY, coming in June (we go hands-on)

T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide official: Android 2.1, QWERTY, coming in June (we go hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple sells 1,000,000 iPads in revolution’s first month

Steve told us it’d be revolutionary, and if sales are the measure of a device’s success, then the iPad seems to be well on track to validating its creator’s bold claims. This past Friday, “just 28 days after its introduction,” Apple sold its millionth iPad. 1.5 million ebooks have already been downloaded to the device, along with 12 million apps. Steve Jobs has also taken time from his busy essay-writing schedule to remind us that that’s less than half of the 74 days it took to achieve the milestone with the original iPhone, and demand for the “magical” slate continues to outstrip supply. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading Apple sells 1,000,000 iPads in revolution’s first month

Apple sells 1,000,000 iPads in revolution’s first month originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 May 2010 08:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo Wii goes ebony and ivory on May 9, includes Sports Resort and Motion Plus

Nintendo Wii goes ebony and ivory on May 9, includes Sports Resort and Motion Plus

Nintendo’s Wii has been available in black overseas for quite some time now, and while there were ways to get one in North America, those ways weren’t exactly cheap — nor legitimate. Now Ninty is finally giving us a color option, releasing a black Wii to American consumers for $199.99 on May 9. In other news, you’ll have a copy of Wii Sports Resort included and a MotionPlus adapter to match, along with the controller and nunchuck that were previously included. In fact that looks to be the standard bundle going forward on the white models as well, which equates to something of a soft price drop assuming new Wii owners were going to buy Wii Sports Resort. And of course they were, because who can resist bopping their friends over the head with pretend wooden swords?

Continue reading Nintendo Wii goes ebony and ivory on May 9, includes Sports Resort and Motion Plus

Nintendo Wii goes ebony and ivory on May 9, includes Sports Resort and Motion Plus originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 May 2010 07:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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