Hasta La Gadget!

What’s been missing from Vertu’s lineup so far? Okay, yes, a touchscreen model — touché — but what we were really getting at was a version with a full QWERTY keyboard. The company has started sending out emails teasing a new Constellation Quest model, and while you can’t make much either from the included picture or from the Flash-based teaser site you’re directed to, it’s pretty obvious there’s QWERTY involved — perfect for texting in your bids to Christie’s, agreeing to a sale price for your summer home in the Hamptons over email, or letting Jeeves know to have the jet fueled and ready while you’re still in the back of the Roller some 45 minutes away. Needless to say, we’re confident it’ll carry on the Vertu tradition of being overpriced and under-capable, but let’s be honest: does a billionaire have the time to figure out how to use a smartphone anyhow?

[Thanks, Mudilamus]

Vertu Constellation Quest ‘coming soon,’ finally puts QWERTY in your Hermès handbag originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Oct 2010 14:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG was naturally expected to show up for today’s announcement seeing how the company has been a longtime “strategic” partner of Microsoft’s — and indeed, they’re bringing two models into the fold. First up is the Quantum (known as the Optimus 7Q in markets outside the US, pictured right) that we broke as the C900 back in August, a landscape slider equipped with quadband EDGE and triband HSPA (850 / 1900 / 2100MHz), 16GB of storage, a 5 megapixel camera with 720p video capture, a 3.5-inch WVGA display, and an all-too-familiar 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon core; as you might have guessed from the 3G bands, this puppy will be coming to AT&T. Next, the Optimus 7 (pictured left) will be seeing a much wider international release on Telus in Canada, America Movil in Mexico, Movistar and Vodafone in Europe, and SingTel in Singapore. What is it, you ask? Well, it’s exactly what you’d figured by now from the leaks — a 3.8-inch WVGA slate at 11.5mm thick with specs that largely mirror the Quantum’s otherwise: 1GHz Snapdragon and 5 megapixel cam, notably. Both models will support “Play To,” the brand name for the DLNA features LG touted back at IFA, allowing users to fling media to DLNA-compatible TVs, set-top boxes, and the like. Expect both the Optimus 7 and 7Q to start rolling out on October 21, eventually deploying in over 35 countries; on AT&T, the Quantum will run $199.99 when it hits in the next few weeks. Follow the break for LG’s full press release.

Continue reading LG Optimus 7, Quantum, and Optimus 7Q welcome Windows Phone 7 to the fold

LG Optimus 7, Quantum, and Optimus 7Q welcome Windows Phone 7 to the fold originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Oct 2010 09:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Worried that the Samsung Transform would be a slatephone? Don’t be — it’s more of a miniature Epic 4G. The Android 2.1 device’s got a 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen, 800MHz processor and a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, plus front- and rear-facing cameras for video chat — though they’re pretty low resolution and there’s no 4G to pump their streaming video data. We just got hands-on with the phone, and came away mildly impressed — though it’s a little sluggish compared to the Epic, it’s got much the same build quality, and the exact same hinge and buzzy vibrator if you want to get specific. There aren’t a lot of fancy functions on the keyboard, but it’s arguably got an even better layout that caters to landscape touch-typists like us — the keys are plasticy little numbers like those on the Samsung Intercept, but they’ve got a nice click and this time, a logical arrangement. The screen’s bright and clear enough, but unless our eyes deceive us it’s no AMOLED. Expect it to drop on October 10th for $150 after a $100 mail-in rebate, and be sure to watch a Sprint rep show off the phone’s Sprint ID functions after the break.

Update: Video hands-on after the break!

Continue reading Samsung Transform, first hands-on!

Samsung Transform, first hands-on! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Oct 2010 17:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Just how badly do you want Star Wars branding on your Droid 2, eh? You’d better want it bad, because Verizon has just announced that it’ll be charging $249 for the privilege of owning an R2-D2 Limited Edition — with a $100 mail-in rebate on contract, which means that you’ll actually be paying $350 up front. Then again, for that dinero you get not just the funky-looking phone but a Star Wars-themed dock and a box custom-designed to look like carbonite (Harrison Ford not included, we presume). You’ll also get a variety of custom live wallpapers, sounds, photos, widgets, and a “binoculars app,” which we imagine is some sort of digital zoom tool. Conspicuously missing is any sort of indication that this features the rumored 1.2GHz processor from the also-rumored Droid 2 World Edition, so the wait for that news continues. CTIA next week, perhaps.

On a related note, other Verizon customers with Android 2.1 (and higher) devices will be able to access a special Empire Strikes Back app and related content for a one-time charge of $2.99, which will include a trivia app to test your muster as a George Lucas fangirl or fanboy. Meanwhile, look for the phone to go live on this Thursday, September 30. Follow the break for the full press release and a couple more pics!

Continue reading Verizon Droid 2 R2-D2 Edition lands September 30 for $249

Verizon Droid 2 R2-D2 Edition lands September 30 for $249 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Sep 2010 12:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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T-Mobile has had a longstanding tradition of giving current customers first dibs on pre-orders for hot products, and it looks like the upcoming G2 will be no exception. TmoNews has a rather telling screen shot suggesting that T-Mobile subscribers will be able to sign up for the Android-powered QWERTY slider starting tomorrow through October 4, with retail availability following a couple days later on the 6th; we’ve already had that date on lock through Best Buy Mobile, so it comes as no surprise. From what we’ve seen so far, the G2 and the Desire Z are pretty easy to fall in love with — trust us when we say the hinge mechanism is exquisite — so who’s signing up tomorrow?

T-Mobile G2 pre-orders starting tomorrow for current customers, it seems originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Sep 2010 15:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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