Hasta La Gadget!

Hey, we’re growing kind of close to that “summer” release window for HP’s marquee mobile devices, aren’t we? Playboy Magazine sure thinks so, as its latest issue (June) comes with pricing for the Pre 3 and Touchpad, information we haven’t yet heard from anywhere else. The 3.6-inch smartphone with a sliding keyboard is expected to land at the industry-standard $200 on contract, while its 9.7-inch tablet brandmate should make itself available for $500 without any subsidies. These numbers are stated authoritatively, as if already known, though we’d still urge a note of caution until HP itself blurts the prices out. Skip past the break to see evidence of the Touchpad pricing as well.

Update: False alarm, people. The author of the Playboy article — yes, Playboy reads Engadget, apparently — got in touch with us to say that the numbers quoted were just price estimates rather than concrete insider intel. Oh darn.

Continue reading HP Touchpad and Pre 3 pricing revealed… by Playboy Magazine (update: just estimates)

HP Touchpad and Pre 3 pricing revealed… by Playboy Magazine (update: just estimates) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 15 May 2011 17:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink PreCentral  |   | Email this | Comments

We’ve just gotten to grips with Sony Ericsson’s new compact smartphones, the Xperia Mini and its keyboard-equipped sibling the Xperia Mini Pro, and have a gallery of shots for you below. Hit them up now and we’ll have hands-on impressions and video coming shortly.

The Xperia Mini has wonderful size when it comes to width and height, but we have to ask: why so thick? The Mini Pro is only slightly thicker despite having a fully-fledged slideout keyboard, so it would have been nice if the keyboard-less Mini was more svelte. Sony Ericsson is clearly going after the pocket- and handbag-conscious demographic here, who might not be all that receptive to the Mini’s girth. SE also made some bold claims about the finger-friendliness of the Mini Pro’s keyboard, which we were told were backed by usability tests against rival phones. Those trials were isolated to devices “in its size class” (of which there aren’t many), but our first response was still very positive, at least once we turned on auto-correct. This will be a matter of personal preference, but we found ourselves enjoying not having to take care of every little slip of the finger. Anyway, settings adjusted appropriately, we bashed away on the Mini Pro rather speedily and would rate it right up there with the BlackBerry Bold 9700 in terms of our typing rapidity. Browser rendering has its flaws, there’s a stuttery quality to zooming in and out of a page, but at least it’s done quickly and Flash playback seems to work without a hitch.

Update: Hands-on video now embedded after the break!

Additional reporting by Sharif Sakr

Continue reading Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini and Mini Pro hands-on (update: video!)

Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini and Mini Pro hands-on (update: video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 May 2011 12:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

That delectable G-Slate we just reviewed is today shaking off the cobwebs from its long journey westward and is making itself available for purchase directly through T-Mobile. The price is still a daunting $530 with a two-year contract and there’s a suggested retail price of $750, though we’re not seeing any option to obtain it that way. Then again, why would you want to, it’s a 4G tablet designed to ride T-Mobile’s HSPA+ airwaves anyhow. In more budget-conscious news, the Sidekick 4G is also making its retail debut today, at $99 on contract, bringing all the goods of a Galaxy S handset, combined with a QWERTY slider keyboard and a tricked-out Android UI. Hit the links to learn more about both, though don’t blame us if you end up doing damage to your bank balance in the process.

Update: Fear not, there is indeed a fine-print option to purchase the tablet off-contract if you really want to spend $750.

[Thanks, Charlie]

T-Mobile G-Slate and Sidekick 4G now on sale, Android overload imminent originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 09:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  T-Mobile (G-Slate), (Sidekick 4G)  | Email this | Comments

It’s March 20th and, right on schedule, Sprint has started taking orders for its first Windows Phone 7 handset. The HTC 7 Pro, renamed the Arrive on the Now Network, can now be had for $200 after rebate when bought with the customary two-year contract. Amazon’s doing its usual thing of undercutting carriers’ own pricing by offering it up for 50 greenbacks less at $150, and we suspect other online retailers will follow suit. So affordability shouldn’t be a problem, but if you’re still wondering if the investment will be worth it, we’ll have our review of this handset early next week — just before Sprint makes it irrelevant by blowing the doors off CTIA.

[Thanks, Justin]

Update: That was quick, Amazon’s dropped its price to just $50.

HTC Arrive now available for $200 from Sprint (update: $50 at Amazon) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 20 Mar 2011 14:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Sprint, Amazon  | Email this | Comments

HTC’s first Windows Phone 7 QWERTY slider handset is a mere five days away from its launch on Sprint, but already there’s an online retailer keen to undercut everyone else for your business. Wirefly is currently offering the HTC Arrive (aka the 7 Pro outside the US) for $49.99 in upfront costs when bought in conjunction with a new two-year service plan from Sprint on, importantly, a new account. Eligible upgraders will have to shell out $149.99 for the privilege, though that’s still less than Sprint’s own $199.99 pricing. If you find it any cheaper elsewhere, do make sure to let us know.

HTC Arrive up for $50 pre-order at Wirefly, requires new Sprint account and two-year contract originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 22:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Windows Phone Thoughts, everythingwm  |  Wirefly  | Email this | Comments