Verizon’s HP Mini 1000 due to launch May 17th?

Sure, the hot buzz right now is centered on Verizon and Apple teaming up to release a unicorn-built iPhone tablet that runs on marshmallows and cuddles, but Boy Genius Report says that Big Red’s actually-real partnership with HP is about to bear fruit — the long-rumored subsidized Mini 1000 is apparently due to launch on May 17th. The specific model will be the Mini 1151NR, and if that leaked product-comparison sheet we saw earlier holds water, we’re looking at a pretty standard Atom / XP configuration with a 3G modem built in. Pricing hasn’t been locked down, but according to BGR, it’ll be just as ridiculous as every other subsidized netbook: $299 after rebate with a mandatory two-year data contract. That’s more or less $200 off standard MSRP, a discount we’re sure you’ll pay back twice over the course of the contract. Seriously, we’d much rather fiddle with a USB stick that we can use on multiple machines than spend around a grand on data fees just for a netbook — what about you?

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Verizon’s HP Mini 1000 due to launch May 17th? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 09 May 2009 21:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Samsung’s Alias 2 dynamic E-Ink keypad in action

JenJen, a forum jockey over at HowardForums, was lucky enough to coax a Verizon sales rep into selling her Samsung’s new Alias 2 a few days early. Fortunately she did as any of us would and posted a video of her fresh out of box experience to YouTube. While this featurephone isn’t much of a looker, it’s nice to finally see the dynamically changing E Ink keypad in action. Check it after the break.

[Thanks, Mike M.]

Continue reading Video: Samsung’s Alias 2 dynamic E-Ink keypad in action

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Video: Samsung’s Alias 2 dynamic E-Ink keypad in action originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 May 2009 04:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Alias 2 and Motorola Rival a445 appear in the wild

Got enough electronic ink yet this week? Hope not, cause here’s the Samsung Alias 2 in the wild, complete with that segmented E Ink keypad. Apparently mode changes happen smoothly and quickly, so our usability fears now just boil down to feel — those buttons do not look fun to press. We’ll see when it launches on May 11.

Oh, and teenyboppers on the V might want to check out the blurry pic of the Motorola Rival a445 / Rush 2 after the break — it’s not going to blow your mind, but we hear you’re into the colorful QWERTY slider scene these days. You scamps.

Continue reading Samsung Alias 2 and Motorola Rival a445 appear in the wild

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Samsung Alias 2 and Motorola Rival a445 appear in the wild originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 May 2009 13:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon debuts MiFi 2200 portable EV-DO router

It was hardly a secret ’round these parts, but Verizon Wireless is finally ready to confess to that MiFi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot we’ve heard so much about. Like the Novatel unit it’s based on, the device harbors 802.11b/g and EV-DO Rev. A radios, and can share a 3G Verizon connection with up to five different WiFi devices simultaneously. Battery life is pegged at four hours of active use, and 40 hours of standby on a single charge. Data plans include a $40 monthly subscription for 250MB and 10 cents per MB overages, or $60 for 5GB and half the overages price. If you want to forgo the subscription and pay full-price for the MiFi, you can pick up a 24 hour “DayPass” for $15 — any way you slice it, you’ll be paying good money for the privilege of using the thing. The MiFi 2200 itself hits stores May 17th, and will run you $100 after a $50 rebate.

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Verizon debuts MiFi 2200 portable EV-DO router originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 May 2009 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Battle of the Carriers: Take Wired.com’s 3G Smartphone Speed Test

Apple’s popular iPhone invigorated the smartphone market, and recent rumors about the handset’s possible expansion to Verizon are renewing debate over which U.S. carrier offers the highest quality service.

It’s difficult to say whose network is best: Each carrier advertises itself as the speediest and most reliable. Consumer experiences with each network vary on a case-by-case basis; some AT&T customers swear their network is the worst, while a number of Verizon users are preaching that theirs is superb — and vice versa. Customers on the smaller U.S. networks, T-Mobile and Sprint, are just as inconsistent in terms of satisfaction.

As of 2008, over 20 million U.S. homes rely solely on mobile phones for telecom communication, according to research company Nielsen. Therefore, it’s clear that in recent years the value of a high-quality, efficient cellphone connection has grown tremendously for the everyday consumer. A missed or dropped call can potentially ruin a relationship, cost job seekers career opportunities or simply create a persistent annoyance.

A carrier’s network performance is a dealbreaking factor for consumers shopping for a smartphone, whether it’s the iPhone, the HTC G1, or a BlackBerry Storm. Just which cellphone network is the best? Or better yet, which carrier is best for you in your particular area? In August, Wired.com conducted a global study to investigate the iPhone 3G’s network issues, which concluded that connection problems were tied to AT&T rather than the handset itself. Following up on that survey, Wired.com is inviting every 3G smartphone user in the United States to participate in a study to determine which carrier is the best overall in the country.

The process involves running a data speed test on your browser-equipped smartphone, followed by plotting your results on an interactive map with your computer. Ultimately, consumers will be able to view the results on the map to see how well each carrier performs in different parts of the country.

Follow the instructions below to complete the test, which will take about five minutes.

1. Ensure Wi-Fi is turned off and 3G is enabled on your smartphone (not the slower EDGE connection).

2. Load your smartphone’s browser and visit http://inetworktest.com/wired.*

3. The test will run automatically as the page loads. When it’s done loading, tap your carrier (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile or Sprint), and your results will appear.

4. On your computer screen, scroll to the ZeeMap at the top of this article and click the Add button. Fill in the Location and Details fields (see screenshots below for examples). For “General Satisfaction” rate your satisfaction on a scale from 1 to 5 — low satisfaction to high satisfaction, respectively.

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5. Click Submit to complete the survey. Your entry should look similar to the example in the screenshot below.

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*JavaScript must be enabled to run the data test page. Some BlackBerry devices have JavaScript turned off by default. See these instructions to learn how to turn JavaScript on for BlackBerry devices.

And then you’re done. After a week of collecting data, Wired.com will compile the results and highlight noteworthy conclusions about each carrier.

We strongly encourage smartphone owners to complete the test: The more participants, the better the conclusions we can reach. E-mail your questions or concerns about the test to BChen [at] Wired [dot] com, or add them in the comments section below.

Wired.com would like to extend a special thanks to Ben Reubenstein of Xcellent Creations, who designed the 3G data test for this study. iPhone and iPod Touch owners interested in learning more about data performance on their devices can download the iNetwork app for $1 through the App Store.

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Samsung Alias 2 launching on May 11, E Ink confirmed?

We’re hearing that the Alias 2 is on track for a release in less than two weeks from now — May 11, to be exact — which would mean that we’re just a few short days away from seeing the very first E Ink handset launch in the States. Yes, that’s right, we said it — after all the heated debate over the technology powering the Alias 2’s configurable keypad, our tipster tells us that new information floating down from corporate confirms that the device is using E Ink, which would explain why it’s able to maintain state even with the power off. We still think it’s one awfully ugly phone, but this might be one of those all-too-frequent cases where cool tech ends up winning our hearts anyway. As for pricing, the tipster thinks it may come in at $79, which seems improbable even with deep contract discounting and a big mail-in rebate — but if by some miracle it does end up being accurate, they’re going to be selling tons of these to text-heavy geeks like ourselves.

[Image via PhoneArena, thanks ehjun]

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Samsung Alias 2 launching on May 11, E Ink confirmed? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 May 2009 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget Podcast 144 – 05.01.2009

Bogged down and confused with the latest spate of wild mobile speculations? Relationship troubles clouding your judgment? Lonely? Well Josh, Nilay and Paul — your jovial (yet often enraged) Engadget Podcast crew — are back for another installment to help you sort all that out. In a week heavy on rumors (Palm Eos, Microsoft “Pink” and the not-so-nano “iPhone lite”) and laden with opinion (Windows 7 RC1, TiVo’s sad state of affairs), join the boys as they delve deep into the abyss that is gadgetry. Sure, there might never be a Zunephone, but remember: the beauty is in the journey… or something.

Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel, Paul Miller
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Song: All That She Wants

00:01:13 – Palm Eos: super-thin, 3G, and headed to AT&T?
00:27:20 – Microsoft’s “Pink” smartphone could rival iPhone on Verizon
00:29:00 – Microsoft reiterates what we knew: no first-party handset, no Zunephone
00:36:40 – Apple prototyping “iPhone lite” and MacBook Mini / media pad for Verizon?
00:46:30 – Samsung I7500 with OLED touchscreen powered by Android, dreams
00:57:42 – Windows 7 Release Candidate 1 impressions, insights, and expectations
01:10:05 – Ten years of TiVo: how far we haven’t come

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Engadget Podcast 144 – 05.01.2009 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 May 2009 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola’s A4500 world phone caught in the FCC covered in Verizon tattoos

We don’t have a formal unveiling for Motorola’s Verizon-bound A4500 world phone just yet, but an operation manual and some snapshots of its dress rehearsal from the FCC should suffice in the interim. From what we glean, it supports CDMA for VZW’s network and quad-band GSM for SIM-packing Vodafone customers and other overseas roaming needs. No points for design originality (Q9, anyone?), but it does boast a wealth of good features including two megapixel camera, EV-DO, stereo Bluetooth, 2 megapixel camera, Windows Mobile (presumably 6.1), and a biometric fingerprint reader on the back of the phone. Not that we expected you to be eagerly anticipating this one, but we’d venture to say a cameo in the FCC means it’s on track for release some time in the near future.

[Via Phone Scoop]

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Motorola’s A4500 world phone caught in the FCC covered in Verizon tattoos originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 01:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple prototyping “iPhone lite” and MacBook Mini / media pad for Verizon?

Hot on the heels of yesterday’s reports of Apple and Verizon dealings comes some tantalizing, but still unconfirmed, new details from BusinessWeek. According to the publication, the gang in Cupertino has prototyped two devices for the carrier. The first one is a smaller, less expensive device that’s been dubbed as “iPhone lite” by someone who’s apparently seen it in person. The other is called a “media pad” (Joggler, anyone?) for music, photos, HD video, and placing calls over WiFi. Details are scant beyond that, and while that pad sounds a lot like an iPod touch to us, we can’t help but wonder if it has something to do with those 10-inch displays that Quanta’s rumored to be manufacturing. Don’t put too much stock into this, as the reports could end up being all for naught, but one thing’s for sure: you can bet the suits at AT&T are keeping a very, very close eye on this. In other, even sketchier and likely unrelated rumors, a listing for “MacBookMini” has popped up in Adium’s statistics. While we wouldn’t normally think anything of this — as TUAW correctly notes, anyone can edit their computer IDs — it was from these pages that we first heard the name MacBook Air. Chances are this is nothing, but with all this talk of 10-inch screens and media pads, it kind of makes you wonder.

[Via TUAW; image courtesy of Frunny]

Read – BusinessWeek
Read – Adium stats

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Apple prototyping “iPhone lite” and MacBook Mini / media pad for Verizon? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 01:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Apple Developing Two New iPhones for Verizon

cnp

Here’s the wildest iPhone rumor we’ve heard in a while. According to BusinessWeek, two sources “familiar with the matter” say Apple and Verizon are working to offer two new iPhone-like devices: a smaller, less-expensive calling device (perhaps an “iPhone lite”), and a higher-end, unnamed media pad, which can place calls over Wi-Fi, display photos, and play music as well as high-definition video.

When will we see these? One of the devices might come as soon as summer, one source told BusinessWeek.

As always, take rumors with a grain of salt, folks. We doubt either of these products will be available for Verizon customers this year. Verizon’s CEO said just two weeks ago that Apple would be more likely to partner up with Verizon when the fourth-generation Long Term Evolution networks start rolling out in 2010. And Apple last week implied it was planning to stick with AT&T as its exclusive partner.

However, we’re not ruling out that there are two new devices. ArsTechnica last month reported that a system configuration file made references to two new iPhone models. Could these be the new iPhone models?

Let’s keep in mind if these two rumored products are indeed real, we won’t necessarily have to wait for Apple to buddy up with Verizon. Apple would likely offer the same phones through AT&T — so yes, we might see one as soon as summer, but we don’t believe it’d be on the Verizon network.

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New Gear from Apple and Verizon Wireless? [BusinessWeek]

Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.com