Hasta La Gadget!

So, we played around with the new Windows Mobile-sportin’ nuvifone M20 from Garmin-Asus this evening, but there’s really not much to say: the software is barely even alpha at this point. Most every tap or swipe of the screen was met with a two or more second delay, and we managed to crash a couple of the phones. That said, it’s clear that Garmin-Asus aren’t just adding a pretty launcher to Windows Mobile and calling it a day, there’s some good navigation and location-based stuff happening here, and we look forward to playing around with it all once it’s closer to reality. We don’t look forward to meeting the resistive touch screen a second time, but we’ll just have to live with that fact — at least the Garmin-Asus apps are all touch-optimized, but you might have to pull out the stylus for a gander at the rest of Windows Mobile 6.1.

Update: Official media handed out for the M20 reveals a small handful of new screen shots, mainly a swanky new media player and calling screen that really don’t say a damned thing about the M20’s deep-rooted nav capabilities. Thing is, when you have a winged disco ball, you can get away with bending a whole lotta rules — but yeah, this is one phone where we think we’d rather let the hardware do the talking.

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Garmin-Asus nuvifone M20 hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 15 Feb 2009 14:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’re just days away from Mobile World Congress where Microsoft is expected to make a few notable announcements. Until then, we have to settle for all the hints and innuendo we can gather as Redmond attempts to win back the hearts, minds, and pocketbooks of consumers infatuated with Android, WebOS, and whatever Apple’s got cookin’. Like these supposed 6.5 screenshots above, this time showing what looks like a Marketplace store a la the Zune. We also have CNET reporting today that Microsoft quietly split its Zune team in two on January 22nd: software and services under Enrique Rodriguez, and hardware under Tom Gibbons who just happens to heads-up hardware design at Microsoft’s Windows Mobile unit. According to Rodriguez, “Zune the service needs to transcend Zune the device” adding, “The goal is to make non-gaming entertainment a first-class citizen within Microsoft’s business.” That includes expanding the Zune service beyond the Zune and onto more devices than just Microsoft’s. Or, “a little further out than just in Redmond,” to quote Rodriguez directly. While he wouldn’t say specifically when it was coming to Windows Mobile, he did say to expect products other than the Zune player to be using the Zune service sometime this year. Now, armed with those Zune-centric WinMo 6.5 screenshots and project Pink leaks, it’s not too much a stretch to expect a Zune-like WinMo experience to be detailed in Barcelona. Besides, isn’t it about time that Danger made good on that estimated $500 million acquisition?

Read — CNET interview
Read — Latest WinMo 6.5 screenshots

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio, Portable Video

Microsoft readies Zune service for non-Zune devices, Marketplace appears in WinMo 6.5 screenshot originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Feb 2009 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Garmin has announced the Windows-Mobile-powered nuvifone M20, the second handset in the nuvifone series after the G60, in a preview ahead of Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next week. The nuvifone M20 runs Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional and sports a 2.8-inch touchscreen full VGA (640-by-480-pixel) LCD, 4GB or 8GB of storage, and an HSDPA 7.2 3G data radio.

In addition, the handset features the same level of satellite navigation as Garmin’s standalone units, according to the company. It comes preloaded with maps and points of interest for North America as well as Eastern and Western Europe. It also features Connected Services, a suite of online applications and data from Garmin-Asus that adds location intelligence to navigation, phone and browser functions, for real-time traffic information, White Pages, weather, flight status, local events, and movie times.

Finally, the nuvifone M20 works with Ciao, a location-based social networking service that keeps owners in touch with their friends and family. No word yet on pricing or availability; expect an announcement from Garmin sometime in the first half of this year on that front.

Last we’d heard, that aborted Treo Pro launch on Sprint had been pushed back to mid-February, but according to some fresh dealer docs floating around, that launch is now “TBD” — and more often than not, we find that “TBD” actually stands for “too little, too late.” In the face of the impending Pre launch, it seems like it’s getting harder by the second to justify sinking any significant marketing revenue into making folks aware of the Treo Pro’s existence — and while we totally buy Sprint’s statement that it’s the testing process holding up retail availability, we’re wondering who’s going to come rushing with cash (or plastic) in hand when this sucker is sitting next to its webOS-powered sib a few months down the road. Anyone?

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Sprint Treo Pro getting delayed into a bleak, uncertain future? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Feb 2009 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Remember that alleged Microsoft MyPhone beta page that popped up on getskybox.com yesterday? It’s back up now and being hosted under the company’s official domain, with everything apparently intact except that tantalizing “Sign In” button. According to a statement from the gang at Redmond, a limited invite-only beta is in the cards, and more details on the syncing service formerly known as SkyBox are coming to Mobile World Congress later this month. As for the beta itself, the wording’s a bit ambiguous here — will we just be getting new details on the trial or will the signup actually launch then? Looks like we’ll find out for sure in just over a week.

Filed under: Cellphones

Microsoft confirms MyPhone, invite-only beta coming to MWC originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 07 Feb 2009 16:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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