Verizon getting Palm Pre Plus and Android-powered Motorola Devour?

We’re still not totally clear on how exactly Verizon intends to enter (or rather, re-enter) the Palm stage in 2010; we know there’s definitely a WiFi-equipped CDMA Pixi out there that’ll likely find its way into Big Red’s clutches, but otherwise, we really need to wait for this event at CES next month. Well, maybe — we’ve got another little clue here in the form of some tips to PhoneArena stating that a “Pre Plus” has found its way into the carrier’s systems, which fits in nicely with info we’d previously received from one of our trusted sources that Verizon’s Pre would be somehow “different” from Sprint’s though we don’t yet know how. As far as we can tell, this isn’t the same as that WiFi Pixi (wouldn’t it be confusing if it was?), so we should probably expect at least two webOS models on Verizon over the next few months. In other news, that Motorola Calgary (pictured) appears to be shaping up as the “Devour” with a 3 megapixel cam and Blur running on Android 2.1 — yes, 2.1, not 1.5, which should give hope to CLIQ owners that an update is probably in the works. Finally, there’s talk of an LG VS750 in a mega-thin form factor running WinMo 6.5 with global roaming capability, but we don’t have a picture of that one just yet. Anyhow, back to the Pre Plus, we’re accepting all guesses as to what the “Plus” in the name might stand for — 16GB of integrated storage or a microSD slot seem like obvious candidates, but feel free to get creative with us.

[Image via BGR]

Verizon getting Palm Pre Plus and Android-powered Motorola Devour? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 03:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ComScore: iPhone overtakes Windows Mobile use for the first time in US

There are plenty of ways to measure smartphone marketshare. IDC measures units shipped from manufacturers whereas Gartner measures units sold to consumers. Then there’s comScore, the research firm that conducts monthly surveys in the US to measure the total number of devices (and thus operating systems) currently in use. Its latest data is summarized above for the three-month period ending in October. See those yellow lines? If our kindergarten skills haven’t failed us, then this data shows iPhone usage surpassing the once mighty Windows Mobile OS for the very first time. Unfortunately for Microsoft, Google’s Android OS is set to accelerate significantly by the time the February 2010 data rolls in as is WebOS just as soon as Palm can bring its fledgling OS to Verizon’s subscriber base. What’s most troubling to Redmond about this report though, is where we found it: on FierceDeveloper, a site for mobile software developers who will presumably use the data to help determine which platforms deserve their focus. Oh Windows Mobile 7, where are you?

ComScore: iPhone overtakes Windows Mobile use for the first time in US originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 01:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG eXpo goes on sale at AT&T, sans projector

Anyone looking for the highest-end Windows Mobile experience you can buy on AT&T, go ahead and form a line to the left, please, because your knight in shining armor has arrived. The LG eXpo — complete with a Snapdragon core, 5 megapixel camera, 3.2-inch WVGA display, fingerprint scanner, QWERTY slide, and optional microprojector — is now available, albeit at a $199.99 after-rebate, on-contract price that puts it pretty far into the realm of the high-power smartphone elite. The downside is that the aforementioned projector isn’t yet available for purchase, which makes the whole package a little less compelling — then again, that means you’re walking out of the store with $179 that you wouldn’t have otherwise had, so just look at your eXpo purchase as a fantastic money-making opportunity.

LG eXpo goes on sale at AT&T, sans projector originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Ericsson Xperia X2 delayed until January 2010

Sony Ericsson giveth, and Sony Ericsson taketh away. Just as the Xperia Pureness — that wildly mainstream device with absolutely universal appeal (and concierge service) — makes its way to commercial availability, we’re hearing that the Xperia X2 will not be finding store shelves for at least another month. Made official way back in September, the Windows Mobile 6.5 QWERTY slider had already used up most of its Q4 release window, and this latest setback will do its chances of success little good. In the time since its announcement, SE itself has shown off the X10, HTC has leaked an entire roadmap all over itself, the Google phone has emerged from secrecy and, of course, the Droid has come out to a deafening roar of approval. Sony Ericsson explains that it is still optimizing the software and battery life, but all that could be irrelevant to a January 2010 world looking forward to Maemo this and Android that.

Sony Ericsson Xperia X2 delayed until January 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 04:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vodafone reportedly ditching the HD2 as iPhone launch looms (update: nope!)

Here’s an interesting one. Vodafone, which is one of the few carriers in the world right now with access to HTC’s HD2, is reportedly not going to stock the handset any longer once its current supply evaporates. The reason? Why, that’s a fantastic question! According to a company spokesperson, there has been a “massive amount of interest” in the big-screen mobile, with initial stock “selling out quickly and subsequent deliveries used to fulfill backorders.” Call us crazy, but it seems a wee bit foolish to can a product that’s selling well — unless, of course, Voda has a certain amount of iPhones that it’ll be required to sell just a few months from now (or else buy ’em itself). Whatever the case, we’re told that the operator “will not [be] re-stocking the HTC HD2 for general consumer sales once current stock runs out,” so if you’re jonesing for one, ten minutes ago would’ve been a great time to buy.

Update: Here’s the latest from Vodafone: “We haven’t recalled or stopped selling it, at the moment we have simply ran out of stock. When our next batch of stock arrives, this will be used to fulfill our outstanding back orders but we won’t be taking any additional orders via Telesales.”

Update 2: HTC pinged us directly and apologized for being unclear. Here’s the bottom line: “[The] HD2 will continue to be available on Vodafone, even after the iPhone launches.”

Vodafone reportedly ditching the HD2 as iPhone launch looms (update: nope!) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP iPAQ Glisten unboxing and hands-on

As you take a 30-second tour of your local AT&T store this month, the iPAQ Glisten from HP isn’t likely to catch your eye; it’s just another QWERTY smartphone without much curb appeal, after all. If you take a step back, though, this unassuming piece of gadgetry is actually quite interesting on a number of levels: it’s just the third device to launch on AT&T with Windows Mobile 6.5 out of the box (though the Jack has been upgraded since it hit the market), it’s got an AMOLED display, it features the exceedingly rare portrait-QWERTY-plus-touchscreen form factor, and — this is a big one — it apparently once again proves that HP hasn’t abandoned the handset market altogether. Sound like a winning formula to you? Read on for our quick take on the Glisten’s ups, downs, and… sideways-es.

Continue reading HP iPAQ Glisten unboxing and hands-on

HP iPAQ Glisten unboxing and hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VMware wants dual-OS virtualized smartphones, no ugly boot-loaders

VMware wants dual-OS virtualized smartphones, no ugly boot-loaders

It’s getting harder and harder to pick a smartphone, with options like iPhone OS, WebOS, Android, and Windows Mobile making the choosing difficult. Life would be easier if you could pick two, and that’s what virtualization giant VMware is working on, the ability to run dual OSes in one smartphone. The company already has Android/WinMo and other prototypes running, but phones featuring the tech now aren’t expected to hit market until 2012 — a big delay from the earlier indications of a release this year. Those prototypes rely on ugly boot menus, whereas the vision for this tech would see users switching between environments on the fly, taking and making calls in either whilst juggling chainsaws and dazzling their friends. The company pledges it’ll be a seamless experience, but we’re doubtful given how even stepping out of HTC’s SenseUI into the OS below can occasionally result in mild nausea. The bigger question is who would want this, and it’s easy to think the answer is “basically nobody,” but picture the poor corporate souls who must carry one phone for work and another for play. This tech could finally let them ditch that holster, and wouldn’t the world be a better place then?

VMware wants dual-OS virtualized smartphones, no ugly boot-loaders originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 06:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG’s projector-laden eXpo smartphone gets demonstrated on video

The projector phone mishmash idea has been around (and even demonstrated) for quite some time now, but only recently have we seen one of these two-pronged, hunchbacked monsters land on a major US carrier. LG’s eXpo is carrying that crown (or burden, depending on perspective), and while we’re itching to get one into our own labs for testing, we’ll happily pass along what looks to be the world’s first real good look at this handset in action. Make no mistake — the DLP-based beamer affixed on the back adds quite the bulge, but the actual video performance looks about as good as any dedicated pico projector that we’ve seen to date. Have a peek past the break to see for yourself.

Continue reading LG’s projector-laden eXpo smartphone gets demonstrated on video

LG’s projector-laden eXpo smartphone gets demonstrated on video originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 Dec 2009 21:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Pico-Projector Info  |  sourceYouTube  | Email this | Comments

HTC’s 2010 roadmap goes on display?

Those among us with minds like steel traps might recall that HTC’s 2009 was leaked with shocking accuracy way back in January of this year, which lends some credibility to this already-believable series of slides we have seemingly showing off most of the good stuff we can expect out of the company in the coming months. The stuff we’re privy to here was allegedly presented at a meeting in Vienna back in October, with both Windows Mobile and Android designs broken up into four target demo categories: Design / Lifestyle, Social, Performance (we like the sound of that), and Productivity — but don’t take our word for it. Follow the break for everything you need to know about this very real-sounding downpour of specs and renders.

Continue reading HTC’s 2010 roadmap goes on display?

HTC’s 2010 roadmap goes on display? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 Dec 2009 19:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Android and Me, pocketnow.com  |  sourceXDA Developers  | Email this | Comments

Samsung Omnia II unboxing and hands-on

It’s here at last, and we’re frankly thrilled to be holding Samsung’s very first TouchWiz 2.0 device, the Verizon Wireless-bound Samsung Omnia II. The 2.0 software brings with it a Widget Store, and as a general UI manages to skin over a majority of Windows Mobile 6.5, which is puttering along underneath. The handset is a tad on the bulky side, but makes up for it with a wonderful 3.7-inch AMOLED WVGA screen and a very nice 5 megapixel camera. We’ll have a review for you before long, but for now you can check out a quick video rundown (including some playtime with the Samsung-exclusive “Swype” keyboard) after the break. And if that video is enough to convince you, the phone is available now on Verizon Wireless for $200 after rebate.

Continue reading Samsung Omnia II unboxing and hands-on

Samsung Omnia II unboxing and hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 11:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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