Developages - Development and Technology Blog

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Locked in a footrace with AT&ampT’s Fuze to become the first US national carrier to launch a variant of the HTC Touch Pro, Sprint has announced that folks can start ordering the QWERTY smartphone this week from “select national retailers,” making good on a promise made at CTIA last month. That’s not quite as cool as a full-scale launch, but at least we’ll start to get ‘em in the wild in the next few days — meanwhile, a more full-scale, fanfare-filled launch is planned for November 2 when the Touch Pro is made available online, via phone, and in all Sprint stores. Any Touch Diamond buyers feeling lingering regrets right about now?

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Original post by Chris Ziegler

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

It’s already been floating around for a day or two, but Samsung and AT&T have decided to go ahead and follow up their latest WinMo smartphone’s release to stores with… oh, you know, some actual press material. The i907 Epix rundown goes something like this: Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, 3.6Mbps HSDPA, WiFi, Bluetooth, 2-megapixel cam, AGPS with AT&ampT Navigator, Video Share support, 320 x 320 2.5-inch touchscreen display, and one of those crazy “optical mice” for on-screen navigation when using the touchscreen itself is just too much trouble. Get it now (or yesterday, if you were really on the ball) for $99.99 on a two-year contract.

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Original post by Chris Ziegler

Filed under: Cellphones

Looks like that rumor was mostly spot on, as two new consumer-minded iPAQ handhelds have emerged on HP’s website. Without much fanfare, the Windows Mobile 6.1-powered iPAQ Data Messenger and Voice Messenger have been granted dedicated sites, complete with imagery, specifications and recommended accessories. Starting with the touchscreen-heavy Data Messenger (seen above), you’ll find a 2.81-inch LED-backlit display (320 x 240), a full QWERTY slide-out keyboard, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR / WiFi, HSDPA, quad-band GSM support, aGPS, a 3.1-megapixel camera and a microSD card slot. As for the Voice Messenger (pictured after the break), it’s packing a 2.4-inch 320 x 240 LED-backlit screen, a 20-key “keyboard” and most everything else already mentioned on its big bro. There’s nary a clue on pricing or a release date, but we imagine both of those snippets will reveal themselves shortly.

[Via WMPowerUser]

Read - HP iPAQ Voice Messenger
Read - HP iPAQ Data Messenger

Continue reading HP iPAQ Data Messenger / Voice Messenger handhelds emerge

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

We’ve gotten a number of reports today that the Samsung i907 Epix is turning up in sundry AT&T stores across the lands, and those claims are certainly backed up by a fresh retail unboxing of Sammy’s WinMo 6.1 Professional monster for AT&T that’s turned up over on Boy Genius Report. “Monster” is the right word here, too, in light of Mr. Genius′ claims that the Epix seems to be just about the thickest device offered by the carrier outside the beastly Tilt — not the news we wanted to hear about a QWERTY handset that looks from a distance to be no more imposing than a BlackJack. The optical mouse is cool, don’t get us wrong, but is it cool enough to justify a conspicuous bulge in our pocket?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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Original post by Chris Ziegler

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Pharos′ line of GPS-equipped Windows Mobile handsets has sort of lost its place in our hearts now that seemingly every phone under the sun — smartphone or otherwise — comes equipped with wicked advanced AGPS out of the box, but the company’s latest pair actually looks competitive for reasons that have nothing to do with GPS whatsoever. Sure, GPS is nice, but the Traveller 117 and 127 really rock on account of tri-band 7.2Mbps downstream HSPA, and in the case of the 117, a VGA display. They’ve also got 2-megapixel primary and VGA front-facing cames, Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, and covert semi-official launches courtesy of Dell’s online store. What more could you ask for?

[Thanks, rock99rock]

Read - Traveller 117
Read - Traveller 127

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Original post by Chris Ziegler

Filed under: Wireless

We knew they didn’t like it, and now they’re going out of their way to prove it. After FCC chairman Kevin Martin set forth a proposal to use the freed spectrum from the forthcoming 2009 digital TV transition for bringing mobile broadband to more locales, broadcasters who’d rather not deal with the trouble are stepping in with a collective “nuh uh!” Station owners and the four television networks filed an “emergency request” on Friday afternoon in hopes of convincing the FCC to hold off on its plan to vote on white space rules until “everyone had a chance to comment on the findings.” The report that’s mentioned found that no significant interference would come into play should the waves be opened up for unlicensed devices, but a spokeswoman for the National Association of Broadcasters stated that “the FCC is misinterpreting the actual data collected by their own engineers.” Whether or not NAB will get the 45-day grace period it’s asking for, however, remains to be seen.

[Via Mobile Tech Today, image courtesy of Orbitcast]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Wireless

Good news, folks — Kevin Martin believes that more mobile broadband is good for this nation. And we’re all about getting the WiFi to the people. Just as expected, the FCC chairman has voiced his support for using vacant airwaves from the looming 2009 digital TV transition to bring mobile broadband to more areas. According to Martin: “No one should ever underestimate the potential that new technologies and innovations may bring to society.” His proposal was issued ahead of an official report asserting that potential interference with existing infrastructure could be avoided if “technical safeguards” were put in place to prevent it. Sounds good from here, now go ‘head with your bad self, Mr. Martin.

[Image courtesy of TechLuver]

Read - Proposal
Read - Official interference report

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Original post by Darren Murph

Do you live in Muswell Hill, London or Whitchurch, South Glamorgan? If so, you are lucky sods because you’ve been chosen by BT as the latest pilot sites for fibre optic broadband which will see homes in the area getting broadband speeds of up to 40Mbps. BT’s local access network division, Openreach, will be in charge of upgrading the exchanges in both areas and up to 15,000 homes will be able to speed through the Net like never before from next summer. David Campbell, Openreach’s director of next generation access said: “Services in these areas will be available to all UK communication providers on a wholesale basis. The sites were chosen in consultation with communications providers and took into account feedback from Regional Development Agencies, Devolved Authorities and similar organisations. We have a good mix of areas, allowing us to test our products in both urban and semi-rural environments.” A planned technical trial in the Foxhall exchange area of Kesgrave, Suffolk is also expected to go live in early 2009, while 10,000 homes in Ebbsfleet Valley, Kent now have a fibre optic network capable of [theoretically] delivering up to 100Mbps broadband. Rollout of fibre optic broadband services to the rest of us surfers is expected to get underway in 2010. -Martin Lynch broadband BT internet

Original post by nafiz

Filed under: Laptops, Wireless

A new variant of Asus’ M50Vm-A1 laptop — the M50Vm-A1WM — just showed up on Newegg and Amazon. Soulcrushingly long (mostly) alphanumeric string aside, it’s a decent 15.4” machine for its $1,399 price point, with desktop replacement specs: Intel Core 2 Duo P8400, 4GB of RAM, a GeForce 9600M with a satisfying 1GB of dedicated graphics memory, and even a numpad. What’s new here is onboard WiMAX, which puts Asus on the post-XOHM launch bandwagon with Toshiba, Acer and other laptop manufacturers. This is good news for some lucky early adopters, but if you’re not in one of the testing locales, you might as well continue twiddling your thumbs.

[Via ComputerMonger]

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Original post by Samuel Axon

Filed under: Wireless

While Sprint’s XOHM network is sticking to the bustling metropolises of the US, Redline is looking to bring the wonders of 4G to those sitting in rural America. Granted, this here deployment isn’t the first we’ve seen in a less-than-dense locale, but thanks to its RedMAX infrastructure products and Nex-Tech’s desire to spread the love, a number of cities in the Sunflower State are about to get blanketed with WiMAX. More specifically, we’re told that Hays (see above) and Great Bend will get covered by next month, but we’re left to assume, er, hope that neighboring towns will fall under the umbrella in due time.

[Via InformationWeek, image courtesy of AirForceBase]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Laptops, Peripherals, Wireless

Yesterday was a pretty big day for Sprint (along with a number of laptop manufacturers), as America’s had its first major glimpse at widespread WiMAX. A few other tidbits lingering from the mayhem were the obligatory speed tests — which were decidedly average — and what’s believed to be a prototype Aspire One with inbuilt WiMAX capabilities. Said netbook was residing within an Intel-branded van, and while it wasn’t made clear if Acer had any plans of bringing such a beast to the commercial realm, the folks at Laptop found the WiMAX surfing to be respectable, but not mind-blowing, as the New York Times homepage took around 15 seconds to load completely. Mr. Dave Zatz was able to pull down around 4,600kbps (and 1,519kbps up) in an impromptu speed test, while Kevin over at jkOnTheRun only managed 3,435kbps down / 1,555kbps up. As always, YMMV.

Read - Hands-on with WiMAX-enabled Aspire One
Read - XOHM Speed Test I
Read - XOHM Speed Test II

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Wireless

Hot on the heels of Lenovo comes Acer, which is somehow claiming “first!11one!” in the US market with WiMAX-enabled laptops. Introduced today in Baltimore in conjunction with the formal unveiling of Sprint’s XOHM network, the Aspire 4930-6862 and Aspire 6930-6771 both include the innate ability to hop on a WiMAX network and surf at 4G speeds. As for specs, the former packs a 14.1-inch WXGA panel, 2GHz Core 2 Duo 󎷶 CPU, 3GB of RAM, WiFi / WiMAX capability, integrated graphics, a dual-layer DVD writer, 320GB SATA HDD, 5-in-1 card reader, built-in webcam, Windows Vista Premium and an $899.99 sticker. The larger 6930 differs only in the 16-inch 1,366 x 768 resolution panel, as everything else (price included) remains the same. Charm City residents can snatch ‘em up right now at NewEgg and TigerDirect.

[Via DigitalTrends]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Wireless

Not too keen on snatching your WiMAX via ExpressCard? Fret not, as ZTE’s T⅍ (which was leaked early last month) is fast approaching. Hailed as the only USB modem available (and certified, no less) for the launch of the XOHM network, the TU25 presumably allows users to plug it into a spare USB port, wave a magic wand and begin surfing the mobile broadband superhighway in Baltimore (and a few other places, we hear). There’s a frighteningly small amount of details on this thing right now, but hopefully we′ll have some of the more crucial aspects (price, release date, etc.) sooner rather than later.

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio

Nothing like a pair of high-brow Europeans slapping each other in the streets, huh? In response to Nokia’s forthcoming Comes with Music service, Sony Ericsson is confirming rumors by announcing a competing unlimited music download service dubbed Play Now Plus. The service, which will be available “solely through telecoms operators,” will provide subscribers with access to millions of tunes, and customers can even keep up to 300 jams after their 6- to 18-month contract expires. According to SE’s marketing head Lennard Hoornik, it’ll be rockin’ on Telenor within a few weeks, and it will spread from Sweden into more of Western Europe in ̫ 2009 and into other world markets in ̬ 2009. We’re told that the service will run early adopters 99 Swedish crowns ($15) per month, and so far as we can tell, you don’t have to have a specific SE phone to get in on the action.

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Original post by Darren Murph

These media player sunglasses have got to be one of the coolest gadgets Thanko has ever manufactured. It can play audio formats MP3 and WMA, and can even be used to watch videos in MP4, MPG, AVI, and ASF formats. Regarding the latter functionality, the sunglasses’ 432 x 240 resolution shows users videos 50-inches in size.

Audio files, videos, and photos could be stored in a miniSD card that’s loaded on the flank of the eyepiece. Other specs include USB 2.0 connectivity, four equalizer presets, and a lithium-ion battery. The media player sunglasses package that costs around $324 comes with the sunglasses, a remote control, an AC adapter, earphones, the USB cable for charging and transferring of files, and a carrying case.

Original post by Mariella Moon