Aug/100
LG GW910 slider turns heads at FCC; likes AT&T, Windows Phone 7, and long walks on the beach
So, BEJGW910, we meet at last… or should we call you the LG GW910 with Windows Phone 7? Oh, don’t act surprised, we’ve had you on our radar for some time now. You’re not as sneaky as you might think, you know that? Sure, you thought your FCC meeting was a private one, but that foul temptress is not one to keep things to herself, and lookie, she’s put some surprisingly decent shots online. External and internal, we’re afraid. She also tells us you’re wired for AT&T, is that to say you’re in cahoots with Ma Bell? We’ve got all the photos ourselves now in a gallery below, so don’t try and deny the rendez-vous. Oh, and your user manual showing off a “multitasking” button? We jumped ahead to page 25 and noticed the LG eXpo nod — it’s just a cobbled-together draft manual, a ploy to trick us. Good joke, you — now tell us about your evil twin brother, C900.
Gallery: LG GW910’s external photos from FCC
LG GW910 slider turns heads at FCC; likes AT&T, Windows Phone 7, and long walks on the beach originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 14:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Aug/100
Verizon says original Droid ‘doesn’t have the hardware’ to support a mobile hotspot
Correction: It’s Verizon making this claim, not Motorola.
Verizon says original Droid ‘doesn’t have the hardware’ to support a mobile hotspot originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Aug 2010 12:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Jul/100
House passes Cellphone Contraband Act of 2010, prisoners go back to writing letters
House passes Cellphone Contraband Act of 2010, prisoners go back to writing letters originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Jul 2010 16:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Jul/100
Nokia looking for new CEO to replace Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, says WSJ
It doesn’t come as a complete surprise, but the Wall Street Journal is reporting (care of “people familiar with the matter”) that the search is on for a new Nokia CEO to replace Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo. Investor confidence and falling stock prices are to blame as the company has had — and we’re being nice here — great difficulty competing in the smartphone market against the likes of Apple and Google. Espoo isn’t commenting on the matter (yet), but we’ll keep you up to date. Better start updating that resume now, dear reader.
Nokia looking for new CEO to replace Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, says WSJ originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 20:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Jul/100
LG VL600 hybrid LTE / CDMA modem for Verizon clears FCC hurdle
Verizon has yet to publish a list of the launch devices customers in its first commercial LTE markets will be enjoying later this year, but if we had to guess, this sucker is a strong possibility. What you’re looking at here is LG’s VL600, a USB modem that’ll do both LTE and CDMA in the same package — in other words, it’ll have you covered on Verizon for laptop data pretty much anywhere you go within the carrier’s entire footprint. Judging from the size of the USB connector relative to the rest of the device’s body, this might not be ridiculously large, either; typically, first-gen products like this are bordering on hilariously huge, but LG and others have had a really long time to ramp up to commercialization of their LTE products, so we’re cautiously optimistic for once.
LG VL600 hybrid LTE / CDMA modem for Verizon clears FCC hurdle originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 17 Jul 2010 15:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Jul/100
Skype says Fring violated its Terms of Use, ‘damaging our brand and reputation’ in the process
It looks like Fring’s recent decision to block Skype access to its iPhone 4 video app was the final straw for Skype, who charges that VoIP network was in breach of the Terms of Use and EULA for the Skype API. “Over time,” writes General Counsel Robert Miller, “Fring’s mis-use of our software was increasingly damaging our brand and reputation with our customers.” Although they’ve “been talking with Fring for some time to try to resolve this amicably,” Friday’s action is being called “disappointing [for] our customers, who have high expectations of the Skype experience.” He goes on to say that “Skype will rigorously protect our brand and reputation, and those developers that do not comply with our terms will be subject to legal enforcement.” Meaning, presumably, that in the case of more Fring shenanigans there will be some sort of red-hot legal action. For its part, Fring CEO Avi Shechter had this to say: “We are disappointed that Skype, who once championed the cause of openness, is now attempting to muzzle competition, even to the detriment of its own users.” Which is all well and good, but we can hardly see how Skype is the problem here when you were the ones who locked out its users in the first place.
Skype says Fring violated its Terms of Use, ‘damaging our brand and reputation’ in the process originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Jul/100
T-Mobile-flavored Motorola MB710 gets FCC approval
You might remember that we’d thought all the way back in January that T-Mobile’s version of the MOTOROI / Milestone XT720 had gotten its FCC certification. Well, guess what happened this week? The all-important external photos and users’ manual came off confidentiality, which means we can now confirm that a MOTOROI is exactly what we’re looking at here. It’s unclear what’s taking so long for T-Mobile to get this thing to retail since it was apparently ready (or ready-ish) more than half a year ago, but with an 8 megapixel camera on board, we suspect more than a few people will be willing to forgive the awkward bump in the lower right for a chance to get in on what could be one of T-Mobile’s first legit high-end Android devices. With any luck, we’ll see a release before too long — but as with any unannounced phone, it’s a crap shoot.
T-Mobile-flavored Motorola MB710 gets FCC approval originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 15:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Jul/100
Bluetooth 4.0 specification gets official, devices expected by Q4 2010
Outside of Samsung’s Wave, we’re having a hard time thinking of a meaningful device that has shipped with Bluetooth 3.0 onboard. Kind of crazy when you think about it, being that the protocol offered some pretty promising stuff when it went official in April of 2009. Fast forward to today, and it looks as if the Bluetooth SIG is storming forward regardless, as the Bluetooth 4.0 core specification has now been adopted with “low energy technology” as the standout feature. This step means that companies can begin to work towards integration of BT 4.0 in actual end-user products, and if the SIG has its way, the tech will begin to show up in minuscule devices that haven’t been able to take advantage of Bluetooth thus far. In fact, they want this stuff in applications “not even possible or imagined today.” Looks like someone better get those imagination gears turning, ’cause Q4 2010 certainly isn’t an eternity from now.
Continue reading Bluetooth 4.0 specification gets official, devices expected by Q4 2010
Bluetooth 4.0 specification gets official, devices expected by Q4 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 02:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Jul/100
Twitter for BlackBerry shakes the beta label
Though RIM’s official Twitter client for BlackBerry devices has been slinking around in public beta form for a solid three months now, we understand — not everyone is okay using software that’s rough around the edges. And if anything, that probably applies more to BlackBerry users, many of whom are using their devices to do… you know, really important work-related things. On that note, you might be excited to learn that the company’s official Twitter client has gone gold, meaning it’s theoretically less likely to crash than any version that’s come before it, which means you can go about your high-productivity business without fear that your secret addiction to social networking will bring your Bold 9700 crashing down in a spectacular ball of flame and molten circuitry. Not to say the beta was prone to do that, of course, but you can be extra sure of it now. If you’re interested, looks like you should be able to find it in App World right away.
Twitter for BlackBerry shakes the beta label originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Jul 2010 21:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Jul/100
T-Mobile kills off current Sidekicks, Kin says ‘welcome to the club’
It’s truly remarkable to see almost every trace of a successful, well-established Valley start-up’s work wiped out in the span of 24 hours, but here we are: T-Mobile’s discontinuing the Sidekick line as of tomorrow, July 2, which effectively means that the Sidekick LX 2009 will no longer be available. As a refresher, the latest Sidekick LX was the last product holistically engineered by Danger as it got shoehorned into Microsoft — square peg in a round hole, as it were — before repurposing the team to work on the just-killed Kin line. In a way, it’s a miracle that the LX ever went back on sale following the nightmarish data issues they’d gone through last year, so we suppose it’s a silver lining that they made it this far — but still, it’s sad to see Danger’s years of design effectively vaporized without a trace like this. For what it’s worth, T-Mobile says that it’s working “on the next chapter of [its] storied Sidekick franchise” and to “stay tuned” for a “fresh” experience, but since T-Mobile owns the Sidekick brand (not Danger / Microsoft), we’ve got every reason to believe these new products will be based on Android considering the carrier’s huge investment in its myTouch line. Adios, Sidekick — we’ll do one last screen flip in your honor.
T-Mobile kills off current Sidekicks, Kin says ‘welcome to the club’ originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Jul 2010 15:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Jun/100
FCC’s Spectrum Task Force makes first snatch-and-grab, kidnaps up to 90MHz from satellite band
Even if you’re the Federal Communications Commission, freeing up half a gigahertz of wireless spectrum isn’t an easy task, but things become easier when you have top men on the job. The FCC’s freshly deputized Spectrum Task Force may have just proven its worth, by shifting up to 90MHz from mobile satellite services to cellular broadband. To placate those who might be opposed to the measure, the FCC says it “remains firmly committed” to rural, emergency and government satellites, plus points out precedents like the SkyTerra LTE deal in March… but interestingly the Task Force neither mentions support for commercial satellite uses, nor which companies stand to gain the freed spectrum this time. Full press release after the break.
FCC’s Spectrum Task Force makes first snatch-and-grab, kidnaps up to 90MHz from satellite band originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Jun 2010 01:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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May/100
FCC offers ’simple’ ‘tips’ for avoiding pesky early termination fees
The government is just about the last place we’d look for helpful pointers on much of anything, much less when shopping for a new phone — but that didn’t stop the FCC’s Consumer Task Force from whipping up a PDF of things you can to do prevent yourself from getting burned with a multi-hundred dollar early termination fee when buying the handset of your wildest dreams. There’s nothing in here that isn’t obvious to a seasoned phone buyer — buy the phone at full price instead, ask about a trial period, look into proration, and so on — but it goes without saying that these are the kinds of tidbits average consumers should know before setting foot in the store. Perhaps the more interesting thing about this effort on the FCC’s part is that it indicates the feds haven’t forgotten about the stink it made about rising ETFs not long ago — and AT&T’s move to hop on the bandwagon can’t be helping to smooth things over in Washington. Anyhow, go get your learn on before some seedy carrier sales rep takes advantage of you, won’t you?
FCC offers ’simple’ ‘tips’ for avoiding pesky early termination fees originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 May 2010 22:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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May/100
Sprint still not ruling out LTE, says it’s not ‘mutually exclusive’ to WiMAX
The fact that Sprint is welcoming LTE vendors to respond to its RFP for upgrading its legacy CDMA network is no surprise — in fact, it’s no different than the line that the carrier has been taking for well over a year now. What is a bit of a surprise, though, is that it appears to be every bit as ambivalent about the direction of its 4G technology path as ever. The current RFP is strictly for an upgrade of Sprint’s “core” network, meaning its legacy (if you can call 2G / 3G “legacy”) footprint comprised solely of CDMA; its WiMAX assets aren’t affected this time around. In fact, the company’s VP of product and technology development, Kevin Packingham, went on record with Light Reading this week saying that it doesn’t “see WiMAX and LTE as being mutually exclusive” — in other words, these guys could end up doing both in the long term. We appreciate Sprint’s willingness to accept the fact that LTE’s picking up momentum as the global 4G standard, but considering the overwhelming expense involved in building out a new network, is the notion of a two-pronged strategy the right call?
Sprint still not ruling out LTE, says it’s not ‘mutually exclusive’ to WiMAX originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 May 2010 11:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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May/100
Verizon Palm Pre Plus drops to $30 on contract
Looks like Verizon is having a bit of a blowout on the Palm Pre Plus: it’s fallen to just $30 on a two-year contract. That’s the same price as Big Red’s Pixi Plus and a pretty substantial discount over Sprint and AT&T, both of which will charge you $149 — and man, AT&T hasn’t even started selling the thing yet, so someone’s going to look awful silly on launch day. No word on whether this cut-rate pricing will last or whether the Pixi Plus will fall to free, but if you’re looking for a cheap way to get in on the future of HP, well, now’s your chance.
Verizon Palm Pre Plus drops to $30 on contract originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 May 2010 10:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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May/100
RIM converts BMW’s iDrive into ‘a remote control for your BlackBerry’ (video)
If there’s one thing business types love more than their BlackBerry, it’s their BMW — or so we’re told. It makes all sorts of sense, therefore, that the two companies would partner up to help the things they sell communicate with each other more effortlessly. Using Bluetooth MAP (Message Access Profile), BlackBerry devices can now beam emails and contacts over to BMW’s iDrive dash system, where the driver can listen to his messages via a text-to-speech option or make calls using the car’s speakerphone. The first supported handset is the newly minted Pearl 3G, and we’re told this functionality will come as an integrated part of BlackBerry 6. To see how it works on a 335is, click past the break for the video.
[Thanks, Horatiu]
Continue reading RIM converts BMW’s iDrive into ‘a remote control for your BlackBerry’ (video)
RIM converts BMW’s iDrive into ‘a remote control for your BlackBerry’ (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 May 2010 04:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Apr/100
Adobe says no delays to Flash 10.1, CEO was just talking hardware
In a communication with Phone Scoop, Adobe has tidied up the meaning of its CEO’s words from a recent interview with Fox Business. In it, Shantanu Narayen repeatedly tells us to expect new Android, WebOS and BlackBerry devices with integrated Flash compatibility during the second half of 2010, but Adobe has now explained that he didn’t mean that the Flash delivery schedule will be delayed, not at all. You see, Narayen was talking about hardware coming out in the second half, but Flash 10.1 itself will still be arriving “to first mobile platforms including Android … before the end of the first half of 2010.” Interesting that only Android is mentioned explicitly, but at least this provides some reassurance to any fretting Flash fans out there.
Adobe says no delays to Flash 10.1, CEO was just talking hardware originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 16:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Apr/100
HTC ‘continues to assess’ developing its own smartphone OS, Palm says ‘hey, assess this’
Failing a Palm acquisition, there might still be justification for HTC to build out its own software platform for many of the same reasons that buying Palm would make sense — the company’s getting bigger and more important to the market by the day, after all, and being left at the mercy of Google and Microsoft to produce cohesive platforms of their own might not sit well with Chou’s team ad infinitum. The HTC Smart could be regarded as its first baby step toward that goal, though the handset — based on Qualcomm’s Brew MP platform — is actually a featurephone that won’t fly with the same kinds of consumers that are cross-shopping Android and Windows Phone products. To that end, Bloomberg says that HTC’s CFO revealed in an interview that his company continues “to assess [developing its own smartphone operating system], but that requires a few conditions to justify.” Naturally, he went on to clam up when nudged about the Palm sitch — and he never got around to laying out what those “few conditions” were that would spur HTC to pull the trigger on any of this — but it’s starting to seem inevitable that this is all going to go down one way or another.
HTC ‘continues to assess’ developing its own smartphone OS, Palm says ‘hey, assess this’ originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Apr 2010 13:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Apr/100
SanDisk calls it: Microsoft Pink being announced on Monday
Good secrets are hard to keep, and it looks like at least one of Microsoft’s trusted partners has spilled the beans on the company’s big announce for Monday. SanDisk used the occasion — the unannounced occasion, that is — to let some members of the press know today that Microsoft’s Pink devices will be compatible with its line of microSD cards. That seems like a pretty lame way to ride on the coattails of a big hardware launch, but then again, when your most exciting products are nondescript pieces of plastic half the size of a postage stamp, how else are you going to make the news?
SanDisk calls it: Microsoft Pink being announced on Monday originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Apr 2010 18:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Mar/100
Google cutting in Android carriers, manufacturers on ad revenue?
Free, ad-supported phones have long been a rumored endgame for Android, but the way that model ends up playing out may not happen the way everyone thought. mocoNews is citing “multiple sources who are familiar with the deals” in saying that Google has been sweetening the pot for both manufacturers and carriers of Android devices by tossing in a cut of the ad revenue generated from their services — search, Maps, and the like. This would certainly explain Android’s stratospheric rise through the ranks in carriers’ lineups around the globe, and — more importantly for consumers — gives them more wiggle room to slap huge subsidies on handsets (assuming the trickle-down economic effect kicks in at all). For competitors, Google offers a unique value proposition here that can’t really be met by anyone except perhaps Microsoft — and with Redmond looking to reestablish its relevance in the mobile space this year more than any other in recent memory, we could definitely see the two sparring to line Verizon’s and AT&T’s pockets with the most green. Naturally, all the parties involved have clammed up — no one’s saying a peep about whether this is true, or to what extent — but we certainly wouldn’t be surprised.
Google cutting in Android carriers, manufacturers on ad revenue? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Mar 2010 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Mar/100
FCC submits National Broadband Plan to Congress: at least 100M US homes with access to 100Mbps download speeds
Right on schedule, the FCC has submitted its National Broadband Plan. There’s a lot to go through — note the calls for broadband benchmarking and pricing reports — and we’re still combing, but here’s what we’ve noticed so far. The six goals set out for “the next decade” propose that every American have the affordable access (the key, oft-repeated phrase) to “robust broadband services,” and, more specifically, at least 100 million US homes with affordable access to at least 100MBps down / 50Mbps up speeds. All communities should have at their disposal 1Gbps service, every first responder should have “access to a nationwide, wireless interoperable broadband public safety network,” and here’s an interesting one: every citizen should be able to use broadband to “track and manage real-time [home] energy consumption.”
The appeal to our taxpaying wallets comes in the form of the FCC expecting the “vast majority of recommendations [to] not require new government funding”, and that the 500MHz of spectrum going on auction is “likely to offset the potential costs.” The plan, as the paper itself says, is in beta and be perennially in flux. Set aside 15 minutes of your day and hit up the PDF for all the details, or 25 if you’re having to download over dial-up.
Update: Here’s a friendly reminder to keep the discussion friendly and on topic — that is, about the broadband proposal itself. All other comments will get deleted and the respective users run the risk of being banned.
FCC submits National Broadband Plan to Congress: at least 100M US homes with access to 100Mbps download speeds originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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