<![CDATA[Gizmodo: Htc]]> http://cache.gawker.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/gizmodo.com.png <![CDATA[Gizmodo: Htc]]> http://gizmodo.com/tag/htc http://gizmodo.com/tag/htc <![CDATA[ Qik Video Streaming Comes to HTC Phones ]]> Good news for HTC phone owners, Qik is bringing its popular video streaming service to the Touch Dual, Touch Diamond and the TyTn-II. They are also adding two other Windows Mobile phones to the list: The AT&T Tilt, and the Sony Ericsson Xperia X1. All you need to do is set up a free account on the Qik website and you will be streaming video from your handset in no time. [Qik]

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Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:20:00 EDT Sean Fallon http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5045640&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Sprint HTC Touch Diamond Out on Sept. 14 for $250 ]]> Now that the WSJ has had their run with it, Sprint has confirmed that the HTC Touch Diamond will be out on Sept. 14 for $250 with a two-year contract and $100 mail-in rebate. Cheaper than we'd heard, but it would've been nice to hit the $199 mark. [PC Mag]

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Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:40:00 EDT matt buchanan http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5045615&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Sprint's HTC Touch Diamond Groped Ahead of Release by WSJ ]]> We've been keeping you up to date on the CDMA version of HTC's Touch Diamond, coming soon to Sprint, but the lucky buggers over at the Wall St Journal got their mitts on one ahead of its launch. It's fatness turns out to be 0.6-inches in size, partly due to that 1,350 mAh battery good for 4.2 hours of talk time. It comes with Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional Edition with a Sprint-customized TouchFLO interface plus a bunch of extras like Dataviz's Documents to Go Suite, Opera browser, a YouTube app and it works with Sprint TV and the Sprint Music Store. There's also 4GB of internal memory, a 3.2-megapixel camera, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth A2DP. The price is now set at $250, apparently, with 2-year contract, and it's now due mid-September. [WSJ via CNET]

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Thu, 04 Sep 2008 08:30:00 EDT Kit Eaton http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5045294&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Media Sync: iTunes Syncing on HTC, Nokia, Sony, and Sony Ericsson Devices ]]> Obviously, if you love iTunes but do not own an iPhone, syncing your music can be frustrating. Salling Software has developed a solution to this problem with Media Sync—an app that transfers playlists, music and podcasts to a wide array of Nokia, Sony, and Sony Ericsson phones (also works in a limited fashion with the HTC Touch Diamond). The basic Windows / Mac software is free, but you will have to shell out $22 for the fast sync version. And, naturally, it does not transfer DRM protected tunes. [Salling via Cult of Mac]

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Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:50:00 EDT Sean Fallon http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5045047&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ More HTC Dream Pictures Leaked ]]> We already saw the HTC Dream on video. Now, as the release date gets closer, more people are getting to play with—and leak pictures of—the first Android cellphone. Slide this, slide that, it looks exactly as we expected. [Engadget]

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Sat, 30 Aug 2008 14:00:00 EDT Jesus Diaz http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5043836&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ HTC Tilt Windows Mobile 6.1 Update Actually Out ]]> That Windows Mobile 6.1 update we showed you last week when it was supposed to be out is now officially out (according to HTC). Grab it now. [HTC]

New features:

Windows Mobile 6.1
HTC Home Screen
Video Share Calling
Threaded SMS
MS Voice Command
OneNote Mobile
Remote Desktop Monitor
Enroll Domain
Managed Programs
PTT Button now available
for reassignment under
Start>Settings>Buttons.

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Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:50:00 EDT Jason Chen http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5042146&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ HTC Dream Gets Unconfirmed Specs (Decent CPU Power, Meager RAM) ]]> Android Guys has an as-of-yet unconfirmed spec sheet on the HTC Dream (which they say is called the T1 on T-Mobile), supposedly one of the first Android phones to hit the market later this year. The most notable specs are the 528MHz Qualcomm 7201 CPU, which is a fairly decent processor as long as it's powering an OS that's not too bloated, 64MB RAM (kinda dinky), 1GB microSD card, 3.1-megapixel camera with no flash, decent audio and video codec support 3G, Quad-Band GSM, 802.11b/g, a 3.17-inch screen with 480x320 resolution and AIM/MSN/Yahoo/GTalk.

It also weighs 5.6 oz, but it's also syncable with Google Calendar and has Google StreetView with a built-in compass, so we can forgive its beefiness. We weren't super excited about the Dream before, but these details are getting us halfway there. Head over to Android Guys to get the full specs. We also darkened the lines on the image a bit to make it easier to see. [Android Guys]

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Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:52:06 EDT Jason Chen http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5042076&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ CDMA HTC Touch Diamond Has Release Date, Price, Fatness-Highlighting Red Rear ]]> We suggested the CDMA version of the Touch Diamond had eaten all the pies last week: Now word is out on its release and Sprint and HTC have chosen not to disguise it. Oh no... they've dolled that large rear-end up in a striking red color. Bizarre, though I guess its in the "if you can't hide it, make a feature of it" school of thinking. We can at least partly forgive its 0.55-inch depth, though, which is due to a 1350mAh battery. It's due out August 28th on Sprint, costing $549 for the bare phone, and $299 on a two-year contract. [Unwiredview via NewLaunches]

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Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:11:00 EDT Kit Eaton http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5041851&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Palm Treo Pro Sized Up Against Competition ]]> Most of us can size up the functionality of a phone from its spec sheet, but a phone's practicality, usability and enjoyability falls to a whole other series of factors. Form factor is a biggie. In this clip, you'll see the Treo Pro literally sized up against the smartphone competition (including the Palm Centro, Motorola Q9H, the BlackBerry Bold, the iPhone 3G, the HTC Touch Diamond and more. If you're at work and can't play the audio track, just turn it off and you'll still get most of the effect. [CrackBerry]UPDATE: Video after jump:

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Tue, 26 Aug 2008 08:30:00 EDT Mark Wilson http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5041829&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ HTC's S740 Is the Touch Diamond With a Keyboard, Runs Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard ]]> HTC's gone and followed up their S730—which was itself an HTC Vox successor—with the HTC S740. The latest phone keeps the slide-out candybar form factor, complete with keypad on front and QWERTY on the back, but also takes huge design influences from the HTC Touch Diamond. It runs Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard edition (the gimpier one), but still looks pretty darn good for a phone of this form factor. Hit the jump for the full specs.

Size: 116.3 x 43.4 x 16.3 mm
Weight: 140g with battery
Networks: WCDMA/HSDPA: 900/2100 MHz for EU and Asia
GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
Maximum speed: UL = 384 kbps; DL = 3.6/7.2 Mbps**
Operating system: Windows Mobile® 6.1 Standard
Display: 2.4-inch QVGA screen
Camera: 3.2 megapixel with fixed focus
Internal memory: 256 MB flash; 256 MB RAM
Memory card: microSD™
WLAN: 802.11b/g
Bluetooth®: 2.0 with EDR
GPS: GPS/AGPS
Interface: HTC ExtUSB™ (mini-USB and audio jack in one; USB 2.0 High-Speed)
Battery: 1000 mAh
Talk time: WCDMA: Up to 320 minutes*** / GSM: Up to 380 minutes***
Standby time: WCDMA: Up to 400 hours*** / GSM: Up to 280 hours***
Special features: Sliding QWERTY keyboard, FM radio, Google Maps, RSS Hub
Chipset: Qualcomm® MSM7225, 528 MHz

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Tue, 26 Aug 2008 05:22:00 EDT Jason Chen http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5041738&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ HTC Dream Engineering Drawings Reveal its Skinniness, Big Chin ]]> Yesterday we had the FCC imagery to give us some of the HTC Dream's sizes, but today over at Androidguys.com they've got hold of engineering drawings that give us the full data: it's pretty skinny. Interestingly it's got a bent chin that looks a lot like the MotoRizr design, but the screen here slides to the side to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard. By using the FCC dimensions and doing a little measurement it looks like the phone's body is around 0.64-inches (16.35mm) deep which makes it fatter than the iPhone's 12.3mm, but thinner than the HTC Touch Pro's 18.1mm. The screen bezel complies with an approx 3.5-inch screen, but doesn't confirm the size of the screen itself. We'll have to wait for the next leak for that. [AndroidGuys via AndroidCommunity] ]]> Tue, 26 Aug 2008 04:49:00 EDT Kit Eaton http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5041796&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[ HTC Dream's Dimensions Leaked by FCC, Misses Out All-Important Thickness ]]> HTC's Dream phone, with Android goodness, hit the FCC last week, and details have been popping up elsewhere too: But a new pic over at FCC has given us a concrete bit of data at last... the Dream's size. It's a svelte 55mm, or 2.17-inches wide, and 115mm or 4.53-inches long. That's a jot shorter than the iPhone 3G's length (though it's 0.28-inches narrower,) and only slightly bigger than the HTC Touch Diamond at 4.02 x 2.01 inches. Do you spot what's missing? The all-important depth of the phone—it's not shown on the FCC imagery. The slide-out QWERTY keypad will play a part in that, but we don't know as yet exactly how slim or pocket-stretching it's going to be. [FCC] ]]> Mon, 25 Aug 2008 10:00:00 EDT Kit Eaton http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5041273&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[ Leaked Shot Of HTC Touch Diamond Shows CDMA Version Ate All the Pies ]]> Over at BoyGeniusReports is this leaked shot of what's allegedly the CDMA version of HTC's fabby Touch Diamond cellphone. And oh boy, oh boy... that's one phone that's not been on a diet: compared to the GSM version sitting on top of it it's one big ugly fat fellow. Apparently it's actually "more comfortable to hold," but you've got to wonder about the weight of the gizmo, and the tightness of your pockets. [Howardforums via BGR]

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Thu, 21 Aug 2008 08:15:00 EDT Kit Eaton http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5039844&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ T-Mobile Android HTC Dream Launch Details: Oct. 13, $199 W/ 2-Year Contract Only ]]> Following up on rumorage that pre-sales for the HTC Dream/G1 would start Sept. 17, TmoWorld says they've got the full skinny on T-Mobile's Android debut party: Supposedly, pre-orders will be online only for eligible post-paid customers—lasting through
Oct. 3—who will get the phone on Oct. 13, the public launch day. TmoWorld says the subsidized price will be $199 w/ a two-year contract (no one-year option).

Price seems to be the blurriest bit of info, possibly because it isn't totally set yet. For instance, TmoNews, who has a more proven record, says it might be $150 for upgraders. (One scenario: It's $150 for pre-orders, $200 for eligible people with new two-year contracts. But that seems a little overly complicated.) Monthly plans will be $35 w/ unlimited data/messaging or $25 for unlimited data/400 messages. Most of this sounds about right—not too far off the mark, anyway. [TmoWorld]

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Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:50:00 EDT matt buchanan http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5039741&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ HTC Diamond's Hidden Multitouch Revealed ]]> If you're reading the back of the HTC Diamond's box, it doesn't show some little child laughing with glee as he pinches in and out of webpages or draws with two fingers at once, in fact, it doesn't even list multitouch as a feature at all. But just because you can't see something doesn't mean it isn't there. When using the program NavDbgTool, HTC's secret weapon is uncovered—the entire front case supports tandem touching:

It's not necessarily the easiest feature to market, but hopefully future firmware updates will take advantage of the newly revealed tech. [mobiletopsoft]

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Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:22:00 EDT Mark Wilson http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5039281&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ AT&T's Tilt Finally Gets Windows Mobile 6.1 Update ]]> AT&T and HTC have finally pushed out the Windows Mobile 6.1 update, which according to Softpedia, brings threaded SMS, video share calling, MS Voice Command, Remote Desktop Monitor and managed programs. Everyone with a Tilt should download this ASAP and get the benefit that fewer bugs provides. Our tipster also tells us that WM6.1 will be available on stock phones within 7-10 days as well. Does improve the video drivers any? [HTC - Thanks Ding!]

Update: As people pointed out in the comments, the download goes to the old 6.0 ROM for some reason. Probably a mixup by HTC, so it should be fixed soonish?

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Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:26:05 EDT Jason Chen http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5038522&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Official: T-Mobile Confirms First Android Phone ]]> T-Mobile has confirmed that the first Android phone (dubbed HTC Dream) would be released before Christmas. While they did not give an exact date, all signs are pointing to October as the most likely month for a rollout to begin. [Yahoo]

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Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:45:00 EDT Sean Fallon http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5038384&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ HTC Dream Gets the FCC Stamp of Approval ]]> For those of you keeping score at home, HTC's Dream, due to hit T-Mobile in October as the first Android phone, just got tapped by the FCC's rubber stamp. Unfortunately there aren't any of those h-o-t product shots that the FCC is usually known for to give us a better look at the device, just a lot of black and white. But it does confirm the Dream moniker, that it's got a jog ball, Wi-Fi and it's running on the 850/1700/1900MHz bands. Very exciting! [FCC via Engadget]

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Mon, 18 Aug 2008 09:17:24 EDT matt buchanan http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5038201&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ AT&T HTC Fuze (aka Touch Pro) Coming Soon? ]]> WM Experts says that the AT&T-branded HTC Touch Pro we caught last week is probably going to be known as the HTC Fuze, and that it'll be out "sooner rather than later." Make sense, given that the thing's already floating around, even though the name doesn't, since it sounds more like an XTREME energy drink than a phone. Crazy kids. [WM Experts]

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Sat, 16 Aug 2008 18:00:00 EDT matt buchanan http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5037924&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Red Sprint HTC Diamond Spotted? ]]> Maybe it's real. Maybe it's a Photoshop. Either way, here's a red HTC Diamond with a Sprint logo on it. The image goes along with months of rumors about a Sprint-based HTC Diamond—one that will have a more curved case than its GSM counterpart along with a battery boost from 900 mAh to 1340 mAh (over 30%). But whether the image is confirmation of these rumors or just a product thereof is not yet known. [Brighthand]

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Fri, 15 Aug 2008 10:20:00 EDT Mark Wilson http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5037471&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ First Android Phone Coming "As Early as October", Says NYT ]]> While a T-Mobile news blog reported the HTC G1 would debut on September 17, the NYT begs to differ: Their sources point to an "as early as October" release timeframe for this potential bringer of the iPhonecalypse. [NYT]

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Fri, 15 Aug 2008 05:58:00 EDT Jesus Diaz http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5037402&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Giz Explains: The Magic Behind Touchscreens ]]> Touchscreens. They're everywhere, as if electronics makers aren't cool unless their phones or media players have them, and soon that will be true for laptops as well. Touchscreens aren't going to completely replace the mouse and keyboard in the next year or two, but we're hurtling toward a future where they're the dominant way we interact with devices. The catch is that "touchscreen" can describe a few very different technologies that all perform a similar function. Here's a breakdown of the most popular techniques for making touchscreen magic happen—and the crazy new techniques that will succumb to your caresses in years to come.

At a basic level, they all perform the same function—sensing a disturbance in the force when your finger or stylus or whatever pointy object you've got touches the screen, and then extrapolating that into knowing where you're touching it and relaying that to the software. The differences lie in how each screen detects a touch.

Resistive touchscreens are the ones you've probably put your greasy fingers on more than any other kind, mostly because they're the cheapest and oldest. They're in most touchscreen cellphones, many tablets and the Nintendo DS, to name a very few.

How it works: On the bottom you've got a layer of glass, and on top of that, you've got two more: a conductive and a resistive layer. They've got a sliver of space between them. And on top of that you've got one more layer, which is the one you touch. So, when you push down on the screen, the conductive and resistive layer touch each other, which changes the electrical current running through 'em, and the device can tell from that where your finger or stylus is touching.

Good and bad: While resistive is a good deal cheaper to manufacture at the moment, one downside is that it's hard to do multitouch, because of the constraints and shortcomings of a pressure-based system. Another problem is that the multiple layers of touch technology on top of the LCD block an awful lot of light—think of how much dimmer the DS's bottom screen is than the top one.

Capacitive touchscreens are a bit fancier. They used to be really expensive, but the costs are coming down, so you're seeing them in more stuff, like this touchscreen phone from Apple you might have read about, or Dell's Latitude XT tablet.

How it works: At its most basic level, you've got a layer on top of the actual display panel that has an electrical charge running through it. Since you've got your own electrical mojo going on, when you touch the screen (presumably with your finger), it registers an electrical change. By measuring how much you're mucking up the electrical field and where the biggest disturbances are, the device can determine where you're touching it.

Good and bad: It's far easier to do multitouch with capacitive, and fewer added layers mean more light comes through for a brighter display. Still, because it's all about electrical fields interacting and conductivity and stuff, a hand with a mitten on it will have a hard time making stuff happen, and if you wanna use a stylus, you'll need a special one.

Infrared touch sensing, currently most famously used by Microsoft's Surface table, takes a slightly different approach. Because it works well with larger products, you might end up seeing this one quite a bit, especially from Microsoft.

How it works: Basically, the image on the surface is projected from underneath it, along with infrared light. Also underneath are infrared cameras that can see when the light is reflected by objects (like your fingers or cellphones or whatever), and those images are processed and translated as you move and gesture with pictures and virtual objects.

Good and bad: The good thing about this is that it uses existing technologies that come very cheap; the bad news is that the apparatus itself can be bulky, hence the need for Surface to be hidden inside a table, or at least a large globe. Also, it's sensitive to light, so flash photography or strong sunlight can throw off its game.

More, more, more!! There are some \way more advanced touchscreen technologies that aren't yet in wide use. The surface wave acoustic system uses tranducers and reflectors that detect if the ultrasonic waves being sent between them are disturbed (absorbed, actually), meaning something is touching it. Upside is that no metal crap in the panel means 100 percent brightness and awesome clarity. But apparently dust and crud can affect it, so not good for anywhere dirty.

Sharp and others have released prototype touchscreens with optical sensing tech built directly into the display. They are sensitive enough to detect your finger rubs right down to the pixel. Besides making multitouch easy, it can also double as a scanner because of the whole optical deal. Right now it's for small screens like phones—it can scale to notebook size, but not any larger. Of course, they, like infrared, can be affected by undesired light fluxuations.

Mary Lou Jepsen—the engineering honcho behind OLPC's original XO Laptop and founder of the Pixel Qi LCD development firm—told us recently she is pushing for in-cell touchscreen tech, which would make touchscreens cost the same as regular LCDs and be the same thickness, since touch sensitivity would be part of the LCD's own matrix. The issue is that it'll only work with devices specifically coded to use it; it's not a plug-and-play touchscreen like you could order online for your home DIY fake iPhone. If you're wagering that this secret sauce will help achieve the impossibly low pricetag on OLPC's next baby, the XO-2, you win a cookie.

And that's just about everything you need to know about touchscreens to get by. Resistive and capacitive are the major two to know for now, though you might start hearing a lot more about the other ones soon enough.

Something you still wanna know? Send any questions about touching, feeling or screening to tips@gizmodo.com, with "Giz Explains" in the subject line. Top image from David Nguyen, featured in this Giz Photoshop contest.

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Wed, 13 Aug 2008 14:00:00 EDT matt buchanan http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5036516&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ HTC Dream Presales Beginning September 17th on T-Mobile? ]]> TmoNews claims to have scooped some succulent intel on the HTC Dream launch. While former hearsay had the Android-based smartphone delayed until 2009, current rumor has it that T-Mobile customers will be able to pre-order the phone on September 17th for a lot less than its (also rumored) $400 price.

These customers will score the phone for $150 (with contract, we're sure) whereas new customers will be able to purchase the handset sometime in October for the same amount. TmoNews also claims that all customers will be required to have Gmail accounts to use the phone.

In addition, the name "G1" has been floating around quite a bit. Whether or not that's an internal nickname for the Dream or its public title is not yet certain. [TmoNews]

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Tue, 12 Aug 2008 09:45:00 EDT Mark Wilson http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5035952&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ AT&T HTC Touch Pro Leaked Out For $900 ]]> A user on the XDA Dev forums got his hands on an AT&T-branded HTC Touch Pro for the relatively (for now) low price of $900. Did someone at AT&T sneak one out and sell it on Craigslist? Who knows, but this one supposedly has AT&T branding on the home screen, plus is customized for US 3G—something the European version is not. The keyboard looks somewhat similar in color scheme the to AT&T 8525, which makes it somewhat more likely that these pics are the real deal. Then again, some guy could have just gotten a Euro version and put a hacked ROM on there with the AT&T logo. [XDA Devs via WM Power User</</p>

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Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:00:00 EDT Jason Chen http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5035564&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Rumor: HTC Dream Spotted In Real Life Leaked Video ]]> This clip doesn't look like any old clip. No no, my friends, it looks to be a leaked clip. Ooohhh. And many believe this leaked clip to be the upcoming HTC Dream running the Android OS. You'll notice the Dream's been tweaked a bit from the last time we saw it, still retaining a QWERTY keyboard, but now packing a (slightly buggy) touchscreen with (very responsive) landscape to portrait rotational sensitivity. For some, it'll be the stuff that "dreams" are made of. But for those with dreams like ours, it's lacking the first grade teacher dressed up like the Statue of Liberty while speaking Japanese vibe. [BGR]

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Mon, 11 Aug 2008 08:45:00 EDT Mark Wilson http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5035388&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ HTC Says Android Phone Not Delayed, Really, They Swear ]]> Yesterday, an analyst said that according to his sources, HTC is not having a jolly good time developing their Android headset, and it's probably going to be delayed 'til 2009. "Not so!" says HTC. They say that his facts do "not match the facts" and you will damn well see their Android phone by the end of 2008, which'll make them first to market with one. Glad that's cleared up! If you believe HTC, anyway (and we really want to). [Unwired via Electronista]

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Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:15:00 EDT matt buchanan http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5034762&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ HTC's Android Phone Might Be Delayed 'Til Next Year, and Other Signs Android Is Screwed ]]> Contradicting HTC's assurances a couple days ago that its Android phones are on track for later this year, an analyst at Global Equities research says that, according to his sources, HTC is "having structural problems to incorporate Google’s demanded feature set" and "demanding a guaranteed minimum revenue surety from Google," indicating they don't have a lot of faith in Android phone sales. Consequently, it looks like their Android handset (probably Dream) might slip into next year after all.

Worse in the long-term is that the analyst's contacts tell him that developers are not exactly snapping up Google's SDK—they're too busy developing for the ten million other OSes out there, like Windows Mobile, Symbian, OS X and BlackBerry. It wouldn't be too surprising, given stuff like infrequent updates to the SDK, unless you're one of the super special developers with access to the privately updated one. The fact that bad news about Android keeps rearing its head isn't a good sign itself, since noise this persistent usually has a bit of signal embedded in it. [Barrons via Electronista]

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Thu, 07 Aug 2008 20:50:00 EDT matt buchanan http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5034490&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Details on Touch Diamond and Touch Pro For Verizon/Sprint Show Slight Gimpage ]]> Phone Arena got some leaked documents on the HTC Touch Diamond and HTC Touch Pro for Sprint and Verizon, and it looks like Verizon's going to be slightly gimping their version of the Diamond. The general gist is the same with both having a 2.8-inch screen, EV-DO Rev. A, 3.2-megapixel autofocus camera, 802.11b/g, 1340mAh battery, internal GPS, and Bluetooth 2.0. What's different is in the processor and RAM.

Sprint has a Qualcomm 7501A processor running at 528MHz with a 32MB ISM, and Verizon has a Qualcomm 7500 running at 400MHz with a 54MB ISM. Slightly faster, but less RAM internally for Sprint. On the memory side, both have 256MB ROM, but Sprint has a 256MB RAM as opposed to Verizon's 128MB. That's half the amount of RAM on Verizon. Expect slowness there. But you do get an SD expansion slot on Verizon.

On the Pro side, the relative processors and RAM are the same (Sprint gets 256MB RAM while Verizon only has 128MB), but both have a 512MB ROM. Sprint's has a motion sensor on both phones while only having an SD expansion slot on the Touch Pro. From what Phone Arena's readers say, Sprint will have a 30 day exclusive head start on the two phones starting on or around September 2. [Phone Arena - Thanks Eric!]

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Tue, 05 Aug 2008 11:28:29 EDT Jason Chen http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5033263&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ HTC's Android Phones Still On Track For Q4 2008 ]]> HTC's CFO reiterated that their Android phones—previously slated to be released Q4 of this year—will be released Q4 of this year. Android handsets are still planning to be shipped to "ODM clients" in the fourth quarter, meaning that you might not actually see them until late, late 2008 or early 2009. Why? Because those ODM clients, like T-Mobile or various other companies who are using HTC to design the base phone but customize it even more, need time to work their own add-ons in. So yes, on time might not mean on time for you to play with unless HTC releases an Android phone with the HTC branding, without going through secondary companies. [Digitimes via Slashphone]

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Mon, 04 Aug 2008 17:13:31 EDT Jason Chen http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5032966&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ HTC Touch Diamond Shows Up on FCC With US 3G Specs ]]> Like the sun rising or your prostate swelling to grapefruit sizes, the HTC Touch Diamond showing up on the FCC site was an inevitability. It's not like we didn't know it was coming, but seeing for ourselves that it exists and has the proper US-based 3G HSDPA capabilities is always good. Now all that's left is to wait for someone to release it for realsies. If you've already got an imported Touch Diamond, you can add 850MHz support to it via a software update. [FCC via Engadget]

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Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:19:00 EDT Jason Chen http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5030497&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ HTC Touch Diamond ROM Gives Faster TouchFLO and 850MHz Support ]]> A ROM update from Hong Kong for the HTC Touch Diamond released yesterday adds some fantastic functionality such as the use of the 850MHz GSM band (used by AT&T here in the US) and the improved TouchFLO 3D performance. (For the record, the performance update is great.) There are also a few bug fixes like the "no signal issue" and home page loading. Grab it at the links from XDA Devs. [XDA Devs]

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Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:20:00 EDT Jason Chen http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5028696&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ HTC Releases Windows Mobile 6.1 Update For Touch on Sprint ]]> Mr. T told us about the Win-Mo 6.1 update back in April, but Sprint and HTC have finally gotten around to releasing the official update for the Touch. It brings support for EV-DO Rev. A, improved GPS, an Opera browser and a full-screen QWERTY keyboard. [HTC via BGR]

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Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:04:09 EDT John Mahoney http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5026746&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ HTC Diamond To Lose its Crinkles, Get Smooth Back-Side, Codename Victor ]]> The HTC Diamond isn't even out yet in the US, but a leaked photo shown over at BoyGeniusReports seems to show that HTC is planning a new version that doesn't have the Diamond's trademark crinkly, angular shape. The smooth-sided, round-reared phone is dubbed "Victor" apparently, and seems to be in every function identical to the Diamond. Except being perhaps a little less pointy to hold. [BGR]

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Thu, 17 Jul 2008 09:30:00 EDT Kit Eaton http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5026191&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Leaked Sprint Roadmap Shows Palm Treo 800W, BlackBerry Curve And Possibly the HTC Touch Pro ]]> Here's an alleged upcoming Sprint roadmap for Q3 2008 that shows several interesting phones and several lowbies. What you're probably looking forward to is the Palm Treo 800W and the BlackBerry Curve in red on July 13, but there's also the blue LG Rumor, MotoRAZR VE20, Sanyo Katana Eclipse, Samsung M320, Samsung M220, Moto Renegade V950, HTC MP6950 and Moto i365. The HTC MP6950 sticks out to us since the current HTC Touch is the MP6900, so this probably makes it the Touch Pro with slide-out keyboard. We'd definitely want one of those. [Sprint Users]

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Wed, 09 Jul 2008 12:19:26 EDT Jason Chen http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5023378&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Sprint's HTC Touch Diamond Gets Photographed By Digital Camera From 1998 ]]> Nothing confirms that Sprint is indeed getting the HTC Touch Diamond like a blurry picture of the phone posted in some forum. You can't tell much, but you can see that TouchFLO 3D is still there, and that there's a big yellow Sprint sticker on the top right where the, uh, front camera is supposed to be. Either there's no front cam on this or your face is going to get a Sprint logo all over it during conversations (or it's on the left, but we can't make it out in this vaselined photo). [PPCGeeks via Phone Arena]

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Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:41:43 EDT Jason Chen http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5021294&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ AT&T 2008 Smartphone Roadmap Leaked ]]> Believe it or not, AT&T actually does have other smartphones coming this year besides the iPhone 3G and BlackBerry Bold. Four sequel-y Windows Mobile phones all slated for winter, and 6.1 updates for existing ones. Besides the Pantech Tech Duo 2, there's the BlackJack 3 (with a better cam and a little faster hardware), Tilt 2 (Update: BGR says Tilt 2 is probably the Touch Pro), and another unnamed Sammy, possibly the Omnia. There's also a "non-QWERTY" LG phone of some sort and a Wi-Fi version of the Curve (8320). Since these are all smartphones, we're guessing there's another consumer roadmap. [Gear Diary]

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Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:59:19 EDT matt buchanan http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5021207&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Verizon and Sprint Both Getting Blessed With HTC Touch Pro and Diamond ]]> If you're craving HTC's Diamond or Touch Pro (aka Raphael) it looks you're going be satisfied no matter what carrier you're on. Phone Arena says the CDMA flavors of both will hit Sprint AND Verizon, so there's no need to bounce to another carrier to get your hands on one. No word on the dates. In a side note, Moto's Blaze is due on Big Red by Sept. 22, if you're interested in a meh touchscreen phone. [Phone Arena, Thanks Matthew]

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Mon, 30 Jun 2008 20:01:00 EDT matt buchanan http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5020913&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ HTC Touch Pro Gets Fondled, But That Doesn't Turn It On ]]> The guys over at Phone Mag managed to get their hands on the HTC Touch Pro "Raphael" and its sweet slide-out QWERTY keyboard. Unfortunately, there was no battery and the device could not be turned on—but no significant changes are expected on that front over the previous Touch handset. All in all, Phone Mag felt that the device would satisfy HTC owners and keyboard lovers alike.

Hit the following link for a full gallery. [Phone Mag]

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Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:32:00 EDT Sean Fallon http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5020340&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Wired: How and Why Android Came to Be ]]> You might already know that Google bought Android for $50 million in 2005 after Danger co-founder Andy Rubin just asked them for an endorsement of it. But did you know that Google feared Windows Mobile? Yep, that one, Wired's massive top-to-bottom Android feature (with awesome art) reveals. Google thought Microsoft had beat it to mobile—it had a quickly growing platform, tied to Microsoft's ends. Google, on the other hand, was having its apps, like mobile Picasa, shot down by carriers who wanted to extort users to do the same thing Google offered for free.

That's just one reason it needed Android. Unlike Windows Mobile, which is all tangled up with Windows, Android's totally centered the web—where people naturally go to Google. While Android vs. iPhone is shaping up to be the new Windows vs. Mac (or open vs. closed), the iPhone actually proved the thesis that easy mobile net access is really easy access to Google: Christmas Day, the iPhone, "fewer than 5 percent of all smartphones worldwide, drove more traffic to Google than any other mobile device." By making Android all about net connectivity and giving developers a common platform to develop for hundreds of phone, the bet is that even with tons of third-party apps, it all comes back to Google. The web is the platform as much as the actual code-y bits.

Naturally, handset makers fear losing their brand in the hype, even as Google argues it means they don't have to waste time on the OS, but can concentrate on hardware and their own proprietary apps. (Course, if you're of the mind it's all about software now, then Google's argument is funky bunk. Hardware will matter maybe as much as Dell vs. HP—maybe that's a lot to you, maybe not so much. Besides, has HTC really had an identity in the first place?) Motorola is actually betting big, putting the original team behind the Razr on its Android phones, hoping it'll be a path to newfound glory.

Even if it (or anyone else) succeeds, ultimately they'll still just be a cog in the Android machine. By the same token, even if Android itself bombs out, as long as it forces open access to the internet, Google still stands to rake in the rewards. [Wired]

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Wed, 25 Jun 2008 18:40:00 EDT matt buchanan http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5019678&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ HTC Touch Diamond Hands-on Update ]]> I'm still working on the full review, but I wanted to give everyone an update on that performance fix that was released last week for the HTC Touch Diamond. I installed the new ROM (it was easy, just run the executable on your PC), and now TouchFLO is noticeably faster. It's still not instant, but it's definitely improved to the point where it's usable and you won't really mind it. Yeah, it's passed that bar. I'd even say that it's just as fast as the iPhone. Current owners will be able to upgrade to the newer official ROM soon.

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Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:20:00 EDT Jason Chen http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5019640&view=rss&microfeed=true