smartphone

While we're expecting to see the HTC Touch Pro land at Sprint or Verizon Wireless (thanks FCC) later this year, it might just be that the Windows Mobile 6.1 smartphone is also headed to AT&T. According to Engadget Mobile, a cached Google page revealed a teaser for the Touch Pro on the carrier's Web site.

Rebranded as HTC Fuze, the smartphone could be the replacement for the aging AT&T Tilt, shipping with the latest operating system out of the box and of course, sporting a fresh design. At first glance, the HTC Fuze … Read more

While the official announcement wasn't supposed to cross the wires till next week, The Wall Street Journal went early with its story (please don't get me started on this) and published a review of the HTC Touch Diamond for Sprint.

Yes, that's right. The Windows Mobile 6.1 smartphone is officially part of the Sprint family; not that it was a complete surprise. The HTC Touch Diamond, as well as the HTC Touch Pro (no announcement on this model yet), were long rumored for a CDMA carrier months before Wednesday's early coming-out party. So now that the floodgates are open, here is what we know.

There are a number of differences between the Sprint HTC Touch Diamond and the unlocked version we reviewed in late June. First, it sports a purple/burgundy backplate to add more flash to an already sexy phone. The smartphone is also a smidge thicker and heavier at 4 inches tall by 2 inches wide by 0.6 inch deep and 4.1 ounces, but keeps the same 2.8-inch, 262,000-color TFT touch screen.

Of course, one of the highlights of the HTC Touch Diamond is the TouchFLO 3D interface, which provides a toolbar along the bottom of the screen where you can move left to right with the swipe of your finger to launch applications. Sprint's version is optimized so that you can access things like live TV, weather, e-mail, photos, contacts, and more.

In addition to the toolbar, there are several programs, such as e-mail, the camera, and music, where you can go flip through your files and messages by swiping your thumb/finger up or down the screen with a cool animated 3D effect.

Moving on to the features, the HTC Touch Diamond for Sprint runs Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional Edition, but rather than being content with the standard Microsoft Office Mobile Suite, the smartphone also ships with Dataviz's Documents to Go Suite and the Opera Web browser. We're sure many will be pleased with inclusion of these applications, which are arguably more robust than the former. Wireless options include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth (with A2DP support), EV-DO Rev. A, and GPS with support for Sprint Navigation. … Read more

It's not exactly the announcement we were looking for, but we'll take it as a sign that the launch of the highly anticipated Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 is that much closer. On Wednesday, Sony Ericsson released its Software Development Kit (SDK) for Windows Mobile 6.1 that will allow developers to create Web and native panels for the Xperia X1 smartphone.

If you'll remember, the Xperia X1, which was first introduced in February at GSMA, features a interactive panel interface that allows user to customize their Today screen. Given that capability, the SDK is an opportunity for … Read more

Updated at 4 p.m. PDT with second-quarter smartphone sales figures.

It looks as though Microsoft is joining Apple and Google in the mobile "apps store" market.

It appears the software giant expects to launch an applications store called "Skymarket" this fall for its Windows Mobile platform, if a recent job posting spotted by Long Zheng at Istartedsomething.com is accurate. According to the ad posted Sunday on Computerjob.com, the Skymarket senior product manager will head a team that will "drive the launch of a v1 marketplace service for Windows Mobile."

Among the … Read more

A new Moto smartphone joined the Motorola Q9h in AT&T's lineup on Thursday. The Motorola Q Global is largely like the Q9h except it ships with Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard Edition and comes with a pinstripe design and metallic silver casing.

We're glad that some things remain the same as the smartphone continues to offer HSDPA support, integrated GPS, and Bluetooth. In addition, rather than the standard Microsoft Office Mobile Suite, the Q Global comes preloaded with the DataViz Documents to Go Suite and Opera Web browser.

Other highlights include support for Good Mobile Messaging … Read more

You could embarrass your iPhone by loading it up with any number of the programs on our 10 absurd new iPhone apps list, or its sequel, 10 (more) absurd iPhone apps. Or you could just pick up a set of Phone Fingers, digit-protecting rubber sleeves that look like "miniature prophylactics" and may make users "resemble crazed janitors."

For that matter, why not just attach some kitschy phone charms by Mobi Products? They "don't really serve any purpose beyond signifying that a mobile device belongs to a 13-year-girl--or an irreparably confused adult."

Those descriptions … Read more

Q: I'm curious as to whether Bluetooth headsets also emit radiation, which could prove harmful to one's health. What can you tell me about this? - Craig

A: Bluetooth headsets do emit radiation, but they do it at a much lower power than a cell phone. In fact, it's so low that it's almost negligible. Keep in mind that while cell phones need to connect to a tower that could be a couple of miles away, a headset has an effective range of just 30 feet. However, if the prospect of Bluetooth radiation really worries you, … Read more

Nokia scored a hat-trick today with the announcement of three new Nokia N series models: the Nokia N96 (North American Edition), the Nokia N85, and the Nokia N79. Keeping with the family, the trio of Symbian smartphones offer high-end multimedia features, such as a 5-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, and work with Nokia's Ovi Internet services, which include the N-Gage gaming platform, photo sharing, and Nokia Maps. All handsets are expected to ship in Q4 and will be sold as unlocked phones (you know what that means--save your pennies now because they won't be cheap). Now, let'… Read more

Q: I need to replace my Palm Treo 650. Here's what I need. I need the organizing/calendar as well as contacts features. It needs to be a quad-band phone; have a screen similar in size to the Palm 650; a camera so it can record video clips and photos. It also needs to send text messages with photos attached and a QWERTY keyboard.

I'd buy another Treo, but I hear that Windows Mobile 6 works really slowly and is unreliable (at least on the Palms). I've also heard that Treo keyboards tend to die (like mine … Read more