HTC HD2 and Windows Phone 7 Series: Just tell us no, Microsoft

Dear Microsoft,

We’ve had it up to here with these shenanigans. You’re jerking us around, and we’re sick of it. We get it, you have a very particular concept of what sort of phones you want running your new Windows Phone 7 Series OS. Not only do we get it, but we’re kind of proud of you for sticking up for yourself for once and ensuring some sort of sameness across your platform. Unfortunately, it’s not the holiday season yet, so we can’t buy one of these fancy WP7S phones yet. Meanwhile, on the other end of town, HTC is bringing the HD2 to T-Mobile in the US this month. Sure, it runs your soon-to-be-outdated Windows Mobile 6.5 OS which nobody wants, but it’s also pretty much the best hardware we’ve ever seen. Bar none.

This brings us to our plea: Microsoft, please put a line in the sand and tell us if the phone will be upgradeable to Windows Phone 7 Series. Of course we know why you won’t, you don’t want to “Osborne effect” the sales of your one last hope for Windows Mobile 6.5 success, and you don’t want to harm one of your most loyal handset builders. But what about your consumers? You’ve recently pushed out a number of statements about the device, full of wimpy non-line-in-sand-ers like “We currently do not have plans to update the HTC HD2 to Windows Phone 7 Series.” Sure, you’re not telling us to get our hopes up, but you’re also just cruel and calculating enough to leave room for hope. We’re pretty resigned at this point to receiving our Windows Phone 7 Series update on the HD2 from our good friends at xda-developers, but we’d just like to hear it from your mouth. Or better yet? Just get WP7S on there yourself, caveat it as “non-preferred” or whatever makes you comfortable, and save us all from this paralysis.

See you at MIX!

HTC HD2 and Windows Phone 7 Series: Just tell us no, Microsoft originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T USBConnect Turbo and Velocity are carrier’s first LG and GPS modems, respectively

Location-based services have finally melted our brains to the point where we’re completely useless without immediate and constant access to Google Maps or a reasonable facsimile — we couldn’t fold a paper map if we tried, and even if we could, we’d spend an hour looking for the pulsing blue dot. That’s why we’re so delighted to hear that AT&T has finally outed its very first GPS-enabled USB modem, the USBConnect Velocity from Option, that includes a so-called Option GPS Control Panel for injecting your whereabouts into popular services like Yahoo and Bing (Google, curiously, isn’t mentioned). The other newbie to the lineup is the USBConnect Turbo — AT&T’s very first modem from LG — with an “ergonomic design” and versatile connector for even the most awkward ports (MacBook, we’re looking straight at you). Both devices will be available on the 7th of the month; the Turbo will be free on contract after rebate while the Velocity comes in at $29.99.

AT&T USBConnect Turbo and Velocity are carrier’s first LG and GPS modems, respectively originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Android 2.1 for Droid Eris leaks out

We’ve already seen a broken build of Android 2.1 for the Droid Eris slip out accidentally, but now the full package is available for installation courtesy of the fine folks at xda-developers. We haven’t tried it ourselves, but we’re told it’s working fine, and that snazzy new version of Sense is apparently quite snazzy and new. Of course, you’re risking your phone and all your data if you try this, so the absolutely smart and prudent move is to wait for the official update, but do let us know how it goes if you’re daring enough to load it up, okay?

Update: And just like that, it’s been ported to the Sprint Hero, although not everything works quite yet. You be careful, kids.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Android 2.1 for Droid Eris leaks out originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony prepping new line of handhelds, including PSP phone?

You know who knows everything? People familiar with the matter. In particular, they know everything when “the matter” happens to be Sony’s handheld strategy for 2010, which is said to finally include an honest-to-goodness PSP with phone capabilities — something the world’s been demanding for as long as they’ve wanted a Zunephone. According to the WSJ, the device is apparently part of a larger push by Sony to create an iTunes-like Utopian ecosystem of products this year that connect to Sony Online Service, an ecosystem that would also include a hybrid portable of some sort that “blurs distinctions among a netbook, an e-reader and a PlayStation Portable.” Details aren’t offered on this particular monster — but turning our attention back to the phone for a second, it’s claimed that Sony’s working with it in conjunction with the folks at Sony Ericsson under the direction of Kunimasa Suzuki, an exec largely responsible for the VAIO line who’s also involved with the PlayStation team. Of course, SE’s already taken some baby steps toward corporate harmony by bundling Remote Play support with the Aino, but everyone knows that PSP compatibility is the panacea; Microsoft finally buckled on the Zunephone thing with the introduction of Windows Phone 7 Series, and there’s no reason why Sony shouldn’t follow suit.

Sony prepping new line of handhelds, including PSP phone? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple / Nokia federal lawsuit put on hold pending ITC investigation

We normally wouldn’t cover something so procedural, but given the heightened interesting Apple’s patent dealings this week, we thought we’d note that Cupertino’s tiff with Nokia in the federal courts has been put on hold while both companies argue their case before the US International Trade Commission. We expected the ITC to be the primary front in this fight from the start, but now we’ll be particularly focused on the Commission’s ruling, since several of the patent claims Apple’s asserting against Nokia in this case are also being claimed against HTC. We don’t have a timeline on when the Commission will reach a decision, but we’ll keep an eye on things.

Apple / Nokia federal lawsuit put on hold pending ITC investigation originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Project Pink QWERTY slider ‘Pure’ found in the wild, headed for Verizon?

There’s a lot of rumbling in Project Pink land today, as Microsoft is seemingly nearing that magical time where its much-leaked Sidekick followup can finally see the light of day. First off, we’re hearing from a tipster that the phones (we’ve seen ‘Turtle’ and ‘Pure’ so far) will be exclusive to Verizon, at least at the outset — makes sense, given the CDMA radios we saw at the FCC. He calls the UI “hectic and colorful,” and also says that there’s still some serious cloud backup reliance, along with some desktop software to sync up with the cloud as well, and data plans that including a certain quantity of app downloads a month.

This is all fine and exciting, but it’s helped along by a couple of image leaks. Conflipper, well known among the xda-dev crowd, is teasing the Twitter world with some screenshots of the emergency dialer (which also mention Verizon Wireless), and a Facebook upload from the device, which can be found in the gallery below. The dialer is about as barebones as it gets right now, but there’s a bit of a hint of Windows Phone 7 Series in there to be sure. Finally, Gizmodo hit upon the hardware jackpot with a Mr. Blurrycam capture of the bigscreen ‘Pure’ QWERTY slider (pictured up above). If you really squint your eyes you can make out some of that “hectic and colorful” UI we’re hearing about.

Project Pink QWERTY slider ‘Pure’ found in the wild, headed for Verizon? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon’s HTC Incredible spotted again, looking as red-accented as ever

We’re missing that crazy contoured back this time around, but otherwise, HTC’s so-called Incredible for Verizon is looking as real and ready for action as it ever has in these latest shots leaked over at Phandroid. It’s hard to say whether these crimson bits are going to make it to production — they seem a little too spectacular for a high-end device that Verizon will want to appeal to the masses, but then again, red is Verizon’s color, so who knows? We’ve seen from countless prototypes in the past (Moto’s Morrison comes immediately to mind) that they’re often given special colors, presumably to identify bandits trying to expose them as anonymously as possible — and we’re tentatively going to say we dig it here. AT&T’s gone wacky on us in the past, but is Verizon hip enough to ship a phone this edgy? Release rumors span from March to May at this point, so we’ll know within the next couple months what’s what.

Verizon’s HTC Incredible spotted again, looking as red-accented as ever originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia’s Terminal Mode spotted in the wilds of the Geneva Motor Show

Those lovely people over at Nokia have furnished us with a few images of what their dashboard integration will look like, as well as the names of a few more partners for the Terminal Mode initiative. Intended to smarten up your car’s hardware with the phone’s capabilities — whether that be to play back music, use Ovi Maps, browse the web, or whatver else — this was announced in partnership with Alpine yesterday, but today we’re hearing that Fiat, Harman Becker and Valmet Automotive are also getting in on the fun. The gallery below shows off a mockup from Valmet, which plops your Nokia into a cradle just under the Eva concept’s “on” button, and then transfers all the important stuff onto an LCD integrated into the dashboard above. Nokia tells us that each OEM will have their own particular design, so this might not be how they’ll all look, but as far as ease of use goes, we don’t know how you can improve much on what’s being shown already. Let’s just hope the software is as effective as the presentation is handsome.

Nokia’s Terminal Mode spotted in the wilds of the Geneva Motor Show originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 07:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Potato’s FLPR IR dongle gives your iPhone home automation capabilities

It’s hard to say why we’ve seen a glut of these adapters hit all within the same week, but hey, the more the merrier! North Carolina’s own New Potato Technologies (yes, we’re serious) has followed up on ThinkFlood and Power A’s efforts by introducing an Infrared iPhone / iPod touch dongle of its own. The difference? This one connects to the dock connector, and when used with the accompanying app, it can control lights, stereo systems, home cinemas and pretty much anything that allows dictation via IR. The best part just might be said app, as it allows users to search a database of over 14,000 device codes and just add the products they already own, which means that you’ll probably only be stuck programming that LaserDisc player you refuse to give up. It’ll start shipping today from the company’s own website for $79.99, or you can consult the middleman (read: Best Buy) on starting on March 28th.

Continue reading New Potato’s FLPR IR dongle gives your iPhone home automation capabilities

New Potato’s FLPR IR dongle gives your iPhone home automation capabilities originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Opera Mini 5 beta shuns Java for Windows Mobile version

Got WinMo? Don’t have a Java VM? No problem! Opera has taken the time to rewrite its Opera Mini 5 beta as a native Windows Mobile application compatible with both 5 and 6.x-based handsets, meaning you won’t need the Java compatibility that’s traditionally required to run it — compatibility that ironically makes it one of the more widely-deployed mobile browsers in the world. Though the thicker, fuller-featured Opera Mobile product is already a stalwart on WinMo that HTC bundles with the better portion of its devices, the presumed advantage with Mini is that it’s tighter, faster, and consumes considerably less data — perfect when roaming or on a low-allowance plan. Heck, why not have both? The Mini beta download is available now.

Opera Mini 5 beta shuns Java for Windows Mobile version originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 10:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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