Much to our surprise, Motorola has just announced the MOTOZINE ZN5 handset. On paper, at least, this is a very nice phone, sporting a 5-megapixel camera with auto-focus (yay!), Xenon flash, image editing, Wi-Fi, E8-style ModeShift keypad, and an EDGE radio. The specs are decent, and the EDGE radio is more of a limitation of the target market’s spectrum than of any nefarious attempts to destroy our access to 3G goodness. We made our thoughts about this handset’s evil slider twin known a couple weeks back, though the addition of auto-focus on this one is sure to bring a bit more appeal. Motorola is billing this with built-in Kodak Gallery integration, which is a nice thought, but attempting to upload a 5 megapixel image over an EDGE connection sounds like a savage exercise in frustration. No word on pricing, but expect this to launch in China next month, with worldwide availability coming soon thereafter.

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We’ve got two independant tips on this date, so let’s hope it pans out to be true. AT&T corporate is still telling their Fortune 500 customers that the Bold will launch in “July/August”. Hopefully Rogers will swift kick them in the ass and get them moving. What’s holding up the Bold, you ask? Well, nothing. The units went into production a while ago and the latest software build is extremely stable. It’s all up to the carriers now. What say you, friendly Canadians? Raiding a Rogers store on June 25th for a BlackBerry Bold? Our previous Rogers release dates were spot on, so we’ll see!

UPDATE: We’re now hearing July 17th with the launch party on July 8th… go figure.

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If you’re like us, you’re not giving that Tony Hawk Sidekick LX the time of day. But, you don’t want to feel left out when all the other cool kids in school are taking videos of their gnarly sk8board tricks. What’s a Sidekick-toting fellow to do? Well, the much-awaited OTA update for the LX will hit on June 25th. It will be a rolling OTA as usual (they slowly spread it out across the devices which can sometimes take up to 4 weeks) and we’ve got the exact details on what it will contain. Below is an easy-to-read version of what we were able to translate. 

• Capture videos using the new video mode
• Playback from the SD card or email attachments using the media player
• Share videos via email, Picture messaging, and Bluetooth
• Listen to songs or videos using a stereo Bluetooth device
• Send and receive photos, videos, or music via Bluetooth
• 3 IM clients & enhancements to AIM® and Yahoo!® Messenger
• Create and join group chats
• See who is logged into IM from the address book or email and instantly start a conversation
• Set a custom status message then keep chatting
• Search for friends in a buddy list
• Got more buddies than you can keep track of? See who’s online right from the address book or email, and search for friends in your buddy lists
• Select how Web pages are displayed based on preference
• PC-like, full-size layout to pan & scan while reading o Standard Sidekick screen-size layout to simply scroll down the page to read · Mini Page to zoom out on an overview of an entire Web page 
• Save images from Web pages to the SD card Personalize the way you want to surf
• Device does not restart after a download. Just install an item, and it’s ready to use
• Capture videos and share them directly from the Camera app
• Video integration for playback, send, and save to gallery
• QuickFind: search for keywords across applications to find messages or information
• Spell Checker

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What’s a Thursday without some exclusive shots of the Samsung T229? Nothing. That’s what. Sure, the SGH-T229 is nothing to get too excited about, with its Quad-Band GSM radio, probable EDGE data support, Bluetooth, and not a whole lot more. We assume this is sporting a VGA camera, but Samsung might surprise us with a 1.3 MP lens. Other than that, we expect this handset to launch for close to $0 with a 2-year agreement. Then again, it is quite a striking shade of red, is it not? Couple more shots after the jump!

Thanks, Omie!

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Ready for some exclusive Hotspot@Home action? Good. The Samsung T339 is a T-Mobile branded handset with Wi-Fi, Quad-Band EDGE, Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP, and shockingly stylish looks. We’re not exactly sure how much this will cost, but expect it to slot in towards the lower end of the spectrum (like pretty much everything else T-Mobile has to offer). Hotspot@Home is a great feature, and given the appealing styling, we wouldn’t be too unhappy carrying this sucker around in our pocket. Hit the jump for a couple more exclusive shots!

Thanks, Omie!

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As if we needed any more evidence of the impending arrival of the Sidekick Gekko, HipTop3.com got their hands on several pages from the handset’s product manual. The manual confirms a number of details about the Gekko, including the presence of a 2 megapixel camera, wide-screen LCD, replaceable bumpers and shells, and on-board video support. We’re still waiting on live shots of a breathing prototype, but the rumored launch date is close enough that we’re sure something will surface soon enough.

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T-Mobile USA and Nokia have just launched the Nokia XpressMusic 5310, which is the successor to the Nokia 5300. The slider candybar handset sports a number of mid-range features, including a 2MP camera with video support, FM radio, QVGA screen, 3.5mm headphone jack, and a bit more. Sadly, the handset is a tri-band EDGE phone, so anyone with aspiration of taking T-Mobile’s new 3G network for a spin might want to look elsewhere. The phone does come with a 1GB microSD card out of the box, and the handset supports cards up to 4GB. To drum up some attention for an otherwise mediocre launch, Nokia and T-Mobile are holding a contest for new 5310 owners, offering a depressingly boring range of prizes, including free music and ringtone downloads, and a grand prize of a $100 Ticketmaster gift card. Yay! The phone will be available starting May 28th in three exclusive colors, black/red, black/purple and black/orange, for the low, low price of $49.99 with a 2-year contract. Hawla.

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Just as we predicted, a special red version of the Sidekick Slide has hit the streets. The Sidekick Slide Crimson is functionally identical to its purple brother, sporting EDGE, 1.3 megapixel camera, slide out QWERTY keyboard, Danger’s stellar AIM client, and a bit more. It’s not going to win any awards for "Innovation of the Year", but for the Sidekick faithful, this should do the trick. Expect it to run you $199 on a two-year agreement, available immediately from all of T-Mobile’s retail channels.

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That didn’t take too long, did it? We finally have it people — it’s alive and confirmed. The BlackBerry Bold is indeed the official name for the BlackBerry 9000 device and it should be available starting "this summer." AT&T is the first carrier to launch, but there is also a 1700MHz model coming which will support T-Mobile’s 3G data network. Here are a couple highlights:

• 1GB on-board memory with encryption.
• Tri-band HSDPA.
• Pricing in the $300-$500 range with a carrier.
• Launching on AT&T "this summer."
• Interchangable color back plates.
• 5 hours of talk time, 13 days of standby time.
• 624-MHz Marvell Tavor PXA930 processor.
• Taller and wider than the Curve.

One more shot and full press release after the jump!

For customers seeking a smartphone that makes a bold statement, Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ:RIMM)(TSX:RIM) today introduced the admirable BlackBerry® BoldTM smartphone. Crafted from premium materials, inside and out, that radiate elegance with a dramatic presence, the BlackBerry Bold is designed to give business professionals and power users unprecedented functionality and performance in an intuitive BlackBerry® smartphone. It is the first BlackBerry smartphone to support tri-band HSDPA high-speed networks around the world and comes with integrated GPS and Wi-Fi®, as well as a rich set of multimedia capabilities. From its lustrous black exterior, satin chrome finished frame and stylish leather-like backplate, to its stunning display, sophisticated user interface and newly designed full-QWERTY(i) keyboard, the BlackBerry Bold smartphone is a symbol of accomplishment and aspiration.

"The new BlackBerry Bold represents a tremendous step forward in business-grade smartphones and lives up to its name with incredible speed, power and functionality, all wrapped in a beautiful and confident design," said Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO, Research In Motion.

SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE

The BlackBerry Bold smartphone’s support for tri-band HSDPA and enterprise-grade Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g) networks and its next-generation 624 MHz mobile processor make short work of downloading email attachments, streaming video or rendering web pages. The BlackBerry Bold also includes 128 MB Flash memory plus 1 GB on-board storage memory, as well as a microSD/SDHC memory card slot(ii) that is conveniently accessible from a side door. It comes with the renowned BlackBerry productivity applications, including phone, email, messaging, organizer and browser, and works with thousands of mobile business and lifestyle applications, making it easier than ever to stay connected, productive and entertained. With this powerful new smartphone, users can even talk on the phone while sending and receiving email or accessing the web, and download Word, Excel or PowerPoint files and edit them directly on the handset using the preloaded DataViz® Documents to Go® suite.

STUNNING DISPLAY

The BlackBerry Bold smartphone comes with the most vivid and bold display ever introduced on a BlackBerry smartphone. Its half-VGA (480×320 resolution) color LCD is fused to the undersurface of the lens, making images leap out with stunning definition and clarity. Pictures are vibrant and razor sharp, while videos play smoothly and web pages, documents, presentations and messages snap with exceptional quality and contrast.

DESKTOP-STYLE WEB PAGES

With its newly enhanced, high performance browser and high-resolution, ultra-bright display, the BlackBerry Bold smartphone gives users an on-the-go web browsing experience with desktop-style depiction. The trackball mimics a mouse, making it easy to navigate sites in "Page View" or "Column View" or to zoom in on specific parts of a web page, while various emulation settings allow users to choose between the full desktop-style HTML content and layout or the mobile version. Attachments can also now be downloaded from within the browser and there is support for watching streaming videos (RTSP - real-time streaming protocol).

RICH MULTIMEDIA

While it is designed to meet the extensive requirements of the business professional during the day, the BlackBerry Bold smartphone also caters to the business person’s consumer side during evenings and weekends. It features a 2 megapixel camera with video recording capability, built-in flash and 5x digital zoom. The enhanced media player can display pictures and slideshows quickly, play movies smoothly in full screen mode, and manage an entire music collection. Audio can be played over the handset’s dual speakers in rich, stereo sound, and when using wired headphones or external speakers, the media player gives the user an equalizer with 11 preset filters - like "Lounge", "Jazz" and "Hip Hop" - that boost or soften audio ranges to create the perfect ambiance.

For managing music and video, the BlackBerry® Desktop Manager software includes Roxio® Media Manager for BlackBerry® as well as Roxio Photosuite® 9 LE, which makes it easy to enhance pictures and create photo albums on the computer. For users that manage their collection with iTunes®, the new BlackBerry® Media Sync application provides a simple way to sync iTunes digital music collections with the smartphone(iii). Support for High Speed USB 2.0 allows all files to be transferred quickly from a desktop computer to the BlackBerry Bold smartphone.

POWERFUL WI-FI & GPS

For even broader high-speed network coverage, the BlackBerry Bold smartphone supports the 802.11 a/b/g Wi-Fi standards, ideal for use in enterprise or campus wireless LAN deployments, over Wi-Fi hotspots and on wireless home networks. A new "Push Button Setup" is included, making it faster for users to connect to protected wireless networks that require a sign on process.

Through its integrated GPS, the BlackBerry Bold smartphone can pinpoint its exact location, supporting applications like BlackBerry® Maps and other location-based applications or services. With its improved rendering capabilities, faster download speeds and ability to support simultaneous voice and data, the BlackBerry Bold smartphone even allows users to navigate while on a call.

FIRST CLASS PHONE

The BlackBerry Bold smartphone features a new acoustic design that increases the size of the phone’s audio sweet spot, improving listening quality and clarity. It also comes with numerous premium phone features including Speaker Independent Voice Recognition (SIVR) for Voice Activated Dialing (VAD), Bluetooth® 2.0, with support for hands-free headsets, stereo headsets, car kits (including car kits that adhere to the Bluetooth Remote SIM Access Profile) and other Bluetooth peripherals. It is a quad-band EDGE and tri-band HSDPA handset that supports global roaming(iiii) and features dedicated ’send’, ‘end’, and ‘mute’ keys, smart dialing, speed dialing, conference calling and call forwarding. It also features noise cancellation technology that offsets background noise, a powerful speaker phone and support for polyphonic, mp3 and MIDI ring tones.

ROBUST EMAIL & MESSAGING

Like all BlackBerry smartphones, the BlackBerry Bold gives users the industry’s leading mobile messaging solution. It works with BlackBerry® Enterprise Server, which enables advanced security and IT administration within IBM® Lotus® Domino®, Microsoft® Exchange and Novell® GroupWise® environments, as well as BlackBerry® Professional Software for small businesses. It also works with BlackBerry® Internet Service, which gives users access to up to 10 work or personal email accounts (including most popular ISP email accounts), and the BlackBerry® Unite! software for SOHO and home users.

CONVENIENT ACCESSORIES

The BlackBerry Bold smartphone comes with a variety of convenient accessories including a stereo headset, travel charger, carrying case or sleeve and USB cable. Users will also be able to personalize their BlackBerry Bold smartphone by purchasing replaceable leather-like backplates that come in a range of colors. The removable / rechargeable 1500 mAhr battery provides multi-hour usage with a target talk time of approximately 5 hours and 13 days standby time.

Accessories for BlackBerry smartphones, including leather holsters and totes, charging pods, premium earphones, the BlackBerry® Remote Stereo Gateway and Bluetooth headsets, are available through retail outlets or online at: www.shopblackberry.com.

AVAILABILITY

The BlackBerry Bold smartphone (model number: 9000) is scheduled to be available from wireless carriers around the world beginning this summer.

For more information please visit: www.BlackBerryBold.com.

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There was a little bit of confusion with the 3G-less BlackBerry 9000 we posted. We heard two different codenames: Javelin and Niagara. Well, we were just told some more information on both devices. It seems the BlackBerry codenamed Niagara is actually an EV-DO device slated to hit Verizon in May of 2009. That seems a long way away but here are the specs on that model:

• "Large screen family"
• QWERTY keyboard
• 480×360 LCD
• EV-DO Rev. A
• aGPS
• 3.2 megapixel camera
• 4.7 OS platform
• BES 5.0 support (HTML email, etc)
• Qualcomm MSM7600 processor

That’s the Niagara. What about the BlackBerry Javelin? Well, here you go:

• QWERTY keyboard
• 480×360 LCD
• Quad-band GSM/EDGE
• GPS
• Wi-Fi
• 3.2 megapixel camera
• 4.6 OS platform
• BES 5.0 support as well
• ArgonV processor

Both devices look extremely similar in physical appearance, thus the confusion. So, look at that. You just got two devices for the price of one. Who’s out there in Verizon land and excited for this one? May of next year, though…doesn’t seem right does it? Then again, you never know with Big Red.

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Well, we’re not sure what we think of the device just yet. We’ll have our hands-on shots and first impressions up in a bit, but for now, here are the offical specs of the HTC Touch Diamond handset:

• Size: 102 x 51 x 11.33mm
• Weight: 110 g
• Connectivity: WCDMA / HSPA: 900/2100MHz. HSDPA 7.2 Mbps and HSUPA
• Operating system: Windows Mobile® 6.1 Professional
• Display: 2.8-inch VGA touch screen
• Camera: 3.2MP, with video calling
• Internal memory: 4 GB Internal Storage, 256 MB flash, 192 MB RAM,
• Bluetooth: 2.0 with EDR
• Wireless: WiFi 802.11b/g
• GPS: GPS/AGPS
• Interface: HTC ExtUSB™ (mini-USB and audio jack in one; USB 2.0 High-Speed)
• Battery: 900 mAh
• Talk time: GSM: up to 4 hours
• Standby time: GSM: up to 300 hours/100 hours with push email
• Chipset: Qualcomm MSM® 7201A™ 528MHz

What do you guys think? It most likely won’t be out in the U.S. for a couple months at best. Will you buy it? Couple more pics after the break.

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So you know how we’ve been talking about the BlackBerry 9000’s ridiculously high selling price? Well, it looks like RIM is gearing up to launch a 3G-less BlackBerry 9000 so to speak. It looks pretty similar but there are also a few changes to the design like a larger bezel around the front, and a whole different back case. Besides no 3G, we’d imagine the specs to be pretty similar to the BlackBerry 9000. Enjoy a larger-sized photo of this conceptual sketch after the jump!

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You didn’t think we’d actually leave you hangin’, did you? To follow up on on yesterday’s post of the BlackBerry KickStart photos, we’ve got here a couple more images of the phone with T-Mobile branding and some interesting details on the physical design attributes. It looks like the screen is monochromatic with a color glow. Whatever that means. We’re imagining the border around the screen to possibly "glow" different colors and when the outer display is off, it’s invisible. You just see the shiny black face. There’s a whole bunch of colors set to launch with the KickStart and they’ll be anodized. Additionally, the back battery cover will either be a soft-touch rubberized finish, or a low gloss finish. We’d imagine some sort of customization opportunities for the end user with the low gloss finish. Perhaps you could get the battery cover with personalized images and things. Sounds fun. Ready for the hard specaroonies? Who are we kidding — you know you are!

• Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE
• "Next Gen" SureType keyboard
• 2 Megapixel camera
• 16-bit color LCDs
• Internal LCD is 240×320, external one is 160×128
• Wi-Fi b,g
• 3.5mm headset jack
• OS is 4.6

We’re not going to flat out call it, but look for a release around September on T-Mobile! Hit the jump for the rest of the shots!

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• Radio - GSM/GPRS/EDGE/UMTS/HSDPA
• Bands - Quad-band GPRS/EDGE: 800/850/1800/1900MHz
• HSDPA: 850/1900/2100MHz (praise the lord!)
• Expandable memory - microSD
• Display - HVGA Color LCD (480×320)
• TrackBall Navigation
• Camera - 2MP (Boo!)
• Wi-Fi - a,b,g
• A-GPS
• Battery - 1500mAh
• High quality material, high-end finish
• Software - 4.6

So there you have it — full specs on the much-awaited BlackBerry 9000. Ah, the carriers! AT&T, NTT DoCoMo, and Vodafone are indeed the launch carriers with AT&T having a U.S. exclusive and being the first carrier to launch worldwide. What would we do without our carrier ninjas? First yesterday’s document and now this! Shout out to y’all, you know who you are!

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There has been a community of people clamoring for this for months now, but AT&T sure took its sweet time. Better late than never though, right? AT&T has just announced an iPhone plan tailored towards those that are deaf or hard of hearing. The TAP, or Text Accessibility Plan, will run you $40, and includes unlimited SMS and Data. Anyone looking to jump on board should activate their new iPhone as usual, fill out as application form on the AT&T website, and wait for approval. It’s a nice move, but considering that the company’s non-iPhone TAP plan is a mere $30, it seems a bit on the expensive side.

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Can you say fugly? Some spy shots of the upcoming Motorola ZN5 have surfaced, and if our eyes aren’t deceiving us, this thing is not a looker. Not at all. The ZN5 is Moto’s new Linux-based camera phone, sporting a 5-megapixel Kodak-sourced camera, 320×240 QVGA screen, Moto’s standard crappy multimedia software, and an EDGE radio. Yeah, EDGE. The phone runs version 2.6.1 of the Montavista Linux build, a cool feature and all, but look at that face. No word on when this will drop, but you can bet it will sport that Motorola E8 "morphing keyboard".

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You know we had to go and do it! In all honestly though, not that much is of interest with the new BlackBerry 8110. If you’ve been a die-hard Pearl user since the beginning and are in love with that SureType thing, you’ll most likely want to refresh your pocket with the 8110, but for newcomers in this area, it might not be what you’re looking for. For anyone that’s been following, the updated Pearl lineup includes a refined keyboard, external MicroSD slot, video camera, and a couple other features. Our recommendation is to stick to a Curve and hope RIM releases that 4.5 OS soon. That way you can make fun of all the Pearl people that bought it just so they could record video on their BlackBerry. We got a titanium version in hand, but it does come in a crimson red color as well. You know, in case you’re into that sort of thing. Hit the gallery for the unboxing pics!

Click on over to our AT&T BlackBerry 8110 Unboxing gallery!

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Right on schedule, T-Mobile has gone ahead and made the BlackBerry 8120 available to the general public. This model is the second ‘Berry compatible with T-Mo’s Hotspot@Home UMA calling service, joining the stable alongside the BlackBerry Curve 8320. Nothing crazy to report on the feature side, with the 8120 sporting Wi-Fi, a 2 megapixel camera, externally accessible microSD slot, and an "improved" SureType keypad. That said, it is the newest BlackBerry currently available in the States, so if cutting edge technology is your thing, you might want to hit the local T-Mobile store and swoop one up. Expect to pay $150 with a two-year agreement.

UPDATE: As a couple of you have pointed out, this is in fact T-Mobile’s 3rd Hotspot@Home device, not its 2nd as noted in the post. Thanks for the heads up!

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We just got word that the Motorola Z9 we’ve got sitting in our office draw is about to get a whole lot more company come April 1st. AT&T is said to finally be launching the device, but there’s also another thing. We heard TeleNav is going to be renamed AT&T Navigator and that’s going to be the launch device for the switch. Last we checked, our Motorola Z9 didn’t have GPS, so this might be an A-GPS solution unless Motorola has actually added GPS support to the handset. No idea on pricing at the moment but we shall all find out soon enough for all you Motorola fiends.

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How’s this for a bit of good news? T-Mobile has gone ahead and launched the new BlackBerry Pearl 8120. For anyone that’s counting, yes, this is an early launch. Last we heard, the phone was destined for an April 14th release date. You certainly won’t catch us complaining about this one. The 8120 is a great little handset for anyone in the SureType camp, sporting a 2 MP camera, 3.5mm headphone jack, external microSD slot, and Wi-Fi support that couples nicely with T-Mobile’s Hotspot@Home UMA service. Expect to be able to pick one of these bad boys up beginning today.

UPDATE: Engadget pulled the post as this was incorrect. Sorry, fellas!

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Right on schedule, T-Mobile USA has dropped the BlackBerry 8820. This Wi-Fi enabled handset sports GPS, a full QWERTY keyboard, microSD slot, and a whole lot more. Features-wise, this thing isn’t a whole lot different from the 8820 that dropped on AT&T last Fall, but with support for T-Mobile’s Hotspot@Home UMA calling service, we’re sure this appeal to more than a few of you out there. The phone is availbel right now from retail channels including t-mobile.com and most T-Mobile corporate stores. Expect to pay $349 with a 2-year contract.

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Consider this one unsubstantiated for the time being, but the time frame seems about right to us. A user over at Pinstack is reporting that his T-Mobile corporate rep furnished him with a brand spanking new BlackBerry 8820 yesterday. The device, which was shipped in black, reportedly came complete with OS version 4.2.2.193, Platform 2.5.0.43. Alas, no 4.5 to be found, but that’s no real surprise. What isn’t clear yet is how well the 8820 functions with T-Mobile Hotspot@Home service. Pricing also wasn’t revealed. This could be an elaborate hoax, but T-Mobile needs to start shipping the devices at some point, and no time like the present right?

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Besides the long list of people that waited and waited for the HTC Shift to finally be released, any BGR reader will know our own personal fascination with it. Considering how much we’ve craved, wished, hoped, and wanted, we’re going to take you into a full review of the HTC Shift. Everything possible will be broken down for you. The screen, keyboard, connectivity, battery life, software, problems — it’s all fair game on this side of town! If you’ve got any specific questions we’ll be glad to answer them for you. Just drop a comment below. And now, of course, the review…after the jump!

Design

You’d be hard-pressed to find a UMPC that is as cleanly designed as the HTC Shift. Taking into account the mechanics with the tilt + slide mechanism, they did a wonderful job. There’s not a huge amount of ports or buttons or switches on it, and that’s a good thing. On the right side, you have the HTC Communications Manager button, the screen resolution adjustment button, the trackpad, right speaker, and finally fingerprint reader. Moving to the left side, you have the right and left mouse click buttons, left speaker, and below that is the SnapVue/Vista button to switch between the two operating systems.

As we travel around the unit, we see the Power/Hold switch, USB port, and charging port. On the back, you’ll only find the VGA out port which is perfectly placed. All we have on the left side is the 3.5mm headset jack and nothing on the front side of the unit.

Keyboard

The keyboard is a tricky subject for any hardcore user. And the point of a portable device is that it should be able to function for all your needs when you’re not at the office or at home on your main computer. After all, if you can’t even manage to enter a web address, you can forget about answering those emails in Outlook, and editing those Word documents. I’m happy to report that the HTC Shift’s keyboard is the most usable out of any of the ultra portable devices I own or have ever used. This includes the Sony UX490, the OQO 02, and most definitely the Samsung Q1 Ultra. It’s a different keyboard though, so comparisons to the UX and OQO are not completely fair. Those keyboard are typed BlackBerry or Sidekick-style with two thumbs. The Shift keyboard is to be used in more of a traditional setup using your fingers to type. Unless you’re Yao Ming, there’s a good chance you won’t be holding it with two hands and using your thumbs to type. The keys are smaller than your average keyboard, but travel well when they’re pressed and have a good feel to them. The setup is a little weird, though. The numbers on the top row of the keyboard are not completely aligned. So the "1" key is over the "W" key instead of the "Q" key. This throws you off a little bit when you’re trying to type as if you were on a normal computer, but you get used to it after a while and it’s manageable. There is no F11 key (F1-F10) so you might need to remap it to another key if you use a program that needs it. Here is my big issue: the damn keyboard is not back-lit! This is a huge issue. The problem is even more obvious in low-light conditions, the screen is not angled over the keyboard (obviously), it’s tilted back. So the screen doesn’t give off enough light to be able to see the keyboard, and this makes it nearly impossible to type in low or no light conditions. That’s a real problem when you’re on a plane, on a train, or just laying in bed at night trying to get some work done.

Screen

The screen is good. It’s not great. The default resolution of 800×480 is fine for most applications and you have the option of changing to 1024×600 which will help with those cutoff windows. Running the brightness all the way to the top was too bright, and that’s a good thing. You’ll have to adjust the brightness if you’re outside, but we’re happy to report the screen is perfectly viewable even in direct sunlight. The screen is also, of course, a touchscreen. It’s a passive touch screen, so you’re free to use your fingers to tap and select items. The included stylus works fine for navigating, handwriting or anything else you’d like to do with it. We just had a bitch of a time getting the stylus out from the unit.

Performance

To give you the hard specs: 800MHz A110 Intel CPU, 1GB RAM, 40GB 4200rpm hard drive. That’s probably the bare minimum in terms of today’s advanced specifications for a mobile computer, but we’re happy to report that the HTC Shift doesn’t act like an under-powered machine. Yes, even in Vista. After almost a week of usage and putting it through the paces (we left the SSD MacBook Air at home), we were pleasantly surprised with no lock-ups, slow downs, or any kind of issues related to the speed of the device. As long as you don’t try to edit feature-length films on here, you should be alright. Office 2007 ran perfectly, Internet Explorer gave us no troubles, and AIM worked well, too. Playing videos and music also didn’t cause the computer to hiccup. We’re really pleased with how usable it is even with below-standard hardware.

Power / Battery

This could be be one of the biggest hurdles the HTC Shift has to face. To be fair, the specs are exactly as HTC specified: 2 hours of battery life in Windows Vista. You might be able to squeeze out a couple extra minutes, but don’t fool yourself — you’re not watching a whole Lord of the Rings movie on here anytime soon. On the upside, SnapVue lasts for a hell of a long time, even with the 3G connection on. HTC states around 2 days with push email enabled, and we agree. This is awesome for anyone on the go. A great move on HTC’s part is the power adapter. The charging brick is tiny and the charging cable itself is super lengthy. They get points for that one. We’d love to see a high-capacity battery soon, though. Some people have resorted to an external power station, but that’s a little extreme for our taste. Sure, you could strap on enough juice to power the city the of Los Angeles, but the point of an ultra-portable is to be portable, not weighed down by the extra batteries and power supply boxes attached to it.

Connectivity

How could we say something negative in this department? The HTC Shift is a powerful man-beast of connectivity options. We have Bluetooth 2.0, Wi-Fi, quad-band GSM/EDGE, and tri-band UMTS/HSDPA (850MHz/1900MHz/2100MHz). It’s all managed by the HTC Communication Manager and usually works flawlessly. You can have your 3G connection on at the same time as your Wi-Fi connection so in Vista you’ll browse over Wi-Fi and in SnapVue you’ll use 3G. There is a little quirk, though. Wi-Fi can’t be used in SnapVue, but 3G can be used in Vista. So you won’t be able to take advantage of anything on the SnapVue side unless you have a valid SIM card with data access in the Shift. That brings us to…

SnapVue

SnapVue is basically the Windows Mobile side of things, if you will. It’s not full Windows Mobile (though the people we love all over the world are working on "fixing" this), so there are some problems. On the SnapVue homescreen, you get a nice Today plugin. It shows the time, date, weather, emails, contacts, SMSs, calendar and settings. The issue is that since HTC has not provided us with the full Windows Mobile experience, you are limited in what you can do.

Let’s take the email program, for instance. You have your Exchange server all set up, your emails are being pushed to the device, and everything is all well and good in Shift land. Then you get an email with an important attachment. No problem, just click the attachment and it will download. Sure, it downloads, but try opening it. You can’t open any attachment in an email in SnapVue. PowerPoint, Word, Excel, PDF, image, movie, sound, MP3 — nothing! You’re forced to switch over to Vista and handle your business. I don’t think most people are asking for document editing, though that would be nice, but we should at least have the ability to open simple rudimentary attachments in SnapVue. That brings us to another snafu…phone calling.

HTC has not included the ability to make phone calls from the device. Not in Snapvue, not in Vista. From what I heard internally, this caused a bit of concern corporately in HTC as their customers were pretty ticked off about the possibility of a dedicated SIM card to a data device and not having the possibility of using it as a phone. We’re not saying you should walk around holding this up to your head (although we wouldn’t put it past some people), but you should have the option of using a Bluetooth headset. After all, with 3G, you could be talking while browsing the web. That’s a real must for a lot of people. So, no phone calls, but texting is included. Say what? Yeah, you can send text messages in SnapVue using the traditional Outlook program we’re all used to. To be clear, the actual applications are not stripped down at all.

The email application, calendar, contacts and all that are the full programs you’d find on a normal Windows Mobile device, it’s just the whole attachment and phone thing. In terms of applications you don’t get, well then, that’s another story. Besides the couple we mentioned, there isn’t anything else. No Pocket IE, no file browser, or anything of the sort. And that’s alright for most people including me personally. You really need to get something done, flip that switch to Vista and get on with your business. Attachment support should 100% be included in SnapVue for emails, so we’re going to have to see if HTC fixes this in a later firmware/software upgrade.

Sound

Stereo speakers, people! They sound really good. They’re loud and clear, but lacking a little bass. That’s alright. It will get you by anything you have to do in the audio world like watching videos or listening to music. The stereo speakers really are a pleasant surprise, though. We didn’t expect that. The only thing that could take on the Shift in the speaker department is the Samsung Q1 or Q1 Ultra. Those are probably the upper-echelon of UMPC speakers.

User Interface

The design and usability of the add-ons including SnapVue and other HTC bits of software like the Communication Manager are very straight forward. Big buttons and good descriptions. The only feature we’d like to see, as minor as it is, is the ability to hold a button down in the Comm Manager. I don’t want to click Volume Up 100 times, I want to hold it and let it do its magic. Besides that small annoyance, they’re off to a good start designing and making applications for Vista.

Problems

Now, every device isn’t perfect, though some will be more polished than others. We have had a ton of issues with HTC’s Communication Manager. This has crashed a bunch of times, and while it’s not the biggest deal if you can’t access that bit of software, it is. That controls all wireless connectivity options, so you can forget about using Wi-Fi or 3G when that bugger crashes and doesn’t perform. You can also forget about SnapVue as that has to be on in order for the Windows Mobile side of things to start up. Thankfully it’s a software issue, and we’re more than positive this will resolved quickly. Right, HTCizzle? Besides Comm Manager, all is well in HTC Shift world. Though that’s a funny statement considering the device is a glorified PDA with that bit of software not working. Oh yeah! XP drivers, please! Come on guys, give us the option to install XP and get our world-traveler on. Please?

Price

This is one of the most important factors in determining if the HTC Shift is right for you. Early pricing around the globe is in the $1600-$1800 price range, though that is guaranteed to come down shortly after supply increases. That’s a lot to pay for something which can’t replace your main computer and is just a conduit of information while you’re away. It’s hard to replace your main travel laptop if you do more than answer emails and browse the web, but we’re happy to report than if you’re in the market to get an ultra-portable anyway, the Shift is worth a long, hard look. It’s pretty much the only game in town with a real keyboard and 3G connectivity. As long as HTC supports the device with software updates and little fixes, we’d be totally comfortable recommending this to anyone who would listen.

We’ve tried to take you through the HTC Shift as best as we could. There’s a whole lot of information, so below we’ll break down the most important points that we found after using the device for a little under a week.

Pros:

• The speakers are very, very good.
• The GSM/3G reception is probably a little better than HTC’s Windows Mobile devices. It’s really strong and HSDPA on AT&T flies! We’re seeing around 1800kbps
• The screen is pretty good but not perfect. It looks good and is very responsive when using it as a touch screen or tablet
• While the specs might look pretty poor on paper, that shouldn’t be an automatic turn off. Try it before you buy it. More than likely you’ll be impressed.
• The keyboard itself is really good and fun to use. See below for back-lighting problems, though.
• The fingerprint reader works well. The included software called VitaKey serves it purpose but we prefer the one Sony included and uses on their UX-series.
• The design and button layout is super friendly and clean. You can’t get confused even if it’s the first time you’ve picked one up, and there is a nice tactile feel to them.

Cons:

• There’s no back-light on the keyboard. While this might not be a huge issue for some people, it really is incredibly difficult to see the keyboard in low-light conditions
• On the SnapVue (Windows Mobile-ish) side, email works great. But, you can’t open any attachments! Nothing! No Word, PowerPoint, MP3s, pictures, etc.
• Our HTC Control Center utility has crashed repeatedly and rendered our whole device useless at times. If this crashes, you can not use the 3G connection or Wi-Fi, and SnapVue will not work. We have had to remove the battery for a couple minutes and sometimes that solved the issue.
• Random quirks…for instance, all of sudden, they’ll be a pop-up in Vista saying that you just plugged something into the audio jack. Uh, OK?
• Battery life is fair. But at least it is exactly what HTC stated. 2 hours. No more, no less in Vista.
• Where are my Windows XP drivers?
• The touch pointer mouse square thingy works alright but is a little awkward to use when the keyboard is out.

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So, yeah…we totally raided the Nokia Store last night in New York! We snatched up a brand new Nokia N95 8GB NAM model, or N95-4 for you hardcore Noke fans, and we gotta’ say it is awesome! Mind you this is our first encounter with the N95 8GB so those of you who have had the European model have experienced this, but combine that bigger screen, redesigned navigation keys, the awesome OS update (which is supposedly coming for the N95-3 soon), US 3G, and you’ve got a real winner! FlashLite 3 is the truth, friends. Only one problem we noticed, and that’s because of the small redesign of the slider and larger screen. It might be hard to explain, but when you slide the screen up, the slider rails are not rounded anymore since they have to make it flush with the larger screen, so the rails are a little sharp and uncomfortable when holding it. Small price to pay for one of the sickest phones this side of the Mississippi, right? Scratch that; $799 + tax is quite a lot to pay. Hit up our gallery for all the goods!

Click on over to our Nokia N95 8GB NAM unboxing gallery!

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Yeah dudes, we actually have the HTC Shift in hand! We haven’t had a chance to put it through our normal tests yet, but believe we’ll have that soon. The Shift isn’t as big as you’d think even though it has a 7" screen, and the while the slide mechanism is not spring-assisted like the AT&T Tilt, it’s pretty smooth and solid. The low processor freaks us out a little bit, but again, we haven’t really used it yet. Hit the jump for the full unboxing gallery, and we’ll have our full review up soon! Oh yeah…we’re in the "giving" mood. You know what that means!

Click on over to our HTC Shift unboxing gallery!

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As if you didn’t know already. Well, the Centro is officially on AT&T and it’s going for $99 with a 2 year service agreement. Want the hard specs? Quad-band GSM/EDGE, 1.3 megapixel camera, Bluetooth, QWERTY keyboard, microsD slot, and support for AT&T’s push-to-talk app. No word on BlackBerry Connect, but we’re guessing the average businessman won’t be dropping any coins on the Centro, so it doesn’t really matter now does it.

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We’re not really sure where to begin…It’s the Palm Centro on AT&T. You know the Centro, right? Outdated OS, tiny, miniscule puke-lime-green keyboard, EDGE, camera, and phone. We didn’t get a solid feel for pricing when it launches on February 19th, but we’ve heard $99 and $149 for a 2-year agreement. We’d wager it being $99 (how could it be more than Sprint’s?). If you want more Garnet madness, we suggest you don your favorite sunglasses and grab one of those airline-style puke bags. You’re going to need it!

Click on over to our AT&T Palm Centro gallery!

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Ever wish you could grab a new Sony Ericsson handset with a full QWERT keyboard, 3.2 megapixel camera, aGPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HSDPA/HSUPA, all running atop a beautifully skinned version of Windows Mobile 6? Turns out today might be your lucky day. SE has just unleashed the XPERIA X1 at the Mobile World Congress, and from the looks of things, this is going to be one hell of a competitor. The handset sports a slide out / slide up keypad that looks like a cross between a Sidekick and an HTC Tilt, with navigation accomplished by way of a 4-way dpad and an optical joystick. The handset also sports a custom "panel interface" that appears to provide TouchFLO-like icon-based navigation. No word on price, but we should see it launch in "select markets" by the second half of 2008. Nice!

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The FCC outed the Nokia 3555 a little while back, and it even told us it would house the 1700MHz band for T-Mobile’s not-launched-yet-but-promised-coming-soon 3G network. We’ve got a hold of the Nokia 3555 slide for T-Mobile, and if all goes according to plan we can expect a March release. The specs are not mind-blowing, but we’ll break it down for ya’ anyway! VGA camera, A2DP Bluetooth, speakerphone, myFaves, microSD slot, voice dialing, and a couple other standard features. Pricing info wasn’t provided to us, but we’re willing to guess it won’t cost you $8M in stolen Sidekicks.

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If some of our tipsters are to be believed, you very well might be able to mosey on down to your local T-Mobile shop and pickup a BlackBerry 8820 on March 5th. We’ve been told the unit will be identical to the AT&T version, but this time around it will support T-Mobile’s Hotspot@Home service (obviously!). We haven’t got our thumbs on the pricing info just yet, but believe you me, you’ll have it when we’ve got it!

Thanks, faithful tipsters!

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