Switched http://www.switched.com Switched http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.switched.com/media/feedlogo.gif Switched http://www.switched.com prods@weblogsinc.com (Weblogs, Inc. Producers) support@weblogsinc.com (Weblogs, Inc. Web Support) en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. View our terms of service here: http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/ Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ <![CDATA[AT&T Releasing New iPhone This Summer?]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/03/24/atandt-releasing-new-iphone-this-summer/ http://www.switched.com/2009/03/24/atandt-releasing-new-iphone-this-summer/ http://www.switched.com/2009/03/24/atandt-releasing-new-iphone-this-summer/#comments Rumor has it that AT&T's gearing up for yet another door-busting, riot-inducing summer filled with new iPhone hardware, which would certainly jibe with everything we've heard in the past few months (never mind the fact that June is officially Apple's iPhone release cycle these days, and indeed, AT&T's apparently saying that the June cycle is becoming "a tradition"). That's not terribly interesting at this point -- what is interesting, though, is how AT&T plans to play it. Apparently, the carrier wants to ramp up its -- ah, how should we put this in a politically correct way -- "integration" with Apple's hardware, including a U-verse app that we're guessing will approximate the functionality to be offered by Verizon's FiOS. What really has us worried is not so much the U-verse app specifically, but the possibility that AT&T's sick and tired of having its crapware left out of its highest-profile device, leading to non-removable garbage like Cellular Video on a future iPhone's home screen. It's still a bit early to sound the alarm there, but you know, we're paranoid types around here. It's said the new device will be faster, though the exact meaning of that is a little unclear; the iPhone 3G's chipset is already 7.2Mbps-capable, so we're not sure if the carrier is simply referring to its ongoing infrastructure upgrades. Finally, it's said that a $99 netbook running something other than Windows (don't suppose that'd be Linux?) will be launching this summer, following on the 3G-enabled Aspire One that hit Radio Shack late last year. Heads up, though, AT&T: give us an iPhone with your Mobile Email app on the home screen, and let's just say we can't be held accountable for our actions afterwards. We know you wouldn't do that, but just sayin'.

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AT&T Releasing New iPhone This Summer? originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 24 Mar 2009 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> rumorstopupcoming switchedtips@gmail.com (Chris Ziegler) Tue, 24 Mar 2009 09:32:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[AT&T Confirms Contract-Free $599/$699 iPhone 3Gs for Next Week]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/03/20/atandt-confirms-contract-free-599-699-iphone-3gs-for-next-week/ http://www.switched.com/2009/03/20/atandt-confirms-contract-free-599-699-iphone-3gs-for-next-week/ http://www.switched.com/2009/03/20/atandt-confirms-contract-free-599-699-iphone-3gs-for-next-week/#comments Just in time to nab your soon-to-be-jailbroken copy of iPhone OS 3.0, AT&T has now confirmed that commitment-free iPhones are going to happen -- soon, in fact. As of next Thursday, you'll be able to waltz into the AT&T store of your choice and pick up an 8GB or 16GB unit for $599 and $699, respectively; that's a little harder to swallow than the normal $199 / $299, granted, but in exchange, you're free and clear without two years of your precious life sold off to a wireless carrier like it's a cheap piece of meat. You're worth more than that, you know?

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AT&T Confirms Contract-Free $599/$699 iPhone 3Gs for Next Week originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> appleattbreaking newsBreakingNewsiphoneiphone 3gIphone3g switchedtips@gmail.com (Chris Ziegler) Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:16:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[RIM Names Its App Store 'BlackBerry App World']]> http://www.switched.com/2009/03/05/rim-names-its-app-store-blackberry-app-world/ http://www.switched.com/2009/03/05/rim-names-its-app-store-blackberry-app-world/ http://www.switched.com/2009/03/05/rim-names-its-app-store-blackberry-app-world/#comments
What's bigger than a store, a market, or a catalog? A whole frigging world, that's what. A sign-up page to be notified when the BlackBerry App World is available -- which we've linked -- went live at 10PM last night.

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RIM Names Its App Store 'BlackBerry App World' originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 05 Mar 2009 10:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> blackberryblackberry app worldBlackberryAppWorldbreaking newsBreakingNewsrim switchedtips@gmail.com (Chris Ziegler) Thu, 05 Mar 2009 10:51:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Amazon Brings Books to the iPhone]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/03/04/amazon-brings-books-to-the-iphone/ http://www.switched.com/2009/03/04/amazon-brings-books-to-the-iphone/ http://www.switched.com/2009/03/04/amazon-brings-books-to-the-iphone/#comments Sure, Amazon could pit the Kindle squarely against phone- and PDA-based e-book apps, but why not play both sides? The company had previously mentioned its desire to embrace non-Kindle devices in its digital delivery ecosystem, and the first fruits of that labor have now hit the iPhone App Store. The uncreatively-named Kindle for iPhone allows you access to all of your Kindle content right from the comfort of your iPhone or iPod touch, and if you have the good fortune of owning an honest-to-goodness Kindle, Whispersync will kick in to keep your location synchronized between readers. It's a huge win for owners of both devices, considering that the Kindle's still just a little bit big to be carrying everywhere you go, but your phone -- well, if you don't have that everywhere you go, you're just plain weird. [Warning: iTunes link] [Via The iPhone Blog]

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Amazon Brings Books to the iPhone originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 10:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> amazonapplebreaking newsBreakingNewse booke readerEBookEReaderiphonekindletop switchedtips@gmail.com (Chris Ziegler) Wed, 04 Mar 2009 10:04:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Garmin-Asus Announces WinMo nuvifone M20]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/02/12/garmin-asus-announces-winmo-nuvifone-m20/ http://www.switched.com/2009/02/12/garmin-asus-announces-winmo-nuvifone-m20/ http://www.switched.com/2009/02/12/garmin-asus-announces-winmo-nuvifone-m20/#comments We'd been secretly holding out hope that Garmin-Asus would pull an Android piece out of its pocket in time for MWC this week, but it's looking pretty unlikely with the announcement of the M20. The second model in the nuvifone series following the G60, the new piece runs Windows Mobile 6.1 and features a 2.8-inch VGA touchscreen, quadband EDGE / triband HSDPA up to 7.2Mbps, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and -- naturally -- Garmin-provided satellite navigation.

You'll also find support for real-time traffic, weather, movie times, and other tidbits of information you're probably interested in when you're navigating. On top of that, you can get either 4 or 8GB of onboard storage and a service Garmin is calling Ciao!, which is basically a friend-finder along the lines of Google's Latitude.

Pricing and availability should be announced in the first half of the year, but in the meantime you can check out the gallery over at Engadget and the full spec sheet after the break. [Via MarketWatch]

Continue reading Garmin-Asus Announces WinMo nuvifone M20

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Garmin-Asus Announces WinMo nuvifone M20 originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> asusbreaking newsBreakingNewsgarmingarmin-asusm20mobileworldcongress2009nuvifone switchedtips@gmail.com (Chris Ziegler) Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:26:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Exploding Cell Phone Kills Chinese Man]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/02/02/exploding-cell-phone-kills-chinese-man/ http://www.switched.com/2009/02/02/exploding-cell-phone-kills-chinese-man/ http://www.switched.com/2009/02/02/exploding-cell-phone-kills-chinese-man/#comments
Here's the thing about batteries: they store energy. Lots of it. Channeled correctly, that energy does really awesome things for us -- but channeled chaotically, and... well, you know where this is going, don't you? A man shopping in a Lenovo store in mainland China has been killed after the phone in his chest pocket exploded, severing arteries and leading to massive blood loss. The make and model of the phone and battery have yet to be identified, but seeing how this is the seventh high-profile case of an exploding phone in China in the last six years, it really gives you pause before installing that shady off-brand juice, doesn't it?

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Exploding Cell Phone Kills Chinese Man originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 02 Feb 2009 12:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> chinaexploding gadgetsExplodingGadgetskiller gadgetsKillerGadgets switchedtips@gmail.com (Chris Ziegler) Mon, 02 Feb 2009 12:19:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[T-Mobile Bringing Out New BlackBerry Curve 8900 in February]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/01/07/t-mobile-bringing-out-new-blackberry-curve-8900-in-february/ http://www.switched.com/2009/01/07/t-mobile-bringing-out-new-blackberry-curve-8900-in-february/ http://www.switched.com/2009/01/07/t-mobile-bringing-out-new-blackberry-curve-8900-in-february/#comments
Sprint's now officially holding up the tail end of the BlackBerry train in the States (though hopefully not for long) now that T-Mobile has announced that the thoroughly modern Curve 8900 is hitting the lineup. Like the 8320 before it, the 8900 does W-iFi for UMA-based HotSpot calling service and a 3.5mm headphone jack, but the similarities end there; besides arguably becoming the hottest BlackBerry in RIM's stable, the 8900 features a 3.2-megapixel cam with image stabilization and a glorious 480 x 360 display that'll put anything shy of a Storm to shame. Look for it next month -- T-Mobile hasn't committed to a date, though we have no reason to doubt the 11th rumor at this point.

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T-Mobile Bringing Out New BlackBerry Curve 8900 in February originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> blackberry curveBlackberryCurvebreaking newsBreakingNewsces-2009-topcurveupcoming switchedtips@gmail.com (Chris Ziegler) Wed, 07 Jan 2009 10:58:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Nokia Phones Coming With Stalin-Themed Wallpaper in Russia]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/12/30/cuban-wallpaper-crisis-threatens-nokia-handsets-america/ http://www.switched.com/2008/12/30/cuban-wallpaper-crisis-threatens-nokia-handsets-america/ http://www.switched.com/2008/12/30/cuban-wallpaper-crisis-threatens-nokia-handsets-america/#comments
Personally, we're always excited to get free multimedia packs loaded on our phones -- wallpapers and ringtones don't come cheap, after all. We draw the line at multimedia packs of Cold War-era dictators, though, which is why Nokia's pretty fired up that some of its sets are being sold at retail in Russia preloaded with exciting Stalin-themed memorabilia. Apparently -- and we believe them -- Nokia has nothing to do with the unexpected bonus, saying that "even if Nokia was on the brink of ruin and release phones or panel with a portrait of Stalin was the only chance to save our business, Nokia [would not do] that." Admittedly, we're pretty curious to learn more about the doomsday scenario they're referring to where companies can only survive by Stalin-branding their products -- but for now, Nokia's recommending comrades shoppers steer clear of the "special edition" devices since they're clearly not factory sealed. [Via textually.org]

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Nokia Phones Coming With Stalin-Themed Wallpaper in Russia originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> nokiarussiastalinweird switchedtips@gmail.com (Chris Ziegler) Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:34:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Consumer Reports Picks BlackJack II as the Top Smartphone]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/12/18/consumer-reports-picks-blackjack-ii-as-the-top-smartphone/ http://www.switched.com/2008/12/18/consumer-reports-picks-blackjack-ii-as-the-top-smartphone/ http://www.switched.com/2008/12/18/consumer-reports-picks-blackjack-ii-as-the-top-smartphone/#comments
Sometimes it's the unsung workhorses that deserve the lion's share of the praise, and that might just be the case with the aging Samsung BlackJack II -- a phone that you probably wouldn't expect to top Consumer Reports' January 2009 ratings of popular smartphones. Sure, it may not be the shiniest device on the market these days, but you've got to admit it's just about as functional as you'd ever need a business-class handset to be with GPS, HSDPA, and WinMo 6.1, which gladly sucks up Exchange accounts until you're blue in the face. When you factor in the fact that it runs just $80 these days on an AT&T contract in a choice of four colors... okay, yeah, we can kinda see it. The iPhone 3G and T-Mobile G1 don't play second fiddle terribly often these days (they were way down in the middle of the Consumer Reports pack in this testing cycle, in fact), so let's just let this old dog have one more moment in the spotlight, shall we?

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Consumer Reports Picks BlackJack II as the Top Smartphone originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 18 Dec 2008 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> attblackjack iiBlackjackIiconsumer reportsConsumerReportsgpssamsung switchedtips@gmail.com (Chris Ziegler) Thu, 18 Dec 2008 11:20:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Verizon Posts First Update to BlackBerry Storm Software]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/12/06/verizon-posts-first-update-to-blackberry-storm-software/ http://www.switched.com/2008/12/06/verizon-posts-first-update-to-blackberry-storm-software/ http://www.switched.com/2008/12/06/verizon-posts-first-update-to-blackberry-storm-software/#comments Lo and behold, Verizon's taken a break from releasing low-end Nokias for just long enough to officially release its first Storm update -- which just happens to be the same one that's been floating around on the interwebs for a few days now, 4.7.0.75. Anyone unwilling or unable to connect to their PC to nab the update can wait until 9:30 Pacific this evening, when it's said that an over-the-air version of the same software will hit the airwaves. Best of luck, upgraders!

[Via CNET]

Update: We've given the update a shot, and Mac users should be warned that there doesn't seem to be a good way of shoehorning the goods on to the phone at this point -- probably better off to wait for the OTA.

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Verizon Posts First Update to BlackBerry Storm Software originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 06 Dec 2008 15:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> blackberrybreaking newsBreakingNewsfirmwarerimstormupdateupgradeverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvzw switchedtips@gmail.com (Chris Ziegler) Sat, 06 Dec 2008 15:18:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Verizon Announces Samsung Omnia for $249.99]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/11/25/verizon-announces-samsung-omnia-for-249-99/ http://www.switched.com/2008/11/25/verizon-announces-samsung-omnia-for-249-99/ http://www.switched.com/2008/11/25/verizon-announces-samsung-omnia-for-249-99/#comments
If it's a 5-megapixel cameraphone you're looking for, there are decidedly cheaper entries on the market -- but if only a 5-megapixel WinMo Professional set will do, the Omnia's just about the best (read: only) deal you'll find on an American carrier these days. The CDMA translation of the smartphone that Samsung's been selling in other parts of the world for much of 2008 in GSM form carries over most of its key features, namely Windows Mobile 6.1 with TouchWiz, WiFi, DivX certification, the love-it-or-hate-it optical directional pad, and that beefy cam with flash and autofocus. It also nabs VZ Navigator support, stereo Bluetooth, a 3.2-inch 400 x 240 display, and 8GB of internal memory. Gives pause to that imminent Touch Pro purchase, doesn't it? Look for it to be available for order this week -- a full retail launch is expected come December 8 -- for $249.99 after rebate on a two-year contract.

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Verizon Announces Samsung Omnia for $249.99 originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> breaking newsBreakingNewshgg500new productsNewProductssamsung mobileSamsungMobileupcomingverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelesswindows mobileWindowsMobile switchedtips@gmail.com (Chris Ziegler) Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:28:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[T-Mobile G1 'Google' Phone Now Available in Frosty White]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/11/25/t-mobile-g1-google-phone-now-available-in-frosty-white/ http://www.switched.com/2008/11/25/t-mobile-g1-google-phone-now-available-in-frosty-white/ http://www.switched.com/2008/11/25/t-mobile-g1-google-phone-now-available-in-frosty-white/#comments We've heard that it's been showing up on doorsteps and in stores for a few days now, but T-Mobile has just officially given the word that the G1 is now available in white to complement bronze and the especially personality-free black (not to say there's anything wrong with that, black G1 owners). The price, hardware, and software are all the same, so if you thought this release might somehow magically bring a soft keyboard with it, think again. Any guesses what -- if any -- future colors we might see on this puppy?

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T-Mobile G1 'Google' Phone Now Available in Frosty White originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 25 Nov 2008 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> androidbreaking newsBreakingNewsg1google phoneGooglePhonehgghgg500t-mobile g1T-mobileG1 switchedtips@gmail.com (Chris Ziegler) Tue, 25 Nov 2008 13:01:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[T-Mobile's Cameo Picture Frames Come With Their Own Phone Numbers]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/11/16/t-mobiles-cameo-picture-frames-come-with-their-own-phone-number/ http://www.switched.com/2008/11/16/t-mobiles-cameo-picture-frames-come-with-their-own-phone-number/ http://www.switched.com/2008/11/16/t-mobiles-cameo-picture-frames-come-with-their-own-phone-number/#comments
We never thought we'd live to see the day that digital photo frames had cooler phones than our parents. Actually, okay, that doesn't surprise us at all -- and T-Mobile's helping us live out that reality with the Cameo, its Parrot-sourced frame that features integrated GSM hardware and a dedicated phone number that lets loved ones shoot pictures to it from afar via MMS or email. The rumored details have turned out to be spot-on, meaning that you'll be paying $99.99 for the frame plus another $9.99 monthly to keep the line active. An exact launch date has yet to be revealed, it'll be available at some point in mid-November.

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T-Mobile's Cameo Picture Frames Come With Their Own Phone Numbers originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 16 Nov 2008 12:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> cameoparrotphoto framePhotoFramet-mobile switchedtips@gmail.com (Chris Ziegler) Sun, 16 Nov 2008 12:12:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Samsung No. 1 in US Cell Phone Market, Dethrones Motorola]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/11/07/samsung-no-1-in-us-cell-phone-market-dethrones-motorola/ http://www.switched.com/2008/11/07/samsung-no-1-in-us-cell-phone-market-dethrones-motorola/ http://www.switched.com/2008/11/07/samsung-no-1-in-us-cell-phone-market-dethrones-motorola/#comments
No matter how dire Motorola's situation may be, it's still been able to cling to one last title keeping it firmly entrenched in the ranks of the world's mobile manufacturing elite: US phone sales. For years, Motorola has ridden the RAZR gravy train to success on its home turf more than any other, keeping more globally relevant rivals like Nokia and LG at bay.

No longer, though -- Samsung has finally dethroned Moto, upping its share of the US market to 22.4 percent from 16.2 percent a year ago. That leaves Motorola in number two with 21.1 percent, a shocking fall from 32.7 percent in 2007. LG's knocking on the door at 20.5 percent, so unless the boys and girls in Chicago can get their Android-supportin' butts in gear on the double, we could see a drop to number three within a quarter or two.

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Samsung No. 1 in US Cell Phone Market, Dethrones Motorola originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 07 Nov 2008 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> breaking newsBreakingNewsbusinessmotorolarankingssamsungsuperlativesus switchedtips@gmail.com (Chris Ziegler) Fri, 07 Nov 2008 10:10:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Sprint Launches Touch Pro at "Select National Retailers" This Week]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/10/26/sprint-launches-touch-pro-at-select-national-retailers-this-we/ http://www.switched.com/2008/10/26/sprint-launches-touch-pro-at-select-national-retailers-this-we/ http://www.switched.com/2008/10/26/sprint-launches-touch-pro-at-select-national-retailers-this-we/#comments
Locked in a footrace with AT&T's Fuze to become the first US national carrier to launch a variant of the HTC Touch Pro, Sprint has announced that folks can start ordering the QWERTY smartphone this week from "select national retailers," making good on a promise made at CTIA last month. That's not quite as cool as a full-scale launch, but at least we'll start to get 'em in the wild in the next few days -- meanwhile, a more full-scale, fanfare-filled launch is planned for November 2 when the Touch Pro is made available online, via phone, and in all Sprint stores. Any Touch Diamond buyers feeling lingering regrets right about now? [From: Sprint]

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Sprint Launches Touch Pro at "Select National Retailers" This Week originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 26 Oct 2008 16:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> sprinttouch proTouchProwindows mobilewindows mobile 6.1WindowsMobileWindowsMobile6.1winmowm6.1 switchedtips@gmail.com (Chris Ziegler) Sun, 26 Oct 2008 16:14:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[T-Mobile G1 "Google Phone" Now Available]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/10/22/t-mobile-g1-google-phone-now-available/ http://www.switched.com/2008/10/22/t-mobile-g1-google-phone-now-available/ http://www.switched.com/2008/10/22/t-mobile-g1-google-phone-now-available/#comments
Now that T-Mobile's systematic discrimination against non-T-Mobile customers (how dare they?) has come to an end, we can all exhale, pull out our credit cards and get to maxin' out the plastic. That's right -- the Android-powered G1 is now available for sale from T-Mob's Web site to all comers, though we're only seeing the black and bronze models listed at the moment and both are tagged with an ominous "extremely limited availability" label which tells us they probably won't be there long. $179.99's the price on two-year contract, and if they do sell out online, don't sweat it just yet -- sweep your local stores today.

Update: Full press release with all the details just hit the wires.

[Thanks, Elisha]

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T-Mobile G1 "Google Phone" Now Available originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> androidbreaking newsBreakingNewsdreamg1htct-mobile switchedtips@gmail.com (Chris Ziegler) Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:02:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[AT&T Announces Four Phones Focused on Texting]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/10/15/atandt-announces-four-phones-focused-on-texting/ http://www.switched.com/2008/10/15/atandt-announces-four-phones-focused-on-texting/ http://www.switched.com/2008/10/15/atandt-announces-four-phones-focused-on-texting/#comments
If you're into that whole SMS craze and you're on AT&T, you're in luck -- four times over. The carrier's gone ahead and announced not one, not two, but four QWERTY-equipped dumphones yesterday, including a dual slider and a Pantech being billed as "the world's thinnest device with a full QWERTY keypad."

First up, the Pantech Matrix is available now in your choice of blue or green, with red being added on Thursday, October 16. It slides two ways -- a conventional vertical slide to reveal a numeric keypad, and a second side slider for the full QWERTY action. It's got 3G, AT&T Navigation, Video Share support, and a 1.3-megapixel cam, running $79.99 on contract with rebate.

Next, the Samsung Propel apes the i620's industrial design -- but make no mistake, there's no Windows Mobile to be found here. It also does 3G and features the full host of AT&T services, packs a 1.3-megapixel cam, and will run the same $79.99 as the Matrix when it hits in late October in blue, green, red, and white with red accents.

Next, the Pantech Slate is pretty appropriately named -- if its claim of being the thinnest QWERTY device in the world ends up holding water, anyway. It'll be available in late October alongside the Propel for $49.99 on contract with a 1.3-megapixel camera, but there's no high-speed data to be found in this sucker.

Finally, the long-rumored Quickfire -- you may know it better as the Knick -- will come in November bearing AT&T branding and a Sidekick-esque style that'll likely appeal to the young'uns among us. It's got a touchscreen in addition to a slide-out QWERTY deal, a 1.3-megapixel camera (notice a trend here?), and 3G in your choice of orange, lime, and silver for $99.99 after you've inked up the dotted line.

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AT&T Announces Four Phones Focused on Texting originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 15 Oct 2008 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> attbreaking newsBreakingNewsknickmatrixnew productsNewProductspantechpcdpropelquickfireqwertysamsungslateutstarcom switchedtips@gmail.com (Chris Ziegler) Wed, 15 Oct 2008 08:57:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[LG Announces Prada II Cell Phone]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/10/13/lg-announces-prada-ii-cell-phone/ http://www.switched.com/2008/10/13/lg-announces-prada-ii-cell-phone/ http://www.switched.com/2008/10/13/lg-announces-prada-ii-cell-phone/#comments
We think that phones like the Touch Pro and X1 sort of limit the market for pricey dumbphone QWERTY sliders, but be that as it may, LG clearly has every intention of making the Prada II one of its headline devices in the waning months of 2008. The rumored 7.2Mbps HSDPA 850 / 2100, Wi-Fi, TV-out, an FM radio, and a 5-megapixel camera have all been confirmed to go along with the full keyboard for a launch in Europe in the end of October or beginning of November, running something in the range of €600 (about $816). Don't get us wrong, it looks alright -- but would this be your first choice of ways to part with the better part of a grand?

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LG Announces Prada II Cell Phone originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 13 Oct 2008 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> lgpradaprada iiPradaIiqwertyslider switchedtips@gmail.com (Chris Ziegler) Mon, 13 Oct 2008 09:58:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[iPhone-Killing BlackBerry Storm Coming to Verizon Next Month]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/10/08/iphone-killing-blackberry-storm-coming-to-verizon-next-month/ http://www.switched.com/2008/10/08/iphone-killing-blackberry-storm-coming-to-verizon-next-month/ http://www.switched.com/2008/10/08/iphone-killing-blackberry-storm-coming-to-verizon-next-month/#comments
A storm's arrival typically isn't something to celebrate, but we're going to make a notable exception here seeing how the BlackBerry Storm is less of a destructive weather pattern and more of an incredibly hot smartphone -- arguably RIM's hottest to date. Fit to its business-savvy roots, the long-rumored handset comes equipped with the most comprehensive global roaming capabilities of virtually any wireless device you'll find anywhere, featuring EV-DO Rev. A, quadband EDGE, and 2100MHz HSPA for Europe.

Beyond that, the Storm becomes RIM's very first touchscreen phone, mounting a 3.26-inch 480 x 360 glass display on a unique clickable surface so that the entire thing can be pressed downwards -- just like a real button -- for tactile feedback when making selections.

The phone also includes a full HTML finger-navigable browser, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint editing capabilities, Bluetooth 2.0, 1GB of on-board storage with an 8GB microSD card bundled in the box, 3.5mm headphone jack, automatic orientation and ambient lighting sensors, and a 3.2-megapixel autofocus cam with dedicated flash, making it a legitimate jack-of-all-trades that seems likely to be able to handle even the most chaotic personal and professional lives users can throw its way.

It'll allegedly do 15 days of standby or 5.5 hours of talk time on either GSM or CDMA networks.

No word on pricing yet -- we're told all will be revealed "in the coming weeks" -- but it'll launch on both Verizon and Vodafone in November.

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iPhone-Killing BlackBerry Storm Coming to Verizon Next Month originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> blackberrybreaking newsBreakingNewsverizon switchedtips@gmail.com (Chris Ziegler) Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:01:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Amazon's Kindle 2 Spotted in the Wild?]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/10/06/amazons-kindle-2-seen-in-the-wild/ http://www.switched.com/2008/10/06/amazons-kindle-2-seen-in-the-wild/ http://www.switched.com/2008/10/06/amazons-kindle-2-seen-in-the-wild/#comments
So much for Amazon's attempts to quell Kindle 2 rumors, eh? Talk of a replacement (or a pair of replacements) for Amazon's popular -- but very oddly-styled -- e-reader has been in the mix seemingly since the first model started shipping, and Boy Genius Report has scored shots of something that certainly looks like it could be in the legitimate pipeline. The revised device appears to address complaints over the original's look head-on, rounding the corners and ditching the oddball angles; the scroll wheel has been replaced with a joystick, the SD slot is gone (don't worry, there's at least a gig and a half on-board), and around back, we have grills that seem to suggest integrated stereo speakers. The display is basically the same size -- no color here yet, sorry -- so unless the sharp edges on your first-gen piece are driving you batty, it looks like this could be safely skipped by current owners while roping in new buyers who wouldn't have considered it before. Thing is, was ditching the scroll wheel and that trick mirrored bar in favor of a joystick really the right way to go? [From: Boy Genius Report]

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Amazon's Kindle 2 Spotted in the Wild? originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> amazonbookbreaking newsBreakingNewse booke inkEBookeinkkindlekindle 2Kindle2reader switchedtips@gmail.com (Chris Ziegler) Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:51:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Sony Ericsson Patents Cameraphone Auto-Zoom Technology]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/10/03/sony-ericsson-patents-cameraphone-auto-zoom-technology/ http://www.switched.com/2008/10/03/sony-ericsson-patents-cameraphone-auto-zoom-technology/ http://www.switched.com/2008/10/03/sony-ericsson-patents-cameraphone-auto-zoom-technology/#comments
It's a beautiful autumn day, and you're out in the wooded path beyond the railroad tracks just taking it all in and killing some time. Hey, what's that? Why, it's the cutest bunny rabbit you've ever seen! Time to pull out that 8-megapixel C905 and... oh, this sucks, you actually have to press a button to zoom in and out! Screw this noise -- you're a visionary photographer, not a manual laborer.

Happily, Sony Ericsson feels your pain, and a new patent application reveals that they're hard at work on a system to control your cameraphone's zoom level simply by moving it back and forth. Just get the phone closer to the subject, and boom, welcome to telephoto city, population one. We're still totally cool with the old-fashioned way of capturing Pulitzer-winning shots, but we're happy that someone's thinking of this type of stuff so we don't have to -- that'd be work. [Via Unwired View]

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Sony Ericsson Patents Cameraphone Auto-Zoom Technology originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> cameraericssonpatentsonysony ericssonSonyEricsson switchedtips@gmail.com (Chris Ziegler) Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:01:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Nokia Debuts Its Touchscreen-Equipped 5800 XpressMusic]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/10/03/the-nokia-5800-xpressmusic/ http://www.switched.com/2008/10/03/the-nokia-5800-xpressmusic/ http://www.switched.com/2008/10/03/the-nokia-5800-xpressmusic/#comments
While it may not be Nokia's first touchscreen phone (anyone out there remember the 7710?), the 5800 XpressMusic is certainly the first to come out of Finland with a mainstream appeal. What we've alternately known as the "Tube" throughout much of its development cycle is the first production device to run S60 5th Edition -- the fourth major overhaul of Nokia's ubiquitous smartphone platform since 2002 and the first to support fingers, styli, and high-res displays. Speaking of high-res displays, the 5800 comes equipped with an impressive 3.2-inch 640 x 360 resistive touchscreen to go along with its 3.2-megapixel autofocus cam, Carl Zeiss optics, dual LED flash, GPS, WiFi, 3.5mm jack, and a microSD slot with support for 16GB cards.

It'll be available in three versions -- European HSDPA, North American HSDPA, and GSM only -- and ships this quarter in black, red, and blue for €279 (about $392) unlocked with an 8GB card thrown in for good measure. Music fans with voracious appetites for new tunes might want to hold out, though, for the Comes With Music-equipped version that follows on "early next year" at a to-be-announced price.

For additional coverage, check Engadget for a hands-on, video, and more.

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Nokia Debuts Its Touchscreen-Equipped 5800 XpressMusic originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 03 Oct 2008 10:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> 5800nokianokia 5800Nokia5800 switchedtips@gmail.com (Chris Ziegler) Fri, 03 Oct 2008 10:43:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Verizon Wireless Launches Month-to-Month, No-Contract Plans]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/09/23/verizon-comes-through-with-month-to-month-plans/ http://www.switched.com/2008/09/23/verizon-comes-through-with-month-to-month-plans/ http://www.switched.com/2008/09/23/verizon-comes-through-with-month-to-month-plans/#comments As expected, Verizon has announced today that its customers (and would-be customers) are welcome to sign up for month-to-month plans with no contract -- and thus, no early-termination fee -- involved, mimicking a move by AT&T earlier in the year.

Of course, anyone taking advantage of the new plans won't be able to get in on carrier subsidies (meaning you'll pay $500 for a BlackBerry), but the trade-off is that if you decide to bolt for greener pastures, you won't be slapped with one of those nasty prorated charges. Oh, and before you give customer service a ring, take note: you'll need to fulfill the terms of your existing contract before jumping, natch.

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Verizon Wireless Launches Month-to-Month, No-Contract Plans originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 23 Sep 2008 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> breaking newsBreakingNewscontractetfmonth to monthMonthToMonthplanverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvzw switchedtips@gmail.com (Chris Ziegler) Tue, 23 Sep 2008 10:31:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Apple Acknowledges iPhone Security Hole, Promises Fix Next Month]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/08/29/apple-acknowledges-iphone-passcode-flaw-promises-fix-next-month/ http://www.switched.com/2008/08/29/apple-acknowledges-iphone-passcode-flaw-promises-fix-next-month/ http://www.switched.com/2008/08/29/apple-acknowledges-iphone-passcode-flaw-promises-fix-next-month/#comments Apple's taking a pretty lackadaisical attitude toward one of the most easily avoided security flaws in recent memory, calling the iPhone's passcode lock bypass a "minor iPhone security issue" and saying that a fix will be rolled out in September. Thanks, Apple; we suppose it'd be a little too much trouble to ask for a fix sooner, even though you already fixed it once in 1.1.4.

For what it's worth, a company spokeswoman is quick to point out that the flaw can easily be hidden by changing the home button double-click functionality to take you to the home screen, but most users don't know that, now do they? Way to show some hustle, guys -- cookies and gold stars all around. [From: Computerworld]

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Apple Acknowledges iPhone Security Hole, Promises Fix Next Month originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> applebreaking newsBreakingNewsflawiphonelockpasscodepatchsecurity switchedtips@gmail.com (Chris Ziegler) Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:29:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[OMG, US Txtng Brks Rcrd]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/08/28/omg-us-txtng-brks-rcrd/ http://www.switched.com/2008/08/28/omg-us-txtng-brks-rcrd/ http://www.switched.com/2008/08/28/omg-us-txtng-brks-rcrd/#comments Ready for some truly staggering figures? VeriSign has reported that it delivered some 95.4 billion text messages between US carriers in the first six months of the year, setting a new record. Single-day and single-hour records were also set in the same period -- 648 million and 42 million, respectively -- proving that Americans are finally warming up en masse to text messaging as a totally valid means of communicating, probably thanks in no small part to the proliferation of devices like the enV2, Rumor, and Blitz. If you can call the complete bastardization of the English language used during texting "communicating," that is. [From: RCR Wireless News]

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OMG, US Txtng Brks Rcrd originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> recordsmstexttextingtextmessagingususa switchedtips@gmail.com (Chris Ziegler) Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:45:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Best Buy To Sell iPhone 3G Starting Next Month]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/08/16/best-buy-to-sell-iphone-3g-starting-next-month/ http://www.switched.com/2008/08/16/best-buy-to-sell-iphone-3g-starting-next-month/ http://www.switched.com/2008/08/16/best-buy-to-sell-iphone-3g-starting-next-month/#comments
And now for the irony: it'll be no better a buy than what you can find at ye olde Apple or AT&T store. Best Buy officially becomes the first third-party retailer in the US to sell the iPhone in an official capacity -- 3G or otherwise -- when it launches the iPhone 3G in some 970 stores plus an additional 18 dedicated Mobile locations on September 7 for the same $199 and $299 price points found elsewhere.

Quoth Best Buy Mobile's CEO, "We had a lot of work to do, obviously, to get in a position where Apple and AT&T would feel good about Best Buy Mobile carrying it, and that's what we've done in the last 18 months." In other words, this has been a pretty persistent effort to score the third-party exclusive essentially since the original model was announced, and it's just now paying off. There's no indication on how the addition of Best Buy to the US sales mix will affect production or distribution, but at least there'll be one more place to try to find some frickin' stock. [From: Yahoo News]

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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Best Buy To Sell iPhone 3G Starting Next Month originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 16 Aug 2008 09:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> appleattbest buyBestBuyiphoneiphone 3gIphone3g switchedtips@gmail.com (Chris Ziegler) Sat, 16 Aug 2008 09:12:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Ikea Launches Its Own Cell Phone Service]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/08/09/ikea-launches-its-own-cell-phone-service/ http://www.switched.com/2008/08/09/ikea-launches-its-own-cell-phone-service/ http://www.switched.com/2008/08/09/ikea-launches-its-own-cell-phone-service/#comments We figure that you've already made ten jokes in your head by now after reading the headline -- you know, about how the phones come in thirty pieces, have diabolical names like "Kramfors," and look like they belong in dorm rooms -- so we're going to spare you and get straight to the point for a change of pace.

The furniture empire's UK division has launched an MVNO on T-Mobile's backbone (not to be confused with those little Ikea Mobile kiosks in the US) that follows its sofa mantra to the letter: cheap and simple. It's a prepaid service that requires an initial £10 (about $20) investment, and if we had to guess, the phones themselves are probably about as basic as they come. Would we buy a Samsung "Ektorp"? Hell yeah, we would.

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Ikea Launches Its Own Cell Phone Service originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 09 Aug 2008 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> ikeamvnot-mobileuk switchedtips@gmail.com (Chris Ziegler) Sat, 09 Aug 2008 14:45:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Teenager Hacks Hardware to Control Your Car Via Phone]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/07/30/teenager-hacks-hardware-to-control-your-car-via-phone/ http://www.switched.com/2008/07/30/teenager-hacks-hardware-to-control-your-car-via-phone/ http://www.switched.com/2008/07/30/teenager-hacks-hardware-to-control-your-car-via-phone/#comments
Using little more than book knowledge, experience from previous projects, and a healthy shot of elbow grease, a Kenyan kid has constructed a nifty (and perhaps just a little scary) box that attaches to your car to provide a number of unique remote-control features that you're not going to find on your average OnStar setup. The flagship function seems to be the real-time lockout, which can call you as the car is being started; only if you confirm that it's not some baddie trying to jack your ride will the ignition request be granted.

That's not all, though -- it'll also let you dial into the car and listen in on any conversations going on within. The young man says he's seeking additional funding to take his project to the next level, but in the meantime, don't even think about making off with a white Mitsubishi the next time you're in Mombasa. Follow the break for a video of the system in action. [Source: 69mb via AfriGadget]

Continue reading Teenager Hacks Hardware to Control Your Car Via Phone

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Teenager Hacks Hardware to Control Your Car Via Phone originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 30 Jul 2008 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> autoautomobilecarcontrolmessagemessagingremotesms switchedtips@gmail.com (Chris Ziegler) Wed, 30 Jul 2008 12:02:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[New, Smaller T-Mobile Sidekick -- Now With Custom Faceplates!]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/07/30/new-thinner-t-mobile-sidekick-now-with-custom-faceplates/ http://www.switched.com/2008/07/30/new-thinner-t-mobile-sidekick-now-with-custom-faceplates/ http://www.switched.com/2008/07/30/new-thinner-t-mobile-sidekick-now-with-custom-faceplates/#comments

After all the buffoonery over what exactly T-Mobile intended to call its newest entry-level Danger handheld device, the carrier has ultimately decided to just go back to basics, drop the acronyms, and christen its new phone simply "Sidekick." Make no mistake, though -- this little puppy, which launches today, is a far cry from your daddy's Hiptop launched way back in 2002, thanks to a 400 x 240 WQVGA display, 2 megapixel camera with video recording capability, stereo Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP, and a microSD slot.

Though it's being billed as the iD's spiritual successor, the Sidekick comes dangerously close to LX territory, so it should see some solid movement at the $149.99 asking price on a two-year contract. What's more, the Sidekick becomes Danger's first device with user-customizable shells (use everything from pre-made patterns to designs incorporating your own pictures, doodles, logos, insignia, etc), which are available directly from sidekickshells.com for $14.99 a pop (we've got both a really bad and a really frickin' great feeling about the ridiculous sorts of designs people are going to be coming up with there).

The whole shebang just went on sale today. 'Course, if you can't get out to a well-stocked T-Mobile store for the next few hours, be sure to check out our quick impressions and gallery on Engadget Mobile, yeah? [Source: T-Mobile]

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New, Smaller T-Mobile Sidekick -- Now With Custom Faceplates! originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> btsnewscustomnew productsNewProductssidekicktmobile switchedtips@gmail.com (Chris Ziegler) Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:03:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Get Your iTunes on Your BlackBerry With Media Sync]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/07/24/get-your-itunes-on-your-blackberry-with-media-sync/ http://www.switched.com/2008/07/24/get-your-itunes-on-your-blackberry-with-media-sync/ http://www.switched.com/2008/07/24/get-your-itunes-on-your-blackberry-with-media-sync/#comments

The thoroughly-discussed, briefly-available conduit betwixt the realms of RIM and Apple, BlackBerry Media Sync, is now available in a totally official capacity for your downloading pleasure. Owners of Pearls, Curves, and 8800s (and pretty much everything that's released out of Waterloo from here on out, we'd imagine, starting with the Bold) can now snag music and playlists right off iTunes, though DRM'd tracks (the ones you actually buy on the iTunes store) are naturally off limits.

Then again, aren't BlackBerry owners too busy having power lunches, signing contracts, picking out new suits, and generally being important to enjoy trivialities like music on the road? [Source: BlackBerry Via MobileSyrup]

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Get Your iTunes on Your BlackBerry With Media Sync originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> appleblackberrybtsnewsitunesmedia syncMediaSyncmusicrim switchedtips@gmail.com (Chris Ziegler) Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:22:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[AT&T Retailer Accused of Pawning Used Nokias as New]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/07/17/atandt-retailer-accused-of-pawning-used-nokias-as-new/ http://www.switched.com/2008/07/17/atandt-retailer-accused-of-pawning-used-nokias-as-new/ http://www.switched.com/2008/07/17/atandt-retailer-accused-of-pawning-used-nokias-as-new/#comments
Notice that your freshly-purchased N75 smells more like a week-old head of cabbage than a bundle of brand new plastic, glue, and circuitry? That's gross, and no, we don't want to touch it (seriously, get that thing away from us). Turns out you may not be alone, though -- a new class-action suit filed in federal court alleges that CommClub, an independent retailer in California, was selling used Nokias for AT&T's network as brand new devices.

For whatever reason, AT&T and Nokia are also named as defendants in the suit, though we're not sure exactly what role they played in CommClub's potentially nefarious dealings; at any rate, the class is looking to bring home some bacon for "injuries" suffered as a result of the bait-and-switch. You're going to go smell your N75 now, aren't you? [Source: RCR Wireless News]

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AT&T Retailer Accused of Pawning Used Nokias as New originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> attcaliforniaclass actionClassActionlawsuitnokia switchedtips@gmail.com (Chris Ziegler) Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:01:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[LG Chocolate 3 on Verizon: July 14 for $129]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/07/07/lg-chocolate-3-on-verizon-july-14-for-129/ http://www.switched.com/2008/07/07/lg-chocolate-3-on-verizon-july-14-for-129/ http://www.switched.com/2008/07/07/lg-chocolate-3-on-verizon-july-14-for-129/#comments
phoneArena is reporting that the latest incarnation of Verizon's Chocolate series, the clamshell Chocolate 3, will be available on July 14. It's said that the phone will run $129 on a two-year contract after the redemption of a $50 rebate -- not exactly cheap, but where else are you going to find a Verizon phone with an FM transmitter in baby blue? That's what we thought. [Source: Phone Arena]

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LG Chocolate 3 on Verizon: July 14 for $129 originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 07 Jul 2008 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> breaking newsBreakingNewschocolatechocolate 3Chocolate3clamshellfliplgverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvzw switchedtips@gmail.com (Chris Ziegler) Mon, 07 Jul 2008 11:02:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Sony Ericsson, Maria Sharapova Release Accessory Line]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/06/30/sony-ericsson-maria-sharapova-release-accessory-line/ http://www.switched.com/2008/06/30/sony-ericsson-maria-sharapova-release-accessory-line/ http://www.switched.com/2008/06/30/sony-ericsson-maria-sharapova-release-accessory-line/#comments Like a dagger through Motorola's heart, we're sure, Sony Ericsson's collaboration with tennis superstar Maria Sharapova is starting to pay dividends with the Maria Sharapova Design Collection of custom phone accessories. Launching in the third quarter, wares include the 'Courtside Case,' Excercise Case, Travel Wallet, and 'Party Bag' -- at least three of which we weren't aware we needed -- but the custom branding should push at least a few of these out the door.

One word of caution, though: Miss Sharapova assures us in the press materials that "I am looking forward to using the collection with my Sony Ericsson T303," and if her phone of choice is seriously an EDGE-less slider with a 160 x 128 display, we're forced to cast her good taste into serious doubt. [Sony Ericsson Via Engadget Spanish]

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Sony Ericsson, Maria Sharapova Release Accessory Line originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> collectionericssonmaria sharapovaMariaSharapovasonysony ericssonSonyEricsson switchedtips@gmail.com (Chris Ziegler) Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:31:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Motorola Announces 5-Megapixel, Wi-Fi-Enabled Camera Phone]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/06/24/motorola-announces-5-megapixel-wi-fi-enabled-camera-phone/ http://www.switched.com/2008/06/24/motorola-announces-5-megapixel-wi-fi-enabled-camera-phone/ http://www.switched.com/2008/06/24/motorola-announces-5-megapixel-wi-fi-enabled-camera-phone/#comments
Hints of Motorola's new MOTOZINE series of devices have gone back as far as last year, but yesterday marked the first time that Moto's officially spilled any beans on the goods. The headlining feature on the first model, the ZN5 candybar, lies on the backside: a 5-megapixel sensor courtesy of a partnership with Kodak, featuring autofocus, a xenon flash, image stitching, and on-device integration with Kodak Gallery.

Otherwise, you get Wi-Fi (score), Motorola's so-called "ModeShift" technology for morphing the keypad depending on device mode (a la the E8), and a run-of-the-mill quad-band GSM radio with EDGE. China's the first country to get the hookup starting next month, but Moto expects to take the ZN5 on a world tour over the course of the remainder of the year.

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Motorola Announces 5-Megapixel, Wi-Fi-Enabled Camera Phone originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> camera phonescameraphonescandybarcellphonekodakmotorolamotozinesummernewsw-fizinezn5 switchedtips@gmail.com (Chris Ziegler) Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:14:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Nike PhotoiD Lets You Design Custom Shoes With Your Cameraphone]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/06/19/nike-photoid-lets-you-design-custom-shoes-with-your-cameraphone/ http://www.switched.com/2008/06/19/nike-photoid-lets-you-design-custom-shoes-with-your-cameraphone/ http://www.switched.com/2008/06/19/nike-photoid-lets-you-design-custom-shoes-with-your-cameraphone/#comments
If you get a pair of blindingly bright clown shoes in the mail a few days after a late night of drunken revelry that you don't particularly recall... well, we think we know what happened. A new service from Nike in some European countries called "PhotoiD" allows cameraphone owners to snap a picture of pretty much anything their little hearts desire, send it to a short code via MMS, and get a rendered shoe in reply that uses the picture's two most dominant colors as its highlights.

If you're feeling the kicks -- 1985 Dunk hightops, if you must know -- you can even buy them, which we figure is where things really start to get interesting. Creative on Nike's part, yes, but also a danger to the good sense of shoe-wearing shutterbugs everywhere. [Source: Nike via guardian.co.uk]

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Nike PhotoiD Lets You Design Custom Shoes With Your Cameraphone originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 19 Jun 2008 10:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> mmsnikephotoidshoeshoes switchedtips@gmail.com (Chris Ziegler) Thu, 19 Jun 2008 10:34:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[FEMA: Don't Worry About National SMS Alert System, We're On IT]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/06/09/fema-dont-worry-about-national-sms-alert-system-were-on-it/ http://www.switched.com/2008/06/09/fema-dont-worry-about-national-sms-alert-system-were-on-it/ http://www.switched.com/2008/06/09/fema-dont-worry-about-national-sms-alert-system-were-on-it/#comments The FCC has already given its stamp of approval on a system to modernize the US's ages-old emergency broadcast infrastructure, relying largely on voluntary participation by the nation's wireless carriers to help get the word out to their subscribers in the event of a crisis.

Left open, though, was the question of exactly who would be responsible for taking the reigns at the federal level, managing the system and overseeing alerts. After some initial concern that it didn't have the necessary legal authority to manage the system during non-emergencies, FEMA has finally taken the bull by the horns and thrown its hat in the ring to get the infrastructure in place.

The agency's first responsibility will be to develop and publish a protocol for the alerts -- something it hopes to have accomplished in the next one to two months -- with public availability of the production system coming in 12 to 18 months.

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FEMA: Don't Worry About National SMS Alert System, We're On IT originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 09 Jun 2008 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> alertbreaking newsBreakingNewsemergencyfemasms switchedtips@gmail.com (Chris Ziegler) Mon, 09 Jun 2008 07:30:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[iPhone-Killing HTC Touch Pro Comes With a Real Keyboard]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/06/04/the-htc-touch-pro/ http://www.switched.com/2008/06/04/the-htc-touch-pro/ http://www.switched.com/2008/06/04/the-htc-touch-pro/#comments
Call it Raphael no longer! HTC has officially thrown the cover off its Touch Pro today -- the QWERTY slider sibling of the recently-unveiled Touch Diamond -- which should cover the bases for those who loved the Diamond's keen looks but decided they'd go our of their gourds without a full set of physical keys at their disposal.

Under that glossy black shell lies Wi-Fi, HSPA with a solid 7.2Mbps on the downstream, Bluetooth, 2.8-inch VGA display, Windows Mobile 6.1 featuring HTC's TouchFLO 3D interface, a 3.2 megapixel camera, a half gig of ROM, and 288MB of RAM. It's not going to win any "world's thinnest" records with an 18.05mm waistline, but those five rows of textual healing don't come without a price. The first batch of devices will be Europe-bound in "late summer" with 900 / 2100MHz 3G alongside the quadband GSM and EDGE; North and Latin American versions are promised for later in the year.

For more images of the HTC Pro, don't miss Engadget's gallery. [Source: HTC.com]

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iPhone-Killing HTC Touch Pro Comes With a Real Keyboard originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> breaking newsBreakingNewshtc switchedtips@gmail.com (Chris Ziegler) Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:15:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[The iPhone Patent: Steven P. Jobs, Inventor]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/05/30/the-iphone-patent-steven-p-jobs-inventor/ http://www.switched.com/2008/05/30/the-iphone-patent-steven-p-jobs-inventor/ http://www.switched.com/2008/05/30/the-iphone-patent-steven-p-jobs-inventor/#comments
The US Patent and Trademark Office has revealed a mammoth document that can only be described as The iPhone Patent, a 371-page spectacular that covers Apple's handheld multi-touch UI paradigm in excruciating detail. Many of the mocked-up screen shots depicted in the paperwork are dead ringers for screens that we're well acquainted with in the production phone, while others represent ideas that either haven't finished cooking or eventually found their way into the Cupertino circular file (follow the break for a picture of a home screen with dedicated "Blog" and dictionary apps, for instance).

The application also mentions "modules" for video conferencing, GPS, and other currently non-existent (though widely expected) functionality. And in case there's any doubt over who was responsible for this compendium of legalese, industrial design, and technical diagrams, one only need look at the header of page 1: "Jobs et al." Yep, Steve himself wasn't the least bit shy about taking credit atop an entire column of company A-listers for inventing the iPhone's trademark user interface, which we're guessing came about from a mix of equal parts truth, ego, and ass-kissing from the legal department down the hall. Seriously though, if you're Scott Forstall down there at number two on the Inventors list, what are you going to do -- go boardroom showdown all John Sculley-style? [Via Cellpassion]

Continue reading The iPhone Patent: Steven P. Jobs, Inventor

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The iPhone Patent: Steven P. Jobs, Inventor originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 30 May 2008 14:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> appleiphonepatent switchedtips@gmail.com (Chris Ziegler) Fri, 30 May 2008 14:09:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[T-Mobile Gets Nokia's XpressMusic 5310]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/05/21/t-mobile-gets-nokias-xpressmusic-5310/ http://www.switched.com/2008/05/21/t-mobile-gets-nokias-xpressmusic-5310/ http://www.switched.com/2008/05/21/t-mobile-gets-nokias-xpressmusic-5310/#comments
T-Mobile's no stranger to Nokia's XpressMusic series of funky little music phones, and the tradition continues today with the introduction of the 5310. This colorful candybar has some pretty solid street cred as a viable music player, too, with a microSD slot, svelte 9.9mm body and -- most importantly -- a real 3.5mm jack for the headphones of your choosing. You've also got a 2 megapixel camera and a QVGA display to play with, both of which'll surely come in handy for entertainment while you're waiting for data to pull down over the EDGE radio (sorry, T-Mobile, we couldn't help ourselves). It'll run $49.99 on contract starting May 28 in black with your choice of purple, orange, or red accents. [Source: T-Mobile]

T-Mobile Gets Nokia's XpressMusic 5310 originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 21 May 2008 13:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> breaking newsBreakingNewsnokiatmobile switchedtips@gmail.com (Chris Ziegler) Wed, 21 May 2008 13:54:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[BlackBerry Curve Now Available Through Sprint]]> http://www.switched.com/2008/05/09/blackberry-curve-now-available-through-sprint/ http://www.switched.com/2008/05/09/blackberry-curve-now-available-through-sprint/ http://www.switched.com/2008/05/09/blackberry-curve-now-available-through-sprint/#comments
Late's better than never -- usually, anyway -- and a rumored release date finally stuck long enough for the BlackBerry Curve 8330 to make an appearance on Sprint's online store. In fact, as "mid-May" goes, May 9 is actually on the early side of things if you want to get technical about it, so we guess some kudos are actually due here. Sprint's asking $179.99 on contract with rebates for the pleasure of indulging in its latest mobile productivity tool, which you'll ironically be using to respond to emails during meetings that you're supposed to be listening in on. Funny how the world works, isn't it? [Source: Nextel]

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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BlackBerry Curve Now Available Through Sprint originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 09 May 2008 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> BlackBerrybreaking newsBreakingNewscurvesprint switchedtips@gmail.com (Chris Ziegler) Fri, 09 May 2008 10:02:00 EST Switched