The upcoming Instinct HD aka Samsung Dash has been caught in the wild. The all-touchscreen phone got the FCC clearance and at this point I don’t see a reason why additional wait is needed. Of course, some fine-tuning is needed, but I’m sure existing Instinct users are eager to upgrade. Better camera (5 megapixel) is on board with the HD version, and the same goes for the screen.

Anyway, here are the photos we got compliments to PhoneArena and their savvy tipsters.

We dig the idea Toshiba (OTCPK: TOSBF) is working on the TG01 successor, or other models that will complement the all-touchscreen offering. In that sense, we’ve spotted the TG02 and TG02 models on a roadmap and even in some “in the wild” photos. Now we have one more proof for the first of the two upcoming devices – TG02. It has been spotted at the Wi-Fi Alliance website. There we found a document which says that the phone has the model number TM5-E01, indicating this is the same phone we’ve seen at the FCC in March of this year.

What do we know about the specs? WiFi is definitely on board, a touchscreen, GPS, Bluetooth, HSPA, and so on… I’m getting tired of speculation, and I do want to see another Snapdragon powered phone. C’mon Toshiba, announce the damn phone already!

[Via: Unwired View]

With all the different versions of the device, Samsung is well on its way to reach its milestone to sell 10 million units of its all-touchscreen S5230 Star feature phone, which is also known as Tocco Lite in the UK. Announced alongside the more powerful 5600 model, the Star is an affordable handset which lacks 3G, but packs a 3-inch WQVGA touchscreen and the Korean giant’s easy-to-use TouchWIZ interface. In that sense, we’re not surprised at all to see them moving these babies “at rocket speed” as they say it in the press release.

Here are some sale figures from the last few months:

• May – more than 700,000 S5230 units sold
• June – 900,000
• July – 1.6 million
• August – 1.8 million

Will they reach the 10 million units sold milestone? Most likely YES!

Samsung is bringing its first Android-powered baby, I7500 Galaxy, to the Middle East. The all-touchscreen device prides itself with gorgeous 3.2-inch AMOLED display, 7.2Mbps HSDPA, WiFi, GPS, 5-megapixel camera, 8GB of internal memory that is further expandable with microSD memory cards, and a great 1500mAh battery.

Commenting on the move, Samsung Gulf Electronics’s Mr. Sandeep Saihgal said: “We are pleased to announce that the Samsung I7500 is available in the market. With the launch of I7500, Samsung sets its leading position in the Android, the industry’s emerging operating system.”

And pleased they are, considering they’re asking AED 2299 for the unlocked phone, which is about $626 and is a lot…

[Via: phandroid]

Tech Digest have written an excellent picture-based piece on what they are the five coolest British phones ever made. Given the release recently of three devices to market by British handset firm Onyx (see here), a look back in time seemed kinda the right thing to do.

I won’t spoil the fun by revealing the five devices, but instead focus on two of them, after the jump. If you can’t wait, and need to see all the handsets, then click here to have a look at the TechDigest story.

Read the full article »

Not to be outdone by fellow prepaid wireless carrier MetroPCS (NYSE: PCS), Cricket has today announced that the Samsung Messager II is now ready to bring its sliding QWERTY keyboard to customers with power-texting needs. As the update to the Samsung Messager, the Messager II sports an upgraded features. The Messager II boasts a 2-megapixel camera, 3G data connectivity, video recording and playback, and support for web and email.

The original Messager has become one of Cricket’s hottest selling phones, and this successor comes to market packing a sleeker design and more powerful features. Cricket is offering the Messager II for $199.99 for use with unlimited text and talk plans starting at just $35. Of course, you’ll have to be living in a state that’s serviced by Cricket.

Samsung Messager II from Cricket

I had few days to think it through about Nokia’s recently unveiled netbook and unfortunately I’m sad to report I’m disappointed. Here are few thoughts I had about it.

In bed with WinTel

Basically what Nokia (NYSE: NOK) has unveiled is yet another notebook. Sure, there’s the built-in GPS receiver and a great battery, but I’m sure other computer makers will follow the suit pretty quickly. After all MSIs, Acers, Dells and HPs of the world have more experience in notebook/netbook computers than the Finnish giant.

The way I see it is that the Nokia Booklet 3G is yet another WinTel netbook. If it’s affordable, that would be something, but judging from the press release, Nokia hopes to get a premium for that aluminum frame and exceptional battery life — we’ve heard rumors Nokia will ask $799 for its computer, which is way out of line. Sony has its premium offering in Vaio P series that is really different from the rest of the pack, and which Sony refuses to call a netbook. Netbooks sell like crazy because they are cheap, and to make something that’s effectively a premium cheap laptop doesn’t sound like a winning strategy. It sounds like nonsense.

Why not Linux?

That brings me to my second point. Nokia has its own flavor of Linux – Maemo, which is based on Debian, just like Ubuntu. In that sense, they could’ve unveiled a Linux-powered netbook that would certainly be faster than any similar Windows based product. You may argue Maemo is created for ARM-based CPUs to which I say – fine, make a Snapdragon-powered computer. It runs on 1 GHz, after all, but then again – this would go against Nokia’s alliance with Intel.

I love netbooks, but I doubt I’ll buy the Nokia Booklet 3G

I’m writing this on my Dell Mini 9, which runs Ubuntu and works great! I thought Nokia had a chance (and still does, BTW) to bring Linux to the masses. Just imagine a Sony Vaio P kind of device which is more affordable and because it runs Linux – faster. Moreover, it could sport a touchscreen! Now, that would be something I would instantly buy, even without a touchscreen. This way, when I already have a netbook, I don’t see a reason to get one made by Nokia, especially if it’s going to be more expensive.

Anyway, the main point I wanted to make is that I don’t see the unique selling proposition of the Nokia Booklet 3G. GPS and great battery life are not something I’m willing to pay a premium for, and I doubt many users are — except hard core Nokia fanboys. I want my next ultra-portable computer to be lighter than my existing one (Mini 9 weighs 1kg with 4-cell battery), smaller and that it doesn’t cost a fortune. If there were not for the last reason, I would’ve bought the Sony Vaio P long time ago.

Remember the Nokia 3710 Fold, which was announced back in June? The North American version of the device called 3710a has been cleared by the FCC. AT&T (NYSE: T) will most probably pick it up, considering this baby can sing the 3G tune on WCDMA 850/1900 bands.

Specs wise, the Nokia (NYSE: NOK) 3710a comes with a 3.2-megapixel camera, QVGA screen, GPS, Bluetooth, media player, microSD memory card slot. Nokia’s Series 40 platform is running the show.

Additional details are unknown at this stage, but we guess AT&T will offer the device for less than $100 on a contract. We’ll see…

[Via: Unwired View]

AT&T (NYSE: T) will be adding a new low-end device, Pantech C180, to its portfolio, most likely as part of its prepaid offering. The entry-level device comes in a candybar form factor, sporting a music player, FM radio, WAP browser and a memory card slot. It even lacks Bluetooth connectivity and camera, meaning you’ll probably be able to grab it for under $50. Not a bad choice for your forth mobile phone or elderly parents — otherwise, I’m not sure who needs this in the time of app stores and location-based services…

[Via: PhoneScoop]

Engadget has been tipped off that some Best Buy Mobile locations will be taking $50 deposits for the unspecified phone starting on September 13 with an SKU of 9510013. Which phone is that? Engadget thinks it’s the HTC Hero, which has been recently approved by the FCC all in the CDMA (EV-DO) glory. But it’s not just the Hero that’s coming to Sprint (NYSE: S). Let’s not forget the other Android device – the Samsung InstinctQ. Still, if I had to pick, my money would be on the Hero – one of those device that could help Sprint turn around and get more customers it desperately needs. We’ll see…

[Via: Engadget Mobile]