HTC Touch Diamond and Touch Pro details for Sprint and Verizon!!

Rumors, being what they are, can always change mid-news-cycle. In this case, the rumors surrounding the HTC Touch Diamond’s arrival on Sprint and Verizon later this month (August 2008) has been updated to reflect new information from PhoneArena that points to the svelte touchscreen offering from HTC hitting Sprint and Verizon in early September and October, respectively.

The HTC Touch Diamond is expected to arrive on Sprint’s network in CDMA form bearing the HTC Victor moniker. The HTC Victor sports the same 528Mhz CPU that we find in the HTC Touch Diamond’s GSM brethren, with 256MB ROM / 256MB RAM and 4GB internal memory.

Verizon’s CDMA-variant of the HTC Touch Diamond will keep the HTC Touch Diamond model name, so there’s a little less confusion to deal with on Big Red’s network. Unfortunately, Verizon’s HTC Touch Diamond will hit market sporting a pared down 400Mhz processor with only 128MB of RAM (compared to the 256MB in the HTC Victor and 192MB in the GSM-variant). Even worse is the rumor that the HTC Touch Diamond will arrive on Verizon’s network without the 4GB of onboard storage - opting, instead, for a microSD card slot.

Sprint’s CDMA-version of the HTC Touch Pro (codename: Raphael) will reportedly be called the HTC Herman. The HTC Herman will mirror Verizon’s HTC Touch Diamond by nixing the 4GB of internal storage in favor of a microSD card slot. On the upside, the Herman should sport a beefy 512MB of ROM.

On the flip-side, Verizon is opting to stay true to HTC’s naming scheme and will brand their CDMA HTC Touch Pro the Verizon HTC Raphael (HTC’s original Touch Pro codename). We’ll likely be seeing 512MB of ROM in the Verizon HTC Raphael, but will swap out the aluminum frame for a steel frame.

We’re also hearing that Sprint could have a 30-day exclusivity on HTC’s new smartphone wares, so Verizon customers will just have to wait to get their hands on the latest and greatest from HTC - which is par for the course anyway.

Otherwise, all handsets should be rocking the same specs as the HTC Touch Diamond and HTC Touch Pro’s GSM stablemates. That means the glorious VGA touchscreen display, GPS, and 3.2 megapixel autofocus camera will likely make the jump to the CDMA side of things.

As always, it’s healthy to keep perspective on speculation. Don’t take rumors as truth, you’ll end up being disappointed more than not.

Yahoo Go version 3.0 launched

Yahoo has released version 3.0 of its Go software, for windows-Mobile-powered smartphones. The User Interface has apparently been improved, to some degree, and their oneSearh feature has seen an improvement too. Version 3.0 now has support for widgets, and a Yahoo screen. Yahoo Go lets users connect to various Yahoo services, such as News, Mail, Maps and Weather. You can get the new Yahoo! Go 3.0 beta here.

XV6900 HTC Touch in CDMA.

The Verizon XV6900 is a sleek wireless broadband Windows Mobile phone with an intuitive touch interface. Designed by HTC, the lightweight XV6900 is only 3.95 oz, and sports a 2.0 megapixel digital camera.

Sure to stand out, this attractive mobile phone comes in pearl white with chrome accents. The touchscreen interace allowed the phone's designers to minimize the number of buttons and create an elegant design with only start and end call buttons and a directional pad on the face of the phone.

32GB SDHC storage media to come out in Apri

Panasonic has reported it will launch a 32GB SDHC storage card in April 08. The card complies with Class 6 standard and is marked SDV32GU1K. This is the world first card with such capacity, which can store up to 12 hours of high-quality HD video. The recommended price jumped to $699.

The short specs of the SDV32GU1K:

• Capacity: 32 GB
• Available capacity: 30.979 MB
• Physical specifications comply with SD 2.0 version
• Data transfer speed - 20 Mbps.

Sony to update notebook lineup

Sony has launched updated notebooks of the following series: VAIO AR60, FZ30, SZ70, CR30 and TP2 based on Intel Core 2 Duo CPU. Besides most notebooks to be released this year will be equipped with Blu-ray Disc. The senior models of the AR60, FZ30 and SZ70 series will carry 4 GB SDRAM onboard, which should have great effect on their productivity.

Sony highlights the capabilities of the VGN-AR61ZU: it can play HD video, based on Intel Core 2 Duo T8300 processor, 4GB SDRAM and NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT with 512 MB VRAM. The model can also write dual-layer Blu-ray Disc.

Sony VAIO TP2 Home Entertainment Centre is really a home entertainment center. The updated version works on Intel Core 2 Duo T8100. It features Blu-ray Disc Combo and BRAVIA technology, so it can be connected with Sony BRAVIA TV sets. Besides the VAIO TP2 is packed in a stylish black shell.

MetroPCS offers Samsung R410 QWERTY-handset

The American operator MetroPCS has launched Samsung R410 mobile phone. The company’s site has posted some info about it. This is a side slider with two keyboards: a numeric and a QWERTY. The latter is highly appropriate for SMS-messaging. Taking into account the rest features we have a simple phone – a VGA camera and Bluetooth support. Samsung R410 is listed for $199 and available in Red and Black colors.

Nokia N810 Internet Tablet debuted in the US

Nokia has launched the shipments of its Internet Tablet N810 in the US. It is already available online and in stores throughout the country. The recommended price for Nokia N810 Internet Tablet makes up $479.

I’d remind you that Nokia N810 was announced a month ago. It’s a successor to Nokia N800 equipped with a slide-out QWERTY-keyboard and a touch sensitive 4.13” 800x480 pixel display. The device is based on Maemo Linux 2008 and carries 2GB of memory oboard, an integrated GPS-receiver, a VGA-camera and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless modules.

Nokia Music Store launched in the UK

Nokia has launched Nokia Music Store in the US. Reportedly, you can acquire millions of tracks of famous artists from different music labels. On the same account you can access Nokia Music Store from your desktop PC or a smartphone, for example, Nokia N81 or Nokia N95 8GB.

The UK Nokia Music Store offers one track for 80 pence and the album from 8 pound sterling. You can also subscribe to the service for 8 pound sterling. From November 1 on the UK Nokia Music store is available at http://music.nokia.co.uk.

RIM to release 3 new series of Blackberry smartphones?

Research In Motion (RIM) is likely to launch 3 new series of Blackberry smartphones 9900, 9300 (9310, 9320, 9330) and 9100 (9110, 9120, 9130). At least the company has registered the following domains in the world wide web:

• blackberry9900.com
• blackberry9100.com
• blackberry9110.com
• blackberry9120.com
• blackberry9130.com
• blackberry9310.com
• blackberry9320.com
• blackberry9330.com

Most of them were registered in October, others somewhat earlier. Currently there are no details on the models specs. However some rumors leak and suggest that the company has an upcoming Blackberry device with a big touchscreen and without the keyboard, which might be one of these smartphones. However we can’t say anything for sure, let’s wait for more details.

HTC P6500 high-end processing communicator for business

HTC’ portfolio for 4Q includes the P6500 communicator. The company believes it is the right mobile partner for business, from logistics to warehousing and transportation. The device comes without a keyboard. It is powered by Windows Mobile 6 Professional and works in quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE and tri-band WCDMA/HSDPA networks.

HTC P6500 is equipped with a 3.5” touch sensitive LCD, a 3-megapixel camera, a barcode reader, a fingerprints sensor, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. It also features a built-in GPS-receiver, 256 MB of RAM, a dual SD slot with SDIO interface. The communicator hits the European stores in November.

Samsung SGH-i355: another GPS-smartphone?

The GPS-smartphone Samsung SGH-i550 hasn’t been launched yet, but the company is working on new models with similar functionality. Some info popped up on Samsung SGH-i780 and Samsung SGH-i560. This time a web source provides info on another GPS-smartphone – the SGH-i355. The IT168.com reports this is a slider phone based on Symbian 9.2/S60 platform. It is designed for GSM/GPRS and WCDMA/HSDPA networks.

Other features are as follows: 2.4” QVGA 262K color display, 3.2-megapixel camera with 16x digital zoom, media player, built-in GPS, Bluetooth and USB. Samsung SGH-i355 will come out in 4Q 2007 at about €415.

New Vertu Ascent to Ferrari’s 60th Anniversary

Vertu has launched another modification of its Ascent luxury phone. The main specs are similar to the rest of the series: this is a specially designed candy bar handset with a 116x148 pixels display and sapphire coating. Design was created to celebrate Ferrari’s 60th Anniversary. It resembles Ferrari 612 Scaglietti and comes with dedicated wallpaper and ring tones. There will be released mere 60 units of Vertu Ascent Ferrari 60.

Ascent Ferrari 60 placed in a titan shell involves Ferrari screws and leather materials applied inside the cars. The new Vertu Ascent is decorated with the Ferrari logo. The device comes with the Vertu Aerius Bluetooth-headset. In addition the vendor undertakes to replace leather materials of Vertu Ascent Ferrari 60 every six months.

Samsung T429 available from T-Mobile

The American operator T-Mobile has launched Samsung T429 handset for $49.99. This GSM model is finished in Samsung’s traditional slider form-factor and features Bluetooth, built-in VGA camera and capability to save and operate contacts on operator’s web server.

The short technical specs of Samsung T429:

• Networks: 850/1800/1900 MHz
• Dimensions: 99x48.3x15.2 mm
• Weight: 82.2 g
• Display: 2”, TFT, 128x160 pixels, 65K colors
• Camera: VGA
• Messages: SMS/EMS/MMS, IM
• Sound: 40-tones polyphony, MP3 ring tones
• Entertainment: built-in games, Java
• Connectivity: Bluetooth, USB, WAP
• Memory: 3 MB, storage cards
• Other applications: calendar, tasks, world time, alarm clock, converter, calculator, stopwatch, timer

GPS-enabled PDA Mio P360 and P560 officially introduced

As it was expected Mio Technology introduced today navigation PDA P360 and P560, heirs of P350 and P550 at IFA show in Berlin. They are powered by Windows Mobile 6 running on 400 MHz processors. In addition both models carry SiRF III GPS-receivers onboard and support SD/SDHC cards capacious of up to 4GB. The senior PDA (P560) is equipped with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless modules.

Both handhelds will be supplied with MioMap 3 navigation software. Mio P360 has a price tag of €249 without the program and €299 with MioMap 3. Mio P560 will be offered for €349 or €399 on the same conditions. The exact release date hasn’t been unveiled yet.

Official announcement of HTC TyTN II (Kaiser)

HTC has officially announced the release of HTC TyTN II communicator, known also under the codename HTC Kaiser. The device is aimed at business users, first of all. It has a side sliding QWERTY-keyboard and a display, which can be fixed at an angle to the keyboard. The TyTN II is powered by Windows Mobile 6 Professional.

The company will roll out HTC TyTN II in September in Europe together with leading operators, including Orange, T – Mobile and Vodafone. The Russian release is set for October. The recommended price is about $1160.

The specs of HTC TyTN II:

• Networks - GSM/GPRS/EDGE (quad band) and UMTS/HSDPA (tri-band)
• OS - Windows Mobile 6 Professional
• Display – 2.8” 240x320 pixels touchscreen
• GPS-receiver (TomTom Navigator 6 Taster Edition)
• Business card scanner
• 3-megapixel camera with auto focus
• Wi-Fi 802.11b/g
• Bluetooth 2.0
• 256 MB ROM and 128 MB RAM
• microSD-slot
• Dimensions – 112x59x19 mm
• Weight - 190 g
• Li-Pol 1350 mAh battery
• Standby time – up to 350 hours for UMTS and up to 365 hours for GSM
• Talk time – up to 264 minutes for UMTS, up to 420 minutes for GSM and up to 120 minutes in video call mode

Vertu Constellation in Rose Gold.

Vertu has released a new handset of the Constellation series. Its shell is coated with rose gold and black leather. I’d remind you that first Constellation phones appeared last October. Vertu Constellation works in GSM/GPRS/EDGE (quad band) networks and is powered by Series 40 platform. It features a 208x208x262K color display, media player, voice recorder, Bluetooth and USB interfaces. As for the peculiar specs, the device has a sapphire glass, a keyboard with laser engraving and unique quarter turn locking mechanism.

Verizon starts online sales of Motorola Q9m smartphone.

The American mobile service provider Verizon Wireless has started online sales of Motorola Q9m smartphone. The device was mentioned in the news under the codename Nelson. The smartphone is powered by Windows Mobile 6 and equipped with a landscape display and a QWERTY-keyboard. The price tag of Motorola Q9m in operator’s online store is $200 after a $100 special and $50 discounts (the initial price is set at $349.99).

The specs of Motorola Q9m:

• Networks - CDMA 1X/EV–DO (800/1900 MHz)
• OS - Windows Mobile 6
• Display – 2.4” (320x240 pixels, 65K colors)
• Bluetooth interface
• Camera – 1.3-megapixel, video capture, flash
• 64 MB of memory
• Slot for miniSD cards (up to 4 GB)
• Battery - Li-Ion 1170 mAh
• Talk time – up to 273 minutes
• Standby time – up to 212 hours
• Dimensions – 117x66x12 mm
• Weight - 135 g

HTC P3600 on WM6 to come out in Australia.

As you may know HTC P3600 (Trinity) communicator wasn’t included in the list for Windows Mobile 6 upgrade. But the company released HTC P3600i powered by WM 6 Professional in Australia. This is a slightly improved Trinity. In addition to the new OS the device got a more powerful processor – Samsung 500 MHz and 256 MB ROM (the original Trinity features a 400 MHz processor and 128 MB ROM). The rest specs remained the same – GSM/GPRS/EDGE and UMTS/HSDPA support, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and a 2-megapixel camera.

The sales of HTC P3600i in Australia have already been launched at some $839. It’s not yet clear whether the communicator would be released in other regions and when.

Official announcement of Nokia BH-902 Bluetooth headset

Another new product of Nokia’s official list is a mono Bluetooth headset Nokia BH-902.

Nokia BH-902 features smooth lines, an external OLED display and integrated DSP (Digital Signal Processing of audio signal, improving its quality). Its external display is good for controlling incoming calls and phone pairing. In addition it displays info on missed calls, SMS, MMS. It weighs some 18.2 g and costs €115.