Toys & Gadgets

Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Email / IM, Smartphones, Mobile

How do you get the new Treo Pro free?  Two easy steps:  1. Move to the UK.  2. Sign up for Vodaphone.  In a move that is sure to have Treo fans jealous, Vodaphone is offering the new sexy black Treo Pro to its customers with different plans ranging from free to 340 pounds.

My hands on

Last week, we got to play with the Treo Pro.  My initial thoughts were quick response time, decent touch screen, thinner than I’ve seen a Treo (ever I think) and great looking.  While Microsoft does not have a Windows Mobile 6.1 fan in me, the OS is bearable for straight up business use.  Our Executive Editor, Adam Berger, thought Palm didn’t use the space on the phone wisely and with a few simple adjustments, could have offered up a much larger screen.

WiFi on a Palm

The Treo Pro is the first Treo to have WiFi.  Frankly, WiFi was lacking on the first Treo back a million years ago (give or take) and I find it kind of shocking it has taken this long.  Whatever.  It is here now and Treo fans can rejoice.  Other fancy specs include: high-speed data with UMTS/HSDPA3, instant-on Wi-Fi button, GPS, plays well with MS files & PDFs, functions as a high-speed modem for your laptop, chat-style view for SMS and MMS6, and a 2.0 megapixel camera with video capture round out the mix.

Back in the USA

Currently, Palm continues to duck my questions about a US carrier that might throw a subsidy in like a young flyweight fighter in the ring ducking my punches.  For now, we’ll have to be content coughing up $549 for an unlocked version; bulk buyers should contact Palm or their partners for bulk pricing.

If anything, Vodaphone’s offering should inspire hope in those wishing to see this phone become a hit at a US carrier.  Couple it with a low price, you’d think it would have to be higher than the $0-$99 Centro, so let’s say $149-$199 and you’ve got yourself a very competitive workhorse phone.

More as it comes.

Check it out at [Vodaphone] and [Palm]

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Mobile

Hmm, it looks like no one really agreed with T-Mobile’s strict 1GB data cap on their 3G network. Their data cap was just announced yesterday, and today they made the decision to get rid of it, and allow for a little more freedom. Basically, they have decided to punish only a small fraction of their users if they decide to overuse the network. They don’t give a clear cut number, but I guess if a G1 owner uses the Internet all the time and is clogging up the network, then they will probably significantly reduce their Internet speeds.

Here is what they had to say -

“Our goal, when the T-Mobile G1 becomes available in October, is to provide affordable, high-speed data service allowing customers to experience the full data capabilities of the device and our 3G network. At the same time, we have a responsibility to provide the best network experience for all of our customers so we reserve the right to temporarily reduce data throughput for a small fraction of our customers who have excessive or disproportionate usage that interferes with our network performance or our ability to provide quality service to all of our customers.

We removed the 1GB soft limit from our policy statement, and we are confident that T-Mobile G1 customers will enjoy the high speed of data access over our 3G network. The specific terms for our new data plans are still being reviewed and once they are final we will be certain to share this broadly with current customers and potential new customers.”

Do you guys agree with T-Mobile getting rid of the 1GB data cap? Or do you think there has to be some clear cut limit on 3G usage?

Via [Engadget]

Full Story » | Written by Natesh Sood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Section: Audio, Portable Audio, Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Mobile

Alltel, the owner of the world’s America’s (meaning USA) largest wireless network, announced today they will be offering the nuTsie service on select phones bringing customers their iTunes music wherever they are, just like an iPhone.  nuTsie says they’ve got over 1 million happy users and the Alltel deal gives them direct access to even more.  Alltel will become the first wireless carrier to offer the service to their customers. 

Forget syncing, nuTsie works via low-bandwidth streaming.  No downloading, sideloading or waiting.  Seems like a simple idea.  In addition to offering access to users iTunes music, a clever “Serendipity Slider” allows music recommendations to be be played as well opening up users to new music.  Customers can also share playlists, check out lyrics and view YouTube videos, if the phone supports these features.  Alltel is offering the service for $5 per month or $19 per year.

The phone is for you

Alltel has plenty of phones that can take advantage of this service including the MOTORAZR, MOTOKRZR, LG’s AX565, and The Wafer by Samsung.  There are plenty more, check Alltel’s site for more details.

Remember “Peaches”?

“nuTsie offers Alltel Wireless customers an easy, inexpensive way to access their iTunes libraries on the go and to hear new music from other users’ playlists and from our own programmed music,” added Dave Dederer, Vice President of Business Development at Melodeo and founding member of the GRAMMY-nominated, multi-platinum rock band The Presidents of the United States of America.

Anyone out there using nuTsie?  Let us know what you think of the service and if it is worth the $19/year in the comments.

Product page [nuTsie] and [Alltel]

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Section: News, Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Computers, Wireless, Web, Google

With all the Google Android and T-Mobile G1 news coming out today, people tend to only focus on what is right in front of them. However, if you are serious about purchasing the G1, you have to find out all the details, such as the dreaded data cap.

Unfortunately, T-Mobile decided to be stingy with the data cap on the 3G network and limited it only to 1GB. For those who use their G1 a lot for Internet, then they may not be all that pleased with this number. Obviously, T-Mobile wants to compete with giant companies such as Verizon and AT&T, who also own a lot of 3G capable smartphones. Well, their data cap is a bit more generous at 5GB. Labeled in the fine print, T-Mobile also says that if you go over the 1GB cap, then they have the right to significantly lower your speeds to 50kpbs, which would be painfully slow.

People who plan to use their G1 for a lot of Internet surfing will have to be careful to not go over the cap. I think T-Mobile should rethink this, and at least make the data cap the common 5GB.

Read [T-Mobile]

Full Story » | Written by Natesh Sood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Mobile

The latest potential launch date for the AT&T BlackBerry Bold is now expected to come in just about a month, on October 2. I wish we were able to say this has been confirmed, but sadly it is just based on a tip that is being considered “pretty solid.” Of course we have seen these situations go either way when it come to reliable sources, so keep your credit card safely in your wallet for now. In the meantime it looks like October 2 is the date for AT&T to announce the Bold, with full availability coming on Monday October 6. All in all, the release seems to make sense timing wise now that Rogers has finally gotten theirs ready and out.

Via [BGR]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Mobile

The latest potential launch date for the AT&T BlackBerry Bold is now expected to come in just about a month, on October 2. I wish we were able to say this has been confirmed, but sadly it is just based on a tip that is being considered “pretty solid.” Of course we have seen these situations go either way when it come to reliable sources, so keep your credit card safely in your wallet for now. In the meantime it looks like October 2 is the date for AT&T to announce the Bold, with full availability coming on Monday October 6. All in all, the release seems to make sense timing wise now that Rogers has finally gotten theirs ready and out.

Via [BGR]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Mobile

Sprint’s popular, new smartphone, the Samsung Instinct, is going to be sold for the first time at RadioShack coming this Labor Day Weekend. You might be thinking, what’s so special about RadioShack selling the Samsung Instinct, I could go buy it at any other retailer or the Sprint store. Well, the reason is that RadioShack will be selling the Instinct for the low price of $100 for new customers.

From August 29 through the end of the holiday weekend, new users will be able to score a Samsung Instinct at 4,400+ RadioShack stores for just $100. This pricing does require customers to sign a new agreement and sign up with Sprint’s Simply Everything Plan. Current customers looking to upgrade the existing Spring handset will still have to pay $129 for the Instinct. Overall sounds like a great deal for RadioShack, and it should be good enough to get some people to switch to Sprint in order to get this phone.

Via [MobileBurn]

Full Story » | Written by Natesh Sood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Mobile

Sprint’s popular, new smartphone, the Samsung Instinct, is going to be sold for the first time at RadioShack coming this Labor Day Weekend. You might be thinking, what’s so special about RadioShack selling the Samsung Instinct, I could go buy it at any other retailer or the Sprint store. Well, the reason is that RadioShack will be selling the Instinct for the low price of $100 for new customers.

From August 29 through the end of the holiday weekend, new users will be able to score a Samsung Instinct at 4,400+ RadioShack stores for just $100. This pricing does require customers to sign a new agreement and sign up with Sprint’s Simply Everything Plan. Current customers looking to upgrade the existing Spring handset will still have to pay $129 for the Instinct. Overall sounds like a great deal for RadioShack, and it should be good enough to get some people to switch to Sprint in order to get this phone.

Via [MobileBurn]

Full Story » | Written by Natesh Sood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Mobile

It seems Sprint users have something to look forward to, a new selection of phones to choose from. A selection of new phones are expected to be launched on April 16 and seem to offer a nice selection.

First up is the LG LX400, a clamshell phone with Qchat push-to-talk network compatibility. Next up are a few models from Sanyo, the PRO-200 which is a slim clamshell that is expected to retail for $249.99, the PRO-700 which is a rugged phone that is dust and shock resistant that is expected to retail for $269.99 and the Katana LX which is a budget minded phone that will show up in pink, black and blue. Wrapping the new additions is the BlackBerry Curve 8830 in a new titanium color, which will join the existing black version.

In addition to the phones Sprint is also expected to add the Sierra Wireless 597 data card, which is also expected to hit the lineup as of April 16.

Via [SlashPhone]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Section: Communications, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Mobile

After some digging around in the recently posted user guides, some have turned up a possible rainbow of colors for the Centro. If you follow the guide and click on the AT&T branded white Centro, you will be given a page that shows (pictured above) the rainbow of Centro colors. We have seen the “AT&T only” model, the white with green keys that seems to either be loved or hated, but included in the picture is also the white with the grey keys that we have seen, and previously thought was going to AT&T. In addition there is also a red, black and dark blue model.

We already know that we will see an ”obsidion black” Centro hitting AT&T within a month, but it seems like the other red, dark blue and white with grey could be additional unlocked GSM models. I think if Palm released the Centro in a whole selection of colors, especially with the $99 price tag you would see a whole surge in new smartphone and more important Palm users, could they be on to something?

Via [Treo Central]

http://www.gadgetell.com/tech/comment/rumor-palm-centro-to-launch-with-verizon/

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »