Android Mobiles

Look at the below leaked T-Mobile 1st Quarter Roadmap and notice that Sony Ericsson is misspelled as “Sony Ericcson” while Motorola is referred to as MOT instead of the typical MOTO. Simple mistaked in an official document or typos by a stupid and careless photoshop prankster?

Considering the MyTouch 1.2 with 3.5mm headset jack isn’t listed, it isn’t looking good, but I figured I would pass this along just in case. The interesting thing on this slide is the Motorola CLIQ XT which seems to be a non-keyboard version of the CLIQ. Probably fake but interesting nonetheless.

I was also expecting a bit more Android from T-MO between now and the end of March but… we’ll see. What do you think: real or fake? Or maybe we should just ask if anyone actually thinks this is real?

[Via PPCGeeks]

The folks at T-Mobile might be looking to extend the MyTouch brand they’ve built thus far as TMO Today tipsters are saying the rumored HTC Espresso will launch with the name T-Mobile MyTouch 2.

First came the MyTouch 3G, then the MyTouch 3G Fender Edition and now we’re rumored to have the MyTouch 3G 1.2 and the MyTouch 2. That whole “3G” thing makes it sound like the MyTouch 2 is a previous version in some ways… it just sounds weird. But we get the point.

The phone is essentially the HTC Hero with an added slideout QWERTY keyboard and I have to say, I think that keyboard looks delicious. Four rows, too! It doesn’t have any hardware improvements compared to the Hero but that’s a very capable phone for the price, is it not? I can see a lot of people like this.

Maybe they should call it the T-Mobile MyType 3G? I first that.

Is this a real, official Orange document? Or is it a clever Photoshop job? I’ll let you be the judge, but hopefully it is official..

The Bravo is coming soon and according to this screen shot to Orange, although that is not yet confirmed. Its specs rival the Nexus One just with the optical trackpad instead of the trackball.

1GHz Snapdragon CPU

3.7″ AMOLED capacitive touchscreen with WVGA resolution (480 x 800)

5MP camera

Wi-Fi

GPS

HSDPA

HSUPA

Looks great if this is legit, but if not, hopefully the official release information is around the corner!

[Via CoolSmartPhone]

When I heard the Nexus One Car Dock accessory was coming I wasn’t at all surprised – the Motorola Droid had the same thing and it became necessary since Google Navigation was featured on Android 2.o. But I just watched the Nexus One: Day One video and… guess what was spotted in it? The Nexus One Car Dock:

That isn’t ANYTHING like I expected. At first glance I thought that metal rod had a different phone – not the Nexus One – attached to it. But after closer examination it seems the Nexus One Car Dock features a suction cup on one end, a swiveling Metal Rod that moves in any direction connected to it, with a “frame” on the other end to which the Nexus One “snaps” in.

I’m hoping the suction works well and frame holds the phone sturdily. It also appears as if the metal rod MIGHT be telescopic, allowing you to pull the nav unit closer towards you or push it further away, depending on the preferences of the driver and the specific vehicle. I really like that idea/concept.

Here is the video – fast forward to 1 minute and 9 seconds in to see the glimpse screen-shotted above:

So Google… when can I buy this, buddies?

HTC’s Legend is looking pretty sweet! No official device info is out there but there are some of the rumored info we’ve already told you about. Engadget’s photos, shown below, show the Legend with the older look of the HTC Sense. The HTC Legend features a chrome logo with an aluminum shell and the new optical trackpad. Check out the photos and let us know what you think of the new HTC look.

[via Engadget]

I was happy to see Megan Fox in a tub during the Motorola SuperBowl advertisement – trust me I was. But overall I was disappointed in the ad and I’ll tell you why after you watch:

Overall the ad was good. Hot celebrity. Funny approach/integration. But why would Motorola show a BRAND NEW PHONE and not even mention the name? Why would MOTOBLUR be the “product” they are trying to sell/push? If you ask me… it’s just confusing to consumers, not to mention it isn’t magnetic.

If I were directing this ad campaign I would have had Megan Fox mention the phone she was holding was the Motorola Devour instead of saying “He” and at the end I would have showcased all of the phones with MotoBlur. Just have each fly by for 1 second and use 5 seconds… still with the “Motorola.com” at the bottom, with the phone and phone names flying across the screen.

I don’t know – I just feel like Motorola spent a few million dollars and didn’t sell anything. I get the idea of “branding” and I know they’re big on MotoBlur but I feel like they could have better showcased their portfolio and explained that ALL these phones had MOTOBLUR.

What did you think about the Ad?

Oh yeah… PhoneArena is reporting the phone will launch on February 25th for “indirect channels” and in all sales channels no later than March 15th. That’s just an anonymous tip but since Verizon and Motorola have already made it official, right around the corner is a good timeframe guess.

PS: I like how PhoneArena said “too bad it doesn’t come bundled with Megan Fox.” We were all thinking the same darn thing.

The good old HTC Incredible isn’t doing such an incredible job at remaining secretive. The folks at PocketNow were able to get their hands on a bunch of pretty darn good pictures of the upcoming Android Phone and there is also a video floating around:

The rumored/assumed specs that came along with the leak/tip:

• Android 2.1
• HTC Sense
• Snapdragon CPU
• 256MB of RAM
• 3.5-3.7″ WVGA screen
• AMOLED (probably)
• Optical mouse pointer
• dual LED flash

This does sound pretty darn incredible… doesn’t look bad either. Will it launch with that fire engine red back cover or do you think that’s just a test device?

Google could be airing a SuperBowl ad tomorrow in 3rd quarter. Rumor has it that the commercial will be called “Parisian Love” and it documents a series of Google searches done over a long period of time that follow a long distance relationship from first glance to married with kids. Here it is:

Tonight Google’s CEO Eric Schmidt tweeted about “hell freezing over” and mentions the 3rd quarter of the SuperBowl, which set the rumors ablaze:

John Battelle from Battelle Media provided a pre-emptive scoop of the news. The awkward thing is that USA Today’s list of SuperBowl advertisers does NOT include Google. But you know who it DOES include… it includes Motorola. And according to AdAge the Bowl is sold out so there isn’t likely to be a “late entry” although I suppose Google could have requested anonymous entry.

So is Eric Schmidt tweeting about this Paris Wedding commercial or the Motorola Superbowl commercial or something else or both or WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON? This year I’m DEFINITELY intrigued by the commercials and the game should be amazing as well. Or the other way around. Whatevs.

Motorola must be having a blast testing out different form factors and unique layouts. They recently announced the Motorola Backflip and its rumored that in 3rd Quarter they’ll be launching the Motorola MOTOSPLIT. The folks at AndroidCommunity claim to have leaked renders of the device:

The first time we saw this was just a couple weeks ago and today’s tipster reiterates a 3rd quarter launch on AT&T. But this time around we get some insight from a purported 1st hand source:

The keyboard keys are inset and probably have no tactile feedback, however, they should be quite easy to use. It looks like the cutouts are pretty finger-friendly, as they contour to the shape of a standard finger. Under those cutouts is a low-resolution monochrome touch screen, one for each side of the keyboard. This is where the finger presses. The contact area is small, but the plastic grid that surrounds it contours to the fingers. The label and function of each key can be changed to suit certain layouts and applications.

The keyboard has multiple orientations. The keyboard can be pulled from side to side for typing on a surface. A small kickstand angles the phone when typing in this manner. The keyboard can also be pulled to the left for a standard landscape layout. There is also a dial-pad layout.

The specifications are slightly different than previously posted. The MOTOSPLIT uses the same processor as the BACKFLIP. Every other spec is almost the same as the BACKFLIP.

I’m not sure I completely understand but it sounds like the buttons have different backlighting depending on which way the keyboard opens. And, obviously, depending on which way they keyboard is open, button presses have different affects.

An interesting idea… one you’ll use?

We love T-Mobile USA. Say whatever you want about them… they were the first carrier to embrace Android and they took a risk that other carriers were unwilling to take. Android was a strategic advantage to them, but without SOMEONE initially stepping up, Android never would have gained the momentum it has now. Someone needed to step up and T-Mobile was that “someone”.

But Deutsche Telekom are the owners of T-Mobile USA and although its the 4th largest American carrier, the division has consistently lost money while Verizon and AT&T gain significant ground. There have been rumors of sell-outs and spin-offs before and it seems they are returning.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the most likely scenario is a T-Mobile USA IPO that would sell about 20% of the company. The possibility of selling TMO USA to an American rival is still a possibility, but less likely. Verizon and Sprint both run a CDMA-based network and AT&T’s GSM network runs different 3G bands. Clearwire could get in on the action but the company – owned by an array of conglomerates – doesn’t seem to be headed in the right direct; even Google has decided not to put any more finance/resources into the struggling company.

I’m not sure WHAT will happen with T-Mobile USA but I am truly hoping they don’t get sold to another American carrier. In the past 2 years, both on their own and in conjunction with Google Android, the company has been innovative and willing to push the envelope for their customers. In many cases, the opposition has responded, but they never would have if T-Mobile USA didn’t make the initial move.

Competition is good for customers and I would love to see T-Mobile USA stay in the market. However, to sell 20% of the company and have them invest in infrastructure and services as we move towards a 4G world… could prove ominous. If they’re losing money now, what path will prevent that from happening in the future?

If the company is losing money, T-Mobile USA definitely needs to make a move. But don’t be mistaken – selling the company or opening an IPO is NOT a strategy. Even with more money and/or a new owner there needs to be a plan that will help reverse the company’s financial woes.

Personally, I’m surprised to see T-Mobile’s problems as they seem to really have a handle on what their customers want. We’ve seen Sprint face similar fortune. I would love to be at the round table meetings discussing “What to do, what to do”… in the meantime we can only speculate and hope for the best.