Verizon Wireless today announced that DROID™ 2 by Motorola will be available for pre-sale on August 11.  Hitting all the right keys, DROID 2 is a feature-packed device that helps manage work and social life with an enhanced QWERTY keyboard, ultra high-speed Web browsing, 3G Mobile HotSpot capabilities, full push corporate e-mail, intuitive social messaging and Adobe® Flash® Player 10.1 for access to the full web – all built on Android 2.2.

“When we announced DROID X last month, we reaffirmed our commitment to continue to bring unique Android experiences to the Verizon Wireless network,” said Jeffrey Dietel, vice president – wireless device, marketing and development for Verizon Wireless.  ”The DROID by Motorola was our first Android device, so it is important for us to include the successor to that phone in our portfolio.  DROID 2 is not only a continuation of our commitment to Android but offers customers the features and form-factor they crave on the Verizon Wireless network.”

“With the new DROID 2, we’ve taken a big leap forward from the original DROID,” said Bill Ogle, chief marketing officer of Motorola Mobile Devices and Home Business.  ”We listened to consumers and are providing an even more robust experience built on Android 2.2 that includes a new keyboard, increased processing power, Adobe Flash Player 10.1 and 3G Mobile HotSpot capabilities to send, access and share information even quicker than before.”

DROID 2′s super-slim design helps customers e-mail, text and tweet with ease.  DROID 2 offers a redesigned symmetrical keyboard with raised keys for more responsive typing to push out notes and status updates.  Speech-to-text input and the virtual multi-touch keyboard allow for quick messaging; or customers can also use Swype for even easier text input.  In addition, full push corporate e-mail delivers enhanced features such as remote wipe and password enforcement so that information remains secure.

DROID 2 packs power and speed.  Customers can enjoy the freedom of wireless with the 3G Mobile HotSpot and the ability to connect up to five compatible Wi-Fi® devices, and watch content on the full multi-touch 3.7-inch brilliant display, or share content captured on the 5-megapixel camera with enhanced functionality and DVD-quality video capture with DLNA connectivity to share on compatible devices.

Customers can also download favorite apps from Android Market™, which has more than 70,000 applications, and store them on 8 GB of preloaded on-board memory and the 8 GB microSD™ card, which can be upgraded to a 32 GB SD card for a total cargo capacity of 40 GB.  Popular apps available on DROID 2 include NFL Mobile (downloadable), Skype mobile™ and BLOCKBUSTER On Demand® presented by V CAST Video.  Customers can even manage their wireless accounts or their contacts from their phones with My Verizon and with Backup Assistant(SM).

“It’s great to see amazing new smartphones like the DROID 2 come pre-installed with Flash Player 10.1,” said David Wadhwani, senior vice president and general manager, Creative and Interactive Solution Business Unit at Adobe.  ”With the completely redesigned and hardware accelerated Flash Player 10.1, DROID 2 users will be able to experience the full Web on the go.”

Adobe Flash Player 10.1 lets mobile users experience millions of websites the way they were meant to be seen – with rich Internet applications (RIAs), content inside the browser, including games, animations, data presentations and visualizations, e-commerce, music, video, audio and more.

R2-D2 DROID 2

In honor of the iconic Astromech Droid from the Star Wars™ Saga, Verizon Wireless will offer a limited-edition R2-D2 version of the DROID 2, available only online in September.  The special version of the phone will feature exclusive Star Wars content and external hardware designed to look like the trusty Droid from the film saga.  Visitors to the upcoming Star Wars Celebration V in Orlando, Fla., can see a preview of the limited edition phone and sign up to receive alerts when the phone is ready for sale.

Pricing and Availability

DROID 2 by Motorola will be available at www.verizonwireless.com on August 11, and it will be in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores beginning August 12 for $199.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement.  Customers will receive the rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted.  In addition to subscribing to a Nationwide Talk plan or a Nationwide Talk & Text plan, customers will also need to subscribe to an Email and Web for Smartphone plan.  Nationwide Talk plans begin at $39.99 monthly access.  Email and Web for Smartphone plans start at $29.99 for unlimited monthly access.

Customers can add the optional 3G Mobile HotSpot service to their DROID 2 smartphones for $20 per month.  The 3G Mobile HotSpot allows customers to turn their phones into a wireless modem for up to five compatible Wi-Fi® devices.  In addition, current Verizon Wireless customers who have contracts ending by December 31, 2010, can upgrade to any smartphone, including DROID 2, without penalty.

For more information on DROID 2 by Motorola, go to www.droiddoes.com.  For information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Check out our video on the Droid X

Popularity: 8% [?]

There has been alot of buzz about the a new Droid that could be releasing soon.  The Droid X  which is one of the rumored names or the Droid 2 which some also claim is said to have

• Android 2.1 (barring a last minute Froyo intervention)
• 3.7? screen
• 750MHz OMAP processor
• Wi-Fi tethering
• 8GB internal
• 8GB SD card preinstalled
• Updated keyboard
• 5MP camera
• New version of MOTOBLUR

Some even claim this device to have a front facing camera for video chat. But sources have claimed this rumor to be false.

Let us know what you think ? Comment Below!

Popularity: 11% [?]

Thanks to Verizon Wireless we got our hands on the NEW Samsung Rogue. (check out the Press Release)

• To start this review out I loved the User Interface. Samsung has gave its users the ability to add widgets of all types to the home screen.

• Another thing  I liked about this phone, is the Camera Quality. Samsung built this one with 3 megapixels with flash. Also, So you’ll never run out of camera space they let you add up to 16gb on an external MicroSD card.

Internet browsing on this phone was excellent , With the added Tabbed browsing feature. Text messages are threaded when you text which allows you to easily to recall back to a old text message with out having to search for it in millions of texts.

• Another thing i liked on this phone is the 3.5mm Headphone jack, you can just plug some standard headphones in and GO!

Something that i thought Samsung could have changed on the Rogue is all the buttons around the whole phone a total of 6 i found useless except for the camera button.

Would i recommend this phone? Well its up to you , This phone is designed for frequent texters , so if that you then yeah. But for a business guy such as my self Im going to have to say no.

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Overall? Great Phone. Check it out on Verizon website

Popularity: 50% [?]

PRESS RELEASE: (Pictures below)

Samsung Rogue (Reviewed Here! ) <– Check out the review

The Samsung Rogue is a sleek messaging phone with a full touch display that provides an optimized messaging experience with a horizontal slide-out, four-row QWERTY keyboard, threaded messaging and one-touch access to popular social networking widgets, including Facebook®, MySpace, Twitter, YouTube and Photobucket. The Samsung Rogue also features innovative speech capabilities powered by Nuance that allow customers to launch and control a variety of applications and services with simple voice commands as well as dictate text messages.

The Samsung Rogue will serve as the flagship phone for the company’s new data pricing option available to customers beginning today. The new data pricing gives Verizon Wireless customers more freedom to select how much data and the type of data they want to use. Samsung Rogue customers who want to check e-mail; surf the Web; and download applications, games or ringtones will be able to select either a 25 MB for $9.99 monthly access option or a 75 MB for $19.99 monthly access option to couple with their Nationwide plan.

Customers who want to watch full-length TV shows plus news, sports, weather and live entertainment video clips can also add Verizon Wireless’ new V CAST Video on Demand plan that gives customers access to unlimited basic video clips, ESPN MVP and unlimited megabytes for their V CAST Video usage for $10.00 monthly. The new V CAST Video on Demand plan replaces the $15.00 V CAST VPak. These changes will not impact existing customers.

Following are additional key features and specifications for the Samsung Rogue.

· Available in bronze/black color

· 3.1-inch ultra-brilliant touch screen

o Widescreen WVGA AMOLED (Wide Video Graphics Array Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode) responsive touch screen results in one of the brightest and clearest displays on a mobile phone in the United States

o Slide out horizontally to reveal a four-row QWERTY keypad

· Full HTML Web browsing capabilities with one-touch access to social networking sites via shortcut widgets

· Full messaging suite including SMS, MMS, Mobile IM, Mobile Email and Corporate Email

· 3.0 megapixel camera with flash and video capture and on-device editing capabilities

· Supports Verizon Wireless services including V CAST Music with Rhapsody, V CAST Video, and Visual Voice Mail

· Media Center-capable – downloadable games, ringtones, wallpapers, location-based services, such as VZ NavigatorSM and Chaperone®, and more

· Pre-loaded games including “NEED FOR SPEED™ Undercover,” “Resident Evil: Degeneration,” and “Tetris® and Dice”

· microSD™ card slot with support for up to 16 GB (card purchased separately)

· File Viewer can view Microsoft® Word, Microsoft® Excel®, Microsoft® PowerPoint® and Adobe® PDF documents stored on a memory card

Samsung Intensity

The Samsung Intensity is a feature-packed phone that offers customers a convenient way to stay connected to family, friends, and anyone else their thumbs can get a hold of through its full line of advanced messaging capabilities such as Mobile IM; text, picture and voice messaging with threaded messaging feature; Mobile Email; and the Mobile Web browser.

Following are additional key features and specifications for the Samsung Intensity.

· Available in a Charcoal Grey color in all sales channels and available in Flamingo Red online only at www.verizonwireless.com

· 2.1-inch display with horizontal slide-out four-row QWERTY keypad with dedicated Messaging key and Favorites key for easily texting and calling friends and family

· Mobile Web browser for Internet access

· Music player

· Full messaging capabilities including Mobile IM; Mobile Email; Chat; and text, picture, and voice messaging

· 1.3 megapixel camera with Night Shot, Self Timer, Multishot and Shutter Sound selection

· Compatible with PC client for V CAST Music with Rhapsody (over-the-air downloads are not supported on the Samsung Intensity)

· Voice commands such as Voice Dial, Menu Readout, Digital Dial Readout, TXT Message Readout, Call Announcement, My Verizon, and Help

· Media Center-capable – downloadable games, ringtones, wallpapers, location-based services, such as VZ NavigatorSM, and more

· microSD™ card slot with support for up to 16 GB (card purchased separately)

Price and availability:

· The Samsung Rogue is available today for $99.99 after a $100.00 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement, and the Samsung Intensity in Charcoal Grey is available today for $29.99 after a $50.00 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. The Samsung Intensity in Flamingo Red is available beginning today exclusively online at no charge with a new two-year customer agreement. Customers will receive the rebate as a debit card that can be used anywhere debit cards are accepted.

· Customers can purchase the Samsung Rogue and Samsung Intensity in Charcoal Grey beginning today at Verizon Wireless Communications Stores or online at www.verizonwireless.com. For additional information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

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Popularity: 74% [?]

The great people at Verizon has Provided us with this one.

The RIM Blackberry Tour (9630) comes ready to use with 256mb of onboard memory with a upgradable Micro SD slot. With its 480 x 360 pixel screen it compliments the 3.2 megapixel camera/video well.

When taking this product out the box i was very surprised with the weight and how slim the phone was. The internet on this thing was amazing! Verizon 3g really does get the job done.Texting and Emailing couldnt have been easier,with the qwerty board, and the red message indicator light on the front.

The Scroll wheel on the front could not have made navigation on this easier.

On the  the left side of the device is a customizeable button which is defaulted as Voice Dailing on the right side is volume up and down, and another customizable button which is defaulted as Camera. Also on the right side is a 3.5mm headphone jack for quick hookup with your favorite headphones.

For full details of this phone check out the verizon site . The blackberry 9630 tour comes in two models one with the camera , and one without, and is $269.99 with a 2 year contract. Check out the full specs, and photos below!

Size (L x W x D): 112 x 62 x 14.2 mm
Weight: 130 grams
Memory: 256 MB internal Flash memory
Expandable Memory: microSD located under the battery door cover
Battery: 1400 mAh removable/rechargeable cryptographic lithium cell
Battery Life: TBD
Keyboard: 35 key backlit QWERTY
Display: High resolution HVGA 480×360 pixel
Camera: 3.2 MP camera, flash auto focus
GPS: Assisted, autonomous and simultaneous GPS enabled with preloaded BlackBerry Application for e911 capabilities
Media Player: Video format support MPEG4; Audio format support MP3, AAC AAC+ etc
Bluetooth: Bluetooth V2.0; mono/stereo headset, hands-free, PBAP
Headset: 3.5mm stereo headset capable
USB Port: Enables charging and high-spead data synchronization via USB “A” to micro USB “B” cable
Network Support:
Quad-band 850/900/1800/1900MHz
GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks
Single-band: 2100 MHz
UMTS/HSPA networks
Dual-Band: 800/1900 MHz
CDMA/EVDO Rev A networks

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Popularity: 23% [?]

We told you so. For a long time we’ve been talking about Android’s eventual implementation in devices well beyond phones and computers. We’ve joked about an Android Car but agree with the main concept and in actuality, its already in the works. We’ve talked about household information centers running Android and those are in the works too, with what we called Android Hub. But its all much closer than you think… as in 2009 close.

An article published on Forbes.com by Elizabeth Woyke discusses how Android is set to invade homes and it outlines the exact concepts we’ve been discussing and dreaming about since Phandroid’s inception. Only now it isn’t just a concept or idea… its products in motion that will launch later this year.

On “Remote Controls” for home devices/appliances:

The home control devices are designed to talk to major household systems, such as lights, locks, security and heating/ventilation/air conditioning (HVAC).

On home entertainment centers:

The media devices play a similar unifying role in the entertainment realm, allowing users to program their digital video recorders (DVRs), remotely control their stereo systems, and view TV listings directly on the gadget’s screen.

On Android Hub:

Touch Revolution is calling the third category of products, “smart phones for the home.” These cordless phones, meant for indoors use only, will communicate via radio waves like typical home phones or through voice-over-Internet-protocol (VoIP) on wi-fi.

Notice the company name “Touch Revolution”? These folks were talking about their NIMble Android Desk Phone way back in January and THIS is the company who is behind the latest wave of news as well. A quote from Touch Revolution founder Mark Hamblin way back from that January 2009 article foreshadows it all:

“The types of touch interfaces that started with mobile phones will become the standard for electronics devices of all sorts – in the home, at the office, in the car – virtually anywhere people directly interact with technology.  These devices will have a variety of capabilities, features, and form factors – WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth, accelerometers, haptic feedback, small screens, large screens, integrated, stand-alone, portable, … the list goes on.”

We went on to make our own list of possible household, automotive and other appliances/gadgets/tech where Android could be used and it looks like it will actually get done! The Forbes article claims all devices have touch-screens ranging in size from 4.3 to 10 inches and come with charging cradles.

 

So when and where can we expect these products?

Expect to see most of the products before the end of the year, in the U.S. and elsewhere. Brown says Touch Revolution is working with “companies with major brands” on upcoming launches. Touch Revolution provides the touch screens and Android features, encapsulated in a module. Its partners then customize the hardware and software, if they choose, and bring the product to market.

Major manufacturers… if you are listening… please jump on board with this because you’ll make me happy and yourself rich in the process. I kid you not. TouchRevolution haven’t updated their blog since that originally inspiring post but with this latest spike of interest I’m hoping they’ll be convinced to follow up with some updates.

I’m amazingly glad to see that this is still in the works and am incredibly excited to see the results of all Touch Revolution’s hard work! I hope at least one of the main mobile carriers in the US pick up the Android Hub desk phone… that would be SICK

Source: Android Phone FAN

Popularity: 20% [?]

From Samsung Website
flip qwerty keyboard
If you’re into serious messaging, you need a full QWERTY keyboard. With the Comeback™, you get all that, and more. When closed, you have a traditional numerical keypad. When flipped open, you have a QWERTY and a faster, easier way to text.

full html web browser
Take the internet with you. The Comeback’s full web browser lets you surf your favorites, check email, check your social network pages, download files and more. And since you get to see it all in landscape view, the Web will look better than ever.
ENERGY STAR®
Energy Star Logo
Powered by an ENERGY STAR® qualified adaptor for a better environment.
music player
It’s not all about messaging. Sometimes, it’s about tunes. Well, the Comeback has you covered there, too. And you can hold a lot of music, too; the microSD™ slot supports cards up to 16GB.
2.0 megapixel camera and camcorder
There’s a full 2.0 megapixel camera in the Comeback™. So you’ll be able to take great pictures anytime, anywhere. There’s even a 2.5x digital zoom. And with the camcorder, you can take great moving pictures, too.
bluetooth
Stereo Bluetooth® Wireless Technology
With a Bluetooth headset you can go hands-free and wireless. Now it’s easier than ever to carry on conversations without putting your job (or your life) on hold.

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Popularity: 64% [?]

For those who have a Palm Pre and syncing with Apple iTunes, an upgrade to 8.2.1 will break the sync edit(New Palm webOS 1.1 Updates will fix iTunes Sync) Issues(connection as Apple has decided to block the Palm Pre from using iTunes sync. According to the new software update, the new version “provides a number of important bug fixes and addresses an issue with verification of Apple devices
According to Apple,

“iTunes 8.2.1 is a free software update that provides a number of important bug fixes. It also disables devices falsely pretending to be iPods, including the Palm Pre. As we’ve said before, newer versions of Apple’s iTunes software may no longer provide syncing functionality with unsupported digital media players” Natalie Kerris, spokesperson, Apple

Palm did not have a solution for this at the moment, it advise user to stay with iTunes 8.2 if iTunes sync is needed. Otherwise, the music transfer could be done through USB connection or other third party softwares like Missing Sync and DoubleTwist.

Thanks Slashphone!

Popularity: 13% [?]

Press Release – LG Electronics (LG), a global leader and technology innovator in mobile communications, today announced the launch of the LG-GM730, its newest handset in LG’s smartphone line with advanced features that are also easy to use. This is the first smartphone to offer the new version of Windows Mobile 6.1, integrated with LG’s advanced 3D S-Class User Interface. The LG-GM730 will be on display at CommunicAsia 2009 in Singapore from June 16-19.

The LG-GM730 was designed for fast and easy operation so users can experience the latest smartphone features without spending too much time or effort with the user manual.

“Users, especially beginners, find smartphones to be too complicated for everyday tasks because of their unfamiliar and complex environments,” said Dr. Skott Ahn, CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “The combination of Windows Mobile and our new S-Class UI will make the LG-GM730 the most functional and easiest to use smartphone ever created. Starting with LG-GM730, we are introducing a new direction for phones that are smart and advanced but at the same time, user-friendly.”

“It’s great to see the extended LG and Microsoft alliance come to fruition with the launch of the stylish LG GM730 smartphone,” said Andy Lees, Senior Vice President, Mobile Communication Business, Microsoft Corp. He also added, “Combining LG’s technology and design leadership with the Windows Mobile platform has resulted in a great phone that will enable consumers to stay connected with people, information and services they care about most.”

Enhanced User Friendly Operation

LG’s S-Class UI is designed to make smartphones easier to use while still delivering the advanced, familiar capabilities of Windows Mobile. Built-around a 3D cube layout, the S-Class UI eliminates nested menus wherever possible, providing more direct access to features and applications. A simple flick of a finger rotates the cube so that any one of its five faces can be accessed instantly.

LG-GM730’s multitasking environment allows users to run a number of applications simultaneously in separate windows without having to stop one task to start another. “Cut and paste” allows users to copy content from the internet and paste it into documents or send it via email.

What makes the S-Class UI and Windows Mobile combination so easy to use is that features and applications on the LG-GM730 are so well integrated. Email, for example, is easier to set up and use because the phone’s schedule and contact lists are connected. This means users can send and receive messages using less key presses than on regular smartphones. Writing and sending an e-mail to an address already in the contact list is just one tap away. Folders from Outlook on home or office computers sync perfectly with the LG-GM730 which means the information on any device is the most current one. Push email means instant notification of incoming messages, eliminating the need to log in manually and check for new mail.

Smartphone Features in Slim and Sleek Packaging

Smartphones are known primarily as tools for business but the LG-GM730 is capable of much more. Networking on the Map Service, a navigation-based social networking service, enables users to see where their friends are while communicating in real time. Advanced multimedia features such as a 5 megapixel camera, MP3 player and numerous action-packed games make this phone a full-featured entertainment device.

The LG-GM730 incorporates LG’s signature style with a slim, seamless profile and smooth, stylish rounded edges. At just 11.9mm and highlighted by an elegant chrome band, this slim handset is the perfect on-the-go device for new as well as experienced smartphone users. Despite its small size, the LG-GM730 still manages to pack in all the essential productivity software with room to spare. This advanced mobile device is available in three colors: Black, Lime and Pale Pink.

The LG-GM730 will be available globally, with its initial launch in Asia this July. The LG-GM730’s launch coincides with the opening of LG Application Store, which expand the capabilities of LG’s smartphone

Popularity: 24% [?]