July 2, 2009

Engadget Mobile

Engadget Mobile

TerreStar launches ginormous satellite in preparation for service

Posted: 02 Jul 2009 05:19 PM PDT

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If you want data service on your phone positively, absolutely anywhere you happen to be in the US or Canada, this one's for you: TerreStar just successfully launched its aptly-named TerreStar-1 satellite, which just happens to be the largest commercial satellite ever deployed. This dovetails perfectly with news that the upstart satphone provider is partnering with AT&T to offer service later this year, presumably with a variant of that sweet little Elektrobit WinMo piece we had a chance to check out a few months back. Cost could be a concern, but it should be cheaper than the problem-plagued Iridium back when it launched -- and hybrid HSPA capability is a major win, too.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

TerreStar launches ginormous satellite in preparation for service originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG eyes number two phone maker spot for 2012, premium brand in the works

Posted: 02 Jul 2009 03:25 PM PDT

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Sitting pretty as the number three cell maker in the world would make many of the bigger names happy -- not to mention the usurped Sony Ericsson and Motorola a bit green -- but not LG, as it's now gunning for spot number two. In an interview with Yonhap, LG's president of its mobile business, Ahn Seung-kwon, stated that the company hoped to bump Samsung to the wayside by 2012 with the help of a serious new set and a premium brand. While the gaudiness of really expensive handsets disturbs us at times, we'll admit that mention that LG's looking at a foray into the über high end of the spectrum -- with the likes of Nokia's Vertu -- piques our curiosity a good deal. And what about that serious new set we mentioned? Apparently in Q4 of this year, LG will launch a new Black Label-branded device to compete directly with iPhone, which when coupled with dreams of more success from yet another Prada device (and if we're super fortunate, some more Transformers-branded stuff) is part of the master scheme to start down the path. Will they crack it? Well, if we were betting types, we'd lean towards not likely as long as the Samsung juggernaut's standing in the way -- but we're all for watching them try.

LG eyes number two phone maker spot for 2012, premium brand in the works originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone facing potential trademark issues in China?

Posted: 02 Jul 2009 01:34 PM PDT

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Apple's on-again, off-again deal with China Unicom to officially bring the iPhone to China may still be up in the air, but it looks like it could now also be facing some trademark issues that could potentially further hold up its release. Apparently, China's Hanwang Technology owns the trademark for "i-phone" in the country, which could force Apple to make a deal with 'em before it enters the market (sound familiar?). Interestingly, Apple does actually own an "iPhone" trademark in China, but it apparently only covers computer hardware and software, while Hanwang's trademark covers mobile phones. According to Hanwang, however, the two aren't actually in talks just yet, and it's not saying what it plans to do if Apple decides to go crazy and announce a move into China without its blessing.

[Via mocoNews.net]

iPhone facing potential trademark issues in China? originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BluAnt Wireless' S1 speakerphone reviewed, is well liked

Posted: 02 Jul 2009 12:33 PM PDT

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BluAnt, maker of many fine Bluetooth accessories launched the S1in the recent past and CNET's taken some moments to review it. Sure, we've seen gazillions of speakerphones that attach to the visor in your car but this one adds a fairly low price -- roughly $69 -- A2DP support for streaming your tunes, voice answering, and multipoint connectivity to the mix. CNET liked the price, tiny size, and the call quality, but were down on the volume rocker's stiffness, and the fact that S1 doesn't announce the incoming caller's info. We're all for music streaming and answering a call by speaking to it, but if you drive a convertible, you may want to look for something in the higher end that'll handle all the wind noise.

BluAnt Wireless' S1 speakerphone reviewed, is well liked originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple patching nasty iPhone SMS vulnerability

Posted: 02 Jul 2009 11:01 AM PDT

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Given the hype surrounding Apple's iPhone, we're actually surprised that we haven't seen more holes to plug over the years. In fact, the last major iPhone exploit to take the world by storm happened right around this time two years ago, and now -- thanks to OS X security expert Charlie Miller -- we're seeing yet another come to light. Over at the SyScan conference in Singapore, Mr. Miller disclosed a hole that would let attackers "run software code on the phone that is sent by SMS over a mobile operator's network in order to monitor the location of the phone using GPS, turn on the phone's microphone to eavesdrop on conversations, or make the phone join a distributed denial of service attack or a botnet." Charlie's planning to detail the vulnerability in full at the upcoming Black Hat conference, but Apple's hoping to have it all patched up by the end of this month.

[Via HotHardware]

Apple patching nasty iPhone SMS vulnerability originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC Hero hits FCC with US 3G

Posted: 02 Jul 2009 08:54 AM PDT

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No mention was made of a Hero with 3G that'd work on Rogers or AT&T back at its announcement a few days ago, but HTC has been getting awfully good at making phones that work properly around these parts -- so we can't say we're entirely surprised to see a Hero approved for WCDMA on Bands II and V gracing the FCC today. For the record, Bands II and V are 1900 and 850MHz, respectively, which is exactly the combo AT&T subscribers would need to flip the switch on high-speed data. We're not sure if this negates rumors that the Hero would be coming to Sprint, but if we can just get this version released and in our hands, you know... maybe our minds would be operating with a little more clarity.

HTC Hero hits FCC with US 3G originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ovi Maps graduates from beta

Posted: 02 Jul 2009 08:20 AM PDT

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Following a beta kickoff late last year, Ovi Maps -- the latest iteration of Nokia Maps -- is now final and ready for download. It's a pretty big upgrade from the product it replaces, bringing 3D landmarks, higher-resolution satellite imagery available in both 2D and 3D modes, a wider variety of point-of-interest information for destinations, integrated weather forecasts, enhanced pedestrian and automotive turn-by-turn navigation modes, and -- a biggie for yankees -- real-time traffic information for the US. It's a big, worthwhile spec bump, and by our count, it's currently compatible with 26 S60-based Nokia devices; owners of some recent phones (the E51, for example) will be disappointed to see that they're being left behind in the old Nokia Maps realm, but who knows -- maybe some sweet-talking (or fit-throwing) would help the situation.

Ovi Maps graduates from beta originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Telcel launching Pantech C570 slider with preloaded Paty Cantu content

Posted: 02 Jul 2009 06:31 AM PDT

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Celebrity tie-ins are always a surefire way to put a little more oomph behind the launch of an otherwise bland handset, and in Mexico, carrier Telcel is doing exactly that to celebrate the launch of its latest Pantech piece. The C570 is a pretty basic GSM phone with some stylish color accents, FM radio with RDS, and dedicated music controls, but what immediately turns up the interest knob by a notch or two is that they've hooked up with local star Paty Cantu to preload the phone with artist content. Further helping the handset's street cred as a music phone is the fact that it's also got a 3.5mm jack, a remote with yet another set of music controls, and microSD expansion up to 8GB -- but with the brooding expression on Paty's face here, we can't rightfully say we're sure whether she's delighted, horrified, ambivalent, or utterly unaware of the offering.

Telcel launching Pantech C570 slider with preloaded Paty Cantu content originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola's Aura Celestial Edition soon taking "giant leaps" for "mankind"

Posted: 02 Jul 2009 06:21 AM PDT

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Here's a fact: the world really doesn't need another mildly tweaked Aura. Sorry, it just doesn't. That being true and all, we're still pretty jazzed to see Motorola giving the ultra-luxurious handset another go with the moon-themed Celestial Edition. Word on the street has it that this here handset won't deviate much from the predecessor, but it will come pre-loaded with multimedia from the original moon landing mission, a laser etched quote honoring the 40th anniversary of the journey and a price tag that's far, far beyond stratospheric. We're told that it's all set to go on sale next month, but good luck finding one.

[Via phoneArena]

Motorola's Aura Celestial Edition soon taking "giant leaps" for "mankind" originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toshiba's TG01 outed on Orange UK

Posted: 02 Jul 2009 04:41 AM PDT

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Well, well, there it is. The world's first and only Snapdragon phone available for retail, Toshiba's TG01, is up and dancing on Orange's UK site with a "coming soon" badge. Soon meaning the July 9th London press event, presumably, where this 9.9-mm slate running WinMo on a 4.1-inch 800x480 pixel display should get a shove out the retail door. Yes, Windows Mobile 6.1, why do you ask?

[Via CoolSmartPhone]

Toshiba's TG01 outed on Orange UK originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung's SCH-W760 with infrared video conferencing is ready for your parole hearing

Posted: 02 Jul 2009 01:18 AM PDT

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We get it. Sometimes, not often, but sometimes when you're staring into the sad abyss of an empty Tennessee fifth, the idea of initiating an impromptu video conference in total darkness seems mighty compelling. That's where Samsung's SCH-W760 with 7.2Mbps HSDPA and front-facing infrared camera can help. It's available now in Korea and could be the difference between making a solo bed-spin performance or 3- to 6-months served at county for violating your restraining order. The choice is yours for KRW580,000 or about 445 of the green stuff.

Samsung's SCH-W760 with infrared video conferencing is ready for your parole hearing originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 03:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Omnia II coming to Austria in September, WinMo 6.5 included

Posted: 02 Jul 2009 12:57 AM PDT

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Samsung's already committed to offering Windows Mobile 6.5 upgrades to Omnia IIs released with 6.1, but just how necessary is that commitment going to end up being in practice? Microsoft's Austrian outpost has announced that the Korean company's latest WinMo superphone will be launching in the domestic market in September with 6.5 already installed -- suggesting that at least some of these handsets in other markets around the world could be coming out of the gate in the same configuration. It also raises new questions about the market launch for 6.5 on a broader scale; we've always known it'd be hitting toward the end of 2009, but we've never gotten an exact date out of anyone for retail availability -- presumably because it has as much to do with manufacturer partners' plans as it does Microsoft's. We're not saying the Austrian Omnia II will be the first WinMo 6.5 retail device anywhere, but at this point, it's looking likely that this'll be in the first wave.

[Via WMExperts, TamsPPC, and wmpoweruser, thanks Daniel M.]

Samsung Omnia II coming to Austria in September, WinMo 6.5 included originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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3 UK launches Nokia N97, Skype calling's a go

Posted: 01 Jul 2009 08:24 PM PDT

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3 UK has thrown the N97 up on its site, so let the Nokia N97 orders begin. Of course, 3's "free calling" is plastered all over the N97's order page, so if you're a Skype fan, or an existing customer enjoying all that free calling, you'll still feel at home. Pricing on this do-it-all bad-boy is £free as long as you're willing to fork out £35 plus per month for the privilege. If you're more of a pay as you go type, fear not, you can still grab the N97, but it'll cost you somewhere in the £319 range. The website lists July 3rd as the earliest shipping date if you grab at it today, so quit reading and start ordering.

[Via Unwired View]

3 UK launches Nokia N97, Skype calling's a go originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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at 5:04 PM