Windows Mobile Louisville

Here is a great writeup from Engadget, which summarizes just about everything known about Windows Phone 7 at this point in time.

Ian Husk learned today that PPC Techs has the WriteSHIELD in stock for the Touch Pro2 - they just haven’t placed it on their website yet! 

If you want to get one for your device before they get the product posted to their site, just call them at 888-301-2595, or if you prefer, you can order the Touch Pro screen protector of your liking (Anti-Glare or Crystal Clear), and add in the notes that you really need the Touch Pro2 version.

 Or you can just wait for them to update their site!  I would hope that wouldn’t take too long! :)

Alright! The last of the major U.S. Carriers has officially announced their version of the Touch Pro2 (called the Tilt 2) as well as the HTC Pure (the Diamond 2): 

The HTC PURE is available at AT&T retail stores nationwide and online at www.wireless.att.com for $149.99. The HTC Tilt 2, will be available in the following weeks for $299.99. (For the HTC PURE, pay $199.99 and receive $50 mail-in-rebate, for the HTC Tilt 2, pay $349.99 and receive a $50 mail-in-rebate. Two-year agreement on a minimum $69.99 plan required.)

Verizon users can now join the happy bandwagon along with T-Mobile and Sprint customers, availing themselves to the HTC Touch Pro2 as early as Friday!

The Touch Pro2 will be available for $199.99 (after a $100 mail-in rebate) with a new two-year customer agreement on a voice plan with an e-mail feature or e-mail plan. 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.

Beginning Friday Sept 11, customers can order the HTC Touch Pro2 online, in business sales channels and in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores. For additional information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

As with the HTC Snap, Verizon has undercut Sprint by $50 for the Touch Pro2.  Time will tell if Sprint will budge on their $349 price (with new 2-yr contract).  I’m guessing not - Sprint’s plans are generally more affordable, so it balances out in the wash.

Regardless, it’s great to see the TP2 out on another carrier!

The Sprint Touch Pro2 is due to be released right after Labor Day, so to whet everyone’s appetite, Sprint has posted tutorials, videos and the device user guide on their site.

There have been countless unboxing videos and hands-on reviews of the Touch Pro2 available to see online, but nothing quite compares to being able to hold a device in your hand, to compare it to your current device in weight and size, to run it through it’s paces in the way you would use it.

I had that opportunity last night at the one T-Mobile store in Louisville that currently has a display unit available to play with (most locations have them to sell, but oddly, not out for display).   Being a Sprint customer, I know the T-Mobile version has some cosmetic differences, but for the most part, it’s the same device that will be coming to Sprint in early September (and to Verizon and AT&T soon thereafter).  I will be ordering my Touch Pro2 online from Sprint, so I’m glad I had this opportunity to physically handle one before buying.  It put to rest any concerns I had about size, and reaffirmed to me that the Touch Pro2 is definitely my next device! 

It feels solid, the screen is gorgeous, and it really doesn’t feel big at all in the hand - granted, if you have small hands, you might think differently, but to the average hand, it feels great.  I’m not going to go into great detail on device specifics - like I said, there are countless reviews and videos already out there - but if you’re in the Louisville area, I encourage you to visit the T-Mobile store at the intersection of Outer Loop and Preston Hwy and check out the device for yourself.  And perhaps we might see one at our August meeting?  Who knows!

Two more shots after the break…

(more…)

Word on the street has it that both Verizon and Sprint’s upcoming Touch Pro 2 — aka “Rhodium” — are getting closer to launch. Evidently the ROM has been finalized and is ready to ship:

• RUU_Rhodium_W_VERIZON_WWE_1.16.605.1_RS_1.71WV_NV_VZW_1.38_0505_PRL58002_Ship_PPST
• RUU_Rhodium_W_Sprint_WWE_1.21.651.3_RS_1.96WF_NV_S PCS_1.42_0430_PRL60652_Ship.exe

With the ROMs locked down, it seems more about dotting their i’s and crossing their t’s now, specifically time-to-market, FCC, packaging, production, etc. One thing looks certain: Verizon and Sprint are both racing to get this out at the same time.

Here are the radio frequencies available for this CDMA/GSM world phone on both carriers:

• GSM; GPRS; EDGE; CDMA;UMTS-HSUPA 2Mbps; CDMA2000-1xRTT; CDMA2000-1xEVDO; CDMA2000-1xEVDOrA RL-1.8M,FL-3.1M

Looking pretty sweet.  Verizon, along with its HTC “WhiteStone” device, is poised to make one heck of a WM splash in the next few months.

Source: WM Experts

I just had to chuckle when I read an article in the LA Times this morning, which had the following headline: “Apple’s latest iPhone has powerful flaw - High-tech tools tax battery’s short life“.

Seems users are suddenly realizing that having all the bells & whistles on a device does indeed suck the battery dry.  We Windows Phone users have known that for years, but we have a solution to the problem: user-replaceable batteries!  Apple’s recommendation is to turn off things such as the 3G connection to help the device last throughout the day.  Oh, that’s a wonderful solution!

But if Steve says there will be no user-replaceable battery, then there will be no user-replaceable battery!  End of argument!

Enjoy, 3GS users!  :)

Discuss it here.

I for one am looking forward to getting the Touch Pro 2 when it is released on Sprint, though the actual release date is still very much rumor.  There are dates ranging from June/July to November at this point!

I have read and watched several hardware/software reviews of the Touch Pro 2 and have compiled a list of some things that are worth knowing if you are a Touch Pro owner considering the upgrade:

Hardware

• According to reviews, the battery life appears worse than the original Touch Pro, despite having a larger battery (likely due to screen size)
• It weighs 13g more than Touch Pro (but doesn’t seem to be an issue)
• It is taller and wider than the original Touch Pro, but it is thinner
• The stylus is not magnetic
• The keyboard is more ergonomic, with staggered, spaced out & larger keys (but Ctrl and Tab keys are missing)
• The camera has no flash (it is replaced by a mute button)
• Massive 3.6″ screen dwarfs the Touch Pro screen and has higher resolution
• Soft-reset button is hidden under the battery cover (that is just plain stupid)

Software

• TouchFLo 3D works better in Landscape
• There is an improved Text Messaging interface
• There is a Unified Communication Screen - when in that screen, you can see all emails, calls and Facebook info for that particular person.
• The calendar integrates with weather
• Screen rotation is much faster
• There is a Push Internet feature, where you can set up web pages to pre-load
• Conference Call feature
• The device should be eligible for a free WM 6.5 upgrade once available

Have some things you want to add? Discuss it here!
 

Engadget, WM Experts, PocketNow and various other sites are reporting that Sprint is VERY close to releasing the Touch Pro 2.  Here is a shot of the device, complete with Sprint logo:

If rumors are correct, the Sprint Touch Pro 2 will be released in June, which, if true, would beat T-Mobile by a month, making them the first U.S. carrier to release this much-anticipated device!  Word has it this device will also be a World Version, meaning it will have a SIM slot available to use when abroad. 

The Palm Pre has been confirmed as being released in early June, so this would make a nice one-two punch for Sprint, particularly since version 3 of the iPhone is anticipated this summer.  Sprint needs all the tricks it can possibly pull out of the bag at this point, since they’ve been losing subscribers steadily.

As for Verizon, heck, they only just recently released the HTC Diamond (version 1) with no mention of the Touch Pro (version 1), so I would anticipate they will release the Touch Pro 2 in February 2011 or so!  :)  Sorry VZW users!