The battle rages on. Pre just got its WebOS 1.2.1 update. What does this mean? Not much if you don’t use iTunes. If you do, you can sync your pre once again. Hurry and sync it up! Apple is sure to come out with an update in the coming weeks that will once again block it. Then, a few weeks later Palm with come out with WebOS 1.2.2 that will unblock it once again. And so on, forever.
After months of rumors it looks like ATT has finally decided to roll out their femtocells in a soft launch to a few markets. Those markets include Atlanta, San Antonio, Seattle and a city or two in North Carolina.
What is a femtocell? It is a device used to extend your wireless/3G range. If you live in an area where the reception is bad then you can pick up one of these devices, hook it up to your home internet connection and get a beautifully strong 3G connection.
While this is great and all, you are having to plug this into your router, which is most likely a wireless router…. which will give you a better connection over WiFi than you will get over the femtocell 3G. Now all phones don’t have WiFi capabilities and so this is a big perk for the 3 nation wide customers few ATT customers who have a data plan with a phone that doesn’t have WiFi built in.
This should help alleviate some of the 3G load and make it a little more reliable and snappy but since the majority of 3G is eaten by iPhone users and the femtocell doesn’t really help to get iPhone users off 3G I foresee the improvements being minimal. [BGR]
AT&T has announced that they will be rolling out their 7.2Mbps HSPA 3G this year to a few markets. T-Mobile is now claiming that they will do the same–maybe they will start by rolling standard 3G out to more markets, we are still without 3G for T-Mobile where I live.
So, where do we go from here? Most carriers will soon be talking about their 4G networks however, T-Mobile is boasting their super-boosted 3G rocking out at 21Mbps.
While most carriers are doing the smart thing and dropping 3G at the 7.2Mbps barrier and moving up to 4G, T-Mobile is going to use and abuse the 3G network for as long as they can. They claim that they will be able to reach near 4G speeds in 2010. [mocoNews]
So the time comes in every quazi-techy persons life. Should I get the iPhone? Unfortunately I can’t answer that for you for less than $1,000. There are many other devices to choose from but as I believe the only real competitor that is available/soon to be available is the Omnia 2 I am going to write this post as if these are your only two options. I am not going to do a full review of either phone as I have spent alot of time discussing them but if you want more information you can read up on the 100 reason I feel you should buy an iPhone and everything you could ever want to know about the Omnia 2.
Did you read up on those? Here we go.
Since none of you actually read the info from either of those links let me catch you up to speed on the Omnia 2. Since mid summer we have been hearing rumors of the O2 and in August it was released in other countries. It is a beautiful phone. I don’t believe anyone will argue with me if I say that the Omnia 2 hardware far surpasses the iPhone in almost every department except the Omnia 2 has a resistive screen while the iPhone has a capacitive screen which is much more finger friendly. Resistive screens are the soft screens that work best with a stylus like you see on PDAs and smart phones. Capacitive screens are the hard screens seen on iPhones and a few other phones like the G1. A regular stylus won’t work with these as something conductive needs to press on the screen.
Whoa, tangent. Moving on…
Some reasons you would go with the Omnia 2 include:
That about wraps it up. If WinMo is a need for you then there isn’t really a decision for you to make, however if you want me to convince you that you don’t need Windows Mobile I can do that for you as well.
Some reasons to buy the iPhone:
Well, not to void this entire post I decided to withhold the following information from you.
I got tired of waiting. After talking to several employees of the big red I gave up. I spoke to cust srv and said I was leaving for the iPhone saying I was tired of waiting for the Omnia 2. My contract has been up for a while. I told them if I could get any info confirming that the O2 would be coming out in the next month or two I would stay with Verizon. They responded saying they couldn’t tell me anything but they “hoped that it would be out in the next couple of months”.
She asked me what the iPhone had that a BB didn’t have…. I didn’t really know how to respond to that in 10 minutes or less so I didn’t.
After taking all of the above into consideration this is the decision that I made. I ordered two iPhones last night.
I am not saying the O2 isn’t a good phone. It is beautiful and the international GSM versions I have seen have been incredible, but the forward facing camera for video conferencing was a big thing for me and since Verizon will be removing that my decision was easier.
I have said plenty good about the O2 and if I knew when I could get my hands on it and just how tainted by verizon it was I may have stuck around. But it comes down to the fact that it has been several months since we heard about the O2 and we dont have any information about it. And, now that I am with ATT I will always have the option of getting an international unlocked GSM version of it in all of its forward facing camera glory.
Everyone can make their own decision. I have said plenty about both the iPhone and Omnia 2. Here it is again:
http://www.forcatech.com//2009/07/100-reasons-to-buy-an-iphone/
http://www.forcatech.com//tag/omnia-2/
The long awaited Touch Pro2 is going to be making its appearance tomorrow. The phone boasts a 3.6 tilting screen, QWERTTY keyboard, intuitive TouchFLOW 3D user interface, and is available in any color you want it–as long as that is black. The TouchFLOW 3D user interface sits on top of Windows Mobile 6.1 OS and is designed to make it more finger friendly.
I have seen rumors around the interwebs that it will be upgradeable to WinMo 6.5 and have no doubt that this is true. With Windows Mobile 6.5 less than a month away it would be a mistake by all parties involved if the phone wasn’t upgradeable.
Key specifications and features:
Other Features:
The Touch Pro2 will be available tomorrow, September 11th, for $199.99 after the $100 mail-in rebate with a two year contract. The rebate is provided in the form of a debit card which is frustrating. Hopefully online you will be able to get it for $199 and not have to deal with the MIR, or maybe if you haggle them in the store enough–threatening to go to the iPhone–they may be able to waive it for you.
Hopefully Verizon will decide to be nice and unlock the GPS so you can use it with your non-Verizon programs like they did recently with the first generation Omnia.
Well, the bad news is that the majority of you are going to have to continue to deal with what you have got. But, if you live in the Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, or Miami area then you are in luck. AT&T has announced that by the end of this year the HSPA 7.2 network will be up and running in those areas. They claim that by the end of 2010, 19 other major markets will have HSPA available and by the end of 2011 the remaining 3G footprint will be upgraded.
Some of you have probably already noticed the 3G+ symbol on your compatible device–such as the iPhone 3GS–meaning that you are already experiencing from the “7.2Mbps” network.
There is still good news for the rest of you. Because these 3G traffic areas are moving off the old 3G network many of you will probably notice improvements in your 3G network.
This may look like the command center of a giant space station but it is in fact my future basement the Global Network Operations Center for AT&T in NJ. This is where all of the magic is made. When you make a call, and you experience the 15 seconds of silence you may think means your phone isn’t connecting to the network, but what is really happening is the call has popped up on the main screen for the employees at AT&T to decide whether or not this call will be permitted to pass through.
Seriously though, AT&T is working on increasing their network. Between streaming music and videos, browsing the web, and downloading applications. iPhone users consume way more bandwidth than the standard smartphone user. This causes a real strain on the AT&T network, not just for data. Large cities are hit particularly hard during peak times when users are most likely to be on the phone texting, or using data.
Over the next year AT&T plans to spend the majority of their $18 billion budget on upgrading and expanding to meet the demands of the 3G network. They will also be erecting an additional 2,100 cell towers across the nation. Additional upgrades include adding fiber optic connectivity to increase the speed of data delivery.
In the more immediate future AT&T/Apple has announced that the long awaited iPhone MMS is due via a software upgrade on the 25th of this month, just a few weeks away. Now iPhone users can enjoy the luxury of snapping a photo or video (for 3GS users), and texting it to their friends.
Now when will we be seeing tethering?
The GSM version of the Omnia 2 has been available for some time now. Now Amazon is listing the unlocked international version available for pre-order. Too impatient to wait for the Omnia 2 to come to your carrier and don’t mind paying an extra $500 for the phone? Here is your opportunity. I am not sure how much the Omnia II will be with a 2 year agreement when it comes to Verizon, but it definitely won’t be $500.
Again, this is for the GSM model so you won’t be able to use this with CDMA providers like Verizon.
Here are the specs:
If you really are looking to go this way you can find the Omnia 2 from other sources for a few hundred dollars less if you do some google-ing.
With all the rumors swirling around about Apple products they are we are lucky we only have 7 days left to wait.
What will we be seeing this year? Apple tablets? Apple iPods with cameras? Death to the classic iPod?(notice the headphones in the image above are plugged into the bottom of the iPod like a Touch not on top like a Classic) Will we see MMS for the iPhone in the US?
All of these questions and more answered Sept 9.
Windows Mobile 6.5 is now officially coming to us on October 6th. For more information you can read the Windows Mobile Blog. It is not a very interesting post. It is mostly just propaganda for Microsoft about how WinMo is going to be the phone OS for everyone and about how if someone is buying their first smart phone they would rather purchase a Windows phone because it is a brand they know will break down trust.
We have liked what we have seen about the mobile phone OS, but will it be as intuitive and finger friendly as we would like it to be?
This also means one of two things for Omnia 2 fans. Since the leaked info has all said that the Omnia 2 will have Windows Mobile 6.1 the phone will either come out some time in the next four weeks or it will come later and with WinMo 6.5.
Repeat after me: No unlimited data plan with Verizon is a good thing. This is what Verizon is going to be trying to convince all of their mind controlled zombies customers come September 8th–maybe.
Verizon will have a new classification of phone beginning in a week as well–”Enhanced Multimedia Phones”. Those phones will be required to pay for either the $9.99 or $19.99 per month data plans–much like how the red giant requires Blackberry devices to have a data plan.
What constitutes a phone being described as an Enhanced Multimedia Phone you ask? It has to have an HTML Web browser, EV-DO Rev. A, a QWERTY keypad, and it must launch on or after September 8th. If it doesn’t meet ALL of those requirements then it doesn’t qualify and won’t have the data plan forced upon it.
While the Omnia 2 doesn’t classify as a EMP we probably still won’t be seeing it until after this data plan switch. And what about the unlimited data plans? Will they be available for other phones? We sure hope so but it sounds like it has been thrown out the window. This will be a good change for people who occasionally check their email or browse every now and then but for power users who are constantly on the internet or who tether their phone to their laptop for internet this could be really expensive if the unlimited plan is completely done away with. [BGR]
It’s not as if we haven’t seen a fake “leaked” photo before but this one looks a little more promising. If my original assumptions were correct that we would be getting the Omnia 2 around September then this would be head on. Once the VZ warehouse has the product in their database, complete with the manufacturer code it is not long before we get to go into the store and hold one in our hands.
The Omnia 2–now with manufacturer code SCHI920DAV–should swiftly be on its way to Verizon stores now. In the photo you will notice that the quantity available is zero, but also that it was last updated on August 27 around lunch time, so anything could have happened since then.
Check back soon for updates as well as reviews of the CDMA version. [PhoneArena]
[UPDATE]: I have been told by multiple sources that the “Quantity Available = 0″ doesn’t necessarily mean that the warehouse/vz stores don’t have the O2. It could be that the warehouse has already shipped the devices out to the retail stores, or it could be that VZ doesn’t want any reps to accidentally sell the Omnia 2 and so they have the quantity listed as 0. Thanks all.
Well the day after BGR claimed the Omnia 2 would be hitting Best Buy stores we are all once again greatly disappointed by a false rumor. After stopping by a Best Buy first thing this morning and having everything I ever wanted vanish my hopes and dreams crushed we do have some hope for Verizon customers on the horizon.
Granting that this time the BGR leaked info is legit Verizon will have a whole slew of phones hitting the market in Q4 of this year.
Here’s the list(phone – release – est cost):
The much discussed Storm 2 jumps out at me first with an October release. There isn’t a price listed here for it but I would guess it we could see it for $199 if Verizon and BlackBerry was smart. With the results of their first horrible attempt it would be smart to price the phone competitively to coax those still bitter about their purchase of the first storm into giving them a second chance. As a spokesman from BlackBerry said the Storm was their first touchscreen attempt and it is “never perfect on the first try” however Apple never had a problem with their first touch screen.
The Motorola Sholes will be the first Android phone–”Google phone”–to be released on the Verizon network which we are excited to see. [BGR]
You are probably tired of hearing about the Omnia 2 considering all of these posts but here it goes.
With the–rumored–leaked release date of the August 23rd Omnia 2 release to Verizon just around the corner I decided to stop by a local Verizon retail store and sniff around.
Before walking in I really had my doubts considering we have heard nothing about the release of the device and Verizon is still keeping its mouth shut. As I walked up to the store I was almost positive that the Omnia 2 was not going to be here in the next few days.
I walked in and was immediately asked for my name and why I came in that day. I said my contract was about to run out and I was hoping to find something that would keep me from switching to the iPhone in the next month or two. The guy set the clipboard down and began to help me right away. He first walked up to the Storm and I shot him down. He hasn’t been reading my blog.
He walked me over to the first gen Omnia and the HTC Ozone and their other devices and I wasn’t impressed with any.
I asked him about the Omnia 2. I told him I had gotten to see some GSM versions of it and heard that Verizon would be getting one as well.
His words to me were, “Yes we are! I was very impressed with the phone myself but haven’t heard an official release date. However our biggest phone releases are in the 4th quarter so I would expect it this year.”
Booo! I was really hoping he would leak us some information that we weren’t already 90% sure of. Only a few more days to go and I doubt that we will be seeing the Omnia 2 any time in the next few weeks. Our only hope is that Verizon is trying to keep it a big secret to blast everyone into staying/switching to Verizon. I highly doubt this as it would have been smarter to advertise for it months ago when the Pre and iPhone 3GS were being released. I know of many who have left Verizon for the Pre as well as the 3GS.
Windows Mobile 6.5 video here from PockeNow does give Windows Mobile 6.5 some hope. Don’t get me wrong it still too closely resembles previous Windows Mobile versions that we hate with a fiery passion relied completely on the use of a stylus. Keeping in mind that this is a rough beta build of WM6.5 it does look a little more intuitive but still has alot of work to go before being as finger friendly and easy to use as the iPhone.
This photo supposedly is a from a Best Buy computer showing the arrival of several upcoming devices. The one of course that jumps out to us is the Omnia 2 scheduled to come out on August 23rd. There are some confusing things here such as the G2 Black and Red that is probably referring to the mytouch3G that is already out at T-Mobile. Also the Tour is there on the 23rd as well which is already available through Verizon and Sprint.
I doubt that this photo is legit. Through several trips to Verizon stores and speaking with 4 or 5 different reps none of them had heard of or were familiar with the Omnia 2. One of them said to me “if we knew of one coming out later this month we could let you know but as of now I don’t know that any are”. I think I am going to wait for some more legit leaks to pop up or for an official statement as to the official release date of the Omnia 2 to the Verizon network.
Here are the promised videos. PocketNow received one of the highly anticipated Samsung Omnia 2 smartphones. His model is the GSM version which he was able to use here in the US with ATT. He is even able to access 3G and 3G+ at some times.
We still have yet to see a CDMA version and when I spoke to a Verizon rep today he was totally oblivious to what I was talking about when I mentioned the Omnia 2.
The following videos are from the complete review by PocketNow all the way from the unboxing to an indepth view of the phones interface.
Here you go, more videos about the Omnia 2 than you could ever hope for.
It has only been a few days since we posted some stock pictures and some specs about the Omnia 2. We now have some more info and pictures to share. The coolest update is the Omnia 2 emulator on the Samsung website. Click on the link and check it out. Use your mouse like you would your finger. It is very intuitive for a Windows Mobile 6 overlay.
Videos coming tomorrow! For now you will have to be happy with the pictures below.
Above is a front facing photo of the Omnia from PhoneArena complete with 3.7 inch touchscreen, front facing camera and soft keys.
Here is a picture of the back side of the phone with the 5.0 megapixel camera that is capable of DVD quality video recording.
Here is a comparison of the iTouch placed next to the Omnia 2. The Omnia 2 is slightly larger top to bottom which you will really notice if you are someone who carries their phone in their pocket. For comparisons sake the iPhone 3G measures 4.5″ H x 2.4″ W x 0.48″ D and weighs 4.8 ounces . The Omnia 2 measures 4.65″ H x 2.36 “W x 0.47″ D and weighs 4.34 ounces.
This phone is now coming to GSM carriers as well as Verzion so you ATT and T-Mobile drones users are in luck.
Click on the images below for full sized versions of the Opera web browser in action, the miniUSB and 3.5mm headphone jacks as well as the front facing camera. For a complete review of the GSM model of the Omnia 2 visit PhoneArena.
The Omnia 2 has been officially announced for a Verizon release later this year. It has a 3.7 inch 480 x 800 pixel screen–largest screen ever put on a cell phone. While this is no iPhone 3GS it is a beautiful phone and has some features worth mentioning.
First the bad. It is going to come with Windows Mobile 6.1. Windows Mobile has never been a finger friendly intuitive touch screen OS like the iPhone has. Every smart phone I have ever owned or used that had Windows Mobile on it made me feel like I needed a stylus. With the iPhone it feels smoth and natural with your fingers.
It does have the Samsung TouchWiz 2.0 as you can see on the left side in the picture above but it is still just sitting on top of WM6. There will be the option to upgrade to WM6.5 which is suppose to be much more finger friendly.
One of the features that initially jumped out at me was the forward facing camera at the top left corner of the screen in the above picture. This with 3G or Wi-Fi and a program like Skype would allow you to video conference with a friend.
We don’t know much about the phone right now–Verizon is limiting the amount of info that Samsung can release now but here is what we do know:
For those trapped by the Verizon regime using Verizon who don’t have the option to get an iPhone this phone could be a good way to hold you over for a few years until the iPhone comes to Verizon if you want to get an iPhone with Verizon and pay more per month.
There isn’t an official release date yet but we can expect this phone to hit Verizon stores later this year.
The Google Voice iPhone app gave users the ability to use some advanced features of Google Voice right from their phone as well as call out using their Google Voice number. Earlier this week Apple/ATT disabled the App claiming that it imitated some of the functions of the iPhone.
Now the FCC is trying to find out why things happened the way they did. The FCC has sent letters to Apple, ATT and Google asking for details.
You can see those letters here at TechCruch.
ATT has been the first to respond saying that they have nothing to do with the App store and will “of course” respond to the FCC letter anyway.
