The new HTC Touch (“Diamond” for Verizon and “Pro” for Sprint) won’t be equal on all carriers. PhoneArena.com secured an internal comparison document from Sprint detailing the higher level specs for their side. Granted, not all specs are better for Sprint, but the RAM is at half for Verizon, something not likely to help performance.
Sprint releases the HTC Touch Pro on September 2, 2008.
Sprint has finally rolled out a new software update for the Samsung Instinct. Too bad they don’t push a message out to let you know it’s available. Instead you’ll have to go to Settings –> General –> Update Software. Pretty easy.
This isn’t the BIG update with lots of fixes that I’d hope for, but it’s setting the ground work so that can be rolled out in August or September. There are still a few fixes to get us going though. Here are the details from BAW:
Sprint released an initial update to the Instinct today. This update will not change the behaviours of many of the applications. What it does is update the Samsung ROM - the base code that the applications run on - to prepare the device for application updates starting early in August. Some of the issues fixed include:
* Elimination of issues by where data services are disabled without user preference
* Elimination of NAI corruption upon provisioning if new NAI is shorter than the previous
* Reflect reoccurring calendar appointments
* Improved volume – Bluetooth headsets
* Utilize saved pictures as background image
* Reduce fluctuation in signal bar and other functions related to RF/Network quality
* Eliminate “echo” on conference bridge
The application updates coming in August will make changes to Picture Mail, the web browser, Sprint TV, Sprint Navigation, Sprint Email, Sprint Music Store, Visual Voicemail, Mobile Sync and more. Today’s update prepares the device for these updates.
I just finished installing the update without issue. I’d highly recommend you go ahead and do this for your Instinct as well.
CrackBerry.com has snagged a couple of in-use photos of the upcoming BlackBerry Thunder. The photos show off the keyboard style touchscreen mode in both landscape and portrait.
Everything looks pretty good except for the questionable use of “Comic Sans” as the font style there for “Title”. Ugh.
The latest photos of the BlackBerry Thunder in action this time were captured by BlackBerrySync.com and show off the 360×480 touch display CDMA iClone. Looks like it could be a solid multimedia phone on top of what BlackBerry is known so well for.
Despite Sprint’s best attempts to not sell me a phone (sat in the “next to be helped” chair for 45 mins) I walked out of the store with the brand spanking new Samsung Instinct. A full review will come later, but my initial thoughts are the touch screen is fairly responsive once you learn the right place to touch icons and the integrated data features are awesome. I’m digging the “find the cheapest premium gas along my route home” feature.
You can expect a more detailed review as I get a chance to go through it. For those not on the Instinct’s mailing list, you can pick one up in stores on Friday (June 20th).
*Update*: Not cool. Despite being press released as having the feature of “phone as modem (PAM)”, it in fact, does not. When I went through the installation process with all the software there is a “Connection Manager” option, one of the 3 sw packages. But guess what, try and install it and you get this message: click to enlarge
Looks like Sprint is getting desperate, but hey, that’s fine with this guy. The Samsung Instinct got yet another price drop after the first one that sent it down to $199. Now there will be an additional $70 drop to $130. I’ve seen comments that this price will be rebate free, but I’d be surprised if that were true.
Sprint is taking it one step further and offer an early release to those who signed up for email notifications. Wednesday afternoon Sprint emailed out a pdf file that you could print and take in to the stores on Thursday and walk out with your Instinct a day early. Interested? Click over to PhoneNews for the pdf and enjoy!
Earlier today the news came in that Sprint was dropping the price of their upcoming Samsung Instinct from $299 to $199 to keep up with the price reduction on the new 3G iPhone. The real price of the phone starts at $449 but with the new $100 rebate and a new 2yr agreement it reaches the new $199 price point.
As noted earlier, Instinct users will be required to purchase a Simply Everything plan from Sprint starting at $69.99 and going up to $99.99. Interested in picking up the Instinct when it hits shelves next Friday (6/20/08) and you have a Family Plan? Not so fast, says Sprint.
I called in and spoke with Sprint today about the plan options and discovered that if you’re transitioning from a Family Plan to an Everything Plan to get the Samsung Instinct you’ll need to switch to multiple plans. The cheapest option would be to add a roughly $40 line to your $70 minimum Everything Plan. Grrr…
Not so fast, says Sprint again. Starting Monday, June 16th 2008, Sprint will be introducing a new Family Everything Plan. While no specific pricing was revealed I’m assuming, based on previous data, that Sprint will charge $10 per additional line to the base Everything Plan. However, considering Everything’s tend to use, well, everything Sprint may decide to increase the “add a line” cost to this option.
Thankfully my plans to pick up the Samsung Instinct on Friday have been saved, because honestly, if I had to go from a $70 shared plan to a $140 to get the Instinct, I would have passed. Good thinking, Sprint.
Update: Sprint put out the details for their new plans and it’s not that improved, but it is “simplified” which is what they said they wanted. The cheapest shared “everything” plan will be $130 for two lines. If you want to have 2 lines with one on “everything” and the other as just a basic talk plan then you’ll be back at $70 for the “everything” and $40 for the basic plan for a $110 total.
I’m very disappointed that Sprint won’t let you add a basic talk to an “everything” plan for $10/line like you used to be able to do with regular family plans.
Looks like Sprint is getting desperate, but hey, that’s fine with this guy. The Samsung Instinct got yet another price drop after the 