Well, now we know what Toshiba was up to when it released that wacky G450 HSDPA modem / cellphone hybrid — it was an overt challenge to see if even the silliest products would be copied by the Shenzhen KIRF outfits. A challenge that’s been met with vigor, it seems: check out the “M688″ here, which has all of the G450’s useless control layout with even less functionality — it can’t be used as a modem. $66 is all it takes to convince your friends you’ve totally lost it. [Thanks, Drew] Filed under: Cellphones Keepin’ it real fake, part CXCII: the Toshiba G450, for some reason originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Mar 2009 03:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read

Ross Rubin contributes Switched On , a column about consumer technology. Apple may be right that the benefits of multitasking do not outweigh its costs at this point, and the company will address at least some of the needs that have traditionally been met with background apps via its reworked push service and in-app e-mail due to launch this summer. However, the rationale presented at the iPhone OS 3.0 event this week against background apps is an incomplete argument at best. First, let’s turn back to when Apple first announced that the iPhone would not support background applications at WWDC last June . Apple’s Scott Forstall showed a screen shot of Windows Mobile’s busy Task Manager noting, “This is nuts.” He pointed out how background applications consume cycles, sandbagging performance, and consume battery life. But since when does Apple accept that Microsoft’s implementation of something is the last word

Looking for a weekend DIY project? Using a 26-key ButtonShield keyboard module and salvaging parts from his Open Source GameBoy project, Liquidware Antipasto blogger intheblitz has created the OpenBerry, a Arduino -based mobile messenger that’s maybe one-half part BlackBerry and seven parts great icebreaker at parties (the kind of parties we go to, at least). Right now the functionality is minimal — it sends and receives messages synced to your laptop via a XBee module. The interface is also lacking, but a GUI is in apparently the works. See the device for yourself in the video after the break. Continue reading OpenBerry DIY messenger heavy on style, won’t replace your smartphone Filed under: Cellphones , Misc.

Look out, Palm — you’ve got what’s apt to be a formidable opponent creeping right up on your next big thing . A frustratingly vague FCC filing has just appeared, which details (if you can even call it that) an elusive new HTC CEDA200 smartphone that’s apparently portrait-styled, Windows Mobile-powered and ready to rock on a (gasp!) CDMA network. The filing clearly asks the dear ole FCC to hold photos until July 30th, which lines right up with that Q2 launch date we’ve heard about for a so-called HTC Cedar (or Willow ). Obviously, it’s too early to tell just yet if this is that very phone, but either way, you can count on something good from HTC crossing the CDMA airwaves in the not-too-terribly-distant future. Filed under: Cellphones HTC Cedar portrait-style WinMo smartphone for CDMA hits FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:30:00 EST

Is there a better way to ring in the first day of spring than with another lawsuit aimed at Apple and AT&T? Probably, but apparently not for Damone Dickerson, who has filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey that again takes aim at the pair over allegedly misleading claims about 3G speeds. According to Dickerson, he has only be able to connect to the 3G network a “fraction of the time,” and when he was able to connect it did not provide “full and continual service.” As a result, he’s leveled a whole host of charges against the two companies, which he hopes will result in them changing their advertising and, of course, allow him to “recover compensatory, statutory and punitive damages .” No word from Apple or AT&T, naturally, but Apple has recently asked that a similar case in New York be dismissed. Filed under: Cellphones Apple, AT&T get sued for misleading 3G claims, again originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .

Things just aren’t going well for Sony Ericsson at the moment: hot on the heels of rumors that Ericsson might be looking to split out , the partnership’s cautioning investors that first quarter sales are down some 50 percent. That translates to a loss of between €340 and €390 million, which we’re guessing will translate to somewhere around $500 million — sadly even worse than last quarter, when the outfit lost $247 million . SE blames the poor showing on “weak consumer demand,” but we’d say it has more to do with a lineup of phones that alway seem to be too little, too late — let’s hope those planned Android phones make an appearance soon. Filed under: Cellphones Sony Ericsson says first quarter sales down 50%, $500m loss expected originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 13:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read

YouTube has stepped up their mobile efforts by delivering a streamlined version of their app that is up to 90% faster and optimized for most WinMo and Symbian Series 60 devices. This 90% figure means much faster starting up, searching and video loading. The video quality is also automatically optimized for your 3G or Wi-Fi network. If you are using a Nokia/ Symbian 60 device, YouTube has provided the following compatibility list: 5320 XpressMusic, 5630 XpressMusic, 5700 XpressMusic, 5730 XpressMusic, 6110 Navigator, 6120 classic, 6121 classic, 6124 classic, 6290, 6650, 6710 Navigator, 6720 classic, E51, E55, E63, E66, E71, E75, E90, N76, N79, N81, N81 8GB, N82, N85, N86 8MP, N95, N95 8GB For those that are interested, the app can be downloaded directly from http://m.youtube.com. [ YouTube via PicturePhoning via TG Daily ]

Palm’s third quarter earnings report for 2009 has dropped, and it’s looking pretty rough for the old boys. The company posted a net loss of $95 million dollars in the quarter, and sold 482,000 units where it sold 833,000 in the same quarter last year. Palm’s total earnings for the quarter fell 71 percent over last year, from $312 million to just $90.6 million. Palm stock fell a net 53 cents quarter over quarter, though it’s made some recent significant gains . CEO Ed Colligan was quick to point out, however, that its much-touted and anxiously awaited Pre (with the new webOS ) is on target for its release date in the “second quarter.” The heat is officially on

Intel just got finished telling us how great its Atom Z5xx series of chips were, in flavors ranging from 1.1 to 1.86GHz, and how they only needed a miserly 2.2 watts or less of power. They weren’t good enough, apparently, as there are two new members now joining the ranks. First is the Z550, featuring a clock speed of 2.0GHz while still using less than 2.4 watts. Also new is the more frugal Z515, with a dynamic clock speed ranging between 800MHz and 1.33GHz to suit you whether you’re playing Solitare or watching Survivor re-runs. These chips too seem destined for mobile phones and MIDs, but we wouldn’t be surprised if Sony releases a (slightly) speedier VAIO P packing a Z550 — and then refuses to import it to the States. [Via Pocketables ] Filed under: Misc.

Autonet Mobile just notched another one in its belt by scoring a deal to hook GM’s Cadillac CTS up with integrated WiFi. Starting this April, folks who splurge on one of these sports sedans will be treated to WiFi (a $499 dealer-installed option) in the car, and best of all, it uses a new, smaller router than can be easily transferred to another vehicle that’s equipped with an identical dock. The agreement is a first for Caddy and also the first luxury brand that Autonet Mobile has managed to invade. ‘Tis a shame that monthly subscription still starts at $29 — we get the feeling that even the affluent won’t much care for that. [Via Gadling ] Filed under: Transportation , Wireless Autonet Mobile bringing WiFi to Cadillac CTS sports sedan originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 06:59:00 EST