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iLounge tracks Sidekick 3's cosmetic changes
iLounge has run a report on the various aesthetics and exterior feature changes of the recently released Sidekick 3 from T-Mobile. Top on the list is the user-replaceable battery that is essential for frequent travelers, an overhauled keyboard featuring hard plastic keys that make typing a breeze. The right wheel on the Sidekick 2 was replaced by a new high-speed trackball that makes navigation fast and easy. Hopefully it will last for quite some time before it requires any servicing. The overall size has become narrower and taller, following most handset phones, but its still quite unpocketable. Overall the Sidekick 3’s cosmetic changes offers a vast improvement, making it a very viable buy.
T-Mobile is said to be rolling out the Sidekick 4G this coming April 20th over at RadioShack, where this Samsung-manufactured device will feature the QWERTY keyboard that has long been a signature piece of hardware for its precedessors. T-Mobile has obviously moved on from the Danger operating system to Google’s Android 2.2 Froyo, and it remains to be seen whether there will be a Gingerbread update lined up sometime down the road or not. Apart from that, we do know that the Sidekick 4G will play nice with T-Mobile’s 4G network (obviously, by its naming convention), which is capable of a theoretical peak download speed of up to 21Mbps. Hardware-wise, the T-Mobile Sidekick 4G will come with a 3.5″ touchscreen display, a 1GHz Cortex A8 Hummingbird processor, and a VGA front-facing camera for T-Mobile Video Chat. Would you part with a Benjamin for the Sidekick 4G on a two-year contract?
[MWC] Microsoft made a live announcement today over at 3GSM about their acquisition of mobile software and Sidekick company Danger for an undisclosed amount of dough. Danger will be added to Microsoft’s mobile branch. Does this mean a Windows Mobile Sidekick is on its way? We don’t see why not. Can Microsoft ruin the Sidekick? We don’t see why not. Can they finally have their own phone manufacturing shtick on the rise despite Ballmer’s disapproval (ahem…Zune phone)? We most likely don’t see why not. [Press Release]
If you’ve been having some problems with AIM on your Sidekick, don’t worry, you aren’t alone. Danger, AOL, and T-Mobile have all already acknowledged there is an issue, though halt there. Mentioning no date of when we can expect a resolution.
The problem results in IM’s being delayed, sent out of sequence, or not even sent through at all. T-Mobile says the problem is an AOL issue, though AOL doesn’t confirm or deny this is the case. The issue affects all current Sidekick devices. While T-Mobile usually makes good on fixing issues quickly, AOL might have other plans up their sleeves.