Touch Diamond XV6950 finally hitting Verizon next month?

It's sort of baffling that Verizon Wireless has yet to launch HTC's now aged Touch Diamond, and honestly, we're not even sure that late is better than never in this scenario. While Sprint has had the thing out for a good while now, Big Red has been lallygagging around while staring aimlessly at those spectacular BlackBerry Storm sales figures. Now, phoneArena has it that the XV6950 could finally be arriving on the carrier's airwaves next month, and while it has yet to be confirmed, we're hearing that it shouldn't vary from the Sprint edition in terms of specs -- something that conflicts with information we heard about a century ago. At any rate, we'd ask you to just be patient here, but chances are you're already over this thing, anyway.

Touch Diamond XV6950 finally hitting Verizon next month?

It's sort of baffling that Verizon Wireless has yet to launch HTC's now aged Touch Diamond, and honestly, we're not even sure that late is better than never in this scenario. While Sprint has had the thing out for a good while now, Big Red has been lallygagging around while staring aimlessly at those spectacular BlackBerry Storm sales figures. Now, phoneArena has it that the XV6950 could finally be arriving on the carrier's airwaves next month, and while it has yet to be confirmed, we're hearing that it shouldn't vary from the Sprint edition in terms of specs -- something that conflicts with information we heard about a century ago. At any rate, we'd ask you to just be patient here, but chances are you're already over this thing, anyway.

HTC Magic is official, bringing Android to Vodafone sans keyboard

Vodafone just scooped planet Earth with the first touchscreen-only Android phone: HTC's Magic. All the specs look to line up with what was rumored, with a 3.2-inch QVGA screen front and center (that resolution might be a typo, HVGA seems more likely), HDSPA, GPS, 3.2 megapixel camera (no flash), and a G1-style trackball. Details on pricing and availability will be unveiled for local Vodafone markets as they see fit, but pricing in Spain will be from 99 to 199 Euro, depending on contract. Initial markets to nab the phone will be UK (due in April), Spain, Germany, France and Italy, with more countries to follow, and the phone will be a timed exclusive with Vodafone. Crazily enough, the phone has a proprietary headphone jack, proving once and for all that HTC doesn't like you, but at least this one will ship with a touchscreen keyboard out of the gate.
Update: We have confirmation that the device is indeed HVGA like the G1 before it, that's a typo on the original press release. More detailed specifications after the break.

• Processor: Qualcomm MSM7201a, 528MHz.
  
• Memory: 512MB ROM, 192MB RAM.
  
• Dimensions: 4.45 x 2.17 x 0.45-inches.
  
• Weight: 4.18 ounces with battery.
  
• Network: HSPA/WCDMA 900 / 2100MHz (no love for the States) with 2Mbps up, 7.2Mbps down; quad-band GSM / GPRS / EDGE 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900MHz.
  
• Display: 3.2-inch TFT-LCD HVGA 480x320
  
• Connectivity: Bluetooth, WiFi, mini USB, and GPS
  
• Input: Trackball with Enter button, Capacitive touchscreen with on-screen keyboard (both portrait and landscape)

HTC Touch Pro2 is awesome in ways the Touch Pro never could be

So, how do you make HTC's Touch Pro -- already near the top of the WinMo heap -- an even beefier device? For starters, you can throw out that nasty VGA screen of yesteryear and up it with a 3.6-inch 800 x 400 replacement. Next, add a dedicated touch-sensitive zoom slider that works overtime to take maximum advantage of said screen, then throw in a few key carryovers: 512MB of ROM, 288MB of RAM, microSD expansion, and a 3.2 megapixel cam. Meet the Touch Pro2, the official follow-up to HTC's popular series of QWERTY sliders that introduces so-called "Straight Talk" technology for "seamlessly" transitioning conversations between email, single-line calls, and party calls. It'll also automatically switch to the crazy high-performance, full-duplex speakerphone simply by flipping the phone over, so it's clear that this bad boy was meant for business. It'll launch early in the second quarter in parts of Asia and Europe with other "major global markets" following in early Summer. Check out a shot of the Touch Pro2 in its fully (and delightfully) articulated position after the break.

HTC's Touch Diamond2 adds zoom bar, mega screen, surprisingly few diamonds

HTC is following up on its ultra-sexy touchphone, the Touch Diamond, with the new Touch Diamond2, which seems quite worthy of the title of successor. This time around there's much more room for screen, with a huge 3.6-inch 480 x 800 LCD up front, and around back there's a 5 megapixel camera with autofocus. The other main addition is a "touch zoom bar" below the screen -- just like on big brother Touch Pro2 -- which we presume provides expected (and welcome) functionality. There's also the new version of TouchFLO 3D running on Windows Mobile, but under the hood there's the same old 528MHz processor, and the whole kit is actually a tad thicker a 0.54-inches. Still, memory is up to 512MB ROM and 288MB RAM, and if HTC keeps hoisting pixels and sexy on us at this rate we can hardly complain. This phone should hit major markets in Europe and Asia in "early Q2 2009," with more spots to follow later in the year.

HTC, Samsung, LG looking to Snapdragon for future handsets?

Qualcomm's Snapdragon mobile device platform was little more than suitcase-sized prototype vaporware at CES, but with the launch of the Toshiba TG01, it looks like it's ready to make a move -- word on Digitimes' somewhat unreliable Taiwanese street is that HTC, LG, Samsung and others are interested in the high-powered chipset. We're guessing that means we'll be seeing more more hotrod Windows Mobile devices in the short term, but Snapdragon also supports Android, so we're holding out hope that those upcoming HTC G-series devices crank the gaming and entertainment factors to 11.

HTC's Footprints app making tracks to other devices

Look ma, users at XDA-Developers are up to shenanigans again, and this time NFSFAN has posted up a new version of his Windows Mobile 6.1 ROM with some of HTC Touch Cruise's (Iolite) magic in it. The list of goodies added -- this is still Beta -- is long, but high on the list are Footprints, HTC's geotagging app, and some TouchFlo2D. So if you're an HTC Vogue user on Sprint, Alltel, Verizon, Bell, or Telus, get to it (but make sure to stay safe by reading, reading, and reading!) and do let us know how it turns out for you.

HTC's CDMA devices invited to Windows Mobile 6.5 cookout

The doors are blowing wide open in the world of Windows Mobile 6.5 tweaking with today's celebration centering around HTC's CDMA sets. This is all still a work in progress, as finishing touches like the new UI aren't in yet, but PPCGeeks conflipper has hope that with work they'll get that sorted. The list of good and bad is long, so follow the read link to learn everything you need to know on getting your Touch, Touch Pro, or what have you up and running with Microsoft's sparkliest new mobile OS.

HTC's G2 "Sapphire 2.0" caught slumming in the wilds

Well, well, lookie here... HTC's G2 followup to the original Android phone getting a good man-handling in the wild. Expected in May, the images were leaked without specs or any real details. Still, it's clearly the G2 / Sapphire 2.0 handset with 3.2 megapixel camera leaked just a few weeks back along-side the rest of HTC's 2009 models. Hey, you didn't need that physical keyboard anyway, right?

Sprint's HTC Touch Diamond firmware update leaks, definitely brings joy

It seems that early '09 has been the time of firmware updates for all kinds, and now Sprint's Touch Diamond has had its moment. At a quick glance, this isn't just a few bug fixes to keep the squeaky wheels smiling, but rather some major reworking of what's going on under the hood. Changes are rumored to include Internet Explorer 6 --and we thought they weren't going to do this -- new Radio, Opera, YouTube, and a pile of other treats. If you're inspired and can't wait for the inevitable, we're sure with some diligent searching you'll get your mitts on, for the rest of you, we're sure it'll pop up soon enough.

• HTC has high hopes, expects double-digit growth in '09

HTC has high hopes, expects double-digit growth in '09

HTC had a comfortable year in 2008, thanks to a pretty solid lineup of sets, and, of course, the T-Mobile G1 launch in October. While competitors like Sony Ericsson struggle, Peter Chou, HTC's president predicts that while things will be a bit tough in the short term, he's still confident of double-digit growth this year. With whispers of some more HTC "Android-ness" at Mobile World Congress this year, we expect they're bound to be getting a lot of press, and a lot more interest from people looking for a Windows Mobile alternative. HTC's revenues were up 28.65 percent this year, and with hints of what's to come, if we were betting types, we'd side with Peter.

HTC's Iolite poses for new picture and gets specced

Nice to see the Iolite getting a little more play, and thanks to jouwmobiel.nl, a little more real. The specs we've heard apparently have the Iolite packing Windows Mobile 6.1 Pro, 512 MB and 288 MB RAM and ROM, UMTS / HSDPA, quad-band GSM / EDGE, GPS, Bluetooth, and WiFi. If you take a peek at the front of the device you'll see a button with a small footprint on one side and a letter A on the other which will most likely hook into its GPS system in some way. We should get a pile more information by the time Mobile World Congress rolls around in mid-February.

• htc S743 hands-on

HTC S743 hands-on

HTC's S743 was launched a few days ago and we had a quick minute to catch up and get a few poses before being run down by other screaming htc fans. This set, as previously mentioned, is the twin of HTC's S740 but eschews European frequencies for US-friendly 850 / 1900. Not much more to say, enjoy the pics.

• HTC Iolite gets pictured, actually pretty blah

HTC Iolite gets pictured, actually pretty blah

If you took a Touch Diamond and put it one of those tumblers you had when you were a kid that you use to polish cool-looking rocks you found in your backyard, you'd probably get something like this. The Iolite -- not "Lolite" as we'd previously thought -- appears to rip the Touch Diamond's basic form factor from this tiny lil' image that's been leaked on Expansys, but steps down to a WQVGA display from VGA. On the upside, Europeans still get their 7.2Mbps HSDPA fix, TouchFLO 3D and AGPS make it through unscathed, and the 3.2-megapixel cam carries over. No official announcement on this one, but seeing how the radio is Euro-focused, we'd expect it at MWC next month.

• htc 's 2009 haul seemingly leaked, packs all sorts of gorgeous
• T-Mobile getting htc Rhodium as the Wing II, Sapphire as the G2?

HTC's 2009 haul seemingly leaked, packs all sorts of gorgeous

It's no secret that HTC wants to step up its Android game, and if this new stuff is to be believed, 2009's shaping up to be a banner year. Some cat over on PPCGeeks seems to have leaked a pretty believable '09 roadmap for HTC, showing tons of glorious hardware that appears -- at least on the surface -- to go toe-to-toe with the best Palm, Apple, and the rest of the gang can bring to the table. AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint all have dedicated stuff in here, including a "Jasper" that looks to combine the Touch HD with the Touch Pro, a successor to the monster Athena called "Ihoth," and this little guy, a garishly pink Android handset dubbed "Hero." We'd expect at least some of these to be announced at MWC next month, so we don't have long to wait -- assuming they're real, of course.

T-Mobile getting HTC Rhodium as the Wing II, Sapphire as the G2?

T-Mobile USA has a pretty solid relationship with HTC, considering it sells the Shadow, the Wing, and the G1 at the moment -- and seeing how the G1's doing a nice little spot of business for them, it stand to reason that they'd be looking to continue the good times through '09. We're hearing from TmoNews that one htc devices leaked today -- the Sapphire -- is the G2, while another source is telling us that the Rhodium is the Wing II, giving T-Mob solid, high-end Windows Mobile and Android devices alike in the new year. The original Wing is older than your grandmother (bless her heart), and as for the G1... well, let's be honest, these guys can take as much Android gear as HTC will give 'em right now. Bring it, fellas.

• How would you change HTC's Touch Diamond / Pro?

How would you change HTC's Touch Diamond / Pro?

HTC's Touch Diamond and QWERTY-packin' Touch Pro have run into some stiff competition here in the US of A, but as Adam Smith would certify, all that competition is only for the best. Now that you've seen what these two can do, not to mention their rivals, we're wondering how you would change whichever handset it is (of these two, obviously) that you own. Implement a Touch HD-style display? Load it up with Android? Round those edges a bit more? Add a bigger battery at the expense of style? Say it loud, say it proud, say it down in comments below.

• htc believes Cupcake will come to the T-Mobile G1

HTC believes Cupcake will come to the T-Mobile G1

We've already seen it go down unofficially, but we've received word from HTC today that Android's coveted "Cupcake" branch of updates and fixes -- or at least a majority of it -- will likely be making it to the G1 in the future as a legitimate over-the-air push. HTC isn't involved in deciding what updates get pushed to the G1 or when, but given the update cadence so far and the G1's support for Cupcake's capabilities, the company believes that it's just a matter of time before T-Mobile makes it happen. The timing is still a big question -- HTC's more or less out of the loop on the schedule, and it's up to Google and T-Mobile to figure out how it's going to play out. We'll keep you updated as we find out more!
Update: We pressed HTC spokespeople to give us a little more to go on, but got the standard "we can't comment on rumors or speculation" line. T-Mobile, Google, your move -- you've got plenty of folks waiting. A belated Festivus gift, perhaps?