Raymond Padilla

HTC HD7 (Windows Phone 7) Specs Revealed, Headed for T-Mobile

The fine sleuths at WMPoweruser have come across a spec sheet for the upcoming HTC HD7, a Windows Phone 7 handset. While the specs are inline with a high-end superphones smartphones, it might surprise you that the HD7 uses T-Mobile’s AWS 3G frequencies. Other specs include:

1GHz Qualcomm QSD8250 processor
4.3-inch WVGA TFT display at 480 x 800
576 MB of RAM
5 megapixel camera with dual-LED flash
Kickstand

I frickin’ loved the kickstand on the HTC Evo 4G and am glad to see it popping up in other phones. Kickstands rule!!!

Seriously, what do you think of the HD7’s specs? Any of you interested in this phone?

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Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg is Worth More Than Apple’s Steve Jobs

What kind of world do we live in that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has a higher net worth than Apple CEO Steve Jobs?!? That’s the word from Forbes, which lists Zuckerberg’s net worth as $6.9-billion and pegs Jobs at $6.1-billion. (If either of you happen to be reading this and want to throw a few hundred thousand my way to fund my site’s video efforts for the next two years, I’d love you forever.) I guess that’s why Jobs’ movie (Pirates of Silicon Valley) was made for cable and Zuckerberg’s (The Social Network) is a major theatrical release.

*sigh* This is the first of three things that will make me move to Thailand. Next, Epic Games Mike “Busta” Capps will become President of the United States of America and Bolivia Bunn will be the biggest star in the country. (I’m seriously concerned about the latter happening.)

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Get Early Access to the Next Xbox 360 Dashboard Update

Microsoft marketing guy Major Nelson has revealed details on the Xbox Live Update Preview Program, which grants select users early access to the next Xbox 360 dashboard update. Here’s the skinny from the Major:

I am happy to announce that we’re doing an Xbox 360 System Update Preview program for our next release, and the opportunity to sign up is now available. The Preview Program will give you the chance to check out ESPN on Xbox Live, Zune music, Netflix search, the new Xbox Live dashboard, and new updates to Zune video and Family Settings on your Xbox 360. Much like we did last year, you’ll need to visit the Microsoft Connect site from this link and sign in with your Windows Live ID that is connected to your Xbox Live Gamertag. Once you complete the survey that is presented to you, the Connect site will notify you immediately if you’ve been accepted.

Getting early updates is fun. Are any of you going to try your luck and register for the Xbox Live Update Preview Program?

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Milo & Kate for Xbox 360 Kinect Cancelled?

Gamers that want to have their very own white slave boy indentured servant for Xbox 360 Kinect will be disappointed in the rumor that Lionhead’s Milo & Kate has been cancelled. In late June, Microsoft Game Studios creative director Peter Molyneux assured that world that Milo was coming. Kotaku‘s sources said otherwise:

Fable developer Lionhead Studios’ ambitious Milo project for Xbox 360’s Kinect add-on may have finally been put to bed. Sources claiming to have knowledge of the tech demo’s development tell Kotaku that Project Milo has been effectively shut down.

That same source indicates that the technology that powered Project Milo — which has also been referred to as Milo & Kate — will live on in another form, a Kinect-enabled game based on the Fable franchise.

Although some of the tech in Milo & Kate is truly fascinating, the early versions of the game (if you can even call it that) didn’t really look like something that could provide hours of entertainment. Perhaps that’s what Lionhead discovered too. If the game has been cancelled then it will just add to Molyneux’s controversial reputation of over promising and under delivering. Whether that’s fair or not is another matter entirely.

What do you think of the latest Milo & Kate rumor? Are any of you disappointed? Or did you expect this to happen? Is Molyneux’s over-promising-and-under-delivering rep justified or undeserved?

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Coffee Talk #218: The Case of the Missing Samsung Epic 4G

As some of you know, I’ve been having a devil of a time tracking down the Samsung Epic 4G that was sent to me for review. Hopefully one of you can use your Batman-like detective skills and help me figure it out. Now let’s rewind a bit. The phone arrived on August 23rd while I was in Asia. I have a FedEx door tag that says that the package was left with my building’s security desk. From there, it gets all kinds of fuzzy.

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, Powerfox & Ponymane, using a Canon Eos 60D to film developer interviews, or if there’s any video editing software for Windows that’s worth a damn, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

The security desk, staffed by California Protection Security Services, has the package logged in as received. The security guards keep a woefully unorganized binder that sometimes contains package information. Unfortunately, the box wasn’t in the storage room where packages are left. I checked on five different occasions and none of the security guards were able to find it.

I called and emailed FedEx for assistance. A CSR contacted the driver that delivered the package. The driver wasn’t certain, but he thought that he left the box in front of my door. Yet the FedEx door tag clearly states that the box was left with security (remember, it’s also logged as received by security). If that was the case then someone had to sign for it. For some strange reason, the tracking number says that the box was left at my front door. I asked the FedEx CSR to explain why the door tag says that the box was left with security while the tracking information says it was left at my door. She said that she would investigate further, but I haven’t heard from the company since Friday.

The management at Wilshire Vermont Station Apartments wasn’t helpful either. The first time I brought up the matter, an older lady totally brushed me off and said that they had nothing to do with packages. The second time I went, a younger lady made an effort to look for the package. After she couldn’t find it, she said that there was nothing she could do and that I should call FedEx.

I’ve yet to contact Sprint PR about this because it looks bad on my part. If Sprint tracked the package, they would see that it was left at my door (who knows if that’s what really happened). The company might think that I’m trying to pull a fast one on them. Having said that, I’m probably going to call them today and explain the situation (I wonder if the PR rep will believe me). For now, I want to know what you think happened. Please vote in the poll and explain your case in the comments section.

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Analyst Says 3-Million CDMA iPhones Will Be Made in December

Just when you thought the “iPhone heading to Verizon” rumor mill has slowed down, a Susquehanna Financial Group analyst has claimed that CDMA iPhones will start production in December 2010. Here’s the scoop from AppleInsider:

Analyst Jeffrey Fidacaro with Susquehanna Financial Group said in a note to investors on Wednesday that checks with overseas suppliers indicated Apple is prepared to build 3 million CDMA iPhones in December, keeping the device on track for an early 2011 launch.

On one hand, the number seems awfully low, so perhaps these phones are for one of the Asian markets. On the other hand, a lot of people are expecting Verizon’s CEO to focus on the iPhone 4 during his Consumer Electronics Show (CES) keynote address.

I’ve asked you this like 49 times this year, but what do you think of the latest CDMA iPhone rumor? Will it hit Sprint or Verizon in January 2011? Or are these phones headed elsewhere? Or maybe the analyst is just Pachter wrong.

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Google Voice Apps Hit iPhone: Time to Ditch Android for iOS?

Google Android is the best mobile OS for me. Its Gmail integration is perfect. Since I have four Gmail accounts that serve four different purposes, I really appreciate how slick Gmail is on Android. Another reason I’m a fan of Google’s OS is that I rely on Google Voice for work and play. With these two factors in mind, Apple’s iPhone wasn’t a practical option for me…until last weekend.

Recently, Apple relaxed its developer requirements for iOS and allowed two Google Voice apps into its “walled garden” — GV Connect and GV Mobile. Many tech reporters believe that Google’s official app will be available shortly. If Apple allows a Google Voice app that’s as tightly integrated as the Android version then the iPhone would be far more useful to me.

Having said that, I don’t think I could ditch Android entirely. The most likely scenario is that an Android handset would be my primary phone, while an iPhone 4 would be used for games (you know, for work purposes) and media. My previous plans was to just rock a SIM-less iPhone 4, but now that Google Voice is available for iOS, I just might have to activate it.

Any of you iPhone users happen to use Google Voice? Have you tried any of the new Google Voice apps for iOS? (And yes, this post was partially written to help me think out my future purchases.)

Final Fantasy XIV Collector’s Edition Details and Pictures

Square Enix has sent out a reminder with details on the Final Fantasy XIV Collector’s Edition. Available now for an MSRP of $74.99, the collector’s edition includes:

Eight days early access prior to the release of the Standard Edition
The exclusive in-game item Onion Helm item
A behind-the-scenes DVD featuring insight from the development team
A Final Fantasy XIV branded Security Token
A Final Fantasy XIV branded Travel Journal
A voucher to receive a personalized right of passage certificate
A buddy pass to invite a friend to play free for a limited time

It looks like a great package…but I have no idea how Square Enix expects to compete with the likes of Planet Michael and Hello Kitty Online. *snicker* Seriously, I’m tempted to pick this up. If you’re tempted then why not click on that handy Amazon link in the first sentence of this article (*wink* *wink* *nudge* *nudge*).

Here are some more pictures of the included goodies.

Nintendo 3DS Specs Leaked?

One of IGN’s trusted sources has provided information on the silicon powering Nintendo’s upcoming 3DS handheld system. The Nintendo 3DS will allegedly be packing:

Two 266MHz ARM11 CPUs
A PICA-200 133MHz GPU by DMP
64MB of RAM
4MB of Video RAM
1.5GB of Flash storage

Some writers have been making a big deal about the 3DS supposedly having twin CPUs. They’re dumb. The Nintendo DS has two CPUs.

What’s more interesting — to me anyway — is that Nintendo is (again allegedly) going with ARM chips. For the longest time, the 3DS was rumored to be using Nvidia’s Tegra chip. With ARM chips being in iPhones, iPods, Android phones, and Zune media players, this would be a tremendous win for ARM Holdings. Being in the Nintendo DS guarantees millions of chip sales.

Anyway, kindly let me know what you think of the rumored 3DS specs when you have a moment.

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Pokemon Black/White Sells 2.6-Million in Two Days

Enterbrain, courtesy of Andriasang, has reported that Pokemon Black and Pokemon White have sold more than 2.6-million units in its first two days of availability. This is a new record for the series. I’m posting this information for all those people that say things like, “Pokemon is so dead!” and, “People still play Pokemon?” Take that! Muahahahahaha!!! Like the season two theme song says, “We all live in a Pokemon world!”

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