A big thanks to Engadget, CrunchGear (MobileCrunch) and GDGT. A big sorry to Gizmodo… hang in there guys!

App store… HTML5… blah blah blah… Netflix streaming on iPhone/iPad free? Now that is some news!

I could go on listing everything the new iPhone 4 has, but why bother when you can check out the lists at Gdgt, Engadget, CrunchGear, Gizmodo, c|net and other sources. Here is what I think…

1. Apple has some of the best engineers to make the new iPhone thinner, smaller and faster.  The new antenna system is very innovative and should be better than what is currently available.
2. Apple has also made everything that can be done on previous phones (not necessarily from this country) easy: FaceTime (video chatting has been around on phones in Japan before here… the EVO has it and was released before iPhone 4… albeit 3 days earlier), multitasking, picture taking, video editing (for an extra $5)
3. Not thrilled about Apple sticking with AT&T.  Here are some more bullet points!
   1. AT&T is allowing people who have contracts that expire within the next 6 months to get the special pricing.  Why? To lock them in because something better is going to come out.  It is the same for those who don’t have the special pricing.  It is still lower than the price without a contract ($399/499 upgrade; $599/699 no contract).
   2. New AT&T customers are subjected to at $25/mo data fee that only allows up to 2GB of data a month.  For an extra $10, you get an extra 1GB… which is nothing!  OH! And add another $20/mo for tethering (which means you can hook your phone up to your laptop and use it as a modem).
4. I want one…
   1. My iPod touch is busted which means a 32GB iPhone 4 is the same price as a 32GB iPod Touch.
   2. I currently pay $60/mo for a broadband data plan.  Price of iPhone with tethering? $85 ($95 if I use up to 3GB).  That is only $25-35 more a month for a fully functional phone/surfing device and I can tether.
   3. HD videos.  I record a lot of videos.  It would be nice to film with just my phone at games, concerts, etc.  Nice and handy esp. with iMovie for the phone.
   4. I will cancel my AT&T contract next June once Verizon gets their 4G phones in line.  I will suck up the $205 termination fee ($325 – $10/mo for each month while on contract)
5. Speaking of 4G, the next iPhone next year will be the iPhone 4G… for Verizon…

So I dropped off my car, and waited for a loaner. While waiting, I decided to pull up the Sprint website to look at pricing… $200 with a 2-year contract, $70/mo for 450min, unlimited data and unlimited mobile to mobile… add $10/mo for 4G service, another $30 for tethering and you are looking at a $110/month bill! Is it really worth it? I think so! If you can charge your phone multiple times during the day, or keep it plugged in, not only can you talk on the phone, you can use your phone as a wi-fi hub! The extra costs are actually cheaper than getting a USB broadband card (around $40-60/mo)… not to mention the EVO is at least 5 times faster than the broadband card running 3G.

Will I be getting one? We’ll see how the new iPhone and Verizon’s 4G plans pan out. Sprint doesn’t have 4G in Boston yet, so I have some time before I start phone shopping again… but it is definitely in my mind!

With Google I/O sessions this week, they are just slaughtering everything!

• Google TV (What is it?)
• Froyo (Android 2.2 and why it is faster)
• 30th Anniversary of Pac Man

That last one is the best!  Those people at Google are with it!

And that is the story! How did Apple “mishandle” something so important and valuable and have it “fall” into the hands of a tech journalist who is now facing some serious allegations? [By the way, this story will have a lot of cross-references so keep up!]

Let’s start back with Engadget. I first came across their story about proof that the iPhone 4G does exist. Time stamped at April 18th 2010 4:03pm. The following day, Gizmodo has their full release. This time stamp is April 19th 2010 10am, about 18 hours after Engadget’s story, only with video, more details and analysis of the said device.

Doesn’t this seem fishy to you? Two major tech sites publishing about a fabled device that could smash the other competitor to the ground. And who came out on top?

Sure Gizmodo got the page hits and ads, even though they deny it. And then there is the buyout for the prototype device. But of course, there is the cover-up and the person “responsible” for the device and why it was “not a leak.“

Eventually, Apple asked for the phone back after they disabled it. But apparently, that wasn’t enough for Apple with the resulting search and recovery of said Gizmodo journalist’s home.

As for Engadget, they didn’t get fined but they probably saw an increase in website hits… so good for them!

So is this still a controlled leak? Or did “it” really hit the fan? If Apple pursues this lawsuit and takes Gawker and Gizmodo to court, and slaps them with a heafty fine, then it is the real deal and there was no leak. If Gawker/Gizmodo gets away with a small fine (< $50k), then you’ll know it was a leak.  But where will this end?  Media outlets will continue to find scoops and will the lawsuits continue to rain upon our parade?

And here is Dilbert!

Google hasn’t released any more information about the release of the Nexus One on Verizon.  It is available now for AT&T, T-Mobile and soon to be Sprint.  But it still says “Spring 2010″ and summer is quickly approaching.  But how much longer can we wait?  And by we, I mean we… I want to play with this too!  Download apps, download music, take some pictures… but with Verizon announcing that the HTC Incredible is going to be released on the 29th of April, that leaves us with little choices.

It has been a good month or 2 since we’ve last heard about the Nexus One for Verizon. The other stories (which are numerous) all involve some type of comparison between the Nexus One and other phones (iPhone with OS 4.0, the Incredible, HD2…).  It’s great that the phone has become a benchmark, but what it isn’t good for is for consumers who are on the Verizon Wireless network, desperately waiting for a new phone.  With Incredible’s release sooner than expected, you can be sure that the Nexus One for Verizon will take a huge hit in sales… and not in a good way.  Just check out the specs compared with other Verizon Android phones (sources and table (2/3 of it) from Engadget [1] [2]):

The Incredible has some impressive specs (with speculations in italics)… even more so with the internal storage and camera.  So are we going to wait for the Nexus One?  Only if they announce something before the Incredible goes on sale!

[picture source from Engadget referenced above]

Meet the HTC Evo.  The world’s first 4G phone.  Yes, 4G, which is 10x faster than the current 3G phones out there.  Couple that with Sprint’s $69.99 Any Mobile, Anytime^SM and all of the specs:

• 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera!
• 8 megapixel rear camera
• Android
• 720p HDMI output
• 720p video recording
• Snapdragon 1GHz processor
• 4.3” 480×800 capacitive touchscreen
• 802.11 b/g wi-fi
• A built in kick-stand (for watching videos)
• an 8GB microSD card (that’s some storage for you!)
• AND it can act as a wi-fi hub for upto 8 connections (through 4G)

It is the last bullet point that really hits home.  I currently have an AT&T USB data card which is fine but if I can have a phone that does it for me at the same plan cost, and has 720p video recording, I am sold!  Check out the press release pics as well as the full press release below!

HTC EVOTM 4G
The ultimate multimedia experience at Sprint 4G speeds
The world’s first 3G/4G Android handset, exclusively from Sprint, HTC EVOTM 4G, offers a rich mobile Internet experience with a fully integrated suite of services built on the AndroidTM 2.1 platform. HTC EVO 4G includes a blazing-fast 1GHz Qualcomm® SnapdragonTM processor, the award-winning HTC SenseTM user experience, an 8.0 megapixel auto-focus camera with HD- capable video camcorder and a forward-facing 1.3 megapixel camera. The large vibrant 4.3 inch display, built-in kickstand, 3.5 mm headset jack and HDMI output make HTC EVO 4G an unparalleled platform for wireless entertainment. Download music, pictures, files, or videos in seconds – not minutes – and watch streaming video on the go on a network with download speeds that are up to 10 times faster than 3G speeds.1    With built-in mobile hotspot functionality, HTC EVO 4G also allows up to eight Wi-Fi-enabled devices, including laptop, camera, music player, video player and any other Wi-Fi-enabled device, to enjoy the benefits of 4G speeds on the go.

PRODUCTIVITY
3G/4G capability Qualcomm® SnapdragonTM QSD8650 (1GHz) processor 4.3” capacitive display with pinch-to-zoom and tactile feedback World-class HTML browser – bandwidth and quality that rival that of netbooks Android 2.1, with access to more than 30,000 apps on Android Market GoogleTM mobile services including Google SearchTM, Google MapsTM, Google TalkTM, GmailTM, YouTubeTM , and syncs with Google CalendarTM Access to Google GogglesTM to search with pictures instead of words Sprint Navigation, with turn-by-turn driving directions and 3D maps Updated HTC Sense, award-winning user experience, which includes Friend Stream to integrate Facebook, Twitter and more into a single flow of updates Visual voicemail Messaging – personal and business email, IM and text messaging 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot capability – connects up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices 4G data speeds (WiMAX) – peak download speeds of more than 10 Mbps; peak upload speeds of 1 Mbps; average download speeds of 3-6 Mbps. 3G data speeds (EVDO Rev A.) – peak download speeds of up to 3.1 Mbps; peak upload speeds of 1.8 Mbps; average download speeds of 600 kbps-1.4 Mbps.

ENTERTAINMENT
8MP autofocus camera with dual LED flash and 1.3MP front-facing camera High-quality video streaming and downloads at 3G and 4G data speeds Capture and share HD-quality video (720p) from your phone
-more-
Output pictures, slides and videos in HD quality (720p) via HDMI cable (sold separately) Live video sharing with Qik Built-in kickstand for hands-free viewing Media player with 3.5mm stereo headset jack
FM radio and Amazon MP3 store Sprint applications including Sprint TV® and NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile(SM) Bluetooth® 2.1 with A2DP Stereo and EDR Built-in WiFi®: 802.11 b/g Digital compass, G-Sensor, proximity sensor, light sensor, GPS Expandable memory: 8GB microSD card included; supports up to 32GB

SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions: 4.8″ x 2.6″ x .5″ (LxWxT) Weight: 6 ounces Main display: 4.3” WVGA (800×480) 65K colors Standard removable 1500mAh Lithium (Li-on) battery Memory: 1GB ROM, 512MB RAM
1 “Up to 10x faster” based on download speed comparison of 3G’s 600 kbps vs. 4G’s 6 Mbps. Industry published 3G avg. speeds (600 kbps-1.7 Mbps); 4G avg. speeds (3-6 Mbps). Actual speeds may vary. Sprint 4G currently available in over 25 markets and counting, and on select devices. See www.sprint.com/4G for details. Not all services available on 4G and coverage may default to 3G/separate network where 4G unavailable.
Note: Device features, specifications, services and applications are subject to change.

But now, in comes Apple, owners of almost 26% of the smartphone market with the iPhone.  The iPhone… one of the most revolutionary tech devices out there.  And then there is HTC, makers of cell phones and smartphones primarily Windows and Android based.  With the latest HTC phones such as the Nexus One, Verizon Wireless, Sprint and T-Mobile subscribers have been tempted to leave the omnipotent iPhone for the Google Nexus One, which is also available for AT&T.  And for good reason too as the iPhone does not yet support multi-tasking and/or Flash-based applications.

Users are moving from a “closed source” platform to an “open source” platform but not if Apple has anything to say about it.  Apple has recently filed a lawsuit against HTC on 20 patent infringements.  20!

So what I have done to day is compiled a list of links from the start of the lawsuits, to the 20 patent infringements, to HTC’s response.  Next week, I hope to have a roundtable podcast on each of the patents.  Read up now so you can follow along next week!

The Lawsuit:
CrunchGear (MobileCrunch)
Engadget
Gizmodo

The Patents in Question:
Engadget
Gizmodo

HTC’s Response:
Engadget
Gizmodo

Google’s Response:
Engadget
TechCrunch

OH! What was that Steve?
Gizmodo

Other related lawsuit posts:
CrunchGear
Engadget
Gizmodo
HTC now hiring – Engadget

From the past few weeks of lawsuits surrounding generic patents from Apple vs. HTC, the first company to have this patent approved is going to revolutionize portable electronics as we know it.  It is like those wind-up flashlights in your car’s glove compartment or was it the shaking flashlight.  In the end, it is almost the same technology, only smaller.

From the patent: A battery for an electronic device is contained within a first frame that is coupled to a second frame by one or more piezoelectric elements. The second frame is coupled to a device chassis by one or more additional piezoelectric elements. In response to translation and/or rotation of the electronic device, portions of forces induced by the battery mass are transferred to the piezoelectric elements. Electrical energy output by these piezoelectric elements is received in a power controller and can be applied to the battery. Additional device components can also be contained within the first frame so as to increase the total mass that induces forces applied to the piezoelectric elements.

[TreeHugger via Digg, and New Scientist]

Hit the bump for a video, spec sheets and links on the Adam disassembled.

One thing to note, the touchpad on the back of the tablet is supposed to be used for finer, more precise “clicking” on hyperlinks or objects rather than pulling an FFS or Fat-Finger Syndrome (I have some long fingers and I tend to mash keys a lot). It is slated to come out in 3Q2010 and if it enters at the same or less price point as the iPad, I will be sure to pick this up.

Engadget has the device in its naked-ness here.

Full specs with Pixel Qi display here.

Full specs with touch screen only here.

CES 2010 or the Consumer Electronics Show is going on right now in Vegas, and some of the new Lenovo toys are just fantastic! Now, keep in mind that these are still betas and prototypes, but if these devices were fully refined, they could change the future of portable computing and electronics.

First up is the IdeaPad U1 Hybrid first noted by Gizmodo (img source from Gizmodo) is not only a tablet, but a laptop as well. With the red clamshell casing, the screen can be docked to provide powerful computing:

When both halves of the U1 are together, it runs on Windows 7 on a Intel Core 2 Duo SU processor, but when you split them up, the tablet will use a custom version of Linux and a Qualcomm ARM Snapdragon processor. This means that you’d be getting the best combination of power and battery life for each scenario. Other than that neat setup, the U1 brings 4GB of RAM (512MB in slate/tablet mode), two USB 2.0 ports, eSATA, VGA, HDMI, 4-in-1 memory card reader, and a 1.3-Megapixel camera.

Pretty sweet for a “hybrid” and very powerful for such a small machine as well. All this for $999 come June but like Brian noted, there is no accelerometer or headphone jack for the tablet portion itself. Maybe Lenovo will add it before June (/crossingfingers). But what more can you ask for? I love the feel of typing on a keyboard since it is much faster and more accurate than typing on a touchscreen. And when you feel like watching a movie on the couch, you can just detach and take it with you… oh yea, no headphone jack!

Along the same lines as the U1 Hybrid comes Lenovo’s smartphone Lephone. Another Android based smartphone, this one is very different than it’s competitors.

At first glance, it looks like every other Android based phone: a nice glossy shiny phone with bright OLED touchscreen. But look closely to the picture… there is a keyboard in the background. Does it slide out from underneath? Guess again!

The keyboard is an accessory to the phone. Similar to the U1 Hybrid, the phone docks into a clamshell with the keyboard to provide longer battery life and faster typing. A great idea if you plan to be doing a lot of status updates on Facebook or Twitter at conferences… or you can do without and just use as a phone.

Devin from MoblieCrunch tried to get as much information but could only get the following specs:

In shape it’s quite pleasing, a little big, but with a good heft and solid feel. The screen is a gorgeous 3.7? 800×480 OLED one, although I couldn’t confirm whether it’s the same that’s in the Nexus One. It’s got volume buttons on the left side, there, and a reprogrammable button on the right. It’s got a Pre-like dark area at the bottom that’s also touch-sensitive, and works as either a home button or for simple swiping gestures. It’s got the usual fixins: GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and all that, and it’s running on a Snapdragon processor, though I couldn’t seem to suss out the RAM or internal storage.

It is a pretty beefy phone with a lot of features. Check out the following videos on the Lephone at the end of the page.

To summarize, a new tablet/laptop concept that features a small form factor laptop with power with a detachable screen that becomes a tablet lacking some key features such as a headphone jack and accelerometer but is a nice entry point at $999 sometime in June 2010. Lenovo also has a new smartphone with the same concepts: a touchscreen Android based phone with power with a separate keyboard accessory that can be paired for faster typing/texting.

I hope you found these 2 as fascinating and exciting as I did… I can’t wait to see what the new year bring with tech gadgets!

MobileCrunch

PhoneDog

[Gizmodo 1, Gizmodo 2, MobileCrunch and PhoneDog]