Tough days for Redmond. After the rumor on the Microsoft Courier Booklet, now it’s time for the secret “Project Pink” to be leaked.

“Project Pink” Turtle phone (Image courtesy of Gizmodo)

First details about “Project Pink” come from MoDaCo.com:

The Who

• Project ‘Pink’ is being developed by Microsoft’s ‘PMX’ team (Premium Mobile eXperiences), which includes the majority of the assets from the $500m of Danger, makers of the sidekick.
• The hardware partners on the project are Sharp, who you will recall previously worked with Danger on the sidekick releases.
• The key operator partner is Verizon, however Microsoft have agreements in place to offer the ‘Pink’ devices worldwide.

The Hardware

• The project is about two devices, ‘Turtle’ and ‘Pure’.
• Turtle is a slider device with a T9 keypad, similar in style to the Motorola Alexander, almost round in shape like a make-up compact.
• Turtle has a 3.5mm jack and 5 Megapixel camera.
• Pure is a sideways sliding QWERTY device, like the HTC Touch Pro2. It has no tilt mechanism.
• Pure has a 8 Megapixel camera.
• Both devices use ground breaking screen technology from Sharp, which will ‘blow everyone away’.
• The devices will be dual MICROSOFT / Sharp branded.

The Software

• The Pink software suite is built on the same core as Windows Mobile 7, but shares nothing in look and feel with the new Windows Mobile OS.
• Pink includes elements of the software seen on the Zune HD.
• Pink includes XBox integration as seen on the Zune HD
• The UI is written in Silverlight and uses Seadragon.
• In true Danger style, ALL data is synced to ‘the cloud’.
• The software even has parental controls.
• The device has a unified messaging experience – the lines between IM, Email and SMS are blurred a-la MOTOBLUR!
• On device content purchases of applications / music / video etc. are supported.

As you can see, “Project Pink” is about the Turtle and the Pure, a couple of sliding keyboard phones powered by the core of Windows Mobile 7 with a UI based on Silverlight and Seadragon. The devices, shown to us by Gizmodo.com, will also share some Zune HD features, like the XBox integration, and will target mostly consumers.

“Project Pink” Pure phone (Image courtesy of Gizmodo)

I don’t know if these devices will ever hit the market, but, just in case, I suggest Microsoft and Sharp find a more unique design.  These don’t really look like very original design concepts to me.

So when I do StationBreaks, I usually have a loquacious explanation of what the song means to me. This time, no explanation is needed.  You all KNOW how much I love to fish, and whether you’re a fisherperson or not, this is guaranteed to make you laugh! (And just change ”her” to “him” – there’s a reason my ex left me, you know! )

 I’m going on a fishing vacation this weekend and I couldn’t resist throwing this up here!

Oh! Looky here, I got a bite!

SPB Software announced today the release of a new arcade style game, SPB Quads.  SPB Quads is based on their SQP Quadronica game.  The premise of the game is simple, challenging the user to clear an area enclosed by four matching categories.  Game play is available in two different modes, one time limited and the other based on unlimited strategy building.

SPB Software is offering a 15 day free trial on SPB Quads, available here.  The full version can be registered for $9.95.

Check out the full press release below and watch for my hands on review, which is coming soon.

SPB Quads Game – a Transient Amusement and a Strategic Thinking Exercise Put Together

September 24th, 2009 – SPB Software, a leading mobile applications and games developer announces the release of SPB Quads 1.0 – a mobile game created to either help you spend those 5 boring minutes in a line, or have a long-term multi-level strategic fight for a place in our online high score table.

Based on SPB Quadronica game, SPB Quads is the new arcade game for Windows Mobile touchsceens in which one has to put together all his/her pattern-finding skills to succeed. A player’s goal in this game is to reveal and mark rectangles’ corners of the same colors in a field filled with color bricks, thus “destroying” them and earning scores. There are two modes in the game: a time-limited mode and an endless, “strategic” mode. This effectively creates two different scenarios of playing mentioned above.

*** Main Features of SPB Quads: ***

* Addictive game play;
* Two game modes for different gaming scenarios;
* Attractive graphics;
* Native support for 240×320, 240×400, 320×320, 480×640 and 480×800 screens;
* 6 different types of bonuses;
* Online high scores;
* Finger-friendly interface matching all the modern resolutions of touchscreens.

*** Pricing and Availability ***
SPB Quads 1.0 is available for Windows Mobile touchscreen devices (works on WM 2003 or higher) from September 24th and on, in the following languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Danish, Portuguese, Russian, Dutch, Czech, Polish, Traditional and Simplified Chinese, Japanese and Korean. A free trial version working for 15 days with some restrictions can be downloaded, or the full version can be purchased for $9.95 from www.spbsoftware.com.

*** Further Information and Downloads ***

SPB Quads for Windows Mobile touchscreens
http://www.spbsoftware.com/pocketpc-software/quads

SPB Quads screenshots
http://www.spbsoftware.com/pocketpc-software/quads/screenshots

SPB Quads evaluation copy downloading page
http://www.spbsoftware.com/pocketpc-software/quads/download

Today is September 24.  The mythical Palm Day.  This is the day we were all supposed to look back on and remember with awe.  A near national (nay, international) holiday for Palm Pre users.  Today was the day we were going to see the new Operating System, WebOS 1.2, with a whole slew of updates and new features.  More importantly, however, was the coming of the official launch of the App Catalog, with so many hundreds of new apps that Palm had to go and hire at least three new people.

Well, here it is, 9:00 at night (EST), and after checking all day, my Palm Pre has yet to find any updates…either to the Operating System or the app Catalog.  Granted, the last bell has yet to toll, but it is not looking good for the September 24 release.  Then again…I have always been a big fan of Friday… 

Samsung and Sprint announced today the upcoming launch of their new SmartPhone offering, the Instinct HD on September 27 first at Best Buy and then on October 11 at all Sprint retail channels.

I’m really looking forward to this updated High-Definition version of Samsung’s Instinct, which was originally released last summer, which was previously lacking WIFI, but was still a very sleek device.

This HD version has many enhancements, including WIFI b/g, as well as a 5 Megapixel camera and GPS. Please see the Press Release below for all the details.

Press Release:

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. and DALLAS – Sept. 24, 2009 – Sprint (NYSE: S) and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the #1 mobile phone provider in the United States1, today announced the upcoming availability of Samsung Instinct® HD, the latest follow-up to the award-winning Samsung Instinct, which made its debut last summer exclusively from Sprint.

Samsung Instinct HD boasts an attractive and intuitive user interface as well as the high-speed connectivity of America’s most dependable 3G network3 (EVDO Rev. A).With Samsung and Sprint’s first high-definition 5-megapixel camera and camcorder and TV-out HD connection, it allows photo and video playback on an HD capable auxiliary device but it does not provide HD playback directly on the handset.2

Samsung Instinct HD further improves on the original with an enhanced Web browsing experience, including a full Opera Mobile 9.7 browser, WiFi capabilities, an Ambient Light Sensor and Accelerometer. It also features a Proximity Sensor with haptic feedback that gives users a gentle vibration as they experience the virtual QWERTY keyboard.

Beginning Sept. 27, customers will be able to purchase Samsung Instinct HD at Best Buy Mobile, Sprint’s exclusive national retail partner. It will then be available Oct. 11 in all Sprint company-owned retail channels, including Web (www.sprint.com) and telesales (1-800-SPRINT1) for $249.99 with a new two-year service agreement after a $100 mail-in rebate (taxes and service charges excluded).

“When Instinct was announced last summer it received tremendous praise from our customers and showcased the power of application integration and a world class user-interface,” said Kevin Packingham, senior vice president of product development for Sprint. “Instinct HD adds to that legacy with the addition of a host of video services that are unmatched in the industry.”

”Samsung Instinct HD ups the ante with the full Opera Mobile 9.7 Web browser, WiFi connectivity and a 5-megapixel camera and camcorder, which allows the user to take high resolution pictures and HD-quality video,” said Omar Khan, senior vice president of strategy and product management for Samsung Mobile. “What sets Instinct HD apart even more is the ability to view those pictures and video on your HDTV or other HD-compatible monitor through the device’s HDTV out connection. These improvements raise the Instinct handset portfolio to a whole new level.”

Samsung Instinct HD offers all of the must-have features of its predecessors including:

* Live Search for Sprint, powered by Microsoft, which provides easy access to directory information on-the-go, GPS-enabled directions, interactive maps and one-touch click to call access.
* Visual Voicemail, allowing users to listen to messages in their order of preference and manage them with a simple tap of the screen.
* Sprint TV®, with an extensive selection of channels and on-demand programming.
* Advanced stereo Bluetooth® 2.0.
* Support for personal and corporate email (sync with Microsoft® Outlook®).
* SMS voice and text messaging with threaded text.
* Easy access to social networking sites, including Facebook®, Flickr® and Twitter.

“We are excited about adding Instinct HD to our ever-growing assortment of smartphones at Best Buy Mobile,” said Jude Buckley, chief merchant and marketing officer for Best Buy Mobile. “Last year’s launch of the original Instinct was a big win for Sprint and Best Buy and, most important, for the customers we serve together. We expect the same from Instinct HD. Bringing this latest smartphone to our table will offer customers even greater choice and options as they look to upgrade to a smarter phone.”

Customers who purchase the new Instinct HD can also enjoy Sprint’s newly announced Any Mobile, Anytime(SM), which breaks the restrictive calling circle paradigm by providing unlimited calling to any wireless phone regardless of carrier at no additional charge with Everything Data plans from Sprint. Instinct HD requires activation on select pricing plans offering unlimited data, such as an Everything Data plan starting at just $69.99 per month or the Simply EverythingSM plan. Simply Everything provides unlimited calling, unlimited text and unlimited data including e-mail, social networking, Web browsing, GPS navigation, Sprint TV, streaming music, NFL Mobile Live and NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile for only $99.99 per month. That’s a savings of $1,200 over two years vs. a comparable AT&T iPhone® plan4 (all price plans exclude Sprint surcharges and taxes).

The Sprint Mobile Broadband Network (inclusive of data roaming) reaches more than 269 million people, 18,652 cities and 1,838 airports. The Sprint Networks (inclusive of data roaming) have more than twice the coverage of AT&T’s current 3G network and more than 20 times the coverage of T-Mobile’s current 3G network, both based on square miles5.

Customers looking to upgrade to Samsung Instinct HD should consider recycling their wireless device. Sprint is the industry leader in the reuse and recycling of wireless devices sold. Sprint has an aggressive industry-first goal of reaching a 90 percent phone collection rate for reuse/recycling compared with annual wireless device sales by 2017. To learn more about wireless recycling visit Sprint’s wireless recycling Web site.

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including two wireless networks serving almost 49 million customers at the end of the second quarter of 2009; industry-leading mobile data services; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. The company’s customer-focused strategy has led to improved first call resolution and customer care satisfaction scores. For more information, visit www.sprint.com.

About Samsung Telecommunications America
Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC, a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets and telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.samsungmobileusa.com.

About Samsung Electronics
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2008 consolidated sales of US$96 billion. Employing approximately 164,600 people in 179 offices across 61 countries, the company consists of two business units: Digital Media & Communications and Device Solutions. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.

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1 Based upon reported shipment data from Strategy Analytics Q2 2009 U.S. Market Share Handset Shipments Report.

2 This handset allows photo and video playback on an HD-capable auxiliary device but it does not provide HD playback directly on the handset.

3“Dependable” based on independent, third-party drive tests for 3G data connection success, session reliability and signal strength for the top 50 most populous markets from January 2008 to July 2009. Not all services available on 3G and coverage may default to separate network when 3G unavailable. Coverage may not be available everywhere. Customers should refer to sprint.com/coverage for details.

4Savings based on publicly available information comparing AT&T Nation Unlimited plus required iPhone data plan and optional unlimited text messaging totaling $149.99/month for AT&T as of publication date, excluding taxes, surcharges and fees. iPhone is a registered trademark of Apple, Inc.

5 Coverage comparison based on publicly available information as of 4/01/09 inclusive of Sprint roaming partners. Based on square miles. Coverage comparison based on publicly available information as of 4/1/09 inclusive of Sprint roaming partners. Based on square miles.