One of the disappointments using the Smartphone Platform has been the inability to stream video and interactive media online content.  Granted, it has been possible to stream this content, most recently via browsers that translate the content on their servers for viewing, with programs such as Skyfire, but the ability to locally stream new flash content on Smartphones has not been an option, however Flash Support is now just “around the corner”.

Prepare for a new Smartphone experience, as, as Adobe has announced the soon to be released Adobe Flash 10.1 Platform that will make it possible to stream video and interactive media onto Windows Mobile, BlackBerry, Symbian, webOS and Android Smartphones.  However there still has  been no announcement regarding iPhone support.  Adobe announced that Flash 10.1 will be 87% faster and phone memory consumption will be reduced by 55%, Wow!

According to a post on IntoMobile, Adobe has been hard at work all year developing this new platform, as part of their Open Screen Project, and that we should be seeing a BETA of Adobe Flash 10.1 by Year’s End! 

Please see IntoMobile’s post for the details.

Yesterday, Amazon announced very exciting news tidbits regarding their Kindle e-book readers. They will be reducing the pricing on their U.S. Kindle by $40 bringing the price down to $259.00 and the Kindle 2 will also drop down from $359.00 to $299.00.  Per the CNet article below, “Amazon is attempting to position itself for a boom in e-reader sales” and reducing the cost of these units is a terrific way to start

The second tidbit is regarding the announcement of their up and coming wireless Kindle that is anticipated to  ship on October 19th, which will have the ability to download books and magazines via networks belonging to AT&T and it’s International Partners.  Also the specifications are very similar to the previous Kindle with  a six – inch display.  And per Amazon, downloads will be available in under 60 seconds…how cool is that!

Head on over to CNet for more details and Amazon’s Kindle Website

Working in tandem with several major wireless providers, HTC has announced the release of a handful of new phones today.  The announcement of the five new phones coincides with the official release of Windows Mobile 6.5 from Microsoft.

We’ve got a couple of overseas devices appearing, including the HD2 and the Touch 2, that sound like very solid devices.  In the United States, customers of Verizon and AT&T have a bit to be excited about.  First, Verizon will be serving up the Imagio, which seems to be oriented towards mobile media.  AT&T is getting into the game with two phones.  Interestingly, the Touch Pro 2 that many have been questioning when would appear in AT&T’s catalogs, finally appears in what seems to be the HTC Tilt 2.  In essense, this means that AT&T users will have one new device in the Pure and a rebranded version of the Touch Pro 2, that is already available on Sprint and Verizon, running Windows Mobile 6.5.

Check out additional details and images of the devices below from the press release.

Today’s launch of Windows Mobile 6.5 marks a new milestone in the mobile industry. As the number one manufacturer of Windows Mobile smartphones, HTC has built a strong relationship with Microsoft and is proud to be their partner. The success of that partnership is shown through several new products recently announced. Below please find a list of all HTC smartphones built on Windows Mobile 6.5 along with a short description of each.

HTC HD2 (Overseas)

[IMAGE: CNET]

The first Windows Mobile device offering HTC Sense, the HTC HD2 makes life easier by putting you at the center. Designed around the three philosophies of “make it mine,” “stay close,” and “discover the unexpected,” the HTC HD2 offers unique features not found in other smartphones. For instance, an industry leading 480 x 800 WVGA capacitive touchscreen is comprised with a strikingly slim 11 mm shell. Powered by Qualcomm’s new 1Ghz Snapdragon mobile processor, applications, media, and games are available at the touch of a finger. The HTC HD2 will be available later this month with selected operators across Europe, before rolling out to other regions in the coming months

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The HTC Imagio from Verizon

[IMAGE: PhoneMag]

This slim device is the perfect combination of function and entertainment. Windows Mobile 6.5 is enhanced with HTC TouchFLO 3D software enabling almost all of the phone’s functions to be performed with the touch of a finger. A striking  3.6 inch LCD touchscreen is the perfect pairing to Verizon’s new V CAST Mobile TV. Flip down the incorporated kickstand and lay back to watch live TV directly from your phone. Additionally, a 5 megapixel camera with autofocus allows you to capture life’s moments as they happen. The HTC Imagio is available today through Verizon for 199.99 after a $100 rebate with a new two-year customer agreement.

HTC Tilt 2 from AT&T

[IMAGE: B.G.R]

The last of the major U.S. carriers to offer this device, the HTC Tilt2 is a powerhouse of a mobile phone. Featuring a 3.6 inch LCD touchscreen and full QWERTY keyboard, the HTC Tilt 2 makes editing documents and sending emails as easy as from your PC. Additionally, HTC Straight Talk puts people at the center by enabling such functionality as transitioning from an email to a conference call with one touch, or activating the integrated speakerphone with noise cancelling technology by just flipping over the device.  The HTC Tilt 2 will be available in the coming weeks for $299.99.

HTC Pure from AT&T

Substance and style make up the new HTC Pure from AT&T. This full touchscreen device features a 3.2 inch LCD touchscreen, 5 megapixel camera, and HTC’s TouchFLO 3D. Listen to music, browse the internet, or personalize with apps from Marketplace. The HTC Pure packs a punch in a small, sleek design and is sure to impress. The HTC Pure will soon be available for $149.99.

HTC Touch2 (Overseas)

Available today in various European markets, the HTC Touch2 inherited a legacy of usability and beauty from its earlier namesake. Offering a 2.8 inch TFT-LCD touchscreen, integrated GPS, 3.2 megapixel camera, and MicroSD memory card slot, this device is perfect for those wanting total connectivity and multimedia on the go. Stay professionally and socially connected with both exchange and Facebook connectivity. The HTC Touch2 is initially available today with broad availability in a variety of European and Asian markets in early Q4 2009.

Windows Mobile and Microsoft fans (yes, it is okay to be a fan) have a lot to rejoice for today.  For starters, the long awaited official app store, known as Windows Marketplace for Mobile,  from Microsoft goes live today.  Windows Marketplace support is built into the latest Windows Mobile 6.5 ROM’s, meaning that officially the service is only available to those who run out to get a new device in the near future.  Within the near future, however, an official Microsoft solution for users of Windows Mobile 6.0 and 6.1 is supposed to be available.

In the meantime, you may want to check to see if you can run a version of the Marketplace app that comes from the stock WM 6.5 ROM.  You can find more information below in the article from our friends over at WMExperts.

For those who want to use Windows Marketplace for Mobile now and have an older device (Windows Mobile 6.0/6.1) or Windows Mobile 6.5 with the store not already on the in ROM, drellisdee over at PPC Geeks has managed to pull out the .CAB for the rest of us:

I made it from 23053 skymarket. Its for WWE only and only for devices that have a bootlauncher (IE no apache.) Let me know if it doesn’t work on stock roms as its not signed as I’m not sure if signature is required but it will run on cooked roms with full kernel trust enabled.

Luckily my cooked WM6.5 ROM for the Snap did not have the store built in and so far it seems to be running just fine, as can be seen above. Basically the .CAB installs the link, which then hops to the store via your browser to download the latest store software.

So how’s it working for you? Take the poll and let us know in comments! And remember that we’re not officially expecting the Marketplace for older devices until next month.  Grab the file here at PPC Geeks.

We have all heard the rumors, looked at the leaked screen shots, and videos, and asked the same questions.  When the heck will we actually get to see Windows Mobile 6.5 running on an actual live device?  As in one we can see in real life or buy in a store.   How about…now.  well, not exactly now.  October 11 to be more specific.  That is when the Samsung Intrepid running Windows Mobile 6.5 is due to land at Sprint. 

You can obviously see from the above picture that this one has a front facing QWERTY keyboard,along with a bay of buttons between it and the screen.  All told, it reminds me a bit of the HTC Snap, which I really enjoyed using.  But let’s take a look at some of the things you will find here that you cannot see in the picture.  Things like:

• The new TellMe voice user interface
• Sprint navigation
• Office Mobile
• 3.2 megapixel camera plus video recording
• Stereo Bluetooth
• Sprint TV, Music store, and NFL apps
• threaded text messaging
• expandable memory with MicroSD
• 2.5 inch QVGA display
• Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional
• customizable Today screen

Keep reading for the full press release.

Sprint (NYSE: S) and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the number one mobile phone provider in the United States, today announced the upcoming arrival of Samsung Intrepid smartphone, a dynamic Windows phone that lets the customer be productive on-the-go using America’s most dependable 3G network (EV-DO Rev. A) domestically and through international roaming when traveling worldwide.

Samsung Intrepid features Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional, and improves on previous Samsung Windows phones with a user experience that offers a customizable Today screen to display the features the user accesses most often and shows important information like new emails, text messages, missed calls and calendar appointments. It also has a richer Internet browsing experience and new personalization options including a diverse selection of designer themes and the ability to create an original look for your phone with the built-in theme creator.

Samsung Intrepid adds to Sprint’s robust line of international devices allowing its customers to leverage America’s most dependable network domestically and other high-performance, world class networks abroad.  Global business travelers can rest easy knowing Sprint has a solution to keep people connected when they travel in the United States and abroad.

This device is a strong addition to Sprint’s business device portfolio and features a 2.5-inch touchscreen interface with 320×240 resolution, full QWERTY keyboard, 3.2 megapixel camera and camcorder, and combines a robust mobile office experience with all the must have Microsoft Office Mobile-capabilities like corporate email and the ability to view attachments and manage your calendar. Additional business features include:

• Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional with Microsoft ActiveSync^® and Microsoft Office Mobile (edit Word and Excel^® files, view PowerPoint^®)
• Windows Mobile email (work & personal)
• stereo Bluetooth^®
• multimedia with microSD slot (up to 32 GB)
• easy access to social networking sites, including Facebook^®, Flickr^® and Twitter
• instant messaging and threaded text messaging
• Wi-Fi
• Pre-installed SIM

It will be available on Sunday, Oct. 11 for $149.99 (excluding taxes) with a new line or eligible upgrade, two-year service agreement, and after a $50 instant savings and $100 mail-in rebate, at Sprint stores, Web sales (www.sprint.com), Telesales (1-800-SPRINT1), Sprint Business Direct and select third-party dealers.

“Combined with America’s most dependable 3G network and Sprint’s affordable rate plans, Samsung Intrepid is a great value for our customers who want a Windows phone with International capabilities,” said Kevin Packingham, senior vice president – Product Development, Sprint.  “This phone offers the robust enterprise capabilities of Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional, and a best-in-class email experience with smooth Web surfing and access to applications that are both useful and fun.”

“Samsung Intrepid makes it easier for people to do more on the go by giving them the choice to use voice or touch input on a sleek new Windows phone,” said Andy Lees, senior vice president of Microsoft’s Mobile Communication Business. “Samsung Intrepid on Sprint’s reliable network is a great example of how customers benefit when industry leaders rally around a common goal – in this case convenience.”

“Samsung is excited to have the Windows phone operating system integrated into the new Samsung Intrepid,” said Omar Khan, senior vice president of Strategy and Product Management for Samsung Mobile. “Intrepid’s global connectivity, Wi-Fi capabilities touchscreen and QWERTY keyboard options combined with document editing, imaging and messaging capabilities and enhanced multitasking make this device a perfect fit for international business and personal use.”

Innovative Features and Applications

Featuring Internet Explorer Mobile 6, Samsung Intrepid offers powerful Web search capabilities with a touch-friendly user interface and Bing™ for mobile information while on-the-go, the ability to view Web sites in Mobile or Desktop view and better zoom, scroll and pan features for easier Web site navigation and an Adobe Flash Lite plug-in that allows Samsung Intrepid users to enjoy rich Flash-based games, videos and other interactive Web content on their phone. Additional upgrades over previous Samsung Windows Mobile phones include:

• Windows Marketplace for Mobile offering a rich and integrated marketplace of quality applications for purchase using a Windows Live ID
• Lock screen allows users to receive calls, keep track of upcoming calendar appointments and view recent activities, all while the phone is still locked
• Microsoft^® My Phone service allows users to access, manage and back up their personal information on their device using a password-protected, Web-based service

Samsung Intrepid from Sprint is the first device to offer Microsoft Corp.’s Tellme mobile experience, which allows customers to use their voice to dial a contact, compose a text message and search the Web using America’s most dependable 3G network. The Tellme application can search business listings, traffic, maps, driving directions, movies and weather, instantly with the touch of a button and a person’s voice. With Tellme, Samsung Intrepid users only need to push a button and say ‘coffee shop’ to get the location of nearby cafes.

Worry-free Pricing Plans

With its powerful data experience, Samsung Intrepid will benefit from the value of Sprint’s Everything Data plans, with Any Mobile, Anytime, which gives customers unlimited mobile calling on the Sprint network to and from any U.S. wireless carrier, unlimited nationwide texting, email, Web browsing and much more, starting at just $69.99.  For customers that want Sprint’s Simply Everything Plan that offers a truly unlimited experience for only $99.99 per month, and they can save $1,200 over two years vs. a comparable AT&T iPhone plan. (All price plans exclude surcharges and taxes.  Other exclusions apply.)

Sprint also offers great value on international service plans for Samsung Intrepid.  The Worldwide Data plan gives customers email and Web access in more than 145 countries worldwide, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, and other locations using CDMA technology, and with GSM/GPRS carriers abroad where Sprint has applicable roaming agreements. The plan is available for $69.99 per month, or just $40 per month (excluding taxes and surcharges) as an attachable to Simply Everything, Everything Data, Everything Data Family or Business Advantage Messaging and Data.

Sprint international voice roaming rates range from $0.59 to $5.99 per minute, depending on where customers are calling.  Customers making frequent calls while in Canada can take advantage of a specific service plan for $2.99 per month which allows calls to be made and received at $0.20 per minute.  Customers also have the option of using a third-party SIM for international voice and data services.

Sprint provides voice coverage in 195 countries and data coverage in more than 145 countries. The Sprint Worldwide voice plan (International Voice Roaming Discount Plan) enhances the value proposition for Sprint’s International devices like the Samsung Intrepid, HTC Touch Pro II and the Blackberry Tour. Customers can add the plan at anytime for $4.99/month; discounted prices available for more than 110 countries; discounts range from $0.10/minute to $3.00/minute with plan. For more information on Sprint’s International Services, go to www.sprint.com/international.

Sprint offers an additional value as the only wireless carrier to offer Ready Now with trained retail associates that work one-on-one with customers to personalize their Samsung Intrepid, set up features and demonstrate how it works before the customer leaves the store. Customers have the choice of sitting down with a Sprint retail associate at the time of purchase or they can schedule an appointment for a later time at www.sprint.com/storelocator.

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 miles.