3.7 
Blast reminded me of the Samsung T809 - one of my all time favorite T-Mobile phones - when I took it out of the box. A thin (12.7 mm), slightly wider than normal (106 x 15 mm) slider, Blast is compact and light but solid in hand, and features an attractive black with red accents color scheme. I really appreciated Blast's light weight (just 79 g), especially given the quality feel of the internal sliding mechanism. This handset stays open when it should and stays shut when it should, and sliding between the two states is made easy by a great spring mechanism.
The front panel of Blast features a two inch display flanked by a speaker cutout above, and an extensive control array below. A circular five-way directional array is flanked by two softkeys as well as dedicated keys for T-Zones (Web browser), Call, Cancel, and Clear, and one programmable shortcut button. Samsung did a nice job with the navigational buttons, packing a comfortable layout into a relatively small space and giving the keys themselves good tactile feedback.
A camera button and accessory port grace the right side of Blast, while a volume rocker switch and microSD memory card slot can be found on the left spine. The power button rests along the top edge of the phone, and when you slide the front panel up, the rear side of that top edge reveals the camera sensor and a small mirror for self-portraits. I've always liked Samsung's design for slider camera phones, as it keeps the camera sensor protected from dust and scratches when the phone is slid shut.
Sliding the panel up reveals Blast's SureType messaging keypad - kudos to T-Mobile and Samsung for trying to put some smart design into a consumer messaging phone. Featuring twenty buttons where standard dialing layouts only have twelve, Blast maps letters to a regular QWERTY layout instead of the telephone-style ABC, DEF, GHI, etc arrangement. The result is both a more familiar arrangement of characters and only having one or two letters per key instead of three - a combination that should yield more efficient thumb typing.
While SureType has become quite popular on RIM's 
What's happening now
Blog Article
Motorola Droid: iTunes media?
If you just bought a Droid and it's your first Android device, you're probably still busy getting used to the interface, setting up all of your email accounts, calendars, and the like, and possibly looking for replacements for all those Apple App Store goodies you've come to rely on in the past year or so. But if you haven't asked yourself this question yet, it's coming very soon: "What do I do with all of my old media?" You'll find that the...Blog Article
Sprint not raising ETF
With any material change when it comes to wireless companies, it's almost expected that the other carriers will follow suit. Case in point: Verizon's decision to raise their ETF (early termination fee) to $350 for smartphones and other "high-end" devices. Within minutes of the announcement, Twitter and technology websites were buzzing about whether other carriers would pursue the same policy.In a tweet from Sprint's official account...Video
iPhone 3GS vs Droid, Pt 2
iDon't but DroidDoes? Let's find out. PhoneDog DogFight Part 2: iPhone vs Moto DroidBlog Article
Hacker taps jailbroken iPhones
Imagine hanging out somewhere, minding your own business, maybe checking email or texts on your iPhone, when suddenly this message pops up on screen. If you have a pristine, fully sanctioned iPhone, you can breath easy. Those with jailbroken phones may want to pay attention to this, though: A Dutch hacker has figured out how to tunnel into jailbroken iPhones, via SSH, and remotely turn on the message, "Your iPhone's been hacked because it's...Blog Article
Dell Mini 3iX hits FCC
The boys at the FCC have just given approval to the Dell Mini 3iX in US form factor - 3G on the 850 MHz and 1900 MHz bands, along with Wi-Fi. It will offer a 3.5-inch touchscreen, 3G connectivity, GPS, a microSD card slot, and a 3.0-megapixel camera. No word on what Android OS it will be running, but the hope is that it will run Android 2.0 "Eclair" out of the box (or some sort of newer Android build). Though conventional logic...Blog Article
T-Mobile reports Q3 results
Last but not least, we take a look at T-Mobile's third quarter earnings. Step up to the plate, T-Mobile, it's your turn!In the third quarter, the nation's fourth largest wireless carrier lost 77,000 net retail wireless customers, a dramatic turn from the 670,000 additions in the same quarter last year and the 325,000 in the second quarter. T-Mobile lost a total of 140,000 postpaid subscribers in the quarter, and gained 63,000 prepaid...Blog Article
John's take on Android apps
Today's a big deal, whether you care about Android, iPhone, Verizon, AT&T, Motorola, or none of the above. The biggest wireless provider in the land is now selling Google-powered smartphones. With all due respect to Sprint and T-Mobile, both of whom I love, with Verizon in the game we'll really start to see whether or not US consumers have love for Android. To that end, I present to you John Walton, PhoneDog Editor Extraordinare and...Blog Article
AT&T getting white Curve 8900?
Sure, they launched the Bold in white, but do you think that's going to stop them? Of course not. It looks as if the BlackBerry Curve 8900 is getting ready to be re-launched in white - at least the back part of the device. Missing from the Curve 8900 iteration of the white color scheme is the matching keyboard (instead, they kept it black). Considering the use that most keyboards go through, I think it's a smart...Blog Article
Price check: Droid contracts
Mobile Content Today posted an interesting breakdown today. Writer Todd Ogasawara ponders, not whether to get the Moto DROID, but how to get it: At the discount price (with two-year contract), partial discount (for a one-year contract) or full price (no contract at all). I know some of you guys might be wondering the same thing, so here’s a summary of what Mr. Ogasawara came up with:The choices: $200 price (after a $100 mail-in rebate)...Blog Article
First Impressions: Droid
The Droid by Motorola is arguably Verizon's largest launch in recent memory. Huge ad campaigns (some of which are getting them into legal hot water), early retail store openings, and more, the smartphone is Verizon's flagship for the rest of the year. What's more, the success of the Droid is incredibly important for Motorola, as they've struggled to retain a competitive edge since the launch of their RAZR device in 2004 (I know, I...Blog Article
A look at Cubetastic Behold2
Our pal John Walton has a post up on Droiddog with a video that offers a look at the Samsung Behold2's interface. If you’ve been itching to see the Android phone “Cube”-style, check it out by clicking here. (And say hi to John for us.) Actually, the vid itself came courtesy of David over at TmoNews. In addition to the glimpse of the UI, he also offers a short preview vid of the Behold2, which is on view at the same Droiddog...Blog Article
Sprint announces Curve 8350
Not to be left in the dark, shortly after the official Verizon Wireless announcement regarding the BlackBerry Curve 8530, Sprint came out with an announcement of its own. Though no firm date or price point have been established, the nation's third largest wireless carrier confirmed that it will launch in the future. My guess is that the price point will be somewhere in the $99.99 range after a $100 mail-in rebate, however with the...Video
Unboxing: BlackBerry Bold 9700
BlackBerry Bold 9700 unboxing by Aaron Baker from PhoneDog.com. 624 MHz processor, trackpad, 3.2-megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, and OS 5.0. Is it a worthy upgrade to its predecessor?Video
Verizon HTC Droid Eris
Noah gets some time with Droid Eris, Verizon's version of the HTC Hero, which goes on sale Nov. 6. Android 1.5, HTC Sense UI, and multitouch.Blog Article
