This morning T-Mobile released the new Motorola CLIQ XT Android smartphone.  The third handset in the CLIQ line is a touchscreen-only device (no hardware keyboard) with Motorola’s MOTOBLUR widget-powered social networking software included.  The CLIQ XT can be purchased today for $129 with a two-year service agreement from T-Mobile retail stores or from the company’s web site.

Today’s announcement also included interesting (and expected) Windows Phone news; the company confirmed that March 24 is the date for the release of the HTC HD2 Windows Phone.  The cost with a service agreement will be $199.  This information was provided to us by an inside source earlier in the month.

Well, it’s not a Windows Phone 7 Series model, but today HTC took the wraps off a new Windows Mobile handset: the HD mini. 

The HTC HD mini is a smaller version of the HD2 Überphone, which is coming to T-Mobile in the spring.  The smaller form factor does come with compromises: the HD mini has a slower processor (600MHz v. the HD2’s 1GHz) and a smaller 3.2-inch HVGA display.  Other features include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3G wireless data connectivity, Windows Mobile 6.5 Pro with HTC Sense, 512MB of flash storage, 384MB of RAM, a 1200mAh Li-Ion battery, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

There was no official release date for the HD mini included in the press release, but you can expect the handset to hit the U.S. sometime after April.

You can read the full HTC press release after the jump.

Continue reading »

Sony Ericsson has a new Windows Phone lined up for 2010: the Sony Ericsson Aspen. 

The Aspen runs the latest version of Windows Mobile, v6.5.3, and will debut sometime in Q2 2010.  Features include a QVGA touchscreen display, a 3.2MP camera, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a microSDHC flash memory slot.  While the Aspen will be released in “select markets,” the Sony Ericsson did not state whether one of those markets would be the United States.

Learn more about the Sony Ericsson Aspen or read the Sony Ericsson Aspen Press Release.

HTC has posted an info page for the upcoming T-Mobile version of the HD2 Windows Phone.  Aside from giving us our first look at the T-Mobile branded handset, it also reveals updated memory capacities beyond those of the non-U.S. versions of the HD2.

The RAM, system memory, and the flash ROM, file storage, have each received a capacity boost.  The RAM has been increased from 448MB to 576MB.  More interestingly, the ROM has been doubled to 1GB.

Why make these changes?  Most likely to accommodate the version of Windows Mobile 7 expected to be made available for the T-Mobile HD2 later this year.

In addition to its internal memory, the T-Mobile HD2 will also ship with a 16GB microSDHC flash memory card.

Today Google and HTC officially announced the worst-kept tech “secret” of 2010: the Nexus One Android Smartphone.  The new device, which has been known to exist for weeks, features a 1GHz Qualcomm processor, a 3.7-inch AMOLED touchscreen, GPS, Wi-Fi, an array of sensors, and a 5MP digital camera with autofocus and LED flash. 

The Nexus One runs Android 2.1, and is the first smartphone to do so.  New OS features include Facebook and Picasa integration, Quick Contacts, animated wallpaper, a new standard news/weather widget, a tweaked app launcher and additional homescreen panes.

Voice support has also been added for all text entry, so you can dictate anywhere you can type, and more applications are voice-aware for spoken commands. 

The Nexus One is being sold both unlocked directly from Google ($529) or under contract with T-Mobile service ($179).  Verizon Wireless will begin offering a version of the Nexus One in the spring. 

Learn more about the Nexus One Android Smartphone…