MSMobiles is reporting from a reliable source that the HTC TyTN II (aka the "Tilt") is scheduled to get a new ROM update that will include "...improved graphics drivers and will offer improved performance". What is more exciting is that this update is planned for this month and possibly even next week. (For those needing a refresher on the topic, click here for past coverage).

Yowzers.

The bad news? This is only for unbranded HTC TyTN II devices, meaning the AT&T Tilt won't be included, for whatever reason (we're betting it has to do with this: money and who pays).

While unfortunate and inconvenient, at least it may be possible for the prominent hacker community to rip the driver for those unlucky owners of branded devices--stay tuned.

However, what may be even worse, if true, is this quote from MSMobiles:

HTC is not not (!) preparing in near future updates for any other phones that might have these graphic issues.

Probably not what anyone wants to hear. Hopefully details will follow as pressure mounts on HTC.

Ah, DSL Reports. That high-speed, mobile and virtual drag-racing website where geeks alike go to compare the speeds of their devices and wage endless carrier wars with each other.

Plus it's also great for seeing unreleased devices pop up on "the grid", so to speak.

In this case we have Palm's highly anticipated Treo 800w (which Dieter and I just love talking about in the latest podcast). Sure, it's hardly ground breaking stuff but with "silly season" upon us for this device, any news, sighting or info gets some of us psyched.

What does the report tell us? Not much. 320x320 resolution, it's on Sprint, it's running Mobile Internet Explorer 7.11. That last bit about MIE 7.11 is also important as IE 7.x is found in WM 6.1, though it is not clear if it's the full new version of Mobile Internet Explorer that Derek "the Master of Mobility, the Wizard of Wireless, the Warlock of Windows Mobile" Snyder showed off a while back with full Flash, Silverlight and h.264 support or the slightly improved (but it's no Opera 9.5) version found in WM 6.1. Time will tell.

Finally, while that speed (475 kbps) ain't bad, it's well below that of EvDO RevA speeds telling us either that device is non-RevA-enabled (as our earlier report suggested) or perhaps there were no RevA towers at that moment.

Thanks to AngelsFan for the tip!

Following the whirlwind week of HTC announcements, word on the street is that HTC's Diamond has hit the FCC, which is great news for those looking to get their grubby mitts on one.

Going through the documents (see how we sacrifice our sanity here for you folks?), there are a couple of interesting tidbits to found (and pictured after the jump) that have not been reported on the 'nets yet:

• GSM only
• 3 different versions
• 6 different batteries are being tested (including a larger 1340 mah variant)
• Optional front cameras for video conferencing

The battery part is interesting as clearly HTC is experimenting with what works the best and are evidently prepared to ship an extended 1340mah battery (over the stock and perhaps diminutive 900mah).

The different camera versions are to be expected as usually you get front-facing cameras/video on unlocked versions, whereas the carriers tend to ditch those (for whatever reason) and will offer just the 3.1mp rear camera/video.

When should we expect these devices to hit shelves? Hard to say. FCC clearance can take anywhere from weeks to a couple of months. Since these docs were just "submitted" on 5/8 and considering all the different versions and battery configurations, perhaps testing may take a bit longer than usual, but we wouldn't be surprised to see these in the next few months here in the States with possibly a full-priced (~$800) unlocked version first and carrier subsidized (and more limited) later on.

Hit the link to see some of the FCC screenshots (and here for all the FCC docs).

» Read the rest of "HTC Diamond hits FCC: GSM Version(s) only"

Vincent of PhoneMag.com got a sit-down with HTC's Horace Luke, their Chief Innovation Officer. Backing up his sweet job title, Luke talks about the philosophy behind TouchFLO 3D. I gotta say, Luke and I must be on the same wavelength, because there are two things about TouchFLO 3D he mentions that I also mentioned during our WMExperts Podcast this week. The first: that a touch interface isn't so much about just “TAP TAP TAP!” as it is moving and dragging.

The second: The Touch Diamond has a great feature built-in with its accelerometer. When you receive a call, you can just set your phone face-down on the table and it will ignore the call. That's really perfect. They've taken a common social cue, namely:

Talking to this person right in front of me is more important than this call, so I'll see who it is and then set the phone face down so they know I'm interested in this in-person conversation.

...and turned it into a feature on the phone. HTC: we love you.

MWg, whose Zinc II slider doesn't look half-bad, whose handsets may actually be manufactured by HTC, and who -- let's face it -- is very unlikely to ever release a device with a US carrier, has officially launched in Europe. Modaco was at the event and grabbed a shot from their presentation. Therein, MWg said that they plan on releasing a device in Q4 of 2008 called Flame II. Let's take a look at the specs:

• Big screen, “3.5 inch or higher”
• Multimedia Features
• Windows Mobile 7
• 3.2mp camera
• GPS

...whoa, waitasecondtherecowboy! Is MWg claiming they're going to release a Windows Mobile 7 device by the end of the year? Good eye, catching that one, Paul!

We're doubting it will happen (it is just a roadmap from a very new and untested company), but it's interesting nonetheless. At any rate, it at least is another sight that we can expect Windows Mobile 7 leaks, like the one we first pointed out to you earlier this week, to start coming up on us on a regular basis.

We heard yesterday from Everything Q that the Verizon Q9c would be hitting today, a full week earlier than previously expected. Seems to be the case, as heading over to Verizon's site shows the Q9c as available for $199 after contract and discounts and whatnot.

If anybody picks one of these suckers up, we're curious to hear what the real differences are between it and the Q9m. We're expecting tat the Q9c may not have the fancy “the m is for music” today screen, but we're wondering if the focus on “VZ Navigator” in the promotional materials means that there's unhindered GPS in them thar Q9cs. Given Verizon's lip service about “openness” lately, it would be the right thing to do.

Thanks to Chris for the tip!

Let's face it: if you're reading this blog there's a healthy chance have a Windows Mobile device on your person at all times. Even, we suspect, when you're working out. Don't just let it sit there clipped to your shorts (or tucked into your spandex. By the way, please stop doing that. Ew.), instead you can put it to good use by tracking progress and details in your workout.

Create an Excel spread sheet for your workout plan. Along the top you can label each date and along the left hand side you will have all your workouts and weight. As you go from day to day you can enter weights lifted and exercises performed. This way at the end of each month you can use the option to create a graph and see how you have been doing. It may not hold a candle to the superb Nokia Sports Tracker, but it's a start.

There's other workout-related uses too. Gym playing crappy top 40 during your reps? With your Windows Mobile phone you can customize the music you listen to according to your work out. Running a 4 mile distance today? Try some Eye of the Tiger from the Rocky theme song. A set of lightweight A2DP bluetooth headphones can also help keep you from getting wires tangled with those crazy Bowflex machines too.

A great idea is to use your WinMo device to track your diet. I suggest you pick up Health and Diet Manager to keep track of food. This program tracks everything from calories to protein, and exercises allowing you and your diet to be one again. Now at the end of the day you can sleep easy knowing you cut those extra calories out of your diet.

If you're a slob like a certain Editor I know, you might need to set your sights a little lower. Say - use your Windows Mobile smartphone to send twits to Qwitter, a site that uses Twitter to help you quit smoking.

These are some ways you can use your Windows Mobile phone to slim down or size up for summer. Let us know in the comments how you’re using your Windows Mobile phone to stay in shape.

Rumors and new devices this week: the HTC Touch Diamond, the Treo 800w, and more. Plus: a whole heapin' helpin' of listener emails. Plus - there's an “announcement” at the very end that you'll want to hear. Listen in!

• Download it directly with this link
• Subscribe via iTunes
• Subscribe directly to the Podcast feed with your favorite Podcatcher here
• Check out Microsoft's Getting Started with Podcasts article
• Listen to it here with this flash player:

» Read the rest of "WMExperts Podcast 13 - HTC Diamond, Treo 800w, and Your Emails"

Another day, another crazy Sprint rumor. First we heard the crazy rumor that T-Mobile owner Deutsche Telekom was considering a Sprint acquisition. Then Sprint officially announced their spinning off at least a portion of their WiMAX infrastructure into a new company called Clearwire. Now this: the Wall Street Journal is reporting that Sprint is also thinking about dumping Nextel ASAP.

No deal is imminent, these people say, characterizing the discussions over Nextel's fate as part of an ongoing strategic review at Sprint. But the fact that Sprint is even contemplating undoing the Nextel merger highlights the problems facing the No. 3 wireless carrier in the U.S. - WSJ.com (reg required for full article)

Anybody else thinking Sprint is getting rid of the stuff they know nobody else is especially interested in as a way to make themselves a juicier buyout target?

So what do you do when you can’t get the girl of your dreams? You go for her sister named AOL. That's the rumor, anyway. According to Geek, Microsoft is currently mulling over an AOL acquisition.

Seems Microsoft is out for whatever it can get these days. Since they missed with the approach to Yahoo and got no where, they decided to go across the street and knock on AOLs door. Some say it was to put pressure on Yahoo while others say it was a back-up plan. In either case, it looks like Microsoft is pretty serious about picking up a company that combines some online services with a serious online ad revenue model. AOL certainly fits the bill: hitting $5.2 billion in revenues last year.

If all goes well Microsoft can sweep AOL off her feet much cheaper than that snobby Yahoo. Still, this doesn't seem like quite as good a fit for Microsoft as Yahoo... and Yahoo itself didn't seem like that great of a fit in the first place. We're not going to say something smells a bit fishy here, except that we sorta just did.