OK, let's not all lose our stuff there, but that indeed is Windows Mobile 6.5.x (or 6.5.3, if you prefer) running on Toshiba TG01 at CES this year. You know, the same TG01 that's been out for some time now. You can spot the upgraded OS by the round buttons at the bottom, and that the Windows Flag start menu has shifted south as well.

And the TG01 still isn't a slouch when it comes to hardware. It was the first WinMo phone to sport the 1GHz Snapdragon processor, its 4.1-inch (nearly as big as the HD2) touchscreen, while capacitive, is very good. And so long as it's not running that weird neon UI we saw on top of it initially, it's very snappy.

So we know the following: An updated version of Windows Mobile 6.5 is on the way for the TG01. This isn't some hacked ROM. (And for those of you counting at  home, it's Build Windows Mobile 6.5 Build 23091.5.3.0. By comparison, the cooked ROM I'm running (find it here) is Build 28001.5.5.0. That's a whole different branch, and don't read too much into it. But suffice to say this isn't likely isn't the bleeding edge of Windows Mobile that we're seeing here. We've been running this on cooked ROMs for some time now.

That said, we learn the following: Windows mobile 6.5.3 indeed is coming to devices, and the TG01 likely will be one of the first. As for the rest? Start your guessing.

Here's the Toshiba Dynapocket X02T from Japan's Softbank. If it looks familiar, it should. It's really just a rebranded Toshiba TG01. But what's new this time is that Softbank has U.S. filmmaker Quentin Tarantino (perhaps you've heard of him) shilling for it, and it's definitely entertaining. Peep video of the Q-Man (that's what he asked us to call him -- really) and more of the Dynapocket X02T (great phone, lousy name) after the break. [dvice via newlaunches]

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Let's play our favorite game: Guess the carrier. For those of you who don't work in cell phone stores, the photo you see above from Phone Arena is of a CelleBrite unit, which transfers info from one phone to another (presumably) pretty seamlessly. Note the "source model" here is the Toshiba TG01 (See our latest hands-on), and it's said that this one's from a Verizon store. Far-fetched? Not really. Remember that we've already seen a CDMA version slide through the feds.

If this pans out, it would give Big Red a pair of black slab Windows phones -- the TG01 and the HTC Imagio. That could be a tough call for VZW customers. On one hand you have the TG01 and its 4.1-inch (resistive) touchscreen and 1GHz Snapdragon processor. On the other hand you have the HTC Imagio, and all the custom ROM hackery that goes along with it.

This also probably all but rules out the HTC HD2 hitting Verizon first, but anything's possible, we guess.

The good: Wow. What a device. If there was one phone that blew me away it would be the massive TG01.  The combination of a huge 4.1-inch screen and 1GHz Snapdragon was an experience to witness.

When Windows Mobile 6.5 hits 1GHz it becomes something different.  It is so fluid, fast and quick to the touch it changes the game.  And that screen was just this big, bold, beautiful source of visual goodness--I was like a moth staring at the spotlight.

It was a little strange surrendering all hardware buttons--even the Phone/Send and End keys are part of the screen, but all in all it works just because it is so huge.  Now I see why HTC made the HD2, they must have played with TG01. Man if this phone had a capacitive screen, it would be the Zune phone that everyone wants.

The bad: Well for one, there is no promise of this thing coming to the States, so this may have been my only chance.  Number two, the soft keyboard was awful.  Perhaps the screen sensitivity could be tweaked or there are other versions to be made, but I literally missed every other letter when typing.  Maybe they can license HTC's fantastic soft keyboard.  Finally, there is no 3.5mm headset jack.

Availability: Now, import only. Price varies.

Want to see this beast in action? Take a look after the break! Trust me, it's worth it.

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There's been zero doubt that we'd see Windows Mobile 6.5 on the Toshiba TG01 because, well, it was announced pretty much from the launch of the phone, and we've already seen a build running on it -- and running very swiftly on that 1GHz Snapdragon processor. And now Toshiba RSVP'd for the Oct. 6 Super Duper Windows Mobile 6.5 launch day.

That said, the TG01 still isn't available on any any U.S. carrier. (Though we're holding out a little hope.) So, anyway, full presser on the upgrade is after the break.

Via Slashgear

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When last we saw the Toshiba TG02, we were looking at a leaked photo that might or might not have pointed to another slab form factor like its little brother, the TG01.

Now things get a little muddy, or possibly lost in translation. Dutch site Tweakers.net [via] has spotted the TG02 going through the WiFi Alliance [pdf link] and notes that the TG02 is a clamshell phone. But the model number is listed as TM5-EO1, which Unwired View reminds us is definitely not a clamshell phone and in fact is the FCC code for the TG01.

So what does it all mean? Heck if we know. But there is a TG02 floating around out there somewhere, and we did see a rumor that the TG01 was getting some CDMA love, so maybe things are along those lines. Or maybe it's something completely different. Or ... Or ...

There's been a bit of gnashing of teeth over the Toshiba TG1. Sure, it's got that crazy user interface that we're not totally sold on, but it also has that giant (albeit resistive) touchscreen and is the first device to launch with a 1GHz Snapdragon processor. Oh, and it wasn't planning on coming anywhere near North America.

That may well change. Engadget spied the TG01 gaining FCC approval — in a CDMA flavor. Of course, the only CDMA carriers in the United States are Sprint and Verizon, so that narrows the choices down a little bit. The FCC listing also notes that it was testing a "production" device, and not a prototype, so things may be farther along than anyone knew. It's also entirely possible that neither carrier could pick up the TG01, leaving us right where we are today: importing a pretty cool phone at a hefty price.

Oopsie. Apparently a few Toshiba TG01s (those are the Snapdragon-powered, massive-screened phones we've been gushing over a bit) sold in July shipped with a virus. And, no, we're not talking about the funky user interface. Inside-handy.de [via unwired view]

Through the virus caused damage at O2 have not been reported. Toshiba is currently assessing the impact and the cause. We want as quickly as possible to clarify to what a virus is involved and how the virus on the memory cards could reach. From the beginning of next week, the TG01 again be distributed.

No word, though, on what sort of trouble the virus caused, and this appears confined to O2, so no need to run out and buy virus protection for your phone, especially since the TG01 isn't even available in the United States. And for more on smartphones and viruses, check out our previous story.

Just a little eye candy for you of the Toshiba TG01. Sure, what you're seeing on the screen here is simulated, but we just can't get enough of imagining a 1GHz Snapdragon processor with a 4.1-inch screen. So sue us.

Via Mobile Tech Addicts

Good news for British fans of Windows Mobile, huge touchscreens and fast processors: The Toshiba TG01, as expected, will be exclusive on the Orange network starting July 10 and is free if you sign up for a two-year contract.

A refresher on the specs:

• Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional (upgradable to 6.5 - which we've already seen on it).
• Qualcomm QSD8250 Snapdragon processor at 1GHz.
• Size: 70x130x9.9 mm.
• Weight: 129g.
• 4.1-inch, 480x800 resistive touchscreen.
• 3.2MP camera.
• 512MB ROM/256MB RAM.
• MicroSD card.
• Bluetooth 2.0.
• WiFi b/g.
• 1,000mAh battery. (Rut-ro, Raggy. That's gonna need some pretty regular charging.)
• Quad-band EDGE (850/900/1800/1900); 2100MHz for HSPA. So it'll work in the U.S., just not with 3G data.
• aGPS.

Should be interesting to see some real-world results on battery life. While the Snapdragon is supposed to make things easier on the power source, a mere 1,000mAh battery makes us cringe a little. And do note that the phone will work on the U.S. GSM network, but data will be limited to EDGE only.

Orange [via Coolsmartphone]