Crave

OK, kids--hope you've been nice this year, because here's something you might want to add to your holiday wish lists. Today, T-Mobile announced not one, but two new Sidekicks to be added to its lineup: the T-Mobile Sidekick LX and the T-Mobile Sidekick Slide.

T-Mobile Sidekick LX

(Credit: T-Mobile)

Let's start with the latter since it brings something new to the mobile messaging device: a slide-up screen (all together now: oooohhh, ahhhh). Unlike previous models, which have been manufactured by Sharp/Danger, the Sidekick Slide is made by Motorola and features a smaller design. It measures 4.6 inches wide by 2.6 inches high by 0.6 inch deep and weighs 5.3 ounces, while the T-Mobile Sidekick 3 comes in at 5.1 inches wide by 2.3 inches high by 0.8 inch deep and 6.7 ounces and the Sidekick iD is 5.1 inches by 2.4 inches by 0.8 inch and 6.2 ounces. And hallelujah--it has a higher resolution screen at 320x240 pixels and 65,000 colors. The Slide still has all the messaging options that made the Sidekick popular in the first place, including a personal T-mail account, support for POP3 and IMAP e-mail, integrated AIM, Windows Live, and Yahoo instant messaging clients, and text and multimedia messaging. The quad-band phone also supports the new MySpace Mobile application (a separate download), which you can peep on the phone's Web browser that is said to have better JavaScript support. Other goodies include Bluetooth, a 1.3-megapixel camera with no (!!) video-recording capabilities, and a music player that requires the use of a microSD memory card but supports MP3 and AAC files. The Sidekick Slide will be in stores starting November 7 for $199.99 with a two-year contract.

T-Mobile Sidekick Slide

(Credit: T-Mobile)

The T-Mobile Sidekick LX goes the more traditional route in terms of design with its swivel screen. The LX is made by Sharp, and fortunately the company also decided to improve the device's mug with a larger 3-inch, 65,000-color TFT display and 400x240 pixel resolution. It's trimmed down a bit in weight at 5.7 ounces but otherwise retains the same dimensions as the Sidekick 3 mentioned above. You'll have your choice of two colors--midnight blue or espresso brown--and you can program it to light up like a Christmas tree to alert you to text messages, e-mail, and so forth. The Sidekick LX has all the same messaging features of the Slide and also works with MySpace Mobile. Final highlights of the quad-band phone include integrated Bluetooth, a 1.3-megapixel camera (again, no video recording), an MP3 and AAC music player, rated talk-time battery life of 6.8 hours, and a microSD expansion slot. T-Mobile customers get first dibs on the LX starting October 17, while the rest of the world can buy it in stores and online on October 24. Pricing is set at $299.99 with a two-year contract.

Now, we haven't had a chance to play around with these two new Sidekicks yet--we're hearing promises of the next week or two--so it's hard to comment about the new designs, which seem to be the biggest difference between the two devices and the Sidekick 3. Frankly, I wish there was a little more in the multimedia department considering the youth appeal of the Sidekick. Anyway, I'm curious: Among the current Sidekick owners and potential Sidekick owners, which one of these devices are you more interested in and why? Is there enough there to make you want to buy it?

Is this the face of the T-Mobile Sidekick Slide/Zante?

(Credit: The Boy Genius Report)

So feast your eyes on this. The Boy Genius Report has apparently scored some real-life photos of the next-gen T-Mobile Sidekick 3. Unlike previous models, the so-called Sidekick Slide (a.k.a. the Zante) is being manufactured by Motorola instead of Sharp and features a slide-up (duh, Slide) screen. No details on specs or availability just yet, but simply from a design perspective, I'm not quite sure I'm digging it. What do you guys think?

T-Mobile Sidekick iD

(Credit: T-Mobile)

Ahh, I can just hear all the tweeners now asking mommy and daddy for this new phone. Yes, today T-Mobile introduced the new T-Mobile Sidekick iD, a watered-down and more affordable version of the Sidekick 3. The Sidekick iD features a customizable exterior to match your "style, mood, or that evening's outfit," and strips out the 1.3-megapixel camera, music player, Bluetooth, and expansion slot found on its bigger brother. Other highlights include:

• Support for AIM, Yahoo, and Windows Live instant messaging clients, e-mail, and a full HTML Web browser
• Exchangeable bumpers in black, yellow, blue, white, purple, and glow-in-the-dark (oooooo)
• A 2.4-inch, 65,000-color swivel screen, full QWERTY keyboard, and trackball navigator
• Support for myFaves
• Rated talk-time battery life of 5.3 hours and up to 6 days of standby time

For the tweeners

(Credit: T-Mobile)

With this kind of barebones feature set, the device is obviously aimed at an even younger crowd than the Sidekick 3--you know, for the Jamie Lynn Spears and Ali Lohan's of the world. We'll be getting our hands on one early next week, so stay tuned for a review. If you want one of your own, the T-Mobile Sidekick iD will be available in stores and online starting April 25 and will go for $99 with a two-year contract and after rebates.

T-Mobile Sidekick 3

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Attention T-Mobile Sidekick 3 owners! There are changes coming to your precious little messaging device, and you're not going to know when or how they will happen, but they're coming.

Have we freaked you out a little? Well, don't worry. These changes are a good thing.

Starting today, T-Mobile is sending out over-the-air software updates (Release 3.4) that will bring a number of new features to the device. The four most noteworthy enhancements are as follows:

• MyFaves support: This service gives you unlimited calling to five contacts. You can choose any five U.S. numbers, regardless of carrier, then have them displayed on your Today screen for easy dialing. However, this isn't a free service; you'll have a purchase a MyFaves plan, which starts at $39.99 a month.
• Active address book: Gives you one-click access to call, text, e-mail, or IM a contact directly from your address book.
• Text message character counter: To keep all you long-winded texters in check.
• Ability to save photo attachments: Allows you to save photo e-mail attachments into your photo album.

The updates will be rolled out over the course of the next month, and you'll receive a screen prompt to accept/install the update if you so choose.

So the rumors are true: Dwyane Wade is adding cell-phone designer to his resume.

Already an NBA champion with the Miami Heat, a shoe designer for Converse, and currently working on a line of athletic clothing that will also bear his name, Wade is apparently the first pro athlete to have a hand in designing a piece of consumer electronics hardware.

(Credit: T-Mobile)

The T-Mobile Sidekick 3, D-Wade Edition is set to hit shelves Feb. 21 for $399, or $299 with a two-year contract. That's $100 more than the other Sidekick 3 phones. Maybe that's because Wade actually picked out a lot of the details for it.

(Credit: T-Mobile)

He seemed to take his nickname, "Flash," given to him by teammate Shaquille O'Neal, pretty literally here. In an interview, Wade told me he chose the gold-and-white motif because it's "Miami-ish" and reminded him of a Bugatti, a car he really likes. The back of the phone has a soft, pebble texture, which is meant to feel like a basketball.

D-Wade sounded like he's stoked about moonlighting as a fashion and lifestyle mogul.

"It's something I'm already apart of," he said. "I design shoes, I have my own clothing line coming out. I want to do more that has to do with lifestyle and clothing, put my creative mind to work."

So what are his fashion credentials, exactly? He was named the NBA's best-dressed athlete by GQ last year. Now that's an accomplishment.

Limited Edition D-Wade Sidekick 3

(Credit: Gizmodo)

(Credit: Rap-up.com via Engadget Mobile)

"Hey Flash. I'm in Miami. What r u up 2?" "Oh, hey Paris. Just chillin' with my new Sidekick." It's no secret that the T-Mobile Sidekick 3 is a hit with Hollywood's young celebs and athletes alike. Of the latter group, it seems that Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade is such a fan that he has teamed up with T-Mobile and Danger Inc. to create a Limited Edition D-Wade Sidekick 3. It's been reported that the all-star guard personally had a hand in designing the special Sidekick, taking style hints from the interior of luxury cars and Mee-ah-mi's South Beach. The white-and-gold device is adorned with a series of 3s on the front--for Wade's jersey number, the number of years he's been in the NBA, and his "mind-bending three-point plays." The back also has a basketball-like texture and feel, but it's the same 'ol Sidekick on the inside. We're trying to confirm pricing and availability date for you, but if the D-Wade Sidekick doesn't tickle your fancy, you've always got the Diane von Furstenberg and LRG limited edition Sidekick 3s.

(Credit: Gizmodo)

You know, it'd be really sad if you could make a ho-hum keyboard colorful, but couldn't do the same thing to a more personal gadget like, say, your T-Mobile Sidekick 3. Fortunately, we don't have think of such awful things, thanks to ColorWare, the same company that turns those drab white iPods into rainbow-colored delights. Now you can do the same with the Sidekick 3: ColorWare has teamed up with T-Mobile to offer the same customization options for the popular messaging device. The service costs $99, and you can choose from 28 colors in any combination, so be prepared to waste a good half-hour trying to figure out the perfect combo--or maybe that's just indecisive me.