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Just a friendly little reminder that the T-Mobile Sidekick LX 2009 is now available for purchase at T-Mobile stores nationwide and online. The new Sidekick is available in orchid or carbon and is priced at $249.99 with a two-year contract, though previous Sidekick owners get a $50 price cut. New features include a brilliant display, 3G, GPS, and Facebook and Twitter integration.

While still best for the younger crowd, we'd have to say the Sidekick LX is maturing quite nicely. For more information about the device, check out our full review of the T-Mobile Sidekick LX 2009.

Kent is back from vacation and ready to face an avalanche of Palm Pre rumors. Now that we have another possible release date (June 7), we get word of two additional Palm devices featuring the Pre OS. Some BlackBerry news is also afoot and we have a couple of new Samsung phones for Verizon Wireless and MetroPCS. In reviews, Bonnie put the new 3G-enabled Sidekick LX through its paces and Nicole tests the LG Wine and the Sidekick CDM-8950. And of course, we take your questions.

News
Palm Pre coming to Canada's Bell Mobility
Nokia E52 keeps going and going
BlackBerry Storm 2 confirmed by RIM CEO
BlackBerry Curve 8900 headed to AT&T
Talk or type with the Motorola Clutch i465
Samsung Smooth for Verizon
Samsung Tint goes to MetroPCS

Reviews
T-Mobile Sidekick LX 2009
Nokia E71x
LG Wine
Verizon Wireless CDM-8950

Upcoming reviews
Verizon Wireless USB760 Modem
Duet D888
Samsung Tint
Samsung WEP460 Bluetooth headset

It's just the three of us today, but that's when we have the best shows. Before we get into stories, please be sure to check out the preshow some time at the404.cnet.com or watchbol.com. During the weekdays, around 11 a.m. EST, Jeff, Justin, and Wilson spend about 20 minutes goofing off, and it becomes a riot.

(Credit: T-Mobile)

Today's show is jam packed with stories. First, Pizza Hut is trying to hire an intern, who's only job is to Twitter for the company. We think they should have advertised this yesterday on 4/20. So-called "beer googles" don't really exist, according to scientists. We never believed they did either. We just think that it makes most guys say, "Why not?" Last story for the first half is the release of the new T-Mobile Sidekick LX. It's no longer a brick. Justin is still intent, though, on keeping his iPhone since Hulu announced it would release an app.

Second half of the show, we've got Tuna Tuesday again! This time from Amsterdam! Also, the press seems to hate "Sit Down, Shut Up." Jeff and Wilson aren't big fans of the pilot, either, from "Arrested Development" creator Mitchell Hurwitz. Further along, we find out there's a Lego Rock Band game and a DJ Hero game! Finally, vote for CNET TV for the People's Choice Award at the 2009 Webby Awards. Our jobs depend on it... not really, but it would be nice to play dress up.

Follow us on the Twitter at @the404, and send us your comments. We listen. We promise.

T-Mobile Sidekick LX

(Credit: T-Mobile)

During the past couple of weeks, we've seen pieces of the puzzle falling into place--leaked images and internal memos, FCC approval, a scheduled New York launch event. However, Thursday night, T-Mobile put all the speculation to rest and added the final and definitive piece to the puzzle. The end product? The new T-Mobile Sidekick LX.

Not to be confused with the original Sidekick LX, which it will eventually replace, the Sidekick LX 2009 offers a slimmed-down design and some great new features, including 3G, Flash video support, and Twitter integration.

Current Sidekick owners will get first dibs on the new device. Online presales start now for a price of $199 with a two-year contract. If ordered by April 30, customers will receive their Sidekicks on May 12; if ordered after April 30, the device will be delivered within 7 business days. For everyone else, the Sidekick LX will be available in stores nationwide and online on May 13, but final price had not yet been determined.

To come clean, we actually got a preview of the T-Mobile Sidekick LX at CTIA 2009, but we couldn't say anything because of nondisclosure agreements. However, now that the cat's out of the bag, we can talk about all the features and our first impressions.

T-Mobile Sidekick LX

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET Networks)

Attention Sidekick LX owners, starting this week T-Mobile will start rolling out over-the-air (OTA) updates that will bring some very welcome (and overdue) features to your device.

First announced alongside the Limited Edition Tony Hawk Sidekick LX, the update adds two major capabilities: video record, play, and share; and support for stereo Bluetooth headsets and file transfers. You'll also get some smaller but equally useful features, including an alarm clock, an integrated spell-checker, advanced instant-messaging functions, and more personalization options for the Web. The upgrade is free and it'll be a gradual rollout so if you don't get yours right away, don't freak out. You'll be notified on your device when it's ready to be downloaded. Finally, all T-Mobile Sidekick LX models that ship starting July 29 will come with the added functionality already preloaded on the handset.

T-Mobile Sidekick LX Tony Hawk Edition

(Credit: T-Mobile)

What do Dwyane Wade, Diane von Furstenberg, and LRG have in common? Give up? They all have their own special edition T-Mobile Sidekick model, and now you can add professional skateboarder Tony Hawk to that list. Today, T-Mobile and Hawk introduced the T-Mobile Sidekick LX Tony Hawk Edition, which not only boasts new design elements but also new features.

Hawk, who says he's been a "loyal Sidekick user since the first model" had a hand in designing the special edition model and builds off the Sidekick LX with a slate gray shell, blue-and-white accents, and the skater's signature hawk graphic. In addition, the back of the handset has a texture that simulates the grip tape found on top of a skateboard deck. Other Hawk influences include an exclusive video of him performing skate tricks and skating sound effects for when you open and close the swivel screen.

The Tony Hawk Sidekick LX will also be the first Sidekick to ship with video recording, playback, and sharing capabilities, plus stereo Bluetooth support and more personalization options. Now, all you current Sidekick LX owners, don't get all in a huff. T-Mobile will release an over-the-air update later this summer to provide you with the same functionalities. The T-Mobile Sidekick LX Tony Hawk Edition will be available in stores and online some time in July. Current Sidekick customers will get first dibs and you can preregister for the device on the Sidekick Web site. Pricing has not been finalized at this time.

Ohh, I like it.

Am I too old to own a Sidekick? As someone in his early 30s (okay, mid-30s) I've always thought that the T-Mobile Sidekick belonged more in the hands of a twentysomething, My Space addict than it did in my very uncool hands. But after Bonnie Cha lent me the Sidekick LX, I discovered I liked it using it. The spacious QWERTY keyboard is one of the best I've seen on a phone and the display resoultion is top-notch. Yes, it's missing a lot of high-end data and multimedia features but as a messaging device it's hard to beat. On the other hand, I didn't love using it to make calls, which if course is the whole point of a cell phone. As Bonnie noted in her review, the audio quality isn't spectacular and it felt strange to hold such an enormous handset next to my ear. So up until Monday I decided that the Sidekick was nice for some but not so much for me.

But then when Bonnie and I met with T-Mobile yesterday at CTIA I got to examine the Sidekick Slide for the first time. And I can say I liked what I saw. To begin with, it's noticeably smaller than the Sidekick LX, which I think is a good thing. It's a tad heavier but I thought it was much more comfortable to hold and the keyboard remained user-friendly. On the other hand, the navigation on the toggle was inferior to the one on the LX. Not only did it have a somewhat cheap feel, but also it's just about flush with the surface of the phone so it wasn't as easy to manipulate.

I also like the sliding design on the equally vibrant display. While I get that the swivel action on the previous Sidekick models was one the device's hallmarks, it always made me feel I was going to break it. I tend to be very rough on my cell phones and even though T-Mobile said it subjected the swivel hinge to torture tests I still don't trust myself. Unfortunately, the Slide's feature set still lacks some fancy options, and we haven't yet tested the call quality, but I think it remains an appealing device. T-Mobile said the Slide was designed to attract new, and slightly different, Sidekick users. Maybe I'll be one of them. Stay tuned for a full review of the Slide in the next few weeks.

T-Mobile Sidekick LX

(Credit: T-Mobile)

Oh, I see how it is. Tonight, A-list celebrities will gather in Hollywood to attend the launch party for the T-Mobile Sidekick LX--no doubt sipping the finest champagne, pecking at scrumptious hors d'oeuvres, and receiving their very own LX to take home with them. And the rest of us? Well, we get to line up at our local T-Mobile store starting at 8 a.m., tomorrow (first sale at 9 a.m.) along with all the other customers who are looking to get their hands on the new Sidekick. Hmm, yeah ... sounds just as fun.

All kidding aside, there will be a kickoff event at all T-Mobile stores nationwide tomorrow where you can purchase the Sidekick LX (in midnight blue or espresso brown) for $299.99 with a two-year contract. As a quick reminder, new features on the LX include an improved display that shows 65,000 colors at a 400x240 pixel resolution, a trimmer form factor, and MySpace Mobile integration. We just got the device, so check back tomorrow for our full review.

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?