Gizmodo: sprint instinct

Windows Mobile 6.5 Will Get TellMe Voice Commands

Wilson Rothman — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:01:00 EDT

Unlike some smartphones we know, phones running WinMo 6.5 will get a pretty amazing connected voice command interface, courtesy of Microsoft subsidiary TellMe.

There are already TellMe apps out there, where the service listens to requests—search queries or requests for other data—and carries them out online. BlackBerry and Sprint Instinct have them, and the newest Ford Sync system uses TellMe for traffic data too. But in WinMo 6.5, TellMe isn't just an app, it's a one-button hub for voice commands of all kinds, including text messaging, making calls, and also jumping to Microsoft Live Search with natural language queries like "weather in San Francisco, California," "pizza in Kansas City" or "mother's day gift ideas."

Microsoft has long been big on the voice command thing, with PocketPC versions of it dating back five or more years, so it makes sense that they'd make a bigger push with Windows Mobile 6.5 than others have done. Things are also more connected now, so it also makes sense that a new voice command system would blur the line between what's happening on the phone itself (texting, etc.) and what's happening in the wireless cloud (searches, etc.).

I am a huge fan of voice commands, and am still pissed off that Apple has ignored their safety benefits, as well as their convenience, in iPhone development, and I'm glad to see at least one of the power hitters pushing the idea towards the next logical stage.

The service will be free at WinMo 6.5 launch, either as a download from the awkwardly named Windows Marketplace for Mobile, or pre-embedded by the carrier or handset maker. [TellMe]

TellMe promo video:

Samsung Instinct Mini Coming to Sprint April 15, or Thereabouts

matt buchanan — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:39:00 EDT

Sprint's tinier, rounder Instinct Mini is hitting on April 15 for Brightpoint and around the 19th for everybody else, according to a leaked inventory report. [Engadget]

Sprint Instinct Mini Captured In Customarily Blurry Images

Mark Wilson — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:40:00 EST

According to some legit-looking shots from a Sprint forum, this is your new Samsung/Sprint Instinct Mini.

It's really not looking so different than the original Instinct, save for the rounded edges that should make it more comfortable in the hand while distinguishing it a bit more from the iPhone. If earlier leaks are to be trusted, you'll see this handset sometime in mid-April. But is anyone out there earnestly excited about the redux? [Sprint Users via BGR]

Opera Mini 4.2 Now Available for Sprint Instinct

matt buchanan — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 13:45:00 EST

We played with Opera Mini 4.2 on Android yesterday, but it's got one other new platform up its sleeve: the Sprint Instinct. Opera is something we've been waiting for ever since the Instinct's browser totally blew on an otherwise great feature phone (though it's gotten better with the recent 1.1 update). Opera Mini should add some spring in its web-surfing step, since it's reading optimized pages that have been crunched Opera's servers and spat back to your phone. You'll need to sideload it, but if you've got the Instinct, you should give Opera a test drive. [Opera]

Sprint Instinct Gets Pandora for $3 a Month

matt buchanan — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 12:30:00 EDT

Another talking point for the throaty fake movie announcer in Sprint's occasionally amusing Instinct vs. iPhone schtick: The Instinct now has a Pandora app. However, it'll cost you three bucks a month (like on most phones with Pandora), even though it's free on the iPhone. You can grab it through your Digital Lounge. Comment competition: Somehow spin that into an "Instincts Win" blurb. [Sprint Users via Gear Diary]

Sprint Instinct Firmware Update Includes Non-Crappy Browser

John Herrman — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 07:00:00 EDT

The Instinct firmware update BH29 was pushed out over the air (a cool feature in and of itself) a few days ago, with one main purpose: fixing the browser with an entirely new codebase. Lame page rendering and navigation were our biggest problems with the Instinct, so this update is definitely worth exploring. Release notes after the jump. [EverythingInstinct]

Version: BH29
Delivery: OTA
Projected Release Date: 9/17 (client initiated) 9/24 (network initiated) Projected Release Dates are best estimates and are subject to change with no notice.

Notes: Instinct firmware BH29 includes the resolution of 249 tickets open since the previous public firmware release, BF30. The release also marks the first public release of the updated Instinct Web Browser, version 1.1. The new browser is based on an entirely new codebase and brings an 10x improvement to rendering speed, most noticeable in the areas of pan/zoom/resize functionality.

New browser features include:
* VC Button -> Hide/show controls; browser controls can be hidden to provide more screen to webpage display
* Favorites enhancements -> Improvements to favorites UI allows for sticky mode lock
* 34 other web browser tickets resolved

Sprint Instinct vs. iPhone: Revenge of the 3G (Guess Who Still Wins?)

matt buchanan — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 20:00:00 EDT

Back when Sprint's $100 million shot to the iPhone's nuts kicked off, the Instinct had two big things it didn't: 3G and GPS. Now, the iPhone's got both of those, making the Instinct a non-contender, right? Not in Instinct vs. iPhone, 3G Redux. We won't, uh, spoil it for you, but guess who wins by Sprint's count with a bigger 3G network, turn-by-turn directions, and...sprinkles. Yes, sprinkles. [Sprint]

Dealzmodo: RadioShack Selling Samsung Instinct For $100 During Labor Day Weekend

Sean Fallon — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 18:30:00 EDT

If you are interested in getting your hands on a Samsung Instinct, RadioShack has announced that they will be offering an exclusive $100 price on the phone to celebrate its launch across their 4,400 stores. The Instinct is easily Sprint's best phone, but it is available only to new Sprint users who sign up for a Simply Everything Plan ($$$).The deal starts on Friday and runs through the Labor Day weekend. [MobileBurn]

Sprint Instinct Application Updates Go Live

matt buchanan — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 19:30:00 EDT

If you're rolling with the Instinct, you might have already noticed your applications prompting you for an update. If they haven't yet, they will soon. Some of the app improvements include a less sucky browsing experience on Yahoo, Hotmail, Best Buy and YouTube; faster, more responsive Sprint TV/radio; performance improvements for the Music Store; less crashy Picture Mail; and a bunch of other fixes. Deep down, we were kinda hoping they'd replace the browser outright. [Instinct Insight via Mobile Burn]

Sprint Instinct Firmware Update Fixes Bugs, Paves Path for Feature Updates

matt buchanan — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 18:29:57 EDT

Sprint's best phone, the Instinct got a little bit better today with a firmware update that patches some sniggles. No new features, but this update apparently lubes it up for a big one next month that'll drop in changes to the browser (dear god, make it better), Sprint Nav, TV, Picture Mail—and pretty much everything else on the phone. [Buzz About Wireless, Thanks squirtle!]

Put the Instinct in a YouTube Clip, Sprint Will Give You $20

matt buchanan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:45:00 EDT

Clever social marketing or desperate ploy for viral popularity? Sprint's offering $20 to the first 1,000 people to feature the Instinct in a YouTube clip, while the Grand Prize Winner will pick up a sweet $10,000. The official rules will be released on Monday when the contest, appropriately called "Sell Out," kicks off. Hit us with your best video ideas in the comments, we promise we won't steal them. [iSmashPhone, Thanks Mike!]

Current Sprint Customers Get First Dibs on Instinct

matt buchanan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 22:00:00 EDT

In that same speech he revealed WiMax's commercial launch date, Sprint CEO Dan Hesse mentioned that current customers will have first crack at the Instinct, the hottest phone they've got (with an equally hot price), as a way of showing that "Sprint, from now on, will place our current customers first." So arbitrary specialness makes up for years of shitty service? [PC World]

Sprint's Samsung Instinct Now Costs $199 After Rebate

Jason Chen — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 19:36:10 EDT

We previously heard that the Samsung Instinct was going to be $299 after rebate on Sprint—not too bad a price for what we said was the best Sprint and best Samsung phone ever. Turns out the iPhone 3G's $199 reveal sent Sprint back to their abacuses, which they used diligently to come up with an extra $100 mail-in rebate to equal the playing field with AT&T. The win for Sprint's deal is that current customers can supposedly buy the phone without renewing their two-year contract, which is pretty great for someone who plans on ditching carriers soon. [Phone News]

Sprint Instinct Full Video Walkthrough

matt buchanan — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 09:45:00 EDT

The latest batch of Sprint Instinct vids are mercifully (and smartly) short on the iPhone bashing, instead going for a feature walkthrough/tutorial, kind of like the iPhone's (sorry Sprint). There's five vids showing different features of the phone, though live search is the most worthwhile, where you say what're you looking for, like "pizza" or "McDonald's," and the Instinct tosses up a list of nearby places using GPS, with a map, phone number, etc. It was a little buggy when we saw it back in April, but they've had plenty of time to fix, so we can't wait to check it out soon. All the vids are below.

[Sprint Instinct]

Sprint Instinct Requires $70-a-Month Simply Everything Data Plan

matt buchanan — Fri, 30 May 2008 19:01:35 EDT

While someone interested in finger-flicking Sprint's Instinct iPhone-foe when it launches June 20 would probably want a hearty data plan to get the most out of it, Sprint's going a step further and making you get one: Its lowest-end Simply Everything plan at $69.99 a month, which comes with unlimited web, email, GPS and other stuff (sans tethering), and 450 minutes talk time. (Though you can get unlimited chatting too for $99.99 total in what's probably the best of the four carriers' unlimited plans.) BTW, while CW says no set price, we were told $299 last month—hopefully this means it'll be even cheaper. Update: Yup, we added in some mo' details. [Computerworld via Unwired View]

Sprint's Samsung Instinct Hitting Retail June 20

matt buchanan — Thu, 22 May 2008 14:38:52 EDT

Lining up with the teaser site's "late June" release, Sprint just confirmed to us that its iPhone-slaying Instinct will be hitting retail on June 20. Which is after WWDC, when we're expecting the 3G iPhone to be announced. Guess we'll see how much wind it takes out of the Instinct's um, sales. [Sprint]

Sprint Licenses Visual Voicemail, Can Use It Without Being Sued

matt buchanan — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 13:55:00 EDT

When I groped Sprint's Instinct at CTIA and was flipping through the features, one of the reps made sure to show me visual voicemail—a necessity for any device taking on the iPhone. Apparently, he didn't just mean visual voicemail in the generic sense, it's the real, patented deal, licensed from Klausner—who's currently suing the balls off of Apple and AT&T for patent infringement. Smart move, since they'll likely win the suit, given that RIM, AOL and Vonage, among others have also paid to license the patent. Course, the Instinct's still no iPhone-killer. [Forbes, Thanks John]

Sprint's Samsung Instinct: At Last, a Decent iPhone Competitor

matt buchanan — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:00:00 EDT

Samsung's Instinct may be the best stab at the coveted title of iPhone killah this CTIA. The 3.1-inch touchscreen phone has localized haptic feedback, plus three hard navigation keys. If it sounds familiar, it's because we've seen versions of it before, but only in Korea. Mind you, this is not the LG Prada-ripoff Samsung F480, which had a much smaller touchscreen. UPDATE: Check out our full Samsung Instinct review HERE.

The Instinct rocks EV-DO Rev A and GPS, in both cases besting what's in the fruit phone. And then content and app wise, Sprint's own wares are basically swapped in for Apple's: Sprint Music Store, Navigation, TV, Visual Voicemail and a full HTML web browser—everything except a la carte music included in the $100 monthly subscription fee. EVERYTHING. On top of that, its customizable homescreen is amazing (and actually customizable, unlike other similar phones). You can check out all of the iPhone-like attributes in our 20-screenshot gallery. We'll be getting our fingerprints on one shortly, but in the meantime, there are more pics and hard data after the jump, uhhhh, fool. [Samsung Instinct Full Review]

More body shots:

Samsung Instinct
The Ultimate in Touch Screen Speed and Simplicity

Samsung Instinct, exclusively from Sprint, offers consumers an industry-leading user experience by combining full touch screen functionality with access to the fast speed of Sprint's EV-DO Rev A Mobile Broadband Network. Samsung Instinct provides easy access to Sprint exclusive multimedia content, business or personal email, GPS navigation, live and on-demand TV content, full song downloads, streaming radio and an impressive HTML Web experience. Samsung Instinct offers localized haptic feedback and a new level of customization by allowing the user to access their favorite applications with a single touch. This stylish handset provides an expansive touch screen display and three navigation keys that keep all of the device's features and applications within immediate access. Samsung Instinct offers Visual Voicemail, stereo Bluetooth with audible caller ID, expandable memory up to 8 GB and a 2.0MP camera with camcorder.

ENTERTAINMENT/PERSONALIZATION
Sprint TV with an extensive selection of live and on-demand programming including Sprint Exclusive Entertainment (SEE), the industry's only made-for-mobile sports and entertainment video
programming network
Sprint Music StoreSM allowing users to wirelessly download full-length songs directly to their phone for just 99 cents each
More than a dozen streaming-radio applications, including Sprint Radio with more than 150 channels
Sprint Media Manager PC to phone transfer application
Background music mode allowing the user to play music while text messaging, playing games or surfing the Internet
Customizable Favorites menu

PRODUCTIVITY
Sprint Navigation with GPS-enabled audio and visual turn-by-turn driving directions, one-click traffic rerouting and more than 10 million local listings
Live Search for Sprint, powered by Microsoft, provides easy access to directory information, integrated GPS-enabled directions, interactive maps and one-touch click to call access
Voice to Action button providing many functions using voice activation including call, text, picture messaging, traffic, movie, sports, news and search.
HTML Web browsing
Visual Voicemail allowing users to listen to messages in their order of preference and manage them with a tap of the screen
2.0 megapixel camera with 2x digital zoom and video camcorder
Advanced Stereo Bluetooth Wireless Technology with audio caller ID
Access to corporate and consumer (POP3) email including AOL, Gmail and Yahoo!
Threaded text messaging provides a view of the full conversation
Mobile Sync to restore contact information if the device is lost, stolen or damaged
Phone as Modem connects the phone with a computer for Internet and email access

SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions: 2.17 x 4.57 x 0.49 inches; 4.4 ounces
Display: 3.1" TFT (240 x 432 pixels and 262K vibrant colors)
Standard Lithium (LiIon) battery: up to 5.75 hours continuous talk time*