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HTC has released a couple of hotfixes for the original Touch Diamond that should take are of a couple of annoying bugs. (As opposed to the bugs we like, I guess.)

The first hotfix takes care of problems a number of people were having with audio playback skipping.

The second involves the Sounds and Notifications settings, specifically that you couldn't uncheck the Repeat Reminders option. So, apply this fix, and all should be well.

Note that these are hotfixes and not a full-on ROM update. Hotfixes install just like any other program. So if you hard-reset your phone at some point, you'll need to reapply the hotfixes or risk having the problems again.

Via Slashphone

Join Dieter and Mal as they talk up the week's Windows Mobile News. Capacitive screens and Windows Mobile: when will they finally meet?

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Each week we bring you the best of what's happening in the smartphone world in our "Best of SPE roundup." Come take a look at what's news!

That's right, we just broke the first commandment of the all-new PreCentral.net – thou shalt not pun. But you'll forgive our excitement for our newest member of the Smartphone Experts family, who have been tirelessly poring over any and all news surrounding the rebirth of Palm. And they've backed up all the great content with more great design, and some Pre forums to boot.

So congrats to our PC frenemies. Job well done. Now, when's the Pre coming out? ;)

We'll freely admit that much of what developers do is a mystery to us, some sort of magical concoction of code and pixie dust that eventually becomes a working application. But we do understand the importance of APIs – application programming interfaces – and that's why we get a little excited for our dev friends when we hear that Microsoft will be making their lives a little easier.

From the same ZDNet story (and spotted by wmpu) that brought us the announcement of a Windows Mobile 6.5 "launch presentation" at TechEd also comes word of a session on APIs, specifically that there now is a "Windows Mobile Unified Sensor API to access hardware sensors," and an SDK to control the camera.

“The world of mobility has evolved. While keypads, stylus, and keyboards are all good and fine for device input, newer input methods have been popularized in recent years, such as accelerometers, touch screen gestures, capacitive touch screens, light sensors, and such. More than just gadgets and gimmicks, these next-generation input methods allow you, the mobile developer, to offer the best interface possible to your users on the road, enhancing their device experience. This session explores various input methods available on some of the latest Windows Mobile 6.1 and 6.5 devices and how to programmatically leverage them using managed APIs from Microsoft .NET Compact Framework-based applications. Topics covered include working with the Windows Mobile Unified Sensor API to access hardware sensors, controlling device cameras using the Windows Mobile SDK, capturing stylus and finger gestures on touch screens, detecting ambient light, making your device vibrate and sound-off, and more.”

In layman's terms? Whereas HTC writes its own code to access, say, the accelerometer on its phones, and Samsung has another for the Omnia – and the two didn't always play nicely within the same application – now there will be one API to rule them all, developed by Microsoft. And don't get too excited over the use of  capacitive touchscreens as an example up there. We're not expecting to see any capacitive screens with Windows Mobile 6.5.

But we're not just talking G-sensors here. Basically anything that makes your phone do anything will be standardized across the platforms, and that should make a better user experience for our code-loving friends, as well as the rest of us.

Update: Er, apparently there's no unified API framework as reported elsewhere and repeated here. Move along, folks. And thanks, Joel, for that heads up. (We're feeling a bit like ol' Michael Scott when he followed his GPS straight into the lake, but these things happen.)

We've made mention that Verizon was working on its LTE network earlier this year, and now it appears the big V is releasing network specifications so hardware developers can start designing phones capable of using the 4G network.

The specifications provide guidelines for both access and data transport for LTE-capable devices. A web conference will be hosted by Verizon on May 13 to discuss the specifications in more detail.

The company plans a commercial roll-out of LTE starting in 2010. LTE trials have the 4G network generating 60Mbps real-world speed (about 30x faster than a good 3G connection). Along with Verizon, AT&T is planning for a 4G network in 2011.

Via PhoneScoop.com and Electronista

Hey, a $400 unlocked Palm Treo Pro is nothing to sneeze at. But what if we told you it can be had for less than $300, and doing so won't land you in jail?

Dell's got it for a mere $269 (after an instant savings of $130). [Update: Eagle-eyed commenter Davidoff noticed that it's back up to $359. So much for that, but still not a bad deal.] Looks like So if you've been holding off, waiting for the price to drop, do you really have an excuse anymore?

Via Twitter

Look, T-Mobile, you're about to get a cool new Windows phone, so we're not gonna go all fire and brimstone on ya. But bringing back an $18 fee when we upgrade our phone just won't fly. The idea is to keep customers on your network. Your recent rate changes are a bit of a start. And certainly another $18 shouldn't keep that from happening, but it's kind of trite. Like airlines charging to check a bag. What we're saying is, you're better than that.

So we join our Android Central brethren in saying "Boo to the upgrade fee." And then we start scrounging for loose change as we await T-Mobile's successor to the venereable Dash.

Via TmoNews

I've always been a fan of themes for Windows Mobile and quickly becoming a fan SPB Mobile Shell themes.  Themes give you the ability to have your Windows Mobile phone become more reflective of your personality, moods, and likes.

Fuzemobility.com is reporting on a French website that has a forum section dedicated to SPB Mobile Shell themes that has caught my attention.  Actualitemobile.com has nineteen pages of home-grown QVGA, SQVGA, VGA and WQVGA themes for Mobile Shell v2.x ranging from goofy smiley faces to Star Wars themes.

The site does require registration to download the themes and is written in french.  Should you not be able to read french, you'll need something along the lines of Google Translate to navigate around the website. 

AT&T has launched FamilyMap, a fee-based service that will locate any number on your AT&T account. The service will locate and track the number from your wireless phone or PC. The service will not only use cell tower triangulation but also can activate the phone's GPS chip.

AT&T is offering a free 30-day trial period for FamilyMap and after the trial period, it will cost you $9.99 per month to locate up to two phones and $14.99 per month to locate up to five phones. Standard text message rates will also apply to any messages generate when locating a phone. But before you sign up, follow the break to see if this new service is worth the cost, and if it's really as creepy as others have found it  to be.

We're gluttons for punishment around here, so we figure the rest of you are, too, right? And with that in mind, the HTC Touch Diamond 2 just got some additional official love on the other side of the planet.

Our readers in Hong Kong (we know you're out there somewhere) can pick up the TD2 early next month on CSL Limited for about $578US. It also looks like April 22 has been nailed down as the launch date in Taiwan.

And now Mobile Tech Addicts brings word that U.K. dealer Clove has it in stock and ready for next day shipping for about $513US. Just remember that if you import a TD2, you won't have the U.S. 3G bands.

As for the rest of us here in the states? We'll just keep tapping our fingers patiently.

Update: After the break, an unboxing video from Tracy & Matt.

If you've been wanting a Treo Pro but the price made you pause, Amazon.com [via] may have the answer you've been looking for. The $399.99 price tag, with free shipping, is the lowest price we've seen for the unlocked Windows Mobile phone. We liked the Treo Pro when it was first released last year, we still like it now, and the lower price makes it even more attractive.

And speaking of the Treo Pro, there's a rumor floating around that it might finally get some carrier subsidy love from AT&T in the coming weeks. This is highly unsubstantiated (we couldn't get anything official from AT&T), so take it with a huge grain of salt. The post at HowardForums says $250 on contract. But we're not gonna bet the farm on that just yet.