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If you're a fan of unlocked phones as clean as virgin snow, devoid of carrier branding or crapware, look away now.

A post at XDA Developers has a couple of small pics of what appears to be the AT&T-branded Fuze, which is its version of the HTC Touch Pro. On the left is the basic Windows Mobile security unlock screen. On the right as a panel of apps on the Fuze.

We recently ran down the specs:

• WM 6.1 Pro
• Qualcomm 7201a, 528MHz Processor
• 2.8“, 640x480 Touchscreen
• Slide-out keyboard has a Start and OK button (yes, it matters)
• 850/1900/2100 3G bands, Quad-Band EDGE
• WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS
• 3.1mp camera
• 1340 mAh battery which can get you up to 8 hours (really?) of talk time under ideal conditions (read: EDGE and nothing else going on)

We're still looking at an Oct. 23 release, for $299 after the usual contracts and rebates.

WM Power User (via Engadget Mobile)

Remember how we said the alpha release of Firefox Mobile would be out "in a few weeks?" That still stands. But new this weekend are some leaked screen shots to whet our appetites that much more.

Code named Fennec, the browser will be Mozilla's first in the Mobile space and will compete with the likes of Opera Mobile, Skyfire, the Webkit-based Iris and, of course, pocket IE.

Note how Fennec purportedly scored 88 out of 100 on the ol' Acid3 test, which ain't bad at all for something that fits into your pocket. Stay tuned for more.

Via The Unwired

Looks like LG may be prepping to actually release a Windows Mobile phone here in the US. LG has already shown us the LG KS20 and the WiMAX version thereof at CES 2008, but neither seemed destined for the US. Now Intomobile is reporting that a Windows Mobile phone may be headed to AT&T shelves.

Specifications on this rumored device include 3G capabilities, Wifi and Bluetooth connectivity, a flush 240x400 screen, and a 3mp camera with flash. Dimensions are reported by Engadget as being 106.95 x 55 x 13.9mm with a full metal case.

If rumors hold true, expect to see this new mystery device later this year, likely during the holiday rush. Not much more to say on this potential LG phone except another passenger has boarded the rumor train.

Windows Mobile is all about having options, sometimes to a fault. If you want someone else to decide how you're going to use your device, go here.

That's why the advent of yet another browser for Windows Mobile is a time for celebration. Opera Mobile, Skyfire, Webkit — they all bring something to the table that Internet Explorer does not. And they're all different enough to make having more than one browser not seem silly.

We're eagerly awaiting the alpha release of Firefox Mobile, aka Fennec (we'll save you the trouble: It's a small desert fox), any day now. And after a quick read through Mozilla's mobile roadmap, we can sum up our excitement with a couple of points (after the jump).

Mozilla Weave

Fennec is being developed by Mozilla, makers of uber-browser Firefox, so it's pretty safe to assume that it should be a competent mobile browser. Fennec and Weave are where it can get really sexy.

A spin through that Fennec roadmap brings us a couple of juicy tidbits:

Release themes

In priority order, here are the key themes of the first Fennec release:

1. Simple, fast navigation to Web content 2. Compatibility with the Web 3. Secure 4. A "whole product" 5. A platform for innovation on mobile

Getting to Web content

• Awesome bar
• Search integrated into URL bar
• Password manager
• Weave

By comparison, here are results from my browsers on a Windows XP desktop, plus what I run on my Motorola Q9h:

• Internet Explorer 7.0.5730.13: Scored 12 out of 100 (I think) after about 30 seconds. It rendered so horribly it was hard to tell.
• Internet Explorer 8 beta (8.0.6001.18241): Scored 15 out of 100.
• Firefox 3.0.3: Scored 71 out of 100.
• Safari 3.1.2 (525.21): Scored 75 out of 100.
• Google Chrome 0.2.149.30: Scored 79 out of 100.
• Opera Mobile 6.5: Scored 3 out 100.
• Skyfire 0.8.0.68.43: Scored 52 out of 100.

So, Fennec appears to have a bit of browsing power under its belt. I'll be interesting to see how older devices handle it. That said, the Fennec roadmap lists Windows Mobile 6 as the earliest version supported.

Not quite drooling - yet

At this point, we're mildly excited about Fennec. Having more options on your Windows Mobile device is a good thing, especially one that's open source. We won't go into full-on drool mode until we see some actual hands-on video and get to try it for ourselves.

But Fennec is looking like it may be a fine addition, along with Skyfire and Opera, to our browsing arsenal.

As Dieter and Malatesta talked about in their latest podcast, we're just a few short weeks from learning when the Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 should (finally) be released in the United States.

While we wait, let's take a look at some of the early hands-ons from around the Internets.

• WM Experts: As a baseline, we'll start with our man Dieter (natch) at CTIA way back in April. As an added bonus, Dieter also spied one at the BlackBerry-centric WES in May and shot it alongside a Touch Diamond.
• Swedish site M3 gives it a go with a video. Er, in Swedish (we presume).
• Speaking of Sweden, Daily Motion brings us an unboxing. [via]
• Some beautiful pics and a review from Dutch site jouwMobiel That not enough? How about a head-to-head with the new T-Mobile G1?. [via]
• A video hands-on from Xperiancers.com. [via]
• Paul from MoDaCo and Matt from Tracy and Matt get on board with a video. [via]

That should tide you over for a few weeks. As an added bonus, we've dug up the official announcement video from SE itself. Peep it after the break.

(In a related note, the X1 is now available for pre-order from Carphone Warehouse in the U.K. Price is FREE with an 18-month contract from O2. [via] Don't expect to find that kind of deal over here, though.)

Nedge2k just received some images and specs on a here-to-for unknown and unseen device from HTC: the T8290. It's a squarish Touch HD but looks to be built to run on WiMAX with some GSM on the side. It's got that beautiful 800x480 screen, WiFi to back up the other radios, and Bluetooth (naturally).

Also as with the Touch HD, we're not confident this is coming to the states (after all, WiMAX is really only up and running in a reliable way in Baltimore), instead it seems destined for Russia's Yota network. Unlike the Touch HD, the T8290 doesn't appear to have a 3.5mm headset jack.

So what does this mean for us? One: it means that HTC really is building smartphones with WiMAX capability -- something we were worried wouldn't happen. Two: it means that HTC has now made two devices with 480x800 screen resolution. We're going to go ahead and hope that they have a third up their sleeve that's destined for these United States.

[via Gizmodo]