LG has struggled to grab consumer interest the way Samsung has with its Galaxy S and Galaxy S II smartphones, and it doesn’t look like the manufacturer has a worthy competitor in the pipeline just yet. PocketNow purportedly leaked LG’s entire 2011 portfolio and while there are several attractive devices that run Android and Windows Phone, there is nothing that really blows us away. The lineup includes the following devices:

• LG Prada K2 - An Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) smartphone with a 4.3-inch NOVA display, 16GB of storage, and support for 21Mbps+ networks.
• LG Univa – An Android 2.3 device that is equipped with an 800MHz processor and a 3.5-inch HVGA display.
• LG Fantasy - A Windows Phone Mango-powered device that could make its debut in the fourth quarter of this year. Renders of the phone suggest that it will offer a large display, but other hardware specs are currently not available.
• LG Victor – A mid-range Android Gingerbread device with a 3.8-inch OLED WVGA display, a 5-megapixel camera and a 1GHz processor.
• LG Gelato - A device that may land on Sprint with the model number LS685, a version of the Gelato will reportedly offers support for near-field communications (NFC). It’s equipped with  a 3.2-inch HVGA display, a 3-megapixel camera and an 800MHz processor.

PocketNow also revealed two more devices, the LG K and the E2, but little is currently known about them. We’re assuming that LG also has some more high-end handsets up its sleeves that it’s currently keeping closer to the vest — after all, the LG Thrill 4G (Optimus 3D), offers a high-end dual-core processor. Why would the manufacturer take a step backwards and just release a half-dozen mid-range handsets?

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T-Mobile already has the Samsung-built Sidekick 4G, but it may have another up its sleeves. Images of a new Android-powered Sharp phone have been leaked by Unwired View, and its slide-up screen form factor and small rounded keys definitely resemble a Sidekick. The device is rumored to offer a 3.2-inch display with an HVGA resolution, Wi-Fi, GSM/CDMA connectivity, and GPS, but other specs remain in the dark. Sharp has built plenty of Sidekicks before, so we wouldn’t be surprised to see it get in on the Android game and re-enter the U.S. market. We just hope it has more beefy hardware muscle to make any future offerings even more compelling than the already solid Sidekick 4G.

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It might not have the raw power or good looks of the upcoming Samsung Captivate, but the HTC Aria is the best Android smartphone offered by AT&T. On sale as of Sunday, $129.99 Aria offers specs which include a 3.2″ HVGA display, 5 megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, GPS, 7.2Mbps HSDPA, 600MHz Qualcomm MSM7227 processor, 512MB ROM / 256MB RAM, and Android 2.1 with Sense UI. We don’t imagine it will be breaking AT&T sales records anytime soon (or ever, for that matter), but at least it’s more of a spirited effort than the BACKFLIP.

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Virgin Mobile is no longer the only Canadian carrier to offer the HTC Legend, as today its parent company, Bell, announced that it too will be carrying the milled aluminum handset. Sporting the same $79.99 price tag for those that opt for a 3-year contract, the only major difference between the two is that the Bell Legend goes for $399.99 off contract while the Virgin model goes for $349.99 with a 30-day commitment. Anyone in Canada thinking of picking this up, or are you going to sit tight and see what happens with the rumor of a Telus Desire?

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Sure low-cost carriers in the U.S. might have some of the best rate plans out there, but there’s no denying that when it comes to handset selection, Canada’s low-cost carriers have it locked down. A case in point is the HTC Legend, now available from Virgin Mobile. $349.99 on a 30-day contract or $79.99 on a 3-year deal will net Canadians a 3.2″ HVGA AMOLED display, 5 megapixel camera, 512 MB ROM / 384MB RAM, 600MHz processor, and Android 2.1 with Sense UI all crammed into a milled aluminum body. It’s not yet available in Saskatchewan and Manitoba because the network that Virgin shares with Telus and parent-company Bell hasn’t made its Prairie debut (Winninpeg excluded), but as of today it’s available everywhere else.

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If you’re and Android user on T-Mobile, then we probably don’t need to remind you of this, but for everyone else, the myTouch 3G Slide is available as of today. A decent handset by all accounts, there is but one major problem with it – it’s priced at $179.99 with an Even More plan with 2-year contract or $429.99 outright with Even More Plus. Yes, you certainly do contract-free financing provided you pledge to pay $21.50 per month over 20 months, but no matter how you slice it, you’re still going to be paying top dollar for something that really doesn’t command it.

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With only a few weeks to go before sales officially kick off, retail pricing for T-Mobile’s myTouch 3G Slide has leaked out. Pegged at $399.99 on an Even More Plus plan and $149.99 with an Even More plan after $50 MIR, there’s also an option to pay $23 per month over 20 months (apparently the $3 monthly premium nets you $60 worth of accessories). A part of us wants to be believe that this information is correct and the actual pricing will be a bit lower, but considering its the same price T-Mobile is currently asking for the original and slide-less myTouch 3G, we’re not about to risk holding our breath. The myTouch 3G Slide was initially rumored to land on June 2nd, but some people who claim to be in the know are now calling for a June 16th release.

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Being the carrier that first brought Android to Canada, Rogers’ current Android line-up is extremely weak. Looking to change this, Rogers will soon be launching the Acer Liquid e and the Motorola QUENCH. Similar in that they both run Android, have 5 megapixel cameras, support 7.2Mbps 3G and have a candybar form, the two devices are quite different almost anywhere else you look. The Liquid e, which has Android 2.1, roars along with Snapdragon processor underclocked to 768MHz, while the QUENCH with Android 1.5 with MOTOBLUR chugs along with a MSM7200A that clocks in at 528MHz. When it comes to displays, the Liquid e’s 3.5″ WVGA screen handily trumps the 3.1″ HVGA affair found on the Motorola. Look for the Liquid e next month for $79.99 on contract, preceded by the QUENCH next week for $49.99.

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Dream about a sliding Android device for T-Mobile? Well, your wish is HTC’s command as the T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide just got official. No stranger to leaks, the device slides in at 15mm thick and features a 3.4″ HVGA screen, Android 2.1, 5 megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, 3G, and even a Genius button powered by Dragon Dictation that’s ready to take your voice input and convert it into calls, sending text messages, and more. If that roomy slide-out QWERTY keyboard and aforementioned specs tickle your fancy, then you won’t have to wait much longer as this handset is geared up to hit in June in either black, white, or red, exclusively from T-Mobile. Pricing information isn’t available at this time.

While we’d have greatly preferred it if Verizon sent out a press release about its Nexus One now being on sale, we guess this morning’s announcement about the immediate availability of the Motorola DEVOUR will do for now. If you think the DROID was too masculine and the DROID ERIS was a little on the lower end, then all that stands between you and the sexy aluminum slider is $149.99 after a $100 MIR on a two year agreement.

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As was widely expected, Rogers today announced the immediate availability of the Samsung Galaxy Spica. The carrier’s fourth Android smartphone, the Galaxy Spica offers a 3.2″ AMOLED HVGA capacitive display, 3.2 megapixel camera, GPS, Wi-Fi, 3.6Mbps HSDPA/UMTS, 800MHz processor and up to 7 hours of talk time and 10 days of standby for $79.99 on a standard 3-year deal. Anyone that was hoping it would come pre-loaded with anything past Android 1.5 aka “Cupcake” will be sorely disappointed, although we’ve received official word from Rogers that an update to Android 2.1 is in the works, there are “no details on timing to share at the moment.” C’est la vie.

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HTC had a very busy day at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, as it announced three new handsets: the Desire, HD mini and Legend (above left to right). Although they’re all quite different, they do have a few things in common including GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, G-sensors, 3.5mm headphone jacks and dual-band (900/2100MHz) 7.2Mbps HSDPA connectivity. Having said that, there are some huge differences as well, so let’s run through each device.

By far the most impressive of the bunch is the Desire. Best thought of as the Nexus One with Sense UI (albeit with a single mic), it has a 3.7″ WVGA AMOLED display, 5 megapixel camera, 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 512MB ROM / 576MB RAM, optical joystick, fully supports Microsoft Exchange, runs Android 2.1 with Sense UI, is Flash enabled and 10.1 ready. It will be available in both Europe and Asia starting in Q2.

Next up is the Legend. A handset that that oozes sex appeal thanks in part to its chassis machined from a single piece of aluminum. The Legend features a 3.2″ HVGA AMOLED display, 5 megapixel camera, 600MHz MSM7227 processor, 512 MB ROM / 384MB RAM, optical joystick and Android 2.1 with Sense UI.  Anyone living in Asia will have to wait until Q2 to get a Legend, but Europeans will begin to have access to it next month.

Last but not least is the HD mini. A scaled and powered down version of the HD2, the HD mini has a 3.2″ HVGA multi-touch capacitive display, 5 megapixel camera, 600MHz MSM7227 processor and 512MB ROM / 384MB RAM. It does indeed run Windows Mobile 6.5, although we were told it will not receive an update to Windows Phone 7 Series. That might sound a bit off-putting, but let’s be honest; you’re going to want the latest and greatest hardware when that OS is released. Look for it in Europe and Asia as of Q2.

We’ve mentioned that each of the new devices has Sense UI, and HTC was quite pleased to announced it has updated the skin. Some of the new features include general enhancements to the UI, a social media aggregate app called Friend Stream, a newsreader widget and Leap, which is basically card view. We haven’t heard anything US-specific, but European and Asian Hero owners will be getting the update in the near future.

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Today at Mobile World Congress, Motorola announced the CLIQ XT with MOTOBLUR. Having nearly identical specs to the original CLIQ, it features a 3.1″ HVGA capacitive display, 5 megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, A-GPS, 3.5mm headphone jack, FM tuner, e-compass, 7.2Mbps HSDPA, and Android 1.5. Yeah, that probably sounds familiar. The big differences between them are that the CLIQ XT has an optical trackpad, lacks a QWERTY slider, supports Flash Lite and features “pinch and zoom” multitouch throughout the system. Besides that, than there’s really not much else to say other than we hope this isn’t all we’re going to see from Motorola because, well, talk about forgettable. The CLIQ XT with MOTOBLUR will be available from T-Mobile USA next month, while the Global version, QUENCH with MOTOBLUR, will be available in multiple regions by the end of this quarter.

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Having been on sale in other countries for almost two weeks, the BlackBerry Bold 9700 has finally made it to American soil. Now available from T-Mobile, the Bold 9700 is the first BlackBerry to have AWS 3G. Other features include a HVGA+ display, 3.2 megapixel camera, optical trackpad, and support for HotSpot @Home and Visual Voicemail, but anyone keeping tabs on Waterloo’s latest surely knows those specs by now. So how much will the Bold 9700 set you back? $199.99 on a 2-year contract (Even More) or $449.99 outright via Even More Plus with the option to finance the device at $22 per month over 20 months. Now then, how many of you are going to be picking this up?

P.S. Nice job with the device pic, T-Mo.

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It’s always a lot of fun for us — and hopefully for you, the readers — any time we can run wild with pictures, news, and even reviews of an unannounced handset. Today, however, RIM spoiled our fun and formally announced the BlackBerry Bold 9700. Things like carriers, release dates and pricing have been withheld for the time being, but RIM has made a statement saying that we should all expect to see the BlackBerry 9700 go on sale “around the world beginning in November.” Spec wise, nothing has changed since our pre-release review, but just in case some of you forgot or weren’t paying a whole lot of attention, here’s a quick refresher on the critical specs:

• BlackBerry OS 5.0
• 624MHz CPU
• 256MB flash memory and support for microSD cards up to 32GB
• Quad-band UMTS/HSDPA (800/850/1900/2100 MHz) or tri-band UMTS/HSDPA (900/1700/2100 MHz)
• Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE
• Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g with UMA support (carrier dependent)
• A-GPS
• 2.44″ HVGA+ display
• 3.2 megapixel camera with autofocus and LED flash
• Optical trackpad
• Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP/AVCRP
• 1500 mAh battery
• 6 hours of talk time and 17 days of standby (3G)
• 109mm x 60mm x 14.1mm, 122g

In short, this is the BlackBerry device of your dreams. We’re expecting pretty much every single major GSM carrier on the planet to pick up the 9700 sooner or later, so we’ll be sure to keep the updates coming. As always, high res pics and a few other odds and ends are available after the jump.

UPDATE: AT&T, Rogers and T-Mobile have announced they will be carrying the Bold 9700 in the weeks ahead. AT&T and T-Mobile’s 9700 will go for $199.99 after a $100 MIR on 2-year deals while Rogers will be asking for $299.99 on a 3-year contract with a monthly minimum voice and data plan of $45. Bell and TELUS have yet to come forward with pricing but have confirmed they will be carrying the device.

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