It looks like Chinese electronics manufacturer Huawei will be bringing two new pieces of hardware to MWC next week. Via the company’s official Flickr account, images of both a new tablet and smartphone have emerged: the IDEOS X3 and the S7 Slim. The specs for both devices are still unknown, although what we can see from the images is that both will feature a front-facing camera and run the Android operating system. We won’t have to wait more than a few days to find out exactly what these two devices are made of — and if they’ll show up Stateside or not. Hit the jump to see an additional picture of the S7.

[Via Engadget]

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We just scored a brand new Apple MacBook Air 11″ laptop at the 5th Ave store, and well, how could we not report back what we think of it? For starters, and this has probably been said already, but you really need to see this in person to appreciate how absolutely slim and compact this thing is. Our major concern has to be the processor, as this wasn’t a built-to-order unit it’s only rockin’ a 1.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 2GB of RAM — not the slowest thing out there, but obviously on the slower end of the spectrum. We’re happy to say in our very limited use of the computer so far, we haven’t been frustrated or annoyed by the speed. There will most likely be a different story to be told after we push it to the limits, but for a computer that’s not meant to be subjected to torture every second of the day, we could see ourselves carrying this and not our 15″ MacBook Pro. In terms of the 11.6″ display, we have to say that we’re loving it. So far. We have some great photos of the new MacBook Air in our gallery, and have some comparison photos to the 13″ previous generation Air as well as our 15″ MacBook Pro.

Click on over to our MacBook Air hands on gallery!

Amazon’s German website leaked the initial details on the rumored Arcade edition of the the new, slim Xbox 360. According to the product listing page, the Arcade version will sport 4GB of flash memory, a €149 ($189 USD) price tag, and is projected to launch on August 20th. The timing of the launch is apropos as the upcoming GameCon conference is slated for August 18-22 in Cologne, Germany. Hopefully this rumor pans out and Microsoft will launch the Xbox 360 Slim Arcade in Germany and beyond later this summer.

[Via Kotaku]

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Fresh from CTIA day 1 in Las Vegas, HTC is about to unveil its latest Windows Mobile handset that sets its sites on the likes of BlackBerrys and the Nokia E71. Slim and sleek, the HTC Snap sports a sexy 12mm-thick case and a smooth QWERTY keyboard. At first glance the Snap may seem a bit behind the times as far as specs go — the 2 megapixel camera is pretty underwhelming and Windows Mobile 6.1 standard is soooo 2008, but let’s put things in perspective. Consider the handset’s competition: The BlackBerry Bold has a 2 megapixel camera and the Nokia E71 has a slightly beefier 3.2 megapixel shooter, though we’ve seen sun prints that come out clearer than E71 pictures. Beyond that, neither handset wields what we would call an up-to-date OS. Instead, they rely on tried and true platforms known for stability and functionality over sex appeal and zip — just like Windows Mobile 6.1.

The HTC Snap is a messaging handset for people whose first priority in terms of handsets is communications. In that vein, the Snap will be HTC’s first handset to feature its new “Inner Circle” email prioritization system. It’s pretty clever, actually — Inner Circle allows users to define a group of high priority contacts. When inboxes start to get a bit out of control, a simple tap on the dedicated Inner Circle button will automatically place any emails from high priority contacts at the top of the inbox. Simple yet pretty smart, we’d say. Add to that the fact that email/PIM is without question one of Windows Mobile’s strong points and you’ve got yourself one hell of a work horse. As far as the US is concerned, expect an unlocked version dubbed the HTC S522 (with AT&T-compatible 3G) to drop this Summer. Hit the jump for the full specs, a bunch of additional images and the full release.

• Qualcomm MSM 7225 processor, 528 MHz
• Windows Mobile® 6.1 Standard OS
• QWERTY keypad with dedicated messaging, email and Inner Circle hotkeys
• 256MB ROM, 192MB RAM
• microSDHC support
• Dimensions: 4.59″ x 2.42″ x .47″ (LxWxT)
• Weight: 4.23 ounces (with battery)
• Display: 2.4″ (diagonal) QVGA (320×240)
• 1500 mAh battery
• HSDPA/WCDMA 900/2100 MHz or HSDPA/WCDMA 850/1900 MHz (HTC S522)
• Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR
• Wi-Fi (b/g)
• GPS/aGPS

HTC Snap™ makes staying in touch with more people less complicated

HTC’s newest QWERTY smartphone features “Inner Circle” to automatically prioritize email from life’s most important people

LAS VEGAS – April 1, 2009 – HTC Corporation today debuted its newest QWERTY smartphone, the HTC Snap™. Designed with a set of features selected to deliver everything customers need without overwhelming them with things they don’t, the HTC Snap makes it easier than ever to stay in contact with life’s most important people.

A recent study conducted by Harris Interactive® and commissioned by HTC* found that 44% of US adults are often overwhelmed by the amount of email they receive, and over half (55%) of US adults prioritize five or fewer people with whom they communicate via email. In response to these issues, HTC’s innovative Inner Circle feature allows HTC Snap users to press a dedicated Inner Circle key to bring emails from a preselected group of people to the top of their inbox, enabling important messages to be acted upon immediately.

“Recognizing that people are being overwhelmed by an avalanche of email, the HTC Snap introduces Inner Circle, an HTC innovation that makes it easy for people to prioritize messages from the most important people in their lives at the press of a button,” said John Wang, Chief Marketing Officer, HTC Corporation. “The HTC Snap represents the latest step in HTC’s mission to create a range of innovative smartphones, each with specific benefits designed to both surprise and delight our customers.”

With a slim, sleek profile designed to fit perfectly in the hand, the HTC Snap measures less than a half-inch thick (12 mm), yet it can deliver up to eight and a half hours of talk time with the standard 1500mAh battery. The full QWERTY keyboard is ergonomically designed with extra-large domed keys and responsive tactile feedback to make typing emails and text messages fast, accurate and comfortable. High-speed 3G HSPA connectivity makes it quick and easy to send pictures to friends, access favorite social networking sites, or download large files while on the go.

The HTC Snap is powerful enough for experienced business users looking for an affordable, straightforward choice for remotely synchronizing email, calendar and contacts with their Microsoft Exchange server. However, the flexible Microsoft Windows Mobile® 6.1 Standard platform allows the HTC Snap to also be simple enough for first-time smartphone users wanting to keep their family life organized.

The HTC Snap is expected to be available in select channels during the second quarter of 2009, rolling out in markets around the world throughout the second half of the year. Additionally, an unlocked version supporting HSDPA at 850/1900MHz for the US market will be made available under the name HTC S522 during the summer.

• 8MP Schneider-Kreuznach certified lens
• Built-in Image Stabilizer
• Adjustable light sensitivity up ISO 1600
• Face Detection that finds and focuses on people’s faces
• Smile Detection that automatically recognizes the angle of people’s mouths and adjusts the focus accordingly
• Smile Shot which automatically triggers the shutter when it detects that the subject is smiling
• Beauty Mode which will remove spots and imperfections on people’s faces
• SmartLight technology that will automatically adjust the brightness of photos
• D1 Video recording that captures DVD-resolution video

The KC780 also introduces an enhanced PC to Phone “smart Bluetooth” connection that will, amongst other things, allow users to easily transfer photos to their computer, write and receive text messages from their computer, and the option to use the 8MP phone camera as a portable webcam for computer-based online conversations. Excellent! LG focused so much on the 8MP camera and its myriad of features that they failed to include detailed specs about the actual phone. Looking back at the leaked FCC documents, we are reminded that the KC780 sports quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE connectivity, 140 MB of internal memory, and a microSD expansion slot. Check for it when it goes on sale in November, first in Europe, then in CIS and Asia, including India, Thailand, Hong Kong and China. A few more press photos for your viewing pleasure after the break.

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