It looks like the first in-the-wild image of a Sprint branded HTC Touch Diamond has surfaced, but in keeping with the unofficial rule regarding these images, this one is just as blurry. Well actually I think it is even worse than the normal, but nonetheless it does fit in with the rumor that it is headed to Sprint, so we can only assume that this was not a Photoshop job.

The image comes courtesy of user ksemt7781 from PPCGeeks and was appropriately snapped with another Sprint handset, the Mogul. The Sprint logo is pretty clear, however so is the reflection of the person who took the picture. The Sprint branded Touch Diamond will retain the same features of the currently available model, but it appears that Sprint has made a few tweaks to the TouchFLO 3D interface, which would also be safe to assume because Sprint has a past history of adding their own “features” into already capable handsets.

Via [IntoMobile]

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With the collected and accumulated data, which includes searched & collected private data, Google will now try harder to more tightly target its web ads at users. For example, ads that a person sees on one Google search may be influenced by what was searched a few minutes earlier. Searching for “scuba,” then something else, and then “vacations” could pull up ads for diving trips. This is just one of the ways the ads become more compelling and are targeted with higher accuracy towards the given user.

Google changed its privacy policy a few years ago and warned users that it might capture personal information about them for reasons that include “the display of customized content and advertising.” Last year, Google started looking at the immediately previous search when considering ads. Google did not need to use its cookies for this because Web browsers report the address of the previous site visited to the current site being visited. And in the case of a search, that address contains the search terms.

Google’s approach is different from what Yahoo, AOL and others call behavioral targeting. Those companies look at what a user did a few days earlier to show them ads about the same topic today. Google says it believes that search engine advertising is most effective if it relates to what the user has most recently searched for.

Ask yourself, though, how many ads work their way from junk or pop-up spam ads to a more click-worthy & useful Ad? Still there is value in awareness, and there is a long way to go before reaching the omega in the Ads world.

Read more at the New York times.

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We always say that good design sells and this might become true for the Mumu iShine Q18 in select market (which ones, I don’t know). But this music player comes in a variety of interesting colors, including White, Black, Red and “Baby Blue”. On the photos, it has a clean and cute look, although it remains to be seen how good the manufacturing quality is. Finally, it’s cheap – about $58, so what’s holding it back? Probably the incompatibility wit Vista, the lack of import and a very ugly product name. Specs in the full post.

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Not long ago we heard that the OpenMoko FreeRunner was just about ready to hit the market, in fact it was expected to be clearing customs as of July 1. Well, July is here and OpenMoko has announced that the FreeRunner will be available for order beginning on July 4, and that the shipping will begin just a few days later on July 7.

The FreeRunner will feature a 2.8-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth 2.0, Wi-Fi, A-GPS, GPRS 2.6G, 128MB WSDRAM, and 256MB NAND flash. It will be available with support for both the 850Mhz and 900Mhz tri-band GSM networks and is going to retail for $399.

Product [OpenMoko] Via [EngadgetMobile]

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FROM GAMERTELL - To help celebrate the Fourth of July 2008, DirecTV is offering a free preview weekend of its Game Lounge interactive channel for the long weekend (July 2 through 6, 2008, CH 110).
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Transfer your domain to Go Daddy for as little as $6.99 and get a free 1-year extension plus guaranteed renewal pricing!  GoDaddy.com makes transferring easy and offers loads of extras including: hosting, a 5-page site builder, Complete Email, total DNS control and much more! ALL for as low as $6.99! What are you waiting for?

Plus as a Gadgetell reader, enter code Gadget1 when you check out, and save an additional 10% on any order.

Get your piece of the internet at GoDaddy.com.

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The Bracketron Nav-Mat GPS dash mount is a good alternative for those who are looking for a GPS mount to replace their suction cup mounts as the latter is prohibited in some areas. It is easy to install as it requires no tools for installation (no drilling involved!) but instead, has a non-slip base made out of a bean bag for stability as it moulds to the surface of the dashboard and a non-slip base to keep it from sliding off making it hassle free for consumers who do not want to go through the trouble of finding ways to install their suction cup GPS mounts because of a non-stick surface on the dashboard or not having a convenient location of securing it.

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Continuing in the grand tradition of shameless gadget imitation for the benefit of the consumer public, manufacturer GoLive2 has come up with the latest version of the Wii-mote: The motion-sensing Stix, for the PC.

The wireless GoLive2 Stix are ‘touch sensitive’ controls that will be compatible with hundreds of PC games, and will be conveniently offered at their own game portal, Sphere. The company will also support third party and independent game developers and help them adapt their games to the Stix scheme.

Oddly, there will be three different types of Styx with increasing levels of features, the Stix 200, the 400 and the 100. (Did they not learn anything from the Vista potpourri feature-set pricing plan?). The Stix 400 will be compatible with all of the approved games, including all the Games for Windows.

But will the motion control scheme have an impact on PC-based gaming?

As of now, the answer is probably no. This is especially the case since the control’s success has been limited to the one Wii console, and even some Wii games have not coordinated with the control scheme that well.

Another reason for our skepticism is that PC gamers are uncommonly attached to their keyboard and mouse as their instruments of choice. Would you blame them? The rapid (but precise) shuffling of a sensitive gaming mouse in the middle of a Crysis bust-out is exciting stuff.

The Stix will be available at the end of August.

Source: GoLive2, Kotaku

See also:

• Usefulness: Nintendo’s Wiimote Will Control Your Television and Save Relationships
• Wiimote Challenger For Xbox 360, PS3 Due by End of Year

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We received the above screenshots from a Best Buy employee (they have access to see inventory coming) from their internal tools. Looks like T-Mobile switched around the misspelling of “Gecko” and are calling it the Sidekick Gecco. There’s not a whole lot of details other than the name of the device, the size and weight of the box, and the release date of July 27th that we knew about long ago. Oh wait, what’s that? $299? Is that the price of the Sidekick Gecco? Hmm.. Needless to say, this is exciting and only a couple weeks away!

Big thanks to our anonymous tipster

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Earlier today we saw what AT&T has in store for use device-wise for the remainder of 2008 and now it is Verizon’s turn, and it looks just as exciting as the AT&T lineup.

Beginning in August, it looks like we can expect to see the UTStarcom TXT8010. Also coming in August is the Nokia 2605 Mirage and the Samsung SCH-U440 which are both expected to be released on the 8th, then the Motorola VU30 is expected in mid-August and the Samsung SCH-U430 is expected in late-August.

Moving on from there we also have the Samsung SCH-U310, Nokia 7205 Intrigue and Palm Treo 800w. Finally we also have the Motorola Blaze ZN4, which has no specific date, however it is expected sometime before September 22.

Also anticipated is the UTStarcom Touch Diamond and the UTStarcom Touch Raphael, which are the CDMA versions of the already released Diamond and Touch Pro.

As expected with any leaked or rumored release lineup, most of the dates are still missing as is any pricing information. As always we will keep you updated as new information becomes available.

Via [PhoneArena]

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