The Treo Pro makes its video debut, inches towards launch

Now that the Treo Pro's been uncovered, the sleek black handset just can't stay out of the spotlight -- it's popped up today in several more high-res shots, a quick hands-on video, and even what looks like official press photography. Specs are still up in the air -- we're hearing there's a 400MHz processor and 128MB of RAM behind that 320 x 320 screen and original Xbox-looking exterior, but we won't know for sure until this thing gets official, which we're guessing will happen within the week. Video after the break.

HTC gunning for top-five worldwide phone marketshare

HTC's already done a terrific job of going from anonymous Asian ODM to a major name player in the cellphone game, and it sounds like the company's aiming for the next level -- in an interview with the Commercial Times, CEO Peter Chou said the goal is to become one of the top three to five handset makers in the global market. That's a pretty aggressive target for a smartphone manufacturer -- competitors like Nokia and Samsung crank out millions of low-end dumbphones every quarter, and while there's no denying the appeal of devices like the Touch Diamond and Touch Pro, it's going to be hard to match those numbers. Still, with Android and the Dream on the horizon, anything's possible -- and HTC's definitely got the chops to pull it off.

Palm's Treo Pro gets official

Well you can't say you didn't see this one coming -- between the leaked shots, more leaked shots, and those -- yes -- leaked press materials, this was only a matter of time. That's right: Palm has gone and gotten all official with its latest and greatest smartphone, the now-familiar Treo Pro. The new Windows Mobile device is being sold unlocked (!), and features an HSDPA cell radio (tri-band UMTS, quad-band GSM), GPS, 802.11b/g, a 320 x 320 touchscreen display, 256MB ROM, 128MB RAM, a 2-megapixel camera, support for microSDHC cards up to 32GB... and a standard 3.5mm headphone jack! No word on price or actual street date, but we can't imagine that's too far off. Hit the read link and take a tour of the new device, or watch the totally radical -- and long, and detailed -- video after the break.

Official Windows Mobile 6.1 ROM Update for Motorola Q9h

"Mike, who'd previously let us know about that leaked out 6.1 update has been watching Motorola's site like a ravenous hawk hovering over a field mouse. That mouse has finally popped out of its hole: head on over to Motorola's site for the official Motorola Q9h 6.1 Update. You're going to need the standard complement of update tools before you get going: Windows XP or Vista, internet connectivity (the software just might be calling home to check to see if your Q9h is legit), and a full backup before you update. Like all ROM updates, this one will wipe your device, so get prepared."

It is time to start backing up all of your data! Motorola has finally come around to giving the Q9h the old update treatment. For those that have not had a chance to use the sliding panels before, they are actually quite fun. Light years ahead of the incredibly plain coma inducing default homescreen that came equipped with Windows Mobile 6 and below.

Opticon Releases Two Ruggedized Windows Mobile Smartphones

The Opticon Mobility Group announced today that their H16 Windows Mobile 6.0 Professional smartphone was just certified by AT&T and they are currently seeking certification of their H19 Windows Mobile 5 Professional smartphone, for a September release. The smartphones are compatible with AT&T's GSM and GPRS networks. Certified AT&T and Opticon solution partners include Telenav, Corrigo, Salesforce.com, and Sybase iAnywhere. Opticon smartphones offer superior scanning abilities with a competitive price point, making them stand out over any other product. The H19 was recently recognized by AT&T as the Best New Network Compatible Device at the CTIA Wireless Tradeshow."

While I wouldn't expect to see these in the hands of your local Wal-Mart employees, businesses who need to combine a barcode scanner with a ruggedized smartphone can check out these offerings from Opticon. The Opticon H19 uses Windows Mobile 6.0, and offers communication through WiFi (802.11b/g), quadband GSM/GPRS/EDGE, and Bluetooth. The H19 also includes integrated GPS capability (SiRF Star III) and a 512MB ROM. The Opticon H16 uses Windows Mobile 5.0 and also includes the same communications options of quadband GSM/GPRS/EDGE, WiFi and Bluetooth and as seen above, features a slide-out full QWERTY keyboard, but lacks the GPS capability. Either phone offers either a laser barcode scanner, or 2D CMOS imager.