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As part of the recent OTA update for the Sidekick LX, those lucky users were given the ability to record video. But with a little disappointment the quality of those videos is not looking all that great, in fact it seems pretty bad. Of course, I am not sure what quality level we were really expecting, because after all the Sidekick still images have not always been of the highest quality either.

The folks over at Hiptop 3 have a few videos they are showing off, as they explain they opted not to post them on YouTube because they come out even worse than they started, that alone should tell you something. However, the videos are small, coming in at just 176 x 144 pixels and can be considered acceptable. They even went as far as doubling the video size, bringing it up to 352 x 288 pixels and although you can see what is going on, its not what you would want to really bother with. For those who are ready to grab that Tony Hawk branded model, the quality does not seem like its going to be anywhere near nice enough catch your hottest skate tricks.

Overall it seems the only place the video does not look horrible is on the device itself, so I suppose if your only intention was to share the video with your Sidekick carrying friends than you may still have something to get excited over. Otherwise you may want to look into an inexpensive handheld video camera such as the Flip mino.

Via [Hiptop 3]

If you are a die-hard Sidekick user than today is your lucky day. As a reward for owning a Sidekick II, T-Mobile is offering you the ability to purchase the new ‘3’ version before the general public.

From T-Mobile.com, login, click Phones & Accessories, and then Upgrade Your Phone (on the right side of the page). You’ll have to click to the Handhelds tab, and then you should see a Sidekick 3 option. Or you can call Customer Care at 611 from your current phone. It will cost $299.99 with a 2 year contract extension and $349.99 with a one year or no extension.

Everyone else will have to wait until 7/10 to get their hiptop.

Read [HipTop3]

The image above looks like a camera phone pic of a T-Mobile PowerPoint presentation.  The picture was leaked earlier today and reveals pretty much everything T-Mobile has in stock for us regarding the Sidekick III and the future of the Sidekick line.

As you can see, we should be seeing the first of what looks like many IIIs in the second quarter of 2006.  The model looks like it will be a music player priced at $299.  We then move into Q4 of 2006 where we’ll be seeing the Sidekick III with music and UMA.  UMA, or Unlicensed Mobile Access, is a technology that allows you to go back and forth between GSM and WiFi.  T-Mobile obviously is getting pretty close to brining their HotSpots into the cellphone mix.

Way out in the second quarter of 2007, it looks like we’ll be seeing the Sidekick NG, a music and video player with UMA support that somehow relates to the RAZR.  Nowadays, I’m sure RAZR is every company’s way of saying “make it really thin,” so expect to see something cutting edge (pun intended).

According to the chart, the Sidekicks will all be priced at $299, except for the Limited Edition models that will be released in Q4 of ‘06.

Read [Engadget]

Gizmodo received a tip from an anonymous individual earlier today.  The tip stated that the Sidekick III will launch in April of 2006.

Here is the quote directly from Gizmodo…

“I was at a conference at [some place] on [doing something for people]. During lunch, I sat next to [Some very important guy who knows this stuff] and we got to discussing the sidekick.

He indicated that the sidekick III would be released in April of 2006. I asked him a few times for hints or details (believe me, I tried) but no luck.”

NOTE: The picture above is via Engadget and is only rumored to be the Sidekick III.

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