The confidentiality request for the FCC docs for the Sidekick 2008 (Gekko) has expired and all the docs submitted to the FCC are now available on their site. There’s not much new and exciting since the Sidekick is already out and everyone and their brother is picking one up. But there are some internal photos of the device as well as some photos showing how they test the device to make sure it doesn’t microwave your brains. It’s also kind of interesting to know where the actual antennas are located on the device. If that kind of stuff interests you, here are some of the pics we pulled out:

Original FCC Docs

What you’re looking at is the required FCC label for the next Sidekick. What we’re assuming is the Sidekick Gekko/Aspen is now up on the FCC site as a device manufactured by Sharp named PV210. It’s always nice to see a device confirmed by the FCC because that means their is actually a physical device in the hands of someone. Even with the recent excitement of T-Mobile launching their 3G network, the PV210 is not a 3G device, it’s just good old GSM-850 and PCS1900. Beyond that all we can gather from the FCC docs is that it still uses a microSD card, which means support for music, (probably) videos, themes, and more. Oh, and it has a removable battery, no big surprise there.

The confidentiality on the filed documents expires on August 16th, so unless the FCC screws up then we won’t be seeing the FCC filed pictures of the device until after the rumored July release date. We’ll just have to find some other way to get pictures of the device in the wild. But this date means we’ll definitely be seeing a new Sidekick by August!

FCC Docs

FCC Docs for the Sidekick Slide have finally hit the FCC site today (FCC ID: IHDT56HE1). What’s surprising though is that the user manual has been posted as well as external and internal photos of the device. Normally a confidentiality request is submitted to hold this info under wraps until close to release date. It looks like Motorola skipped on this part, so it means the device is coming out soon. This also means that the device will be released in the states, most likely on October 16th at that T-Mobile Release Party. For those interested in the FCC docs, we’ve mirrored copies here so you don’t have to trudge through the FCC site. They’re all in PDF format though.

Confidentiality Request
Exhibit 1 FCC ID Label and Location
Exhibit 2 Attestation Statements
Exhibit 3 External Photos
Exhibit 6A1 Bluetooth Report
Exhibit 6A2 UL Test Report
Exhibit 7 Test Setup Photos
Exhibit 7A UL Test Setup Photos
Exhibit 8 Users Manual
Exhibit 8A Supplemental Users Manual
Exhibit 9 Internal Photos
Supplemental Response to IHD7621

Thanks to EngadgetMobile for the find and for pulling out the images

The Danger Shuriken (aka the Sidekick LX) has shown up on the FCC’s site. Some interesting things we sifted out of the filing:

- The model number is PV250 (FCC ID: APYNAR0063). The Sidekick 2 was PV100, the Sidekick ID was PV150, and the Sidekick 3 was PV200. It worries us a little bit that this may not be that big of a jump in version or maybe we’re just speculating too much based on version numbers.
- The “engineering prototype” was received for testing on May 26th, 2007. This means that a working sample of the Shuriken has been around for close to 3 months!
- This prototype is “equivalent to mass-produced items” so basically that means the hardware is done as far as design.
- It’s GSM/EGPRS (EDGE), so no 3G for us yet.
- Battery is a Li-Ion 3.7Vdc 1540mAh, a small bump up from the Sidekick 3’s battery. Hopefully there has been some redesign and tweaking to help get the battery life increased since this device will have a bigger and better screen
- The short term confidentiality ends on September 16th, 2007, but Sharp has preemptively filed for a 45 day extension until October 31, 2007. So no external photos from the FCC until after the Halloween Hunt unless the FCC slips on Sept. 16th. For what it’s worth, the Sidekick ID docs hit the FCC in January, and the device was released in April. The Sidekick 3 docs hit the fcc in April, and the device was released in June. Let the speculation begin. We’re guessing October.

We’ve been poking around on the FCC site to see if anything has been submitted for the Sidekick Slide / Zante / Q700. So far nothing conclusive, but here are some suspects and why we think they’re suspect. We’d love to hear other’s opinions.

FCCID: IHDT56HU1

Documents filed on 06/15/2007, 45 day confidentiality puts full release on July 30th unless extension is filed.

Supports GSM 850, 1900, EDGE, and Bluetooth

“The transmitter is contained in a single chip solution, which integrates the Bluetooth baseband, RF transceiver, ARM7 TDMI, memory (ROM and RAM), and power management on one chip using 90nm process manufacturing and Digital RF Processor technology.”

Bluetooth Specification v2.0 adaptive frequency hopping (AFH) and extended Synchronous Connection Oriented (eSCO) is used to deliver a high-quality Bluetooth voice and enhanced data throughput.

Has Class 12 EDGE

Internal antenna: 36.6mm x 8.0mm

User Manual is 1.7megs

FCC Docs

FCCID: IHDT56HZ1

Documents filed on 05/15/2007, 45 day confidentiality puts full info release on June 29th unless extension is filed.

Supports GSM 850, 1900, EDGE, and Bluetooth

Can be connected to computer via USB

Uses batteries: SNN5810A, SNN5808A, SNN5805A. None of these battery models are found by google, new hardware design dictates a new battery?

It mentions some information about CDMA testing as well?

Internal antenna: 40mm x 6mm

User manual is 3.7megs

FCC Docs

But this could all be barking up the wrong tree as the information on the new Sidekick Slide may not even be in the hands of the FCC at this time. The above phones may just be some new thin device from Motorola with lots of Zs or Vs in the name.

Looking back at the Sidekick 3, all the FCC docs were released around April 22nd, with the device hitting stores (for upgrading customers) on June 28th, about 9 weeks. These docs put the guesstimated release date around Aug 30th or Sept 30th. The last leaked docs were talking about August 22nd. Just some food for thought.

No, it’s not the Sidekick 4. And it’s not another Sidekick 3, but more like a Hiptop II with less hardware features and a Sidekick 3 OS. Sharp is still the manufacturer on this one, so it’s not the Motorola device we’re guessing is in the works. It sounds like this is going to be targeted at people who don’t want to drop the cash on the full feature set of a Sidekick 3. Rumor has it that it will be missing a camera (good for those in high security jobs), no miniSD card, and of course no MP3 player since there’s no storage. That’s about all we’ve heard so far. No word on whether it will be carried by TMobile, or what it will be named. We doubt it will be a Sidekick, or even a Sidekick Light, but you can bet the OS is probably similar since that’s what Danger banks on. We’ve heard that the hardware is similar, however with a different screen (lower resolution cause it’s cheaper). We’re still digging for details past that.

FCC Link

An anonymous reader tipped us off to these new exhibits posted on the FCC site. It’s the normal FCC submissions of confidentiality request and test results submitted by Sharp (the manufacturers of the Sidekick) but definitely a Danger powered device. They’re fairly recent, posted on 09/05/2006 with testing taking place in July-August.
A quick breeze through them and it looks like this may be some sort of updated Sidekick 3. The model number is given as PV200E (the original Sidekick 3 is listed as PV200). In addition, the sticker above matches the current sticker in shape. The only difference we’ve found so far is the GSM frequencies. Instead of 850/1800/1900, this one is 900/1800/1900. Our first guess was this is the (E)uropean version of the Sidekick 3. But that begs the question, “Why file with the FCC?” Perhaps this is an updated model with the intent to release in the US as well as globally, a.k.a. the Hiptop 3. Maybe this is one of those Limited Edition Sidekick 3s? I guess we’ll find out when the confidentiality request expires on October 12th. Drop your guesses in the comments

Manuals, photos, internal photos, all sorts of stuff are available here
Some quick links for you:
External Photos
Internal Photos
Test Setup Photos
Reference Guide Cover
Sidekick 3 Start Guide
Sidekick 3 Reference Guide (part 1)
Sidekick 3 Reference Guide (part 2)

The manual pages look very familiar. Some interesting observations:
- The SonicBOOM manual page we received matches up almost exactly with the “Music Player” page, so looks like a name change.
- No video support
- There’s a considerable section on the “Danger Service Privacy Notice” and what sort of information they collect and share.
- Yes, USB 1.1, not 2.0
- MP3s play off the miniSD card
- EDGE support!
- Bluetooth (as if noone saw that coming)

and I’m sure our commenters will have some other things to point out…

The FCC has updated the page and it looks like we’ll get a chance to see some official documentation, photos, and more very soon. Right now it’s returning a server error, but hopefully that will get straightened out soon.

It’s official, at least as far as the FCC is concerned. The filings for the Sidekick III showed up on the FCC’s website. We’re not sure why they didn’t document the feline behavior modification chip, but we’re sure that’s still being kept under wraps. It’s going to blow the market open for pet control like no other device we’ve seen. The previous pics were legit (to some extent) and we now have the newest pics for your viewing pleasure. Some of the rumours that are confirmed: Bluetooth (for all you lexus drivers), miniSD for expandable memory, and a 1.3 megapixel camera. Many are assuming the miniSD is meant for expansion for multimedia playback, meaning video and MP3. This hasn’t been confirmed yet, so stay tuned for the exact details. At this point we can only guess at some of the software features based on the capabilities of the hardware. Still no release date though, but we assume it can’t be far off if this information is now public.

From Engadget