The Next “Sidekicks”?
It’s looking more and more like the next “Sidekicks” won’t really be the Sidekick we know and love. With the purchase of Danger by Microsoft, the team behind the Sidekick has been moved over to a project codenamed Pink. I’ve mentioned this project before, but 9to5mac has some new info on Pink. They’re reporting that the first two devices to come out of Project Pink will be landing in early 2010. The devices will be sliders, so the familiar screen flip will be gone, but they will be manufactured by Sharp like the current ‘kicks. There are two devices rumored to be coming out. Their code names are “Turtle” and “Pure”.
Turtle will be a “squircle” shaped device with a slide out keyboard. The image you see above is a supposed drawing of it. The slide out keyboard will also have a mic so you’ll need to have the keyboard open when you’re making a phone call. The Pure device is more along the lines of a standard candy-bar slider style device. So far no pics of Pure have leaked out yet.
They’re both rumored to be setup to use an App Store model of application delivery and I wouldn’t be surprised if behind the scenes it was the same technology running Danger’s Download Catalog. However probably most controversial news to die-hard Sidekickers: It’s looking like the new devices might be running on Windows Mobile 7. What do you think? Does Microsoft have a chance to jump back in the market or is it too late as everyone jumps ship to iPhones and Android devices.
September 21st, 2009 at 3:10 pm
I’ve already jumped ship to Blackberry. I saw this coming.
Microsoft has not done well in the mobile business and I see no indication of that changing in the future. The design here seems childish and cumbersome. No thanks.
I’m happy with Blackberry and I’m not looking back.
September 21st, 2009 at 3:18 pm
I’d rather buy a Sidekick running Android on it.
September 21st, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Same here, jumped ship to the g1 and haven’t looked back. The sidekick lx 2009 was an abomination thanks to microsoft, reseting damn near everyday and running slower than all hell. Sidekicks are over os-wise, and now it looks like they’re physically over too. Such a shame. rip sk!
September 21st, 2009 at 3:22 pm
FAIL FAIL FAIL.
Seriously. That Doesn’t Even Look Like It’d Align Properly When Slid Down.
Yeah, I Know, That Isn’t The Final Product Or Whatever, But Still. It Doesn’t Look Too Appealing. If It In Fact Runs Windows OS… I’ll Be Done With Sidekicks As Much As I Hate To Say It. They Should Keep Both Platforms Separate, In My Opinion. I Keep Scrolling Up To See The Pic As I’m Typing This Whole Thing And I REALLY Don’t See This Happening. It’s Gonna Look So Cheap I Bet.! Only Time Will Tell… I Can’t Wait To See An In The Wild Shot.
September 21st, 2009 at 3:39 pm
Thank you Microsoft for buying out Danger and ruining the future of sidekicks forever with your shitty OS and ugly cell phone designs. It is sad to say that the LX 09 is my last sidekick. R.I.P Sidekick
September 21st, 2009 at 4:34 pm
G@yness. I was planning on switching phones after this sidekick anyways. I’m finished with this product and need a more interesting phone…thank you technology and your ever so addicting ways.
September 21st, 2009 at 4:36 pm
“Does Microsoft has a chance to jump back in the market or is it too late as everyone jumps ship to iPhones and Android devices.”
There’s a typo. It should be have. Third word at top.
September 21st, 2009 at 4:37 pm
“Does Microsoft has a chance to jump back in the market or is it too late as everyone jumps ship to iPhones and Android devices.”
There’s a typo. It should be Have. (Third word top of sentence.)
September 21st, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Thanks! Fixed.
September 21st, 2009 at 6:02 pm
Project pink had nothing to do with sidekicks in the first place, so admin, what the fuck are you talking about here?
September 21st, 2009 at 6:12 pm
Well this just shows me even more that this will be my last sidekick. Im thinking about paying out of my contract and getting an iphone anyway.
September 21st, 2009 at 6:12 pm
https://www.hiptop3.com/archives/the-future-of-danger-and-the-sidekick
September 21st, 2009 at 6:23 pm
It doesnt say its suppose to be a sidekick its meant to appeal to an audience not so different from the traditional Sidekick audience.
September 21st, 2009 at 7:32 pm
The Sidekick is going to be nonexistent soon. Sad, but that’s what happens when Microsoft touches anything. The kick screen and awesome keyboard were the Sidekick’s main selling points. Thanks Microsoft for giving those two things the axe.
I’ve been a Sidekick lover for two years and now I’m counting down the days (22) until my contract expires and I can get an iPhone. Time to jump ship, as some other people have done.
September 21st, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Admin, that link you provided says NOTHING about this absolutely being a sidekick. It refers to the Sidekick but says nothing about this BEING a sidekick. From what I read on that link, it’s not being called a sidekick, it’s simply being COMPARED to a sidekick.
September 21st, 2009 at 8:00 pm
Good bye Sidekick you will be missed and loved for every
September 21st, 2009 at 8:14 pm
Wow. I can’t believe it… Such a disheartening post. If this post is somewhat accurate… then Sidekicks have officially died! I will most definitely be buying my BLackberry 9700 next month!!! CAN’T WAIT!! I’m officially DONE with Sidekicks next month!
September 21st, 2009 at 11:56 pm
sidekicks are sidekicks and this is not a sidekick..the lx09 will have to be my last..oh well…
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:42 am
Kinda looks like a Palm Pre?
September 22nd, 2009 at 2:51 am
To the people saying it’s not a Sidekick, I’m sure the admin is aware of that. However, we’ve been hearing that this is the end of Sidekicks and that the Danger people have been working with Microsoft on this device. If this is the end of Sidekicks then Pink will be the closest thing we’ll have to a Sidekick…
September 22nd, 2009 at 3:55 am
Ur just in denial the sidekick that I personally had 23 this being my 23rd and another in my room being 22nd will never be born again
September 22nd, 2009 at 8:26 am
OMG… THIS IS JUS TERRIBLE SIDEKICK WAS ALL I EVA KNOWN I’VE BEEN WIT THE SICK SINCE 03 WEN IT FIRST CAME OUT THIS IS DEVASTING NEWS TO ME SMH……….. I GUESS STEVE JOBBS HERE I COME SMH…. SAD BUT ITS TRUE SMH…….
September 22nd, 2009 at 8:41 am
Funny how all these who claim to have jumped the ship and not looking back are posting on here, if they’re not looking back!? 🙂
I have to say out of all the SKs I’ve had the SKLX09 is not at all the greatest, yes I enjoy the fact that I can stream an audio stream and watch an occasional Youtube video (albeit in very poor quality), but the stalling and crashing of the device over and over again is starting to get to me, not to mention the battery that needs recharging half way through the day.
For me overall the LX (not 09) was a better device.
Don’t get me wrong I *LOVE* the SK devices and would’ve hoped they would stay alive, we will have to see what I will do if this changes, the whole server backup/sync is one of my favorite features along with the keyboard of course.
September 22nd, 2009 at 10:13 am
I’ve been holding off on upgrading my phone so it doesn’t extend my contract, I’m waiting to see something more official, if T-mo doens’t continue this same style device then I’m leaving T-mobile, their coverage sucks for me, the only reason I’m with them is because I love this phone. From the sounds of it – Goodbye T-mo, hello Verizon…
September 22nd, 2009 at 10:54 am
Considering there has been little innovation in terms of the OS itself (the same can basically be said for the hardware) maybe it is time to start anew.
Honestly, the same flaws I had with the Sidekick 2 are pretty much the same issues I have with the new LX 09 (limited OS, terrible catalog, overpriced, iffy Danger servers, outdated hardware, etc…). True the new phone was a step up for Sidekick users, but really what on the Sidekick can you do that you can’t do on a Blackberry, WinMo phone, or even the dreaded iPhone.
True the Danger OS used to be solid but when I had the 09 it was significantly slower doing almost everything. That and it crashed more than my older LX ever did.
Time has essentially passed the devices by. Not to mention the terrible marketing from the T-Mob. Hip-hop dancers? Really?
September 22nd, 2009 at 2:30 pm
I might jump ship to the Motorola Cliq when t-mobile launches that. Android is where it’s at.
September 22nd, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Well, when I’m tired of my Sidekick, I will be getting an iPhone. An iPhone is better than an iPhone in so many ways. On top of that, the iPhone is getting MMS in about three more days. Even more reasons to get it.
September 22nd, 2009 at 9:38 pm
GET IT THROUGH YOUR THICK SKULLS-
Microsoft bought Danger for one reason alone- the patent they held for the “backend” device update/backup that made the sidekick so awesome 5 or 6 years ago.
They now hold the rigns to unleash a god-awful onslaught of vanilla flip/slide phones to Joe Six Pack and Tyrone 40 oz with an upper price range of <$150.
There are better phones and mobile OSes out there, people. Let it go already.
September 22nd, 2009 at 11:20 pm
i bought flowers for microdanger because they killed my social networking friend. this so called device or sidekick as they call it has uber fail written all over its plastic little body especially if this is what will be carrying the sidekick nomenclature this thing is horrid if this is what the big pink box has in store for the sidekick they need to pile into there clown car and ride off into the cell phone sunset because i know phones and honestly i wouldnt give this thing to a child to play with . all current sidekick owners keep your current devices because unless microdanger changes their mind about the so called pink project which should be axed btw then microsoft will be selling the danger part of microsoft to the highest bidder and furthermore windows mobile is a horrible OS danger OS though not groundbreaking is better than windows anyday
September 22nd, 2009 at 11:52 pm
oh and not to cross carrier promote if t mobile drops the sidekick and that puts the deaf and hard of hearing group out in the cold who thinks helio should pick that ball up and run with it to help that community? honestly i feel they could be an asset to them if u wanna give me your opinion email me at Kevinmd84@gmail.com make the subject deaf and hard of hearing community
September 23rd, 2009 at 4:03 pm
oh spit! i just saw the pics of pink and turtle on another site just now and all i have to say is D:
damn, i wish they at least kept the sk form factor.
my only hope is that tmo is smart enuf to know what makes a sk a sk. but seeing as they had to put out a survey to find that out, im guessing they are clueless.
🙁
September 24th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
I jumped ship to a BlackBerry Bold and i love it! dont regret leaving the sidekick, th sidkeick was awsome but th OS was way outdated..im so happy with the blackberry bold, sad to see the sidekick coming to an end, i really was hoping one day the sidekick would catch up to this years demands such as how the blackberry, iphone, and android are up to date OS’s while the sidekick lacks OS, the sidekick OS is from my grandmas time from the stone age..lmao…i mean who designd the sidekick os? college intern students?
September 27th, 2009 at 4:23 am
Ok wtf! All yhu stoopid ppl saying BlackBerry! BlackBerry! Stfu, damn so annoying I have a BlackBerry 8330 and this thing is getting on my last nerves! It keeps turning on and off by its self like its special or something wth! When I had my SkLx’o7 it never did tht… I happen to looooveee Sidekicks with a burning passion and I hate this damn BlackBerry. Idk why the heck tmo is doing this to the sidekick but if they do they are going to have looow bizz bekuz the main reason ppl get tmo for the SIDEkICK and G-1 and 3G! But mainly the sidekick, and they are dumb to even to tht but trust me they are going to make a better sidekick when they see costumers aint flying in tmo building like birds anymore! Thtsz all I have to say yhu can Agree or Disagree I rly dnt care
September 27th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
ms dont make the hardware, they make the software in phones. there not even making this phone, sharp is. the same company that made the sidekicks. ms just provide the os in phones not the phone itself.
September 27th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
ms dont design the phones there os and ui run on
September 27th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
im laughing at everyone saying that there going to jump ship and get an liephone. yeah thats not a good idea. there are so many phones that are better than the liephone. at the end of the day the liephone is a very basic phone
September 30th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
i love sieckek
October 2nd, 2009 at 2:27 pm
This has me worried, considering I joined the T-mobile Sidekick world with the LX 2009. I had always wanted to get a side kick, ever since the first one came out ages ago.
But if this is the future of the Sidekick then it’s not a Sidekick. It’s a palm-pre clone, just like the G1 is the answer to the iPhone and Instinct.
The thing is, the Sidekick’s unique design and swivel-screen is a trademark of T-mobile. If they give up their signature design for a run-of-the-mill clone like this, then they’ve shot themselves in the foot as far as upgrades go, if not die-hard customers who love being separate from the rest of the cellphone crowd.
At that point, I will never give up my sidekick unless it falls apart or they stop supporting it. And if Microsoft has their way, which they are very sneaky, Danger service will one day suddenly “snuff out” in favor of their terrible Windows Mobile.
The only thing close to the Sidekick I can see is the Samsung Comeback, but it’s not a swivel screen nor is it Danger-operated.
October 4th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
Learn to spell
October 4th, 2009 at 10:17 pm
wack, wack, wack, damn this is sad RIP sidekick…………………… windows os you fail again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! your fired!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!