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

If T-Mobile says it, it’s pretty much official. The Sidekick Slide (aka the Sidekick Zante) is coming in October, at least to the UK. On T-Mobile UK’s Coming Soon page they have a listing for the Sidekick Slide with “Expected October” listed (along with a confirmation of a 1.3megapixel camera). We find it pretty odd that the UK would get a Sidekick model before the US based on the history of the devices being released. In the past a device has always launched in the US and then trickled out to other markets. Perhaps this is a change in things and T-Mobile is trying out the Slide in the UK market before releasing it in the US. This would definitely explain the lack of FCC documents so far. It looks like maybe the US will be getting the Sidekick LX while others will be getting the Sidekick Slide, at least for the time being.

Thanks Luca

UPDATE: Looks like T-Mobile has pulled the listing from the Coming Soon page….

Some of those MySpace kids who keep a close eye on things have noticed that DJ AM has a “Private” event with T-Mobile on October 16th listed in his MySpace profile. DJ AM has played previous Sidekick release parties, including the Sidekick II and 3. There’s no information on whether this is for the Sidekick Slide or the Sidekick LX (or both) yet. Our first guess is that it’s for the Sidekick Slide. Our second guess is that it’s for both devices, and our third guess is that it’s for the Sidekick LX. The Sidekick Slide has been out and about being tested longer than the Sidekick LX, but who knows what decisions T-Mobile is making behind closed doors. Regardless, be on the lookout for at least one of the new devices in mid-October.

In addition to free Sidekick 3 themes, T-Mobile has finally included themes in the Download Catalog. This means that you can download a theme direct to your device if you’re willing to shell out $1.99 for the convenience. This also lets Sidekick iD owners customize their devices finally. Sidekick iDs don’t have a memory card, so you can’t load your own custom themes and backgrounds on them like you can with the Sidekick 3. To download themes direct from T-Mobile, check out the Download Catalog. For more information on creating your own custom themes, check out sk3themes.com.

Thanks to Fully for the screenshots

Yawn… oh what? More pictures of the device that was leaked way before its time? Hasn’t BGR done the slide to death in pictures? By the way, where’s that video review they promised? Oh well, here’s a few more pictures for you guys to drool over. A couple things observed from the pictures, OS 4.0 is confirmed to be on the device, and this is a production build of the OS. Basically that means the operating system is ready for release. The device is obviously polished and ready to go. Now we’re just waiting on T-Mobile. Our predictions? Unless something catastrophic happens, this device will be released before Christmas. We’re guessing probably September/October. Oh, and it’s nice to see those stupid T-Mobile people are gone from the Phone splash screen!

via Gizmodo (thanks nic)

                            
Looks like one of Danger’s trial users has broken their NDA for Boy Genius Report and leaked tons of info on the Zante. Photos of the device from all angles, some screenshots of OS 4.0, and comparisons to a Sidekick 3 and an iPhone. He gives a quick review and promises of a video review to come. Here’s a summary, keep in mind that this is a trial device and not necessarily what TMobile is going to release:
——-
Operating System: Not much new other than system sounds and a prettier look.

Instant Messaging: More reliable.

Size: About the size of a Blackberry 8800, rubberized finish, plastic body.

Keyboard: Pretty good, circular keys, wish there was more tactile feedback

Reception: No concerns, seems about the same

Call Quality: Quality on par or better than Sidekick 3. Good location for earpiece

Speaker Volume/Quality: Really loud external speakers. Speaker is by the Tmobile logo.

Catalog: Disregard what he says, this is a trial device. Trial users have a different catalog than normal users. Hopefully themes aren’t going to cost $2.99 apiece or everyone will keep getting them for free.
——-
Looks like BGR’s WordPress is currently broken, but we were able to grab copies of the photos and add them to this post.

via BoyGeniusReport

We got a tip from a reader about the Sidekick 4. It’s named the Sidekick Shuriken and measures 130 x 61 x 17.9mm (a smidge longer than the Sidekick 3, but thinner), with a 3 inch widescreen LCD (bigger than previous devices), a 1.3mp camera, and uses MicroSD. Unlike the Sidekick Slide, it will be produced by Sharp, like the older devices. We’re guessing the “Shuriken” is an internal name for the Hiptop device, and that this is probably what will end up being the Sidekick LX.

Rumor has it that it will be available first in the US, and then in Australia. Based on the screen cap of a leaked excel spreadsheet, it looks like it’s also geared towards a release in Germany and possibly the UK, which is expected. No word on pricing yet though. We’ll let you know as soon as we find out more. What do you guys think? Sticking with a Sidekick 3? Going for a smaller Sidekick Slide? Or drooling over a large screen Sidekick 4?

Looks like we’ve finally got a photo of a real Sidekick Slide, aka Zante, aka Sidekick Razr.

via BGR

CrunchGear posted about the latest Sidekick Zante/Slide info and are a bit cautious about believing it. We’re also a bit skeptical over here. Here are some reasons why we think the latest “leak” of Zante / Slide info is flawed.

The Zante on the features image is a bad photoshop. Why would you put a black phone on a black background? And even so, why not outline it in white rather than leftover garbage from a select tool? However the actual Zante image itself is something new. I just find it hard to believe that any “official doc” like this would be so poorly done.

What is the difference between a Feature and an Enabler? Why so much repetition in specifications? Are you just trying to take up space?

The Zante will use microSD not “Mlini SD”

The Zante has previously been reported as the Q700, not the Q900.

All the info has been previously leaked in some form already or easily assumed. It’s easy to gather it all and photoshop it together.

Why is it spelled “Catalogue” and not “Catalog” like it is on the Sidekick devices?

The screen on the Zante is an image of Danger OS 3.0, not 4.0 like the URL for the user manual placeholder on Danger’s site indicates.

Why in the world would you measure size in cc instead of inches or millimeters?

There is talk of the Zante having incredible battery life, but the battery is only 1130mAh, whereas the Sidekick 3’s current battery is 1500mAh and only gets about a day of usage. Can we really believe that they dropped the power consumption that much to get a rumoured 5.9hrs of talk time?

No mention of the feature of OS OTAs? This is one of the features that Danger has that most other phones don’t.

“WMA.2.5mm Audio” ? – Is this a new codec or did someone not hit return to create a new bullet point about the size of the headphone port?

All in all, I think some of this info is right, some of it is wrong, and some of it is old. Perhaps the person leaking this does have access to some info, but I don’t think this came from Danger or Motorola. Anyone else want to point out other fun facts about this latest “leak”?

More renderings of the possible Sidekick Slide / Zante have surfaced as well as an image with some stats. While the first two are most definitely renderings, the specification sheet is somewhat suspicious. Poor graphics, and misspelled words like “Mlini” and “catalogue” (it’s Download Catalog on the Sidekick 3 devices). And if they’re going for form factors, one would think they would opt for microSD as opposed to miniSD. And if this is a sheet for T-Mobile (as it has the T-Mobile phone people) why is it called the Zante and not the Sidekick Slide? If it’s not for T-Mobile, why is it using the T-Mobile phone splash screen and not Danger’s internal splash screen? We’re a little skeptical of the source, although a large part of the information looks to be correct. Here are the specs from the image:

Zante Main Features / Highlights

Specifications

SA Date: Q3 2007

Form Factor: QWERTY assisted slider

Finish: Premium-look CMF, plastic

Bands/Modes: GSM/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900

GPRS (2U/4D) Class 10

EDGE (2U/4D) Class 10

Size: 104cc

Weight: 150g

Antenna: Internal

Battery: 1130 mAh (BK70) removable

Key Features

2.4″ QVGA 65k TFT Display

1.3MP Imager

Large 5-row QWERTY keyboard

MP3, WAV, MIDI, AAC, AAC+, WMA, 2.5mm Audio

Push Email

SMS, MMS, IM (AIM, Yahoo, Microsoft)

Web-browsing with Javascript support

Game controllers

Bluetooth Wireless Connectivity

Expandable mem up to 2GB with Mlini SD

Enablers

EDGE

1.3MP Imager

Java

Audio Codec: MP3, AAC, AAC+, WMA

EL Backlighting

Integrated BlueTooth

128MB shared internal user memory

Danger Service Delivery Engine

Realtime web-page conversion

OTA synchronization of user data

Download catalogue

original post over at Gizmodo