We’ve heard rumors that the HTC S522 was going to be a T-Mobile device, and it looks like that’s true.  The FCC just got their hands on the device, codenamed MAPL100, or Maple.  From the specs they have, it’s going to feature 3G on the AWS band, making it completely compatible with the HSPA network.  Will it have HTC’s cool Inner Circle ability?  That’s the big question, and so far, there’s no answer.  HTC has said that they plan on releasing an unbranded version of the S522 in the United States, so either way, T-Mobile isn’t going to have the market cornered on this device.

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We’ve been waiting for it for several months, and now it’s here: the unlocked, unbranded HTC Touch Diamond 2 has finally started to appear on retailer websites.  This unlocked phone is available around the world, but stock is limited.  One UK store, for example, says they only received ten unlocked Touch Diamond 2s.  The price is £449.99, or about $672 for those of you in the states.  If you want to get your hands on one of these unbranded handsets, it looks like you better get a move on.  With limited quantities, they’re certainly going to be going fast.

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It looks like some HTC G1 users just couldn’t wait to get their hands on the ported version of Cupcake, aka Android 1.5.  Well, because of this, Google has locked out anyone running this version of Android from the Android Market!  If you jumped ahead of the line and installed a hacked Cupcake app, you no longer can download or purchase apps from the market.  One theory is that Android 1.5 shows up on Google’s radar as coming from an HTC Magic handset, and when they started seeing Magic users in places Magic users should not be, they cut them off from the market.  It turns out there are actually two versions of the haykuro Cupcake (as the hacked app is called).  One, the H version, can still access the Android Market.

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HTC G1 users may find the Android Marketplace flooded with new Android 1.5 apps very soon.  Google has recent made an Android 1.5 software developer kit available to programmers.  This kit gives them access to everything included in Android 1.5, including the faster browser and the new video support options.  Of course, this kit comes with a caveat: Google has stressed that some of these new features aren’t finalized yet and that the final developer kit won’t be released until the end of the month.  Basically, this early version of the kit is to give app developers some ideas as to what will be possible, but all apps should be developed using the final kit, not this one.

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Emirates Business has recently announced that the United Arab Emirates will be getting their first HTC smartphone within the next few months.  HTC’s General Manager for the area has reported that they are in the final stages of launching the HTC Magic, the second Android-based phone, in the UAE.  Unlike other versions of the Magic, the version released in the Middle East will be exclusively branded to HTC and will not be connected to any specific service provider.  This is a new tactic HTC has not really used before, and it will be interesting to see if it is successful or not.

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Well, it may not be everything promised in Cupcake, but Google has recently released Android 1.5 for the HTC G1 (and, presumably, for the HTC Magic and all future Android handsets).  Android 1.5 includes a number of things originally slated for Cupcake, including the highly awaited virtual keyboard!  It also includes an accelerometer to rotate the display from vertical to horizontal to make it easier to use the full-sized virtual QWERTY keyboard.  

In addition to the keyboard, the update includes new video recording options, faster web browsing, copy and paste support, stereo audio for Bluetooth users, and many other minor updates and changes.  No word yet on when this version of Android will be standard on shipped devices, but some of the features are listed as being essential to the HTC Magic.

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If you’re a Touch Diamond user on the Sprint network, there’s a new ROM update out for you that will upgrade your device to version 2.00.651.7.  This update, termed a maintenance release by the company, will fix a few issues and update some other things.  The update fixes issues where the internal storage drive isn’t recognized and fixes a problem with the clock not updating after daylight savings time.  It also enhances the HTC dialer app, Opera, and Spring TV in addition to fixing a number of small bugs.  It’s not a huge update, but if you’ve been dealing with any of these issues, it’s nice to have them fixed.

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According to VentureBeat and Softpedia, three different HTC Sapphire handsets exist.  From what they report, Sapphire 1.0 really isn’t that interesting—in fact, it probably won’t see a U.S. release, although it may hit Europe and other countries.  What they’re calling the Sapphire 1.5, however, is an Android device that is going to end up being the G3 and Vodafone’s HTC Magic.  So what’s the Sapphire 2.0?  Well, that may end up being the G4, and it may end up being offered by NTT DoCoMo.    All of these different names and version numbers are quite confusing, and none of this information has been collaborated yet.  However, it’s interesting to see rumors about a G4 already.  Too early?  Perhaps, or maybe HTC is planning its devices years ahead.

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