The Bolt browser from Bitstream is leaving its beta tag behind and entering the world of grown-up web browsers. Bolt is based on Java, so it runs on any phone with current Java support. The company claims that the browser offers a full desktop experience, due to the server rendering of the web content. Version 1.5 provides the ability to stream videos of any length and download files from within Bolt. Bolt is free and can be downloaded directly to the phone.

Image courtesy SlashGear

That blazing-fast HTC Leo running the 1 GHz Snapdragon processor is confirmed to be heading to these shores in the first quarter of next year. The HD2, as it will be called, is the Windows Mobile 6.5 phone that burned through all the benchmarks in record time due to that fast processor. It also has a sweet 4.3-inch screen, the better to display those fast graphics.

Interestingly, even though HTC has the TouchFLO 3D interface on Windows Mobile, and the Sense interface on Android, the company claims that the Leo is running the Sense interface. Check out the video of the HD2 our friends at SlashGear grabbed. It’s ironic that the new WM browser is one of the high points of the Windows Mobile 6.5 upgrade, but HTC is going with Opera Mobile. That would be because Opera is a much better browser.

Need to edit spreadsheets on your iPhone? DataViz has added that ability to its newest version of Documents To Go for iPhone. Prior to this release, the productivity application only offered editing of Microsoft Word documents, but now Excel has been added to the editing mix. Data from editable cells appears at the top of the iPhone screen, above the spreadsheet. Aside from basic edits, DataViz also added support for 111 formulas, password protection, number and cell formatting, and multiple worksheets.

Documents To Go for iPhone is $9.99 in the iTunes store, but there’s a $14.99 version as well. For an extra $5, DataViz offers support for Microsoft Exchange attachments — both sending and receiving supported documents, spreadsheets and presentations.

It’s been a long, long time coming, but according to RIM, the BlackBerry Desktop Software for Mac will be available today. Mac owners have always relied on third-party solutions for syncing their BlackBerries up to the Mac, but no longer.

BlackBerry Desktop Software, formerly known as BlackBerry Desktop Manager, provides complete control over phone handsets from the Mac. Which means Mac users will now be able to sync PIM information and iTunes playlists with genuine RIM software. Phone updates and app installations can be handled from the Mac when OTA options are not available. The program should be available in the afternoon via the link above.

I received an email direct from Samsung this morning that surprised me. The company is offering its N310 netbook with a special deal that includes a 2GB memory upgrade and a case. Why the surprise? The N310 comes with Microsoft Windows XP Home pre-installed and traditionally Microsoft hasn’t generally allowed that on a retail netbook with more than 1GB of RAM.

Samsung prices the netbook at $479.99 and says the 2GB module is valued at $69.99, which is very overpriced. For the deal, they’re “cutting” the memory price to $19.99, which is right in line with the market — I paid about $25 for a 2GB module a few months back — and they’re throwing in a $20 case as well. So, $499.99 gets you a Samsung N310 with Windows XP Home, 2GB of memory, long battery life and a case. My gut says that either Samsung isn’t installing the 2GB module for you or Microsoft is relaxing more of its netbook restrictions of late. Either way, it should only take a few minutes to install the RAM if you need to do so.

Image courtesy Gizmodo

The leaked photos of two Microsoft branded phones has injected life into the “Project Pink” rumors that have floated around for so long. The Pink phones were rumored to be similar to the Sidekick phones produced by Danger, a company acquired by Microsoft a few years back. These new photos show concept phones that are pretty much ready for release. They may be concepts but they sure look like they are ready to go.

The phones are reported to be produced by Sharp for Microsoft and will be co-branded by both companies. Sharp makes the hardware for the Sidekicks, so this makes sense. If this is true, and Microsoft is indeed going into the phone hardware business, then statements they’ve made in the past indicate they’ve learned how to manipulate the media much like their BFFs at Apple.

This comment was made by Microsoft back in April of this year, when the Pink rumors were running rampant:

“1) Microsoft is not going into the phone hardware business
2) Microsoft is not building a Zune-specific phone
3) We’re deepening our relationships with our hardware partners in order to create even better performing phones that are competitively priced, have the features people want, that are easy-to-use and just downright lustworthy. The upcoming availability of Windows Mobile 6.5 software will enable our OEM partners to build even more compelling devices in a wide-range of form factors for customers around the world.”

So if the Pink phones do get released as is now widely expected, it would seem Microsoft has learned how to skirt the issues. Its previous statement about “not going into the phone hardware business” would now seem to be carefully crafted. If you think about it, the comments don’t actually say there won’t be a “Microsoft phone;” only that Micrsoft won’t go into the phone hardware business. Enter Sharp, which is expected to be actually making the hardware for the Microsoft/Sharp phones. It would appear that the folks at Redmond are getting pretty darn crafty with their public statements. We’ll soon know, anyway.

Across the pond, some of our readers have been getting antsy for a GSM version of the Palm Pre. Considering we’re big fans of the device — both James and I bought one — I can’t say that I blame you. But the wait is almost over, as O2 will offer the Pre next month in the UK, Ireland and Germany. Germany actually gets a slight head start in the race for the Pre, since they’ll see the handset on Oct. 13, three full days before it appears further west. Pricing varies by location and type of plan — you can get the Pre for free with a hefty monthly contract price or pay a bunch up front and have a minimal monthly bill, for example.

Paying for the phone outright and unlocking it might offer hope to some AT&T customers looking for a Pre here in the U.S. It turns out that the German version of the Pre is a GSM quad-band device with tri-band support for UMTS/HSPA data, says PreCentral. Yup, the data frequencies supported are 850/1900/2100 which means an unlocked German Pre should work here on AT&T’s 3G network. You might have to deal with some keyboard differences if you go this route, but I’d bet that some homebrew developer will find a way to remap keys.

I am really enjoying Opera 10, especially the Opera Turbo function when I’m on a 3G connection. Opera 10 is hands down the fastest web browser on 3G connections. Those who use different Windows systems are probably aware of portable versions of browsers. These fit on a USB stick and are self-contained, so that no matter what (or whose) system you use, you always have your personal browsing environment with you. You sit down, plug in the stick and browse away. It’s just like using your own system.

These portable browsing kits also keep all browsing sessions private. All cookies and history events go on the USB stick, which goes in your pocket when you’re finished. Nothing is left behind to indicate where you’ve been or what you’ve done. Portable browsers are great tools for the mobile worker.

Opera 10 aficionados can now enjoy a portable version, just like all the other browser users. Opera@USB is a simple download away, no installation required.

Want to be more productive with your Android handset? Remember The Milk is helping you do just that today — the online task service has introduced an RTM client for Google Android phones. Like the RTM iPhone app that I use, the software is free for Android users, but it does require a $25 yearly RTM Pro account. Unlike the comparable iPhone app, however, this version synchronizes tasks in the background. That’s very useful because on my iPhone, I have to open the application to synchronize it. In fact, I looked at it today on my Apple handset and saw seven tasks due. I knew that wasn’t the case, but I hadn’t run the software in a few days, so it was out of sync.

The new Remember The Milk app also leverages the Android notification system, so task warnings will appear as needed. And it includes the option to pull in location data, so if you’re nearby a place where a task can be completed, you’ll get notified. I can see plenty of “get bread and milk on the way home” tasks getting entered in this version. You don’t need to run the app to see your tasks, either — simply use the included home screen widget for a high-level list of tasks.

If I had an Android handset for everyday use, I’d jump on this software, as I’m already an RTM Pro user. Unfortunately, I’m tied to my iPhone and Palm Pre, so I’m postponing this particular task. I’d like to see an app for the webOS platform, but until then I’ll use my little web trick on the Pre — instead of hitting the standard mobile RTM site, I point my Pre’s browser at the RTM site designed for the iPhone, which is http://i.rememberthemilk.com. The formatting is great on the Pre and serves as a decent substitute for now. You won’t get any task notifications with this method, but for task entry, review and completion it works just fine.

Nearly a year after its first handset was introduced, Google’s Android platform is picking up steam. Last week we saw Motorola adopt it for the Cliq and today I see that LG has outed its own Android handset. The GW620 looks to have a generously sized, slideout QWERTY keypad to complement the 3″ touchscreen. Five rows of keys should please all but the most discriminating of fingers, although I always wonder if the sliding screen interferes with that top row.

LG says that European markets will see the GW620 in the fourth quarter of this year, so my gut says this is a GSM-based device with HSPA support. The LG press release is pretty light on specs, so I’m “spec”-ulating on the radio. Unlike Motorola, LG appears committed to Windows Mobile as well. The company plans for at least 13 handsets in the next 16 months that utilize Microsoft’s mobile operating system. This parallels what we’ve seen from HTC, which also builds handsets on Android and Windows Mobile.

I’m trying to figure out if Android is headed — over the long term — down a similar path to Windows Mobile. Many of the Android phones are very similar to each other and it’s becoming more difficult to determine key differences among them. The main differentiators so far appear to the custom UI functions like HTC’s Sense and Motorola’s MotoBlur — captured in an appropriately blurry video. Aside from that, the new Android handsets appear to be a slight variation on a theme for now. I’m not sure if that’s good or bad just yet, but something worth watching.