News about smartphone:
Sharp AQUOS smartphone doesn’t look like one
When you talk about smartphones, most of us would think that they involve a rather generous touchscreen of sorts, not to mention a candybar form factor (with the exception of a rare few which comes with a slider QWERTY keyboard) as well as all the trappings like Wi-Fi connectivity, 3G support at the very least, and a microUSB memory card slot amidst others.
Aircell smartphone announced
Making calls while you’re in the air is something that most of us try to avoid – after all, we’re told to turn off our electronic devices especially cell phones since they are said to interrupt with the aircraft’s communication systems, so the other alternative if you have a really desperate call to make would be to swipe your credit card and make taht really, really expensive phone call.
Sharp 3D smartphone with 3D camera on its way
Sharp are hoping to release a 3D smartphone by the end of the year. The device will feature a 3D camera, but that is about all that is known at the moment. Any further details on the device E.g. name, size, spec, OS, are a mystery, though chances are OS wise Android will be a firm … [visit site to read more]
Asus Windows Phone 7 Sighted in Pakistan
In the mad mad world of mobile OSs, Android and iOS hog all the limelight. But here is some news about their poor cousin Windows 
Phone 7. Apparently, an Asus Windows phone 7 handset has been spotted in Pakistan. The phone features … [visit site to read more]
Android global sales rise 886%
Last year Android was still finding its feet and was making a sluggish entrance to the smartphone industry, which makes Google’s current OS success all the more impressive.
Motorola Droid 2 Release Date Leaked As Early As Next Week?
Although its existence may not be the best kept secret, the Motorola Droid 2 has not had any official release dates revealed to the public yet. However, thanks to a leaked screenshot revealed on Don’t Hate the Geek, Android Spin is saying that the Motorola Droid 2 could be coming in just over a weeks time. The leaked image (shown below) shows a document of the … [visit site to read more]
Sharp Announce 3D Smartphone ?
Not many people know this but Sharp have been at the forefront of the glasses free 3D revolution, as they are the ones who are making the screen for the new Nintendo 3DS and 3D HD camcorders. But now they have said that they will bring out a new … [visit site to read more]
BlackBerry Torch 9800 Gets Official Launch Date
Research in Motion has joined hands with AT&T for launching its new smartphone Torch 9800. The phone, with dual input mode, will be available from August 12 at the price point of $200. AT&T has offered the prospective customers to sign up for a notification, which will intimate them about the availability of the new objet d’sire. Torch 9800 claims to be the f
HTC Desire HD and HTC Desire Z Android Smartphones Spotted on Vodafone Germany
The German site, BestBoyz have acquired screenshots of a database from Vodafone Germany’s systems revealing that HTC’s latest Android smartphones maybe fast approaching.
Leaked Verizon ‘Roadmap’ Shows Plans for 4G LTE Network and New BlackBerry Smartphones
A leaked Verizon roadmap shows the company’s plans to offer several new 3G and 4G phones as well as upcoming 3G data plans, focusing on the upcoming 4G LTE network.
Nexus One is sold out in Google’s store — forever
Google warned us that the Nexus One was approaching the end of its days, but we’ve gotta admit, we didn’t realize just how quickly that moment would come. Sure enough, Google’s official online store for the phone now just shows an ominous message that “the Nexus One is no longer available for purchase directly” from the company, which means you’re going to have to go through Vodafone, KT in South Korea, or hold out for the units that they plan on selling directly to registered developers. Needless to say, for the bulk of potential customers, the phone is all but history. So, on that note, Nexus One: for your straight-shooting stock Android ways and your unlocked radio, you’ll be dearly missed — and we hope your legacy lives on, even though your retail model does not.
Milestone XT720 Released in the UK
Motorola has announced launching its Milestone XT720 handset in the UK. The Android based smartphone is available unlocked 
since the company has yet to finalize a carrier partner in the country. This gorgeous Android … [visit site to read more]
Motorola’s rugged i1 coming to Sprint: July 25 for $150 on contract
A solid four months after first seeing thing plastered across half of Las Vegas, Motorola’s i1 finally has a date with Sprint. The planet’s first Android-equipped smartphone with Nextel Direct Connect will go nationwide on July 25th (via telesales and websites; all other Sprint channels will see it on August 8th), bringing military spec ruggedness, push-to-talk capabilities and a certain ability to withstand all sorts of death grips. Unfortunately, Android 1.5 is a bit of a dinosaur at this point, but it’s still a heck of a lot better than that G’zOne Rock you’re currently toting. Get ready — you’ve got just under a week to scrounge up $149.99 and the nerve to sign another two-year contract. Read the rest of this entry »
Samsung Captivate now shipping from AT&T, right on cue
Sure, the Samsung Vibrant came out three days earlier, but you don’t care if T-Mobile customers beat you to the Galaxy S punch — you’re on AT&T, and it’s about time you had (another) high-end Android smartphone to call your own. Our recent hands-on showed it was a bit sluggish, so you might want to wait for our full review, but if your heart’s set on that 4-inch Super AMOLED screen and 1GHz Hummingbird core, you’re only two clicks away from adding the Android 2.1 handset to your virtual shopping cart. Click one is our source link, immediately below.
How would you change LG’s Ally?
LG didn’t hold back when it came time to market its Ally, but was a tie-in with one of the summer’s biggest blockbusters really enough? We found some rather unforgivable flaws during our testing, but that’s honestly beside the point — we’re here to hear about your thoughts on the device. Priced initially at just $100 on contract, it was (and still is, to an extent) one of the best deals going for an Android-based smartphone with a full QWERTY keyboard, but has it really lived up to your expectations? Are you wishing you had held out a bit longer? Is the keyboard really a winner? How do you like / dislike the UI overlay? How’s it handle when held left-handed? Go on, get really real in comments below. We’re all ears. Read the rest of this entry »
Apple affirms: no software fix for iPhone 4 antenna issue
In case it wasn’t obvious enough from Apple‘s agitated response to our question during today’s iPhone 4 Q&A session in Cupertino, there’s no software fix in the pipeline for the antenna issues that are plaguing users today. A prior report in the New York Times seemed fairly confident that the troubles could (and would) be solved in the near term by a simple software update, but the company’s own Scott Forstall called said report “patently false.” So, there you have it — the only thing that’ll be fixed via software is how big your smallest bar of signal is. Beyond that, you’ll need to grab some Duct tape, a free case or a white glove if you’re looking to avoid attenuation entirely. Read the rest of this entry »
Apple: iPhone 4 drops ‘less than one additional call per 100 than the 3GS’
It’s fairly obvious that the howls around the web for Apple to address this antenna issue has gotten underneath the skin of one Steve Jobs, and in a fashion that’s very much unlike Apple (or AT&T, for that matter), the aforesaid CEO has actually handed out a bit of hard data surrounding dropped calls on the iPhone 4. According to Jobs, AT&T won’t reveal the exact amount of call drops for competitive reasons, but they did manage to push out a meaningful delta. As of today, they’ve noticed that the “iPhone 4 drops less than one additional call per 100 than the 3GS.” In other words, the iPhone 4 has actually been dropping more calls than the 3GS in the three weeks that the former has been on the market. Of course, Steve’s also playing up the fact that just a fraction of a percent of all buyers have bothered to call in about their bout with dropped calls (and why would you, knowing there’s no cure?), but it’s still interesting to finally get some cold, hard facts on this disaster. Even if it’s but a snippet. Read the rest of this entry »
Nokia C6-01 turns up in Netherlands
Nokia has been peddling the C6 mobile phone for a while now in its white form factor with a 5MP camera. A new updated version of the venerable C6 has surfaced in the Netherlands dubbed the C6-01. The new C6-01 looks very similar in design, but is slightly different and has new features.
Apple and HTC lead charge as smartphone market looks set to grow and grow
A recent survey of 4,028 US consumers by ChangeWave has thrown up a number of illuminating statistics, which you might consider as predictable as they are informative. The chief takeaway is that people are keen on buying smartphones like never before, with 16% of respondents saying that they’ll be taking the plunge within the next 90 days, which marks the biggest increase in the survey’s history. Secondly, and crucially for vendor loyalists, Apple and HTC seem to be the biggest beneficiaries (or are they the stimulants?) of this interest, with both improving their share by over 50 percent between March and June of this year. RIM and Motorola have taken a tumble in that same timespan, while Palm has sadly failed to register even a single percentage point. We can definitely see the Droid X and BlackBerry 6 remedying things for the big boys, but Palm’s route out of ignominy seems a little less straightforward. You’ll find a chart of customer satisfaction — dominated by Apple in imperious fashion — after the break, and the full breakdown at the source link. Read the rest of this entry »
Motorola Droid X gets cinematic ‘See You Tomorrow’ trailer (video)
Yeah, we said trailer. The Droid family has seen its fair share of atypical ads, and while this one won’t tug on your heartstrings, it’ll definitely captivate. Unless you’re already three sheets to the wind and well on your way into an early weekend. Either way, you should really have a look after the break.
SanDisk’s elusive 32GB microSDHC card on sale tomorrow at Verizon: $100 with a Droid X, $150 without
Oh, sure — SanDisk‘s 32GB microSDHC card has been “shipping” since late March, but have you actually tried to find one? It’s been a lesson in frustration for many, and while a few e-tailers have shown stock off and on, the card has generally evaded archivists who simply need an insane amount of available storage on their handset. Starting tomorrow, however, that should change. Verizon Wireless — of all companies — has somehow managed to become the “only retailer that offers customers the 32GB SanDisk microSDHC card.” We’re assuming it’s referring to brick and mortar retailers, but at any rate, the gem will be on sale tomorrow at VZW outlets for $149.99, or just $99.99 if you purchase one alongside Motorola’s Droid X. The only trouble with that? You’re stuck figuring out what to do with the 16GB microSDHC card that ships inside of the phone. Thank heavens for the Bay, right? Read the rest of this entry »
Motorola Droid X: Top Smartphone Contender This Summer?
Remember the days when Blackberrys were the only smartphones and they were used by businessmen on trains? Well now with the iPhone 4, HTC, Samsung Galaxy etc, the smartphone is everywhere. Maybe we should ask someone if the concept of a ‘mobile’ phone even exists anymore.
FaceTime video call works beautifully on airplane’s in-flight WiFi (video)
Yeah, seriously. While Aircell’s Gogo in-flight WiFi service has been blocking VoIP calling services (Skype being the most obvious example) from day one, it’s apparently not throwing the same brick wall in the face of Apple’s new standard. Our good pals over at TUAW managed to record a (relatively) solid two minute FaceTime conversation with an iPhone 4 owner, and only after you realize that said owner is a few thousand feet above the Earth’s surface does this all become a lot more interesting. We know for a fact that certain iPhone 4 owners have had difficulty with FaceTime conversations when using highly firewalled access points (like those found in hotels and corporate offices), but it seems as if seat 16A is cleared for transmission. For now, anyway. Head on past the break to peek the FaceTime ad that Apple forgot to make. Read the rest of this entry »
Colorware douses iPhone 4 in double rainbow, might just solve your reception issues
Given just how much that white iPhone 4 bumper is about to cost you on eBay, it seems as if a Colorware’d alternative has never been a better bargain. The master of gadget coloration is back once more, this time promising to dress Apple’s latest problem child up with just about any combination of hues that you choose. Consumers can splash paint on the frame, back, button, SIM card tray and earbuds, with the minimum price set at $250 for a sent-in device. There’s no guarantee that a coat of Colorware will serve to remedy those awfully annoying reception issues, but at least you can pocket a beautiful reminder of just how happy a pair of colorful bands can make the average vacationer. And that, friends, is priceless. Read the rest of this entry »
T-Mobile Garminfone gets a much-needed price drop to $129
When we got a chance to let the Garmin-Asus Garminfone send us around town for a review, we found it to be about the best nav-focused smartphone on the market. But, its $200 price made it a tough sell compared to many far more powerful alternatives. Now it’s finally dropping to a somewhat more easily palatable asking price of $129.99 with the usual contract restrictions. That’s a great price for a great phone with great navigation, and while we’re still guessing that users here will not get invited out for FroYo anytime in the future, at this price you can afford to buy yourself some real ice cream. Read the rest of this entry »
SlashGear Week in Review – Week 27 2010
Time for another week in review to wrap up the last week in tech. Eric Schmidt said Monday that there would be no Nexus Two or Google-branded Chrome OS netbook coming directly from Google. That direct sales method didn’t work out for Google.
HTC Aria update for AT&T enables mobile hotspot, sideloaded app support (update: disappointment)
Well, this is genuinely awesome: it seems AT&T is pulling back from its ban on third-party sideloaded apps on its Android devices, because HTC has just released an Aria update that enables them (either that or HTC just went rogue here, but we highly doubt it). While that doesn’t have much practical implication for your typical smartphone user, it’s a strong sign that AT&T might be ready to take a more reasonable stance on the openness of its branded devices that would put it inline with the attitudes Sprint, Verizon, and T-Mobile have all taken with their Android phones so far. Additionally, the update includes “the Mobile Network sharing function,” which we take to mean a mobile hotspot app in the same vein as the one that’s shipping with Froyo — if we had to guess, it probably requires AT&T’s 2GB DataPro plan plus the tethering add-on, which would put it in line with what they’re charging on the iPhone. Onward and upward, AT&T.
Android 2.2 ported to HTC Desire, working quite well
No patience to wait until Q3 for an official Froyo build? Fret not, dear Desire owners, as udK_dev has managed to push out a near-perfect Android 2.2 port that’s working spectacularly well so far. As you’d expect, HTC’s Sense overlay is indeed baked in, and while there are still a few quirks here and there, users seem to be generally pleased with how it’s going. Better still, the camera has been upgraded to handle 720p video recording, so there’s that. Hit the source link for the how-to, but make sure you set aside a few hours first. Or maybe just one.
Facebook Break Privacy Laws in Germany
Not all is well for Facebook. The social networking site has upset Germany’s data protection office.
Ubuntu joins Android on Nexus One, apocalyptic repercussions nowhere to be found
Ever wondered what would happen if you threw another mobile OS onto your Nexus One? Without removing Android? Contrary to popular belief, the world will in fact not end, and in many cases, lives could very well be improved. One particular modder over at Nexus One Hacks has managed to put together a video how-to demonstrating the installation of Ubuntu as a secondary OS on his rooted N1, and while you’ll obviously find yourself dealing with a few incompatibilities should you follow suit, it’s not like you really have anything better to do tonight than tinker. Right? Right. Jump on past the break and mash play to get going. Read the rest of this entry »
Samsung’s Windows Phone 7 prototype slipping out to Imagine Cup finalists
You thought about shipping off to Warsaw for the Imagine Cup 2010 finals, didn’t you? ‘Tis a shame you didn’t, because Microsoft is fixing to hand out Windows Phone 7 prototypes to every last finalist at the show (around 400, we’re hearing). The winning team has already received their handsets after receiving a mighty round of applause from developing Beastware, and while it’s impossible to tell from images so far, the phones that they acquired look to be the same as the Samsung device we toyed with back in June. Funny — we reckoned the finalists at a show like this would be in that elusive Kin generation.
Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini / Mini Pro review
In a smartphone market saturated with 3.5-inch and larger displays, Sony Ericsson reckons there’s still a little place for petite packages. Enter the Xperia X10 Mini (E10i) and Mini Pro (U20i) — both direct descendants of the beastly X10 Android 1.6 handset. Apart from the Pro’s slide-out keyboard, removable battery, and positioning of various features, the two Minis are otherwise internally identical — same processor, same camera, and same screen. So can these cute baby form factors offer more than just some palm-cuddling time? Can we get a decent smartphone performance out of them? Follow us after the break to find out. Read the rest of this entry »
White HTC EVO 4G lands early in Best Buy stores (update: unboxing!)
Good news, EVO 4G lovers! The striking white version of Sprint’s most gargantuan (by diagonal screen size, anyway) smartphone has started to splash down into Best Buy stores across the nation a full five days early. If you’ll recall, the white EVO 4G wasn’t supposed to land in the hands of those who pre-ordered until July 11th, but we’ve received two independent confirmations that they are indeed arriving early in select locales. Stay close to your current phone — you may be getting a pick-up call in the not-too-distant future.
