Hasta La Gadget!

Those of us picking budget smartphones in the US seldom have the choice of a toughened smartphone, and it’s even more of a challenge when we’re not signed on to one of the top four carriers. US Cellular is offering the cost-conscious a (hardened) olive branch by shipping the Alcatel One Touch Shockwave. Skip past the creaky Android 2.3, 800MHz processor, 3.2-megapixel camera and 3.5-inch, 480 x 320 display — a shock- and water-resistant shell as well as Dragontrail-based glass should keep the smartphone working through most forms of casual abuse. We also don’t mind having preloaded Amazon Appstore and media apps, although the frugal 2GB microSD card in the box won’t leave much room for any downloading. We’d at least keep the Shockwave on the short list when the $50 price and long-lasting design will leave ample funds for just about everything else.

Continue reading Alcatel One Touch Shockwave reaches US Cellular, takes your bumps and scrapes for $50

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

Alcatel One Touch Shockwave reaches US Cellular, takes your bumps and scrapes for $50 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Oct 2012 15:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Congo-based VMK has been blazing a trail for mobile devices in Africa: its Way-C tablet proved that the continent could go its own way without leaning on Asia or Europe. The company promised several months ago to address the same gap with smartphones, and the result is here in the form of the Elikia (“Hope”). The hardware won’t shake the cellular world’s foundations with its 3.5-inch (and 480 x 320) display, 512MB of RAM, a 650MHz processor and both 5-megapixel rear as well as front VGA cameras, but that’s not the point — at $170 US off-contract, it’s much more within the reach of Congo residents, and it even uses the unofficial Holo Launcher to bring a taste of Android 4.0 to what’s really Android 2.3 underneath. There’s also a minor revolution in app purchasing. As Google Play won’t take Congo’s credit cards, VMK has its own app store and prepaid gift cards to give the country a similar experience. You’ll have to sign on to local carriers Airtel, MTN or Warid to use an Elikia in the near future, but we’re hoping the phone expands its reach and levels the playing field.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

VMK preps Africa-designed Elikia smartphone with $170 price, fast track for apps originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 09 Sep 2012 12:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It would appear that the next generation Amazon tablet has been “leaked”, so to speak, via a photo of its smaller iteration’s front side. This photo was sent to The Verge by an anonymous donor who has not been specific about the details. There’s apparently two different models in the pipeline, one 7-inch model and one 10-inch model, and a new streamlined user interface in the mix as well.

It does not appear to make a whole lot of sense that this tablet would have a more streamlined user interface over Android while it mysteriously grows a collection of buttons on its side. What you’re seeing here is a keyboard inside the software aside a bar of buttons also inside the screen. It seems as if this tablet too will have no physical buttons (other than a power button and maybe a volume rocket) and will continue the Google trend of on-screen controls with a wide mix.

This bar has a home key, back button, gray arrow button that more than likely reveals an expanded set of controls, full-screen button, menu button, search, and favorite star. The star will likely interact with online sales of digital content as well as with your Amazon shopping experience. The keyboard as well is nothing like the standard Android experience – unless you’re using Android 2.3 Gingerbread, that is.

The top bar above the search bar we’re seeing here has a battery symbol and wi-fi connectivity icon that appear to be part of Android, so we can probably use these and the rest of the clues to assume that Google will have built at least the software that this tablet will be based on. This is the same as the first Kindle Fire tablet, while Amazon will probably once again be heavily modifying the software to the point where Google will not certify it for Google Play. Amazon will be OK with this, of course, as the aim is to make the Amazon app store mainstream – or continue to do so – here in the next generation.

Join us on the 6th of September to see the full real deal via the Amazon event scheduled for that day – and expect something slightly advanced!

Amazon Kindle Fire 2 leaks in model photo is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

This week the folks at T-Mobile have announced a new smartphone for their 4G network with a low price and manufacturing done by none other than up-and-comer ZTE. This smartphone works with Android 2.3 Gingerbread, has a lovely 3.5-inch touchscreen display, and has a 2-megapixel camera on the back. The highlight of this little beast is the fact that it’ll be available on a variety of contracts through T-Mobile and various retail partners.

With this device you’ll be grabbing a T-Mobile single-line, Monthly4G no annual contract plan. This plan has unlimted talk, text, and data (without a cap) and access to T-Mobile’s 4G data network. You’re able to pair this device with Walmart’s Family Mobile service as well for monthly payments. This Walmart Family Mobile plan will bring on no-annual-contract phone service with data for individuals as well as families – again, all powered by T-Mobile’s network across the USA.

You’ll be able to pick up the T-Mobile Concord smartphone at Target as well at Walmart starting on August 26th. This device will be available for $99.99 with a qualifying Monthly4G plan at Target and for $99.98 paired with a Walmart Family Mobile no annual contract plan at – you guessed it – Walmart.

This device is the next in a line of ZTE products being brought to the United States by the manufacturer in their effort to enter this lively mobile market. ZTE is responsible for a collection of fabulous and strangely enticing devices internationally, most of them running Android, and we’re more than ready to welcome them to the USA with open arms. More manufacturers means more competition and better devices in the end – lets go!

Check the timeline below for more ZTE action and prepare yourself for more products created by them but branded with the carrier their on here in the USA.

T-Mobile Concord hits 4G network for cheap is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

If you’re not quite sure what the Nikon COOLPIX S800c Android-powered camera is all about, you’re not alone – that’s why Nikon has created a simple-to-swallow demo video for your convenience. This video has the same nerd on both sides of a black line, busting out a COOLPIX S800c in one instance to take a photo of a stray parrot perched on a porch, and a nondescript smartphone in the other. The point here is to show how it’s simpler to take photos with a camera running Android than it is to use a smartphone running the same OS.

They also make it clear that the smartphone, in this case, will not have the same – or any, for that matter – optical zoom that the COOLPIX does. Many smartphones do have digital zoom, but this method doesn’t use lens adjustments and therefor makes the photo you take get just a bit more grainy the closer you get – every time. The S800c is able to zoom in on your subject with 10x optical zoom – the good kind.

The S800c also has the ability to take 16 megapixel photos which, unless you’re using an amazing device such as the Nokia 808 PureView (see our full review here), you’re just not going to get from a smartphone. This camera is shown doing essentially the same set of tasks as the smartphone in the video, but with less steps in some cases – and of course with the one drawback in place, that being a lack of mobile data connectivity.

Instead you’ll need to be working with Wi-fi connected to data – which you might want to get being connected to your smartphone. But at that point you might just want to send the camera back and pick up your phone – but who are we to judge? The COOLPIX is also shown battling against what appears to be an iPhone, gaining a lot more “Great!” points on an off-brand social network than the smartphone.

Of course there are a few oddities in the video such as the iPhone appearing on both sides of the black line at once at 0:32 – but no worries, the message is clear! Have a peek at the timeline below to see more Android camera action from Nikon from all angles!

Nikon COOLPIX S800c Android camera gets video demo is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.