Hasta La Gadget!

Never one to stop unfurling new smartphones, Huawei’s just detailed yet another high-end Android handset. The Honor 2 packs the company’s in-house K3V2 1.4GHz quad-core chip, up from the single-core found in the original, alongside 2GB of RAM and 8GB of built-in storage. Around the back, there’s the BSI 8-megapixel camera sensor, capable of burst shots and full 1080p video capture, while Huawei has also included a microSD slot for storage expansion. With a 4.5-inch 1,280 x 720 display, there’s hefty pixel bump up from the 245 pixels per inch found on the first Honor — in fact we have a Retina display-matching 326ppi. The Chinese phone maker is also talking up its claims of 72 hours of standby time, which is something we’d certainly like to try out when review samples eventually appear. Pre-orders will start in China later this week, with the Honor 2 priced up at 1,888 yuan — just over $300.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

Huawei Honor 2 unveiled: 1.4GHz quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, 4.5-inch 326 PPI display originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Oct 2012 08:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pantech is known for producing budget Android smartphones that punch above their weight, and the Flex is no exception. Available now on AT&T for $50 with a two-year contract, it delivers a dual-core Snapdragon S4 — the same chip that lurks within mightier phones such as the Galaxy S III and One X — along with a qHD display and LTE connectivity. The phone certainly hits a number of the check boxes for value seekers, but there’s something that makes the Flex very different from other smartphones on the market: it has a dual personality.

Folks, prepare for memories of At Ease, Microsoft Bob and Packard Bell Navigator to come rushing back. The Pantech Flex features a unique launcher known as Easy Experience, which caters to those who might find Ice Cream Sandwich overwhelming. Fortunately, there’s also a standard launcher for experts. In that regard, the Flex is deserving of its name. Unlike most handsets on the market, it’s targeting both broke college students and technophobes just the same. Of course, we’re here to answer a greater question: is the Pantech Flex worthy of being your next smartphone? Join us after the break for the answer.

Continue reading Pantech Flex review

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, AT&T

Pantech Flex review originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Oct 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A few months back an anonymous tipster gave us a candid look at the Verizon-bound LG Spectrum 2, but after a couple more sightings here and there, the trail eventually went cold and Big Red’s unannounced smartphone fled back into seclusion. However, a recent website posting by Best Buy has brought this mobile Sasquatch out of hiding and back into the mainstream media. While this listing is mostly a refresh confirming our source’s shared specs, it notes the Spectrum 2’s unsubsidized price as $650. Now, before you would-be buyers start directing your browser to the retailer’s webpage in hopes of making a quick purchase, it should be noted that the device is listed as “sold out online.” Still, we can’t help but notice the pictured device’s homescreen carries a date of November 3rd, which could be a nod to when the Spectrum 2 might officially show up on store shelves.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, LG

Best Buy listing reminds us that the LG Spectrum 2 is still on its way to Verizon originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Oct 2012 02:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When Motorola resurrected the RAZR brand last year we didn’t realize that we were looking at the new face of the company. At the time, Google had yet to officially take over the handset manufacturer, it had a deep stable of less-than-impressive devices and, while it was a moderate success, the Droid RAZR didn’t exactly turn the market on its head. Still, in retrospect, it only makes sense that the RAZR would once again become the standard bearer for Moto. Even if we weren’t blown away by last year’s model, it was a big step in the right direction for the company, a device that featured a great mix of premium styling and performance. The new RAZR HD and MAXX HD take that basic formula and attempt to address our concerns about the display and battery life, the latter of which was already handled in dramatic fashion by the RAZR MAXX. So, how do the latest caps-happy, vowel-averse handsets from Motorola stack up against last year’s incarnations and the current crop of competitors? Keep on reading after the break to find out.

Continue reading Droid RAZR HD and RAZR MAXX HD review

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google, Verizon

Droid RAZR HD and RAZR MAXX HD review originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Oct 2012 17:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google has historically broken out preloaded Android apps like Gmail and Maps as stand-alone titles so that they don’t have to be upgraded in lock-step with the main OS, but its Calendar app typically hasn’t had that privilege. The isolation ends with a newly distinct Google Calendar that’s treated as just another Google Play download. You’ll need at least Android 4.0 or 4.1, which leaves relatively few differences between the download and what’s already on your device, but that’s not the point — the change really lets Google move users on to the Jelly Bean app and beyond, even if their device makers aren’t ready. Owners currently running Jelly Bean will still get a few extras, such as better support for non-Nexus hardware and a wider time range for calendar syncing. Hit the source link if you’re game for that kind of futureproofing.

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile, Google

Google Calendar for Android becomes stand-alone app originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Oct 2012 20:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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