Hasta La Gadget!

Well, you’ve gotta hand it to Motorola — the company has managed to build an unprecedented amount of buzz surrounding what’s turned out to be a relatively mundane mainstream smartphone launch. The Moto X is likely to be a big hit, don’t get us wrong, but many of the device’s banner features debuted last week, with Verizon’s 2013 Droid lineup. The major differentiator here is that the X is uniquely customizable, and available through multiple carriers. At the core, there’s Moto’s new X8 Mobile Computing System. It’s not simply a custom SoC; there’s a Snapdragon S4 Pro under the hood, with a 1.7GHz dual-core Krait CPU and a quad-core Adreno 320 GPU, positioned alongside two unique Motorola processors, including one to handle language interpretation (Google Now without the associated battery drain) and a contextual computing core, which manages the smartphone’s sensors.

From there, we’re looking at a 4.7-inch 720p (316 ppi) AMOLED panel, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of base storage (there’s a 32GB option with AT&T), a 2,200mAh battery offering up to 24 hours of “mixed” usage and your standard suite of 4G radios. On the imaging front, there’s a 10-megapixel Clear Pixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera, both of which shoot 1080p video. As for connectivity, there’s Bluetooth 4.0, USB 2.0, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, GPS and GLONASS, a standard 3.5mm headphone jack, Miracast Wireless Display, NFC and a nano-SIM. Beginning at the end of August, the 16GB model will retail for $199 with a two-year contract on AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular and Verizon, while the 32GB flavor (an AT&T exclusive) will ship for $249. Only AT&T customers will have access to additional color options — those on other carriers can choose from black and white.

You’ll be able to pick up a standard Moto X at carrier retail and Best Buy stores, or you can configure your own at the Moto Maker site, available exclusively for AT&T customers. There you can select from multiple case and accent colors, which you can pair with a black or white faceplate. There’s also an option to add custom text to the rear, such as an email address in case you lose your device, and you can pre-select a wallpaper and power-on greeting as well. Finally, several wood backings are set to be available in the future, assuming you don’t mind waiting until Q4 to configure your phone. Motorola hasn’t detailed global availability, but the device is expected to launch in several other countries soon, albeit without customization options and Texas assembly. Check our our Moto X preview, spec comparison, Moto Maker walkthrough and unboxing video (after the break) for more.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google

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Summertime is now in full swing, and it’s also a period of transition within the mobile world. With the exception of a brand-new smartphone that wields a 41-megapixel shooter, our buyer’s guide hasn’t changed much since the last installment, but that’s not to suggest the market is stagnant. On the contrary, high-profile smartphones such as the next iPhone, the Moto X and the successor to the Galaxy Note II are in the pipeline, and there are even rumors swirling of a larger BlackBerry. Likewise, two of the world’s premiere smartphones — the HTC One and the Galaxy S 4 — are now available with stock Android directly from Google, which brings the added promise of timely software updates.

Mobile carriers are changing the game too, thanks in large part to the T-Mobile Jump program, which allows customers to upgrade their smartphone every six months. AT&T Next and Verizon Edge will soon provide similar (albeit more expensive) offerings, with upgrade eligibility that comes once per year. Even Sprint is doing its part with Unlimited, My Way, which promises unlimited data for life. Whether you’re looking to purchase a new handset right away, or you’re simply evaluating your options, Engadget’s smartphone buyer’s guide is the definitive resource for finding the very best smartphones on the market today. We’ll be here when you’re ready.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Apple, Samsung, Microsoft, HTC, Google, Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, Blackberry, T-Mobile

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When it rains, it pours. As anyone who takes Big Apple public transit can tell you, the days of the brief underground reprieve from wireless are mostly behind us — in many parts of Manhattan, at least. But if you doubted that the rest of the 100-year-old transit system would be getting some love, let Sprint lay those concerns to rest. The carrier announced this morning plans to bring service to the whole map — that’s 277 underground stations in all, bringing coverage to Sprint, Boost and Virgin Mobile subscribers. Folks on those networks will be getting service in 36 Manhattan stations early next year, followed by 40 more in that borough and Queens.

Filed under: Wireless, Mobile, Sprint

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With the Optimus G Pro already available on AT&T and a Verizon variant rubber-stamped by Uncle Sam, Sprint is bringing up the caboose. A smartphone bearing the model number LG LS980 has just passed through the FCC, and it’s a dead ringer for a G Pro destined for Big Yellow. Not only does its model number jive with the other carrier-specific incarnations of LG’s device, but it packs support for Now Network-friendly CDMA and LTE over band 25, alongside the usual GSM radio. There’s no telling when the Now Network will start offering the phone, but federal approval means it’s clear to arrive when LG pleases.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Sprint, LG

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Source: FCC

  While Sprint might not have the most extensive Windows Phone lineup available, if you were thinking of getting your hands on a Windows Phone from Sprint, the Samsung ATIV S Neo might be a phone you’ll want to keep […]

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