Verizon iPhone first hands-on! (update: video)

We just got a look at the Verizon version of the iPhone 4. Guess what? It’s just like an iPhone 4! There’s no custom pre-loaded Verizon software (like VCAST or some such bloatware), just that mobile hotspot tweak in the settings menu. There’s also no Verizon branding on the phone, though that’s hardly a surprise given Apple’s hatred of all logos that aren’t its own. The only real physical difference we can find are those tweaked CDMA-compatible antennas running around the edge — four in all, placed symmetrically and bumping down the volume / mute buttons. Interestingly, the phone is running iOS version 4.2.5, so perhaps that mobile hotspot functionality will make its way over to other iPhones when they sync up on iOS updates. We did try a speed test, clearing the cache and loading various sites simultaneously on the Verizon phone and our AT&T device, and while there were variations in the load times, there were too many external factors to really make a judgment call just yet.

Continue reading Verizon iPhone first hands-on! (update: video)

Verizon iPhone first hands-on! (update: video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Jan 2011 12:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer announces Liquid Mini and beTouch E210 Android Froyo phones

Acer’s just announced a couple of new Android smartphones that are heading to the other side of the pond. Pictured on the left is the Froyo-powered Liquid Mini which — as the name says for itself — sports a humble 3.2-inch 480 x 320 capacitive LCD touchscreen, along with a 600MHz Qualcomm 7227 chip, 512MB of RAM and ROM each, and a 5 megapixel camera that records 480p video on the back. On top of DLNA connectivity for your home entertainment setup, the usual wireless goodness like WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, and FM radio are also present. Potential British buyers will be able to pick from one of the five color options — blue, white, pink, yellow, and black — when the Liquid Mini ships in April, with pricing to be announced.

The beTouch E210 on the right comes with a portrait keyboard plus trackpad, but users will have to make do with a less thrilling set of specs: you get a 2.6-inch 320 x 240 resistive touchscreen (oh dear), an underwhelming 416MHz ST Ericsson PNX6715 processor, 512MB ROM, 256MB RAM, and a 3.2 megapixel camera. But like the Liquid Mini, the Froyo-laden E210 also has WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, and FM radio. Keep an eye out for it and its price come March in the UK..

Continue reading Acer announces Liquid Mini and beTouch E210 Android Froyo phones

Acer announces Liquid Mini and beTouch E210 Android Froyo phones originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 20:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toy smartphone jailbreak: top tech trend for 2011?

Not since we ran into Benign Girl at the Dollar General have we been so taken with a toy cellphone. Yours now for a mere 99 cents, Smart Phone (creative name!), proves what we suspected all along: in Shenzhen, even children’s playthings are jailbroken. But please be careful, as this thing is only recommended for users over the age of four. Get a closer look after the break.

[Thanks, Josh]

Continue reading Toy smartphone jailbreak: top tech trend for 2011?

Toy smartphone jailbreak: top tech trend for 2011? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Jan 2011 13:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Meizu’s M9 launch amasses thousands of Jack Wong fans across China (video)

Pretty impressive, isn’t it? Meizu sure has made a wise decision to launch its M9 Android Froyo phone on the first day of 2011 which, like most other countries, happens to be a public holiday in China. According to some Meizu fans (aka “Mei-yo” or literally “friends of Meizu”) outside one of the two Shenzhen stores, there were already about 60 people lined up outside at around 6am. A few of them even braved the cold weather since 8pm last night, despite CEO Jack Wong actively discouraging such hustle on the forum for the sake of people’s health, promising “all the flagship stores will have sufficient stock” for all pre-orderers. Meizu wasn’t keen on giving us an official number, but the two Shenzhen stores alone could’ve easily served several thousand customers this morning. With no limit on how many units each person could pre-order (¥2,499 / $379 for 8GB, and ¥2,699 / $409 for 16GB), you can imagine Meizu’s assembly lines working long hours to supply its stores from 28 other provinces in China. Meanwhile, somewhere out there, Mr. Wong is happily checking his bank account. Video after the break.

Continue reading Meizu’s M9 launch amasses thousands of Jack Wong fans across China (video)

Meizu’s M9 launch amasses thousands of Jack Wong fans across China (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 01 Jan 2011 07:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Just got a Windows Phone 7 handset? The best apps, accessories, and tips

Ah, so you’ve just been given a Windows Phone 7 handset. If that’s what you’d been begging for all this time, then many congratulations; but if not, don’t hit eBay just yet — sure, WP7’s range of apps is comparatively limited with its recent 5,000 milestone, but hey, you gotta start somewhere, right? Even at its infancy, WP7 has proven to be a nice alternative choice if you want to stand out from the rest of the smartphone crowd, and don’t forget its two powerful weapons: Zune and Xbox Live integration. Until WP7 gets its major upgrade early next year, our holiday guide should keep you and your new phone going for a little longer. Go ahead and read on.

Continue reading Just got a Windows Phone 7 handset? The best apps, accessories, and tips

Just got a Windows Phone 7 handset? The best apps, accessories, and tips originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Dec 2010 11:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VerbalVictor app gives voice to disabled

With iTunes overrun with apps that do little more than find creative ways to promote products or otherwise suck time, it’s nice to see mobile technology doing something that’s, well, not so trivial. VerbalVictor, a $10 program, which should be available in the App Store next week, uses iPhone and iPad touch screens to allow people with disabilities to communicate with the outside world. Paul Pauca — whose son suffers from Pitt Hopkins Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that causes delays in cognitive development, motor skills, and verbal communication — developed the app as an affordable alternative to non-verbal communication devices. It touts functionality similar to the device used by Steven Hawking, but is far more accessible than the professor’s $8,200 setup. VerbalVictor allows parents and caregivers to take pictures and record accompanying audio; the entries are then turned into buttons, which the user presses when they want to communicate — sort of like a very advanced and customizable See N’ Say. The device can be used for simple expressions, like an image of a dog that speaks “dog” when pressed, or for recording commonly used phrases and complete sentences. It may never reach the popularity of, say iFart, but it’s sure to win some dedicated users.

VerbalVictor app gives voice to disabled originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Dec 2010 07:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Just got an Android phone? The best apps, accessories, and tips

Taking a smartphone out of the box for the first time can elicit a wide spectrum of emotions, starting with unadulterated excitement that can quickly devolve into panic, chaos, and confusion: what do you do now? How do you make it awesome? How do you emanate an air of “cool” on the subway by using apps specifically designed to make you look like a badass? Well, fear not, newly-minted Android smartphone owner: as always, we’ve got your back. Read on for all the apps, accessories, and tips you should be investigating right this very second.

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Just got an Android phone? The best apps, accessories, and tips originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 17:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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42-inch Nexus S stomps into Best Buy, terrifies shoppers and demos interactive Gingerbread UI (video)

This isn’t Google TV, though we can see why you’d ask. No, this monster is merely the world’s largest fully-functional Nexus S handset. Presently on display in a Best Buy store in San Carlos, California, the enormous Android is equipped with a 42-inch multitouch screen, rigged to a real Nexus S that does all the processing. There’s a working camera, internet access and the whole Android 2.3 user interface to explore, though it does look a mite difficult to navigate in the video below. Did we mention there’s a video? Stop reading, hit the break, and get on with the show!

Continue reading 42-inch Nexus S stomps into Best Buy, terrifies shoppers and demos interactive Gingerbread UI (video)

42-inch Nexus S stomps into Best Buy, terrifies shoppers and demos interactive Gingerbread UI (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Dec 2010 21:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How to Make that New Smartphone Actually Smart [Howto]

Your X-Mas wish came true! Santa wisely consulted one of our best-of-the-best lists and left you a shiny new smartphone under the tree. So, uh, now what? Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting that bad boy up and running. More »

Dell Venue launched in Hong Kong, we go hands-on

Isn’t it fun when you hit the right place at the right time? We just happened to be chillaxing in Hong Kong when Dell chose the city for the Venue’s global launch (and it’s actually hitting the shops slightly ahead of South Korea), so a quick hands-on is inevitable. As we’ve seen previously, this HK$3,999 (US$514) handset is essentially the Venue Pro’s Android 2.2 cousin, sporting the same curved (or “Shear Design”) vibrant AMOLED display at 4.1 inches and 800 x 480, but missing the slide-out keyboard. Under the hood lies a 1GHz Snapdragon with 1GB ROM and 512MB RAM, along with the usual microSD expansion, 1400mAh battery, 8 megapixel AF camera with LED flash, Bluetooth 2.3 EDR, WiFi and AGPS.

There aren’t any surprises in terms of software — the Venue shares the same snappy Stage UI and Swype keyboard with the Streak, except for the lack of landscape orientation for the homescreen (and that’s with orientation enabled in system settings). As for hardware, the killer feature here is the screen, and we found its curved Gorilla Glass to be surprisingly nice for our thumbs while swiping across it. The AMOLED panel underneath is also vibrant with great viewing angles. Elsewhere, build quality is almost solid bar the squeaky battery door, but at least it provides some grip. That’s all we got for now — we’ll delve into more details in our forthcoming review, so stay tuned.

Continue reading Dell Venue launched in Hong Kong, we go hands-on

Dell Venue launched in Hong Kong, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 07:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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