Aug 25

Droid Bionic teases boot sequence, LTE prowess to anxious onlookers (video)

Posted in: Android, Google, leak, leaked, leaks, lte, mobilepostmini, motorola, smartphone, Smartphones, Today's Chili, verizon, video, videos

That’s right folks, the Droid Bionic is back with another leaked appearance. This time it stars in a video clip that reveals the phone’s boot sequence, which is followed by an all-important thrill ride / speed test on Verizon’s LTE network. As if you needed further proof, this Moto reveals itself to pack dual cores, and as you might expect, it sports Motorola’s animation-laden skin. What about the LTE test, you ask? It pulls in respectable numbers — approximately 4.5Mbps down and 1.9Mbps up — but as you’re likely aware, these speeds pale in comparison to what we’ve seen on the Droid Charge and Revolution. It’s entirely possible the test is simply an outlier, so we’ll hope for better scores as the phone approaches its September arrival. Curious for the sneak peak? You’ll find the full video after the break.

[Thanks, Tu]

Continue reading Droid Bionic teases boot sequence, LTE prowess to anxious onlookers (video)

Droid Bionic teases boot sequence, LTE prowess to anxious onlookers (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Aug 2011 03:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink The Pop Herald  |  sourcePhandroid  | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags:
Aug 24

Samsung Debuts Middling Phone for Middle Incomes

Posted in: Miscellaneous, Phones, samsung, smartphone, Today's Chili

The Samsung Comment is available for $90 with service provided by Cricket. Photo courtesy of Samsung

Samsung debuted the Comment on Wednesday, a middle-of-the-road smartphone with an emphasis on texting and cheap calling plans.

The BlackBerry-esque design has a full qwerty keyboard and a center joypad for navigation around the plain-vanilla Cricket operating system. There’s also Bluetooth connectivity, the obligatory back-facing camera (1.3 megapixels), and Cricket’s proprietary app storefront. Other than the expected niceties, the phone has little going on inside.

Though the Comment’s $90 price tag feels a tad high for a phone with relatively few features, Cricket’s monthly plans are a cheap alternative to a pricier Android or iOS phone and plan. Picking up an Android or iPhone 4 handset will set you back around 200 bones, not to mention around $90 a month for services. Cricket’s monthly plans float around the $40 range, which is just about right for the cellular company’s target audience; most Cricket customers fall in the 35-and-under category, with an income of less than $50,000 a year.

If recent buying trends continue in the United States, phones like the Comment may end up a relic of times past. According to a recent Nielsen survey, a majority of cellular phones bought in the United States right now are smartphones despite the availability of cheaper alternatives. Compare that to just three years ago when less than 20 percent of all phones sold were smartphones.

It seems that mobile customers are getting used to having the world inside a glowing glass rectangle. The single-function phone of yore, for which SMS and basic web browsing are the apex of these models’ ability, seems to be waning in popularity.

If the Comment has one thing going for it, it’s the appeal of a solid, middle-of-the-road plan with anytime minutes, long distance calling, picture messaging, and mobile web access.

See Also:


No Comments
Aug 24

Netherlands judge rules that Samsung Galaxy S, S II violate Apple patents, bans sales (updated)

Posted in: Apple, AppleIphone, breaking news, BreakingNews, galaxy, GalaxyS, GalaxyTab, ipad, iPhone, Law, lawsuit, legal, mobilepostcross, patent, samsung, slate, smartphone, tablet, Today's Chili

A judge in The Hague just issued a ruling in Apple’s patent infringement case against Samsung, prohibiting “the marketing of Samsung smartphones Galaxy S, S II and Ace for violation of Apple Inc. EP 2,059,868.” In an official press release, the court explains that The Hague judge ruled to “ban trading of Samsung smartphones Galaxy S, S II and Ace,” adding that Samsung also violated other did not violate Apple patents with its Galaxy Tab 10.1 and 10.1v. The judge determined that Samsung violated patent 2,059,868, which deals with “method of scrolling,” but did not infringe 2,098,948 for “recording a flag in connection with multiple screen taps,” or 1,964,022, which relates to dragging a slider to unlock the phone. We haven’t been able to confirm, but from an online translation it appears that The ban will remain in effect through begin on October 13th. Hit up the source link for the full 65-page verdict (in Dutch).

Update: A dutch IP attorney has pointed out that the judge has ruled patent 1,964,022 to be null and void, meaning Apple can no longer make claims in the Netherlands based on this patent. The judge also found that Samsung did not infringe on patent 2,098,948. The infringement of 2,059,868 does not affect the Galaxy Tab 10.1. (Correction: the main patent in question is 2,059,868 not 2,058,868.)

Update 2: According to Tweakers.net, Samsung says that it will replace the software that infringes on Apple’s patent (the Gallery application, specifically), which should allow it to continue to sell the phones. Notably, that Gallery application is the standard Android one used in Android 2.3, which also explains why the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is not affected by this ruling. Less clear is what the ruling means for other Android phones that use the same application.

Update 3: Samsung Mobile’s Kim Titus released the following statement:

Today’s ruling is an affirmation that the GALAXY range of products is innovative and distinctive. With regard to the single infringement cited in the ruling, we will take all possible measures including legal action to ensure that there is no disruption in the availability of our GALAXY smartphones to Dutch consumers. This ruling is not expected to affect sales in other European markets. Samsung has a proud history of innovation in the mobile industry. We will continue our plans to introduce new products and technologies that meet and exceed consumer expectations. And we will defend our intellectual property rights through the ongoing legal proceedings around the world.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Netherlands judge rules that Samsung Galaxy S, S II violate Apple patents, bans sales (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Aug 2011 09:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceRechtspraak (Translated), Ruling (Dutch PDF)  | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Aug 24

AT&T’s fall and winter 2011 roadmap leaked in spreadsheet glory

Posted in: Android, att, galaxy s ii, GalaxySIi, gingerbread, Google, HTC, leak, leaked, leaks, mango, Microsoft, mobilepostmini, motorola, research in motion, ResearchInMotion, RIM, roadmap, samsung, smartphone, Smartphones, Today's Chili
Summer is in full swing, but if you happen to take a peek at AT&T’s leaked roadmap for the upcoming two quarters, you might just sense the chill of winter in the air. While this doesn’t appear to be official from Ma Bell, or entirely exhaustive, we’ve gotten a spreadsheet that goes in-depth to out the carrier’s upcoming smartphones. A host of Android devices are on the list — all with Gingerbread — along with two handsets that strut Windows Phone 7.5 and another duo with BlackBerry 7. Of particular note, we see the Samsung SGH-i777 (otherwise known as the Attain), along with the SGH-i927 for you QWERTY slider lovers. Both Sammy’s sport Category 14 HSDPA, or (up to) 21Mbps downloads. Curiously, the Impulse — Ma Bell’s rumored LTE phone — is nowhere to be found. The Motorola MB865, with a full gigabyte of RAM and 8 megapixel camera, aligns very well with the rumored Atrix refresh. You’ve seen the two phones from RIM before, and while Samsung’s Mango handset spent a brief moment in the wild, little is known about HTC’s counterpart. Hopefully we won’t need to wait for the actual change of seasons to learn more.

AT&T’s fall and winter 2011 roadmap leaked in spreadsheet glory originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Aug 2011 03:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourcePocketnow  | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags: , , ,
Aug 24

Samsung debuts new Galaxy lineup, refines naming strategy along the way

Posted in: Android, GalaxyS, gingerbread, Google, mobilepostcross, samsung, smartphone, Smartphones, Today's Chili
Good news everyone, we’ve got a new batch of Sammy smartphones to feast your eyes upon. Now for the downside: today’s announcement is meant only to whet your appetite for their official unveiling at IFA in Berlin. Fortunately, however, we do have a few tidbits to share. First, the Galaxy W features a 3.7-inch WVGA touchscreen, a 1.4GHz CPU and 14.4Mbps HDSPA connectivity. Along with that, we’ll see the M Pro, Y and Y Pro coming next week from Samsung — all running Gingerbread.

If these letters are unfamiliar to you, they should be. You see, along with the phones themselves, we’ve got a new naming scheme to play with, which is designed to bring sanity (or at least a modicum of understanding) to Samsung’s product names. The Galaxy W is meant to imply wonder, which strikes a balance of style and performance into each Sammy, while the M lineup — which stands for magical — will bring a taste of the high-end with a lower price point. Finally we’ve got the Y, which is a budget contender that’s aimed at the youth and emerging markets. Looks like Apple and Nokia will have some competition, eh? As for the Galaxy S, its designation will remain for the premiere lineup, and the Galaxy R, which recently launched in Europe and Asia, will be one echelon below. It’s meant to imply the royal or refined qualities of the smartphone — Samsung couldn’t make up its mind on the last one. You’ll find the full PR after the break, which explains the finer details of Sammy’s scheme. See you in Berlin!

Continue reading Samsung debuts new Galaxy lineup, refines naming strategy along the way

Samsung debuts new Galaxy lineup, refines naming strategy along the way originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Aug 2011 02:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags: , , ,
Aug 23

Microsoft: Windows Phone Tango will be minor update, is meant for low-end handsets

Posted in: Microsoft, mobilepostcross, operating system, OperatingSystem, smartphone, Smartphones, Today's Chili, windows phone, windows phone 7, WindowsPhone, WindowsPhone7
It looks like we have our Windows Phone roadmap filled out for at least the next year, as Tango has been confirmed by Microsoft as next year’s minor update preceding Apollo (aka Windows Phone 8). As mentioned at a MSDN seminar in Hong Kong, the successor to Windows Phone Mango will indeed be made for handsets in developing countries — a key method to make these devices more affordable. These targeted nations have been neglected to this point, the company said, and the Tango update would bring more Bing services to them at a lower cost. Will such a move help Ballmer & Co. achieve greater market share against Apple and Google? It’s hard to tell — we certainly don’t see this update coming to Vertu anytime soon, so we imagine that’s probably a good sign.

Microsoft: Windows Phone Tango will be minor update, is meant for low-end handsets originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 23:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink WMPoweruser  |  sourceWe Love Windows Phone (translated)  | Email this | Comments

No Comments
Aug 23

White HTC EVO 3D gets exclusive RadioShack bow on September 9th

Posted in: Android, dual-core, HTC, mobilepostmini, phone, Phones, smartphone, Smartphones, Sprint, Today's Chili, twitter

If Wall-E’s lady friend, Eve, and Spielberg’s E.T. were to come together in engineering matrimony, we’re pretty sure this white EVO 3D would be the resulting offspring. This “rare and beautiful” unicorn from HTC’s beastly, dual-core Android herd hails from the Hesse-led network, and will be available as a RadioShack exclusive on September 9th. The electronics retailer dipped more than just its toes into our 21st century ways (or more likely hired a new intern), getting the message out via its Twitter account, and snapping an Instagram shot of the bleached handset. Pricing for the phone has yet to be announced, but we’d be surprised if this gets a premium over its $199 on-contract twin.

White HTC EVO 3D gets exclusive RadioShack bow on September 9th originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 22:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceRadioShack (Twitter)  | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags: , ,
Aug 23

Android still king of the US smartphone hill, Motorola facing a market nosedive

Posted in: Android, Apple, BlackBerry, Google, GoogleAndroid, ios, market share, marketshare, Microsoft, mobile, mobile phone, MobilePhone, mobilepostcross, research, smartphone, Smartphones, Today's Chili, us, webos, Windows Mobile, WindowsMobile, Wireless, Wp7

In other obvious news, Android and iOS continue to sit pretty atop the US smartphone market, according to a recent NPD study. The current titans of the mobile industry both saw their pieces of the OS pie increase in Q2 of 2011, putting Andy Rubin’s green robot in the lead with 52 percent and Apple at 29 percent. Newly adopted webOS, and Microsoft’s WP7 and Windows Mobile all managed to cling to their respective 5 percent shares with no yearly change, leaving only BlackBerry OS to experience an 11 percent decline. But the real meat and potatoes of the report focuses on Google’s soon-to-be in-house partner: Motorola. Despite the rosy picture painted by recent acquisition talks, the company appears to be facing tough competition from Android OEM rivals, and the wireless market as a whole. In regard to overall mobile phone share (read: dumbphones, et al.) and smartphone-only, Moto saw a 3 percent year-to-year decline, with its biggest loss coming from Android unit sales — a 50 percent drop to 22 percent of the market. Will the rosy glow of Mountain View “help inspire new paths to differentiation” for Moto, or are we just looking at a repeat of the “RAZR era?” While you ponder these pressing questions, head past the break to read the full report.

Continue reading Android still king of the US smartphone hill, Motorola facing a market nosedive

Android still king of the US smartphone hill, Motorola facing a market nosedive originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 17:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags: , , ,
Aug 23

RIM Rolls Out New BlackBerry Curve Smartphones

Posted in: BlackBerry, Miscellaneous, Phones, RIM, smartphone, Today's Chili

BlackBerry's new line of Curve phones feature NFC and HTML5.

Research in Motion announced three new BlackBerry smartphones late Monday evening, adding more Curves to the company’s lineup.

The new Curve 9300 series will run on the BlackBerry 7 operating system, which features HTML5 optimization, the latest version of BlackBerry Messenger, and built-in support for Near Field Communication. The phones will come loaded with the premium version of Documents To Go, a mobile-based document reader, and BlackBerry Protect, which allows owners to locate their lost or stolen phone using GPS.

The phones will also feature a 5-megapixel camera for both photo and video, and a microSD slot expandable up to 32 gigs of memory.

Since its debut in 1999, BlackBerry phones have been the preferred smartphone for the business-minded thanks to its dedicated email-friendly keyboard. Once a market leader, BlackBerry phones have slowly bled market share after Google and Apple introduced Android and iOS-powered smartphones to the public.

Though BlackBerry 7 OS is a brand new operating system for RIM, the company plans to switch to the new and improved QNX operating system some time in 2012. And unfortunately for BlackBerry buyers, QNX won’t roll back to older phones. So essentially, the phone you purchased around Christmas could already be out of date come the new year.

All three new Curve models — the 9350, 9360 and 9370 — will be available in Canada in August, and roll out in other countries in September. Pricing and carrier details have not been announced.

See Also:


No Comments | Tags:
Aug 23

Blackberry Curve 9360 hands-on

Posted in: BlackBerry, hands-on, mobilepostcross, RIM, smartphone, Today's Chili, video

So, the trickle of BlackBerry juice is now a flood. Just weeks after RIM launched its high-end Torch 9810, 9850 and Bold 9900 handsets, it’s revealed the refreshed mid-range Curve 9360 (aka the 9350 or 9370, depending on the carrier and region). When compared to the Bold 9900, which can be seen as a richer cousin with a similar form factor, the new Curve clearly comes with key hardware sacrifices in order to meet a lower (but still to-be-confirmed) price point, including an 800MHz processor (instead of 1.2GHz), no touchscreen and a 480 x 360 HVGA+ display rather than the Bold’s full VGA panel. Compared to previous Curves, however, the 9360 is a significant upgrade. It sports the new BB 7, a 5MP camera and a physical design that RIM hopes will entice the “youth demographic” as well as the millions of international users who have helped to turn the Curve into RIM’s globally bestselling range. The question is, is this device enough of an upgrade, considering it’s been a year since the last refresh in the Curve series? Read on for our initial hands-on impressions…

Gallery: Blackberry Curve 9300 hands-on

Continue reading Blackberry Curve 9360 hands-on

Blackberry Curve 9360 hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 07:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags: