Hasta La Gadget!

We know you’ve got questions, and if you’re brave enough to ask the world for answers, here’s the outlet to do so. This week’s Ask Engadget question is coming to us from Michael, who needs a physical keyboard with his next Android phone. Because she said so. If you’re looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

“My girlfriend is currently using the T-Mobile G1. Her contract is up soon, and she’s looking for a new Android smartphone. Her requirements are that it should be Android-based with a physical keyboard, good battery life and the hardware shouldn’t be too out of date. My own research resulted in the HTC Desire Z, but isn’t there something similar (or upcoming) with more improved hardware (Tegra 2, perhaps)? Thank you in anticipation.”

Alright, Android junkies — we know more than a handful of you rely heavily on a physical keyboard, so which one’s superior? Intelligent responses are encouraged in comments below.

Ask Engadget: best Android smartphone with a physical keyboard? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Apr 2011 22:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google’s love affair with NFC continues to blossom, and QR codes are starting to feel like a neglected stepchild. After a successful trial run in Portland, the once-upon-a-search company is expanding its NFC check-in program to four new cities, slapping RFID “Recommended on Google” stickers on windows in Las Vegas; Madison, Wisconsin; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Austin, Texas. The company wants to be the best in the location-based service market, and NFC is its crane kick. While Foursquare and Facebook users are forced to do silly things like track down the right business in an endless list of nearby results or try and focus their cellphone’s camera on a dimly lit QR code, you could simply be swiping over a sticker, scoring discounts and moving on. Provided, of course, you happen to have one of the few NFC-equipped phones on the market (such as the Nexus S), live in one of Google’s five testbed cities and really want your friends to know you hit Planet Wings for lunch — again. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading Google expands NFC check-ins, clutters more restaurant windows

Google expands NFC check-ins, clutters more restaurant windows originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Apr 2011 18:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The first benchmarks of Samsung’s 1.2GHz Galaxy S II — we saw the 1GHz variant tested previously — are rolling in, and it’s fast. Almost suspiciously so. Its speedy dual-core Exynos CPU pulled off a 3,053 in Quadrant and scored double what the similarly specced HTC Sensation did in Smartbench2011. Those scores also represent a more than threefold improvement over the original Galaxy S. Of course, these are purely synthetic benchmarks and may not translate into an equally improved experience in day to day use. We’ll know for sure when we get our hands on one for a proper review in the coming weeks. Full benchmarks are after the break.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Galaxy S II benchmarked, makes other phones cry in shame

Galaxy S II benchmarked, makes other phones cry in shame originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Apr 2011 19:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As promised, Sony Ericsson has just flipped the switch for its Android bootloader unlocking service, meaning those with an unbranded Xperia device from 2011 and onwards — Play, Arc, Neo, and Pro so far — will be able to try out custom ROMs and other dirty mods with ease. All that’s required here is your phone’s IMEI number, which in return gives you the unlocking key to go with the Android SDK’s fastboot program — all will be clear once you’ve read the instructions at the source link. But remember: SE does warn that this service may void your warranty if all goes pear-shaped, so just be careful, won’t ya?

Sony Ericsson’s Android bootloader unlocking site goes live, modders rejoice originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Apr 2011 14:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’s not exactly difficult to put into words what the Kyocera Echo is — it’s a dual-screened Android phone, after all — but it’s a wee bit more challenging to wrap your head around who exactly it’s for. The hardcore gaming contingent already has Sony Ericsson’s Xperia Play, and those obsessed with screen real estate have options spanning the gamut — everything from Dell’s 5-inch Streak to a veritable cornucopia of choices in the 4- to 4.3-inch range. So, where exactly does this oddball fit in? Quite frankly, we get the impression that it’s doing its darnedest to carve out a market of its own, a thought that’s reinforced by Kyocera’s dedicated app development space and two-faced Simul-Task mode. Early critics (read: us) railed on the fact that double the screens meant double the trouble in terms of battery life, and there’s no question that a second cell was included with our test unit. But are the advantages of having a second 3.5-inch WVGA touchpanel enough to overshadow the obvious pitfalls? Join us as we do a little soul-searching in our full review, hosted up just past the break.

Continue reading Kyocera Echo review

Kyocera Echo review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Apr 2011 00:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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