Hasta La Gadget!

Notice how we said “hardware,” not “phones?” In light of that wild Motorola teaser we just saw and the fact that we know Verizon and Moto are working pretty closely on Android tablets, it’s entirely possible that phones won’t be the only items on Verizon’s docket when it starts pulling the covers off its first consumer-oriented LTE gear at CES in a couple weeks. The fact that there’ll be new LTE hardware intros from Verizon at CES is nothing new — they’ve been saying as much for a while now — but the specific mention of Android is a comforting confirmation that we’ll probably see the HTC Mecha, that unnamed LG, and perhaps a tablet or two on hand as opposed to MetroPCS’ unusual strategy of taking the dumbphone route. ‘Bout time the EVO 4G and Epic 4G had to watch their backs, isn’t it?

Verizon teases Android LTE hardware for January 6th at CES originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 13:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Still in disbelief that Big Red will one day be home to Palm’s Pre 2? Can’t say we blame you, but the evidence is certainly building. Just three months after taking a peek at inside information hinting at the smartphone’s arrival on Verizon, along comes an eBay auction for a nondescript P102EWW — known amongst the FCC hounds as a CDMA Palm Pre 2. After the folks at Pre Central started questioning the seller, the auction was mysteriously yanked, possibly due to worry from the sudden stroke of enlightenment. It’s obviously impossible to know if the phone up for sale was indeed an early build meant for America’s largest carrier, but the photos capped before the auction was pulled sure are hard to discredit. So, can we just get this out in the open now, or what?

Verizon’s Palm Pre 2 shown briefly in pulled eBay auction? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 11:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Do you “have enterprise sales experience and an existing knowledge of the mobile market and the technologies that support it?” Do you “have strong IT knowledge in the areas of enterprise messaging and collaboration, VPN, WiFi and enterprise security technologies?” And most importantly, do you “possess the ability to work without direct supervision or detailed direction?” If so, you might just be suitable for Apple’s latest and greatest job listing. The HR team in Cupertino is apparently looking for a Verizon iPad system engineer, primarily to work with Apple’s sales team and legions of business partners in order to “drive the adoption of iPad in enterprise accounts.” What’s interesting is the Verizon angle; if Apple simply wanted nondescript iPads in Corporate America, why hire someone familiar with Big Red? Moreover, this certainly says something about Apple’s relationship with Verizon — namely, that it’s growing, and we’re guessing that the pleasantries will eventually extend far beyond a tablet. So yeah, it’s no real shocker that Apple and Verizon are in cahoots on some level, but this kind of invitation usually comes with one or two undercover intentions. Any upstanding gentleman attached to his better half would understand.

Apple job listing calls for Verizon iPad engineer, hints at a lot more originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 15:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Though we found Verizon’s new LTE network pleasantly speedy in early testing, there are a few rough edges to the tech — Verizon’s USB modem have difficulty handing off connected users from an EVDO network to an LTE one, and of course, they don’t yet work on Mac. However, Verizon’s since admitted to both these issues and pledged to remedy the twain. “Hand-offs can take up to a couple minutes, but that was expected and a fix is in the works,” it told Computerworld earlier today. “Mac is not yet supported, and we’ve been working on drivers for Mac OS for weeks, and expect to update relatively soon,” a representative added. Now let’s see the company bring some sense to the wild, wild west we call the 4G market.

Verizon: LTE modem handoff has two-minute delay, fix (and Mac compatibility) on the way originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 11 Dec 2010 23:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’s true, picking a smartphone is incredibly difficult these days. Gone is the time when your options were limited and your choices simply between the lesser-of-evils. The market has exploded, and the decision-making process of finding the best device for your cash can be one of the most daunting tasks you’ll ever undertake. Android, iOS, webOS, and Windows Phone are all better than they’ve ever been before, carrier lineups are bigger, and even choosing a plan can be a daunting process if you don’t know what you’re looking for. But hey, don’t let the stress of deciding between a Droid X and a Droid Incredible put a damper on the excitement of getting a truly awesome gadget — we’ve got your back!

We’ve broken the choices down into two groups for each major carrier in the US after the break — the top pick when money is no object, and the thriftier budget choice. We’ve also included our top selections for some of the smaller carriers throughout the US, and our ultimate pick if cost and carrier don’t stand in your way. In putting together the list, we were shocked to see just how many Android devices made it, but that’s a testament to the openness of the platform (and voracious consumer adoption of smartphones). 2011 is going to be a crazy year, but if you’re in the market right now, the options are amazing — so read on to see our picks.

Continue reading Smartphone buyer’s guide: the best phones for AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, and more!

Smartphone buyer’s guide: the best phones for AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, and more! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 14:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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