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Latest Gear Live Videos
Sony Ericcson Xperia Play (Playstation phone) launches on Verizon on May 26
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Google, Handhelds, Video Games,
For those who've been patiently waiting for the Playstation phone to arrive, you'll be pleased to hear that Verizon is launching the Xperia Play on May 26th for $199.99 with a two-year contract. This is the first Playstation-certified mobile phone, and includes Playstation-style controls behind the slider. We're talking about a D-pad, face buttons, shoulder buttons, and touch-sensitive analog surfaces. Seven games will be pre-loaded on the device, including Madden NFL 11 and The Sims 3. Not too bad if you're a fan of Android and also want some good portable games with you at all times without having to remember the PSP while you're running out the door, right? Pre-orders start on May 19th on the Verizon Wireless Web site.
Gallery: Sony Ericcson Xperia Play (Playstation phone) launches on Verizon on May 26
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Samsung Galaxy S II review
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Handhelds, Product Reviews,
The finest Android phone we've seen so far, the Samsung Galaxy S II isn't just a competitor to the current iPhone. It competes with the next iPhone. The Galaxy S II is the fastest Android device we've ever tested, with the best screen, the best camera, and the latest version of Android software. It's a pity that few people in the U.S. will buy it, because it's only available unlocked, with no carrier subsidies, for $799. That's simply too high a price in a nation where people are used to buying top-of-the-line smartphones for $199. Click on through for our full review of the Galaxy S II.
Click to continue reading Samsung Galaxy S II review
Gallery: Samsung Galaxy S II review
Amazon has the 32 GB iPod touch for 18% off!
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Handhelds, Music,
For about the next 30 minutes, Amazon's featured Gold Box deal is the 3rd gen 32 GB iPod touch. They're selling it for 18% off, which makes it $244.99, and shipping is free. Hurry if you want in!
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| iPod touch deal
Gallery: Amazon has the 32 GB iPod touch for 18% off!
Samsung Droid Charge review
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Features, Handhelds, Product Reviews,
Verizon customers now have two 4G Android smartphones to choose from: the HTC Thunderbolt, and the $299.99 Samsung Droid Charge, which is Samsung's first LTE device, and first officially designated Droid device for Verizon. The two cell phones are pretty similar, but not identical. While the HTC Thunderbolt retains a slight edge, you'll be thrilled with either device.
Click to continue reading Samsung Droid Charge review
Gallery: Samsung Droid Charge review
Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich set for Q4 2011 launch
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Google, Handhelds, Software,
It was just announced during the Google I/O 2011 keynote that the next version of Android, Ice Cream Sandwich, will be the melding of Honeycomb and Gingerbread. In other words, as Google puts it, you'll have one OS that runs everywhere instead of one for phones and another for tablets--hence, the name "sandwich." Makes sense. The universal Android 4.0 will run on both small screen and larger screen devices, and will automatically adapt based on the size of the display. It's expected to be released in Q4 of this year, which means that most devices won't be updated with Ice Cream Sandwich until 2012.
Gallery: Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich set for Q4 2011 launch
Barnes & Noble to introduce updated Nook e-reader on May 24
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Handhelds,
Barnes & Noble is readying an updated e-reader, the company revealed in a recent Securities and Exchange Commission filing.
"In a meeting with investor analysts on May 4, 2011, Barnes & Noble ... indicated it expects to make an announcement on May 24, 2011 regarding the launch of a new eReader device," the notice said.
The company provided no other details about what the updated e-reader might entail. The last major Nook upgrade was the Nook Color (pictured above,) which started shipping in November. The Android-based device includes a 7-inch touch screen and access to more than 2 million titles, as well as an extra-wide viewing angle intended for sharing. The screen boasts 1,024-by-600 resolution and 169 pixels per inch. It comes with 8GB of storage, expandable up to 32GB with a microSD card.
In late April, Barnes & Noble pushed out a major software update to the Nook Color, which included its own app store, an email client, the ability to play Flash video, and enhanced books. It also added support for Android 2.2 "Froyo" and Adobe Flash video.
Click to continue reading Barnes & Noble to introduce updated Nook e-reader on May 24
Gallery: Barnes & Noble to introduce updated Nook e-reader on May 24
Samsung Infuse 4G hits AT&T on May 15 for $199
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Google, Handhelds,
If you're on AT&T and the HP Veer isn't your cup of tea, AT&T and Samsung on Thursday announced the sale date and price for the Infuse 4G, the carrier's first smartphone with the HSPA+ 21 speeds that we consider to be the minimum for true 4G. The phone will go on sale on May 15 (same day as the Veer) for $199 with a two-year contract.
First previewed at CES in January, the Infuse is an interesting phone: it's unusually thin, long and wide. The Android 2.2 phone is of the standard black-slab style, but it has a 4.5-inch, 800-by-480 screen. That isn't higher resolution than the usual smartphone screen, but it's wider. The screen also sports Samsung's Super AMOLED Plus technology, which combines the increased outdoor visibility of Super AMOLED with more subpixels for truer colors. The phone is also very slim, at 9mm.
The Infuse has AT&T's fastest Internet speeds yet, but it's not quite the fastest smartphone AT&T has to offer; with a single-core, 1.2-Ghz Samsung processor, it's a bit slower than the dual-core Motorola Atrix 4G. It's still faster than most of the other smartphones on the market, though.
Click to continue reading Samsung Infuse 4G hits AT&T on May 15 for $199
Gallery: Samsung Infuse 4G hits AT&T on May 15 for $199
American Airlines will stream video to your devices while you fly starting this summer
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Handhelds, Movies, Transportation, Wireless / WiFi,
Passengers on American Airlines flights are about to get a new perk. Instead of craning their necks to catch reruns of "Monk" and excerpts from "The Tonight Show" on tiny aisle TV sets, they'll be able to wirelessly stream content to their personal devices from the comfort of their own seats.
American announced Tuesday that it will begin testing an inflight streaming service, created through a partnership with Aircell, that gives customers choices of movies and TV shows that they can stream to Wi-Fi-enabled devices in the air.
"American was the first North American airline to launch inflight Wi-Fi, and today we again set a new industry standard as the first domestic airline to test inflight streaming video content," American's vice president of marketing, Rob Friedman, said in a statement. "We know our customers want to be connected on the ground and in the sky, so we are working hard to stay on the leading edge of connectivity through technology enhancements like this."
Gallery: American Airlines will stream video to your devices while you fly starting this summer
Windows Phone 7 NoDo update finally hitting HTC Surround
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Handhelds, Microsoft, Software,
Microsoft on Tuesday started rolling out its Windows Phone 7 "NoDo" update to the HTC Surround, the last U.S. smartphone on the platform to get the upgrade.
Separately, Microsoft also started rolling out the first security update for Windows Phone 7, which fixes nine fradulent third-party digital certificates.
Like other Windows Phone 7 users, those with an HTC Surround will receive two updates, the first of which will be for a minor update first rolled out in February. Once that's updated, users can move on to the March update, which includes copy and paste, improved Marketplace search, and faster app launching.
Windows Phones check for updates every three days, so it might not appear right away. If you don't want to wait, you can check for it manually via the Zune software on the PC. Just plug the phone in via USB and click "update now." Once the February update is installed, you will have to unplug the phone and plug it back in to receive the March "cut and paste" update. Microsoft has a how-to guide on its Web site.
Click to continue reading Windows Phone 7 NoDo update finally hitting HTC Surround
Gallery: Windows Phone 7 NoDo update finally hitting HTC Surround
Apple and Time Inc. sign deal that gives Time subscribers free iPad access
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Handhelds,
Time Inc. has signed a deal with Apple that will allow print subscribers to access iPad versions of its magazines for free.
Starting Monday, subscribers to Fortune, Sports Illustrated, and Time can read these magazines on their iPad by entering an authentication code identifying themselves as print subscribers, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Magazines have struggled to take off on the iPad. Earlier this year, Apple unveiled a subscription platform for the App Store that awarded 70 percent of revenue to publishers and 30 percent to Apple. However, many publishers found the financial terms to be unfair, and said they wanted full control of subscribers' personal information.
Click to continue reading Apple and Time Inc. sign deal that gives Time subscribers free iPad access
