Latest Gear Live Videos
Palm Pre for $99, thanks to Best Buy error
Posted by Mark Rollins Categories: Smartphones, Handhelds, Hot Deals, Rumors,
Looks like Best Buy is the latest company that has to deal with a mis-printed price, as they’ve had the $199 Palm Pre listed at half the price.
This morning they posted an ad for a $99 Pre. Internet sites everywhere went ablaze at the sight of this deal, but a tweet by John Bernier, Best Buy marketing manager, said that the “error is being corrected.” Too bad, but if you were able to get ahold of one for $99, Best Buy will honor that price.
Read More 
| PreCentral
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Slacker makes debut on BlackBerry Storm
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Handhelds, Music, Software,
You know that Slacker streaming radio service that we’re so fond of in these parts? Well, BlackBerry Storm owners will be able to start enjoying Slacker directly on their phones, starting today. Verizon Wireless is pushing the Slacker Radio app to BlackBerry Storm phones, and the app will connect to V CAST as well. If you are listening to a track that is also available on V CAST, you’ll see an icon come up that will let you purchase and download it instantly, without interrupting your flow. If you’re on a BlackBerry Storm, check it out.
Palm WebOS Mojo SDK now available to all
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Handhelds, Software,
Palm had to do something in response to Apple disabling Pre media syncing in iTunes yesterday, and they’ve fired back by finally releasing the Palm Mojo SDK for WebOS. High points here include the fact that the Mojo SDK is freely available to anyone who wants to download it. While that is nice, we’d prefer Palm taking app submissions immediately, as opposed to sometime later this fall. They are already playing catch-up with their App Catalog when compared to Apple’s App Store, but hey, this is Palm, what do you expect?
If you want to develop for the Palm Pre and other WebOS devices down the road, grab the Mojo SDK now.
Read More | Palm Blog
Apple releases iPhone OS 3.1 beta 2 build 7C106c
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Software,
Hey iPhone developers, Apple has just released iPhone OS 3.1 beta 2 build 7C106c, and it’s available now in the iPhone Developer Portal now. The download is 320MB. iPhone SDK 3.1 beta 2 build 9M2804 is also available immediately, with different versions for Leopard and Snow Leopard.
Amazon launches Amazon Wireless, selling mobile plans
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Hot Deals, Internet, Wireless / WiFi,
Amazon has launched Amazon Wireless beta, an online storefront where you can purchase voice and data plans from AT&T and Verizon, with T-Mobile and Sprint also coming soon. Normally, we wouldn’t give something like this a second look, but it’s Amazon, and they will be pointing consumers to this wireless portal from within the main Amazon site. The nice thing about Amazon Wireless is that you can compare offerings from the carriers in one easy-to-use spot, rather than visiting 2-4 different sites. Even better, all that mail-in rebate stuff goes out the window if you end up buying your mobile phone and plan on Amazon Wireless - all discounts are instant. Amazon Wireless beta is open now, and currently has over 130 phones up for sale.
Read More | Amazon Wireless
Nokia Denies Android Smartphone Development
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Handhelds, Rumors, Software,
Sorry to all you hopefuls out there, but Nokia won’t be releasing an Android-based smartphone later this year. Where would such a thought come from, you ask? Well, earlier this morning, The Guardian said it would happen, and that a Nokia Android phone would be announced in September. Seemed odd, since Nokia is the full owner of the Symbian OS, but stranger things have happened. However, soon after the article was posted, Nokia show it down anywhere they could, including on Twitter:
“re: Nokia’s rumored Android phone and you can quote me on this: We (Nokia) are NOT making an Android smartphone. Symbian is our platform…”
While we take most denials with a grain of salt, we believe them. At ease, Symbian fanatics.
LG Wants Number 2 Phone Manufacturer Spot, Working On Premium Line
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smartphones, Corporate News, Design, Handhelds,
LG is taking on Apple’s iPhone with a new designer phone as part of their Black Label series in Q4, probably in time for the holidays. CEO Ahn Seung-kwon told Korea’s Yonhap News Agency that the company wants to be in 2nd place in the market by 2012. He also mentioned that their Prada phone line is so successful they are working on another and that they will have their own “extreme premium brand” like the Nokia Vertu.
Read More | Unwired View
Consumer Reports: iPhone 3GS is Best
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smartphones, Handhelds, Product Reviews,
Consumer Reports says that Apple’s new iPhone 3GS is still at the top of the smartphone heap in terms of multimedia, browsing, battery life, display, and navigation. The Palm Pre with WebOS, Samung Omnia, and BlackBerry Storm were close behind, however. The Pre scored higher in messaging and multitasking. CR also claims that Verizon seems to be the carrier that most believe to be the best when surveyed, but that’s no big surprise.
Read More | Consumer Reports
Verizon Decides to Offer BlackBerry Tour to Existing Customers
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Corporate News, Handhelds,
It looks like Verizon has decided to start offering the BlackBerry Tour to existing customers. Originally, Verizon planned to only offer the Blackberry Tour to new and qualified customers. However, due to all the negative press, it appears that they’ve changed their tune, as their BlackBerry Tour page now states that “existing customers will be able to upgrade or purchase the Blackberry Tour.” They haven’t given any further info on how existing customer upgrades will work, however they say interested customers should come back to the website tomorrow for more information. We are definitely liking the fact that mobile providers seem to finally started to be listening to their customers. As you recall, AT&T changed their iPhone 3GS upgrade policy due to heavy backlash from current iPhone 3G customers who wanted to upgrade immediately.
Read More | Verizon Wireless via BGR
Motorola Karma QA1 Handset
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smartphones, Handhelds, Internet, Wireless / WiFi,
The Motorola Karma QA1 is for those who can’t get enough socializing. The slider has a full QWERTY keyboard, a 2.5-inch 240x320 display, 3.6Mbps HSDPA, a 2 megapixel camera, Bluetooth 2.0 support, A-GPS and microSD card slot. Access MySpace, Facebook, email, IM and use its voice memo recording to keep track of it all. AT&T is now selling the Karma for $79.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate, a $39.99 voice plan and $20.00 messaging or data plan.
Read More | AT&T