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Dialed In

iOS 7: What it needs, and what it won't be getting (video)

iOS 7: What it needs, and what it won't be getting (video)

The next major update of Apple's iOS software is almost upon us! But which features does Apple's grid-based operating system desperately need to add, and which ones will Tim Cook and pals probably ignore completely?

That's what we're asking in this video, so hit play on the clip above as we rattle through the apps and tweaks that we want to see in iOS 7, as well as the things we probably won't. A fresh, "flat" redesign? How about some kind of "kids" mode' to stop pesky kids spending your cash … Read more

Sprint grabs U.S. Cellular spectrum, customers for $480m

Sprint grabs U.S. Cellular spectrum, customers for $480m

Sprint's network will soon receive a much-needed boost in some Midwestern cities like Chicago and St. Louis, Missouri.

The wireless carrier announced on Friday that it finished inking a deal with regional service provider U.S. Cellular, which is based in the Midwest.

As part of the $480 million agreement, Sprint will gain a total of 30MHz of PCS spectrum, which Sprint says will expand its network capacity in those areas, bringing better service to customers there.

In addition, around 420,000 U.S. Cellular customers will also transfer over to the Sprint family. Sprint and its prepaid arms, … Read more

BlackBerry regains some lost market share in Canada

BlackBerry regains some lost market share in Canada

BlackBerry has managed to regain some lost market share in its home country of Canada.

In a research note to investors on Thursday, Raymond James analyst Tavis McCourt reported that while BlackBerry's market share was just 6 percent in Canada in the fourth quarter of 2012, it jumped to 13.5 percent in the first quarter of 2013. The analyst believes that there was some excitement that cropped up around BlackBerry's latest handsets, the Z10 and Q10, which helped spur the change.

Still, BlackBerry is still far behind where it once was. According to McCourt, BlackBerry had a … Read more

HTC One volumes to double in May

HTC One volumes to double in May

HTC will be ramping up production of its flagship HTC One device, and capacity will double this month from April's, as the company looks to make up for lost sales due to component shortages that delayed the phone's launch in various markets.

Focus Taiwan reported Thursday that the production capacity for HTC One is rising on a month-to-month basis as its component supply chain issues improve. Jack Tong, president of HTC North Asia, said manufacturing volume will double in May from the previous month and will rise further in June to meet "strong demand."

"Our … Read more

Samsung: Galaxy S4 sales to hit 10 million next week

Samsung: Galaxy S4 sales to hit 10 million next week

Samsung's Galaxy S4 is on pace to easily surpass its predecessor's sales record, Samsung Electronics co-CEO Shin Jong-kyun said Thursday in an interview.

Speaking to the Korea Times, the co-CEO said that Samsung's Galaxy S4 will sell through 10 million units next week, making it the fastest-selling smartphone in the company's history. Shin told the Korea Times that the Galaxy S3 took 50 days to pass the 10 million sales mark. The Galaxy S4 will hit that level less than a month since its launch.

The Galaxy S4 is the most feature-packed smartphone Samsung has launched … Read more

Android to assimilate Bluetooth Smart technology

Android to assimilate Bluetooth Smart technology

One of the many announcements flooding out of Google I/O that may have gotten lost in the shuffle is Android's expected support for Bluetooth Smart technology.

This may seem like an odd development, especially if you know that many Android devices already feature Bluetooth 4.0, the version in which Bluetooth Smart (that is, Bluetooth Low Energy) first appeared. What's new here, though, is that the fresh flavor of Android, expected to hit in the next few months, will natively integrate all of Bluetooth 4.0's fancy tricks, including BLE, or BT Smart. Previous Android iterations … Read more

Drool-worthy white Nexus 4 may hit Google Play June 10

Drool-worthy white Nexus 4 may hit Google Play June 10

Though the white version of the LG Nexus 4 began floating around the Interwebs as early as January, it may officially hit the Google Play Store starting June 10.

According to Android and Me, which reportedly got hold of the elusive device, the white Nexus 4 may even launch with Android 4.3, as well.

On Monday, CNET Asia reported that the white device appeared on a Google+ user site and speculated that it could make an appearance at this week's Google I/O.

Unfortunately, as we all saw in yesterday's keynote, no news of a white Nexus … Read more

Flip phones to flip for (roundup)

Flip phones to flip for (roundup)

Don't get me wrong, I still love my smartphones as much as any modern 21st-century kid. But there's something about whipping out a flip phone and then snapping it closed that is very gratifying and nostalgic. And while many phone manufacturers pump out high-tech handsets every season, it's nice to see that once in a while, a simple flip phone still makes it through the pipeline.

Not only do these handsets have the best call quality (and really, isn't that what phones are made for?), but they also are extremely simple to use and can withstand a good knock or two. Below, we've gathered our recent favorites.… Read more