Cricket

Don't be swayed by the use of "Optimus" in its name, as the LG Optimus Regard for Cricket Wireless isn't out to impress. Its compact design is unassuming, its feature set is mostly entry-level, and it runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. So, in other words, it's about as far from the Optimus G Pro as you can get. Yet, those aren't reasons to avoid this affordable, easy to use, and LTE-ready handset.

The Optimus Regard costs a reasonable $249.99 for Cricket's contract-free service, which places it right in the … Read more

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- Samsung Galaxy S4 keeps calm, carries on with big screen, 8-core chip and, yes, eye tracking.

- The Galaxy S4's software up close.

- Samsung Galaxy S4 display looking good, expert says.

- Samsung Galaxy S4 landing on six U.S. carriers.

- Does Samsung's Galaxy S4 make the iPhone 5 look lame?

- Samsung Galaxy S4 offers optional wireless charging.… Read more

Cricket Wireless this week announced a new Android smartphone with the Engage LT. Manufactured by ZTE, the handset is now on sale for $179.99 at the no-contract carrier.

You'd be forgiven if you thought this new model sounded similar to a current offering; it's nearly identical to the ZTE Engage announced in late 2012. In fact, it's hard to imagine how Cricket plans to position the two devices considering just how closely they resemble each other.

The Engage LT runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and features a 4-inch display, a single-core 1GHz processor, 1GB … Read more

Cricket is a complex game, so it's no surprise that one of the newest Cricket games in the App Store for the iPad is a flick game -- one that makes the game more accessible and enjoyable for a wide audience of both diehard and casual cricket fans. Even still, the app has its fair share of menus and options that will take some time to get used to as you start playing. Fortunately, the developer has included a very concise tutorial that walks you through the basics of the matching system, how to set up new matches, and … Read more

Leap Wireless, which operates Cricket Wireless, told the Wall Street Journal that it's sluggishly behind in its prepaid iPhone sales. In fact, by the time the carrier completes its yearlong contract with Apple in June, it will most likely have sold only half of the iPhones it committed to sell.

This is bad news for both Leap and Apple. For Leap, the company will be in the hole for around $100 million worth of unsold iPhones, according to the Wall Street Journal; and it doesn't bode well for Apple either, as the company partners with prepaid carriers in … Read more

With a name that evokes images of Jean-Luc Picard aboard the USS Enterprise, the ZTE Engage is actually just an Earthling-created, contract-free phone from Cricket Wireless.

But even if I could get engaged (ha, multiple definitions!) to this handset, I wouldn't want to. Yes, it sports higher specs than what you would usually see from a midlevel ZTE handset, but its poor call and camera performance would tempt any user, not just me, to break things off.

Design With its all-black design and flatly rectangular construction, the ZTE Engage doesn't break any design boundaries. At 5.4 ounces, … Read more

Nothing about the ZTE Groove screams "modern." Maybe it's the outdated name (seriously, the only appropriate times to say "groove" is when ironically referring to the 1970s, or discussing jazz music), but mostly because it runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread and has a very unappealing plastic construction.

Don't misunderstand me -- I have no qualms with entry-level handsets. They're great for users looking for something simple and easy to use. But the Groove is different. On top of being dated, it's plagued with mediocre call and audio quality, and a poor … Read more

LAS VEGAS--Cricket's Muve Music service has surpassed the 1 million subscriber mark, the company announced today.

This year's CES marks the second anniversary of the Android rate plan, which bundles unlimited music downloads, ringtones, and ringback tones to text, talk, and Web plans, starting at $50 per month.

Although 1 million may not sound like a large number for wireless giants like Verizon and AT&T, the milestone is significant for Cricket's much smaller prepaid subscriber base of about 6 million, and a demographic that typically shies away from purchasing expensive plans.

Deals with national retailers … Read more

Real cricket fans will love IPL Cricket T20 Fever, a free Android app offering some of the most realistic cricket simulations we've seen. You can control not just the batter or bowler but also the viewing angle, bringing extra realism to high-quality animation and effects. While it's not exactly for cricket novices, true enthusiasts will appreciate not only its realistic play but also the fact that the game's teams, players, and matches are all based on the Indian Premier League, home to many of the world's top professional cricketers. IPL fans take cricket seriously, and IPL … Read more