Cell phones

Advanced Sony Xperia TL landing on AT&T

Just when many may have lost hope in a slick Sony Xperia handset hitting American shores with carrier blessing, Sony outs plans to sell the new Xperia TL on AT&T. The device will feature a big 4.6-inch (1,080x720-pixel) screen, a 13-megapixel camera, Android 4.0, all powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core processor. … Read more

Oops! Anti-Apple Maps ad reveals Google Maps' own failing

Everyone knows that Apple is dealing with a firestorm of criticism over problems with its new iOS 6 Maps feature, but a new ad for Google-owned Motorola Mobility's Droid Razr may have crossed the line.

The ad, which appeared on September 21 on Motorola's Google+ site, shows a Razr alongside an iPhone 5, and reads, "Looking for 315 E 15th in Manhattan? Google Maps on Droid Razr M will get you there & not #iLost in Brooklyn."

The post shows the Razr displaying the proper address in the middle of a grid of Manhattan streets, while … Read more

Entry-level Samsung Galaxy Music due in October

Samsung is expected to announce a new Galaxy Music smartphone on October 11, according to multiple reports from this week.

Despite the obvious promise of music, the handset should have only basic hardware. Features are said to include a 3-inch QVGA (240x320-pixel) display, a single-core 850MHz processor, 512MB RAM, 4GB internal storage, and a 3-megapixel camera. It should run on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and come in single-SIM and dual-SIM models.

I'm having a hard time understanding what Samsung is doing with the Galaxy Music, seeing as how this is such outdated hardware. While I understand that … Read more

Rumored HTC One X+ found with T-Mobile branding

Up until now, we've heard plenty about what might be in store for the forthcoming HTC One X+. Today, however, thanks to yet another leak from @evleaks, we see that the smartphone is destined for at least T-Mobile.

Rumored to be a faster, more robust version of the company's flagship Android handset, the details paint a pretty picture. Powered by Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and running HTC's Sense 4.5 UI, the One X+ is expected to feature a quad-core Tegra 3+ AP37 processor running at 1.6GHz. As one of the first models on the … Read more

New BlackBerry App World opens for devs Oct 10, groups media downloads

SAN JOSE, Calif.--Today at BlackBerry's developers conference and press event, Alec Saunders, vice president of developer relations, announced a new download feature for its mobile OS' app store, BlackBerry App World.

Grouping together its media content into one portal, BlackBerry will allows users to rent or buy both music and movies right through the store. They can also download and watch offline multimedia content.

Touting the popularity of BlackBerry's app store, Saunders dived deeper into the store's offering.

In addition to demoing BlackBerry 10's native Facebook app, which utilizes the OS' new "peek" … Read more

Data speeds: iPhone 5 vs. Samsung Galaxy S3 vs. iPhone 4S

Though its thinner profile and longer screen are two of the iPhone 5's top draws, I'm more interested in what's inside Apple's newest handset. Yes, after a long wait, the iPhone 5 finally adds support for 4G LTE data networks. Of course, I have to point out that a galaxy of Android phones (get it!) have long offered the feature, but that doesn't mean I'm not grateful that at long last the iPhone has caught up.

Editors' note: This article was originally posted September 22, 2012. We will continue to update it as we … Read more

The best iPhone 5 alternatives

Apple's latest iPhone 5 is certainly off to a big start, with preorders already backed up for weeks. If you're the type who'd rather not wait so long for a new smartphone, though, or who avoids Apple products like the plague, there are plenty of other options out there. In fact, many competing devices offer just as much speed, a bigger screen, and a wider selection of features than Apple's newest creation. … Read more

HTC Trade-Up dangles up to $300 for your old smartphone

HTC, hoping to attract new Android and Windows Phone buyers, is now offering cash back for old smartphones. A new HTC Trade-Up page has gone live online to lets users calculate how much their aging handset might be worth.

The program is essentially a four-step process, starting with a quote for your existing smartphone. Once you buy a new HTC device, simply mail in your old smartphone. Providing everything matches up with the details you reported to HTC, you'll get your refund in the form of a Visa prepaid card that's good for up to 30 days.

HTC … Read more

iPhone 5 vs. Galaxy S3 vs. Lumia 920: By the numbers

Update: This story was originally published 09/12/2012 and updated on 9/18/2012 to reflect our full iPhone 5 review, and on 10/2/2012 to add more Lumia 920 launch details. We will update the story again after we review the Nokia Lumia 920.

This holiday season, smartphone shoppers have a tough decision to make. The Apple iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy S3, and Nokia Lumia 920 are all titans in their space, and competition is fierce. We'll help you break down each phone's strengths and weaknesses to help you make your choice.

Keep in mind … Read more