phones

Speaking of convergence, the last place we thought we'd see a combo trend is the mouse and phone. That hardware mashup had initially been confined to some smaller brands like Taiwan-based Genius, whose mad scientists have produced such unholy marriages as combo camera-speakers.

But now Sony has come up with its own mouse phone (phone mouse?) for the Japanese market, an optical rodent that can be opened up for use as a Skype handset or propped up to become a VoIP speakerphone, according to Technabob. The Genius model still has one more function--it triples as an instant-message device--but Sony … Read more

A group of native Canadian tribes are seeking compensation from Manitoba Telecom Services for cell phone signals they claim are violating their air space.

According to the CBC, the Assembly of Manitoba chiefs is trying to negotiate revenue sharing for signals that cross the land, water and air space of their reserves and traditional territories.

"When it comes to using airspace, it's like using our water and simply because there's no precedent doesn't mean that it's not the right thing to do," Chief Ovide Mercredi of the Grand Rapids First Nation told the news … Read more

During the interview with Walt Mossberg at D5, Steve Jobs apparently let slip (according to the transcript from Gizmodo and Engadget), that even though the Apple iPhone won't start out of the gate with support for third-party applications, Apple is open to it and is working on making that possible later this year. Both transcripts imply that Jobs was concerned about security issues, which is what presumably was holding up the process. The lack of third-party support was one of the biggest complaints about the iPhone when it was first announced earlier this year, so if Apple actually makes … Read more

Until MP3 players and phones get built-in speakers with truly big sound, we may be stuck with mutant-looking plug-in versions to let loose our inner boombox. Various companies are come up with stopgap solutions that may not look pretty but are at least aimed at delivering beach-boardwalk volume without blowing up.

One of them is the "PodXtreme," which won't win any beauty contests but claims to have a bass that no standard handheld's built-in speakers can come close to achieving, at least not yet, according to OhGizmo. The secret is something that looks like a … Read more

For those of you who have been making regular visits or calls to your local Cingular/AT&T store about a certain BlackBerry Curve, you can stop reciting "Is it here yet? Is it here yet?" Today, the carrier announced that the Curve will be available in stores and online, starting tomorrow, for a reasonable $199.99 with a two-year contract and after mail-in rebates.

Some highlights of the Curve include a 2-megapixel camera, a built-in spell checker, noise-cancellation technology, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and Bluetooth 2.0. The device also supports a number of AT&… Read more

OK, I really want to know who has this kind of time to spend making these geeky cakes we've been seeing a lot of recently. Apparently, a GeekSugar reader made it for her boyfriend. (Is that the kind of domestic dedication required these days? If so, somebody please get me to a nunnery.) But as a Helio user myself, I acknowledge and appreciate the somewhat cult-like nature of our little MVNO. Cakes, apparently, are the cool way to express that these days.

More photos here.

My verdict: Nice effort. Beautiful, uh, cakesmanship. But I'll stick to my "… Read more

Just for a moment, forget about waiting for the first iteration of Apple's iPhone: speculation is well under way about the next version.

According to reports in two Taiwanese newspapers Tuesday, the Commercial Times and the Economic Daily News, manufacturing powerhouse Quanta Computer has landed the contract to build a second-generation iPhone for Apple starting in September. The first version isn't out yet, as anyone with a pulse is probably aware, but the next version requires a "different outer design," according to numerous translations of the reports.

But IDG News Service reported that Quanta has not actually … Read more

I was tempted to post this yesterday morning, but opted to wait a day because I thought I'd be attacked by the "But I haven't seen the Lost finale yet and now you've spoiled it!" crowd if I did. Anyway, just for safety's sake, IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE LOST SEASON FINALE AND DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS, DO NOT READ THIS POST.

Anyhoo. Those of us who did watch the Lost season finale know that in a super shocking twist at the end, it was revealed that the episode's … Read more

Rarely will you find a phone that sends you on a spiral, but this one does. You buy it for its style, look and innovation. For that, it gets an 11 on a scale of 10-point scale.

The dilemma arises when you must decide whether it's more important to have the most eye-catching cell phone available or if you want one that's easy to use. Rarely will you find a phone that sends you on a spiral, but this one does. The Prada phone is somewhat awkward. There are only three buttons in front, yet often you'll … Read more