Cell phones

Affordable yet compelling unlocked smartphones are hard to come by in America, but the new Alcatel One Touch Idol might buck the trend. Priced at $299, this sleek and thin Android handset sports a big 4.7-inch screen, plus it's splash-resistant. … Read more

You may have already pre-ordered the T-Mobile BlackBerry Q10, but today TMO officially announced the device will hit its stores on June 5. T-Mobile also disclosed the physical-keyboarded handset will cost an initial payment of $99.99. … Read more

The HTC One 'Google Edition' smartphone will be sold in very limited quantities when it surfaces later this summer, or so the always-gabby "people familiar with the matter" have told Pocket Lint.

That means that if you were hoping to get your hands on the 'Google Edition' of the popular Android flagship, you'll have to look hard to find it. According to Pocket Lint's sources, HTC will release just "around one percent of total sales of the device so far." And with HTC having announced roughly five million in sales for the HTC One … Read more

LAS VEGAS -- When it comes to emerging tech, crazy accessories, and carrier news, you can always count on a mobile conference to deliver.

CTIA 2013 was a much quieter show than in years past, with the biggest carriers and manufacturers largely opting out to focus on their own launch events.

While this confab felt the brunt of companies' shifting strategies, the absence of the brightest stars meant that we had time to scope out other finds that would usually be drowned out in the din.

Future shows are expected to regain CTIA's breakneck pace and vigor. A move … Read more

LAS VEGAS -- Making waves for the first time in the U.S., the Pearl and Oyster wireless speakers from Damson Audio have washed up on the beaches of CTIA 2013. Both Bluetooth products are designed by the British manufacturer, but it's the first time we've seen them on this side of the pond.

Small in stature, you'd be ill-advised to think the Damson Pearl can't belt out serious sound. To the contrary, the gadget uses a special rubbery foot plus down-firing woofers on its bottom edge to significantly boost its audio impact. Indeed, after being … Read more

LAS VEGAS -- There are apps and settings to locate a lost or stolen smartphone, and to remotely wipe the contents, but those will only get you so far if your phone's actually been nabbed.

On Tuesday, LoJack for Laptops maker Absolute Software announced the imminent release of LoJack for Android smartphones, starting with Samsung's Galaxy S4.

In the event that your smartphone disappears, through your own carelessness or malicious intent, LoJack's software offers remote locking and deleting to keep your photos, passwords, and other sensitive information private.

However, what you really pay for is the company'… Read more

LAS VEGAS -- Coolpad follows up the original Quattro 4G with a new smartphone squarely targeted at budget shoppers. The Quattro 2 4G features a dual-core processor, runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, and has 1GB of RAM.

The other attributes of the Quattro 2 4G are also relatively midrange, at least compared with today's cutting-edge handsets. The phone will use a 5MP camera for main photo duty and will rely on a 1,800 mAh battery for power. The screen is a large 4.5-inch LCD but sadly will have a mere qHD resolution (960 by 540 pixels). … Read more

LAS VEGAS -- A press event the first night of CTIA gave me the opportunity to see a new screen protector from Tech21. If you haven't heard of the UK-based company, it makes some pretty durable cases for popular smartphones like the Galaxy S3 and the iPhone 4/4S.

The Impact Shield strips device protection down to the bare minimum with just a thin clear film to lay over your handset's display. It's composed of three materials, including a polymer that's also used in bulletproof glass. Also, since it uses a silica material to affix to … Read more

LAS VEGAS -- You won't see a new phone from Nokia at CTIA, but the company did reveal it was expanding its already impressive Here Maps for Windows Phone 8 devices.

Available today is an update that will integrate the company's LiveSight augmented reality feature. Previously available only through the CityLens app, LiveSight pulls up nearby locations and displays relevant information like the type of business or attraction, the hours, the address and phone number, and customer ratings.

You access LiveSight mode through a dedicated control in the Here interface. Once activated, you'll see the points of … Read more