Fall

SAN FRANCISCO--The Sanyo Zio and the Samsung Transform are not the only two new Sprint handsets announced at CTIA Fall 2010. We also had a chance to take a look at the LG Optimus S, which is the other Android smartphone to support the carrier's new Sprint ID user-interface system. It's also notably the only one of the three that ships with Android 2.2.

The Optimus S is the most affordable entry-level one of the three. We quite like its minimal candy-bar style with the soft touch finish on the back and the 3.2-inch HVGA touch-screen … Read more

Though it made its official debut three weeks ago, we haven't had the opportunity to review T-Mobile's new Motorola Defy just yet. So when Moto put the handset on display at the fall CTIA show in San Francisco we took the opportunity to give it a spin.

Moto is pushing the Defy as a rugged handset that is water and scratch resistant. And to prove that point, it showed the obligatory promo video featuring fun-loving hipsters using the handset at a zany pool party. Though those crazy kids splashed a fair amount of water on the Defy while … Read more

Best. Meetup. EVER! A huge thanks to all The 404 fans that came and hung out last night at The Frying Pan in New York City. We all had a great time drinking and chatting with everyone, and great news: nobody fell off the side of the boat!

There's plenty of pictures already posted on the The 404 Meetup.com page, but we want them all, so click over and share them with us! Thanks again to all the fans as well as the Frying Pan for hooking us up with the $20 wristband deal, but don't worry if you weren't able to attend; this was so much fun that we're already planning another one for next year!

Audiophiliac Steve Guttenberg joins us on today's episode with his usual list of things on his mind grapes, starting with a profile of a headphone amp manufacturer with a ambiguously inappropriate name, and it's spelled S-C-H-I-I-T. It's unclear how the founders came up with the name since it's definitely not their last name, but Steve tells us that the amps are certainly of absolute Schitt-y quality.

Steve also gives us a preview of an upcoming Audiophiliac blog post in honor of the President of the United States himself...Mr. Justin Bieber. Steve is putting together a custom Hi-Fi Sound system for our Commander In Chief but he refuses to tell us specifics except that all the products will be made in America. Check back this weekend for the unveiling!

Even though we heard about the Motorola Flipout earlier this year, we didn't know if it would be coming to the U.S. until this Tuesday when Motorola announced it would be available from AT&T. The square phone reminds us a lot of the Nokia Twist, especially because it swivels open to reveal a QWERTY keyboard.

In person, the phone does feel quite tiny. It's odd to see Android on such a small display (about 2.8 inches diagonally); it reminds us a little of the Motorola Charm in that sense. It ships with Android 2.… Read more

SAN FRANCISCO--In the world of rugged phones, you'd be hard-pressed to find a handset more indestructible than a Sonim model. Indeed, when we reviewed the Sonim XP3 Quest last year, it kept on ticking even after we submerged it in water, dropped it onto a concrete floor from 14.5 feet, and tried to drive a nail into its display. It wasn't the prettiest phone by any measure, but it was one occasion where looks don't matter.

At the fall CTIA show this week, Sonim was back again with its new XP1300 Core. With a chunky candy … Read more

SAN FRANCISCO--We took advantage of HTC's presence at the fall CTIA show to get our first hands-on with the company's new Desire HD Android smartphone. HTC introduced the handset last month at a London press conference, and is now showing it off to the world.

In many ways, the Desire HD is a close relative of the Evo 4G, though minus the 4G service. It has the same basic shape, with a brilliant 4.3-inch display, and it feels about the same when held in the hand. The touch controls below the display are somewhat different, and the … Read more

SAN FRANCISCO--With the arrival of the Samsung Mesmerize at U.S. Cellular, the Galaxy S series has landed at each of the major wireless carriers in the United States. Indeed, it's been quite a ride since the original Galaxy S device had its debut earlier this year in Las Vegas. We've seen AT&T's Captivate, T-Mobile's Vibrant, Sprint's Epic 4G--the only Galaxy S model to have a full keyboard--and Verizon's Fascinate.

In design the Mesmerize most resembles the Fascinate, but you'll notice the hallmarks of the entire Galaxy S series, including … Read more

There's something both comforting and impressive about rugged phones built to military specification. Thick rubberized plastic cloaks many-a-sturdy cell phone, imparting the knowledge that you can easily grip it, drop it, and spray it with water without damaging the calling functionality.

The Casio G'zOne Ravine for Verizon updates the Rock before it, bringing many of the same physical features to this newer model flip phone--like push-to-talk. However, it updates the Rock on many counts, including a brighter design with sharp red accents, a 3.2-megapixel camera (bumped up from 2 megapixels), and dual speakers for improved noise cancellation. … Read more

Jabra recently released the Jabra Wave, an over-the-ear headset that promises to be comfortable and easy to wear. Though it might look a little Borg-like, Jabra claims it's lightweight. As for features, it boasts three-layer wind noise reduction, multipoint technology, and a Voice Guidance system.

Jabra also says it supports Jabra's World of Apps portal, which lets you find voice-enabled apps to use with the headset. The Wave will be available in red, black, and there'll also be a corded version. Verizon Wireless stores will get them first in November, though we don't know pricing yet. … Read more