Smartphones

HP's Bradley: We're not trying to be Apple

SAN FRANCISCO--Hewlett-Packard is going through a lot of changes as it searches for a new CEO and digests Palm's Web OS, but don't expect it to follow Apple's lead.

"Emulating Apple is not part of our strategy," said HP's Todd Bradley, executive vice president in charge of the company's consumer products division, at TechCrunch Disrupt 2010. Bradley was being asked about whether or not its purchase of Palm's WebOS earlier this year was done in hopes of creating a portfolio of portable devices with unique packages of hardware and software, much like … Read more

Seeking all sports nuts: Coveroo phone cases

If you're like me, you might have been on a fruitless hunt for a customized iPhone case that touts your beloved sports team, only to discover nobody seems to have any. Is it critical for me to own an iPhone case themed after the New York Jets? Hardly, but I'm a superstitious fellow and I like my digital trinkets and amulets.

Coveroo, which makes custom cases for iPhones, BlackBerries, iPods, iPads, and many other devices, doesn't actually have an NFL teams license, although it does have a license for NFL players. They have NBA and MLB licenses, … Read more

Rumor: Windows Phone 7 U.S. launch set for November 8

The activity around Windows Phone 7 is starting to pick up and with it are some new rumors of launch dates.

According to Paul Thurrott of Windows Phone Secrets, the U.S. market will see devices launch on November 8, whereas Europe will get them a bit earlier, starting October 21. Microsoft has not confirmed these dates, but it fits the timeline given in our earlier report.

What we do know for sure is that Microsoft will hold an Open House in New York on October 11, as well as a press conference in London on the same day. As … Read more

This week in cell phones at the FCC

Only the most passionate cell phone geeks know that the Federal Communications Commission holds a treasure trove of information on upcoming handsets. Because the FCC has to certify every phone sold in the United States, not to mention test its SAR rating, the agency's online database offers a lot of sneak peeks to those who dig. And to save you the trouble, Crave has combed through the database for you. Here are a selection of filings from the past week on new and upcoming cell phones. Click through to read the full report.

Alcatel OT-255C Alcatel OT-706A HTC PC10110 … Read more

Add a sexy HTML signature to iPhone e-mails

If you've ever messed around with the e-mail signature settings on your iPhone, iPod, or iPad, you know that the best you can hope for is to replace the stock "sent from my iPhone" message with another boring block of text.

Welcome to "Extreme Makeover: iPhone Signature Edition." With the free iPhone Signature Creator, you can whip up a sexy, HTML-based sig complete with colored text, a company logo, your Facebook and Twitter info, and more.

To get started, just fill out Signature Creator's Web-based form with as much information as you want to … Read more

T-Mobile G2 preorders begin, in stores October 6

Joining Best Buy and RadioShack, T-Mobile is now taking preorders for its first HSPA+ smartphone, the T-Mobile G2. Preorders are limited to current T-Mobile customers, though. You must reserve your phone by October 4 in order to receive it on October 6, which is when the G2 will be available in stores nationwide. T-Mobile did not disclose the price of the handset, but we suspect it will be around $199.99 with contract. Best Buy is selling the smartphone at that price point but so far RadioShack has the best deal at $149.99.

Sony Ericsson delays Android 2.1 for Xperia line of handsets

Sony Ericsson used its official product blog to let fans know that it is delaying the release of Android OS 2.1 for their Xperia line of handsets. Originally listed for a September rollout, the company is now looking at late October and beyond.

Sadly, the Xperia X10 will still be nearly a year behind the competition when it finally does see Eclair. While other phones like the Motorola Droid have gone from 2.0 to 2.2 in the same span of time, Sony Ericsson has been behind the curve since day one.

I was a huge fan of … Read more

Consumers keeping mobile phones for longer

The economic downturn and high monthly bills are causing consumers to hold on to their mobile phones for the longest period of time in recorded history, a new survey from J.D. Power and Associates suggests.

According to the firm, which surveyed 11,803 mobile phone users and 6,821 smartphone owners between January and June, the amount of time customers are holding on to their mobile phones has increased by 17 percent since 2009. Currently, the average wireless customer is hanging on to his or her phone for 20.5 months. J.D. Power and Associates said that that … Read more

Report: Facebook working with INQ on two phones

Facebook is working with mobile phone maker INQ Mobile to create two smartphones that will highlight core features of the social-networking giant, according to a Bloomberg report.

The devices, which may have a network tie-up with carrier AT&T, are expected to be released in Europe in the first half of 2011 and in the U.S. in the second half, according to the report, which cited three unidentified sources familiar with the matter. INQ, which bills itself as the world's first social mobile handset maker, in 2008 unveiled its INQ1, which featured built-in integration with Facebook, Skype, … Read more

Dialed In 144: 4G at last! (podcast)

You may remember us lamenting the lack of 4G coverage here in San Francisco (and even inconsistent 3G coverage in some pockets), but all that changed when Nicole noticed the 4G WiMax indicator pop up on her Sprint Overdrive device. MetroPCS had its share of 4G news, too, this week, when it opened an LTE network in Las Vegas. This is a pretty bold move for the second-tier carrier.

In other news, the Droid X got Android 2.2 and Adobe's Flash Player; Nicole outlines a plan for better Android customer service; and we discuss rumors of the BlackBerry … Read more