Cell phones

If you're a Sprint customer but aren't interested in a new iPad Mini, perhaps the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 is more your speed. The carrier just confirmed that it will sell the larger Android slate, its first to offer 4G LTE data, starting on November 11 for $549.99. … Read more

Hurricane Sandy forced T-Mobile to cancel a Holiday Showcase event planned for New York City today, but the storm didn't prevent the carrier from announcing its 2012 product lineup for the holiday season. The iPhone is absent, of course, but T-Mobile will deliver a strong lineup of Android and Windows Phone 8 tablets and smartphones. As you'd expect from the carrier, some devices, like the LG Optimus L9 and Nokia Lumia 810, are decidedly midrange. Yet, other handsets, like the HTC Windows Phone 8X and new LG Nexus 5 are top of the line.

Here's the skinny … Read more

Sprint is the first U.S. carrier to deliver an Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update for the Samsung Galaxy S3. Available starting this morning as an over-the-air update, the handset will benefit from features such as Google Now, enhanced and expanded notifications, and Android Beam.

Samsung has taken steps to enrich the user experience on its end, giving little extra touches to the camera aspect. Once users download the Jelly Bean update they will discover new live filters for still images and video as well as the power to pause and resume while recording.

What's more, the Galaxy … Read more

Sony just confirmed U.S. pricing and availability for its latest handset, the Xperia TL. You can expect the handset, official smartphone of the 'Skyfall" James Bond film, to cost $99.99 on November 2. … Read more

Beginning Friday U.S. Cellular will offer the 4G LTE-enabled Samsung Galaxy Note 2 for $299.99.

The Android 4.1 Jelly Bean device is available for preorder until tomorrow on the carrier's Web site.

Galaxy Note 2s that have already been preordered prior to that will begin shipping out tomorrow.

The handset is equipped with a 5.5-inch HD Super AMOLED screen, which has a 1,280x720-pixel resolution and 267 pixels per inch.

Included within the device is an S Pen stylus that enables you to take full advantage of the large display.

It is also powered by … Read more

Boost announced today that it has begun offering the LG Venice, a variant of the LG Optimus L7 and U.S. Cellular's LG Splendor, for $219.99.

The handset has a 4.3-inch screen and runs on the Android 4.0 platform.

Its 5-megapixel rear-facing camera is capable of shooting 720p HD video and comes with an LED flash. A VGA front-facing camera is also included.

As a Boost device, users will get access to Boost Mobile ID, which allows users to customize their phones with preselected apps and widgets, depending on what ID package they choose.

The Venice … Read more

If you thought that we were long past the era of new Gingerbread phones, then U.S. Cellular has a surprise for you.

Today, the carrier announced the Alcatel Shockwave, a starter smartphone running Android 2.3. Yes, that means it comes almost a year after the first Ice Cream Sandwich handset, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, went on sale.

Though its design appears to be standard issue Android, Alcatel promises a "shock resistant casing, super tough" construction with Dragontrail glass (that's an alternative to Gorilla glass) over the 3.5-inch HVGA display. The water-resistant casing should stand … Read more

If you own an old-school Razr Maxx and have been gazing longingly at Motorola's latest creation, the Droid Razr Maxx HD, here's a tidbit to consider. Its bigger screen and more robust processing comes at a price: a shorter run time. … Read more

Now that T-Mobile has announced plans to host its showcase event , it looks like Monday, October 29, will be a really big day for mobile news. Not only will T-Mobile be switching on its PR machine into overdrive, both Google and Microsoft are hosting major press conferences. … Read more