Smartphones

Nextel landed its first Google Android phone today with the Motorola i1. In true Nextel style, the i1 protects its touch-screen design with a rugged shell that meets military specifications for dust, shock, vibration, temperature extremes, blowing rain, solar radiation, humidity, and salt fog. Judging from photo it doesn't look like the prettiest Android device around, but it should withstand bumps and bruises.

The i1 Is the first Android handset with not only Direct Connect, but also Group Connect, International Direct Connect, Direct Talk, and Direct Send. Other features are plentiful. You'll find a 5-megapixel camera with video … Read more

There's nothing worse than a smartphone that lays down on the job--especially when that job is showing a movie on an airplane, a photo slideshow at your desk, a recipe in your kitchen, or the time of day on your nightstand.

For those and other applications, your screen needs to stand up. Sure, you could drop a few bucks on something like the GoGoStand, a cool and convenient solution, but I think it's a little more fun to take the MacGyver approach.

You can cobble together a fantastic phone stand using everyday household objects. Here's a look at four of my favorites:

1. The gift-card stand

Stop! Don't throw away that used-up gift card. Or hotel room-key. Or even expired credit card. In about 10 seconds you can turn just about any such piece of stiff plastic into a killer stand. One strategic fold here, a second one there, and boom, you're done. Take a look:

If you need more instructions (and/or want to see the stand "in action"), check out the Instructables source page for this ingenious card-hack.… Read more

Fragmentation remains one of the touchiest subjects for Google Android users and developers, with various official builds and different screen sizes all playing part in determining which apps your phone can handle.

Currently, four versions of the OS are available: 1.5, 1.6, 2.0, and 2.1. Though the typical consumer and new Android owner may not know there are multiple iterations powering these phones, it's enough to drive the tech-savvy enthusiast mad.

Sure, we all love choice in our devices--that's what drew us to Android to begin with--but it gets frustrating when you can't get the Android OS you want in the phone you want.

Take, for instance, last week's Cliq XT launch. Here's a brand new phone from T-Mobile, the latest Android handset to hit the market, but it features OS 1.5. Indeed, the phone is a fantastic buy for the price, with its Flash Lite, pinch zooming, five-megapixel camera, and Swype keyboard.

After only a few days with the unit, I can say that I love the form factor of the phone, but I miss some of the apps from my T-Mobile G1 that ran OS 1.6. I've lost Google Maps 4.1, Google Maps Navigator, and a few other favorites from the last few months. Also, the new Google Buzz widget won't run on 1.5 phones. As much as I like that app so far, I've had to put it on the shelf with the G1.… Read more

Introduced at Demo, Ambit Control is parental spyware for kids' smartphones. In addition to telling you where a kid's phone is, via the phone's GPS radio, a phone with Ambit on it will tattle when a kid installs an app. You can also configure an Ambit phone to allow calls or texts to only specific numbers. Children can be told that their phone is tapped, or, as the company CEO said from stage, you can just give your kid a phone with Ambit without telling them that they're being watched.

Since the app needs to run and … Read more

The wait for the Dell smartphone in the United States is finally over. Monday, AT&T announced the Dell Aero, the first domestic mobile Dell device and AT&T's second Google Android handset. Based on the previously announced Mini 3, the Aero features a candy-bar design with a prominent touch screen and few physical controls.

AT&T hasn't released many feature or availability details just yet, though we know that the Aero offers a five-megapixel camera, a 3.5-inch display, GPS, Wi-Fi, and an HTML browser with Flash Lite. Also, AT&T and Dell … Read more

LAS VEGAS--At CES 2010, AT&T revealed that it would add two Palm WebOS smartphones to its lineup. On Monday, we learned the identities and prices of the upcoming devices.

The Palm Pre Plus and Pixi Plus will be available from AT&T in the coming months (no specific release dates were given) for $149.99 and $49.99, respectively, with a two-year contract and after a $100 mail-in rebate.

There are not a lot of surprises in the announcement, since the hardware and software on both phones are largely similar to their Verizon Wireless counterparts. However, both … Read more

You just can't swap out your iPhone battery whenever you feel like it, so it is important to know how to prolong its life. This week's tip will show you how.

I rummaged around inside my iPhone Atlas archives and I found an article I recommend that you read: Get the most out of your iPhone battery.

I wrote the post, which is still relevant, last summer with information in it that will help you to get the most life out of your iPhone battery.

This is particularly important for people that experienced poor battery performance after the … Read more

Everyone loves a great deal, and Nokia and T-Mobile serves up a pretty enticing offer with the Nokia 5230 Nuron.

Available on March 24 for $69.99 with a two-year contract, the Nuron is a full touch-screen smartphone that offers 3G support, access to the Ovi Store, and free maps and voice-guided, turn-by-by navigation via Ovi Maps. The latter is really what makes the phone such a great deal. With Ovi Maps, you're getting maps for the U.S., Canada, and Mexico as well as other premium content such as weather forecasts and Lonely Planet guides, all without the … Read more

Though it feels like I just got off the plane from Europe and Mobile World Congress--and claimed my broken suitcase, thank you very much, Lufthansa--it's time to board another flight to another cell phone trade show. Next week, the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA) holds its spring wireless bash in Las Vegas. It's the larger of the industry association's two annual events and we're expecting to be busy chasing news. Though last year's show--check out this retrospective for a look back--was a bit quiet, a few trends are emerging for 2010. The fun … Read more