Smartphones

Dialed In 91: Samsung goes green

Samsung and Sprint have jumped on the green bandwagon: they launched a new eco-friendly phone last week, the Samsung Reclaim. Speaking of green, some handset manufacturers and carriers think we're rolling in money and are charging some jaw-dropping prices for their devices. We're not quite sure what they're thinking, especially after a Gartner study finds that North Americans pay more for cell phone service than other parts of the world. We've got all this and more on this week's Dialed In podcast.

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Rumors of the … Read more

Dear Palm: Please stop tracking me and my Pre use

Tell us you're not really doing this, Palm? Really, we've been friends for over a decade. I've defended you when you had bad ideas and praised you when you had good ideas. But this time even I have to give a well earned "What the...?" I mean, you had to know that modern tech users value their privacy over pretty much anything else, and yet it looks like you're doing this?

It looks like you're sending a daily message to yourself from people's Pres without their knowledge. Why? And why would you … Read more

T-Mobile HTC Touch Pro2 on sale now for $349.99

Seven months after its official debut at GSMA 2009, the HTC Touch Pro2 is finally stepping out on U.S. soil. The highly anticipated smartphone is now available from T-Mobile for a pricey $349.99 with a two-year contract and qualifying data and voice plan.

While expensive, the Touch Pro2 offers a lot, including HTC's Straight Talk technology for better message and call management and a spacious touch screen and QWERTY keyboard. It also finally replaces the T-Mobile Wing and brings such improvements as a faster processor and HTC's slick TouchFlo 3D interface.

We've had the smartphone … Read more

Official multitouch to appear in Android 2.0?

Google Android fans have long been waiting for official multitouch support on Android devices, but Google has yet to offer any confirmation. Even at this year's Google I/O developers conference where multitouch was a hot topic, I only heard that "we don't know when it is coming." But after doing some digging and speaking to several sources with knowledge of the situation, it looks like Android users may finally get their wish this holiday season.

When is it coming? Allow me to start with the rumor of the day. From what I understand, Android 2.0 will ship this year and will include multitouch support similar to what's found on the iPhone and the Palm Pre.This might sound far-fetched to some readers, but there is mounting evidence to back it up.

Several blogs have reported that Android will receive two more updates this year. I believe the first will be a minor update based on the Donut branch of Android. The second update, however, is likely to be a major refresh based off the Eclair branch.

The release schedule was recently echoed in a Reuters interview with Andy Rubin, director of mobile platforms at Google. Reuters reported that Donut will become Android 1.6 and Eclair will ship as Android 2.0.

So if Android 2.0 is coming this year, when exactly will it be released?… Read more

PC classic Civilization makes iPhone debut

Following in the footsteps of PC classics like Doom, Myst, and SimCity, Sid Meier's legendary Civilization just landed in the App Store.

Not only has it arrived, but also it's on sale for $4.99--but only until tomorrow (Aug. 12), at which time the price jumps to $9.99.

Of course, die-hard Civilization fans (of which there are a few hundred bazillion) would probably pay any price for a mobile, iPhone-optimized version of the beloved game. If you're new to the world-building party, there's a single-scenario Lite version available for free.

Civilization Revolution for the iPhone … Read more

Samsung Omnia 2 coming August 23?

Since we posted a First Take of Samsung's Omnia 2 back in June, a lot of readers have been asking when Verizon would actually begin selling it. Well, according to the good folks over at the Boy Genius Report (who have a "trusted mole" at Best Buy Mobile), the much-anticipated iPhone pretender will be launching August 23, along with several other phones from different carriers.

Here's the complete list that leaked:

Omnia 2 (Verizon) Global AirCard G2 (Verizon) Samsung Rogue (Verizon) LG Chocolate Touch (Verizon) Samsung u450 Intensity (Verizon) Samsung Gravity 2 (T-Mobile) Samsung Solstice (AT&… Read more

USB solar panels charge cell phones on the go

If you plan on walking through the desert with a cell phone anytime soon, you might want to check in with Sanyo before you leave.

Its new Eneloop Portable Solar panels can charge portable devices through a USB connection. They're also relatively compact and a cinch to tote.

Sanyo's stylish Eneloop line of energy products includes a popular brand of rechargeable batteries and a lamp that doubles as a flashlight. Last time we posted about Sanyo's solar panels, they were chic but clunky. The new book-size, business-slick Portable Solar comes in sets of one or two panels (… Read more

MyTouch 3G on sale, skydivers celebrate

T-Mobile's second Google Android phone, the MyTouch 3G, lands in stores and online today. The all touch-screen device goes on sale 10 months after the G1 made its debut. We've already had the opportunity to give it a thorough shakedown, and we found a lot to like. The sleeker design, improved features, and user-friendly controls fix many of our complaints with its predecessor. Yes, it lacks a physical keyboard, but we didn't mind. Some complaints remain, of course, but the MyTouch convinces us that Android is ready for prime time.

To celebrate the event, T-Mobile is holding … Read more

Is a $99 iPhone 3GS coming soon?

Ever since Apple launched the new iPhone 3GS, the older iPhone 3G has been going for $99 with a new two-year contract. Well, according to Boy Genius Report, there seem to be some indications that Apple may be about to bring out a new 8GB version of the iPhone 3GS that will take the place of the iPhone 3G and also cost $99.

Interestingly, BGR's source isn't AT&T but Rogers, a Canadian carrier, and a tipster sent the site some screenshots that seem to provide proof of the transition between models. None of this is confirmed, … Read more