Cell phones

The best news about Apple sending out invites to a (probable) iPad Mini event next week, is that we can finally stop talking about iPad Mini rumors. Finally.

What we don't know yet, however, are any specifics. Will it be 7 inches? Will it come in a rainbow of colors? How much will it cost? All our questions will be answered next week.

Remember that we have a big bet riding on this one -- if Apple in fact announces the iPad Mini next week, Emily has to do something embarrassing! -- so leave us a comment and give … Read more

If you thought the Galaxy Note 2 pushes design boundaries, take a gander at the new PadFone 2 from Asus. A thinner version of the first PadFone, this device also morphs from tablet and smartphone on the fly.

Now chances are the Asus PadFone 2 will never hit American shores since the original PadFone didn't either. Perhaps that's why Asus, longtime laptop builder and maker of Google's hot little Nexus 7 tablet, decided to unveil the PadFone 2 in Milan. Of course, it could also have selected the fashionable location as a savvy PR move to emphasize the device's futuristic design. … Read more

Sprint has doubled down on Samsung's big Galaxy Note 2 bet. The carrier has just confirmed that the advanced, 5.5-inch screen Android device will hit its stores shortly.

Expected to cost $299.99 when it launches on October 25, both Samsung and Sprint hope the Galaxy Note 2 will offer plenty of catnip for Android users and possibly prove irresistible for users craving a smartphone with tablet-like features. Running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, Google's latest and greatest software yet, the phone will connect to Sprint's new 4G LTE network and boast a 1.6GHz quad-core … Read more

Right after AT&T said that it will begin selling the LG Optimus G on November 2 for $199.99, Sprint announced that it too will be selling the LG flagship phone for the same price, starting November 11.

In addition, users can pre-order the 4G LTE device starting November 1.

While both carrier models sport a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core CPU and a 4.7-inch True HD IPS display, Sprint boosted the handset's camera from 8 megapixels, which is what the AT&T version has, to 13 megapixels.

It will also have a couple of … Read more

Though the LG Optimus G is set to arrive at AT&T stores on November 2 (and later to Sprint), LG isn't still hedging on when it will get an Android 4.1 Jelly Bean upgrade.

Yet, for the Optimus G's international brethren, LG is being more forthcoming. A press release (translated) on LG's Web site today detailed the expected time frame for an Android 4.1 update for a select few Optimus models.

Things get started in November with the Optimus LTE II, followed in December by the international Optimus G. Then, the first quarter … Read more

AT&T announced today that it will be offering the quad-core LG Optimus G starting November 2 for $199.99 after a two-year carrier agreement. Preorders for the 4G LTE device begin tomorrow.

We had a chance to review the device recently, and we have to admit, this device is fast. Its zippy quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro CPU make it a snap to handle, and its 4.7-inch screen is gorgeous. Pictures and videos appeared crisp and bright, and gameplay was vivid and speedy.

The phone did have a few missteps, however. AT&T's Optimus G … Read more

A pair of photos circulating the Internet today may be the first images of a rumored Sony Xperia Nexus, but it's more likely an elaborate hoax.

Appearing on Picasa this morning, the photos are tagged as "sony nexus" and "xperia nexus" and have EXIF details that show they were taken on a Galaxy Nexus over the weekend.

The front side of the handset is void of branding, but the backside shows both the Sony and Google logo, suggesting a "Pure Google" experience a la the Nexus program. Although the handset doesn't match … Read more

If you're looking for a simple cell phone, it's hard to find one simpler -- or cheaper -- than the simple Samsung M400. The basic flip phone comes free with a new two-year service agreement, after a $50 mail-in rebate.

Features are intentionally sparse on the M400, and include a 2.4-inch internal display, large dial pad buttons, and emergency settings to call 911 and your selected ICE (in case of emergency) contacts.

Voice dialing is fairly standard on even the most straightforward of phones, but Samsung has added text-to-speech readout capability that voices a variety of information, … Read more

Forget about the Galaxy S3 Mini. The latest Samsung rumors are swirling around a Galaxy Premier device that will be one step up from a Galaxy Nexus, but below the global GS3 in the smartphone pecking order.

According to Gotta Be Mobile which names German tech news site Mobile Geeks as the original source, the Galaxy Premier will feature Android 4.1 Jelly Bean but will be powered by a dual-core 1.5GHz processor and not the fancy quad-core Exynos chip inside the global Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note II. The Premier's screen will also share the same size … Read more