posts on CNET

QWERTY Samsung Gravity Q slides into T-Mobile's lineup

T-Mobile is rounding out its feature phone portfolio with Samsung Gravity Q, a QWERTY slider with a 3-inch touch screen.

Selling for $154, or $10 down and $6 each month for the next two years, the Gravity Q carries on the Gravity line tradition of bringing the bare necessities to those looking for a texting phone.

In addition to the four-row keyboard, the relatively compact Gravity Q also features a 2-megapixel camera, a memory card slot that expands up to 32GB, and bookmarks to Web sites for Facebook and Twitter.

You'll find even more specs at Samsung's Web site.… Read more

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 could arrive in September

Samsung fans, listen up: a new Galaxy Note 3 phone might be right around the corner. A new report claims the latest phablet device from the Korean tech giant could become a reality in September.

Samsung certainly has made a lot of noise about its newest Galaxy S4 superphone, but another of its popular gadget lines, the Galaxy Note franchise, is sorely overdue for a refresh. Now it appears a Note 3 model is in the works, according to sources close to technology blog Android Geeks.

You may recall that the original Galaxy Note first shook up the mobile device … Read more

Samsung Freeform 5 QWERTY phone, now available on U.S. Cellular

Available for $69.99 with a two-year contract, or $99.99 prepaid, the keyboard-sporting Samsung Freeform 5 is now available on U.S. Cellular.

Similar to its predecessor, the device features a 2.4-inch QVGA display and a 1,000mAh battery (which has a reported talk time of up to six hours).

There are some minor differences, however. Specifically, it now has a 3-megapixel rear-facing camera (compared to the Freeform 4's 2-megapixel shooter), and design changes include a slightly tweaked keyboard layout, more space between the buttons, and a new coat of blue paint.

When I took a look … Read more

T-Mobile to make bold moves July 10

T-Mobile issued invitations today for a media event in New York City on July 10.

Exactly what the carrier has in store for the shindig remains a mystery, but T-Mobile promises that it will deliver its "boldest moves yet." It all begins at 11:30 a.m. PT.

Of course, a flashy new handset (or handsets) is a big possibility, with the Sony Xperia Z as the most likely star. Remember that last week, CNET's Roger Cheng reported that T-Mobile had confirmed that the Xperia Z would go on sale "in the coming weeks."

The … Read more

Six free DIY smartphone stands

Whenever I envision the perfect smartphone, it has one key feature: a kickstand. (Bet you thought I was going to say freeze-ray. That's no. 2 on the list.)

Why the deep-seated longing for a pop-out propper-upper? Because my phone is my constant companion, used for everything from reading while I eat breakfast to watching movies on long flights to showing recipes while I'm in the kitchen. (That's right, I bake. Got a problem?) Unfortunately, it's always lying down in the job. I need a way to hold it up so I can keep both hands free.… Read more

Meet SK Telecom's tiny Smart Beam pico projector

SHANGHAI, China -- Fancy a portable projector that you can bring anywhere in your pocket? SK Telecoms' Smart Beam projector may be just the device you are looking for.

Measuring 4.5cm (1.77 inches), the wide, cube-shaped beamer fit nicely in my palm. Weighing just 126g (4.4 ounces), it's as light as most mobile phones. The Smart Beam supports the MHL connectivity interface, and you can use any smartphone that supports this standard to connect to the pico projector.

Other key specifications include a battery life of 120 minutes, VGA native resolution, and 35 lumens of brightness … Read more

Rumor Has It: How much better will the iPhone 5S' better camera be?

Last week, Facebook announced video capabilities for Instagram, which nobody was surprised about. But I was a little surprised that the presentation ended with that. I was sure that the company would also announce its answer to Google Reader. Lo and behold, recent rumors suggest that Facebook still has a Reader of its own up its sleeve.

Google could be working its own version of Pinterest, called Google Mine. It would be integrated with Google+, and it could have its own Android app. Of course!

And finally, there's that little gleaming unicorn that everyone is speculating about, the iPhone 5S. Recent rumors suggest that it'll have a boosted camera, jumping 12 megapixels from the iPhone 5's 8. What do you think of those specs? Does it sound likely? Leave a comment below, and don't forget to vote in the poll!

Basis Band gains fresh style

Basis Science, the maker of the Basis Band fitness gadget, announced today three splashy wrist straps. The company hopes the straps will bring a fresh dose of chic to the fitness-minded smartwatch.

Named with evocative titles such as Electric Spring, Carbon Steel, and Cityscape, each strap accessory features a distinctive aesthetic. Cityscape ($34.95) uses a black and white street scene motif, whereas Carbon Steel ($49.95) is made from stainless steel and soft silicone.

The Electric Spring strap ($34.95) is the most daring of all, with wildly colored patterns reminiscent of ink drops and flowers.

If you're … Read more

Rumor Has It: Instagram video is so cool, we're already over it

It was a slow week in rumorland, but a couple stories managed to make their way onto the scene.

HTC's long-rumored HTC One Mini is back, now with leaked pictures and specs. The miniature version of HTC's flagship would be thinner, shorter, but still sporting that unibody aluminum design. And now it'll fit into your pocket!

Samsung could also be hopping aboard the mini train, possibly announcing a Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini at an event in London on Thursday. This version of the Galaxy will have a 4.3-inch screen, and will fit nicely into smaller hands.

Also on Thursday, Facebook is hosting a supersecret event, where it might unveil its answer to Twitter's Vine: Instagram videos. What do you think? Is Facebook just being a copycat, or is it really onto something here? Leave a comment below and let me know your thoughts.