phablet

As manufacturers released new smartphones with larger screens, people began to ask themselves, "How big will these things get?" But as we saw with the Samsung Galaxy Note, which debuted at the tail end of 2011, phones can get much, much bigger.

With its 5.3-inch HD screen, the Note redefined the trend by pushing the limits of smartphone touch screens, while testing user tolerance for size. Of course there were skeptics. Were people ready for such a gigantic screen? And are users seriously going to use that stylus? While the term "phablet" -- a portmanteau … Read more

Samsung said today it has sold more than 5 million Galaxy Note 2 devices worldwide, just two months after the product was first released.

The Korean technology giant said in a statement (Google Translate) that sales of the part-phone, part-tablet -- a so-called "phablet" -- hit the milestone around a month after Samsung sold 3 million of the devices in the first 30 days after its release.

The 5.5-inch device is selling at roughly three times faster than its predecessor, the original Galaxy Note, which took three months to hit the 3 million mark.

Earlier predictions by … Read more

It's a first-time Prizefight for a whole new evolving category between Samsung's Galaxy Note 2 and LG's Intuition.

These two unique devices bring the world of a smartphone and a tablet into one form factor. Throw in the use of a stylus, and we're talking about two of the most versatile mobile devices on the planet.

The Galaxy Note 2 has learned its lessons and it brings a versatile stylus, albeit with a much steeper learning curve. The LG Intuition stylus interface is straightforward and simple, but there's no place to hold the stylus on … Read more

Internal memory is probably one of the least sexy features of a smartphone. But as your smartphone replaces your point-and-shoot camera, MP3 music player, portable gaming device, GPS navigator, and in some cases your portable video player, it's something you have to think about when buying a new device.

While some devices allow you to add memory via a microSD card, others don't. And when you run out of internal memory on your device, you're forced to make some tough choices. Do you delete your kids' first birthday pictures or those videos from your last vacation? Maybe … Read more

T-Mobile is the first carrier out of the gate to bring its customers the much-anticipated Samsung Galaxy Note 2. As of today, any T-Mobile user can snap up the device.

Rumors floated this week that the carrier was already receiving shipments of the "phablet" in its retail stores. Samsung had planned a Galaxy Note 2 launch event today, but until T-Mobile's announcement it was unclear when exactly users would be able to get their hands on the device.

T-Mobile will sell the phone for $369.99 with a new, two-year service agreement. That makes it the priciest … Read more

People may be able to get their hands on Samsung's Galaxy Note 2 "phablet" within a couple of days. According to Phandroid, sources say that T-Mobile will launch the much-anticipated device on Wednesday and that Note 2 shipments have already started arriving in stores.

Samsung has planned a launch event on Wednesday, but it has been unclear what exact date users will be able to pick up the device.

Five carriers will get the Galaxy Note 2, including U.S. Cellular, Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. It is expected to sell for about $299.99. … Read more

September 19 could be the day that HTC answers the Samsung's Galaxy Note 2 with a 5-inch supersize smartphone of its own.

Rumors point to a 1,920x1,080-pixel "true" HD display, a 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor, and an Adreno 320 GPU.

We can also bet that the next smartphone up HTC's sleeve will run on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich with an HTC Sense 4.0 overlay, work with Beats Audio enhancements, and pack in a lightning-fast 8-megapixel camera with oodles of editing goodies.

Another option is that HTC will introduce … Read more

Looks like the rumors were true.

Verizon's version of the unlocked LG Optimus Vu, renamed the LG Intuition, will be available online to U.S. customers starting September 6. It will be offered in Verizon retail stores starting September 10 for $199.99 with a two-year contract.

The Intuition sports a gigantic 5-inch display with a 4:3 aspect ratio and 650 nits of brightness.

When I reviewed the Vu a few months back, the phone/tablet hybrid impressed me with its bright screen and slim build. CNET's own Brian Bennett got a chance to get his hands … Read more

As the leaves change from green to orange and brown, and children go back to school, it could only mean one thing: the iPhone 5 is a-coming. The rumor mill is swirling with speculations of a release date, what it'll look like, and whether it'll be joined by an iPad Mini. Oh yes, the zombie unicorn rumor that never dies.

Recent rumors suggest that an iPad Mini screen is already in production, leading some people to believe that this jibes with a fall release. Who knows! Apple always has tricks up its sleeves.

Also this week, sightings of … Read more