Kyocera

Kyocera Rise with Android 4.0 comes to Sprint, Virgin Mobile

Sprint and Virgin Mobile announced today that they will carry the Kyocera Rise, a slideout QWERTY keyboard phone that we first caught a glimpse of in May during CTIA 2012.

In addition to its four-row keyboard, the Rise runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. It has a 3.5-inch LCD display, a 1,500mAh li-ion battery (which roughly translates to 8.5 hours of reported talk time), and a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor.

The handset also has a 3.2-megapixel rear-facing camera with accompanying flash, and an Eco Mode feature that allows users to customize and conserve battery … Read more

Boost Mobile to carry Kyocera Hydro starting August 3

After unveiling it during CTIA 2012, Kyocera finally announced that its newest waterproof Android 4.0 handset, the Kyocera Hydro, will be available on Boost Mobile's network starting August 3.

Though it isn't considered a "rugged" device per se, the Hydro is waterproof and can withstand a good dunk or two in water, as well as time in the rain.

It has a 3.5-inch touch screen, a 3.2-megapixel rear-facing camera with flash, and it is powered by a 1GHz Snapdragon processor. In addition, it's 3G-enabled, and comes with an Eco Mode feature that … Read more

Rough 'n' tumble Kyocera DuraXT drops on Sprint for $69.99

If you can't get enough of Sprint and Kyocera's rugged phones, you're in luck. This morning, the Kyocera DuraXT goes on sale for $69.99. Another addition to Kyocera's Sprint Direct Connect family, the DuraXT flip phone has military-grade durability and is water resistant up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes.

The DuraXT has a small 2-inch QVGA screen and is light on features, but I'm happy to see a 3.2-megapixel camera/camcorder with flash, in addition to Bluetooth and a handful of apps. There's also room for 32GB of expandable … Read more

Sprint sets sunset date for Nextel network

Sprint Nextel set a firm date on when it will kill off the Nextel part of its business.

The carrier said today that it would completely shut off its Nextel network, which uses a technology called iDEN best known for its walkie-talkie capability, on June 30, 2013. The company will begin alerting customers on Sunday.

The date marks the end of troubled era in Sprint's history, a period in which the company struggled to integrate the Nextel assets after an ill-fated merger between the two wireless giants. The phasing out of iDEN is part of Sprint's larger Network … Read more

Kyocera's Smart Sonic Receiver arrives in Japan today

At this year's CTIA in New Orleans, which just wrapped up last week, Kyocera debuted its Tissue-Conduction Audio Technology for mobile devices.

Today, the company announced that two new handsets featuring this technology will debut in Japan starting today: the Kyocera Urbano Progresso and the Kyocera K012 Simple Mobile Phone.

The former is an Android 4.0 handset that comes in three colors, has a 4-inch OLED touch screen, and an 8.1-megapixel camera.

The K012, however, is designed for seniors or those who want a simple feature device. It is a standard flip-phone that has four color variations, … Read more

CNET's Best of CTIA 2012

NEW ORLEANS--After three furious days, CTIA 2012 has come to a close. Though a visit to the Crescent City always is enjoyable, this year's event was a little quieter than in past years. But that doesn't mean we didn't see some very cool stuff. Here's what the CNET team picked as the Best of CTIA 2012.

Best phone: Samsung Galaxy S III Samsung may have unveiled its Samsung Galaxy S III flagship phone days before CTIA 2012 kicked off, but CTIA was our first chance to handle it. And at the end of the day, the … Read more

Ultrabooks no longer ultra-pricey

In today's show, Google takes us for a spin, ultrabooks are no longer ultra-pricey, and the iPad isn't just for humans anymore:

Hewlett-Packard announced several new thin and light laptops under the Envy brand. Some are officially called ultrabooks, equiped with Intel's latest Ivy Bridge processors, while less-expensive ones are called sleekbooks. But regardless of the different labels, it means high-quality thin and light laptops are moving into the $600 to $700 price range. (There's even a rumor that the MacBook Air -- the computer that kickstarted the ultrabook craze -- will drop its price to $… Read more

Kyocera Rise hands-on: Let those fingers fly

NEW ORLEANS--For those whose hearts go aflutter and fingers go a-flying for QWERTY keyboards, Kyocera's newest Android Ice Cream Sandwich handset (yes, you read that right -- it has ICS), the Kyocera Rise, may be up your alley.

The phone manufacturer announced the handset at CTIA 2012. Along with the slide-out keyboard, it also sports a 3.5-inch LCD touch-screen display and a 1GHz Snapdragon processor.

In the rear is a 3.2-megapixel camera with LED flash. The 3G handset is also equipped with the Swype virtual keyboard and Bluetooth 2.1.

"We did a lot of consumer … Read more

Kyocera Hydro hands-on: Don't call it rugged

NEW ORLEANS -- Kyocera isn't a stranger to making water-resistant phones. Since 2008, the manufacturer has released 16 devices, all of which can withstand a good splash or two. Today, the manufacturer announced its newest addition to the lineup: The Kyocera Hydro.

Unlike the Kyocera DuraPlus, which is aimed for an enterprise demographic, the Hydro is made to please a wider audience.

The Hydro is a sleek handset that can not only withstand being sprayed with water, but it can also be submerged in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes. It's powered by a 1GHz … Read more