Gingerbread

It looks like the Samsung Galaxy Mini S5570 might soon be getting a low-end sibling.

The Samsung Galaxy Mini 2 S6500--codenamed Jenna--could make its debut at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona later this month, according to a leaked promotional image sent to GSMArena. The specs attached to the image shows some improvements over the original; the new device sports a bigger, 3.3-inch screen with higher resolution, a faster 800MHz processor, and 3GB of storage.

Along with rounded corners, the device will feature the same 3MP camera and 7.2 Mbps HSDPA connectivity as its predecessor. Another throwback is … Read more

We've all been there: you give your number to someone who has no idea when to quit calling you. It might be someone who wants to sell you a new car, smartphone, or even some home improvements. Perhaps it's a disgruntled ex who just can't let go. 

Whomever it is, there's a way to bring back the silence you once enjoyed in the absence of their calls.

Step 1: Open the contact info for the person you want to send directly to voice mail.

Step 2: Press the Menu … Read more

Surfers, snowboaders, skaters, and action sports enthusiasts everywhere, there's finally a smartphone just for you.

Sony has partnered up with action sportswear company Billabong to release a special edition model of the Xperia Active. The Billabong Edition features a special back cover and comes preloaded with exclusive screensavers, videos, and a Billabong Live app, which offers live streaming, as well as photos and news, of the company's surf contests. In addition, you get a copy of the Billabong Surf Trip game.

Like the regular Xperia Active, the Billabong Edition has a dust-proof and water-resistant design with a 3-inch, … Read more

The right price can paper over many a flaw.

That seems to be the case for the Huawei Ascend II, a recent addition for U.S. Cellular (and a phone that Cricket has had for some time.)

Thanks to Android 2.3 Gingerbread, the Ascend II can perform all the basics with communication, connectivity, and downloading apps. Unfortunately, weaker internal features like a laggy 600MHz processor and a camera without autofocus make the Ascend II hard to recommend for anyone but the newest smartphone user.

Or the most budget-conscious. The Ascend II costs only one penny with a two-year contract, … Read more

If you don't mind a slab of a phone that really does resemble a king-size candy bar, then feast your eyes on the LG Spectrum.

If the clean lines and checkered back cover don't win you over, then perhaps the 4.5-inch screen, Verizon's LTE speeds, and 720p HD display will.

LG doesn't stop there, either. The 8-megapixel camera/camcorder can shoot video in 1080p HD, and LG and Verizon have preloaded a trio of HD apps that optimize high-definition video playback.

The Spectrum isn't immune to flaws, though, and the handset is seeing fierce … Read more

Say hello to the white Sony Walkman Z.

Chances are slim we will see this device stateside, but the faithful Sony enthusiasts in Japan get a special 64GB platinum white version (NW-Z1070/W) on February 17. Japan already has access to the regular purple and red 64GB Walkman Z versions as well. A description of the color on Sony's Web site says this special Walkman shines like a pearl and is easier to wipe clean. It also carries a hefty 45,800 yen price tag (about $533).

The Android-equipped Sony Walkman Z arrives in the U.S. around March, but Sony is only playing a conservative lineup with capacities ranging up to just 32GB.

Does Sony have what it takes to pull off an Android media consumption device and audio powerhouse? CNET Senior Editor Donald Bell answers these questions and more in his full review of the Sony Walkman Z. … Read more

Score one for Cricket, whose Huawei Mercury is arguably the most feature-rich phone in its lineup.

I say "arguably" because the Android 2.3 Gingerbread smartphone lacks Muve Music, the all-you-can-download music portion of the unlimited voice and data plan for select Cricket handsets, such as the Samsung Vitality.

Muve would be the icing on the cake, but if you're no audiophile, the Mercury is absolutely a phone that Cricket fans should eye.… Read more

Looks like LG is having another go at making a 3D phone. The follow-up to last year's Optimus 3D has leaked online and is set to offer another round of glasses-free three-dimensional kicks.

Pocketnow has acquired leaked images of the new phone (reportedly code-named the CX2), as well as a selection of specs. The exciting news is that the Optimus 3D 2 will reportedly be able to convert 2D material into 3D before firing it out of its 4.3-inch display, and into your eyes.

We have to admit, when we've seen 2D-to-3D conversion before (in 3D televisions, for example), it's never wound up looking particularly good. We'll reserve judgement until we've laid eyes on this phone for ourselves though.

Read more of "LG Optimus 3D 2 is a second stab at the third dimension" at Crave UK. … Read more

Mere weeks after announcing that Android 3.2 is being deployed to the 7-inch Flyer tablet, HTC could be readying a 4.0 update.

According to HTC-Hub, the hardware maker expects to roll out the Ice Cream Sandwich update during the first quarter of the year. If the rumor proves to be true, this may be one of the fastest back-to-back updates in Android history.

The rumors of a 4.0 update got started when a member of the blog spoke to an online HTC customer service representative about some lingering issues that the 3.2 update brought to the … Read more