android

U.S. Cellular to offer LG Apex, Samsung Galaxy Tab on November 19

U.S. Cellular today announced its fourth Android-based smartphone, the LG Apex, for a November 19 release. After last month's Samsung Mesmerize, the Apex uses Android 2.1 and carries a price tag of $79.99 after an $80 mail-in rebate.

Unlike the Galaxy S Mesmermize, however, the hardware details for the LG Apex indicate an entry-level device with a 3.2-inch touch screen, sliding QWERTY keyboard, and 3-megapixel camera. The smartphone should pair well with the new Primary Plus Plan.

As handset makers continue to push the envelope with cutting-edge technology and high-end hardware, phones like the Apex … Read more

Revenue growth and browser squabbles

In this economy, it's always nice to hear some good news. Mozilla brought that in the form of its 2009 financial reports. The company saw its 2009 revenue increase 34 percent to $104 million, up from $78 million the year before. This is at least partially thanks to a mutually beneficial search-ad partnership with Google.

All is not sunshine and roses in the browser world, however. Microsoft's latest iteration of IE 9 has triggered some speed-test squabbles between developers. The seventh IE version beats rivals on the SunSpider benchmark. But Microsoft doesn't like the test, and Mozilla … Read more

LG Star could be first Android phone with dual-core Tegra 2

Handset manufacturer LG appears on the verge of releasing a super phone of its own in the United States. According to Engadget, the Star is poised to become the first dual-core Android phone to feature Nvidia's Tegra 2 chipset.

Other details include the capability to record 1080p high definition with an 8-megapixel camera, a second front-facing camera, and what looks to be a 4-inch display. Rumor has it the phone will run a stock Android 2.3 Gingerbread experience when it's released in early 2011. So when in 2011, you ask? Well, CES is right around the corner, … Read more

Google's Schmidt teases new Android phone

SAN FRANCISCO--Google plans to support Android phones with near-field communications chips in the next version of Android, which CEO Eric Schmidt said today would arrive in the next few weeks.

Schmidt, kicking off the Web 2.0 Summit at the Palace Hotel here in downtown San Francisco, held up an "unannounced product" that appeared to be the Nexus S, which leaked out on Best Buy's Web site last week. The phone--Google unhelpfully covered over the brand label--was running Android 2.3, code-named Gingerbread and used a near-field communications chip that Schmidt thinks could eventually replace credit cards.… Read more

CNET TV Apple Byte: iPhone 4 slide case controversy

This week, Apple is looking up at Android's popularity, the iPad gets its first real competitor in the form of the Samsung Galaxy Tab, and iPhone slider cases are causing scratches on iPhone 4. Also, Sprint releases an iPhone 4 case that brings 4G service to iOS, Hitachi is working on a touch screen for use with gloves, and the MacBook Air is top-rated by Consumer Reports.

On an iOS device? View the Apple Byte

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AT&T offically prices Galaxy Tab

The Samsung Galaxy Tab Android tablet will make its way to AT&T November 21, priced at $649.

If you've been following the Tab's prolonged multicarrier roll-out this month, you're probably wondering why AT&T has priced the Tab at a $50 premium over its competitors Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon.

One answer is that AT&T is using the same flexible, pay-as-you-go data plans pioneered on the iPad, priced at $14.99 (250MB/month) and $25 (2GB/month). If you plan on mostly leaning on the Tab's Wi-Fi capabilities, having the option of … Read more

Taking a peek at Samsung's early 2011 Android plans

Last week, Engadget posted photos of another Samsung Android handset, and quite a promising one at that. Listed without a codename, the device should be a flagship phone due in February of next year.

Although images appear to be mock ups hastily thrown together for the sake of presentation, it's the rumored hardware that I'll focus on. The slides show the smartphone as having either a 4.3-inch or 4.5-inch "sAMOLED2" touch display. I don't know about you, but I love the idea of Samsung releasing a phone with a screen size that rivals … Read more

LG Vortex lands at Verizon Wireless

As Verizon has been known to do, the carrier is ramping up its handset offerings for the holiday shopping season, and the latest smartphone to join the fray is the LG Vortex.

Available starting November 18 for $79.99 with a two-year contract and after a $100 mail-in rebate, the Vortex is designed for first-time smartphone buyers. It will ship running Android 2.2 and features a 3.2-inch touch screen with the option of five or seven customizable home screens.

The smartphone also has a 3.2-megapixel camera and the full gamut of wireless options--Bluetooth 2.1, Wi-Fi, and … Read more

Sencha's Web-app tools reach mobile browsers

Sencha, a start-up trying to make a business out of open-source tools for building Web applications, has begun an important new phase of its business with its first foray into the hot mobile browser market.

The new Sencha Touch 1.0 software is a JavaScript programming framework out of which mobile Web apps can be built. It joins the company's earlier products, the Ext JS and Ext GWT frameworks and the Ext Designer developer tool.

The tools are designed for those who need to build user interfaces out of dialog boxes, pop-up windows, sliders, charts, check-boxes, and all the … Read more