Smartphones

On Call runs every two weeks, alternating between answering reader questions and discussing hot topics in the cell phone world.

It wasn't so long ago that the cell phone world was just transitioning to 3G technology. But now, just as we're getting settled, the ever-restless industry is moving on again. Fourth-generation technology, or 4G, is gaining traction and carriers are promising even faster data speeds.

So what is 4G? To start, think of wireless technology as a family that gets faster with each generation. Second-generation (2G) networks were faster than the original first-generation wireless technology; third-generation (3G) is faster than 2G; and 4G is faster than 3G. Speed is important for data transmission (not so much for voice) because a faster network lets you do more with your phone. The 3G networks that we use today allow us to stream video, download music tracks and other large files, and surf the Web on full HTML browsers. Think of it like moving from a dial-up Internet connection to cable or DSL--suddenly you could do more with your computer and do it faster.

That's why it's easiest to think of 4G not in terms of what it is, but rather in terms of what it can do. While 3G offers data speeds of about 1.5 to 2 megabits per second (Mbps), 4G will double that--and it could go even faster. It's important to remember, however, that promises are just that. As any iPhone user can tell you, 3G speeds can vary widely in everyday use, so 4G performance won't always be perfect.… Read more

Fair warning: reading the title of today's show should be an easy goal to achieve, but this morning's 404 podcast preshow had us all so shaken up we skipped the entire intro altogether. Three grown men squealing about creepy crawlers is a pathetic sight to see, but luckily Mark Licea hops into the studio and gently ushers us back into adulthood. And while we're on the subject of adults, don't fast-forward through our story about a surprisingly coherent drunk e-mail we received from Molly Wood last night. Got a funny drunk text story? Leave us a voicemail at 1-866-404-CNET and tell us about it!

One week ago, Sarah Killen's life painted a picture of the typical Twitter user: a couple of mundane posts a day about morning coffee, Oscar commentary, and her love for peanut butter and gummy dinosaurs. All that changed last Friday when she became the first person to get "followed" by former "Tonight Show" host Conan O'Brien. Conan has more than a half million followers but never followed anyone back; so how did the Lovely Button catch his eye? And how many gummy dinosaurs do we have to eat before we get some love?

We've all eaten our fair share of trashy food, but swallowing a whole USB key might be a little challenging. Florin Necula got into some trouble with the Secret Service, who suspected him of using card readers to steal money from ATM machines. When confronted about the crimes, Florin had no choice but to consume his Kingston USB flash drive that contained incriminating evidence against him. Even more miraculous is that the feds were able to extract the key from his body, intact and still readable! We have our suggestions for what he should have done with the stick, but maybe we'll save that for Thursday.

Plenty of owl-related voice mails as well as a quick discussion on the future of 3D in the home on today's episode of CNET's The 404 Podcast. Thanks for listening!

CNET readers often ask us just how the Google Android operating system compares with the iPhone's OS. And with good reason, for Android has grown into a formidable player in the smartphone world. Of course, Android is different than the iPhone, but variety is nothing to fear. Android may lack some of the Apple handset's glamour, but the OS and its gallery of handsets offer a lot to like. And if anyone ever tells you that the iPhone is always superior to Android, you really should listen no further. The little green guy beats the iPhone in quite … Read more

In the land of iPhone clones, the Duet W002 is the "cloniest" we've seen. Not only is it the same general shape as the iPhone, but also its menu design, even down to the icons, is a rip-off of Apple's device. In this case, imitation is not the sincerest form of flattery. Emulating and building on someone else's successes is one thing, but it's quite another to offer no ideas of your own.

Like the Duet D888 and D8, the W002 has two SIM card slots, yet that remains its sole highlight. Average performance … Read more

With no disrespect to HTC, Samsung, or Motorola, it's nice to see an Android phone from someone new. Not that the former three don't make great devices; it's quite the opposite. It's just nice to see a fresh face in the crowd every once in a while, and in this instance, that face is Acer.

The Acer Liquid is the company's first Android smartphone, and it's currently only available overseas and will be heading to Canada via Rogers Wireless this spring. The chance of it coming to the U.S. is pretty slim, but … Read more

Here's a feature you'll like for capturing screenshots on your iPhone. You can use it to capture displayed error messages, images, or practically anything you see on your iPhone's screen.

Simply press the Home and Sleep/Wake buttons simultaneously and immediately release them. The screen will momentarily flash, and the iPhone's current screen contents will be saved to your Camera Roll.

Even more interesting is the fact that when the app or screen you are in supports the zoom feature you can simply zoom to the desired depth, then trigger a screen snapshot using the same … Read more

Last week, I was having a laugh at Geekonomics blogger Nicholas Khoo's iPhone accessories. On the phone's display was a mirror finish screen overlay, and protecting the chassis was a bulky rubbery case with a reflective back. We joked about how he could use it as a mirror signal on a deserted island to attract passing ships and how its bulk would allow it to be used as a defensive weapon. A day later, I was presented with the above specimen, a dropped iPhone with a cracked screen--yes, it was carried around without any protection. I can just … Read more

Besides good call quality, a long battery life is the most important quality a cell phone can have. After all, if you have to carry around your charger for frequent power sessions, it really defeats the purpose of a "mobile" device. Fortunately, CNET tests the talk time battery life of every cell phone that we review. And for higher-end phones we also test features like the music player battery life and video time. For more on that process, check out our video of how we test phones.

Below you'll find a selection of recent models that deliver … Read more

Vlingo is an app that's been around awhile in the mobile space, but a new version for iPhone is causing some uproar. With Vlingo for iPhone 2.0, the company commits the sin of opacity by updating its rather good voice search and dialing application to version 2.0 without making it clear that you can only unlock the intriguing new features with your wallet.

Those familiar with Vlingo's BlackBerry app won't be surprised. There was an equal outcry when Vlingo introduced premium features for the first time, including switching a feature that had once been free … Read more