Smartphones

T-Mobile adds second Android app purchase option

As promised, T-Mobile last night began rolling out a new billing option for Google Android users.

Customers of the nation's largest Android carrier now have an option to charge Android Market purchases directly to their monthly bills and bypass their credit cards and Google Checkout accounts. T-Mobile is the first carrier to offer a billing alternative, though Sprint has also committed to making a similar move.

As the update is considered "invisible," T-Mobile customers will not receive any notifications of a pending software update. Rather, you can access the new billing option by logging into the Android … Read more

Nio prevents lost or stolen phones, laptops, kids

In addition to letting loose a string of expletives, those who have lost a phone or been a victim of phone thievery have probably reacted with the following: "Nooooo! My contacts!"

Mobile innovator Tenbu Technologies has come up with Nio, a Bluetooth security tag that links to any of your belongings. If your laptop, phone, keys, or even child move out of range, an alarm sounds.

The gadget has the potential to save your items and the valuable information they carry, like contacts.

How exactly does it work? Attach Nio to your keys, laptop bag, or other belonging … Read more

You got a Motorola Droid. Now what?

We don't think it's too much of a stretch to say that the Motorola Droid was the hottest Android phone to be released in 2009. Of course, the Verizon Wireless ads attacking AT&T and the Apple iPhone did a lot to bring attention to the smartphone, but it wasn't all hype. The smartphone delivered with excellent performance, an attention-grabbing 3.7-inch WVGA touch screen, and the benefits of Android 2.0, including Google Maps Navigation.

With the combination of clever marketing and just being a solid device all around, the Droid has quickly become one … Read more

Verizon pushes out update for Droid Eris

Verizon announced on Thursday that it has begun pushing out a software update to HTC Droid Eris users.

Like the upgrade for the Motorola Droid, the over-the-air update (specifically, ROM version 1.16.605.1/Radio version 2.32.40.11.09) will be delivered to small group of customers first and then slowly rolled out to everyone within a week. Users will receive a notification on their smartphone alerting them when the update is ready for download.

Highlights of the update include:

While on a call and the device is in screensaver mode, pressing the End key now takes … Read more

Skyfire mobile browser gets full-screen mode, Flash 10

The Skyfire mobile browser has gone through some dramatic design changes in the last year. The most recent version released on Wednesday continues to adjust Skyfire's visual composition--as well as its guts and performance--on Windows Mobile touch-screen and standard phones.

The changes to the navigation menu was the first thing we noticed when we booted up Skyfire 1.5 on an HTC Touch Diamond 2. Skyfire has replaced the Menu key and back button navigation with gray, balloon-like buttons that strike us as a hybrid of Opera Mobile browser and Internet Explorer Mobile. The back arrow, Home screen button, … Read more

Check your wireless coverage on CNET

When they're not asking about the best cell phone for their needs, CNET readers are inquiring about which carrier has the best coverage in their area. It's a great question, and a very relevant one, but answering it always has been tricky. Because CNET doesn't have the resources to accurately test wireless coverage across the United States, I've suggested that readers ask their neighbors to share their carrier experiences. While that is good advice--personal stories can be very helpful in making a decision--we couldn't offer hard data. That is, until now.

Over the past year CNET has been hard at work creating a better solution. In doing so, we've teamed with Root Wireless to create a powerful tool for determining the best carrier for your neighborhood, commute, or workplace. Next time when you're shopping for a new mobile phone or considering switching to a new carrier, we hope we can help.… Read more

How to fit a pharmacist in your pocket

If you're the kind of person who feels bewildered in a pharmacy, here's a free app to test drive.

Evincii's new Pickka Med app is designed to function like an "expert pharmacist in your pocket," where people are able not only to search by phone for the best over-the-counter FDA-approved medicine in any given participating pharmacy but in the process avoid touching all the germ-addled bottles lining the shelves of the one place where sick people invariably shop.

Previously, Silicon Valley-based Evincii installed kiosks at hundreds of retail stores, providing guided-search technology to help shoppers … Read more

Top 10 most popular cell phones of 2009

A ton of cell phones and smartphones are released in a year's time. Trust us, we've seen most all of them. However, not all handsets are created equal and some are more popular than others. If you're curious to see which handsets people are clamoring for, well you're in luck. We've compiled a list of the top 10 popular cell phones and smartphones for 2009 and put them into a pretty slideshow for your viewing pleasure.

As you peruse the gallery, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. First, the list is … Read more

Download BlackBerry themes in App World

Starting Monday, BlackBerry devotees will have an easier time snazzing up their smartphones.

Themes are a new download category in the BlackBerry App World, both on the online catalog and on the App World app you can download to the BlackBerry. There were just shy of 150 free and premium visual themes at launch, including animated themes.

App World took a few extra seconds to update when we launched it this morning to check out the offerings. Otherwise, the minor application update was a smooth transition.