Smartphones

Android 2.1 coming to Sprint HTC Hero, Samsung Moment

On Thursday, Sprint revised a tweet it sent out last week regarding an Android update for the Samsung Moment and HTC Hero. Both smartphones won't be getting an Android 2.0 update; instead, they will get Android 2.1. (Pause for applause.)

The carrier made the announcement via its Twitter account, but unfortunately didn't provide any more specific details as to when the updates might be rolled out other than it would be sometime in the first half of 2010.

Currently, only the Nexus One is running Android 2.1. While features of this version of the operating … Read more

Palm releases Project Ares as public beta

On Thursday, Palm made its new browser-based mobile development platform available to all developers as a public beta. Dubbed Project Ares, developers can now create programs for Palm WebOS simply by firing up their browser (Firefox, Safari, and Chrome are supported) and signing into their account where they will then have access to all the tools they need to build apps.

Project Ares includes such features as:

Drag-and-drop interface builder, code editor, visual debugger, and log viewer Access to full library of Mojo UI widgets Push-button project and scene creation Drag-and-drop file upload SMS and MMS messaging delivery is improved … Read more

The 20 most notable tech products of 2009

We've been doing a lot of end-of-the year lists here at CNET as our editors round up the most popular and best products in their categories. That's all great, but then someone said, "Hey, why don't we do a list that's a best-of-the-best list of all the lists combined?"

Well, that's what I was tasked with, but instead of calling it the "Best products of 2009" or the "Most popular products of 2009," I've come up with "The most notable products of 2009," which I like … Read more

iPhone Navigon gets more features, reduced price

If you haven't purchased a GPS app for your iPhone 3G(S), now's a great time to do it. Wednesday, TomTom slashed the price of its app to just $50, and today Navigon followed suite with a price reduction and more.

The company released the fourth major upgrade to its iPhone navigation app, the MobileNavigator. Version 1.3 added essential features such as Live Traffic; version 1.4 adds features that, though not essential, significantly enhance the navigation experience with the app.

Among the new features, my favorites are the Audiobook Mode, Direct Help, and Coordinates. I tried … Read more

Five seriously fun photo apps for your iPhone

The iPhone may not have the world's best camera, but when it comes to having fun with photos, there's no better device.

The App Store offers countless apps devoted to tweaking, morphing, framing, sharing, or just generally improving your snapshots. I've rounded up five I think any iPhone owner will enjoy.

1. Framed You know those novelty "Wanted" posters you can have made up at state fairs and carnivals? Framed (99 cents) lets you paste photos onto posters, milk cartons, album covers, and about 30 other nifty scenes. You can then share the results via e-mail or post them straight to Facebook. Try the free Lite version before you buy, and check out the similar freebie Photofunia as well.

2. Gorillacam This isn't so much about photo fun as it is photo convenience. Gorillacam serves up a self-timer, a time-lapse option, 3-shot burst mode, a bubble level, and a full-screen shutter--same as many other apps, but this one's free and refreshingly easy to use.… Read more

Dialed In Podcast 108: The Google Phone lives

Well, well, would you look at that? The Google Phone is real. On this week's episode of Dialed In, we interrogate producer Jason Howell, who was one of the first people to see the Nexus One phone in person. Plus, we wrap up this year's reviews and give you a preview of what we expect to see at CES 2010.

Also, just a reminder: This is the last episode of the year, but we'll be back on Thursday, January 7, at 5:15 p.m. PT/8:15 p.m. ET, broadcasting live from Las Vegas at … Read more

Hands-on: Bing for iPhone

Snigger as you will over Microsoft's decision to call Bing, its overhauled search engine, a "decision engine," but those giggles should dissolve when you start up Microsoft's brand-new Bing for iPhone (and iPod Touch). As a search app goes, Bing, which debuted Tuesday in the iTunes App Store, is the real thing.

The Bing app has a slew of expected features, including voice search, maps, directions, search suggestions, and location-awareness. That's no surprise. Besides these being features common to Bing.com and to the Bing application on other mobile platforms, they're also necessary to … Read more

Best smartphones of 2009

It's hard to believe, but the year is quickly ending and 2010 will be here before you know it. However, before we shut the door on 2009, we thought it be nice to look back on the year and highlight some of our favorite tech gadgets. It's been a particularly good year for smartphone lovers as numerous models debuted in the past 12 months, and not all were just next-generation models of previous devices--some were real game-changers.

In the collection below, you'll find our picks for best smartphones of 2009. Different from our most popular list, we … Read more

Digital City 62: Mario's pizza place and the solid gold PS3

On this week's Digital City, we discuss Google's rumored new phone; get to the bottom of the current iMac shipping delays, and go over the best games you can play on a Netbook (all after Dan had to get up at 5am to shoot a local news TV segment on his favorite holiday games).

Then, things take a turn for the weird with a solid gold PlayStation 3, rumored to be under Jay-Z's Xmas tree; and a surprising NYC find -- a Mario-themed pizza place that is calling out for a visit from the ghost of intellectual … Read more