Desi-i-i-i-re, as U2 might put it. The recently spotted HTC Proto prototype is reported to be heading for shops as the HTC Desire X (pictured left), named after not one but two phenomenally successful phones — the HTC One X and the original HTC Desire. Taiwanese retailer ePrice reveals the suspected specs, which suggest the …

MetroPCS has released its second 4G LTE Android smartphone in as many weeks, today announcing the Coolpad Quattro 4G. The $150 handset runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread and can be paired with the carrier’s new $55/month rate plan. Specifications for the Coolpad Quattro 4G include a 4-inch display, 1GHz processor, 3.2-megapixel rear camera, VGA front-facing camera, and 4G LTE support. Nothing …

A new photo purporting to show the iPhone 5‘s internal gubbins has appeared, showing off a mysterious component that could be key to buying sandwiches using your smart phone. The squarish component in the image, which surfaced on Chinese site Apple.pro and was spied by AppleInsider, is thought to be an NFC chip, which would let you make payments using your phone, …

Samsung will appeal the court ruling that said it copied Apple’s smart phone and tablet designs, the BBC reports. A San Jose court ruled on Friday that the Korean company was guilty of patent infringement, and ordered it to pay Apple more than $1bn in damages. Samsung will be hoping to reverse the decision, or at least bring down its …

The verdict is in, and so are the reactions from both Apple and Samsung. Apple is understandably chuffed at being awarded more than $1bn from its arch rival, but insists this is more about values than the money. Samsung, meanwhile, isn’t best pleased, and says the verdict will hurt the consumer in the end. We’ve got both statements in full …

Verizon appears to be following up the entry-level Pantech Marauder with yet another smartphone aimed at first-time Android adopters. Android blog Droid Life recently caught wind of a Samsung model, which could be a similar offering only from a bigger brand. Details of the Samsung Galaxy Stellar 4G are scarce at this point but it will should run for $99 …

Samsung management told the company’s employees that it will eventually be vindicated in its fight with Apple. The company claims in the memo, which was sent to all employees, that it wanted “to negotiate with Apple” rather than head to court, but the iPhone maker balked. Now that it’s facing a more than $1 billion payout, Samsung told employees that …

Samsung, aiming to find a silver lining in its devastating court loss to Apple, has asked a court to remove its previously ordered sales ban on the Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet. The company yesterday filed that motion with a federal court in San Jose, according to Bloomberg, which obtained the court documents. The company cited Friday’s landmark ruling, in which …

The new school year can be hectic enough. So I figured that I would round up some useful smartphone apps for students trying to survive their first few days back at school. While I assume this column will be read by college students starting a new semester or quarter, I can only imagine younger kids and parents can find some …

Google has delivered its Nexus 7 tablet to more European countries. The company revealed today that the Nexus 7 is now available in France, Germany, and Spain. The device, which includes a 7-inch display and runs Google’s Android platform, is already available in a host of countries, including the U.S., U.K., and Canada. The 8GB Nexus 7 is available for …

LG has officially unveiled its next Optimus-branded phone, a handset with attention-grabbing specifications. (Credit: LG) The new Optimus G will run on Android Ice Cream Sandwich when it launches, and is powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor and — wait for it — 2GB of RAM. It also packs in a new Adreno 320 graphics processor, which has …

SHENZHEN, China –Chen Lifang is a bit flummoxed. Chen is a board member and senior vice president at Huawei, the giant telecommunications gear maker based here. She’s digesting news that broke a day earlier that the U.S. House Intelligence Committee has increased the pressure it’s putting on the company to disclose details about its ties to the Chinese government. The …

The midrange Android handset known as the HTC Proto should soon go by another name, the HTC Desire X, according to a handful of online retailers that are surfacing placeholder Web pages for the device. Swedish site Technytt spotted the listings on four online retailers, including three Swedish sites and one Norwegian retailer: ClickOK, Elgiganten Business, Elkjop Business, and Multitech. …

Leaked price plans for RadioShack’s rumored foray into no contract wireless plans show smartphone plans starting at $50 for 3G service, Engaget posted today. The gadget-focused blog posted rumors last weekthat RadioShack was getting into the no contract business with Cricket providing the service. Cricket offers similar no-contract service at other retailers, but according to the previously leaked memo, RadioShack’s …

Your iPhone may be getting more and more wireless, what with iCloud and Wi-Fi syncing and all, but there are times when it’s nice to have a dock. Of course, most docks are little more than stands, offering few, if any, features beyond charging and syncing. Enter the Foundation Dock, a Kickstarter project that’s arguably the most versatile iPhone dock …