Nokia X2: Super

Nokia’s purloined the name of its new music phone from the superior second X-Men movie, but the X2’s conspicuously lacking in superpowers — it’s as simple as Cheryl Cole’s Bumper Book of Puzzles. A bog-standard candybar design and small 2.2-inch screen belie a surprisingly full set of music features, though. It has dedicated music keys …

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HTC Mozart Windows Phone 7 gives virtuoso video performance

You may be forgiven for thinking HTC only has eyes for Android — judging by the amount of buzz for the new Desires — but a new video shows us it hasn’t forgotten about poor lonely Windows Phone 7. A sneaky tipster gave WMPoweruser specifications and video (below) of a new model with the name HTC Mozart. Its specs sound …

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Dialed In 144: 4G at last! (podcast)

You may remember us lamenting the lack of 4G coverage here in San Francisco (and even inconsistent 3G coverage in some pockets), but all that changed when Nicole noticed the 4G WiMax indicator pop up on her Sprint Overdrive device. MetroPCS had its share of 4G news, too, this week, when it opened an LTE network in Las Vegas. This …

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Making Android phones is “like peeing yourself” says Nokia boss

Nokia boss Anssi Vanjoki may be halfway out of the door, but it’s clear he won’t be firing off a CV to Samsung, Motorola or HTC anytime soon. The frank Finn reckons manufacturers adopting Android are “peeing in their pants”. Vanjoki told the Financial Times that adopting Google’s mobile operating system is a short-term measure that will lead to problems …

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The Berenstain Bears visit the App Store

Having turned more than a dozen Dr. Seuss classics into e-book gold, Oceanhouse Media is heading to Bear Country. The Berenstain Bears and the Golden Rule, The Berenstain Bears Go To Sunday School, and The Berenstain Bears Say Their Prayers are now available in the App Store for an introductory price of $2.99 each. If you have kids, you probably …

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RIM BlackPad tablet could be unveiled next week, with completely new OS

A tablet from BlackBerry makers Research in Motion could be revealed as soon as next week, running on a completely new operating system. The bizarrely named ‘BlackPad’, as some RIM insiders have been calling it, will be out later in the year, the Wall Street Journal reports. The new tablet will run not on the new revamped BlackBerry 6 OS, …

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Google releases updated version of Gmail into Android Market

Updated Gmail interface Google Google released a new version of its Gmail application yesterday, splitting the e-mail client off from the Android platform. Much like it has already been doing with its Maps feature, the company now pushes out small enhancements and bug fixes independently, rather than waiting for the next release of Android. Among the notable changes in the …

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GPS update available for Samsung Captivate

As promised, a software update is now available to fix the GPS issues in the Samsung Captivate for AT&T. The update is being rolled out over the next few weeks and users will receive a notification when it’s ready for download. In addition to addressing the GPS performance, the update also offers other enhancements, including a full version of Quickoffice, …

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New Gmail app means improvements not tied to Android releases

Gmail is particularly well integrated on Android phones, but a new app should make it even better, updating your mail with new features without having to wait for full Android system updates. Previously you’d have to wait for an OS upgrade to get any Gmail improvements, but the standalone app means it now becomes independent from Android’s core functions. There’s …

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Sprint may consider usage

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.–Sprint Nextel has not ruled out a usage-based pricing model for its 4G wireless service, CEO Dan Hesse said Wednesday. Speaking at the Emerging Technology Conference hosted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology here, Hesse said the company, which offers an unlimited data plan for its 4G wireless service, may eventually need to go to a usage-based or tiered-service …

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Fuze Meeting probes iPad’s business chops

There may be a category of business apps on the iPad, but most people I’ve spoken with struggle to see how a tablet is currently relevant as a standalone business device the way that a laptop or even a smartphone is. Fuze Box (operated by CallWave) is attempting to bridge the gap with Fuze Meeting HD, a free audio conferencing …

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Sky 3D kick

Sky 3D, Europe’s first 3D TV channel, could be on its way to your local pub, just in time for the top-of-the-table Barclays Premier League clash between Manchester United and Chelsea. The broadcaster has announced the channel will launch on Saturday 3 April. If the thought of Wayne Rooney and John Terry in pointypointyvision scares the living bejeezus out of …

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3D TV face

If you’ve bought into the 3D hype, you might now be wondering which TV to buy with your hard-earned cash. Do you go for Panasonic’s superb, 50-inch, 1080p Viera TX-P50VT20B plasma TV? Or is Samsung’s stylish, 55-inch, 1080p, LED-edge-lit UE55C8000 LCD TV a better bet? Perhaps you’re wondering if Sony’s 46-inch, 1080p, LED-backlit Bravia KDL-46HX903 LCD TV beats both. To help you decide, we’ll look at …

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Panasonic Viera VT20, V20, S20 series: Freeview HD, 3D and LED

3D is here, after much hype and many headaches — not all caused by those glasses — and Panasonic has a TV ready to support its spangly new Blu-ray player. Not only that, but there are also a whole range of new TVs with LED backlighting, Freeview HD and smart networking. Even more exciting is new plasma technology, which Panasonic …

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