As I read the criticism of Google and Verizon’s supposed evil plan to demolish the Internet, and as I hear about “protests” of several dozen people at Google’s headquarters, I scratch my head and wonder: am I missing something? The Google-Verizon Net neutrality proposal I read last week doesn’t sound nearly as apocalyptic as Free …

Welcome to the 411, my column answering all your questions about cell phones and cell phone accessories. I receive plenty of questions about these subjects via e-mail, so I figured many of you might have similar queries, too. At times, I might solicit answers from readers if I’m stumped. Send your questions and comments to me at [email protected]. If you …

If you have vivid memories of heading down to the arcade to get in a few hours of pinball after school before dinner, Pinball HD for iPhone ($1.99) and iPad ($2.99) is your 2010 tech toy equivalent. The basics for any good iOS game are all there–great graphics, smooth and addicting gameplay, and easy controls. Pinball HD does all three …

Will they stay or will they go? That’s the big question AT&T executives are likely asking themselves about the millions of iPhone customers who may consider leaving the operator once the popular smartphone is offered on other carrier networks in the U.S. While AT&T has not said when its exclusive deal for the iPhone ends, the company has been preparing …

Verizon Communications has demonstrated in a real-world field test that its Fios all-fiber broadband network can deliver speeds topping out at 1Gbps. The company said in a press release Monday that it had successfully tested the 1Gbps service in June connecting an existing Fios business customer to its local facilities in Taunton, Mass. Verizon said it tested the speed of …

The WiMax 2 high-speed wireless technology, which is expected to boost download speeds for mobile devices, is set to become a standard by early next year, according to an industry group. On Monday, the WiMax Forum said that 802.16m, the key technology within WiMax 2, is expected to be standardized by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in …

Samsung Epic 4G (photos) +6 more See all photos Out of all the Samsung Galaxy S series of handsets, the one that seems to have the most features is the Samsung Epic 4G. While all of the Galaxy S phones have a 4-inch Super AMOLED display, the new Samsung TouchWiz 3.0 interface, a 1GHz Hummingbird Cortex A8 processor, and access …

HTC has started sending out invitations to a London event for 15 September, and it may prove to be Android related. So, what has HTC dreamt up? (Credit: Engadget) The handset maker isn’t saying anything about what to expect next month, but it is hinting at things to come with a teaser that reads “Come see what HTC has dreamt …

BlackBerry maker Research In Motion has offered the Indian government information and tools to help government agencies monitor communications sent via the BlackBerry’s email and messaging services, The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday. The Journal said that according to the minutes of a July 26 meeting between RIM and government officials–part of an ongoing series of negotiations–the company said it …

In a wise move to keep Android devices ahead of the curve in terms of features, Google has released Voice Actions. The free app, which requires Android 2.2 (Froyo) and higher, is pretty simple: it let’s you speak several handy commands that access various features on your phone. Simply stating a word automatically launches a Web search, or you can …

Earlier this week, we reported that Samsung promised a fix for the GPS problems plaguing its Samsung Vibrant and Captivate Galaxy S models, but at the time, we didn’t know when it would release the update. However, on Friday afternoon, Samsung sent out a tweet saying that it’s currently testing software and expects to release something in September. The company …

HTC has started sending out invitations to a London event for September 15, and it may prove to be Android related. The handset maker isn’t saying anything about what to expect next month, but it is hinting at things to come with a teaser that reads “Come see what HTC has dreamt up.” At first glance, the accompanying image shows …

Standalone GPS navigators are pretty cheap these days, but when it comes to getting the most bang for the buck, it’s hard to beat an app-equipped iPhone. One of the most popular navigation apps for the iPhone, Navigon’s MobileNavigator North America, normally sells for $79.99, but in honor of the company’s first-year App Store anniversary, it’s on sale for $39.99. …

RIM will launch a new version of its popular BlackBerry Curve smart phone this month — the BlackBerry Curve 3G 9300 — as it returns to the large screen and full Qwerty keyboard design that’s served it so well. While the BlackBerry Torch showcased new touchscreen capabilities hiding a Qwerty keyboard underneath, Palm Pre-style, the new Curve 3G offers 3G …

There’s been a lot of talk recently about mobile payment, from casual money transfers over PayPal mobile apps to using a mobile phone to physically kick-start a payment, as we observed during our  field test with the Bling Nation tag. These examples both fall under the category of mobile payments, but their technology differs as much as their goal. Four …