Smartphones are hot, but it’s the mobile applications that make the devices so appealing to wireless subscribers. Discovering new applications and figuring out which ones to use are not as easy as it sounds. A couple of readers have asked questions for help. And I’ve enlisted the help of CNET mobile-app expert, Jessica Dolcourt to …
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July, 2010
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23 July
The Xperia X10’s offspring
Though I’m never one to reject a big smartphone, I realize that some users prefer the same power in a smaller size. Fortunately, Sony Ericsson has realized that, too. Five months ago at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, Sony Ericsson unveiled smaller alternatives to the beefy Xperia X10. The Android-powered Xperia X10 Mini and Xperia X10 Mini Pro stood …
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23 July
Apple’s free bumpers: There’s an app for that
As most people in the known universe are aware, Apple recently announced plans to give a free case to any iPhone 4 user who requests one (and to refund the purchase price to those who already bought one–a process that is apparently now under way). What we didn’t know until today was how Apple planned to handle the giveaway. Would …
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23 July
Samsung Epic 4G clears FCC
The Samsung Epic 4G for Sprint is the carrier’s second 4G handset. Sarah Tew/CNET Forgive us for not posting this blog lately, as we’ve been a little busy with a certain Apple handset. But this is a good week to be back, since a selection of notable handsets passed through the gates of the Federal Communications Commission. Not only did …
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23 July
Verizon beats estimates, still posts slight losses
Employee reductions have once again hit Verizon Communications’ earnings. The telecommunications giant reported Friday a loss of 7 cents per share related in part to $2.3 billion in pre-tax costs related to “incentive” packages for what it dubbed 11,000 “voluntary workforce reductions” this year. Excluding those costs, second-quarter profits were 58 cents per share, beating Wall Street’s estimates of 56 …
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22 July
Acer Stream: Android in the Stream, that is what we are
The Acer Stream is a new Android-powered multimedia mobile rocking a giant screen and social-network integration. Acer unveiled the brand-new smart phone amid a flurry of announcements today. A new 3D front end has been plastered over Android 2.1, including a peeling gesture to unlock the phone, three types of predictive keyboard and a smart dialler. The redesigned contacts list …
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22 July
Updated Google Voice dials faster on Android, BlackBerry
Not all smartphone apps for the Google Voice service are created equal, as we discovered back in September, 2009, when we put each through its paces on iPhone, BlackBerry, and Android phones. On Thursday, Google updated its Google Voice apps for Android–our hands-down winner–and BlackBerry, the runner up. (If you must know, we declared the iPhone experience to be “a …
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22 July
Unofficial Android 2.1 for Motorola Cliq sneaks out
The last we heard, Motorola was still testing its Android 2.1 operating system upgrade for the T-Mobile Cliq. Originally scheduled to be released last quarter, Motorola pushed the update back to a rumored August debut. So with July passing quickly, it makes sense then that a leaked version of the ROM has made its way online. Engadget Mobile loaded the …
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22 July
BlackBerry Desktop Software for OS 6 now in beta
With international ad campaigns, a second “sneak peek” video of its forthcoming BlackBerry OS 6, and several new services–like BlackBerry Protect–BlackBerry-maker RIM has been keeping our attention. The company’s latest is the release of BlackBerry Desktop Manager 6 in a limited beta for Windows computers. RIM hasn’t shared many details about how many beta invitations it’s giving away for the …
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22 July
40 percent of Android users stuck in early OS versions
Unless you’re an Android developer deciding your next strategic programming move, chances are your brain isn’t attuned to the distribution of operating systems among all Android smartphone owners. However, Google’s periodic pie charts and stacked line graphs reveal some interesting data nuggets, at least for Android fanatics. According to data collected from July 1 to July 15, just about 60 …
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