July, 2010

• 9 July

  Fring steps up to FaceTime with two

  

  Ever since June, when we learned of FaceTime, Apple’s two-way video-calling feature for the iPhone 4, we’ve been waiting for Fring to make its competitive move–especially since Fring announced its intention to release the very same features last March. Since Fring, the joint VoIP-and-multinetwork IM client, was still offering only one-way video calls when we …

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• 9 July

  Minor software update for Backflip now available

  

  Motorola issued a software update to AT&T’s Backflip this week to address the touch screen, messaging, Bluetooth, and more. Very similar to the Cliq update from a few months back, it’s a minor release designed to improve the phone’s overall performance. Among the changes customers should notice are improvements to battery life, text messaging, device stability, and 3G connections. Other, …

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• 9 July

  3D TV on Freeview in time for the Olympics? Not as implausible as it sounds

  

  The BBC wants to film the 2012 Olympics in 3D — thrilling news for sport fans, no doubt, but to do that, it would need to support all the platforms its TV is shown on, not just Sky and Virgin. Freeview offers the most challenges, but transmitter and broadcast company Arqiva is working on ways to send 3D over Freeview …

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• 8 July

  Cell phones and attenuation

  

  “Attenuation” has become a buzzword ever since issues with touching the iPhone 4’s antenna were first reported after its release. Indeed, on June 24, 2010, Apple defended itself by saying that attenuation is “a fact of life for every wireless phone” and it advised users to hold the handset differently or buy a bumper. As Apple put it, gripping any …

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• 8 July

  T

  

  Is T-Mobile preparing to take the Droid X on in a head-to-head battle? It certainly appears that way. According to multiple TmoNews sources, T-Mobile is bumping the release date of its Samsung Vibrant up roughly one week to July 15 instead of July 21 as originally planned. This would pit the Galaxy S series phone in a super-phone showdown, with …

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• 8 July

  iPhone software fix won’t solve reception issues

  

  Given Apple’s carefully worded statement from July 2, we weren’t expecting that the coming software update would fix the ongoing reception issues with the iPhone 4’s antenna. So it wasn’t surprising that an Apple Care representative confirmed that belief this afternoon. During our call, the Apple Care rep said the update would address only how bars are displayed in the …

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• 8 July

  Android Atlas Weekly 6: 2GHz phone coming soon? (podcast)

  

  A 2GHz Android phone from Samsung, how to get a free Droid X, and Froyo trounces iOS4 in Javascript speed tests. Plus guest Molly Wood reviews the Kindle for Android app, and we discuss how to wipe the data from your phone. Now playing: Watch this: Ep. 6: 2GHz phone coming soon? 40:08 Podcast Your browser does not support the …

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• 8 July

  Leaked road map shows T

  

  A recently leaked road map indicates that T-Mobile has plenty up its sleeve as it pertains to Android over the rest of this year. And really, it’s about time Android’s first carrier gives us something new. According to a document obtained by AndroidSpin, the carrier has at least five more handsets on tap for 2010. In a departure from the …

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• 8 July

  Putting the iPhone 4 to the test

  

  Now playing: Watch this: iPhone 4 antenna tests 2:21 Though we’ve kept you informed about the ongoing debate with the iPhone 4’s antenna, we haven’t said what that really means for users. You may see your bars drop when you hold the handset a certain way, but how does that affect the phone’s performance? In data speed and call quality …

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• 8 July

  Samsung Captivate for AT&T available July 18

  

  Now playing: Watch this: Samsung Captivate (AT&T) 1:29 It looks like AT&T will be the first one to release one of the Samsung Galaxy S smartphones, as the carrier announced on Thursday that the Samsung Captivate will be available starting July 18 for $199.99 with a two-year contract (voice plan and minimum $15 data plan required). The Captivate is AT&T’s …

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