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Huawei to unveil custom Emotion UI Android overlay next month

5/28/2012 2:30:00 PM

There are already a number of custom manufacturer Android skins in existence, but it looks like Huawei will soon be adding another to the pile. Dubbed the "Emotion UI," the new Android overlay is set to be introduced next month and is said to be scheduled to begin appearing on devices in July. Not much is known yet about the skin itself. So far Huawei has been known to perform fairly light skinning on its devices, so it'll be interesting to see what the company is planning for its...

Featured user review HTC One X 5-28-12

5/28/2012 1:48:00 PM

After another week on the charts, the HTC One X tops the Official Smartphone Rankings. Being the best smartphone gives it the honors of being featured in this Monday's blog. PhoneDog fan Alan Joseph uses his HTC One X proudly so we feature his user review below. the one you've been waiting to leave iphone 4 By Alan Joseph, posted: May 15 The HOX (HTC One X) is a beautiful phone with an amazing screen to match it's looks and capabilities. The feeling and look of ICS in my...

Do we really need 1080p displays on smartphones?

5/28/2012 12:45:00 PM

Before Apple released the iPhone 4 with the LG-made Retina Display, smartphone display pixel densities were one of the less important features of a phone. Then, it was all about processor speed, memory, storage space and camera quality. But along came an iPhone with one of the sharpest, most vibrant displays to date and made us realize just how lackluster our phones' displays really were. Back then, I didn't care about resolution, display type, contrast, color reproduction or ......

Huawei myTouch poses for another photo ahead of T-Mobile debut

5/28/2012 12:20:00 PM

There certainly hasn't been a shortage of leaks showing off Huawei's new myTouch phones for T-Mobile, and today we can add another to the pile. Our amigos at TmoNews have gotten hold of an image that offers a close-up look at one of the devices lounging around in the wild, myTouch logo and set of navigation keys in tow. You can also see the volume rocker on the left and a physical camera key on the right. As a reminder, some of the specs that the new myTouch phones are said to...

ASUS teases its next transformations in new video

5/28/2012 10:50:00 AM

ASUS today posted a video teasing what it's got up its sleeve for Computex 2012 next month, and fans of the company's Transformer line may want to check it out. The clip is short, but it urges viewers not to "get set into one form, adapt it and build your own," adding that "the shape of the cloud is ever-changing, beyond time and boundaries." Pretty vague stuff, to be sure. The video wraps up by inviting us to join ASUS as it introduces "the truly incredible next transformations," which is...

Zuckerberg, stick to software because nobody wants a Facebook phone

5/28/2012 10:35:00 AM

Back in September of 2010, we heard the very first inkling of a rumor that social media giant Facebook would be ponying up and building their own mobile operating system and a budget-friendly phone . Not long after the rumor started, Facebook spoke out and shot down the rumors, despite having also spoken with various manufacturers about Facebook branded phones. And so the journey began ... Ever since the first Facebook phone rumor, insider reports, Facebook and the media have been...

LG E970 appears in benchmark results boasting 1280x768 display, Android 4.0

5/28/2012 10:10:00 AM

Time to add another handset to the unannounced devices list. A page of GLBenchmark test results has tipped the existence of the LG E970, a mysterious Android handset running version 4.0.4 of Google's mobile operating system. There's not much revealed about the E970 in the listing, but the results do mention that it's packing a display with a resolution of 1280x768, a 1.5GHz processor and Adreno 320 graphics. That GPU is present in Qualcomm's Snapdragon S4 chipsets, specifically the MSM8960 Pro...

LG Display intros new 5-inch 1080p screen with 16:9 aspect ratio

5/28/2012 8:55:00 AM

If you're a person that demands a high-resolution display in your smartphone, then you may want to add LG Display's new product to your wish list. The company has introduced a new 5-inch LCD panel for smartphones with a resolution of 1920x1080, giving it a pixel density of 440ppi. The aspect ratio of the new display is 16:9, and it also features Advanced High Performance In-Plane Switching (AH-IPS, for short) technology. LG Display says that the AH-IPS tech should provide for wide viewing...

Winner of a new Motorola DROID RAZR

5/27/2012 11:32:00 PM

Congratulations to M. Cordaro of NJ on spinning and winning with the One-Paw Bandit on Sunday May 27, 2012. He picks up a brand new Motorola Droid RAZR for Verizon Wireless. "I never really won anything before and this is really exciting! I've been playing this game for a while, hoping that I would win someday and it finally happened! Thanks PhoneDog!"

How mobile technology has made me more productive

5/27/2012 9:45:00 PM

My life is almost entirely consumed by mobile technology. In everything I do, pocket-sized technology is there to make my life easier, to make remembering and getting things done in a timely manner more manageable. It wasn't always this way. My bad habits and gaming addictions used to get in the way quite often. The 24-7, on-demand entertainment aspect of mobile technology can easily become a problem for many. (Remember the derogatory term “CrackBerry” used to describe those zombie-like people...

Facebook reportedly hopes to launch smartphone by next year, hiring former Apple engineers to help

5/27/2012 4:55:00 PM

Facebook has made some big news so far in 2012, including paying $1 billion for Instagram and holding an initial public offering of its stock, and now a new report has suggested that the company may soon be making another major move. According to sources speaking to The New York Times, Facebook is planning to release its own smartphone by next year. The tipsters, which reportedly includes both Facebook employees and others familiar with the company's plans, say that Facebook has hired several...

It's not going to be easy, but I'm phasing out carrier texting

5/27/2012 4:50:00 PM

One of my primary tools for communicating with people I know personally (read: the people I know IRL and not just online) is simple message service – better known as SMS or text messaging. I do not place voice calls unless I absolutely have to. Whether I have a quick question or want to carry an all-day-long conversation with the lady friend about how fuzzy and cute cats are, I default to the Messages application on one of my phones. No surprise there, though. That's exactly...

Featured user review Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX 5-27-12

5/27/2012 9:05:00 AM

Hello Sunday. I hope everyone is still enjoying this Holiday weekend as we continue to celebrate Memorial Day weekend here in the States. Featured today is Kyle Bonham who tells us about the Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX. Enjoy. The Nexus may have the newest Android software, but it’s Motorola's unique use of Android that nabbed $300 dollars from my wallet By Kyle Bonham, posted: May 13 The QHD Pentile Oled Display is beautiful when it comes to color...

Motorola shows off its Android 4.0 skin in a set of introduction videos

5/26/2012 5:30:00 PM

Earlier this month, Motorola revealed that the DROID RAZR and DROID RAZR MAXX will be updated to Android 4.0 before the second quarter is up. Folks that own one of the two handsets may be wondering exactly what the updates will bring besides a higher version number, but today they don't have to wonder any longer, as Motorola has posted several videos that offer a peek at what the company's flavor of Ice Cream Sandwich will be like. The clips, posted to Motorola's Japanese site, show off a new...

Do you care about the data speeds you get on your phone?

5/26/2012 3:15:00 PM

Earlier today , I asked you whether or not if you had purchased, or planned on purchasing a 4G-enabled device. I focused on Verizon’s network, mentioning off-hand Sprint’s and AT&T’s networks here in my area, as while the wireless carrier is doing a good job of expanding their advanced network, it isn’t everywhere quite yet. That lead to the question: is 4G just a bonus feature, or a core element you look for in a phone, even if you don’t live in...

HP's Enyo group touches on recent departures, says team is growing and will be bigger in the future

5/26/2012 12:30:00 PM

Shortly after it was revealed that some of the webOS Enyo team would be leaving HP to join Google, HP put up a post on its official Enyo blog touching a bit on the news. The company confirmed that "some key members" of the Enyo group have indeed departed, but HP assures us that "the majority of the engineering and leadership team remains." HP goes on to explain that it plans to redouble its development efforts and will be hiring more employees not only to replace the ones that've left, but to...

Would you buy a 4G phone without having any coverage?

5/26/2012 10:55:00 AM

While where I live may not be on the front of bleeding-edge technology , at least we have 3G. Well, from Sprint and Verizon, anyway. (That's right, even AT&T only has EDGE-connectivity where I live. Still.) And while 3G is great, I can't walk into a local Verizon retailer and not be greeted with 4G LTE-connected devices. Which is confusing to me, because it doesn't make any sense why I would want to buy a 4G phone when I don't have any way to use it the way it is intended to...

Featured user review Samsung Galaxy Nexus LTE 5-26-12

5/26/2012 10:10:00 AM

On this Memorial Day weekend Saturday May 26, 2012 we are excited to feature a review for the Samsung Galaxy Nexus LTE. Staying on top of the OSR charts for weeks, was Google's first to bring Android 4.0 (Gingerbread) to the States. Samsungs done it again By bnhrrs02, posted: May 14 The Samsung Galaxy Nexus' screen is huge, but the software is a much bigger deal. As the first Android phone running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, the Nexus gives users a completely...

ASUS Transformer Pad TF300TL shows up in the FCC with AT&T-compatible 4G LTE

5/25/2012 7:25:00 PM

When ASUS first announced the Transformer Pad 300 series back in February, it said that the slate would be made available in both Wi-Fi and 4G LTE variants. So far only the Wi-Fi model has hit store shelves, but the LTE-capable version of the tablet got one step closer to its own retail debut recently thanks to an appearance in the FCC. According to the filing, the Transformer Pad TF300TL boasts support for HSPA on the 850MHz and 1900MHz bands as well as 700MHz and 1700MHz LTE compatibility,...

Why I prefer the iPhone for listening to music

5/25/2012 7:00:00 PM

A few months back, I explained that I carry two phones every day . I always have an Android phone on hand, and most of the time, I carry an iPhone as my secondary device . Between the two, there are specific tasks I prefer to handle with each. For example, the Gmail app on Android is infinitely better for me than the Mail app on iOS, so I use Android for handling email. On the other hand, I like TweetBot for iPhone over just about any Android Twitter client. With the HTC One X and...

Samsung Galaxy S III rumored to be hitting T-Mobile late next month, Galaxy Note in July

5/25/2012 6:15:00 PM

Interested in the T-Mobile launches of devices like the Samsung Galaxy S III and Galaxy Note? Then get out your pencils and calendars, friends, because our pals at TmoNews have posted information on when those devices (and more!) may be released. According to the site, both the 16GB and 32GB variants of the pebble blue Samsung Galaxy S III may be hitting T-Mobile shelves on June 20th, which is less than a month away. The 16GB ceramic white Galaxy S III is reportedly due a few weeks later on...

HTC EVO 4G LTE pre-order customers receiving free case for their patience

5/25/2012 4:35:00 PM

The HTC EVO 4G LTE was originally set to debut on May 18th , but due to a U.S. Customs-related issue , the official launch was delayed. Folks that pre-ordered the EVO 4G LTE have begun receiving their units, though, and it looks like Sprint trying to make up for the delay to at least some of those customers. One EVO 4G LTE owner reports that they received a free gel cover with their new EVO, along with a note thanking them for their patience. The full text reads: "HTC and Sprint want...

LG LS860 for Sprint surfaces again with rear photo, more spec details in tow

5/25/2012 2:55:00 PM

Just a couple of days after we got our first peek at the Sprint-bound LG LS860 "Cayenne," more details on the upcoming 4G LTE slider have made their way online. The folks at BriefMobile have gotten hold of a photo of what's allegedly the exposed backside of the device, complete with the battery and camera in view, along with a rundown of the LS860's purported specs. According to the leaked list, the LS860 will feature 5-megapixel rear and VGA front cameras, 8GB storage, 1GB RAM and a 1,700mAh...

Expert spotlight of the Official Smartphone Rankings best smartphones

5/25/2012 2:25:00 PM

Smartphones. People love them. People love to talk about them. People love even more to tell you why their smartphone is the best. For these reasons and many more we created the Official Smartphone Rankings where you can vote for your favorite each week. At the same time we wanted to know what our mobile tech experts had to say. They see the phones, demo the phones, and blog about smartphones all day long, so their opinions are highly regarded. For a...

FCC gives the OK to 4G LTE use in the 800MHz band

5/25/2012 2:05:00 PM

The Federal Communications Commission this week approved the use of both 3G and LTE on 800MHz spectrum. Before this vote, the 800MHz band could only be used with 2G technologies, but the FCC's decision means that the spectrum can now be used to deploy LTE service. Along with allowing for LTE in the 800MHz band, the FCC's decision also helps to protect public safety operations in the 800MHz spectrum from interference. Today's news is good for Sprint, which has announced that it plans to...