• 18Feb

    eBay Mobile app

    Let's be honest: when you're in a busy airport, waiting for your flight (or anywhere, for that matter), it's fun to browse eBay.  Plus, it's nice to know that you can browse, bid, and monitor auctions from virtually anywhere.  Until recently, the only Android app for browsing eBay was Pocket Auctions for eBay, and it lacked features needed to browse effectively.

    Enter eBay's official application, which launched yesterday.  Features include bid notifications, the ability to check the status of your auctions, navigation with voice commands, the option to check status updates, and the ability to leave feedback.  Considering that 60,000 Android-powered handsets are shipping daily, it's understandable that eBay would want to invest time and energy into it.

    The app can be downloaded in the Android Market.

    Via MobileCrunch


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  • 18Feb

    Best Buy Devour price tag

    Not that it's a huge shock, given the usual price points of the DROID and Droid Eris ($199 and $99, respectively), that the Motorola Devour would be priced at $150.  That being said, the Devour's Best Buy price tag has been leaked, and sure enough, $150 is the official price tag.  Keep in mind that you'll have to sign a new two-year agreement and pick up a data plan ($29.99 monthly), but with no mail-in rebates, it's the way to go if the Devour is your cup of tea.

    T minus seven days until launch...who's excited?

    Via DroidDog


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  • 18Feb

    Sony Ericsson CEO

    Remember those fights on the playground in elementary school, where you were going for the last swing, only to be cut off by another boy who said something along the lines of "no, I was here first!"?  Well, the playground fight scene happens between companies as well.  In an interview with Swedish publication Sydsvenskan, Sony Ericsson CEO Bert Nordberg admitted that Google approached the company and asked them to build the Nexus One first, to which they politely declined.  Nordberg went on to explain that Sony Ericsson is committed to building company-branded hardware only, and will not be a subcontractor to any company.

    So, let's think here...this is a company that just shuttered several regional offices, reported a fourth-quarter loss, and has an Android device that ships later in the year.  Sure, HTC didn't get a huge amount of publicity from the Nexus One launch (save for some initial issues with the device and an HTC logo at the bottom of the phone), but it helped the bottom line.  Food for thought...

    Via Engadget


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  • 18Feb
    HTC Legend is the follow-up to HTC Hero. Now with Sense 2.1 and aluminum unibody construction. Hands-on from MWC 2010 Barcelona


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  • 18Feb

    PhoneDog just can't cram every bit of analysis, in-depth coverage, and tip/trick/how-to goodness onto our home page. So we've built a few more home pages to hold it all.  Whether it's Android, BlackBerry, or iPhone that makes you tick, we've got the goods.

    Here's what's happening right now on PhoneDog Media's network sites: Today's iPhone, BBerryDog and DroidDog.

    Today's iPhone logo

    App Review: Pregnancy Tracker from WhatToExpect.com

    Get your Olympics on...with the iPhone

    Don't take my iPhone!

    BBerryDog logo

    Amazon releases Kindle for BlackBerry

    Review: Twitter for BlackBerry

    BlackBerry How-To: Using the browser

    DroidDog logo

    HTC Sense keyboard working on the Nexus One

    Motorola Devour going for $150 with no mail-in rebate

    Desire to be a Legend and pre-order today


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  • 18Feb
    Hands-on with the HTC Desire from MWC in Barcelona. Android plus HTC Sense 2.1 with a Snapdragon processor equals object of our desire.


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  • 18Feb

    Windows Mobile

    Word on the street is when Windows Phone 7 Series launches, Windows Mobile 6.5 will receive a name change to "Windows Phone Classic."  Contrary to what you may think, Windows Mobile 6.5 has no plans to leave right after the launch of Windows Phone 7 Series - actually, it'll be staying around for a bit longer.  It will, however, only be available to enterprise and emerging markets.  The strategy makes sense, given that (1) Microsoft probably wants to get "Windows Mobile" out of everyday vocabulary altogether, and (2) Windows Mobile 6.5 (or whatever you want to call it) will be around and available on several retail devices for quite a while.  What's more, since Windows Mobile 6.5 applications are incompatible with Windows Phone 7 Series, it also extends their shelf life a bit.

    So for those purchasing Windows Mobile 6.5-equipped devices in the coming months, don't worry - you have a Classic on your hands.

    Via MobileCrunch


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  • 18Feb

    Motorola Backflip

    AT&T this morning announced the Motorola Backflip, the carrier's first Android smartphone. Sporting a launch date of March 7th, the Backflip packs a 3.1-inch touchscreen display, Android 1.5 (will be upgradeable to 2.1 in the future), 5.0-megapixel camera, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 2.0, A-GPS, 3.5mm headphone jack, microSD card slot (with support for up to 32 GB), full QWERTY keyboard, 7.2 Mbps HSPA 3G connectivity, and Motorola’s MOTOBLUR UI.  Sure, it's a mid-range Android device, but it's one of four that AT&T has promised to launch this year.  One down, three more to go!

    The full press release can be found below.  For a more in-depth look at the Motorola Backflip, check out PhoneDog's videos of the Backflip (from CES 2010)!

    AT&T Announces Availability of First Device on Android Platform with Motorola
    HSPA 7.2 - Capable Motorola BACKFLIP Coming Soon to AT&T Stores Nationwide

    Dallas, Texas, Libertyville, Illinois, February 18, 2010

    AT&T* and Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) today announced that the Motorola BACKFLIP ™ with MOTOBLUR™ will be available in AT&T stores nationwide and online at www.wireless.att.com beginning March 7.

    MOTOBLUR offers AT&T customers a new way to connect to their favorite people, content and applications, whether it’s work or personal email, messaging or social networking. Motorola’s exclusive Android™ experience syncs contacts, posts, messages, photos and much more — from sources such as Facebook®, MySpace, Twitter®, Gmail™, Picasa, work and personal e-mail, and Last.fm — and automatically delivers them to live widgets for immediate reply, right from the home screen. And, for customers who prefer multi-tasking, AT&T’s 3G network offers the added advantage of talking and surfing the Web and accessing applications at the same time.
    BACKFLIP features a unique form-factor with an original reverse flip design, spacious keyboard and BACKTRACK™ touch panel, allowing the display to be hands-free while one’s fingers work behind the screen. BACKFLIP runs on the nation’s fastest 3G network and is powered by MOTOBLUR™, Motorola’s Android-powered content delivery service created to make phones more personal and socially smart. Customers can see photos and learn more at www.att.com/backflip.

    “Motorola BACKFLIP brings together the best of social networking with the nation’s fastest 3G network,” said David Christopher, chief marketing officer, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “With the ability to ride on our newest and fastest 3G network, access to more than 20,000 AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots, and the ability to talk and surf at the same time, BACKFLIP boasts a better Android experience.”

    MOTOBLUR

    MOTOBLUR keeps track of contacts so it’s easy to keep up. Users can flip through messages and updates on the BACKFLIP and respond in a flash, without having to log in and out of applications. MOTOBLUR helps consumers keep a pulse on what’s happening on their social and news networks. Only MOTOBLUR can sync Facebook, MySpace and Twitter with phone book and email contacts, while threading status updates and profile pics through calls, messages and address book. From the home screen, consumers can update their status to Facebook, MySpace and Twitter at once.

    Finally, MOTOBLUR provides users with simplicity and peace of mind, as lost devices can be located from a secure personal information portal and GPS can be used to locate them. One user name and password brings back a user’s contacts, messages and connectivity to previously configured networks and email providers.

    ”Motorola is proud to bring the first Android-powered device to AT&T’s 3G network,” said Mark Shockley, senior vice president, Motorola Mobile Devices. “AT&T customers will love the social media advantages MOTOBLUR offers as well as the innovative hardware design.”

    BACKFLIP is the first Motorola device to feature the new and unique BACKTRACK™ feature which gives AT&T customers the ability to navigate quickly and easily through Web sites, menus and more with a touch panel located behind the screen when the device is folded open. BACKTRACK offers a new way to scroll through the Web, texts, e-mails and news feeds without obscuring the home screen. Flip the keyboard backwards into table-top mode to listen to music, watch videos, view pictures with the digital picture frame or to turn BACKFLIP into a digital, bedside alarm clock.

    BACKFLIP comes with a full HTML browser that can be viewed on the 3.1” high-res, touch screen display and makes use of 7.2 HSPA 3G technology on the nation’s fastest 3G network. Android Market™ has access to more than 20,000 apps and widgets, in order to customize the device to fit each consumer’s personal style. Customers can easily shoot photos and video with the BACKFLIP’s 5 MP camera and flash, and upload them to their favorite photo sharing or social media site.

    The Motorola BACKFLIP features Wi-Fi connectivity and AT&T customers receive AT&T Wi-Fi access at U.S. hotspots included as part of their unlimited data plan. AT&T’s has the nation’s largest Wi-Fi network with more than 20,000 U.S. hotspots.

    Pricing and Availability?

    The Motorola BACKFLIP will be available March 7 at AT&T retail locations nationwide or at www.wireless.att.com for $99.99 after $100 mail-in rebate. (Pay $199.99 and after mail-in rebate receive $100 AT&T Promotion Card. Two-year agreement and smartphone data plan required.)

    For more information on the Motorola BACKFLIP, visit www.att.com/backflip or join the conversation on Facebook at www.facebook.com/att.

    For the complete array of AT&T offerings, visit www.att.com.


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  • 18Feb

    How do you select a mobile phone that has a great built-in camera? The average person just knows that what you want to look for in a digital camera is a high number of megapixels. That’s why 10 and 12 megapixel camera phones are all the rage. While it’s true that megapixels matter, it’s important to know that this isn’t the only thing that you want to look for if you’re trying to find a mobile phone camera that takes stunning pictures.

    Here are ten features to look for when reviewing mobile phone cameras, starting with the issue of megapixels.

    Megapixels: What’s the Deal? The number of megapixels that your digital camera uses generally determines how the images that you capture will look when they are printed in large sizes. If you don’t have enough megapixels then your large printed images will appear out of focus. Think about that; how often do you try to make large-print pictures from your mobile phone camera? Most people use these cameras to snap pictures that will be going online or printed in 4X6 format for photo albums. Unless you happen to be a photographer who is using a mobile phone camera to capture images that will later be hung in a gallery, you probably don’t need a lot of megapixels. In fact, 5-6 megapixels is generally considered fine for the average person. The only other issue to consider is whether you do a lot of cropping when you edit your camera phone pictures; extensive cropping on low-megapixel photos can also make the picture fuzzy. Again, unless you’re a professional photographer, this is unlikely to be an issue for you.

    Camera Sensor Size. What starts to matter more when you begin to get into the higher megapixel range of camera is the size of the camera sensor. A larger size sensor is going to produce higher-quality pictures on your mobile phone camera. The main benefit of a large camera sensor is that it takes better photos in low light than a camera with a smaller sensor size will. Since people often use mobile phone cameras indoors and in low-light areas, a larger sensor size is a good choice.

    Flash. A great image sensor is important to capturing high-quality images in low light using your mobile phone camera. However, you’re also going to want to supplement this with a great flash. These days it’s imperative to have a flash on your mobile phone. Most people say that there are only two types of flashes that you want to look for; Xenon or Dual LED. If you have a standard LED flash then you’re not going to get the best pictures. The benefit of a Xenon flash is that it’s the brightest option; however it can drain battery power. The benefit of a Dual LED is that it’s good for both video and photos.

    Optical Zoom. You have two choices when it comes to your camera’s zoom function. You can get a camera with a digital zoom or you can get a camera with an optical zoom. An optical zoom lens actually moves inside the camera to get a closer look at the subject of your photo; a digital zoom lens guesses at the detailed image without moving. The picture quality is better with an optical zoom lens. In fact, many camera phone users say that a high-quality optical zoom is the most important feature for them.

    Quick autofocus. Users also say that they want a camera that is going to be able to give them a fast focus on their subjects. Mobile phone cameras are often whipped out at the last second to get a great photo caught “on film”. You don’t want to lose the shot while you’re waiting for your camera to focus in on the subject of the image. And it should go without saying that you need an autofocus because pictures will be blurry without one.

    Extra Features. A fast autofocus isn’t the only feature that you want to look for when trying to find a decent camera phone. You also want to look for added features that will make photo-taking even easier. For example, many cameras come with face detection, smile detection and image stabilization to make sure that you always get the best portraits on your mobile phone. The new Sony Ericsson Vivaz is a good example of a camera phone that offers a number of different features.

    Storage. Many people want to make sure that their cameras are capable of holding a lot of photos. They don’t want to have to frequently delete photos in order to free up storage space. This is true whether you use a stand-alone digital camera or one that is built into a mobile phone. Look for a mobile phone camera that is capable of storing extra GB on a memory card.

    Online Sharing Capabilities. People who are using mobile phone cameras want to be able to take their pictures from the phone and send them directly to the web. They don’t want to have to download the pictures to a PC or email the photos to themselves before they can send them to their blogs and social networking sites. As the mobile web grows, this is becoming an increasingly crucial feature of a good mobile phone camera.

    Built-in Effects. If you want to share your mobile phone photos directly from the device then it makes sense that you would also want to be capable of doing photo editing on your device. A good mobile phone camera is going to come with on-board editing features.

    A Good Phone. Finally, people want a mobile phone camera that comes attached to a high-quality mobile phone. If they just wanted a good camera, they’d get a separate device. Instead, they want one gadget that can do it all. They don’t want to have to compromise their call quality or smartphone functions in order to have a good camera on their phones. For example, when the announcement came out that Samsung was releasing the Pixon12, it wasn’t so much the 12 megapixels on the camera that made people happy but rather that the phone had Wi-Fi and GPS, which the previous phone in the same line had lacked. You shouldn’t have to choose one over the other.

    If you’re interested in learning what some of the best camera phones are, take a look at our previous article.

    Alternatively, simply click on any of the camera phones below to find out more.

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  • 18Feb

    We’re always talking about what we’re getting from phone companies, but what do we really want? This week Dial-a-phone is dreaming, fantasising about future-phones unfettered by the limits of technology.

    Harriet Rhodes

    Harriet’s imagination makes Apple’s 3GS look like an eighties brickphone buried in concrete. Instead of connectors, panels and branded logos, her future-phone is a thin pane of transparent material which lights up in use. “Touchscreen” isn’t just a feature, it’s the whole phone, as the portable computer projects holographic buttons above the surface for super-futuristic style.

    The main challenge won’t be building see-through systems, but finding a transparent material that doesn’t scratch from “brand new” to “scuffed so badly it looks like it’s been in prison” twenty seconds after being exposed to the air. Because having the ultimate future-phone, then having to buy those horrible little peel-off screen protectors, is too tragic to think about without three Samaritans on standby.

    Andrew Boxall

    Andrew’s idea is already on the way in a limited form – he wants a flexiphone which adapts to suit you (instead of the other way round). Bendable technology may sound Futurama-n but there are already twistable OLED display prototypes. At the moment they’re only for insanely expensive TV displays, but there was a time when a lightbulb was the ultimate status symbol. With advances in technology (with personal electronics a hugely funded market), candybars we can convert into bracelets or blocks are likely.

    Further shapeshifting, systems which can take any form, are much further away. Infinitely, in fact.  They’ll never happen because that’s the realm of nanotechnology: tiny molecular machines which work together to build (or be) sophisticated systems. We’re not saying nanotech won’t happen – we’re saying it’ll be such a world-changing science that using it to build phones would be like laser-engraving a superconductive-spiked club.

    Kathryn Vercillo

    It seems cellphone style is on all our minds, with Kathryn’s über-gizmo hitting the catwalk as well as the world of computers. She extends Andrew’s idea, combining the inevitable – the progression of phones to include all the integration of search tools and services for easy access of all your data – with impressive phone-fashion, customizable “hand”sets becoming scarf-sets, necklaces-sets, or even sunglasses (facesets?)

    The only limit here will be when the mass market catches up with Kathryn’s thinking – the candybar phone is the ultimate style now because that’s literally as far as the public imagination has advanced: a phone, but a bit smaller and smoother. But with a new generation who consider phones as natural as sunlight (and more often accessible), it’s only a matter of time before the block becomes “boring.” What the new shapes will be, however, no-one can tell.

    Luke McKinney

    My own thought is one without phones, and one you’ll be able to hear when it happens: fully integrated communications devices exactly as mobile as we are, for an obvious reason – being part of us. Having a cellphone screwed into your skull might sound like a nightmare, but that’s because we’re not yet beyond the limitation of thinking phones are beeping boxes for work (and family) to bug you through.  It’ll instead be an instant online connection to all human knowledge, indeed all of humanity, as well as any other onboard hardware you have installed – and it’ll change the species for the better.

    So remember of that every time you’re annoyed by a ringtone.

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