Cell phone blog, articles & news

Apps: OrbLive 2.0 released in App Store, enables hi-speed live TV

Lots of great stuff happening for iPhone and iPod Touch users this week. The latest from Orb is no exception. The media-streaming company recently launched OrbLive 2.0, an iPhone app that uses Edge, Wifi and 3G networks to dish out music, videos, photos and even documents, from a Windows PC to the user's cell phone. But let's face it: The real star of the show is being able to watch live television streamed from your own computer to that...

AOL launches beta for two-way syncing

AOL has launched the beta for AOL Sync, a new platform-independent, mobile-synchronization tool for calendars and address books. Powered by Funambol, an open source mobile push-email and sync provider, AOL Sync offers two-way OTA ("over the air") synchronization, allowing users to wirelessly update their Microsoft Outlook contacts and calendars with their AOL accounts and mobile devices in real-time over the cellular network. Compatible devices...

Seriously? Riots?: NY'ers line up, wait, and get angry over BlackBerry Storm

What ever happened to try before you buy?  Hordes of CrackBerry addicts in New York City braved sub-freezing temperatures to line up before 6am this morning at Verizon stores in hopes of landing a BlackBerry Storm.  Lots of 'em apparently went home (or to the office) cold and angry, as VZW didn't have enough stock to meet the demand. So much for reading reviews and carefully considering new purchases in this time of economic...

Video: Xperia X1 (Sony Ericsson Unlocked GSM) - Unboxing

Noah can't even wait until he gets back to the office ... The Xperia X1 smartphone is unboxed at an outdoor cafe, webcam style!

News: VZW staffers get caught peeking at Obama's cell account

Imagine my surprise when, right after I blog about Barack Obama having to give up his BlackBerry, Verizon Wireless admitted that its own employees illicitly accessed a cell phone account of the now president-elect.Here's the statement that was issued by VZW's President and CEO Lowell McAdam: “This week we learned that a number of Verizon Wireless employees have, without authorization, accessed and viewed President-Elect Barack Obama’s personal...

Save this holiday season with a new Sprint family plan

With the holiday season approaching and consumers watching what they spend, Sprint announced a new way to help families save.  Share 1500 minutes and text all you want with their Everything Messaging Family plan for $99.99/month.  Other new plans include their Talk for Family, Everything Data Family, and Simply Everything Family.   “In today’s economic climate, consumers are taking a much closer look at their day-to-day...

iPhone 2.2 firmware update: Street view & OTA podcast downloads (yay!)

The long-awaited, much-anticipated over-the-air podcast downloads are now available via the latest 2.2 firmware update for iPhone!I suffer from over-stimulation in New York City, and podcasts are my major meds. It's the best way to tune out the truck rumbling, honking, streetside fabulous talk and random cursing that assaults my ears on a regular basis. Now, I won't run out of podcasts to keep me level and sane when I'm around town. (There's...

MySpace for BlackBerry breaks records

Last week, I posted about the launch of MySpace for BlackBerry, which joined BlackBerry's social networking crew of Facebook and Flickr. Now MySpace and Blackberry maker Research In Motion announce that their joint venture has broken opening-week records for app downloads at both companies, with more than 400,000 downloads and counting. Users of the MySpace app have already transmitted more than 15 million messages and performed over two...

Latest Carrier Releases: BlackBerry Storm

Carrier: VerizonRetail Price: $519.99 or via ebayContract Price:$199.99 or via Let's TalkHot Feature: "SurePress" Touchscreen The Storm is BlackBerry's first touchscreen device.  Stocked with all your favorites, some features of the Storm include a music player, a full QWERTY keyboard in landscape mode and a SureType keyboard when in portrait, and a 3.2 megapixel camera with variable zoom, auto focus and flash that also provides continuous...

Drooling from afar: The LG Prada II

You know it. Some of you have even smacked your lips over it. But alas, there's still no word on the LG Prada II launching in the States, even as this follow-up to the first LG Prada phone debuted in Europe yesterday. Is it fair? Heck no. This thing has a 3-inch capacitive multitouch screen with active Flash UI and a slide-out physical QWERTY keyboard packaged in an elegant yet simple design aesthetic. The minimalist in me can't wait to get my...

Southeast Asia: is mobile web use surpassing wired access?

The Norwegian creators of the Opera browsers said today that mobile Internet use seems to be surpassing wired access in much of Southeast Asia. And that in some areas, it's the standard means of access, rather than the alternative. You can check out their monthly State of the Mobile Web report here. The geographic snapshot from October happens to focus on Southeast Asia; something I didn't know about when I wrote a piece on the market...

Mini-Review: Motorola Rapture (VU30) - Verizon

Pros: quick and easy picture taking, video capture, plays music without opening the flip, stereo bluetooth, useful external touch screen, sleek design, nice materials.  Cons: price, no music in the background. The Rapture has those grooved metal buttons that can be found on the Motozine. There are two contextual buttons, but none of the fancy LED color changes of the ZN5. The Rapture's rubberized back, shiny little screens,...

More on Storm: Verdict? Disappointing

I really, really want to like Verizon's new BlackBerry Storm.  I want to love it.  Why?  Well, competition is good, and in the year and a half since the original iPhone launched, no other phone has been able to match the performance of its touchscreen or Web browser.  HTC's Touch Pro and G1, and Samsung's Epix and Eternity have impressed me as of late, but none of these devices offers the fingers-on touchscreen experience of...

Cell phones & dating: The do's & don'ts

When I got hitched last year, I was happy to put my history of bad dates firmly behind me. But boy did I pay my dues. Once, during a particularly horrible rendezvous, I ran to the ladies' room and texted my friend."Help! Bad date. Need out :-(  Pls call in 10 min!!"After adding the extra exclamation point for emphasis, I went back to the table and waited to be rescued. Ten minutes never felt so long. My companion's misplaced cockiness,...

Video: BlackBerry Storm 9530 (Verizon) - Day One Review

Ten hours with the Storm - Noah's update on typing on the clickable "SurePress" touchscreen. Is there a built-in speed limit when it comes to typing on the Storm?

Video: BlackBerry Storm 9530 (Verizon) - Unboxing and Hands-On Pt 2

Part two of our first look at the first Touch BlackBerry - Verizon's Storm. Check out the Web browser, media player, and more ... and watch Noah compare Storm's size and shape to iPhone, G1, and the Samsung Eternity.

Live Storm: BlackBerry Storm Live on GadgetDog Daily TV Today

Can't wait to get your hands on the new BlackBerry Storm ... but you can't get one from Verizon yet?  Get the next best thing on GadgetDog Daily!Join me today at 3PM Eastern / Noon Pacific for a live hands-on look at the first touchscreen BlackBerry, the Storm 9530 for Verizon.  I'll show you the device in action and take your questions about the newest RIM device.  It's free and it's live, today, at www.phonedog.com/tv

Video: BlackBerry Storm 9530 (Verizon) - Unboxing and Hands-On Pt 1

Here it is! The much anticipated BlackBerry Storm. Noah takes it out of the box and checks out the unique clickable touchscreen. How is it for pointing, clicking, and typing? Find out in part one of our hands-on.

Mini-Review: 10 Hours with the BlackBerry Storm

I've had my BlackBerry Storm review loaner for about 10 hours now.  I've spent that time unboxing it, typing on it, browsing the Web, searching for GPS-enabled directions, and watching video on it.  I also had to take care of a few other things during those 10 hours, so I actually haven't been able to pound on Storm quite as much as I'd like to have.  But the embargo is lifting and you're anxious to know what I think of the...

Culture shock: a glimpse into the Southeast Asian mobile market

My wife is Thai, and we talk about the differences between our native cultures on a semi-regular basis. Of the many subtle nuances that distinguish and characterize our social and professional habits, I think I've underestimated the role of mobile communications. Her unique perspective on phones reveals the seemingly insignificant details that actually make up our daily lives. I have never fully explored all of Mrs. Walton's comments...

Enjoy phonedogTV from your Facebook profile

Check it out. You can add the phonedogTV Facebook application to your FB profile. Have it always at the ready under the boxes tab, or post and share it on your wall. Live broadcasts will prompt you to join, and when there isn't a live session you can watch the archives. A condensed chat room is included. If you prefer having one side of the screen dedicated to video and the other to chat, you can always interact at the phonedogTV page of our...

Obama to ban his own smartphone

It looks like Barack Obama, president-elect and renowned "CrackBerry" enthusiast, may soon have to give up his cellular addiction.   According to GeekSugar, Obama's beloved Curve won't be going to the White House, as security concerns regarding email will likely keep the handheld at bay. Maybe it's not such a bad idea, considering the fiasco that ensued when someone broke into Sarah Palin's email account a few months ago. And she was...

Latest Carrier Releases: Samsung Renown

Carrier: VerizonRetail Price:$349.99 or via ebayContract Price:$179.99 or via Let's TalkHot Feature: 2.0 MP camera The Samsung Renown SCH u810 is combines both CDMA and GSM technology so you can stay connected no matter where you are in the world. Key features include a 2.0 megapixel camera with nighshot capability, MP3 player, stereo Bluetooth, adjustable text size, visual voice mail, microSD slot and video capture.  

Think you have good Incite? Well if not you can go ahead and buy it!

AT&T's first ever LG smartphone made its debut today in the way of the Incite.  This Windows Mobile 6.1 touchscreen appears to have it all, including a full color 3 inch screen, Wi-Fi, aGPS, and a 3.0 MP camera with video capture plus playback.What appears to be the way of the future for the keypad on your touchscreen, LG Incite users will find a full QWERTY keyboard in landscape mode, and a 20-key keyboard in portrait.  With...

Latest Carrier Releases: LG Incite

Carrier: AT&TRetail Price: $499.99 or via ebayContract Price:$299.99 or via Let's TalkHot Feature: LG's 1st US Smartphone The LG Incite is their first smartphone for U.S. carrier AT&T.  This Windows Mobile 6.1 touchscreen device comes equipped with WiFi technology, aGPS functions, 3.0 MP camera with camcorder, and Bluetooth 2.0.  Users will enjoy their options to use a full QWERTY keyboard in landscape mode, or a 20-key...