Dish Network might not start up its LTE-based 4G network until as late as 2016, but that hasn't stopped MetroPCS and T-Mobile from jointly telling the FCC that the would-be carrier needs to make some concessions for small carriers to rest easy. Both of the complaints have a common proposal that would see Dish give up 20MHz of its 40MHz space in the 2GHz range to prevent the satellite giant from using its abundant airwaves as part of a cash grab: MetroPCS and T-Mobile are worried Dish will just try for a "windfall" and sell the spectrum it doesn't need to AT&T or Verizon. While it's not asking for a sell-off, the Rural Cellular Association is still jittery about concentrations of power and wants the FCC to make Dish hit certain build-out targets, offer roaming at wholesale rates and require FCC approval for any roaming deal that would go to Big Blue or Big Red. The big carriers' advocacy group, the CTIA, is unsurprisingly against build-out demands as "unduly burdensome." FCC officials have been silent by comparison, although the agency has encouraged spreading spectrum around and proposed its own expansion requirements. You'll likely see smartphones with 2GHz frequencies at some point in the future -- it's just a matter of whether Dish or someone else slaps its logo on top.

MetroPCS and T-Mobile want Dish to give up half of its wireless spectrum, worry about AT&T and Verizon swooping in originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 May 2012 01:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

While visiting the Innovation Showcase at CTIA 2012, we ran into Nick Pudar -- OnStar's VP of Business Development -- who was kind enough to give us a few minutes of his time. We sat in the LTE Skype-enabled Chevy Volt on display and discussed such topics as OnStar FMV, RelayRides and smart grids -- wherein power utilities can (with the customer's consent) send a signal to a vehicle to control when it charges. The idea is to allows utilities to maximize grid efficiency and minimize power spikes while giving customers options for when to charge the vehicle -- like when the rates are the lowest or when the power generated is coming from renewable energy, for example. Pretty neat stuff, eh? Watch our video interview for all the (pardon the pun) juicy details.

The Engadget interview: OnStar's Nick Pudar talks smart grids at CTIA 2012 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 12 May 2012 10:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Having trouble with the barrage of smartphone news in recent weeks? Don't worry, we've got you covered in this Friday's edition of our e-publication. The focus this week is the on-going quest for the ultimate smartphone champion. In our search, we take a look at the recently outted Samsung Galaxy S III while putting both the AT&T HTC One X and the Sprint Galaxy Nexus through their paces. While he's a fan of their thin frames, Darren Murph demands better battery life in new laptops and his editorial offers some thoughts on the matter. Our hands-on section is all CTIA this week, as we look back at a handful of gadgets that caught our eye. Smartphone reviews just not doing the trick this week? Well, we take the Jawbone Big Jambox for a spin in this week's issue as well. Yes, all the regulars are here -- including Reaction Time with a word on The Avengers and Call of Duty. Stat takes a look at phone profits, Switched On tackles smartplayers, IRL takes another peek in our backpacks, Square's CTO Bob Lee gets cozy with the Q&A and Dustin Harbin offers the Last Word on excessive texters. So, grab a seat in your favorite reading chair and hit the download link of your choice to get your copy of our tablet mag.

Distro Issue 40 PDF
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Distro Issue 40: the battle for smartphone dominance continues and we go hands-on at CTIA 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 May 2012 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This week at CTIA in beautiful New Orleans, we were lucky enough to spend some time with Richard Kerris, VP of Developer Relations at Nokia. Obviously, there's bit of a chicken and egg situation when it comes to attracting software talent to Windows Phone. Developers favor platforms with an established community, and users prefer an ecosystem with a broad selection of apps. We talked about what Nokia announced at the show -- including apps like City Lens -- and how the company is helping developers with its Business Development Kit (BDK) and App Highlights showcase. Want all the details? Just take a look at our video interview.

Joseph Volpe contributed to this report.

The Engadget interview: Nokia VP of Developer Relations Richard Kerris at CTIA 2012 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 May 2012 20:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It's the final day of CTIA Wireless 2012, and time for the week's big event. Will it be a new super phone? An epic new high-speed 4G network? The resurrection of webOS? Nope. The big get of the week is the 42nd president of the United States, Mr. William Jefferson Clinton. Honestly, we're not entirely sure what to expect of the event ending keynote. Most likely Willy (he let's us call him that since we're such close, personal friends -- it's no big deal) will wind up talking about the ability of wireless technology to empower the underclass and level the global playing field... you know, light-hearted stuff. But, there's only one way to find out for sure: follow along after the break.

Live from President Bill Clinton's CTIA keynote originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 May 2012 14:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, consider Konka the number one practitioner of that "craft." The company, (in)famous for its OEM-copycatting ways, has set up a booth here at CTIA 2012, letting us get some up close and personal time with its W900. The HTC-esque handset, previously released at this past Mobile World Congress, is yet another in a line of underwhelming Android offerings that subsists on design without delivering on performance. Although, the phone's official spec sheet lists it as running Ice Cream Sandwich, the build we encountered was actually that of Gingerbread 2.3.6 -- a very buggy version, at that. So, don't let your eyes deceive you, what you're seeing on the homescreen is simply a third-party launcher made to ape ICS's more streamlined UI. Beneath that 4-inch WVGA display lies quadband GSM (850, 900, 1800, 1900) and WCDMA (2100) radios, VGA front-facing / rear 5-megapixel cameras, in addition to support for WiFi, GPS and Bluetooth. Unfortunately, the company couldn't confirm what processor's powering this lackluster affair. But no matter, this is one uneven device you can safely ignore.

Gallery: Konka W900 hands-on

Terrence O'Brien contributed to this report.

Konka W900 hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 May 2012 14:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Looking for something nice to take home alongside your shiny (oh, so shiny) new HTC EVO 4G LTE? How about the Car StereoClip? When the latest EVO hits shelves on May 18th, it'll launch with this Bluetooth accessory that lets you stream audio to any device with a mini stereo auxiliary input. The tiny, USB thumb drive-sized receiver has a micro-USB port on one end for charging, and a male 3.5mm connector hides under a cap on the other side. While the dongle is being marketed for in-car use, it could be used to turn your home stereo into a set of Bluetooth speakers as well. HTC claims that Bluetooth 4.0 and aptX support should make for drastically improved audio quality -- at least when paired with a similarly specced phone. You'll be able to pick up the plug for $60 from Sprint, followed shortly thereafter by AT&T. Check out the gallery below for a few more pics.

Gallery: HTC Car StereoClip hands-on

HTC Car StereoClip hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 May 2012 13:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

HTC EVO 4G LTE preview

HTC One X for AT&T review

HTC One S for T-Mobile review

HTC is on a roll in the US, first releasing the One S for T-Mobile and the One X for AT&T. Now, with the EVO 4G LTE on Sprint, it's ready to shift to the CDMA realm in a different costume. Internally, it's incredibly close to what's offered in the One series' flagship, but the Now Network has made a few tweaks to the device so it'll adjust to life as the latest smartphone in the fabled EVO lineup. This time it's packing a powerful processor, gorgeous display and the ability to connect to the still-dormant LTE. It's eager to show its face in retail stores beginning May 18th for $200, placing it in the high end of Sprint's selection.

This review, however, is just a bit different from any we've done before. How so? To our knowledge, we've never done one in New Orleans before. But when a phone gets dropped in our lap at CTIA 2012, we're naturally going to put it through its paces, regardless of location. As it shares so many commonalities with its One brethren, we've been expecting a very similar fit, feel and performance. In our review, we'll take you through what's different and what's better or worse. Is this the best device to grace the hands of Sprint customers? Follow us past the break to find out.

Gallery: HTC EVO 4G LTE review

Continue reading HTC EVO 4G LTE for Sprint review (updated)

HTC EVO 4G LTE for Sprint review (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 May 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Mystery, solved. That SGH-i667 'Mandel' Windows Phone that cropped up earlier in the month (and is shown above on the left)? Word on the street at that point was that it had been nixed from AT&T's lineup, but somehow, that same device actually made the trip to New Orleans. Sure enough, it debuted at CTIA as the Focus 2, a mid-range followup phone that's destined to tempt smartphone buyers to the WP7 side with a rock-bottom $50-on-contract price point. Hard to say if Samsung and AT&T mutually decided to carry through with launch plans after initially spiking 'em (or if that intel was just wrong to begin with), but we can think of it least one recently-canned phone that's hoping it's the former.

Samsung's SGH-i667 'Mandel' Windows Phone: surprise, it's the Focus 2 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 May 2012 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Remember those Braven speakers from a few weeks back? Well, guess what, the trio made an appearance here at CTIA and we finally got to put our shaky, caffeine-fueled hands on them. The Six Series of Bluetooth boxes is (going from left to right in the image above) the 600, the 650 and the 625s. Both the 600 and 650 are crafted from the same aircraft-grade aluminum and are all but indistinguishable at a glance. The lone physical differentiator is the numerical labeling in the bottom right corner. Both have a pleasant heft and a matte finish that makes them feel like decidedly high-end products. And, at $150 and $190 respectively, they're priced that way too. The 3W speakers and dual passive subwoofers were perfectly pleasant sounding and got surprisingly loud -- drowning out the crowded showroom floor with relative ease. The only issue, predictively, was that the low end started to distort as the volume was cranked -- particularly on the 600. We were even able to daisy chain them through a mini stereo cable (though not turn them into a stereo pair via Bluetooth), clearly irritating Braven's booth neighbors.

The 625s is a slightly different beast. It also features an aluminum speaker grille, but the rest of the casing is wrapped in shock-absorbing rubber. It felt quite a bit lighter, but that's not necessarily a bad thing, since the company appears to think you should use this as a flashlight (hence the LED attachment). The unit even has a drybag should you decide to take it with you kayaking. We were even able to jack our iPhone in to the USB port for a bit of juice before heading back out on the floor. For more check out the gallery below.

Gallery: Braven Six Series hands-on

Joseph Volpe contributed to this report.

Braven Six Series hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 May 2012 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Well, we kicked off the week with the current king of regulation, now we end the event with a keynote from a former regulatory king maker. President Bill Clinton will be taking the stage tomorrow afternoon to talk about... something. The philanthropist and former commander-in-chief took the long trip to N'awlins to address the industry and press, so we assume he's got something important to say. If you want to find out exactly what that might be, check back here at the time listed below to watch Willy get his word groove on.

Join us live for Bill Clinton's CTIA keynote tomorrow at 3PM ET originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 May 2012 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Alcatel's OneTouch 995 first graced our pages back in November, promising pumped-up specs and a departure from the company's traditional low-end lineup. We've now managed to lay our hands upon the device, and while it sports only Gingerbread (which contradicts those Ice Cream Sandwich rumors), it's really quite nice -- especially given the low price. While the hardware is relatively unassuming, that's not a bad thing. Instead, the OneTouch 995 manages to include just enough quality components to make the handset both attractive and functional. It features a 1.4GHz CPU, along with an admirable 4.3-inch, 800 x 480 IPS LCD display and a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash. We were also pleased to see a stock Android 2.3 interface, and Alcatel's addition of a micro-HDMI port with DLNA support is most definitely welcome. The enclosure itself is quite plasticky, but it's also comfortable to hold. We're told the OneTouch 995 will arrive on the market in the near-term, and will sell in the neighborhood of $270. As an important feature for some, it'll also be available in a variety of colors. To see the company's finest handset to date, be sure to check out our gallery below.

Gallery: Alcatel OneTouch 995 hands-on

Sean Cooper contributed to this report.

Alcatel OneTouch 995 hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 May 2012 16:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Remember the Samsung Skyrocket HD for AT&T? Great, now forget it. According to Sammy, the largest GSM carrier has decided to forego the mysteriously absent device, announced all the way back at January's AT&T Developer Summit, in order to focus on other products. This move adds credence to our suspicions that this particular handset wouldn't have a distinct place in the lineup alongside the carrier's version of the Galaxy S III, which hasn't been officially announced for US availability yet.

We reached out to Samsung, and here's the company's official statement on the matter: "AT&T and Samsung have agreed to cancel plans to offer the Galaxy S II Skyrocket HD. We are concentrating resources on other products to bring exciting experiences to consumers." Not too much of a surprise, but those eagerly awaiting this device shouldn't get too frazzled -- if you can't wait for Samsung's newest flagship, at least we're hopeful that a few carrier-branded prototypes will leak out on eBay to whet your appetite.

AT&T cancels plans to release Samsung Skyrocket HD, likely setting sights on Galaxy S III originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 May 2012 15:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It's Italian for the number four and also the name of a certain German auto, but Unnecto's latest device bearing that very moniker has little to do with either. In fact, the star feature of this low-end Android 2.3.5 handset, shown off on the CTIA 2012 show floor, is its ability to accommodate dual-SIMs. Yes, much like the touchscreen-only TAP that preceded it, this phone offers users with multiple lines the option to pack two SIMs -- full-sized and micro -- for easy account switching.

Spec-wise, the 4-inch handset's not much to get hot and bothered about, loaded up as it is with a middling 800 x 480 TFT display, VGA front-facing / rear 5 megapixel cameras, 4GB of storage (augmented by a pre-loaded 8GB microSD) and a 1,400mAh battery. There's no dual-core running under the hood either, just a lone 650MHz MediaTek 6573 processor and it shows given that our brief hands-on with the preliminary software was riddled with lags and stutters. Keep in mind the phone's still a work in progress and that mostly stock UI will eventually ship sometime this June with a customized overlay. An upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich is also purportedly on deck for Q4, but we're somewhat skeptical the single core handset could even support it. As for the price, well that all important bit is still up in the air, although we've been told it should retail between $150 to $200. If you're interested in buying what Unnecto's selling, check out the gallery below and hop on past the break for a brief video demo.

Gallery: Unnecto Quattro hands-on

Terrence O'Brien contributed to this report.

Continue reading Unnecto Quattro hands-on (video)

Unnecto Quattro hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 May 2012 15:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

AT&T's Glenn Lurie sees the end of WiFi-only tablets originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 May 2012 13:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Sprint's been rather quiet at this year's CTIA Wireless in New Orleans, but that doesn't mean it hasn't been sitting around without making any sort of noise. This morning, the Now Network let the cat out of the bag about Direct Connect Now, which is a service that will allow any regular smartphone user the opportunity to use the company's push-to-talk services in very similar fashion to devices that come with PTT already built into the hardware. How is this made possible? Simply put, there's an app for that -- or at least, there will be one coming to Google Play at an unspecified time in the not-too-distant future. This doesn't mean Sprint is giving up on hardware-based Direct Connect devices: new models will continue to be released going forward, but more smartphone users will at least have an opportunity to take advantage of the services in one way or another. More info as we receive it.

Sprint confirms Direct Connect Now, will offer Push-to-Talk services via smartphone app originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 May 2012 12:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

We managed to catch not one, but two of Sprint's execs yesterday at CTIA Wireless 2012: Director of Product Marketing John Tudhope and VP of Product David Owens. While our discussion was centered primarily around the company's announcements at the show -- Sprint Guardian, HTC's EVO V 4G for Virgin Mobile and HTC's EVO Design 4G for Boost Mobile -- we were able to ask a few questions about the state of Sprint's LTE deployment and the associated value proposition. Want to find out more? Take a look at our video interview.

Joseph Volpe contributed to this report

The Engadget interview: Sprint product execs John Tudhope and David Owens at CTIA 2012 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 May 2012 06:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

If you've been following all of the latest coverage from New Orleans at CTIA Wireless 2012, you may be anxious to hear what we have to say about the stuff we've seen. Fortunately, you'll get to enjoy a full crew of Engadget Mobileteers gathered around one single microphone, ranting and raving about whatever comes to mind. So join us for an impromptu Engadget Mobile Podcast, live in just a few minutes!

Featuring: Myriam Joire, Brad Molen, Sean Cooper, Joseph Volpe, Zachary Lutz, Terrence O'Brien

Listen to the Engadget Mobile Podcast, live from CTIA 2012! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 May 2012 00:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It's not often that we write about a feature phone, but we were charmed by the Twist Connect's unique design. The dual-SIM device prides itself on its integration with Nyx Messenger, social networks like Twitter and its MP3-playing abilities. It's the music-playing features that caught our attention. The whole bottom of the phone rotates, switching from a full QWERTY keyboard, to a set of dedicated music controls. In messaging mode the keypad is angled out on a chin to make typing easier, while keeping the screen in a better position for visibility -- it wasn't the greatest display, easily getting washed out at even slight angles under the conventions center's lights. Give it a twist (hence the name) and the keyboard gets stuck to the rear, exposing a pair of stereo speakers and a set of controls to raise and lower the volume, skip tracks and, of course, play and pause your tunes. Otherwise, the bulky and plasticky handset holds little allure, but we'll cheers Nyx Mobile for their special twist on the MP3 phone. Check out the gallery below for a few pics.

Gallery: Nyx Mobile Twist Connect hands-on

Nyx Mobile Twist Connect hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 23:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Plantronics has launched two headsets at this year's CTIA: the M55 and M25. Sure, we'd bet dollars to donuts that piles of companies offer more bells and whistles but the M55's $49 and the M25's $39 price tag will likely garner some fans. The M55 features voice activated answering, 11 hour talk time, 16-day standby, DSP noise reduction, a physical barrier on the mic to reduce wind noise, and one free year of the Vocalyst service. The M25 apes its pricier sibling except it lacks the Vocalyst service and voice activated answering. Both devices feature a deep sleep mode that extends standby time out to 150 days once your device steps out of range of your mobile for longer than 90 mins. Best thing? You can barely notice when you're wearing one, though the rubber parts are a bit grippy and might tend to pull hair when being put in and removed from your listening place.

Gallery: Plantronics M55 and M25 bluetooth headsets ears-on

Zachary Lutz contributed to this report.

Plantronics M55 and M25 bluetooth headsets ears-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 22:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In a perfect world, your grandparents wouldn't need a lick of help getting the most out of a smartphone, but let's face it: the devices are complex, and if you don't have the proper motivation, they can be a bit difficult to learn. You've previously seen the C900 from Clarity, and tonight we stumbled upon its second generation of handsets for senior citizens known as the Pal.

Similar to the predecessor, the phone features a panic button on the back that'll call and text message up to five people in the case of an emergency. Other features consist of a backlit keypad that can read aloud the numbers that are pressed, along with a talking caller ID and up to 26dB of amplification for the earpiece. We received a quick demo of this last feature, and the volume was sufficient enough to cut through a noisy room while allowing us to hear everything that was said -- in other words, we have no doubt that the Clarity Pal will be perfectly suitable for those with moderate hearing impairment. The phone is compatible with GSM networks in the US and Canada, and for more ambitious seniors, it features SMS functionality and Bluetooth for pairing with Clarity's headset. Fortunately, the company has gone through a good amount of effort to refine and simplify the menu scheme, which is quite helpful for those wanting only the basics. The Clarity Pal will be available on May 28th through the company's website and will sell for $99. If you've got someone in your life who might need a simpler phone, take a peek at the gallery below.

Gallery: Hands-on with the Clarity Pal, a new phone for senior citizens

Sean Cooper contributed to this report

Clarity Pal hands-on, a new phone for senior citizens originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Today at CTIA Wireless in New Orleans we got the chance to spend a few minutes with Todd Simpson, Chief of Innovation at Mozilla. We talked about the company's "pivot into mobile" -- more specifically Firefox for Android and Boot to Gecko -- and what it means for Mozilla's future. Is there a Firefox for Windows Phone in the works? Will Boot to Gecko migrate to other platforms, like laptops? We're not going to spoil the fun for you -- just watch our video interview.

Brad Molen contributed to this report.

The Engadget interview: Mozilla Chief of Innovation Todd Simpson at CTIA 2012 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 21:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Coming next month from Jabra, you'll find the Supreme UC Bluetooth headset in its arsenal. In addition to featuring dual microphones for noise cancellation that'll benefit your friends, it also leverages a sizable 24mm speaker to incorporate noise cancellation on your end, too. As you'd hope, the Supreme UC is quite lightweight, and the microphone can even be folded to conserve space. We're told that its battery will give users up to six hours of talk time and between eight to fifteen hours of standby. The downside? It'll set you back $149. Then again, for those who care about the audio quality of their calls, it could be money well spent.

Gallery: Eyes-on with Jabra Supreme UC Bluetooth headset

Sean Cooper contributed to this report.

Check out our event hub to keep up with all the action at CTIA Wireless 2012!

Jabra Supreme UC Bluetooth headset eyes-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 21:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It warms the heart to see Nokia's Beta-Labs delivering goods we actually want on our handsets -- and even more so when we really want the handsets themselves. Espoo's revered Lumia line has been treated to a new toy and it costs not one red cent: Nokia City Lens. Using an augmented reality browser, the user is offered a virtual view through walls and buildings of various points near you that can be browsed by categories such as food, nearby, sights or searched for with text. Better still, searching for AT&T WiFi will find access points nearby and all you then need to do is hoof it in the direction shown by the small icon on the display. Sound neat? We agree. Follow the break to see a video of it all in action, then take your Lumia-owning self on over to Beta-Labs to grab a copy.

Continue reading Nokia City Lens augmented reality browser hands-on (video)

Nokia City Lens augmented reality browser hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 21:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Sadly, when this gorgeous slab of glass and silicon was unveiled at MWC, Huawei wouldn't let us put our greasy hands on it -- and with good reason, the spectacular panel on the MediaPad 10 is a bit of a fingerprint magnet. But, we're happy to report that the company trotted out the goods for Pepcom's event at CTIA. We took the device for a pretty thorough spin and, despite being saddled with software still in the development stage, came away thoroughly impressed. The 10-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS display is one of the most gorgeous screens to ever grace a tablet. Sure, it's not quite "new iPad" levels of pixel density, but it certainly puts most of its potential competitors to shame. The primarily aluminum body feels great in the hand, striking a great balance between weight and a premium feel. At only 8.8mm thin it's no surprise that it comes in at just 13 ounces (roughly), all while packing a 6,600 mAh battery.

The in-house developed 1.5Ghz quad-core K3 Balong CPU inside is given a pretty decent workout by the rough build of Ice Cream Sandwich on board, that was mostly stock but had the sporadic OEM flourish such as different icons and keyboard. Most actions, such as playing back HD video and launching the browser were smooth enough, but we did notice the occasional stutter and pause. We took some time to put it through a few of our standard issue benchmarks, and turned up some mixed results. The 2,696.7ms it took to chug through the SunSpider benchmark left us standing around awkwardly at the Huawei table, while the 2,737 on Quadrant and 30.1 fps in NenaMark 2 were respectable, though not mind-blowing. But, again, we'll stress that this is still running a development version of the OS. Check out the gallery below and the video after the break for a full tour.

Gallery: Huawei Mediapad hands-on

Continue reading Huawei MediaPad 10 hands-on (video)

Huawei MediaPad 10 hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 20:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

You know the drill: it's Friday night and your smartphone's battery is down to a mere three percent. Here's the twist, though -- if you had Energizer's Universal Multi-Port or Portable Smartphone Charger handy, it wouldn't be a problem. The company is preparing to unleash both of these products this fall, and we quite like 'em. The Universal Multi-Port Charger ($76) carries a 5,000mAh battery, packs two USB ports and is able to deliver a total of 15W output, which means -- yes -- it supports quick charging. Meanwhile, the Portable Smartphone Charger ($55) holds 2,500mAh in its reserves, though it only has one USB output and will deliver 5W max. Both products feature a very nice soft touch, satin-like finish and the cables feature magnets for simple management of the clutter. Curious to see more? Just check the gallery below.

Gallery: Hands-on with Energizer's Universal Multi-Port and Portable chargers

Sean Cooper contributed to this report.

Energizer Universal Multi-Port and Portable charger hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 20:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

When PR reps have something they think is truly special, things can get a little cloak and dagger. While we were hanging around the Nyx Mobile booth, a rep quietly sneaked up on us to offer a glimpse of two new handsets his company is working on. When we enthusiastically agreed (after our heart rate dropped), he led us aside -- away from prying eyes -- and produced a pair devices, delicately wrapped in a silk handkerchief, from his suit's inside pocket. We won't lie, things got a tad disappointing when we realized they were non-functioning mockups, but if the company can pull off these frame-less designs we'll be quite impressed. Due to begin manufacturing within the next two or three months, the Lyuba Max and Lyuba Fun aim to make bezels a thing of the past. The lack of a frame on the five-inch, 63mm-wide Max makes it even trimmer than the significantly smaller-screened Galaxy Nexus, which checks in at about 68mm wide. While we won't make too many judgments on the feel and design based on a non-functioning prototype, we actually found the Max easier to hold and reach all corners of the screen with a single hand than the Nexus or the Note. The four-inch Fun felt a good half-inch smaller than its spec sheet implied -- more akin to an iPhone in size.

Both devices will come rocking Ice Cream Sandwich, but they'll be powered by some rather mid-range hardware. Both will pack a 1.2GHz processor, likely of the single-core variety, and neither is boasting impressive screen resolutions. The Max is checking in with a decidedly dated 800 x 480 LCD, while the Fun drops to a lowly HVGA panel. Check out the gallery below for some images of the mockups.

Gallery: Nyx Mobile Lyuba Max and Lyuba Fun mockup hands-on

Nyx Mobile Lyuba Max and Fun hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Huawei's at CTIA Wireless 2012 in New Orleans, and we got to spend a little time with one the company's newest devices geared toward the youth and first-time smartphone users: the Ascend Y200. Power users need not apply here, as the Gingerbread handset offers a not-so-tantalizing 3.5-inch HVGA display, 1,400mAh battery, 3.2MP fixed-focus camera and 1GHz Qualcomm MSM7625A single-core processor (the listed spec here is different from the 800MHz spec we've heard previously, which makes us wonder if this has been overclocked for the US market). It also features a lot of fingerprints, courtesy of its glossy plastic build. The UI of the Y200 closely resembles most Huawei Gingerbread phones we've played with, such as the Honor. All told, the Ascend Y200 is decidedly low-end, with some European venues offering the device for €100. We may see it on a few prepaid carriers in the US, but this certainly won't be of any interest to those who crave the latest and greatest smartphones.

Gallery: Huawei Ascend Y200 hands-on

Terrence O'Brien contributed to this post.

Huawei Ascend Y200 hands-on at CTIA 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In one corner, we have CNBC's Jim Cramer. And in the other corner stands the heads of the four largest mobile operators in the United States: Ralph de la Vega (AT&T Mobility), Dan Mead (Verizon Wireless), Dan Hesse (Sprint) and Philipp Humm (T-Mobile). We fully expect Jim to lob a few hardball questions at these gentlemen, and there's no doubt zingers will be flung around. Who knows -- maybe we'll even get some news out of this keynote, so join us as we liveblog the Tuesday afternoon CTIA keynote, won't you?

Live from CTIA with Jim Cramer and the CEOs of the four largest US carriers! originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 17:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

No, your eyes aren't deceiving you -- that's the very same EVO Design 4G we reviewed late last winter when it bowed on Sprint's lineup. Surfing along the carrier's increasingly antiquated 4G WiMAX network, this handset's getting a new berth on Boost Mobile priced at an affordable $299 for pre-paid customers. Much like its girthier Android cousin the EVO V 4G, the physical construction and internal specifications of this device have remained unchanged. It's still packing a 4-inch 960 x 540 qHD display, single-core 1.2GHz Snapdragon S2, 1.3-megapixel front-facing / rear 5-megapixel cameras and 4GB of internal storage. So, for the price the prepaid carrier's asking, it's not a bad deal.

The phone is still just as pleasant to hold in hand, owing to a soft touch plastic back that's broken up by a smooth piece of aluminum plating. Again, if you've seen its earlier incarnation, you know what you're getting into, but there is a distinct difference here -- a combo of Sense 3.6 and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Luckily for prepaid consumers, the phone's set to launch sometime this June with that software combo pre-loaded; a sweet perk given its place on the lower end of the consumer spectrum. Hit up the gallery below for a further peek at this re-badged handset, or head here to see the phone in action.

Gallery: EVO Design 4G hands-on

Myriam Joire contributed to this report.

HTC EVO Design 4G for Boost Mobile hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 16:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Does that handset above look familiar to you? It should because you've seen it once before when Sprint debuted it as the EVO 3D. This time, however, the phone that failed to ignite much consumer interest is back with a rebranded moniker -- EVO V 4G -- a new home on Virgin Mobile, that 3D screen and a $299 price. We managed to get some hands-on time with the device and for better or for worse, it's still packing the same list of specs: 4.3-inch qHD display, 1.3-megapixel front-facing / dual 5-megapixel rear cameras, dual-core 1.2GHz processor buffered by 1GB RAM and packing 4GB of internal storage with an additional 8GB furnished by an included microSD card.

Cosmetically, nothing has changed from its postpaid to prepaid journey, so you're still getting that same bulky build, jarring button layout for the 3D to 2D slider and the three quarter grooved plastic back. What counts, however, is the software it runs, namely Android 4.0.3. Yes, right out of the gate the company intends to ship this 4G WiMAX device (sorry, it's not future-proofed for LTE) with a Sense 3.6 skin running atop Ice Cream Sandwich. It's not HTC's latest lightweight 4.0 UX, but for the market it's aimed at, it'll do just fine. Check out our gallery below for additional shots of this fat smartphone ahead of its planned June launch. To see the device in action, head here.

Gallery: EVO V 4G hands-on

Myriam Joire contributed to this report.

HTC EVO V 4G (Virgin Mobile USA) hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 15:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

CTIA is gaining momentum, and Nokia has just announced a slew of new app partnerships for its Lumia line at the show. Sports fans can look forward to PGA Tour, a dedicated app to cover the golfing action, while the ESPN sports hub will get a series of updates, plus an exclusive Lumia-only Fantasy Football app in autumn. Gamers will get new treats from EA -- including FIFA, NBA Jam and more -- and Rovio, which is creating a dedicated development team to create titles for Nokia Windows phones. Other notable names on the list to either get a new app or an update include Groupon, PayPal, Time, NewsWeek and more. Be sure to poke the source link for the full list.

Nokia announces string of new Lumia app partnerships at CTIA originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The first keynote of the week is a doozy. We've got Gary Flood from MasterCard, Patrick Riordan president of Cellcom and Joe Kennedy the CEO of Pandora. Not too shabby. But, the big fish in this four person pond is clearly FCC chairman Julius Genachowski. The chief regulator of the wireless industry here in the US will be taking to the stage to talk... well, we're not entirely sure. But, if the topic of spectrum doesn't come up, we'll be quite surprised.

Continue reading Live from CTIA with FCC chairman Julius Genachowski

Live from CTIA with FCC chairman Julius Genachowski originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 10:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Kyocera is looking to regain a foothold in the US smartphone market, and curiously enough, it's doing so by catering to niche audiences. First we saw the Hydro, a waterproof handset, and alongside it is the Rise, which features a sliding QWERTY keyboard. Both phones are built for CDMA networks, although Kyocera has yet to announce carrier availability for either. We wouldn't be surprised in the least to see it going to Sprint or any of its prepaid brands, but this is just speculation for now.

Spec-wise, the Rise is very similar to the Hydro, and this extends to the OS. In our brief time with the phone, we were treated to a largely vanilla interpretation of Ice Cream Sandwich, which makes the Rise a bit of a rare breed in the QWERTY world -- hopefully its future carrier doesn't dictate huge alterations. The phone features a Qualcomm MSM8655 SoC with a 1GHz CPU, a 3.5-inch, 480 x 320 IPS LCD display, a 3.2-megapixel camera with LED flash and a 1,500 mAh battery. When compared to other QWERTY sliders, the handset itself is rather compact and fit nicely in our hand. We were similarly quite fond of the sliding mechanism on the Rise, which felt natural and provided just enough resistance. The four-row keyboard is altogether forgettable, but it should serve those who insist upon physical keys just fine. Our biggest gripe about the Rise, however, is its low-res display, which seems like quite a misstep -- even for a budget device.

In terms of storage, you'll find 512MB of RAM, 2GB built-in and a 2GB microSD card. The Rise also features 802.11n (WiFi), Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR and EV-DO Rev. A. It's safe to say that Kyocera is targeting budget audiences with the Rise, but the strategy may work to its advantage if other carriers fail to keep their QWERTY sliders up-to-date with the latest version of Android. No pricing was announced at the show, but we imagine it will be strongly tied to whichever carriers choose to sell it. You'll find our hands-on video after the break.

Gallery: Kyocera Rise hands-on

Continue reading Kyocera Rise hands-on (video)

Kyocera Rise hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It's been a while since we've seen a Kyocera smartphone for the US market, and if you'll recall, its previous two attempts -- the Milano and Echo -- didn't manage to sway many consumers. Today, the company is adding two new Android handsets to the deck: the Hydro and Rise. True to its name, the Hydro plays off of Kyocera's experience in the waterproof segment, and while it's not mil-spec, the phone's able to withstand submersion at depths of up to one meter for a half-hour. The Hydro is a CDMA handset, although Kyocera is keeping the carrier affiliations -- and pricing -- close to its chest. As with the Rise, we'd expect to see it arrive on Sprint or one of its prepaid brands in the near future.

The Hydro will ship with Ice Cream Sandwich, and we're pleased to report that the interface is largely unmolested, save for Kyocera's app to conserve battery life -- whether the carrier dictates future changes remains to be seen. Beyond the OS and the waterproof aspect, however, it's rather humdrum in the spec department. It features a Qualcomm MSM8655 SoC with a 1GHz CPU, a 3.5-inch, 480 x 320 display, a 3.2-megapixel camera with LED flash and a 1,500 mAh battery. Because the screen is an IPS LCD, the quality is definitely a step-above your run-of-the-mill TFT-LCD mainstays, although it's hard to ignore the low-res image quality. The Hydro also offers 512MB of RAM, 2GB of built-in storage and a 2GB microSD card. In terms of connectivity, you'll find 802.11n (WiFi), Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR and EV-DO Rev. A. The handset itself is comfortable to hold, though its plasticky build materials reinforce the fact that it's a low-end handset. While the Hydro doesn't blaze any new trails, it may very well be suitable for those on a budget who'd like a phone that can handle life's accidents. Follow the break for our hands-on video.

Gallery: Kyocera Hydro hands-on

Continue reading Kyocera Hydro hands-on (video)

Kyocera Hydro hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Escort has long enabled heavy-footed -- but ticket-shy -- drivers a little more freedom with just how quickly they're able to complete the daily commute. Escort's SmartRadar is set to extend that fun and cut the cord by including Bluetooth connectivity in the detector itself and enabling users to have a mostly out-of-sight installation -- as your handset becomes the interface to the radar. The SmartRadar integrates with Escort's Live ticket protection app which shares other users of the system's radar / laser hits and updates them in real time on your phone's display. Check the gallery for some pics of it installed behind the rearview mirror and a simulated laser notification.

Gallery: Escort SmartRadar hands-on

Joseph Volpe contributed to this report.

Escort SmartRadar hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 May 2012 21:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

CTIA, while focused on mobile technology, often gives us the chance to peek at other devices that bridge into our beloved mobile world. Clarion's Next Gate is one such device, running on a 7-inch WVGA display and interfacing with your iPhone via the dock connector. Once you're hooked up -- which should be straightforward as it only needs plugging in -- the Next Gate allows control of apps on your device. First off, we like the idea that your iPhone is controlled by the Next Gate -- in fact when firing up an app in the demo you can see it cycle open on the iPhone display -- but its lower resolution screen, hung adjacent to an iPad, made us immediately yearn for an upgraded panel. The selection of usable apps includes such niceties as Twitter, Facebook, streaming radio and of course navigation. All the apps we saw seemed to perform quite well, though we weren't on the open road in bright sunlight with the top down and the quadruplets screaming bloody murder in the back seat, thankfully. If you're jonesing for one of these distraction-inducing gizmos, it can be all yours beginning June 1st for $270. Have a peek at the video and gallery below for a tour of the interface and some of its functionality.

Gallery: Clarion Next Gate hands-on (video)

Continue reading Clarion Next Gate hands-on (video)

Clarion Next Gate hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 May 2012 21:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Can you hear me now? It's a common phrase in the mobile industry, but if Kyocera has its way, the saying could quickly become a thing of the past, thanks to tissue conduction technology that it plans to integrate into future handsets. Rather than operating with a traditional earpiece, we were told the display itself vibrates to create sound waves. The end result is an aural experience that can be perceived with your facial tissues and bones, and it's said to dramatically improves perceived audio quality within noisy environments.

Bone conduction technology was initially created for those with hearing difficulty, and while Kyocera isn't the first to reveal a novel implementation within mobile phones (a distinction that belongs to KDDI), the technology is Kyocera's own. During our brief hands-on demo, we were rather impressed by the noticeable difference created by tissue conduction in comparison to a traditional handset -- this applies to both quiet and noisy environments. In case you're curious, no, the vibrations aren't jarring, and yes, we'd genuinely like to see the technology take to the mainstream.

Gallery: Kyocera's tissue conduction audio technology

Kyocera teases tissue conduction audio technology for mobile phones at CTIA originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 May 2012 21:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Edgewater may not be a familiar name for even the most tech savvy, but its WiFi3 chipset is poised to propel the wireless industry beyond the limits of traditional access point tech. Aiming to leap past the low power solutions provided by the likes of Cisco, the company's developed a proprietary standard that delivers multiple channels per radio -- three channels over 2.4GHz in the showfloor demo -- versus the typical single channel currently employed. The chipset's not necessarily an end consumer product as it's intended for use by carriers, enterprise and ISPs, but it does stand to clear up the clutter when network congestion gets unwieldy. Check out our galleries below for a closer look at the outfit's next step in wireless infrastructure.

Gallery: Hands-on with Edgewater's WiFi3

Sean Cooper contributed to this report.

Edgewater WiFi3 hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 May 2012 21:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Move over Jambox, there's a new portable audio contender entering the market. The Disco2, shown off at this week's CTIA 2012, is SuperTooth's smaller, more compact sequel to its O.G. 28 watt powerhouse of the same name and a direct threat to the niche market occupied by Jawbone. Housed in a colorful hourglass-shaped design that should please the style-minded, this rechargeable speaker connects over Bluetooth to your device of choice, outputting 16 watts of 360 degree sound through two speakers and a subwoofer. It's set to hit the market mid-month priced at $99, but for consumers that want a bit more of an aural punch, an additional unit can actually be paired up to deliver a fuller stereo effect. Judging from its powerful performance on the noisy showroom floor, however, you'd probably be fine with just the one. Click on below to take a better look at the company's curvy offering.

Gallery: SuperTooth Disco2 hands-on

Sean Cooper contributed to this report.

SuperTooth Disco2 hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 May 2012 21:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.