UK carriers often like to elbow their way into the limelight when a rival's getting some attention. This time, Vodafone's cutting into Orange's Intel excitement with the Smart II; an update to its wallet-happy Android device from 2011. The UK carrier even let us get some hands-on time with the pebble-sized phone. While the specifications (800MHz processor, 3.2-inch screen) aren't going to wow, at £70 (around $109) it could reel in plenty of feature phone graduates. Check out a brief hands-on video and our own impressions right after the break.

Gallery: Vodafone Smart II hands-on

Continue reading Vodafone UK launches Smart II: Android Gingerbread for £70 (hands-on)

Vodafone UK launches Smart II: Android Gingerbread for £70 (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2012 11:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

While we've been pleasantly surprised by some favorable browser scores, we couldn't help sneaking another peek at the phone's (second) launch -- this time right in the center of London. We took the Orange Santa Clara San Diego for a spin on our latest benchmarks. See how Intel's new mobile processor fares against much pricier competition right after the break.

Continue reading Orange San Diego: Intel's Medfield phone gets benchmarked

Orange San Diego: Intel's Medfield phone gets benchmarked originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2012 06:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Orange took its time to decide, but now it's settled. The first European Intel-equipped smartphone is the San Diego, replacing the Santa Clara codename assigned to it since February's Mobile World Congress. It will launch on pay-as-you-go at £200, including £10 of credit -- although Orange tell us this will be an introductory price. On contract, prices will start at £15.50 per month for two years and Brits will be able to pick one up from June 6th. We're getting the full run-through from Orange UK and Intel, but we're itching to run our new benchmarks on the Medfield phone as soon as they let us at it. And that pesky Gingerbread OS? We've been told to expect Ice Cream Sandwich closer to the end of Q3. But with just the single carrier, we're hoping testing time could be shaved off significantly.

Gallery: Orange Santa Clara hands-on at MWC 2012

Continue reading Orange San Diego revealed: Intel-powered phone to reach UK on June 6th for £200

Orange San Diego revealed: Intel-powered phone to reach UK on June 6th for £200 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2012 04:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

At CES 2012, Lenovo was the first to announce a Medfield-powered smartphone: the K800. And while it was the first to be unveiled, it couldn't beat the Lava Xolo X900 to market. Lenovo's not too worried about that, however, as the K800 has arrived in China right on schedule, having originally aimed for a Q2 launch and later refining the timeframe to the end of May. The fruits of Intel's labor can be had for the grand 'ol retail price of RMB 3,299 ($524), which gets you a 1.6GHz CPU, 1GB of RAM, Android 2.3, a 4.5-inch 720p display, an 8MP rear camera and 16GB of internal storage. We haven't heard any news of the phone reaching across the Pacific, but we're sure that won't stop the most insistent of you from grabbing a unit through alternative methods, right?

Lenovo LePhone K800 launches, officially brings Medfield to China originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 May 2012 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

So you've decided that it's time to make a tablet part of your life, but a lack of star-spangled slabs has prompted you to defer the purchase. Malaysians now face no such dilemma, due in no small part to the 1Malasyia Pad -- the country's first branded tab. The 1Mpad will reportedly soon be marketed to students (1.4 million of them, in fact), but 5,000 of the 7-inch Gingerbread devices are now being offered up to deep-pocketed locals, priced online at a rather-ambitious 999 Malaysian ringgits (about $315). Manufactured by MalTechPro Sdn Bhd, the 1Mpad will be offered to students at a to-be-determined discounted rate, making it the first such device to be available using a student discount card. At its current high list price, the tablet doesn't appear to be a fantastic deal, shipping with 3G broadband and the 1Malaysia Messenger application, which will serve as an IM service of sorts for sending text, pictures, video and voice recording to other 1Mpad owners. Still, if you have the cash to spare for an early taste of what Malaysian students may some day be using to surf the web, you can hit up the source link after the break for a bit more info.

[Thanks, Joe]

1Mpad is Malaysia's first branded tablet, delivers 7 inches of Gingerbread for $315 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 27 May 2012 05:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

What's in a name? For the Samsung Galaxy Appeal, everything. The moniker of AT&T's new Android GoPhone fits the manufacturer's current legal situation perfectly, though admittedly its side-slider QWERTY-packing form factor is the least likely of Sammy's lineup to catch the attention of Cupertino's team of suits. Joking aside, the 4.3-ounce Appeal offers Android 2.3, a 3.2-inch HVGA (that's 480 x 320) display, 800MHz Qualcomm MSM7225A processor, 3MP rear camera and 512MB of RAM. It's also made with 80 percent recycled material and has a microSD port and 1,300mAh battery. The Appeal will begin its wireless sojourn on June 5th at Walmart for $150, and will pop up at other AT&T outlets beginning July 15th. Head below to find the legal team-approved press release.

Continue reading AT&T launches Samsung Galaxy Appeal GoPhone, available at Walmart on June 5th for $150

AT&T launches Samsung Galaxy Appeal GoPhone, available at Walmart on June 5th for $150 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 May 2012 12:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Welcome to Panasonic's first attempt to crack the increasingly competitive world of Android phones outside of Japan. Its efforts have crystallized into a plastic slab that had a curious appeal when we first handled it at Mobile World Congress a few months ago. We were surprised at how comfortable it felt in the hand and while its spec sheet won't cause any jaws to drop, there's plenty of respectable features -- a 4.3-inch AMOLED display, dual-core processor and a very solid, soft-finish shell that protects that delicate Android hardware against dust and water.

Panasonic's not the only Japanese manufacturer looking to branch out from a contracting domestic market, however, and we have a few concerns with whether the Eluga (£370 / $583) can make a dent in European countries dominated by Apple, Samsung and HTC. Will it bring the same awkward Android skins found on several Japan-only Android phones? Is it really all that waterproof? Dive in after the break to see.

Gallery: Panasonic Eluga review

Continue reading Panasonic Eluga review

Panasonic Eluga review originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

HTC may be over the idea of including premium earbuds with its smartphones, but Motorola is stepping up to give it the ol' college try with its Motosmart Mix XT550. The phone will sell in China for ¥1,699 and is targeted at "people who really care about music." Along with the bundled set of headphones, you'll also discover a dedicated button to open the Sina Micro Music application. Beyond these selling points, however, the handset is a bit behind the curve. The XT550 features Android 2.3.6, a Qualcomm MSM7255A SoC with an 800MHz CPU, 512MB of RAM, a 3-megapixel camera and a 4-inch, HVGA display. On a positive note, the 1,735mAh battery is said to provide up to 30 hours of music playback. All things considered, however, we're inclined to agree: you'd have to "really care about music" to spring for this one. Undeterred? You'll find the full PR after the break.

Continue reading Motorola Motosmart Mix XT550 masks its middling specs with a set of nice headphones

Motorola Motosmart Mix XT550 masks its middling specs with a set of nice headphones originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 May 2012 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

If you were one of those who jumped on last week's pre-order, chances are you're eagerly waiting for this Virgin-branded Optimus Elite to show up at your doorstep today. For those who decided to wait it out, however, you'll be happy to know LG's Gingerbread slab is now up for grabs at "major" retail shops in the States as well as Virgin Mobile USA's site. The contract-free flavor of the Optimus Elite carries a $149.99 price tag, which isn't a bad deal when you take into consideration its NFC and Google Wallet capabilities -- that said, its biggest trait's likely to be that lack of a two-year commitment. So, hit the source link below if you'd like one of these for yourself, or you could always take a quick road trip to one of your favorite stores.

Continue reading PSA: LG Optimus Elite available today on Virgin Mobile USA for $150

PSA: LG Optimus Elite available today on Virgin Mobile USA for $150 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 14:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

That new Baidu Cloud phone we told you about last week? You're looking right at it! Following the flagship Dell Streak Pro D43 (which was branded with what was then known as Baidu Yi aka version 1.0 of the platform), this Foxconn-built Changhong H5018 is the second smartphone to have its Android Gingerbread system enhanced by Baidu, meaning it'll come with 300GB of cloud storage space (instead of the old 100GB), voice search, voice control and a set of other online services offered by the Chinese search giant.

As for the hardware itself, we're looking at a 10.3mm-thick matte chassis housing a 650MHz MTK6573 processor, a 3.5-inch 480 x 320 display, a three-megapixel camera and a non-removable 1,400mAh battery, all of which would explain that highly affordable CN¥899 (US$140) off-contract price tag. That said, you'll still find a dual-SIM (WCDMA plus GSM) tray and a microSD slot hidden beneath the bottom cover. Not sure where ZTE is on this one, but for now, you can head over to Sina Tech for its hands-on report and photos.

Update: Baidu just confirmed that it's actually the same old 100GB of cloud storage, so somehow Sina Tech got lucky with its 300GB edition. We'll let you know when we hear more.

New Baidu Cloud phone unveiled: Changhong H5018 with 100GB of cloud storage originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 12:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Kobo is the underdog trying to scrape points while the e-reader heavy hitters of Amazon and B&N duke it out. The Vox was the Canadian outfits response to the Nook and Kindle Fire, but despite a similar price tag, our e-reader expert found that its last-generation hardware was no match for the big boys. That said, plenty of people must have bought them so tell us; how has it been? Do you regret shunning the other two for it, or does it have hidden charms that we didn't see first time around? Let us know in the comments below.

How would you change the Kobo Vox? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 13 May 2012 23:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Not all mobile news is destined for the front page, but if you're like us and really want to know what's going on, then you've come to the right place. This past week, Sprint reassured us with optimism for Windows Phone 8, and T-Mobile's CEO found a new partner to continue the fight against Verizon's AWS acquisition. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of May 7th, 2012.

Continue reading Mobile Miscellany: week of May 7th, 2012

Mobile Miscellany: week of May 7th, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 12 May 2012 20:40:00 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.

Blue your favorite color? Have a thing for 7.1mm thin slabs? Then today's your lucky day. Verizon just announced an azure flavor of its exquisite Droid RAZR is set to hit its physical and virtual shelves next week -- though, it could show up at brick and mortar shops a wee bit earlier than that. Aside from the most recent paint job, this Droid RAZR isn't changing much, meaning you'll still get that admirable 4.3-inch, qHD display, a 1.2 GHz dual-core CPU and Android 2.3 onboard (worry not, ICS should be coming soon). For now, gather up your cash and pay your nearest Big Red store a visit -- who knows, you might just get lucky.

Blue Droid RAZR heading to Verizon on May 17th, Ice Cream Sandwich nowhere to be found originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 May 2012 12:51:00 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.

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.

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.

Did LG's Optimus L5 handset sneak through the FCC? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 May 2012 07:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It's almost baffling to see a modern Android smartphone with such an archaic design in a world more accustomed to the Galaxy Nexus. Still, LG's late-2011 DoublePlay has a slide-out physical keyboard and that dinky second screen which reminds us of a phone that's years out of date. However, when we reviewed it, we found it to be very useful, even if it lacked a front-facing camera and weighed a metric ton okay, 190 grams. But how about you? Some of you bought this phone, some of you love it, so how has it been? Tell us in the space below.

How would you change the LG DoublePlay? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 May 2012 22:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!

Continue reading Refresh Roundup: week of April 30th, 2012

Refresh Roundup: week of April 30th, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 May 2012 19:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

While the design (and even the briefing slides) scream affordable, we're sure there must be some Big Magenta customers aching for a keenly-priced smartphone fix. So here's the Prism. Huawei's behind that T-Mobile face, cooking up a Android Gingerbread phone with a pretty weedy 600MHz processor and a 3.5-inch (480 x 320) touchscreen. A fixed-focus (yeah) 3.2-megapixel camera pokes out the back, while a microSD slot means you can extend space for those vaguely-almost-in-focus shots -- the Prism arrives with a 2GB card already onboard. The phone looks set for a May 6th release date and TmoNews has several more slides with some extra launch details -- you can check them out at the source below.

T-Mobile Prism leaked: entry-level Huawei smartphone to launch in May originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 May 2012 12:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Wouldn't ya know it, but Panasonic was spot on with its announcement of the Eluga smartphone's European arrival this month. The elegant, waterproof handset is now available unlocked from Expansys, where it retails for £369 and approximately €460, with slight variations among countries. While the phone supports quadband GSM, its UMTS / HSPA connectivity is limited to the 2100MHz and 900MHz bands, which makes it less than ideal for North American use -- though, if you really want one, it seems safe to peg this one in the $600 territory.

Similarly available through NTT DoCoMo as the P-04D, we first managed to get a hands-on with the Eluga at Mobile World Congress. For those in need of a quick refresh, the phone features a TI OMAP 4430 SoC with a dual-core 1GHz CPU, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of built-in storage, a 4.3-inch qHD Super AMOLED display, an 8 megapixel rear camera and a rather paltry 1,150mAh battery. The Eluga includes a heavily-skinned version of Android 2.3.5, although an upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich has been pegged for release this summer. The phone represents Panasonic's return to the smartphone arena, and while it's a bit behind the curve, it's no doubt a fine starting point.

Panasonic Eluga now available unlocked in Europe, yours for £369 or €460 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 04:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Oh, snap. By all appearances, the T-Mobile folks haven't lost sight of the popularity of the Galaxy Note, as a collection of snapshots obtained by TmoNews have revealed Samsung's phablet in none other than Magenta colors. At the very least, this suggests the Bellevue crew is considering bringing the 5.3-inch handset to its stores, and while the carrier's subscribers are currently able to use AT&T's Galaxy Note LTE on the Magenta network, it's a rather roundabout process and the results are less than ideal. We can only hope this one pans out, because really, who wouldn't love to take this monster for a proper ride on the little network that could?

Samsung Galaxy Note for T-Mobile spotted in the wild, pretends it's no big deal originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 21:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!

Continue reading Refresh Roundup: week of April 16th, 2012

Refresh Roundup: week of April 16th, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 Apr 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It's not like we're gonna argue with Sprint's rationale, but the EVO 3D has met its end at the Now Network. Visitors to the carrier's online store will notice that the gee-whiz smartphone is no longer available for sale, and Sprint reps have confirmed to us that it's not coming back. Those who insist on owning an EVO 3D will be glad to know that the handset is still available at Sprint's retail outlets, but according to the carrier, quantities are rather limited. Given a phone that debuted less than a year ago, its abrupt and unceremonious demise comes as a bit of a shock, but with the mighty EVO 4G LTE on the horizon, we can't blame the carrier one bit.

Sprint discontinues HTC EVO 3D online, limited quantities remain at retail stores originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Apr 2012 11:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

They said it wouldn't last. And they -- pundits, analysts, bloggers, GSM fanatics -- were right. WiMAX, that flavor of 4G found in the 2500MHz band, has proven to be more of a hindrance than help during Sprint's transition from underdog to reinvigorated titan. Then there are the kerfuffles it's endured standing on the sidelines -- namely, watching one-time LTE partner LightSquared squander its regulatory good graces. Beleaguered would be putting it mildly; Sprint faces a treacherous climb uphill to the mobile Olympus where Verizon, AT&T and now-spectrum-rich T-Mobile sit -- after all, it's hard to change the tide of public perception, overcome the limitations of a dreadful 3G CDMA network and move away from weak third-party 4G signals. Yet, with all of those negatives working against it, a planned rollover to LTE technology might just be the panacea Sprint has so badly needed.

Right now, at least, a wish and a hope are all Sprint can dole out to existing subscribers toying with the idea of switching carriers. Its nascent LTE network, currently in testing across six US cities, hasn't been cleared for launch, which makes its first 4G handset, the Viper 4G LTE, a dress rehearsal of sorts. And what a low-key affair it is: no cutting-edge aesthetics or kickstand here, just mid-range specs and a humble design made from recycled materials. But for anyone itching to surf those faster waves, LG's dual-core, NFC-enabled workhorse could be a tempting buy when it goes on sale Sunday for $100 (with a two-year contract). So will the dangling carrot of faster 4G persuade consumers to choose this over all those other mid-tier Android phones? Let's find out.

Gallery: LG Viper 4G LTE review

Continue reading LG Viper 4G LTE review

LG Viper 4G LTE review originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The FCC comes across many smartphones in its daily routine, but it's hardly an everyday occurrence for one of those handsets to rock a miniature projector. That's the claim to fame of the Samsung Galaxy Beam, which just made its way through the regulatory body with full 3G support for AT&T's 1900MHz and 850MHz bands. We were first introduced to this updated version of the original Galaxy Beam at Mobile World Congress, and for a quick refresher, the Android 2.3 device packs a dual-core 1GHz CPU, 768MB of RAM, a 4-inch WVGA display and a projector that'll toss 50-inch imagery onto the wall. Naturally, whether AT&T chooses to sell the smartphone is another consideration entirely, but this certification will keep users in proper standing with the feds, and that's a good thing.

Samsung Galaxy Beam crosses paths with FCC, sports 3G connectivity for AT&T originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Apr 2012 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The successor to 2010's Optimus S, LG's readied another low-middleweight smartphone. Main features on the Optimus Elite include Android 2,3, a 3.5-inch screen, an 800MHz processor, NFC and a five-megapixel camera. So there's nothing particularly thrilling, but 50GB of free storage from Box could sweeten the deal for some. Eco-friendly nods include sustainable build materials, with 50 percent made from recycled plastic, with the hazardous likes of mercury, PVC and halogens also nixed from the device. Like other Sprint-LG team-ups toting green credentials, the charger ekes out minimal power when not charging the phone. Planeteers can pick up the Optimus Elite online -- in "Titan" silver and white -- from April 22, priced at $30 on a two-year contract. Sprint will also hand over a $50 reward card for your troubles and LG says the Optimus Elite will eventually arrive, at least in silver, on Virgin Mobile too. For a few more details, you can catch LG and Sprint emoting over Mother Earth in the press release below.

Continue reading Sprint and LG launch Optimus Elite: entry-level specifications, planet-saving hopes

Sprint and LG launch Optimus Elite: entry-level specifications, planet-saving hopes originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 14:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Mobile Miscellany: week of April 9th, 2012

Mobile Miscellany: week of April 9th, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 14 Apr 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Just mention the company's name, and a pair of things come to mind: world-beating sound quality, and above-average prices. Such is life when you're Cowon, which has informed us that its Plenue Z2 portable media player will be shipping to the US of A in May. Based on details shared to us from a Cowon spokesperson, "early May" is the targeted release window, which makes sense given the unit's FCC debut back in December of 2011. We've learned that it'll ship in 16GB (white only) and 32GB (black only) sizes, with prices set for $279.99 and $319.99 in order of mention. As for specs? Glad you asked. Rather than relying on one of Cowon's proprietary operating systems, the Z2 will ship with Android 2.3.5 (Gingerbread), while measuring 62.8- x 116.5- x 11.8-millimeters, weighing 116 grams and boasting a 3.7-inch (800 x 480) capacitive touchpanel.

On the audio side, you'll get a typical 20Hz to 20,000Hz frequency range, 29mW + 29mW maximum outlet and a 95dB signal-to-noise ratio. There's also an HDMI output, a microSD expansion slot, built-in FM radio tuner, 802.11b/g/n WiFi module, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and an internal microphone. The outfit claims that this guy can last some 22 hours when playing back music alone, while video junkies will see 8.5 hours of their favorite Family Guy clips before needing a rejuvenation session. Not surprisingly, the Z2 also supports a smorgasbord of file formats, including AVI, WMV, ASF, MP4, MKV, MPG, DAT, 3GP -- tired yet? -- DivX, XviD, H.264, WMA, OGG, PMC and FLAC. We managed to grab hold of a unit prior to its launch here in the States; head on past the break to hear our take.

Gallery: Cowon Plenue Z2 hands-on and unboxing

Continue reading Cowon Plenue Z2: US pricing, availability and hands-on impressions

Cowon Plenue Z2: US pricing, availability and hands-on impressions originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading LG Optimus 3D Max wages dual-core war in benchmark tests

LG Optimus 3D Max wages dual-core war in benchmark tests originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Apr 2012 00:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Refresh Roundup: week of April 2nd, 2012

Refresh Roundup: week of April 2nd, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 08 Apr 2012 19:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Lenovo K800's initial benchmark scores look promising, but not ambitious

Lenovo K800's initial benchmark scores look promising, but not ambitious originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Novero Solana convertible netbook gets flipped by the FCC

Novero Solana convertible netbook gets flipped by the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Huawei Mercury for Cricket gains unlimited Muve Music service, challenges aural appetites

Huawei Mercury for Cricket gains unlimited Muve Music service, challenges aural appetites originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It's been nearly two months since Samsung's LTE Galaxy Note made its debut in the land of maple syrup Canada, and now Telus and Bell might finally begin stocking the white variant of the Gingerbread-loaded phablet. According to (supposed) internal memos leaked from both companies to Mobile Syrup, it appears as though Bell's planning to release the 5.3-inch device on April 10th, while Telus may let it loose as soon as tomorrow. Notably, the site also mentions that you'll be looking at an unchanged entry-fee of $200 with a three-year contract or $730 if you'd prefer the phone sans strings. It likely won't be long until this unicorn's northerly arrival gets confirmed for sure, but for now, drag your cursor over to the source links below for a shot of the Bell document and further insight.

Is Samsung's white Galaxy Note coming to Canada on Telus tomorrow, Bell on April 10? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Apr 2012 22:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Sprint LG Viper 4G goes on pre-order April 12 for $100, release date still TBA

Sprint LG Viper 4G goes on pre-order April 12 for $100, release date still TBA originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

ICS reaches 2.9 percent of active Android devices, 63.7 percent still on Gingerbread originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Apr 2012 21:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

T-Mobile announces the Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G, available 'later this year'

Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G hands-on

T-Mobile's Galaxy S Blaze 4G lands in select stores March 21st, everywhere else March 28th

Gallery: Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G review

Continue reading Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G review

Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G review originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Google Maps for Android gets bumped to 6.5, new navigation view and higher resolution map tiles in tow

Google Maps for Android gets bumped to 6.5, new navigation view and higher resolution map tiles in tow originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 14:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.