Brad Molen
Articles by Brad Molen
Latest Windows Phone update coming to Lumia phones with better imaging
Microsoft's latest update to Windows Phone, known as Update 1, is already starting to show up on devices like the HTC One (M8) for Windows, but we still haven't seen how Microsoft Devices (Nokia's former phone division) will take it and dress it up for its Lumia lineup. Now, it's ready: The update will be known as Lumia Denim and will follow the company's Cyan refresh. In addition to the standard suite of features that come with Update 1 (such as folders), it comes with improvements to Lumia Camera and Cortana.
HTC's Desire 820 is a mid-range flagship phone with 64-bit support
When it's not producing flagship phones like the One (M8) or the Butterfly 2, HTC is flooding the rest of the market with several Desire models. These devices vary anywhere from mid-range (like the Desire 816, released in February) to low-end (the Desire 210), and everywhere in between. This week, the company is launching another model, called the Desire 820, which is geared toward the former group -- in fact, HTC says this is meant to replace the six-month-old 816. But with a few better specs and an octa-core chipset with 64-bit compatibility, it's hard to blame Peter Chou and his army of design-oriented individuals for coming out with another one so soon.
Sony tries to stay relevant in the wearables game with its new watch and fitness band
At today's conference in Berlin, Sony quickly announced two smart devices that happen to fit on your wrist. Both wearables are follow-ups to previous versions: The 229-euro SmartWatch 3, which is a plainly named Android Wear sequel, and the 159-euro SmartBand Talk, which takes last year's fitness band and adds an e-paper display, mics and speakers. Each device got some face time during Sony's presser, but they were overshadowed by the rest of the company's mobile lineup, so I spent a little extra time with them both after the show.
Sony's Xperia Z3 Compact represents what all 'mini' phones should be like
Miniature. Every phone maker is trying out the Mini Me approach these days, but most of them don't do it very well. Sony's one of the exceptions: Last year the manufacturer came out with the Xperia Z1 Compact, which was a smaller version of the flagship phone with almost the same specs. This is a big deal, because more often than not, "mini" models don't get the same stellar treatment as their bigger siblings. Fortunately, the first Compact must have done well enough for Sony to give the concept a second walk around the block; enter the Xperia Z3 Compact, which debuted today at IFA 2014 in Berlin.
Live from Sony's IFA 2014 Xperia event!
If you don't see this message, that's probably a good sign -- it means that the liveblog is going strong and we're telling you about the latest Sony products as they're introduced on stage at IFA 2014. If you do see this message, however, it just means that we haven't been able to get settled into our seats quite yet, but are busily working toward achieving that goal. Keep refreshing this page (or at least hang onto it as a bookmark if you need to come back to it later) and soon you'll see exactly what we're seeing: New phones, tablets, smartwatches and who knows what else. [Image credit: Ausdroid]
The Galaxy Note Edge: Samsung's first smartphone with a bent display
It's been over a year and a half since Samsung briefly (and from a distance) showed off the Youm, a prototype of a smartphone with a curved display that wrapped around the right-hand side. While it seemed like a far-off reality at the time, Samsung announced today that the Youm's spiritual successor -- aptly named the Galaxy Note Edge -- would be coming out this fall. Sure, mass-producing a phone with a bent screen is a tremendous display of manufacturing prowess, not to mention something to show off at parties, but is there more to this unique handset than eye candy?
The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 looks and feels like a premium device (hands-on)
When Samsung launched the very first Galaxy Note at IFA 2011, the device -- a 5.3-inch behemoth that came with a stylus - seemed absurdly large. But the idea was crazy enough to work: It was the beginning of a brand-new phone genre adopted by nearly every handset maker around the world and beloved by millions. Three years later, we're being introduced to the fourth smartphone in the series, known as the Galaxy Note 4. As you might expect, the device comes with new and improved specs in both hardware and software, but the design of the 5.7-inch phone itself has made a huge step in the right direction: It comes with an aluminum frame, and based on my first impression, it's the best looking of the bunch. It's time to explore Samsung's latest large-screened device.
We're liveblogging Sony's IFA 2014 event today at 10:15AM ET!
In about an hour and a half, Sony representatives will be taking the stage at IFA 2014 to introduce a whole bunch of products that have more or less been leaked or rumored in some way. We still don't know all of the details, and Sony's known to toss out a few surprises at its press conferences. That said, we're fairly confident that we'll get officially introduced to the Xperia Z3, the miniature Compact and the Tablet Compact, as well as a couple wearables. It should be fun regardless, so join us at our liveblog here as we report on everything Sony! [Image Credit: Ausdroid]
Kyocera's sapphire screen is tougher than we expected
Few things in life are more satisfying than taking out pent-up aggression on a poor, helpless phone, and the Kyocera Brigadier gave me that opportunity this week. Armed with a 4.5-inch Sapphire Shield screen, the rugged Verizon-exclusive device claims to be scratchproof and drop-proof because the material is harder than glass. Since an increasing number of manufacturers (including Apple and Huawei) are reportedly planning on using sapphire on future products, I wanted to torture-test the Brigadier with a lot of sharp and abrasive objects to see if it really holds up to its claims.
We're live at IFA 2014 in Berlin!
It's the first week of September, which means we're getting ready to attend the annual IFA trade show in Berlin. IFA is a difficult show to describe: While it's becoming a huge launchpad for smartphones, tablets and smartwatches, it's also traditionally been a place for companies to exhibit their latest fridges, microwaves and vacuum cleaners (most of them equipped with smart capabilities, at least). Whether you're into the latest tech or just looking for a new blender, there's plenty to see here -- though you'll forgive us if we glaze over news about upcoming sewing machines, instead focusing on Galaxy Notes, Xperia tablets, Android Wear watches and other consumer electronics. We'll be liveblogging announcements from Samsung and Sony, so stay tuned for those; and keep this page bookmarked to see everything we announce from the show.
What you can expect at IFA 2014
IFA is one of the largest consumer electronics trade shows in the world, and it's also one of the most unique. The annual show, held this week in Berlin, has a knack for announcing new washing machines, sewing machines and kitchen appliances alongside the latest smartphones, smartwatches and tablets. Here at Engadget, we're primarily focused on the latter (though who doesn't love a free fruit smoothie sample from time to time?), and there's a lot to cover. Let's head straight into what new gadgets and devices we can expect to see announced at this week's event.
LG officially reveals circular G Watch R with improved design and familiar features
Not one to wait around for trade shows to officially begin before flaunting its new products to the world, LG is no longer teasing the G Watch R, its upcoming circular Android Wear smartwatch -- it's showing it off in all its glory. And just as the company hinted at on Sunday, it comes with a 1.3-inch Plastic OLED (P-OLED) full 360-degree display. LG says that it isn't trying to replace the original G Watch, but rather offer another choice: The R is an elegant device that looks and feels more like a classic watch than its squarish predecessor. Good timing, too, since it's going to be competing head-to-head (wrist-to-wrist?) against the Moto 360, a similarly shaped watch that will likely be available next week.
HTC One (M8) for Windows review: Same muscle, different soul
Since Windows Phone's humble beginnings, Microsoft has been the underdog in the wireless industry. Four years later, nothing's changed -- except, perhaps, a few more percentage points of market share. Even then, it's got a long way to go before catching up to Android and iOS. Let's give the company credit for pushing forward, improving its platform and not giving up, though: When I reviewed the last major OS update, I said I could finally use Windows Phone as my daily driver. The one element that Microsoft continued to lack, however, was buy-in from large phone makers. They put more focus on Android products, which meant anyone interested in Windows Phone had a small selection of devices to choose from. For Microsoft, it's time to experiment with a new, simpler approach. The software giant has buddied up with HTC to convert the One M8, its Android flagship, into a Windows Phone. That's all there is to it. There's absolutely no change to the hardware -- and it's a fantastic idea. If it fails, neither company loses much from the deal; since they're using an existing phone, the cost of design and engineering is far lower than it would be on a standalone device. If it's successful, it may inspire other manufacturers to follow suit, resulting in a market with a wide variety of Windows Phones to choose from. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, right?
HTC's Desire 510 claims to be the company's cheapest LTE device yet
HTC's Desire lineup often lives in the shadow of the One and Butterfly series, primarily because most of them are designed to appeal to budget-minded phone buyers. The company's been cranking out a lot of them this year (the 816, 616, 516, 610, 310 and 210, to name a few), and HTC isn't done adding more to the list. Its next phone is the Desire 510. Its claim to fame is that it's the least expensive -- er, "most affordable" -- LTE-capable phone the Taiwanese manufacturer has produced to date. Sadly, we weren't given any pricing details, but it likely varies by region. The 4.7-inch device should be available in markets worldwide, including Europe, Asia and the US (HTC confirmed that the device will be sold on Sprint, Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobile and Cricket). The 510 will begin selling in some markets in September, but we'll have to wait for each region to offer more specific launch details.
Glenn Lurie named CEO of AT&T Mobility as it merges with Business group
After nearly six years as President of Emerging Devices for AT&T Mobility, Glenn Lurie has been promoted to CEO of the division. The move is part of a major reorganization effort by AT&T to merge Mobility and Business Solutions (Enterprise) into one group. Lurie will continue to report to Ralph de la Vega, who has been tasked with overseeing the new division; de la Vega will in turn report to AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson. The news was first reported by Fierce Wireless, and Engadget has confirmed the report with official spokespeople. AT&T says that the new group will essentially fold the marketing and distribution arm of AT&T's Business Solutions department into Mobility, which it believes is the next "natural step" toward integrating the company's wireline and wireless operations.
Verizon's HD voice and video chat nearly ready to launch nationwide
LTE isn't just about getting incredibly fast data speeds on our smartphone or tablet. Sure, that's been what the technology's been primarily used for ever since it was introduced a few years ago, but it's capable of providing crystal-clear phone calls as well through a service known as Voice over LTE (VoLTE). The catch is that it's up to each carrier to provide the service. AT&T and T-Mobile have rolled out the capability already, and Verizon announced today that it's nearly ready to flip the switch on VoLTE nationwide, and it'll happen in a matter of weeks. Whether that means two or fourteen, Verizon won't say. But when it's ready, this functionality will be pre-loaded on new devices and pushed to existing phones in a downloadable update (provided the hardware is compatible, which many devices are).
LG will reveal a circular smartwatch next week to compete with the Moto 360
Of the three Android Wear smartwatches introduced at Google's developer conference in June, the Moto 360 was by far the crowd favorite; its circular watchface gives it a classic, elegant look, and a stark contrast to the squarish Samsung Gear Live and LG G Watch. It turns out that LG wasn't very excited about its first Wear watch either: It's going to introduce a round-faced sequel -- called the LG G Watch R -- next week in Berlin, shortly after Motorola officially launches its new timepiece.
Sprint's new individual plan gets you unlimited everything for $60
Sprint didn't waste any time after reshuffling its leadership -- the SoftBank-owned carrier kicked into high gear by announcing a competitive limited-time $100 family plan promotion just a few days after new CEO Marcelo Claure filled the void left by Dan Hesse. Tomorrow, it's taking another step into the aggressive pricing war by introducing a $60 unlimited talk, text and data plan for individuals. Unlike the family plan, this new option will be available to both new and existing (upgrade-eligible) customers alike, but you'll need to sign up on the Easy Pay plan. This means that you'll need to either bring your own Sprint-compatible device with you onto the plan or purchase one at full retail price; if you choose to finance a phone, you'll pay that amount on top of the $60 plan.
AT&T plans to sell the HTC One M8 for Windows soon
Feeling blue that the HTC One M8 for Windows is exclusive to Big Red? Good news: AT&T just confirmed that it'll carry the flagship Windows Phone... eventually. The carrier can't openly discuss details like pricing or availability yet -- likely because it can't sell the phone until the terms of the exclusive contract expire -- but at least we can rest a little more easily knowing that this top-of-the-line Windows Phone will expand its reach to more than just one carrier. Who knows: Since a GSM version will be available, that may open the door for the device to go to other parts of the world as well. While you wait, check out our hands-on coverage of the device here.
Mailbox for Mac begins rolling out in beta to a handful of lucky testers
The transition from mobile to desktop seems like a natural evolution for Mailbox, which began as a clever time-saving email app for iOS. Four months ago, the Dropbox-owned venture excited fans by announcing that it would soon have an option on Mac as a limited beta. Today's the day: Mailbox is ready to roll out the app to the first batch of early adopters. The service will begin rolling out to those who've signed up for the beta online, as well as a handful of current Mailbox users. If you're not one of the lucky winners tomorrow, be patient -- the rollout will come in batches, and the company assures us that you'll still get your hands on it before the final version is ready. Each beta tester will be issued a betacoin (not to be confused with other forms of digital currency), and you'll even receive additional betacoins to share with friends as soon as you download the app.