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We're live from MobileCon 2012!
MobileCon, the show formerly known as CTIA Enterprise & Applications, is ready to get under way in sunny San Diego. Despite its more streamlined name, we expect to see the same kind of stuff as years past; in other words, the show will be much more Enterprise-centric than any other mobile-related event we cover throughout the year. Don't let that scare you off too much -- with the plethora of new device announcements over the past month, we still hope to get our hands on some new and glorious pieces of hardware. Keep your eyes peeled right here as we bring you all of the best (and worst) from Southern California.
Kyocera DuraMax for Sprint hands-on at CTIA E&A 2011 (video)
Call us what you will, but we couldn't resist taking a quick look at the Kyocera DuraMax, which (along with the DuraCore) represents the first of Sprint's handsets to support Direct Connect for CDMA. It's no smartphone, for sure, but we were intrigued by its certification for the military's 810G standard, which promises resistance to dust, shock, vibration, water, low pressure, extreme temperatures and solar radiation -- among other nasty elements. %Gallery-136305% Kyocera DuraMax hands-on Kyocera Duramax is in the batter's box, launching with Sprint Direct Connect October 2nd Rugged gadgets put to the test in Engadget labs, wanton destruction ensues From the outset, the phone appears stout and bulky. It measures a full one-inch thick, although it seems like even more. Perhaps this is due to the grooved rubber finish, or maybe it's the clamshell shape, but you'll want a holster for this one, as the protrusion in your pocket would be hard to ignore. So just who is this device for? We'd like to imagine it's targeted at the kids who played with Tonka trucks as kids, who now drive bulldozers and pour hot tar on roofs. Yes, this phone is designed to take some punishment, which is undoubtedly its greatest strength. After carefully inspecting each angle, peeking underneath the battery cover and testing the "walkie talkie" feature -- which seems to work beautifully -- we began dishing out some seriously bad behavior. Check out the video after the break to see just what we mean.
Samsung Transfix on Cricket at CTIA E&A 2011 (hands-on video)
Staring intently at the image above? It's understandable. After all, it is called the Samsung Transfix, right? Cricket's latest Android addition doesn't necessarily break any new ground in its quiet release at this year's CTIA Enterprise & Applications, but it has a lot of potential for anyone looking to get an inexpensive prepaid phone. The new 3.2-inch QWERTY runs on Gingerbread, is powered by an 800MHz CPU and brings a 3.2MP camera to the tablet. Nothing to write home about these days, but don't forget: your parents might appreciate at least hearing from you, even if it's not regarding a smartphone. Stay transfixed below the break at our full hands-on gallery and vid, and a press release thrown in for good measure. %Gallery-136345% Myriam Joire contributed to this post.
Mobile devices may outnumber humans in the US, but they can't take our soul
We're not really sure what to make of this, but it looks like Americans may be under siege... from their own cellphones. No, seriously -- according to the latest survey from CTIA, there are now more mobile devices in the US than there are human beings. The trade association's semi-annual statistics show that during the first six months of 2011, the number of wireless subscriptions rose by nine percent over the previous year, to a total of 327.6 million. The combined population of the US, Puerto Rico, Guam and the US Virgin Islands, by comparison, is around 315 million. That translates to a nationwide wireless penetration rate of 103.9 percent, and, not surprisingly, a 111 percent surge in data usage. CTIA says these results highlight "the industry's need to purchase more spectrum from the federal government," as well as our collective need to get a life. You can find more crunch-able numbers in the full PR, after the break. [Image courtesy of Wrong Side of the Art]
TeleNav 7.1 for Sprint Android phones: this time it's personal
Sure, everyone loves Google Maps Navigation, it's free, and it comes on every Android handset. However, those wanting a more personal experience from their phone's GPS (and are on the Now Network) should check out TeleNav GPS Navigator 7.1. Among the changes from prior iterations of the app are a new home screen with real-time traffic updates and customizable "Home" and "Work" buttons to show your impending commute times. So you can pick the fastest way home (or the most direct route to happy hour) 7.1 also recommends multiple routes to your chosen destination and provides drive times and traffic conditions for each route. As if that weren't enough, you can also download three widgets to put on your Android home screen: a map showing your current location, a search bar, and a widget that shows your home and work commute times. We enjoy celebrities giving us directions and all, but it's good to see some new functional features coming to the GPS game. Full PR after the break.
