Author: PhoneDog.com – Latest videos, reviews, articles, news and posts

It’s been a few weeks since the last round of rumors surrounding Verizon wireless and the highly anticipated HTC Incredible.  In fact, if memory serves, today is the day that Droid Eris was due to be EOLed to make way for the Incredible.  Unfortunately, it seems as if the waiting will continue, as there has been no official word (not even an entirely credible rumor) regarding either the Incredible, or the Nexus One.

What we do have is the following: Thanks to a leaked screenshot from the AndroidForums, it would appear that there are over 150,000 Incredible devices waiting to be had by the grubby paws of Android enthusiasts.  What’s more, according to Phandroid, our illustrious little friends are all gussied up with v2.1, and have nowhere to go.  The phones are being held hostage in some remote location (read: Verizon warehouse) with no set time for release.

Keep in mind folks, screenshots are pictures, and pictures aren’t phones.  Much as I’d like to believe the word on the street is the gospel, father time has a way of keeping us in check.  So what do you think, will we see the Incredible this month?  Leave your thoughts in the comments below!

Via Phandroid

Android has come a long way since the release of the T-Mobile G1.  It has become a highly competitive and sought after operating system for both mid-level and high-end mobile phones, not to mention tablets and other devices.  From the beginning of 2010 alone, Android has seen respectable growth in terms of market share, and has slowly closed in on its competitors.  One problem with rapid growth, however, can be the inability of the market (and in the case of Android, manufacturers and application developers) to sustain the various iterations of the software.

As it stands, Android 1.5, 1.6, 2.0, and 2.1 are all floating around on varying devices.  As you can imagine, this makes it quite difficult for developers to carry their applications across the respective versions, and even more difficult for manufacturers to pump out hardware that can support the latest versions requiring increasingly more power to operate efficiently.  In the end, it’s the consumer (who wants a device with the latest and greatest) that is ultimately affected by the fragmentation that has become the Android OS.

You may ask: If Google is so innovative, and Android so successful, is there not a way to end the fragmentation and usher in a more stable experience for eager consumers and loyal enthusiasts?  The answer, according to people deemed by Engadget as those “who carry weight,” is yes (or “we’re gonna try real hard,” at the very least).

There are two ways in which Google intends to accomplish this goal, according to Engadget.  The first way is to separate many of Android’s stock apps and “core components” from OS releases and instead allow consumers to download them from the Android Market.  This includes apps such as Google Maps, but would also include components like keyboards and web browsers, allowing Google to take control of updates instead of relying on manufacturers or carriers.  It also gives consumers the ability to customize their experience in their own time frame and at their discretion.

The second stride toward the end of fragmentation is a bit more natural.  In the world of wireless technology, Android is a baby that had to grow up fast to compete.  Now that it has reached a level of maturity, the need to pump out new versions at rocket speeds has decreased.  Though I’m quite sure Google will do everything in its power to stay on the cutting edge of technology, it is expected with the release of Froyo (the next iteration of Android) that we will begin to see a more stable release of software over time.

It’s easy as gadget enthusiasts to see Android as an innovative underdog (I say this even though I’m aware of who is backing the “underdog”) that’s fighting tooth and nail to make it to the top.  But it’s good to know Google recognizes that while innovation may get you there, stability should keep them “in it” for the long haul.  Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!

Via Engadget, MocoNews

I get it. Not everyone is excited about iPad. Not everyone cares what Apple’s up to. Not everyone balances their investment portfolios or manages their internal desires according to what Steve Jobs thinks is “magical.” Plenty of folks will be carrying on their lives just fine, thanks, without lining up at a store or waiting for the UPS guy this Saturday.

This is a rough week for you, my Apple-hating friends, and next week will likely be rougher. We’ll be covering iPad because it’s our duty – it runs iPhone OS, after all. But as a gesture of good faith towards you, Android Lover, I give you this small token of my appreciation: An All Android Top 5 list.

1. HTC Evo 4G (Sprint) – Available this Summer

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This thing is a beast. The pre-production units Aaron and I played with at CTIA weren’t running final software, and they were still smooth and fast and a joy to behold. Between the huge 4.3″ capacitive touch display, Android 2.1 with HTC’s excellent new version of Sense, and the HD video capture and playback (including HDMI out), Evo is chock full of multimedia-heavy features. The 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset under the hood seems to like Android just fine, and the device remains pocketable – if large – thanks to its thin profile and sleek lines.

I have some qualms with the whole “4G” thing, seeing as T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network is actually faster than Sprint’s WiMax, but that’s another story. Evo can double as a EV-DO/WiMax mobile hotspot, and Sprint’s promising aggressive pricing on service when the phone ships this Summer. Whether or not customers will jump to Sprint for Evo remains to be seen, but there’s no question that this is the hottest Android phone yet to be shown in public.

2. Samsung Galaxy S (Carrier Unannounced) – Available this Summer

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3. HTC Desire (Unlocked / European)

4. Google Nexus One (Unlocked / T-Mobile / AT&T)

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5. Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini Pro (Unlocked) – Available this Summer

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With the launch of Apple’s newest creation, the iPad, only two days away, Noah visited Street Signs on CNBC to give his take on what this new product will provide consumers.  He also covers weather the Apple iPad can really take the place of your laptop. 

Watch Noah’s live appearance on CNBC’s Street Signs

Update: And the video is up – click here to see the footage!

*Sniffle sniffle* My little Kravvy is all grown up.  From Senior Editor and YouTube sensation, to Editor-in-Chief, to television commentator, he’s making the rounds, and showing off that cool look that we all know and love.

On that note, Noah will be on CNBC’s Street Signs today at 2:30 PM EST to discuss all things iPad.  Now, typically, CNBC might sound boring (though it’s what I watch all day, so I don’t even have to change the channel in my office), but you’re going to want to watch today.  Here’s why:

1. Noah Kravitz.  PhoneDog.  Awesome.  Neat dude.  Funny.  Makes bathtub video reviews.  Enough said.
2. Erin Burnett.  CNBC.  Anchor.  Attractive.  Serious business professional.  Looks like Diane Neal from Law & Order SVU.
3. Apple iPad.  Revolutionary.  Controversial.  Hot topic.  Odd name.  Steve Jobs. 

While you’re waiting for 2:30 EST to roll around, check out Noah’s Huffington Post article regarding iPads and Moms.  It’s a great read, and it really speaks to the mainstream consumer interest in the device.

An excerpt from the article:

“iPads aren’t going to replace laptops and high-end desktop machines for folks who need to develop software, edit video, or wrangle complicated financial data on a daily basis. But most consumers don’t need to do that stuff. Most consumers, when they’re away from their workplace and work tasks, use their computers to surf the Web, read emails, and enjoy photos, music, and video. Netbooks became popular because they offered a lightweight, low-cost solution for handling those core tasks, but their appeal is still relegated to students and other tech enthusiasts willing to put up with a shrunken laptop experience. Running a full-fledged computer OS like Windows Vista on a tiny computer with a tiny keyboard, tiny trackpad, and tiny processor isn’t for everyone.“

Planning to check out the show today?  Leave a message of support in the comments!

No, this isn’t an April Fools joke – Verizon has dropped the price of the Mobile Hotspot feature on the Palm Pre Plus and Pixi Plus from $40 to free, giving you MiFi capabilities without the $60 monthly fee that every other carrier charges.  Needless to say, it’s quite the deal; instead of paying for your phone and a $60 broadband card each month, you could get the Pre Plus and save the $60).  What’s more, I’d venture to guess that the offer will bring people over to the webOS side (with the proper marketing).

Verizon’s official statement is as follows:

“Customers who purchase or upgrade to a Palm Pre and Palm Pixi will get the Mobile Hotspot for free. Existing customers who already have the service will find charges on their next bill will be $0.00.”

What’s more, the Pre Plus and Pixi Plus have dropped to $49.99 and $29.99, respectively.  Add that to the ongoing buy one, get one free offer, and you have quite the deal on your hands.  With free Mobile Hotspot, reduced pricing, and a BOGO offer, it makes one wonder: will Sprint respond and reduce the prices of their non-Plus versions?

Via Engadget, Verizon

Reports are coming in about the availability of webOS 1.4.1 on Sprint Palm Pres.  The update, approximately 6 MB in size, is rumored to be Verizon-bound in the coming weeks.  European users, you can expect to see support for paid apps in the App Catalog.  Hey, who needs bread and milk when you can get some cool webOS apps?

The list of improvements can be found below.  Sprint users, download the update and let us know how it performs!

Bluetooth

• This release fixes an issue so that the phone now correctly connects with supported BMW car kits.

Camera

• This release corrects a lag in the shutter sound when you take a picture.
• This release fixes an issue so that newly taken photos and videos do not overwrite existing ones.

Contacts

• If you crop a picture before adding it to a contact, the picture appears cropped correctly in the contact entry.
• If you previously assigned either the Z or the B key as a speed dial, you can now continue to create speed dials.

Doc View

• If you open a file and perform the back gesture, the app now returns to the file list screen.
• Pinching in/out to zoom out/in now works correctly.

Messaging

• If you try to attach a video to an outgoing multimedia message, the list of available videos now displays only videos you recorded.

PDF View

• If you open a file and perform the back gesture, the app now returns to the file list screen.
• Pinching in/out to zoom out/in now works correctly.

Sprint Football Live

• The app previously named NFL is now named Sprint Football Live.

System

• This release fixes an intermittent issue so that the volume slider no longer appears onscreen incorrectly.

Touchstone charging dock

• When the phone is on a Touchstone charging dock, the screen now consistently turns off correctly (displaying the lock icon and the time) after the shut-off interval.

Videos

• If you record a video, upload the video to YouTube, and send a link to the video via email, the email recipient can click the link and view the video. Previously, clicking the link displayed an error message.
• This release fixes an issue so that when you upload a video to YouTube, the file always includes both video and audio.

Web

• The forward gesture now works correctly in the browser.
  

Via Engadget

Though they can’t show them on the sales floor, it looks like AT&T will be receiving Palm Pre Plus training units for their retail stores.  The devices have no SKU numbers and aren’t in inventory, so they can’t be sold.  It’s interesting to see these coming now, given the Summer release date we’ve heard for the past few weeks.  Before you get your hopes up about the devices launching in the immediate future, there’s no official release date listed (or training end date, for that matter), so we could still be on track for the June/July timeframe.  Given the age of these devices, I hope to see them come sooner rather than later.

At any rate, one step forward for webOS on AT&T.  Who’s excited?

Via Engadget

The Palm Pre Plus has made one thing perfectly clear: Palm’s webOS is all about integration.  I was first impressed by the contacts feature of my Pre Plus, which I discussed previously, and how easily and extensively it synced with my multiple email accounts and Facebook.  My newest discovery regarding Palm’s integration is the Universal Search feature.

I have to admit, when I first purchased my Pre Pus, I may have ignored the bit about Universal Search.  From what I remember, I heard something to the effect of “and another way to locate…” and all I thought was redundancy and unnecessary.  Last week I accidentally (and thankfully) uncovered Palm’s Universal Search feature while casually typing, and it has easily become one of my new-found favorites. 

Need to make a call or send a text message without sifting though all of your contacts?  Looking for a particular application without wanting to open the launcher?  Just start typing the contact or application’s name right from the home screen.  No need to open up anything at all.  By simply typing from the home screen, webOS automatically initiates the Universal Search feature and instantly begins to list all of your contacts and apps that begin with the letter or letters you type.  If there isn’t a match in your contacts or apps, Universal Search pulls up links to Google, Google Maps, Wikipedia and Twitter, allowing you to conveniently search the applicable site without even first opening the phone’s web browser.

Universal Search is a single-step, painless way to locate frequently used or urgently needed information; I guess redundancy isn’t such a bad thing after all.  In fact, I think Palm could even take Universal Search a step further and make it more comprehensive by integrating with E-mail, messaging, notes, tasks, etc.  How great would it be if the same easy-to-use Universal Search feature could also locate a line from a messaging conversation or E-mail?  I am sure the extent of integration and additional uses for Universal Search could even go on and be something to look forward to in the future.  As it stands now, however, when it comes to contacts, apps and web searches, Universal Search is simple and thorough.  So really, what more could I ask for?

Actually, after some thought on that last question, there is really not much that is missing for my needs when it comes to the overall functionality of the Pre Plus.  I do, however, have to send out a plea to the Palm app gods for a long overdue reincarnation.  Don’t get me wrong, I love me Pre Plus and I am understanding of the fact that the App Catalog is the baby on the block when it comes to smartphone app stores.  But there is something distinctly missing from Palm’s development – and it’s DopeWars.  You remember the game.  Buy and sell drugs, avoid the cops and pay back the loan shark before he breaks your legs.  If there is one thing synonymous with Palm – at least from 10 years ago when I sat in the back of a lecture hall engrossed not in whatever class was before me, but rather on retiring to the Caribbean on my drug earnings – it’s DopeWars.  

While I am not sure what kind of time I actually have these days to play a game on my phone – and yes, I realize that this game falls technologically short of the 3-D gaming experiences offered by Pre Plus – I can’t help but feel a certain nostalgic longing for DopeWars.  Any one else remember the good ol’ days of DopeWars on the Palm Pilot?

Congratulations to C. Rodriguez of TX who won a brand new Boost Mobile BlackBerry Curve 8330 on Tuesday March 31st, 2010 at 9:56PM.  “Thank you Phonedog, I was thinking about getting one of these phones but wasnt sure, I guess you guys did the honors and treated me to one of these, a million thank you’s!”

Thanks to BestBuy Mobile we have another great BlackBerry Curve 8330 in Titanium, a Boost Mobile device for you to win.  Play to win now!

Overview

What’s Good: Sony Ericsson makes jump into Android territory; vibrant display; rounded curves make for a comfortable experience.

What’s Bad: Screen is very inconsistent; on-screen keyboard is terrible; laggy at times.

Introduction

First Symbian, then Windows Mobile, and now Android.  Bucking the trend of many manufacturers in today’s market, Sony Ericsson has opted to work with several different operating systems (with the potential for more, according to recent comments made by the company’s CEO) as opposed to narrowing it down to a particular focus.  As the company’s first Android-powered device, will the unlocked (at the time of this review) XPERIA X10 be able to compete with carrier-supported Android devices such as the DROID, myTouch 3G, and the HTC EVO 4G (when it launches)?

Design & Features

The XPERIA X10 is quite clean when it comes to exterior buttons.  The top of the unit contains the power button, 3.5mm headphone jack, and microUSB charging port, while the right side of the unit contains the volume rocker and camera shortcut key.  The front of the device offers a menu button, home button, and back button.  Overall, the design of the X10 is very nice, though I wish the exterior offered less plastic and more metal.

Coming in at 4.69 inches long by 2.48 inches wide by 0.51 inch thick, the device weighs 4.76 ounces, making it thin and easy to fit in a pocket or purse.  The X10 offers a 4.0-inch screen with 480 x 854 pixels and 65,536 colors (which I’m told is a limitation of Android 1.6), and I find it to be the perfect balance between the 3.2-3.7-inch market, and the 4.3-inch screens found on the HTC EVO 4G and the HD2.  It’s big enough, but not overwhelming.  Despite the large screen, the X10 is still relatively thin, and feels great in the hand.  When conducting a long phone call, I found the unit to be quite comfortable against my ear.

Usability & Performance

The XPERIA X10 ships with Android 1.6 (Donut), and while I found myself missing Android 2.1, the inclusion of Timescape, Mediascape, and Sony Ericsson’s custom UI helped to mask it most of the time.  That being said, notable features that I use in 2.1 on a regular basis are missing – the ability to add multiple Gmail accounts, pinch-to-zoom functionality, and voice-to-text, just to name a few.  No official word on it just yet, but rumor has it that the unit will be upgradeable to 2.1 at some point (Sony Ericsson has committed to updating the phone on a regular basis).

Despite the 1 GHz Snapdragon processor, the XPERIA X10 was laggy and unresponsive at times.  While operating in Timescape and Mediascape (the places where one would think lag would be present), the device performed flawlessly.  When attempting to open programs, unlock the screen, or perform basic tasks in the menu, I often found it to be laggy and inconsistent.  Additionally, the scrolling itself was erratic – I found that there were times where one scroll did the trick, and other times where it required a few before it recognized the gesture.  It’s not a deal breaker, but could prove to be annoying after extended use.  It’s important to note that the software running on our review unit is pre-production software, so things could change by launch time.

The X10 ships with the Android keyboard, and Sony Ericsson’s “standard keyboard.”  After five minutes of using Sony Ericsson’s “standard” option, I had to revert back to the Android keyboard due to strange gesture problems.  At times, typing would be decent, and other times, it was quirky and would miss letters.  For those that frequently message, it’s quite the challenge to use. I’m hoping it’s either something that can be fixed with future updates, or that there are alternative on-screen keyboards in the marketplace.

The XPERIA X10 ships with an 8.1-megapixel camera with autofocus and flash, and in my testing, picture quality was outstanding.  The camera performed well in most situations I was able to throw at it, and video quality was very good as well.  Editing options include several “capturing modes” (normal, scene recognition, smile detection, and touch capture), a number of resolutions (8MP, 6MP, 2MP, and low 2MP), a variety of different scenes (normal, portrait, landscape, night scene, night portrait, beach and snow, sports, party, and document), and various focus modes (single autofocus, multi autofocus, macro, face detection, and infinity).  Sony Ericsson has always prided itself in high-quality device cameras, and the XPERIA X10 doesn’t disappoint.

The unlocked device was tested in the Las Vegas and Charlotte areas using AT&T, and call quality was decent.  Callers were able to hear me well, though I had a bit of background static on my end and an occasional dropped call.  When visiting a known AT&T trouble spot in the Charlotte metropolitan area, I had trouble initiating calls.  When testing the speakerphone in a noisy coffee shop, I was able to hear my callers without a problem.  Though they said that they could hear the espresso machines in the background, it didn’t prevent us from having a conversation.  I successfully paired my Plantronics Voyager Pro Bluetooth headset to the device without a problem, and callers said that I sounded equally clear.  The only issue I encountered was the earpiece; it seemed a bit lower than other handsets on the market, even at the highest volume.

The XPERIA X10 offers 3G HSPA connectivity (on AT&T’s bands in the US), so browsing speeds were very quick. The full CNN webpage loaded in about 18 seconds, and the PhoneDog homepage loaded in 29 seconds. Other data-intensive tasks such as Google Maps, the Android Market, Google Talk, and Timescape worked well.

Estimated talk time is about 10 hours with 3G connectivity, and about 17 days of standby time.  Like other smartphones on the market, the battery life on the X10 isn’t going to last that long, particularly during regular day-to-day use.  With moderate to heavy use including calling, text messaging, browsing the internet, and use of Google Maps, I was able to get about a day and a half out of it before it powered down.  It’s no featurephone, but given the abilities of the device, I found the battery life to be acceptable.  For the individual that is away from the office on a regular basis, I’d recommend an extra battery or car charger.

Conclusion

The XPERIA X10 has a few quirks and issues that could prove frustrating to experienced smartphone users.  That being said, most of the problems I encountered could be fixed with software updates, and since Sony Ericsson has committed to providing updates on an ongoing basis, we could see them resolved over time.  At any rate, the X10 is going to be one of those love or hate devices.  I hope to see the XPERIA X10 land on a US carrier at some point in the near future, as I think it would make a great addition to any carrier’s Android lineup.

Three hundred and fifty bucks is a lot of cheese for a pair of earphones. But these Klipsch Image X10i thingies, they rock. Be forewarned: There’s no point in shelling out $349 on headphones if you’re not listening to high quality source material. So if terms like “lossless format” and “high bitrate compression” are foreign to you, pass up the X10i in favor of a quality, lower-priced headset like Klipsch’s own $99 Image S4i. Not only will standard quality mp3 files not justify the X10i’s price tag, but in Kipsch’s own words, these premium earphones may actually make your low-quality music sound worse:

If you rip your digital music files using a poor compression format and low bit rate, this high-resolution Klipsch headset will uncover all the flaws in your content.

Kudos to Klipsch for being up front about it. If you’re not into high quality digital music, there’s no reason for you to consider spending $350 on a headset. But if you are, man you’re in for a treat. The X10i performed like a champ for me, and I actually found it to yield a better combination of comfort and noise isolation than my previous favorite in-ear headset, the Etymotic hf2. 

Klipsch’s design is dead-simple and wonderfully light and comfortable in its minimalism. Unlike other canalphones that actually require inserting a plastic eartip into the outer ear canal for maximum performance, the X10i worked great for me using the single-flanged silicon plug eartip. The tips don’t actually penetrate the ear canal at all, but rather sit in the ear like standard earbuds – the difference being that Klipsch’s squishy silicon eartips fill the outer ear, effectively sealing your music in and unwanted sounds out. While most canalphones – X10i included – come with both single- and double-flanged eartips, the latter designed to fit inside the inner ear canal, these are the first set I’ve tried that worked best for me using the single-flanges. Again, that’s all just to say that I got great sound and noise isolation without jamming anything into my ear. And while I’m used to jamming canalphones into my ears (it’s perfectly safe if you’re using quality ‘phones), I found that the X10i design was easier and more comfortable to use for longer periods of time without sacrificing any audio quality. I also found them much more to my liking than the slightly different design of the those Image S4i I mentioned earlier. In other words: The X10i’s fit is awesome.

Speaking of awesome, so long as you’ve got properly high-quality source material, the X10i sound terrific. These are about as good as in-ear earphones are going to get until you jump out of consumer-grade territory and start dealing with custom ear molds and four-figure price tags. You won’t get thumping bass from the X10i, but that’s not the point. The point is accurate reproduction of audio across the entire spectrum, and these ‘phones make that point with authority. A trained audiophile could probably make the case that the X10i lack a bit of midrange clarity, but I could be wrong there. I basically just enjoyed myself while listening to rock, electronica, jazz, funk, and everything in between with these puppies discreetly tucked into my ears. So long as I made sure to skip the low-quality files, that is.

The X10i also feature an inline mic and remote control that’s “Made for iPhone” certified. Three buttons on the remote control play/pause and previous/next track, and can be used to accept and hang-up on calls. Full mic/remote functionality is limited to iPhone 3GS users, though I got spotty/random/totally unreliable response here and there with a few BlackBerry and Android phones. X10i’s cable is 48″ long and affixed with a straight 1/8″ jack at the end. The cable is noticeably thin and a bit more susceptible to tangles than other headphone cables, but it’s not really anything to worry about.

X10i’s microphone was slightly disappointing, but fine overall. I’m not a huge fan of the microphone’s placement, as it hangs down at the base of my neck during use. I find I have better luck with mics placed along the cable of one earphone or the other, as they hang higher and off to the side during use. Also, for as high quality as the earphones are, the microphone seemed to be a step down. It was fine, but lacked the wind- and background noise-cancellation performance of a few other headsets I’ve tried recently. Still, X10i performed pretty well during calls, and an included shirt clip can be used to move the mic’ to a more preferred position during use. The headset also comes with a handy carrying case and 1/4″ and airplane adapters.

All in all, the Klipsch Image X10i is arguably the best earphone-style headset available for iPhone users. $349 is a lot of money for a pair of earphones, they’re only fully functional with iPhone 3GS, and if you’re not listening to high-quality audio files there’s no point at all in using the X10i. But for the discerning listener who already has a 3GS loaded with lossless music files, these babies are as close to audio nirvana as I’ve yet experienced. Lightweight, comfortable, and capable of solid audio reproduction and noise isolation – the Klipsch Image X10i are champs.

I’ll admit that this rumor perplexes me a bit, given RIM’s history with SureType.  According to tips sent to BGR, RIM will launch a Pearl 9105 with a T9 keypad.  Yep, you heard right – T9.  That’s not to say that there won’t be a 9110 with SureType, but a recently leaked 9100 OS lends credence to support for the 9105 model.  It could make sense, as RIM hasn’t used the “5” designation in some time (lately, they’ve been going up by the 10’s – 8100, 8110, 8120, etc.).

Very interesting indeed, as “featurephone” comes to mind when I hear T9, and that’s not a thought that I envision RIM wanting me to have.  The rumor (and it’s a rumor in every sense of the word) has the T9-equipped 9105 landing in Europe this May or June, so we’ll find out then.

What do you think?  Love it?  Hate it?

Via BGR

Looks like it’s time for yet another episode of When Apple Fights Back.  As a step in the fight against jailbroken iPhones, it appears that Apple’s iTunes 9.1 update disables iTunes syncing with jailbroken units.

According to MobileCrunch, issues are also surfacing with “‘tethered’ jailbreaks,” which refers to jailbroken iPhones that have to be connected to the computer each time the device is powered on.  Reports are scattered, with some claiming to have issues, and others experiencing no sync issues whatsoever.  What’s more, iPhone hacker ih8snow claims that the blackra1n issues are limited to Windows – in other words, those using OS X to sync their iPhones shouldn’t be having issues.

With all of that said, I turn the floor over to you.  Did the update keep your iPhone syncing intact?  Are you having issues?  Sound off below!

Via MobileCrunch

AT&T appears to be taking the network complaints to heart, as they’re continuing the push to improve network conditions, particularly in densely populated areas.  According to a story by The Wall Street Journal, AT&T worked with Apple in 2009 to re-define how the iPhone connected to the carrier’s network.  Thanks to the meetings between the two, the iPhone now uses fewer resources when seeking cell sites and checking for text messages.

With yesterday’s WSJ story regarding Verizon Wireless getting a version of the iPhone, it’s understandable that AT&T wants to improve network conditions to prevent a wave of cancellations.  To that end, they’re spending $2 billion more on network enhancements this year than they did last year (2009), and continue to add and enhance cell sites as part of a 100-day improvement plan.

Despite the improvements, it appears that the battle of the networks will be in full swing this summer.  Will iPhone fans stay on AT&T, or migrate to Verizon?

Via PhoneScoop, Engadget, WSJ

The Samsung Galaxy S, unveiled at CTIA 2010 last week, is a feature-packed smartphone with a 4.0-inch WVGA Super AMOLED display, 1 GHz processor, Android 2.1, HD video capabilities, and an incredibly thin form factor.  Despite the impressive list of specifications, not everyone prefers a touchscreen-only device, and rumor has it Samsung will be manufacturing a “Pro” version as a result.  Specs-wise, the Galaxy S Pro (if it does in fact exist) is said to be virtually identical to the regular version, with the exception of a QWERTY keyboard.

I don’t know about you, but I’ll always prefer a physical QWERTY to an on-screen option, so the Galaxy S Pro would be my preferred device.  What say you?  Galaxy S, or Galaxy S Pro?

Via BGR

As a first in the wireless industry, Sprint has announced the “Sprint Free Guarantee.”  Through the program, customers are given the ability to test Sprint’s service without paying any fees.  According to the news release, if the customer isn’t completely satisfied with Sprint’s services, they can return their device within the first 30 days and receive full credit for the activation fees, restocking fees, early termination fees, monthly recurring charges, taxes, and fees.

“When Dan Hesse came to Sprint, he committed to changing Sprint and the wireless industry for the better. This guarantee is a strong statement about our confidence in the improvements we have made in our network, customer experience, rate plans and handset line-up,” said Bob H. Johnson, president, Consumer, Sprint.  The campaign will feature a television ad with Sprint CEO Dan Hesse touting the advantage over other carriers. 

The Sprint press release can be found here.  While many are pegging this as “the” official announcement for tomorrow, I don’t think that Sprint’s new “Sprint Free Guarantee” is tomorrow’s big news.  From my experience in wireless, these type of contract-related announcements almost always encompass price plan changes.  At any rate, we’ll find out tomorrow. 

I like the BlackBerry App World, but it’s always nice to see some friendly competition, right?  Talked about since last summer, Verizon Wireless has finally launched their V CAST Apps store on the BlackBerry Storm2.  The store will initially be offered on the carrier’s BlackBerry smartphones, with additional platform support to come as time progresses.  The app store isn’t replacing the App World; rather, the two are going to co-exist.

Verizon plans to share 70 percent of revenues with developers and will allow for access to the carrier billing platform, so applications can be charged directly to the wireless bill.  Sounds like a deal to me.  The only question that remains: Will Verizon’s app store gain marketshare in an already crowded market?

Via Engadget Mobile

Thanks to Verizon Wireless for loaning me a Motorola Devour to test out this week.  Because I consider myself a business user of the Android operating system, my review of the Devour will focus on whether its features are adequate for business users.  

The Good

The Devour’s keyboard feels great in the hand.  I typically prefer one-handed typing on an on-screen keyboard, but after having used the Devour for a few days I much prefer the physical keyboard on this device.  The screen is very responsive, but on the small side for confident one-thumb typing.  For comparison’s sake, I am not a big fan of the Motorola Droid’s physical keyboard, not because of the shape of the keys or their proximity to one another, but because the d-pad is too large on the right side making it unwieldy to confidently operate.  The Devour’s keyboard doesn’t have the awkward d-pad configuration and the keys are nicely spaced out, so with a bit of regular use I believe most users would be able to quickly bang out emails, text messages and tweets.  The sliding mechanism also has good “springiness” (better than the Droid, in my opinion).  While the keyboard feels a bit too easy to slide open, the spring-action of it would help keep it closed in a purse or pocket.  Battery life is acceptable, on par with my Droid Eris.

The Bad

While the Devour supports Microsoft Exchange-based email accounts, as well as other POP and IMAP accounts, the E-mail experience is not as good as it is on an HTC Sense device, or stock Android for that matter.  For MS Exchange-based accounts, there is no option for E-mail to be delivered as items arrive, which is a vital feature that other Android smartphones, and virtually every competing operating system, supports.  This omission alone would be enough for me to not recommend the Devour to business users.  

Additionally, I have not found an option to add shortcuts to more than one email account to the homescreen (except Gmail, obviously).  My primary email account is an Exchange account, but I also use a couple of Google Apps accounts and a Gmail Account and I like to have shortcuts to each account on my home screen. There is a Messaging app that provides access to a unified inbox as well as each individual email inbox, but accessing accounts within this app takes more fingerpresses than I’m willing to tolerate after such a great E-mail experience with my Eris.

The Devour uses an optical trackpad instead of a trackball.  While the trackpad has been a welcome change in Blackberry’s lineup (in my opinion), its implementation falls short on the Devour.  When using the trackpad to move between homescreen panels, instead of recognizing a swipe left or right as a finger-swipe on the screen, the trackpad merely highlights the adjacent app shortcut, so it takes several swipes of the trackpad in the same direction to move to the next home screen panel.  Additionally, the trackpad does not seem sensitive enough to efficiently use while within the text of an email to move between letters and words to make corrections.

The Ugly

The Devour is awkward looking and very heavy.  While the phone’s housing feels very rugged due to its aluminum construction, it is that quality construction that is likely the cause of the heavy weight of the device.  The screen is smaller and of poorer resolution than the Eris.  Increasing the size of the screen to that of the Droid, with a corresponding decrease in the size of the bezel, would likely make the phone look much more appealing, especially sitting on the display at Best Buy or the Verizon store next to the Droid and the Eris (and likely some other upcoming Verizon-bound Android devices like the rumored HTC Incredible), or on the boardroom table, which is increasingly important to users.  Devour’s lock button is on the upper left-hand corner of the device, like Droid’s, but it is recessed too far into the housing.  As a result, it often took several attempts to turn the screen off.  Even when I was successful on my first attempt, I would have to watch to make sure the screen actually turned off, wasting several seconds.  While this doesn’t sound like a big deal, it quickly became very annoying.

Having used Droid, Droid Eris, and now Devour, I would easily recommend the Droid and the Droid Eris over the Devour, not just for the reasons I outlined above, but for reasons outlined in Aaron’s first impressions review and full review, as well as Noah’s first impressions review.  Think I’m wrong or I missed something useful to this discussion? Let me know in the comments.

As we all know, the iPad is set to launch this Saturday, April 3rd.  The 3rd is also the day that online pre-orders are to be shipped out.  Apple is notorious for placing shipping blocks on their products to avoid users receiving things early (in other words, the shipper won’t deliver the product until after the block has passed).  Sometimes it works, and other times a few mistakenly get delivered to eager customers (who, in turn, post YouTube unboxing videos).  Looks like Apple might have a new plan this time around.

According to BGR, the iPad is slated to land in the United States tomorrow and Thursday, and if they were under a normal shipping schedule, the first shipments would go out sometime around April 1st (Thursday).  But the devices haven’t passed through customs clearance yet, as US Customs hasn’t received the necessary clearance papers.  The prevailing thought here is that Apple deliberately withheld the papers to control the shipments until the delivery date.

Sneaky, Apple.  Very sneaky.

Via BGR