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

Well well well, what do we have here…if you liked the device that Megan Fox was sporting in the Super Bowl MOTOBLUR advertisement, you’ll be able to get your hands on it shortly.  In a leaked launch document obtained by BGR, the Motorola Devour is slated for an indirect channel launch on February 25th, followed by a full release on March 15th.  As a recap, the Devour offers a 3.1-inch capacitive touchscreen, a navigation pad, Android 1.6, a microSD card slot, and Bluetooth.

I find it interesting that Verizon is launching the device in the indirect channel first.  Sure, I’ve seen it happen before with color refreshes of existing models on the market, but given the grandeur of an Android launch, I find it to be a bit different.  At any rate, is it a device you’re interested in, or does the DROID tickle your fancy?

Via BGR

Wow!  The first half of the NBA season has really been exciting.  Players have been making ridiculously amazing shots from all over the court along with fantastic dunks and blocks down inside.  All of this has gotten the NBA fans ready for the annual All-Star weekend in Dallas Texas February 11-14th, 2010. 

In anticipation of the big game, Verizon Wireless has been working overtime to get their network in tip top shape for fans heading to Dallas.  Verizon customers can talk, text, and send their favorite Valentine pictures from the game via Verizon’s enhanced coverage.  Read more below in the complete press release from Verizon Wireless.  

VERIZON WIRELESS’ 3G WIRELESS SERVICE READY FOR BASKETBALL’S BIG GAME IN DALLAS

DALLAS – The Verizon Wireless network is ready for the tens of thousands of basketball fans heading to Dallas this weekend. Network technicians – who serve as the inspiration for the iconic Verizon Wireless Test Man ad campaign – have been preparing for weeks to ensure peak performance for Dallas residents and fans during the festivities around the big basketball game on Sunday, Feb. 14.
 
In anticipation of a spike in voice and data usage in and around downtown Dallas and surrounding areas, Verizon Wireless network teams have enhanced coverage and increased capacity around the stadium, several Dallas hotels and the Dallas Convention Center.
 
The company already has a system in place at the site of the big game in Arlington, Texas, with a recently commissioned, state-of-the-art distributed antenna system to support the large crowds. This system strengthens the already robust Verizon Wireless network in and around the stadium for the spike in calls, text messages, picture and video messages, Internet connections and other wireless traffic during the sports games and other events during the week.
 
“Dallas hosts several large events throughout the year, and we want to keep those fans connected,” said region president Frank Antonacci.  “We make significant investments to ensure the Verizon Wireless network will remain superior for visiting fans and local wireless customers.”
 
Verizon Wireless has continued to ramp up its network around Texas, investing more than $268 million statewide in 2009. The company activated several new cell sites in the Dallas area over the last year, including a cell site that improves digital voice and broadband data services in the popular uptown area.
 
For more information on the Verizon Wireless network and products and services, visit Verizon Wireless.
 
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving more than 91 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 83,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NASDAQ and LSE: VOD).  To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library.

Three bits of news for you Android enthusiasts out there:

– Flash Player 10.1 is coming to Android devices. But ONLY to those running OS 2.1 and above. Adobe said their long awaited 10.1 update will hit desktops and smartphones in the “first half” of this year, according to Gizmodo. But Android users are gonna gotta get 2.1 or better to run it because Android 2.0 and lower doesn’t provide Adobe the under-the-hood tools they need to make Flash 10.1 go. Ah, yes, the joys of Android OS version splintering never stop! Oh, and when it hits, Flash 10.1 will roll out to Android users via over the air updates.

– Apparently Google’s Android naming scheme is based not only on dessert names, but also on alphabetical order: Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Froyo … and next comes … Gingerbread!

– Next up for Google mobile devices? Speech-to-speech translation. Seriously, that’s like science fiction stuff, a handheld computer that can listen to you speak French and re-speak it to me in English, and vice-versa. Crazy.

[Via: Gizmodo, Engadget, Times UK]

PhoneDog just can’t cram every bit of analysis, in-depth coverage, and tip/trick/how-to goodness onto our home page. So we’ve built a few more home pages to hold it all.  Whether it’s Android, BlackBerry, or iPhone that makes you tick, we’ve got the goods.

Here’s what’s happening right now on PhoneDog Media’s network sites: Today’s iPhone, BBerryDog and DroidDog

App Review: Model Me Going Places

Can your iPhone keep you safe?

iPhone 2010 faceplate shows up?

Trackball replacement program delayed by T-Mobile

BlackBerry 9650 Visual Voicemail file spotted online

Official OS: 5.0.0.459 BlackBerry 8530 from Sprint

Motorola DROID 2.1 update rollout will begin this week

MyTouch 3G 1.2 shipping with Swype

Get tub-side with Motorola

After ordering the Nexus One for one of my personal accounts, I can safely say that the disconnect between T-Mobile and Google is astonishing (and when I say “astonishing,” it’s not a compliment).  If you read my article on how to order the device, you’re well-aware of the challenges.  I’m not an analyst by any means, but the issues between existing accounts, family share plans, and the like could be a serious detriment to the sales success of the Nexus One. 

That being said, Google took a step forward in the customer service process yesterday by launching a technical support number.  Open from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM (EST), 1-888-48-NEXUS (63987) is your one-stop shop for device issues.  Finally, Nexus One customers have more than a support forum to discuss their problems.  Let’s hope that the addition of a technical support number is Google’s way of saying “we’re working on our customer service because we realize that a viable technical support department is crucial for the success of the device.”

(And congratulations on your Nexus One order, Mr. Dong.  I hope you enjoy it.)

Via TmoNews

Google held a press event this morning to launch Google Buzz, their new system for real-time sharing of everything from Twitter-style conversations to photos and other media. Buzz will exist inside of Google’s GMail interface, but the company also introduced three new location-aware mobile products:

– Google Buzz via m.Google.com homepage for Android and iPhone

– Mobile App: buzz.google.com

– Buzz-enabled Google Maps for Symbian, Windows Mobile, Android

I’m hard-pressed just yet to figure out exactly what Buzz is, wants to, or will be, but it also seems to be Google’s attempt to destroy twitter, Facebook, Foursquare, Yelp! and Flickr/Photobucket all at the same time. There’s twitter-like public sharing and closed-group private sharing of test, photos, links, and other media. There’s location-aware maps and social networking on the go via the mobile versions of buzz. There’s some kind of “get the buzz on what’s around you” that seems like it might be a mashup of Foursquare’s “checking in” and Yelp!s user reviews.

And there’s some kind of Enterprise product, as well.

More as we, uh, figure out what’s going on here.

Any of you who’ve been following the Buzz (sorry, had to make the pun), what’s your take? Is Google Buzz buzzworthy?

Notion Ink’s Adam tablet computer is probably the most interesting product on my “when’s it gonna launch?” radar. Though I’m currently more excited about iPad just because it actually has a price and ship date, Adam brings all kinds of specs, tech, and potential to the table with its Android-driven, dual-mode display technology.

If you’re not yet familiar with Adam, check out my post-CES writeup on it.

Notion Ink CEO Rohan Shravan had a chat with SlashGear the other day and told them all kinds of awesome-sounding new things about Adam that make me excited and give plenty of fuel for iPad-haters fires all at the same time:

– Adam will have at least double the battery life of iPad, thanks to its NVIDIA Tegra chipset and Pixel Qi screen, which can switch between full-color LCD and low-power e-Ink depending on what the user is doing.

– Adam will rock Flash – hopefully from the get go.

– Adam will be able to output 1080p video (via HDMI, I presume), versus iPad’s 480p/576p limit.

Shravan also apparently knows that specs aren’t everything and content is still king in many parts of the land. So his company is setting up a $1 Million competition to encourage developers to write apps for the new Adam platform.

For the record, the “Better iPad” part of the title of this post is half serious, half questioning, and half sarcastic (yeah, I know, that’s three halves). On paper, Adam sounds awesome. On paper, iPad sounds to many like an underpowered gimmick. But if there’s one thing covering consumer tech for a bunch of years has taught me, it’s that “on paper” is meaningless. The proof is in the pudding, or in this case, in the review loaner. I can’t wait for Adam to actually launch so I can actually try it out and actually tell you if it’s actually any good or not. Same for iPad. And oh yeah, that JooJoo thingy. And all the more so once developers and content providers start 

But on paper? 1080p + Flash + dual-mode display technology = Pretty cool.

In an effort to quell user complaints about the company’s high “equipment recovery fee” (in addition to T-Mobile’s early termination fee, nonetheless), Google has dropped the fee from $350 to $150 for those that cancel their contracts in the first 120 days.  That being said, that’s still $350 total to pay to Google and T-Mobile ($150 and $200, respectively) – still too high, in my opinion.  The move comes after the FCC sent letters to the nationwide wireless carriers and Google, probing them for more information on their early termination fee policies.

Via Phone Scoop

Get out your salt shakers, it’s alleged spy photo time!

iPhone repair site iResQ has what they claim are parts from the upcoming fourth-generation Apple iPhone, due to be launched later this year. According to photos on the site, the new iPhone’s front panel (right, above) will be approximately 1/4″ taller than the current iPhone 3GS (left, above).

The photos also show what iResQ is calling a “reflective surface” on the front panel just above the earpiece slot. And, of course, the photos show a cut-out for the Home button that looks suspiciously large. 

Real? Fake? Whatever? Sound off in the comments! Me, I’m actually hoping for a slightly larger next-gen iPhone – I think it’s time for a bigger, higher-res display.

[Via: iResQ, MacRumors]

Chris from Engadget says he got word that Verizon is currently testing Android 2.1 “Eclair” on the Motorola Droid. The build mentioned is 2.1 version 1, the same version pushed out to Nexus One owners last week. Nobody’s got any word on a release date – or even verification that the update will, in fact, be released at all. But let’s be optimistic (and realistic, I think) and say that Droid owners should be getting some multitouch Web love without the need to install a third-party browser.

According to Engadget, the Droid version of 2.1 features:

– Multitouch Web browsing

– Google Googles pre-isntalled

– New News and Weather widgets just like on Nexus One

But check out what’s not included on Droid’s 2.1 build:

– The new Nexus One home screen and app menu

– Live wallpapers

Hmm … Early build, faulty info, or the new wave of splintered Android releases in action? Google did talk about new standards for new phones running new features in the Android 2.x world, so it could in fact be that Droid doesn’t pass muster when it comes to 3D and other UI eye candy. Time will tell … and soon … we hope.

[Via: Engadget]

According to Adriana, any of you running your iPhones unlocked on T-Mobile should hold off on installing the newest iPhone OS update. Looks like iPhone 3.1.3 breaks TMo connectivity for iPhone 3GS and 3G models – apparently the first-gen iPhones aren’t affected.

Any of you running iPhone unlocked on Magenta? If so, can you confirm or deny this? Better yet, are you hard at work on a solution? 

More over at Today’s iPhone.

[Via: PhoneArena]

Pocketnow got hold of some leaked photos of a phone marked, “HTC Incredible.” Based on the specs accompanying the leak, this device might just live up to its name – if you’re looking for a high-end Android handheld to run on Verizon.

Incredible is said to feature Android 2.1 and HTC Sense running on a Snapdragon-based platform backed by 256MB of RAM. The device will feature a 3.5″ + WVGA touchscreen (AMOLED?), the oft-rumored optical mouse that HTC is said to switching to for 2010 (no more trackballs), and a  dual flash camera housed in a somewhat oddly colored orange-brown back plate. 

No word on launch date, why such a high end phone would only have 256MB of RAM, or if that back plate is really orange-brown. But we’ll keep you abreast as we find things out. Like maybe next week at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona; sure, it’s a Verizon phone, but that doesn’t mean HTC doesn’t have a global flagship variant to unveil in Spain, right? Check out more photos of Increidble via the link below.

[Via: Pocketnow]

I don’t much care for Foursquare. The social networking site, that is. The schoolyard game with a kickball? AWESOME. The check-in thingy? Don’t really like it.

But lots of people do, apparently. They enjoy filling their twitter feeds with things like, “I am now the mayor of Taco Bell!”  and, “I’m at Pet Food Plaza at 123 Main Street.” Well, okay, good for you, Mayor!

So it’s good – for them – that there’s a Foursquare app for BlackBerry. And apparently it’s a pretty good app.

You go read Taylor’s review of the app over at BBerryDog. And I’ll go find a kickball and some chalk to draw up a real Foursquare app – er, court – of my own.

[Via: BBerryDog]

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Is it me or have this year’s Super Bowl ads been pretty underwhelming thus far? There’s about five and a half minutes to go in the game as I write this, so there’s still time for a miracle, but so far? Eh. That much-hyped Google ad? Vaguely clever yet supremely boring (seriously, who wants to read an entire TV ad?). I kind of liked the VW ad, mainly because the Stevie Wonder/Tracy Morgan bit was unexpected and hilarious. Otherwise? A lot of Bud and Bud Light ads that all kind of blended together in my memory. And that’s about it so far.

Oh yeah, except for that spot with Megan Fox handling a Motorola Devour. Naked. In a bathtub.

Two things about that ad. First, only a super phone geek would know it was a Moto Devour (the Verizon logo was barely visible) – the ad was for Motorola and MotoBlur, not for a specific phone or carrier.

Second, what about the part where a kid locks himself in his bedroom to, um, spend some time with the bathtub photo of herself that Megan just posted to her social networks via the magic of MotoBlur? HELLOMOTO!

Comin’ on strong with the power of social networking in 2010, are we Motorola? Interesting tactics.

Ha ha, the Audi “Green Police” ad that just ran was kinda funny. Any Cheap Trick fans in the house, or are you all busy watching the Moto ad clip below? 

What say you? Moto’s ads? Super Bowl ads in general? Yay or Nay?

I was convinced going into the that I would spend most of the dogfight talking about how great the Nexus One is. But with Sense, the HD 2 has plenty to offer.

I definitely favor Android over Windows Mobile, but when it comes to Sense, no matter what the underlying OS, the surface is lovely.

According to Best Buy Canada, Telus (or at least Best Buy, on behalf of Telus) will be getting the Motorola Milestone.  If you’re in the United States, you’re probably thinking “great, Aaron, why do I care?”  Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy for Telus customers, but the real win for us in the States lies in the fact that they utilize the 850/1900 MHz bands for 3G.  In other words, their version of the Milestone will work on AT&T – 3G and all. 

Granted, you’ll need to unlock the device, and it doesn’t have the name that’s goes hand-in-hand with scaring small children and destroying your farm (insert creepy “DROID” noise here), but it beats an EDGE-only Nexus One or European Milestone.  And sure, the Backflip is coming (along with a few more Android devices this year), but why wait when you can get your hands on an Android device in a few days?  Yep, that’s what I said.  Anyone planning a trip up North yet?

Via Engadget

Prepaid and PostPaid, Voice and Data

Boost Mobile’s launch of their first-ever smartphone, the BlackBerry Curve 8330, and its $60/month unlimited, prepaid voice & data plan, got me to thinking about the true cost  of owning and maintaining various smartphones on the various US carriers. With the help of Billshrink’s handy-dandy charts and infographics, I did a little research and came up with the following. Note that I stuck to national carriers – there are too many regional carriers out there for me to have included in this piece.

In general, what you’d expect is what you’ll get: Sprint (and Boost) and T-Mobile are cheaper than AT&T and Verizon when it comes to talking, texting, and Web/Emailing from a smartphone. Now that’s with respect to monthly voice and data fees, only – the price of buying your phone varies widely depending on which model you get, where you get it (carrier or third party store), what promotions are in effect when you buy your phone and so on. And, of course, network coverage and performance is a huge factor in many people’s decision-making process – that’s something I’m leaving out of this little research project, focusing instead on price and price alone.

Pricing

The absolute cheapest way to run a smartphone on a US carrier is to pick up a super-cheap device on your own and run it on T-Mobile using their “Even More Plus” plans. Even More Plus plans are contract free and run $20/month cheaper than their “Even More” counterparts, but don’t offer subsidized prices on new devices. So if you can bring your own smartphone to T-Mobile, an Even More Plus plan will net you the absolute best deal possible – low monthly rates and no contractual commitments.

If, on the other hand, you’re in the market for a new device to go with your frugal plan, Sprint and T-Mobile offer the cheapest options depending on how many monthly voice minutes you need. Scratch that – Boost is the absolute cheapest, but your only option with them is paying $250 for a last-generation BlackBerry that costs somewhere between “nothing” and “very little” on the other carriers. 

Here’s a breakdown of single line monthly smartphone voice/data plan costs from cheapest to most expensive:

450 Minutes + Unlimited Messaging/Data

• T-Mobile Even More Plus: $59.99 (500 Minutes, No Contract, Bring Your Own Device)
• Sprint: $69.99 (Two-Year Contract)
• T-Mobile: $79.99 (Two-Year Contract)
• AT&T & Verizon: $89.99 (Two-Year Contract)

Verizon Wireless has won the 2010 J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Wireless Customer Care Performance Study, edging out T-Mobile for the first place slot.

According to the J.D. Power press release, Verizon Wireless performs best when contacts are resolved through phone calls to customer service and visits to the company’s retail stores.  In both situations, Verizon Wireless representatives “perform well with regard to identifying customer problems quickly and resolving them efficiently.” 

Coming in (a close) second was T-Mobile with 752 points.  AT&T ranked third with 733 points, and Sprint came in last with 721 points.  The industry average was 739 points.

Some interesting data that J.D. Power found:

• The rate of customers that report having contacted their carrier’s care units has decreased by 3 percent during the past six months, with AT&T and Verizon customers stating particularly low contact rates.
• During the past six months, the number of customer contacts pertaining to credit issues such as overdue balances and credit extensions has increased by 50 percent.
• Despite owning phones with more complicated feature sets, wireless customers with smartphones do not rate customer care performance much lower than those with traditional mobile phones (735 vs. 741, respectively). However, smartphone owners, compared to traditional phone owners, are significantly more likely to have contacted their carrier with an issue during the past six months (49% vs. 40%, respectively) and it is less likely the issue was resolved on the first contact via telephone (74% vs. 77%, respectively). Regarding retail store contacts, smartphone owners also require more than three additional minutes to resolve their issues than do owners of traditional phones.
• Sixteen percent of customer phone contacts result from proactive calls or text messages originated by the wireless carrier. This has proven to be an effective way of limiting some potential issues from escalating, as customers who contact their carrier after receiving these communications are more satisfied (751, on average) than customers who do not receive proactive contact from their carrier (738).

Good news for Verizon, and to an extent, T-Mobile.  The full release can be found here. 

I’d like to hear from you as a sort of “PhoneDog Customer Care Survey” – which carrier do you love (or hate), and why?

As you probably know, PhoneDog is pretty crazy about giveaways. The main site just sent out it’s 67th prize from the One Paw Bandit, and they haven’t been pencil erasers, either. DroidDog is getting in on the action and just gave away a rooted G1 as a reward to a reader for shooting off a quick tweet. Not only does the PhoneDog crew love giving out free stuff, we like to make it easy.

Congratulations to Leslie W. from Cerritos, Ca, who won the contest!

DroidDog is currently undergoing some changes, and while I’m not ready to announce them all just yet, stay tuned. I think it’s going to be an interesting Spring. Aside site design and features, the DroidDog team is growing pretty quickly and the variety of content posted each day has grown as a result.

Neil Lund is the most recent addition to DroidDog, and as he showed us with his G1 hacking guide, Neil likes to bring people together for group projects. Check out the review he, Garrett Furr, and John Michael Guerra have done of Swype (see this link for Neil’s thoughts):

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As usual, Dustin Earley has his ear to the ground, looking out for all things Android. He wrote posts this week on topics as varied as Android figurines, a QR code on The Weather Channel, and the release of the HTC Eris’ source code.

Carlos Graves regularly reviews, on video, cooked ROMs and applications, and this Twicca review is a good example of his work:

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Those are some of the items that stood out to me at DroidDog over the past week, but there’s plenty more material available. If you’re curious about upcoming phones, check out Motorola’s Android plans for the year, Nexus One’s coming destination, the myTouch Slide, details of Devour, and another Sammy.

Have you signed up for the DroidDog Forums yet?

Take care, folks.