Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones Is the image above one of Samsung’s new WP7 phones, or is it simply a Photoshop mockup? Chances are it’s the real deal, but which Samsung phone is it? We already know AT&T plans to sell the Samsung Cetus when it launches this fall, but this Samsung device doesn’t seem to match the Cetus. Chances are it’s a completely new and unknown Samsung device, which is still enough to make me excited. From the image, it’s hard to discern any notable features, however, it’s safe to assume the screen is AMOLED measuring probably 4 inches. On the bottom of the device is a back, search, and Windows button. I’m sure we’ll learn some more information regarding this and other Samsung phones as we approach the fall season. Read [Twitter] Via [Pocketnow] Full Story » | Written by Natesh Sood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones 
AndroidSPIN received a few images of the purported Dell Blaze, an entry-level smartphone running Android 1.5. Nearly every new smartphone that launches today features Android 2.0, Android 2.1, or even Android 2.2, so it looks like Dell’s already making a mistake by launching an Android device with Android 1.5. The source with the images compares the phone to the Palm Pixi based on form factor. In terms of size, the Blaze is smaller than the Dell Thunder (leaked yesterday), which makes sense since it’s billed as an entry-level device. The tipster did not have any information as to whether Dell would upgrade the Blaze from 1.5 to a more modern version of Android OS. In addition, the tipster could not provide any more details about the phone in terms of screen size, processor, storage space, etc. The image above shows the Dell Blaze, while the image below shows the Blaze alongside the Dell Thunder and Dell Streak. Via [AndroidSPIN] 
Full Story » | Written by Natesh Sood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Gadgets / Other, Transportation Story time, I once went on a hot air balloon ride. It was a great experience, the view was spectacular and it was lots of fun to be just floating around so high in the air. Then again, there were two things that I really did not expect going in, which in hind sight seem like they should have been obvious. First—it was hot, SUPER HOT. And second —it was loud. Yes, the hind sight, fire makes these things go up and fire is hot. Given that, if I had been on the balloon in the above image I am not so sure I would have even noticed the heat or noise. After all, it looks like you are going to fall to the earth. A glass bottomed hot air balloon. Honestly up until now my one and only ride in a hot air balloon was enough, but this I would love to give a try. Interestingly enough, even the person who created this masterpiece admitted the flight was a “terrifying experience.” Who is ready to jump on board? Read [DailyMail] Via [Gizmodo] Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Business News, Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones 
In about a month, HTC will be hosting a special event to take place in London in which HTC will reveal something it has “dreamt up.” On the invitation image, HTC offers a phone of some sort covered by a smoky design, which makes it hard to discern which HTC branded phone it is. With Windows Phone 7 launching soon, rumors have been abound of possible WP7 HTC phones. In fact, an HTC event to announce the HTC Vision and/or the HTC Desire HD would line up with a previous rumor about T-Mobile’s Project Emerald. It will be interesting to see how many more HTC leaks occur between now and the 15th of September. Via [Engadget] Full Story » | Written by Natesh Sood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Haven’t caught all of the Gadgetell news this week? Here's your chance to catch up on this week’s top 10 articles! - Skype and Ebay settle lawsuits
” Ebay and Skype have announced they’ve settled the lawsuit and disputes filed against them by IDT. Net2Phone, an affiliate of IDT, had filed suit against both companies in 2006 claiming they had infringed upon their patent for IP based communications.Ebay was involved because…” MORE » - Will iPad be updated for the holidays?
” What is an iPad? Is it a consumer device or is it a new computing platform? For all we know about the iPad, we’re still not sure. If it is a consumer device, then a pre-holiday update to drive sales in the gift-buying season is…” MORE » - Will Sprint launch the Epic 4G on August 21?
” The last rumor we heard about the Epic 4G was that it is going to launch tomorrow, August 11. Since it is already the tenth and Sprint still hasn’t announced the official pricing or availability, I doubt the…” MORE » - AT&T announces the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 for purchase on August 15
” Earlier today, our Robert Nelson reported Sony was getting ready to announce something big, probably the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Android smartphone. It turns out Nelson’s prediction was indeed correct because AT&T and Sony Ericsson announced the…” MORE » - Verizon Wireless officially announces the Motorola Droid 2 for $199 on contract
” Just two days before the launch of the Motorola Droid 2, Verizon Wireless issued a press release confirming the device and its rumored specs. First things first, the device will be available for pre-order starting tomorrow,…” MORE » - Verizon begins Motorola Droid 2 marketing campaign, release date still unknown
” Even though the Motorola Droid 2 has yet to be officially announced by Verizon, the giant US carrier decided to go ahead and launch the media campaign before launch. Today, Verizon ran a large, full page ad…” MORE » - Samsung launches new Flight II SGH-A927, featurephone available on AT&T
” With all the hype surrounding the latest and greatest smartphones, it’s not a surprise we tend to lose sight of featurephones designed for the average user. Apparently Samsung recently launched a successor to the Samsung Flight in the form…” MORE » - Facebook being hit hard by scams-here’s how to spot and avoid them
” Facebook is ripe with scams and spams these days. Ever since Facebook opened up it’s “Like” feature things really exploded. It’s not surprising. Cybercriminals go where the audiences go. They started with “Make Money Now!” chain letter scams on USENET back in the…” MORE » - Telus rumored to launch BlackBerry Torch 9800 on September 16th
” The Blackberry Torch 9800 was announced here in the US last week, and seems to have attracted a fair share of attention—most of which has been good. And to take that a step…” MORE » - Android 2.2 Froyo OTA now rolling out for Motorola Droid owners
” The good word on the internet is that the Android 2.2 Froyo update has officially begun rolling out for Motorola Droid users. Of course, we did know it was coming sometime this week. That said, at least this way, the original…” MORE »
Full Story » | Written by NEWS for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Gadgets / Other, Household  It’s happened to all of us. You pop a bagel, waffle, or slice of bread in the toaster and promptly get distracted, leaving it to get cold and unappetizing. This cool new toaster from DeLonghi, the DeLonghi DTT720, takes care of that. If you’re not ready when your food is, it returns to the toaster and is kept warm. It also has a bun warmer that works great for pastries and larger baked goods, and hey it looks incredibly cool! At $79.95, it’s an affordable and useful gadget for any kitchen.
Read [CNet] Full Story » | Written by Sue Walsh for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Mobile, Reviews, Features, Originals 
I have spent a few weeks trying out one of Sprint's latest Android smartphones, the Samsung Intercept. The Samsung Intercept offers the true Android experience at an affordable price and is a great phone for those who like physical keyboards and do not wish to spend $199 or more on the latest and greatest smartphone. What is it? The Samsung Intercept is a slider smartphone from Sprint that is currently available for $99.99 on a two year contract and it comes in two different colors - Gray Steel and Satin Pink. The Intercept runs Android 2.1 and has a 3.2MP camera, 3.0 inch touch screen, optical trackpad, Bluetooth, and WiFi connectivity. As with any Sprint smartphone, the Intercept is pre-loaded with a few NASCAR related apps and a Sprint TV app. The Good The Sprint smartphone feels comfortable in my hand and pocket; since its screen is only 3 inches, it's not too big for my hand or pocket. The slider keyboard is not very stiff and it moves up and down pretty easily. Unfortunately, the layout of the keyboard is a little different than what I am accustomed to on my LG enV 3, but after a few hours using the device the keyboard became familiar and easy to use. The Samsung Intercept features a 2GB microSD card, which allows you to put music and videos on it and listen to it from your phone. It supports up to a 32GB microSD just in case you need more than the 2GB it comes with. The call quality on the phone is strong and the speakerphone works well. The optical trackpad works well in case you're moving down a list or simply wish to navigate without using the touch screen. The touch screen is sensitive to the touch, so you don't have to awkwardly press down on an app to get it to open. The Bad The Samsung Intercept can be slow in handling multiple apps at a time. Sometimes the device acts sluggish in switching between the browser, to Pandora, to email, to Google Talk, for instance. Since it's a mid-range device and features an 800MHz processor, it does lag from time to time. The battery life is less than stellar and it barely makes it through a day of moderate usage. Most smartphones only have decent battery lives, and since it's a mid-range device, a mediocre battery life is sort of expected. Unfortunately, it does come bundled with Sprint apps such as NASCAR Sprint Cup, Sprint Zone, Sprint TV, and Sprint Football Live. The photo quality is decent, but then again, it only features a 3.2MP camera. Flash would work nicely with the Intercept, as many top smartphones these days are equipped with LED flash. The Crux If you're looking for an inexpensive Android smartphone on the Sprint network, the Samsung Intercept is definitely worth checking out. While it's not going to be as glamorous as the HTC EVO 4G or the Samsung Epic 4G, the Samsung Intercept at $99 certainly holds its own. Full Story » | Written by Natesh Sood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Mobile When we last left off with the T-Mobile myTouch HD it was with some basic specs and a grainy rendered image. Well, needless to say we still have that same image but on the flip side, the details are starting to shape up. What we can pass on at this point in terms of details includes that the myTouch HD will be the follow up to the myTouch Slide. It is also expected to feature the Espresso flavor of HTC’s Sense UI and come complete with the Genius Button. Unfortunately some of the other items such as processor and actual display size remain a mystery. The other bit of news we have is that the device is said to have a front facing camera, which would be a first for T-Mobile. It will also be ditching the keyboard that was on the myTouch Slide and go touchscreen only. Read [Android and Me] Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Smartphones, Mobile Just in case you were wondering what the inside of the recently released Motorola Droid 2 looked like, teardown specialists iFixIt have properly gutted the phone and documented the experience in a nice series of images. All said and done, it is quite a collection of pieces of plastic and hardware. Interestingly enough, a few of the Droid 2 parts were noted as being the same as the original Motorola Droid. Interesting stuff, though I must say I am happy we have the Internet and things like this. I love seeing the guts of gadgets, but would never be willing (or brave enough) to do this myself. With that, hit the ‘read’ link below for a good dose of gadget pr0n. Read [iFixIt] Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Audio, Portable Audio, Video, Portable Video, Communications, Smartphones, Computers, Features, Originals, Columns, Who's On Crack 
What's the most common phrase heard around the Gadgetell newsroom? Is it "I love Apple?", "that's cool!" or "sweet!"? Answer: none of them, it's "they are on crack". This week we take a look back at the things that made us chuckle in the tech world. This week, it seems there was more folks on dope than not. Lets get to the accused: - R2-D2 vs Android
- Android event?
- Will I be fooled by Apple again?
- Palm has left the building
Verizon hands the mic to Artoo Droid 2 or R2-D2 version? Our Natesh Sood says, “...the latest rumor, courtesy of Android Central, is reporting the special edition Motorola Droid 2 will launch September 30. Most Motorola Droid 2 fans who happen to be Star Wars fans may not particularly wish to wait seven weeks to purchase the R2-D2 Droid 2, especially considering the phone looks "okay."” Hmmm. Let’s look at this decision logically: Round 1: who could win in a fight? It always boils down to this right? Andy, the Android mascot we know can rip it up on a skateboard. He’s been imaged peeing on apples. According to Verzion, Andy just “does”. Vague enough? R2-D2 on the other hand, is like the Swiss-Army knife of robots. From a taser of sorts, to rockets in his legs to his own home cinema, this bot’s got a lot of fire power. Unless there is some kind of vert ramp involved, round 1 goes to R2. Round 2: Sex appeal Let’s get this out of the way: mates don’t find your Star Wars posters sexy. Your immaculate collection of action figures (they’re not dolls dammit), along with retail packaging impresses very few of the people you hope to impress. The images we’ve seen of the R2 Droid 2 version scream I care about Star Wars a bit too much. Round 2 goes to Droid. In the end, R2’s sold out. He’s licensed himself more than any other extra-terrestial character, from salt shakers, speakers, USB ports, waste cans…the list goes on and on. Sorry R2, as much as I care about you on the inside, even I can’t justify showing that love on the outside. Winner: Droid 2 (Sans R2 sounds). 
Google holds Android event Phone events get my blood rushing. I contemplate the numerous ways they can blow my mind by announcing a needed upgrade or go way out of the box and leapfrog everyone. Unfortunately, at yesterday’s Google event we go this, as reported by Sue Walsh: “Google has introduced a new extension for their Chrome browser. Called Chrome to Phone, it allows users of Android smartphones to sync up with Chrome using it and the Chrome to Phone Android app.” Umm, OK. That capabilities been out for a while. Heck, even in Google Maps, where the data is most welcome for directions and such on a desktop you can send right to your GPS system (even if it is on your phone). The other “big” announcement - Voice. Use your voice to control your phone. Genius. Cool? Yes. Worthy of my time in watching live blogs? Heck no. No new phone, no new version announcements, no much needed market update. Instead, I am getting confused with all the variants, new devices launching with 1.xx software and what can be updated and what can’t. Google is on crack to think they’ll keep my attention with non-event events. Yawn. Quit crying wolf. 
Apple iPod touch to get camera, Retina. It’s a done deal right? You can easy see the logic in bringing a camera down and the Retina display to the iPod line, right? Makes absolute perfect business sense. Our sister-site Appletell tells all: “[t]he iPod touch would gain the latest touch-screen from Apple—the Retina Display—as well as not one, but two cameras. It's likely safe to assume the main camera will be 5MP and able to record HD-quality movies to edit on the fly with iMovie. The second camera will find its main use with FaceTime using e-mail to initiate calls, as hinted in the third beta of iOS 4.1” Only, thats what I thought last time. Someone in China even mades cases with camera holes for the last iPod touch. I was ready to buy, I might have even told you I was 100% certain this was happening. Only this time, I refused to get my hopes up again. FaceTime, Retina, Video - save it. I’ve stopped listening. Do we really think only the iPhone 4 and iPad will share the sharp edge look? Are we still buying iPods in this day of smartphone love? Why do I still care? 
Palm has left the building “Palm has lost several high profile members this year, including the lead of the user interface design team, the man responsible for its webOS notification system, and the VP of software. Now its VP of Design is joining the conga line out the door,” says our Andrew Kameka The VP, Peter Skillman was the Pre’s father. Without key members of the Palm team, what will HP rely on to “wow” us? We’ve seen the iPaq and frankly, now we’re a bit scared. Don’t get us wrong, the Pre was no bit of plastic to be paraded about, but it was head and shoulders above the iPaq. I consider webOS to be an egg at this point. A fragile, beautiful egg that could easily flop to ground and render it’s yolk useless. HP seems content to juggle the eggs, letting form Palm fiends fall where they may. I’ll use a quote that will render my, “I-am-too-cool-to-use-an-R2D2-phone” argument useless: “I feel a great disturbance in the force.” We have nothing but faith HP will do something good with webOS in a smartphone. My faith lessens with each passing day. Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Gadgets / Other, Features, Originals  We here at Gadgetell are starting a new series showing off our own personal gadgets-the ones we love and use everyday. To kick things off I proudly present mine:
Toshiba Satellite L305: It’s going on two years old but this guy is a true workhorse. It’s my primary computer and I use it everyday. It runs Vista and has a Intel Pentium Dual CPU T3200 with 2GB of RAM. It’s not the newest kid on the block but it performs admirably and has never given me any trouble, not even after its power cord got tangled up around the leg of my desk chair and sent it tumbling to the floor. I was shocked. I love Toshiba and will never buy another brand. Toshiba Satellite T115-DS1125: This little guy is my travel and surf on the couch buddy. I call it my netbook, but with an 11.5’’ HD screen, 2GB of RAM and dual core processor it’s actually considered an ultraportable. I love it. It runs Windows 7 64-bit and is upgradable to 4GB (something I plan to do soon.) The HD died just three weeks after I got it but Toshiba’s excellent customer service took care of it quickly. Have I mentioned I love Toshiba? I’ve had many different brands of computers starting with an Apple IIe way back when, then a Packard Bell, a Compaq, an EMachines, 3 Dells, an HP, an Asus, and and Acer and Toshiba has by far been the best ever. Their computers are built to last and their customer service and tech support is top notch. Amazon Kindle: I love this thing. It goes everywhere with me. I read books, blogs and several newspapers and magazines on it. So much nicer to travel with and no more piles of books, magazines and newspapers all over my house! The content available is great-I read two Canadian and one UK newspaper on it along with my New York Times, Boston Globe and Washington Post. The text to speech function is great too. I put a skin from DecalGirl.com on it to protected it from scratches. I had the first generation Kindle as well, and it’s now my husband’s. He loves it. Still not sure when/if I’ll upgrade to the new Kindle! BlackBerry Tour: I admit it, I’m addicted. My Tour keeps me connected to everything when I’m away from my desk. I check sports scores, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Ebay, and my email (5 different accounts!), text up a storm, read the news, play BeJeweled, take pics (the camera is excellent!), listen to Sirius/XM Radio, stay in touch with my best friend in Texas with BlackBerry Messenger, and oh yeah, make a phone call now and then. They ain’t kidding when they call it a CrackBerry! iPod Touch: I keep all my music and videos on here. I also use iBooks, Pandora, the Amazon Kindle App, and tons more. It’s a great pocket sized entertainment center! Apple did not deem it fit to receive all the bells and whistles of OS4 (It’s a 2nd Generation model) but it’s a keeper! Overdrive 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot: This thing has saved my bacon more than a few times when I had to get something done and my cable broadband went out. It allows me to connect up to 5 devices to it at once and lets them all connect to the net through Sprint’s mobile network. It’s fast and it’s a valuable tool for me. I never have to worry about finding a hotspot when I travel and can still get online when the cable goes out. My final favorite gadget is one you can’t see because I used it to take the pic. My digital camera. I used my old Kodak Easyshare 6 MP but tomorrow my new Fujifilm FinePix S1800 12.2 MP camera should arrive. It’s an SLR style camera with 18x optical zoom, a wide angle lens, and true 720p video. Can’t wait to try it out! These are my favorite gadgets-what are yours? Full Story » | Written by Sue Walsh for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Smartphones, Mobile, Web, Web 2.0 / Social Networking  We had mentioned that TweetDeck was coming to Android a little earlier in the week, and in a little bit of good news—it is now available for download. Except unlike most apps, this one is not in the Android Market. Not yet at least, of course, that is only because it is still in beta. That means you may or may not want to mess with it just yet. That said, I have downloaded and installed it myself (on a Droid Eris) and have not had any issues. Nonetheless, you will need to make sure you can install non-Market apps on your phone. But otherwise, it looks to be a promising Twitter app for Android. If interested, you can grab the beta version of TweetDeck for Android by clicking here.
Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Audio, Portable Audio, Communications, Smartphones, Mobile, Web, Websites The Audible app for Android has left beta and is now officially available in the Market. The app itself is free to download, however getting those audiobooks will come at a price—an Audible membership. That said, if you are into audiobooks and have an Android smartphone you likely will not care, or you will already have the Audible membership. The Audible for Android app is now at version 1.0 and is great. Well, at least the beta that I have been using for the past month or so was. I am just expecting the 1.0 version to be the same. Otherwise, the Audible for Android app allows for direct downloads to your phone and is supported on a wide variety of Android devices including some older and some newer. You can hit the link below to check out the full device compatibility list. Or otherwise, just grab your phone, fire up the Market and search for Audible. Read [Audible] Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Mobile In addition to hitting up Sprint, those interested in the Samsung Epic 4G will be able to pre-order the device from Radio Shack. The pre-orders will be starting today (August 13th), and customers will have to purchase a $50 gift card to make the reservation. And then, just like direct with Sprint, the Epic 4G will come available on August 31. One word of caution though, according to Radio Shack, the pre-orders are on a “while supplies last” basis so you may not want to wait all that long. Read [PR Newswire] Keep reading to check out the full press release… RadioShack Expands its Mobile Universe with the Launch of Samsung Galaxy S Smartphones Across Three Carriers
Compare three smartphones in one stop at The Shack FORT WORTH, Texas, Aug. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/—RadioShack® is adding even more options to its broad portfolio of leading-edge wireless products this summer by offering Samsung’s newest devices for mobile entertainment and social networking. The Android-powered Galaxy S™ series – Samsung Epic™ for Sprint, Vibrant™ for T-Mobile and Captivate™ for AT&T – are equipped with a 4-inch super-AMOLED screen and 1-GHz processor for HD video playback providing a brilliant, on-the-go multimedia experience that rivals in-home entertainment. With a convenient network of more than 4,000 stores nationwide, The Shack® offers the optimal environment for consumers to experience Samsung’s innovative Galaxy S devices and compare across carriers in one location. “The Samsung Galaxy S smartphones seamlessly combine leading edge technologies to deliver a stunning entertainment, social networking, and gaming experience,” said Daniel Liberman, senior vice president of mobility for RadioShack. “By offering the Galaxy S smartphones from three national carriers, RadioShack provides both exceptional choice and unbiased advice in selecting the right phone, carrier, and service plan for your lifestyle.” RadioShack will offer a limited number of pre-orders for Samsung Epic™ 4G from Sprint starting Aug. 13. Sprint is the only national wireless carrier offering 4G service in 48 markets, placing blazing fast content downloads in the customer’s hands. Samsung Epic 4G, the second 4G smartphone from Sprint this year, will have wireless hotspot capability for up to five connected devices, a slideout full QWERTY keyboard, and a front-facing video camera, among other features. Eligible RadioShack customers can reserve Samsung Epic 4G (while supplies last) by purchasing a $50 gift card that is applied to the purchase price when the device arrives in stores starting Aug. 31. T-Mobile’s recently launched Samsung Vibrant comes with exclusive, pre-loaded content, including “Avatar” and “The Sims 3” game. Samsung Vibrant is available at RadioShack for $149.99 (new or upgrading customers with approved credit and two-year contract). Customers will receive a $50 RadioShack gift card by mail with the purchase and activation of the Samsung Vibrant. Samsung Captivate for AT&T is available for $199.99 (for eligible customers with approved credit and two-year contract) and in-store customers will receive an immediate $20 accessory credit with activation (for online customers, a $20 accessory credit is available by mail).
Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Mobile Even though the Motorola Droid 2 has already launched, many users are still waiting for the special edition R2-D2 Droid 2 to launch. Unfortunately, Verizon Wireless never mentioned a specific launch date for the Star Wars commemorative phone other than sometime in September. However, the latest rumor, courtesy of Android Central, is reporting the special edition Motorola Droid 2 will launch September 30. Most Motorola Droid 2 fans who happen to be Star Wars fans may not particularly wish to wait seven weeks to purchase the R2-D2 Droid 2, especially considering the phone looks “okay.” Hopefully the R2-D2 Droid 2 does not turn into an iPhone 4 scenario where the manufacturer has problems with the white paint, because that would certainly not sit well with those who have waited a long time for the device. Via [Android Central] Full Story » | Written by Natesh Sood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 Section: Communications, Smartphones, Mobile, Web, Google Google has introduced a new extension for their Chrome browser. Called Chrome to Phone, it allows users of Android smartphones to sync up with Chrome using it and the Chrome to Phone Android app. With the touch of a button that’s added to the browser’s menu bar, they can send a webpage, YouTube video, maps, phone numbers and more to their phones where they will be ready to use. Web pages are automatically opened by the phone’s web browser and maps are sent seamlessly to Google Maps. It works on all Android phones running Android 2.2 or later. I’d like to see the iPhone do that! Read [Google]  Full Story » | Written by Sue Walsh for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
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