CES - Cell phones and smartphones

LAS VEGAS--One of the most interesting (and possibly best) things about the Huawei Ideos X5 is what it lacks.

The Ideos X5 is one of a couple Android smartphones we've seen without a customized skin on top of the stock Android operating system. Not all of those skins are bad by any means, but Android purists will welcome the simple, straightforward interface. Take a look at the phone and its features in this First Look video from the CES show fly.

LAS VEGAS--Despite not announcing any new phone hardware during its CES keynote speech, Microsoft paid special attention to its Windows Phone 7 platform with some live demos of existing features, as well as the promise of an update that would bring new features like copy and paste along with performance improvements.

But how much of a boost will phones be getting when firing up applications? The answer, it turns out, is hard to quantify.

"It impacts apps differently," Aaron Woodman, director of Microsoft's mobile communications business, told CNET in an interview yesterday. "It's not the … Read more

LAS VEGAS--More products seem intent on blurring the line between smartphones and tablets. The 5-inch screen on the Dell Streak, for example, really threw us into a philosophical tailspin. It was awkwardly large to make calls with, but too small for tablet-style Web browsing and productivity.

In spite of ViewSonic's insistence on calling the ViewPad 4 a tablet, I have no qualms telling you that it's really a smartphone. As the name implies, the ViewPad 4 uses a 4.1-inch screen, putting it behind the 4.3-inch screen used on the Motorola Droid Bionic and other unabashed smartphones. … Read more

LAS VEGAS--At last year's CES, we put together a slideshow called "Sexy sells at CES" that highlighted part of the human element that companies use to help make their gadgets stand out on the crowded show floor--or at least encourage people to stop at their booths.

For some reason, this slideshow proved to be rather popular with our readers, so we thought we'd cobble something together this year.

Don't get the wrong impression. Not every company hires models to show off their wares and talk about their products. And even when they do, the product … Read more

LAS VEGAS. I never thought anything would give me more pleasure than taking an orange-handled hammer and smashing an Acer laptop.

I was still glowing from managing this yesterday that I almost didn't hear a rather short lady asking if I wanted to shoot a free throw with my iPhone.

Because I was wearing my shiny black Costume National boots, she must have naturally assumed that I owned an iPhone, which I don't. However, I confess that I have seen Golden State Warriors fans wanting to toss several types of smartphones in the direction of Andris Biedrins, every … Read more

LAS VEGAS--We've seen a lot of touch-screen smartphones at CES 2011 so far, but very few with QWERTY keyboards. However, Acer's got one that combines both.

The Android 2.2-based Acer BeTouch E210 has a compact, slate design that features a 2.6-inch, 320x240 touch screen and a full QWERTY keyboard, as well as an optical trackpad. Hoping to provide more instant access, the keyboard has been redesigned since the BeTouch E130 and now includes shortcuts to contacts, camera, and messaging apps.

The BeTouch E210 has full wireless options and a 3.2-megapixel camera, but it's not … Read more

If there's one word to describe the LG Optimus 2X, it would be "fast." Even though I knew it has a dual-core Tegra 2 processor, I wasn't expecting the hands-on experience to be that speedy. Indeed, I was able to simply fly through the different screens and applications, launching apps and switching tasks in the blink of an eye. While I didn't have time to sit through a video game, LG claims the device makes for a very responsive gaming experience as well.

The display is also really easy on the eyes. Measuring 4 inches … Read more

Verizon Wireless is making a big announcement in New York on Tuesday. Could the news be the long-awaited Verizon iPhone?

On Friday, the company sent reporters an invitation to a press event hosted by Lowell McAdam, Verizon's chief operating officer. The event, which will take place at Lincoln Center, is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. ET. (That's 1/11/11 at 11.)

CNET blogger Rick Broida received a tip earlier this week from an anonymous source, who said the Verizon iPhone would be announced January 11.

The Wall Street Journal reported Friday afternoon that an unnamed … Read more

Despite the buzz around the LG Revolution, I have to say that the LG Optimus Black has a bit more star power, and it's all because of its display. While I can't attest to its actual clarity under bright daylight due to the dim lighting on the show floor, what I saw of it was impressive.

As we reported, the Optimus Black's 4-inch "NOVA" display boasts 700 nits of brightness, which LG claims makes it the brightest and clearest display on the market. The company even placed it next to an iPhone 4 to compare … Read more