Echo

Though cell phone carriers like to boast that their devices are "one of a kind" and "industry firsts," the claims are usually nothing more than marketing speak. With the Kyocera Echo, however, Sprint wasn't just feeding us a line.

It's almost been two months since Sprint launched the Echo at a very over-the-top unveiling in New York City. Journalists like us usually have an aversion to such events, so it wasn't surprising that most attendees came away a little confused. And it didn't help that the Echo was such an unusual device. Though it looks pretty boring at first, the Echo actually has two touch screens that join together to form one large display. The Echo is nothing we've ever seen before and it offers some unique enhancements that are cool if not exactly mind-blowing.

Of course, the dual-screen design comes with some tradeoffs, and the Echo's design won't build confidence if you subject your gadgets to regular abuse. Even worse, a lackluster feature set makes the Echo's design its only real draw. It won't be for mass consumption, but the right user will appreciate its quirky character.

For the whole story, read our full Kyocera Echo review. … Read more

ORLANDO, Fla.--In addition to delivering lots of new phones, trade shows like CTIA 2011 offer an opportunity to see any recent models that haven't yet to passed through your hands. This year, CTIA was my first chance to handle the Kyocera Echo, the dual-screen Android handset for Sprint. I wasn't able to join Bonnie Cha for last month's launch event in New York City--check out Bonnie's original take on the device--so I had breakfast with Kyocera's PR team to see the smartphone up close.

After Sprint's bizarre unveiling event--was a performance by Blaine … Read more

Orlando, Fla.--Kyocera today announced a developer's program for the company's new Echo Android handset that it unveiled with Sprint last month. The Kyocera Android Developer Program won't formally launch until April 17, but the company will show off the SDK at CTIA 2011.

The program is meant to encourage development of applications and games that will utilize the Echo's dual screens. Categories include gaming, social networking, mobile entertainment, location-based services, and productivity.

Kyocera also announced the initial list of developer partners who will issue the first apps optimized for the handset. For the most part, … Read more

First, congrats to Arnav of Temple Terrace, F.L., for winning the Toshiba Camileo mini camcorder in last week's giveaway. Now, for this week's giveaway, we've got a special-edition Livescribe Echo smartpen with 8GB of built-in memory. What makes it special? Well, the folks at Livescribe have provided us with a translucent version that shows off the smartpen's innards. How sweet is that?

Here's what editor Donald Bell had to say about the standard black version of the Echo (read the full review here):

It's one of the craziest weeks ever in cell phone land. Not only are Kent and Bonnie packing for Mobile World Congress, but we also had two big-time press events from Sprint and HP. Sprint's new device is the dual-screen Kyocera Echo. We admit it doesn't look like much right now, but that didn't stop magician David Blaine from showing up at the unveiling. HP gave us a better show with its new Pre 3 and Veer and the company made every effort to remind us that the Palm name no longer exists.

Also in the … Read more

We get nostalgic about kid cereals of yore in The 404 preshow this morning, and if you miss Cap'n Crunch OOPS! All Berries and Kellogg's Rice Krispies Treats Cereal as much as we do, you can still buy both on Amazon.com. Don't blame us if you get a stomach ache from 17-year-old crunchberries.

Sprint's dual-touch-screen Kyocera Echo is the latest victim of the "just because you can, doesn't mean you should" cliche.

Bonnie Cha was at the special event in New York yesterday and raises concerns about the effects of the double screens on the phone's battery life, not to mention the lack of 4G support that will likely push this handset to the clearance bin by the end of this year.

The war of the smartphones will always be a heated topic of discussion on the show, but as the numbers of handsets grows, we're getting less excited about the hardware in lieu of the new apps that make them really stand out--things like Grindr, a new service that lets men and women turn their GPS-powered phones into mobile-dating tools.

The mobile service was initially rolled out to help gay men track their nearest potential dates (aka, gaydar) and has grown to support nearly 1.5 million members with apps for iPhone, BlackBerry, and Android.

Once you sign onto Grindr and fill out your profile, the app shows a grid of pictures for potential daters in your area based using GPS technology that works up to a couple of hundred feet. If you see someone of interest, you can then send a photo or a message to start the conversation.

It's opened up a realm of possibilities that take the guesswork out of spotting gay men, but now its 33-year-old founder, Joel Simkhai, is attempting to port the service over for straight women as well.

The problem lies in the effort to incorporate features that appeal specifically to that demographic, since most straight women can walk into any bar and lock down a date. Wilson also brings up a good point about the safety and privacy issues behind an app that keeps track of your location.

Along the same vein, an article in New York Mag caught our attention and hits so close to home that we have to address it in the second half of the show. It examines the negative psychological effects of Internet pornography on the male libido.

Based on interviews with men of all ages (including John Mayer, an expert on the subject), the author questions the possibility that Internet porn is causing men to detach from their partners and instead form mental bonds with the stars in these movies.

Obviously there's plenty to be said on this topic (anecdotally, not personally), so I'm sure we'll spend more time on it tomorrow. Read the article and let us know what you think!

Links from Tuesday's episode of Loaded:

Kyocera sees double

Facebook is replacing Craigslist for prostitute recruitment and matchmaking

Fixed Sandy Bridge chipsets will ship in mid-February

Win $10,000 in this Internet video safety contest

White House proposes new copying rules

Facebook firing case will settle

NEW YORK--After weeks of teasing an "industry first," Sprint finally took the wraps off its secret project and unveiled the Kyocera Echo, the first dual touch-screen smartphone, at a special event in New York today.

Available later this spring for $199.99 with a two-year contract, the Kyocera Echo boasts two 3.5-inch WVGA touch screens and a "pivot hinge" that allows you to place the two displays side by side to form a larger 4.7-inch display. In development for more than a year and a half (even longer for the hardware), the Echo runs Android 2.2 and features software that is optimized to take advantage of the two screens.

There are actually four modes in which you can use the Android 2.2 device: standard, tablet, optimized, and simultasking. In standard mode, you can use the Echo as a traditional touch-screen smartphone. The pivot hinge allows you to tuck the second display under the first, so you can navigate and operate the handset like many of today's latest devices. Meanwhile, tablet mode lets you view and interact with an app on both screens.

The optimized and simultask modes are a little more advanced in their capabilities. The former supports a single app and gives you the main view on one screen, and the app's complementary features and functionality on the second screen. For example, if you're checking e-mail, you'll get a view of your full inbox on one side of the screen, and the second will give display the full text of a selected message. Another example is the photo gallery. You can get a full view of a photo on the top screen and a thumbnail photo gallery on the bottom.

However, the simultask mode is where the Echo's true attraction might lie. In this mode, you'll be able to take multitasking to a new level as you'll be able to use two apps concurrently with each displayed on one of the dual touch screens.… Read more

Other links from Monday's episode of Loaded:

AOL buys The Huffington Post

Sony uses Super Bowl ad to officially announce the Xperia Play

Motorola Xoom pricing

The NASDAQ hacked

New Canon dSLRs