phones

Just for a moment, forget about waiting for the first iteration of Apple's iPhone: speculation is well under way about the next version.

According to reports in two Taiwanese newspapers Tuesday, the Commercial Times and the Economic Daily News, manufacturing powerhouse Quanta Computer has landed the contract to build a second-generation iPhone for Apple starting in September. The first version isn't out yet, as anyone with a pulse is probably aware, but the next version requires a "different outer design," according to numerous translations of the reports.

But IDG News Service reported that Quanta has not actually … Read more

I was tempted to post this yesterday morning, but opted to wait a day because I thought I'd be attacked by the "But I haven't seen the Lost finale yet and now you've spoiled it!" crowd if I did. Anyway, just for safety's sake, IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE LOST SEASON FINALE AND DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS, DO NOT READ THIS POST.

Anyhoo. Those of us who did watch the Lost season finale know that in a super shocking twist at the end, it was revealed that the episode's … Read more

Rarely will you find a phone that sends you on a spiral, but this one does. You buy it for its style, look and innovation. For that, it gets an 11 on a scale of 10-point scale.

The dilemma arises when you must decide whether it's more important to have the most eye-catching cell phone available or if you want one that's easy to use. Rarely will you find a phone that sends you on a spiral, but this one does. The Prada phone is somewhat awkward. There are only three buttons in front, yet often you'll … Read more

If you think you'd just spoil your cell phone by buying it its own bed, perhaps a cell phone chair is more appropriate. A chair still gives your handset a chance to rest in comfort but doesn't go so far as to give it a plush cover as well. Cell phone chairs come in a variety of style, from beach loungers to more traditional styles, but our favorite pick has to be these beanbag chairs. Available for just $9.75, the beanbag chair will add a retro-cool style to your home or office while giving your precious handset … Read more

This is one of those products that really makes us wonder if some companies have too many employees--a situation that inevitably leads to solutions in search of a problem. Nokia may be suffering this workforce malady if its latest brainchild is any indication: a mobile phone that warns of approaching lightning. Yes, you read that right.

We thought we'd dispensed with this misguided idea in an item a month ago that cited (and mocked appropriately) a "personal lightning detector." But nay, apparently one of the largest phone makers in the world thinks this is a valuable feature, … Read more

We've said it before, and we'll say it again: More is not always better, when it comes to combo or all-in-one devices. And even when the combination of functions makes some sense, it's often at the cost of atrocious aesthetics.

Take, for example, the "Trio" Skype phone from Ipevo. Its features are logical--a handset, speakerphone and digital recorder, according to Everything USB--but just look at this thing. We first thought it was some kind of Taser or one of those handheld metal detectors that airport security uses when you've set off the threshold alarm.… Read more

Motorola is up to new tricks with its recent patent for a cell phone display that doubles as a solar cell. Apparently, the screen will be able to charge a cell phone's battery when the display is exposed to the sun. Though external solar-powered battery chargers are a reality, this is the first concept we've seen for a cell phone with an integrated solar panel. It's doubtful the phone would get all its juice from the sun. Rather, sunlight probably would power the handset while it's away from an electrical outlet. We have no idea which … Read more

The Boy Genius came across AT&T screenshots that show the Apple iPhone will be available to the carrier's Go Phone prepaid users once it launches next month. Such news is contrary to everything we've heard about the iPhone so far (and granted, that isn't much), so we're a bit skeptical the screenshots are authentic. The iPhone's price with a plan is already sky-high at $499 for a 4GB version and $599 for an 8GB version, so it's not far-fetched to suggest that the cost of an iPhone sans any service rebates would … Read more

We have to admit that ever since Verizonintroduced its V Cast Mobile TV, all other cell phone videos services have looked positively ancient by comparison. But if you live outside of a V Cast Mobile TV city, or if you don't even have Verizon as your carrier, you'll have to stick with the tried-and-true 3G streaming video. And in an effort to keep things interesting, Sprint last week announced a new partnership with ABC Mobile. As part of the deal, Sprint will be the first carrier to offer on-demand full-length episodes of such ABC shows as Grey's … Read more