droid

Verizon's year-end road map shows Galaxy Nexus and much more

Don't look now, but we're in that all-important final stretch of the year where retailers begin to pull out the big guns. Verizon, for its part, plans to overwhelm consumers with three of the top Android smartphones this November in the form of the HTC Rezound, Droid Razr, and Galaxy Nexus.

Glancing at the specs, any one of these devices could be considered a contender for top phone of the year, and as if these three weren't enough to induce decision paralysis, Verizon looks to have even more in store for the last two months of the … Read more

Will the real Android flagship phone please stand up? (Ask Maggie)

When it rains it pours. And for Verizon Wireless subscribers, there's a deluge of Google Android phones about to hit the market.

But which new phone is Verizon's flagship device? In other words, which one is the cream of the crop on the carrier's 4G LTE network? In this week's Ask Maggie, I try to help one reader figure out which new Google Android smartphone is right for him. I also offer some advice to Verizon Wireless customers who are waiting for Microsoft's Windows Phone smartphones.

Ask Maggie is an advice column that answers readers' … Read more

Motorola posts third-quarter loss ahead of Google takeover

Motorola Mobility posted a third-quarter loss ahead of its acquisition by Google, but it beat Wall Street earnings estimates.

The manufacturer of handsets and television set-top boxes posted a third-quarter loss of $32 million, or 11 cents a share. A year ago, when Motorola Mobility was combined with Motorola Solutions, the equivalent business posted a loss of $34 million. Revenue, meanwhile, rose 10.6 percent to $3.26 billion.

Excluding non-business items such as stock compensation, costs related to its merger, and the write-off of old assets, the company earned 12 cents a share.

Wall Street analysts had an average … Read more

Droid Razr preorders begin Oct. 27

If you've been itching to get a Motorola Razr back in your pocket, your wait is almost over. Starting tomorrow, Moto's new Droid Razr will be available for preorder at Verizon Wireless.

Though it may carry the name of one of Motorola's most iconic devices, the Droid Razr is no simple revamp of that original phone. Sure, it's thin, but it packs a hefty feature load into a stunning design with stainless steel, Kevlar backing, and sculpted glass. So while it may be a beauty, it also has enough power to earn it a place in the Droid family. … Read more

Dialed In 196: Galaxy Nexus, Droid Razr, and more

It was a crazy week in cell phone land, what with the Droid Razr and the Galaxy Nexus making their worldwide debut on the same day. And it's not over yet, as Nokia and Microsoft have an announcement of their own coming up this week. Is there such a thing as too much of a good thing? We also talk about the latest Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system and all the latest reviews.

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News Windows Phone Chief: Nokia to talk road map next week … Read more

Inside Google's Ice Cream Sandwich phones, tablets

While user-facing software is what usually makes or breaks a platform--and Google's Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is no exception--underlying hardware can make the critical difference between a snappy and slow device. So what's going to power upcoming Android 4.0 phones and tablets?

Texas Instruments will be leading the way on Android 4.0. Its dual-core OMAP4460 chip is inside the Samsung Galaxy Nexus which, in turn, is the launch vehicle for Android 4.0.

This didn't happen overnight. TI and Google have been preparing for this week's Ice Cream Sandwich launch for a while. … Read more

Verizon gets first dibs at Galaxy Nexus (Update: Maybe not)

Samsung has confirmed via its Facebook page that the Galaxy Nexus will be available exclusively through Verizon Wireless in the U.S. during its initial release. However, Samsung has said that it's possible for other carriers to offer the phone at a later date.

Samsung and Google announced the Galaxy Nexus along with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich last night at a press conference in Hong Kong. The Galaxy Nexus is the latest in the Nexus line of phones that is developed with Google's guidance, and is meant as a showcase for the latest Android operating system.… Read more

Android super smartphones: Too much of a good thing?

commentary If I'm a Droid Bionic owner, I have to be pretty peeved.

The Bionic was supposed to be positioned as Verizon Wireless' flagship 4G LTE smartphone--the first with a dual-core processor--when it launched in early September. But its reign barely lasted a month, and following several recent announcements, it may not even rank as the third-best Android phone in Verizon's lineup by November.

The speed in which new Android devices are hitting the market speaks to the strength of Google's mobile platform. But it also leads to a lot of headaches for consumers who can be … Read more

Motorola Droid Razr vs. Samsung Galaxy Nexus (chart)

Today's definitely a big day in Android land, with not one but two big phone announcements. First, Motorola announced the Droid Razr, which packs plenty of power in a very slim package.

Later, Samsung released news of the Galaxy Nexus, which sets the standard for Android phones with the brand-new Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. We know many Android fans out there want to know the facts about both these handsets, so we created a quick and dirty spec sheet comparison. Of course, we're still discovering details about the Galaxy Nexus as we write this, so we'll be sure to fill in any missing information once we find out. Let us know in our comments section if you spot anything missing.… Read more

Google, Samsung unveil Ice Cream Sandwich-powered Galaxy Nexus

Samsung Electronics and Google took the wraps off the Galaxy Nexus, the latest Android handset to carry the flagship smartphone moniker.

The smartphone, unveiled at a Samsung event in Hong Kong today, marks the debut of the latest version of Android, known as Ice Cream Sandwich (each iteration of Android is named after a dessert).

For Samsung, the introduction of another flagship Google phone underscores its growing influence as an Android vendor. While the company was slow to shift away from basic phones and move into the smartphone game, it has more than made up for lost time with the … Read more