smartphone

Is the future PC a smartphone?

Will small, powerful, connected-to-everything devices running on non-Intel silicon become the personal computer? The CEO of graphics-chip supplier Nvidia thinks so.

The sentiment, voiced at the company's annual conference this week by chief executive Jen-Hsun Huang, has been expressed before. And like any strong strategy statement from a Silicon Valley CEO, it's self-serving. Nvidia is staking a good chunk of its future--as much as half of its business--on chips based on the ARM design.

But that doesn't mean Huang has got it all wrong, either. Indeed, ARM-based devices such as Apple's iPhone and iPad, Motorola's Droid, Research In Motion's BlackBerry, and countless future smartphones and tablets from Motorola, RIM, Apple, and others will use the ARM chip design. "ARM is the fastest-growing CPU (processor) in the world today. It's the instruction set architecture of choice of mobile computing," Huang said. "It is very clear now that mobile computing will be a completely disruptive force to all of computing."

Huang continued. "This (smartphone) is the first computer that is equipped with all kinds of sensors, cameras, microphones, GPSs, and accelerometers. This is the first computer that's context aware. Situation aware. Who knows, someday it may be self-aware," he said.

Huang raises interesting questions about the future. Will a future PC be a powerful, multi-core-CPU handheld device that wirelessly connects to large displays and a host of other devices--so the PC is carried around in your pocket or small satchel and then connects on the fly to larger devices and/or peripherals?

But the ARM-based vision also presumes that the largest chipmaker in the world, Intel, is standing still. Which it isn't.… Read more

Analyst: Apple grabs huge chunk of phone profits

Apple turns a significantly bigger profit from each smartphone it sells than do handset makers in general, giving the company a huge chunk of the overall market's profits, according to an analyst's assessment.

Apple analyst T. Michael Walkley of investment firm Canaccord Genuity said in a note to investors this week that Apple sees a gross margin of 50 percent and operating margins of around 30 percent on its iPhone. That's within an industry where most handset makers struggle to turn a profit, or reach operating margins of even 10 percent.

As a result, he said, Apple … Read more

T-Mobile G2 preorders begin, in stores October 6

Joining Best Buy and RadioShack, T-Mobile is now taking preorders for its first HSPA+ smartphone, the T-Mobile G2. Preorders are limited to current T-Mobile customers, though. You must reserve your phone by October 4 in order to receive it on October 6, which is when the G2 will be available in stores nationwide. T-Mobile did not disclose the price of the handset, but we suspect it will be around $199.99 with contract. Best Buy is selling the smartphone at that price point but so far RadioShack has the best deal at $149.99.

Android Atlas Weekly 17: Playing the tech-support blame game (podcast)

Who to call when your phone breaks down, Android integration in HP printers, and a whole slew of tablet news. Plus, a Car Dock replacement app and Senior Editor of Androidguys.com Scott Webster covers some key features of the new Gmail update.

Google Bringing Document Editing to Android, iPad http://jkontherun.com/2010/09/20/google-bringing-document-editing-to-android-ipad/

Droid 2 World Edition spotted, rumored to be replacing existing Droid 2 http://www.droid-life.com/2010/09/22/exclusive-motorola-droid-2-global-first-pictures/

Droid X … Read more

Consumers keeping mobile phones for longer

The economic downturn and high monthly bills are causing consumers to hold on to their mobile phones for the longest period of time in recorded history, a new survey from J.D. Power and Associates suggests.

According to the firm, which surveyed 11,803 mobile phone users and 6,821 smartphone owners between January and June, the amount of time customers are holding on to their mobile phones has increased by 17 percent since 2009. Currently, the average wireless customer is hanging on to his or her phone for 20.5 months. J.D. Power and Associates said that that … Read more

How the iPhone could get to Verizon

One of the most-asked questions about wireless devices is, "When is the Verizon iPhone coming?" Is it January? July? Or some time in 2012?

There isn't a clear answer yet. There's been talk about such an event since very soon after Apple introduced its smartphone in 2007, but rumors have begun regaining momentum this year. It seems like every week there's a new angle, a fresh theory, or suddenly uncovered factoid that points to Apple finally opening up the iPhone to another carrier in the U.S. besides AT&T, and specifically Verizon, which … Read more

GPS update available for Samsung Captivate

As promised, a software update is now available to fix the GPS issues in the Samsung Captivate for AT&T.

The update is being rolled out over the next few weeks and users will receive a notification when it's ready for download. In addition to addressing the GPS performance, the update also offers other enhancements, including a full version of Quickoffice, and addresses Microsoft Exchange 2003 policy support.

When asked about the Samsung Vibrant, Samsung said it didn't have any news on that front today but would keep us posted. Of course, we'll pass along that … Read more

Droid X getting Android 2.2 update September 22

Verizon just sent us a quick note to announce that it will begin rolling out Android 2.2 to the Motorola Droid X starting tomorrow. The Froyo update will be pushed out over the air, but users can also download it manually by going to Menu > Settings > About Phone > System Updates.

With the update, you'll get such new features as Flash Player 10.1, automatic app updates, as well as improvements to the 3G Mobile Hotspot application and Google Maps, among other things.

A full list of enhancements and step-by-step download instructions are available from Verizon's support site. … Read more

Nokia exec: Using Android like 'peeing in your pants' for warmth

In our globally connected world, some things are lost in translation. But, perhaps, not all things.

In a delightfully expressive commentary on the wisdom of using Android, Nokia's outgoing chief smartphone person, Anssi Vanjoki, declared that those who use Android are, philosophically speaking, "peeing in their pants" like Finnish boys do to keep warm.

At least this is how the Financial Times reported it.

There seemed to be no explanation why it was only boys who perform this peculiarly Finnish ritual. However, he did offer that cell phone manufacturers who use Android are only giving themselves temporary … Read more

AT&T launches satellite phone

AT&T has unveiled a new satellite phone that can provide phone reception in areas where there are no cell towers.

Available today, the TerreStar Genus is a dual-mode smartphone that uses AT&T's cellular service by default but kicks in with satellite reception as a backup in remote areas. The satellite service offers the standard mobile phone trio of voice, data, and messaging, so it can function as an overall smartphone.

Though the hybrid phone might be intriguing to AT&T subscribers unhappy with their cell service, the company is gearing this model more toward enterprise, government, and small business customers. Specifically, AT&T sees the TerreStar Genus as an option for people who work in government departments, utilities, and transportation companies, as well as members of public safety agencies and disaster recovery groups.

However, a story from PhoneScoop last year said that AT&T is working on a consumer version. And TerreStar's Web site does include a signup form if you want to be notified when a consumer version is available. An AT&T spokesperson told CNET that there are no details on a possible consumer version yet. But the company does believe the satellite service would be ideal for recreational boaters, outdoor enthusiasts, and rural users who want broader mobile communications coverage when it's made available to consumers in the future.

As a smartphone, the TerreStar Genus runs under Windows Mobile 6.5 and offers a touchscreen, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 2.0 megapixel camera, MicroSD card slot, and a full QWERTY keyboard.

There are a few issues, however, worth noting. Coverage is available only in the U.S., Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and territorial waters. The phone requires a clear line of sight to the satellite in the southern skies, so you can't be surrounded by trees or other tall obstructions.

The price tag?… Read more