smartphones

Welcome to the 411, my column answering all your questions about cell phones and cell phone accessories. I receive plenty of questions about these subjects via e-mail, so I figured many of you might have similar queries, too. At times, I might solicit answers from readers if I'm stumped. Send your questions and comments to me at nicole.lee@cnet.com. If you prefer to remain anonymous, let me know in the e-mail.

Question: I could connect my iphone 4 with my Nokia BH-804 headset without any problems and very fast. But unfortunately I cannot use the buttons of … Read more

Yet another handful of new details have been unearthed for the upcoming T-Mobile MyTouch 3G HD.

A leaked internal document obtained by TmoNews for the carrier suggests that the handset will sport a 1GHz dual processor and feature support for T-Mobile's HSPA+ burgeoning network.

While we're still waiting for T-Mobile to formally acknowledge the handset, the picture continues to get clearer. Much like the soon-to-be-released G2, the MyTouch HD will come with Android 2.2, 4GB internal memory, a preinstalled 8GB microSD card, and a 5-megapixel camera.

However, unlike its counterpart, the MyTouch HD is expected to have … Read more

On Monday, Motorola introduced its latest Android handset for T-Mobile, the Motorola Defy.

Already announced for the European market, the Defy is an updated, sleeker version of the Motorola i1. The ruggedized handset is water resistant and dust-proof, and it has a scratch-resistant 3.7-inch WVGA touch screen.

Motorola is shipping the Defy with Android 2.1 and Motoblur, it also has a 5-megapixel camera with flash, DLNA support, Flash Lite-enabled Web browser, and Moto's CrystalTalk Plus technology for clearer calls. Motorola did not reveal the phone's pricing and release date; however, according to the company, it will … Read more

Garmin's start to the smartphone business was a rocky one, with numerous delays and a poor introductory device, and though the company's second handset, the Garminfone, was a vast improvement, the outlook for Garmin's smartphone unit isn't a rosy one.

In an interview with Reuters, Garmin Chief Financial Officer Kevin Rauckman said sales of its Nuvifone handsets have not met company expectations and that it will examine the business over the next couple of quarters and decide whether to continue to invest or exit the smartphone market altogether.

"We're pragmatic. If we end up … Read more

Last week, T-Mobile officially introduced the T-Mobile G2 but the carrier failed to point out two key things: pricing and availability date. However, that hasn't stopped other retailers from revealing such information and getting a jump on preorders.

Best Buy began taking orders for the G2 on Friday with a price point of $199.99 with a new two-year contract. Preorders must be placed in Best Buy or Best Buy Mobile stores and will available for pickup on October 6. But how's this for a little friendly competition?

RadioShack announced via Twitter late Sunday that it will sell … Read more

Judging by your comments on our Bing-Verizon article, most of you are not too keen on the fact that Bing will be the default search engine on some Verizon's Android smartphones, but here's some news that might warm the cockles of your heart.

According to Phone Scoop, Samsung Fascinate users will be able to download the Google Search application once Verizon releases the Android 2.2 update for the Fascinate. Be aware, though, that Bing will remain the default search engine, so when you press the dedicated search button, the phone will still use Bing. Still this is … Read more

After three years of watching competitors such as Apple eat its lunch in the smartphone market, Nokia finally has its "aha" moment. But is it too late for the cell phone behemoth to regain its footing?

On Friday the Finnish cell phone maker ousted its CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, replacing him with Microsoft exec Stephen Elop. Elop, who is a Canadian citizen, will be the first non-Finnish CEO to head Nokia, the world's No. 1 mobile handset maker. He will start his new job as CEO on September 21.

The change in the executive ranks should come as … Read more

Earlier this week, we posted our review of the Samsung Fascinate from Verizon Wireless and overall, we thought it was a great Android device for the masses.

However, many of you were upset, and understandably so, that Bing was set as the default search engine on the phone, with no way to change it back to Google. Soon thereafter, rumors started circulating that Bing would be the default search engine on all Verizon Android phones, but Microsoft insists this is simply not true.

A Microsoft representative wrote in an e-mail to CNET, "Over the coming months, Verizon will announce … Read more

Though "antennagate" may have persuaded some people to avoid the iPhone 4, the device's lack of Verizon access is putting a larger damper on sales, according to Piper Jaffray.

Among 258 cell phone users surveyed by the investment firm, 177 people (or 69 percent) said they were aware of the antenna issue affecting the iPhone 4. Of those, 20 percent said this issue impacted their decision of whether or not to purchase the iPhone 4.

Though this means a smaller percentage of all the users surveyed were turned off by the antenna problem, Piper Jaffray believes the issue has affected sales. Under a worst-case scenario, the firm is estimating that sales lost due to "antennagate" could cost Apple around 11 cents a share in earnings for its fourth quarter ending September.

Piper Jaffray expects Apple will update its customers about the antenna issue at the end of September. It doesn't think Apple will modify the design of the iPhone 4 but instead may extend the free case offer or reveal further results of its own testing.… Read more