smartphone

On Wednesday, Sony Ericsson introduced the latest member of its Xperia family, the Xperia X8. The company did not release specific launch dates but it did say that the Android-based smartphone would sell for less than 200 Euros (about $250), so it will offer customers in Europe a more affordable choice than the pricier Xperia X10.

Given the lower price point, the Xperia X8 doesn't offer all the same features of the X10. It has a smaller 3-inch, HVGA capacitive touch screen, and a 3.2-megapixel camera versus the X10's 8.1-megapixel camera. The handset still runs Sony … Read more

Nokia expects market conditions to impact its annual and second-quarter financial results, forcing the company to trim its sales outlook.

The handset maker said Wednesday it now anticipates second-quarter sales for its mobile devices and services division will be at the lower end of, or slightly below, its previous forecast of 6.7 billion euros to 7.2 billion euros ($8.2 billion to $8.8 billion). Samsung attributed the revised forecast to lower-than-expected average selling prices and volumes for its mobile phones.

Operating margins for the second quarter will also be at the low end of, or below, the … Read more

Samsung will release its Galaxy Tab tablet no later than the third quarter of this year, revealed J.K. Shin, president of the company's mobile communications division, in an interview with The Wall Street Journal published Tuesday.

Based on the few specs and a photo leaked earlier this month, the Galaxy Tab will sport a high-resolution 7-inch display, making it more compact than Apple's iPad with its 9.7-inch screen. Blog site Samsung Hub (not affiliated with Samsung) said the 7-inch model will hit the market in August, and that two others may follow: an 8-inch version in … Read more

Well, well, well, look what just arrived in my in-box.

Verizon Wireless has just sent out invites for a press event on Wednesday, June 23, at which it will unveil its next Droid device, and judging by the speakers list--Google Vice President of Engineering Andy Rubin, Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha, and Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen--it looks like it we'll see the debut of the Droid 2 running on Android 2.2.

We'll find out, though, on June 23, and CNET will be at the event, which starts at 10 a.m. PDT, so be sure to check back … Read more

While Apple and Google have been getting the lion's share of attention in the smartphone world of late, Research In Motion isn't going quietly, according to a report.

The Wall Street Journal reports that RIM has a new touchscreen version of its BlackBerry smartphone up its sleeve, this time with a slide-out keyboard. The operating system running on the test device is also new: BlackBerry OS 6, which the company previewed earlier this year. It has some of the same features as Apple's iOS, which allows swiping and pinching motions on screen, as well as a new … Read more

The iPhone and iPod Touch still dominate mobile Web usage, but new monthly data shows Android is making some inroads.

Devices featuring Apple's iOS mobile operating system lead all other mobile devices with 58.8 percent of mobile Web traffic in the U.S. Android is far behind, but still in second place with 19.9 percent. Next is "other" with 10.9 percent, and after that is Research In Motion with 10.4 percent, according to data released by Quantcast on Monday.

Though Android has a ways to go to catch up with Apple's iOS, … Read more

At CES 2010, AT&T said it would introduce an Android phone from HTC this year, and over the past couple of months, we've seen signs of an imminent release. On Monday, however, AT&T officially introduced the HTC Aria as its next Android device.

Available starting June 20 for $129.99 with a two-year contract and after a $100 mail-in rebate, the Aria is an Android 2.1-based smartphone running HTC Sense. It has a design similar to the HTC HD Mini, which we saw back at Mobile World Congress. It features a 3.2-inch HVGA … Read more

The U.S. International Trade Commission on Friday said it plans to investigate HTC's claim that Apple's iPhone infringes on its handset technology.

The trade panel will look into whether HTC's claim will justify its request that the ITC ban the import and sale of iPhones, iPads, and iPods.

HTC complained to the panel in May that Apple infringed on five of its patents related to its handset hardware and software.

HTC's suit is a counterclaim to Apple's lawsuit, which first alleged patent infringement by HTC. When Apple filed the suit in March, CEO Steve … Read more

iPhone, shmiphone. If you're not interested in hitching your wagon to Apple and/or AT&T, your best alternative (by most accounts) is an Android-powered smartphone.

From now until midnight on Sunday, you can get one absolutely free.

Wirefly is offering your choice of three Verizon Android phones for $0. You don't have to mess with any rebates, and even shipping is free.

You will, however, have to pony up $35 for activation--and, of course, sign up for a two-year Verizon contract. (Hey, I never said service was free.)

The only real dilemma? Which model to choose. … Read more