Android

Blu: A new Android maker on the horizon

ORLANDO, Fla.--Just when you thought you knew every cell phone maker there was to know, we stumbled across a relatively new entrant that seems to have materialized quite literally out of the blue.

Blu is a Miami-based spin-off of CT-Miami, which distributes phones in Latin America. This was the company's first technology conference, a spokesperson told CNET, and it was certainly our first time seeing the company's many wares.

First, a little background. Blu was born in 2009 with the goal of creating fun (read: colorful), interesting feature phones and Android devices for the Latin American market, … Read more

U.S. Cellular updates Samsung Mesmerize, BlackBerry Curve and Bold

The long wait is at last over for U.S. Cellular customers who have been wondering when they'll see OS updates to their Samsung Mesmerize and BlackBerry Curve 9330 and Bold 9650 phones.

That's right, the carrier began rolling out Android 2.2 Froyo to the Mesmerize and Blackberry OS 6 to the Bold and Curve.

As a refresher, Froyo includes speed improvements, an updated Android Market, Flash 10.1 support, and hotspot capability (you'll need a tethering plan for this.) Blackberry OS 6 has a brand new design, plus the extremely useful universal search.

The 404 784: Where we won't pull a houdini on Jeff's birthday (podcast)

The 404 Digest for Episode 784

Send Jeff your happy birthday wishes on Twitter! While you're there, say hi to Justin, Wilson, and Natali Urban Dictionary's definition of " ulling a houdini." Google launches U.K. online magazine "Think Quarterly." Duke Nukem never comes early. Duke Nukem's misogyny going out of style? Wireless carriers delay text donations to Japan--sign this petition to help! Baby Activity helps parents track the crap. Oatmealy comic submissions with a 404 twist from Mike McD. and Jeff. Sean Shin composes a tween theme song for The 404 that probably took longer to write than Rebecca Black's "Friday"--download the rock version or the acoustic remix! Meme Molly on the show tomorrow!

Episode 784 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

Day 2 at CTIA 2011

ORLANDO, Fla.--While the first day of CTIA was full of news about 3D phones, new tablets, a certain merger, and more, the second day proved to be relatively humdrum in comparison. Still, some news did trickle in on the second day.

Huawei made an appearance at a CTIA Mobile Focus event last night with the Huawei Ascend 2 for Cricket Wireless. It's much sleeker and skinnier than its predecessor, with four touch sensor buttons at the bottom taking place of physical keys. It also has an upgraded 5-megapixel camera. Also at the event was the Samsung Galaxy Indulge for Cricket Wireless. … Read more

Xperia Play to land at Verizon by early May

ORLANDO, Fla.--Sony Ericsson didn't offer any new phones at CTIA 2011, but we did get the chance to handle the official Verizon Wireless version of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play. What's more, Sony Ericsson also revealed that the gaming Android phone will land in the United States either late next month or in early May.

In fact, Verizon Wireless may be the first carrier in the world to get the Xperia Play. Rogers in Canada may beat it with a release of the GSM handset on April 14, but either way it means that North America will … Read more

Does Apple's iBooks need to go Android?

Not too long ago I wrote a post about the iPad 2 as an e-reader. Recently, I read through some of the comments and noticed one that caught my attention.

"I refuse to buy books from Apple that can only be read on Apple devices," declared a CNET reader who goes by the handle GSOgymrat.

I pulled that quote out from a longer comment (see full version here), but I thought it was pretty telling. One of the big things that Amazon and Barnes & Noble have been playing up is the fact that their apps--and your digital … Read more

Turbo Grannies puts Grandma in the driver's seat

There's no doubt electric scooters offer increased mobility to the elderly, but the 99-cent iOS/Android game Turbo Grannies takes that concept to an absurd level.

In Turbo Grannies, the main protagonist is a geriatric hell-bent on going like the wind through side-scrolling levels--in a powered three-wheeled scooter. With unlimited lives, gone are the days when Grandma needed to say, "I've fallen and I can't get up!"

Players can ride through three areas (mountain, suburbia, and desert) that have some layout differences, but the concept is essentially the same: get Grandma to the end of the level by successfully jumping over obstacles. … Read more

The 404 783: Where we don't kill the text messenger (podcast)

The 404 Digest for Episode 783

Apple pulls a Christian iPhone app promising a cure for homosexuality. "But I'm a Cheerleader" is a satirical film about a fictitious homosexual-rehabilitation camp. Time Warner Cable is forced to remove 17 channels from its iPad app.

Netflix strikes an exclusive deal for David Fincher's new show, "House of Cards." Netflix streaming may lose some Showtime programs. Pranks go digital with TxtSpoof. A visitor from Toronto controls Times Square video screens...for real this time. A conceptual solution to Jeff's multiuser iPad profile issue.

Episode 783 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

Prizefight: Motorola Xoom vs. Apple iPad 2

We know this will only end in nasty, partisan comments, but we wouldn't be doing our jobs if we didn't put the Motorola Xoom and Apple iPad 2 in the ring for an official CNET Prizefight.

Out of the gate, you guys can probably guess my feelings on these two tablets. I wrote CNET's rated reviews for both devices, and although I was optimistic enough about the Xoom to nominate it for CNET's Best of CES, the iPad 2 ultimately received my Editors' Choice.

The wild cards in this Prizefight are the other two judges. Eric … Read more