Smartphones

More Droid 3 details surface ahead of June debut (rumor)

Additional details for the Motorola Droid 3 are circulating ahead of the handset's expected June launch. The Droid and Droid 2 successor will feature a slightly larger 4-inch qHD display, likely running a 960x540-pixel resolution, according to a TechnoBuffalo source. If true, the screen is larger than its predecessors, with a higher resolution as well. Further, the source adds that the back of the Droid 3 bears an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera and has a secondary front-facing camera of indeterminate resolution.

Rumors have run rampant that Motorola will double up the Droid 3's processor, possibly in the form of … Read more

The 404 827: Where Lady Gaga makes Amazon's cloud cry (podcast)

Amazon's cloud music servers cut out for a brief period yesterday after the world's "little monsters" flooded the site to download Lady Gaga's new album "Born This Way" for just 99 cents. Jeff and Wilson are two such fans, and we love it when Wilson gets all righteous about piracy because we get to throw it back in his face.

Today's episode of The 404 deals with Jeff's addition to Reddit, digital projectionists in Boston AMC theaters purposefully making 2D movies dimmer than usual, and the debut of everyone's favorite PB&J in a can. Yes, the Candwich.

The 404 Digest for Episode 827

Amazon's key weapon in cloud music wars: Lady Gaga. Many theaters misuse 3D lenses to show 2D films, squandering brightness, color. The Candwich finally goes on sale! Check out The 404 Podcast SubReddit!

Episode 827 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

Acer, ZTE, Fujitsu board the Windows Phone 7 train

Among Microsoft's many software announcements to flow from this morning's Windows Phone 7 update event in New York is a list of new hardware partners.

The next wave of Windows phones will come from a crew that is both diverse and familiar. Acer, Fujitsu, and ZTE are new Windows Phone partners. The former two are best known for computing devices like scanners (Fujitsu), laptops and tablet PCs (both), and a recent foray into tablets (Acer).

It's little surprise that the computing stalwarts have their hooks aimed at the white-hot mobile space. Microsoft hasn't detailed specifics on … Read more

Windows Phone 7 update spotlights communications, search

Windows Phone 7 is getting a fair amount of work done. In addition to a more integrated outlook on apps, the Windows Phone update coming this fall (code-named Mango), will feature improvements in communications and better Web browsing, with search.

Communications On the communications front, the Mango update will see a multi-network chat feature that gets conversations going among Facebook Chat, Windows Live Messenger, and text messages within the same thread. Windows Phone 7 will also natively support Twitter, which will appear within a contact record. In addition, there will be a new group messaging feature for text and e-mail. Microsoft will also adopt the unified e-mail inbox, for viewing all accounts in a central location.

Search CNET got to take an early look at Bing Vision, a new search feature in the Bing mobile browser, but that isn't the only change planned for the Mango update.

The new Bing search app will bring new visual, audio, and voice search functionality. There's Local Scout, which searches by locations and happenings in your current whereabouts, and support for voice-to-text and text-to-voice dictation options for hands-free texting and chatting. … Read more

Exclusive hands-on: Windows Phone update to integrate apps into hubs

With the next update to Windows Phone 7 coming this fall, Microsoft is getting serious about apps. It's not just about how many programs Redmond can cram into its app store (more on this later), but what the Windows Phone platform can do to deliver the right app when you need it.

CNET sat down with Greg Sullivan last week, senior marketing manager of Windows Phone, to preview the most significant new app features hitting the operating system a few months from now in the update code-named Mango.

App Connect brings hubs in on app action Microsoft is raring … Read more

T-Mobile doubles 4G speeds in 50 markets

Back at CES 2011, T-Mobile outlined its plans to double the speed of its 4G HSPA+ network and said it expected to roll out its upgraded network to 25 metro markets by mid-year. However, it looks like the carrier is actually ahead of schedule.

Today, T-Mobile announced it is launching its enhanced 4G network in more than 50 new markets, including Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, Phoenix, and San Francisco. The additions brings the total to 55 markets, where customers can enjoy theoretical download speeds of up to 42Mbps (previously, the max was 21Mbps).

Of course, … Read more

How to arrange iPhone and iPad apps using iTunes

Arranging apps on your iPhone or iPad is as simple as long-pressing on an app's icon, waiting until all the icons wiggle, and then dragging the apps around to where you want them. The downside to using this method, especially if you have a lot of apps installed, is that you can only move one app at a time. This simple guide will show you how to arrange multiple iOS apps using iTunes.… Read more

How to automate Android volume settings based on location

If you find yourself constantly fiddling with the volume settings on your Android phone as you make your way through the day, there's a simple way to automate the process of turning notifications and other sounds up, down, or off depending on your location. Llama, a free application, cleverly figures out where you are without needing GPS or even Wi-Fi enabled, then adjusts volume accordingly. Here's how you get started:… Read more

Dry-All sucks the water out of wet smartphones

Oh, that sinking feeling as you watch your cell phone take a plunge into a pool, puddle, toilet bowl, or ocean. Don't panic. All is not lost. We've already shared a how-to on drying out your soaked phone with methods ranging from rice to silica packets.

Phone dunking is a common enough problem that Dry-All has now released kits for removing the liquid from your precious communications companion.

Most drying methods can take between 24 and 72 hours. Dry-All shortens that up a bit with a 6-hour dry time for the Wet Smartphone Emergency Kit. That will get you back to your important LOL text messages and zombie-killing apps much faster than usual.

The kit uses Dry-All's proprietary Blue Bead Technology, a dehumidifier originally developed way back in 1964 for keeping safes and military equipment dry. Little did it know that its future destiny would be to save us from our gadget clumsiness.… Read more