Smartphones

It seems just like yesterday that we unpacked our bags from Las Vegas and CES, but here we are again, gearing up to head off to Barcelona (I know, it's a rough life we lead) for Mobile World Congress 2010. The show is put on by the GSM Association (GSMA) and brings together handset manufacturers, mobile operators, software companies, and many more wireless industry experts from around the world where they can showcase their new products and services as well as discuss and learn about the latest mobile trends and technologies.

At last year's event, we saw new devices from most of the major players, including Samsung, HTC, Sony Ericsson, and LG, and even some fresh faces, such as Acer. Touch-screen phones were (and still are) all the rage; being green meant more than shipping a phone in a recyclable box; and phones took another step toward being that all-in-one gadget in your life. We also saw the debut of Windows Mobile 6.5 and the surging trend of app stores and 4G and LTE. The show never fails to produce exciting product launches and often sets the tone for the rest of the year. So what's in store for MWC and 2010? Plenty. … Read more

A unit of Samsung has licensed technology from U.K.-based Peratech that could help it build smartphone handsets with the ability to navigate via the amount of pressure applied to a touch screen. So if you're scrolling through a list or playing a game, your input could change depending on how much pressure you apply.

Read more of "With quantum physics, Samsung aims to make smartphones smarter" at ZDNet's The ToyBox.

On Wednesday, T-Mobile announced a new version of the myTouch 3G that brings additional features, such as a 3.5mm headphone jack, more preloaded apps, and Swype technology. It will replace the original model but still carry the same name and price tag of $149.99 with a two-year contract.

Like the recently released limited-edition Fender myTouch 3G, the revamped smartphone is equipped with a 3.5mm jack so you'll no longer have to use an audio adapter to plug in your headphones. In addition, the smartphone has an updated music player, ships with an 8GB microSD card, and … Read more

On Call runs every two weeks, alternating between answering reader questions and discussing hot topics in the cell phone world.

Q: When do you think iPhone 4.0 will arrive? - Dean

A: Since we didn't hear a thing about the iPhone during the launch of the iPad last month, I'm now betting that Apple will release a new iPhone, or at least a new iPhone operating system, at its annual Worldwide Developer's Conference this June in San Francisco. We don't know exact dates yet, but it should be about the middle of the month. On the other hand, Apple could surprise us with a special announcement later this spring.

Q: What's the real deal with 3G? Today I went into my local AT&T store to shop for a new Blackberry phone. When the store's staff saw that I liked the Curve 8900 better than the Bold 9700 model, they relented on pushing the benefits of the 3G. Instead, they said 3G is not really faster and is only good for receiving e-mails while making a phone call. Come on now...really? That's all this 3G thing is about? - Krisha

A: I can't understand why the AT&T reps would have downplayed the benefits of 3G. Though the service isn't for everyone, it is indeed faster than EDGE data and it is good for more than just making calls and sending e-mails. Though 3G will bring you faster e-mail service, it's best for customers who will be using a phone's Web browser and downloading apps and files. If that sounds like you, then I suggest getting a phone with 3G. … Read more

Of all the GPS applications for the iPhone, Navigon's MobileNavigator has arguably been the most comprehensive. It already has a lot of features, and Navigation is about to add a few more.

The company announced another major update Tuesday, version 1.5.0, that will add in-app connections to Facebook and Twitter, Panorama View 3D with 3D terrain views powered by NASA data, and personalized route delivery via Navigon MyRoutes.

The in-app connection to social media Web sites lets you report your current position, destination, and estimated time of arrival via a single tap on an icon on the … Read more

Just last week, the Motorola Droid got partial multitouch support with Google Maps 3.4, but that was little consolation for Droid customers who still had to look on in jealously as Nexus One owners got to enjoy multitouch in the browser and photo gallery as well as Google Goggles support. Well, retract your claws Droid owners because it now looks you're getting the whole shebang too.

On Monday, Motorola announced on its Facebook page that the Android 2.1 update will start to roll out this week. According to Engadget Mobile, the update won't bring live wallpaper … Read more

We knew that a Nexus One car dock was coming. Google has already released a slick-looking desktop dock. And when you consider that the Nexus One is preloaded with a very robust turn-by-turn navigation app with a dedicated in-car interface, a car dock seems like the next logical step. However, Google's been fairly tight-lipped with the details surrounding it.

So, we were surprised to see what appears to be the actual Nexus One car dock pop up at the one-minute mark in the latest in a series of Nexus One promotional videos from Google. It's not a particularly … Read more

Another HTC Google Android smartphone? You don't say!

The HTC Incredible--yes, it's quite a name to live up to--has been caught in the wild courtesy of pocketnow.com, which managed to snag a few photos and video of the device, two of which you can see above.

Read more of "HTC Incredible Android smartphone caught in the wild" on ZDNet's The ToyBox.

A start-of-the-week treat for iPhone fanboys--Google has released a new entry in its series of behind-the-scenes Nexus One videos, this time featuring the search giant's smartphone being squeezed, dropped, bent, and subjected to several other flavors of abuse.

This being a Google production you won't get to see the phone actually splinter and break--frustrating stuff considering that CNET UK's resident Nexus One managed to self-destruct last week without the help of any industrial equipment.

Read more of "Nexus One beaten to a pulp in Google's behind-the-scenes video" at Crave UK.