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Leaked document shows at least four new Android phones from Verizon

The next few months should bring us a few more Android phone announcements coming from Verizon. According to information obtained by Android Central, the nation's largest carrier has at least four new devices expected in the fourth quarter. Look for pair of Motorola models, and offerings from HTC and LG.

The first Motorola phone, the Droid Pro, was announced earlier this month at CTIA. Bearing a very BlackBerry-esque form factor with enhanced enterprise security features, the Android 2.2 smartphone offers a 3.1-inch HVGA touch screen with a QWERTY keyboard below. Other details include a 1GHz processor, a … Read more

The 411: Nexus One lets you go international

Welcome to the 411, my Q&A 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 the same questions, 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.

I'm moving to Europe some time in the next month, and would like to get an Android phone in the interim. I'm interested in both the Nexus One and the Droid. Do you know which one I should get? -- Hank, via e-mail

Since you're moving to Europe, a Nexus One would probably be best because it's an unlocked GSM phone that you can use with any SIM chip in the world. I would definitely opt for the no-contract version here of course, since you don't want to be tied down to T-Mobile. The Motorola Droid, on the other hand, is a Verizon/CDMA product that you would not be able to transfer over easily. But if you have your heart set on the Droid, you can try to get the Motorola Milestone, which is its GSM cousin. As far as I can tell, it's virtually identical in almost every other way.

I saw your CNET article concerning cell phone radiation. Do you have any information on cell network extenders like the Verizon Wireless Network Extender that supposedly improves your cell coverage within the home. I assume the unit would emit radiation, but would it be anymore than say from a wireless router? Also since the cell phone receives a stronger signal would it decrease the level of radiation? -- Albert, via e-mail

That's a good question. I would assume that extenders do emit some radiation, but I don't think it is a significant amount. Plus, you're not keeping the extender next to your head the whole day.… Read more

Verizon launches V Cast Media Manager

Verizon Wireless released new desktop software on Monday to help its customers better manage the media between their cell phones and computers.

Based on Smith Micro's QuickLink Media Software, V Cast Media Manager is available as a free download and lets you transfer photos, videos, and music from your phone to your PC via USB cable and provides you with tools for organizing, editing, and viewing the content. With the software, you can do such things as touch up photos, create slideshows, and rip and burn CDs. In addition, V Cast Media Manager can help you sync your multimedia … Read more

The 404 372: Where we don't stop 'till we get enough

After a beautiful New York summer weekend, The 404 is back with plenty of stories to talk about. First off, we recap our appearance at The Digital Youth Media & Technology Festival, then Wilson surprises us with news about his phone and proves that he is truly the worst kind of Apple Fanboy. Finally, we settle the age-old argument: Batman vs. Transformers?!

We all had busy weekends, especially since it was so sunny in New York, but we wanted to thank our buddy Juan Garzon of MOUSE Squad for inviting us to speak at the first annual Digital Youth Media and Technology Festival on Saturday. We definitely do a lot of damage on The 404, so we felt the need to give something back to some of our younger listeners. Kids can't live on toilet jokes alone, after all. We each had the chance to speak to several groups of young people interested in pursuing a career in technology. Listen in to the first half of the show to hear how we all managed to sneak our way into CNET. Somehow, two years later, we're still here!

In usual fashion, Wilson blindsides us with the news that his weekend was spent desperately trying to track down an iPhone 3GS to replace his broken Nokia. You really need to listen to Wilson justify spending money on an iPhone after holding out for two years. Anyway, for some reason, AT&T refuses to do business after 6 p.m. and shuts down all its servers, so two separate Apple stores told him to head over to the 24-hour Apple cube store on Fifth Ave., but the lines ended up being 3 HOURS long! I won't give away what happened, but based on Wilson's prior Apple fandom, I think you guys can predict what he did.

All this plus a bunch of awesome Calls From the Public, including several Michael Jackson tributes and a touching story from Jeff about a spinal implant that'll give you a very surprising, very delightful surprise. If you want to hear YOUR voice on The 404, give us a call at 1866-404-CNET!

EPISODE 372 Download today's podcast Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS VideoRead more

15-year-old wins LG's national texting championship

Fifteen-year-old Kate Moore won LG's third annual U.S. National Texting Championship this week. The contest finals were held in New York Tuesday, and Moore won $50,000 as well as a free LG enV3. Moore, who's from Des Moines, Iowa, attributes her success to her 14,000-texts-a-month habit.

The contest required entrants to perform a series of challenges, like texting while blindfolded and texting while going through an obstacle course. The final showdown had both finalists text three long phrases without any mistakes. However, all tasks were done with an LG enV3, which has a full QWERTY … Read more

The 411: Read the fine print

Welcome to the 411, my Q&A 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 the same questions, 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.

Hi, I currently have a samsung Instinct with Sprint and I qualify for an upgrade in July. I was looking at upgrading … Read more

LG EnV Touch gets our Editors' Choice

The recently released LG EnV Touch is no smartphone like the iPhone or Palm Pre, but it certainly impresses as a high-end feature phone. For starters, it has not one, but two 3-inch displays. The one on the outside has a touch-screen interface similar to those of other LG touch screen handsets like the LG Dare and the LG Versa. Both displays support 1.6 million colors, which really helps when viewing images and video. We also like its slim form factor and spacious QWERTY keyboard that makes thumb-typing a pleasurable experience.

We were similarly impressed with the features on … Read more

LG EnV3 is small but impressive

The LG EnV3 is the much awaited update to the LG EnV2, and after a few days reviewing it, we have to say it's definitely an improvement. It still has that odd calculator-like exterior with the small external screen and flat number keypad, but it opens up to reveal a bigger screen and a redesigned QWERTY keyboard with the space bar in the middle instead off to the sides.

Better still are its features. It now has a 3.0-megapixel camera and camcorder with camera settings like smile shot, which automatically takes a photo when a smile is detected, … Read more

Verizon announces LG EnV3, EnV Touch, Glance

We've talked about it for weeks now, but Verizon has finally made it official with the announcement of three new LG phones: the LG EnV3, LG enV Touch, and LG Glance. All of the phones have text and multimedia messaging with threaded messaging, mobile Web, mobile e-mail, Bluetooth, and GPS. Here's a brief rundown of specifications unique to each phone:

The LG EnV Touch is the most advanced of the lot, and is the successor to the LG Voyager. It has a 3-inch external touch screen similar to its predecessor, as well as a 3-inch internal screen that … Read more

LG EnV Touch spotted on Best Buy Web site

An eagle-eyed reader has spotted the LG EnV Touch available for sale on Best Buy for a whopping $599.99. This is much more than the anticipated $219.99 with a new two-year agreement with Verizon, so we're guessing this is the full price without a contract. Also, somebody at Best Buy must have jumped the gun because the original estimate was that the EnV Touch was to be in stores starting June 5 (though that is an unofficial rumored date). Verizon has not responded to us about this at the time of this writing.

The LG EnV Touch, … Read more