stratosphere

Verizon's Samsung Galaxy Stratosphere II is a far-out messaging phone

While the midtier Samsung Galaxy Stratosphere II doesn't have the chops to be a high-end flagship phone, its reliable performance and graciously spaced keyboard do make this 4G LTE device stellar (forgive me, but I had to).

All jokes aside, this handset is great for those looking for a keyboard handset on Verizon. Currently priced at $129.99 after users sign a two-year contract, the Stratosphere II offers up Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, an adequate 5-megapixel shooter, and respectable call quality. Not to mention, a few extra goodies like NFC give it that extra oomph to make … Read more

Samsung Galaxy Stratosphere II blasts off to Verizon

Verizon announced today that it'll offer the Samsung Galaxy Stratosphere II, the sequel to the Samsung Stratosphere, in the "coming weeks."

The handset's equipped with 4G LTE data speeds, a 1.2GHz dual-core CPU, and a 4-inch Super AMOLED touch-screen display.

It also natively runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and has NFC capabilities.

In addition, just like its predecessor, it has a five-row sliding QWERTY keyboard complete with numeric keys and four directional buttons.

Verizon will carry the device for $129.99 after users sign a carrier agreement and send in a $50 mail-in … Read more

Android super smartphones: Too much of a good thing?

commentary If I'm a Droid Bionic owner, I have to be pretty peeved.

The Bionic was supposed to be positioned as Verizon Wireless' flagship 4G LTE smartphone--the first with a dual-core processor--when it launched in early September. But its reign barely lasted a month, and following several recent announcements, it may not even rank as the third-best Android phone in Verizon's lineup by November.

The speed in which new Android devices are hitting the market speaks to the strength of Google's mobile platform. But it also leads to a lot of headaches for consumers who can be … Read more

A flying telescope? Observing NASA's SOFIA airborne observatory

NASA this past weekend offered up tours of its recently souped up airborne telescope, built inside a modified Boeing 747 aircraft. The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, or SOFIA, is the world's largest airborne observatory.

SOFIA carries a telescope with a 100-inch reflecting mirror that conducts astronomy research not possible with ground-based telescopes, NASA said. It's normally housed at NASA's Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility in Palmdale, Calif., but CNET got to see it Friday at a press event at the NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, Calif.

Ames Research Center Director Pete Worden said SOFIA is … Read more

Samsung Stratosphere video, photos: Verizon's LTE business play

If you're one for tracking "firsts," add this to your list. The Samsung Stratosphere is Verizon's first 4G LTE handset equipped with a QWERTY keyboard. As popular as all-touch-screen phones are, there's still a strong argument for composing on a keyboard, and for the Stratosphere, that reason is business.

The handset is one of the first to showcase Samsung's B2B capabilities, including Microsoft ActiveSync e-mail and calendar syncing, VPN, and on-device encryption.

In another sense, the phone isn't a first at all--it's a second-running of the Samsung Epic 4G, originally released for Sprint in 2010. Apart from the new software, the major difference is that it comes with Android 2.3 Gingerbread right out of the box.… Read more

Verizon announces LTE-ready Samsung Stratosphere

Verizon got a jump on CTIA today by announicng that the Android-powered Samsung Stratosphere. Arriving on October 13th, the Stratopshere will be Big Red's first 4G LTE handset with a QWERTY keyboard. Other details include Android 2.3 Gingerbread, a 4-inch Super AMOLED display, a 1GHz processor, a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera, and 5-row QWERTY keyboard.

Looking nearly identical to Sprint's Epic 4G from 2010, the Stratosphere provides a spacious typing experience with a dedicated number row. Additional specifications include a front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera, a microSD expansion slot, Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n), DLNA connectivity, Bluetooth 3.… Read more