Phones

The Android faithful are getting giddy over what Google goodies could be revealed at next week's Google I/O developers' conference, and the de-shelving of the Nexus 4 at retailers has some wondering if a new pure Android phone is about to replace it.

Two U.K. retailers, Carphone Warehouse and Phones4U, have discontinued sales of the Nexus 4 this week, and the number of U.S. retailers still offering the phone online also seems to be shrinking. Check Google's official retail locator for the latest pure Google phone and the only outlets that pop up in most places (I checked New York, San Francisco, and Denver) are all T-Mobile stores.

Yet, when I checked Best Buy's Web site and clicked on the only Nexus 4 on offer (the T-Mobile version), I got a mysterious "Page Not Found" error. It certainly appears someone thinks the Nexus 4 has run its course and is looking to make room for something new.… Read more

Sony may forgo the Xperia branding and adopt the new One Sony branding for this fall's flagship smartphone, according to various reports. Rumored to be called the Sony i1, the possibly forthcoming Android handset could be among the most powerful devices to date.

Details, which first surfaced in late April, suggested that the Sony "Honami" i1 would be among the first phones to feature Qualcomm's Snapdragon 800 processor.

Additional speculation called out a 5-inch 1080p HD display, 2GB RAM, and a 3,000mAh battery. Said to be centered on the CyberShot line, the phone was rumored … Read more

With Google's I/O developer conference just a week away, all eyes are on the company's plans for the next version of Android.

For much of the last year we expected to see Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie. After all, leaked slides from a January Qualcomm presentation showed a midyear debut for this next build, but they were immediately pulled from the Web site.

But now, recent rumors suggest that we might actually see the debut of 4.3 Jelly Bean instead of Android 5.0. Details found in various server logs show that a JWR23B build … Read more

On the surface, smartphones screens made of sapphire sound superb -- they're naturally strong, extremely scratch resistant, can withstand flexing, and transmit light very well. That's the widely accepted story, at least.

Disputing this view is Corning, maker of the Gorilla Glass material that covers a majority of smartphone screens.

Corning, whose aeronautics branch has worked with lab-grown sapphire since the 1970s, says it tested the strength of sapphire claims -- a potential cover glass alternative -- in-house.

Corning's conclusion: that sapphire, the world's second-hardest material after diamond, just can't take the lumps that a … Read more

If you've been wondering when Sony's latest flagship Android handset would hit American shores, speculate no longer. The global and unlocked device is now for sale at Sony's U.S. Web site for $629.99.

Keep in mind that the Xperia Z is not to be confused with the Xperia ZL. While both smartphones boast huge 5-inch full HD screens, have fabulous cameras, run Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, along with a 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon processor, plus 2GB of RAM, the Xperia Z sports premium design and materials.

Unlike the ZL's plastic chassis, the Xperia … Read more

Many drivers rely on smartphones for navigation, music, and calls in the car, but holding the phone while performing any of these tasks impairs driving ability and is illegal in some states. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that manually operating a phone greatly increases distraction while driving, where engaging in a hands-free call showed no increased crash risk.

To more safely use your phone in the car, get a mount that will keep its voice command button in easy reach and its screen viewable at a glance.

Mounts can stick to windshields and dashboards, clip to … Read more

Over the weekend, leaked images of a new BlackBerry device came to light. Reportedly called the BlackBerry R10, this possible gadget will be a low-end version of the pricey BlackBerry Q10. … Read more

Samsung is launching a new Android smartphone this month with lower-end features but with a dual-SIM option that lets users access two different SIM cards.

The new Galaxy Core will be available in two versions -- a single-SIM model that won't be available until July and the dual-SIM model that will debut this month in certain markets.

Powered by a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, the Core includes 1GB of memory, 8GB of internal storage, and a microSD slot that can handle up to a 64GB card. Outfitted with a 4.3-inch WVGA (480x800 pixel) screen, the phone comes … Read more

AT&T announced on Friday that it's rolling out an Android 4.1.2 software update for the Samsung Galaxy Note.

The Jelly Bean update for the first-generation phablet will be installed through Windows and Mac computers via the Samsung Kies software application. Once complete, the Samsung Galaxy Note will register as Baseband version I717UCMD3.

Included in the Android 4.1.2 update are the standard Jelly Bean goodies: Google Now, richer notifications, and an enhanced keyboard. The handset also benefits from a premium suite of features and behaviors, like notes, videos, and browser windows that pop up … Read more