smartphones

HTC: Hero, Droid Eris getting Android 2.1 update

BARCELONA, Spain--In addition to introducing two new Android phones, HTC revealed on Tuesday that it will release an Android 2.1 update for the HTC Droid Eris as well as the Sprint and GSM versions of the HTC Hero.

The company said the devices should be getting most of the features of Android 2.1 as well as the enhanced HTC Sense user experience that was announced today. However, it will ultimately be up to the carriers to determine which features make it onto the device. Unfortunately, HTC did not give any time frame for when the update might be … Read more

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HTC's triple threat: Legend, Desire, and HD Mini

BARCELONA, Spain--On Tuesday, HTC announced three new smartphones at Mobile World Congress 2010: the HTC Legend, the HTC Desire, and the HTC HD Mini. The trio represents some of the first devices that really showcase the efforts of San Francisco-based design firm One & Co since it was acquired by HTC back in December 2008. In addition, they offer an enhanced Sense experience and expand HTC's Android and Windows Mobile offerings. Let's meet each of them, shall we?

HTC Desire Previously known as the HTC Bravo, the Desire is essentially the Nexus One with HTC Sense. The sleek … Read more

T-Mobile injects some fun into the HTC HD2

BARCELONA, Spain--During its press conference on Tuesday morning, T-Mobile revealed that it will ship the upcoming HTC HD2 with an array of entertainment applications to really take advantage of the smartphone's 4.3-inch WVGA multitouch screen and 1GHz Snapdragon processor, and to provide users with a robust multimedia experience.

To start, the HD2 will be the first handset to support Blockbuster's On Demand video download application, which lets you preview and download movies on the go. Once purchased, you can watch the video on another other connected device, such as a TV, a Blu-Ray Disc player, or a … Read more

Glimpsing the Toshiba K01 (photos)

We've just gotten our first glimpse of the Toshiba K01, a Qwerty slider phone with a massive 4.1-inch screen. The phone is still under glass at Mobile World Congress, but Toshiba is tempting us with a 1GHz processor and HSPA connectivity.

The K01 runs Windows Mobile 6.5, which felt rather dated even before Monday's launch of Windows Phone 7 Series. It has a full QWERTY keyboard and a massive screen.

Read more of "Toshiba K01 photos: I like big buttons and I cannot lie" at Crave UK.

Toshiba TG02 early review: Rear Windows

We have to give props to Toshiba for being first on the fast-phone dancefloor with the Snapdragon-powered Toshiba TG01, but its resistive touchscreen and clumsy user interface left it to boogie alone.

The Toshiba TG02 definitely improves on its older sibling, but with Windows Phone 7 Series stealing the limelight and the HTC HD2 always on our minds, we think the TG02 might have to practice its solos.

The TG02 has a capacitive 4.1-inch touch screen plus Wi-Fi, HSPA, and more.

Read more of "Toshiba TG02 early review: Rear Windows" on Crave UK

Acer beTouch E110 early review

Acer has well and truly thrown its hat into the smartphone ring, with a slew of Android phones announced Monday. The most affordable is the BeTouch E110, which is designed to offer Web-connected smartphone-style features to the masses. Unfortunately, it has one glaring omission: Wi-Fi.

However it does have 3G, so you could use data instead. It only has Android 1.5, and has a 2.8-inch resistive touch screen, GPS, and all the features of the typical Android smartphone.

Read more of "Acer beTouch E110 early review: Where's the WiFi?" at Crave UK.

Acer brings the Android love with Liquid E, Ferrari, and beTouch phones

Acer's looking to get the Mobile World Congress 2010 party booming by supplying attendees with a Liquid E hit. It has three other smartphones running the Android operating system up its sleeve as well: a mysterious Ferrari handset, the BeTouch E110, and the BeTouch E400.

Sharing the same name as a date-rape drug, rather alarmingly, the Liquid E is the successor to last year's surprisingly good, but not very glamorous, Liquid. The Liquid E looks very similar to its predecessor in terms of specs, sporting a capacitive, 89mm (3.5-inch) touch screen, a Snapdragon processor running at 768MHz (… Read more

Acer neoTouch phones push enterprise angle

With the Windows Mobile neoTouch P400 and P300 smartphones, announced at Mobile World Congress 2010, Acer pushes the enterprise angle on its mobile phones.

The P300 (pictured on the left) and P400 both sport Windows Mobile 6.5.3, which adds, among other features, multitouch support and a reworked virtual keyboard. Even though version 6.5.3 is only a couple of weeks old, it's already looking rather long in the tooth, what with Microsoft this very day unveiling Windows Mobile 7, or Windows Phone 7 Series, to give the operating system its proper title.

Ballmer banks on Windows Phone 7 for the future

BARCELONA, Spain--Steve Ballmer hopes "7" will be Microsoft's lucky number as the company restarts its mobile business with the release of Windows Phone 7.

On Monday, the CEO of Microsoft and his team of Microsoft executives took the wraps off the latest version of the Windows Mobile operating system at a press conference here at the Mobile World Congress. The new Windows Phone 7 is a fresh start for the company in mobile.

"There's no question that a year and a half ago we had to rethink everything," Ballmer said.

Instead of revamping Windows … Read more