HTC

Sprint sees sales slip as subscribers rise

Sprint Nextel's hot new phones are helping boost the number of subscribers for the first time in a long time. Even so, the company's second-quarter results were down.

For the quarter ended June 30, the wireless carrier reported a net loss of $760 million, compared with a loss of $384 million in the year-ago quarter. Sales dipped to $8.025 billion, a 1.4 percent decline from last year's $8.141 billlion.

On the plus side, Sprint added 111,000 new wireless subscribers for the quarter, its first signs of growth in three years and a welcome … Read more

Verizon could push Android 2.2 to three handsets next week

A hot rumor this week predicts that Verizon is rolling out Android 2.2 to the Droid, Droid Incredible, and the Droid X next week.

An AndroidSPIN source, who claims to be a Verizon employee, said the update is slated to begin August 6 and run through August 15. If true, this coordinated software update between HTC, Motorola, and Verizon would be the first of its kind. Typically, Android upgrades trickle out in a seemingly random order, often preceded by some form of announcement.

It's also interesting in light of the user interface differences on the handsets. The Droid … Read more

HTC trying to make name for itself in China

HTC announced Tuesday that it's launching its own name brand of smartphones in China, with four phones set to take the stage this year.

Although the mobile phone maker already holds a presence in the Chinese market, its phones there have previously been sold under the Dopod brand. These will be the first phones in China to carry the HTC name.

"We are proud to introduce the HTC brand in China and look forward to bringing a fresh customer-centric smartphone experience to consumers in China," Cher Wang, chairman of HTC, said in a statement.

The phones will … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 1277: You can hack DMCA. Legally. (podcast)

The U.S. copyright office now says that there are instances in which you may hack, fold, spindle, or mutilate copy protection, but just a few, and don't go breaking any other contracts while you're at it. Also, Microsoft wants its employees to build Windows 7 phone apps... for free!

Subscribe:  iTunes (MP3) |  iTunes (320x180) |  iTunes (640x360) |  RSS (MP3) |  RSS (320x180) |  RSS (640x360)… Read more

HTC to switch to Super LCDs on some smartphones

This summer has seen no shortage of hot smartphone releases, including the HTC Evo 4G and Motorola Droid X. However, it's seen its fair share of smartphone shortages.

Part of the shortage problem is that the device manufacturers aren't able to get enough of the right components to make their handsets. HTC, in particular, has had a hard time getting enough AMOLED displays from Samsung; however, rather than wait, HTC is taking matters into its own hands and will begin using Super LCDs (SLCD) to a number of its smartphones, the company announced on Monday.

"HTC is … Read more

T-Mobile G1 Blaze rumors begin to swirl

When you look at the high-end Android phones available today, you might notice that there are relatively few devices with sliding QWERTY keyboards.

Aside from the forthcoming Droid 2 and Samsung Epic 4G, there are no other devices with a 1GHz processor and a physical keyboard. However, there are rumors that HTC and T-Mobile will also have a device to add to the bunch.

The phone, according to rumors, is expected to arrive with a 1GHz processor, a 3.7-inch WVGA screen, and HTC Sense user interface. According to the rumors, it will also be HSPA+ capable, which means it … Read more

HTC's Windows Phone 7 plans: Making Sense?

Amid reports that HTC is working hard to bring its Sense user interface to Windows Phone 7 gadgets, there's been at least one reported sighting of just such a phone that lacks Sense.

A tipster has shared with Engadget some details of a "mystery HTC Windows Phone 7 device" that the gadget blog describes as likely a developer build with hardware that's ready to go. But the phone doesn't seem to have a Sense skin atop the Windows Phone 7 OS, according to the report.

Smartphone makers typically tweak the user interface of the handsets … Read more

Android Atlas Weekly 8: All about Android tablets (podcast)

The Droid X is rooted, the Nexus One is done, and we dive deep into Android tablets with Senior Editor Donald Bell. We also take a brief look at Agenda Widget and cover a tip on how to retain Bluetooth connectivity while in Airplane mode.

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EPISODE 8News

Verizon confirms Droid X screen glitch and fix Motorola responds to Droid X bootloader controversy, says eFuse isn't there to break the phone Droid X root achieved Web site simplifies rooting HTC androids Requiem for a phone: Nexus One done at Google On Math, iPhones, Android, and the 100K Phone Gap Quick guide to the Samsung Galaxy S series

Tablet Watch

9 upcoming tablet alternatives to the Apple iPad Android Tablets on Wikipedia Donald's hands-on with the Dell Streak Lenovo to launch Android tablet by year's end Is Asus prepping an Android Tablet? Eken M003… Read more

Is the iPhone's screen too small?

Since I posted an article about the features I wanted to see in the next-generation iPhone, I've received several e-mails from readers calling me out for not including a larger screen as one of the 20 feature upgrades. Most readers were polite but mildly indignant. Here's what two Texans wrote me--Larry from Austin and Mike from Houston:

Larry: You didn't mention at all a larger display or screen! You may not want a bigger display, but I do and I am sure there are lots of others too. Why can't Apple come out at least w/a slightly larger screen, i.e. 3.7" or 4"? The HTC Google/Nexus Phone has a 3.7" screen but yet the phone is still basically the same size as the iPhone. The new Samsung Galaxy S phones that are hitting all four U.S. major networks this month and the next month have 4" screens but yet the phones themselves are pretty much the same size [as the iPhone 4]...

Mike: What, a bigger screen didn't make the top 20??!?!?!? That's the main reason I didn't buy the iPhone 4. Yes, my eyes are getting bad so I need the bigger screen...and every new phone coming out now has at least 4" screens...Droid X, Samsung Galaxy S, EVO. I tried out the EVO for 2 weeks and loved it...unfortunately I have 5 people on my AT&T account. Tough to switch.

Of course, they want everything bigger in Texas (or at least they say everything is bigger there), but I gotta say, I haven't experienced a desire to inflate my iPhone's screen size. That said, these e-mails got me thinking more about smartphone screens and I reread CNET editor Eric Franklin's article that tests and compares the screen performance of the iPhone 4, the HTC Evo, and the Motorola Droid. In his shootout, he gave the nod to the iPhone 4; the Evo came in a close second, and the Droid followed up in third. However, Franklin focused more on image quality and less with the actual size of the screen.

Personally, I really like the Evo, built-in kickstand and all, but I find that as a phone it's a tad bulky. I also think the same of the Droid and new Droid X. CNET's smartphone guru Bonnie Cha has a couple new Samsung Galaxy S models sitting on her desk--AT&T calls its Galaxy S phone the Captivate, and T-Mobile has the Vibrant--that I've played around with it a bit and like the design and agree with Larry's assessment that the phone is "basically the same size as the iPhone." In fact, it's a little scary how close the Vibrant resembles a slightly trimmer version of the iPhone 3GS.

As for specs, the Galaxy S "family" has a 4-inch Super AMOLED screen that's 800x480 pixels. The iPhone's 3.5-inch Retina Display offers a 960x640-pixel resolution. We measured the two screens and calculated that the Galaxy S's display offers 17 percent more overall screen area. Compare the 4.2-inch Evo's or 4.3-inch Droid X's screen with the iPhone's and you're looking at upwards of 20 percent.

So why are other smartphone manufacturers going bigger--and is it better?… Read more