Cell phone blog, articles & news

Video: BlackBerry Curve 8530 (Verizon) - Unboxing

Aaron takes a look at the BlackBerry Curve 8530 for Verizon Wireless. Is it a worthy of being a 'Berry in the bunch? We'll find out. 

This Week in BlackBerry: BBerryDog launches; 3G Pearl 9100 spotted

Featured News: BBerryDog is up and running!After months of planning, logo work, and more, I'm proud to say that BBerryDog, PhoneDog's BlackBerry-themed sister website, has launched!  Featuring exclusive BlackBerry content that wouldn't otherwise be posted on PhoneDog, it's your home away from home (well, I sometimes refer to it as a "vacation home" - along with DroidDog).  Be sure to make your way around the website, check out the...

Kyocera announces Incognito, Torino, and Domino

First up, the Sanyo SCP-6760 Incognito (pictured above).  Featuring a clamshell form factor and a 2.6-inch QVGA touchscreen, the Incognito offers 3G connectivity, Bluetooth, threaded messaging, a 2.0-megapixel camera, and a microSD memory card slot.  Sprint has announced their intention to carry the device, beginning on September 30th. Next, the S2300 Torino offers a QWERTY keyboard in a candybar form factor, 1xRTT connectivity, a...

Samsung Omnia II launching December 2nd at $200

Shown at CTIA Fall last month (check out our video here), we knew the Samsung Omnia II was coming to Verizon at some point, but dates were a bit of a mystery.  According to leaked documents obtained by Engadget Mobile, the device will launch in all channels on December 2nd with Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional (thank heavens, since Windows Mobile 6.1 was installed at the convention).  Besides that, it will sport the features that were...

Video: Palm Pixi (Sprint) - The Quick Review

Palm Pixi, the video review in five minutes (or so). We'll also do in-depth looks at Pixi's features and hardware, so stay tuned!

Nokia N900 drops to $480 on Amazon

I'll admit - I was considering the purchase of a Nokia N900 to carry in the ol' arsenal of wireless devices, until I saw the price.  Even as a certified wireless junkie, $649 is a bit too much for me (hey, I need to pay the rent first).  I haven't been this excited about a Nokia device in quite some time, thanks to Maemo 5.  The name of the game seems to be social networking, and from my limited time with the N900 at CTIA, it...

Video: Samsung Flight (AT&T) - Review

Noah reviews the Flight from Samsung and AT&T. Is it a smartphone or a featurephone? Hard to tell, since it has a touchscreen, QWERTY board, 3G connectivity and an HTML browser

What up, Droid?

Things have gotten so crazy in the word of Android over the last month or two that it can be difficult at times to simply keep up with a single day's news. And while Aaron, Adriana, Noah, and now Sydney have got you covered on the PhoneDog front, we thought a weekly summary of current Android events was in order. Somehow, taking a look back at the rumors, leaks, launches, and reviews of the week has a way of putting things into perspective. And...

OS 4.7.1.61 launches for Verizon's BlackBerry Tour 9630

Sure, most Tour owners are anxiously awaiting an official OS 5.0 launch, but for now, OS 4.7 is where it's at.  As of today, OS 4.7.1.61 is available for Verizon's BlackBerry Tour 9630 through their website and Desktop Manager (PC and Mac).  Despite the relatively short amount of time online, reports are already streaming in about the build being faster overall.  For those of you with a Verizon-branded Tour, download it and...

Casio and Verizon Wireless launch the G'zOne Rock

Are you a fisherman, hunter, hiker, or climber?  If so, the Casio G'zOne (which is actually pronounced "jeez one") Rock is the device for you.  Offering EVDO Rev. A, stereo Bluetooth, Push to Talk, 2.0-megapixel camera with video capabilities, microSD card slot (with support for up to a 16 GB card), and touch-sensitive music controls, the G'zOne meets military specifications for water, shock, dust, vibration, humidity, salt fog, solar...

First Impressions: BlackBerry Curve 8530 (Verizon Wireless)

One day before its retail launch, UPS delivered Verizon Wireless' BlackBerry Curve 8530 to my doorstep.  I've been working with it all morning, and as the replacement to the Curve 8330, I'm very pleased with it.  It's a needed stepping stone in the BlackBerry line, and I'm excited that it's joining the ranks at Verizon (with Sprint getting it soon). Admittedly, I was a bit upset that I didn't get the "smoky violet" color.  Just...

Palm Pre drops to $79.99 with new agreement, challenging Pixi

While the Pixi's price point has been dropping and dropping some more, the Pre has remained above the $100 mark.  Bucking the trend, Amazon has lowered the Pixi's older brother to $79.99 on a new two-year agreement (not to mention a waived activation fee, saving you $36).  With the gap diminishing between the two webOS handsets, I imagine most will opt for the Pre due to the increase in processing power.  Sure, there are some...

Video: AT&T's loses request for injunction; releases anti-Verizon commercial

Magnet board + empty warehouse + Luke Wilson = effective commercial?  You be the judge. Earlier today, AT&T's request for an immediate injunction on the Verizon "There's a Map for That" commercials was denied, though the judge referred to the ads as "sneaky."  Apparently, most people are so zoned out when they're watching TV that they may not notice that Verizon is targeting AT&T's 3G coverage (or so the judge thinks). One...

Not to be forgotten, Nokia E72 hits the shelves

A winner at CTIA earlier in the year the Nokia E72 has officially launched.  Though it's still showing as "pre order" status on Amazon's website, the S60-powered device has launched for €350 ($469 at Amazon).  Sporting 10.2 Mbps HSDPA connectivity, 5.0-megapixel autofocus camera, 3.5mm headphone jack, microSD slot (4GB included in the box), A-GPS and integrated compass, and a trackpad, the E72 is a worthy successor to the...

Mash-Up: Creating the ultimate FrankenPhone

"That thing's going to Cricket" - Aaron Baker, News Editor FrankenPhone! It Lives! Wasn't it Mick Jagger who once crooned, "You can't always get what you want / But if you make a mash-up you kinda can?" Something like that, anyway. I'm tired of "close but no cigar" when it comes to mobile phones. iPhone's great except for that closed OS and no hard keyboard. Palm's WebOS is awesome but Palm can't seem to build a truly awesome piece of hardware...

Video: Palm Pixi (Sprint) - Unboxing

Adriana takes a look at Palm Pre's "little sister," the Pixi, which just launched on Sprint 11/15 for $99. Is it worth the money? Take a look at what comes in the box and see for yourself.

Connect: Check out PhoneDog on Facebook!

You like Facebook? Your friends, your relatives, that kid who sits next to you in Geometry class or at the next cubicle over — they like Facebook? Perfect! The Dog likes to Facebook, too! Get the latest news, reviews, and editorials from PhoneDog without leaving the cozy confines of FaceBook on the official PhoneDog.com Facebook page. And don't forget that you can play the One-Pawed Bandit on Facebook for even more chances to win great...

The Google phone theory, pt 2: A data-only device?

When I wrote up the post about Google possibly launching its own phone, some PD readers found it a little hard to believe. Why would the Android creator risk alienating the manufacturers and carriers who’ve been supporting the platform?, they asked. TechCrunch posits that the company will get around this by offering a handset that’s not technically a cellular phone, but a data-only device. Now that’s an interesting idea....

Nokia pulls trigger: N900 now available in US

Here we go, Maemo 5 fans: Nokia started shipping the N900 earlier this month, but people living in New York or Chicago can check it out for themselves now at the Nokia flagship store, where it’s selling for $650. That’s about a hundred less than earlier reports projected. If you don’t live in either city, don’t feel left out. You can order yours at Nokia’s US site. Via: MobileCrunch, PhoneArena

Sony Ericsson closing five offices, terminating 2,000 employees globally

Sony Ericsson will be closing its Research Triangle Park, North Carolina corporate headquarters, along with five smaller operations across the world in an effort to restructure the organization.  In addition to the main North American offices, facilities in Miami, Florida; Krista, Sweeden; Chennai, India; San Diego, California; and Seattle, Washington will all be getting the axe, along with 2,000 employees worldwide. Sony Ericsson's North...

First Impressions: HTC Imagio (Verizon Wireless)

What I like: Neat design; large touchscreen.What I don't like: On-screen keyboard could use some work; laggy at certain times. Introduction Giant 3.6-inch WVGA resistive touchscreen?  Check.  528 MHz processor?  Check.  Windows Mobile 6.5, 3.5mm headphone jack, A-GPS, microSD card slot, FM radio, and more - it's all there.  The HTC Imagio comes in at 4.6 inches tall by 2.4 inches wide by 0.5 inch thick and tips the...

Video: LG Chocolate Touch (Verizon) - Unboxing

Welcome Sydney to the PhoneDog team! Sydney gets her hands on the new LG Chocolate Touch for Verizon. Is the latest touchscreen music phone enough to compete in the age of smartphones? Let's unbox it and find out.

Verizon and AT&T continue dueling over "Map for That" lawsuit

The battle continues in the Verizon/AT&T legal dispute over Big Red's "There's a Map for That" advertising campaign.  We heard from AT&T's consumer response to the campaign a few days ago through their website (link): To Our Customers: As the U.S. market leader in wireless data service, we typically don't respond to competitors' advertising. However, some recent ads from Verizon are so blatantly false and misleading, that we want...

HTC Hero being sold for $99 at Best Buy?

It seems that $99 is one of the two magic price points of the holiday season (with $199 being the other one).  The AT&T BlackBerry Curve 8520 ("coming soon"), HTC Droid Eris, and Apple iPhone fall into the $99 category, along with the Sprint's HTC Hero.  Though the price remains at $179.99 on the carrier's website (after mail-in rebate), rumors are pointing to a price drop to $99 at Best Buy locations.  Sure, you have to sign...

Palm Pixi: A weekend's worth of impressions

I love Palm's WebOS. I ultimately shied away from making the Palm Pre my daily phone, however, because I didn't much like its form factor. I'm not a big fan of slider phones, instead preferring thinner candybar devices even if they wind up having a larger footprint. I also couldn't stand Pre's QWERTY board and took issue with sharp edges that bordered the keyboard tray (even though my colleagues still think I'm crazy for that one). But I loved...