Hands on: T-Mobile Sidekick 4G by Samsung

Sidekick fans, brace yourselves. We just got some hands-on time with the successor to the long line of Sidekick handsets, the T-Mobile Sidekick 4G. Originally made by Sharp and powered by Danger – remember the Internet forums that went by the same name? – it’s now made by Samsung and powered by Google’s Android. I’ve gotta admit that this device got me a little excited – for nostalgic reasons if nothing else. So, what is it like?
Well, the T-Mobile Sidekick 4G is pretty awesome. The build quality seemed pretty solid and no seam or hinge was unfinished. Many Sidekick purists will miss the famous swivel screen, but perhaps not too much. It’s also a bit weird to hold this thing and know that it’s a Sidekick, but the icons on each corner are different and it’s evidently an Android device.
We didn’t get to spend a great deal of time with the Sidekick 4G, but in the 10 – 15 minutes we did, there weren’t any hiccups in the hardware or software. The buttons felt great, the sliding mechanism was firm and inspired confidence and the size of the thing wasn’t so bad, either. It’s not the slimmest phone on the block, but none of the Sidekicks really were.
And of course, we have the Sidekick keyboard. Just because this particular device is made by Samsung doesn’t mean it didn’t take any cues from the design and tactility of the Sidekicks of yesteryear. It’s firm but gives a satisfying click, and it’s easy as cake to type on it. It even has a dedicated smiley button, too, if your tend to pepper your text messages and e-mails with emoticons.
The UI is pretty nice and there are a healthy number of widgets to choose from. Again, our time with the device was brief, but I didn’t notice any particular lag or hiccups when scrolling around and just exploring the device.
Finally, this device does support T-Mobile’s 4G HSPA+ network, which means you should have some pretty speedy data transfer speeds with this device – something the original Sidekicks seriously lacked. Remember the LX constantly switching to GPRS? Blech.

We’ll have more for you as the show continues, so be sure to stay tuned! In the meantime, check out the images below.

HTC EVO 3D vs LG Thrill 4G: specs comparison

We know what's bothering you now - which of the only two 3D-enabled smartphones announced so far for the US offers the best bang for your buck - the HTC EVO 3D, or the LG Thrill 4G. Since they will be available on carriers as different in terms of technology used and coverage as are AT&T and Sprint, we'd say go for whichever carrier works best where you are.

In the pure specs comparison, though, the HTC EVO 3D comes slightly ahead. We assume they are both using the same type of parallax barrier overlay on top of their 4.3" screens to recreate this sweet 3D effect, when observed from normal distance and angle. The display on the HTC EVO 3D, however, comes at a much higher qHD resolution of 540x960 pixels, whereas the one on the LG Thrill 4G is the standard 480x800 pixels fare.

Since we know the 3D overlay diminishes the picture definition and quality somewhat when used, we'd say go for the higher pixel count. Again, we will have to make a comparison between the EVO 3D and the LG Thrill 4G up close and personal, before we pass any final judgment, but for now we'd take the higher-res display, all other things being equal.

They are not, however. The Texas Instruments OMAP 4430 chipset in the Thrill 4G seems to be the best dual-core silicon out there, based on some preliminary benchmarks we did at the MWC Expo with it (we scored 2800 on Quadrant with it in a prototype). Granted, it's the first time we encounter the dual-core 1.2GHz third generation Snapdragon in a phone, so, again, we can't say which one is better before we have the production versions in our hand. Recently leaked results from benchmark sites databases, however, painted this Snapdragon as slightly inferior in overall performance than TI's chip in the LG Thrill 4G.

However, the HTC EVO 3D comes with 1GB of RAM, and the Thrill 4G's dual-channel memory is 512MB. Moreover, these benchmarks were with a far-removed prototype of the EVO 3D. Even if in the end it indeed turns out that its chipset is a tad slower than the OMAP4 silicon, we'd still rather have the display with the higher resolution before the benchmark bragging rights. Unless the qHD resolution on the HTC EVO 3D screen as achieved with a PenTile matrix arrangement, but we will check on that when it arrives for review in the office.

IPHONE 5 goes into production, designed by NFC, metal casing

 

Apple's next-generation iPhone 5 has entered trial production, according to people familiar with the matter, with a handful of tweaks, including a metal case and mobile-payment technology.

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The Cupertino, Calif.-based company's iPhone 5 is scheduled for release in the third quarter, these sources said, which aligns with its traditional June or July release date. According to people with knowledge of the inside of the new iPhone -- Qualcomm's processor chip will include NFC, or near-field communication, allowing users to pay for goods and services by tapping their phone on a payment terminal.

One person familiar with the Apple NFC venture said the iPhone's credit card information would be tied to iTunes, which would make it easy for customers to setup the service.
Earlier reports had verified this, but suggested that Apple scrapped NFC from the next iPhone to wait for the technology to mature. It is unclear whether NFC will be in the iPhone 5 or a later version.
The next-generation iPhone is also roughly the same size and shape as the iPhone 4, but it has a slightly larger touch screen display, and will be housed in a metal outer frame. The camera and buttons are unmoved.
Apple is famously secretive about its future products and aggressively pursues leaks. From take-down notices served to websites to criminal prosecution, as in the case of an allegedly stolen iPhone 4 prototype that leaked to the media, Apple does its best to quash leaking information and track down its sources.
But leaks from third-party vendors and contract manufacturers have proven remarkably accurate in the past. For example, the fact that the iPad 2 would have a front-facing camera was shown in an early case release, indicating that accessory makers do receive at least basic advanced information about products so they can have stock ready when the device launches.
And nearly a year before Verizon started selling the iPhone, information spread from factories about a CDMA-version in the works.

Amazon sued by Apple over use of App Store name

Apple is taking Amazon to court over use of the 'App Store' name. In a filing made March 18th in federal court in Northern California, the Cupertino based tech firm said, "Amazon has begun improperly using Apple’s App Store mark in connection with Amazon’s mobile-software developer program." In the suit, Apple also added that, "Amazon has unlawfully used the App Store mark to solicit software developers throughout the United States."

As we reported, Amazon is expected to launch the Amazon Appstore today, which is expected to offer an exclusive version of the hugely popular Angry Birds game. Apple's App Store has offered downloads of applications for the Apple iPhone, iPod and iPad since 2008. Over 10 billion downloads have been performed from the Apple App Store since its inception, the company noted in its filing.

In the suit, Apple claims that it has contacted Amazon three times in an attempt to get the online retailer to stop using the 'App Store' name. The suit also notes that Apple has a trademark for the name. Company spokeswoman Kristen Huguet said, "We’ve asked Amazon not to copy the App Store name because it will confuse and mislead customers." Amazon spokeswoman, Mary Osako, told reporters that, "We have a long-standing practice of not commenting on pending litigation."

HTC Evo 3D specs are leaked; two tablets on the way to Sprint

We recently reported that the HTC Shooter could end up launched as the HTC Evo 3D for Sprint. And the specs are about as high-end as you can get. First of all, according to BGR, the handset will live up to its name as it will have a 3D YouTube client and a 3D Blockbuster app. You will be able to view all of that 3D action on a 4.3 inch display with qHD resolution. Under the hood will be a 1.2GHz dual-core CPU with 4GB of internal memory and a 8GB microSD card expandable to 32GB. A dual 5MP camera on the back allows for 3D photos and 720p 3D video while 2D video is captured at HD 1080p. A 1.3MP front facing camera allows for video chat. Android 2.3 powers the show and an HDMI port and DLNA support make for easy viewing of the phone's content on a television.

Other Sprint-related news from BGR's sources include some information related to the information we told you about the other day about the carrier getting its own version of the Motorola XOOM. It looks like the tablet will be exactly the same as the version peddled by Verizon except for one major difference-Sprint's version will have WiMAX 4G instead of the LTE 4G pipeline on Big Red's model.

And there is more leaked information about another tablet for Sprint. The carrier is expected to offer the HTC View 4G which will be the carrier's version of the HTC Flyer. The 7 inch screen will display resolution of 1024 X 600 pixels and will be equipped with a 5MP camera around the back and a 1.3MP front facing camera. Android 2.3 (no Honeycomb here) will power the device which is expected to be made with an all-aluminum body. The HTC Scribe stylus will be supported and don't forget the HDMI port and DLNA support.

With these devices and more expected to be introduced at CTIA, perhaps we will get a better idea when we could expect launch dates and pricing information.

Hands-On: Verizon’s Sony Ericsson Xperia Play at CTIA 2011

At CTIA Wireless 2011, Verizon started showing off their branded version of the Sony Ericsson Xperia play for the first time.
We’ve already had some hands-on time with the Sony Xperia Play, but the Verizon version is a bit different. It’s coming preloaded with six games: Madden NFL 11, Tetris and The Sims 3 by EA Mobile, Star Battalion and Asphalt 6: Adrenaline by Gameloft, and Bruce Lee Dragon Warrior by Digital Legends. Yeah, you’ll be able to buy Play-optimized games on the Android Market if you want for between $5-$10, but if you get them through Verizon’s VCast service, it’ll be conveniently tacked on to your monthly wireless bill.
If you’re unfamiliar with the specs, the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play packs a 1 GHz processor, runs Android 2.3, has a 5 megapixel camera on the back (plus secondary video conferencing camera on the front), 4-inch 854 x 480 display, Wi-Fi, GPS, 3G, Bluetooth, and unlike the GSM version, the usual Sony Ericsson software customizations, like Timescape, won’t be present. that’s right, pure vanilla Android – apparently because it was in the running as a Nexus candidate next to the Samsung model that eventually won out.
I got to play a few games on it, and using both the accelerometer controls and the touchscreen analog controls required a lot of getting used to, but ergonomically, the controls were very comfortable. I’m still not sure that hardcore gamers would opt for an Xperia Play over a dedicated phone plus a PSP, or that casual gamers would be willing to tack on the bulk of game controls. Although the catalog of Android games built for the Xperia Play will likely grow, those who are already heavily invested in the PSP platform will likely find little reason to switch. Personally, I’m looking forward to the real benefits of always-on connectivity to mobile gaming, since it’s the only real advantage that a mobile phone has over a dedicated portable gaming device like the PSP or Nintendo DS. Latency and coverage will likely create too much of a bottleneck for fast-paced first-person shooters, but turn-based games and MMOs may very well find a home on gaming-centric handsets like the Xperia Play.
Without further ado, here’s a handful of still, plus hands-on video of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play for Verizon.

HTC Thunderbolt hand-on

So you went ahead and got Verizon’s first 4G LTE phone, the HTC Thunderbolt, eh? The phone is great, but you want to do more, do you? Well, below is a tutorial for rooting the device and unlocking the bootloader. This is by no means for someone who doesn’t know what they are doing. If you think you have what it takes, read on!

You’ll need:
ADB set up correctly (some knowledge how to use it would help, too)
Patience (look through the tutorial before you begin. If using the command line is new to you, you may want to wait until a more elegant root method comes along.) Double check that you’ve typed the correct commands.
Know that this will void your warranty
This could potentially brick your phone. We take no responsibility if this happens. You’ve been warned.
Make sure your Thunderbolt is fully charged before proceeding.
1. Download the following files (mirrors are available below from the source link below)

• RUU_Mecha_VERIZON_WWE_1.03.605.10_Radio_1.02.00.01 03_2r_NV_8k_1.37_9k_1.52_release_165253 (md5sum : aae974054fc3aed275ba3596480ccd5b): DOWNLOAD

• Exploits package (md5sum : 3b359efd76aac456ba7fb0d6972de3af):  DOWNLOAD
• Custom RUU mirrors (md5sum : aff07b8256628a175c40938d408fa16f): DOWNLOAD

2. Unzip the Exploits package, and push : psneuter, busybox, and misc.img to data/local
adb push psneuter /data/local/
adb push busybox /data/local/
adb push misc.img /data/local/
adb shell chmod 777 /data/local/psneuter
adb shell chmod 777 /data/local/busybox
3. “This step will gain temp root and flash the custom misc.img. Run:”

• adb shell

You should then see a “$” in the command line, now run:

• /data/local/psneuter

ADB will restart as root (#) – Now confirm the md5 of the misc.img

• adb shell

If you see the “#”, run the following:

• /data/local/busybox md5sum /data/local/misc.img

If the output is anything other than “c88dd947eb3b36eec90503a3525ae0de” , download the misc.img file again, and push it again.
If the md5 is correct, now you need to write the image

• dd if=/data/local/misc.img of=/dev/block/mmcblk0p17
• exit

4. Now it’s time to rename the custom RUU file (Third file you downloaded) to PG05IMG.zip
After the file has been renamed, put it on the root of your SDcard (inside no folders) and run:

• adb reboot bootloader

Choose the bootloader option from the screen, and press power. This will flash the ROM. When it asks you to upgrade, choose yes. This can take a while, so don’t worry.
After it’s complete, reboot the device and delete the PG05IMG.zip file from your SDcard.
Now we’re going to set up the two-part exploit to get root and unlock the MMC:

Push wpthis, busybox, and psnueter:

adb push psneuter /data/local/
adb push busybox /data/local/
adb push wpthis /data/local/
adb shell chmod 777 /data/local/psneuter
adb shell chmod 777 /data/local/busybox
adb shell chmod 777 /data/local/wpthis

Now run the following:

adb shell
/data/local/psneuter
To unlock eMMC:
adb shell
/data/local/wpthis
exit

6. Potential phone-bricking step:
Now we’re going to push the eng bootloader. You’re messing with system partitions right now, so this can be dangerous if you do no complete the step correctly.
Run:

adb push hbooteng.nb0 /data/local/
adb shell
/data/local/busybox md5sum /data/local/hbooteng.nb0

The output number should be “6991368ee2deaf182048a3ed9d3c0fcb“. If it does not match exactly that, then stop, delete the file, and re-download it. It, too, is a part of the Exploit package. If it does match, carry on.
Run:

dd if=/data/local/hbooteng.nb0 of=/dev/block/mmcblk0p18

Run the following to ensure the file was written succesfully:

/data/local/busybox md5sum /dev/block/mmcblk0p18

If you don’t get “6991368ee2deaf182048a3ed9d3c0fcb” as the output code, try again. (If you’ve tried several times, seek help in the IRC chat – chat.andirc.net in channel #thunderbolt.) If you get the correct code, proceed.
Reboot the phone – place the custom RUU (PG05IMG.zip) onto the SD card again, and flash it.
Run:

adb reboot bootloader

“After it flashes, you will be running release firmware with S-OFF.”
7.
Push busybox, SU, and psneuter -Run:

adb push psneuter /data/local/
adb push busybox /data/local/
adb push su /data/local/
adb shell chmod 777 /data/local/psneuter
adb shell chmod 777 /data/local/busybox

Time to gain root access!
Run:
adb shell
/data/local/psneuter
Now we remount the /system and set up SU-
Run:

adb shell
mount -o remount,rw -t ext3 /dev/block/mmcblk0p25 /system
/data/local/busybox cp /data/local/su /system/xbin/su
chown 0:0 /system/xbin/su
chmod 6755 /system/xbin/su

8.
Reboot your phone
Go to the Android Market and install Superuser
Reboot your phone again
You should now have full root.
9.
Now all you have to do is install ROM Manager and flash the Thunderbolt recovery. You’re done!

Symbian's Last Gasp on T-Mobile

Nokia is planning to launch its Symbian-powered C7 on T-Mobile, in a bid to maintain some presence in the smartphone market while readying its next-generation of Windows handsets.

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The Espoo, Finland-based handset maker, which won't ship a significant number of Windows phones until 2012, could debut the C7 -- called the "Astound" for T-Mobile -- as early as April, according to people familiar with the matter.
The Symbian-based handset would cost $80 on contract, and feature a 3.5-inch AMOLED touch screen, a 680-megahertz chip, 8.0-megapixel camera and a VGA webcam. Analysts, who describe the C7 as a consumer version of the flagship N8, said the Astound replaces the Nuron.
This will probably be among the last Symbian phones, though Nokia has promised to support the platform for several years to come.
Following its catastrophic failure to recognize demand for touch screen, app-centric smartphones, Nokia's share of the U.S. smartphone market shrunk to a sliver as Google and Apple dominated the sector. Thanks to stronger adoption overseas, Symbian was still the largest smartphone platform globally until the fourth quarter last year, when it was passed by Android, according to research firm Canalys.
Going forward, it is unlikely that any Symbian phone will have much of a following. Users have been abandoning the platform for the user-friendly app ecosystems offered by Apple and Google -- a shift that is likely to accelerate as the popularity of app-ready handsets increases. Potential buyers will also know that any Symbian device has a limited lifespan and that support for the platform is likely to disappear.
But the release of a Symbian phone may be a concession towards Nokia's current crop of developers, keeping them interested and committed enough to begin to develop apps for Windows Phone 7 smartphones later, according to analysts at Forrester Research. The phone also maintains a presence for Nokia in the market, even if the offering isn't entirely competitive. To disappear from the market, even for a short time, could endanger Nokia's presence with U.S. carriers even more.
Last year AT&T decided to cancel the release of the X7, a gaming-centric version of the N8, which would have been released earlier this year.

Use of app instead of mobile Safari makes browser speed test flawed?

Yesterday we reported on a test that tracked the speed of the browser on the Apple iPhone 4 against that of the Android flavored Nexus S. The test was conducted 45,000 times on 1,000 different sites and allegedly showed that the Android browser was 52% faster than the iOS 4 browser.

Many were surprised by the results, especially in light of JavaScript improvements recently made to mobile Safari. According to those who studied the contest, the reason why the JavaScript improvements seemed to have no effect during the test was that mobile Safari was not used in the competition. Instead of using the actual browser, the testing was done using Apple's own proprietary app, UIWebView, that bypassed the improvements made to the iOS browser. Apple had developed the UIWebView to allow web browser functions to be used within an app but the app does not include the improvements made to the actual browser itself.

So now it seems that there is a legitimate challenge to the results. Blaze can re-do the tests using the actual Safari browser, or someone with plenty of time on his hands can develop their own test for measuring which browser is faster. In the meantime, the record book that shows the Android browser 52% faster than mobile Safari will have to include an asterisk next to the results for now.

TELUS to release the Wi-Fi only Motorola XOOM

The Motorola XOOM was announced today and it looks like TELUS will be selling this Android 3.0 tablet. They stated in the press release that this will be available “as little as $599.99″. There is also no official release date yet but Future Shop stated this has an estimated release date of April 8th.
The specs of this tablet have it with a 10.1-inch display (resolution of 1280×800), 5 megapixel camera that records 720p HD videos, 2 megapixel front-facing camera, dual-core 1GHz processor, 10 hours of battery life, 1GB RAM, WiFi, and holds 32GB with a microSD card.
David Fuller, Chief Marketing Officer at TELUS said “We are thrilled to bring the first Android 3.0 powered tablet to Canadians. Almost by the month, Canadians are doing more through multiple ‘screens’ which tablets and smartphones provide. They’re a dashboard for our busy lives and on-the-go entertainment needs. TELUS is committed to delivering not only multiple screens, but the very best screens for the job. The MOTOROLA XOOM boasts best-in-class features and a rich mobile experience in one breathtaking package. This was worth waiting for.”

Sprint today integrated Google Voice with its smartphones, allowing customers to answer calls from home, the office, or on a PC, as well as provide a new service that AT&T and Verizon lack.

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The Overland Park, Kan.-based carrier said its customers can use their existing phone number as their Google Voice number, so calls to that Sprint number can also be answered at the office, home, computer or even Gmail.
Or, Google Voice users can make calls and send texts from a Sprint phone, by swapping numbers. Calls overseas are also routed through Google's Web-based system, for cheaper rates.
Basically, it's a smarter way to manage voice communications; especially for those with multiple phones or phone numbers.
"We have made Google Voice simple to use with a Sprint phone," said Dave Girouard, president of Google's enterprise group.
Sprint is essentially giving up control of its phone number, a bold move no other carrier has done, to gain an edge over rivals AT&T and Verizon, who are selling the popular iPhone and iPad. In addition, Sprint aims to save money by not having to sustain its own voicemail platform.
Google Voice allows users to make free calls and texts anywhere in the U.S. and Canada. It also lets multiple phones ring at once, even if those phones belong to one number. Even more, Google Voice is known for its accurate voicemail transcription, which can be emailed or texted to phones.
The service includes call recording, blocking, and personalized greetings for selected callers.

PDATED: AT&T presentation slides, Deutsche Telekom's stake.

Now this makes much more sense - unlike the rumor that Sprint will be buying T-Mobile, it turned out that actually the carrier that uses the same GSM technology - AT&T - is buying Big Magenta, for $39 billion in cash and stocks.

Deutsche Telekom will receive $25 billion in cash, and $14 billion in stocks, some of which it will use to pay off debt and for share buybacks, plus it will get 8% stake in AT&T because of the stock portion. The German telecom acquired T-Mobile (previously VoiceStream), for $24 billion in 2001 - not as bad of a deal as some thought, it turns out.

It was the logical thing to happen ever since Deutsche Telekom put T-Mobile on the market. The buyout will add 34 million subscribers to AT&T's count, and create the largest US carrier with 130 million customers in a year's time, when the deal is expected to clear the red tape. If it gets the antitrust authorities approval, of course. AT&T is holding a press conference tomorrow to talk us into it, so we will tune it at 8am Eastern for the gulp of Kool-Aid, meant for the FCC, since all companies' boards involved have already approved it. If for some reason the deal doesn't go through, AT&T is on the hook to pay T-Mobile child support to the tune of $3 billion for the break-up, according to the agreement.

Well, at least now the 4G LTE plans will get a huge boost, when the 700MHz spectrum of AT&T, and T-Mo's AWS frequencies combine, and that's precisely what AT&T means to do, according to the press release. Combining both carriers' airwaves, it said, will allow the new GSM behemoth to reach 95% (294 million) of Americans with its upcoming LTE network - 46.5 million more than if AT&T was doing it alone.

From the presser: "AT&T and T-Mobile USA customers will see service improvements - including improved voice quality - as a result of additional spectrum, increased cell tower density and broader network infrastructure. At closing, AT&T will immediately gain cell sites equivalent to what would have taken on average five years to build without the transaction, and double that in some markets.  The combination will increase AT&T’s network density by approximately 30 percent in some of its most populated areas, while avoiding the need to construct additional cell towers."

Here are some slides explaining the synergies, plus AT&T cherry-picking states to show us the brave new world we could live in as soon as next year:

On the flip side, this probably will end T-Mo's tradition of being the bargain carrier. It might also take some phones off the portfolio of the resulting telco, due to overlapping, but, in that respect, manufacturers will do wonders with their newest handsets just to get the attention of America's biggest carrier, so it might all turn out for the better.

Not to mention the awards T-Mo has gotten on a more than few occasions for excellent customer service and overall satisfaction. Of course, everything is puppies and flowers, according to AT&T, which has inserted some twisted logic into a slide sure meant to appease Uncle Sam's antitrust regulators, but not really backed up by anything of substance, except for the timeline:

Verizon and Sprint are probably less than thrilled by this development. What do you think, will that surprise move stifle competition in the US, or will we benefit from the apparent synergies between the two GSM carriers?

AT&T fed up with you milking its data network, sends warning letters to covert tetherers

AT&T has started sending out warning messages to owners of jailbroken iPhones, which use the MyWi app for unauthorized sharing of their phones's mobile data connection. By unauthorized we mean you don't pay the $20 a month AT&T asks for tethering, and you don't sleep in peace with yourself and the world. High-usage subscribers are reportedly also receiving such messages, and we wouldn't be surprised if a bunch of folks with rooted Android handsets are in the crosshairs for off-the-grid tethering, too. Here is an excerpt from AT&T's letter:

" Dear [Name of Account Holder],

We’ve noticed your service plan may need updating.

Many AT&T customers use their smartphones as a broadband connection for other devices, like laptops, netbooks or other smartphones– a practice commonly known as tethering. Tethering can be an efficient way for our customers to enjoy the benefits of AT&T’s mobile broadband network and use more than one device to stay in touch with important people and information. To take advantage of this feature, we require that in addition to a data plan, you also have a tethering plan.

Our records show that you use this capability, but are not subscribed to our tethering plan.
If you would like to continue tethering, please log into your account online at www.wireless.att.com, or call us at 1-888-860-6789 Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. CST or Saturday, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. CST, by March 27, 2011 to sign up for DataPro 4GB for Smartphone Tethering...

If we don’t hear from you, we’ll plan to automatically enroll you into DataPro 4GB after March 27, 2011. The new plan – whether you sign up on your own or we automatically enroll you – will replace your current smartphone data plan, including if you are on an unlimited data plan.

If you discontinue tethering, no changes to your current plan will be required."

So those of you with such letters have basically until next Sunday to sign up for the $45 a month DataPro 4GB plan and tether all they want, or be enrolled in it automatically, unless you stop the illegal tethering and/or excessive data usage.

Quite the move on AT&T's part, and if you wonder how they know who does what, it's probably a combination of abnormal data usage and Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) the carrier is using to determine where to send the warnings to. You can get around DPI by using a VPN, but the legality of this is debatable for individual users.

Have you received such a letter from AT&T, and what do you think about the whole "to tether or no to tether" conundrum the carrier is creating?

HTC ThunderBolt vs Motorola DROID X web browsing times

In our fourth video, we decided to test the browser speed on the HTC ThunderBolt, and compare that next to the Motorola DROID X.

Here, we noticed something interesting. Even though web pages started to load faster on the ThunderBolt, they finished at about the same time on it and on the DROID X. We tried several page loads, and both were only within a second or two of each other.

So it appears that even though the 4G LTE network is capable of faster download speeds (as shown in our speed test video) the web browser on the ThunderBolt is finishing to load pages at about the same speed at the DROID X.

We will continue to test the browser speed on the ThunderBolt over the next few days and will update if there are any changes.

UPDATE:
As some of you have commented below, the DROID X did load a few pages slightly faster than the ThunderBolt, but the reason we believe this happened is because our DROID X is rooted and has a program installed for it not to load web-page banner ads that are Flash based. The ThunderBolt is not rooted and will load all Flash ads, so that is why some pages on it took slightly longer to load. But for a stock DROID X that isn't rooted and will load all Flash content (including ads) the ThunderBolt should be a bit faster. We have also noticed that downloading apps from the Android Market are also much faster on the ThunderBolt than the DROID X, as well as connecting to Google Maps, VCast Video, and file attachment downloads.

UPDATE 2:
Guys, sorry about forgetting to un-root the DROID X first. We have done this now so it will load all flash files and web ads. The ThunderBolt is taking 22 seconds to fully load the PhoneArena.com home page, while the DROID X is taking 45 seconds. We will have a new full video review of the ThunderBolt up that will show this.

Sprint’s HTC Evo 3D specs leaked!

We’ve already told you Sprint will have an awesome line-up for the upcoming CTIA. Among the devices the carrier will unveil are two WiMAX-enabled tablets — 7-inch HTC Flyer and 10-inch Motorola Xoom — as well as Nexus S and HTC Evo 3D.
Today our focus is on the Evo 3D which looks like a promising phone we can’t wait to try out. Here are the rumored specs:

• 4.3-inch 3D capacitive touchscreen with 960×540 pixels resolution!
• 1.2 GHz dual-core Snapdragon CPU
• Dual 5-megapixel rear cameras for recording 3D video at 720p — 2D video is recorded at 1080p.
• 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera for video calls
• 4GB of internal memory, microSD expansion slot (8 GB card comes inside the box).
• GPS, Bluetooth and “standard” sensors
• DNLA support and HDMI port – for beaming videos to the TV
• Dimensions: 5.0×2.6×0.48 inches
• Android 2.3

Impressive don’t you think? We hope other carriers in the U.S. will follow Sprint’s example and launch similarly powerful devices.
[Via: AndroidCentral, BGR]

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Virgin drops iPhone 3GS 8GB to $9.99 on 3-year/SuperTab

We’ve seen Rogers, Bell, TELUS, Koodo and Virgin didn’t want to be left out of all the fun so they too have dropped their handset prices. Again, if you’re into contracts (or using their SuperTab) there are a few deals happening at Virgin. Most notably, the Apple iPhone 3GS has been dropped to $9.99 on a 3-year/SuperTab (and we’re informed they’ll give you a $50 credit on your first bill). In addition, the Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant is now $50 on 3-year/SuperTab.

RIM Tangles With AT&T, T-Mobile Over Mobile Payments

BlackBerry maker Research in Motion is in a scuffle with AT&T and T-Mobile over control of mobile-payment data, which could determine whether handset makers or wireless carriers dictate the terms of a lucrative $1.13 trillion industry.

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The Waterloo, Ontario-based company, which plans to add mobile payment technology, known as near field communication, or NFC, to most of its devices, is tussling with AT&T and T-Mobile over where key customer data will reside -- on the phone itself or on the SIM card.
That may not sound like much, but the implications are enormous. That data, which is stored in the magnetic strip on credit cards, will determine who controls the customer, and the revenue from transactions to merchants when the device is waved over an electronic reader during checkout.
AT&T and T-Mobile want to encrypt the information on their SIM cards, small chips that communicate with its wireless networks, but RIM wants those credentials to be stored on its BlackBerry device.
Consumers would ultimately be better off if the carriers win, since they can swap their SIM card from phone to phone. Should RIM prevail, customers may be tied to their BlackBerry smartphones, which would potentially cut carriers out of the loop.
RIM has already made the first move and reached out to banks to bypass the carriers, people familiar with the matter said. But AT&T and T-Mobile are part of a consortium of 800 wireless operators around the world, known as the GSM Association, or GSMA, that is racing to standardized mobile-payments system.
Verizon and Sprint, which use a different technology called CDMA, hasn't been involved in the dispute, because its network doesn't use SIM cards. But those wireless carriers could upgrade their networks to a 4G technology known as LTE, or Long-Term Evolution, which does.
"Many if not most of BlackBerry devices throughout the year will have NFC in them," RIM's co-chief executive Jim Balsillie said at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona last week.
Meanwhile, rivals Google and Apple are making their moves as well. Google has already released its Nexus S smartphone with built-in NFC, while Apple decided to hold off on mobile-payment on the iPhone 5 until the technology is more mature.
In December, Google bought Zetawire, secretive mobile-payment startup. The company will test its mobile payment systems in New York and San Francisco in the next four months.
Whoever dictates the standards of mobile payment stands to gain the most of a lucrative $1.13 trillion industry.

Sony Ericsson confirms it will be affected by the Japan earthquake

Sony Ericsson confirms its business will be affected by the earthquake and tsunami that has ravaged Northern Japan. The handset manufacturer operates out of Tokyo and all 1100 employees and its two offices were safe following the natural disaster. Though it emerged relatively unscathed from the earthquake, Sony Ericsson’s component suppliers in Northern Japan have been adversely affected. As a result, Sony Ericsson is looking at secondary sources for components and is considering the relocation of some manufacturing. Unfortunately,the handset company expects this shift in components will disrupt its supply chain. The handset maker did not mention which handsets may be adversely affected as the situation is still being assessed. Fingers crossed that this disruption does not impact the upcoming Sony Xperia Play, its premier gaming-oriented Android phone. The company’s official statement on the Japan earthquake is available on the second page.

HTC ThunderBolt unboxing and hands-on

Ever since our first look at the HTC ThunderBolt back in January at CES, we've been awaiting it's release, which is now upon us. We got our demo unit today, and couldn't wait to try it out, especially since it was originally planed to come out a month ago.

The box is all black, very minimalistic, and included with the ThunderBolt is a 1400mAh battery, SIM card, SanDisk 32GB Class 4 microSDHC memory card (pre-installed), battery cover, user guide, and a wall charger with a detachable microUSB cable that can also be used to connect the phone to your PC. One interesting thing that we noticed is that the back of the phone has a few metal pins that line-up with metal connectors on the battery cover. One of those has GPS printed next to it, another on the phone says BT (Blue Tooth), but the smallest connector near the top doesn't say what it is for. Though we're going to guess it's the 4G LTE antenna, because if the phone is use without the battery cover installed, it will drop down to 3G or 1X. So make use the back cover is on securely to get 4G reception.

On the front is a large 4.3" 480x800 WVGA resolution TFT display with 16 million color support. Images and videos look good, and text is sharp and clear, though we did notice the ThunderBolt's screen isn't quite as bright as the one on the Motorola DROID X, with both manually set to the highest backlight level. Along the bottom are the 4 capacitive touch-sensitive control buttons, and with the volume rocker on the right side. Up at the top is the 3.5mm headset jack, and the power/lock key, but it's a bit small and flush with the surrounding plastic, so it can be a bit hard to find by touch alone. On the back is the 8MP autofocus camera with dual LED flash, speaker and kickstand, which comes in handy when watching videos.

The HTC ThunderBolt feels a bit bulky in the hand, even more so than the Motorola DROID X, as the ThunderBolt is not only thicker, but wider too. Even though the ThunderBolt is constructed out of plastic, it has a very solid weight to it, again feeling heavier than the DROID X.

We like the updated HTC Sense UI that is on the device, as it comes with 6 scenes and 5 skins, both of which allow for some nice customization. There are also 7 home screens, and moving between them is very fluid without any noticeable delay.

Below is our unboxing video of the HTC ThunderBolt, with more videos to follow, and also our full review, so be sure to check back.

New ads by Apple show what it is like to not have an iPhone

A trio of iPhone ads, still warm and fresh from Cupertino's kitchen, have popped on Apple's website and display some of the privileges that one gets with owning and using the shiny smartphone. However, there seems to be something special about these three new videos. As a rule of thumb, Apple's advertisements are generally fun to watch – sleek and sexy devices do neat stuff, but these ads actually have the potential of making you feel a bit guilty for not owning an iPhone. The videos also appear to be quite vulnerable to parodies thanks to the catchy quote, which all three end with. You will have to watch them to see what we mean.

We are expecting the videos to spark a number of comments in the online communities, and if you feel like expressing your opinion, feel free to watch the ads below and leave your thoughts here on our website.