HTC Merge Hands-on

Ah, the HTC Merge, that elusive handset, which has been making random appearances in our news section since... August 2010... We're now more than excited to be able to finally hold it in our hands! As you know, the Merge got official recently, about a month ago, but although it was heavily rumored to be the next big thing in Verizon's lineup, HTC didn't mention which carrier/s will get to offer it. However, we do know that it'll end up carried by “multiple North American carriers begging in spring 2011.” So it was about time we got to play with one!

To tell you the truth, the HTC Merge reminded us of the EVO Shift 4G (which is a good thing for the most part). Typically for HTC, the phone is solidly built all around, with a bit of noticeable heft to it because of the physical QWERTY keyboard. Speaking of the keyboard, we found it pretty useable, nothing out of the ordinary, but still good enough, with normally-sized keys, which are well spaced apart.

The HTC Merge offers a 3.7” display, a size that we've somehow come to consider characteristic of “compact” handsets nowadays. Anyways, the display is big enough and has a resolution of 480x800 pixels, again, keeping things ordinary, without trying too much with any of those qHD res attempts.

Turning the handset around reveals a 5MP camera with a small LED flash (notice how the Merge slowly shapes up as a fine mid-range offering). Thankfully, video recording will be possible at a resolution of HD 720p. We couldn't test its photo-taking capabilities here at CTIA, but hope it will take some decently-looking snaps; we won't ask for much, we promise.

Not that it's necessarily a bad thing, but it's still a bit of a setback to find the HTC Merge loaded with Froyo, when a newer version of the OS is already available. However, since the handset is not available yet, we have our little hopes here that HTC would eventually manage to prepare a Gingerbread firmware in time for its release. Buy hey, you didn't think you'd get away without having the Sense UI on here, did you? Of course, HTC has been relentless when it comes to Sense, and continues to pre-load it on all of its Android products, including the 7” EVO View 4G tablet, expected to appear on the scene in the summer, through Sprint. Having Sense is not bad though; the interface sure has its positives, like attractive visuals, deep social networking integration, as well as a set of accompanying online services, to name a few. Everything seems to run pretty swiftly on the HTC Merge, which comes as no surprise, since it's equipped with a decent 800MHz processor that should be fast enough in order to carry out all regular tasks, and then some.

All in all, we do like the HTC Merge, and we guess texting maniacs will like it even more, having in mind its pretty decent physical QWERTY keyboard. Unfortunately, we're not aware of an exact launch date for the phone yet, but waiting should be almost over now, with its expected release on “multiple North American carriers” this very spring.

HTC Merge shows up on Alltel's website for $125; pre-orders start on Monday

When the HTC Merge paid a visit to the FCC and received its approval, we grew pretty confident that the Android 2.2-powered smartphone was on its way to launch soon. We knew that it would feature a nifty slide-out QWERTY keyboard and probably global-roaming capabilities, but it was still unclear which carrier would add the HTC Merge to its shelves.

Despite the rumors that the HTC Merge was bound for Verizon, it now seems like the smartphone will debut on Alltel's network instead. This isn't that far off since Alltel is mostly owned by Verizon itself, but we also remember from the Merge's announcement in February that the smartphone will eventually be "made available through multiple North American carriers beginning in spring 2011." That pretty much leaves a good chance for the HTC Merge to join Verizon's Android pack some day in the near future.

Pre-orders for the HTC Merge start on Monday, March 28, so everybody interested in it should feel free to give Alltel's website a visit next week. The smartphone will cost you $125 with a contract attached, which seems like a decent price for a mid-end Android device.

source: Alltel via Android Central

HTC HD7S Hands-on

We got to handle the phone with the largest screen in Windows Phone land at the CTIA show, in its AT&T reincarnation, which adds an “S” to its name.

The 4.3” LCD display on the HTC HD7S sports the same 480x800 pixels of resolution, but the “S” means that the screen is now of the Super LCD variety, unlike the plain vanilla LCD of old, exhibiting higher contrast, brighter, vivid colors, and better viewing angles right before our eyes.

Not to mention it should be more power-efficient than the LCD on the HTC HD7. Have a look at the few pictures we snapped of the new screen on the HTC HD7S:

The handset offers a remarkably good fit in the hand, because it feels very compact for its screen size, with curved edges everywhere, and soft-touch plastic on the back. All the rest of the usual WP7 goodies are onboard – 1GHz Snapdragon chipset and protruding 5MP camera with dual LED flash that does HD video recording.

There is a kickstand tucked around the camera area, which comes in very handy for watching movies on the large screen. You should be able to store enough of those movies on the handset, since HTC has graced it with 16GB of internal memory.

AT&T's HTC HD7S will ship with the latest version of Windows Phone 7, which means an even more fluid performance, and the copy/paste update onboard. AT&T didn't hesitate to slap its carrier-specific software on it, as we could easily see the U-Verse TV service app winking at us from a double-tile on the homescreen in nasty orange.

As for availability, it shouldn't be long, AT&T has set up a preview website, where you can enter your email address to get notified for the HTC HD7S arrival. In the meantime, you can read our in-depth review of the original to catch a notion what you will be dealing with on AT&T.

Sprint appeals to Android developers, wants to be their carrier of choice

It has been a few days since AT&T announced its plans to acquire T-Mobile. After the news broke, countless analysis were published, and the general agreement is that this deal, if approved by the FCC, will signal a profound change in the wireless industry in the States. Some of the points made in these analysis are that AT&T will be the largest US carrier by some distance (with all the possible consequences from this fact), and that there would be a vacuum because T-Mobile offers something unique - affordable data plans and plenty of Android phones.

Seems like many of these claims ring true in the Sprint executives' ears, and senior officials at the third-largest US carrier used the CTIA 2011's stage to make an appeal to the Android developers. The Google Nexus S 4G (our hands-on is here) is the first of the so-called "developer phones" to be released by the carrier, and Kevin Cordes, general manager of device product management for Sprint, says the company hopes it will be able to attract Android devs:

"Yes, we want to be able to attract developers just like T-Mobile has. You'll see Sprint definitely evaluate these opportunities and continue to be interested [in developer phones]."

Sprint doesn't seem too happy with the possible AT&T - T-Mobile merger, and is indeed making all the right noises to Android developers. Can we expect a flood of Sprint-branded Android phones in the near future?

source: PCMag

Thin is in: Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 vs Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 vs Apple iPad 2 specs

Not to be outdone by Apple, Samsung rushed back to the drawing board when it realized how thin Cupertino managed to make the iPad 2. The two skinny products of its labor we got our hands on at the CTIA 2011 are the reworked Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, and the all new Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9, with the numbers indicating the screen size.

The Apple iPad 2 is already way ahead with 60 000 + applications written specifically for the tablet's screen real estate, whereas Android 3.0 Honeycomb is just now spreading its wings. Software and apps count aside, we decided to insert some of the important specs in a table, so as we can clearly see the specifics of the three thinnest slates ever announced.

We are comparing the basic Wi-Fi versions, as there is still no carrier announced for Samsung's tablets, although their cellular versions do HSPA+ 4G at 21Mbps, faster than the Apple iPad 2, but HSDPA speeds are more for bragging rights, since no network can currently provide the peak speeds. Sammy's Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Tab 8.9 have higher screen resolutions and better rear cameras, which are able to record Full HD video, if that's your thing, and also offer expandable storage via microSD card slots to store those large video files.

Samsung's tablets are also a hair thinner and lighter than the already slick iPad 2, with the weight kept in check due to the plastic construction. Still, it is amazing what Samsung did for slimming the chassis on such a short notice, showing that it perfectly understands the market drivers, and has the capacity to innovate under competitive pressure.

TeleNav now offers Apple iPhone 4 users a free 30 day trial of advanced navigation features

TeleNav is now offering Apple iPhone 4 users a free GPS Navigation app from the App Store. The app includes navigation to more than 22 million places that are constantly being updated. Even better, for the first 30 days after you download the app, you will get a free trial allowing you to experience some of the more advanced navigational features of the service such as speaking turn-by-turn directions and 3D maps that move while you drive.

After the 30 day trial is up, you can still use the advanced features for $2.99 per month or $21.99 for a year. Of course, you could decide to pay nothing and still get to use the GPS map and local search functions.

Verizon customers have a special deal with TeleNav that lasts until March 31st. If the service is downloaded onto a Verizon branded Apple iPhone or Android device before that date, 1 year of advanced service will cost $19.99 for a $2 savings.

source: iTunes via IntoMobile

TeleNav is offering iPhone 4 users a free 30 day trial of advanced navigational features

HTC Flyer Wi-Fi version to be Best Buy exclusive, coming this spring

The Wi-Fi version of the HTC Flyer is to be a Best Buy exclusive in the US and will come "this spring", according to an announcement coming from the retailer.

Mere hours ago we spent some quality time with the Sprint version of the tablet, which is called the HTC EVO View 4G - you can read our first impressions here.

The HTC Flyer is to offer a 7-inch screen, Android 2.3.3, a single core Qualcomm processor clocked at 1.5GHz and 32GB build-in memory among other goodies.

The Best Buy press release says the Wi-Fi-only version of the HTC Flyer will be launched this spring, but some rumors claim we may see it as soon as the end of this month.

via: Phandroid

In wake of component shortages from Japan, Apple may agree to pay higher prices for parts

Thanks to component shortages in Japan, Apple is looking toward Taiwan to secure supplies of parts like touchscreen panel components according to a report in Wednesday's DigiTimes. The parts are so necessary for Apple to build hot-selling products like the iPhone and the iPad that in negotiating with the potential new suppliers, Apple is working in a price increase for the parts as a way to make sure that the company is well-supplied.

For Apple, paying a higher price for components would lower the firm's gross margins and could lower earnings which might have a negative effect on the stock price. On the other hand, running out of components would result in a complete shutdown of the assembly line which could result in a bigger hit to earnings and the stock price. Because of the heavy demand for the Apple iPad 2, before the earthquake and tsunami, Apple had locked up 60% of the world's supply of touchscreen panel components. However, Apple's contract manufacturer, Foxconn, counts on using parts brought in from Japan and is believed to have just 2 to 3 weeks of parts in inventory. If things do not improve in Japan in terms of transportation and shipping, Foxconn might have to stop producing Apple products. This is why it is vital for Apple to find new sources for the parts outside of Japan.

Even before the parts shortage, Apple had made things difficult for its competitors to get a secure supply of parts by spending $3.9 billion toward long term contracts believed to be for touchscreen panel components. But even if Apple now has to pay more to procure the parts, its competitors will not benefit as other vendors that supply the same parts to other tech firms will probably raise prices in line with whatever new figure Apple negotiates with its new suppliers.

source: DigiTimes

Samsung Galaxy Indulge Hands-on

We guess it's fair to say that pretty much all of the fuss about CTIA 2011 is reserved for some groundbreaking devices like the HTC EVO 3D and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, but let's not forget that some not so hyped and rather humble gadgets are also here. That's why we reserved a bit of our time to pay a visit to the Metro PCS-branded Samsung Galaxy Indulge - a handset that will go down in history as the first ever LTE smartphone released in the US.

The Samsung Galaxy Indulge is a spin-off from the original Samsung Galaxy S, and its specs are more mid than high-end by today's standards. It doesn't offer a Super AMOLED screen, but rather a 3.5-inch LCD one with a 320 x 480 resolution. The handset is made of plastic, but at least that makes it pretty lightweight and the chrome bezel surrounding the phone adds a touch of class to its design.

The Samsung Galaxy Indulge offers a pretty decent physical QWERTY, which has well-sized buttons. On the front side, we have four physical Android buttons that we are well used to, while on the back is the 3.2MP camera. The microUSB port and the camera shutter are on the right, the volume rocker is on the left, while on the top side are located the dedicated power button and the 3.5mm headphone jack.

The handset is powered by a 1GHz Hummingbird processor, while Froyo runs the software side of things.

The Samsung Galaxy Indulge may not be extremely impressive spec-wise, but it's important to note it's a pretty good handset by Metro PCS' standards and is offered for a contractless price of $399, not to mention its LTE capabilities.

Update: It's officially confirmed that the Samsung Galaxy Indulge is to be launched by Cricket Wireless in May or June 2011.

Mozilla Firefox 4 now available as a release candidate for Android and Maemo users

The desktop version of Mozilla's Firefox 4 browser is now available for download, and its mobile counterpart is also offered as a release candidate for Android and Maemo users.

The guys at Mozilla claim that the new (and potentially final) version of their mobile browser offers some noticeable improvements in several key departments - like faster scrolling and better page load speed - while it retains and builds on everything that's good about Firefox's mobile version - like improved Firefox Sync, tabbed browsing, Firefox Add-ons (over 150 present and still counting) and the Awesome Screen feature.

Firefox 4 RC also has improved startup speed, text formatting on zoom, copy-and-paste and generally better UI among other goodies.

We don't know about you, but it sounds good to us. Just to remind you that yesterday Opera announced its new Mini 6 and Mobile 11 browsers, so we have plenty of new offerings in the mobile browser race, which can only be a good thing.

source: Mozilla via Mashable

CTIA Day 1 recap: Landslide of announcements

CTIA Wireless is one of the largest mobile electronics shows throughout the year and it started fulfilling our hopes for new and more powerful handsets right from the get-go. It all began with a slightly changed schedule after T-Mobile decided to cancel many of its events due to the recent news about its acquisition by AT&T. But actually the carrier was the first to unveil a number of new devices.

T-Mobile

Big Magenta officially confirmed the LG's T-Mobile G2x, a rebranded LG Optimus 2X, with a powerful dual-core processor. The close relationship between the carrier and LG, showed up once more with the reborn T-Mobile Sidekick 4G for the exciting price of just $99 on a two-year unlimited contract and the T-Mobile G-Slate, which also got a price tag of $529 with a 2-year agreement. Nothing surprising, you might think, and you'll be right, if it wasn't for the Wireless Charging Dock unveiled by LG, which will make you feel like you're living in the future now when it's released. Finally, the carrier added the Nokia Astound to its portfolio and with a $79.99 Symbian^3-powered handset with free navigation you can't really go wrong, can you?

The HTC EVO 3D

Sprint

But all eyes were on Sprint, which has kept a low profile so far this year, only to make a splash with the next generation of its successful EVO phones – the HTC EVO 3D (hands-on here) brings a 4.3-inch 3D-capable screen and a dual-camera setup for three dimensional video capture. This powerhouse supports the carrier's 4G network, and has the latest of Snapdragon chipsets – a 1.2GHz third generation silicon. But Sprint's main man had to bring a tablet to the table and it was the 7-inch HTC EVO View 4G, also known as the HTC Flyer. Check out our hands on video of its nifty stylus and almost pocketable small body to get an idea of what's to come. Sprint wasn't done with the refresh of its portfolio and it also introduced the Google Nexus S 4G. But nothing compares to a live coverage of these fascinating events, so make sure to take a look at how it all felt like here.

Samsung

Next on the list, but probably first in importance is the groundbreaking announcement by Samsung. The Koreans went back to the drawing board with their Galaxy Tab 10.1 and completely redesigned it. But they didn't stop here as a new 8.9-inch tablet creatively named the Galaxy Tab 8.9 will also hit shelves with similar guts, but a smaller screen. The result? Nothing less than the slimmest tablet on planet Earth, with an 8.6mm of thickness. We're seriously starting to consider using tablets instead of knives. Okay, maybe not so seriously as Samsung, which summarized the redesign in one simple phrase: "Samsung will not be outdone." To feel their determination and all the excitement, check out our live coverage of the Samsung Mobile Unpacked event here. We rushed to get some hands-on time with the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 and the renewed Galaxy Tab 10.1 after the event, but you'll have to see their slim figure for yourself to actually believe it.

AT&T

The LG Thrill 4G

That behemoth of a carrier didn't wait long to reply to Sprint's 3D offering. Soon after it, the LG Thrill 4G, which is basically an AT&T-branded LG Optimus 3D, made us wonder which one is better. Make up your mind after you see the comparison between the two and a hands-on look at the latter. The recently announced HTC HD7s is the largest Windows Phone 7 handset on AT&T. We took a look at it and a hands-on video is coming up shortly, but since it mimics T-Mobile's HTC HD7 why don't you peek in our in-depth review to find out more? Finally, AT&T added one more tablet to its portfolio – the Acer Iconia Tab A501. Its brushed aluminum back gives it a premium feel and it has the dual-core power and Honeycomb brains to be an interesting proposition.

Day 2: What will it bring?

The first day of CTIA Wireless 2011 brought a lot of new announcements, but we hope to see some more today, so stay tuned to our web feeds, Facebook or Twitter accounts, to be the first in the know.