Android

MetroPCS, HTC get chummy with the Wildfire S

The HTC Wildfire S is quickly becoming HTC's go-to budget and off-contract Android device.

Already available on T-Mobile and U.S. Cellular, the petite Android 2.3 Gingerbread handset is now headed to MetroPCS this week, where it will cost $179 for the off-contract smartphone, and come in white. The Wildfire S has a 3.2-inch HVGA touch screen, a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash, and a 600MHz processor.

Significantly, this is MetroPCS' first offering with HTC, a move that signals a partnership between the national's largest no-contract carrier and a handset maker known for bringing forth quality … Read more

Amazon may be launching an 8.9-inch Kindle Fire in Q2 2012

Amazon may already be planning the launch of a larger version of its Kindle Fire tablet, a new but unconfirmed report claims.

The often unreliable Digitimes reports that Amazon plans to start production of an 8.9-inch Kindle Fire in roughly May 2012 for an eventual launch at the end of the second quarter. An exact release date has not been divulged, Digitimes' unnamed sources say.

For weeks now, rumors have circulated that Amazon was preparing to launch an 8.9-inch tablet. Some have suggested that a 10.1-inch tablet could eventually launch, as well. Digitimes' sources say Amazon has … Read more

What I want from a Kindle smartphone

The latest buzz around the rumor mill is that Amazon is working on a smartphone that will launch in the fourth quarter of 2012, but can such a device succeed in today's competitive market?

Analysts at Citigroup say that based on supply chain checks, Amazon is in talks with Foxconn to develop a handset that could feature a Texas Instrument OMAP 4 processor and cost between $150 to $170 to build. Citigroup notes in its report (PDF) that a smartphone would be the next logical step for Amazon after seeing success with its Kindle e-readers and its recent foray into the tablet market with the Kindle Fire.

Analysts aren't the only who think this; in fact, CNET executive editor David Carnoy made this prediction a month ago, and I'm of the same thought that a Kindle smartphone isn't so much a case of if, but when.

Whether you agree or disagree, for the sake of argument, let's say that a Kindle smartphone is coming. The question then becomes what can Amazon do to make its handset stand out from the rest and convince customers to choose it over the latest iPhone, Android or even Windows Phone device?

Well, it won't be easy, but I can think of a few ways it can get ahead. … Read more

Galaxy Nexus outdoes iPhone in browsing, but not graphics

With a new Google phone--and the first one to be delivered with Android 4.0 Ice Cream sandwich--on the horizon, the iPhone 4S rivalry is inevitable, and we've got some benchmark data to fan the flames of the feud.

The soon-to-be-released Samsung Galaxy Nexus has been run through the benchmark gauntlet and AnandTech compiled the results to find it bested all comers in the web browsing department.

The Google phone was put through a pair of browsing benchmarks--Sunspider Javascript Benchmark 0.9.1 and Rightware Browsermark--and it came out with the top results in both cases, ahead of the … Read more

Holiday Help Desk on CNET Live

It's that time of year again, time for CNET's Holiday Help Desk.

Hosts Molly Wood and Brian Tong will take live viewer calls, talk to the chat room, and answer e-mails. And dish out the best tech gift-buying advice on the planet. Special guests will include CNET resident cheapskate Rick Broida, a parade of CNET editors, and guests from the retail world pitching their deals directly to you, such as representatives from Amazon, Woot, eBay, and Best Buy.

We'll keep you posted with the best deals, and also help you find the perfect gadget that's right … Read more

Your Galaxy Nexus, Ice Cream Sandwich questions answered

Article updated: 12/7/11 to answer more questions.Yesterday, CNET's reviews of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus and Ice Cream Sandwich (or "ICS"), the brand-spankin'-new operating system it's running on, burst forth. Moments later, the questions flooded in. Justifiably, there's a lot you want to know.

Here, I'll answer some of the most frequently asked questions I've received over Twitter, Google+, and e-mail, first for the Galaxy Nexus, and then for Ice Cream Sandwich (so keep scrolling!). I'll continue to update the list as more questions come in. If I didn'… Read more

Android Ice Cream Sandwich ports piling up

There aren't any official Ice Cream Sandwich phones available yet, but the ICS source code was released earlier this week, and already Android 4.0 is showing up on more phones.

Today we first saw the frozen dairy treat running gleefully on a Samsung Galaxy S2 and an LG Optimus 3D.

Here it is running on the S2, thanks to a French coder who goes by "Guillaume" on Twitter:… Read more

Google Music comes to Google TV experience

As announced earlier in the week, Google has begun rolling out its new Google Music service to various Android-powered devices, and among the early products to receive the update is Google TV. More specifically, devices running the new 2.0 Google TV software.

Much like the smartphone and tablet experience, the new Google Music experience allows for streaming of music purchased through Android Market. It also plays songs and albums that have already been uploaded by users. … Read more

The 404 950: Where we hang it on our dongle (podcast)

Leaked from today's 404 Podcast Episode

Wolfram Alpha Travel Assistant app answers the question, " Where's that plane going?" Who knew Rotten Tomatoes is owned by Warner Brothers? Canada unveils new plastic $100 bills with high-tech security features: changing colors, hidden text, and backward numbers. Tomorrow the world will join Singapore to celebrate the 10th annual World Toilet Day, as decreed by the World Toilet Organization (WTO), the World Toilet Summit, and the World Toilet College.… Read more

'Cotton Candy'--Android computer on a stick

At last--a sweet stick of Cotton Candy that won't rot your teeth. Instead, it aims to put an Android-based computer on just about any screen you can find.

Norwegian company FXI Technologies calls it "the world's first any-screen, connected-computing USB device," code-named Cotton Candy. The tiny system is basically a USB thumbdrive with an HDMI output on the other end and a microSD slot added to complete the package. According to a release from FXI:

The vision for Cotton Candy is to allow users a single, secure point of access to all personal Cloud services and apps through their favorite operating system, while delivering a consistent experience on any screen. The device will serve as a companion to smartphones, tablets, notebook PCs, and Macs, as well as add smart capabilities to existing displays, TVs, set-top boxes, and game consoles.

The Cotton Candy prototype's specs aren't too shabby, either--especially for a system the size of a pack of gum:… Read more