This is what a $7.2 billion smartphone looks like

It might not look like much, but the colorful low-end handset pictured above (via @evleaks) is the most valuable smartphone on the planet. Code-named "Normandy," the tiny unreleased phone was to be the first Nokia device powered by Google's Android operating system. But it's also so much more — it's a $7.2 billion smartphone. As we have discussed before, various chatter suggests that Nokia likely created this handset with the primary intention of forcing Microsoft's hand. During ongoing negotiations between the two companies, Nokia not only needed a way to move the acquisition of its smartphone division along, but also to ensure that Microsoft acquired the company's waning feature phone business as well. And what better way to guarantee all of the above than to threaten Nokia with embracing the Android platform?



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Posted in 2013 at 04:45PM, December 24

Google’s Nexus 5 is finally back in stock… for now

If you want a Nexus 5 in your hands before Christmas, this might very well be your last chance. Google's new Nexus 5 was one of the most hotly anticipated handsets of the year among smartphone enthusiasts, and initial inventory sold out almost instantly when the device debuted back in late October. It wasn't terribly surprising, though — in our review we called the Nexus 5 the only phone Android fans should care about this holiday season. The handset has been in and out of stock since then, giving Android users who weren't quick enough on the draw brief windows here and there to finally get their hands on a Nexus 5. Well, Android fans, another window just opened. The Google Play store was recently updated and at least for the time being, new orders placed for either the black or white 32GB model ship within 1-2 days. There's no telling how long the new inventory will last, and those looking for the cheaper 16GB model will still have to wait between 2 and 4 weeks before new orders ship.

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Posted in 2013 at 04:45PM, December 12

REVIEW -- More is less: How a Pebble smartwatch brought sanity to a hyperconnected iPhone user

Finally, an excuse to stop constantly looking at your phone.

It’s the Kickstarter project that has largely defined what’s possible on the service, and if you’re reading this, you’re well aware of how many millions the Pebble team raised in order to concoct a wrist-worn notification device. A device that just so happened to emerge as the term “smartwatch" was taking hold. It was something of a perfect storm, really; years ago, Fossil and Sony Ericsson tried to bring the Dick Tracy motif to the masses, but the world wasn’t yet ready. Today, we’re all ready.



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Posted in 2013 at 04:45PM, December 11

Review: Sony outsmarts Samsung with SmartWatch 2

Smartwatches are the future… or something like that. As growth in the smartphone market slows, especially at the high end where companies have been making a killing, consumer electronics giants need to look elsewhere to bolster earnings growth. For Samsung, Microsoft, Google, Sony, LG and maybe even Apple, that "elsewhere" is wearable computing. The wearables category definitely has legs but know one knows where it will end up going. Are fitness bands the future? Will consumers clamor for connected eyewear? Or will top companies dump enough marketing dollars into smartwatches that we all forget how geeky they are and ditch our Tags, Fossils, Rolexes, Tissots, Seikos, Citizens, Bulovas, Breitlings, Weils, Cartiers, IWCs, Panerais, Jaegers, Omegas, Hamiltons, Ebels and Hublots in favor of a digital watch tied to a smartphone?



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Posted in 2013 at 04:45PM, December 06

49% of tablet trade-ins going to iPad upgrades, only 5% to Surface

Microsoft is spending hundreds of millions to convert tablet owners to the Surface this holiday season, but according to one survey, the public is still too fascinated by Apple's iPad to pay much attention. OnePoll, commissioned by SellCell.com, found that 22% of tablet owners are planning to trade in their devices, and 49% of those people are going to spend the money on either an iPad Air or an iPad mini. Around 15% are considering an Android tablet, which have consistently outsold Apple tablets for quite some time, but only 5% are thinking about Microsoft's Surface. Now that the new iPad models have hit the streets, upgrading is likely to begin en masse, along with some timely holiday shopping considering the risk of supply constraints. If Microsoft hopes to make a dent in the competitive tablet market, it might need a Christmas miracle to go along with its $400 million marketing campaign.

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Posted in 2013 at 04:45PM, November 01