Let’s just get this out of the way, shall we? If the LG Spectrum looks familiar, you’re not imagining things. It may have been a highlight at the company’s CES press event last month, but the handset bears more than a passing resemblance to its older, more excitingly-named sibling, the LG Nitro HD — and, by extension, the globe-trotting Optimus LTE. Beneath their 4.5-inch IPS displays, you’ll find virtually identical guts, including a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 1,830mAh battery and 4GB of internal storage, coupled with a 16GB microSD. There are some important distinctions here, of course — namely, changes to the phone’s shell and, of course, a shift from AT&T to Verizon. So, how does world-weary Optimus fare from its jump to Big Red? Find the answer past the break.

Continue reading LG Spectrum review

LG Spectrum review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The BlackBerry Curve 8300 emerged as one of the best smartphone ideas of 2007. It pre-dated the first Android handset by a full year, and unlike the original iPhone, it was priced within reach of the average consumer. It introduced the masses to the possibilities of a connected and capable handset, and was the primary catalyst for the BlackBerry’s meteoric rise to household name. With each subsequent iteration, however, the Curve remained a handset geared toward first-time smartphone buyers, and that axiom feels particularly true today.

RIM’s BlackBerry Curve 9360 outed — is this Apollo?

RIM launches new BlackBerry Curve (video)

Blackberry Curve 9360 hands-on

We’re now presented with the Curve 9360 (), a device that’s ostensibly hobbled in order to differentiate itself from RIM’s higher-end offerings, most notably the Torch 9810 (), Torch 9860 () and Bold 9900 (9). Specifically, we refer to its lack of a touchscreen. The omission will certainly be a deal-breaker for some, but whether it causes the market to reject it as a whole remains unknown. For our part, we’re most interested in the impact on the handset’s usability and its relevance in an increasingly competitive environment. In other words, has RIM included enough improvements to keep its Curve franchise afloat, or will this iteration sink like a stone? Join us after the break, as we delve into the Curve 9360 and explore these finer details.

Continue reading BlackBerry Curve 9360 review

BlackBerry Curve 9360 review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Trying to keep the points off your record, but just can’t resist the urge to tweet, text and talk behind the wheel? Maybe it’s time you gave up on that whole “self-restraint” schtick and leaned on technology to keep your cellular inhibitions in check. Scosche’s cellControl might do the trick, it pairs bit of bluetooth-enabled automotive hardware with a feature-blocking smartphone app to keep your handset under lockdown when you’re on the go. It even rats you out if you deactivate or uninstall the system — automatically sending a text message or email to a “designated administrator,” just in case you fall off the wagon. The system boasts compatibility with over 1200 devices across Android, Blackberry, Symbian and Windows Mobile 5 and 6. Artificial restraint will set you back 0, you know, in case self-control and other distracted driving apps aren’t doing the trick. Hit the break for the system’s official press release.

Continue reading Scosche cellControl locks your device while driving, tattles on your text habit

Scosche cellControl locks your device while driving, tattles on your text habit originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 04:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Turkcell subscribers looking to make a purchase from their favorite Istanbul bazaar now have one extra payment option — if they’re a BlackBerry Bold owners, that is. Research In Motion and Turkcell have announced the availability of touchless NFC payments for the BlackBerry Bold 9900 via Turkcell’s Cep-T Cüzdan mobile application. Interested parties can visit their local Turkcell retailer to trade-up to an NFC-compatible SIM, load the Cep-T application and begin swiping their Berry wherever (worldwide) MasterCard PayPass is accepted. Purchases under 35TL (around ) won’t require any additional verification, though procurements over that threshold will require you to enter a PIN on the handset or tender your signature. Hopefully, with MasterCard, Visa and Google all aboard the NFC bandwagon, 2012 will see a major push towards the technology here in the US.

Continue reading RIM and Turkcell partner to bring NFC payments to Bold 9900, Turkish pazars

RIM and Turkcell partner to bring NFC payments to Bold 9900, Turkish pazars originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sammy’s not a phone, not yet a tablet Galaxy Note has been stirring up its own excitement pre-CES, with certain accessory partners inadvertently slipping news of an AT&T bow. While we’ve just gotten confirmation that its US debut will indeed pan out, it appears our neighbors to the north might also be getting their maple-soaked mitts on this stylus-equipped monster. As you can see in the Android Market screenshot above, an unlocked version of the handset is denoted (hardy har!) as the Bell Samsung GT-N7000. Does this herald an impending device announcement for the network? Hard to tell, as it could all very well just be a simple system error. But with the recent expansion of that Canadian carrier’s 4G footprint, the Note would undoubtedly make for a very attractive LTE lure.

[Thanks, Ramen]

Samsung Galaxy Note to ring Canada’s Bell? The Android Market says so originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 01:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How would you change Apple’s iPhone 4S? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 01 Jan 2012 23:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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