Verizon Cell Phones http://www.free-cell-phones-guide.net/blog/verizon-cell-phones.html Find Cell Phone Reviews, Ratings, and Comparisons - Verizon Cell Phones - LG Cell Phones - Nextel Cell Phones en Copyright 2008 Tue, 08 Jan 2008 15:47:32 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.17 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Sony Ericsson W760 and Slick New Walkman Interface Hands On [Hands IMG_4944wtmk.JPGThe Sony Ericsson W760 is the first phone US that rocks the latest Walkman interface (it's out in Europe), which is by the far the best one yet. It's cleaner, clearer and just plain sexier than the previous generation. (Compare the W350, which uses the old one.) The major problem is that it really left me hurting for a trackball or touchpad or something better to scroll through artist lists with'€"clicking one-by-one is so 20th century. The SensMe feature'€"which scatters songs along a grid according to how fast or slow they are, creating selectable clusters'€"also cries out for a trackball to navigate the graph with. A 4-way pad just doesn't cut it. Otherwise, it seems like a solid slider for people wanting GPS and media functions. How much you'd value the new interface is probably the biggest factor other than GPS in going with it over a lower end SE phone.

From Sony Ericsson W760 and Slick New Walkman Interface Hands On [Hands

]]> http://www.free-cell-phones-guide.net/blog/-cell-phones/verizon-cell-phones/sony-ericsson-w760-and-slick-new-walkman-interface-hands-on-hands.html http://www.free-cell-phones-guide.net/blog/-cell-phones/verizon-cell-phones/sony-ericsson-w760-and-slick-new-walkman-interface-hands-on-hands.html Verizon Cell Phones Tue, 08 Jan 2008 15:47:32 -0800 iLuv i720 and i730 Bluetooth/FM Kits Let You Reject Calls and Listen to Your iPod Hands Free i720.jpgThe Skinny: The i720 is a line-in iPod/iPhone and hands-free Bluetooth remote, with FM transmission and a caller ID display, plus call reject, transfer and other basic phone commands. It's small, black and fairly attractive and seems pretty useful for ardent multi-taskers. The Catch: It's something else taking up valuable pocket space. i730.jpg The Skinny: Another FM transmitter/hands-free Bluetooth mutant, this kit is for your car, and plugs directly into the iPod's dock port to charge it as well. Call reject, transfer and the usual hands-free Bluetooth commands. It's definitely more useful than standard iPod car kits. The Catch: Kind of ugly. And I'm tired of lower case i's.

From iLuv i720 and i730 Bluetooth/FM Kits Let You Reject Calls and Listen to Your iPod Hands Free

]]> http://www.free-cell-phones-guide.net/blog/-cell-phones/verizon-cell-phones/iluv-i720-and-i730-bluetoothfm-kits-let-you-reject-calls-and-listen-to-your-ipod-hands-free.html http://www.free-cell-phones-guide.net/blog/-cell-phones/verizon-cell-phones/iluv-i720-and-i730-bluetoothfm-kits-let-you-reject-calls-and-listen-to-your-ipod-hands-free.html Verizon Cell Phones Sat, 05 Jan 2008 12:30:33 -0800 Jalopnik's Legal Guide to Cellphone Yapping While Driving rotr_cellphonemap.jpegJalopnik's got an extensive guide to the ins and outs of talking while driving. The map above covers the basics, but legalese on earpiece and city rules are explained fully over at [Ray Wert's Big Wheels Blog]

From Jalopnik's Legal Guide to Cellphone Yapping While Driving

]]> http://www.free-cell-phones-guide.net/blog/-cell-phones/verizon-cell-phones/jalopniks-legal-guide-to-cellphone-yapping-while-driving.html http://www.free-cell-phones-guide.net/blog/-cell-phones/verizon-cell-phones/jalopniks-legal-guide-to-cellphone-yapping-while-driving.html Verizon Cell Phones Fri, 04 Jan 2008 14:59:42 -0800 Qualcomm Can Use Rival's Chip Patents until '09 "A federal judge in California ruled on Monday that wireless chip maker Qualcomm can keep selling chips whose designs infringe patents held by rival Broadcom Corp through January 2009. [Reuters]

From Qualcomm Can Use Rival's Chip Patents until '09

]]> http://www.free-cell-phones-guide.net/blog/-cell-phones/verizon-cell-phones/qualcomm-can-use-rivals-chip-patents-until-09.html http://www.free-cell-phones-guide.net/blog/-cell-phones/verizon-cell-phones/qualcomm-can-use-rivals-chip-patents-until-09.html Verizon Cell Phones Wed, 02 Jan 2008 15:47:34 -0800 Nokia Asks Jobs If iTunes Can Come Out and Play Ovi_Apple.jpgDoes Nokia's multimedia guru Anssi Vanjoki read Gizmodo? A few months back, when Nokia launched its Ovi mobile media portal, our own personal Jesus ridiculed its use of Windows Mobile content as not being able to keep up with iTunes. Well, right or wrong, Nokia got the message, and Vanjoki is now inviting Steve Jobs by name to let iTunes appear in Ovi's "open door" of goods and services. Besides the fact that the only answer I can imagine Steve uttering has a few f-bombs in it, how would that even work? Wouldn't Nokia phones and other Ovi-friendly devices need the coveted iTunes DRM? Or would it be for unlocked AAC iTunes Plus content only? [Press Release]

From Nokia Asks Jobs If iTunes Can Come Out and Play

]]> http://www.free-cell-phones-guide.net/blog/-cell-phones/verizon-cell-phones/nokia-asks-jobs-if-itunes-can-come-out-and-play.html http://www.free-cell-phones-guide.net/blog/-cell-phones/verizon-cell-phones/nokia-asks-jobs-if-itunes-can-come-out-and-play.html Verizon Cell Phones Thu, 27 Dec 2007 12:41:56 -0800 iPhone Ad Parody is a Marriage Proposal, Makes You Look Unromantic A romantic young man made an iPhone ad for a purpose other than trying to get a small slice of internet fame: he made it to propose to his girlfriend. All together now: Awwwww! It's actually a pretty well-done parody, with high production values and a lot of work clearly having gone into it. It's not clear whether or not she said yes, but if she's been dating a guy prone to doing stuff like this for any amount of time it's safe to say she's come to terms with her beau's nerdiness and was probably charmed by the unique proposal. Awwww! [YouTube]

From iPhone Ad Parody is a Marriage Proposal, Makes You Look Unromantic

]]> http://www.free-cell-phones-guide.net/blog/-cell-phones/verizon-cell-phones/iphone-ad-parody-is-a-marriage-proposal-makes-you-look-unromantic.html http://www.free-cell-phones-guide.net/blog/-cell-phones/verizon-cell-phones/iphone-ad-parody-is-a-marriage-proposal-makes-you-look-unromantic.html Verizon Cell Phones Thu, 27 Dec 2007 08:34:25 -0800 Sidekick Slide Back on T-Mobile, Hopefully Without Battery Contact Problem 370x400.jpgThe Sidekick Slide was pulled off the T-Mo product line last month due to faulty battery contacts, which forced the phone to power off by itself when opened one too many times. The DIY fix was to stick some business cards or loose paper into the battery compartment to make sure the contacts never de-contact, but we're sure Motorola has some fancier solutions (premium business cards, perhaps). In any case, you can buy one again for $199 after discounts and rebates. We still wonder how they got Michelle Yeoh to pose for that product shot. [T-Mobile via Electronista]

From Sidekick Slide Back on T-Mobile, Hopefully Without Battery Contact Problem

]]> http://www.free-cell-phones-guide.net/blog/-cell-phones/verizon-cell-phones/sidekick-slide-back-on-t-mobile-hopefully-without-battery-contact-problem.html http://www.free-cell-phones-guide.net/blog/-cell-phones/verizon-cell-phones/sidekick-slide-back-on-t-mobile-hopefully-without-battery-contact-problem.html Verizon Cell Phones Fri, 07 Dec 2007 16:47:09 -0800 JetBlue. Free Wi-Fi. December 11th 2007. Kind of. jetblue.jpegI can hardly believe my eyes, but the WSJ and Reuters are reporting that JetBlue is offering Wi-Fi on it's flights December 11th, 2007. But wait a minute. The service will be able to "support the entire plane" but don't expect YouTube out yet. The biggest catch is that only Yahoo Mail and IM on lappies, and Wi-Fi enabled RIM phones like th 8820 and 8320 will be capable of using the link. That's on one flight, "JetBlue Flight 641, will depart from New York's Kennedy Airport at 8 a.m. Tuesday, bound for San Francisco." And after that, she will be a needle in a haystack, impossible to find as it travels from port to port to port. At least it is a step in the right direction. [WSJ]

From JetBlue. Free Wi-Fi. December 11th 2007. Kind of.

]]> http://www.free-cell-phones-guide.net/blog/-cell-phones/verizon-cell-phones/jetblue-free-wi-fi-december-11th-2007-kind-of.html http://www.free-cell-phones-guide.net/blog/-cell-phones/verizon-cell-phones/jetblue-free-wi-fi-december-11th-2007-kind-of.html Verizon Cell Phones Fri, 07 Dec 2007 11:43:04 -0800 SatLav Cellphone Service Prevents Public Urination in London [Cellphones] do_not_urinate.jpgToday London's Westminster City council launched a toilet-finding service to help relieve visitor's bloated bladders and prevent public urination. Apparently, the problem is quite serious in London's West End, where something in the neighborhood of 10,000 gallons of urine ends up in the streets each year. When a user texts "toilet" (at a cost of 50 cents) the service will pinpoint their location by measuring the strength of the phone signal. It will then guide the user to one of 40 public toilets entered into the system thus far. Apparently companies like Vindigo Inc are already offering similar services in the US --and to be honest, a service like this could be useful when traveling on long car rides or drunkenly wandering the streets in a strange town. Whether its useful enough to end up on something like Google Maps is another story. If you have an iPhone, searching for Starbucks in your area might achieve the same effect. [CNN]

From SatLav Cellphone Service Prevents Public Urination in London [Cellphones]

]]> http://www.free-cell-phones-guide.net/blog/-cell-phones/verizon-cell-phones/satlav-cellphone-service-prevents-public-urination-in-london-cellphones.html http://www.free-cell-phones-guide.net/blog/-cell-phones/verizon-cell-phones/satlav-cellphone-service-prevents-public-urination-in-london-cellphones.html Verizon Cell Phones Sat, 01 Dec 2007 09:27:53 -0800 Verizon's LG Venus Reviewed [Venus LG_Venus_Review_2.jpgThe $200 LG VX8800 Venus from Verizon Wireless may be the Voyager's little sister, but it's closest in form and function to the ill-fated Chocolate. Unlike the Voyager, which has a QWERTY keyboards and aspirations to be an e-mail and messaging hub, the Venus is a "music phone" with a cool camera feature. Though slightly bulkier than even the current slimmed-down Chocolate, it's one of LG's best looking phones to date, though it's hard to pinpoint exactly who would be happiest toting around one of these shiny little girly-named bricks. LG_Voyager_and_Venus.jpgLike I said, it's got a sleek sexy look, with a shiny chrome bezel, a faux leather grip and retro grillwork on the top and bottom to accentuate the speaker and mic holes. It also gets extra style points for a subtle paintjob we didn't notice when we first looked at it: half of the keys are a deep sparkly navy blue, while the remaining keys on the checkerboard are matte black. LG_Venus_Numpad.jpgLike the Voyager and Chocolate, it's gives touch feedback in the form of a noise and a little vibration. It feels sturdy, and its sliding action is satisfying. If you want a new, funky look and feel, the Venus is a good choice. Just don't slide the lid too much while doing other things: if you close it during an operation, the operation may shut down. The key feature is the touchscreen that occupies the lower third of its face, exactly where the Chocolate's touch-sensitive solid-state keys used to be. The other two-thirds are a regular, non-touch-sensitive screen. At first it can be confusing; even now I try to tap stuff on the main screen. It's also pointless in most cases, since the majority of the time the screen is divided up into buttons or a directional pad that would be better if felt. But now and again, the Venus makes real Nintendo DS use of its double screen. In photo and video shooting modes, you get five option buttons with specific tasks, and when you review your still shots, the thumbnails are actually on the touchscreen side. But unlike the menu-happy, iPhone-wannabe Voyager, the Venus' main menu is dry and linear, so much so that a fancy touch interface almost seems like a mockery. (The upside: no new, counterintuitive menu-scrolling technique to learn, like on the Voyager.)LG_Venus_Boring_Menu.jpgThis primarily being a music phone, I was happy to discover that its speaker sounded tolerably well, especially when placed flat down on a table. Even though the grilles on the top and bottom of the face suggest stereo speakers, they are mainly for show. The only speaker is on the back, two slits cut into the fake leather just above the antenna.LG_Venus_Review.jpgLike the Voyager, you can move your own photos and videos off the Venus and move your own MP3s onto it by way of the microSD card slot. But unfortunately also like big brother, the music player was primitive at best. This one had trouble reading the tags of songs ripped by iTunes. (But gee, whoever would think to rip a CD in iTunes? That won't affect much of the target population.) Higher level stuff like navigation and messaging are really not worth it on this phone. The Voyager's use of VZ Navigator is great (though it's still no match for the cheapest Garmin n vi). The Venus' VZ Navigator is too small to be of great use visually. See for example the map on the right, and the size of my own thumbnail next to it:LG_Venus_VZNav.jpgI'm as mixed as I ever was on the Venus, and I think part of that has to do with the name. Venus is an unambiguously feminine name, even though a solar-system motif is supposed to remind boy shoppers of its interplanetary connotation. Venus therefore is a girl's phone. But is it? Hell no. I don't know what LG and Verizon are up to here, but the message is unclear. Would I care more about this phone more if it were instead called the Baretta or the Sphinx or the Turbine? Sad to admit it, but I think I would. [Verizon Wireless]

From Verizon's LG Venus Reviewed [Venus

]]> http://www.free-cell-phones-guide.net/blog/-cell-phones/verizon-cell-phones/verizons-lg-venus-reviewed-venus.html http://www.free-cell-phones-guide.net/blog/-cell-phones/verizon-cell-phones/verizons-lg-venus-reviewed-venus.html Verizon Cell Phones Fri, 23 Nov 2007 16:41:59 -0800 Microsoft Backed ZenZui is Now Zumobi, Announces Beta of New Mobile Browser zumobi.jpgOur first look at Microsoft backed ZenZui came back in March when we discovered a new mobile browser that promises to make "painful loading delays a thing of the past." In a call today with the folks at ZenZui, I learned that they will now and forevermore be known as Zumobi, along with new details about the browser and information on how the general public can get involved in the beta that launches on December 14th. As mentioned in March, Zumobi's UI is based on a system of "tiles" that allow users to navigate in an out of bite-sized web content quickly and easily. A user's "zoom space" can be customized to include personally relevant items like photos, blogs, and friends in addition to generic web content. These tiles can also be sent to other friends and groups that share the same interests. The experience is said to be significantly faster than traditional browsers because of a new background data caching system that makes it possible for users to access data even when cellular service is nonexistent. One of the most interesting aspects of the new technology comes in the form of Zumobi's SDK, which will allow developers with even a basic level of knowledge in JavaScript and SVG to develop and potentially earn money on their tiles. Apparently, if a tile gets hot among Zumobi users, it could pick up sponsorship and a cut of the advertising revenue for the developer. Naturally, that means that targeted advertising is going to be part of the equation here, but the software will be free when it is released '€"and that, my friends, is what you call a trade-off. Both the public beta of the Zumobi browser and the SDK will be available starting on December 14th. If you would like to be part of it, make sure you have a phone equipped with Windows Mobile 5 and 6 (Blackberry and selected J2ME compatibility will be coming early in the second quarter of 2008.), and hit the following link for a beta signup and product demo. [Zumobi]

From Microsoft Backed ZenZui is Now Zumobi, Announces Beta of New Mobile Browser

]]> http://www.free-cell-phones-guide.net/blog/-cell-phones/verizon-cell-phones/microsoft-backed-zenzui-is-now-zumobi-announces-beta-of-new-mobile-browser.html http://www.free-cell-phones-guide.net/blog/-cell-phones/verizon-cell-phones/microsoft-backed-zenzui-is-now-zumobi-announces-beta-of-new-mobile-browser.html Verizon Cell Phones Wed, 14 Nov 2007 10:18:31 -0800 Disney Mobile Resurrected'€"In Japan mickeyjapan.jpgAlmost two months after announcing that it'd be shutting down in the US at the end of the year, Disney Mobile's finding new life across the sea. Disney's latest MVNO'€"Japan's first, according to Reuters'€"will run off of Softbank's network and sell its phones at Softbank's stores. With two dead MVNOs under its belt, going for round three in one of the tightest markets in the world seems insane, but the level of Disney love in Japan might give them a shot at actually making money this time. [Reuters]

From Disney Mobile Resurrected'€"In Japan

]]> http://www.free-cell-phones-guide.net/blog/-cell-phones/verizon-cell-phones/disney-mobile-resurrectedin-japan.html http://www.free-cell-phones-guide.net/blog/-cell-phones/verizon-cell-phones/disney-mobile-resurrectedin-japan.html Verizon Cell Phones Mon, 12 Nov 2007 17:46:57 -0800 Sprint Allows Users To Change Plans Without Extending Contract sprint.jpgBeginning on Monday November 12th, Sprint will allow users to alter their contracts without getting locked for another two years. The new kinder-gentler Sprint also plans to implement a new prorated early termination fee (ETF) policy sometime in early 2008. So if you plan on jumping ship early (I wouldn't blame you) or making some changes, be patient. [Sprint]

From Sprint Allows Users To Change Plans Without Extending Contract

]]> http://www.free-cell-phones-guide.net/blog/-cell-phones/verizon-cell-phones/sprint-allows-users-to-change-plans-without-extending-contract.html http://www.free-cell-phones-guide.net/blog/-cell-phones/verizon-cell-phones/sprint-allows-users-to-change-plans-without-extending-contract.html Verizon Cell Phones Fri, 09 Nov 2007 15:00:47 -0800 iPhone Firmware 1.1.2 Sorta Out Firmware 1.1.2 is out, unofficially. The url to 1.1.2 firmware was posted in a Macrumors forum just now. Is this the US or EU firmware? I don't know. I'm probably going to hold off on this one in case there are variations between this and the official US release tomorrow. And for the sake of my apps, I might wait a few days after that. Here are some unconfirmed changes culled from the comments at Macrumors and Engadget: '€Battery charge level shown in iTunes. '€Does break the jailbreakme.com installer.app hack. Looks like they patched the TIFF exploit. [Macrumors and Engadget]

From iPhone Firmware 1.1.2 Sorta Out

]]> http://www.free-cell-phones-guide.net/blog/-cell-phones/verizon-cell-phones/iphone-firmware-112-sorta-out.html http://www.free-cell-phones-guide.net/blog/-cell-phones/verizon-cell-phones/iphone-firmware-112-sorta-out.html Verizon Cell Phones Fri, 09 Nov 2007 12:08:11 -0800 Nokia Delays N-Gage Game Portal as Warner Pulls from Its Music Store [Over-the-air Nokia_Helsinki_Sign.jpgYes, the title could have been "Nokia's Crappy Friday": Reuters says the N-Gage gaming service and the new music store are "among the cornerstones" of Nokia's big mobile-content push, yet today neither one is where it's supposed to be. The new N-Gage gaming service, unveiled in August and due to launch this month, will now go live in December. "Software testing is taking a bit more time than what we had expected," [spokesperson] Kari Tuutti said. "We are talking about a couple of weeks." Of greater concern is the music store. Nokia stuck its toe in the OTA download water this week in the UK, but Warner Music Group'€"one Fourth of the Big Four'€"promptly pulled its content from the service. WMG had no objection to the site itself, but rather to MOSH, Nokia's legal P2P filesharing service. Already, over 6 million people have used MOSH to exchange files. Nokia assures that copyrights are protected by Audible Magic, a scanning system that checks files as they pass through the service. Clearly, that's not enough reassurance for WMG. And if I might add: What the hell are 6 million people exchanging if not some variety of copyrighted content? Original demo tapes and manuscripts? Seriously. [Reuters]

From Nokia Delays N-Gage Game Portal as Warner Pulls from Its Music Store [Over-the-air

]]> http://www.free-cell-phones-guide.net/blog/-cell-phones/verizon-cell-phones/nokia-delays-n-gage-game-portal-as-warner-pulls-from-its-music-store-over-the-air.html http://www.free-cell-phones-guide.net/blog/-cell-phones/verizon-cell-phones/nokia-delays-n-gage-game-portal-as-warner-pulls-from-its-music-store-over-the-air.html Verizon Cell Phones Sat, 03 Nov 2007 13:07:53 -0800