Smartphones

When Did Small Phones Become Crappy Phones?

There was a time when you could buy something that was compact, fast, and beautiful. That time is over. “Smaller” is just a polite way to say “here’s the bad version for cheap people.” And that’s really awful. The 4.3-inch HTC 8X looks like a tremendous phone—the ultramodern, ultrafunctional WP8 software paired with killer hardware:…

HTC 8X: This Flagship Windows Phone Packs a Big, Beautiful Screen in a Slim, Blade-like Package

HTC’s new flagship Windows Phone—the 8X—is not just impressive because it packs a 1.5 GHz, dual-core Snapdragon S4 chipset and 4.3-inch 1280×720 display good for a PPI of 342. But it also manages to make a phone that, already checking in at a svelte 0.39-inches, feel even thinner than it is. Nokia Lumia 920, you…

Do You Use Your Tablet as a Second Screen?

The use of a tablet or smartphone as a “second screen” is one of the favorite pieces of marketing trend hype amongst tech companies right now. They’re convinced we need apps—more apps, specific apps—to connect to the world and allow us to share our thoughts on whatever we’re watching (or perhaps more cynically, buy stuff).…

Microsoft Applies For the Patent on Beating Your Phone Into Silent Submission

There are plenty of high-tech phone features to yearn for, but Microsoft is applying for the patent on one so simple, primitive, and awesome you’ll be amazed you didn’t think of it yourself: the ability to smack your phone and have it shut up. It’s that simple, the phone makes a noise, you hit it,…

The 13 Apps You Need on a Wild Night of Drinking

A lot can go wrong on a night out drinking with friends—incarceration, questionable taste, the realization that you lost half the group two bars ago—but all of these things can be avoided with the right tools loaded in a smartphone. With these 13 apps, you will have full cups, manageable chaos, and a reasonable chance…

Don’t Be a Jerk With Your Cool New iPhone 5

You just pre-ordered the newest iPhone. Or you’re going to be the first in line to snatch one up next week. You’re beaming. You’re going to have the phone that everyone’s talking about—the best iPhone ever. Now please don’t be an awful person who pisses everyone off. Here’s what you can and can’t do in…

After iPhone 5 the Only Small Phones Left Are All Horrible

Apple gave in. As every other smartphone ballooned, adding inch upon inch, birthing the horror realm of the phablet, the iPhone stood its ground at 3.5 inches—the world’s best phone was still compact. Not anymore! And that’s sad. People want big phones, whether that’s a good thing or not, and so, by God, Apple gave…

AT&T iPhone 5 Will Keep Grandfathered Unlimited Data Plans, Verizon Says No

So you’re wondering how your data is going to work on your 4G LTE iPhone. There’s good news and bad news, depending on your carrier—if you’re grandfathered into unlimited data, AT&T will let you keep it. Verizon? Not so much. AT&T confirmed today that you can keep your old as balls $30 data plan. While…

How the iPhone 5 Stacks Up to the Competition

The new iPhone is finally here. Yes, people would line up to buy it even if it was made of bottle-caps and dog-poo, but it isn’t. It’s predictably a very good phone. How good? Let’s see how it compares to the top competition. The following chart is a look at how these phones measure up…

World’s Thinnest Graphite Heat Shield Stops Your Smartphone From Melting Your Hand

The dual and quad core processors used in modern smartphones make the devices extremely capable, but also run extremely hot. So to wrangle all that excess heat without adding too much bulk, Panasonic has managed to shrink its graphite heat shields to a mere 10μm (microns) thick. (Size comparison: A human red blood cell is…

Where to Sell Your iPhone 4S for the Most Money

Apple’s next iPhone is coming tomorrow. If you’re planning cashing in your old phone, you need to do it now. Here’s where to look for the best deal while there’s still some time left. https://gizmodo.com/iphone-5-the-complete-rumor-roundup-5930100 ebay How much: $309-$400 How to do it: You can go one of two ways with eBay—you can either sell…

How Does the Motorola Droid RAZR HD Compare to the Best Android Phones?

After weeks of anticipation we finally know what Motorola is serving up to compete with the Samsung Galaxy S III and the HTC One X. Can the Motorola Droid Razr HD measure up to its badass Android counterparts? https://gizmodo.com/samsung-galaxy-s-iii-review-a-great-phone-that-tries-t-5919730 The Droid Razr HD’s billboard feature is its 2500 mAH battery, which Motorola says will keep…

How Your Phone Could Pinpoint Your Location Down to a Single Stairstep

Knowing exactly where you are on the face of the earth gives your smartphone wonderful location-specific capabilities. But GPS can only tell you what building you’re in, not where you are in the structure. So STMicroelectronics has developed an advanced pressure sensing chip that can determine your vertical elevation down to what floor you’re standing…

The 5 Coolest Things about Nokia’s PureMotion HD+ Display Technology

The PureView camera may be the headlining feature of Nokia’s new Lumia 920 phone, but the display is no slouch either. The company says its PureMotion HD+ technology allows the phone to look better, scroll smoother and respond to user interaction better. Here’s a quick rundown of the best and coolest new features this display…

Inside the Nokia Lumia 920’s Camera: A Lesser Form of PureView, but Floating Lens Tech Means Smooth Video

Nokia’s Lumia 920 flagship Windows Phone looks promising, but the camera isn’t quite what everyone was hoping for. Where as Nokia’s 808 PureView phone packed a massive 41-megapixel sensor and mostly served as a proof of concept for the PureView tech, the Lumia 920’s sensor is 8.7-megapixels, which Nokia says can capture 5x-10x more light…

Landline Handset Desperately Wishes It Was a Smartphone

Like a child who hopes to feel like a grownup by putting on their parent’s clothing, Philips’ new S10 cordless handset could easily be mistaken for a modern smartphone. But it’s not. It’s a complete fraud! Silly landline, you’re not fooling anyone with your grownup disguise. Now as landline phones go the S10 is certainly…

This Tiny Smartphone Shelf Can Hold Thousands of Books, Photos, CDs, and Movies

It might seem like a waste of time to install a shelf that’s barely six inches long. But damned if this magnetically enhanced Plank doesn’t seem like the perfect place to stash your smartphone and keys when you get home every night. Since the magnets are located on the underside of the shelf they’re promised…

This week: Nokia, Motorola, Amazon. Next week: Apple. September 19th, we just heard? HTC. EVERYONE’S GOT NEW STUFF.

What Product Announcement Are You Most Excited for This Week?

There may be an Apple event rumored for next week, but this week’s scheduled events might actually be even more exciting. Nokia is holding an event to unveil its rumored flagship Windows Phone 8 device, Motorola has some new announcements up its sleeve, and, of course, Amazon is expected to roll out its new line…

Walmart Is Testing an iPhone Checkout System That Could Help You Escape Its Clutches a Little Bit Faster

The Apple Store and Walmart might seem like they’re on completely opposite ends of the retail spectrum. They often share one similarity though, like hellish interiors teaming with to many, sweating, breathing, sneezing, coughing, occasionally corpulent customers. Walmart’s trying out a new Apple-y, iPhone-based payment system that could make escape a little easier. The “Scan…