Smartphones

Cautious plug for BlackBerry 10 boosts RIM shares

RIM's stock climbed today in reaction to some rare positive news.

Goldman Sachs analyst Simona Jankowski increased her rating on RIM stock to "Buy" from "Neutral" today after saying that there's a "30 percent chance" the company's BlackBerry 10 smartphones will be successful, the Associated Press reported.

A one-in-three chance isn't all that much to cheer about, but Jankowski's opinion and "Buy" rating were enough to send the stock up more than 6 percent since the start of today's trading.

Goldman Sachs upped its 12-month price … Read more

AT&T;'s rugged Samsung Rugby III lands December 14 with PTT

AT&T's rough 'n' tumble "Rugby" team gets another player in the Samsung Rugby III, a durable flip phone that will feature AT&T's enhanced push-to-talk (PTT) capabilities.

Starting December 14, the Rugby III costs $99.99 with a two-year contract, but free for organizations with an AT&T business account. Preorders begin November 30.

Intended to be a simple, sturdy handset, the Rugby III keeps features simple. It sports a 2.4-inch QVGA display, a 3-megapixel camera, and a PTT convenience button for easy access, walkie-talkie style. The phone also includes access … Read more

Apple tops on mobile ad network, but Samsung catching up

Apple has long reigned as the top device maker based on traffic to Millennial Media's mobile network. But its reign could be challenged by its archrival.

Apple scooped up 31 percent of all ad impressions during the third quarter, according to the ad network's latest Mobile Mix report. That level was virtually unchanged from the second quarter.

In comparison, Samsung captured almost 25 percent of all impressions for the third quarter. That number was up from just under 22 pecent the previous quarter.

Among the top 20 mobile phones, the iPhone was the leader with 16 percent of … Read more

Basis watch keeps eye on health

San Francisco startup Basis Science confirmed pricing and availability for its Basis health tracker today. The $199 watch-style gadget hits the market in early December, continuing the evolution of wearable fitness technology for everyday consumers. … Read more

iPhone 5 clears network hurdle on path to China launch

Apple's iPhone 5 is one step closer to launching in China.

The China Telecommunication Equipment Certification Center has approved the iPhone 5 for a "network access" license in the country. The license approval was discovered by The Wall Street Journal.

Apple is currently planning to launch the iPhone 5 on China Telecom and China Unicom networks. The company is reportedly hoping to bring the device to China Mobile, the country's largest carrier, but so far no deal has been announced.

Apple's approval comes about a month after another regulatory agency, China's State Radio Management, … Read more

iPhone 5 now in stock at Apple stores; online ship time drops

Consumers eyeing an iPhone 5 for the holidays now stand a much better chance of snagging one.

A poll of 20 U.S. Apple Stores conducted by Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster found the iPhone 5 readily available for customers.

"We believe the iPhone 5 has finally reached a point where consumers can walk into an Apple Store and walk out with a phone," Munster said today in a note to investors that was sent to CNET.

The 20 stores polled also uncovered Verizon iPhone 5 handsets in stock, the model that has been in the shortest supply … Read more

Singles go for smartphones, while couples like tablets?

Now singles can look at what device someone is using to decide whether they're married and if it's safe to hit on them.

Singles seem to prefer smartphones while married folks go for tablets, according to a new study released today by marketing firms The Search Agency and Harris Interactive.

"Married people are often older, have more disposable income and can more easily justify superfluous pieces of technology, such as tablets," The Search Agency's marketing strategy vice president Mike Solomon said in a statement. "At the same time, baby boomers are often more tech-literate … Read more

Samsung Galaxy Axiom sneaks into U.S. Cellular lineup

U.S. Cellular this week quietly introduced another Android smartphone this week with the budget-friendly Samsung Galaxy Axiom.

Appearing on the carrier's Web site without even a press release, the Axiom runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and delivers a 4-inch 480x800-pixel WVGA display, a 5-megapixel rear camera, and front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera. Additional details include a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 2,100mAh battery, NFC, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and 4G LTE connectivity.

Astute readers will recognize that the Galaxy Axiom closely resembles the recently announced Galaxy S3 Mini. Save for its slightly faster processor and longer-lasting battery, it'… Read more

Verizon grabs Galaxy Note 2

Samsung's Galaxy Note 2 will continue making the carrier rounds tomorrow by landing in Verizon Wireless stores. The ginormous Android smartphone has been available for pre-order on the carrier's Web site.

Announced in late August at the annual IFA show in Berlin, the Galaxy Note 2 is the successor device to the original Galaxy Note. It has a 5.5-inch display, a quad-core processor, and Android Jelly Bean, and its camera performed well in CNET's review.

Verizon is selling the Galaxy Note 2 for $299 with a two-year contract. AT&T and Sprint also offer the … Read more