IntoMobile has the goods on what it purports to be Verizon Wireless' LTE roadmap and we must say, things are getting exciting for the number one U.S. carrier.

According to the report, Verizon Wireless plans to cover an estimated 115-120 million subscribers across parts of Texas, Georgia and Massachusetts by the end of 2010.

In 2011, the goal is apparently to cover every wireless subscriber in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama as well -- or at least to provide coverage in every major city in those regions.

For 2012, the focus will move to major highways and the cities that surround them, with the entire current 3G EV-DO Rev. A footprint being covered by the end of 2013. That means we're just three years away from some serious LTE coverage -- and some serious mobile data speeds.

As far as handsets go, we may start seeing some LTE data cards this year but we'll have to wait until next year for phones, as Verizon Wireless CEO Lowell McAdam has stated on numerous occasions.

There was also a bit of info shared regarding data plans. Supposedly, unlimited 3G plans will remain, but subscribers will also get some capped 4G access included with each plan once LTE is available.

By now, you know that the HTC EVO 4G on Sprint will be the first phone besides Google's Nexus One to get the Android 2.2 upgrade. This is great news for EVO users but it still leaves DROID Incredible and DROID X users out in the cold. I think Google needs to do a better job working with its partners to ensure smoother upgrade paths.

Many like to take shots at Android because of its fragmentation issues, but I think this is mostly overblown. Sure, things look bleak for software upgrades if you're rocking a Motorola CLIQ XT, but more than half of all Android users are on at least the 2.1 version. Most high-profile devices in the future should have at least 2.1, so developers won't have to worry about leaving too many users behind with app compatibility.

Still, not all software upgrades have been created equal, as Android 2.2 seems like a major step up. EVO 4G users will soon get access to full Flash support, a browser that should be faster and able to handle JavaScript-heavy sites, and the overall speed of the operating system has been boosted. I have Froyo on a Nexus One in my house and the boosted performance makes it feel like a brand new device.

That's why I want Google to have better-coordinated upgrade paths.

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RIM has set its sites on the tablet market and is apparently planning to release a device dubbed the "Blackpad" as early as November, Bloomberg reports.

Naturally, details are scarce, but the device is said to have roughly the same dimensions as the iPad, with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and some sort of tethering option that would allow users to tap into their BlackBerry smartphones to connect to the Internet.

"They can't wait for a second generation of devices from Apple or they'll fall too far behind," said Ashok Kumar, an analyst with Rodman & Renshaw Inc. in New York.

If this rumor is true, let's hope this rush to enter the market doesn't result in a product that is as hastily thrown together as the name "Blackpad".

On that note, RIM purchased the Blackpad domain just days ago - further proof that something is in the works.

The Samsung SCH-R900, the first LTE 4G phone to get approval from the FCC, isn't headed to Verizon Wireless or AT&T. Instead, it's bound for regional carrier MetroPCS, Phone Scoop reports.

Samsung's first U.S.-bound LTE handset is a dual-mode CDMA/LTE phone with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth onboard, but not much is known about the R900 for now.

MetroPCS has been known in the past as a value-oriented carrier and it has only recently gotten into the smartphone game. Jumping on LTE hardware this quickly is a bold move, especially since big carriers like Verizon Wireless are content with getting their feet wet in LTE with modems.

We knew EVO 4G owners would receive the Froyo update soon, but Sprint has officially announced that users will be enjoying the sweet taste of Froyo as early as next Tuesday, August 3rd.

Not only with the update bring Android 2.2, but also a gaggle of other goodies like a native flashlight app, voice-dialing over Bluetooth, SD card application storage and more.

Just a few days ago, the Froyo build for the HTC Incredible with Sense leaked out, and we can tell you that from the sound of things, this update for the EVO will be very similar.

Sprint is notorious for delayed update targets, but it seems to be improving in that department. So let's keep our fingers crossed and wait patiently for next Tuesday. Trust us, it will be worth it.

Earlier this month, the FCC cleared a USB modem destined for Verizon's upcoming LTE 4G network - the VL600. Based on the model number, the modem featured in these shots from BGR is a different version, but it is clearly LG-branded and it definitely supports LTE.

Not much is known beyond that, but if it is the real deal you can bet that it will be one of the first LTE modems to become available on Verizon. And based on the polish of the hardware, that could happen fairly soon.

Verizon is currently testing its 4G network in select markets and it hopes to have up to 30 markets covered by the end of 2010.

The American Museum of Natural History this morning unveiled the latest addition to its mobile app portfolio, AMNH Explorer.

Available immediately for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, AMNH Explorer acts as a digital bridge between the museum-goer and the museum itself. It provides interactive maps, guided tours and a host of additional content for visitors to enjoy.

Beyond rich content, AMNH Explorer also provides "Indoor GPS," guiding the user to various exhibits through a series of 2-Dimensional and 3-Dimensional maps.

Made possible by a grant from Bloomberg L.P., AMNH Explorer utilizes a brand new network of Wi-Fi access points installed throughout the museum. Once connected, this free Wi-Fi network triangulates the location of any iPhone, iPad or iPod touch running the AMNH Explorer app, and tracks the user's location in real time.

With the app, museum-goers can navigate to various exhibits individually or using a virtual tour function. Visitors can also go on a "treasure hunt" that entails searching for exhibits based on clues and directions displayed on the device, or they can find the closest place to stop for a snack and take a break.

The app integrates with Facebook and Twitter as well, allowing users to share information about the various exhibits they encounter.

"Throughout its history, the American Museum of Natural History has been a pioneer in presenting science and culture to people in ever-new ways that are accessible, engaging, informative, and inspiring," American Museum of Natural History President Ellen V. Futter said in a press release. "Now, the trail-blazing Explorer applies cutting-edge technology to animate and enrich the museum-going experience."

AMNH Explorer [iTunes link] is available immediately as a free download from Apple's App Store, and is currently compatible with the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

The American Museum of Natural History has not announced plans to support additional platforms or devices. Users who do not own an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch will be able to borrow one of 350 iPod touch devices on hand at the museum, all of which have the AMNH Explorer app pre-loaded.

It's looking more and more like the BlackBerry Bold 9780 is the real deal.

This time, a video was posted on the Driphter.com forums showing a walkthrough of the device running the upcoming BlackBerry OS 6.0.

This represents the first time the new OS has been captured running on something other than the BlackBerry 9800 slider or the 9670 clamshell device. And despite the fact that the software is pre-release, it still looks pretty fantastic compared to the current OS.

As far as the hardware is concerned, the BlackBerry 9780 is basically the same as the 9700, with the exception of a few aesthetic changes and a bump to 512 MB of RAM, a necessity for the new OS.

Motorola reported its second-quarter sales figures today, and while they're nothing to shake a stick at, they are down from the same period last year.

In Q2, Motorola managed to move 8.3 million mobile devices, 2.7 million of those being smartphones.

2.7 million sure sounds like a lot of units shipped, but compare that to Apple's Q2, boasting 8.752 million phones sold. And that was directly after a Q1 with 8.737 million sold. Let's also not forget that Apple has, well -- one phone. Sure, the iPhone 4 technically launched in Q2, but for the majority of the quarter and the whole of the previous one, it was relying solely on the now-year-old iPhone 3GS.

Can the company that brought us the infamously popular MOTORAZR claw it's way back to glory? It's beaten analysts predictions this time around and purportedly has a lot in the pipeline, but Motorola isn't out of the woods quite yet.

What would be the purpose of setting up a massive, curious-looking black tower of a display, complete with blue mood lighting and threats of termination for overly-inquisitive minds?

To spark a buzz, of course, and this is exactly what is generating right now in AT&T stores around the country, Gizmodo reports.

These displays, code named "Hero", are presumably set to unveil something pretty big, but just what that might be is still a mystery.

Given the whole air of secrecy around these sinister setups, we're inclined to believe it's something that hasn't been too publicly divulged as of yet. Which as far as what we're aware of at this juncture, boils it down to either the BlackBerry Bold 9800 slider or potentially another Android device we've heard about, but not seen yet.

However, with the timing of these units' arrival, next week's AT&T/RIM event in NYC seems a bit too close to be coincidental.

I have complained before that Research In Motion was nonexistent in this blockbuster smartphone summer, but it looks like the company is preparing to make some waves. The BlackBerry maker recently sent out invitations to the press to show off its new devices and software next week, and it looks like RIM has a fighting chance.

This will probably be the first opportunity to formally meet the BlackBerry 9800, which should feature a sliding form factor that combines a touch screen with a full QWERTY keyboard. This device represents a major opportunity for RIM because it enables the company to show that it has finally modernized its operating system and that it has been able to get a handle on touch input.

The BlackBerry 9800 should be the first handset with the company's next-generation operating system, BlackBerry 6. I saw the teaser video for this at a conference a few months ago and I wasn't too impressed because it was just a taste of what's to come. After seeing some more details leak out, I've become quietly optimistic.

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While earlier rumors claim that T-Mobile's first HSPA+ phone will be the HTC Vanguard/Vision/G1Blaze, Android Central reports that it could actually be the myTouch 3G HD.

Or, the image above could be the actual Vanguard T-Mobile accentally hinted at in the source code for its HSPA+ teaser site. Or, it could be another HSPA+ phone in the works. Or, it could be nothing.

It's all very confusing.

What's clear from this image (if it is real) is that it resembles a myTouch 3G Slide without the QWERTY keyboard. Given that T-Mobile is already teasing HSPA+ phones, we probably won't have to wait before everything is made clear.

Yesterday T-Mobile launched a teaser site proclaiming that its first HSPA+ smartphone would arrive "later this year." Naturally, there were no details on the device itself.

Still, the teaser page might have given up the goods anyway because an examination of the source code reveals that the first HSPA+ phone could be the rumored HTC Vanguard - also known as the HTC Vision and G1 Blaze, TmoNews reports.

Rumored specs on the device include a 3.7-inch display, 1GHz processor, side-sliding QWERTY keyboard, optical trackpad and the Android 2.1 OS (or 2.2).

What we do know is that T-Mobile is going to need a powerful smartphone because the HSPA+ rollout is coming fast. HSPA+ is currently available in 50 markets and T-Mobile has plans to blanket over 185 million users by the end of 2010.

Most people are still having trouble getting their hands on a DROID X but that hasn't stopped the hacking community from having its way with the mammoth smartphone.

That's right folks, the Motorola DROID X has been rooted.

Concern was raised when eFuse technology was discovered on the DROID X, and many thought it would prevent hackers from successfully rooting the device. One short week later, and the DROID X has been successfully rooted.

What's more, it can be rooted or unrooted with a single click on a Windows PC.

Here's how to get it done:

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With quoted delivery dates as late as September 1st, iPhone 4 owners who opted for third-party cases are in for a bit of a wait.

Those who chose less protection and selected an Apple-branded Bumper case, however, are already receiving their free death grip guards.

On July 16th, Apple responded to Antennagate by offering free cases to all iPhone 4 owners. These cases would cover the sides of the iPhone 4 and prevent signal from dropping as a result of direct contact with the external antennas.

Orders went live on July 23rd and those who selected an Apple-branded Bumper have just begun to receive their cases in the mail today.

iPhone users who ordered third-party cases seemingly still have over a month to wait until their reception woes are laid to rest. No changes have been made to the September 1st ship dates quoted at the time orders were placed.

Some questions were answered today regarding the upcoming Dell Streak tablet, but in the end there is still quite a bit of confusion.

As this video from the DellVlog illustrates, we now know that the device will only support AT&T 3G, not T-Mobile. Dell also confirms that Android 2.2 (Froyo) is a planned upgrade scheduled for later this year, Engadget reports.

So we can assume that it will launch a customized version of Android 2.1 like the one demonstrated above.

And that brings us to the confusing part - when the device will actually be sold. Interestingly, the Streak pre-sales website was updated today, ending the registration process and proclaiming that the 5-inch tablet with a 1GHz Snapdragon processor and 5-megapixel camera would go on sale starting tomorrow, July 28th.

However, that announcement was quickly switched back to pre-order status, so things are still up in the air. Dell has stated in the past that the Streak would ship before the end of July, so there is still a chance that tomorrow could be the day.

The latest crop of "superphones" is great, but sexy hardware with a humdrum smartphone operating system isn't enough anymore. Companies like HTC, Motorola and Samsung need to improve their unique software in order to thrive in this brave new world.

Just as carriers don't want to become dumb pipes, handset makers can't afford to just become pretty shells.

We're in a golden era of smartphones, as each major mobile operator has at least one high-end handset that could easily be considered best in class. AT&T has the iPhone 4, Verizon has the Motorola DROID X and Sprint fans can buy the EVO 4G. Samsung's Galaxy S lineup could easily be considered top-shelf as well, and these phones will soon be available on the top six carriers in the nation.

When I get asked by friends and family about what smartphone they should get (and this comes up far too often), I now only ask them about how much they want to pay each month and what carrier has the best coverage in their areas. Despite what the enthusiasts might say, there is very little practical difference between the iPhone and the top-shelf Android phones - the devices are just that good now.

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Groundbreaking law makes jailbreaking or rooting your phone perfectly legal under the DMCA

The U.S. Copyright Office has authorized several exemptions to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DCMA) that will have an enormous impact on technology moving forward.

First and foremost, it is now legal to jailbreak and unlock your phone in order to switch carriers or run lawfully obtained third-party apps, according to the Associated Press. Previously, it would be possible for companies like Apple to sue jailbreakers for copyright infringement.

There are six exemptions to the rules against circumvention in all, but the passage pertaining to jailbreaking cell phones is outlined here:

Computer programs that enable wireless telephone handsets to execute software applications, where circumvention is accomplished for the sole purpose of enabling interoperability of such applications, when they have been lawfully obtained, with computer programs on the telephone handset.

Keep in mind that this does not mean that jailbreaking cell phones is going to become a commercial endeavor, or that you are completely immune from all potential legal threats. The law does not cover the development teams behind jailbreaking software, nor does it give you the right to install illegal or pirated software.

Reuters is reporting today that AT&T has begun the two-to-three-week process of rolling out an Alcatel Lucent software patch to remedy the shoddy upload performance some iPhone 4 users have been seeing as of late.

Earlier this month we told you the issue turned out to just be a software glitch, not a case of AT&T throttling data speeds. Now that a fix has been developed, iPhone users will soon begin to see upload speeds climb back to what they were at launch.

AT&T states that the glitch is only effecting those utilizing Alcatel Lucent technology (about 2% of users), and that it is only a problem with devices accessing AT&T's HSUPA services, which include some mobile broadband cards and of course, the iPhone 4.

Despite the fact that the BlackBerry has lost ground in the smartphone mindshare battle, there is no denying that it still has plenty of fans - especially in the enterprise market.

That's most likely why Samsung is rumored to be working on a BlackBerry-esque addition to its Galaxy series dubbed the Galaxy Q.

According to MobileCrunch, rumored specs for the device include:

• 3-inch (720×480) Super-AMOLED screen
• 1GHz Hummingbird processor
• QWERTY keyboard
• 8-megapixel camera with LED flash
• 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera
• 16GB internal memory
• Android 2.2

Essentially, it's a Galaxy S with better front and rear cameras, a QWERTY keypad and a much smaller screen.

No images have been released yet, but based on the dimensions (120mm x 68mm x 9.25mm) you can imagine that the Galaxy Q will look very much like a BlackBerry, with the small screen up top and the QWERTY keyboard directly below.

In a press release today, HTC has officially announced that it is moving forward with Super LCD displays from Sony instead of the Samsung AMOLED screens that are currently in short supply.

HTC, as we all are well aware by now, isn't playing around when it comes to "Smartphone Summer 2010". With all the hot devices coming down the pike, a proper supply of high-quality screens goes hand-in-hand with their success.

It's no secret that Samsung is having a bit of trouble keeping up with demand for its beautiful AMOLED displays. We know it, and apparently HTC knows it. Apropos, HTC has made the switch to a more readily available technology.

Another big-name tech company uses similar displays in its latest blockbuster smartphone, and if the AMOLED shortage trend continues, more will likely follow suit.

So what does that mean for the bevy of Galaxy S variants being released by every carrier? Will Samsung abandon its own display tech or come up short on supply when its hot collection of Android-powered smartphones is fully available from all points of distribution? Or perhaps it will simply keep every display to itself in order to ensure availability.

Google Developer Advocate Tim Bray gave developers a heads-up last Friday on the Android Developer Blog that there would be some important upcoming changes to the developer agreement, Fortune reports.

Please note that we have updated the Android Market Developer Distribution Agreement (DDA). This is in preparation for some work we're doing on introducing new payment options, which we think developers will like.

In the spirit of transparency, we wanted to highlight the changes:

• In Section 13.1, "authorized carriers" have been added as an indemnified party.

As Fortune suggests, this very likely means additional carriers will be following T-Mobile's lead in declaring themselves "payment processors" for purchases made in the Android Market.

This would be a wise and logical choice for all carriers. Just like we said with Nokia's Ovi Store and BlackBerry's upcoming App World 2.0, carrier billing makes it easier, and in many cases, more appealing to consumers to make purchases.

One of the great things about the success of the App Store and the boom in apps is seeing some small developer follow his passion, make a program that resonates with consumers and reap the financial rewards.

Of course, the big guys are also cashing in and retail giant Amazon has shown us all how powerful and lucrative mobile apps can be.

"We're also encouraged by what we see in mobile. In the last twelve months, customers around the world have ordered more than $1 billion of products from Amazon using a mobile device," said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com, in a prepared statement. "The leading mobile commerce device today is the smartphone, but we're excited by the potential of the new category of wireless tablet computers. Over time, tablet computers could become a meaningful additional driver for our business."

I know firsthand how addictive the Amazon mobile app can be. The other day, I was cleaning my kitchen floor and not liking it. The mop bucket was crap, the garbage can had a big crack in it and my iPod dock was broken (listening to music while cooking is incredible). When the mop bucket tipped over and ruined the work I had just done, I decided it was time to make a change.

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Apple is tempering news about another white iPhone 4 delay by delivering on its promise to start the free case program this week.

Starting right now, iPhone 4 owners must download the free iPhone 4 Case Program app from the App Store, launch the app, sign into their iTunes account and select a Bumper or third-party case.

From Apple:

For iPhone 4 purchases made before July 23, 2010, you must apply no later than August 22, 2010; otherwise, you must apply within 30 days of your iPhone 4 purchase. To qualify for this program, you must purchase your iPhone 4 by September 30, 2010.

Unfortunately for some, all of the cases in the program come in only black and shipment isn't expected for 3-5 weeks.

If you already purchased a bumper or case from Apple, the company has already begun processing refunds. If you purchased via credit card, you should see the refund on your statement in 3-5 business days.

To say that the iPhone 4 launch has been difficult for Apple is an understatement. Online pre-ordering was a disaster, then there was Antennagate, and now this.

The elusive white iPhone 4 has been delayed again, and this time it could be several months before units finally ship.

Here is Apple's official statement:

White models of Apple's new iPhone® 4 have continued to be more challenging to manufacture than we originally expected, and as a result they will not be available until later this year. The availability of the more popular iPhone 4 black models is not affected.

Some have speculated that the manufacturing challenge Apple is facing stems from the apparent difficulty of infusing the white color into the glass. True or not, one has to wonder whether or not the problems Apple was facing before has been compounded by possible changes made to the iPhone's antenna.

Microsoft has confirmed many of the rumors floating around regarding the manufacturers behind Windows Phone 7. Expect phones from HTC, ASUS, Dell, Samsung and LG when the OS launches later this year, Pocket-lint reports.

Much of this information was already known, as phones from Dell and Samsung were leaked some time ago. More modest details on devices from HTC and LG have been revealed as well.

Details on release dates are still up in the air, but Microsoft maintains that phones running Windows Phone 7 will be available in time for the holidays.

It's hardly been a week since the Motorola DROID X made its official debut on Verizon, and it has already seen its fair share of press. With reports of faulty, flickering screens, Wi-Fi connectivity issues and more recently, a shipping delay, the latest Verizon flagship is due for some good news, right?

Well, that question has been partially answered this morning, as AllDroid forum member Birdman has successfully gained root access to the Motorola monster and posted the files and instructions to try it for yourself.

This is especially good news for those who were actually able to procure a DROID X, considering how insanely long it took the DROID Incredible -- also from Verizon -- to reach this big milestone.

If you're a novice Android user, you might want to hang tight for just a bit, because there isn't an easy bootloader or flashing procedure available quite yet.

With the closing of Google's Nexus One online store and following the Motorola DROID 2, we may soon be seeing the death of stock Android, or Google's own Android UI with no manufacturer layer on top, on high-profile smartphones.

This will upset hardcore Android fans but I think it doesn't have to be a bad thing. In the end, it could enable companies other than Google to improve that little green robot.

The original DROID was probably the most successful device to run an untouched version of Android but Motorola wanted to put its own software stamp, MOTOBLUR, on the sequel. While this UI layer was pretty darn intrusive and cartoony on devices like the DEVOUR, the latest version on the DROID X has been toned down and is pretty solid. It adds functionality and visual panache to the operating system while not detracting from Android's capabilities.

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It may not be true 4G, but T-Mobile's HSPA+ enhanced 3G network is in the same realm as far as speed is concerned, and it is on track to blanket 185 million Americans by year's end.

Currently, HSPA+ is available in nearly 50 markets. The 24 most recent additions include:

• Austin, El Paso, Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Waco, TX
• Baltimore, MD
• Baton Rouge and Lafayette, LA
• Birmingham, AL
• Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, and Dayton OH
• Ft. Lauderdale and Jacksonville, FL
• Greenville, SC
• Honolulu, HI
• Indianapolis, IN
• Kansas City, MO
• Milwaukee, WI
• Minneapolis, MN
• Portland, OR
• St. Louis, MO
• Wichita, KS

Furthermore, T-Mobile has increased the size of it's HSPA+ footprint in metropolitan areas like Los Angeles, New York and Washington DC.

The carrier also confirmed earlier rumors about the roll out of an updated webConnect rocket USB modem with a compact swivel design.

On top of this new USB dongle, T-Mobile plans to introduce its first HSPA+ capable smartphone this summer.

HSPA+ is still 3G no matter how you dress it up, however. T-Mobile knows the future is in true 4G with LTE. Sprint knows it too, which could be why the volume has been turned up recently in terms of grumblings about a possible merger between the two companies with a move towards LTE.

Given Verizon Wireless' view on tiered pricing, we knew it was only a matter of time before Verizon followed AT&T's lead and shut down unlimited data plans. If a tip obtained by Engadget is true, this move could happen as early as July 29th.

There's no information on what pricing will look like so far, but it's a safe bet that the plan will be similar to what AT&T is offering: $15 for 200MB and $25 for 2GB (additional data is billed at $10 per GB).

Unless you are among the small percentage of users who exceed 2GB in a given month, these tiered plans might actually save you some money in the short term. However, reaching that 2GB mark could be a lot easier as we move into 4G and as smartphones become more and more sophisticated.

Hopefully these minimums will rise in time to accommodate those changes, but we won't hold our breath.

Spy shots of the DROID 2 have been leaking on a fairly regular basis recently, so it's looking more and more like a release is imminent. Perhaps even on August 12th, as new rumors suggest.

It also appears as though rumors that the DROID 2 will be upgraded to Android 2.2 in time for launch are coming true as well. This spy shot obtained by enthusiast blog Droid Life clearly shows Android 2.2, codenamed Froyo, running on the device.

Keep in mind that the DROID 2 is basically a smaller DROID X with a physical keyboard and some design tweaks. So, if you have been thinking about picking up a DROID X but you would prefer a physical keyboard, it makes sense to wait and see what happens.

Of course, with the way DROID phones are shipping these days, you might not have any choice but to wait.

Despite Verizon's claims that Motorola DROID X shortages would not be a problem, it looks like DROID X shortages are, in fact, a problem.

As Slashgear points out, the date of online shipments has been pushed back from July 23rd to August 3rd. Ironically, that's the same ship date as the HTC DROID Incredible - the phone many customers swapped out for the DROID X in an effort to avoid delays.

Perhaps that decision was a bit hasty. If the DROID Incredible gets the Froyo update with HD video recording and hotspot upgrades, it could end up rivaling the DROID X in a big way.

There are no details on what stock brick-and-mortar stores are receiving, but keep in mind that ordering online allows users to avoid the $100 mail-in rebate.

Nokia has begun its search to replace CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, The Wall Street Journal reports. The trusted business paper cites "people familiar with the situation" and suggests that Nokia's board has been unhappy with Kallasvuo's recent performance.

"They are serious about making a change,'' The Wall Street Journal quotes a source as saying.

Nokia has struggled a fair amount in recent years, though it has maintained its position as the number one cell phone manufacturer in the world. Nokia's board looks to the future, however, and sees a market where smartphones are the big money maker moving forward.

Consumer interest in Nokia's aging smartphone line continues to dwindle as major rivals such as Apple and BlackBerry maker Research In Motion watch profits soar on solid smartphone sales. Nokia is readying the launch of its first MeeGo-powered smartphone, but consumer interest in MeeGo has been scarce at best.

MeeGo, a joint endeavor with Intel, is a Linux-based mobile operating system that will power Nokia's next-generation high end smartphones. In a market where Apple's iOS and Google's Android are rapidly gaining market share, pundits wonder if MeeGo is unique enough to draw attention in an increasingly crowded space.

While no potential CEO candidates have been named publicly, Nokia's board is “supposed to make a decision by the end of the month," according to the report.

The "Antennagate" press conference was classic Apple: the company spent most of the event saying this problem isn't really an iPhone-specific problem, used its data to further convince us this wasn't a real issue, and then offered free cases anyway...even though this wasn't a problem.

While Apple took many of the right steps, I think the announcement was a failure because it didn't address fundamental issues with the design of the phone.

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After discontinuing online sales back in May, it comes as no surprise that Google is pulling the plug on the Nexus One altogether.

According to the offical Nexus One website, Google has received its last shipment of phones, although online support will still be available to customers. The phone will also continue to be sold by Vodafone in Europe, KT in Korea and elsewhere "depending on market conditions."

While Android as a whole is wildly successful, Google's attempt to sell its own device through can pretty much be classified as redundant. That, and attempting to sell it directly without much of a marketing push ultimately lead to its demise.

According to BGR, an OTA update that would have brought 720p recording and 3G Mobile Hotspot access to the DROID Incredible will likely be delayed.

Why? It will supposedly be rolled into a larger release slated for the end of July or early August that includes an update to Android 2.2 (Froyo).

Highlights of the update are said to include:

• 802.11 n
• 3G Mobile Hot Spot
• HTC Widget: Email
• HTC Widget: News
• EAS Updates
• 720p Video Recording
• Amazon MP3
• Skype
• My Verizon

Of course, an upgrade like this will be moot until people can actually get their hands on the device. Once again, Verizon has been forced to push back shipments recently. If all goes as planned, the update could arrive just as the DROID Incredible becomes available in early August.

In the meantime, the DROID X and, to a lesser degree, the Samsung Galaxy S variants are stealing all of the Incredible's thunder. However, the Incredible could be a serious contender for the head of the pack with Froyo in tow.

As if we didn't know this was going to happen...

Over the weekend, several cell phone manufacturers were quick to offer rebuttals to Apple's assertions that the death grip debacle is not a complication exclusive to the iPhone 4.

Apple specifically named HTC's DROID Eris, RIM's BlackBerry Bold 9700 and Samsung's Omnia II smartphones in its press conference last Friday as having similar reception issues to the iPhone 4. Each of these phone makers were quick to respond with, in some cases, rather matter-of-fact statements in an attempt to put Apple in its place:

RIM's co-CEOs stated, "Apple clearly made certain design decisions and it should take responsibility for these decisions rather than trying to draw RIM and others into a situation that relates specifically to Apple."

Reuters reports that Samsung issued a statement saying, "We have not received significant customer feedback on any signal reduction issue for the Omnia II."

HTC hasn't officially releases a public statement but it did responded. The company's PR manager Eric Lin stated, "Approximately .016% of customers...[have complained] about signal or antenna problems with the Eris," in a comment to Pocket-lint.

Even companies not specifically named on Friday had something to say, including Nokia, which said, "We prioritize antenna performance over physical design if they are ever in conflict," Engadget reports.

Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha also chimed in with, "...consumers don't like being told how to hold the phone...In our testing, we have found that DROID X performs much better than iPhone 4 when held by consumers," CNBC reports.

Ouch. Not that we didn't expect this, but the industry definitely showed up in full force.

And on another interesting note, nearly every one of the aforementioned companies specifically touted its "years of experience" in designing quality, effective hardware. A slap in the face of Apple's mere three years in the game? Sounds like it.

Push-to-talk customers on Sprint Nextel will finally get a dose of Android on July 25th, albeit a watered-down dose of Android 1.5.

Specs include:

• Android 1.5
• 5-megapixel camera
• 3.1-inch HVGA (320x480) display
• Rugged military spec design
• Swype text imput
• Business tools such as Microsoft Document Viewer

Despite being originally announced as a Nextel Direct Connect phone, the Motorola i1 was released first on Boost Mobile as a prepaid phone. There, it costs $349.99 with no contract but Nextel customers push-to-talk subscribers will be able to score it for $149.99 with a two-year agreement after a $50 mail-in rebate.

A few months ago, our Editor-in-Chief Zach Epstein accused us (himself included) of holding Apple to a lower standard than the rest of the tech world when it comes to big blunders and fantastic faux pas. He was spot on.

How many times have we let Apple solecisms slide over the years, whether it was due to the overwhelming counter-balance of its products' strong points, or the smooth-talking charisma of Steve Jobs?

Yet somehow, inexplicably, the tables have turned with the iPhone 4 and we now find ourselves demanding answers from Cupertino on a topic that's really as old as the cell phone itself.

It's no doubt that the death grip phenomenon, or "Antennagate", indeed exists and can even be reproduced by anyone with an iPhone 4 and between one and four bars of signal.

But is this anything new?

Continue reading...

Following RIM's official preview video, new footage of the upcoming BlackBerry 6 Web browser has emerged.

BlackBerry enthusiast Salomondrin got his hands on a video showing popular Web standards being tested on the new BlackBerry 6 Browser as well as the iPhone's Safari browser and the Android browser.

All three handsets did fine with a basic Web standards test. The iPhone performed best in an Acid3 test, scoring a perfect 100 compared to the respectable 93 scored by both BlackBerry and Android.

The new BlackBerry browser bested the other two in an HTML5 test however, scoring a 208 compared to 185 on the iPhone and 151 on the Android browser.

The BlackBerry 6 browser was demonstrated on the BlackBerry 9800 slider, RIM's upcoming touchscreen smartphone that still doesn't have an official release date.