Cell phones

Though we've kept you informed about the ongoing debate with the iPhone 4's antenna, we haven't said what that really means for users. You may see your bars drop when you hold the handset a certain way, but how does that affect the phone's performance?

In data speed and call quality tests (see attached video), we've seen significant changes when we cover the antenna gap on the handset's lower left side. Indeed, in one call quality test, the audio cut out completely when we covered the trouble spot. But to give those findings some … Read more

"Attenuation" has become a buzzword ever since issues with touching the iPhone 4's antenna were first reported after its release. Indeed, on June 24, 2010, Apple defended itself by saying that attenuation is "a fact of life for every wireless phone" and it advised users to hold the handset differently or buy a bumper. As Apple put it, gripping any phone can affect antenna performance depending on the placement of the antenna.

That's a fair point, and Apple is not the first manufacturer to caution against resting your hand on an antenna. As handset designers began to use internal antennas, such phones started to include warnings in the user manual or an a sticker that is removed before use. Users aren't told that poor reception will result from touching the antenna, they're just told to avoid the area.

Yet, that doesn't mean that Apple gets off the hook.… Read more

I've already shown you that the iPhone 4 takes great still photos, but we wanted demonstrate its video capabilities as well.

The handset's upgraded camera can record 720p high-definition video at a constant 30 frames per second. As I said in the iPhone 4 review, it isn't the first handset to offer this capability, but it delivers improved quality over the iPhone 3GS. I shot this video on the main street in Provincetown, Mass. There's a lot going on here, including cars, pedestrians, and cyclists, but the camera captures them all without the jerky motion or … Read more

Our official iPhone 4 talk time battery tests are back from CNET Labs. In both 3G and EDGE tests, we beat Apple's promised times of 7 hours and 14 hours respectively. Also, when compared with the previous three iPhone models, the iPhone 4 delivers more juice per charge.

Below you'll find the complete talk time results for all four iPhone models as tested by the always affable Eric Franklin in CNET Labs. We're still running battery tests for music playback, video playback, and Internet use, but I'll report them here as they come in. And for … Read more

As the story of the iPhone 4's antenna troubles eclipses the handset's record-breaking sales, users remain understandably frustrated. And so far, Apple's responses haven't been entirely satisfying. On June 24, the day that the iPhone 4 went on sale, Apple acknowledged an "attenuation" problem when the device is held in a certain way and it suggested that users either move their hand or buy a bumper. The company mentioned the issue again in a letter to users posted last Friday, but it also promised a software fix to address an incorrect calculation of signal … Read more

Welcome to The 411, my new Q&A column answering all your questions about cell phones and cell phone accessories. I receive plenty of questions about these subjects via e-mail, so I figured many of you might have the same questions, too. At times, I might solicit answers from readers if I'm stumped. Send your questions and comments to me at nicole.lee@cnet.com. If you prefer to remain anonymous, let me know in the e-mail.

I was wondering if you could recommend a good Android Phone with GSM capability as I travel internationally extensively.  The Evo 4G and Incredible are both CDMA, so I am unable to buy due to that. Your advice on the matter is much appreciated. -- Chaitanya, via e-mail.

That's a good point, Chaitanya. As much as we praise the HTC Evo 4G and the HTC Droid Incredible, we have to admit they are not very useful when traveling abroad. When traveling, we still prefer GSM phones, especially those with quad-band support. Luckily for you, there are several good GSM Android phones, such as the HTC Aria for AT&T and the MyTouch 3G Slide for T-Mobile.

However, perhaps my favorite choice for international travelers is the HTC Nexus One. You can buy the Nexus One unlocked, so you can use it with T-Mobile or any other GSM carrier. You might not be able get 3G data speeds with it, as T-Mobile has a different 3G frequency than what other carriers' use, but you can still make and answer calls. While the Nexus One may not be as flashy as some of the newer Android phones are, it's still a solid handset with a nice screen and decent performance. Also, Google tends to push Android firmware updates to the Nexus One first, so it's nice to get the new OS features and fixes first.… Read more

Count LG as yet another phone maker that's in the app store game. Indeed, the company just launched the LG Application Store, which it promises will deliver apps not just to smartphones, but to most of its feature phones as well. In other words, we wouldn't count on this replacing your Android or Windows 7 app market any time soon, but if you do have an LG smartphone, you'll likely have more than just one store to pick from.

There are currently only around 3,000 apps in there, and it's available only in around 23 … Read more

Breaking news! According to Microsoft, it's killing the Kin! Also, Apple unleashes the juggernaut that is the iPhone 4 last week only to suffer tales of antenna woes soon after. We also talk about the latest Android news--the Droid X, Evo 4G problems, and the Samsung Galaxy S devices, just to name a few--plus the silliest phone name of all time.

News All the iPhone news you can shake a stick at iOS4 review iPhone 4 is out, complaints are in AT&T improves its coverage, really? … Read more

Get ready for a slew of jokey headlines with this one--Verizon Wireless just announced on Tuesday a new slider messaging phone called the Pantech Jest. One unintended implication of the name is that phone itself is a joke, but it actually looks like a decent QWERTY phone.

It has a 2.6-inch display, an optical sensor that works like a mouse, a 2-megapixel camera, EV-DO, GPS with VZ Navigator, V Cast Music access, stereo Bluetooth, and direct connections to social networks like Twitter and Facebook. It'll be available starting July 5 for $69.99 with a new two-year service … Read more