Kyocera unveils a first-- the Echo, a dual-touchscreen Android smartphone.

The set carries x2 3.5" touchscreens (each with 480 x 800 resolution), which one can open into a 4.7" 960 x 800 surface. The screen can either close for use as a regular touchscreen handset, unfold into a flat tablet-style surface or prop up into a laptop-like configuration.

Connecting the screens is what Kyocera describes as a sliding liquid-metal hinge.

Powering the device are a 1GHz Snapdragon processor running Android Continue reading...

Global shipments for entry-level smartphones are to reach over 185m units by 2015, thanks to operators' low cost own brand devices.

Juniper Research's report also says these devices' prices are also set to go cheaper, due to increasing competition and lower cost chipsets. Vodafone and Orange both have own brand handsets, carrying the Android OS-- thanks to OEM agreements with Huawei and its likes.

Mobile internet is also reaching low-cost handsets due to compression and remote browsing, together Continue reading...

Sony confirms its smartphone-gaming plans-- not with the speculated "Playstation Phone" handset, but a cross-platform mobile software framework dubbed Playstation Suite.

What this means is an official Playstation store carrying PSOne titles for Android devices-- specifically those with Android 2.3.

The company describes the store as hardware neutral, making software compatible with all sorts of devices. Sony is also starting a "Playstation Certified" hardware licensing program together with a Continue reading...

Dijit is the next iPhone app turning Apple's smartphone into a universal remote-- with support for over 200000 devices.

Combined with Griffin's Beacon bluetooth-to-infrared bridge device, the app supports any IR device without need for a dongle.

As well as acting as a fully customisable remote control interface Dijit also works as a user's media guide-- with Netflix support and channel/TV show/genre search. Users can also share what they watch on facebook and twitter through the app's Check-In Continue reading...

European consumers prefer phones with an advanced OS and touchscreens, GFK reports.

The market share for handsets with an advanced OS is now 26.9%, up from 13 months ago's 13.8%. The UK leads the trend in Europe, with 43.% of handsets carrying an advanced OS.

Google's Android comes in 20% of handsets sold in September 2010.

Meanwhile over 33% of handsets sold in September 2010 are touchscreen-based, up 21% from the same month a year ago.

GFK says this only means the mobile web and OS markets Continue reading...

Mashed Pixel proposes customers should replace all their remote controllers with its Surc iPhone app and case combination.

After installing the free app, users slip their iPhone (either 3G, 3GS or 4) into the case. The case carries an IR transmitter and turns the iDevice into a universal remote.

The app should have settings for a large number of devices and connects to most IR-connected devices and appliances. Through a Surc account users can also backup all their remotes and settings.

The Surc Continue reading...

LG launches the first dual-core processor smartphone, the 4" LG Optimus 2X.

The Optimus carries NVidia's Tegra 2 chip and runs at 1GHz clock speed. The extra juice proves handy for HD video playback, recording and HDMI mirroring via DLNA.

It comes with with 2 cameras (8 megapixel on the back paired with 1.3 megapixel up front), 8GB on-board storage (expands via microSD card slot) and micro-USB port.

Android 2.2 powers the device. LG says it shouldrelease upgrades to Gingerbread (Android 2.3) Continue reading...

Android fans and amateur coders rejoice-- App Inventor for Android is now open to the public.

In very typical Google fashion, it's still tagged as "Beta" (of course) and is available on Google Labs' site. Before one had to ask for an invite to make use of the system.

The App inventor does not require any programming knowledge to play around with-- users build apps by connecting "blocks" of code and behaviours with each other. A bit like building a puzzle, if you will.

What one does require is Continue reading...