The Motorola Droid Razr is one of the few high-end smartphones that we haven’t yet had our hands on, but by all accounts it is one of the best phones available on Verizon. It also is the thinnest phone out (though the Huawei Ascend P1 S will soon take that spot), but there was one thing that made a lot of people wary about purchasing the Droid Razr: no removable battery. Apple may have that restriction with the iPhone, but at least there are Apple stores available all over the country. The Razr doesn’t have significantly better battery life than the competition, but the non-removable battery helped make it so thin.

Now Motorola wants to up the ante by saying “screw how thin the phone is, let’s boost battery life.” That’s where the Razr Maxx comes in, with 21 hours of battery life. What sort of battery life, I don’t know, but saying 21 hours period is an important metric nonetheless. The 9mm phone will be otherwise identical to the current Droid Razr, meaning the same processor, same LTE, same screen…everything but the battery life.

Will there be any interest for such a device? Absolutely. If the 21 hours of battery life is call time, or constant data usage, or almost anything but idle time, then that extra 1.9mm of thickness will make the phone far better to use, not just for day to day operation, but in the long run altogether. The biggest problem with today’s smartphones, in my opinion, is battery life. If Motorola has been able to solve that problem, not just before other smartphone makers but before Apple, then Google doesn’t just have a real racehorse. They have a rocket chariot.

I’ll get a hands-on of the Droid Razr Max on Wednesday morning, though perhaps earlier as well. Stay tuned for an update then.

LG Mobile and Verizon announced the arrival of its Spectrum smartphone at CES, which will be a Verizon exclusive beginning January 19 for $199.99 with a new two-year customer agreement. The Spectrum is being touted as the first smartphone for Verizon to have a 4.5-inch True HD In-Plane Switching (IPS) display, which is the same technology used in LG HD TVs. Adding to the Spectrum’s HD capabilities is HD exclusive access to the ESPN ScoreCenter application, including ScoreCenter stats, images and videos in 720p HD.

The new smartphone will support 1280 x 720 resolution and provides bright and sharp images with its 500-nit display luminance and Real-Stripe RGB pixels that allows clear viewing direct sunlight and accurate true-to-life color rendering. A Qualcomm 1.5 GHz dual-core processor will power the LG Spectrum, while Verizon’s 4G LTE connectivity provides robust power, multitasking and download speeds. It’ll run on Android 2.3 Gingerbread (it’ll upgrade to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich when available) and is preloaded with a variety of apps like Netflix, Gmail, YouTube, Google Talk and more. It has an internal 16 GB microSD, but can be upgraded to 32 GB and a boasts a 8-megapixel rear-facing autofocus camera with LED flash and 1080p video capture, along with a front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera for video chat.

Amazon Wireless has some new savings you can grab on this Samsung Galaxy Nexus 4G Android Phone (Verizon Wireless)!

Boy do we love Smartphones; but what we love even more is when their price drops. Now you can grab this powerful Samsung Galaxy Nexus 4G at a new reduced price from Amazon Wireless. This Samsung Galaxy comes packed with a large 4.65-Inch AMOLED display for HD viewing and multitasking alike and is powered by a stunning 1.2Ghz Dual-Core processor. It includes an impressive 32GBs of memory as well for plenty of content sharing or music/video playing while sporting the brand new and improved Android 4.0 OS for optimal speed capability. It supports GPS Navigation as well as Stereo Bluetooth and of course with the 4G network you have plenty of power in your hands to deal with tons of content online, but Wireless-N is also available. Lastly it’s super thin and as smartphones should can come with you anywhere!

Get this $800 phone, the latest and greatest for $189.99 when you sign a 2-year contract

The arrival of Samsung’s Galaxy Nexus will bring a whole new era to the Android-based smartphone market, specifically the beginning of the Android 4.0 era that’s been nicknamed Ice Cream Sandwich. It’s been talked about for months as the replacement, or really upgrade, to the current OS system for Androids 2.3.4 Gingerbread, and the Nexus will be the first phone to done the highly anticipated operating system. As the newest phone to come onto the scene of the already oversaturated Android smartphone market within the past three months, the Nexus is pegged to be the “iPhone Killer,” but will it really kill the iPhone 4S’ popularity? Here’s a helpful comparison that might help you decide whether or not to ditch the Apple and head on over to the Android side or stay an everlasting Apple fan.

Size

The iPhone 4S fits some pretty big features into a small package with its latest smartphone that measures in at 115.2 mm x 58.6 mm x 9.3 mm (H x W x D) and weighs only 140 grams. The Samsung Galaxy Nexus sports some heftier dimensions of 135.5 mm X 67.94 mm X 9.47 mm and is only 10 grams heavier than the iPhone at 150 grams.

Winner: Apple’s formula can’t be beat on size as the iPhone 4S is lighter, smaller and thinner than the new Galaxy. While both can be easily maneuvered with one hand, the iPhone’s compact dimensions are a highly desirable quality since it can also easily fit into a small purse, a back pocket and more.

Appearance

The iPhone 4S is sleek thanks to its glossy exterior that was carried over from the last model and still comes in black and white color options. In the looks department, the Galaxy Nexus looks like a grand competitor for the iPhone, but is really more of a coy given its cheap plastic feel. However, it does sport a gentle curve on its body that does give it a bit of style.

Winner: Apple really knows how to dress up its gadgets and the iPhone 4S is no exception with its glossy and sleek exterior. While it’s not always about looks (remember, you can’t judge a book by its cover), sometimes cheap plastic doesn’t always get you a great first impression.

Display

The Galaxy Nexus may be larger than the iPhone 4S, but it’s for a purpose, which is a larger screen that measures 4.65 inches compared to 3.5 inches that Apple place on the latest version of its popular phone. But Apple also added a 640×960 Retina display that sports 330 ppi on the iPhone 4S, while the Nexus has a 1280×720 HD Super AMOLED contoured display (curved glass, really) with 316 ppi.

Winner: While both will provide crisp and sharp images, the iPhone’s 330 ppi seems to still reign higher. 

Operating System

The centerpiece of the Galaxy Nexus is that it will ship with Ice Cream Sandwich or Google’s Android 4.0 that’s supposed to represent a huge leap forward for the highly popular OS system. Said to bring an entirely new look and feel to Android phones with simple layouts, subtle animations and an entirely revamped home screen, web browser, email and everything in between. But this still in the beginning phases and the kinks haven’t been worked out yet (or really seen), leaving the iPhone 4S’ iOS 5 still easier to use. It also has 5 GB of free cloud storage so that you can sync your photos, contacts and more with your other Apple products.  The Nexus has Google’s Gmail and its cloud services, so it’s a win-win situation there.

Winner: Until it’s been tested, the iOS 5 still seems to be easier to use since it’s been proven. But this can always change as more and more Androids upgrade to the new OS.

Processor

Both pack some powerful dual-core processors, so neither smartphones will be slow. The iPhone 4S has Apple’s A5 1 GHz processor, while Samsung’s phone carries a 1.2 GHz from Texas Instruments (the first time Samsung’s used such a processor. It also has 1 GB of RAM, while the iPhone 4S only has 512 MB of RAM.

Winner: Samsung’s 0.2 GHz is a bit more than the iPhone’s and that’s enough to beat it out on this category!

Storage

Both phones feature 16 GB and 32 GB internal storage options, but the iPhone 4S comes with a 64 GB option. Neither come with a SD Card slot.

Winner: The iPhone 4S has that 64 GB option, making it the winner here.

Wireless Connectivity

The iPhone 4S can still only get 3G, while the Galaxy Nexus will sport 4G speeds thanks to its LTE status since it’s debuting on Verizon. So the Nexus will have faster download speeds. They’re both Bluetooth-enabled with Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n.

Winner: The Galaxy Nexus’ LTE status says it all!

Camera and Video

The iPhone 4S packs a 8 MP rear camera and is capable of 1080p video. It can also produce high quality images in medium to low lighting with its f/2.4 aperture and features face detection and image stabilization The Nexus only has a 5 MP rear camera and boasts Panorama photos, zero shutter lag, and “silly faces” (think Apple’s Photo Booth software on the Mac and iPad).

Winner: The iPhone 4s’ camera is the clear winner here.

Battery Life

The Nexus sports a standard li-ion 1850mAh battery that has up to 270 hours of stand-by time and up to about 18 hours of talk time. The iPhone 4s claims 8 hours of talk time on 3G or 14 hours on 2G.  They say it will standby for up to 200 hours, will playback video for 10 hours and you can surf the web for up to 6 hours on 3G and 9 on Wi-Fi thanks to a 1432mAh battery. But remember that 4G is a battery drainer, so expect a lot less from the better connectivity.

Winner: Since the Nexus has a 1850mAh battery vs the iPhone’s 1432mAh one, we gotta give it to Samsung’s newest smartphone.

Carriers

Verizon will be the first to carry the Galaxy Nexus while the iPhone 4S is already available on Verizon, AT&T and Sprint.

Winner: More customers can enjoy an iPhone since it’s on more carriers.

Extras

The Galaxy Nexus come equipped with Android Beam, which allows you to share contacts, web pages, videos, directions and more just by touching two NFC-enabled Android phones back to back. The phone also introduces a new way to unlock your phone with its Face Unlock. The facial recognition feature lets you turn on your phone with your smile. On the other hand, the iPhone 4S features Siri, the “smart assistant” that helps make life a bit easier thanks to its useful information and quirky sayings.

Winner: The Android Beam is pretty cool and beats Siri for now, given Google is probably working on their own voice app comparable to Siri.

Price

The iPhone 4S is priced according to its GBs, with the 64 one the most expensive. So The 16 GB is $199, the 32 GB is $299 and the 64 GB is $399. Samsung’s Galaxy Nexus is said to debut at $199.99 and will require a two-year contract with Verizon.

Winner: Since the iPhone 4S is price according to its storage, the price differences makes it more affordable for those with varying incomes.

Overall Winner

One of the best Androids on the market, definitely. An iPhone killer, not this time. Sorry Samsung, looks like your Galaxy Nexus didn’t exact have the gusto to take out the iPhone (at least not yet, anyways). While it may sport some very impressive abilities and be the beginning of a new generation of Android phone, it still didn’t make the cut standing up against the highly popular iPhone 4S.

Interested in a new smartphone from Verizon? The nation’s largest cell provider isn’t a bad choice. Verizon has the largest 4G LTE network in the country, the best data speeds, and some of this holiday season’s best phones exclusively for Verizon customers. So if you’re on the ropes about which provider to sign up with, want to switch, or are already a Verizon customer looking to upgrade, check out this handy guide of tested Verizon smartphones and find one that suits you.

And Amazon Wireless has an amazing deal on all Verizon phones that don’t start with the letter “i”: they’re a penny each! Offer ends November 28th at midnight, so don’t wait!

Apple iPhone 4S

It almost sounds like a copout to day that the iPhone 4S is the best phone available, but that’s my opinion and I’m sticking to it. iOS is still simply better than Android as an operating system, and while the iPhone isn’t the slimmest, the lightest, nor the fastest phone around, it is the best overall package you can get on a smartphone today. You can’t go wrong with the 4S, even if it lacks access to Verizon’s LTE network.

Motorola Droid Bionic

The Droid Bionic is the first Motorola handset to upgrade above and beyond their typical Droid series, and those changes really shine. It’s fast, the enhanced UI is sleek, and as a handset the Bionic stands out with a great gunmetal finish and top-of-the-line charm. You really can’t go wrong with the Droid Bionic thanks to it running 4G LTE, a great Super AMOLED display, and some of the best UI upgrades seen this side of Android.

HTC Droid Incredible 2

The Droid Incredible 2 isn’t what you’d expect in a lineup of high-end devices, but this mid-range phone isn’t to be taken lightly. It’s impressively fast, smaller than most of today’s phones but great in the hand and pocket, and it feels simple but isn’t. The internal hardware is powerful beyond the phone’s needs. It may lack LTE, but the Incredible 2 is, like the name implies, pretty darn incredible.

HTC Rezound

Closing up the bottom of the list, the HTC Rezound has three major first: the first 720p display, the first phone with Beats Audio integration, and the first 1.5GHz processor (in the US). Running on LTE, the Rezound is a speed demon, though all those features kill the battery real quick. It’s literally packed to the brim with features, and prospective buyers won’t be disappointed.

But What About…

Motorola Droid Razr

It’s the thinnest smartphone out on the market today, but we haven’t had a chance to get our paws on it yet. From all reports, the Droid Razr is one of the best Android phones to ever release (which isn’t?). If it’s as similar to the Droid Bionic as I’m told, then it’s likely an excellent buy, but without some hands-on time I can’t recommend it just yet.

Samsung Galaxy Nexus

Due out sometime this week (or perhaps next week, or sometime soon…there’s no set release date), the Galaxy Nexus has already received rave reviews because of it’s excellent design, great 720p display, brand new Android 4.0 software, and a slew of other things. However, with no word on when it’s due to release, as well as never having tested it ourselves (but expecting to shortly), we’ll keep the Galaxy Nexus under wraps. All I do know for sure is that it’s not quite as powerful as the Galaxy S II, but is intended to be the next “Google” phone, so to speak. Meaning that it’ll receive instantaneous updates to the operating system before most other phones and have limited interference from cell providers (in this case, Verizon) or handset manufacturers (Samsung). But once again, we’ll have to wait and see.

Amazon is basically giving away this brand new Motorola DROID RAZR 4G Android Phone for Verizon Wireless!

Thanks to Amazon even the newest smartphones can be had for the lowest price around; and in this case that’s nearly free! This new Motorola Droid RAZR Provides you with a plethora of advanced technologies packed into a design that goes wherever you do. It starts with its 4.3-Inch HD screen with high resolution and continues on with its powerful processing provided by a 1.2Ghz Dual-Core processor and 1GB of advanced DDR2 RAM for the most seamless experience around. Don’t forget the new and improved Android 2.3 UI and plenty of memory to spare which consists 16GBs of internal memory mixed with an included 16GB SD card. Other features include an 8MP Rear-Facing camera with 1080p HD video capture, Stereo Bluetooth 3.0, Wi-Fi connectivity, 4G connectivity, GPS Navigation and impressive 12.5 hours of talk time on its battery. Now that’s a lot of power in the palm of your hands.

Still waiting on a new phone?  Wait no more.  Today and maybe tomorrow Amazon has the DROID RAZR (just released) for $0.01 shipped.  You’ll have to sign a new 2-year contract, though.  Every where else you’ll pay $200+

Amazon is offering an astounding deal for this HTC Rezound 4G Android Phone for Verizon Wireless!

We’ve seen this phone for $200 just last week but now Amazon has undercut their own discount and brings it to you for nearly nothing! The HTC Rezound is one of the most powerful phone’s we’ve seen yet as it includes a blazing fast 1.5Ghz Dual-Core processor and 1024MB of RAM to handle any task you can throw at it. With Android 2.3 Gingerbread you have the most stable mobile platform yet and the HTC Sense interface connects all of your most important applications and friends together on front. Its 4.3-Inch HD display adds to the overall experience of course and so does its 16GBs of internal memory combined with a 16GB SD card for an effective 32GBs of memory right out of the box. Stereo Bluetooth 3.0, GPS Navigation and Wi-Fi connectivity are all possible here as well and as a bonus this phone includes high quality beats headphones in it for a truly great sound experience.

Just a few days ago this phone cost $100s more, now Amazon has it for $0.01 after a 2-year contract signing.  That’s a sick discount that won’t last.

It seems that the plot thickens in the race for smartphone superiority with the entrance of a new challenger, the HTC Rezound. With some pretty stiff competition in the marketplace, the Rezound boasts some pretty cool capabilities and specs, but how does it measure up amongst Apple’s still popular iPhone 4S, who entered the market strong with its release last month, but still disappointed many when it wasn’t the highly anticipated (and rumored) iPhone 5? Here’s how these smartphone titans size up amongst each other!

Size

The iPhone is the smaller and lighter of the two, weighing in at 140 grams and measuring 115.2 mm x 58.6 mm x 9.3 mm (h x w x d), while the Rezound is 164 grams and 129 mm x 65.5 mm 13.65 mm (h x w x d). However, keep in mind that the Rezound boasts a bigger screen, which means a larger overall form factor and generally speaking more weight. But since this category largely relates to portability, the iPhone wins without question.

Winner: The iPhone is tiny and fits easier into pockets, purses and tight places. It’s also thinner and lighter.

Appearance

The iPhone 4S is practically a split-image of the iPhone 4S, with its black and white color options and sleek, glossy exterior. The iPhone is looking as sophisticated as always with its minimalist exterior. The Rezound seems to share this with the iPhone, supporting minimal button/port placement and a black exterior. However, where the iPhone is sleek on both sides, the Rezound features a sleek top and some soft-touch plastic on the battery cover. While soft to the touch, it does make one worry less about scratches to both sides and makes it more grippable. But some can also see this as cheap, preferring the exterior of the iPhone 4S because of its sleekness.

Winner: It really comes down to personal preference on this one, so it’s a tie. Having a sleek exterior like the iPhone 4S has both good and bad traits. Sure it looks great, but it’s easier to scratch and the appearance of fingerprints can by annoying without a cover. The Rezound sports a soft-touch plastic back, which eliminates the aforementioned nuisances.  But they both are sleek and let’s be honest, you know you’re going to probably get a cover for either, so really, does it matter?

Display

Given that the Rezound is larger than the iPhone 4S it might be bad in the size department, but it’s a major plus in terms of display. The iPhone 4S has a 3.5-inch 640×960 Retina display, while the Rezound has a 4.3-inch 1280×720 Super LCD HD screen. Where the iPhone boasts that it features the highest pixel density and resolution despite having a small display, the Rezound can now take that claim away since it beats the iPhone 4S with a 12-point difference with its 342 ppi against the iPhone’s 330 ppi, so the Rezound has a higher pixel density.

Winner: The Rezound’s 342 ppi knocks out the iPhone’s 330 ppi and does so with a larger display, making for a quite amazing viewing.

Operating System

It’s another Android vs OS challenge. The Rezound sports Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread with an HTC Sense 3.5 skin (but can upgrade to 4.0).  The iPhone runs iOS 5.0, Apple’s latest and greatest operating system. The HTC Sense 3.5 has come along way and features stuff you won’t find anywhere else on Android-based phones. When Ice Cream Sandwich becomes available next year, expect a significant upgrade to the Android platform in terms of features. But many find apple’s iOS to be easier to use and its 5.0 version is definitely the most advanced yet. And let’s not forget that iOS 5 includes 5GB of free cloud storage allowing you to sync your photos, contacts and more.

Winner: Since the iPhone 4S’ iOS 5.0 is easier to use and includes 5GB of free iCloud storage, Apple takes this one.

Processor

Both feature a dual-core processor but the Rezound’s 1.5 GHz Qualcomm MSM8660 processor beats the iPhone’s 4S by 0.5 GHz. The Rezound also has more 1 GB of RAM besting the iPhone 4S’ by 512 MB.

Winner: Ummmm, the numbers don’t lie.  The Reszound’s chip is 50% faster, thus providing faster browsing speeds and multitasking compared to what the iPhone 4S offers.

Storage

The iPhone 4S comes in three options: 16 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB with no extra SD cards allowing you more. So as you go up in storage, you go up in price, too. For the Rezound, it comes with 16 GB of internal memory, but you can get a microSD card to provide you up to 32 GB of additional space.

Winner: Sorry Rezound, but the 64 GB option can’t be beat for many who like to have the biggest storage capacity available for all their apps, games, files and stuff. That built-in storage capacity plus that iCould service provided really can’t be beat.

Wireless Connectivity

So the Rezound is capable of true 4G speeds thanks to its LTE status, where as the iPhone 4S is technically 3G only. They’re both Bluetooth-enabled, though the iPhone boasts version 4.0, and the Rezound V3.0. The iPhone 4S is a world phone so it can work anywhere you go and has Wi-Fi a/b/g/n.  The Rezound isn’t a world phone and is capable of  two frequencies(850/1900 MHz) and single-band LTE (700MHz) with the same Wi-Fi capabilities as the iPhone 4S.

Winner: 4G speeds on the Rezound make it the definite winner.

Camera and Video

So this is a tough one.  Both smartphones include an 8 megapixel camera and can capture 1080p video.  While we have yet to test out the Rezound, we do know that the iPhone 4s takes stunning photos and video for a handset device.  But based on numbers alone, the Rezound does have two up on the iPhone 4s, which is a larger, 2mp front facing camera and a bigger f-stop of 2.2.

Winner: We’re gonna go on numbers alone on this one since we haven’t had a chance to get a hands on with both handsets.  So the Rezound is the winner in this bout.

Battery Life

This bout is moving target since it largely depends on how you use your phone.  Also, keep in mind that 4G is a huge battery suck when compared to 3G, but at the end of the day we have to look purely at specs.  The iPhone 4s claims 8 hours of talk time on 3G or 14 hours on 2G.  They say it will standby for up to 200 hours, will playback video for 10 hours and you can surf the web for up to 6 hours on 3G and 9 on WiFi.  The Rezound however claims a standby time of 261 hours, besting the iPhone 4s by 61 hours and 404 minutes of “usage.”

Winner:  Again, without real world testing we can only gauge this one objectively, and since the Rezound sports a 1620mah battery vs iPhone’s 1432mAh battery, we gotta give it to the Rezound. Furthermore, the Rezound’s battery is user replaceable.

Carriers

The iPhone 4S is available on Sprint, AT&T and Verizon.  The Rezound will be the first smartphone to hit the U.S. market with a true 720ppi screen on Verizon. But since it’s on Verizon, it will compete with not only the iPhone, but with the new Galaxy Nexus and Droid RAZR.

Winner: For those who aren’t part of Verizon can’t get the Rezound unless they break their contract with one of the other carriers or are on a month-to-month plan, making the iPhone 4S the winner here since has more carrier offerings.

Extras

The iPhone 4S come with Siri, which is a pretty advanced and unique voice activated system that’s witty and useful. It’s what’s really making the iPhone 4S as popular as it has become since it first dropped. But the Rezound has some extra goodies, too, boasting some awesome sound quality thanks to optimized hardware that has Beats by Dr. Dre (software AND some expensive ass headphones that are free with the phone). This is great for music lovers who really want to have amazing sound when listening to music from their phone.

Winner: We gotta give it to the Rezound.  Nothing beats (pun not intended) a pair of quality headphones included in the deal and chances are Google will roll out a comparable voice app very soon.

Price

The Rezound will set you back $300 bucks, while the iPhone 4S varies in price, making it a bit more flexible. The 16 GB is $199, the 32 GB is $299 (about the same as the 16 GB Rezound without the extra microSD card) and the 64 GB is $399 (but this all depends on contract status and goes higher when you’re not eligible for an upgrade).

Winner: The iPhone’s price flexibility is still pretty cool, making it available to those at different income levels, while the Rezound is $300 off the bat. This makes the iPhone 4S the winner here.

Overall Winner

Sorry Apple, it seems your iPhone 4S has some stiff competition with the HTC Rezound that boats a number of impressive capabilities like its display, processor, camera and video, price and more. It seems to be the Android that could really cause a dent in Apple’s iPhone 4S sales and popularity. While once a Mac lover always a Mac lover, those who want the latest and greatest will definitely want to top for the Rezound that has a better overall package.

Amazon Wireless has a super discount on this new HTC Rezound 4G Android Phone for Verizon Wireless!

Get ready for a whole new way to experience portable connectivity! With this brand new and powerful HTC Rezound available at this kick-ass price you can enjoy the freedom and functionality that Android 2.3 offers with stunning speed. This phone comes with a large 4.3-Inch HD Touch display and has 16GBs of internal memory Plus an included 16GB MicroSD for 32Gbs of space total. It’s powered by an all new 1.5Ghz Dual-Core processor which allows you to soar through tasks, and also includes an 8MP Camera which can capture full 1080p High Definition videos. It also has full Stereo Bluetooth 3.0 Connectivity, GPS Navigation, Wireless-N Wi-Fi and the kicker 4G connectivity. The HTC Sense experience makes it easier to share and see your friends and as a bonus it includes Beats Audio with Beats earbuds and a carry bag.

Get this new phone, with Beats sound, for $199.99 when you sign a 2-year contract.  That’s $600 off the retail price.  S&H is free

How do you sell even more smartphones than the next guy?  Simple, you partner with a lifestyle brand, such as Beats by Dr. Dre.  That’s what HTC did earlier this year.  It’s a logical move since the smartphone has become today’s must have device amongst those young and old, so it will surely end up being a cynergistic relationship that will pay dividends to both companies.

And to kick off that partnerhip, HTC yesterday announced the Rezound.  It packs in Beats audio tuning, a 4.3-inch screen, Android OS and 4G LTE connectivity.

According to HTC, the Rezound will let customers “hear music the way the artist intended” by delivering unprecedented audio playback.  They’ve also tossed in a pair of light weight earbuds that are exclusive to the Rezound and are designed to complement the audio tuning they’ve worked so hard to achieve.  Integrated directly into the cord is a mic for hands free calls and a remote for pausing, playing, skipping tracks and changing the phone’s volume.

The screen on the Rezound is from ordinary, as it can achieve true 720p HD playback.  HTC is hoping this will prime their movie download service, which boasts a progressive download feature allowing Rezound owners to watch HD movies without completing the download first.  Arrive home and you can connect the Rezound to an HDTV using the device’s Mobile High Definition Link (MHL) connectivity, which has to be a proprietary HDMI port, which mind you can pass 5.1-channel surround sound along with SRS WOW HD surround.

In the speed department the Rezound is no slouch.  Under the hood is a 1.5Ghz dual-core processor, which should be put to work with not only HD movies and games, but Verizon’s 4G LTE network.

And no smartphone of this caliber would be complete without a high end camera.  HTC has stuffed in an 8 megapixel camera with autofocus, an f/2.2 and 28mm lens and a dual LED flash.  It can capture full HD video and stereo sound.

Other features include HTC’s Sense skin, which sits on top of the Android OS.  And speaking of Android it will ship with Android 2.3, though it is upgradeable to 4.0 when it launches sometime next year.  In the memory department the phone comes standard with 16GB of on board storage and 1GB of RAM.  The former can of course be upgraded using a microSD card, though it does ship with a 16GB one.  There is also Bluetooth 3.0, WiFi b/g/n, GPS, a 1620mAh battery and Mobile Hotspot functionality.

The HTC Rezound will be available November 14th at Verizon stores and online for $299.99 with a 2-year contract.

The iPhone 4S has barely been out not even a full month and it already has loads of competition, with HTC’s 4G LTE smartphone Vivid its newest opponent. For devoted Apple heads, the iPhone 4S can do no wrong, even if it wasn’t the 5 version everybody hoped and wanted. Since both smartphones are offered via AT&T, they’ll be going head-to-head in new costumer showdown and for those on the cusp of an upgrade. See how each size up against each other as they fight to become the carrier’s top seller this holiday season!

Size

HTC Vivid weighs 135 grams and has a dimension of 135.5 x 67.9 x 8.9 mm. On the other hand, iPhone 4S comes with measurements of 115.2 x 58.6 x 9.3 mm and weighs 140 grams. with that said, both are about equal with the Vivid being a bit taller than the iPhone, which usually means a larger screen, which isn’t always a bad thing.

Appearance

Like any other iPhone version, it’s available in either black or white and are know for being sleek and shiny. However, the Vivid will also be available in both colors, but the glossy plastic around the sides and back of the phone might turn some fans off, given HTC has used a lot of soft-touch rubber-feel materials or aluminum on some of their past phones and the changes are quite noticeable to those HTC fans.

Display

The Vivid features a 4.5-inch Super LCD (updated per the comments) multi-touch display with a resolution of 540×960 pixels and has a Proximity Sensor, Accelerometer sensor for UI auto-rotate and an ambient light sensor.  The  SuperAMOLED allows users make better use of 4G network to browse the web or watch videos online and the multi-touch screen sports the HTC Sense 3.0. This touch interface supports many functions, such as multiple  unlock modes with gorgeous dynamic effect; new improvement on the aspect of weather display; different voice background and excellent animation effect.

While the iPhone 4S has a slightly smaller screen at 3.5 inches, but boasts a Retina multi-touch display of 960×640-pixel resolution at 326 ppi. The retina display is actually supposed to be highest-resolution phone screen ever, with the  pixel density is so high that the human eye is unable to distinguish individual pixels. The iPhone also features fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating on front and back.

Operating System

It seems that Apple’s iOS is, once again, up against the latest and greatest Android OS, with the HTC Vivid running off of Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS with HTC Sense UI on top of it. However, after the holidays are over, it’s supposed to have an OS upgrade when Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is released. Apple’s iPhone 4S has on the newest iOS 5 that packs 200 new features that include an improved Notifications System, Newsstand, iMessage and the much talked about Siri.

Processor

The iPhone 4S, which comes in an A5 chipset, is powered by 1GHz dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 CPU, PowerVR SGX543MP2 GPU. This means more power and faster graphics, making the iPhone 4S pretty quick and responsive if you’re one of those who like to launch all sorts of apps at once. On the other hand, Vivid has a 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor that also boasts optimum performance and quick response times just like Apple’s. Wireless devices built with Snapdragon, like the HTC Vivid, maximize 3G or 4G wireless network technology to deliver the best the Web has to offer. Here, both are pretty even.

Storage

While the iPhone 4S has various GB models, with the cheapest coming in at 16 GB and the most expensive being 64 GB, the Vivid will include 16 GB of on-board memory, and a microSD memory card slot means this can be expanded up to 48 GB. Not too shabby for those who would love to buy the 32 GB iPhone 4S but can’t afford it.

Wireless Connectivity

The HTC Vivid is one of the first smartphones able to utilize both LTE and HSPA+ 4G speeds, which allow owners of the smartphone reliable connection in both areas where applicable. A major plus for those looking for some fast connections. Up until now, Verizon has been the only major carrier with the “true” 4G technology, but AT&T will begin its 4G LTE coverage in cities such as Boston, D.C., and Baltimore next week, expanding to 15 markets by the end of the year. With both technologies, devices stand to be always tethered to an optimal connection. It also has Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and Wi-Fi hotspot.

The iPhone boasts 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology and is truly a global phone, so you can use it almost anywhere. Whether you’re a GSM or CDMA customer, you can roam GSM networks in 200 countries around the world.. It’s the first phone  phone to intelligently switch between two antennas to transmit and receive, so call quality is better. Depending on what carrier you get it on will also determine what type of network speeds the phone will get.

Camera and Video

The Vivid’s 8-megapixel rear-camera with dual-LED flash with a f2.2 28mm wide angle lens for low-light photos and is also capable of capturing 1080p video at 60 frames per second, while its front-facing camera features 1.3MP. So the iPhone 4S sports what Apple claims to be the “best camera ever on a phone.” It now features an f/2.4 lens and 8-megapixel resolution, which is way better from the iPhone 4, with HD video recording, up to 30 frames per second with audio. Other cool features include: LED flash, video stabilization and a front camera with VGA-quality photos and video at up to 30 frames per second

Battery Life

The iPhone 4S has a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery and has a talk time of up to 8 hours on 3G, and 14 on 2G (GSM). Its standby time is up to 200 hours and with Internet use up to  hours on 3G, up to 9 hours on Wi-Fi. For video playback expect up to 10 hours of use. The Vivid has a removable and rechargeable lithium-ion battery, 1620 mAh.

Carriers

Apple’s iPhone is now on Verizon. AT&T and Sprint, with the HTC Vivid on AT&T, which is where the competition will really heat up!

Price

The long-awaited 4G LTE smartphone HTC Vivid is not available on AT&T and be available starting November 6 at stores and online for $199 under a two year contract. The iPhone is priced according to how many GB you want.  It starts at $199 for the 16 GB, then goes up to $299 for the 32 GB and finally $399 for the 64 GB. But this all doubles in price when you don’t can’t upgrade and don’t want to wait until you can to get the new iPhone.

Winner

The latest smartphone from Apple received an overwhelming positive response and sold 4 million units during the opening weekend. But as many expected the iPhone 5, only the  iPhone 4S was left in its place and actually missed some prominent specs like edge-to-edge design, a larger display, 4G LTE and Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. But you really can’t knock a lot of its upgrades that really do make a difference to iPhone users and Apple lovers, so you can’t really complain too much. Besides, the iPhone 5 is probably dropping before we know it.

But the Vivid is claimed to be “a powerhouse in your pocket,” and it actually lives up to HTC’s statement given the impressive specs that pretty much competes on the same level as the iPhone 4S. So what it really comes down to is if you’re a iOS person or an Android fan. Whichever phone you choose, you’ll most likely be just as content with one or the other!

Size

The iPad weighs in at 1.33 lbs., while the Kindle Fire is only .09125 lbs., so the Fire wins here. But it’s smaller, with size specs that look like: 7.5 x 4.7 x 0.45. The iPad measures in at 9.5 x 7.31 x 0.34. Amazon’s claim to fame here is that it’s “easy to hold in one hand, so it’s small enough to fit anywhere….but so is an iPad, really.

Appearance

Apple likes black and white, so guess what? Those are the two colors available for the iPad 2! Amazon kept it simple and left the Kindle Fire in only a black option. But it did give it a sleek appearance that somewhat resembles the iPad 2.

Display

Amazon didn’t want to make the Kindle Fire too big, so it opted for a pretty standard 7-inch 1,024 x 600 touch screen. On the other hand, Apple’s iPad 2 boasts a 9.7-inch screen that’s almost about the same in terms of resolution, coming in at 1,024 x 768. But Amazon is claiming that its Fire display is state-of-the-art and is “chemically strengthened to be 20 times stiffer and 20 times harder than plastic,” making it very durable. Another feature worth mentioning is that the Kindle Fire and an IPS display while the iPad is LED Backlit AND IPS. This IPS screen allows you to lay the Fire down and still be able to look at it from the edge and see everything clearly since IPS screens have a 178-degree viewing angle.

Operating System

Amazon’s Kindle Fire is Android-based, running a customized version of the OS, but it’s unknown just how customized it is. It has a proprietary web page processing system that’s part of the OS though. So everybody knows that Apple’s stuff runs off of the iOS, so knowing that fact puts the iPad 2 over the Kindle since there are no surprises when it comes to the OS. Also, iOS is a lot easier to navigate and is much more user friendly. But Amazon does have some cool web processing stuff going on with its new Kindle Fire thanks to its “Amazon Silk.” It’s claim is that it’s a “revolutionary, cloud-accelerated browser” that uses a a “split-browser” architecture, which leverages the computing speed and power of Amazon’s Web services cloud. It also learn which sites you visit most and saves them, sort of like how Amazon stores what you look for and then suggests things to based on what you buy most. Oh, and it supports Adobe Flash Player, too!

Processor

Like most of Apple’s products at the moment (or at least their latest ones), the iPad 2 features an A5 process. Amazon decided to put a dual-core TI OMAP 4 processor in the Kindle Fire. Really, both are based on the same dual-core ARM processor, so it’s pretty even here.

Storage

Well, Apple is known to have various options when it comes to storage capability for its devices and its iPad 2 is no different. It comes in various versions, including 16 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB options. The Fire has only 8 GB of internal storage (with no micro SD slot to ad more, which is a bummer). However, you might not be able to save that much stuff on the tablet itself, but Amazon is offering unlimited storage on its cloud service, but you’ll need Wi-Fi to access it though. With that said, the Kindle Fire has 16,683 apps available, while the Apple iPad 2 has a whopping 500,000 with 90,000 made for the iPad alone!

Wireless Connectivity

The Kindle Fire is Wi-Fi based with no 3G option. Apple offers BOTH a Wi-FI and 3G option on all of its iPad 2 GB models, but the 3G ones increase the price. Both have Wi-Fi specs of 802.11 b/g/n. Oh, and if you’re wondering about Bluetooh ability, the Fire has none while the iPad is Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR.

Camera and Video

Sadly, Amazon skipped putting in a camera so that obviously means no video, either. The iPad 2 has a front and rear camera, allowing you to take pictures and more. The back camera has HD video recording (720p) up to 30 frames per second with audio, as well as a still camera with 5x digital zoom. The front camera features: Video recording, VGA up to 30 frames per second with audio; VGA-quality still camera.

Battery Life

Amazon made its Kindle Fire have an 8-hour battery life, but the iPad boasts up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video or listening to music.

Carriers

So far, Verizon and AT&T are the only carriers for the iPad 2, with Sprint later jumping on now that they offer the iPhone so who knows. But, with carriers, there is extra data plans, which means more money to your monthly bill! There’s no carrier for the Kindle Fire, with Amazon being the main and only place that can light your Fire…literally. But Amazon offers this “Prime” membership ting where Kindle owners can enjoy: unlimited instant videos, Kindle Owners’ Lending Library and more for a yearly price of $79 a year and a one-month free trail.

Price

Amazon has priced its Kindle Fire reasonably low at only $199 for a tablet of its caliber, which features a heavily modified version of Android, can download books from Amazon’s huge store and is designed to be an e-reader and more! Although Apple has been dropping its prices on many of its older gadgets, the iPad 2 didn’t get that price drop and goes for $499 all the way up to $829 depending on the size of GB you want and if you want it to be 3G or Wi-Fi.

Winner

The iPad is by far a more impressive tablet, but that doesn’t mean anything to a lot of users. For those who want an e-reader disguised as a tablet, the Kindle Fire will rock your world! But for those that want more from their tablet, might still want to ask Santa for the iPad 2. The Kindle Fire ships November 15, but it’s now available for pre-order now.

With Google’s announcement of Android 4 (Ice Cream Sandwich), users are now chomping at the bit to update to the latest OS. And while Google did say that that most if not all phones with Gingerbread would see an upgrade to Android 4.0, it’s not a given. So, here is our concise “How-To” on getting you a scoop of Ice Cream.

1. Have the right phone

The rule of thumb here is that the newer your phone, the more likely you’ll get it – and you should definitely be running vs. 2.3 (Gingerbread). Here is the list of phones that should, however, be upgraded: HTC Amaze 4G, HTC Droid Incredible (maybe), HTC Droid Incredible 2, HTC EVO 3D, HTC EVO Shift 4G, HTC G2, HTC Inspire 4G (maybe), HTC Sensation 4G, HTC ThunderBolt, LG G2x, Motorola Atrix 4G, Motorola Atrix 2, Motorola Droid 3, Motorola Droid Bionic, Motorola Droid RAZR, Motorola Droid X2, Samsung Galaxy Nexus (out of the box), Samsung Galaxy S II – (Galaxy S II, Epic 4G Touch), Samsung Infuse 4G, Samsung Nexus S (Nexus S 4G), and the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play.

Now, of course, this largely depends no your air carrier and if your phone has an overlay like Motoblur or TouchWiz. Usually, this causes delays in rolling out these updates and as such, it could be later than sooner that your phone gets upgraded. And if your phone isn’t on the list because it’s too old, then it becomes less likely you’ll get Ice Cream Sandwich if you haven’t been given Gingerbread yet. So now may be the time to look for a new phone if your contract is up.

2. Do nothing, be patient

But the good news is, that if your phone is on the list above, sooner or later you’ll get an over the air update to Android 4. That’s because Android phones have the benefit of having their updates done automatically. You wake up one morning and you find that your carrier stocked your phone’s freezer with Ice Cream Sandwich while you were sleeping. And that’s cool. All you will need to do it confirm the installation and let it go. Once installed, you can confirm by going to your phone’s device information screen to see that the latest version of Android is now on the phone.  BTW – it’s always a good idea to back up your phone first, just in case, and to plug in your phone via USB or AC adapter during the upgrade.  The last thing anyone wants is for their update to go bad because the phone battery died.

3. Do it the hard way

If you’re impatient and want to know if your phone’s update is available, you can manually check for Android updates. Do this by pressing the “Home” key, then the “Menu” button and go to the “Settings” option. In settings, you’ll see the option “About phone” near the bottom. From there, select“System updates” and your phone will look for any new Android updates to download and install. To streamline this process, download the app ANYCUT and you can create a shortcut on your main screen which will do all that with a quick tap.  Another way to find out when updates are available is to follow your handset manufacturer and wireless carrier on Twitter.  They will usually announce dates so you can be on the lookout.

4. Getting to the root of the matter

Finally, if your phone is too old, or your carrier doesn’t think you should get Android 4 Ice Cream Sandwich, or if you’re just too impatient to get it, you can always “root” your phone and download a custom ROM of Android 4 once it becomes available. Rooting means you get administrator access to your phone and can customize it’s functions. There is a very active community of Android fans who are constantly working on versions of Android – called ROMS – which make a new version or Android available to phones that don’t get them, or that streamline the OS – taking out overlays like Motoblur or TouchWiz. A good place to learn more are the XDA Developer Forums. There you can get custom ROMs, Boot Managers, and there’s a very helpful community who are happy to answer any questions and help you troubleshoot should a root and rom go dreadfully wrong.

The battle of the smartphones continues as the highly anticipated iPhone 4S goes head-to-head with Samsung’s latest and greatest Android, the Galaxy S II. For those looking to upgrade their phones or just want to know how each of the top smartphones (at least “top” for now given how fast upgrades are made), here’s a helpful comparison of the two!

Size

The Galaxy S II is one of the thinnest Androids out there, measuring 5.11 x 2.71 x .37 (all inches, HxWxD) and weighing in at 4.77 ounces. The new iPhone, on the other hand, measures in at 4.5 x 2.31 x .37 (all inches, HxWxD) and weighs 4.9 ounces. The Galaxy S II is considerably larger because of its display but it is lighter.

Appearance

Both share similar features in the looks department. They both come in white and black options, but the iPhone 4S does sport a premium finish with a glass front and back, while the Samsung Galaxy S II has a very thin and sort of flimsy plastic rear case…but this is what makes it so light, so it’s not necessarily such a flaw.

Display

The Galaxy S II has a larger screen than the iPhone coming in at 4.52 inches compared to 3.5 inches (but remember that the S II is lighter). So the iPhone 4S boasts a 640×960 resolution, creating a pixel density of 326ppi, while the Galaxy S II has a bright AMOLED display but it has 480×800 resolution, which means it has a pixel density of 216ppi. Looks like the iPhone wins here, but really, both are awesome touchscreen displays.

Operating System

Obviously, the iPhone 4S runs on IOS 5 and the Galaxy S II on Android. But all the hoopla with the new iPhone was about a new operating system and the latest version is touted as the “world’s most advanced mobile operating system,” as well as the easiest to use. New features with the upgrade include: notification center, iMessage, Twitter integration, reminders, camera enhancements, better photo editing options, PC free, Safari, Newsstand and Siri, the voice control feature that everybody’s taking about. The Multi-Touch interface in the new OS is easier since it was “designed for your finer,” making it finger friendly. But it still lacks flash support, which is a major downer!

The Samsung Galaxy S II runs Google’s Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS with its own Touchwiz interface. It’s claimed to be “more refined and polished,” which basically means a more intuitive user interface.

Processor

The iPhone 4S has received a processor upgrade, which is an A5 dual-core chip, clocked in at 800MHz and Apple says you’ll notice the upgrade with it’s faster responses that make all the difference when you’re launching apps, on the web and doing everything else you do on your smartphone these days. And because the A5 chip is so power-efficient, iPhone 4S has outstanding battery life (but more on that later).

Since the Galaxy S II has a wider screen, it was given a Qualcomm Snapdragon S3 Processor with 1.5 GHz dual-core CPUs so that it wouldn’t freeze while running multiple apps.

Storage

Storage is worth a quick mention with a new maximum capacity of 64GB available on the Iphone 4S. The Galaxy S II maxes out with just 16GB, and but it does redeem itself with the inclusion of a microSD card slot that can take a further 32GB, adding more storage for those who like to keep everything on their smartphones. This totals 48GB, so comes but it still comes in short of only 16GB of its rival.

Wireless Connectivity

They are both world phones, so globetrotters will be satisfied with both. The Galaxy S II is built and engineered to run on 4G networks, making it super fast, which means no waiting even when you have tons of apps open. Thanks to AllShare, you can also wirelessly share and stream videos, photos and music between your phone and TV, laptop and audio system. With a 4G connection you get up to 42 Mbps down speed and it’s Bluetooth 3.0 compatible.

The iPhone 4S also has WiFi abilities thanks to AirPrint and AirPlay, which allows you to print wirelessly and wirelessly stream what’s on your phone to your HDTV and speakers via Apple TV. It also boasts faster connections since Apple says that the new phone is the first to intelligently switch between two antennas to transmit and receive, making call quality better.

Camera and Video

Other than Sira, the other significant iPhone 4S upgrade is its rear-facing camera, which has been bumped up to 8MP from 5MP, and it also has a custom lens with a larger f/2.4 aperture. But the Galaxy S II 8MP camera matches that of the new iPhone 4S, making them even in this category. The details continue to be the same across the board with an LED flash, auto focus and digital zoom. The two are neck-to-neck on video abilities, too, with HD 1080p at 30fps. Both also come with software for photo and video editing.

Battery Life

Apple placed a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery in their new iPhone, with a talk time of up to 8 hours on 3G. Standby time is up to 200 hours, while Internet use is up to 6 hours on 3G and up to 9 on Wi-Fi. Video playback is up to 10 hours and audio playback is up to 40 hours.

Samsung added a rechargeable 1850 mAh lithium-ion battery with talk time pretty much the same with the iPhone so expect 8 hours to be the maximum.

Carriers

You can get the iPhone on AT&T, Sprint and Verizon, while the Galaxy S II is available on T-Mobile, AT&T and Sprint.

Price

The iPhone 4S will put you back $199 for the 16GB, $299 for the 32GB and for those big spenders, $399 for the 64GB…but this is for new contracts or those eligible for upgrades. Price jumps between $600-$800 depending on the carrier and GB variant.

With AT&T, the Galaxy S II starts at $199.99, while T-Mobile has it for $299.99. Sprint is carrying it for 199.99 also (all with a new contract).

Winner

Really, it’s a tie. Both the iPhone 4S and Galaxy S II sport the latest and greatest tech when it comes to smartphones and share a lot of the same features. So it really depends on whether you’re a devoted Mac fan or an Android lover. But whichever one you opt for, you’ll end up with an awesome smartphone that will entertain you for hours and/or  help conduct business when you’re away from the office. It’s a win-win situation!

Today, Motorola delivered a response to Apple regarding the iPhone 4s.  It’s called the DROID RAZR.  Yup, the RAZR, the same phone that rejuivnated the company’s handset division, is back.  But this time, based on specs alone, it doesn’t seem to have any shortcomings.

Despite boasting a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED screen with a qHD resolution (960×540), the DROID RAZR measures just 7.1mm thick and has been reinforced with KEVLAR fiber and Corning Gorilla glass for added durability.  Motorola has also adorned it with some sort of new fangled nano coating that helps repel the inside and outside of the phone from “every day spills”.   This ain’t official, but this has to make the RAZR the toughest and thinnest 4G smartphone on the market today.

Complementing the jaw dropping exterior is a dual core 1.2Ghz processor, though Motorola hasn’t said of which type.  Unlike Apple’s iPhone 4s, which is capped at 512mb of RAM, the RAZR sports 1GB of memory.  It ships with 16GB of built-in storage and a 16GB microSD card slot, though you should be able to update the latter to 32GB.   An 8 megapixel shooter sits on the back enabling photogs to capture 1080p HD video, or use the front facing HD camera for video chats.  Bluetooth 4.0 and a 1780mAh battery round out the spec set, at least in terms of hardware.

The DROID RAZR will ship with Android 2.3.5 and include two apps from Motorola.  The first, MotoCast, allows you to stream media directly from your computer, or download it, however you see fit, right your handset.  They’re also tossing in an app called Smart Actions, which automates everyday actions, such as screen dimming or switching to silent mode at select times throughout the day.  And let’s not forget about Motorola’s webtop action, enabling the handset to play nicely with their Lapdock 100 or HD station.  Lastly, the RAZR boasts a HotSpot function that can support up to 8 WiFi devices.

The DROID RAZR will cost $299.99 on contract and arrive this November from Verizon Wireless.

Verizon Wireless and Motorola Announce DROID RAZR™ by Motorola: DROID Strong. RAZR Sharp.

Impossibly thin with unstoppable power on America’s fastest and most reliable 4G network

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. – Today, Motorola Mobility, Inc. (NYSE: MMI) and Verizon Wireless announced DROID RAZR™ by Motorola, the world’s thinnest 4G LTE smartphone. A true marvel of design, this smartphone packs strength and smarts into a stylish package offered exclusively from Verizon Wireless.

Measuring 7.1 mm thin, made with KEVLAR® fiber for strength and Corning® Gorilla® Glass for scratch resistance, the DROID RAZR is ready to face the elements. Speed limits are just an illusion with a dual-core 1.2 GHz processor and Verizon Wireless 4G LTE. DROID RAZR customers can expect to rip through the Web with speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G.

“DROID RAZR by Motorola combines style, performance and the power of Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network into one innovative device,” said Marni Walden, vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless. “These are two iconic brands that separately symbolize the best technology available today. The combination will provide an unsurpassed wireless experience for customers.”

“DROID RAZR by Motorola is a testament to the innovation and design possibilities that stem from a strong partnership between Motorola Mobility and Verizon Wireless,” said Sanjay Jha, Chairman and CEO, Motorola Mobility. “We set out to design the best smartphone on the planet and delivered DROID RAZR which is thinner, smarter, stronger than any device on the market.”

Not only does DROID RAZR by Motorola deliver heart-pounding speed, but it has a mind-bending 4.3-inch hyper-vibrant display with more colors than most LCD HDTVs. The Super AMOLED™ Advanced display with qHD resolution dishes out beautiful images and smooth action so on-the-go movies and TV shows aren’t a blur, whether customers stream from Netflix™ or rent from Android Market™. It’s the first smartphone capable of streaming movies and TV shows through Netflix with up to HD resolution.

DROID RAZR customers can take advantage of the Super AMOLED Advanced display and 4G LTE speeds to stream videos with NFL Mobile, only from Verizon. Fans can stay up to date on news, schedules and scores from their favorite teams on the go. NFL Mobile is included at no additional charge for 4G LTE customers for the remainder of the 2011 season.

If cutting-edge visuals are its beauty, apps on DROID RAZR are its brains. Enter MotoCast™, the free Motorola app that lets you stream or download your music, pictures and more from your PC to your phone. The Smart Actions app helps automate everyday tasks and optimizes battery efficiency by letting customers create rules, such as automatically setting the phone to vibrate during work hours or dimming the display at a specific battery level. The revolutionary webtop application allows customers to combine the device with separately sold accessories, like the Lapdock™ 100 or HD Station, unleashing the power to edit documents and browse the Web with a full Firefox® browser on a larger screen – all while charging the device.

Additional features:

Powered by Android™ 2.3.5, Gingerbread
1GB RAM for a fast user interface and multi-tasking
8-megapixel rear camera with 1080p HD video capture and image stabilization technology for crisp and clear videos
Front-facing HD camera for video chat over 4G LTE, 3G or Wi-Fi
4G LTE Mobile Hotspot capable so customers can share 4G LTE speed with up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices
Water repellent nanocoating protects the phone, and even the inside components, against everyday spills
Remote wipe, pin lock and government-grade encryption for email, calendar and contacts as well as voice and video chat conferencing
Use Quickoffice® to view, create and edit Microsoft® Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents on your mobile device from anywhere at anytime
Bluetooth 4.0 low energy
32 GB memory: 16 GB on board and 16 GB microSD™ card pre-installed (actual formatted capacity is less)
Powerful 1780 mAh battery
The DROID RAZR will be available in early November for $299.99 with a new two-year customer agreement at all Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at: www.verizonwireless.com; as well as at authorized retailers. Customers can visit www.droiddoes.com/droidrazr to pre-order DROID RAZR beginning on October 27. For more information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

Amazon Wireless is basically giving away this HTC ThunderBolt 4G Android Phone Verizon Wireless!

Now here’s the price you’ve been waiting for on this feature packed and super powerful Smartphone! Then HTC Thunderbolt holds true its name and provides you with lightning fast operation and that’s thanks to its 1Ghz Snapdragon Processor and Android Operating System. This phone comes with a large 4.3-Inch HD display which includes both a rear-facing 8MP Dual-Flash camera with 720p video recording and 1.3MP Front-facing camera which makes video chat simple and easy. The Full Web experience is all here thanks to its Webkit based browser which has Flash 10.1 installed on it and it gets even better with its stereo speaker enhanced with SRS WOW HD. You also get 8GBs of integrated memory along with a large pre-loaded 32GB MicroSD card!

A 2-year contract cuts the price of this phone to $0.01!  That’s the most amazing deal we’ve ever seen for this phone

Wirefly is offering the best kind of deal you can find for the Samsung Stratosphere 4G for Verizon Wireless!

Now if you’re looking to get your hands on some impressive smartphone technology then this is the deal to get it with. With a 2-year contract with Verizon you will pay nothing to get your hands on this new and powerful Samsung Stratosphere smartphone. This phone comes complete with a large 4.0-Inch AMOLED HD display which provides plenty of multitasking thanks to its 1GHz hypertasking processor, It also comes with a full QWERTY slide-out keyboard for the fastest typing experience around and thanks to the Android Operating System you have unlimited access to customizability and applications so you never run out of things to do on the go, and of course the Web Browser comes with full flash support for the fullest internet experience. You’re even capable of sharing the 4G connection with 8 other devices thanks to mobile hotspot.

Sign a 2-year contract and you’ll get this phone, which costs $499, for $0 and ships for free

We’ve definitely had a wide range of products get sales hit in the past week. From video cameras to HDTVs at record breaking low prices and even smartphones and tablets. Here’s we’ve compiled a list of the best ones that are still around to take advantage of:

10. Panasonic HDC-TM41H Camcorder – $200

Beach Camera offered this sale on eBay and regardless of the nice price docking here it’s still around. This portable camcorder from Panasonic has everything you need for taking videos everywhere and of course comes in at 1080p. It has 16GBs of internal memory to take advantage of along with slots for SD cards which allow for much more. It even boasts an impressive 135 minute recording battery life to boot.

9. Yamaha RX-V471 5.1-Channel Receiver with Free Apple TV – $330

Now this is certainly an impressive one. Not only do we get a sweet discount deal on this powerful 5.1-Channel receiver system but it even comes with a free Apple TV (Which is a $98 value by itself!) This receiver has full support for the latest technologies like 3D and ARC while also presenting us with 4 HDMI inputs, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD encoders and an included iPod dock for pumping your music through your system.

8. Dell Ultrasharp U2412M 24-Inch Monitor – $320

Now this may seem like a high price from Dell, but this is no ordinary monitor. First off an $80 Coupon (XD5W7S1JRP52C8) bring this Dell LED Display down to this price. The monitor itself features IPS technology bringing out truly realistic and stunning visuals along with an incredible viewing angle which makes it easy to look at from anywhere in the room. And you also get a wonderful 16:10 resolution of 1920 by 1200 which gives you more than enough room for multitasking to be very easy, both vertically and horizontally.

7. Canon Powershot ELPH 100 HS 12MP Digital Cameras – $130

Crutchfield’s coupon savings still apply on this super portable Canon Digital Camera. Using code: 3A825 will save you $20 off an already low price mark. This camera can take large 12-Megapixel shots with ease and also contains a 4x Optical zoom while each and every image is graced by its DIGIC 4 image processor which brings out the best of quality. It also has a 3.0-Inch touch display and is capable of taking full 1080p High Definition videos.

6. Blackberry Playbook 7-Inch 16GB Tablet – $299

Yes you heard right, this powerful and brand new Blackberry Playbook tablet has had its price reduced even more, and even now you’re able to take advantage of it. This tablet comes with a colorful HD 7-Inch display and utilizes the BlackBerry OS which allows for some great multitasking and Internet browsing freedom. It’s powered by a 1Ghz Dual Core CPU and has 1GB of RAM, which sounds more like PC specs than a tablet. This one also comes with 16GBs of Internal memory which can be expanded with SD cards.

5. Apple MC526LL/A iPod Nano 16GB (Current Gen) – $150

The price hit has come down for these super sleek and powerful iPod Nanos. You can grab any color you like at this new low price from Amazon. The newest Nano features a size similar to a shuffle, but includes a multi-touch display for controlling your music cravings. 16GBs of internal storage come from this model for plenty of music listening on the go and when gesture based controls are combined with its display its never been easier to listen to exactly what you want to hear.

4. Apple Macbook Air MC968LL/A 11.6-Inch – $950

Believe it or not you can still catch this super low price for the popular and super thin Macbook Air. This model comes complete with a super compact 11.6-Inch screen and comes powered by a speedy Intel core i5 processor and 2GBs of RAM. It also contains a 64GB solid state drive which gives it even more speed and impressing performance and includes support for Bluetooth 4.0, integrated HD Facetime webcam and a brand new Thunderbolt port.

3. Curtis LCD4686A 46-Inch LCD TV – $445

And here it is, if you’ve wanted to get your hands on a large TV for any room now’s your chance to make some awesome savings! This large 46-Inch Curtis TV has a full 1080p High Definition resolution and a 5,000:1 contrast ratio for deep colors. It also includes a wide variety of inputs which make it home theater friendly and these include HDMI, VGA, HD Component and several analog composites to fit all of your needs with ease.

2. Vlingo Voice Assistant for iPhone – FREE

We’re sure you’ve heard the saying If it’s free its for me, and iTunes has surely delivered on that by offering the powerful and flexible Vlingo Voice app for just that. This app allows you to speak your commands to your iPhone, which it will follow to a T and make life much easier on the go. You can tell it to do things such as texting your friend Mike, or updating your Facebook status or even ask it to locate a place of interest for you and a map will display. Eitherway it’s definitely worth checking out as it will cost you nothing!

1. HTC Droid Incredible 2 for Verizon Wireless – $0.01

Speaking of free, why not check out this new and improved Droid Incredible 2 for a price that may as well be free. With a contract deal you can experience the latest smartphone technology packed into this little phone. With a large 4.0-Inch HD display it graces you with the latest Android has to offer as well as SRS WOW HD sound to complete the experience. It includes an 8MP cameras as well and plenty of connectivity from Bluetooth to GPS and WiFI so you’re never left behind.

If speed is your game, then checkout Verizon’s latest handset, the Samsung Stratosphere.  It’s their first 4G phone to sport a 5 row physical QWERTY keyboard.   It will ship October 13th for $149.99 after a 2-year contract.

At the center of this phone is Samsung’s 4-inch Super AMOLED screen which can playback video up to 720p in resolution.  However, the 5 megapixel camera is only capable of capture DVD quality video, which is a bit sad considering the rest of the phone seems to be on par with today’s handsets – there is a 1.3mp shooter on the front.  Under the hood is a 1 GHz Cortex A8 Hummingbird processor and Verizon has included their Mobile Hotspot functionality which supports up to 5 devices.   In the connectivity departement there is WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0 and support for DLNA.  The phone will ship with Android 2.3.

If you’re a business user, you might be interested to hear that the Stratosphere supports Cisco’s AnyConnect 2.1 SSL VPN service and variety of other business applications right out of the box.

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Verizon Wireless and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) today announced the Samsung Stratosphere™, a Galaxy S® smartphone, will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com beginning Oct. 13.

The Samsung Stratosphere is the first 4G LTE smartphone from Verizon Wireless equipped with a five-row QWERTY keyboard and designed with Samsung’s four-inch Super AMOLED™ display. Additionally, the Stratosphere supports enhanced B2B-enabled connectivity services from Cisco™, the most comprehensive mobile implementation of Microsoft® Exchange ActiveSync® (EAS) and support for secure remote device management from Sybase ® Afaria®.

Ideal for the business professional, the Samsung Stratosphere offers robust data management support. The Stratosphere will support Samsung’s Enterprise Platform enhancements such as VPN, encryption and Mobile Device Management (MDM). EAS includes features such as direct push, email, calendar, contact sync and Global Address List (GAL), as well as EAS policies including storage card encryption, device encryption, and simple and complex password support, all essential for streamlining business on the smartphone.

Key features:

4G LTE – customers can expect fast download speeds of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps in 4G LTE mobile broadband coverage areas
Five-row QWERTY keyboard
Samsung Super AMOLED™ Screen Technology makes watching movies, viewing videos and playing games come to life, even in bright light and outdoor environments
Android™ 2.3 Gingerbread – support for Google™ Mobile Services including Gmail™, YouTube™, Google Talk™, Google Search™, Google Maps™ and access to more than 250,000 apps available to download from Android Market™
Samsung 1 GHz Cortex A8 Hummingbird Application Processor
Front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera for video chat and 5-megapixel rear-facing camera with autofocus and flash (720p HD playback and 480p DVD-quality recording)
Mobile Hotspot Capability – share 4G connection with up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices or a 3G connection with up to five devices
AllShare® – enables wireless connectivity through Digital Living Network Alliance® (DLNA), so customers can send multimedia content to other DLNA Certified®-enabled devices such as TVs and laptops
Samsung Media Hub – Samsung’s own content service, offering a vast lineup of critically acclaimed films and TV programs for rent or purchase
Bluetooth® 3.0 technology – support for headset, hands-free, stereo, phonebook access, and object push for vCard and vCalendar
Multiple video file formats supported, including DivX and XviD
Wi-Fi Connectivity (802.11 a/b/g/n)
Business features:

Samsung’s enterprise mobility solutions will provide flexibility and connectivity for mobile workforces, ensuring that users are able to operate more efficiently on the go.

Microsoft® Exchange ActiveSync® (EAS) – communicate directly with your Microsoft Exchange Server enabling push email, calendar and contacts
Support for Cisco AnyConnect 2.1 SSL VPN – supports access to private corporate networks using industry-standard VPN protocols with enhanced security of 4G LTE networks helps users tap into VPN networks with no waiting
Encryption Services – users and IT administrators can initiate a remote wipe command to erase private information
Support for Sybase Afaria® – MDM capabilities allow an integrated experience for the end user in the event it is required by their IT department or corporate policy
Pricing and data packages:

The Samsung Stratosphere will be available on Oct. 13 in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com for $149.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. Customers will receive the rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted.
Customers that purchase a Samsung Stratosphere smartphone will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan beginning at $39.99 for monthly access and a smartphone data package starting at $30 monthly access for 2 GB of data.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 106.3 million total wireless connections, including 89.7 million retail customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 83,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

About Samsung Telecommunications America
Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC, a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets and telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.samsungwireless.com.

LTE is a trademark of ETSI. 4G LTE as used herein refers to the fact that the Samsung Galaxy S® Stratosphere™ can operate on Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network. Stratosphere is a trademark of Verizon Wireless.

The new iPhone has finally been released. While it wasn’t the iPhone 5 everybody wanted, the new iPhone 4S still boasts some cool qualities. One being that it’s now going to be offered by Sprint. If you’ve been wanting to leave your other carriers now’s a good time to head over to Sprint. You can score the new Apple iPhone 4S and some more great deals!

5. Google Voice

Sprint is a Google Voice partner, which means a number of things. First, your number can ring on up to six phones, there’s transcribed voicemail and even online voicemail that can be accessed via Gmail, cheap international calls, and you can screen callers so that you can listen in on a voicemail and join the call at any time. Users don’t have to port their number, either, so they can use their existing one without the transfer! It’s now free to all Sprint customers and used to cost $20.

4.Great Service

Since Sprint is trying to up its place among the rankings, new customers who switch over for the iPhone will probably be treated to top-tier. We all know what a pain it can be tying to deal with service or phone problems, so Sprint’s customer service might be super great since they’re going to want to work harder for your business…in the beginning anyways.

3. Threaten your Current Carrier About Switching

Since Sprint entered the game, you can threaten your current carrier that you’ll be switching over to Sprint and see what discounts they give you to stay and keep you as a customer. You might even want to bring some negotiations to the table like a discount on your next handset or a discounted rate on your monthly bill for a few months. Hey, it’s worth a try and you never know what you might be able to get away with!

2. Cheaper Introductory Packages

Sprint’s intro plan is just $69.99 with 450 minutes and unlimited data, with the Simply Everything unlimited calling and data running you $99.99. AT&T offers a $15/month plan that Verizon doesn’t, Sprint charges just $10 for unlimited data, and AT&T’s 2GB/month plan is $5 less than Verizon’s identical option.

1. Unlimited Data Plan

Newcomer Sprint has a major advantage over AT&T and Verizon since they’re the only ones that will offer an unlimited data plan to new iPhone 4S customers. So that means you’ll be able to tether, stream and download as much as you want without having to worry about how much you’ll be charged, going over your limits or having to upgrade in data plans because one month you’ve decided to go crazy in your streaming. With the other two carries, fees start kicking in for overage at 2GB.

AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint iPhones Compared