GeekSugar

HTC One X Slated to Hit AT&T on May 6 For $200

Kristy Korcz — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 12:07:55 PDT

Audiophiles looking for a new phone should mark this date on their calendar - the HTC One X will hit AT&T on May 6 for $200. First spotted at CES 2012, the One X is a looker with its sleek white polycarbonate exterior, but it also comes packed with Beats Audio technology for a groovy listening experience on the go. Also packed inside is Android Ice Cream Sandwich, a powerful 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor for fast app switching and gameplay, a large 4.7-inch Super LCD2 touch screen display, 8MP rear camera coming with 1080p HD video recording, auto focus, image stabilization, continuous shooting mode, and an LED flash, a 1.3MP front-facing camera with 720p resolution for video chatting, lots of onboard storage, and 25GB of free Dropbox storage so you can keep your music, videos, and documents safe in the cloud.

Like what you see? Get your preorder on, starting on April 22, through AT&T's website or in stores.

Pros and Cons of the Nokia Lumia 900

Kristy Korcz — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 06:30:41 PDT

Yesterday we talked about all the reasons you'll love the Nokia Lumia 900, but the phone itself does have a few drawbacks. Debating on whether or not to pick one up for yourself? Here, four reasons why you might want to skip it and a recap of the five reasons you'll want to buy it.

The apps (or lack thereof) - The Windows Marketplace is buzzing with apps, but your favorites, like Spotify and Instagram, either don't work or are not available. Your basic social networks are ready and waiting, though, so at least you can keep up with your inner and extended circles.
Screen resolution - The 4.3-inch AMOLED screen is big and bright, but only comes with 800 x 480 resolution, which isn't as powerful as other screens on the market. For comparison, the iPhone 4S comes with a 3.5-inch 960 x 640 resolution screen, and while this may not make that much of a difference to you, you might notice a difference while viewing videos and photos.
Photo quality - While the photos that I've taken on the Lumia 900 haven't been that bad, they could be better. Considering the phone comes stocked with an 8MP camera with a Carl Zeiss sensor, you expect a little more than you get. The images do seem a bit washed out, and compared to other Android and Apple devices, it's just not consistently up to snuff.
AT&T-only - Sure, AT&T's 4G LTE network is fast, but if you are a customer elsewhere, you won't get much of a choice on whether or not to pick up this phone. The Nokia Lumia 900 is exclusive to AT&T for now.

To catch up on all the pros, just keep reading.

Nokia Lumia 900 Review: 5 Reasons You'll Love It

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 18:00:09 PDT

I couldn't get the Nokia Lumia 900 off my mind after getting a look at this year's CES, and now that I've spent a few days with it as my main device, it appears it was worth the wait. The Lumia 900 is a fantastic device for those who just can't get into Android and don't want to drop hundreds on an iPhone. The easy-to-use Windows OS is visually appealing, and paired with the Lumia 900's design, it's a match made in heaven.

Jumping on the Lumia 900 bandwagon is easy, but here are five features that will lure you in right off the bat.

Amazing: Nokia Lumia 900 Will Cost as Little as $0

Kristy Korcz — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 16:35:45 PDT

Here's something to consider if you're shopping for a new smartphone this month - the coveted Nokia Lumia 900 is free for new AT&T customers; you'll even get the phone a whole two days before it hits streets on April 8. What's more, you can buy the same phone at WalMart for $50 with a new service agreement or contract renewal. Considering the phone is only $100 to start with (you can preorder now by the way), these deals all but ensure that the phone will be flying off shelves in the coming months.

Nokia Lumia 900 Coming on April 8 For Just $100

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 09:13:49 PDT

If you've been crushing on the flagship Nokia Windows Phone as much as we have since CES, we have good news: the LTE Nokia Lumia 900 will hit AT&T on April 8 for just $100.

Coming with a beautiful 4.3-inch AMOLED screen, 16GB of storage space, 8MP camera (complete with a Carl Zeiss F2.2 aperture lens), and a choice of either cyan or black for an exterior hue (glossy white coming later in April), the Lumia 900 is quite a stunner. Of course, that doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of how awesome the Windows Phone OS is to use. One hundred bucks is an incredible deal compared to other smartphones on the market today, and naturally, you will have to sign a two-year contract with AT&T to get that price.

31 Days of Spring Cleaning: Clean Your Cell Phone

Kristy Korcz — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 11:32:47 PST

Neglecting to clean your cell phone is a nasty tech habit to break this year. Cell phones have been proven to carry bacteria, germs, even feces. Yes, feces. If there's one new routine to create for yourself this Spring, it's keeping that smartphone shiny and clean. Your health will thank you. Check out a few of our tech-friendly tips to clean that gadget, below.

Cleaning your touch screen smartphone is kind of like cleaning your LCD monitor - you don't want to use any harsh chemicals or, even more damaging, water. Using a tried-and-tested cleaner like iKlear ($21) will ensure you won't damage your phone's sensitive bits. Use the included microfiber cloth (or one of your own) and shine that baby up.
If you don't want to spring for a special formula, a 40/60 alcohol-to-water mixture on solid phone parts and keyboards should be OK for your devices (use a damp cloth and/or cotton swab for small and hard-to-reach places). However you do not want to use any sort of alcohol, ammonia, or harsh cleaning agent on touch screens.
If you're in a pinch and want to quickly rid your phone of dirty crevices and fingerprints, use a piece of Scotch Tape to peel away dirt and dust in between keys, and rid your phone of fingerprints. Perfect for when you're at the office (without a microfiber cloth), but unfortunately it won't help the germ situation.
Serious germaphobes can ensure a clean device with the UV Cell Phone Sanitizer ($50), which wipes your device clean of 99.9 percent of strep, E. coli, salmonella, listeria, and H1N1 viruses in three minutes flat. Just drop it in once a day for germ-free surfing and calling.

In the mood to refresh your tech life? Here's nine more bad tech habits to break this Spring!

Vertu's Constellation Shines Bright at Oscar Dinner

Kristy Korcz — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 13:48:56 PST

Wolfgang Puck and Vertu hosted a pre-Oscar dinner for the Dream For Africa Foundation earlier this week, and while the food was likely the main attraction, Vertu's new touchscreen Constellation smartphone made an appearance on tabletops as well.

Coming with a 3.5-inch Sapphire Crystal touchscreen, an 8MP camera with dual LED flash, a tilt switch (to view your screen in horizontal or landscape mode), and other high-class accoutrements, like a ceramic "pillow" for your ear, ringtones composed by the London Symphony Orchestra, and exteriors in materials like leather, alligator skin, stainless steel, gold, and diamonds, it's a work of art in and of itself. Let's not forget that users get 24-hour concierge service with every Constellation to buy gifts, book tickets, and find the best restaurants (and finagle a reservation). There's no doubt you'd need an Oscar-worthy salary to rock one of these babies. Get a closer look at the T in the gallery!

Are You Afraid to Be Without Your Cell Phone?

Kristy Korcz — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 10:43:57 PST

Do you suffer from Nomophobia, the fear of being without a mobile phone? According to a new survey out of the UK, two out of every three adults have anxiety, and some are even terrified of being without cell phone contact on any given day.

As we become dependent on technology, it's no wonder that people feel like they've lost a limb if they forget their cell phone at home (guilty as charged!), but becoming anxious to the point of terror is quite another issue.

Tell me - are you afraid to be without your cell phone during the day?

Samsung Galaxy Note Gets Price and Release Date

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:31:18 PST

The biggest smartphone (or tiniest tablet?) we've ever seen, the Samsung Galaxy Note has finally received a price and release date: it's headed to AT&T on Feb. 19 for $300. Whether you're looking for a powerful smartphone or portable tablet, the Galaxy Note has you covered. Coming with a 5.3-inch HD Super AMOLED screen, 1.4GHz dual-core processor, HSPA＋ and LTE connectivity for fast upload and download speeds, an included stylus (called the S Pen), and dual cameras (8MP rear facing and 2MP forward facing), it's got everything you might need from either device.

The Galaxy Note could also be your BFF when it comes to organizing your life. Included software integrates with your calendars, to-do lists, and schedule, and the S Memo app allows you to use the stylus to write notes and draw pictures, then converts them into a memo for later use.

You can preorder the Galaxy Note starting on Feb. 5 in two colors - carbon blue and ceramic white.

Where in the World Did Your Shiny Gadget Come From?

Anna Monette Roberts — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:06:26 PST

We know what farmer grew our apples and coffee, yet we are usually clueless when it comes to the origins of our tech gadgets. That shiny new phone or e-reader you bought didn't just appear out of thin air - it required hundreds of parts that were produced all around the world before it was assembled and shipped across the country. Take this quiz to see if you know where your favorite gadgets are manufactured.