WSJ: Amazon testing a smartphone with 4-5″ screen

It turns out that Amazon’s multiple device strategy may finally be coming to fruition.

We reported way back in early 2011 that Amazon was bringing a family of devices to market, with a phone and two tablets rumored to be somewhere in the testing process. While the timing may have been a bit off, [...]]]>

HondaLink brings your Android smartphone into the cockpit, starting with the 2013 Accord

Honda's getting serious about connecting your smartphone with your car, and it'll be launching its new HondaLink system this fall in the 2013 Honda Accord. 

HondaLink follows in the footsteps of the Chevy MyLink system we demoed at General Motors' test facilities last summer in that the infotainment system uses the data connection from your phone but is controlled through the traditional in-car systems. Android smartphones will connect over Bluetooth, while iPhones can use Bluetooth or the usual iPhone cable.

Honda has teamed up with Aha by Harman to provide music, podcasts, news, Twitter and Facebook feeds, all of which are to be provided safely hands-free use in mind. Also on board are Pandora and voice-to-text SMS services, which Honda's already unveiled on the 2012 CRV.

The 2013 Accord is just the beginning, Honda said today, and that you can expect to see it on upper trim levels going forward. 

Hit the source links below for the full pressers, or check out the promo video after the break.

Source: Honda, Aha

Georgie, a smartphone app for the visually impaired, now available

Addressing the smartphone market for the visually impaired is an ongoing task. Over the years, there have been plenty of advancements in this area with the introduction of numerous applications, voice technology and on screen accessibility features but now a new entrant into the market is seeking to help folks as well. Screenreader, a not-for-profit company, has now introduced the Android based Georgie app in the U.K where there 1 in every 30 people suffer from some sort of visual impairment.
Using existing Samsung phones like the Samsung XCover and Galaxy Ace 2, picked specifically to be easy to use for blind users, Georgie offers a whole new experience by allowing for such things as managing contacts, using speech input to send text messages and tag previous routes or hazards (like potholes or low hanging branches) using navigation apps.
Georgie is available for purchase on the Google Play Store in a number of different packages. The base package with all features is available for £299 with additional feature sets available for £149. You can look at the full press release below or check out the source link for video on how Georgie works on devices.

Source: ScreenReader

Samsung Galaxy S II inexplicably wins smartphone of the year at MWC

 The GSMA -- the group that puts on the fine Mobile World Congress we've been attending all week -- has released 17th annual Global Mobile Awards for this year's show. Of note for you Android fans out there are:

• Angry Birds Rio (Rovio), best mobile app for consumers


• WhatsApp (WhatsApp), best overall mobile app


• SwiftKey (TouchType), best innovative mobile app


• Google Maps for Android (Google), best consumer mobile service


• Galaxy S II (Samsung), best smartphone


• Samsung, device manufacturer of the year

We have absolutely no idea how one of last year's top smartphones -- the Galaxy S II -- won an award this year, especially with the likes of HTC, Sony, LG, Nokia, ZTE and Fujitsu all bringing new products to Barcelona. OK, OK. Yeah. It's last year's phones. We get that. But we're also under an avalanche of this year's phones. We know what we liked. We wanna see what everyone else like from the show, too.

The judges' comment was "A phenomenal success around the world, this has outperformed all its Android rivals and demonstrated the maturity of the ecosystem." We wouldn't argue against that. But that was last year. It's also worth noting that the categories have changed a bit. In 2011, the iPhone 4 won Best Mobile Device (never mind that Apple is nowhere to be seen around here), and HTC was Device Manufacturer of the year.

You can check out the full list for yourself at the link below.

Source: GSMA Global Mobile Awards (2012, 2011)

Huawei introduces the Ascend D quad, dubs it the World's Fastest Smartphone

Three new phones in the Huawei D series, including first quad-core handset

Huawei has been making some moves the past little while and now they've gone ahead an announced their latest series of Ascend devices that will be coming in April to China, Australia, Europe, Asia-Pacific, North and South America, and the Middle East in Q2 2012.

The Ascend D quad series of devices comes from Huawei and carries some pretty impressive specs to go along with it. They would have to be if Huawei is going to be putting a tag line such as the World's Fastest Smartphone on it.

• Huawei's K3V2 1.2GHz Ascend D quad /1.5GHz Ascend D1 quad-core chip and power management system.


• 720P high definition touchscreen (PPI 330)


• Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound and Audience earSmart™ voice technology


• 8-megapixel BSI rear-facing camera, 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera


• 1080p full HD video-capture and playback capabilities

In total, there is three devices in the series -- Ascend D quad, Ascend D quad XL, Ascend D1, each with their own set of specs that slightly differ than the other. can check out the full press release past the break to get a full run down of the models in the series and stay tuned for a better look. We're sitting in with Huawei right now at BCN.