You can’t buy the Droid 4 until Friday, but Verizon has hooked us up with the Droid 4 early and I am already working on my review of the Droid 4.

We first saw the Droid 4, which is the Droid you are looking for, at CES 2012 where we gave it the Best of CES 2012 award thanks to the design, laser cut keyboard and Motorola Build quality.

Droid 4 - $G LTE and an Awesome Keyboard

Now that I have had more time to play with the Droid 4 I am already impressed with the build quality. This phone feels really good in the hand, and the slider action for the keyboard has no wobble, like I found on the Samsung Stratosphere.

Users will appreciate the 1.2GHz dual core processor that gives this phone enough power to handle the MotoBlur overlay and games like Madden 12 without issue. The phone runs Android 2.3.5, but Moto has promised an upgrade to Android 4.0. No timetable yet, but it is, “Coming Soon”.

Droid 4 Coverage

• Droid 4 Announced
• Droid 4 Hands On Video
• Droid 4 Best of CES 2012 Award
• Droid 4 vs. Droid RAZR MAXX

The Droid 4 will be released on Friday February 10th, and will retail for $199 at Verizon. This price is less than we had anticipated, and based on my initial impressions a good value.

For now, check out these quick photos of the Droid 4, and come back soon for a Droid 4 unboxing and our full Droid 4 review later this week.

Droid 4 in for Review: Photos and Impressions is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

The hidden keys allow iPad typists to eek out three more letters per thumb. Why does this matter?  Typing on a touch screen is quite different than hammering away on a physical keyboard. Touch typists are accustomed to tapping on certain keys with specific fingers. That’s not the case when typing with your thumbs, which have to cover all the letters and special keys when using split keyboard mode.

Here’s the real layout of the iPad’s split keyboard, with the hidden keys sketched in. Apple hasn’t bothered to document the hidden keys anywhere and even those of us who’ve used the split keyboard layout since the introduction of iOS 5 have been missing out.

The hidden keys aren’t just there when using the standard letter layout. The hidden keys remain when switching to the numbers and special characters layouts. Users can tap out “6″ by hitting the blank area next to the number 5 key, for example.

Apple’s been criticized for not allowing alternative keyboards. While its iPad keyboard does meet many users’ needs, iOS users are left with few options. Android users can choose from countless keyboards, many of which have features that allow users to type faster.

The hidden keys aren’t going to make or break or iPad experience, but it will make it a little easier to tap out certain words with one thumb.

via Life Hacker

iPad’s Split Keyboard Has Hidden Buttons is a post by Xavier Lanier from Gotta Be Mobile.

The Galaxy Nexus continues this tradition on Verizon’s fast 4G LTE network, bringing an HD display and Android 4.0 to the table.

Read: Galaxy Nexus Review

While the iPhone 4S has a number of nice features, the Galaxy Nexus bests Apple’s latest iPhone in a number of ways.

4G LTE

The Galaxy Nexus on Verizon comes complete with 4G LTE connectivity for blazing fast download an upload speeds, up to 10 times faster than 3G on the iPhone 4S. These speeds range between 5-12 Mbps down and 2-5Mbps up.

This is fast enough to play Onlive games, download huge apps like Grand Theft Auto III, stream Hulu Plus, Netflix and much more. Connect your laptop to the Galaxy Nexus with a personal hotspot and you’ll be able to work almost anywhere.

Below you can see a video of 4G LTE vs. 3G on the iPhone 4S. While the phone shown is not the Galaxy Nexus, you can expect similar speeds.

Large HD Widescreen Display

The Galaxy Nexus adds an inch of screen size to your mobile phone, and brings a 720P HD resolution that makes watching HD videos or gaming a real treat.

Even browsing the web, reading email and reading eBooks is a nicer on the large screen. The higher resolution means you can see more on the screen without constantly scrolling.

The software buttons at the bottom of the display will disappear in compatible apps, giving you a larger widescreen viewing experience.

Google Voice Integration

Google Voice is the best way to manage your phone calls, texts and voicemail. I love the service because I use multiple phones, but even if you have one phone it is worth using. You can block callers just like you block spam emails, and you can set do not disturb hours so that calls don’t wake you up late at night or interrupt you.

Google Voice is ten times better on Android than on the iPhone. After installing the free Google Voice app, you can set the phone up so that every call is routed through your Google Voice account, or if you prefer you can se it only for international calls.

On the iPhone, you have to open up the Google Voice app to use the service, which means extra taps and no easy way to return calls from the history section of your iPhone.

Google Maps Navigation

Once again, Android beats the iPhone when it comes to using a Google service. This time it is Google Maps. Unlike the iPhone 4S, you don’t need to find an app to get turn by turn directions with spoken street names on your Galaxy Nexus.

Having the built-in Google Maps Navigation makes it easy to get where you are going, and it is simple to open up addresses from the browser or your contacts into Google Maps so you don’t waste time typing an address.

NFC for Sharing and Paying

The Galaxy Nexus also includes NFC, or NEar Field Communication, which allows you to use the phone to share information and files with other Galaxy Nexus owners using Android Beam. This tool is pretty cool, but the real promise is in the form of making payments.

Google Wallet is not officially supported, but you can install Google Wallet on your Galaxy Nexus and get $10 to try out the service. With NFC and Google Wallet, you can make payments at PayPass locations by holding your phone up to the card reader.

The closest you can get on the iPhone is using a special case that adds NFC abilities, and those aren’t available for the average user.

Open Platform

The Android platform is more open than the iPhone, and this is very evident on the Galaxy Nexus running Ice Cream Sandwich.

At a high level, this phone can be unlocked, rooted and customized with a new ROM to completely change the user experience. Unlike the iPhone and some locked down Android devices this is relatively easy to do.

The other great thing about this open platform is the ability to sideload apps that aren’t purchased from the official Android Market. This means you can find apps on the GetJar or Amazon app stores at lower prices.

Additionally, Google is more open to letting apps on to the Android Market. While Apple rejects many apps, Google allows almost any app on the Market. The downside is that you can run into malware, but if you exercise smart downloading and installing this isn’t a major issue.

Choose Your Own Keyboard

If you don’t like the iPhone 4S keyboard you don’t have any other options, but if you don’t like the default Android 4.0 keyboard, you have te freedom to choose your own keyboard.

Going back and forth between the two devices I find that the ability to use SwiftKey X on the Galaxy Nexus is much nicer than the iPhone 4S keyboard, even with the autocorrection.

With SwiftKey X, you can do many things not possible on the iPhone including

• Long press for a symbol.
• Swipe right to left to delete a full word.
• Predictions from Gmail, Facebook, text messages and Twitter.
• Prediction that knows what you plan to type next.
• Swipe down to hide the keyboard.

There are many other keyboards available such as Swype, SlideIT and TouchPal.

Flash Support

While you may not love Flash, there are still a number of websites that rely on Flash. When it comes down to it, the ability to watch a video or load a website beats getting a “please download the latest flash player.” message on the iPhone.

On some sites, you can stream network TV shows and in others you can watch clips that wouldn’t be available on the iPhone without a dedicated app and a cable subscription with a participating .

Better Gmail

Android phones have always handled Gmail better than the iPhone competition, but with the Android 4.0 update that comes standard on the Galaxy Nexus, the iPhone is left int eh dust. The new Gmail app is designed to handle multiple accounts with ease, and makes great use of the large screen.

Some of my favorite features of Gmail on the Galaxy Nexus include;

• Great handling of multiple accounts.
• Priority Inbox support.
• 2-line preview shows first line of your message
• Support for Priority Inbox notifications
• and more.

If you rely on Gmail, and want the best experience around, Android is still the best game in town. With Android 4.0 on the Galaxy Nexus it’s even better.

Home Screen

The Galaxy nexus also wins out in home screen layout and customization. Two features standout to me on the Galaxy Nexus — Widgets and Folders on the Favorites Tray.

Android still has a leg up on the iPhone when it comes to widgets, and the Galaxy Nexus takes advantage of new Ice Cream Sandwich features to make widgets even better. In addition to smarter built-in Gmail and Calendar widgets, you can customize the layout of most widgets with a drag and drop to fit the way you want your home screen to look. This is much nicer than looking for the right 4×1 widget in settings. Widgets provide fast access to information like weather, traffic, your inbox and much more.

The new Favorites Tray may look like the iPhone’s dock, but it is much nicer in my opinion. In addition to your four favorite apps, that can include a folder, you have one touch access to your app screen.

Conclusion

While the Galaxy Nexus is a great phone, and does many things better than the iPhone 4S, it isn’t perfect. There are still a number of things the iPhone 4S does better than the Galaxy Nexus. Stay tuned for a followup of reasons I think the iPhone 4S is better than the Galaxy Nexus and still earns a spot in my pocket when I leave the house.

Right now I carry both an iPhone and a Galaxy Nexus when I leave the house, but sooner or later I’ll choose one phone as my primary device. Android 4.0 and the Galaxy Nexus are giving the iPhone 4S a run for its money.

Review: 10 Reasons the Galaxy Nexus is Better Than the iPhone 4S is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

Additionally, there are two HD dock accessories. There’s a standard HD Dock and an HD Dstation that also has several USB ports on the back so you can connect additional accessories, like a USB-enabled keyboard or mouse to use with the Webtop OS.

A vehicle dock will also be forthcoming as is a wireless keyboard with trackpad, which would be a great companion accessory to your HD Dock or HD Station to use your phone on an HDTV.

The Droid 4 is essentially a Droid RAZR with a full sliding 5-row keyboard in landscape orientation.

Via: Droid-life

Verizon Motorola Droid 4 Accessories Leak Ahead of Launch is a post by Chuong Nguyen from Gotta Be Mobile.

The Express will join Sprint’s lineup of Android messaging phones that have the same form factor, including the Samsung Replenish–Sprint’s green and eco-friendly number–the Motorola Titanium, the Motorola XPRT, and the latest Motorola Admiral. You can check back on GottaBeMobile for a forthcoming review of the Motorola Admiral and how it stacks up against the BlackBerry Bold 9930 on Sprint’s 3G Now Network soon.

The $20 Express on-contract will come with more conservative specs to keep the price low. The device will have a 600 MHz processor, 3.2-megapixel camera, and 2.6-inch touchscreen display. Given the price, the touchscreen may be of QVGA resolution.

Interestingly, in addition to four physical Android navigation buttons, the device will also have a call send and end button. Also, it appears that there is a center directional pad for navigating through the phone’s UI without having to touch the display, a key feature that BlackBerry has with its optical trackpad and the Motorola devices lack.

According to Android Central, the new device will go for $250 without a contract and would not be available in retail stores. Instead, this device will be available through Sprint Direct Ship.

Though un-branded, given the entry-level price point, the Sprint Express may be made by either Huawei or ZTE; both manufacturers so far have helped U.S. carriers create carrier-branded devices, such as the T-Mobile Springboard, which is branded by T-Mobile but manufactured by Huawei.

Sprint Gearing Up to Release Inexpensive Android QWERTY Messaging Phone is a post by Chuong Nguyen from Gotta Be Mobile.

The iPhone 4S does a good job of picking the right word even with multiple misspellings, but this bar is a handy way to pick the second most likely word, which is the one you really want.

The iPhone autocorrect bar shows you a number of word choices, instead of correcting to a single word choice. This tweak comes from Sonny Dickson, who shares the screenshot below on Twitter.

The new Android-like auto correct bar can be enabled on your iPhone and iPad right now, even the iPhone 4S without a jailbreak.

As an Android and iPhone user, constantly looking for a new way to do more with the iPhone 4S keyboard, I’m going to give this a shot right now. It will be interesting to see how smart the auto correct options are in this hidden feature. I’d hope they are as good as the Swiftkey keyboard, but I’m not holding my breath.

How to Enable Android Style Autocorrect on the iPhone

(from Sonny Dickson)

1. Download iBackupBot

2. Backup your iPhone/iPod in iTunes

3. Open iBackupBot and find the backup, then load it.

4. Find Library/Preferences/com.apple.keyboard.plist and open the file. (if your software isn’t registered you’ll have to press cancel and then it will open)

5. Add in the following code: <key>KeyboardAutocorrectionLists</key><string>YES</string>

6. Save your modifications, and then restore from backup from within iBackupbot.

Via 9to5Mac

Get the Android Keyboard Autocorrect Bar on iPhone Without a Jailbreak is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

Themed keyboards are just different skins that are applied on the default keyboard and can change the fonts rendered on each key, the color of the keys, and other aspects of the keyboard, but wouldn’t necessarily add on new functionality or provide different functionality like third-party keyboards such as Swype. The option does provide for a way for users to further customize their devices.

Ice Cream Sandwich Comes With Native Keyboard Themes is a post by Chuong Nguyen from Gotta Be Mobile.

The laptop dock was a unique and attractive accessory for the original Transformer, which brought about a novel idea of utilizing the Honeycomb tablet’s display to convert the dock accessory into a laptop form factor. The dock itself comes with a keyboard and a trackpad to control the tablet, alongside some ports for memory card and more USB ports. Additionally, when docked, the tablet also gets charged and battery life is extended.

At this point, the leaked images have since been pulled from the original source. It’s still unclear if the Laptop dock for the Transformer Prime will be constructed from aluminum or if it is plastic made to look like metal.

Via: Phandroid

MacBook-esque Laptop Dock for Transformer Prime Spotted is a post by Chuong Nguyen from Gotta Be Mobile.

The DoublePlay features a rather unique form factor. The main 3.5-inch slides up in landscape orientation to reveal a split screen physical keyboard. Wedged in between the split screen hardware keyboard is a smaller 2.0-inch touchscreen.

Equipped with dual customizable touch screens ¾ a 3.5-inch main display and 2.0-inch sub display ¾that operate independently or in tandem, as well as a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard and Swype^® for easy text input, the LG DoublePlay allows users to perform multiple tasks at once such as updating their Facebook pages while simultaneously surfing the Web, texting or checking email.

According to T-Mobile, the device is powered by a single-core Snapdragon processor by Qualcomm and will feature Android 2.3 Gingerbread, a 5-megapixel rear camera that’s capable of 720p HD video recording, and the ability to easily compose and send text messages. With the DoublePlay, users can send group texts as well as have access to cloud text allowing them to compose and respond to SMS messages on their computers as well.

• Group Text to communicate with multiple people at once
• Cloud Text to send and receive texts across platforms, including a PC or tablet

Press release:

NEW LG DOUBLEPLAY, EXCLUSIVELY OFFERED BY T-MOBILE, RAISES THE STAKES AT THE 2011 LG U.S. NATIONAL TEXTING CHAMPIONSHIP

LG and T-Mobile USA Announce the LG DoublePlay™, with Unique Dual Touch Screens, Delivering Twice the Texting and Social Networking Capabilities

Thirteen Contestants Compete for Chance to Become Part of Texting History, a $50,000 Grand Prize and Named the Fastest Texter in the U.S.

SAN DIEGO and BELLEVUE, Wash. ¾ October 17, 2011 ¾ LG Mobile is once again challenging the fastest thumbs in the nation to the ultimate text messaging challenge ¾ the fifth annual LG U.S. National Texting Championship, featuring the new LG DoublePlay^TM. Announced today, the LG DoublePlay is the ultimate multitasking handset, featuring a split QWERTY keyboard and dual capacitive touch screens, making simultaneous mobile activities easier than ever. During this year’s competition, 13 contestants will use the LG DoublePlay, which is powered by a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon^® processor, to compete in the ultimate texting showdown for the chance to win a $50,000 cash prize and a once-in-a-lifetime spot in texting history.

Equipped with dual customizable touch screens ¾ a 3.5-inch main display and 2.0-inch sub display ¾that operate independently or in tandem, as well as a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard and Swype^® for easy text input, the LG DoublePlay allows users to perform multiple tasks at once such as updating their Facebook pages while simultaneously surfing the Web, texting or checking email.

“The evolving nature of texting trends and mobile technology has brought LG and T-Mobile together to create a device that celebrates multi-tasking beyond a powerful processor,” said Carl Brown, director of trade marketing for LG Mobile. “With its split keyboard and dual screens, LG DoublePlay’s impressive hardware made it the obvious choice for the official mobile phone of the 2011 National Texting Championship. LG is proud to be leading the charge in the next generation of mobile messaging devices while continuing its legacy as a leading manufacturer in QWERTY keyboard devices.”

“Whether sending texts or emails, checking in on social media sites, or browsing the Web, consumers are looking for fun and easy ways to stay connected to the people and things that matter most to them,” said Kim Swanson, director, product management, T-Mobile USA. “With the introduction of the LG DoublePlay and its unique dual-screen design, we are bringing the ultimate multitasking tool to our customers.”

The LG DoublePlay comes with a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash and 720p HD video recorder, allowing users to capture and share pictures and videos via messaging, email or Facebook. The device also offers multiple messaging options, including Cloud Text^™ and Group Text^™, giving users the ability to send and receive texts from a PC or tablet or create group chats on-the-go for faster, more efficient content sharing. LG DoublePlay features Android^™ 2.3 (Gingerbread) with access to Android Market^™ and delivers complete user customization with seven home screens and up to nine touchscreen shortcuts for one-touch navigation.

2011 LG U.S. National Texting Championship

The fifth annual LG U.S. National Texting Championship will bring the fastest, most talented thumbs in America to the historic Altman Building in New York City to face-off for the chance to be named the winner of the 2011 LG U.S. National Texting Championship. Reigning champion Brianna Hendrickson, who took home the 2010 title at just 13 years-old, is the contestant to beat. This year’s competition will push contestants to dig deep and flex their texting muscles as they race through challenges designed to test texting speed, accuracy and dexterity. Competitors will need to type phrases on their LG DoublePlay exactly as they appear on LG plasma screens, while distracted by blind folds, complex phrases and marathon game play.

LG first set out to crown the fastest thumbs in America in 2007 when more than 500 contestants battled it out for the U.S. texting title. Now a national phenomenon, last year’s Championship featured a record 500,000 competition entries and became the subject of a MTV documentary called “Thumbs” by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Bill Couturié. Providing an exclusive look at the growing phenomenon of texting among today’s youth, the film provided a first-hand look at player preparations during the marathon race to the 2010 LG National Texting Championship. Moreover, “Thumbs” underscored the increasing importance of texting as one of today’s preferred methods of mainstream communication. For more information on the LG U.S. National Texting Championship, please visit www.facebook.com/lgtexterus.

T-Mobile Announces Dual-Screen LG DoublePlay Smartphone is a post by Chuong Nguyen from Gotta Be Mobile.

In the past, the devices were sometimes referred to by their code names as the LG Maxx and LG Maxx Q. The devices have been rumored in the past to cost $129 after rebate and with a two-year contract on T-Mobile, though pricing has not yet been announced.

The myTouch features a larger touchscreen while the myTouch Q will feature a slightly smaller touchscreen display and a sliding QWERTY keyboard, as the Q designates in its product name. Both smartphones will run the Android 2.3 operating system, otherwise more commonly referred to as Gingerbread. The carrier says that both phones will have access to the 4G HSPA+ network, though it’s unclear if it’s the faster 42 Mbps network or the 21 Mbps network.

The devices are armed with a 1 GHz Qualcomm ARM processor, 5-,megapixel camera with 720p HD video recording capability, and access to Android Market. The myTouch will also feature a front-facing camera alongside its 3.8-inch display. The device will also have Swype functionality. The myTouch Q will have a sliding keyboard in landscape orientation along with a 3.5-inch display. For comparison, the iPhone 4 has a 3.5-inch display as well.

Despite the official announcement following various leaks, T-Mobile USA has so far not announced pricing nor exact release date. The carrier only says that the phones will be made available in time for the holiday shopping season.

The myTouch will be made available in either black or white, and the myTouch Q will be available in grey or violet colors.

T-Mobile Finally Announces myTouch, myTouch Q by LG is a post by Chuong Nguyen from Gotta Be Mobile.

Details for the smartphone were not listed on T-Mobile’s website, unfortunately, but we do know some basic specs about both phones through leaks. According to TmoNews, the T-Mobile myTouch, available in black, will be s touchscreen-only device that will feature a 1 GHz CPU, 5-megapixel rear camera, and either 3G or 4G HSPA/HSPA+ speeds. It’s unclear if the device will support T-Mobile’s 42 Mbps HSPA+ network at this time. The myTouch Q will feature a QWERTY keyboard. According to the website, the Q’s keyboard will be rather capacious, and T-Mobile claims that the keys are 92% the size of standard keyboard keys.

T-Mobile Outs LG-Made myTouch Android Phones as Coming Soon is a post by Chuong Nguyen from Gotta Be Mobile.

The first accessory is a Multimedia Desktop Dock and the second accessory spotted is case/holster combo. The case/holster combo comes with an integrated kickstand, which can be used to place the phone at a comfortable viewing angle on a flat surface for viewing movies on the device’s Super AMOLED display that measures 4 inches.

Like Sprint’s original Epic 4G, the Stratosphere launches with 4G LTE but with specs from the original Galaxy S 1 series, and not the Galaxy S II series. That means that the device will have a single-core CPU rather than a dual-core processor, a Super AMOLED display rather than a Super AMOLED Plus touchscreen, and a 5-megapixel camera instead of an 8-megapixel camera.

Via: Droid-Life

Stratosphere Accessories Arrive at Verizon Store, Launch Imminent? is a post by Chuong Nguyen from Gotta Be Mobile.

While details are still fuzzy on the iPhone 5, we know a lot about iOS 5, which will help the iPhone compete with Android and Windows Phone 7.

(Latest iPhone 5 Release Date, Hardware and Carrier Rumors)

Apple has been singing the praises of iOS 5 since it was announced this summer and many of us at GottaBeMobile have been using it on our iPhones and iPads in a beta format since shortly after it was announced.

Based on my time with iOS 5, Apple has made some important additions and now bests Android in several areas, but I’m looking forward to iOS 6, and hoping that Apple includes the following features in time for a 2012 iPhone.

Top Features iOS 5 is Missing

Better Navigation

If this sounds like a constant complaint, well it is. The iPhone and iOS lead the way in many areas, especially with iOS 5, but the lack of a built in map app that delivers real turn by turn navigation is a major disappointment, especially in 2011.

Here is an example of Google Maps Navigation from a year ago, which is still better than the out of the box map app on the iPhone.

Yes, you can purchase an app like Navigon for $60, but I think we can all agree that turn by turn GPS directions should be a built in part of any respectable smartphone.

Apple shouldn’t have any qualms about replacing existing apps. The company has a history of bringing new features to iOS that replace the need for third party apps — the most recent being the To Do app which is part of iOS 5.

Widgets

Examples of Android Widgets

Now that Apple has fixed notifications, widgets are where the company should focus their attention. Android has supported widgets for years, and like turn by turn navigation, this feature is long overdue.

Widgets allow you to place a small live tile on your phone, which can be as small as an icon or as large as the whole screen. These are essentially live icons that can show you the weather, your emails, social network updates, various time zones and much more. It is hard for me to imagine using a mobile device without at least some form or real widget support.

iOS 5 "widgets"

The Notification center in iOS 5 has Apple’s first stab at widgets, but relegating them to a pulldown defeats the purpose of fast access to all types of information. At this point it isn’t clear if Apple will allow third parties to create widgets for the notification center.

One common reason for not supporting widgets is that they reduce battery life. I assume that Apple will come out with widget support sometime in the next iOS release, and claim that their way is better.

Switchable Keyboards

While the iPad got a major keyboard upgrade in iOS 5, the iPhone is left with the same old keyboard. We may see better voice control in iOS 5, and on the iPhone 5 which is reported to have more RAM for a better voice control experience, but there are still too many places you can’t talk to type.

The iOS keyboard is more usable now that I know of this handy trick to access numbers and punctuation, and the custom keyboard shortcuts will help you type faster, but you still have no choice.

On Android there are a number of high quality keyboards like Swype and Swiftkey, both of which offer great autocorrect, prediction and new ways to type. If you need access to a number or punctuation, you can long press a key for an alternate character, which saves loads of time.

Here is a look at how switchable keyboards can improve the overall user experience.

Swiftkey can learn from your emails, Twitter, Facebook and text messages so that it knows what you are going to type. For example, if I type the numbers of my street address I can fill in the rest of my address by pressing the space bar a few times, including punctuation. This also works on phone numbers and Swiftkey can autocorrect to add in the usernames of people I am messaging on Twitter. It is incredible to watch and makes typing on the iPhone feel slow.

In the past week, Swiftkey has reportedly made me 36% more efficient thanks to predictions and autocorrect. This stat can get even higher, but I just installed a new version of the keyboard.

What is iOS 5?

Despite these shortcomings, iOS 5 has a host of great new features that will deliver a new experience across the iPhone line. iOS 5 will bring new life to iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4.

For more information, read: What to Expect from iOS 5, and watch the iOS 5 Overview video below.

Keep your eyes peeled for more in-depth coverage of iOS 5 and the iPhone 5.

What is iOS 5 Missing? is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

Instead of tapping the “.?123″ button tapping your number or punctuation and tapping”ABC” again and again, you can simply slide your finger across the keyboard to access your common punctuation marks and numbers.

To use this on the iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch, just hold down the “.?123″ button on your on-screen keyboard and swipe your finger up to the number or punctuation you need.

I just discovered this tip, which works in iOS 4 and iOS 5, last week and have already saved a lot of time by cutting numerous taps out of my iPad typing experience.

I couldn’t believe this wasn’t explained to me when I bought one of these devices or in conversation with veteran iOS device users, until I showed this tip to them and they didn’t know it existed.

This still isn’t as nice as the long press for common functions on Android devices, or a substitute for the ability to use a different keyboard on Android, but it does make the iPhone keyboard much more usable for me.

Most Amazing iPhone and iPad Keyboard Tip Ever is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

The iPhone 5 is even more anticipated than the iPhone 4, but it is facing stiff competition from several sides.

It’s probably too late in the game to see a wide diversion from the leaked iPhone 5 looks and features, but that doesn’t mean I can’t add these Droid Bionic features to my iPhone 5 wishlist.

We expect an iPhone 5 release date in October on Verizon and AT&T with a chance of arriving on Sprint with unlimited data at the same time.

Design

I know that you’re enamored with the looks and the flashy glass back on the iPhone 4, but honestly Apple lags behind when it comes to how the phone feels in your hand. Before you call me a fanboy for either side, go pick up the iPhone 4 and the Bionic at your local Verizon store.

Note the tapered edges of the Droid Bionic's back.

Note how the Droid Bionic has a soft rubberized back with tapered edges, and compare this to the flat edges and back of the iPhone 4. I doubt Apple will add a rubberized back, but hopefully the rumored teardrop iPhone 5 back will be as easy to hold as the Droid Bionic is.

Screen Size

I know I’m not alone on this one since an overwhelming majority of readers said that you want a 4″ or larger screen open the iPhone 5.

The iPhone display could stand to grow.

The Droid Bionic doesn’t have a retina display, but the 4.3″ qHD display is much nicer for watching videos and playing games on. Even with a larger display the Bionic remains trim and pocketable.

We’ve heard rumors of a larger edge to edge screen and of a similar size small screen on the iPhone 5, so I can only hope that Apple is growing in this area.

4G LTE

Now, there’s a very small chance that the iPhone 5 will have 4G LTE, especially if it is released in October, but this is still a Droid Bionic feature that the iPhone 5 needs to learn from.

The iPhone has the largest selection of apps that could take advantage of 4G LTE speeds with video streaming, video conferencing and more games than I can count.

It would be pretty amazing to see the iPhone 5 with 4G LTE connectivity being used for multiple Facetime calls at once or as the hub for a multiplayer game without lag.

Multiple Keyboards

Seriously, what’s up with the iPhone keyboard? After trying to use iPhone keyboard (on an iPhone touch mind you) I have had to put the device down and walk away on more than one occasion. Android keyboards like Swype, which comes with the Droid Bionic, and Swiftkey blow the iPhone keyboard out of the water in so many ways.

Instead of constantly hitting the “.?123″ key on your iPhone, imagine that you could just long press one of your keys to get the symbol or number you want. How about if the keyboard actually knew what you wanted to type next so  you could just hit the spacebar. Both of these features are available on the Droid Bionic.

I could send you my address and a host of other commonly typed phrases by typing one character and hitting space a few times. Try doing that with the basic iPhone keyboard.

Webtop and Accessories

One of the Droid Bionic’s coolest features is Webtop. If you plug in a $30 adapter, you can connect it to a monitor or HDTv and use a full version of Firefox to extend your productivity on the road. There are also accessories like the Lapdock which turns your phone into a notebook.

Apple could do many cool things with a technology like this, and the install base would mean more third party accessories.

Here are a few ideas of how this would be used;

• Plug in a VGA or HDMI adapter to use a full version of Safari on your HDTV or monitor
• AirPlay For Wireless full safari through your Apple TV with your iPhone as the keyboard or with a Bluetooth keyboard.
• $300 laptop docks that give you a larger display, keyboard and mouse.

You can’t tell me that you wouldn’t love this functionality, especially if third party apps and accessories came to market.

For extra credit the iPhone can bring an 8 MP camera with the ability to shoot in 1080P, but leave the buggy Droid Bionic camera app at home.

Do any of these lessons for the iPhone 5 resonate with you? Or should I just give it up and stay with Android for my phone and live in the Apple world on my iPad?

5 Things the iPhone 5 Can Learn From the Droid Bionic is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

With a distinctive rounded shape and soft-touch finish, Kyocera Milano has a low profile that makes it easy to hold and slide into a pocket. The phone’s slide-out QWERTY keyboard enables accurate tactile input for text messages and emails. Its touchscreen is augmented by Swype^®, which provides a faster and easier way to enter text on any screen when used with the device’s virtual keyboard. One continuous finger or stylus motion across the screen keyboard is all it takes to enter words using Swype.

The Milano is essentially a vanilla Android smartphone running the Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS with Sprint ID, allowing students to easily customize and personalize their Android experience with special download packs that bundle ringtones, apps, wallpapers, and widgets.

The handset has a 3.2-megapixel camera, 512 MB RAM, included 2 GB microSD card, and WiFi mobile hotspot capabilities with an optional hotspot tethering plan. The device has a 3-inch QVGA low resolution display to keep costs down, Bluetooth, WiFi, GPS, accelerometer, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, and digital compass.

Sprint Targets Students With Entry Level Kyocera Milano Android Smartphone is a post by Chuong Nguyen from Gotta Be Mobile.

Most of these are bulky and boxy, but the SmartKeyboard concept from Jing Yang is an impressively thin and inventive way to add a physical keyboard to the iPhone.

Taking design cues from the iPad 2 Smart Cover, Motion Lab in China is working to bring this new magnetically attached keyboard to the iPhone 4.

As you can see in the video, the keyboard snaps right into place on the iPhone 4′s metal case and rolls out a physical keyboard, which the designer claims is the world’s thinnest for the iPhone.

iPhone Smartkeyboard

The question I have for you iPhone owners is would you buy this keyboard?

Back when I first jumped to Android I needed a physical keyboard, but these days even the optimized physical keyboard on the third generation Droid 3 can’t touch the virtual keyboards available on Android.

I realize that the iPhone has no keyboard replacement apps, but is there a need for a physical keyboard on the iPhone?

If you would buy one of these, tell me why you’re a fan of a real keyboard in the comments. I’m not trying to make you give up the keyboard, just curious why you like it so much.

If you are interested in this keyboard, you can get updates from @SmartKeyboard on Twitter.

Would You Use a SmartCover Style Keyboard for the iPhone? is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

The mid-range Android 2.2 Froyo handset is geared towards the messaging and younger demographics who need a full slide-out landscape-oriented keyboard to respond to emails and SMS. The device features a 3.2-inch touchscreen display, wiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, 3-megapixel camera, 3G network access on AT&T’s 7.2 Mbps network, and support for a micro SDHC card slot for expansion.

The handset is available exclusively at Walmart at this time.

Via: Phonescoop

Sharp FX Plus Now Free With Contract at Walmart is a post by Chuong Nguyen from Gotta Be Mobile.

With high-end phones moving towards the dual-core processor category and sporting screen resolutions of WVGA and upwards, it seems that today’s and yesterday’s high-end specs–such as single-core 1 GHz CPU, and HVGA and WVGA resolutions–are quickly becoming tomorrow’s mid-range features. This is great news for those who want a great performing handset but don’t want to shell out a lot of cash to get it.

Given that Sprint’s other pre-paid subsidiary, Virgin Mobile USA, recently got the Motorola Triumph on their network, this one should be a great option for those who prefer a hardware keyboard and will be a nice addition to the Boost Mobile range.

The handset is slated to land on September 2.

Via: Brief Mobile

Samsung M930 Coming to Boost Mobile, Offers Keyboarded Android Smartphone on Pre-Paid is a post by Chuong Nguyen from Gotta Be Mobile.

The invention requires users to initially callibrate the keyboard based on their fingers and typing style. After that, the intelligent software algorithm can  re-arrange and re-size the keys to fit accordingly.

The idea is similar to Apple’s intelligent keyboard algorithm for the iPhone. When the iOS-maker debuted the iPhone, CEO Steve Jobs hailed the innovative software keyboard on the smartphone saying that the predictive engine can guess what letter the user is typing next and make the allocate more surface area to the right key. So for instance, if you were trying to spell ‘guess’ and have already typed ‘gu,’ the area for the e key would expand while the area for the 3, w, r, s, d, and f keys would shrink so that the chances of you hitting the e would be greater. On the screen, however, the keys would maintain their actual sizes and it’s just the software behind the iOS keyboard that would enlarge and shrink the key’s surface areas.

However, where the IBM keyboard differs is that the keys are arranged and sized dynamically to an individual user and would be more personalized than a 1-size fits all approach.

Given Blackberry’s historic focus on hardware keyboards and the company’s recent struggles to maintain competitiveness in the touchscreen segment, this patent could be one that RIM ought to license to give its touchscreen devices a strong push.

Via: New Scientist

IBM Patents Adaptive Touchscreen Keyboard for Customized Typing Experience Based on Your Finger Size is a post by Chuong Nguyen from Gotta Be Mobile.