Sony Ericsson is the latest smartphone manufacturer to jump on the Android bandwagon. The company today announced the upcoming Xperia X10, its first phone based on Google's Android operating system.

The Xperia X10, which is showcased in a promotional video on YouTube, is packed with features. Its highlights include a big 4-inch touchscreen; that's a step up from the 3.5-inch screen found on the iPhone 3GS. The X10 also packs in an 8.1-megapixel camera that includes a flash, zoom, and touch focus.

In addition to its impressive hardware specs, the Xperia X10 also will offer some unique apps. Sony Ericsson says it will include two apps designed to improve the user experience. One of those apps, called Timescape, will organize messages, including phone calls, text messages, Twitter posts, and Facebook updates, for easier access. The other, called Mediascape, will help users organize and access multimedia content, including music and videos from Web-based sources.

Sony Ericsson says the Xperia X10 will be available next year, but has not named a specific launch date or pricing.

Image © Sony Ericsson

The Boston Globe's Sunday magazine has an interesting article today about kids and smartphones, specifically the iPhone. The article talks about how kids take to smartphones with ease and how using a smartphone can actually help kids learn.

I can attest to the fact that kids take to the iPhone with astounding ease. My two- and four-year old recently discovered my iPhone and they constantly amaze me with the way they're able to use it. I handed it to my son to keep him occupied during a long road trip, and he was easily switching between shows on the iPod ("Mommy, I'm watching Arthur!") and playing games ("Mommy, now I'm playing Tetris!").

Now that I know it might actually be good for them, well, that doesn't mean I'm going to allow them unlimited time with an iPhone. And I'm certainly not going to spring for a new one so the kids can have their own. But it does make me feel better about using the iPhone as a way to keep them busy when we're on the go.

Photo copyright Apple

Sprint this week announced an official launch date for the Palm Pixi: November 15. The webOS-based phone will cost $99.99 after a $50 instant rebate and a $100 mail-in rebate.

The Pixi's price is competitive, to be sure. It's half what the Palm Pre cost at launch, though the Pre's price tag has since been lowered to $150. But the Pixi is also not as full-featured a phone as the Pre. It lacks Wi-Fi support, for one, and features a smaller display. The Pixi's screen measures 2.6 inches diagonally, compared to the 3.1-inch screen on the Pre.

But the Pixi also seems designed for a younger crowd. It will feature a new Facebook application that Sprint is touting, which is designed to offer easier access to the popular social networking site.

Stay tuned for a full review of the Pixi.

Image © Palm

Is Apple winning the smartphone wars by competing unfairly? That's what Nokia claims, in a lawsuit filed late last week. Nokia is suing Apple, claiming that the iPhone infringes on patents that Nokia owns. Nokia says Apple was able to charge less for the iPhone because the company did not pay licensing fees to Nokia for those patents.

In a statement announcing the lawsuit, Nokia says: "The ten patents in suit relate to technologies fundamental to making devices which are compatible with one or more of the GSM, UMTS (3G WCDMA) and wireless LAN standards. The patents cover wireless data, speech coding, security and encryption and are infringed by all Apple iPhone models shipped since the iPhone was introduced in 2007."

Nokia says that 40 other phone manufacturers have licensed the technology in question. Nokia is not asking for a specific amount in damages, but asks the court to award an appropriate amount.

Image © Apple

Research In Motion today announced a new version of the BlackBerry Bold smartphone, the BlackBerry Bold 9700. The new BlackBerry Bold will be available from both T-Mobile and AT&T in the "coming weeks" for $199.99.

The Bold 9700 features a few notable updates from its predecessor, which is only available on the AT&T network. Those updates include a better camera; the Bold 9700 will sport a 3.2-megapixel shooter, up from just 2 megapixels on the original Bold. The new phone also forgoes the traditional BlackBerry trackball in favor of the optical trackpad first seen on the BlackBerry Curve 8520.

The new Bold is also slightly slimmer and lighter than the first one, measuring 4.3 by 2.4 by .6 inches, and weighing 4.3 ounces. It still has the faux-leatherette backing found on the first version, which didn't wow me, but the use of it has been minimized in the new version.

The BlackBerry Bold 9700 will be T-Mobile's first 3G BlackBerry. It will also support T-Mobile's Wi-Fi calling service, so you'll be able to make voice calls over Wi-Fi networks if you don't have a strong cellular signal. AT&T's version of the Bold 9700 will not offer Wi-Fi calling.

Stay tuned for a full review.

Image © T-Mobile

Rumors have swirled for months that Verizon Wireless would be the next carrier to offer Apple's iPhone. But a new campaign that Verizon is launching in support of its upcoming Android phone casts doubts on that idea. Verizon's campaign, in the form of a television ad and a companion Web site, highlights the shortcomings of the iPhone, making it hard to imagine how the company would then be able to turn around and promote Apple's phone.

The "Droid Does" TV ad, which began airing over the weekend, and its companion site both reel off a list of things the iPhone can't do:

iDon't have a real keyboard.

iDon't run simultaneous apps.

iDon't take night shots.

iDon't allow open development.

iDon't customize.

iDon't run widgets.

iDon't have interchangeable batteries.

Everything iDon't...Droid does.

The ad focuses on the iPhone's shortcomings without offering many details about the actual Android handset that Verizon will offer. It is widely reported that Verizon's first Android phone will be the Motorola Droid, though, and it is expected to launch on October 30.

Image © Verizon

The iPhone may be about to gain a new feature: FM Radio. 9to5Mac is reporting that Apple is working on an app that could allow users of the iPhone and iPod Touch devices to listen to FM radio.

The iPhone and the iPod Touch already have a built-in FM receiver, but that feature has so far been limited to receiving signals for Apple's Nike + iPod system. Now, however, Apple may be about to activate the FM receiver for use as an actual FM radio.

9to5Mac says the FM radio app, which is currently in development, would work much like the FM radios on the new iPod Nanos. It would run in the background while you use your iPhone for other tasks. The report says that Apple is looking for a way to incorporate mobile iTunes purchases into the FM radio app, so that if you heard a song you liked on the radio, you could easily purchase it from iTunes.

No word on when the FM radio app for the iPhone might be released.

Image © Apple

The week-long Sidekick data outage may not have a happy ending for all users: Some data may be permanently lost, T-Mobile and Danger said this weekend.

In a statement posted on T-Mobile's Sidekick forum, the companies say that some users may never be able to recover their contacts and personal photos if that information is stored on Danger's servers. To prevent this from happening, T-Mobile and Danger say that users should not remove their Sidekick's battery, reset their devices, or allow them to run out of power.

"Regrettably, based on Microsoft/Danger's latest recovery assessment of their systems, we must now inform you that personal information stored on your device - such as contacts, calendar entries, to-do lists or photos - that is no longer on your Sidekick almost certainly has been lost as a result of a server failure at Microsoft/Danger," the statement posted on T-Mobile's Sidekick forum reads.

The companies say they will attempt to restore the lost data, but admit the possibility of that happening is "extremely low."

The companies say they will post another update on Monday, October 12, with the status of the "remaining issues caused by the service disruption."

Image © T-Mobile

A week after a data outage hit users of T-Mobile's Sidekick smartphones, many users are reporting that their service still has not been restored completely. And celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton, a Sidekick user, has emerged as one of the loudest voices in the outcry against T-Mobile.

In a blog posting on Friday morning, Hilton writes: "For a week now, we have not been able to access the contacts in our cell phone's address book. Literally SEVEN DAYS now - since last Friday! That is unacceptable!!!!!!!"

Hilton says that his inability to access his contact information, including e-mail address and phone numbers, has affected his ability to work.

T-Mobile has been working with Microsoft's Danger unit (the company that developed the Sidekick) to restore data service to Sidekick users since the outage began last Friday. Users were initially unable to use any data features on their phones, but could make calls and send and receive text messages.

Earlier this week, T-Mobile said that most data services, such as e-mail and access to social networks, has been restored, and noted that users would receive a credit for one month's data service on their bills.

Hilton writes that he has been a Sidekick user for more than four years, but it sounds as though that may change. He writes: "Yes, this is our fault for being loyal to the T-Mobile Sidekick and not switching to an iPhone or Blackberry like most of you smart people out there!"

Image © T-Mobile

Verizon Wireless is the latest cellular carrier to jump on the Google Android bandwagon, announcing plans to offer two Android-based smartphones later this year.

In a teleconference today, representatives from Verizon and Google announced a deal to "co-develop several Android-based devices." Those devices will include smartphones, feature phones, and netbooks. The two companies also said they will work on the development of applications for those devices.

Verizon did not say which Android phones it will offer, nor did the company offer any dates on when the phones would launch, other than to say they would be available in the "coming weeks." Even though the specific handsets have not been identified, the deal is still seen as one that will boost Verizon's smartphone portfolio. Verizon's current lineup lacks a marquee smartphone, such as an iPhone or Palm Pre, that could attract new customers on its own.

What Verizon is known for, however, is the strength of its network, something that Google acknowledged during today's call. "It's a fact that Verizon's data network is the best," Google CEO Eric Schmidt said, noting that Google has been impressed with Verizon's willingness to open its network to outside devices and applications. To that end, Verizon's CEO Lowell McAdam made a point of saying that his company would support the Google Voice application on its Android handsets. Apple and AT&T reportedly refused to allow Google Voice on the iPhone.

Image © Google