PhoneTalk

Google unveiled Google Maps Navigation, a free turn-by-turn GPS app for Android 2 smartphones - currently that's Verizon's Motorola Droid. It has many of the features found in navigation apps for cell phones plus quite a few additions such as street view -so you can see the street you're turning on (I know landmarks always help me when following directions), satellite view, and the ability to add stops (such as ATMs or gas stations) along the way finding the closes spot along your route. To see it in action watch the Google video below:

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The much-anticipated Motorola DROID for Verizon Wireless launched today with an availability date of November 9th, which is less than 2 weeks away. The smartphone, which runs Google's Android v2.0 operating system will sport both a slide-out and touchscreen QWERTY keyboard, 5-megapixel camera, WiFi, 3G connectivity, and 16GB of on-board storage (expandable up to 32GB). Additionally, this smartphone is all about personalization with the ability to customize three home screens where you can add folders, apps and widgets for easy one-touch access. It also comes with Amazon's MP3 store. If you want the DROID, you'll need to subscribe to a nationwide voice plan and an Email and Web for Smartphone plan. Nationwide voice plans begin at $39.99 for monthly access for 450 minutes and an Email and Web for Smartphone plan is $29.99 for monthly access.

To get a better idea of what the DROID has to offer, check out the demonstration video below from Cesar Da Costa, marketing consultant for Verizon Wireless.

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Let's face it, Nextel push-to-talk cell phones haven't been the most attractive phones available to date. That's all about to change with the Motorola i856. The new slider cell phone sports a 1.3-megapixel camera, a 3.5mm headset jack so you can use your own headphones to listen to music, and Bluetooth 2.0. Combine that with its sleek design and red slide-out keypad and you've got a pocket friendly push-to-talk phone. Additionally, you can add up to an 8GB microSD card for storing pictures and music. Speaking of music, you can even have music playing while you text and talk on a direct connect call. Finally, this lightweight cell phone also has access to Sprint's mobile web features such as TeleNav Navigation, NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile and NFL Mobile Live.

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The latest flip phone from Motorola, the Entice W766, for Verizon Wireless is all about keeping you connected on the go. The cell phone sports a 2-megapixel camera, music player, Bluetooth and support for up to an 8GB MicroSD card. While that's not as large as what other cell phones will accept - many cell phones can accept twice that capacity - it's still plenty of storage space for music and pictures. The Motorola Entice will support many Verizon features such as VZ NavigatorSM, Family Locator, Mobile Email, Mobile IM and Dashboard. Perhaps the most attractive feature of this cell phone is the external one-touch access to the music player and camera even while the flip phone is closed.

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The big Motorola news today is a new Google Android phone, the CLIQ, which will be available for T-Mobile's network. The big wow in this announcement is that it seems that Motorola has given the Android phone its own spin and it's called MOTOBLUR. Essentially the MOTOBLUR enhances the Android experience by automatically syncing conversations, contacts and contents. That description doesn't really do it justice. If you want to know all about the MOTOBLUR experience, check out the simulator.

The CLIQ is chocked full of features, as well. First it has a slide-out keyboard and 3.1-inch HVCA touch-screen (that's going to be pretty bright). It also sports a 5-megapixel camera with auto focus and the ability to record video. There's a 3.5mm headset jack for listening to music. For checking e-mail (it supports a ton of options Exchange Server, POP3 and IMAP e-mail, as well as Yahoo! and Windows Live Hotmail) and surfing the web (yes, there's a full web browser), the CLIQ has WiFi and supports 3G. The Motorola CLIQ will be available before the end of the year in two colors: Titanium and Winter White.

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In this installment of Questions and Answers, we discuss choosing between the Propel Pro and the Samsung Impression as well as using a cell phone as a tethered modem. Got a question you want answered? Submit your question here. Got something to add to the answers below? Leave a comment.

I am tied between the Samsung Impression and the Propel Pro. Can anyone help me make a decision? Pros/Cons? – Thanks!

In short, the big difference between the Propel Pro and the Samsung Impression is that the Propel Pro is a Windows Mobile smartphone and the Samsung Impression isn’t: it’s a multimedia phone. While both the Propel Pro sport a tactile slide-out QWERTY keyboard the display is going to be much brighter and larger on the Impression. The emphasis on the Propel Pro is really all about staying connected to work. It will also have a slightly smaller display than the one found on the Impression. Whereas, the Samsung Impression has a touch screen and isn’t a smartphone. The Impression has an emphasis on multimedia functionality (viewing videos, web access, etc.) and easy customization. You'll still be able to get web-based email on this cell phone with ease.

I have a Dell Inspiron 5150 with a regular wireless card installed. However, I have a Motorola w315 with USB cable and have installed its drivers to my laptop. How do I use this w315 as a modem for my laptop. - Jeff

There are a few things you need to check before getting started. First, you need to make sure you have a data plan that will support using the phone as a modem. Next, you don't need the wireless card installed - that can interfere with using the phone as a modem. So either remove the card or turn off the wireless functionality on your computer. Next, if you have Bluetooth on, you'll need to turn that off, too. On some computers it can interfere. Then if your service is with Verizon you'll need to follow these directions from Verizon Wireless.

However, if you already have a wireless card you'll likely get faster service with that than the cell phone you want to use, but that does require its own data plan.

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The Motorola Rival for Verizon Wireless is a new messaging phone that keeps revealing itself to you. Watch the video below to see what we mean:

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A cell phone designed specifically for staying in touch via social media applications? Well, that's the idea behind the Motorola Karma QA1 for AT&T. The cell phone has one-touch access to FaceBook and MySpace. The 3G slider phone has a full QWERTY keyboard and a 2-megapixel camera with 8x zoom so you can easily update your status and post pictures. The Karma QA1 will be available on June 28th. The cell phone will also have a music player and 100MB of available of storage out-of-the-box, which is roughly enough room for storing around 20 songs and a few pictures. If you want more than that, the Motorola cell phone will support up to a 16GB MicroSD card.

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Motorola showed of the EM330 for AT&T. This music phone is a great value. Check out the video below to see what we mean:

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Motorola showed of the MOTOROKR S305 stereo Bluetooth headset. They've got the look of old-school headsets that have been updated for the younger set. Check out the video below to see what we mean:

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