GADGET UPDATE powered by Stuff: HTC, Samsung, Windows Phone and more

Codenamed Bliss, this HTC handset has been revealed by Verizon under the name of Rhyme. The 3.7in blower isn’t about having a 5MP snapper, being purple or packing Gingerbread OS (although it does all those things). Instead, like Claire's, it's all about the accessories. The Rhyme will have its own docking station, tangle free headphones and even a charm that alerts you to incoming calls (we imagine the Batphone minaturised to ring size). The Americans will get all this from September 29 at a cost of US$200 on a two-year contract.  Read more...

Google Wallet goes live in the US

As we suspected, the mobile payment service Google Wallet got its official launch across the pond yesterday. The app will be rolled out to all Nexus S handsets with Google promising that more phones will follow in future. Anyone with a Citi Mastercard or Google Prepaid card will be able to add funds to their accounts and head straight out on an NFC tap-to-pay gadget spree – they are early adopters, after all.  Read more...

Samsung Bada OS to be open source

Samsung’s Bada OS has grown up to version 2.0, and that growth spurt will continue once it goes open source next year. That's the scoop according to a Wall Street Journal source, who says Sammy will unleash its OS on the wider world in 2012. Bada 2.0, with its improved social networking and NFC integration is the OS found in the new Wave 3 we enjoyed playing with at IFA.  Read more...

Huawei Blaze blazes the trail for the UK’s new smartphone brand

This is the Huawei Blaze. Who? Huawei – pronounced ‘who-are-we’ – is the UK’s newest smartphone maker. It’s been making phones for other people for a while (it also makes these Mi-Fis), but now its emblazoning its marque on a new range of phones with the Blaze at its vanguard.

The 3.2in Gingerbread (Android 2.3.4) smartie’s spec sheet hasn’t got our pulses racing exactly, although it’s fairly nippy for a 600MHz device and the 11.2mm shell feels like it’d come out smiling from some medium-to-heavy abuse. But its price will make your jaw drop.  Read more...

Windows Phone Mango incoming

Windows Phone Mango is finally ready and Microsoft employees just can't keep their excitement to themselves. There's been a rush to tweet and blog the Windows Phone 7.5 news: Mango will be rolling out to existing Windows Phone handsets – all 10 of them – in the next two to three weeks. That means we can also look forward to those fresh Nokia handsets running Mango from next month so expect hardware leaks aplenty.  Read more...

Samsung Galaxy Note video preview

Samsung's 5.3in giant-phone-come-tiny-tablet is undoubtedly one of the most exciting IFA announcements and despite its identity crisis, we're finding ourselves really wanting one.
Watch video...

Motorola Atrix 2 spotted

Motorola's Atrix might not have convinced us with its docking capabilities back in January but we did like the smartphone's dual-core processing power. So what's in store for the sequel? Well, judging by pics uncovered by BGR, we can expect the same dual-core smarts together with Android 2.3.5 and an 8MP rear-facing camera plus 1080p video capture when the Atrix 2 (codename: Edison) makes an appearance.  Read more...

Arcam rCube price slashed

It's all change for the Arcam rCube. First up, the (fairly) portable speaker system is now available in white so you can match it to your white iPhone or iPad 2 if you're that way inclined. Then there's the bunch of firmware updates Arcam is helpfully handing out to give existing owners louder sound, better battery life and improved bass performance.  Read more...