Nokia's Cardboard Windows Phone Challenge winners announced

Remember earlier this month Nokia announced a cardboard challenge where participants had to build a Windows Phone out of... well... cardboard. At stake, a Nokia Lumia 900 Windows Phone and Nokia 808 Pureview.

Nokia describes the turn out as impressive and we have to agree, the level of detail, accuracy and creativity is impressive.  Hard to imagine how much time it took with the hot glue gun and X-acto knife to create some of these cardboard Windows Phones.

Dhaval N Damar walks away with the Lumia 900 for his rendition of the Lumia 920 with pop-up Live Tiles.

Davide Ilvicino Marin won the Nokia 808 Pureview for his rendition of the yellow Lumia 920 and Monster headphones.

Source: Conversations Nokia

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Samsung Galaxy Stellar announced for Verizon

Alongside the LG Intuition, Verizon also announced the Samsung Galaxy Stellar today. We had caught a glimpse of this mid-range phone at Best Buy not too long ago. Though it's not exactly a powerhouse, the Samsung Galaxy Stellar packs LTE connectivity, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and a dual-core 1.2 GHz processor, which is nothing to sneeze at considering the pricetag. 

The Samsung Galaxy Stellar lands on Verizon's online store this Thursday for free after a two-year contract and $50 mail-in rebate. Full specs and press release after the jump. 

BASKING RIDGE, NJ and DALLAS, TX — Verizon Wireless and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) announced today that they will offer the exclusive Samsung Galaxy Stellar™ starting Sept. 6 in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com.

The easy-to-use 4G LTE enabled Samsung Galaxy Stellar is designed to be compact so it fits easily in a customer’s hand and makes the first-time smartphone experience simple.  The Stellar features a dual interface option so customers can choose between Starter Mode or Standard Mode.  Starter Mode features a simplified home screen display with preset widgets such as Favorite Apps, Favorite Contacts and Favorite Settings for quick and easy access to frequently used apps and settings.  Starter Mode also features a quick dialer icon that allows customers to make phone calls directly from the home screen. Standard Mode provides customers with a more conventional layout and gives customers the traditional Android™ experience.  The Stellar also includes a Help app that features guided tours and tips for changing settings and more, so customers can master their devices.

Samsung Galaxy Stellar customers can take advantage of blazingly fast 4G LTE connectivity to access an array of convenient and multimedia rich apps. A suite of Amazon apps is included that offers customers easy ways to discover content such as watching movie trailers on the IMDB app, downloading audio books with the Audible app, and one-click ordering with the Amazon shopping app.  The Stellar also offers a variety of premium TV and film content for rent or purchase through the Samsung Media Hub.

The Galaxy Stellar is a SAFE™ (Samsung Approved For Enterprise) approved device featuring on-device AES 256-bit encryption, enhanced support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync® and support for industry-leading Virtual Private Network (VPN) and Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to make working on the go secure.

Additional features:

4G LTE – customers can expect fast download speeds of  5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps in 4G LTE coverage areas
4-inch WVGA display (800 x 480)
Suite of Amazon apps includes Kindle, Shopping, MP3, Zappos, IMDB and Audible
1.2 dual-core GHz Snapdragon™ application processor
Wi-Fi connectivity (802.11 a/b/g/n)
microSD™ card slot with support for up to 32 GB
Android™ 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich – support for Google Mobile™ Services including Gmail™, YouTube™, Google Talk™, Google Maps™ and access to more than 600,000 apps available to download from Google Play
Front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera for video chat and 3.2-megapixel rear-facing camera with auto focus
Backup Assistant Plus – media management and online storage service designed to help customers store and access media content such as music, videos, pictures, documents and contacts.
Business features:

Samsung's SAFE enterprise mobility solutions provide flexibility and connectivity for mobile workforces, ensuring that users are able to operate more efficiently while on–the-move.

Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync® (EAS) – communicate directly with your Microsoft Exchange Server enabling push email, calendar and contacts
Virtual Private Network (VPN) and Mobile Device Management (MDM) Support from Industry-Leading Solutions Providers – supports industry-standard VPN protocols to help users efficiently tap into VPN networks and MDM capabilities that allow IT departments to effectively safeguard employees’ mobile devices and corporate data.
On Device Encryption –SAFE helps prevent unauthorized access to mobile data by leveraging the AES 256-bit encryption standard, encrypting all data, including app-specific internal data and internal/external memory.
Pricing and availability:

The Samsung Galaxy Stellar will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com starting Sept. 6 for free after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement.  Customers receive the rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted.
Customers purchasing the Galaxy Stellar will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless data plan.  Share Everything Plans allow customers to add the Stellar to their account for $40 monthly access.  For additional information, customers should go to www.verizonwireless.com/shareeverything
For additional information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

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Noob-friendly Pantech Flex announced for AT&T

The Pantech Flex 4G LTE has been announced on AT&T, and should be landing September 16 for $49.99 on a two-year contract. Besides LTE connectivity and running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, the Pantech Flex offers an "Easy Experience" mode, which makes the layout more streamlined and simple to navigate. Here's a quick run-down of the specs.

4.3-inch qHD (960 x 540) Super AMOLED display8 megapixel camera with 1080p video recording, plus secondary front-facing camera1.5 GHz dual-core processor

More info is available over at Pantech's device page. The last phone we saw from Pantech was the Maurauder for Verizon, and though it was also geared towards late adopters, it looks like there's enough horsepower behind these phones to keep the experience smooth.

What do you guys think of this Easy Experience mode? Are there really a lot of cell phone shoppers out there that are overwhelmed by what Android has to offer? Does it need to be pared down a little bit for those new folks?

Video and press release after the jump.

New Pantech Flex from AT&T Provides Added Choice for Simplicity Seekers

First 4G LTE Smartphone from AT&T to Feature "Easy Experience" Mode Runs Android 4.0
Dallas, Texas, September 04, 2012

The first smartphone at AT&T to offer customers the option to choose between the traditional Android operating mode and a more simplified version ideal for new smartphone users, the Pantech Flex will be available exclusively from AT&T* online and in company-owned retail stores for $49.99 with a two-year agreement and qualifying voice and data plans, beginning Sept. 16.

The Pantech Flex offers a unique dual experience system that runs on Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). The standard Android format is available for the customer who wants instant access to a wide range of their favorite features – social media sites, email, video and more. In addition, Flex provides the “Easy Experience” mode which prioritizes customers’ apps on the home screen in a clearly organized and easy-to-read format.  Easy Experience users can enjoy an intuitive experience without sacrificing any of the latest in smartphone technology.  By switching simply between traditional and easy modes, depending on preferences, Flex is a very easy to use device.  To see more of the Flex’s features in action, check out this video.

In addition to its dual operating systems, Flex weighs only 4.6 ounces and has a slim design that makes it easy to slip into a pocket or purse. Flex features a full touch 4.3-inch qHD Super AMOLED display for a vibrant picture and a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor. The intelligent Pantech SwiftKey technology makes typing a breeze – it minimizes key strokes by learning a user’s natural language for more accurate word predictions and corrections.  Flex also features an eight-megapixel rear facing camera with 1080p HD video recording capabilities and a two-megapixel front facing camera.

“The Pantech Flex is a great phone because of its versatility,” said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president, Devices and Developer Services, AT&T Mobility. “This phone simplifies the smartphone experience and allows someone who has been hesitant to buy a smartphone a chance to get familiar with it at their own pace, and still leaves open the possibility of having the more traditional experience.”

“Flex is a smartphone that’s truly for everybody,” remarked Wyatt Whaley, vice president of product planning at Pantech. “With the option to alternate between the traditional Android interface and Pantech’s proprietary Easy Experience, Flex is ideal for users of all ages looking for an intuitive and flexible mobile experience.”

For more information, visit www.att.com/aboutus

Additional information about Flex can be found at, www.pantechusa.com.

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