June 30 - 3:25pm EDT   Cooliris has updated its browser plug-in for viewing images and videos from Facebook, Google Images, YouTube, Flickr, or the computer desktop. Version 1.11 changes the full-screen mode from the default setting to an option. The developers also added tabbed browsing, allowing users to run multiple Cooliris windows or navigate easily between tabs. The plug-in can now be run in the background as a music player. [full story]

June 30 - 1:35pm EDT   After today's earlier news of the BlackBerry Tour smartphone coming to Verizon, two more sources have reported the device will soon be offered at another US provider, Alltel, as well as Canada's Bell. While no specifics are known about the Alltel release other than the photos that reveal Alltel branding on the phone, the Bell release of the new BlackBerry has been supported with more specific pricing details. [full story]

June 23 - 10:00am EDT   AT&T today jumped at Motorola's messaging phone lines with the addition of the Karma QA1. Like the Hint, it has an unusual, squat design with a QWERTY keyboard that slides out vertically instead of horizontally; the form factor is supported by front-end links to Facebook and MySpace as well as IM chat on multiple networks. In an unusual turn for this class of phone, the Karma also has a native 3.5mm headset jack and microSDHC for music listening. [full story]

June 22 - 1:45pm EDT   Wireless provider Sprint on Monday has announced it has added the LG LX370 and Samsung Exclaim handsets to its lineup. The former is an entry-level vertical slider while the Exclaim is a dual-slider that open horizontally to reveal a QWERTY keyboard or vertically to offer a numeric keypad. Either connects to Sprint's 3G network to access many online features and services, including social networking sites through customizable shortcuts. A 2-megapixel camera and Bluetooth are also shared by the two handsets. [full story]

June 2 - 8:35am EDT   Nokia today finally set a launch window for its N97 flagship smartphone. The company's second-ever touchscreen device ships in June to 75 countries and should include a version with 3G support for North American carriers. It continues to have the same 3.5-inch 640x360 display, 32GB of built-in storage, 5-megapixel camera, GPS and Wi-Fi. The N97 is also Nokia's first device with a customizable home screen with widgets for Facebook, news and weather. [full story]

June 1 - 4:35pm EDT   As part of its E3 introductions, Microsoft has said it will add both a full game download service as well as social networking components. Tentatively called Games on Demand, the former will give gamers the option of buying entire Xbox 360 games that then exist solely on the console's hard drive. Buying itself will also be easier and, for the games alone, will allow purchasing directly with a credit card instead of having to first buy Microsoft Points. [full story]

May 28 - 3:35pm EDT   Sony Ericsson today made its push into touchscreen phones official with both a completely new model as well as the finalized version of the Idou. The Aino is the company's first touchscreen slider and hides both a number pad and navigation keys underneath its 3-inch display. It's also the first phone of any kind from Sony Ericsson to integrate tightly with the PlayStation 3 and can use the PSP-born Remote Play feature to listen to music or watch videos from the console when away from home. [full story]

May 28 - 2:40pm EDT   Canadian wireless provider Rogers announced it is the exclusive retailer of two new advanced Sony Ericsson handsets, including the country's first 8.1-megapixel camera phone, the C905a, and the W705 Walkman. The C905 is touted as a camera with phone functionality, and apart from its large megapixel count, offers face detection, smile shutter and geotagging capabilities through its GPS. A Xenon flash is also built in. [full story]

May 8 - 8:15am EDT   Sprint's rumored dual slider messaging phone, the Samsung Lucello, has received a more concrete name and launch date courtesy of a leak. The device is now identified by SprintGurus as the M550 Exclaim and, as promised, has a user interface focused heavily on social networking: the front menu has quick access to the web and Google searches but also Facebook and MySpace. It should also come in blue and pink models and ship on June 7th, roughly and unusually at the same time as the Palm Pre. [full story]

May 5 - 11:10am EDT   Sprint has given further signs that it's nearing the launch of the Palm Pre with Twitter reports from film worker Jaime Gonzalez that the carrier is shooting a TV commercial for the phone in Los Angeles. Although some details are left out, a photo from Gonzalez shows a set with a Facebook profile extruded into 3D that will presumably have actors 'interacting' with the page. Palm has already emphasized Facebook as a cornerstone of its webOS Synergy feature, which merges Facebook data with the Pre's address book and other parts of the smartphone's experience. [full story]

May 3 - 11:10pm EDT   Toon Boom Animation has announced Toon Boom Studio 5, an update to its software that allows animators to create, animate and publish projects. Version 5 adds stop-motion animation, improved image-playback optimization and the ability to review a series of pictures using time-lapse imagery. Also new is a "chroma key screens" function that enables users to change the background screens, while a preview window displays live feeds and provides customization options for the subject, focus and brightness. [full story]

April 29 - 5:05pm EDT   Samsung will soon begin shipping its Tocco Lite touchscreen handset in the UK. With an emphasis on lowering the price of entry, the Lite utilizes the company's TouchWiz user interface and has GPRS/EDGE data network support. There are newfound social media features, including touchscreen shortcuts to Facebook, MySpace and YouTube from the 3-inch screen. Uploading photos taken by the Lite's 3.2-megapixel smile- and face-detecting camera to said social networking is also made simple, and users can tag photos of their contacts. [full story]

April 17 - 7:20am EDT   T-Mobile this morning finally confirmed the existence of its 2009 update to the Sidekick LX. The new model is the first ever to support 3G and draws on HSPA to allow both faster web browsing as well as to enable video streaming directly through the browser as well as Internet radio and video uploading. GPS is also new and exploits Danger's connection to Microsoft to let users search for nearby locations (including fuel and movies) using Live Search. [full story]

March 27 - 3:10pm EDT   First spotted last winter, Motorola's Hint QA30 slider phone with a full QWERTY keyboard is due to be offered exclusively in Canada by provider Bell Mobility starting on April 9th, says a Thursday MobileSyrup note. Pricing will be nearly $330 CAD (about $266) for the handset without a contract, or $280 ($226), $180 ($145) and $130 ($105) when purchased with 1-year, 2-year and 3-year contracts, respectively. [full story]

March 24 - 11:55pm EDT   EA Mobile has announced its Scrabble game for the iPhone and iPod touch now connects to the Facebook Scrabble application. By offering a connected version of the game, users can play head-to-head against anyone accessing the game on either Facebook or the iPhone/iPod touch. Players also receive scores and statistics which displays their rank against other players, and a built-in chat function that enables users to talk with friends and opponents during the game. [full story]