smartphones

Mercedes-Benz and partner Hughes Telematics hope buyers will embrace a new in-car telematics system tied to smartphone apps. The system, branded "mbrace," will let drivers use their iPhones or BlackBerry devices to lock and unlock car doors, locate their vehicles on a map, and contact roadside assistance. Mercedes is the first carmaker to offer the service, which was developed by Atlanta-based Hughes.

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We've talked about Android 2.0 and (virtually) walked through the new Google Maps. Now, it's for real, and it's here. Motorola's Droid has landed at PopSci HQ, and it's making good on its promises.

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Looking to get away to Paris this winter, but concerned about the cost? Worry not; for the price of a pair of lab safety goggles, a cardboard box and an HTC Magic (even better if the HTC magic comes in a large cardboard box), this DIY augmented reality headset can transport you anywhere in the world, just as long as the Google Street View team has been there first.

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The BMT Group and the Fraunhofer Institute have teamed up to work on an EU-funded project to offer Augmented Reality content on smartphones to tourists visiting historic sites throughout the continent. This would make it possible to see those buildings and paintings that have since been destroyed, or haven't aged so gracefully.

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The best chocolate comes from Europe. Go on, try and argue with me. Now, look at the new non-U.S. Black Label Series LG Chocolate BL40 and try and argue with me again. Can't do it, can you? Thought so. Shielded in tempered glass, the premium phone has a 4-inch, 800-by-345-pixel LCD widescreen. Its 21:9 aspect ratio is wide enough to display full 70mm movies across the entire screen. Yum.

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Today is iPhone 3GS day, and while the hysteria is nowhere near the levels of the original iPhone launch, a number of you are probably fairly excited today, refreshing your FedEx tracking number page at a frequency that could probably be considered unhealthy.

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Can you believe that only two or three years ago, the trope of cellphones used in America being so far inferior to what was available in Korea or even Europe was pounded to the point of cliché? Now, it’s on its head: the complete opposite is true. And for that, a lot of thanks goes to Apple. No doubt about that.

But the Pre and especially its webOS software is so interesting because it’s the first phone to actually build on the trail blazed by the iPhone in some truly key areas of functionality. And what’s more American than some good ol’ fashioned competition begetting forward-looking innovation that elevates the playing field for all?

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All the rumblings about an updated iPhone at today's WWDC unveiling were true--Apple announced the iPhone 3GS, essentially the exact same iPhone with a beefier processor they claim will boost the new 3.0 OS to double the speed as the current iPhone 3G. And if that's not enough to lure you over, the current iPhone 3G will remain on sale for a reduced price of $99.

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While not exactly to scale, I love this expression of the evolution of cellphones via Russian Matryoshka dolls. It's a concept toy by designer Kyle Bean.

Even though we're all still digesting the Palm Pre--Apple's WWDC event is sure to bring news of the next iPhone iteration in just about an hour. We'll keep you posted.

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So we got our Palm Pre review phone today. Even though you've probably read all the first-wave reviews from Pogue, Mossberg, our friends at Gizmodo et al, you still may have some questions--especially if you're thinking of plunking down $200 tomorrow.

Rather than rush up a review after using it for half a day, we're obviously going to put this thing through its paces. But in the meantime, drop a line in the comments if there's anything we can check out for you.

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