Minor software update for Backflip now available

Motorola issued a software update to AT&T's Backflip this week to address the touch screen, messaging, Bluetooth, and more. Very similar to the Cliq update from a few months back, it's a minor release designed to improve the phone's overall performance.

Among the changes customers should notice are improvements to battery life, text messaging, device stability, and 3G connections. Other, less noticeable, tweaks address streaming audio and video interruptions and better audio through Bluetooth headsets. Motorola offers more information about the update on its support page.

On a related note, the Backflip is still scheduled for an Android 2.1 update in the third quarter of this year. Motorola is currently testing Android 2.1 for the T-Mobile Cliq and Cliq XT. After postponing that update on the last day of the second quarter, Motorola is expected to roll out Eclair at some point near the middle of August.

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Hands-on with the Toshiba Portege R705

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

We know that the quest for the perfect laptop is ultimately fruitless. Different users have different needs, budgets, and expectations, and tomorrow's technology threatens to make any just-purchased laptop semi-obsolete before it even comes out of its cardboard box. That said, the new Toshiba Portege R705 comes about as close as anything we've seen this year, offering a great mix of price, design, features, and performance.

The Portege R705 is a 13-inch laptop (similar to Apple's MacBook), which is the biggest screen size we'd consider carrying around on a regular basis, but also the smallest we'd be able to comfortably use for full-time computing. It's thinner than the current white plastic MacBook (but not as svelte as the MacBook Air or Dell Adamo XPS), and has a sturdy magnesium alloy chassis.

Toshiba lists the Portege R705 for $889, but as of this writing, it can be found online for $799. A handful of business-oriented configs are also available (called the R700, instead of the R705), adding a docking port and a few other corporate-friendly features for $999 and up.

For $100-$200 less than an entry-level MacBook, you get a newer Intel Core i3 processor (the basic MacBook has an older Core 2 Duo CPU), a large 500GB hard drive, and Intel's Wireless Display technology, which allows the laptop's display to be beamed to a remote TV or monitor (this requires a sold-separately $100 Netgear adapter that connects to your TV). Not to draw too many MacBook comparisons, but it also has an SD card slot (as does virtually every Windows-based laptop no matter the price), something the $999 MacBook lacks.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

There are a few issues. The integrated Intel graphics are a drag, and the keyboard isn't backlit, which would have been a nice touch on this slick-looking system. Also, out of the box, the hard drive accelerometer was far too sensitive, parking our HDD head every time we so much as breathed on the R705.

Those problems aside, the Portege R705 looks and feels like a much more expensive laptop, and is our new go-to choice for those who want a 13-inch experience but can't (or won't) join the MacBook masses.

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New features make Yelp 2.0 a must-have

The latest release of Yelp (2.0) landed in the Android Marketlate last week and it's a fantastic update. For those few of you who are unfamiliar with the title, Yelp lets users search for places to eat, shop, hang out, work out, and more based on location and reviews from the community. Expecting a simple enhancement to the user interface, I was pleased to see the addition of some great features, including check-ins and augmented reality.

Hitching their cart to the check-in craze, Yelp 2.0 allows user to share their location across Facebook whenever they stop for a bite to eat. According to the Yelp blog, Twitter support is expected in a future update. Once finished, it's a breeze to take a picture to associate with the establishment and leave behind quick tips such as, "Make sure to try the spicy tuna roll!" for the next guy.

The fun new feature in Yelp comes in the augmented-reality Monocle option. Opening this feature activates the camera and brings up a radar display. Using a combination of compass and GPS, one can search the surrounding area for restaurants, bars, or "everything." Results are displayed on the screen over top of the camera view with names, ratings, and approximate distance shown at a glance. Tapping an item pulls up the full Yelp profile compiled by the community at large.

If you're the type of person who likes to happen upon new places and share your experiences, I would give Yelp 2.0 a try. I think you'll be surprised at how much you'll find yourself using it.

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