Motorola brings back 'Razr' name for smartphone

Seeking an edge in the world of high-end smartphones, Motorola is bringing back the "Razr" name, once attached to the best-selling phone in the world.

The phone revealed Tuesday is thin, like the old Razr. Otherwise, the new Razr is a different breed from the folding "dumb" phone that made Motorola the second-largest phone maker in the world, before Apple Inc. shook up the industry with its iPhone in 2007.

The new phone, called the Droid Razr, has a big touchscreen and runs Google Inc.'s Android operating system. Verizon Wireless will start taking pre-orders on Oct. 27 and sell it for $300 with a two-year contract. The Droid Razr will use Verizon's new LTE high-speed wireless data network.

In an interview, Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. CEO Sanjay Jha said the company's testing had revealed that the Razr name still resonates with people, and they say they're more likely to buy a phone that carries it.

"People have incredibly fond memories of using their Razrs," he said at a press event in New York.

As sold by Verizon, the phone will be called the "Droid Razr." In other countries, it will be just "Razr."

Motorola was never able to come up with a phone that could match the old Razr in popularity. As its popularity declined, the company's fortunes plummeted. The company split up in January, with Motorola Mobility taking the cellphone part of the business. It is now the world's eighth-largest maker of phones.

Motorola Mobility is based in Libertyville, Ill., and has agreed to be bought by Google for $12.5 billion. The deal is expected to close by early next year.

Motorola Mobility's stock rose 10 cents to close Tuesday at $38.92.

Samsung Galaxy S II beats iPhone 4 for smartphone of the year

Apple’s iPhone 4 may have been the favorite to win best smartphone of the year at the annual T3 awards show, but it was Samsung’s Galaxy S II that walked away with the prestigious award.

Organized by the UK-based website T3 and now in its fifth year, the awards show has come to be recognized as one of the most prominent annual presentations of the best of the year’s consumer electronics offerings,

The iPhone 4 was expected to earn the top nod in the smartphone category, due to its record-breaking sales on its first day of release and its status as the last iPhone to launch under Steve Jobs’ tenure. However, it was Samsung’s celebrated Galaxy S II that won the day.

Among the potential reasons many cite for the iPhone missing out on the “best smartphone” award is its notorious tendency to drop calls due to problems with its antenna placement.

Along with the Galaxy S II and the iPhone 4, other phones nominated in the category include the HTC Incredible S, Motorola Atrix, Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc, and the HTC Sensation.

Your Smartphone Is Your Wingman: Best Dating Apps

Single and ready to mingle? 

Let your smartphone be your wingman in your dating pursuits. Here are a few apps to help connect you to singles in your area, scope out the perfect date spot, and -- just as a precaution, of course -- give you an excuse to end a date early.

SmartDating
Find other people looking for love in your area with the free SmartDating app. With Facebook and foursquare integration, you can check out other members and also see who's checking you out. If you like what you see, chat with them through the private messaging system or exchange emails.

If you feel a connection, plan to meet up in your area with the help of the geo-targeted local spot finder. The app filters through nearby singles by common interests and by what you are looking for in a partner. With SmartDating, you will be on the road to romance in no time.

Picksie
Because you should be picky while choosing a mate, there’s also an app that helps you pick the perfect date spot. Picksie discovers restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and other locations for you based on your likes and dislikes. 

With Picksie, you can stress less when planning a date—just create a profile and enter your preferences. The personalized app will point you in the right direction. GPS technology will also choose a spot based on the weather and time of day—so you won’t have to take a rain check.

DateEscape
Blind date gone wrong? No spark? Boring? Guy looks nothing like his profile picture? 

It’s inevitable that some dates don’t always go as planned, but don’t worry, there's a way out. DateEscape is a fake call and message application that helps you excuse yourself from any awkward situation. That means no more planning phone calls from your best friend ("I need you to help me out, ASAP!"). 

Now you can handle it all on your own and create customized messages veiled with fake caller names. For example, with one click you can send yourself a message disguised as your roommate saying that you need to come home right away -- the apartment is on fire! But you can come up with a better excuse than that …