Motorola just launched its third Android-powered smartphone with a name that describes its unique characteristic. --The Backflip, a phone with a physical keyboard that opens up in the reverse direction. That feature is no gimmick however as it allowed Motorola to add a bigger keyboard than would otherwise be possible.

Google has definitely raised the bar for future Linux phones with their newly launched smartphone. It's now up to other Linux-powered smartphone innovators to live up to the challenge.

Everybody's heard about the One Laptop Per Child concept, and the ups and downs of that project, its wavering connection to free, open-source software and the fact that it still hasn't reached the $100/unit price it set out to meet. But what if I were to tell you that another company not only is committed to offering a $99 laptop to the world but is already doing it.

Dell today announced it has chosen AT&T as its exclusive U.S. carrier for its upcoming lineup of Android-based smartphones, known as the Mini 3.

Ars takes a quick look at some of the Linux-powered products that have been announced at CES.

AT&T announced plans to launch five Android devices from Dell, HTC, and Motorola in the first half of the year, as well as two Palm WebOS phones, say reports. In separate announcements, AT&T and T-Mobile said they had completed upgrades to provide HSPA 7.2 service across their 3G networks, says eWEEK.

Over the last 12 months, netbook and mobile Linux has made massive advances in features and install base. This is primarily thanks to two netbook distributions - Moblin and Canonical's Ubuntu Netbook Remix (UNR).

A little over two years ago, the world - or at least a whole lot of geeks - waited with baited breath for the revelation that Google would be entering the mobile phone market. The eventual announcement proved a curveball, however, as what the search giant unveiled were plans for an operating system, not a handset. Now, that curve has finally straightened.