TechBytes: Sprint's 4G Phone

March 24, 2010— -- Sprint has revealed the first phone for its next generation cell network. The Evo will be available this summer on the carrier's 4G network, which Sprint says offers download speeds up to 10 times faster than its current network. The phone runs on Google's software and features a touchscreen, GPS navigation and two cameras. One of the cameras will be on the front, allowing users to make video calls.

Nintendo is joining the 3-D craze. The company said it will begin selling a 3-D version of its popular handheld DSi console within a year. The Nintendo 3DS will feature a 3-D display that doesn't require glasses. It will also be compatible with games made for earlier models. Nintendo didn't give many details, except that it will offer more information in June.

Apple is making it easier to give iPhone apps as gifts by adding a new feature to the iTunes app store. Now shoppers can send software directly to someone by selecting "gift this app" and sending the app by e-mail with a message of up to 500 characters.

Yahoo has released a new app for searching maps on the iPhone. It's called Sketch-a-Search and it lets users draw on the screen to identify the area they want to search. The app will then bring up content from that area, such as restaurants and businesses. The program also filters restaurants by cuisine, ambiance and rating. The Sketch-a-Search app is available for free.

New technology could soon end the frustration of long checkout lines in supermarkets. Researchers at Rice University in Houston are developing a way to zip through the checkout lane without scanning all your items. The technology uses radio tags to replace bar codes. Shoppers can pull a full cart up to the counter and the total is tallied instantly. The researchers expect these tags to be in stores in about five years.