Posted: 19 Feb 2012 04:51 PM PST  General NewsHardware News
Tablet News
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Posted: 19 Feb 2012 04:41 PM PST  One of the biggest downsides to owning an LG Android phone is the lack of timely software updates. While many of us are looking towards -- or already have -- Ice Cream Sandwich, some LG owners are still stuck on Froyo. The Gingerbread update for the Optimus Black hit Europe almost a month ago. Finally though our Android brothers down under can get themselves some Gingerbread as the update has managed to reach Australia for Vodafone and Three users. The Black is a really nice piece of hardware, like most LG devices and deserves to be enjoyed. Hopefully the doom and gloom ends now, and with a slated Q3 push of ICS to the device it will hopefully join the ranks sooner rather than later. With Gingerbread first mentioned by LG way back in October though, anyone left without it now has every reason to feel a bit sore. The 2.3.4 update is available via the LG Support Website, so head on over there for the full rundown. via Ausdroid 
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Posted: 19 Feb 2012 02:25 PM PST  The winner of this weeks Android Central photo contest is Andrew Hammer. He gives us this lovely picture of a butterfly, taken with his T-Mobile Galaxy S II. It's a stunner, and fits in perfectly with the animal theme we asked for last week. It's hard to believe pictures this great can come from our Android phones. Thanks for entering everyone, and Andrew, check your inbox for details about your prize. The pictures you guys are sending in are phenomenal. It's difficult for us to pick a winner each week, but we're loving it. Look through this weeks runners-up to see what I mean. We'll be back tomorrow with another contest for the week, as long as you guys promise to keep sending in such great pictures! read more
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Posted: 19 Feb 2012 01:02 PM PST  We've seen a couple new Ice Cream Sandwich builds leaked out for the Sprint Epic 4G Touch, and that makes us happy. It means someone is hard at work making this happen, nobody has forgotten about these great phones, and eventually ICS will show up for everyone that has one. But it's also easy to see why it's not there yet. We love seeing leaks, and we try them, too. It's a fun part of Android, and having access to something a wee bit early appeals to the nerd in each of us. But when Sprint releases the ICS update, it has to work for everyone. That's why it hasn't been released for the E4GT just yet -- it's simply not ready for prime time. Some folks are seeing problems with the data connection, others are seeing issues with MTP, issues with overheating are being reported, and some general wonkiness is still going on. To make matters worse, some folks seem to have no issues at all. When you take user error out of the equation, you're left with a piece of software that acts a bit different from one device to the next. That's the sort of headache software developers have to deal with on a daily basis, and that's why it often takes longer than we'd like to see the latest version of shiny and new hit our phones. The past couple of builds are great fodder for the ROM builders and hackers. If that's how you roll, you'll be seeing some new goodies from your favorite developer soon for your flashing enjoyment. If you're not that type, the news is still good -- Samsung and Sprint are hard at work, and aren't going to release anything to the public until they think it's ready. That's the way it should be. More: XDA-Developers. Thanks everyone who sent this in! 
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From the Editor's Desk: Ch-ch-ch-changes, permissions and paranoia, Droid 4 and Galaxy Note thoughts Posted: 19 Feb 2012 09:26 AM PST  Excited because I've seen the roadmap for Android Central. Excited for the way we're going to bring you more Android news than ever before. For the way we're going to continue to be your first, last and best source for all things Android. For all the new devices. For all the best apps. For all the live events. For all the tips and how-tos. And for this, I am excited. You're already getting a taste of it, with the latest iteration to our homepage. If you missed it, read my post on the changes. But the idea is to bring you the most important news quickly and succinctly, as well as continue to cover the bits and pieces that make Android the most fascinating platform around. And, perhaps more important, we're bringing to the front page the latest and greatest forum discussions. The news is awesome and important, to be sure. But the forums truly are where the real work is done. Nearly 700,000 members. More than 1.5 million posts. Members helping members. A kick-ass cadre of moderators and advisors steering things along. All with a sense of respect and professionalism you'll be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. (Fun fact: If you wonder how I ended up with this job, it started by posting the TreoCentral/WPCentral (nee WMExperts) forums back in the day. Dieter Bohn asked if I'd like to try writing and the rest, as they say, is history.) And this is just the beginning. It's not final, and it's not perfect. We're improving things every day and will continue to do so. If you've got a suggestion on how we can make your time at Android Central better, feel free to e-mail me. And now, with all that gushing over with, here's how I'm seeing things ... read more 
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Posted: 19 Feb 2012 06:53 AM PST  I have to say, my time with the Samsung Galaxy Note has definitely helped me appreciate what you little people are going through with ballooning screen sizes. 4-inch displays are now the norm among Android hardware, and make the 3.5-inch screen on the iPhone 4S, sharp as it may be, feel extremely cramped. While 4 inches is perfectly fine for me, cranking it up to 5 makes me realize just how unrealistic it is to use a bigger phone one-handed. Those larger screens also mean tighter pockets, awkward grips when making a call, and can be a significant drain on the power supply, even if the battery gets an equivalent up-size. read more 
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Posted: 19 Feb 2012 05:10 AM PST  LG Optimus Vu specs as we know so far. (Will be updated.) Key Specifications:
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Posted: 19 Feb 2012 05:07 AM PST  Following is a gallery of the LG Optimus Vu, a 5-inch Android smartphone with a 4:3 display.     
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Posted: 18 Feb 2012 11:38 PM PST   LG has made the Optimus Vu official, announcing the 5-inch phone on their Korean Newsroom site early this AM. Running Gingerbread (Android 2.3) and packing a 5.0-inch display with a 4:3 aspect ratio and a specialized stylus, the size alone makes this one a force to reckon with.The full list of specs according to LG:
We've already seen the Optimus Vu holding hands with the other member of the ginormus-phone club, the Galaxy Note (which went on sale for AT&T hours before this announcement), but it's nice to see some clearer press shots. No word on any worldwide release, but we're told to expect it in Korea on SK Telecom in early March. LG also says to expect more at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona about the Vu, and we'll be right there to hear and see it. We've got more pics and the full presser after the break. More: LG Korea (Korean) read more
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Posted: 18 Feb 2012 10:46 PM PST  The the Samsung Galaxy Note is finally available in the United States, hitting Best Buy and AT&T's websites right this second, and brick-and-mortar stores just as soon as the sun rises. (And, you know, the stores actually open.) The Galaxy Note is no stranger to these parts. We reviewed the European version some months ago -- it's already shipped more than 1 million units worldwide -- and we've had the AT&T version for a few days now. They're larger the same (large) smartphone. It's got a hulking (but beautiful) 5.3-inch Super AMOLED display -- with a whopping 800x1280 resolution -- powered by a 1.4 GHz dual-core processor running Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread.It's got an 8-megapixel camera in the back, and a 2MP shooter ujp front. The AT&T version varies slightly by switching to the traditional 4-butoon scheme below the display, whereas the Euro version opts for a larger, centered home button. That's not unusual -- the Galaxy S and Galaxy S II lines did the same. AT&T's Galaxy Note also throws in a 4G LTE radio in addition to the HSPA+ radio. (Take that, Europe!) It's a smartphone, to be sure. Makes phone calls and everything. But the noted feature of the note -- and really the reason it's so big -- is the included stylus, called the S Pen. It brings a whole 'nother level of functionality to the traditional Android experience. And when not needed (or wanted), it tucks away neatly into the phone itself, out of sight, out of mind. There's your teaser. We've got lots more coming in our full AT&T Galaxy Note review. If you're the early adopting type, head into a store today, or hit the links below. 
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Posted: 18 Feb 2012 06:43 PM PST  Looking for something new to try out on this long President's Day Weekend? Well, if you already grabbed some accessories at a discount the next thing to do would be to check out some new applications for your device, right? Let's hit the break and check out some of our favorites this week! read more
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Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Update - 15
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