Posted: 17 Feb 2012 02:46 PM PST  We had a lot of fun at Android’s Mobile World Congress booth last year. It was an impressive setup featuring a two story slide, a parade of Android phones, and even smoothies based on the various dessert-themed OS versions. This year we expect no less from Google and company, and it looks like the Android Team is just as excited as we are. A countdown has gone live over at the Android site to let us know just how long we have to wait. Perhaps this year they’ll be serving up custom Ice Cream Sandwiches. You can never be too sure when it comes to Google, but we can say with a good degree of certainty that it will be a sight to behold. [via AndroidCentral] |
Motorola Droid X in line for an update, Motorola seeking testers [Update: Official changelog posted] Posted: 17 Feb 2012 02:38 PM PST   Motorola is contacting members of their Feedback Network in search of testers for a new software update to none other than the Droid X. Given its age and the release of the Droid X2 last year, there didn’t seem to be much hope for further support of the 4.3-inch phone that set the bar pretty high for every Droid to follow, but Moto and Verizon aren’t done yet. Before owners nearing the end of their two-year contract get too excited, it isn’t likely that the Droid X will be getting Ice Cream Sandwich any time soon. Expect bug fixes and other enhancements to the device’s Gingerbread build. “Hi,Update: Verizon has posted to official changelog to the update, which will bring the Droid X to software version 4.5.621. As we first postulated, bug fixes are the main goal here. You can see the full list of what to expect over at Verizon’s support site. [Thanks, tipster!] |
Posted: 17 Feb 2012 12:51 PM PST   With manufacturers focusing on the speed and number of cores a smartphone’s processor features, megapixel numbers, and network technologies like LTE, the performance of an Android handset should largely be based on its hardware, right? Wrong, according to a new study undertaken by researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology. The type and brand of microSD storage installed in the device could just as well be the culprit. Their study that found that flash storage often accounted for a 100 to 300 percent drop in performance. In one instance the numbers dipped by an astonishing 2,000 percent. Hyojun Kim, a doctoral student at the College of Computing at Georgia Tech, headed up the research and concluded that flash storage technology simply isn’t keeping pace with its counterpart mobile hardware. The source of the slowdown in applications varying from Facebook to Google Maps is the poor handling of random I/O data from the software. A possible solution rests in phase-change random access memory (PRAM), which could be used to better manage random data writing. A relatively quick and easy way to increase the performance of a current microSD card is by reorganizing its file subsystem and otherwise keeping storage space neat and tidy. For more on the technical aspects and the science behind it, check out the Usenix link below to read the entire text of Kim’s paper. [Usenix via ComputerWorld] |
Posted: 17 Feb 2012 12:12 PM PST   Orange is reportedly conducting a bit of market research on their latest phone to bare a city-based name. Following devices such as the San Francisco and Monte Carlo, the Orange London is said to get a major boost in the specs department courtesy of Intel. Aside from being one of the first devices to utilize the new processor platform, the London also speculatively features an 8MP camera, 16GB of internal storage, and 4-inch Gorilla Glass display. Not mentioned is what operating system the phone would run, but Android 4.0 would not be out of the question based on its compatibility with Intel’s Medfield chip. Orange has typically gone with a second-tier manufacturer to provide the devices that are rebranded under their own banner. Past entries have come from ZTE and Huawei. It isn’t known who would make the London, but Lenovo isn’t out of the question — a partnership was announced between the mobile maker and Intel back at CES. With Mobile World Congress right around the corner, we expect to see quite a few new Intel designs. There is no guarantee we will see the London or the phone that may become the London, however. Given that all of this info come from a supposed market research survey, there is also a chance we may never see this exact handset at all. [via AndroidCentral] |
Posted: 17 Feb 2012 11:47 AM PST   While other companies have been busy sprucing up their product lineup for Mobile World Congress, LG has been focusing on revamping their…logo. OK, that’s not entirely true. LG is expected to have plenty of new handsets to show off including the successor to the Optimus 3D and a Tegra 3 device known as the LG X3, but a redesigned logo will feature on both. Ahead of their big Barcelona press conference in a little over a week, LG has introduced to a new look for the Optimus logo. The new look is said to better reflect the design elements of LG’s signature Android smartphone line by focusing on the “metallic edges and slim shape” of their latest devices. The overhauled logo isn’t an earth shattering change, but its nice to see the Korean mobile maker working towards a unified standard in every aspect of design. Read the release below for a few more details. NEW LOGO FOR LG SMARTPHONES DEBUTS AT MWC 2012 |
Posted: 17 Feb 2012 09:49 AM PST  Rovio looks to be bringing a much needed refresh to their take on Angry Birds as they have released a new teaser trailer. “It’s one small fling for bird, one quantum leap for birdkind,” the trailer reads as an “Angry Birds: Space” lol is revealed. Martian birds? Alien pigs? Radioactive bacon and eggs? Oh my. Intergalactic bird war is said to be going down March 22nd. And the menacing pair of bird eyes throughout the trailer make us believe that these outer-space birds are no joke compared to their earthbound brethren. Maybe those chem trails did it… Who knows? Trailer’s above. |
Posted: 17 Feb 2012 09:40 AM PST   HTC took to Facebook today to confirm that more of their phones would be getting Ice Cream Sandwich. They called it the “North America edition” because all of these devices can be had on the illustrious continent. We’ve got the Rezound, which was already confirmed, alongside the DROID Incredible 2, the HTC Thunderbolt and the HTC Rhyme – it’s pretty much a Verizon affair, here. Above the US borders, Canadians who use Rogers and Bell’s HTC Raider will also be seeing the upgrade to Android 4.0. Unfortunately, we get no release window but at least we know that these devices will be getting them (and I’d bet a pretty penny that they’ll be getting them this year). [HTC Facebook, Thanks Doug!] |
Posted: 17 Feb 2012 09:10 AM PST  Well, I almost completely forgot that this phone existed. The Galaxy S Phone with a pointless secondary display may have bowed out of the market unwanted, but that doesn’t stop Samsung and Verizon from supporting it with updates. The device has finally gotten an update to a new major version of Android and that version is Android 2.2. That’s not a typo.  Sure, it launched on 2.1 and never did get its Gingerbread update like its “fascinating” cousin, but it’s 2012. Froyo has a lot of nice features over Eclair, but again – it’s 2012. And even though the phone was seen as DOA, it’s no less capable than the Samsung Fascinate. This might not be the last update, though, so we can’t say for sure if they will be done after this. Just give your lungs a break and don’t hold your breath. Do any of our readers even own this phone? [Verizon via Droid-Life] |
Posted: 17 Feb 2012 08:56 AM PST   Today is bonus day for Verizon Wireless workers! Some odd 82,000 employees will be getting a bonus of 6%-10% of their base salary following a strong fourth quarter and a strong 2011 overall. On top of that, workers will begin to receive merit raises of 2.5%. While this news may not seem pertinent to you or I, it’s nice to know that the leading carrier in America takes care of its employees, which translates to hard work and great service. |
Posted: 17 Feb 2012 08:34 AM PST  Late last year, we heard of two phones called the LG Spectrum, which has been officially released, and the HTC Fireball, which we still know almost nothing about. We do know that it’ll have 4G LTE (what Verizon phone doesn’t these days?) and may have GSM radios for global use.  Today you can also add “WiFi” to that last, though I don’t think there was any doubt that we’d be missing out on that. The device has gotten its WiFi certification. The device’s model number, ADR6410LVW, is included to reassure us that this is the same device we heard about months ago. But other than that, we still don’t know much. We expect it to have at least a dual-core processor. A screen above 4 inches might be a possibility. It might even come with Ice Cream Sandwich and Sense 4.0. It could be the rumored HTC Droid Incredible 3 that we caught wind of last week. With as little information as we have, we can at least rest easy knowing that, with today’s certification, we’re inching closer and closer to more details. [via Wi-Fi.org, Thanks Joe!] |
Posted: 17 Feb 2012 07:42 AM PST   It looks like the ASUS Transformer Prime is receiving a new OTA update. Version 9.4.2.14 is rolling out to users now. It’s not immediately know what all is different in this incremental upgrade but users are reporting better battery life thanks to proper power states (low power usage while idling). Unfortunately, this update also breaks root so don’t jump to flash it right away if you care about that sort of stuff. Head to Settings > About Tablet > System Firmware Update to get started. [XDA] |
Posted: 17 Feb 2012 06:59 AM PST  Earlier this month, a rumored ASUS TF300T appeared online courtesy of cool3c, but aside from its good looks we didn’t have much information on what it actually was. We figured it’d be a new entry into the Transformer series, of course, but had not a clue on specs. If today’s rumors are true, we now know what might be inside.  Polish site Tabletowo says the device will reportedly have almost all the same specs as the Transformer Prime. It’s said to have a 10.1 inch display, an 8 megapixel HD camera, a 1.2 megapixel front camera, a 1.2GHz quad-core Tegra 3 processor, 1GB of RAM and Android 4.0. This model has configurations starting at 16GB whereas the Transformer Prime started at 32. The device is also said to be a bit heavier and thicker than the Transformer Prime at 640 grams (vs 586 grams) and 9.9mm (vs 8.3mm), respectively. You’re probably wondering why anyone would go for such a model over the Transformer Prime. And why such a model would even exist when it’s so comparable to the Prime. We’re wondering the same, but if this model is a lot cheaper for them to produce and it translates to MSRP, then we understand. Of course, none of this is confirmed yet so we can’t say for sure that this thing even really exists. Take it for what you will and hope to find out more information at Mobile World Congress. [via Unwired View] |
Posted: 17 Feb 2012 06:47 AM PST  TouchType has just announced that they’ve reached the 5 million download mark for their popular keyboard app for Android, SwiftKey. The app provides an alternative for those who need unmatched accuracy in word prediction, text correction and more through the use of innovative technology such as heat maps and social network personalizations.  Speaking of that, they’re also boasting that one million users have used the personalization features to improve their typing experience. To celebrate all of this they’re hosting a pretty decent sale. Through the weekend you can get the app for 25% off of its normal $3.99 price point (about a dollar). They will soon be releasing a new update which makes changes to their core language engine to make it easier for users to type informal messages. I suggest anyone who is unhappy with their current keyboard “situation” give the free app a whirl and take advantage of this sale before the weekend is over if you end up enjoying it. Read on for full press details.
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Posted: 17 Feb 2012 05:57 AM PST  Most people are just now getting over their honeymooning period with the Amazon Kindle Fire and talks of a second have already begun. If you don’t remember, Amazon is reportedly working on a 9 inch follow-up to the popular tablet, though little is known about the sequel at this point. China Times claims to know at least one thing, though: this thing could ship as early as May.  Quanta and Foxconn will reportedly be doing the manufacturing and they’re expected to receive component shipments in March. The 7 inch Amazon Kindle Fire was a perfect fit for most who bought it. The size was ideal for those who primarily bought it to use as an e-reader. It’ll be interesting to see how consumers respond to the 9-inch slate, though if it’s anything like Amazon’s Kindle E-Readers we’d say they shouldn’t have much to worry about in the sales department. If you want a Kindle Fire and you would like a bigger size, hold off on buying the current model if you can. [via PhoneArena] |
Posted: 17 Feb 2012 05:38 AM PST  You’d better believe that Samsung is working on the upgrade to Android 4.0 for their flagship smartphones. It seems like we can’t go a week without seeing new Android 4.0 ROMs leaked for the device and we have another one today for two variants.  The international I9100 version has gotten build I9100XXLPH, a step up from the I9100XXLPB build that came before it. It appears that both speed and battery life have been improved here. The other phone is the Samsung Epic 4G Touch, Sprint’s 4.5 inch variant. Build FB09 has been leaked and is already deodex’d and pre-rooted. Apprach the ROM with caution as ACS head chef ShabbyPenguin has had trouble booting past the kernel screen. He provides a possible fix but be careful regardless. Make backups and all that jazz before proceeding and remember that no one is responsible for what happens to your phone but yourself. Get going! [I9100 Leak via PocketNow, E4GT Leak (thanks, Alex!)] |
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Update - 5
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