Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans


Sprint Galaxy Nexus Poll: How Are You Liking Your New Phone (And Android 4.0)?

Posted: 23 Apr 2012 06:36 PM PDT

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As someone who was formerly with Sprint and recently made the jump to the Galaxy Nexus, I can tell you it was a pretty huge step in my Android life. The high-def display and the slim form factor of the phone were like nothing else I’ve ever experienced. I found that the biggest “shock” when making the move to the G-Nex was Android 4.0. The OS is so different from Gingerbread that I almost had to learn how to use my phone all over again.

Now, I’m curious to hear some of your guys’ feedback. How has the move to the Galaxy Nexus been so far you? Have you found stock Android 4.0 has been all that it was cracked up to be? Notice any bugs or general hardware weirdness going on? Anything particularly bothersome about either the phone or the OS? I can tell you, the one thing that irked me the most about the Galaxy Nexus and Android 4.0 was the lack of a menu and/or search button (and the main reason behind me rooting my device so quickly). You know what? I think a quick poll is in order.

Take Our Poll

If you want to further rave about the Galaxy Nexus’s perfection (or proclaim your disgust for the it), head on over to our very own Android Forums where you can chat with other owners just like you. There you can find help trouble shooting problems, discovering new apps, or even learn a few quick tips and tricks.

[Galaxy Nexus Forums | Galaxy Nexus Tips and Tricks Thread]


HTC Amaze 4G Official Ice Cream Sandwich Update [Leak]

Posted: 23 Apr 2012 05:32 PM PDT

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HTC Amaze 4G owners were already having a great weekend after a utility was released allowing just about any HTC phone to achieve S-Off with minimal effort. Now, the official Ice Cream Sandwich update for the device leaked yesterday onto XDA, where happy Amaze users have already grabbed their forks and are digging in.

Before you rush over to the thread and start flashing, keep in mind that this stock update has not been rooted just yet, but devs will no doubt have something cooked up soon, if not already. Still no word on exactly when T-Mobile will begin pushing out this update over-the-air but given that everything is just about ready to go, it shouldn’t be long.

[XDA]


HTC Sensation users on Cincinnati Bell receive Ice Cream Sandwich

Posted: 23 Apr 2012 03:49 PM PDT

Don’t look now, T-Mobile users, but HTC Sensation owners on Cincinnati Bell are getting a little treat starting today. The regional carriers has announced that an upgrade to Android 4.0 is available starting today. It’ll be an over-the-air process that’ll last a week, so be sure to apply the update through the settings menu or head to a store to get help applying it.

The version of Sense will be stepped up to 3.6. T-Mobile users have been awaiting the upgrade for quite some time. Users anticipated being able to get it weeks ago, but a series of delays blew those hopes into smithereens. We’re sure Magenta faithful will be banging on the doors of T-Mobile after they’re forced to look on in jealousy. As for you Cincinnati Bell customers, enjoy! [via Facebook, thanks to everyone who sent this in!]


DROID RAZR MAXX mailer teases Ice Cream Sandwich, redundancy

Posted: 23 Apr 2012 03:02 PM PDT

Another day, another Photoshop screwup. This time, Verizon’s advertising the Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX via snail-mail. According to those mailers, the RAZR MAXX has Ice Cream Sandwich. The status bar at the top is a dead giveaway, but nothing is as obvious as the on-screen buttons sitting right above a row of capacitive buttons.

Talk about wasted screen real estate. We’re willing to bet those software buttons won’t be there, but it’s still funny regardless. On a related note — now that you guys are showing these devices to have Ice Cream Sandwich in the mail, can we please get the actual update to the real deals? [via Droid-Life]


T-Mobile G2x gets bug-fixing update over-the-air (for real, this time)

Posted: 23 Apr 2012 02:46 PM PDT

It seems like we can’t go a week without hearing that an update for the T-Mobile G2X has been made available and promptly pulled. After a few frustrating cycles of this happening, it appears the update is finally, truly ready to go out this time.

The update was made available via an over-the-air process. Because of that, don’t worry if you can’t pull it down right away – they’re most likely going to take the staggered route. Device boot fixes, fixes for random reboots, and improvements to WiFi calling are all part of this smallish 30.5MB package.

Over-the-air updates will cease May 14th, but T-Mobile has mentioned that there will be an update file available for PCs on that day. Hit the source link for the full changelog and download instructions. [T-Mobile]


Rumor: Sprint to introduce Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE this year

Posted: 23 Apr 2012 12:59 PM PDT

Rumor has it Sprint wants to bring us a sequel to the Motorola Photon 4G of yesteryear. Following in the EVO 4G LTE’s naming footsteps, this device will apparently get a simple tweak to its name – Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE. Don”t be surprised if the “Q” is dropped and we end up with “Motorola Photon 4G LTE.”

Unfortunately, the name, its LTE radios and its existence are the only things we have to get excited about as PocketNow’s source couldn’t offer more details. It’s possible that the “Q” is more meaningful than we though, though, as the lone letter tends to signify a device with a QWERTY keyboard, but that’s just a rough guess. With the Samsung Galaxy S III coming up and the EVO 4G LTE on its way, would you buy it?


Sprint reassures us that the Epic 4G Touch is receiving Ice Cream Sandwich this year

Posted: 23 Apr 2012 12:45 PM PDT

Not that we’re surprised or anything, but Sprint has announced that the Samsung Epic 4G Touch, their Galaxy S II variant, would be getting Ice Cream Sandwich this year. We pretty much expected it, alongside other high-end devices, to receive the update. Unfortunately, Sprint doesn’t tell us when, exactly, to expect it within the calendar year. Still, it’s nice to see they’re committed. [via Sprint]


Samsung Galaxy S III sign-up form now available

Posted: 23 Apr 2012 11:57 AM PDT

Samsung released a word scramble puzzle on this countdown site earlier, and while the video uncovered from that site is exciting, even more exciting is the sign-up form at the site you’re directed to upon completing the puzzle.

TheNextGalaxy.com features that same video, and it also features a nice form where you an sign-up for more information on what we believe to be the Galaxy S III. Logging in with Twitter or Facebook will also ensure you’re queued up to receive more information about the device.

Yes, we know that these things often send you the information you seek hours after it hits the news wire, but perhaps it’ll be different this time — I know I always say that to myself when deciding whether or not I should spend the quick few seconds to submit my information. Head here to get started.


Verizon Galaxy Nexus drops to $200 on-contract

Posted: 23 Apr 2012 11:32 AM PDT

Last week, rumors suggested Verizon would be dropping the on-contract MSRP for its Galaxy Nexus. The phone, once a $300 exclusive in America, can now be had for $200 after rebates and other applicable discounts.

It’s a pretty sensible move on Verizon’s part. Not only has the device been out for more than four months, but Sprint’s version of the device, which costs $200 and launched yesterday, likely pushed Verizon to make the change.

In any case, $100 is a nice price difference. If you were holding out for a more attractive price (even though third-party retailers have frequent sales for it), there’s no better time than now to get it straight from Big Read. [Verizon via Droid-Life]


HTC One V will reach Bell Canada on May 3

Posted: 23 Apr 2012 08:40 AM PDT

Following the release of the HTC One X on Rogers last week, a new leak points to the nearing Canadian launch of another member of the One family. The HTC One V, which packs the lightest spec sheet but features one of the more intriguing designs of the group, looks to hit Bell on May 3rd. The handset is also destined for TELUS’ airwaves at some point in the future.

While the One X remains a Rogers exclusive, the third member of the One series, the HTC One S, should see a release on all major Canadian carriers.

[via MobileSyrup]


DroidDoes.com reveals Droid Incredible 4G with specs and pricing

Posted: 23 Apr 2012 07:39 AM PDT

Whether they intended to or not, Verizon has just outed the HTC Droid Incredible 4G over at their DroidDoes site. The appearance includes not only  our first clear look at the phone but also a rundown of the specs and the on-contract pricing. We’re look at a 1.2GHz CPU, 1GB RAM, and a 4-inch qHD Super LCD display. The specs rank closer to the HTC One S than the flagship One X, but we get Android 4.0 with HTC Sense 4 just the same. The rest of the hardware measures up as so:

  • 8 megapixel rear camera
  • 1080p HD video recording
  • VGA front-facing camera
  • Beats Audio
  • 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot
  • 1700mAh battery
  • 8GB internal memory
  • Expandable memory up to 32GB microSD card
  • Size: 2.4 x 4.8 x 0.46 inches
  • Weight: 4.66 ounces

The Incredible 4G is listed at $299 on a two-year contract. The DroidDoes site even has a “Buy Now” link, though it only redirects to a purchase page for the Droid RAZR MAXX. At first glance we might have expected a bit more from the handset that takes its name from Verizon’s incredibly (pardon the pun) popular line of smartphones. What say the peanut gallery?

[DroidDoes via DroidDog]

 


HTC One X demo units arriving at AT&T

Posted: 23 Apr 2012 07:10 AM PDT

With pre-orders under way and a release date set for May 6th, it was only a matter of time before AT&T started showing off the HTC One X in stores. That looks to be the case as a series of photos obtained by AndroidCentral show demo units of the handset ready to receive the fingerprints of those eager to get a look at the phone’s HD display and Snapdragon S4 internals. The One X will sell for $199.99 on a qualifying two-year service plan.

[via AndroidCentral]


Samsung SCH-I200 is Verizon-bound with a Snapdragon S4 chipset

Posted: 23 Apr 2012 06:33 AM PDT

Recently uncovered Bluetooth SIG and GLBenchmark reports are shedding some light on a new Samsung smartphone headed to Verzion. The Samsung SCH-I200, known by the codename “Jasper,” looks to be an Ice Cream Sandwich handset running on the impressive dual-core Snapdragon S4 platform from Qualcomm. The 1.5GHz CPU was recently coupled with an LTE radio for the AT&T version of the HTC One X, and given the SCH-I200′s destination we would guess the same will apply here.

The model number suggests that the phone will fall into the mid-range category as a followup to the likes of the Samsung Gem and Illusion. This may seem surprising considering the device’s powerful processor, but not so much when we take the 854×480 display into account. 720p resolution is quickly becoming standard for high-end fare. Perhaps the unveiling of the Galaxy S III will provide a better perspective on the phone called Jasper.

[via PocketNow]

 


HTC teaming with ST-Ericsson to develop in-house CPU for low-end smartphones

Posted: 23 Apr 2012 06:05 AM PDT

HTC may be the next manufacturer to begin producing smartphones with CPUs developed in-house, according  to China Times. The news house is reporting a deal between the Taiwanese mobile maker and ST-Ericsson that will see the development of a processor platform for low-end handsets. Smartphones with the new chip are expected to begin shipping next year.

The use of in-house CPU components is an emerging trend in mobile as companies look to widen profit margins while maintaining greater control over supply chain and hardware. The likes of Samsung, Huawei, and Apple already offer devices utilizing in-house designs. HTC may also be looking to distance itself from long-time partner Qualcomm. The manufacturer recently launched its first phone with NVIDIA’s Tegra 3 platform.

[via UnwiredView]


ASUS Transformer Pad 300 now shipping for $379

Posted: 23 Apr 2012 05:32 AM PDT

The latest member of the Transformer family from ASUS is now available for purchase by US consumers. The quad-core Tegra 3 slate can be purchased for an easy-to-swallow $379 for a 16GB WiFi model or $399 for the upgrade to 32GB of internal storage. The keyboard dock can be had for an additional $149. The 10.1-inch slate runs Android 4.0 and features an 8MP camera. It will be available next month in Europe, while the high-end Transformer Pad 700 is expected to arrive in early summer.

[via Electronista]


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