Update - 112

LG’s Google TV Equipped 3D LED TV’s Could Ship As Early As This Week Posted: 11 Apr 2012 06:36 PM PDT After being shown off at CES this year, LG was one of a few manufacturers ushering the new era of Google TV’s. Only problem was, without any specific launch details, many have been left wondering exactly when to expect these all new GTV equipped 3D televisions. Well, it looks like a Korean financial firm has it on good authority that the the first wave of LG Google TV’s could be hitting US stores as early as this week and priced at $1,600 and $2,100 for 47-inch and 55-inch sizes, respectively. During our CES coverage, we showed you guys LG’s all new LED televisions that not only feature Google TV inside, but use an improved passive 3D technology, eliminating the need for expensive active-shutter frame glasses. If you’ve been keeping up with the rumor mill, it’s been whispered that LG has been working directly with Google on a “Nexus” branded Google TV, that when combined with Google’s upcoming home entertainment system, should effectively complete their plans for total living room domination. [KoreaHerald | Electronista]

Samsung Announces $250 Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 Along With 10.1 Model and New Galaxy Player 4.2 Posted: 11 Apr 2012 05:22 PM PDT This is trend I don’t mind seeing. Solid, good quality Android tablets reasonably priced for under $300. With Amazon’s Kindle Fire the only (pseudo) Android tablet to make a splash here in the states, there’s no arguing its success was due largely in part to its rock bottom $200 price tag. Now, we have rumors pointing to a $200, 7-inch Nexus tablet coming soon from Google and ASUS, I think it’s high time we start seeing more Android OEM’s stepping up to the plate, and making sub-$300 tablets a focus. Well, it looks like Samsung is the latest manufacturer to take a swing at a affordable Android tablet. Turns out their Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 is the latest Android tablet to hit that wonderful $250 mark, replacing the $400 Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus. This new model features many of the same specs under the hood like a dual-core processor although, this time switched out for a TI OMAP 4430 instead of a Tegra 2, all while running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Samsung hasn’t stopped with just the 7-inch version. They’ve also announced the availability of the larger 10.1-inch model — the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 for a decent $400 and even a new WiFi-only Galaxy Player 4.2 priced at $200. The 4.2-inch Galaxy Player will run Android 2.3 Gingerbread with a 1GHz processor (think Galaxy S minus the cellular radios). You can look forward to the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 launching on April 22nd here in the states, with the 10.1 and Galaxy Player 4.2 looking at a May 13th release. With this new pricing model, do you any of you guys see yourselves picking one up? Or will you continue to hold out for the Nexus tab? [TechCrunch]

ASUS to Unveil Cloud Computing Developments at Computex Taipei Posted: 11 Apr 2012 03:31 PM PDT It looks like ASUS is getting ready to step up their media game on their smartphones, tablets and PCs as they have confirmed that a cloud computing-based announcement is due at this year’s Computex. The show, hosted in the company’s hometown of Taipei, Taiwan, will let us in on ASUS’ latest developments which is believed to be a media-streaming solution not unlike iCloud or Google Music with movies. It isn’t out of the question to think that other types of files and documents will be accessed from the cloud. We can’t assume much, but we’re not far from the show as it kicks off June 5th, 2012. Watch the video of the announcement above. [via Electronista]

Sony Xperia Sola Spills Its Guts at the FCC Posted: 11 Apr 2012 02:04 PM PDT It looks like Sony’s Xperia Sola has gotten a round of applause and approval at the FCC. The device was torn apart for all the important people to see. While it’s not necessarily pretty or interesting, it lets us know that the “Floating Touch” enabled device could soon be on its way to store shelves. If there’s nothing else, head on over to the FCC to check it out for yourself. [Thanks Silas!]

HTC DROID Incredible 4G Images Surface Posted: 11 Apr 2012 01:36 PM PDT We’ve long been hearing about Verizon’s DROID Incredible 4G but we haven’t been able to get a look at the thing. That changed today as Android Police received shots of device in all its glory. It’s an interesting design that features the unique backplate that the DROID Incredible series has come to be known for. There’s a red, raised power button on the top of the phone,  gun metal sides and three capacitive buttons. This is sure to be an entry into the HTC One series and it’s perhaps the most exhaustive change from the original devices yet. It’s said that the back of the device is interchangeable which could mean there will be a removable battery, but it’s hard to say for sure. You can see that the device also has HTC Sense 4.0, which means we’re getting Android 4.0 and like a Snapdragon S4 processor due to the LTE radios sure to be inside. The display is 4 inches, though it’s not know if this is to be recognized as a One X with a smaller screen or a One S. I guess it doesn’t really matter as Verizon’s transformed the device enough to set itself apart. Find more shots at the source link. [Android Police]

LG Viper 4G Coming April 22nd? Posted: 11 Apr 2012 12:41 PM PDT After announcing the LG Viper 4G, Sprint didn’t give anything but a presale date (tomorrow) to look forward to. We know the device will be $100, but don’t know when users can expect it. Engadget has released a leaked document that suggest it could be coming April 22nd, just 11 days from today. Sunday is an unusual day for a device launch on Sprint, but they have shied away from using their favorite day, Friday, before. We can’t imagine Sprint will have users waiting too long after presales begin so we remain hopeful. As always, it’s just a rumor so don’t go biting heads off if it doesn’t amount to anything.

Google Currents Update Brings Improved Syncing, International Support, Offline Reading + More Posted: 11 Apr 2012 11:56 AM PDT Google Currents has just received a huge update in the Google Play Store. With it comes improved syncing (7x better performance and automatic syncing), 44 languages available for international users, offline reading, translation to 38 different languages and trending editions. You can also expect the usual round of bug fixes. You’ll want this monstrosity right away so go to the Google Play Store and get it.

Brand New Motorola XOOM 32GB Available at 1SaleADay for $330 Posted: 11 Apr 2012 11:14 AM PDT If you don’t consider the Motorola XOOM too old to appreciate, 1SaleAday has something for you. They’re offering the original Motorola XOOM 32GB brand new for $330. The first Honeycomb-bearing tablet is being offered brand new. You’ll be getting the WiFi edition, so there’s no 4G, but if you’re looking for a cheap gift or just an affordable tablet to use yourself, don’t shy away from considering it. Get the deal here, today only.

Huawei Ascend D Quad will hit the UK later this year Posted: 11 Apr 2012 09:04 AM PDT Huawei is looking to make a big push into the international market with their latest crop of smartphones. One of those handsets was introduced at Mobile World Congress. The Ascend D Quad utilizes a quad-core processor developed in-house by Huawei and comes along with the claim that it is the “world’s fastest” smartphone. Just what areas of the world will be up for comparison hasn’t been so clear. Speaking with PocketLint, Huawei reps confirmed that the phone is “absolutely” on track for a release in the UK along with an assumed Chinese release. No details were provided on when that would occur, but it will be in good company. Huawei also has plans to release the ultra-slim Huawei Ascend P1 S and its beefier counterpart the Huawei Ascend P1 in the UK as well. The latter could launch as soon as July. The trio of handsets are among Huawei’s first real forays into the high-end handset market and are designed to compete head-to-head with offerings from already established manufacturers such as Samsung and HTC. Only time will tell if the Chinese manufacturer can carve out a name for itself on a global scale. [via PocketLint]

T-Mobile sending out invites for April 18 HTC One S event Posted: 11 Apr 2012 08:33 AM PDT With rumors piling on that the HTC One S will launch on April 25th at T-Mobile, the carrier just sent out invites to an April 18th press event to showcase the new phone. With an image of the phone a focal point of the invitation, TMo won’t keep us guessing till the last minute. It is likely that the availability of the phone will made official at the event along with a few other details pertinent to its launch such as pricing. Unless T-Mobile has something crazy up their sleeve, the late April availability of the One S looks to be right on track. [via Engadget]

Google+ gets a UI overhaul with focus on simplicity, customization, and community building Posted: 11 Apr 2012 08:18 AM PDT A major UI refresh is rolling out for Google+ with almost every aspect of the site getting tweaked to enhance usability and community interaction. While the goal is to create a richer social experience that is more integrated into Google’s core services, the site seems more elegantly simple than ever before. From the top down we find several major changes, including a customizable navigation bar that is designed to let users choose and arrange the Google+ elements they find most important. “Apps” can be repositioned or moved out of the main bar altogether to keep only desired content just a few clicks away. The navigation ribbon is designed to help users key in their preferences over time and was developed with the future of G+ in mind, making it easy for Google and the users of their social network to integrate new features. Google has also taken some strides in improving the way content is displayed and interacted with to encourage greater community interaction. Photos and videos are bigger and more beautiful than ever and individual posts have been broken out into “conversation cards” that make it easy to follow and add your voice to ongoing discussions. Furthering this goal is the introduction of a dedicated Hangouts page that will give users quick access to popular ongoing public and On Air hangouts as well as provide a list of hangouts they may be invited to join. Aside from the main changes and additions, Google has created an Explore page to highlight top content and is continuing to fold Google+ into the rest of their services, making it easier than ever to share interesting web gems or to wax philosophic on the latest trends. Now if only G+’s userbase was as strong as the social network’s concept and design… [via Google]

Verizon to charge $30 upgrade fee starting April 22nd Posted: 11 Apr 2012 07:19 AM PDT Verizon will follow suit with the other major US carriers as it introduces a $30 upgrade fee beginning April 22nd. The fee will apply to existing customers purchasing a new mobile device when subsidized on a two-year contract. Verizon claims the fee “will help [the carrier] continue to provide customers with the level of service and support they have come to expect which includes Wireless Workshops, online educational tools, and consultations with experts who provide advice and guidance on devices that are more sophisticated than ever.” The fee comes in below the $36 upgrade charge of Sprint and AT&T and above T-Mobile’s $18 tariff. Coupled with the rising cost of hardware and data, it’s an additional charge Verizon customers would be happy to do without. [via BGR]

AT&T begins HTC One XL employee training, more release date speculation Posted: 11 Apr 2012 06:49 AM PDT As of yesterday AT&T has kicked off their web-based training (WBT) for the HTC One XL. The above photo comes courtesy of xda-developers forum member EGBTMagus and was accompanied by another screenshot that could shed some light on when the latest flagship from HTC will be available in the States. We see an “end of life” (EOL) date for the HTC Inspire set for April 22nd, which could coincide with a store refresh and new devices according to the original poster. He claims an HTC rep had previously stated that the HTC Vivid would replace the Inspire at its current price point and at that time the HTC One XL would assume the Vivid’s old price point. The logic makes sense, and rumors pointed to the April 22nd date previously. This latest leak does, however, challenge another bit of info suggesting the One XL has been delayed until May 6th. We’ll need to do a bit more digging before we can say either date is confirmed, but with both approaching an official announcement might beat us to the punch. [via xda-developers | Thanks to all who sent this in!]

Could Google sell Motorola handset division to Huawei? Posted: 11 Apr 2012 06:23 AM PDT Quickly closing in on a year since Google announced plans to acquire Motorola Mobility the deal remains unclosed. But getting the necessary approvals and finalizing the $12.5 billion purchase is really only the beginning. The jury is still out on what Google plans to do with Motorola once they assume control of the company. The decision to buy the company was made mostly on patents — Motorola’s 17,000 or so would be a big help in defending Google and its Android operating system from legal attacks that seem to be coming from all directions — but there has been much debate about how Google will handle Motorola’s hardware division. Some see Google making a legitimate attempt to enter the OEM space, others believe the tech giant will allow Motorola to continue operating more or less independently. Still others see a mix of the two with Google taking advantage of Moto’s manufacturing ability to toy around with new product ideas and services while Motorola continues to churn out their own products. Central to discerning what Google will do is the notion that the company doesn’t want to alienate other Android manufacturers by playing favorites with Motorola. A few insiders see Google avoiding the decision altogether and selling Motorola’s hardware division to a third party. Some even claim they know who. According to sources speaking with The Wall Street Journal, Google is already in communication with Huawei to discuss a potential sale. People close to Google deny that any such discussions have occurred and remain mum on Google’s plans. The move would make sense, at least. Huawei is an up-and-coming manufacturer with strong backing in China. They could certainly use Motorola’s worldwide reach to create an even stronger brand or reach into new markets. Of course, the idea of selling an American company to a Chinese firm wouldn’t sit well with some folks. The bottom line is, no one is quite sure what Google will do and we likely won’t know until after the initial deal is approved. That could happen soon, but given how long the process has taken we may be waiting a while longer before learning the extent of Google’s plans. [WSJ via IntoMobile]

AT&T lights up LTE in St. Louis, widens coverage to Staten Island Posted: 11 Apr 2012 05:36 AM PDT AT&T continues to aggressively roll out their 4G LTE network by adding St. Louis to the map and extending coverage to Staten Island. The latter completes the next-gen network’s rollout to all five NYC boroughs. The carrier can’t claim the same footprint as Verizon yet (Big Red got a head start), but they seem to be hitting all the key markets early on. There are still a few more locations promised 4G coverage by early summer. For those keeping track, that’s just in time for the launch of LTE-enabled HTC One XL. AT&T 4G LTE Expands in Staten Island More customers to benefit from ultra-fast mobile Internet on the latest LTE devices NEW YORK, April 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — AT&T* has expanded its 4G LTE network in Staten Island, bringing more customers the latest generation of wireless network technology. The expanded coverage is part of its ongoing rollout across the market. AT&T 4G LTE coverage now includes all five boroughs. AT&T 4G LTE provides several benefits, including: Faster speeds. LTE technology is capable of delivering mobile Internet speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G. Customers can stream, download, upload and game faster than ever before. Cool new devices. AT&T offers several LTE-compatible devices, including new AT&T 4G LTE smartphones and tablets, such as the first LTE Windows Phone Nokia Lumia 900, Samsung Galaxy Note™, and Pantech Element™ tablet. Faster response time. LTE technology offers lower latency, or the processing time it takes to move data through a network, such as how long it takes to start downloading a webpage or file once you’ve sent the request. Lower latency helps to improve services like mobile gaming, two-way video calling and telemedicine. More efficient use of spectrum. Wireless spectrum is a finite resource, and LTE uses spectrum more efficiently than other technologies, creating more space to carry data traffic and services and to deliver a better network experience. “We’ve seen positive response from customers on our 4G LTE launch, and as today’s expansion shows, we’re continuing our rollout of fast LTE speeds to more areas of Staten Island,” said Tom DeVito, Vice President General Manager for New York and New Jersey. AT&T’s 4G Network AT&T customers have access to the nation’s largest 4G network, covering nearly 250 million people. Even as 4G LTE expands, AT&T customers are able to enjoy widespread, ultra-fast and consistent 4G speeds on their compatible device as they move in and out of LTE areas. AT&T has two 4G networks that work together for customers, LTE and HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul. With other carriers, when you travel outside of their LTE coverage area, you’re on a much slower 3G network. Limited 4G LTE availability in select markets. Deployment ongoing. 4G LTE device and data plan required. Up to 10x claim compares 4G LTE download speeds to industry average 3G download speeds. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. Learn more about 4G LTE at att.com/network. *AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc. 4G LTE From AT&T Available in St. Louis Customers to benefit from ultra-fast mobile Internet on the latest LTE devices ST. LOUIS, April 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — AT&T* has turned on its 4G LTE network in St. Louis, bringing customers the latest generation of wireless network technology. AT&T 4G LTE provides several benefits, including: Faster speeds. LTE technology is capable of delivering mobile Internet speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G. Customers can stream, download, upload and game faster than ever before. Cool new devices. AT&T offers several LTE-compatible devices, including new AT&T 4G LTE smartphones and tablets, such as the first LTE Windows Phone Nokia Lumia 900, Samsung Galaxy Note™, and Pantech Element™ tablet. Faster response time. LTE technology offers lower latency, or the processing time it takes to move data through a network, such as how long it takes to start downloading a webpage or file once you’ve sent the request. Lower latency helps to improve services like mobile gaming, two-way video calling and telemedicine. More efficient use of spectrum. Wireless spectrum is a finite resource, and LTE uses spectrum more efficiently than other technologies, creating more space to carry data traffic and services and to deliver a better network experience. “We continue to see demand for mobile Internet skyrocket, and our 4G LTE network in St. Louis responds to what customers want from their mobile experience – more, faster, on the best devices,” said Nancy Garvey, AT&T’s vice president/general manager for the Greater Midwest Region. AT&T’s 4G Network AT&T customers have access to the nation’s largest 4G network, covering nearly 250 million people. Even as 4G LTE expands, AT&T customers are able to enjoy widespread, ultra-fast and consistent 4G speeds on their compatible device as they move in and out of LTE areas. AT&T has two 4G networks that work together for customers, LTE and HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul. With other carriers, when you travel outside of their LTE coverage area, you’re on a much slower 3G network. Limited 4G LTE availability in select markets. Deployment ongoing. 4G LTE device and data plan required. Up to 10x claim compares 4G LTE download speeds to industry average 3G download speeds. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. 4G speeds not available everywhere. Learn more about 4G LTE at att.com/network. *AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.