Posted: 07 Mar 2012 12:08 PM PST  LG has failed to cause a great excitement over its latest rumored Verizon device, the LG Lucid. Previously known as the LG Cayman, it is not the greatest device, but surely another option to consider if you are getting a new Verizon phone soon. This leaked render image has just hit the web, and it gives us a preview of what the device could look like. The Lucid appears to be a much sleeker version of the LG Revolution with a different back style. The device does not look great, but that is a personal preference. It just might be your style. LG Lucid Rumored Specifications
According to the latest rumors, the LG Lucid will hit the stores come March 29th with a suggesting a price tag lower than $200. This is very affordable, considering that this is a new 4G LTE device. Such smartphones usually come with an initial price of at least $250. If you are into this one, stay tuned for the end of the month. Don’t forget to take all of this information with a grain of salt, as none of it is official. The device might be much better (or worse), but we will have to wait and find out. Would you guys consider buying a device with these specs? We know LG isn’t exactly our readers’ favorite manufacturer. |
Posted: 07 Mar 2012 12:04 PM PST  PlayStation Suite has just gotten a step closer to becoming more relevant. Sony will be opening a beta version of the PlayStation Suite SDK, which will improve the lack-luster variety of games available. Now that Sony is in charge of its mobile department, the company is set to make some major improvements. And considering Sony’s past, gaming will definitely be in mind. The Suite’s beta SDK will open up next month. There is already a beta SDK available, but it was only available to select content developers in the US, UK and Japan. This SDK beta will expand its horizons to the rest of the world, allowing more developers to create original content for PlayStation Certified devices once the official product is released. The final SDK is set to be released “later this year” at a cost of $99. After that, we will start seeing more games coming to PlayStation Suite, leaving Crash Bandicoot in the past, again. Both major and small game developers will be able to take advantage of this, so we are expecting to see some good games coming. Especially since there is a probability that the PS Vita will also be able to access such content. The most exciting part is the idea that we could be starting to see some much better games drop on Android. Currently, the Android Market has very few “console quality” games, while many devices could handle PSP and PS2 content. If Sony managed to get some PSP (or even PS Vita) games in there, the tables would turn very quickly. Now let’s just hope that some good developers take part in this. Do you think this project will become a success? Could it grow enough to compete with Tegra Zone and GameCommand? Show Press Release Open Beta Version of SDK to be Released in April, Official Version to be Released Later This Year TOKYO, March 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) today announced that it will release the open beta version of PlayStation®Suite SDK*(1) to content developers in April 2012 and the official version later this year. Through the introduction of these SDKs, SCE will offer a more streamlined content development environment for content developers — from large game development companies to small, independent shops — and further expand the world of PlayStation® to open operating system based portable devices. In November 2011, SCE released the closed beta version of PlayStation®Suite SDK to limited content developers in Japan, United States and the United Kingdom. The upcoming open beta version incorporates their feedback and will dramatically enhance convenience and efficiency of the content development environment. The phased rollout of the open beta version will start in April 2012 free of charge and expand target countries beyond Japan, United States and the United Kingdom. Developers will also be able to conduct performance verification of their content developed with the open beta version on PlayStation®Vita. SCE will also release the official version of PlayStation®Suite SDK at $99 US annually later this year, allowing content developers to have their content distributed through the PlayStation®Store*(2) on a commercial basis. Through the official version, content developers will also be able to seamlessly continue to develop content which was created with the open beta or the closed beta versions. Furthermore, SCE will be adding content for PlayStation®Suite in Japan, United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Australia. The phased rollout of the update will start later this year. The phased rollout will include improving the PlayStation®Suite presence on PlayStation®Store for users who want to enjoy a variety of content with ease and convenience on their PlayStation™Certified devices. SCE will also deliver content created through the official version of PlayStation®Suite SDK after the necessary procedure is completed. As of March 7, 2012, the line-up of PlayStation™Certified devices includes Xperia™ arc, Xperia™ acro, Xperia™ PLAY, Xperia™ acro HD, Xperia™ S, Xperia™ ion*(3) from Sony Mobile Communications AB, and “Sony Tablet” S and “Sony Tablet” P from Sony Corporation. SCE will continue to further accelerate the expansion of PlayStation™Certified devices. Through PlayStation®Suite, SCE will deploy various measures to support content developers in their business, and expand the PlayStation® entertainment experience on an open operating system. *(1) Software Development Kit is a set of development tools and software libraries. Developers are able to obtain this SDK by signing a license agreement with SCE. *(2) Users can download vast digital content including games through PlayStation Store for PS3, PSP, PS Vita and PS Certified devices. *(3) Model name may vary by region. About Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Recognized as the global leader and company responsible for the progression of consumer-based computer entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) manufactures, distributes, develops and markets the PlayStation®2 (PS2®) computer entertainment system, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system, the PlayStation®3 (PS3®) computer entertainment system and the PlayStation®Vita (PS Vita) portable entertainment system. SCEI has revolutionized home entertainment since they launched PlayStation in 1994. PS2® further enhances the PlayStation legacy as the core of home networked entertainment. PSP® is a handheld entertainment system that allows users to enjoy 3D games with high-quality full-motion video and high-fidelity stereo audio. PS3® is an advanced computer system, incorporating the powerful Cell Broadband Engine and RSX processors. PS Vita is an ultimate portable entertainment system that offers a revolutionary combination of rich gaming and social connectivity within a real world context. SCEI also delivers the PlayStation® experience to open operating systems through PlayStation®Suite, a cross platform and cross device initiative. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, SCEI, along with its affiliated companies, Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC, and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd., and its division companies, Sony Computer Entertainment Japan and Sony Computer Entertainment Asia develops, publishes, markets and distributes hardware and software, and manages the third party licensing programs for these platforms in the respective markets worldwide. PlayStation, PS3, PS2 and PSP are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Xperia is a trademark or a registered trademark of Sony Mobile Communications AB. “Sony Tablet” is a trademark of Sony Corporation. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. |
Posted: 07 Mar 2012 10:58 AM PST  The HTCdev team has been working extremely hard over the past few months. We’ve seen them unlock countless bootloaders for older HTC phones and release new APIs which give developers the ability to tie in the applications into many of the features available within Open Sense. But today, the HTCdev team has outdone themselves by adding the HTC Dream (T-Mobile G1) to the list of devices which can be unlocked with HTC’s bootloader unlock tool. You would be hard pressed to find anyone who still uses the HTC Dream, but HTCdev is most likely viewing this as a symbolic accomplishment to show the development community how committed they are to unlocking bootloaders and helping developers with all the tools they need to create great applications for HTC devices. Samsung, Sony, and Motorola have done a decent job of embracing developers, but we can probably all agree that HTCdev is outshining the competition. Do any of you still own an unrooted G1? Do you still use it as your daily driver? |
Posted: 07 Mar 2012 10:20 AM PST  The tablet market is in the middle of a revolution. Prices are dropping as processing and graphical prowess grows rapidly. Those currently looking for a 7-inch, WiFi-only Android tablet should probably have the Toshiba Thrive 7″ top of mind. By the time I got my hands on this tablet, many other reviews had already been published, so I decided to take a deeper look at this device by extending my experience with it up to a month. The Toshiba Thrive 7″ was a much more pleasant experience for me than its bigger brother, the Toshiba Thrive (10.1″). It’s much more portable and comfortable and is not affected by the plethora of bugs the original Thrive experienced during its first months. There are some other good options for 7-inch tablets out there, and each device has its pros and cons. Can the Thrive 7″ become the must-have tablet in the 7″ category? Read on for our full review. 1. Form-Factor There are surely better looking tablets than the Thrive out there. Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 7.0 is the clear leader in the design category. The Toshiba Thrive is not the thinnest or the lightest– features many users would prefer.The Toshiba Thrive 7″ has a much more resistant feel and weight to it. The measurements are 189 x 128.1 x 11.9 mm, and the tablet weighs in at 400 grams. But what the device lacks in sleek, it makes up for in functionality; the extra size leaves room for some added ports and features (more details below).  The side of the tablet sports a power button, a volume rocker and a screen lock/unlock toggle. Located on the same side, there is a covered area that holds all the ports and slots. There’s also a metal part in the bezel that extends to the back, holding the front and rear-facing cameras, with a LED flash in the back.One thing I did find annoying was that both speakers are located on the bottom of the tablet when the tablet is held in portrait mode. The 10.1-inch Thrive has them located in both ends of the longer side, which makes for a great stereo effect when watching videos in landscape mode. I also found myself muffling the sound when grabbing the tablet, as my hand would cover the speakers. But if you’re not a fan of landscape, you’ll do just fine. I am a big fan of 7″ devices due to their portability and user-friendly size. This is small enough to hold comfortably with one hand. Typing and using it with your thumbs is a breeze, and it works great as an e-reader. 2. Build Quality Overall, the device feels great, though it does have its defects. The tablet is mainly plastic. While the rubberized back looks great and provides good texture, it feels a bit cheaply built. A small (but important) issue is that the non-removable battery cover flaps a bit when you push on it.There is some space between the battery and the cover that can be felt when the tablet is in use. But if you can get past these issues, the tablet actually feels great, mainly due to the 7-inch form-factor. The good weight makes up for some of it, but this isn’t the most solid tablet we have seen. 3. PerformanceThe Toshiba Thrive 7″ sports a 1 GHz Tegra 2 dual-core processor (with a ULP GeForce GPU) and 1 GB of RAM. This is the standard spec for most Honeycomb tablets out there today, but lacking behind the more recently released devices with Tegra 3. As expected, performance isn’t exactly the best of the tablets out there.While the tablet is not necessarily slow, similar devices run much smoother. There is a bit of lag when switching from app to app as well as when loading several heavy applications. Sometimes the lock screen would not recognize my finger, and I would need to turn the screen off and on to be able to unlock the device. Small bugs and issues like that make the experience a bit disappointing. After using it for over a month, though, I found that little things like that become much less annoying, since such issues only show up from time to time. Home screen transitions are fairly smooth, and the tablet works especially well when playing Tegra 2 games. It is in such dual-core enhanced applications where one really feels the power of that Tegra 2 processor. 4. DisplayThe 7-inch display is much better than I would expect from a 7-inch device. The LED-backlit LCD 7-inch screen has a definition of 1280×800 pixels. This means that the screen is HD quality (a bit over 720p), and content looks great on it. The viewing angles are also surprisingly good. But the one issue I found is that the tablet is not the best when viewing it in direct sunlight. But for some reason it does look good when there is a white background, like that of the Gmail application.I hardly take tablets out for a spin, though, and mostly use them indoors, sticking to my smartphone when going around town. But if you are looking to use your tablet outdoors, this is probably not the best option out there. 5. SoftwareSure, it does not have Android 4.0 just yet, but Toshiba has already promised that the update will come at the end of Spring. It might be a while until then, but most tablets in the market are still running Honeycomb, anyways (sadly).The Thrive runs on Android 3.2.1, which is still a great Android version for a tablet. The good side is that Toshiba decided to keep the software stock. There are no extra features or flashy enhancements. So, if you are a fan of stock Android, this would be a great choice. The tablet does come with a good amount of bloatware, though. I have about 15 apps that cannot be uninstalled, and probably won’t ever use. Such amount of bloatware apps is disappointing, but we suppose other manufacturers have done worse. If you can get past the bloatware and be patient for the Android 4.0 update, the software is great. 6. GamingNVIDIA processors are known for their gaming capabilities. As mentioned above, the tablet is not the best at performance, but it magically improves once you tap on those Tegra 2 game icons. Games run smooth and with great graphical effects.It is also important to note that Tegra has a great selection of multiple-core adopted games, which might be what makes the experience better. But other tablet games run just as great, to my surprise. The smaller form-factor also helps, in my opinion. With larger tablets, it is a bit harder to reach certain on-screen buttons. I also find it a bit harder to manage a 10-inch tablet when playing games that use the accelerometer. The smaller size makes it easier to hold the tablet while keeping screen space and viewing in a fun balance. 7. Storage CapacityFor being a smaller tablet, internal storage is not bad. There are two versions: a 16 GB and a 32 GB one. This matches options that most tablets offer, but there is something extra users can take advantage of – the microSD slot.The Thrive 7″ supports microSD cards of up to 32 GB. If you are one to worry about having enough storage space, this tablet allows you to go up to 64 GB, between internal and external storage. Personally, I find myself using very little space on the tablet. All my music and videos are in the cloud. Most of my space is occupied by files, games and apps, meaning that it is very hard for me to fill up a 16 GB hard drive. That may not be your case, though, and Toshiba has you covered with the Thrive. 8. Ports One of the biggest lures for Toshiba Thrive tablets is the great selection of ports they offer. This tablet does not match the variety of ports that the 10-inch version sports, but it also doesn’t stay too far behind.The Thrive 7″ offers a microSD slot, a miniHDMI port, a miniUSB port and a proprietary charging/USB port. Whether you want more storage, use USB accessories or blast your content to the larger screen, this tablet will take care of you. All of these features are great to have, especially in a 7-inch tablet. Such devices usually sacrifice port availability for size, but Toshiba manages to bring all that functionality, even if the tablet could become thinner if the company had gotten rid of them. 9. Camera Most users do not take advantage of tablet cameras, except for maybe the front-facing one for video calls and chats. The Thrive 7″ sports 2 cameras. The rear-facing shooter is a 5 MP camera capable of 720p HD recording, while the front-facing camera features a 2 MP sensor.For being a tablet camera, I found the quality to be rather good, but not excellent. The front-facing camera is a bit too grainy, as is the case with most front shooters out today. The reason why I am giving this category a point is because the rear-facing camera works fairly good, and the other camera is not really bad compared to the competition. If you are one to use tablet cameras, this tablet will do the job. Here are some samples of images taken by the device, so you can see for yourself.    10. Battery LifeBattery capacity is not specified, but Toshiba claims that battery life is up to 9 hours. Something that I found interesting is the fact that most other reviews are reporting horrible battery life. It seems to have become common knowledge that this tablet has very little juice to spare.My experience happens to be on the opposite end. The tablet may not last as much as others, that is for sure, but it is surely much better than those 4-5 hours that most sites have been reporting. Most times, I managed to get about 8-10 hours on a single charge. I would unplug the tablet in the late-morning and just plug it back in at night. Meaning that I managed to get a full working day of use most of the time. Playing games and watching videos may be another story, as I would only get about 4-5 hours (continuous) when doing such. But when performing regular tasks, like email, social networks and browsing, I never had a problem. I also am not a fan of giving up functionality for battery life, so WiFi was always on (even when in standby), screen brightness was always at its fullest, and I did no special tricks to try to keep the device alive for longer. As mentioned, yes, there are tablets with better battery life out there. But this was not the worst. Especially for a 7-inch device. Toshiba Thrive 77.5 / 10 ConclusionThe Toshiba Thrive 7″ offers a great experience for those that like 7″ tablets. Its major competitor, as of now, is probably the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0, which offers slightly better performance and better aesthetics. But some users are simply not fans of the thinner, lighter build, and the price of the Samsung tablet is a bit higher.If you are looking for a good 7-inch tablet, and don’t want to go the Samsung route, I would say this is one of the best options out there. The Kindle Fire is not as functional, the Acer Iconia Tab A100 is not as good (and has much worse battery life, but is also cheaper), and the HTC Flyer is now discontinued. Build quality and performance are not optimal, but they get the job done, and the tablet does not feel cheap enough to discard it. In fact, some of you may love the rubberized back. I also took off half a point due to its current software. Honeycomb is good, but at this point, everybody wants Ice Cream Sandwich. And while it is coming, it will be a while before the Thrive gets its update. The prices are also not off the grid, but a bit higher than I would prefer to pay for this device. The 16 GB version is currently going for $374.99 on Amazon, while the 32 GB version goes for $429.99. There are rumors about an ASUS Nexus tablet in the works, which is said to go for only $200 (like the Kindle Fire). Not to mention the $250 Tegra 3, 7-inch ASUS MeMo 370T, which will go for only $250 later this year. Such prices will shake up the market, making it very hard for a tablet like the Thrive 7″ to compete. But if you can’t wait around, this might be a great choice for non-thin tablet fans. Amazon Link: Toshiba Thrive 7″ (16 GB) – $374.99  Amazon Link: Toshiba Thrive 7″ (32 GB) – $429.99  Gallery |
Posted: 07 Mar 2012 08:20 AM PST  At Mobile World Congress, HTC proved they were returning to old form. With the HTC One series, they showed me beautiful design, top of the line specs, a stellar camera, and some great software enhancements. My daily phone hasn’t been made by HTC since the Nexus One, but the HTC One X is a device that could find a home in my pocket. The One X has already been confirmed for AT&T and rumored for Sprint and T-Mobile, so US fans should have this device near the top of their wish list. We already covered the full specs and launch event, but we also spent some quality time with the entire One lineup. Check out our quick hands-on video to get a closer look at each device. Gallery |
Posted: 07 Mar 2012 07:55 AM PST  comScore has just released their report on the state of the mobile industry for the three months ending January 2012. The report shows continued growth for the Android operating system, with a total smartphone market share of 48.6% in the U.S., up 2.3% from the three month period ending October 2011. Apple also saw growth in its iOS platform with 29.5% of users using Apple’s platform, a 1.4% increase. The big losers of the month continue to be RIM, which saw a decrease of 2% to 15.2%, Windows Phone (down 1% to 4.4%), and Symbian (down 0.1% to 1.5%). Android’s continued ability for growth will likely come at the expense of RIM, which will need nothing short of a miracle in OS 10 to stop their market share from falling into the single digits. We should soon see Google’s Android operating system hit the psychologically-important 50% in the next 1-2 reports, with more and more users ditching their Blackberries and entering the current decade. OS 10 isn’t due out until much later this year, perhaps as late as Q4, which is also when Microsoft will launch Windows Phone 8, which will be Microsoft’s biggest test as to whether consumers will begin adopting the Windows Phone platform. All in all, great news for Android fans. You can read comScore’s full report by clicking the source link below. |
Posted: 07 Mar 2012 07:42 AM PST  With the surprise unveiling and immediate release of Google Play yesterday, the folks at Google are clearly thinking along the lines of platform unification. The Play moniker is used on both the Android and web store experience, and was a means of showing that Google offers these services to more than just Android users. Anyone can rent movies or purchase music from the Play store and consume that content from any PC, Mac, or Android device. Still largely missing from the Google Play rebranding is a truly unified gaming platform, and Google continues to have 3 separate gaming platforms in use. At the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco yesterday, Google Product Manager Punit Soni stated that Google will soon remedy this with a Google Games platform to be unveiled prior to the end of the year. By next year, we will not be here talking about Google+ Games, Chrome Web Store games, Games for Native Client and Android games, we will be talking about Google games.Punit SoniGoogleThis move will make Google’s platform easier for developers to navigate, and will likely center around the cross-platform HTML5 and Native Client technologies. Soni also indicated that they were planning on making Google Games truly social, offering Hangouts for video communication, mobile games, and better distribution and discoverability for games. Regardless of how you feel about the new Google Play moniker, it’s certainly refreshing to see Google make such a strong push towards unification across platforms. This move will further increase Google’s ability to compete with the likes of Facebook and Apple. We will bring you more news about Google’s unified gaming strategy as more information comes out of Mountain View. Who’s excited for Google Games? |
Posted: 07 Mar 2012 06:42 AM PST  Yesterday Google started rolling out their new Google Play Store to replace the Android Market, and many of our readers reported that they started receiving it in the afternoon. However, quite a few people have said they still do not see the new Google Play Store yet. If your device is running Android 2.2 or greater, you should be able to easily force the new Google Play Store update. Nothing really changes besides the cool new icon, but follow the steps below if you want to check it out. To force Google Play Store onto your Android device:
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Sunday, April 15, 2012
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