Update - 178

Google Maps updated with new Navigation menu UI Posted: 09 Mar 2012 02:57 PM PST Google Maps has received a minor update bringing along a simplified menu UI when using Navigation. Gone is the standard ICS menu button. In its place is a menu launcher build directly into the Navigation UI. When accessed menu items are now displayed in a grid along with graphics as opposed to the list format of the previous release. The new look harkens back to pre-ICS versions of Google Maps. The larger buttons and visual elements should make for easier access to Navigation features while driving (not that we should be playing with our phones while driving in the first place). Head over to Google Play to update to the latest version now. Google Play Link: Google Maps [via DroidLife]

Sony Tablet P gets root, hardly puts up a fight Posted: 09 Mar 2012 02:00 PM PST Sony’s more adventurous take on the Android tablet has been cracked wide open — and we’re not just talking about its two clamshell halves. The Tablet P has been rooted, joining the more traditional Tablet S on the wild side of Android. Unlike some devices, the folding slate didn’t put up much resistance to a root method that requires an ADB installer and special Sony Tablet Root tool. Full instrcutions can be found at Pocketables courtesy of user RayIczr. [via Endgadget]

Test photo tips off mid-range HTC Golf Posted: 09 Mar 2012 01:37 PM PST While HTC is preaching quality over quantity this year, the high-end handsets of the One series shown off at Mobile World Congress won’t be the only devices released by the manufacturer in the coming month. A leaked test photo is now being linked to a phone codenamed the HTC Golf. The photo outs the phone’s 3MP camera, but PocketNow has the dirt one what else we can expect. The Golf will be squarely mid-range, with a single-core CPU, 3.5-inch display, and 512MB of RAM. The phone will carry 4GB of on-board storage and arrive in a variety of color options. It sounds like the handset will be the focus of HTC’s next push into the mass market and may be one of only a few low-end devices released this year. The Golf is said to be arriving late in the 2nd quarter of the year. Details on the launch name and pricing are not available at this time. [via PocketNow]

HTC One accessories available for pre-order in the UK Posted: 09 Mar 2012 12:53 PM PST Those eyeing the overachieving HTC One X as their next phone will have quite a few accessories to go along with it come April. UK retailer Clove has posted a selection of toys including car docks, desktop cradles, and various case options for all member of the One family. A few gadgets apply to the whole range including the HD Media Link and the nifty 3.5mm to Bluetooth audio adaptor we peeped at MWC. Prices range from around  £19.99 to £60 and all are expected to be in stock by mid to late April. Head over to Clove’s blog to check out the complete list of accessories for the One X, One S, and One V. [via AndroidCentral]

Battery door availability all but confirms white Galaxy Nexus for Verizon Posted: 09 Mar 2012 12:19 PM PST A replacement parts supplier has a few white Galaxy Nexus 4G LTE battery doors up for auction at eBay, further confirming rumors of a colorless variant of the phone headed for Verizon. The latest whispers suggest the new model will launch with 16GB of onboard storage, which could coincide with separate reports for a 16GB Nexus landing at Big Red on April 5th. Before we get too excited, the back covers being sold are far from official. There is always some chance that a third-party decided to manufacture the white backs on their own in order to cash in with unsuspecting buyers. Given the coinciding reports from credible sources of an actual white Nexus waiting in the wings, the chances of this are pretty slim. Besides, the franken-Nexus that would result wouldn’t be the most visually appealing specimen (unless you’re into the whole harlequin scene). [via DroidLife]

Verizon Closing Three Call Centers, 3,100 Workers Lose Jobs Posted: 09 Mar 2012 09:39 AM PST Some sad news has hit the internet today regarding Big Red. Three call center of Verizon Wireless’ will be shut down for undisclosed reasons. Call centers in Bellevue, WA, Southfield, MI and Houston, TX will soon be shuttered, causing 3,100 people to lose their jobs. It’s always an unfortunate day when people lose their jobs due to cuts. There are no other details on the closure of these call centers. Let’s hope there was a very good reason for this because we know the’y're raking in a lot of dough. Do you know anyone affected by these cuts?

Samsung Details Exclusive Angry Birds Space Content Posted: 09 Mar 2012 09:09 AM PST As you know, Samsung and Rovio are hand-in-hand at South by Southwest today showing the new Angry Birds Space off on the Samsung Galaxy Note. Aside from users getting to play a bit of the game ahead of its March 22nd launch, Samsung has detailed the exclusive content that their Galaxy users will be able to enjoy. You’ll be getting an exclusive Samsung Galaxy Note level, free access to the Danger Zone update which provides 30 maps (would usually be an in-app purchase for non-Galaxy ownes) and a new Lazer Bird which has unique powers to not only help you in the game, but to show off the beautiful display on devices such as the Galaxy Note. If you haven’t seen the gameplay footage yet, I can tell you that this Angry Birds rendition is probably the best yet. While the series is good, quick fun, it quickly gets stale and we’ve been begging for a change of pace for quite some time. Angry Birds Space will finally provide that change of pace that will have us spending hours trying to clear all the levels with three stars. Be sure to find gameplay footage above, and if you’re at SXSW this week let us know how you like the game.

Official: ZTE Fury Launching on Sprint March 11th for $20 Posted: 09 Mar 2012 07:38 AM PST The ZTE Fury was rumored to be headed for Sprint on March 11th last night, and Sprint didn’t wait too long to confirm that news. They’ve issued a press release letting us all know that it’d be sitting on store shelves March 11th. It’ll cost you $20 for the privilege of owning one. It’s an entry level device which has a 1GHz single-core processor, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage, Sprint ID support and more. Oh, and we’re dealing with mostly stock Gingerbread save for a few minor changes here and there (namely to incorporate Sprint ID). It looks to be a viable option for first-time smartphone buyers or for those on a budget. Be sure to check one out in a Sprint store come March 11th if you’re interested. Read on for full press details. Families Stay Connected with ZTE FuryTM Smartphone from Sprint Priced at less than $20, new Android phone takes the worry out of choosing the ideal phone for kids and parents alike OVERLAND PARK, Kan. and RICHARDSON, Texas - March 9, 2012 - Recognizing the importance of providing a wide variety of devices to fit the needs of families with children, Sprint (NYSE: S), and ZTE Corporation ("ZTE") today announced the upcoming availability of ZTE FuryTM, a family-friendly Android-powered device that doesn’t skimp on features and comes matched with the only truly unlimited data pricing plans on all phones from a national wireless carrier. Beginning March 11, the full-featured Android-based ZTE Fury will be available for just $19.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate via reward card1 and a new two-year service agreement (excludes taxes and surcharges) in all Sprint retail channels including www.sprint.com and 1-800-Sprint1. The value-priced ZTE Fury comes equipped with all the apps and functionality busy parents and their children want, including a 3.5-inch capacitive display, 5 MP camera with LED flash and 3G hotspot capabilities. The device is also compatible with Sprint’s family services that give parents the tools to encourage good habits and responsible phone use. Family-ready devices like ZTE Fury give parents piece of mind with easy-to-load apps, such as: Sprint Family Locator: Allows parents to quickly and easily locate their family members on an interactive map and to set up "safety checks" to ensure their children make it to school safely and on time. Sprint Family Locator costs $5 per month to locate up to four phones. Additional information can be found at www.sprint.com/familylocator. Sprint Mobile Controls: Gives parents the opportunity to clearly understand their child’s talk, text and app use habits. The app gives parents the ability to lock their child’s phone on-demand or to schedule locks - like during dinner, during school or late at night, and to browse their child’s contacts and apps downloaded to the phone. Sprint Mobile Controls is available on all Sprint CDMA Android-powered smartphones for $4.99 per month, per line. Parents can sign up and learn more about Sprint Mobile Controls by visiting www.sprint.com/mobilecontrols. Sprint Drive First: An app from Sprint that automatically locks the phone when traveling more than 10 MPH and unlocks when the car has stopped driving. The app directs incoming calls to voicemail and silences distracting alerts while driving. Sprint Drive First is available on all Sprint CDMA Android-powered smartphones for $2 per month, per line. Visit www.sprint.com/drivefirst for more information. "We realize that there are a lot of choices in the market when it comes to choosing the right cell phone that fits the needs of both a working parent and their family," said David Owens, Sprint vice president-Product Development. "Providing affordable, Android-powered devices, like ZTE Fury, in our lineup helps give families the tools and information to better manage their wireless usage while still providing the style and functionality they need to keep up with their busy lives." ZTE Fury also comes preloaded with Sprint ID, a unique feature that enables customers to have a fully personalized experience with a few simple clicks. Customers can download and switch among five self-selected ID packs filled with ringtones, wallpapers, widgets and applications that are tailored to an individual’s lifestyle and interests. Additional features of ZTE Fury include: • 3G hotspot functionality2 that allows up to five Wi-Fi enabled devices to share one network connection, an ideal solution for gatherings and travel • 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8655 processor • 4GB internal memory and an expandable memory slot supporting up to 32GB • Using Sprint’s nationwide 3G network, customers can stay connected with their friends, family, business and community through more than 400,000 applications available in the Android Market™. "ZTE Fury continues ZTE’s legacy of offering a large customer base an entry point to highly sought-after mobile data services. In particular, we know the youth market desires the latest technology but has special requirements for cost and functionality," said Lixin Cheng, CEO, ZTE USA, and president, North America Region, ZTE. "We are privileged to partner with Sprint to offer customers of all ages productivity, entertainment and connectedness on the go with ZTE Fury." ZTE Fury requires activation on a Sprint Everything Data plan for smartphones3 and families that purchase ZTE Fury can rest assured that their monthly data charges won’t be out of control as Sprint offers the only truly unlimited data pricing plans on all phones from a national wireless carrier. Sprint customers who purchase ZTE Fury can take advantage of Sprint Everything Data Family Plans with Any Mobile, AnytimeSM starting at $129.99 per month for two lines, plus the required $10 per month, per line Premium Data add-on charge for smartphones. Additional lines (lines three to five) are $19.99 per month plus the $10 per month, per line Premium Data add-on charge for smartphones. About Sprint Nextel Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 55 million customers at the end of 2011 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 3 in its 2011 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation’s greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint. ZTE USA is a subsidiary of ZTE Corporation (H share stock code: 0763.HK / A share stock code: 000063.SZ), a leading global provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions. ZTE USA is dedicated to making quality communications technology accessible to all. The company draws on more than 25 years of experience and research investment to deliver smart, affordable, quality choices for infrastructure and mobile data device customers nationwide. For more information, visit www.zteusa.com. About ZTE ZTE is a publicly listed global provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions with the most comprehensive product range covering virtually every sector of the wireline, wireless, service and terminals markets. The company delivers innovative, custom- made products and services to more than 500 operators in more than 140 countries, helping them to meet the changing needs of their customers while achieving continued revenue growth. ZTE’s 2010 revenue led the industry with a 21 percent increase to USD10.609 billion. ZTE commits 10 percent of its revenue to research and development and takes a leading role in a wide range of international bodies developing emerging telecoms standards. A company with sound corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, ZTE is a member of the UN Global Compact. ZTE is China’s only listed telecom manufacturer, publicly traded on both the Hong Kong and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges (H share stock code: 0763.HK / A share stock code: 000063.SZ). For more information, please visit www.zte.com.cn.

O2 UK Launching New Xperia, HTC One Phones in April Posted: 09 Mar 2012 06:55 AM PST Carrier O2 UK will soon be launching several new devices that were announced at Mobile World Congress. Their coming soon page has been filled with not only all of the HTC One phones, but Sony’s Xperia P and U, as well. The Xperia S has already launched on the carrier. We’re even given a launch window for all of them, and all of them are said to be coming right around the same time – April. Anything can change but UK release windows are usually safe, give or take a week or two. Be sure to keep an eye on their site and their blog for more information on the phone you’re looking for.

Rumor: Snapdragon S4 Manufacturer Having Trouble With Chip, Could Affect Production of Upcoming Devices Posted: 09 Mar 2012 06:19 AM PST If the following rumor is to be believed, there may be some trouble in the Snapdragon S4 paradise. It’s suggested that TSMC, the plant who manufactures Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S4 chips, are having trouble with the 28nm process. What kind of trouble exactly is yet to be revealed, but these chips might affect the launch of several devices which use them. Namely, HTC’s new One series of device, which includes the One X and One S (some variants may not have the S4), may have their release dates pushed back. Other devices includes the ASUS Padfone, and the 5 inch Panasonic ELUGA. Rumor are rumors, though.If they are true, they might not even affect the launch of these devices in a worst case scenario. And, well, they just might not be true. Only time will tell because we’re sure Qualcomm, TSMC nor their OEM partners are particularly interested in addressing the rumors. [SemiAccurate via PhoneArena]

Huawei Prism Pictured in Press Shot Posted: 09 Mar 2012 06:08 AM PST The Huawei Prism rumor mill is gaining steam. Following a brief visit to the FCC, we’ve finally gotten our first real look at the device. Well, it’s not technically real. It’s a press shot, but they usually give us a good indication of what to expect. The device is as small as we’d expected, around the same size as the Huawei Sonic, and it looks pretty OK. We don’t expect the specs to impress anyone but there’s nothing to confirm or even speculate on at this point. Grab a quick look above and expect this to hit Magenta sometime soon. [via TmoNews]

Samsung: March 10th ICS Due Date for Galaxy S II was a Mistake Posted: 09 Mar 2012 04:50 AM PST Yesterday, the pool of Galaxy S II owners got all excited when it appeared that Samsung announced the update to Ice Cream Sandwich would be coming to unlocked, unbranded versions on March 10th. It was posted on their website, or at least the Filipino version of their site, looking as official as ever, and even Samsung’s Twitter account corroborated. Unfortunately, Samsung has said that it was all a big mistake. Yep, simple as that. They haven’t announced a date and it certainly won’t be March 10th. So there it is. We have no doubt that it is at least close to ready with all of the leaks that have made their way to the forefront, but it’s not quite as ready as we’d hoped it was. Clear your schedule for the weekend, folks. [Thanks Han!]

Android Overload: ZTE Fury Coming To Sprint March 11th, T-Mobile MobileLife Sweepstakes and More Posted: 09 Mar 2012 01:15 AM PST Some interesting leftovers for you tonight, here in the Android Overload. This is where we stash all of the stories that didn’t make it onto our front page, so that you might have one final look at them before they’re lost to the web forever. T-Mobile customers might want to enter into the MobileLife sweepstakes. Never know when you might win something cool. Good luck! Motorola has a new version of the Defy (the Defy XT535) headed to China. [Motorola] T-Mobile wishes subsidized pricing on smartphones would die. Can’t do it without other carriers’ help. [TMoNews] Manufacturing hiccup could cause Raspberry Pi delays. [RaspberryPi] There are now more than 100 million smartphone users in the US. [BGR] ZTE Fury coming to Sprint on March 11th. [SprintFeed] T-Mobile MobileLife sweepstakes. You could win a Galaxy Tab 10.1 or GSII. [TMoNews]

Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket HD For AT&T Passes Through The FCC – Release Imminent? Posted: 09 Mar 2012 12:43 AM PST We haven’t seen or heard very much from the Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket HD aside from its official announcement a few weeks ago. That announcement failed to mention a release date which has left many wondering exactly when the device would drop. Well, the device has finally passed through the FCC today showing off it’s bands and even NFC capabilities. Hopefully, this means a release is just around the corner and for Samsung’s sake, let’s hope it’s before the HTC One X drops. [FCC | Via Engadget]

7-Inch ASUS Nexus Tablet Could Launch In May For Between $200 and $250 Posted: 08 Mar 2012 11:50 PM PST Digitimes is firing up the rumor mill once again, this time reporting that the Google commissioned 7-inch ASUS tablet could be in our hands as early as May and, once again, will retail between $200 and $250. Google reportedly shopped around for other Taiwanese OEM’s to manufacturer the Nexus tab but apparently, Acer lacked a proper in-house R&D department and HTC didn’t want to ruin their “brand image” with a rock bottom, low-priced tablet (you know, because their other tabs are doing so well). ASUS has a lot to gain from the joint venture as they will learn how to develop solid software firsthand from the boys at Google, and how to incorporate it better into their hardware. Oh yeah, and this thing will sell like hot cakes. You’ll be buying one, right? [Digitimes | Via Electronista]