Sunday, April 15, 2012

Update - 71



Posted: 26 Feb 2012 02:15 PM PST

The HTC One X is making its way to the U.S. exclusively via AT&T, but they're not the only ones getting some HTC One love.T-Mobile USA will be launching the HTC One S, which features a dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor, a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED qHD display, and Ice Cream Sandwich with Sense 4. It's just 7.95mm thin and has aluminum unibody construction. What's more, it comes preloaded with Beats Audio integration, for an "authentic and richer sound experience." The One S  is the thinnest HTC phone yet, so T-Mo users will get a sleek form factor along with great specs. T-Mobile has announced a Spring launch, but no specific date. More on this as it develops.
So, Magenta lovers, are you planning to pick up a One S when it drops? Waiting for something better from another OEM? Let us know in the comments!
Source SlashGear
T-Mobile launching HTC One S in the U.S. originally appeared on AndroidGuys.
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Posted: 26 Feb 2012 02:05 PM PST
It's here, the announcement we've all been looking forward to for a few months now. HTC has officially announced their new series, known simply as HTC One. The line includes three devices: the HTC One X, One S, and last but not least, One V. HTC seems incredibly focused on Sense, and Android of course. They certainly stole the show today. Have a look at some specs for all the mentioned devices below.
First is the HTC One X, which features all the goodies you've been dreaming about. It comes with a Tegra 3 quad-core processor that utilizes NVIDIA's 4-PLUS-1 technology, a 4.7-inch 720p HD display,  an 8MP rear camera, a 1.3MP front-facing shooter supports up to 720p video capture, Ice Cream Sandwich with HTC Sense 4, 1GB of RAM, and 32GB of internal storage. The camera utilizes the technology that Peter Chou introduced. The HTC One X is expected to be launched in April.
Then comes the phone in a sexy form factor, HTC's thinnest phone yet. I'm talking about the HTC One S, where the 'S' actually represents the slim form of it. It's essentially the little brother of the One X, featuring a 4.3-inch 960×540 resolution display, a Qualcomm 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, Android 4.0 with Sense 4 on top, an 8 MP camera that shoots 1080p and a VGA front facing camera for video chatting. It has a slim profile of 7.9mm (8.7mm at its thickest point). The body is a unibody aluminum design, coated with a scratch-resistant Micro Arc Oxidation. However, the 1650mAh battery is non-removable, which I think is going to hurt a few potential buyers. But maybe 16GB of internal memory will cheer them up.
Finally, we have the HTC One V. This one is actually for people looking for a device with amazing hardware along with a valuable price tag, and so the "V" stands for value. It features a 3.7-inch SLCD2 480 x 800 display, a 1Ghz single-core processor, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage, Android 4.0 with Sense 4, it's just 9.24 mm thick, and it's packing a 5MP camera with a front-facing camera as well. The One V reminds me of the HTC Legend, from a few years ago.
That's about all from HTC. Be sure to check out the detailed Sense 4 breakdown by our own Justin Marden here. So, do you have your eye on any of the above HTC One devices? Which one caught your attention? Let us know in the comments!
HTC officially announces HTC One Series originally appeared on AndroidGuys.
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Posted: 26 Feb 2012 01:51 PM PST
HTC just announced the HTC One X, which will be launched globally in April. If you're a U.S. user that just can't wait to get your hands on one, we've got some good news for you. AT&T officially announced that they will be carrying HTC's monster in the U.S. exclusively. What's different from the original version is that it will feature an LTE radio chip, and instead of the shiny Tegra 3 processor, it will come with 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 by Qualcomm. Maybe HTC knew a quad-core processor along with LTE wouldn't be too friendly on the battery.
However, the other goodies, like integrated Beats audio, ICS, Sense 4, a 4.7-inch HD display, and an amazing camera, are all there. No word on a release date or price, but it's listed as 'coming soon'. We'll be sure to let you know if anything new comes in. So is anyone in the U.S. pumped to grab a One X from AT&T when it lands? Sound off in the comments!
Source Engadget
AT&T to be exclusive U.S. carrier of the HTC One X originally appeared on AndroidGuys.
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Posted: 26 Feb 2012 01:38 PM PST
HTC just hit the stage at MWC, and they started off with a bang. Peter Chou, the Taiwanese company's CEO, showcased some amazing new technology they've been working on, and I'll try my best to sum it all up. First, Chou introduced Sense 4, the latest version of their UI, and broke it up into two parts: the camera and sound. We all use our smartphones to take pictures on the go, so why shouldn't we have great cameras, right? Chou even went so far as to claim that the new camera technology gives the user the "power of a true digital camera on your phone." With that, he introduced ImageSense, which is what they're grouping all the new features into when describing the camera. Peter said that ImageSense improves all aspects of the camera: the lens, UI, sensor, and software. Let's dive right in, shall we?
First, the video capture and photo capture buttons are right next to each other, making it seamless to switch from taking photos to shooting videos. HTC has managed to cut down the start time for the camera app to just 0.7 seconds, so you can capture those moments quickly, without any wait. As if that wasn't enough, they also worked in a 0.2-second autofocus, and a "super fast burst mode." A user has only to hold down the shutter button, and they'll instantly get a burst shot, instead of shuffling through menus to find that setting.
HTC has clearly put a lot of thought into camera speed and functionality. ImageSense cameras will use a best-in-class f/2.0 lens, which lets in 44% more light than f/2.4 lenses, giving users brighter and more clear pictures. ImageSense is also intelligent, as it recognizes how far away a subject is from the camera, and adjusts the strength of the flash for that specific photo.
Furthermore, HTC has been working very closely with HDR technology, and have improved image quality greatly, compared to the iPhone 4S.
But wait, there's more! HTC has also worked in the ability to shoot video and take still photos at the same time. Peter Chou referenced his daughter's recital, where he had to hand the phone to his wife, to take still photos with another device. He had this to say about the new feature:
The Sense 4 camera interface ... gives us a way to do both. So now while you're shooting HD video all you have to do is tap the video button and you capture a high-resolution picture.
Moving right along, Chou announced that HTC is expanding its partnership with DropBox, which is music to our ears. HTC has integrated cloud storage into Sense 4, and anyone that buys a device from their HTC One line (more on that in a bit) will get 25GB of DropBox storage for two years.
Chou also briefly touched on HTC MediaLink, which is essentially their way of sharing content with an HDTV. A simple three-finger swipe up on the screen sends a photo or video to the TV. He also mentioned a "mirror mode," in which users can browse the web on their phone, while still sharing content with the TV.
Peter quickly transitioned into audio content within Sense 4, mentioning the first time he heard the Beatles sing "Hey Jude." To start off the music portion of the presentation, Chou had this to say:
With Sense 4, we integrated Beats into all music, any song, whether it is a local song or a stream on the internet. Whatever music service, it will get the Beats-integrated experience.
He went on to say that basically any audio on the device, from music to movies to games, will get integrated Beats sound. We found this one particularly intriguing. HTC updated their Sync service within Sense 4, so now a user only has to plug their HTC One device into their PC once. Sense 4 will have WiFi sync enabled, so the content will sync wirelessly every time after. iTunes playlists, and playlists from other services, will sync seamlessly with HTC Sync. Music apps can now be downloaded into HTC Hub, and they'll integrate without any issues. Chou was quoted as saying, "This is the one place you enjoy all of your life."
With that, he segued into music in the car. Peter gave some figures, and said that the most common thing people do when they're driving is listen to the radio. He claimed that Sense 4 gives the user a completely new car experience. He introduced a small chip, that plugs into the 3.5mm headset jack in the car, and allows you to stream music from your HTC One device right to the radio, wirelessly.
Peter Chou wrapped it up from there, and moved on to the HTC One series of devices, which our own Asad Rafi is covering in a separate post. So with that being said, we're definitely excited for the new features that HTC unveiled today, and we can't wait to see them in person. What about you? Are you impressed with the work HTC has put into Sense 4? Be sure to leave a comment below!
Images courtesy of TheVerge
HTC blows us away at MWC, announces countless new features originally appeared on AndroidGuys.
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Posted: 26 Feb 2012 12:15 PM PST
Now that Samsung and Huawei have stolen the show, it's Sony's turn to show us what they've got at Mobile World Congress. Sony officially announced their new flagship devices, the Xperia U and Xperia P. The Xperia U is rocking a 3.5-inch Reality display with BRAVIA Mobile Engine, a 1GHz Qualcomm dual-core processor, and an 8MP camera. The bottom caps are changeable, and will be available in different colors. It's expected to be launched in Q2, so stay tuned.
The Xperia P comes with a 4-inch WhiteMagic display with BRAVIA Mobile Engine,  a 1 GHz U8500 dual-core processor, and an 8MP Camera. It has NFC and HDMI support, along with its very own SmartDock, which will be launched with the phone. It will be launched in Q2 as well
Both the Xperia P and U are currently running on Android 2.3, but they're expected to receive some ICS love in Q2, which may indicate that they'll launch with it. Personally, I was expecting the Xperia P to feature a quad-core processor, to keep up with the most recent power devices, but it seems that Sony isn't so sure about quad-core technology just yet. In any case, we'll have more coverage on the Xperia P and U as news comes in.
So what do you think of Sony's MWC offerings? Are you disappointed in the dual-core processors? Let us know by leaving a comment!
Source: Sony (1),(2) via Engadget (1),(2)
Sony officially announces Xperia P and Xperia U originally appeared on AndroidGuys.
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Posted: 26 Feb 2012 11:45 AM PST
Sammy has officially announced the Samsung Galaxy Beam. It's the projector phone Samsung tweeted about, and it's all about fun. It's actually the updated version of the Galaxy Beam that was launched a few years ago, which was somewhat of a flop. However, the updated version seems much more powerful, so it might just hold some potential. The specs for the Galaxy Beam include:
  • 4-inch 480 x 800 WVGA display
  • 1GHz dual-core processor
  • 5MP rear camera, 1.3MP front-facing camera
  • Gingerbread
  • A multitude of HSPA bands
  • MPEG4, H.263, H.264, WMV, DivX
  • Recording/Playback: 720p @ 30fps
  • BlueTooth 3.0
  • 802.11 b/g/n 2.4GHz WiFi
  • MicroUSB, USB 2.0, 3.5mm headset jack
  • PC Applications
  • 1GB of RAM, 8GB internal storage, MicroSD slot (up to 32GB)
  • 2000 mAh battery
  • 15 lumen can project 50" wide 720p HD quality picture.
Well, it's certainly a device that could liven up a party. No word on a release date just yet, but we're fairly sure we'll hear more about it soon. So, who's looking forward to picking one up? Sound off in the comments!
Source Samsung, via UnwiredView
Samsung introduces updated Galaxy Beam, projector phone of the future? originally appeared on AndroidGuys.
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Posted: 26 Feb 2012 11:10 AM PST
At Mobile World Congress, Samsung officially unveiled yet another new tablet under the Galaxy Tab brand, presenting the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1. It's Samsung's second ICS tablet, the first being the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0.
The Tab 2 10.1. It's essentially the same as the original 10.1-inch Tab, with the addition of a MicroSD card slot, which many users thought should've been implemented from the beginning. The newest addition to the Galaxy Tab family will launch with Ice Cream Sandwich and TouchWiz UX, a 1GHz dual-core processor, a 10.1-inch 1280 x 800 display, 1GB of RAM, a 3MP rear camera, VGA front-facing shooter, and a 7000mAh battery. It will be available in both 3G and WiFi version, and it's expected to hit the UK soon. It will be showcased at Samsung's MWC booth.
Moving along, the image above confirms that the Galaxy Note 10.1 will be launched at MWC, so let's wait and see. (image credit: PocketLint)
So who's not impressed with the Tab 2 10.1? How many of you are looking forward to the Galaxy Note 10.1? Let us know by leaving a comment!
Source PocketNow
Samsung announces Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 at MWC, Galaxy Note 10.1 confirmed originally appeared on AndroidGuys.
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Posted: 26 Feb 2012 10:40 AM PST
Huawei kicked off MWC by announcing several new devices, and all of them are going to make you drool. They literally stole the show by launching Ascend D1, Ascend D Quad, Ascend D Quad XL and the MediaPad 10. The 3 smartphones they launched are going to be the best of the line, and the Ascend D Quad is currently the fastest smartphone in the world, according to Huawei.
The Ascend D Quad and D Quad XL are the same phone, except that the XL comes with a 2500 mAh battery, whereas the D Quad is more about slimness and style, packing an 1800 mAh battery. Huawei is pulling a Samsung move here by launching their new phones with their own processors. Huawei is saying their new quad-core smartphones are "49% faster than all other fastest smartphones in world". Have a look at the detailed specs of the Ascend D Quad/Quad XL:
  • 1GB RAM
  • 8GB internal storage
  • 32-bit true color GPU
  • Ice Cream Sandwich
  • 4.5-inch 1280×720 HD IPS/330 PPI display
  • 8MP BSI AF camera with 1080p full HD video capture
  • 1.3MP front-facing camera with 720p HD capture
  • 5.1 surround sound with Dolby Mobile Plus
  • Dual mic noise cancellation with Audience earSmart
  • Dual LED flash
  • b/g/n WiFi
  • Bluetooth 3.0
  • MHL and HDMI connections
  • DLNA support
  • 5 band 850/900/1700/1900/2100 HSPA+ 21 mbps
  • Dimensions: 8.9mm (quad), 10.9mm (quad XL) x 64mm x 129mm
Let's talk about the mid-range Ascend D1. It actually has the same specs, with the exception of a dual-core 1.5 GHz TI OMAP processor, and a 1670 mAh battery. No word on pricing or a launch date, but hopefully we'll hear more about it soon.
Now it's time to shed some light on that impressive tablet, the Huawei MediaPad 10 FHD. The tablet is running Android 4.0,  with a Huawei K3 Quad-core processor under the hood, a 10.1-inch 1920 x 1200 resolution display, an 8MP rear camera, all packed into a slim 8.8mm. It will be launching in Q2 2012.
Huawei is expecting to sell 60 million smartphones this year, which was only achieved by Apple and Nokia last year. In any case, we want to know what you think about Huawei's MWC announcements. Impressed with the MediaPad? Excited for the Ascend D Quad XL? Drop a comment below!
Huawei announces three Android phones, and the MediaPad at MWC originally appeared on AndroidGuys.
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Posted: 26 Feb 2012 09:42 AM PST
Duracell's Powermat is a pretty well-known name in the mobile industry, offering wireless charging for various smartphones over the past several years. There's a base station that actually does the charging, and then a proprietary replacement battery door that would connect to the base station to receive the charge; think Touchstone for Palm Pre. The downside to the system is that earlier models tended to lean toward the clunky side, and all of the models were a bit pricey.
Recognizing these shortcomings, Duracell has introduced a new design in the mix, the Powermat WiCC. The WiCC is a wafer-thin conductor that takes the place of the replacement battery door of their previous design. The difference comes with the WiCC sitting unseen under the OEM battery door, pulling the power from the Powermat base station. These would be cheaper to manufacture, since Duracell would be able to create just a few different generic designs, rather than specifically tailoring these to each mobile device. Beyond charging, each WiCC also brings NFC function, allowing non-NFC device owners to get into the fun. At MWC, Duracell had one of these on a demo Samsung Galaxy S II, which Engagdet was able to test, coming away impressed.
Now don't expect to be able to pick one of these up anytime soon. Duracell has to do a bit of courting with device manufacturers to be able to implement this technology, though they seem confident given the low cost of integrating it into device design. Even then, the WiCC devices probably won't hit anytime this year. Still, there's a tremendous amount of potential here.
Is this something that you would buy? Could this be the next generation in wireless charging? Let us know in the comments!
Duracell showcases Powermat WiCC, the future of wireless charging originally appeared on AndroidGuys.
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Posted: 25 Feb 2012 07:34 PM PST
Samsung Mobile just arrived in Barcelona 12 hours ago and not long ago tweeted a little teaser as we await the doors to open at Mobile World Congress 2012. The photo above, is of the latest innovation from Samsung Mobile. Dubbed the Galaxy Beam, this is the first Android smartphone with a built-in HD projector. Capable of projecting on screens up to 50" at an ultra bright 15 lumens, this should turn some heads the next time you crash a house party. Let the fun begin as we continue to count down the hours until MWC 2012!
Source: Twitter
Samsung Mobile Twitter outs the Galaxy Beam. the smartphone with a projector originally appeared on AndroidGuys.
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Posted: 25 Feb 2012 05:47 PM PST

A few months ago we talked about Verizon getting an LTE version of the Xperia Play, well this go around points to a whole new device that might fit those shoes. With over 200 games optimized for play on the original device from Sony, they've proven their loyalty to the gaming crowd. Games like Madden '12 and EA Sports FIFA '12 are among the leading titles optimized for the original model.
Looking quite a bit different than the original model, this mockup seems to abandon the original curves. On the rumor spec list is a 1.5ghz dual-core SnapDragon S4 CPU with a 4.3" Hi-Def display. Of course it will be Playstation certified as well.
We're a little concerned by the capacitive buttons, as they may be indicative of Gingerbread running on the device. However, if you had the original model this should be a major step-up. Improvements like a dual core processor should make a world of difference in the gaming experience.
Source: MobileMag
Is this the Xperia Play 2? Mobile gaming with a dual core CPU and HD display originally appeared on AndroidGuys.
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Posted: 25 Feb 2012 05:28 PM PST

With Mobile World Congress gearing up in only 2 days we can look forward to all sorts of new goodies and high-tech announcements from some of the worlds largest tech companies. NVIDIA is going to announce some cool new stuff regarding it's latest Icera 410 LTE modem. NVIDIA acquired Icera back in mid-2011 and this would appear to be the start of bigger things regarding LTE networks across the world.
Click Here to View Full Press Release
If you're in Barcelona next week, check out our booth at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) show in Hall 1, Stand C34. We'll be giving a sneak peek at advanced technologies developed by Icera, the UK company NVIDIA acquired in mid-2011. We'll be showing the NVIDIA Icera 410 LTE modem to our partners, showcasing the latest advances in Voice over LTE (VoLTE), as well as multiplayer gaming over a live LTE network. Voice over LTE For VoLTE, we'll demonstrate seamless handover of voice calls from an LTE network to a circuit-switched WCDMA 3G network, and vice versa, using Single Radio Voice Call Continuity (SRVCC) with HD quality voice (known in the industry as AMR-WB or Adaptive Multi-Rate-Wideband). These technologies are rich in acronyms, so let's try to explain what this means. SRVCC is a technology that enables voice calls to seamlessly hop between 4G and 3G networks, which will exist side by side for some time. It's important because it marks a significant step towards operators being able to move their voice traffic from 3G to LTE networks, allowing the 3G spectrum to be re-used for super-fast LTE technology. It relies on a single radio in the handset for hand-off and a single multimode baseband processor to support LTE VoIP and circuit-switched 3G – like the Icera LTE modem – rather than different basebands for each air interface. What's more, using a single multimode baseband also means smaller phone designs, lower power and better battery life. LTE Gaming Demo We're also showing a live LTE gaming demo at our booth (Hall 1, Stand C34), using our software defined radio (SDR) modem that implements all three radio technologies – 4G, 3G and 2G – with the full handover capabilities that network operators will need next year. The NVIDIA Icera modem is currently used more than any other modem to validate LTE handover test cases designed to meet the requirements set by global standards organisations. This means consumers will experience a smooth and fast connection, regardless of whether they are using an LTE, 3G or 2G network. The NVIDIA Icera LTE modem leverages our unique SDR technology, which enables software upgradable functions to OEMs and carriers, offering high throughput and best-in-class power and small die size. This feature also enables faster time to market for new air interface technologies and lower R&D expenses for handset manufacturers. This allows us to include on our roadmap for 2012-2013 a bevy of wireless data technologies, including: LTE FDD, TD-LTE, 42Mbps Dual Carrier and TD-SCDMA in addition to existing HSPA+, HSPA and 2G technologies. You can also keep tabs on MWC 2012 updates via this blog, twitter and our Social Media Newsroom.

Source:NVIDIA
NVIDIA’s Icera Modem hopes to take LTE to another level with Voice and Gaming leverage originally appeared on AndroidGuys.
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