Posted: 28 Feb 2012 05:55 PM PST  Leading up to Mobile World Congress, HTC had the most buzz and they delivered a smartphone worthy of the hype with their One X flagship announcement. Initially the device will be exclusive to AT&T in the United States, but this is HTC’s premier smartphone and we know they want it on as many carriers as possible. This week we did some digging around, and now we have the first details on other versions headed to the United States. Read on for the full rumor report. The RumorThe HTC One X smartphone will launch on Sprint and T-Mobile this summer. Like AT&T’s variant, Sprint’s version will also use the dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor with integrated LTE. T-Mobile will go with the quad-core Tegra 3 processor that supports HSPA+, similar to the global version of the device.We don’t know the final name of the Sprint version, but it is believed to be a part of the EVO family. Rumored names include the EVO LTE, EVO HD, and EVO 3. T-Mobile will call their version the G4x and it will offer stock Android 4.0 like their other G-series devices. Both devices should be announced at CTIA in May. The SourcesEvan Blass of Pocket Now is the source of the Sprint rumor. If you are not familiar with Evan, he started blogging with Engadget back in 2005 and has become the number one insider for HTC leaks. Check out previous Evan Blass stories for a history of his predictions.The T-Mobile rumor comes from a number of trusted sources who wish to remain anonymous. One Android Insider's take on the rumorI’m sure someone will write this is a no-shit kind of story or obvious is obvious speculation, but we find it fun to report on the latest rumors and discuss if they are really true or not.When it comes to the Sprint version, I will believe anything that Evan Blass reports. I don’t know where he gets his HTC information, but it is almost always spot on. He recently discovered a device codenamed HTC Jewel and it sports all the characteristics of the HTC One X. Sprint’s EVO brand is their premier smartphone and they have a history of releasing a new model each summer. We already know that Sprint will launch their first LTE markets around the middle of 2012, so it makes sense that they would go with the HTC One X that features the dual-core Snapdragon S4 with integrated LTE modem. As for the T-Mobile version, this is where the rumors get interesting. While AT&T and Sprint will offer the version with dual-core Snapdragon, T-Mobile will go with the quad-core Tegra 3 version that supports their 4G HSPA+ network. Once again, Evan Blass was one of the first to report that he had seen the name “T-Mobile G4X” floating around. I reached out to a reliable T-Mobile source who confirmed that their G-series of devices will “always” live on. At first we assumed this T-Mobile G4X device might be LG’s Optimus 4X HD, since their Optimus 2X became the T-Mobile G2x. However, no one from LG has even hinted at their quad-core smartphone coming to T-Mobile and last year’s device had all sorts of problems. On top of that, I had a third unnamed source who told me the quad-core HTC One X was surely coming to T-Mobile. If this rumor turns out to be true, and I wouldn’t be writing about it if I didn’t believe in it, then T-Mobile could have the most compelling version of the HTC One X in the United States. For starters, the inclusion of stock Android 4.0 would be a major selling point for the Android enthusiast crowd. HTC’s Sense 4.0 UI offers some cool features, but it’s beginning to turn stale and many hardcore users prefer the Holo UI of stock Android 4.0. The addition of the quad-core Tegra 3 is another attractive feature. A couple of days ago there were all kinds of headlines like “Snapdragon S4 slaughters Tegra 3″, but the latest benchmarks of the HTC One series reveal that the Tegra 3 version is actually faster in browser and gaming performance. Anand Shimpi of Anandtech went back and updated his benchmarks of the HTC One, which now show Tegra 3 leading in a number of synthetic tests. The Snapdragon S4 version was faster in a GLBenchmark test, but Anand notes it was run at each device’s native screen resolution. The HTC One X pushes 77% more pixels than the One S with Snapdragon S4, and it still remains competitive. Clearly Tegra 3 is on par with Snapdragon S4 in processing power, and it takes the lead in graphics performance. NVIDIA also claims that the Tegra 3 version will offer greater battery life than the Snapdragon S4 version. We will not know if that is true until we spend some time with the devices, but Tegra 3 tablets have offered industry leading battery life. (Short story: I watched 3 full length movies on my Transformer Prime + dock while flying to Barcelona and my battery level was around 70% when I landed.) Wrapping things up, it looks like Sprint and T-Mobile customers once again have an exciting device to save up for. Both the dual-core and quad-core models will offer amazing experiences, but I’d personally like to get my hands on the T-Mobile variant with stock Android 4.0. We have a ton of Samsung fans around here so I’m really curious what you guys think. How many people would consider a switch back to HTC for their next smartphone purchase? |
Posted: 28 Feb 2012 02:14 PM PST  Here at Android and Me, we have a lot of fans of Samsung’s Exynos processor. Samsung LSI took note of this and wanted to reward one reader with a free Galaxy Note smartphone. All you have to do is leave a comment about why you would demand the Exynos processor in your next mobile phone or tablet. The Prize: Samsung Galaxy Note Highlights of the Galaxy Note include 1.4 GHz dual-core Exynos processor, 5.3 inch WXGA (1280 x 800) HD Super AMOLED display, unique S Pen stylus, 16 GB internal storage, 1 GB RAM, 8 MP with LED Flash, 2 MP camera, and a massive 2,500 mAh battery. Contest Rules This contest is open to residents of the United States. Entries will be accepted for 24 hours after the contest goes live. We'll announce the winner on this page and on our Twitter account as soon as we draw. How to Enter We're going to make it super easy for you. Simply leave a comment below and tell us why you will “Demand Exynos” in your next mobile device. For this contest, users must be logged in to comment. Please join the site if you have not signed up yet. Multiple comments are allowed on this post, but each user will only be entered once. The winner will be chosen at random, so don't bother downvoting each other. Disclaimer: This contest is sponsored by Samsung LSI. |
Posted: 28 Feb 2012 12:19 PM PST  Andy Rubin isn’t the only one spilling his guts to reporters at Mobile World Congress this week. T-Mobile USA’s Andrew Sherrard also spent a moment talking about the future of the company he works for, confirming that once T-Mobile finishes rolling out its 42Mbps HSPA+ network, they’ll be skipping straight to LTE and abandoning all plans to deploy 84Mbps HSPA+. T-Mobile may have been previously committed to brining their network up to speed by utilizing HSPA+ technology, but not anymore. Instead of using spectrum obtained from the botched AT&T merger to buildout an 84Mbps HSPA+ network, T-Mobile will instead use this spectrum to focus on LTE. Magenta still faces the same problems with LTE as it would have with 84Mbps HSPA+, but as LTE has a brighter future ahead of it, they believe that’s where they should be placing energy and money. In order to successfully deploy LTE, T-Mobile is going to have to refarm spectrum, putting a strain on their 2G network. Sherrard said T-Mobile doesn’t imagine this will be a problem however, as more and more T-Mobile users are using 3G devices. T-Mobile will also stop carrying devices that don’t offer 3G access. Plans to launch an LTE network for T-Mobile subscribers should come to fruition as soon as early 2013. By the beginning of next year, T-Mobile expects LTE to be available in the majority of the top 50 markets in the US. Abandoning the deployment of HSPA+ 84 and focusing on LTE should help the company achieve this goal. I’ve been with T-Mobile myself for over five years now, watching my carrier of choice play catchup at every turn. If placing all of their resources on LTE means T-Mobile could finally catch up for once, I’m all for it. How about you? |
Posted: 28 Feb 2012 12:16 PM PST  Who says Leap Days are not special? They only come once every four years, and the best way to celebrate it just may be by purchasing a new phone or tablet. If you’re in the market for a new device, Verizon is holding a very good deal tomorrow, allowing you to save $100 on the best 4G LTE devices available. The image includes the best smartphones, like the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, Motorola Droid RAZR and the HTC Rezound, among others. The Leap Day sale website also includes an image of the Motorola Droid Xyboard, if you want to get your hands on an LTE tablet. If you have been looking to get one of these devices tomorrow might just be the day. Some of these devices are currently listed at prices lower than $100, so they might very well be completely free, but we will have to wait until tomorrow to find out for sure. But you could get a Galaxy Nexus for $200, instead of $300, which is a great deal. If you prefer working straight with Verizon, this might be something to consider. But do remember that other retailers have awesome discounts, as well. For example, Amazon has the Samsung Galaxy Nexus for $99  , as well as the Motorola Droid RAZR . So shop carefully.If you have been saving that upgrade for a good day, tomorrow might just be it! You can go ahead and set a reminder straight from Verizon’s site. Are any of you taking advantage of this sale? |
Posted: 28 Feb 2012 11:18 AM PST  Despite the carrier’s efforts and major LTE network rollout, only 5% of the Verizon customer pool is taking advantage of the blazing speeds, says the company. This comes as a disappointment, but Big Red has committed to a 4G-only smartphone selection in 2012. And that number is sure to increase soon. Verizon Wireless was the first US carrier to bring 4G LTE’s blazing speeds to Americans. With the anniversary taking place last December, the carrier has taken over most of the country. Surely, you have seen all the new markets being added continuously, and Big Red’s 4G LTE territory now covers over 200 million citizens.  Also, Verizon claims that all 3G markets will be covered by 4G LTE by 2013. This means that pretty much the whole country will run on these faster, more efficient (for the carrier) data speeds. Verizon has a clear advantage over all the other carriers, at least in regards to 4G LTE. But that does not mean the competition won’t be fierce as other carriers start deploying their own LTE networks. This is why the company is trying to invest in 4G LTE for a world free of 3G speeds. The older network received a big enhancement last year, right before the release of the almighty iPhone (which does not have 4G capabilities). But Verizon is no longer interested in investing more resources in said network. It is very critical for us, and we're playing a very delicate balancing act here that I don't want to spend any more money on my 3G networkFran ShammoChief fFinancial Officer of Verizon Communications Inc.As small as 5% sounds it is a rather large number, adding up to 4.4 million users. This is out of the 87.4 contracted customers that signed up in 2011. But as mentioned above, Verizon is planning to release only 4G LTE smartphones from now on, so we are surely in a transition. Soon, all smartphone customers will be signing up for LTE blazing speeds. As a 4G LTE customer, I must say that it is a great service, but the experience hasn’t been perfect. We sure hope all of these 4G LTE drops are resolved. For the same reason, it is unclear if Verizon is ready for a country-wide LTE explosion just yet. Shammo also mentions that Verizon is planning to invest $3.9 billion in spectrum from cable companies. This might improve everything, but we still have to see if the purchase is approved. Smaller (and not-so-smaller) carriers like T-Mobile and MetroPCS are trying to stop it. Here comes 2012 and 2013, guys. And some major changes are taking place in the mobile industry. Let’s see how things work out in the near future and pray that all these new 4G LTE customers don’t overload the towers too much. Is your next device going to be a 4G LTE smartphone? Would you rather keep things retro and stay with 3G speeds? |
Posted: 28 Feb 2012 11:13 AM PST  Mobile World Congress is chock full of device announcements and product details, but as with any trade show, the most interesting news always comes from the CEOs and Vice President-types behind the biggest names in the industry. Google’s Andy Rubin sat down with reporters at MWC this year, the topic of the day being Google’s acquisition of Motorola. Rubin wasn’t shy when it came to sharing his feelings on the acquisition, leaving the press with a handful of quotes on how Google will manage their newly acquired company. Andy Rubin was, and still is, a supporter of Google’s acquisition of Motorola. But now that the deal is nearing completion, he doesn’t want anything to do with the big M. Speaking with reporters at Mobile World Congress yesterday, Rubin said he “sponsored” the deal in its earlier stages, but has completely backed away at this point. In turn, Google will essentially take the same route. With long time Googler Dennis Woodside taking control of the reigns over at Motorola, Rubin said he was “painfully aware” of doubts that Google and Motorola will still operate as two separate entities, but that Google has “literally built a firewall” between the companies. Rubin continued on to say that he has absolutely no idea what Motorola is doing hardware or software wise, saying “I don’t even know anything about their products… They’re separate from me, and I’m going to continue to do my thing.” Of course, Google’s decision to operate the two companies apart from each other has a lot to do with fostering a competitive environment with other Android manufacturers. Fierce competition is what’s led Android to where it is now and what’s put Motorola into the position it’s in today. Rubin wrapped up his time with reporters by saying that, “Even if I was completely insane, it wouldn’t make any sense for me to think that we could get Motorola to be 90-plus percent marketshare. It just isn’t gonna happen.” Well said, Andy. Well said. |
Posted: 28 Feb 2012 09:04 AM PST  According to a new report, HTC is in talks with Google in hopes of being selected as the next OEM to produce a Nexus phone which is expected to be powered by Android 5.0 (Jelly Bean). Google worked closely with HTC to produce the original Nexus One, but the two companies have had a close partnership since the development of the first Android powered phone, – the T-Mobile G1. Google hasn't chosen its Nexus partner for (Android) Jellybean as yet. So right now all the manufacturers are crossing their fingers.Jeff GordonHTCBeing selected to be the next Nexus manufacturer is a big deal, but Jeff Gordon stressed that HTC’s current priority is to deliver Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and HTC Sense 3.6 to its current devices. Our official HTC Android 4.0 update list features 17 HTC devices which will be updated to Android 4.0 with the first three phones (Sensation, Sensation 4G and Sensation XE) scheduled to receive the update before the end of March. Samsung’s reputation within the Android community has received a huge boost since it was selected by Google to develop the Nexus S and the mass market appeal of the Galaxy Nexus has helped boost Nexus brand recognition with the general public. HTC already has a strong foothold with Android, but being able to partner with Google on the next Nexus device would give the company early access to the next version of Android which could eventually translate into quicker updates for its its current handsets and the HTC One phones which will launch in April. Do you think Google should select HTC to build the next Nexus device or should Motorola or LG be given an opportunity to shine? Update: We’re not sure why, but Tech Radar has take down their article. It could be that HTC was not happy with the details that HTC’s Jeff Gordon shared with them. If there are any updates on the story, we’ll let you know. |
Posted: 28 Feb 2012 09:02 AM PST  Verizon has finally confirmed the pricing and availability for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 that they announced at CES last month. Fortunately the waiting will be over quite soon with the launch coming March 1st. The Galaxy Tab 7.7 will set you back $499 with a two-year contract and month-to-month data starts at $30 for 2GB. Here’s a quick rundown of the specs:
Those of course were just my impressions after a few minutes with the Galaxy Tab 7.7 and we’ll be doing a full review soon to let you know whether it’s worth the price of admission. While the lack of Android 4.0 may be a concern to the Android enthusiasts, the pricing and even more importantly that 2-year contract are going to be the big sticking points for most potential buyers. Between those two which do you think would have a bigger impact on tablet sales? Would you be more inclined to buy a carrier tablet if they reduced the initial cost or if they dropped the 2-year contract requirement? Show Press Release Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 7.7 Available Exclusively On The Verizon Wireless Network World's Thinnest 4G LTE Tablet on America's Fastest 4G Network BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Announced at this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 7.7 will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com starting March 1. Movies, pictures and games come to life in high-definition with the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7's Super AMOLED™ Plus touchscreen display. Customers can quickly access the Web, stream music and more at blazingly fast speeds using the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network combined with a 1.4 GHz dual-core processor and HTML 5 Web browser. The Tab 7.7 is a multimedia expert allowing customers to use their tablet as the center of their home entertainment system. The Peel Smart Remote feature eliminates the need for multiple remote controls for televisions, audio players and other home entertainment systems. Customers can make their Tab 7.7 the master controller to find and watch their favorite TV shows, create a favorites list, set program reminders and more. Customers also have the ability to stream media to their compatible TV using the HDMI Multimedia Dock with a built-in HDMI port or the HDTV Adapter (sold separately). The Samsung Media Hub offers a large selection of media to rent or purchase and watch while traveling or plug into a TV to share at a party. Additional features:
Business professionals can feel secure when working on their Tab 7.7 knowing that it is Samsung Approved for Enterprise (SAFE™). The SAFE certification signifies that the Tab 7.7 is equipped with an exclusive suite of security features that deliver enterprise-friendly capabilities to help safeguard sensitive data and communications, including Mobile Device Management (MDM), on-device Encryption, Virtual Private Network (VPN) and push synchronization of corporate email, calendar and contacts. The Galaxy Tab 7.7 provides the ideal balance of portability and productivity so business professionals can get the job done. Pair the Tab 7.7 with a keyboard dock and maximize productivity with the QuickOffice® Pro HD application. Customers won't even notice they left their laptops behind with the ability to create and edit Microsoft® Office documents. Even traveling business teams can stay connected and productive in remote meeting locations, such as airports, with the 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot capability. The Tab 7.7 lets customers share their 4G LTE connection with up to 10 Wi-Fi-enabled devices simultaneously, enabling leaders to become the team's Wi-Fi hotspot to rapidly download large presentations and blueprints to review before boarding a flight. Pricing and availability:
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Posted: 28 Feb 2012 07:13 AM PST  This week at Mobile World Congress NVIDIA’s partners announced a ton of new Tegra 3 devices, but the big focus was on mobile games and other experiences that Tegra delivers. Last night we had the opportunity to attend an NVIDIA party where we got some hands-on time with several upcoming games headed to Tegra Zone. NVIDIA had set up several classic consoles including Xbox, PlayStation 2, Atari, and Dreamcast, which were placed next to Tegra devices running similar games. It was a night filled with nostalgia, but it was also cool to see how these devices that fit in our pockets are now replacing dedicated game consoles. Read on to check out which games are coming to Tegra Zone. Sonic 4: Episode IIGrowing up I was a Nintendo fan so Mario was always my favorite character, but I had several friends who preferred Sega and their blue-haired hedgehog. This week NVIDIA announced they had partnered with Sega to bring Sonic 4: Episode II to Android devices. The latest episode in the historic franchise features 17 all-new levels, co-op mode with Sonic's old sidekick Tails, and real-time water effects and dynamic backgrounds in 720p HD. Hopefully this is the start of a long-term relationship with NVIDIA that will see Sega’s other franchises find their way to Android devices. Eden to GREEEEN THDEden to Greeeen comes from popular Japanese developer iNiS. This turn-based strategy game is a mix of tower offense and plants vs alien machines. I had the chance to play through a couple levels at an NVIDIA event, and it was one of my favorite mobile games at the show. The graphics were powered by Unreal Engine, which we wished more Android developers used. Look for the game to be available for free on Tegra Zone later in 2012. Dark Kingdom THDDark Kingdom is a classic role-playing game that has now gone mobile. This version optimized for Tegra devices features higher-polygon models, dynamic shadows, dynamic lighting, and even rag-doll physics. Hamilton's Great Adventure THDHamilton's Great Adventure is another epic PC puzzle game that has gone mobile. The developer Bitsquid has ported their DirectX 11 engine to Android with Tegra 3 optimizations and quad-core scaling. Golden Arrow THDI didn’t get to play Golden Arrow THD, but this hack-and-slash game looks pretty awesome. The version optimized for Tegra devices will feature higher-resolution textures, high dynamic range lighting, soft shadows, lens flares, explosions and fires galore. |
Posted: 27 Feb 2012 09:10 PM PST  Swiftkey X has become one of the most popular third-party keyboards in the Android Market. With over 5 million downloads, this mind-reading keyboard is saving millions of keystrokes around the globe. This is all thanks to its unbelievable prediction and correction capabilities, which will now be available for all manufacturers thanks to the SDK that Swiftkey has just launched. With this Software Developer Kit, manufacturers will be able to incorporate Swiftkey’s impressive typing technology to an abundance of devices and platforms. This is made possible through access to Swiftkey’s language engine. So we might soon see devices with native keyboards that can predict and correct as amazingly as Swiftkey X can. As we are interacting with more devices, technology that accurately understands what a user is trying to say or do with their devices is vital. It only takes a cursory look at user groups to realize that typing is one of the biggest frustrations that people have on tablets and smartphones. The launch of our SDK will give OEMs access to better typing experience, with their own look and feel.Dr. Ben MedlockCTO of SwiftkeyAs mentioned, this SDK supports pretty much all operating systems. Platforms and languages include the following:
Show Press Release SwiftKey Launches SDK for Handset and Device Manufacturers OEMs Can Integrate SwiftKey's Powerful Language Technology Into Their Devices to Improve Core Typing Experience Barcelona, Spain — February 27, 2012 – SwiftKey™ (http://www.swiftkey.net), the company behind the award-winning SwiftKey X keyboard for Android™ smartphones, is making the core language-engine technology that powers its app available to OEMs. The move will allow handset and device manufacturers to embed SwiftKey's smart language technology into their own devices through a Software Development Kit (SDK). SwiftKey X has already proven immensely popular as a stand-alone app. It has been downloaded more than five million times, making it one of the most popular paid for applications on the planet in its category. In addition, SwiftKey's technology has been shortlisted for the Most Innovative App in this year's GSMA Global Mobile Awards at Mobile World Congress. The SDK enables tablet and handset manufacturers to offer cutting edge prediction and correction technology in their products, powered by SwiftKey's Natural Language Processing language engine. OEMs can build SwiftKey's core technology into their own keyboard and UI, to improve the core user experience of their devices. The SDK introduces a range of new features in addition to those currently available on SwiftKey X, with support for over 40 languages, including Arabic, Korean and Spanish. Dr Ben Medlock, CTO of SwiftKey explains: "As we are interacting with more devices, technology that accurately understands what a user is trying to say or do with their devices is vital. It only takes a cursory look at user groups to realize that typing is one of the biggest frustrations that people have on tablets and smartphones. The launch of our SDK will give OEMs access to better typing experience, with their own look and feel." "The SDK will also enable other consumer technology devices, beyond the tablet and smartphone, to receive the benefits of our unique language engine. We have already seen interesting applications of our language engine in Smart TVs and assistive technology devices." SwiftKey SDK supports the following platforms and languages: Android C++ iOS JVM (Java, Scala) Linux Mac OS X .NET (C#, VB) QNX/BlackBerry 10 WebOS Windows About SwiftKey SwiftKey makes typing much easier on Android smartphones, replacing the touchscreen keyboard with one powered by smarter natural language technology. The app, which launched in beta in July 2010, understands how words work together to give much more accurate corrections and predictions than other keyboards. It also powerfully learns over time to make typing easier and even more accurate, and users can personalize it using Gmail, Facebook, Twitter, SMS or their blog posts. To date SwiftKey has received more than five million downloads, saving users more than 30 billion keystrokes: equivalent to over 350 years spent typing. TouchType Ltd, the company behind SwiftKey, was founded in August 2008 by Jon Reynolds, CEO, and Dr Ben Medlock, CTO, both Cambridge University graduates. With a growing team of over 30 people, the company is based in Southwark, London, UK. |
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Update - 92
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