Android Authority |
- ASUS to introduce “next transformations” at Computex 2012
- The Galaxy S3 is upon us – which Android smartphones can stand up to it?
- SDG Systems unveils “bulletproof” Android-based Rampage 6 phablet
- Apple insider: Steve Jobs would have gone ‘mad’ over Siri’s performance
- Unsigned S Voice app works once more on non-Samsung devices
- LG E970 smartphone leaked, phone AT&T’s take on the LS970 Eclipse
- Huawei to unveil the Emotion UI on June 9
- Samsung Galaxy S III might come to the US on June 20
- Sprint gives free gel case, no new launch date yet of HTC Evo 4G LTE
- Motorola Droid Bionic now free from Verizon
| ASUS to introduce “next transformations” at Computex 2012 Posted: 29 May 2012 01:53 AM PDT
In the tech world, product announcements and releases are met with a lot of fanfare. For most, it’s just a general sense of relief to be able to step away from the whirlwind of speculation and to finally get definitive answers on what to expect. It’s been almost a month since the unveiling of the Galaxy S3 and some crazy rumors still flash before my eyes (2GB RAM confirmed! 12MP camera a must!). But the tech world waits for no one, and we were are now hearing rumblings of Google planning to release five Nexus devices, including at least one Nexus tablet. With Computex 2012, held in Taipei, right around the corner, it’s ASUS’ turn to join the fun. Following in the footsteps of Samsung’s first Galaxy S3 teaser, ASUS has released a similarly vague trailer centered around what the Taiwanese company is calling the “next transformations.” Computex is in ASUS’ back yard, so we should expect something amazing from them. While the video itself gives up little indications on what ASUS is cooking up, the teaser will at the least get the rumor mill turning once more. Here are two pieces of speculations that we can make based on it.
Altough Computex starts June 5, the video ends with the line, “the excitement starts May 31.” So while we can hope for a formal device/product announcement then, it will likely be a longer, possibly not-so-vague, trailer. You can watch the video trailer here: You can find more information on Computex 2012, which will be held from June 5 to June 9, here. What are your thoughts? What do you think ASUS’ “next transformation” is going to be? Are you excited about the possibility of a new tablet, or still disappointed that the Transformer Pad 300 and Infinity have still not shipped? Let us know in the comments section below. This article, ASUS to introduce “next transformations” at Computex 2012 , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| The Galaxy S3 is upon us – which Android smartphones can stand up to it? Posted: 28 May 2012 01:11 PM PDT
The Samsung Galaxy S3 – probably the most popular Android smartphone to ever go into production – has been announced at the beginning of the month, and it’s only a few days away from its debut in several European markets. Now, one major question arises among Android fans worldwide: are there any Android smartphones that can compete head to head with the newest member of the Samsung Galaxy S line? Before we jump into a detailed analysis of the smartphones that can rival the S3, allow me to spoil some of the fun by providing a quick answer to that question. Yes, there are Android smartphones (either only announced or already on the market) that threaten the supremacy of the Galaxy S3. But the S3 holds up extremely well against any challenger. So, what makes the S3 so appealing in the the mainstream consumer’s eyes? Marketing budget and hype aside, there are four main areas where the S3 shines: design, internal hardware, display, and a combination of OS, UI and software tweaks. If you're already too familiar with the S3, you might want to skip to the next section of this article, as I'm about to detail the Galaxy S3 specs, grouping them in the four categories I’ve just mentioned. Let’s kick it! Samsung Galaxy S3
DesignAs you can imagine, this is the area that is most susceptible to subjectivity, but I'm sure that even the most hardcore Samsung fans will agree that the design of the Galaxy S3 isn't really something to wow users. It's not a poorly-constructed smartphone by any means (the reports that claim Samsung has designed the S3 specifically avoid lawsuits from Apple are pretty much baseless). But there are many who feel that the S3 is too similar to the original Galaxy S, although slightly “weirder” looking. While pre-announcement rumors claimed that the Galaxy S3 will feature a ceramic case, a glossy plastic design available in two color versions (white or pebble blue) is all that prevailed. The Galaxy S3 is also 0.1 mm thicker than the Galaxy S2, measuring 8.6 mm. Bottom line: the S3 is not an ugly smartphone, but it's just not as good looking as others. Hardware
According to preliminary benchmarks published by Anandtech, the Exynos 4 SoC featured by the Galaxy S3 might be the fastest mobile SoC currently on the market. Powered by a 1.4GHz quad-core A9 processor, an upgraded Mali 400 MP GPU, and 1GB of RAM, the Samsung Galaxy S3 is shaping up to be the fastest smartphone ever. It's not the best by much, but still! LTE versions of the Samsung Galaxy S3, probably “downgraded” to an Snapdragon S4 chip, are expected to reach the US market in the next month or so. DisplayI don't know how each one of you guys feels about Super AMOLED displays, but what I do know is Samsung is the only company capable of mass producing such displays for smartphones and tablets. The generous 4.8-inch display on the Galaxy S3 runs at a 1280 by 720 pixel resolution and its 309ppi pixel density passes into the 300ppi territory of current top-end smartphones. But there are some people who don't seem to enjoy Pentile screens that much, claiming that they are less crisp than displays that use a regular RGB matrix. Pentile-discussion aside, the SAMOLED technology powering the S3 display means that its levels of contrast, vivid colors, and power efficiency will not be matched by any other top-end smartphone of 2012. It's the one thing that other manufacturers don't have, and Samsung plan to capitalize on that. OS, UI and Software FunctionsThe Samsung Galaxy S3 runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, with Samsung's Touchwiz UI slapped on top of it. Nothing especially interesting here, as ICS has been around for about 6 months already, while Samsung's proprietary UI won't surprise you at all, if you have used any of the two previous Galaxy S models. What does set the Galaxy S3 apart is its unique set of smart actions. You can read our previous article on the smart functions of the S3 for more details, but what you really need to know is that, while these smart functions aren't revolutionary, they will surely help Samsung to differentiate the S3 from all other Android smartphones of 2012. Huawei Ascend Quad XL
Now that we dissected the Galaxy S3 properly, let's take some time to meet the first contender: the Huawei Ascend D Quad XL, the fastest smartphone in the world, according to Huawei, as well as a pair of benchmarks leaked roughly a couple of months ago. Pricing details are unavailable at this point, as is the exact release date, although Huawei has mentioned that the Ascend D Quad XL will be released during Q2. DesignThis is arguably the sector where the Huawei Ascend D Quad XL underperforms the most when put against other top-end devices. Its plastic design and "standard" form factor are definitely not its strong suits. Simply put, the Huawei Ascend D Quad XL lacks the glamour of other flagship Android smartphones. In addition, as the Ascend D Quad XL is basically an Ascend D Quad with a bigger 2500 mAh battery (vs 1800 mAh on the standard version), it is also probably the thickest competitor of the Galaxy S3, measuring 10.9 mm in thickness. HardwareWhen Huawei ushered in the Ascend D Quad XL as the fastest smartphone in the world, many laughed ironically: how could a Huawei-produced 1.5GHz quad-core Cortex A9-based processor possibly stack up against top-end offerings from Qualcomm, Nvidia, and Samsung? Even more ironically, benchmark results leaked back in March (that's before the HTC One X / HTC One S release date) showed that the Ascend D Quad XL was indeed the fastest smartphone in the world at that point. We're still waiting for more benchmark results to see how the Ascend D Quad XL stacks up against recently launched flagships such as the HTC One X / One XL or the Galaxy S3, but it's safe to say that Huawei's flagship smartphone is no slouch. It’s also safe to assume that Huawei will not launch an LTE-compatible Ascend D Quad XL version. DisplayThe Huawei Ascend D Quad XL features a 4.5 inch IPS+ LCD capacitive touchscreen running at a native resolution of 1280 by 720 pixels, combining to deliver a 326ppi pixel density. While some might prefer SAMOLED displays over IPS LCDs, the latter is a more broadly available technology, that found its way into a number of flagship smartphones of 2012, as you'll be able to tell for yourself by the end of this article. OS & UIThe Ascend D Quad XL will run Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, with that vanilla-flavored UI that many Android purists cherish on top of it. Although the Huawei Ascend D Quad XL does not feature many unique software tweaks, there are many who hate all manufacturer UIs and would definitely love to have the standard Android user interface instead. HTC One X
The International version of HTC One X holds the very respectable title of first quad-core smartphone to reach the consumer market. As the flagship of HTC's new series of One smartphones, the One X represents the best pre-emptive answer to the Samsung Galaxy S3 that the Taiwanese producer was able to conceive. The HTC One X (international version) was released almost two full months ago and is available for $555 unlocked at Amazon. The online media loves the HTC One X, and many consider it to be the best Android smartphone currently available. But is it better than the Samsung Galaxy S3? DesignThe HTC One X is widely considered to be the best looking smartphone ever thanks to its sleek, slim design and polycarbonate plastic build material. Slightly thicker than the Galaxy S3 (8.9 mm), but with a far more compact design than the latter, the HTC One X seems to win this round with ease. HardwareThe HTC One X is based on the Nvidia Tegra 3 SoC, consisting out of a 1.5GHz quad-core A9 processor and an improved Geforce ULP (Ultra Low Power) GPU. The HTC One X features 1GB of RAM, the standard fare these days for a flagship smartphone, but HTC opted to go for DDR 2 technology, as opposed to almost all other manufacturers, who still use the first generation of DDR RAM memory modules. Benchmarks show that the HTC One X is not as fast as the Samsung Galaxy S3, but I'm sure that not even the biggest Samsung fan will claim that the S3 is in the lead by much. AT&T’s LTE-enabled variant of the HTC One X swaps the Tegra 3 SoC with a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4, a chip that offers roughly the same performance, as shown by the following benchmark results.
DisplayThe Super IPS LCD2 display on the HTC One X measures 4.7 inches and runs at a 1280 by 720 pixel resolution (using a true-RGB matrix), meaning the pixel density rests at 312ppi. There are some that claim its sunlight legibility and reliable color reproduction make the display on the HTC One X the best display currently on the market, but SAMOLED devotees know better. We’ll let you be the judge of that, since picking a side is mostly a matter of preferences. OS and UIThe HTC One X also runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, but overlaid with HTC Sense 4.0 on top. HTC Sense 4.0 and Samsung Touchwiz 4 offer pretty much the same functionality, but the S3 still wins this round thanks to its unique smart functions. LG Optimus 4X HD
Interestingly enough, the LG Optimus 4X HD was the first smartphone ever announced to feature a quad-core processor. Although both HTC and Samsung have beaten LG to the chase, the Optimus 4X HD still holds a few strong points when compared against the other Android flagships. Pricing details are currently unavailable, but they should be uncovered soon, as we get closer to its June release date in a number of European markets. DesignCharacterized by a strong, rectangular profile, the LG Optimus 4X design just screams quality, although some may complain that the Optimus 4X looks a little bit like a boring slab. Although the exact dimensions were not yet released by LG, we know for sure that the LG Optimus 4X will be just as thick as the HTC One X, measuring 8.9 mm. HardwareAs the Optimus 4X will use the same Nvidia Tegra 3 SoC as the HTC One X (international version), it's safe to assume that the Optimus 4X will also be similar to the One X when it comes to raw performance. Sure, a slight difference will exist as each manufacturer tries to come up with the best implementation, but I'm sure benchmarks will soon prove that there isn't much difference between the Optimus 4X and the HTC One X when it comes to raw performance. DisplayThe LG Optimus 4X True HD features a HD-IPS LCD display running at a 1280 by 720 pixel density. LG's "True HD" marketing scheme is based entirely on the fact that the Galaxy S3 features a PenTile pixel arrangement instead of a regular RGB matrix. As LG is Samsung's biggest competitor in the display market, we expect that the display on the Optimus 4X will be nothing but top-class, especially given the fact that LG is basing its whole marketing strategy around the display of the 4X. OS and UIThe LG Optimus 4X HD, just like all other smartphones on this list, will run Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box, but with LG's new UI (designed to compete directly with HTC's Sense 4.0 and Samsung's new TouchWiz UI) slapped on top. Nothing really interesting to see here, moving on! Fujitsu Arrows Z ISW13F
Fujitsu is not a company that usually pops up when thinking of the top Android smartphone manufacturers. But the truth is the waterproof and dustproof Arrows Z ISW13F is a Tegra 3 smartphone with specs just good enough to be considered a decent contender to the Samsung Galaxy S3 (or any other Android flagship for that matter). Pricing details are currently unavailable, as Fujitsu has yet to decide if they are going to make the Arrows Z ISW13F available outside Japan. DesignThanks to its unique design, the Fujitsu Arrows Z ISW13F is both dustproof and waterproof (which means it can be submersed one meter in water and it will still work, as opposed to splashproof, which means that your smartphone is protected only against a few occasional drops of water). Unfortunately, despite this unique feature, the overall glossy body design was still perceived as "not so tightly built" as other top-end smartphones, in a hands-on article published by The Verge a couple of weeks ago. DisplayThe Arrows Z ISW13F will feature a 4.6 inch LCD display running that all too familiar resolution: 1280 by 720 pixels. HardwareAs with the LG Optimus 4X HD, benchmark results are currently unavailable, although I personally can't see a reason for the Tegra 3 SoC not to perform as expected. On the "extra" side, you get a few interesting hardware bonuses such as a built-in FM transmitter, a fingerprint scanner, a thermometer, and a humidity sensor. Not bad for a waterproof, dustproof smartphone, eh? OS and UILike all the other smartphones on this list, the Fujitsu Arrows Z ISW13F will run Android 4.0 ICS. It is unknown if Fujitsu is planning to go for a proprietary Android UI or if it will settle for the standard ICS user interface. Special mention: LG LS970 Eclipse 4G LTE
Ok, so this one is still a rumor at this point, but, if the LG Eclipse 4G LTE rumored specs turn out to be real, this might be the first smartphone to run circles around the Samsung Galaxy S3. As the LG Eclipse 4G LTE was not yet officially announced, there is no certain information regarding its availability or pricing, but the online rumor mill claims that the LG Eclipse 4G LTE might be released sometime during Q4 at Sprint. There is little we can tell you about the design and the UI, as the only picture that surfaced online is of the back of the smartphone, but we do know that the Eclipse 4G is rumored to be 8.9 mm thin. According to BriefMobile, the LG LS970 will be the first smartphone to feature a quad-core A15-type Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Krait processor, one clocked at 1.5GHz and paired with an impressive 2GB of RAM. The new Adreno 320 GPU is also rumored to make its way into LG's upcoming Android flagship, as will a 13 megapixel camera and a 2100mAh battery. The weird resolution of the 4.67 inch LCD display – 1280 by 768 – might mean that the LG Eclipse 4G LTE will replace capacitive menu buttons with on-screen buttons integrated into the OS, as did the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. However promising this rumor may be, we should also bear in mind that, usually, what seems too good to be true is actually too good to be true. In addition, even if LG Eclipse turns out to feature these amazing specs, we should also take into consideration that other manufacturers might be planning similar specs on their future flagship smartphones. By the time this Eclipse hits the market, it might be …eclipsed by competing products, like it happened with the Optimus 4X HD. ConclusionAlthough there are several smartphones that can pose a threat to the Samsung Galaxy S3, it feels like Samsung has managed to come up with a unique product, an Android smartphone like no other on the market. I'm not saying that the S3 is flat-out the best smartphone there is. But I'm a firm believer that the S3 does a wonderful job of standing out in an ocean of all-too-similar Android smartphones. What are your takes on this? Is the S3 unbeatable? If not, let us know which smartphone you think will be the best contender for the Galaxy S3 by dropping us a line in the comment section below! This article, The Galaxy S3 is upon us – which Android smartphones can stand up to it? , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| SDG Systems unveils “bulletproof” Android-based Rampage 6 phablet Posted: 28 May 2012 11:29 AM PDT
There are those who look for the best possible performance from their smartphone or tablet. There are those who want the most elegant, the thinnest and lightest gadgets. Devices with high-res screens have themselves their share of fans, no matter if they come with the best hardware or not. Finally, there are (a couple of) people who couldn't care less about performance, portability or display clarity, but put a very big price on sturdiness and ruggedness. If you're one of those few people, you should be overjoyed to hear that SDG Systems has unveiled the Rampage 6 "Notepad", a gadget that truly looks unbreakable. While it isn't exactly bulletproof, the Rampage 6 is certified by the IP67 ingress protection rating for water and dust and it also looks like it could take a hit or two, even from sharp or hard objects. Set to be made available in the "third quarter of 2012", the handheld computer will be showcased for the first time at the Esri International User Conference in San Diego, scheduled to take place between July 23 and 27. We don't have any details about the gadget's weight and dimensions, but ironically this does not appear to be a device meant to be portable. As far as performance goes, you shouldn’t judge the device by high-tech standards and expect it to run decently, at best, in terms of browsing or multimedia playback.
There's a single-core 806 MHz processor under the hood of this "monster", while the 256 MB of RAM and the 4 GB of Flash memory would have made for a decently equipped Android device from a couple of years back. Speaking of Android, you should know that the Rampage 6 will run a "forked" version of 2.3 Gingerbread, but we don't know exactly what kind of customizations we will be looking at. Other features include a full SD card slot, USB host and client ports, a headphone jack, as well as Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity. The Rampage 6 (which, for some reason, is also known as the Mesa Rugged Notepad) will be made available in three different configurations, with a "Geo" version coming with GPS and a 3.2 MP camera on top of the features mentioned above. A "Geo 3G" model has also been made to put 3G connectivity to the mix. As far as pricing goes, we have nothing official to report for the time being, but if you're interested in this ruggedized gadget, you should be prepared to spend your "allowance" for a long period of time. I don't know if anyone remembers, but SDG Systems launched a similar product about three years ago, called the Trimble Nomad and it MSRP hovered around $1250. Well, if you want to get to the Rampage 6's probable price, you should take that number and safely add several hundred bucks, as the Nomad was a clearly more modest gadget, with Android 1.5 Cupcake and a 3.5-inch VGA display. Is there anyone out there willing to pay that kind of money to get their hands on this supposed indestructible gadget? Is the Rampage 6 taking ruggedness and sturdiness to a whole new level? Tell us what you think in the comments section below. This article, SDG Systems unveils “bulletproof” Android-based Rampage 6 phablet , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Apple insider: Steve Jobs would have gone ‘mad’ over Siri’s performance Posted: 28 May 2012 11:19 AM PDT
Poor unloved Siri. The voice assistant software with "an attitude" may have helped Apple garner a lot of attention during the iPhone 4S' launch and made it the talk of the nation, but it's now suffering some internal backlash. The problem is apparently more serious than reports that surfaced a month ago that said the late Steve Jobs wasn't a fan of the name – something that took many efforts of convincing from Siri's then CEO – until Jobs reluctantly accepted it. Now some reports are coming out saying that the performance of Siri would've sent Jobs over the edge. With Siri not living up to expectations, this is apparently how said Apple insider justifies the belief of how the late Apple CEO "would have lost his mind" over Siri's inadequate performance. What's even worse, the former employee also said that those who currently work in Apple are all "embarrassed" by the performance of the voice recognition software. My thoughts: “That’s quite a sweeping generalization to make.” Given that Siri is currently still in beta, it's to be expected that it would hiccup every now and then when doing its job. The latest bump in the road was when Siri named Nokia's Lumia 900 as ‘the best phone ever’, a mishap that was quickly rectified by Apple. The voice assistant also had a bumpy ride in the first few months of its life, which include several lawsuits for false advertisement and stage fright in other countries. Despite the put down, like Apple's many products, Siri is still considered as the one to beat. Is this a case of perception winning over reality? Whatever the reason, Siri seems to have set a new benchmark for voice recognition feature that other manufacturers and companies are trying to replicate and improve upon. I say let's give Siri a break. The feature probably is not even used that often by iPhone users, once the few first days of excitement die down. We are, however, still excited about what Google is planning to bring to the voice recognition software table, which is expected to come later in the year. What say you, readers? Does Siri deserve its contempt or has it been outdone by Android counterparts already? Is the hoopla just another ploy by Apple to get free publicity? Shout back below! This article, Apple insider: Steve Jobs would have gone ‘mad’ over Siri's performance , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Unsigned S Voice app works once more on non-Samsung devices Posted: 28 May 2012 11:09 AM PDT
Even though the official launch of Samsung Galaxy S3 is but a day away, those in the know have gotten to know the phone's software quite well thanks to a certain leaked ROM, which has seen many — if not all — of its features becoming available to use on other phones. Ever since the devs at XDA shared the APK file for S Voice, we've seen Samsung trying to block the use of the app on non-Samsung Galaxy S3 devices, only for the devs to outsmart the Korean company. The first attempt to restrict the unauthorized use of S Voice was easily thwarted by having the app signed. Now reports suggest that even the unsigned APK file of S Voice is working once more on non-Samsung devices. The Verge, for example, said they can use S Voice on a Sharp Aquos phone. We're not sure if this is a case of Samsung letting its guard down for the short term. At the same time, the signed S Voice app continues to be desired by those who want to see what the fuss is all about. Though it runs well on non-Galaxy S3 devices, it's still far from perfect. One of the things that don't seem to work is the ability to set an alarm and the app suffers from a crash every now and then. Those who have the unsigned S Voice, mind letting us know if the app still works on your phones? As for those who have tried out S Voice, do you see yourself giving orders to your phone – via S Voice – for the long term? This article, Unsigned S Voice app works once more on non-Samsung devices , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| LG E970 smartphone leaked, phone AT&T’s take on the LS970 Eclipse Posted: 28 May 2012 11:00 AM PDT
We've told you all about the LS970, codenamed "Eclipse", and about its 2 GB of RAM and removable battery, but it seems that LG won't only release its flagship on Sprint, but also on AT&T. The E970 has just been leaked and, while we can't know much about it for sure, we're almost certain it will be AT&T's version of the "Eclipse". This benchmark picked up by the guys at Unwired View confirms the E970 as coming with a 1.5 GHz processor, Adreno 320 graphics, a 1280 x 768 pixels resolution display and Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich. Those are all common points with the LS970, but we have to mention that we're unsure about the chipset's model.
While we know it will be clocked at 1.5 GHz, it's difficult to say whether the E970 will come packing the dual-core S4 MSM8960 "Krait" chipset powering many high-end devices these days, or the quad-core APQ8064 proc rumored to be featured on the LS970. We surely hope that we're going to see this come with the quad-core Qualcomm chipset, but then again, the S4 processor is also very snappy and, in many ways, is probably the snappiest around. As for the phone's other features and tech specs, we don't know a thing, but it's very likely that it will copycat the LS970 in (pretty much) all areas. That means that we could see AT&T's future big guy come with a 13 MP rear-facing camera, a 1.3 MP front-facing webcam, 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of on-board memory, 4G LTE support, NFC capabilities, and a 2,100 mAh removable battery. No words on pricing and availability just yet, but we should expect both the LS970 and the E970 to be released sometime in Q4 replete with hefty price tags. Then again, I see myself paying big bucks for such oomph, so bring it on, LG! How about you guys? Are you as excited as we are about LG's future flagship(s)? Would you consider ditching Samsung or HTC for the LS970 or E970 if they were to come with the rumored spec sheets? Let us know down below! This article, LG E970 smartphone leaked, phone AT&T’s take on the LS970 Eclipse , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Huawei to unveil the Emotion UI on June 9 Posted: 28 May 2012 10:04 AM PDT
This is why I'm reporting with a degree of sadness that Huawei have recently announced the upcoming unveiling of their first proprietary Android User Interface, called the Emotion UI. Although not mentioned specifically, it's highly unlikely that the Emotion UI will work on any other version than Ice Cream Sandwich. Obviously enough, Huawei's announcement is quick to praise the new skin as emotional, simple and smart. They wouldn't say it's awful now would they? On June 9, when the official unveiling will take place, we'll be able to tell for sure if Huawei's decision to come up with a direct competitor for HTC's Sense UI and Samsung's TouchWiz will actually make for better devices, or if it's all just a marketing move that bears no regard for us, the end users.
At the moment, there is no way of knowing if the Huawei Emotion UI will come as an upgrade for already shipped Android 4.0 Huawei smartphones or not. You can be assured that their flagship Android smartphones of 2012, the quad-core Ascend D Quad and Ascend D Quad XL will not be released without it. In fact, there are even some that suggest that the Huawei Ascend D Quad was delayed until July so that it will ship with the Emotion UI out of the box, but I’d advise for the proverbial grain of salt regarding this matter. We'll get back to you on June 9 with our first impressions of the Huawei Emotion UI. Until then, I'm keeping my fingers crossed while hoping Huawei were not kidding about the "simple"part of their Emotion UI. Keeping everything simple will get Huawei a long way towards becoming a true competitor for other Android smartphone manufacturers such as Samsung, HTC and LG. What is your take on this? Are you the kind of Android smartphone user that favors a particular custom UI? Let us know what you think in the comment section below! This article, Huawei to unveil the Emotion UI on June 9 , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Samsung Galaxy S III might come to the US on June 20 Posted: 28 May 2012 09:24 AM PDT
As a disclaimer, this is neither confirmed nor denied by both T-Mobile and Samsung. But of course, you all know that it’s bound to happen soon since the Samsung Galaxy S III is scheduled to be released in Europe next week. TmoNews, notorious for covering anything related T-Mobile revealed the said release date. In fact, the site also reported that together with the Samsung Galaxy S III, T-Mobile is also dishing out the Galaxy Note, and the T-Mobile MyTouch, otherwise known as the Huawei Phoenix and Huawei Buddy smartphones.
Also, as you all know by now, there are going to be two models of the Samsung Galaxy S III – metallic blue and Ceramic White. We are sorry to tell you, however, that only the Metallic Blue variant will be available from T-Mobile on June 20. The Ceramic White will not be available until July 11, together with the Galaxy Note and T-Mobile myTouch. Good thing both 16GB and 3GB Samsung Galaxy S III Metallic Blue versions will be available on June 20. But for the Ceramic White variant, only the 16GB model will be released. The news almost got us excited here at Android Authority but there’s still one tiny and yet very important detail about the Samsung Galaxy S III – its price. But who cares anyway? Most, if not all, of you who are eyeing this handset are willing to pay any amount that T-Mobile will be selling the phone for, right? So, that’s it. Now it’s the time to switch on to holiday mode for readers in the US. Drop us your feedback below on this exciting news and tell us what you think of the ongoing developments! This article, Samsung Galaxy S III might come to the US on June 20 , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Sprint gives free gel case, no new launch date yet of HTC Evo 4G LTE Posted: 28 May 2012 09:06 AM PDT
Who says that nothing good ever comes out of a tragedy? Calling it one might be an exaggeration, but that's probably how Sprint's customers felt when they found the launch of the HTC Evo 4G LTE had been pushed back. Now that the debacle is almost behind us, in order to win back the hearts of many disappointed customers over the shipment delay of the HTC Evo 4G LTE, Sprint decided to ship an extra box to those who pre-ordered the phone and have been waiting for it to arrive at their doorsteps since May 18. Inside the extra box is a gel cover for the HTC Evo 4G LTE. There's also a note that says "HTC and Sprint want to thank you for your patience as we know you have been anticipating the arrival of your new HTC Evo 4G LTE. Please accept this accessory as a small token of our appreciation and thanks.”  The Verge The nice gesture will be appreciated by those who have pre-ordered the HTC Evo 4G LTE online, but those who pre-ordered it through Sprint stores apparently haven't received confirmation of when they will get the phone, let alone the free gel case. It seems whatever stocks Sprint has of the Evo 4G LTE are reserved for those who pre-ordered the phone online and from Best Buy. We've read numerous reports about people being able to pick up their pre-ordered HTC Evo 4G LTE in Best Buy stores. Now comes the bad news. Sprint hasn't provided any details of when the HTC Evo 4G LTE will be officially launched for the second time around. And with the long weekend coming, we guess we'd only be hearing more news next week. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy your brand new phone and the complimentary gel case. What do you think of Sprint’s decision to appease would-be owners of this device? Is it blatant brown-nosing? Is it just good business strategy? Drop us a comment below! No related posts. This article, Sprint gives free gel case, no new launch date yet of HTC Evo 4G LTE , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Motorola Droid Bionic now free from Verizon Posted: 28 May 2012 08:41 AM PDT
Verizon's first 4G LTE device to come with a dual-core processor, the Droid Bionic, hasn't exactly been the most successful Android smartphone of the past year. Released in September 2011, Motorola's 4.3-incher has suffered from serious software glitches and, most importantly, only came a month earlier than the Droid RAZR, which is a significantly better piece of technology than the Bionic in almost every single way. However, Big Red and Moto know how to make an uncool device wanted again, so, in a very unsurprising move, the Bionic's price has just been slashed. You can now get the Droid Bionic for free from Verizon's online store with the standard two-year carrier agreement. The phone is available off-contract too, but the $499.99 price tag will probably drive you away from it instantly. The Bionic is powered by a 1 GHz dual-core processor and features a 4.3-inch qHD display with a 960 x 540 pixels resolution, 1 GB of RAM, 16 GB of on-board memory, an 8 MP rear-facing shooter, a 1,735 mAh battery and the running of Android 2.3 Gingerbread. There is also support for a bunch of optional accessories that make the Bionic "special", including the LapDock chassis, which allows you to turn the phone into a mini-laptop. The accessories are, of course, optional and are not included in the promotion. Will you be taking advantage of Verizon and Motorola's new promotion while it lasts? This article, Motorola Droid Bionic now free from Verizon , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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I know that most of you can't even conceive seeing an Android smartphone better equipped and better looking than HTC's One X and Samsung's Galaxy S3 anytime soon, but the fact of the matter is that LG is planning to make a strong push towards the high-end market niche and their future flagship looks breathtaking in theory.
For all the loyal readers of Android Authority in the U.S. who are off to a holiday weekend, here’s something to bother all of you as you take your break. This goes out to those of you who are eagerly awaiting the release of Samsung Galaxy S III. Unofficial sources say that the said device is possibly coming to the U.S. on June 20 by way of T-mobile.
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