Thursday, May 10, 2012

Android Central

Android Central


Are you ready to talk about the HTC EVO 4G LTE?

Posted: 09 May 2012 04:13 PM PDT

EVO 4G LTE

Yes, that's exactly what you think it is -- the HTC EVO 4G LTE -- and it's in Phil's hands. 4.7-inches of EVOlisious goodness is in the house and it's time to put this monster through the paces like only we can. We know you all have questions, and we'll have answers. Jump in the discussion and let's talk about it, shall we?

 I've got the EVO - ask me anything!



PayAnywhere aims to make accepting payments on the go a breeze

Posted: 09 May 2012 02:48 PM PDT

PayAnywhere

The ability to accept and process payments while on the go is not a new concept, but it is also one that is far from perfected. We have seen tons of options, ranging from things like Square to PayPal's attempt, and all of them seem to fall short in on way or another. PayAnywhere is a mobile payment processing company that has taken the shortcomings of other applications, built upon them, and come in with the lowest processing fees, making the service a rather attractive one.

When looking at other available options, one thing that sticks out immensely is the lack of quality behind the receipts and offerings that they provide, limiting the client base that is likely to want to use their service. Odds are if you are running a larger business, you want a receipt that shows a breakdown of the products, shows your business name, and doesn't look like your child designed it. PayAnywhere offers just that and more.

Within the application you can set up company information to print on the receipt, and set up an inventory of items that can be quickly added during your sale. If the item isn't listed in your inventory, no problem, simply add it at that time and you are good to go. In the options of the application you are able to set up discounts, toggle taxes based on location, and much much more. Beyond all of this, the application that powers the reader is a cross platform application which is available on Android, iOS and BlackBerry, which means nearly any employee you have would be able to pick it up and use it without any issues. The reader is free through PayAnywhere, so if you happen to be in the market for something new to accept your payments, this is definitely a worth while service to give some serious thought to. Hit the break with us to check it out in action, and get a deeper look and feel for it.

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Samsung Electronics acquires cloud content service provider mSpot

Posted: 09 May 2012 01:58 PM PDT

Samsung

It's not all that often we hear of Samsung acquiring other companies that's exactly what they've done with cloud content service provider mSpot. As noted in the press release, Samsung will be making use of mSpot's cloud services to bring such content as music, video and radio services to Samsung devices:

“mSpot shares our vision to bring a best-in class cloud and streaming entertainment experience to consumers, and they’ve backed it up with great technical solutions from a great engineering team,” said TJ Kang, Senior Vice President of Samsung Electronics’ Media Solution Center.

For now it seems as though Samsung bought into the company as a whole meaning, they now own the technology, assets and human resources that mSpot holds. Financial details of the matter have not as of yet been disclosed. You can read the full press release from Samsung Electronics below.
 

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Hands-on with ZTE's line of Android 4.0 tablets

Posted: 09 May 2012 01:44 PM PDT

ZTE PF100

In addition to its flagship line of smartphones, ZTE had its Ice Cream Sandwich tablets on hand here in New Orleans, some of which were making their American debut. As I said about the smartphones, it certainly appears that ZTE is trying to crack into the top tier of Android devices; if it will succeed remains to be seen.

The ZTE tablet line is driven by the PF100, a beauty we first met back in Barcelona. It’s got a beautiful 10.1-inch WXGA display with TFT technology, along with Tegra 3 and a gig of DDR2 RAM under the hood. The processor is clocked at 1.5 GHz and make no mistake about it- the PF100 offers a buttery smooth, mainly stock Ice Cream Sandwich experience. The PF100 is also packing a 5MP rear camera, a 2MP front shooter, Dolby sound, and HSPA+ radios.

Just underneath the PF100 is the V96, though “beneath” may be a matter of opinion. Screen and most specs go hit-for-hit with the PF100, including the stock ICS experience; the big difference here is the processor and radios. The V96 is packing a 1.7 Ghz dual-core processor instead of Tegra 3 (no word on model), and it ships with LTE-compatible radios. A pretty fair trade off, we’d say.

At the lower end of the spectrum is the K75, which may or may not seem like a big step down compared to its big brothers. If you prefer a 7-inch footprint, the K75 is the flavor for you. It’s wi-fi only, with a lower-res screen of 1024 x 600 pixels. It’s got Ice Cream Sandwich onboard, but this one’s modded quite heavily. Under the hood, ZTE remains tight-lipped on the processor, which is more than likely on the lower end of the spectrum.

All in all, not much news tablet-wise out of CTIA this year, though it’s refreshing to see smaller manufacturers like ZTE are edging their way into the market. Some photos of what ZTE has been up to follow the break.

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HTC One S Otterbox Commuter hands-on

Posted: 09 May 2012 01:41 PM PDT

HTC One S Otterbox Commuter.

We just got a look at the Otterbox Commuter case for the HTC One X, but we didn't want you One S owners to feel left out, because sitting right next to it was the commuter series case for the One S. Much like the One X, the One S features those wonderful curves and no one wants to ruin that by adding some ugly or bulky case, even if they are adding protection. In the past Otterbox cases have been kind of bland in design, and very industrial looking, but it appears as though that is gone.

Following the curves of the device the Commuter series case offers great protection for users who wish to keep their device safe and sound, but does it in a very stylish way. The overall style and flow matches that of the device, which is a key factor because many people are enticed by the design and feel of the HTC One Series. Hit the break to check out some more images, and be sure to stay tuned for a full review.

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Google+ app gets updated, it's beautiful - and iOS only for now

Posted: 09 May 2012 01:21 PM PDT

iOS Google+

Google is showing off the new sexy with the Google+ app update, but unfortunately only iOS users get to see it for now. Things like full bleed pictures, crisper sharp fonts, larger profile pics and a revamped home screen are on board, and from the looks of the screen shots it's absolutely freaking gorgeous. But again, it's only for iOS right now. 

Before we start writing those on-line petitions, Vic Gundrota, Google senior VP, has already said the Android version is coming soon, with "a few extra surprises". That does little to soften the blow, though. To be fair, the iOS version really sucked and was in dire need of an update. Google loves to make money from folks with an iPhone (and they make mountains of it from them) so it's good business to offer something for the iFolks. I'll patiently wait for the Android version, and wonder what the extra surprises might be. Speculate away in the comments.

Source: Google; via +Vic Gundotra



Hands-on with ZTE's flagship Android 4.0 smartphones

Posted: 09 May 2012 12:54 PM PDT

Android Central

Chinese manufacturer ZTE made a nice impression in New Orleans this year, bringing with them a host of high-end smartphones and tablets proving that they’re playing in the Android market for keeps. ZTE introduced these devices in Barcelona at Mobile World Congress, but this marks the first American appearances of its high-end PF112, seen above.

And high-end is an understatement indeed. The PF112 is packing a gorgeous 4.5-inch display with 1028 x 720 resolution that adds up to a vivid, colorful experience. We’ve got a nice 8MP camera around back, and HSPA+ radios under the hood. ZTE still won’t dish on what processor it’s using, but based on how fluid Ice Cream Sandwich looked on the device, and the specs of its lower-end Era, we’d be willing to bet it’s a quad-core model.

One step down from the PF112 is the Era, that is second-in-command in ZTE’s flagship line. It’s packing a quad-core AP30 in-house processor, as well as the same 8 MP camera and HSPA+ radios as its older sibling. Where ZTE skimped a bit here is the display: at 4.3-inches, the Era is packing qHD resolution with TFT technology. Like the PF112, the Era is running Ice Cream Sandwich with little if any customization from ZTE.

As you’ll see in the photos and videos after the break, ZTE definitely put some thought into its Android offferings. Spec-for-spec, the flagship devices match some of the best phones on the market today. We don’t know if that’s enough for ZTE to make a splash here in the United States, though, especially considering the lack of LTE on its flagship line. We’ll keep our eyes and ears peeled for a release date, and we’ll be sure to pass along the information as it comes in.

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AT&T and Samsung kill off plans to release the Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket HD

Posted: 09 May 2012 12:36 PM PDT

Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket HD

If you've been holding out for AT&T to release the Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket HD you can now give up the dream and move onto the Samsung Galaxy S III. As confirmed by Samsung's Ryan Bidan, the Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket HD has been put to rest on AT&T due to the fact that it just doesn't make sense to release the device now that the Samsung Galaxy S III is out there.

Although Bidan stopped short of confirming that AT&T would see a release of the Samsung Galaxy S III, at this point it's pretty much assumed or in Bidan's words it'll be coming to "the fastest HSPA+ and LTE networks" in the country. That doesn't leave a whole lot of options and surely, AT&T will want to fill that gap.

Source: The Verge



Future of CyanogenMod 7 detailed, new device support on the way

Posted: 09 May 2012 11:51 AM PDT

Android Central

While much of the custom ROM community is focused on getting the latest and greatest Ice Cream Sandwich-based goodies onto their devices, the CyanogenMod team continues work on the Gingerbread-based CM7. The current iteration, CyanogenMod 7.2, is being developed alongside the upcoming CyanogenMod 9, and a final release is coming "soon" according to the latest status update.

There's also good news for owners of devices that won't make it up to CM9 -- development on version 7 will continue beyond 7.2, so hopefully no-one should be left in the lurch. Finally, the CM team announced that five new devices have been added to the nightly list for CM7.2 -- the HTC Status (aka ChaCha), HTC Wildfire S, LG Optimus ChicMotorola Photon and Samsung Galaxy 5.

There're more details to be found in the full CM status update, over at the source link.

Source: CyanogenMod



HTC One X Otterbox Commuter Hands-on

Posted: 09 May 2012 11:38 AM PDT

Otterbox HTC One X

While walking around visiting some of my favorite booths down here at CTIA I came across the Otterbox booth and decided to check and see if they happened to have anything new on display. Of course, front and center of the display was their new Commuter Series case for the HTC One X! Odds are that you have already seen an Otterbox case or a hundred before, so you know what they are all about, and this follows the same design principle. This two piece case has a silicon case underneath their hard shell, and the one I saw was in a rather stunning blue.

At first I was a bit fearful of the thought of adding a case to the device because it has such beautiful lines as it is, and I know folks who own the device wouldn't want to give that up. Otterbox has done an excellent job with this case in recreating the lines of the device through the case, and adding a lot of protection with little sacrifice. Hit the break with us to check out a couple more shots, and stay tuned for a full review!

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Huawei Ascend P1 hands-on

Posted: 09 May 2012 11:37 AM PDT

Huawei Ascend P1

Next up in Huawei’s Ascend line is the P1, the “platinum” model that we first met back at CES in Las Vegas. Like the D Quad, it was worth another look here in New Orleans, as Huawei added its custom-flavored skin to the device.

I was impressed by the P1 back in Vegas and I stand my ground today. With a 1.5 Ghz dual-core OMAP 4460 processor, a gig of RAM, and Android 4.0 under the hood, this thing flies. Huawei seems to have really optimized its own software as well as Ice Cream Sandwich to run like butter on the P1. The 4.3-inch qHD Super AMOLED display isn’t full HD, but it’s bright, vibrant, and offers amazing viewing angles.

Sure, it isn’t the “diamond” of the line, but the P1 isn’t anything to balk at. It’s beautifully thin and light, and I really like the design that Huawei has created. It looks unlike any other phone on the market, which gives Huawei leverage to really market the entire Ascend line.

The P1 will be hitting Europe and Asia this summer. Like the D Quad, Huawei only had the HSPA+ model on hand, a variant that is having a hard time breaking into the US market. The device is available with LTE radios, which will hopefully better position it to land on American shores. Visit the gallery and my hands-on after the break.

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Google Maps updated with indoor directions, Google offers, business photos

Posted: 09 May 2012 11:07 AM PDT

Google Maps

There's an update to Google Maps available today that brings the app to version 6.7 and adds a couple new features. Google offers has been integrated, letting users see nearby deals and sales based on location, indoor directions provides walking directions (US and Japan only) for places big enough to need such a thing, and business photos offer a 360-degree panoramic view of the inside of participating businesses. 

There's a short video after the break showing off the new tools, and the download link is there to make for easy updating. 

Source: Google

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Huawei Ascend D Quad hands-on

Posted: 09 May 2012 11:01 AM PDT

Ascend D Quad

Huawei had a sizeable presence at CTIA this year, much like it did back at CES and Mobile World Congress earlier this year. The Chinese company looks poised to enter the high-end smartphone market, marking a shift from the mid to low-range devices it has made a name for itself with. Huawei hopes to achieve its goal with the Ascend line, a group of phones that have the guts to stand up to the likes of Samsung, Motorola, and HTC. At the top of the heap sits the Ascend D Quad (the D, Huawei says, stands for Diamond), the gem of the line.

We first saw the D Quad in Barcelona, but things have changed a bit. In the past few months, Huawei seems to have added a custom skin to its Ascend line, a departure from the nearly-vanilla Ice Cream Sandwich experience we first saw. We won’t complain though: things don’t seem to have slowed down, and the skin is certainly not painful to look at.

Other than that, the phone remains largely unchanged. It’s still got a beautiful 4.5-inch 720p display with PPI approaching 330, a Huawei-made K3V2 processor clocked at 1.2 GHz, and a “best-in-class” 8MP camera. Everything adds up to a beautiful experience: the D Quad is thin, light, and really gorgeous. It might not have the name recognition of the One or Galaxy S lines, but I assure you, this is not a device to disregard.

The D line comes with a few variations: opt for the D1 and you’ll get a processor clocked at 1.5 GHz; opt for a Quad XL, and you’ll get a 2,500 mAh battery, up from the standard 1,800 variant. The model you’re looking at here is the standard D Quad.

The release date for the D Quad is a bit fuzzy: the model in my hands is HSPA+ only, though Huawei would like to launch the LTE-equipped version sometime this summer, though no US carriers have bit just yet. We’ll keep our fingers crossed that they do, though, as we feel that Huawei is in it to win it. Hit the break for another look.

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Grand Opening for ShopAndroid Canada!

Posted: 09 May 2012 11:01 AM PDT

ShopAndroid Canada

We are happy to announce that ShopAndroid Canada has just opened its doors. This means inexpensive shipping but more importantly no duties, no bond fees, no customs brokerage fees, and no customs delays for our Canadian customers! Just like in the US we offer excellent customer service, toll-free support and rock solid 60-day returns.
   
To kick things off we are running a 15% off sale until midnight PST Sunday 5/13/12. Use coupon "GrandOpening" during checkout. This coupon is also valid in the US store.

>> Visit ShopAndroid US
>> Visit ShopAndroid Canada



LG Optimus 3D MAX in white hands-on

Posted: 09 May 2012 10:27 AM PDT

Optimus 3D MAX

Rounding out our coverage of LG’s presence here in New Orleans this year is the Optimus 3D MAX, a phone we first met back at Mobile World Congress in February. Sure, we got our hands on the device back then, but we figured another spin wouldn’t kill us. This time around, the MAX came dressed in white, an outfit we prefer to the black we saw in Barcelona.

Like we’ve said before, if you aren’t sold on 3D technology by now, this isn’t the device to change your mind. Spec-wise, the MAX isn’t that much different than the OG Optimus 3D. You’ve got the same 4.3-inch WVGA display (this time around, though, you’ve got a coating of Gorilla Glass 2), the same dual-lense 5 MP camera, and the same old Gingerbread OS. The processor has been tweaked just a tad, upping the clock speed of that dual-core OMAP 4430 to 1.2 GHz. But the lack of bigger and better specs isn’t really a not a knock against the MAX, though; in fact, the device is perfectly capable smartphone that comes with some pretty cool features for those 3D fans.

One of those features is the built-in 3D converter, which is a new addition to the Optimus 3D line. With it, you can convert any old app to full 3D glory. Videos and pictures don’t do it justice, so this one you’ll have to check out for yourself.

Now I’m not a huge fan of 3D technology, but I have to give credit where credit is due. It’s nice to see that LG has committed itself to the technology, and I’m looking forward to seeing what it comes up with as the line evolves.

The MAX is available now in Europe, with hush-hush rumors pegging it for an AT&T release sometime this summer. Until then, enjoy some hands-on photos and video after the break. 

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HTC 'Golf' sighted in the flesh, rumored to resurrect 'Desire' branding

Posted: 09 May 2012 09:34 AM PDT

Android Central

We first saw the HTC "Golf" in a leaked press image last month, along with a rumored name and spec list. Purportedly, the device would go to market as the HTC Wildfire C, with a 3.5-inch HVGA screen, 4GB storage, a 5MP camera, ICS and HTC Sense 4. Today we have what seems to be the first photos of the phone in the flesh, along with news of a possible change in name.

According to ITProPortal, which has obtained a couple of real-world photos of the device, its eventual name will be the HTC Desire C, a decision which if true will see HTC resurrecting the Desire brand for this entry-level product. Besides that, the specs and design mostly match up with what we'd already heard, pointing to a solid budget contender, but nothing to excite serious smartphone nerds.

We'd expect to see the Golf, or Desire C, or whatever it's called in Europe and Asia later in the year, and perhaps on one or two regional carriers in the U.S, too.

Source: ITProPortal



HTC One X and One XL rooted

Posted: 09 May 2012 08:53 AM PDT

Android Central

The Snapdragon S4-based One X has been rooted, thanks to kennethpenn​ of XDA-developers.  This isn't a bootloader unlock, but it is full root, so apps like Titanium Backup will work just fine.  It's also been confirmed to work on the AT&T version (I'm enjoying root now yay!).  The developer has been nice enough to make a neat little one-click package that will do the work for you.  All the relevant files are installed automatically, and when it's done you have Super SU installed, too.  So no confusing ADB commands to follow on this one.  The usual warnings do apply, you're rooting at your own risk and anything that happens to your phone is your fault and no one elses.  Are you also enjoying root?  Let us know in the forums.

Source: XDA-Developers; More: HTC One X Forums



Contest Winners: ShopAndroid Daily winners and Cruzerlite Androidified cases for the Rezound!!

Posted: 09 May 2012 08:43 AM PDT

Android Central Contest Winners

If you're a registered member here at Android Central then you know our forums always have a contest happening. And if you're not registered, well -- now is as good a time as any. This week's winners are as posted after the break, and if you were chosen watch your email as we'll be following up during the week. Stay tuned for more upcoming contests folks. Congrats to the winners!

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ShopAndroid Daily Giveaway #68: Samsung Flip Case for Galaxy Note, Inscribe Stylus Pen & more

Posted: 09 May 2012 08:17 AM PDT

Today's ShopAndroid.com Daily Giveaway will feature the Samsung Flip Case for Galaxy Note, Incipio Inscribe Executive Stylus & Pen, Krusell Orbit Flex Multidapt Leather Case for Xperia X10, and the Bluelounge CableDrop Cable Management System.

Be sure and leave your comment below stating which featured accessory you'd like for your Android device, and we'll select one lucky winner at random and announce them next week!

Samsung Flip Case for Galaxy Note

The Samsung Flip Case replaces your Galaxy Note battery cover to provide additional protection for your screen against smudges, cracks and dirt. Simply remove the battery cover and clip on the hard plastic portion of the protective Flip Case in its place. The flip cover wraps around the side of the phone and the soft leather adds an extra layer of protection over your screen when in place.

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Smartphone cases, orange goo, a hammer and a blogger's good hand

Posted: 09 May 2012 07:52 AM PDT

Tech21

This is a smartphone case. A TPU smartphone case, to be exact. You've seen them before. We sell 'em at <insert shameless plug> ShopAndroid.com.

Tonight at CTIA in New Orleans, I spent a few minutes with Tech21, which makes cases like this out of orange goo.

What does that have to do with a rubber mallet, my knuckles and some old-school justice? Find out after the break.

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Deal of the Day: Body Glove Flex Snap-On Case for Motorola Droid RAZR MAXX

Posted: 09 May 2012 07:30 AM PDT

Deal of the Day The May 9 ShopAndroid.com Deal of the Day is the Body Glove Flex Snap-On Case for Motorola Droid RAZR MAXX. This case features a durable hard shell wrapped in a textured glove material that is easy to grip and protects your RAZR MAXX  from scratches. It allows for access to all controls along with the charging port, and also features a built-in kickstand.

The Body Glove Flex Snap-On Case is available for just $14.95 today only, 50% off the standard price. Grab yours while supplies last!



Ad banner suggests Rogers Galaxy S III could feature new Exynos chip and LTE

Posted: 09 May 2012 06:43 AM PDT

Android Central

Well then, what have we here? A Google ad for the Rogers Samsung Galaxy S III, which seems to indicate it'll carry Sammy's new Exynos 4 chip, in addition to 4G LTE connectivity? The screenshot above was sent our way by AC reader mhsobhani, who says it popped up while he was searching around for info on the Galaxy S III.  It's significant because we've been hearing over the past few weeks that the North American LTE version would ship with a Snapdragon S4 chip instead of Samsung's new Exynos 4 Quad, on account of radio issues.

Of course an ad banner is hardly conclusive, but if this turns out to be accurate, it could be good news for a possible AT&T Galaxy S III, as Rogers operates on the same HSPA and LTE bands as that network. Though it's worth clarifying that even if this does turn out to be the case, it's still possible that other U.S. Galaxy S III's could end up with the S4, particularly if they operate on CDMA and LTE.

In any case, the exact details of the North American Galaxy S III models remain uncertain, and much of this is still speculative. We'll keep you posted if any further details come our way.

Thanks, mhsobhani!



Sprint EVO 4G LTE available May 18 for $199

Posted: 09 May 2012 06:06 AM PDT

EVO 4G LTE

Sprint has finally confirmed the launch date and price for its latest and greatest HTC device -- the EVO 4G LTE. The new EVO, which packs similar internals to the One X, will arrive next Friday, May 18. And on a standard two-year contract, it'll set you back $199.99. For that money, you get a Snapdragon S4-powered beast with a 4.7-inch, 720p SuperLCD2 display, 1GB of RAM, an 8MP ImageSense camera and ICS, backed up by HTC Sense 4. Oh, and a funky red kickstand, too.

We've seen plenty of the EVO 4G LTE over the past few weeks. We went hands-on with the device at its New York launch event last month, and caught up with it again at CTIA this week.

If you're interested in picking one up, it's available for pre-order now. Check past the break for the full presser from Sprint.

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Sony announces the Xperia GX and SX - new, buttonless ICS phones for Japan

Posted: 09 May 2012 05:42 AM PDT

Android Central

Sony continues its tradition of launching desirable new products in Japan first, with today's announcement of two sleek new smartphones in its home territory -- the Xperia GX and Xperia SX. Both phones run Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and jettison the traditional capacitive keys found on older handsets in favor of more up-to-date (and Android style guide compliant) virtual keys. The SX boasts that it's the world's lightest LTE smartphone, while the GX looks to be a spiritual successor to last year's Xperia Arc.

The Xperia GX bears a striking physical resemblance to the rumored Sony LT29i Hayabusa, and the specs are a pretty close match, too. It's got a 4.6-inch 720p Sony Reality display, a 1.5GHz dual-core CPU -- an unnamed chip, but rumored to be a Snapdragon S4, a 13MP EXMOR R rear camera and 16GB internal storage. A tantalizing bag of tricks to be sure, and one that easily matches the high-end offerings from other manufacturers.

Meanwhile, Sony's also launching what it says is the world's lightest LTE smartphone, the Xperia SX, which weighs just 95 grams. This is a 3.7-incher with a slightly chunkier design, but similar specs to its big brother. It's got a 1.5GHz dual-core CPU, 8GB internal flash and an 8MP EXMOR R rear camera, plus Japan-specific features like IR data exchange and mobile TV. Both SX and GX come in black and white, and are to launch in Japan this summer.

We have to say, the Xperia GX in particular looks like a gorgeous piece of kit, with some tasty internal hardware. Our fingers are firmly crossed for an international launch for this device in the months ahead. Come on, Sony, let's bring this thing to Europe (and maybe America, too). People want to give you their money.

We've got the full press release, and more photos, after the break.

Source: Sony; via: XperiaBlog

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CTIA Special-Edition Podcast - Day 1!

Posted: 08 May 2012 08:22 PM PDT

Podcast MP3 URL: 
http://traffic.libsyn.com/androidcentral/ctia-1-final.mp3

Music credit: Norleans Lovas by Jeris



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