Android Phone Fans |
- New Image of Sprint’s Samsung SPH-L300 Leaked – S4 Processor, NFC and Android 4.0.4
- Sprint Exec Confirms HTC EVO 3D Ice Cream Sandwich Update Rolling Out In June
- PSA: If You Wear Blue Jeans, Stay Away from the White HTC One X (Black X Is Okay)
- Samsung Buys Cloud Music Locker/Streaming Service mSpot – Coming Soon To A Galaxy Near You
- Galaxy S3 May Not Have Wireless Charging Kit On Day 1 – Official Accessories Could Launch 4 Months Later [Rumor]
- New Photo Taken Using Google’s Project Glass Looks Really Impressive
- Kyocera Rise First Look [CTIA 2012]
- Can Tell The Difference In Photos Taken With The HTC One X and Those With A Professional Camera? [Challenge]
- AT&T Cancels Samsung Galaxy S2 Skyrocket HD – Prepares For Galaxy S3 Launch
- Kyocera Hydro First Look [CTIA 2012]
- Google Maps Updated With Easy To Find, Easy To Save Google Offers and Indoor Walking Directions
- Qualcomm showcases 5.1 Dolby Digital recording [CTIA 2012]
- Qualcomm shows off the world’s first autostereoscopic 3D tablet
- HTC Thunderbolt update 2.11.605.19 prepped, Verizon posts changelog
- HTC Golf pictured in the wild, new sources say Desire C could be final name
| New Image of Sprint’s Samsung SPH-L300 Leaked – S4 Processor, NFC and Android 4.0.4 Posted: 09 May 2012 05:51 PM PDT
It was only yesterday, a “user agent profile” for what is believed to be Sprint’s Samsung Galaxy S3 variant (SPH-L710), leaked all over the interwebs and now today — we have this. No, that’s not the Nexus One. What you’re looking at in the above image is the SPH-L300, a mid-level device from Samsung that looks to rival the HTC One S on T-Mobile. Other than the clear design departure from anything we’ve seen from Samsung — or any other manufacturer for that matter — the SPH-L300 will come with the snappy Qualcomm S4 dual-core processor, 800×480 resolution display, 5MP camera, 4GB internal storage, 1GB RAM, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC capabilities and running on Android 4.0.4. Oh, and because we’re talking about Sprint here, you can expect Google Wallet to come pre-installed as well. You’ll notice the capacitive buttons are along the bottom aluminum area of the phone. The strange/sexy(?) looking device is said to be launching on Sprint in the very near future and if I had to guess, will debut at around $100.
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| Sprint Exec Confirms HTC EVO 3D Ice Cream Sandwich Update Rolling Out In June Posted: 09 May 2012 05:26 PM PDT
In an interview with Sprint posted earlier today, the folks at Engadget casually went over some highlights for the HTC EVO 4G LTE and HTC EVO V. But not only that, they were also able to gain some valuable intel regarding the ICS update for the EVO 3D as well. During the interview (around the 6:30 mark), Sprint’s VP of Product David Owens let slip that June will be the lucky month Sprint intends to rollout Ice Cream Sandwich onto the EVO 3D. Up until now, we’ve heard no official release date from Sprint (although, we received tips that the rollout will unofficially begin this month) on exactly when EVO 3D users should be expecting Android 4.0 to rollout for their devices. EVO 3D owners will not only be able to enjoy an updated firmware but the new features in Sense 3.6 as well. Not much longer, guys! [Engadget | Via HTC EVO 3D Forums]
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| PSA: If You Wear Blue Jeans, Stay Away from the White HTC One X (Black X Is Okay) Posted: 09 May 2012 04:20 PM PDT
Buyer beware. Seeing as how the HTC One X is a hot ticket item, and sales for the device will no doubt go up now that the Galaxy S3 has been demystified, a lot of Android users are looking towards the X for their next smartphone purchase. HTC was kind enough to offer the One X in 2 colors — both black and white versions — and you may have wondered to yourself which color you planned on picking up. But before you do, you should know: blue jeans and a white HTC One X do not a happy Android make (as documented by a user over on Reddit).
Because of the matte finish found on the One X’s polycarbonate casing, the white version is picking up grime faster than a night out on the town with Lindsay Lohan. This has been mentioned in a few reviews online, and it’s even alluded to in HTC’s user manual for the device — but I just wanted to make sure all of our readers were aware. If you simply must have a white HTC One here are a few suggestions to keep you white One X looking like new:
It should be said that while most of the dye from jeans will come off with a bit of Windex (seriously, Windex is great for everything), it will not completely remove the dye and over time, it will add up, making your gleaming white device a little.. dingy. I’ve noticed this “problem” and even mentioned it in my last case video. Light colored materials with a matte surface aren’t always the best idea. Will this influence anyone’s decision on buying the white version of the HTC One X? I can tell you this – it’s definitely changed my mind. Black it is. Thanks, Corey!
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| Samsung Buys Cloud Music Locker/Streaming Service mSpot – Coming Soon To A Galaxy Near You Posted: 09 May 2012 03:27 PM PDT
Samsung has just announced that they have acquired the cloud music locker/streaming service mSpot. This new acquisition should complete the circle of life that is Samsung’s mobile ecosystem quite nicely, and it’s not too unlike when HTC purchased music streaming service MOG back in March. mSpot not only allows users to upload their music to the cloud for playback on compatible devices later, but they also offer movie rentals the day of, or after, the DVD hits store shelves. You may have also noticed that a few of your Sprint devices have come with mSpot Radio pre-installed. Yup, they offer that too. Samsung said in their official announcement:
No word on exactly how much the deal set Samsung back, or exactly when Sammy plans to integrate mSpot into their devices. I understand the need for Android OEM’s to differentiate themselves from rival manufacturers — the world of Android is a competitive one. But sometimes I wonder if OEM’s aren’t secretly planning to use Android as a platform to launch their “own” mobile OS, ala Amazon. Crazy?
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| Posted: 09 May 2012 02:37 PM PDT
For those of you that have your hearts set on picking up the Samsung Galaxy S3 on day one and taking advantage of one of the key features of the device — wireless charging — you may have to wait. According to a mobile accessories retailer MobileFun, the official Samsung accessories shown off during their unveiling last week, wont be made available until months after the actual release of the phone. The UK is all set to launch the Galaxy S3 a little later this month, with a US release shortly thereafter, but apparently accessories like the wireless charging station and docks wont arrive until sometime in September (about 4 months later). Samsung doesn’t exactly have the best track record when it comes to coinciding accessory releases and device releases simultaneously. You may remember back when the Galaxy Nexus was released, there was the whole “car dock” dilemma that heated more than a few G-Nex owners.
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| New Photo Taken Using Google’s Project Glass Looks Really Impressive Posted: 09 May 2012 01:54 PM PDT
An image taken yesterday using Google’s prototype “Project Glass” augmented reality style glasses is turning a few heads. We got our first taste of PG’s camera capabilities back when one of the project’s leaders, Sebastian Thrun, snapped a pic during an interview, only that shot was less than impressive to say the least.
Now, Thrun’s back again, this time showing off the camera once again, this time in a real world situation that would be otherwise impossible to capture — well, without a camera strapped to your head. The thought of a world where anything, anyone can be photographed or recorded at a blink of an eye is almost… scary. If these AR glasses really take off, the world could get a whole lot more interesting. Thoughts? [Google+]
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| Kyocera Rise First Look [CTIA 2012] Posted: 09 May 2012 01:00 PM PDT Kyocera came to CTIA with a device that has a slide-out 4-row QWERTY keyboard that’s very comfortable to use. It’s getting a bit rare to see that in this day and age, so it caught my eye for a quick second. It shares a lot of characteristics from its keyboard-less cousin Hydro, but it differs in a one or two other areas. For starters, this device is not water proof at all. It also has a different look and feel. Android 4.0 is inside this thing, and it’s interesting to see that coupled with a hardware QWERTY keyboard. It’s not necessarily amazing — Android is Android — but you don’t see it often. It shares a lot of the same specs as the Hydro, but take a look at its page in the Phone Guide and see for yourself.
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| Posted: 09 May 2012 12:33 PM PDT
And not just any smartphone. HTC throwing a fun little challenge on their official blog, to see if you can correctly distinguish which of the 10 images they posted were taken with the HTC One X, and which were taken using a traditional “professional” digital camera. If this was 2011, I’d ace that test. But HTC has come along way since then, using all new back-lit camera sensors and even a specialized chip for handling images. The test was definitely harder than I thought. Either way, I managed to score 8 out of 10 (I have special eyes). Hit up the link below to take the challenge for yourself and double back here with your score.
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| AT&T Cancels Samsung Galaxy S2 Skyrocket HD – Prepares For Galaxy S3 Launch Posted: 09 May 2012 12:09 PM PDT
We may have our first casualty in the wake of the Samsung Galaxy S3. AT&T has been going full steam ahead with Samsung in 2012, offering a huge range of Samsung devices in their Android lineup, one of which will never see the light of day. It looks like the Samsung Galaxy S2 HD has now been cancelled. The Verge got the scoop today from Samsung’s Ryan Bidan, who told them the phone was no longer relevant in light of the Galaxy S3 announcement. More of a “Lucy” type Galaxy device, the Skyrocket HD could be seen as the missing link between a Galaxy S2, and Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S3. The device boasted a 4.65-inch HD display that was a little too close to the Galaxy S3′s 4.8-inch HD. Couple that with the Skyrocket HD’s dual-core Qualcomm processor and the Galaxy S3′s likely Qualcomm S4 processor, and you can see how some consumers would be confused. Still no word on which carrier will be the first to offer the Samsung Galaxy S3 but if I had to bet, I’d go with AT&T. Well, that or a simultaneous Sprint, T-Mobile, AT&T release like with the GS2. Am I the only one that prefers the aluminum look of the Skyrocket HD over the GS3? What a shame…
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| Kyocera Hydro First Look [CTIA 2012] Posted: 09 May 2012 11:57 AM PDT Kyocera made a couple of key announcements. One of the phones they were excited to unveil was the Kyocera Hydro, a full-touch smartphone that, for the time being, is completely stock Android 4.0. The device was running on Qualcomm’s 1GHz 8655 single-core processor. I can’t say that I was shocked to see decent performance despite having such an old and slow processor. The processor still isn’t that bad and Android 4.0 is, of course, faster than its predecessors. The phone has been certified with IPx5 and IPx7 water resistance which would allow it to be immersed in water up to 1 meter (3.28 feet) for up to 30 minutes without damage. It has a rugged look and feel to it, but Kyocera says it’s not being classified as a rugged phone. In fact, water proofing is the only built-in protection you’ll find on the device. It might also be a bit more sturdy than your average device, but that’s about it. Check out the rest of the confirmed specs at the Phone Guide and watch the hands-on above.     
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| Google Maps Updated With Easy To Find, Easy To Save Google Offers and Indoor Walking Directions Posted: 09 May 2012 10:55 AM PDT
Today, Maps was updated to version 6.7 in the Play Store and integrates Google Offers inside the Maps app. adds the new features to see available Google Offers in your area, straight from within the Maps app. Clicking on Maps dropdown menu inside the app pulls up a list of all nearby available Offers in your area, and you can even switch to map view and see exactly where each of them are located. See something you like? You can either redeem the Offer and that time, or save for later — the choice is up to you. And, if you like, you can even opt-in to receive notifications whenever there are offers nearby.
Also added was their all new indoor walking directions for businesses that have provided Google with their floor plans. Now, you’ll never find yourself lost inside a new mall, always knowing exactly how to get to Cinnabon in the shortest amount of time (still waiting on turn-by-turn indoor navigation).
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| Qualcomm showcases 5.1 Dolby Digital recording [CTIA 2012] Posted: 09 May 2012 10:34 AM PDT Qualcomm had an interesting demo tucked away in the back of their booth next to their amazing coffee shop. They were showcasing a device that has been equipped with the ability to record audio in Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound in real-time. We were asked to try and identify which side a train was coming from. Two trains were coming at the same time, but one would make it past our ears before the other one. Myself and the other guy sitting with me noticed which direction it was coming from right away. The device was a Qualcomm developer device that was equipped with four microphones, two on each side. You’d be hard-pressed to find that on a made-for-retail device, but Qualcomm says that it works just as well with a device that has two microphones. Grab a quick look above.
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| Qualcomm shows off the world’s first autostereoscopic 3D tablet Posted: 09 May 2012 10:14 AM PDT Qualcomm had a lavish booth at CTIA and I had to go over there to see what was new. Little did I know I’d be running into the world’s first autostereoscopic 3D tablet. It was a Qualcomm-branded developer device, but it was still nice to see a tablet, one with a 1920×1200 resolution, able to produce stereoscopic 3D and convert 2D to 3D. It was just one of many demos and achievements Qualcomm showcases to let people know that S4 is the bee’s knees. Grab a look at the video above.
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| HTC Thunderbolt update 2.11.605.19 prepped, Verizon posts changelog Posted: 09 May 2012 09:09 AM PDT
Verizon has posted the changelog for a new update to the HTC Thunderbolt. The latest software, which leaked within the past few weeks, will bring the Thunderbolt to build number 2.11.605.19 and will resolve some existing connectivity issues as well as enhance the default mail app and enhance VPN functionality. As far as we know, the update hasn’t started rolling out to users, but it shouldn’t be too long before it does. [via DroidLife]
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| HTC Golf pictured in the wild, new sources say Desire C could be final name Posted: 09 May 2012 08:29 AM PDT
The phone codenamed HTC Golf has slowly been revealing itself to us. Its existence was confirmed after an image snapped by the phone’s camera appeared online. Then a leaked render popped up at which point the Wildfire C name was suggested as the final moniker of the mid-range handset. Now we are getting our first look at the device in the wild, and yet another name is being suggested for its retail release. The Golf is now being dubbed the Desire C, though none of the rumored names have been confirmed. Just throw it into the hat along with the other possibilities. The Golf/Wildfire C/Desire C should feature a processor clocking in at under 1GHz, a 3.5-inch display with 480×320 resolution, 512MB of RAM, and 4GB of onboard storage. [via PocketNow]
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