Android Central |
- Samsung Galaxy Rush hands-on
- Samsung Galaxy Reverb hands-on
- Boost Mobile announces the Samsung Galaxy S II 4G and the Galaxy Rush
- From the Android Forums: Managing recovery versions
- US Cellular makes the Samsung Galaxy Metrix 4G available today
- AccuWeather for Android updated with Nexus 7 support
- Skout review - yet another way to find local singles on Android
- Wild Blood trailer teases intense 3D medieval action
- Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 review
- Sprint announces Ice Cream Sandwich bugfix for the Epic Touch 4G
- Samsung Galaxy S3 available on 1saleaday for $499.99
- Fancy review - like Pinterest, only shoppier
- HTC One V hits Cricket on Sept. 2
- Archos 101 XS review
- ARCHOS introduces the Gen10 XS line, led by the 101 XS
- Vizio Co-Star torn down by iFixit, reveals a dual-core processor
- Sense 4.1 and Android 4.0.4 reportedly hitting European HTC One S
- ZTE Blade III outed by Finnish retailer
- Seidio Convert Extended Combo case review - bulk meets battery
- Deal of the Day: Seidio Spring-Clip Holster for HTC EVO 4G LTE
- Spotify planning expansion into Canada, Asia and South America not far behind
- A quick look at Ice Cream Sandwich on the HTC ThunderBolt
- Three's 1800MHz spectrum buy could let it roll out early 4G services too
- Nikon Coolpix S800c preorder at B&H for $349
- LG rumored to be prepping new high-end 'Optimus G' for global launch
| Posted: 22 Aug 2012 04:50 PM PDT
Rather than letting Virgin Mobile steal the show, Boost Mobile also introduced a handful of new devices tonight, one being the Ice Cream Sandwich-powered Galaxy Rush. Unlike it's Galaxy counterpart on Virgin, this phone's got a 3.5-inch display, a 3 MP camera and a 1 GHz processor. This guy is noticeably less powerful than the Reverb, and its display is noticeably worse. However, for the $149.99 price tag, it'll be a tough device to beat, especially for those tantalized by the promise of $40 unlimited plans. The Rush will be available online and in stores in late September. Check it out below. 
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| Samsung Galaxy Reverb hands-on Posted: 22 Aug 2012 04:37 PM PDT
We're live in New York tonight where Samsung is teaming with Boost and Virgin Mobile to announce a bevy of new devices to flood the prepaid market in the coming weeks. First up is the Samsung Galaxy Reverb, a remarkably handsome little device that'll be available for preorder on Virgin Mobile starting on August 29. For $249.99 you'll get a 4-inch WVGA display (it looks great), a 5 MP camera, 4 GB of internal storage, and a 1.4 Ghz single-core processor. It's relatively thin and light at 128.7 grams and 11.30 mm thick, and it will run on Virgin's 3G EVDO Rev A network. For a prepaid "budget" device, the Reverb is certainly packing a punch with that processor, and speeding through the homescreens felt fluid and smooth. The Reverb will thankfully ship with Ice Cream Sandwich, skinned with a TouchWiz that's not too different from just about every other recent Galaxy device. We'll put it through its paces in the coming weeks, but until then, you can check out our shots from this dimly lit bar below. The Reverb will hit shelves in mid-September. 
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| Boost Mobile announces the Samsung Galaxy S II 4G and the Galaxy Rush Posted: 22 Aug 2012 04:04 PM PDT
Boost Mobile has announced the addition of two new Android devices to their prepaid lineup, the Samsung Galaxy S II 4G, and the Samsung Galaxy Rush. The Galaxy S ii 4G looks pretty familiar with a 4.52-inch display, dual-core Samsung Exynos processor, and Wimax connectivity. It's pretty safe to say that this is a rebranded Samsung Galaxy S II, Sprint Epic 4G Touch. Thankfully, the name has been shortened but the features haven't. It still remains a popular phone on Sprint, and should be a big hit for folks looking for prepaid value, checking in at $370 dollars retail. The Galaxy Rush is a bit more of a mystery, as all Boost is saying is that it's an "affordable Android 4.0 smartphone available late September for $149.99" with a 3.5-inch screen and front and rear cameras. Samsung makes many budget models in their Galaxy line, and this looks to fit right in. Both phones can be activated on Boost's no-contract $55 Android Monthly Unlimited plan, which has a "shrinking payments" feature. For every six on-time payments, the cost of Boost Mobile’s Monthly Unlimited plan shrinks by $5, eventually getting down to as low as $40 a month for unlimited nationwide talk, text and data. The Galaxy S II 4G will be available starting Sep. 6, and the Galaxy Rush will follow later in the month. Read through for the full press release. 
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| From the Android Forums: Managing recovery versions Posted: 22 Aug 2012 02:46 PM PDT
Shiny Top asks in the Android Central forums,
We're glad you asked. There's two ways to install ClockworkMod recovery on your G Nex -- an easy way and a less-easy way. Let's hit the break and have a look at the methods. Have a question you need answered? (Preferably about Android, but we're flexible.) Hit up our Contact Page to get in touch! 
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| US Cellular makes the Samsung Galaxy Metrix 4G available today Posted: 22 Aug 2012 01:46 PM PDT
If you are a US Cellular customer who happens to be in the market for a new Android device featuring a physical QWERTY keyboard you will want to check out the Samsung Galaxy Metrix 4G. Officially available as of today, this phone features a 4-inch Super AMOLED display and is powered by a 1GHz processor under the hood. With a 5MP camera on the back, and 1.3MP on the front the device is certainly capable of capturing your memories as they take place. The QWERTY keyboard offers five rows of separate keys, which is sure to help you answer those texts, emails, or shoot out a quick tweet without any delays. Additionally the Samsung Galaxy Metrix 4G is also a 4G LTE device, so if US Cellular offers 4G LTE in your area you will now be able to take advantage of that. The pricing of the device is a bit odd, but still reasonably priced. If you are in a 4G LTE market, or a market that will be live by the end of 2012 the device will run you $129 after the $100 mail in rebate currently available. If your area is not in the immediate 4G LTE plans the device will run you $179 after the same $100 mail in rebate. Source: US Cellular 
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| AccuWeather for Android updated with Nexus 7 support Posted: 22 Aug 2012 01:41 PM PDT
The latest update to AccuWeather for Android brings several notable enhancements, the biggest of which is complete Nexus 7 support. The new 4x2 widget is quite nice actually, with a simple layout and basic white/black/blue color setup, showing the current time and weather, as well as today's and tomorrow's forecast. It's interesting to note that the design of the new widget is starkly different from the old 4x1 widget, which is still available. A quick list of the updated features can be found below.
If you're looking for another great weather app, especially if you have a Nexus 7, be sure to check out the Google Play Store link above. The app is free with ads, or $2.99 without. 
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| Skout review - yet another way to find local singles on Android Posted: 22 Aug 2012 01:19 PM PDT Skout is a location-aware social networking app for Android, allowing users to find people nearby that are looking to chat or otherwise mingle. The app has a really great dual-pane layout that’s accessed with swipe gestures, making it fast and easy to flip through local singles, check direct messages, and get notifications on who’s checking you out. 
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| Wild Blood trailer teases intense 3D medieval action Posted: 22 Aug 2012 12:10 PM PDT
Gameloft has given us a little taste of their first Unreal-powered title, Wild Blood. It looks to be a no-holds-barred 3D combat game, complete with high fantasy gear and the full complement of custom abilities. Gameplay will span the gamut of melee hack-and-slash, archery for ranged combat, and more than a few explosive spells. Of course, Gameloft isn't saying too much that isn't in the trailer, but with coins dropping out of just about every defeated enemy, I can't help but assume that in-app purchases are going to be a big part of the picture here (as is the case with most Gameloft titles). Let's just hope that at least they'll make the game free if they're going to be pushy with the microtransactions. Still, the the art's fantastic and the gameplay looks hectic. Who's interested? Anyone else getting a slight Infinity Blade vibe from this one? 
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| Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 review Posted: 22 Aug 2012 11:49 AM PDT
Samsung's Galaxy Note 10.1 marries an ambitious pen input and user interface to hardware that's a little tough to digest, especially when you can get better for less.In light of the recent ban on the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and its ongoing litigation with Apple, it'd be hard to imagine that Samsung hasn't thought twice about its tablet strategy. Continually pushing out a revamped iteration of the flop before it (see: Galaxy Tab 2 10.1) has proven to be as ineffective as it is effortless, a sign of the times that just may have given birth to Samsung's latest flagship device, the Galaxy Note 10.1. It marks a shift from "content consumption to content creation", an evolution that Samsung is banking on to finally cement its name in the tablet market. But is the integration of the S Pen into the user experience enough for the Note to stand out in a sea of Android tablets trying to do just that? And, more important, has Samsung found a niche worth a $500 price tag? Let's find out.
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| Sprint announces Ice Cream Sandwich bugfix for the Epic Touch 4G Posted: 22 Aug 2012 11:32 AM PDT
If you are currently sporting a Sprint Epic Touch 4G on the Sprint network and love Ice Cream Sandwich, but are experiencing some bugs, you will be happy to know a fix is on the way. Today Sprint announced that it will be rolling out an update (in stages) to address battery life issues, and hopefully others as well. The update will bump the device up to version S:D710.10S.FH13 (MR 4), so if you have yet to receive the update be sure to check manually. Notice any changes that aren't listed, be sure to hop into the forums and let us know! Source: Sprint; via: Android Central Forums; thanks, JayWill72! 
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| Samsung Galaxy S3 available on 1saleaday for $499.99 Posted: 22 Aug 2012 11:13 AM PDT
Daily deal site 1saleaday.com has a pretty good offer available if you're looking to pick up a Samsung Galaxy SIII (S3) for use on AT&T's LTE network. For a penny under $500, you can get this unlocked AT&T model, in either blue or white, for about the next 10 hours (at the time of writing). It still isn't cheap, but it's probably the best deal you'll see on an unlocked superphone right now. So if you've been holding out for a good price on the AT&T LTE model of the Galaxy S3, your chance to buy awaits at the source link below. If you're on the fence, check out our AT&T Galaxy S3 review. Source: 1saleaday 
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| Fancy review - like Pinterest, only shoppier Posted: 22 Aug 2012 09:38 AM PDT Fancy was featured in Google Play for awhile, offering what looks like a Pinterest clone, but it does a few things differently. Like Pinterest, it showcases shiny products in a visually appealing format and allows users on the network to create categorized collections. Usually these kinds of sites revolve around home and fashion, and though there’s plenty of that on Fancy, you’re just as likely to find cool phone cases and miscellaneous gadgets. What really sets Fancy apart is that they form partnerships with vendors so if you add something of theirs to your collection, you can often earn promotions usually in the form of coupon codes for discounts on online orders. As you might expect, Fancy has a lot more “buy now” links and the like. 
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| HTC One V hits Cricket on Sept. 2 Posted: 22 Aug 2012 09:30 AM PDT
HTC and Cricket Wireless are teaming up to launch the One V on the network starting next Sunday, Sep. 2. The One V, which we reviewed back in April, is HTC’s leading entry-level device, bringing to the table a striking industrial design with an HTC Legend-style aluminum chin. On the inside, the One V is powered by a 1GHz Snapdragon CPU and 512MB of RAM, with a 5MP camera around the back. We noted in our review that the One V packs one of the most impressive entry-level smartphone cameras around, thanks to HTC’s ImageSense tech. On the software side, you’ve got Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, backed up by a basic version of HTC Sense 4.0, as well as music playback enhancements through Beats Audio. Cricket’s not saying how much it’ll be charging for the One V when it launches, but based on the rest of the carrier’s smartphone offerings, the One V looks set to become something of a hero device for Cricket in late 2012. Any Cricket fans out there? Let us know in the comments if you're tempted by HTC's latest aluminum-clad beast. 
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| Posted: 22 Aug 2012 09:26 AM PDT
With the introduction of its brand new Gen10 XS line, Archos is reminding the world today that the Android tablet market is not limited to a couple of high roller manufacturers. It’s latest flagship, the 101 XS, is a tablet that shies away from competing with the likes of Samsung and Motorola and enters a niche that gives Archos an opportunity to cement its name in the mobile computing world. The Gen10 XS line is Archos’ attempt at replacing your laptop, and while its goals might be lofty, the French manufacturer has at least stepped out of the box.
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| ARCHOS introduces the Gen10 XS line, led by the 101 XS Posted: 22 Aug 2012 09:25 AM PDT
ARCHOS today introduced the Gen10 XS line, the successor to last summer’s G9 tablets. The 101 XS, the company’s latest flagship tablet, will be the first to carry the Gen10 XS name, and comes equipped with a 10.1-inch display, a dual-core OMAP 4470 processor clocked at 1.2 GHz, and a nearly-stock Ice Cream Sandwich experience. ARCHOS says that a Jelly Bean update will be released in early Q4 2012. The 101 XS weighs only 21 ounces and measures .31 inches thin. The defining feature of ARCHOS’ new line is the “Coverboard”, a magnetic keyboard that doubles as the tablet’s cover. The Coverboard connects to the Gen101 XS via a proprietary dock to enable a full-keyboard experience, complete with shortcut buttons custom tailored to Android 4.0. The Coverboard, ARCHOS says, is designed to protect the 101 XS while adding only .2 inches to the tablet’s size, and ships with every Gen10 XS tablet. The Gen101 XS will be available through major retailers beginning in November with a suggested retail price of $399. The 9.7 inch 97 XS and the 8-inch 80 XS will be available “later in 2012.” ARCHOS’ full presser can be found after the break, while our full review can be found here. 
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| Vizio Co-Star torn down by iFixit, reveals a dual-core processor Posted: 22 Aug 2012 09:09 AM PDT
The team over at iFixit has gotten their hands on one of the newest Google TV boxes, the Vizio Co-Star. They of course pulled it apart, looked at its guts, and showed them to the world. When Vizio announced the box, it specified some of the features, but not all of the internal specs, so it's cool to find out what the box is sporting. Their inspection has revealed many of the specs, such as:
The team also opened up the remote, which revealed, among other things, Bluetooth 3.0. If you want to see the rest of the pictures of the teardown, hit up the source link. Source: iFixit 
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| Sense 4.1 and Android 4.0.4 reportedly hitting European HTC One S Posted: 22 Aug 2012 08:08 AM PDT
Reports are coming in from around the web that the European version of HTC's One S is receiving an over-the-air update to Android 4.0.4 (from 4.0.3) and HTC Sense 4.1. The update to software version 2.31 weighs in at 157MB, and is hitting unlocked handsets today. Sense 4.1 is said to improve performance throughout, while introducing a coupe of new features like quick settings in the notification dropdown. And as we saw in recent One X updates, the new software version also lets you remap the multitasking key, if you prefer to use it as a menu button. Early reports also suggest the usual combination of bug fixes and stability improvements. If you’re rocking an unlocked European HTC One S, head to Settings > About phone > Software updates to see if your OTA is ready. Branded versions of the One S, including the T-Mobile U.S. variant, will likely see their updates pushed out in the weeks ahead, after they’ve been properly certified. (Fingers crossed, One X owners -- hopefully your update won't be far behind!) More: HTC Sense 4.1 preview 
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| ZTE Blade III outed by Finnish retailer Posted: 22 Aug 2012 07:37 AM PDT
The ZTE Blade III hasn’t been announced by its manufacturer yet, but one Finnish retailer has already jumped the gun and revealed promotional images of the phone, along with a full spec sheet. The images on Verkkokauppa.com show a curved, white design reminiscent of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. According to the listed specs, the phone runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich on a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon chip with 512MB of RAM. On the front there’s a 3.5-inch WVGA TFT display, and around the back there’s a 5MP camera. So nothing earth shattering, but ZTE will be hoping that the handset’s design, along with the presence of Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box, will be enough to coax European buyers into parting with their €199. It seems the phone’s not far off release, so we’ll be on the lookout for the ZTE Blade III at the IFA show in Berlin next week. Source: esphoneblog, Thanks, Jonne! 
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| Seidio Convert Extended Combo case review - bulk meets battery Posted: 22 Aug 2012 06:59 AM PDT The Seidio Convert Extended Combo case is a mammoth of a case with plenty of room for an extended battery and comes with a custom-made clip holster. The construction is as rugged as you could reasonably hope for from a smartphone case: first there is a hard plastic core, then a silicon skin wrapping around it, then, of all things another hard case along the outside. The whole package also comes with a screen protector and a lockable holster, making it an exceptionally rugged package all around. 
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| Deal of the Day: Seidio Spring-Clip Holster for HTC EVO 4G LTE Posted: 22 Aug 2012 06:56 AM PDT
The Seidio Spring-Clip Holster is available for just $16.00, 47% off today only. Backed by our 60-day return policy and fast shipping. 
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| Spotify planning expansion into Canada, Asia and South America not far behind Posted: 22 Aug 2012 06:55 AM PDT
Management filings from Spotify's European parent company have confirmed that Canadian launch is on the way, and that the company's looking at Asian, and South American expansions. While there's no date set for these plans, the filing was written back in April and subsidiaries in each of those regions are already formed. The last geographic expansion for Spotify was in Australia and New Zealand. As a Canadian, I'm pretty pumped about this, but it all depends on how long it takes for the service to get here. Between Slacker and Songza, there are already a couple of free streaming mobile music services to get comfortable with in Canada. Seeing as Spotify only recently made the radio feature free and unlimited for mobile users, the one real selling point is the desktop client, which can bring up everything from their massive library on demand. In any case, it's good to hear that plans are well underway, plus Asia and South America are both huge markets to tackle. Canadians, having you been holding out for Spotify? Current Spotify users, what's your favorite part of the service? Source: WSJ 
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| A quick look at Ice Cream Sandwich on the HTC ThunderBolt Posted: 22 Aug 2012 06:19 AM PDT Ice Cream Sandwich on the HTC ThunderBolt. Whodathunkit, eh? Here we have a very quick look at that leaked Android 4.0.3 ROM put forth by Team BAMF for what either is the best phone of the past year or so, or the worst, depending on your point of view. What you see here is ICS, of course, and it's got Sense 3.6 atop it. That's complete with all the bells and whistles you would expect, including HTC's excellent lockscreen customizations, quick settings in the notification pull-down, and HTC's other reworkings. And you know what? It runs surprisingly well. We're not going to pass final judgment on that just yet -- this is an unofficial leak, after all, so let's wait until Verizon actually pushes the thing. But so far, we're pleasantly surprised, and we have a feeling you will be, too. More: Team BAMF 
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| Three's 1800MHz spectrum buy could let it roll out early 4G services too Posted: 22 Aug 2012 06:19 AM PDT
Three UK could join Everything Everywhere in launching 4G LTE services earlier than expected, following its purchase of 1800MHz spectrum from EE. An Everything Everywhere spokesperson said that as part of the commitments required as part of the original Orange and T-Mobile merger, the company would “dispose of” 2x15MHz chunks of 1800MHz spectrum, selling the bands to Three. Though exact timetables remain uncertain, the additional spectrum will allow Three to roll out 4G LTE services of its own ahead of the 800MHz and 2600MHz auctions next year. Three will be joined in the 4G space by EE, which was granted Ofcom approval to use its 1800MHz spectrum for LTE services yesterday. More: Everything Everywhere gets 4G LTE approval in the UK 
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| Nikon Coolpix S800c preorder at B&H for $349 Posted: 22 Aug 2012 04:46 AM PDT
We don't yet have a sale date on the Nikon S800c, the camera manufacturer's first Android-powered point-and-shoot announced last night, but we're starting to see the first pre-orders be made available. New York's B&H Photo has the Gingerbread camera (that feels really weird to type, by the way) listed for $349. It mentions a shipping time of seven to 10 days, but that almost feels as more of a placeholder. The sooner the better, we say, because this 16MP shooter needs to be put up against the likes of the HTC One X, Samsung Galaxy S3, and everything from Sony in the past year. This is gonna get good. B&H has both the white and black version up for preorder. More: B&H Photo 
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| LG rumored to be prepping new high-end 'Optimus G' for global launch Posted: 22 Aug 2012 03:47 AM PDT
LG’s Optimus 4X HD may have only just landed on European store shelves, but already it seems the Korean company may be preparing a new high-end smartphone for multiple territories. Korean news site Asia Today reports that the device is currently codenamed “Optimus G,” and that it’ll come with 4G LTE connectivity, a 4.7-inch screen, quad-core Snapdragon S4 CPU, 2GB of RAM and a 13MP camera. On the software side, reports indicate a combination of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and LG’s Optimus UI 3.0. Asia Today reports that LG is positioning the phone as a direct competitor to Samsung’s Galaxy S3, and if the reports of quad-core Krait lurking inside are true, the "Optimus G" should certainly give Samsung’s flagship a run for its money in benchmarks. Eagle-eyed readers will remember that this isn’t the first quad-core S4-based LG phone we’ve heard whispers about. The Sprint LG Eclipse has cropped up a few times over the past month, most recently at the FCC. The jury’s out on whether this is the same device, but the hardware specs certainly look familiar. Despite the fact that IFA 2012 -- a major tech show -- is just around the corner, our understanding is that LG won’t showcase any major new phones in Berlin next week. So if these rumors do turn out to be accurate, we’ll likely have to wait a little longer to get our first glimpse of the Optimus G. Source: Asia Today, via: TechRadar 
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