Friday, September 14, 2012

Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans

Bad Guy Google? Acer Cancels Launch Of Non-Android Device After Pressure From Google

Posted: 13 Sep 2012 06:04 PM PDT

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It was announced a few nights ago that Acer would release a new device running the Linux-based Aliyun OS developed by Alibaba for China. Dow Jones reported today that this didn’t sit too well with Google who — according to an Acer representative –  told Acer they would “terminate its Android-related cooperation and other technology licensing with our partner.”

It’s this strong language that caused the last minute shutting down of an Acer unveiling event, leaving the press who were to attend the event scratching their heads. Acer is still talking it over with Google and would like to go through with releasing an Aliyun OS device for the Chinese market, but it’s up in the air at this point.

In reaction to the news, Alibaba was quoted by CNET today saying, “we respect and understand our partner’s decision to postpone the introduction of the phone, and are dismayed by the impact this dispute has had on our partner.”

Google has long had a reputation for having a lax relationship with its Android partners, letting them slice and hack up their OS to suit their tastes (and motives). This marks the first we’ve heard of Google playing hardball with OEM’s and we have to admit, sounds very unlike Google who’s seemingly okay with manufacturers releasing devices with rival OS’s (Windows Phone 8) around the world. That being said, something sound fishy about all this and we’ll have to wait for Google to issue a statement to hear their side of the story.

For those interested, I’ve included a quick video showing off the mobile OS that allegedly has Google in a tizzy. I admit, it doesn’t look half bad but maybe that’s because it’s essentially a fork of Android (can even run Android apps natively).

Critter Escape No Longer Amazon Exclusive – Now Available In The Play Store

Posted: 13 Sep 2012 05:12 PM PDT

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After a brief stint as an Amazon Appstore exclusive, Kiz Studios’ Critter Escape is now officially available in Google’s Play Store for Android gamers to enjoy. The game is an interesting take on a stealth adventure. Players take control of a small Minion-like character (ala Despicable Me) who’s found himself kidnapped by some evil corporation for testing purposed. It’s up to you to guide the little guy out of the labs, using a variety of stealth tactics and powerups.

Controls are a little different that many are probably used to when gaming on their smartphone. You can go the traditional virtual d-pad route, or choose to draw a path onscreen that the minion will follow. Some of Critter Escape’s features include:

Stealth gameplay and puzzling levels test your brains and reaction speed.
• Adorable central character with fun animations and hilarious comics.
• Crazy, mutating power-ups change the way you play the game.
• Over 120 unique levels to escape from.

The production level of this game is top notch. Characters are well animated and there’s a fun comic styled story line you can follow along with. The best part is the game is offered free of charge in the Play Store. Give it a download and let me know what you think.

[Via: DroidGamers Thanks, guys!]

Sony giving away free headphones and movies with NSZ-GS7 Google TV box

Posted: 13 Sep 2012 03:21 PM PDT

It looks like Sony needs to move some units of its $199.99 Google TV set-top box, and they’re looking to do so by providing some free accessories and content with your purchase. For starters, you’ll get a decent pair of headphones for which to listen to all the music you can handle.  These won’t be the best pair of cans on the market, but hey — it’s free.

They’ll also be giving users some free movies — 3 to be exact — should they decide they want to go the Sony route for their Google TV. You’ll have 15 different movies to choose from, too, so even if they don’t have exactly what you want you can at least choose something that you think might fit your interests.

The headphones would come with the Google TV box, and the movies will be available for download once checkout is complete. Just use the code YOUTUBEFAN at checkout and you should be on your way. Be sure to read our review of the device here, and let us know if these goods are enough to get you to drop $200 on the thing. [Sony via GTVSource]

Game Genome Project looks to deliver game suggestions using the very “DNA” of what you’re looking for

Posted: 13 Sep 2012 03:02 PM PDT

App and game discovery tools have been trying to “get it right” since before I can remember. Even with Google’s nice strides to improve recommendation in the Play Store, some companies believe it still isn’t good enough. One of those companies is making something called the Game Genome Project.

So, if you didn’t know what a genome is:

ge·nome/ˈjēnōm/

Noun:
  1. The haploid set of chromosomes of an organism.
  2. The complete set of genetic material of an organism.

So apply that to the make-up of a game. Games have certain “DNA” or properties about them: it can be 2D or 3D, it can use touchscreen controls, tilting, or a gamepad. It can be a racing game, RPG, shooting game — you name it.

Well, much like the Music Genome Project to help people discover the exact type of music they’re looking for using musical tones, rhythm, themes, and more, the Game Genome Project will let you look for games using the same type of criteria.

Instead of wasting time looking for games based on generic keywords or stale top lists, you can now search using a combination of traits such as "3D Graphics + Play By Tilting + Fast Game Play + Sci-Fi Theme".

The results reveal a variety of games that are more tailored to what you actually want. With hundreds of traits and millions of combinations, the Game Genome Project makes game discovery faster and more personalized than any other method, including the Google Play Store.

They’re calling their tool the “Blender,” and that name does good work to illustrate what, exactly, you’re getting. It’ll blend all the different elements of a game you want, and out pops a game or several games that would be perfect for you based on that exact search.

The Game Genome Project is launching this October on Best Apps Market, but you can already try it out over on their site to see the exciting recommendation tool in action. I’ll just say that I absolutely can’t wait for its arrival.

Sprint and Samsung officially announce the Samsung Galaxy Victory 4G LTE; September 16th for $100

Posted: 13 Sep 2012 12:57 PM PDT

Samsung and Sprint have just announced the forthcoming availability of the Samsung Galaxy Victory 4G LTE. It’s going to come in as a mid-range device that should house enough power for those who don’t need to control the world with their smartphones. It’ll debut with its 4 inch display and a 1.2GHz dual-core processor alongside an attractive $100 price point.

It’ll also feature a 5 megapixel camera capable of shooting HD video, a 1.3 megapixel camera, and NFC support. For software, you can expect Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich with TouchWiz. You can expect to find this device for sale in Sprint stores and online this Sunday, September 16th. Read on for full press details.

Powerful Yet Affordable 4G LTE Android Smartphone, Samsung Galaxy Victory 4G LTE from Sprint, Available Beginning Sept. 16

 

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Sept. 13, 2012 – Sprint (NYSE:S), the only national carrier with Truly Unlimited℠ 4G LTE data, text and calling to any mobile, will offer the feature-packed Samsung Galaxy Victory™ 4G LTE at a price that makes it an easy choice for customers who are ready to step up to their first Android™-powered smartphone. At less than $100, Galaxy Victory gives Sprint customers the benefit of Sprint 4G LTE at a very accessible price.

 

Galaxy Victory will be available beginning on Sunday, Sept. 16, for just $99.99 with a new line or eligible upgrade and two-year service agreement, after a $50 mail-in rebate via reward card1 (excludes taxes and surcharges), at Sprint Stores, Sprint Business Sales, Telesales (1-800-SPRINT1) and Web Sales (www.sprint.com).

 

Manufactured by Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S. and the No. 1 smartphone provider worldwide2, Galaxy Victory is powered by Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 4-inch touchscreen display and access to the Sprint 4G LTE network. This allows the smartphone to effortlessly switch between applications and enables a rich web browsing experience with true multitasking.

 

"Price is often a barrier for customers who are ready to transition from a feature phone to a smartphone; Samsung Galaxy Victory brings Sprint 4G LTE to the mass market with the high-end features and capabilities of a premium Android smartphone," said David Owens, vice president – Product Development, Sprint. "Priced under $100 and paired with Truly Unlimited data from Sprint, our customers will appreciate the functionality of this device without worrying about costly monthly rate plans or surprises on their wireless bill."

 

Galaxy Victory customers enjoy a Truly Unlimited experience with Sprint Everything Data plans. Sprint's Everything Data plan with Any Mobile, AnytimeSM includes unlimited web, texting and calling to and from any mobile in America while on the Sprint Network, starting at just $79.99 per month for smartphones – a savings of $20 per month versus Verizon's comparable plan with unlimited talk, text and 2GB web (excludes taxes and surcharges). Customers value Truly Unlimited data, because it's simple and straightforward – no metering, no throttling and no overages, all while on the Sprint network.

 

Fully Loaded with Features

As a Sprint ID smartphone, Galaxy Victory provides the ability to cut through the clutter of the more than 600,000 additional apps in Google Play™. Sprint ID offers an innovative way to personalize Android smartphones with apps, widgets, wallpapers, ringtones and more and ID packs deliver a complete mobile experience – based on consumers', students' or businesses' interests or favorite brands. Customers can download and switch among five self-selected ID packs tailored to an individual's lifestyle and interests with a few simple clicks.

 

Additional features on Galaxy Victory include:

  • 5-megapixel rear-facing camera with LED flash and video capture, ideal for documenting important moments as they happen
  • 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera that can be used for video chat
  • Google Wallet™, turning the smartphone into a wallet using Near Field Communication (NFC) to make safe purchases at more than 100,000 participating retailers

 

The search function on Galaxy Victory is fast and simple with S Voice™, an advanced natural language user interface that enables search and basic device-user communication. It can be used to turn the volume up or down on the music player, answer or reject incoming calls, shut off or choose to snooze the alarm clock or take a picture by saying "smile" or "cheese."

 

Galaxy Victory also makes it fast and easy to share pictures, videos and presentations between devices or with friends and groups of people:

  • S Beam expands on Android Beam™ to enhance device-to-device sharing through NFC technology by adding the ability to share photos, videos, documents and other DRM-free content to Android Beam. This allows a 1GB file to be shared within minutes and a 10MB file within seconds by simply touching another S Beam enabled phone.
  • AllShare® Play allows users to wirelessly connect Galaxy Victory to their PC, tablet or television to immediately share files, stream music, user-generated videos, photos and other DRM-free content to AllShare-enabled devices using Wi-Fi®. It also allows the user to remotely access files on up to six Samsung devices.
  • AllShare Group Cast lets the user share a presentation or photo album in real time with multiple friends on the same Wi-Fi network.

 

Continuing its aggressive momentum in delivering an all new 3G and 4G LTE network experience for customers, Sprint announced on Monday that 4G LTE construction has begun in more than 100 more cities within its existing nationwide 3G footprint. Major metropolitan areas in which Sprint 4G LTE is expected to be available in the coming months include Boston; Charlotte, N.C.; Chicago; Indianapolis; Los Angeles; Memphis, Tenn.; Miami; Nashville, Tenn.; New Orleans; New York; Philadelphia; and Washington, D.C.

 

During the pre-launch phase, customers with 4G LTE devices may begin to see 4G LTE coverage in these areas and are welcome to use the network even before it officially launches. Sprint plans to announce commercial availability of 4G LTE in these cities in the coming months, at which point we expect coverage, performance and reliability to get even better. The markets will fill in until coverage largely matches the existing nationwide 3G footprint.

 

Sprint 4G LTE is now available in 19 cities, including Atlanta, Baltimore, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City and San Antonio. Sprint's Network Vision project also includes significant improvement in customers' 3G network experience, including expanded coverage, improved network reliability, better voice quality, and faster 3G data speeds. For the most up-to-date details on Sprint's 4G LTE rollout, visit www.sprint.com/4GLTE.

 

Sprint will host the 12th annual Open Solutions Conference on Oct. 24-25 at the San Jose, Calif., Convention Center offering developers, ecosystem partners and executive attendees an up-close view into the latest app developing tools and capabilities, keynote presentations from Sprint CEO Dan Hesse and other industry leaders, breakout sessions, coding sessions, event sponsor exhibits, and business-critical networking opportunities. Registration is open at http://developer.sprint.com/OSC2012.

 

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 56 million customers at the end of the second quarter of 2012 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. The American Customer Satisfaction Index rated Sprint No. 1 among all national carriers in customer satisfaction and most improved, across all 47 industries, during the last four years. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 3 in its 2011 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation's greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com orwww.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.

 

About Samsung Mobile

Samsung Mobile (Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC), a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets and telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.samsungwireless.com.

 

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2011 consolidated sales of US$143.1 billion. Employing approximately 206,000 people in 197 offices across 72 countries, the company operates two separate organizations to coordinate its nine independent business units: Digital Media & Communications, comprising Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, and Digital Imaging; and Device Solutions, consisting of Memory, System LSI and LED. Recognized for its industry-leading performance across a range of economic, environmental and social criteria, Samsung Electronics was named the world's most sustainable technology company in the 2011 Dow Jones Sustainability Index. For more information, please visitwww.samsung.com.

 

# # #

 

 

Android, Google Wallet, Google Play and Android Beam are trademarks of Google, Inc.

Samsung, Galaxy, AllShare, S Voice, Victory and Super AMOLED are all trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.  Other company names, product names and marks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners and may be trademarks or registered trademarks. 4G used in connection with the Samsung Galaxy Victory 4G LTE refers to the fact that the device is capable of operating on Sprint's 4G LTE network.

 

1The American Express Prepaid Reward Card ("Card") provided in connection with this Rebate offer is a prepaid Card that is usable at U.S. merchants that accept American Express Card. Some limitations apply. The Card is not redeemable for cash (except where required by law) and does not provide ATM access. Use of Card constitutes acknowledgement that it is given as a reward and no consideration, value, or money has been paid by the holder to American Express in exchange for this Card.  USE OF CARD IS SUBJECT TO THE CARDHOLDER AGREEMENT. SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE LAW, A $3.00 MONTHLY FEE WILL BE ASSESED AGAINST CARD BALANCE, STARTING SIX MONTHS AFTER CARD ISSUANCE, UNLESS FUNDS ARE EARLIER DEPLETED. For BALANCE, customer service and Cardholder Agreement, visit americanexpress.com/sprint or call 866-608-3756. Card issued by American Express Prepaid Card Management Corporation.

2 Samsung is the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the United States and the No. 1 smartphone provider worldwide claims according to Strategy Analytics, Q1 2012 U.S. Market Share Handset Shipment and Global Smartphone Shipment Reports.

Google Wallet usage more than doubled after adding support for all credit cards

Posted: 13 Sep 2012 12:47 PM PDT

Google’s commerce blog has posted an article to help their retail and banking partners provide a better Google Wallet experience for their customers, and while much of that is of little concern to you and I they dropped a little nugget of information.

Google Wallet activity has apparently more than doubled since Google has given users the ability to use any major credit card and debit card with the service. It’s not surprising, really, but it does seem to show that more people were interested in having their credit cards tied directly to the service instead of having to go through a prepaid card element.

Google’s done away with the prepaid cards now, and it looks like things couldn’t turn out any better for them. Have any of you started using Google Wallet more since they’ve added support for more vendors?

LG to show us how to “live without boundaries” September 19th

Posted: 13 Sep 2012 11:52 AM PDT

It looks like LG’s looking to drop something big son. They’ve started issuing press invites for an event set to take place in New York September 19th. It’ll be a joint event with Qualcomm, and their goal will be to show us how we can live without boundaries. They’re no doubt teasing a phone, and we have strong reason to believe it’s going to be the LG Optimus G.

The device has been hyped to no end by LG for other markets and to think it won’t eventually make its way to the United States is a bit foolish. LG has a lot of ground to make up after a disappointing streak as of late, and they feel like the Optimus G will be the device to turn the tide.

We’re expecting the Optimus G to feature a 4.7 inch display, Qualcomm’s quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, a 13 megapixel 1080p HD camera, and more.

The specs sound like they promise to turn the tech world upside down, but it’ll be the device’s build quality and software that should determine whether or not LG is on the right path. Circle back on September 19th as we look to bring you more details straight from New York.

Watch along as iPhone fans mistake the iPhone 4S for the iPhone 5 [IRONY/VIDEO]

Posted: 13 Sep 2012 11:12 AM PDT

Much was made about Apple’s remarks regarding consumer confusion at retail. According to them, the Samsung Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Tab devices looked so similar to the iPhone and iPad that they’d mistakenly buy Samsung over the latter.

No one has really tested this theory yet, but Jimmy Kimmel took to the streets to see if iPhone users would be able to tell the difference between an iPhone 4S and an iPhone 5.

He walks around with an iPhone 4S and tells people that it’s an iPhone 5 — they foolishly believe him, of course. A couple of the unfortunate victims even tried comparing it to their own iPhone 4S and noted how much lighter, thinner, and faster it was.

I’m sure there were more people Kimmel talked to that weren’t as naive as those in the video, but it’s a funny example of how consumer confusion doesn’t come from the products — it comes from the consumers. Crazy, huh? Watch along above. [via iSource]

NYC Phandroids: Verizon Event Tonight For Evolution 2.0 Store Grand Opening

Posted: 13 Sep 2012 09:46 AM PDT

Verizon has opened its first Evo 2.0 store, a retail experience that looks to change the game among America’s major carriers. Think of it as the Apple store, except this is for all things Verizon and is a lot more exciting than the usual, rather boring corporate store experience. It will be located in Grand Central Station in New York City

It’s the first store of its type in America, and Verizon’s celebrating with a smash-mouth grand opening ceremony. Starting today, September 13th, Verizon will be offering live performances, refreshments, exclusive offers, and more.

For starters, Pentatonix, an a-cappella group from The Sing-Off, will be performing at the location from 4pm to 4:30pm today. It’s the “pre-ceremony” of sorts, but tomorrow calls for even more fun — especially if you’re a New York Giants fans.

The goings-on begin from 12-6, and here are all the things you can look forward to. From 1-3pm Verizon will have the Lombardi trophy that the Giants won in Super Bowl 46 on display, and you can get close enough to take some nice photos with it. We imagine it’ll be surrounded by glass or something, but that’s more than understandable.

There will also be free food and refreshments, including some nice baked goods from Crumbs Bake Shop, WXRK 92.3 NOW FM will be on-hand to provide live entertainment, and those who visit the store between September 14th-30th will be eligible for some exclusive offers that no others can get.

It’s an interesting move by Verizon, but one that is no doubt welcome. Big Red’s attempt to streamline the sales and support of their retail presence is something that you might not think you need, but something you’ll probably appreciate once you visit.

Verizon will be able to show you how their devices can help your life in a more meaningful way. They’ll also be able to offer better in-store workshops to help people learn how to get the most out of their devices and services. See if you can’t clear some time during your lunch period today and tomorrow to check it out. Read on for full press details.

VERIZON WIRELESS TO OFFICIALLY OPEN ITS FIRST-EVER EVOLUTION 2.0 STORE IN THE NEW YORK METRO REGION IN

NEW YORK CITY'S GRAND CENTRAL STATION

 

Grand opening to feature Pentatonix, season 3 winners of NBC's THE SING-OFF;

2012 Super Bowl Trophy will also be on display for New York Giants fans

 

NEW YORK, NY – Verizon Wireless, owner of America's largest 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, today announced that Grand Central Station, a New York City landmark, will host the first-ever Evolution 2.0 store in the New York Metro Region. The anticipated grand opening of the new store will officially take place on September 14th. As the first Evolution 2.0 location in the New York Metro Region, the Grand Central Station store features an open and inviting floor plan that connects the service center and sales floor, offering added device experience and support for customers.

"We are truly excited to bring our latest Evolution 2.0 store to the New York Metro Region and, specifically, to Grand Central Station—the hub of New York City," said Pat Devlin, President of the New York Metro Region for Verizon Wireless. "Along with the terrific entertainment and savings being made available to New Yorkers on Friday's official grand opening, I'm confident that this location, within a New York City landmark, will prove to be a reliable resource that our customers can turn to for all their wireless needs."

In celebration of the latest Evolution 2.0 store in the historic Grand Central Station, Verizon Wireless will host a two-day grand opening event from September 13th to September 14th, featuring in-store entertainment and exclusive offers for customers. The event will kick off on Thursday, September 13th, a day prior to the official grand opening with a live performance from Pentatonix, the a cappella sensations and winners of season three of NBC’s THE SING-OFF, from 4:00 pm to 4:30 pm. Following Pentatonix's pre-opening performance, the festivities will continue for the store's official grand opening on Friday, September 14th from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Customers will be able to take photos with the New York Giants' 2012 Super Bowl Trophy from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., while WXRK 92.3 NOW FM will be on hand to provide additional entertainment. The opening will also provide free food and refreshments, including signature cupcakes from Crumbs Bake Shop.

The Grand Central Station location is Verizon Wireless' latest Evolution 2.0 Store, and is the first of its kind in the New York Metro Region. The new layout offers consumers an open, inviting and interactive environment for discovery of Verizon Wireless' devices, accessories and services to explore their wireless needs. Customers enjoy a hands-on experience with the latest 4G LTE smartphones, diverse offering of 4G LTE tablets, and unique devices such as the Verizon Jetpack™, and so much more. Store goers can now visualize and experience how these devices will empower their day-to-day lives. Additionally, shoppers can participate in free in-store Wireless Workshops to learn how to maximize the potential of their wireless devices. The Grand Central Station store is located at 420 Lexington Avenue and has hours of Monday through Friday 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, Saturday 10:30 am to 7:00 pm, and Sunday 11:00 am to 6:00 pm.

In conjunction with the opening event, customers who visit the new Grand Central Station store from September 14th through September 30th will receive exclusive savings and deals, including 50% off any Bluetooth headset $79.99 or less, $75 off any 4G LTE Android Smartphone with a new two-year activation or renewal (data pack required), and a free 4G LTE Hotspot or a free 4G LTE USB Modem with a new two-year activation on a Mobile Broadband plan.

Store Manager Daniel Nieves is also encouraging area residents to join the company in its efforts to help survivors of domestic violence by bringing no-longer-used wireless phones to the new store for donation toHopeLine® from Verizon, a phone recycling program. Through HopeLine, Verizon collects used cell phones to be recycled or sold and donates the proceeds in the form of cash grants and pre-paid wireless phones to advocacy groups for use by survivors.

The Grand Central Station Evolution 2.0 store is one of over 123 Verizon Wireless retail locations in the New York Metro Region.  For a complete list of all Verizon Wireless Stores, visit www.verizonwireless.com or call 1-800-2 JOIN IN.  Follow Verizon Wireless on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr.

 

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About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 94.2 million retail customers, including 88.8 million retail postpaid customers.  Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 78,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD).  For more information, visitwww.verizonwireless.com.  To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

FCC filing shows AT&T LTE support for Tegra 3-powered HTC One X+

Posted: 13 Sep 2012 09:27 AM PDT

We’ve heard plenty about a potential HTC One X+ to the point that there is no doubt the device exists. Further proof comes in the form of an FCC filing, though few details are provided about the handset. Rumor has the phone shipping with an upgraded Tegra 3 chipset clocked up to 1.7GHz, and if that holds true it will be the first version of the device in the US to feature both a quad-core processor and 4G LTE.

Just about the only thing to be gleaned from the FCC report is that the phone carries LTE support for AT&T bands 4 and 17 as well as bands 2 and 5. We’ve heard that Tegra 3-powered devices with LTE would launch before the end of the year, and it looks like the One X+ is right on track.

[FCC via Engadget]

Sony Xperia T makes the journey to the FCC

Posted: 13 Sep 2012 08:45 AM PDT

En route to a release later this fall, the Sony Xperia T has made a pitstop at the FCC to gain the governing bodies approval. The phone, which was unveiled at IFA earlier this month, is shown stripped and shelled, giving us a real insiders look at the device. Pardon the pun.

What we do know is that the version we see here is not the one potentially headed for AT&T. The filing reveals pentaband HSPA+/MTUS support but there is no sign of LTE, making the most likely stop T-Mobile, if it makes it there at all. Not every handset reviewed by the FCC gets a proper American release, after all.

Given that a version of the device with AT&T branding has surfaced and the history of AT&T releasing Sony’s Xperia phones, we still say there is more than a good chance we’ll get the T on Ma Bell’s network. The phone launches on October 1st in the UK. US release details haven’t been announced.

[FCC via Engadget]

Sprint Asks: Is the Galaxy S3 the World’s Best Phone? [POLL]

Posted: 13 Sep 2012 08:41 AM PDT

Back in June we reviewed the Samsung Galaxy S3 on Sprint (watch the video below), the latest device in a series of epic Galaxy smartphones, and Kevin Krause concluded, “Consider us impressed.” Even after yesterday’s highly anticipated iPhone 5 announcement, Phandroid readers overwhelmingly picked the Galaxy S3 as the better of the two devices. And it wasn’t even close (click and scroll down to view poll).

Make no mistakes… the Galaxy S3 is the real deal. But is it the best phone on Sprint? Is it the best phone in the world? Sprint’s hoping you’ll once again watch and read our review of the Sprint Galaxy S3 and decide for yourself. Then vote below.

 (This post is sponsored by Sprint, check out their Galaxy S3 at Sprint.com!)

The Woz weighs in on Apple-Samsung patent war: “I hate it”

Posted: 13 Sep 2012 08:23 AM PDT

While catching up with Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak to get his reaction to the iPhone 5, Bloomberg also wanted to get the tech icons take on the recent ruling out of a California courtroom that found Samsung guilty of infringing upon several Apple patents. Years removed from working with the company, the Woz offered a candid take, saying, “I hate it.”

He continued, “I don’t agree with it,” questioning the validity of the patents. “Very small things,” he said, “I don’t call that innovative.” Wozniak’s opinion is that the decision of the court will be overturned upon further review, and he hopes for a world where tech patents are exchanged freely in an effort to improve software and hardware as a whole.

And, in case you were wondering, while Woz has been known to carry an Android device or two in his pocket, he has every intention to pick up the new iPhone, saying Apple took some “important steps” in advancing the latest iteration of their flagship device.

[via Bloomberg]

Ford’s 11,000 cars sold highlights potential of mobile advertising

Posted: 13 Sep 2012 07:16 AM PDT

As smartphone and tablet users, we spend a lot of our time trying to avoid the display ads that often crowd our mobile screens. Just look at the recent stir that was caused when Amazon revealed that all new members of the Kindle Fire family of tablets would feature “special offers” as a default part of the user experience.  For the retailer, the built-in display ads are a means of subsidizing tablet pricing. For the consumer, they can be a real nuisance.

Taking our inherent dislike of mobile advertising into account, it is easy to see how one might write off display ads in apps and on the mobile web as inefficient and unsuccessful. But consider a figure provided by Ford: for Q1 of this year, the auto maker says the sale of some 11,000 cars can be traced directly to the influence of ads within a smartphone browser. The number is a mere fraction of the total number of cars Ford sold in Q1, and even if the figure remained steady for the remainder of the year it would only account for a drop in the proverbial bucket, but it highlights the potential of mobile ads, specifically highly targeted ads.

Simon Wajcenberg, CEO of Clash Group, sese the mobile device as a means of consolidating the research that normally goes into purchasing a new car. Typically, a TV commercial would get a potential buyer interested in a specific model of car. That potential buyer would head to the internet to research the car. The buyer would then likely phone local dealerships to get a better idea of what was available.

With targeted smartphone ads, the entire process can center on a single device. In the case of Ford, ads geared towards males were placed on mobile sites such as ESPN. Once the seed is planted, a consumer can research vehicles directly on their phone and dial out to dealerships just as easily. Better yet, they can locate a dealership on Google Maps and drive over to see the car in person.

Most have a misconception that display ads are not succeeding if users are not clicking on them to be redirected to sponsored content. This model may work for lower value items, but the example of Ford demonstrates how display ads can work to push big-ticket purchases as well. It’s a definitive shift in the way consumers conduct their shopping. 11,000 cars might not seem like much, but that’s 11,000 cars that may not have been sold 10 years ago.

 

SouthernLINC Wireless to receive low-end Motorola XT626

Posted: 13 Sep 2012 05:27 AM PDT

Regional service provider SouthernLINC Wireless looks to add a new entry-leve Android handset from Motorola this fall. Named only by its model number, the Motorola XT626 will hit the carrier’s shelves in November. The XT626 has been previously released in South Korea as the Double V, where it featured dual-mode iDEN and 3G support. The push-to-talk features look to carry over to SouthernLINC.

Documents provided to us by a tipster suggest the phone will be marketed as a followup to the Motorola Titanium that SouthernLINC currently hosts on its network. The handset features a 4.3-inch display, 8MP camera, and 1.2GHz processor. It does ship with Android Gingerbread on board, and any plans for an update to ICS or Jelly Bean are uncertain at this time. No word on pricing, but if pricing on the Titanium is any indication the XT626 could go for as low as $69.99.

[Thanks, Matt!]
Posted by at 7:43 AM

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