Thursday, October 4, 2012

AndroidGuys

AndroidGuys

LG Optimus G headed to AT&T, Sprint

Posted: 03 Oct 2012 01:15 PM PDT

LG today announced that the Optimus G will be soon arriving at AT&T and Sprint stores around the country. Pricing and exact timing are not yet clear however we certainly expect something in the next few weeks.

Sprint and AT&T will be among the first wireless service providers in the world to offer the LG Optimus G, which is powered by the new Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor – a 1.5GHz quad-core CPU processor with Asysnchronous Symmetric Multiprocessing, which enables each core to power up and down independently to increase performance while saving battery life.

As a refresher, the Optimus G is the big, bad handset that features a Snapdragon S4 Pro processor with 1.5GHZ Quad-Core Krait CPUs and LTE, 32GB storage (16GB internal/16GB microSD), a 4.7-inch WXGA True HD IPS Plus Display (1280 x 768 pixels), and 13-megapixel camera.  For what it’s worth, the AT&T model will come with an 8-megapixel camera, something that initially thought to happen back when the international version was announced.

Anyone looking to scoop this one up when it touches down here in the United States?

Press release

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Jazz up your smartphone with a Bling My Thing case

Posted: 03 Oct 2012 01:04 PM PDT

This review might skew a little bit toward the ladies, but hey, whatever.  You need lovin’ too, right?  We’ve come across a really sharp protective case for your Galaxy S III and other Android devices.  They’re from a company called Bling My Thing and they do exactly that – bedazzle your Android smartphone

Continue reading: Jazz up your smartphone with a Bling My Thing case

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Galaxy Nexus 2 and 32GB Nexus 7 coming?

Posted: 03 Oct 2012 12:12 PM PDT

Are you planning to buy the Google Nexus 7 but are backing off because you are looking forward to something with more storage?  Say, perhaps, a 32GB variant? Then maybe you will hear good news soon, as that may be in store.  What’s more, we have some evidence on a Nexus 2 as well. The source of this juicy news is Carphone Warehouse’s internal system, and our friends over at Droid-Life who were lucky enough to get their hands on the image below.

Well, I am sure all Nexus 7 users agree that 8GB/16GB is not a sufficient storage space, especially if you love watching HD movies on your Nexus 7. I am sure that 32 GB will be good enough and a great addition to the Nexus 7 line, but still we would like to hear official words from either ASUS or Google before putting our money on it.

About the Galaxy Nexus 2, my suggestion is to take this with a grain of salt. As it’s about “Invisishield” screen protector for Samsung “Nexus 2″, it’s possible that it’s a mistake and they just want to tease us, or may be it’s just related to the Galaxy Nexus. Though we prefer to wait, because we heard that Andy Rubin might reveal the next Nexus smartphone in 30 days.

So people, tell us what do you think, do you really think a 32GB Nexus 7 and Nexus 2 are coming? Don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comment box below.

Source: Droid-Life

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Get this look on your Android smartphone: XUI.v2

Posted: 03 Oct 2012 08:08 AM PDT

One of our absolute favorite things about Android is the fact that you can bend and tweak the platform to your needs.  Sure, there’s rooting and modding for deep level personalization, but that stuff does not always concern the everyman user.  Some of just like to change the home screen around a bit and create a new user experience.

There’s a wonderful website that we’ve long appreciated called MyColorScreen which aims to shed light on all the great ways you can modify your home screens. To that end, we’ve created a series of posts on AndroidGuys where we will highlight an occasional design and its accompanying apps.  In a nutshell we will show you a new look for your Android handset and tell you which apps you’ll need if you want to mimic the feel. Please note that the following details are but the ingredients to which you can create your own delicious Android dish – results will vary

Continue reading: Get this look on your Android smartphone: XUI.v2

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Sony Playstation Mobile now available for Android devices

Posted: 03 Oct 2012 06:44 AM PDT

The Sony PlayStation Mobile store is open and ready for your hard-earned money.  Available today, Wednesday October 3, a number of Android devices can now install the mobile gaming app and access games and other certified content.  Not entirely unlike the PlayStation stuff we saw in handsets like the Xperia Play, this is a more open environment where developers and partners can work together for a bigger ecosystem

Continue reading: Sony Playstation Mobile now available for Android devices

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T-Mobile issues formal announcement of MetroPCS merger

Posted: 03 Oct 2012 06:22 AM PDT

T-Mobile USA has just published an official announcement on their company blog which details the impending merger with MetroPCS.  As they put it, the combined entity will be the “leading value carrier in the U.S. which will deliver an enhanced customer experience through a wider selection of affordable products and services, deeper network coverage and a clear-cut technology path to one common LTE network”.

Confirming previous reports of the reverse merger, MetroPCS will get a cash payment of $1.5 billion from T-Mobile.  The new company will operate out of T-Mobile’s Bellevue, Washington but will also have a strong Dallas, Texas presence.

What the two CEO’s are saying…

John Legere, President and Chief Executive Officer of T-Mobile, said: "The combination with MetroPCS is another logical and significant step that will accelerate our Challenger Strategy and enable us to deliver amazing, affordable and trusted 4G services, while providing opportunities to expand geographic territories and serve more customers… We will be a stronger, value-focused competitor, providing customers with offerings such as our Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data and 'bring your own device' plans.

Roger D. Linquist, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MetroPCS, said: "We are excited about this agreement to combine with T-Mobile, which, upon closing, provides our shareholders with an immediate cash payment… In addition, this combination will allow MetroPCS to expand its no-contract offerings into new major metro areas and enhance our combined spectrum portfolio, which provides the potential to offer 4G LTE over at least a full 20×20 MHz in many metro areas… Ultimately, this combination will create a stronger wireless provider nationally with broader value offerings to better serve our combined customers and drive shareholder value."

T-MOBILE USA AND METROPCS TO COMBINE, CREATING VALUE LEADER IN U.S. WIRELESS MARKETPLACE

Bonn, Germany; Bellevue, WA; and Richardson, TX – October 3, 2012 – Deutsche Telekom (XETRA: DTE; "Deutsche Telekom") and MetroPCS Communications, Inc. (NYSE: PCS; "MetroPCS") today announced that they have signed a definitive agreement to combine T-Mobile USA ("T-Mobile") and MetroPCS.  This transaction will create the leading value carrier in the U.S. wireless marketplace, which will deliver an enhanced customer experience through a wider selection of affordable products and services, deeper network coverage and a clear-cut technology path to one common LTE network.  The combined company, which will retain the T-Mobile name, will have the expanded scale, spectrum and financial resources to aggressively compete with the other national U.S. wireless carriers.

Deutsche Telekom's supervisory board and MetroPCS' board of directors unanimously approved the transaction. The transaction is structured as a recapitalization, in which MetroPCS will declare a 1 for 2 reverse stock split, make a cash payment of $1.5 billion to its shareholders (approximately $4.09 per share prior to the reverse stock split) and acquire all of T-Mobile's capital stock by issuing to Deutsche Telekom 74% of MetroPCS' common stock on a pro forma basis.  Deutsche Telekom has also agreed to roll its existing intercompany debt into new $15 billion senior unsecured notes of the combined company, provide the combined company with a $500 million unsecured revolving credit facility and provide a $5.5 billion backstop commitment for certain MetroPCS third-party financing transactions.

The combined company will be a stronger competitor and will be well-positioned to drive future growth.  Based on analyst consensus estimates for 2012, the combined company is expected to have approximately 42.5 million subscribers, $24.8 billion of revenue, $6.3 billion of adjusted EBITDA, $4.2 billion of capital expenditures and $2.1 billion of free cash flow (defined as EBITDA less capital expenditures) in 2012.

"We are extremely pleased to announce this transaction with MetroPCS, which enhances Deutsche Telekom's position in the expanding U.S. wireless market," said René Obermann, Chief Executive Officer of Deutsche Telekom.  "The T-Mobile and MetroPCS brands are a great strategic fit – both operationally and culturally.  The new company will be the value leader in wireless with the scale, spectrum and financial and other resources to expand its geographic coverage, broaden choice among all types of customers and continue to innovate, especially around the next-generation LTE network.  We are committed to creating a sustainable and financially viable national challenger in the U.S., and we believe this combination helps us deliver on that commitment."

The transaction significantly accelerates T-Mobile's Challenger Strategy and the combined company will be a strong, national competitor by:

  • Combining T-Mobile and MetroPCS' complementary spectrum to provide greater network coverage, deeper LTE network deployment and a path to at least 20×20 MHz of 4G LTE in many areas.  Existing MetroPCS customers will be migrated to a common LTE-based network as they upgrade their handsets;
  • Increasing scale, which allows the combined company to secure more compelling handsets, content and applications;
  • Projecting approximately $6-7 billon (net present value) of cost synergies and additional upside from revenue synergies;
  • Capitalizing on its leading position as a provider of fast growing no-contract services;
  • Offering a wider selection of attractive, competitively priced plans to better serve the marketplace, including contract, no-contract monthly, SIM-only, pay-as-you-go and mobile broadband services;
  • Introducing MetroPCS' plans and services to a larger number of new areas to complement T-Mobile's offerings; and
  • Using its stronger network to advance its B2B offerings and MVNO platform.

The transaction will enhance the financial position of the combined company.  Highlights include:

  • Delivering expected five-year compounded annual growth rates in the range of 3% to 5% for revenues, 7% to 10% for EBITDA and 15% to 20% for free cash flow;
  • Targeting an EBITDA margin in the range of 34% to 36% at the end of the five-year period and achievable projected cost synergy realization with an annual run-rate of $1.2-1.5 billion; and
  • Having increased financial flexibility with direct access to the debt and equity capital markets.

John Legere, President and Chief Executive Officer of T-Mobile, said: "The combination with MetroPCS is another logical and significant step that will accelerate our Challenger Strategy and enable us to deliver amazing, affordable and trusted 4G services, while providing opportunities to expand geographic territories and serve more customers.  Our enhanced spectrum position will be the foundation for a faster and more reliable network, and will allow us to deploy a deeper and more robust LTE rollout, particularly in major metropolitan areas.  We will be a stronger, value-focused competitor, providing customers with offerings such as our Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data and 'bring your own device' plans.  These features, along with our ability to react with greater speed and effectiveness to customer and market opportunities, will deliver value to our customers, business partners, employees and shareholders."

Roger D. Linquist, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MetroPCS, said: "We are excited about this agreement to combine with T-Mobile, which, upon closing, provides our shareholders with an immediate cash payment and allows them to participate in the significant upside potential of the combined company.  Through the convergence of both companies to LTE technology, the combined company will provide cutting-edge 4G LTE services and accelerate its roll-out of 4G LTE.  In addition, this combination will allow MetroPCS to expand its no-contract offerings into new major metro areas and enhance our combined spectrum portfolio, which provides the potential to offer 4G LTE over at least a full 20×20 MHz in many metro areas.  Importantly, MetroPCS and T-Mobile have the same network strategies and LTE networks in the same spectrum bands, which we believe will accelerate the deployment of advanced services to our customers.  Ultimately, this combination will create a stronger wireless provider nationally with broader value offerings to better serve our combined customers and drive shareholder value."

Upon consummation of the transaction, the combined company is expected to continue trading on the New York Stock Exchange.  Mr. Legere, currently President and Chief Executive Officer of T-Mobile, will serve as President and CEO of the new company and J. Braxton Carter, currently Chief Financial Officer and Vice Chairman of MetroPCS, will be the CFO.  The company will operate T-Mobile and MetroPCS as separate customer units, led by Jim Alling, currently Chief Operating Officer of T-Mobile, and Thomas Keys, currently President and Chief Operating Officer of MetroPCS, respectively.

After closing, the company's headquarters will be in Bellevue, Washington and it will retain a significant presence in Dallas, Texas.  The combined company will have an 11-member board of directors, including a number of members appointed by Deutsche Telekom consistent with its equity ownership.

The transaction is subject to MetroPCS shareholder approval, regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.  The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2013.

Morgan Stanley acted as lead financial advisor and issued a fairness opinion to the supervisory board of Deutsche Telekom.  Lazard acted as financial advisor to Deutsche Telekom.  Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, K&L Gates, and Wiley Rein LLP are serving as legal counsel to T-Mobile and Deutsche Telekom.

J.P. Morgan acted as lead financial advisor to MetroPCS and also advised MetroPCS with regard to post transaction capital structure.  Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC also acted as a financial advisor to MetroPCS.  Evercore Partners acted as financial advisor to the special committee of the Board of Directors of MetroPCS and issued a fairness opinion.  Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, Paul Hastings and Telecommunications Law Professionals are serving as legal counsel to MetroPCS.  Akin Gump and Fulbright & Jaworski served as counsel to MetroPCS' special committee.

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Samsung Galaxy S III Mini may launch October 11

Posted: 03 Oct 2012 06:09 AM PDT

The rumored Samsung Galaxy S III Mini may get its official announcement on October 11, according to new details landing online this week.  A couple of international blogs have received invitations to an event slated for 10-11-12 where Samsung touts, in loose translation, “something small that will be really big. Look closely at the invitation and you’ll see the signature ‘S’ that often accompanies Samsung’s Galaxy series of devices.

Continue reading: Samsung Galaxy S III Mini may launch October 11

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WSJ: T-Mobile, MetroPCS agree on $1.5 billion deal

Posted: 03 Oct 2012 05:49 AM PDT

T-Mobile and MetroPCS have approved the combination of the two entities in what’s known as a reverse merger. According to sources familiar with the companies and their plans, MetroPCS will acquire T-Mobile USA but will be still be called T-Mobile and run by its current CEO, John Legere

Continue reading: WSJ: T-Mobile, MetroPCS agree on $1.5 billion deal

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Cruzerlite has accessories, shirts, and more for the Android lover

Posted: 02 Oct 2012 06:15 PM PDT

Are you a proud owner of a new Android device and want to do your part to protect it against scratches, drops, or scuffs? Do yourself a favor and check out the growing line of stuff over at Cruzerlite. We’ve had a chance to test out some of their recent designs and are very impressed with the build quality and selection.

Whether you’re in the market for smartphone or tablet accessories, chances are good that Cruzerlite has your back. We have watched as their lineup has grown to include a multitude of supported products, even the brand new stuff.�

Continue reading: Cruzerlite has accessories, shirts, and more for the Android lover

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