Android Community |
- Google’s Niantic Project revealed: Mysterious new viral campaign
- Expendable: Rearmed classic shooter hits Google Play
- AT&T to sell Samsung Galaxy Express for $99 starting November 16
- Google Shopper App gets new UI, GoodGuide product ratings, and more
- Samsung starts Galaxy Note 10.1 Jelly Bean updates in Germany
- Samsung remains number one smartphone brand in China
- Samsung Galaxy S III is the world most popular smartphone in Q3
- Angry Birds Star Wars available now on Google Play
- Verizon offers Sandy victims relief by waiving phone bill – or part of it
- Nova 10 Hero II tablet detailed with quad-core and 4.1 Jelly Bean for $209
- OUYA Console developer kits available again for $800
- Will it Blend presents Nexus 7 vs iPad mini vs Kindle Fire HD
- Qualcomm revenue tops $19 billion in 2012, $4.9bn in Q4 as smartphones surge
- LG Optimus L9 Review
- T-Mobile lights up faster HSPA+ in D.C., Baltimore, and Houston
- DC Comics now available for Kindle and NOOK Tablets
| Google’s Niantic Project revealed: Mysterious new viral campaign Posted: 08 Nov 2012 10:25 AM PST Those folks from Google are up to something weird here with what they are calling the “Niantic Project” and this appears to only be the beginning. Google's Niantic Labs recently launched the Android app Field Trip. Which is being marketed and described as "your guide to the cool, hidden, and unique things in the world around you." Today we’ve got wind of something new called the +Niantic Project and a few videos below will get you started.
Now we’re not fully sure where to start here as this new “viral campaign” — or at least that’s what we’re calling it — has just started, and this is only the beginning of what appears to be a month long campaign ending November 30th. After a closer look this is more than just a viral campaign, but some sort of Android Augmented Reality Game too. We’ll let you start with this video: The folks from Webpronews have been all over this new project, and for those that didn’t watch the full video here’s what the voice had to say:
Currently the Niantic Project is on day 8, and they’ve been releasing little bits of details over the past few days. Each day we get a “word of the day” and earlier this week they released a video of a buy buying a “glitchy phone” that acts up and even works without a SIM card. Pretty interesting (and a bit cheesy) but in the end the phone acts up when it is near statues and other landmarks — much like Google’s Field Trip app. From what we’ve gathered from various comments, reddit users and more this appears to be both a viral campaign, as well as some sort of Augmented Reality Game. Most likely this will lead to an Android app, and possibly even a Google Project Glass tie-in. The videos leave us with more questions than we had before we watched them, and the site keeps adding new details daily. You’ll want to head to NianticProject.com to get started. The bottom of the page clearly shows the timeline ending on November 30th, but we have a feeling we’ll know much more about what Google and Niantic Labs has planned by then. The site is also directing fans and readers that want to solve and decode the clues and puzzles to a wiki page for further discussion. Whether this is just a marketing campaign for Google’s Field Trip app, some teasing before they unveil an Augmented Reality game, or even has to do with Project Glass they’ve certainly piqued our interest. What do you guys think? [via SlashGear]
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| Expendable: Rearmed classic shooter hits Google Play Posted: 08 Nov 2012 09:42 AM PST Today we have another awesome game to share with everyone, just in case Angry Birds Star Wars isn’t quite your thing. It’s called Expendable: Rearmed and brings the 90′s classic arcade shooter straight to our favorite Android smartphones and tablets. The popular Dreamcast game has been developed by Retrobomb Studios for Android, has great graphics, and is available today.
By teaming up with NVIDIA, Retrobomb’s new game will have stunning graphics for all Android smartphones and tablets, but on those Tegra-touting devices you’ll get enhanced lighting, more realistic physics, and overall a great level of detail and graphics for a better experience. There’s only one directive with this game — and that’s annihilation. This shoot-em up arcade style shooter will surely remind you of the late 90′s with the gameplay style, graphics, and even that classic music and soundtrack they’ve bundled. Surely will bring back some good memories for some. They’ve priced it at $3 so you’ll want to check out the video below and see if it’s worth the purchase. As you can see the game has a very arcade feel to it, but essentially you run around with endless supplies of weapons and ammo and basically annihilate and destroy everything in your path. As the developers say: ” If it moves, shoot it! and if it doesn’t move, blow it up.” The sound effects are pretty excellent and the advanced graphics rendering specifically for quad-core Tegra 3 devices makes this game even better. It’s available right this minute too. For those interesting you can blast right in and enjoy it now from the Google Play Store, or NVIDIA TegraZone.
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| AT&T to sell Samsung Galaxy Express for $99 starting November 16 Posted: 08 Nov 2012 08:50 AM PST AT&T has just announced that it is bringing another Samsung Galaxy smartphone to market starting November 16. This time, AT&T is bringing the Samsung Galaxy Express along for $99 with a new 2-year agreement. It’s a pretty solid device that is available at a low price. It should be perfect for someone looking to upgrade without breaking the bank too much.
The Galaxy Express comes with a 5MP camera on that back that’s capable of grabbing photos at 2592 х 1944. It also comes with a 2000 mAh battery, so it should be able to make it through a day of usage without issue. The device also features Samsung’s S Beam technology, which allows you to share media by simply tapping two phones back to back. As part of the device’s release, AT&T is offering anyone who buys a Samsung Galaxy device $100 off another connected Samsung device. This would essentially make this phone free if you need more than one device. AT&T is also launching a new $49 MiFi Liberate mobile hotspot on November 16 as well.
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| Google Shopper App gets new UI, GoodGuide product ratings, and more Posted: 08 Nov 2012 08:18 AM PST Google Shopper version 3.0 has just hit Google Play, and it brings some pretty awesome new stuff. The first, and most obvious change, is a revamped user interface. Instead of the tradition interface, it features a much more image-centric design with a slide-out menu that mirrors many of Google’s other in-house applications. This new layout allows users to see larger images of the products in question, which make the app much more user-friendly.
If you are unfamiliar with Google Shopper, it is an app that helps you find new products and deals. It can scan barcodes and the covers of books and media. It searches for local stores and online prices. Basically, it serves as a one stop shopping companion. The update is available now on Google Play. If you are a new user, you can download the latest version for free. The same goes for existing users looking to update to the latest version. The app supports Android devices running 2.1 and above. [via Engadget]
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| Samsung starts Galaxy Note 10.1 Jelly Bean updates in Germany Posted: 08 Nov 2012 07:51 AM PST Samsung is beginning to roll out a Jelly Bean update to Note 10.1 tablets. The updates are beginning in Germany starting today. A report from SamMobile says that the over-the-air update is rolling out gradually to German owners of the device, so if you are in Germany, you may not see the update just yet. Be patient.
The update will add some awesome features for owners of the Galaxy Note 10.1. Probably the most notable of these is Project Butter, which greatly improves responsiveness of the device. The update also adds the new Google Search App and access to Google Now, which helps personalize the device and make it your own. As of this writing, there is no word on whether other territories are receiving the update. Hopefully Samsung rolls out the update to the rest of the world sooner rather than later. If you are outside of Germany, and are seeing the update notification on your device, hit the comments section below and let us know. Device Info
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 [via SamMobile]
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| Samsung remains number one smartphone brand in China Posted: 08 Nov 2012 06:47 AM PST Research firm Canalys has released numbers regarding the smartphone market in China. As expected, Samsung maintained its number one spot, but it was an incredibly close race. Apple, who previously sat in fifth place on the list during Q2, has fallen off the market completely.
A Chinese company called Yulong Computer Telecommunication Scientific came in third on the list. Yulong sells smartphones under the brand Coolpad. According to the analysts, the company’s success came from their lower-end devices that retail for under $100. After Yulong, ZTE and Huawei rounded out the list. Spots three through five were extremely close, with Yulong, ZTE, and Huawei each having roughly 10% of the market. Smartphone shipments in China for Q3 reached over 50 million units. China actually accounted for over one-third of the world's total smartphone shipments. [via SlashGear]
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| Samsung Galaxy S III is the world most popular smartphone in Q3 Posted: 08 Nov 2012 06:30 AM PST The Samsung Galaxy S III has passed the iPhone 4S in Q3 as the worlds best selling smartphone. The reason for this surge in popularity is vast distribution and hefty operator subsidies. 18m Galaxy S IIIs were shipped during the July-September period, compared to 16.2m iPhone 4S devices. This data comes from research firm Strategy Analytics.
Ironically, Apple’s lawsuits against Samsung could actually be one of the main reasons for the Galaxy S III’s jump in sales. Apple’s claims against the Korean company have actually put it into the public eye, and caused increased sales. Either way, it’s good to Samsung sitting on the top of the charts. Only time will tell if Samsung can hold onto that top spot. Analysts claim that part of the reason for the decrease in iPhone 4S sales in Q3 was people waiting for the iPhone 5 to hit the market. Now that the iPhone 5 will be out for all of Q4, we will have to wait and see if Samsung can hang on or if Apple will grab the top spot. [via SlashGear]
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| Angry Birds Star Wars available now on Google Play Posted: 08 Nov 2012 05:50 AM PST The latest installment of Rovio’s mega-hit Angry Birds franchise has hit Google Play. This time, it comes with a license from the world’s most beloved sci-fi franchise. That’s right, Angry Birds Star Wars is here, and you can grab it right this minute. As is usually the case, we expect this to shoot to the top of Google Play quickly, as it seems like Rovio has the Midas touch for mobile games.
The gameplay in Angry Birds Star Wars borrows the physics from Angry Birds Space, but with the characters having Star Wars themed powers. For example, Obi-Wan bird can use The Force to knock down pig-stacks. Of course, there are Stormtrooper pigs, and plenty of imperial themed levels to keep things interesting. There are over 80 levels in the game, so there should be plenty to keep you busy for the long haul. The Star Wars theme adds some new gameplay mechanics, such as lasers that attempt to shoot your birds out of the sky. The game is available now on Google Play. The SD version of the application is free, and the HD version costs $2.99. It’s also available on the Amazon App Store for Kindle Fire devices for $4.99.      [via SlashGear]
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| Verizon offers Sandy victims relief by waiving phone bill – or part of it Posted: 07 Nov 2012 04:19 PM PST The aftermath of Hurricane Sandy has been severe, for some more so than others, but either way it’s a sad situation. It’s nice to see parties from all sides come together for the good of this great nation, whether it be politics, or the cell phone companies teaming up. Today we just learned that Verizon pulled some strings and in a thoughtful gesture will be waiving the bill for many of their customers.
T-Mobile and AT&T teamed up and were allowing free and unaltered easy roaming between between networks so friends and families could have full phone access, and now Verizon has announced some awesome news that is quite surprising. While Verizon gets a bad rap by many for charging fees and what not, this is a very nice gesture and something worth giving a shout out for. Well done Verizon! Verizon has stated that some customers in New York and New Jersey will not be billed this month for their cellphone usage — although this only is aimed and voice and text usage. Users will still be billed for any data charges they’ve incurred. Here’s the statement from Verizon:
When they state no action will be required what this means is users won’t have to pay their bill, and then wait for credits, or call and confirm that they’ll be included. All customers within the selected areas simply won’t be billed for the dates mentioned above. To see if your area is included you’ll want to click here. Those not in any of the mentioned areas can also call 1-800-922-0204 and ask for a waiver on a case-by-case basis. It’s great to see Verizon Wireless taking this step to help those in need. One point for Big Red! [via InformationWeek]
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| Nova 10 Hero II tablet detailed with quad-core and 4.1 Jelly Bean for $209 Posted: 07 Nov 2012 03:39 PM PST You’ve probably seen or heard of their tablets in the past, but if not, Ainol’s budget friendly tablets are quite popular in the 7-inch form factor. Today they’ve announced their new Nova 10.1-inch Hero II tablet complete with some top tier specs, the latest version of Android, and a low price. Head down below for more details.
Now before we continue, these tablets certainly need to be filed under the “Chinese knockoff” category, but this latest tablet sounds quite nice given the specs. Their new Nova 10 Hero II comes complete with a 10.1-inch 1280×800 resolution IPS display, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, a pair of cameras, and is powered by a no-name quad-core ACT ATM7029 processor. The Hero II also comes complete with 1GB of DDR3 RAM, 16GB of internal storage, a front VGA and 3 megapixel rear camera, and even offers HDMI-out and micro-SD for expanded storage. Obviously it has the usual WiFi, Bluetooth, sensors and an 8,000 mAh battery. The entire design here from Ainol looks quite similar to Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10, and even is pretty thin coming in at 9.8mm thick. The few pictures below should give you another idea of what to expect. So how about this Ainol Nova 10 Hero II tablet? For $209 dollars you’ll get an IPS display, quad-core power, and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Pretty good deal if you ask us. Obviously the question remains on build quality and that processor. Unlike some Chinese tablets, this indeed comes with the Google Play Store for full access to the 700,000 Android apps available today. The tablet isn’t quite available yet, but can soon be yours for $209 if you feel like making the jump and giving it a try.    [via PocketDroid]
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| OUYA Console developer kits available again for $800 Posted: 07 Nov 2012 03:17 PM PST Ever since exceeding their goal by huge margins the OUYA Android Game Console hasn’t been in the news much. That is because the worldwide launch isn’t expected until March of 2013. However, for those on the cutting edge or developers looking for early access, their developer kits are available again today for pre-order starting at $800.
Now we know that sounds expensive but that includes the Tegra 3 powered Android game console, two controllers, and their SDK — which they are calling the ODK. This is clearly not for the general public, and only aimed at developers looking to get early access to test their games and apps for the OUYA game console. It should arrive for those who pre-order in January of next year. We expect the console to launch at a very friendly and competitive price. The price we are seeing today is only for the early access, and bonus content developers will be receiving. Just last week some developer boards started arriving, as well as an update to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. It’s safe to say when this gaming console arrives it will be on the latest Android 4.2 Jelly Bean given their speed of updates. The folks from OUYA outed the pre-order kits today on Google+ and is letting everyone know they need to get in now as the developer preview kits are in short supply. Hopefully the teams from Gameloft, MadFinger Games and more can all get started on some killer OUYA games. Who’s still interested in the OUYA?
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| Will it Blend presents Nexus 7 vs iPad mini vs Kindle Fire HD Posted: 07 Nov 2012 02:08 PM PST In the usual BlendTec fashion today we have a treat for all of you happy tablet users. The folks from Will it Blend? have released an epic video showing off the Google Nexus 7 vs Apple’s iPad mini and the Kindle Fire HD. In their usual “comparison video” they show off just how well devices handle (or don’t handle) getting tossed into one of their popular blenders.
It’s all about the comparison right guys? I mean one might handle this better than the other, and thus sway your purchase decision right? I think my favorite part of the video is the beginning where he has to bust each tablet in half just to fit them inside the blender. I cringed during the Nexus 7 breakage, but rather enjoyed watching him smash the iPad mini — just like the Nexus 7 does. I’m sure you’ve all seen this before so we’ll just skip the pleasantries, or unpleasantries and let you all enjoy the awesomeness that ensues in this video. We proudly present you the Will it Blend iPad mini and Nexus 7 edition — oh and that one Amazon tablet too. (Hint: They all lose!) Smells like Google! In the end what do you guys think. Who won this epic battle of the blenders? The fact that the Nexus 7 took more tries for the initial break gives it a W in my win-lose column, but I’m sure everyone has their own opinions here. Based off the ending it looks like the all lost this battle — just like my NFL Fantasy Football team this year. I’m a bit sad they ruined all these excellent tablets but what can you do? [via Droid-Life]
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| Qualcomm revenue tops $19 billion in 2012, $4.9bn in Q4 as smartphones surge Posted: 07 Nov 2012 01:46 PM PST Today the folks from Qualcomm have posted some annual and quarterly earning reports that were quite impressive. Not only did they release their Q4 financial results, but also their entire 2012 fiscal year — which is up 28% year-over-year actually. Head on past the break for more details on Qualcomm’s earnings, and how smartphone and Snapdragon sales have them staying at the top.
First we’ll talk about their Q4 earnings, since that’s what those San Diego natives are wrapping up. For Q4 of 2012 Qualcomm saw massive earnings, revenue, and growth as a whole. With a slight gain over Q3 Q4 saw an increase to $4.87 billion in revenue, which was also up 18% compared to last year’s fourth quarter gains. Qualcomm saw $46 billion device sales in Q4, and 141 million MSM mobile chipset processors shipped. That shows an 11% year-over-year gain in Snapdragon processors shipping. Now moving on to 2012 fiscal results, Qualcomm has announced they hit record high margins in 2012 topping $19 billion in revenue. They also kindly stated their budget and balance sheet is remaining strong too, with $26.8 billion of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of September 30, 2012. It looks like Qualcomm’s doing quite nicely for themselves. The report states that they had record high revenues, earnings, and MSM chipset sales in 2012. Which are all being driven by record sales in global markets for smartphones and other wireless devices. Overall for 2012 Qualcomm reported $19.12 billion in revenue, which was also up a staggering 28% year-over-year, and 590 million MSM processor chipsets sold through 2012. A number which is also up 22% compared to 2011′s fiscal year. Qualcomm also had a few estimates for 2013, hoping their industry-leading Snapdragon and 3G/4G LTE chipset growth and sales will see them topping double-digit numbers again for 2013. With estimates pegged for $23billion next year, with over 900 million MSM chipsets shipped. With Qualcomm leading the pack with their quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro, S4, and mid-range offerings device wide across the globe things are looking pretty good for Qually. Hit the timeline below for more details. [via Qualcomm]
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| Posted: 07 Nov 2012 01:14 PM PST LG has certainly been on a roll recently. They made Google’s newest Nexus smartphone, the Nexus 4, and they released their new flagship device, the Optimus G, just recently on AT&T. However, LG isn’t just about the high-end game. They came out with a set of mid-range Optimus devices throughout the summer, and their latest one is the Optimus L9, which was released through T-Mobile on Halloween. We ended up getting our hands on one and decided to run it through its paces to see if it’s worthy of the $79.99 price tag. Let’s see how it fared.
Hardware The Optimus L9 is extremely light and thin (4.2 oz. and 0.36-inches thin). It's not quite as thin as Samsung’s Galaxy S III, but it's right on par with the iPhone 4/4S, which can still be considered really thin despite it being a last-gen device. The L9 runs on a 1.0GHz Texas Instruments OMAP 4430 dual-core processor with 1GB of RAM and 4GB of storage. Unlike recent Android devices, LG decided to stick with the microSD card slot, so while the 4GB of internal storage is extremely low (and quite ridiculous), you can easily pop in up to a 32GB card to bump up the storage capacity. The L9 features a 4.5-inch IPS LCD display with a qHD resolution of 960×540, which gives the screen a surprisingly low pixel density of 245ppi, which is lower than a lot of two-year-old devices (like the HTC Incredible, for instance), but despite the display not being HD, it doesn't look half bad. The contrast is good, and the saturation makes icons and images really pop. On top of the display is none other than Corning's toughened Gorilla Glass 2, which protects the screen from most scratches, but might not be so lucky when it comes to accidental drops (I wasn’t brave enough to actually test this out).
The L9 has a home button at the bottom that's almost flush with the surface, and there's also back and menu soft buttons that appear hidden when they're not lit up — a nice touch. On the left side you have your traditional volume buttons and the power button rests on the right side. On the top-left there's a 3.5mm headphone jack with an ambient noise sensor right next to it, and on the bottom you'll find the microUSB port and microphone. On the back, there's a 5MP camera with a single-LED flash, and a 1.3MP camera situated on the front. If you're looking for the microSD slot, it's under the battery cover, which is surprisingly pain-free to snap off. The speaker is on the back as well, which is obviously in the exact opposite direction of where it should be facing. Usually on most devices, though, you can cup your hand around the speaker easily depending on its location in order to redirect the sound, but I noticed that there's really no good way of doing this on the L9. The battery cover also has a unique texture to it that gives your fingers the illusion that it's almost rubbery, so the phone feels really nice in the hand and it's easy to grip, despite how thin it is.        Software The LG Optimus L9 runs Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich. There's nothing too surprising here other than LG's Optimus UI that's running on top, as well as a few bells and whistles from T-Mobile. LG's UI is very light and doesn't get in the way much of the true Android experience, but T-Mobile's different apps and widgets are definitely in your face. The user interface is really smooth, and I didn't notice any slow down other than the occasional third-party app crashing on me once or twice. Of course, the L9 may not be a Galaxy S III or an Optimus G, but as a lower-end, affordable option, it performs extremely well. As with any carrier device, though, there's a ton of pre-installed apps that come with the phone, and many of them you probably won't end up using. Game Base, 411 & More, CallerTunes, More for Me, and SmartShare are some of the apps that most users probably won't bother with, but some of the useful apps that come pre-installed are Amazon, Polaris Office, Slacker Radio, and TeleNav. One app in particular, Lookout Security, automatically scans every app you download and install, and it backs up your device, as well as attempts to locate your phone if it becomes lost or stolen.
The keyboard is very quick and responsive, and I had no problem getting used to typing out text messages and even writing a couple of paragraphs of this review. Plus, the larger screen allows for a bigger keyboard that's easier to type on for larger hands, and it's even better for smaller hands, of course. The keyboard also includes its own version of gesture typing that's a lot like Swype, which did a good job forming the words that I wanted it to most of the time, but sometimes the suggestion system would auto-complete words that were a bit off from what I actually wanted. Battery The battery was probably one aspect that I was surprised by. I expected it to only last throughout the day before I would have to charge it later in the evening, but I was consistently getting a full 24 hours out of the device before it would dip below 20%. For example, I started playing with the phone in the afternoon and spent most of the evening downloading apps, surfing the web, running benchmarks, and playing a couple of games, while having WiFi, 4G, and location services turned on the whole time. By the time I went to bed that night, the phone was down to 53% from a full charge that afternoon. When I woke up the next morning, the battery was down to just 50%, so it seems that it fares well overnight even while having all of the connectivity options on the entire time. I played around with the phone little by little throughout the next day by watching shows on Netflix, checking email, and surfing Facebook and Twitter. It wasn't until the evening when the battery creeped down to 20%.
The battery packs in 2,150 mAh of juice, which isn't small by any means, but it's also not a crazy amount, so I was pleasantly surprised that I could go a full day and night without having to tether it to the wall, which says a lot about the hardware and software's ability to sip on power. I reckon that with just moderate use, you could get two days out of it, easily. Camera The Optimus L9 features a 5MP rear camera that's capable of shooting full 1080p HD video. There's also a 1.3MP front-facing VGA camera, but that's mostly for the occasional video chat with a friend or family member. The rear camera is where all the action is at. Photo quality is respectable, but there's nothing that we haven't seen before on similar handsets. It takes decent outdoor photos, and indoor photos are fairly good as well, although low light can be a problem, and the flash will end up kicking in. This is to be expected, though, with most smartphones.
       There's quite a few settings and presets that users can change around. You can adjust things like the brightness, ISO, and white balance, as well as toggle the shutter sound. There's also a voice shutter feature, where you can yell, "Cheese!", and the camera will take a photo without any button pressing necessary — great for when the photo taker wants to be in the picture as well. Video quality is average. It has decent contrast and saturation, but it's nothing too spectacular. It takes average video and definitely works in a pinch if you don't have your main shooter around. The camera also comes with a panorama mode, which a lot new handsets are now coming with right out of the box. All you have to do is press the shutter button and pan your phone across a landscape or whatever you're wanting to capture. It does a decent job at stitching the photos together, although as with a lot of automatic panorama modes, it can make some weird stitching mistakes at times, but I've never noticed anything drastic. However, the big problem with the panorama mode on the L9 is that it looks like it uses the video camera to capture the panorama and not the actual photo camera. You can easily tell that the quality of the panorama photos are definitely not 5MP image quality. This isn't too big of a deal, but don't expect excellent results when you want to shoot a panorama. Overall, the camera is decent, but if you truly care about taking quality photos and videos, your dedicated camera should still be your go-to shooter. However, if you're not too concerned about quality and are just wanting to get the shots you need, the L9's camera is perfect for just that. Benchmarks & 4G HSPA+ As usual, I ran a few benchmarks to test the internal hardware's capability, and while it certainly isn't up to par with an HTC One X or the Galaxy S III, the L9 holds its own against several last-gen high-performance handsets, such as the Galaxy Nexus and the Galaxy S II. It scored over 5,700 in AnTuTu, but fell short slightly with a 3,300 in Quandrant. We can blame that on the slower OMAP processor that's under the hood, compared to the many devices out there currently running Qualcomm's faster Snapdragon S4. In CF-Bench, the L9 scored just over a 5,200 — right up there with the Galaxy S II and tying with the HTC Sensation.
As far as T-Mobile's 4G HSPA+ service, I had mixed results. Overall, I averaged around 8Mbps download speeds and around 1.5Mbps upload speeds. I went all around town attempting to find the best speeds, but ended up topping out at 11Mbps down during testing. Obviously, your mileage will vary, so don't completely take my word for it.
Wrap-Up I won't beat around the bush: For only $80, this phone performs, and if you're looking for an extremely-thin handset that has an affordable price tag, the L9 could easily be a good choice. However, there's still some sacrifices that you'll have to make if you decide to grab this device. It doesn't have a HD display, which is particularly disappointing considering that it has a huge 4.5-inch screen. Also, the camera isn't quite good enough to replace your dedicated point-and-shoot camera. However, if you're not too concerned about photo or video quality and just want the plain ability to take photos and videos, then you won't be disappointed.
I only wish it had a slightly faster processor, though. The TI OMAP 1.0GHz chip is certainly fast and it makes the phone extremely smooth and snappy, but knowing that other budget phones are sporting the quicker Snapdragon S4 (like Samsung's Galaxy Stellar) makes me think that LG could have done just a bit better in this area. However, these aren't complaints so much as just factors to be aware of. No phone is perfect and that goes double for budget devices, but the Optimus L9 is a sleek and thin device, giving it the illusion of a top-of-the-line flagship phone. It doesn't quite stand out from the rest of the Android crowd, so it's definitely an underdog phone that may not get a lot of attention, but I was honestly surprised when I saw that you can grab one for only $80, which may make it more appealing to those looking for a mid-range device.              Device Info
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| T-Mobile lights up faster HSPA+ in D.C., Baltimore, and Houston Posted: 07 Nov 2012 12:24 PM PST As T-Mobile continues to modernize their network, known as a refarm, they’ve announced today that today three new Metro areas will all be getting better and faster HSPA+ speeds. T-Mobile took this moment to also state unlocked devices like the iPhone will get 70% faster speeds than on AT&T’s network, but this also holds true for all Android devices.
T-Mobile’s been modernizing their network and allowing more unlocked devices to have full HSPA+ 4G support instead of the old usual 3G speeds when a device isn’t sold directly from T-Mobile. So this holds true for those who bought international Galaxy S III, Note II’s, and anything else as of late. T-Mobile has confirmed that Washington, D.C., Houston, and the greater Baltimore area have all received a massive overhaul and improvement to their HSPA+ speeds and network. Some of those are:
That brings their refarming process to a total of 5 markets. The other two being Kansas City and Viva Las Vegas. T-Mobile says it will be equipping several more metro areas before the end of the year, as it transitions old 2G service on the 1900MHz band over to HSPA+ use for all. This is an extremely long process for T-Mobile, and we don’t expect to see a large increase any time soon, as they’re also preparing for their 4G LTE network rollout in 2013. However, for those wanting to get cheaper T-Mobile plans for their international devices, the LG Nexus 4, iPhone and more this will be a good place to start. Sadly speeds won’t be the same outside of these refarmed locations. Stay tuned for more details as T-Mobile will start announcing more 4G LTE plans soon. [via SlashGear]
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| DC Comics now available for Kindle and NOOK Tablets Posted: 07 Nov 2012 11:43 AM PST If you like comics we have good news. DC Comics has just announced their digital comics are headed to a variety of new platforms starting today. For those saying what about Google Play — that app is already available — and now the #1 Comic Book publisher’s content can be enjoyed digitally on multiple new platforms.
DC has unveiled that they now have full support for Amazon’s Kindle line, the NOOK tablets, as well as Apple’s iBook store and more. Users can enjoy all their favorite comics right on the Kindle app, and anywhere they’d like to enjoy some Superman action. DC Comics have been available digitally for a while, but now they have opened their reach and are even updating on a weekly basis. DC Comics also stated that digital sales are up 197% year-over-year and this new frontier will continue to grow and expand for comic books. DC’s co-publisher Jim Lee had this to say, “We were the first to offer our entire comic book line same-day digital and now we are the first to offer fans the convenience of multiple download options." Based on the fact that you can now enjoy their content across so many different platforms. Starting today along with the usual SuperMan, BatMan, CatWoman, Wonderwoman, Green Lantern and more you’ll be able to enjoy 70 titles. That also includes the week's New 52 superhero books, several Vertigo issues and much much more. More titles will be added weekly and in the coming months, so if you’re a DC Comics fan you have plenty of enjoyment ahead. [via SlashGear]
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