Android Central |
- Google Play Books updated with new 'Read Aloud' feature and pinch to zoom
- Samsung planning new red versions of Galaxy Tab 2 and Galaxy Note 10.1
- NVIDIA Tegra 4 details leak
- Reminder: Cast Your Votes in the 2012 Android Central Community Awards!
- Day 2 of the Nexus 7-a-day giveaway going strong in the forums
- The SpamSoldier SMS botnet: What you need to know
- Huawei set to launch 5 inch, 1080p D2 at CES
- Samsung stops injunction requests in several European countries
- Samsung extended battery for Galaxy S3 up for pre-order, 3000mAh for £40
- Google Music scan and match feature now live in the US
- Sprint shuts down 'Upgrade Now' program ... for now
- LG Spectrum 2 review
- New at ShopAndroid.com: The Lloyd Gear Sticker
- Ask AC: How do you keep up with all the CyanogenMod updates?
- Sprint adds new LTE cities in Indiana, California, Pennsylvania and Puerto Rico
- Mysms now available in a tablet-optimized version
- FCC publishes AWS-H Block spectrum auction rules
- Polaroid rumored to be working on Android-powered camera with interchangeable lenses
- Samsung announces 5-inch mid range Galaxy Grand
- AT&T 4G LTE launches in several new cities
- Sony Xperia 'Yuga' prototype gets unofficial preview
- Google's Field Trip app now available in the UK
- Daily news roundup: December 17, 2012
- Apple's request for permanent injunction denied, as is Samsung's juror misconduct claim
- HTC M7 purportedly heading to Mobile World Congress, 4.7 inch 1080p screen in tow
| Google Play Books updated with new 'Read Aloud' feature and pinch to zoom Posted: 18 Dec 2012 04:55 PM PST
Google Play Books has just had an update pushed out into the Play Store, that brings with it among other features a new 'Read Aloud' function. The new feature allows for the listening of most flowing text books, and while it seems to do a pretty good job, it's not going to replace audiobooks anytime soon. Imagine sitting down to listen to your sat-nav read you a book and you've pretty much got the right idea. Don't take our word for it though, check out the sample after the break. 
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| Samsung planning new red versions of Galaxy Tab 2 and Galaxy Note 10.1 Posted: 18 Dec 2012 03:50 PM PST
Samsung is certainly no stranger to refreshing the paint jobs on their product line when it comes to their smartphones. But, as yet their tablet offerings have been somewhat more reserved. That looks set to change as these leaked press renders obtained by the folks at Sammobile show. This new color appears to be the same Garnet Red seen on the Galaxy S3, and is bound for the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 and 10.1, and the Galaxy Note 10.1. The new colors will reportedly show up for sale next year, potentially before Valentines Day. Source: Sammobile 
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| Posted: 18 Dec 2012 02:48 PM PST
A slide detailing Nvidia's upcoming Tegra 4 SoC has been leaked out, showing the specs everyone wanted and hoped for. A user on the Chinese site Chiphell posted the above slide showing off the features of the new chip, and when combined with the things we already know we have a really good idea of what is to come. The Tegra 4 will be a 28 nanometer ARM Cortex-A15 quad-core (4+1 as seen in the Tegra 3) system on chip. The A15 architecture is the next generation of silicon, and is already being used in the Exynos 5 as seen in the Nexus 10. The lower power draw and faster processing speed make a remarkable difference when you need it. The GPU is a whopping 72 core GeForce unit, bringing six times the graphical performance of the Tegra 3. With support for a full 2560x1440 24 bit color display and native hardware decoding for video, it should be able to handle anything you could throw at it in a tablet. Of course, there is always more and we are only seeing one slide of a full presentation. Hopefully Nvidia shows us more at CES in January. Source: Chiphell (Chinese) 
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| Reminder: Cast Your Votes in the 2012 Android Central Community Awards! Posted: 18 Dec 2012 02:41 PM PST
Quick reminder for everyone today, in case you missed the forums announcement opening up the 2012 Android Central Community Awards for voting! We're running the awards right now through December 21st at noon EST. If you're a regular in our forums, you'll want to head over there right now and cast your votes. There are 8 categories to submit your input on. All you need to do is enter the username of the member you think is most deserving, and tell us a little story on WHY the person should win. If you don't have a submission for a question, no worries, you can just skip that question. Easy stuff folks. Take a minute and cast your votes! 
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| Day 2 of the Nexus 7-a-day giveaway going strong in the forums Posted: 18 Dec 2012 01:49 PM PST
It's day 2 of our week long Nexus 7-a-day giveaway, where we partner with Google so you can win a 32GB Nexus 7 of your very own, and a $25 Google Play gift card to spend with it. We love the Nexus 7 here at the Mobile Nations offices. It's the perfect size for carrying with you, which means you'll use it for more than just surfing from the couch. It's bright, high-resolution screen makes it a pleasure to use, and the oompf under the hood from Nvidia's Tegra 3 processor means great multimedia consumption and some of the best mobile games on any platform. We think you'll love it, too. And so does Google. That's why we got together on this -- getting more Nexus 7 tablets into the hands of people who want one. If you're one of those people who want one (and I think I can speak for everyone and say we all are) entering is easy. Head into the forums, show us a picture of your current phone or tablet. Post the picture in the thread, and we'll pick a winner. I told you it was easy. Now get in there, read all the rules, and enter today's giveaway! Enter the Nexus 7 day two giveaway in the forums
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| The SpamSoldier SMS botnet: What you need to know Posted: 18 Dec 2012 01:23 PM PST
A little common sense is all that's needed to avoid the latest piece of scareware making the roundsHere's how to avoid the latest "ZOMG SCARY ANDROID BOTNET SCARY SCAM!!!" of the week.
If it seems like we've been here before, well, we have. This week's worry is "SpamSoldier," which uses an infected phone to send a bunch of spammy SMSs to other phones, inviting them to download free apps or games or other free offers that, of course, are trojans that then send hundreds of spammy SMSs to your contacts. It's the evil cycle of life. 
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| Huawei set to launch 5 inch, 1080p D2 at CES Posted: 18 Dec 2012 01:12 PM PST
OK, so the one on the left is a Windows Phone 8 device, more specificially, the much leaked Huawei W1. The device on the right however it the one we're interested in. We've heard talk of Huawei releasing a 5-inch device to the world, and according to an SVP at the company, we're going to see it at CES. Taking to Sina Weibo, Richard Yu confirmed that the Chinese OEM will be launching their latest high end effort, the D2, at the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next month. According to some specs which have appeared in the TENAA database, the D2 will sport a 1920x1080 display, a 2900mAh battery, a 1.5GHz quad-core chip -- likely produced in house -- 2GB of RAM and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Perhaps more interestingly, Mr Yu has also expressed his concerns that the specifications, and therefore the cost, of the device is too high. Price is still to be mentioned, but we're sure the specs are just fine. Whatever the eventual outcome, Android Central will be on the ground from Las Vegas to bring you everything you'll need to know. Sources: Sina Weibo, TENAA via Engadget 
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| Samsung stops injunction requests in several European countries Posted: 18 Dec 2012 01:08 PM PST
Seemingly out of nowhere, Samsung has said today that it will stop pursuing injunction requests against Apple products in the U.K., Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands. Coming on the heels of mixed news in the big Samsung v. Apple trial here in the states yesterday, Samsung looks to be slowing down on its lawsuits in Europe now. What this basically means is that in the countries listed above, it will no longer be trying to receive sales bans on Apple devices. The Verge received this quote from Samsung on the matter:
Quite the turn-around from the litigious nature of previous Samsung statements and actions, and everyone is wondering why the company has decided to make the switch. The likely reasoning is that Samsung is trying to put all of its time and effort into pushing the FRAND (Fair, Reasonable And Not Discriminatory) licensing of its standards-essential patent portfolio. This makes Samsung look like the good company that's working to keep a competitive marketplace, something that the regulators will like to see. This surely doesn't take future lawsuits or possible sales bans off the table entirely, but Samsung would likely be happy to just license its extensive set of patents and be done with the matter if it had the chance. Source: The Next Web; The Verge 
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| Samsung extended battery for Galaxy S3 up for pre-order, 3000mAh for £40 Posted: 18 Dec 2012 12:46 PM PST
Update: Thanks to @PDTechHD who has sent us this picture of the Samsung Galaxy S3 extended battery in its retail packaging! If the 2100mAh battery that comes stock with the Samsung Galaxy S3 still isn't quite enough for you, you'll be pleased to hear that Samsung appears set to launch an extended battery pack for the device. The extended battery hits 3000mAh, and has appeared for pre-order at British retailer, MobileFun. There are no images, or release date offered at this time, but the price for the battery is currently set at £39.99. Included is a replacement battery door -- in white or blue only it seems at the moment -- and the new battery will still come complete with NFC as with the standard one. The new battery will no doubts increase the overall thickness of the device, but many will take that for such a large battery. It isn't overly priced either for an OEM accessory, but for now we'll have to watch and wait to see when they appear. Source: MobileFun 
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| Google Music scan and match feature now live in the US Posted: 18 Dec 2012 10:21 AM PST
With the roll out of Google Music in Europe we saw Google include the scan and match feature that offers up a quick scanning of your library and then instantly makes the tracks available in the cloud much like how iTunes Match works. At the time, Google made no efforts to divulge when that feature would see other regions. Now though, they've gone ahead and made it available in the US as per their announcement on Google+:
The advantage for Google here is the fact that they've kept it free and it's automatic. As a Google Music customer, you're likely to not even notice it happening as it's all pretty much done in the background. It's a pretty slick feature that a lot of people are sure to love. Say goodbye to uploading your whole music library! Source: Google+ 
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| Sprint shuts down 'Upgrade Now' program ... for now Posted: 18 Dec 2012 09:38 AM PST
Sprint today confirmed to Android Central that its Upgrade Now program, which would let you pay a little extra to get upgrade pricing a little early, is "currently now unavailable." The internal memo adds "until further notice," which seems a bit ominous until you read the line that notes it's "temporarily discontinued." Sprint's e-mail to us also says to "check back later to see if the program has been reinstated," giving us another reason to believe this is just temporary. Thanks, anon! 
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| Posted: 18 Dec 2012 09:08 AM PST
It has been quite a year for LG, which despite its top spot among dumbphone sales has had a bit of a difficult time making it big in the Android world. Faced with stiff competition from fellow Korean handset maker Samsung, as well as HTC and Motorola, LG has struggled to create a brand for itself-- despite solid hardware, it has consistently failed to catch the attention of those who decide which Android devices sell and which ones flop-- the consumer. Then came the Optimus G and, subsequently the Nexus 4, both of which helped LG get back in the game. The Nexus 4 is widely considered to be the best Nexus to date, and the Optimus G has been called one of the best smartphones of 2012, besting even the Galaxy S 3 and the One X. Not all of LG's releases this year have been as stellar, though, and unfortunately for Verizon customers, two of LG's misses have landed on Big Red's network. The LG Intuition was too "groundbreaking" for its own good with its awkward 4:3 display, and the Spectrum 2, despite its best efforts, manages to feel like an outdated afterthought and a slap in the face to Verizon loyalists who have had to watch LG's comeback from the sidelines. Read on for our full review. 
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| New at ShopAndroid.com: The Lloyd Gear Sticker Posted: 18 Dec 2012 08:52 AM PST
It's 3.5-inches in diameter, and it's perfect for showing that you're a part of the biggest and best Android community on the web. Plus, it's less than a buck. So buy two. Or three. Or 12. 
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| Ask AC: How do you keep up with all the CyanogenMod updates? Posted: 18 Dec 2012 08:28 AM PST
A question I get asked a lot involves updates to custom ROMs, and CyanogenMod in particular. How do we keep up with all the builds, all the updates and all the devices? Here's a secret: We don't. Because we don't have to. 
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| Sprint adds new LTE cities in Indiana, California, Pennsylvania and Puerto Rico Posted: 18 Dec 2012 07:40 AM PST
Sprint this morning announced that it's lit up a handful of new cities with its 4G LTE data. They include:
Also, Shenandoah County and Page County (Va.), as well as Chicago, should see enhanced LTE coverage, Sprint says. So if you've got an LTE-capable Sprint device and live in one of those areas, congrats. And let's hope the Myans are wrong. We've got a full list of Sprint's LTE locations after the break. 
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| Mysms now available in a tablet-optimized version Posted: 18 Dec 2012 07:13 AM PST
Mysms, the popular cross-platform SMS application is now available in an Android tablet optimized version. With My SMS you can send and receive text messages on your Android device (as well as other popular platforms) or your desktop running Windows or Mac OS -- complete with desktop notifications. There are even versions that run inside Evernote, Chrome or Facebook. It's a full service SMS application for just about any screen in your house or office. It's done by syncing from your phone (you use your number as a username) to the mysms cloud, and from there your messages get synced with all of your devices. It's something we have seen from other desktop SMS programs, but few offer this many connection options. Because it uses the cloud, you can send pictures and files as well. The tie in with Evernote makes media available for everyone, as well as provide SMS backup to your Evernote account. Maybe the best part is that messages are free to other mysms users, regardless of where you (or they) are in the world. You can send messages from your phone as normal, and be charged the normal rates, or use the mysms app on both ends and save a few bucks. The OS support makes this a real option if you have family or friends in other countries. There's a reason a half-million people have downloaded mysms for Android, and now with a tablet version, there is even more of one. If you're not a Google Voice user (we had issues getting Google Voice to work with mysms) you really need to have a look. Update: There was bit of confusion on our end. The Phone and desktop applications are free, the tablet edition is available at an introductory price of $1.99. 
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| FCC publishes AWS-H Block spectrum auction rules Posted: 18 Dec 2012 06:33 AM PST
The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) has just published the rules it will apply to a spectrum auction for the AWS-H Block. We saw last week that the FCC finally approved Dish's proposal to use its spectrum holdings for a terrestrial cellular network, and this auction was part of the deal. The auction will have 10MHz of spectrum up for grabs, in the 1915-1920MHz (uplink) and 1995-2000MHz (downlink) bands. This is directly adjacent to PCS G spectrum that Sprint currently owns, and therefore the carrier will be a likely participant in the auction. Part of the rules to the auction are that the winner must build out its network to 40-percent of the coverage area within 4 years, and 70-percent within 10 years. Also, if a company other than Sprint were to win the auction, they will be required to work closely with Sprint to make sure that its usage does not interfere with Sprint's neighboring spectrum. It will be interesting to see how the discussions surrounding this auction go, especially considering Sprint's intimate involvement in the process from the beginning. Source: FCC; PhoneScoop 
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| Polaroid rumored to be working on Android-powered camera with interchangeable lenses Posted: 18 Dec 2012 04:57 AM PST
Nikon and Samsung have already brought Android-powered smart camera to market, and now it seems Polaroid may be looking to edge into this market with a somewhat different device. According to the latest round of online rumors, the company may be bringing to market the world's first Android-based compact camera with interchangeable lenses. Today's leak comes from Photo Rumors, which sources a company profile for article in industry publication Dealerscope. The article about Sakar international, which is apparently collaborating with Polaroid on the device, reveals the camera as the Polaroid IM1836. This apparently features a 18.1MP sensor, pop-up flash, a 3.5-inch touchscreen and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The camera is said to offer Wifi and HDMI connection options, but there's no mention of any cellular data option, or internal hardware like CPU or RAM. Visual similarities between the IM1836 and the Nikon 1 J2 have led to speculation that the Polaroid may use the Nikon's lens ecosystem, though right now the relationship between the two cameras remains unclear. Crucially, the inclusion of interchangeable lenses would indicate that this device is more focused on image quality than earlier Samsung and Nikon offerings. Image quality been a common complaint of the Samsung Galaxy Camera, which costs as much as a mirrorless camera, but produces point-and-shoot quality pictures. There's no word as yet on when Polaroid's Android-powered camera might make an official appearance, but we'll be on the lookout for it at CES in Las Vegas next month. Source: Photo Rumors; via: The Verge 
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| Samsung announces 5-inch mid range Galaxy Grand Posted: 18 Dec 2012 04:28 AM PST
Samsung has just taken the wraps off of yet another variant in the Galaxy lineup, the Galaxy Grand. This looks to be a weird mash-up of the Galaxy S3 Mini and original Galaxy Note, but the end result is a decidedly mid range device. We're looking at a 5-inch WVGA (that's just 480x800) display here, a 1.2GHz dual-core processor (model not specified,) 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage. There's an 8MP shooter on the back and 2MP on the front, a 2100mAh battery and the whole thing is running Android 4.1.2 with TouchWiz. We're only seeing 21mbps HSPA+ as a connectivity option, with the standard 850/900/1900/2100MHz frequencies for most networks around the world -- no LTE to be seen here. The Galaxy Grand will roll out in two flavors: the GT-I9080 and GT-I9082, with the latter being identical but with dual SIM slots. Given its specs and features we can assume this is going to be targeted at certain European and Asian markets, and we'd bet the U.S. carriers won't be picking this up unless Samsung makes some specifically different models for this market. By that time it'll likely be a completely different device. There's no pricing or availability information in this release, but we're not expecting Samsung to make too big of a splash about this device. Source: Samsung 
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| AT&T 4G LTE launches in several new cities Posted: 18 Dec 2012 04:09 AM PST
In the run up to the holidays, it seems AT&T is wasting no time expanding its 4G LTE coverage -- we've counted at least thirteen in the past few weeks. Today brings the news that the carrier's LTE network has just been lit up in four new cities:
In addition, Phoenix and Los Angeles are seeing expanded coverage. If you're seeing AT&T 4G LTE reception for the first time today, be sure to shout out in the comments. 
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| Sony Xperia 'Yuga' prototype gets unofficial preview Posted: 18 Dec 2012 03:44 AM PST
After it leaked photos of a prototype device yesterday, Russian site Mobile-Reviews has published a detailed preview of Sony's upcoming 2013 high-ender, currently known by its codename "Yuga." According to today's preview, the 5-inch, 1080p device packs a 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro CPU, 2GB of RAM and a glass-clad chassis. There's also expandable storage via microSD card, world LTE connectivity and a 12MP camera, so if specs alone are any indication, the "Yuga" should measure up favorably against other high-end phones in early 2013. On the software side, the prototype is running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and Sony's own proprietary software. Highlights here include new live wallpapers, a re-vamped camera app with filters (because that's what everyone's doing these days), and a redesigned clock app. Visually, Sony's Xperia UI as seen on the prototype looks much the same as it did on earlier phones like the Xperia T and Xperia S. You'll find a complete run-down of the prototype hardware and software at the source link below. Sony tends to announce its new high-end stuff at CES each year, so we expect we'll see the finalized design in Las Vegas in just a few weeks. Source: Mobile-Review (Translated) 
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| Google's Field Trip app now available in the UK Posted: 18 Dec 2012 03:23 AM PST
Following on from some other recent Field Trip updates, the app is now available in the UK. Field Trip is a Google-created app designed to highlight local points of interest, popping up notifications while you're out and about, and allowing you to browse through nearby places on a map, or based on location. Previously limited to the U.S., Field Trip's UK debut is the latest in a series of UK launches for previously U.S.-only Google products, such as Play Music and Play Magazines. Right now the usefulness of Field Trip to Android phone owners in the UK will depend on where in the country they live. London is pretty well-documented, with cards for restaurants, venues, historical sites and other attractions clustered around the center of the capital. However other UK cities are looking much more sparse at the moment, so hopefully Google will continue fleshing things out in the weeks ahead. Brits can grab the latest version of Field Trip for Android at the Google Play link above. You'll need Android 2.3 Gingerbread or higher to get in on the location-aware action. 
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| Daily news roundup: December 17, 2012 Posted: 18 Dec 2012 12:28 AM PST
Mondays are always heavy news days, and you'd have to be crazy to somehow keep track of everything throughout the day. It's for this reason that we do daily news roundups so you can catch up on all that happened. Take a look through all of the stories, you'll likely find something you missed that's a worth-while read. Hardware news to revisit:
Apps and software:
Industry things:
From Android Central and the editors:
See everyone back here on Tuesday! 
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| Apple's request for permanent injunction denied, as is Samsung's juror misconduct claim Posted: 17 Dec 2012 08:20 PM PST
Judge Koh (the presiding judge in the Apple v. Samsung mess) tonight entered two orders pertaining to the case this evening. The first one, and arguably the most important one, says Apple is not to be granted a permanent injunction against offending Samsung products. Seems that even though a jury found plenty of offending instances last August, Judge Koh feels that an injunction is not warranted, as the infringements were but small parts of what makes up the whole device. In fact, the motion was dismissed in its entirety, meaning this part of the case is over -- save for the inevitable appeal from Apple. (So, no, it's not really over yet.) The second order is pertaining to juror misconduct. You might remember that Samsung took issue with the fact that the jury foreman had previous legal dealings against a Samsung-invested company, and there was some concern over statements made after the end of the trial to the media that made the foreman's conduct come into question. This issue is closed, and the judge denied any further hearing on the matter. In judge Koh's statement on the matter of injunction, she writes:
We're certain that this is still far from over. Unfortunately, we'll continue to follow things as they progress. Via: CNET 
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| HTC M7 purportedly heading to Mobile World Congress, 4.7 inch 1080p screen in tow Posted: 17 Dec 2012 06:51 PM PST
A usually reliable source of juicy leaks, the guys at @evleaks, are back and bringing word of a potential high end device from HTC heading to Mobile World Congress in February. The rumored HTC M7 is supposedly the top of the line successor to the HTC One X, announced itself in Barcelona at the 2012 MWC. We're supposed to be seeing a first-of-its-kind 1080p display at 4.7 inches with an eye watering 468PPI. Underneath is said to be a second-generation Qualcomm quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. Not an unlikely set of specs by any means, neither is the reported Jelly Bean out of the box or the reported new version of HTC Sense. The camera on the One X was -- and still is, in fact -- a stand out feature on HTC's current top line smartphone, and if the rumors pan out, the M7 will be no different. A 13MP rear shooter with an f/2.0 lens, and a 2MP front facer both with 1080p video recording capabilities. An improved "Cinesensor" image sensor is also said to bring increased image quality along with features such as HDR built in. Again, nothing here sounds too out of the ordinary, aside from perhaps the 1080p screen at less than 5 inches. But, we're expecting 1080p to be one of the must haves on high end devices coming in 2013, and since the Butterfly won't be heading to Europe anytime soon, maybe this device is why. The report also suggests that the M7 -- still a codename, in case you were wondering -- is scheduled to appear on Sprint and Verizon in the United States. Oh, and Beats. It's got Beats. It's no surprise to see rumor mills begin to grind as we prepare to enter the biggest show season of the year. Mobile World Congress is but 2 months away, so if HTC is preparing something special, we won't have to wait too long to find out what's what. Source: @evleaks 
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