Friday, May 25, 2012

Android Community

Android Community


New ICS ROM leaked for the HTC EVO 3D

Posted: 25 May 2012 10:28 AM PDT

Owners of the HTC EVO 3D are clearly selective consumer who only appreciate smartphone hardware with 50% more dimensions than the standard two. Think how much more they’ll appreciate them with Ice Cream Sandwich. Yes, in addition to ported ROMs and other leaks, you can now try out HTC’s official Android 4.0 build, by way of an RUU file. Many thanks to BriefMobile, who leaked and posted the file themselves.

This latest leak comes as one of HTC’s proprietary ROM Update Utilities, a ROM and installer wrapped up into one Windows EXE file (Mac and Linux users need not apply). Just put your phone into debug mode, plug it into your computer, make sure you’ve got the correct drivers, run the program, and wait. Keep in mind that this will technically void your warranty, but you should be in the clear if you get back on the “official” path when the software OTA becomes available.

We don’t have an EVO 3D to test it on, but it’s a pretty fair bet that the 1.13 update includes the same Sense 3.6 interface that’s been popping up in other, older HTC phones with ICS upgrades. If that’s not good enough, you can try out this One S adapted ROM, or just go out and buy an EVO 4G LTE. You know, now that the ITC says you can.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : EVO 3D
    Manufactuer : HTC
    Carrier : Unknown
    Announced Date : March 22, 2011
    Release Date : June 24, 2011
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.30 Inch
  • Resolution : 540x960
  • Screen Type : S-LCD
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.00 Inch
  • Width : 2.60 Inch
  • Depth : 0.47 Inch
  • Weight : 170 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 1730 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : 355 hours
Software
    Android OS:
  • 2.3.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • MP3
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
Hardware
    CPU : Snapdragon
    CPU Clock Speed : 1200 Mhz
    Core : 2
    Ram : 1024 MB
    Internal Storage : 4.096 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 5 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 720p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • CDMA
    CDMA Band:
  • 800
  • 1900
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • Bluetooth 3.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

[via Phandroid]


Samsung Galaxy S III Pebble Blue delayed

Posted: 25 May 2012 10:02 AM PDT

Don’t get too worried folks. The Galaxy S III itself hasn’t been delayed, but if you were planning on picking up the shiny Pebble Blue model instead of white you might be waiting an extra month or two. We are now hearing from multiple sources that the blue Galaxy S III has been delayed and Samsung will be pushing the white model until further notice.

According to multiple sources it appears the blue version of the highly anticipated phone has suffered some manufacturing problems and Samsung had to destroy hundreds of thousands of the blue models outer shell. Multiple comments over on Reddit have confirmed this with different pre-order sites from different countries now starting to confirm delays.

Then again with news from the folks at XDA Developers where they mention Samsung had to toss nearly 600,000 rear casing for the phone and have since modified their production process. Some online retailers have also sent out emails saying Samsung has delayed and stopped all shipments on the blue flavor. This could mean a shortage in general for the Galaxy S III, but hopefully they have enough white models to go around until they can ramp up production again. The Pebble Blue Galaxy S III might become a bit of a collectors item over the next few weeks. So there you have it folks. Were you planning on picking up white or blue come launch day?

We’ve reached out to Samsung and will update when we get a status report on the situation.

galaxy-s-iii-026-sg- galaxy-s-iii-032-sg- galaxy-s-iii-029-sg-
Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Galaxy S III
    Manufactuer : Samsung
    Carrier : NA
    Announced Date : May 03, 2012
    Release Date : May 29, 2012
    Also Known As : The Next Galaxy, SGSIII
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.8 Inch
  • Resolution : 720x1280
  • Screen Type : Super AMOLED HD
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.37 Inch
  • Width : 2.77 Inch
  • Depth : 0.33 Inch
  • Weight : 133 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 2100 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.0.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • AMR
  • MID
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
Hardware
    CPU : Exynos 4 Quad
    CPU Clock Speed : 1400 Mhz
    Core : 4
    Ram : 1024 MB
    Internal Storage : 32 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 8 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • GSM
    GSM Band:
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1800
  • 1900
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • A2DP
  • Bluetooth 4.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :


Core WebOS developers defect to Google

Posted: 25 May 2012 09:41 AM PDT

It’s not a popular fact among the Android faithful, but Ice Cream Sandwich has a lot of the same design DNA as HP’s (and formerly Palm’s) WebOS, thanks to designer Matias Duarte. Now Google is getting a fresh batch of concerts from the WebOS team. The Enyo developer team helped create the HTML5 framework for the HP TouchPad, and The Verge has announced that they’re making their way to Google soon.

The entire team won’t be switching, but an anonymous source says that lead designer Matt McNulty and those responsible for “99% of the code” will be jumping ship. And why not – it isn’t like HP is doing much with WebOS at the moment, after halting all hardware production last year and committing the project to the world of open source. You’ll find plenty of WebOS fans still out there (your truly among them) but there’s just not a lot of interest in its continued development.

What will Google do with Enyo? The obvious answer would be set them to work on improving Android, but there are plenty of other places that their particular skill set could be applied. They could be used for Chrome, in its desktop, mobile or separate OS incarnations, or any one of a hundred Google projects that uses HTML5 on the web or on mobile. In any case, it’ll probably be months at the very least before we start seeing the effects of their work, whatever it turns out to be.


HTC EVO 4G LTE gets the gift of root

Posted: 25 May 2012 08:59 AM PDT

It’s a rite of passage for just about every major Android device, the capability that separates Android from lesser platforms (which will remain nameless here). And now the much-delayed HTC EVO 4G LTE, in all its acronymical glory, has root capabilities. You can send your thank-you notes to XDA Developers member ZedonMax, who posted the exploit first and also provided these pretty pictures.

The process is about as easy as it gets on Android: just set your phone to USB debugging, install the relevant software drivers and run the batch file provided in the XDA thread. Bingo, you’re ready for unlicensed tethering and overclocking to your heart’s content. So far no serious problems have been reported, and the method works for Windows, Mac and Linux PCs. If you’re on Windows, just make sure to download the correct 32-bit or 64-bit drivers. Interestingly, this is exactly the same method as was used for the ASUS Transformer Prime.

And if you should mess up (and if you’re a regular modder, odds are pretty good that you will eventually) there’s already an RUU available. RUU stands for “ROM Update Utility”, and it’s HTC’s version of Odin or SBF for Samsung and Motorola, respectively. If you should find yourself in a boot loop, just plug your phone into a Windows PC, run the RUU (see the forum for the file) and you’re back to stock.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : EVO 4G LTE
    Manufactuer : HTC
    Carrier : Unknown
    Announced Date : April 04, 2012
    Release Date : May 18, 2012
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.7 Inch
  • Resolution : 1280x720
  • Screen Type : SLCD 2
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.31 Inch
  • Width : 2.72 Inch
  • Depth : .35 Inch
  • Weight : 134 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 2000 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.0.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • AMR
  • MID
  • MP3
  • WAV
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
Hardware
    CPU : S4
    CPU Clock Speed : 1500 Mhz
    Core : 2
    Ram : 1024 MB
    Internal Storage : 16GB GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 8 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • CDMA
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • Bluetooth 3.0
  • A2DP
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

[via XDA Blog]


Sony Xperia U Review

Posted: 25 May 2012 08:00 AM PDT

Sony released a scattershot of Xperia phones last year, and has decided to take a more measured approach this year, unveiling the NXT series at MWC 2012. That included the Xperia S and Xperia P, but today we'll be reviewing the Xperia U, the smallest and cheapest of the three. That doesn't mean it's lacking in specs, though: a dual-core 1Ghz processor lies at the beating heart of the phone, and it's staggering to think we've reached a point where a budget handset can include such a chip. How does it all stack up, though?

Hardware

The Sony Xperia U is pretty much identical to the Xperia S, sharing the same design but in a smaller chassis. That hard plastic makes a return, although the back feels soft to the touch and is resistant to fingerprints and smudges. The 3.5-inch screen has a 854×480 resolution, and spec wise you're looking at a NovaThor U8500 dual-core 1Ghz processor with Mali-400MP GPU, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of storage, and five megapixel camera with 720p.

Before you get too excited at the mention of a Mali GPU, remember that this is a slower version of what's found in the Galaxy S II and other phones, so don't expect anywhere near the performance. The other piece of bad news is that the phone only comes with 4GB of storage, and there's no microSD card slot. That's pretty bad, and you'll run into problems extremely quickly even if you just add music to the phone. The upside is that USB OTG does function properly, so you're not completely stuck, but having a USB cable dangle off your phone for extra storage is hardly an ideal solution.

The display on the Xperia U is a mixed bag. It's plenty bright, and the viewing angles are generally decent, but tip the phone past a certain point and you can invert the image being displayed. There are three problems with the screen, though. First, there's no oleophobic coating. That means you're going to be looking at a very messy screen very quickly, and it's hard to clean properly without a dedicated cloth. Second, if you're particularly sensitive to screen quality then you'll be able to notice the strange texture and odd colorization of the display on light colored backgrounds. Finally, you can see the digitizer grid just below the screen when shifting the phone against certain colors like yellow and white.

microUSB is found on the left side of the phone, and power, volume rocker, and a dedicated camera key are on the right. The 3.5mm headphone jack and microphone are on top, and another mic is located on the bottom. Speaking of the bottom, the cap can be removed and replaced with different color covers. All we have to say to this is: why? Otherwise you're looking at the same clear antenna strip that you'll find on the Xperia P and the Xperia S, which also lights up on certain notifications and alerts. You can change the color the strip using the different Themes that Sony provides in the Android settings.

Software

Just like the P and the S, the Xperia U ships with Gingerbread instead of Android's latest and great, Ice Cream Sandwich. Sony has promised an update for the handset in the future, but it's still disheartening to see ICS missing. If you're familiar with the software modifications that Sony has made to previous Android handsets, then you pretty much know the score with the U as well.

There is a little bit of bloatware bundled with the device – McAfee, OfficeSuite, WisePilot – and a few other included apps like WhatsApp and Astro File Manager. All of them can be uninstalled without any issues, allowing you to claw back some of that precious 4GB. Otherwise, expect to see Sony's own apps, including Music Unlimited, Video Unlimited, Track ID, Media Remote, and Play Now, which is Sony's app store. There isn't anything too exciting on there, with a lot of apps carried across from the Play Store.

The software keyboard looks daunting at first given the small size of the display, but we didn't have too much trouble with it. Mistakes were few and far between, although the keyboard did lag on occasion with haptic feedback left on. We personally didn't have any issues despite the horizontal resolution, although those with larger digits may struggle.

Performance and Benchmarks

Sony has managed to achieve quite a feat with the Xperia U, slotting a NovaThor U8500 dual-core 1Ghz processor and a slower Mali-400MP GPU into the device. General performance is good too: flicking around homescreens and through apps is smooth, with very few instances of stutter or lag. Web browsing is good too, with pinch-to-zoom and double tapping resulting in smooth transitions. The phone did have to catch its breath occasionally on heavier webpages, or those with Flash, but overall we'd say it performed admirably.

Benchmarks seem to back that up too. It doesn't blow the doors off by any means, but it does seem to be beating everything in this price category. Quadrant gave us a result of 2204, SunSpider 0.9.1 achieved 2526ms, AnTuTu returned 5359, and NeNaMark 2 scored 29.2fps.

Camera

The five megapixel on the Xperia U is decidedly middle of the road. It can take some nice photos in the right circumstances, with good colors and detail, but noise reduction seems to be ever present in photos. In good lighting conditions, it's not too much of an issue, with only occasional splotches as minor noise is dealt with. In poorer conditions, however, the noise reduction ramp up, smearing images and taking detail out along with the noise. Otherwise, we didn't have any major complaints. It's a competent shooter, just don't expect miracles.

DSC_0011 DSC_0012 DSC_0014 DSC_0017 DSC_0019 DSC_0022 DSC_0025 DSC_0031 DSC_0033 DSC_0036 DSC_0037 DSC_0038 DSC_0041 DSC_0045 DSC_0010

Taking photos is a bit tricker. The two-stage dedicated camera key on the side of the phone seems awkward to use, with the first press being a little too light, and too much effort needed to press the button all the way down to take the photo. Tap-to-focus is missing in the camera app too, so if you want to focus and meter the shot before you take one you’ll have to hold down either the on-screen camera key or task a risk with the physical button.

The 720p video recording, however, is horrendous. The H.264 Baseline L3.1 clips have an average bitrate of around 6Mbit/s, but you wouldn't know it. Clips are filled with compressions artifacts, with textures obliterated and scenery swimming in macroblocks. Sharpening creates awful halos around the edges of objects, and the jelly effect is in full force, so any quick panning or fast moving vehicles will result in distortion.

Battery

The 1,290mAh battery sounds small, but its definitely a champ when it comes ot performance. A video battery rundown test took a 720p H.264 High Profile L3.1 with AAC video and played it on loop with screen brightness set to 100%, and headphone volume set to 50%. After 4 hours and 37 minutes, the phone automatically shut down.

In typical usage, the Xperia U can easily get through a full day, and if you're a light user, you'd be able to push two without any issues. Our usage is admittedly light, with only one push email account, some WhatsApp/texting, and occasional browsing, but even heavier users won't have any problems getting through a full working day.

Wrap-Up

The Xperia U sounds like a very average device: it doesn't do anything particularly well, but it's not a bad phone at the same time. What makes the phone interesting is the price point that Sony is hitting. Three UK offer the phone for £180, which brings it in cheaper than the HTC One V while offering a slightly higher screen resolution and faster processor. There really aren't any phones around that price point that have a dual-core processor either.

Having said all that, there are some niggling issues that will irritate some users. The display is the big one, and while I imagine most people will be perfectly content with the screen, others will be frustrated once they notice the panel funk and digitizer grid. Kudos to Sony for blessing the phone with a sensible 854×480 resolution when so many other phones in this bracket don't even match that, but otherwise the HTC One V's display is much, much better.

If you're on a tight budget but want the best performance your money can buy, the Sony Xperia U is a safe choice. Users need to be wary about the lack of storage space, however, as 4GB will disappear very quickly, and if you can stretch your budget just a little bit more, the HTC One V has more going for it despite the single-core processor.


Sony confirms: no Ice Cream Sandwich for the Xperia PLAY

Posted: 25 May 2012 07:57 AM PDT

Android gamers, I’ve got some bad news for you: that issue earlier this week that saw the Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY removed from Sony’s Ice Cream Sandwich update list has been confirmed. In a press statement today, Sony said that they were opting not to release a final Ice Cream Sandwich ROM, on the basis that a stable experience for both phone functions and gaming cannot be achieved on the older hardware.

Here’s Sony’s official statement:

In regards to Xperia PLAY, after extensive in house testing with our developer teams and working with our partners, we have concluded that a consistent and stable experience, particularly with gaming, cannot be guaranteed for this smartphone on Ice Cream Sandwich – therefore, we will not make the Android 4.0 upgrade available for Xperia PLAY.

This decision was also verified when we received similar feedback from the developer community; both experienced developers and advanced users, along with game content providers following our ICS beta ROM for unlocked Xperia PLAY smartphones.

Sony reached the decision after carefully monitoring feedback from the Beta Android 4.0 ROM that they made freely available to developers and other root users. Their claim of issues is backed up by independent reports. The combination of the Xperia PLAY‘s rather unique input hardware and Ice Cream Sandwich seems to cause some serious issues with games that don’t present a challenge for the more stable Gingerbread build.

Sony reaffirmed its commitment to bring Ice Cream Sandwich to the other members of the 2011 Xperia line. Those of you who aren’t satisfied can still try the beta ROM, or opt for one of the Ice Cream Sandwich builds floating around the mod community, many of which are based on Android Open Source Project code. So, Sony, when are we getting an Xperia PLAY 2, huh?

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : XPERIA Play
    Manufactuer : Sony
    Carrier : Verizon
    Announced Date : February 13, 2011
    Release Date : April 01, 2011
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.00 Inch
  • Resolution : 480x854
  • Screen Type : TFT
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 4.69 Inch
  • Width : 2.44 Inch
  • Depth : 0.63 Inch
  • Weight : 175 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 1500 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : 425 hours
Software
    Android OS:
  • 2.3.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • MP3
    Video Playback:
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
Hardware
    CPU : Snapdragon
    CPU Clock Speed : 1000 Mhz
    Core : 1
    Ram : 512 MB
    Internal Storage : .4 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 5 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 720p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • GSM
    GSM Band:
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1800
  • 1900
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • Bluetooth 2.0
    Location Features:
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :


ASUS Transformer Pad TF300 spotted at the FCC with AT&T bands

Posted: 25 May 2012 07:31 AM PDT

ASUS’ Transformer line of tablets is well-loved, and rightly so, but thus far none of their models have been available on wireless broadband networks in the US. That may be changing soon, however. The Transformer Pad TF300 is currently in the hands of the FCC, and based on the wireless bands it’s equipped with, it’s being considered for AT&T’s growing LTE network.

We gave the Transformer Pad TF300 a pretty glowing review, and why not: it combines all the charms of the Tegra 3-powered Transformer Prime with a lower price, while simultaneously doing away with the latter’s reception issues. Speaking of the Tegra 3, we’re not sure what processor the unit at the FCC is running. A week ago we’d have assumed it was using a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4, but with Nvidia’s new Icera 410 radio, AT&T’s LTE network no longer presents a technical barrier for the Tegra 3.

ASUS has announced its intention to release 3G and LTE tablets in Asia and Europe (not the least of which is the drool-inducing Padfone) but has so far remained mum on the Americas. Even without an official statement, the FCC filing gets us excited, and more so than the usual fare – including AT&T’s LTE bands indicates that this device is more targeted than the generally unlocked phones and tablets that go through the commission. Here’s hoping we see some quad-core, LTE, Ice Cream Sandwich tablet action in the States soon.

P1250367-540x360 IMG_4678
Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Transformer Pad 300
    Manufactuer : Asus
    Carrier : NA
    Announced Date : February 27, 2012
    Release Date : April 22, 2012
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 10.1 Inch
  • Resolution : 1280x800
  • Screen Type : IPS LCD
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 10.35 Inch
  • Width : 7.12 Inch
  • Depth : 0.39 Inch
  • Weight : 635 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Polymer
  • Battery Capacity : mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.0.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • MID
  • MP3
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
Hardware
    CPU : Tegra 3
    CPU Clock Speed : 1400 Mhz
    Core : 4
    Ram : 1024 MB
    Internal Storage : 16 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 8 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • 1080p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • GSM
    GSM Band:
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1800
  • 1900
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • Bluetooth 3.0
    Location Features:
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

[via Talk Android]


Samsung Galaxy S III unboxed early

Posted: 25 May 2012 06:27 AM PDT

Most of the gadget world is waiting in eager anticipation for Samsung’s 2012 flagship, but a as usual, some isolated retailers are already selling the phone. Such is the case for one SlashGear reader, who happily shared his good fortune in the form of two Galaxy S III units with the rest of a jealous web. You can see his results below.

There’s nothing too surprising here – the final international hardware seems to be identical to the phone revealed in early May at Samsung’s London event. For a more exhaustive look, sans the retail gleam, check out our own hands-on post. There’s nothing extra in the photos below (except a bad habit or two) but this is what the Galaxy S III will look like when it hits Europe next week.

In setting up his new phone, the submitter notes that as promised, users get an eye-popping amount of free storage on Dropbox: 48GB on top of the standard 2GB for free users. You’re prompted to enter your Dropbox account or set up a new one during the first-time boot, just so you don’t miss it. We haven’t seen any indication that this feature is region-restricted.

The Galaxy S III is scheduled to hit European retailers on May 29th, and the UK the day after. American dates haven’t been announced, but a leaked ad shows the superphone hitting four Canadian carriers on June 20th. The Galaxy S III is the machine to beat at the moment, with a 4.8-inch 720p Super AMOLED screen, quad-core Exynos processor (international), a full gig of RAM, 8 megapixel camera, and Samsung’s expanded TouchWiz running on top of Android 4.0.

gsiii_early_arrival_2 gsiii_early_arrival_3 gsiii_early_arrival_4 gsiii_early_arrival_5 gsiii_early_arrival_6 gsiii_early_arrival_7 gsiii_early_arrival_1
Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Galaxy S III
    Manufactuer : Samsung
    Carrier : NA
    Announced Date : May 03, 2012
    Release Date : May 29, 2012
    Also Known As : The Next Galaxy, SGSIII
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.8 Inch
  • Resolution : 720x1280
  • Screen Type : Super AMOLED HD
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.37 Inch
  • Width : 2.77 Inch
  • Depth : 0.33 Inch
  • Weight : 133 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 2100 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.0.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • AMR
  • MID
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
Hardware
    CPU : Exynos 4 Quad
    CPU Clock Speed : 1400 Mhz
    Core : 4
    Ram : 1024 MB
    Internal Storage : 32 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 8 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • GSM
    GSM Band:
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1800
  • 1900
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • A2DP
  • Bluetooth 4.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :


Canadian Galaxy S III launch tipped for June 20th

Posted: 24 May 2012 05:59 PM PDT

We’re still waiting for a definite date for the Galaxy S III here in the US (on any carrier) but our friends north of the border have a little more information today, MobileSyrup spotted the Galaxy S III in an ad set for a June 20th release, and that’s not the best news: it’s headed for Canada’s own “big four”, Rogers, Bell, Telus and Virgin Mobile.

This is a long way from an official confirmation, but it’s certainly promising. Samsung has said that it intends to  bring its new flagship to the Americas sometime this summer, and that certainly fits, along with the fact that the Galaxy S family has proven popular with just about every major carrier in both countries. We can but hope that Canucks can get their Galaxy S III on in less than a month.

The better question is which version of the phone will make it to which carriers. We know that because of the hardware limitations of Samsung’s Exynos 4 Quad, Verizon’s model (and probably AT&T’s as well) will go with a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4, just as the HTC One X has, in order to operate on LTE networks. Rogers, Bell and Telus all use LTE on limited markets, but Virgin Mobile doesn’t.

The Galaxy S III is set to launch on May 29th in Europe, and the day after in the UK. A few units of the international version are already leaking out in Dubai. There’s still no confirmation of when it will launch in the US, though versions for all four major carriers have been indicated.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Galaxy S III
    Manufactuer : Samsung
    Carrier : NA
    Announced Date : May 03, 2012
    Release Date : May 29, 2012
    Also Known As : The Next Galaxy, SGSIII
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.8 Inch
  • Resolution : 720x1280
  • Screen Type : Super AMOLED HD
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.37 Inch
  • Width : 2.77 Inch
  • Depth : 0.33 Inch
  • Weight : 133 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 2100 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.0.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • AMR
  • MID
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
Hardware
    CPU : Exynos 4 Quad
    CPU Clock Speed : 1400 Mhz
    Core : 4
    Ram : 1024 MB
    Internal Storage : 32 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 8 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • GSM
    GSM Band:
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1800
  • 1900
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • A2DP
  • Bluetooth 4.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

[via Engadget]


Team Carbon themes on sale after a million active downloads

Posted: 24 May 2012 04:59 PM PDT

We tend to cover custom ROMs and other mods pretty heavily, but there’s an incredibly vibrant theme community around Android. One of its most active participants is Team Carbon, which announced today that its themes for the CyanogenMod (AKA T-Mobile) theme engine have reached a million active users. That’s not total downloads, mind you – that’s a million people with themes running from three European theme designers. Good on ya, guys!

To celebrate , all their premium paid themes for both CyanogenMod 7 (Gingerbread) and CyanogenMod 9 (Ice Cream Sandwich) are one-third off in the Google Play Store. You can see all their products here. (Not all are CyanogenMod themes.) Keep in mind that CyanogenMod isn’t the only ROM that accepts compatible themes – many custom ROM builders, including the AOKP team and various other with modded and “deodexed” builds, use the same standard.

Team Carbon’s themes aren’t just palette swaps – they bring a new look to the entire interface, from the widgets to the dialer to the individual app icons. But unlike manufacturer skins like TouchWiz and Sense, there’s no significant hit to performance, since the themes simple replace system files without adding any new software. Of course, not all themes are compatible with all ROMs, especially those that stray from the official CyanogenMod source. Be sure to try out your theme during the Play Store’s 15-minute return window.

[via AndroidSpin]


Jelly Bean and Nexus Tablet rumored for Google I/O

Posted: 24 May 2012 04:27 PM PDT

Well, we’ve been assuming for months that if Google is preparing a big reveal for the much-rumored Nexus Tablet, it would be at the company’s yearly developer conference, Google I/O. TechnoBuffalo is claiming information from an anonymous source (the best kind!) that says the tablet will absolutely show up at the conference, and as other rumors have indicated, ASUS will produce the hardware. New software is also rumored, though whether or not it’s Android 5.0 is still in question. Note that this comes just hours after DiGiTimes reported the same thing.

The source goes on to say that it is indeed a 7-inch tablet, lending even more credence to the idea that it’s a copied or reworked version of the $250 MeMO 370T. ASUS’ Tegra 3-powered budget machine has been conspicuously absent since its announcement earlier this year, and NVIDIA recently showed off plans to bring quad-core tablets (with a definite ASUS teaser image) to market at a price of $200.

What’s more interesting at this point is what software it’ll be running. The source was unclear on whether or not the “Nexus Tablet” would be running Jelly Bean, if in fact that is the next version of Android. Google will certainly have some new software to show off at Google I/O, but whether or not it’s ready for prime time is yet to be determined. An incremental update, say Android 4.1 or 4.5, seems more likely.

As always with news from unverified sources, treat this rumor as just that: rumor. We haven’t heard anything about a Nexus Tablet from a source that we’d consider 100% dependable yet. That said, we’re certainly hoping to see something in San Francisco in two months’ time, and hear about Google’s potential plans for expanding the Nexus program to as many as five manufacturers.


NVIDIA TegraZone Anniversary Giveaway Week 3 Reminder – Last week to win!

Posted: 24 May 2012 04:22 PM PDT

Who is ready to win the ultimate giveaway gaming pack from Android Community and NVIDIA? This is our third and final reminder that you’ll need to quickly enter via the instructions below for your chance to win. Thanks to NVIDIA and their TegraZone one year anniversary we are giving away some good stuff. Have a look at our Transformer Pad TF300 Review, since that is what you’ll be winning then read on below for additional details.

Along with NVIDIA and us here at Android Community, this same giveaway is also being celebrated by our sister site SlashGear. Celebrating an entire year of awesomeness from NVIDIA and their TegraZone.com full of impressive Android games. The full instructions and details will be link to below but for now here’s how to enter from NVIDIA, as well as us. you’ll want to hit the NVIDIA players choice awards voting site, or scan the QR code below to get started.

Then for our side of things it is really simple, you’ll just have to follow the instructions below:

Circle us on Google+ at: +Android Community
- Leave a comment in [this G+ thread] telling us why you think you should win, what your favorite Tegra game is, or what game you’ll play when you win.
Winners will be selected like so: we'll pick a set of our favorites and put them in a hat to pick at random. We’ll select one a week for 3 weeks.

The NVIDIA TegraZone Anniversary Tegra Pack we’re pushing out to you courtesy of ASUS and NVIDIA consists of no less than an ASUS Transformer Pad TF300, a TF300 keyboard dock, a wireless Logitech game controller, and a Jawbone Jambox Speaker in slimy awesome NVIDIA green. Then when you win you’ll be all set for hours upon hours of Tegra 3 gaming.

For complete details and all the legalities of the giveaway feel free to read over them in our original giveaway post. Then you’ll want to read up on all things Transformer Pad TF300 and NVIDIA from our timeline of news below. Good luck guys!

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Transformer Pad 300
    Manufactuer : Asus
    Carrier : NA
    Announced Date : February 27, 2012
    Release Date : April 22, 2012
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 10.1 Inch
  • Resolution : 1280x800
  • Screen Type : IPS LCD
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 10.35 Inch
  • Width : 7.12 Inch
  • Depth : 0.39 Inch
  • Weight : 635 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Polymer
  • Battery Capacity : mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.0.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • MID
  • MP3
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
Hardware
    CPU : Tegra 3
    CPU Clock Speed : 1400 Mhz
    Core : 4
    Ram : 1024 MB
    Internal Storage : 16 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 8 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • 1080p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • GSM
    GSM Band:
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1800
  • 1900
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • Bluetooth 3.0
    Location Features:
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :


AT&T HTC One X gets its bootloader unlocked

Posted: 24 May 2012 03:45 PM PDT

If you’re the type that enjoys tweaking your Android smartphone (who doesn’t) and have recently purchased the HTC One X we have good news today. After we reported on AT&T’s efforts to lock down the bootloader it appears that they’ve failed because the trusty XDA developers have already got a solution. You can now safely and easily unlock the AT&T HTC One X bootloader using the method below.

Just like all of HTC’s recent phones you can go to HTCDev and unlock it with a few simple steps. Sadly AT&T chose not to allow that process on their version of the One X (International version is fine.) I’m sure you’re all well aware of this. It looks like all you need is a little command line skills and you can easily change it so HTC’s unlock tool identifies it as a Rogers model, and you’ll be unlocked in no time. Well played AT&T, well played.

Here’s how:
– Root device
– Dump MISC partition
– Edit CID in dump to change from AT&T to Rogers
– Flash patched MISC partition
– Use official HTCdev unlock tool

The instructions are actually a bit harder than that, our friends from MoDaCo simplified them with the outline above. The actual process is a bit more difficult and involved than those simple instructions look, but if you’ve done any command line tweaking or developing in the past it should be fairly straightforward.

For more detailed instructions as well as all the support you might need if you’re worried about taking on this task head to the XDA via link at the bottom of the page. As a friendly reminder you’ll need to be rooted for this to work. If you flashed the leak this morning that as of now can’t be rooted, you’re out of luck.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : One X [AT&T]
    Manufactuer : HTC
    Carrier : AT&T
    Announced Date : February 26, 2012
    Release Date : TBA
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.7 Inch
  • Resolution : 720x1280
  • Screen Type : S-LCD
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.31 Inch
  • Width : 2.75 Inch
  • Depth : 0.36 Inch
  • Weight : 131 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 1800 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.0.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • AMR
  • MID
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
Hardware
    CPU : S4
    CPU Clock Speed : 1500 Mhz
    Core : 2
    Ram : 1000 MB
    Internal Storage : 16 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 8 MP
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • GSM
    GSM Band:
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1800
  • 1900
    CDMA Band:
  • 850
  • 1900
  • 2100
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • Bluetooth 3.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

[via XDA]


Sub $200 Quad-core Android 4.0 tablets coming “this summer”

Posted: 24 May 2012 02:20 PM PDT

Yesterday we reported on NVIDIA’s KAI Platform and that they hoped to bring some $200 Tegra 3 tablets to market soon, but today while listening in on the NVIDIA Analyst Day we learned some good news. NVIDIA isn’t just planning cheaper quad-core tablets, they are already in the works and on their way to the market as we speak.

NVIDIA’s new KAI isn’t another version of the processor we can expect to see in devices, it’s an entire platform that OEM’s can use to build their tablets. The KAI Platform will enable companies like ASUS (Nexus Tablet) LG, Toshiba and many more to build budget-friendly yet powerful quad-core Tegra 3 tablets in a much quicker time frame, and then release them to the market. When talking about the KAI Platform Mike Rayfield said they are already in the works, and NVIDIA’s customers are building tablets on the KAI platform today.

Screen Shot 2012-05-24 at 2.03.39 PM nvidiakai-540x357

Another detail they revealed is both a good thing and a bad thing. The Kai will be using a slightly different and cheaper type of DDR3 memory than the Tegra 3 we know today. This will probably result is slightly lower performance, but for $200 I’m not complaining. NVIDIA stated they are currently the only company using DDR3L, and the only SoC (system on chip) manufacturer that is giving their customers the choice on what memory they use on their tablets.

This means that manufacturers can decide to use high-performance and higher cost DDR3 memory inside their tablets at a slightly higher price point, or settle for a slightly lower yet still powerful alternative to offer devices even cheaper than the competition. This will allow the KAI platform to produce extremely budget-friendly quad-core tablets, as well as performance minded more powerful ones too. In closing NVIDIA said we can expect to see the first KAI $200 quad-core Android 4.0 tablets on sale “this summer.” That Google Nexus tablet by ASUS is looking more and more realistic by the minute.


NVIDIA: 28 more Tegra 3 phones coming in 2012

Posted: 24 May 2012 01:28 PM PDT

Today during NVIDIA‘s annual “Analyst Day” we were listening in as Mobile Business Manager Mike Rayfield started talking about the Tegra 3 quad-core processor. What instantly caught our attention is the amount of NVIDIA Tegra 3-powered quad-core smartphones they have coming this year. With the HTC One X already available, they have more coming — many more.

In 2011, NVIDIA and their partners released 15 dual-core Tegra 2 smartphones and had pretty good success as they attacked the marketplace. In 2012 they will be taking a much larger approach with the Tegra 3. With the HTC One X available now, and the LG Optimus 4X HD coming this month Mike teased us with an awesome comment, “We have 28 more Tegra 3 quad-core smartphones coming in 2012.” And that is just smartphones, we can expect multiple tablets too.

This shows NVIDIA’s commitment not only to Android, but to smartphones. They’ve been largely focused on tablets but this year that will change. With NVIDIA KAI, their $199 quad-core reference design we can expect cheap, powerful phones and tablets all year long. Of those 28 Tegra 3 phones on the way, 18 will be headed to China, and all 18 will be under $300. That leaves 10 NVIDIA Tegra 3 powered smartphones and hopefully multiple will hit the US soon. While we listen in on Analyst Day 2012 we’ll be sure and keep you up to date with any and all details. Stay tuned!

tegra3-quadcore-645x403 Screen Shot 2012-05-24 at 1.11.12 PM Screen Shot 2012-05-24 at 1.10.28 PM


HTC EVO 4G LTE arriving early for some

Posted: 24 May 2012 12:49 PM PDT

Anyone that is excited for the new HTC EVO 4G LTE should know plenty about the “situation” by now for the smartphone. After initially set to launch last week the phones were delayed at customs thanks to a petty lawsuit from Apple. Multiple reports have since claimed the phones start shipping today, May 24th, but now it looks like many pre-order customers have already received their new phones.

According to Android Police multiple customers have already received their new HTC EVO’s today and are enjoying those 3G speeds until 4G LTE arrives from the Now Network. Early reports suggested Best buy would start shipping to pre-order customers yesterday, so these could just be a lucky few that opted for overnight shipping.

It looks like a bunch of threads appearing on XDA have confirmed the phone arriving early for users in multiple locations from Ohio to New York. If you ordered the HTC EVO 4G LTE with overnight delivery you might have a little treat waiting on the doorstep this afternoon. If you’re still debating the purchase you’ll want to check out our full EVO 4G LTE Review for additional details of the new smartphone.

Did your EVO arrive today? Let us know in the comments below.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : EVO 4G LTE
    Manufactuer : HTC
    Carrier : Unknown
    Announced Date : April 04, 2012
    Release Date : May 18, 2012
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.7 Inch
  • Resolution : 1280x720
  • Screen Type : SLCD 2
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.31 Inch
  • Width : 2.72 Inch
  • Depth : .35 Inch
  • Weight : 134 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 2000 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.0.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • AMR
  • MID
  • MP3
  • WAV
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
Hardware
    CPU : S4
    CPU Clock Speed : 1500 Mhz
    Core : 2
    Ram : 1024 MB
    Internal Storage : 16GB GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 8 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • CDMA
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • Bluetooth 3.0
  • A2DP
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :


Galaxy S III TouchWiz ported to Galaxy S II and Note

Posted: 24 May 2012 12:04 PM PDT

There’s no denying the Galaxy S III is an awesome phone. One of the things that impressed us during our hands-on was the user interface. Samsung’s new TouchWiz UX is as impressive as ever, stable, and extremely smooth. While waiting for the phone to be released we now have an early taste for a few lucky Samsung owners. When S-Voice and the full ROM was leaked developers started work on a port, and today we have just that.

The new and improved user interface known as TouchWiz for the Galaxy S III has been ported to the Samsung Galaxy S II, as well as the Galaxy Note for those that would like to take it for a spin. Well the launcher has at least. Yes it was fast and stable on the SGSIII’s quad-core, but it runs great on older phones too.

For now this will only work on Samsung based ROM’s so CM9, AOKP, and others won’t work with this just yet. For more info you’ll want to head to XDA and get the skinny on all the details. If you have the Galaxy S II you’ll want to head to this thread. Or Galaxy Note users can get the latest TouchWix now that it’s been added to this ROM at XDA. It might not be the full on real thing, but it’s pretty close and appears to run quite great from the comments we’ve read.

As always be sure and flash these at your own risk. Let us know how it goes and enjoy that early taste of the Galaxy S III goodness.

[via PocketDroid]


Google Nexus Tablet by ASUS rumored for July release

Posted: 24 May 2012 11:36 AM PDT

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard this rumor, and it certainly won’t be the last. The often accurate DigiTimes has just brought this rumor back into the limelight stating that the Google Nexus quad-core tablet being manufactured by ASUS will be released in June, with market availability coming in July.

According to sources this tablet will most likely be 7-inches as expected, but has been undergoing a few small changes otherwise it would have been possibly released this month. DigiTimes reports that around 600,000 ASUS/Google tablets have been ordered and will see production, arriving sometime in June. This puts it right in time for Google I/O in late June (we’ll be there live) so hopefully that will give us additional details.

Google nor ASUS has confirmed any of these reports, and for now these rumors are still just flowing out of the supply chains. With recent talks of NVIDIA’s new KAI budget-friendly quad-core processor this could end up being what we see next month. A 7-inch quad-core Google Play Nexus tablet made by ASUS and sold in the Google Play Store for the awesome price point of $199. If initial sales look promising that 600,000 device order might get filled quite fast. Stay tuned for more details and hopefully we hear more as Google I/O approaches.

[via PocketNow]