Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Android Authority

Android Authority


Clove UK to sell Sony Xperia J for £190 on October 29

Posted: 04 Sep 2012 02:13 AM PDT

It was only yesterday we brought the news that Sony's latest budget phone, the Xperia J, is heading to Carphone Warehouse in the UK in a matter of days. Now, another retailer in the country has announced that it too will be selling Sony's colorful offering.

Clove has put up the product page for the Xperia J. This time, we don't have to guess just how low Sony is willing to price the J for to grab the attention of those who are looking for an entry-level Android phone. As listed on its website, the black and white variant of the Xperia J can be had for £190. The price for the pink and gold flavor of the phone hasn't been shared.

While Carphone Warehouse said that they will have stocks of the Xperia J on September 5, Clove will only start stocking the phone on October 29. We're not sure if this is a typo or whether the former has some kind of exclusivity deal with Sony. It just strikes us odd that the phone's availability on the two retailers differ by two months. For the J's sake, we hope the phone will come much sooner than end of October.

We'll be paying attention to Carphone for any sign of the Xperia J. In the meantime, you may be interested to learn of the phone's specs once again.

  • 4-inch FWVGA display (854 x 480 pixels)
  • Single-core 1GHz MSM7227A processor
  • 512 MB RAM
  • 4GB internal storage
  • microSD card slot
  • 5MP rear camera, VGA front-facing camera
  • 1,750mAh battery
  • Free 50GB Box storage
  • Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich

Do you think the Sony Xperia J is worth the £190 SIM-free price from Clove? Will you wait for the J that long?

Related Posts

UK's Clove to sell unlocked white Sony Xperia Go for £210, Sony Xperia T and J coming early to UK's Carphone Warehouse, Xperia Tablet S to follow soon, Rogers' Sony Xperia Ion officially on sale for $49.99


This article, Clove UK to sell Sony Xperia J for £190 on October 29 , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Nexus 7 up for pre-order in Taiwan, to start selling by mid-September

Posted: 04 Sep 2012 02:04 AM PDT

It may come as a bit of a shocker for some, but Google's highly successful Nexus 7 tablet is still not available in Asia. This is even more surprising if we take into consideration that the 7-incher is co-branded by Asus, whose headquarters are in Taiwan.

Now things are about to change for those of you who live in Taiwan and crave a Nexus 7, although the rest of Asia might again be left out of the mix. All three major Taiwanese wireless carriers, as well as a bunch of electronics retail stores, have started taking pre-orders for the 7-incher and will ship the tab in a matter of weeks.

Chungwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile, and Far EasTone Telecommunications have started teasing the Nexus 7 Taiwanese launch, although none of the three carriers has announced an exact release date just yet.

The 16 GB model is the only one offered for pre-order at this time and we don't know if the 8 GB version will go up for grabs anytime soon. We're guessing it won't though, following Google's marketing strategy in Europe and US. As you might have already noticed, the 8 and 16GB versions of the tabs are available for sale via Google Play, while retailers and carriers are only selling the second variant.

Unsurprisingly, as far as pricing goes, the Taiwanese Nexus 7 is considerably more expensive than its US counterpart. The 16 GB version goes for TW $8,990, which would translate into around $300 at today's conversion rates. Then again, this is slightly cheaper than what Google is charging for the Nexus 7 in France, Germany or Spain, where the 16GB Nexus 7 currently goes for €249 (around $312).

You also get a set of free headphones and free shipping (at least from Taiwan Mobile), so all in all, this sounds like a pretty decent deal. Taiwan Mobile is hinting at a September 12 shipping kick-off on its official website, although this might not be 100% accurate. Still, that's the most probable ETA for Taiwan's Nexus 7, give or take a couple of days.

The Nexus 7 is expected to go out in Hong Kong next, according to an unconfirmed report from last week, while the rest of Asia, including big markets like India, China and Japan, is still left pining. But all hope is not lost for those waiting for the tab in those countries, so stay tuned for updates on the subject.

We’re also pretty excited about the possible release of a 3G-enabled version of the Nexus 7, so it seems that the 7-incher’s legend will go on for quite some time. Who hasn’t jumped on the Nexus 7 bandwagon yet? Why and what are you waiting for?

Related Posts

Sony Xperia acro S to start selling in August in Taiwan and Russia, other markets to follow soon, Sony Xperia Tablet S is now official, to start selling on September 7 for $400 and up, Could Google’s Nexus 7 Tablet start shipping next week?


This article, Nexus 7 up for pre-order in Taiwan, to start selling by mid-September , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Samsung unleashes the Galaxy S3 4G in Australia, to come with Jelly Bean and in two new colors

Posted: 04 Sep 2012 01:02 AM PDT

Australia has joined Germany on the list of countries outside of South Korea that will be offering the Samsung Galaxy S3 4G. Naturally, we're talking about the quad-core variant of the phone, and not of the dual-core Snapdragon S4 version that Americans are getting. The Samsung Galaxy S3 4G will be carried by Australian mobile operators Optus and Telstra.

If you pre-order the Samsung Galaxy S3 4G on Optus before September 17, the carrier said that the phone will be shipped out on September 20. The service plan on Optus starts from as little as $30 (200MB data allowance) to $80 (2GB data allowance) per month with a two year contract.

Meanwhile, the 4G phone will only be available on Telstra in October, though no specific date has been given. You can register yourself on the carrier’s website to get timely updates of the phone's availability. As for the price of the Galaxy S3 4G there, Telstra hasn't provided any details either.

Both carriers will have the Onyx Black and Titanium Gray version of the phone for sale. And yes, the phone will run Android 4.1 Jelly Bean out of the box. If you don't particularly like being stuck on a two-year contract, you should be able to buy the phone outright from Samsung stores as well, such as this glitzy Sydney branch.

Any folks in down under ready to snag the 4G-capable Samsung Galaxy S3?

Related Posts

Optus Australia to release Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1″ today, Samsung Galaxy S3 in Australia? Availability information roundup [Updated], Telstra Samsung Galaxy S2 now receiving the Android 4.0.3 update


This article, Samsung unleashes the Galaxy S3 4G in Australia, to come with Jelly Bean and in two new colors , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


LG Optimus L7 coming to US Cellular as LG Splendor US730

Posted: 04 Sep 2012 12:50 AM PDT

lg splendor

LG is improving its mid-range lineup in the US with the addition of the LG Splendor for US Cellular. The Splendor (US730) is actually a rebranded, slightly modified version of the international LG Optimus L7, which was first announced at MWC this year.

The news comes from the guys at SmartPhenom, who spotted a product page for the Splendor on LG's site, along with a brochure for the device. It appears that someone at LG pulled the trigger too fast and published the product page before the phone's official outing. Since news broke, LG took the product page offline, but for some reason, the specification brochure is still available for download, so we are able to provide you the entire specs sheet of the US Cellular-bound Splendor.

LG Splendor key specs and features:

  • Technology: CDMA
  • Processor: MSM8655 1GHz
  • Network: DCN/PCS/AWS
  • Frequencies: 800 MHz CDMA / 1.9 GHz CDMA PCS / AWS(1.7/2.1 GHz)
  • Data Transmission: EVDO Rev 0, EVDO Rev A, 1xRTT
  • Dimensions: 4.92″ (H) x 2.64″ (W) x 0.34″ (D)
  • Weight: 4.23 oz.
  • Display: Color TFT, 800 x 480 pixels, 4.3″
  • Standard Battery: 1,700 mAh
  • Talk Time: up to 9 hours1
  • Standby Time: up to 10 days1
  • Internal Memory: 2 GB
  • microSD Memory Slot: supports up to 32 GB memory card

Studying the specs a bit, we can notice that the Splendor features a better processor than the Optimus L7, its international cousin, replacing the Snapdragon S1 MSM7227A chip, with a slightly improved single-core MSM8655 clocked at 1GHz. On the other hand, the ROM memory is slightly lower, at 2GB instead of 4GB.

In terms of appearance, the L7 and the Splendor look identical, save for the carrier logo on the back.

We don't have any information about the LG Splendor's release date or pricing, but we can assume that the official launch can't be too far. Will you be interested?

Related Posts

HTC One V officially confirmed as coming to US Cellular and 27 regional carriers, Samsung Galaxy S3 now on sale on US Cellular website, coming to stores this week, Official: Galaxy S3 coming to US Cellular, pricing and release date to be announced on June 12


This article, LG Optimus L7 coming to US Cellular as LG Splendor US730 , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


O2 UK cancels ICS update for Sony Xperia Ray, Xperia Arc, and Xperia Neo

Posted: 03 Sep 2012 11:37 PM PDT

It has to be said that Sony has done a better job than most manufacturers in keeping their older phones fresh with software updates. Except for one model, all Xperia phones that were released in 2011 are guaranteed to receive the Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade.

The ICS updates for the Sony Xperia Ray, Xperia Arc, and Xperia Neo have been gradually rolled out by Sony for quite some time now – with some even starting three months ago – but it looks like O2 subscribers will not be seeing what folks in other parts of the world are sporting.

O2 has officially announced on its website that the Xperia Ray, Xperia Arc, Xperia Neo will remain on Android 2.3 Gingerbread.  While the update to Android 4.0 has been tested for a few months, the testing apparently has failed to meet the carrier's requirements. To be more specific, O2 said that the upgrade to ICS affected "the phone's speed and performance" due to the "more advanced hardware requirements" of the OS.

The decision not to approve the ICS update was also partly taken because, once it is installed, users wouldn’t be able to go back to Gingerbread without losing the phone's data.

A quick read on Sony's support forum reveals that many customers aren’t too happy with how ICS run on the three phones. Not to say that there aren't any satisfied users, though. Any thoughts about O2 pulling the plug on the update? Will you risk updating your phones to ICS through unofficial means? Or will you be content staying on the more stable Gingerbread?

Related Posts

No related posts.


This article, O2 UK cancels ICS update for Sony Xperia Ray, Xperia Arc, and Xperia Neo , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Android Authority On Air – Episode 27 – IFA 2012 Recap

Posted: 03 Sep 2012 09:12 PM PDT

If you don’t know what IFA 2012 is, that’s ok. All you need to know is that it’s similar to CES…but in Berlin. It’s an extremely large electronics show. And, like any electronics show in this day and age, it’s littered with tons of mobile devices and gadgets. Of course we had to be there, check out our hands on devices reviews  from IFA 2012. Naturally, this week on the show we talked about a few popular ones such as the Samsung Galaxy Note II, the Samsung Galaxy Camera, the Archos GamePad (it runs Android) and a few others.

This week had a ton of major app updates. We saw an extremely nice update to the Google Play Store with personalized recommendations. That’s right, you’ll now get recommendations from your friends as well as similar users and items popular in your area. Google also updated Google Now, the information automation service that comes with Jelly Bean. Google Now users will receive public service announcements, movie showtimes and you can now manually add your favorite sports teams (as long as your favorite team is not a college team). HBO Go now supports Jelly Bean and PayPal got a major UI overhaul. If you want to send text messages from your Android tablet, have we got an app for you! And last, but not least, the much anticipated 3D Android game that was demoed at Google IO 2012, Horn, finally launched this past week. And man, does it rock!

We ran around the rumor mill a few times this week with an upcoming device from Motorola. All we know thus far is that they’re bringing it to the edge. Does that mean a device with zero bezel? Or is that the name of the upcoming #motoedge device, the Motorola Edge? I guess we’ll find out on September 18th. We didn’t stop the rumor mill there though. We hammered away at the 3G variant of the Nexus 7. Will this device launch in 6 weeks? Will it ship for just a few bucks more than the WiFi only Nexus 7? Will it come with HSPA+ only? Your guess is as good as ours. Finally, the Kindle Fire 2. Rumor has it that Amazon will launch an ad-supported version of the Kindle Fire, making it the cheapest 7″ tablet to date.

Samsung plans to unleash the legal beast against Apple if they launch an LTE equipped iPhone 5 in a few days. Sammy owns roughly 10% of all LTE patents. Apple has repeatedly argued that these Samsung patents should be made industry standards due to their broad, sweeping nature…where have we heard that before. Hey kettle, how ya doin? And finally, there’s a rumor going around that Tim Cook and Larry Page are going to meet to discuss patents. Only time shall tell.

The Give Away

We're giving away a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 (International) here in the near future. If you're interested and want another chance to win, during the show we give away a super secret entry code. Once you get the code, just head on over to the contest page and enter your code into the Rafflecopter.

Miss the show? Tune in or watch below:


YouTube
SoundCloud
Stitcher
iTunes
RSS

 

Related Posts

Android Authority On Air – Episode 18 – Google I/O12 Recap, Android Authority On Air – Episode 24 – Weekly News Recap (aka back from the beach!), Android Authority On Air – Episode 20 – Big Android BBQ 2012


This article, Android Authority On Air – Episode 27 – IFA 2012 Recap , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Samsung finishes audit of Chinese component manufacturer HEG, vows long-term solutions

Posted: 03 Sep 2012 07:03 PM PDT

A Samsung employee works in a Seoul shop in this file photo. Samsung has published its audit findings of a Chinese supplier accused of child labor. While no underage workers were found, the South Korean company still vows long-term solutions to labor issues. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Mobile manufacturers have been repeatedly under fire for employing contractors and ODMs that don’t exactly have a good track record in terms of labor standards. Apple, for one, had been trying to improve working standards in its Chinese facilities at Foxconn. Meanwhile, HEG, one of Samsung’s component suppliers in China, had also been accused of employing underage workers and for under-paying its employees.

Chinese officials have earlier disputed claims by the New York-based China Labor Watch that HEG was employing workers below the legal age of 16, and that wages were often delayed.

Samsung says it “audited all HEG employees including face-to-face ID checks, reviewed HR records, and conducted 1:1 interviews with student workers.”  The company reports having finished its audit of HEG, and found no underage workers. However, some health-related issues were found, and Samsung demanded that HEG immediately improve its worker conditions.

The audit identified several instances of inadequate management and potentially unsafe practices. A system of fines for lateness or absences was found to be in operation. Instances of overtime beyond local regulations, or over 9 hours per week, were identified. Certain health and safety measures were inadequate, such as a failure to provide access to a medical clinic.

Samsung has demanded that HEG immediately improve its working conditions. We have formally notified the company that it must comply with all applicable labor laws and Samsung's labor and employment right policies. If HEG fails to meet Samsung's zero tolerance policy on child labor, the contract will be immediately severed.

In view of the potential implications of poor worker standards, Samsung has vowed long-term solutions, and will address these through the following:

  • Complete on-site inspections of all its 105 facilities and suppliers in China that produce solely for Samsung within September;
  • Review of 144 other facilities that supply for Samsung and other firms by year-end;
  • Contract with the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition (EICC) for regular on-site inspections from 2013 onwards;
  • Establishment of new guidelines that “include business principles, codes of conduct, contractual obligations, and management training for supplier companies.”
  • Establishment of a dedicated team within each regional HQ to oversee working conditions; and,
  • Termination of contracts with suppliers found to be in violation of policies.

Samsung has stressed that the company enforces zero tolerance to child labor, and says it does its best to comply with the laws in the jurisdictions where it operates.

Are worker conditions in China improving? The fact that Apple, Samsung and other big names are outsourcing manufacturing to the region is reportedly resulting in overall improvements in worker income and skills. But there are still kinks to be worked out, and the big brands need to be involved in order to improve goodwill.

Related Posts

Chinese officials dispute child labor accusations in Samsung supplier facility, Samsung's component supplier is accused of exploiting underage workers, Chinese manufacturer OPPO embrace the world of Android


This article, Samsung finishes audit of Chinese component manufacturer HEG, vows long-term solutions , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Huawei D1 Quad is on its way, half a year late to the party

Posted: 03 Sep 2012 06:10 PM PDT

Huawei Ascend D1 Quad

When the Huawei Ascend D1 Quad was originally announced, we expected great things from the device. It was a quad-core smartphone in a world dominated by dual-core devices. It was supposedly going to be priced very competitively, as well.

The launch date for the new Ascend D1 Quad was planned for Q2 of 2012. It’s now nearing end of Q3. What happened? Internal delays, for one.

The good news is that the Huawei D1 Quad is finally coming, for real this time. The bad news is that the D1 Quad is a half-year late, and technology changes quickly. Had a Q2 launch occurred, the Huawei would have been one of the best phones on the market.

Now it’s just another quad-core. The phones specs include the following:

  • 1.2GHz quad-core Huawei K3V2 Processor
  • 4.5-inch 1280×720 330ppi IPS display
  • 8MP rear camera
  • 2600 mAh battery
  • microSD
  • 1.3MP front cam
  • 1080P full HD video capture and playback

These specs aren’t bad, but they aren’t special either. The new smartphone will launch first in China, on September 12th. The phone will cost 2699 Yaun, or 425 U.S. Dollars. In comparison, the Xiaomi Mi2 and Lenovo K860 are both quad-core and priced under $350.

This means that the D1 Quad has similar power to its competitors, yet it’s more expensive. When the phone launches internationally it will also have to compete with the popular Samsung Galaxy S3.

The Huawei D1 Quad is still a worthwhile handset, but the company needs to rethink its pricing. What do you think of the new D1 Quad? Too little, too late?

Related Posts

Huawei's quad-core Ascend D Quad to make its China debut later this month, Report: Huawei Ascend D Quad shipping in July, Huawei Ascend D Quad launch delayed again, CPU issues at fault


This article, Huawei D1 Quad is on its way, half a year late to the party , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Acer hoping to strengthen its smartphone presence, announces six new devices for 2013

Posted: 03 Sep 2012 04:40 PM PDT

Acer smartphones

What do you think of when you hear the brand name Acer? Odds are that laptops and tablets are the first products that come to mind. They have a small presence in the smartphone world, but they certainly have room to grow.

Acer hopes to change all of that. The company plans to strengthen its place in the phone market with six new devices. These new phones will launch in 2013, targeting Europe, China and Southeast Asia.

Out of the six models, five will be based on the Android platform. Unsurprisingly, the sixth model will run on the upcoming Windows Phone 8 operating system. All the higher-end models will run on dual-core Qualcomm processors. The entry-level models, on the other hand, will utilize single-core chipsets from MediaTek.

Some might find it surprising that Acer is working at all on WP8. Acer had extreme displeasure with Microsoft’s plans to enter into the hardware market with Microsoft Surface. Despite Acer’s displeasure in Microsoft’s recent decision to get into hardware, the company has apparently decided that WP8 is too big of an opportunity to avoid altogether.

Outside of plans to expand smartphone offerings in 2013, the company has also recently released several new smartphones. In Europe, the CloudMobile S500 became the flagship cloud computing-enabled device from the company. Then we also have the Liquid Galant and Liquid Glow for the entry-level and midrange markets.

It remains unseen whether or not this new push will help Acer jump ahead in the smartphone market. Right now, Samsung leads the pack in the Android world. With Samsung’s recent legal troubles versus Apple, perhaps Acer feels now is the perfect time to expand its smartphone presence. The bad publicity that Samsung has received might give Acer the room it needs to sneak its way into a larger spot in the smartphone market.

Related Posts

Acer A1 Android smartphone to hit shelves in September?, CEO confirms that Acer is working on Android smartphones for 2009, Acer smartphone in 2009? Company exec says it’s likely


This article, Acer hoping to strengthen its smartphone presence, announces six new devices for 2013 , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


New Mobile browser Baidu Explorer is 20% faster than competition

Posted: 03 Sep 2012 03:27 PM PDT

(Image credit: Tech in Asia)

When it comes to the master of search, who do you think of? For most markets, Google comes to mind. In China though, Google is far from the leader of search. Instead, the market leader is a company called Baidu. Like Google, Baidu also develops its own mobile operating system, and it also has apps and online services for things like Maps and more.

Now the company wishes to take its efforts even further with the release of its new Baidu Explorer mobile browser.

The new Baidu Explorer browser arrives with a pretty bold claim: it’s supposedly 20% faster than any of its competitors, at least when it comes to JavaScript and HTML5.

The speed element comes from its new engine, which they call T5. According to CNET, its own tests confirm the claim that the new mobile browser is faster. The Baidu Explorer rated a score of 482 out of 500 for HTML5 compatibility. The next highest scoring browser, in terms of HTML5, was Chrome at 371.

The only catch is that the T5 engine must be downloaded as an add-on in order to get the most out of the browser. Luckily, the download is only 5MB.

Similar to how Google uses Chrome to drive traffic into its search engine, Baidu will do the same thing with this new app. The app is only being marketed to China for the moment, though it is available in both Chinese and English. Will it be available outside the country in time? Yes — Baidu has already signed a deal with Egyptian service Telco to offer the software bundled with its subscribers.

The Chinese APK is only available directly through their site, not on Google Play. A Windows Phone version also exists.

Related Posts

Baidu’s custom Android ROM now available for Nexus S, swaps Google’s services with Baidu-made clones, Dolphin Browser is "highest performing HTML5" mobile browser, Dolphin Engine in Beta available to download, Baidu Steps On Android Market’s Toes


This article, New Mobile browser Baidu Explorer is 20% faster than competition , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans


Orange Quick Tap brings mobile NFC payments to Samsung Galaxy S3 users

Posted: 03 Sep 2012 12:28 PM PDT

Orange UK has just announced its new mobile payment system, Quick Tap, will be  available to users of their Samsung Galaxy S3 starting this Wednesday. Quick Tap will utilize the device’s NFC chip to process mobile payments with the tap of your phone.

Barlaycard is the vendor in bed with Orange for the service, and their combined effort has seen more than 100,000 locations in the UK light up with support. It’s been more than a year in the making, but it’s finally here and I’m sure those on Orange in the UK couldn’t be more excited.

The “quick” part of the service comes in its ability to bypass the need of a PIN when purchases of £20 or below are made. Anything higher will require your PIN, and that’s not a bad trade-off to ask for when you consider the need of heightened security in this digital day and age.

Orange is offering £50 in credit for those who sign up for the service, and it’ll be compatible with any VISA or Mastercard from the UK. While it’s not Google Wallet we can’t imagine Quick Tap will be anything less than a bliss to use. Head to the source link for the full details.


Happy Labor Day! What Android games are you playing with your free time?

Posted: 03 Sep 2012 11:14 AM PDT

It’s Labor Day in America, and if you’re not in the know it’s just another one of those days that we use as an excuse to do absolutely nothing productive at all! Seriously, the irony kills me.

But a whole lot of people have the day off of work today, and we’re sure they’re trying to find something to do to fill that empty, painful (or joyous, depending on who you are) void where your desire to work used to be.

Personally, a nice BBQ with friends will culminate this three day weekend a little bit later, but I did wake up this morning to play a little bit of Horn, the Tegra 3-exclusive game that had the Google Play Store going crazy when it launched last week.

If you’re finding that your day is absolutely boring and you need something to do, I suggest taking a nice long stroll through the Play Store to find something to play.

If you’ve already gone that route for finding something to do we want to know what you’ve been playing in the comments section below. Happy labor day, and whatever you decide to do just make sure that relaxation and fun are the utmost priorities!


LG Splendor looks like an Optimus L7 variant for US Cellular

Posted: 03 Sep 2012 08:00 AM PDT

The LG Optimus L7 looks to make a debut here in the US as the LG Splendor for US Cellular. The phone was spotted on LG’s website before quickly being pulled, where it was revealed that the phone will feature a 4.3-inch display, 1GHz CPU, and 5MP camera. Additionally it will sport a VGA front-facing camera, 2GB of internal storage, and a 1,700 mAh battery. It runs Ice Cream Sandwich, and did we mention that the Splendor is a rebranded Optimus L7?

No word on when we might actually see the Splendor hit shelves, but within the next couple of months seems likely. L7 has been out for some time now in other regions.

[Smartphenom via UnwiredView]


3G-enabled Nexus 7 rumored to launch in October

Posted: 03 Sep 2012 07:19 AM PDT

Whispers of a 3G-enabled Nexus 7 have come and gone since the Jelly Bean tablet first debuted as a WiFi-only device in 8GB and 16GB flavors. While there is still no hard evidence to prove that a version of the slate primed for cellular networks exists, one trusted source is fairly convinced we could see such a device launch in “around six weeks.”

Paul O’Brien of MoDaCo claims production is already underway on the Nexus 7 with 3G based on the word of a “very well-placed insider,” but there is nothing in terms of physical evidence to back up his claims. It has always been believed that ASUS and Google would eventually ship a 3G version of their $199 tablet, and it may not have made the initial launch simply based on a rushed development and production period of four months leading up the the July release of the Nexus 7. If a lack of true portability has kept you away from the N7, then October may bring you a reason to purchase one.

[via TheVerge]


Google Android News Android Forums

Google Android News Android Forums


Leak shows US Cellular ready to release LG Splendor

Posted: 03 Sep 2012 03:27 PM PDT

Sources scouring the LG US web site stumbled upon some product information for a new LG smartphone. Dubbed the LG Splendor, the model number is US730. The information was found on the support pages of the LG US site and included some product images and specifications. No news on a release date or the cost for the device. The pages have since been taken down.

The LG Splendor is similar to the LG Optimus L7. Equipped with an 800×480, 4.3-inch screen, a 1GHz cpu, and 2GB of built-in memory, the new phone will come loaded with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

source: Unwired View



UK carrier O2 refuses to release Android 4.0 update for trio of Sony devices

Posted: 03 Sep 2012 03:09 PM PDT

Late last week, UK wireless carrier O2 announced via their company blog that they had decided to not rollout an update to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich for a trio of Sony smartphones. O2 indicated they had conducted extensive testing of ICS on the devices and determined the impact on the phones' speed and performance would lead to a negative user experience. The devices impacted are the Sony Xperia Ray, Sony Xperia Arc and Sony Xperia Neo. Amidst claims of putting customers first, O2 indicates they will keep the devices on Android 2.3 Gingerbread.

source: O2



Samsung Rumored To Have 3 Devices On The Way: The Galaxy S III Mini, Galaxy S II Plus And Galaxy Premier Smartphones

Posted: 03 Sep 2012 11:58 AM PDT

 

While Samsung has the Galaxy S III and Galaxy Note II  as its heavyweights for 2012, it has plans on bringing in more players to the fight as well. Reports of no less than 3 Samsung smartphones have now surfaced: the Galaxy S III Mini, Galaxy S II Plus, and Galaxy Premier. First thing’s first— the Galaxy S III Mini is expected to go toe-to-toe with Apple’s upcoming iPhone 5, but be priced significantly less at €250. Upon its release this year, it will feature a 5-megapixel camera, dual-core processor and a 4.0-inch Super AMOLED display. The Galaxy S II Plus on the other hand will feature a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus display, 1GHz single-core processor, an 8-megapixel camera and have 16GB or 32GB variations. Finally, the Galaxy Premier looks to be the most appealing as it will be identical to the Galaxy S II Plus, but feature a 4.65-inch screen and Jelly Bean loaded up.

Of course these devices may be complete fiction, but Samsung has a notable history of releasing a boatload of devices in a calendar yet. If the above mentioned devices are indeed true, do any of you plan on grabbing one?

source: Android Guys



Additional Details For The Samsung Galaxy Stellar 4G LTE Smartphone On Verizon Leaks, All Signs Point To A September 6th Launch Date

Posted: 03 Sep 2012 11:36 AM PDT

 

While Sprint is quietly planning on launching a modest Samsung 4G LTE smartphone sometime in the near-future, Verizon too also has plans on launching a simplified Samsung 4G LTE device on its network as well. According to a source courtesy of the Engadget team, the mysterious Samsung Galaxy Stellar 4G LTE smartphone is set to launch this Thursday, September 6th. The smartphone will have budget-line features such as a 1.2GHz dual-core CPU, 3.2MP rear camera + 1.3MP front-facing cam and 800 x 480 WVGA display. While it’s exciting that Ice Cream Sandwich is running the show, the real kicker is Samsung’s Starter Mode: which is a “new, simple way to interact Access apps and control device settings with ease”.

The device probably generate too much interest in terms of specs, but it is expected to have a rather attractive $100 price tag. We’ll see final details as the days lead up to the device’s launch this week.

source: Engadget



Details And Training Documents For Upcoming Samsung Galaxy Victory 4G LTE Leaked For Your Viewing Pleasure

Posted: 03 Sep 2012 11:11 AM PDT

 

We know that Sprint has certain Samsung 4G LTE smartphone on the way, but details have been scarce until now. Thanks to our friends at Android Central, we now know the specs of the Samsung Galaxy Victory 4G LTE smartphone– and it certainly is a modest little mid-range device too. The Ice Cream Sandwich-powered device will feature noteworthy items such as a 1.2GHz Snapdragon S4 Lite chip, a 4-inch screen with 800 x 480 resolution,  4 gigs of ROM and a 5MP camera with 1.3MP front-facing camera. Sure the features are slightly dated, but hey— they’re still more than enough to get the job done.

While Samsung and Sprint are still mum on the actual device, we think we may have an idea of when the phone will be released. The gang at Android Central also obtained internal training documents have leaked highlighting Sprint reps will be training for a September release— which happens to coincide with the start of the Fall season. Those of you interested in checking out the training documents can hit the source link and see everything in all its glory.

source: Android Central



3G Nexus 7 to arrive in “around six weeks”

Posted: 03 Sep 2012 10:56 AM PDT

A new report claims ASUS is preparing to launch a 3G version of its incredibly successful Nexus 7 tablet. A "very well-placed insider" has confirmed this is the case, and says that the company has already begun production on the new model.

“There's not a huge amount to say… a 3G version of the Nexus 7 is coming, with no other hardware changes. Asus is currently ramping production in preparation for launch in around 6 weeks, with the exact launch date and territories still to be confirmed.”

As with anything unofficial, be sure to take it with a hefty grain of salt. It looks like we'll just have to wait until ASUS comes out with the official word. In the meantime, be sure to check out our in-depth Nexus 7 review.

Source: Modaco
Via: Android Central



Samsung Galaxy Victory 4G LTE to hit Sprint stores later this month

Posted: 02 Sep 2012 05:43 PM PDT

A newly leaked internal document suggests Sprint could be prepping another mid-range Samsung smartphone, but this time to debut on its fresh LTE network. Ironically dubbed the Galaxy "Victory" 4G LTE, it sports a dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor. It's also rumored that the device will feature a somewhat underwhelming 480×800 display, though a 4-inch screen could potentially justify the lower resolution.

The document in question shows the handset as being part of Sprint's September promotions program, which means representatives will earn $3 in commission for every Victory smartphone sold. An exact release date is unknown, but with the GS III earning $7 in commission, reps will be less inclined to recommend it to customers with a bigger budget.

The fact that Samsung is continuing to release phones without even the slitest hiccup is a good sign, considering its ongoing patent war with Apple. Let's just hope this device doesn't get caught up in the crossfire.

Source: Android Central
Via: Phandroid



Amazon to limit announcement this week to 7” Kindle Fire devices

Posted: 02 Sep 2012 05:19 PM PDT

Despite all the rumors of a larger device coming from Amazon, source are now indicating this week's announcement regarding their Kindle Fire will be limited to two 7-inch models. The information obtained by c|net indicates Amazon will introduce a slightly revamped version of the existing Kindle Fire and a new, higher-end model of the Kindle Fire. In anticipation of the announcement, Amazon has reported the existing Kindle Fire is now soldout.

The new model is expected to have a faster processor, a camera, some physical buttons for volume control, an HDMI port, and increased internal storage. Both models are expected to benefit from a slight overhaul of the user interface. As far as a larger model goes, it may still be in the works, but don’t expect to see it later this week.

source: c|net