Android Central |
- This week's sidebar poll: Are you going to look at T-Mobile for your next phone?
- Motorola support page indicates Droid Bionic to receive Jelly Bean in Q2 2013
- How to watch TV with the HTC One
- Samsung Galaxy S4 accessory pricing and release dates leak
- Fieldrunners 2 coming soon to Android, beta testers wanted
- Gameloft teasing something for March 27, looks a lot like Iron Man
- Rogers expanding LTE network to 44 new markets this Spring
- First Android-only 'Humble Mobile Bundle' now available
- Havok introduces free 3D game development engine
- Samsung Galaxy S4 wallpapers, ringtones and 'S Voice' app leak
- 'If I had Glass' winners selected by Google, invites due out in coming days
- T-Mobile simplifies tablet and hotspot data prices, too
- T-Mobile consolidates prepaid plans, drops 'Monthly 4G' moniker
- Galaxy S4 hits T-Mobile on May 1 for $99
- T-Mobile LTE 'Simple Choice' no-contract rate plans are here
- T-Mobile's HTC One, Galaxy S4 each will cost just $99
- T-Mobile makes first LTE cities official
- T-Mobile announces new Android 4G LTE devices
- Three UK pushing out Jelly Bean update for Samsung Galaxy S2
- AT&T's Samsung Galaxy Express getting Jelly Bean update today
- Deal of the Day: invisibleSHIELD Screen Coverage for Google Nexus 7
- SwiftKey update squashes a number of bugs, including HTC One fixes
- HTC plans successor to 5-inch 'Butterfly'
- Gmail app updated with unknown features and no change log
- HTC readying Desire Q and P for the Taiwanese market
| This week's sidebar poll: Are you going to look at T-Mobile for your next phone? Posted: 26 Mar 2013 05:10 PM PDT
T-Mobile threw a whole lot of stuff at us when they unveiled their new "UnCarrier" Simple-Choice pricing models. While we're mostly excited to see a release date for the Galaxy S4, and existing customers are pretty amped about LTE, the rest of the announcement dealt with pricing and plans. Granted, your cellular plan and how much it costs you may not be the most glamorous thing to talk about, but it might be the most important. We broke it down as best we can previously, but the quick and dirty version is that T-Mobile no longer ties the purchase of a phone to your plan, and offers up some great prices for the use of their network. There is a lot of potential to save money here, provided you can get good enough service from T-Mobile. And you won't know that until you check into it. I get great T-Mobile service where I live and play, but for every person like me with good service, there is someone stuck on EDGE and cruising along on 2G data speeds. You need to look at coverage maps, talk to folks you know who are using or have tried T-Mobile's service in your area, and maybe even give that 14-day trial period a spin to find out how it would work for you. That sounds like a lot of hassle compared to just renewing the service you have and walking out with a shiny new Android phone. Are you going to do it? T-Mobile is counting on you to try it, and your current carrier is counting on you not trying it. We thought it was best to ask. You'll find a poll in the sidebar to the right (or after the break). Let us know if you're going to give it a shot. Before we end this, we have to look at the results from our last poll. Samsung Galaxy S4 or HTC One - which are you buying?
A lot of folks look interested in the HTC One. We get it -- it's a hell of a phone. But the Galaxy S4 looks like an amazing phone as well. I have a feeling these results won't stand when both phones are available. I'll mark my calendar and revisit this one around the middle of July. 
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| Motorola support page indicates Droid Bionic to receive Jelly Bean in Q2 2013 Posted: 26 Mar 2013 04:41 PM PDT
While we wouldn't have blamed you for thinking ICS was the end of the road for the Droid Bionic, a Motorola Support page now indicates that a Jelly Bean update is on its way in Q2 2013. The handy little tool that Motorola introduced last year to help people find out about upcoming updates on their device reveals the information when selecting the Bionic from a list of support devices. As pointed out by Droid-Life, prominently at the bottom of the page it lists "Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) upgrade rollout expected to begin Q2 2013." Now that's a pretty darn vague window, if true, to have the update "start" somewhere in the next three months, but we're not going to look this gift horse in the mouth. If it does come true, there are going to be some seriously happy Bionic owners out there. Source: Motorola 
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| How to watch TV with the HTC One Posted: 26 Mar 2013 03:29 PM PDT
Powered by Peel, the HTC One helps discover what to watch - and then deftly turns into an infrared remote controlA common thread among smartphone manufacturers this year is the inclusion of an infrared port and television remote control and show discoverability. That is, you use your phone to control the TV and change channels and volume and stuff. You also have a way to see what's on, and to easily tune to it. Know what? It works pretty darn well. More: Read our complete HTC One reviewTo be clear, we're not talking about watching TV on your HTC One. We're talking about watching TV with your HTC One. See the difference? The idea behind all this (for HTC as well as other manufacturers) is that there's a pretty good chance you're sitting there with your phone in your pocket anyway. Might as well put it to use. Whether that's a good idea? Well, we'll leave that for another time. For now, let's take a deep dive into the TV app on the HTC One. 
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| Samsung Galaxy S4 accessory pricing and release dates leak Posted: 26 Mar 2013 03:19 PM PDT
Pricing and tentative release dates have leaked for a slew of Samsung Galaxy S4 accessories today. If we go back to Samsung's Unpacked event in New York for the S4, they talked a bit about some of these, namely the gear to use with Samsung's S Health application. We also got a quick look at a gamepad and some flip covers, but today's leaks looks to cover everything. There are a bunch of them, so hit the break to see the list with suggested retail prices and plenty of pictures. Source: SamMobile; SamsungMania (Czech) 
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| Fieldrunners 2 coming soon to Android, beta testers wanted Posted: 26 Mar 2013 02:32 PM PDT
The popular tower defense game Fieldrunners HD will have a proper sequel on Android in April, if everything goes to plan. Fieldrunners 2, which launched on iOS mid last year, is almost ready to go on the Android side but last minute kinks are still being worked out. The new version of the game naturally brings new weapons, towers, and levels -- with 20+ hours of gameplay in just the campaign alone. There are also new Time Trial, Sudden Death and Puzzle maps available for even more gameplay. The developer Subatomic Studios is looking for a handful of users with "a variety of Android devices" to test the game in closed beta before it releases. Stick around after the break to read the full press release and follow the source link to enter for a closed beta spot of your own. More: Subatomic Studios 
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| Gameloft teasing something for March 27, looks a lot like Iron Man Posted: 26 Mar 2013 02:02 PM PDT
Gameloft is no stranger to big name movie tie-in games, and it looks pretty much a given that another one is on the horizon. This image appeared on the Gameloft UK Twitter feed accompanied by the message, "warming up main core." So, it looks a lot like Iron Man then. With the release of Iron Man 3 not that far away now, it's highly possible that whatever Gameloft has up their sleeves could be related to the movie in some way. Previous efforts on The Amazing Spider-Man and The Dark Knight Rises games have been commendable. We like both titles very much, although the Gameloft in-app purchases we're not so fond of. Needless to say, it all leaves us pretty excited to see how they might bring Tony Stark to life. The good news is there isn't long to wait. The only other detail on the image was the date -- March 27. So, sit tight, we'll know the score very, very soon. Source: @Gameloft_UK 
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| Rogers expanding LTE network to 44 new markets this Spring Posted: 26 Mar 2013 02:00 PM PDT
Rogers is announcing today that it is planning to roll out 44 new LTE markets this Spring for its customers. The rollout is expected over the next few months, and while there isn't a definitive list of every new market, Rogers is listing a few areas as a primer of what's to come:
As part of its LTE rollout announcement, Rogers is also giving more information on the deployment of that network over the 2600MHz frequency. The carrier indicates that it will start to utilize the 2600MHz spectrum in every one of its markets, including 34 of the 44 new markets planned. You'll need a 2600MHz-capable device -- Rogers lists the LG Optimus G as one -- to take advantage, but Rogers says it will make more available as the network goes live. Source: Rogers 
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| First Android-only 'Humble Mobile Bundle' now available Posted: 26 Mar 2013 01:34 PM PDT Today The Humble Bundle is introducing a mobile-only (and Android-only) "Humble Mobile Bundle", which is now available for your enjoyment. The Humble Bundle has been around for some time, and has also recently started including Android versions of games alongside Windows, Mac and Linux versions. This is the first time the bundle will only contain Android games, however. We recently reviewed each game in Humble Bundle 5 and came away impressed. This time around, we're looking at six great games:
If you're not familiar with the Humble Bundle system, it's a "pay what you want" model that lets you donate any amount you please and receive the first four games, and the last two games if you donate over the average. A portion of the proceeds also go to charity, which is great. The games are also DRM-free, which is a huge bonus. The average donation is currently $5.44, and you have just shy of two weeks left to donate yourself. Source: Humble Bundle 
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| Havok introduces free 3D game development engine Posted: 26 Mar 2013 01:25 PM PDT
Havok has announced that their 3D gaming Vision engine, Physics and Animation suites, and their award winning AI tools will now be free for "leading" mobile platforms under their new Project Anarchy initiative. If you play games, you already know about Havok. They're the folks who make the tools behind games like the Assassin's Creed, Halo, and Skyrim franchises, and are used by some of the biggest names in gaming, like EA, Bethesda, and Bungie. The download also includes game samples and tutorials for mobile developers, and there will be a complete online community to "encourage free sharing and collaborative development of extensions and customizations by the community." Ross O’Dwyer, head of developer relations at Havok, says:
Project Anarchy will launch this spring. To keep up with things and sign-up for more information, follow the link below. The full press release is after the break. More: Project Anarchy 
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| Samsung Galaxy S4 wallpapers, ringtones and 'S Voice' app leak Posted: 26 Mar 2013 12:25 PM PDT
The Samsung Galaxy S4 launch might be over a month away, but if you're looking to bring a touch of SGS4 to your current device, a freshly-leaked selection of goodies may be able to help. SamMobile has obtained a sampling of ringtones and wallpapers, along with the "S Voice" voice assistant app. S Voice works much the same as it does on any other Samsung device, though it does seem to have undergone some cosmetic changes since we last saw it. Note as this is presumably taken from pre-release firmware, things may be broken or slow, even if you're using it on a Samsung handset. The wallpapers and ringtones are in line with what we'd expect form a Samsung phone, and eagle-eyed readers may remember some of the images from our hands-on coverage of the Galaxy S4. There's an abundance of primary colors, which we imagine is designed to show off the S4's saturated Full HD SuperAMOLED display. And the ringtones are dominated by the same mix of gentle, nature-inspired tones found on the Galaxy S4. Download locations for the ringtones, wallpapers and S Voice app can be found at the source links below. Update: The system image from which this stuff is taken is now available to download too. 
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| 'If I had Glass' winners selected by Google, invites due out in coming days Posted: 26 Mar 2013 11:58 AM PDT
Even though they're still priced at a cool $1500 plus tax, it seems there's a whole lot of people who really want to get hold of Google Glass. The 'If I had Glass' competition offered 8,000 eager early adopters a chance to get in on the ground floor, and now those lucky thousands have been chosen. The Explorer Program is only for individuals, so companies such as JetBlue that came up with pretty awesome looking suggestions will have to wait it out for now. But, in the coming days the lucky individuals that have been chosen to hand over their money for Glass will be notified of their success. Google says that the response has been 'enthusiastic.' So, if you entered, and you win, be sure to let us know. We just hope that LeVar Burton was one of them. Source: +ProjectGlass 
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| T-Mobile simplifies tablet and hotspot data prices, too Posted: 26 Mar 2013 11:07 AM PDT
The self-described "Un-Carrier" is also changing up the way it bills for mobile broadband on tablets, hotspots and data sticks today. There is now very little distinction between adding a phone and adding a tablet to your plan, with simplified pricing throughout. For stand-alone devices on their own account, tablets, hotspots, laptops and data sticks will have a base charge of $20 per month for 500MB of high-speed data, throttled to 2G thereafter. Each additional $10 per month adds 2GB to that allotment, all the way up to 12.5GB per month for $80. If you are adding a tablet, hotspot, laptop or data stick to an existing individual or family plan, the prices are cut by $10 per month. So if you already have a phone line with T-Mobile, adding a tablet with 500MB of data is the same price -- just $10 -- as adding another phone line with 500MB of data. This is a huge move in the right direction for T-Mobile, as it helps confirm what we all know already -- that data is data, no matter what device you're using it on. The carrier hasn't historically been a popular destination for users wanting tablet and hotspot data plans, but this may help sway some customers going forward. 
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| T-Mobile consolidates prepaid plans, drops 'Monthly 4G' moniker Posted: 26 Mar 2013 10:45 AM PDT
Along with a complete restructuring to remove contracts with its 'Simple Choice' plans, T-Mobile is also consolidating its prepaid plans to fall into line. Previously a distinctly separate business for T-Mobile under the "Monthly 4G" branding, the magenta carrier's prepaid plans are now available at each of the same tiers as the Simple Choice plans. $50, $60 or $70 monthly will get you unlimited talk and text along with 500MB, 2.5GB or unlimited unthrottled data, respectively. Previously, the $60 plan offered 2GB of data and the $50 plan an awkwardly low 100MB of data. One thing that hasn't changed in its prepaid offerings are the lower level of plans, of which there are still several options. T-Mobile still offers the somewhat-famous $30 prepaid plan with 100 minutes and 5GB of full-speed data, as well as the other $30 plan at 1500 minutes and 30MB of data. There are still "pay as you go" plans with rates between $10 and $100 for minute-only plans, as well as "pay by the day" plans at $3/day for unlimited talk, text and web or $2/day for the same restricted to 2G speeds. It's actually unclear at this point what distinction -- if any -- will be made between its primary and prepaid plans going forward, and we wouldn't at all be surprised to see stand-alone prepaid plans go away for all but the lowest tiers. There's little to no reason for the current duplication of $50, $60 and $70 plans, and they're likely to slowly fade away as the two sets of plans integrate. Source: T-Mobile 
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| Galaxy S4 hits T-Mobile on May 1 for $99 Posted: 26 Mar 2013 10:02 AM PDT
Don't let this get lost in the shuffle this morning, folks. T-Mobile has become the first U.S. operator to give a date to its Galaxy S4. You'll be able to pick up Samsung's latest and greatest May 1 for a $99 "down payment." The "down payment" thing is new, though it's not all that different from the usual "on contract" qualifier we usually use. You pay a little up front, and you end up paying off the phone over a number of months. It's all part of T-Mobile's new "Simple Choice" plans unveiled this morning in New York City. The important thing here is that we finally have a hard and firm date on what's sure to be one of the hottest phones of the year. May 1. Mark it, dude. 
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| T-Mobile LTE 'Simple Choice' no-contract rate plans are here Posted: 26 Mar 2013 09:31 AM PDT
If you haven't noticed, T-Mobile is making some big changes to the way it does business this week, including now a move to what is calling "Simple Choice" rate plans. We gave you the low-down on the new plans when they quietly released on Sunday, but T-Mobile is doing one better now by giving customers just three initial options when selecting a plan:
Each of the plans includes mobile hotspot/tethering, although the unlimited plan will only let you tether for 500MB of usage -- with additional 2GB chunks of data on any plan costing you another $10 monthly. A second line costs $30 a month, with each additional line another $10. The same data plan tiers apply to each additional line in a family plan -- 500MB included, 2GB more for $10 and unlimited for $20 per month. Of course none of these plans carry a contract, nor are there separate plans for LTE devices or different pricing for postpaid and prepaid. The data costs the same per line no matter how many you have, what devices you choose or when you decide to pay for the service. 
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| T-Mobile's HTC One, Galaxy S4 each will cost just $99 Posted: 26 Mar 2013 09:05 AM PDT
We've been waiting on U.S. pricing for both the HTC One and the Samsung Galaxy S4, and T-Mobile today became the first operator to do so. T-Mo also confirmed it'll be a launch partner for the Galaxy S4, with a launch slated for May 1. Both the HTC One and the Galaxy S4 will cost $99 -- as a sort of down payment -- when they're available, T-Mobile said today at an event in New York City, where it announced that those two flagship phones -- along with the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 -- will be among its first LTE-capable devices. The Galaxy S4 is to be available May 1; the HTC One drops sometime in April. That pricing comes on a 24-month payment plan, which can be canceled at any time, provided the cost of the phone is paid off. 
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| T-Mobile makes first LTE cities official Posted: 26 Mar 2013 08:52 AM PDT
T-Mobile today took the wraps off its long-awaited LTE network, launching in seven metro areas. There are three Android smartphones that will take advantage of the higher-speed 4G data. They are the Samsung Galaxy S4, Note 2, and the HTC One. (BlackBerry's Z10 also rocks T-Mobile LTE.) The Galaxy Note 2 is available now; the HTC One and Galaxy S4 are expected in April. The seven cities in which T-Mobile now has LTE data are:
That's just the start, of course. T-Mobile didn't announce any future plans, but says it expects to "reach" 100 million people in the U.S. by mid-year, and 200 million by 2014. Those are potential subscribers, meaning more LTE-enabled cities. 
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| T-Mobile announces new Android 4G LTE devices Posted: 26 Mar 2013 08:49 AM PDT
T-Mobile USA has just announced its new 4G LTE services, and along with it confirmed a handful of new devices. On the Android side, upcoming phones include the Samsung Galaxy S4, Galaxy Note 2 and HTC One. The Galaxy S4 is set to arrive in Q2, while the has a HTC One "spring" launch window attached. The Galaxy Note 2, currently on sale on T-Mo, will get an over-the-air update to allow it to use the carrier's LTE network. The Galaxy S4 and HTC One will both sell for $99 on 24-month "installment" plans. T-Mobile's LTE network is live today in its first seven markets -- Baltimore, Houston, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Phoenix, San Jose, and Washington, D.C. 
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| Three UK pushing out Jelly Bean update for Samsung Galaxy S2 Posted: 26 Mar 2013 07:58 AM PDT
Following on from other carriers all over the globe, UK's Three has begun pushing out their very own Jelly Bean update to the Samsung Galaxy S2. While the link provided by Three for support goes to an ICS update page, it seems to suggest that you'll need to go via the Kies route in order to obtain it. Jelly Bean for the Galaxy S2 -- or any device, for that matter -- is a big deal, and besides the Google provided goodies such as Project Butter and Google Now, Samsung has also thrown in their own bag full of tricks. The Android 4.1 update brings the same Touchwiz Nature UX as found on the newer Galaxy S3, improved camera features, S Cloud and Samsung's own Smart Stay and Pop-Up Play functionality. The Galaxy S2 was one of the most popular devices of 2011, and it's fantastic news for all owners that it's seeing another software update. We're not sure how long they may continue going forward, but Jelly Bean marks the second major version bump for the device since it originally launched. And that isn't half bad. Source: Three UK 
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| AT&T's Samsung Galaxy Express getting Jelly Bean update today Posted: 26 Mar 2013 06:45 AM PDT
Google Now, performance improvements and other features hit this mid-level Android smartphoneAT&T this morning announced that Android 4.1 Jelly Bean is now available for its Samsung Galaxy Express smartphone. With the update you'll get the "Project Butter" performance improvements, updates to the notification area and, most important, you'll be able to rock Google Now, with all its prediction and search capabilities. You'll also get "Blocking Mode," which lets you turn off calls and notifications for a specific period of time. Plus, you'll get a new data usage calculator. You can snag the update now by going to Settings>About device>Software update>Check for updates. You'll need to be on Wifi. Source: AT&T 
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| Deal of the Day: invisibleSHIELD Screen Coverage for Google Nexus 7 Posted: 26 Mar 2013 06:44 AM PDT
The invisibleSHIELD Screen Coverage is available for just $12.00, 40% off today only. Backed by our 60-day return policy and fast shipping. Never miss a deal. Sign up for Daily Deal alerts 
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| SwiftKey update squashes a number of bugs, including HTC One fixes Posted: 26 Mar 2013 06:10 AM PDT
SwiftKey, the popular third-party Android keyboard, this morning announced an update that will take care of a number of nagging issues. The update is now live in Google Play. The big news, probably, is that a number of issues regarding the HTC One have been resolved. So if you're picking up the phone this week in the UK, Germany or Taiwan, you'll be able to properly use SwiftKey. (And if you're waiting for April like most of the rest of the world, it'll be ready to go then, too. We've got the full changelog after the break. Source: SwiftKey 
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| HTC plans successor to 5-inch 'Butterfly' Posted: 26 Mar 2013 05:36 AM PDT
The HTC Butterfly (a.k.a. J Butterfly in Japan, Droid DNA in the U.S.) was one of the most compelling Android devices of 2012, with its 5-inch 1080p display and speedy internals. Now, according to comments attributed to the company's marketing chief, it seems HTC may be keen to keep the Butterfly line alive alongside its soon-to-be-launched HTC One. Spurred by strong interest in the device from Asia, Taiwan Focus reports that CMO Benjamin Ho said the manufacturer plans to launch a "successor" to the Butterfly under the same brand name "to meet consumer demand." Speaking at a media briefing, Ho apparently didn't mention when (or where) this new Butterfly might appear, but we'd guess this model would be aimed at countries or carriers that aren't getting the HTC One. We'll have to wait and see what form the second Butterfly might take, but given the design similarities between the original and the HTC One, we don't imagine it'll be radically different from the phones we're already familiar with. Any crazy theories? Shout out in the comments! Source: Taiwan Focus 
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| Gmail app updated with unknown features and no change log Posted: 25 Mar 2013 08:19 PM PDT
The Gmail for Android application has received a small update this evening. It probably does something faster, or better. Maybe there is a new feature or two. We have no idea, because they haven't posted any new features or changes. Google sucks at providing change logs. We're letting you know in case it is something really cool -- though we're not seeing anything just yet, and we use Gmail a lot around these parts. And even if it is just some bug fixing, an update is an update. Grab it at the Google Play link to the left. We'll come back and update once we know what the changes are. 
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| HTC readying Desire Q and P for the Taiwanese market Posted: 25 Mar 2013 07:36 PM PDT
HTC is well known for pumping out well-built and budget-friendly devices in Asian markets, and it continues that run today with the Desire P (above, left) and Desire Q (above, right). While both devices have similar design language to HTC's other 2012 offerings, the Desire P looks strikingly similar to the One SV. It has a 4.3-inch 480x800 display, dual-core 1GHz processor, 8MP camera and Beats Audio, and will reportedly retail for about $365 unlocked. The Desire Q is a bit smaller and cheaper -- similarly to the previously announced Desire U -- at $235 unlocked for similar specs but a 4-inch display. Both look from the press images to be running Sense 4 and presumably Jelly Bean underneath. The Desire brand is still very popular in price-sensitive markets, and from our time with the One SV we came away very impressed with the build quality of the device. Don't look for these to hit Western markets any time soon, but if you're in Taiwan or China you probably have a good chance at seeing these. Source: UnwiredView 
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