Tuesday, February 7, 2012




    Posted: 06 Feb 2012 03:06 PM PST
    Even as an Android fanatic I have to admit that its main competitor, the iPhone, does extremely well. As much as I hate to say it, the iPhone is here to stay and will continue to be a thorn in Android’s side. I have been sitting and wondering though on why so many folks go over to the iOS side or stray from Android. While I am not an expert I believe a lot of it has to do with how these phones are marketed coupled with the amount of Android phones that OEMs are putting on the market.
    Why I Think iDevices Sell
    The iPhone is one of the more popular devices out there as more people seem to line up for each new iteration of the device. While it could be the commercials that appeal to people I think it's another completely simple reason. I will tell you but first do me a favor. Go to your cell carrier's local store and ask yourself what do you see? If you don’t know the answer I’m looking for I’ll tell you. You see one or two versions of the iPhone, in two distinct colors, in a sea of Android devices. That’s the exact reason. It's overwhelming for a consumer who is new to the smartphone market or even to cell phones period. It’s a lot easier for a local rep to explain how that one iPhone works instead of comparing what each Android device, side by side, has versus their counterparts (I know, I’ve had to do it).
    Plus, there is a reason why Apple only releases new versions of their iPhone or iPad roughly once or twice a year. By building one or two products a year and developing the user experience on that they can usually guarantee user satisfaction and experience. Given that they have one device, with the same hardware they may run into less bugs and have less hardware conflicts. One device a year or even two devices a year can help those who bought first round versions to not feel slighted as well. While users may still feel slighted most don’t because they’re usually half way through their contract and can get the next new iPhone in about a year’s time.
    Android Manfacturer Issues
     Android has come a long way in just a few short years. I know some of you guys can remember Android 1.5/1.6, I can as I first had the Droid Eris. Ice Cream Sandwich is by far the most beautiful and useful graphics interface I have worked with. Everything just seems to work in my opinion. However the issue is, as of right now, that only 1% of the folks out there have official ICS software on their devices. The majority is some iteration of Android 2.3 and Froyo (2.2) is in second. Coupled with the amount of hardware that is in all of these devices OEMs have a hard time delivering support to each and every device.
    Don't get me wrong, the amount of phones that came out in 2011 were monumental in their help to make Android the top dog again in the latest comScore but there was a lot of choices out there to pick from. Again, so many that it could be overwhelming. Dropping support also plagues Android phones.
    Motorola, Samsung and HTC all released phone after phone within just a few short months after releasing other “top-of-the-line” phones. A prime example would be that Motorola released the Droid Bionic, "the phone to rule all phones," in September of 2011 and roughly two months later they dropped the Droid RAZR on the world. It made the Bionic look and feel old. Two months after that we have the RAZR MAXX with amazing battery life and talks of an unlockable Droid RAZR being released. Those who bought the original RAZR feel like Motorola bamboozled them.
    Given that people go out and to pay $299 (which carriers think is a discount) of their hard earned income to have the best phone that will last them two years only to have it replaced by a newer incremental model a month later is a big slap in the face. Given the possibility that carriers could drop support for that previous device and focus on the new one, we have a big problem here. This feeling of discontent only grows and it’s so long Android, hello iPhone.
    The last and final issue I will touch on before I go on to my ideas of solutions is that device manufacturers are releasing phones that are some what half baked. The Droid Bionic came out of the oven a bit early, even with its already massive delays, and look at all the bugs it had; the whine and antenna issues for starters. HTC's Thunderbolt had problems to begin with and while OTA's are working on fixing the problems, the device left a bad taste in some consumers' mouths. HTC feels the same way as they just admitted that their phones under performed in 2011. Heck, even the latest and greatest Galaxy Nexus phone had issues out of the gate.
    The Solution
    So what do Android OEMs have to do in order to generate a better consumer experience? Simple, only release a few devices in a year. While both HTC and Motorola have stated that they will be doing this there isn't to say how many devices will actually see a release. If each of these companies focused on releasing one or two devices a year and then focused on building the best software and hardware user experience possible Android would be unbeatable. Hands down unbeatable.
    Simply by building anticipation and releasing one or two devices a year, Android OEMs would remove a lot of discontent from the consumers' minds. Focusing on two products at the most means that support for each device will continue to happen and you run into less issues. Yes Android is built on openness and freedom but it still takes time to code the OS to work on every bit of hardware out there. Android could still be the open, amazing OS we all know and love just on a few less pieces of hardware.
    Plus, if there were fewer pieces of hardware people would feel less slighted as the next latest and greatest device didn't come out two months later. Seriously, I sit here and wonder what's going to replace my Galaxy Nexus at the MWC this month. By dropping the need to flood the market with choice after choice we run into fewer frustrations by consumers and their disinterest to a new an amazing product.
    Conclusion
    Now before you call me a secret Apple fanboy think about it for a moment. As much as I hate to say it, and I really do, Apple has the science of releasing phones down. Even the iPhone 4S, which in my opinion was a big middle finger to Apple buyers everywhere, saw a favored release. Android manufacturers can take a page from Apple’s playbook on this one, but be careful, you might get sued. Seriously though, Motorola, HTC, Samsung and other manufacturers have a responsibility to their consumers in releasing well made products if they want to keep their consumer base around.
    By not flooding the market with too much choice they will help Android stand the test of time and help the OS to remain on top. If they focused less on the amount of devices that were on the market and more about making the experience top notch for consumers, Android will forever be top notch. Spending some extra time with the OS and making it work well on the hardware is worth it. Trust me, most people will wait patiently for what they know to be a great product. I just hope that the rest of the device manufacturers can get on board with this idea, like Motorola and HTC did, before it's too late. What do you guys think?
    Posted: 06 Feb 2012 02:53 PM PST
    For those of you who don’t know Google dropped official “developer device” support for the CDMA (Verizon) version of the Galaxy Nexus last week. While a statement was released explaining why, it apparently required further explanation as it wasn’t officially explained in full as to what this drop actually meant. So without futher hesitation here is what the official Google Group’s post has to say:
    “Hi, all! Thanks for all the questions. Here's a quick omnibus to answer the questions folks have asked…
    First, just to be clear this change is only related to AOSP support for these devices — that is, personal custom builds. These are obviously still officially-supported Nexus devices for everyday use, they will receive official software updates, and so on. Similarly, these are still fully-supported development devices for app developers.
    Second, as I noted at the top of the thread, Nexus devices will still have unlocked bootloaders, and we'll continue to make available as many of the closed-source binaries as we can. CDMA support in AOSP has always been more challenging than GSM, and this change is a reflection of that reality.
    On that topic, here's a quick clarification on the core issue. Every device has a number of closed-source software packages included on it. Though Google distributes some of these binaries for Nexus devices for use with AOSP, Google does not own the software. Rather, this software is variously owned by the device manufacturer, the carrier, and their suppliers. We try to get distribution rights for as many of these binaries as possible, but in some cases it is difficult or impossible to obtain these rights. (CDMA specifically has a tricky history of intellectual property.) Combined with the technical issues of needing to sign the apks correctly, this has prevented us from obtaining the distribution rights we need to support these devices in AOSP.
    Finally, we will of course continue to work on improving support. If we can resolve these issues, we'll certainly restore CDMA support to AOSP. In the meantime, we've updated our docs to be more accurate about the degree of support.”
    For those of you worried that custom ROMs won’t work or that development has been halted this is simply not true. Usually developers take the time to pull the CDMA binaries straight from the device at hand. Even with Google not distributing them this should not be an issue. Given that Google doesn’t have license to use the binaries they can’t fully come out and say that the device is supported. The device will still get timely updates and is officially supported for every day use. Also it will come with an unlockable bootloader so it is still very much a Nexus device. If you want the technical break down you can also check out the link below. While some may still cry foul I feel that this can help the rest us breathe a sigh of relief. What do you think?

    CDMA devices in AOSP: technical details – link
    source: Google Groups
    Posted: 06 Feb 2012 01:15 PM PST
    Following disappointing revenue results in the last quarter of 2011, HTC is conceding that their phones were under performing.  The company had previously announced that it would release fewer but more quality phones in 2012.  HTC had spread itself too thin by releasing a constant stream of devices.
    Earlier today, the company had announced that its revenue in the last three months of 2011 had fallen 2.49 percent year-on-year, and a full 25 percent from Q3.  These dire numbers prompted HTC to reflect and improve on their previous strategies.  With the new outlook, 2012 will likely bring increases to HTC’s revenues.
    Chief Financial Officer Winston Yung noted in a conference call with investors that HTC plans to produce phones that combine a long battery life and attractive design with fast 4G connection speeds.  In the past, HTC feels it had always sacrificed one of those components.  Yung expects these problems to be resolved in 2012, and using a 4G LTE phone will not require a compromise in quality any longer.
    While Yung declined to provide details on future products or release dates, rumors have been flying about the HTC Edge and the HTC Ville.  Look for more details to emerge on these phones in the coming months.
    source: Slashgear
    Posted: 06 Feb 2012 12:56 PM PST
    Rumors of a joint venture between Verizon and Redbox can finally be laid to rest as the pair have announced today a streaming media and Blu-ray/DVD rental service.  The newly partnered dynamic duo will be looking to take the fight to current streaming and DVD mailing leader Netflix.
    The service is expected to be available on all major platforms from smart TV’s and game consoles through to handheld mobile devices. It isn’t clear at this time if the service will only be available to Verizon customers.  There’s no word on price or a solid release date confirmed as of yet but keep tuned to Talk Android as dig a little deeper to keep you informed.

    Verizon and Coinstar's Redbox Form Joint Venture to Create New Consumer Choice for Video Entertainment
    Joint Venture Will Offer the Best of Both Worlds – Physical and Digital – to All Consumers Nationwide
    NEW YORK, Feb. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Verizon and Coinstar, Inc. today announced the formation of a joint venture that will create a new choice for quality- and value-conscious consumers seeking a simple and affordable way to access the video entertainment they crave. The venture's services will offer all of the convenience, simplicity and value of Redbox® new release DVD and Blu-ray Disc® rentals combined with a new content-rich video on-demand streaming and download service from Verizon.
    The joint venture plans to introduce the product portfolio in the second half of 2012. It will offer subscription services and more in an easy-to-use, flexible and affordable service that will allow all consumers across the U.S. to enjoy the new and popular entertainment they want, whenever they choose, using the media and devices they prefer. Additional brand and product information will be revealed in the coming months.
    "When you consider the core elements the parties bring to this venture – our powerful brands; our national rental kiosk footprint; our anytime, anywhere network presence; and our mutual commitment to customer-focused innovation – it's clear that Verizon and Redbox are a powerful entertainment team," said Bob Mudge, president of Verizon consumer and mass business markets.
    "Consumers rely on Redbox for the latest new release movies at a great value, and our joint venture with Verizon will enable us to bring them even more value by offering expanded content offerings and greater flexibility for how and when they enjoy entertainment," said Paul Davis, chief executive officer of Coinstar, Inc. "This alliance is the result of a deliberate and strategic process to identify a partner who shares our commitment to delivering innovative solutions to consumers. We look forward to rolling out the shared benefits this venture will bring to consumers, retailers, and shareholders."
    This venture between Verizon and Redbox will create the kind of national multi-platform product that customers are demanding from video entertainment service providers. It will leverage Verizon's industry-wide relationships with entertainment content providers, its advanced cloud computing technologies and state-of-the-art IP network infrastructure to distribute video on-demand content to its customers.
    "The joint venture will combine the accessibility and value of Redbox with Verizon's vision for a borderless lifestyle – where consumers easily accomplish what they want or need to do, on their terms, through the power of the network," said Mudge. "Together, we are erasing old technology boundaries, freeing people to spontaneously enjoy the entertainment they want, whenever they choose, using the devices and media they prefer, at home or away."
    By offering instantly available online and mobile content with immediate access to physical media through rental kiosks, Verizon and Redbox will be uniquely positioned to deliver the best of both worlds – digital and physical – to consumers across the country.
    The joint venture is a limited liability company with Verizon holding a 65 percent ownership share and Redbox holding a 35 percent ownership share at the outset.
    Posted: 06 Feb 2012 12:35 PM PST
    You have to hand it to Motorola as they released two cutting edge phones in the past few months. First was the DROID RAZR, which is currently the thinnest smartphone available. Then last week, the DROID RAZR MAXX came along, with an unprecedented 3300mAh battery, which is 75 to 100% larger than competing phones. Motorola teased us before CES with an “unplugged” video, and they weren’t kidding. 4G LTE phones have been around for about a year, and the single biggest complaint has been battery drain. They improved a little over the last few months, but Motorola completely changed the game. This isn’t a little tweak, this is a major improvement, and one that actually allows you to be connected to 4G LTE all day and literally stay unplugged for nearly 24 hours. This is my full review, which won’t be all that in depth because the DROID RAZR MAXX is essentially the same phone as the DROID RAZR except for the thickness and battery. You can also checkout my initial hands on review as well as my preliminary battery tests.
    Design
    The DROID RAZR MAXX is essentially the same look as the DROID RAZR except for the thickness. The RAZR is 7.1mm thick and the MAXX is 8.99mm with the size difference for accommodating the larger battery. I think the extra 1.89mm makes the RAZR MAXX more comfortable in the hands. In my review of the RAZR, I said it was the sexiest phone I’ve ever held, but after some time had past, I realized that thin isn’t necessarily so great. I found it hard to use the phone with one hand when it’s that thin. I still think it’s an amazing device, and I still don’t know how Motorola was able to build that solid of a phone that thin. The RAZR MAXX feels a lot better, and the extra battery ends up being frosting on the cake. That’s not to say that the RAZR MAXX is thick because it isn’t. It’s actually thinner that the iPhone 4S and the Verizon Galaxy Nexus. So Motorola was able to still produce one of the thinnest phones in the world and still pack a monster battery in it.
    Since the design is still the same, the same Kevlar backing is in place, and unfortunately, the same plastic glossy sides still exist. This makes the phone slippery in your hand much like a lot of phones available today, which is a big turn off for me. Because of the battery, I’m willing to overlook it.
    The other negative is the bezel is larger than most phones. When comparing it to the Galaxy Nexus, which has a screen that’s larger by .35-inches, it’s almost the same size. The Galaxy Nexus is 5.3 inches x 2.7 inches and the RAZR MAXX is tad shorter at 5.15 inches, but the width is essentially the same at 2.71 inches. Again, things I can look past when you consider the battery.
    Hardware
    At his point, it should already be drilled into your head that the battery is 3300mAh. The rest of the specs are identical to the DROID RAZR, and include  a 4.3-inch (960 x 540) Super AMOLED display, 1.2GHz dual-core TI OMAP 4430 processor, 1GB RAM, 8MP rear camera with 1080p video recording, 1.3MP front camera, 16GB internal storage, 16GB microSD card included (upgradable to 32GB), 4G LTE compatible, Bluetooth, WiFi, micro HDMI, and Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread.
    Battery
    It’s all about the battery when it comes to the RAZR MAXX. You almost feel like you’re buying a battery with a phone around it. If you’re concerned that it’s non-removeable, forget it. This is literally the first phone in which you don’t panic when it gets down to 10% remaining. With light use, you could still go another 3 to 4 hours on 4G LTE. This is truly a phone that lets you go completely unplugged from the time you wake up till you go to bed. For example, when I’m in the car, I typically listen to a lot of online stuff while streaming via Bluetooth. Even with 3G phones, I always plugged in to conserve my battery. With the RAZR MAXX, I don’t feel the need to ever plug in even in a 4G LTE area. You can even watch a movie at some point during the day and never feel the need to plug this bad boy in until you go to bed at night.
    I already posted my first 2 days of results, so if you want to check them out, please do so. For day 3, I was on 4G LTE all day with both the RAZR MAXX and the Galaxy Nexus (for comparison).
    I unplugged both phones at 7:00am and the Galaxy Nexus was dead by 4:55pm with light usage. Not only that, it was actually on WiFi for maybe 2 hours. The RAZR MAXX was never on WiFi and still had 50% battery left at 4:55pm plus I had already ran continuous video for 2 1/2 hours. Bluetooth was on, WiFi off, auto brightness off and turned up to 2/3′s brightness, and the GPS was on. When midnight came around, it still had 15% left. It should also be noted that the Galaxy Nexus results were with the 2100mAh battery.
    For day 4, I just did a continuous video rundown test on the RAZR MAXX only while on 4G. I was able to go nearly 10 hours straight playing continuous video while on 4G LTE. It actually was 9 hours 40 minutes, and the settings were the same as day 3.
    I can go on and on with tests, but this is truly, hands down, the best phone in the market for battery life.
    Performance
    The processor is the same as the RAZR and it works and acts exactly the same, which is top notch and very smooth. I did run the AnTuTu benchmark, and it came in at 6006, which was actually higher than the RAZR test, which was 5369. Scoring better is nice, but it all comes down to real world experience, and I didn’t notice a difference.
    The display is somewhat a disappointment in that it’s only a qHD (960 x 540) screen. With HD screens already out from the likes of LG, Samsung, and HTC, its surprising to see Motorola lacking in this category. At the same time, I can’t blame them. As I mentioned in my RAZR review, I think the display is on par with most non-HD displays. The color has deeper blacks and I honestly don’t think most people will find a big difference as compared to the newer HD screens. I presume this is why Motorola is backing off the HD screens here in the U.S. They are blessed with the “Droid” branding which guarantees a certain amount of automatic success so they can save a few bucks with the cheaper screen. The LG Spectrum, HTC Rezound, and Galaxy Nexus don’t receive the same marketing push. Which is more important? An HD display or battery. Motorola chose battery, and I think they chose wisely.
    Software
    There really isn’t anything to add here that’s different from my DROID RAZR review. The software is so identical that even the ROM versions and kernels are identical. Motorola has been under a lot of scrutiny for its UI skins, and I think its unjustified. They are doing a lot of really nice things with Smart Actions and MotoCast. For more information about these, checkout my DROID RAZR review.
    Camera
    Again, there isn’t much here to add. The camera is the same as the DROID RAZR. Motorola has never been known for great cameras, but they’re getting better. The DROID RAZR and RAZR MAXX are not top tier, but there not the bottom of the barrel either. I have included some example photos for your reference (the 4th one utilized flash).
    Closing
    I said it earlier in the article that the DROID RAZR MAXX is a battery with a phone around it, but it also happens to be a very good phone. There’s only one reason not to buy the DROID RAZR MAXX and that’s the fact that it doesn’t have Ice Cream Sandwich. If you’re a hardcore, then it might not be the phone for you, but if you’re the typical consumer, who doesn’t mind waiting 2 or 3 months, then it’s a no brainer – The DROID RAZR MAXX wins hands down.
    Posted: 06 Feb 2012 12:15 PM PST
    Some leaked pictures are giving us an exciting look at the HTC Ville, which will debut on T-Mobile in mid-2012.  The Japanese site Ameblo repeats some of the rumored specs we’ve reported, including a 4.3-inch qHD Super AMOLED display, a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon Series 4 processor, and an 8-megapixel camera.  The audio system will be sporting Beats Audio, and the battery will be 1650 mAh. Remarkably, the phone will be packed into a housing of approximately 8mm.  That would make it thinner than the iPhone!
    The phone is supposed to run Ice Cream Sandwich with HTC Sense 4.0, but the leaked photos show the Ville running what looks to be Sense 3.0.  You can, however, see the amazing slimness of this new device.  We’re still hoping to see the phone at Mobile World Congress in a few weeks.
    Leaked HTC Ville_1 Leaked HTC Ville_4 Leaked HTC Ville_2 Leaked HTC Ville_3
    source: Ameblo
    Posted: 06 Feb 2012 11:52 AM PST
     Add another to the stack of rumours surrounding the upcoming Galaxy S III. This time, South Korea’s Electronic Times News reports that an unnamed source claims the quad-core, super AMOLED plus, Android 4.0 powerhouse will be enclosed in a Liquipel waterproofed chassis only 7mm thick, 1.49mm thinner than the Galaxy S II. Electronic Times News also reports that we could see the S III launched as soon as May, which would line up with Samsung’s statement earlier this month.
    With technology becoming smaller and cooler, I would not be in the least bit surprised if this rumour turned out to be true. With such a thin profile and all the rumoured specifications swirling around, it seems the Galaxy S III is going to turn Galaxy Nexus owners on their head with an impressive device to tempt them into premature replacement.
    Source: Electronic Times News
    Posted: 06 Feb 2012 10:14 AM PST
    In June of last year, the Taiwanese government issued a complaint to multiple companies including Microsoft and Apple, defending a certain law they have in place that details anything downloaded from the internet must be subject to a mandatory seven-day trial period in which the user can request a complete refund. Both Apple and Microsoft yielded, complying with the Taiwanese law. Google however, argued that users have ample time – even within the 15 minute window Google allows – to use the app and determine whether or not they want a refund.
    As a result, Google was fined NT$1,000,000 (about $34,000 US), which they appealed. Google’s final appeal ended yesterday, and it didn’t bear any good news for the internet giant. The Taiwanese government gave a statement, saying “We urge Google to respect Taiwan’s laws and the rights of our consumers to resume sales of its Android Market paid apps.”
    Google’s been fairly quiet thus far, but it’s only been a day. I don’t believe they’re necessarily too worried about it, though. Do you?
    Source: India Times
    Posted: 06 Feb 2012 09:57 AM PST
    Those of you in the U.K. can mark your calendars because the white Galaxy Nexus has been officially confirmed by Samsung for release on Monday, February 13th — just in time to buy one for your special someone on Valentine’s Day. The sleek looking Samsung flagship model comes with the same color scheme as yester-years’ white Nexus S, a white chassis and a black glass face. The internals remain the same.
    It’s disappointing – to say the least – that nothing has been hinted thus far at any North American release to satisfy our white GNex hunger, though one can still hope, right?
    Press release after the break.

    SAMSUNG LAUNCHES THE GALAXY NEXUS WHITE
    Samsung's latest Android device coming to UK shores 13th February
    6th February 2012, London, UK – Samsung has today confirmed the availability of a white variant of the Galaxy Nexus in the UK. The first smartphone to feature Android™ 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, the Galaxy Nexus White can be bought in a range of stores across the country from 13th February.
    Simon Stanford, UK & IRE Telecommunications & Networks Division said: "After much speculation, we are pleased to announce the availability of the Galaxy Nexus White which follows the great reception the phone has received since it was launched back in November. One of the things we at Samsung pride ourselves on is the choice we offer customers, and we've enjoyed huge success to date by introducing white variants of our most popular models to our product portfolio."
    The Galaxy Nexus™ White offers customers all the features found in the original Galaxy Nexus, from the 4.65'' HD Super AMOLED display which boasts a market-leading resolution of 720p (1280×720), to the 5 megapixel camera and super-fast 1.2GHz dual core processor and HSPA+ connectivity so owners can connect to and browse the internet quickly and easily when they're out and about.
    As the first  smartphone to run on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, the Galaxy Nexus White offers customers an entirely new look and feel, including a redesigned user interface with improved multi-tasking, notifications, Wi-Fi hotspot, NFC support and a full web browsing experience. In addition to a rounded slim design, the Galaxy Nexus White also introduces new innovations such as 'Face Unlock', which uses facial recognition to unlock the phone. Whilst integration with Google+™ means owners can easily stay in touch with friends and family and talk over Google+ Messenger.
    Posted: 06 Feb 2012 09:46 AM PST
    Well it appears Motorola is growing some stones in regards to its injunction against Apple’s iCloud and MobileMe software. Motorola is apparently looking into receiving 2.25% of Apple’s sales in return for licensing FRAND (fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory terms) patents. Right now Apple is currently battling in its use of the Qualcomm-Mot0r0la license agreement for its defense. They are trying to show the court that the patent has already been exhausted, which would safeguard Apple from also being sued by Qualcomm. They just happen to be its supplier and a license already exists between the two. They are also trying to disclose terms of the agreement in order to prove that 2.25% is an exaggerated amount.
    They are also asking for documents that contain the agreements between Motorola and other manufacturers, like Ericsson, HTC, LG, and Nokia. Apple hopes that these agreements show the court that 2.25% is exaggerated as was said before and that it exceeds the amount agreed upon with those other OEMs.  The ruling could go either way. One thing is for certain, Apple isn’t steam rolling over Android OEMs anymore in their patent suits.
    source: FOSS Patents
    via: PocketNow

    Posted by at 10:37 PM 0 comments


      Posted: 06 Feb 2012 04:40 PM PST
      RAZR OTA
      If you're the proud owner of a Motorola Droid RAZR, or it's brother with a bit bigger gas tank the Motorola Droid RAZR MAXX, (read the review of the MAXX right here)  there's an OTA update ready and waiting for you.  Version 6.12.173.XT912.Verizon.en.US (there's no way we could make that one up) started slowly rolling out over the weekend and is now pushing hard and heavy, and chances are you can grab it yourself by simply going to Settings>About Phone>System Updates.  
      The update itself is about 150MB in size, and updates the software to Android 2.3.6.  I know many were wanting Ice Cream Sandwich, but this update brings some welcome bug fixes and security patches, so we'll gladly take it.  The full change list, line by line:
      • Mobile Hotspot will now successfully allow other devices to connect to all
      • Improvements in the Mobile Hotspot security.
      • VZ Navigator has been updated with the latest 3D map improvements.
      • Visual Voice Mail messages can be marked as read.
      • Visual Voice Mail message playback resumes when audio is switched to speaker.
      • Visual Voice Mail will successfully subscribe or unsubscribe while connected with Wifi.
      • Successfully press back key after playback in Visual Voice Mail without error.
      • V CAST App now comes preloaded.
      • MotoCast installation steps have been improved for easier use.
      • Improved stability of data connectivity after Airplane Mode is disabled.
      • Improved data throughput performance in low-signal 4G environments.
      • Improved Battery life when using Phone Book Access Profile (PBAP) Bluetooth headsets.
      • Successfully save multimedia ringtones.
      • Favorite Contacts widget has been updated.
      • Improved device stability when moving between home screen panels.
      • Email icon has been updated for improved visibility.
      • When performing an Over the Air (OTA) update, the display will correctly show the remaining download time.
      • CMAS (Commercial Mobile Alert Service) feature has been added.
      That's a hell of a list, and seeing improvements with 4G data connectivity is certainly something everyone likes to see.  Things should go smoothly after this one, but if you hit any snags or just want to discuss it all, be sure to hit the forums!
      More: Verizon
      Posted: 06 Feb 2012 02:59 PM PST
      From The Forums
      It's Monday, one day after the Super Bowl and we're all still kinda groggy from the refreshments and things we should never have eaten but that doesn't mean the news has stopped in any way -- just a little slower. Missed out on a few things? Get yourself caught up here on the blogs and in the forums:
      If you're not already a member of the Android Central forums, you can register your account today.
      Posted: 06 Feb 2012 02:33 PM PST
      Motorola Droid RAZR MAXX
      This is the Motorola Droid RAZR MAXX on Verizon. Looks a lot like the Motorola Droid RAZR on Verizon, doesn't it? Because it is. You can sum up the MAXX in a single sentence: It's a Motorola DROID RAZR, with a bigger battery. Period, end of story. The software's the same. The hardware's nearly identical. It just has a larger-capacity battery, making the phone slightly thicker.
      That can't be the whole review, can it? Well, it most certainly can. Or it could be. But it's not.
      The Good

      It's still big, it's still fast, and it's still got a lot of great software enhancements from Motorola. And now it has a bigger-capacity battery, that makes the phone feel better, too.      		 The Bad

      It's still got Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread. We've decided we don't like the display after all. And although the the battery's bigger, you still can't swap it out for a fresh one.
      Conclusion

      This is the Droid RAZR with a bigger batter. And it's what Motorola and Verizon should have released in November, plain and simple.

      Inside this review

      More info
      read more
      Posted: 06 Feb 2012 01:56 PM PST
      NPD data on U.S. smartphone ownership by platform
      NPD recently released some interesting data regarding U.S. smartphone sales in the last quarter. While iPhones dominated as the top choices by model, with the Samsung Galaxy S II and Galaxy S 4G taking up number 4 and 5 spots, there was a clear trend of Android phones being more popular among first-time buyers than Apple's smartphones. 57% of shoppers surveyed by NDP that were picking up their first smartphone went with Android, while that number dropped to 48% for the whole sample group. Android and iOS together command over 90% of the U.S. smartphone market, leaving little room for third place, be it BlackBerry, Windows Phone, or otherwise.
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      Posted: 06 Feb 2012 01:27 PM PST
      Android A to Z - USB
      What is USB?  USB stands for Universal Serial Bus, and is a standard for connectors, cables and protocols used for data transfer and power between a computer and another electronic device.  It was developed in 1995 to allow a single connection method for things like computer keyboards, mice, and printers as well as connected devices like mp3 players and cameras. A standard USB interface has four wires (USB 3.0 has eight for double the data transfer), with two acting as power leads and two for data transfer. Commercial applications have up to eight wires and connection points, and can also provide 12- or 24-volt power in addition to the normal 5 volts. You'll see these sort of systems in cash registers and commercial barcode scanners.  
      What we're most interested in is the implementation in mobile devices.  Most mobile devices in the world use USB 2.0 for data transfer and/or power supply. In China, laws have been passed making manufacturers keep to the USB standard for data transfer and power, and in December 2011 a law was written that all mobile phones will be able to use the same charger, with micro-USB as the standard, by the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation. This only affects phones -- tablets and laptops are exempt because they have different power requirements.
      Most new Android phones you'll buy have a microUSB (like the picture above) connector. The data cable will have a small plug to insert into the phone on one end, and a standard USB connector to plug into your computer. This cable will allow for data transfer -- to copy pictures or music or do a little hacking, as well as 5 volts to charge the device.  Some older models have a miniUSB connector, which does the same thing but with a different, slightly larger, port. MicroUSB is a more robust connector, being rated at 10,000 "insertion cycles" so both the port on the phone as well as the cable should last longer. Some devices need a non-standard USB connector, like the Galaxy Tab 10.1 (or nearly every other Android tablet). Internal design doesn't permit a standard microUSB connector to fit on the board, so a wider, thinner plug and port combo was used.  Also, some tablets can't get power fast enough to charge via a USB connector and use a separate DC socket and adapter for charging. For devices like the iPhone that have a non-standard connection port, an adapter can be made to allow them to comply with European mandates of a single charger solution.  
      Lastly, some phones use the microUSB interface for other things besides data transfer and power.  Seeing HDMI output provided through a MHL (Mobile High-definition Link) is becoming pretty common, and allows a special adapter to be used to provide high definition video to stream out to televisions or computer monitors. These adapters can be purchased for about 15 dollars (US) and allow a standard HDMI cable to connect to your phone.  
      We've seen other connection methods come and go, and new ones are always being worked on, but USB offers relatively high-speed data transfer, is adaptable for various power needs, and is likely to stick around for a long time.
      Previously on Android A to Z: What is tethering?; Find more in the Android Dictionary
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      Posted: 06 Feb 2012 12:14 PM PST
      Mobilicity and Galaxy Nexus by Samsung
      To mark Mobilicity’s recent launch of the Galaxy Nexus by Samsung, and with Valentine’s Day just around the corner, Mobilicity wants to give one lucky person a small token of affection: a Galaxy Nexus by Samsung and 6 months of free unlimited talk, text, and data service on Mobilicity’s $40 Super Savings plan (a $55/month value)!

      We want to make this contest interesting, so we want you to declare your love for the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. And it might not hurt if you threw in some Android Central and Mobilicity affection as well. In the forum linked below, write a poem, a love letter, a limerick -- whatever suits your fancy -- showing us just how much love you have. Heck, you can even sing a song or make a video and upload it for all to see! It's all fair game.

      Unfortunately, there are rules, but they are short. The contest is only open to those living in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and Ottawa (Mobilicity’s unlimited zones). Keep your entries family friendly, as normal forum rules apply. The contest begins right now, and ends Sunday night at midnight PST so get those entries in!
      Enter to win a Galaxy Nexus from Mobilicity!
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      Posted: 06 Feb 2012 11:20 AM PST
      Galaxy Nexus on Videotron
      Following fellow regional carriers WIND and Mobilicity's lead, Québec-based Videotron will launch the Samsung Galaxy Nexus this Wednesday, February 8. Still no word on pricing, though we'll keep our ears peeled the closer we get to Wednesday. The flagship device will be compatbible with Videotron's "4G" network, which boasts download speeds of up to 42 Mbps.
      Videotron covers most of Québec's largest metro areas, including Montréal and Québec City. It is just the latest in a long list of Canadian carriers to snag the device, which includes TELUS, Rogers, and Fido to name a few. Hit the source link for the Videotron's product page, where you'll be able to snag the device once hump day rolls around.
      Source: Videotron
      Posted: 06 Feb 2012 10:51 AM PST
      Android CentralAndroid Central
      Last Monday we got out first look at the HTC Ville, an upcoming handset that we're expecting to see unveiled at Mobile World Congress in a few weeks. Today four new photos of the phone have appeared over on Chinese forum ePrice, giving us a closer, clearer look at the currently unannounced device.
      Judging by the icon placement, location, date, time and background, it looks like these images come from the same original source as last week's leaked video. However, unlike the video, these are of (reasonably) decent quality, showing off the chassis of the phone and HTC Sense 4.0's redesigned, geometric stylings.
      Today's photos seem to confirm that version 4.0 will give HTC Sense it's biggest visual overhaul yet. The classic Sense dock is gone, replaced with ICS-style icons. And the iconic clock widget had undergone a few changes too, with more clean lines and less translucency. The lockscreen, however, seems to be more or less unchanged from Sense 3.x -- you've still got the familiar metal ring and four shortcuts. And in terms of industrial design, it's clear we're looking at a pretty thin device, with what seems to be slightly raised areas at the top and bottom of the back panel.
      As with any unofficial leak, things can, and likely will change as the unveiling and eventual release approaches. We've got our fingers crossed for more HTC Ville goodness at MWC later this month. You'll find two more photos after the jump.
      Source: ePrice; via: Phandroid
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      Posted: 06 Feb 2012 10:05 AM PST
      Swype ICS
      Here's one of those good news/bad news things, which we're going to tell in reverse. The bad news is that Swype, the uber-popular third-party keyboard that lets you trace your finger from letter to letter instead of pecking, still isn't ready for Ice Cream Sandwich devices, never mind that they've been available for a few months now.  The good news is that ICS is still only on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus and Nexus S. (Officially, anyway.)
      The gooder news is that Swype's got an update waiting in the wings that will finally enable it on the latest version of the Android operating system. It's "only days away," Swype says on Twitter. And along with the Ice Cream Sandwich support, Swype's promising "more goodies" as well.
      Here's to hoping one of those goodies is a release in the Android Market. While we understand Swype's decision to stick with a business model where it's preloaded onto devices by the carriers and not available in the Android Market, it's getting a little old. Having to run to the Swype website to get our "beta" copy (nudge nudge, wink wink, know what I mean?) hasn't gotten any more fun. We're not going to bet that we'll see a shift in that sometime soon, but we can certainly hope. 
      Anyhoo, stay tuned. Swype for Ice Cream Sandwich is on the way.
      Source: @Swype 1, 2
      Posted: 06 Feb 2012 09:07 AM PST
      Vday Confessions
      Oh, this could get good. Verizon's cooking up a little Valentine's Day contest, wherein you can win a Motorola DROID RAZR. (Not a new RAZR MAXX? Lame.) The contest kicks off Feb. 13 and runs through Valentine's Day. To enter, you'll have tweet a "creative" Valentine's Day confession -- poems and pics are suggested -- and tag the stories with #tweetheart.
      So, ya know, you could say something nice about your sweetie, something about along romantic dinner, maybe a walk through the park. Or we could well see sordid tales from the Red Light District. Because this is, after all, the Internet.
      Find out next week, we suppose.
      More: @vdayconfessions
      Posted: 06 Feb 2012 08:30 AM PST
      Free Android WallpaperToday's free Android Wallpaper comes to us from reader jcarley0830, who snapped this sunset on Jan. 31 in Altoona, Iowa, with a Canon T2i and an 18-55mm lens.
      Posted: 06 Feb 2012 07:36 AM PST

      Android Central
       
      We now know it won't be at Mobile World Congress, but that hasn't stopped the steady trickle of rumors relating to the Samsung Galaxy S III. The latest round of unconfirmed, unverifiable info comes from Korean site ETNews, which cites its own "industry insiders."
      According to these sources, the phone includes such previously-rumored specs as Android 4.0, a quad-core CPU and LTE support -- none of which is particularly unsurprising for a Samsung flagship product in 2012. However, the most interesting rumor concerns the device's dimensions -- it's said to measure just 7mm thick, thanks to the introduction of thinner internal components. At 7mm, the Galaxy S III would still be a hair thicker than Huawei's P1S, but considering its souped-up internals, it's still incredibly impressive. That figure would see Samsung shave almost a millimeter and a half off the girth of the Galaxy S II, which measured 8.49mm.
      Other rumored specs for the Galaxy S III include a 2MP front-facing camera and 8MP rear-facing shooter, which apparently protrudes slightly from the back of the device.
      Looking further ahead, ETNews suggests that Samsung, apparently undeterred by lukewarm uptake of other 3D phones, may be planning to launch its own 3D smartphone later in the year.
      Today's rumors indicate a possible May 2012 launch for the Galaxy S III, which certainly wouldn't surprise us, and would fit within the Samsung's previously-announced timeframe. In any case, we're expecting to hear more about the Galaxy S III sometime after Mobile World Congress.
      Source: ETNews; Thanks, Erich!
      Posted: 06 Feb 2012 06:52 AM PST
      Googlerola
      It's bad enough that when Kayak.com announced it was dropping support for its BlackBerry app that it said it was a "practical decision." That's gotta sting, right? (Even if it's true. Or especially if it's true.) But what really gave us a chuckle was Kayak's line about devices it will continue to support.
      "If you're thinking of switching to an iPhone, Googlerola phone, other Android device, Windows Phone 7 device, or a Nokia device, we will continue to innovate and maintain our free apps for you," Kayak's billo wrote on the company's news section. "Googlerola phone." Heh. Looks like we're not the only ones chomping at the bit to see what what comes out of the proposed merger (acquisition, really -- Motorola's getting about $12.5 billion out of it) between Google and Motorola. And Kayak, like many of you, is of the mind that soon enough in the future you'll have two classes of Android -- Googlerola, and everything else.
      Google's Andy Rubin, of course, has said otherwise -- that Motorola continue to operate as a separate company, and that it doesn't have a lock on future Nexus phones. (Of the major smartphone manufacturers, HTC and Samsung have been tapped for the three Nexus devices.)
      "We don't expect that to change at all," Rubin said back in August 2011. "The acquisition is going to be run as a separate business. They will be part of that bidding process, and part of that lead development process. And obviously Android remains open to other partners to use as they are today."
      The two companies expect the merger to be finalized "in early 2012," meaning any time now, once regulatory approval is received.
      Posted: 06 Feb 2012 06:50 AM PST
      Case-Mate POP! Case w/ Stand for Motorola Droid RAZR
      The Feb. 6 ShopAndroid.com Deal of the Day is the Case-Mate POP! Case w/ Stand for the Motorola Droid RAZR. The case features co-molded materials of plastic and soft rubber unite to create a hard case with a soft touch. The lightweight plastic body of the Pop! protects from unforeseeable impacts, while keeping the screen lifted away from surfaces. It's available in black/cool gray, pink/cool gray or white/cool gray today only for just $18.95. Get yours while supplies last!
      Posted: 06 Feb 2012 06:17 AM PST
      Rdio
      Rdio, a big-name streaming music service (and my personal favourite out of the bunch), today updated their Android app with some significant changes. The last update was this summer, and simply optimized the app for Ice Cream Sandwich. With the latest version, the home landing page is now a lot more helpful, offering quick links to trending tracks, new releases, and recommendations. Thanks to Android Ice Cream Sandwich, the app also lets you control tracks and view album art from, the lock screen. The app is also getting a bit more sociable; now you can also search for users, view their collections, and add them as friends from the app. That feature in particular is great, because I consider the social element the biggest benefit of Rdio. Search has been further tweaked so that you can filter results for only what's cached locally - ideal for those times that you want to get your tuneage, but don't want to kill your battery with streaming.
      As always, Rdio for Android lets you build up a personal collection of music out of a 12 million-track library, stream individual songs and playlists, sync up some songs to your phone for offline access, and discover new music through friends that are also using the service. Up here in Canada, we don't have access to Spotify and Pandora, so Rdio and Slacker are our only options for sharing mobile music to the Facebook stream. Slacker has some solid tailor-made stations, but I tend to side with Rdio for being more personal.
      Interested? You can find a download link and video demo of the update after the jump. Just keep in mind that you have to shell out $10/month for mobile access.
      read more
      Posted: 06 Feb 2012 05:53 AM PST
      HTC
      HTC has published its final Q4 2011 financial results, confirming the 2.49% year-on-year slip in earnings revealed in last month's unaudited numbers. In the fourth quarter of last year, HTC brought in NT$101.42 billion, down from NT$104 during the same period in 2010. There was also a gloomy outlook for the first quarter of 2012, with projected revenues of NT$65-70 billion (down from NT$104.16 billion in Q1 2011), and a much lower operating margin of around 7.5%.
      The manufacturer said the Q4 slump, and expected weakness in Q1 2012, were a "temporary phenomenon" due to its current "product cycle transition", as it looks to unveil new handsets at Mobile World Congress later this month.
      HTC faced strong competition in late 2011, with a resurgent Apple launching the iPhone 4S, as well as growing dominance of the Android space by Korean rival Samsung. The company has recently indicated its plans to do more with fewer models in 2012, focusing on stronger "hero" devices.
      New models unveiled in Barcelona in a few weeks are expected to include the "HTC Ville", which leaked last week, and the quad-core "HTC Edge."
      Source: HTC
      Posted: 06 Feb 2012 05:29 AM PST


      Mobile Nations





            Posted: 06 Feb 2012 05:19 AM PST
            We're kicking off this week's ShopAndroid Daily Giveaway with a closer look at the Qmadix Galaxy Nexus Snap-on Cover, a Rezound Hard Shell, the Seidio Galaxy SII Extended Battery, and the Droid RAZER Case-Mate Tough Case.
            Leave a comment stating which one of the featured accessories you'd like to have. We will pick a winner from each daily post Sunday at midnight. Pretty simple, right? Let's get this thing started.

            Qmadix Snap-On Cover for Samsung/Verizon Galaxy Nexus

            The Qmadix Snap-On Cover is form-fitted to your Samsung or Verizon Galaxy Nexus and features a textured rubberized exterior to allow a firm grip on your device.  The case is lightweight, and fairly thin-- keeping your Galaxy Nexus' slim profile as close as possible.  The Snap-on cover features cutouts for all of the Galaxy Nexus features, and leaves the screen exposed for full functionality.
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            Posted: 06 Feb 2012 04:11 AM PST
            Android CentralAndroid Central
            Following reports from some online retailers early last month, we now have official confirmation from Samsung that the white Galaxy Nexus is the real deal, and will be going on sale next week in the UK. Sammy promises that the white (GSM) Galaxy Nexus will be making its way to "a range of stores across the country" from next Monday, Feb. 13.
            Like last year's white Nexus S, the white Galaxy Nexus switches up the color of the chassis, rather than the bezel surrounding the screen. That means you'll get a classy white finish on the back and sides of the device, while the front is furnished in the same black glass as the original. Internally, it's the same Galaxy Nexus we all know and love.
            So far we've heard nothing about any possible North American release for the white Galaxy Nexus, however our fingers are crossed for the launch of the Sprint LTE version later in the year.
            We've got Samsung's press release after the break.
            read more
            Posted: 05 Feb 2012 05:49 PM PST
            Android Central
            While we hope you spent your whole week sitting home reading Android Central, we know you were probably out and about getting your healthy on for Mobile Nations Fitness Month. Don't worry, the news has passed but you aren't left out, let's take a look below at some of the happenings from the Android world this week.

            General News

            Hardware News

            Tablet News



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