Friday, May 18, 2012

Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans

Android Powered “i’m Watch” Experiencing Delays – Begins Shipping July 15th With Improved Specs

Posted: 17 May 2012 06:23 PM PDT

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The Android powered  “i’m Watch” made quite the splash when it debuted first as a concept late last year, and then as a prototype at this year’s CES. There was so much buzz that many an Android user, and your everyday tech enthusiast, were getting in line, pre-ordering the device as soon as it was made available.

Well, it looks like the Italian smartwatch maker is experiencing delays (again), this time to better equip the little Donut running watches with improved hardware — no doubt to better compete with the likes of rival smartwatches like the Pebble. Starting on July 15th, the i’m Watch will begin shipping out to outstanding orders with the company saying they expect to have all orders fulfilled by Sept. 15th.

Those of you that don’t feel like waiting any further have until the 15th of July to cancel your orders and apply for a refund. For those that plan on waiting this out, you can now expect to receive a 15% discount as part of a thank you gift from the i’m Watch team.

Below is the email being sent out to pre-orderers today. Anyone planning on sticking around for the i’m Watch? Or have the Pebble, Sony Smartwatch, or others caught your wandering eye?

Dear Customer,

we appreciate the patience you’ve shown so far regarding the delivery of i’m Watch. We are aware that you have encountered some inconveniences and that, above all, you were not able to use a device that grows every day further interest around the world.

Unfortunately we have verified once more the validity of that saying: “The best is the enemy of the good!” What do we mean?

We want to tell you today with great transparency and humbleness that, not only have we met all the difficulties of an extremely innovative and ambitious project (and the unforeseen events that have surpassed any logical expectation), but we have especially given into the temptation of implementing some modifications in order to increase and improve the adaptability of i’m Watch towards the future development of technology (for example, enabling it to handle a larger number of apps than initially expected). All of these factors brought us to lose precious time and, particularly, has prevented us from providing you some certain dates for the delivery.

But we are now able to define them as follows, taking into account that we intend to conduct a last serious testing program with our customers:

1) By June 15th we will provide i’m Watch to a group of 300 customers, who will cooperate with us for a final and ultimate check, to be completed by July 15th. We will ask them to give regular feedback on their experience, which will be reported in a public blog on the website www.imwatch.it in order to allow you to follow its evolution as well.

2) Starting July 15th we will begin to ship the product to all those who have an unsent order. We expect to fulfill the delivery for all current orders within and no later than September 15th.

Given that we understand that you might have lost interest in the purchase, we decided to offer you the following possibilities:

Giving up the purchase and requesting an immediate refund of the paid amount, providing by July 15th an e-mail to the following address, if you are residing in Italy: …, or to the following: … if you are residing abroad. If instead you are willing to wait until the expected date of delivery, you will receive at the delivery a 15% discount on the price paid.

We thank you for your cooperation, very confident that i’m Watch will fully meet your expectations.

Best regards.

Manuel Zanella and Massimiliano Bertolini President and CEO of i’m Spa

Temple Run Updated In The Play Store – Fixes Support For Ice Cream Sandwich Devices

Posted: 17 May 2012 05:23 PM PDT

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Those of you a part of the elite 4.9% of Android users currently running Ice Cream Sandwich have a little something to enjoy today. Looks like developer Imangi Studios has updated Temple Run for Android, finally fixing compatibility issues the game was having on some Android 4.0 devices. A few other bugs were fixed as well.

If you want to take part in run-until-you-drop hit title, jump onto the Google Play Store where Temple Run can be downloaded for absolutely free.

[Play Store Link]

Delaware Federal Court Orders HTC and Apple To Meet For Settlement Talks in August

Posted: 17 May 2012 04:34 PM PDT

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I think it goes without saying that this whole patent “he said, she said” legal business has gotten a bit out of hand lately. Apparently, the US District for the District of Delaware agrees with the sentiment, and have ordered HTC and Apple to meet and talk about a potential settlement. It’s not clear if the CEO’s of said companies will make an appearance, with the court order only mentioning lawyers and “decision makers” from the appropriate parties. The meetings will be moderated by Magistrate Judge Sherry R. Fallon, and are scheduled to take place on August 28th. Something tells me this isn’t the last we’ve heard from Apple and their legal team.

[FossPatents | TheVerge]

 

New no-contract plans for T-Mobile’s 4G tablets, hotspots, and USB modems revealed.

Posted: 17 May 2012 03:52 PM PDT

Those who opt out of using T-Mobile tablets, hotspots, and USB modems on-contract will be happy to know that T-Mobile has introduced some great new data packages. For $15 you can get a one week pass with 300MB of bandwidth. Another $10 will get you 1.5GB for a month, $35 will get you 3.5GB for a month, and $50 will get you 5GB for a month. With the way data rates are these days I’d see this is a pretty nice tier. The passes launch this Sunday so be sure to stop by your local Magenta store or head online to get going. Read on for full press details.

T-Mobile USA, Inc. today announced that its new, flexible and worry-free No Annual Contract mobile broadband service passes will debut May 20, making it easier for customers to enjoy access to high-speed Internet on the go whenever they want. With T-Mobile’s new, more affordable No Annual Contract data passes, customers can experience T-Mobile’s blazing-fast 4G network speeds across a variety of mobile broadband devices including tablets, mobile hotspots and laptop sticks - with no strings attached.

 

Starting at just $15, T-Mobile’s lineup of No Annual Contract mobile broadband passes delivers a pay-in-advance, overage-free solution that offers an allotment of mobile data, making it possible for customers to choose a pass that best fits their data needs without committing to a two-year contract:

  • 300MB 1-week pass for $15
  • 1.5GB 1-month pass for $25
  • 3.5GB 1-month pass for $35
  • 5GB 1-month pass for $50

 

"Although most of our mobile broadband customers choose postpaid rate plans for the best device prices and data rates, we know that many of our customers want the flexibility to be able to experience mobile broadband without committing to an annual contract up front," said Jeremy Korst, vice president of marketing, T-Mobile USA. "With better pricing and new features like an auto-refill option and a simpler purchase experience, T-Mobile’s No Annual Contract mobile broadband passes make it easier and more affordable than ever to experience high-speed Internet on the go on a range of devices."

 

T-Mobile® offers a variety of 4G mobile broadband devices that, when connected to T-Mobile’s high-speed 4G network, offer customers fast access to the Web, e-mail, gaming, movies and more, while on-the-go.

  • T-Mobile’s lineup of mobile, connected tablets, including the Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 10.1, the Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 7.0 Plus and the T-Mobile® SpringBoard™ with Google™,  deliver a premium on-the-go entertainment and Web experience, making it possible to stream movies on a road trip or shop online while the kids play at the park.
  • The T-Mobile® Sonic™ 4G Mobile Hotspot and the T-Mobile 4G Mobile Hotspot are ideal for staying connected on-the-go with colleagues and clients or providing Internet on the go for the family on vacation. Providing simultaneous access to T-Mobile’s 4G network for up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices, customers can use their mobile hotspots to connect their iPad® devices, laptops, music players, portable gaming devices and e-readers, among other devices, to T-Mobile’s high-speed 4G network.
  • T-Mobile’s laptop sticks, including the HSPA+ 42-enabled Rocket™ 3.0 USB Laptop Stick, are perfect for customers looking for a blazing-fast mobile Internet connection on their laptop.

 

Availability

 

T-Mobile’s new No Annual Contract mobile broadband passes are expected to be available beginning May 20 at T-Mobile retail stores, select dealers, national retailers and online at http://www.t-mobile.com. More information on T-Mobile’s mobile broadband offerings is available at http://mobile-broadband.t-mobile.com.

New LG Eclipse 4G LTE photos surface, confirm NFC and removable battery

Posted: 17 May 2012 03:23 PM PDT

BriefMobile got their hands on a new back shot of the LG Eclipse 4G LTE. The Sprint phone, rumored to have a 4.67 inch display, a 1.5GHz S4 processor, 2GB of RAM, a 13 megapixel camera with flash, 16GB of internal storage, and a 2,100 mAh battery, appears to be coming with NFC capabilities. That’s nothing too surprising considering Sprint is the main character in the Google Wallet show. A removable battery is also newly confirmed, but again — nothing surprising. But it’s refreshing to see that this device is shaping up to be yet another blockbuster from the Now Network. Take a quick look above.

Samsung to open first Canadian stand-alone retail store soon

Posted: 17 May 2012 02:43 PM PDT

Samsung’s making nice on their promise of expanding their retail presence. Their plan is to create more pop-up areas inside existing stores and have a nice collection of retail stores of their own. Welp, it looks like their first Samsung-only retail story in Canada has been confirmed. Burnaby, British Colombia, Canada is the first town to be blessed with the retail experience.

It will all happen inside Metropolis at Metrotown mall, a high-traffic location that is the second biggest mall in Canada and the biggest in the province of British Colombia. As you can imagine Samsung will push any and everything they have, including televisions, mobile phones, tablets, blu-ray players, laptops, and more. No word on when, exactly, they’ll finish it, but we’ll be keeping our ears close to the border. [Samsung via MobileSyrup]

Naples. FL and New Orleans, LA get AT&T 4G LTE

Posted: 17 May 2012 12:52 PM PDT

AT&T announced Naples, FL and New Orleans, LA would be getting 4G LTE sometime soon back in March, and a couple of months later those cities are now lit up with super fast speeds that quite a few devices can take advantage. Turn that LTE radio on and enjoy the convenience and liberty of having 4G speed. [via AT&T]

Week 2 TegraZone Anniversary Contest: Tell us if you’re buying Sonic 4: Episode II, and why

Posted: 17 May 2012 12:10 PM PDT

Are you guys ready for the second week’s TegraZone anniversary and Player’s Choice Awards contest courtesy of NVIDIA? We know we are. If you aren’t in the know, NVIDIA’s just hit their one-year anniversary with TegraZone and they’re holding a Player’s Choice Awards! Hit that link to vote, and you can also snap a photo of the QR code directly below.

You’ll get the chance to vote for your favorite games in three categories, including best graphical game, best gameplay, and best overall game. With your vote, you’re entered for a chance to win one of 7 Transformer Pad TF300 prize packs. The pack includes the ASUS Transformer Pad 300, a keyboard dock, a wireless controller and a Jawbone JAMBOX!

If you fear you won’t have much of a chance in that contest, there will be two more chances to win a prize pack with the good folks of Phandroid! The second starts today so you’ll want to read through the bottom for more details.

  • Up for grabs today (May 17th, 2012) is one ASUS Transformer Pad 300 prize pack. The prize pack includes the ASUS Transformer Pad 300, a special NVIDIA themed JAMBOX by Jawbone, a keyboard dock compatible with the Pad 300, and a wireless controller. Running the latest Android™ 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, the ASUS Transformer Pad is a value packed tablet that with multi-color style, and productivity with expandability when connected to the mobile dock. With a 1.2MP front and 8MP rear auto-focus camera with large F/2.2 aperture and exclusive office software, staying connected and productive has never been easier.
  • To enter, simply submit a comment telling us if you’ll be seeking Sonic 4: Episode II, the latest Tegra HD game to hit TegraZone and the Google Play Store.
  • Only one entry per person allowed.
  • The entry period will expire at 12:00am Eastern on May 17th, 2012.
  • The winner will be chosen at random.
  • If we can not get in contact with you within a 24 hour time period, a new random winner will be selected. This will continue until a winner is determined.
  • If you don’t use real contact information, we can’t send you real cool stuff!

Thanks to the fine folks at NVIDIA and Sega, I’ve been playing Sonic 4: Episode II on the ASUS Transformer Prime with the Logitech Wireless controller. I was pressured by my friends to get the Xbox 360 version, but I honestly have no need — the Tegra HD version looks just as good, and I can just as easily hook my tablet up to my TV using an HDMI cable.

I can use it while it’s inside its tablet dock. I can get my Sonic 4 fix on the go, and I can download it on other Tegra 3 devices. It was a no-brainer even if I did have to pay for it. Be sure to find Sonic 4: Episode II in TegraZone and the Google Play Store.

Best Buy alerting users that the HTC EVO 4G LTE will ship May 23rd

Posted: 17 May 2012 11:52 AM PDT

Those who have preordered the HTC EVO 4G LTE through Best Buy have gotten an email stating that the device will now launch May 23rd. This is, of course, in response to the device being held up at US Customs for inspection of violation of an Apple patent that HTC has apparently already fixed.

With no official word from HTC or Sprint we can’t be sure Best Buy’s new estimation is accurate, but the day is still young and the weekend hasn’t hit so we’ll see if they end up being correct before too long. In any case, we’ll know if the date has some legs to it in less than a week’s time. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Verizon will give users time to evaluate their wireless plans before making drastic changes

Posted: 17 May 2012 11:05 AM PDT

With Verizon doing away with unlimited data and getting rid of it for grandfathered users who upgrade after the shared, tiered plans are introduced this summer, many users were getting worried. They were worried for good reason. Verizon took some time to form an official statement to reassure customers that these changes won’t be sprung on them out of nowhere.

Verizon will give their customers notice of the changes ahead of time to allow them to reevaluate their current contracts. In other words, you’ll be able to make your move (whether it be deciding not to upgrade or deciding to leave Verizon) before Verizon makes theirs. You can’t be mad at that, at least. Read on for the full statement.

As we have stated publicly, Verizon Wireless has been re-evaluating its data pricing structure for some time, Customers have told us that they want to share data, similar to how they share minutes today. We are working on plans to provide customers with that option later this year.

We will share specific details of the plans and any related policy changes well in advance of their introduction, so customers will have time to evaluate their choices and make the best decisions for their wireless service. It is our goal and commitment to continue to provide customers with the same high value service they have come to expect from Verizon Wireless.

Samsung wants to set a 2GB RAM standard, begins mass-producing 4-gigabit LPDDR2 chips

Posted: 17 May 2012 08:49 AM PDT

The version of the Galaxy S III headed to Japan’s NTT DoCoMo is just the beginning when it comes to smartphone’s chock full of RAM. That is Samsung’s hope, anyway. The company started making low-power 2GB memory modules for mobile devices last year and is now kicking the chips into mass production. The outlook is that an economy of scale will play into Samsung’s favor and drive down cost enough that its 4 gigabit LPDDR2 chips will become a standard component in high-end smartphones by the end of 2013.

The RAM is based on a 20-nanometer process, making it small enough to fit comfortably in today’ ever-shrinking smartphones. The new modules should be equal if not surpass the efficiency of currently available components while chugging along at 1,066Mbps. It isn’t clear if the chip is the specific model being used in the Japanese GS3 variant, but it seems likely. Even if Samsung’s new RAM doesn’t become the go-to solution for manufacturers, it’s safe to say that 2GB is the next frontier.  LG recently announced the Optimus LTE II, a handset that sports a similar memory configuration.

[via Engadget]

Quick fix restores 4G data after T-Mobile HTC Sensation Ice Cream Sandwich update

Posted: 17 May 2012 08:23 AM PDT

T-Mobile subscribers with the HTC Sensation 4G were ecstatic to learn that the carrier had begun pushing the handset’s upgrade to Android 4.0, but the process hasn’t been smooth for all. Not only does the update come with a change to T-Mobile’s mobile hotspot policy (you have to pay to play, now), but some users are losing their 4G data connection altogether after upgrading. The good news is that the missing data problem doesn’t appear to be all that severe and can be solved with one of several quick fixes.

One solution involves navigating to your network settings and switching to WCDMA/GSM Auto if it isn’t already selected. If it is already selected (or if this trick doesn’t work) try disabling mobile networks for a few seconds and then turning them back on. Likewise, toggling to airplane mode and back should do the trick.

We’ll keep an eye on the situation in case it developers into a larger problem requiring a software patch, but for now it seems like a minor bump along the road to Ice Cream Sandwich. Any users out there experience this problem?

[via TMoNews]

 

Google Offers updated with more partners, smoother navigation

Posted: 17 May 2012 07:25 AM PDT

A small update is available for Google Offers over in the Google Play Store. The deals service has slowly been growing its stock of available offers, and the latest version of its Android app comes at a time when more and more partners are coming on board. In terms of actual changes to the Offers app for Android, performance has been tweaked to provide smoother app navigation. The latest update can be found by following the helpful link below.

Google Play Link: Google Offers

Samsung Galaxy S III up for pre-order at T-Mobile UK

Posted: 17 May 2012 06:10 AM PDT

T-Mobile UK has announced pre-order plans and pricing for the highly-anticipated Samsung Galaxy S III. The phone will be available at several price points ranging from £300 up front to completely free when paired with a £41 per month plan with unlimited calls, messaging, and data. Striking a balance is TMo UK’s “Full Monty” plan, which includes unlimited messaging, data, and calling to other T-Mobile subscribers. Purchased with this £36 per month plan the GS3 is priced at  £49.99.

UK phandroids can begin reserving the phone now. Orders are expected to ship after May 30th, so you may be waiting an extra day or two to receive the phone.

[via AndroidCentral]

Samsung files for six new Galaxy trademarks

Posted: 17 May 2012 05:35 AM PDT

Samsung’s trademark train is showing no sign of slowing, but it did pick up a few new passengers. Adding to the growing list of names available for use with future handset designs, the Korean manufacturer has added  Galaxy Lunge, Galaxy Forge, Galaxy Weild, Galaxy Mission, Galaxy Rivet, and Galaxy Victory. The names are only the latest in a spree of trademark applications that Samsung kicked off earlier this year.

[via Fusible]
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