Friday, November 2, 2012

Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans

Logitech Bluetooth Android keyboard only $10 – Better hurry [DEALS]

Posted: 01 Nov 2012 05:24 PM PDT

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With less than 4 hours left before it expires, the Logitech Bluetooth Keyboard Case for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 (and other Android devices) is one helluva deal. Part protective case and part bluetooth keyboard, the Zagg-designed (caseboard? keycase?) is being offered at a staggering low $10 on 1SaleADay — but only for the next few hours.

I happened to purchase this a few weeks back on another daily deals site for around $15 and absolutely love it. It charges via micro USB (same as your phone), and works beautifully on my Samsung Galaxy S3. Yes, I know this was made specifically for the Galaxy Tab, but it can prop up most small devices and tablets with little fuss. Great for meetings, notes, or messing around. And for $10, you can’t go wrong. Better hurry!

[1SaleADay Wireless]

Google Now now tracks the distance you walk, bike or travel in a month

Posted: 01 Nov 2012 04:59 PM PDT

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Sometimes it’s almost scary to think about the sheer amount of information Google has on you. Well, aside from what websites you visit, where you’re at, and the what you’re talking about, Google now knows the last time your lazy ass has gotten off the couch. Yesterday we told you guys about a Google Search/Google Now update that, among other things, introduced a new set of cards to Google’s behind the scenes monitoring and notification system. But it seems there were a few surprises still in store for us…

Once the clock struck midnight last night, many Jelly Bean users around the world were presented with the total amount of miles they’ve traveled in the month of October via walking, bicycling, or other. Looks like Google has officially upgraded your phone into a snazzy pedometer. Neato.

Thanks, Thomas, Justin, and everyone who sent this in!

Google Wallet update will introduce physical credit card, sending/receiving money, and more [LEAK]

Posted: 01 Nov 2012 03:56 PM PDT

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When Google had us signing up for an upcoming Google Wallet update (you can request an invite here) we knew we knew they were planning something big… but not this big. Looks like Google is getting ready to turn the financial world upside down when they introduce their very own physical Google Wallet card — one card to rule them all.

Google’s not stupid. They know the biggest hurdle they’ve faced in getting Google Wallet up and running has always been slow NFC or Paypass adoption. As much as you’d like to use your Android device loaded up with all your credit cards to make hassle-free NFC payments, it’s simply not accepted everywhere. But you know what is? The credit card.

Revealed in a leaked version of the Google Wallet app was the ability for users to sign up and receive a physical Google Wallet card. Now, whenever you are purchasing something from a merchant that doesn’t have a Paypass enabled register, simply whip out you’re Google Wallet card and you’re good to go. We assume it will be similar to a debit card — where a user will have to enter their pin — but that’s not entirely clear at the moment. Oh, and it isn’t just credit cards either. Users will be able to load up their transit cards onto Google Wallet, and even send/receive funds ala Paypal or Square.

The benefits are numerous. You no longer have to carry around a George Castanza wallet (guilty!), they will all be consolidated into one Google Wallet card. What’s more, if you ever lose your wallet or card, all those individual credit cards will remain safe, tucked away in Google’s cloud. Phone low on battery or dead altogether? No worries. The physical card makes a great backup.

You can just smell the innovation pouring out of Google HQ. Those guys are onto something BIG and we can’t wait.

[via Android Police]

LIFX Android powered lightbulb raises $1.3 million, sells out of Kickstarter backings

Posted: 01 Nov 2012 02:31 PM PDT

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Seems Google may have missed a golden opportunity when they announced Android@Home but never followed through with any actual products. Still, that hasn’t stopped others from making their own attempts at a connected home, like these colored LED bulbs from LIFX.

We told you guys about ‘em back in September and if you didn’t think there was much of a market for Android-controlled LED bulbs, you’d be wrong. The Kickstarter project still has 13 days left to spare and just today it has completely sold out of its backing tiers, hitting $1,315,266 of their modest $100,000 goal. Not bad, LIFX. Not bad.

Inside the bulbs are multiple colored LED’s inside and a WiFi transmitter used to control the bulb using the handy Android (or iOS) app. I admit, I couldn’t quite find the appeal of changing the lighting in my room from white to red (aside from late night booty calls), especially at $70 a pop. But, after checking out the info page, you’ll notice there’s a lot of cool stuff you can do with connected light bulbs. For one, you can have the bulbs flash when you receive a notification on your phone, or change the light from bright white, to warm and dim right before bedtime. When it comes to safety, you can set the bulbs to automatically power on when you approach your home and set them to power on while your away on vacation. Definitely cool in a geeky kinda way.

With no way of getting in on LIFX’s early Kickstarter campaign, you can still sign up to be notified when these finally hit the market. That doesn’t mean LIFX isn’t without competition. Philips recently released their own connected light bulbs, complete with Android app called Hue, which are currently being sold in Apple stores. Looks like we’re getting one more step closer to controlling our entire lives with our smartphones. What do you guys think? Android-controlled light bulbs: hot or not?

[LIFX via Kickstarter]

The Ubi goes up for general pre-sale

Posted: 01 Nov 2012 01:58 PM PDT

Remember that cool little device we told you about that would plug into your wall socket and promise to always keep an ear open for anything you need? It was called The Ubi, or short for The Ubiquitous Computer, and you can ask it to do things like search the web, call your mom, and send a short email to anyone you’d like (plus lots more through open-sourced extensibility).

Its Kickstarter campaign caught our eyes pretty quickly back when it was first announced. Since then, funding has been fulfilled and has actually gotten the company six times the original goal to get this neat idea into motion.

Kickstarter backers are first in line to get their hands on the device, of course, but if you missed out on the funding period now’s your chance to stake your claim to your very own Ubi. The company has announced it is now accepting general pre-sales at its website for anyone who is interested in getting one once it launches (as early as April 2013 if things go according to plan).

Normally the Ubi would cost $270 for one, but you can get locked into a special pre-sale price of $220 if you order one in time. There are also multi-unit packages for sale, and the more you buy the more you save.

The Ubi has met the project’s only stretch goal on Kickstarter since we first talked about it so there are some new goods that weren’t originally promised. You can read more about what it can do in our original post, but here’s what’s new:

  • Change the trigger name from “Ubi” to something else… like “Jarvis”, “Hal”, “Computer”, “Irma”, or anything else
  • Eliminate the pauses in talking to the Ubi… you can say, “Ubi, what’s the weather tomorrow” without any pause between “Ubi” and the rest of your request
  • Identify who is speaking to the Ubi and setup permissions accordingly (e.g. if you say, “Ubi, check my email” it will check your email and if someone else who’s setup on the Ubi says the same thing, it will check their email)

The device will come with some pre-programmed functionality, but this open-sourced box is wide open for developers to tap into Ubi’s innards as deeply as they’d like. We’re certainly excited to see the company making strong progress and we can’t wait to see these begin to ship early next year.

Head to theubi.com to pre-order yours, and be sure to read up on everything it can do — we promise you won’t leave without at least a slight urge to buy one. Read on for full press details.

Ubi – The Ubiquitous Computer – officially available for pre-order on web

TORONTO, Ontario (November 1, 2012) – Unified Computer Intelligence Corporation is happy to announce the availability of pre-orders of the Ubi – a voice controlled computer that plugs into a standard power outlet and connects to the Internet via a household or office wifi connection. The Ubi is meant to usher in the era of "ubiquitous computing" – when humans will be able to interact with computers without requiring the use of screens or handheld input devices. Early uses of the Ubi include Internet search, email, speakerphone, intercom, and home automation and monitoring.

The Ubi is equipped with temperature, humidity, air pressure and ambient light sensors to provide feedback on the environment around it. Also onboard the Ubi are stereo speakers, a microphone, and bright multi-colored LED indicator lights. Those using the Ubi will be able to program and control it remotely and with their iOS and Android devices. The Ubi is planned to ship with Android OS.

Those wishing to pre-order the Ubi are encouraged to visit www.theubi.com. The Ubi is planned to ship in April 2013. Single Ubis are available at a pre-order price of $219 and $1399 for a ten-pack of Ubis. Once the Ubi becomes available for shipment, the regular price of a single Ubi will be $269.

The Ubi team consists of developers with backgrounds in engineering and computer science. Their cumulative experience includes working on tele-operation, robotics, haptics, voice recognition and unmanned vehicle projects. Unified Computer Intelligence Corporation is a privately-held Canadian company that develops ubiquitous computing technology.

Those interested in learning more about the Ubi can contact Mahyar Fotoohi, Chairman of UCIC, by email atinfo@theubi.com.

Oakley Airwave ski goggles now available, take Android to the slopes

Posted: 01 Nov 2012 01:19 PM PDT

Last year, Recon Instruments introduced us to a whole new kind of ski goggle. The futuristic headset provides a heads-up display linked to your Android smartphone for quick viewing of information like speed, distance, altitude, and more. Now the technology has found it’s way to a new set of goggles from one of the world’s top eyewear manufacturers. Oakley’s Airwave goggles went on sale today for $599.99, and represent the merger of the futuristic HUD technology with year’s of experience creating world-class eye gear.

As Oakley puts it on their website, “When your teachers and scientists used to describe what would be possible in the future, Airwave is what they were talking about.” The in-goggle information, which appears at a glance off to the corner of your vision in an unobtrusive manner, recreates the appearance of a 14-inch monitor being viewed from five feet away. For a better idea of what to expect, here is our very own Rob Jackson taking the unbranded Recon Instruments goggles for a spin at CES 2012:

What Oakley and Recon Instruments provide is an experience not unlike what we have seen with Google’s Project Glass, though the ski goggles serve a much more distinct purpose. The experience is a bit narrower, but that’s fine. You’re still just a few button presses of the included wireless remote away from navigational info, GPS location, and the ability to track other snowboarders or skiers in your group.

Paired with an Android device through a provided app, the goggles can also display incoming messages and calls as well as the ability to view music playlists. Low Energy Bluetooth technology allows for the use of heart rate monitors and more. Oakley and Recon might be missing out on a great opportunirty to include camera functionality to capture those exciting downhill runs, but we’d love to see it in future versions.

Going beyond the technology, Airwave has been designed with comfort in mind. The price tag, though steep, is probably worth the HUD/Android interface along, but Oakley goes beyond that with anti-fog lenses, moisture wicking materials, and lightweight construction. You might not want to take them off even after leaving the slopes.

The unisex design is available in two color options, Gun Metal/Black with Black Iridium lenses and White with Fire Iridium lenses. With Switchlock Technology, users can easily change the lenses for one of Oakley’s other various performance options without losing the ability to monitor stats via the goggles’ heads-up display.

LG Optimus L9 now available at T-Mobile retail stores and online

Posted: 01 Nov 2012 01:18 PM PDT

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If you were looking to pickup an affordable yet well equipped Android device for the holidays, T-Mobile’s LG Optimus L9 is now officially available. While the official launch was actually yesterday, technical issues prevented T-Mo from offering the device up on their site. Looks like all of that has been fixed up, as the L9 is now currently available for purchase for a very reasonable $80 with a 2-year agreement (after $50 mail-in rebate) at both T-Mobile.com and in stores.

Now for the goods. The L9 offers similar specs to what we’ve seen from the Galaxy Nexus and then some. Featuring a 4.7-inch qHD IPS display, 1GB RAM, 5MP camera with front facing webcam, dual-core TI OMAP 4430 processor, 2,150mAh battery, 4GB internal storage, coveted micro SD card slot, and all of this running on Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich — I could see this being a hot selling item for soccer moms and teens on T-Mo.

Not quite sure how it happened, but I’ve somehow turned into LG’s cheerleader as of late. If you wanna give LG Optimus L9 a peek, or maybe just jump on this for yourself or a loved one, hit up the source link below.

[T-Mobile]

US Cellular launching Motorola ELECTRIFY M November 8th

Posted: 01 Nov 2012 01:14 PM PDT

US Cellular has just announced pricing and availability for its Motorola ELECTRIFY M. For starters, it’s going to be on store shelves in exactly one week from today — November 8th. With that out of the way, there are two different price points depending on where you are.

If you’re in a current 4G LTE market US Cellular will give you the device for $100 following a $100 mail-in rebate. Don’t live in a 4G coverage area? Well, you’re going to have to cough up $50 more following the same $100 rebate.

For those prices you’re getting what’s essentially the carrier’s version of the Motorola RAZR M. It features a 4.3 inch “virtually borderless” qHD display, a 1.5GHz dual-core S4 processor, an 8 megapixel camera with HD video recording, a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0, and that all-important 4G LTE radio sitting inside.

You’ll be getting Android 4.0 to start, and if things turn out like we think they will then you can probably expect Jelly Bean early next year (but hopefully we’re wrong and they can get it out sooner).

The ELECTRIFY M may not sit atop Motorola’s own device totem pole but it looks to be a great device in its own right. For how much you’re paying you certainly could do a lot worse, and reviews for most of the other variants have been pretty much glowing.

It’s one purchase to seriously consider when doing your holiday shopping, but there is some stiff competition if your budget can be stretched a few more bucks. Be sure to stay on the lookout for its arrival when it heads to stores and pops up online starting November 8th. Read on for full press details.

U.S. CELLULAR TO LAUNCH NEXT 4G LTE SMARTPHONE, MOTOROLA ELECTRIFY M

Will be available online November 8 and in stores on November 9

CHICAGO (November 1, 2012) – Next week, U.S. Cellular (NYSE: USM) and Motorola Mobility will unleash Motorola ELECTRIFY™ M – the 4G LTE high-performance smartphone with the big screen and super compact design. Available onuscellular.com on November 8 and in U.S. Cellular stores the next day, the Android™-powered ELECTRIFY M will be attractively priced at $99.99 after $100 mail-in rebate in markets where U.S. Cellular offers 4G LTE service and elsewhere at $149.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate.

"The Motorola ELECTRIFY M is a great choice for customers who want a smartphone that gives them fast access to information and entertainment and can also help them stay organized," said Edward Perez, vice president of sales and marketing operations for U.S. Cellular. "As we continue to roll out the 4G LTE network to more customers between now and the end of the year, we're providing more options to help them select the right 4G LTE device that meets their needs and can enhance their lives."

The ELECTRIFY M comes equipped with a captivating 4.3-inch, virtually borderless display. Tapping out texts and emails is easier than ever, while reading on the go no longer puts a strain on the eyes. Web pages, apps, videos — it's all clear on the vibrant, high resolution Super AMOLED Advanced display. 

But don't let the size fool you – ELECTRIFY M packs the high performance and web browsing power of your home computer in the palm of your hand. With 4G LTE speeds and a dual-core 1.5GHz processor, ELECTRIFY M lets you load web pages in a flash and multi-task like a pro. Surf the web quickly with Google Chrome™ and sync with your desktop version of Google Chrome to share bookmarks and view the same tabs. You'll also have access to more than 675,000 Android apps and games, millions of songs and books and thousands of movies and TV shows with Google Play™.

The ELECTRIFY M is built to handle the bumps, scrapes and slips of daily life. It has a scratch-resistant display made of Corning® Gorilla® Glass and a splash guard coating to protect the device, and everything you have in it, from the ever-present threats of rain and morning coffee.

"With the Motorola ELECTRIFY M, we focused on putting a premium smartphone experience in a compact and convenient package," said Jeff Miller, corporate vice president, North America Go-to-Market, Motorola Mobility. "The result is a pint-sized powerhouse that lets U.S. Cellular customers surf faster, play longer and see more without compromise."

The ELECTRIFY M is an ideal travel companion too. Whether you're on foot, in the car or headed out on your bike, type or speak your destination and Motorola ELECTRIFY ™ M will lead you there, with free turn-by-turn directions and voice guidance.  Customers can search for restaurants, businesses and theaters, and get reviews from people in their Google+ Circles. You can also download maps and call them up later when you're offline. Voice Actions help you send text messages, read directions, place calls or play music when you don't have a free hand.

Key Features

      • Virtually borderless 4.3-inch display
      • 1.5 GHz dual core processor
      • Google Chrome™
      • Scratch-resistant and water-repellant
      • Long-lasting 2000 mAh battery
      • NFC support to share links, apps, YouTube™ clips and more with Android Beam™
      • Android 4.0.4, Ice Cream Sandwich, and Android 4.1, Jelly Bean, upgradeable
      • 8 MP rear-facing camera with HDR, 1.3 MP front facing camera for video chatting

 

Customers who purchase the Motorola ELECTRIFY M from U.S. Cellular receive benefits no other carrier offers, such as no contract after the first, free Battery Swap and the only points-based rewards program in the industry.

U.S. Cellular, in partnership with King Street Wireless, currently offers 4G LTE service covering 31 percent of their customers and 58 percent of U.S. Cellular customers will enjoy faster 4G LTE speeds by the end of the year. For more information about the 4G LTE experience, visit uscellular.com/4G.

For more information on the Motorola ELECTRIFY M, please visit www.motorola.com/electrifym.

MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Motorola Trademark Holdings, LLC. Android, Android Beam, Google, Google Chrome, Google Play, YouTube and other marks are trademarks of Google Inc. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2012 Motorola Mobility LLC. All Rights Reserved

Purchase of a data plan is required, and a new two-year agreement and activation fee may apply for new customers. Additional terms, conditions and/or charges may apply.

About U.S. Cellular
U.S. Cellular rewards its customers with unmatched benefits and industry-leading innovations designed to elevate the customer experience. The Chicago-based carrier has a strong line-up of cutting-edge devices that are all backed by its high-speed nationwide network that has the highest call quality of any national carrier. By the end of 2012, 58 percent of customers will have access to 4G LTE speeds. U.S. Cellular was named a J.D. Power and Associates Customer Service Champion in 2012 for the second year in a row. To learn more about U.S. Cellular, visit one of its retail stores oruscellular.com. To get the latest news, promos and videos, connect with U.S. Cellular on Facebook.com/uscellular.com, Twitter.com/uscellular and YouTube.com/uscellularcorp.

About Motorola Mobility
Motorola Mobility, owned by Google, fuses innovative technology with human insights to create experiences that simplify, connect and enrich people’s lives. Our portfolio includes converged mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets; wireless accessories; end-to-end video and data delivery; and management solutions, including set-tops and data-access devices. For more information, visit motorola.com/mobility.

Chrome for Android gets support for new Nexus devices in latest update

Posted: 01 Nov 2012 10:41 AM PDT

Chrome for Android has received an update today, one that looks rather inconspicuous based on the changelog posted to Google Play. According to what is found under the What’s New tab on the app’s landing page, we can expect a “number of” undisclosed “stability fixes and performance improvements.” Digging a bit deeper, the official Chrome Releases blog sheds a little bit of light on the update and reveals that the new version includes support for the Nexus 4 and Nexus 10.

It’s a good thing that it does, too, as it looks like Chrome will be the default browser for the Android 4.2 devices. The latest build of Chrome for Android registers as version 18.0.1025464 for ARM-based devices and version 18.0.1026320 for devices based on Intel’s x86 architecture. You can grab the update from Google Play now.

[via DroidLife]

LTE-enabled Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 headed to Sprint November 11th

Posted: 01 Nov 2012 09:51 AM PDT

Those of you who were waiting for an LTE tablet on the Now Network can rest easy knowing that the first ever offering of such quality is on its way. Sprint has announced it would be carrying Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 starting November 11th, and if you want to go along for the exciting ride you’ll have to throw $550 onto the counter. It looks like that price is off-contract so you won’t have to sign two years of your wireless life away just to have it.

As its name suggests, the device has a 10.1 inch display but also comes with a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, a 3 megapixel camera on the back with a VGA camera on the front, Android 4.0, and more.

Sprint likely won’t be getting much kickback in the way of profit margins so the company is more focused on selling you the data plans it has more than the tablet itself. Sprint touts 20% more data than competing carriers for the same price so they’re banking on that being a major selling point.

Despite the new Galaxy Note 10.1 launching, the Tab 2 10.1 is still a great device. It really comes down to the LTE — do you really need an LTE radio built-in or not? Considering mobile hotspot devices and tethering options on phones the need for internal cellular radios are becoming less important, but we’re sure there are still a few of you out there who would rather not go the WiFi-only route. For more details on Sprint’s pricing plans be sure to read on for full press details.

First 4G LTE Tablet from Sprint, Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, Available Beginning Nov. 11 for $549.99

New tablet plans offer customers up to 20 percent more data than AT&T on similarly priced tablet plans

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), November 01, 2012 – Sprint (NYSE:S), the only national carrier with Truly Unlimited? 4G LTE data for smartphones while on the Sprint network, will offer its first 4G LTE tablet, Samsung Galaxy Tab® 2 10.1, beginning Sunday, Nov. 11, for $549.99 (excluding taxes and surcharges). It will be available in Sprint retail stores, online at www.sprint.com or by calling 1-800-SPRINT1.

"Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 brings Sprint 4G LTE to a new category of device and expands a portfolio already recognized as one of the industry's best," said David Owens, vice president – Product Development, Sprint. "This new tablet combined with the Sprint 4G LTE network and our aggressively priced tablet rate plan options offer consumers and business users an exciting new way to stay connected and productive with a large workspace in an easily portable device."

Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 can be activated on one of the new, aggressively priced month-to-month tablet rate plans for Sprint 4G LTE-enabled tablets. Starting at $14.99 for 300MB of 3G/4G LTE data, $34.99 for 3GB of data, $49.99 for 6GB of data and $79.99 for 12GB of data, Sprint's new plans offer 20 percent more data for the same price as AT&T at the $14.99 and $50 tablet rate plan1.

Sprint smartphone customers2 can add Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 to their account with a specially discounted rate plan that includes 1GB of data for only $15 per month or as little as $10 per month for 100MB of data on the Sprint network. For a limited time, Sprint is waiving the activation fee on all 3G/4G LTE tablets.

Month-to-Month Plan Comparison – 3G/4G LTE Tablets

Sprint AT&T Verizon
$14.99/300MB $14.99/250MB NONE
$15.00/1GB smartphone offer NONE NONE
$34.99/3GB $30/3GB $40/4GB
$49.99/6GB $50/5GB $50/6GB
$79.99/12GB NONE $80/12GB

With Sprint, 20 percent more data than AT&T on the $49.99 plan equals 1GB or approximately 50,000 emails, 2,000 web page views or 3,333 more picture uploads.3

Sprint also offers convenient Sprint Mobile Broadband Passes for tablets that provide customers with the freedom and flexibility to bill to a credit card when they might only need a plan occasionally. Sprint Mobile Broadband Passes for tablets start at $14.99 for 300MB of 3G/4G LTE data, $34.99 for 3GB of data, $49.99 for 6GB of data and $79.99 for 12GB of data and offer 20 percent more data for the same price as AT&T at the $14.99 and $50 rate plans and 20 percent more data for the same price as Verizon at the $50 and $80 rate plans4. (All rate plans exclude taxes and surcharges.)

Manufactured by Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile)5, Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 boasts access to the Sprint 4G LTE network (available in select markets), Android™ 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, a 1.5GHz dual-core processor and a beautiful 10.1-inch touchscreen display. Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 also features two cameras, a rear-facing 3-megapixel camera and camcorder for capturing life's important moments as they happen and a front-facing VGA camera for Face Unlock and video chat.

With the built-in IR Blaster, Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 can be used as a universal smart remote that helps users easily find their favorite TV shows and control their TV, set top box and other home theater equipment. It also comes with AllShare® to easily share photo albums, videos and other user-generated content between other DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) certified® devices.

On-device encryption and VPN access also help ensure the tablet is secure for business use. The 7,000mAh battery allows businesses to keep their workers connected all day long. The 3G/4G LTE mobile hotspot capability can be used to share a web connection with up to 10 Wi-Fi enabled devices simultaneously so teams can work away from the office.

Sprint introduced its all-new 4G LTE network in July 2012 and currently offers service in 32 cities. Continuing its nationwide rollout of 4G LTE, Sprint recently announced plans to deliver 4G LTE to an additional 115 cities in the coming months. For the most up-to-date details on Sprint's 4G LTE portfolio and rollout, visit www.sprint.com/4GLTE.

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served nearly 56 million customers at the end of the third quarter of 2012 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. The American Customer Satisfaction Index rated Sprint No. 1 among all national carriers in customer satisfaction and most improved, across all 47 industries, during the last four years. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 3 in its 2012 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation's greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint atwww.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.

About Samsung Mobile

Samsung Mobile (Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC), a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets and telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.samsungwireless.com.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2011 consolidated sales of US$143.1 billion. Employing approximately 206,000 people in 197 offices across 72 countries, the company operates two separate organizations to coordinate its nine independent business units: Digital Media & Communications, comprising Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, and Digital Imaging; and Device Solutions, consisting of Memory, System LSI and LED. Recognized for its industry-leading performance across a range of economic, environmental and social criteria, Samsung Electronics was named the world's most sustainable technology company in the 2011 Dow Jones Sustainability Index. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.

Samsung is a trademark of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Other company names, product names and marks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners and may be trademarks or registered trademarks. Battery power consumption depends on factors such as network configuration, signal strength, operating temperature, features selected, vibrate mode, backlight settings, browser use, frequency of calls and voice, data and other application usage patterns.

120 percent more data claim applies to Sprint plans priced at $14.99, $49.99.

2Qualifying smartphone plans include: Simply Everything, Simply Everything Share, Everything Business, Everything Data, Everything Data Share, Business Advantage Messaging & Data, Business Share Plus with Pro Pack Plus.

3The above numbers are estimates and data transfer amounts may vary. Roaming limits apply to data plans; see the individual plan for details and restrictions. Our math works like this: 1024 kb=1MB. 1024 MB=1 GB. We used these estimates to do our calculations on each type of data transfer: email (no attachment): 20KB/ea.; picture: 300KB/ea.; music streaming: 1MB/min; video streaming: 250MB/hr; web surfing: 500KB/page.

420 percent more data claim applies to Sprint plans priced at $49.99, $79.99.

5Samsung Mobile is the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the United States based upon reported shipment data, according to Strategy Analytics, North America Handset Vendor Marketshare, Q2 2012.

Plans also include off-network data allowance of 25MB, 100MB or 300MB depending on selection. For National Offers: Additional on-network data usage is $0.05/MB and additional off-network usage above allowance is $0.25/MB.

Samsung and Galaxy Tab are trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50462626&lang=en

Is the Nexus 4′s lack of SD card slot a deal breaker? [POLL]

Posted: 01 Nov 2012 09:44 AM PDT

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When the Nexus 4 was announced, there was really no secret that it wouldn’t have an SD card slot. We haven’t seen ‘em since the Nexus One days. Slowly but surely, the industry has been moving away from expandable storage, and while there are numerous technical reasons for this (better, more secure file systems, easier user experience) there’s still no denying that, well… it kinda sucks.

It’s so bad that I’ve actually seen people in our comments say “crazy” things like they’re going to pass altogether on the Nexus 4, opting instead for one of the other many varieties of Android being offered by various OEM’s. Yeah, I know. It’s nuts. But, I have to admit — I’m kinda right there with some of you. Maybe not enough to keep me away from a pure Nexus phone (I gotta have them updates, dawg), but I do see the inconvenience posed by lack of memory expandability only because a 32GB version doesn’t yet exist.

But alas, there’s no such thing as a perfect device and in the end, you just gotta weigh out your priorities. With that, comes our poll. The question is simple: do you care about having an SD card slot so much, that you’re willing to pass on the Nexus 4? Or is there nothing that will keep you away from that beautiful, stock Android 4.2 Jelly Bean goodness?

Amazon offering latest RAZR devices for cheap

Posted: 01 Nov 2012 08:53 AM PDT

The Motorola RAZR HD and RAZR MAXX HD are fine devices, and while many of us feel their MSRPs are fine right where they are, there are sure to be just as many waiting for a dollar or two to be knocked off before they take the plunge.

Well, Amazon looks to have you covered quite nicely as the price of admission for one of those two have gotten considerably cheaper than what Verizon’s willing to sell them for right now.

You can get the Motorola DROID RAZR HD for $130, or opt for the juicier (as in, 3,300mAh juicy) cousin for just $180. Compare that to prices of $200 and $300 they’re normally available for and I’d say this is a decent time to jump on them.

Motorola’s latest devices feature the dual-core Snapdragon S4 chipset clocked at 1.5GHz, and also come with 1GB of RAM, a 4.7 inch display, an 8 megapixel camera, and more. There’s no Jelly Bean goodness to be had in this package just yet, though you can be sure that’s on its way at some point.

I should note that this is for those signing up for new service — customers looking to upgrade can tack on an extra $20 for each respective phone. Either way, it’s still a great deal and you can take advantage of it by heading to Amazon here (RAZR HD) and here (RAZR MAXX HD).

UK courts force Apple to rewrite statement regarding Samsung infringement

Posted: 01 Nov 2012 08:10 AM PDT

Samsung and Apple have been at each other’s throats in this legal battle between the two, and some of the most interesting bits have come out of the United Kingdom. Samsung was found to be in the clear on the grounds of infringement with a judge saying Samsung’s products weren’t “cool” enough for people to get them confused with Apple’s products.

As such, Apple was forced to make a statement on its UK website stating that very fact, though we felt the manner in which they did it was a tad distasteful. Apple made the statement, but it spent even more text letting people know that the company has been victorious in other regions. In fact, Apple seemed to welcome the “not cool enough” statement so it took that and ran wild.

Well, it looks like the courts across the pond seem to agree with our initital reaction — the statement isn’t what they had in mind. They’re going as far as forcing Apple to correct the statement on its website.

They want the new statement to be short and sweet, and nothing more. A simple “Samsung didn’t infringe on our products, UK courts have found” or something to that effect might do the trick.

Oh, and the statement mustn’t be tucked away via an obscure, hard to find link — it has to be smack dab on Apple’s homepage, and must remain there until the middle of this month. The ruling even goes as far as forcing Apple how visible the link must be — nothing less than 11 point font, apparently.

This particular correction won’t do much to help Samsung get over the fact that one of its biggest component buyers is suing the pants off of them, but hey — at least the UK courts won’t let Apple stomp all over them. That has to count for something. Apple is said to have 24-48 hours to comply with the request for a correction, and you can bet we’ll be looking for that correction as the week closes. Score one for the good guys!

[via The Guardian]

CyanogenMod 10 to get file manager with latest nightlies

Posted: 01 Nov 2012 07:47 AM PDT

CyanogenMod 10 is shaping up to be the best version yet as more and more unique features are added everyday. More news came from the project’s Google+ page today, and it’s a doozie — CyanogenMod now has its own file manager!

Simply dubbed “CM File Manager,” the app takes advantage of the Holo UI framework featured in Android 3.0+ devices and was designed with root capabilities in mind. It’s fully functional as an everyday file manager, but has that extra level of access most root users tend to need when dealing with system files. 

The CM team says it doesn’t like incorporating anything into its ROM unless it’s seamless in its implementation, intuitive in usage and functional for a large group of users. From the early look of things I’d say this file manager hits on all those points.

You’ll be able to find these in the latest nightlies from now on as the app has already been merged into the source for the project. It doesn’t look like the file manager will be available outside of the ROM unless someone extracts the APK, but we suspect that will be no hard task. Take a quick look above and be sure to look forward to it if you’re a nightly person!

[via Google+]

5 inch HTC phone for Verizon to be named DROID DNA?

Posted: 01 Nov 2012 07:11 AM PDT

Verizon has long been rumored to carry a 5 inch phone from the HTC camp. We expect that phone to get here before the snow really starts packing on, but to date we haven’t had much in the way of information. Well, it looks like we might get an early indication of what its name will be once Verizon begins marketing it.

A Verizon support page that exists for showing users how to insert and remove their batteries curiously includes a device that isn’t supposed to exist yet. The model number is ADR6435 — the same aforementioned 5 inch phone — and its name is conveniently revealed to be the HTC DROID DNA.

We initially thought the 5 inch device was going to be another entry for the Incredible series, and while this may still be true this is the first hint we’ve gotten from Verizon themselves even if it is hiding in plain sight.

Perhaps more important than the name is the fact that this sighting almost confirms Verizon is gearing up to release the device at some point this month. Support documents and the like have to be prepared beforehand, and they are usually one of the last steps before the marketing campaign is sured up and launched. It’s facing stiff competition from Samsung with its Galaxy Note 2 coming and the still-popular Galaxy S3 so it’ll be interesting to see whether or not this new HTC device can survive the oncoming holiday onslaught.

[via Verizon, thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
Posted by at 7:50 AM

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