Real or render? That’s the question on everyone’s mind this morning when referencing the picture above. The photo and spec list was apparently posted to Concept Phones at some point and then possibly spread across the globe quicker than Kate Upton on the Cover of SI’s swimsuit issue. The post from that site clearly calls this a render, but since it looks like an actual photo, people are running with it today as being legit. Can’t say that I’m ready to buy into it being real, but let’s still walk about what we are seeing.

Called the “Atrix 3,” this device (in theory) would have an HD screen, 10MP shooter, 3300mAh battery, quad-core Tegra 3 processor and 2GB of RAM. As long as the bootloader is unlockable, this would be a dream phone, right? Except for a couple of things. Moto is using 13MP cameras in its high end devices now (that would be their HD phones in China), plus we are still not sure if they would be willing to jump back in with NVIDIA. As you all know, their experience with Tegra 2 last year had all sorts of drama. But, with NVIDIA producing the only working quad-core chip at this point, you have to at least consider that they could partner up one more time.

So you guys decide if this thing is legit or just a dream. We first reported back in April of last year that Moto had two Tegra 3 concepts going, maybe this is one of them?

Via:  HDBlog, Tianjin Daily

This one is a doozy. According to famed rumor starter DigiTimes, we could see the launch of Android 5.0 (Jelly Bean) by Q2 of this year. Oh, and this latest version of Android will also allow dual-booting of operating systems so that vendors can toss on Chrome or Windows 8 or some other OS that you can dream up. It will also be optimized for tablets, as if Honeycomb and Ice Cream Sandwich were not. And lastly, Google’s downstream partners were not all that thrilled with the performance from ICS, so they are now skeptical about Jelly Bean.

Good lord, where do we even begin? Dual-booting capabilities with Chrome integration?  Someone find me a manufacturer that is willing to build a tablet that can dual-boot Windows 8 and Android. The idea that bits and pieces of Chrome OS could find their way into Android just seems like a no-brainer, but I highly doubt that Samsung is going to line up to create the ultimate dual-OS tablet. Maybe that’s just me though.

Second, how can partners of Google’s even know how Ice Cream Sandwich is going to play out? Talking about a lackluster performance for a version of Android that is on all of 5 or 6 devices? We aren’t even shipping phones with ICS yet, but reports claim that people aren’t happy with it? Come on now.

And third, we don’t even know that the next version of Android is going to be Jelly Bean or Android 5.0, and we highly doubt that Google is going to release it in Q2 after barely getting ICS out of the gate. By that time, companies like Motorola and HTC will just be getting their line of handsets updated to it, while releasing their first few that have it pre-loaded. Android 5.0 in Q2, pfft.

I will say this, we may see signs of it at Google I/O which just so happens to be in Q2.

All better? I am, just had to get that out.

Via:  DigiTimes

Sources of Gigaom are reporting that HTC may be looking to launch a music streaming service to go hand in hand with their newly acquired Beats Audio wares. Reports say that the service may launch as early as this month at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona. Along with the possible music service, HTC is also rumored to be showing off their newest tablet and smartphone devices at MWC which could be running this new service.

According to the reports, HTC is still working on price plans and other aspects of the service. What is everyone’s feelings toward the direction the HTC and the Beats deal that happened a few months ago is heading? Still liking the idea?

Via: Gigaom

According to some leaked shots, Verizon may be launching a special edition of the DROID RAZR just for employees. According to an insider at Big Red, the devices will be offered at a discounted price of $99 for a 16GB RAZR and $199 for the RAZR MAXX 32GB model. Along with the red and black look, each device will come with an engraved unique number on the rear side of the device, a free docking station, and an engraved “Limited Edition” logo on the front of the phone.

Launch is rumored to take place in April, so that means we have a couple months time to find an employee who is willing to find us one. Anyone else down with the red and black? This wouldn’t just be good for Verizon employees, but Portland Blazer fans could also find these quite desirable. 

Via: Android and Me

According to a note to clients from a Pacific Crest analyst regarding Amazon’s forecast for Kindle sales in 2012, the number has been greatly raised from $12.7 million to $14.9 million due to the future sale of a 9-inch model Kindle that will launch in mid-2012. Last year, there were reports circulating that Amazon did plan on launching two separate tablets at different times, so this shouldn’t be coming as too much of a surprise.

The previous “Hollywood” tablet was rumored to be a full 10 inches, but with the huge success that smaller tablets have been receiving, it could be possible that Amazon has decided to take a smaller approach or have decided to just push its launch back. Anyone feel that as long as Amazon can keep the price down like they have been doing, they should find more market success? Let us know.

Via: BGR

Reports from the Wall Street Journal have hatched many stories across the Internet regarding Google’s up and coming launch of a cloud storage based system that would compete with and most likely try to dominate the competition. The service from Google is called, “Drive” and those close to the project say that it will be free for everyone unless if you want bigger online storage.

Drive is “expected” to launch in the coming weeks or months according to WSJ. Many have been comparing the new service to Dropbox or Box, but there are no official details as to whether or not this is exactly true. Some reports state Drive is a way for users to upload media/documents to the cloud, then share it across any other platform they see fit. Others have it pegged along the lines of tying in more with Google+ and Search, plus Your World. If reports from WSJ are correct, then maybe we will find out fairly soon.

Via: WSJ

Another week and another Samsung Galaxy SIII rumored launch date to add to the growing list. This week it comes out of Korean news site Electronics Times News who claims that the device will be roughly 7mm thick, launching some time in May. Now, we have seen reports that suggest March, April, and July, so why not put May into play? After hearing from Samsung that they will not unveil the device at the end of this month at MWC and will instead throw a special Samsung event, these later dates sound like much more of a reality.

Aside from the device being ultra-slim, ETNews also mentioned that the phone should run Ice Cream Sandwich, contain “high quality cameras” and have 3D capabilities.

Anything else you would love to see in the Galaxy SIII?  HD Super AMOLED Plus screen?

Via:  ETNews, BGR