This afternoon, Verizon approved the Android 4.1 “Jelly Bean” update, build number VS93021B for the LG Spectrum 2. With Jelly Bean comes a ton of great features like Google Now, expandable notifications, camera software enhancements and more. 

Along with Jelly Bean, they have fixed some other things such as their NFC LG Tag software, their stock weather application has been updated, and a few of the pre-loaded widgets on the device have been removed (Social+, Today+, Power Control, etc.).

If you are the owner of the Spectrum 2, expect to see this update start rolling out sometime this week to your phone.

Via: Verizon

Verizon Approves LG Spectrum 2 Jelly Bean Update, Build Number VS93021B is a post from: Droid Life

One thing we certainly love above LG is their infatuation with wireless charging and the Qi standard. After having released the Nexus 4 and Spectrum 2 here in the States with wireless charging built in, followed by the launch of the Nexus 4′s wireless charging Orb only a week or so ago, it’s clear that they aren’t interested in add-on wireless kits like Samsung has done for years. No sir, with LG, they want wireless charging built directly into their devices. 

So with today’s tonight’s announcement of the “world’s smallest” wireless charger, this only solidifies their stance on wireless charging as a major feature in the future of smartphones and technology.

This new charger, which doesn’t actually have a name other than WCP-300, is Qi certified (wireless standard) and contains a charging area that is 1.7 times wider than their previous generation chargers. It’s also only 6.9mm in diameter and roughly the size of a typical beverage coaster. It looks a lot like the Nexus 4′s Orb, only without the angular half-sphere attached.

No availability or pricing was announced.

LG INTRODUCES WORLD’S SMALLEST WIRELESS CHARGER
LG’s Thin and Sleek Wireless Charger Delivers Maximum Charging Performance and User Convenience

BARCELONA, Feb. 26, 2013 – LG Electronics (LG) today introduced the world’s smallest wireless charger at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona. At only 6.9cm in diameter, the WCP-300 is designed with portability in mind. Despite its di-minutive size, the charging area is 1.7 times wider than that of LG’s previous generation wireless charger. The new model is compatible with a standard 5-pin micro-USB charger, providing the highest level of charging performance and user convenience.

The WCP-300 employs electromagnetic induction technology and is Qi certified by the Wireless Power Consortium. Electromagnetic induction produces a magnetic field that in turn generates an electric current to charge the batteries in devices placed on the charging pad. Certification ensures that the WCP-300 is compatible with all smart-phones that support the Qi standard.

“Wireless charging is the holy grail of smartphone user convenience,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “With the WCP-300, LG was able to deliver both portability with top-class charging capabilities in a device no larger than a typical beverage coaster.”

In the US market, both the LG Spectrum 2 and Nexus 4 feature built-in support for wireless charging right out of the box, eliminating the need to purchase separate covers. LG believes that built-in support for upcoming smartphones will be the most critical development in making wireless charging the industry standard going forward.

LG is committed to offering consumers a better mobile user experience by introducing smartphones with more advanced wireless charging technologies in the global market.

About LG Electronics, Inc.

LG Electronics, Inc. (KSE: 066570.KS) is a global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, mobile communications and home appliances, employing more than 93,000 people working in over 120 operations around the world. With 2012 global sales of USD 45.22 billion (KRW 50.96 trillion), LG comprises four business units – Home Entertainment, Mobile Communications, Home Appliance, and Air Conditioning & Energy Solution – and is one of the world’s leading producers of flat panel TVs, mobile devices, air conditioners, washing machines and refrigerators. LG Electronics is a 2012 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year. For more news and information on LG Electronics, please visit www.LGnewsroom.com.

LG Introduces the WCP-300 aka the “World’s Smallest” Wireless Charger is a post from: Droid Life

Verizon and LG were kind enough to send us out the brand new Spectrum 2 that features some decent mid-range specs that sound good when read out loud. It has a very crisp 720p IPS display, 4G LTE, 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, 1GB of RAM, Ice Cream Sandwich, 8MP back-facing camera, and wireless charging capabilities. 

Now, no phone is perfect, but the Spectrum 2 is certainly one of the furthest-from devices I have had in my hands for a while. There are other devices that utilize a dedicated Settings hardware button, but LG’s rendition on the Spectrum 2 is an insult to Android’s beauty. LG has thrown in a few software features that I’m not too fond of (a constant WiFi reminder), bulky and rather weird feeling hardware, and to top it off there is one of the worst-placed power buttons I have ever seen attached to it. As for the goods, the camera seems to take some decent snapshots and video, as well as LG’s device Theme options that give users the ability to customize the look of their device without the need to unlock and root.

We’ll plan to have our full review up next week, so be on the look out for that if this device has caught your eye.

Gallery:

Unboxing and Hands-on:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Video: Unboxing and Hands-on With The LG Spectrum 2 is a post from: Droid Life

Verizon and LG made the Spectrum 2 official this morning. The device will go on sale October 30 (online only) for $99 on 2-year contract.

If you are looking for a phone with high-end specs at a reasonable price, this is one of those phones you may want to look into. With it’s dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, 4.7″ HD display, 1GB RAM, 16GB internal storage, 8MP camera, NFC, wireless charging, and 4G LTE, it matches up to the recently released DROID RAZR HD, except its $100 cheaper.

The Spectrum 2 is the U.S. version of the Optimus LTE2, in case you were looking for some history on it. 

VERIZON WIRELESS ADDS FAST, POWERFUL, TRUE HD SPECTRUM 2 BY LG TO 4G LTE LINEUP

Spectrum 2 Offers an Enhanced Wireless Experience, 4G LTE Speeds, True HD Display, Advanced Camera Capabilities and Stylish Design

BASKING RIDGE and ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. – Verizon Wireless and LG Electronics USA today announced the Spectrum^™ 2 by LG.  Exclusively for Verizon Wireless, the Spectrum 2 by LG will be available online on Oct. 30 at www.verizonwireless.com and will be in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores in the coming weeks for $99.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement.

The Spectrum 2 by LG creates a unique wireless experience thanks to an ecosystem of features and accessories, allowing customers to avoid cables.  The unique battery cover allows wireless charging, and it’s included at no additional cost.  Contacts, maps and websites can be shared wirelessly using near-field communications (NFC), by tapping two compatible phones together.  NFC can also be used with the included reprogrammable LG Tag+ stickers to create special smartphone modes for the office, home or car by tapping the stickers with the Spectrum 2 by LG.  SmartShare also makes it possible to wirelessly view pictures and watch videos on a DLNA-enabled device.

The 4.7-inch True HD display will make the Spectrum 2 by LG stand out by enhancing the viewing experience when streaming movies, playing games and browsing the Web.  The HD display, paired with Corning^® Gorilla^® Glass, delivers vivid and accurate colors, crisp, sharp text and clear images.  Apps such as viewdini, make it easier than ever to find TV shows and movies that users can enjoy right on their Spectrum 2 by LG.  Football fans will also be able to take advantage of the screen combined with 4G LTE speeds to watch live games for an unrivaled viewing experience.

The Spectrum 2 by LG helps to capture precious moments with its 8-megapixel camera and then takes it a step farther with its Advanced Image Editor and Video Wiz features.  With these features, customers will have an editing studio in their hands to crop, rotate and add effects to photos and other multimedia documents that they can then share with friends over 4G LTE.  The 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera allows customers to video chat with friends and family to easily stay in touch from virtually anywhere.  Additional camera features include 1080p HD video recording, Intelligent Panorama Shot and Time Catch Shot to take photos before pressing the shutter button.

Accessorize and Protect

• LG Premium Sleeve with Smart Display – provides protection and displays notifications on the screen to show the number of missed calls, text messages, emails and voicemails.  Customers can also customize the clock styles that are displayed when the Spectrum 2 by LG is inserted in the sleeve.  The Premium sleeve will be available in stores and online atwww.verizonwireless.com for $24.99.

Additional Features:

• Wireless charging capabilities thanks to the unique battery cover included in the box
• 4.7-inch True HD Advanced High Performance (AH) In-Plane-Switching (IPS) display
• Global Ready^™ so customers can have voice and data service in more than 220 countries
• Android^™ 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
• Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Krait 1.5 GHz dual-core processor
• Mobile Hotspot to share a 4G LTE connection with up to 10 Wi-Fi-enabled devices
• 16 GB of internal storage (formatted capacity is less) with microSD memory card support of up to 32 GB
• QuickMemo^™ allows customers to capture screenshots and add their own personalized commentary or drawings with a finger
• Bluetooth^® Version 4.0

Pricing and Availability:

• The Spectrum 2 by LG will be available online at www.verizonwireless.com starting Oct. 30 for $99.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement.   Customers receive the rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted.

For additional information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves nearly 96 million retail customers, including 90.4 million retail postpaid customers.  Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 75,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD).  For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

About LG Electronics USA

LG Electronics USA, Inc., based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics, Inc., a $49 billion global force and technology leader in consumer electronics, home appliances and mobile communications. In the United States, LG Electronics sells a range of stylish and innovative mobile phones, home entertainment products, home appliances, and air conditioning systems and energy solutions, all under LG’s “Life’s Good” marketing theme. LG Electronics is a 2012 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year. For more information, please visit www.lg.com.

Verizon Announces the LG Spectrum 2, Available Online October 30 for $99 is a post from: Droid Life

Oh, Best Buy. This afternoon, an unlikely source outed some official info on the LG Spectrum 2. Usually, a carrier such as Verizon or a manufacturer, in this case LG, would announce specs, pricing, and availability for a device. In a fortunate mix-up, Best Buy has done the unveiling. Before today, we had a pretty good idea, well we pretty much knew, that it was coming to Verizon with some specs that didn’t quite compare to the Optimus G’s, but more like the Optimus LTE2. Now, we know everything one may need to know before making a final decision on whether it’s buy worthy or not.

According to Best Buy’s listing, the device features a 4.7″ 720p display, a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 chip (not the quad-core Pro variant), an 8MP camera, 1.3MP front facing shooter, Ice Cream Sandwich, and of course, 4G LTE connectivity. These specs are nothing to scoff at, but we won’t be seeing the quad-core and 2GB of RAM that the Optimus G packs on both AT&T and Sprint.

So, what do you think? Once this device goes back on sale (it’s been pulled from BB’s online inventory), think you’ll jump on it?

Via: Best Buy

Cheers H!

LG Spectrum 2 Lands on Best Buy Website Ahead of Announcement From Verizon is a post from: Droid Life

Since we talked about Verizon’s epic Q4 2012 roadmap in a post earlier today, which ended by asking for your personal preference in the devices mentioned, we thought we may as well make it official with a poll. HTC has the DROID Incredible X in the works, Samsung the Galaxy Note 2, Motorola the RAZR HD and RAZR MAXX HD, and LG the Spectrum 2. But beyond those, there are Windows Phone 8 devices, a new slider from Samsung, and others on the horizon. If you would pick one, what would it be?

Monday Poll: Which of Verizon’s New Phones Interests You the Most? is a post from: Droid Life

Over the last week or so, the holiday lineup on Verizon has really started to take shape. Most companies took to press events at the end of August and beginning of September to announce their Q4 devices for Big Red, while others have remained slightly silent. Thanks to a handful of leaks and rumors though, we have been given a clear enough picture that we can at least start to talk about it. Verizon may have introduced questionable shared data plans, however, they still have the biggest LTE network in the land, and are also about to take back the “best device lineup in the land” crown as well. Q4 of 2012 is going to be a time to remember in the history of smartphones.

How are you going to decide which phone to get? Let’s walk through the expected lineup, with potential dates, and see if we can’t help. 

HTC DROID Incredible X

HTC is possibly creating the most impressive smartphone we have ever seen, if rumors are to be believed. Industry pundits have decided to call it the DROID Incredible X, and are expecting it to have a 5″ 1080p display (480ppi), Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor, 1.5GB RAM, NFC, LTE, and an ultra-thin red-accented body. No one has seen the phone other than in a set of blurry cam shots, but even those should be enough to get the juices flowing.

This phone is expected to hit stores in November.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2

Samsung made the Galaxy Note 2 official for all 5 of the major carriers here in the U.S. This phone will sport a 5.5″ HD Super AMOLED display (non-PenTile), 1.6GHz Exynos quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB internal storage, microSD slot for up to 64GB of external storage, 3100mAh battery, and will run Jelly Bean (Android 4.1). It’s the successor to the original Galaxy Note, a device that created an entirely new smartphone segment in the market place. Who says oversized phones aren’t in demand?

This phone will launch by mid-November.

Motorola DROID RAZR HD and RAZR MAXX HD

Motorola unveiled their new RAZR family at an event in early September, but at the time, would only give us a launch date for one of the devices, the RAZR M. While we are huge fans of the RAZR M, the stars of the show were the new RAZR HD and RAZR MAXX HD. With their 4.7″ HD Super AMOLED displays, 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processors, 1GB RAM, 16GB internal storage, expandable microSD slots, 8MP cameras, and Jelly Bean software, they are Motorola’s most powerful and appealing phones to date. The biggest selling point for both phones may end up being battery life though, with the RAZR HD holding 2530mAh of juice and the MAXX HD somewhere around 3300mAh.

These phones will launch “before the holidays.”

New Nexus?

We would be surprised if Verizon ever gets another Nexus device from Google. In fact, after the pissing matches that have gone on between Big Red and Google over updates and carrier control, this probably won’t happen. If it were to happen though, it would happen in Q4 and could be a device from Samsung, LG, Sony or maybe even HTC.

LG Spectrum 2

Last week, LG announced the Optimus G, one of the more impressive Android devices ever created. The Spectrum 2, is not that phone. The Spectrum 2 is the U.S. variant of the LG Optimus LTE2, which is actually a pretty decent phone on paper. It runs a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, has 1GB RAM, a 4.7″ HD True IPS+ display, LTE, NFC, and will run Ice Cream Sandwich. This phone is no slouch, but when compared to the big names like the Incredible X, Galaxy Note 2, and new RAZR HDs, it’s probably going to get lost in the shuffle.

This phone will reportedly arrive in October.

Samsung Stratosphere 2

The new Stratosphere 2 is the phone for those that can’t live without a physical keyboard. It should run a Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor, have a Super AMOLED Plus display (not HD), and connect to Verizon’s 4G LTE network. It won’t be high-end, but the keyboard should be decent and the phone will more than likely be powerful enough to satisfy as a mid-range device.

This phone will reportedly arrive any day now.

DROID RAZR M, Incredible 4G LTE, Intuition and Samsung Galaxy S3

If you can’t wait for any of the previously mentioned phones, don’t forget that Verizon already has a couple of phones out that are worth a look. The DROID RAZR M (our review) and its “edge-to-edge” display was one of our favorites of the last year. The Samsung Galaxy S3 (our review) has been out for a couple of months and will still be better than some of the phones that have yet to launch. The Incredible 4G LTE (our review) is probably our least favorite of Verizon’s recent releases, but it’s small and affordable if that’s what you are looking for. The LG Intuition, we recommend that you pass on.

Nokia Lumia 920 and HTC Windows Phone 8X

If Android isn’t in the cards, then I suggest you wait for the new Windows Phone 8 offerings from Nokia and HTC. The new Nokia Lumia 920 has hardware that matches up to almost any high-end Android phone, one of the coolest accessory lineups ever, and will be a welcomed change on the design front. The HTC 8X is up there in specs too and has a unique look, but has a slightly smaller foot print than the Lumia. Each phone will impress you in its own way. Even as an Android fanboy, I’m dying to get my hands on these new Windows phones.

These phones will reportedly arrive in November.

iPhone 5

Yep, the new iPhone 5 is already available. If you hate Android and aren’t interested in what Microsoft is doing, then this is probably the option for you. If you still like Android, going to this phone would probably be a downgrade.

____________________________________________________

If had to rank these as of now, it would probably look something like this:

1. HTC DROID Incredible X
2. Samsung Galaxy Note 2
3. Motorola RAZR MAXX HD
4. Nokia Lumia 920
5. New Nexus (which probably won’t happen)

So now that you know what’s coming, which phone is topping your list?

Verizon’s Epic Q4 Roadmap, Which Will be Your Next Smartphone? is a post from: Droid Life

A purported Verizon roadmap obtained by the folks at PhoneArena may give us a look at the smartphone rollout schedule for the next couple of months. It’s filled with Android devices, some of which you’ll care about, others you may not. If anything, it appears as if Verizon isn’t about to slow down now that the iPhone 5 is out. No sir, we are going to see top Android phones, the new Windows Phone 8 devices, and even a new Blackberry 10 phone. It’s a good time to be a Verizon customer. 

HTC DROID Incredible X

The HTC “dlx” (yes that’s DLX not DiX) will apparently roll with the name DROID Incredible X when in launches some time in November. I’m not going to lie, I think the name is ridiculous, but I get what they are doing. Take the HTC One X which Verizon foolishly passed on initially, then decide now that they want one after seeing it’s success, know that they have to make it an Incredible if they do carry it, so let’s call it the DROID Incredible X! We had previously heard that the device would be “DROID” branded, so this makes sense. We also know that the device will potentially run a new Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor, have 1.5GB of RAM, and a 5″ 1080p display with 480ppi. This is the phone that has me more excited than any other phone of 2012. Well, besides the next Nexus.

LG Spectrum 2

We have been covering the LG Spectrum 2 for months now, but it may finally launch in October. As you may recall, this is essentially the Optimus LTE2 and is a solid phone with mostly beefed up specs. It has a dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 processor, NFC, LTE, a 4.7″ HD IPS+ display, and 16GB of internal storage. The only thing to remember here, is that this is not the new Optimus G. Not that it’ll be a bad phone, but I’d be worried about purchasing this when LG is likely to focus all of their efforts on the G over this. Ask any original Spectrum owner what they think about LG and their software update time lines and you aren’t going to hear many good things.

Samsung Stratosphere 2

We have also been talking about the Samsung Stratosphere 2 for a couple of months and are surprised that it hasn’t been released already. For keyboard lovers, this may end up being one of your last options. It should get a beefed up Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor, a Super AMOLED Plus display, and again, have an actual physical keyboard for you to tap away on. The original Stratosphere was a low-end phone to say the least – this one should be decent. Today’s roadmap claims that we should see it any day now.

Nokia Lumia 920 and HTC Windows Phone 8X

I’ll be perfectly honest, I’m super excited for these two new Windows Phone 8 devices from HTC and Nokia. I test drove a Lumia 900 for a weekend and loved the operating system. Unfortunately for the operating system, the phone itself was garbage. But even after Nokia put out a subpar device in the 900, the 920 looks to be amazing with new optics, a Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor, 4.5″ HD display, NFC, LTE, 32GB of internal storage, and a big 2000mAh battery. The HTC Windows Phone 8X looks to be on par with the Lumia 920. It has a slightly smaller screen and less internal storage, but it does have HTC’s ImageSense chip, which means the camera will be awesome. We are looking at November for these two.

Blackberry 10

Blackberry 10! Apparently, this roadmap has this device penciled in for a Q1 2013 launch at the earliest. Some pics of a purported Blackberry 10 device popped up all over the place this week in case you were looking to catch a glimpse of it. Who knows if it’ll be worth talking about, but if anything, it’ll be nice to see RIM join the party that everyone else has been at since 2009.

Excited? So in November, you’ll have to choose between the Galaxy Note 2 and the Incredible X. Which one will it be?

Via:  PhoneArena

Verizon Roadmap: DROID Incredible X in November, Spectrum 2 in October, Lumia 920 and More is a post from: Droid Life

It has been over a month since we last did a rumor round-up, but since things are going to get wild starting tomorrow and then on through the month of September, we thought it was the perfect time to bring this series back. Motorola has big plans for next week, Samsung has a Note 2 on the way, there are Nexus rumors with manufacturer names attached, HTC still has a 1080p phone out there, and LG has a number of devices in the works. Again, it’s going to be busy. 

Motorola Event

On September 5, Motorola and Verizon are going to unveil their next couple of 4G LTE products. While they haven’t officially come out and said it, there are enough signs pointing to it being a party dedicated to the DROID RAZR HD and the DROID RAZR M.

According to benchmarks that were outed months ago and an FCC filing, along with a number of other leaks, the RAZR HD will sport an HD display (possibly 4.6″), 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, 1GB of RAM, 2530mAh battery, NFC, and Ice Cream Sandwich. It should be a flagship, however, we aren’t sure exactly when it will be available. Verizon and Motorola are known for announcing phones, but not making them available for months.

The RAZR M is a mid-range device that will sell for $149 on 2-year contract and come in both white and black. It will definitely be announced on September 5, and could be available within a week thereafter. It will rock out with a 4.3″ qHD display, 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, NFC chip, 1GB RAM, and Ice Cream Sandwich.

It’s an interesting move by Motorola, to announce two new phones just days before Apple unveils the new iPhone. Will they be successful? That’s a great question.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2

Samsung will announce the Galaxy Note 2 tomorrow, August 29, in Berlin (teaser video). The device is rumored to carry a 5.5″ HD Super AMOLED display, a 1.4GHz Exynos quad-core processor, 8MP camera, come in two colors, run on 4G LTE networks, and potentially run Jelly Bean out of the box.

We get the feeling that this will have a major global rollout similar to the Galaxy S3, but are sort of expecting only European release dates to  be mentioned tomorrow. Samsung sold 10 million Note’s over the last year, so clearly they realize that they have a winner on their hands. Hopefully, we finally see one on Verizon instead of the LG device we’ll be talking about in a minute.

HTC “dlx” the 1080p Phone

HTC’s has a 1080p phone with a 5″ display on the way, but it’s definitely stayed behind the scenes better than most phones of late. In fact, we first found a benchmark for it back in early July, yet have seen or heard very little about the phone since. According to this benchmark, it will have a 1080p display (the first for a smartphone), probably run on a new Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor, and will undoubtedly have a 4G LTE chip inside.

Rumors originally pegged it for a September or late-Q3 release, but again, things have gone quiet on the “dlx” front. And that’s unfortunate, as this is the one phone that I cannot wait to see become official. After owning a One X, I can easily say that HTC is doing some of the most amazing things with Android hardware on the planet.

Next Nexus Devices

We have a month or two to go before we see a new Nexus phone, but all signs point to there being more than one. In fact, the latest rumor pegs Sony, LG, and Samsung as the OEMs who will create them. The names could potentially be the Sony Xperia Nexus, LG Optimus Nexus, and Samsung Galaxy Nexus 2.

Will we see any of them on Verizon? Well, I’d actually be surprised. The Galaxy Nexus on Verizon has been somewhat of a success, but I doubt that Google views it that way. They have been vocal about their displeasure in the slow update process that comes with the carrier-branded package. Google also seems to love GSM rather than the difficulties that come with supporting CDMA, something else that goes against Verizon’s territory. I don’t want to crush dreams, but if you want a new Nexus device going forward, you may want to think about going prepaid or doing a month-to-month plan with T-Mobile or AT&T.

LG’s Multiple Offerings

LG doesn’t want the rest of the Android world having all of the fun, and has decided to put out two new phones some time in the near future. The LG Intuition is a renamed Optimus Vu and a 5″ behemoth of a device that has failed to impress most in the international game. Their other phone will likely be the Spectrum 2, which you can find across the globe as the Optimus LTE2. Neither are probably going to “Wow!” anyone like HTC’s 1080p phone will, nor can they stand up to the Galaxy Note 2, but we’re never one to hate on having options.

iPhone 5 or the “new iPhone”

I thought about leaving this off, but according to the Apple rumormill, a press event for the new iPhone will go down in two weeks. Most of us couldn’t care less, but it’s a part of this tech world, and you should all be aware. Will its arrival affect the rest of these Android devices that we mentioned? Of course it will on a sales level, which is why we are seeing companies like Motorola throw events the week prior. We may see one massive wave of phones in the next month, all from companies hoping to grab the attention of those that have been holding out for this new iPhone. I do not envy them.

And that’s your August!

August 2012 Rumor Round-up: Motorola Event, Galaxy Note 2, Next Nexus, HTC 1080p Phone, and More is a post from: Droid Life

According to Verizon’s Equipment Guide, they are planning to introduce follow-ups to two of their late-2011, early-2012 devices. The Samsung Stratosphere, aka the first 4G LTE slider, will get a refresh and be released as the Stratosphere 2 (SCH-I415). We aren’t seeing much for specs that would impress, but are assuming it’ll sport a Snapdragon S4. What 4G LTE phone doesn’t these days, right? Otherwise, we know it’ll have a 4″ Super AMOLED display, and carry the exact same form factor as its predecessor. 

The LG Spectrum is the other device that apparently still has a refresh in the works, known as the Spectrum 2 (VS930). As with the Stratosphere 2, we know almost nothing other than the model number from this Equipment Guide shot. Thankfully, we have been tracking this phone on benchmark sites and in other leaks for months now and are pretty sure that this will be similar to the LG Optimus LTE2. It should sport a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, 1GB of RAM, an HD display, and an 8MP camera. It should be a solid offering.

It’s starting to appear as if Verizon is 100% invested in the Snapdragon S4 processor as it is efficient enough to do wonders with LTE radios and battery life. All of last year’s phone running anything less are getting phased out. We know that Motorola has two devices on the way to replace the original RAZR and MAXX, both that run the S4, along with the LG Intuition. And as you all know already, the Galaxy S3 runs the S4.

Any takers?

Samsung Stratosphere 2 and LG Spectrum 2 Also on the Way to Verizon is a post from: Droid Life

Yep, there you have it. The new Verizon-branded LG Optimus LTE2 will be known as the Spectrum 2. Kind of interesting seeing as how the first Spectrum launched this last January, not even a full eight months ago. From previous reports that we have seen, the device is set to come with Android 4.0.4, 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4, 1GB of RAM, and an 8MP back shooter. There was also a rumored release date of 10 days ago, but clearly, that did not take place.

Any LG Spectrum owners feeling a bit cheated by this? Just half a year later and they are ready to introduce a beefed up version of your device that has a better processor and bigger display. It reminds us a lot of how DROID RAZR owners may have felt after they saw Verizon launch the RAZR MAXX.

Via: TechnoBuffalo

Verizon’s LG Optimus LTE2 to be Called Spectrum 2, Eight Months Later and We Already Have a Sequel? is a post from: Droid Life