At the beginning of the month, Google made the 4.0.4 update file for the Galaxy Nexus available for everyone to download. Unfortunately, Google must have jumped the gun, because just a short time after release the link was pulled and G-Nex owners were back in the dark with no word from either company. The link is now back in order which could mean our 4.0.4 update is finally on the way.

If you’re tired of waiting for Verizon to give you the OTA, head over to our previous post here and read the instructions on flashing this official zip file.

Download link

Cheers Jason!

While supplies last, Amazon Wireless is hosting a deal on a few of Verizon’s more popular smart devices. When signing up on a new two-year agreement, you can score the DROID 4 for just one cent, the Rezound for a not-so-bad $50, and the DROID RAZR MAXX for an even $150. Now that we know these phones are definitely receiving some Ice Cream Sandwich love sometime this year, buying these phones on contract shouldn’t seem all that scary.

Motorola DROID 4 | HTC Rezound | DROID RAZR MAXX

An LG device with the model number VS930 has been on our radar for a few weeks now, most likely as Verizon’s version of the LG Optimus LTE2. The model number matches up to the naming scheme that Big Red has used in the past for LG phones – VS920 (Spectrum) and VS910 (Revolution). We also saw a benchmark for the device appear back in early April with Verizon tags all over it. Today, it popped up again, this time at the GCF (Global Certification Forum) with a bunch of global radios inside and not a mention of the CDMA or LTE bands we expect to see when the phone finds its way to the States. Our guess, is that most VZW phones going forward will have global roaming capabilities and that’s what was being tested for here. 

Later this month, Verizon plans on launching a vid-centric application that will help users of their 4G LTE network stream all of the Hulu, Comcast Xfinity,  and Netflix goodness their data plans will allow. The app aims to bring all of the major TV and Internet media providers into one centralized location for users to stream straight to their LTE capable device. As you can tell, this is going to be a very data intense application, so if you don’t have an unlimited data plan, use caution when streaming those old episodes of Dexter. 

Stemming from yesterday’s report that Verizon does indeed have plans this summer to update the RAZR and RAZR MAXX, Rezound, and the DROID 4 to feature global capabilities, a reader running newly leaked Ice Cream Sandwich firmware on the RAZR has basically proved just that. From what we gather, when the device receives the official ICS OTA, it will bring along the global features. When exactly can we expect it? Well, according to Motorola’s update timeline, we’re looking at a very vague “Q2 of 2012.”

Cheers TC!

The SCH-I535 aka the Samsung Galaxy SIII variant expected to launch with Verizon, cruised through Bluetooth SIG recently. While this doesn’t necessarily mean that the phone is on the verge of a release, it’s definitely a good sign of things to come. Bluetooth SIG is sort of a certification program for phones that include Bluetooth technology and is usually one of the items on a launch list that we like to see checked off.  

We first reported this news on Friday, but Verizon has confirmed today that the DROID RAZR, RAZR MAXX, HTC Rezound, and DROID 4 will all receive updates this summer to bring them global roaming capabilities. After the update is released, all 4 of these devices will have voice service in more than 220 countries and data in more than 205:

This summer, Verizon Wireless will be updating the following 4G LTE smartphones for global use.

HTC Rezound
DROID RAZR by Motorola
DROID RAZR MAXX by Motorola
DROID 4 by Motorola

Customers will see a notification on their device when the software update is available for their device. After the software update, customers will be able to take their smartphone overseas and use voice service in more than 220 countries and receive data in more than 205 countries.

No time frame other than “summer” was given, but with Ice Cream Sandwich updates on the way to all of the devices listed, we wouldn’t be surprised if it was included with them. Plus, now that stores have been asked to print new display lists that reference these new global features, it can’t be long.